What is ProBoard?
ProBoard is a computer program that allows you to run a BBS (computerized Bulletin Board System), where files, messages and other useful items may be exchanged between users under
control of the System Operator (SysOp).
Its small size and lightning fast speed make it ideal for running under a multi-tasker like DESQview, or on a network.
ProBoard is compatible with most Third-party software for RemoteAccess BBS.
ProBoard fully supports the ability to interface with mail networks such as FidoNet, UseNet, EchoNet, and mail processors such as SQUISH, FastEcho, GEcho, Fmail, and others.
The greatest asset of ProBoard, is it's ability to be modded through the use of programs written in C / C++ using the provided ProBoard Software Development Kit (SDK).
Programs written with the ProBoard SDK are called ProBoard Executable (PEX) files. With this built in "PEXability" there's nothing ProBoard can't do!
The current, released version is 2.16
can be downloaded from
the The Official ProBoard Site.
This is NOT the last DOS only version!
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What are the features of ProBoard?
- ProBoard is THE fastest QuickBBS-style BBS
program around!! It's completely written in
highly optimized C++ and assembly language.
- Full multi-line/multi-user support. Up to 255
nodes can share the same user database, message
base and file database. Each node can have its
own modem configuration, welcome screens, menu
structure, etc.
- Built-in fullscreen message editor.
- Support for 4 message base types: Squish, Hudson
JAM and *.MSG, all at the same time.
- Support for up to 10,000 message areas and 10,000
file areas.
- Powerful sorting/moving/copying of file and
message areas.
- Compatible with most, if not all, doors written
for other BBS software such as RemoteAccess,
QuickBBS, PCBoard, etc.
- A software development kit is included with
ProBoard! You can write your own extensions to
ProBoard using C or C++. Programs written with
the SDK run "inside" ProBoard, for
maximum flexibility and speed. The programmer
doesn't have to worry about modem communications,
user files, etc. THIS IS TOTALLY UNIQUE!! No
other BBS software offers anything that even
comes close.
- Integrated, lightning-fast duplicate file
checking on uploads.
- Hooks for external upload checking programs.
- Extremely fast indexed file system, while still
using the standard FILES.BBS-based file system.
- Full CD-ROM support. The CD-ROM drive is not
accessed until a file is actually downloaded. It
is only accessed to copy files to a local drive
of your choice freeing up the CD-ROM for other
requests.
- Full alias (handle) support.
- Flexible protocol configuration. You can install
any protocol directly in ProBoard (even
bi-directional protocols are supported).
Protocols that can be installed in ProBoard
include X/Y/Zmodem, MPT, Bimodem, HS/Link, etc.
- Local up/downloads
- Supports all types of modems. All known connect
rates are directly supported, and you can specify
up to 6 user-defined connect rates.
- Very flexible security system with over 65,000
security levels and 32 security flags as well as
"reverse" flags.
- TTY, ANSI, Avatar (0 and 0+) terminal emulation.
- Swaps itself to disk or EMS when shelling to an
external program (door), leaving only 2 (two) Kb
resident!
- REAL-TIME multi-line chat built in. No stupid
line-per-line chat.
- Direct support for all high speed modems (up to
115,200 bps).
- Extremely user-friendly configuration/maintenance
utilities.
- Full RIP support, and unlike other BBS packages
that leave the SysOp looking at cryptic RIP
codes, we even display the menus your non-RIP
callers see, on your end so you can see what's
happening on your BBS.
- Built in file tagging system.
- Users (and the SysOp) can send "personal
files" to other users. ProBoard
automatically deletes the files after they have
been downloaded.
- Automatic validation of users using a
sophisticated "template" system.
- Powerful User Editor including filter function,
allows you to easily find and work with only the
users you specify.
- Ability to specify an external message editor
either as door or as a PEX file.
- Ability to specify an external chat program,
either as a door or as a PEX file.
- Fully "data driven" system usage
graphs, even in RIP mode.
- Ability to limit menu selections by age, baud
rate, gender of user, time online, or time of
day.
- Full Language support. Every prompt in the system
can be changed (including color) and saved in a
language file, as well as multi-language support
for menus and textfiles. You can even replace any
prompt with ANSI files or PEX files.
- Internal QWK support, provided as a PEX file for
seamless integration into your BBS.
- User name can optionally be added to FILES.BBS
when user uploads files.
- Powerful "Free Files" functions, great
if you're running a support BBS, or a BBS to
promote your company.
- Fully buffered I/O for optimum system
performance.
- Fully definable paging hours for every day of the
week.
- Support for OS/2 2.x time-slicing.
- "SysOp Next" function, with definable
"alert" music, as well as semaphore
file support.
- Ability to call menu editor while user is online
(or in local mode) and edit the current menu.
Great for testing, or in case you see something
that just HAS to be fixed while a user is online.
- Built in file counters, shows which of your files
are the most popular.
- Built in "flag description" editor,
helps you remember just what all of those flags
you have are for.
- Lots and lots more...
What languages are supported by ProBoard?
Included with ProBoard
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Language
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File Name
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Inside
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dutch
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dutch.pbl
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pb_216
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english
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english.pbl
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pb_216
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german
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german.pbl
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pb_216
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Other ProBoard Languages
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Language
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File Name
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Dnld
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Canadian English
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cenglish.zip
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site
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Elite
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pb_3lang.zip
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site
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French
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pbfrench.zip
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site
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Kuntry Hick
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khick.zip
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site
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Middle Earth
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pb_3lang.zip
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site
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Romanian
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romanian.zip
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site
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Spanish
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pb_esp.zip
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site
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Swedish
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zoswepbl.zip
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site
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Turkish
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tuerkce.zip
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site
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Roll Your Own Language File
ProBoard comes with a Language Editor which allows you to change
the text and the color for every prompt in the system to create
a custom "look and feel" for your BBS.
ProBoard also allows you to display your system prompts to users
in several different languages.
Language files end with the file extension ".pbl" and are stored
in your ProBoard system directory (usually c:\pb).
You can create and install up to 30 different language files at
any one time.
To create a different language file, first you must select one to
work with as a model. You then copy the model to a language file
with a new name.
If you follow the instructions in the ProBoard pb216.doc, page 82,
then you will be able to customize your model language file with
new text and color for every prompt in your system.
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How much are the Registration Fees for ProBoard?
The difference between the commercial and non-commercial (personal)
registration, as defined by ProBoard, is that non-commercial (personal)
registrations are ONLY for individuals who run a BBS as a HOBBY
and that all other BBSes require a commercial registration.
Commercial registration prices are EXCLUDING local taxes (VAT / TVA / BTW).
ProBoard v2.16 Registration Schedule Fees
| Country |
Personal |
Personal
w / manual |
Personal
(disk) |
Commercial
w / manual |
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USA & Canada
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60.00 US$
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80 US$
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70 US$
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299 US$
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Belgium
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2000 BEF
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2500 BEF
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2200 BEF
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10000 BEF
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Netherlands
|
100 FL
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140 FL
|
120 FL
|
599 FL
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Germany & other
|
110 DM
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140 DM
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120 DM
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649 DM
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ProBoard v3.0 Registration Schedule Fees
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USA
|
| Product |
Non-Commercial |
Commercial |
|
ProBoard v3.0 for a
single operating system of choice
|
$90.00
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$399.00
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Extra operating
system license
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$40.00
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$199.00
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v2.xx to v3.0 (single OS)
|
$35.00
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$199.00
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v3.0 WinNT/95/98 to OS/2
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$??.??
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$??.??
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Belgium
|
| Product |
Non-Commercial |
Commercial |
|
ProBoard v3.0 for a
single operating system of choice
|
3.000 BEF
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13.500 BEF
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Extra operating
system license
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1.500 BEF
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7.500 BEF
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v2.xx to v3.0 (single OS)
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1.000 BEF
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5.000 BEF
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v3.0 WinNT/95/98 to OS/2
|
???? BEF
|
???? BEF
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Germany
|
| Product |
Non-Commercial |
Commercial |
|
ProBoard v3.0 for a
single operating system of choice
|
170 DM
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750 DM
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Extra operating
system license
|
70 DM
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300 DM
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v2.xx to v3.0 (single OS)
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60 DM
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300 DM
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Upgrade from
ProBoard v3.0 WinNT/95/98 to OS/2
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?? DM
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??? DM
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What is the best OS/multitasker to use?
This has been an ongoing debate, probably since multitaskers were
first available for the PC.
Four of the most popular multitaskers are:
Data has been collected on three out of the four mentioned multitaskers.
