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FASTMAIL.DOC
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1992-11-16
|
35KB
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799 lines
FASTMAIL - A DOOR for GT Systems
REVISION HISTORY.
05/10/90 - BETA #1 - Initial release
10/10/90 - BETA #2 - fix bug when current msg < first msg
fix bug on empty area
change .OPT file name to avoid conflicts
add user option to d/l changed bulletins
various cosmetic changes
remove spurious messages
11/10/90 - BETA #3 - fixed a nasty memory management problem
fixed a bug in the FASTMAIL.CTL update
added logging to the GT.LOG
added FORCED bulletin options
added d/l times
added max bag size
added keyboard timeout
added LOCAL mode - if it is a local logon there
will be no file transfer
15/10/90 - BETA #4 - added "novice screen" to display settings
(unless the user in in EXPERT mode in GT)
- improved the error reporting - runtime errors
are now logged to STDOUT
- fixed a problem with the PRIVATE ONLY message
areas (those with the $ in the GTMDIR.BBS)
- fixed a couple of minor cosmetic problems
18/10/90 - BETA #5 - FASTMAIL now uses a SPECIFIC directory name for
work files - this help save those who don't read
the docs from clobbering stuff <grin>.
- FASTMAIL also now sets the "read" flag for any
messages addressed TO the user
15/11/90 - BETA #6 - fixed a problem with the date in the control
file (I hope!)
- fixed a bug on FASTMAIL-selected areas that had
LESS messages than the system maximum (it tried
to read message MINUS xxxx!!!)
- added support for > 9 PID IDs - this has also
meant the NAME of the work directory has changed
from F_WORK_x to F_WRK_xx (where xx is the PID
number for that node).
- added the user name to several screens (mainly
to help the SYSOP.
04/12/90 - BETA #7 - Fixed a bug in the user defaults display
- Added messages to the Select/Deselect/Reset so
you know what it is doing
- FASTMAIL now checks that the user has enough
time to d/l the mailbag
- Added letter commands to the menus
- REMOVED the /P and /C command-line options. The
defaults are now ZIP and Zmodem.
10/12/90 - BETA #8 - Make message posting INTERNAL
- Add NETmail facilities
- Add upload/download credits
- fix time calculation error
- add name display for select/deselect
- optimized area scanning
- added line # to start L)ist from
- add Ctl-Z scan
- use screen length as defined in USER.CTL
24/12/90 - BETA #9 - add error logging to GT.LOG
- add error report to user
- add RESTRICT option to DSZ
- add bad file transfer retry
- add J option to L)ist
- fixed bug in log time
30/12/90 - RELEASE - add Y)our Areas to sel/desel menu
- add registration requirement
- add area numbers to header (for GTREAD)
22/1/91 - v3.01 - remove LJ command (replaced by Y)
- fix bug in that if you upload replies then
d/l you would get a large number of dud headers
in any area(s) you uploaded replies
- add tagline option
25/1/91 - v3.02 - Change command prompts
25/2/91 - v3.10 - Fix bug in reply (random failures)
- change access method for reply files
- Change First/Last prompt to Next/Last
- Add extract for ALL personal mail
- add counts to Next/Last message
- add ANSI
- add /M (force mono)
- fix bug in sysop extract
03/3/91 - v3.11 - Fix bug in ANSI display
- add NO compression option
- add FASTMAIL filename to prompts
22/4/91 - v3.20 - add delay in return from file transfers
- fix message truncation on unexpected ctl-x
- add support for BBS/CBS path
- strip blank lines before AREA: header in replies
- change SYSOP recognition to SY in GTUSER.BBS
- check size BEFORE packing
- add temporary "last messages" extract
- add "start download" prompt
23/4/91 - v3.21 - bugfix release - serves me right for working
till 2am!!
