------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A NEW USERS GUIDE TO THE INSTALLATION AND SET-UP OF "QWK" ECHO MAIL By: Alan Apollo - The Laser~Coast~Line - Santa Monica, CA (310) 394-1214 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 15th, 1992 ------------------- A year ago, I was asking myself all the same questions, you probably are, about getting started echoing NetMail! Now that I operate a HUB for several Networks and have had to help new nodes get set up to echo from me, I thought I would try to create this "HOW-TO" manual to help others get going. This document was created for WILDCAT! Users and TOMCAT!/TNET QWK Mail, it makes no attempt to explain the methods involved in setting up for other brands of BBS software or different mailers/tossers! WHAT DO I NEED TO ECHO MAIL --------------------------- I will omit the obvious, the hardware, software, to run the existing BBS, however, if you intend to HUB, allow others to pull mail from you. It should be noted that the minimum hardware would include 200megs HD storage, a 386 CPU at 33/40mhz and a high speed modem (14400baud). The following is a list of software that you will need to get started: ROBOCOMM - Automated terminal program for mail runs. * TOMCAT! - QWK user interface to WILDCAT! * TNET - QWK Import/Export interface. + TNET CFG FILE - TNET configuration file LZRCST.ZIP DUPMSG - Deletes unwanted duplicate, outdated, messages. CONFXREF - Detailed listing of conferences HUB/LOCAL numbers. TSTCFG - Test Configure, checks for "Crossed" conferences. TRACK - Helps ID the origin of "Crossed" messages. * - Included w/ WILDCAT! BBS Software. + - This filename depends on which BBS you call and is available from them specifically for that configuration of their BBS. For the most part it will be refered to as LZRCST.CFG here! Please check for the latest versions of the above programs. You will find all these programs on the MSI HQS BBS, Bakersfield, CA. and here at the Laser~Coast Line! WHAT DO I DO FIRST ------------------ Your first step should be to locate a BBS that is willing to allow you to call them and pull the conferences that you are interested in. Download their TNET configuration file, mine is LZRCST.ZIP and contains LZRCST.CFG as the actual file. This will list all of the conferences available and the number of the conference on their BBS. (More on the configuration file later.) You do not need to take all conferences, unless you decide and are accepted for HUB status. You may post a message to you users with a list of all available conferences and ask them to help you decide which conferences you will carry. Now you have the TNET configuration file and you have selected the conferences your BBS is going to carry! Next you need to decide what the conference number is going to be on your BBS. You may not want to use the same numbers as the Net conferences, as they may be in conflict with your own local conferences so you will need to select new numbers. Once you have figured out where you want to put the new conferences, using your favorite ASCII text editor load up the XXXXXX.CFG (LZRCST.CFG) and now you will start editing to show the correct numbers. TNET CONFIGUATION FILE (LAZRCST.CFG) ------------------------------------ This is a partial example of what you will find in this file and a guide to setting up the initial parameters. Note: The ";" as the first character indicates that the line is comments and can be used to turn on/off features, conferences as indicated below for TCAN and the second conference description. =========================================================================== SYSTEM = WILDCAT3 <-- Your Software Version WILDCAT2 or WILDCAT3 WORK = C:\WORK\ <-- TNETS Work Directory For Packing/Unpacking QWKDIR = C:\QWK\ <-- Directory To Store QWK Packets (Incoming) REPDIR = C:\REP\ <-- Directory To Store REP Packets (Outgoing) PACKER = PKZIP -es ! , PKUNZIP -o ! <-- Pack/Unpack Commands APPEND = N <-- Optional - Append Exported Replies To Existing REP File ATFILTER = Y <-- Stops "@" codes from being sent in messages PRIVNAME = ALAN APOLLO <-- YOUR SYSOP NAME VERBOSE = NO <-- Optional - NO (Short Form Logs) ATTLIMIT = 100000 <-- Maximum File Attachment Size 0 To Turn Off ;TCAN = MODEM MOUTH <-- Stops Messages From This User (Trash Can) IMPORTTAG = W ,WILDNET: Laser~Coast~Line - Santa Monica, CA (310) 394-1214 EXPORTTAG = W ,WILDNET: (Your BBS - Your State - Your Phone Number) LOGFILE = C:\LOGS\TNET.LOG <-- Directory To Store TNET Logs CONF = ? ; CATCALL <-- Your Conference Number And Name - CORRECT "?" HUBNUM = 2 ; CATCALL <-- Our Conference Number And Name - DO NOT CHANGE!! PRIVATE = Y <-- Allows Private Messages To Be Sent/Received. TAG = W <-- Import/Export Tag Lines To Use Above. NEXTMSG = 0 <-- MUST BE 0 - TNET Will Maintain Aferwards. ;CONF = ? ; DOORS <--| ; HUBNUM = 3 ; DOORS <--| ; PRIVATE = Y <--|---- This Conference Is Turned Off (;'s) ; TAG = W <--| ; NEXTMSG = 0 <--| =========================================================================== A brief re-cap of the above notations..... SYSTEM - Either "WILDCAT2" or "WILDCAT3" WORK - TNETS Working Directory For Temporary Use. QWKDIR - Where To Store Your QWK (LZRCST.QWK) Packets REPDIR - Where To Store Your REP (LZRCST.REP) Packets PACKER - Commands Used To Pack And Unpack APPEND - ATFILTER - Allows Or Dissallows the "@" Codes To Be Received PRIVNAME - Your Name As It Is In MAKEWILD (Your Login Name). VERBOSE - ATTLIMIT - Maximum Attached File Size - "0" To Turn Off. TCAN - User Names You DO NOT Want To Receive Mail From. IMPORTTAG - Tag Line Of Your HUB - DO NOT CHANGE EXPORTTAG - Your BBS Tag Line Should Include Name/State/Phone Number. LOGFILE - Where You Want The TNET Transaction Logs Saved To. CONF - Number Of This Conference On Your BBS - BE SURE THIS IS CORRECT! HUBNUM - Name/Number Of The Conference On The HUB - DO NOT CHANGE! PRIVATE - Allows Private Messages To Be Sent And Received By TNET. TAG - A Letter Referencing A TAG LINE Previously Described. NEXTMSG - High Message Counter Used By TNET - Be Sure "0" First Time. ; - The Use Of ";"s Cause The Line To Be Ignored By TNET! MAKEWILD/CONFERENCE DEFINITION ------------------------------ NOTE: References Are To Makwild 3.50x (06/21/92) And now comes the fun part, depending on how many conferences you have decided to carry on your BBS. Run MAKEWILD for the BBS and from the first menu, select GENERAL DEFINITION, if you do not have enough active conferences available for the new network conferences. Select [6] - Number Of Conferences, and set the correct number for your new configuration. [ESC] back to the menu, and select CONFERENCE DEFINITION. Using the TNET configuration file (LZRCST.CFG) you have just finished editing as a guide, you may now start typing in the new conference names. Using the [ARROW] keys select the appropriate conference number and hit [ENTER], type in the name only at this time. You may want to prefix these new conferences i.e WN- for WildNet or RN- for RaceNet, ect! When you have typed in the name press the [ESC] key and move to the next conference number. Repeat these steps until all conference names have been entered. Review your work being sure that you have entered the correct name at the correct number in the MAKEWILD definitions. Now using the Global Command [F4], you can set all the common parameters for the new conferences. First select the conferences to modify and toggle on all the new conferences you have previously typed in.... Set The Path Names To Use For These Confernces - May Be Different Than Your Normal Local Conferences If Desired. On My System I Keep The Various Networks And Local Conferences In Their Own Directories. In The Examples Below "NTWK" Could Be WNNT (WildNet), Up To You! BULLETINS - Path To Bulletins i.e..... C:\WC30\BULL\NTWK\ QUESTIONNAIRS - Path To Questionnairs i.e. C:\WC30\QUES\NTWK\ MENUS - Path To Menus