--------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 Bulletin Board System Software for OS/2 Version 1.0 ExcelSoft Software March 15th, 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 is a bulletin board system that runs under the protected mode of Microsoft's multitasking operating system, OS/2. Omega Point/2 can be used for a variety of communications tasks: as a full blown BBS system with up to 24 incoming lines, as a small system with 1 or 2 lines running as a background task, or simply as an electronic mail or file depot. Omega Point/2 can be your "electronic answering-machine" or the core of a complete message and conference system. OP/2 was designed from the beginning to take advantage of OS/2's unique and powerful features: multitasking, the High Performance File System, run-time linking, and up to 16 megabytes of RAM. More importantly, Omega Point/2 forms a base that can be configured and expanded to meet your individual needs. The following describes the features and uses for the Omega Point/2 system. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 Description of Features --------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic Mail: Private Electronic Mail can be exchanged between users on your system. The Electronic Mail section allows you to read, write, and scan messages. Messages can be easily replied to, forwarded, copied, saved for later viewing, and deleted. Users can even use one command to quickly transfer all their new mail to their system. Binary files can be attached to any E-Mail message. This makes it easy for your users to exchange private files. Users will find the built in editor easy to use. Message Base: Omega Point/2 allows you to create up to 100 message forums. Each forum can be custom configured, allowing the SysOp (System Operator) to define a set of default access rights, or assign rights to individual users. Default access is based on the user's access level. Individual users can be given 'read', 'write', 'view', and 'sysop' rights. This flexible system allows you to group users and assign access in whatever way is appropriate for your system. Remote network mail (echo mail) will be supported by the third quarter of 1990. Message text can be uploaded using any of the supported protocol transfers. Users will enjoy being able to find what they need quickly with commands that allow them to read new messages only, read forward, read reverse, and read individual. File Section: This feature allows users to upload or download files to or from your system. OP/2 supports the standard transfer protocols Xmodem, Xmodem CRC, Xmodem-1k, Ymodem Batch, Ymodem-G, and Zmodem. Batch uploads and downloads are both fully supported. The library functions are comprehensive, allowing users to scan or view files in several ways. Files may be viewed with long descriptions, short descriptions and sorted either by name or date in ascending or descending order. In addition, files may be searched by keywords in the short descriptions and by using standard DOS wildcard specifications. You can even use Omega Point/2's flexible menu system to custom assign search or list commands. Functions are included for viewing the contents of standard ARC or ZIP files. Information stored for each file is complete with a one line description, long description, file date, contributor, accesses, and file size. Up to 100 file areas can be active per system. Access functions are similar to those for Message Bases, with individual flags for 'upload', 'download', and 'list'. Live Teleconferencing: The popularity of live 'telecon' is growing rapidly. It offers a way for several users to communicate in a live forum. Omega Point/2 teleconferencing can support up to the system limit of 24 users. The SysOp can specify the maximum number of conference rooms. Individuals can also create 'private' rooms which may be moderated and named by the owner. Private chat (where two users can talk one-on-one), paging, and other features are also provided. General Features: Support for up to 24 users is available. Versions for 2 (3 with PS/2 machines), 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 users are also available so you only pay for what you need. OP/2 includes support for 100 access levels and 32 access keys. In addition, each file library and message forum has its own access system. Most menu options can be configured to require a minimum user level or a certain access key. Any user can be set up as a forum moderator, giving them SysOp level rights for just a particular forum. The forum moderator can perform maintenance on the file library, delete any message, assign forum access to other users, rename or reconfigure the forum, and in general perform all maintenance tasks. Command linking is supported. For example, the user could type in the command "E;R;;" at the main menu to start reading his Electronic Mail from the first message. A user can create his own macros. Also, macros can be assigned to menu keystrokes so you can create your own specialized commands. Output display can be paused or stopped by the user at any time. Your users won't have to wait while long messages or menus are displayed. OP/2 offers several report generation features. Reports can be generated for many different statistics in several different formats and can be output to either printer or disk file. For example, you can easily output your entire userlog to a file that can be read in by your favorite spreadsheet. Using a spreadsheet program you may generate custom reports or graphs for data; such as, upload to download ratios or number of messages posted per user per logon. Complete user lists or message logs can also be generated. These functions allow you to stay well informed about how your system is functioning and how your users are taking advantage of your service. Virtually all modems are supported. Baud rates up to the OS/2 limit of 19,200 are supported. MNP and V.42bis error correcting protocols are fully supported. You need not have similar modems on each line. Each line can be specifically configured for whatever type of modem you happen to be using. Omega Point/2 is fast. Much of the development and virtually all of the live testing was done on a simple 10 Mhz 286 based machine running multiple lines. OP/2 is one of the fastest products in its class, easily supporting connect rates of 9600 baud and offering speedy user response. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 Expansion and Customization --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 comes with many features and functions, but a BBS is very personal entity and every one is unique. Recognizing this, OP/2 was designed to allow you, the SysOp, to tailor, customize, and expand your system to create the precise look and feel you want. OP/2 uses what we call Menu Configuration Files (MCF) to allow you to specify the keystrokes or commands users enter to perform certain actions. These files are simple to use or modify and a standard set is, of course, included with the software. A sample MCF line might look like this: "W",FUN,10,UsersOnline Each field in the line is separated by a comma, so reading from left to right this line means "when the user enters the 'W' command, execute an internal FUNction. Check to see if the user has an access level of at least 10. If so execute the function 'UsersOnline' (which displays a list of the users currently logged into the system)". Any text editor (including the OS/2 system editor) can be used to modify these files. In the example above, when the user enters "W", an internal BBS function is executed. Many internal functions are included for doing things like listing files in a library, paging users online, changing menus, and many other things. In addition to these built in operations you may also attach an external program or a Dynamically Linked function to a menu option. Even if you have no desire to write your own programs or functions, you may want to take advantage of those written by others. Games are one of the most popular uses for this feature. For example, from the Game Menu you may want to call the external program 'ADVENT.EXE', which is an Adventure type game modified to run with OP/2. The MCF line to do this would look like this: "ADVENT",PRO,99,ADVENT.EXE This line is very similar to the previous example, except instead of the 'FUN' command this line users the 'PRO' command to call an external PROgram. In addition, there are flags to start new sessions or even load and call an OS/2 Dynamic Link Library (DLL) on demand. Using Dynamic Link Libraries for some functions can dramatically improve overall performance and functionality. Programs written using the BBS API (described below) snap seamlessly into the rest of the system. This family of features is what makes Omega Point/2 shine over its counterparts running under operating systems such as MS-DOS. Your BBS continues to run even as external programs are running in the background. Although there are several programs already available that take advantage of these features, you may wish to create your own. OP/2 includes all the tools you need to do this in a package called the BBS API (Application Programmer's Interface). This toolkit consists of an import library for the I/O DLL, include files, make files, and example code. Programs that use this API are easy to write can be integrated easily into the rest of your system. This means, for example, that the SysOp can spy on a user in another program or a user in an external program can be paged from the regular system. Although you will need an OS/2 'C' compiler to create these programs, the OS/2 toolkit is not required. Some needs may not call for an entire stand alone program. For these situations, you can also create DLLs using the BBS API. These DLL functions can be loaded on demand and kept in memory until they are no longer needed. This allows you to make the best use of your RAM while still providing outstanding performance. And of course you can still take advantage of OS/2's rich programming environment. One example program included with the system uses a named pipe driver in a multiplayer mini-game. This technique can even be used to allow for players on other machines in an OS/2 LAN. Your needs may not require you to write your own expansion programs. Nonetheless, since each package we sell includes the full toolkit there will be many programs available that you may find useful in your application. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega Point/2 Availability --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you would like to find out more, why not give our running system a call? Our BBS phone number is (714) 963-8517, or (714) 963-6812 if you have a US Robotics HST or V.32 9600 baud modem. Connect using 8 data bits, 1 stop, and no parity. The system is running 24 hours a day. Leave Electronic Mail to 'SYSOP' or post a message in one of the public forums if you have any questions. Omega Point/2 is in final beta testing now and will be available in the 2nd quarter of 1990. Step into the '90s with a BBS program built on the advanced foundation of OS/2. Omega Point/2 has the following system requirements: OS/2 1.1 or later, at least 4 megabytes of RAM, and 3 megabytes of available disk space. You can also contact ExcelSoft electronically via: CompuServe: 74766,1034 BIX: chrisb MCI Mail: chrisb Or via Snail Mail at: ExcelSoft ExcelSoft 10201 Kukui Drive 24 High Point Road Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Lincroft, NJ 07738