The Miniapples First Class BBS (FC BBS) is intended for Miniapples Members. (Updated Feb 2006) by Dave Peck.

If your not a member please see our Membership Page. However, if you'd like to take a look as a guest, you can do so with your web browser. Please see the Guest Sign On page. However Guest Sign On is so restrictive, you may not find it worth the effort. The Guest Sign On page does show a graphic of the First Class desktop.

It's easy for members to register and sign on. This article is divided into three parts.

1. Access the FC BBS via your web browser. No software installation is required!
2. Install the FC Client Application on your computer and access the BBS through the FC Client directly.

For First Class there are two ways to go- Web Browser access or FC Client Application access. It's your choice. Web broswer access is easier. But installing and configuring the client software is easy and more capabilities are available. Novices may want to access the BBS with their browser until they get comfortable with the FC environment.

New Members- who intend to use Web Browser access only (accessing the Bulletin Board with your Web Browswer- Safari or Explorer) should go straight to the Web Registration form and submit. In a few days try the browser sign-on as described in Part 1. If you can't access the bbs after a few days, contact miniapples@mac.com or a club member for help.

Instead of Web Browser access, you want to install the First Class Client Application, go to Part 2. You can register yourself using the First Class Application.

Part 1- Access the Miniapples First Class BBS with a Browser

Accessing the Miniapples First Class BBS with a Browser is easy. But you can't register yourself with just a Browser. If you used the old TCI First Class BBS, try signing on with your old User ID and your member number as the password. New members- use your name and member number (as printed on the mailing label of your newsletter) for your UserID and password, respectively. Follow these steps to sign on:

• Web Log in-Attempt to Log In to the Miniapples First Class BBS at http://miniapples.swconsulting.com/login/
  
  
• Fill in your User ID and Password. If your registered, the First Class desktop will appear. If not registered, access will be denied.
  
  
• If you are not registered, and you desire Web Browser access only, continue with the Web Browser Only Registration.
  
  
• Tip for Web Access- When accessing First Class with a Web Browser, make sure you log off when your finished. Don't just leave. Otherwise your session stays active and ties up one of the session slots until you run out of time (currently 45 min).

Web Browser Only Registration

Your a new member or you've attempted to sign in to the Miniapples First Class BBS and you received a message saying: Authorization Failed. Either you don't have your correct UserID/Password or you are not registered. If you intend to access the Miniapples First Class BBS with a Web Browser *only*, Miniapples First Class Administrators will have to setup your account. This is accomplished by filling out the Registration Form and submitting it. Comments are optional. Don't forget to type a desired User ID/Password. After a day or two, you will be registered. Sign in to http://miniapples.swconsulting.com/login/ for First Class Web Browser access.

Note: You must have an active internet connection to submit this form.This info goes to miniapples@mac.com, our miniapples email address. When sending, the only confirmation is a pop up window saying "the form is being submitted via email". After the email is sent, the data fields do not clear.

If you intend to install the First Class Client Application on your computer, do not submit this form. The First Class Client Application, allows registration directly with the BBS.

Part 2- Installing the First Class Client

These steps install the First Class Client Application on your computer. Ignore this section if you intend to access the Miniapples First Class BBS with a Web Browser only.

This section may look complicated, but it's not. The only steps required are to select TCP/IP as the connection method, and enter the IP address, your User ID and Password. Then connect. That's basically it.

Step 1 Download files- There are two Choices here.

• The easiest choice is to download the First Class file from Miniapple's iTools Web Page http://homepage.mac.com/miniapples/. Click on the Public mini'app'les File link on the top of the page and follow the instructions to download. The Mac OS9 self-extracting download comes mostly preconfigured. Simply place the contents of this file on your hard drive and launch First Class. No install process is required. But you will have to enter data into the Service Setup page. See the included Read-Me. The Mac OSX version will have to be cofigured. This version of First Class should be made available in the future on new member cds.
• First Class v7 can also be downloaded directly from Centrinity.
  

Step 2 *MacOS9/OSX First Class Setup . These instructions show how to set up First Class. . Upon completion of the download, the First Class installer may launch itself. If it does not, find the file labeled First Class Client and double click it to launch.

*If installing the OSX version, if the Setup Screen does not automatically appear, from the drop-down menu, select Collaborate -> home.fc setup to configure. Screens may appear different in the OSX version, but the Service Setup Settings will be the same as outlined in this article.

• Easy Install- This screen should appear:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Select custom install and deselect the Personal Post Office and First Class notifier options. Click the Install Button.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Service Setup- The First Class Client Application will launch and this window should appear.
  • Make sure Connect via: TCP/IP is selected.
  • Type in your requested User ID and Password.
    Note: If you used the old TCI FC BBS, try your old UserID and use your member number as the Password. New members should use their name and miniapple member number (as printed on the Miniapples newsletter) for the User ID/Password, respectively. If these don't work, you can create a new account by typing in a new User ID and Password.
  • If you desire, check the Log In Automatically Box and make selections on how many times you want to try to connect.
  • In the Server Box, type in: miniapples.swconsulting.com
    • Note: This graphic has not been updated. It shows the old IP address for miniapples. In the place of 207.1.200.184, type in: miniapples.swconsulting.com
  • Ignore the Network Box and Phone Number boxes.
  • Hit the Save Button.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
• Login Window will appear.
  • Under Address, it should say: home.fc.
  • The Server window should say: miniapples.swconsulting.com
  • Select Register User (not Guest).
  • The User ID and password you previously typed should appear. Although the password will be little black dots.
  • Make sure you have an active internet connection and click the Login Button.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
• The Autoregistration Window appears and asks for name, address and contact info. When finished, click the Register button.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You should get a message saying something like "you are registered". The FC desktop should appear. Our setup may allow you to post messages immediately but if you can't, wait a day and try again. You will be registered. If you can't post messages after a day or two, contact our FC Administrators by sending email to: miniapples@mac.com. I told you it was easy! :-)

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