Network menu options: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:38, 27 February 2026

Color 64 Network - Network Menu Options

The Network Menu

At the top of the Network Menu screen, a free memory check displays the number of bytes currently available. The exact value will vary depending on your system configuration. If available memory approaches 3000 bytes, your BBS is heavily loaded and may be at risk of an out-of-memory condition. Systems with numerous modifications, games, or a large number of configured nodes consume additional memory. If memory becomes too low, reduce the number of nodes through the NET SETUP program.

When selecting any of the eight menu options, you may notice a brief screen flash. This simply confirms that your keypress was received. Some options may require a short delay to access.

Network Menu Command Descriptions
Menu Command	Command Description
F1: Change Date/Time	Performs the same function previously available on the Sysop Menu.
F2: Change Window	Temporarily overrides the Network open and close window times defined in NET SETUP. The override remains active until you change it again, restart the BBS, or the system resets.
F3: Maintenance	Opens the Network Maintenance submenu. This section is used frequently and is covered in detail later in the documentation.
F4: Multi-Send	Allows the Sysop (offline only) to send the same message or file to multiple nodes without recreating it for each destination. To use this feature: First create a NET DEFAULT MESSAGE in the POST NETWORK MSG section, or a DEFAULT FILE in the ATTACH A FILE section. These defaults are separate from normal BBS default messages. Enter the node numbers separated by commas (similar to multi-download), or enter "all" to send to every configured node. After confirming your selection, individual copies are created automatically. When finished, you may choose to retain the default message or file for future use (until replaced). If the mail verification modification is installed, it is not available when using Multi-Send. Refer to the Mail Verification section in "Miscellaneous Options/Features" for details.
F5: Release Public	Used to manage held public network messages. You may re-read, hold, delete, or release messages into your message base. All pointers are updated automatically. This option is also available online.
F6: Regenerate Network Index	Rebuilds the network index. Use this if the Nets Holding or Nets Due Out values appear incorrect. This option is also useful after manually deleting node messages or files at the DOS level (node messages begin with √+node, node files begin with √+file). The network index is automatically regenerated at BBS startup and at midnight.
F7: Post Network Msg	Used to create and send a message to a remote node. This option is also available online. When first accessed, free space is checked on the HOLDING drive. The reserved free space is the value defined in BBS SETUP under the upload free space allowance. You will then be prompted to select a node: Enter "?" to display a list of participating nodes. Enter the node number and confirm the displayed BBS name by answering "Y". Next, choose whether the message is public or private. Public messages: Enter a subject. Enter the standard message editor. Private messages: Enter "?" to view the node’s membership list (available after the first exchange). Enter the user’s name or user number. Entering a number is faster. Enter "SYSOP" to send directly to user #2 on the remote system. The message editor functions exactly like standard BBS message entry. File merging using the C= key is supported. If E-mail verification is installed, you will be asked whether you want confirmation when the message is transmitted. If enabled, a notice will be placed in your mailbox showing the date and time the message was sent.
F8: Return to BBS	Returns to the Waiting-for-Call screen.

