BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/doors_2/znr092d.zip/BETA.DOC

Text File | 1993-03-27 | 8KB | 140 lines

                   The ZipNews Reader v0.92d (BETA)

The ZipNews Reader provides fully threaded newsreading of the Usenet
newsgroups distributed via the Internet.  It obtains its news packets from
the ZipNews Door.  The system operates in a manner quite similar to the
QWK-compatible readers and doors.  A big difference is the accessability to
the fantastic Internet in a familiar and easy manner.  There is no compromise
in Internet functionality by having to traverse a gateway.  There are no
addressing kludges that must be mastered in order to force some measure of
compatiblity between the one format (such as QWK) to the pure Internet/Usenet
format as per the standards set forth in RFC-822 and RFC-1036.

To use the ZipNews Door (v0.96 or later) to obtain a packet, log into the
Waffle system.  (On the Northern Lights this is the INET door.)  Establish an
Internet account, and then select newsgroups of interest using the JOIN
command, and its ADD, DELETE, and LIST subcommands.  A list of the active
newsgroups, their volumes on file, and daily activity is updated daily on the
Northern Lights and is posted in Bulletin 12.

Beginning with release 0.92d, if working with v0.96e of the door, you
can do all newsgroup selection and updating of pointers from remote using
the "Setup" menu of the reader.  (To add newsgroups from a list of those
available from your BBS, you must request to list in the C)onfigure
section of the v0.96e or later version of teh ZipNews Door.)

Once you have established your selections, enter the command "zipnews"
at the main prompt.  Upon entering the door, hit C to choose your
preferences for file transfer protocol, archiving (compression) utility,
and donwload format (you will want Z, for the ZipNews Reader format).

You are ready to try the big D for download.

On PCBoard systems that are also running Waffle as a door, you need
not be in Waffle to access ZipNews.  There is a quicker way that you
can establish if your sysop has provided it.  It will take a manual
operation by your sysop, so notify him/her if you'd like to use that
option.  If that is set up for you, from the PCBoard main prompt, you
enter:  zipnews yourid

    where yourid is the Internet login id you established in Waffle.

Beginning with the ZipNews door v0.96e, the above involvement of the
sysop for setting up first-time callers is no longer needed.  First-time
callers may enter the door as described above using a unique ID of their
choice.  The door will recognize the unique ID as being for a first-time
caller prompt the caller for the appropriate decisions.  The call may
end with the user downloading a packet containing the newsgroup listing
from which selections via an uploaded packet will be accomplished.  No
access of the Waffle BBS package by callers is necessary on PCBoard
systems.

A successfully completed download results in a *.ZNS file being received in
your download directory.  From the Northern Lights, you will receive
NLBBS.ZNS files.  Before attempting to work with such a file, copy ZNR.EXE
and ZNREADER.CFG (and ,if you are using a registered copy, ZNREADER.KEY) to a
directory in your DOS PATH.  You do not need to have a registered copy or
ZNREADER.KEY to obtain full newsreading capability from the reader.

Next, edit the file ZNREADER.CFG to suit your needs.  This will tell the
reader where to find packets, and where to put them in storage.  It also
specifies who you are (if using an unregistered reader), and what archiving
utility and editor you will use (with a registered version).

You may choose nearly any directory to be your work directory (it does not
have to be the directory in which you put the reader and it's files).  I
recommend use of a RAMDISK if you have one.

IMPORTANT!  -- Do NOT choose as a working directory for the ZipNews reader
session one of the directories named in ZNREADER.CFG (unless it's one you've
specified as the "home" directory).  The reader is designed to work in a
directory free of any files other than those comprising a downloaded packet
or those that are generated in preparing the downloaded files for use.  So,
if you have named a directory for one of the purposes described in
ZNREADER.CFG, do NOT switch to it to run ZNR.EXE.  If you want to reliably
start up in the same directory as a work directory, specify that directory as
the "home" directory in ZNREADER.CFG.  Note:  the home directory is not a
required parameter, but it's available if it suits your needs.

Should you choose to register your ZipNews Reader, it becomes a mailer as
well.  This will allow you to use your own editor to compose postings to
newsgroups and private mail messages and replies to sent via the Internet.
The registered reader also can read your Internet E-mail messages downloaded
from a registered ZipNews Door.  (See ZNRORDER.FRM for information on how to
register your reader.)

Here are the basics of running your reader:

1. Use a packet (nlbbs.zns) produced ONLY in ZipNews Reader Format by
ZipNews Door.  After downloading with your usual communications program,
it should be in the directory you have named as the "incoming" directory
in ZNREADER.CFG.

2. Invoke the newsreader with the command:  znr
To access the packet, pick IMPORT - NEW in the reader's menuing scheme.
Thereafter, I think you'll see how to use the reader.

3. Once you have finished with a packet, you may "store" it away along with
info indicating which articles of the total packet remain unread.  To
"store", pick EXPORT - STORE.   To re-access this packet, merely choose
IMPORT - RETRIEVE.  Simple, huh?

4. When you quit out of the Group Selection screen, or when quitting
out of the reader entirely, you may re-enter the newsreading mode very
quickly by choosing NEWS - READ.   This will bring things up
instantly, bypassing the re-generation of the index files since they
exist in the current directory.   Should you ever have to re-index
a packet, select INDEX. (This option is provided should you manually
unarchive a packet and place its contents in the current directory.
To bring up the articles in readable form you would have to use INDEX.)

Within each major area of the newsreader operation (showing/selecting
groups, or threads, or reading an article) there is a unique help screen
indicating the action keys.  Hit "h" or "?" or "F1" to invoke the help.

5. If you are using a registered form of the reader, there is a MAIL
section that operates pretty much like the NEWS section.  Look at the
help screens at the various levels to see what commands are available.
(The commands pertaining to the posting or follow-up of news, and the
commands dealing with various mailing operations are not functional
in the unregistered form of the reader.)

Beginning with the v0.92b release of the software the Waffle Sysop's LOCAL
mode of operation is supported.  The reader can be used locally on Waffle
BBSs for newsreading (and, with the registered version of the reader, for
posting news follow-ups, and for various e-mail operation).  This is bound
to become a very popular tool for Waffle sysops AND their callers via the
ZipNews Door.  (Sysops:  Please read WHATSNEW.xxx for more on operating this
software in local mode on your system, in the v0.92b section.)

Although this software product is still in beta testing, most functons
are working solidly.  I hope you like the product.  Please let us know
of any problems you encounter with the reader.

- Jack Kilday, Sysop
  The Northern Lights BBS
  217-761-4782 (v.32bis/V-HST)

  March 27, 1993