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File Transfer Section

The File Transfer Section is where you browse, search, download, upload, and manage files on the BBS. In the Classic shell, press T from the Main prompt to enter it; press Q to return to Main.

The File Transfer Section is a part of the Classic shell (not a separate loadable module). Its prompt, menus, and navigation are documented on the Classic shell page; this page covers how to actually use the commands.

Libraries and directories

The file area uses a two-level hierarchy — exactly like message groups and sub-boards, but for files:

A library is a broad category (e.g. Shareware, Graphics, Utilities).
A directory is a specific collection within a library (e.g. Shareware/Windows, Shareware/Business).

Your current library and directory are shown in the File Transfer prompt: (1) Main (1) Uploads.

Navigating libraries and directories

* — list all directories in your current library
/* — list all libraries
# — jump to directory # in current library
/# — jump to library #
} / { — next / previous directory
] / [ — next / previous library

Wildcards

Most file commands accept wildcards in the Filespec [*.*]: prompt:

* matches any number of characters (including none)
? matches exactly one character
Entering just <CR> is equivalent to *.* — matches all files

Examples:

FONT?.ZIP matches FONT1.ZIP or FONT2.ZIP but not FONTMAN.ZIP
FONT*.ZIP matches FONTMAN.ZIP or FONT1.ZIP but not LANMAN.ZIP
FONTMAN.Z* matches FONTMAN.ZIP or FONTMAN.ZOO but not FONTMAN.png
FONTMAN (no extension) matches FONTMAN.ZIP, FONTMAN.png, etc.

Listing and searching

L — List files

Lists files in your current directory. Wildcards accepted.

E — Extended file information

Like L but shows extended details per file: uploader name, download time, credit cost, times downloaded, upload/download dates, and any extended description. Wildcards accepted.

N — New file scan

Lists files uploaded since your last logon. You're prompted whether to scan:

D — current directory (quick key: ND)
L — all directories in current library (quick key: NL)
A — all directories in all libraries (quick key: NA)

The new file scan date resets each logoff. To change it temporarily, use &P (see Configuration below).

S — Search for filename

Searches for a filename (wildcards accepted) across:

D — current directory (quick key: SD)
L — current library (quick key: SL)
A — all libraries (quick key: SA)

F — Find text in description

Searches file descriptions for a text string (partial words work; wildcards do not). Prompted to search:

D — current directory (quick key: FD)
L — current library (quick key: FL)
A — all libraries (quick key: FA)

You'll also be asked whether to include extended file descriptions in the search.

Downloading files

D — Download file

Prompts for a filename (wildcards accepted). Matching files are listed one by one; after each you get download options:

Z / Y / X / G etc. — download with the named protocol (Zmodem, Ymodem, Xmodem, Ymodem-G, or whatever the sysop has installed)
B — add to batch/bidirectional download queue
<CR> — skip this file, show next
Q — quit back to the File Transfer prompt

If no match is found in the current directory the search automatically expands to all libraries.

/D — Download user-to-user file

Downloads a file sent to you personally by another user (if the sysop allows user-to-user transfers). Files are listed one by one with the same download options as D.

Uploading files

U — Upload file

Uploads a file to the current directory. After entering the filename you go through the standard upload procedures.

/U — Upload to user

Uploads a file destined for a specific user (or multiple users). After the filename you're prompted for the recipient's name, user number, or partial name; you may add additional recipients before confirming. Then follow the standard upload procedures.

Z — Upload to sysop

Uploads directly to the sysop's private file area (if the sysop allows it). Then follow the standard upload procedures.

Upload procedures

After specifying the upload command and filename, you may be asked:

1. Whether the file is part of a **multi-file set** (e.g. disk 1 of 3) — ''<CR>'' or ''N'' if not.
2. A **content rating** prompt (site-dependent).
3. A **one-line description** for the file listing.
4. An optional **extended description** (use the built-in line editor or your configured [[user:editor:|external editor]]; ''/S'' to save).
5. **Upload options**: choose a protocol (''Z'', ''Y'', ''X'', etc.) or ''B'' to add to the batch upload queue; ''Q'' to abort.

R — Remove / edit file

Remove or edit the description of any file you uploaded. You cannot remove files uploaded by others.

Batch file transfers

The batch queues let you collect multiple files for a single transfer session:

When a download or upload command offers option B, selecting it adds the file to the appropriate queue instead of transferring immediately.
When your queues are ready, press B from the File Transfer prompt to open the Batch/Bidirectional menu:

Key	Action
`B`	Start bidirectional transfer (upload and download simultaneously)
`U`	Upload all files in the upload queue
`D`	Download all files in the download queue
`L`	List files in both queues
`R`	Remove specific file(s) from a queue
`C`	Clear all files from upload or download queue
`Q`	Quit back to File Transfer prompt

Bidirectional transfers let you upload and download at the same time using protocols like Bimodem or HS/Link — effectively doubling throughput when you have queues in both directions.

Temp directory

The Temp Directory is a scratch area for extracting files from archives and building custom download bundles. Press T from the File Transfer prompt to open it.

Key	Action
`E`	Extract files from an archive into the Temp Directory
`N`	Create `NEWFILES.TXT` — a new-file scan listing
`F`	Create `FILELIST.TXT` — complete list of all files on the BBS
`A`	Add files to (or create) the Temp File bundle to download
`D`	Download the Temp File bundle
`I`	Show information on files in the Temp Directory
`V`	View contents of an archive in the Temp Directory
`X`	Extract from a nested archive in the Temp Directory
`L`	List all files in the Temp Directory
`R`	Remove file(s) from the Temp Directory
`Q`	Quit back to File Transfer prompt

The typical flow to download a single file from inside a large archive:

1. ''E'' — extract from the archive into Temp.
2. ''A'' — add the specific extracted file(s) to the Temp bundle.
3. ''D'' — download the bundle.

Creating NEWFILES.TXT or FILELIST.TXT (N or F) clears any existing files in the Temp Directory first.

Information

I from the File Transfer prompt opens the Information menu:

T — BBS file transfer policies (rates, upload credits, rules)
D — information about the current directory
U — list of users with access to the current directory
Y — your file transfer account statistics (credits, uploads, downloads)
Q — quit back to File Transfer prompt

Configuration

& from the File Transfer prompt opens the File Transfer Configuration menu:

B — toggle Batch Download Quick File Flagging on/off. When on, file listing commands (L, S, F, N) show one page at a time with a letter next to each file; type the letter(s) of files you want and press <CR> to add them to the batch download queue and continue. This setting can be made permanent in User Settings (B option).
P — Change New File Scan Date/Time. Manually set how far back the new-file scan looks. Resets to your last logoff date at the end of your session.
Q — quit to Main menu

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