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-
- Release 3.15
- Copyright 1990-1992 by Randy Blackmond
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
- Page 1 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- INTRODUCTION
- ────────────
-
- Welcome to RAMail (pronounced 'are ay mail'), the mail system exclusively
- for RemoteAccess(c). RAMail is a door which allows your users to select
- messages of their choice and download them for offline reading. In
- addition, users can upload messages which are unarchived and imported
- into your message base. Files can be tagged and downloaded at the same
- time from your BBS file directories. Internal transfer protocols are
- provided for X/Y/ZModem. External protocols may also be added.
-
- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
- ───────────────────
-
- . IBM compatible computer with 640K RAM, DOS 3.X and above.
-
- . RA 1.11
- NOTE: RAMail 3.15 will run with RA 1.01 and 1.10, but the System Info
- function will display garbage. You can disable the System Info
- function using RAMCONF if you are still running RA 1.01 or 1.10.
-
- FILES INCLUDED IN THE RAMAIL31 ARCHIVE
- ──────────────────────────────────────
-
- INSTALL.DOC - Installation notes
- RAM.BAT - Example batch file for the door
- RAMAIL.DOC - The main documentation (this file)
- RAMCONF.DOC - The documentation for the Config program, RAMCONF.EXE
- RAMUSRED.DOC - The documentation for the RAUSER.DAT Editor, RAMUSRED.EXE
- NS-PORTS.DOC - Special instructions when using non-standard COM ports
- CNFCVT31.EXE - The CFG file conversion utility for upgrading from 3.0
- NEWRAU31.EXE - The RAUSER.DAT conversion utility for upgrading from 3.0
- RAMAIL.EXE - The executable door program
- RAMCONF.EXE - The executable configuration program
- RAMUSRED.EXE - The executable RAUSER.DAT editor
- RAURPT.EXE - RAUSER.DAT Report Utility
- RAURPT.DOC - The documentation for RAURPT
- RAM31REG.DOC - Registration form for RAMail 3.15
- RAMWELC.A?? - Welcome screen files
- RAMMENU.A?? - Main Menu screens
- RAMAIL.HLP - Online Help file
- RANEWUSR.A?? - Sample New User screens
- RAMNEWS.A?? - Sample News screens
- DOOR.ID - Door identifier used by SLMR and possibly other readers
- BETATEST.NFO - Beta Tester information for future versions of RAMail
-
- THE READER
- ──────────
-
- The RAMail Door is only half of the complete system. The other half
- is a reader. You, as a sysop, don't need a reader for your door to
- function, but your users will so they can read and reply to the mail
- in the packets the door produces. I recommend The Silly Little Mail
- Reader, but Session Manager, Qmail or EZ-Reader will also work.
-
-
- Page 2 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- UPGRADE INSTALLATION
- ────────────────────
-
- 3.1 Upgrade
- If you are upgrading from RAMail 3.1, simply copy the 3.15 files over
- the old ones.
-
- 3.0 Upgrade
- If you are upgrading from RAMail 3.0, first run CNFCVT31.EXE in the
- directory where your RAMail CFG file resides. Repeat for each CFG file
- if you have more than one. Next, run NEWRAU31.EXE in the directory where
- your RAUSER.DAT file resides. Replace your 3.0 RAMAIL.EXE, RAMCONF.EXE
- and the RAMUSRED.EXE with the files inside the 3.15 archive. Run RAMCONF
- and fill in the new fields (see RAMCONF.DOC). Set the DSZLOG environment
- variable if you are using DSZ (or GSZ) as your external protocol engine.
- If you have a trailing backslash on your RA environment variable, e.g.
- C:\RA\, remove it! RA does not need it and RAMail expects it to NOT be
- there.
-
- Pre-3.0 Upgrade
- If you are upgrading from a version of RAMail prior to 3.0, you must
- delete your RAMail CFG files and your RAUSER.DAT file. Run RAMCONF to
- recreate your RAMail CFG file. Copy the ANS/ASC/HLP files to your RA
- TXTFILES directory. Set the DSZLOG environment variable if you are
- using DSZ (or GSZ) as your external protocol engine.
- If you have a trailing backslash on your RA environment variable, e.g.
- C:\RA\, remove it! RA does not need it and RAMail expects it to NOT be
- there.
-
- FIRST TIME INSTALLATION
- ───────────────────────
-
- Unpack the RAMail archive and move all the ANS/ASC/HLP files to
- your RA TXTFILES directory. Next, move the remaining files to
- your RA system directory, usually called C:\RA (or create a
- separate directory and move them in). If you choose to run from RAMail's
- own directory, you will need to modify and use the RAM.BAT file
- to run from a Type 7 menu selection.
-
- Finally, run the configuration program to create an RAMAIL.CFG file.
- You must supply the name of the CFG file you wish to create/edit on the
- command line with RAMCONF, e.g. RAMCONF RAMAIL.CFG. The fields are
- described in RAMCONF.DOC. Set the DSZLOG environment variable if you
- are using DSZ (or GSZ) as your external protocol engine.
- If you have a trailing backslash on your RA environment variable, e.g.
- C:\RA\, remove it! RA does not need it and RAMail expects it to NOT be
- there.
-
-
- Page 3 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- MULTI-LINE OPERATION
- ────────────────────
-
- To set up RAMail in a multinode environment, put the RAMAIL.EXE,
- RAMCONF.EXE, and RAMUSRED.EXE files in your DOS path. Create an
- RAMAIL.CFG file for each node in the RA node directories. For example:
-
- C:\RA - ramail.exe, ramconf.exe, ramusred.exe
- C:\RA\NODE1 - ramail.cfg
- C:\RA\NODE2 - ramail.cfg
-
- The only differences between the config files is the directories in
- which RAMail will look for the EXITINFO.BBS files. Node 1 is then run
- from C:\RA\NODE1, and Node2 from C:\RA\NODE2. RAMail will create the
- .QWK packets in the appropriate work directory. The .REP packets will
- also end up in the separate work directories.
-
-
- EXTERNAL SUPPORT FILES
- ──────────────────────
-
- Except where noted, all files listed below use the ASC/ANS extension
- convention for BBS display files and must reside in your RA TextFiles
- directory. All are optional except where noted.
-
- RAMWELC.A* - This file is displayed to the user upon entering the door.
-
- RANEWUSR.A* - This file is displayed to a user after the welcome screen
- the first time he enters the door.
-
- RAMNEWS.A* - This file is displayed to all users after the opening
- welcome screen.
-
- RAMMENU.A* - The RAMail menu. These files are REQUIRED.
-
- RAMAIL.HLP - The Help file is REQUIRED.
-
- DOOR.ID - This file is used by SLMR and possibly other readers
- to determine from which mail door the packet came. It
- should reside in your RA system directory.
-
- All external display files used by RAMail support some of the more common
- control codes used by RA. These include clear screen, pause, user name and
- others. Attempts to use an unsupported code will result in N/A being dis-
- played. See RA.DOC for an explanation of these codes.
-
- There is a file included with the RAMail package named DOOR.ID. This file
- is used by SLMR to determine which mail door created the packets. Simply
- place the file in your RA system directory and RAMail will include it in
- all QWK packets automatically.
-
-
- Page 4 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- TYPE 7 MENU SETUP
- ─────────────────
-
- Put RAMAIL.EXE, RAMAIL.CFG, and DOOR.ID in your RA system
- directory. The Type 7 menu entry for RAMail should be as follows:
-
- Optional Data: RAMAIL.EXE RAMAIL.CFG *M
-
- or
-
- *C /C RAM.BAT *M
-
- You should use RA's swapping to ensure there is enough memory for RAMail
- to run. To do this put *M after RAMAIL.EXE RAMAIL.CFG on your Optional
- Data line. Failure to do so will probably result in not enough memory
- being available for RAMail to run.
-
- TYPE 15 MENU SETUP
- ──────────────────
-
- First, create a directory on your hard drive in which RAMail will reside.
- Place RAMAIL.EXE, RAMAIL.CFG and DOOR.ID into that directory.
-
- Modify RAM.BAT to your own directory names.
-
- @echo off
- cd \RA\RAMAIL
- RAMAIL RAMAIL.CFG
- cd \RA
-
- Note that the name of the CFG file you created is passed to RAMAIL.EXE on
- the command line. Also, ANSI.SYS or some facsimile must be loaded to
- enable you to see the ANSI colors the door uses locally. Loading ANSI.SYS
- is not necessary for successful operation of the door, however.
