FORUM SOFTWARE VERSION 4D COMPLETE COMMAND LISTING by Mike Schoenbach [76703,4363] Updated: May 15, 1989 SECTION I FORUM COMMANDS The following commands (referred to as "universal" commands) are supported at any navigational command prompt in the Forum. A navigational command prompt is denoted by an explanation point ("!") as CompuServe's prompt character. Cmd. Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========== ============ =========== CON CONFERENCE Enter the electronic conference area of the Forum. FIND FIND Find a topic on CompuServe. G GO Go to another product/service on CompuServe. HELP HELP Receive detailed help of valid commands available at whatever command prompt you enter the "HELP" command at. LIB LIBRARY Enter the Forum Libraries area. LOG LOGIN Log off and return to CompuServe's "User ID:" command prompt. M MENU Returns to previous menu. MES MESSAGES Enter the message area of the Forum. OFF OFF Logoff CompuServe. OPT OPTIONS Enter the user options area of the Forum (where settings are customized to your individual preferences). PER PER Exit to Personal File Area (menu mode). PRO PRO Exit to Personal File Area (command mode). QUO QUOTE View current stock quote(s) (This command is SURCHARGED: $0.07/quote during market hours; $0.02/quote after market hours). R RESEND Resend current page. S SCROLL Scroll output (if you are set to PAGED output). SET SET Set and adjust terminal settings for current session only. T TOP Exit to CompuServe's top menu. UST USTATUS View a listing of other members who are currently online in the Forum with you. WEA WEATHER View your local weather forecast. WHO WHO Find out when a specified member last visited the Forum (cross reference User ID for a name). ? ? Receive short command summary of valid commands available at whatever command prompt you enter the "?" at. The following commands are supported at the main Forum menu or "Forum !" command prompt. All command words can be abbreviated to the first three letters of the "Full Command" word, or even smaller in some cases (see the "Cmd Abbr." column for the smallest possible abbreviation of all commands). Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) A ANNOUNCEMENTS View Forum announcement files (Announcements include: News Flash, General, Messages, Conference, Library, Membership Information, Sysop Roster, New Member Info). COM COMPOSE Compose a message for the Forum's message board. CO CONFERENCE Enter conference area. CO# CONFERENCE # Enter conference area and go directly to specified conference room (#). DE DESCRIPTIONS View Conference Room(s), Libraries, and Message Section(s) descriptions. EX EXIT Exit Forum. I INSTRUCTIONS Enter electronic Forum instructions facility. LIB LIBRARY Enter Forum Libraries. LIB# LIBRARY # Enter specified Forum Library (#). MES MESSAGES Enter Forum Message area (communicate through correspondence with other Forum members). MEM MEMBERSHIP Enter Forum Membership Directory facility. NA NAMES View Conference Room, Library, and Message Section names. NE NEW View text file outlining latest changes in CompuServe's Forum software. OP OPTIONS Enter Forum User Options area (customize settings to your own preference). REA READ Read Forum Messages (see Section II of this file: REA/BRO syntax for more information). WH WHO Cross reference name for User ID. WH 7####,## WHO 7####,## Cross reference name for specified User ID. U ULOG View Forum users entry log. The following commands are supported at the Messages menu or "Messages !" command prompt. Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) A ANNOUNCEMENTS View Forum Announcements. BR BROWSE Browse messages (see Section II of this file: REA/BRO syntax for more information). COM COMPOSE Compose a message. CH CHANGE Change AGE selection to: NEW - New messages ALL - All messages DAYS - Specified numb of days STA - Specified starting # DES DESCRIPTIONS View Conference Room(s), Libraries, and Message Section(s) descriptions. HI HIGH Manually set or change high message counter to a new specified number (enter "D" to restore high message counter used at the beginning of the session; enter "L" to change to number of last message on board). I INSTRUCTIONS Enter electronic instructions facility. NA NAMES View Conference Rooms, Libraries, and Message Section names. REA READ Read Forum messages (see Section II of this file: REA/BRO syntax for more information). SE SELECT Select messages you wish to read by section/subject through a series of menu choices. SCA SCAN Scan Forum messages (see Section III of this file: SCAN syntax for more information). U UPLOAD Upload a message to the Forum message board using an error- checking file transfer protocol. The following commands are supported at the Member Directory menu or "Member Directory !" command prompt. Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) AD ADD Add/update your interests. D DELETE Delete your entry. I INTEREST Search by interest. L LIST List your entry. N NAME Search by name. US USERID Search by User ID. The following commands are supported at the User Options menu: Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu's command prompt) CH CHARACTER Set a new prompt character (character that will be displayed whenever CompuServe requires your input). E EDITOR Set a new Forum editor (an asterisk denotes your profile setting; other choices include: EDIT and LINEDIT). HI HIGH Manually change your high message pointer. I INITIAL Select which area of the Forum you wish to default to upon entering the Forum (choices include: Forum menu, Messages menu, Library menu, Conference menu). MO MODE Set Forum interface mode (asterisk denotes profile setting; other choices include: MENU and COMMAND). N NAME Change the name you use in the Forum (this user option may be disabled by the sysop in some Forums). P PERMANENT Make all changes you made permanent (until further notice). PA PAUSE Pause between messages (choices: ALWAYS, NEVER, messages TO YOU). RE REPLIES List reply information after reading a message (choices: COUNT, NONE, LIST numbers). S SESSION Make all changes you made for current session only. SEC SECTIONS Set default message sections to read (this option is automatically considered "permanent" until you change it in the future). SK SKIP Skip reading messages that you posted (YES or NO). TY TYPE Type waiting messages automatically upon entering the Forum (YES or NO). The following commands are supported at the Library menu or "LIB !" command prompt. Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) ANN ANNOUNCEMENTS View Forum Announcements. BRO BROWSE Browse through Library files (see Section V of this file: LIBRARY PARAMETERS for more information). DIR DIRECTORY Directory of files (see Section V of this file: LIBRARY PARAMETERS for more information). DOW DOWNLOAD Download a file from the Library (see Section VI of this file: UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD syntax for more information). ERA ERASE Erase a file you uploaded to the Library. INS INSTRUCTIONS Enter electronic instructions facility. KEY KEYWORDS View a list of all the keywords assigned to the various files within the Library. R READ Read an ASCII text file. R filnam.ext READ filnam.ext Read specified (filnam.ext) file. S SCAN Scan files in the Library (see Section V of this file: LIBRARY PARAMETERS for more information). UPL UPLOAD Upload a file -- FREE OF CONNECT CHARGES -- to the Library (see Section VI of this file: UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD syntax for more information). The following commands are supported at the message disposition ("Read action !", "Enter for more or type CHOICES !") command prompt: Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) CH CHOICES View menu of command choices. COM COMPOSE Reply to author of current message, but do not include reply as part of the current thread (new subject and/or new section). D DELETE Delete current message. MA MARK Mark message for later retrieval with READ MARK command. NEX NEXT Read next reply. NEX SUB NEXT SUBJECT Go on to next subject. P PARENT Read parent (previous) message. REA READ REPLY Read all replies to current message. RE REPLY Reply to current message. RER REREAD Reread current message. RO ROOT Read root (first) message of current thread. SC SCROLL Scroll messages (no not prompt for input after each individual message is displayed). The following commands are supported at the Post Action menu or "Post action !" command prompt (after composing a message): Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) C CANCEL Cancel (abort composing) message. E EDIT Edit message. MA MAIL Mail message via EasyPlex. PO POST Post message on message board (see Section IV of this file: POST PARAMETERS for more information). PR PREVIEW Preview message as it will appear according to your line length settings. PR W:## PREVIEW WIDTH:## Preview message as it will appear with specified (##) line length. TY TYPE Type message unformatted. The following commands