Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/lan/lmail.arj/LANMAIL.DOC

Text File | 1992-07-11 | 15KB | 294 lines

Version 1.50C                       LANMail                         07/07/1992

   LANMail is a 6K swapping TSR program that allows you to send, receive, and
output LANTastic e-mail.  Also, LANMail provides users with an easy way to
send and respond to pop-up messages.
   As mentioned before LANMail is a swapping TSR which means that when the
hot-key sequence is pressed to activate LANMail, LANMail will swap itself into
memory.  This requires LANMail to store what was previously in memory.  For
this, LANMail will use EMS memory if available, or will create temporary files
on the C: drive (or any other drive as specified by command line parameters.
See RUNNING LANMAIL section below).


READING MAIL
============
   When the user selects 'R' from the Net-Mail Services menu, the user will
then be shown the header from the first piece of mail in the mailbox.  This
header contains who the mail is from, the time and date it was sent, and the
subject or comment attached to the message.  If the user wants to read this
message, then he/she should answer 'Y' to "Read this message now [Y,N] ?" Any
other key besides 'Y' will skip to the next message.

   After reading the message, the user is presented with the question:
        "<<<End of message>>> (P)rint, (F)orward, (R)eply,
           (D)elete, or (N)ext message ? N "

   If the user responds with a 'P', the question
          "Output to (F)ile, (P)rinter, or (N)one ?"
       will appear.  Answering 'F' will allow the user to append toe
       message to the end of a file, or create a new file if necessary.
       Answering 'P' will allow the user to print the message to a
       printer, and answering 'N' will abort the output.  Regardless of
       the response, the message will remain in the user's mailbox.

   If the user responds with a 'F' then a free-format message screen will
       appear with the contents of the original message already entered.
       This message can now be edited as any free-form message could be
       (see instructions below).

   If the user responds with a 'R' then a blank free-format message screen
       will appear. Unlike a forwarded message, the user cannot select
       which users to send the reply to, only the person who sent the
       message will receive the reply.

   If the user responds with a 'D' then the message will be deleted from the
       mailbox.

   If the user responds with an 'N' or any other key besides P F R D then the
       next message header will be displayed.


SENDING MAIL
============
   LANMail supports the use of a username file for networks that are not using
individual user accounts.  The username file is a text file with the name of
each user on a seperate line.  The file must be in the same directory that
LANMAIL.EXE is in, and should be named LANMAIL.USR.  The file can be created
by any editor that can save files in pure ASCII such as PC-Write, or the
editor included in MS-DOS v5.00.
   LANMail lets the user send mail to the message server in two formats: a
free-form format, and a Phone Message format.

 Free-Format
 -----------
   The free-format is for messages not suitable for a Phone Message. Free-form
messages can be sent 3 ways: Selecting 'S' from the Net-Mail Services menu,
Forwarding a message after reading, or Replying to a message after reading.
   When entering in a free-form message, there are a few editing features
available...
       <HOME>    key brings you to the begining of the current line
       <END>     key brings you to the end of the current line
       <INS>     key inserts a space at the cursor location
       <DEL>     key deletes the character under the cursor
       <Ctrl F>  Inserts a file above the current line
       <Ctrl I>  inserts a line above the current line
       <Ctrl Y>  deletes the current line.
       <ESC>     key aborts the message
       <F1>      key saves the message
       Cursor keys are used for moving around the message.

   After pressing <F1> to finish entering the free-form message, if you are
replying to a message, you will be prompted for a subject. After entering the
subject, the message will be sent.  If you are forwarding a message, or used
the 'S' selection from the Net-Mail Services menu, then you will be presented
with a list of users. Use the up and down cursor keys to move the highlight
bar, pressing the space bar to toggle a users' name.  A check mark √ will
appear beside the names of the users the message will be sent to. After
selecting the desired users, press <Enter> to finalize your selection, or <ESC>
to abort the message.  After pressing <Enter>, you may then enter a subject.
After the subject is entered, the message will be sent to all the selected
users.