-
- Place the batch file in your RA directory and add the door to your menu
- the same way you add any level 15 door.
-
- USAGE
- ─────
-
- The Main Menu for RAMail is straightforward. The options are:
- Conference Select, Download, Upload, File Areas, Page, System Info,
- Bulletin Toggle, Transfer Protocol, Help, New Files, Express Mail Run,
- Include New Files Toggle, ANSI Toggle, Packing Method, Restore Pointers,
- Modify Pointers, Quit and Goodbye.
-
- CONFERENCE SELECTION allows your users to decide which message boards they
- wish to be included in their downloaded mail. It will display all avail-
- able message boards and allow them to pick which ones they want. The con-
- figuration the user chooses will be saved in a mini user file maintained
- by RAMail, RAUSER.DAT). They can change their configuration at any time.
- Users will not be allowed to choose boards for which they do not have a
- high enough security level and/or a set Read Flag to read.
-
-
- Page 5 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- The DOWNLOAD option extracts all new mail for the configuration the user
- has chosen and places them in a compressed packet and then invokes a send
- of the packet.
-
- The UPLOAD option invokes reception of a reply packet that will be named
- [BBSCODE].REP. It will then uncompress the packet and import the replies
- to your message files where they will be available immediately for
- reading.
-
- The FILE AREAS option allows users to view your file lists and flag files
- to be downloaded with their mail packet. Checking is done to ensure the
- user has access to a given file area according to security level and flag
- settings. Full support of LIMITS.CTL is provided automatically as well.
- The maximum number of files a user can flag for download is 5. This option
- can be disabled in RAMCONF.
-
- The PAGE option allows the user to page the Sysop for a chat. This option
- can be disabled in RAMCONF. After a chat session is complete, the screen
- is redrawn in black and white (non-ANSI) regardless of the user's ANSI
- toggle setting. This is NORMAL. Redrawing in ASCII is much easier and
- requires less code overheard than does an ANSI redraw. If the user does
- have ANSI enabled, the ANSI screens will resume with the next function
- the user performs.
-
- The SYSTEM INFO option displays message stats, total calls and last caller
- information. This option can be disabled in RAMCONF.
-
- The BULLETIN TOGGLE allows the user to enable/disable the inclusion of
- new bulletins in his/her mail packet.
-
- The TRANSFER PROTOCOL option allows the user to select a download protocol
- to be used when performing mail/file transfers. This option is initially
- set to the first defined protocol for new users.
-
- The HELP option will display the file RAMAIL.HLP. You can use the included
- file or create your own.
-
- The NEW FILES option will search all available file directories for files
- newer than (or equal to) the date of the user's last call and list them to
- the screen. This option can be disabled in RAMCONF.
-
- The EXPRESS MAIL RUN option will cause RAMail to create the mail packet
- and then immediately send it. Upon completion of the transfer, the user
- will be logged off after a 10 second logoff abort opportunity.
-
- The INCLUDE NEW FILES TOGGLE option enables/disables the new files scan
- that RAMail performs during packet creation.
-
- The ANSI Toggle allows the user to turn ANSI off and on. Any change
- made remains effective only while in the RAMail door.
-
- The PACKING METHOD option allows the user to choose which of the 3
- compression methods that you have configured to be used when processing
- mail packets, ZIP, ARJ, OR LZH.
-
- The MODIFY POINTERS option allows the user to set ALL Last Read pointers
- simultaneously to a new value.
-
-
- Page 6 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- The RESTORE POINTERS option restores a user's pointers to the state they
- were in before the user's previous download. Note that if you renumber
- your messages, the saved pointers will then be invalid until the user
- downloads his next packet. The purpose of this option is to allow the
- user to recover from trashed packets due to things such as CRC errors and
- corrupt files.
-
- The QUIT option returns the user to the BBS.
-
- The GOODBYE option disconnects the caller and exits the door.
