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Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1
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┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Quick Reference Command Help TomCat! QWK Mail │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
TomCat! offers you the ability to download special QWK mail packet(s)
containing previously unread messages in preselected conferences for
easy offline reading. These special packets can contain both private
mail adressed to you and regular public messages. These QWK packets
require the use of a special offline mail reader such as OLX.
Shown below is a description of the available commands.
[D]ownload QWK packet - Scan new mail & create QWK pkt for download
[U]pload REP packet - Upload your replies contained in .REP file
[C]onfigure your settings - Configure available options for QWK mail
[H]elp with Tomcat - Displays this Help screen
[Q]uit back to the BBS - Exit TomCat! and return to the BBS
┌─────────────── For Detailed Descriptions, select [C]ontinue ────────────────┐
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Detailed Description Command Help TomCat! QWK Mail │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Offline mail reading/replying in QWK format is fast becoming a standard
method of processing mail from various bulletin board systems. This is
beneficial to the callers (especially those calling long distance)
because their online time is keep to a minimum while still allowing them
to fully participate on the BBS. You simply logon, scan for new mail,
download the QWK packet and logoff. Then at your leisure, you can read
and reply to messages contained in the QWK packet. No more spending
hours online reading messages. Now your on and off the BBS in just a few
minutes.
To properly handle these special QWK packets, a special offline mail
reader such as OLX (Offline Express) written by Mustang Software Inc.
are required. These offline mail readers can be downloaded from just
about any BBS and truely are a dream come true.
TomCat! offers the callers the ability to create and then download these
special QWK format packets. Depending on the system configuration, these
packets can contain previously unread messages, new bulletins, a list of
recently uploaded files and so on in one easy to manage file.
Shown below is a description of the available commands when using this
QWK format mail program.
[D]ownload QWK packet -
This option will start the process of scanning the preselected
conferences and create a QWK mail packet and prepare it for
download. Pressing Ctrl-C will abort this process. Selecting
this option presents a screen similar to below.
Total message limit: 1000
Conference message limit: 200
High Last Number To
Number Conference Message Read Found You
--------------------------------------------------------------------
0 General Messages -Local 5676 5654 14 8
1 Games Information -Local 161 165 0 0
2 DOS Commands/Info -Local 89 91 0 0
3 Classified Ad's -Local 624 621 1 0
4 Technical Info -Local 193 193 0 0
Shown below are descriptions of the various fields. Please
note selected fields are modifiable via the [C]onfigure your
settings command found on the Main Menu. The maximum values
for these fields are defined by the SysOp.
Total message limit: 1000 -
This number indicates the maximum amount of messages
allowed in a single QWK mail packet.
Conference message limit: 200 -
Maximum messages allowed on a per conference basis.
When scanning for new mail, if this limit has been
reached for the current conference, scanning will
proceed on to the next conference up to the "Total
message limit" defined above.
Number -
This is the actual conference number used when
selecting a specific conference via the [J]oin
Conference command in WILDCAT!
Conference -
This is a brief description of the conference topic or
theme.
High Message -
Highest available message number for this conference.
In other words, if a new message was saved in this
conference, this number would increment by one.
Last Read -
This number indicates the last message number you've
read from this conference. This is used as a "start
from" message number when extracting new messages.
Number Found -
Actual number of messages found beginning with "Last
Read" and ending with "High Message". It's possible
for these number not to balance out as mail addressed
to others flagged as PRIVATE will not be included.
To You -
This number indicates messages that are addressed to
you flagged as either PUBLIC or PRIVATE.
After the initial scan process is complete, you are presented
with a prompt similar to below.
Total messages found: 15 ( 8 personal)
Collecting new files: 7 new files
Shown below is a brief description of this information.
Total messages found: 15 ( 8 personal) -
This number indicates the total messages found for the
conferences scanned and displays the number of messages
addressed to you in parentheses.
Collecting new files: 7 new files -
This number is used to indicate the number of new files
uploaded to the BBS since the last time you logged on.
Prior to actually creating the QWK mail packet, TomCat! presents
you with the following sub-prompt.
