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1992-07-01
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Qmail Door setup utilities for 1stReader
----------------------------------------
Welcome sysop to 1stReader. 1stReader is a new offline mail
reader from Sparkware that is designed "from the ground up"
for novice bulletin board users. "Power users" haven't been
forgotten either when we designed 1stReader too...they will
find alot to like in 1st.
When we started designing Qmail Door back in 1987 we've
always had a system like 1stReader on the drawing boards.
Today, using Qmail Door 4.00 (release date 06-01-92 or later)
and these utilities, you can setup your Qmail Door system so
the novice user can get the most out of using offline mail.
It's important to keep the novice users calling your system.
If you run your board on a subscription basis, you know what
we mean. A novice user might sign up for one year's
subscription and become frustrated trying to use your system.
When renewal time comes around, that user might not renew and
that is money out of your pocket. It is in YOUR best
interest to keep them using your system and finding useful
information.
1stReader is a QWK-format offline mail reader with internal
telecommuncations with the Zmodem file transfer protocol,
internal ZIP and UNZIP routines, internal editor, LIST, file
and program manager. It includes EVERYTHING you need to
handle offline mail.
1stReader is not a replacement for our Qmail DeLuxe² mail
reader. That product will continue to be developed as a
"power user's" product. Look for 1stReader to be released on
or after July 2nd, 1992.
Installing The Qmail Door utilities
-----------------------------------
Two archives have been provided to you for use with your
Qmail Door. These archives are:
ADD-INS.ZIP Contains 'add-in' utilities used
by Qmail Door to make configuration
easier for 1st-time callers. This
file also includes the latest TEXT
files needed to bring your Qmail
system up-to-date.
CONFIG.ZIP This is an updated version of the
CONFIG utility for Qmail Door. Our
new 1stReader can take advantage of
this utility so callers can modify
their Qmail Door setups offline.
Uncompress both of these utilities into seperate
subdirectories. Then, follow the instructions provided to
install them into your Qmail Door system.
1stReader Setup
---------------
1stReader is designed so the novice user can be productive
with The Qmail Door on their first call to the Qmail Door.
In order to do this, you will need to create a few files that
will be used by Qmail Door and 1stReader to provide this easy
interface.
Let's start at the very beginning. That's when a 1stReader
user decides they wish to call your system and they create a
new entry for your system in the dialing directory.
For a novice, here comes the first hurdle. They need to know
the telephone numbers to your bulletin board system, the baud
rates you support and the command required to open The Qmail
Door, just for starters. This is where you can help the
novice user out.
1stReader supports what we call .BBS ("dot BBS") files.
These files are archives created by ZIP and they contain a
file named 1ST.DIR. They can contain other files (discussed
later) but the file MUST contain 1ST.DIR. The name of the
.BBS file must match your Qmail Door "QWK-ID". For example,
a .BBS file for "Salt Air" would be named SALTAIR.BBS since
the Salt Air Qmail Door creates SALTAIR.QWK mail packets.
When the novice user enters the name of your QWK-ID into
1stReader the program looks for this .BBS file. If the file
is found its contents are unpacked and 1ST.DIR is located.
Then, 1stReader will load the entries in 1ST.DIR onto the
novice user's screen.
All they need to do is to enter the name they use to log into
your bulletin board system and their password. They *may*
need to change the telephone numbers you have provided if
they are local to you and you have provided telephone numbers
with area codes.
After the novice user saves the dialing entry to your
bulletin board system they are ready to call your BBS,
automatically login into The Qmail Door and download messages
on their first call.
That, in a nutshell, is the concept behind the .BBS file and
1ST.DIR. You can create a 1ST.DIR file for your own system
using the program 1ST-EDIT.EXE that we have provided in this
archive.
Other files you can include in a .BBS file
------------------------------------------
Besides 1ST.DIR, there are a number of other files you can
include in your .BBS file.
The second most import file is named "READ.ME". If 1stReader
finds this file inside the .BBS file then the contents of the
file are immediately displayed to the user. You can use this
file to describe your system, its features and rules to the
user. Feel free to include any information you see fit.
Another file type you can include in the .BBS file is the
$$CALL file. You can include $$CALL.ASC (for monochrome
users) and $$CALL.ANS (for color users) when they add your
system to the dialing directory, this file is displayed to
the user (which one depends on if they are configured for
color or not inside 1stReader). Think of this file as
providing you a graphic "introduction" to your system. The
$$CALL file is also displayed to the user every time they
call your system using 1stReader's internal telecom module.
Script files can be included in your .BBS file if the default
scripts provided with 1stReader just don't seem to work with
your system. Usually, this is due to you having changed the
default PCBoard prompts. However, we've tested the 1stReader
scripts for some time now and have yet to find a system that
will not work with them. Don't take this as a challenge, I'm
sure somehow you can probably change your PCBoard system so
they won't work, but for now, we haven't seen it.
There are three script files provided with 1stReader to call
your system. These files are:
$$CALL.SCR Calls your system and places the
user in a terminal mode that lets
them use your system interactively.
$$MAIL.SCR Calls your system, opens The Qmail
Door, uploads any waiting replies
and downloads any new messages.
$$REPLY.SCR Calls your system, opens The Qmail
Door and only uploads any waiting
replies.
