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1991-12-29
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BGQWK 1.0 BETA 19 SUN 29 DEC 91
--------------------------------
... Finally! ... DOCUMENTATION! ... take a look at BGQWK.DOC.
We are getting ready to release BGQWK offically (as soon as I get the time
to type out a good BGQWK.DOC and BGQWK.HLP files). Please report ANY bugs
or quirks IMMEDIATELY to my board or to my conference, E02/758. DO NOT
SEND NETMAIL (Russell and I are still experimenting with netmail).
All UNregistered users ... please remove your BGQWK.KEY. It has expired.
Remember, BGQWK is not crippleware. The only difference between the
registered version and unregistered version is a tagline that is appended
to messages uploaded through the door that says "Unregistered Evaluation
Copy". This is shareware. Please support it if you haven't already.
8088 and 80286+ versions of the EXEs are included with this beta release.
UTIEXPRT: two changes, 1) if a message is longer than 70 lines, it will be
split into multiple 70 line messages so TNet doesn't lock up. I probably
could go to 100 lines, but I'm keeping it low just to be safe. 2) I
discovered that if a message starts with a blank line that UTIEXPRT had a
bug that made it think that no message was there. Fixed.
1. Well, I thought I fixed the [H]angup bug in the last release, but
apparently not so. I have fixed it this time. I hope. <grin>.
2. BGQWK now supports full duplex file transfers via the HS/Link protocol.
Users can now drive themselves crazy trying to upload a REP file and
download a QWK file at the same time, <grin>. You must have HSLINK.EXE
somewhere in your DOS PATH if you want BGQWK to use it. And, of course,
this is TOTALLY OPTIONAL. If you have the "s" parameter on the BGQWK
command line (for DSZ "ho sl", handshake slow), BGQWK will also start
HS/Link in -HS (handshake slow) mode. I don't know if this feature will
get much use, but it was pretty easy to implement and all the PC Board
authors are starting to do it too.
3. I changed around some of the command strings sent the DSZ. You
shouldn't notice any difference.
4. More cosmetic changes. Also, stacking of commands can now be done with
the ";" as well as the " ".
5. Added two options in the C)onfig menu. It allows users to disable the
door to send users their own messages. Another allows the door to send
zero message QWK packets (some networks and users prefer that way).
6. The 'test mode' code has been removed.
7. If a FILES.BBS is not found, BGQWK will automatically skip the new file
scan regardless of the user's new file scan setting. Thanks for Jim
Kreyling for discovering this bug.
8. Bug in /PP, prepack mode, fixed.
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 18 SUN 22 DEC 91
--------------------------------
Just a reminder ... if you have not registered BGQWK yet and are using an
old BGQWK.KEY file that was included in some of the older beta copies (the
ones that say for use by GT Power Beta Testers only), that key expires on
January 1, 1992. Just delete that key when that date roles around.
The UTIs included have changed slightly to work better with networks.
1. People have still reported that BGQWK is placing its CTL file in some
strange places. Therefore, in order to keep everything running
smoothly, I have decided that from now on, BGQWK.CTL _must_ be in the
same directory as your USER.CTL file. (If you are running a LAN, that's
your LANPATH directory. If not, your GTPATH directory). PLEASE MOVE
BGQWK.CTL TO THE SAME DIRECTORY AS YOUR USER.CTL FILE. Thanks. And
remember to delete all occurrences of it elsewhere.
2. I've heard reports from all over the place that sometimes BGQWK gives
callers a bunch of garbage on the S)elect screen half way through. I have
attempted to fix this, but I don't know if the code I added really will be
helpful or not. Ask your callers if they notice the garbage or not. Also,
the little 'SD' indicator on the BGQWK status line wasn't really
functioning correctly in previous betas. I've attempted to fix that.
3. Some people have told me that DSZ seems to not allow uploads or
downloads sometimes in BGQWK but it works just great when in GT. Well,
I've also attempted to fix this. I do a closeport() before shelling and an
openport() after shelling. This should release the interrupts and should
cure the problem. If it doesn't, I don't know what else to do. Let me
know how this goes.
4. Some QWK reader authors have got in touch with me and informed me of
some errors in QWK packets created with BGQWK. I've tried to correct
these. The first was that BGQWK was creating zero-length NDX files in some
conferences. I wasn't aware this was happening, but I checked it out and
sure enough, it was. That has been corrected.
5. There are some cosmetic changes.
6. Well, I tried a pre-release of this beta on a system that is having
problems with people uploading REP packets and it still didn't work. I
have given it another shot in this beta. I think the problems may have
something to do with DSZ receiving files in that little window, so the
window will no longer be used when doing so. Yes, it was the little
window that was causing the problem with DSZ receiving files. From now
on, when BGQWK receives files, it will not use the window. DSZ when
sending doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
7. Douglas Pippel reported several months ago that BGQWK seemed to let
users download packets even if it took them over their time limit. I have
finally been able to re-create the event, and I believe the bug is fixed.
8. Fixed a bug that sometimes caused a user's timebank credits, when
deducted, to actually increase. <blush>.
9. Fixed in a bug in which BGQWK didn't remind first time users to config
their setup and select their conferences. It now does this, but the
first time welcome is now configurable. See the "$newuser" directive in
the BGQWK.HLP file.
10. Paul Schwarz discovered that if the G)oodbye command was disabled, the
user was still given the option to [H]angup after the download. This has
been fixed.
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 17 MON 9 DEC 91
--------------------------------
Attention: Andy Mcclung -- your registration came in and you haven't picked
up it yet. Call my board at 713-893-9124 and open door 4.
It's been quite a bit of time since the last beta of BGQWK. Several people
reported bugs in Beta 16, I was tied up a bunch, and this version kept
locking up on my system, but I think it's working decent now.
1. If you don't want to read a bunch of mombo-jumbo about BGQWK's new
feature dealing with networks, ignore the included UTI*.EXE files and
skip to new feature number 2, way, way down in this file, <grin>.
The biggie in this release is that BGQWK now fully supports the creation
of "net status" QWK packets and the insertion of "net status" REP packets.
Thanks to Greg Hewgill, the author of SLMR and TNet for helping me find
the information for the NETFLAGS.DAT file. (Had to make several calls
to Canada, but I guess it was worth it in the long run). If you wish to
grant a user "net status", the format for doing so has changed YET
AGAIN, <grin>. Take a look at this excerpt from my BGQWK.CNF file:
ns=B.J. Guillot/LO RN <- he has net status in those nets
ns=Node C-tech/RN TX <- he has net status in those nets
ns=Node 001-056/GT <- he has net status in those nets
As many NS= entries can exist as need be. Simply put the user name,
followed by a slash and then the two-letter "net indicators" that let
BGQWK know which conferences that user can net to. For example, I gave
myself net status in my local conferences and RelayNet conferences. Say
that I wanted to set up a second node to my system in a distant part of
the city, I could just make a script to call up my board, make a QWK
packet then logoff. Once I have that QWK packet on my hypothetical
distant system, I would run TNET or GTQWK (aka MERLIN) to import them,
etc. Duplicates are taken care of as best as possible.
Also note the NS= entry for the "Node 001-056". It is now possible
(I know Warren isn't going to like this, <grin>) for non-GT systems to
join GT Network echomail conferences. I granted that guy NS access in
the GT conferences I carry. The other non-GT system will have to run
some form QWK network software such as QNet, RNet, TNet, etc.
I have recently added a QWK network to my board, TexasNet using the TNet
software. TNet was originally designed for WildCat, but Greg added UTI
driver support. Since I happen to have written some of those for GT,
you can conviently join any QWK network such as SmartNet or ILink. (Of
course, you can also do this with MERLIN as well).
I have posted TNET21.ZIP on my board and the three new UTI drivers are
included in this beta relase of BGQWK. (IF YOU PLAN TO USE TNET, DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO USE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF MY UTIs, TNET WILL CHOKE). Of
course, the same UTIs you use with TNet can be used with the PC-Relay
software if you are currently joined in with RelayNet (aka RIME).
Here are some sample files which drive my system allowing it to access
the TexasNet network:
HOPPER.CFG (configuration file used by TNET)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM = UTI2
WORK = D:\RELAY\WORKIN
QWKDIR = C:\GT\SPECREQ
REPDIR = C:\GT\UPLOADS
LOGFILE = TNET.LOG
PACKER = PKZIP -es ! , PKUNZIP -o !
APPEND = Y
ATFILTER = N
VERBOSE = N
TTAG = Y
PRIVNAME = B.J. GUILLOT
IMPORTTAG = T , Ed Hopper's TexasNet
EXPORTTAG = T , Tranquility Base - 713-893-9124 - Houston, Tx
CONF = $D:\MAIL\TNET001
HUBNUM = 208
PRIVATE = N
TAG = T
NEXTMSG = 76
CONF = $D:\MAIL\TNET002
HUBNUM = 221
PRIVATE = N
TAG = T
NEXTMSG = 84
CONF = $D:\MAIL\TNET003
HUBNUM = 218
PRIVATE = N
TAG = T
NEXTMSG = 68
CONF = $D:\MAIL\TNET004
HUBNUM = 209
PRIVATE = N
TAG = T
NEXTMSG = 114
CONF = $D:\MAIL\TNET005
HUBNUM = 271
PRIVATE = N
TAG = T
NEXTMSG = 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that all the CONFs have little dollar signs in front of them. Make
sure you leave them there so that TNet runs my UTIs in "Bridge" mode.
