karld@chinet.UUCP (Karl Denninger) (06/05/87)
Thu Jun 4 09:58:31 CDT 1987 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. is proud to announce our third-generation message conferencing system, ERACS/UX. ERACS/UX is a threaded conferencing package which provides the messaging functions for a typical "bbs". Unlike most "bbs" packages, ERACS/UX keeps all responses to an item with the original -- and displays only the new information when a user accesses the item a second or subsequent time. ERACS/UX contains all the functionality and simplicity of use you would expect in a message management system, at a fraction of what you would otherwise pay. Multiple conferences, a simple command structure with help available at every step, threaded responses, user-defined privileges and welcome messages, and much more. Power without confusion. *This* is what ERACS/UX is about. Come discover the conferencing system that you had only dreamed about. And now the dream is affordable! ERACS/UX is now available at a special introductory price of just $99.00, for Microport SYSV Unix. Coming soon for Xenix and other Unices, contact MCS with your specific configuration for details. In combination with MCS MENUS, our menuing package, you can have a complete user-friendly conferencing system at a very reasonable price. Of course, ERACS/UX, like all our software products, comes with our famous support and upgrade policy -- problems fixed *now*, enhancements (downloaded via uucp or xmodem) free during the first 6 months, and of course our friendly staff standing by if you should have a problem. Call TODAY to find out how you can own the hottest new conferencing package on the market -- ERACS/UX. Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. (312) 566-8910 (Voice) (312) 566-8911 or (312) 566-8912 [Public access system, ERACS/UX is running for your pleasure] [[[[[ MAN page for ERACS/UX follows ]]]]] MENU(1) UNIX 5.0 (Macro Computer Solutions) MENU(1) NAME ERACS/UX - a message conferencing system SYNOPSIS bbs DESCRIPTION ERACS/UX is Macro Computer Solutions' message conferencing system. ERACS/UX is a highly sophisticated package permitting multiple conferences, messages linked with their responses, easy browsing and perusal of the message base contents, and much more. When the program is loaded, you will be shown a summary of the messages in the first conference, the default. At this point you may enter any one of several commands to cause the system to take action. The first time you run ERACS/UX, and whenever you enter a new conference for the first time, files will be created in your home directory with a "." prefix. The file ".conflist" may be edited to reflect only those conferences you wish to see. All others should be left alone, as they are binary summarys of your current knowledge. Note that all commands may be abbreviated to uniqueness, and assistance is available at all multi-command points by typing a "?" or "help". TOP LEVEL COMMANDS ! - Shell escape, the remainder of the command is passed to the shell for execution. This can not be used if the bbs is your login shell. Back - The conference pointer is reset to the front of the file, effectively starting at the top of your conference list. Catchup - Mark all messages and responses in the current conference as seen (requires confirmation, also repairs damaged personal summary files). Censor - Requires two arguments, a message number and a response. You may not censor the root item, for that purpose use "KILL". You must be the author of the response to CENSOR it, and once censored neither you nor anyone else can see it [except the fairwitness]. Fixsum - Fixes the summary file for a conference in the event that it becomes damaged. Can only be executed by the fairwitness. Page 1 (printed 6/4/87) MENU(1) UNIX 5.0 (Macro Computer Solutions) MENU(1) Help - Displays a screen containing this information. Join - Join a conference of your choosing (name may be appended to command, it will be prompted for if omitted). Kill - Kill a message you authored. You will be prompted for the number if it is not supplied. Next - Go to the next conference listed in your .conflist file. Post - Posts a new item to the system. You will be prompted for your subject, then the lines of your text. The editor defined as "EDITOR" in your environment will be used to edit the message, if it exists, otherwise ERACS/UX will use a small supplied utility, "tedit", for text entry. Quit - Exits ERACS/UX. Read - Optionally followed by a list of message numbers, reads the message[s] off the conference in their entirety. If the list is missing all new messages/responses are shown. Set - Set a number of user and global options defined below. Summary - Displays a summary of the messages in this conference. SET COMMANDS "Set" is a multi-command in that it takes multiple text arguments. The options are: Set CONFLIST - Edits your conference list. Set NAME - Sets your "pseudonym" for the remainder of session. Set WELCOME - Set the opening message (f/w only) Set FAIRWITNESS - Edit the fair witness file (S/U only) READ ACTION COMMANDS Censor - Censor a response in the current item. Requires that a response number follow the keyword. Help - Display this list of choices. Page 2 (printed 6/4/87) MENU(1) UNIX 5.0 (Macro Computer Solutions) MENU(1) Respond - Add something to the current item. You will be placed in the editor as with "post", but your response will be added to the current item. Stop - Stop reading messages (if you are executing a command which reads multiple messages). Pass - Pass the current item, continue onward. <Enter> - Functionally equivalent to "Pass". DIAGNOSTICS Various complaints if ERACS/UX cannot allocate memory for internal tables, and if required parameter information is missing or files cannot be found. Should be self- explanatory. LIMITATIONS The shell escape is inefficiently implemented at present. BUGS None yet! AVAILABILITY Available for SYSV Release 2.0 and up systems as well as some other Unices. Contact MCS using the infomation below if you desire to obtain a copy of this software for your Unix system. AUTHOR Created Jun 4, 1987 by Karl Denninger @ Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. Copyright 1987 Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. & Karl Denninger. All rights reserved. Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. 415 S.E. Garfield Mundelein, IL 60060 (312) 566-8910 (Voice) Page 3 (printed 6/4/87) -- Karl Denninger UUCP : ...ihnp4!ddsw1!karl Macro Computer Solutions Dial : +1 (312) 566-8912 (300-2400) "Quality systems at a fair price" Voice: +1 (312) 566-8910 (24 hrs)