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1997-12-22
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AutoFTP v1 - Documentation
By Nicky Morrow
1:366/47
nrmorrow@cybertron.com
Copyright (c) 1997
All rights reserved
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Contents Of Documentation *********************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1) Disclaimer 5) Problems
2) Introduction 6) Future Features
3) Features List 7) Credits
4) Installation 8) Registration Policy
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Disclaimer ************************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
There is no guarantee with this program other than it will take a
small portion of space from your HD. Use it at your own risk.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Introduction **********************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
"AutoFTP" was created for SysOps and others who need to automate ftp
operations. It operates in normal ftp file sending mode as well as
binkleyterm mode (expect frontdoor support in the future). It can run
all the time and execute events that you define or in automatic mode.
As time goes on expect new features with more options and increasing
configuration flexibility.
System requirements:
OS/2 Warp - AutoFTP is developed on a OS/2 Warp v4 system but I have reports
that it runs well on v3. I generally always install the latest
fixpaks on my system, therefore, I will be keeping abreast of any
problems related to fixpaks.
REXX support must be installed.
rxftp.dll must be installed.
VGA display - I assume users have at least basic VGA (640x480x16).
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Features List *********************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
■ Easy installation. Simply create a folder called "AutoFTP" on the hard drive
of your choice and unrar the contents inside.
■ Easy configuration. The ftp site configuration files are simple text files
which can be created with AutoFTP or with your favorite text processor.
■ Full onscreen and text file logging of operations.
■ Uses very little CPU time.
■ Ability to run events at preset times.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Future Features *******************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
■ Increased configurability and faster operation.
■ Send me your idea...
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Files *****************************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Files included in archive:
──────────────────────────
AutoFTP.EXE........................... - AutoFTP Executable
AutoFTP.DOC........................... - This File (Text)
AutoFTP.INI........................... - Main Configuration File (Text)
AutoFTP.ICO........................... - AutoFTP Program Icon
Sample.cfg............................ - Sample FTP Site Config File (Text)
Dial.CMD.............................. - Batch file to start your dialer
HangUp.CMD............................ - Batch file to hang your dialer up
Files created by AutoFTP:
───────────────────────────
AutoFTP.LOG........................... - Log File (Text)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Installation and operation ********************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unrar all files into the directory of your choice. Create a program icon to
AutoFTP.EXE if you wish. I've included a icon. Start AutoFTP.EXE from a OS/2
command line or by any other normal means.
Concept of operation:
When you first start AutoFTP without command line parameters it will come up
without any ftp site data in the data entry fields. You will need to enter
data in the necessary fields. To see what goes in the data fields simply
place the mouse pointer over the field and a description will be given at the
bottom of the screen. You may save this data by selecting <File>
<Save .cfg data> or with <Ctrl+S>. The data is saved to a text file named
as you like. I typically name my files after the ftp server:
ftp.cdrom.com = cdrom.cfg. The .cfg extention is required.
Example of operation for Planet Connect's ftp server:
1 - Enter your Binkleyterm outbound directory in
"Local Outbound Directory"
g:\mailer\outbound
2 - Enter the HEX address for the destination system:
0e1f0032.?lo
Planet Connect (3615/50) HexAddress= 0e1f0032.?lo
3 - Enter the incoming directory on the remote server in
Remote Incoming Directory (if required):
incoming
To set events, simply select <Options> <Events> or <Ctrl+E> and type in the
time in hours and minutes (the ":" is required) and the name of the .cfg
file you want executed at that time. The .cfg extention is required.
Binkleyterm mode is automatic and is keyed by your " Local Outbound Filespec"
entry. If the last 2 letters are "lo" then AutoFTP will enter Binkley mode.
Example: 0e1f0032.?lo
AutoFTP supports Binkleyterm ?lo (compressed) modes. It does not support
?ut (uncompressed) modes. See the Binkley docs for details. This should
not be a problem in most cases.
AutoFTP is not a dialer but rather depends on an external dialer to do the
dirty work. AutoFTP's <Connection> menu items simply trigger batch files.
