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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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maximus
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fd2max2.zip
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FD2MAX2.DOC
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1996-01-18
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┌┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬───────────┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┬┐
├┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┤ FD2MAX2 ├┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┼┤
├┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴───────────┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┴┤
│ Frontdoor (DOS) <---> Maximus (OS/2) bridge │
└────────────────18th January 1996────────────────┘
* Introduction
* Requirements
* How to use FD2MAX2
* How much does this program cost to use?
* Availability
* Credits
Introduction
============
This program has a very simple purpose in life - it reads a DOBBS.BAT file
produced by a DOS mailer and passes the parameters from the batch file, along
with the handle to an open com port, to an OS/2 BBS program.
FD2MAX2 was written with Frontdoor and Maximus/2 in mind, but you could use
it to bridge any DOS frontend program that produces DOBBS.BAT-style dropfiles,
and almost any OS/2 program that requires an open com port handle rather than
a fixed port name or number.
Requirements
============
A DOS based mailer, such as Frontdoor or Intermail, that produces a DOBBS.BAT
style dropfile after answering the call. Frontdoor must be set up to produce
this file (FDSETUP->Mailer->Errorlevels->Create BAT.file).
An OS/2 based program that needs the handle to an open com port, such as
Maximus/2.
This program *will* work with the standard COM.SYS driver and a DOS fossil,
but from tests that we have carried out you will need to force the modem to
ignore DTR to avoid dropping the line when the DOS VDM quits. This is not a
very good idea, as it makes it very difficult to hang up the modem reliably.
A much better solution is to use SIO, Ray Gwinn's excellent serial port
driver. If you are running an OS/2 based BBS package with any DOS doors then
you will also want to enable comm port sharing in SIO - you can do this by
adding a '-' switch in the port definitions, ie:
DEVICE = D:\SIO\SIO.SYS (1:115200,,,-)
How to use FD2MAX2
==================
Syntax: fd2max2 <path to dobbs.bat> <command line ...>
<command line> may contain fields from dobbs.bat, typically:
$0 "EXEBBS" or "EXEFAX"
$1 Baud rate
$2 Com port number
$3 Time remaining until next event
$4 Task number (always 0 for s/w version of Frontdoor)
$5 ARQ connect string, '/ARQ' or similar, or '/NONE' if none
$6 Caller-ID information, or 'N/A' if none
$7-$9 Undefined but available
In addition:
$H File handle for open comport
Example syntax:
fd2max \fd\dobbs.bat maxp.exe -p$H -n$4 -b$1 -s115200
Here is a very simple example of how to use FD2MAX2 as a bridge between
Frontdoor and Maximus/2:
==== bbs.cmd ====
:start
cd \fd
fd.exe
cd \max
fd2max2 \fd\dobbs.bat maxp.exe -p$H -n$4 -b$1 -s115200
cd \fd
goto start
------ cut ------
Field $0 possibly requires explanation. If Frontdoor receives a FAX call, it
writes out a DOBBS.BAT field with 'EXEFAX' instead of 'EXEBBS'. If you
wanted to pass fax calls to another application (probably BGFAX/2), you'll
need to use a slightly more complicated setup, something like this:
(Note, however, that this batch file has not been tested).
==== bbs.cmd ====
:start
cd \fd
fd.exe
cd \max
fd2max2 \fd\dobbs.bat loadbbs.cmd $0 $2 -p$H -n$4 -b$1 -s115200
cd \fd
goto start
------ cut ------
== loadbbs.cmd ==
if %1.==EXEFAX. goto fax
maxp.exe %3 %4 %5 %6
goto end
:fax
cd \bgfax
bgfax2.exe /fax \bgfax %2 z
:end
------ cut ------
However, if you do use BGFAX/2, be sure to read the section regarding SIO and
locked ports in the BGFAX docs.
How much does this program cost to use?
=======================================
This is a rather small program, and although it does provides a solution to
an otherwise unsolvable problem, it's far too simple to ask any money for,
but we'd love to hear from you. Of course, if you want to send us money, we
won't turn it down!
So, this program can properly be classified as 'email-ware' - if you're using
it, drop us a note!
We can be contacted in the following ways. Comments, criticism, hey, even
flames - we like mail! - to any of:
Fidonet: Malcolm Rowe, 2:254/438
Mark Stewart, 2:254/276
Email: Malcolm Rowe <malcolm@pyro.org>
Mark Stewart <mark@evolve.demon.co.uk>
BBS: Malcolm Rowe, Pyrotechnix BBS - +44 181 390 4701
Mark Stewart, Evolution - +44 181 241 6607
or +44 181 287 2013
Availability
============
We don't expect to make any major changes to such a simple program unless we
get a lot of mail asking for a specific feature, but if there are any furthur
updates, they will be available on both the above BBS's for download and FREQ.
The latest version will always be available using the magic name 'FD2MAX2'.
Credits
=======
Concept: Malcolm Rowe and Mark Stewart
Coding: Malcolm Rowe
Documentation: Mark Stewart