Darwin is a Tabby event-compatible utility that lets you have multiple origin lines for each Fidonet echo that you read. Each echo has it's own independent set of origin lines. Darwin randomly selects a different origin line for each message of each echo for which Darwin is configured. If you want to use the default origin line, that is okay, too. Just don't make any entries for that echo.
Darwin works with either Copernicus II or COUNTERPoint 2.0 or earlier. COUNTERPoint users may use either Tabby or Copernicus modules.
Darwin is $5.00 shareware. If you use Darwin, please support shareware by sending a check for $5.00 to the address below.
Oh, and Darwin is named after Charles Darwin who wrote "Origin of the Species", a landmark book on species evolution.
/*** Setting up Darwin */
1] Create a new text file called "Origins" (no quotes). Save this file
inside the Copernicus or COUNTERPoint folder, i.e., in the same folder
as the Copernicus or COUNTERPoint application. The Origins file is where
you keep your list of origin lines for each echo. A sample Origins
file is included with this archive. You may simply copy it into the
proper folder.
2] Each echo name and origin line must begin on a new line and end with a
return. The first entry in the text file MUST begin with a bullet.
Right now, there isn't any error checking in this regard. If you don't
like to see the bomb, I suggest you format the Origins file properly.
I'll correct this in a future version.
3] Each echo name must begin with a bullet, • (option-8). Origin lines may
NOT have a bullet (•) as the first character. Anywhere else in the origin
line is okay. See sample file included with this archive. Echo names
must appear exactly as you see them in the areas.bbs file, i.e., by their
tag name. Upper or lower case does not matter.
4] Fidonet specifications state that the total origin line be 79 characters or
less. This includes the " * Origin: " and your node number at the end. You
may want to calculate the total number of characters remaining for your
origin line after your node number and the " * Origin: " prefix are removed.
For example, the prefix takes 11 characters, including the leading and
trailing spaces. A node number consists of open and close parentheses, and
your zone, node, net, and point number. For example, my total node is
" (1:396/69.1)" which is 13 characters long. Notice the leading space and
be sure to include the it in your count. My origin line is allowed to be
79 - 11 - 13 = 55 characters long. If you are point 4 off of node 396/1
then your total node length is 12 characters long and you are allowed to
have 56 characters in your origin line.
Darwin trims your origin line to the proper length. If you notice your
origin lines trimmed off, you'll want to correct them in your Origins
file.
5] Insert Darwin immediately after the Send module in your event chain. How
you do this depends on which point software and version you are using.
You only need to read the section that applies to you.
COUNTERPoint 2.0:
You need to make two changes. Select Edit System Data from the Edit menu.
Select System Paths... from the pop-up menu. Click on the 1st Launch
button. An Open File dialog appears. Highlight the Darwin application and
click on the Select button. While still in the System Paths dialog, click
on the keyboard icon in the lower right corner to bring up another dialog.
Add Arcmail Compress to the beginning of the Events string, in front of
Call. Make sure there is a comma between Arcmail Compress and Call. Click
on the Save button to save the Events string, then the next Save button to
save the 1st Launch application.
COUNTERPoint 1.10 and earlier:
Select Edit System Data from the Edit menu. Select System Information from
the pop-up menu. Add Darwin to the front of the Events string, in front
of Arcmail Compress. Make sure there is a comma between Darwin and Arcmail
Compress. Click on the Save button to save your changes.
Copernicus II
For Copernicus users, you'll have to make two changes. In the Common
Folder is a file called Events. This is the event chain used if you use
Copernicus' AutoPilot feature. Edit the Events file so that Darwin
appears after Send. The event chain should look like this:
Notice that the Send module does not appear. When you immediately crash
your boss, Copernicus II automatically launches Send. Darwin will then
follow when Send is finished.
NOTE: your event chain may look somewhat different depending on the
exact modules you use. But Darwin should appear after Send in your
event chain.
6] Create a text file called "Point Information" (no quotes) inside the Tabby
or Common Folder. There needs to be one line of information in the Point
Information file. This line contains your boss's zone, net, and node,
followed by a carriage return. The format is zone:net/node<CR>. For example,
my Point Information file contains the line 1:396/69<CR>. Remember, don't
type "<CR>", but hit the return key instead.
IMPORTANT: Remember, this file contains your boss's net and node info,
NOT the private net and your point number.
7] That's all there is to it. Be creative in your origin lines.
/*** Known Bugs */
If the first entry in the Origins file doesn't begin with the "•", then
wierd things could (and most likely will) happen. I haven't yet entered any
error checking for this. Just be sure to make the first entry begin with a bullet. Darwin could care less if it is a valid echo name. He just has a thing for the first character in the file to be a bullet.
/*** Future plans */
Ability to have a master file of origin lines. Darwin will replace the current origin lines from the master file at user defined intervals. The user will also control the number of origin lines selected per echo from the master list.
/*** Special Thanks Department */
Thanks go to Pete Johnson for releasing his HelloTabby code. I would not have developed any of my utilities unless Pete's code hadn't been available.
Thanks also go to Sandro Menzel and Tom Porter for some beta testing!
A special thanks to Mike Lininger for allowing me to try Darwin on a pre-
release version of COUNTERPoint 2.0. Lookin' good!
/*** Also available */
TLC - Tabby Log Creator - lets you set the Tabby Log to any creator you specify.
Freeware. Tabby-only.
Darwin - Lets you have multiple, independent origin lines for all Fidonet echos.
$5 shareware. Not for Tabby.
NodeStuff - Automatically stuff and unstuff your Nodelist. Works with or
without Autonodes, by Chriss Koch. It requires StuffIt Deluxe 1.01 or later.
Freeware. Tabby-only.
/*** Bug reports and general applause should be directed to:
