1995 -Noel Software-

                    The Offline BBS Listing Database v1.1
                     Copyright (c) 1995 Thomas J. Smith
                                OBBSLXXX.ZIP
                  (XXX will reflect the number of listings)

        For the latest version, call The Last Call BBS! (313) 295-6284
                 FIDO 1:2410/903 Request magic name OBBSLIST,
                  or for latest data file, request OBBSDAT.


͸
 If you are reading this file in Windoze, you will see lots of gibberish,  
      as Windoze does not interpret high ASCII characters correctly        
;


͸
  This program is released to the public as "freeware." Meaning that there 
is no charge to you for using this program in any way, shape, or form      
whatsoever. You may use it as long as you wish, and you are encouraged to  
pass it around to others, as long as all files remain intact, and          
unmodified, including all text files. No money may be collected by anyone  
for this program, except for those organizations distributing this program 
on disk, where money may be collected for costs of packaging and disks.    
  The author of this program assumes no responsibility for any damages     
occured in relation to the use of this program. There are no warranties    
implied with this program. You use it at your own risk. This program has   
been tested thouroughly for flaws, and no problems have arised in testing. 
;

͸
                
                                                         
                                                         
                                                  
                          
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                           
                                                                           
  Be sure to read Part 6 for info on how to have your BBS added to this    
  programs Database! Its easy to do, and is open to any SysOp who wishes   
  to have his/her BBS added to this Database!                              
;




͸
                       FEATURES                          
͵
                                                                           
  Searchable by Area Code, City & State.                                  
                                                                           
  Can view detailed listings, or line by line listings with option to     
   view details on any record.                                             
                                                                           
  Option to print any record to the printer.                              
                                                                           
  Option to copy any record to a plain ASCII text file.                   
                                                                           
  Can Generate an ASCII and/or ANSI text file listing of all records in   
   the Database.                                                           
                                                                           
  User Friendly, & easy to use!                                           
                                                                           
;






͸
 CONTENTS                                                                  
;

 What is The Offline BBS Lister?..........................................1
 Files Included...........................................................2
 Using the Program........................................................3
 Obtaining an updated Database............................................4
 Future Plans.............................................................5
 How to get your BBS Added to the Database................................6
 Comments & Suggestions...................................................7



͸
 What is The Offline BBS Lister?                                         1 
;

    The Offline BBS Listing Program is a simple database that contains
 records of many BBS's (or hopefully will contain many records). It is a
 small program that will allow you to view all of the BBS's listed in the
 Database in detail, or you can choose to view a list similar to the
 following,

 [1] The Last Call BBS!                  Taylor, MI             313-295-6284
 [2] No Name BBS                         Metropolis, NY         555-555-1234

 When viewing this list, you have the option to view detailed info on any
 one of the BBS's listed, continuing on to see more, or stopping. You can
 also search for BBS's by Area Code, City, & State. The program also
 contains an option to create a plain ASCII text file of any listing in the
 Database, the ability to print any record to the printer, and an option to
 create an ASCII and/or ANSI Text File of all records in the database
 similar to the above format (read part 3 for more on this feature).



͸
 Files Included                                                          2 
;

    Included with your copy of OBBSLXXX.ZIP (where XXX will reflect the # of
 records in the BBSLIST.DAT file), should be the following files,

 BBSLISTR.EXE > Main Program file.

 BBSLIST.DAT  > Data file Containing all BBS Records.

 BBSLISTR.TXT > The Documentation you are reading now.

 ADD_BBS.ZIP  > Archive containing program that creates the Text file
                    I need to add your BBS to the Database, or to have your
                    BBS removed from the Database. .ZIP file Includes
                    documentation for the program. If you do not run a BBS,
                    then you won't need this file.

 README.TXT   > Text file containing latest changes, & program info.

 FREQ_IT.TXT  > List of "Freq'able" files from Thomas J. Smith.

 FILE_ID.DIZ  > Description file for BBS's. You really don't need this
                    after unzipping, it is used by BBS's only.



͸
 Using the Program                                                       3 
;

    This program is very easy to use. You may never even read this
 documentation at all! But here are some instructions anyway.

