Local Logins
Anytime you access the system locally rather than through a serial device, you are performing a local login. All information is displayed to you on your local machine and you are actually running PCBoard on your machine. There are several methods you can use to log into the system in local mode.
Methods To Login Locally
Perhaps the most frequently used method of logging into the system locally is via the call-waiting screen. On the call-waiting screen, you will notice the following four buttons:
The two buttons on the left will log you into the system asking you for your name, etc. In essence, this is identical to accessing the system via modem or serial port except everything is on your local screen. If you use the two buttons on the right, then you will be logged into the system as the SysOp (as defined in record #1 of the users file).
You may also use the /LOCALON command line parameter of PCBOARD.EXE. If you use this parameter on the command line, then the call-waiting screen will be bypassed and the user will be immediately logged into the system. This method would be identical to selecting User - Not Busy from the call-waiting screen.
For example, if you wanted a node to be configured to bypass the local login screen and immediately login, you could modify your PCBOARD line in your BOARD.BAT file to read:
PCBOARD /LOCALON
Differences in Operation
Normally everything behaves/displays the same whether you are logged in locally or over a serial connection. However, when you are logged in locally, there are a few items that you may want to be aware of:
Perhaps the most noticeable difference between remote logins and local logins is when you transfer files. PCBoard behaves differently when you are logged in locally. Refer to the File Transfers section in the SysOp's Guide chapter of this manual for additional details..
When a user is logged in locally, the COM port is defined as 0 in the setup. This means that if you have any door or utility applications that reference PCBoard to see what COM port is being used, be sure that they are able to discern that COM 0 means that the user is on locally.
The speed of a caller when they are online is set to what you have defined as the Opening Baud Rate in PCBSetup > Modem Information > Modem Setup.
Additional Features
While a user is logged in locally some additional keystrokes are available. They are as follows:
| Scrl-Lck | Scroll-back Buffer. Access text that has scrolled off of the screen. The number of lines that are stored in the scroll-back buffer is defined in PCBSetup > Configuration Options > Limits. |
| F5 | Shell to DOS. Enables you to shell to a DOS prompt while in PCBoard. You can disable or enable this option in PCBSetup > Configuration Options > System Control with the Allow Local SHELL to DOS. |
| ALT-I | Import a text file. You may need to import or stuff a text file while in PCBoard. Perhaps you need to include a file into a message. While entering the message you can press ALT-I. You will then be asked for the filename to import. If the file is not found, nothing will be done. If the file is found, the text will be imported into PCBoard just as if you had typed the information. |
| ALT-F | Capture screen output to file. If you would like to capture the text that PCBoard displays on your screen, you can press ALT-F. If you do not already have a capture file open, then you will be asked for the filename you wish to capture to. If you do have a capture file open, then pressing ALT-F will close the capture file. You will know if a capture file is open because you will see an F on the status line. |
| ALT-P | Capture screen output to printer. Capturing text to the printer is almost identical to capturing text to a file however, you are never asked or a filename. PCBoard looks at the printer port you defined in PCBSetup > Node Information. All information that PCBoard displays (with the exception of More prompts and such) will be sent to the printer. Like capturing to a file, you will see a P on the status line to signify that you are capturing output to the printer. |
| ALT-T | Send a form feed to the printer. If you need to send a form feed to the printer, you may do so by pressing ALT-T. |