Club Amiga de Montreal

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Club Amiga de Montreal - CAM / CAM_CD_1.iso / files / 292.lha / NComm_v1.8 / ReadMail / ReadMail.doc < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-09-02 | 16.4 KB | 410 lines

______ _____ _____ ____ _ _ _____ _ _ | __ | | ___| | _ | | _ \ | \ / | | _ | | | | | | |__| | | |__ | |_| | | | | | | \/ | | |_| | | | | | | _ _| | __| | _ | | | | | | |\/| | | _ | | | | | | | \ \ | |___ | | | | | |_| | | | | | | | | | | | | |__ |_| \_\ |_____| |_| |_| |____/ |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |____| ============================================================ DESCRIPTION ----------- Amiga ReadMail is a tool for use with NComm V1.8 or later, made by Torkel Lodberg. ReadMail lets you read, answer and enter MBBS messages offline, using input from the keyboard. Some file functions are also implemented. ReadMail creates a NComm script that uploads all the messages to the board and grabs new messages. Information about new files is also collected. It uses the grabfile created by the MBBS bulletin board system as input. Before using ReadMail, you should therefore collect grabfiles from the different systems you want to use it with. It will accept a blank file as well, but the name *must* be correct. First, create the directory where you want to place ReadMail, or use the path "NComm:" if the device where it is lying has enough space for the different files. Then, make subdirectories for the different boards. Place the GRAB files within these directories. FILES CREATED ------------- All files generated will be placed in the same directory as the grabfile is situated. Here is a list of files that will be generated. <filename> equals the name of the grabfile, and 'n' is a number generated by ReadMail, starting at zero. It increases by one for each message written. It is highly important that you don't change the name of the grabfile after having performed a GRAB since the filename also is used in the script to unarc the grabfile after grabbing, and then to start ReadMail. <filename>.script - scriptfile <filename>.exe - 'execute' file used by script <filename>n - message(s) <filename>.keep - messages added with 'keep' command <filename>.newfiles - new files since last logon * Script assumes that * 1. You are using ENGLISH commands * 2. You have set up to use the SCREEN editor * 3. You have turned on automatic file transfer * 4. You have PKAX in the C: directory * 5. You have a smart enough modem to report offhook * 6. You are using IBN translation STARTING UP ----------- ReadMail has the following synopsis: ReadMail [-s] [filename] As you can see, an optional filename may be appended as a parameter, as well as the option '-s' if you want to reconfigure the ReadMail setup. The filename is relative to the current directory. The brackets should of course not be included. They just mean that this is optional. From workbench, just click on the icon. ReadMail first looks for some important information in the file NComm:NComm.config. If this file doesn't exist, ReadMail won't work, so be sure to save the correct configuration in NComm before using ReadMail. The colors configured in NComm's 2 colour mode will be used. If no filename is entered, a File Input Requester will appear in the center of the screen. For instructions on how to use this, see the "File Input Requester" below. Select the FULL directory and name of the grabfile, so that the script later can find it. If the file "ReadMail.config" and "NComm:ReadMail.config" (a special setup file used by ReadMail only) don't exist, or if the parameter '-s' is appended, a window that contains different gadgets will appear. In the string gadget marked 'User', enter the name you have registered with on the current board. It is used to log you in. In the string gadget marked 'Editor', enter the name of the editor you want to use with ReadMail. It must accept a filename as parameter. Please note that programs that start their own process can not be used due to problems with the Amiga operating system. However, there is one exception. The "ED" command that follows with CygnusED Professional may be used as long there is a copy of CygnusED already running when called from ReadMail. This is also a handy solution, since the editor is only loaded once. Go and buy CygnusED folks! I.e. start up CygnusED Professional *before* using ReadMail and place the ProCED 'Ed' command in the 'C' directory. A few hints to persons who don't have ProCED and don't have a harddisk: Make your editors resident or place them on the ram disk for faster loading. In the string gadget marked 'Readmaildir', specify the FULL directory where ReadMail is situated. It will be used to start ReadMail after grabbing. If the specified editor uses the WorkBench screen, turn on the 'WB to front' option. This will pop the workbench screen to front when the editor is started, and will pop the ReadMail screen to front when finished editing. If you want to configure this scriptfile with an entry in NComm's phonebook, turn the 'PB execute' option on. If you turn this option on, remember to also include your password in the phonebook. If you don't want ReadMail to hang up when it has finished its job on the BBS, turn the 'Interactive session' option on. ReadMail will then wait for the hangup string