-
-
- REMOTE CONFERENCE SELECTION
- ───────────────────────────
-
- Users can select the board configuration they want by entering special
- offline messages. If a message is addressed to RAMAIL or QMAIL the
- subject will determine the configuration action to be taken. The choices
- for the subject are as follows:
-
- ADD - Adds a conference and selects all mail
- ADD A - Adds a conference and selects all mail
- ADD Y - Adds a conference and selects your mail only
- ADD YA - Adds a conference and selects your mail and mail to All
- DROP - Drops a conference
-
-
- NETMAIL
- ───────
-
- Netmail messages can be entered by placing NET> followed immediately by
- the zone:net/node address on the first line of the message, e.g.
-
- NET>1:381/70
-
- The message board that the message is imported to must be a NetMail
- board.
-
-
- Page 7 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-
- HISTORY
- ───────
-
- 1.0 Initial release of RAMail!
-
- 1.1 Increased the speed of the message export process TREMENDOUSLY!
- 200 message packets should be created in about 30 seconds or so.
- Did away with the idea of conference pointers. There's just no
- feasible way to do something like that with RA. The last read
- message pointer will be read from the user's record upon entry
- into RAMail and updated after downloading a packet.
-
- 1.2 This version was released as a fix for the problem of the last read
- message pointer not being updated. Too bad it didn't fix it!
-
- 1.3 Discovered reason for the read pointer not being updated (I thought)
- Added different message download limits for each baud rate (See
- INSTALLATION). Added Hot Keys.
-
- 1.4 Finally! An enhancement version! The Configuration option has been
- enhanced to allow the user to elect to receive only their mail and
- mail addressed to All or All mail. Added the Modify Last Read
- Pointer option. Added optional RACONFS.LST board name file. Last
- Read Message Pointer problem was finally solved!
-
- 1.5 Stomped a few more bugs. Added FIDO Default Origin line support for
- messages uploaded to an EchoMail board. Increased packet processing
- speed even more. RA's message indexes are automatically updated by
- RAMail when replies are uploaded. New RAMCONF program eases creation
- and modification of your RAMAIL.CFG file(s). Added support for
- multiple nodes. RAMail should now work properly on boards where the
- message files reside in their own directory. Much more!
-
- 2.0 Still more bugs stomped. Should now be completely FIDO compatible.
- Added Files feature, Your Mail Only mail selector, high ASCII filter
- option for FIDO boards, Personal Mail support, New Files and New
- Bulletins support, Default Protocol, Online Help, Goodbye from the
- menu or after transfer and more!
-
- 2.01 Maintenance release. The message attributes set by RAMail were all
- messed up resulting in such problems as imported EchoMail messages
- not being marked as pending export and private messages not being
- marked or recognized as private.
-
- 2.1 Added path for RAUSER.DAT in RAMCONF.EXE. This was to allow multiple
- node systems to use the same RAUSER.DAT file for all nodes. Added
- (S)elect All and (D)eselect All in the configuration option.
-
- 2.2 Added support for the DOOR.ID file that SLMR 2.0 will make use of.
- Added offline mail configuration support. RAMail will write to your
- system log(s) when mail/files are download/uploaded. Origin lines
- are attached to incoming echo mail only if Echo Info is enabled in
- your RACONFIG. Stomped a few bugs.
-
-
- Page 8 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-
- 3.0 Netmail support added. Reader taglines in Echomail and Netmail
- boards can be stripped. Several menu options can now be turned off
- if desired. Several external display screens have been implemented.
- Compression/decompression and protocol programs are now fully
- configurable. A new page-oriented conference select screen is now
- used. Users can select to receive their own messages on a per
- conference basis when in C)onference Select. And MORE!
-
- 3.1 Internal transfer protocols added. Work directories added.
- NetStatus capability added for use in QWK networks in conjunction
- with MKNet(c). Bulletin names (up to 30) are configurable within
- RAMCONF. Export speed increased. And MORE!
-
- 3.15 A little work done on the internal protocols in an attempt to
- eliminate the lockup problems on some systems. Whether or not
- I was successful remains to be seen. Lockups caused by a missing
- DSZLOG environment variable when using DSZ or GSZ have been
- eliminated. Instead of locking up, a little reminder message is
- displayed and the transfer result is determined by the errorlevel
- returned from DSZ. The reason I use the DSZLOG environment variable
- instead of the code is that the errorlevel method does not always
- work! Added Handle check during mail extraction. Now, any mail
- addressed to your name or your handle will be seen as personal mail.
