BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/gt_power/mmpc237.zip/MM_PTCNV.DOC

Text File | 1991-03-24 | 18KB | 529 lines

                        Changes in MM_PTCNV 2.37
                        ------------------------

a)      Attempts to fix a problem found by some users with the "press
        space" prompt.  A popup is displayed instead.

b)      Will look for the user files in the LAN path rather than the
        GT path, if the LAN path is defined.

        Note:   users who are NOT running on a LAN would do best to ensure
                that their LAN path entry (LR= in GT.CNF) is blank.

c)      Added a function to display and/or edit some fields from the user
        record - useful for raising or lowering access levels, changing
        passwords or just looking to see where a particular user is calling
        from.

        To operate from command line :

                mm_ptcnv /eu:Joe_Bloggs

        First screen displayed shows Joe Bloggs' details - you can edit the
        fields individually, or CTRL-RETURN to leave as is.

        Second screen shows a list of available access levels, with the
        current access level highlighted.  Raising or lowering is done
        with the up or down cursor keys.

        For registered users, this function is also available direct from
        MMR.  When reading a message, the U command will retrieve the
        information about the caller who wrote the message.



d       Two additional command line switches :

                /eu     edit user information, as described above
                /tf     displays town in full (default is first word only)


                               ┌──────────┐
                               │ MM_PTCNV │
                               └──────────┘
                                 Rev 2.33
                                 Jan 1991

┌─────────────────────┐
│ General Information │
└─────────────────────┘

GT and MMR operate with separate message pointers.  For many users this
is not a problem, though some users like to synchronise their GT and MMR
pointers so that they can, for example, read new messages either locally
or remotely.

The code to adjust GT's message pointers is too large to justify inclusion
within MMR, so the pointer conversion functions are implemented as a
separate program which can also perform some user list functions.


MM_PTCNV can :

        Import or export pointers between GT and MMR

        Set MMR's pointers to the highest or lowest message

        Create and execute a batch file which performs synchronised
            renumbering of both GT's messages and MMR's pointers

        Show the users in each message area, or the areas which a
            user has joined, and the last read message.


Execution can be either :

        From a menu that appears in MMR (2.32 onwards), or

        Direct from the DOS prompt or in a batch file, using command line
            switches.


Most of the functions can be performed either for selected message
areas or for all areas in the GTMDIR.BBS.


Compatibility
-------------

MM_PTCNV is intended for use with GT15.xx and GT16.xx.  It will *NOT* be
compatible with user files of GT14 or previous versions.


Status
------

This is an early beta test, and potential problems should be expected.
Please take care with backups etc, until the status is a bit more
certain.

Any problems should be reported to Harry Green at 050/003.



                      ┌────────────────────┐
                      │ Brief instructions │
                      └────────────────────┘

Install:

        MM_PTCNV.EXE    anywhere in DOS path



Execution
---------

MM_PTCNV can be executed either from a menu within MMR, or by a DOS command
with appropriate command line switches.

The menu method is most suited for operations you perform occasionally,
since it avoids the need to remember the commands.  The command method
is best suited for anything done on daily basis, since the commands can be
placed in a batch file to be run at a convenient moment.

Note:   The menu method is available for GT16 users in MMR 2.32.
        However, the screen will erase immediately mm_ptcnv terminates
        and you will need to <V>iew the session log.

        Operation with GT15 will require MMR 2.33 (expected to be issued in
        the next few days).


Select <P>ointer conversion from the top menu.

The menu is of the form :

                       ╔═════════════════════════════════╗
                       ║ Import GT pointers to MMR       ║
                       ║ Export MMR pointers to GT       ║
                       ║ show users in message Areas     ║
                       ║ Find a user in joined areas     ║
                       ║ set mmr pointers to Highest Msg ║
                       ║ set mmr pointers to First Msg   ║
                       ║ export pointers and Renumber    ║
                       ║ Quit to main menu               ║
                       ╚═════════════════════════════════╝

Importing and Exporting
-----------------------

In order to import or export pointers, you are expected to be a GT user -
ie, you must have logged on to GT at least once using the same name as you
use for MMR.


IMPORTING       will take your current message according to GT and adjust
                your MMR message pointer to the same message.  It will
                ignore any message area which you do not presently have
                a GT entry.

EXPORTING       will take your current message according to MMR and adjust
                your GT message pointer to the same message.  Or, if you
                do not presently have a GT entry in that area it will
                *create* one.

In either case, you will be given a choice either to perform the command
for <I>ndividual areas or for <A>ll areas.  In the first case you can
choose an area from MMR's area list.


WHY IMPORT OR EXPORT ?

Occasions that spring to mind are :

a)  if you have not previously used MMR, then you will probably want to
    IMPORT your message pointers from GT as the first step in setting up.

b)  if you normally read messages with MMR, but are working away for a week
    and plan on calling in remotely to do a mailcheck, then you would want
    to EXPORT pointers to GT before you leave, and IMPORT pointers when you
    return.

c)  If you frequently call in remotely, then you may find it convenient to
    have the exporting and importing done in batch files, as described
    later.

d)  If you use GT16 and wish to renumber.  In this case the necessary
    exporting and importing is best performed with the renumbering option
    on the menu.

