ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/MISC/ELIST609.ZIP/echobase.hlp

Text File | 2005-04-01 | 16KB | 380 lines

              A Moderator's Guide to ...

                   ECHOBASE
             The Echolist program
           Copyright (c) 1995 by Dana Bell


     Echobase is a database program that maintains a database of
     echomail conference information.  This particular program was
     written to meet the need to maintain and distribute echomail
     conference lists within FamilyNet.  Additionally the Echobase
     set is intended to support moderators with their submission to
     the FidoNet EList.

     With that brief introduction, the purpose of this documentation
     is to explain how moderators (or messengers) can submit updates
     to the list.  Using the FTSC netmail system, moderators may add,
     update or delete entries from the list as well as query the
     echolist.

     All messages should be addressed to ECHOlist at 1:1/21.
     Email submissions can be made to [e-mail]
     The action to be taken is determined by the subject
     line and including appropriate keywords and instructions.

     The three that would be used by moderators are
       MODerator UPDate (or MOD UPD)


       MODerator DELete (or MOD DEL)

       and
       MODerator RULe  (or MOD RUL)

     Depending on the action requested, ECHOBASE will read the
     message, add the echo to (or update, delete) the echolist
     database, add a rule file, send a netmail response, announce
     the echo and forward a submission to the EList.

     The following keywords and key information are used to set the
     fields of your echolist submission.

     The keywords are truncated prior to checking, so matching will
     only be done for the capitalized portion of the keyword.
     Keywords may be capitalized or lowercase.  The following three
     entries will have the same effect.

     TAG   BOARD_GAMES
     Tagname BOARD_GAMES
     tag   BOARD_GAMES


     Functionally, Echobase uses syntax and format of the Echolist
     program with minor variations.  The variations are such that
     Echobase will accept entries using the echolist format.



     Address netmail messages to ECHOLIST at this address with the
     subject field of MOD UPD.

      TAGname       <areatag>
      TITLe         <brief area description>
      DESCription   <description of the echo>
      MODerator     <moderator name>, <moderator node>, email
      COMODerator   <co-moderator name>, <co-moderator node>, email
      COMODerator   <co-moderator name>, <co-moderator node>, email
      PASSword      <current password>, <new password>
      TOTalnodes    <number of nodes carrying this conference>
      VOLume        <number of messages>/Month
      RESTrictions  </MEMber, /SYSop, /MOD-apvl, /REAl, /ACC>
      ORIGin        <origination of the distribution>
      DISTribution  <distribution>
      GATEway       <gateways>
      GROUP         <Abbrev. of Network; i.e. FIDO)
      RULE          <rules file>
      FROM          <messenger name>, <messenger node>, email
      HELP          <respond with help message>
      OPTION        <HOLD> - holds netmail reply message.
      ---

     Always end the message with three-dashes indicating the end of
     the message.  With the exception of the DESCription field, only
     one entry is allowed per field.  If multiple entries are included
     in the message, processing will continue but only the last one
     will be saved.  If you don't have an entry for a field, there is
     no need to include the keyword.  Only the areatag, title and
     password are necessary for updating.

     Update submissions to the echolist that don't require any changes
     may be done by including just the areatag, title and PASSword.
     Full details already in the database will remain the same.  New
     listings will require areatag, title, and a moderator. Current
     guidelines for the FidoNet Elist also require description and a
     password.

     In order to delete an area from the list, you should use
     the subject MODerator DELete (or MOD DEL).



             Details on keywords


     Here's some more details on each field and how it is being
     implemented here.  The list shows the keyword sequence in
     parenthesis that will be checked.


