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DataMail Version 1.1
User's Guide
Copyright 1991, 1992 Richard K. Naff
DataMail Version 1.1
User's Guide
Table of Contents
About DataMail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Courtesy Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Starting DataMail on your Sysop's BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
DataMail Options Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Example Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Generated Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Sysop Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Question and Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
DataMail Improvements/Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 1
======================================================================
Welcome to DataMail! Your Sysop has provided you with a tool to
exchange files with other specific persons (your Sysop included). As
a user of this program, you do not require anything special on your PC
beyond your standard BBS telecommunications software and a compatible
file-transfer protocol (ZModem is highly recommended, but check with
your Sysop for exact details regarding which protocols he/she
supports). Exactly how you get DataMail running on your favorite BBS
is a matter you will need to take-up with your Sysop. Usually, it
will be available to you as a "door" (much like a BBS game would be
accessed), but every BBS software package is different in this
respect, and your Sysop may have configured DataMail into his/her
system by other means.
About DataMail
==============
DataMail is a utility that will let you use your Sysop's BBS disk
storage to send files to one or more specific persons. This is not
quite the same as simply uploading a file to your Sysop's BBS. Unlike
a "normal" upload, DataMail lets you specify exactly who may download
your file for their use only. After they download it, the file is
erased from your Sysop's BBS. In turn, if another user has utilized
DataMail already, you can interface with the program to download a
file they may have sent to you (and is waiting for you to obtain).
When you download it, the file will be erased from your Sysop's BBS.
DataMail is designed to save you time and money. Since the
latter is of concern to most people, let me explain that one first.
Suppose you and a colleague are working on the next great commercial
SpreadSheet program. You frequently need to exchange source code,
test files, documentation, etc. (or perhaps you are simply writing
letters to a family member). Without DataMail, your choices are
rather limited; either hand-deliver your information, or pay some
sort of carrier-service (UPS / US Mail) to deliver it for you.
DataMail lets you post your file in a common, accessible place (your
Sysop's BBS) so the recipient can acquire your intended information.
Hand-in-hand with that is the obvious time-savings; it might
take you 5 minutes to upload your file. Spend another minute on the
phone to call the recipient and let them know the file is waiting
(this is optional - the recipient will be told in a BBS message next
time he/she logs onto the BBS). Your intended recipient then spends
another 5 minutes downloading your file. Total time investment: 11
minutes. Total time between your upload and when it gets downloaded
varies on how quickly the recipient logs onto the BBS and performs the
download operation, but this sure beats waiting 3 days for a diskette
to be shipped across town!
DataMail
Page 2 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
Perhaps you have seen something akin to DataMail on your favorite
BBS. Many BBS Software Packages today are allowing you to enter a
message to another user, and "attach" a file to that message. When
the receiver of the message reads what you wrote, he/she is then
prompted to download the "attached" file. Although this action comes
very close to what DataMail does, DataMail offers you some very
distinct advantages over this approach. Perhaps your favorite BBS
supports some of the following features, but I have never heard of any
yet that supports all:
- You can upload one copy of a file and have it sent to many
different people.
- You can upload to a Group of people by simply addressing
your file to the Group's "Name". All members of that Group
will receive a copy of your file. You do not have to type
in each receiver's name.
- Once the file is uploaded, you may "overlay" that file if
the receiver(s) have not yet downloaded it. Perhaps you may
wish to do this if you suddenly remember something you
forgot to put in the first copy you uploaded. In any event,
DataMail remembers who has not yet downloaded your file, and
when you "overlay" it, DataMail will automatically send your
most recent version to your intended receivers.
- If, after uploading a file, you suddenly remember that you
should have sent it to 5 people instead of only 3, DataMail
will let you alter the Distribution-List without having to
upload or overlay a file. Simply add or delete names to the
Distribution-List until you have it the way you want. You
may do this as often as you like until the last receiver in
the list has downloaded your file, or the file reaches its
expiration date.
- If you decide you really didn't want to send that particular
file to all those people, DataMail will let you delete your
file if you find that choice preferable to altering the
Distribution-List.
- DataMail provides Message-Auditing to keep both the Uploader
and Downloaders informed about the status of each file.
There are many messages generated depending upon
circumstance, but neither the Uploader nor the Downloaders
are ever kept in the dark as to what happened to any
particular file. Both parties are always informed about
status of each file.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 3
======================================================================
Courtesy Notice
===============
I'll keep this brief, but it does require mentioning lest you or
other callers abuse the privilege your Sysop is extending to you by
offering DataMail. Your Sysop is more than likely not made of money
(Who is?), and will generally keep a disk drive just large enough to
handle the volume of files that he/she keeps around for people to
download. Every file you upload using DataMail eats-away at that disk
space. Just one person sending a few files to another person once per
month is no big deal; but imagine how much space it will take if you
and 50 other users habitually upload files on a daily basis but do not
download the files you have waiting for you! Such actions will
quickly exhaust your Sysop's disk space, and the result is not likely
to be a larger disk paid for and installed by your Sysop! In all
probability, your Sysop will get rather upset at such actions and
disable DataMail for your use. In short, your Sysop is providing you
with a unique service; don't abuse the privilege!
