From: jamesd@techbook.com (James Deibele)
Subject: BBS directory forthcoming ...
Followup-To: alt.bbs.lists.d
Reply-To: bbs@techbook.com
Organization: TECHbooks --- Public Access UNIX --- (503) 220-0636
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 04:38:30 GMT

Wouldn't more people call your BBS if they knew more about it?  Do you 
want more people calling your BBS?  
 
Long lists of BBSs aren't much good, since the name usually doesn't 
tell you much.  How do you find a good board for Clipper or fonts or 
whatever?  

That's the idea behind the BBS Field Guide, a comprehensive database
of Bulletin Board Systems.  Systems are described in detail, with an 
index of keywords lets users quickly find interesting BBSs.  

THERE'S NO CHARGE OR OBLIGATION FOR BEING LISTED.  

I hope someday this will be published in book format.  In the 
meantime, I'm going to put the questionnaires into a database on "PC 
GrabDisc", a monthly CD-ROM disc I publish.  I retain the copyright to 
the database, but people are welcome to run it with TDBS or as a door 
with whatever --- the data is in ordinary dBASE format, so lots of 
programs should be able to read it.  

There's an accompanying Clipper program that will let people search by 
state, area code, etc.  "The basics" and section 2 are displayed on 
screen, and the user can move back and forth.  Right now the output to 
file is only ASCII text, but I'd like to add support for QMODEM, 
Procomm, Telix, etc. dialing directories.  

The only reasonable way to do something like this database is on CD-
ROM.  There's just too much text to move around any other way.  
I welcome suggestions on other information you'd like to see included.
 
It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to fill this out.  

A program reads your answers, so please be careful. Don't delete the 
brackets --- move the "]" further right as needed.  Doesn't apply?  
Leave it blank.  
 
Return to "bbs" at 1:105/54.369 (FidoNet) or "bbs@techbook.com".  
 
SECTION 0: Prepping the program 
------------------------------- 
 
BBSs change names, sysops, etc., so each gets a tracking number.  
Don't touch!  QUEST_VER: [ Q1]  BBS_NUM: [     ] 
 
SECTION I: The Basics 
--------------------- 
 
BBS_NAME: [                                          ]
SYSOP1: [                               ]
SYSOP2: [                               ]
 
BBS_AREA: [   ]  BBS_PHONE: [           ]
CITY: [                     ]  STATE: [  ]
 
BBS software?  SOFTWARE: [                     ]  
Version? SOFT_VER: [           ]
 
Write it yourself?  HOMEBREW: [ ]
 
Caller verification by (A)utomated callback, (C)ollect call, (V)oice, 
US (M)ail, or (N)ot?  VERIF: [ ] 

Average fee? FEE: [  ] 
 
Do first-time callers get full privileges?  FIRST_TIME: [ ] 
 
# lines? NUM_LINES: [ ] 
 
(Guess OK)  STARTED: [  /  /  ] 
 
# downloadable files? NUM_FILES: [   ]   
# megabytes?  FILE_SIZE: [  ]
 
System computer is? HARDWARE: [                     ]
Which operating system? OS: [                               ]
 
Enter system address(es) below. 
FIDONET: [                     ]
INTERNET: [                               ]
UUCP: [                               ]
 
System available all hours? HOURS: [ ] (Not counting ZMH for FidoNet) 
 
"Doors" are programs that callers can use.  How many? DOORS: [ ] 
 
FidoNet has echomail and Usenet has newsgroups.  How many message 
areas do you have?  MESS_AREAS: [ ] 

This is pretty primitive, but for right now, enter "keywords" below.  
This will allow someone to search for "area code is 503 and keyword is 
clipper".   Enter up to a dozen, separated by spaces.  Move the right 
bracket down a line if you need to.

KEYWORDS: [ ]
 
SECTION II: Who are you? 
------------------------

You have eight lines to tell people about your board.  Are you for 
locals only?  Do you run the best BBS on fishing or genealogy?  Tell 
people that.  
 
This can be revised later, so just make sure to get it done now.  Put 
your text between the brackets.  (Max of 60 chars/line)
 
DESCRIP1: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP2: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP3: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP4: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP5: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP6: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP7: [                                                   ]
DESCRIP8: [                                                   ]
 
SECTION III: Specialties Unlimited 
----------------------------------

Eventually, this is intended to help list the top bulletin board 
systems for given subjects.  In the meantime, it's treated as another 
description field in the database. I've been asked for a BBS with 
fonts, I'm looking for Clipper programs, and so on.  Why call across 
the country to use your system?  

Example: 

"With over fifty megabytes of Clipper source code (both 5.0 and 
earlier versions), the Clipper Dipper BBS is the best board for 
Clipper on the West Coast.  We provide bug reports and patches direct 
from Nantucket.  We carry the FidoNet CLIPPER echomail area, and carry 
archives of old messages.  With more than 2000 different programs and 
source files, the Clipper Dipper BBS will gladden the heart of any 
serious Clipper user."
 
(Don't delete the trailing bracket.  Write as many lines as you need, 
from 1 to 1000.) 
 
SPECIAL: [ ]
 
Section IV: Finding You Again 
----------------------------- 
 
From time-to-time questionnaires will be sent to you filled out, so 
you'll just need to change the necessary things and send it back.  If 
you filled out the Usenet or FidoNet sections, I'll use that.  
Otherwise, give me a CompuServe or MCI Mail address.  
 
MCI_MAIL: [   ]
COMPUSERVE: [   ]

If, for some reason, you can't email us, our fax number is (503) 248-
6320 and voice number is (503) 223-4245.  WE MUCH PREFER EMAIL.  
 
Section V: Extra Credit
-----------------------
More info is available on PC GrabDisc --- send to "cd@techbook.com" 
and you'll automatically get our propaganda.   Quickly, it's a CD-ROM 
of PC programs published each month which we try to fill with 
shareware, patches and new device drivers, interesting text files, and 
so on.  It costs $19.95 for a sample or $119.95 for an annual 
subscription.  

We think it's worth the money. (Big surprise.)

(Followups redirected to alt.bbs.lists.d.  Replies redirected to bbs.)