i.e......... C:\WC30\MENU\NTWK\ HELP - Path TO Help Files i.e.... C:\WC30\HELP\NTWK\ DISPLAY FILES - Path To Display Files i.e. C:\WC30\DISP\NTWK\ MESSAGES - Path To Message Files i.e. C:\WC30\MSGS\NTWK\ CONFERENCE SYSOP - This Should Be Blank (No Comments On Net) MAIL TYPE - NORMAL Is The Correct Answer for QWK Mail MAX CONFERENCE MESSAGES - 100 - This Is Up To You And Your Sysetem! MAX LINES PER MESSAGE - 150 - Again, This Is Up To You! NUMB OF QUESTIONNAIRES - ??? - Number You Have Created For Use Here! NUMB OF BULLETINS - ??? - Again The Number You Have Created! CHECK VALID NAME - PROMPT Is The Correct Answer For Net Mail FILE AREA ACCESS - Areas You Want Accessed From Net Conferences PROMPT TO KILL MSGS - NO Is The Prefered Setting! ALLOW HIGH ASCII CHRS - NO At This Time - Change Seperate If Needed ALLOW MSG CARBON COPIES - Generally NO! ALLOW PRIVATE MESSAGES - Generally YES! FORCE ALL MSG PRIVATE - NO Is The Correct Answer For Net Mail! ALLOW RETURN RECEIPT - Generally NO! USE ALIAS NAMES - Answer NO For Global Changes! ALLOW MSG ATTACHMENTS - Your Decision/HUB Must Have On Also To Work! READ ONLY CONFERENCE - Prohibits Users From Entering Messages!! When you are satisfied with your entries hit [F10] and the change will be made! After this is run, use [ENTER] on one of your selected conferences to verify that the new parameters you have created with [F4] GLOBAL, have taken effect! If you have any special configuration needs, now is the time to select the conference number and edit it! i.e. 20-WN-BBS ADS Need to turn on High ASCII or 7-WN-For Sale Perhaps you want your users to only read but not enter messages on this conference, or 18-WN-Admin You want to turn on message Attachments! BTW: Message Attachment means that a file may be attached and sent along with the text message. The user will be prompted to download this file, when the message is read. Both the SENDING and RECEIVING BBS's must have this function activated in the TNET configuration, and the value declared there must be the same or greater than the size of the file being attached! Now it's time to set you access levels to each conference using the [F2] command EDIT ACCESS. I would strongly suggest you use CONFSEC to do this instead, especially if you have a large number of conferences, the [F3] COPY command will not copy ACCESS LEVELS, in case you were wondering! Skip this section if you are going to use CONFSEC, refer to it's DOCs for an explanation of use! For the rest of you who have the time and patience to do this using [F2], here we go! You must select each conference number, as you did above when entering the conference names, only instead of pressing [ENTER] you will press [F2] and toggle on the ACCESS LEVELS that you wish to be able to enter this conference. Repeat for all remaining conferences, then go back and 'spot-check' your work! i.e. that a new user cannot access say the SYSOP CHAT conference or an ADULT conference, check the important ones! WILDCAT! IS READY ----------------- At this time WILDCAT! has been fully configured to accept all the new Network conferences you have added! If you use SORTCONF to create your listing seen when the [L] command is used at the [J] prompt, you will need to change your configuration file and run SORTCONF to update the list! Be sure that the TNET configuration file (LZRCST.CFG) is in your WC directory with TNET and TOMCAT! i.e. C:\WC30\ or your home node directory! MAKING YOUR FIRST MAIL RUN -------------------------- (Set Your COMM Program Download Path To The Path Specified In LZRCST.CFG) Now it is time to get your first QWK mail packet! Automatic Mail Runs come at a later time! First we need to configure TOMCAT! on our HUB BBS. Using your standard communications program, i.e. QMODEM, PROCOM, ect. login using NETSYSOP access granted by your HUB. TURN-ON your capture buffer and record the entire session. From the main menu select [M]essage Menu, (Session Assumes WC3.55) and