Usenet 1993 July

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Usenet 1993 July / InfoMagic USENET CD-ROM July 1993.ISO / answers / amiga / point-manager-faq < prev next >

Wrap

Internet Message Format | 1993-06-29 | 28.0 KB

Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!uunet!mcsun!sun4nl!hacktic!utopia.hacktic.nl!quasar.hacktic.nl!pm_faq From: pm_faq@quasar.hacktic.nl (Eric Krieger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm,comp.answers,news.answers Subject: Amiga Point Manager Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions Message-ID: <pm_faq.08ih@quasar.hacktic.nl> Date: 30 Jun 93 00:09:15 GMT Followup-To: poster Organization: Private, Delft [NL] Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Lines: 691 Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.sys.amiga.datacomm:14677 comp.answers:1150 news.answers:9818 Archive-name: amiga/point-manager-faq Last-modified: 1993/06/28 Version: 1.2 Frequently Asked Questions about Point Manager V3.10/V3.20 ********************************************************** This document discusses some questions and topics that occur (repeatedly) on various Echo-Areas or by Netmail to the Author of Point Manager (PM for short) or its Testers. They frequently are submitted by new users, and result in many followups/replies, sometimes swamping Areas for weeks. The purpose of this note is to head off these events by answering some questions and warning about the inevitable consequence of asking others. Note: When you are new to the Point and FidoNet concept, please try to get a hold of the FidoNet.Man, written by the Authors of TrapDoor, TrapList, etc. This will tell you what FidoNet is and also most of the terms, used in the PM-Documentation. Maybe you can find your answer to your question(s) there. This list is often referred to as FAQ -- the Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find an answer to your questions here, you can try asking in the Support Echo Area PM (on Fido-Net), or AMY_POINT (also on Fido-Net). The Author and most testers are reading those Areas, so help is (hopefully :) found easy. This FAQ-list is put together by Stu Churchill and Eric Krieger, and is the result of questions/suggestions from PM users (and testers? :). Table of Contents ================= 1. Why doesn't PM V3.20 work? 2. Are there other Registration sites, besides Pino himself (Italy), Siggi Weisner (Germany) and Stu Churchill (UK)? 3. How to Setup PM for 2 or more Networks and/or Addresses? How to Setup 2 or more NetMail Areas with 1 Configuration file? 4. How to get rid of "Incorrect #ADDRESS parameters" Error(s)? 5. Is it possible to Setup different (default) Origins for each Node? 6. How do I remove the "@fidonet.org" (Domain) from my Origin line? 7. How to solve PATH and SEEN-BY line problems? 8. Why are messages imported into the 'wrong' area? 9. Have you heard of any problems with PM crashing on A2000's? 10. Why do i get ridiculous high Message-numbers and how can i solve this? 11. How do i use the Userlist from PM? 12. How can i solve problems with the Areafix from the UserList? 13. What is the 'Archive' function for in the message window? 14. How to solve a "Fatal Error: Unable to allocated xx bytes" when using PM with LhA? 15. How to use PM together with TrapDoor to transfer the Mail? 16. How does PM tell TrapDoor which files to send to which node? 17. When joining another network, can/must i use 2 seperate Config files? 18. How to Setup PM with TrapDoor for polling different nodes? 19. What can i do with the 15 CUSTOMBROWSE commands, in the Message Browse Window? 20. What can i put in the CUSTOM gadgets? 21. How do i setup a Gadget which give me a requester asking which node should be called? 22. How can i use Cron to export messages before polling my Boss? 23. How to solve messy Origins (filled with garbage)? 24. What should i do, when i find any bugs? 25. When i want to sent a File-attach, why doesn't TrapDoor sent do it (except the message)? 26. When deleting a great number of messages, PM will sometimes crash. 27. Is it possible to send money for registration of multiple users with 1 EuroCheque? 