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README.OMK
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1992-01-03
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OMKREAD.EXE Version 2.01 User Notes
NOTICE TO SYSOPS: If you currently run OMK and wish to make this reader
available to your users, RENAME OMKRD201.ZIP to OMK_READ.ZIP and place
it in your OMK upload/download directory. In other words, replace the
current OMK_READ.ZIP with the OMKRD201.ZIP -- you need to rename it in
order for it to show on the FILES.BBS.
Quick start:
Just unzip this file into your current reader directory, if you are
already using OMKREAD. Make a backup copy of everything in that
directory just in case!!! Then call OMKREAD without -r on the command
line if you have messages waiting to be unbundled. This will cause the
reader to delete all those little .MSG files when it unbundles. From
then on you can use -r to retain messages if you wish. If you do not
have any waiting messages to unbundle you can call OMKREAD and do
D)elete from the main menu to get rid of the .MSG files.
If this is your first time using OMKREAD please read the manual!!! The
quick start is to create a directory for OMKREAD and unzip the file, or
copy it into that directory. Do a CD to that directory and call the
program...it will step you through the install process. I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO READ THE DOC FILE FIRST!! You'll need to make sure of such
things as the directory(s) where your inbound messages and outbound
replies are to be placed, which archive program you'll use for OLD
versions of OMK (if any), and that PKZIP/PKUNZIP is either in your path
or in the same directory as OMKREAD.
Revisions for version 2.01 -- 12/19/1991
o Added QWK capability to reader. This is tranparent to
the end user. You use OMK as you would any other QWK
reader - downloading messages from the QWK bundler for
the BBS you are using, and uploading replies (*.REP) to
the same QWK facility on the BBS. Do NOT upload QWK
*.REP files to OMK on a BBS. YOU CAN STILL USE THIS
READER WITH ANY OMK BBS for OMK type bundles and replies
the program automatically senses QWK and OMK. We have
tested with many different implementations of QWK and
OMK seems to work with all that we've tested. If you
find a version of QWK OMK does NOT work correctly with
we would appreciate hearing about it in DETAIL. As of
this version you cannot auto add/drop areas using
OMKREAD. We have discovered that BBS implement the more
advanced features differently and need more time to
decide HOW we will do this. For the most part QWK in
OMKREAD works exactly like OMK. You need not be
concerned with which type of BBS you are using. OMKREAD
will handle those details.
MATRIX mail is not available in QWK.
o SCROLLING added - you can now use the up and down arrows
as well as the PGUP and PGDN keys to scroll through your
messages. The return key functions like page down until
the last screen is displayed and then bring back the
menu.
o NO MORE LITTLE FILES -- this version of OMKREAD abandons
Opus way of storing messages as one file per message.
Instead messages are now stored in a file called
MESSAGES.DAT for each area, with each area being in a
separate directory. There is also an MESSAGES.NDX for
each message area. This makes for more efficient use of
disk space and faster searching and bundling/unbundling
of messages. While the inbound messages and outbound
replies for OMK and QWK type messages are totally
different the messages stored in your reader are exaxtly
the same format for each type.
o We now use Ralf Brown's SPAWNO library to conserve
memory use when shelling to DOS or when running other
programs. This assures you that if you have enough
memory to run OMK you will not run out of memory when
shelling to PKZIP to zip or unzip your messages. You
should also be able to use almost any editor with the
extra memory made available by SPAWNO. SPAWNO copies
OMK to EMS, XMS, or disk depending upon what is
available. If is is swaping to disk you may notice a
delay.
OMK 1.18 ** Old version....
New features:
COMMAND LINE OPTION -r = placing this option on your command line will
cause OMKREAD to retain your messages. It will
no longer delete old messages when unbundling
a new packet.
Because of this new feature OMK handles your
messages and message directories a little
differently - a change you may notice. When
OMK begins to unbundle messages for an
exisiting BBS on your reader -- it marks ALL
the existing message areas with a special flag.
If the reader either unpacks messages for that
existing area, or senses that you still have
that area selected on the BBS even though there
may have been no message, the area and messages
are retained. If AFTER all the messages for
that BBS have been tossed, and an area with
that special flag exists the reader knows that
you no longer have that area selected on the
BBS.
To avoid having messages from some new area (at
some future time) tossed into that area OMK
deletes the messages in this unused area and
then deletes the directory.
You may notice that you see the "Creating Area"
message more often than you did with the old
version. That is due to the above feature and
is normal.
PKZIP OMK now uses PKZIP as its default archiver.
You will still need either ARC/PKARC/PKPAK for
BBSes using the old version of OMK. Version
1.18 will automatically detect which version of
OMK messages it is packing/unpacking.
NOTICE -- the file exetensions have changed.
Instead of .OKO and REP the extension for
messages and replies for version 1.18 are, OKZ
and REZ. If you are using scripts in uploading
and downloading messages you should REMEMBER TO
CHANGE THE EXTENSIONS in your scripts.
MATRIX MAIL If your sysop has allowed access to Net Mail
you should be aware that you may REPLY to a
message. If you attempt to W)rite a message
you will be permitted to do so, but you will
NOT be allowed to specify a NET/NODE number.
That message will only be sent to the host BBS.
It will be up to the Sysop to determine if
she/he will forward it to your desired
destination.
NET MAIL IS A PRIVILEGE RARELY GRANTED TO
NON-SYSOPS!! If you are fortunate enough to be
given such access DO NOT ABUSE IT!!! Long
distance calls cost your sysop Money. You
should probably consider offering to send
financial assistance to your sysop if you are
granted NET MAIL access.
APPENDING EXPORTS If you specify and existing file name on an
Xport OMK will append the message you are
exporting to that file. If the file does not
exist OMK will create it. This will allow you
to have a file of messages in text for grouped
in some order you determine. For instance, I
keep a text file call CECHO.TXT that has
messages I've saved from the C_ECHO. I can
then do a text search on that file for subjects
I want/need to refer to.
READER MENUS You should notice a difference in the way the
reader's menus operate. Now all the menu
options, except Next and Prior on the main
message reading screen, will return the menu to
Next when finished. Next and Prior are
'sticky' and will remain selected until you
change them.
Thanks for using OMK. Please let us know you are using it. Ask your
sysop if she/he would carry the OMKIT echo. It will allow you to
communicate with us regularly.
roland