JD> The second question, also related to an old Opus feature,
JD> was the ability to display a file, which if memory serves me
JD> right was called AREAINFO.BBS or something like that, to
JD> users who were entering a specific file area or message
JD> area.  This file need only be in the same directory as the
JD> file area or message area.  The message area thing puzzles
JD> me a bit though with the advent of Squish-base message
JD> areas.
        (I'm skipping the first part, as it's been MUCH too long since I left 
Opus.. but I think Max's .BBS files (which can contain graphics, which are 
automatically removed for non-graphics callers) will do just fine)
        In Squish -message- bases, just put a .SQR file (Rules) in the 
directory with the messages, named -exactly- like the .DAT file. For exmaple, 
GENERAL.SQR would be for the GENERAL.SQD message data. You're free to use 
MECCA controls in these files too! Color them up, link other files, etc. 
Works fine. Lines are long, will get broken here, but you can glue them back 
together to see it work. Each line begins with either [notkey] or [choice]:
>------------------ RULE Reading MEC/SQR ----------
[notkey]z [white]                        NOTICE:
[notkey]z [white]This message area has a MODERATOR'S RULE FILE which you must
[notkey]z agree to honor before you
[yellow][blink]>[yellow]ENTER[blink]<[yellow][white] messages in this 
conference.
[notkey]z [white]     Press [yellow]R[white] to Read the [yellow]Rules[white] 
File,
[notkey]z [white]     Press [yellow]I[white] for [yellow]Info[white] on 
Removing this Notice.
[notkey]z [white]     Or press [yellow]ENTER to Continue[white]:[menu]ri|
[choice]r [moreon][link]d:\files\rules\general.rul
[choice]i [moreon][link]c:\max\misc\remove.bbs
>----------------------- EOF ------------
        The one above (which you would MECCA as GENERAL.SQR (MECCA 
GENERAL.MEC GENERAL.SQR) would be displayed when they first enter the area. 
It gives them a chance to read the echo rules on the spot before proceeding, 
proceed to read and skip the rules, or to find out how to have this display 
removed. They get it removed by sending me a note that they have read (or 
will read) the rules file for these 'protected' areas BEFORE they enter a 
message. Then I set key Z in their user record and it's bypassed.
        You can be very creative or make them simple, its up to you!
Mark
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