Alfred Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 I don't have the actual BBS directory layout. Talking to Bob about it. Rather than just post the files, I would rather post an ATR with a functioning system. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) nothing wrong with doing both, but it's understandable.. Are you saying to make an install disk set? I thought the old way of doing it was to copy to the hard drive and set it up a piece at a time that way. Edited March 6, 2018 by _The Doctor__ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 It's on MyDos disks, but modified perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 So, there's a v1.0 as well I forgot about. I purchased the BBS node from its previous Sysop at v4.0 (when it was known as the Silver Bullet) and bought the 5.0 upgrade from K-Products in the 1990-1993 timeframe. 4.0 and/or 5.0 added scriptable module chaining if i recall. Lots of the CMDs from older version required sector editing the end of the command to specify the next one to load. I remember spending lots of time working out the logon sequence, especially between CMD's that worked one way or the other. 5.0 added mind-blowing ANSI support, so calling in from ST ANSITerm or a PC was 80 columns and really colourful! I created custom ANSI logon screens and menus on the ST and transferred them over. Not sure I'm comfortable sharing my 4.0 and 5.0 disks, at this time as Steven J Carden is still actively working on BBS Express! code and occasionally on AtariAge, and because each copy is custom compiled for each serial number as a copy protection mechanism as I learned in previous conversation with him. Maybe he'd be open to having a particular copy of these officially released. I can attempt to contact him again and ask. Cheers Ryan 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farb Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) Thanks, Nezgar, that photo and additional info is extremely helpful! Now if we can just figure out when 2.0 and 3.0 were released Do you know if your 5.0 disks are 5.0 or 5.0b? Also, the labels say 1990 but do you know what release years are shown in the actual software? My 5.0b disks show 1995. I wouldn't post disk images of any K-Products releases as the current copyright holder of BBS Express! Pro would probably get upset (I don't think it's Steve Carden) and there's some sort of drama around the whole thing. I don't know if the Orion Microsystem releases (e.g. 1.0 and 2.0) fall into the same category or not. Edited March 8, 2018 by Farb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) The labels are probably generic, printed earlier, hence why i had to write the version # on them the '5.0' disks are definitely 5.0b - I booted up my backup ATR in altirra to check "Last updated 10/15/95 v5.0b" my batch files for single node BBS always just call BBS_50B.COM Theres also a BBS_50X.COM for "Multi-User BBS Express! Professional" and a BBS_50Z.COM which is also "Multi-User BBS Express! Professional" but has an additional splash screen, 2nd attachment below, I forget the difference - EDIT: probably MUX Master, vs MUX Slave? Edited March 8, 2018 by Nezgar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Correct, those are for the mux. Multi-line, and networked files.. it was very slick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndusGT Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Thanks, Nezgar, that photo and additional info is extremely helpful! Now if we can just figure out when 2.0 and 3.0 were released Do you know if your 5.0 disks are 5.0 or 5.0b? Also, the labels say 1990 but do you know what release years are shown in the actual software? My 5.0b disks show 1995. I wouldn't post disk images of any K-Products releases as the current copyright holder of BBS Express! Pro would probably get upset (I don't think it's Steve Carden) and there's some sort of drama around the whole thing. I don't know if the Orion Microsystem releases (e.g. 1.0 and 2.0) fall into the same category or not. I think but not sure it's Lance from video 61 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triads Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) BBS Express Pro! Release dates, 1.0 - 05/08/88 1.2 - 06/16/88 2.0b - 02/24/89 2.0c - 03/10/89 2.0d - 09/03/89 2.1a - 08/27/90 3.1d - 02/28/92 4.0b - 07/10/93 5.0b - 10/15/95 6.0 may only exist at Lance's Video 61 house TCP/IP Express 7.0c & 7.2d have the same date - 02/08/05 Edited March 8, 2018 by Triads 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farb Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 Fantastic, thank you Triads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 I don't have the actual BBS directory layout. Talking to Bob about it. Rather than just post the files, I would rather post an ATR with a functioning system. If you could post ATR images of anything you have of the Puff BBS, we can possibly create / restore full disks I've become quite good at recovering directories and files using my ATR Tools app... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 It seems there was a program called Bulletin Board sold by Magic Lantern Computers (based in Madison, WI) in 1980 or 1981 at $99.95. The only mention I could find is in an issue of Purser's Atari Magazine from Fall 1981 listing Atari software vendors. -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triads Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I don't have the actual BBS directory layout. Talking to Bob about it. Rather than just post the files, I would rather post an ATR with a functioning system. Any news on sharing this? I'd say quite a few of us would like to play around with this rare bbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Well the first thing somebody will have to do is disassemble the modem operating code that sits under the rom, because it checks for the presence of the hardware dongle that also is the ring detector. Without that, the system isn't going to work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Well the first thing somebody will have to do is disassemble the modem operating code that sits under the rom, because it checks for the presence of the hardware dongle that also is the ring detector. Without that, the system isn't going to work. Not a problem in reverse engineering the dongle through code after disassembly 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndusGT Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Well the first thing somebody will have to do is disassemble the modem operating code that sits under the rom, because it checks for the presence of the hardware dongle that also is the ring detector. Without that, the system isn't going to work. anything new on the Puff Board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 I sent Alfred a PM 4 days ago, still no comment or reply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Well I haven't heard anything from Bob, and I'm too tired to fiddle with this thing myself. So here's what I have for the Puff BBS. The NEWMODS.ARC is a SuperArc file that you need to unbundle. I seem to recall there are duplicates of some file, and I don't know why or how that came to be. The PuffBBS.ARC file isn't really an arc, I think it's the MOE program, so just rename it to .COM or whatever binary extender you prefer. I don't recall much about the bbs layout. I think there was a Dn:MSG> for message bases. Anyway, somebody can probably puzzle that all out. PuffBBS.zip 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triads Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Well I haven't heard anything from Bob, and I'm too tired to fiddle with this thing myself. So here's what I have for the Puff BBS. The NEWMODS.ARC is a SuperArc file that you need to unbundle. I seem to recall there are duplicates of some file, and I don't know why or how that came to be. The PuffBBS.ARC file isn't really an arc, I think it's the MOE program, so just rename it to .COM or whatever binary extender you prefer. I don't recall much about the bbs layout. I think there was a Dn:MSG> for message bases. Anyway, somebody can probably puzzle that all out. Thanks for the post.. It looks like there are a few missing files though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndusGT Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Well I haven't heard anything from Bob, and I'm too tired to fiddle with this thing myself. So here's what I have for the Puff BBS. The NEWMODS.ARC is a SuperArc file that you need to unbundle. I seem to recall there are duplicates of some file, and I don't know why or how that came to be. The PuffBBS.ARC file isn't really an arc, I think it's the MOE program, so just rename it to .COM or whatever binary extender you prefer. I don't recall much about the bbs layout. I think there was a Dn:MSG> for message bases. Anyway, somebody can probably puzzle that all out. Thanks for the upload. What version of Basic does it run on ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 I don't recall much about the bbs layout. I think there was a Dn:MSG> for message bases. Anyway, somebody can probably puzzle that all out. Thank you for posting these :thumbsup: Yep, there are a few folders used. If you could post the prompts.dat and other .dat files would help in preserving the original look of the menus and such... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Thanks for the upload. What version of Basic does it run on ? AFAIK it just requires Atari Basic. Don't recall that it has any specific dependency on either Rev B or C, but BasicXL, etc is out. As for the PROMPTS.DAT and stuff, I'll have to go find the bbs hdisk, as I don't seem to have archive copies of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) As for the PROMPTS.DAT and stuff, I'll have to go find the bbs hdisk, as I don't seem to have archive copies of those. While you are looking, could you look for these missing files too? Basic Files: CHAT2.MOD FILESYS.MOD SURVEY.MOD SYSMENU.MOD UPDATE.MOD Dat Files: BATCH.DAT BBSLIST.DAT BBSLIST.TMP CALLNUM.DAT CONFIG1.DAT CONFIG2.DAT DAILYLOG.DAT DLLOCn.DAT DESPTRn.DAT DESPTRA.DAT DESCRPA.DAT FILEBASE.DAT FMAIL.DAT MASK0.DAT MESSAGEA.DAT MESSAGEZ.DAT OUTMSGS.DAT PASSID2.DAT PASSWORD.DAT PASSWOR2.DAT PROMPTS.DAT PROMPTS2.DAT PROMPTS3.DAT QUOTE.DAT TYPEA.DAT ULOG.DAT Text Files: BULLET.TXT MAIN.TXT STAR.TXT SYSINFO.TXT WFILE.TXT DBASE1.TXT DBSEL.TXT INIT.TXT LOGOFF.TXT NEWCPU.TXT NEWUSER.TXT QUOTE.TXT A.HLP | V Z.HLP ?.HLP This is an ATR that I have created so far: PUFFBBS1.atr Still looking for the M.O.E too... Edited March 22, 2018 by AtariGeezer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndusGT Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 AFAIK it just requires Atari Basic. Don't recall that it has any specific dependency on either Rev B or C, but BasicXL, etc is out. As for the PROMPTS.DAT and stuff, I'll have to go find the bbs hdisk, as I don't seem to have archive copies of those. Thanks, anything you can find would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Found this so far, some notes from Bob NEWMOE.TXT 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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