before it unarc's the GRAB file and starts ReadMail. Press the 'OK' gadget to go on, however, be careful. The current script (if any) will be discarded so press the 'Cancel' gadget to regret. Press the 'Save' gadget to save the current configuration. The information will be stored in a file called 'ReadMail.config' if the file exists, else it will be stored as 'NComm:ReadMail.config'. If you have configured 'PB Execute' off, a window will pop up. Here, enter the phonenumber to the current board, and the password you use at this board. Press 'Return' in the password gadget to go on. USING THE COMMANDS ------------------ You may now read through the messages. Press the HELP key for a full list of commands. The commands are mostly 'Less' or 'More' compatible. Here is a description of how to use the different commands. 'NEXT MSG' prompt: Press 'E' to enter a new message. This will bring up a requester containing three string gadgets. In the gadget marked 'Conference', enter the full name of the conference you want the message placed in. In the gadget marked 'Receiver', enter the name of the person you want to send the message to, or press 'ENTER' for 'ALL'. In the gadget marked 'Subject', enter the subject of the current message. If the 'Conference' or 'Receiver' field is left blank, the function will be aborted. Else, the editor will be started and the workbench will pop to front if specified in the configuration file. The textfile 'ReadMail.sign' will be added to the message if it exists in the ReadMail directory. Go on with editing the message and then save it. Press 'R' to reply the current message. A requester will pop up and ask if you want the current message included. Press 'Cancel' to abort the function. If you answer 'Yes', the message will first be written to disk. The editor will be started and the workbench will pop to front if specified in the configuration file. The textfile 'ReadMail.sign' will be added to the message if it exists in the ReadMail directory. Go on with editing the message and then save it. The next message will be displayed by ReadMail. Press 'I' to import a message from disk. This function was specially designed for persons who don't have enough RAM to run ReadMail and their favourite editor simultaneosly. The messages must be written before starting ReadMail and should could be called <filename>n, where 'n' is the number of the message. They must be placed in the same directory as the grabfile. The function will bring up a requester that asks if the message should be a reply to the current message. Select 'Cancel' to abort the function. If the answer is negative, a window that contains three string gadgets will pop up. In the gadget marked 'Conference', enter the full name of the conference you want the message placed in. In the gadget marked 'Receiver', enter the name of the person you want to send the message to, or press 'ENTER' for 'ALL'. In the gadget marked 'Subject', enter the subject of the current message. If answer to the first requester is positive, the next message will be displayed by ReadMail. The textfile 'ReadMail.sign' will be added to the message if it exists in the ReadMail directory. Press 'P' to make a hardcopy of the message on the printer. The message 'Printing' will be displayed while in progress. Press 'K' to store the message for later retrieval. The message will be added to a file called <filename>.keep. Press 'A' to append the message to a specific file. This function works like the 'keep' command, but will bring up the file requester. Select or enter a filename. The message will be added to the file. If the file doesn't exist, it will be created. Press 'T' or '<' to display the first message in the grabfile. Press 'BACKSPACE' or 'Cursor Left' to move backwards one message. Press 'B' to move backwards one page. Press 'CTRL-L', 'Cursor Up' or 'C' to display the current message from the beginning. Press 'H' to only display the header of the next message. Press 'SPACE', 'ENTER', 'Cursor Right' or 'F' to display the next message in the grabfile. Press 'S' to display the next message without stopping, i.e. without displaying the 'More' prompt. Press '>' or 'L' to display the highest message you have read in the grabfile. Press from '1' to '0' on the keyboard to position from 10% to 100% in the file. I.e. '0' will position you at the end of the file. Press 'M' to move to the next conference. Press 'D' to download a file from the system. This will pop up a window that contains a string gadget marked 'Name'. Enter the name of the file you want to download. The file will be placed in the G&R download directory. If the gadget is left empty, the function will be aborted. Press 'U' to upload a file to the system. This will pop up a window that contains two string gadgets. In the gadget marked 'Name', enter the name of the file you want to upload. The file must rely in the G&R upload directory. Enter a description of the file in the gadget marked 'Description'. If one of the gadgets is left empty, the function will be aborted. A requester will pop up that asks whether the file should be private or not. A positive answer will bring up a new requester that asks who the file should be private for. Enter the full name of the person. If the file should be kept private to a conference, remember to first join the conference before