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1996-02-10
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INET VERSION 3.4 BBS TIPS
-------------------------
Tips and Suggestions for Using The Internet Connection
Version 3.4 with BBS Operation
By: James Goldbloom
Fidonet: 1:109/611
+QuickBBS Vers 2.80
Introduction:
-------------
This file is not *just* for QuickBBS. ALL sysops, please read this!
I am extremely proud to be a QuickBBS registered SysOp. This file was
written by me to all Internet Connection (Version 3.4) users to help
all of you make the most of the installment of this program into your
BBS. The tips here are merely suggestions, to make the transition
to 3.4 smooth, and also to avoid confusion and problems if at all
possible. These suggestions are not gauranteed to work, but are
in action and operational on my BBS. Results vary, so use this
file as general guidelines. QuickBBS allows customization, as does
the Internet Connection. Be creative, have fun, and be unique!
Although this file was written with QuickBBS in mind, surely some
of the ideas in this file will inspire YOU for YOUR proud BBS!
First, how about a working example of INET.CFG, for your perusement!
Here is a working final INET.CFG taken right from my system, with the
registration number being set to 0, for obvious reasons:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sysop James Goldbloom
SysopSecLvl 5
RegistrationKey <blotted for security reasons>
Origin 1:109/611
Gate 1:109/42
GateName UUCP
DomainName f611.n109.z1.fidonet.org
Outbound C:\NETMAIL
ToLineFormat To: $\r
ReplyLineFormat Reply-To: $\r\r
MsgAreaName AD's FREE Internet Gateway
Flags PRIVATE LOCAL KILL CRASH
AppendText c:\quickbbs\txtfiles\append.txt
AddressBook
MaxFileDays 90
MaxAddresses 100
PublicBookSecurity 0
Editor D:\GEDIT\GEDIT.EXE *P *B 60 300 -S32000 -N*N
MsgInfo MSG.INF
MsgInfoFormat From To Subj MsgArea PrivateFlag
MsgTemp MSGTMP
ExportInfo
LogFilePath c:\quickbbs
MessageCost 0
;AllowHandles
ReplyText
SemaPhore C:\FD3\FDRESCAN.NOW
MsgBasePath c:\quickbbs
MsgBaseType GOLDBASE
MsgBoard 190
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and comments about INET.CFG:
* The name of my BBS is "AD Message System" so be sure to use a creative
name other than the bland default one with the sample.cfg!
* SysOp security is NOT *your* security, but the minimum level which
permits ANY user to ADD/MODIFY/DELETE in the PUBLIC Address Book.
I use 10, the lowest level which is NOT a new user. I don't mind
allowing users to add stuff to the public book, so all users can see!
* Notice I don't have CRASH enabled as one of the flags. I prefer to
send my UUCP mail routed through my local hub, which is easier to
get into than the busy UUCP gateway. Crash will bypass this routing!
* Since 3.4 allows optional message base direct importing (which is
in addition to the direct write to your netmail directory), be sure
if you disable the KILL flag and re-import, you'll have a dupe if
you also have 3.4 import functions (lines 23-25) enabled in INET.CFG!
* AppendText can point to any file in your txtfiles directory! Hint hint!
I wrote a small file which looks like this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Source BBS: AD Message System (703) 998-2958 -- Online Since 1985.
Multi-Node Message Dedicated System - 300-28.8k Access
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Notice no high-ascii... Most gateways strip them anyway...)
Keep the file no more than 4 lines, maximum 68 characters across
because most gateways format and truncate, so keep it short and clean.
Remember at the bottom of each netmail message will be the tiny
EXPORT line showing the time and date of the message when exported,
and if registered or not. Keep APPEND.TXT short and simple.
* I use Gedit 2.10 as my editor, and the command line given is exactly
the one you want to use, NO exceptions or changes other than paths.
I put mine in a RAM disk, since I don't allow users to enter data into
the dictionary for Gedit. Speedy loads... important!
DO NOT FORGET: "SET GEDIT=BBS:QUICK" ENVIRONMENT VARIBALE MUST BE
SET FOR GEDIT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH QUICKBBS!
PUT IT EITHER IN AUTOEXEC.BAT OR NODE BATCH FILES!
HEY! Put your editor in a RAM DISK... it loads FAST! Hint hint...
If you can't get the editor to work, leave that command line data in
INET.CFG *out*, so only the word EDITOR appears, this way with 3.4
you can use the built in editor (any version PAST 1.6).
* If not sure, use MSG.INF and MSGTMP in the appropriate lines. No
matter how much you want to add paths, DO NOT ADD PATHS. MSG.INF
and MSGTMP should work on nearly all QuickBBS setups! NO PATHS!
* MsgInfoFormat is important... this sample is for Gedit, and works
perfectly. I suggest you do NOT change this type of setup! Use
the example supplied in my INET.CFG, for Gedit and most editors!
Here is a copy of my constantly changing BADADDR.CTL, used to
control what users can type in as internet addresses! If any
of these keywords are found (in part, or whole) in the outbound
address typed in by the user, in addition to a comparison with
their security level, the user will be told the address is invalid:
; This file is the Bad Address Control file. Here you will specify
; Internet addresses or portions of that you want to limit to a specific
; security level. For example, to limit access to addresses containing the
; word LISTSERV to security level 30, you would type in LISTSERV 30. The
; address, or word, must not contain any spaces. The space is used to
; seperate the address and the security level. Lines in this file which
; begin with a semi-colon are ignored.
