(Continued from previous message)

an off-line browser (HTML) edition of USBBS. After extraction,
select _START.HTM to view the off-line version of the USBBS List.
Both distribution files still contain text versions of the list.

The self-extracting version of the USBBS List has been remodeled.
The new version runs in Windows only. After the user runs the USBBS
self-extracting file, the _START.HTM file will automatically be
displayed in the user's web browser.

An extended description field has been added to the list. This text
may be up to 70 characters long and allows for a brief comment or
description of the listing. This field begins in column #140 of
USBBS###.LST. Note: as this is a new field, it will take some time
for the list to become populated with this information.

A file named ABOUT###.TXT replaces USBBS###.NWS and USBBS###.TXT
in the USBBS distribution archives. This file contains news,
how-to and information about USBBS.

There are minor changes to USBBS###.LST abbreviations and structure.
Great care was taken not to mix things up too much, for the sake
of existing USBBS###.LST viewing software, scripts and doors.
Changes include:

- "Shotgun" has been added as a BBS software type. It is
designated by a lower-case "a" in column 46.

- Columns 48-49 indicate the month and year the listing was last
updated. Column 48 (previously unused) is the month, "a" thru "l"
("a"=January, "l"=December). Column 49 is the year, "a" thru ???
("a"=2004, "b"=2005 and so-on). Column 49 used to be the number of
months since the last update relative to the current USBBS issue.
Since USBBS is no longer published monthly, this was no longer
possible to figure. The "!" used in column 49 to indicate a BBS
was not answering has been expanded and moved to column 58.

- Column 58 (status indicator) has been expanded. In addition to
"space" indicating no change and "*" indicating "new or changed",
"!" indicates the system has been reported as not answering and
will be deleted in the next issue unless updated. "!" is used
when ALL LISTED access methods are reported as not answering.
"?" indicates a system's Telnet is answering, but Dial-up is not.
"#" indicates a system's Dial-up is answering, but Telnet is not.

- If column 140 contains a "+" character, it indicates an extended
description follows in columns 141 through 210.

- A short -[NewsAlert]- caption was added in USBBS###.LST files
(near the end) which applications (on-line viewing scripts and
doors) may pull and display to the caller. For example, this
edition's news alert is:
USBBS News Alert: June, 2004 is the USBBS List's 20th Anniversary!


The USLIST.EXE file is no longer available or enclosed with USBBS.
This was useful for viewing the contents of USBBS ZIP files. This
functionality was replaced by the browser (HTML) files now enclosed
in the USBBS ZIP files. This utility was also designed to create
update files which members of the BBS community could use to help
update USBBS. While this was widely used upon its introduction 1997,
the last few years have yielded hardly any USLIST.EXE based updates.

USBBSDoor version 6.5 will be released the first week of May for
Sysops who can run DOS doors on their systems. USBBSDoor adds
compatibility for the new features of the USBBS List (listed above).
Download USBDOR65.ZIP by clicking on the USBBSDoor button at
www.usbbs.org.



---------------------------------------------------------------------
* Page 3 * About the USBBS List
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The USBBS List is the oldest and one of the most respected BBS Lists
in North America. It has been published since June, 1984... for over
19 years!

USBBS Contains listings of:
* Systems with a dial-up telephone number.
* Systems with Telnet access.
* Systems with Web access (login using browser)
* Systems with any combination of the above access methods.

The USBBS List's two missions are:

(1) Be a starting point for someone looking for a BBS to call. It
has never been the ambition of the USBBS List to list every BBS in
existence or to include everything there is to know about a BBS which
is listed. Such an attempt would be futile at best.

(2) USBBS is and always has been an absolutely FREE service to the
BBS community, both for BBS Sysops and for BBS users. There is no
charge for a BBS to be listed on the USBBS List, and there is
no charge for a caller to use the USBBS List.

(Continued to next message)
---
# OLX 1.53 # Dogs come when you call. Cats have answering machines.
# PDQWK 2.52 #5

Route: 35/5sa0 10/22
.ORIGIN: 035/005 - The Thunderbolt BBS Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 221-1599


--- GTMail 1.26
* Origin: Kentucky's Capitol City Online * 502/875-8938 (7:10/22.0)

---
■ BgNet 1.0ß12 ≈ Capitol City Online * KY/US * 502/875-8938 * cco.ath.cx