
                             HELP ON TOPIC ACCESS

You are currently accessing topics, a special type of multi-level, 
hierarchical message section.  From this prompt, you have several choices 
which are described in detail here.  IF YOU NEED GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT 
TOPIC MESSAGE FEATURES, it is provided at the end of this file.

You selected help from a prompt line which has several commands.  Before the 
commands were listed, however, the system displayed the name of a message 
board.  This board is the topic path you are currently accessing.  With the 
exception of the <O>ptions commands, all commands available to you here will 
act on the displayed message board name only.  The number of messages in the 
displayed message board (topic path) is shown as well.  The commands are:

<O>ptions

        This command allows you to access topic section control commands.
        By selecting this command, you will be able to show available
        topics, as well as join or resign particular topics.  Additional
        details are provided in the help information available from
        within the options command itself.

<M>ark as Read

        Allows you to mark all messages on the displayed message board
        (topic path) as read.  Once you do so, messages in that topic
        path area will no longer be considered "new" messages as of 
        your next call to the system.  If you are not interested in 
        messages in a particular topic path any longer, you may wish
        to simply resign from the topic path instead of marking them
        as read.

<J>ump Over

        Allows you to jump over (skip) all messages on the displayed
        message board (topic path).  You then have the option of coming
        back later to read them.  Unread messages in the topic path
        will still be considered new messages and are unaffected in
        any way.

<C>ontinue

        Allows you to read messages in the currently displayed message
        board (topic path) using the method you selected previously
        (such as Forward, Reverse, New, and so forth). 

<A>dd Msg

        Allows you to write a new message and post it to the currently
        displayed message board (topic path).  

<S>top

        Allows you to stop access to this topic section and return to
        the previous menu.



                 GENERAL INFORMATION ON TOPIC MESSAGE FEATURES

The command that brought you here has allowed you to access a topic message 
area.  These areas are hierarchical in nature, and are arranged as topic 
"paths".  You can envision these paths as an inverted tree.  There is one 
topic at the top, and sub-topics branch out beneath it.  Sub-topics may have 
other sub-topics under them as well.  There may be a total of up to 4 levels 
in each topic path. 

NOTE:  Some topic sections may be organized with only 2 levels.

Each level of the path has a name.  If there are multiple levels, each level 
of the path is separated by a slash (/) character.  Here are some topic path 
examples: 

        Operating Systems
        Operating Systems/DOS
        Operating Systems/DOS/Windows
        Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Applications
        Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Hardware Requirements
        Operating Systems/UNIX
        Operating Systems/UNIX/Open Look
        Operating Systems/UNIX/Open Look/Applications

Each of the 8 topic paths listed are separate and distinct message areas, each 
with their own messages.  A message posted in the topic path "Operating 
Systems" is not accessible from "Operating Systems/DOS".  The paths simply 
allow organization of related message themes or topics, much like the 
directory structure of an IBM PC running DOS, or the folders on a Macintosh.

In order to access messages in a particular topic path, you must "join" it.  
When you join a particular topic, you can join it alone by path name, or 
automatically join all sub-topics under it at the same time.

For example, if you join "Operating Systems" you will be asked if you want to 
join the topic multi-level.  If you select YES, then (in this example) you 
would join all 8 topics.  If you select NO, then you would join only 
"Operating Systems" itself, and the other 7 areas would NOT be accessible to 
you.

You may also join sub-topics directly.  For example, you could join "Operating 
Systems/DOS/Windows" alone, without regard to levels higher (such as "Operating 
Systems/DOS" or lower (like "Operating Systems/DOS/Windows/Applications").  

If you no longer wish to access a particular topic path or paths, you can 
"resign" from them.  Like joining, resigning also gives you the option of 
resigning levels below automatically.



BTPC (2.2) 11/91