Would you like to receive this packet,
[Y]es, [N]o, [G]oodbye when done?
Shown below is a description of these options.
[Y]es -
This will initiate the actual packing up of the QWK
mail packet and any additional information like new
files, bulletins etc. and then start the download
process.
[N]o -
When selected, this will return you to the TomCat!
Main Menu.
[G]oodbye -
This selection performs the exact same functions as
answering [Y]es and also logs you off the BBS when
the transfer is complete.
Depending on your present configuration settings, at this point
you make be asked to define the format you wish the QWK packets
to be compressed in (.ZIP, .LZH, .ARJ etc). After which you
could then possibly select which file transfer protocol you
would like to receive this packet with.
After selection, TomCat! will indicate it's ready to send and
and depending on which protocol you've selected, you may be
required to initiate reception of the file on your end. If for
whatever reason the transfer is aborted, you will be able to
easily re-start the download process over.
Once the transfer is complete, the system will indicate that it
has updated the high message numbers and you will then be
returned to the Main Menu.
[U]pload REP packet -
TomCat! will prompt the caller to begin uploading their reply
packet. Depending on the your current configuration, you may
be prompted to select the desired transfer protocol.
When the upload is complete, TomCat! will proceed to unpack the
reply packet, scan its contents, and insert the new messages
into their respective message conferences. TomCat! will then
display a summary of the newly uploaded messages similar to
below.
Conf: General Messages To: MIKE HART Subj: New Boat
Conf: Technical Info To: FRANK THOMAS Subj: Question
Conf: Wild Parties To: JOE MARTIN Subj: Pizza
3 replies uploaded
After the upload process is complete, you are returned to the
TomCat! Main Menu.
[C]onfigure your settings -
This option when selected, presents a sub-menu where you can
modify your configuration settings such as selection of
conferences to scan, resetting last read message pointers,
defining your packer type, transfer protocol and so on.
[G]oodbye, hangup -
Exit TomCat!, logoff the BBS and then terminate the connection
normally. This option only appears after you have previously
uploaded or downloaded a mail packet.
[H]elp with TomCat! -
Displays this Help screen.
[Q]uit back to the BBS -
Exit from TomCat!, and return to the BBS.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Quick Reference Configure your settings Command Help │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Shown below is a list options used for configuring your QWK mail packet.
[C]onfigure conferences - Select conferences to extract mail from
[R]eset high msg pointers - Reset "last read" msg number per conference
[U]pload BBS.PTR file - Upload pre-configured message pointer file
[S]end your own messages - Include msgs you've entered in QWK packet
[N]ew files scan - Toggle to include list of new uploads
[I]nclude new bulletins - Toggle for new bulletins in QWK packet
[M]aximum packet sizes - Define max msgs/conference and max total
[T]ransfer protocol - Select default transfer protocol
[P]acker (archiver) - Select compression method for QWK packet
[F]ormat for packets - Select QWK format or ASCII text for msgs
[H]elp with configuration - Displays this Help screen
[Q]uit back to Main Menu - Exits Configuration Menu
┌─────────────── For Detailed Descriptions, select [C]ontinue ────────────────┐
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Detailed Description Configure your settings Command Help │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
TomCat! allows you the ability to pre-configure your default values to
permit fast and easy retrieval of your new messages along with uploading
your replies.
With the advent of "robot dialers", it's also handy to have all your
settings defined ahead of time allowing the dialers to automatically
logon to the BBS and upload replies and download new messages during the
early morning hours. The mail can then be waiting for you when you
enjoy your morning coffee.
Shown below is a description of the available options. Depending on
the system configuration, some options may or may not be available.
[C]onfigure conferences -
This option allows you to select which conferences you wish to
include in your QWK packet. Normally, you would select only
those conferences that are of interest to you and exclude the
remaining ones.
This is identical to the [U]pdate Conference Scan/Read option
found on the BBS's Message Menu. Selecting conferences here
will also update which conferences are selected when scanning
or reading messages while on the BBS.
Selecting this option displays a list of conferences available
with the "last read" message number enclosed in parentheses.
