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┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└───────────────────────────── M S G P O S T ──────────────────────────────┘
Fidonet/Squish Message Base Writer
MsgPost/2 Version 1.10 - 5th December 1992
(C) Copyright 1992 by CodeLand Australia, All Rights Reserved
Colin Wheat - 3:690/613@fidonet
MsgPost is an MsgAPI Level Zero Application.
Squish MsgAPI, revision 0.0 by Scott J. Dudley
"Squish", "SquishMail" and "Maximus" are trademarks of Scott J. Dudley.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ INTRODUCTION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
MsgPost takes a supplied text file and converts it into a message
in your message base. Base formats supported are Fidonet (*.MSG),
and the new Maximus-CBCS Squish format. Netmail, Echomail and
Local area messages are possible. MsgPost also includes an inbuilt
message splitter for large text postings. MsgPost had the ability
to batch post messages from an optional text file names list file.
Operator control is by both the command line, and an optional
configuration file. The default configuration file name is
MPost.Cfg. Use the -C command line option to operate with a
different name, or to allow multiple configuration files for
different tasks. Under DOS v3.xx and above MsgPost looks for the
default configuration file in the directory the executable
resides. The default directory is used for earlier DOS versions.
MsgPost automatically generates multiple "split" messages when the
input text file exceeds the preset limit. Use the Split:
configuration file verb or the -S command line command to set the
maximum message size. Splitting can be turned off by using a zero
setting. E.g. "-S0". The splitter adds a ^ASPLIT kludge line,
as documented in the Fidonet standards proposals document
FSC-0047.* by Pat Terry of 5:494/4.101. Note that the UUCP "To:"
line is not yet supported as it would clash with the MsgPost
configuration "To:" verb.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ COMMAND LINE CONTROLS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Normal usage would have most settings in the default configuration
file. The only required command line item is the -T<name> switch,
which specifies the path and name of the input text file. Also of
use on the command line is the -C<name> switch, enabling multiple
custom configurations. The other command line options are
overrides for the settings included in the configuration and text
files.
Syntax: MPostP [-switch -switch ... ]
COMMAND LINE ONLY:
-T<Text source file path & name>
-Tmessage.txt
Text file path and name. This is the text file data for MsgPost to
write in message format. Full path and name is possible up to 80
characters. If no message text is required, for example in the
case of file attaching, use '-T' on the command line, with no name
appended.
-K
Delete source text file after processing.
-C<Configuration file path & name>
-Cmpost.cfg
The configuration file path and name for MsgPost to load. The
default name is MPost.Cfg in the executable directory.
-@<List file name>
-@mpost.lst
Run in List mode. This tells MsgPost to read a text file list of
names to which to post the output message(s). Format of the name
list file is one name per line. The message destination address
can also be listed after the name entry, in which case a comma is
required, and netmail mode is forced. <name> is optional, the
default text file name being "MPost.Lst".
Example list file format:
Colin Wheat
John Dennis, 3:690/668
Lincoln Dale, 3:690/626@fidonet
-?
Program help screen.
CONFIGURATION OVERRIDES:
-M<Message area path & name>
-Md:\msg\net
This can be either a *.MSG base directory path, or the full path
and name of a Squish base. To indicate a squish format, use a
leading '$' character in the path. e.g. "-M$d:\msg\chat" would
indicate a Squish base, "-Md:\msg\chat" a *.MSG base. This setting
overrides "Area:" entries in the configuration and text files.
-N[Zone:]Net/Node[.Point][@Domain]
-N3:690/626
Create a Netmail message with listed destination address.
-O[Zone:]Net/Node[.Point][@Domain]
-O3:690/613
Message origin address. Use this to specify an origin address
where either a configuration or text file 'Address:' setting is
not used, or for a message origin address different from the
configuration "Address" verb's system address.
-P<c|f|h|d|k|p|r|u|l>
-Pp
Message priority flag(s). Optional flags for the created message.
It's possible to use multiple -P calls, or to chain the letters
together should you require more then one. e.g. "-Pp" would turn
on the private flag. "-Ppk" would create a private killsent
message. Listed below are each of the flag types:
C - Send Crash
F - File attach (fully pathed filename must be in message SUBJECT
line).