    The BBSLISTR.EXE program must be ran from the same directory containing
 the BBSLIST.DAT file.
    Start the program by typing BBSLISTR and pressing ENTER at the DOS
 prompt (or launch from your DOS menu program if you use one). At the Main
 Menu, you are given 6 options,
                                View BBS's in the Database
                                Area Code Search
                                Search by City or State
                                Copy a Record to a File
                                Generate ASCII, ANSI List
                                Help With Selections
                                Exit Offline BBS Lister.


 If you choose to "View BBS'S in the Database", you will be given the
 option of viewing detailed listings, or line by line listings. The line by
 line listings will allow you to view 16 listings per page, with the option
 of viewing detailed info on any listing. The detailed listing will show you
 each listing one by one in detail with the option of stopping, printing the
 current listing to the printer, or continuing to the next entry. Highlight
 which type of viewing you wish to do with your arrow keys, and press ENTER.
 While viewing any detailed listing anywhere in the program, you will have
 the option to print the record to your printer (for printers connected to
 standard parallel printer port LPT1 only).

    The area code search is very straight forward, just choose "Area Code
 Search" from the Main Menu, then when asked, type in the Area Code you wish
 to search for, WITHOUT parentheses! For example, to search for BBS's in the
 (313) Area Code, type in "313"  NOT  "(313)". You will be shown all matches
 one by one in detail, with the option of stopping, or continuing to view
 the next one.

    Searching by City or State works in much the same way as the Area Code
 search. When you choose "Search by City or State" from the Main Menu, a box
 will pop up giving you 3 more options. "Search by City" "Search by State" or
 "Abort Search". Highlight which type of search it is you wish to do with
 your arrow keys, and press ENTER. These searches are not case sensitive.
 When using the "Search By City" option, you can type in any string of text,
 and if that string is found in any of the listings, they will be shown to
 you. For example, to search for BBS's in Taylor, you could type in, tay, or
 taylor, or even ay, or yl! Again, you will be shown all matches in the same
 manner as the Area Code Search.

    "Copy a Record to a Text File" - When choosing this option, you will be
 shown the line by line, 16 at a time listing, with the following choices,
 - [C]opy, [S]top, [ENTER] For More - Browse through the listings until you
 come to the one you want to copy to a text file, and then press "C" You will
 be prompted for the number of the record you wish to copy to text, and the
 file name you wish to give the text file. This can be any valid 8 character
 DOS file name with or without a 3 character file extension
 (LISTING.TXT  NONAME.BBS, etc.).

    If you would like a plain ASCII text file, or a colorful ANSI file
 listing of all of the records in the Database, use the "Generate ASCII,
 ANSI List" command from the Main Menu. This will create either an ASCII, or
 an ANSI file (or both if you choose), that will look something like this,

͸
BBS Name                      BBS Main Number          BBS Location        
;
 The Last Call BBS!            313-OFF-LINE             Taylor, MI
 Nightmoves BBs.!              313-941-2850             Taylor, MI
 ***BARBELL*BBS***             313-721-7344             Westland, MI
 Pepster's Place               313-421-9145             Livonia, MI
 The Olympic BBs.!             313-946-4208             Taylor, MI
 CANDI LAND                    313-243-6689             Monroe, MI
 Data Land BBS                 313-572-7980             Ypsilanti, MI
͸
     This File Created With The Offline BBS Lister! v1.1       
;

 When choosing the "Generate ASCII, ANSI List" option, you will be given 3
 choices, - "ANSI List" "ASCII List" "Both" Highlight the option you want
 with your arrow keys, and press ENTER. Whichever you choose, you will be
 asked for the file name(s) to use for each output file. You can name the
 output file(s) anything you want, as long as it is a valid DOS file name.


    Also at the Main Menu, you can choose "Help With Selections" for some
 minor help, or ESC to exit, same as choosing "Exit The Offline BBS Lister."



