Introduction

Welcome to the User Directory, the membership directory and messaging service from Emulator.ca Systems.

In the early days of computing, using a computer meant working alone. You sat at your terminal, ran your programs, and went home. Your computer was an island. But the moment computers began talking to each other over telephone lines, something remarkable happened: users started looking for other users. Who else was out there? What were they working on? Could they help solve that stubborn bug? Did they share your obsession with vintage hardware?

The User Directory answers these questions. Browse the profiles of fellow BBS members and discover their interests, equipment, and favorite systems. Send private messages that wait patiently in their inbox until they next dial in. Page online users for real-time conversation. Track your favorite members on your Buddy List and know instantly when they are available. Think of it as your address book, message centre, and social register rolled into one.

The connections you make here transform a collection of computers into a genuine community. Dial 555-0604 from your EC-TTY terminal and discover who else shares this digital space—fellow collectors of vintage hardware, experienced programmers willing to share their knowledge, door game enthusiasts looking for opponents, or simply kindred spirits who remember when 300 baud felt blindingly fast.

All user information displayed in the directory is voluntarily provided by members. You control what appears in your profile—share as much or as little as you prefer.

Quick Start

Connect to the User Directory and browse the community in moments:

Dial 555-0604 from the BBS main menu
Press L to list all registered users
Enter a user number to view their full profile
Press L to leave them a message, or A to add them to your Buddy List
Press M from any screen to return to the main menu

If you see "unread messages" on the main menu, press M to read what others have sent you!

Getting Connected

Dial-Up Procedure

To access the User Directory, configure your modem software with the following parameters:

Parameter	Setting
Phone Number	555-0604
Baud Rate	300/1200/2400
Data Bits	8
Parity	None
Stop Bits	1

Connection Banner

Upon successful connection, you'll be greeted with the User Directory banner and main menu:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║         USER DIRECTORY & MESSAGING               ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Current user: GUEST
Users online: 3
You have 2 unread message(s)!

──────────────────────────────────────────────────
  [L] List Users
  [S] Search Users
  [M] View Messages (2 new)
  [E] Edit Profile
  [B] Buddy List
  [O] Sort Options
  [Q] Quit
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

Choice: _

If you see the "unread messages" notification blinking on your screen, someone has left you a message! Press M to read your messages right away.

Browsing Users

The User Listing

Press L from the main menu to display the complete list of registered users. Each entry shows essential information at a glance:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           USER LISTING                               │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

# Handle       Status Location            Calls  Last Seen
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 1 AMIGA500      ○    Seattle, WA           445  12 hours ago
 2 C64FAN        ○    London, UK            987  Yesterday
 3 HACKER42      ○    Berkeley, CA         1547  30 min ago
 4 NOSTALGIA     ○    Portland, OR         2842  1 hour ago
 5 PHREAKER      ○    Austin, TX            654  2 days ago
 6 SYSOP         ●    Server Room, USA    15678  Now           ★
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
6 user(s) found

Enter number to view profile, [S]earch, [M]enu: _

Understanding the Display

Column	Description
#	Entry number for quick selection
Handle	User's chosen screen name
Status	● = Online now, ○ = Offline
Location	User's reported geographic location
Calls	Total number of times the user has connected
Last Seen	When the user was last active on the system
★	Yellow star indicates the user is on your Buddy List

Sort Options

Press O from the main menu to change how users are sorted in the listing. Available options:

Option	Sort Order
[1]	By Handle (A-Z) — Alphabetical order
[2]	By Call Count (High to Low) — Most active users first
[3]	By Last Seen (Recent First) — Recently active users first

Searching Users

Search Menu

Press S from the main menu or user listing to access the search function. The search system allows you to find users by various criteria:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                SEARCH USERS                      │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

  [H] Handle
  [L] Location
  [I] Interests
  [O] Online Only
  [C] Clear Search
  [M] Main Menu

Search by: _

Search Options Explained

Command	Description
H	Handle Search - Find users with matching handles (partial match supported)
L	Location Search - Find users in a specific city, state, or country
I	Interests Search - Find users who share specific interests or hobbies
O	Online Only - Show only users currently connected to the BBS
C	Clear Search - Remove all search filters and show all users

CODE_FENCE_0

The system displays all users whose handles contain "HACK":

CODE_FENCE_1

Searches are case-insensitive. Typing "london", "LONDON", or "London" will all produce the same results.

