SYSTEM DEFAULTS AND DEFINITIONS for Pascal Integrated Communications System (PICS) Version 1.0 August 1,1986 Les Archambault PICS.PAS and the associated support files (including this documentation file) are Copyright (c) 1986 by Les Archambault. Non-commercial, public distribution and use of this system is permitted. All commercial rights are reserved. Distribution of PICS should include this documentation. The following are the system defined default values. These values, set in PICSDEF.INC, may be changed by the SYSOP on an individual basis. * The default values marked with a star (*) can be set from within PICS from the Sysop Change menu. All changes will remain in effect while PICS is running. If PICS is exited by the Sysop, then re-entered, the default values will again be in effect. 'Num_Drives' The number of drives that you have on your system less one. That is... if you have four drives set Num_Drives at 3. If you have two drives Num_Drives would be 1. PICS uses this value for allocating space when reading disk directories. Distribution value = 3 (four drives.) 'Mhz' The operating speed of your machine in megahertz or megacycles. This is a real number and must be entered with a decimal point and 0 if there are no decimal numbers. This setting is used for all the timing loops inside of PICS, as well as the timing during file transfer. The value may be adjusted slightly if there is a noticeable problem with the timing. As a test, when Chat is requested the console bell should ring for about 30 seconds. Distribution value = 4.0 ----------------------------------------------------------- PICS has built in routines for guarding against your disks becoming full and causing a crash. As the disks become full, a controlled shutdown of functions takes place. The next five settings control when this takes place. When any of the following limits are reached, PICS will display a message to the Sysop on the local console during the 'bouncing cursor' routine while it is waiting for the next caller. This occurs about every fifth 'bounce' of the cursor. * 'Def_Maxfree_Uplds' ---------------------- Files that are uploaded to PICS are written to the NEWIN section in the files sub-system. When there is less than Def_Maxfree_Uplds (in K bytes) of free space left on the disk, callers are not permitted to send files to PICS. This test operates on the drive set (with the Setup program) for the NEWIN section. In the case of conferences the uploads will go directly to the drive that you have set with the Setup program. Unless this is the same drive as the NEWIN section, no checking for a full disk will be done. Distribution value = 50 (K) * 'Def_maxfree_logs' -------------------- This value represents the minimum disk space on the system disk (where the .COM file and overlays reside) to continue to allow new callers to register on the system. If less than this amount of space is left, the caller will be told that new logins can't be accepted and asked to call in later. Distribution value = 25 (K) * 'Def_maxfree_Mslimit' ----------------------- When there is less than this amount of free space available on the system drive, PICS will limit the number of lines that can be entered in a message to the value in the next setting. There is a separate setting (discussed later) for manually limiting the number of message lines all the time. Distribution value = 20 (K) * 'Def_maxfree_lines' --------------------- This is the number of lines that messages are limited to when there is not at least the amount of free disk space set in the Def_maxfree_mslimit value above. Distribution value = 10 (lines) * 'Def_maxfree_Abs' ------------------- If there is less than this amount of free space on the system disk all message entry is prohibited. Callers trying to enter messages are informed that there isn't enough disk space for messages. This value should be less than any of the values above. Distribution setting = 5 (k) If there is less than the Def_Maxfree_Abs amount of free disk space on the system drive, only callers already known to the system will be allowed in, and they will be able to do everything but upload and enter messages. --------------------------------------------------------------- * 'Def_Uval_Acc' and 'Def_Uval_Time' ------------------------------------ The access level and time per day assigned to new users who are not known to the system. The minimum settings you have assigned to the 'Message Areas', 'File Sections' and 'Articles' will determine what the new caller can see on the system. At a minimum, new callers should be able to see the POST Message area and the LOGIN File Section. PICS keeps track of the total time per day (24 hours) that each caller uses. If this total is greater than the Def_Uval_Time then the system will notify the caller two minutes before it will hang up. Distribution value Def_Uval_Acc = 10 Distribution value Def_Uval_Time = 20 (minutes) NOTE: If you set the value of Def_Uval_Acc to the same or greater value than the setting for Dev_Val_Acc (below) you are creating an OPEN system where callers DO NOT require verification by the Sysop before obtaining the same status as validated users. 