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BM2.TXT
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1991-12-28
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8KB
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BackMail II
*****************************
BackMail II will be released in April 1990. Here are the new features of
BackMail-II.
1. SCRIPTS
BackMail-II reads communications scripts. We call the
script language "Pipsqueak". As the name suggests it is a
very compact, very terse, communications language. It is
designed with fast, unobtrusive, background operation in
mind. Despite its diminutive name the language is very
powerful.
Scripts enable Backmail to:
- dial through data switches, PADs and services like PC-
pursuit that require log on, id and route addressing.
Access to dial through PAD's will give BackMailers
tremendous savings on long distance traffic.
- Do complex Initialization of High Speed modems for
selected destinations. (E.g. set MNP levels etc)
- log on and into information services and E-mail nodes
that support a BackMail server.
Scripts files are ASCII text files kept in the backmail
directory. From within BackMail they are defined under
"Change Setup" very much like prefixes, except instead of
giving a arbitrary label you enter a list of up to 8 script
names. These names appear in the phone directory window just
like prefixes. Thus a user might have scripts for 'DATAPAC',
'TYMNET', 'UUCP', 'USR-HST' ... &c. and declare some users
"LONG DATAPAC","LOCAL UUCP" an so on.
The Script language includes a command to save all
script transactions in a "SCRIPT.LOG" file, to help in the
debugging of complex scripts. BackMail-II will come with plenty of
sample scripts and a PipSqueak manual. The script.log file is
placed in the user's "transfer" directory.
2. POLLING
Now in addition to declaring some destinations as e.g. "High
Priority' one can, from the Phone Directory Menu, mark
declarations to be "polled". A polled destination is called
at least once every hour, even if you have no mail addressed
to it, to collect mail pending from that destination. This
is one more step towards complete voice compatibility. Using
polling the user can set his availability and answer Mode
such that BackMail will never answer the phone with carrier,
and yet regularly receive mail from all the polled
destinations. It will be particularly useful as BackMail
servers on mainframe based E-mail networks like UUCP
proliferate.
3. OUTCALL ONLY (SECURE CALLS)
Marking a destination as OUTCALL is the reverse of the
current feature "Do not accept return mail". When a
destination is marked as an OUTCALL BackMail will only
deliver mail to it when BackMail has called that
destination, not when that destination (or a BackMail that has
that destination's phone number) calls. OUTCALL is intended
to satisfy users who wanted more security for their BackMail
traffic.
4. CHECK FOR SUSPENDED DESTINATION ON REPLY
In version 2, BackMail will warn you when you reply to a suspended
destination, and offer the option of unsuspending.
5. TIME ZONE ADJUSTMENT
With version 2, Backmails automatically compare local times and
adjust for time zone diferences in availability times.
6. AVAILABILITY LOCK
There are certain circumstances in which you may want your
BackMail *not* to adjust a availability to the users declared
settings (e.g. if you wish to poll a long distance number
once a day after midnight). In BackMail-II an individual destination's
availability can be "locked" at the phone directory window.
7. CALL NOW
Now hitting "N" at the main menu sends the first available message
immediately, overiding BackMail's normal approx 3 minute cycle.
(Note: Call Now does not overide availability or priority.)
8. GROUPS
The user can define 6 group names and assign any subset of
his destination directory to a group. Group names appear
at the top of the destination window below "All local" and
"All internal phone numbers"
9. NEW UTILITIES
SEND.COM is a utility that allows you to post files by backmail from the
dos prompt or from a batch file. Files can be adressed by
number or handle. Thus:
SEND -c:\backmail -Hjoe -Fd:\123\myfile.wks
will post "myfile.wks" to "joe" without having to access the
main menu. If your editor supports macros this utility allows
you to substitute your editor for the BackMail message editor.
CONVERT.COM alows you to convert your BackMail-I phone directories
to version II format saving the trouble of having to re-enter the
numbers.
PMERGE.EXE allows you to merge 'foreign' phone directories with yours.
10. CC. LISTS
BackMail now appends a CC list to all messages which are adressed
to more that one destination. CC lists can be supressed from the
phone address list.
11. DISPLAY STATUS
Now displays information about the status of polled destinations
as well as errors in reading scripts or logging scripts or script
language errors.
12. AUTODIALER
The voice autodialer will now read phone numbers from the screen of
the user's foreground application.
13. BMCONFIG
A new BMCONFIG will make installation much easier and will includes
predefined settings for non-standard modems.
14. WELCOME FILE
The user can designate a file (it must reside in the BackMail
directory) which will be sent to any "unknown caller". I.e. any
caller who is not already in the user's phone directory. The
name of the file is entered under the change setup menu.
15. ALPHABETICAL LOOK UP
Now in the phone directory or destination list, the user can search
through handles by hitting the first letter of the user's name or handle.
16. VARIABLE NUMBER FORMAT
BackMail-II supports non-North American phone number formats (e.g. 1-5
digit area codes, 6 digit numbers...etc).
17. SIZE?
With all this BackMail-II takes *less* RAM that BackMail-I. (At this
point about 33k)
PRICING, UPGRADES AND CRIPPLEWARE
*****************************************************
BackMail-II will cost $50. Upgrades (though not manuals) will
be free to users who have registered BackMail-I prior to BackMail-II's release.
BackMail-II is a kind of "crippleware". The way it works is
that some program functions (send file, forward and reply) are
locked out until the user actually registers. The functions are
automatically unlocked by a call to the registration machine once
the users payment has cleared.
There is no whining message. A user can elect to Register by
hitting 'G' at the main menu when it appears (it isn't always there).
Some people will not like this. But we think it is reasonable. The
complaints against standard crippleware/test drive programs do not apply
here since the program is fully function and unlocking the relevant
functions is very easy thanks to our Teleware system. The new system
also makes it possible for users to pay by check or purchase site
licenses. Note that there are lots of BackMail-I's out there and users
who want to avoid registration can continue to (indeed are encouraged to!)
use them.