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1992-03-18
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╓───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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║ ╙─────╜ │ └───┤ ╙───┤ │ │ ║ ╚═╛ ║ │ ║ ║ ╚═╛ │ ║ ║ │ ╙┤ ║ │ ║
╚═════════╧═════╧═════╧═╛ ╘═╩═════╝ ╘═╝ ╙─────┘ ╚═╝ ╘══╧═╝ ╘═╝
Version 2.00/beta
THIS IS A PUBLIC BETA TEST VERSION!
DISTRIBUTED SO YOU CAN CONVERT THE NEW GECHO STRUCTURES
TO REMOTE ACCESS AND FRONTDOOR FORMAT.
DOCS ARE NOT YET UPDATED TO THE NEW CONFIGURATION!
DO NOT FORGET TO READ BETANOTE.DOC
(C) 1991-1992 Prime Productions
Developed by Hans Siemons
GEcho2RA is a utility to convert the GEcho/TosScan area config
to Remote Access and Frontdoor format
@Fido 2:512/149
@Parabelnet 9:77/1000
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Table of contents ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Guarantees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Legal stuff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Commercial use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Running under DESQview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What it needs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Control file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SecurityRead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SecurityWrite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SecuritySysop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FlagsRead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
FlagsWrite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
FlagsSysop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
MessageStatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Attribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
MessageKind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ReadMenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
StripF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
StripL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Note on Folder.FD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The External Description file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Support and registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
My thanks go to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Bugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Signing off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page I (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│The program. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
After registering my copy of GEcho, I was in desperate need of a
utility that converted the GEcho areas setup to Messages.Ra
format. I could not find any, so I started programming one. After
the release of 1.00, some extra options were asked, and they were
implemented in 1.01/beta and in 1.10/beta.
But now a nice option has arrived ;-), the ability to create your
menus for select message areas. All in one run. Also TosScan is
supported now, since GEcho/beta uses exactly the same data struc-
tures, implementing TosScan support was not all that difficult.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Guarantees. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
None whatsoever. The program works like a charm on my system, and
has been tested under DOS Version 3.3, 4.01 and 5.00, on XT, AT,
386sx, 386dx and 486dx based systems. So if your harddisk sings
the blues, no way you can blame me for it. GEcho2RA has not been
tested with Remote Access versions before 1.10, so if you are
having trouble with it using an older ra-version, consider upgra-
ding.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Legal stuff. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
GEcho2RA is not free. It is distributed under the shareware
concept which means that you may evaluate GEcho2RA for an evalua-
tion period of one (1) month. After that period you have to either
stop using it, or register the package.
Registration fee is set 10 US dollars, 15 Dutch Guilders or 20 DM.
If you can not pay in Dutch Guilders, send me the equivalent of 10
US dollars in any free convertible currency.
Fill in the form and send it to my BBS.
At this moment the unregistered GEcho2RA is fully functional, no
delays, bleeps or that sort of things. GEcho2RA is not, and never
will never will be annoying-ware. Please register, and let me know
that this way of releasing high-quality shareware still works!
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Commercial use. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Well, if you use it at a commercial site, you MUST register after
an evaluation period of 21 days, the registration fee for a
commercial site is 30 US dollars or 60 Dutch guilders.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 1 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Running under DESQview ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
GEcho2RA is DESQview aware. If DESQview is detected, it will use
the DESQview screen buffer for direct screen writes, and will give
up timeslices during operation. GEcho2RA has no real pauses in it,
but it will give up those slices between every disk action, so
that the other windows are as little troubled as possible by the
heavy disk action from GEcho2RA.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│What it needs. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Well, the program needs the control file of course, and optional
an external description file and a key file which you will receive
upon registration). It will automaticly detect a Remote Access and
FrontDoor environment, creating and updating the files needed.
Also the GEcho/TosScan files are detected automatically.
When running GEcho2RA, the control files must be in the directory
where GEcho2RA.EXE resides.
Note: files used by GEcho2RA are:
GEcho2RA.CTL (Readonly)
GEcho2RA.DES (Readonly, only when external descriptions are
used)
CONFIG.RA (Readonly, RA environment only)
SETUP.FD (Read/Write, Frontdoor environment only)
FOLDER.FD (WriteOnly, Frontdoor environment only)
FOLDER.FDG (ReadOnly, Frontdoor environment only)
MESSAGES.RA (WriteOnly, Remote Access environment only)
SETUP.GE (ReadOnly, only when using GEcho)
AREAFILE.GE (ReadOnly, only when using GEcho)
AREAFILE.FD (ReadOnly, only when using TosScan)
The program needs configuration files from the programs you wish
to convert to. Programs that are supported will be automatically
detected using the Environment variables supported by those
programs.
