The Fido tosser is builtin to the PCBOARD execs.  The fido directory contains
some utilities and fido config files.  Here's the main setup doc.  it will
stretch across a few messages:


Introduction
=============================================================================

  Welcome to PCBFido!  Our implementation of Fido will operate as both a
  hub and as a site.  The Fido technology gives you the ability to exchange
  mail from all around the world or just between a few systems in the same
  valley.  The goal of this documentation is two fold.

  First of all, for those SysOps who are already familiar with the Fido
  technology and the world of terminology surrounding it, you'll find the
  translation quite easy because the need for batch files to switch between
  a mailer and a BBS are now gone.  Most of your concerns will revolve
  around getting familiar with the options in PCBSetup.

  Secondly, for those SysOps who are unfamiliar with Fido technology, this
  document will guide you though (step-by-step) on how to get connected with
  FidoNet.  Ah, there is that magical word--FidoNet.  What is it?

  The term FidoNet refers to a large number of BBSs around the world which
  are dedicated to FidoNet activity.  This very large group of BBSs are
  broken down by three distinct characteristics.  A ZONE basically defines
  the continent the BBS is from (North America, South America, Europe, etc.).
  Furthermore, the NETWORK is a smaller group of BBSs within the ZONE.  It
  is not uncommon to have several hundred networks in a zone.  The last
  defining characteristic is called the NODE.  This is a unique number
  within each network.  For example, network #35 may have nodes numbered
  1, 2, 3, and 4.

  We now know all BBSs use a unique number to identify themselves.  This
  particular number is called the node address and follows the format:

        :/

  Seeing a node address of 1:512/52, you know the address refers to node
  52, in network 512, which is in zone 1.  As you become more familiar
  with FidoNet, you'll soon learn that zone 1 is North America, zone 2
  is Europe, Zone 3 is Australia, and so on.  You'll want to skip over
  the next section which talks about converting from an existing mailer
  and go to the next section where we will help you will be guided in
  step-by-step fashion on how to get started in FidoNet.

I'm Already Running a Mailer
============================================================================

   Welcome to the wonderful world of Fido where the words "batch file" are
   not in our vocabulary.  Seriously, it is entirely possible to setup Fido
   without ever having to setup or run a batch file.  We should mention
   that optional batch files can be created to use different Zmodem modules
   or to even handle .TIC processing.

   Since you have run a mailer before, no doubt you are already familiar with
   the Fido terminology.  Your setup tasks mainly revolve around getting
   familiar with the configuration layout of Fido within PCBSetup's Fido
   Configuration menu option.  Take a moment to browse this menu item and
   look over the options.  If you know the information like your node number,
   or FREQ information, go ahead and fill it in.  You'll be up in no time.

   In the advent, you have problems in getting PCBFido properly configured,
   feel free to step through the areas of the documentation dedicated for
   new users.  They will point out things you may not be aware of in PCBFido
   which is different from other mailers.  A classic example of this is in
   assigning an area tag to a conference.  This is done from the third
   conference configuration screen as opposed to a data file.

I'm New to Fido
=============================================================================

  Fido is unlike any other net mail technology.  It is complex.  At some
  times it may even be confusing but realize this is a widely accepted method
  of transferring messages and files between all types of bulletin board
  packages.

  We will take you step-by-step through a set of tasks required to get you
  up and running.  After a major task is completed (e.g., setting up
  netmail), we will show you how to test the new feature to make sure it is
  working properly.  Attempting to connect to FidoNet one step at a time
  and make sure each is working properly is the best way to get you up and
  running.  A brief rundown of concepts we will cover in getting you
  configured follows:

    * Contacting the net coordinator / Get a node number assigned to you
    * Setting up echo areas (message bases)

  Before attempting to get FidoNet configured, make sure you are familiar
  with the concepts behind it.  A good source for this information is a
  guide called the Big Dummy's Guide to FidoNet which is written by Michael
  Schuyler.  This guide is available on Salt Air (the support board for
  PCBoard and CDC products) under the filename BIGDUMMY.ZIP.  A wealth of
  information regarding the mentality of those participating in the network
  and also a brief rundown of terminology is included.  You won't regret the
  extra few minutes it will take to look it over.

  Once you have a basic understanding of Fido, your next step is to get in
  contact with the net coordinator so you can have a node number assigned
  to you.  If you do not know what a net coordinator is at this point, stop
  and read the Big Dummy's Guide (BIGDUMMY.ZIP).  It contains this
  information and more.

Contacting the Net Coordinator
=============================================================================

  Why do you have to contact the net coordinator?  He is the one who will
  assign your node number to you.  An obvious question at this point is
  who is the net coordinator and how can in get in contact him.

  It would be wonderful if it were just a phone number to dial and say
  "sign me up".  Unfortunately it's not going to be that easy.  The way
  you contact the net coordinator is by sending him Fido netmail.  When
  the request is sent via netmail, the coordinator knows you:

    * Understand Fido enough to at least send netmail
    * Have netmail working with your current Fido Configuration

  Being able to do these tasks is proof that you know what you're doing so
  the coordinator will be more than happy to get your node number to you.

  To send the netmail to the coordinator the following steps must be
  accomplished:

    1. Find a FidoNet site in your area
    2. Obtain a nodelist (the white pages of FidoNet)
    3. Get the address of the net coordinator
    4. Configure PCBoard to send netmail
    5. Manually send netmail to the coordinator

  Once these have been accomplished you have almost finished setting up
  PCBFido.  Let's go find that coordinator.

