When an FBB BBS is first run, a small file called STATIS.DAT is created. This file contains details of previously connected stations and is used to provide information when a user enters the "J" command. This file grows in size with time and it is not unusual to find that it has reached 1 Mb or even larger.
The solution was to delete STATIS.DAT when it became large and allow the BBS to create a new empty file. Obviously, connection data contained in the file was lost.
By using the STATIS program, the file may be reduced in size whilst retaining the most recent connection details. This is simply applied by running STATIS and specifying the number of days for which data will be retained. For example :-
STATIS 10
which would retain data for the last 10 days.
The program can be run manually, with the BBS offline, or at "housekeeping" time by placing the command in the APPEL.BAT file for execution at cleanup time.
V 1.01 of STATIS will cope with any size of STATIS.DAT, provided there is sufficient hard disk space available for processing.