   WELCOME to ERACS SHAREWARE! 
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    This package is a full-featured BBS and host system. It has been designed 
    to permit the fullest possible use at minimum cost. This manual is only 
    intended to give you a general idea of how to get started, experimentation 
    (or the contribution of $25.oo) will bring complete understanding (or 
    documentation!) 
     
    Most TRSDOS 6 software will run under ERACS SHAREWARE. There are a few 
    programs which do not get along well with the package, there are also a few 
    which cannot be used remote -- but the majority can. Experiment! There are 
    many terminal types supported in the system. 
     
    ERACS SHAREWARE is a BBS system which is marketed under the idea of 
    "SHAREWARE", a concept of user-supported software which is rapidly growing. 
    You the user have obtained this package - and may use it at no charge for 
    evaluation or non-commercial use. If you find it useful, I do request that 
    you send in a $25.oo contribution - and you will receive, in return, a 
    diskette crammed full of useful utilities and documentation! Only you can 
    make the decision, and you are under no obligation. Donating also gets you 
    a program which will remove the "SHAREWARE" banners from the start-up and 
    login sequences. 
     
    If you do wish to donate, send your check to: 
     
    D & D Software 
    P.O. Box 380 
    Prospect Hts, IL  60070-0380 
    Attn: Shareware 
     
    Your request will be processed as soon as possible and your diskette 
    containing the enhancements and documentation should be shipped within one 
    week. 
     
    Now, specifics items of interest: 
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    The BBOARD program is the system bulletin board. Run MBOARD first to set up 
    the various areas. It is pretty much self-explanatory and easy to use. 
    Watch out for upper & lower case, upper case only is best in the MBOARD 
    program. The BBoard is a full-featured bulletin board system which should 
    be able to accomodate any reasonable need. The file "BBOARD/LIS" is 
    displayed on entry to the BBOARD program, it should contain a listing of 
    the defined boards. MBOARD can be used to privilege any board or part of it 
    giving you complete control over area privacy. Up to 90 sub-sections total 
    can be supported divided among 10 boards.  
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    MAIL is pretty-much self-maintaining. The SYSTEM account must go into the 
    program and use the "A" command to alter the database -- to add users, for 
    example. Other than that, it is self-explanatory and on-line help serves 
    well. (Note: You must type "P" first from the SYSTEM account to turn on the 
    privileges). 
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    You should immediately change the SYSTEM password since that is fully 
    privileged and is shipped with the password PASSWORD. 
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    Some notes on the "LEGALx/CDS" files: 
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    These files are the backbone of the command interpretation system. The 
    syntax is as follows: 
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    1st line: This line is optional, and special. The first character must be a 
    colon (":"), and an optional "+" sign. If the "+" sign is present, then 
    commands which are not in the list will be passed as-is to DOS for 
    interpretation, if it is not present these commands will be disallowed. The 
    next and final entry on this line is a number which is the number of 
    columns to assume for output on the screen - 8 (ie: for 80 columns, this 
    should be 72).  
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    Examples 
         :+72   <<- Tells the system to permit commands not in the list and to 
                use a screen width of 80 columns. 
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         :56    <<- Tells the system to disallow commands not defined in the 
                list and to use a 64-character screen size. 
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         :1     <<- Tells the system to use a 1-character screen size and 
                disallow commands not in the list. This has the effect of 
                forcing each command on a new line. Very handy for menus! 
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    The rest of the lines are lines comprised of control characters and command 
    elements. The essential parts are: 
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    1) A ">" sign (first character on line) 
         This indicates that the command should not show on the screen. It must 
         be the first character to have any effect. 
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    2) A "<" sign (first character on line or following ">") 
         This indicates that the command is to be interpreted as a BASIC 
         program filename, and BASIC should be loaded before the "command" 
         following is run.  
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    3) The body of the command which is to show to the user 
         All characters will be displayed (if the ">" was not used) until 
         either the next character is found or the end of line, but only those 
         preceding the first blank space will be considered part of the 
         command. This makes possible menu items with descriptions. 
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    4) An optional backslash followed by another command line 
         If the backslash is present the text following it will be executed 
         when the command defined is encountered. If the backslash is not 
         present then the command defined itself will be executed. This allows 
         synonyms or renaming of commands easily. 
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    Examples: 
         A - Additional system features(bs)MENU A 
         <MBOARD 
         ><MAIL 
         OFF(bs)BYE 
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    Interpretation: 
         The first example will display "A - Additional system features", and 
         if "A" is entered the command "MENU A" will be executed. 
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         The second example will display "MBOARD", and if it is entered it will 
         execute BASIC first, then run MBOARD. 
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         The third example will display nothing, but will run MAIL if it is 
         typed (after BASIC is loaded) 
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         The fourth example will simply execute BYE if the word OFF is typed. 
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    Notes: 
         Commands in the list will execute if the unique first letters are 
         keyed. This makes the system much "smarter". In addition, any 
         parameters that you follow the command with will be tacked on the end 
         of the command string sent to the system for execution. 
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         The program EXIT/CMD will allow you out of the menu environment to DOS 
         if you can run it (if it is in your current list). ACCOUNTS can change 
         the list you are put in when you sign on. The password required to 
         EXIT is in the file EXITPASS/PWD (shipped as PASSWORD <<- Note upper 
         case). 
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    See our listing in "PRICE/LST" for pricing on enhanced versions of this and 
    other software. Look for the SHAREWARE version of DTERM, the terminal 
    emulation package as well! 
     
    Karl Denninger 
    Mike Duebner 
     
    D & D Software 
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