====== User Settings Menu ======

The **User Settings** menu (also called //Account Defaults Configuration// or just //Configuration// in older documentation) lets you, the user, change account-level preferences: terminal type, command shell, default editor, screen options, password, and personal information. It does **not** change the BBS's configuration, only your own account.

The User Settings menu is **separate from the [[user:shell:|command shell]]** — the shell just binds a key to open it (in [[user:shell:classic|Classic]], that's ''D'' from the Main prompt; other shells use other keys).

===== The stock User Settings menu =====

A live capture from [[bbs:vertrauen]] (running Synchronet v3.22, UTF-8 / ANSI terminal):

  User Settings for Claudeai-Docs #1191:

  [T] Terminal Mode                : Auto UTF-8 / ANSI (color) DEL=BS
  [K] Command Shell                : Synchronet (Classic)
  [L] Language                     : English
  [E] External Editor              : None
  [A] Temporary/QWK Archive Type   : zip
  [X] Expert Menu Mode             : Off
  [P] Screen Pause                 : On
  [S] Spinning Cursor              : Pause Prompt Only
  [C] Clear Screen Between Messages: Off
  [N] Ask For New Message/File Scan: On
  [Y] Ask For Your Un-read Msg Scan: Off
  [F] Automatic New File Scan      : On
  [R] Remember Current Sub-board   : On
  [B] Batch Download File Flagging : On
  [M] Forward Mail                 : Off (noreply@anthropic.com)
  [Z] Default Download Protocol    : None
  [W] Change Personal Information

  Which or [Q] to Quit:

The single bracketed letters are command keys — type the letter to change that setting. ''Q'' (or ''Enter'' on the bracketed default) returns to the previous prompt.

==== Setting reference ====

  * **''T'' Terminal Mode** — Auto-detects ANSI / RIP / mouse / UTF-8 / CP437 / PETSCII capabilities at logon, or you can pin a specific mode. Affects how the BBS draws menus and text. **ANSI** is the standard for color menus and text art on most BBSes; if your terminal supports it (most modern terminals and BBS clients do), you'll see color, boxes, and animated displays. If something looks wrong after logon — wrong character set, garbled art — you can override the detected mode here. The [[user:login:default|logon sequence]] shows what was auto-detected (e.g. ''80x24 UTF-8 / ANSI (color)'').
  * **''K'' Command Shell** — Choose your preferred [[user:shell:|command shell]] (only shells the sysop has made available are listed). The BBS remembers your choice across sessions.
  * **''L'' Language** — Choose your preferred display language (only languages the sysop has installed are available).
  * **''E'' External Editor** — Choose an [[user:editor|external message editor]] (e.g. [[:module:slyedit|SlyEdit]], [[:module:fseditor|FSEditor]]) to use instead of the built-in line editor when composing messages.
  * **''A'' Temporary/QWK Archive Type** — Archiver used for QWK packets and the temp-file feature (e.g. ''zip'').
  * **''X'' Expert Menu Mode** — When **off** (default for new users), full menus are redisplayed at every prompt; when **on** ("expert" mode), menus are hidden until you press ''?''. Saves screen real estate once you know the keys.
  * **''P'' Screen Pause** — Pause every screenful with a //"Hit a key"// prompt. When this is **off**, text scrolls without stopping — use [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-S]] to pause and [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-Q]] to resume. You can also temporarily toggle pause for the current command with [[user:ctrl_keys|Ctrl-O]] without changing this setting permanently.
  * **''S'' Spinning Cursor** — Show a spinning cursor at pause prompts (or always, or never).
  * **''C'' Clear Screen Between Messages** — Clear the screen before displaying each new message when reading.
  * **''N'' Ask For New Message/File Scan** — At logon, ask whether to scan for new messages and files.
  * **''Y'' Ask For Your Un-read Msg Scan** — At logon, ask whether to scan for messages addressed to you.
  * **''F'' Automatic New File Scan** — Automatically run a new-file scan at logon.
  * **''R'' Remember Current Sub-board** — Resume each session at the sub-board you were on at last logoff.
  * **''B'' Batch Download File Flagging** — Flag files during browsing for later batch download (vs. download immediately).
  * **''M'' Forward Mail** — Forward your local BBS e-mail to your network e-mail address (the address shown in parentheses).
  * **''Z'' Default Download Protocol** — Download protocol used by default if you don't specify one.
  * **''W'' Change Personal Information** — Opens the Personal Information sub-menu (see [[#personal_information_w|below]]).

==== Personal Information sub-menu (W) ====

''W'' opens the **Personal Information** sub-menu. A live capture from [[bbs:vertrauen]]:

  Personal Information for Claudeai-Docs #1191:

  [A] Alias: Claudeai-Docs
  [R] Real Name: Claude Ai Documentation
  [H] Handle: Claudeai
  [E] NetMail Address: noreply@anthropic.com
  [L] Location: Internet
  [G] Gender: X
  [P] Password  (last changed: May07'26)
  [S] SSH Keys  (last changed: never)
  [M] Signature (last changed: never)

  Which or [Q] to Quit:

Type the bracketed letter to change that field; ''Q'' to return to the User Settings menu.

  * **''A'' Alias** — Your handle; what other users see. Must be unique on this system.
  * **''R'' Real Name** — Your full real name (visible to the sysop; may appear on some listings).
  * **''H'' Handle** — A short call-sign or alternate identifier.
  * **''E'' NetMail Address** — Your network e-mail address, used for mail forwarding and sysop contact.
  * **''L'' Location** — Your city/state or other location description.
  * **''G'' Gender** — Single letter: ''M'', ''F'', or ''X'' (other/unspecified).
  * **''P'' Password** — Change your login password. The date of last change is shown.
  * **''S'' SSH Keys** — Manage your SSH public keys (if the BBS supports SSH login). Date of last change shown.
  * **''M'' Signature** — Edit your message signature appended to posts. Date of last change shown.

Which fields appear depends on what the sysop has enabled. The NetMail Address and Signature are shown by default; all others are optional.

==== Settings stored elsewhere ====

  * **Avatar** — Use ''/A'' from the Main prompt (Classic) to change your avatar.
  * **New-message scan list** — Configured separately. In Classic, ''&'' from the Main prompt.

===== Other shells, other menus =====

The User Settings menu is independent of the shell, but the **key** that invokes it is shell-specific:

  * [[user:shell:classic|Synchronet Classic]] — ''D'' from the Main prompt
  * Other shells — see the relevant [[user:shell:|shell page]]

A sysop can replace the stock User Settings menu with a customized version, so the layout and options on your BBS may differ from what's shown here.

===== See Also =====

  * [[user:|User Documentation]]
  * [[access:user_editor|User Editor]] (sysop-side equivalent)
  * [[:module:|Loadable Modules]] (sysop reference)
  * [[config:system#loadable_modules|SCFG -> System -> Loadable Modules]] (sysop reference)

{{tag>user settings user_settings}}
