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┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓ │ │ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ V1.46 │ │ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ │ │ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ │ │ ░▓ ▓▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ▓▓ ░▓ ▓▓ │ │ ░▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ▓▓ ░▓ ▓▓ │ │ ░▓ ░▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ░▓ ▓▓ ░▓ ▓▓ │ │ ░▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ ░▓ ▓▓ ░▓▓▓▓▓ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Copyright (C) 1991-1997 by Software Technik Burchhardt written by Tobias Burchhardt ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ▄│ U S E R M A N U A L A N D T U T O R I A L │ █└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ ▄│ Written and copyright │ █│ by │ █│ Marco Piazza │ █│ Cesena, Italy, 30.03.1997 │ █└─────────────────────────────┘ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ FastEcho, FEUtil, FESetup and this documentation are protected under the German and International copyright laws. You are not authorized to copy, edit or modify these files without written permission of the copyright holders. For further license information check out LICENSE.DOC or chapter (A) of this document. For distribution license information refer to DISTRIB.DOC. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A) - Noncommercial Shareware Notice.......................1 B) - Foreword.............................................1 1 - What's FastEcho, what it does and when you need it...2 2 - Description..........................................3 3 - Minimal System Requirements..........................4 4 - Suggestions..........................................5 4.1 - Obtaining better performance.........................5 4.2 - Sharing the messagebase..............................5 4.3 - Optimized i386 routines..............................5 5 - T U T O R I A L......................................5 5.1 - Preliminary Operations...............................6 5.2 - The FESetup Main Menu................................6 5.3 - FESetup TopBar Dropdown menu.........................7 5.3.1 - FESetup, DOS command line switches...................8 5.4 - SYSTEM TopBar Dropdown menu.........................11 5.4.1 - Network addresses...................................11 5.4.2 - User names..........................................12 5.4.3 - Miscellaneous.......................................13 5.4.3.1 - Mailer..............................................13 5.4.3.2 - BBS Software........................................13 5.4.3.3 - Swapping............................................14 5.4.3.4 - Be 'quiet'..........................................14 5.4.4 - Pathnames...........................................15 5.4.4.1 - NetMail.............................................15 5.4.4.2 - Messagebase.........................................16 5.4.4.3 - Inbound.............................................16 5.4.4.4 - Unprotected Inbound.................................16 5.4.4.5 - Temporary Inbound...................................16 5.4.4.6 - Local Inbound.......................................17 5.4.4.7 - Outbound............................................17 5.4.4.8 - Temporary outbound..................................18 5.4.4.9 - Semaphores..........................................18 5.4.4.10 - BBS Configuration...................................19 5.4.4.11 - Static queue........................................19 5.4.4.12 - Swapping............................................19 5.4.4.13 - Rules (Directory definition)........................19 5.4.5 - Filenames...........................................20 5.4.5.1 - LogFile.............................................20 5.4.5.2 - AreaFix Log.........................................20 5.4.5.3 - Statistics..........................................21 5.4.6 - Parameters..........................................21 5.4.6.1 - Duperecords.........................................22 5.4.6.2 - Maximum open .QQQs..................................22 5.4.6.3 - Message buffer size.................................22 5.4.6.4 - Minimum Inbound .PKTs size..........................23 5.4.6.5 - Maximum Pkt size....................................23 5.4.6.6 - Maximum Messages per PKT............................23 5.4.6.7 - Maximum ARCmail size................................23 5.4.6.8 - Compress mail after.................................24 5.4.6.9 - Compress mail free..................................24 5.4.6.10 - Ignore old semaphores...............................24 5.4.7 - Advanced Options....................................24 5.4.7.1 - Keep tearline clean.................................25 5.4.7.2 - Retear..............................................25 5.4.7.3 - Tearline............................................26 5.4.7.4 - Auto Area Create....................................26 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.7.5 - Update Mailer Config................................26 5.4.7.6 - Update BBS config...................................26 5.4.7.7 - New area defaults...................................27 5.4.7.8 - Kill empty NetMails.................................27 5.4.7.9 - Kill duplicates.....................................28 5.4.7.10 - Share HMB...........................................28 5.4.7.11 - Force Mailer Rescan.................................28 5.4.7.12 - Respond to RRQ......................................29 5.4.7.13 - Use EMS for buffering...............................29 5.4.7.14 - Check .PKT destination..............................29 5.4.7.15 - Security............................................29 5.4.7.16 - Logging.............................................30 5.4.7.17 - Graphical tossing...................................30 5.4.7.18 - Toss Buffer.........................................30 5.4.7.19 - Temp. Outbound Type.................................31 5.4.8 - ARCmail Options.....................................31 5.4.8.1 - Archive extensions (Inbound)........................32 5.4.8.2 - Archive extensions (Outbound).......................32 5.4.8.3 - Mailer's semaphores (check).........................32 5.4.8.4 - Mailer's semaphores (create "In session")...........32 5.4.8.5 - Kill stray attaches.................................33 5.4.8.6 - Unpack Unprotected..................................33 5.4.8.7 - Check complete files................................33 5.4.8.8 - Max. compression ratio..............................33 5.4.9 - FEUtil parameters...................................34 5.4.9.1 - PURGE defaults......................................34 5.4.9.1.1 - PURGE - Messages....................................34 5.4.9.1.2 - PURGE - Days........................................35 5.4.9.1.3 - PURGE - Rcvd Days...................................35 5.4.9.2 - Use arrival date....................................35 5.4.9.3 - Autorenumber at.....................................35 5.4.9.4 - Exclude Users.......................................35 5.4.9.5 - Exclude SysOps......................................36 5.4.9.6 - Include USERS.BBS...................................36 5.4.9.7 - Keep NetMails.......................................36 5.4.9.8 - Kill grunged date...................................36 5.4.10 - Compression Programs................................37 5.4.10.1 - Rt. Values in compression programs..................38 5.4.11 - Decompression Programs..............................39 5.4.11.1 - Calling conventions.................................40 5.4.12 - External programs...................................40 5.4.12.1 - External programs (After Unpack)....................41 5.4.12.2 - External programs (Before Pack).....................41 5.4.13 - Group names.........................................41 5.4.14 - Origins.............................................42 5.4.14.1 - EchoMail vs. NetMail (matrix).......................42 5.4.14.1.1 - EchoMail............................................42 5.4.14.1.2 - NetMail.............................................43 5.5 - Data DropDown Menu..................................44 5.5.1 - Node Configuration..................................45 5.5.1.1 - Main Address........................................46 5.5.1.2 - ARCmail.............................................46 5.5.1.3 - Name................................................46 5.5.1.4 - Your AKA............................................46 5.5.1.5 - Passwords...........................................47 5.5.1.5.1 - Passwords (Packet)..................................47 5.5.1.5.2 - Passwords (AreaFix).................................47 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.6 - Status..............................................47 5.5.1.6.1 - Status (ARCmail)....................................47 5.5.1.6.2 - Status (AreaFix)....................................48 5.5.1.7 - Packer..............................................49 5.5.1.7.1 - Maximum size........................................49 5.5.1.8 - Groups..............................................50 5.5.1.9 - Security............................................50 5.5.1.10 - 4D/type 2+..........................................51 5.5.1.11 - TosScan.............................................51 5.5.1.12 - ARCmail 0.60........................................51 5.5.1.13 - Pack priority.......................................52 5.5.1.14 - Convert Umlaut......................................52 5.5.1.15 - Allow Area-Create...................................52 5.5.1.16 - New area default group..............................54 5.5.1.17 - Export by name......................................54 5.5.1.18 - AreaFix flags.......................................54 5.5.1.18.1 - Allow rescan........................................55 5.5.1.18.2 - Forward requests....................................55 5.5.1.18.3 - Send Rules..........................................55 5.5.1.18.4 - Allow %FROM.........................................55 5.5.1.18.5 - Allow area renaming.................................56 5.5.1.18.6 - Allow area deletion.................................56 5.5.1.18.7 - AreaFix type........................................56 5.5.1.18.8 - Remote program......................................56 5.5.1.18.9 - Add '+'.............................................57 5.5.1.18.10 - Add '---' <tearline>................................57 5.5.1.18.11 - Forward changes.....................................57 5.5.1.19 - Send Notify.........................................57 5.5.1.20 - Send Help...........................................58 5.5.1.21 - Passive.............................................58 5.5.1.22 - Automatic Passive...................................58 5.5.1.24 - 'Node Manager' Function Keys........................58 5.5.1.24.1 - Node Manager (Enter key)............................59 5.5.1.24.2 - Node Manager (F2-Routing)...........................59 5.5.1.24.3 - Node Manager (F3-Browse)............................60 5.5.1.24.4 - Node Manager (F4-Area List).........................61 5.5.1.24.5 - Node Manager (F5-Copy)..............................61 5.5.1.24.6 - Node Manager (Ins-New Entry)........................61 5.5.1.24.7 - Node Manager (Del-Delete)...........................62 5.5.2 - Group Area Defaults.................................62 5.5.2.1 - Comment (default)...................................63 5.5.2.2 - Origin (default)....................................63 5.5.2.3 - Type (default)......................................64 5.5.2.4 - Storage (default)...................................65 5.5.2.5 - Board (default).....................................65 5.5.2.6 - Path (default)......................................65 5.5.2.7 - Use Aka (default)...................................66 5.5.2.8 - Others "Group Area Defaults" switches...............66 5.5.2.9 - SEEN-BY (default)...................................66 5.5.2.10 - Export-To (default).................................67 5.5.3 - Area Configuration..................................68 5.5.3.1 - The Area definition layout..........................69 5.5.3.1.1 - Name................................................69 5.5.3.1.2 - Group...............................................70 5.5.3.1.3 - Comment.............................................70 5.5.3.1.4 - Origin..............................................71 5.5.3.1.5 - Type................................................71 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.6 - Storage.............................................72 5.5.3.1.7 - Board...............................................73 5.5.3.1.8 - Path................................................73 5.5.3.1.9 - Use Aka.............................................73 5.5.3.1.10 - Mandatory...........................................74 5.5.3.1.11 - Keep SEEN-BY........................................74 5.5.3.1.12 - Tiny SEEN-BY........................................74 5.5.3.1.13 - CPD Circular Path Detection.........................74 5.5.3.1.14 - Passive.............................................75 5.5.3.1.15 - Convert Umlaut......................................75 5.5.3.1.16 - Keep Users..........................................76 5.5.3.1.17 - Kill Read...........................................76 5.5.3.1.18 - Disable Passive.....................................76 5.5.3.1.19 - Remote changes......................................76 5.5.3.1.20 - Hide Area...........................................77 5.5.3.1.21 - Keep NetMails......................................77 5.5.3.1.22 - Purging.............................................77 5.5.3.1.22.1 - Purging (Msgs)......................................77 5.5.3.1.22.2 - Purging (Days)......................................77 5.5.3.1.22.3 - Purging (Rcvd Days).................................77 5.5.3.1.23 - Security............................................78 5.5.3.1.23.1 - Read (Security).....................................78 5.5.3.1.23.2 - Write (Security)....................................78 5.5.3.1.23.3 - Examples (Security).................................78 5.5.3.1.24 - SEEN-BY.............................................79 5.5.3.1.25 - Export-to...........................................79 5.5.3.1.26 - Active 'Area Manager' Function keys.................80 5.5.3.1.26.1 - Area Manager (Enter-Edit)...........................80 5.5.3.1.26.2 - Area Manager (F2-Sorting)...........................81 5.5.3.1.26.3 - Area Manager (F3-Tag)...............................81 5.5.3.1.26.3.1 - Tag by name.........................................81 5.5.3.1.26.3.2 - Tag by Group........................................82 5.5.3.1.26.4 - Area Manager (F4-Search)............................82 5.5.3.1.26.5 - Area Manager (F5-Copy)..............................82 5.5.3.1.26.6 - Area Manager (F6-Global)............................83 5.5.3.1.26.6.1 - Global (Add Node)...................................83 5.5.3.1.26.6.2 - Global (Delete Node)................................84 5.5.3.1.26.6.3 - Global (Replace <Node> with <Node>).................85 5.5.3.1.26.6.4 - Global (The other global items).....................85 5.5.3.1.26.7 - Area Manager (Ins/Del-Entry)........................85 5.5.4 - Carbon Copies.......................................86 5.5.4.1 - Test................................................86 5.5.4.2 - For string..........................................87 5.5.4.3 - Copy to.............................................87 5.5.4.4 - Examples............................................88 5.5.4.5 - Suggestions and notes...............................88 5.5.5 - What's AreaFix......................................89 5.5.5.1 - AreaFix MetaCommands................................89 5.5.5.1.1 - Linking one or more new areas.......................89 5.5.5.1.2 - Unlinking one or more areas.........................90 5.5.5.1.3 - Wilcarded Link/Unlink...............................90 5.5.5.1.5 - %QUERY..............................................91 5.5.5.1.6 - %INFO...............................................91 5.5.5.1.7 - %LIST...............................................91 5.5.5.1.8 - %UNLINKED...........................................91 5.5.5.1.9 - %AVAIL..............................................92 5.5.5.1.10 - %PAUSE..............................................92 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.5.1.11 - %RESUME.............................................92 5.5.5.1.12 - %NOTE...............................................92 5.5.5.1.13 - %RESCAN.............................................92 5.5.5.1.14 - %DAYS <nnn>.........................................93 5.5.5.1.15 - %MSGS <nnn>.........................................93 5.5.5.1.16 - %COMPRESS <Type> <?>................................94 5.5.5.1.17 - %PWD <password>.....................................94 5.5.5.1.18 - %PKTPWD <password>..................................95 5.5.5.1.19 - %FROM <net address>.................................95 5.5.5.1.20 - %HELP...............................................95 5.5.5.1.21 - %EXPORT.............................................96 5.5.5.1.22 - %NOEXPORT...........................................96 5.5.5.1.23 - %QUIT...............................................96 5.5.5.1.24 - Special %RESCAN syntax..............................96 5.5.5.1.25 - Special AreaFix MetaCommands........................96 5.5.6 - AreaFix Options.....................................97 5.5.6.1 - Allow %RESCAN.......................................98 5.5.6.2 - Rescan Defaults.....................................98 5.5.6.2.1 - Default for rescan..................................98 5.5.6.2.1.1 - Defaults for %MSGS..................................98 5.5.6.2.1.2 - Defaults for %DAYS..................................99 5.5.6.2.2 - Maximum for %DAYS...................................99 5.5.6.2.3 - Maximum for %MSGS...................................99 5.5.6.3 - Allow %PWD..........................................99 5.5.6.4 - Allow %PKTPWD.......................................99 5.5.6.5 - Allow %COMPRESS.....................................99 5.5.6.6 - Keep requests......................................100 5.5.6.7 - Keep receipts......................................100 5.5.6.8 - Scan before tossing................................100 5.5.6.9 - Detailed List......................................100 5.5.6.10 - Add list to receipts...............................100 5.5.6.11 - Password in %INFO..................................101 5.5.6.12 - Send conference rules..............................101 5.5.6.12.1 - Rulefile area tag prefix...........................101 5.5.6.13 - Max. receipt size..................................102 5.5.6.14 - AreaFix %HELP File.................................102 5.5.6.15 - Forward Requests...................................102 5.5.6.15.1 - Forward-to column..................................103 5.5.6.15.2 - List file..........................................103 5.5.6.15.2 - Remote program.....................................103 5.5.6.15.3 - Active column......................................103 5.5.6.15.4 - Setting up Forward AreaFix Requests................103 5.5.6.15.4.1 - Forward............................................104 5.5.6.15.4.2 - Unconditional......................................104 5.5.6.15.4.3 - Area List..........................................104 5.5.6.15.4.4 - List Type..........................................105 5.5.6.15.4.5 - Remote program.....................................105 5.5.6.15.4.6 - Deny list..........................................106 5.5.6.15.4.7 - Groups.............................................106 5.5.6.15.4.8 - Security...........................................107 5.5.6.15.4.9 - Add '+'............................................107 5.5.6.15.4.10 - Add '---'..........................................107 5.5.6.15.4.10 - New Area Default Group.............................107 5.5.6.15.4.11 - Create as passthrough..............................108 5.6 - Export DropDown Menu...............................109 5.6.1 - Export AREAS.BBS...................................109 5.6.2 - Export SQUISH.CFG..................................109 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.6.3 - Export Echolist....................................109 5.6.4 - Export ASCII file..................................109 5.6.5 - Export ROUTE.FE....................................110 5.7 - Import DropDown Menu...............................110 6 - USING FASTECHO.....................................111 6.1 - Help on line.......................................111 6.2 - FastEcho Toss......................................112 6.2.1 - FastEcho Toss -B...................................113 6.2.2 - FastEcho Toss -C...................................113 6.2.3 - FastEcho Toss -S...................................114 6.2.4 - FastEcho Toss -F...................................114 6.3 - FastEcho Scan......................................114 6.3.1 - FastEcho Scan -N...................................115 6.3.2 - FastEcho Scan -A...................................115 6.3.3 - FastEcho Scan -F...................................116 6.3.4 - FastEcho Scan -I...................................116 6.3.5 - FastEcho Scan -L<file>.............................116 6.4 - FastEcho Pack......................................117 6.4.1 - Routing (commandline) Statements...................117 6.4.1.1 - ShortCuts (wilcards/abbreviations/macros)..........117 6.4.1.1.1 - Shortened points routing...........................117 6.4.1.1.2 - Wildcarded addressing..............................118 6.4.1.1.3 - Direct Routing Examples............................118 6.4.2 - FastEcho Pack -R<route filename>...................119 6.4.2.1 - Routing (file) statements..........................119 6.4.2.1.1 - ROUTE-TO <target system> <addr> [<addr> <...>].....119 6.4.2.1.2 - NO-ROUTE <addr> [<addr> ...].......................120 6.4.2.1.3 - DIRECT <addr> [<addr> ...].........................120 6.4.2.1.4 - EXCEPT <addr> [<addr> ...].........................120 6.4.2.1.5 - FORWARD-TO <addr>..................................120 6.4.2.1.6 - FORWARD-FOR <addr>.................................121 6.4.2.2 - routing address' macro.............................121 6.4.2.2.1 - MYZONE.............................................121 6.4.2.2.2 - MYNET..............................................121 6.4.2.2.3 - MYPOINTS...........................................122 2.4.2.2.4 - LISTED.............................................122 6.4.2.3 - ROUTE.FE examples..................................122 6.4.3 - FastEcho Pack -I...................................123 6.4.4 - FastEcho Pack -F...................................123 6.4.5 - FastEcho Pack -P...................................123 6.5 - FastEcho Afix......................................124 6.6 - FastEcho Notify....................................124 6.6 - FastEcho Help......................................125 6.7 - FastEcho Relink....................................125 6.8 - FastEcho Stat......................................126 6.8.1 - FastEcho Stat -R...................................126 6.8.2 - FastEcho Stat -RS..................................126 6.8.3 - FastEcho Stat -S...................................126 6.8.4 - FastEcho Stat -G<groups>...........................126 6.8.5 - FastEcho Stat -H...................................127 6.8.6 - FastEcho Stat -N...................................127 6.8.7 - FastEcho Stat -O...................................127 7 - USING FEUtil.......................................127 7.1 - FEUtil Index.......................................128 7.2 - FEUtil Link........................................129 7.2.1 - FEUtil Link -F[orce]...............................130 7.2.2 - FEUtil Link -I[gnore]..............................130 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7.3 - FEUtil Purge.......................................130 7.3.1 - FEUtil Purge -D[elete]............................131 7.4 - FEUtil Pack........................................131 7.4.1 - FEUtil Pack -F[orce]...............................131 7.4.2 - FEUtil Pack -O[verwrite]...........................132 7.4.3 - FEUtil Pack -R[enumber]............................132 7.4.4 - FEUtil Pack -D[elete]..............................132 7.4.5 - FEUtil Pack -Q[uick]...............................132 7.5 - FEUtil Sort........................................132 7.5.1 - FEUtil Sort -B[ackup]..............................133 7.6 - FEUtil Check.......................................133 7.6.1 - FEUtil Check -D[elete].............................133 7.7 - FEUtil Undelete....................................133 7.8 - FEUtil Move........................................134 7.9 - FEUtil Post........................................134 7.9.1 - <file> (mandatory).................................135 7.9.2 - <board> (mandatory)................................135 7.9.3 - [-Delete]..........................................135 7.9.4 - [-From name].......................................135 7.9.5 - [-To name].........................................135 7.9.6 - [-Subj text].......................................136 7.9.7 - [-Flags <flags>]...................................136 7.9.8 - [-Addr <address>]..................................136 7.9.9 - FEUtil Post Examples & Application.................136 7.10 - FEUtil Import......................................137 7.10.1 - FEUtil Import -Incl<file>..........................138 7.10.2 - FEUtil Import -Excl<file>..........................138 7.10.3 - FEUtil Import -FORCE...............................138 7.10.4 - Notes about FEUtil.................................139 8 - ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES..............................139 8.1 - FD, IM, DB Environment variables..................139 8.2 - FE environment variable............................140 8.3 - FEUTMP environment variable........................140 8.4 - HMBLOCK environment variable.......................140 8.5 - TZUTC environment variable.........................140 8.6 - FEMAXMEM environment variable......................141 8.7 - FEOPT environment variable.........................141 8.7.1 - USEBIOS flag.......................................141 8.7.2 - NO386 flag.........................................141 8.7.3 - NOEMS, NOXMS flags.................................142 8.7.4 - NOAFIX flag........................................142 8.7.5 - NOPACK flag........................................142 8.7.6 - NODUPES flag.......................................142 8.7.7 - NOEXPORT flag......................................142 8.7.8 - NOSEENBY flag......................................142 8.7.9 - NOMSGID flag.......................................143 8.7.10 - NOAUTOFAIL flag....................................143 8.7.11 - RDEBUG flag........................................143 8.7.12 - STRIPTEAR flag.....................................143 8.7.13 - PACKONE flag.......................................143 8.7.14 - SHOWCURSOR flag....................................143 8.7.15 - NOLIMIT flag.......................................143 8.7.16 - NORES flag.........................................144 8.7.17 - NOERREP flag.......................................144 8.7.18 - ZONEGATE flag......................................144 9 - Errorlevels........................................145 10 - Semaphore files....................................145 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Table of contents - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 11 - Files created or used by FastEcho..................147 12 - Batch files example................................148 13 - Differences between DOS and 16 bit DPMI Versions...150 13.1 - DPMI Version Requirements..........................150 13.2 - Compatibility problems using the incl. DPMI server.150 13.3 - Precautions using the DPMI version.................150 13.4 - Differences between the DOS and Protected mode.....151 13.5 - DPMI Runtime module options........................151 Appendix (A) - Zone/Net/Node/Point................................152 Appendix (B) - Message kludges....................................153 Appendix (C) - Message Attributes.................................155 Appendix (D) - Technical notes....................................157 About the OS/2 and the DPMI version of FastEcho.....................159 FastEcho EchoMail & EchoFile Support................................163 Thanks..............................................................164 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho MANUAL - Preface - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A) - Noncommercial Shareware Notice, Legal Stuff and Disclaimer ========================================================== This is copyrighted software owned by Software Technik Burchhardt. This is NOT public domain or freeware. Software Technik Burchhardt grants you a TEMPORARY license to try this software for EVALUATION pur- poses ONLY! You may use this package for an evaluation time of 30 days. After this time you have to register FastEcho or stop using it ! Any other or further use of this software is strictly forbidden and may re- sult in legal action! To register FastEcho, please refer to LICENSE.DOC and the order forms included in REGISTER.RAR in this package. This is for NONCOMMER- CIAL users only ! Commercial users please contact Software Technik Burchhardt or an official FastEcho/commercial dealer. FastEcho is provided 'as is', without warranty of any kind, neither expressed nor implied. The author only guarantees that FastEcho and the included tools occupy diskspace. In no event will the author be liable to you for any damages, in- cluding lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of this program. All mentioned products and packages are copyrighted by and trade- marks of their respective holders. Registered users receive a key file with a unique serial number. These files are copyrighted stuff owned by Software Technik Burchhardt and MUST NOT be distributed, hacked, reengineered etc. If you don't follow these rules, your license expires immediately and legal actions may be started against you. One unique key allows you to run FastEcho on ONE computer at the same time only (One computer runtime license). If you are using the sa- me key on different systems (SysOp-Points for example) you need an ex- tra license (key) for the other system(s)! This does not apply to mul- tiine systems running FastEcho on the same machine but on several lines. B) - Foreword ======== Welcome to the Mail-Processing world. The program you're starting (or you've been using for a long time), represents the state of art in the world of electronic mail management. If you're a beginner I suggest you to carefully follow the tutorial hereby included, keeping to the sug- gested examples and directories; in this way you can quickly start your work with FastEcho, so, after taking the right experience, you can fine tune your configuration, changing the necessary parameters. Make sure you understand every step in this tutorial before you decide to go ahead. In case of difficulty, my best suggestion is, in fact, to revise all previous steps. On the countrary, if you are an old-skilled Fast- Echo User, you can use the same manual for consulting the new features provided with this 1.46 release and how to use them relying upon the "Smart-index". Have a nice journey! ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 1 - FastEcho MANUAL - Preface - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1 - What's FastEcho, what it does and when you need it ================================================== FastEcho is a complete electronic-mail-processor package and it can perform a lot of operation (really a lot) but its MAIN targets are: 1) To export the messages you have entered locally (or which were ente- red by a user of your BBS) from your preferred message base format to your uplink and (if you have any) downlinks by means of proces- sing it for a later distribution by your mailer. 2) To process the incoming mail bundles received by your mailer, store the enclosed messages in your message base(s) and forward them to your downlinks. FastEcho, of course, does much more but these two operations, basic in any electronic mail processing systems, are performed at a really record speed. But now.. let's see at a glance, all the features given back from FastEcho. * Very fast and fully featured TOSSER/SCANNER for Hudson- (aka QBBS), JAM-, Squish-, and Fido/*.MSG-Messagebase. * 3 types of executables: normal DOS, extended DOS (DPMI, faster and less memory problems) and OS/2 32 bit. * powerful internal AreaFix with 'Forwarding'-feature and automatic un- linking of passive Passthrough-areas (*registered version only*). * Dupe checking database with up to 131000 (DOS), 262000 (DPMI) and 524000 (OS/2) entries * Internal networking and multitasking support for several environments * Complete NetMail routing and packing, easy handling of multiple NetMail areas. Supports Binkley style static netmail packing. * Nice Full-screen tossing mode * Complete zone and point support. This applies to inbound as well as outbound mail. * Full ARCmail-security using passwords with 3 security levels and 2 different inbounds. * Complete HMB-messagebase-maintenance-utility with JAM and Fido/*.MSG support included. * Full-screen integrated SETUP utility * Easy to use area grouping with assigned defaults, use defaults for each group in every new area (manually or automatically created). * Automatic area-adding function with optional updating of your BBS Configuration files (RA/QBBS/SBBS/ProBoard/TAG or Maximus). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 2 - FastEcho MANUAL - Preface - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * Carbon-Copy-function - filters out special messages and copies them to special boards while tossing. * Usage of available EMS and XMS memory for data and file-buffers * Compatible with the FTSC standards FTS-0001 as well as FSC-0039 and FSC-0048 and several others. * Direct screen-writes, DESQview, PCMOS/386, Windows and OS/2 aware Any of these features will be extensively explained later in this manual. 2 - Description =========== As told before, FastEcho is one of the fastest tosser/scanner for the Hudson-Messagebase (formerly QBBS-Messagebase) currently available and supports the JAM messagebase introduced with RemoteAccess 2.00 as well as Squish (introduced with Maximus CBCS) and the old standard *.MSG format. Further, the package contains all features needed to run a point or a node; smart NetMail-packing/routing included. Typically every step TOSS, SCAN and PACK is run in one pass, including un-/pa- cking of mail-bundles, importing/exporting of mails and processing of AreaFix-requests. It can be run with FrontDoor, InterMail, D'Bridge, BinkleyTerm and Portal of Power and has currently been tested with FrontDoor 2.12, 2.20, 2.30.beta, D'Bridge 1.5x, InterMail 2.2x, BinkleyTerm 2.5x, Portal of Power 0.6x and McMail 1.0g. Of course it will run with any other mailer compatible with one of the above. A word of wisdom ================ Besides this manual you can find quick references to your questions about the possibilities of FastEcho, simply by running all programs with the "?" commandline switch, obtaining an usage-screen that will help you in most cases. Using the "FESetup" Full Screen configuration utility, you can further rely on the context-sensitive-online-Help simply by pressing the F1 key. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 3 - FastEcho MANUAL - Preface - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 3 - Minimal System Requirements =========================== Hardware: * An IBM PC, XT, AT or compatible, optimized routines for i386/i486/iPentium supported. * the DPMI and the OS/2 executables need at least a i386 * At least 500kB of free conventional memory and 2MB extended memory for the DPMI version * Extended/Expanded memory suggested but not needed. Software: * DOS 3.31+ or OS/2 2.x DOS compatibility box * OS/2 2.x or 3.0 for the OS/2 executables * FrontDoor 2.02 or 2.12/nc, FrontDoor 2.20/c, InterMail 2.29+, D'Bridge 1.53+, BinkleyTerm 2.50+ or Portal of Po- wer 0.61+ and optionally RemoteAccess 1.11/2.00/2.50, Maximus 2.02, QuickBBS 2.76+, SuperBBS 1.17+, ProBoard 2.00/2.02 or T.A.G. 2.6d+ or any other HMB/JAM/Squish or *.MSG compatible BBS software * A Fido/*.MSG style NetMail-directory * A HMB style messagebase (even if you don't use it, you have to define it and keep the empty files in the HMB directory) * At least one of these de-/compression utilities: - PKZIP/PKUNZIP 1.10/2.04g - ARJ 2.30/2.41a - LHARC 1.13c/LHa 2.13 - PKPAK/PKUNPAK 3.61 - ARC 6.02 - ZOO 2.10 - PAK 2.51 - SQZ 1.08 - RAR 1.5x - UC2 2.00 - Optionally an extractor program that copes with different decompression programs like: - General Unpack Shell GUS 1.90 or later - PolyXarc 2.1a or later. Environm.: * a FILES=??? in your CONFIG.SYS at least at the number of systems specified in the Node-Manager plus 20 Example: 30 systems specified --> FILES=50 or: the value you define for 'Maximum open .QQQs' plus 20 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 4 - FastEcho MANUAL - Preface - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4 - Suggestions =========== 4.1 - Obtaining better performance For a much better performance on node systems forwarding mails to downlinks it is strongly advised to set the 'Temporary Outbound' path to a RAM disk with at least 1MB storage or to a local HardDisk when working in a LAN environment. FastEcho will create outbound mail- packets on this disk speeding up greatly the tossing. If you choose a RAM disk, remember that, in order to obtain the maximum performances, the more mail you have to forward, the bigger the RAM disk should be. The RAM disk may be any size, FastEcho will automatically detect an out-of-space condition and will act accordingly. You can further increase performance by setting the 'Temporary Inbound' to a disk drive different from the normal 'Outbound'. In this way FastEcho will extract the ARCmail bundles to this drive and process them. This can reduce disk accessing time (spent on head seeks) and especially in LAN environments speed up tossing if the normal 'Inbound' was on a network drive and the 'Temporary' is on a local drive. 4.2 - Sharing the messagebase If SHARE is loaded, FastEcho supports messagebase sharing and Remo- teAccess-messagebase-locking. You can read messages within one task while tossing or scanning in the other task. This may also be called 'Network Mode'. 4.3 - Optimized i386 routines FEUTIL and FastEcho automatically detect a i386 or higher CPU and use some optimized routines. If you recognize any problems, you may use "SET FEOPT=NO386" to disable the 386-support. 5 - T U T O R I A L =============== Configuring FastEcho is easy, quick and simple indeed because you can rely on the customized FESetup configuration utility; FESetup is further equipped with a context-sensitive help-system that can, in most cases, be useful while you're setting up your first installation or mo- difying an already existent one. The help system gives you the choice to immediately obtain information about the item you're working on, simply by pressing the 'F1' key anywhere in FESetup. The following tu- torial path, can be followed by beginners but should be normally con- sulted too. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 5 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - General - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.1 - Preliminary Operations ====================== Before starting with the FastEcho Installation you need some preli- minary requirements. We are assuming that you still have a mailer installed (such as FrontDoor or BinkleyTerm), so, you still know the location of your NetMail, INBOUND and OUTBOUND directories as well. The NetMail directory defined in your mailer will be called "Primary Netmail Area" and will be usually shared between the mailer and FastEcho. The INBOUND directory is the location where your mailer will place the received mail bundles and the OUTBOUND directory is the location where FastEcho will place the locally-prepared mail bundles, ready to be sent to your uplink or ready to be picked up from your downlinks. In this Tutorial we assume that you are ready to install FastEcho on drive C: in a directory named "FAST". Copy the distribution archive in the directory "FAST" and unarchive it with the suitable unarchiver (in ARJ case you must use the following sintax: ARJ E FE146.RAR). Naturally, you must have the ARJ.EXE archiver/unarchiver available before doing it. After uncompressing the FE146.RAR archive, you can immediately begin your new installation. From the DOS prompt input: C:\FAST>FESetup (and strike the "return" key) 5.2 - The FESetup Main Menu ===================== Just a blink, and on you will be shown the following screen: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐░░░ ░░░│ Can't open C:\FAST\FastEcho.CFG: No such file or directory ! │░░░ ░ C└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ t░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Press ESC to abort or Space to create new file... Don't worry..It's not a problem! It only means that this one is your first FastEcho installation and, so, FESetup isn't able to find its configuration file "FastEcho.CFG" (as shown in the message). At this point you can press the ESC key to give up and exit to DOS or, better, press the "Space" Key to create an empty FastEcho.CFG file rea- dy to be filled with your data. Assuming here that you press Space. By pressing space, as said before, a fresh configuration file will be created for you. If you aren't already registered, at this point you will see the copyright screen too. Read these words carefully before continuing with installation, it might be very important later. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 6 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - General - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ╔═════════════════════════ Shareware Notice ═════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ This is copyrighted software owned by Software Technik Burchhardt. ║ ║ This is NOT public domain nor free software. Software Technik ║ ║ Burchhardt grants you a TEMPORARY license to try this software for ║ ║ EVALUATION purposes ONLY ! You may use FastEcho for a 30 days ║ ║ evaluation time. After this time you have to register FastEcho or ║ ║ stop using it. Any other or further use of this software is ║ ║ strictly forbidden and may result in legal action ! ║ ║ ║ ║ To register FastEcho in noncommercial environments, please refer ║ ║ to LICENSE.DOC and the order forms included in REGISTER.RAR in ║ ║ this package. ║ ║ ║ ║ Commercial users please contact Software Technik Burchhardt or an ║ ║ official FastEcho/commercial dealer. ║ ║ ║ ║ Registration removes this delay and enables enhanced functions ! ║ ║ ║ ║ Press any key or wait for 15 seconds ... ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Press ESC to abort or Space to create new file... When you finish reading the Shareware notice, you can press a key to continue with FESetup.. The Shareware screen will disappear leaving you free to work with FESetup. This screen is permanently removed once you registered. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ As you can see, the main FESetup screen has one topbar with five items that represent the main topics of as many pull-down menues as you can drop by means of both mouse or keyboard. 5.3 - FESetup TopBar DropDown menu ============================ In FESetup menu you can only do some general operations such as obtain brief information about FastEcho, obtain a help screen about the commandline switches available while calling FESetup, Shelling to DOS and Quit the program. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░┌──────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░│>Information< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░│ Switches │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░│ Shell to DOS │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░│ Quit │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░└──────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Shows general information about FESetup ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 7 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - FESetup pulldown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Note that the last row (at the bottom of the screen), always re- ports a brief and quick explanation about the currently selected item. Selecting the "Information" Item, will be shown a box containing a little information about the current release you're using and the date of compilation. ╔════════════ Information ═══════════╗ ║ ║ ║ FastEcho-Setup-Utility 1.46 ║ ║ ║ ║ Copyright (c) 1991-'97 by ║ ║ Software Technik Burchhardt ║ ║ ║ ║ Compiled on xxx xx xxxx xx:xx:xx ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════╝ 5.3.1 - FESetup, DOS command line switches ---------------------------------- The "Switches" item, instead, will display a box that summarize all the commandline switches available calling FESetup from the DOS prompt. ╒══════════════════════════════════════════════════╡Usage╞═╕ │ │ │ You may call FESetup.EXE using following switches: │ │ │ │ -C Color display [with snow-checking on CGA] │ │ -A Use alternative colors │ │ -M Monochrome display │ │ -B access screen via Bios [very slow] │ │ │ │ -IE<file> Import Echolist <file> │ │ -O Overwrite existing descriptions [-IE only] │ │ │ │ -XA eXport AREAS.BBS file │ │ -X$ eXport SQUISH.CFG file │ │ -XE eXport ECHOLIST.FE file │ │ -G<groups> eXport only areas belonging to <groups> │ │ -XS eXport FECFG.TXT (ASCII configuration) │ │ │ │ -R<n>,<a> Resize your current configuration with a new │ │ maximum of <n> Node and <a> Area r │ │ │ ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ This means that, from the DOS prompt, you can invoke FESetup followed by one of these switches in order to obtain the described result. I.E. : FESetup -C, FESetup -A etc. FESetup -C If you are using FastEcho with a system equipped with an old CGA card, you could notice video noise while repainting/redrawing FESetup screens. To avoid this boring problem, call FESetup with the -C com- mandline switch from the DOS prompt. