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ECHOFAX.DOC
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1991-04-28
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197 lines
==============================================================================
EchoFax Event Utility
FAX Service for PCBoard 14.x Message Bases
$20.00 to purchase EchoFax
$10.00 to Register Fax-Door
or
$25.00 to purchase both Products
Written by: Gerry Freymann
R.R.#1
Baltimore, Ontario Canada
K0K 1C0
The Phantom BBS (416) 342-3734 USR HST Dual Standard
(416) 342-3766 19200 USR HST
(416) 342-5573 19200 Hayes Ultra
==============================================================================
Overview of EchoFax
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EchoFax was written to provide a simple method of scanning a PCBoard
14.x message base for outgoing Fax messages. All you require is a
Fax card and BitFax software. How often you decide to scan for outgoing
fax messages is up to you.
EchoFax operates in the following manner.
Any message with a subject of FAX will be exported for faxing. EchoFax
supports LOCAL and LONG DISTANCE faxing. You can verify local prefixes
by creating a file called ECHOFAX.PRE. Long Distance calls are only granted
to users with credits that you assign using the EFUSER.EXE program. The To
and From fields will be used in the covering letter and if you wish to
customize the covering letter, you can create a 51 line ECHOFAX.PGE file that
will be combined with the canned cover letter. The destination phone
number should be placed on the first line of the message.
If a message is faxed out successfully, it will be (K)illed. If there was
a problem with the phone number, the original message will be flagged as
Read and the SUBJ will be changed to include a short comment on what the
problem was. If the line was busy, nothing will appear to be done to the
message and it will be attempted again next time you execute EchoFax.
A batch file is provided, outlining how the EchoFax program should be
run. You need a version of DOS that supports the CALL feature within
batch files.
We are in our initial Beta Testing, and are open to suggestions on our
program.
All in all, I think you'll be quite pleased.
EchoFax Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all, EchoFax may not be for everybody. There are a few
requirements you should be aware of, that may make this utility unsuitable
for some Bulletin Board Systems:
- You'll need room in your computer for an internal Fax-Card. That not only
means physical space, but also free interupts and com ports.
- You need an extra phone line that can be dedicated or properly time shared
with the fax card.
- You need a Fax board that uses the BitFax software (C) 1989 BIT Software,
Inc. All Rights Reserved. I have used BitFax v.2.061 and 2.062
successfully. I have reports that v3 works as well.
- EchoFax assumes a local call is 7 or 5 digits in length (minus brackets &
dashes). If you are in a location where a local call is more, than you'll
need a customized version. Please contact me and provide details and we
can get you set up. Example local call: 3425544 or 25544
- EchoFax also assumes that a long distance call is 8 or 11 digits in length
(minus brackets and dashes). Again, if this a problem in your location
please contact me and we can get you set up with a customized version.
Example long distance call: 14163425544 or 13425544
- EchoFax will ignore any phone number 4 digits or less, 6, 9 or 10 digits
or 12 and great and report these as invalid numbers. If this is a problem
for you please contact me.
- Since this program is written in Turbo Basic file sharing is not
supported. This will create problems if somebody else is accessing
the message base at the same time EchoFax wishes to scan for outgoing
fax messages. EchoFax will retry, once per second, for up to 30
consecutive seconds, but I cannot guarantee success if your system is
up and running.
Files used for EchoFax Operation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ECHOFAX.EXE --> The heart of our system. This program and supporting data
files should be placed in your \BITFAX subdirectory.
DOFAX.BAT --> Calls up and executes EchoFax and BitFax as needed. This
should be placed in your \BITFAX subdirectory. If you want
to run EchoFax from your EVENT.SYS file, you should change to
your \BITFAX subdirectory and CALL this batch file, passing
on the full drive, path and filename of the message base you
need scanned. If you are going to scan more than one message
base, just add another line to your EVENT.SYS. The contents
of DOFAX.BAT are as follows:
ECHO OFF
:START
ECHOFAX %1
IF EXIST DOFAXE.YES CALL FAXE
IF EXIST ECHOFAX.END GOTO END
GOTO START
:END
DOFAXE.YES and FAXE.BAT are created by EchoFax, and are used
as key files to cycle into BitFax and eventually end. Be
sure to pass on the full drive, path and name of the message
base in your batch file. A typical example would be:
CALL DOFAX L:\MSGS\FAX
You may rename this Batch File to whatever name you desire.
ECHOFAX.PGE --> OPTIONAL addition you can create that will be included on
the Covering Letter. Up to 51 lines please.
ECHOFAX.PRE --> OPTIONAL ASCII Text file, containing a list of all valid
dialing prefixes in your area, one prefix per line. If
EchoFax finds this file, it will compare the prefix from
the number in the fax message against all entries in the
PRE file and look for match. If there is no match, the
message will NOT be faxed out and the message will be
toggled as read.
ECHOFAX.END --> Created by EchoFax when the program has completed its work.
This is the key file that signals the end. EchoFax will
delete ECHOFAX.END when it first loads so you don't have to
worry about it. ECHOFAX.END will contain the date and time
of when EchoFax completed its work.
ECHOFAX.LOG --> This is a LOG file appended to by EchoFax. This log file
will contain a list of everything EchoFax did during its
run. Message numbers fax, killed or toggled as Read will
appear in the Log. Any Errors will also show up here.
It would be a good idea to read this file on a regular
basis. Since EchoFax appends to it, you may want to delete
it or archive it on a regular basis as well.
EFUSER.EXE --> USER EDITOR for EchoFax. If you wish to give a user access
to Long Distance faxing, use this program to add/edit their
account and place any number of "credits" for use. Remember
that your users are going to be charged 2 credits for every
fax as the covering letter is included. How much you charge
is up to you - I'd suggest $10.00 for 10 credits.
Setting up BitFax
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I followed the instructions for BitFax when installing the software and
suggest you do the same. Make a subdirectory called BITFAX on your drive,
change to the subdirectory, and copy the contents of the BitFax/SR Program
disk into the subdirectory. You should place the EchoFax files in this
same directory, as EchoFax will read the Log file created by BitFax.
You should set the BITFAX=\BITFAX environment variable in your autoexec.bat
file, and include the BITFAX subdirectory in your PATH= statement.
Be sure to set your com port correctly on the fax card. I run a Hayes
Ultra on Com1 and have the fax card set to use Com3/IRQ 4.
Once your card is installed and your software is loaded onto the hard
drive you should type BITFAX and set up the BitFax parameters. Please
follow the BitFax manual. Their manual contains step by step instructions.
I'd suggest you set the speaker OFF as it is quite noisy!
Beta Tester Notes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes, as they are added, will be listed in a file called CHANGES.DOC.
Beta Testers should be sure to read CHANGES.DOC each time you grab a
newer release. Releases will be available from my system for you to
download when you like. The filename will always be the same - so make
your checks by using the File Date and Time stamps!
Future Plans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
What else did I miss?