• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions (23/29)

    From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Mon Apr 8 21:54:58 2019
    [continued from previous message]

    BobTerm 1.2x, 1990-1993, shareware by Bob Puff
    - XMODEM, XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM-1k, CIS Fast XMODEM (BobTerm exclusive for use
    only on CIS), YMODEM, FMODEM (YMODEM but with 4KiB block size) file
    transfers
    - VT52 terminal emulation (odd or even parities) with CompuServe VIDTEX cursor
    positioning
    - Floating buffer size (depending on machine and DOS), chat window with
    recall, online/real-time clock, R-Time 8 support, dialing system
    - Modular design: distributed with an XEP80 driver and with a command
    processor module for SpartaDOS 3.2 or SpartaDOS X
    - Integrated 850 R: autoloader; also supports and distributed with separate R:
    handlers for most possible modem options, most written by Bob Puff
    - Version 1.21 final full release, 4/27/1990: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/
    - Version 1.22 05/1990 executable, final version update for real hardware:
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/navwxj3
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/o52parp
    - Version 1.23 03/1993 executable, updated version for use with emulators
    (not for use with more modern Atari emulators or with real hardware):
    http://www.mixinc.net/atari/download_a8/datacom/bobt123.lzh or
    http://members.chello.nl/becotel/atari/software.html
    - Earlier releases: v.1.02 4/1989, v.1.10 6/1989, v.1.20 4/1990

    VT850, by Curtis Laser, 1991
    - VT100 terminal emulation, with select VT102 features and VT200 series
    keyboard support. Capture file function.
    - Supports the XEP80 (joystick port 1) and the CX85 (joystick port 2)
    - Display is either 39 columns in GR.0 with custom character set, or
    80/132 columns (authentic VT100 horizontal scrolling for >80 columns) on the
    XEP80
    - Requires R: handler
    - Release versions: B0, B1

    ANSITerm, by Robert Sinclair, 1991-1992
    - IBM terminal emulation program with VT100 mode
    - ATARI, ASCII, or ANSI modes
    - XMODEM send/receive, dump, capture, dialer
    - Requires R: handler.
    Distributed with handlers for: 850, P:R: Connection, SX212
    - Version 1.0 released 24-JUN-92

    FlickerTerm 80, by Clay Halliwell, 1993-1995
    - High speed ANSI terminal emulator
    - ASCII, IBM PC, or VT100 modes
    - 80-column screen uses two alternating Graphics 0 screens
    - Print-screen, Joystick/CX85 Keypad, macros
    - Requires R: handler
    - Releases: v0.37 07/07/94; v0.381 11/04/94; v.0.51 6/27/1995

    Ice-T, by Itay Chamiel, 1994-2013
    - Complete VT102 and ANSI-BBS emulation, including boldface/blink support
    - Supports up to 19,200 baud, with no data loss
    - 80-column screen (GR.8 software handler)
    - XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM-1k, YMODEM, YMODEM-g, ZMODEM download protocols
    - ASCII upload, 16KiB capture buffer, 16KiB scrollback buffer
    - Auto-dialer, with a directory of up to 20 numbers
    - Text file viewer, Fine scroll, Print screen
    - Requires R: handler
    - Ice-T 800 v1.1, October 1994:
    - Reduced features, but only requires 48KiB 400/800
    - Ice-T XE 2.72, February, 1997
    - Full feature set, requires an XL/XE with at least 128KiB RAM
    - Ice-T XE 2.73, April 14, 2012
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/196599-ice-t-xe-273-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.74, September 24, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217052-ice-t-xe-274-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.75, October 1, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217245-ice-t-xe-275-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.76, October 10, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217539-ice-t-xe-276-released/

    Term-80 / Term80, by Tom Hunt, 1995-1996
    - (Not to be confused with the unrelated Term 80 by Mark Gamber, 12/1/88)
    - Designed for calling IBM ANSI bulletin boards at the highest speeds
    supported by the MIO and Black Box. Default 14,400 baud.
    - Hyperspeed R: handler by Len Spencer recommended for MIO users
    - Requires one of:
    1- Modem connected to a Black Box or MIO
    2- Either a hard drive (connected to a Black Box or MIO) or a RAMdisk
    (modem connected to a P:R: Connection, 850, or similar interface)
    3- Both a (hard drive or RAMdisk) AND modem connected to a Black Box or MIO - Requires SpartaDOS (3.2d or 3.2g/gx)
    - 80-column screen (GR.8 software handler)
    - Dialer, YMODEM receive/send
    - Modular design, distributed with modules for:
    XMODEM/CRC and XMODEM-1k receive, capture, change baud rate
    - Releases: 8.15.95 Version 1.4 was 1st general release; 8.19.95 Version 1.5;
    8.25.95 Version 1.6
    - 5.24.96 Version 1.9 BETA was distributed to testers with several modules for
    use with Internet email and lynx servers via a dial-up telnet service.
    (Direct access to a telnet server is (was) sometimes provided as part of a
    dial-up SLIP/PPP account from an Internet service provider.)
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/180427-term80/#entry2257913

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 8.16) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?

    Contributors to this section include: Winston Smith, Steven Sturza, Chad Hendrickson, Don Fanning, Matt Singer, Pete Davis, Jeff Williams, Rod Roark

    "A BBS, plain and simple, is some hobbyist setting up their own computer to answer incoming calls from other hobby computers. The visiting person
    leaves messages on this computer for other visitors, plays games while visiting, sends and receives files, and all that." -- Greg Goodwin, 2005

    The 8-bit Atari was popular for hosting a dial-up Bulletin Board System (BBS). This section attempts to list all BBS programs for the Atari.

    For most programs listed, a link is provided to the corresponding section at http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ which is a comprehensive collection
    of BBS information, screenshots, and downloads collected by Jason Scott.

    o AMIS (Atari Message & Information System)
    AMIS was the first BBS program for the 8-bit Atari, created by lead programmer Tom Giese with other members of the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts
    (MACE). Development and testing started in late 1981, and the MACE A.M.I.S. became the first 24 hours per day Atari BBS in February 1982 (original hardware: 48KiB Atari 800, Hayes Smartmodem, 850 interface, four floppy disk drives, 822 printer). Written in BASIC. http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/AMIS/
    The AMIS BASIC source code proved a popular starting point for a number of popular AMIS variations, including:
    * Fast AMIS, by Stan Subeck & Susie Subeck
    According to Antic v3n9Jan85:
    - Built-in modem commands for a Hayes Smartmodem.
    - Requires some modification to run with an MPP, Signalman Mark 7 or
    Mark 12 modem.
    - Requires a different method of auto-answer than other BBS programs,
    and demands a different setting of the modem's internal DIP
    switches.
    - Message files compact automatically.
    http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FASTAMIS/
    * Carnival BBS, by ???????
    - "essentially AMIS with an overlay to allow for private messages and
    passwords." --Antic v3n9Jan85
    - "demands a large amount of disk space and requires every bit of
    memory your system has." --Antic v3n9Jan85
    http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARNIVAL/
    http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n4/communications.html
    http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n9/communications.html
    * Reed Audio BBS, by Todd Gordanier, 1986
    - A modified version of Carnival BBS that added multiple forum
    support & support for the Atari 1030 modem by way of a hardware
    ring detector (relay). (wikipedia)
    * Comet AMIS, by Matt Pritchard and Tom Johnson
    http://bbslist.textfiles.com/704/oldschool.html
    - Home was Comet AMIS of Algonic, MI
    - Originally MPP AMIS by Matt Pritchard, for MPP modems only
    (John DeMar of New York State wrote the MPP drivers), then
    modified to be used with other types of standard modems.
    - Some heavy involvment of Trent Condellone in certain features
    - The final version featured many automated tasks, usage logs,
    passwords, private mail, multiple message bases and support for hard
    drives and MYDOS, and was on the cutting edge of AMIS/Atari 8-bit
    BBS technology. (wikipedia)
    * AMIS XM301, by Mike Olin and Mike Mitchell (Catspaw Software Systems)
    - Written in BASIC XE (wikipedia)
    * TODAMIS 1.0, by Trent Dudley, 1986
    - for 1030/XM301

    o ADCM BBS
    - Version 1.00 (C) 1985 ADCM Systems
    - (C) ADCM Systems Version 1.35 - January 15th, 1986
    - For use with the Pocket Modem by BOT Engineering
    - jacobus writes (11/2010):
    "Features a command driven interface, private mail, public message board,
    upload and downloads. Handles up to 255 users up to 500 baud."
    "The author is Julius Oklamcak"
    - Info & download: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/172034-adcm-bbs/

    o ARMUDIC, by Frank Huband http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ARMUDIC/
    From the Downtown Washington Atari Users Group of Washington, D.C.
    Greg Leslie writes "It was written (in BASIC with machine language
    subroutines) by Frank Huband, and the name came from the numbers used to dial the original BBS (276-8342).

    o ATABBS - Atari Bulletin Board System
    Rod Roark writes (3/12/03):
    This is really straining my memory -- don't recall exactly
    when I wrote the thing (maybe '80 or '81), but as far as I
    know ATABBS was the world's first BBS for the Atari 400/800.

    I ran it out of my condo in Atlanta on a 48KiB 400 with a
    90KiB floppy drive and a 300 bit/s Hayes Smartmodem. The
    48KiB memory module was a third party add-on, not Atari's.

    It was written in Atari BASIC with a few bytes of machine
    language thrown in.

    o AtariLink BBS -- program by Paul Sungenis and Darren M. Benfer,
    Version 1.43 (c) 1987-1988 Paul L.A. Sungenis
    From his blog at http://atari8programming.blogspot.com/ on 3/20/06:
    In 1985-1986 I wrote and eventually released the AtariLink BBS software. This came out of necessity, since most Atari BBS programs at the time (especially FoReM and its bastard children) didn't fully support the 1030 modem that I
    used (or the XM301 that followed afterward). I eventually adapted the program to work with Atari's 1200 bit/s SX212 modem when that was released, and in the process threw the program open to just about every modem out there. AtariLink floated in the wild, passed from BBS to BBS for a while, before an Atari magazine (I forget which one) distributed the software as its disk of the month.
    - Requires Atari BASIC; BASIC XE supported
    - Recommended SpartaDOS 2.3b/e or SpartaDOS X due to memory requirements.
    - Expandable with Door programs

    o ATKeep -- An Atari 8-bit version of CITADEL BBS, by Brent Barrett http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ATKEEP/
    ATKeep is a Citadel-like BBS system for eight-bit Ataris. ATKeep runs under SpartaDOS and requires BASIC XE and 128KiB of RAM. Originally "MBBBS (Message Base Bulletin Board System) 1.0, March 24th, 1986" MBBBS was changed to Atari Keep, or, ATKeep for short, around version the time version 4.0 was released (June 15, 1986).

    ATKeep 7.0 finally took the aide and cosysop commands out of a menu section
    and put them into extended commands, where they belonged. It also added a SYSOP level command set. Users were no longer "users" "aides" or "cosysops," they had become level "A" (SYSOP) through level "Z" (READ ONLY). The system had become extremely complex. Public, hidden OR password protected PRIVATE rooms. Each room now had its own access level (thus keeping people of lower level from getting in EVEN if they knew the room name). Each room was
    assigned a RWRT (or Read WRiTe status), which determined who could enter messages in it, and whether or not public or private messages, or both were to be allowed.

    Before version 7.0, ATKeep only worked with the Atari 1030 or XM301 modems. ATKeep 7.0 was rewritten to accommodate the 850 or PRC interface allowing use of any Hayes compatible modem.

    ATKeep version 7.50 was released (1987), was version 8 released?

    o BBCS -- Bulletin Board Construction Set, by Scott Brause/Antic, 1985 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ABBCS/
    A machine language program, developed as the Jersey Atari Computer Group
    (JACG) BBS system.

    BBCS was known for its great flexibility. The sysop was offered easy customization by the use of menus. Many BBSes before it required that you had to actually change the BASIC code in order to customize your BBS.

    Unfortunately, it also suffered from a reputation for stability problems.

    o BBS Express! -- 1986-1989, Keith Ledbetter/Orion Micro Systems http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/BBSEXPRESS/
    Written in compiled Action!. 835/1030/XM301 and 850 versions.

    o BBS Express! Professional ("Pro!")--6.0b 1999, Lance Ringquist/Video 61 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/BBSEXPRESSPRO/
    Verion 1.0 released 5/8/1988 by Keith Ledbetter and Chris King from Orion
    Micro Systems. bf2k+ wrote (May 2010) that version 2.1a was the last version compiled by Keith Ledbetter before he sold it.

    Version 5.0 Copyright 1995 by K-Products (Bob Klaas) credited to:
    Stephen J. Carden, Keith Ledbetter, and Chris King

    Currently owned by Lance Ringquist/Video 61.

    Written in 100% machine language.
    Requires XL/XE, SpartaDOS 3.2+, hard drive highly recommended, or at least a large RAMdisk. R-Time 8 is fully supported.

    o Carina BBS (Carina I), Carina Software Systems (Jerry Horanoff), 1986 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARINA/
    - Highly modular, modifiable code written in Atari BASIC
    - Features Programmable Modem Operating Environment (MOE)
    - Supports XMODEM file transfers

    o Carina BBS version II (Carina II)
    (c)1988 Carina Software Systems (Jerry Horanoff)
    v2.5 upgrade (4/24/91) (c)1990 by Shadow Software (David Hunt)
    v2.6 (6/15/93) by Shadow Software (David Hunt)
    v2.7 (c)1995 by Shadow Software (David Hunt) http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARINA/
    - Requirements: Atari XL/XE computer, at least 500KiB of storage capacity
    (combination of disk drives and/or RAMdisk), a modem, and SpartaDOS 2.3 or
    greater.
    - Recommended: 192KiB RAMdisk or greater, R-Time 8
    - Explicitly supported: MIO interface and a hard drive
    - A complete re-write of Carina BBS
    - Highly modular, modifiable code written in Atari BASIC
    - Programmable Modem Operating Environment II (MOE II)
    - VT-52 graphics support
    - Features proprietary C-Modem file transfer protocol, also supports:
    XModem, XModem CRC, YModem (1K X-Modem CRC), YModem Batch, ASCII, others

    o Commonwealth XL BBS -- (c)1985, 1986 by Smokey Layton http://atariage.com/forums/topic/226543-commonwealth-xl-bbs/
    - Expected to run under MYDOS 3 or higher.
    - Requires disk drive (including RAMdisk) with 180KiB capacity or higher
    - Written in BASIC; BASIC XL supported
    - Has a control structure that is modeled after AMIS BBS programs

    o ECABBS -- Efficient Chips Atari Bulletin Board System
    by Matthew Jones, V2.0, 1983 http://www.page6.org/pd_lib/utilities/pd_ecabbs.htm
    - Originally a commercial release, then released to the public domain
    - Requires R: handler
    - Written in Atari BASIC

    o FoReM BBS -- Friends of Rick E. Moose BBS.
    Developed/sold by Matthew R. Singer. http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FOREM/

    Versions that operate with the Atari 850, the ATR 8000 CP/M interface, and other configurations. Written in Atari BASIC.