Starting DataMail on your Sysop's BBS
=====================================
This is a difficult area in which to properly instruct you. Your
Sysop will more than likely have a "Bulletin" or an auxiliary File you
can download to tell you how to get DataMail running on his BBS. If
you cannot find any such animal to guide you, check the "doors"
section on the BBS; it will be most common to see DataMail running as
a door. If you see such an option on the BBS's door-menu, select
DataMail and you should be in business. Failing that, check once more
for a Bulletin or special File which should contain not only
instructions on how to get DataMail running, but also any limitations
your Sysop has imposed upon your access rights to DataMail.
DataMail Options Available
==========================
Your Sysop can manipulate the behavior of DataMail to make it
more efficient for his/her BBS. Assuming access to DataMail is "wide-
open", the following options should be available to you when you
access DataMail:
- As soon as you enter the DataMail program, a check is made
to see if you have any outstanding files waiting for you
(sent by other people). If so, and for every such file
there is (assuming more than 1), you are given the choice to
either download the file or delete it. You must choose one
or the other; you cannot proceed without either downloading
or deleting each file waiting for you.
DataMail
Page 4 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
- Once all of your pending files have been downloaded or
deleted, you are given the options to either upload a file
or perform Group Maintenance. Let's tackle uploading first.
When you chose to upload a file, you will be asked for the
Filename, a brief 2-line description of the file, and then a
list of all persons allowed to download the file. That list
of persons can be provided in a couple of ways:
1) You can type-in the name(s) of the person(s) to
receive the file. Each name you type must be
spelled exactly as the person is known to the BBS
(i.e., their LogonID). If you make a mistake, you
can either retype the name or perform a quick-
search on the name by way of providing the first
x-characters of the person's name. All BBS users
whose name matches those characters will be listed
so you can readily identify the proper spelling.
2) You can type-in a Group Name. Group Names always
begin with an ampersand (&). As with individual
names, Group Names must be spelled correctly. If
you make a mistake, you can perform a quick-search
just like with individuals. A Group is little
more than a "short-cut" to typing-in a list of
individual names; a Group consists of individuals.
When you select a Group, all individuals in that
Group will receive your file (assuming they have
an adequate security level). This is very handy
if you are part of a team working on a project and
you need to exchange files will all members of the
team.
After telling DataMail who is to receive your file, DataMail
will starts its file "receive"; You should upload the file
you are wanting to send. If the file is successfully
uploaded, then the following occurs:
1) The file is cataloged on your Sysop's BBS disk.
2) Each person who is supposed to receive your file
is sent a brief message telling them the Filename
and your 2-line Description.
3) You are returned to the point where you can either
upload another file or perform Group Maintenance.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 5
======================================================================
- Group Maintenance is a special feature that allows you to
define a quasi-permanent list of intended recipients. For
example, suppose you, Bill, Sue, and Al are all working on a
project. Each of you has a special set of tasks to perform,
but the others also need to see and review the work you have
done so they can ensure they are not working at odds with
you. Without Groups, every time you uploaded your most
recent changes, you would have to type-in the LogonID's of
Bill, Sue, and Al so they could receive your file. This is
not only monotonous, it's also hazardous; suppose you forgot
to type in Al's ID and he did not get your latest work.
This is why Groups are allowed, and the option for Group
Maintenance lets you add or delete user's from the Group.
In order for this option to work, the Sysop must have
defined you as the "Host" for the Group. There can be only
one Host for any given Group. Only the Sysop can establish
a Group. When you select this option, the following occurs:
1) You are prompted for the Name of the Group for
which you wish to perform maintenance. If you are
the Host of that Group, then
2) You type in the name of the person to add or
delete.
a) If the name you enter is already in the
Group, it is assumed you wish to delete that
name, and that is what happens.
b) If you enter a name that is not in the Group,
a check is made to see if the name is a valid
LogonID of the BBS. If it is, that name is
added to the Group. If not, you are allowed
to perform a quick-search.
Example Session
===============
Let's go through a sample session. We will assume for the moment
that your Sysop has not placed any restrictions upon your use of
DataMail. For our purposes, we will pretend that the following is
true: A Group by the name of &MY COMMITTEE exists and you are the
Host of that Group; Group &MY COMMITTEE consists of you, Bob Davis,
and Ann Huskin; Ann has uploaded file DOCS1991.ZIP to Group &MY
COMMITTEE; George Byrnes (another person unrelated to the Group &MY
COMMITTEE) has uploaded the file HOWDY.DOO to you; You have
MANUAL.TXT to upload to Jean Seymore; You want to add Bill Franklin
to &MY COMMITTEE; You have SOURCE.ZIP to upload to Bob, Ann, and
Bill.
DataMail
Page 6 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
This is a lot of work to accomplish, but it is rather straight-
forward and simple. Basically, we can organize this as follows:
I Download
A. Download DOCS1991.ZIP
B. Delete HOWDY.DOO (decline receipt)
II Group Maintenance
A. Add Bill Franklin to Group &MY COMMITTEE
III Upload.