Dial triggers Dial.CMD and HangUp triggers HangUp.CMD. I use Injoy as my
dialer and this is what these batch files are setup for. You may modify these
files as you see fit. If you have a lan based or constant tcp/ip connection
AutoFTP will detect this and use it instead of using Dial.CMD and HangUp.CMD.
You may use AutoFTP in batch files. If you use a .cfg file as a command
line parameter it enters automatic mode. It loads the server data, connects,
tranfers and then terminates.
As you are testing/using this program please let me know what you think needs
to be added to these docs.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Un-Installing *********************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Remove the AutoFTP subdirectory and all files in it.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Registration Policy ***************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 1 of Auto-FTP is freeware. AutoFTP is copyrighted and I reserve
the right to charge a small fee for future versions.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Problems **************************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
If you have any problems, questions or suggestions, the best way to
contact me is to send e-mail or netmail to the address listed at the front
of this document.
Please send me your feedback and advise on bugs and future enhancements!
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** Credits ***************************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
First and foremost to Mark Storm for his testing and recommendations.
Thanks also to Bjarne Jensen for his fine InJoy dialer.
InJoy - 32bit OS/2 PPP/SLIP Dialer - http://www.fx.dk/injoy/index.html
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
/***** End Of Documentation **************************************************/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I automate file transfers?
A: Here is the quick and dirty:
1) Create the configuration (.cfg) files you need. This should be fairly
obvious and I've included sample.cfg to help. The best way to create
.cfg files is to type the data into the entry fields and then save them.
The ".cfg" filename extention is required.
2) Setup your events. Just type in the time and .cfg filename in the events
configuration window. Anything you type here is effective immediately
and you can leave this window open while AutoFTP runs. You must click
on OK for any changed data to be saved.
3) Setup your Dial.CMD and HangUp.CMD files if required. AutoFTP
always checks to see if it can ping the remote server. If you are LAN
connected then it will start transferring immediately. If it can't
ping the remote server then it assumes you use a dialup connect and
runs Dial.CMD to connect you to the internet. While this connection
is taking place AutoFTP waits for the amount of time you set. Within
a few seconds of the connection you should see AutoFTP doing its thing.
NOTE: I use In-Joy to connect to the internet and Dial.CMD/HangUp.CMD
reflect this. You can modify these batch files as required.
---
Q: I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the .bsy file. I assume
it is to be used as a flag file. My question, does either binkley,
squish, or AutoFTP need it/use it specifically? Or do you have
a suggested place that it can be used.
A: If you need it then you know it, if you don't need it then ignor it
(leave it blank). Some ftp servers ask that you send a .bsy file
to let them know when a system is doing a transfer. It lets the
sysop know not to jerk the system offline on you right in the middle
of a transfer. PlanetC, for example, does not require this.
---
Q: Planet Connect uses your node number instead of a name such as
trihub. Can I use 303/100 in the User ID field?
A: I also use PlanetC. I use 366/47 in the User ID field. Here
is my PlanetC.cfg:
ftp.planetc.com
366/47
xxxxxx
g:\mailer\outbound
0e1f0032.?lo
incoming
fdnfiles
g:\satelite\fdnfiles
REXX parses numbers and characters all the same. You can put your
fido address in User ID or whatever it takes with no problem.
---
Q: What is AutoFTP written in?
A: VisPro REXX v3.1 Gold. AutoFTP needs REXX support installed on
your system. It also requires the rxftp.dll to be installed.
---
Q: Does Dial.CMD get called after every mail run, or only if fired up from
the command line with a .cfg parameter?
A: Dial.CMD should run anytime AutoFTP can't ping the server you are trying
to exchange files with.
---
Q: I'd like to run AutoFTP in the background. In particular I'd like for
it to just startup in the background.
A: I'll explore different ways of doing this as I get time but here is a
good way to do it:
Select <Options>
Select <Configuration>
Set <Size> to 0,0
Things to note: To shut the program down you will need to click
both mouse buttons on the desktop to get a window list. To change
or rather, get the window back, you will need to modify lines 3
and 4 in AutoFTP.INI to read numbers higher than 0.
---