It will be up to you to determine which one is good for you by your
own testing and preferences!
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DesqView
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Very good if you only want to run DOS applications, but some DOS
applications don't run well under DV. Probably the fastest platform.
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Windows 3.1x
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No field information has been collected.
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Windows 95/98
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There isn't much you can say about Windows 95/98, it runs most programs,
takes a bit of tuning to get best Comms performance and we're still
dubious about it's multitasking ability for more than one remote
node, ProBoard seemed reluctant to answer the phone when not the
active window.
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OS/2
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Has very good crash protection, even if OS/2 itself crashes
(very rare) then you can configure so that the computer is
automatically rebooted and the BBS restarted. Probably the most
configurable for setting up a DOS session, and with the SIO
serial drivers a very reliable comms engine. There are several
BBS utilities with 32bit OS/2 specific versions eg. Mailers and
Tossers.
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What are ProBoard Executables (PEXes)?
PEXes are ProBoard Executables for door programs created in C / C++ using
the SDK which is supplied with ProBoard.
PEXes run as part of ProBoard which means they load faster than standard
BBS doors and also have direct access to ProBoard functions.
The advantages of using PEXes over using EXE doors are:
PEXes are specially designed for ProBoard and because they run as an
integral part of ProBoard, have greater access to the ProBoard functions
and files.
PEXes are usually less than 50k in size and more often less than 10k.
PEXes can run when any language prompt is displayed.
Write Your Own PEXes
Writing PEXes is simple if you are already a capable C / C++ programmer,
and easy to learn if you are not.
You need a compatible C / C++ Compiler:
Borland, Zortech, Microsoft and several others which can use the standard
.LIB format library files.
Follow the instructions in pb216sdk.doc, and structures in pb_sdk.h
and pb_struct.216.
For detailed information about programming, refer to
Programming in this FAQ!
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What Tools are used to Develop ProBoard?
ProBoard v2.16 is entirely written in C++ and Assembler.
No third-party libraries are used (except for the Squish MSGAPI),
insuring that the author has TOTAL control over the code!
For the development of ProBoard, the following tools are used:
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Compiler
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Borland C++ v3.1
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Linker
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TLink, part of Borland C++ v3.1
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Assembler
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Turbo Assembler v3.1
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Debugger
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Turbo Debugger v3.1
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Editor
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Multi-Edit Professional v7.00
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What are Minimum Specs for running ProBoard?
These specifications are based on field operating conditions as reported
by Bullentin Board SysOps. As technology advances, minimum specifications
for ProBoard will also change.
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DesqView
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DesqView will run quite happily on a 386sx with only 4 megs of RAM with
one remote and one local node. The speed leaves a little to be desired
but is not sluggish. The most realistic specification for one remote
and one local node is :
386dx-40 and 8mb RAM.
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Windows 3.1x
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To be determined.
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Windows 95/98
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Win95, like OS/2 needs quite a large amount of RAM to run smoothly.
The lowest specification that worked satisfactory for running a
ProBoard 2 node BBS is :
486dx-66 and 8mb RAM but like OS/2, the more RAM you have, the better
the performance.
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OS/2
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OS/2 needs quite a large amount of RAM to run smoothly. Running OS / 2
and a ProBoard BBS (1 remote node and 1 local node) on a 486sx-25 with
4 meg will result in a very slow operation.
The lowest specification that worked satisfactory for running a
ProBoard 2 node BBS is :
486dx-66 and 8mb RAM but like Win95/98, the more RAM you have, the better
the performance.
OS/2 and Win95/98 don't just require more RAM for DOS Based BBS packages,
they also require more RAM to make the OS run smoothly.
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Does the Author really exist?
Philippe Leybaert, the author of ProBoard, prefers a behind-the-scenes
approach to support, concentrating most of his energies on development,
and has the assistance of various worldwide ProBoard SysOps and ProBoard
Programmers to answer queries.
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Where Can I find older versions of ProBoard?
The old versions of ProBoard have been collected and placed online
by
"The Professionals" at Montclair State Univ
(Dennis Murphy), PC Micro (Mike Ehlert) and ProBoard
Innovations
(Frank Robbins).
A download page has
been provided at ProBoard
Innovations by going to the Main Menu - Files - Old Versions of PB!
Other ProBoard sites are welcome to link directly to this page.
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