    Matt Singer writes:
    FoReM BBS derived from an early AMIS. When multiple message areas were
    added the name was extended to FoReM 26M. Then, When OSS released BASIC
    XL the program was rehacked and called FoReM XL... Bill Dorsey wrote most
    of the Assembler routines (where is he now?).

    o FoReM MPP BBS -- developed by Matt Singer, sold by MPP
    FoReM BBS version for the MPP direct-connect modems.

    o FoReM 26M BBS -- developed/sold by Matt Singer.
    FoReM BBS updated to support multiple message area.

    o FoReM XL BBS -- developed/sold by Matt Singer.
    FoReM 26M updated to take advantage of BASIC XL from OSS.

    o FoReM XE BBS -- developed by Matt Singer
    This version of FOREM BBS requires the commercial BASIC XE cartridge in order to run. It is in the public domain and can import and export messages from
    the Atari PRO! BBS EXPRESS-NET (7-bit text only, control ATASCII graphics are reserved for message data-structure bytes).

    o FoReM XE Professional BBS / FoReM XEP BBS -- by Len Spencer http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FOREMXE/
    A re-write of FoReM XE BBS, last version was 5.4, Jan 5 1993.
    FXEP requires an XL/XE computer with at least 128KiB of memory, the BASIC XE cartridge from OSS/ICD, SpartaDOS 3.2 (this program will NOT work with any other version), and at least 500KiB of storage.

    FXEP is available at: http://www.lenardspencer.com/Lenspencer/fxep.html

    o Madrona Marsh BBS -- written by Matt Arrington http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/MARSH/
    "very structured and very customizable at the same time" - Brian A. Diaz

    o MBBBS (Message Base Bulletin Board System)
    -- early name for ATKeep, see above

    o Nite Lite BBS -- Paul S. Swanson http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/NITELITE/
    - First online: November 3, 1983. Ran completely in RAM.
    - Second version shifted the message base to a disk drive.
    - Third version added XMODEM uploads/downloads, support for a second disk
    drive, menus were shifted to disk, ran the first online text adventure
    - Fourth version shifted more of the system to disk, ran on the ATR8000
    and double density disk drives.
    - Version 5.0, Copyright 1985
    - Integrated support for Nite Lite Systems V:Handler (RAMdisk)
    - Supports C-GUL protocol for graphics and sound using the C-GUL
    terminal program

    o OASIS (the commercial version) / OASIS Jr. (the public domain version) http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/OASISIV/ http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/OASISJR/
    The original OASIS BBS System was written by Rich Renner and Ralph Walden with tech support and input from Leo Newman. It was first published by OASIS BBS Systems (Renner/Walden/Newman) in 1986, and distributed by Leo Newman. Later, the rights were transferred to Glenda Stocks/Z INNOVATORS, then later (1991)
    to Jeff Williams ("Alf").

    All machine language. OASIS is very crash-resistant and comes with a "dial out" screen so that the Sysop can use the BBS as a terminal program to call
    and fetch files without having to bring the BBS down and reload a terminal program. OASIS supports "Door programs" which it refers to as "OASIS PAL modules". An excellent message system, and a complex file system. It
    consists of "file libraries" with suites of "file types". There is quite a
    bit of overhead involved in performing a download (which may be a good thing, as it discourages file hogs). OASIS IV performs networking. SpartaDOS 3.2x recommended, but any DOS supported. R-Time 8 clock cartridge supported.

    Glenda Stocks writes at http://world.std.com/~snet/glenda.htm :
    I purchased the source code rights to OASIS and began marketing the BBS software to Atari 8-bit enthusiasts around the world. I felt that I had the superior BBS software because I had programmed in the ability to run external programs, including online games and user surveys. I also had added color prompts for IBM clone users who called Atari boards running my OASIS software. Sometime in 1991...I sold the rights to OASIS to a man in Canada..

    Jeff Williams ("Alf") writes: (12/6/02)
    OASIS was around prior to either PRO or BBS Express! IIRC. I don't know when exactly it showed up, version 3.09 was the first one I remember seeing. What made it nifty was it was very fast, being all assembler, and having some different features that things like Forem & Carina didn't have. Compared to something like Forem MPP at the time, it was kind of amazing.

    Ralph Walden sold it to Glenda Stocks, who chopped it up into modules and sold it as ver 4.7. PRO was out by then, and was a much more complete offering
    imo. Glenda wrote some modules for 4.7, but it never really went anywhere because the architecture was so cramped with her changes.

    Eventually she gave up and sold me the source. I looked it over and realized it was a mess and nothing was going to happen with it. I worked on a version
    5 for a while, but never made much progress.

    o Puff BBS -- by Robert (Bob) Puff http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/PUFFBBS/
    "came with a hardware component to both provide ring detect for the Atari
    (none existed in the modem) and to serve as a hardware key/dongle associated with the software."

    o SMART BBS -- by Marco Benton http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/SMARTBBS/
    This program is written entirely in BASIC. It expects to be running under a SpartaDOS environment. This BBS program uses a "modem clock string" rather than an R-Time 8 cartridge in order to retrieve the current time. It also comes with an Atari BASIC game door called "Sabotage".

    o TART-BOARD -- by Bob Alleger
    Early Atari BBS.

    o TCPIP Express -- by ILS - Integrated Logic Systems - Stephen J. Carden http://www.realdos.net/prodtcpip.html
    This upgrade is to the BBS Express Professional. This version is designed to function on the Internet and Multiplexer, though neither is required.
    Targeted at the serious, big-system Internet SysOp. Will ONLY run on
    SpartaDOS 3.2x or greater or RealDOS. TDLINE must be installed, and the
    R-Time 8 is fully supported. Written in 100% machine language.

    o XeBBS+ -- by Jonathan Taylor http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/XEBBS/
    for the Atari 130XE / Expanded 800XL, required BASIC XE,
    designed to work with the SupraDrive hard disk.
    "used the Automatic Modem Processor (AMP) code from FoReM XE, but was
    otherwise written from scratch." - Jonathan Taylor

    o 835 & 1030 Modem Bulletin Board
    -- by Gardner Computing (earlier) / Duplicating Technologies (DT)(later)
    Auto answer, XMODEM upload/download, sold with ring detector.
    Ads: ROM #9 Dec84/Jan85 p. 37; Antic v4n10 Feb 86 p. 44

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 9.1) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?

    It is now common, especially when working on modern computers, to work with Atari software as files or "images" containing the data from an entire disk, data cassette, or cartridge as duplicated from the native media for the Atari.

    Here is a list of file formats, arranged by their associated filename extensions. These are all filename extensions used to name files containing entire 8-bit Atari floppy disk images, cassette tape images, or cartridge images.

    .ATP -Atari Protected Disk Image Format. An open disk format suitable for
    storing copy protected disks (similar to the APE .PRO format).
    Version 1.6, 2004-4-11, by the ATP Working Group:
    http://www.ataripreservation.org/websites/freddy.offenga/ATP16.htm

    .ATR -Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
    Very similar to .XFD but with an added 16 byte header.
    This is the most common image format, used with most 8-bit Atari
    emulators running on other computer platforms.
    SIO2PC is at http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm

    .ATX -Image format invented by Jorge Cwik (ijor), for VAPI project. Goal of
    Vapi is the preservation of Atari software in its original unmodified
    form, including custom format or copy protection. .ATX is a superset of
    .ATR for single density; does not support other Atari disk densities.
    .ATX is comparable to .IPF or .SCP (SuperCard Pro) file formats.
    http://vapi.fxatari.com/
    http://www.whizzosoftware.com/sio2arduino/vapi.html
    http://atariage.com/forums/topic/252191-vapi-library-source-code/

    .BIN -(1) Same as .ROM, see below; or (2) a binary file as described in a
    separate section of this FAQ list regarding filename extensions.

