A quick word about the VU in VU BBS
VU BBS Beta-1 April 03, 1995
Contact Marvin BBS 1 703 492 9301
or Dyfett@aol.com.

VU is an object oriented event driven interface for text screen applications
designed with a number of features to optimize use remotely with terminals
and modem connections.  Some of these features are outlined below.  If you
are interested in VU and wish to create applications with a similar look and
feel, please contact me directly.  The interface is supported by a complete
stand-alone API library and currently outdated manual.

This outlines some features and keypresses common to many VU BBS 
applications.  First, some common keys:

CONTROL-R

This may be important on non-error correcting modem links.  Pressing 
<CONTROL-R> will force a re-paint of the screen display.

F1

This is used for context sensitive interactive help screens.  None of
the Beta-1 release modules have supporting help files written yet, alas.

F10 or CONTROL-Z

This allows for 'shell escapes' if shell access is given.  The 'shell'
program, as defined in the $SHELL environ variable, will be executed on
a clear screen.  When the shell is exited, the VU app screen is restored.


Display features found in VU are often scaled by connect speed as well as
by the choice of terminal emulation.  Our 'modem'/doorway front end sets
the $BAUD environment variable with the 'carrier' speed found during modem
connect.  Otherwise, VU assumes the termios speed is the correct one to use,
which, for baud rate locked high speed modems, may not nessisarly be true.

Features that are scaled are as follows:

<14400

Highlighting of the boarder of windows when they become active (and lo-
lighting when they are inactive) is disabled.  Only applies to color
terminals.

<9600

The soft-blue textured desktop 'pattern' that fills unused screen space is
gone.  Black becomes the default desktop.  This speeds window action for
low baud rate callers.

<2400

Color support is dropped entirely.