The program will stop processing when it finds any address defined
in the GEcho or TosScan areas configuration which is not in the
programs configuration. So remember to enter all your addresses in
the different programs.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 2 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│The Control file. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Well, the control file contains all the setup information. It
allows you to define different read/write/sysop flags/Levels for
all 26 groups, and also every other 'definable' flags, such as the
allowance of handles, type of mail (echomail, netmail, localmail),
and if messages are public/private or both. Etc.
It's rather smart to define all your local areas in GEcho/TosScan
too, so that if you run the program, everything is set right. You
can also define your NetMail board as well. When entering these
areas in GEcho or TosScan, just put no export addresses in those
local and netmail areas, so they won't be exported to anyone. As
for as for my situation, I don't need to alter some settings
afterwards. PLEASE NOTE THAT GEcho2RA *CREATES* the files it
converts to, IT DOES NOT UPDATE THEM! This way of processing is
the fastest way, and allows maximum flexebility.
Here's a list of the keywords used in the GEcho2RA.CTL file. [NOT
USED IN THIS BETA]
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : Description <TAG/COMMENT/EXTERNAL>
Example : Description COMMENT
Use : This will say to GEcho2RA which name you want in Messa-
ges.Ra or/and Folder.FD. You can choose between the TAG,
The comment placed in GEcho/TosScan or an external De-
scriptionfile. (Explained later on in the doc)
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Keyword : Group <A..Z, DEFAULT>
Example : Group A
Use : This keywords starts a Group Block, in which you can
enter all kinds of settings for each and every group. It
is wise to define a Default group first, because it's
likely that in every area your sysop-level is the same.
Take caution with it, because defining a Default group
will override all previous setting, so the Default group
is the first one to be made.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 3 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : Area <Tag>
Example : Area Modem.028
Use : This keywords starts an Area Block, in which you can
alter the settings for one specific area. During the
conversion, it will first take the default group set-
tings, then any overrides done with a group setup, and
then the overrides made with the Area keyword.
This keyword is useful, so you won't have to define a
whole new group just for one or two areas.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : SecurityRead <Level>
Example : SecurityRead 50
Use : This will define the Security needed to read an area for
the current group (or default) or the current area.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : SecurityWrite <Level>
Example : SecurityWrite 100
Use : This will define the Security needed to write messages
in an area for the current group (or default) or the
current area.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : SecuritySysop <Level>
Example : SecuritySysop 2000
Use : This will define the Security needed to have SysOp
access to an area for the current group (or default) or
the current area.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 4 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : FlagsRead <-------- -------- -------- -------->
Example : FlagsRead ----X--- XX------ -------- --------
Use : This will define the flags needed to read an area for
the current group (or default) or the current area.
You *MUST* define all four flag registers, not doing so
will result in an error
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : FlagsWrite <-------- -------- -------- -------->
Example : FlagsWrite ----X--- XX------ -------- --------
Use : This will define the flags needed to write messages in
an area for the current group (or default) or the cur-
rent area.
You *MUST* define all four flag registers, not doing so
will result in an error
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : FlagsSysop <-------- -------- -------- -------->
Example : FlagsSysop ----X--- XX------ -------- --------
Use : This will define the flags needed to have SysOp access
to an area for the current group (or default) or the
current area.
You *MUST* define all four flag registers, not doing so
will result in an error
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : MessageStatus Private/Public/Both/ROnly
Example : MessageStatus Private
Use : This will define the messagestatus for the current group
(or default) or the current area.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 5 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : Attribute ECFAHDS
Example : Attribute EC
Use : This will define the message attributes for the current
group (or default) or the current area.
These are the letters used, and what they stand for.
E >=- Enable Echomail info
C >=- Combined Access allowed
F >=- File attaches allowed
A >=- Allow aliases
H >=- Force Handle.
D >=- Allow deletes.
S >=- SoftCr's?
