Monster Media 1996 #15/Monster Media Number 15 (Monster Media)(July 1996).ISO/netmail/nfx290.zip/NFX.DOC

Text File | 1996-04-17 | 20KB | 436 lines

               ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
               │                  NFX v2.9                   │─┐
               │                                             │ │
               │   (c) Copyright 1996 By Blueview Software   │ │
               │            All Rights Reserved              │ │
               │                                             │ │
               │               (simple docs)                 │ │
               └─┬───────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
                 └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘




┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ INTRODUCTION                                                             │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 NFX is a packet offline mail reader. It works with QWK packets generated
 by QMAIL, RoseMail, and other QWK type doors. NFX also works with SOUP
 packets used primarily for internet mail and usenet news articles. If
 your ISP (Internet Service Provider) doesn't offer a means to download
 messages in SOUP format please ask them to consider adding such an option.

 NFX is small, fast, easy to use, and best of all its FREE to end users.
 See LICENSE.TXT for more information on custom and personal versions.

 Previous versions of NFX (up to v1.2) did not contain any documentation,
 but this didn't stop users from trying NFX. During this time I have received
 many thank you notes and suggestions to improve NFX. For all those that took
 the time to write me a message or call LD to Canada I want you to know that
 your time was appreciated and I thank you with this new release of NFX.

 For those that did try to send me a message and did not receive a response
 it was due to few factors. My email address had changed three times over the
 lifetime of NFX.

 My current internet address is [e-mail] and you may begin
 sending thank you notes and reporting bugs/problems or any other suggestions
 you may have.

 It is very difficult to keep a FREE program constantly updated. With version
 2.x I have decided to include a new licensing agreement that will improve
 things a little and still keep the program FREE to most end users.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REQUIREMENTS                                                             │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Color monitor
 Dos 3.1+


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CUSTOMER SERVICE                                                         │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

     If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions,
     Blueview Software can be contacted by:

     Voice - [phone]

     CAP/CANADA BBS [phone]  (Blueview Conference)

     Surface Mail  - Blueview Software
                     2300 Lawrence Ave. East BOX 80551
                     Scarborough, Ontario
                     CANADA  M1P 2R0

      Web Site: http://www.westonia.com/blueview/
      Ftp site: ftp://ftp.westonia.com/pub/blueview/
         email: [e-mail]

     NOTE: All email _will_ be answered. If you do not receive a reply
           within a few days please try again, mail does get lost.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DISTRIBUTION                                                             │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 The freeware version of NFX can be distributed in its original form by
 BBS, Internet, Online Services, Disk vendors, and CD-ROM vendors.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONFIGURING                                                              │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 From the main menu select configure settings.

 QWK Settings

    QWK Directory:
      The directory where your QWK packets reside.

    Reply Directory:
      The directory where your QWK reply messages will be placed in.

    QWK File Pattern:
      Used by the File Selector to list your QWK packets. The default
      setting is *.Q* which is lists all files with the extension Q.

    Reply Extension:
      The file extension that will be used to create your reply packet.
      Default setting is REP, if the packet id is WESTONIA then
      the reply packet will be WESTONIA.REP


 SOUP Settings

    SOUP Directory:
      The directory where your SOUP packets reside.

    Reply Directory:
      The directory where your SOUP reply messages will be placed in.

    SOUP File Pattern:
      Used by the File Selector to list your SOUP packets. The default
      setting is *.Z* which is lists all files with the extension Z.

    Reply Extension:
      The file extension that will be used to create your reply packet.
      Default setting is SRP, if the packet id is WESTONIA then
      the reply packet will be WESTONIA.SRP

    From Email:
      Your email address with your real name in brackets.
      eg. [e-mail] (Nick Onoufriou)

      Leave this field blank if your packet processor adds your From email
      by default. If you are using WSsoup to upload your reply messages
      then leave it blank, if you are using Souper then fill it in

    Reply Email:
      Leave this field blank if your Reply address will be the same as the
      From address. This is true for most users, change only if you want
      replies to be sent to a different email address.

    Time Zone:
      Time Zone used in your region, eg. EST
      Leave this field blank if the Date is inserted by the packet processor

    Domain Name:
      Usually the part of your email address that is listed after the "@"
      character. Leave this field blank if the packet processor creates
      the Message-ID field.

    Organization:
      A business name, school, or club that you belong to. Leave this
      field blank if you don't want the Organization header to be listed in
      your messages.


 General Settings

   You can also select an external editor if you do not wish to use the
   internal editor. Set External Editor to yes by selecting 'y' while the
   field is highlighted. Enter the full path of your editor in the form of
   "C:\MYDIR\EDITOR.EXE %1", the "%1" tells NFX where to place the name of
   the file to be edited.

