Spence XP v6.4

By

Ken Spence & James McFarlane



Introduction:

As you can see from the screen shots, I had an awful time making this puppy work. This is suprising, since the setup is straightforward, the docs are complete, and the system even has a "no modem" option for testing. Even given that, I had problems. This also goes for 6.8, which did not come with documentation.

Still, the docs for 6.4 helped to fill out the Facts, and at one point I must have been able to get into the system (investigation was done almost a year before this writing), so we'll skip my impressions and commentary and just get to the nitty-gritty.

The Facts:

Hardware Information

Computer    :   C64 or C128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 columns
Drives      :   CBM, cmd partitions, but no subdirs
Modems      :   300-2400, hayes, 1670, new 1670, NO modem
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen or Printer
RAM use     :   REU drive supported
Special     :   1581 partitions supported

General

Pgm Struct  :   Numerous stand-alone programs
Menu Struct :   Mostly single menu/word entry system
Translation :   ASCII only
Access      :   3 levels hard coded, some flags for xfer/msg bases
Handle/ID   :   Handles supported
User info   :   Handle, password, access
User Logs   :   Included
Calls/Time  :   Hard coded per access
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not very
  Programs  :   Compiled BASIC, not changable
  Displays  :   As SEQ files
  Commands  :   Hard coded
Areas       :
  E-mail    :   Part of message bases
  Messages  :   From main menu
  Transfers :   Separate menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   From main menu
  Text      :   Separate menu
  User Cmds :   N/A
  SysOp     :   Separate menu
  Voting    :   N/A
  News      :   N/A
  Help      :   N/A
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Configurator
Online      :   Access, logoff, chat, time, sysop
Remote      :   User, Msg/Xfer bases, Copier, DOS, SEQ files
On-L Display:   Handle/Baud in a window
W.F.C. Utils:   Terminal, DOS
Chatting    :   From prompts
User        :   Online utilities
Msg Bases   :   Setup, online editor
Transfers   :   Setup, online editor
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   DOS, line sys drives editor
Terminal    :   No ASCII, Upload, Download

News

Structure   :   N/A
Header      :   N/A
Weeding     :   N/A
Display     :   N/A

Messages

Structure   :   Unstructured threaded system
Bases       :   7 Catagories in 8 bases, with only 1 base having catagories
Limits      :   Message limits
            :   Enforced by system
Reading     :   Scanning, tracing
Headers     :   From, To, Subject, Date, Catagory
Format      :   Text
Writing     :   As new, replies, auto-replies
Anonymous   :   no
Network     :   N/A
Other       :   Message editing, SysOp Sigs

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Menu
Editing     :   Search/Replace, edit, insert, delete
Formatting  :   No word wrap, no multi-lines (coded)
Graphics    :   Nope

Transfers

Bases       :   0-10 directories, open directory style
Storage     :   Directory list files
Limits      :   N/A
Credits     :   N/A
Protocols   :   Xmodem, Xmodem 1K, Ymodem, Punter
Headers     :   Size, name, descriptions
Selection   :   By name
Listing     :   Directory list only
Network     :
Other       :   Arc contents!

Text Libraries

Structure   :   Numbered/named list of files
Storage     :   As SEQ files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   As private messages in message bases
Sending     :   From main menu
Receiving   :   By scanning message bases, or at logon scanning
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

Structure   :   Selections from main menu
Programs    :   Seperate stand-alone
Network     :   N/A
Other       :


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