 ************************ FastPlus II Welcome Text File ***********************

This is the new release of FastPlus and has many many changes to it. Not only
in operational procedure but in capabilities and configurations. It is advised
that you obtain a manual by ordering it from the author, but depending on your
capability, may or may not be necessary. Regardless, the manual has been re-
written and includes more detail on important sections, has a better layout,
and is around the 100 page mark. For ordering the manual use the form at the
end of this file.

WHATS CHANGED....

A lot. I'll go over them in point form.

1. Release #. FastPlus has undergone so many changes that the version number
   was going out of sight. Hence I have changed the designation from FastPlus
   with a version number to FastPlus II with a revision number. So if the
   version you're using says FastPlus Version 6.4, its older than FastPlus II
   Version 1.0.

2. ASCII uploading has been changed so that all LFs (line feeds) received will
   be purged before they are store on your drive. Remember the TRS-80 doesn't
   need line feeds (looks like double spacing).

3. ASCII downloading has been changed so that if the remote system has used the
   X command (System Terminal Configurations), FastPlus II will automatically
   add the LFs (line feeds) to the text whenever a carriage return is found.
   Those not requiring LFs will receive the text file as it is stored on disk.

4. An option will allow you to automatically save the download file catalog
   whenever a new file is added/deleted/modified in the catalog itself. This
   only happens after the caller terminates so it does not take up any extra
   online time.

5. The current board letter is now displayed on the Board Status line so you
   can see both the callers number (user #) and the board letter. This info
   is for Sysops only.

6. The board names have been added to the Message and File menus so that you
   know which sub-board you are using.

7. All bulletins now reside on disk and can be any format you want and may be
   written with just about any plain ASCII text editor (or whatever if you
   want graphics). They are stored on the same drive as the board/fpf file
   itself.

8. Bulletins may still be entered from the SYSOP MENU, but now you may edit
   them BEFORE you save them. Editing routines are based closely on the old
   familiar Basic edit commands to make learning them easy. The size of the
   bulletins is fixed when entering from the Sysop Menu at 1.2K.

9. Chat change. You may no longer link the chat to the printer/disk to get a
   copy of the chat. Something had to go to make room for enhancements and this
   is only one of the many that did.

10. If you have the CHAT bell OFF and a caller selects CHAT, they will not have
    to sit there waiting for nothing to happen (it simulated a page mode), but
    FastPLus II will report that you aren't there and return to the menu. Which
    also means that you will not be able to chat to these individuals UNTIL you
    re-enable the chat bell.

11. At times the information in the BBS gets farkled. One such file which is
    heavily relied on is the SYSINFO/FPF file. FastPlus II is much better at
    rebuilding this file should it be destroyed.

12. DELETE MSGS has been changed considerably. When you select FORWARD to read
    all the messages and it pauses at the NEXT/REPLY/ABORT option you may
    press the F1 key to MARK it. Older versions would replace the TO name so it
    would be killed but that farkled the original TO mail flags. In FastPlus II
    after you finish reading the WHOLE list, it will prompt you for EACH of the
    messages you selected (marked). OR you may configure it to purge them
    automatically without bothering you.

13. During a LOCAL MODE session (not online, direct from keyboard), if you are
    using a HAYES type modem, FastPlus II will send a string to stop the modem
    from answering ANY incoming calls which could interupt you. When you exit
    the modem will be automatically reset to answer the calls again.

14. Due to the fact that bulletins were removed from the DL/FPF file, you may
    now have a total of 409 filenames in the catalog.

15. DL/FPF has been modified so that you may have a separate DL/FPF for EACH
    sub board. Which means you can have 16 x 409 file entries in your catalogs.

16. When obtaining a catalog listing, it looks pretty much the same as before
    except that now it will show the approximate amount of time required at the
    callers baud rate to download the file.