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 8 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - FESetup pulldown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup -A Use this switch if you like the color-set FrontDoor-like. FESetup -M The -M switch force all FESetup screens in monochrome mode. FESetup -B By default, in FESetup, all video calls are done directly. If you come across some problems with FESetup, when other software works con- currently, or you need to do remote system mantainance via utilities like "DoorWay" and it seems that you aren't able to display the FESetup screen remotely, turn on FESetup with this switch. That may solve your problems but note that, using the -B switch, FESetup will be a lot slower than in the default direct-video-write mode. FESetup -IE<File> [-O] This switch is provided in order to simplify the operation of import the EchoMail area description from a standard fidonet echo area descriptions called Echolist (FIDONET.NA). You can do the same opera- tion internally, by means of the "Import" DropDown-menu. If used in conjunction with the -O switch, the already-existent description pre- sents in FastEcho.cfg will be automatically overwritten. I.E. assuming that you want automatic import in your FastEcho configuration the description present in standard file FIDONET.NA overwriting all the existing descriptions, you have to layout the following command: FESetup -IEFIDONET.NA -O Note that there isn't -any space- between the -IE switch and the file- name FIDONET.NA (that's mandatory). FESetup -XA The -XA switch can be used to automatize the export of the standard AREAS.BBS file containing your echo-tag followed by your uplink/downlink addresses connected at each area. FESetup -X$ Same as XA but, in this case, FESetup exports your settings for Squish in a file called SQUISH.CFG FESetup -XE By using the -XE Switch FESetup exports the Echolist (Your confi- gured areas each one with its comment) in a file called ECHOLIST.FE. FESetup -G<Groups> This switch is applicable to the XA, X$ and XE switch to make possible FESetup exports only areas belonging to the groups specified in <Groups>. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 9 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - FESetup pulldown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup -XS The -XS switch can be used to automatically export a summary of your current FastEcho configuration in one file which is "Human rea- dable". Through this file you can check out the complete FastEcho con- figuration at a glance. The default file name is FECFG.TXT. FESetup -R<n>,<a> This is the most important FESetup switch. It allows you to expand or reduce the maximum number of available entries in area manager or in node-manager that FastEcho can handle. In this way FastEcho can now (in theory) support up to 1024 nodes and 3072 areas while the default set- ting is 200 nodes and 1024 areas. Don't exaggerate with areas or nodes because you may exaust all your conventional memory. Naturally this switch could be useful also if you would like to reduce the default areas and node value (if you don't need 200/1024) in order to leave more conventional memory free. The correct syntax is as below. If you need to increase the node entry fron 200 to 300 and the areas from 1024 to 1500: FESetup -R300,1500 If you need to decrease the node entry from 200 to 50 and the areas from 1024 to 800 FESetup -R50,800 Note the absence of any spaces between the -R switch and the value Be cautious: While the DPMI and OS/2 executables won't have any problems working with a high number of nodes and/or areas, the FastEcho DOS executable and especially FESetup itself may have problems, therefore it might be mandatory to have as many free conventional memory as possible. Therefore after setting higher limits check if FESetup is still able to load the configuration into memory, otherwise make use of the backup file created in the previos run (FASTECHO.BAK) and copy it back to the FASTECHO.CFG file. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 10 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4 - SYSTEM TopBar DropDown menu =========================== Well, we're approaching the program core. Now, in order to go ahead with our tutorial, we need to have one (or more) network addresses. Cool!,you have one Fidonet and one ZyXELenet address and have decided to keep the Fidonet one as main address and leave the ZyXELnet address as AKA of your system. Your main address for this tutorial will be the 2:999/999 for Fidonet and 16:999/999 for ZyXELnet. FESetup >System< Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>Network addresses< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ User names │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Miscellaneous │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Pathnames │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Filenames │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Parameters │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Advanced Options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ARCmail Options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ FEUTIL Parameters │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Compression Programs │Setup 1.46.xx ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Decompression Programs │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░ Copyright │ External Programs │rchhardt. All rights reserved.░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Group names │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Origins │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ This FESetup section needs to be filled with your data, addresses, AKAs, pathnames, filenames and preferences before going farther; so, place the highlight bar on the "Network addresses" item and hit the return or enter key. 5.4.1 - Network addresses ----------------- FastEcho, in order to work correctly, needs to be aware of all your addresses, main and others known as AKAs (Also-Known-As). In this outline you must insert your main address, akas and domain names. We have before decided that, for this tutorial, you will assume two test addresses; One main (2:999/999 for Fidonet) and one aka (16:999/999 for ZyXELnet.ftn). Look at the screen reported below. FESetup >System< Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔════════════════════════ Network addresses ════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Main >2:999/999@fidonet< Aka 16 ║░ ░║ Aka 1 16:999/999@ZyxelNet.ftn Aka 17 ║░ ░║ Aka 2 Aka 18 ║░ ░║ Aka 3 Aka 19 ║░ ░║ Aka 4 Aka 20 ║░ ░║ [...] [...] ║░ ░║ Aka 15 Aka 31 ║░ ░╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Primary network address ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 11 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Place the highlighted box over the Main item and press return. You will see the further box that follows: ╔══════════════════ Main ══════════════════╗ ║ Address: 2:999/999 ║ ║ Domain name: fidonet ║ ║ Point-Net: ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝ In the "Address" item, you should write your main address "2:999/999" and in the item that immediately follows type "fidonet" which is the Domain name for the Fidonet address (we see about the Point-Net item later). Strike now the "ESC" key and return to the "Net- work addresses" main screen; now place the cursor upon "Aka 1" item and press return; the same box seen before for the main address will ap- pear. Now, What's your aka? 16:999/999, right! Write this in the "Ad- dress" item and in the "Domain name" type:"ZyXELNet.ftn"; then press the "return" and the "ESC" key to go back in the "Network adressess" screen again. (Generally we can say that, in this layout, you must de- clare your main address and all your akas. FastEcho supports a maximum of 31 AKAs plus one Main address). When done, press F10 to save your settings and return to System dropdown menu. 5.4.2 - User names ---------- In the user name definition, you can insert your name and the names of all users that might access at FESetup and generally at your BBS or point system. You could also define here other names for convenience but these are only exceptions (and we'll see them later in the tips & tricks section). FastEcho needs to know your name or your alias and the name of all FastEcho users in order to reserve them a "special treat- ment" when importing NetMail in the "secondary NetMail" area (be pa- tient and you'll discover what this one is) or to preserve from dele- tion "NetMail" or "EchoMail" addressed to them. Through this tutorial I assume that your name is "Reed Richards"and your CoSysOp name is "Jonny Storm". Now place the highlight box in "User name" item and press re- turn. You'll se the following screen: ╔════════════════ Users ════════════════╗ ║ Name ║ ╟───────────────────────────────────────╢ ║ 1 Reed Richards ║ ║ 2 Jonny Storm ║ ║ 3 ║ ║ 4 ║ ║ 5 ║ [...] [...] ║ 8 ║ ║ 9 ║ ║ 10 ║ ║ 11 ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════╝ Simply, under the "Name" column, write your first and second name and the names of all the other FastEcho users. Then press F10 to save your entry and to return to the main FESetup screen. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 12 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.3 - Miscellaneous ------------- In the Miscellaneous section, FastEcho expects your preference about four items. It wants to know what mailer and what BBS system you are using, what swapping technique you want to use and if you want the external program called from FastEcho to output their data. Look at the screen below: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│┌───────── Miscellaneous ─────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Mailer FrontDoor │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ BBS Software RemoteAccess 2.00 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Swapping XMS/EMS │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Be 'quiet' None │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│└─────────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ARCmail Options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ [...] │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Highlighting the proper item by means of the arrows key, you have the possibility to toggle along several choices simply by pressing the "return" key. 5.4.3.1 - Mailer FastEcho needs to know what mailer you're using in order to set the proper method to handle the Inbound/outbound mail bundles. In the mai- ler item you can select the following mailers: FrontDoor, Intermail, D'bridge, Binkley/Xenia, Portal of Power and McMail. In this tutorial we assume FrontDoor as mailer, so, strike return until "FrontDoor" appears in the "mailer" field. Later, you will select the one you're using. 5.4.3.2 - BBS Software To obtain that FastEcho directly handles your BBS message areas, you need to inform it about what BBS program you're currently running. When the right BBS software will be specified in the "BBS Software" item, FastEcho will be capable (only if you want) to add and update your BBS EchoMail areas when it's necessary (I.E. when your uplink starts to send you a new EchoMail area). In this tutorial we assume "RemoteAccess 2.00" as default BBS Software but make sure to toggle the correct BBS your are running. FastEcho currently can support the Following BBS Software: Remote Access 1.11/2.00 and 2.50, QuickBBS 2.76, SuperBBS 1.17, ProBoard 2.00 and 2.02, T.A.G. 2.6 and Maximus 2.02 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 13 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.3.3 - Swapping The "Swap" operation, generally, represents the most efficient way to leave free as much conventional memory as possible when a "child" program (which mostly can be an external program, such as packer or other kind of utility) is called from the main program (FastEcho in our case). This operation can be done, when possible, by discharging the major part of the FastEcho executable code in a memory different from the conventional leaving, in the precious main memory, only a couple of bytes. This alternative discharging-memory could be the extended, the expanded or, at least, the hard-disk memory. So, in this item, you can choose what will be your preferred transitory-memory. Here you can tog- gle through four options: XMS, EMS, XMS/EMS, Disk. With The XMS setting FastEcho will try to swap in the extended memory only and, in case of failure, it will swap to disk; with the EMS setting it will try to swap in the expanded memory only and, if in case of failure, it will swap to disk, with the XMS/EMS setting FastEcho will try to swap in the XMS be- fore and, if this operation fails because it results exausted or because other kinds of errors, it will try to swap in the Extended memory, at last, if both operations fail, FastEcho will swap to disk as usual; The Disk setting will fix the swapping operation directly to disk without trying in XMS nor EMS memories. For this tutorial we'll set this option to XMS/EMS. 5.4.3.4 - Be 'quiet' The "Be 'quiet'" item allows you to decide if FastEcho has to inhibit any message generated from external-called programs. They are considered "external" all programs such as "Packer", "Unpacker" and merely "External" programs defined through the proper option called "external programs" that will be explained later in this manual. You can select the appropriate "Be quiet" function through seven different choices: "Pack", "Unpack", "Pack/Unpack", "External", "Pack/External", "Unpack/External", "Pack/Unpack/External". Their names are self-ex- plainatory. I.E.: the "Pack" item will inhibit only the messages of the packer program when it will be called to pack your outbound mail, the same for "Unpack"; the "External" item will try to inhibit the messages generated from any optional program or utility that you've defined in the "External-Programs" options (Such as PKTsorter, InBink, Bnp, and so on). Note that the "be quiet" function works only if the external pro- gram writes its messages "via BIOS calls". If, instead, the external program displays its messages via "direct video calls", FastEcho won't be able to intercept and suppress them. For this tutorial we'll set this option to "None". When you have finished setting up the miscella- neous section, press the ESC key to return to the System DropDown menu. Your options will be automatically saved. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 14 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.4 - Pathnames --------- Inside the "PathNames" section you ought to inform FastEcho about the positions of your working directories. As said before, in this tu- torial we assume that you already have a mailer (FrontDoor) installed on your system. No problem if you haven't exactly got this one because the use of directories is the same. Well, place the higlighted box upon the "Pathnames" item and strike the "Return" key. You'll see the following layout on your screen: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══════════════════════════════ Pathnames ══════════════════════════╗░ ░║ NetMail: C:\FD\NetMail ║░ ░║ Messagebase: C:\MESS ║░ ░║ Inbound: C:\FD\INBOUND ║░ ░║ Unprot.Inbound: C:\FD\INBOUND\UNPROT ║░ ░║ Temp.Inbound: D:\TEMP ║░ ░║ Local Inbound: C:\FAST\LOCINB ║░ ░║ Outbound: C:\FD\OUTBOUND ║░ ░║ Temp.Outbound: D:\TEMPOUT ║░ ░║ Semaphores: C:\FD ║░ ░║ BBS Config: C:\RA ║░ ░║ Static queue: ║░ ░║ Swapping: C:\TEMP ║░ ░║ Rules: C:\FAST\RULES ║░ ░╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Now, let's see each of these items one by one. 5.4.4.1 - NetMail In this field you must finger the location of the same NetMail di- rectory you have previously defined setting up your mailer configura- tion. The NetMail directory defined here is called "Primary NetMail Area" that's always shared between the mail processor and the mailer. On the countrary, a "Secondary NetMail Area", (that we'll define later in the area configuration section) could be one NetMail area defined internally in your messagebase (you might define one secondary netmail area in HMB, JAM or *.MSG indifferently). We'll deal with the "Seconda- ry NetMail Area" later in this manual; By now, remember that in this field must define the pathname of your NetMail directory that you have in common with your mailer. For this tutorial the "primary NetMail directory path" will be "C:\FD\NetMail". When you have finished strike "Return" to go to next field. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 15 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.4.2 - Messagebase You MUST here define the complete path and directory where you want the Hudson Message Base structure to reside. If the HMB (or QBBS) messagebase structure doesn't already exist, it will be automatically created directly by FESetup. Well, you can choose to work with messagebases such as JAM or SQUISH or *.MSG only or the same combined of course but, in any cases you MUST have at least the HMB structure in your choosen directory even if unused. (Don't worry, the HMB structures takes only an handful of bytes) 5.4.4.3 - Inbound The "Inbound" is the directory where your mailer (FrontDoor in this tutorial) stores all the compressed mail bundles ready to be treated by the mail processor. FastEcho, naturally, as mail processor, needs to know where the aforesaid mail bundles are stored in order to find and quickly process them. Both, in the mail processor and in the mailer, you must define the "Inbound" directory and in both programs this directory needs to be the same. If you are using FrontDoor as mailer, then in this item may be defined the same directory you set in FDSetup for the "Secure Inbound" item. 5.4.4.4 - Unprotected Inbound Normally, a mailer can store the ARCmail packets received during "Password Protected Mailer Sessions" and the ARCmail packets received during "Unprotected Mailer Sessions" in different directories. During "Protected Mailer Sessions" you receive ARCmail packets from known system you have arranged a common password with and so you can well- assume that the received file is somewhat secure, while, during "Unprotected Mailer Sessions" you may receive ARCmail packets from unknown systems that may, potentially, contain a mailbomb. FastEcho gives you the choice to handle these potentially dangerous ARCmail packets belonging from unknown systems allowing you to specify the directory where your mailer stores the files received during "Unprotected Mailer Session". If you then enable FastEcho to handle these files (by means of the specific option you can find in "ARCmail Option" see the paragraph 5.4.8.6) it will try to unpack these unprotected ARCmail packets. But in any case only .PKTs containing NetMail messages will be processed! This limitation can, in most cases, grant the maximum security. If you followed the tutorial until now, then leave this field empty. 5.4.4.5 - Temporary Inbound As you certainly know, the mail bundles received by your mailer, contains messages archived by means of utilities like ARC, PKZIP, ARJ and so on. FastEcho needs to unarchive them to let itself process far- ther the contained messages. These messages are called "PKTs" because of their extension and, by default, are unarchived in the "Inbound" directory. FastEcho has the power to unarchive the mail bundles, ex- tracting the contained "PKTs" to another disk drive (this can be done in order to increase the overall performances by reducing the disk seek operation). If, upon your system, you have the availability of a second ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 16 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── disk drive, your better choice would be to point the temporary Inbound to it or, again, if you're working in a LAN environment, it may be a good idea to sight the "Temporary Inbound" to your local disk drive (if available). It's strongly advised to avoid setting, as "Temporary In- bound" one "RamDisk" because, incidental lack of main power, will risk the loss of your daily mail. For this tutorial, if you have a second hard disk installed, set the "Temporary Inbound" to it writing D:\TEMP. If you are working in LAN environment then set it to point at your local HDD; If you haven't another hard disk drive nor local hard disk drive, simply leave this field empty. 5.4.4.6 - Local Inbound FastEcho, in the standard "inbound" directory, has the power to check if the incoming PKTs have the correct authorization to be pro- cessed, thanks to its standard security system carried out through the use of PKT passwords and/or addresses checking; In the present "Local Inbound" directory, instead, FastEcho doesn't perform any security che- cking assuming that all pkts present inside the "local inbound"are al- ready secure relying upon your personal supervision. In fact, the mail packets (*.PKT), in the local inbound, must be moved manually or by means of customized batch files or, moreover, could be automatically created and placed therein by LOCAL programs such as TIC processors. For our tutorial type in this field "C:\FAST\LOCIMB\" and press return. 5.4.4.7 - Outbound This is the directory where FastEcho will place the prepared ARC- mail bundles, containing your outgoing mail, ready to be sent to your uplinks or picked up by yourdownlinks. In particular this directory doesn't have to be defined in your mailer setup and is significant only for FastEcho in order to inform where it has to store the outgoing ar- chivied pkts. Then, how does the mailer (FrontDoor) finds these bundles to send them? That's quite simple: FastEcho creates as many "file-at- taches" as "ARCmail bundles" to be sent it generates in "Outbound" di- rectory. Any "file-attach" message is addressed to the right remote systems, in conformity to the proper destination of the ARCmail bun- dles. The File-Attach is nothing particular, to tell the truth; it con- sists only in a kind of empty NetMail message that FastEcho, of course, will store in the "Primary NetMail" (See the above "NetMail" paragraph for more information) which is commommly defined between FastEcho and the Mailer (in fact, only through this method the Mailer can find the outgoing mail). This empty NetMail message has one mandatory attribute set :"File-Attach". What does the "File-Attach" attribute involve? It means that this empty NetMail message, in its "subject" field, has a reference (complete path and filename) pointing to the ARCmail bundle to be sent. When a connection with a remote system, having some mail to pick up, takes place, then your mailer can cope with this situation by finding immediately, in the common defined "Primary NetMail",the NetMail message addressed to the currently connected system in order to send him it; now, if this NetMail message has got the "File Attach" attribute set, the mailer will look in its "Subject" field finding the complete pathname/filename of the ARCmail bundle (which is nothing more than a normal file) to send to the remote system, performing the mail- expedition. There are two main methods to handle the outbound mail: The first is the Frontdoor/InterMail style method which is the aforesaid; the second is the BinkleyTerm method that substantially differs a lot ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 17 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── from the one above described. In particular, the BinkleyTerm method needs to write the outbound ARCmail bundles in different directories in order to support the multi-zone capability, so, for example, if you're using Binkley as Mailer, FastEcho will use the defined "C:\FD\OUTBOUND" path to store the ARCmail bundles relative to the main address only while, for the ARCmail bundles referred to your aka (that's 16:999/999), FastEcho will create the custom directory "C:FD\ZYXELNET". If you are using a Binkley compatible mailer which does not support the domain outbound directories, set 'Mailer' to PoP or McMail. 5.4.4.8 - Temporary outbound This is another special FastEcho feature created in order to extra increase the already high speed FastEcho performances. Thanks to this option you can define the path where FastEcho will store the outbound mail packets while it's engaged with other tasks such as scanning, tos- sing or packing the messagebase. You can thus really increase the speed by targetting this path to a ram-disk. You shall size the ram-disk ac- cording to the quantity of mail you usually export, of course; I sug- gest you keep the ram-disk size a bit larger than the maximum volume of mail you usually export, but it is not necessary (and impossible on high traffic systems such as HUBs). In a Local Area Network environment it's advised to point this temporary outbound path to the local Hard Disk. If you use this feature correctly, you will see your FastEcho spring up like lightning. Later, this setting will need a subsequent definition in "Advanced Options" but, no haste, we'll correctly ac- comodate all the stuff gradually. By now, you can finger in this field the correct path of your ramdisk (E:\TEMPOUT" for this tutorial) if you haven't any ramdisk installed, or you don't need one, then simply leave this field empty. (I suggest you aim this path to a subdirectory of your ramdisk because, normally, the ram-disk root directory has a really limited number of available entries). 5.4.4.9 - Semaphores If you are working in a multiline environment you must input in this field the correct path where you know that your mailer generates its semaphore-files and where you want FastEcho to generate, when ne- cessary, its semaphore-files as well. The semaphore files generated from FastEcho will be fully understandable by your mailer according to the 'Mailer' setting we have seen above in the "Miscellaneous" section. But what's a semaphore file? A semaphore is only a zero-length file created by a program which needs to inform another program that it can or cannot perform some operations. These semaphores have specific stan- dard names in conformity with the specific operations that they must allow or deny. When the restrictive situation ceases then the semaphore will be deleted consenting the other program (which is working concur- rently) to operate unreservedly. There are other kinds of pseudo-sema- phores that FastEcho can generate, such as the PACKHMB.FE or NEWAREAS.FE files, called flag-files. These files will be generated when particular situations take place (I.E. when your HMB messagebase reaches its phisical limits) in order to inform your batch-file that is is time to take the right remedy. In this field, input the system path- name where your mailer is installed (C:\FD for this tutorial). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 18 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.4.10 - BBS Configuration If you are running a BBS system and you want FastEcho to directly per- form some useful operations in your BBS EchoMail area manager directly, without manual intervention, you ought to specify in this field the path where the configuration file of your BBS system resides. FastEcho will read and modify the BBS configuration file type, according to the "BBS software" item we saw above in the "Miscellaneous" precinct. The main operation that FastEcho can do directly on your BBS software configuration is to update automatically the EchoMail areas when, for example, your uplink starts to send one or more new areas without upon your request (ot not); if you allow this particular operation FastEcho will update automatically its configuration and, then, the BBS software EchoMail configuration. (As said before, we are assuming RemoteAcces 2.00 as BBS software so input "C:\RA" as pathname in this field but, if your BBS software resides in one different directory make sure to input the right ones). This option is obviously useless for a Point-System. 5.4.4.11 - Static queue This pathname will become only useful when you are running the D'Bridge BBS software (If, before, in the "Miscellaneous" ->"Mailer" item, you inserted a software different from D'Bridge then you'll find this current item directly disabled and inaccessible and useless to you). This is the path to your D'Bridge(tm) queue directory where D'Bridge stores its outbound queue. When running on a D'Bridge system, FastEcho can create and insert outgoing mail-bundles according to the DB Xmail specifications, instead of creating *.MSG-style file-attach messages created for FrontDoor(tm) systems. In following cases FastEcho will create a *.MSG file-attach though: * one of the base36 numbers is greater than 46655 * a point is not a point of your main address 5.4.4.12 - Swapping In this field you might input the pathname of your preferred direc- tory where you want FESetup and FastEcho to place their overlay-files whenever a swap-operation is requested and you have previously enabled the Swap-to-disk option directly or when you have selected the XMS/EMS swapping technique but FastEcho detects that there isn't enough memory to perform the swap. 5.4.4.13 - Rules FastEcho AreaFix is capable to automatically send to your downlinks the conference rules (area policies) of every new echomail area they want to be linked via an AreaFix request. In this field you must define the path pointing to the directory where are stored the conference rule files for all the echomail areas you forward. See also paragraphs 5.5.1.18.3, 5.5.6.12 and 5.5.6.12.1. .-.-. Here you have finished tigh up your pathnames. Now press F10 to return to the System-DropDown menu again. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 19 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.5 - Filenames --------- Highlight the Filenames item and press the return key; the follo- wing box will appear: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ User names │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Miscellaneous │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Pathnames │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Filenames │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Parameters │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔═══════════════════════════ Filenames ═══════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Logfile: C:\FAST\FAST.LOG ║░ ░║ AreaFix Log: C:\FAST\AFIX.LOG ║░ ░║ Statistics: C:\FAST\FAST.STA ║░ ░╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... FastEcho has the ability to create two helpful files called log- files and one report-file for the EchoMail-traffic statistics. Here you can define the names of these files and the location where you want FastEcho to store them. If you leave these field empty the log and statistic files won't be created at all. It's recommended to insert here the complete path and filenames of the log files. 5.4.5.1 - LogFile The main logfile represents the "storyboard" of what FastEcho does. All the operations that FastEcho performs can be zealously reported in this file. The quantity of information that FastEcho can report in, de- pends on the farther setting that we'll see later in the "Advanced Op- tion" section. If you don't want any logfile, simply leave this field empty, but It's unprofitable and I strongly discourage you to do it. For this tutorial type: "C:\FAST\FAST.LOG" and FastEcho will immediate- ly be qualified to create it. 5.4.5.2 - AreaFix Log It's a separate log file that reports only the AreaFix operations performed by FastEcho. In it will be kept the report of any single ac- tion of the AreaFix Manager which is invoked with the command: FastEcho Afix In order to qualify FastEcho to create this log, you must type in this field the path and name of the file you want for it. Leaving it blank, the AreaFix log will be disabled but it's certainly not a sugge- sted choice. For questions or further information about how to use the AreaFix manager, look in the "AreaFix" Chapter. For this tutorial input "C:\FAST\AFIX.LOG" in the AreaFix Log field. You can not specify the same file name for both the normal log file and the AreaFix log. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 20 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.5.3 - Statistics Having the choice to generate statistics about the quantity and the ratio of received/sent mail, tidily subdivided by provenance groups or arranged in accordance with the node that sends or picks up it, may be very useful for you. Simply putting in this field the path and the name of your desired ASCII statistic files, you will qualify FastEcho to ge- nerate the statistics through the use of the command: FastEcho stat If you have followed the tutorial until now, then type in the "Sta- tistic" field "C:\FAST\FAST.STA" .-.-. Here you have finished the filenames dressing. Press F10 to save your entry and return to the System DropDown Menu. 5.4.6 - Parameters ---------- In the "Parameters" section you must setup several options regard- ing minor parameters. Starting this section is simple, move the high- lighted box upon the "Parameters" item and press the return key. You'll see the "Parameters" Box appear on your screen. Note that at the bottom of your screen a brief explanation referenced to the currently highlighted item is always present. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ User names │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Miscellaneous │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Pathnames │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│┌──────── Parameters ────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││>Duperecords< 5000 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Maximum open .QQQs 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Message buffer size 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Minimum inbound .PKTs 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Maximum .PKT size 200 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Max. # Msgs per .PKT 0 │.xx ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Maximum ARCmail size 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Compress mail after 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░ Copyr││ Compress mail free 0 │dt. All rights reserved. ░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░││ Ignore old semaphores 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│└────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Origins │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Number of duperecords to be kept in database; 0 = no dupe-checking ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 21 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.6.1 - Duperecords FastEcho can keep track of your already processed messages in one of its own particular databases; that's because, doing so, it can imme- diately detect and refuse any already processed message that may be present in your daily mail as duplicate. It isn't infrequently, in fact, that your connected system could generate dupe messages caused by its misconfigured systems or other errors; well, FastEcho can handle this potential problem simply qualifing this option. In the Duperecords field type the number representing the maximum size you wish for the FastEcho-Duperecord-Database. Each record in the dupe databases represents an already processed message, so, we can say that the number x you'll insert here will consist in the last x processed messages. It's useless, at this point, to remember that the bigger this number will be, the more accurate dupecheck you will obtain. All dupes detected thanks to this function can be directly deleted or copied and saved in a custom "DupeBoard" area for further processing. Leaving in this field the 0 value will disable the Dupechecking function. Your choices can range from 1000 to 131000 (for the DOS executable, 262000 for the DPMI version and 524000 for the OS/2 version). If you have fol- lowed the tutorial until now, then type in, at least, the value 5000 for the duperecord field. 5.4.6.2 - Maximum open .QQQs The *.QQQ files are files containing outgoing messages that you have locally created or that you are forwarding to other systems. These *.QQQ files, of course, are not still ready to be sent because their intermediate status, in fact FastEcho will rename them to *.PKT soon and, further, they will be archived in a mail bundle ready to be sent. In order to speed up the overall performances, FastEcho can keep several .QQQ open simultaneously. The more open *.QQQs you will keep o- pen via this option, the quicker FastEcho will result. Consider that you cannot exaggerate with this number. The rule is that you can set as many maximum open *.QQQs in this field, as many FILES=XX handles you set in your config.sys file. If, in this field, you exceed the Config.sys setting then FastEcho will stop with an error. Your possible choices can range from 0 to 200. If you have followed the tutorial until now, then leave the 0 value for this field. Only if you are per- fectly aware of the FILES setting in you Config.sys type in this field the correct value. 5.4.6.3 - Message buffer size While FastEcho performs the toss or scan operations, it avails it- self of a buffer containing one message at time. The present item is needed to define the maximum size in kilobytes of this buffer and,thus, the maximum size in kilobytes of a message that can be tossed or scan- ned. the bigger this "message buffer size" will be, the bigger the size of a single message could be. My only suggestion is to use a buffer as large as possible, reducing it only in case you notice that your compu- ter is short on memory. Using a large buffer doesn't affect the tossing or scanning performances. In this case the admittible values range from 16kB to 64kB (upto 512kB may be setup for the OS/2 version). Only for this tutorial, leave the message buffer size at 0 value (leaving 0 it defaults to 32k) then, after you have completed the installation, go back and tune this parameter. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 22 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.6.4 - Minimum Inbound .PKTs (echomail) This function can tune the size of each inbound echomail packet. While FastEcho tosses your mail, and only after the mail bundles has been unarchived, it computes the global size of your inbound mail pa- ckets processing it only if the the calculated size is higher than the values spcified in this option. When the total size of the inbound PKTs results below the fixed limit then the PKts are left temporarily unpro- cessed until, on a later call, is received mail enough to overtake it. Note that this function only involves mail packets containing echomail. The PKTs containing NetMail will be always processed instead. 5.4.6.5 - Maximum .PKT size Through this option you can calibrate the maximum size of each outbound mail packet. As said before, the mail packets (*.PKT) are fi- les containing all the inbound or outbound messages in an intermediate form: All the single messages are joined in this unarchived file. In this case we are talking about the outbound mail packets that FastEcho creates before archiving them. When a single mail packet becomes too big, some system receiving it may have problems, thus, by means of this option, you can fix, with some tolerance, the maximum size of an out- bound PKT to the designed. The dimension,of course, cannot be exactly the same you specified, because you can't force the messages stored in- side the packets to have exact limits, so, the final size of the crea- ted packets may sligtly vary from the one you defined within some tole- rance. When using the "Maximum ARCmail size" feature you ought to well select the size of packets in order to obtain pretty constant archive sizes with variations of only some percent. For this tutorial leave initially this value as (0). 5.4.6.6 - Maximum Messages per PKT Via this function you will be able to fix the maximum message num- ber that can be contained in a single mail packet. If this imposed limit is be reached during the toss operation then a new packet will be created, therefore, you will have as many packets as many times this limit will be excedeed. For this tutorial put 200 in this field. 5.4.6.7 - Maximum ARCmail size The value defined in this field has the task to fix the default size in Kilobytes of the outbound ARCmail bundles which FastEcho will generate for all the system configured in Node Manager. In other words, this value becomes the effective one only for the nodes you haven't previously settled by means of the more specific "Maximum size" option, definable individually for every configured system (see the paragraph 5.5.1.7.1 in Node manager section). To fine tune this feature you must also define the "average compression ratio", the "Maximum PKTs size and the "Maximum size" items (read carefully the chapters 5.4.10, 5.4.6.4 and 5.5.1.7.1). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 23 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.6.8 - Compress mail after This function was introduced in FastEcho in order to solve the "low on diskspace" potential problem that could arise if you usually process large volumes of mail and forward it to a lotconnected systems. With this feature enabled, when you toss your just received mail, FastEcho keeps an eye on the quantity in bytes of the already processed mail and when this quantity reaches the size you fixed in the actually treated function, then FastEcho will suspend tossing, starting to pack, instead, the mail packets created so far; when finished archiving the new mail packets, FastEcho will resume the previously suspended toss operation in order to process the remaining mail. I strongly suggest you to enable the "Memory Swapping" feature (see 5.4.3.3 and 5.4.4.11 for further information) when using this option, otherwise you may exaust all your conventional memory when packing the mail. For this tutorial leave (0) in this field. 5.4.6.9 - Compress mail free With this feature enabled you can establish when FastEcho has to suspend the inbound toss operation in accordance with the free space existing on your outbound drive. As you can see, this function is a lot similar to the previous: "Compress mail after". The only difference is only the object that's checked while all other operations on the mail packets will be the same. For this tutorial leave (0) in this field. 5.4.6.10 - Ignore old semaphores In order to work concurrently with other programs on multitasking and/or multinines environments, FastEcho creates some semaphore files (like FEBUSY). These semaphore files might, in some rare cases (power line failure or system hang) erroneously stop FastEcho when it's no needed. This behavior can be resolved thanks to this setting. Here you can tell FastEcho to ignore all semaphore files if they are older than X hours so, when it finds expired semaphores, deletes them resuming the process as if the file wasn't found. .-.-. Here, finishes the Parameters setting. Now press the ESC key to re- turn to the System DropDown Menu. Your entry will be automatically sa- ved. 5.4.7 - Advanced Options ---------------- In the Advanced Options Box you can adjust perfectly, in accordance with your needs, all switches which can improve the FastEcho capabili- ties and, consequently its productivity. This can be done by way of se- veral additions, some regarding add-on features, others to try and fur- therly increase the FastEcho speed performances and the scanning/tos- sing tolerance too. Let's see all of them. Place the highlighted box on "Advanced Options" item and strike the return key. The following box will be shown. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 24 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░│┌───── Advanced Options ─────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││>Keep tearline clean< No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Retear Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ └─Tearline │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Auto-Area-Create Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ └┬Update mailer config Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ └┬Update BBS config Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ └New area defaults │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Kill empty NetMails Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Kill duplicates No │ 2.xx. ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Share HMB No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░ Copyr││ Force Mailer rescan Yes │hardt. All rights reserved. ░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Respond to RRQ No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░││ Use EMS for buffering Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░└│ Check .PKT destination No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Security None │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Logging Full │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Graphical Tossing Full │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Toss Buffers Large │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Temp. Outb. Type RamDisk │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Change tearlines of EchoMails when exporting 5.4.7.1 - Keep tearline clean By enabling this option FastEcho will strip the text from tearlines (that may be previously inserted by a message editor) it will be able to find in any outgoing EchoMail message it processes during the "FastEcho Scan" operation. This feature makes easier the "retearing" to an empty tearline operation, you need, in the past, to perform the same operation. For this tutorial leave this option enabled. 5.4.7.2 - Retear The term "Retear" means to qualify FastEcho to strip any Tearline that may be present in any EchoMail message generated by your system, replacing it with your preferred one (you will be able to specify which one in the following "Tearline" option). The tearlines are always auto- matically placed by your message editor. But what's the tearline? Ori- ginally, the tearline was only the means to communicate to mail proces- sor where the text, that you usually type in a message, finishes. Substantially one tearline consists in three visible consecutive dashes (---) placed in a new line at the end of the message you typed and this is the mandatory part that FastEcho, or other programs, will never touch. But there is another tearline part which is optional: the part that, separated by one single space, may immediately follow the three aforesaid dashes. In the BBS world, recently, this optional part has become erroneously too long and mostly decorative: that's wrong! The meaning of the tearline must be the communication of useful and non-re- petitive information, furthermore, its lenght must be kept within fixed limits. So, if you decide to insert the optional part of the tearline, then make sure to avoid useless, repetitive or foolish words therein, ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 25 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── further, make sure not to go beyond the 30 characters limit. This is a feature reserved to registered user. If you aren't already registered then you won't be able to access this option. 5.4.7.3 - Tearline Placing the highlight pointer on the "Tearline" field and pressing the return key, the following little box will be drawn on your screen: ╔═══════════ Tearline ════════════╗ ║ Tearlines are a waste of space ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════╝ Here, you can specify the optional part of the tearline that you wish to see inserted in your messages. If the optional tearline message is inserted or does not, it depends, of course, on the "Retear" switch status. Read carefully the previous Item before you type something herein. 5.4.7.4 - Auto Area Create If your uplink starts to send you areas that are not yet in your area database,normally, FastEcho will toss the messages contained in the undefined areas in a particular area called "BadMail area" in order to submit its contents to you; then if you decide to switch these areas linked you will have to perform, manually, several operations such as, check the tags of all the boards tossed in BadMail, define these areas in the area manager of FastEcho, update the area manager of your mailer and, last of all, the area manager of your BBS software; finally you should retoss the BadMail in the newly created boards. It's really a boring operation, isn't it? If you qualify the FastEcho "Auto Area Create" feature, then automatically FastEcho will do all this stuff for you and, as a matter of fact, it is very convenient. Although, by way of "Auto Area Create" switches, you can generally enable FastEcho to perform this feature, each your uplinks, separately, need to be able to send you undefined areas too. For our tutorial you can set this item to YES. 5.4.7.5 - Update Mailer Config The present feature, and also the next two, are strictly connected to the previous "Auto Area Create" item. This one, in particular, has the task of selecting if you want, for FastEcho "Auto Area Create" to update the Area-manager of your Mailer (In our case it will add the re- lative folder, or folders, inside FrontDoor folder manager configura- tion). For our tutorial put "Yes" in this item. 5.4.7.6 - Update BBS config Likewise the previous, the functionality of this item is subor- dinate to the "Auto Area Create" item status. While the "Update Mailer Config" feature updates the Mailer "Areas" configuration, the present does the same task but on the BBS "Areas" configuration. Only if you're running a BBS, then switch on this item by toggling it to "Yes". ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 26 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.7.7 - New area defaults If you enabled the "Update BBS config" feature, then FastEcho will try to add, in your BBS configuration, any new areas that your quali- fied uplink starts to send you without your expressed request. Natu- rally, FastEcho has to know in advance, what kind of BBS system you are actually running, taking this information from previously selected items located in "Miscellaneous" section (see paragraph 5.4.3.2) and, of course, it needs to know the default value you want for the area created automatically. Note that if you wish to let FastEcho add auto- matically the new areas in your BBS configuration you ought to dress the new area default too. So place the highlighted box on this item and strike the return key; doing so, you will see the following mask: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══════════════════════ MESSAGES.RA defaults ═══════════════════════╗░ ░║ ║░ ░║ Status Pvt/Pub ║░ ░║ Users Real names only ║░ ░║ ║░ ░║ Echoinfo No Age 0 AltGroup1 0 ║░ ░║ Combined No Group 0 AltGroup2 0 ║░ ░║ Deletes No AltGroup3 0 ║░ ░║ SoftCRs No AllGroups No ║░ ░║ Origin ║░ ░║ Address Main ║░ ░║ ║░ ░║ Read 0 Write 0 SysOp 0 ║░ ░║ A flag -------- A flag -------- A flag -------- ║░ ░║ B flag -------- B flag -------- B flag -------- ║░ ░║ C flag -------- C flag -------- C flag -------- ║░ ░║ D flag -------- D flag -------- D flag -------- ║░ ░║ ║░ ░╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Private/public, private only, public only or read-only messages In this mask you can define the default values for the BBS areas which FastEcho will add automatically. You might observe that this lay- out is exactly like the RemoteAcces area definition screen. In fact FastEcho is aware of your BBS system by means of the setting you dispo- sed in "Miscellaneous" section at "BBS system" item (see 5.4.3.2) so, It smartly show the correct screen according. If you are unsure about the means of each of these "MESSAGES.RA default" items, then refer to your BBS software documentation. 5.4.7.8 - Kill empty NetMails Toggling this option to "Yes" will qualify FastEcho to directly de- lete all NetMails which haven't any significant text line in their bo- dy. These empty NetMails are, usually, file attaches that, after having solved their task of carrying the file as far as your system, they be- come really useless to you. For our tutorial I can say that for both, BBS or point system it is always suggested to switch this option acti- ve. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 27 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.7.9 - Kill duplicates As we saw in paragraph 5.4.6.1, FastEcho has the capability of in- tercepting all duplicate messages it tosses and immediately discards and copies them into a particular mandatory area flagged "DupeMail" (You will know more about the mandatory DupeMail area later in this manual). These dupeplicates could be refused and copied in the "DupeMail" areato allow you to revise and check them, or could be refused and deleted directly. If, in this item, you toggle the "Yes" status, the dupes will be deleted, with the "No" value, instead, they will be kept, then, if you want, they could be manually deleted. For our tutorial, switch this item to "No" 5.4.7.10 - Share HMB This feature is only useful if you run your system in a multiline or multitasking environment. In such environments, in fact, it could happen that two or more programs try to write the same messagebase to- gheter. This could cause severe problems in your messagebase if it hap- pens without the adequate precautions. The very first of these pre- cautions you must take is to load the DOS utility SHARE.EXE by way of your AUTOEXEC.BAT when your system starts; the second is to switch on this option in order to qualify FastEcho to use his record-locking pro- cedure which is fully RemoteAccess compatible. Later, in this manual, we shall see the functionality of the FastEcho companion environment setting "HMBLOCK". For our tutorial I assume that you haven't a multi- line or multitasking environment, so, toggle this option to "No" but, if you are perfectly aware in what you are doing, then, make your choi- ce here. 5.4.7.11 - Force Mailer Rescan We talked before about Semaphores in the 5.4.4.8 paraghraph. Well, if you enable this switch, toggling the "Yes" status, then you will instruct FastEcho to create one particular Semaphore file that will tell your mailer to perform an operation called "rescan". What is this operation? As said before in several occasions, the primary-NetMail directory, which is commonly defined between FastEcho and your mailer, represents the board where every normal NetMail message and every file- attach will transit. When FastEcho finishes exporting NetMail messages from your secondary NetMail area or when it creates the ARCmail- attaches in your primary NetMail area, then, the mailer must be aware that, in the common NetMail area, there is mail to be processed. Your mailer, when idle too, always waits for a particular semaphore capable of waking it up and making it check in its work directory (the primary NetMail area) if there is something to do. When it detects this semaphore in the proper directory, it starts to search for new work in the primary NetMail area. These semaphores have different names in accordance with the mailer you are using. In our case the mailer is FrontDoor so,these semaphores will be called FDRESCAN.NOW and FMRESCAN.NOW. For D'Bridge, on the countrary, would be DBRIDGE.RSN while for Binkleyterm it will be BTRESCAN.*. All the semaphores genera- ted by FastEcho will be created in the directory you defined in the "Semaphore" items. (See in PathNames section in paragraph 5.4.4.8.). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 28 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.7.12 - Respond to RRQ The RRQ is a message attribute that means (Return Receipt reQuest) when a message has reached its destination and is processed by a mail processor it will create a receipt message telling the sender that and when the NetMail arrived. If you are a FastEcho registered user who wishs to enable this useful feature then toggle it to on, otherwise it doesn't matter, because you won't have any access to it. 5.4.7.13 - Use EMS for buffering If you come across some EMS errors so that you need to disable the usage of all the available expanded memory that otherwise FastEcho au- tomatically uses while it creates the outbound mail packets, then, sim- ply toggle this option to "No". For this tutorial, instead, toggle this option to "Yes" and, if running FastEcho after completing the tutorial you notice some EMS errors,then go back and change this option to "No". 5.4.7.14 - Check .PKT destination When you receive a mail packet from your up/downlinks FastEcho has the ability to check it for its destination (as we'll see in the Security 5.4.7.14 chapter). With this switch you can define three dif- ferent FastEcho behaviors: if you toggle it to "Yes" it will refuse any mail packets that are not addressed to your main address or to one of your akas defined in "Network Adresses" section (See 5.4.1 chapter); with this switch toggled to "fwd" (forward) FastEcho checks if the des- tination of incoming mail packets matches at least one system defined in the "Node Manager" section (In the "Node Manager" you must define all systems, node or point, connected to you but we'll meet this one later) and, if so, FastEcho directly moves this packet from the "In- bound" directory to "Outbound" without processing it;only after the mail processed throug the normal toss operation will be ready, the mo- ved packets will be archived together. If you toggle this option to "No" status, then no checking will be performed and all mail packets will be tossed in normal way. For the tutorial, leave this option to "No" status. 5.4.7.15 - Security FastEcho, independently from your mailer, has its own security sys- tem, based substantially upon two parameters: the addresses of the connected systems and the password that an ARCmail bundle may have (You ought know that the session password has really nothing to do with the ARCmail-level password: the first is the password that you may agree with a remote system to allow your mailer be really sure of recognizing it for what it appears to be, letting it go farther with mail exchange; the second, object of our discussion, is the password embedded in your ARCmail bundle ready to be processed). This switch could have three possible values: "None", "Normal" and "Full". When it's toggled to "None" all the security features will be disabled, so, all incoming mail packets will always be processed and tossed without any inspec- tion, when it's switched to "Normal then FastEcho will check the add- ress proveneance of this (or these) mail packet(s). If their original address matches an address you defined in the "Node Manager" (We shall see later in "Node Manager" section) then the mail packets will be pro- cessed, otherwise they will be discarded and left in Inbound directory ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 29 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── with the .SEC extension. The "Full" security option checks both the pa- cket's address origin and the aforesasid "Packet-password" (you can de- fine this password in the "Passwords (ARCmail) 5.4.1.5.1" if necessary; we'll see later) in case one of both fails the inspection, then the entire mail packet will be renamed to *.SEC and left in inbound direc- tory. Now leave it in this with the "None" status. Note: if set to 'None', it will also disable the security checks done for EchoMail on per-area-basis. Which means, in that case FastEcho will import all messages in any area not checking whether the sending system is allowed to send a message in that area (determined by either the Export-to field or the security levels). 5.4.7.16 - Logging As said in the 5.4.5.1 section, FastEcho can keep trace of all its activities in a file called LogFile. It can, of course, put therein all what it does but, thanks to this option, you can graduate too the quan- tity of information you wish. Here you can select three options: "Norm", "Full" and "None". In "Full" mode FastEcho will report all its operations, in "Norm" mode it will report the essential operations on- ly, in the "None" mode the logging will be disabled. It's obvious that the more information you will let FastEcho write in its logfile, the bigger it will become, so, if you want to keep it as short as possible, toggle in this option the "Norm" status. For this tutorial, instead, the better choice will be the "Full" status because in case of doubt about what FastEcho does, you can refer to this logfile for debugging purposes, so, you will be able to adjust your FastEcho configuration. 5.4.7.17 - Graphical tossing FastEcho, when tossing, has a nice screen-interface that allows you to see its tossing progress and gives you several "on-the-fly" informa- tions such as how many mail packets it has to process, how many messa- ges and how many EchoMail and NetMails there are, benchmark information and so on. The information that FastEcho displays can be tuned by way of this switch. In "None" mode you will see only textual information on your screen, In "Norm" mode, the info will be shown in a "Fast window", finally, In "Full" mode FastEcho will display the tossing information in a "Full Windowed" screen. For our tutorial switch this item to "Full" graphical tossing mode. 5.4.7.18 - Toss Buffer The "toss buffer" represents the transit memory that FastEcho will use while it performs the toss operation on mail-packets. It's evident that the bigger this buffer will be, the faster FastEcho will run. The only exception to this rule is that: if you are using an intelligent controller for your hard disk unit or a staged-write harddisk cache program, then you may not find great differences independently from the "Toss Buffer" size youhave selected here. In all other cases, larger buffers increase the FastEcho performances. The size of the "Toss- Buffer" is selectable in three different values: "Large"=84 Kilobytes, "Medium"=50 Kilobytes, "Small"=25 Kilobytes. As a general rule you should always select here the "Large" buffer, reducing it afterwards only in case you notice that your conventional memory exausts. Following this tutorial, you will toggle here the "Large buffer" status. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 30 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.7.19 - Temp. Outbound Type As introduced in the 5.4.4.7 paragraph, talking about "Temporary Outbound": we said that this is another feature to increase the overall FastEcho speed and it could be both a RamDisk or HardDisk. In "Temp. Outbound" item we have defined the path; here, instead, we must define its type according to our previous path definition. If you have follo- wed this tutorial until now, then toggle this item to RamDisk status. The difference between both settings is that when operating on a RAM disk, before starting to create the ARCmail FastEcho will move all outbound .QQQs from the RAM disk to your outbound directory (for security reasons) while when operating on a hard disk this is not necessary and only wastes time. .-.-. Here you have finished the dressing of the "Advanced Option" menu. Now strike the ESC key to return to "System DropDown menu" again. 5.4.8 - ARCmail Options --------------- Here we are going into a special feature that could be useful for particular security purposes. Highlight The ARCmail Options item and press the return key once. You will see the following menu: FESetup >System< Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░│┌────── ARCmail Options ─────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││>Archive extensions< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ ├─Inbound 0-9 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ └─Outbound 0-9 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Mailer's semaphores │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ ├─Check Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ └─Create "in session" No │ 1.46 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Kill stray attaches Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Unpack unprotected Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░ Copyrigh││ Check complete files Yes │t. All rights reserved. ░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Max. compression ratio 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░│└────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ The last character of mail archive extensions ('counter', .??X) When we talk about ARCmail we mean the files that consist in the final result of FastEcho: the files which are ready to be sent to remo- te systems. These files consist in sets of archived mail packets ha- ving particular names. As usual they have name and extension; the name is represented in an alphanumeric number having 8 characters, the ex- tension which has 3 characters, instead, is subdivided into two parts: The first two characters are the day of the week abridgement (I.E. "MO" for Monday ,"TU" for Tuesday "WE" for Wednesday and so on until "SU" for Sunday), the last one is a progressive number that, for some mail processor can range from 0 to 9 in decimal mode (that's the ARCmail standard), some other uses hexadecimal notation: from 0 to 9 and from A to F and a strict minority of mail processor support also alphanumeric ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 31 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── notation using characther from 0 to 9 and from A to Z. With these options you can decide to bind FastEcho to use certain range convention while creating its ARCmail bundles and within which range it has to consider an incoming ARCmail bundle valid or not. 5.4.8.1 - Archive extensions (Inbound) With this toggle you can filter whatever kind of mail bundles ex- tensions FastEcho has to consider valid or not depending on your prefe- rences. You can choose among three items: "0-9", "0-9&A-F" and "0-9&A- Z". The ARCmail standard is only the "0-9" value but you could decide differently, according to your uplink's conventions. 5.4.8.2 - Archive extensions (Outbound) This switch, instead, has the task to fix the range that the exten- sions your locally-created ARCmail bundles will have. Here also you have the same choice as in 5.4.8.1 paragraph: "0-9", "0-9&A-F" and "0- 9&A-Z". Always remember that the ARCmail standard is only the "0-9" operating modality. 5.4.8.3 - Mailer's semaphores (check) We have already talked about semaphores in several occasions within this tutorial (see 5.4.7.10 and 5.4.4.8). Well, this other option tells FastEcho to check, or not, the semaphore-file generated by your mailer in order to preserve the security of your system when working in a mul- tiline or multitasking environments. In particular, here, it can detect the mailer semaphore necessary to see if a system is currently online while FastEcho is starting to add new mail in one bundle addressed just to this system. In this case FastEcho has to skip (and, if possible it will) the online system to avoid potential loss of data. This option works only in commercial FrontDoor, InterMail or Binkley-compatible en- vironments. In this tutorial we assume that you're working in single- task, singleline environment, so, you can leave this item to "No" unless you are perfectly aware of what you're doing. 5.4.8.4 - Mailer's semaphores (create "In session") That's another semaphore feature. By means of this function you can let FastEcho generate semaphore files, that are compatible with some specific mailer environments, to prevent an outgoing call addressed to the system "x" from taking place while FastEcho is engaged in adding mail to the ARCmail bundle just addressed to the "x" system. Likely the previous option seen in the 5.4.8.3 paragraph, the present is useful to avoid loss of data. As before you can safely leave this item to "No" unless you are perfectly aware of what you're doing and need it. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 32 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.8.5 - Kill stray attaches When an ARCmail bundle is ready to be sent, it has an ARCmail at- tach located in the Primary NetMail Area. Once your mailer sent this ARCmail bundle to the destination system, normally, its ARCmail attach will be removed and the archive will be left as a truncated file. By enabling this option, FastEcho will delete (ignore in Binkley- compatible environments) all file-attach messages pointing to a non- existing (due to error or special treatment) or 0-length ARCmail file. If you have followed this tutorial until now, then toggle this item "On". 5.4.8.6 - Unpack Unprotected This switch can enable the FastEcho-Unprotected ARCmail packets handling feature. With this option turned to "Yes", FastEcho will try to unpack the ARCmail bundles received by your mailer during "Unprotected Mail Sessions".Be aware, that such archives might contain mail-bombs, so unless you're perfectly aware of your system's stability set this to 'No'. (See also the paragraph 5.4.4.4). 5.4.8.7 - Check complete files The "Check complete files" option is a very useful function that could, in several circumstances, allow you to save a lot in your te- ephone-service bill; how!? That's quite simple. Activating this item; is enough! But how does it works? Well, when you call your uplink, it could happen that you aren't able to draw the entire mail-bundle addressed to you because of interferences, loss of carrier, line noise and so on. With this switch activated, the partially received bundle will be completely skipped allowing you to retry the call operation relying on the Zmodem resume feature in order to complete the previously interrupted mail session. In this way you can always save the expenses of redrawing the mail-bundle from its beginning. In our tutorial, now it's obvious, we shall switch this function active. 5.4.8.8 - Max. compression ratio That's a security function. It is useful if you want to check if the incoming bundles contain a mailbomb (which means: a lot illegal messages which contain the same text and thus can be compressed at a very high level). To perform this operation FastEcho checks them, before tossing, for the mail pakets held therein; If it verifies that the compression ratio of this mail-bundle is higher than x:1 (while the normal compression ratio is somewhere between 2:1 and 7:1 values), then FastEcho will discard this archive. In the beginning you better leave this item as it is. .-.-. Here you have completed the "ARCmail option" setup. Now press the "ESC" key to return to "System DropDown menu". ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 33 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.9 - FEUTIL parameters ----------------- In this section you can adjust all the default values you wish FEUTIL: the FastEcho companion utility, to take in due consideration when it is invoked from the DOS prompt. To access these settings, posi- tion the highlighted box on "FEUTIL Parameters" item and slam on return key. You will see the following window: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│┌───── FEUTIL Parameters ────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││>PURGE - Messages< 150 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Days 30 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Rcvd Days 30 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Use arrival date No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Autorenumber at 0 │ 1.46 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Exclude Users No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░ Copyrigh││ Exclude SysOps No │ All rights reserved. ░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Include USERS.BBS No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Keep NetMails No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Kill grunged date No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░└└────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Default for FEUTIL PURGE: Keep at max. XXX messages/area; 0 = ignore 5.4.9.1 - PURGE defaults The next three items, are relative to the standard limitation that FEUTIL must observe while performing the "purge" operation on your mes- sagebase. Currently FEUTIL supports the purging function on Hudson, JAM and *.MSG messagebases. But what's the "purge" operation? The "Purge" is a maintenance task that has to be done periodically on your message- bases. Physically it consists in marking messages for deletion under specific circumstances that you may specify here. The "purge" operation doesn't phisically remove the messages from your bases but only mark them to let another different tool perform the physical removal after- wards (that's the PACK which we'll see later). 5.4.9.1.1 - PURGE - Messages Here you may specify the number of messages do you want to be kept in every board after the "Purge" operation has been performed. FastEcho will mark for deletion the messages that exceed this limit starting from the older ones. Every board, of course, may have different "purge" specification but the present will be taken in due consideration when not differently specified. This number may vary accordingly to the maximum number of boards you will define in "Area Manager"; that's be- cause if you have adopted the HMB as messagebase you will have a number of messages limited to about 16.000 before the Hudson Message Base goes in overflow. The Hudson has limitations on the number of board too; this limit is 200 boards. In the worst case, if you will define 200 Hudson boards, you might set this "Purge Messages" limit to 80 (that's because 80 x 200 = 16000) so, you should take care of this limitation adjusting the limit conformly. The Jam/Squish and *.MSG messagebases doesn't suffer the aforesaid limitation, thus, if your system isn't HMB ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 34 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── based, then you may specify here whatever number you want. For our tutorial, specify here "150" that's more than enough for 10 HMB boards. 5.4.9.1.2 - PURGE - Days With the number specified here you will tell FEUTIL your preferences about how old the messages in your messagebases has to be before it can start marking them for deletion (based either on the date of the message or on the date of its arrival, see below). For our tutorial I suppose that "14" may be right as value, so, input this number, press return and go on. 5.4.9.1.3 - PURGE - Rcvd Days Here you may inform FEUTIL that you allow it to start marking for deletion all messages which have the 'Received' (= read) older than specified. Make your choice here. For this tutorial set it to "30" to keep such messages for a longer time. 5.4.9.2 - Use arrival date This switch involves JAM areas only. In JAM areas, in fact, Fast- Echo is capable of storing the time & date when an EchoMail message has been tossed. If you take this option, then the "Purging" function per- formed by FEUTIL will consider the date when the message was locally received instead of the date when the message was originally written. In our tutorial I suggest to take this option because, sometimes it happens that, thanks to vicious mail routing, one or more messages could arrive, as far as your system, really late so that the first time FEUTIL Purge/Pack will be run it will cause their immediate deletion. 5.4.9.3 - Autorenumber at The value you may define in this item represents a limit of the highest number of a message in your HMB messagebase . When this limit is excedeed then the FEUTIL PACK utility will be automatically qualified to renumber the whole messagebase. But what is the PACK operation? As we see later in this manual, it is the way to physically remove all records previously marked for deletion thanks to the FEUTIL PURGE utility (see also the 5.4.9.1 chapter). When the FEUTIL PACK operation is performed from the DOS prompt, if it detects that the highest message number in the messagebase is greater than the one specified via this item, then the renumbering will be forced without the optional parameter "-Renumber" too. For our tutorial, leave this value at "0". 5.4.9.4 - Exclude Users We, before, talked about primary and secondary NetMail areas (see also the 5.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.1.1 chapters) so you are now aware of the dif- ferences between them You might also have an idea about the capability of FastEcho to export a NetMail message from the "secondary NetMail area" to the "primary" by way of the "FastEcho Scan" command and the power of FEUTIL to import a NetMail message from the "primary" to the "secondary NetMail area" via "FEUTIL import" command. Well, you must know that FEUTIL can further automatically exclude some NetMail from importing them in the "Primary NetMail area" simply by toggling the ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 35 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── "Exclude User" option to "Yes". If you enable this feature, all the names defined in the "User Names" section (addressed before in the 5.4.2 chapter) will never be hereafter imported from the "primary" to a "secondary" NetMail area. You will adjust this switch according to your need when this tutorial finishes; Now leave disabled the "Exclude User" toggling this option to the "No" status. 5.4.9.5 - Exclude SysOps This switch is similar to the previous "Exclude User",the only dif- ferece is that "Exclude SysOps" prevents the "FEUTIL import" command from importing, from the "Primary" to "Secondary" NetMail area, the private mail (NetMail) addressed to the names of the SysOps defined in "Node Manager" section (that we'll see later in this manual). For this tutorial leave this option disabled, toggling it to the "No" status. 5.4.9.6 - Include USERS.BBS If this option is switched to active status (Yes), the FEUTIL Im- port feature (see 7.10 chapter) will always use directly your USERS.BBS file as include list even if not specified in the FEUTIL Import com- mand-line. Using this may be useful for BBS systems only. In this way, the USERS.BBS file will only be read if there are,actually, messages that could be imported and not always at start-up, as it would in case of an -INCL list. For our tutorial leave this option disabled unless you are working with a BBS system. 5.4.9.7 - Keep NetMails After the NetMail messages are imported from "Primary" to "Secondary" NetMail area, by means of the "FEUTIL import" command, the original NetMail messages are automatically removed. By taking this option, instead, you can bind "FEUTIL import" to copy (not move) the NetMail message from Primary to Secondary NetMail area, without erasing the originals. You, further, will be able to import again these already-im- ported NetMails by using the "FEUTIL Import" command with the "-FORCE" switch. In this tutorial leave this item with the "No" status. 5.4.9.8 - Kill grunged date With the use of this switch you will qualify FEUTIL PURGE to mark for deletion all messages having bad date (I.E. 30-02-94 or 32-12-94) or date in the future such as 12-12-2000), otherwise these messages will be kept in your messagebase. For this tutorial we let FEUTIL keep these messages; so toggle this switch to "No" status. .-.-. Here you have finished the setup of FEUTIL parameters. FEUTIL, of course, has several other function, but we shall see them later talking about FEUTIL and its switches separately. Now press the "ESC" key and follow the tutorial. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 36 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.10 - Compression Programs -------------------- FastEcho, in order to create mail bundles (are so called the archi- ved mail packets ready to be sent or picked up) has to use almost one archiver (as known as compression program). In this section you must define your available archivers to make it possible FastEcho to use them. Move the highlighted box upon the "Compression programs" item and press return. After selecting the platform you want to edit the definitions for (you can define different commandlines for DOS and OS/2 archivers) you will see the following screen: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░╔════════════════════ Compression Programs ════════════════════╗░░░ ░░░║ Tag Command List Rt.║░░░ ░░░║──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║░░░ ░░░║ 1 ARC Arc.Exe aw @ 18 ║░░░ ░░░║ 2 ARJ Arj.Exe a -y -e ! 34 ║░░░ ░░░║ 3 ZIP PkZip.Exe -ao @ 34 ║░░░ ░░░║ 4 LZH LHa.Exe a -m1 @ 29 ║░░░ ░░░║ 5 PAK Pak.Exe a /wa /st @ 30 ║░░░ ░░░║ 6 SQZ Sqz.Exe a /p3 @ 34 ║░░░ ░░░║ 7 RAR Rar.exe a -y -ep _std @ 35 ║░░░ ░░░║ 8 UC2 UC.Exe a -bf @ 40 ║░░░ ░░░║ 9 ║░░░ ░░░║ 10 ║░░░ ░░░║ 11 ║░░░ ░░░║ 12 ║░░░ ░░░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ As you can see, several archivers are already predefined. These ar- chivers are identified through their "Tag" which is the "extension" that generally these archivers produce or their name. If you need to insert a new archiver here, remember to insert in the "Tag" column the typical extension that identifies the archiver, in the "Command" column the archiver executable program followed by all the switches needed to perform the right mail-packets compression, In the "List" column you must type one symbol (it isn't always the same) that identifies the list of files to be compressed in the same archive. You have the choice to insert several new other different archivers in this list, if you need them, and, further, you can modify all the predefined commands of the still present ones, conformly with your needs. Naturally, the archiver that you use mustbe present and accessible through your "DOS PATH". For the tutorial, of course, we shall leave these "archive-tags" and "commands" as they are (infact they are still rightly configured and are more than enough too). For every archiver you must define also the "list prefix" character, used by the specific archiving tool, allowing the packer to handle multiple *.PKTs in one ARCmail bundle in a single pass, saving a lot of time. The last column is the "Rt": Average Ratio; that we shall see in the next paragraph separately. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 37 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.10.1 - Rt. Values in compression programs ---------------------------------- In case you want use the FastEcho ARCmail sizing feature (see also: 5.4.6.6 and 5.5.1.7.1) you ought to specify, in the Rt. column, the average compression ratio for each archiver. The average value must be specified in tenth (for example, an average of 1:3.5 means 10:35, so, you have to enter "35" as value in Rt. column). This value is cal- culated by overall "Size of PKTs" included in a bundle, divided by the "Size of resulting archive". Once these parameters are correctly defi- ned and inserted in these items, FastEcho will try to pack as many PKTs in one archive by calculating the expected compressed size, according to the ratio level specified. If the calculated value exceeds the se- lected maximum, it will call the archiver. It can also happen that, by mistake, the ratio specified in "Rt." is effectively too low. This will result in a final archive smaller than the maximum; in this case Fast- Echo will try to handle that by adding more PKTs to it but the resul- ting archive but only if the difference between the "calculated size" minus "current size" will be smaller than the difference than "maximum size" minus "current size", so that it will create slightly bigger archives rather than significant smaller ones. In any other case FastEcho will create a new archive. In order to allow FastEcho to work as efficent as possible, you ought to tune the "Rt." values for each archiver configured. If you leave in the ratio field the "0" value, the average compression ratio will be automatically defaulted to 32 (which match the 1:3.2 ratio). Here below there are some suggested values for the most common archivers when they work in standard compression mode. ┌───────────────┬───────────────┐ │ Archiver Rt.│ Archiver Rt.│ ├───────────────┼───────────────┤ │ UC2 │ 40 │ ARJ │ 34 │ │ LZH │ 29 │ SQZ │ 34 │ │ RAR │ 35 │ ARC │ 18 │ │ ZOO │ 20 │ LHA │ 32 │ │ ZIP │ 34 │ PAK │ 30 │ └───────────────┴───────────────┘ The shown values, of course, may vary depending on what kind of mail you currently process (FidoNet, Internet newsgroups etc.); in this case you can find the better "Rt." value by checking your outbound archives.You furthermore ought to tune the "Maximum .PKT size" too (see chapter 5.4.6.4), in order to obtain somewhat constant final archive size.E.g. it makes no sense to have FastEcho create 2MB big .PKT files and then have it trying to archive them into a 100kB archive. Basically it's a good advice to set your Maximum .PKT size to a 1/3 or 1/4 of your selected maximum archive size. When you have finished press the "F10" key to save what your have eventually changed and return to "System DropDown menu". A word of wisdom ================ Is adviceable to avoid the archivers from setting the archive-time- stamp to the time/date of the 'youngest' included file, so if one or more of your archiver command line already contains such a switch, remove it. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 38 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.11 - Decompression Programs ---------------------- Thanks to this function, FastEcho will be able to detect the type of archiver that your uplink used to create the ARCmail bundles before sending them to your system; in this way, FastEcho can automatically select and use the right unarchiver program needed to decompress them before processing the contained mails. Select the "Decompression Programs" item and strike the "return" key. After selecting the platform, the following layout will appear on your screen: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔═════════════════════ Decompression Programs ═════════════════════╗░ ░║ Type Command Calling convention ║░ ░╟──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢░ ░║ Unknown ║░ ░║ ARC Arc.Exe xwo 0 ║░ ░║ PKARC PkUnPak.Exe -xr 0 ║░ ░║ PAK Pak.Exe e /wa /st 0 ║░ ░║ ARC+Plus Xarc.Exe 0 ║░ ░║ ZOO Zoo.Exe xo 0 ║░ ░║ PKZip PkunZip.Exe -o -ed 0 ║░ ░║ LHarc LHa.Exe e -m1 0 ║░ ░║ ARJ Arj.Exe e -y 0 ║░ ░║ SQZ Sqz.Exe e /p3o1 0 ║░ ░║ RAR Rar.Exe e -y -std 0 ║░ ░║ UC2 UC.Exe e -bf 0 ║░ ░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Note that several types of unarchiver are already defined and pre- configured. In the column to the left are identified the types of ar- chivers that FastEcho can automatically recognize (this column is pre- defined so you cannot modify it). In the right column, instead, you may insert or modify the unarchivers names, conformly with the items pre- sent to the left in the same row, followed by all their needed swit- ches. Take note that the very first item, located at the top of the window, reports "Unknown" as unarchiver type: this means that when FastEcho starts to decompress the incoming mail bundles, firstly it tries to recognize the compression methods comparing the mail bundles archiving type with the FastEcho predefined ones (this you can see to the left column in this screen) and only after, if all the predefined types fail the match, then try to decompress it with the "Unknown" type unarchiver. So, you could agree with your uplink, an archive type dif- ferent from the FastEcho predefined ones; in this case you must define in the "Unknown" slot the program's name you agreed with your uplink, specifing the executable file that will be run and the relatives swit- ches. In all cases, the unarchiver program that you will use might be available directly or throughout the "DOS PATH". In our tutorial, once you are sure to have understood the meanings of every item, the best thing would be to leave initially this layout untouched. Press "F10" to save your entry and return to the "System DropDown" menu. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 39 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.11.1 Calling conventions When calling a decompression program, FastEcho has to tell the program which files to extract and where to put them, but unfortunately not all programs use the same conventions for this. By default, FastEcho has the right convention internally hard-coded for the predefined programs, but in some rare situations (for example when using different programs like InfoZip's UNZIP instead of PKUNZIP, UNARJ instead of ARJ E, etc.) they don't match. So you can tell FastEcho explicitly which convention (command line format) it has to use for that program and override the internal default. After you defined the Decompressor "Type" and "Command", in fact, you will be able to define the needed calling convention by means of the following selector which will pop-up when the cursor falls in the "Calling Conventions" column: ┌────────────────┐ │>Default <│ │ cd <path> │ │ <path> *.PKT │ │ *.PKT <path> │ │ *.PKT #<path> │ │ *.PKT -d<path> │ └────────────────┘ the appropriate calling can be selected, as usual, by moving the high- lighed box and pressing return to confirm. In this way, in the "Calling convention" column will be reported the type of calling you selected in numeric form. (I.E. '0' for 'default', '1' for 'cd <path>', '3' for '<path> *.PKT' and so on. if nothing (= '0') is selected, FE will use its internal predefined values. For the tutorial leave initially all the "calling convention" items to their default values ("0") and Press "F10" to save your layout entry, returning to the "System DropDown" menu. 5.4.12 - External programs ----------------- This feature is useful when you need to run one or more external programs just after FastEcho has unarchived (Unpack) your incoming mail bundles and/or just before it has to begin archiving (Pack) your out- going mail packets.In both of them you may specify the full command- line including all kinds of switches, and the full path too (the path is only needed if the specified program cannot be found through your "DOS PATH" environment variable) further you may specify a "batch file" instead of an executable program. It's also possible to specify here the macro $[COMSPEC] or any other macro definitions instead of the program name. Let's now see these two options. Highlight the "External programs" item and press the "Return key". FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░│ Network addresses │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░╔══════════════════════ External Programs ═══════════════════════╗░░ ░░║ After Unpack:_ ║░░ ░░║ Before Pack: ║░░ ░░╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 40 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.4.12.1 - External programs (After Unpack) In this field you may define an utility (program or batch file) which will be run automatically after FastEcho finishes the unpacking operation of the incoming mail bundles (during the execution of the "FastEcho TOSS" command). In this way you can process intermediately all incoming mail packets (*.PKT) in order to obtain, for example, sta- tistical reports, packets pre-sorting, splitting of large mail packet files and so on. Be careful to keep in due consideration that the ex- tracted mail packets may reside in different directories according to the directory you specified in "Pathnames" section for "Inbound", "Temporary Inbound" and "Local Inbound". For our tutorial, leave this field empty. 