In the early days of BBSing, almost all Commodore BBS programs were ASCII-only to remain compatible with other computer types. As Commodore computers proliferated, we began to take advantage of our unique and powerful character set in BBS programming, and it seemed we would never looked back-- well, almost never.
This time, in the name of easy compatibility with network messaging, it appears we have a new (well, relatively new) ASCII-only system to consider: VortexNet.
VortexNet is designed from top to bottom, inside and out, as THE FidoNet BBS software for the Commodore 128. If you do not plan to use this program to participate in it's FidoNet capabilities, I do not recommend you use this program. It's features are fairly standard otherwise, with few bells and whistles, and a documentation system that's barely helpful to the difficult configuration task that awaits any SysOp willing to take this program on.
Computer : Commodore 128 Video : 80 columns only Drives : 3+ CBM drives only; restricted in configuration Modems : Hayes/1670 300-2400 baud Input : Keyboard only Output : Screen only RAM use : N/A Special :
Pgm Struct : Modular in several separate programs Menu Struct : Text is changable. Hotkey system Translation : ASCII only Access : 10 levels, progressive system only Handle/ID : Handles allowed, users listed by ID# User info : Handle, pword,access,cols,calls,read,stat, 2 extra User Logs : N/A Calls/Time : Definable for each level Network : FidoNet, EchoMail, Message Tosser Customizing : Not terribly customizable Programs : Compiled BASIC, not changable Displays : Menus are text files, most lines definable Commands : Hard coded command letters, access definable only Areas : Main menu and two separate online areas E-mail : From main menu Messages : Separate menu Transfers : From 'basement' menu Network : Integrated functions Programs : From main menu Text : N/A User Cmds : From 'basement' menu SysOp : From 'basement' menu Voting : 'basement' menu: trivia, questionaire, votes... News : At logon only Help : N/A Other : N/A
Offline : Configuration, network, message base, text editors Online : Access changer, chat, force logoff, name change Remote : Complete system setup utilities On-L Display: User window W.F.C. Utils: Same as offline Chatting : From almost anywhere User : Complete WFC User editor available Msg Bases : WFC and online editors available, no msg editors Transfers : Directory editors only Programs : Complete WFC editors available Network : Complete WFC editors available Drives : N/A Terminal : N/A
Structure : Single textfile Header : N/A Weeding : N/A Display : At logon
Structure : Linear, unthreaded
Bases : Named, listed by number
Limits : Message limit per base
: Limits maintained during run-time
Reading : By number, global, and new reading
Headers : To, From, date, subject
Format : ASCII only
Writing : New posts or replies, quoting supported
Anonymous : Supported
Network : Supported
Other :
Structure : Line editor Commands : Save, Insert, Delete, Continue, Edit Editing : Line replace only Formatting : N/A Graphics : N/A
Bases : Open directory system with 1 base per drive (3 total) Storage : As standard CBM files listed in SEQ directory files Limits : Maintained by SysOp Credits : N/A Protocols : Xmodem CRC Headers : Name, uploader, file description, size Selection : By name Listing : Name, bytes, uploader, file description Network : N/A Other :
Structure : N/A Storage : N/A Network : N/A Other : N/A
Structure : Sending/receiving from main menu, reading at logon Sending : From main menu Receiving : From main menu or at logon Network : Supported Other :
Structure : Listing off main menu Programs : Separate; no interaction with main program Network : N/A Other :
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