User Profiles

Viewing a Profile

To view a user's full profile, type their number from the user listing and press ENTER. The profile screen displays comprehensive information about the user:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                   USER PROFILE: NOSTALGIA                            ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Handle:     NOSTALGIA ★ BUDDY
Status:     Offline
Name:       Alex Chen
Location:   Portland, OR
Email:      [email protected]

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Statistics
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Joined:        1988-03-15
Last Seen:     1 hour ago
Total Calls:   2842
Posts:         1256
Files:         89
Access Level:  VIP

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Bio
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Old-school BBS enthusiast. Remember when 300 baud was cutting edge?
I do! Love discussing vintage tech and the early days of online
communities.

Interests: BBS history, vintage modems, CompuServe, door games, ASCII art
Favorite BBSes: The WELL, Echo NYC, Boston Computer Society
Setup: Commodore 128, Hayes Smartmodem 2400

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  [L] Leave Message
  [A] Add to Buddy List
  [B] Back to List
  [M] Main Menu

Action: _

Profile Fields

Field	Description
Handle	User's unique screen name on the BBS
Status	ONLINE (green) if currently connected, Offline otherwise
Name	Real name (optional)
Location	City, state, or country
Email	Electronic mail address if provided
Joined	Date when the user first registered
Last Seen	Most recent activity timestamp
Total Calls	Number of times connected to the BBS
Posts	Messages posted to discussion areas
Files	Number of files uploaded to the system
Access Level	USER, VIP, or SYSOP privileges
Bio	Personal biography written by the user
Interests	Hobbies and areas of interest
Favorite BBSes	Other bulletin boards the user frequents
Setup	Computer and modem equipment description

Access Levels

Level	Description
USER	Standard registered user with basic privileges
VIP	Trusted user with extended access (longer session times, more downloads)
SYSOP	System Operator with administrative access

Profile Actions

While viewing a profile, you have several interaction options:

Command	Description
L	Leave Message - Send a private message to this user
P	Page User - Request live chat (only visible if user is online)
A	Add to Buddy List - Add user to your favorites (or U to remove)
B	Back - Return to the user listing
M	Main Menu - Return to the main directory menu

Online Status & Paging

Identifying Online Users

The User Directory maintains real-time tracking of who's currently connected to the BBS. Online users are indicated by:

A solid green circle (●) in the user listing
Green "ONLINE" status text in their profile
The "Page User" option appearing in their profile menu

Paging an Online User

When viewing the profile of an online user, press P to send a page request. This notifies the user that you'd like to chat:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  PAGE USER: SYSOP                            │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Paging SYSOP...

Your page request has been sent!
If SYSOP is available, they will respond via message.

Press ENTER to continue: _

If you don't receive a response to your page, the user may be away from their terminal or busy with other tasks. Try leaving a message instead—they'll see it the next time they check their inbox!

Online User Count

The main menu always displays the current count of online users. This gives you a quick sense of how active the BBS is at any moment. Use the "Online Only" search option (O from the Search menu) to see exactly who's currently connected.

Private Messaging

Leaving a Message

To send a private message to another user, view their profile and press L:

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              LEAVE MESSAGE FOR HACKER42                        │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Enter message (max 200 chars, blank to cancel):

> Hey! Want to play some Trade Wars later?

Message delivered!

Messages are limited to 200 characters. If you need to send a longer message, consider breaking it into multiple messages or use the Email System (dial 555-0750) for extended correspondence.

Reading Your Messages

Press M from the main menu to view messages left for you:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                     YOUR MESSAGES (2)                                ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
#1 [NEW] From: HACKER42  1985-06-15 14:32
Hey! Want to play some Trade Wars later?

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
#2 [NEW] From: NOSTALGIA  1985-06-14 09:15
Got any blue box stories? Would love to hear them!

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

[D]elete all, [M]ark all read, [ENTER] for menu: _

Message Management

Command	Description
D	Delete all messages permanently
M	Mark all messages as read
ENTER	Return to main menu (messages automatically marked as read)

Messages are automatically marked as read when you view them. The [NEW] indicator only appears for unread messages.

Buddy List

Managing Your Favorites

The Buddy List lets you keep track of your favorite users. Users on your Buddy List are marked with a yellow star (★) in listings and can be quickly accessed from the dedicated Buddy List screen.