using this function. Press 'J' to join a new conference. This will pop up a window that contains a string gadget marked 'Name'. Enter the full name of the conference. Leave the name blank to abort. Press 'X' to resign from a conference. A window will pop up that contains a string gadget marked 'Name'. Enter the full name of the conference you want to resign from. Leave the name blank to abort. Press '/' to search for a string. The bottom line of the window will be made active. Enter the string to search for, or leave the line blank to abort. The message 'Searching' will be displayed at the same line. The search is case insensitive. If the string is not found, the final message in the grabfile will be displayed. Press 'N' to search for the next occurence of the string. The search is case insensitive. If the string is not found, the final message in the grabfile will be displayed. Press 'G' to display the file named <filename>.keep on screen. It contains the messaged added with the 'Keep' command. Press 'V' to display the file named <filename>.newfiles on screen. This file contains a list of new files and is collected for each logon. Press 'Q' or 'CTRL-C' when finished answering messages. The function will ask for a confirm, since the script will be discarded the next time you start ReadMail if you leave Readmail by mistake. This will create the script and quit the program. 'NEXT MSG' prompt: Press 'ENTER' to display the next line of the message. Press 'SPACE', 'Cursor Down' or 'F' to display the next page of the message. Press 'S' to display the rest of the message without stopping, i.e. without displaying the 'More' prompt. Press some other key to abort to 'Next Msg' prompt. Note; If the message 'EDITOR ERROR' appears on screen, the editor could not be loaded. This means that the editor name specified at startup is uncorrect, or the commands 'Execute', 'Cd' and 'C:Run' are not available. Also note; The 'Yes/No/Cancel' requester can be answered by pressing 'Y', 'N' and 'C' respectively. The prompts contain a calculated percentage relative to the current file position. THE FILE INPUT REQUESTER ------------------------ Many functions call upon a file name. The file input requester then appears on the screen with a sorted directory listing of the current directory in the window. At the bottom of the requester, eight devices are displayed. To change the current device, click in one of these boxes - the device must be available on your system (i.e not ghosted) for you to chose it. To enter a directory, position the pointer over the directory name and click once or enter the directory name in the 'Directory' string gadget. The 'PARENT' gadget will move you back one directory - i.e. this will cause the parent directory to be displayed, if such a directory exists. You may select a filename by positioning the pointer over it. Open the file by doubleclicking, or by first clicking on the filename and afterwards on the 'OK' gadget. Alternatively, type the name of the desired file in the requester marked 'File' and press Return. In the 'Type' string gadget, enter an optional extension. This will display only the files with that suffix. For example, entering ".TXT" will display only the textfiles. The window only has room for 10 entries. To scroll through the directory, use the dragbar. The number of bytes free on the current device will be displayed in the middle of the two gadgets. Always check if there is enough space on the current device before downloading files. The 'Directory' string gadget will be active when the window opens. Pressing Return will move the cursor directly to the 'File' gadget. This can be handy if you don't want to mouse around. Use the upper right depth-arrangers to move the window in front or in back of other windows. Selecting 'CANCEL' will abort the operation. Note: When the file requester is on screen (active), you can still send and receive data. Sorting and displaying the files on a disk takes some time; you may want to bring up the requester early, and continue talking to the remote system while this is being done. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS -------------------- None, but a harddisk is heavily recommended if you want to use this program with more than one board. The program works with both NTSC and PAL. VERSION ------- 2.0 / 17-Jun-89. Comments, suggestions and bug reports are welcome! Original idea taken from IBM ReadMail made by Mike Robertson. The file requester is based on the requester from C. Heath. Thanks! Thanks also go to Daniel Bloch and Trym Hansen for their help, and to Michael Farion for his icon. Doc icon from the Swilling collection, courtesy of Frank Swilling (Minotaur). Contact me on my BBS, international: +47 2 493210 national: (02) 493210 ...or by mail to Torkel Lodberg Pilotveien 10 N-0384 OSLO 3 NORWAY This program is Shareware - you are not allowed to sell this program, and you may only copy it for non-commercial purposes! This program represents over hundred hours of hard work. If you find this program useful, you really ought to send some sort of a contribution to my address. Examples of such a contribution is 20$ or some disks containing the hottest and newest public domain or shareware programs, for my BBS. If I receive any contributions, they will probably make me want to make many more programs!