5.4.12.2 - External programs (Before Pack) This option is very similar to the previous one, the only differen- ce is that, the present, will call an external program (or batch file too) just before the archiving operation of the outgoing mail packets will take place. Hereby, also, you may specify the program by writing only its executable name and, if needed, all its switches; you could define the pathnames too, but it's suggested only if the called program cannot be found in the current directory or through your "DOS PATH" en- vironment variable. Be careful because some PKT's utilities and prepro- cessors operate on the mail packets having the *.PKT extension only, while, in this case, the outgoing mail packets are in intermediate sta- tus already having a *.QQQ extension. For our tutorial, leave this field empty. 5.4.13 - Group names ----------- This is one great FastEcho convenience: the power of creating pre- established groups in order to make the area definitions easier for your EchoMail, local and, if you want, NetMail areas too; furthermore, the group names definition, will allow you to perform global changes in the settings of your defined EchoMail, local and NetMail board, by groups. By now highlight the "Group names" item and press the return key. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌────────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ╔══════════════════════════════ Groups ═══════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name Name ║ ╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢ ║ A) - FidoNet EchoMail Natl Q) ║ ║ B) - FidoNet EchoMail Intl R) ║ ║ C) - ZyXELnet EchoMail Area S) ║ ║ D) - Local BBS Area T) ║ ║ [...] [...] ║ ║ P) 6) ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ In this layout you may define up to 32 group names for as many groups of areas you have. These names will be considered later for selecting ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 41 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── the appropriate area defaults. In our tutorial we have one main address and one aka so, we might define at least one group name for each net. You may furtherly subdivide the same net into two different groups (I.E. the former as "ThisNet national area" and the latter as "ThisNet international area") for your convenience. For our tutorial we shall define four group names. We are assuming to have one main address for Fidonet and an "AKA" for ZyXELnet. The minimal number of group names we must define is two but, for our convenience, we want to split the Fidonet EchoMail areas into two different group names: the first for the national-EchoMail and the second for the international-echomail. Last of all, you need at least one "local" area group name Place the cursor upon the "A)" item and press the "return" key, then input herein: "FidoNet EchoMail Natl" and press the "return" key again. this, hereafter, will be the name of the group relative to all the national Fidonet EchoMail; Position the cursor upon the "B)" item, press return, and type "Fidonet EchoMail Intl" confirming with the "return" key again. This will be the name of the group relative to all the international Fidonet EchoMail. (Repeat the aforesaid operations until you have completed on your screen, the layout you can see in the above picture) and then press the "F10" key to save your entry and go back to the "System DropDown Menu". 5.4.14 - Origins In this section you will have the option to insert one origin line in your EchoMail messages only. You cannot insert it in a NetMail message because it's useless; in order to understand why,let's see now the differences between EchoMail and NetMail (aka Matrix) messages. 5.4.14.1 - EchoMail vs. NetMail (matrix) 5.4.14.1.1 - EchoMail -------- An EchoMail is a public message. It means that you may also address an EchoMail to someone in particular but, ANYONE can read your message freely (and answer you too). The EchoMail messages written by sysops, points or users aren't certainly untidily sent and gathered together in one single container; in the countrary! They must be written, sent and read grouped by specified "topic". So, any EchoMail group (that hereafter we'll call "area or board") has a description that specifys the main argument (Topic) that all the messages contained therein must follow; thus, when you answer an EchoMail message or when you write a new one, you aren't answering to one the user in particular, but, you are answering to all the user in the board you are writing in. The sender net-address of any EchoMail message isn't reported in its header because it's useless, so in order to publicize what is the net-address of the original sender, any user has to insert on a new line at the bottom of the message, after the "Tearline" (see also: 5.4.7.1 and 5.4.7.2 paragraph), one line called "Origin" that begins with an asterisc (*) followed by one space, the word "Origin: ", the system name and, finally, the net address of the sender. It will look like this sample: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 42 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── From: Reed Richards To : All Subj: Question -------------------------------- [...] Message text [...] --- FastEcho 1.46+ * Origin: Test System (2:999/999) --------------------------------- 5.4.14.1.2 - NetMail ------- NetMail messages are, instead, somewhat private. Any NetMail messa- ge has to be addressed to one single user having one single net ad- dress. A NetMail message can, generally, be read only by you and by the receiver, so, the receiver has to know, directly, who is the sender and what net-address he has, in order to answer him quickly, further, to perform the NetMail routing, a system need to immediately know the net- address of the message addressee, thus, his address is specified in the message header directly, thus, repeating it in an eventual origin line would be absolutely useless. A NetMail message will look like the fol- lowing sample: From: Reed Richards (2:999/999) To : Marco Piazza (2:2448/400.7) Subj: Question -------------------------------- [...] Message text [...] --- FastEcho 1.46+ --------------------------------- Returning to the "Origin" line argument, let's now see how you can define them in FESetup. Higlight the "Origins" item, which is the last one in the "System DropDown Menu" and strike return. You will see the following layout. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░╔════════════════════════════ Origins ══════════════════════════╗░░░ ░░║ 1 This is the Reed's system ║░░░ ░░║ 2 System in test@Fidonet.org ║░░░ ░░║ 3 System in test@ZyXELnet.ftn ║░░░ ░░║ 4 [...] ║░░░ ░░║ 20 ║░░░ ░░╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... An "Origin" line, of course, must not contain useless data, so make sure to insert herein, only the information necessary to rightly identify only your system name which may be the "Bulletin Board System" name or the "Point System name". You may define in this layout as many different origin lines as you need, with the maximum of twenty entries; later, in the area-definition chapter, we shall see that, for every ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 43 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - System dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── board, you will be able to choose among all the origin line you defined here, according to your needs. For our tutorial we shall define three different origin lines. Place the cursor onto the "1" item and press "return". Finger, in the highlighted field: "This is the Reed's system" and press "return" again. place the cursor to next item and press re- turn, then input: "System in test@Fidonet.org" without quotes. In this case you defined one origin line that informs other systems that you are in test, the "@" symbol (aka ampersand) works as separator, the Fi- donet.org is the domain (naturally you might use this origin line only in Fidonet boards); then press "return". Go over the "3" items and strike "return";type herein "System in test@ZyXELnet.ftn". Like the previous, this origin line describes that your system is in test but you might use this one in "ZyXELNET" boards. Press "return" when fini- shed. When defining the "Origin" lines make sure not to insert your net-address because it will be automatically added. .-.-. Here you have completed the compilation of the "Origin" line definitions and the "System" section too. Press now the "F10" Key to save your entry returning in "system DropDown menu", then press the "ESC" key to return to the "Topbar DropDown Menu". The highlighted box, now, will be on the "System" item; press the "right-arrow" key and pla- ce the highlighted box upon the "Data" item, strike the "Return" key, so that, the "Data DropDown Menu", will be shown to you. 5.5 - Data DropDown Menu ================== FESetup System >Data< Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>Node-Configuration< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Group Area Defaults │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Area-Configuration │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Carbon Copies │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ AreaFix Options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░└─────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ FastEcho; Setup 1.46 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Call Node-Manager ... You have now entered in the "Data" section of FESetup. Here we'll see how to configure the nodes (or point) that will call your system to pick up and send their mail to you (downlinks) and the nodes that you will call in order to draw and send your daily mail (uplink); then we shall configure the "Area Defaults" which is another convenient tool that may save a lot of your time when you enter in the next option: The "Area-Configuration".In "Area-Configuration" we shall define all the EchoMail, NetMail and Local areas where you will receive your daily mail. We shall see the "Carbon Copies" too, that is a special FastEcho ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 44 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── feature capable of copying in one special board, all the messages that match some characteristics which you will define. Lastly, we shall see the "AreaFix-Option" popup menu. AreaFix is an automated system capable of making it possible for your downlinks to remotely adjust its parame- ters themselves, without your manual intervention. For our tutorial I assume that you have two uplinks (2:999/900 for FidoNet, the SysOp name of this node will be Ben Grimm and 16:999/900 for ZyXELnet, the SysOp name of this node will be Sue Wright), furthermore you will have one point as downlink (2:999/999.1 for fidonet where the operator name is Franklin Richards).Let's now see each one of these options in detail. 5.5.1 - Node Configuration ------------------ In the "Node Configuration" section you must define all the remote system that you call for mail (uplink) and the systems you are called from (downlinks) with all their parameters, SysOp names, Akas, ARCmail and AreaFix passwords and so on. In our tutorial you must define two nodes and one point. Place the highlighted box upon the "Node Configu- ration" item and press the return key. Now you have in front of you the layout shown in the picture below. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══ 1/1 ═══════════════════ Node-Manager ══════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Addresses ║░ ░║ Main: 2:999/900.0 4D/Type 2+: Y ║░ ░║ ARCmail: 2:999/900.0 TosScan: N ║░ ░║ ARCmail 0.60: N ║░ ░║ Name: Ben Grimm Pack priority: 0 ║░ ░║ Convert Umlaut: N ║░ ░║ Your Aka: 2:999/999.0 ║░ ░║ Allow Area-Create: Y ║░ ░║ Passwords New Area Default Group: B ║░ ░║ Packet: Export By Name: N ║░ ░║ AreaFix: THETHING ║░ ░║ Status AreaFix flags: » ║░ ░║ ARCmail: None ║░ ░║ AreaFix: None Send Notify: Y ║░ ░║ Packer: ZIP Max. size: 0 Send Help: Y ║░ ░║ ║░ ░║ Groups: AB Passive: N ║░ ░║ Security: 100 Automatic Passive: 0 ║░ ░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ Enter-Edit Ins-Add Del-Delete F2-Rout F5-Browse F4 Area List F5-Copy The one you are looking at now on your video display is empty, of course, but we will dress it soon. We shall begin to define the first node: the fidonet one (2:999/900) (You will call this node to receive your fidonet mail). Well, you are now in "view" mode. In this modality you can run through all your defined nodes checking their parameters (when they are defined). Take now a glance to the last row at the bottom of the screen, you will see a group of keys: "Enter", "F2" through "F5", "Ins" and "Del". These are the keys which are active before entering in editing mode. In order to insert your first node press now the "Ins" key: "New Entry". The cursor will be automatically placed upon the first item of the screen: The "Main Address". ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 45 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.1 - Main Address In this field you must type the net address of the node you are defining. It represents its matrix-address that will be used by Fast- Echo for all its communication with the aforesaid. This address will be further checked when FastEcho will processes all incoming mail packets and when it performs the AreaFix automated operations requested from this node. For our tutorial type the address "2:999/900" which is your "uplink" one; then press return to go to the next item. 5.5.1.2 - ARCmail We extensively spoke before about ARCmail (see: 5.4.8 and 5.4.4.6 paragraphs) so, I assume that you are now sufficently aware of it. This ARCmail item represents a convenience function. Normally, the address inserted here, is a copy of the main address seen before, but, in some occasions, it may be different. For Example: If you are part of two different nets and one of your downlinks has the same nets linked to you, than, normally FastEcho creates two different ARCmail bundles (one for each net) because it rightly considers two different addresses as two different systems but, as a matter of fact, it's not true because in this case, the same system has both akas. With this ARCmail address you can make FastEcho aware of that. Pratically it will archive the mail for this system in one single ARCmail bundle containing mail pa- ckets for both akas. In this way you can save some space on your hard disk and have fewer file-attaches. This doesn't mean that you can define this system in node manager only once. You should define this system twice, for both akas and for both of them you will specify the same ARCmail address. For our tutorial we won't need this feature, thus, we shall leave this item with the same address defined in "Main Address". 5.5.1.3 - Name In this field you must input the SysOp's first and second name of the node with address defined in 5.5.1.1; make sure to input its name correctly so, if you wish, you can use the "Exclude SysOps" feature seen in the 5.4.9.5 chapter. Confirming the SysOp name with the "return" key you will be positioned directly on "Your AKA" item. 5.5.1.4 - Your AKA When the cursor falls in "Your AKA" item, the following popup window will be shown: ┌──────────────┐ Your Aka:│>2:999/999.0< │ │ 16:999/999.0 │ └──────────────┘ This is the item where you must choose the aka (corresponding to your matrix address) you wish to use for the node you are defining. Na- turally you must select the aka that you agreed on with the uplink or downlinks you will send/forward mail, accordingly with the net you are working into. Make sure to select the right one here. For our tutorial, with the "arrows-key" move the highlighted box upon the 2:999/999 ad- dress and strike the return key. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 46 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.5 - Passwords In this section you may define two different passwords. These pass- words must be in accordance with your uplinks/downlinks and have two different meanings.The definition of these passwords are for security purposes only and doesn't impair the FastEcho performances or fun- ctionalities. 5.5.1.5.1 - Passwords (Packet) We have already talked about ARCmail several times through this tu- torial (see: 5.5.1.2, 5.4.8 and 5.4.4.6). In this particular case you may define one password that will be embedded in your ARCmail bundles created locally and addressed to your uplink/downlink or that will be checked in the ARCmail bundles you will receive from the same uplink/downlink. This operation may be done in order to activate the "Full Security" we seen in the 5.4.7.14 chapter. If you define a pass- word to put herein and the "Security" option (see 5.4.7.14) is toggled to "Full" then this function will be active. If an ARCmail bundle co- ming from your uplink/downlink fails this FastEcho's inspection, then it will be refused and left in the "INBOUND" directory renamed as *.SEC. For our tutorial leave this field blank. 5.5.1.5.2 - Passwords (AreaFix) This is the password you may agree on with your downlink to make possible changes on its Node or Areas configuration in an automatical way, remotely and without any your manual interventions. If you don't insert any password here, then FastEcho will process undiscriminately any AreaFix request coming from this downlink; if you will put a pass- word in this field that doesen't match your downlink one, then the AreaFix request will be denied by FastEcho. When, instead, your AreaFix password matches perfectly the one used by your DownLink then the Area- fix request will be correctly performed. It's advised to leave free the option to make AreaFix request only when you are aware that your downlink has aquired the right knowledge about what AreaFix really does. The best thing to do is to define in this item one password without communicating it to your downlink, then, when you are sure that this one has understood the AreaFix mechanism, you may tell him your password. For our tutorial put in this field the password "THETHING" then press return to continue with the farther options. 5.5.1.6 - Status In the "Status" section you may define the attributes you want that FastEcho will ascribe to the locally created ARCmail attaches and AreaFix messages in conformity with the status of this node. The attri- butes will be different from uplink or downlink status. 5.5.1.6.1 - Status (ARCmail) As you certainly know, an ARCmail bundle, in order to be sent, has its ARCmail attach which is a kind of empty NetMail message located in the "Primary NetMail" directory. The task of this NetMail message is to carry the ARCmail bundle to your uplink/downlink system; to do so, it already has a mandatory attribute set: "File/attach" which means that it has one file (the mail bundle) attached; further it could have other ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 47 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── attributes set. When the cursor falls on this item, the following box will be shown on your screen: Status ┌──────────────┐ ARCmail:│>None< │ AreaFix:│ Hold │ Packer:│ Crash │ │ Direct │ Groups:│ Hold/Direct │ Security:│ Crash/Direct │ │ No attach │ └──────────────┘ For example, if the system you are defining now is one of your up- links you may prefer your ARCmail attaches to have the "Crash" status, so, that your mailer will automatically call your uplink for sending your mail. For your downlink, instead, you may prefer to let FastEcho set the "Hold" status in your ARCmail attach, so, your mailer never calls to send him the mail but your downlink must call you, instead, to perform the mail transfer. The method I suggest you is slightly diffe- rent. I suggest you select in this box the "None" status for ARCmail bundles, leaving at your FrontDoor router (ROUTE.FD) the task to right- ly qualify the nodes that you must call, and wait for the nodes that must call you for mail (you must adjust the statements and the commands in ROUTE.FD in the correct way of course; refer to your FrontDoor ma- nual for further information). With the "No attach" item, FastEcho won't create any ARCmail attaches, but will overwrite the old archive everytime it has mail to compress (so this is only for special purposes such as points via LAN etc.). For our tutorial move the highlighted box to the "None" item and press "Return" to confirm and directly go to the next item. 5.5.1.6.2 - Status (AreaFix) This option is similar to the previous one but here will be concer- ned the attributes that FastEcho will ascribe to its AreaFix reports. see the picture below: ARCmail:┌──────────────┐ AreaFix:│>None< │ Packer:│ Hold │ │ Crash │ Groups:│ Direct │ Security:│ Hold/Direct │ │ Crash/Direct │ └──────────────┘ You can choose from several options, according with your needs but, for this option also, I suggest you select the "None" status leaving to the router of your mailer the task to handle AreaFix messages and ARCmail attaches. For our tutorial, place the highlight box upon the "None" item and strike the return key to confirm and go directly to next option. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 48 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.7 - Packer Position the highlighed box on "Packer" item, you will see the fol- lowing screen immediately without press the "Return" key: ┌─────┐ │>ARC │ │ ARJ │ │ ZIP │ │ LZH │ │ PAK │ │ SQZ │ │ RAR │ │ UC2 │ │.PKTs│ └─────┘ In order to obtain your maximum system performance, FastEcho al- lows you to select what compression utilities you wish to be used when generating mail bundles for this node. After selecting your preferred compression utility, FastEcho will always use it when preparing mail to be forwarded to the system you are configuring. Every system defined in "Node-Configuation" could, of course, have different compression utili- ties; to select your preferred one, simply move the highlighted box, by means of the "Up" and "Down" arrow keys, until you reach the compressor utility you need, then press "return". Be careful that every compres- sor you select here must be present and reachable by FastEcho, both, directly or via the "DOS PATH" environment variable. You can, at first, agree with your uplink/downlink preferred compressor and then select the right one. For our tutorial we'll select the PKzip. Position the highlighted box on the "ZIP" item and press the "return" key to con- firm. You will go directly to the next item. 5.5.1.7.1 - Maximum size This setting works by fixing the maximum bundle size that FastEcho is allowed to generate for this node, exactly as the already seen "Maximum ARCmail size" option treated at the chapter 5.4.6.6, but this one is more specific because it takes effect upon the actual node only while the "Maximum ARCmail size" item acts upon all configured nodes where the "Maximum size" item is left to "0". To fine tune this feature you must define the "average compression ratio", the "Maximum .PKT size and the "Maximum ARCmail size" items (read carefully the chapters 5.4.10, 5.4.6.4 and 5.4.6.6). You may set this field to "-1" in order tell FastEcho to create only one huge archive for that system. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 49 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.8 - Groups In the group section you have to define the groups of areas that your downlink will be able to request to your system through an AreaFix request. The same groups will be used by FastEcho internally for its maintenance. When you position the cursor upon the "Groups" item then the following PopUp-menu will be automatically shown: ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │>■ A) - FidoNet EchoMail Natl< │ │ ■ B) - FidoNet EchoMail Intl │ │ C) - ZyXELnet EchoMail Area │ │ D) - Local BBS Area │ │ [...] │ │ X) │ │ Y) │ │ Z) │ └─────────────────────────────────┘ The groups listed in this box are the same you defined before in the "Group Names" section (see: 5.4.13 paragraph). Here, you must se- lect, by marking them, the areas-group that you want left available to the downlink which you are defining. This downlink, then, will be able to link or unlink the available areas sending an AreaFix request to your system. You can, of course, activate manually other areas belon- ging to other groups but the operating field of your downlink will be strictly limited to the group defined herein. To activate the groups, simply move the cursor upon the desired group that you want to make ac- tive for this downlink and press the space key; you will see one small black square to the left of the selected group name. This box means that the group will be available for this node. To select groups you may either press the relative key (I.E. pressing the "A" key you will tag the "A" group), further, you can select all groups with the "ALT-A" key combination or deselect them with "ALT-C". You might know that there are some exceptions to this rule, for example, if your downlink has a security level of 10 and has the "A" group available, but you, have a particular area belonging to the "A" group that has a minimum security level of 20, then your downlink won't be able to link this area because its security level isn't enough. For our tutorial you haven't any need to define groups for this node because you are confi- guring one "Uplink" and you will never receive an AreaFix request from an "Uplink" but, for "Equity" you'll tag it all the same. Press the letter "A" and the letter "B" until the two fidonet groups are tagged by the little black square; then press the "ESC" key to return to the "Node Configuration" layout. 5.5.1.9 - Security As already mentioned in the previous paragraph, a downlink cannot link any areas having security level higher that the one specified in this field; further, this security level, is strictly related to the groups available to this node. For example: A node has level 10 and has available the "A" and the "B" groups; this node will request, by means of AreaFix, an EchoMail area belonging to group "A" but having security level 11, well, the linking will be denied because of its level; the same node now wants to link, with AreaFix request, an EchoMail area be- longing to the group "C", the linking will be denied again because this ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 50 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── node hasn't any access to group "C". A node can definitely link or un- link any areas IF the area belongs to an authorized group and it has a security level lower or equal to the Node security level. For the tu- torial, input here the level 100 and strike the "return" key. 5.5.1.10 - 4D/type 2+ This flag is necessary to define if this node has the "4D" capabi- lity but what does "4D" mean? It's quite simple: It means four dimen- sion addressing. A typical "4D" address is composed of four parts: The Zone, the Net, the Node and, at last, the Point. For example, the ad- dress: 2:999/999.1 belongs to Zone 2, Net 999, Node 999, Point 1 (for a better explanation on what means Zone, Net, Node and Point see in the Appendix A). Thanks to this addressing method any element of the net can be precisely identified. But there exists another old-fashoned sys- tem called FakeNet or PointNet system. With this, now obsolete, system, a point is identified with one address that's typical belonging to a node but it's a fake because it belongs to a point. If you already use the PointNet method and if you specified the PointNet clause, in "Net- work Addresses" (See: 5.4.1 chapter), then you can rely on the Fast- Echo power to automatically remap the "4D" point into PointNet one. It means that you can treat your point with its 4D addressing and FastEcho will do the rest. If you set this option to "N" then only pure FTS-0001 packets will be generated; otherwise, using the normal 4D addressing FastEcho will be forced to generate mail-packets compatible with the FSC-0039. For our tutorial set this toggle to "Y". 5.5.1.11 - TosScan You must consider this toggle if one of your connected systems uses TosScan 1.0. If the node you are defining in this section uses TosScan as mail processor and you are running your system in 4D way (see 5.5.1.10) then you should toggle this switch to "Y" status. That's because, TosScan 1.0 is 4D capable only with itself or with other TosScan. By Toggling this switch to "Y" FastEcho, while processing the mail bundles coming from this node, will be forced to use the TosScan- Product-Code instead of its own. In this way FastEcho will avoid any compatibility problems. For our tutorial leave this option disabled assuming that this node doesn't use TosScan. 5.5.1.12 - ARCmail 0.60 It may happen that you have to deal with uplinks that use a very old standard when tossing mail: The ARCmail 0.60. The old mail proces-sor that adopts this standard uses a very special naming convention to perform the toss operation, thus, if you let FastEcho create and send him ARCmail bundles having new standard conventions, it will cause er-rors. You have the choice to prevent and solve this problem simply bin-ding FastEcho to create ARCmail bundles with this old standard, by tog-gling this option to Y. I suggest you ask your uplink before switching this option to active because you might use it only if really neces-sary. For our tutorial we assume that none of your uplink uses such stone-age tosser,so leave this option not active with the N status. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 51 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Node Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.13 - Pack priority This switch defines the priority order to which FastEcho start to process the mail for one system before the others. This toggle has four possible values ranging from 0 to 3. The higher this value is the higher priority this node has. It does mean that the ARCmail for systems having a level of 3 will be compressed before the ARCmail for the nodes having a levelo of 2 and so on. Normally,FastEcho processes mail for the nodes defined in "Node Manager" starting from the one having a lower address number to a greater one but if one or more, among your defined node, has set the "Pack priority" level to values higher than 0, then FastEcho starts to process mail giving the right priority to them and sorting by node number within them, then it gradually proceeds to process the mail for the other nodes with lower priority until it reaches the 0 level. This option can be useful for systems that handle a lot of mail. In this way they can tell FastEcho to process mail accordingly to their requirements. The Pack priority may also speed up the performaces on multiline-based systems; For example, an HUB can, firstly, compel FastEcho to pack ARCmail for all his important downlinks and, only after, the mail for his points, so, while FE is still involved in packing mail for the points, the systems having the "Priority" flag set are already free to pick up new mail on another line. For our tutorial leave this toggle to "0". 5.5.1.14 - Convert Umlaut This feature may be useful for German people only. As you certainly know, there are some symbols and letters that you cannot use in Echo- Mail areas. In these forbidden letters are included the, so called, German Umlauts (ÄäÖöÜüß). If you switch this option to active, then FastEcho will convert on-the-fly the Umlauts into policy-compliant characters while exporting messages. 5.5.1.15 - Allow Area-Create As we saw in the 5.4.7.3 chapter, FastEcho, if you want, has the power to create automatically the areas that your uplink starts sending you without your expressed request. The operation that you made in the 5.4.7.3 chapter was only a general operation, intended to activate this feature but FastEcho needs to be aware of which uplinks are able to do so. By toggling this option to "Y" status, you will inform FastEcho that this node has your permission to send new areas to your system without limitation, thus FastEcho can automatically define, as soon as it receives it, the new areas in its area definition (area-manager), creates new folders for your Mailer and creates new areas in your BBS software; accordingly with "Auto Area Create", "Update Mailer Config" and "Update BBS config" settings seen in the 5.4.7.3, 5.4.7.4 and 5.4.7.5 chapters. For our tutorial you may leave this option active by toggling it to "Y". ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 52 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.16 - New area default group When FESetup detects the "Allow area create" option active, it will enable this "New area default group" too, otherwise you will not have any access to it. If you chose the previous option, then confirming your selection, the following menu will be shown to you: ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │>A) - FidoNet EchoMail Natl< │ │ B) - FidoNet EchoMail Intl │ │ C) - ZyXELnet EchoMail Area │ │ D) - Local BBS Area │ │ [...] │ │ Y) │ │ Z) │ └───────────────────────────────┘ By means of this feature, in fact, you will be able to select to what kind of group, the areas that FastEcho automatically creates, will belong to. For our tutorial you can select the "A" or "B" groups. Place the highlighted box upon the "A" group and strike the "return" key. To the right of the "Area default Item" your selected group will be vi- sible. 5.5.1.17 - Export by name If you switch this option active by toggling it to "Y" status then FastEcho will export to this node, undiscriminately, all the EchoMails addressed to the SysOp's name (defined above. See:5.5.1.3) that it detects while performing the TOSS and SCAN operations. This applies also if, the mails addressed to him, belong to areas normally unacces- sible for this node due to its security level or due to its allowed groups too. I suggest you leave the "Export by name" option disabled unless you have very particular needs. If you have followed the tuto- rial until now then leave this option disabled. 5.5.1.18 - AreaFix flags Every system configured in your node manager can have personalized AreaFix settings in order to tune the FastEcho behavior when it pro- cesses AreaFix requests. By Selecting this item you can access to one specialized submenù containing all the options needed to allow or deny to your downlins the extra AreaFix features or, moreover, enable or disable special AreaFix functions. By selecting the "AreaFix flags" item you will see the following popup: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 54 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╔════════ AreaFix flags ════════╗ ║ ║ ║>Allow rescan Yes ║ ║ Forward requests Yes ║ ║ Send rules Yes ║ ║ Allow %FROM No ║ ║ Allow area renaming No ║ ║ Allow area deletion No ║ ║ AreaFix type Standard ║ ║ Remote program AreaFix ║ ║ Add '+' No ║ ║ Add '---' <tearline Yes ║ ║ Forward changes No ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════╝ 5.5.1.18.1 - Allow Rescan This switch can allow or prevent that your FastEcho processes the %RESCAN MetaCommand eventually found in the AreaFix requests from the system you are actually configuring. Note that, in order to make this switch active or not, you must before enable the "Allow rescan" option in Data->AreaFix Options. 5.5.1.18.2 - Forward requests As you will see later in this manual, FastEcho under certain condi- tions (if you have available and configured the list of areas forwarded from your uplink) is capable to forward an AreaFix request received from your downlinks to your uplinks. By enabling this switch, FastEcho will check the AreaFix forward list you set up in "Forward request" configuration (look at paragraph 5.5.6.13 for details) in order to complete the operation. By keeping this switch disabled, instead, FastEcho ignores the MetaCommand %Rescan completely. 5.5.1.18.3 - Send Rules Every EchoMail area has precise rules that every conference parta- ker must strictly respect. These rules, also known as "Area Policies", are collected in several ASCII files. When a downlink requests to your system the connection of a new EchoMail area FastEcho has the power to send him the related area-rule-file. This switch allow or prevent FastEcho to send to this system the conference rule of areas it requests to be linked. Note that, in order to make this option active or not, the "Send conference rules" global option (You can find in Data->AreaFix Option->Send Conference rules), must be enabled. 5.5.1.18.4 - Allow %FROM The feature provided with the MetaCommand %FROM is also known as "remote manintenance". It isvery powerful. Using it, anyone (if you want) can perform several changes in your FastEcho configuration remotely, simply by sending to your system an AreaFix request having, as first AreaFix MetaCommand, the "%FROM <Address>" one. By activating this option you will allow the use of the %FROM metacommand in the AreaFix requests sent to you by the system you are currently ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 55 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── configuring. Doing so, from now on, he canperform all the function provided by all other AreaFix MetaCommands that follow the "%FROM" one as if they were made by the node specified in the <Address> parameter. This function could be useful whenever you want leave the upkeep of your system (i.e.while you are absent) to one full-confidence and reliance SysOp. For our tutorial leave it to "N". 5.5.1.18.5 - Allow area renaming The FastEcho AreaFix processor is capable to allow areas renaming remotely simply by using the symbol "#" in the AreaFix request in the following way: #<old_area_tag> <new_area_tag> If you want that the dowlink you are actually configuring can issue the area renaming operation upon your system with this method then toggle this switch to Yes, otherwise disable it toggling it to No. (see also paragraph 5.5.5.1.24) 5.5.1.18.6 - Allow area deletion When allowed to upkeep your system a reliance uplink or downlink can also delete areas from your FastEcho configuration remotely. This can be done via the special AreaFix metacommand "~" in this way: ~<area_tag_to_delete> If you want that the downlink you are actually configuring can issue the area deletion operation upon your system by using this method, then toggle this switch to "Yes", otherwise leave it on "No" status. (see also paragraph 5.5.5.1.24) 5.5.1.18.7 - AreaFix type This option is intended to inform your FastEcho AreaFix on what kind of AreaFix processor is installed on the remote system you are actually configuring. It must be done in order to let FastEcho communicate with it correctly. There are three kind of setting you can choose here: "Standard", "Enhanced" and "None". Select "None" when the remote system is a point or, either, when it hasn't AreaFix capabilities at all. Select "Normal" when the remote system has a con- ventional AreaFix processor. The "Enhanced" mode can be selected only if you are sure that the remote AreaFix manager is FSC-57 compliant (such as FastEcho, Imail and others). Where the "Enhanced" selection is appliable FastEcho will be enabled to directly use (when communicating with this system) the special "Delete" and "Rename" AreaFix metacommand already seen in the previous two paragraphs. 5.5.1.18.8 - Remote program This flag tells FastEcho what kind of area manager name it must use when addressing the requests to the remote system you are configuring. Normally all the area managers are abled to accept "AreaFix" as address but in some rare cases. Anyway, FastEcho supports the use of other area manager names which are selectable by means of this switch: AreaMgr, AreaLink, EchoMgr. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 56 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.18.9 - Add '+' Here you can specify if the remote area manager needs the "plus" sign just before the area tag in order to link it correctly. FastEcho, by default, doesn't put it but you can modify the normal FastEcho behavior by simply selecting "Yes" in this field. 5.5.1.18.10 - Add '---' <tearline> The tearline (three consecuteve dashes) specifies where the message text finishes. Normally there are no need to put it in an AreaFix message but some old AreaFix processors need it in order to work correctly. If the area manager of the remote system you are currently configuring needs the tearline in the areafix requests then you must enable this option, otherwise leave it disabled. 5.5.1.18.11 - Forward changes FastEcho is capable to automatically forward to your downlinks any change made in your configuration by a remote system. By enabling this convenient feature the changes made upon your configured areas (i.e. area deletion or area renaming) performed by an authorized system using the the special AreaFix features provided by the two commands "~<area_tag_to_delete>" and "#<old_area_tag> <new_area_tag>", will be automatically forwarded to all your downlinks. If the connected systems are FSC-57 compliants, then the changes made on your system will be performed automatically on the connected systems too. If the connected systems aren't FSC-57 compliants but use a normal AreaFix manager, the modified areas (changed or deleted) will be only disconnected. If your connected systems are only points-systems they will be noticed for the changes by mean of a netmail message. If you want to enable the automatic-forward-changes feature then enable this flag, else leave it to "No". 5.5.1.19 - Send Notify This is an AreaFix convenience option. With this switch turned on, you will be able to send to this node a "NOTIFY" message simply by in- putting the command "FastEcho Notify" without any parameters from your DOS prompt. The "NOTIFY" is a particular NetMail message which contains useful information about the agreements between you and your downlinks such as: His NetMail and ARCmail addresses, your aka, the AreaFix and the ARCmail password, the agreed archiver and the ones that you have available on your system, a brief statistic about received and sent EchoMails and, last of all, a list containing all active areas for his node. Sending an AreaFix "NOTIFY" message may be helpful for your down- link at the first link in order to summarize your agreements. For our tutorial, switch this option to "Y" status. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 57 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.20 - Send Help Another AreaFix convenience option. By means of this toggle you will be able to specify to which system you want the function "FastEcho HELP", when called directly from the DOS prompt, to send the "Area- Fix.hlp" file (it summarizes all the available AreaFix MetaCommands). By default this file will be sent by FastEcho to all the systems listed in "Node Manager". By adjusting this toggle in your configured nodes, you can filter the FastEcho HELP default behavior, according to your needs. For our tutorial leave this switch on "Y". 5.5.1.21 - Passive This option can be switched Y/N both, manually by you, or through an AreaFix request by this downlink. If a node is switched "Passive" it will keep all its areas configured and linked but it won't receive any other mails in areas he is currently linked to (except messages posted in 'Mandatory' areas). This option could be very useful in order to temporarily "Suspend" the EchoMail forwarding to nodes that need to shut down the system for Holidays. In our tutorial leave this option on "N", of course. 5.5.1.22 - Automatic Passive. In the Automatic Passive" item you can insert the maximum admitti- ble number of days that FastEcho has to wait for the downlink calls be- fore switching it "Passive". In order to preserve your disk-space, you may activate this option that, automatically, checks if a downlink isn't calling your system to pick-up its mail for longer than the number of days specified in this option. If this happens, FastEcho will switch this system to "passive" status without physically unlinking all its preconfigured areas. When FastEcho performs this operation it sends to the "switched" system a NetMail message as notification. This NetMail message could contain the necessary instruction for this system in order to become "active" again. This message is fully definible by you; infact, if FastEcho finds that a text-file named APASSIVE.MSG (created by you) exists in your system directory, this one will be brought and used to notify the downlink, if, instead, FastEcho doesn't find this file, then it will send an hardcoded message automatically. This function does not work with Binkley-compatible mailers or D'Bridge if the queue is used. If in your configuration there are more then one system having the same ARCMAIL address as the one which is switched to passive status then all these systems are switched to passive too. For or our tutorial leave this option on "N" status. 5.5.1.24 - 'Node Manager' Function Keys As introduced, at the beginning of this chapter, there are some active function keys while you are in "node manager" (view mode). These keys perform some useful and convenient tasks in a very intuitive way. Let's now see all these function keys in detail. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 58 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.24.1 - Node Manager (Enter key) We said before that the "node manager" has two main ways of opera- te: the "view mode" and the "edit mode". When the Node Manager is ac- cessed, it is automatically switched to "view" mode. In view mode you can run through all your defined nodes and check their parameters; but if you need to change something you must switch to "Edit" mode and this could be done simply by pressing the "Enter" key. 5.5.1.24.2 - Node Manager (F2-Routing) If you want to change the default NetMail routing for the displayed node you must press the F2 key while in "Node Manager View Mode". The following overlapped windows will be shown: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══ 1/1 ═══════════════════ Node-Manager ══════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Addresses ║░ ░║ Main: 2:999/900.