    .CAR -Cartridge ROM image format invented for the Atari800 emulator. Format
    includes information about cartridge type. Contains the 'CART'
    signature at the beginning of the file. See:
    http://sourceforge.net/p/atari800/source/ci/master/tree/DOC/cart.txt

    .CAS -Cassette image format invented by Ernest R. Schreurs, for his
    Digital Cassette Image system (includes CAS2SIO, WAV2CAS, and CAS2WAV
    MS-DOS utilities). See: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/
    - The .CAS format was extended by Tomasz Krasuski to support non-
    standard data (copy prevention mechanisms), for his A8CAS shared
    library, tools, and emulator patch. http://a8cas.sourceforge.net/
    - More .CAS tools:
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/y7ah6lgz
    Note that the .CAS format, both original and extended, only includes
    the digital track; it does not include the audio track.

    .DCM -Image format invented by Bob Puff for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
    Intended for use on native Atari hardware. A compressed data format.
    DISKCOMM is at http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/DISKCOM.ARC
    .DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip

    .DD -Early filename extension used with double density disk images for use
    with the Xformer emulators. Replaced by the .XFD extension.

    .DI -Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Krueger for
    800XL DJ, their 1050/XF551 disk drive emulator for the Atari
    ST/TT/Falcon.
    800XL Deejay: http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/Emulators/800xldj.lzh

    .IPF -Interchangeable Preservation Format invented by the Software
    Preservation Society (SPS), http://www.softpres.org/. A platform
    agnostic format that is extremely low-level, representing the
    information as it would have been read by a drive head. Comparable to
    .SCP (SuperCard Pro) or the Atari-specific .ATX format. Images are
    created on a modern computer using the KryoFlux USB-based floppy
    controller: http://www.kryoflux.com/

    .PRO -Proprietary image format invented by Steven Tucker, for his
    APE ProSystem. http://www.atarimax.com/

    .ROM ROM dump file, raw with no header information. Typically a cartridge
    memory dump, but also used for an operating system memory dump.

    .SCP -Image format invented by ICD, for SpartaDOS. Used with the external
    SpartaDOS command SCOPY, distributed with SpartaDOS 3.2. Used when
    working with native Atari hardware. A compressed data format.

    .SCP -"Flux image file" format (platform agnostic) invented by Jim Drew for
    his SuperCard Pro universal floppy disk copier/imager/converter
    hardware/software for Windows PC. Comparable to .IPF or the Atari-
    specific .ATX format. http://www.cbmstuff.com/proddetail.php?prod=SCP

    .SD -Early filename extension used with single density disk images for use
    with the Xformer emulators. Replaced by the .XFD extension.

    .XFD -"Xformer Floppy Disk" image format invented by Emulators, Inc. (Darek
    Mihocka) for the Xformer emulators (ST, PC). Known earlier, before
    support for arbitrary disk sizes was added, as .SD or .DD depending on
    the density of the imaged disk. The format consists simply of a raw
    sector dump of a disk. Used with ST Xformer, PC Xformer, and
    Xformer 2000 emulators.
    Xformer emulators are at http://www.emulators.com/

    See also: Atari Disk Image FAQ (Steve Tucker) http://www.atarimax.com/ape/docs/DiskImageFAQ/

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 10.1) How can I read/write Atari diskettes with my other computer?

    This sections lists solutions for accessing an Atari format 5.25" floppy disk using a PC with industry standard 5.25" floppy disk drive.

    Atari-Link PC (AtariDsk) V1.2 (c) 95-12-09 ==========================================
    by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl)
    Ataridsk is a program for MSDOS-PCs that allows you to access Atari floppy
    disks in double density (180KiB). All you need is a PC (XT or 286 should be
    sufficient) and a 5.25" floppy drive. Features of this tool:
    * Menu driven user interface
    * Read, write and format Atari disks on the PC
    * Small size (only 35KiB)
    http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/

    WriteAtr V0.92b
    ===============
    by HiassofT (Matthias Reichl)
    With WriteAtr you can write double density ATR-images to Atari floppy disks
    on your MSDOS-PC. You can also create ATR-images of double density floppy
    disks! All you need is a PC and a 5.25" and/or a 3.5" floppy drive.
    Version 0.92b added experimental support for the enhanced density (1040
    sectors/128 bytes per sector) format. Please note: this format doesn't work
    with a lot of floppy controllers - use it at your own risk!
    http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/

    MyUTIL
    ======
    - By Mark K Vallevand
    - Based on Charles Marslett's UTIL.
    - http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Diskutils/Transfer/myutil.zip
    - Includes SpartaDOS disk utility v0.1e to access 180KiB SpartaDOS disks

    ATARIO
    ======
    - By Dave Brandman with Kevin White
    - Reads SS/DD 180KiB Atari disks.
    - http://preview.tinyurl.com/pjvb7be (atario21.arc)

    SpartaRead
    ==========
    - By Oscar Fowler
    - Reads SS/DD 180KiB SpartaDOS disks.
    - http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Diskutils/Transfer/sr.arc

    UTIL
    ====
    - By Charles Marslett
    - Reads/Writes SS/DD 180KiB Atari disks.
    - http://www.wordmark.org/

    ===============================================================
    Here's some advice on using the above utilities from Hans Breitenlohner:

    There are two technical obstacles to interchanging disks between
    DD Atari drives and PC drives.

    1. The Atari drive spins slightly slower (288 RPM instead of 300 RPM).
    If you format a disk on the Atari, then write sectors on the PC, it is
    possible that the header of the next physical sector will be overwritten,
    making that sector unreadable. (The next physical sector is usually
    the current logical sector+2). The solution to this is to format all
    disks on the PC.
    (Aside: Does anybody know how this problem is handled on the
    XF551? Is it also slowed down?)
    Konrad Kokoszkiewicz answers:
    "The XF551 disk drive is not slowed down - these drives are spinning
    300 rotations per minute. To prevent troubles with read/write disks
    formatted and written on normal Atari drives (288 rot/min), the main
    crystal frequency for the floppy disk controller is 8.333MHz
    (not 8MHz, as in 1050, for example)."

    2. If the PC drive is a 1200KiB drive there is the additional problem of the
    track width.
    The following is generally true in the PC world:
    - disks written on 360KiB drives can be read on either drive
    - blank disk formatted and written on 1200KiB drives can be read on
    either kind
    - disks written on a 360KiB drive, and overwritten on a 1200KiB drive,
    can be read reliably only on a 1200KiB drive.
    - disks previously formatted on a 360KiB drive, or formatted as 1200KiB,
    and then reformatted on a 1200KiB drive to 360KiB, can be read reliably
    only on a 1200KiB drive.
    (All this assumes you are using DD media, not HD.)

    Solution: Use a 360KiB drive if you can. If not, format disks on the
    Atari for Atari to PC transfers, format truly blank disks on the PC
    for PC to Atari transfers.

    Jon D. Melbo sums it up this way:
    So a basic rule of thumb when sharing 360KiB floppies among 360KiB &
    1200KiB drives is: Never do any writes with a 1200KiB drive to a disk that
    has been previously written to in a 360KiB drive....UNLESS... you only
    plan on ever using that disk in the 1200KiB drive from then on out. Of
    course a disk can be reformatted in a particular drive any time for use

    [continued in next message]

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Fri Aug 30 20:27:51 2019
    [continued from previous message]

    - Version 0.7, 1985?
    - VT10SQ.XMO with integrated R.BIN, or VT10NH.XMO without R: handler
    - Adds some VT-100 features and corrects some bugs in order to facilitate
    operation with UNIX and the vi editor.
    - Adds a capability to transmit even or odd parity.
    - Version 0.7 modified for XL by K. Knutson
    - Earlier releases require 400/800 OS or OS translator
    - VT100 Terminal Emulator, modified and revised version by Alec Benson, 1986
    (VT100.OBJ or VT100NR.OBJ)
    - Added VT52 emulation
    - OmniTerm version modified by CDY Consulting for OmniView