05/7/91 - v3.22 - fix leading zero on dates
- add abort prompts
- add fix for TO: and SUBJ: lines with trailing spaces
- fixed bug - FASTMAIL.CTL "last used" date wasn't updated
07/6/91 - v3.30 - add /@ parameter (reads FASTMAIL.CMD)
- add /Zx (for DSZ.EXE)
- add /Lmmm:dddd (max and default # of messages)
- add /P or /P$xxxx (CD monitoring)
- recalcuate time on failed transfers
- add quit option if system limit reached
- strip colour codes from area names
- fix erroneous "cannot find LOG " message
- increased number of message areas
07/7/91 - v3.31 - add read of GTBULLET.BBS and BULLETx.BBS
- fix bulletin search to get bulletins > 99
- reduced path lengths to 60 bytes
- add "bulletin qualifier"
27/7/91 - v3.21 - modify bulletin search to go 5 levels deep
- improve GTMDIR.BBS parsing
07/5/91 - v3.22 - fix leading zeros in dates
- fix error updating "last used" date
- cater for faulty lines in replies
- add abort prompts
31/5/91 - v3.30 - add /@ parameter (reads FASTMAIL.CMD)
- add /Zx (for DSZ.EXE)
- add /Lmmm.dddd (max and default # of messages)
- add /P or /P$xxxx (CD monitoring)
- recalcuate time on failed transfers
- add quit option if system limit reached
- strip colour codes from area names
- fix erroneous "cannot find LOG " message
- increased number of message areas
07/7/91 - v3.31 - add read of GTBULLET.BBS and BULLETx.BBS
- fix bulletin search to get bulletins > 99
- reduced path lengths to 60 bytes
- add "bulletin qualifier"
29/7/91 - v3.32 - increased bulletin scan to 5 levels
- add support for new GTMDIR format
09/8/91 - v3.33 - add support for GSZ
- fix bug in bulletin extract. If any user defaults
were changed FASTMAIL would not extract bulletins
for that session.
- fix help bug (possibly a bad release of code)
- add /V (verbose) parameter
12/8/91 - v3.34 - add /A parameter
- add qualifiers to /V parameter
13/9/91 - v3.40 - fix cr/lf bug in help
- add Delselect ALL
- allow UNCOMPRESSED message uploads with Zmodem and
Ymodem Batch
- make V command user-selectable
- add ARJ compression
- allow LOCAL uploads
- add /X and /F parameters
- rewrite .MES handling
- allow for increased GTUSER.BBS size
15/9/91 - v3.41 - fix bug which sometimes caused strange thing to happen
- on keyboard input
25/9/91 - v3.50 - add /N (no deselect) command
- add timebank facilities
- fix local uploads
- add DV awareness
7/9/91 - v3.51 - fix /C parameter parsing bug
- allow SY to deselect all areas
- v3.52 - internal revision - not released
9/11/92 - v3.53 - Add download and goodbye command
- Add parsing for new GTMDIR format
16/11/92 - v3.54 - Cosmetic and documentation changes only
******************************************************************************
* *
* ********* W A R N I N G W A R N I N G ******** *
* *
* THIS PROGRAM RUNS UNDER GT v17.00 *ONLY* *
* *
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
* *
* ********* IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT ******** *
* *
* THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF *MAJOR* CHANGES *
* TO FASTMAIL IN THIS RELEASE. *
* *
* *
* PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY!!!! *
* *
******************************************************************************
WHAT FASTMAIL DOES.
FASTMAIL is designed to ease the task of users in reading
message areas.
FASTMAIL scans the message bases defined in the GTMDIR.BBS
and extracts any UNREAD mail for the user found in the
GTUSER.BBS, collects it into one file, compresses
the file, and then initiates the download.
It also allows users to UPLOAD replies and posts them to
the correct areas.
ONLY areas that the user has access to are processed
and FULL message privacy is maintained.
FASTMAIL fully honours the users session time limit and
scheduled events.