This number is only displayed if the conference has been
previously selected. Selection is indicated by a asterisk (*)
displayed to the left of the conference description. If a
greater-than symbol ">" is displayed, it indicates that this
conference has been selected for personal mail only. General
messages from this conference will not be included in the QWK
packet. Shown below is a sample display.
0. *General Messages -Local (565) 7. NOVELL LAN Conf -Fido
1. *Games Information -Local (165) 8. *WILDCAT! Conference -Fido (753)
2. *DOS Commands/Info -Local (91) 9. MICROSOFT Windows -Fido
3. *Classified Ad's -Local (621) 10. *NORCAL Conference -Fido (911)
4. *Technical Info -Local (193) 11. *NET 161 Conference -Fido (440)
5. *Printer Information-Local (11) 12. CHATTER Conference -Fido
6. *SysOp to SysOp -Local (85) 13. ANIME Conference -Fido
- More below, use [+] to view - ">" means personal mail only -
Enter #, [L]ist, [+]Next, [-]Prev, [S]ort, List [A]ll,
List [O]nly selected, [T]oggle menu, or [ENTER] to quit?
After a list of available conferences has been displayed, you
are presented with a prompt of available options. Shown below
is a description of those options.
Enter # -
This number indicates the conference you wish to update
from the list displayed. Selecting a number presents a
similar sub-prompt.
Do you want to scan "General Message Area"
[P=Personal only] [Y/n/p]?
Shown below is a description of these options.
[P]ersonal only -
When this flag is set, only messages from this
conference addressed to you will be extracted.
This is handy for picking up mail outside of your
usual conferences.
[Y]es -
This is used to select this conference for all
messages since the last time you read mail. This
will also update your settings in WILDCAT! as well.
After [Y]es has been entered, you're presented
with the following sub-prompt.
Message numbers in this conference range from 1 to 904. Current is 900.
Enter new message pointer, [H]elp, [ENTER = no change]:
From here you can reset your "last read" message
number by any of 4 possible methods.
10 - Sets your message pointer to 10
-10 - Gives you the last 10 messages
10% - Gives you the last 10% of total number
of messages
mm/dd/yy - Gives you all messages since the date
specified
After selection, TomCat! will proceed to reset the
message pointer for this conference. Additional
information is available by selecting the [H]elp
option.
[N]o -
When chosen, this will turn off all scanning and
reading of mail from both TomCat! and from within
WILDCAT!
[L]ist -
Redisplays a list of all conferences starting from the
lowest available number.
[+]Next -
This option is only displayed if the number of
available conferences exceeds the maximum allowed per
screen. When chosen, this will display the next screen
full of conferences.
[-]Prev -
This performs the exact same function as the [+]Next
option except it displays the previous screen full
of conferences. These two options together are used
to scroll forward and backward in the list of
conferences.
[S]ort -
This option is used to select the method in which the
conferences are displayed on the screen. This is only
provided as a convenience when updating conferences.
This sort method applies when using any of the List
methods. Selecting this option presents the following
sub-prompt.
Sort by [N]ame or [C]onference number [n/c]
Below is a description of the sort methods.
[N]ame -
This will display conferences sorted in
alphabetic order.
[C]onference number -
This will display conferences sorted in
numeric order.
List [A]ll -
This will display all conferences available to you.
This option in conjunction with the List [O]nly
selected are used to toggle the main [L]ist method.
For example, if List [O]nly selected option was the
last list method chosen, selecting the [L]ist option
will display only those conferences are were
previously selected.
List [O]nly selected -
Performs the same as List [A]ll except it will only
display conferences that have been previously
selected (indicated by a asterisk (*) next to the
conference description). All other conferences will
not be listed.
[T]oggle menu -
This option is used to globally change the selection
of conferences. Selecting this option presents the
following sub-prompt.
Global conference toggle options:
[1] Deselect all conferences
[2] Select all conferences for all mail
[3] Select remaining confs for personal mail only
[4] Turn off all "personal mail only" selections
Enter selection, [ENTER] to quit?
From here, selecting the appropriate number will
perform the desired operation.