╔═ Route NetMail to ══════╗ 4D/Type 2+: Y ║░ ░║ ARCmail: 2:999/900.║ 2:999/900.* ║ TosScan: N ║░ ░║ ║ ║ ARCmail 0.60: N ║░ ░║ Name: Ben Grimm ║ ║ Pack priority: 0 ║░ ░║ ║ ║Convert Umlaut: N ║░ ░║ Your Aka: 2:999/999.║ ║ ║░ ░║ ║ ║ow Area-Create: N ║░ ░║ Passwords ║ ║ Default Group: Y ║░ ░║ Packet: ║ ║Export By Name: N ║░ ░║ AreaFix: THETHING ║ ║ ║░ ░║ Status ║ ║ AreaFix flags: » ║░ ░║ ARCmail: None ║ ║ ║░ ░║ AreaFix: None ║ ║ Send Notify: Y ║░ ░║ Packer: ZIP Max║ ║ Send Help: Y ║░ ░║ ║ ║ ║░ ░║ Groups: AB ║ ║ Passive: N ║░ ░║ Security: 100 ╚═════════ via this node ═╝matic Passive:0 ║░ ░║ ║░ ░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Enter-Edit Ins-Add Del-Delete F2-Rout F5-Browse F4 Area List F5-Copy But what's the NetMail routing?. The routing represents the path that the NetMail messages, created or in transit upon your system, must follow to reach the destination. The case shown in the picture, means that you want to route all NetMail messages addressed to the 2:999/900 points (that's the node shown in the node manager screen) via the 2:999/900 system. That's the default routing suggested by FastEcho di- rectly. You can, obviously, perform any different choices according to your needs. Specifing the NetMail routing you can rely on special sym- bols called "wildcard", the symbol "*" asterisk will take into conside- ration all possible addresses after the ones specified (see the ROUTE.FE chapter for further information routing statements). The sta- tement shown in pictures, will obtain the routing of all NetMails for the node 2:999/900 and all its points (I.E. 2:999/900.1, 2:999/900.2 and so on) through the same 2:999/900 node. If, instead, you want route, through the node 2:999/900 all NetMail messages for the zone "2", then you must delete the actual default routing statement ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 59 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── "2:999/900.*" replacing it with "2:*". The NetMail routing you will define here will always be relative to the node shown in the benehat screen of the "node manager". As you can see, this option is somewhat complex but it's really powerful; you can define in the box shown up to 15 different routing-statements but remember that valid statements must always be defined in the standard "Zone:Net/Node.Point" format, further, each statement can be shortened with the aforesaid wildcard "*" or the "ALL" verb. the NetMail routing defined here has its own "top-down" hierarchical priorities over five levels: Zone:Net/Node.Point Level 4 Zone:Net/Node.* Level 3 Zone:Net/* Level 2 Zone:* Level 1 * Level 0 The higher this level will be, the higher priority the routing statement will have. For example, if you have 3 nodes: Node "A", Node "B" and Node "C" defined in your Node-Manager. Node "A" has "2:*" as routing statement, Node "B" has "2:999/*" and Node "C" has only "*" in its "route NetMails to" box. Now you send a NetMail for the point 2:999/904.9. Through what system will FastEcho route it? It will be routed through the "B" system, of course, that's because it has a rou- ting level of "2" which is higher than system "A" which has a routing level of "1" and higher than system "C" too, because this one has one routing level of "0" which is hierarchically the last. 5.5.1.24.3 - Node Manager (F3-Browse) This is a shortcut key to select the node you need in a very prati- cal way, without running through all "node-manager" records but simply selecting it by means of a nice popup window. When you are in "view" mode, by pressing the "F3" key, the following window will be shown to you, superimposed at your main "node manager" layout: FESetup System Data Expo┌──────────────────────────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────│>2:999/900.0 [Ben Grimm]<│░ ░╔══ 1/1 ═══════════════════ Node│ 16:999/900.0 [Sue Wright] │░ ░║ Addresses │ 2:999/999.1 [Franklin Richards] │░ ░║ Main: 2:999/900.0 └──────────────────────────────────┘░ ░║ ARCmail: 2:999/900.0 ARCmail 0.60: N ║░ ░║ Pack priority: 0 ║░ ░║ Name: Ben Grimm ║░ To select a different node, simply move the highlighted box, with the arrows-keys, on the one you need and then press "return". Im- mediately your requested node will be shown in the "node manager" main screen. If you have followed the tutorial until now, you will see in this window only the node you have already defined: the 2:999/900. You will be able to see the other as soon as you define them. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 60 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.24.4 - Node Manager (F4-Area List) This shortcut key can really save you a lot of time! When you are in the main "node-manager" window, simply by pressing the "F4" key, a new window will overlap the present one. Look at the picture below: FESetup System Data Export Import ┌────────────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░│ ■ CLIPPER │ ░╔══ 1/1 ═══════════════════ Node-Manager ══════│ ■ CLANG │ ░║ Addresses │ DEWDNEY │ ░║ Main: 2:999/900.0 │ ■ SF │ ░║ ARCmail: 2:999/900.0 │ ■ SysOp_CHATTER │ ░║ │ ■ SysOp_COORD │ ░║ Name: Ben Grimm └────────────────────┘ The new window, visible at the right side of your screen, lists al- phabetically all the areas accessible by this node, both linked or not. This gives you a direct overview of all areas available to it according to its available groups (see: 5.5.1.8) and to its security level (see: 5.5.1.9); You can link or unlink areas for this node simply by moving the highlighted box on the areas you want and tagging them by way of the "space-bar" key. When an area is linked, a small black box will be visible to the left of the area-name. Here you always have the "Speed- Search" function available: To search an area in the list, simply start fingering its name on your keyboard, immediately the cursor will be placed upon the area you need (if available). When you have finished tagging or untagging the area-names you want, then FastEcho will do, for you, all the necessary adjustments in Area-Manager automatically. In our tutorial we shall see nothing in this box, that's normal,because we haven't yet defined any areas in "area manager" section. 5.5.1.24.5 - Node Manager (F5-Copy) By means of this useful option you will be able to "replicate" an existing node (already defined), duplicating any of its entry; further- more, you can modify the duplicated record according to your needs. This feature can be very helpful when you have to define in "node manager" several nodes which have similar characteristics by changing only the different ones (I.E. net address or some advanced options). This may let save you lot of time when configuring FastEcho. 5.5.1.24.6 - Node Manager (Ins-New Entry) This key is only useful if you want to insert a new system in your "Node Manager" database. When you strike the Ins key a new empty entry form (see:5.5.1) will be shown to you, ready to be dressed with new data, in order to define a new uplink or downlink. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 61 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.1.24.7 - Node Manager (Del-Delete) This is only useful if you want to remove a node from your FastEcho configuration. When you are in "Node Manager" "View" mode, by pressing the "Del" key, the currently selected system will be marked for dele- tion. Infact, it won't be removed immediately, but, at the top of your screen, near the record number, the label "Deleted" will be clearly shown. The physical removal of the system marked for deletion will hap- pen, after confirmation, when you leave the "node manager". .-.-. Here you have finished the dressing of your first system in "Node manager". Now you have the right information to complete it by defining the other two systems: the 16:999/999 and the 2:999/999.1. Repeat the step already seen from 5.5.1 to 5.5.1.23 until you have finished. When done press the "ESC" key to return back into the "Data DropDown Menu". 5.5.2 - Group Area Defaults This is one of the most powerful capabilities of FastEcho: The area grouping. Through this section it is possible to setup every group with your customized predefined values that will reflect the group needs. For example you may define a group for your local areas, another for your national FidoNet areas, another for international FidoNet areas and as many groups as many net you are involved in, every group with its specific defaults. We have already defined the group-names (see: 5.4.13) now we must define the groups peculiarity, so, these group- names will be re-proposed as group titles. The groups will be used several times in many FastEcho tasks. The first we shall see is their use in Area-Definition: When you define a new area you will be prompted to select to what group the area you are defining will belong to, and, after you have choosen it, you will be asked if FESetup shall take over the selected groups defaults or not. Another task where FastEcho takes advantage of the use of group structures is when it performs an "Auto- Area-Create" operation (we have already met Auto-Area-Create: see 5.5.1.15 and 5.4.7.3 chapters) I.E. You can specify to which kind of group the newly created area will belong to (Local/EchoMail), define the type of storage, preset the flags and automatically forward the new area to the systems listed in 'Export-to', this reduces the need of manual inter-action to a minimum. Another useful Group application is the capability to perform Global changes on several areas simply selecting them by groups. but we shall see this option later in the manual. Now place the Highlighted box on "Group Area Defaults" item and strike "return". You will see the following screen: FESetup System Data Export Im┌───────────────────────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░│>A) - FidoNet EchoMail Natl< │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configuration │░│ B) - FidoNet EchoMail Intl │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>Group Area Defaults<│░│ C) - ZyXELnet EchoMail Area │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Area-Configuration │░│ D) - Local BBS Area │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Carbon Copies │░│ E) │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ AreaFix Options │░│ F) │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░└─────────────────────┘░│ G) │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ [...] │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ V) │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ W) │ Edit area defaults for each group └───────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 62 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── As you can immediately see, the group names contained in the box to the right of your screen are the same that you defined in "Group Names" section (See: 5.4.13). Now you should fix the default values for each of them. To do so, place the highlighted box upon the (group "A") group and strike return. You will obtain the following layout: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ╔═════════════════════ Area defaults for Group A ════════════════════╗ ║ Comment: FidoNet EchoMail Natl ║ ║ Origin: System in test @Fidonet.org ║ ║ Type: EchoMail ║ ║ Storage: Hudson Board: 1 ║ ║ Path: ║ ║ Use Aka: 2:999/999.0 ║ ║ ║ ║ Mandatory: N Keep SEEN-BY: Y Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N ║ ║ Convert Umlaut: N Keep users: N Kill read: N Disab. Psve: N ║ ║ Remote changes: Y Hide area: N Keep NetMail: N ║ ║ ║ ║ Purging # Msgs: 50 # Days: 30 # Rcvd Days: 0 ║ ║ Security Read: 0 Write: 0 ║ ║ ║ ║ SEEN-BY: 2:999/999.0 ║ ║ Export to: 2:999/900 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... Now we'll begin the dressing of the area default for group "A". no- tice that your screen, now, won't look exactly like the one in this picture because you havent yet inserted any data. 5.5.2.1 - Comment (default) In this field you may enter the default description that will be initially assigned, in area manager, to each area when you confirm to take over the selected group default; then you may modify this defaul- ted description according to your needs. 5.5.2.2 - Origin (default) When the cursor will fall into the "Origin" item, the following box will popup automatically: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ╔═══════════════════════ Area defaults for Group A ══════════════════╗ ║ Comment:┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ Origin:│>A) This is the Reed's system< │ ║ ║ Type:│ B) System in test@Fidonet.org │ ║ ║ Storage:│ C) System in test@ZyXELNET.ftn │ ║ ║ Path:│ D) │ ║ ║ Use Aka:│ E) │ ║ ║ │ [...] │ ║ ╚═════════│ T) │══╝ ░░░░░░░░░░│ U) (Empty) │░░░ Press F10 └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 63 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── We have already extensively talked about "Origin" lines and their means, previously in this manual (see: 5.4.14 chapter) when we defined them. Now it's time to begin using these defined origin-lines assigning them to one or more "group area defaults" record. The box appeared overlying the main "Area Defaults" screen assignment, contains the exact origin lines you defined in the 5.4.14 chapter. Here you cannot modify their contents, you may only select the one that fits the group area requirements. To select your preferred origin line, you must move the highlighted box, by means of your arrows-key, placing it upon the origin line you need and then confirming your choice pressing, the "Return" key. When finished, you will see only your selected "origin" line displayed in the "Area Defaults" screen assignment. For our tuto- rial, place the cursor upon the "B" Item (System in Test@Fidonet.org) and press return. 5.5.2.3 - Type (default) Here you must define the type of area (EchoMail, NetMail, Local) for this specific group. When the cursor falls in the "type" item, you will be prompted to select your preferred one by means of the following popup selector: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ╔═════════════════════ Area defaults for Group A ════════════════════╗ ║ Comment: FidoNet EchoMail Natl ║ ║ Origin: System in test @Fidonet.org ║ ║ Type: ┌─────────────┐ ║ ║ Storage: │>EchoMail< │ Board: 1 ║ ║ Path: │ NetMail │ ║ ║ Use Aka: │ Local │ ║ ║ │ BadMail │ ║ ║ Man│ DupeMail │SEEN-BY: Y Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N ║ ║ Convert └─────────────┘p users: N Kill read: N Disab. Psve: N ║ ║ Remote changes: Y Hide area: N Keep NetMails: N ║ [...] [...] ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... We have already pointed out the main differences between EchoMail, NetMail and Local areas (see: 5.4.14.1) but here we can see another two different area types: "BadMail" and "DupeMail". we'll see later that one "BadMail" area needs to be defined (it's mandatory) otherwise FastEcho may not work properly, while the "DupeMail" area may be defi- ned in order to enable the FastEcho's dupechecking feature. Make sure to make your right choice here by selecting the proper area "type" in accordance with this group's target. To select a "type" simply move, as usual, the box over the item you need and strike return to confirm; doing so you will see your choice displayed on the "Group Area Default" main layout. For our tutorial select the "EchoMail" area type and press return to continue. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 64 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.2.4 - Storage (default) In the previous item we defined the type of area for this group; In this one you must define, instead, your preferred storage standards. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ╔═════════════════════ Area defaults for Group A ════════════════════╗ ║ Comment: FidoNet EchoMail Natl ║ ║ Origin: System in test @Fidonet.org ║ ║ Type: EchoMail ║ ║ Storage: ┌─────────────┐ Board: 1 ║ ║ Path: │>Hudson< │ ║ ║ Use Aka: │ Fido *.MSG │ ║ ║ │ Squish │ ║ ║ Man│ JAM │SEEN-BY: Y Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N ║ ║ Convert │ Passthrough │p users: N Kill read: N Disab. Psve: N ║ [...]mote c└─────────────┘de area: N Keep NetMail: N [...] ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... FastEcho can store messages with several storage standards (HMB, JAM, SQUISH, MSG) and each of them has its specific proprieties, advan- tages and disadvantages. Your possible choice may fall upon one storage type instead of another because it's the one that your BBS system sup- ports or because of your personal preferences. The Hudson Message Base (aka QBBSbase) is the fastest storage type up until now but it has some major limitations in maximum number of available boards (up to 200) and in maximum number of messages in all the defined boards (up to 16000); Fido *.MSG, Squish and Jam messagebases don't suffer this limitation but they are a lot slower in processing: this is due to their specific characteristics and structures. For our tutorial select in this window the "Hudson" storage type and strike "return" key. 5.5.2.5 - Board (default) This setting is only used in "Hudson" storage type; if you, in the previous option, have selected a storage type different from the "Hud- son" one, then you won't be able to access this item. On the countrary, if you selected "Hudson", the cursor will be positioned herein waiting for a number by you. When you complete this "Group Area Default" section, you will need to add the areas in "Area Manager" and, there, FastEcho will ask you if it has to take over the default you assigned here, so, when you confirm to take over this "group default" while adding a new board in "Area Manager" or when FastEcho performs an "Auto Area Create" operation, this default board number will instruct FastEcho to scan the free Hudson board starting from the number specified, until it reaches the board 200. If FastEcho is unable to find any free board starting from the specified one, then the messages will be tossed in the "BadMail" board. For our tutorial, input here the number "1" and strike the "return" key to continue. 5.5.2.6 - Path (default) This item will be accessible only if you specified a "Storage" type different from "Hudson". The main difference between the "Hudson" sto- rage type and the other (JAM, SQUISH and MSG) is that while the "Hud- son" storage type handles all the boards you can define (max. 200) into ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 65 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── some files located in a single directory that you have already defined (See: 5.4.4 - PathNames and 5.4.4.2 - Messagebase), the JAM, SQUISH ones need to be defined area by area in different files because of their structures. The specified path will be used as base path were for JAM and Squish the new area files will be created and for *.MSG a new directory will be created when Auto-Area-Create is actived. 5.5.2.7 - Use Aka (default) Here you may define your default aka (address) for the areas be- longing to this group. When you place the cursor upon this field, you will see the following box: ┌───────────────┐ Use Aka: │>2:999/999< │ │ 16:999/999 │ └───────────────┘ Your aka must be chosen in accordance with the uplink address who you call for this group of areas. For example, if your FidoNet uplink address is the 2:999/900 and you are defining the "Fidonet EchoMail group" then, if your FidoNet aka for this uplink is 2:999/999, you must insert it in this field. For our tutorial, place the highlighted box upon the "2:999/999" aka and strike the "return" key to continue. 5.5.2.8 - Others "Group Area Defaults" switches All the other "Group area Default" switches that you can see in the this "Group area Default" layout (Mandatory, Keep SEEN-BY, Tiny SEEN- BY, CPD, Convert Umlaut, Keep users, Kill read, Disable Passive, Remote changes, Hide area, Keep NetMails, Purging Msgs, Days, Rcvd Days, Secu- rity Read, Write) have exactly the same meanings as the ones you will see in the "Area definition" layout. In order to avoid explaining them over and over again, I willingly omit them. Take, as datum-point, the same options you will see in aforesaid layout, and then, you will come back here to follow the explanation. Keep in mind that the ones you will define in the present section will be defaulted to all the areas that belong to the specified group. Once the default group's values are assigned to a particular area, these values may of course be changed by you according to your needs. For our tutorial now skip to the 5.5.3.1.10 chapter to continue and, when signaled, return back here to the 5.5.2.9 chapter. 5.5.2.9 SEEN-BY (default) It will be more convenient for you to define the "SEEN-BY" and the "Export-To" items in the "default" section for each group, instead of specifing them repeatedly while defining each single area. Here you will define the "SEEN-BY" item. Place the cursor upon the SEEN-BY item and strike the return key. You will see the following box: ┌─────────────────┐ SEEN-BY:│■ >2:999/999< │ Export to:│ 16:999/999 │ └─────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 66 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── But What is the "SEEN-BY"? It can be considered as an EchoMail tool. At the bottom of each EchoMail message may exist an item marked as "SEEN-BY" immediately followed by as many net addresses as many sys- tems have already seen. These are necessary for mail processing. Its presence can be useful only on multiline systems to avoid problems with the detection of the dupes (EchoMail messages erroneously duplicated) or for route-debugging purposes. Obviously you must select the right Seen-by that reflects your aka for this particular group; for example, if you are defining the group for your FidoNet EchoMail areas that you pick up from the uplink with 2:999/900 as net address and you have two akas: "2:999/999" and "16:999/999", then your SEEN-BY for this uplink will be, very likely, the "2:999/999" one; (it usually matches the. "Use AkA" setting that we saw above in 2.2.5.7 paragraph) but if you have a multiline system with more that one Fidonet aka you may select more than one SEEN-BY too, inspite of your "use Aka" setting. To select the SEEN-BY you want, you must, as usual, move the highlighted box upon the right address and press the "space bar" until you have marked all the SEEN-BY items you wish (you will see one small black box to the left of each selected SEEN-BY) and, then, press the return key to confirm your selections. For our tutorial select the "2:999/999" as SEEN-BY address. 5.5.2.10 - Export-To (default) Any EchoMail area that you receive from your uplink may be exported to your downlinks. FastEcho, of course, to correctly perform this task, needs to be informed to whom downlinks you want export mail and which areas it has to export So now, you know that "somewhere" you must specify the areas to export and the net-address of the system to whom you want FastEcho to export them. Keep in mind that in this section we are only defining the "group-defaults"; so place the cursor over the "Export-To" item and strike the "Return" Key. You will see the following window: FESetup System Data Export Impor┌─────────────────────────┐ ╔═════════════════════ Area defaults for Gr│ ■ 2:999/900.0 │ ║ Comment: FidoNet EchoMail Natl │ 2:999/999.1 │ ║ Origin: System in test @Fidonet.org │ 16:999/999.0 │ ║ Type: EchoMail │ │ [...] [...] [...] ║ SEEN-BY: 2:999/999.0 │ │ ║ Export to: 2:999/900 │ │ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════└─────────────────────────┘ Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing In the present item we might define the downlinks that want to re- ceive this particular group of areas so you will attain two main tar- gets: Firstly you will find your downlinks already defined when you setup your areas belonging to this group, avoiding to reselect them every time, and, further, you will be able to rely on the "Auto-Area- Create" autoforward feature. What's this!?!?. Very simple. We have met the "Auto-Area-Create" feature several times in this manual (see: 5.5.1.15, 5.4.7.3, 5.4.7.4 and 5.4.7.5 chapters) and you now already know that by means of this function you could obtain that FastEcho per- forms several automated operations in order to add a new area in its configuration, in your Mailer and in your BBS configurations. If you specify your downlinks in this default "Export-to" setting, then every ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 67 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Group area Defaults - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── new area that FastEcho will add automatically will also be directly forwarded to your downlinks, that you have specified in this field, without any of your manual intervention. For our tutorial place the highlighted box upon the 2:999/999 address which is the right one, mark it by pressing the "space bar" and then strike return to confirm. .-.-. Here you have finished the setup of your first "Group Area De- fault"; you must now setup the other two groups: one for the "Fidonet EchoMail Intl": the Fidonet international area , and one for "ZyXELnet EchoMail"; repeat the steps from 5.5.2 toward 5.5.2.10 until you have finished;then press the "ESC" key to return to the "Data Dropdown Menu" 5.5.3 - Area Configuration ------------------ In this section you will define and setup every EchoMail, NetMail, Local and Special areas you will use in your daily activities. We have already talked about EchoMail and NetMail differences several times (see: 5.5.2.3, 5.4.14.1, 5.4.14.1.1 and 5.4.14.1.2) so, I assume that you have acquired a good knowledge of them; but there are two more area types that we haven't mentioned so much: The "Local" and the "Special" areas. The "Local" are areas that will never be forwarded to other systems and will never be picked up from other systems by you. The mes- sages contained in local areas are, so, locally created in your system and locally read too (for example the local areas of your BBS); they are somewhat useless for point systems, with the only exception that they may be used for "Carbon Copy" (see the introduction to the 5.5 chapter) we'll see better the means of the "Carbon Copies" function and its use in "Using FastEcho" later in this manual. The "Special" is, in- stead, a kind of area that FastEcho needs in order to perform two main operations: The first is detecting all bad messages that don't match your preferences settled in FESetup, and the second is intercepting all incoming duplicated messages (better known as "dupes"). The first special area, that's mandatory, is the "BadMail" area and the second one is the "DupeMail" area respectively. Keep in mind to define these two important areas because, otherwise, FastEcho will not work pro- perly. From the "Data DropDown Menu" Place the highlighted box upon the "Area Configuration" item and strike the return key. You will see the following screen: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configuration │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ╔══ 1/0 ════════════════════ Area-Manager ══════════════════════════╗ ║ Brd Area Name Used Aka Grp ║ ║───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║ ║ [...] [...] ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Enter-Edit Ins-Add Del-Delete F2-Sort F3-Tag F4 Srch F5-Copy F6-Glbal ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 68 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The one you are looking at now is the area browser, it's subdivided into four columns: Brd -> That identifies the number of boards belong- ing to the HMB or the type of messagebase you will use for the listed area (F) for FidoNet *.MSG areas, (S) for Squish areas and (J) for JAM area, the Name (TAG) of the area, the AKA that you have choosen for the listed area and, finally, the belonging group. Naturally, in this mo- ment the window is empty because we haven't yet defined any area,but we shall start soon. Let's go to the first area pressing the Ins key. 5.5.3.1 - The Area definition layout After you have pressed the "Ins" key, the following layout will be shown on your display: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name: Group: ║ ║ Comment: ║ ║ Origin: ║ ║ Type: EchoMail ║ ║ Storage: Hudson Board: ║ ║ Path: ║ ║ Use Aka: ║ ║ ║ ║ Mandatory: N Keep SEEN-BY: N Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N Psive: N ║ ║ Convert Umlaut: N Keep users: N Kill read: N Disble Psive: N ║ ║ Remote changes: Y Hide area: N Keep NetMail: N ║ ║ ║ ║ Purging # Msgs: 0 # Days: 0 # Rcvd Days: 0 ║ ║ Security Read: 0 Write: 0 ║ ║ ║ ║ SEEN-BY: ║ ║ Export to: ║ ║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Here you must define all the parameters needed to correctly handle each of your areas. When you start defininig your area, the cursor will be placed automatically upon the "Name" Item. 5.5.3.1.1 - Name Each EchoMail area has an unique name also known as area tag. In this Item the name of the areas you are defining must be correctly inserted. Make sure to insert this tag correctly otherwise you will not be able to send nor receive anything in this area. There are official documents which report and describe each area, each with its topic and its area tag, these documents are the so called "echolist". At the beginning you can ask your uplink for the available areas too and then ask for the "echolist". For our tutorial we shall input there one fake name "TESTECHO1" but, after we have finished, make sure to change this one with the right one that you wish to import from your uplink. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 69 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.2 - Group When the cursor falls into the "Group" item, the following screen will be presented to you: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit A┌───────────────────────────────┐ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 │>A) Fidonet EchoMail Natl< │ ║ Comment: │ B) Fidonet EchoMail Intl │ ║ Origin: System in test @Fidonet.or│ C) ZyXELnet EchoMail Area │ ║ Type: EchoMail │ D) Local BBS Area │ ║ Storage: Hudson Board:1 │ E) │ ║ Path: │ F) │ ║ Use Aka: 2:999/999.0 │ G) │ [...] [...] [...] ║ │ X) │ ║────────────────────────────────────│ Y) │ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort ed│ Z) │ ╚════════════════════════════════════└───────────────────────────────┘ You may note that the groups in the windows are the same that we defined in "Group-Area-Default" (see: 5.5.2). All that you have to do is select the right group to which this area will belong to, supposing that the one we are defining is a National FidoNet EchoMail area, then we shall select the "B" group that perfectly fits our needs because it's the International FidoNet EchoMail Group. For our tutorial, place the highlighted box over the "A" group and strike return, immediately we shall see the following box: ╔═════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Take over new group's ║ ║ defaults ? (Y,N) ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════╝ If you accept, by pressing the "Y" key, the previously defined de- fault values of the selected group will be copied into your new area. If you deny, by pressing the "N" key, you will have to modify all items according to your needs manually. For our tutorial, we shall press the "Y" key. 5.5.3.1.3 - Comment In this field you can input the description of the area you are defining or its purpose too. This description will be, also, used to document the area listing generated by FastEcho-AreaFix when your down- links forward you an AreaFix request containing the %LIST MetaCommand. To let FastEcho-AreaFix produce this descriptive list, you have to ena- ble the "Detailed List" item switching it to "Y". (You can find the "Detailed List" toggle in the "AreaFix option" item of the "Data Drop- down menu" but we shall meet this in the 5.5.6.9 chapter, later in this manual). For our tutorial input in this field "Exemplifying Board" and strike return to continue. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 70 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.4 - Origin After you have inserted your preferred area description relative to the area you are defining in the "Comment" item, you will immediately be prompted to select the proper "Origin" line for this area by means of the following box: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 Group:A ║ ║ Comment: Exemplifying Board ║ ║ Origin:┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ Type:│>A) This is the Reed's system< │ ║ ║ Storage:│ B) System in test@Fidonet.org │ ║ ║ Path:│ C) System in test@ZyXELNET.ftn │ ║ ║ Use Aka:│ D) │ ║ [...] [...] [...] ║─────────│ T) │─║ ║Press F10│ U) (Empty) │ ║ ╚═════════└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘═╝ We have already talked about origin lines several times in this manual (see: 5.5.2.2, 5.4.14, 5.4.14.1 and 5.4.14.2).Remember that the one you define now, will be taken to be inserted in your EchoMail mes- sages that you, or the user of your BBS system, will insert in this area. Naturally here you must select the right "Origin" line, accor- ding to the net which this area belongs to, or, if you have defined more that one origin for the same net, you may define your preferred one. FastEcho will of course only add an Origin line to exported messages when your editor didn't add one when writing the mail. For our tutorial place the highlighed box over the "origin" tagged as "B" and strike the "return" key to continue. 5.5.3.1.5 - Type When the cursor has passed over the "Type" item you will be imme- diately prompted to select the area type. FastEcho will show you the following popup-box to let you choose the right one: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 Group:A ║ ║ Comment: Exemplifying Board ║ ║ Origin: ┌───────────┐ ║ ║ Type: │>EchoMail< │ ║ ║ Storage: │ NetMail │ Board: ║ ║ Path: │ Local │ ║ ║ Use Aka: │ BadMail │ ║ ║ │ DupeMail │ ║ ║ Mand└───────────┘ SEEN-BY: N Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N Psive: N ║ [...] [...] ║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Here you must select the type of area you are defining, as you cer- tainly already know, these types will be treated in a very different way: The EchoMail areas must contain all public messages that will be ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 71 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── exported/imported in the normal way to/from your downlinks/uplinks, The NetMail areas must contain only private messages having one unique sender address and one unique receiver address (in particular, the Net- Mail areas you will define here will be called "Secondary NetMail Area"; don't confuse the "Secondary" with the "Primary" NetMail area (to see the differeces between them please read paragraph 5.4.4.1). The "Local" areas must contain only messages for local use (I.E. the mes- sages exchanged between your BBS users or messages copied by "FastEcho Carbon Copy" Function. The BadMail area is the only MANDATORY area that MUST exist in your FESetup area definition; FastEcho needs this area in order to correctly handle all the messages that don't match your FESetup specifications when it tosses the incoming mail packets coming from your uplinks/downlinks. The DupeMail area is an area that may be defined if you want to enable the FastEcho power to detect the erraneously duplicated messages, contained in mail packets, coming from your uplinks/downlinks. If you still aren't sure about the existing differeces between the NetMail, EchoMail, Local, BadMail and DupeMail please read carefully through the following chapters: 5.4.14.1.1, 5.4.14.1.2 and 5.5.3 before you run the risk of selecting a wrong area type. For our tutorial, place the highlighted box over the "EchoMail" item and strike the return key to follow up. 5.5.3.1.6 - Storage Immediately after the definition of the "Type" of area, FESetup will ask you what kind of storage you need for the area you are defi- ning. You may choose between Hudson, JAM, Squish and Old-Fido-style *.MSG storage methods. The dialog box that FESetup will show you will be the following: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 Group:A ║ ║ Comment: Exemplifying Board ║ ║ Origin: System in test@Fidonet.org ║ ║ Type:┌─────────────┐ ║ ║ Storage:│>Hudson< │ Board: ║ ║ Path:│ Fido *.MSG │ ║ ║ Use Aka:│ Squish │ ║ ║ │ JAM │ ║ ║ Man│ Passthrough │SEEN-BY: N Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N Psive: N ║ [...] └─────────────┘ [...] ║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ The storage methods that you will select in this box are better known as "messagebase type". Each of these messagebases has its pecu- liar charachteristic. We shall point out the main two: The Hudson is the quickest message base you can find up until now, but it has two main limitations in the maximum number of messages that it can hold (16000) and the maximum number of definable boards (200); all the messages in all boards will be gathered together into 5 files located in one unique directory (the one you defined in the 5.4.4. chapter at the "Messagebase" item).The files, belonging to the Hudson base, that FastEcho could create automatically are: MSGHDR.BBS, MSGIDX.BBS, MSGTXT.BBS, MSGTOIDX.BBS, MSGINFO.BBS. The JAM and SQUISH messagebase types, instead, needs to have every area in a separate file and, if ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 72 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── you want, in a separate directory too. The Fido (*.MSG) messagebase needs to have every area in separate directories only. If you choose to use one JAM, SQUISH or *.MSG messagebase FESetup will later ask you the pathname for the area you are defining; which is not necesary for the Hudson message base where you must only select the board without pathname. The last Item shown in the dialog box is relative to the "Passthrough" status: this is not a kind of messagebase; selecting this one means that you aren't interested to it but you import it, all the same, for the benefit of your downlinks who need it; thus, if you mark some areas as "Passthrough" neither you nor your interactive-BBS-users will be able to read it. For our tutorial place the Highlighted box over the "Hudson" storage type and strike "return". 5.5.3.1.7 - Board This setting will be accessed only if you, in the previous item, have choosen the "Hudson" storage type; if you, in the previous option, have selected a storage type different from the "Hudson" one, then you won't be able to access it. As said before in several occasions, the Hudson messagebase can hold up to 200 boards. This number represent the number of board you want to assign to the present area. Naturally it will be automatically ranged from 1 to 200. For our tutorial leave FESetup to choose the right board for you and strike the "return" key to continue. 5.5.3.1-8 - Path This item, in opposition with the precedent one, will be accessible only if you have specified a "Storage" type different from "Hudson". As previously said, the SQUISH, JAM and *.MSG messagebases needs to have their areas stored in seperate files. For SQUISH and JAM you could leave more than one area in the same directory but each file must have a different name, as for the *.MSG messagebase,every area must reside in different directories. Here you must specify the pathname different to the area you are defining. 5.5.3.1.9 - Use Aka When the cursor will transit over the "Use Aka" item, you will im- mediately see the following dialog-box popping up on your screen. ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ════════════════════════════╗ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 Group:A ║ ║ Comment: Exemplifying Board ║ ║ Origin: System in test@Fidonet.org ║ ║ Type: EchoMail ║ ║ Storage: Hudson Board: 1 ║ ║ Path:┌───────────────┐ ║ ║ Use Aka:│>2:999/999.0< │ ║ ║ │ 16:999/999.0 │ ║ ║ Man└───────────────┘EN-BY: N Tiny SEEN-BY: N CPD: N Psive: N ║ ║ Convert Umlaut: N Keep users: N Kill read: N Disble Psive: N ║ ║ Remote changes: Y Hide area: N Keep NetMails: N ║ [...] [...] ║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing... ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 73 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── here you must select the right aka to use for this area, in accor- dance with the uplink address where you import it from. FastEcho will use this aka to insert the right net-address in your origin line and in several other circumstances too. It may be extremely important to insert the right area in this field, expecially if you use more that one "Secondary NetMail Area" (one for each net you are involved in) to allow FEUTIL program adequately import the NetMail messages in the right NetMail area in relation to the "aka" they are addressed to. For our tutorial place the selector on the 2:999/999.0 address and strike the return key to continue. 5.5.3.1.10 - Mandatory When you toggle this switch to "Y" status, then your downlinks won't be able to 'unlink' this area by theirselves by sending an "AreaFix" unlink-request because it will be rejected. If you toggle this option to "Y", then only you will be able to unlink this area by accessing FESetup area manager and changing it manually. When this flag is enabled the "Passive" flag won't be honored either. (see the "Passive" flag at paragraph 5.5.3.1.14). For our tutorial, leave this flag disabled. 5.5.3.1.11 - Keep SEEN-BY We have already talked about SEEN-BY and its meaning in chapter 5.5.2.9, so, now I believe you are sufficiently aware of them. The sta- tus of this flag will determine if FastEcho will keep all the seen-by lines of the tossed (imported) EchoMails storing them into your messa- gebase or if it will strip them instead. The SEEN-BY lines, neverthe- less, aren't very interesting because they don't contain meaningful in- formation, furthermore they take up a lot of space in your messagebase; They can be helpful only for debugging purposes when checking the mail- routing functionality. If you switch this option in "Y" all the seen-by lines will be kept, otherwise they will be stripped out. If, instead, you want to keep the SEEN-BY lines in your messages but you also want to make them hidden, then is possible toggle in this item the setting "H" . For our tutorial, switch this item active toggling it to "Y". 5.5.3.1.12 - Tiny SEEN-BY The present option will be useful for HOST, GateWay and HUBs system only. By means of this function, in fact, FastEcho will strip, in your SEEN-BY lines, all the systems that aren't present in the export-to list for this area. This task is mandatory for GateWays but could be useful for HUB systems too, in order to decrease the size of EchoMail packets. However, keep in mind that stripping of SEEN-BY lines may defeat some enhanced dupe checking methods, so only turn this switch on if you know (and are allowed to) what you do. 5.5.3.1.13 - CPD Circular Path Detection If you switch this toggle to its "Y" status, then you will activate another FastEcho power to detect dupelicates in your incoming mail packets. This detecting methods is based upon the presence, in each EchoMail message, of a particular "kludge" called "PATH", this kludge reports the path that the messages follow to reach your system, node by node. (For a complete kludge list see the appendix B) If you activate ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 74 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── this feature, then FastEcho, when tossing your incoming mail packets, will consider all the messages that already have your net address in the ^APATH kludge, as dupes discarding them or copying them in the DupeMail area. 5.5.3.1.14 - Passive You will be able to set this flag only if the area you are configu- ring has been set as "passthrough" (See 5.5.3.1.6) as storage method. As said before, the "passthrough" is a particular setting that allows you to forward EchoMail areas to your downlinks without storing them locally on your system. (It can be useful when this area is unintere- sting for you but not for your downlinks). This FastEcho's feature is strictly related to the "Forward AreaFix Request" capability. We shall see later that FastEcho, if you want, has the power to accept an AreaFix "Link" request relating to areas that you aren't available on your system, by forwarding it to your uplink that has it. FastEcho, in this case, will automatically create one of its own AreaFix "Link" requests, addressed to your uplink, setting the requested area as pass- through and, directly, joining it to the downlink that requested it. This "automatically" linked area will remain, from now on, available on your system as "passthrough" area and other systems, if they want, will be able to link up with it. If these systems decide to unlink this area, they could send you an AreaFix "Unlink" request, thus, their addresses will be removed, one by one, from the "Export-To" list until it contains only the "Uplink" address; If it happens, this means that this area will be tossed without storing or forwarding it. FastEcho has the capability of detecting this behavior while processing the AreaFix requests from your downlinks, thus it will try to unlink your system from this, now, useless area, by sending an AreaFix "Unlink" request spontaneously to your uplink and by automatically toggling the "Passive" switch to "Y". If then, FastEcho receivesanother request for such an area from your downlinks in order to reactivate this area, FastEcho will switch this toggle to "N" activating this area again and, simultaneously, it will send a new "Link" request to your uplink. Keep in mind that, all this mechanism, works only if your uplink is mentioned in the "Forward AreaFix Request" list (that we shall see later). For our tutorial, leave this option disabled by toggling it to "N". 5.5.3.1.15 - Convert Umlaut This feature may be useful for German people only. As you certainly know, there are some symbols and letters that you cannot use in FidoNet EchoMail areas. In these forbidden letters are included the so called German "Umlauts" (ÄäÖöÜüß). If you switch this option active, by swit- ching it to "Y", then FastEcho will convert "on-the-fly" the "Umlauts" into "EchoPol"-compliant characters while managing messages. As you certainly remember, We have already met this option in "Node-Manager" (See 5.5.1.14 chapter). Switch this option active, only if you write in German using the "Umlaut" symbols. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 75 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.16 - Keep Users This flag doesn't affect any FastEcho behavior. Infact, it works over the FEUTIL companion utility when it performs the "purge" opera- tion. If you enable this option, then, FEUTIL PURGE won't be able to kill any still unread message which is addressed to any of the FastEcho user you defined in the "User-names" list (See paragraph 5.4.2 for more information) It could be useful if you, or any user previously defined in "User-names", must leave the system for vacations or trips and you don't want the normal system upkeep routines, performed with the FEUTIL Purge/Pack commands to deletes your mail until you come back home. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. 5.5.3.1.17 - Kill Read This is another function for tuning the FEUTIL PURGE behavior. If this switch is enabled, then the purge operation will involve all the messages foregoing the last one you have read. This can be done thanks to a particular file called "LASTREAD.BBS" that internally keeps track of your last read message in every configured area. In this way all the messages located before this kind of "bookmark" will be deleted. This "Kill Read" function works separately from the normal "Purging Pa- rameters" that hasn't any effect over these messages. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. 5.5.3.1.18 - Disable Passive This option is strictly related with the one seen in paragraph 5.5.3.1.14. As we have seen in the mentioned paragraph, FastEcho is capable of automatically switching the "passthrough" areas to "Passive" status when the last downlink sends to your system an AreaFix-Unlink request. This toggle is provided to avoid this automatic switching; so, enabling this option FastEcho won't generate any AreaFix unlink request addressed to your Uplink even if none of your downlinks are currently linked to this area. For our tutorial leave this option inactive by switching it to "N". 5.5.3.1.19 - Remote changes Its a very similar option to the "Mandatory" one, we have seen in the chapter 5.5.3.1.10. If you enable this function, then FastEcho will reject all the AreaFix requests that your downlinks may send to your system, in order to link or unlink this area. The only difference be- tween "Remote changes" and "Mandatory" is that, while "Remote changes" is active, the "Passive" flag will be honored, with a "Mandatory" one, it won't. (For an accurate explanation of the "passive" flag, see the chapter 5.5.3.1.14) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 76 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.20 - Hide Area This option may be useful if you have, on your system, some private areas that you wish to hide to some of your downlinks. By means of AreaFix, your downlinks can request to your system a list of all your available areas. If you don't wish to leave this area visible to all your downlinks, simply enable this option, so it won't appear either in the "%LIST" nor in the "%UNLINKED" metacommeds request. It will be vi- sible only with the "%QUERY" and "%INFO" MetaCommands if the area is linked to the specific system. For our tutorial keep this switch disabled. 5.5.3.1.21 - Keep NetMails This flag only operates upon the "NetMail" areas type and tells FastEcho SCAN not to assign NetMail messages exported from this area into your "Primary NetMail Area" the 'Kill/Sent' flag, which means after sending these messages will remain in your NetMail area for later processing (like back-up purposes). 5.5.3.1.22 - Purging This section represent the selective purging conventions only for the area you are defining. If one of the following items isn't speci- fied (leaving it at zero value), then FEUTIL will take into due consideration the global purging convention settled in chapter 5.4.9.1 (Purging defaults). Their meanings, that will be summarized below, will be the same we have already seen in the chapter above mentioned but, if you specify them here, they will be valid for this area only. In this way you will be able to fine tune the purging parameters for every single one of them. 5.5.3.1.22.1 - Purging (Msgs) Here you may specify the number of messages you want to be kept in this particular area after the "Purge" operation has been completed. FastEcho will mark for deletion the messages that exceed this limit starting from the older ones (see paragraph 5.4.9.1.1 for further details about this option) For our tutorial, leave this option to "0". 5.5.3.1.22.2 - Purging (Days) With the number specified here you will communicate to FEUTIL your preferences about how old the messages in this area have to be before it can start marking them for deletion while executing the Purge opera- tion. For our tutorial leave this option to "0". 5.5.3.1.22.3 - Purging (Rcvd Days) Here you may inform FEUTIL that you allow it to start marking for deletion all messages carrying the 'Received' (read) flag older than specified. For our tutorial leave this option to "0". ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 77 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.23 - Security In the following two items you can define which security level the area you are defining will have. The levels must be adjusted conformly to the security level that the nodes, defined in your "Node Manager", have, in order to allow them to link this particular area or not. These security levels have only means for automated operations performed from your downlinks through AreaFix "Link" requests and whether or not messages in an area will be accepted from or send to a specific system. 5.5.3.1.23.1 - Read (Security) This is the security level that you wish to assign to this area. If a downlink, having its own security level in node manager (see: Se- curity - chapter 5.5.1.9) greater or, at least, equal to this "Read- area-security", tries to link this area, its request will be honored; if, instead, it has the security level lower than the one specified in this item, then the request will be refused and the link denied. Remem- ber that this switch gives to the downlinks, only the permission to read this area. In this way you may leave some downlinks abled to Read only this area even if they are currently linked. For this tutorial, input in this field the number "10" and strike return to continue. 5.5.3.1.23.2 - Write (Security) With this item you can bind the "Write-Security" at this particular area. As said before, a downlink may have the permission to "read-on- ly" a area if its node-security level is greater or equal only to the one specified in "Read" security. If you want to leave the downlinks also free to link this area in "Write", check that the "Node" se- curity level is greater or, at least, equal to the "Area" security le- vel you will input herein. For our tutorial, input the number "10" con- firming with the "return" key. 5.5.3.1.23.3 - Examples (Security) The node 2:888/888 has security level 100 The node 2:777/777 has security level 50 The node 2:666/666 has security level 30 The EchoMail area TEST0.CHT has security level 100 read and 100 write The EchoMail area TEST1.CHT has security level 50 read and 50 write The EchoMail area TEST2.CHT has security level 30 read and 40 write The node 2:888/888 will be able to link all the EchoMail areas here mentioned both in read/write because it has 100 as security level which is higher than the area security level for TEST1 and TEST2 and equal to the TEST3 read/write level. The node 2:777/777 will be able to link only the TEST1 and TEST2 EchoMail area, because its security level is greater than the read/write security level of the TEST2 area and equal to the TEST1 read/write level. The node 2:666/666 will be able to link in read-only the EchoMail area TEST2 because its security level is lo- wer than the read/write security level of the TEST0 and TEST1 area and furthermore, is lower that the "write" security level of the TEST2. .-.-. If you jumped in this section from the "Area Default Setting it's time to go back to the chapter 5.5.2.9, otherwise follow on to the next one. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 78 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.24 - SEEN-BY We have already talked about "SEEN-BY" lines in the previous 5.5.2.9 chapter where its meaning and its application too has been ex- plained, please refer to the mentioned paragraph for further informa- tion about it. Here you will define the "SEEN-BY" item for this parti- cular area you are defining. Placing the cursor upon the SEEN-BY item and striking the return key. You will see the following box: ┌─────────────────┐ SEEN-BY:│■ >2:999/999< │ Export to:│ 16:999/999 │ └─────────────────┘ Whithin this Box are listed all your akas which match all your addresses defined in the 5.4.1 chapter. You will be able to select one or more between them simply by moving the highlighted box with the arrows-key and tagging the SEEN-BY that fits your area requirements with the Space-bar. When an Aka is tagged you can notice a small black box to the left of the selected one. The SEEN-BY could be defined an EchoMail tool; in fact it could be useful to trace EchoMail route errors or to enable the FastEcho DupeChecking feature based upon the SEEN-BY lines scanning. For our tutorial select the address 2:999/999 by tagging it and strike the "return" key to continue. 5.5.3.1.25 - Export-to We extensively talked about the "Export-to" item in "Group Area De- faults" in chapter 5.5.2.10. Here you may define manually which down- link needs to be connected with the area you are now configuring but remember that your downlinks could make the same operation by themsel- ves by means of "AreaFix" Link requests (unless you decide differen- tly). To access the "Export-to" dialog box, simply place the cursor over the "Export-to" field; you will see the following screen: ╔═════════════════════════════ Edit Area ══┌─────────────────────────┐ ║ Name: TESTECHO1 │ ■ 2:999/900.0 │ ║ Comment: Exemplifying Board │ ■ 2:999/999.1 │ ║ Origin: System in test@Fidonet.org │ 16:999/900.0 │ ║ Type: EchoMail │ │ [...] [...] [...] ║ SEEN-BY: 2:999/999.0 │ │ ║ Export to: 2:999/900.0 999.1 │ │ ║──────────────────────────────────────────│ │ ║Press F10 to save or ESC to abort editing.│ │ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════└─────────────────────────┘ Any area, however, must contain in the "Export to" field, at least one address: your uplink one. That's because you will pick up this area from your uplink, but you must also send new EchoMail messages in this area, locally created or received from your connected downlinks too. In this field you had better insert immediately the address of your uplink and, if you decide to configure them manually, the address of your downlinks too; otherwise you can let them do the linking of their preferred areas by themselves via "AreaFix" request. For our tutorial you must select the address 2:999/900 and 2:999/999.1; the first one is your uplink and the second one your downlink; then press return to ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 79 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── confirm your selection. You will notice that in the "Export-to" field, the uplink address is reported complete while your downlink is reported in abbreviated form. That's absolutely normal, it's done to save space. .-.-. Here you have finished the setup of the Area Configuration for your first area. Now you need to repeat the steps from 5.5.3.1 until 5.5.3.1.25 as many times as many areas you want configured (by changing the needed parameters, of course) When you finish all your areas then press the "ESC" key to confirm the saving of all your inserted items just when FESetup will ask you to do so. From now on I assume that you have configured two EchoMail areas TESTECHO1 and TESTECHO2 for FidoNet, two EchoMail areas TESTECHO3 and TESTECHO4 for ZyXELnet and one single secondary NetMail areas called TESTNET, further I assume you already have the "BadMail" mandatory area and the "DupeMail" areato enable the dupechecking feature of FastEcho. So, when you return to the "area browsing" your screen will look like the following: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configuration │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ╔══ 1/7 ═══════════════════ Area-Manager ═══════════════════════════╗ ║ Brd Area Name Used Aka Grp ║ ║───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║ ║ 1 TESTECHO1 2:999/999.0 A ║ ║ 2 TESTECHO2 2:999/999.0 B ║ ║ 3 TESTECHO3 16:999/999.0 C ║ ║ 4 TESTECHO4 16:999/999.0 C ║ ║ 5 BADMAIL 2:999/999.0 D ║ ║ 6 DUPEBOARD 2:999/999.0 D ║ ║ 7 TESTNET 2:999/999.0 E ║ [...] [...] ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Enter-Edit Ins-Add Del-Delete F2-Sort F3-Tag F4 Srch F5-Copy F6-Glbal As you can see, at the bottom of this screen, are displayed some active function keys that provide some facilities managing the already defined areas: The "Enter" Key, F2 through F6 "Ins" and "Del" key. Let's see each of them in detail. 5.5.3.1.26 - Active 'Area Manager' Function keys 5.5.3.1.26.1 - Area Manager (Enter-Edit) While you are in "Area Browsing", by means of the "Enter" you will be able to edit the parameters of the selected areas, thus, before pressing it, make sure to select, with the arrows-key, the right area you wish to edit. The editing layout will be exactly the same we have seen when inserting the first area, so, I assume you already know it. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 80 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.26.2 - Area Manager (F2-Sorting) If you wish to see your area browsing sorted differently from the default or if you wish to activate the speed search utility with your preferred search-key, then you can use the "Sort" function. Simply by pressing the "F2" key, the following box will pop up from the center of the screen: ┌───────────────┐ │>Sort by Name< │ │ Sort by Group │ │ Sort by Board │ └───────────────┘ In this dialog box you can choose one of the available sort-keys by moving the highlighted box with the arrows-key and confirm with "Re- turn". You will see that the area browsing list is changed accordingly. When the areas are sorted you will be able to use the speed search function. Try, for example, to sort by "Name" and, from your area browsing screen begin to finger the areatag "D"; you will see that im- mediately the selector will be placed upon the first AreaName that starts with "D" (in our case the "DupeMail" area). The other sorting keys will work likewise, of course. If you sort by group, the speed- search will work only over the area groups and if you sort by board it will work over the assigned board number (and messagebase type for all non-HMB areas). 5.5.3.1.26.3 Area Manager (F3-Tag) The area tagging will be useful when you want to perform some ope- ration involving only the selected ones. Normally you can "tag" an area manually, simply by placing the highlighted box over it and pressing the space-bar; when an area is tagged, you will see, as usual, the small black box to the left of the tagged area. The FESetup Area-Mana- ger provides an easier way to tag multiple area by using the tag faci- lity. Try to press the "F3" key, immediately the following dialog-box will be shown in the center of the screen where you can select your preferred tagging methods. ┌──────────────┐ │>Tag by Name< │ │ Tag by Group │ └──────────────┘ 5.5.3.1.26.3.1 - Tag by name If you have a lot of areas in the Area-Browsing screen and you exactly remember the areatag, then you can directly tag the area you need simply by selecting "Tag by Name". You will see the following box: ╔═══════════════ Tag by Name ══════════════╗ ║ _ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝ You can input herein the name mask of the areas you want to tag, for which the usual '*' and '?' wildcards may be used. If FESetup is be able to find your specified areas then theywill be immediately tagged, otherwise no other action will take place. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 81 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.26.3.2 - Tag by Group This option can be useful if you want to tag entire groups of areas with one single operation. The Area Manager (F3-Tag), in fact,allows you to tag for group too. If the "Tag by Group" item is selected, then you will be immediately prompted to select the group you want to tag by means of the following dialog box: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌──────────────┌───────────────────────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configur│>A) Fidonet EchoMail area Intl<│ ╔══ 1/7 ═══════════════════ Area-Man│ B) Fidonet EchoMail area Natl │ ║ Brd Area Name │ C) ZyXELnet EchoMail area │ ║───────────────────────────────────│ D) │ ║ 1 TESTECHO1 │ E) │ ║ 2 TESTECHO2 │ F) │ ║ 3 TESTECHO3 │ G) │ ║ 4 TESTECHO4 │ H) │ ║ 5 BADMAIL │ I) │ ║ 6 DUPEBOARD │ J) │ ║ 7 TESTNET │ K) │ [...] [...] [...] ║ │ M) │ ╚═══════════════════════════════════└───────────────────────────────┘ Enter-Edit F2-Sorting F3-Tag F4-Search F5-Copy F6-Globl Ins/Del-Entry In this new box all your configured groups will be listed. You will be allowed to select one of them and this will cause the automatic tag- ging of all the areas belonging to the selected group. In the screen shown above, for example, selecting the group "C", then the areas TESTECHO3 and TESTECHO4 will immediately results tagged. 5.5.3.1.26.4 - Area Manager (F4-Search) This function allows you to search an area by using of its name without being compelled you to sort the whole defined area for the specified key. It can be done simply by pressing the "F4" key, so you will be prompted to input the area name you are looking for, by means of the following box: ╔════════════════ Find Area ═══════════════╗ ║ _ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝ By inputting the complete or abbreviated area name within this box and pressing return, if FESetup will be able to find the area you specified, the highlighted box will be immediately placed over the searched area. 5.5.3.1.26.5 - Area Manager (F5-Copy) This one represents a very helpful function that could save a lot of your time when configuring FastEcho. By using this function, in fact, you will be able to duplicate one area which is already defined within Area-Manager. For Example, if you have to define 20 FidoNet EchoMail areas that you pick up from the same uplink, you could define the first one only and then you may duplicate it 19 times. Obviously, ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 82 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── every time you duplicate a area, you must, at least, change its name; the fine tuning of the others duplicated areas could be done after you have finished. 5.5.3.1.26.6 - Area Manager (F6-Global) This is one of the most powerful FESetup features. with this, you will be able to globally change every parameters of your areas by selecting them from the groups they belong to. Within the area manager browsing screen, pressing the "F6" Key, the following layout will be shown on your screen: ╔═══════════════════════ Global changes ════════════════════════╗ ║>Add Node< │ Mandatory ║ ║ Delete Node │ Keep SEEN-BY ║ ║ Replace Node │ Tiny SEEN-BY ║ ║ with │ CPD ║ ║ Origin │ Passive ║ ║ Your Aka │ Disable Passive ║ ║ SEEN-BY │ Convert Umlaut ║ ║ Type │ Keep users ║ ║ Purging # Days │ Kill read ║ ║ # Rcvd Days │ Remote changes ║ ║ # Msgs │ Hide area ║ ║ Security Read │ Keep NetMails ║ ║ Write │ Group ║ ║──────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────║ ║ Perform changes ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ With the only exception of the first three items (that will be se- parately explained) the others are all "cut & paste" options. It means that if you insert a value in one of them, then the corresponding value present in your areas definitions will be stripped out and replaced with the one that you defined in this layout. After having specified the changes you wish to perform upon your defined areas, you will be prompted to select the areas-group where you want your changes to take place. Note: if you have currently tagged one or more areas, you can perform the changes for all of them. When pressing F6 FESetup will ask you if you want to do so and if answered yes, it will later on not ask you for the groups to change but process all tagged areas. Let's now see the first two options 5.5.3.1.26.6.1 - Global (Add Node) This option will be very useful when you want to enable manually a new downlink to receive certain EchoMail areas belonging to certain specified areas/groups. Placing the higlighted box over the "Add Node" item and striking the "return" key, you will be able to select the address of the new downlink to be added by means of the following pop up box. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 83 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╔═════════════════┌──────────────┐anges ════════════════════════╗ ║ Add Node │>2:999/900.0< │ │ Mandatory ║ ║ Delete Node │ 2:999/999.1 │ │ Keep SEEN-BY ║ ║ Replace Node │ 16:999/900.0 │ │ Tiny SEEN-BY ║ ║ with └──────────────┘ │ CPD ║ [...] [...] [...] ║──────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────║ ║ Perform changes ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ As you can notice, the address listed in the box are the ones you defined in "node manager" so, the new downlink you want to add by way of the "Global Changes" feature, must already be inserted in the "node manager" before you continue, otherwise you won't be able to select it, of course. Here you can select, in the usual way, the address which you want added in the areas belonging to the group we will specify later. Pressing the "Return" key, the node you selected will be reported in the "Add node" field. You can now place the selector-box upon the "Per- form changes" and strike "return" again. FESetup, now, will ask you what groups have to be involved for the specified changes (unless you selected to perform the changes on all tagged areas before): FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌──────────────┌───────────────────────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configur│■ A) Fidonet EchoMail area Intl│ ╔══ 1/7 ════════════════════ Area-Man│■ B) Fidonet EchoMail area Natl│ ║ Brd Area Name │ C) ZyXELnet EchoMail area │ ║────────────────────────────────────│ D) │ ║ 1 TESTECHO1 │ E) │ ║ 2 TESTECHO2 │ F) │ ║ 3 TESTECHO3 │ G) │ ║ 4 TESTECHO4 ╔══════════ Groups ═│ H) │ ║ 5 BADMAIL ║ AB │ I) │ ║ 6 DUPEBOARD ╚═══════════════════│ J) │ ║ 7 TESTNET │ K) │ [...] [...] [...] ║ │ W) │ ╚════════════════════════════════════└───────────────────────────────┘ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Enter-Edit F2-Sorting F3-Tag F4-Search F5-Copy F6-Globl Ins/Del-Entry The node you have previously specified in the "Add node" field will be added,as active downlink, in all the areas belonging to the groups you will tag in this new window. Tagging the groups can be done, as usual, by placing the pointer-box upon the group you need and selecting it with the "space-bar". A tagged group will be marked with a small black box to the left. After the groups are selected, FESetup waits un- til you press the "return" key to start the changing operations over the specified areas. When FESetup finishes, a little info-box will no- tify you about the number of areas that have been changed. 5.5.3.1.26.6.2 - Global (Delete Node) This global option acts likewise the previous one but, instead of adding a new node as active downlinks in the specified areas, this one will work the opposite way by removing an existing downlink or uplink from the groups you will specify. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 84 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Area Configuration - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.3.1.26.6.3 - Global (Replace <Node> with <Node>) This option allow you to specify a node (uplink or downlink) to be stripped and contextually replaced with the one you will specify in the "With" field. This feature can be considered as a mix between the pre- vious two options. Here, FESetup will allow you to specify the node to be stripped and the node to be replaced, by way of the usual selector box. In this case the "Replace" operation will take place only if FESetup is able to find the node to be stripped in the specified areas belonging to the specified groups. 5.5.3.1.26.6.4 - Global (The other global items) As mentioned before, all the other items work as "Cut & Paste" op- tions. All items that can be cut and pasted, which are listed in the "Global" layout, are referenced to the same items we met in the "Area Configuration" section from chapters 5.5.3 until 5.5.3.1.24. In the Global options you may strip and replace any of them in every group you select. 5.5.3.1.26.7 - Area Manager (Ins/Del-Entry) The use of these two keys is intuitive: you need them in order to Ins(ert) new areas or Del(ete) the existing ones, according to your needs. By pressing the "Ins" key you will be immediately prompted to create a new area: FESetup will display on your screen an empty "Edit- Area" layout, ready to be filled with new data. By pressing the "Del" key you can mark one or more areas for deletion. The areas in fact, won't be immediately removed but only marked for deletion. You will be able to distinguish every "Marked" area by way of the "asterisk" (*), visible to the left of the area tag. The area marked for deletion will be then physically removed, after confirmation, exiting from the "Area Manager" section. The "delete" operation could be done also by tagging the areas you wish delete, by way of the "space-bar", and when you fi- nish, by pressing the "Del" key or, furthermore, you can delete entire groups in conjunction with the 5.5.3.1.26.3.2 option (tag by group). In both cases, performing the mark-for-deletion operation via the "Del" key, after you tagged one or more areas, FESetup will ask for your con- firmation with the following box: ╔════════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Perform delete on tagged ║ ║ areas ? (Y,N) ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════╝ Answering "Y" all the tagged areas will be marked for deletion, otherwise, no action will take place. .-.-. Here you have finished the "Area Manager" section, now, pressing the "ESC" key you will return to the "Data DropDown Menu" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 85 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Carbon Copies - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.4 - Carbon Copies ------------- FastEcho has the power to perform a very special operation while tossing the incoming mail packets: It can detect, among the message areas it processes (with the only exclusion of the BadMail Area), the ones that have particular meaning for you and, then, it can copy one duplicate of each of these messages into one or more personal areas. This feature is called "Carbon Copy" function Naturally, if you plan to use this feature, you should, beforehand, define the area (or the areas) where your carbon-copied messages will be copied into, thus, before starting to configure this option, define almost a new local area for this purpose (you can call it, "PERSMAIL" for example) see at the chapter 5.5.3.When you have done it exit, to the "Data Dropdown Menu", move the highlighted box over the "Carbon Copies" item and strike the "return" key. You will see the following layout: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══════════════════════════ Carbon Copies ═════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Test for Store copy in area: ║░ ░║──────────┬──────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────║░ ░║ A) │ │ ║░ ░║ B) │ │ ║░ ░║ C) │ │ ║░ ░║ D) │ │ ║░ [...] [...] [...] [...] ░║ G) │ │ ║░ ░║ H) │ │ ║░ ░║ I) │ │ ║░ ░║ J) │ │ ║░ ░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Edit Carbon Copies (names, areas etc.) In every EchoMail message that FastEcho can process, are present some message-items that can be checked.They are the "From", "To", "Sub- ject" and the "Kludge" items. In the Carbon Copies section, in fact, FESetup can accept the contents specification for these items in order to let FastEcho search them into your incoming mail packets while it processes the mail. FESetup allows you to specify these parameters by means of the shown layout. As you can see, it's subdivided into three columns. In the first "Test" column you may specify in what item Fast- Echo has to look; in the second "for" column you can point out what FastEcho has to look for, relatively to the first specified item; fi- nally, in the third item, you will specify in which area the messages that match your previous specification have to be copied. Let's see these three columns. 5.5.4.1 - Test In the "Test" columnwe shall specify for which message-item Fast- Echo has to look. Placing the cursor over the first slot of the "Test" column and striking the "return" key a new dialog box will be shown to you over the "Carbon Copies" main screen: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 86 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Carbon Copies - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configuration │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░╔══════════════════════════ Carbon Copies ═════════════════════════╗░ ░║ Test for string Copy to ║░ ░║───┌─────────┐───────────────────────────┬────────────────────────║░ ░║ A)│>None< │ │ ║░ ░║ B)│ From: │ │ ║░ ░║ C)│ To: │ │ ║░ ░║ D)│ Re: │ │ ║░ ░║ E)│ ^A: │ │ ║░ ░║ F)└─────────┘ │ ║░ [...] [...] [...] [...] ░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ As you have certainly know, every EchoMail message has a "From:" item where, generally, the message sender is specified, a "To:" item, where, normally, the message addressee is defined, and, last of all, a "Re:" item where the message topic is described. The aforesaid are "normal" message items but, an EchoMail message, may also have an unde- termined number of special "item" called Kludges that FastEcho can test. These kludges, although they are always present, are normally hidden to the receivers (unless its message editor is capable of fin- ding them) and they have always the "^A" pair of characthe at their beginning. For a complete Kludge list, see in appendix B. In this dialog box, so, you may select what item you wish FastEcho to tests. Place the higlighted box over the item you need and strike return. The item you have choosen will now be shown in the first slot of the "Test" column, while, the cursor will be placed over the corresponding slot in the "for" column. For our tutorial select in this box the "To:" item and strike the "return" key to confirm. 5.5.4.2 - For string After you have defined in what item you want FastEcho to search for, you will be immediately prompted to input the string that FastEcho has to search for, within the specified item (on the same row). If you, in the "Test" column, selected the "To:" item, then, in all probabili- ties, you will specify in this item your first and second name, or your alias or, moreover, the string "SysOp"; By doing so, you will bind FastEcho to detect in all the incoming mail, all the messages addressed "To:" you and copy them in a particular area that you will specify in the next paragraph. For our tutorial, input in this field the string "Reed Richard" and strike the return key. 5.5.4.3 - Copy to After having defined where and what to search for, you will be prompted to select your particular area where you want the messages matching your specifications to be duplicated. By placing the cursor over "Store copy in area:" the following dialog box will be shown to you: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 87 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - Carbon Copies - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FESetup System Data Export Import ┌───────────────┐ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░│ 1 TESTECHO1 │ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Node-Configuration │░░░░░░░░│ 2 TESTECHO2 │ ░╔══════════════════════════ Carbon Copies ══════════│ 3 TESTECHO3 │ ░║ Test For string Copy to │ 4 TESTECHO4 │ ░║──────────┬──────────────────────────────┬─────────│ 5 BADMAIL │ ░║ A) To: │ Reed Richard │ │ 6 DUPEBOARD │ ░║ B) │ │ │ >8 PERSMAIL< │ ░║ C) │ │ │ 7 TESTNET │ ░║ D) │ │ │ │ [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] ░╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════│ │ └───────────────┘ In this new dialog-box you will be able to select the aforesaid area where the found messages will be duplicated. Make sure not to se- lect any EchoMail areas for this purpose unless you have particular reason to do so. Normally the "Carbon-Copied" messages have to be co- pied in a local-area customly created. 5.5.4.4 - Examples You need to detect all messages sent by "Sue Wright" and to store their copies to your persmail area: Test : From: For string : Sue Wright Copy to : PERSMAIL You need to detect all messages addressed to your CoSysOp and to store their copies in persmail area: Test : To: For string : Jonny Storm Copy to : PERSMAIL You need to intercept and store in your personal area all messages having "FastEcho" as topic. Test : Subj: For string : FastEcho Copy to : PERSMAIL 5.5.4.5 - Suggestions and notes Using the "Carbon Copies" feature you must be aware that the com- parision of the strings contained in the fields you specify, will be "case insensitive" ; furthermore, FastEcho won't check inside the fields you specify in "Test" slot for an exact match but it will start to search inside it from the beginning to end, checking if it's at least contained in it. It means that if you test the "To:" field for "Martin" all mails containing any 'martin' as addressee, will be co- pied - mails to 'Martin Miller' as well as mails to 'John Martinelli'. So don't let FastEcho test for short strings as it would cause it to copy many mails more, than you wanted to. This does not apply to the 'Kludges' search, where the pattern will only be compared beginning with the first character after the ^A character. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 88 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.5 - What's AreaFix -------------- In this manual we have seen the "AreaFix" mentioned several times But what really is "AreaFix"? AreaFix is an automated procedure, inte- grated in FastEcho, that allows several operations upon your system configuration to be performed from your downlinks directly, without any your manual intervention. They simply have to send a NetMail message to your system, addressed directly to AreaFix. Your FastEcho, when it de- tects such message in the primary NetMail area, will process it per- forming, automatically, all the changes and, furtermore, it will gene- rate an AreaFix report, addressed to the requesting downlink, that reports all the results. An example of AreaFix header message is repor- ted below: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Msg : 1 of 1 Uns Pvt Loc K/s From : Franklin Richard 2:999/999.1 Wed 31 Dec 94 00:00 To : AreaFix 2:999/999.0 Subj : PASSWORD <- AreaFix password ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [...] MetaCommands [...] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This example shows an AreaFix request header that your downlink may send you. Remember that the "To:" field must contain the word "AreaFix" while the destination address must be the exact address of the system where the changes have to be performed. In the "Subj:" field the Area- Fix "Password" agreed between you and your downlink must exist and, in the message text the AreaFix MetaCommand must be present (we shall point these out, one by one, in the next paragraph.) In your configu- ration, you must set the AreaFix password in accordance with every node settled in "Node Configuration" (see: 5.5.1.5.2 paragraph). 5.5.5.1 - AreaFix MetaCommands As said before, the message-text of an AreaFix request must contain one or more AreaFix MetaCommands. They are commands that FastEcho can interpret while executing it from the dos-prompt by imputting: FastEcho Afix Each one of these commands has its specific function. Let's see them. 5.5.5.1.1 - Linking one or more new areas If you want to join a new conference, it's enough to specify the conference's tag in the text of your AreaFix request. In the AreaFix body text it is possible to specify as many conference's tags as you need, there are no limits. For example, if you are the system 2:999/999.1 and want to link the areas TSTECHO5_WRD, TSTECHO6_WRD and TSTECHO7_WRD from your uplink (2:999/999), your AreaFix request will look like this: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 89 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Msg : 1 of 1 Uns Pvt Loc K/s From : Franklin Richard 2:999/999.1 Wed 31 Dec 94 00:00 To : AreaFix 2:999/999.0 Subj : PASSWORD <- AreaFix password ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TSTECHO5_WRD TSTECHO6_WRD TSTECHO7_WRD ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Obviously, instead of "PASSWORD", the real password agreed between you and your uplink must be present. You may also add a '+' sign before each name (e.g. "+TSTECHO5_WRD"). 5.5.5.1.2 - Unlinking one or more uninteresting areas The procedure of unlinking an area that has become useless for you is like the one you have already seen in order to link it. The only difference is that, when you want to unlink one or more areas, you must specify them preceded by the minus sign (-). For example, if you want to unlink the EchoMail areas TSTECHO7_WRD and HOLYWARS_WRD from your downlinks, then the message's body of your AreaFix request will look like the following: -TSTECHO7_WRD -HOLYWARS_WRD 5.5.5.1.3 - Wilcarded Link/Unlink FastEcho allows you the use of the WildCard characters, in your AreaFix requests, while defining the areas to be linked or unlinked. The use of the wildcard within the AreaFix request is absolutely "Dos- alike". This wilcarded link/unlink may be useful when you have a lot of areas to link or unlink that have some commomn characters in their tag names. Here below I shall report an example: If you want to join from your uplink all the areas that begin with KIDS, than you must input in your AreaFix body text the following command: KIDS* If you want, instead, to unlink the same areas, it will be enough to precede the command we seen, with the minus sign: -KIDS* This will link/unlink areas such as KIDSLINK, KIDSMOVE, KIDSCHAT and so on. If you want to link all your available areas, then, simply send an AreaFix message with an asterisk in its body, on the countrary, if you want to physically unlink them, then send the asterisk preceeded by the minus sign. As wildcard characters you have available the question mark too. The question mark represents the positional macro substitution. Here is another example: If you want to link the areas TBL01GER, TBL03GER and TBL34GER but not the TBLITEM, TBLWORLD, TBL55HOL, with a single operation you can do it by using the (?).It will be enough to input in your AreaFix body text the following command: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 90 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── TBL??GER It's obvius that, the unlinking operation will be done by preceding this specification with the minus sign in this case too. The (*) and (?) wildcards may be used both separately or in combination according to your needs. The asterisk wildcard may also be used to link or unlink all your available areas: by typing the asterisk sign in your areafix message body to link all the areas left available to you by your uplink: * or the asterisk preceded by the minus sign to unlink them: -* 5.5.5.1.5 - %QUERY When FastEcho processes an AreaFix message having the %QUERY metacommand in its body, it will answer with an automatic generation of a NetMail report containing a list of all the active areas that the sender of this AreaFix request currently has. The NetMail will be, of course, automatically forwarded to the node that requested it. Note that if the areafix request message has the PGM ^aFLAG set, then FastEcho won't include the requested list. 5.5.5.1.6 - %INFO This MetaCommand will force the FastEcho AreaFix processor to gene- rate a NetMail message containing a lot of useful information about the agreements between you and your downlinks such as: his NetMail and ARC- mail addresses, your aka, the AreaFix and the ARCmail password, the agreed archiver and the ones that you have available on your system, a brief statistic about received and sent EchoMails and, at last of all, a list containing all active areas for his node. Sending an AreaFix "NOTIFY" message may be helpful to your downlink at the first link in order to summarize your agreements. 5.5.5.1.7 - %LIST This MetaCommand has the purpose to point out all the EchoMail areas that you have available on your system for the downlink that sent you the AreaFix message containing "%LIST". In the report that FastEcho will automatically create, won't be displayed, of course, the areas that the requesting downlink can't access because of its security level or its available groups. The areas with the "Hide Area" toggle turned on won't be displayed either. see: 5.5.3.1.20) 5.5.5.1.8 - %UNLINKED Processing this MetaCommand FastEcho AreaFix will generate a list of the areas currently unlinked that the requesting system has. In this case also will be listed only the EchoMail areas that the requesting downlink can access to. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 91 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.5.1.9 - %AVAIL This MetaCommand is strictly connected with the "Forward AreaFix Request" feature that we will see later in this manual. As you will see, a downlink can request an EchoMail area that you haven't available but your uplink has. FastEcho, if correctly configured and only if you want, will be able to redirect your downlink's AreaFix request to your uplink in order to join the areas that the downlink wants. In particular, when one of your downlinks sends you an AreaFix request containing the "%AVAIL" MetaCommand in it, then FastEcho will answer it with the list of all EchoMail areas that YOUR UPLINK has. Naturally, you might have, in a file on your system, the complete list of the areas imported from (or available on) your uplink but that you have (not necessarily) connected. We see, later, where and how specify this "list" file and what format it must have. If the uplink hasn't any aforesaid forward area-list on its system, when %AVAIL is requested by a downlink then AreaFix automatically answers with a proper error message. 5.5.5.1.10 - %PAUSE This AreaFix MetaCommand may be useful when a downlink needs to stop calling your system to pick up its mail for a long period. By sen- ding to your system an AreaFix message containing the "%PAUSE" it will be automatically switched to passive status and, so, no more EchoMail will be forwarded to a requesting system until it sends back, to your system, another AreaFix request containing the "%RESUME" metacommand. Note that when AreaFix switches a downlink to passive status a down- link, its area won't be physically unlinked but only suspended. 5.5.5.1.11 - %RESUME As said in the previous paragraph, the "%RESUME" MetaCommand will be necessary to your downlinks in order to resume the forwarding opera- tion of their mail previously suspended by way of the "%PAUSE" MetaCom- mand. As soon as the "%RESUME" MetaCommand is processed by "FastEcho AreaFix", all the areas that were active before the forward of the first "%PAUSE" MetaCommand will be reactivated exactly as they were before. 5.5.5.1.12 - %NOTE Under normal circumstances AreaFix request messages will be deleted after executing the requested commands. If you want to leave the sysop of that system a comment (together with the original request message) you can do so by adding a %NOTE command as the last command and AreaFix will stop processing (ignoring the text you may write after the %NOTE line) and will not delete the original request after being successfully processed. 5.5.5.1.13 - %RESCAN This is a very powerful AreaFix MetaCommand. When you link a new area from your uplink, then you will start to receive the mail belon- ging to it only the day after you linked it. It could happen that you, instead, need to receive older messages that are already present at the uplink system. In this case AreaFix can help you by means of its %RE- ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 92 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SCAN MetaCommand. When in the body of your AreaFix request you will in- put the %RESCAN MetaCommand followed by one or more areas, the FastEcho AreaFix makes two main operations: 1 - It checks if the areas you specified after the %RESCAN MetaCommand are already linked or not. If they aren't linked then AreaFix will immediately link them your system. 