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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Silver Xpress Off-Line Mail System │
│ Version 3.02 │
│ (c) copyright 1988-1992 by Santronics Software │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NOTE: AS OF JANUARY 18, 1993 WE WILL HAD MOVED TO OUR NEW LOCATION │
│ IN SOUTH FLORIDA. "WE ARE TRADING SNOW FOR BUGS!" IF YOU PLAN TO │
│ REGISTER, PLEASE READ THE ORDER.TXT FILE ABOUT OUR NEW ADDRESS AND │
│ TELEPHONE NUMBERS. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Welcome! You have taken the first step to using the most powerful and
flexible off-line mail system!
Thousands of users world wide are using the Silver Xpress Mail System.
Now, you will see why!
Version 3.02 is the 2nd maintenance release over version 3.00 released
on April 9, 1992. It is a FREE version to all 3.0x registered users of
Silver Xpress. If you are 3.0x registered user of Xpress, you may skip
this file and read the WHATSNEW.302 file. As a veteran user of Silver
Xpress, we provided a Summary Section in the WHATSNEW.302 file. Please
be aware of the system file changes.
This README.302 file is an abbreviated documentation for the Silver
Xpress Reader. Silver Xpress has an extensive hypertext on-line help
system which will more than suffice to help you explore the new
features in Silver Xpress.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Full documentation and a bound manual is provided with the normal │
│ registration price of $57.50. $45.00 just for the registration │
│ code without the manual. (Upgrade $27.50 and $15.00 respectively) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Support for this package is available several ways:
1) All customers can use the Silver Xpress International XPRESS
USER mail conference for questions and comments. Ask your
local remote host sysop for its availability.
You may also call the Santronics Software Xpress Support
Remote Host BBS Center and leave a electronic message with your
questions or comment. A reply will be available with 48
hours. All patches, minor upgrades and other files will be
available on this Remote Host.
2) Customers who are unregistered can use voice support for
questions and comments.
3) Version 3.0x registered customers can call 800-845-6944 (EST
9am-9pm). 1 hour total limit of free support is allowed. Have
your reader registration number ready. Unregistered
customers may call this number if they are going to purchase
or upgrade version 3.0x.
┌──────────────┐
│HOW TO UPGRADE│
└──────────────┘
1) Customers who registered Silver Xpress version 2.2x after
3/1/91 and before 4/31/92 are eligible for a free version to
Silver Xpress version 3.0x. To receive your free
registration code, please fill out the order form (in
ORDER.TXT), or you may call our voice support line.
Make sure your registration code is provided. No new codes will
be provided without one.
2) Customers who registered prior to 3/1/91 can upgrade by
using filling out the order form, or call 800-845-6944 for
credit card orders. The basic charge is $15.00 or $27.50
with documentation plus shipping and handling.
┌─────┐
│FILES│
└─────┘
This is the list of files you should expect in this package:
README.302 - This file
INSTALL.EXE - Installation program.
INSTALL.DAT - Installation program data file
DISK.DAT - Installation program data file
PREINST.BAT - Installation program data file
SILVER.ZIP - Main Silver Xpress Zip FIle
XPREAD.EXE - New Silver Xpress Version 3.02
XPREAD.OVR - Overlay File. Must be together with XPREAD.EXE
SXMENU.LIB - Default pull down menu for XPREAD.EXE
WELCOME.OPX - Sample Silver Xpress OPX mail for demonstration
228MENU.LIB - Example customized menu for XPREAD.EXE
WHATSNEW.300 - Listing of whats new in Silver Xpress V3.00
WHATSNEW.301 - Listing of whats new in Silver Xpress V3.01
WHATSNEW.302 - Listing of whats new in Silver Xpress V3.02
LICENSE.TXT - License and copyright information.
ORDER.TXT - Order Form
XPLANG.DEF - Language file (NOTE: FILE NAME CHANGE)
ARCHIVER.DEF - Archiver Definition File
XPREAD.HLP - Hypertext Help file for Silver Xpress
XPREAD.CLR - default color file
BW.CLR - black and white color file
CHARLIE.CLR - Charlie Smith's Black and White Color File
COLOR.CLR - CGA color file
MONO.CLR - Monchrome Color File
CHINESE.CLR - Chinese Color File with no desktop character
XPREAD.SFI - Speech Friendly Interface Configurable Strings.
SFI.DOC - Documentation on Speech Friendly Interface.
PICKLIST.LIS - Pick List of all the list files in the system.