28. When i have configured a CustomScreen, i'll only get a grey, empty and nameless screen. What is wrong? 29. If i have some ideas, suggestions or remarks related to PM, what should i do? 30. When i still have some questions or problems, what can i do? Questions and Answers ===================== =>> 1. <<= Q. I have upgraded PM from V3.10 to V3.20, but this last version doesn't work (after running, PM prints a header, opens the statistics files, and stops/quits again). Why is this? A. PM V3.20 is only released for the people who have registered this program. This mean that they have a keyfile and a serial-number, which is needed to use this version. There are several ways you can do (or not) at this point. For instance use PM V3.10 for now and wait for a next evaluation version, or even better register PM (remember PM is Shareware :). =>> 2. <<= Q. Are there other Registration Sites, besides Italy (Pino Aliberti), Germany (Siggi Weisner) and UK (Stu Churchill)? I'm living (for example) in Australie and would like to register. A. Yes, there's is one added to the Registration Sites recently for New Zealand and Australie, namely Tim Nugent (3:771/400.69 on FidoNet). Thank you Tim! Tim Nugent (3:771/400.69@fidonet) 33c Findlay Street New Plymouth NEW ZEALAND =>> 3. <<= Q. I want to setup and use PM for 2 or more Networks and/or Addresses. Can i do that, and if so, how should i configure PM? Q. How can i setup 2 or more NetMail Areas with 1 Configuration file? A. First you should add the needed #ADDRESS lines/parameters for each Network and/or Address, for example: #ADDRESS 2:335/602.2@fidonet (BUNDLE4D,PACK4D,FLO4D,DOMAIN,SEEN2D,PATH2D) 2:335/602.0@fidonet 0 "LhA a" #ADDRESS 39:102/1.2@amiganet (BUNDLE4D,PACK4D,FLO4D,DOMAIN,SEEN4D,PATH4D) 39:102/1.0@amiganet 0 "LhA a" For each Address, you should define a NetMail (Matrix) Area with different Area names (Tag-Names), like: #AREA Fido_Matrix MAIL:F_Mat/ 2:335/602.2@fidonet MATRIX WRITE D 10 INT 500 #AREA Amy_Matrix MAIL:A_Mat/ 39:102/1.2@amiganet MATRIX WRITE D 10 INT 500 For Echo-Mail Areas, the chance that you will have the same Tag-Names for different Networks, is very small. =>> 4. <<= Q. When starting PM, i get "Incorrect #ADDRESS parameters" Error(s). How do i get rid of it (them)? A. You have probably forgot to use a DOMAIN in the #ADDRESS line. #ADDRESS 39:102/1.21 (..) 39:102/1.0 0 "LhA a" ^ ^ This should something like 39:102/1.21@amiganet (note the @amiganet), like: #ADDRESS 39:102/1.21@amiganet (..) 39:102/1.0@amiganet 0 "LhA a" When you don't want to use the DOMAIN in your message, just use switch NODOMAIN in the #ADDRESS parameters. =>> 5. <<= Q. I've two different boss nodes. How do I set-up two different default origin lines, one for each node, or is this not possible? A. It's not possible to define a default origin per Boss, so it'll have to be done with #AREAORIGIN's. The easiest way to do it is set up your origins for the areas from your second Boss in CPM as something short like BOB. Then, save your config file. Next, put PManager.CFG into your text editor, do a 'Search & Replace' on "BOB", and substitute your desired Origin line. =>> 6. <<= Q. How do I remove the "@fidonet.org" from my Origin line ? A. Go into CPM and select the 'Area' screen. Click on 'Edit', then click on the address you wish to amend. On the right of this screen, you will see a bank of Yes/No switches. Set the topmost one (Domain) to No (or put NODOMAIN in the #ADDRESS line). =>> 7. <<= Q. My BOSS (or someone else) is complaining about the wrong SEEN-BY and PATH lines. I'll get something like PATH: 0/602, instead of PATH: 335/602. A. Ask your BOSS what he expects for the SEEN-BY: and PATH lines, for each Address. In this case you have most likely PATH4D and SEEN4D in your #ADDRESS line(s). For FIDO-Net, you must use most likely SEEN2D and PATH2D in the #ADDRESS line. For AmigaNet (or other networks) you could use PATH4D and SEEN4D though, but your BOSS must support this (you should ask him!). =>> 8. <<= Q. When I import my mail, messages received for one area are sometimes placed in another area. What's happening ? A. This most often occurs when you have more than one