are supported at the LINEDIT Edit menu or "Edit !" command prompt. Cmd Abbr. Full Command Explanation ========= ============ =========== (All universal commands are supported at this menu/command prompt) CH CHANGE Change a line of text. MA MAIL Mail message via EasyPlex. P POST Post message (see Section IV of this file: POST PARAMETERS for more information). REP REPLACE Replace a line of text. TY TYPE Type (display) composed message. The following commands are supported within the EDIT message editor. Please note that all commands MUST be entered at the beginning of a brand new line. Command Example Explanation ======= ======= =========== /A /A/text (Append) adds specified "text" to the end of the current line. /B /B (Bottom) moves the line pointer to the last line of text in the message. /C /C/old-text/new-text (Change) changes specified "old-text" string to specified "new-text" string within the current text line. /D /D# (example: /D3) (Delete) erases the number of lines you specify (#) starting with the current line. /EXIT /EXIT Exits the message editor. /HELP /HELP Enter EDIT help facility. /L /L/text (Locate) moves the line pointer to the next line that contains the specified "text" string. /N /N# (example: /N3 and /N-3) (Next) moves the line pointer up or down the number of lines you specify (#). For example, /N3 moves the line pointer down three lines and /N-3 moves the line pointer up three lines. /P /P# (example: /P3) (Print) displays the number of lines you specify (#), beginning with the current line of text. /POS /POS# (example: /POS5) (Position) moves the line pointer to the specified line number (#). /POST /POST (Post) post message (see Section IV of this file: POST PARAMETERS for more information). Note SLASH must be included! /T /T (Top) move line pointer to the very top of the message (right before the first line of text). /TYPE /TYPE (Type) displays entire message. /UPLOAD /UPLOAD (Upload) Upload message into editor using one of the various CompuServe-supported error-checking file transfer protocols. /W /W (Where) displays current line number. ========================================================================== SECTION II REA/BRO COMMAND SYNTAX: Command Optional Parameters READ or BROWSE [DIRECTION] [AGE] [SEARCH CRITERIA:] [MESSAGE SECTIONS:] FORWARD NEW FROM: SECTIONS: THREAD DAYS:## TO: REVERSE (*) ALL SUBJECT: WAITING (*) STARTING:## MARKED (*) All the above commands and parameters can be abbreviated to their first three letters (e.g., REA FOR NEW FRO:76703,4363 SEC:2,3,4). If a parameter is not specified the default setting will be used. All parameters that are specified in your READ or BROWSE command line will only effect your current READ or BROWSE command and will not alter your session or permanent settings. You can not specify [AGE] or [SEARCH CRITERIA] parameters when using the REVERSE, WAITING, and MARKED "direction" parameters. [DIRECTION] FORWARD = Forward numerical order THREAD = Thread order REVERSE = Reverse numerical order WAITING = Waiting messages addressed to your User ID MARKED = Messages you marked for later retrieval [AGE] NEW = New Messages above your current High Message Pointer DAYS:## = Only specified (##) days worth of messages ALL = All messages on the entire board STA:## = Starting from specified message number (##) [SEARCH CRITERIA] FROM:xx = Messages from specified users name or User ID TO:xx = Messages address to specified users name or User ID SUB:xx = Messages that contain specified subject string [SECTIONS] SEC:#,#,# = Messages in specified (#,#,#) sections Examples: REA WAI (READ WAITING messages) REA MAR (READ MARKED messages) REA ALL (READ ALL messages on entire board) REA ALL SEC:2,9,10 (READ ALL messages in SECTIONS 2, 9 and 10) REA NEW FRO:76703,4363 (READ NEW messages FROM: User ID 76703,4363) REA NEW TO:76703,4363 SEC:2 (READ NEW messages in SECTION 2 addressed TO: User ID 76703,4363) REA DAYS:3 (READ ALL messages posted during the last three DAYS) REA FOR DAYS:2 SUB:"Atari Computers" (READ ALL messages posted during the last two DAYS in FORWARD numerical order that contain the SUBJECT: "Atari Computers") REA REV LAST (READ REVERSE starting with the last message on the board) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SECTION III SCAN COMMAND SYNTAX The SCAn command accepts the same command syntax as REAd and BROwse with the added parameter of PROMPT (PRO) which will tell the software to PROMPT you after displaying the header for each message. You will be