Customize MSGs to Users


When you logged in, you saw several places where some placeholder messages were displayed. These messages are all specified in files located at \wwiv\gfiles. In this directory, there are a number of .MSG and .ANS files which are the messages and menus displayed you users as they use your WWIV 5.0 BBS.

You can customize all of these as you wish. They can be edited with NOTEPAD or another text editor. .MSG files are used by default and .ANS files are displayed to users if their client supports ANSI. You should definitely have an ANSI version wherever you want to show off some art or where you can enhance the look and feel of your board. This is one of the ways you can make your WWIV 5.0 BBS your own.

While there are many others, as a new SysOp, the following MSGs are where you should start.

WELCOME.MSG

When Displayed: To every user before they LOGON or start the new user process.
Purpose: To welcome people and show off the style of your board. Usually this has the name of your BBS, A LOGO, other artworks and something to lure people to sign up.
Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample:

LOGON.MSG

When Displayed: After every logon.
Purpose: Anything you want users to see before they start using the board.
Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample:

LOGOFF.MSG

When Displayed: After every user logs-off.
Purpose: Say Goodbye, thank them for visiting, suggest another BBS they might visit.
Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample: YES

SYSTEM.MSG

When Displayed:
Purpose:
Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample:

NOANSI.MSG

When Displayed: To users who have clients that do not support ANSI. Purpose: To let these users know there are ANSI clients out there they could be using and to point them to one to try. Can be ANSI? (.ANS) No.
Sample:

FEEDBACK.MSG

When Displayed:
Purpose:
Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample:

NEWUSER.MSG

When Displayed: To New Users after they haved signed up. Purpose: Say thanks for signing up. Point them to anything in particular that is awesome. There is also a new user email, so be brief here. Can be ANSI? (.ANS) Yes.
Sample: