First release of the INTERact BBS system
(available to sample via 'TELNET jags.co.uk')

Author & Maintainer sysop@jags.co.uk (Jag Sandhu)
Mailing list: interact.list@jags.co.uk (Send 'add interact.list' to
              listserv@jags.co.uk to join this mailing list)


> What can it do?

Text based windowing system, like NONE other in this world!
	Don't be fooled.  Each window is event based and can be switched
	out to go back to the menu to start another action.  Windows can also
	be re-sized, re-positioned and the contents scrolled.
Activity window
	Shows who is online and WHAT they are doing.  REAL-TIME!!
	Watch it change as users do different actions.  Users can also
	specify a short message to put in here.  This message is updated
	real-time too and users have been known to have conversations
	via this!  (Very SAD!)
Users customizable environment.
	Will run up-to 132x50 text mode!  Colours etc. are customizable.
You can perform multiple actions at the same time, like
	Reading email
	News
	Talking to someone (person to person)
	Multi-User chat
	Browsing files
Easy to configure menu system
	The menu system is simply a directory structure.  The file called
	menu.Bbs contains the actual menu (residing in each directory).
Games server with dedicated DOS client (INTERACT.EXE)
	INTERACT.EXE dials into the system and once users have selected
	the parameters for the game they want to play (via an online
	pop-up window), the game is started by the client locally on each
	player's PC.  The users are returned back to the chat facility once
	the game has finished.
h2h games playing to play any game
	As above.  This mode (selected by a field in the above mentioned
	pop-up), will play any serial game.
Doom/Heretic/Hexen 3+ player gaming
	3 player on 14.4 modems is quite playable.  4 is just about. 28.8
	in 4 player should run well.
Full ISP capability
	Each user has an online account, System takes money from this account
	and pays for various options that a user has selected.  There is also
	an ability to create 'special user facility account files', these
	are simply files that are appended to the user's account summary
	at certain times of the month.  Facility is also present to specify
	per user boot-up options. These are user specific commands that need
	to be run when the system is re-booted.  Simply shell scripts that
	are run by rc.bbs.
Powerful FORM system
	Forms are easy to create, allowing you to create pop-up forms that
	either mail the results upon saving or feed the data into a shell
	script.
Multi-User chat facility
	In colour, Unlimited number of users can use this facility, you can
	also define a large number of chat groups.
Person to Person talk
	Two boxes, One for incoming message from other user and another for
	your outgoing messages, with scroll history on both of these.
Plus lots more!
	Suggestions are always welcome.

> Why am I doing this??

The BBS was developed for ONE reason only.  I wrote the text based
windowing system while writing a game.  Scrapped the game but couldn't
dare scrap the advanced windowing system that I had developed.  Wrote
a BBS using it and the rest is history..

> What else can I do?  I want to code and add to the system..

You are welcome.  If interested, I can supply you with the text library
for you to write additional utilities using..  If you make changes that
we can ALL benefit with then please pass onto us for inclusion in future
releases (of which there will be many).

> We need to change the system, I think it's a code change..

Sorry, I'm not releasing the code.  It's copy-write and will be for some
time to code.  If you really really want changes made, suggest them.
Financial persuasion will always work.

> How to install?

run interact.sh <directory>, Recommended install directory is /interact,
we suggest you carefully read the interact.sh script and ensure that you
are happy with the contents.  This will also extract and run a config.sh
script in the archive.  Verify this too, these scripts will make changes
to your system setup.  I can't be held responsible. 

sign on as sysop and start creating accounts...


DON'T FORGET!!
To download the files from the patches sub-directory too!!


Keep in touch with us to find out about upgrades and bug-fixes (subscribing
to the mailing list is a good idea).

Jag
(I'm a software consultant, Always on the look out for work, is there 
 something I can help with or a part of this system that you would like
 to make further use of? - End cheap plug )