   The next set of options allow you to select the number of conferences/areas,
   messages, and length of the messages that best represents the size of
   the packets you will be reading. Users who download packets over a megabyte
   may have to modify these settings.


 Packer/Unpacker Settings

   The remaining options are for the external packers/unpackers. NFX will
   try and fill these automatically. If the packers/unpackers are not in
   your DOS PATH you will have to modify these and place the file path of
   each packer/unpacker manually. For Zip Packer you may have to place
   something like "C:\PKWARE\PKZIP.EXE %1 %2"

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SELECTING A QWK/SOUP PACKET                                              │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 From the main menu choose "Select QWK Packet" or "Select SOUP Packet"
 If you have configured NFX correctly there should a list of all your QWK
 or SOUP packets. The packet files are sorted by alphanumeric and date
 order, this means that your most recent downloaded packet is always
 listed first.

 To select a packet use the up/down/pgup/pgdn arrow keys and hit the enter
 key when you have found the packet you wish to read. NFX will determine
 what compression program (PKZIP/ARJ) was used to compress the packet. It
 will then execute the correct un-compressing program (PKUNZIP/ARJ) listed
 in your configure settings.

 You can also delete packets using the "d" key. Sometimes you may end up
 collecting several packets that you wish to delete at once. Simply
 tag the packets with the space bar and hit the "d" key, this time all the
 tagged packets will be erased.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING THE CONTENTS OF A QWK/SOUP PACKET                                │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 If a QWK is successfully un-compressed a new menu will appear listing
 some of your options. You can read MAIL, NEWS, BULLETINS, or FILES. Some
 of these option might not be listed if your QWK packet does not contain
 these files.

 When a SOUP packet is successfully un-compressed a menu will appear with
 one option. Additional options will be added in future versions.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING MESSAGES                                                         │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Select Messages to read the messages in the packet. The first thing
 you will notice is a new screen listing the conferences/Areas you have
 selected in your packet. Use the arrow and page keys to navigate
 through the conference/Area listing, you can also use the "n" key to jump
 to the next conference/Area with messages, or use the "p" key to jump to
 the previous conference/Area. Once a conference/Area "with messages" has
 been selected hit the enter key. You will see  your first message in the
 conference/Area.

 When in the message read mode, you can do a number of things. You can use
 the arrow and page keys to scroll through the entire contents of the
 message.  Messages can be marked using the "m" key and saved with the
 "s" key. The 'c' key can be used to clear marked messages. Messages can
 also be saved to Folders in a similar way using the "ALT F" key. Select
 which messages you want to save and then the folder to save the messages
 in.

 Messages can be sorted by selecting the 'o' key. You can also search for
 key words using the 'f' key. A quick index of the messages  can also be
 obtained by using the "L" key.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REPLYING TO A MESSAGE                                                    │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 QWK Packet

  When you are reading a message hit the "r" key, this will bring up
  another menu with numerous input fields, the default values are usually
  correct when replying to a message, if they're not you can move the green
  highlighter to the field you wish to edit.

  Pick lists are available when in the message editing screen, just move
  the green highlighter over the FROM/TO/SUBJECT/TAGLINE fields and hit the
  "F2" key. You can also add the default values of the FROM/TO/SUBJECT/TAGLINE
  fields directly to the pick list with the "F3" key.


 SOUP Packet

  Enter 'r' to reply to a message you are currently reading. A menu will
  appear giving you the option to reply as "MAIL" or "NEWS"

  If you select MAIL the message will be sent privately to that individual
  only. If you select NEWS then the message will be posted publicly in the
  Newsgroup(s) that are listed in the Newsgroups: field.

  Pick lists are available when in the message editing screen, just move
  the green highlighter over the From/To/ReplyTo/Subject fields and hit the
  "F2" key. You can also add the default values of the From/To/ReplyTo/Subject
  fields directly to the pick list with the "F3" key.


 Editing & Saving the Message

  To edit the message contents hit the "F9" key. This will run the previously
  defined editor or use the internal editor to load the message.

  If you are using an external editor follow what ever procedure you would
  normally do to edit text. Once you have finished editing save the contents
  and exit the text editor. You will be brought back to the previous menu,
  simply press the "F10" key to save the entire message (header and contents.)
  You may also hit the "ESC" key to abandon the reply. All saved replies are
  placed in the REPLIES conference/Area.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ENTERING A MESSAGE (WITHOUT REPLYING)                                    │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Sometimes you may want to enter a message to "all" or a specific individual.
 From the conference listing screen move the cursor the conference you wish
 to enter the message and hit the "e" key. You can also enter a message from
 the current conference/Area while you are reading another message.