ALIAS.LIS - Alias Pick List
USER.LIS - Addressee Pick List
SIGN.LIS - Signature Pick List
TAGS.LIS - Tag line Pick List
SUBJECT.LIS - Subject Line Pick List
IMPORT.LIS - Import File Pick List
NETFLAGS.LIS - Netmail attribute pick list
MATRIX.LIS - Pick list for netmail matrix numbers
CABINET.LIS - Pick list for file cabinet names
FAXPHONE.LIS - Pick list for common fax phone numbers.
FAXFILES.LIS - pick list for common fax files.
FAXCOVER.LIS - Pick list for fax cover files.
PRINT.LIS - Print device pick list
MAILPROC.LIS - Pick list for mail processor
STOLEN.LIS - Template pick list for stolen tag lines
MORETAGS.LIS - More tag lines
WINDOWS.LIS - More tag lines
IHATEBW.LIS - More tag lines
If you have anything different or missing, please contact us and inform
us of any discrepancy. We want to ensure that your copy of Silver
Xpress is not maliciously manipulated in any way. Silver Xpress was
checked for viruses before and after the packaging process.
┌───────────────┐
│BONUS PROGRAMS │
└───────────────┘
If you are receiving a registered Silver Xpress Diskette, then the
diskette will have a BONUS directory. In the BONUS directory, you
should find:
SXCOLOR.ZIP - Xpress Reader Color Customization Program
SXDM100.ZIP - Xpress Reader Menu Customization Program
DTREE421.ZIP - Simple directory display program
SPOT213.ZIP - Super fast Seek and Act File Search System
SXM105.ZIP - New Silver Xpress Hard Disk Menu System
XPRNAMER.ZIP - Xpress Packet Rename Utility by Fred Merrick
These programs are value at over $80.00 plus dollars. They are yours
free of charge with your full purchase and registration of the Silver
Xpress Off-line Mail Reader.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS │
│ │
│ o IBM PC or clone │
│ o DUAL FLOPPY with minimum of 720K Each │
│ o IBM DOS or MS DOS 3.1 or better │
│ o 640K Ram Memory │
│ o Monochrome/Color Monitor │
│ │
│ IDEAL SETUP │
│ │
│ o IBM DOS or MS DOS 3.1 or better │
│ o CGA Monitor or better │
│ o Hard disk with 2-5 megs of Free space │
│ o 640K Ram Memory with 2K or more of Expanded/Extended memory │
│ o Silver Xpress located on the DOS PATH statement │
│ o A INTEL Model 400 FAX/Modem for Faxing and V32 communications│
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────┐
│INSTALLATION│
└────────────┘
BBS SHAREWARE VERSION: TYPE PKUNZIP SXR302, THEN INSTALL
(You did this already if you are reading this)
DISKETTE VERSION : TYPE A:INSTALL.EXE.
(You did this already if you are reading this)
EXPERIENCED USERS:
If you are already using Silver Xpress version 2.28 or below,
we suggest to backup your copy, DELETE THE OLD XPREAD.EXE, and then
install the new system.
If you are already using Silver Xpress version 3.01 or below,
you can simply install over the top of the previous 3.0x version.
However as a precaution, we suggest you first make a backup.
This is the best way to get the most out of Silver Xpress.
NEW USERS:
To make Silver Xpress work the FIRST TIME, there is ONLY one thing you
need to know:
Xpress uses 3rd party programs to compress and decompress information
(mail). It must be able to find them. You can put them in the same
directory as Xpress or they must be in the PATH.
By running the installation program, it will check to see if 3rd party
utilties can be found.
HARD DISK USERS:
As an example we will use "C:\XPRESS" as your Silver Xpress directory.
Make the proper subsitution for your setup.
1) Create A directory Called C:\XPRESS
2) Expand the Silver Xpress files into this directory.
3) Edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and add the following to your PATH
statement:
PATH C:\XPRESS;....plus what was here before.....
4) Reboot the machine
To start Silver Xpress, change directory to C:\XPRESS and type XPREAD
FLOPPY DISK USERS:
If you only have a single 5.25 360K floppy you will not be able to
maximize your use of Silver Xpress. Although, it is quite possible to
make Silver Xpress work with a 360K floppy system, we do not recommend
it and therefore will not spend any more time on it.
Silver Xpress can work on a floppy disk with 720K at a minimum but you
will be pushing it.
The upmost requirement is that the COMSPEC for DOS is located on the
same drive as Silver Xpress. This means, Silver Xpress should be on a
Bootable Diskette. See your DOS manual to make a BOOT diskette.