A. MANUAL.TXT to Jean Seymore
B. SOURCE.ZIP to Group &MY COMMITTEE
First, you must get DataMail running on your Sysop's BBS. This
will probably be done by accessing a door, but you should check with
your Sysop on exact details. Once it's started, this is what you will
see (BBS messages are preceded with a ">", while the remainder of what
follows is part of this narrative):
>File DOCS1991.ZIP is waiting for you. Related Info:
> Uploader: Ann Huskin.
>Description: These are the latest revisions to the User
> Manual. Please review and critique.
>(D)ownload the File, (K)ill it, or (R)eturn to the BBS.
>
You respond by typing an "D". You will see (for example):
>Select a Protocol:
>
>1: ZModem
>2: XModem
>3: YModem
Suppose you want ZModem. Enter a "1". At this point, you immediately
initiate a File Download on your end using ZModem. After the transfer
ends, you are asked to confirm receipt of it:
>Did you properly receive the File (Y/n)?
You should reply "Y" or "N" to designate whether or not you received
the file. If you reply "N", you will go right back to the previous
prompt asking you what you want to do with DOCS1991.ZIP (Download,
Kill, or Return to the BBS). If you reply "Y", the file is erased on
the BBS side, and the scan for more files continues:
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 7
======================================================================
>File HOWDY.DOO is waiting for you. Related Info:
> Uploader: George Byrnes.
>Description: An introduction and resume for myself. I am
> a contractor available for hire.
>(D)ownload the File, (K)ill it, or (R)eturn to the BBS.
>
Let's say you have no idea who George Byrnes is, and you don't want to
waste your time downloading HOWDY.DOO, so you tell DataMail to kill
this file by responding with a "K". HOWDY.DOO will be erased and you
will not receive it. Now that all the downloads are out of the way,
the next thing you will see is:
>DataMail Security is 30. You have 0 Outstanding Files.
>NEW File size limit is 9877 bytes. You may upload 2 NEW files.
>(U)pload/Overlay, (G)roup Maintenance, e(X)it DataMail.
>(K)ill a File (A)lter Receivers (T)oggle Color
>
Now you need to add Bill Franklin to &MY COMMITTEE. Respond with a
"G":
>What is the name of the Group to Add/Delete Users?
>
You type: &-M-Y- -C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-E and press Enter
>What is the name of the User to Add/Delete?
>
You type: B-I-L-L- -F-R-A-N-K-L-I-N and press Enter. If you mistype
the person's name, you are given the option to search for names.
Since Bill Franklin is known to this BBS by that name and you typed it
correctly, you then see:
>What is the name of the User to Add/Delete?
>
You have no more Users to add or delete to/from &MY COMMITTEE, so just
press Enter:
>What is the name of the Group to Add/Delete Users?
>
You have no more Groups to maintain, so just press Enter":
>DataMail Security is 30. You have 0 Outstanding Files.
>NEW File size limit is 9877 bytes. You may upload 2 NEW files.
>(U)pload/Overlay, (G)roup Maintenance, e(X)it DataMail.
>(K)ill a File (A)lter Receivers (T)oggle Color
>
DataMail
Page 8 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
You need to send MANUAL.TXT to Jean Seymore, so you respond with a
"U":
>What is the name of the File to be uploaded?
You type M-A-N-U-A-L-.-T-X-T and press Enter
>Enter 1st 60-character description (Required).
>
For our example, let's say you type: T-h-i-s- -i-s- -t-h-e- -m-a-n-u-
a-l- -f-o-r- -t-h-e- -s-o-f-t-w-a-r-e- -y-o-u- -a-r-e- -u-s-i-n-g and
press Enter.
Enter 2nd 60-character description (Optional).
>
You type: C-a-l-l- -i-f- -y-o-u- -h-a-v-e- -q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n-s and
press Enter.
>Enter 1st recipient of MANUAL.TXT
>
You Type: J-E-A-N- -S-E-Y-M-O-R-E and press Enter. To throw a
complication into this, suppose that Jean Seymore is not known to this
BBS as "Jean Seymore", but rather by "Jean A. Seymore". Since Jean
Seymore is not a valid recipient, the following prompt appears:
>Cannot find Jean Seymore, would you like to search?
You're sure you've got the name right, but something is wrong here.
So you reply with a "Y":
>Enter 1 to 20 characters to match:
You type J-E-A-N and press Enter. The following appears:
>Jean Harlow Jeanny C. Reiley
>Jean A. Seymore Jeannette McDonald
>Enter 1 to 20 characters to match:
Ah HA! Jean uses her middle initial on this BBS. OK, dilemma
resolved. To quit the name search, just press Enter:
>Enter 1st recipient of MANUAL.TXT
>
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 9
======================================================================
You reply with J-E-A-N- -A-.- -S-E-Y-M-O-R-E and press Enter.
> File: MANUAL.TXT
>Description: THIS IS THE MANUAL FOR THE SOFTWARE YOU ARE USING
> CALL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
>Recipients:
> JEAN A. SEYMORE
>
>Enter Next Recipient of MANUAL.TXT
>
If you were going to send MANUAL.TXT to more people other than Jean,
you would go through the recipient's name-prompting again. Since you
only want to send MANUAL.TXT to Jean, you just press Enter.
