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<strong> Introduction </strong>
<strong> Administrative Details </strong>


[[Main_Page|Back to the Table of Contents]]
The links below will help provide a good overview of the 8.10a Build prior to your installation and operation of Color 64 BBS.


<ul style="list-style: none;">
<li>[[hardware|Hardware Support]]</li>
<li>[[overlays|The Program Overlays]]</li>
<li>[[filestorage|File Storage / Drives]]</li>
<li>[[configurations|Different Configurations]]</li>
<li>[[81aupdates|8.10a Updates from 8.0/8.1]]</li>
<li>[[techsupport|Technical Support]]</li></ul>


Color 64 BBS is a historical juggernaut in the Commodore 64 BBS world with years of development under its belt. It is a marriage of complexity and simplicity that provides powerful features for the system and at the same time, ease of customization to make your system unique.
Next Section: [[Specificsystemrequirements|Specific System Requirements]]
 
This BBS program is comprised of two parts.  The first part is the set of BASIC programs, called Overlays, which are responsible for the operation of the BBS program.  The second part is a section of machine language code, which extends the functions of BASIC to allow it to operate with a modem and to allow BASIC to run as fast as possible.  The original authors purposely wrote the overlays in BASIC for ease of modification by Sysops, which was how my development of version 8.1.0a came to be.  With a little BASIC programming knowledge, you can make your system stand out from others; yet this is not a requirement. Even without a programming background, the stock system includes enough features to run an excellent BBS system.
 
Before setting out to install your system, you should read through all the installation documentation carefully.  Do some planning on paper so you will have almost everything decided BEFORE you begin installation. Some key considerations are your BBS theme (what is your BBS about or for?), storage-space availability versus content (message and filebase categories), and what hardware will be supporting the system. More on all this in Chapter 2: Installation.
<table class=MsoTableGrid border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0
style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none'>
<tr>
  <td width=623 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:467.5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
  <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in'>Features of Color 64 BBS 8.1A
  include:</p>
  <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in'>&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td width=312 valign=top style='width:233.75pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Support for ANSI, ASCII or PETSCII (CBM) graphics</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Public and Private Messaging</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Autoreply to public and private messages</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>MCI (if permitted by user s level)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Version 8.1a permits user  signatures  and  banners </p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Text files and on-line help repository</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Nine configurable permission levels, permitting customization
  of permitted commands, message and file access, and time limits for each
  level.</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Y2K Compliant</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Autorecovery from System / Program errors</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Several system modes for local sysop use:</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>BBS Wait for call (normal operation)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Local Mode (Sysop logs in locally at system)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Terminal Mode: Built-in terminal program with upload and
  download capabilities (for calling other boards)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>DOS Mode: Built-in DOS Wedge for system maintenance</p>
  </td>
  <td width=312 valign=top style='width:233.75pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Supports 300-2400 baud natively, or up to 38,400 baud when
  using Swiftlink (either natively or in VICE 64 emulated environment)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>File transfer base</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>File transfers using Xmodem or Punter protocols (including
  multi-receive mode)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Configurable permission-based file access, allowing uploads and
  downloads to remain hidden from users that are not permitted</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Permits multiple categories either with multiple or singular
  disk systems</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>A download directory system that keeps all files dated and in
  chronological order</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Configurable maintenance clean-up features to include
  automation of:</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Automatic deletion of old unread mail</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:63.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:"Courier New"'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Automatic purging of members who have not called for a certain
  number of days</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Caller Log history</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Chat (Sysop / User)</p>
  <p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
  margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:27.0pt;text-indent:-.25in'><span
  style='font-family:Symbol'> <span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  </span></span>Supports Ram Expansion Units (REU) up to 2MB</p>
  <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in'>&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
</tr>
</table>

Latest revision as of 14:32, 4 October 2025

Administrative Details

The links below will help provide a good overview of the 8.10a Build prior to your installation and operation of Color 64 BBS.

Next Section: Specific System Requirements