     Tagname (TAG)       - The echo's areatag.  May be up to 35
               characters in length.
     Title (TITL)        - A short description title that briefly
               describes the echo.  This may be 55
               characters in length.
     Description (DESC)  - A more detailed description of the echo.
               Each line must be preceded by the DESC
               keyword.  A total of 1024 characters may be
               stored in the database for this
               description.
     Moderator (MOD) -     The primary moderator for the echo.
               (35 characters) When followed by a comma,
               and a 3-5d address
               (Zone:Net/Node[.point][@domain]), the
               address will be added to the database for
               the echo. If an email address is added
                           following the node number, it will also
                           be added to the database,
     CoModerator (COMOD) - Works the same as the Moderator verb.
                           Note: Echobase accepts a total of Three
                           moderators
     Password (PASS)     - The moderator and/or messenger's password
               (35 characters) This stores the password in
               the record and checks for it in future
               submissions.  Followed by a comma and
               another password, the second password will
               replace the initial password.
     Total nodes (TOT)   - Number of nodes connected to the conference.
               This number will be stored in the database,
               but currently no reports refer to this
               count. (any number less that 1 million or so)
     Volume (VOL)        - Number of messages generated per month in
               the echo.  A monthly count is common and an
               easy way to visualise.
     Restrictions (REST) - Restrictions on echo participation (3 flags
               or 25 characters).  The REST field will set
               either of two field depending on the
               content.  If abbreviations </MEMber,
               /SYSop, /MOD-apvl, /REAlnames, /ACCess
               read-only> are submitted, they will set the
               flags.  Otherwise, it will be used in the
               Notes field.  Include more detailed
               restrictions in either the description or
               the rule file.
     Origin (ORIG)       - Description of origin (35 characters) This
               is a text field that will accept any
               description of origin.  This may either be
               network and/or other address.
     Distribution (DIST) - Description of means of distribution. (59
               characters) This is a text field where you
               will probably want to include references to
               such things as FamilyNet backbone, Planet
               Connect, etc.
     Gateways (GATE)     - A text field for the listing of gates to
               other zones, nets, domains, etc.  (35
               characters)
     Seenby (SEEN)
     Path (PATH)         - This program does not support the Seenby
               and Path specifications, but will accept
               entries without error if these are
               specified.
     Group (GROUP) -       This is an abbreviated network affiliation
               word.  This will prefix the TITLe field (in
               parentheses) in the FMLYNET.NA list of
               echoes, and may be used in grouping echoes
               and distributing network-specific lists
               among other things.  In FamilyNet, the
               standard abbreviations in use include:
                             FIDO - FidoNet
                     FMLY - FamilyNet
                 CCI  - Canadian Christian Interchange
                 CCN  - Counter Cult Network
                 CDN  - Christian Distribution Net
                 CFN  - Christian Fellowship Net
                 CFC  - Computers for Christ Net
                 MJCN - Messianic Jewish Computer Network
                 UCCN - United Christian Communications Network
     RuleFile (RULE) -     Name of rules file for the conference
               (13 characters).  If Echobase finds this
               file in the inbound area, it will be copied
               to the rule file repository here.
     From (FROM) -         The messenger to include in the database.
               (35 characters) When followed by a comma,
               and a 3-5d address
               (Zone:Net/Node[.point][@domain]), the
               address will be added to the database for
               the echo. When not given, ECHOBASE will
               attempt to get the information from the
               message.  Email submissions should show the
                           email address of the submitter.
     Help Response (HELP)- Requests help information to be sent with
               the reply message.
     Options (OPTION) -    HOLD puts the reply message on hold,
               for polling, instead of routing it.

     Notes on the DESCription field:

     When submitting an entry with DESC fields, be sure to begin each
     line with DESC and end it with a hard carriage return.  Some
     editors may word wrap all messages and strip carriage returns
     when saving.  Some of these editors, however, may allow you to
     force carriage returns by indenting.  If so, you may want to try
     indenting the DESC lines with a space or tab.

     At this point, this program does not care much about the subject
     field, so you can also use the submission as a FileAttach or
     FileRequest message.  Moderator Update is the default mode.  For
     habit sake, though, you may want to use the subject Moderator
     Update (or MOD UPD).  Exception: recognizes the MOD DEL subject
     as a command to delete the area.

     A sample message might have this in the text

TAGname HIJACKME
TITLe   Designed as a Test of The Echolist Robot
MODerator Thom LaCosta, 1:261/1352, [e-mail]
Moderator Other Robot, 1:1/21, [e-mail]
Moderator Tweedle Dee, 1:261/1550, [e-mail]
DESC    Specifically designed for those that feel a need to hijack
DESC an echo...HIJACKME gives YOU an opportunity to attempt to
DESC aquire an echotag the sneaky way.  Simply send in a MODerator
DESC UPDate message if you think you know the password.  If you
DESC guess right, you own the echo...if you guess wrong, you
DESC get an error message. To make life more interesting,
DESC the password will change on a random time basis...after
DESC all, someone has to win now and again.
VOLume 5/month
RESTrictions /REAL
ORIGin unknown
DISTribution you pick it up
GROUP FIDO
PASSword iwillnottell


                Textfile Updates

     Echobase will also accept text file updates.  Create a text file
     with the extension .ECO using the same format as the message.
     Text files must be found in the inbound directory.