select the command to [U]pdate Conferences. You will be given a list of conferences that you have access to, a page at a time! You may enter a range of conerences to select or one at a time or certain ones i.e. 1,5,7.8-10 are all acceptable. When selecting you will notice a "*" by the number indicating that it has been selected. To go to the next page type [+], continue these steps until you have selected all of you conferences. Return to the [M]essage menu and select [T]OMCAT! When the program loads, select [C]onfigure, and set all or check all of the available options! Some may be pre-set by the Sysop. [C]onfigure Conferences - Already Done! * [R]eset High Message Pointers - Select 10% [U]pload LZRCST.PTR File - (NO CHANGES!) [S]end Your Own Messages - NO [N]ew File Scan - YES (Optional) [D]ate For New Files - XX/XX/XX (NO CHANGES!) [I]nclude New Bulletins - YES (Optional) [M]aximum Packet Sizes - 1000/200 # [A]ttachment Size Limit - 20K / All Attachments (Optional) [T]ransfer Protocol - Zmodem (Optional) [P]acker (Archive) - PKZIP (Optional) [F]ormat For Packets - QWK (NO CHANGES!) + [G]oodbye After Uploads - YES (NO CHANGES!) * - This is an important step as there may be 1000's of messages on the first call! Things will be normal on your next call. You will not use this option again. # - Set to "0" to turn this option off!! + - This should be set to log you off! You should first Download your QWK packet, then upload your REP last if you have one. With this to YES, the REP file will be processed after you logoff! Using [Q] to return to the TOMCAT! main menu select [D]ownload QWK Packet and the system will scan and prepare your packet! As soon as it is ready, download and then log off, you can select [G]oodbye, when prompted to download the QWK packet! If all went well you will find the LZRCST.QWK file in the directory you specified in the TNET.CFG (LZRCST.CFG). TEST CONFIGURE -------------- You may now run TESTCFG.EXE to verify that you do not have mistakes in either TNET or WILDCAT! This is very important, "CROSSED" conferences are major problems for you and everyone else, and not a really good way to start out in EchoMail! Please read the documentation included with TSTCFG.ZIP for a better understanding of the use of this program. Simply you will execute the program TESTCFG.EXE from your home node i.e. C:\WC30 with the configuration file name at the DOS prompt...... C:>TESTCFG LZRCST /LZRCST.RPT This will send the report to the file LZRCST.RPT for you to view or print out! Using the report, double check your configuration files for errors!! When you are completely satisfied that everything is correct! To cover yourself you should now ZIP (ARJ) up the TNET configuration file (LZRCST.CFG) and the report from TESTCFG (LZRCST.RPT) and upload them to the Sysop at you HUB for his approval, and to verify that you will have no problems!! The next step is to manually import the QWK packet you received into you BBS conferences. Change to your home node directory i.e. C:\WC30 and from the DOS prompt enter TNET IMPORT LZRCST, watch the screen, TNET will tell you if there are any problems. Depending on the speed of your CPU and the size of the QWK packet, this "TOSSING" may take a few moments, this is normal. As the messages are 'imported' into your conferences you will see the conference number and the number of bulletins accepted. When control is returned at the DOS prompt the next thing you should do is type TNET HIGH LZRCST, this will insure that your initial pointers are set correctly. RENUMBERING YOUR CONFERENCES ---------------------------- Should the occasion arise for you to re-number the messages on your BBS, using WCRENUMB for example. Certain steps must be taken to prevent the uploading of massive numbers of duplicate messages to your HUB/HOST BBS! You must run the TNET HIGH LZRCST command to re-set your message pointers. If you use an EVENT to renumber, add the line below to you batch