 Phone Message
 -------------
   The 'P' selection from the Net-Mail Services menu allows the user to send a
message in the form of a "While you were out" phone message.  The user is
presented with a form that looks similar to the popular paper version of the
phone message. To check the boxes, while in the box you want checked, hit any
letter, to clear the check, press the space bar. Use the up and down cursor
keys to move around to the various fields. (NOTE: The phone number field will
try to automaticly format the number you enter so entering 2055551212 will
give you 205-555-1212 when you leave the field.) Once you are satisfied with
the message, press the <F1> key to send it, or <ESC> to abort. After pressing
<F1> you will be presented with a list, just as you were when sending a free
form message.
   When a phone message is sent, a carbon copy of the message is saved in a
text file called LANMAIL.CRB located in the directory in which LANMail was
executed. This is helpful if you need to look back at phone messages from the
past to find a phone number etc.


SENDING POP-UP MESSGAES
=======================
   The 'M' selection from the Net-Mail Services menu allows you to send a
pop-up message to any user in the user list.
   After pressing 'M' from the Net-Mail Services menu, you will provided with
a list of users. Use the up and down cursor keys to move the highlight bar,
pressing the space bar to toggle a user name.  A check mark √ will appear
beside the names of the users the pop-up message will be sent to. After
selecting the desired users, press <Enter> to finalize your selection, or
<ESC> to abort the pop-up message.  After pressing <Enter>, you may then enter
a the pop-up message you wish to send. If you press the <Enter> key, the
message will be sent to the selected users, if your press the <ESC> key the
message will be aborted.


RESPONDING TO POP-UP MESSAGES
=============================
   The 'L' selection from the Net-Mail Services menu allows you to respond to
the last pop-up message received.
   After pressing 'L' from the Net-Mail Services menu, you will see the name
of the machine that sent the last pop-up message, and the contents of the
message.  Now, to send a pop-up message as a response, all you have to do is
type in your message. If you press the <Enter> key, your message will be sent,
or if you press the <ESC> key, the message will be aborted.


RUNNING LANMAIL
===============
   LANMail supports the use of a configuration file to contain commonly used
command line options.  The configuration file is a text file with each command
line option (including the / or -) on a seperate line.  The file must be in
the same directory that LANMAIL.EXE is in, and should be named LANMAIL.CFG.
The file can be created by any editor that can save files in pure ASCII such
as PC-Write, or the editor included in MS-DOS v5.00.  Any options used on the
command line override options found in the configuration file.

   To run LANMail type:
       LANMAIL /P:{MESSAGE_SERVER} [/S] [/Fpath] [/U] [/K:{Hot-key sequence}]
where {MESSAGE-SERVER} is the name of the server mail and phone messages are
to be sent to.  This parameter must be provided, if it is not, the user will
be prompted to input the phone message server.

   The /S parameter can be used to run LANMail in a "stand alone" mode.  This
allows you to run the LANMail program without installing it as a TSR.
   The /F paramter allows you to specify where the 2 swapfiles will be placed.
There is no error checking at this time, so make sure it is a valid location.
(Swap files will only be used if there is not suffecient EMS or extended
memory available for the swap)  If the /F parameter is not used C:\ is
assumed.  An example would be:
       LANMAIL /P:MAIL-SERVER /FD:\TEMP   (Swap files in D:\TEMP)
                    or
       LANMAIL /P:MAIL-SERVER /FD:\       (Swap files in the root of D:)

   The /U parameter will attempt to uninstall the LANMail TSR.

   The /K parameter allows the user to define a hot key sequence besides the
default sequence of (Alt)(LShift)(~).  An example to set the hot key to
Control Alternate M would be:
       /K:(Ctrl)(Alt)(M)
       (Ctrl)   Control key       (Alt)     Alt key
       (LShift) Left shift key    (RShift)  Right shift key
       (F1)     F1 function key   (F2..F12) Cooresponding function keys
       The letters A-Z, the number 0-9, and all punctuation characters can
       be used.
       NOTE: Only one "main key" can be used.  The main key in the example
               above is the letter M

   The /T and /B parameters allow the user to designate text (/T) color and
background (/B) color.  The default colors are White text on a Black
background. Use the following values for the colors:

       Black = 0    Red       = 4    DarkGray   = 8     LightRed     = 12
       Blue  = 1    Magenta   = 5    LightBlue  = 9     LightMagenta = 13
       Green = 2    Brown     = 6    LightGreen = 10    Yellow       = 14
       Cyan  = 3    LightGray = 7    LightCyan  = 11    White        = 15

For example if you wanted White letters on a Blue background you would use
/T:15 /B:1

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
=========================
   LANMail was written using Turbo Power's TSRs Made Easy V1.00 and compiled
under Borland's Turbo Pascal v5.5.  I highly recommend TSR's Made Easy for any
Turbo Pascal programmer wishing to make their programs run as TSRs with
minimal effort and change.  Turbo Power can be reached on CompuServe at user
id 76004,2611 or by phone at [phone].


