1. Forum
  2. FidoNet
  3. SYNC SYSOPS

  • Default shell - isolating messages menu

    From Brian Davidson@1:154/140 to All on Mon Jul 27 22:58:06 2026
    I've been working on a task to create a new main menu for the BBS, and from there, provide a "M"essages option to enter that section of the BBS.

    This has beeen going great, right up til I pushed too hard against existing conventions.

    My deault.js has a main_menu, msgs_menu and file_menu section, and all that is working perfectly. However, I tried updating mods/load/nodedefs.js to add "at Mesages Menu" in position 26, and move the final number to 27 and then appending "at Messages Menu" to the list of strings. However, this was met with an "unknown user action 26".

    The MajorBBS clone shell is the only other shell to separate the messages menu (they use Forums). However, I've not see what Who's Online shows during this kind of a scenario, if it would be worth emulating.

    Pluckin' brains like their guitar strings tonight. :)

    Thanks!

    -Winzlo

    ===
    þ The Down-Lo BBS þ bbs.winzlo.com

    ...Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi.
    --- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
    * Origin: The Down-Lo BBS * bbs.winzlo.com (1:154/140)
  • From Digital Man@1:103/705 to Brian Davidson on Tue Jul 28 01:35:46 2026
    Re: Default shell - isolating messages menu
    By: Brian Davidson to All on Mon Jul 27 2026 10:58 pm

    I've been working on a task to create a new main menu for the BBS, and from there, provide a "M"essages option to enter that section of the BBS.

    This has beeen going great, right up til I pushed too hard against existing conventions.

    My deault.js has a main_menu, msgs_menu and file_menu section, and all that is working perfectly.

    There are, by default, multiple shells that already have a separate message area from main area (e.g. renegade.js) - use that as a template.

    However, I tried updating mods/load/nodedefs.js to
    add "at Mesages Menu" in position 26, and move the final number to 27 and then appending "at Messages Menu" to the list of strings. However, this was met with an "unknown user action 26".

    That's not how you do that. You could either use the "custom" node action and set the NodeActivityCustom text string to your preference (https://wiki.synchro.net/custom:node_status) or just NodeActionReadingMessages (NODE_RMSG) like those split main/message shells do.

    The MajorBBS clone shell is the only other shell to separate the messages menu (they use Forums).

    Other shells that have separate messages menu:
    - Oblivion/2
    - Renegade
    - Wildcat
    --
    digital man (rob)

    Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #27:
    DSZ = DOS Send ZMODEM (by Chuck Forsberg)
    Norco, CA WX: 70.3øF, 81.0% humidity, 1 mph WNW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Brian Davidson@1:154/140 to Digital Man on Tue Jul 28 04:05:29 2026
    Re: Default shell - isolating messages menu
    By: Digital Man to Brian Davidson on Tue Jul 28 2026 01:35 am

    There are, by default, multiple shells that already have a separate message area from main area (e.g. renegade.js) - use that as a template.

    Other shells that have separate messages menu: - Oblivion/2
    - Renegade
    - Wildcat

    Ever get so stuck on a task that you miss the thing right in front of your face? I'm waving from there. :)

    That's not how you do that. You could either use the "custom" node action and set the NodeActivityCustom text string to your preference (https://wiki.synchro.net/custom:node_status) or just NodeActionReadingMessages (NODE_RMSG) like those split main/message shells do.

    Thanks - I'll use the custom messsage.

    Thanks as alwaays!

    -Winzlo

    ===
    þ The Down-Lo BBS þ bbs.winzlo.com

    ...A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.
    --- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
    * Origin: The Down-Lo BBS * bbs.winzlo.com (1:154/140)