H - Hold for pickup
D - Send Direct
K - Kill after sending
P - Private
R - File Request (requested filename must be in message SUBJECT
line).
U - File Update Request (requested filename must be in SUBJECT
line).
L - Turn OFF the local flag. This flag defaults on. Don't use this
unless specifically required.
Note that setting either C or H flags will toggle the other flag
off.
-F<Message addressed to first name>
-FArthur
"-FSimon Blears"
Message addressed to first name, or name. "-F<fname>" and
"-L<lname>" would normally be used together, and enable use of
MsgPost from online programs, such as Maximus itself. It's also
possible to use '-F' without the '-L' command to specify the
complete name, as in the example below. Note the use of the "
characters to embedd the space character(s), as required for the
MS-DOS command line.
MPostP.Exe -Tmessage.txt "-FSimon Blears"
-L<Message addressed to last name>
-LMarsh
Message addressed to last name. MsgPost uses <fname> and <lname> to
build the To: field for the generated message. Here's a mecca
display file example call for Maximus, which might be used for tasks
such as posting a welcome message from the Sysop to new users:
[xtern_run]MPostP.Exe -Tc:\max\newuser.txt -F%f -L%l
-W<Message addressed from name>
-WColin_Wheat
Message addressed from name, up to 35 characters. Space characters
cannont be included, use the underline character '_' as a
substitute.
-J<Message subject>
-JMaximus_Utilities_Listing
Message subject text, up to 71 characters. this overrides any
configuration file or text file "Subj:" entries. The MsgPost default
subject is the string "Automated Posting". Unlike configuration or
text file settings, white space is not allowed on the command line.
Use a format such as: "-JMy_Subject". Use underscore characters
where you require spaces. MsgPost will convert underscore characters
to spaces.
-S<##>
An override for the configuration file 'Split: <###>' option, -S[##]
sets the maximum message size in kilobytes for message splitting.
Range is from 0 to 16. Using a value of 0 turns off splitting. In
this case MsgPost loads up to 16Kb from the input text file,
ignoring any extra text from the file. The default split maximum is
12Kb, a value which is probably safe with most of today's existing
mail processers. You may want to use a setting such as -S8,
producing split messages up to 8Kb in size.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ CONFIGURATION FILE ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
MsgPost is able to load information from a configuration file, the
default name being MPost.Cfg. This can be changed with the -C
command line command.
Note that for convienence, all of these can appear at the top of
the message text file. Settings placed in the text file override
the configuration file. You may wish to place your system address,
origin, and from name in the configuration file, and include the
To, and subj fields in each particular text file. I'd suggest
having all fields in the configuration file as defaults, and
override these with entries in the text files where necessary.
Address: [Zone:]Net/Node[.Point][@Domain]
Address: 3:690/613
Your system address, required for all operations. For posting
messages from 'aka' addresses, see the -O command line option.
Origin: <Your system echomail identification>
Origin: Perth's Library BBS =AUSTRALIA=
Echomail only origin line. If no origin line is set in either the
configuration file or the import text file MsgPost attempts to
read the message area ORIGIN. file assuming an Echomail format
message is being generated. For Squish message areas, the name
<body_name>.SQO is searched for.
Area: <Message area path & name>
Area: d:\msg\net
The message area path. Indicate a Squish format area by use a
leading '$'character. This is the path, and for Squish areas the
name of the message base, into which MsgPost will write the
generated messages. Only one entry or area is supported.
Netmail: [Zone:]Net/Node[.Point][@Domain]
Netmail: 3:800/812
Create a Netmail message, to destination address. This option
tells MsgPost to create the generated message(s) in Netmail
format, and specifies the destination address. 5d addresses are
supported.
MsgType: <Echomail | Conference | Local | Matrix>
MsgType: Echomail
'MsgType: <Type>' specifies the type of message to create.
Available types are Echomail, Conference, Local, and Matrix.
Echomail is the default type when nothing is specified. The
Conference type is similar to Echomail, but uses a PID kludge line
and no tear or Origin line in the generated message. Local
messages are also similar to Echomail, without the Origin and
SeenBy lines or PID kludge line. Matrix is the netmail format,
also activated by providing a netmail destination address, via
either the 'Netmail:' configuration verb or the -N command line
option.