If a file transfer is aborted FASTMAIL allows the
user to restart or abort it.
Aborted file transfers will *NOT* update the "last
read" pointers or log the transfer to the GT.LOG
All the files sent to/from FASTMAIL are pure ASCII.
FASTMAIL uses the GT "last read" pointers. This means
you can renumber/delete messages without affecting the
operation of FASTMAIL.
Version 3.10 onwards supports ANSI colour - the colours
are determined by the GT.LOG.
Version 3.10 onwards also allows a user to extract ALL
mail addressed to him in an area even though he may
only be extracting a few messages. See the FASTHELP.BBS
for full details.
Version 3.11 onwards now supports transfer of mail with
NO compression (pure ASCII) for those whose users run on
machines that cannot use the standard compression
methods.
Version 3.30 onwards strips the GT "colour change" codes
out of the area descriptions for readability.
v3.40 allows UPLOAD of UNCOMPRESSED replies
*NOTE* - if you DO use NO compression you cannot upload
replies UNLESS you use Ymodem Batch or Zmodem.
This is because you would have to upload multiple files - a
little difficult to do with protocols like Xmodem!
See the file FORMAT.DOC for the required format of the reply
files.
v3.40 onwards allows LOCAL message posting. A FASTRPLY.???
may be placed into the F_WRK_?? directory and will be processed
*HOWEVER* - you *MUST* post replies LOCALLY BEFORE extracting
mail LOCALLY - this restriction does NOT apply to online
operation.
v3.50 is "Desqview Aware" and will release the time-slice
whenever it can (usually if a file is locked or when waiting
for keyboard input.
| v3.53 has a "Download and Exit" option on the user menu.
| If the user selects this option FASTMAIL will NOT return
| to the menu but will exit with errorlevel 254 after trans
| ferring the mail.
|
| This approach was taken (rather than having FASTMAIL
| termainate the call) to allows for the many different
| system configurations that exist.
|
| You can either simply drop DTR on the COM port or use
| one of then "keyboard stacker" programs to set up
| the correct exit sequence for your BBS.
|
| This version (3.53) also has enhanced parsing of the
| GTMDIR.BBS to cater for new fields.
|
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS.
FASTMAIL expects to find a valid GTPATH= in the environment
as well as the GTMDIR.BBS, GT.CNF, GTUSER.BBS,
SCHEDULE.BBS, and FASTHELP.BBS files in the
directory nominated by the GTPATH= variable.
With v3.34 onwards you can specify an alternate GTMDIR.BBS
but it still must be in the GTPATH or LAN PATH.
With v3.12 onwards support has been added for the
BBS/CBS path.
FASTMAIL will look for the GTMDIR.BBS, the NODELIST.BBS,
and the FASTHELP.BBS in the directory nominated as the
BBS/CBS path in the GT.CNF.
The current GTPATH is searched FIRST - then the BBS/CBS
path.
********* IMPORTANT ********
With the addition of the /Z parameter V3.30 now supports DSZ.EXE
v3.33 now supports the graphic Zmodem (GSZ.EXE) - use the
/ZGE parameter
FASTMAIL also uses an environment variable to inform
DSZ of the COM port in use!!
you *MUST* place the statement
SET DSZPORT=p
where p is the COM port that GT is using (1,2,3 etc - or
if using a NON standard COM port use the portx value -
e.g. 03E8,5 - see the DSZ doc for more details)
in you AUTOEXEC.BAT for FASTMAIL to work correctly!!
********* IMPORTANT ********
FASTMAIL REQUIRES the following programs to be in the DOS path.
PKARC
PKXARC
PKZIP
PKUNZIP
LHARC <- V1.xx - do NOT rename LHA (v2.xx)!!!!!
ARJ
PAK
DWREDIR (part of DOORWAY)
FASTMAIL has a limit of 320 active message areas
HOWEVER THIS MAY BE REDUCED IF YOU HAVE *LONG*
DESCRIPTIONS OR PATHNAMES.
The MAXIMUM length of any drive/directory in your GTMDIR.BBS
or GT.CNF is now 60 bytes.
You *MUST* have a copy of DSZ.COM (or DSZ.EXE) in your LAN
PATH directory (if you have defined one in the GT.CNF).
If you have NOT defined a LAN PATH then you *MUST* have a
copy of DSZ.COM (or DSZ.EXE) in the directory defined by
the GTPATH. This applies to GSZ.EXE as well.
MEMORY REQUIREMENTS.
With the addition of ARJ compression memory usage is becoming
rather critical.
ARJ requires around 300K to run - this means you *MUST*
overlay the FASTMAIL door if you decide to allow it
COMMAND-LINE PARAMETERS
FASTMAIL has SEVENTEEN OPTIONAL command-line parameters.
/@ - use the FASTMAIL.CMD.
With the number of possible command-line options
it is now rather easy to exceed the 127-byte DOS
command-line length (especially if you are using
DOORWAY).
To overcome this FASTMAIL will look for the /@
parameter.
THIS MUST BE THE *ONLY* PARAMETER ON THE
COMMAND-LINE!!!
The /@ instructs FASTMAIL to read the rest of the
command-line parameters from a file called
FASTMAIL.CMD.
This is an ASCII file which contains the rest of
the command-line parameters.
FASTMAIL will search the GTPATH first for the
file - and if not found there will search the LAN
path.
/Xabcdef - specify default/allowable protocols.
This parameter allows you to specify default and
allowable file transfer protocols.
The FIRST letter specifies the default. If NO /X
parameter is specified ALL protocols are valid and the
default is Zmodem.
Valid protocols (and letters) are -
Z - Zmodem
Y - Ymodem
B - Ymodem Batch
X - Xmodem
/Fabcdef - specify default/allowable compression modes.
This parameter allows you to specify the default and
allowable file compression programs that FASTMAIL will
use.
The FIRST letter specifies the default. If NO /X
parameter is specified ALL programs are valid and the
default is Zip.
Valid compressions (and letters) are -
Z - Zip
L - Lharc
J - arJ
P - Pak
A - Arc
/Axxxxxxxx.yyyy - specify alternate GTMDIR.BBS.
This parameter allows you to specify an alternate
file for the GTMDIR.BBS. The file has the same format
as the GTMDIR.BBS.
FASTMAIL will search the GTPATH first for the
file - and if not found there will search the LAN
path.
/Zxy - Zmodem type.
Allows you to specify WHICH version of Zmodem you
are using. The default is DSZ.COM
The first byte is OPTIONAL and specifies whether
you wish to use DSZ or GSZ (the graphic version)
The second byte specifies whether to use xSZ.exe or
xSZ.COM
/Zgc is GSZ.COM
/Zge is GSZ.EXE
/Ze is DSZ.EXE
/Zc is DSZ.COM
/Vx - verbose message posting default.
This parameter specifies how FASTMAIL will display
details (Area, To, Subject, and Message No.) of each
reply as it is processed.
The parameter following the V can have the following
values -
/VN - Do NOT display verbose details.
/VW - display verbose details and pause for the
number of seconds specified for the transfer
delay (see the /K parameter)
/VP - display verbose details and wait for the ENTER key.
The setting of the the V parameter can be set by the caller.
/P$xxxx - Com port monitoring.
If the /P parameter is used FASTMAIL will monitor
the COM port CD line and if carrier is lost will
exit.
If NO $xxxx is given (i.e. /P by itself) FASTMAIL
will use the COM port specified in the GT.CNF
If the $xxxx *IS* specified FASTMAIL will use the
number following the $ as a HEX address of the
COM port.
The CD line is checked whenever FASTMAIL polls
the keyboard.
/Nx - no area deselect.
This parameter is used to prevent the user DEselecting
either the DEFAULT message area, the MESSAGE to SYSOP
area or BOTH.