17. YMODEM has been added. However according to very conflicting information
    the ymodem protocol used in FastPlus II may actually be 1K xmodem. Seems
    that no one can agree very well on this fact. It was based on the CP/M
    ymodem protocol but unlike CP/M version it does not process batches. It
    completely compatible with ymodem in FastTerm.

18. Sysop Log Off records may now be routed to either the disk OR the printer
    after a caller terminates. OR you may leave off both. An M prefacing the
    RECORD indicates that MAIL was left to the SYSOP (master sysop only).

19. HELP menus have been made an option now. You may elect to have a HELP
    option available from the Main, Message, Files, User and System menus.
    Default menus in ASCII text form are supplied, but you may create your
    own using any word processor and saved in text form.

20. The log off records are stored on a selected drive in ASCII format and may
    be read with any word processor (or TED). They contain the same information
    as is displayed during the callers session. File is called USERxx/LOG where
    xx can either be a yearly continious file OR you may elect to have it work
    on a montly basis (where xx would be the number of the month).

21. Log on tries has been changed to 3. If your caller can not log on with a
    proper name or password within three chances, their history and the BBS
    will disconnect them.

22. An option has been added so that ONLY PRIVATE messages are automatically
    purged. Which means that all non-private messages or messages to ALL will
    be left and you will have to manually purge those when you need the space.
    As always only messages which have been read are considered in this auto
    function.

23. Message EDITING! You may now edit messages using the familiar BASIC editing
    commands. You have SPACE/Backspace to position the cursor, ABORT, CHANGE,
    DELETE, END, HACK, INSERT, LIST, and EXTEND.

24. SKIP has been added when retrieving MAIL so that if the caller doesn't have
    enough time to reply to the mail, it will not be deleted by the BBS.

25. REPLY! You may now reply to ANY message when reading NEW/FORWARD/or MAIL.
    When selecting the REPLY option (in the SYSTEM CONFIGURATION) (it used to
    be Msg Pause), the action is different depending on WHO the TO is. If the
    message was to ALL, you will reply to the FROM name. If it was to TO, you
    will reply to the FROM name. If it was FROM you, it will reply the TO name.
    If it was TO another caller FROM another caller it will reply to the FROM
    name.

26. Message READ flag. If you have selected the option to not delete a callers
    mail, FastPlus will mark the message as read so you know you may remove
    should you need the space. An (X) will be printed beside the message #.

27. Automatic Message compression. FastPlus II will try to make room for new
    messages by deleting messages to ALL from itself. If it is unable to make
    enough room by doing this it will report that its full and the caller will
    have to select msg(s) to delete manually. This compression works both
    during the REPLY and LEAVE options.

28. The multi DL files for each sub-board will be stored on the same drive as
    you have selected to capture the upload.

29. QUICK SUMMARY has been changed so that you only get one choice. If you
    don't have the REPLY option enabled for your callers, it goes really
    quick.

30. You may now enable an OPTION to allow callers who uploaded a file to remove
    their own uploads. Therefore a caller may update his own work by deleting
    his own file and sending the new one. A further option exists to give the
    uploader the option of removing the file from either/or the disk/catalog.

31. SYSOP MENU. Sorry guys. You lost Plus Term. Hope you didn't use it much.
    Again, things had to be given up to make room for other things. However
    you may now FIND a user from the Sysop Menu so that if you want to know
    what his number was/or last call/board access without using the EDIT, it
    is simple and easy.

32. TIME OUT added. You may elect to have the system give a time out warning
    if the caller doesn't press any keys (lack of input) within a certain time
    frame. After two sucessive time outs it will disconnect the caller.

33. On the Board Status line, the maximum number of callers permitted in your
    current configuration is displayed at the left hand side.

34. Message FREE space is now displayed on the BOARD STATUS line. As messages
    are added the total message number will go up and this number will go DOWN.
    Quick reference for seeing how full the message base is getting.

35. When you are a SYSOP or REMOTE sysop and use the USER LIST option, you will
    also be given the users #, along with the usual data.

