Classic Shell — Displaying Menus

Synchronet's Classic shell uses an expert mode model: when expert mode is off (the default for new users, also called Novice mode), the menu of available commands is automatically displayed at every new command prompt. When expert mode is on, the menu is hidden until you ask for it — saving screen real estate and call time once you know the keys.

You toggle expert mode in your User Settings menu (X option in the stock module).

• ? at almost any prompt displays the menu of available commands at that prompt.
• /? inside the chat module or the Synchronet built-in line editor displays the menu of those modules' commands. (The leading slash is needed there because plain ? is a valid character to type into a chat or message line.)

The Main prompt is the top-level prompt of the Classic shell — where you land after logon and where most navigation and command keys are entered.

The Main prompt is identified by square brackets [ ]. (The File Transfer prompt uses parentheses ( ) — that's how you know which one you're at.)

The Main prompt always shows:

• Your current message group (name and number) — the first part
• Your current sub-board (name and number) — the second part
• A clock — by default, your time remaining online; if your account has a time exemption, your time spent online

Pressing ? at the Main prompt redisplays the Main Menu.

The File Transfer prompt is reached from the Main prompt with F (or /F as a slash command) and is the entry point to the File Transfer Section. It shows your current library and directory (with names and numbers) instead of group/sub-board, and uses parentheses ( ) instead of square brackets to make the difference unmistakable at a glance.

Most context-specific prompts inside Classic accept Q to quit back to the prompt that called them (e.g. quit Read Mail back to the E-mail Menu, quit the E-mail Menu back to the Main prompt).

O from the Main or File Transfer prompt logs off the BBS. /O is a quick logoff (no “are you sure?”).

• Classic shell index
• Classic single-key command reference
• Slash commands
• User Settings menu — toggle expert / novice mode
• Control-key commands (Ctrl-K lists them; works at any prompt)