/NS prevents deselection of the msg to sysop area
(as defined by the SM= parameter of the GT.CNF
/ND prevents deselection of the default area
(as defined by the MP= parameter of the GT.CNF
/NB prevents deselection of the either area.
/M - force Monochrome mode,
If you use this parameter FASTMAIL will ignore the
GTUSER.BBS and display in Mono only.
/T - add a tag line.
If this parameter is specified FASTMAIL will add a
simple tagline to each UPLOADED message to identify
it as coming from an offline source. The tagline is
##FASTMAIL vx.yy
where x.yy is the version of FASTMAIL used.
/Cmxx:yy - Upload credit parameters.
This parameter can be used to "reward" those
users who participate in the message areas by
using FASTMAIL.
The m (immediately after the /C) specifies
which crediting method will be used -
if NO m value (/Cxx:yy) is used then only Kbyte
credits (described below) will be used.
if m is set to T (/CT) then ONLY the
time bank credits (minutes) will be used
if m is set to B (/CBxx:yy) the BOTH the time
bank credits (minutes) and the Kbyte credits
will be used.
How Kbyte credits are calculated.
It will MULTIPLY the Kbytes of UPLOADED mail
(i.e. replies) by the value of xx and will
DIVIDE the Kbytes of DOWNLOADED mail by the
value of yy and add these together to give a
"credit" Kbytes which is added to the users
Upload Kbytes in the USER.CTL.
as an example using the parameter /C05:10
If the user uploaded 3k of replies and
downloaded 200k of mail, FASTMAIL would
multiply the 3k by 5 (giving 15k) and divide
the 200k by 10 (giving 20k). This would give a
total of 35k which is then added to the
USER.CTL upload Kbytes.
/Lxxxx:yyyy - Maximum/default number of messages per area.
Specifies the maximum number of messages
to extract from EACH message area. If not
specified defaults to 50 messages.
xxxxxx is the ABSOLUTE maximum a user can select
yyyyyy is the DEFAULT maximum (for a new user) -
if not specified the default is set to the
maximum.
/D - DOORWAY Mode.
If you are running FASTMAIL via DOORWAY you *MUST*
add the /D parameter otherwise your DSZ transfers
will fall over in a BIG way!!
/Bxy - Force bulletins.
If this parameter is used FASTMAIL will ALWAYS
include changed bulletin files.
This parameter has TWO characters following
x can be Y or N. Y means the bulletins
are FORCED on - the user cannot disable them.
N means the used CAN disable the inculsion of
the bulletins.
y can be A or N. A means that ALL bulletins will
be included - in this case the GTBULLET.BBS and
appropriate BULLETx.BBS will be included as well
as the numeric (1-999) bulletins.
N will include the numeric bulletins from the
default area only.
/Q - Quiet mode.
If specified this parameter causes FASTMAIL NOT to log
to the GT.LOG.
The default IS to log FASTMAIL files transfers to
the GT.LOG.
/Sxxx - Maximum mailbag size.
If specified this sets the maximum UNCOMPRESSED file
that a user can transfer in a session. The size is
specified in Kbytes.
*IMPORTANT* - this figure is only approximate as
it is only checked at the end of each
mail area.
If NOT specified there is NO limit on the maximum
mailbag size.
/Kxx:yy - Keyboard timeout/transfer delay
The xx specifies a keyboard timeout (in minutes).
If NO key is struck within this time FASTMAIL will
return to the BBS.
The default is 5 minutes.
*NOTE* - the following information no longer applies if you use the
/P parameter
This timeout was added to counter a nasty trap
when using DOORWAY - it seems that DOORWAY was
being a little too smart for its own good!
If you were doing a DSZ transfer and the carrier
was lost DOORWAY would quite correctly terminate
DSZ - BUT LEAVE FASTMAIL RUNNING WITH CARRIER
MONITORING DISABLED!!