The TNet users guide explains what all that stuff means. Note that the
"NEXTMSG =" lines are maintained by TNet. Also note the "SYSTEM = UTI2"
line up there. Shh! That's a secret. It's not documented in the TNet
manual because Kip Compton (the guy that came up with the UTI format)
doesn't want Greg Hewgill (TNet author) to support level two UTIs
because Kip came up with the UTI concept. Well, I don't care which
programs use my UTI drivers! Just don't spread around the word of this
undocumented tid-bit or Greg could get in a heap of trouble.
TEXAS.BAT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@echo off
d:
cd \relay
copy c:\gt\uploads\hopper.rep .\backup
del c:\gt\uploads\hopper.rep
copy c:\gt\specreq\hopper.qwk .\backup
del c:\gt\specreq\hopper.qwk
tnet export hopper
echo athm1 > com1
gr1700 hopper *xxxx-xxxx
echo ath1m0 > com1
d:
cd \relay
tnet import hopper
d:
cd \relay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
That batch file simply packs up any new TexasNet messages on my system
for exporting, calls Ed Hopper's BBS (my TexasNet hub) via a GT script,
uploads the REP file TNet made. Downloads a QWK file made by Ed's
MARKMAIL board, exits GT, and then runs TNet again to import my new
TexasNet mail.
My script file is still under construction so I won't post it yet.
BTW ... several people asked if I am going to update all the UTI files
to support Megamail. The answer: NO. I will only update the UTI files
that are required by PC Relay and TNet. I do not agree with Kip's
attitude, and secondly, if you users still want to use the MegaReader,
they still can -- Kip's MegaReader supports QWK packets!
2. I have added better error handling routines. There is no more need for
the 'x' experiemental mode option because BGQWK will now inform you what
file the problem is occuring with (or it will, at least, attempt to). This
will help all those sysops that have BGQWK runtime error out when the door
attempts to initialize.
3. BGQWK should never put the BGQWK.CTL file in the root directory (unless
for some reason, you have the GTPATH or the BBSPATH set to the root
directory. Check your root directories for any BGQWK.CTLs. If you find
them, delete them at once. Let me know if they pop up again as this causes
BGQWK serious problems (such as the non-saving of new configuration
information, etc). This error was previously caused by a blank BB=
entry in the GT.CNF file.
4. Several people complained that the logoff screen when users G)oodbye
from within the door lacked CR/LFs. They are there now.
5. I reworked the colors, again, in the execute window. Hopefully, the
monochrome sysops will be able to see whats going on again, <grin>.
6. A few of you have asked if I can add a H)elp screen to the S)elect menu
before it goes into the conference screen. This is now done. Take a look
at the BGQWK.HLP file under the "$selcon" directive.
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 16 SAT 23 NOV 91
--------------------------------
*** IMPORTANT -- DELETE BGQWK.CTL -- THE FORMAT CHANGED YET AGAIN ***
The following people have picked up their registration keys:
10-27-91 12:52 Site #1: Tranquility Base - 713-893-.... - Houston, Tx
10-28-91 7:02 Site #2: The Event Horizon 813-726-.... Safety Harbor, FL
11-02-91 6:16 Site #3: The ...Engage BBS ■ 618-244-.... ■ Mt.Vernon, IL
10-28-91 9:11 Site #4: Club PC BBS - 804-357-.... - Smithfield, Va.
11-05-91 9:27 Site #5: Jack's Board - 404-798-.... - Augusta, GA
10-29-91 15:06 Site #6: Christian Resources BBS -804-543-.... -Norfolk-Va
11-03-91 16:18 Site #8: The Rib 'n Rail BBS (519)264-.... Mount Brydges
11-09-91 16:56 Site #9: One Step Beyond - 808-695-.... - Waianae, Hi
11-15-91 0:05 Site #12: B. F. P. Services - 713-492-.... - Houston, TX
11-22-91 19:27 Site #14: SKYLINER
The following people have sent in registrations but have not yet opened
door number 4 on my board to pick up their reg keys.
007 ../../.. Ken Opdycke
010 ../../.. James Gunnells
011 ../../.. Ken Kirkland
013 ../../.. Dan Mancuso
1. Beta 14 added support for 510 conferences, but I just now noticed that
the ALL/BRF flags in the BGQWK.CTL file only supported 256, <grin>. I
needed to expand the CTL to accomodate 510, thus the reason for having to
delete the CTL file again. Sorry.
