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ROBOCOMM.HST
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1991-05-22
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┬─┬─────┐
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│ ├───┬─┘ ┌┬──┐ ┬┬─┐ ┌┬──┐ ┌┬──┐ ┌┬──┐ ┌┬─┬─┐ ┌┬─┬─┐ (tm)
│ │ │ ││ │ │├─┴┐ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ │ │ ││ │ │
┴─┴ ┴── └┴──┘ ┴┴──┘ └┴──┘ └┴──┘ └┴──┘ ┴┴ ┴ ┴ ┴┴ ┴ ┴
The ultimate tool for unattended ┌──┬┐ ┌┐
BBS communications. ──┤│ ││
└──┴┘ o └┘
-------------------------------------------------------------
This document is designed to assist experienced Robocomm
users in coming up to speed with the new version quickly.
The following is a list of new and enhanced features in
Robocomm version 3.1:
--------------------------------------------------------------
o Added a configuration option to the "General" configuration
screen that controls Robocomm's behavior when it connects
with a BBS at a speed slower than is configured on the BBS
screen. If "Allow connects at lower speed" is set to NO
then Robocomm will hang up if it connects at a speed slower
than it expected. The default for this setting is YES.
NOTE: "CONNECT 9600" (and above) messages are accepted
whenever the configured speed for the BBS is set at 9600,
19200 or 38400.
NOTE: For this option to work, your modem must be configured
to report the connect speed as part of its CONNECT message.
o Added a configuration option to the "General" configuration
menu that controls the time stamp that is applied to the
files Robocomm downloads using its internal protocols. IF
"Keep BBS file's time stamp" is set to YES then the file on
your disk will have the same time/date stamp as the file on
the BBS. If it's set to NO, then Robocomm will apply the
current system date/time to the file.
o Added "Filter Words" menu option to the configuration menu.
You can now enter up to 10 words which will be compared
against new file listings as they are imported. Any file
which contains one or more of the filter words in its file
name and/or description will be bypassed, rather than
imported. For example, to get rid of GIFs in your file
listings, specify .GIF (note the period) as a filter word.
If you're not interested in Windows related files, then you
might enter words such as WINDOWS and WIN 3.0 to the list.
This feature uses a straight text comparison, no wildcard
expansion is supported.
o Added "Preference Words" menu option to the configuration
menu. When Robocomm imports files listings, any file which
contains a preference word in its name or description will
automatically be tagged with "Keep" status.
o Changed status log entries to indicate preference files and
filtered out files when parsing new files lists.
o Added routine to allow updating of help screens through
automatic upgrade procedures.
o Fixed cursor weirdness experienced on some systems when
shelling to DOS.
o Enabled the XON-XOFF handshaking option.
o Fixed problem where you could not do a YMODEM-G download
when downloading mail from a QWK door.
o Changed the default on capture commands to APPEND mode
instead of overwrite mode.
o Fixed QWK packet download routines to alleviate the erratic
behavior experienced by some users on the "Do you want to
receive this packet" prompt.
o Modified online "V" message to display the registered user's name.
o Changed verbose log routine so Robocomm status messages will
always appear by themselves on a line.
o Added a 3 second "Clearing" period after any unsuccessful
dial to alleviate "failed call" problems caused by USR Dual
Standard modems which send a NO CARRIER after sending a
BUSY.
o Fixed problem in the qmail download routines where the "No
packet to receive" message would be repeated many times.
o Modified the comm routines to allow non-standard IRQ and
base addresses for com 3 and 4.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of new and enhanced features in
Robocomm version 3.0:
-------------------------------------------------------------
o Changed Robo's internal Ymodem protocol to Ymodem Batch (not
Xmodem-1K) which is compatible with PCBoard's Ymodem. If you
have been using Ymodem (pretty unlikely, eh?) then make sure
you change the protocol in PCBoard.
o Added ZMODEM and YMODEM-G as internal file transfer
protocols.
o 16550 UART FIFO buffer support - automatically detected and
used when appropriate.
o 4800 baud now supported.
o Greatly improved response time while performing automated
operations.
o Internal ANSI driver added. Ansi graphics can be on for
the entire agenda. Robo displays them properly in its
agenda and ANSI terminal screens. ANSI codes are stripped
out from prompt processing and log files. No ANSI driver is
required in your CONFIG.SYS file.
o Created the following RPD files:
145&Q40.RPD -- Qmail 4.0 - No extended prompts needed
145&MARK.RPD -- All versions of MarkMail
145&PRO.RPD -- ProDoor
DEFAULT.RPD -- The prompts used when a new system is
added. Same as 145&Q40.RPD.