͸
 Obtaining an Updated Database                                           4 
;

    Chances are, more BBS's will be added to the Database by the time you
 read this (hopefully!). If you want an updated listing, look for a file
 called, OBDATXXX.ZIP. Where the XXX will reflect the number of listings in
 that particular data file. The OBDATXXX.ZIP file contains ONLY the
 BBSLIST.DAT file! NOT the BBSLISTR.EXE program, documentation, or the
 ADD_BBS.ZIP file. All you have to do is download a OBDATXXX.ZIP file with a
 number higher than the one you have now, unzip it, and place the new
 BBSLIST.DAT file in your Offline BBS Lister directory, OVERWRITING your old
 BBSLIST.DAT file. All records that were in your old BBSLIST.DAT file, will
 still be there in the new one, unless some listings were removed because
 they are no longer online.

    Always watch for the OBDATXXX.ZIP file with the highest number. That
 will be the one you want to obtain! If the number is lower than the number
 that was on the .ZIP file you downloaded with this documentation, then
 don't bother downloading it, because your listing will be more current than
 the lower numbered .ZIP file.

    SysOps can FREQ the latest data file from 1:2410/903 under the magic
 name OBBSDAT.



͸
 Future Plans                                                            5 
;

  Hopefully I will be releasing a version with mouse support, and menu bars
   throughout the whole program, for easier navigation (this depends on how
   popular the program becomes)!
   ** The Menu Bars are already half implemented! **

  I plan on making this a worthwile program, with lots of listings, as a
   convenience to BBS'ers (and SysOps)! But this can only be done with the
   participation of all SysOps. Read next section on how to add your BBS to
   the Database.



͸
 How to get your BBS Added to the Database                               6 
;

    I have decided against releasing the program that adds BBS records to the
 Database, since there are those who will abuse it, and add NUL, duplicate,
 triplicate, or otherwise unwanted listings to the BBSLIST.DAT file. If you
 have a copy of a BBSLIST.DAT file that contains a questionable listing as
 described above, rest assured, it wasn't added by me! You can obtain the
 latest, unhacked updates on my BBS, The Last Call BBS! (313) 295-6284.

    If you are a SysOp of a BBS, and would like your BBS added to the
 Database, unzip the ADD_BBS.ZIP file, and run the ADD_BBS.EXE program.
 This program will ask you what I need to know to add your BBS, and write
 it all to a text file of your choice, in the proper format. Then you must
 attach that file to a message to me on MSI's HQ BBS (805) 873-2400, or
 call my BBS, The Last Call BBS! (313) 295-6284, and upload the completed
 form to the "BBS Forms" file area. Or you can call The Last Call BBS, and
 fill out online questionnaire #11. Or you can CRASH it through FIDO to
 1:2410/903.

    Also, if you would like a copy of the BBSLIST.DAT file containing your
 listing, let me know, and I will attach it in a message to you when it is
 added. 98% of the time, the next day!

    If you wish to get on the board quickly, and upload your form, or fill
 out the questionnaire, then call and log on under the name,

 First Name: VISITING
 Last Name : SYSOP
 Password  : VISIT
                   Please take note that this will give you somewhat limited
 access to the board, as it is only intended for those SysOps who plan on
 only calling once or so. Under this name and password, you will have access
 only to BBS related file areas, restricted to default conference, and
 upload access only to the "BBS Forms" & "UPLOADS - For SysOp" file areas.



͸
 Comments & Suggestions                                                  7 
;

    If you have any comments or suggestions about the program, or the way it
 works, what it needs, could use, or whatever, I can be contacted on my BBS,
 The Last Call BBS! (313) 295-6284, or on MSI's HQ BBS (805) 873-2400. Or
 via Internet E-Mail, at Thomas.Smith@wland.ack.mi.org, or by FIDO. CRASH me
 at 1:2410/903.

    I can also be reached by snail mail, at the following address,

 The Last Call BBS!
 26910 Beverly
 Taylor, MI 48180

    Any comments and/or suggestion about this program, are extremely welcome!
 Any input at all would be great, so I may know what users think of this
 program. I know it needs more records, but that can only be done by SysOps
 of other BBS's, as I will not add them without their consent because some
 SysOps would rather not have their BBS listed in the program.


 END OF BBSLISTR.TXT ͵