If you wish, you can provide custom versions of these files
if you require them. The default versions of these can be
found inside the 1stReader system files.
If you keep in mind the concept we used to design 1stReader,
then creating the .BBS file is easy. We wanted to provide a
way for the novice user to get "on board" your system with
minimal fuss and also give 1stReader users a "flavor" of your
system.
The natural question to ask is "How does the novice user
receive a .BBS file?". The best answers are that they will
download them from your own system using a telecommunications
program like ProComm, Telix or other systems. 1stReader will
look for .BBS files in the main system subdirectory, the file
download subdirectory, or even inside a .QWK file that might
be on the user's own system.
If you decide to take advantage of our sysop dealer plan
(outlined later) we can copy your .BBS file onto the
distribution diskette shipped to the caller. 1stReader will
then automatically insert information about your system into
the dialing directory when the program is installed.
We have set aside conference #7 on our customer support
system as a "clearing house" for .BBS files and BBS ads. If
you like, please to upload your .BBS file to our conference
#7 so others can take advantage of them.
Configuring Qmail Door
----------------------
Now that you have created a .BBS file for your system you
need to make sure you have properly configured Qmail Door for
novice users.
Qmail Door lets you setup certain conferences as "default
conferences" for new users. This means that when a user
opens the Qmail Door for the first time these conferences are
automatically selected for them.
Obviously, your MAIN BOARD conference should be one of these
conferences. We also recommend that you create a "novice
users" conference and select it as a default conference.
We've found that novice users sometimes do not ask questions
in public for fear of showing their lack of knowledge. A
"novice users" conference tends to help counter this feeling.
To select these default conferences you need to execute the
program "QMSETUP.EXE". You will find this program located
inside your QM4 subdirectory on your system. When you are at
the QmSetup main menu select "G Conference Flags". You will
then see a prompt asking you to enter the node number you
wish to edit. Simply press ENTER without a node number now.
A list of conferences will next appear on your screen. Use
the arrow keys to select which conferences you wish to make
"default" conferences. Place an "X" in column #1 of each of
these conferences.
When you are finished press the [ESC] key to return back to
the menu and save your changes. That's it!
The 1ST subdirectory
--------------------
The Qmail Door lets you place files inside a subdirectory
named "QM4\1ST-TIME". When a caller downloads a mail packet
inside Qmail Door for the first time, these files are
automatically copied into the caller's .QWK packet.
1stReader also supports a file named 1ST-TIME.ZIP. If
1ST-TIME.ZIP is found inside a .QWK mail packet that has been
unpacked then the contents of the archive are unpacked into
the 1stReader 'BBS' subdirectory.
Unlike 'database' readers, 1stReader keeps any bulletins, new
file lists and other related information on file for the user
to access at any time. You can, if you wish, provide the
user with any special files in 1ST-TIME.ZIP. If 1ST-TIME.ZIP
is located in the QM4\1ST-TIME subdirectory then the file
will be sent to the caller on their first mail packet
download. The file will not be sent to the user again.
That's about it
---------------
You now have completed all of the steps needed to provide
your 1stReader users with a seamless and easy-to-use
interface for your bulletin board system. While these steps
might seem a bit difficult, they really help out 1stReader
and novice users. Of course, even "power users" who call
your system will benefit too.
We strongly recommend that if you are not using a copy of
QMAIL4.EXE that was released on (or after) 06-01-92 that you
call our customer support system at (615) 230-8822 and
download a copy of QM4.ZIP from conference #4. If the lines
are busy we also maintain a full set of Qmail Door files on
our sister system - Sound Advice at (816) 436-4516.
Thanks for your support!
------------------------
Since you own a copy of Qmail Door we have designed 1stReader
so your QMAIL4.KEY file will 'register' the reader to you.
All you need to do is copy your QMAIL4.KEY file into the
1stReader system subdirectory. Feel free to use 1stReader or
our Qmail DeLuxe² offline mail reader...whichever system you
prefer. HOWEVER, we do not allow you to keep one offline
mail system and give the other unused system to a friend.
BOTH copies are registered to you.
We also can provide you with copies of 1stReader that have
been initialized for your bulletin board system. You can
include them in your subscription kits for new users and they
can begin using your system immediately. Call our customer
support system at (615) 230-8822 for more details.
We hope you enjoy using Qmail Door and 1stReader!
--- Sparky
July 1st, 1992
Customer Support
----------------
Customer support for 1stReader is provided through our
PCBoard system. You can reach the system 24 hours a day by
calling (615) 230-8822. Join conference #1 for 1stReader
support (after July 2nd, 1992).
We also monitor the Qmail Support conferences on ILink,
Intelec, NorthAmeriNet and RIME (a bit more now that
1stReader is released!).
Finally, you can reach our offices at (615) 230-MAIL between
the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm (Central Time), weekdays.
If we are not available an answering machine will take your
message and we will call you back, collect.
Sparkware
Post Office Box 386
Hendersonville, Tennessee 37077-0386