New Utility on S*TJ's BBS Makes
Look-ups A Snap!
Looking for a particular game, subassembly,
component, parts source, author or any subject
that might be on the electronic bulletin board, but
don't have the time to spend looking through all
the messages?
A new utility now available makes this task a
snap. it's called BAMscan and the software was
written by James Beck, Sysop for STAR*TECH
Journal's BBS (electronic Bulletin Board Sys-
tem). Phone: 404-631-2928. Modem speed:
2400, 1200, 300. Data bits: 8. Parity: N. Stop bits:
1. This service is free to subscribers.
MAKE A SELECTION:
1) Search Message Areas.
2) Get some help.
3) Go back to the BBS (quit).
forward. The next menu lists the available mes-
sage areas that you can search.
If you choose to perform a search, you will be
prompted for a "keyword". This is the word or
string of words you want to find. Try to be as brief
as possible to ensure a match. Upper and
lowercase are ignored.
You will then be asked if you want to enter
another keyword. If you don't, the search for
your keyword will be started in the chosen
message area. If you opt to enter another key-
word you will then be prompted for the next
keyword, and a conditional test to be performed
during the search.
THE CONDITIONALS ARE:
& for AND
* for OR
Selection? 1
! for NOT
WHICH AREA DO YOU WISH TO SEARCH?
1) "General Interest Message Area"
2) "STAR*TECH Journal Customer
Ser-
vice and Feedback Area"
3) "For Sale and Want Ads Area"
H) for Help screen.
Q) to Quit to previous menu.
B) to go Back to the BBS.
This BAMscan utility is very similar to the OPUS
internal "(I)nquire" command, but unlike the
"Inquire" command, which allows you to only
search the To:, From:, and Subject: of messages,
the BAMscan utility searches the ENTIRE mes-
sage for a specific word or string. It also allows for
a second keyword or string and conditional
testing.
Us1NG BAMscAN
The main utility menu gives you 3 choices. To
search a message area, get some help, or to go
back to the BBS. That's pretty straight
This lets you search for messages that contain
the first keyword AND the second keyword,
messages that contain the first OR the second
keyword, and messages that contain the first
keyword but NOT the second. The possibility to
search for very specific information in this way is
enormous.
After the search begins, any message numbers
that constitute a match of your criteria will be
displayed. You can then try another search, or go
back to the BBS to read the matches.
Life on the BBS is now considerably simpler.
Enjoy!