- A sneaky little bug that appeared when an error occurred before work
- directory creation caused all files in the current directory to be
- deleted! This has been corrected. Flagged files were not being
- detected by the internal protocols. This has been fixed. Added a
- little to the docs in an attempt to make the crucial setup points
- more clear and visible.
-
- DISCLAIMER
- ──────────
-
- As stated before, all reasonable precautions have been take to ensure
- that your system files will not be damaged, but if any damage does
- occur caused by RAMail either directly or indirectly, I will not
- be held responsible for such damages. USE THIS PRODUCT AT YOUR OWN RISK!
-
- CREDITS
- ───────
-
- This Door was written with JPDOOR 3.01 Copyright 1991 by Rod Hancock
- PKZIP/PKUNZIP is Copyright 1989-1991 by PKWARE, Inc.
- LHA is Copyright 1988-1991 by Haruyasu Yoshizaki
- ARJ is Copyright 1990, 1991 by Robert K. Jung
- DSZ is Copyright 1991 by Omen Technology INC
- QuickBBS is Copyright 1990 by The QuickBBS Group, Inc.
- RemoteAccess is Copyright 1991 by Continental Software
- Session Manager is copyright 1991 by Patrick Hart
- EZ-Reader is copyright 1988-1991 by Thumper Technologies
- Qmail is copyright 1987-1991 by Sparkware
- MKNet is copyright 1991 by Mark May
- Silly Little Mail Reader is copyright 1991 by Greg Hewgill and
- Computer Techniques
-
-
- Page 9 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-
- And special thanks to the beta testers for their patience, support and
- wonderful suggestions!
-
- PROBLEMS & SUGGESTIONS
- ──────────────────────
-
- Bug reports, problems, suggestions and comments can be made to Randy
- Blackmond in the RIME/RelayNet Doors, Sysops, Shareware or RA conference,
- The FIDONet RA Utilities echo, NetMail to 1:381/70 or call Randy's
- Basement BBS 1200/2400/9600 USR DS at (505) 589-0319. I can also be
- reached voice at 505-589-0317.
-
- COMMON ERROR CODES:
-
- 2 File Not Found
- Check all paths in your RAMail configuration.
-
- 3 Path Not Found
- Check all paths in your RAMail configuration.
-
- 100 Disk Read Error
- This can result if you have an invalid RAUSER.DAT or
- invalid RAMAIL.CFG file. Delete one or both and start over.
- Will also occur if you are running a version of RA prior
- to 1.01. You MUST be running at least RA 1.01, preferably
- RA 1.11!
-
- 101 Disk Write Error
- Results from a full disk. Free some disk space.
-
- COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
- ─────────────────────────────
-
- Problem: File transfers are always reported as aborted!
- Solution: Set your DSZLOG environment variable (see DSZ.DOC).
-
- Problem: After an uploaded reply packet has been received, RAMail
- locks up!
- Solution: You must have the RA environment variable and the DSZLOG
- environment variable set!
-
- Problem: RAMail does not run on my system AT ALL!
- Solution: You do not have enough memory for RAMail to run in. Add the
- *M on your Optional Data line if you are using a type 7
- setup. If you are using a type 15 setup and still have this
- problem, you either have too many TSRs loaded or you are
- running in too small of a multitasking window.
-
- Problem: The mail packets are created fine, but when the transfer
- procedure begins, it always aborts.
- Solution: You probably have an error in your protocol definition in
- your RAMail configuration. Unless you REALLY know what you
- are doing, you should use the DSZ defaults provided by
- RAMCONF or stick to the internal protocols.
-
-
- Page 10 RAMail v3.15
- ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-
- Problem: The external protocols work ok, but the internal protocols
- always lock up at the end of a transfer.
- Solution: Try following the directions in the included NS-PORTS.DOC,
- even if you are using COM1 or COM2. If this does not solve
- the problem, disable the internal protocols and use only
- the externals.
-
- Problem: A user who uses Session Manager complains of messages being
- listed in the wrong conference.
- Solution: Session Manager has some problem with RAMail packets. To
- resolve it, when loading SM, do it in this manner:
-
- SM /FI /TC
-
-