Welcome to the first edition of PB-NEWS! Before I describe PB-NEWS's intended function, I'd like to give a brief history of PB-NEWS and why we have it...

At one time, Warren Davis decided to start a newsletter for ProBoard called PBNEWS (notice there's no hyphen :)

... He published a total of three editions before calling it quits for whatever reason (I think it was just the fact that he had been doing all the work himself without many articles being submitted from others...)

Anyway, I've been mulling the idea of beginning publication of the newsletter again, to keep all of us ProBoard SysOps informed.

... Thus the formation of PB-NEWS.
 

PB-NEWS is mainly intended to keep the ProBoard SysOps abreast of the latest news and developments in the ProBoard community.

It is my hope that this newsletter grows quite large, with lots of fellow SysOps submitting articles...

This is what cost us the newsletter the last time around, and I would like to avoid that problem again...

If you have something interesting to say it, let us know about it!

Thanks for reading!
 

PB-NEWS is currently looking for authors for bi-monthly columns....

Maybe someone would be willing to write PEX reviews for us, or maybe a "ProBoard BBS Of The Month" feature... Maybe a "Programmer's Tip Of The Month" column, or even a montly tutorial (Such as how to define a global menu, etc.)...

We're also looking for "one-timers"... That is, people who are willing to write an article without committing themselves to writing something every month....

If you're interested, please let PB-NEWS know!

You can reach me at
• Internet e-mail - murphyd@bayonne.net
• PB-NEWS @ 1:2630/316 - FidoNet
• PB-NEWS @ 751:2000/100 - The Global ProBoard Network
• via my BBS, The DMJ BBS System/2 - North Bergen, NJ - (201)271-9485

 

There is nothing really new going on this month, except the fact that ProBoard 2.16 is still in BETA test stage, and ProBoard 3.0 is expected to enter wide-beta testing within the next month or so...

Stay tuned here for more information!
 

Many people keep asking when version 2.16 of ProBoard will be released. As of now, we simply don't know. The latest beta is number 3 and it has been at this number since last summer! It has been rumored in the Fido ProBoard echo that 2.16 is due at the same time as the first beta of Version 3. It doesn't make any sense to us either.

Version 3 will be available in DOS, OS/2 and Win95/NT native formats. The Win95/NT version will be available in beta first, shortly followed by the OS/2 version. The DOS version will be available quite some time after the others.

On 1st January we made available the new 'ProBoard Message Centre'. This is a new service that we think will be of great use to ProBoard SysOps. It allows you to leave/read messages on a WWW based system. The advantage of it over USENET is that won't suffer from spam and the advantage over IRC is that you don't have to be online at the same time as somebody else.

Please drop by at http://www.fe-line.demon.co.uk.
 

AMU 3.0 has been released to the public for consumption! For those of you who've never used AMU, you have no idea what you're missing ... AMU is a full maintenance program which takes care of everything from FILES.BBS maintenance to writing messages to users who drop carrier!

It's an excellent well-written package with a nice, easy-to-use setup interface.
Here's a list of some of AMU's functions:

* Sort file listings alphabetically
* Add headers to file listings
* Update download counters for BBS and Mailer logs
* Adopt missing files
* Remove orphaned file entries from file listings
* Create FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI file descriptions for the files in your dnld areas.
* Backup file listings
* Rearchive files
* Scan files for virus infection (notifies Sysop if virus found)
* Add comments to ARJ, RAR, and ZIP files
* Move or delete files older than X days
* Perform maint on a Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Interval basis via control files
* Post messages to new users
* Post messages to users who upload
* Post messages to users who drop carrier
* Post messages to users on their birthday
* Post messages to users when their subscription is about to expire
* Inform users when their credit is low
* Pick random menus/textfiles
* Clean user records
* Generate top user bulletins
* Generate file area overview bulletin
* Generate Message base overview bulletin
* Generate Daily Upload and Download activity bulletin
* Generate Doors Usage overview bulletin
* Create Allfiles listings
* Create Newfiles listings
* Create dated archives
* Trim files to a certain number of bytes
* Promote/Demote users based on the number of files/kbs downloaded, uploaded, number of calls and posts, upload:download ratios, and Post:Call ratios, and subscription expiration.
* Create list of requestable directories

If you're looking for an all-in-one package to handle those SysOp functions that are a pain in the neck, then you need AMU!

