Computer Literacy Modem Phone #
j...@msunix.uucp
I apologize for adding yet another message about Computer Literacy,
but it was never mentioned that they are running CommuniTree (whatever
that is) software whenever the store is closed on some computer so you
can access the bookstore. The following is quoted from their info sheet:
"Now you can access the bookshop after hours using your computer and
modem. We will be running the CommuniTree network software evenings
and all night. You will be able to browse through our newsletters, ask
questions, 'talk' with computer book authors and read and write book
reviews. You will be able to discuss computer books, computer topics,
magazines, current events, even books which you think need to be written,
with other computer users around the country. This is also your chance to
have your ideas heard by bookstores, publishers, and authors.
It seems to us that the CommuniTree software is the best way to simulate
the everyday workings of our store. The store and the network are both
interactive media whose primary purpose is the exchange of information.
If you don't have easy access to Sunnyvale, this is your opportunity to
experience the exciting atmosphere that this kind of exchange generates.
Let us know what you think."
Hours of operation (please call only during these times):
Monday thru Friday: 8:30PM - 9:00AM
Saturday and Sunday: 24 hours
(These are hours when there is no human help available).
To access the Computer Literacy Bookshop Network,
1) Have your modem dial (408) 730-9959
2) Hit two carriage returns to log on
It has on-line help available. I think "R HELP" is what you type. I tried
it and it works, though I had no interest in reading anything so I didn't.
By the way, their address is:
Computer Literacy Bookshop
520 Lawrence Expressway, Suite 310
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408) 730-9955 (credit card orders and customer service)
Five bucks gets "Silicon Valley Favorites" Mail Order Catalog.
I decided to post this because it says that it's for people who don't have
access to the store, and that's most of you out there. If you live in Silicon
Valley, don't flame me for spreading this information about "our" secret.
DISCLAIMER: I have no connection with the bookstore except having bought two
books there and working a couple miles up the street from them.
"If we did it like everyone else, Jonathan Hue
what would distinguish us from Via Visuals Inc.
every other company in Silicon Valley?" sun!sunncal\
>!leadsv!msunix!jon
"A profit?" amdcad!cae780/
Brandon Allbery
Quoted from <2...@msunix.UUCP> ["Computer Literacy Modem Phone #"], by j...@msunix.UUCP...
+---------------
| I apologize for adding yet another message about Computer Literacy,
| but it was never mentioned that they are running CommuniTree (whatever
| that is) software whenever the store is closed on some computer so you
| can access the bookstore. The following is quoted from their info sheet:
+---------------
| Hours of operation (please call only during these times):
| Monday thru Friday: 8:30PM - 9:00AM
| Saturday and Sunday: 24 hours
| (These are hours when there is no human help available).
|
| To access the Computer Literacy Bookshop Network,
| 1) Have your modem dial (408) 730-9959
| 2) Hit two carriage returns to log on
|
| It has on-line help available. I think "R HELP" is what you type. I tried
| it and it works, though I had no interest in reading anything so I didn't.
+---------------
Correct, although R HELP COMPLETE may be more helpful.
``CommuniTree'', or the Conference Tree (more properly), is a program that
was put out by the CommuniTree Group in California before they went defunct a
few years ago. They only got a version for Apple ][ working before they
dissolved, although there was an IBM-PC version in the works which may have
been finished by someone else. The Conference Tree program was written in
FORTH, but the FORTH layer was never visible to either users or system
maintainers.
I rather liked the Conference Tree we had around here until April 1982; its
discontinuation (the sysop moved) was the direct impetus for the first version
of what is now known as UNaXcess (which isn't very much like the Tree at all).
The basis for the Tree: It is, as the name suggests, a tree-structured
message database. The root is called CONFERENCES; every message added to the
tree is itself a ``conference'' and may have other conferences added to it,
the only limits being disk space and the (pitifully small) size of the index
maintained in memory by the FORTH interpreter. It is a very flexible system.
The primary commands are READ, SCAN (print the first few lines of messages)
and INDEX (list names only); each of these commands may take options after the
conference name, some of which are:
COMPLETE descend the tree from the named conference
BEFORE name read messages up to the named message, descending
the tree
AFTER name similar, but only messages after the named message
are shown
DELETED read messages flagged for deletion
ONLYDELETED do not show non-deleted messages
You can chain options together, so to read a portion of the tree you can
say READ CONFERENCES AFTER HELP BEFORE FOOBAR. Most commands and options can
be abbreviated, so the above command can be given as R CONFERENCES A HELP B
FOOBAR. The default is to read only the named conference (except INDEX, where
the default is COMPLETE). Messages have headers showing how many people have
read them; the sender's name is NOT stored. All messages are to everyone.
There are a number of protection modes, ranging from guest access (you can
read abything but only add conferences to GUEST) to full access. A password
is needed to go from the default level to a higher level. Most often, general
access to add messages is granted but copying and deleting messages is
restricted to ``fairwitnesses'' (sysops of particular conferences) or the
sysop. Messages can be undeleted until the sysop recovers disk space (which
is a separate program from the Tree in order to keep people from deleting
messages and then wiping them).
The software wasn't the most interesting thing about the Tree. System
administration was split between the Sysop and the Fairwitnesses. The sysop
kept the hardware running and occasionally compacted disk space; Fairwitnesses
performed the other administrative functions within their conference
subtrees. But a Fairwitness wasn't merely a sysop; his function was closer to
that of a moderator. A Fairwitness would spend most of his time helping along
conferences, perhaps starting some, often suggesting other areas of interest
or adding information to the discussion; he might also demonstrate links
between conference topics.
I'd have to agree that the Tree's probably one of the best BBSes that could be
used for the Computer Literacy BBS, although they'll have to look out for
swamped message bases!
++Brandon
--
---------------- /--/ Brandon S. Allbery UUCP: decvax!cwruecmp!
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---- -------- /-++ 7350 Corporate Blvd. PHONE: +1 216 974 9210
/ / /---, ---- Mentor, Ohio 44060 SYSOP: UNaXcess/ncoast
/ / / / / / -- HOME -- (216) 781-6201 24 hrs.
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