file, here is an example: @echo off cls tnet export northga wcrenum /A if errorlevel 1 goto :high <------ Use These Lines :high <-----| tnet high northga <-----| This will prevent the Batch file from aborting should an error occur during the renumber process. Just remember, if you re-number, you must set the message pointers using TNET HIGH!! ECHO MAIL ONLINE! ----------------- Congratulations....at this point you may want to fire up the BBS and login to take a peek at the messages in your new Net Mail conferences. At this point you must decide the method of making your mail runs. Some options are terminal script programs like TELIX, QMODEM, ect. there are many packages of scripts for automated mail runs or you may choose to make the calls yourself. The following section will cover another method... ROBOCOMM! ROBOCOMM AUTOMATED MAIL RUNS ---------------------------- (Assumes Installation Of ROBOCOMM Is Completed And Default Parameters Are Set) I have included in this overall info package sample BATch files for using ROBO as an event while you sleep. They have been very effective, and have a 99% success rate for obtaining the mail every day!! Let's get started, start up the ROBOCOMM program and from the opening menu select [D]irectory, from the pull down menu select [B]BS Systems and finaly select [A]dd, enter the following: _____________________________________________________________________________ Edit Add Delete Rename Statistics Note Prompts Commands Exit BBS ID LZRCST System Name: The Laser~Coast~Line System Type: Wildcat! 3.5 Phone Number 1: 1-310-394-1214 Phone Number 2: Phone Number 3: Login ID Name: your bbs Password: ******** Baud Rate: 19200 Mail Door Menu: Msgs Conference: Mail Door Command: T File Conference: 0 File U/L Area: 0 PC Pursuit City: DL Mail Protocol: ZMODEM UL Mail Protocol: ZMODEM DL File Protocol: ZMODEM UL File Protocol: ZMODEM Language To Use: 0 Date Format: MM/DD/YY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press the [ESC] key to save this entry and return to the main menu. Now you will select [A]genda and from the pull down menu select [C]reate and enter the following: DO NOT ENTER "[" or "]" INDICATES KEY TO PRESS FOLLWED BY [ENTER] Name For Agenda: LZRCST Enter [N] [S] [A] [0] [P] [G] LZRCST [S] LZRCST [ESC] The screen should show the following information: _____________________________________________________________________________ Agenda LZRCST Call The~Laser~Coast~Line J;0->Scan new files since last login: A (SMTWTFS) Get QWK mail packet (SMTWTFS) Send REP reply packet (SMTWTFS) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- G = Get QWK Packet D = Download Files E = Extract Script File S = Send REP Packet U = Upload Files Alt-P = Edit Parameters M = MegaMail/PC Relay N = Scan New Files Alt-D = Select Days P = PCBoard Mail J = Jump To Terminal + = Completion Status R = Run Program (DOS) C = Issue Command - = Temporary/Permenent F1=Help Tab/Sh-Tab=Move Del=Delete Alt-R=Reset Agenda Esc=Save&Exit Robocomm 4.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This completes the configuration of the ROBOCOMM terminal! EVENT BATCH FILES ----------------- WILDCAT! has the ability to run EVENTS and call BATCH FILES that can be used to create automated mail runs. Included in this archive is another ZIPPED file containing BATCH files for ROBOCOMM to make automated runs. This file is named LCBATCH1.ZIP. For more information on setting up EVENTS see your WC Manual pages 207-209. However, the process is pretty self-explanatory! WHAT NOW?? ---------- I hope I haven't left anything important out, please excuse any typos! I have been working on this file for a few days and starting to see cross eyed. Feel free to contact me, ALAN APOLLO, at the Laser~Coast~Line BBS (310) 394-1214, if you have any questions about any other this! I will be revising and upgrading this document in the near future, so I would be glad to hear your feedback! Thanks.....Alan Apollo