This is an old revision of the document!
areas.bbs
The areas.bbs
file is (a.k.a. Area File) a pseudo-standard configuration file for FidoNet EchoMail programs (a.k.a. “tossers”). The area file is normally stored in your Synchronet data
directory with a filename of areas.bbs
, but this default location and filename may be overridden through configuration settings and command-line options.
Format
The Synchronet/SBBSecho Area File is a plain text file with a each FTN-networked message area specified on its own line with the syntax:
<code> <echo-tag> [uplink] [[downlink] [downlink] [...]]
Where <code>
is the internal code of the sub-boards as shown in SCFG->Message Areas. Internal codes may be up 16 characters in length and contain only valid filename characters (no spaces!).
Where <echo-tag>
is the official tag
(a.k.a. area tag) given to this message conference by the network administrators. Echo-tags may be up to 35 characters in length and contain alphanumeric ASCII characters and the underscore (no spaces!).
Where [uplink]
is the FTN address of the hub for this message area (if your BBS is not the hub). The uplink address must be a valid 3D or 4D FTN address.
Where [downlink]
is the FTN address of one or more additional FTN-style nodes for whom you feed this message conference. Each downlink address must be a valid 3D or 4D FTN addrses.
Creation
There are multiple ways in which you may create a Synchronet/SBBSecho compatible Area File:
- By hand, with a text editor (old school)
- Export Areas from SCFG->Message Areas, with the format: “areas.bbs SBBSecho Area File”
- Executing the
echoareas.js
script (e.g. executing with JSexec) and redirecting the output:jsexec echoareas > areas.bbs
. Configure your uplink in EchoCfg->Linked Nodes first and be sure to designate them as the “Uplink for Message Groups” for the message group(s) which you created in SCFG for the networked sub-boards)
Setup
The most common setup steps:
- Locate and contact a suitable hub for the FTN you are interested
- Once you have obtained a node number for the network, configure that node number in SCFG->Networks->FidoNet->System Addresses
- Obtain an EchoList (preferably in
backbone.na
format) for the network in question - Create a new message group in SCFG->Message Areas (make a note of the “Short Name” you chose)
- Use the SCFG->Message Areas... “Import Areas...” option to import the EchoList into the newly create group
- Use the SCFG->Message Areas... “Export Areas...” option to create the SBBSecho Area File (
areas.bbs
), when prompted enter your uplink's FTN address - In EchoCfg->Linked Nodes, select your uplink and add the newly created message group's Short Name in the “Uplink for Message Groups” field