    AMODEM 7, by Trent Dudley, 1985-1987
    - Rewritten from AMODEM 4.2 and AMODEM Plus releases
    - Requires R: or T: handler
    - AMODEM 7.0 (5/85) features joystick input, SHIFT-CTRL key macros,
    adjustable delay rate, XMODEM transfers. Exclusive R: handlers:
    - AMOD70.AUT loads the 850 R: handler
    - AMODMPP.OBJ R: handler for MPP modems. Derived from the DeMar handler.
    - AMODEM 7.1, 8/12/85
    Exclusive modem device handlers:
    - R850.ATR (executable, not a disk image) loads the 850 R: handler
    - MPP.ATR (executable, not a disk image) R: handler for MPP modems. A
    modified version of the MPP Rev. 1.0 MINI R: handler which is compatible
    with XL/XE computers. (alias: AMD7HND.MPP)
    - T1030.ATR (executable, not a disk image) loads the 1030 T: handler
    - RBIN.ATR (executable, not a disk image) version of R.BIN combined R:
    handler for 850-based and 835/1030 modems
    - AMODEM 7.2, 12/1/85
    Exclusive modem device handlers:
    - MPPHANDL.A72 R: handler for MPP modems (essentially identical to MPP.ATR)
    - AUTO1030.72 loads the 1030 T: handler
    - AMODEM 7.3 XE, requires BASIC XL or BASIC XE, 12/85
    - AMODEM 7.2R, for the R-Time 8 cartridge, 2-Feb-86
    Exclusive modem device handler:
    - MPPHANDL.AM7 R: handler for MPP modems (essentially identical to MPP.ATR) - AMODEM 7.4, 15-Mar-87, features XMODEM/CRC and YMODEM file transfers,
    word wrapping, an edit window, improved autodial scanning and macros;
    support for: SpartaDOS, R-Time 8, BASIC XE.
    - Distributed with modem device handlers:
    BOOT850.COM, MPPHNDLR.COM, BOOT1030.COM, THANDLER.COM, RHANDLER.COM
    - AMODEM 7.50, 14-Jun-87 (final release)
    - Distributed with modem device handlers:
    BOOT850.COM, MPPHNDLR.COM, BOOT1030.COM, THANDLER.COM, RHANDLER.COM

    Express!, by Keith Ledbetter, 1985-1986
    - Strengths: auto-dialer and reliable XMODEM transfers
    - Version 3: XMODEM/CRC, ability to download .BIN files on CompuServe using
    XMODEM, VIDTEX mode for CompuServe cursor positioning, R-Time 8 support
    - Each version includes an integrated modem handler
    - Original version: 1030 Express! (September 1985)
    - Integrated T: handler
    - 850 Express! 3.0 release date: 9/24/86 (earlier releases include 1.1)
    - Integrated R: handler
    - 1030 Express! 3.0 release date: 11/1/86 (earlier releases include 2.0, 2.1)
    - Integrated T: handler
    - MPP Express! 3.0 release date: 12/1/86 (earlier releases include 1.1)
    - Integrated R: handler is Chilcott MPP handler
    - Also the basis for SX Express! from Atari (1988) and for the Express!
    cartridge from Orion Micro Systems (1990)

    VTERM V10.4.86, by Joe Hitchens, 1986
    - DEC VT52 terminal emulation, 80-column pannable (40-column visible) screen,
    capture, Upload/download (text only)
    - Requires R: handler

    OmniCom, by CDY Consulting (David Young), 08/15/1987 (shareware release)
    - VT10SQ was used as an early model.
    - 80-column screen (software handler), VT100 emulation, XMODEM, Kermit,
    ASCII send, capture mode, screen dump
    - Requires R: handler. Distributed with the ATARISRS.232 variation of R.BIN
    as extracted from VT-10-Squared.
    - While 1986-1987 commercial versions required a CDY Consulting Omniview
    chip, the 08/15/87 shareware release runs on standard Atari hardware

    Kermit-65, by John R. Dunning, 1987-1990
    - Kermit file transfers, VT100 or VT52 terminal emulation (or none),
    Atari standard screen, 80-column pannable (40-column visible) like VTERM,
    or 80-column graphics like VT10SQ
    - Port of Kermit-65 for Commodore 64
    - Two versions of each release:
    - K65.COM or KERMIT.COM: Integrated 850 R: autoloader
    - K65NR.COM or KERMITNR.COM : Requires R: handler
    - Releases: 3.1 8/6/1987, 3.3 10/20/1987, 3.5 4/1990, 3.6 4/1990, 3.7 5/1990

    DeTerm, by Jim Dillow, 1987-1988
    - XMODEM file transfer, full Telenet PC Pursuit support, Breakout game
    playable while uploading, downloading or waiting for a connection
    - Several versions: DeTerm XM301 (DTXM) / DeTerm MPP (DTMPP) / DeTerm SX212
    (DTSX) each have a built-in modem handler; DeTerm 850 (DT850) is to be
    appended to an 850 R: autoloader; DeTerm (plain) requires R: handler

    PC-Term, by Rick Hunter, 1988
    - Designed especially for Telenet PC Pursuit
    - XMODEM, XMODEM/CRC, YMODEM, or C-MODEM (C-MODEM protocol by Jerry Horanoff
    of Carina Software Systems) file transfers
    - Dialer, capture, print-screen
    - 850-based or SX212 modem required (integrated SX212 handler by Jim Dillow)
    - Version 3.1, 10/14/88

    BobTerm 1.2x, 1990-1993, shareware by Bob Puff
    - XMODEM, XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM-1k, CIS Fast XMODEM (BobTerm exclusive for use
    only on CIS), YMODEM, FMODEM (YMODEM but with 4KiB block size) file
    transfers
    - VT52 terminal emulation (odd or even parities) with CompuServe VIDTEX cursor
    positioning
    - Floating buffer size (depending on machine and DOS), chat window with
    recall, online/real-time clock, R-Time 8 support, dialing system
    - Modular design: distributed with an XEP80 driver and with a command
    processor module for SpartaDOS 3.2 or SpartaDOS X
    - Integrated 850 R: autoloader; also supports and distributed with separate R:
    handlers for most possible modem options, most written by Bob Puff
    - Version 1.21 final full release, 4/27/1990: http://www.nleaudio.com/css/
    - Version 1.22 05/1990 executable, final version update for real hardware:
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/navwxj3
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/o52parp
    - Version 1.23 03/1993 executable, updated version for use with emulators
    (not for use with more modern Atari emulators or with real hardware):
    http://www.mixinc.net/atari/download_a8/datacom/bobt123.lzh or
    http://members.chello.nl/becotel/atari/software.html
    - Earlier releases: v.1.02 4/1989, v.1.10 6/1989, v.1.20 4/1990

    VT850, by Curtis Laser, 1991
    - VT100 terminal emulation, with select VT102 features and VT200 series
    keyboard support. Capture file function.
    - Supports the XEP80 (joystick port 1) and the CX85 (joystick port 2)
    - Display is either 39 columns in GR.0 with custom character set, or
    80/132 columns (authentic VT100 horizontal scrolling for >80 columns) on the
    XEP80
    - Requires R: handler
    - Release versions: B0, B1

    ANSITerm, by Robert Sinclair, 1991-1992
    - IBM terminal emulation program with VT100 mode
    - ATARI, ASCII, or ANSI modes
    - XMODEM send/receive, dump, capture, dialer
    - Requires R: handler.
    Distributed with handlers for: 850, P:R: Connection, SX212
    - Version 1.0 released 24-JUN-92

    FlickerTerm 80, by Clay Halliwell, 1993-1995
    - High speed ANSI terminal emulator
    - ASCII, IBM PC, or VT100 modes
    - 80-column screen uses two alternating Graphics 0 screens
    - Print-screen, Joystick/CX85 Keypad, macros
    - Requires R: handler
    - Releases: v0.37 07/07/94; v0.381 11/04/94; v.0.51 6/27/1995