2 - It looks into the requested area in the Uplink's messagebase in or- der to gather the messages contained in it in a mail packet, archi- ving it and placing the generated mail bundle in outbound, ready to be sent to your system at your next call. As you can understand, relying upon this feature, may be a great comfort. For example: If you want to join, from your uplink, the areas MSD_SOFT.ITA and MSD_HARD.ITA and, contextually, also want to pick up all the messages present upon the Uplink messagebase relatively to these two areas, then you will input, in the message-text of your AreaFix request, the Following lines: %RESCAN MSD_SOFT.ITA MSD_HARD.ITA You, furthermore will be able to fine tune the number or the age of messages, that you want to be included in the rescanned mail packets by means of the next two MetaCommand. 5.5.5.1.14 - %DAYS <nnn> This MetaCommand works in conjunction with the %RESCAN. It is needed in case you want the rescan operation to involve only the messages received the last <nn> days (not older than <nn> days) within the area that follow the %DAYS MetaCommand. If, for example you need to link the area FLIPPER.ITA and contextually rescan it in order that the already present messages, not older that a week can be sent to you, your AreaFix message will look like the following one: %RESCAN %DAYS 7 FLIPPER.ITA 5.5.5.1.15 - %MSGS <nnn> Like the %DAYS MetaCommand, this one, works only if coupled with the %RESCAN. This is needed in case you want the rescan operation to involve only the last <nn> messages, in the areas specified after the %MSGS MetaCommand. If, for example, you want to link and, contextually, rescan the area PINBALL.GER, in order that the last 100 already present messa- ges will be sent to you, your AreaFix message will look like the follo- wing: %RESCAN %MSGS 100 PINBALL.GER ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 93 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can also use the two enhancement %RESCAN commands together. If, for example, you wish to rescan (or link and rescan) the EchoMail areas SPAGHETTI.ITA and CUCINA.ITA in order that the last 200 messages, not older than 10 days can be sent to your system, then your AreaFix meta- command will look like the following: %RESCAN %MSGS 200 %DAYS 10 %SPAGHETTI.ITA %CUCINA.ITA 5.5.5.1.16 - %COMPRESS <Type> <?> We have seen, in the 5.5.1.7 paragraph, that any downlink can have an archiver (compressor) defined in FESetup, in order to let FastEcho produce the mail bundles in order to be successfully unarchived (uncom- pressed) from your downlink that uses the same compressor type. Normally the definition of the compressor type must be agreed between the uplink and the downlink. By means of this AreaFix MetaCommand, now, this definition can be fully automated. your downlinks (and you with your up- links) can now simply send to your system an AreaFix message containing the %COMPRESS MetaCommand followed, on the same line, by the Tag of the compressor type. If you, for example, want to change your compressor type in ARJ, then you must send an AreaFix message, addressed to your uplink, that has the MetaCommand in the body text: %COMPRESS ARJ if, on the other hand, before switching the compressor type, you wish to know what compressor types are available on your uplink system, then send to your uplink the same MetaCommand but with the trailing question mark: %COMPRESS ? your Uplink's AreaFix will answer you with a NetMail message where it will list all the available compressor with their tags needed to activate each of them. 5.5.5.1.17 - %PWD <password> As we have seen in paragraph 5.5.1.5.2, in order to allow a downlink to perform AreaFix request you must, first, agree to one common password with it. If FastEcho detects that the password matches, the AreaFix re- quest will be correctly performed, otherwise no action will take place. Well, once you have agreed the first password with your downlink, then, by means of this metacommand, they will be able to change it when they want. By sending an AreaFix request which contains in its text the meta- command %PWD followed, on the same line, by the new password they want to use, will be enough. For example, if you want to change your AreaFix password in MYPASSW you must specify the MetaCommand as follows: %PWD MYCOMMAND ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 94 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.5.1.18 - %PKTPWD <password> We have seen in paragraph 5.5.1.5.1 that, an ARCmail packet may have its password, in order to enable the full security system provided by FastEcho (see: 5.4.7.14). With this MetaCommand your downlinks (or you with your uplink) can also change their ARCmail password. The command Syntax will be the same as we have seen for the %PWD command: The meta- command %PKTPWD directly follwed, on the same line, by the new password you want to be used, from now on, for the ARCmail bundle security. If you, for example, need to change your ARCmail password in "NEWARC" then you must specify the AreaFix command as follows: %PKTPWD NEWARC 5.5.5.1.19 - %FROM <net address> It's a really powerful AreaFix MetaCommand. When inserted at the be- ginning of your AreaFix request, all the MetaCommand that follows this one will be performed as they were made from the node specified in %FROM <net address>. This implies that any node, if qualified to do so, can upkeep your system, so, this function could be useful if you want leave to one full-confidence and reliable SysOp the task of keeping the ordi- nary maintenance of your system meanwhile you are absent. For example, you are the node 2:999/999 and your downlink 2:999/991 (Tony Stark), being qualified to perform the remote maintenance, has to link and re- scan the last 100 messages not older than 15 days the areas COMMS_MODEM.ITA and COMMS_PHONE.ITA, to another downlink of your system: the point 2:999/999.1; furthermore, it has to change the compressor for this point to ZIP, create a report with the linked areas and, finally, leave a message to inform you about the changes. The AreaFix message will look like the following one. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Msg : 2 of 2 Uns Pvt Loc K/s From : Tony Stark 2:999/991 Wed 31 Dec94 00:05 To : AreaFix 2:999/999.0 Subj : PASSWORD <- AreaFix password ---------------------------------------------------------------------- %FROM 2:999/999.1 %RESCAN %MSGS 100 %DAYS 15 COMMS_MODEM.ITA COMMS_PHONE.ITA %COMPRESS ZIP %QUERY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.5.1.20 - %HELP By means of this last command it will be possible for your AreaFix to generate an help message containing a summary of all your AreaFix me- tacommands with a brief explanation about their use. The help message is fully configurable by you (as we shall see later) while the default help file is named "AreaFix.hlp". To obtain the automatic AreaFix forwarding of this "help file" it will be enough to specify the MetaCommand %HELP, in the text of the request. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 95 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - What's AreaFix - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.5.1.21 - %EXPORT This MetaCommand may be useful whenever you have previously suspen- ded the mail-forwarding on your uplink with the MetaCommand %PAUSE (seen before in the chapter 5.5.5.1.10). Even if your system is actually pau- sed, by using the facility provided with the %EXPORT MetaCommand all echomail messages having your name as addressee will be exported to you all the same. In fact, when your uplink processes an areafix request sent by you containing the MetaCommand %EXPORT, then it switches your system in "export-by-name" status. 5.5.5.1.22 - %NOEXPORT The %NOEXPORT is needed only if you want disable the feature you activated before by using the %EXPORT MetaCommand. 5.5.5.1.23 - %QUIT When the FastEcho encounters this metacommand it stop parsing the current request. The same behaviour happens when an "-- " sequence is found as internet signature start. 5.5.5.1.24 - Special %RESCAN syntax FastEcho has the ability to offer you an alternative and quick way to perform the %RESCAN operation by using an abbreviated form. This can be done by specifying, in the areafix-request-message body, the name (tag) of the area you want to rescan (or link and rescan) followed by a comma, one space and the letter "R". I.e. to rescan (or link and rescan) the area FASTECHO.ITA you can use the following syntax: FASTECHO.ITA, R You can further fine tune your rescan operation specifyng the maxi- mum number of messages you wish to be rescanned in the wanted area. This can be done adding the equal sign and the limit number immediately after the letter "R" as shown in the following example: FASTECHO.ITA, R=100 It's further possible rescan all your linked areas by using another special command after the %RESCAN MetaCommand: %RESCAN =* it will cause the complete rescanning of your currently linked areas without the need of specifying them one by one. 5.5.5.1.25 - Special AreaFix MetaCommands Is possible to remove and/or rename any area from/of your configu- ration via AreaFix directly. Doing these operation by mean of AreaFix can give you great convenience because FastEcho will automatically forward the changes you made in your configuration to your downlinks's AreaFix or, alternatively, as an human readable information message. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 96 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Deleting areas from your configuration: ~<AREA TO DELETE> You can delete any areas from your FastEcho configuration by specifying the area name preceded by the ~ (tilde) prefix. I.E. If you want remove from your configuration the area ECHO_333.WRD you must write ~ECHO_333.WRD in your AreaFix message's body. Renaming areas from your configuration: &<OLD_AREA_NAME> <NEW_AREA_NAME> If instead you want rename the area ECHO_333.WRD as ECHO_333.ITA you can do it by using the prefix & (ampersand) followed by the original name of the area to rename, one space, and the new name of the area: &ECHO_333.WRD ECHO_333.ITA The changes will be forwarded to your downlinks automatically in this case too. 5.5.6 - AreaFix Options --------------- After we explained, in chapter 5.5.5, what AreaFix does, now it's time to start with the "AreaFix Option" section. In this chapter we shall fine tune all the AreaFix default values and its advanced options in order to obtain, from your system, a better performance; Furthermore, within this chapter, we shall see and configure the "Forward-Areafix-Re- quest" function. Now, from the "Data DropDown Menu" place the high- lighted box over the "AreaFix Option" item (which is the last one) and strike the return key. Immediately you will see this new menu: FESetup System >Data< Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>Node-Configuration< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│┌────── AreaFix Options ─────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░││ Allow %RESCAN Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░└│ └─Rescan defaults │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Allow %PWD Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Allow %PKTPWD Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Allow %COMPRESS Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░Copyright 1991-94│ Keep requests Yes │ rights reserved.░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Keep receipts Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Scan before tossing No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Detailed %LIST Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Add list to Receipt Yes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Passwords in %INFO No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Send conference rules No │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └─Rulefile area tag prefix │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Max. Receipt size 0 │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ AreaFix %HELP file │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Forward Requests │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░└────────────────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Allow %RESCAN MetaCommand in AreaFix requests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 97 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.1 - Allow %RESCAN As we have seen in chapter 5.5.5.1.13, AreaFix has the capability of rescanning the specified areas, upon your uplink's messagebase, in order to gather the already present messages, pack and send them to the down- link that sent to your system the AreaFix request. With this toggle you can enable or disable this AreaFix function. If it is possible you will also have access to the "Rescan Defaults" item. For our tutorial toggle this item to "Y" 5.5.6.2 - Rescan Defaults We have seen in chapters 5.5.5.1.14 and 5.5.5.1.15 that the %RESCAN metacommand may be tuned directly within the same AreaFix request used to order the %RESCAN operation, by means of the %MSGS and %DAYS metacom- mand but, when a rescan operation is performed without any parameters, then the whole area contents will be rescanned and sent to the reques- ting downlink. You can, instead, limit the default rescan feedback by setting the "defaults for rescan" in days or messages. Moreover you can also limit the number of messages that a downlink can request, although it uses the %MSGS or %DAYS MetaCommands. Place the cursor over the re- scan default item and strike "return" and you will see the following window: ┌────── Rescan defaults ─────┐ │>Default for rescan:< ALL │ │ ├─Default for %DAYS 0 │ │ └─Default for %MSGS 0 │ │ Maximum for %DAYS 0 │ │ Maximum for %MSGS 0 │ └────────────────────────────┘ 5.5.6.2.1 - Default for rescan This setting will define the behavior of the AreaFix processor when it executes an AreaFix %RESCAN MetaCommand (See:5.5.5.1.13 and 5.5.61 paragraphs). This switch has three possible values: ALL, MSGS and DAYS. Toggling it to "ALL", then, your settings in MSGS and DAYS won't be ta- ken in consideration because, by default, all the messages contained in the specified area (or areas) will be completely involved. For our tuto- rial leave in this field the "ALL" toggle. By setting it in MSGS or DAYS, instead, you will be able to access the items below for the fur- ther definitions: 5.5.6.2.1.1 - Defaults for %MSGS By setting the previous switch to "MSGS" you will be able to access the Defaults for %MSGS item. The number you will specify here represents the number of messages that will be taken in consideration for the Area- Fix %RESCAN MetaCommand when no further limitation in "number of messa- ges to rescan" has been specified. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 98 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.2.1.2 - Defaults for %DAYS The "DAYS" toggle works like the previous. In fact, by setting the "Default for rescan" in "DAYS" you will be able to access the present item: "Default for %DAYS"; in this item you may specify the default value for messages' old-age, pratically, the admittible rescanned messa- ges will never be older than the number of days specified by means of this item. 5.5.6.2.2 - Maximum for %DAYS The "Maximum for %DAYS" item could be useful if you want to define a limit for the eventual %DAYS MetaCommand that, in AreaFix requests, could follow the %RESCAN. If you, in this item insert, for example, the number 12, then, although the request for %DAYS, in the AreaFix request may be higher than 12, it will be limited, in any case, to this value. For the tutorial leave this field blank. 5.5.6.2.3 - Maximum for %MSGS The "Maximum for %MSGS" works like the previous one, but, instead of limiting the messages' age it will limit the maximum number of messages involved by the %MSGS MetaCommand as regards to what's specified in the AreaFix messages. If you insert in this item the number 100, then, also if the request for %MSGS will report 500, the maximum number of messages that will be rescanned will always be 100. For our tutorial leave this field blank 5.5.6.3 - Allow %PWD This toggle defines if you allow, or not, that your downlinks chan- ge their AreaFix password by using the %PWD MetaCommand in AreaFix re- quests. If you switch this toggle to "N" then FastEcho will ignore any %PWD MetaCommand (For further information about the %PWD see also para- graph 5.5.5.1.17). For our tutorial toggle this option in "Y" status. 5.5.6.4 - Allow %PKTPWD Like the previous one, this toggle, defines if you allow, or not, that your downlinks change their Packet password by using the %PKTPWD MetaCommand in their AreaFix request (For further information about the %PKTPWD see also the paragraph 5.5.5.1.18) For our tutorial leave this option in "Y". 5.5.6.5 - Allow %COMPRESS This switch will bind FastEcho to accept the %COMPRESS MetaCommand, in order to change their Mail Packets compressor, processing it or not in accordance with the status of this toggle. If it is set to "Y", then the processing of %COMPRESS MetaCommand will be honored, otherwise it will be completely ignored. For further information about the %COMPRESS MetaCommand see also the paragraph 5.5.5.1.16). For our tutorial toggle this option to "Y" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 99 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.6 - Keep requests By default the AreaFix system kills any request after being proces- sed. If you toggle this option to "Y", they won't be killed and will be markedonly as 'Received' (with the attribute 'Rcvd' set in their header) so you will be able to read them anytime but, after you have checked the already processed request, you must delete them manually. For our tuto- rial leave this toggle to "N" status. 5.5.6.7 - Keep receipts The receipts are the "return NetMail messages" that AreaFix gene- rates when it processes any AreaFix request from your downlinks telling him what action was performed. These receipts are, normally, marked with the 'Kill/Sent' attributes and, thus, deleted after being sent back to your downlinks; so you cannot check them. If, on the other hand, you need to check these receipts before they are deleted, you can enable this feature by toggling it to "Y" but, after being checked, you must delete them manually, of course. For our tutorial leave this feature disabled (in "N" status). 5.5.6.8 - Scan before tossing By default, the FastEcho TOSS function (we shall see it later in "Using FastEcho" section)processes the AreaFix requests just after all incoming mail has been tossed. If you enable this feature, FastEcho will scan the primary NetMail area (The one commonly defined between Fast- Echo and you Mailer; see also 5.4.4.1 chapter) just before starting to process the incoming ARCmail packets. This behavior will make it possi- ble for the changes requested in the AreaFix messages will immediately apply upon the incoming mail. 5.5.6.9 - Detailed List As we said before (see paragraph 5.5.5.1.7), the FastEcho's AreaFix processor has the power to generate return-reports containing a list of all the areas available to the downlink that sent the MetaCommand %LIST to your system, in an AreaFix request. This areas-list, normally, is a list of the area's "EchoTag" without any description. By enabling this option, you could give a better service to your downlinks providing a more meaningful area list report. The list report generated when this function works, in fact, will contain all the EchoTags with their re- spective description (the one that you inserted in the "Comment" field when you defined every EchoMail areas. See chapter 5.5.3.1.3). For our tutorial toggle this option to "Y" status. 5.5.6.10 - Add list to receipt With this option enabled, FastEcho AreaFix will always add a list of all active areas in every report it generates for the downlinks that re- quested them. For our tutorial leave this toggle disabled. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 100 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.11 - Password in &INFO This option is intended to allow or deny FastEcho AreaFix to include the User AreaFix password and packet password in the NetMail receipt automatically generated after a remote request has been processed. Note that both these password must normally remain private and reserved, thus, before enabling this function, take care to check that NetMail messages containing password won't be routed. 5.5.6.12 - Send conference rules As already seen in the paragraph 5.5.1.18.3, FastEcho AreaFix is capable to automatically send to your downlinks the conference rules (area policies) of every new echomail area they want to be linked via an AreaFix request. To do that you must have, of course, the conference rules of all echomail areas you actually have available on your system. When enabled, this option bind FastEcho to always send the conference rule whenever a system request a new echomail area, otherwise, when the switch is set to "No", the "Send conference rules" function is globally disabled. Note that, in order to let FastEcho to work correctly with your rule-files, you must also define the location in where these rule file are kept (Look at the chapter PathNames 5.4.4) 5.5.6.12.1 - Rulefile area tag prefix If you have enabled the "Send conference rules" option seen in the previous paragraph, then you must define the "Rulefile area tag prefix" you adopted for your rule files. These prefix identifies the echotag of the area to which these rules belongs. The rule files are plain text files containing a somewhat standardized header before the conference rule list. The first line of this special header must contain the area tag prefix. The area tag prefix most commonly used are Area :<areatag> or EchoID :<areatag>. Example: RuleFile for area FASTECHO.ITA (this file is named FEITA.RUL) Area : FASTECHO.ITA Description : Technical conference about FastEcho Language : Italian/English Moderator : Marco Piazza, 2:331/501.25 Rulefile : FEITA.RUL Permission : All Date : 25.03.1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------- <Rules follow> In this case the rulefile areatag prefix you must define in this item will be Area : which is also the standard that FastEcho assumes as default (i.e. will be taken as default if this field is left empty). If Other country has different standard prefixes then take care to insert the right prefix exactly as is in your header files, including spaces and trailing separators, otherwise FastEcho won't parse them. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 101 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.13 - Max. receipt size There are some mail processors unable to handle NetMail messges lar- ger than 8-16 kilobytes, while, certain AreaFix receipts messages can go beyond this limit (this could happen, for example, when requesting an AreaFix %LIST MetaCommand on a system having an enormous quantity of EchoMail areas available, and that's not so uncommon indeed). By means of this option you can solve this problem by fixing the maximum size of an AreaFix receipt within a certain size. If it happens that the receipt goes over the limit specified in this option, then it will be split into smaller pieces. For our tutorial leave this field zero. 5.5.6.14 - AreaFix %HELP File As said before in chapter 5.5.5.1.20, when a downlink send an Area- Fix request having in its text the MetaCommand %HELP, then the AreaFix processor provides him a receipt containing a summarized list of all the AreaFix metacommands. The default AreaFix help file included in the FastEcho distribution archive is "AreaFix.HLP" but, by means of this option you now have the choice to customize this file by creating seve- ral AreaFix help-file accordingly with your needs (translated in your preferred language or containing more detailed informations). Striking the "return" key over this item, the following box will be shown to you: ╔═══════════════════ AreaFix-Helpfile ════════════════════╗ ║ AreaFix.HLP_ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ All you need is to specify in this field the file name of your pre- ferred AreaFix help-file. For our tutorial leave in this box the default specification for AreaFix.HLP. 5.5.6.15 - Forward Requests We have talked several times, throughout this manual, about the For- ward AreaFix Request feature, especially in the 5.5.1.9 and paragraph 5.5.4.1.14. But, what is it really is and how does it works? Well, As you certainly already know, a downlink can join new EchoMail areas available on your system simply by sending you an AreaFix link request (see the relative option in paragraph 5.5.5.1.1) and that's quite normal but, how about leaving to your downlinks the option to link themselves to areas that you HAVEN'T yet available on your system but your uplink has?? This can be done through the use of the Forward AreaFix Request feature. To enable this option, first, you must obtain, from each of your uplinks, a file containing the list of areas currently imported by them and define them in the section we shall see later (these lists can be in the standard "AREAS.BBS" format or in a kind of User definable format that we shall treat later), furthermore, you must be registered, otherwise you can only define one area list. Until now, for the samples reported in the manual, Now, furthermore, I assume that your system has two uplinks, one for Fidonet (2:999/900) and one for ZyXELnet (16:999/900). I assume that you have got from these two downlinks their imported areas list in two "AREAS.BBS" standard files named: FIDAREAS.TXT and ZYXAREAS.TXT. Now let's go to the setup details. Placing the cursor upon the "Forward Request" item and striking the return key you will have access to the Forward Request settings by means of this first layout that will be displayed on your screen: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 102 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╔═════════════════════ Forward AreaFix-Requests ═════════════════════╗ ║ Forward to List file Remote program Active ║ ║────────────────────┬─────────────────────┬─────────────────┬───────║ ║ A) │ │ │ ║ ║ B) │ │ │ ║ ║ C) │ │ │ ║ ║ D) │ │ │ ║ [...] │ │ │ [...] ║ T) │ │ │ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Enter-Edit F2-Active F3-Move Del-Kill list entry The screen layout is subdivided into four columns and twenty rows. Let's see what the column items means: 5.5.6.15.1 - Forward to In this column will be listed the systems to which the AreaFix re- quests will be forwarded, according to their akas 5.5.6.15.2 - List file Here will be displayed the path and file name containing the Echo- Mail area list, available from the system reported under the "Forward to" column on the same row. 5.5.6.15.2 - Area Manager Herein will be listed the kind of Area Processor owned by the uplink system displayed under the "Forward to" column on the same row. When the AreaFix Request is forwarded, then, it will be addressed to the Area Processor specified in this slot. 5.5.6.15.3 - Active This column will be displayed if the Forward AreaFix Request feature is active or not for the system specified on the same row. This option provides the convenience to disable temporarily the Forward AreaFix re- quest to one or more systems without removing them, thus, you will save time to by not inserting again all the necessary parameters once you ha- ve decided to re-enable them. This could be done simply by toggling the in the "Active" column "Yes" or "No" according to your needs. 5.5.6.15.4 - Setting up Forward AreaFix Requests When you are ready to start the configuration of the first system to which you want FastEcho to automatically forward the AreaFix link re- quest, simply press the return key. You will immediately see that the following layout pops up: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 103 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╔═══════════════════════ Forward requests to ═══════════════════════╗ ║ ┌─────────────┐ ║ ║ Forward:│>2:999/900< │ Unconditional: N ║ ║ │ 2:999/999.1 │ ║ ║ List file:│ 16:999/900 │ ║ ║ └─────────────┘ ║ ║ List type: Remote program: ║ ║ ║ ║ Deny list: ║ ║ ║ ║ Groups: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ123456 Security: ║ ║ ║ ║ Add '+': N Add '---': Y New Area Default Group: A ║ ║ ║ ║ Create as passthrough: Y ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ 5.5.6.15.4.1 - Forward The first thing you will immediately be prompted to select is the uplink address, to which you want that FastEcho to forwards the AreaFix requests for the EchoMail areas contained in the Area List file (that we shall see later). Your choice can be made by means of a selection box that lists, inside, all your configured system. (be aware that, not all your configured systems may be uplinks. With all probabilities you will setup both uplinks and downlinks so, although in this box both of them will be listed , make sure to select only the uplinks). The selection will be done by moving, in the usual way, the highlighted box over the uplink's address you need, and striking the "return" key to confirm. Immediately, in the "Uplink" slot, will appear the selected address and you will be prompted to input the next item. For our tutorial place the pointer over the "2:999/900" address and strike return. 5.5.6.15.4.2 - Unconditional As you already know, the "Forward AreaFix Request" functionality is normally based, firstly, upon the EchoMail areas listed in the related file defined in the "Area List" item, and, further, upon the security level and the allowed groups matching. If you toggle this "Unconditio- nal" feature to "Y" status, then the AreaFix Request will be forwarded to this uplink even if the requested EchoMail areas aren't reported in the "Area List" file, so the "Area List" field could remain undefined too. When the "Unconditional" option is turned on, the requests for all areas will be "unconditionally" forwarded to the uplink defined in the item 5.5.6.15.5.1. The only things that must match, in all case, will remain the security level and the allowed groups you will fix for this Uplink. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. 5.5.6.15.4.3 - Area List This is a free field where you can input the path and file name of your file, containing the areas available from your uplink. Make sure to define herein the file containing the EchoMail areas available from the uplink specified in the paragraph 5.5.6.15.5.1. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 104 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.15.4.4 - List Type In this field you must specify the type of the EchoMail area list contained in the file defined in the previous item (5.5.6.14.5.3). Cur- rently, FastEcho supports two formats for this file: the first is the AREAS.BBS standard type and the second is a more flexible format that could be used if the AREAS.BBS type isn't available; this last one could be an area list generated by your uplink with almost any EchoMail pro- cessor or external utilities as well. The AREAS.BBS listing type has the following format: <board or pathnames> <EchoTag> <connected system's addresses> In this case FastEcho ignores the <board or pathnames> and the <connec- ted system's addresses> parameters keeping into due consideration the EchoTag only. So it doesn't matter if your uplink uses HMB, Squish, JAM or *.MSG mail processor. The free format is, instead, interpreted by FastEcho in the following format: <EchoTag> <Description> In this case both, EchoTag and Description will be used. Only the Echotag parameter is mandatory but, furthermore, if the <Description> item is found, then, its contents will be automatically inserted in FastEcho setup into the Area Comment item (see: paragraph 5.5.3.1.3). In order to select the 'Type' you prefer, you will be prompted to choose by means of the following box: ┌──────────────────────┐ List type: │>AREAS.BBS< │ │ <name> <description> │ └──────────────────────┘ Simply place the highlighted box over the 'Type' you need and strike return. For our tutorial select the AREAS.BBS type and go ahead. 5.5.6.15.4.5 - Remote program Here you must choose between four different Area-Manager names. When the cursor will be placed over the Area-Manager item, then, automati- cally the following dialog box will be shown on your screen: ┌──────────┐ Area Manager:│>AreaFix< │ │ AreaMgr │ │ AreaLink │ │ EchoMgr │ └──────────┘ We have seen, in the chapter 5.5.5.1.1, that an AreaFix request is a normal NetMail message addressed to an Area Manager's name that, usual- ly, is 'AreaFix'. But someprocessors need a different name from AreaFix even if almost all processors nowadays accept it. In any case, if you meet some problems with your uplink (I.E. AreaFix requests not honored), then change this Area Manager's name with the one needed from the area manager used by your uplink. For our tutorial, the better choice is the 'AreaFix' name, so place the pointer over this item and strike return. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 105 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.15.4.6 - Deny list In this field can be specified the name of a file which contains the tag of the areas you don't want be forwarded even if found in the used list file (defined in the "list-type" item seen in the paragraph 5.5.6.15.4.4). This file must contain an areatag list (one tag each line) and each tag may also be written with wildcard carachters ("*" and "?"). As deny list file may further be defined an Echolist style file too. In this case only the echotag entries will be parsed while the area desciption will be ignored at all. 5.5.6.15.4.7 - Groups In order to allow FastEcho to process the 'Forward AreaFix Request' requested from your downlinks, there are, first, two condition that must be satisfied. The present is the first: The area requested from your downlinks must belong to a group defined by way of this option. To se- lect the allowed groups you will have to tag them in the following dia- log box that will be shown to you: ╔═══════════════════════ Forward re┌────────────────────────────────┐ ║ │■ A) Fidonet EchoMail area Intl │ ║ Uplink: 2:999/900 │■ B) Fidonet EchoMail area Natl │ ║ │ C) ZyXELnet EchoMail area │ ║ Area List: C:\FAST\FIDAREA.TXT │ D) Local BBS area │ ║ │ E) NetMail area │ ║ List type: AREAS.BBS │ F) │ ║ │ G) │ ║ Groups: │ H) │ ║ │ I) │ ║ Add '+': N Add '---': N New A[...] [...] ║ │ Z) │ ╚══════════════════════════════════└────────────────────────────────┘ The selection of a group can be done simply by moving the pointer with the arrow-keys and tagging the groups you want by pressing space. Any tagged area will be immediately identified by way of the little black box, that marks them, shown to their left. Remember to select the groups according to the uplink type. (I.E. If you allow one or more ZyXELnet EchoMail groups while configuring a FidoNet Uplink may be wrong). When finished press the return key to confirm your selection and continue. You will see the letter that identifies your selected groups, displayed in the 'Groups:' item. For our tutorial tag the group A) and B) relative to the Fidonet Uplink. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 106 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.5.6.15.4.8 - Security As mentioned in the previous item, this is the second condition that must be satisfied before the requesting node is able to perform a 'For- ward AreaFix Request' action. In this field you may input the minimum security level that a downlink must have to be allowed to perform a 'Forward AreaFix Request' to the uplink defined in the Uplink item (see paragraph 5.5.6.14.5.1).If the security level of the requesting downlink is greater or, at least, equal to the level specified in this Security item,then the AreaFix Request will be forwarded, otherwise the automatic forward operation will be denied and the downlink request discarded. For our tutorial input in this field the value 100. 5.5.6.15.4.9 - Add '+' We have seen, talking about adding new area through AreaFix, in the paragraph 5.5.5.1.1, that, linking a new area can be done simply by spe- cifing the EchoTag of the necessary area in the text of an AreaFix re- qeust but, some processors, in order to work correctly, need the plus sign preceeding the EchoTag of the requested area. So, by taking this option, you can make FastEcho to add the plus sign before any automatic requested area, thus,solving the problem. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. 5.5.6.15.4.10 - Add '---' The triple dash represents the mandatory part of the tearline (See: 5.4.7.1 and 5.4.7.2). An AreaFix request, normally, doesn't need it, so ,by default, FastEcho doesn't insert it at the end of its own automati- cally created message. Nevertheless, some older processors need it to be able to work correctly, so, by means of this clause, you can solve this problem by making FastEcho insert it all the same. For our tutorial leave this option disabled. 5.5.6.15.4.10 - New Area Default Group Last of all, FastEcho has to know to which group the new EchoMail area, that your uplink will start to send you after having processed your AreaFix request, will belong to. So you can define the groups, when the cursor will fall into this item, FastEcho will show an ulterior dialog box: ╔═══════════════════════ Forward re┌───────────────────────────────┐ ║ │>A) Fidonet EchoMail area Intl<│ ║ Uplink: 2:999/900 │ B) Fidonet EchoMail area Natl │ ║ │ C) ZyXELnet EchoMail area │ ║ Area List: C:\FAST\FIDAREA.TXT │ D) Local BBS area │ ║ │ E) NetMail area │ ║ List type: AREAS.BBS │ F) │ ║ │ G) │ ║ Groups: AB │ H) │ ║ │ I) │ ║ Add '+': N Add '---': N New A[...] [...] ║ │ Z) │ ╚══════════════════════════════════└───────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 107 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Simply select, in the usual way, the group that fits the EchoMail area requirements better. FastEcho needs to know that because, when it starts to receive the new area from your downlink, it has to know which area-default must be taken over to automatically configure it. When you selected the right group, confirm your selection with the return key; You will see, once again, the dialog box we saw at the beginning of this chapter, don't worry, press return again until the cursor is placed in- side the Uplink field. At this point strike F10 to save your entry. For our tutorial place the highlighted box over group B), strike return twice and then the F10 Key. 5.5.6.15.4.11 - Create as passthrough When this switch is enable (toggled to 'Yes') then all areas created by mean of the Forward Areafix Request function will automatically created as passthrough even if the "storage" setting in your "Group area default" is differently specified. Is adviceable to leave this flag enabled because if your downlinks request a lot of areas you may easily run out of diskspace. Further, remember that the "Automatic passive" function (see paragraph 5.5.1.22) works only upon passthrough areas. .-.-. Here you have finished the dressing of the 'Forward AreaFix Request' layout, enabling this feature for the first uplink. Your 'Forward Re- quest' main layout should now look like the following: ╔═════════════════════ Forward AreaFix-Requests ═════════════════════╗ ║ Forward to Area List Area Manager Active ║ ║────────────────────┬─────────────────────┬─────────────────┬───────║ ║ A) 2:999/900 │ C:\FAST\FIDAREA.TXT │ AreaFix │ Yes ║ ║ B) │ │ │ ║ ║ C) │ │ │ ║ ║ D) │ │ │ ║ [...] │ │ │ [...] ║ T) │ │ │ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Enter-Edit F2-Active F3-Move Del-Kill list entry Now you may repeat the operation from 5.5.6.13 until 5.5.6.14.10 for all your uplinks (changing the necessary data, of course). For our tuto- rial define the 16:999/000 uplink too. .-.-. Here you have also completed the Data DropDown Menu setup and, thus, also the main settings of your FastEcho core. Now it's time to start learning the pratical use of the FastEcho program and the FEUTIL compa- nion utility. Exit now from the Forward-Arefix-Request layout by pressing the ESC key; then exit from the Data-DropDown-Menu by pressing ESC again. You have now returned to FastEcho Main Screen. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 108 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.6 - Export DropDown Menu ==================== This is a utility that allows you to export your area configuration into three different files. Each one has its purpose. FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌──────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>AREAS.BBS< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ SQUISH.CFG │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Echolist │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ASCII.file │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ROUTE.file │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░└──────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Create AREAS.BBS file from area database 5.6.1 - Export AREAS.BBS ---------------- The AREAS.BBS file is a standard, human readable, file containing all the areas that your system has already configured, each one with its EchoTag and the connected systems, if any. By means of this file, is is often possible to exchange information about connected EchoMail areas between different mail processors; furthermore, many mail editors support it in order to automatically configure themselves in accordance with your current EchoMail configuration. Moreover, as mentioned in chapter 5.5.6.14.5.4, it could be useful for your downlinks to let them use the 'Forward AreaFix Request' feature on their systems. 5.6.2 - Export SQUISH.CFG ----------------- This function will become useful if you need to export a SQUISH.CFG compatible configuration file you can use in order to save time when installing or modifying your squish system. 5.6.3 - Export Echolist --------------- This option allow you to export an ascii file which contains a list of all areas with all their descriptions exactly as you configured them in Area Manager This file is FIDONET.NA compatible. 5.6.4 - Export ASCII file ----------------- The so called ASCII file represents a human readable file that con- tains the complete descriptive configuration of your FastEcho. Pratical- ly it completely contains all settings you made in FESetup. It can be useful you in order to check all your current configurations at a glance. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 109 - FastEcho MANUAL - Tutorial - Data dropdown menu - AreaFix Options - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5.6.5 - Export ROUTE.FE --------------- It may be helpful to export this ROUTE file in case you wish to use the automatic FastEcho packer/router. As we shall see later, FastEcho has an high performance NetMail packer/router built in, that can be used in two ways: 'FASTECHO PACK <address,address,...> via <address>' or, better, through the 'FASTECHO PACK -F<route file>' (We shall see its exact use in the proper paragraph ). The <route file> parameters could be replaced with the file-name containing the routing statements for every node configured in your node manager (see: 5.5.1.24.2) that may be created by means of this export function. 5.7 - Import DropDown Menu ==================== From the Main FESetup screen, place the highlighted box over the 'Import' item and strike the return key; you will be able to access the the import feature by using the following dropdown menu: FESetup System Data Export Import F1 Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░┌─────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Echolist │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│─────────────│░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│>AREAS.BBS< │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ SQUISH.CFG │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ IMAIL.ND │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ IMAIL.AR │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ NODEFILE.FD │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ AREAFILE.FD │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ NODEFILE.GE │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ AREAFILE.GE │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ FastEcho;│ FMAIL.NOD │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ FMAIL.AR │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ XMAIL Files │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░ Copyright 1991-97 by Softwar└─────────────┘ rights reserved. ░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Import an AREAS.BBS area file ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 110 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This section could be very useful if you plan to upgrade to FastEcho while, before, you used mail processors like Tosscan, IMail, GEcho and so on. All you need is a copy of your AREAS.BBS file from your old mail processor and, let the FastEcho import feature translate it to a new FastEcho configuration. The imported configuration, of course, will need, however,some little additional touch in order to fine-tune it but, I don't think, it will be hard for you. If you don't have the AREAS.BBS available, don't worry, you will be able to import several other proprietary configuration formats for IMail, FMail, TosScan and GEcho; furthermore, you have the choice to import the, so called, EchoList file; that's a somewhat standard FidoNet file called FIDONET.NA, which contains the description of the EchoMail areas in the format <EchoTag> <Description>. While importing this file, FastEcho updates, after your confirma- tion, the area descriptions of the areas already configured in "Node Manager" by inserting the right description or repalcing an existent one into the "Comment" field (see chapter 5.5.3.1.3). .-.