'Def_Chars' and 'Def_Lines' --------------------------- The number of characters-per-line and lines-per-page (screen) assigned to a new caller who is unknown to the system. The caller may reset the number of lines per page in the Utilities sub-system, but the characters per line (screen width) is constant, depending on the caller's terminal to generate carriage returns and line feeds for smaller screens. Distribution value Def_Chars = 80 Distribution value Def_Lines = 23 * 'Def_Val_Acc' and 'Def_Val_Time' ---------------------------------- The access level and time per day that are assigned to a caller upon being validated by the Sysop. Distribution value Def_Val_Acc = 20 Distribution value Def_Val_Time = 45 (minutes) * 'Def_Chat_OK' ---------------- A toggle that when OFF prevents all attempts for callers to chat with the Sysop. The caller is told that the Chat function is not active. When the toggle is ON, the Chat function responds to the limits set in the following values. Distribution value = True (ON) * 'Def_ChatStart' and 'Def_ChatEnd' ------------------------------------ The hours during which the Sysop will be paged on the local system console. Outside of these hours the caller will be told what the Chatting hours are, but no paging of the Sysop will be done. These settings are in whole hours only, no minutes. All values for hours use a 24 hour notation (0-24). Distribution value Def_ChatStart = 19 (7 PM) Distribution value Def_ChatEnd = 22 'Fence' ------ The separator used by the directory routine between columns during display. Distribution value = | * 'Def_Unv_Days' and 'Def_Val_Days' ----------------------------- The number of days allowed to elapse between calls before the inactive user is purged from the system. For example, 14 and 180 will allow unvalidated users to remain on the system for 14 days between calls and validated users 180 days between calls before being deleted from the user file during a purge operation. Distribution value Def_Unv_Days = 14 Distribution value Def_Val_Days = 180 * 'Def_Unr_Days' and 'Def_Rea_Days' ------------------------------------- The number of days allowed to elapse before unread and read messages, respectively, are automatically deleted from the message file during a purge operation. Public messages are never marked as read and thus will be available until explicitly deleted or until they "expire" as determined by 'unr_days.' All messages are subject to these time limits unless they have been marked as

rotected by the Sysop. Any messages marked as deleted remain in the message file until the next purge operation, but are automatically purged even though the number of days is less than the values above. Distribution value Def_Unr_Days = 90 Distribution value Def_Rea_Days = 14 * 'Max_Tries' ------------- The number of times PICS will allow a user to attempt password or name entry. If this number is exceeded, the system will disconnect with a message. Distribution value = 3 ------------------------------------------------------------- PICS has the ability to execute commands automatically and unattended, just as if the sysop were sitting at the local console. This feature is called Macro Processing. (A macro is a string of characters and delimiters which represent commands.) Here's how it works: If the Auto Macro processing is ON and the current hour is greater than the hour set for auto operation, PICS will wait for the current caller to hang up (if there is a caller) then it will make the modem busy to prevent more calls. Then it will log the sysop into the system automatically and pass the current Macro string to the multiple command buffer for execution. After completion of the commands, PICS will log off the system (this must be the final command in the Macro string) and put the phone back on the hook. The maximum length of the Macro string is 80 characters, including delimiters (spaces, commas, semi-colons). Care must be taken to make sure all required key strokes are included in the Macro string, especially the final command to log the Sysop off the system. Carriage returns can be put into the string by using an up arrow and M (^M). It is the Sysop's responsibility to make sure of this, or the system will sit and wait for further input from the local keyboard! I recommend that before making the