6 - USING ADD-ONS

Centipede was designed to support easily installed add-on systems. Two general
types of add-ons are games and networks. Other add-ons may add any sort of
added functionality you can think of.

Every add-on should contain documentation giving explicit instructions on how
to add it to your system. This usually entails copying some files to your
storage units, adding commands to menus, and/or modifying scripts.

It is a very good idea to keep a list of add-ons that you have on your BBS. It
is also important to keep the installation archives of any add-on you are
using. Keeping them handy, particulary the documentation, will help you in the
event that you must rebuild a menu or script. An example of when this would be
necessary is if you change your system structure. (See section 2.7.) System
structures completely replace many of your menus and scripts. As such, it will
be necessary to redo any modifications to these menus and scripts that you have
performed in order to install an add-on.


6.1 - About Network Add-Ons

Centipede supports the use of up to ten message network systems. When
installed, these networks are seamlessly inserted into the e-mail and message
board systems1. Replies to both public and private messages are automatically
routed to the correct network. A list of nodes, on all networks, is available
to send new e-mail.

At the time of this writing, there are two networks available for Centipede:

    * ComLink - a centralized network consisting of shared message categories
      and e-mail.
    * Net64 - the Color 64 Network - a system of independently connected BBSs
      with e-mail and limited public messaging abilities.

The add-on systems for both networks are included on your Centipede disks. The
following subsections describe each network.


6.1.1 - What is ComLink?

ComLink is a centralized, message-oriented network for Commodore BBSs. Entire
message categories are sent to a central hub, which distributes the messages to
all nodes in the Link. E-Mail can also be sent to any user on any node in the
Link. The entire transfer is done in only a few minutes, with a single call
from your BBS to the Hub system.

Once a night, your BBS will automatically call the ComLink Hub,at a time of
your choosing. New messages are exchanged and then you are quickly
disconnected. Depending on your baud rate and current activity, a call to the
ComLink hub generally lasts only one to three minutes.

For information on how to connect to, install, or remove ComLink, please refer
to the ComLink manual included on your Centipede disks within the ComLink
archive.


6.1.2 - What is Net64

Net64 is the name I have bestowed upon the network designed for Color 64
systems. Saying "the network for Color 64" is a bit long winded, so throughout
this manual and Centipede BBS, it is called Net64.

Net64 was created in 1987 by Sam Lewit as a way of exchanging messages (public
and private) among the hugely popular Color 64 BBSs. Net64's interfacing into
the rest of the BBS, in both the original Color 64 version and now in
Centipede, is limited. Creating new messages (pubic or private) requires going
into a new area specifically for posting Net64 messages. Replies to e-mail
return to the sender at the proper node - but replies to public messages do
not. With the newest version of Net64, supported by Centipede, SysOps may also
send files to other BBSs.

There is no centralized control over Net64. BBS SysOps must apply for network
connections with every other BBS they wish to communicate with. The receiving
SysOp must then give the requester access and send a return application - to
make the connection two way. While this 'free for all' network where each SysOp
has control over whom they are connected to has its advantages, there is one
very clear disadvantage; to send messages to multiple BBSs, multiple long
distance phone calls must be made. Sending a message to all fifty nodes you may
be connected to is not only a chore to set up, but also requires the system
making fifty phone calls.

Finally, Net64 contains an optional charging system. Under this system, members
must pay in advance to be able to send Net64 messages. The sending charge of a
message is based upon its length.

For information on how to install or remove Net64, please refer to the Net64
manual included on your Centipede disks within the Net64 archive.

NOTE: Net64 is not a fully integrated Centipede network. It is included largely
in its original form and only for the sake of communicating with older BBSs.

