› ü Çåîåòáì Õóáçå ïæ Ãáòéîá ÉÉ ü›› First, Control-S at any time will pause any printing, and Control-C will abort any printing.  When reading messages or browsing files, ÛÒåôõòîÝ will automatically send you to the next message/file, and ÛÓðáãåÝ will take you immediately to the  Û¿Ý¯Ãíäº prompt.  Now that that's out of the way...›› ü Ãáòéîá Éɧó Óôòõãôõòå ü›› Carina II is divided up into sections (Special Interest Groups (or SIGs for short)).  Each section has its own message area, file area, game area, database, vote-poll, user's listing,  bulletins, and (if you're lucky) its own SysOp.  In other words, each section is somewhat of a bulletin board in itself.  So remember, Section (or SIG) means Special Interest Group.›› ü Õóéîç ôèå Ãïííáîä Ðáòóåò ü›› There are 3 different ways to input commands: By typing out what you want to do in English (using the appropriate words), by using macros, or by typing a character associated with the command you wish to execute.›› ü Óéîçìå­ìåôôåò Éîðõô ü›› The simplest way of entering a command is with the single character input.  Each command has a character associated with it.  For instance, the character associated with the Read command is "R".  Typing this letter (followed a ÛÒåôõòîÝ ) will execute this function.›› ü Íáãòïó ü›› The most commonly used form of input is by far the Macros.  As with the single-letter commands, each command has a macro key associated with it.  The macro key for Read is Control-R (that is, while holding down the ÛÃïîôòïìÝ key, press "R").  When this key is pressed, "Read " is displayed next to the command line.  One of the advantages of using macros is that pressing a macro key will display what that key will do before the command is executed.  If you decide that this command isn't really what you wanted to do, you can backspace over it (or hit Control-X to delete the entire input line).  It is also easier to stack commands when you use macros (command stacking will be discussed in later paragraphs).›› All macros for commands are displayed in the main menu.  There are, however, some supplementary macros not listed.  They are Control-A for "All " and Control-N for "New ".  "All" means All sections.  "New" means (effectively) that which you haven't seen before.  Both of these supplementary macros are mostly used with the message bases and file areas (e.g. Read New or Browse New (or even Directory New)).  If you were to type "Read ALL New", it would show you new messages in ALL sections, etc....›› ü Åîçìéóè ü›› Using English input is much the same as using macros (except you do a little more typing).  English input is especially useful if you are totally lost.  For instance, typing:››I need some serious help.››would get you some serious help (it would put you right into the help database).  It's also good for laughs.  For instance, typing:››I'd like to read all of the new messages, then download a file or two.››would indeed show you all of the new messages, then ask you which file you would like to download.  Take note that the period at the end of the sentence is not needed, however the comma is (it separates the two commands).  The key words recognized in the previous sentence are Read, All, New, and Download.  In the first phrase, the word ALL means all sections.  It tells the program to execute a "Read New" while taking you through "All" sections.  New means messages stored between the highest message you have read, and the highest message existing in that section.  You can think of it as messages you haven't seen before (for simplicity's sake).  All and New are parameters to the command Read.  The use of "All" and "New" in your input is called "Parameter Stacking".  Parameter stacking is a way of saving time by avoiding prompts that will be displayed if you don't give the BBS enough information to execute the command.  As you use the system, you will learn very quickly which parameters can be used with each command.  The "Download" command seen after the comma is not a parameter, but is actually a separate command, which brings us to our next subject...›› ü Ãïííáîä Óôáãëéîç ü›› Command stacking is a very useful tool that allows you to execute sequences of commands with just one input.  Like parameter stacking, this also saves time by avoiding prompts (mainly the command prompt).  It is also quite nice to be able to plan out exactly what you want to do on the BBS before you start.  Command stacking is very straightforward with English input, and just as versatile with Macro input; However, you need to be careful if you are using single-letter commands.  The command ("R" for instance) must follow  ÄÉÒÅÃÔÌÙ ÁÆÔÅÒ  the comma.  It is essential that the letter associated with the command be the first character in a command phrase (call it a phrase if you are using supplemental commands).  Here are some examples of different types of input you may be using:››Go General›Read New General›Read All New›R›R All›Read All New, Browse All New, Logoff›Sections,R All New,B All New›Other BBSs State "FL"›› There are endless combinations.  Also, there is a lot more typing here than really need be.  Each command (and parameter (including SIG names)) can be abbreviated in 2 letters, you don't have to type out the entire word (unless the first two letters of a parameter are identical to another parameter, then you may need to type 3 or more letters).  For instance:››Re al ne, Br al ne, Lo››is the same as:››Read all new, Browse all new, Logoff›› ü Áããïõîô Îõíâåòó ü›› Every user is assigned an account number.  Account numbers are used basically for speed.  You do not NEED to remember your account number when using this system.  You can always use names instead of account numbers; however, that means a little more typing, and a SLIGHT decrease in speed. Carina II is VERY fast when using either method.›