Macro automatic it be tested by the Sysop. * 'Deflt_Macro' ---------------- The actual macro string of characters and delimiters. Distribution value = S;N;G * 'Def_Auto_Macro' ----------------- This toggle when ON enables the execution of the Deflt_Macro string at the time set. When OFF, no macro execution takes place. Distribution value = False (OFF) * 'Def_Auto_Macro_Start' ------------------------ The hour (0-24) to start executing the macro string. Since this feature finishes when the last command is processed, there is no STOP setting. Distribution value = 4 (4 A.M.) * 'Def_Restrict300' -------------------- This toggle when ON will not accept callers at 300 baud between the preset hours. After connecting with the system they will be notified of the hours when 300 baud calling is restricted, then PICS will hang up. When OFF no restrictions will be applied to 300 baud callers. Distribution value = False (OFF) * 'Def_Start_restrict300' ------------------------- The hour (0-24) that restriction of 300 baud callers begins. Distribution value = 19 (7 P.M.) * 'Def_End_Restrict300' ------------------------ The hour (0-24) that restriction of 300 baud caller ends. Distribution value = 23 * 'Def_Limit_Lines' -------------------- This toggle when ON limits the length of all messages entered to the number of lines in the next definition. It is useful when lots of messages are being entered on a system with limited disk space. This setting has nothing to do with the limiting of message lines that happens automatically when the disk fills up to the settings above. Distribution value = False (OFF) * 'Def_Max_Msg_Lines' --------------------- The number of lines that messages will be limited to when the above toggle is ON. During message entry, callers will be warned 2 lines before the end of the message is reached. Distribution value = 100 * 'Def_Restrict_Public' ------------------------ This toggle when ON will automatically flag all messages entered as Public by the sender. They will not be available for viewing until released by the Sysop. Only messages entered after the toggle has been turned on are affected. When OFF, messages marked Public will be immediately available for viewing. Distribution value = False (OFF) * 'Def_Up_Down_Ratio' ---------------------- This feature of PICS enables you to establish a ratio of downloads to uploads for each user. When set to 0, no checking of the user's ratio is performed. When set to any other value, the user is limited to this number of downloads (from PICS to the caller) per upload (caller to PICS). Example: If the number is set to 20, users would only be able to download 20 files for each file that they uploaded after the first 20 files were sent from PICS to them. Distribution value = 20 * 'Def_Sleepy_Time' -------------------- This value sets the time (number of seconds) that the system will wait for input from the modem (usually at prompts). After this number of seconds with no input (typed by the caller) PICS will print the message ++ Input Timed Out ++, log off the caller and wait for the next call. This doesn't affect the local console that the Sysop uses. Distribution value = 300 (seconds) * 'Def_Extra_Time' ------------------- This toggle when ON and a call is received within the hours set, adds extra time (in minutes) to the caller's time allowed on the system (per day). This is done at the beginning of the session. When OFF, nothing happens. Distribution value = True (ON) * 'Def_Extra_Time_Val' ---------------------- The number of minutes to be added to caller's time allowed on system when extra time is operating. Distribution value = 20 (minutes) * 'Def_Extra_Time_Start' ------------------------- The hour (0-24) to begin adding the extra time to caller's time allowed on system. Distribution value = 1 (1:00 A.M.) * 'Def_Extra_Time_Stop' ------------------------ The hour at which extra time stops being added to caller's time allowed on system. Distribution value = 7 (7:00 A.M.) 'Def_Time_Adjust' ----------------- This real number is a multiplier used only by PICS systems without real time clocks. In these systems PICS simulates a clock while waiting at prompts and during file transfers. PICS also simulates clock ticking during the 'bouncing cursor' routine while waiting for a caller. This is used to change the day automatically. This adjustment is provided for fine tuning of each system without real time clock so that the day changes every 24 hours. To make the simulated clock faster, increase the number. Only a small change should be required, say from 1.15 to 1.22. Distribution value = 1.15 The rest of the constants in the PICSDEF.INC file should not need to be changed, indeed some of them must NOT be changed. Les Archambault