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.---------------------------------------------------------------. | | | Recon (tm) version 2.50, September 1994 release. | | Copyright (c) 1989-1994 Amdox Corporation [76672,1273] | | | | ASP Shareware | `---------------------------------------------------------------' Recon 2.50 Information File =========================== Table of Contents ================= What is Recon? Why Recon instead of BRAND X Summary of features What's New in 2.50? Example CompuServe "sweep" Is it for you ... Support Registration & Ordering What is Recon? ============== Today's CompuServe navigators are very efficient at capturing and downloading messages. But once you have all those messages, through multiple sessions and they start piling up, you quickly acquire a significant handling problem. What Recon does is spread out all your messages out on a silver platter, and then does the dishes too! In a nutshell, it keeps track of what you've read, what you haven't, what you haven't replied to, and lets you view/reply/process the messages that you need to. It then keeps sorting in new online passes of messages as well as intelligent aging out of older messages. While viewing there are a multitude of message filters that you can use, and abilities to print and copy/move groups of messages as well. It also lets you organize your hodge-podge of add-on utilities with an intelligent shell. Recon will let you review downloaded messages from within message files that are kept trim and sorted into context. It gets control of your files, but without tossing valuable information. Recon will sort and rethread both forum and mail message files, removing dead text and duplicates in the process. It even works with INTERNET/CMail messages, and can optionally clean up the INTERNET routing information. Recon provides a summary at a glance of the status of all of your active files, using its new, unique Message File PreScan feature. Recon provides an enhanced, powerful file viewer/navigator, which lets you compose your replies, generate download scripts, and other online activities. Recon also provides Sysop functions, not just the usual CompuServe forum commands, but also slick offline file management abilities. You also have the added benefit of your offline message file being maintained to reflect any online CHAnge type commands immediately! Recon can keep your files under control by surgically pruning out older messages, according to your fine-tuning instructions. Recon also can act as a general CompuServe format message file manager allowing you to sort, browse, prune, and organize & archive CompuServe message files, much like a directory file manager lets you work with files within directories. Recon can also help organize your navigator and the variety of add- on programs with its use of an intelligent memory swapping MENU Shell. Recon 2.50 is now completely compatible with Golden Commpass, an OS/2 Compuserve Navigator. Recon 2.50 also is compatible with Ozcis version 2.x, but for forum files only. Recon 2.50 is a very significant upgrade in features and power, but still remains within the comfortable Recon 2.x framework. Many of the most asked for enhancement requests have now been added. See What's New in 2.50? for some of the details. You will soon find Recon 2.50 indispensable. Why Recon instead of BRAND X ============================ Well, there really isn't a Brand X! There is nothing that matches Recon's abilities as an interactive pulldown menu driven message file manager, while at the same time providing a batch mode. While viewing messages in INTERACTIVE mode you can generate message replies with Recon, create file download scripts, and other ONLINE activities for your navigator to carry out. No other message file utility provides this ability. Recon has both INTERACTIVE and BATCH mode, date and file size driven, extraction & deletion/archiving facilities. This makes it easy to keep your message files trimmed, sorted and more manageable. You can even place an alarm on a message, and have Recon hold that message and remind you of it later! Although largely an archaic feature now, when batch processing a message file Recon can still embed navigation text for you to direct and enhance your ability to view such a file with a general file viewer. No other message file viewer utility provides this feature. TAPCIS' OUTBOX messages are incomplete in terms of CompuServe message numbers, TO/FROM lines, and most importantly the message number thread links. Recon has the unique ability to first reconstruct these, then sort into proper thread order and eliminate duplicates, even when these OUTBOX messages are mixed with messages downloaded from CompuServe. (Recon lets you put the OUTBOX copies in your .MSG files) No other message file utility is able to do this. Recon handles both INTERNET and CompuServe MAIL message sorting transparently, in a special CMail sort. It even cleans up the long and wordy INTERNET header for you. Recon can handle any CompuServe format message file - in fact you will likely use Recon to reorganize your .SAV/.MSG files into ones that perhaps contain messages keyed to specific topics, or threads, or grouped by given correspondents, or by the age of the messages. Hopefully Recon will meet your needs. If it does not tell us why! Recon continues to evolve, and its current form has been very much driven by user suggestions. Summary of features =================== Recon can be run in BATCH mode driven completely by command line parameters, or INTERACTIVE. As a summary, Recon: o loads specified message files o removes end of message blank lines and other dead text o cleans up line noise, and CR/LF mismatches o reconstructs message numbers of OUTBOX messages o reconstructs message number thread links o sorts messages into user specified order, including CompuServe thread order o handles CMail and INTERNET messages transparently o cleans up wordy INTERNET message headers o marks duplicates for deletion o has optional date or file size, driven extraction/archiving