====== User Settings Menu ======

The **User Settings** menu (also called //Account Defaults Configuration// or just //Configuration// in older documentation) lets you, the user, change account-level preferences: terminal type, command shell, default editor, screen options, password, and personal information. It does **not** change the BBS's configuration, only your own account.

The User Settings menu is a [[:module:|loadable module]] — by default ''user_settings'' — and is **separate from the [[user:shell:|command shell]]**. The shell binds a key to invoke it (in [[user:shell:classic|Classic]], that's ''D'' from the Main prompt; other shells use other keys).

===== The stock ''user_settings'' menu =====

A live capture from [[bbs:vertrauen]] (running Synchronet v3.22, UTF-8 / ANSI terminal):

  User Settings for Claudeai-Docs #1191:

  [T] Terminal Mode                : Auto UTF-8 / ANSI (color) DEL=BS
  [K] Command Shell                : Synchronet (Classic)
  [L] Language                     : English
  [E] External Editor              : None
  [A] Temporary/QWK Archive Type   : zip
  [X] Expert Menu Mode             : Off
  [P] Screen Pause                 : On
  [S] Spinning Cursor              : Pause Prompt Only
  [C] Clear Screen Between Messages: Off
  [N] Ask For New Message/File Scan: On
  [Y] Ask For Your Un-read Msg Scan: Off
  [F] Automatic New File Scan      : On
  [R] Remember Current Sub-board   : On
  [B] Batch Download File Flagging : On
  [M] Forward Mail                 : Off (noreply@anthropic.com)
  [Z] Default Download Protocol    : None
  [W] Change Personal Information

  Which or [Q] to Quit:

The single bracketed letters are command keys — type the letter to change that setting. ''Q'' (or ''Enter'' on the bracketed default) returns to the previous prompt.

==== Setting reference ====

  * **''T'' Terminal Mode** — Auto-detects ANSI / RIP / mouse / UTF-8 / CP437 / PETSCII capabilities at logon, or you can pin a specific mode. Affects how the BBS draws menus and text. **ANSI** is the standard for color menus and text art on most BBSes; if your terminal supports it (most modern terminals and BBS clients do), you'll see color, boxes, and animated displays. If something looks wrong after logon — wrong character set, garbled art — you can override the detected mode here. The [[user:login:default|logon sequence]] shows what was auto-detected (e.g. ''80x24 UTF-8 / ANSI (color)'').
  * **''K'' Command Shell** — Choose your preferred [[user:shell:|command shell]] (only shells the sysop has made available are listed). The BBS remembers your choice across sessions.
  * **''L'' Language** — Choose your preferred display language (only languages the sysop has installed are available).
  * **''E'' External Editor** — Choose an [[user:editor|external message editor]] (e.g. [[:module:slyedit|SlyEdit]], [[:module:fseditor|FSEditor]]) to use instead of the built-in line editor when composing messages.
  * **''A'' Temporary/QWK Archive Type** — Archiver used for QWK packets and the temp-file feature (e.g. ''zip'').
  * **''X'' Expert Menu Mode** — When **off** (default for new users), full menus are redisplayed at every prompt; when **on** ("expert" mode), menus are hidden until you press ''?''. Saves screen real estate once you know the keys.
  * **''P'' Screen Pause** — Pause every screenful with a //"Hit a key"// prompt. When this is **off**, text scrolls without stopping — use [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-S]] to pause and [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-Q]] to resume. You can also temporarily toggle pause for the current command with [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-O]] without changing this setting permanently.
  * **''S'' Spinning Cursor** — Show a spinning cursor at pause prompts (or always, or never).
  * **''C'' Clear Screen Between Messages** — Clear the screen before displaying each new message when reading.
  * **''N'' Ask For New Message/File Scan** — At logon, ask whether to scan for new messages and files.
  * **''Y'' Ask For Your Un-read Msg Scan** — At logon, ask whether to scan for messages addressed to you.
  * **''F'' Automatic New File Scan** — Automatically run a new-file scan at logon.
  * **''R'' Remember Current Sub-board** — Resume each session at the sub-board you were on at last logoff.
  * **''B'' Batch Download File Flagging** — Flag files during browsing for later batch download (vs. download immediately).
  * **''M'' Forward Mail** — Forward your local BBS e-mail to your network e-mail address (the address shown in parentheses).
  * **''Z'' Default Download Protocol** — Download protocol used by default if you don't specify one.
  * **''W'' Change Personal Information** — Opens the Personal Information sub-menu (see [[#personal_information_w|below]]).

==== Personal Information sub-menu (W) ====

''W'' opens the **Personal Information** sub-menu (module: ''user_personal''). A live capture from [[bbs:vertrauen]]:

  Personal Information for Claudeai-Docs #1191:

  [A] Alias: Claudeai-Docs
  [R] Real Name: Claude Ai Documentation
  [H] Handle: Claudeai
  [E] NetMail Address: noreply@anthropic.com
  [L] Location: Internet
  [G] Gender: X
  [P] Password  (last changed: May07'26)
  [S] SSH Keys  (last changed: never)
  [M] Signature (last changed: never)

  Which or [Q] to Quit:

Type the bracketed letter to change that field; ''Q'' to return to the User Settings menu.

  * **''A'' Alias** — Your handle; what other users see. Must be unique on this system.
  * **''R'' Real Name** — Your full real name (visible to the sysop; may appear on some listings).
  * **''H'' Handle** — A short call-sign or alternate identifier.
  * **''E'' NetMail Address** — Your network e-mail address, used for mail forwarding and sysop contact.
  * **''L'' Location** — Your city/state or other location description.
  * **''G'' Gender** — Single letter: ''M'', ''F'', or ''X'' (other/unspecified).
  * **''P'' Password** — Change your login password. The date of last change is shown.
  * **''S'' SSH Keys** — Manage your SSH public keys (if the BBS supports SSH login). Date of last change shown.
  * **''M'' Signature** — Edit your message signature appended to posts. Date of last change shown.

Which fields appear depends on what the sysop has enabled (configured in ''modopts.ini'' under ''[user_personal]''). The NetMail Address and Signature are shown by default; all others are optional.

==== Settings stored elsewhere ====

  * **Avatar** — Use ''/A'' from the Main prompt (Classic) to change your avatar.
  * **New-message scan list** — Configured separately. In Classic, ''&'' from the Main prompt.

===== Other shells, other modules =====

The User Settings module is independent of the shell, but the **key** that invokes it is shell-specific:

  * [[user:shell:classic|Synchronet Classic]] — ''D'' from the Main prompt
  * Other shells — see the relevant [[user:shell:|shell page]]

A sysop can replace the stock ''user_settings'' module with a different one (configured in [[util:SCFG]] -> System -> Loadable Modules -> User Config); BBSes running a custom module may show a different menu.

===== See Also =====

  * [[:module:|Loadable Modules]]
  * [[user:|User Documentation]]
  * [[access:user_editor|User Editor]] (sysop-side equivalent)
  * [[config:system#loadable_modules|SCFG -> System -> Loadable Modules]]

{{tag>user settings module user_settings}}