File areas · Zmodem and the browser
The file section, kept up to date.
NetBBS file areas work the way callers remember: a listing with sizes, dates and uploaders, descriptions taken from an archive's own FILE_ID.DIZ, and Zmodem straight from the terminal. A caller whose terminal has no Zmodem gets a single-use browser link instead.
For callers
Browse, pick, download.
Every screen is one keypress deep. Arrow keys move a cursor, a number key picks a file directly, and the action bar only offers what this caller can actually do here.
Harbor Lights › Available file areas page 1/1, 5 total ──────────────────────────────────── 01. Utilities - Node utilities and helper scripts 02. ANSI Art - Mastheads, logos and art packs from callers 03. Door Games - Saves, maps and add-ons for the doors here 04. Text Files - Guides, histories and the occasional rant 05. Incoming - New uploads, checked by the SysOp before they go public [/] Find [B]ack Find by name Return without picking [O]rder Change sort order Sort: SysOp's order; or type a number to select; Ctrl-L: redraw, Ctrl-H: help Choice:
The file area list
Each file area with its description, in the order the SysOp set, so the number a caller remembers keeps its file area. [O]rder sorts by activity instead.
Harbor Lights › Files › Utilities 5 files on this page ───────────────────────────────── # Filename Size Date Uploader ──── ────────────────────────────────────────────── ───────── ──────────────── ──────── [01] backup-rotate.sh 1.3 KiB 14.08.2026 21:07 otto Nightly backup rotation, seven days retained. [02] ansi-preview.py 6.8 KiB 22.08.2026 18:41 wren Preview an .ANS file at 80 or 132 columns before you upload it. >[03] zmodem-howto.txt 4.3 KiB 02.09.2026 19:41 keeper Getting files to and from this node: SyncTERM, NetRunner and plain lrzsz, with screenshots. [04] nodelist-tools.zip 86.2 KiB 11.09.2026 11:52 otto NODELIST TOOLS v2.1 merge, diff and pretty-print BBS lists. Freeware. [05] netbbs-7.15.3.tar.gz 3.8 MiB 04.10.2026 10:12 keeper The current NetBBS release, source distribution. [B]ack Return to the previous menu [01-05] — receive via Zmodem [U]pload Send a file via Zmodem [D]ownload [F]ollow: off Receive this file via Zmodem List this area first in New scan Choice:
A file area's listing
Size, date and uploader in columns, the description under each file. Multi-line descriptions are FILE_ID.DIZ text the node read from the uploaded archive. Enter or [D]ownload starts a Zmodem send of the file under the cursor.
Harbor Lights › Files › ANSI Art 4 files on this page ──────────────────────────────── # Filename Size Date Uploader ──── ────────────────────────────────────────────── ───────── ──────────────── ──────── [01] harbor-masthead.ans 11.6 KiB 30.07.2026 20:15 wren This node's own masthead, 80 columns. >[02] ansi-preset-pack.zip 46.9 KiB 07.09.2026 21:03 wren ANSI PRESET PACK twelve masthead presets 80 and 132 columns CP437 and UTF-8 versions [03] lighthouse.ans 7.0 KiB 12.09.2026 20:14 alice A lighthouse at dusk. [04] fall-artpack-2026.zip 1.2 MiB 28.09.2026 22:51 otto FALL 2026 ARTPACK 31 pieces from 9 artists includes the voting results [B]ack Return to the previous menu [01-04] — receive via Zmodem [E]dit description Describe the highlighted file [D]ownload [W]eb transfer Receive this file via Zmodem Browser link instead of Zmodem [U]pload [F]ollow: off Send a file via Zmodem List this area first in New scan Open this in a browser to download 'ansi-preset-pack.zip': https://harborlights.example.net/transfer/XHkwlzK2BYBGgjvMrh8PB_tqw3GwIpVqGOE1UzHqE7Y It works once, and stops working in 10 minutes. Choice:
No Zmodem? A browser link
[W]eb transfer mints a link for the file under the cursor. It works once and expires after ten minutes. Uploads work the same way in a file area the caller may upload to.