2. Beta 14 introduced "net indicators". These now will do something. When
the user selects S)elect, it will now give them the option to list J)oined
conferences, U)njoined conferences, A)ll [default], or they can enter the
two letter "net indicator" to list only conferences in specific networks or
groups or whatever you choose to use the two-letter "net indicators" to
represent. And yes, blank lines are no longer left when displaying the
conferences.
3. Another neat feature that sysops have been asking for has been
implemented as well. BGQWK can now "prepack" user QWK packets. Here is
an example batch file:
@echo off
rem -- this batch file runs as an event during some time
bgqwk n f: /pp:John Doe
copy c:\gt\specreq\tranquil.qwk c:\gt\uploads\forjohn.zip
Notice the "/pp:John Doe". The "/pp" is for "prepack" and the users
name, John Doe in this case, is entered using correct case. Please note
that the QWK file generated will be sent to YOUR download path. It will
be YOUR responsibility to copy the file to some directory where the user
can access it. It will be the users responsibility to rename the file
to the correct name if you named it otherwise. In the above example,
when John downloads the file from GT in my new uploads directory, he'll
download the file called "FORJOHN.ZIP" he'll need to rename it to
"TRANQUIL.QWK" or whatever name it should be called.
4. PLEASE NOTE -- some of the default options are now initialized
differently. Be sure to check the descriptions of the options carefully.
Notice some flags such as "G" are now "don't allow goodbye" when it used
to say "allow goodbye". I'm doing this so people that don't read the
docs can see all the features of BGQWK without having to ask me "can you
add a feature to allow BGQWK to let the users logoff from inside the
door", etc, etc. If you wish to run BGQWK with no options, an example
command line would be so: BGQWK . F: (just use a "." in place of the
command options).
x - experimental mode unlisted menu commands:
5 - using with gt 15.50 v - version bgqwk
m - using moby turbo t - test mode toggle
g - using ymodem-g conference options
s - ha slow, not ha both g* - guest, application
a - force news always a= - access level only and sy
k - kill protect incoming n~ - netmail conf
h - don't allow goodbye p^ - public msgs only
r - don't use ref num r< - read only
d - don't move if flag wrong x$ - private only
n - don't allow file scan s - strip hit bit
l - don't allow tagged d/l
b - don't allow timebank
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 15 SUN 17 NOV 91
--------------------------------
1. A major problem in the last beta has been corrected. Last read message
base pointers were going beserk. Fixed, I hope.
2. Fixed a problem with GT 15.01 systems. Because the BB= (bbs/cbs path
entry) was not included in GT.CNF files of those types, BGQWK was getting
confused.
I was very busy this weekend so I was unable to make any new changes except
for fixing the above two bugs.
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 14 SAT 8 NOV 91
--------------------------------
1. BGQWK now supports up to 510 conferences (conferences 0 to 509).
2. Because GT boards now have the ability to join multiple networks (using
for UTIs for RelayNet, the MDRIVER software for GTN, AFSN, etc, GTQWK, and
TNet 2.1 and my UTIs), support has been added for a "net" indicator on the
S)elect screen. This is completly optional, and if not used, the "net"
indicator will be set to "LO" (for local conference). To add "net"
indicators, use this format in the BGQWK.CNF file:
034 | z | Wire Wrap | RN=D:\MAIL\RNET199
015 | z | GraphicsBB | rn=D:\MAIL\RNET261
037 | Z | Test-1 | D:\MAIL\TEST,$
038 | Z | Test-2 | D:\MAIL\TEST2,^
040 | z | Netmail | gt=D:\MAIL\NETMAIL,NP
039 | z | Bg Qwk | gt=D:\MAIL\E02-758,P
041 | z | AnsiArt | GT=D:\MAIL\E10-037,P
080 | 0 | General | tx=D:\MAIL\TNET001,P
120 | 0 | Aggies | tx=D:\MAIL\TNET003,P
Notice, in this cross section, the indicators before the message
directory path. I use "RN" for RelayNet, "GT" for GT, and "TX" for
TexasNet. The two letter indicators (they MUST be two and only two
letters) will be converted to caps.
In a future beta, I hope to add some additional support for these
indicators (so that when the S)elect screen is used, the users can
choose to list all confs, or only those confs in certain networks.
3. There were a few cosmetic changes such as the opening logo.
4. Fixed a major bug in the last beta that caused uploaded messages to be
messed up. Several people reported this. Thanks guys!