Please step through all of your BBS systems and import one
of these files for each of your systems that doesn't require
a cutomized prompt set.
o Added two new command line options. Robocomm can now be
started as follows to configure your system for minimum memory
requirements or maximum operation speeed:
Typing "ROBOCOMM SMALL" at the dos prompt sets Robo in its
minimum memory usage configuration. If you have less than or
approximately 512K free, use this option.
Typing "ROBOCOMM FAST" sets Robo up to run as quickly as
possible. Don't use this option unless you have at least 512K
free. Probably
o Added the ability for Robocomm to use expanded memory for
its index file buffers. If you have at least 64K of
expanded memory available you can specify a ROBO environment
variable as follows:
SET ROBO=Ennn Example: ROBO=E128 to use 128K.
Where nnn is the amount of expanded memory to use for index
file buffering. Robocomm's performance is significantly
enhanced by using expanded memory for index file buffers.
Be aware that any EMS allocated for index buffers will not
be available for Robocomm swapping routines. The minimum
allowable value is 64K and the maximum is 1024K.
o Implemented a "Keep" flag in the new files directory.
"Keep" status can be toggled from within the file directory
using the "K" key. The "Z"ap command was modified so that
it deletes all file listings not marked as "Keep." Keep
status is marked by a diamond on the file line in the
directory and also by the word "Keep" in the file status
area.
o Implemented tagging of files in the "New files" directory.
Use the spacebar to tag/untag files. If you tag files in
the new files directory, Robo will ask for permission to
automatically create download agenda items for all the
tagged files when you select the "D" command on the agenda
screen. You may also tag files when zoomed to the new files
dir via the F10 key.
o Files to be uploaded may now be tagged with the SPACEBAR in
the downloads directory. When used in conjunction with
tagging of BBS systems to upload to, you can make a whole
mess of agenda items in a hurry now. To use this feature,
press F10 when prompted for an upload file name, then tag
any files you want to upload. Press Enter and you will be
returned to the agenda screen to specify the BBS system(s)
to upload to. If you want, you can press F10 at the BBS
prompt to tag one or more BBS systems to upload to.
o Added a "PCBoard File Directory to Update on Downloads"
configuration option, which is primarily intended for Sysops
who grab files for their BBS during their event. This will
append a standard-format PCBoard file listing entry to the
file name you specify after every download, using the
description from your "New Files" directory.
o Added the /I command line switch. You can now import a PCB
format file list into Robocomm's downloads listing using
this command line switch. For example, the event on my BBS
now does this every night:
ROBOCOMM /IJ:\PCB\MAIN\DIR0
This scans through the uploads listing for Group One and
adds any files uploaded by callers to my Robocomm downloads
list. This makes it easy for me to test and view the new
files and also to upload them to other BBS systems later.
o Added a 5 second confirmation sequence when a loss of CD is
detected. This is mostly for high speed modems that don't
report CD properly until a few seconds after negotiating the
connection parameters.
o Added two new tagging commands to the file directories. The
+ key will TAG a file and flag it with keep status. The -
key will remove a tag and remove the keep flag.
o Increased the maximum number of descriptions lines that will
be imported per file to 25.
o Changed the PCB Mail reading menu option so that it runs your
configured compressed file viewing utilty against the
selected file. If the batch file READPCB.BAT exists in your
Robocomm directory, it will be used instead.
o The "Z" command in the file directories now operates
differently. All files not marked keep will be marked
DELETED. If you want to remove them from the list
immediately, you will need to use the "C" command after the
"Z" process has completed.
