This FAQ mainly provides the information of using this WEB BBS. For accessing the telnet or dialup BBS, please refer to http://smarties.thebbs.org/smarties/
** Last Updated: 27-Nov-2002 **

Content:

1. Most Commonly Asked Questions
   1. Why can't I download any files (such as getting CGI error)?
   2. Why I get "Accessed Denied, try a new login" Error frequently?
   3. The file downloaded is not the one I want!! (Updated)
   4. It seems that the system holds for a very long time when I try to "list files".
   5. Why I cannot find Online Game I normally played in BBS?
   6. How can I upload a file to you?
2. BBS Related
   1. What is BBS?
   2. What service is provided?
   3. How can I access BBS?
   4. Where can I get more information and history of Smarties BBS?
   5. Is there any other BBS for me to logon?
3. File Retrieval
   1. What is the function of file service in BBS?
   2. How can I know what file is in the BBS?
      1. Change File Group
      2. Change File Area
      3. Show Files
   3. How to download file?
4. Message Function
   1. How can I start reading messages from the back?
5. Account Information
   1. How can I change my password or other information?
6. Supporting
   1. How can I contact System Operator?

• Why can't I download any files (such as getting CGI error)?

  --> There are 3 possible reasons:

  1. If you found that the server seems do not response to you after you have clicked the filename (keeps on loading status), probably you are downloading a very big file, say 100MB. All you have to do is to wait for 4 or 5 minutes since our web BBS work on an internal network which the file has to be copied from one machine to another before sending to you. The time of copying locally in the Web BBS is exactly the time you have to wait.
     
     
  2. If you get an "Error 504 : Gateway Timeout Error", probably you are downloading a very big file which the server do not have time to process it and response, you can do nothing about it. There is also another reason which cause this error is that the server is downed (due to inproper login by you or some other user), and you can do nothing for it either.
     
     
  3. If you get an "Error 500 : Internal Server Error", It is probably that you do not have sufficient right to download the file. Below is the user right table for your reference. (The table below is only part of the real system. For getting most up-to-date user security level listing, please logon to our real BBS instead of this Web Interface)
     
     

     Level	Description	File Areas Available for download
     5	User is registered through Web BBS (or not properly registered)	No download is available
     99	User is registered through Telnet BBS	No download is available
     100 or above	Normal User	All File Areas except VIP File Areas
     20000 or above	Not available to public	All File Areas

     There is probably another reason is that our network or server is downed; or harddisk is having problems. For these cases, please read our BBS News or access to our newsgroup for further information.

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• Why I get "Accessed Denied, try a new login" Error frequently?

  --> It is probably you have inactive for quite a long time and the system automatically logs you out. Just relogin again and you can access the system.

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• The file downloaded is not the one I want!!

  --> It is due to some coding problem of our BBS System. Since it is still under development, some file listing may have wrong mapping. Normally, the link for the file you want has jumped to one or two entries earlier or later. In the old days, for "New File Search" and "Keyword Search" you can hardly download the actually file since the codes are difficult to be implemented, but now everything has been solved. Please report the SysOp in case you sure you are experiencing these problems.

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• It seems that the system holds for a very long time when I try to "list files".

  --> It is because the number of files stored in our BBS is too large. Just wait 1 or 2 minute to finish downloading the listing. (For some Areas like the Anime MP3s, the estimated html file size for the file list is 1.3MB and the download time for the list is about 4 minutes). The coding for improving the file list function is in progress. Please be patient.

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• Why I cannot find Online Game I normally played in BBS?

  --> Web BBS do not provide interface for Online Game Playing since SysOp do not have sufficient knowledge. Please logon to telnet BBS or dialup BBS for those games.

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• How can I upload a file to you?

  --> Although there are many ways you can upload a file to our server, but unfortunately there is NO SUCH FUNCTION IN THE WEB BBS INTERFACE. You can try on our Telnet, DialUp, FTP, etc.

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• What is BBS?

  --> BBS in full name is Bulletin Board System. It is normally a board for information exchange and share the ideas among the users.

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• What service is provided?

  --> Taking this BBS as an example, we provide FORUM - for message function, FILE AREA - for user to exchange files, ONLINE GAME - playing games, CONFERENCE ROOM - for chit chat. Of course, there still some more and is to be found out by users themselves.

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• How can I access BBS?

  --> There are many methods for accessing this BBS. [1] Dialup - use your modem to dial the number 28713844 and connect. [2] Telnet - use your internet connection telnet to telnet://smarties.thebbs.org/. [3] Web Interface - use your web browser and logon to http://smarties.thebbs.org/bbs/. For the first two method, there are much detail description in http://smarties.thebbs.org/smarties/

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• Where can I get more information and history of Smarties BBS?

  --> Please refer to http://smarties.thebbs.org/smarties/

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• Is there any other BBS for me to logon?

  --> Some other BBS has been listed in http://smarties.thebbs.org/smarties/

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• What is the function of file service in BBS?

  --> Our BBS provides file function for users to upload/download files. Therefore user can exchange their files and share their favourites, or use our space for file storage. Our file service is only provided to our normal user, and we encourage user to download through telnet or dialup. Unfortunately, the Web BBS's function is not very well implemented. Upload function is not available in our Web BBS.

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• How can I know what file is in the BBS?

  --> The files stored in our BBS File Database is categorized into Groups, and then Area. Users should first select a group, which is just meaning selecting a category. Inside the group, you have to select Area. In area selection, it is just a further categorized group. All files are stored in the area. By using list file function, you can browse the files stored in that area.

  1. Change File Group

     --> Click Change Files Group for selecting the Top File Group

  2. Change File Area

     --> Click Change FIle Area for selecting the Area Under the selected File Group

  3. Show Files

     --> Click to show the files in current selected file area.

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• How to download file?

  --> Click the filename, the system will automatically prompt you download the file.

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• How can I start reading messages from the back?

  --> For the current moment, there is no such function. Although coding for the function is possible, but requires times on coding. No promise for it.

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• How can I change my password or other information?

  --> Although the system support this function, but the SysOp didn't implement it due to the complex structure of the system. (You can't find some other system as complicated as ours ro_O? )

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• How can I contact System Operator?

  --> By Email : smartiesbbs@sinaman.com
  --> By ICQ : 5068249
  --> In Newsgroup : news://smarties.thebbs.org/smartiesbbs.chat

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