Harbor Lights › Search results for 'ansi' page 1/1, 2 total ───────────────────────────────────────── 01. ansi-preset-pack.zip - [FILE] ANSI Art: ANSI PRESET PACK twe... 02. ansi-preview.py - [FILE] Utilities: Preview an .ANS file... [/] Find [B]ack — or type a number to select; Ctrl-L: redraw, Ctrl-H: help Choice:
One search for the whole node
Find (/) searches files, message board posts, retained chat and the caller's own mail in one query. Picking a file opens its file area with the cursor on it.
For SysOps
Policy per file area, from the console.
Each file area has its own access levels, upload policy, moderation and retention. Nothing needs a shell: approving uploads and recovering expired files happen on the file area's own screen.
Harbor Lights › Utilities ───────────────────────── 5 files (last upload 04.10.2026 10:12) · place 1 of 5 · not Linked IDENTITY > 01 Name: Utilities 02 Description: Node utilities and helper scripts [D]own [H]istory Later in the callers' list Its moderators and what they did [R]emove [L]ink this file area Permanently remove this area Share it via NetBBS Link [P]ending files [B]ack Review uploads awaiting approval Return to the list [E]xpired files Recover before they are purged 01-11 or ↑↓ choose · Enter change · ←→ step · Ctrl-H help (Section 1 of 4: < > switches) Choice:
A file area at a glance
A summary line with what it holds, its place in callers' lists and whether it is shared over NetBBS Link, then numbered settings in four sections: name and description (shown here), who may read and upload, where it is filed, and moderation and how long files are kept.
Harbor Lights › Pending files in 'Incoming' page 1/1, 2 total ─────────────────────────────────────────── NAME KIND BY SUBMITTED 01. qwk-reader-1.4.zip file alice 03.10.2026 22:18 02. sunset-harbor.ans file otto 04.10.2026 19:56 [/] Find [B]ack — or type a number to select; Ctrl-L: redraw, Ctrl-H: help Choice:
Moderated uploads wait here
In a moderated file area, a new upload stays out of callers' sight until the SysOp approves it.
Harbor Lights › lord-igm-pack.zip ───────────────────────────────── EXPIRED FILE By: otto Uploaded: 19.06.2026 19:02 Purge date: 17.10.2026 19:02 Size: 297.0 KiB (304118 bytes) SHA-256: 13124578301dcd81dc4eb6b0ac171fd305ad8035cea095ae2321b96f01f6b509 DESCRIPTION Six in-game modules for LORD 4.07. [D]ownload Recover it before it is purged [B]ack Return to the expired list Choice:
Expired is not gone yet
A file area can retire files after a set age. Until the grace period ends, the bytes are still on disk and the SysOp can download the file from [E]xpired files.
How it works
Classic on the screen, careful underneath.
Two ways to transfer
- Zmodem from the terminal. A Zmodem terminal such as SyncTERM starts its side by itself; Ctrl-X five times cancels.
- A browser link otherwise. PuTTY and ordinary SSH clients have no Zmodem, so the node offers a single-use link instead. That needs the SysOp to turn on the web listener.
Descriptions that come with the file
- FILE_ID.DIZ is read on upload, so an archive arrives already described.
- Uploaders can edit their own descriptions with [E], and so can staff with that permission on the file area.
Moderation and retention
- Moderated file areas hold uploads until the SysOp approves them.
- A maximum file age retires old files, and a grace period leaves time to recover one before it is purged.
Across NetBBS Link
- Carried file areas list the other node's catalogue. A catalogue entry is metadata only; fetching a file's bytes is a separate action.
- Posts and letters can point at a file. If the file is later deleted or expires, readers see that it is no longer available.
Open your own file section.
The installation guide gets a node running; file areas are created from the SysOp console.