[FADCA] Need Input

Wed, 31 Mar 2004 11:32:54 -0500

Hi Charles
    Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. On the other hand since 
fpac is up and running it's good to move this back to the reflector.

Charles S Schuman wrote:

> Now that I have an operational switch, I've gone back to validating the
> Sysop & User's Manuals.
>
> Instructions for the display of the 10 additional INFO texts defined in
> INFO.txt is cloudy.
> From experimentation I found that cmd I returns the INFO text from
> NODE.CFG. 

Actually, I think this is taken from the *.cnf file. FYI, we don't use 
the node.* files - a parameter in the autoexec.bat sets node equal to 
the npannx code for that site. All file are named npannx.*. This helps 
keep the confusion down when one has to take care of multiple sites..

>
> To display the additional INFO msgs, from INFO.TXT,  you have to enter
> Ix (x = 0 - 9). The manual would lead you to believe that $M1 is
> displayed when you use the I command while connected to NODE @ port 1.

Actually, any of the $M0 to 9 can be used - look the notes in the 
info.txt file. Theres a gotcha though - this only applies to incoming 
connects on port 0. Since in most switches we have reserved port 0 for a 
collocated bbs this is kinda useless....
I do not use this option in any of the switches in So. Fla., I have a 
separate file that netmgr uses when compiling the cnf files for each 
site.   Another thing to remember is that the text in each ix (i0 to 
i9)  cannot exceed a unknown size, if it does the heard and user 
displays will be corrupted after displaying the ix info. The file I send 
along has worked for all our switches.
Also changes to the ix text should be made to the npannx.txt file as it 
is copied to the info.txt which is compiled to fpac.txt.

>
> Also... The split screen operation is not mentioned in the manual. The
> CNF file allows you to define a split screen, but little more. You enter
> the split screen with AltW and exit with F10. The upper screen displays
> commands and returns. What does the lower screen do?

The lower screen is a monitor screen controlled by the mo command. Since 
most fpac switches are unattended or not used as a terminal this is not 
used much, if at all.. In either words I wasn't even aware of this. :-)
Also f9 drops you to a dos prompt if you want to take a quick look at 
something, but be aware the switch is stopped while you are shelled out 
to dos. Also, any changes made will still require a reboot to take effect.

>
> Command History...If saved. How do you access the history? 

Not sure if there is any, again we don't do much from the fpac console..

>
>
> I've learned that If you mess about long enough with the split screen
> you CAN crash the system or even worse... lock that Puppy up! 

I don't know if we've ever locked one up without there being a reason, 
usually hardware. More common is to enter a command remotely that 
requires a keyboard entry like time. The switch will be shelled out to 
dos and waiting for you to hit enter after you drive 20 miles... :-(  :-)
73  John

>
>
> _______________________________________________
> FADCA mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fadca
>