Without the timeout FASTMAIL would sit there
FOREVER waiting for a key.
The yy parameter allows you to add a time delay
(in SECONDS) after file transfers.
The default is NO delay.
This delay was added because of reports that
callers with slower machines were getting
corrupted screen after a download or upload.
The problem was due to the fact that FASTMAIL
would finish the transfer and then display the
menu - but the callers system hadn't returned from
the transfer.
*NOTE* - you must specify BOTH parameters
separated by a colon e.g.
/K7:8
Would give a 7 minute keyboard timeout and an
8 second delay after file transfers.
ERRORLEVEL EXITS.
FASTMAIL uses the DOS errorlevel to indicate any
problems that may arise.
If you are using DOORWAY this will reflected in the
DWSHELL.ERR file.
All errors EXCEPT 1, 9, 14 or 20 are reported in
the GT.LOG.
ERRORLEVEL MEANING
1 No GTPATH found
2 Error accessing GTUSER.BBS
3 Error accessing USER.CTL
4 Error accessing GTMDIR.BBS
5 Error accessing MESSAGE.CTL
6 Error accessing USER_MSG.CTL
7 Error accessing a .MES file
8 Error accessing FASTMAIL.CTL
9 Error accessing GT.CNF
10 Error accessing MAILxxxx.TXT
11 Error accessing SCHEDULE.BBS
12 Error deleteing files
13 Error accessing bulletins
14 Error accessing GT.LOG
15 Keyboard timeout
16 No F_WRK_xx directory found
17 Error executing DSZ.COM
18 Error accessing FASTHELP.BBS
19 Error accessing FASTMAIL.CMD
20 Too many message areas
254 Download and exit selected from menu
CONTROL FILES.
FASTMAIL has ONE control file - the FASTMAIL.CTL.
This file is created/maintained by FASTMAIL in either
the LAN path or GT path.
Do NOT "fiddle" with this as it used to keep the default
settings for each user of FASTMAIL!
USING FASTMAIL.
Please see the enclosed .BAT for a DOOR file
to run FASTMAIL - you shouldn't have to change much
(if anything!) the run it (apart from changing the
name of the .BAT to GTDOORxx.BAT)
********* YOU MUST HAVE A SPECIAL WORKING DIRECTORY FOR FASTMAIL ********
The working directory for FASTMAIL *MUST* be unique
as FASTMAIL itself will delete ANY files found in it!!
FASTMAIL uses a FIXED DIRECTORY NAME off the ROOT
directory.
This name is F_WRK_xx where xx is the PID number (as
defined by the LN= parameter of the GT.CNF). If NO LN=
parameter is found xx defaults to 0.
xx *MUST* be 2 digits (00-32)
e.g. C:\F_WRK_00
THIS DIRECTORY *MUST* EXIST - FASTMAIL will NOT create
it.
You only have to change to the correct DRIVE (i.e.
the drive where the FASTMAIL working directory(s) are
located).
REGISTRATION.
FASTMAIL is an OZnet package and therefore requires a CRC
to be installed to enable all functions.
If FASTMAIL is *NOT* registered you will not be able to
upload replies, and FASTMAIL will not keep track of the
users "last read" pointers.
For registration details please see the enclosed
"readme.now" file.
It does NOT cost anything to register this program, but
if you like FASTMAIL a donation would be appreciated!
The easiest method would be to send me a NETMAIL message
with your Visa/Mastercard details and what YOU think the
program is worth. Please note that I can ONLY accept
Visa or Mastercard from locations outside Australia as it
costs me $6 to have an overseas cheque cashed!
FURTHER INFORMATION.
May be obtained from the author -
Ken Thompson
164 Lyons Rd.
Drummoyne N.S.W.
Sydney Australia 2047
+61-2-819-6401
or I may be contacted via my BBS
The Black Hole
GT Net/Node 302/003