FREQ it today from 1:2630/316 as

AMU_DOS - DOS Version
AMU_OS2 - OS/2 Version
AMU_WIN - Windows Version

You can also FTP it from isonline.com (208.197.124.4) in the /amu directory!
 

HiLite is, by far, the BEST program I've ever seen for making your ANSI menus "lightbar" controllable.

Its setup is extremely easy and fast. Using HiLite, I was able to "lightbarize" the menus on my BBS within a matter of 2 hours. That includes over 35 menus!

If you're looking for that "Something Special" to push your system lightyears beyond everyone else, grab a copy of HiLite! You won't be sorry!

FREQ it today from 1:2630/316 as HILITE... or 2:254/278 as HILITE
WWW to http://www.fe-line.demon.co.uk
FTP to ftp.win-uk.net /pub/users/fe-line/proboard_files/
 

** This Column Available! See article 2 for more information! **
 

I would like to see this article eventually become one in which someone gives programming tips, hints, tricks, and news, but I'm not a full-fledged C++ programmer yet, so I can't really do much here but ask questions... Here are my two questions of the month:

1) Is there anyone willing to take over this article? :-)
I'd like someone who is willing to write us something each issue (bi-monthly)...

2) I'd like to have a "Press C to Continue:" type prompt for my users, but with a slight twist: I'd like it to mildly chide them for pressing C too quickly...

You see, I have a problem here with people running through my news flashes too quickly and just pressing C to get on with everything; If anyone could send me some C++ code to do the above, I would sincerely appreciate it -- and print it in the next edition of PB-NEWS!
 

The DMJ BBS System is located in North Bergen, NJ (About 5 minutes away from New York City). It is currently running the ProBoard BBS software, version 2.163, under IBM OS/2 Warp.

The system is open 23 hours a day, 5 days a week, with the exception of 4 - 5 am for FidoNet Mail Processing.

The system offers its users many 'standard' BBS functions, such as online door games (over 50 of them), file areas (specializing in SysOp Files) and of course, messaging (We carry over 175 echoes!).

The ANSI interface is one of the nicest (and most colorful) around, and is extremely easy to navigate, with settings for novices and experts alike.

The SysOp has taken great care to make sure that the system looks and feels UNIQUE; there is no other BBS in the world like it!

The system is also the worldwide home of HudsonNET, and serves as a support forum for local ProBoard SysOps.

We also offer the non-SysOp users many unique things such as Scrabble Tournaments and cursor key controls for those who are too lazy to use the hotkeys. :)

The users are extremely friendly, and keep their language "G-Rated", so everyone can enjoy the BBS.

The only major drawback of the system is that it's so busy! Right now, there is only one dialin node, but hopefully we will add more by the summer of '97.

If you're looking for a nice ProBoard BBS in the Northeastern USA, give The DMJ BBS System a call!
 

Would you LOVE a custom PEX, but don't know how to program in C++? No problem!

Just send your requests to PB-NEWS and we'll publish them here, and hopefully one of our great PEX authors will pick up on it for you!
 

Dennis Murphy, FidoNet 1:2630/316
Internet: murphyd@bayonne.net

Sarah & Faye Pearson, FidoNet 2:254/278
Internet: fe-line@proboard.com     http://www.fe-line.demon.co.uk
 

via FREQ: FREQ PB-NEWS from 1:2630/316 (USA) - 2:254/278 (UK)
via FTP: isonline.com (208.197.124.4) in the /pbnews directory
ftp.win-uk.net /pub/users/fe-line/pbnews
via WWW: http://www.fe-line.demon.co.uk
 

Send a Netmail to PB-NEWS@1:2630/316, with the subject of ARTICLE SUBMISSION, and with the article itself as the body of the message.

Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise PB-News is Copyrighted 1997 by Dennis Murphy and Fe-Line Software. All rights reserved.

Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or Dennis Murphy.