The second requirement is that you should have a second drive, it can
be another floppy or ram drive.
The following is the minimum list of files required:
XPREAD.EXE
XPREAD.OVR
SXMENU.LIB
XPREAD.HLP (Not required if registered)
XPREAD.CLR (only available after you start Xpress)
XPREAD.CFG (only available after you start Xpress)
These files add up to approximately 355K. All other files found in the
package are not required but you will have features available to you
like pick list files.
Put this files in the BOOT Diskette.
Create a CONFIG.SYS file for the BOOT Diskette and put the following
lines in it.
FILES=20
BUFFERS=8
Create a AUTOEXEC.BAT file for BOOT Diskette and put the following
lines in it.
@ECHO OFF
PATH A:\
SET COMSPEC=A:\
SET XOL=A:\
A:\XPREAD.EXE -MB:\ -RB:\ -WB:\
Format a second diskette on drive B, and label this diskette as your
MAIL DISKETTE.
At this point, you should be all set up.
If you have any problems, call Silver Xpress Technical support at
412-864-2060 9am-5pm EST
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│NEW FEATURES IN SILVER XPRESS│
└─────────────────────────────┘
INTERACTIVE HYPERTEXT HELP:
You will find the Silver Xpress hypertext help system to be very
useful. Everything in Silver Xpress is explained, except where
detailed information is required. Some of the details are explained
here, but to get the most of Silver Xpress, you will need the full
documentation.
Just hit F1 where ever you need help. Use the ALT-F1 key to browse
backwards in the help system.
QWK SUPPORT:
Silver Xpress will now support QWK mail files. This allows you to
benefit from the power of Silver Xpress for QWK mail systems.
If you want to support QWK, make sure you define the packet
specification to include the *.Q?? file specification. The default
specification is *.Q?? *.O??
EXEC SWAPPING (REAL MODE ONLY. NOT REQUIRED IN PROTECTED MODE)
Silver Xpress will utilize as much memory as required to successfully
negotiate a mail session. Whenever a DOS operation is performed from
Silver Xpress, it is quite possible to RUN OUT OF MEMORY, thus causing
the DOS operation to be unsuccessful. When this situation occurs, you
can use the built-in EXEC SWAPPING feature of Silver Xpress to free up
memory prior to calling the DOS operation. If you insert certain
prefixes to the command, it will enable certain exec swapping or other
operations.
Prefix Command
none Xpress will use COMMAND.COM. Program must be on the path.
! Direct call to Program. Program must be Fully Qualified
$ Exec Swap. Program must be fully qualified
# Exec Swap. Xpress will call COMMAND.COM. Program on Path.
W Pop up a window and run program using COMMAND.COM. No
swapping will be perform so make sure the program has
enough memory. Here is the format:
W <x1> <y1> <x2> <y2> [command] [parameters]
where x1,y1,x2,y2 are window dimensions.
see archiver.def for window example with pkzip.
(Fully qualified means the complete drive:\path\filename.ext must be
included).
ARCHIVER DETECTION:
Silver Xpress now has the ability to dynamically define up to 20
different archivers.
The file ARCHIVER.DEF defines all the archivers currently available.
They are pre-defined and should work in all cases. However, they
assume the programs are located in a PATHed directory.
See how you can optimize the archiver detection system in the
OPTIMIZING SILVER XPRESS section.
CRASH CALL OPTION:
The new Silver Xpress has an option where you can create a file called
XPRESS.CLO which is designed to interface with telecommunication such
as Gold Xpress or Telix. The XPRESS.CLO has the following format:
field1 field2 field3 field4 field5
where
field1 telephone number of host to call
field2 board id
field3 OPX or QWK file name
field4 REP file name
field5 BIF file name
To create this file, use the CALL option off the packet loader.
There are several methods to interface the Silver Xpress CRASH CALL
option with your telecommunications program. One way is to configure
your telecommunications program to call XPREAD.EXE directly. This is
the Gold Xpress method. However, if your telecommunications is large,
and does not it's own exec swapping logic, you will probably run out of
memory to call XPREAD.EXE. Another way is to use a batch file like
the one below:
-- SX.BAT --
@echo off
xpread %1 %2 %3 %4
if not exist c:\telix\xpress.clo goto quit
cd \telix
telix callxp
:quit
This batch file assumes TELIX is the telecommunications program, and a
TELIX script file callxp is available.