 From this point on follow the same directions as you would if you were
 replying to a message. This information has been described above.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RE-EDITING REPLIES                                                       │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 When entering messages you sometimes make mistakes and wish to modify what
 you have entered. From within the replies conference select the message
 and hit the "r" key followed by the "F9" key.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ KILLING REPLIES                                                          │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 From within the replies conference select the message hit the "k" key, this
 will toggle a flag in the message header indicating that the message has
 been killed. To un-kill the message hit the "k" key again. If the message
 is marked "Killed" it will not be placed in your REP (reply) packet.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING NEWS/FILES  (QWK Packets Only)                                   │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Selecting one of these options will invoke the internal file viewer, use
 the arrow and page keys to view the contents.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING BULLETINS   (QWK Packets Only)                                   │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Selecting this option will bring up another menu listing what bulletins
 are available, select a bulletin using up/down arrow keys and hit the
 enter key. The internal file viewer will be invoked allowing you to view
 the contents.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ENTERING A MESSAGE WITHOUT A PACKET  (QWK Packets Only)                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Each time you read a packet from a different BBS NFX stores this
 information in the BBS sub-directory. When selecting this option from the
 main menu NFX will list all the available BBSes. If the BBS you wish to
 enter a message is not listed you can add it to the list as long as you
 know the BBSes ID. The BBS ID is used to create the correct REP (reply
 packets.)


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FOLDERS                                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 Folders are provided as a means to keep track of large quantities of
 messages. Normally if you wanted to keep an important message you would
 save it to a file, but that becomes tedious when you have many messages.
 Folders provide an easy way to do this. Once a message is saved to a folder
 it can be easily found by selecting the correct folder. You can also search
 and sort your folder messages just like in QWK/SOUP packet mode.

 You can access the folders from three different areas of the program. From
 the main menu, the QWK Options menu, and the SOUP options menu. Accessing
 the folders from QWK/SOUP options menu gives you the added ability to
 reply to a folder message. You can also use this mode to resend previously
 written messages.

 There are two special folders, IN and OUT. The "IN" folder is where all the
 messages you have received are stored. The "OUT" folder is where all the
 messages you have written are stored.

 From the folder listing you can also add "ALT A", edit "ALT E", or delete
 "ALT D" folders. You can also pack "ALT P" the folders to remove any
 unwanted messages. Messages that have been marked as killed "k" will be
 permanently removed from the folder once it is packed.

 Once a message is in a folder it can be edited using the Full Edit command.
 First select the message then "ALT E", you will notice that the "full"
 message is listed including the headers.

 If the folders have been accessed from the QWK/SOUP option menu you can
 reply to the message with the "r" key. You can also resend the message
 using the "ALT S" key. In QWK mode the message will be placed in the
 "Replies" conference. In SOUP mode the message will be placed in the
 "Replies - Current" area. You can view the message by returning to the
 QWK/SOUP option menu.

 When reading a message in QWK/SOUP mode you can save the message to
 folders using the "ALT F" key.


 --- ADVANCED FOLDER OPTIONS ---

 From the main menu select configure and then F10. This will update your
 NFX.CFG file. Using a Text editor you can edit the following variables:

 MAX_FOLDERS = 200
 Set to the maximum amount of folders you will be using.

 QWK_INFOLDER = 3
 A setting of 0 - disables the importing of QWK messages to the "IN" folder.
              1 - imports only private messages addressed to you.
              2 - imports only public messages addressed to you.
              3 - imports private and public messages addressed to you.

 QWK_OUTFOLDER = 3
 A setting of 0 - disables the importing of QWK messages to the "OUT" folder.
              1 - imports only private messages you have written.
              2 - imports only public messages you have written.
              3 - imports private and public you have written.


 SOUP_INFOLDER = 1
 A setting of 0 - disables the importing of SOUP messages to the "IN" folder.
              1 - imports mail messages

 SOUP_OUTFOLDER = 3
 A setting of 0 - disables the importing of SOUP messages to the "OUT" folder.
              1 - imports only mail messages you have written.
              2 - imports only news messages you have written.
              3 - imports mail and news messages you have written.


┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LICENSING                                                                │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

 NFX is FREE when used in a non business or non government environment.
 This allows a majority of the users to use NFX. If you are not sure this
 includes you please contact me.

 A low cost license can also be obtained for users that do not fall in the
 free category. See LICENSE.TXT for additional information.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SPECIAL THANKS TO...                                                     │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

  DERREN WHITEMAN for providing a stable support BBS
  DAVID E. SMITH for WESTONIA BBS/Internet services
  DANE BEKO for helping test the SOUP portion of NFX
  ANTHONY MANGOS & CHRYS IOANNOU for helping with other aspects of NFX