36. ADDITIONAL Support utilities. If you are a registered owner of FastPlus,
    the old original version, you will receive some additional utilities. If
    you only have the shareware ARC file, you are not entitled to these extra
    support programs. They are only available to registered owners.

37. Removed the option of re-entering FastPlus with memory banks intact so that
    you can save the data after a crash. Too many times it has turned out that
    this was not a clever thing to do. Files were corrupted and backups were
    made before checking. FastPlus II saves its own files often enough so that
    using this option will not be as important.

38. Changed the SOUND (bell) option so that you can have it PATCHED through the
    cassette port if you want. Use an old Model 1/3 cassette cable and plug it
    into a small amplifier for some volume. Great for the heard of hearing or
    when you don't hover over the thing wating for a chat mode.

39. Modified the SOUND so that if you are using a Speed up board or XLR8er the
    tone is lower and stronger than the usual "blip" you heard in the older
    version.

40. You may use the words TERMINATE or GOODBYE in your menus for callers to
    disconnect. MSDOS users don't seem to like the word terminate since its not
    user friendly and sounds like you're going to blow the drive doors off
    their computers when you disconnect.

41. Two HIDDEN changes have been added. But only registered owners will be
    advised of them. The shareware version has them to a degree but no mention
    will be made in this general text file. Consider it an adventure to figure
    out what they are if you're so inclined.

Those are the major changes and add to that many minor code/bug fixes and you
have FastPlus II version 1.0. Even with the beta testing there are probably
some unknowns in there which will surface in time.

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Running FastPlus II first time....(non-registered owners).

Without a manual its not easy. And since the manual is 342K long I doubt that
it would fit on a disk let alone in your Alwrong word processor. And chaining
chapters is counterproductive as best so....thar ain't no manual guys....

However so that you don't think I am an unfeeling sort of guy, I will give you
some of the basics to get you going in the general direction. After that you
should be able to tell if you want to support it or pass it onto someone else.

Start by removing ALL similiar files you have on your drives. So you don't get
confused with configuring the thing cause you had two or three different BBS
FastPlus's on your drives.

Un arc the files and put them where you want.

Run FPCONFIG and although the menu selections are short, you should be able
to figure out most of it (although the logic is not clear without a manual).

Once you have configured the BBS to the way you want, select the SAVE and EXIT
option.

Make sure you don't have write protected drives.

Don't use a 4 wire wonder for a modem cable. Use the full 25 pin conductor
cable or FastPlus II will not work properly. Make sure you have the right
modem selected in the configuration menu (in FPCONFIG).

Make sure you don't have COM/DVR installed. FastTerm/FastPlus II both contain
their own drivers and will conflict with the com/dvr. If you also have some
filters installed, like a printer filter or video/keyboard filter try the
program FIRST without those. Although FastPlus II doesn't use a filter anymore
to control the video/keyboard, there may be a conflict. Best to try the program
with a "plain jane" DOS before getting frustrated when something doesn't work.

If you have drivers in HIMEM (like a HD driver), and they will be used with
the BBS all the time, make sure those are installed. FastPlus II will determine
how many users you can have by the amount of memory available in bank 0. If
you have drivers this number will be smaller by the amount of space your
driver takes up. Do not start running without the driver, then with and then
without again. If you do it will ensure that FastPlus II becomes confused
enough to at least give you a farkled user file.

Holding down the <CLEAR> key while booting will inhibit drivers and filters
from loading. Holding down the <ENTER> key will stop any AUTO command you
have on the BOOT disk from taking control.

Some programs you may want to use in conjunction with FastPlus II. For example
you may want to use Pronto (or PROWAM as it is now called). I have had a few
users test the compatibility of this program and they report good results IF
you make sure that 1> you have an extra memory board installed, such as an
XLR8er or a SUPERMEM board and 2> you tell PROWAM to use a BANK higher than
3 (assuming they number the banks from 1-10 for example). If you try to use
PROWAM on the initial Bank of memory it will crash every time. For these types
of programs the best bet is the get FastPlus II operational and then try it
with the background application. If your background application uses the
RS232 port it probably won't work since FastPlus II is commanding that port.