SILVER XPRESS FORMS SYSTEM:
The Silver Xpress Mail System now implements a powerful forms
processing facility. If you are a SYSOP or a system integrator, you
will find Silver Xpress Forms System to be a powerful and flexible
system to allow for most off-line data entry applications.
Since this is SYSOP option, this is documented with the door package.
Your sysop may provide a Silver Xpress Order form for his system. This
is one way to order system electronically, but more importantly, you
will see the power in Silver Xpress Forms System.
If you are a professional developer or system integrator, and wish to
explore the possibilities Silver Xpress Forms may have for your
organization, then download the file FORMTOOL.ZIP from any Xpress
Distribution Node.
SILVER XPRESS FAXXPRESS SYSTEM:
Your Sysop may have implemented a FAX Service. If so, you will see
options to allow you to perform fax mail via his system.
Talk to your sysop about the possibilities of Fax Mail.
MENUS:
Silver Xpress now uses a pull down menu system. You can even use a
mouse if you have one.
The menu may be changed by using the SXDYMENU.EXE program. This
program is available as SXDM100.ZIP and can be found on the Xpress
Distribution Network.
Silver Xpress will always load the menu SXMENU.LIB. You can explore
the alternate menu system with the sample 228MENU.LIB by typing:
XPREAD -X228MENU.LIB
A BBS can also define the menu you will see. If a BBS operator chooses
to provide a customized menu with your mail packet, you can not
override his customization.
By customizing your menus, you can create canned mail options like:
"Send Mail to Charlie"
"Send Echo Mail Rules for Xpress User Conference"
or create menus that read specific areas, like:
"Read Netmail Area"
"Read Private Conference""
"Read LAN MHS Mail"
or create a hard disk menu system, like:
"Run Word Perfect"
"Call Telix"
43/50 LINE MODE SUPPORT:
You can tell Xpress to use 43/50 line mode support. Xpress will adjust
it's windows dimensions in most places to take advantage of the added
screen space.
You can temporarily switch to 43/50 line mode by using the -V50 switch.
SPEECH FRIENDLY INTERFACE:
If you are visually impair, you will find Silver Xpress to the the best
off-line electronic mail system designed to present mail to you in the
most friendly and clean spoken manner. Xpress has configurable talking
cursors and long strings to control the verbosity of the system.
In addition, a first in electronic mail, a talking quoter and talking
grammer system. With talking Quoter, mail is presented in a paced
fashion. You will hear who said what. With Talking Grammer, you can use
the reader cursor to place the cursor anywhere on the message and have
it speak to you the next paragraph, sentence or word!
Use the -SFI switch the first time you use Silver Xpress to activate
the speech friendly interace.
CONCEPT QUOTER:
Silver Xpress has a new facility to allow you to quote mail on a line
by line basis.
While you are reading mail, hit the Q key to quote the current line.
Continue hitting the Q hit for each line you wish to quote. Xpress will
put the quoted lines into a temporary buffer.
If you want to add your reply to the lines you just quoted, hit the
ALT-Q key. Xpress will take you to the internal editor and put the
cursor at the bottom.
This new unique feature gives you the ability to quote mail on a concept
basis without the need to quote the entire message first. What you end
up with is a CLEAN concept by concept quoting system!
ANSI MAIL:
Silver Xpress now can display ANSI messages. ANSI messages have ANSI
escape sequences to create fancy displays.
NOTE: If you create ansi mail using TDRAW or a similar program, you
must set the save width to 80 or less characters. Otherwise, Xpress
will truncate your mail.
LIST FILES:
The reader has enhanced the list file system. You can hit the F2 key
at almost any input file to pop up list of choices that you have
created.
PICKLIST.LIS - List of all the pick list files.
USER.LIS - Displayed at the TO WHOM:
ALIAS.LIS - Displayed at the FROM WHOM:
IMPORT.LIS - Displayed at IMPORT FILE NAME:
SUBJECT.LIS - Displayed at the subject line,
NETFLAGS.LIS - Displayed at NetMail Attributes
MATRIX.LIS - Displayed at NETMAIL ToWhom or Net Address
CABINET.LIS - Displayed at SAVE FILE NAME:
SIGN.LIS - Displayed when creating new mail.
TAGS.LIS - Displayed when creating new mail.
FAXPHONE.LIS - Displayed in the Send Fax File Section.
FAXFILES.LIS - Displayed in the Send Fax File Section.
FAXCOVER.LIS - Displayed in the Send Fax File Section.
PRINT.LIS - Displayed when going to print.
