BBDC


Welcome to the new format of  the Washington, DC area BBS list produced continuously each month since 1988 by Mike Focke.

January 1, 1995 marks the introduction of a totally new format with provision for the inclusion of additional data  fields beyond the traditional DCBB format.  With the new format comes a slight modification to the traditional name, DCBB changes to BBDC.  The  date indication format will remain the same with BBDC0195.ZIP containing the January, 1995 DC area list.

Most users will just "print ascii.txt" and scan the information that is printed (about 50+ pages).

The user need only run LIST or some Windows equivalent (like the WRITE applet) against the file ASCII.TXT to see formatted text output produced from the comma delimited data base of BBS information called BBS.ALL.  There is also a DOS program, BBSPRINT.EXE, separately distributed as BBSPRINT.ZIP that will allow select, sort and multiple types of reports.

DCBB grew out of a long felt need for a verified BBS list.   I had seen BBS lists that had once been current but had not been maintained or had been added to but never verified.  DCBB was my attempt to develop a verified list and I decided to share the list, as I had done in the Atari-800 BBS community for several years before that.

Jeff Morley, sysop of a then-operative board called Interconnect, saw the list and provided a program to format the data in ways a user might find useful.  But we were always constrained by the size and number  of data fields we had to work with in the communications program I was then using.

As DOS faded and I grew to using Windows and then NT, it became possible to use multi-tasking and GUI advantages to make my task easier.   So I began designing my dream system and put out a plea for programming help.  Larry Robertson, sysop of ElectroTech,  saw the plea and answered.  All the data import, phone number verification and data base programming was done by Larry, an enormous task and one for which I am immensely grateful.

I have asked that he include in the files we distribute the source code to the printout program so that any visual basic for DOS 1.0 programmer might extend the print/file-creation utility (you'll need a specific commerciial library though..see  the docs with BBSPRINT.ZIP).  Once you have modified the program, please redistribute the changes to me so I always have a current source and can tell people who want to do extensions if anyone is working an that particular one already

The new format allows the sysop to list much more info than they ever could before. Hopefully, we have removed all the problem areas the sysops pointed out over the years  but which we were unable to do anything  about until now.

You can now list a location specific to your BBS. It no longer has to come out of a table.

You have 31 characters for the BBS name and 20 for the Sysop's name  I don't list aliases.

A "PAY" BBS is one where the normal services the board provides are only available for a fee.  A "FREE" board might offer more time, faster modems or unusual services for a fee but basic message and files service must be provided for free or it will be listed as "PAY".

I don't list modem speeds except the standard 2400/9600/14400/28800. For a board to list 28800, it must support V.34.

Hard Disk size does not include CD space.

For examples of what can be  done with the new format, see the listings for ElectroTech, CPCUG and/or World Data Net.

Much  of the data on the number of conferences, doors, file size, etc is wrong in this initial data base listing.  There was no practical way of acquiring the data.  But as sysops send me updates for the list, the data will get better and the BBS list will get more useful to the user so they can better tell what board might interest them and more useful to the sysop as the "right kind" of user is attracted and the "wrong kind" are directed elsewhere.

Updates from users or sysops should be sent to:

InterNet:  fockem@hfsi.com

CPCUG's MIX (BBS conf): 301-738-9060, 703-319-0069
(the list appears on the evening of the last day of the month and is a free D/L to all)

US snail-mail can be sent to:

             Mike Focke
             3599 Twilight CT
             Oakton, VA 22124

do NOT call voice please.  It irritates my wife.

Because of the cost  of verifying the status of a board that is a long distance call, I am still limiting the list to BBSs that are a local call from Tysons corner. 
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A series of comma delimited files were imported into a Microsoft Access format data base. The data is thereafter maintained in a Visual Basic for Windows program with the classic capabilities to add, delete or edit a record. There is also a Windows Basic for Windows program that verifies all BBS numbers at least still answer with a modem. This program creates a file  which is then used to update the data base.  Multiple passes on various dates and times are done before a number  is listed  as down. Disconnected numbers are listed for 1 months listing and then removed. I'm sure Larry would allow the total package  to be used/modified by some other BBS list maintainer in another location. The verify program might well be useful to a person in another location without any changes.  It expects a file with a list of phone numbers and keeps dialing until it has verified them all or until you ask it to quit.  I run it all night for several nights against my 500+ number list and it gets me down to about 50 I have to on-line verify.