    Ice-T, by Itay Chamiel, 1994-2013
    - Complete VT102 and ANSI-BBS emulation, including boldface/blink support
    - Supports up to 19,200 baud, with no data loss
    - 80-column screen (GR.8 software handler)
    - XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM-1k, YMODEM, YMODEM-g, ZMODEM download protocols
    - ASCII upload, 16KiB capture buffer, 16KiB scrollback buffer
    - Auto-dialer, with a directory of up to 20 numbers
    - Text file viewer, Fine scroll, Print screen
    - Requires R: handler
    - Ice-T 800 v1.1, October 1994:
    - Reduced features, but only requires 48KiB 400/800
    - Ice-T XE 2.72, February, 1997
    - Full feature set, requires an XL/XE with at least 128KiB RAM
    - Ice-T XE 2.73, April 14, 2012
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/196599-ice-t-xe-273-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.74, September 24, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217052-ice-t-xe-274-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.75, October 1, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217245-ice-t-xe-275-released/ - Ice-T XE 2.76, October 10, 2013
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217539-ice-t-xe-276-released/

    Term-80 / Term80, by Tom Hunt, 1995-1996
    - (Not to be confused with the unrelated Term 80 by Mark Gamber, 12/1/88)
    - Designed for calling IBM ANSI bulletin boards at the highest speeds
    supported by the MIO and Black Box. Default 14,400 baud.
    - Hyperspeed R: handler by Len Spencer recommended for MIO users
    - Requires one of:
    1- Modem connected to a Black Box or MIO
    2- Either a hard drive (connected to a Black Box or MIO) or a RAMdisk
    (modem connected to a P:R: Connection, 850, or similar interface)
    3- Both a (hard drive or RAMdisk) AND modem connected to a Black Box or MIO - Requires SpartaDOS (3.2d or 3.2g/gx)
    - 80-column screen (GR.8 software handler)
    - Dialer, YMODEM receive/send
    - Modular design, distributed with modules for:
    XMODEM/CRC and XMODEM-1k receive, capture, change baud rate
    - Releases: 8.15.95 Version 1.4 was 1st general release; 8.19.95 Version 1.5;
    8.25.95 Version 1.6
    - 5.24.96 Version 1.9 BETA was distributed to testers with several modules for
    use with Internet email and lynx servers via a dial-up telnet service.
    (Direct access to a telnet server is (was) sometimes provided as part of a
    dial-up SLIP/PPP account from an Internet service provider.)
    - Available: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/180427-term80/#entry2257913

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 8.16) What programs can I use to host a BBS on the Atari?

    Contributors to this section include: Winston Smith, Steven Sturza, Chad Hendrickson, Don Fanning, Matt Singer, Pete Davis, Jeff Williams, Rod Roark

    "A BBS, plain and simple, is some hobbyist setting up their own computer to answer incoming calls from other hobby computers. The visiting person
    leaves messages on this computer for other visitors, plays games while visiting, sends and receives files, and all that." -- Greg Goodwin, 2005

    The 8-bit Atari was popular for hosting a dial-up Bulletin Board System (BBS). This section attempts to list all BBS programs for the Atari.

    For most programs listed, a link is provided to the corresponding section at http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ which is a comprehensive collection
    of BBS information, screenshots, and downloads collected by Jason Scott.

    o AMIS (Atari Message & Information System)
    AMIS was the first BBS program for the 8-bit Atari, created by lead programmer Tom Giese with other members of the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts
    (MACE). Development and testing started in late 1981, and the MACE A.M.I.S. became the first 24 hours per day Atari BBS in February 1982 (original hardware: 48KiB Atari 800, Hayes Smartmodem, 850 interface, four floppy disk drives, 822 printer). Written in BASIC. http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/AMIS/
    The AMIS BASIC source code proved a popular starting point for a number of popular AMIS variations, including:
    * Fast AMIS, by Stan Subeck & Susie Subeck
    According to Antic v3n9Jan85:
    - Built-in modem commands for a Hayes Smartmodem.
    - Requires some modification to run with an MPP, Signalman Mark 7 or
    Mark 12 modem.
    - Requires a different method of auto-answer than other BBS programs,
    and demands a different setting of the modem's internal DIP
    switches.
    - Message files compact automatically.
    http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FASTAMIS/
    * Carnival BBS, by ???????
    - "essentially AMIS with an overlay to allow for private messages and
    passwords." --Antic v3n9Jan85
    - "demands a large amount of disk space and requires every bit of
    memory your system has." --Antic v3n9Jan85
    http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARNIVAL/
    http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n4/communications.html
    http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n9/communications.html
    * Reed Audio BBS, by Todd Gordanier, 1986
    - A modified version of Carnival BBS that added multiple forum
    support & support for the Atari 1030 modem by way of a hardware
    ring detector (relay). (Wikipedia)
    * Comet AMIS, by Matt Pritchard and Tom Johnson
    http://bbslist.textfiles.com/704/oldschool.html
    - Home was Comet AMIS of Algonic, MI
    - Originally MPP AMIS by Matt Pritchard, for MPP modems only
    (John DeMar of New York State wrote the MPP drivers), then
    modified to be used with other types of standard modems.
    - Some heavy involvement of Trent Condellone in certain features
    - The final version featured many automated tasks, usage logs,
    passwords, private mail, multiple message bases and support for hard
    drives and MYDOS, and was on the cutting edge of AMIS/Atari 8-bit
    BBS technology. (Wikipedia)
    * AMIS XM301, by Mike Olin and Mike Mitchell (Catspaw Software Systems)
    - Written in BASIC XE (Wikipedia)
    * TODAMIS 1.0, by Trent Dudley, 1986
    - for 1030/XM301

    o ADCM BBS
    - Version 1.00 (C) 1985 ADCM Systems
    - (C) ADCM Systems Version 1.35 - January 15th, 1986
    - For use with the Pocket Modem by BOT Engineering
    - jacobus writes (11/2010):
    "Features a command driven interface, private mail, public message board,
    upload and downloads. Handles up to 255 users up to 500 baud."
    "The author is Julius Oklamcak"
    - Info & download: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/172034-adcm-bbs/

    o ARMUDIC, by Frank Huband http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ARMUDIC/
    From the Downtown Washington Atari Users Group of Washington, D.C.
    Greg Leslie writes "It was written (in BASIC with machine language
    subroutines) by Frank Huband, and the name came from the numbers used to dial the original BBS (276-8342).

    o ATABBS - Atari Bulletin Board System
    Rod Roark writes (3/12/03):
    This is really straining my memory -- don't recall exactly
    when I wrote the thing (maybe '80 or '81), but as far as I
    know ATABBS was the world's first BBS for the Atari 400/800.

    I ran it out of my condo in Atlanta on a 48KiB 400 with a
    90KiB floppy drive and a 300 bit/s Hayes Smartmodem. The
    48KiB memory module was a third party add-on, not Atari's.

    It was written in Atari BASIC with a few bytes of machine
    language thrown in.

    o AtariLink BBS -- program by Paul Sungenis and Darren M. Benfer,
    Version 1.43 (c) 1987-1988 Paul L.A. Sungenis
    From his blog at http://atari8programming.blogspot.com/ on 3/20/06:
    In 1985-1986 I wrote and eventually released the AtariLink BBS software. This came out of necessity, since most Atari BBS programs at the time (especially FoReM and its bastard children) didn't fully support the 1030 modem that I
    used (or the XM301 that followed afterward). I eventually adapted the program to work with Atari's 1200 bit/s SX212 modem when that was released, and in the process threw the program open to just about every modem out there. AtariLink floated in the wild, passed from BBS to BBS for a while, before an Atari magazine (I forget which one) distributed the software as its disk of the month.
    - Requires Atari BASIC; BASIC XE supported
    - Recommended SpartaDOS 2.3b/e or SpartaDOS X due to memory requirements.
    - Expandable with Door programs

    o ATKeep -- An Atari 8-bit version of CITADEL BBS, by Brent Barrett http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ATKEEP/
    ATKeep is a Citadel-like BBS system for eight-bit Ataris. ATKeep runs under SpartaDOS and requires BASIC XE and 128KiB of RAM. Originally "MBBBS (Message Base Bulletin Board System) 1.0, March 24th, 1986" MBBBS was changed to Atari Keep, or, ATKeep for short, around version the time version 4.0 was released (June 15, 1986).