DISCLAIMER
==========
   PAUL DURDEN MAKES NO CLAIMS, WRITTEN OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE STABILITY OR
OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM. USE IT SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK! WHILE I BELIEVE
THAT IT PERFORMS ITS INTENDED FUNCTION AS OUTLINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, PAUL
DURDEN WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADVERSE REACTIONS WHICH MAY BE CAUSED
BY ITS USE.


REGISTRATION & LEGALITIES
=========================
   LANMail is not freeware, nor is it in the public domain. It is a shareware
program, and the entire program and documentation are Copyright (C) 1992, Paul
Durden, Huntsville, AL. You are encouraged to copy the package freely,
including distribution by BBS, shareware library, or other means, provided
that no fee of more than five US dollars ($5) shall be charged for the copy,
and that the distribution shall consist of the original archive containing the
following files:
   LANMAIL.EXE    The LANMail Mail services program.
   LANMAIL.DOC    This file.
   LANPOP.EXE     The LANPop program.
   LANPOP.DOC     Documentation for the LANPop program.
   REGISTER.DOC   Registration form.

   Of course, if you experience a problem using this program, I would like to
know about it. IF YOU USE THIS PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 15 (FIFTEEN) DAYS, PLEASE
REGISTER IT BY PRINTING AND COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM (REGISTER.DOC),
AND SENDING IT ALONG WITH A CHECK/MONEY ORDER FOR $30 U.S. DOLLARS PAYABLE TO
"Paul Durden" to:
       Paul Durden
       P.O. Box 7234
       Huntsville, AL 35807

   The registration covers both the LANMail program and the LANPop program. By
registering, you will receive the most recent release of both the LANMail and
LANPop programs, and will be notified of any future releases.

   If you need to contact me for any reason you may reach me at the above
address, or leave e-mail for Paul Durden on Artisoft's ArtiFACTS BBS, or ID
76360,2306 on CompuServe.

VERSION HISTORY
===============
Version                Changes
--------     ----------------------------------------------------------------
  1.20     *   Initial release to public

  1.21     *   Output to printers made less cryptic (hopefully), time-stamp
               problem fixed. Error trapping while reading mail cleaned-up.

  1.25     *   Hot-key sequence is now runtime definable.  Text background
               and foreground colors are now initialized to White text on a
               Black background, this hopefully will help monochrome users
               whose cursor disappears while using LANMail due to the
               current programs text attributes.

  1.30     *   When selecting users to send a message to, a highlight bar is
               used rather than just the cursor so as to help those with the
               disappearing cursor.
           *   Insert and Delete line capabilities added to the free-format
               message editor.
           *   Added the ability to forward or reply to a message after
               reading it.

  1.35     *   Added ability to change text and background color of popup
               screen.
           *   Added the ability to insert a file (<Ctrl F>) into a free
               format message.
           *   Most error messages now require the user to press a key before
               continuing so the error message can be noted for bug reports.

  1.40ß    *   LANMail now gets user names from both the MESSAGE_SERVER, but
               also from a text file named LANMAIL.USR located in the same
               directory as LANMAIL.EXE.  The username file consists of one
               username per line, and can be created by any editor than can
               save in pure ASCII such as PC-Write or the editor that comes
               with MS-DOS v5.00.
           *   LANMail also now supports a configuration file named
               LANMAIL.CFG for all command line arguements.  LANMail looks for
               this file in the same directory as LANMAIL.EXE.  The
               configuration file is a text file with one command line option
               per line.  Note: you must still use the / or - just as if you
               were at the command line.

  1.48ß    *   LANMail now has the ability to send and respond to pop-up
               messages.

  1.50     *   LANMail now supports the TAB key in a free-format message.
           *   Some cosmetic changes to the menus.
           *   LANPop now packaged in archive.

  1.50C    *   LANMail now asks for confirmation when aborting a message, or
               when aborting a selection of users.