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : MessageKind <Local-, Echo-, Netmail>
Example : MessageKind LocalMail
Use : This will define the messagekind for the current group
(or default) or the current area.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : Node <NetAddress>
Example : Node 2:285/200
Use : This will define the aka used for the current group (or
default) or the current area. This keyword is imple-
mented for people who have more than one nodenumber for
technical reasons, for instance a hub. The mail is
spread under the technical number (for instance, my
hub's HUB-number is 2:285/20), but the bbs itselve has
to use another nodenumber, for instance 2:285/200.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 6 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : ReadMenu Menuname
Example : ReadMenu Read
Use : This is the menu the area selecting will gosub to when
an area is selected
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : StripF <Fraise>
Example : StripF FIDO
Use : When the fraise behind STRIPF is found BEFORE an areana-
me it is stripped in the area selection menu. For in-
stance, your comment says:
FIDO Pascal programming (International)
Since you would probably put on top of the list that the
areas are all FIDO areas, the menu would look a lot
nicer if it just said: Pascal programming (Internatio-
nal)
This keyword may be used up to 16 times, for instance
strip of FIDO, SIGnet etc etc.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
KeyWord : StripL <Fraise>
Example : StripL (International)
Use : When the fraise behind STRIPF is found at the end of an
areaname it is stripped in the area selection menu. For
instance, your comment says:
FIDO Pascal programming (International)
Since you would probably put on top of the list that the
areas are all international areas, the menu would look a
lot nicer if it just said: FIDO Pascal programming.
This keyword may be used up to 16 times, for instance
strip of International, national etc etc.
A combination of the STRIPL en STRIPF can be used of
course, result in a menu option 'Pascal programming' in
your menu. A header on the top can say: International
FIDO areas.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 7 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Note on Folder.FD ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Since some people use more than one *.msg directory, for instance
received mail, personal mail etc. You may create a Folder.FDG
file. How to create one? Go in to Frontdoors setup, and create a
Folder.FD file with just those '*.msg' areas, quit frontdoors
setup and rename the FOlder.FD file to a Folder.FDG file. If
GEcho2RA detects the Folder.FDG file in the Frontdoor system
directory, the areas in that file will also be put in the new
Folder.FD.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│The External Description file. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
This is an optional file, with the descriptions of all your areas,
this function was made on request of a HUB, who didn't want the
comment used in GEcho to be used in his BBS, since in GEcho/Tos-
Scan, the comment had to show who had access to a certain area.
The Format of the file is.
TAG Description
TAG Description
Example
DESQview International DESQview conference
Rautil International Support for Remote Access Utils
Descriptions have a maximum length of 40 characters. Included in
this archive is a utility called COMTODES.EXE, it will take your
comments used in your GEcho/TosScan setup, and creates an
GEcho2RA.DES file. Editing this one is easier than starting from
scratch.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 8 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Support and registration. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
I can be contacted over Fidonet via NetMail, in The GEcho help and
the GE_Beta conference, my board, or at my snailmail address:
Hans Siemons,
Crogtdijk 1,
4815 AD, Breda.
@Fido 2:512/149
@SIGnet 27:3331/306
@Parabelnet 9:77/1000
BBS Phone: +31-76-715391 (24 Hrs at HST 14k4/v32bis speeds)
Registrations can be send to the above address or transferred to
my bank-account 222140607, or my giro-account 5145504.
In Zone 1, you can register with Dave Overton, 221 Garden Hwy,
Yuba City, CA 95991, US Funds only. Please see enclosed
registration form for particulars
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 9 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│My thanks go to. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Gerard J. van der Land, author of GEcho.
Andrew Milner & Continental Software, author of Remote Access.
Joaquim Homrighausen, Author of both Frontdoor and TosScan.
Also the the look and feel concept from the setup utility origin-
ally by Joaquim H. Homrighausen. Used with permission.
And my beta-testers.
Gerrit Mak, Bas van Gaalen, Richard Faasen, Martijn Ruygrok, Henk
van de Weerdt, Jan Hoolwerf, Willem Blink, Peter Lindeman, Rob
Essers, Patrick Maartense, Erick van Emmerick, Gerard van der
Land, Jeroen Pluymers and Peter Hampf.
They are also be thanked (or not (-;.) for suggesting futures to
be implemented.
The program was made using Borlands Turbo Pascal 6.0.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Bugs. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
If you find any bugs, please report them to me. Also any enhance-
ments you would like to see in a next version, send your suggesti-
ons also, no promises made, but if I have the time. If you desire
a specific data-format you want the GEcho/TosScan setup infor-
mation transformed to, please send, if possible, the datastructure
of the file with your suggestion.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
│Signing off. ║
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Well, that's it, I hope you will enjoy using this program, I
certainly do.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Page 10 (C) 1991-1992 Hans Siemons... │
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
