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1995-11-12
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Version 1.07
12 November 1995
CellarSoft LtD.
Copyright (C) 1994,1995
***************************************************************************
WARNING: When you unzip NetCall!, you should see -AV codes on each line
as the file extracts. After all files have been extracted, you should
see:
Authentic files Verified! # MQE905
CellarSoft Ltd.
If you don't see the -AV and this message, the files have been tampered
with. DO NOT use them. Contact CellarSoft LtD. at the addresses below and
include the origin of the archive you have.
Files included in this archive are:
NETCALL.EXE NetCall!
NETCALL.DOC Documentation.
NETCALL.INI Initialization / Definition File.
FILE_ID.DIZ Suggested file descriptions.
DISTRIB.UTE Listing of CellarSoft LtD. Distribution Sites.
ORDER.FRM Registration Key order form.
CELLSOFT.LTD Product information from CellarSoft LtD.
WHATS.NEW Revision History of NetCall! and new features.
***************************************************************************
Introduction:
=============
NetCall! is a utility for use with WWIV v4.22+ Bulletin Board
Software. NetCall! provides the WWIV SysOp with a simplified method of
conducting necessary callouts from batch files or from under a Fido front
end mailer.
Installation:
=============
NetCall! expects to find itself in the main BBS directory. It
will move to the main BBS directory to run *IF* the BBS directory is included
in your path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT. You will be returned to the starting
directory upon exit. The directory structure for WWIV is read in from
your existing CONFIG.DAT and NetCall! will read NETWORKS.DAT, and all
necessary files from the appropriate network directories. Please read
the section below on WWIV.INI and all necessary settings prior to first
use.
NetCall! requires a WWIV BBS be installed on your machine along
with a properly set up and analyzed WWIVstyle network in place to
operate.
The first time NetCall! is run, it will do basic configuration
for itself.
WWIV.INI Initialization File:
=========================================
NetCall! supports the new WWIV.INI style configuration file.
On first run, most of these settings are configured. You should read
NETCALL.INI thoroughly prior to runnung NetCall! for the first time to
insure you understand what each setting does. Later, you may maually
edit this file to customize NetCall! to your needs. NetCall! adds
NC_REG_CODE to the end of the file when the registration code is entered.
If you insert the lines somewhere in WWIV.INI, it will cause no problems,
NetCall! scans the entire file for it's definitions, it will just keep things
together. If you do not already use WWIV.INI, rename NETCALL.INI to WWIV.INI and
edit as desired.
Using this definition file, you have the ability to set options you
may prefer in NetCall!. Directions for adding these options are contained
in NETCALL.INI.
NOTE: If you use locked com port rates in WWIV, you MUST configure
NetCall! using your MODEM speed if your locked rate exceeds 32767. This
conflict should disappear when WWIV 4.24 is released.
Processing Network Pending Data:
================================
NetCall! will detect and process any pending network data prior
to making the requested call. All received data will be automaticly
processed on all networks after the call is completed. NetCall! also
has the ability to clean up all pending data between calls when making
calls to multiple nodes or on multiple networks. See NC_CLEANUP in
NETCALL.INI for more on this feature.
NetCall! spawns to the NETWORKx.EXE files so will, in turn,
call any pre-processors that appear in the networks EPREPROC.NET.
Network cleanup can be done without making any calls by running NETCALL C.
Command Line Processing:
========================
The command line options and syntax for NetCall! are as follows:
NETCALL <node> <net> [A<attempts>] [qualifiers] [D<debug level>]
node - The node you wish to call. Monikers ALL, KW, or
OK may be used.
net - The network number as it is in INIT or ALL for
all networks
attempts - The number of attempts to call this system.
This parameter defaults to 1 if not included
on the commandline. A ! in the third position
will call the system until it makes a successful
connection. WARNING! This option does not have
any built in safeguards and will theoreticlly call
forever if it doesn't connect.
qualifier - The * qualifier will make the call ONLY if the
system is ok to call based on CALLOUT.NET.
The # qualifier will force a NC_WAIT_TIME pause
between calls.
The ! qualifier will force calls until a successful
connection is established (Use with Caution!)
The N qualifier will supress network cleanup after
the call is made.
The Wx qualifier is used to force a special wait time
between attempts.
debug level - You may put NetCall! in debug mode from the
commandline by adding Dx to the command where x is:
1 - Files access info
2 - Modem info included
3 - System Contact Data included
9 - FULL DEBUG MODE NetCall! WILL NOT actually make the
calls in this mode. All normally executed steps will
be taken and the commandline to call the system will
be displayed.
<node> and <net> (or an appropriate moniker) *must* be included on the
commandline for NetCall! to function and must appear in that order. As
stated above, if <attempts> is not included on the commandline, NetCall!
will default to 1 call.
<qualifiers> are optional and can be used to tailor the use of the program
to your needs.
The monikers ALL (all nodes or all nets), KW (all nodes with k
waiting), and OK (all ok to call nodes) may also be used to make batch
calls more simplified.
NetCall! also has the ability to call a list of systems from a
text file using the commandline NETCALL L <filename>. The format for
the text file is one system per line in the following format:
10001 0 1
| | |__ Number of attempts to make
| |
| |____ Network number
|
|________ Node number to call
At the risk of being repetative, here are a few examples of possible
commandlines are:
NETCALL 6100 0 A10 * - Call 6100 on your first network in INIT.