To: <Some Name>
To: All
The message TO field.
The To: field for the generated message(s). This command is not
required, the default is to "All". For List mode this field is
ignored.
From: <Your Name>
From: Colin Wheat
The 'From:' option indicated the message(s) From: field. Also not
required, the default being "MPost/2 v1.10".
Subj: <Your Subject>
Subj: Text files to *.MSG and Squish bases
The SUBJECT field of the message. Subj:' is the option that tells
MsgPost the generated message(s) subject line. Not required, the
default is "Automated Posting".
Attr: <c|f|h|d|k|p|r|u|l>
Attr: pk
Optional message attributes. The 'Attr:' option enables setting
of most of the generated message(s) attributes. These include
c,f,h,d,k,p,r,u, and l.
C - Send Crash
F - File attach (fully pathed filename must be in message SUBJECT
line).
H - Hold for pickup
D - Send Direct
K - Kill after sending
P - Private
R - File Request (requested filename must be in message SUBJECT
line).
U - File Update Request (requested filename must be in SUBJECT
line).
L - Turn OFF the local flag. This flag defaults on. Don't use this
unless specifically required.
Note that setting either C or H flags will toggle the other flag
off.
FakeNet: <###>
FakeNet: 6130
The 'FakeNet:' option specifies the fakenet for point systems.
Normally not a requirement for 4D points, this may reduce problems
with MsgPost's default SEENBY addition. See also the 'NoSeenBy:'
configuration option.
NoSeenBy:
NoSeenBy:
The 'NoSeenBy:' command turns off the addition of a SEENBY line
listing the message origin address, for Echomail messages.
Split: <###>
Split: 8
'Split: <###>' sets the maximum message size in Kilobytes for
message splitting. Range is from 0 to 16. Using a value of zero
turns off splitting, in which case MsgPost loads up to 16Kb from
the input text file, ignoring any extra text from the file. The
default split maximum is 12Kb, a value which is probably safe with
most today's existing mail processers. Recommended setting is 8Kb,
producing split messages to 8Kb in size each.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ ERROR LEVELS ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
0 - Normal exit
1 - Syntax exit
2 - Out of memory
3 - Configuration or text file not found
4 - No system address set
5 - Message base open failed
6 - Names list file not found
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ MESSAGE SPLITTING AND SIZE LIMITS ──────────────────────────────────────┘
Most Fidonet mail processers impose a maximum message size, for a
variety of reasons. Because of this limit MsgPost includes the
ability to automagically split large text files into multiple
messages. I've not researched the limits for all, or even most of
of the mail processers currently in use world wide. However it has
been discussed in a National development conference. Listed
below are what was suggested. Thanks to David Nugent for these:
Squish 16K for v1.01. Later versions may allow higher values.
TosScan 38K
QMail 16K
D'Bridge 48K (Echomail only)
Confmail ~14K (higher produces bogus output)
MsgPost defaults to a ~12Kb maximum message size, however allows
up to ~16Kb by use of the Split configuration verb or the -S[##]
command line option. Note that using the larger sizes may break
some mail processers, and is not recommended.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ DISTRIBUTION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
MsgPost should be considered "Post Card Ware". If you continue to
use the executable you are required to send a postcard to the
Author at the address below. This is the only way the Author can
justify putting further time into the package. The C source is
included in the distribution archive. The Author requests you do
NOT release modified versions under the MsgPost name. Please
consider sending any code modifications or improvements to the
Author at the Fidonet address listed below, so that they may be
considered for inclusion in later MsgPost version releases.
CodeLand Australia
P.O.Box 351
Kalamunda W.A. 6076
AUSTRALIA
The Author can be contacted by Fidonet Netmail at 3:690/613, and
via international Echomail in the Maximus-CBCS support
conferences Muffin and MaxDev.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└─ REGISTERED USERS ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
MSGPOST v1.00 was released on 5th December, 1991. Registration is
simply gained by sending a postcard to CodeLand Australia.
Alberto Pasqvale of 2:3321/504.1
Arthur Marsh of 3:800/812
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