Short:        ZAPP user archive for ZeusBBS Access
Author:       zeus@bleach.demon.co.uk (Zeus Developments)
Uploader:     zeus bleach demon co uk (Zeus Developments)
Type:         comm/bbs
Version:      1.2
Architecture: m68k-amigaos


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                                    or

                        What is this thing anyhow?

   You've just called your favourite BBS and spent five minutes scanning
through the file lists picking out a few choice items which you've now
started to download.  Watching a couple of megs of data download may be
some peoples idea of a good time or perhaps you wander off and make a cup
of tea while ZModem does its magic.  Ten minutes later the transfer has
finished and you log off leaving the SysOp pretty bored, the rest of the
BBS untouched and the phone company a little richer...

   Sound familiar?  Ok, here's the ZAPP version:

   You call the BBS and are greeted by some sampled music as you logon.
More samples play as you progress through the latest news and bulletins
till you get to the file menu.  You spend five minutes listing and
selecting files which you then start to download.  Instead of a transfer
window coming up you are put straight back into the file menu!  There isn't
a problem: the files are being transfered in the background!  At this point
you can go and play some online games, read/write some messages, chat to
the SysOp or even start an upload safe in the knowledge that the files you
selected are being stored in your download directory!  The download
finishes and you log off leaving the SysOp happy, the highest score in the
'ANSI Death By Jelly' game, and the phone company a little richer...  (ZAPP
cannot fix that last one :)

   Before we go any further, here are a few general questions and their
answers:

 Q: Do I need to use a custom terminal?  I hate those...
 A: I don't like those either so ZAPP works with any existing terminal
    program like NComm, Term, whatever...

 Q: Is it difficult to Install
 A: Not at all!  Just run the included installer script and tell your
    terminal program to use the zapp.device instead of the usual
    serial.device (or whatever serial device you use).  Thats it!

 Q: Can I use it on every BBS I call?
 A: Fraid not!  Only Zeus BBS have the power to run as a ZAPP server.

 Q: Can I tell my BBS package to use zapp.device and make it ZAPP capable?
 A: No, since zapp.device is for clients only.

 Q: How does it work?
 A: Its magic!  And its a secret so if I told you it wouldn't be a secret
    anymore and that's no fun!!

 Q: Ok, this sounds kind of interesting.  How much does it cost?
 A: Put your wallet away!  The ZAPP user archive is totally FREE!  Isn't it
    just a lovely day =o]

   If you've not already raced off to install ZAPP then here is a brief
   feature list with some nice jargon you can use to impress your friends and
   family:

 - Easy to install.

 - Works with any terminal program.

 - Reliable asynchronous server<->client packet system.

 - Full packet routing capabilities.

 - Can optionally use XPK compression.

 - GUI configuration program.

   And here is a brief description of the ZAPP clients supplied in this
   distribution:

 - SMSG : Opens up a simple requester on your terminal screen.

 - XFER : Bi-Directional file transfers.

 - ZPCM : Plays PCM samples in real-time.

 - ZNFS : ZAPP Network File System.