o NOTE: WITH THE ADVENT OF ROBOCOMM'S NEW FILE FORMATS IT IS
NOW IMPOSSIBLE TO RUN TWO OR MORE PEOPLE SHARING SOME OF THE
DATABASES (Several systems were developed using batch files
to do this) DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ANY MORE. YOU WILL CORRUPT
THE ROBOCOMM.DBV FILE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO USE THIS NEW
COMMAND LINE SWITCH TO FIX THINGS:
ROBOCOMM /KILLDBV
This switch will erase all references to the corrupted DBV
file from robocomm's data files and also delete the
corrupted DBV file. You will loose all BBS statistics and
extended file descriptions when you use this switch!
o Added a "Remain online" function. During agenda execution,
you can press F10 to toggle the remain online status on and
off. When on, Robocomm will wait until it has attempted to
complete all of its agenda items, then it will jump to
terminal mode. If you don't show up withing 1 minute, it
will jump out automatically, log off and move on to the next
BBS.
NOTE: IF you use this option on a BBS accessed through PC
Pursuit, make sure that you go to a main board or mail door
command prompt and press Alt-X to exit terminal mode when
you are done with the BBS. Let Robo issue the "G" or "BYE"
for you so it doesn't get lost if the PC Pursuit DISCONNECT
message scrolls by while you are in terminal mode.
o Greatly improved the internal file listing utility. Specify
INTERNAL on the general configuration screen under file
viewing utility to use it.
o The general configuration screen now contains an option for
setting the personality of the sounds made by Robo. Toggle
the settings between SILENT, SUBTLE and PUSHY.
o Changed file import routines so that all descrtion text after
and including the words UPLOADED BY in a description is
filtered out.
o The "I" import routine now works in either the downloads or
the newfiles directories.
When importing into the new files directory, a file will be
addedd if it doesn't already exist for the specified BBS in
the downloads directory AND if it doesn't exist for any BBS
in the downloads directory.
When importing into the downloads directory, the file will
be added as long as it doesn't already exist for any BBS in
the downloads directory.
o Added a PCBoard format file output routine that will operate
on all tagged files if any are present in the current
directory. If no files are tagged then the currently
highlighted file is written. A window will pop up asking
for the output file name. You can send the output to your
printer by overriding the default file with PRN. This
option is activated with the "W" key in either file
directory.
o All DBT files used in the system have been replaced with a
new type of file called a DBV file. One DBV file is used to
hold BBS statistics as well as upload and download file
descriptions. The technoloy employs "variable length
fields." What this means for you is that you should see
substantial speed increases in file clean ups, and the size
of the DBV file will be significantly smaller and will not
continue to grow upon your hard disk as more files are added.
o Robo will now respond "N" to the over-write query from
PCBoard when a sysop tries to upload a duplicate file.
Also, an appropriate log notation is made.
o Modified conference changing routines. Robo will now
recognize PCBoard 14.5's default main board and conference
command prompts even if the prompts are set up incorrectly
in the BBS's prompt defintion. Also, conferences may now be
specified by name or by number throughout the program.
o Significantly updated the ANSI terminal mode interface. See
F1 help screen for details.
o You can now import file listings into both the newfiles and
downloaded files databases.
o Implemented ability to shell to a batch file after all file
downloads - to insert a special comment, do an immediate
virus scan, etc. The batch file is called FIXFILE.BAT. The
default looks like this:
pkzip -z %1 <comment.txt
If you use the default comment.frm file, which looks like
this:
═════════════════════════╡ Robocomm Download Information ╞═════════════════════
Downloaded By: {USER}
Downloaded from: {ID} - {BBS}
File name on BBS: {FILE}
Download date: {DATE}
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
{DESCRIPTION}
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Robocomm will do a little merge for you when it creates the
comment.txt -- You can modify the file however you like.
