OS/2 Shareware BBS: 2 BBS/02-BBS.zip/mag7demo.zip/HLP_DIR.ZIP/RJEHELP.BBS

File List | 1993-09-01 | 6KB | 107 lines

@A12 @c18
NOTE: This help file also serves as an example of a regular ASCII text
      file that you, as SYSOP of a Magnum BBS can create. Although a
      regular ASCII text file, created with any text editor, it can
      offer sophisticated menus, customization, and multitudes of other
      things limited only by your imagination.

@P0 @C8

                 @A14 Gilmore Systems RJE HELP @A13

        [A] - General Explanation of RJE (Remote Job Entry)
        [B] - Listing Available RJE tasks and Executing them
        [C] - Checking the Status of your RJE Job
        [D] - Obtaining the name of the Completed RJE file for you to download
        [E] - Cancelling an RJE task you've started
        [Q] - Quit Help

        Enter Choice (A,B,C,D,E,Q) => @Z0('ABCDEQ');
        @B1(z0="A"); @B2(z0="B"); @B3(z0="C"); @B4(z0="D"); @B5(z0="E"); @C16
@P1 @c18 @C8 @A14 Gilmore Systems General Explanation of RJE @A10

RJE stands for "Remote Job Entry", and is similar to the RJE concept used on
IBM's mainframe computers.

If you're unfamiliar with RJE, let's start with the concept of "Door" programs
available on many DOS-based BBS's. A "Door" program is a program, external to
the BBS and usually written by a 3rd-party. A "Door" program is a program
which is invoked by the BBS software to interact with the remote user. The BBS
software waits for the "Door" program to terminate before the BBS continues
from where it left off. If the connection between the remote user and
the BBS is broken, the "door" is terminated. Although Magnum BBS also has
Doors ("Child Processes" in OS/2), RJE goes many steps further!

The only similarity between a "door" program and an RJE program is that they
are both external programs which are started by the BBS software. An RJE
program, once started, runs in the background on the host machine. Magnum
BBS software does not wait for the RJE program to finish - it runs until it's
completed regardless of whether you're online or if you disconnect. Typical
RJE programs create an output file containing whatever it is that the RJE
program was intended to create. This resultant file is placed in the Files
database, password protected with the first 10 characters of your logon
password, and stamped with an expiration date (typically 2 days). If you do
not download the resultant file within 2 days, Magnum will delete it.

RJE programs do not interact with the remote user, thus requiring no user
input - all input required of the user is obtained prior to starting the RJE
program - the input is supplied to the RJE program at the time it's started.

Almost any program can be run as an RJE program, as long as it requires no
intervention from the user of the program other than command-line parameters.

Once you start an RJE program, even though it may typically run anywhere from
a few seconds to a few minutes (depending on what the program needs to do),
you are free to use the BBS for anything else - WHILE the RJE program is
running (ie: up/download files, read/enter messages, run doors, start another
RJE program, or even hang up)!

RJE programs typically run in OS/2's "Idle" time class, meaning they have a
lower priority than the rest of the programs on the system (such as the
program that's handling your online session)! This guarantees that RJE
programs don't "steal" valuable CPU cycles from more important programs,
however, the Sysop can configure the priority class and level of any RJE
program on an individual basis. The Sysop can also configure it such that
Magnum will notify you in the event the RJE job finishes prior to your
disconnecting from the session you started the RJE job in.

@C9 @B0(0=0);
@P2 @c18 @C8 @A14  LISTING AVAILABLE RJE PROGRAMS AND EXECUTING THEM @A10

When you choose the "[L]ist/Execute" option, a Sysop-created menu will appear
which lists the available RJE programs for you to execute. The Sysop-created
menu will interact with you to obtain your menu selections and/or any required
parameters, and will start the RJE program(s) of your choosing. Once you start
an RJE program, the system will assign a unique 10-character RJE JOBname for
you.

@c9 @B0(0=0);
@P3 @c18 @C8 @A14 CHECKING THE STATUS OF YOUR RJE JOB(s) @A10

Any RJE Programs you execute are assigned a unique 10-character RJE JOBname.
By choosing the "[S]tatus" command, Magnum will show you a list of RJE jobs
which you've submitted on the system, their JOBnames, and whether they're
finished or still running.

@c9 @B0(0=0);
@P4 @c18 @C8 OBTAINING THE NAME OF A COMPLETED RJE FILENAME FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD @A10

By choosing the "[C]ompleted Files" option, Magnum will list the filenames of
the RJE output which are available for you to download. All files are password
protected with YOUR LOGON password. If your logon password exceeds 10
characters, only supply the first 10 characters. The resultant file for
download will be available for you to download (Files Section) just as you
would any other file (except for the password). Once you successfully
download, the file is immediately deleted from the system.

@c9 @B0(0=0);
@P5 @c18
@a14 CANCELLING AN RJE TASK YOU'VE STARTED @a10

If you've already started an RJE task but wish to cancel it, you may do so by
choosing the "[K]ill an Active RJE Job". You will need the 10-character RJE
JOBname to cancel the Job. If the RJE Job is still running, it will be
terminated.

@c9 @B0(0=0);