    ATKeep 7.0 finally took the aide and cosysop commands out of a menu section
    and put them into extended commands, where they belonged. It also added a SYSOP level command set. Users were no longer "users" "aides" or "cosysops," they had become level "A" (SYSOP) through level "Z" (READ ONLY). The system had become extremely complex. Public, hidden OR password protected PRIVATE rooms. Each room now had its own access level (thus keeping people of lower level from getting in EVEN if they knew the room name). Each room was
    assigned a RWRT (or Read WRiTe status), which determined who could enter messages in it, and whether or not public or private messages, or both were to be allowed.

    Before version 7.0, ATKeep only worked with the Atari 1030 or XM301 modems. ATKeep 7.0 was rewritten to accommodate the 850 or PRC interface allowing use of any Hayes compatible modem.

    ATKeep version 7.50 was released (1987), was version 8 released?

    o BBCS -- Bulletin Board Construction Set, by Scott Brause/Antic, 1985 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/ABBCS/
    A machine language program, developed as the Jersey Atari Computer Group
    (JACG) BBS system.

    BBCS was known for its great flexibility. The sysop was offered easy customization by the use of menus. Many BBSes before it required that you had to actually change the BASIC code in order to customize your BBS.

    Unfortunately, it also suffered from a reputation for stability problems.

    o BBS Express! -- 1986-1989, Keith Ledbetter/Orion Micro Systems http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/BBSEXPRESS/
    Written in compiled Action!. 835/1030/XM301 and 850 versions.

    o BBS Express! Professional ("Pro!")--6.0b 1999, Lance Ringquist/Video 61 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/BBSEXPRESSPRO/
    Verion 1.0 released 5/8/1988 by Keith Ledbetter and Chris King from Orion
    Micro Systems. bf2k+ wrote (May 2010) that version 2.1a was the last version compiled by Keith Ledbetter before he sold it.

    Version 5.0 Copyright 1995 by K-Products (Bob Klaas) credited to:
    Stephen J. Carden, Keith Ledbetter, and Chris King

    Currently owned by Lance Ringquist/Video 61: http://www.atarisales.com/

    Written in 100% machine language.
    Requires XL/XE, SpartaDOS 3.2+, hard drive highly recommended, or at least a large RAMdisk. R-Time 8 is fully supported.

    SpartaDOS Pro Ver 3.3c 19-Dec-97 (S)hareware 1994 by FTe
    - SpartaDOS 3.3, originally derived from a disassembly of ICD SpartaDOS 3.2c,
    was developed specifically to be an optimal environment for running
    BBS Express! Pro.
    - SpartaDOS 3.3c was released on cartridge by Video 61 in early 1998.

    o Carina BBS (Carina I), Carina Software Systems (Jerry Horanoff), 1986 http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARINA/
    - Highly modular, modifiable code written in Atari BASIC
    - Features Programmable Modem Operating Environment (MOE)
    - Supports XMODEM file transfers

    o Carina BBS version II (Carina II)
    (c)1988 Carina Software Systems (Jerry Horanoff)
    v2.5 upgrade (4/24/91) (c)1990 by Shadow Software (David Hunt)
    v2.6 (6/15/93) by Shadow Software (David Hunt)
    v2.7 (c)1995 by Shadow Software (David Hunt) http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/CARINA/
    - Requirements: Atari XL/XE computer, at least 500KiB of storage capacity
    (combination of disk drives and/or RAMdisk), a modem, and SpartaDOS 2.3 or
    greater.
    - Recommended: 192KiB RAMdisk or greater, R-Time 8
    - Explicitly supported: MIO interface and a hard drive
    - A complete re-write of Carina BBS
    - Highly modular, modifiable code written in Atari BASIC
    - Programmable Modem Operating Environment II (MOE II)
    - VT-52 graphics support
    - Features proprietary C-Modem file transfer protocol, also supports:
    XModem, XModem CRC, YModem (1K X-Modem CRC), YModem Batch, ASCII, others

    o Commonwealth XL BBS -- (c)1985, 1986 by Smokey Layton http://atariage.com/forums/topic/226543-commonwealth-xl-bbs/
    - Expected to run under MYDOS 3 or higher.
    - Requires disk drive (including RAMdisk) with 180KiB capacity or higher
    - Written in BASIC; BASIC XL supported
    - Has a control structure that is modeled after AMIS BBS programs

    o ECABBS -- Efficient Chips Atari Bulletin Board System
    by Matthew Jones, V2.0, 1983 http://www.page6.org/pd_lib/utilities/pd_ecabbs.htm
    - Originally a commercial release, then released to the public domain
    - Requires R: handler
    - Written in Atari BASIC

    o FoReM BBS -- Friends of Rick E. Moose BBS.
    Developed/sold by Matthew R. Singer. http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FOREM/

    Versions that operate with the Atari 850, the ATR 8000 CP/M interface, and other configurations. Written in Atari BASIC.

    Matt Singer writes:
    FoReM BBS derived from an early AMIS. When multiple message areas were
    added the name was extended to FoReM 26M. Then, When OSS released BASIC
    XL the program was rehacked and called FoReM XL... Bill Dorsey wrote most
    of the Assembler routines (where is he now?).

    o FoReM MPP BBS -- developed by Matt Singer, sold by MPP
    FoReM BBS version for the MPP direct-connect modems.

    o FoReM 26M BBS -- developed/sold by Matt Singer.
    FoReM BBS updated to support multiple message area.

    o FoReM XL BBS -- developed/sold by Matt Singer.
    FoReM 26M updated to take advantage of BASIC XL from OSS.

    o FoReM XE BBS -- developed by Matt Singer
    This version of FOREM BBS requires the commercial BASIC XE cartridge in order to run. It is in the public domain and can import and export messages from
    the Atari PRO! BBS EXPRESS-NET (7-bit text only, control ATASCII graphics are reserved for message data-structure bytes).

    o FoReM XE Professional BBS / FoReM XEP BBS -- by Len Spencer http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/FOREMXE/
    A re-write of FoReM XE BBS, last version was 5.4, Jan 5 1993.
    FXEP requires an XL/XE computer with at least 128KiB of memory, the BASIC XE cartridge from OSS/ICD, SpartaDOS 3.2 (this program will NOT work with any other version), and at least 500KiB of storage.

    FXEP is available at: http://www.lenardspencer.com/Lenspencer/fxep.html

    o Madrona Marsh BBS -- written by Matt Arrington http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/MARSH/
    "very structured and very customizable at the same time" - Brian A. Diaz

    o MBBBS (Message Base Bulletin Board System)
    -- early name for ATKeep, see above

    o Nite Lite BBS -- Paul S. Swanson http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/NITELITE/
    - First online: November 3, 1983. Ran completely in RAM.
    - Second version shifted the message base to a disk drive.
    - Third version added XMODEM uploads/downloads, support for a second disk
    drive, menus were shifted to disk, ran the first online text adventure
    - Fourth version shifted more of the system to disk, ran on the ATR8000
    and double density disk drives.
    - Version 5.0, Copyright 1985
    - Integrated support for Nite Lite Systems V:Handler (RAMdisk)
    - Supports C-GUL protocol for graphics and sound using the C-GUL
    terminal program

    o OASIS (the commercial version) / OASIS Jr. (the public domain version) http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/OASISIV/ http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/OASISJR/
    The original OASIS BBS System was written by Rich Renner and Ralph Walden with tech support and input from Leo Newman. It was first published by OASIS BBS Systems (Renner/Walden/Newman) in 1986, and distributed by Leo Newman. Later, the rights were transferred to Glenda Stocks/Z INNOVATORS, then later (1991)
    to Jeff Williams ("Alf").