address, and you call your Netmail areas by the same name for both addresses. All Areas MUST have different names. From 3.20 onwards, all of the Stats are stored in the same file, so no two areas may have the same name. Solution - Give your Netmail areas meaningful names like "FIDO-NETMAIL" & "AMIGANET-NETMAIL". =>> 9. <<= Q. Have you heard of any problems with PM crashing on A2000's? A. Nope. Please send full details to your nearest support site (OS versions, memory, processes/tasks on the background, etc, and what actions are required to bring about the crash, and anything else that may be relevant) and we'll see if we can help. =>> 10. <<= Q. I've 1 or more Areas with ridiculous high message-numbers, i can't get rid off. I've tried DEEPSCAN and RENUMBER but this won't help. What to do now? A. Probably you have #INDEX *and* #TURBOSCAN in your PManager.CFG, which can result in this kind of problems. Be sure to switch off one (or both) of them. #INDEX and #NOTURBOSCAN is the best setting. Perfom a DEEPSCAN again, and QUIT PM. Next time you start PM, it should be solved. =>> 11. <<= Q. How do i use the Userlist of PM? A. The format of the Userlist looks like: Surname, Name Address Nickname e.g.: , AreaFix 2:335/602.0 af Aliberti, Pino 2:335/602.2 PinoA Halsema, Edwin 2:285/1.16 edfido Halsema, Edwin 2:335/602.20 edmaui Halsema, Edwin 14:104/1.16 ednla Krieger, Eric 2:285/1.10 erkr Pacchiarotti, Mario 2:335/320.0 mariop Smink, Peter 2:285/1.0 ps van.der.Heu, Paul 2:280/207.0 paulh Note: AreaFix is one name. Use it with the ", ". This is also true for other 'persons' with one name!! The address MUST be a 4D address (Fx: 2:335/602.0) When writing a message to one of the Users listed in the UserList, put the Nickname (or complete name) in the To: field of the Editor Parameters Window, hit Enter and PM will search the appropriate address (if available). =>> 12. <<= Q. I have Areafix set up in my Userlist as: , Areafix 2:335/602.0 af Whenever I send a message to Areafix, nothing happens. Why? A. It could be a number of reasons. Some Areafixes are set up strangely, and can't cope with the "Areafix " that it generates (i.e. the SPACE after the name). Ask your Sysop if he can configure his AreaFix to allow for this. =>> 13. <<= Q. What is the 'Archive' function for in the message window? A. It's for creating a large text file of messages you might want to keep for reference, but don't want cluttering up your message base. The AREXX echo is a good example of where this could be used, as there's just so much useful information in there. There is also a utility, called PMRestore, which can be used to restore messages from just such an archive. =>> 14. <<= Q. I am using Point manager with LhA on a A500 with 1meg - and very often I will get a `Fatal error: Unable to allocate 36 whatever bytes of memory` - and PM will give up on it, although I only get this problem if I am exporting messsages. What can I do ? A. At a guess, you have 'Holdmem' set in your config (on the 'Misc' screen in CPM). This allocates memory to an area when you open it and uses it for indexing the messages contained therein. When you leave the area, the information remains, so the memory is not freed (until PM closes and the new index files are written to disk). You might like to try running without Holdmem for a couple of days, and see how things go. You'll probably notice a slight slowdown, as the index file is written to disk when you leave each area, but it'll give you more available memory at the end of your session when you want to export all the messages you've just written. =>> 15. <<= Q. I want to use PM together with TrapDoor (V1.80+) as a Mailer. How should i configure PM to do this? A. Best way is that PM creates 4 Dimensional files in the Outbound directory. To do this, use BUNDLE4D, PACK4D and FLO4D in the #ADDRESS line. This will create files like: Directory "MAIL:Outbound" on Sunday 21-Mar-93 1.231.590.0.REQ 17 ----rwed 11-Mar-93 21:30:00 2.335.602.0.FLO 39 ----rwed Today 21:00:12 2.335.602.0.SU0 26792 ----rwed Today 21:00:12 21154500.PKT 4926 ----rwed Today 21:00:12 39.102.1.0.FLO 31 ----rwed Today 19:55:24 39.102.1.0.SU0 2566 ----rwed Today 19:55:24 TrapDoor has no problems whatsoever to process those files. To start TrapDoor from the Main Window in PM, click on the Poll Gadget. This will execute the command, as stated in the #POLL argument. Could be: #POLL "MAIL:Bin/TrapDoor Call Boss" When you've more then one Boss to Call, configure a #CUSTOM gadget to do this. For example: #CUSTOM 6 DOS "Poll 2nd" "MAIL:Bin/TrapDoor Call 2:285/1 Boss 2:285/1 =>> 16. <<= Q. How does PointManager tell TrapDoor which node to send which packet to? A. The .FLO file in your Outbound dir contains a list of all the packets to be sent. TrapDoor reads the name of this file, which gives it the node number the file is destined for. If you set the switches in the 'Address' config to their 2D positions, you will get a file called, for example, 00fa000a.mo1. Changing the switches to their 4D positions means you will get files in the format... 2.250.107.0.FLO It is then very easy to have a look in the dir to see where you haven't polled yet. =>> 17. <<= Q. I'm wanting to join another network. I'd like to know if it's alright to have two seperate PManager.CFG (PManager.CFG & PManager2.CFG) in the MAIL: directory? Each .CFG file would share the `Inbound' and `Outbound' sub-directories. A. There's an easier way. Fire up CPM, and enter the 'System' screen. On the left is a window, containing your present Boss' address, and underneath is an 'Add' button. Click on this, and put in your new Boss' details. Go back out to the main menu, enter the 'Areas' screen and define all the new areas you'll be picking up from your new Boss, making sure that you click on HIS address in the window on the right hand side. So it is possible to use just one Configuration file, for one or more networks. =>> 18. <<= Q. How do I set things up to be able to point off of two different nodes? Should I just set up a button to run TrapDoor and have it call the other node instead of just giving it the "Call Boss" command? Will TrapDoor then just put the packets from that node into my Inbound directory? What about when I send messages to areas on the other node? A. If you are a point in two networks, and your Boss is the same for both of them, he will have the second network address set up as an AKA on his system (this is also true for your side), so mail for both networks will be sent automatically, both ways. If you are pointing from two different Bosses, then you need to set up a Custom gadget to poll your second Boss (i.e. the one that TrapDoor DOESN'T call when you tell it to 'Call Boss'). If you are using a Nodelist, then merely enter something similar to this in the 'Custom' screen in CPM... COMMAND NAME "Poll RR" COMMAND "TrapDoor Call 2:252/309" If you don't have the space for a Nodelist, try... COMMAND NAME "Poll ABC" COMMAND "Execute S:PollABC" Then put a one line script in S: called PollABC, along the lines of: TrapDoor Call 0039862311039 Node 2:335/602.2 Boss 2:335/602.0 Password "secret" Next time you hit that button, PM will poll your other boss for you. TrapDoor will put incoming mail packets into wherever you specified as your Inbound dir, so no worries there. =>> 19. <<= Q. The space for 15 commands in the CUSTOMBROWSE menu is very impressive, but what can I use them for ? A. Anything you want really. Here's a few examples... "C:Ed %p%n.msg" Will pass the current message to your editor. "TrapDoor Call %k" Will have TrapDoor call the Node specified in the FROM address of the current message. This is very handy for sending CRASH mail, but only if you use a Nodelist. "AddUserList MAIL:User.lst %p%n.msg 2" Uses a program written by Johan Billing to add the person in the FROM field of the current message to your Userlist. If a nickname is required, you will have to manually enter this with your text editor. "Copy %p%n.msg RAM:Bob\nCD RAM:\nUUDecode RAM:Bob\nDelete RAM:Bob" This will decode a UUencoded file embedded within the current message to RAM: "GetNode %k >T:NT\nNewShell \qCON:50/50/500/100/GetNode V1.0/SCREEN PMScreen\q S:ShowNode.pm" This command will pop up a window on PM's public screen giving details of the FROM address in the current message. It calls a scriptfile