Hello sysops. I've suddenly become interested in creating and running my own BBS, and I'd like to modify Synchronet's menus in order to give it my own look and feel.

I've already read the customization guide for sysops and it's really good. But I have a couple of problems; hopefully I haven't missed something obvious.

I decided to download PabloDraw in order to edit the .ans files I converted. Here's my biggest issue, however: http://i.imgur.com/6EHeZ.png

As you can see, this file is a little garbled-looking. I can see that there are CTRL codes that are causing it to look that way, and when they're actually being displayed it looks much nicer. I was wondering if there's some way to display the file a bit more "correctly" so that I can have an easier time editing it.

Here's another example: http://i.imgur.com/IVhrz.png

I've looked at the .src files and they look easy enough to edit. I can probably just comment out commands in the default.src in order to restrict users from going to certain screens, right? I assumed default.src was for the main menu here.

One issue I've had with looking at the src files is that there's a strange character in an oval shape that says "SOH" inside it wherever there's a CTRL code. This is from displaying it in notepad++. Is there a better program I could use that would display the CTRL codes properly?

Thanks, and I apologize for my noobishness. I think I accidentally deleted one of Digital Man's posts and I'm not sure if that affects DOVE-Net entirely or just my BBS locally. I'll be more careful when scrolling through messages from now on.

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þ Synchronet

Re: New sysop with a few ques
By: Momotombo to All on Sun Feb 12 2012 12:58:00

As you can see, this file is a little garbled-looking. I can see that there CTRL codes that are causing it to look that way, and when they're actually being displayed it looks much nicer. I was wondering if there's some way to display the file a bit more "correctly" so that I can have an easier time editing it.

what i would do is draw the ansi and THEN, open up the .ans file in a text editor and add those AT codes at the bottom of the file. there are AT codes that specify the cordinates but i've never used them. i just use ansi positioning codes.
ie esc[1;1H is col 1, row 1

another thing that is easier is open up the file with thedraw and turn
on animation mode and THEN type in the AT codes where you want them to be.
then they wont get pushed around.

I've looked at the .src files and they look easy enough to edit. I can proba just comment out commands in the default.src in order to restrict users from going to certain screens, right? I assumed default.src was for the main menu

i would suggest starting out with the renegade command shell. it's easy to modify as a sysop and it's easy for users to understand.
turn off that shit where new users can pick from command shells. it's just lame.


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þ Synchronet þ chaotic bliss - chaoticbliss.darktech.org

Re: New sysop with a few ques
By: Jas Hud to Momotombo on Sun Feb 12 2012 06:21 pm

Re: New sysop with a few ques
By: Momotombo to All on Sun Feb 12 2012 12:58:00

As you can see, this file is a little garbled-looking. I can see that the CTRL codes that are causing it to look that way, and when they're actuall being displayed it looks much nicer. I was wondering if there's some way display the file a bit more "correctly" so that I can have an easier time editing it.

what i would do is draw the ansi and THEN, open up the .ans file in a text editor and add those AT codes at the bottom of the file. there are AT codes that specify the cordinates but i've never used them. i just use ansi positioning codes.
ie esc[1;1H is col 1, row 1

another thing that is easier is open up the file with thedraw and turn
on animation mode and THEN type in the AT codes where you want them to be. then they wont get pushed around.

I've looked at the .src files and they look easy enough to edit. I can pr just comment out commands in the default.src in order to restrict users f going to certain screens, right? I assumed default.src was for the main m

i would suggest starting out with the renegade command shell. it's easy to modify as a sysop and it's easy for users to understand.
turn off that shit where new users can pick from command shells. it's just lame.

Thanks, I'll try this out soon. I'm pretty new to BBSes in general so I have a couple more questions

I noticed while browsing messages that all of the theads and replies are just listed together in one place. is it possible to view just the topic messages without the replies, or to have a threaded view? maybe newer forums have
just spoiled me, haha

I've never looked at the renegade shell, so I'll try it out now. I didn't even know there would be much of a difference between the shells for some reason

oh yeah, I wanted users to be able to make an account for the BBS through a webpage. can this be done relatively easily?

thanks again for your help

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þ Synchronet