Adding a Buddy

While viewing a user's profile, press A to add them to your Buddy List. The system confirms the addition:

Added to buddy list!

Removing a Buddy

If a user is already on your Buddy List, the profile will show U Remove from Buddy List instead. Press U to remove them:

Removed from buddy list.

Viewing Your Buddy List

Press B from the main menu to see all your buddies at once:

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    YOUR BUDDY LIST                             │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. NOSTALGIA - Offline
   Portland, OR
2. SYSOP - ONLINE
   Server Room, USA
3. C64FAN - Offline
   London, UK

Enter number to view, [M]enu: _

From the Buddy List, enter a number to jump directly to that user's profile, or press M to return to the main menu.

Your Buddy List is perfect for keeping track of users you frequently communicate with, or whose activity you want to monitor. Add SYSOPs to quickly check if they're available for support!

Editing Your Profile

Profile Editor

Press E from the main menu to edit your own profile information. The editor displays your current information and allows field-by-field editing:

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║               EDIT YOUR PROFILE: GUEST                         ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Current Info:
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Real Name:   (not set)
Location:    (not set)
Email:       (not set)
Bio:         (not set)
Interests:   (not set)
BBSes:       (not set)
Setup:       (not set)

  [N] Real Name
  [L] Location
  [E] Email
  [B] Bio
  [I] Interests
  [F] Favorite BBSes
  [S] Setup
  [M] Main Menu

Edit field: _

Editable Fields

Command	Description
N	Real Name (50 characters)
L	Location - city, state/country (50 characters)
E	Email address (60 characters)
B	Bio - personal description (500 characters)
I	Interests - hobbies, topics (200 characters)
F	Favorite BBSes (200 characters)
S	Setup - computer/modem description (200 characters)

CODE_FENCE_0

Press ENTER without typing anything to cancel editing a field and keep the current value unchanged.

Command Reference

Main Menu Commands

Command	Description
L or LIST	Display the user listing
S or SEARCH	Open the search menu
M or MESSAGES	View your private messages
E or EDIT	Edit your profile
B or BUDDY	View your buddy list
O or SORT	Change listing sort order
Q or QUIT	Disconnect from the service

User Listing Commands

Command	Description
[number]	View profile for user at that position
S or SEARCH	Open search menu
M or MENU	Return to main menu
ENTER	Return to main menu

Profile View Commands

Command	Description
L or LEAVE	Leave a message for this user
P or PAGE	Page the user (if online)
A or ADD	Add user to buddy list
U or REMOVE	Remove user from buddy list
B or BACK	Return to user listing
M or MENU	Return to main menu

Search Menu Commands

Command	Description
H or HANDLE	Search by user handle
L or LOCATION	Search by geographic location
I or INTERESTS	Search by interests keyword
O or ONLINE	Show only online users
C or CLEAR	Clear all search filters
M or MENU	Return to main menu

Profile Editor Commands

Command	Description
N or NAME	Edit real name
L or LOCATION	Edit location
E or EMAIL	Edit email address
B or BIO	Edit biography
I or INTERESTS	Edit interests
F or FAVORITE or BBSES	Edit favorite BBSes
S or SETUP	Edit computer/modem setup
M or MENU	Return to main menu

Tips & Etiquette

Community Guidelines

The User Directory works because members treat each other with respect. These guidelines help keep the community welcoming:

Complete your profile — The more you share, the easier it is for others with similar interests to find you. An empty profile is a missed opportunity for connection.
Respond thoughtfully — When someone takes the time to message you, try to reply within a few days if possible. Even a brief acknowledgment is better than silence.
Page sparingly — Paging interrupts whatever the other user is doing. Reserve it for time-sensitive matters or when you have arranged to meet online.
Keep messages appropriate — The BBS has all ages and backgrounds. What seems clever to you might offend someone else.
Report problems — If someone is harassing you or behaving inappropriately, contact the SYSOP immediately. Do not engage with troublemakers.

Making the Most of the Directory

Add the SYSOP to your Buddy List! They are always happy to help, and you can quickly check if they are online when you need support.

Use the "Last Seen" sort option to find recently active users who are more likely to respond to your messages quickly. Someone who logged in yesterday is more likely to see your message than someone who has not been on in months.

