                         HELP FOR BEGINNERS 


        This text file is for those who are new to the modem world or who
are just unfamiliar this bbs software. To make things easier, the seperate
help areas will be in different specified sections.


* BASIC FUNCTIONS *

First off, when in doubt, hit "?". This will always display a menu of
available commands. Please study all the options available to you before
determining which command is the most effeciant one for the task you wish
to accomplish. If you're unsure what a command does, try it. There's no
better way to learn, than through experience.

Spend some time getting familiar with the bbs geographics. Below is a tree
stucture of the basic sections of the bbs:


Main Section (Bulletins/E-mail etc.)
  
  Default Section (Change your online settings)
  
  Online Programs (Programs or games that you can run while online)
  
  General Text Files (Read text files on various subjects -YOU ARE HERE!)
  
  Transfer Section (Upload/Download Files)
               
               Transfer Default Section (Change your transfer settings)
               
               Temporary File Directory (Add/Subtract or d/l temp file)



* SHORT-CUTS *

Quite often, there is more than one way to do something. Each way ending in
the same result, while only one way is the optimum or fastest way. For
convience, short-cuts often eliminate keystrokes or other wasted time.

Hitting "x" at the main menu will eliminate the constant display of menus.
Hitting "<" or ">" will change the current subboard or file directory.
Hitting "p" or "ctrl-s" will pause any scrolling display.
Hitting space bar will abort the scrolling of any display.
Hitting [enter] at the bulletin scan prompt, goes to the next bulletin.
Using faster transfer protocols (Ymodem-G, Zmodem, Puma) saves time.
Using batch downloads, you can d/l multiple files in one operation.
You can eliminate the annoying [PAUSE] with the Default section.
You can create macros in the Default section. (Macros are stored keystokes)




* MAIN SECTION *

[ Bulletin/Main Section ]
BBS stands for Bulletin Board System. The bulletin section of this bbs is
the center or main section. This is the section you will be in apon logon.
From the main (bulletin) section, you can choose from an assortment of
available commands. From here you can post or read bulletins from any
available subboard, leave or read electronic mail, and an assortment of
other miscelaneous things.


[ Bulletins ]
A bulletin is a message left from another user (or sysop). All bulletins
are for public viewing (except in the case of a special interest group).
The bulletins are contained in Subboards. Subboards are bulletin sections
devided by topic. You can get a list of available subboards by typing "*"
at the main menu. When reading bulletins (scanning), you have extra options
available. You can always get a list of available commands by typing "?"


[ Electronic Mail ]
You can send mail to another user and read mail sent to you with the e-mail
functions. Feedback to SysOp sends mail to the System Operator. E-mail is
personal and confidential. The SysOp of this bbs reserves the right to read
all mail, but will keep all information concerning user mail confidential.


[ Default Section ]
Here you can change the settings which affect your online account. You can,
for example, change your password, change ANSI support, toggle the paused
display, change the dimensions of your display (columns by rows), etc. All
changes made will be saved automatically for future calls.


* General Text Files Section *

Here you can view various text files (like the one you're reading). The
individual files are seperated by topic. You can request to have a text
file placed in the G-file section by e-mailing the sysop and uploading the
proposed text file.


* Transfer Section *

[ File Transfers ]
You can download, that is, copy from the bbs to your system, files
(programs, data, text etc.) These files are seperated into file directories
by topic. Hitting "*" at the transfer menu lists the available directories.
You can download any file that is listed in the available directories. The
only exception being files that are 'offline'. Offline files are noted by a 
blinking red file size or an ASK. Offline files are available on request. 
Trying to download an offline file will lower your ratio, but you won't get 
the file. If you want to download an offline file, e-mail the sysop requesting
the file(s) be placed online.

[ Archiving/Compression ]
The files in the bbs's file directories are in compressed form (archived).
An archived file can and usually contains several files that are compressed
together to create one larger, but compressed, file. Archived files are
recognized by thier extension, usually one of these: .ARC .PAK .ZOO .LZH
.ICE or .ZIP. Some files will be in the file directories in thier normal
form because either they can't be compressed (made smaller) or they need to
be executed by users who don't already have an archiving utility. In order
to unarchive (uncompress into original size and number of files) a file,
you must already have the archive utility that was used to compress the
file to begin with. Since there are several existing archiving utilities,
you can imagine how complex it would be to have all the different kinds on
hand all the time. To make things simple, this bbs has settled on one
method of compression. All archived files in the directories will use the
same method of compression so you only need one archive utility. The current
supported method of compression is PkZip. In order for you to unarchive the
files you download you will need to have this utility. The current version
is available on this bbs in the Utilities file directory. It is in
compressed form, but has an .EXE extension. When this file is run (after
you download it) it expands into several files (PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE
amoung others). These are the files used to archive several files into one
compressed file (pkzip.exe) and uncompress .ZIP files to there original
size and number of files (pkunzip.exe). You can recognize a file compressed
with PkZip by it's .ZIP extension. Once you've downloaded this file, you're
ready to download any compressed file from this bbs. Just don't forget to
unarchive it (PKUNZIP -D 'filename') before running it.


[ Protocols ]
When uploading (sending files) or downloading (receiving files) you must
use a protocol that your communications program supports. A protocol is the
form that the data takes when being sent over the modem. The protocol
checks the file on both ends to see that they are the same while being
transfered (error correction). Not all protocols do the same thing the same
way. You must select the same protocol on the bbs that you use with your
comm program. If you have several protocols available, then select the
newest one (usually the fastest). Zmodem is one of the faster protocols and
it supports auto-download and crash recovery (very convient). To date,
Ymodem-G is the fastest protocol, but it doesn't support some of the nicer
features of Zmodem or Puma. Selecting the best protocol is individual.
Experiment with the protocols available in your comm program. Most comm
programs offer external protocols (not built-in), so you can add updated or
new ones to your existing program. Whichever protocol you choose, no choice
is right or wrong. Just make sure you select the same one on each end.
Xmodem, Xmodem-CRC and Ymodem are commonly supported protocols. But these 
'older' protocols are not nearly as fast or convient as the 'newer' ones.
Chances are, if you're using Xmodem, you're not using the best available 
protocol. Try adding Puma or Zmodem to your comm program as an external 
protocol. Telix supports Zmodem auto-matically. Most users are very happy with
Zmodem's performance and reliability.

[ Batch Downloads ]
Batch downloading files is the most efficiant way to download multiple files
during one call. This software supports batch downloading with Ymodem and has
been modified to support almost all the available protocols (excluding Xmodem).


* END *

This is the end of the Beginning User Help File. If you have any further
questions, feel free to leave feedback to the sysop ("f" at the main menu).