  1.  Find a FidoNet Site in Your Area
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Although this is just the first step, it can be the toughest to
    accomplish.  To help make this step much easier, you can call
    our support BBS (see the printed manual for contact information) and
    execute the FINDFIDO command from the menu.  This PPE uses your area
    code or country code to generate a list of Fido sites close to you.

  2.  Obtain a Nodelist
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Utilizing the list obtained in step #1, contact one of the BBSs and
    request a nodelist.  The nodelist may be located for download in the
    file directories, so look there before leaving a message to the SysOp.

  3.  Get the Address of the Net Coordinator
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    To send netmail to the network coordinator we need to know the proper
    address where netmail is to be sent.  As a general rule, the coordinator
    is assigned node 0 of the zone and network you want to join.  For
    example, if the zone is 1 and the network is 311, you'll most likely
    send mail to 1:311/0.  CONFIRM this with the SysOp of the Fido system
    the nodelist was obtained from as this is vital information.

  4.  Configure PCBoard to Send netmail
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Before configuring PCBoard to send netmail, make sure you have the
    following:

      * Nodelist
      * Fido address of the net coordinator

    Fido Menu Options/Settings
    --------------------------
    Our next step is to configure the bare essentials of Fido so we can
    send a message to the net coordinator.  Load PCBSetup and select
    Fido Configuration from the Main Menu.  This screen has the following
    menu options:

        A  Fido Configuration
        B  Node Configuration
        C  System Address
        D  EMSI Profile
        E  File & Directory Configuration
        F  Archiver Configuration
        G  Phone Number Translation
        H  Nodelist Configuration
        I  FREQ Path List
        J  FREQ Restrictions
        K  FREQ Magic Names
        L  FREQ Deny Nodelist

    1.  Starting with "Fido Configuration", the first menu
option, mark each
        of the following fields with a "Y":

          Enable Fido Processing
          Allow Node to Process Incoming Packets
          Allow Node to Export Mail
          Allow Node to Dial Out

    2.  Press ESC to return to the main Fido Menu and select the "System
        Address Option".  We need to enter a temporary node address to use
        during the application process.  The zone and net information can
        be gathered from the address for the echo coordinator.  For example,
        if you were told the net coordinator's address is 1:311/0, the
        1:311 is the zone and net information.  For the node number enter
        9999.  Using the example information the entry looks like this:

             1) 1:311/9999

        Press ESC and save the changes.

    3.  You're back at the Fido Main Menu.  Select "EMSI Profile".  This is
        the menu option where we fill out all of the information about the
        BBS, who the main SysOp is and so forth.  This information is used to
        identify the caller when calling other Fido sites.  Fill in all of
        the fields with the exception of the one titled "Flags".  This
        information is provided by the net coordinator at a later time.
        When finished entering the BBS Name, City, State, and so forth,
        press ESC to return to the Main Menu.

    4.  Next, select "File & Directory Configuration" from
the Menu.  We
        need to enter valid DOS subdirectories for the all of the fields
        on this screen.  Recommended defaults are:

           Dir of Incoming Packets     : ..\FIDO\IN\
           Dir of Outgoing Packets     : ..\FIDO\OUT\
           Dir to store Bad Packets    : ..\FIDO\BADPKTS\
           Dir of Nodelist Database    : ..\FIDO\NODELIST\
           Work Directory              : ..\FIDO\WORK\
           Dir to store *.MSG          : ..\FIDO\MSG\

        If you have installed PCBoard on a different drive or subdirectory,
        make the appropriate changes.  Also, you may want to change the
        location of the work directory to another drive if it has more
        free space.  Keep that in mind if appropriate.  Press ESC when
        you are happy with what is entered.

        NOTE:  The directories you specify are automatically created
               if they do not already exist.

    5.  From the Fido Main Menu, select the "Phone Number
Translation" option.
        The phone numbers stored in the nodelist database will have the extra
        information such as area code or country code stored in each entry.
        In most situations, the coordinator will be a local call to you so
        we need to make the appropriate entries to strip the unwanted numbers
        from the phone numbers.

        For example, assuming you are calling from Utah (area code 801) to
        a coordinator in your calling area.  We need to strip the 1-801-
        information from the beginning of the phone number.  This can be
        done with the following entry:

                    Find                                  Change To
                 อออออออออ                               อออออออออออ
              1) 1-801-

        We've told Fido to find any number containing 1-801- and replace
        it with nothing.  In essence we've managed to strip it out and now
        we can place the local call properly.  Press ESC and make the
        selection to save changes when the appropriate entry is made.

    6.  The last thing we need to do from the PCBSetup configuration is to
        configure where the uncompressed nodelist obtained earlier can be
        found.  A good recommendation is to put it in the same directory
        specified for the nodelist database in PCBSetup | Fido Configuration |
        File & Directory Configuration.  Typically, the filename will end
        in a number specifying what day of the year the nodelist is for.

        In the field on the screen, enter the full path and filename (do NOT
        specify a file extension) where the uncompressed nodelist can be
        found.  The reason an extension is not specified is because it
        changes on a daily bases.  The following illustrates:

              Nodelist Path (No Extension)                     Diff Filename
              ออออออออออออออออออออออออออออ                     อออออออออออออ
           1) P:\PCB\FIDO\NODELIST\NODELIST

        Press ESC and save changes when finished.  You will be returned to
        the Fido Main Menu.

cont....

--- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10