    All machine language. OASIS is very crash-resistant and comes with a "dial out" screen so that the Sysop can use the BBS as a terminal program to call
    and fetch files without having to bring the BBS down and reload a terminal program. OASIS supports "Door programs" which it refers to as "OASIS PAL modules". An excellent message system, and a complex file system. It
    consists of "file libraries" with suites of "file types". There is quite a
    bit of overhead involved in performing a download (which may be a good thing, as it discourages file hogs). OASIS IV performs networking. SpartaDOS 3.2x recommended, but any DOS supported. R-Time 8 clock cartridge supported.

    Glenda Stocks writes at http://world.std.com/~snet/glenda.htm :
    I purchased the source code rights to OASIS and began marketing the BBS software to Atari 8-bit enthusiasts around the world. I felt that I had the superior BBS software because I had programmed in the ability to run external programs, including online games and user surveys. I also had added color prompts for IBM clone users who called Atari boards running my OASIS software. Sometime in 1991...I sold the rights to OASIS to a man in Canada..

    Jeff Williams ("Alf") writes: (12/6/02)
    OASIS was around prior to either PRO or BBS Express! IIRC. I don't know when exactly it showed up, version 3.09 was the first one I remember seeing. What made it nifty was it was very fast, being all assembler, and having some different features that things like Forem & Carina didn't have. Compared to something like Forem MPP at the time, it was kind of amazing.

    Ralph Walden sold it to Glenda Stocks, who chopped it up into modules and sold it as ver 4.7. PRO was out by then, and was a much more complete offering
    imo. Glenda wrote some modules for 4.7, but it never really went anywhere because the architecture was so cramped with her changes.

    Eventually she gave up and sold me the source. I looked it over and realized it was a mess and nothing was going to happen with it. I worked on a version
    5 for a while, but never made much progress.

    o Puff BBS -- by Robert (Bob) Puff http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/PUFFBBS/
    "came with a hardware component to both provide ring detect for the Atari
    (none existed in the modem) and to serve as a hardware key/dongle associated with the software."

    o SMART BBS -- by Marco Benton http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/SMARTBBS/
    This program is written entirely in BASIC. It expects to be running under a SpartaDOS environment. This BBS program uses a "modem clock string" rather than an R-Time 8 cartridge in order to retrieve the current time. It also comes with an Atari BASIC game door called "Sabotage".

    o TART-BOARD -- by Bob Alleger
    Early Atari BBS.

    o TCPIP Express -- by ILS - Integrated Logic Systems - Stephen J. Carden http://www.realdos.net/prodtcpip.html
    This upgrade is to the BBS Express Professional. This version is designed to function on the Internet and Multiplexer, though neither is required.
    Targeted at the serious, big-system Internet SysOp. Will ONLY run on
    SpartaDOS 3.2x or greater or RealDOS. TDLINE must be installed, and the
    R-Time 8 is fully supported. Written in 100% machine language.

    o XeBBS+ -- by Jonathan Taylor http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/XEBBS/
    for the Atari 130XE / Expanded 800XL, required BASIC XE,
    designed to work with the SupraDrive hard disk.
    "used the Automatic Modem Processor (AMP) code from FoReM XE, but was
    otherwise written from scratch." - Jonathan Taylor

    o 835 & 1030 Modem Bulletin Board
    -- by Gardner Computing (earlier) / Duplicating Technologies (DT)(later)
    Auto answer, XMODEM upload/download, sold with ring detector.
    Ads: ROM #9 Dec84/Jan85 p. 37; Antic v4n10 Feb 86 p. 44

    ------------------------------

    Subject: 9.1) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?

    It is now common, especially when working on modern computers, to work with Atari software as files or "images" containing the data from an entire disk, data cassette, or cartridge as duplicated from the native media for the Atari.

    Here is a list of file formats, arranged by their associated filename extensions. These are all filename extensions used to name files containing entire 8-bit Atari floppy disk images, cassette tape images, or cartridge images.

    .ATP -Atari Protected Disk Image Format. An open disk format suitable for
    storing copy protected disks (similar to the APE .PRO format).
    Version 1.6, 2004-4-11, by the ATP Working Group:
    http://www.ataripreservation.org/websites/freddy.offenga/ATP16.htm

    .ATR -Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
    Very similar to .XFD but with an added 16 byte header.
    This is the most common image format, used with most 8-bit Atari
    emulators running on other computer platforms.
    SIO2PC is at http://pages.suddenlink.net/wa5bdu/sio2pc.htm

    .ATX -Image format invented by Jorge Cwik (ijor), for VAPI project. Goal of
    Vapi is the preservation of Atari software in its original unmodified
    form, including custom format or copy protection. .ATX is a superset of
    .ATR for single density; does not support other Atari disk densities.
    .ATX is comparable to .IPF or .SCP (SuperCard Pro) file formats.
    http://vapi.fxatari.com/
    http://www.whizzosoftware.com/sio2arduino/vapi.html
    http://atariage.com/forums/topic/252191-vapi-library-source-code/

    .BIN -(1) Same as .ROM, see below; or (2) a binary file as described in a
    separate section of this FAQ list regarding filename extensions.

    .CAR -Cartridge ROM image format invented for the Atari800 emulator. Format
    includes information about cartridge type. Contains the 'CART'
    signature at the beginning of the file. See:
    http://sourceforge.net/p/atari800/source/ci/master/tree/DOC/cart.txt

    .CAS -Cassette image format invented by Ernest R. Schreurs, for his
    Digital Cassette Image system (includes CAS2SIO, WAV2CAS, and CAS2WAV
    MS-DOS utilities). See: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/
    - The .CAS format was extended by Tomasz Krasuski to support non-
    standard data (copy prevention mechanisms), for his A8CAS shared
    library, tools, and emulator patch. http://a8cas.sourceforge.net/
    - More .CAS tools:
    http://preview.tinyurl.com/y7ah6lgz
    Note that the .CAS format, both original and extended, only includes
    the digital track; it does not include the audio track.

    .DCM -Image format invented by Bob Puff for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
    Intended for use on native Atari hardware. A compressed data format.
    DISKCOMM is at http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/DISKCOM.ARC
    .DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip

    .DD -Early filename extension used with double density disk images for use
    with the Xformer emulators. Replaced by the .XFD extension.

    .DI -Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Krueger for
    800XL DJ, their 1050/XF551 disk drive emulator for the Atari
    ST/TT/Falcon.
    800XL Deejay: http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/Emulators/800xldj.lzh

    .IPF -Interchangeable Preservation Format invented by the Software
    Preservation Society (SPS), http://www.softpres.org/. A platform
    agnostic format that is extremely low-level, representing the
    information as it would have been read by a drive head. Comparable to
    .SCP (SuperCard Pro) or the Atari-specific .ATX format. Images are
    created on a modern computer using the KryoFlux USB-based floppy
    controller: http://www.kryoflux.com/

    .PRO -Proprietary image format invented by Steven Tucker, for his
    APE ProSystem. http://www.atarimax.com/

    .ROM ROM dump file, raw with no header information. Typically a cartridge
    memory dump, but also used for an operating system memory dump.

    .SCP -Image format invented by ICD, for SpartaDOS. Used with the external
    SpartaDOS command SCOPY, distributed with SpartaDOS 3.2. Used when

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