in S: called ShowNode.pm which reads... Type T:NT Delete >NIL: T:NT Ask "Press RETURN..." EndCLI Once you have read the information, simply press return to close the window. =>> 20. <<= Q. What can I put in the CUSTOM gadgets ? A. Again, you can use any command you like, together with the control characters detailed in the manual. Remember however that codes referring to specific messages will NOT work from the Areas screen. Here's a few examples... "PPMore MAIL:Logs/TrapDoor.Log PS=PMScreen" Will open TrapDoor's logfile on PM's public screen using Nico Francois' PPMore utility. "SkyTick HATCH" Opens Luca Spada's Tick program, for hatching files into a file echo. =>> 21. <<= Q. I'd like to set up a gadget to give me a requester asking which node I want TrapDoor to call so I can F'req files easier. A. There are two ways of doing this. The first is using the new %? control character, like this: COMMAND NAME "Poll Who?" COMMAND "TrapDoor Call %?" If you have access to Rafael D'Halleweyn's rexxreqtools.library, supplied with Nico Francois's reqtools.library 2.1d release, you could use the following: COMMAND NAME "Poll Who?" COMMAND "rx Rexx:PollWho.pm" This would call the following ARexx script: /* PollWho.rexx v1.12 */ options results if ~show(l, "rexxreqtools.library") then if ~addlib("rexxreqtools.library", 0, -30) then say "Please install the rexxreqtools.library in your libs: directory" pragma('P',2) lastnode = getclip('histnode') node = rtgetstring(lastnode,,"Enter a node to dial",,"rt_pubscrname='PMScreen' rt_reqpos=reqpos_centerscr",) if node == "" then exit call setclip('histnode',node) address command 'copy MAIL:Outbound/ Work:Files/Outbound/ ALL QUIET' address command 'run C:TrapDoor Call' node 'PubScreenName PMScreen Password ""' /* End of script */ This opens a requester on PM's public screen (if available) into which the Node number may be inserted. If 'Cancel' is pressed, or no number is given, the script terminates without calling TrapDoor. =>> 22. <<= Q. I'd like to have my Cron export messages just before it polls my Boss. How do I do this ? A. The following ARexx script finds out if PM is running, then acts accordingly: /* PM_Export.rexx */ Pragma('Stack',12000) If ~show("Ports","PointManager") then Address command 'Run PM -E' Else Address 'PointManager' Export /* End of script */ =>> 23. <<= Q. Sometimes i'll get some garbage in the Origin lines when writing messages. How to clean this mess up? A. It could be a known bug of V3.10(unreg). Try to use the #AREAORIGIN for those areas with problems. =>> 24. <<= Q. I think i have found a bug in PM, what should i do? A. Don't sit back, and wait for a next version (in the hope that someone else has reported this problem already) but please report this immediatly to the Author (or if you can't reach him, to one of the Testers) by NetMail, as completly as possible. Please give enough information to reproduce the problem, and also report your system-configuration (Computer, Memory, Processor, KickStart, WorkBench, etc, and also all tasks and processes (like commodities) running on the Background). A program, called ShowConfig (present in the Tools directory of WB2.x machines), can give you a big part of the needed information. =>> 25. <<= Q. I've been having problems with File Attach. When I do a file attach, it comes up with the file requester. I then choose the file I want to send via this requester, but when I poll with Trapdoor, the file doesn't get sent, only the message. A. Hmm, this is a not uncommon problem, with a few possible causes; a) The path to the file to be 'attached' contained a space. TrapDoor does not like spaces, so the file will not be sent. Solution: Use a path that does not contain spaces :) b) Some file requesters won't auto-expand paths from the current directory. For example, if you were currently in Work:Bob/Jim/ the directory string requester shows the dir as Jim/ so TrapDoor would not know the full path to the file. Solution: When the requester appears, list the Volumes (RMB with ReqTools requesters) and work from there. It may take a click or two extra, but you'll know you've got the full path. c) Your Boss