ShareWare OnLine 2/ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso/elecmail/nanmail0.zip/NANMAIL.HLP

Text File | 1993-05-30 | 8KB | 189 lines

Welcome to NANET List Mail.

The purpose of this program is to maintain a centralized NaNet Conference
listing based on updates received from Conference Moderators that access
the network from various BBSes across North America.

We could have one person receive text messages from various Moderators and
Sysops, and then recast/retype/reformat/rewrite those messages into a
standardized format in a single list.  Or (using this program), we can
capture these messages at the source and produce a standard,
computer-understandable format that can be automatically posted to the
central list.


Summary of steps:
    » Use this program to create/edit a NANET List Conference entry
        » Mark the portion to be included.
    » Press F9, fill in fields and save as QMAIL format file
    » Use your comm. program to upload file to the mail door on your BBS
      (if part of NANET - Moderators Conference) or to Job Search Board
      at 416 588-9690.
    » Requires PKZIP, and a modem and communications program.

                            ────────────────
                               ──────────
                                   ───


This program is one example of a DbMail application:  Distributed
Processing/Databases in a BBS environment.  The concept is to allow
computer programs running on separate computers to exchange data in a
program-to-program, automated way.  DbMail is still experimental, so while it
may seem overkill to write such a program to update a simple list, it is a
good proving ground for DbMail.

It also is something that, at least for now, is unique to NaNet.



Using this program, you can easily prepare NANET List Conference
listings, and then send or upload it to JOB SEARCH, where it will be
automatically inserted in the NANET Conference List.

Best of all, you can send it to us from your own BBS.  All we need is a
common conference.  For now I propose to use the Moderators Conference,
but in future I propose a dedicated DbMail conference (assuming we have
additional applications).

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│   Any message posted in the Moderators conference on any BBS that is     │
│   part of NANET and addressed to "JOB SEARCH" will find its way to the   │
│   JOB SEARCH BBS.  Provided the message is in the right format (as       │
│   generated by this program), it will then be automatically included     │
│   in our NANET database - all messages are screened for acceptable       │
│   content.                                                               │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘



Technically this is what happens:

     1. You use the text editor portion of this program to prepare the
        text for your NANET Conference listing, or load a previously prepared
    listing.  Listings prepared with WordPerfect or other word processor,
    must be saved in ASCII/Text format - see WordPerfect below.

    Use menu option Listing/Create or File/New to create a totally new
    listing and file.  Use File/Open to edit an existing text file.

    You must mark a portion of the text file included in the listing.
        Mark using the Shift and Arrow keys.

    There is a limit of 90 lines per message.  If you are listing
    multiple conferences , please mark each individually and generate a
    separate message for each (by pressing the F9 key).

     2. Using the Listing/Create QWK menu option (F9), you fill in how and
         where you want the listing sent.  You should specify your user id for
    the system to which you will be uploading the message.
    If you entered this information in the recommended format as part
    of the listing (see sample file LISTING1.NAN), the program will
    automatically pick up this information.

    Note that we pick up the Moderator name as your User ID.  If you are
    not the moderator, please enter your own ID.

     3. NANMAIL then prepares a file that is known as a mail packet.  Please
        note that a packet is generated for a specific system.  If you decide
    to upload the message to a different system, you will have to
        re-generate the message (F9 key).

    The file is created in the current directory.

     4. NANMAIL uses PKZIP to compress the mail packet (e.g. COFFEE.REP)

     5. Then you use your communications program to access the BBS that
        you want to upload this mail packet to.

     6. On the BBS you issue the command that accesses that board's Mail
    door  (Try QWK, QMAIL, ROSEMAIL or DOOR)

     7. Inside the Door, issue the Upload command.  (If this is the first
        time you use that BBS's mail door, you may have to go through a few
        setup steps first.)



WordPerfect etc.

If you want to use a conference listing that was previously prepared using a
word processing program such as WordPerfect or Word, you must first save it
in a format know variously as DOS Text, ASCII or Non-Document.

Word processors normally store formatting information as part of their
documents, but it is stored in a way only that program understands.

Under WP you could save it as a Dos Text File (Ctrl-F5/1/1).  Specify a
filename that is different from the one it is currently saved under, as you
do want to keep that copy and its formatting information for future use.

You can also use a WP option known as "print to disk".
Under print to disk, you use Shift-F7 to print, but select as printer your
DOS Text printer.  Use E to edit that printer's definition, then 2 to specify
the port.  For the "port" you specify "other" and the file to print to (e.g.
SPOOL.PRN).

Print to disk is a little more work, but it retains a more of your original
formatting.

We recommend that you limit your text to at most 70-80 characters per line.


Calling JOB SEARCH directly

If you prefer, you can call JOB SEARCH directly (416 588-9690) and upload
the message directly.  There is a registration procedure and you will be
asked for name, address and telephone number.

You will be able to access our QMAIL door to upload on the first call.

Ours is a standard PCBoard system, except that we use special front end
software to operate more than one Board with the same set of telephone lines.



Warnings and Restrictions
    1.  If you are presently using a mailreader program, AND using NANMail
    to prepare a packet for your own BBS, ensure that there is no
    current REP packet on your disk as this version of NANMail may
    not correctly update the old packet. (It appears to do so fine, we
    just want you to be cautious - this is new code.)

    2.  This is a Beta version of NANMail.  Therefor it is set to expire
    after a specific date.  The Help/About menu option will identify
    what that date is.  All functions in the program will remain
    operational.
    Our reason for doing this is that we expect in future to have to
    change the format of the messages that this program generates and
    our database accepts.  If we receive messages from an expired version
    of the program, we may not be able to process it.

    Just download and use a later version of this program.

    3.  We recommend that you select the option to make the generated
        message "Private".  That should help ensure that the conference does
        not get cluttered with these specially formatted messages.


Legalities
    This program and its related files are copyright 1993, Master
    Programmer Group.

    You are allowed to distribute it freely and to use it freely for its
    intended purpose, that is to prepare and upload Nanet Conference


Support.

    This a free program, so support is limited.

    If you have a question or suggestion or need a more current version,
    please call either our Software Support Board at 416 588-9690 or
    leave a message on the JOB SEARCH BOARD at 416 588-9690 or at 416
    588-3821.



NANMail  21 May 93