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MIKEMAYL.DOC
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1993-06-13
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If these are docs, then this must be software. If this is software,
┌──────────────────────┐ then I must have stuck with this project
│ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ │ longer than I thought! Below is all you
│ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓ │ will need to get MikeMayl going, both
│ ▓▓ ▓ ▓▓ike▓▓ ▓ ▓▓ayl │ quickie and full-on instructions.
│ │ There isn't a lot to it... if you've
│ Version 1.0 │ used another reader (which I'm sure
│ (c) Copyright 1993 │ most of you have) then you'll be
│ │ able to figure 99% of MikeMayl out
│ The QWK Mail Reader │ on your own. You'll only to need to
│ for the CheapSkate! │ know what keys do what or where to
└──────────────────────┘ point your mouse. We'll start with
an overview of MikeMayl's features followed by a detailed
explanation of MikeMayl's usage.
-=≡ Who, What, When, Where and Why ≡=-
MikeMayl was written by me, Mike May. I had thought up the name
MikeMayl about 2 years ago and always wanted a QWK reader to attach
the name to. After coming across a file written by Patrick Lee
describing the QWK format, I figured I'd dig out the ol' compiler
and put together a quick QWK *viewer*, just for the heck of it.
Well one thing led to another and with the help of Allen Porter who
1. Was my CoSysop at the time (The Ice House is down but it wants
to come back!)
2. Helped write the docs you're reading.
3. Was forced into becoming the alpha/beta/crash tester.
finally became reality. MikeMayl has taken about 6 months, off and
on, to get to this point. As the project progressed I decided that
I would make it freeware simply because I enjoyed writing it.
There are plenty of shareware/commercial readers available so it
appeared that there was a need for a reader that was absolutely
free of charge. This also frees me of any obligation to improve the
program in the future although I do have many plans for MikeMayl. I
wanted to release MikeMayl quite some time ago, but I kept saying,
"Just one more feature...". So here it is, as much as I could pack
into a first release and still leave room for improvement.
If you'd like to communicate with me, I can be found in the RIME
Offline Reader conference and the RIME BBS Software conference
where I have made many friends <half-truth!>. Speaking of BBS
Software, MikeMayl works extremely well with GAP and GAPs QWK door,
MainMail. The file sending and receiving features work flawlessly
with these products. MikeMayl's file attaching specs mirror those
introduced by MSI so MikeMayl should send and receive files with
Wildcat! BBS's as well.
Page 1
MikeMayl v1.0
-=≡ RETRO ≡=-
You've found a BBS you'd really like to 'hang around' on.
They've got plenty of message bases just bursting at the seams
with useful technical information, the latest jokes, or just
plain cozy conversation. BUT you have been given 30 minutes per
day to access this fine BBS. And even if you were given more
time every day, you'd just use it downloading files! Besides,
the Sysop would have to give you 2 hours every day to read the
number of conferences you are interested in. Hence the
existence of the Offline Mail Door and ultimately, of MikeMayl!
An Offline Mail Door allows users to select conferences they
want to read, set their message pointers (reference numbers of
the last messages a user has read), download mail in archived
packets called QWK packets, and upload replies in archived
packets called REP packets.
-=≡ MikeMayl Features ≡=-
Read QWK mail packets (as received from MainMail, CamMail,
Qmail, TomCat, etc. doors) and create REP (reply) packets.
Select the archiving/unarchiving program of your choice.
View Bulletins, New Files, News, Welcome, and Goodbye screens.
Manage and steal taglines.
Automatic PostLink Routing.
Select recipients of messages from a picklist.
Twit people and subjects.
Shell to DOS.
Send and Receive files attached to messages.
Shell to your communications program.
Seamless integration with external tagline managers such as TLX.
Search for messages containing a particular string.
Mouse support.
All while saving big bucks because MikeMayl is -=FREE=-
Page 2
MikeMayl v1.0
-=≡ Where to find MikeMayl ≡=-
Ron Hossack of The Solid Rock BBS has agreed to be the sole
'official' distribution point for MikeMayl. While I hope that
MikeMayl will spread on its own, The latest version will always
be available on Ron's BBS. You can reach it at 909-785-9176.
-=≡ Quick Start Directions ≡=-
1. Make a directory for MikeMayl, MM for example.
2. Copy the MM10.ZIP file into this directory.
3. UNZIP the MM10.ZIP file into this directory.
4. Type MM10 and you're done!
Well... you may need to know the following:
There is only 1 file MikeMayl *needs* in order to run (besides
YOUR editor!), MM10.EXE. A couple of other files will make use
easier though. When MM starts up it looks for a configuration
file, MIKEMAYL.CFG. It if doesn't find it, MikeMayl will
automatically invoke MAKECFG.EXE (which *should* be in the ZIP
*and* in the MikeMayl directory. Before shelling to MAKECFG,
MikeMayl will have assigned default values to all variables and
you will use MAKECFG to change whatever variables are incorrect.
If MikeMayl cannot find MAKECFG, it will make its own
configuration file and run anyway!
Here's a description of the miscellaneous files that can be in
the MM directory.
MIKEMAYL.CFG: This is an ASCII text file and can be edited by
the user at any time using either the MAKECFG.EXE program or an
ASCII text editor. The first time you run MikeMayl (unless you
elected to run MAKECFG.EXE first), a message will appear letting
you know that no MIKEMAYL.CFG file could be found and a generic one
will be created for you.
MikeMayl will also accept a configuration file other than
MIKEMAYL.CFG. If you start either MikeMayl or MAKECFG with a
command line named configuration file, both programs will use this
named configuration file. For example, starting MikeMayl like this;
MIKEMAYL MIKEMAYL.CF1 will instruct MikeMayl to read MIKEMAYL.CF1
instead of MIKEMAYL.CFG. If MIKEMAYL.CF1 does not exist, MikeMayl
will create one and then allow you to modify it from the Main Menu
using MAKECFG. You can also start MAKECFG with the line MAKECFG
MIKEMAYL.CF1 to edit this configuration file.
MAKECFG.EXE: This is the configuration editor and can be used to
edit MIKEMAYL.CFG (or any other configuration file as described
above) from within MikeMayl or stand-alone. Documentation for MAKECFG
can be found later in this file.
Page 3
MikeMayl v1.0
MIKEMAYL.TAG: This is your tagline file. I'm sure there is a
limit to its length, but at this point I don't know what that
limit is. Tags can be up to 58 characters wide. This file can
be edited with an ASCII text editor, or through MikeMayl itself
when entering messages.
MIKEMAYL.TWT: This is the Twit file. Any person whose messages
annoy you should have their name put in this file, one name to a