You may use BlinkMail v2.4 freely as long as it is not modified. You may distribute it personally as long as you do not charge for it. Commercial distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of the author. You further agree that the author is not liable for any incidental, consequential or indirect damages arising out of the use, or attempted use of this software. If you use this program, you accept these conditions.
What you should know:
This program is still under development.
It has not been widely tested. It surely has bugs.
Features and functions are still being added, removed and improved.
BlinkMail is compiled to 68k code with release 2.1a4 of Realbasic.
A shareware version of BlinkMail is in the works.
The upload contains a readme file with detailed instruction.
You do not need to be connected to a network to try it out.
What it is:
BlinkMail is a network message system.
It is intended for use in very small networks.
Messages can be composed, mailed to users on the network, read, replied to, saved, copied and printed.
Remote users can dial into the network using Apple's "Remote Access".
It's fast and easy to setup and does not require a dedicated server
I think you will find the interface interesting.
Do this first!
Make a backup of the original "BlinkMail" files before you launch the program!
Each user will need a copy of the original files and folder. The program and files must stay within the same folder for each user. Each user will launch the program and follow the dialogs to create a personal "BlinkMailKey". This file contains the user's password and name information along with the path to the network "Mailb¿x". It must not be moved after it's creation or BlinkMail will think you want to create a new user. The "BlinkMailPrefs" file will also be created and must also stay in this same folder.
DO NOT put the BlinkMailPrefs" in the system preferences folder!
Short History:
BlinkMail was originally created using Apple's Hypercard. It was created at the time Apple released System 7. Our commercial network mail system was not System 7 compatible and there was no urgency on the part of the developer to upgrade it. All we needed was a simple message system. It didn't need to dial a phone. It didn't need to send voice mail. It didn't need to know about the world outside of our office. Speed was important and the interface had to make reading and sending messages simple and it had to be compatible with the current system. BlinkMail did that and did it very well for many years as a Hypercard application. I realized that it was time to rescue BlinkMail from the languishing Hypercard. REALbasic allowed me to do that. I was able to convert BlinkMail to a working, useful application in about 3 weeks of cracking the shrink wrap on REALbasic.
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Requirements:
At least 2 networked Macintosh computers that are capable of sharing files.
You must have the Monaco, Geneva and Courier fonts installed.
One computer will host (share) the network mailbox.
Each user will need a copy of the program.
The BlinkMail setup;
Each user's computer will have on their disk drive:
Ñ A folder named "BlinkMail Folder" containing:
Ñ The BlinkMail program.
Ñ A folder named "My Messages" containing user defined folders. (a folder named "Saved mail" has been created here to get you started)
Ñ A file named "BlinkMailKey". (created at setup)
Ñ A file named "BlinkMailPrefs" (created at setup)
Ñ The "Mailb¿x" folder mounted and visible from the desktop.
The computer hosting the "Mailb¿x" will have:
Ñ A shared folder named "Mailb¿x" containing the "USERS" and "LOG" folders.
Ñ The "USERS" folders contains the mail folder for each user.
Ñ The "LOG" folder will contain a single log file of all messages sent over the network.
(The logging function is disabled in this free version and no log folder exist.)
Installation and Use:
This program should be installed and maintained by a "Network Manager". By definition a person who is fully familiar with Macintosh networks, file and operating systems. The following information is directed toward that "Network Manager".
Precautions:
Backup your hard drive and any data you can not afford to loose. Do this before installing this software. Make a backup copy of this program before running or installing it!
Make sure the mail system is operating properly before allowing actual use over the network. Test the system by using sample messages. Make certain that each address is sending and receiving normally.
Make sure that the names of the BlinkMail users are unique from each other. Users can not be named after their computers. ie; If your computer is named "Bob" don't use "Bob" as a user name!
Select the mail host:
Choose one Mac on the network to be the host. This should be the least used and/or the fastest machine on the net. Copy the "Mailb¿x" folder to the hard drive of that computer. The folder "USERS" should be inside the "Mailbox" folder. New user's folders will be created in the USERS" folder during the setup process. These new folders will appear in the network address list as users. To add a new user just launch or run BlinkMail from an original copy of the BlinkMail folder. Follow the selection setup and your new folder will be placed in the USERS folder. Remember that users must have unique names and letter codes. Remember that the "BlinkMailKey" holds the user data.
Set file sharing for the "Mailb¿x" folder
The users must have read and write privileges to their own mail folder. ie: Bob should have read/write privileges to a folder named ╥Bob╙ within the USERS folder. He should have write only privileges to the other users folders. Other users should have like privileges to Bob╒s folder. Each user on the network (except for users on the machine hosting the ╥Mailb¿x╙ folder) will need to open the ╥Chooser╙, find the computer that has the ╥Mailb¿x╙ folder and mount it. The ╥Mailb¿x╙ will appear on the desktop.
Set up the BlinkMail program for each user:
Copy the "BlinkMail" folder to each of the user╒s computers. The folder should contain the program and a folder named ╥My Messages╙. These items must remain in the "BlinkMail" folder and must not be renamed. In the ╥Messages Folder╙ you will find the ╥Saved Mail╙ folder. This folder is optional can be deleted or renamed and other folders can be created. This is your personal message storage area. The BlinkMail program can be renamed as long as it remains within the BlinkMail folder. You may make an alias of it and rename it to anything you like, "Bob╒s Mail" being a good choice if your name is Bob :~). Put it in the Apple Menu Items folder or on the desktop if you like.
More than one user on the same computer:
Not a problem. Each user will need a separate ╥BlinkMail╙ program and folder which should be renamed with the user╒s name. ie: ╥Bob╒s BlinkMail ─.
Launch the BlinkMail program: (You may have renamed it? )
Make sure you have selected (mounted) the "Mailb¿x" folder from the "Chooser".
If you are a new user you will be presented with "Setup" dialog box. Enter your user name ie; "Bob" and a user code. It must be a single lowercase letter or number that is unique from the other user╒s. Bob should chose ╥b╙. Fill in the fields and push the "Create New User" button. You will be presented with a selection dialog. Navigate to the "Mailb¿x" folder, select and choose it. If you found the "Mailb¿x" folder then you will be presented with the "Log in" dialog. You will note that password protection has been turned off. You may turn it on from the "Prefs" area of BlinkMail. Click the disclosure arrow at the bottom left side of the window.
Fields, Buttons and Shortcuts:
You should turn Balloon help on and pass over each of the buttons and fields to get a description of their function in the program. Most are detailed in the balloons. Some are not yet documented.
(Address) button: After composing a new message or reply click this button to choose from a list users. Select the user by single clicking (you may also use the left or right arrow keys to make the selection). The first selection will be the primary address "To:". Further selections will be sent carbon copies "cc:". The primary selection may be changed by reselecting and selecting again. There must be a primary selection or the message will not be sent. When your choices have been made, click the "Send" button and the message will be sent. To cancel the selections without sending, click the ╥Cancel╙ button.
Message symbol explanation
"Ñ" - the message has not been read as in "Ñ Hello"
"├" - the message has been read as in "├ Hello"
"..." - receipt requested as in " Ñ... Hello"
" ! " - receipt confirmed as in "Ñ! Hello"
"¿" - a reply as in "Ñ¿ Hello"
BlinkMail will check for new messages at the interval you select. When you receive a new message in your mail folder BlinkMail will play the "New Mail" sound once. If you have the main window iconized the BlinkMail "Eye" will begin to blink. This indicates that you have new mail waiting. It will continue to blink until you click the eye and open the main message window.
Be Advised:
You should set file sharing to protect the "Mailb¿x" from being deleted, moved or renamed. Do the same to the enclosed folders.
In this version messages are written to disk as text files.
They are accessible to anyone with privileges to the "Mailb¿x" folder.
The point here is that this version offers very little security. If you have need for "Your Eyes Only" communications, deliver it by "sneaker net" !
Thank You
I got help from lots of people during this project. The REALbasic NUG was a great learning source. When I had questions I asked the list and got answers promptly. The REALbasic CD was where I spent untold hours gleaning little pieces of code from here and there. The Frankenstein like mesh of code fragments from a hundred programmers helped me learn what would work and what wouldn't. Thanks to all who contributed their code to the CD. I must give credit to Brian Jones. I used his "Wrapper" module intact to help control printing. I modified my printing code somewhat after reading the excellent article by Alexander Duncan on printing in "RB Monthly" an internet magazine dedicated to REALbasic. You can find it at "nd.edu/~jvanderk/rbm/". Matt Nueberg's reference document on files and folders was a great help. I'm looking forward to his upcoming book on REALbasic. I want to thank everyone at REAL software for producing REALbasic. What a great program!