IMPORTANT       At present, GT implements only a CURRENT message pointer
                and not a HIGHEST message pointer.  As soon as you read
                any message, it loses track of your highest message read.
                So its not a good idea to import pointers if you have used
                GT to read messages at random.


Showing users in message areas
------------------------------

This option creates a list of the users in the selected message area(s),
together with the date of their last call and the current message number.

C:\MSGS\GENERAL              FOR ALL TO SEE              CURRENT : MAXIMUM

    1-13-91 Matthew Fisher                 Loughton            1 :     0
    1-12-91 Martyn Croft                   Leeds               1 :     0
    1-14-91 Kevin Mclean                   Newcastle           1 :     0
    1-15-91 Colin Taylor                   London              5 :     0
   10-16-90 Harry Green                    Grapevine           5 :     5
    1-16-91 Sam Kane                       Waltham             2 :     0
    1-16-91 Edward Leusink                 London              5 :     0


The list can be created for all areas or for selected message areas.  The
output goes on the screen and to a file, which can later be redisplayed
or pasted into a file.

GT does not presently implement the MAXIMUM message field so the value
listed in that column is likely to be uninformative.

Users whose message pointer is zero (which usually means they have entered
the message base but not read any messages) are not included in the
listing.

Note:   The TOWN gets abbreviated to just one word at the moment.  That
        will change in a future release.


Finding a user in joined areas
------------------------------

Displays the current message pointer for a specified user in all areas,
for example :

   HARRY_GREEN                                               CURRENT : MAXIMUM

    c:\msgs\ADMIN                      between You and Me          16:   16
    c:\msgs\GENERAL                    For All To See               5:    5
    c:\msgs\NET2                       Netmail messages - to/fr    26:   26
    etc


Setting pointers to Highest or Lowest messages
----------------------------------------------

These funtions set your *MMR* pointers either to the highest or the lowest
message in every message base, or in selected message areas, according to
the options chosen.

Your GT pointers remain unchanged (though you could use the EXPORT option
afterwards if you wanted to update the GT pointers as well).

MMR 2.32 Note:  Spot the deliberate mistake - two menu entries both use
                the <F> hotkey.  The <F>irst option will change to <L>owest
                in 2.33.  It will also work!


Exporting and Renumbering (GT16 only)
-------------------------

In most cases its best not to renumber messages.  Asking sysop tools (GT15)
or Delren (GT16) to prune the message base leaving say 200 messages in the
message base *without* renumbering them is usually the best option, since
users who capture messages and call back later to reply to them tend not
to appreciate finding that the message no longer has the same number.

If you DO want to renumber a message base, then this option will create
a batch file that :

        exports MMR pointers to GT

        executes DELREN to renumber the message base to 1

        imports GT pointers to MMR

with the sequence being repeated for each of the message bases you select.

Its not a good option to select when you are in a hurry - it will take
a while.  And, of course, you should only select it at a time when
it is "convenient" to have your MMR pointers exported to GT.


The session listing
-------------------

When run from a the menu, all the screen output is also saved in a file.
This can be recalled by a <V>iew option which will appear on the pointer
menu once the save file contains information.

Viewing is actually performed by your editor, and if MMR is configured for
2 or more files MMR's jotter will appear as the second file.  So you could
perhaps copy part of the output there, to later paste into a message.


┌──────────────────────┐
│ From the DOS command │
└──────────────────────┘

The DOS version of the command will mainly be useful within batch files
for performing functions you need to do regularly.  In many cases it will
be useful to compare the command switches described here with those
generated by the MMR menu, but note that some additional options are
possible when working at the direct command level.


General
-------

All functions begin with the name of the program, ie MM_PTCNV followed by
one or more switches either in the form /xx or /xx:xxxxxxxxxx.

The order of the parameters is generally unimportant.

Some functions require a user name to be specified - maybe your own.
In order to make this into a single parameter, the space between words
must be replaced with an underline as shown in the examples.


Importing and Exporting
-----------------------

To import pointers from GT to MMR :

        mm_ptcnv /gm

To export pointers from MMR to GT :

        mm_ptcnv /mg


Both of these simple commands will process all message areas listed in the
GTMDIR.BBS.  To do the same but restrict processing to a single message
area, eg d:\general :

        mm_ptcnv /gm /ma:d:\general     (GT to MMR)

    or  mm_ptcnv /gm /ma:d:\general     (MMR to GT)


By default, mm_ptcnv will use the name you have configured within MMR when
accessing the GT message base.  If you need to do so, you can specify
another name, eg

        mm_ptcnv /mg:The_Organiser

will export your MM pointers to the GT user named The Organiser.