prompted to: Continue, Read, or Mark message for later retrieval. Examples: SCA WAI (SCAN WAITING messages) SCA MAR (SCAN MARKED messages) SCA ALL FRO:76703,4363 PRO (SCAN ALL messages FROM: 76703,4363 and PROMPT for disposition after displaying header) ========================================================================== SECTION IV POST PARAMETERS POST [UNFORMATTED] [PRIVATE] [SECTION:] [TO:] [SUBJECT] [UNFORMATTED] UNF = Include the "UNF" parameter to post the message "unformatted" where it will be displayed to all users exactly the way you typed it in. [PRIVATE] PRI = Include the "PRI" parameter to post a message privately where only the author of the message and the addressee can read it. NOTE: Not all Forums have Private messages enabled. [SECTION:] SEC:## = Include the "SEC:##" parameter (where ## is the section number you want the message to be posted in) to bypass the sections menu. [TO:] TO:xxxx = Include the "TO:xxxx" parameter (where "xxxx" is a Users name and/or User ID) to address a message in your POST command line. NOTE: This parameter can only be used if you are COMposing a message -- not in REPly mode. [SUBJECT:] SUB:xxxx = Include the "SUB:xxxx" parameter (where "xxxx" is the message's 'title' or 'subject') to bypass the "Subject:" prompt. Examples: POS PRI SEC:2 SUB:Hello! TO:Mike Schoenbach 76703,4363 (POST a PRIVATE message in SECTION 2 addressed TO Mike Schoenbach 76703,4363 with the SUBJECT "Hello") POS UNF (POST message UNFORMATTED) POS SUB:New Thread SEC:1 (POST this message with the SUBJECT "New Thread" in SECTION 2) ======================================================================== SECTION V LIBRARY PARAMETERS SCAN or DIRECTORY or BROWSE [FILNAM.EXT] [AGE:] [KEYWORD:] [DESCRIPTION] [FILNAM.EXT] FILNAM = SCA/DIR/BRO file(s) that have FILNAM as the "base" filename despite the filename's extender. FILNAM.EXT = SCA/DIR/BRO file(s) that are called FILNAM.EXT FIL*.* = SCA/DIR/BRO file(s) that have a filename which begins with the 'FIL' letter combination. *.* = All files in alphabetical order [AGE:##] AGE:## = SCA/DIR/BRO file(s) that were uploaded during the past ## days. DAYS:## = Same as AGE: [KEYWORD:] KEY:"keyword" = SCA/DIR/BRO of all files that contain the specified "keyword" in the KEYWORDS: field of the file description. [DESCRIPTION] DES = This parameter only works in conjunction with the SCAN/DIRECTORY command (not BROWSE). It tells CompuServe to include the complete description for each file during a SCAN or DIRECTORY command. Examples: BRO CONVRT.OBJ (Only BROWSE file with the filename CONVRT.OBJ) BRO KEY:"BASIC" (BROWSE files that contain the KEYWORD "BASIC") SCA *.* AGE:20 DES (SCAN all files that were uploaded during the last 20 DAYS [AGE]. Display files in ALPHABETICAL order and include a full file DESCRIPTION) BRO KEY:"TSR" AGE:30 (BROWSE files that contain the KEYWORD: "TSR" and were uploaded during the past 30 DAYS [AGE]) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SECTION VI UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD UPLOAD or DOWNLOAD [FILNAM.EXT] [PROTOCOL:] [TYPE:] [FILNAM.TXT] FILNAM.TXT = Files FULL filename [PROTOCOL:] PROTO:XMO = Xmodem Protocol PROTO:CAP = ASCII capture (no protocol) PROTO:A = "A" Protocol PROTO:B = "B" Protocol PROTO:QB = Quick "B" protocol PROTO:KER = Kermit Protocol [TYPE:] TYPE:BIN = Binary (8-Bit) Data TYPE:ASC = ASCII (7-Bit) Data TYPE:RLE = RLE Graphic File TYPE:NAP = NAPLPS Graphic File TYPE:GIF = GIF Graphic File Examples: UPL CONDO.TXT PROTO:B TYPE:ASC (UPLOAD an ASCII [7-Bit] text files named CONDO.TXT using 'B' PROTOCOL) UPL MYPIC.RLE PROTO:XMO TYPE:RLE (UPLOAD an RLE graphics file called MYPIC.RLE using XMODEM PROTOCOL). DOW BIO.TXT PROTO:CAP (DOWNLOAD a file named BIO.TXT using standard ASCII CAPTURE -- no error checking protocol) ======================================================================== This file is current as of version 4D(72) of the Forum Software. Corrections and updates will be made by Mike Schoenbach [76703,4363] or the Sysop of this Forum as necessary. Mike Schoenbach is the Primary Forum Administrator of CompuServe's Free Practice Forum (GO PRACTICE) and an assistant Forum Administrator in the Atari 8-Bit Forum (GO ATARI8), Atari ST Arts and Entertainment Forum (GO ATARIARTS), Atari ST Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO), and Atari Vendors Support Forum (GO ATARIVEN). In addition, Mike also maintains CompuServe's National Modem-to-Modem Game Players' Challenge Board (GO CHALLENGE).