> File: MANUAL.TXT
>Description: THIS IS THE MANUAL FOR THE SOFTWARE YOU ARE USING
> CALL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
>Recipients:
> JEAN A. SEYMORE
>
>Final Confirmation. Proceed with Upload? (Y/n)
This is the final verification prompt. If everything looks right to
you, respond with a "Y":
>Select a Protocol:
>
>1: ZModem
>2: XModem
>3: YModem
At this point, you Enter a "1" and initiate the procedures on your end
to transfer MANUAL.TXT to the BBS. If the file is successfully
received and does not violate the Sysop's mandatory reserve disk-
space, you will see:
>Notifying Recipients. Please wait...
Otherwise you will see either
>File improperly received. Upload canceled.
or
>That file exceeds your allowed file size! Upload canceled.
Either way, you are presented with the Main Options prompt again:
>DataMail Security is 30. You have 0 Outstanding Files.
>NEW File size limit is 9877 bytes. You may upload 2 NEW files.
>(U)pload/Overlay, (G)roup Maintenance, e(X)it DataMail.
>(K)ill a File (A)lter Receivers (T)oggle Color
>
DataMail
Page 10 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
Now you need to upload SOURCE.ZIP to all the people in &MY COMMITTEE.
Respond with a "U":
>What is the name of the File to be uploaded?
You type S-O-U-R-C-E-.-Z-I-P and press Enter
>Enter 1st 60-character description (Required).
>
You type: T-h-i-s- -i-s- -t-h-e- -l-a-t-e-s-t- -r-e-v-i-s-i-o-n -f-o-
r- -t-h-e- -z-i-p-c-o-d-e- -p-g-m- and press Enter.
Enter 2nd 60-character description (Optional).
>
You type: N-o-t-e-d- -b-u-g-s- -h-a-v-e- -b-e-e-n- -f-i-x-e-d and
press Enter.
>Enter 1st recipient of MANUAL.TXT
>
You Type: &-M-Y- -C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-E and press Enter.
> File: SOURCE.ZIP
>Description: THIS IS THE LATEST REVISION FOR THE ZIPCODE PGM
> NOTED BUGS HAVE BEEN FIXED
>Recipients:
> ANN HUSKIN BILL FRANKLIN
> BOB DAVIS
>
>Enter Next Recipient of MANUAL.TXT
>
If you wanted to send SOURCE.ZIP to more people, just enter their
names one at a time (including Group Names, if desired). The list
continues to grow as you enter more names. If for some reason (in our
example), you do not wish ANN HUSKIN to receive SOURCE.ZIP (even
though she is a member of Group &MY COMMITTEE), just enter her name;
she will be removed from the list. Let's say that the above list is
correct, so you just press Enter:
> File: SOURCE.ZIP
>Description: THIS IS THE LATEST REVISION FOR THE ZIPCODE PGM
> NOTED BUGS HAVE BEEN FIXED
>Recipients:
> ANN HUSKIN BILL FRANKLIN
> BOB DAVIS
>
>Final Confirmation. Proceed with Upload? (Y/n)
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 11
======================================================================
This is the final verification prompt. If everything looks right to
you, respond with a "Y":
>Select a Protocol:
>
>1: ZModem
>2: XModem
>3: YModem
At this point, you Enter a "1" and initiate the procedures on your end
to transfer SOURCE.ZIP to the BBS:
>Notifying Recipients. Please wait...
>DataMail Security is 30. You have 1 Outstanding Files.
>NEW File size limit is 7362 bytes. You may upload 1 NEW files.
>(U)pload/Overlay, (G)roup Maintenance, e(X)it DataMail.
>(K)ill a File (A)lter Receivers (T)oggle Color
>
You are all done now, so respond with an "X" and you will be returned
to the main part of the BBS so you may continue your session.
Generated Messages
==================
DataMail provides the Uploader and the Downloader with various
messages to keep them informed about the status of files which have
been or are waiting to be transferred. These messages are
automatically generated and inserted into the BBS's message bases.
This allows the "other" user to be kept up to date on the status of
files transferred via DataMail.
DataMail sends the following types of messages to each intended
Receiver of a file:
- FILE UPLOADED. This message is sent when you upload a file
for the first time, or when you add Receivers to the
Distribution-List during an Overlay, or add Receivers to the
Distribution-List via the "Alter Recipients" option.
- FILE OVERLAID. This message is sent when you overlay a
file. For each original Receiver who has not yet downloaded
your original file, this message is issued to alert them
that the original file is no longer available, but a
replacement file is waiting for them.
DataMail
Page 12 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
- FILE ERASED. This message is sent when you select the "Kill
File" option to delete a file you uploaded, or when you use
the "Alter Recipients" option and remove a Receiver from the
Distribution-List. The message informs the Receiver that
they may no longer download that file.
- FILE EXPIRED. This message is sent to each Receiver of a
file who has not yet downloaded it, and the file's
expiration date has been reached. The file is deleted, and
each outstanding Receiver is sent a message informing them
that they took too long to download their file.
- SYSOP DELETED. This message is sent to each Receiver when
the Sysop chooses to manually delete a file from DataMail.