5. Support for the AP= command, until further notice, has been removed
because of lack of interest. (This used to allow you to set an
alternate path). Support for priority conferences has also been
removed. They may pop back later, but I am in the process of expanding
the total number of conferences and have to get some other changes set
right first.
6. The work directory was not being deleted in the last beta because the
.PTR file was remaining in the directory. This has been fixed.
7. The number of characters available for use in the message paths has been
reduced from 50 to 30 so I have more memory to work with.
BGQWK 1.0 BETA 13 SAT 2 NOV 91
--------------------------------
Before I start ... for the sysops who sent in the registration checks for
BGQWK, you may pick up your BGQWK.KEY files by calling my board and opening
door 4. The complete process only takes a few minutes... just enter your
birthdate to confirm your identity and then enter a site line, whatever you
want to put on it (except someone else's name of course, <grin>).
1. THE FORMAT OF THE BGQWK.CNF FILE HAS CHANGED -- nothing to do with the
conferences themselves, just the configuration info -- no need to yell or
scream, <grin>. The CNF file is now "flexible", i.e., you can put any
information anywhere in the file and BGQWK will pick it up. You don't
even have to give BGQWK all the information you gave it before--all
config info is now optional (but I would HIGHLY recommend to use certain
fields). Anyway, here's an example of how it works now:
id=tranquil <- board id, defaults to NONAME
sn=B.J. Guillot <- sysop name, defaults to SYSOP
bn=Tranquility Base <- board name, defaults to No Name
bc=Houston, Texas <- board city, defaults to Planet, Earth
bp=713-893-9124 <- board phone, defaults to 000-000-0000
up=c:\gt\up <- upload directory, defaults to default ul dir
we=c:\qwk\hi.ans <- welcome file, defaults to GTWELCOM.CBS
ne=c:\qwk\news.ans <- news file, defaults to GTBULLET.CBS
by=c:\qwk\bye.ans <- bye file, defaults to GTBYE.CBS
ap=c:\gt <- alt path, defaults to root directory
ma=250 <- max msgs per area, defaults to 200
mp=2500 <- max msgs per packet, defaults to 2000
ns=04zE <- net status access levels, defaults none
Notice, this is all the same info that was in the file before, you just
have to add the config-id to it so BGQWK knows what is what. The new
things are AP, MA, MP and NS. Previously you could execute BGQWK like:
bgqwk nlhw f:(c:\gt) 250
This is no longer possible. BGQWK now REQUIRES the options and the drive
letter for the work driectory in order to run. The (altpath) directory
can now be specified as AP. The 250, or max msgs per conf, is now MA.
Several people went crazy because I made up by own authority NS for the
GTPASSWD.BBS file in the last beta. Ok, you guys won! The NS
information is now placed in the BGQWK.CNF file under NS, and it's
optional. Example to run:
bgqwk nlhw f:
Is what is needed to run BGQWK. Remember the config info can be placed
anywhere in the CNF file now--it can be split between conferences, put
at the front, but at the end, in backwards order, no order, etc. If you
take a look at the example CNF file I include, you will not notice all
the config options present--that's because I use the defaults.
2. I believe Russell and I have discovered the file sharing problems BGQWK
has having with DV'd systems. BGQWK was opening files in compatibility
mode rather than share mode <blush> and this was problably the culprit.
Douglas Pippel and several others reported this bug.
3. If a user attempted to upload a dummy REP packet (a 128-byte packet with
a REP header and no message), BGQWK would error out. This has been fixed.
4. If a user attempts to send a message with netmail "dot" commands in it,
the "." character will be changed to a "*" so the netmail programs don't
process it. Now, in order for a user to send "dot" commands, they must
have SY authority. It was brought to my attention that users could get
away with .FRs and .DXs in netmail messages. This is now fixed.
5. Dan Mancuso reported that the download function left the last MES file
it processed open until the door was shut. This has now been fixed.
6. Russell Kroll suggested that the user should be able to abort the
download process (the packing of messages) by being able to hit ^C, ^K,
or ESC during the packing. Done.
7. Several little changes have taken place. PNT files are now called PTR
files. The WELCOME/GOODBYE screen option is now always|never rather than
updated|never. Prompts have changed somewhat to allow more commands to
be displayed on the line.
8. Jerry Hook discovered a bug in the "don't move" feature. If a user
entered a public message in a private only base, BGQWK informed the user
taht the flag was changed to private, but it actually wasn't. It is now.
BGQWK was handling the private->public flags okay.
9. The BGQWK.HLP file has been updated.
I hope all this stuff makes everyone happy, ... at least for an hour, <grin>.
---------------truncated to save space