has been pratting about with his software. This is a not uncommon occurence. Solution: Have a chat with Boss-man }8^) d) The file that was in existence when you specified it for 'attaching' is no longer there when you poll. This could occur, for example, if you specified a file in RAM:, went away, had your tea, came back and rebooted "because the memory was a bit fragged". When TrapDoor looks for the file in RAM: it obviously can't find it. Solution: ALWAYS specify a file on a non-volatile device, so that if something unforseen does happen, your file will still be attached. =>> 26. <<= Q. When i want to select a big number of message, PM will sometimes crash afterwards, or its window stays away. And PM works pretty 'slow' on updating windows (kind of sticky). A. Check if you are running KCommodity. It is known, that the "shrinkwindows" option, for instance, will cause such problems. Try to run PM without KCommodity (or any other Commodities, like MagicMenu) to check what is causing the problems. It is easy to remove them (temporarely) from your WBStartup directory (or User-Startup file), and mostly it will solve your problems. But in any case, please report your findings in the FidoNet Echo-Area called PM, or by Netmail addressed to the author (for addresses see below or manual). This way we can 'warn' other people when necessary. =>> 27. <<= Q. Is it possible to transfer money to register PM, for multiple users (UserGroup) with one EuroCheque? A. Yes, this is possible. When you want transfer the fee for, for example, 4 users, the amount is 4*30000=120000 lire (this includes a disk for each user). If only a single disk is needed for those 4 people in total, a discount of 5000 lire per user (3 times in this case) will take place, so the fee will be 30000+25000*3=105000 lire. When no disk is needed/wanted, it will be 4*25000=100000 lire. =>> 28. <<= Q. When i configure CustomScreen, PM will only open 1 (or 2) empty, grey and nameless screens, and quits almost immediately. When using NoCustomScreen, PM will function normal. What is wrong? A. Check if you have an Utility, named NuLook (from Fabio Rossetti), running on the background. It looks if NuLook can't live with the PublicScreen of PM (when running under KS/WB 2.x+) and other programs. Just remove it from your Startup-script. =>> 29. <<= Q. When i have ideas, suggestions or remarks, what should i do? A. A program needs (positive and negative) feedback from its users, to become better and better. Send them to the Author (Pino Aliberti). But beware that everone does have differents tastes, thus not every idea or suggestion could be implemented (sooner or later) :-) =>> 30. <<= Q. When is have still questions about or problems with Point Manager, what can i do? A. Contact either the Author, Pino Aliberti, or the Testers of Point Manager (check which one is the nearest to or best for you): Pino Aliberti (Author of PM) 2:335/602.2@fidonet 39:102/1.2@amiganet Eric Krieger (Tester, Author of PM.guide and this PM.FAQ!) 2:285/1.10@fidonet 14:104/1.10@nlanet ekrieger@quasar.hacktic.nl (Internet) Edwin Halsema (Tester) 2:285/1.16@fidonet, 2:285/102.2@fidonet 39:152/101.1@amiganet Marco Fachini (Tester and Author of the Italian Docs) 2:333/300.3@fidonet Siggi Weisner (German Support and Registration Site, Tester, Author of the German Docs and Moderator of PM.GER) 2:243/4802.29@fidonet <changed from 27 June 93> Pal Dahlstrom (Tester) 2:203/602.12@fidonet Stu Churchill (Tester, UK Registration Site & co-author of PM.FAQ) 2:250/107.97@fidonet 39:137/3.97@amiganet Massimo Baglione (Tester) 2:335/602.5@fidonet Gaetano Ble' (Tester) 2:335/703.0@fidonet Tim Nugent (Registration Site for New Zealand and Australie) 3:771/400.69@fidonet End of Point Manager's Frequently Asked Questions ************************************************* Thanks to: Pino Aliberti, Stu Churchill, all other Testers and ofcourse the Registered Users! -- Comments, suggestions and corrections would be welcome! This material is Copyright 1993 by Eric Krieger. It may not be distributed as a part of anything sold for profit. Non-commercial distribution is okay as long as there are no changes made.