DataMail sends the following types of messages to each Uploader
of a file. Note that you should receive an exact number of messages
as there are Receivers of your files, with the sole exceptions being
when you use the "Kill File" or "Alter Recipients" options. In other
words, if you upload a file to 15 people, you should, over time,
receive 15 replies in one form or another. That is, unless you Kill
your file, or remove Receivers from the Distribution-List. In these
two cases, it is assumed you are well aware of the circumstances (you
are in control, so you should know what you have done), and there is
no need to send any form of message to you:
- FILE RECEIVED. This message is sent after each designated
Receiver successfully downloads the file you uploaded.
- FILE DECLINED. This message is sent when a Receiver has
chosen not to download the file you uploaded.
- FILE EXPIRED. When a file reaches its expiration date and
there are still Receivers who have not downloaded your file,
you will receive one of these messages for each Receiver who
did not download your file in the allotted time.
- RECEIVER NO LONGER A USER. If the Sysop should remove a
User from the BBS, and you had uploaded a file to that User,
you will receive this message informing you that the
Receiver can no longer logon to the BBS in order to download
your file.
- SYSOP DELETED. This message is sent when the Sysop chooses
to manually delete your file from DataMail. For each
Receiver who has not yet downloaded your file, you will
receive one such message.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 13
======================================================================
Sysop Restrictions
==================
The Sysop may place restrictions upon your use of DataMail. Some
of the items which might be limited for your use are:
- You may only be allowed to have a certain number of
outstanding files in DataMail. For example, the Sysop might
stipulate that you are limited to, say, three files which
you have uploaded and are waiting to be downloaded by your
intended recipients. If you attempt to upload a fourth
file, DataMail will refuse. In order to upload another file
(to whomever), at least one of the files you previously
uploaded must be downloaded by all of its recipients. This
action deletes the file from your Sysop's BBS, and reduces
your outstanding file count. This limitation does not apply
when you overlay a file.
- You may be restricted in the size of any given file you may
upload. The size limit will be displayed on your screen as
you are using DataMail. Please take that limitation into
account before you attempt to upload a file larger than that
size limit. DataMail has no way of knowing how large your
intended upload is. If you attempt to upload a file which
exceeds your defined limits, DataMail will immediately
delete the file from your Sysop's BBS as soon as the file
has been received. All you have accomplished is a waste of
your time. Note that your maximum file size is the lower of
1) The size limits imposed upon you by your Sysop, 2) The
available space on your Sysop's disk drive.
- Your Sysop may restrict you in terms of to whom you can
upload a file. When you enter a recipients name (assuming
you type the person's name correctly), DataMail checks to
see if that person is authorized to receive your file. If
not, DataMail will not allow that person to be a recipient
of your file. This also applies to the individual members
of a Group; as each Group member is extracted, they are
checked to see if they are authorized to receive your file.
- Your Sysop may or may not allow Groups to be defined to
DataMail. A Group is little more than a pre-defined list of
BBS Users. When you upload to a Group, you are effectively
uploading to all the people in that group. Each Group, once
defined, is assigned a "Host". Only the Host may add or
delete Users in the Group. You may not send to a Group if
you are not a member of the Group. As noted above, each
member of the group is checked to see if they are authorized
to receive a file from you. If you have the need to
establish a Group, ask your Sysop to establish a Group for
you, and define you or someone else as the Group's Host.
DataMail
Page 14 Version 1.1 User's Guide
======================================================================
Question and Answers
====================
WHEN I RUN DATAMAIL, I AM TOLD THAT THE DOWNLOAD PROTOCOLS ARE
DISABLED. I ONLY SEE CHOICES TO KILL THE FILE WAITING FOR ME, OR
RETURN TO THE BBS. HOW CAN I GET MY FILE?
Unfortunately, you can't. Your Sysop, for whatever reason, has
turned-off the ability of DataMail to transfer files. If you
think you want the file being displayed to you, the recommended
action is to return to the BBS and ask your Sysop when he/she
will again enable DataMail's file transfer ability.
WHEN I CHOOSE TO DOWNLOAD A FILE WAITING FOR ME, I DON'T SEE AN OPTION
FOR MY FAVORITE FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL. CAN THIS BE ADDED TO
DATAMAIL?
The protocols available are defined and established by your
Sysop. DataMail allows up to 5 different protocols for each of
Downloading and Uploading. This is a matter you will need to
discuss with your Sysop.
I'M HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING A SUCCESSFUL DOWNLOAD OF A FILE WAITING
FOR ME. DATAMAIL SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A LOOP, ASKING ME OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WHETHER OR NOT I WANT TO DOWNLOAD OR KILL THE FILE. I DON'T
WANT TO KILL THE FILE, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO DOWNLOAD IT PROPERLY. HOW
CAN I GET DATAMAIL TO SKIP THIS PART SO I CAN UPLOAD A FILE?
You can't. Remember, both you (as the receiver) and the uploader
of that file are guests on your Sysop's BBS. This file you are
having trouble with is eating-up space on your Sysop's disk.
