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1992-09-27
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Combat Arms BBS
P.O. Box 913
Portland, Oregon 97207-0913
Voice: (503) 223-3160
BBS: (503) 221-1777
Fido 1:105/68
WM_SPEED.DOC
Version 2.20
September 27, 1992
WM_SPEED.EXE version 2.20 is a program designed for use with
WILDMAIL version 2.02 or greater, written by Derek Koopowitz.
WILDMAIL is a program that tosses messages into the Wildcat BBS
message database. What WM_SPEED.EXE does is analyze the log file
generated by WILDMAIL and determines the rate at which the
messages are actually tossed into the Wildcat message databases.
To get the current version of WILDMAIL, call the WILDMAIL
author's board (1:161/503) at 510-687-2134. You should be able to
use the "magic name" of WILDMAIL if you are file requesting the
program from him.
To get the current version of WM_SPEED, file request
WM_SPEED.ZIP from 1:105/68 or call the Combat Arms BBS at 503-
221-1777 and download it (free download to any caller). Please
note that the Combat Arms BBS was previously located in Castro
valley, California and is now in Portland, Oregon (effective
August 14, 1992).
Derek re-wrote WILDMAIL (effective with his version 2.02)
and changed the way entries are written into his log file. Thus,
all previous versions of WM_SPEED.EXE will n-o-t work with
Derek's improved version of WILDMAIL (version 2.02 of WILDMAIL is
dated 06/10/92, version 2.03 is dated 06/20/92 and version 2.04
is dated 07/15/92). If you have a version of WILDMAIL earlier
than version 2.02, then this revision of WM_SPEED is not for you.
However, I do have a version that will work with WILDMAIL version
2.00 and 2.01. If you need that, then log onto the Combat Arms
BBS and download WM_S_16.ZIP (that version will be deleted after
12/31/92). Again, version 2.20 of WM_SPEED is solely for use with
WILDMAIL versions 2.02 or greater. If you try to use this
revision of WM_SPEED with an earlier version of WILDMAIL, you
will not get any meaningful results.
CHANGES IN THE WM_SPEED PROGRAM
Version 2.20 corrected a change of address and cleaned up
some of the code to reduce program size. I am re-thinking the
algorithm for the program to increase the speed of processing.
Version 2.10 of WM_SPEED.EXE corrected a problem with the
WILDMAIL log file. If you receive a zero byte packet, version
2.03 of WILDMAIL goes a little nuts. Here is an except from my
log showing the problem:
Start Time: 21:49:18 06/21/1992
! Cleaning up the OUTBOUND directory.
! Scanning NETMAIL/ECHOMAIL conferences.
# Conf: WILDCAT Extract: 1 Forward: 1
# ZIPing mail for 1:215/215 (769 bytes)
! Scanning BAD messages
% Toss: 1183469791 ( 0.00/Min) Forward: -401714980 ( 0.00/Min)
! BAD packet - renamed 11646081.PKT to a .BAD extension!
Stop Time : 21:49:51 06/21/1992
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the things WM_SPEED does is to examine the numbers on
the "% Toss:" line. Here we see the number of messages tossed
is 1,183,469,791 (heck of a packet!). Consequently, WM_SPEED
tried to determine a tossing rate for this insanity. That problem
has been resolved in this revision. This version also ignores
negative values of messages tossed (another thing that WILDMAIL
sometimes puts in the log file when it gets a zero byte packet).
I have thoroughly tested version 2.20 and the tossing rates
are once again reported correctly. These sort of problems develop
as the author of WILDMAIL makes changes (I am using version 2.04
of WILDMAIL as of September 27, 1992).
Version 2.10 also was changed to increase the reporting
speed. I think you will find the results much better. I
determined a 700% (seven hundred percent) increase in tossing
speed determination by using a different algorithm.
Version 2.01 changed a few of the screen colors. If you have
ideas on the screens, share them with me.
A change in version 2.00 of WM_SPEED related to the
insertion of a pause before clearing the screen when displaying
the analysis to the screen (option 2 on the menu). Earlier
versions of WM_SPEED performed the on-screen analysis and then
immediately returned to the menu.
Version 1.6 of WM_SPEED corrected a rollover problem. The
problem existed when the start of WILDMAIL's tossing occurred
before midnight and ended after midnight. That confused WM_SPEED
(because the stopping time of the toss was actually numerically
lower than the starting time). I corrected the problem by
instructing the program to add 24 to the stop time if the stop
time was less than the start time. With this change, WM_SPEED is
now stable.