The Interests search is powerful for finding like-minded users. Try searching for "C64" to find Commodore enthusiasts, "modem" to find fellow telecommunications hobbyists, or "Zork" to find interactive fiction fans. Be creative—you might be surprised who shares your obscure interests!

Your Bio field supports 500 characters—use them! Mention what you are working on, what you are looking for, or what you can help others with. The best profiles invite conversation: "Currently restoring a PET 2001—would love tips from anyone who has done this before."

Appendix A: Quick Reference Card

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║              USER DIRECTORY QUICK REFERENCE CARD                      ║
║                   Emulator.ca Systems                             ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                                                                   ║
║  DIAL: 555-0604            BAUD: 300/1200/2400                    ║
║                                                                   ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║  MAIN MENU                 PROFILE VIEW                           ║
║  L ... List users          L ... Leave message                   ║
║  S ... Search users        P ... Page user (if online)           ║
║  M ... View messages       A ... Add to buddy list               ║
║  E ... Edit profile        U ... Remove from buddies             ║
║  B ... Buddy list          B ... Back to listing                 ║
║  O ... Sort options        M ... Main menu                       ║
║  Q ... Quit                                                       ║
║                                                                   ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║  SEARCH OPTIONS            PROFILE EDITOR                         ║
║  H ... By handle           N ... Real name                       ║
║  L ... By location         L ... Location                        ║
║  I ... By interests        E ... Email                           ║
║  O ... Online only         B ... Bio                             ║
║  C ... Clear filters       I ... Interests                       ║
║  M ... Main menu           F ... Favorite BBSes                  ║
║                            S ... Setup (equipment)               ║
║                                                                   ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║  STATUS INDICATORS                                                ║
║  ● Online now    ○ Offline    ★ On your Buddy List               ║
║                                                                   ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Appendix B: Troubleshooting

Connection Problems

Problem	Possible Cause	Solution
No carrier	Incorrect number	Verify dialing 555-0604
Login failed	Session timeout	Reconnect and try again
Garbled display	Terminal settings	Use VT100 emulation, 8-N-1

Messaging Issues

Problem	Possible Cause	Solution
Message not delivered	User not found	Verify recipient handle spelling
Message truncated	Exceeded 200 chars	Keep messages under limit
Cannot page user	User offline	Leave a message instead

Profile Problems

Problem	Possible Cause	Solution
Changes not saved	Session ended	Stay connected while editing
Field too long	Character limit	Abbreviate your text
Profile not visible	Empty fields	Add information to be listed

General Tips

If the system seems unresponsive, press ENTER
Use single-letter commands for faster navigation
Press M from any screen to return to the main menu
Contact SYSOP if problems persist

Appendix C: Glossary

Access Level — User permission tier: USER (standard), VIP (extended privileges), or SYSOP (administrator).

Baud — Data transmission speed measured in signal changes per second. User Directory supports 300, 1200, and 2400 baud.

BBS — Bulletin Board System. A computer system that users dial into to exchange messages, files, and conversation.

Buddy List — Your personal list of favorite users, marked with a star in listings for quick identification.

Handle — A user's chosen screen name or alias on the BBS.

Page — To send a real-time notification to an online user requesting their attention or a chat session.

Profile — A user's information page containing their handle, location, interests, bio, and activity statistics.

SYSOP — System Operator. The administrator who maintains and manages the BBS.

Terminal — The software or hardware used to connect to the BBS, typically emulating a VT100 or similar display standard.

Making Connections

The User Directory is more than a database—it is the social heart of the BBS. Here are some ideas for using it effectively:

Introduce Yourself — When you first join, fill out your profile completely and browse the directory to see who is here. Send a friendly message to users whose interests overlap with yours.

Find Help — Stuck on a programming problem? Search for users interested in that language. Need advice on modem settings? Find users with similar equipment. The directory connects you to expertise.

Organise Activities — Planning a multi-player door game session? Use the directory to find interested players, then page them when the time comes. The Buddy List makes it easy to see when your gaming group is online.

Build Reputation — Regular, helpful participation builds your standing in the community. Users notice who answers questions, shares knowledge, and contributes positively. Your call count and post count tell part of the story—your reputation tells the rest.

The best BBS experiences come from the connections you make. The User Directory is your tool for making them.