DataMail is designed to force you to dispose of all waiting files
before you are allowed to upload. Recommended action is to
select a different transfer protocol if you want the file, Kill
the file if you don't really want it, or return to the BBS and
notify your Sysop that you are having trouble downloading your
DataMail files.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAIN DATAMAIL PROMPT, IT SAYS "UPLOADS DISABLED"
WHERE IT NORMALLY SAYS "UPLOAD/OVERLAY FILES". WHAT DO I NEED TO DO
IN ORDER TO UPLOAD MY FILE?
The Sysop has all file transfers turned off. This means that you
cannot upload your file, or overlay an existing file. Please
address your Sysop in this matter.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 15
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I AM GOING TO BE SENDING WEEKLY UPDATES OF 2 FILES TO 17 PEOPLE. IS
THERE AN EASIER WAY TO SEND THESE FILES RATHER THAN DELETE MY PREVIOUS
UPLOADS AND TYPE IN ALL 17 NAMES AGAIN FOR EACH FILE?
YES! This is two questions, so let's tackle the "delete previous
upload" part first. You do not have to delete your previous
files if you will be uploading your newer versions by the same
filename. Just select the "Upload/Overlay" option, and type in
the name of the file you previously uploaded. If you can't
remember it's name, select either the "Kill File" or "Alter
Recipients" options; either one will show you a list of your
outstanding files (just press Enter to exit either of those two
options). When you Overlay a file, DataMail will automatically
erase your previous version for you, and will also auto-build
your initial Distribution-List based on those people who have not
yet downloaded your previous versions of the file.
As to typing 17 names for each of 2 files once each week, well,
you should contact your Sysop and explain your situation. Your
Sysop can establish a Group for you (let's say your Sysop calls
it &WEEKLY GROUP). Ask your Sysop to make you the Host of that
Group. Then, you can use the "Group Maintenance" option to add
all 17 names as members of that Group. When you upload (or
overlay), tell DataMail that you want to send your file to
&WEEKLY GROUP. DataMail will expand &WEEKLY GROUP into 17
individual names for you. Typing one Group Name is a lot easier
than typing 17 individual names!
I AM THE HOST OF GROUP &NONESUCH. I HAVE ADDED 8 PEOPLE AS MEMBERS OF
THAT GROUP. I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO UPLOAD TO THAT GROUP. ALSO,
WHEN ANY OF THOSE 8 PEOPLE UPLOAD TO &NONESUCH, I NEVER SEEM TO GET A
COPY OF THE FILE. WHY?
The Host of the Group is not a Member of the Group, unless you
add yourself. The primary reason for this is that the Sysop may
designate a handful of people as Group Hosts, whose
responsibility it is to manage the member-rosters of possibly
dozens of Groups. In this capacity, the Host is merely acting as
a "co-sysop" of sorts, and really has no interest in sending or
receiving files to/from Group Members. If you are the Host of
the Group, and you want to be able to send and receive files
to/from other Group members, you need to add yourself as a member
of that Group.
DataMail
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I AM A MEMBER OF GROUP &CAMELOT. SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENS WHEN I
UPLOAD TO THAT GROUP. EVERY TIME I UPLOAD, I SEE ALL THE GROUP
MEMBERS IN THE DISTRIBUTION-LIST EXCEPT FOR BILLY FRANK BUCKLEY. I
KNOW HE'S A MEMBER, BECAUSE I AM THE HOST AND I ADDED HIM. EVERYONE
ELSE IN THE GROUP GETS BILLY IN THEIR DISTRIBUTION-LIST, BUT I NEVER
SEEM TO. WHY?
This is a matter of BBS Security Levels. You can verify this by
uploading a file to &CAMELOT, and when prompted for the next
receiver, enter BILLY FRANK BUCKLEY. DataMail is likely to tell
you that your Sysop has requested that persons with your Security
Level cannot upload to persons of Billy's level. If everyone
else in the Group automatically gets Billy's name in their
distribution list, then it is because they have a higher Security
Level than you. The only way to resolve this "problem" is to do
whatever it takes to get added authorization from your Sysop.
Remember that being the Host of a Group simply authorizes you to
decide what names are and are not included in that Group.
Otherwise, a Host has no special privileges in DataMail.
I UPLOADED A FILE 3 DAYS AGO. IT WAS A REALLY BIG FILE AND TOOK
FOREVER TO UPLOAD. I FORGOT TO ADD MARGARET MAGGIE AS A RECEIVER OF
THAT FILE. DO I REALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE TROUBLE OF OVERLAYING THAT
FILE JUST TO GET MARGARET ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECEIVERS?
No, not at all. Simply use the "Alter Recipients" option. It
will show you the list of files you have outstanding. Type in
the name of the file in question, and when asked, type in
Margaret's name. She will be added as a Receiver of your file,
and she will also be issued a message telling her that a file is
waiting for her to download. NOTICE! Adding and Deleting names
from a Distribution list in this manner is quick and easy (that's
why this feature exists), but it does NOT change the expiration
date of the file! If you uploaded that file 3 days ago, and it
was destined to be deleted 5 days later, Margaret will only have
2 days in which to download the file before it is deleted. The
expiration date is under the full control of your Sysop, so the
time period may vary from BBS to BBS.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 17
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I NORMALLY UPLOAD A FILE ONCE EACH MONTH TO GROUP &HACKENSACK. THERE
ARE 12 MEMBERS IN THAT GROUP (INCLUDING MYSELF). THIS MONTH, I HAVE
AN EXCEPTION; I HAVE A SECOND FILE THAT I WANT TO UPLOAD TO ALL
MEMBERS OF GROUP &HACKENSACK, EXCEPT FOR WINFRED WINSTON. THIS IS NOT
EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I DON'T WANT TO ESTABLISH A NEW GROUP,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TYPE 10 NAMES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY IN
GROUP &HACKENSACK.