GT LIST functions (user list, find user)
-----------------

To show all the users in all the GT message areas :

        mm_ptcnv /gl


To show all the users in a single GT message area :

        mm_ptcnv /gl /ma:d:\general


To find an individual GT user in all joined message areas :

        mm_ptcnv /gl:Harry_Green


In the above forms :

a)      Users who have entered the message base but not read any messages
        are omitted from the listing.  If you wish to SEE them, add /iz
        (include zero entries).

b)      When searching for a specific user, only the message bases for
        which that user has an entry will usually be displayed.  The
        /ih (include hidden) switch will also list areas in which the
        caller is *absent*.

b)      Users whose location (town/county, city/state etc) contains an
        asterisk will show only the information preceding the asterisk.
        Users whose entry begins with an asterisk will be omitted
        altogether.

        The facility is intended for a specific purpose *not* yet
        implemented, and can be overridden by including /ih (include hidden)
        on the command line.




Pointer Resetting
-----------------

Functions are provided to set your MMR pointers to the HIGHEST or LOWEST
message within the message base.

        mm_ptcnv /pe    will set the pointer to the highest messages,
                        ie the *end* of each message base.

        mm_ptcnv /pb    will set the pointer to the lowest messages,
                        ie the *beginning* of each message base.


As before, operation can be restricted to a single message area :

        mm_ptcnv /pe /ma:d:\general or
        mm_ptcnv /pb /ma:d:\general


Renumbering (GT16 only)
-----------

To renumber a message base to 1 :

        mm_ptcnv /rn                    (all message bases)
        mm_ptcnv /rn /md:d:\general     (single message base)

mm_ptcnv does not itself renumber messages, but will set up a batch file
to manage pointer exporting, renumbering via GT16's DELREN and reimport of
pointers to MMR.

Before renumbering, please note that the comments for renumbering via the
menu apply equally to direct DOS operation.


When processing all areas
-------------------------

"All areas" means those areas that are listed in the GTMDIR.BBS.  If you
have only one such file, that is simple.  If you have more than one :

a)      mm_ptcnv follows the same rules as MMR, ie the first found of :

                GTMDIR.BBS in MM subdirectory of GTPATH

                GTMDIR.BBS in GTPATH

                GTMDIR.BBS in BBS PATH

b)      the above default can be overridden by an explicit declaration
        on the command line, ie

                mm_ptcnv ......... /md:e:\gt\gtmdir.bbs

        Of course, the specified message directory list must be in the
        expected format for a GTMDIR.BBS file as defined for GT.


Output to File
--------------

Output from mm_ptcnv *always* goes to the screen.  In most cases, you can
*also* send the output to a file, by using the /op: switch :

        mm_ptcnv .......    /op:c:\tmp\output

The output is *appended* to the specified file.  One exception is when
renumbering - the output from DELREN is *not* saved in the file.


Wait before quitting
--------------------

This option is mainly for use from the MMR menu, and requires the user to
confirm (press space) before the program exits.  Add /wq to the command
line if you want it (unlikely).

Note:   This will be used from MMR 2.33 onwards.


┌────────────────┐
│ Switch Summary │
└────────────────┘

    /gl                 GT list of all callers
    /gl:First_Last      GT list of specified caller's pointers

    /gm                 Import pointers from GT to MMR using name in MM.CNF
    /gm:First_Last      Import pointers from GT to MMR using specifed GT user

    /ih                 Include hidden entries in /gl functions
    /iz                 Include 'zero' entries in /gl functions

    /ma:d:\general      Restrict processing to the specified message base
                        (default is to process all areas in GTMDIR.BBS)

    /md:e:\gtmdir.bbs   Specify a directory list explicitly
                        (default is to follow MMR rules)

    /gm                 Export pointers from MMR to GT using name in MM.CNF
    /gm:First_Last      Export pointers from MMR to GT using specifed GT user

    /op:c:\tmp\out      Save screen output - append to specified file

    /pb                 Set MMR pointers to beginning of message base(s)
    /pe                 Set MMR pointers to end of message base(s)

    /rn                 Perform renumbering sequence via DELREN (GT16 only)

    /sp                 Suppress place altogether from /gl lists

    /wq                 Wait for SPACE press before quitting

Note:   Arbitrary combinations of commands not shown in the examples
        above will not necessarily perform any useful function.


Permanently synchronising GT and MMR pointers
---------------------------------------------

If you regularly read messages from both GT and MMR, you can if you wish
keep both sets of pointers permanently synchronised.

a)      If you currently have the correct pointers in MMR, export your MMR
        pointers to GT, using the MMR menu or MM_PTCNV /mg.  You need
        do this only once.

        If you currently have the correct pointers in GT, skip this step.

b)      Always run MMR from a batch file (eg MM.BAT) containing :

                MM_PTCNV /gm
                MMR
                MM_PTCNV /mg

If you do this, no further action will be needed when you read messages
from GT.