Power up the modem

Run the FastPlus II program.

It will try to ascertain if a printer is online, then program the modem and
finally create all the files it needs (the DL/BOARD/USER files are 32K in
size to make sure you have room).

If it fails, you will get an error message. Look up the value in your TRSDOS
manual in the appendix.

If it comes up Waiting for Call...you got it all right.

Use the F3 to start a local mode session and log on. Once you are at the main
menu use the Z key to enter the SYSOP EDIT menu and select you own name to
edit, change your status to the Master SYSOP and whatever else you want. Then
exit. Once you're back at the WAITING again press the F1 key and the files will
be written to disk (so its permanent).

If you modem answers, you should see a * at the top right corner of the video.
If the modem answers BUT no * appears, you have the carrier detect switch
forced true and FastPlus II will not work. If the * shows but nothing happens
at lot depends on the modem you are using, the dip switches which are set (if
your modem has any), and how Hayes compatible it really is. If you are using
a Hayes type modem but nothing happens, don't get excited and junk the software
just yet. Its more than likely not 100%, regardless of what the maker says
about it (for example a new Hayes 2400 DOESN'T have DIP switches).

In regards to DIP switches some modems have them and some don't. If yours
has them, turn off the DTR switch and the CD detect switch. FastPlus II will
send its own DTR signal to the modem, and will not be able to disconnect if
you have the modem supply DTR. Same holds true with CARRIER DETECT. Make sure
the switch is in the position where the modem carrier detect will track the
actual carrier detect recieved from a remote caller. If you don't FastPlus II
will not allow the caller to sign on.

Since there are SO many modems on the market and not all are alike, this is
the main source of trouble encountered with running a BBS. I do not advise
using any of the Radio Shack modems. Apart from their unusual command
structure, they have an ABORT code which can cause xmodem transfers to be
completely unreliable. And if you own another computer (or plan on buying
one someday) about 90% of the terminal programs for other computer expect
a Hayes (or compatible) modem and will not even notice your Radio Shack modem
is alive.

If you want to run the BBS, and are willing to contact me and provide me with
a copy of your manual and support the program, I will try to make it work for
you. No promises but this is the best route to follow in some cases. Its
also best to check with me BEFORE sending your manual (copy) since I may
have it already from someone else.

Well thats about the best summary of how the whole thing works. Definately
brief but probably enough to either get you started or beyond the realm of
confusion. Remember I didn't write it in a day so don't expect to learn it
in a day.

This is a current list of modems which FastPlus is currently running on and
FastPlus II will work with :

CAPETRONIC       300/1200            DataTronics - Discovery 2400E (mine)
Volksmodem 12    300/1200            ADC 1202    - 300/1200
Van-Tel MD212    300/1200            Basic Time  - 300/1200/2400
Anchor Signalman 300/1200/2400       Smart-Link  - 300/1200/2400
Hayes Smartmodem 300/1200/2400       Mercury     - 300/1200
Courier (USR)    300/1200/2400       Packard Bell- 300/1200

Note that the Hayes Smartmodem has a FIX file which patches FastPlus II to
work with it. As other modems are found and patched into FastPlus II they
will be added to this FIX file.

Additional information can be obtained by calling my BBS, FastMaster which
is currently running FastPlus II. Phone (604) 594-7398, use 8 bit word, 1
stop bit and NO parity. Operates almost 24 hours a day at 300/1200/2400.
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Upgrading for Regsitered Users

Since you registered hopefully with your form that you got with FastPlus you
should have already been shipped the new version. If thats so you'll find a
file on the disks called UPGRADE/TXT which is a detailed description of the
procedure on how to upgrade.

There are also some additional utilities which are NOT in the public domain
but for your registered usage only. They are not to be placed on another BBS
or your own BBS, nor are they to be given to a non-supporter. Unless you
like cheating on yourself. Remember you paid for the priviledge.
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