There is one sure-fire way to handle this. When asked for the
Receiver of your file, enter &HACKENSACK. DataMail will show you
a list with 11 names in it, including Winnie's. When DataMail
prompts you for the next Receiver, enter Winfred Winston, and
DataMail will remove Winnie from the list. Now, upload your
file. The 10 people you wanted to receive it are the only ones
who will.
If you are the Host of the Group, there is another way, but I
don't recommend it. Select the "Group Maintenance" option and
remove Winfred from Group &HACKENSACK. Then upload your file.
Then go back and add Windfred as a valid member of Group
&HACKENSACK. That's a lot of effort, and it's easier just to let
DataMail include his name followed by your purposeful deletion
from the Distribution-List. By using this second approach, you
also run the risk of forgetting to add poor old Winnie back as a
member after you upload your file. But you are the Host, so you
can decide.
10 DAYS AGO I UPLOADED A FILE TO 4 PEOPLE. YESTERDAY I USED THE
"ALTER RECIPIENTS" OPTION TO ADD A NEW RECEIVER. I NOTICED THAT 3 OF
THE 4 PEOPLE HAD ALREADY DOWNLOADED THE FILE, BUT THE FOURTH HAD NOT.
THE NEW RECEIVER WAS ADDED JUST FINE. TODAY WHEN I LOGGED ONTO THE
BBS, I GOT TWO MESSAGES TELLING ME THAT BOTH OF THOSE REMAINING
RECEIVERS CANNOT DOWNLOAD MY FILE BECAUSE THE FILE REACHED ITS
EXPIRATION DATE. I THOUGHT THAT EVERY FILE I UPLOADED WAS HELD FOR 10
DAYS. WHY DID THE FILE GET DELETED WHEN I ADDED A NEW RECEIVER ON THE
9TH DAY? SHOULDN'T DATAMAIL KEEP THAT FILE FOR ANOTHER 10 DAYS?
Well, first, the expiration date varies on each BBS. The time a
file is retained is a function of your Security Level on that
BBS, and how many days the Sysop of that BBS wants people of your
Security Level to be able to leave files hanging around on
his/her disk. Next point: In order to adjust the expiration
date, you must overlay that file. This involves a file transfer.
This is work on your part. This is intentional, because...
DataMail
Page 18 Version 1.1 User's Guide
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Final point. DataMail is not intended to be used as a method of
you keeping / storing / archiving your own personal files on
someone else's disk (i.e., your Sysop's) until you get around to
deciding who should be the next person to receive a copy of that
file. DataMail is intended for use in a situation where you know
right away who is going to receive the file, you upload it, they
download it, and it is purged from your Sysop's disk. Short,
sweet, and simple. If you happen to forget a name, DataMail
allows you to come back later and add that Receiver. If you
change the contents of the file, DataMail allows you to easily
overlay the file without a lot of fuss and bother.
However, were DataMail to reset the expiration date of a file
each time a caller uses the "Alter Recipients" option, it would
be a very easy thing for some people to abuse their Sysop's disk
space. All anyone would have to do is upload their file, and
each day go in and add a new receiver (maybe delete one of the
old receivers if the list is getting too big). This action would
allow the Uploader to store his/her files on their Sysop's disk
in perpetuity, using the BBS disk space to keep the file intact
rather than their own disk space. DataMail was designed to let
you EXCHANGE files, not to find someone else's disk space to
BACKUP your files. Please review the COURTESY section at the
front of this manual.
Resolution of this problem is simple. Upload your file again to
the two people who did not download it before it reached its
expiration date. This is slightly more effort than it would have
been if you had simply chosen to overlay your file in the first
place, because the overlay action would have automatically added
the person who had not yet downloaded your file. Now you will
have to not only enter the name of the new person to receive your
file, but will also have to enter the name of person who was
already a known receiver of your file before it was deleted.
I UPLOADED A FILE TO 3 PEOPLE. ONE OF THEM DOWNLOADED IT BEFORE I
REALIZED I UPLOADED THE WRONG FILE. I USED THE "KILL FILE" OPTION TO
DELETE THE FILE FROM DATAMAIL. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OK, EXCEPT I
ONLY GOT A "DOWNLOADED" MESSAGE FROM THE ONE PERSON WHO MANAGED TO
DOWNLOAD THE FILE BEFORE I DELETED IT. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF
REPLY FROM THE OTHER RECEIVERS. IS THIS NORMAL, OR DID I FAIL TO
DELETE THE FILE AND IT IS STILL WAITING FOR THOSE OTHER 2 PEOPLE TO
DOWNLOAD IT?