MAILPROC.LIS - Displayed when D is hit when reading mail.
MORETAGS.LIS - Called from TAGS.LIS
WINDOWS.LIS - Called from TAGS.LIS
STOLEN.LIS - Called from TAGS.LIS
The last three are called from TAGS.LIS with the new "LIST ON LIST"
concept. The LIST FILE system now has the ability to pop-up another or
alternate list. To activate this feature, you need the keyword
%ALTLIST in the file. With this option on, each item which begins with
a @ symbol will be viewed as a file to pop-up if selected.
In addition, the %ITEM RANDOM keyword was added to the list system.
This keyword will random highlight an item when the list first appears.
See TAGS.LIS for examples on how these new keywords are implemented.
As of version 3.02, you can hit the ALT-P to display the "PICKLIST.LIS"
file and edit the pick list files.
COMMAND LINE SWITCHES:
-Cxxxx Use XXXX configuration file instead of default XPREAD.CFG
-Xxxxx Use XXXX menu file instead of default SXMENU.LIB
-DV Force Desqvu Mode
-V50 Force 43/50 video line mode
-Wxxxx Change the default work directory
-Mxxxx Change the inbound mailbox directory
-Rxxxx Change the outbound replybox directory
-O Do not do any archiving. It was done outside.
XXXXXX is required. But xxxxx should be the file name
of the OPX file.
Xpress will only use this to get the Xpress file name.
Note. HLD and BIF files are created in the path
specify by XXXXX otherwise they are created in the work
directory. It is your responsibility if you go this
route to take this into account.
-TTOff Turn off Ticker Tape (registered user only)
-S Go directly to the configuration menu.
-SFI Enable the Speech Friendly Interface System.
-Lxxxx Directly load the file (xxxx is the file spec)
/CHIN Use Normal Ascii characters for drawing boxes
/VI Special switch to make certain items more "wordy"
/MOFF Force the mouse support OFF
/E3=XX Switch for people (chinese language) who want to change the
default QWK message delimiter. XX is a HEX number. "
┌────────────────────────┐
│OPTIMIZING SILVER XPRESS│
└────────────────────────┘
There are several things you can do to speed up Silver Xpress.
1) If you predominately use a single archiver like PKZIP/PKUNZIP or ARJ
and anything else, then I recommend you edit the Archiver
Information and hard code full paths for the archiver. For example,
USE ARCHIVER DETECTION: NO
USE PACKET DETECTION : NO
EXPANSION : $C:\UTILITY\PKUNZIP.EXE -O %1
COMPRESSION : $C:\UTILITY\PKZIP.EXE -M %1
The same holds true for your external editor and any other 3rd party
program you define within Silver Xpress.
In other words, "Being Specific is Terrific" for faster operations.
When you do this, you can also diable "CHECK PROGRAM EXISTENCE" in
your miscellaneous variable section.
2) If you have plenty of RAM memory, above 280K after you start Xpress,
then it's probably not necessary to use the EXEC SWAP symbols $ or
#.
3) If you want to use a RAM drive and have plenty of space for it (1MEG
recommended), then you can put your work directory here.
Keep in mind that you are vulnerable to loss of reply mail if a
accident boot is necessary.
4) To reduce memory requirements, one thing you can do is redesign the
pull down menu. A external program called SXDYMENU.EXE is available
as a separate package to allow you to customize your menus. A
sample menu 228MENU.LIB is provided with reduce menu options.
By removing the customize color options and some of the other
options, you can drastically add more memory to Silver Xpress.
5) Silver Xpress uses an OVERLAY system, XPREAD.OVR. If you don't have
extended memory but do have a RAM drive, you can do the following to
speed up the loading of the overlay system:
a) Copy your XPREAD.OVR over to the RAM Drive, say F:\
b) Define the following environment string, SET XOL=F:\
Another way is to copy the XPREAD.EXE over to the ram drive as well.
Silver Xpress will first look for XOL and if not found, look for the
XPREAD.OVR file in the same directory as XPREAD.EXE.
6) If you find Silver Xpress EXEC SWAPPING taken a bit too long, this
is probably it is SWAPPING to DISK rather than EXPANDED memory.
If you have a RAM drive, you can tell XPRESS where to SWAP it's
files by setting the environment string, SET XESP=F:\XPREAD.SW$ You
must give it a full file path and name.
7) Single mail system users like QWK or OPX only users, can speed up
the packet search system by changing the packet specification.
Remember, "Being Specific is Terrific".