Robo will replace appropriate text in the curly braces.
o Enabled the "Run Program" agenda item. With it, you can
tell Robo to execute an outside program while still
connected to the BBS. You can include any necessary command
line parameters in the space provided. The field scolls to
allow up to 100 characters to be input. Robo can execute
.COM, .EXE or .BAT files (also .BTM if you use 4DOS). Robo
will free up as much RAM as possible for the "spawned"
process. Also, your called program will find the following
environment variables waiting for it in an expanded _copy_
of the environment that existed before Robo started:
BBS=<The ID of the currently connected BBS>
BAUD=<The baud rate of the connection>
DOW=<The day of week, i.e. MONDAY, TUESDAY, etc..>
MAILUP=<Your REP Directory>
MAILDOWN=<Your QWK Directory>
FILEUP=<Your Uploads Directory>
FILEDOWN=<Your Downloads directory>
NOTE: Obviously, the process you initiate with this agenda
item needs to return control back to DOS so that Robo can
regain control. It's up to the BBS to hang up on you if you
get hung up out in DOS during the agenda.
o When editing an agenda, the Enter and Backspace keys will
now jump you to the next/previous BBS system in the agenda.
o Changed "jump to terminal" agenda aitem so that if the
warning siren is not answered within 60 seconds, Robo will
return to the agenda and attempt to complete it.
o Totally recoded the PC-Pursuit dialing routines. All PC
Pursuit systems are now grouped together, and are accessed
through a single call to the indial. The Pursuit Session
is executed once all non-pursuit systems have been removed
from the dialing queue. Robo now bounces between the
various outdial citys on your agenda without the need to
hang up and re-dial the indial for each BBS. These routines
also act the same way as the normal dialing routines, in
that robo will honor the "number of dials before cycling"
configuration option, as well as the maximum redials
setting. "Failed Calls" (except when first dialing the
indial) are not tracked.
o Added ability to edit file descriptions from the file
directory screens. Press "E" with the file highlighted in
either file directory to edit the listing. Once in the
editor, Ctrl-Enter will save and Esc will abort.
o You can now specify the mail doors names or a numbers on the
BBS directory screen.
o You can still use DSZ for auto-downloads in terminal mode if
you want. To do this, copy your ROBORZ.BAT file to a file
called ROBOAUTO.BAT and place it in your Robo directory.
Make sure that DSZ and your Robocomm directory are in your
path!
o Added a "# of failed calls to allow" option to which will
remove a BBS from the agenda if the specified number of NO
CARRIER or TIMEOUT dial attempts are made.
o Added a display of total, available and used memory to the
RoboStatus window.
o Command line switches can now be specified in any order.
Added a switches help screen. Look at it with:
Robocomm /?
o Added new command line parameter /O which causes robo to put
the modem off-hook before quitting to DOS. This option will
probably only be useful for Sysops who are running Robocomm
during an event.
o Added support to specify the language # to use at login.
Many BBS systems are now offering "Standard" prompts as one
of their langauge choices at login. Robo will now select
the language you want it to use when it is asked by the BBS.
o Changed format of the log entries. All now include date and
time stamps.
o You can now schedule as many DOWNLOAD mail agenda items as
you like in your agenda for a BBS. NOTE: Robocomm will
only extract NEWFILES.DAT from the last QWK packet
downloaded. If you will be doing multiple downloads in the
mail door and want to make sure that Robo gets all the new
files, you should add a New Files Scan agenda item as well.
o Fixed incompatibilities with some HIMEM drivers.
Particularly with Windows 3.0.
o Added the ability to send a Password to open a door on the
"Mail Run" agenda item. If the network mail door requires a
password, you can now enter it as you create the MAIL RUN
agenda item.
o NEW AGENDA ITEM - The "P" command on the agenda screen will
create a "Download PCBoard Mail" agenda item. Robo will
issue a R;A;Z command from the main board on PCBoard 14.5
systems only. This command translates to:
"Read new messages in all SELECTed conferences, zip up the
resultant CAP file and download it."
Robo will use your configured "download file" protocol to do
the transfer. The packet will be re-named as it is
downloaded to <BBSID>.PCB and will be placed in your
configured QWK directory. Robo renumbers these PCB packets
in the same way as QWK packets.
o Added awareness of the "Do you wish to Re-Receive your
previous packet question" in the NetMail door. The answer
will always be "N". If you need to re-receive a packet, you
will need to do it manually.