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README.1ST
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1989-12-15
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106 lines
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P C B G a t e v 2 . 0
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Where do I start? Better yet, where do you start? It all depends on if
you're currently using PCBGate and which version.
First, if you're using PCBGate for the first time, just read GATE20.DOC
and it'll tell you how to get things set up and running.
If you're using a version of PCBGate PRIOR to v2.0ß5, follow the
instructions un the file UPDATE20.DOC. It will outline what you need to do
to make your current configuration compatible with v2.0 as some of the
structures and other things have changed since then.
In this Zipfile you should have the following:
PCBGATE.EXE - Main PCBGate program
GATECFG.EXE - The Configuration program
MSGSTEST.EXE - MSGS Test Utility
ECHOSET.EXE - Utility for setting echo status
README.1ST - <ahem> This file
UPDATE20.DOC - Upgrade Information to v2.0
GATE20.DOC - Main documentation
15TO20.EXE - Conversion program for v1.5
LMRCNV.EXE - Last message read file creation program (v1.5)
It's been a while. The last release was a good 3 months ago. Since
Sept. I've lost 2 hard drives to permanent crashes, and it's taken too much
time to get my own system back into operation (twice <sigh>). Plus with
some other professional type projects, I've had to put the works on hold for
a short bit. My apologies to anyone out there who feels they've been
ignored. In any case, at long last, I finally have a finished product,
minus a few bugs.
Here are a few of the differences between v1.5 and v2.0:
- Last message read tracking done with a single file
- Configuration split into a seperate module
- Better handling of data input in configuration
- Buffered processing for slightly faster response
- MSGSTEST.EXE and LOG files improved
- Bug removed in losing line 1 of a message
- Bug removed in respect to header problems with QBBS Qecho
- Manual processing mode added, and slightly enhanced
- Docs redone
- Private message checking in both processing modes
- Area names added, and extended to 30 characters
....and numerous other tidbits that needed doing. I'm not going to say
it's working perfectly, however I've been testing it for the past 3 months,
noticing where these problems ocurr, and of course thanks to those who
reported such problems.
I can't stress enough about the speed. That's the #1 complaint I get
about PCBGate. Converting a Fido message to a PCBoard base, requires
reading the message body character by character to detect any one of a
number of different line terminators, and converting them over to what
PCBoard uses. Beleive me, I WISH I could get it to work as fast as
something like Confmail, however Confmail doesn't have to worry so much
about end of line terminators and such. As much processing as possible is
done in RAM, and using shortcuts, while still getting the program to do
what it's supposed to isn't exactly a piece of cake. I realize it seems
like ages to process a good sized mail run, but some things just can't be
avioded. Since most processing is RAM based, the speed of your machine
will have a heavy bearing on processing speed.
The successor to this program, CrossNet, is nearing completion, however I
can't speculate any kind of release date. I wish. That project is even
pickier than this one, due to the complexity involved. It does basicly the
same thing as this one, except it reads Fido Type 2 packets and tosses
directly into your PCBoard bases. Also, it scans your bases to produce
outbound Fido packets. Its complexity is due to the fact that it will echo
up to 1000 conferences with up to 10 nodes per conference, as well as doing
the message base conversion. It's been tossing my Fido packets for a few
months now, and doing not too badly. I'd say it's about 50% faster than
PCBGate, as it's processing 10k blocks of data at a time in RAM, rather
than hundreds of measly 1k messages. I HOPE to have something
beta-testable around the new year, but I'm not making any promises.
But getting back to PCBGate, it should do what it's supposed to for the
time being. Perhaps slower than we'd like to see, but it does the job
efficiently.
Support for PCBGate can be found from my system directly. I make no
promises via netmail, as I don't have every nodelist in creation compiled
and ready. I'd like to have a Fidonet node number, but frankly I don't
need the politics. Local policy doesn't seem to have any consideration for
programmers. Long story. Anyways, you can find me at the following
through the IMEX network. You'll find it, as a Zone within the Alternet
nodelist. If you have any questions, problems, comments, etc., please feel
free to contact me. If you have screaming complaints and want to cut my
throat, you'll be ignored. PCBGate is free in all respects, and I do my
best to ensure it's safe for use, and does what it says. Thanks for
trying/using it, I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.
Tom Wilson
Canadian Data Communications
(416)-432-1631
IMEX - 89:80/10 - PCBoard Gateway Administration
89:485/4