LISTSERV 32000
MAILSERV 32000
LIST 32000
MAIL 32000
SERVE 32000
FTP 32000
HTTP 32000
FILE 32000
XFER 32000
FILE 32000
You can see that in MY case, I am the only one who is allowed to
include any of these keywords in outbound addresses to the gateway,
since I am access level 32000. You can easily change this, but
seeing an example above may give you ideas. The ability to
limit MAILING LISTS if your gateway does not allow it, is right here.
Ok, enough about configuration files. Now let's talk about stuff you
need to do in Qconfig (the configuration program for QUICKBBS):
* Make sure you have a netmail area configured set to NET and PRIVATE,
in the message area section. All netmail should go to this one
area, unless you can send FIDONET messages to another. If this is
true, where you mailer sends only UUCP messages to one area, and
Fidonet netmail to another, setup two areas. Its no big deal to
name the area something generic like "Network Private Mail" because
INET will use the areaname defined in INET.CFG when intercepting
Internet messages anyway! This area should hold 500 or so messages,
set with maybe 60 days for OLD, and 7 days for received if not less.
Only INCOMING netmail should be put in this area. INET 3.4 optionally
puts an outgoing message into the message base, and NON internet
messages will be PUBLIC if the area if public, and private if the
area is private. Basically use the MSGINFOFORMAT example I use
above for GEDIT and QBBS, and most popular editors and follow
instructions carefully in INET.DOC for lines 23 thru 25 of INET.CFG
regarding message base optional import (GOLDBASE or HUDSON).
* Knowing INET writes directly to the NETMAIL directory on your disk,
this presents a problem with QuickBBS because the MSGTMP file is
deleted by INET after the message is written to disk. To help users
from getting confused, go into ALL your language files, and do
the following:
+ Use Alt-F to find "SYSTEM ERROR: MISSING %1"
+ Change this line to read: "INET MESSAGE: Message Exported!"
+ Use Alt-F to find "MESSAGE NOT SAVED"
+ Change this line to read: "BBS RESPONSE: Task completed!"
Most BBS's have language files or customizable error messages,
prompts, etc. Make sure you change them to reflect how INET
saves replies, etc.
I think you get the idea here! INET has indeed saved and sent the
message, but since MSGTMP is not there, and due to the errorlevel
INET issues to avoid message dupe (by export again), these two
language lines avoid confusion. This is a nifty trick, and looks
clean to the user who sees NO error messages. Their message is
on your disk, in your netmail directory. No copy lives in your
message base. Later, you can IMPORT it using your mailer, but
this is not really necessary, as if the message does come back
as orphan, the original message is always included in the Daemon Mail.
* As for the EDITOR, go into Menu Edit and in your network menu which
loads INET as a door (for POST functions), use this command line
as a working example to get you started (optional data line in menu
line):
*C /C *M C:\INET\INET.EXE /POST /NODE*N
Your BBS may not be like QuickBBS, so check docs for swap metacharacters
and other parameters passed to doors! The above works for QBBS.
* As for REPLY, which is an awesome feature, load up QCONFIG, go into
the full screen editor, and issue this line for INET, as an example:
C:\INET\INET.EXE /REPLY /NODE1
(change the node number for each node in a multinode environment
by running qconfig in each node sub-directory. Do NOT use
metacharacters in qconfig full screen editor command line.)
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: ENABLE THE SWAP FUNCTION IN QCONFIG'S FULL SCREEN
EDITOR SCREEN. ALWAYS.
Caveats about the last 3 lines of INET.CFG, regarding MESSAGE BASE:
* Carefully read INET.DOC to determine what paths and BBS types to
pick for the last 3 lines if you enable import into your message base.
Remember the import is in ADDITION to the export direct to netmail
directory! Don't guess at this stuff.
* GOLDBASE users do NOT use HUDSON! It won't work! Use GOLDBASE only
if you run that format, of course.
Ok, that should get you started and on your way to fully and cleanly
integrating INET 3.4 into your QuickBBS system, or give ideas as
to changes you can make to YOUR BBS software! Think!
Thanks for your time, and please feel free to send NETMAIL to me with
comments, additions/deletions/modifications you think are necessary.
I will credit you fully with any suggestions. I would also like
uses to send me via netmail working command lines for full screen
editors other than GEDIT, to help others.
Finally, call my BBS if you wish at (703) 998-2958 anytime, or netmail
me via my Fidonet node number: 1:109/611. If you call my BBS and
want to bypass the new user application, logon using the name
"Inet Tester" and use the password "Inet". No quotes. Netmail is
faster, but if you want a demonstration, logon today! Also be
sure to request from your HUB the "OMEGA_SOFT" echo, on zone 1
backbone! This is the public echo for all Omega Soft products.
Remember to use INETUTIL to make all the changes to INET.CFG!
Take care, and thanks for taking the time to view this file!
;-)
-James
+QuickBBS (c)(tm) is a registered trademark of Pegasus, Inc., written by
Steve Gabrilowitz. For information about QBBS, mail Steve at 1:363/1701
and tell him I sent ya, please. Thanks, graciously.
{end of file}