o can embed navigation information for the general viewer o saves the cleaned/sorted file to disk, backing up the original o analyzes your setup, uses what you have to maximize resources o handles up to 3200 messages/file and 1000 lines/message When used interactively the user interface includes: o context sensitive hypertext HELP o user definable SHELL to co-ordinate other programs/add-ons o pulldown menus, with mouse support o sysop thread management commands o filespec pick list/directory boxes to choose files o graceful stepping around files that are in use by other programs o a PreScan summary of all your files, information at a glance o global/forum specific settings, can be set interactively o ability to sort by thread, chronologically, alphabetically, by section o full screen message viewing with a local index o full Latin-1 support for viewing and replying o support for extended long and wide video displays o a filtered or unfiltered full screen scrolling index o extensive and very flexible navigation commands o message alarms, Recon will hold and show these to you later o a "bar" filter, can block view of selected users for you o noting of unread messages automatically o reminding you where a reply is needed o a full featured message reply editor, with - block commands - cut and paste - import and export - configurable auto-signatures - easy to use carbon copy option o program wide clipboard capability o appending of OUTBOX copies to your .MSG files o BINARY/ASCII file forwarding by CMail o a search facility, displays messages containing a phrase o New, MARKed, Branch, & UserID message display filters o Sticky NEEDS REPLY and UNREAD status flags o message MARKing: single, branch or thread, or section o date driven message MARKing o automatic AGEing o MARKed message/thread/branch/section copy, delete and move o editing of: message number, in reply to number, subject o message printing and full printer setup/specification What's new in 2.50? =================== o PreScan of Message Files This powerful, unique feature gives you a summary view of all of your message files as to the number of messages they contain, the number of new messages, the number that need replies, and the number unread, without actually loading any files! This greatly eases your organizational worries when scanning and monitoring multiple forums. o Load even bigger files Recon now has the ability to use virtual disk space (eg. XMS cached disk, or a RAMDISK), in addition to EMS. You can now load up to 3200 messages with EMS, about 3000 with NO EMS at all. In addition, the amount of available free conventional memory is now much less important. o Say more and See more Latin-1 support is now available, just add one line in the configuration file to activate it. Recon now also includes support for large screen sizes, larger than the standard 80x25 - even non-standard UV-type screens. o New Sysop/support features Now you can easily locate messages unreplied to for a given number of days! You can modify the search to look for only solitary messages, or to ignore end-of-thread messages. Also, you can now quickview your boiler plate answers and modify or delete them. o Program-wide clipboard capability You can now snip text from the screen, files, or replies and use it in other replies or elsewhere where text input is required. Together with the newly always available quick UserID lookup/import (even in the reply editor) and the new internal general purpose text editor, you can create and maintain many special purpose text and script files effortlessly. o Send to multiple recipients Recon now makes it easy to send to a short mailing list, or to maintain external mailing list files. You can even automatically import the distribution list often appended to the end of a CMail message, so you can send a message back to the entire list! o Message Alarms You can now set an alarm on a given message. The message will be held in the file, and when the set date rolls around, the message will be popped back up into view! o Printer Control You can now define the printer port that you wish Recon to use - even change it on the fly. Add setup and exit printer commands as well. The printer subsystem is completely rewritten, and should now eliminate the occasional problems seen in certain LANs and operating settings. o And much more o popup local menu for rescan and selective file list view o memory resource analysis, and new tuning features o provision for a configuration file for startup parameters o long subjects CMail handled/preserved now o trim those wordy INTERNET headers, automatically o collapsible INDEX view, view only filtered in messages o search for next/previous message with N/reply status o optionally reset UNread flag for current message on Save&Exit o batch aging uses improved code o those pesky 7 byte files are now DELETED o Up to 24 Lib/Sections o Improved multitasking situation handling These are some of the highlights, but there are more than two hundred individual changes & enhancements! o Upgrading from 2.01? If you are upgrading from Recon 2.01, you have a huge array of new features to enjoy. Here is a short summary of some of the features that were added in Recon 2.20. o sticky message status flags: UNread & Needs Reply o Reply Editor enhancements: export/import, quoting o Reply auto-signatures o Reply meta-variables: add time/date automatically o faster file loading o more robust and flexible file aging Example CompuServe "sweep" ========================== If you are new to CompuServe (or even if you are not) you may find the following information useful, this outlines how Recon fits in. 1) Run your navigator, and download all the new headers. This is often called pass 1. If you instead capture all new messages, then skip steps 2 & 3. 2) Now select the threads that you would like to download, with your navigator's thread marking function. Sometimes this function is provided by an add-on program like Tappet. 