-=-=-=- How to use this system from a DOC BBS user's perspective -=-=-=- Since you are a DOC (Dave's Own version of Citadel) BBS user, you will primarily be interested in the messaging and email functions of this system, I am assuming. This document will focus and contrast on how to use these facets of this Synchronet BBS system vs. common functions in utilizing messaging and email via the DOC system, which is popular on such boards as Utopia, Dammit! BBS (telnet://bbs.utopiadammit.com/) and eSchwa BBS (I assume telnet://bbs.eschwa.com/; if I'm wrong I honestly don't care, the sysops and admins on that place really suck the donkey's balls). You'll find that this system has many other functions that add a vast amount of functionality to these two type of functions that are the sole component of DOC BBSes, with the exception of instant 'X' messaging, which also has a clone on this system. Primarily these features consist of a File Transfer Library and an informational Text Files section. Public messaging 'rooms' are the most commonly utilized function, IMO, of a DOC BBS. The whole point of this (and most other) kinds of BBSes seems to me to be fostering an environment where people can engage in public discussion between other people or questions and commentary to the community at large. Areas for doing this are divided into 'rooms' on a DOC system and 'groups' & 'sub-boards' on a Synchronet system. A 'group' is a collection of 'sub-boards', grouped by local only or networked 'sub-boards'. Anything that is local are messages intended only for the denziens of this local system, anything that resides in a sub-board on one of the networked message groups is meant to gather comments from the peanut gallery on a more global scale. Nothing in either of these places are private, nor do they have the option to be. You need to use email for private communications. On a DOC system you can use the 'k' key from the main menu for listing all of the different messaging 'rooms'. Synchronet allows you to list the different groups and sub-boards from the main menu by utilizing the '*' key (for listing sub-boards in your current group), or the '/*' command in order to list all of the different groups of sub-boards. You can utilize the 'J' command from the main menu to jump to a new message area (group & sub-board). This is paralleled by the 'j' command in the DOC system, as well, although there you only jump to a room number or title, and you don't have to first select which group this is a member of. You can select what sub-boards you read by default when going through all of your new messages by selecting the '&' command from the main menu; this occurs automatically when each room you enter is selected for new 'scan' reading when you 'j'ump to it in DOC, then to be entered and scanned for new messages any time you hit the spacebar to go to the next message from one of the prompts (DOC). Once you have gone through and selected the sub-boards that look interesting to you from within the separate groups, you'll probably want to move on to actually reading some of the content from these places. On DOC systems this is easily accomplished by hitting the spacebar repeatedly *THWAP*. On a Synchronet system you're going to want to use the command 'N' for New message scan from the main menu. You don't hit 'N' repeatedly, though. Once you see a message, you'll want to hit enter to go on to the next message, 'Q' to quit back to the main menu (or exit the pause prompt without seeing the rest of the message), or just type a new message number to go to that message, which is useful when first starting reading of a sub-group that has too many messages to read through all of them. Now you've found a message that has piqued your interest enough for you to want to reply to its content. This is what the system is all about. On DOC you're going to hit 'r' for reply. On this Synchronet system, you'll have to hit 'A' for some reason. It might be a good idea to point out at this point, since this is not a self-evident keypress, that at _ANY_ of the menus you can always hit '?' to bring up a list of commands applicable at that location. Feel free to hit '?' often until things start to stick. When you're done with your reply, if you want to see what you've written you hit '/l' on a blank line, '/abt' to abort your message, or '/s' to finally save it and allow others to view and respond to it. You'll now be returned to the previous message reading menu. This should really be about it for most of the message base functionality. Keep looking at your menus; at some point after you're familiar with these functions of the message boards you'll find an occasion to try working with some of the other options. They're really pretty self-evident as you work your way around and become more familiar with things on here. Emailing is accomplished on the DOC systems by use of a certain special-purpose room only for private communications and messages usually titled 'Mail' or 'Email'. The Synchronet system has a completely separate email function which you can access by hitting 'E' at the main menu. Once you're there you'll find a very terse and small menu telling you to strike 'S' to send local mail, 'R' to read mail, and 'N' to send regular internet email. Once you've located the proper menu, these commands and how to use them are very straight forward. After hitting 'S' or 'N' you will be prompted for all of the information you need to provide after that, and then dumped into the same 'line-editor' function that the BBS uses for transcribing your message into any one of the sub-groups that you have utilized previously. As I mentioned previously, when you're done typing your communique, type '/l' on a blank line to see what you've written, '/abt' to abort your message, or '/s' to save and send your message immediately. If any portions of this documentation are unclear, or you still have any questions, please send me a private message via Feedback (the command is 'F' at the Email menu, to send this) and I will get back to you and update this bulletin as soon as possible for clarity. Thank you for your time and I hope this helps utilizing the BBS be a more friendly and enjoyable experience for you. Stay tuned for further documentation of other functions in a more friendly format soon. -Khelair