NetCall! will attempt to call 5 times *IF*
there are no restrtictions in CALLOUT.NET that
prohibit calling 6100.
NETCALL 1100 1 A7 # - Call 1100 on your second network in INIT
7 times waiting NC_WAIT_TIME between calls.
NETCALL 9707 2 ! D3 - Call 9707 on your third network in INIT.
NetCall! will call 9707 until it make a
successful connection using Debug Level 3.
NETCALL 4241 3 - Call 4241 on your fourth network in INIT once.
NETCALL OK 4 3 - Call all ok to call systems ok your fifth
network, three attempts.
NETCALL OK ALL - Call all ok to call systems on all networks.
NETCALL KW 5 - Call all systems that have k waiting on your
sixth network.
NETCALL L CALLME.EXT - Call all systems listed in CALLME.EXT.
NETCALL C - Cleanup all Networks, make no calls.
Exiting with Errorlevels:
=========================
For use in batch files, NetCall! will exit with one of the following
errorlevels:
0 - No errors, No calls made. (NetCall! was run with no
commandline parameters or with ?, HELP ect.)
1 - External Error. Data files missing. Invalid NetNumber/
Registration number.
2 - Memory Allocation Error. NetCall! was unable to allocate
the memory it needed from your system. Provide NetCall! more
memory!
3 - Your system is not connected to the system on the network
contained on the commandline. (Either a typo or a dropped
system)
4 - Keyboard Abort.
5 - All attempts made, no connection established.
6 - Not calling the system. Not ok to call and the * qualifier
was used.
7 - No errors, Call completed as requested.
This feature can be disabled by placing NC_ERR_LEV =NO in your
WWIV.INI if NetCall! causes a conflict in error level processing with
FrontDoor or any other front end mailer.
Registration:
=============
Registration disables the shareware pauses and other encouragements
to register. Each copy of NetCall! has an expiration date on which, the
program will cease to function at all. You can do one of three things,
you can change the date every time you want to use NetCall!, you can
download a new copy of the shareware version with a later expiration
date when yours quits, or you can avoid all of these by simply
registering NetCall!. After all, it's only $15!
Once you have registered, you will receive your key by either
US Mail or net email. Run NETCALL REGISTER and input your key. NetCall! will
append the registration data to the INI file.
Copyright, License, Registration, and Warranty:
===============================================
NetCall! and accompanying files and documentation are Copyright (C)
1994, 1995 CellarSoft LtD. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES shall any revised version
of either the executable file or the documentation be released without prior
knowledge and written consent of the author.
NetCall! is licensed as a Shareware product and is freely
distributable. The author assumes no responsibility for the misuse of
NetCall! or the consequences of said misuse. All inquiries about the product
should be directed to CellarSoft LtD. You are licensed to evaluate NetCall!
for thirty (30) days free of charge. After thirty days, you must either
register the product or terminate it's use. Registration diables the
shareware pause and all other encouragements to register. For further
information on registration, see ORDER.FRM included in the NetCall! archive.
NetCall! is provided with no warranty, expressed or implied as to the
fitness or suitability of the product for other than it's intended use.
The Licensee accepts all responsibilities and liabilities for the use of the
product.
Regarding the Author:
=====================
CellarSoft LtD. is the trade name of the author. The author(s),
by use of this name, is by no means attempting to defraud any
individual, corporation, or agency or political subdivision of the
United States government or the public at large. The author may be
at any of the addresses below:
By US Mail at:
DNK Enterprises
c/o CellarSoft LtD.
4137 Cedar Street, Box 6
Ft. Wainwright, Alaska 99703
By Email at:
trader@imagi.net Internet
1@10402 WWIVnet
1@9707 SOLARnet/TerraNet
1@1 FILEnet
1:355/22 FidoNet
The Future of NetCall!
=======================
NetCall! will be developed to the maximum extent possible. If you
have a comment or suggestion for the betterment of the program, please send it
in. All attempts will be made to implement any changes as soon as possible.
The CellarSoft LtD. Support sub-board is available as SubType FMAIL
hosted at @10402.WWIVnet, @9707.SOLARnet, @1.FILEnet, and @9707.TerraNet for
bug reports and suggestions for the improvement of NetCall!
Credits and Thanks:
===================
If it weren't for these people, NetCall! wouldn't exist.
Wayne Bell WWIV Copyright (c) 1988-1994
NET35 Copyright (c) 1993-1995
PKWARE PKZIP Copyright (c) 1989-1993
PKLITE Copyright (c) 1990
SemWare Qedit 3.0 Copyright (c) 1993
Advanced
Joaquim Homrighausen FrontDoor Copyright (c) 1989-1994
Special thanks to:
Morgul, for primary Alpha and Beta Testing.
Byte and Spackle, the only dedicated "bug squashers".
Frank Reid for that last minute suggestion.
Gene Vaz for testing our Tech Support Service.
and
All those who tested NetCall! and provided
invaluable input in an effort to provide a
quality product.
Registered Users:
=================
Thanks to the few and faithful that have supported NetCall! and the
shareware concept. It's folks like this that make programs like NetCall!
available to computer enthusiasts.