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CAVEATS.DOC
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1990-12-16
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AMAX Version 2.20 Caveats
Copyright (C) 1989, 1990 Alan D. Applegate, All Rights Reserved
INTRODUCTION
This file is to outline some basic warnings regarding the
operation of AMAX. Please read it completely. Social
responsibility is important in FidoNet, and AMAX allows you to do
things that are not generally considered "socially responsible."
CRASH MAIL ROUTING
AMAX allows you to do something that really should never (by
design and definition) be done - the routing of "Crash Mail"
a/k/a Continuous Mail.
When you enter a message with your message editor and set the
Crash bit (or flag) on the message, your packer (in most cases)
will ignore any routing information you have set-up for a
particular destination address. Your packer will put the message
into the outbound area as a packet, marked Continuous Mail. The
message will NEVER be routed by the packer (or shouldn't be); it
will be addressed to the same destination that you entered with
the message.
AMAX will allow you to take that message and reroute it, and/or
change its flavor. Note that despite what you do with AMAX, the
MESSAGE itself is STILL marked as CRASH MAIL. In other words,
changing the packet with AMAX DOES NOT CHANGE THE FLAG INSIDE THE
MESSAGE!
NOTE! The AMAX documentation uses an analogy to describe
packets that is applicable here...a letter inside an
envelope. Using AMAX changes information on the "envelope"
but not inside, where the information is also maintained.
Using our analogy, AMAX will never open an envelope and
change anything inside. Once the packet gets to its
destination, the destination system opens it up, throws the
envelope away, and the only information that will then
matter is what was INSIDE the envelope. Change the envelope
all you want, but nothing inside will ever be changed by
AMAX.
When the message arrives to its destination, it is unpacked. If
you've routed the message to someone else, his system will pack
the message, handling again as Crash Mail, since the Crash Mail
flag is still set.
Depending on the mailer software of that system, and depending on
its configuration, that system COULD stop everything it's doing
to get the message through, possibly even during high daytime
rate periods.
AMAX Version 2.20 - Caveats - Page 2
IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A CONTINUOUS (CRASH) MAIL MESSAGE
AND REROUTE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. IF YOU DO, YOU RUN THE RISK OF
CAUSING SOMEONE CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, WHICH COULD EASILY EARN YOU
AN "EXCESSIVELY ANNOYING" CHARGE, AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE YOU TO BE
DUMPED FROM THE NETWORK.
You can change the flavor of the message without risk, as long as
you do not reroute the message, or cause it to be rerouted. YOU
HAVE BEEN WARNED.
It should be noted that it is perfectly safe to change the flavor
of a non-crash message to crash, and subsequently rereoute that
message. As long as the INTERNAL message Crash Mail flag is NOT
set, then you can do just about anything you want to with the
message.
It is, therefore, generally better to always enter messages non-
crash, and configure your packer to handle the messages
accordingly. You can then feel free to reroute packets in any
manner consistent with FidoNet policy (or by pre-arrangement with
other nodes.)
ROUTING OF FILE ATTACHES AND ARCMAIL
AMAX will also allow you to reroute file attaches to someone
else. If you REALLY want that to happen, in some cases, it's
fine. Note that the attach WILL NOT (unless by a fluke of
nature) be sent to its original destination. Whoever you send it
to is the final destination, almost without exception.
Only special utilities designed specifically for the purpose -
and which are running on the "middle-man" system - will allow
routing of files to take place.
If you reroute plain files, no significant damage will occur,
even if the file doesn't make it to the system you wanted it to.
BUT DO NOT REROUTE A FILE ATTACH THAT CONTAINS COMPRESSED MAIL
unless you have SPECIFIC, PRIOR arrangements to do so!
Compressed mail is named in a standard way, and the naming
includes a formula consisting of your node address and the
destination address. If you send it to someone else (other than
its intended recipient) you will not have happy people. You
could cause duplicate messages, software failure or lock-ups on
the destination system, or any number of other problems. For
this reason, DO NOT CAUSALLY REROUTE COMPRESSED MAIL! YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED.
IRREVERSIBLE NATURE OF APPENDING
Some AMAX operations cause packets to be appended to the end of
existing packets, or file attaches to be appended to existing
file attaches. Once an append operation takes place, IT IS NOT
EASILY REVERSED.
AMAX Version 2.20 - Caveats - Page 3
If you accidentally append a packet, follow the directions shown
in the documentation section "Solving Specific Outbound Mail
Problems."
Fixing mis-appended file attaches is easier. Delete incorrect
entries from an attach when doing a M)ore operation on them. Add
entries by using the S)end function off the main menu. If push
comes to shove, write down the correct file names, delete the
attaches, and use the S)end function to make new ones.
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU MAKE IT
HAPPEN. THINK FIRST! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
FINALLY
Enjoy using AMAX, and be aware that its considerable power can
get you into a lot of trouble if you let it. Remember that I am
NOT liable for any damages arising out of your use of the
package...see the License Agreement in the docs, or the
disclaimer shown on program start-up!
Be conscientious when using AMAX, and you can save yourself a lot
of grief.