INSTALLING WM_SPEED
This documentation is very simple and straight forward. To
use WM_SPEED, simply put WM_SPEED.EXE in the same directory as
your WILDMAIL software (the subdirectory containing the program
WM.EXE). Then type WM_SPEED and the screen will ask you all the
appropriate questions and create WM_SPEED.CFG. Then it will exit
and tell you to re-start WM_SPEED (so it can read the contents of
the WM_SPEED.CFG file). The choices on the screen are patently
obviously. Basically, you can either display the analysis to the
screen or display it to the screen AND dump it to the
WM_SPEED.LOG. I suppose I could polish up these docs but once you
run WM_SPEED, you'll see why the docs are not necessary.
Please let me know your thoughts on this program. I wrote it
to give the folks using WILDMAIL in my area an idea of what sort
of tossing rate they were getting. WILDMAIL is a bit slow and
requires fast hardware and disk drives to toss messages quickly.
On my 10 MHz XT clone WILDMAIL version 2.03 tossed about 10
messages a minute. On my 33 MHz 486 I get around 80 messages a
minute. I could tweak my DESQview settings and get a slightly
higher rate but I've sick of tweaking stuff. Maybe WILDMAIL get a
little better with later revisions. Version 2.03 of WILDMAIL
increased the tossing speed some 50% over 2.01, so hope springs
eternal!
But you need to understand that I determine the tossing rate
based upon the number of messages tossed and the number of
netmail messages imported b-e-t-w-e-e-n the time WILDMAIL starts
and the time it ends. Why? Because that is the actual time
WILDMAIL was operating. During that period it also does other
time consuming chores. Those chores decrease its calculated
tossing rate. To perhaps avoid this criticism, Derek (the author
of WILDMAIL) put into the WILDMAIL version 2.02 (and greater log)
h-i-s calculated tossing rate. That is not the same as mine (my
calculation is lower than his). His calculation is based upon the
time to toss a particular packet. Personally, I find that
information irrelevant.
If you find this program of value to you, do n-o-t send me
any money! Instead, please send me a netmail message (or by U.S.
Mail to the address at the top of this document) telling me what
sort of hardware setup (CPU in MHz, type of drive, etc.) you
have, the version of DOS you are using, the version of Wildcat
you are using and the typical tossing rate that WM_SPEED is
reporting (not at all interested in what the log of WILDMAIL is
reporting). When I collect enough of that sort of info, I will
include it in this documentation and list the names of the system
operators and the boards that contributed to this evaluation.
WM_SPEED is and will always be freeware and the latest version is
always available for file requesting from 1:105/68. The latest
version of WM_SPEED is also always uploaded to the Mustang
Software BBS (publishers of Wildcat BBS software). If you are a
registered user of Wildcat, you can get the program there by
calling (805) 395-0250.
I have provided color for the program (runs fine in
monochrome too) and it has been successfully tested on CGA and
VGA monitors. While I am no artist, the choice of color
combinations were picked to get your attention.
Many users of WM_SPEED have provided me with comments that
have been incorporated into the program to enhance its use and
correct my goofy errors. I salute their assistance. Again, your
comments are invited.
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 6, 1945, Richard Meek
Bash (known to his friends as Dick) obtained his B.S. degree from
Purdue University in 1972, received an A.A. degree in
Administration of Justice from Chabot College in June, 1990 and
in June, 1992 received a Masters in Public Administration program
at California State University at Hayward. In September, 1992, he
began a Ph.D. program in Public Administration and Policy at
Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. His master's
thesis was entitled "America's Gun Control Policy: An Examination
of Influencing Factors" (available for file request from 105/68
as BASH.ZIP). For approximately 10 years Dick flew as a flight
engineer aboard Boeing 707, Boeing 727 and Lockheed C-130
aircraft. After having traveled to 108 different countries, Dick
settled in the San Francisco Bay area and lived there with his
wife, Flora, in Hayward, California before the move to Portland.
He enjoys shooting, ham radio (KL7IHP) and reading and is a
member of the Delta Chi fraternity. He is a Heckler & Koch as
well as a Glock factory trained armorer and a graduate of the
Lassen College Law Enforcement Armorer School. Dick wrote
WM_SPEED because so many Wildcat SysOps wanted a way to calculate
the exact tossing rate of WILDMAIL. Written suggestions for
improvement of this manual are welcomed.
P.S.:
If you enjoy firearms, the Combat Arms BBS has the finest
collection of gun related files in the country (and maybe the
world). For a listing of our files, file request/download
ALLFILES.ZIP. The Combat Arms BBS is a commercial BBS but there
is a section containing several downloadable files for unpaid
users. Complete details on the system are given at log-on.
-= END OF DOCUMENTATION =-