Next Section: Network Maintenance

Color 64 Network

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 [[File:networkmenu.png|center|200px]]
-The first thing you see is a free memory check displaying how many bytes you have free in memory.  Results may vary, but if it gets down to 3000 or so, you're running a loaded BBS (lots of modifications and unregulated games) and run the risk of an out-of-memory error.  You may need to reduce the number of nodes through the net setup program if this gets too low, because the more nodes you have the more memory is used.
+At the top of the Network Menu screen, a free memory check displays the number of bytes currently available. The exact value will vary depending on your system configuration. If available memory approaches 3000 bytes, your BBS is heavily loaded and may be at risk of an out-of-memory condition. Systems with numerous modifications, games, or a large number of configured nodes consume additional memory. If memory becomes too low, reduce the number of nodes through the NET SETUP program.
-Whenever you choose any of these 8 options, you should see a quick flash on your screen.  This is just to confirm that your keypress was acknowledged since some options may take a second or two to access.
+When selecting any of the eight menu options, you may notice a brief screen flash. This simply confirms that your keypress was received. Some options may require a short delay to access.
-{| class="wikitable
+{| class="wikitable"
 |-
-|+Network Menu Command Descriptions
+|+ Network Menu Command Descriptions
 ! Menu Command
 ! Command Description
 |-
 | F1: Change Date/Time
-| There it is! This does the same exact thing it did when it was on the Sysop Menu.
+| Performs the same function previously available on the Sysop Menu.
 |-
 | F2: Change Window
-| This is an option to temporarily change your window times (read the Network SETUP section).  This option will remain in effect till either you change it again here, your BBS crashes, or you re-start it.
+| Temporarily overrides the Network open and close window times defined in NET SETUP. The override remains active until you change it again, restart the BBS, or the system resets.
 |-
 | F3: Maintenance
-| This will access another menu.  You’ll be using this a lot, so there is a section on this a little later.
+| Opens the Network Maintenance submenu. This section is used frequently and is covered in detail later in the documentation.
 |-
 | F4: Multi-Send
-| This is a feature which allows you (only yourself since it is not available on-line) to send the same message or file to more than one node at a time without having to visit the message maker each time.  The first thing you need to do is to create a NET DEFAULT MESSAGE or a DEFAULT FILE.  This is different than your normal BBS default message.  It can only be created in the POST NETWORK MSG section.  A DEFAULT FILE is created in the ATTACH A FILE section.  After you have created this default net msg or file, you can then use this feature.  To use, simply enter the NODE NUMBERS you wish to send to, separated by commas (just like in a multi-download).  If you want to send to every node you have, enter the word "all".
+| Allows the Sysop (offline only) to send the same message or file to multiple nodes without recreating it for each destination.
-After you make your selection, individual copies will be made.  When you’re done, you have the option of saving this default (indefinitely or until you create a new one).  Note: If installed, the mail verification option is not available when sending out multi-messages.  See the paragraph on the Mail Verification mod in the "Miscellaneous Options/Features" section for more information.
+To use this feature:
+* First create a NET DEFAULT MESSAGE in the POST NETWORK MSG section, or a DEFAULT FILE in the ATTACH A FILE section. These defaults are separate from normal BBS default messages.
+* Enter the node numbers separated by commas (similar to multi-download), or enter "all" to send to every configured node.
+After confirming your selection, individual copies are created automatically. When finished, you may choose to retain the default message or file for future use (until replaced).
+If the mail verification modification is installed, it is not available when using Multi-Send. Refer to the Mail Verification section in "Miscellaneous Options/Features" for details.
 |-
 | F5: Release Public
-| This is where you go to release any public messages which may be held.  Once again, you may not need this feature.  This is another easy to use, self-explanatory option.  You can re-read a message, hold it, delete it, or release it into your message base (all pointers will be set properly).  This option is also available on-line.
+| Used to manage held public network messages. You may re-read, hold, delete, or release messages into your message base. All pointers are updated automatically. This option is also available online.
 |-
 | F6: Regenerate Network Index
-| This can be used anytime you suspect something is screwy.  If your Nets Holding or Nets Due Out status values are incorrect, select this option and the index will be regenerated quickly.  This is also used in case you wanted to delete a node message or file directly in the BBS DOS (node messages begin with the prefix √+node, node files begin with the prefix √+file).  The network index is automatically regenerated when you boot up the BBS, and at midnight, so things should pretty much stay in good shape.
+| Rebuilds the network index. Use this if the Nets Holding or Nets Due Out values appear incorrect.
+This option is also useful after manually deleting node messages or files at the DOS level (node messages begin with √+node, node files begin with √+file).
+The network index is automatically regenerated at BBS startup and at midnight.
 |-
 | F7: Post Network Msg
-| This is where you go to enter the message to any node. This option is available online as well.
+| Used to create and send a message to a remote node. This option is also available online.
+When first accessed, free space is checked on the HOLDING drive. The reserved free space is the value defined in BBS SETUP under the upload free space allowance.
+You will then be prompted to select a node:
+* Enter "?" to display a list of participating nodes.
+* Enter the node number and confirm the displayed BBS name by answering "Y".
-When any user first accesses this section, free space is checked on your HOLDING drive.  The "reserve" free space used is the value you defined in the BBS SETUP under the free space allowance for uploads.
+Next, choose whether the message is public or private.
-Next, you are at the prompt which asks you which node you want to select.  If you are a level 9 user, you will see an additional message reminding you how to send a default net message.  If you enter “?”, you will get a listing of all participating nodes.  When you enter the number of the node, you will be given the name of the BBS.  Answer “Y” if it is correct.
+Public messages:
+* Enter a subject.
+* Enter the standard message editor.
-Now you are asked whether the message is private or public.  If you choose public, then you will be asked for the subject, and will be dumped into the message maker.  If you answer “private”, then you have a few options:
+Private messages:
-* You can at this point look at this nodes membership list by entering “?”.  You will of course not have a list until you send your first message.
+* Enter "?" to view the node’s membership list (available after the first exchange).
-* You can enter the user’s name or number.  Depending upon how far down the list the user is, this can take some time as each line needs to be scanned sequentially.  Entering a number is slightly faster than using a name.  Entering “SYSOP” will bypass the search, and the message will go to user #2 (the sysop).
+* Enter the user’s name or user number. Entering a number is faster.
+* Enter "SYSOP" to send directly to user #2 on the remote system.
-By now you should be in the message maker.  Everything is exactly as it is when you enter standard BBS messages.  You can use the C= key to merge files just as before.
+The message editor functions exactly like standard BBS message entry. File merging using the C= key is supported.
-After you send your message, if you decided to use the E-mail verification mode for the BBS (see the paragraph in "Miscellaneous Options/Features" for information on merging it in), you will also be asked if you would like E-Mail verification of when the message is sent. If you answer “Y” to this question, when the message is sent out to the node, a note will be put in your mailbox showing you the time and date the message went out.
+If E-mail verification is installed, you will be asked whether you want confirmation when the message is transmitted. If enabled, a notice will be placed in your mailbox showing the date and time the message was sent.
 |-
 | F8: Return to BBS
-| Exits back to the Waiting-for-Call screen
+| Returns to the Waiting-for-Call screen.
 |}