3) With the threads of interest now selected, go ahead and download these with your navigator. Be sure that you are appending the downloaded information to the message file. Some programs have their default set to overwrite the old downloaded messages with the new. 4) Run Recon in INTERACTIVE mode, view new messages sorted into context, generate any replies or other ONLINE activity, then age & resave each changed file. Messages you wish to keep indefinitely you might save to .SAV files, or for example .THD files, or other files. So the .MSG files contain all recent messages, the .SAV files contain miscellaneous interesting messages, and the .THD files contain messages you wish to keep that all relate to a specific subject. The Recon generated .OLD files contain AGEd messages, these you may eventually discard, or perhaps copy to diskettes for archiving. 5) Finally, run your navigator to carry out all the pending online activity created by Recon. 6) Of course you can also run Recon interactively to look up older messages/threads, and to periodically clean house. Is it for you ... ================= Maybe you'd like to try before you buy. Well you are in luck, Recon is distributed as Shareware, and the author is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals. (ASP) You can always download the latest, completely functional, Shareware evaluation copy of Recon, from: Scripts & Tools Section library, of TAPCIS forum on CompuServe OR Scripts & Tools Section Library, of GCPSUPPORT forum on CompuServe Recon is stored as two separate files: Recon.ZIP Recon program files 270k ReconD.ZIP documentation, text file format 100k Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue to use it, you are expected to register. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality - in both cases, there are good programs and bad ones! The main difference between the two is in the method of distribution. So Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are also low. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. Support ======= Questions, comments, thanks, or jeers are all welcome. This software is supported on CompuServe, address messages to: Recon Support 76672,1273 through CompuServe MAIL or leave a message in the TAPCIS, Golden Commpass or Ozcis forums (preferably in the Scripts and Tools section). If you address your message (while in Recon) to just plain: Recon the UserID lookup will find the full correct address for you! Registration & Ordering ======================= Recon is copyrighted Shareware, it is not public domain, and it is not free. If you find Recon of value and continue to use it after a twenty-one day evaluation period you must register your copy of Recon. When you register/order Recon version 2.50 you receive: o a serial number and license for one copy of Recon 2.50 o any technical updates of Recon 2.50 available at that time o a printed, perfect bound, manual o free bonus standalone utilities (as available) And whether you newly register or are upgrading you get: o a greater voice in suggesting future enhancements o the satisfaction of supporting the shareware concept If you have not previously registered, or if you last registered a version of Recon prior to version 2.01, and after an evaluation of Recon you wish to register, or if you would just like a pre-registered copy to be shipped out to you, the cost is: In USA & Canada: $38.00 7.00 shipping & handling total of $45.00 US ($59.00 Cdn) Outside USA & Canada: 5.00 additional shipping total of $50.00 US ($65.00 Cdn) If you are registered for version 2.20, you can request an upgrade to version 2.50 by forwarding: In USA & Canada: $19.00 7.00 shipping & handling total of $26.00 US ($34.00 Cdn) Outside USA & Canada: 5.00 additional shipping total of $31.00 US ($40.00 Cdn) If you are registered for version 2.01, you can request an upgrade to version 2.50 by forwarding: In USA & Canada: $29.00 7.00 shipping & handling total of $36.00 US ($47.00 Cdn) Outside USA & Canada: 5.00 additional shipping total of $41.00 US ($53.00 Cdn) You have four options for registering or upgrading: 1) By regular mail: forward your name, CompuServe UserID, (and serial number if upgrading) and check or money order made payable to Amdox Corporation to: Amdox Corporation 217 Terrace Hill Street Brantford, ON N3R 1G8 Canada If you have the evaluation copy of Recon then you can use the registration procedure, or Help|Register/Upgrade, to generate and print a complete registration form - that way you won't forget anything. Then all you need is an envelope, stamp and a check. US postage to Canada is a little more than US domestic. Don't forget that we need your CompuServe UserID, and your serial number if upgrading! 2) By FAX: Visa, MasterCard, American Express: FAX: +1 519 753-7867 (Amdox Corp., 24Hr fax) Forward your credit card number and expiry date, as well as name, CompuServe UserID, and serial number if upgrading. You can use the opening registration procedure or Help|Register/Upgrade to print a complete registration form for you to FAX. 3) By telephone: Visa, MasterCard, American Express: call +1 519 752-5453 (Amdox Corporation) Orders only! Support is not available at that number. Don't forget to have YOUR CompuServe UserID (and serial number if upgrading) handy! 4) By Compuserve MAIL: This is by Visa, MasterCard or American Express card, you can forward the information directly to us by CMail at 76672,1273. Alternatively, select Help|Register or Help|Upgrade from the menu options, or if you have an evaluation copy of Recon 2.50, just answer YES when Recon asks if you would like to register/upgrade. Recon will then ask for credit card and mailing information, and then automatically direct your navigator to send a CompuServe MAIL message direct to us at 76672,1273. Your credit card will be charged in Canadian funds. You will receive a confirmation by CMail when your order is processed. The registration fee licenses one copy of Recon for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, as long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Consider it like a book, a book cannot be read by two different people at the same time.