                                Email Updates

     Echobase will also accept email updates.  The submissions should
     be made to
     [e-mail]
     The subject of the message should be MODerator UPDate
     The First line of the message must include
     From Moderator's_email_address

                          Text File/Email Message Test

     The format for text files and email message body is below:

TAGname HIJACKME
TITLe   Designed as a Test of The Echolist Robot
MODerator Thom LaCosta, 1:261/1352, [e-mail]
Moderator Other Robot, 1:1/21, [e-mail]
Moderator Tweedle Dee, 1:261/1550, [e-mail]
DESC    Specifically designed for those that feel a need to hijack
DESC an echo...HIJACKME gives YOU an opportunity to attempt to
DESC aquire an echotag the sneaky way.  Simply send in a MODerator
DESC UPDate message if you think you know the password.  If you
DESC guess right, you own the echo...if you guess wrong, you
DESC get an error message. To make life more interesting,
DESC the password will change on a random time basis...after
DESC all, someone has to win now and again.
VOLume 5/month
RESTrictions /REAL
ORIGin unknown
DISTribution you pick it up
GROUP FIDO
PASSword iwillnottell

||NOTE: Do NOT use email addresses in the form of your.name@1:261/1352
        The Robot will not process the message.

                Rule File Updates

     The format for rule file updates is below:

Date : Tue Oct 20, 20:02
From : Thom LaCosta                                           1:261/1352
To   : Echolist
Subj : MOD RUL
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────


TAG GIGO
PASSword Iwillnottell
RULEText Rules for area GIGO

 An open forum on GIGO and related third party products

 The International GIGO Message Conference

           Origins:                Moderators:
                                   jason fesler
           [e-mail]         [e-mail]
           Fidonet 1:261/1352      thom lacosta

RULES

 OVERVIEW
   This conference is a moderated forum for discussion of issues
   concerning GIGO and related third-party software.  Conferees can
   ask questions of the author of GIGO, and many of the experienced
   users in the conference.  This conference is available both as a
   FTSC echo, and as a mailling list.

 RESTRICTIONS/GUIDELINES FOR POSTING

 1.  This is NOT a forum for bashing of any software product.  From
     time to time comparisons of GIGO to other gateway software may
     take place, but always in the spirit of comparison and mutual
     education.
 2.  This forum is NOT a place to advertise products and services
     that are not directly related to GIGO and associated third-party
     products.  Under no circumstances are ads allowed which do
     not fit into this scheme!  This specifically includes but is
     not limited to MLM, 900-numbers, or typical "get rich"-type
     ads.  You may immediately lose your access without warning for
     posting such material.
 3.  Because of the ease in subscribing to the gigo-l mailling list,
     the moderators reserve the right to immediately terminate any
     subsriptions to the list, and or access via the GIGO echo, to
     those users, who either by configuration errors, or willfull
     infractions of the rules may cause the signal to noise radio
     in the conference to deteriorate.
 4.  Let the moderator(s) do the moderating.  If you have a problem
     with anyone's attitude or message content, do not engage in any
     personal attacks or regulation - take such complaints to the
     moderators as listed below:
        Moderator                Fido           Internet
        Jason Fesler             1:1/141        [e-mail]
        Thom LaCosta             1:261/1352     [e-mail]
 5.  The material posted herein, unless otherwise acknowledged,
     remains the property of the moderators, as does this conference.
     No cross-posting, compilation, reprinting or retransmitting of
     messages in this forum to any other medium is allowed unless
     specifically granted by either of the moderators.

 6.  It is strictly off-topic for any individual to post personal
     information (addresses, telephone numbers, financial data etc.)
     on another participant without his/her permission.

 5.  We endeavor to minimize censorship and fully support ones'
     freedom of expression on this echo - however do not test the
     limits of what you can get away with saying if it is
     inappropriate or designed to annoy other participants.

 HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS

 1.  Please remember that this is an INTERNATIONAL conference and
     is widely distributed.  You might be in Los Angeles and
     want to know a reputable source for bulk diskettes - don't post
     a message saying "Where can I get disks?"; instead qualify
     where you are located in the message in order to avoid
     confusion and inappropriate responses.
 2.  One objective of this forum is to serve as a source where
     existing users and potential users of GIGO can share information.
     Please make your posts with this in mind.

--- EchoMod 3.16



Thom LaCosta
1:261/1352
[e-mail]