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 19
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This is normal behavior. Those other 2 people received a message
telling them that you deleted the file (so they won't go into
DataMail trying to find a file when it is no longer there).
However, your actions in choosing to delete the file were under
your own control. Since you explicitly performed this action,
DataMail assumes you are aware of it. DataMail does not bother
to pester you with, "Hey, you deleted a file and those guys won't
get it because you deleted it" messages. Everything is fine. If
you wish to check, just run DataMail again and select the "Kill
File" option. The file in question will not be listed, because
it is no longer in DataMail.
I'M THE SYSOP. I USE DATAMAIL IN A "USER MODE" IN ORDER TO SEND FILES
TO MY BBS CALLERS, AND RECEIVE FILES FROM THEM. DATAMAIL IS DOING
SOMETHING WEIRD WITH USER HERCULES POIROT. I LOOK IN MY BBS'S CALLER
FILE, AND THERE HE IS, PLAIN AS DAY. BUT DATAMAIL DOESN'T SEEM TO
KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT HIM. WHY?
One (or more) of three things is true. Herc is marked as a
Deleted User, Locked-out, or has a Security Level of 0. To
DataMail, these are non-existent users, and as such DataMail
refuses to acknowledge them.
BOY, I REALLY MESSED THINGS UP! I UPLOADED A FILE TO BOB AND CAROL
AND TED AND ALICE. NEXT DAY, I DECIDE TO ADD ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA,
SO I USED THE "ALTER RECIPIENTS" OPTION TO DO THAT. TODAY, I DECIDED
THAT CAROL SHOULDN'T GET THE FILE, SO I USED THE "ALTER RECIPIENTS"
OPTION AGAIN. ONLY I REMOVED CLEOPATRA INSTEAD OF CAROL. THAT WAS A
MISTAKE. CAN I FIX THIS?
Sure, no problem. You should first make a decision about the
expiration date of your file. If you are getting close, you
might wish to overlay the file (via file transfer) in order to
reset the expiration date. No matter what you decide, there are
two ways to fix this.
One is to use the "Alter Recipients" option again. This time,
just add Cleopatra (again) and delete Carol.
The other is to overlay your file. DataMail will show you the
current Distribution-List. Just add Cleopatra and delete Carol.
Then upload your file. Piece of cake; German Chocolate - my
favorite!
DataMail
Page 20 Version 1.1 User's Guide
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I WAS UPLOADING A FILE, AND DATAMAIL TOLD ME IT WAS TOO BIG AND
DELETED IT. IT WAS A REALLY BIG FILE AND TOOK OVER 20 MINUTES TO
SEND. WHY CAN'T DATAMAIL DETECT THE FILE SIZE BEFORE I UPLOAD IT AND
SAVE ME THE TIME AND FRUSTRATION OF HAVING THE THING DELETED AFTER I
UPLOAD IT?
Because it can't. To put it another way, for the same reason you
cannot detect the brand of light bulb in a light fixture simply
by flipping the wall-switch with your finger. In other words,
you have to be right there by the light fixture looking at the
light bulb to see with your own eyes what brand it is. You can't
do this standing half-way across the room by the wall-switch.
Likewise, DataMail would have to be right there, inside your
computer, in order to know the size of the file you are going to
send. It cannot tell anything about the size of the file from
half-way across town, the state, the country, or the world.
Although your computer and your Sysop's computer are talking to
each other via your modems, each computer maintains rigid control
over what is and is not allowed to come and go over the modem.
Your communications software strictly prohibits your Sysop's
computer from taking control of your computer.
Further, DataMail would have to be a mind reader. You can tell
DataMail you are going to upload file XYZ (which is 10 bytes
long) and DataMail MIGHT be able to determine that and say
"OkeyDokey, go ahead", but there is no rule to say you can't, at
the last moment, decide you are really going to upload file ABC
which is 3 megabytes. DataMail can only check AFTER you finish
uploading. DataMail tells you your file size limit before you
start the upload process. It is up to you to verify your file is
within acceptable limits before going through with the upload.
If you just absolutely have to upload that file and can't break
it into smaller pieces, contact your Sysop. File limits are
controlled by your Sysop. Perhaps he/she will grant you
temporary increased file limits. In the meantime, DataMail can
only operate under your Sysop's rules, and can only inform you
ahead of time about such things. It is up to you to verify you
are following your Sysop's rules before you start. If you do
not, DataMail will enforce them for you after the fact.
DataMail
User's Guide Version 1.1 Page 21
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DataMail Improvements/Enhancements
==================================
DataMail is a tool for the User (you). The Sysop may also find
it handy to send files to certain individuals, but it was designed
with the User in mind. To that end, it is the Users' satisfaction
that is of primary concern to me. DataMail must certainly operate
efficiently for your Sysop without subjecting him/her to abuse of the
tool, but the function of DataMail is designed to provide the User
with a method to handle private file transfers in an expedient and
simple manner.
Please contact your Sysop with any suggestions for improvements
to DataMail. It could be that DataMail already supports your needs,
but your Sysop has chosen to not implement such options. In other
cases, your ideas may not be part of DataMail right now, but could be
if you let your Sysop know.