[ENTER] to quit -
Exits the Configure Conferences selection and return
to the Configuration Menu.
[R]eset high msg pointers -
This option is used to reset the "last read" messages pointers
in the previously selected conferences. It will not reset any
of the "private mail only" conferences or the unselected
conferences. Selecting this option presents the following
sub-prompt.
There are three methods of setting your high message pointers -
by number, by percentage of total messages in conference, or by
date.
Examples:
-10 - Gives you the last 10 messages in each conference
10% - Gives you the last 10% of total number of messages
mm/dd/yy - Gives you all messages since the date specified
Set message pointers [ENTER = abort]:
From here, you can enter the appropriate method. Depending on
how many conferences have been selected, this may take a moment
or two. When TomCat! is finished, you will be returned to the
Configuration Menu.
[U]pload PS-BBS.PTR file -
Mail packets created by TomCat! contain a special pointer file.
This file is a image of the high message number before and
after the last mail packet download. It is useful for resetting
pointers after a failed transfer, or to recover lost messages if
a packet is accidently deleted.
To use this function, you must first extract the xxx.PTR file
(where xxx = BBS ID) from the last QWK packet successfully
downloaded from this BBS. Then from the Configuration Menu,
selecting [R]eset message pointers option, upload the xxx.PTR
file when prompted. After the upload is complete, you will be
presented with the following sub-prompt.
This pointer file is dated mm/dd/yy at hh/mm/ss.
Do you want to reset pointers [B]efore or [A]fter this
pointer file [B/a]?
Depending on the selection, the message pointers will be set
accordingly. This will allow you to recover from a failed
download or possibly a lost QWK packet.
[S]end your own messages -
This is a Y/N toggle to either include or exclude messages that
have been entered by you.
[N]ew files scan -
Depending on the system configuration, you can include a list of
recently uploaded files by toggling this option.
[I]nclude new bulletins -
Depending on the system configuration, you can include all the
recently updated bulletin by toggling this option.
[M]aximum packet sizes -
This option is used to define the maximum number of messages
per packet extracted from the available conferences along with
the maximum number of messages per conference. Selecting this
option allows you to set these values up to the maximum defined
by the SysOp.
[T]ransfer protocol -
This is used to define what transfer protocol will be used when
uploading and downloading QWK packets. This is used in the
exact same manner as selecting your default protocol while in
the BBS. When the default method is chosen, it will
automatically update your user settings when using the BBS.
Selecting this option presents the following sub-prompt.
Select a default protocol:
[S]elect at time of transfer
[Z] Zmodem [Y] Ymodem [O] Xmodem/1K [C] Xmodem/CRC
[X] Xmodem [K] Kermit [Q]uit
PROTOCOL MENU [S Z Y O C X K Q]:
If a specific protocol is selected, when starting the download
or upload, you will need to make sure you are using that exact
same protocol on your end.
[P]acker (archiver) - Use PKZip
This option is used to select what compression method is used
on the QWK packet. Depending on how the system is configured,
you may or may not have all the compression methods listed
below. Selecting this option presents the following sub-prompt.
Select a packer:
[Z] PKZIP [A] PKPAK [L] LHA [J] ARJ
[Q]uit
PACKER MENU [Z A L J Q]:
Selecting the appropriate compression utility will then return
you to the Configuration Menu.
[F]ormat for packets -
When selected, this option allows you to define what format
you want your packet in. At present, there are two options,
QWK format and standard ASCII text. More formats may be added
as they become available. Selecting this option presents the
following sub-prompt.
Do you want [Q]WK or [T]ext packets [Q/t]?
Below is a brief description.
[Q]WK -
This is the standard format used by the vast majority
of offline mail readers.
[T]ext packets -
This is standard ASCII text format. Any standard
display utility can be used to read the messages
with, however, this only useful for reading mail.
At present there no provisions available for replying
to any of these messages.
[H]elp with configuration -
Displays this Help screen.
[Q]uit back to TomCat! Main Menu -
Exit Configuration Menu and return to the TomCat! Main Menu.
┌────────────────────────── End of Help Information ──────────────────────────┐
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