-. Here you really have finished discovering FESetup: The FastEcho in- teractive configuration utility. In the next chapter we shall begin using the FastEcho mail processor. If you have followed the tutorial until now and have read carefully all the FESetup options, now you know how to change all the inserted parameters yourself, according to your, uplinks and downlinks necessities. When you have finished your real configuration then remember to double check it both, directly and by exporting your settings, relying upon the FastEcho capability seen in the paragraph 5.6.2. When you think that's all right then follow onto the next chapter. 6 - USING FastEcho ============== Here we shall start to use the FastEcho main program in order to process your outgoing and incoming mail. I assume that, before start this section, you have already followed chapter 5, where we pointed out all the necessary operations to correctly set up the parameters needed to let FastEcho work correctly. 6.1 - Help on line ------------ Before checking the FastEcho functionalities, it would be better try executing it without any parameter. In this case, FastEcho will give you a summary of the functions that it mainly performs. From the DOS prompt input "FastEcho" followed by the return key. You will see the help screen shown here below: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 111 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Usage: FastEcho TOSS [-B][-C][-F][-S] - Toss inbound mail FastEcho SCAN [-N][-A][-F][-I][-L<file>] - Scan for outbound mail FastEcho PACK [-I][-F][-P][Adr...[via Adr]] - Pack outbound NetMail or [-R<file>] FastEcho AFIX [-F] - Scan for AreaFix-request FastEcho NOTIFY [Adr [Adr] ...] - Send AreaFix notify messages FastEcho HELP [Adr [Adr] ...] - Send AreaFix help messages FastEcho RELINK [Adr [Adr] ...] - Send AreaFix relink messages FastEcho STAT[-R[S]][-G<g>][-O][-H][-N] - Generate mail statistics Call 'FastEcho <command> ?' for more detailed help ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- As you can see, this main Help-Screen summarizes all the available FastEcho commands andeachwith the available options and switches. You can also rely upon more detailed help screen, over about all options and all switches, by simply executing them with the trailing question mark, for example, if you need further information about the "FastEcho TOSS" function then you can input: FastEcho TOSS ? (Or FastEcho TOSS /?) from the DOS prompt, obtaining the second level help screen: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FastEcho TOSS [-B] [-C] [-F] [-S] - process inbound mail <switches> -B : retoss messages from BadMail area -C : make Carbon-copies of imported mails -S : disable all Security-checks -F : don't create a File-attach(es) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- in which is explained, in detail, what every switch does. 6.2 - FastEcho Toss ------------- The "TOSS" operation must be performed in order to process the in- coming mail packets. As you already know, the incoming mail packets are stored by your Mailer in the "Inbound" directory when they are received from your links. They are initially in an archived form (compressed), so they need to be unarchived before they can be processed (See 5.4.4.3, 5.4.4.4, 5.4.11). When the FastEcho Toss command is executed, FastEcho automatically checks in the inbound directory if new ARCmail bundles exist and, if so, it starts to unarchive the found ARCmail bundles containing one or more mail packets; furthermore, it starts to process the mail packets by scanning them in order to detect, and con- textually extract, all the contained messages and, finally, distribu- ting the messages in your configured EchoMail Areas according to their ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 112 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── EchoTag (Area Name). During the tossing operation "FastEcho Toss" automatically checks if you received mail belonging to areas which your downlinks are connected to and, if so, it starts forwarding their mails by creating new mail packets and when finished archiving them in ARCmail bundles, storing these ARCmail bundles in the OUTBOUND directory and addressing them to your downlinks by means of appropriate file-attaches created in the "primary NetMail area" (as we have seen in chapter 5.4.4.6). Moreover, the "TOSS" operation, after having per- formed the aforesaid function, starts to check if, in the "Primary Net- Mail Area", any AreaFix requests exist, and, if so, it automatically executes the built-in FastEcho AreaFix function in order to process them. Remember that FastEcho toss ignores all PKTs having the "read-on- ly" flag set. The "TOSS" function can be formulated with four variants in the form of commandline switches. Let's see them in detail. 6.2.1 - FastEcho Toss -B We have talked about BadMail several times throughout this manual (look at chapters 5.4.7.4, 5.5.2.3, 5.5.2.5 and 5.5.3.1.1) so you are now sufficiently aware of it, I think. You know that, when your uplink starts to send you, for example, an EchoMail area that you haven't pre- viously requested and you haven't got the FastEcho "Auto Area Create" feature active for this node in your configuration, then, FastEcho will toss all the EchoMails belonging to this undefined area directly in your BadMail area. If after having checked the received bad EchoMail, you decide to switch this area active on your system, configuring it with FESetup, then you need to pour off all your previous bad messages in the proper new area you have just created. In this case the switch we are using now may help. By executing the command: FastEcho TOSS -B from the DOS prompt, in fact, all the messages contained in the BadMail area will be completely re-scanned, re-tossed and thus, re-distributed in the proper areas (if you have meanwhile created them). 6.2.2 - FastEcho Toss -C To explain this switch I need to remind you of the chapter 5.5.4, where we extensively talked about the Carbon Copies and their means. In the aforesaid chapter, as a matter of fact, we set up the Carbon Copy function to make its work possible. The Carbon Copy function, in brief, intervenes while FastEcho tosses the mail packets in order to detect among them, the ones which you are interested in. FastEcho, of course, knows which are the messages you want to duplicate thanks to your set- ting tuned in chapter 5.5.4. If you want to activate the Carbon Copy function you need to invoke the TOSS operation adding the "-C" switch: FastEcho TOSS -C Remember that without the "-C" switch this function won't be active, although your settings in 5.5.4 section have been done correctly and remember also that the carbon-copy system ignores completely all the messages tossed in your badmail area. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 113 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.2.3 - FastEcho Toss -S We have seen in chapters 5.4.7.14, 5.5.1.5.1, 5.5.1.5.2, 5.5.1.8, and in several other chapters, how many security features FastEcho has. That's not bad indeed, but in some cases you may want to temporarily disable all the security functions provided by FastEcho. This can be done simply by invoking the FastEcho TOSS function with the -S switch: FastEcho TOSS -S Avoid the insertion of this switch in your permanent batch-file be- cause it's absolutely unadvisable to leave the security functions disa- bled permanently. 6.2.4 - FastEcho Toss -F When invoked with the -F Switch, FastEcho "TOSS" starts its normal procedures, processing the incoming mail bundles, exactly as explained in the paragraph 6.2 at the beginning of the present section but, when it finishes forwarding mail to your downlinks, by creating the appro- priate ARCmail bundles, it avoids the generation of the necessary file attaches in the "primary NetMail area". Be aware that, doing so, your downlinks won't be able to pick up their mail, although it may be pre- sent. That's because, when the mailer answers their calls it won't be aware of any mail being sent due to lack of necessary NetMail attaches references. Use this switch only if you really need it (I.E. when wor- king in LAN environment) and only if you are perfectly aware of what you are doing. 6.3 - FastEcho Scan ------------- The "SCAN" operation must be performed whenever you want FastEcho to scan your local messagebase(s) in order to find new messages to be sent. The local messages are the ones that may be locally inserted both by you (by means of a messagebase editor) and by the interactive users of your Bulletin Board System. For example: If you insert an EchoMail message locally, by means of your preferred messagebase editor, it will be stored in the corresponding local messagebase with the attribute "Uns" that means "Unsent"; to allow this message to be sent, then FastEcho has to scan this messagebase; when this new message is found, then FastEcho will mark it as "Snt" within the messagebase and, it exports the message contents out of the messagebase and stores it into new mail packets. Furthermore FastEcho will archive these mail packets producing an ARCmail bundle, storing it in the OUTBOUND directory, and, finally, it creates the "File attach" for this new bundle so that your mailer can be aware that there is new mail to send (or to be picked up). This speech is valid also if there is more than one EchoMail message to be sent, of course, and FastEcho, thanks to its swiftness, can perform the scan operation in one single pass, independently from the number of messages to be sent existing in your messagebases. The only exception to this mechanism happens when you insert a new NetMail message in your "Secondary NetMail Area" (as you certainly remember there are some substantial differences between Primary and Secondary NetMail areas (See, for references,chapters 5.4.4.1 and 5.4.14.1.2). When performing the "SCAN" operation, if FastEcho detects one or more NetMail messages marked with the "Unsent" flag in your "Secondary ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 114 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── NetMail Area", it will export them, as usual, but, instead of inserting them in a mail packet (as instead happens for the EchoMail messages, as we have seen before), they will be merely exported from your "Secondary NetMail Area" into your "Primary NetMail Area" as *.MSG, leaving them there for further processing or to be directly routed through your mailer (remember that the "Primary NetMail Area" is shared between FastEcho and your Mailer). To increase the performances, FastEcho uses some files that your BBS software and your messagebase editor creates when you insert new EchoMail or NetMail messages in your messagebase. These files are named ECHOMAIL.BBS, NETMAIL.BBS, ECHOMAIL.JAM, NETMAIL.JAM. The two having ".BBS" extension are used for the Hudson Message Base while the other two are used for the JAM messagebase. But, what do these files really contain? They contain the exact location of the newly inserted message in EchoMail (EchoMail.BBS or EchoMail.JAM) and in NetMail (NetMail.BBS or NetMail.JAM), if at all, within your messagebases (both JAM or HMB). When a "SCAN" operation is performed, then FastEcho immediately looks for these files and, if they exists, FastEcho will look inside them to see if there are new message and where to find them exactly, avoiding, so, to rescan the whole messagebase contents, so saving a lot of time. The "SCAN" function can be formulated with four variants in the form of commandline switches. Let's see them in detail. 6.3.1 - FastEcho Scan -N As we said in the previous chapter, FastEcho makes use of EchoMail and NetMail.BBS, EchoMail and NetMail.JAM to speed up its overall per- formances but, in some cases, this could be unwanted (I.E. it may hap- pen that your preferred messagebase editor doesn't update these files while, instead, your BBS does it. So,while FastEcho performs the "SCAN" operation it may find the NetMail/EchoMail.BBS/JAM, created by your BBS software, containing the references of EchoMail and NetMail messages inserted by the interactive users of your BBS, but not yours. The re- sult will be that your locally inserted messages will never be sent. Only if you come across this problem use the "-N" switch) If you use the "-N" switch, then, the scanning operation will involve the whole messagebase with no regards to any of the aforesaid files. 6.3.2 - FastEcho Scan -A As opposed to the previous one, this switch will bind FastEcho to perform the "SCAN" operation only if it is able to find the EchoMail and NetMail.BBS, EchoMail and NetMail.JAM files (Refer to the main FastEcho Scan chapter: 6.3, for details about the meaning of these files.) otherwise the FastEcho "SCAN" execution will abort. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 115 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.3.3 - FastEcho Scan -F We already seen, in the chapter 6.3, how the "SCAN" mechanism works. Well, when you invoke the "SCAN" function with this additional switch, the operation performed by FastEcho will be exactly the same as we have seen in the chapter 6.3 with the only exception that, after the ARCmail bundles, containing the outgoing mail packets, are created in the OUTBOUND directory, FastEcho won't generate the necessaryARCmail attaches in the "Primary NetMail Area". take note that, normally, in this way, your mailer won't be aware of the ready-to-be-sent ARCmail bundles, wich means they will never be sent nor picked up to/from any- one although they effectively exists. Use this switch only If you really need it, for example, when working in LAN environments. 6.3.4 - FastEcho Scan -I FastEcho, in order to increase its high speed while scanning JAM, Squish and *.MSG messagebases, can make use, and update too, the so called HighWaterMarks. When FastEcho performs the "SCAN" operation upon JAM, SQUISH and *.MSG messagebases, in fact, thanks to the HighWaterMarks system, it can keep track of the last message which has been processed in a previous scanning, so, if not otherwise specified, it will check only the newer messages (having higher message numbers) starting the scan operation directly from the address pointed by the HighWaterMarks, instead of scanning the whole message base, saving, in this way, a lot of precious time that could be spent otherwise. Nevertheless, it could happen that, some old messagebase editors don't set these "marks" correctly. in this case the -I switch could be helpful. If you specify the "-I", infact, FastEcho will ignore the HighWaterMarks index completely, so, the whole messagebase will be scanned from the beginning to end. 6.3.5 - FastEcho Scan -L<file> This switch is strictly related to the Squish and Old-Fido-Style *.MSG messagebases; in fact it works only with them and doesn't work with HMB or JAM messagebase. What this switch does is very simple to explain. As you can see in the command syntax, after the "-L" switch you must specify the name of a file. This file must be in a plain- vanilla-ASCII format and must contain the names of the areas that you want scanned by FastEcho in Squish and *.MSG messagebases. Assuming that the filename containing your choosen areas is SFAREA.TXT, you ought to invoke this command as follow: FastEcho SCAN -LSFAREA.TXT Note that there are no spaces between the "-L" switch and the "file- name". When you perform the "SCAN" operation in this way, FastEcho will immediately look into the specified file (SFAREA.TXT), read the areas names and execute all the operation relative to the "SCAN" function over the indicated areas only. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 116 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.4 - FastEcho Pack ------------- FastEcho has a built-in, high performance NetMail-packer/router that can be called by invoking FastEcho with the Pack main switch. But what does the NetMail-packer/router really do? It will bring the NetMail messages contained in the primary NetMail directory, archiving them in an ARCmail bundle, having, like the ones containing EchoMails, its ARCmail attach addressed (routed) to the system that fits your rou- ting directives. The FastEcho router normally involves any NetMail message without priority attributes (Crash, Direct, Immediate, File/At- tach, File/Request and so on. See in appendix C for a complete at- tributeslist) but, if the netmail having the aforesaid high priority attributes has the InTransit (non-local)flag too, then it will be packed anyway. When "FastEcho Pack" is invoked without special routing statements, by default, it automatically takes, from your configuration setup, the default routing that you specified in "Node Manager" (see: 5.5.1.24.2 - F2-Routing), otherwise it will strictly follow your more detailed routing statements that you may directly specify on the "FastEcho pack" command line or, moreover, specifyed inside the special route file (ROUTE.FE). There will be more details in the fol- lowing chapters. 6.4.1 - Routing (commandline) Statements This is the first advanced methods, to perform the NetMail packing routing, provided by FastEcho (I remind you that the standard method is the normal "FastEcho pack" without any additional parameter). The syn- tax of this first advanced method is the following: FastEcho PACK <addr> <addr> <...> via <ADDR> As you can see, this syntax is subdivided in two main parts: The standard "FastEcho PACK" commands followed by a set of addresses (cal- led "involved NetMail addresses" set) and a single address that follows the "Via" statement (called "target address"). The purpose of this syn- tax is to allow FastEcho to gather, in one single ARCmail bundle, all the unsent NetMail messages located in the "Primary NetMail Area" which are addressed to any of the systems specified in the "involved NetMail addresses" and preparing them to be sent to the system speci- fied in the "target address". 6.4.1.1 - ShortCuts (wilcards/abbreviations) In order to obtain an improved flexibility using the "PACK" com- mand, FastEcho provides the use of some abbreviated statements, wild- carded addressing, and macros. 6.4.1.1.1 - Shortened points routing To enable FastEcho routes to quicker the NetMail for all your points, it provides the choice to use a shorter route syntax: FastEcho Pack <point number> <point number> <....> ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 117 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For example, if your system has five points you can quickly route and pack the NetMail for them by formulating the command as follow: FastEcho pack .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 as you can see, it is short and effective. 6.4.1.1.2 - Wildcarded addressing The addresses specified in the "FastEcho PACK" command supports the so called, wildcarded addressing. The "wilcards" are very useful to in- volve groups of addresses, having a common key, with a single defini- tion. You certainly already know the use of DOS wildcard; well, their use, in this case, is exactly the same but, instead of acting upon fi- les, here, they will be used with NetMail addresses. For example, in- volving, with a single definition, all the fidonet systems belonging to "Zone 2", you should simply specify: " 2:* ". Another possibility is using the '?' wildcard, for example "2:2448/4??". Let's see some examples: 6.4.1.1.3 - Direct Routing Examples 1) - If You want to route all the NetMail messages addressed to the region 33 through the system 2:331/500 your complete command will be the following: FastEcho PACK 2:33* VIA 2:331/500 2) - If you want to route all the NetMail messages addressed to the net 332 (in zone 2) via the system 2:332/300 you should define your routing command as specified below: FastEcho PACK 2:332/* VIA 2:332/300 3) - If you want to route all your NetMail addressed within the zone 2 (FidoNet) via the 2:332/300 node and all your NetMail addressed to the zone 16 (ZyXELnet) via the node 16:600/400, then you should define your routing command as follows: FastEcho PACK 2:* VIA 2:332/300 FastEcho PACK 16:* VIA 16:600/400 4) - If you want to route all your NetMail addressed to the net 332, 333 and 335 via the node 2:331/500, you should define the routing command as explained below: FastEcho PACK 2:332/* 2:333/* 2:335/* VIA 2:331/500 5) - If you want to route all your NetMail addressed to the systems 2:331/500, 2:331/501, 2:331/502, 2:331/503 and all their points, and to the zone 1 via the system 2:331/500 and, the remaining net- mail addressed within the zone 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 via the system 2:332/300 then, your routing command will look like the following: FastEcho PACK 2:331/50?.* 1:* VIA 2:331/500 FastEcho PACK 2:* 3:* 4:* 5:* 6:* VIA 2:332/300 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 118 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── As you can see, the addresses could be easily and efficiently mana- ged according to your needs. Keep in mind that, inside your batch file, the routing sequence will be performed "top down" and remember that, furthermore, FastEcho "PACK" won't touch NetMails that include a ^aFLAGS kludge in it, except those only containing PVT, K/S or CFM (Private/Priviledged, Kill /Sent and Confirmation Receipt Request) and some other flags. 6.4.2 - FastEcho Pack -R<route filename> As said before, FastEcho supports another advanced method to per- form the NetMail-packing/routing. This one is newer, more advanced and flexible than the previous one. All you need is to create a plain ASCII file containing some routing statements (that we shall see later in the next paragraph) specifying it after the "-R" commandline switch. It, pratically, must be placed where <route filename> is specified. For Example: if your ASCII file containing the NetMail routing statements is named "ROUTE.FE" your commands look like the following FastEcho PACK -RROUTE.FE When FastEcho is be executed in this way, it will read the contents of the ROUTE.FE file performing the NetMail routing as specified by way of the route-commands contained therein. 6.4.2.1 - Routing (file) statements There are several commands that you can use inside the routing fi- le, each one with its specific meaning. Each statement must fit in a single line. Remember that, inside the ROUTE file, the statements will be processed with top-down hierarchy, which means that the LAST statement which matches the destination address of a NetMail message to be processed is used for routing the message. All the NetMail addresses that you will use inside the route-file supports the wildcarded addressing (as we have seen in the chapter 6.4.1.1.2). Furthermore, remember that NetMails can only be routed via or to systems already defined in the Node- Configuration. That's all. Let's now see each of them in detail. 6.4.2.1.1 - ROUTE-TO <addr> <addr> [<addr> <...>] ┌──┴───┐├────────────────────┤ │target││ involved addresses │ This routing command implies that you want FastEcho to route, via the address specified in <target system>, all the still unsent NetMail messages matching the addresses specified in "<addr> [<addr>]" that FastEcho will be able to find in the "Primary NetMail Area". For exam- ple, if you want to route all the NetMails for zone 2 via the system 2:331/501 your routing command will look like the following: ROUTE-TO 2:331/501 2:* ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 119 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── while, if you want to route all the NetMail messages addressed within the zone 2, 3, 4 via the 2:331/501 system, and all the NetMail messages addressed to zone 1, 5, 6 via the 2:332/300 system, your rou- ting statements will look like the following: ROUTE-TO 2:331/501 2:* 3:* 4:* ROUTE-TO 2:332/300 1:* 5:* 6:* 6.4.2.1.2 - NO-ROUTE <addr> [<addr> ...] This represents a ROUTE exception. When the "NO-ROUTE" statement is used, then all the NetMails addressed to any systems specified in the address-list "<addr> [<addr>]", and all their points, won't be routed but will be packed directly to these systems without routing. For exam- ple, if you want to route all NetMails for region 33 via system 2:332/1 except the ones addressed to systems 2:332/303, 2:333/310 and all their points, which, instead, must be packed and sent separately, you can use the following statements: ROUTE-TO 2:332/1 2:33?/* NO-ROUTE 2:332/303 2:333/310 6.4.2.1.3 - DIRECT <addr> [<addr> ...] The "DIRECT" works exactly as the "NO-ROUTE" statement with the only difference that while the "NO-ROUTE" statement packs also the Net- Mails addressed to a point system via its boss node (if the boss node is specified in <addr>), the DIRECT, instead, doesn't, forcing the NetMail addressed to be packed separately and DIRECTLY for that point. 6.4.2.1.4 - EXCEPT <addr> [<addr> ...] This routing command, when used, will cause an "exception" that ap- plies to the previous statements only. This will result very useful in case of multiple uplinks/downlinks in the same network. For Example, if you want to route all the NetMails addressed to zone 2 via the 2:331/500 system except the NetMails addressed to net 332 that you want route via the 2:332/300 system and, within this last, except the NetMails addressed to the 2:332/317 and 2:332/314 that you want routed via the 2:332/315 system you must plan your route file as follows: ROUTE-TO 2:331/500 2:* EXCEPT 2:332/*.* ROUTE-TO 2:332/300 2:332/*.* EXCEPT 2:332/317.* 2:332/314.* ROUTE-TO 2:332/315 2:332/317 2:332/314 6.4.2.1.5 - FORWARD-TO <addr> The FORWARD-TO routing command, only involves netmail messages ha- ving the in-transit flag set. This command is intended to right iden- tify the system (or systems) qualified to receive all the in-transit netmails forwarded and routed by your system. By using this command, only the in-transit messages addressed to the systems pointed out in <addr> will be packed and routed, otherwise FastEcho-pack won't touch any. For example: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 120 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FORWARD-TO 2:332/300 lets FastEcho-pack to route all in-transit messages for 2:332/300; FORWARD-TO 2:332/* lets FastEcho-pack to route the in-transit messages addressed to system in the net 332; FORWARD-TO * lets FastEcho-pack to route all the in-transit message. Use this one if you don't need the selective FORWARD-TO feature. 6.4.2.1.6 - FORWARD-FOR <addr> The FORWARD-FOR command also is intended for treatment of in- transit netmail message. In this case the command allows the routing of in-transit netmail messages having as sender a qualified address only. In other words, this mean that can be routed only the in-transit messages sent by sender having the address pointed out in <addr>. For Example: FORWARD-FOR 2:332/300 lets FastEcho-pack to route the in-transit messages sent to you by the system 2:332/300; FORWARD-FOR 2:332/* lets FastEcho-pack to route the in-transit messages sent to you by the systems becoming to net 332; FORWARD-FOR * lets FastEcho-pack to route all the in-transit message without regards. Use this one if you don't need the selective FORWARD-FOR feature. 6.4.2.2 - routing address' macro In order to facilitate the user to setup his route-file, FastEcho provides a complete macro-set that can be used freely inside your ad- dresses specification. 6.4.2.2.1 - MYZONE When used in a routing statement, FastEcho will automatically ex- pand it with your zone address (zone:*). Note that the zone will be the zone of your primary network address. For example, To route all NetMail addressed to your zone via the system 2:393/393 you can use the follo- wing command: ROUTE-TO 2:393/393 MYZONE ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 121 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.4.2.2.2 - MYNET This convenience macro will be expanded to all systems in your NET when specified within a routing line (zone:net/*), like the previous macro, this net will be the same as your primary network address. For example, if you want to route all the NetMails addressed within your net, through system 2:332/301 you might use the following command: ROUTE-TO 2:332/301 MYNET 6.4.2.2.3 - MYPOINTS This macro will be automatically expanded to <zone>:<net>/<node>.*, in order to route to your points the NetMail messages addressed to them, that FastEcho will be able to find in the "Primary NetMail Area". While the other macros will expand only for your MAIN address, this one, instead, will be conveniently expanded for *ALL* your network addresses (your main address and all your akas); thus it will be very useful if you are involved in more that one network and you feed point under each one of them. If you want perform the routing operation for all your points, processing their NetMail messages by means of one sin- gle routing command, then, simply use the following: DIRECT MYPOINTS 2.4.2.2.4 - LISTED The LISTED macro will be expanded in the addresses of all systems configured in your node manager. It may be useful if used in combina- tion with the NO-ROUTE and the DIRECT macros. If you want, for example, pack NetMails for all your downlinks and their points, uplinks and their points, and, finally, your points separately, you could use the following command: NO-ROUTE LISTED DIRECT MYPOINTS Furthermore, if you wish for the NetMails addressed to all sys- tems defined in FESetup's Node-Configuration to be packed directly without routing them, including the points of each node listed unless the points are listed in your node manager, you can use the following command: DIRECT LISTED 6.4.2.3 - ROUTE.FE examples Let's now see some pratical examples. Keep in mind that what you will see in this paragraph are all statements that must be contained in a file: the one you will specify in the FastEcho PACK -R<file> command. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 122 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hypotesis 1)- Your system (2:331/999) has an Uplink (2:331/500) for Fi- doNet, three downlinks (2:331/331, 2:331/332, 2:331/333), and 4 points 2:331/999.1, .2, .3, .4. You want to route all your outgoing NetMail (from you and from your down- links) via your Uplink (2:331/500), then, as normal, you want to route all your incoming NetMail to your downlinks (points included). Your route file will look like the following: ROUTE-TO 2:331/500 MYZONE NO-ROUTE 2:331/331 2:331/332 2:331/333 DIRECT MYPOINTS Hypotesis 2)- Your system (2:331/940) has two akas (16:700/631 and 39:230/431). Three uplinks: one for fidonet (2:331/900), one for ZyXELnet (16:700/600) and the last for AmigaNet (39:230/400). You, furthermore, have 3 downlinks and 3 points for ZyXELnet (16:700/711, 16:700/712, 16:700/713) and (16:700/631.1, 16:700/631.2 and 16:700/631.3); one downlink and two points for FidoNet: (2:331/941) and (2:331/940.1, 2:331/940.2) and, last of all, three down- links and 2 points for AmingaNet (39:230/432, 39:230/433, 39:230/434) and (39:230/431.1, .2). In particular you must route all NetMail for (2:331/942 and 2:331/943 via the 2:331/941 downlink) Your route file will look like the following: ROUTE-TO 2:331/941 2:331/942 2:331/943 NO-ROUTE 16:700/711 16:700/712 16:700/713 ROUTE-TO 39:230/432 39:230/433 39:230/434 ROUTE-TO 2:331/900 1:* 2:* 3:* 4:* 5:* 6:* ROUTE-TO 16:700/600 16:* ROUTE-TO 39:230/400 39:* DIRECT LISTED 6.4.3 - FastEcho Pack -I When FastEcho Pack is issued with the "-I" commandline switch, FastEcho will involve in the packing oparations only the NetMails ha- ving the attrubute "In-Transit" set. The "-I" switch could be used either in CommandLine Routing (see chapter 6.4.1) and in File Routing (see: chapter 6.4.2). 6.4.4 - FastEcho Pack -F As we have seen at the beginning of the chapter 6.4, normally, the FastEcho NetMail packer-router creates, in the OUTBOUND directory, the ARCmail bundles containing all the NetMail to be routed, with an ARC- mail attach in the "Primary NetMail Area", addressed to the target sys- tem which these ARCmail bundles must be sent to; but if you specify the "-F" switch in your "FastEcho Pack" command, this ARCmail attach won't be created at all. This switch must be used only in particular situa- tions, for example when working in LAN environments. Don't specify this switch unless you are perfectly aware of what you are doing. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 123 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.4.5 - FastEcho Pack -P When the command FastEcho Pack is invoked with the "-P" switch, it will use the Binkley style NetMail packing, including all NetMails ha- ving priority flags such as direct, crash, F/att, F/req in the pack operation;the IMM flag is supported only working in PoP and McMail en- vironments creating the correct *.IUT files. In addition all NetMails addressed to unknown points will be routed to their boss node unless the DIRECT flag is specified. Note that, if the NetMail messages are originated by one of the system's AKAs but don't have the LOCAL flag, they won't be packed at all. 6.5 - FastEcho Afix ------------- This command enables FastEcho to start the processing of valid AreaFix requests which it will be able to find in the "Primary NetMail Area". We have extensively explained what an AreaFix request is, in the chapter 5.5.5 where we pointed out all the AreaFix MetaCommands too (see: chapter 5.5.5.1); furthermore we dealt with AreaFix several times throughout this manual: (see: 5.4.5.2, 5.5.1.5.2, 5.5.1.6.2, 5.5.1.8, 5.5.1.9, 5.5.1.18, 5.5.1.19, 5.5.1.20, 5.5.1.21, 5.5.3.1.10, 5.5.3.1.14 5.5.3.1.19, 5.5.3.1.20 and, finally, in all the chapter 5.5.6) so i'm somewhat sure that you already know the subject we are now talking about but, all the same, I wish to remind you that an AreaFix request is, mostly, the way in which your downlinks join or unlink their Echo- Mail available areas themselves, automatically and without any of your manual intervention. They simply have to send your system an "AreaFix" request, which is nothing more than a normal NetMail message addressed to the "AreaFix" processor of your system and contains in its body one or more "MetaCommands", and waits until your "Built-In" FastEcho Area- Fix processor works for them. Furthermore, as already mentioned in the- se chapters, I want remind you that all the AreaFix MetaCommand will be processed with top-down hierarchy; this puntuaction may be useful when you try to compose your first AreaFix requests. In any case refer to the examples reported in this manual in the chapter 5.5.5 and refer to the same chapter whenever you are in doubt about any of the AreaFix options. 6.6 FastEcho Notify --------------- By using this command you can manually force FastEcho to generate a NetMail message containing a lot of information about the agreement ma- de between you and your downlinks. The notify message is the same that will be sent automatically from AreaFix when it receives the %INFO me- tacommand (see chapter 5.5.5.1.6). In this way, you can choose the sys- tem which the Notify message will be sent to; this can be done by spe- cifying, after the "FastEcho NOTIFY" command, the address or the ad- dresses of the system (or the systems) that you prefer. The address wildcarding is also allowed. If you run this command without any para- meters, FastEcho will send the Notify message to any system having the "Send Notify" option toggled to "Y" (see 5.5.1.20). Here are some exam- ples to send the Notify Messages: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 124 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── If you want send the Notify message to your points, assuming your system has four points, you should use the following command: FastEcho NOTIFY .1 .2 .3 .4 If your main address is 2:787/43 and you want to send the notify message to your downlink 2:787/45 (which is the node 45 in the network of your main address) you can use the following command: FastEcho NOTIFY 45 (or) FastEcho NOTIFY 787/45 If you wish to send the notify message to all system configured in your node manager belonging to zone 2, then you can use the following command: FastEcho NOTIFY 2:* If you, instead, wish to notify one or more systems in particular, you may specify their complete address: FastEcho NOTIFY 2:332/300 2:331/501 Will send the notify messages only to the systems specified. Remem- ber that you cannot, of course, send a notify message to a system not previously configured in "Node-Manager". 6.6 - FastEcho Help When FastEcho is locally invoked with the "HELP" switch, it will generate a NetMail containing a help message about the use of AreaFix, addressed to the system specified after the "HELP" switch. If "FastEcho HELP" is invoked without additional addresses then, the help message will be sent to all systems having the "Send Help" option toggled to "Y" in node manager (see 5.5.1.21). The message you wish to be sent is fully configurable by you. In fact you can build a file in your prefer- red language, more, or less detailed according to your preferences. In this way you can easily send this file manually. It may be useful when you join a new downlinks in order to directly inform it about the capa- bilities of your AreaFix. The default AreaFix Help File enclosed in the FastEcho distribution archive is named AreaFix.HLP. You can specify a different one by means of the option we have already seen in the para- graph 5.5.6.12. The Format is the following: FastEcho HELP <Address> <Address> <...> If you want, for example, to send a help message for AreaFix usage to system 2:116/324 simply input the following command: FastEcho HELP 2:116/324 For this command, all the conveniences provided by wildcard or mul- tiple addressing still remains valid.The same help-file could also be requested by your downlinks through an AreaFix request containing in its body the command %HELP (we have seen in the chapter 5.5.5.1.20). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 125 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.7 - FastEcho Relink This command may conveniently be used to link (or relink) all your active areas upon an uplink after you've unlinked them. The relink operation is done by mean of an AreaFix request generated automatically by FastEcho the FastEcho Relink command is issued.. The relink command may be used in a general-mode: when issued without any trailing address, or in a specific-mode: when, instead, almost one address is specified. When the Relink command is started without addresses (general mode) the AreaFix message will be sent to all system you settled in the Forward Areafix request manager (see chapter 5.5.6.15). If, instead, one or more trailing address are present, then FastEcho creates the netmail messages for the specified systems only. Note that in the automatic request message FastEcho uses the AreaFix notation you settled for each system in Node Manager -> AreaFix flags. (See paragraphs 5.5.1.18 through 5.5.1.18.11) 6.8 - FastEcho Stat It may be useful for you, to have the choice to generate statistics about the percentages of mail sent/received between you and your down- links and/or sent/received between you and your uplinks. This can be done by means of the built-in FastEcho statistical function. In order to keep your daily statistics, FastEcho keeps one specific database up- dated (named FastEcho.DAT) every time a SCAN or TOSS operation will be performed on your system. When this command is invoked from the DOS prompt it will generate an ascii file (Human readable) containing all the statistics of your system. The name of the statistic file can be fixed by you in FESetup (look at chapter 5.4.5 for details). With this utility it will be possible to generate group-statistics too, simply by specifying them. Let's see the switches which make these operations possible. 6.8.1 - FastEcho Stat -R Normally, when FastEcho Stat is invoked, it creates the statistic file basing itself upon the contents of the aforesaid statistic data- base (FastEcho.dat) generating an overall statistic report. It may hap- pen that you need to generate new statistics monthly, weekly or daily; in this case you must, everytime, specify the "-R" switch in order to allow FastEcho automatically zeroise the FastEcho.DAT file when it fi- nishes generating the statistics you ordered; in this way, the next ti- me that FastEcho stat is invoked, it will only show the statistics re- lative to the EchoMail traffic after the last "STAT -R" command. 6.8.2 - FastEcho Stat -RS This command performs the same operation as the previous one "-R" but, moreover, it will also reset also the data records of the amount of messages sent/received to/from each system configured in "Node Manager". 6.8.3 - FastEcho Stat -S When FastEcho Stat is invoked with the Switch -S then FastEcho omits the system statistic from the final report. In this case only the area statistics will be shown. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 126 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 6.8.4 - FastEcho Stat -G<groups> When the "-G" switch is specified after the "FastEcho Stat" com- mand, specifical statistics belonging to the groups (one or more) spe- cified after the "-G" switch is generated. In the generated report there will also be included all the systems that have access to one or more of the specified groups. If, for example, you want to generate the statistics for the areas belonging to the groups A,B,C,D and for all the systems that have access to one or more areas of the same too, then your command will look like the following: FastEcho STAT -GABCD 6.8.5 - FastEcho Stat -H By default the statistic generationwon't include the areas marked as Hidden (see: Hide Area at the chapter 5.5.3.1.20). If this switch is used when invoking the "FastEcho Stat" command, you will force "FastEcho Stat" to include, in its report, all areas, although pre- viously marked as "hidden". 6.8.6 - FastEcho Stat -N Normally, FastEcho won't include, in its statistical report, the areas that have no traffic because this is somewhat useless. If you need to list these areas too, then specify the "-N" switch after the FastEcho Stat command. All your no-traffic areas will be included. 6.8.7 - FastEcho Stat -O By default, when a new statistic is performed, FastEcho doesn't de- lete the old statistic file but the new statistics will be appended to it. If you need the old statistic file to be overwritten, however, spe- cifying the "-O" switch to the "FastEcho Stat" command will be enough. The use of the "-O" switch may be useful in case of automatic procedu- res, handled by means of batch files, directed to automatically post the monthly or weekly statistic results to downlinks, uplinks or in EchoMail areas, (we shall see later one example in "FEUTIL Post" command). 7 - USING FEUTIL ============ After we have seen the pratical use of the FastEcho main program and all its switches and sub-switches we shall begin to see the Fast- Echo companion program: FEUTIL. It really performs a lot of operations such as: building a new index for your HMB and JAM messagebases, reply- linking the messages contained in your HMB, JAM and *.MSG messagebases in order to allow you follow the threads easily; starting the purging operation basing itself upon your purging parameters set in "FESetup" and much, much more. Most of the available FEUTIL commands, support multiple messagebases (HMB, JAM or Fido *.MSG). Like the "FastEcho.exe" command, FEUTIL has its help screen. If you invoke it without any para- meters you will obtain the following primary help screen: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 127 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── --------------------------------------------------------------------- Usage: FEUTIL INDEX - [HJ-] - Create new index files FEUTIL LINK - [HJM] - Reply-link messages and 'clean' subjects FEUTIL PURGE - [HJM] - Delete mess. according to age and/or number FEUTIL PACK - [HJM] - Pack messagebase and opt. renumber messages FEUTIL SORT - [HJ-] - Sort unread mess. by board by and date FEUTIL CHECK - [H--] - Check messagebase errors (crosslinks etc.) FEUTIL UNDELETE - [H--] - Undelete all messages (on a special area) FEUTIL MOVE - [H--] - Move messages from one area to another FEUTIL POST - [HJM] - Post a textfile as message into an area FEUTIL IMPORT - [HJM] - Import NetMails into NetMail-areas --------------------------------------------------------------------- As you can see, every function is followed by one or more letters enclosed in square brackets. These letters identify the function availabilities for the indicated messagebases: "H" for HMB, "J" for JAM and "M" for Fido *.MSG; You can easily select the messagebase you want FEUTIL to act upon, simply by specifing the following switches:"-JAM" for JAM, "-HMB" for HMB or "-FIDO" for Fido *.MSG messagebases. For example, if you want FEUTIL to perform the index operation upon the JAM messagebases only, you should simply input the following command from the DOS prompt: FEUTIL LINK -JAM By default FEUTIL will act upon all your configured messagebases. If you, further, need more detailed online help about one particular FEU- til function,you can obtain it simply by inputting the complete command followed by a question mark. For example, if you need more help about the FEUTIL PURGE function you can use the command: "FEUTIL PURGE ?" (Or FEUTIL PURGE /?) Obtaining the following informations --------------------------------------------------------------------- FEUTIL PURGE - Delete messages according to date and/or number. <switches> -DELETE : Delete messages in unknown boards --------------------------------------------------------------------- Let's now see each of the FEUTIL functions in detail. 7.1 - FEUTIL Index ------------ When you use the "FEUTIL Index" command, your Hudson and JAM mes- sagebases will be reindexed. Performing a full indexing of your messa- gebase may be helpful whenever you notice that your messagebase index are corrupted or not updated. This may happen in the case of a sudden lack of electrical energy while your system is working on messagebases index or, further, in case of messagebase overflow. We have seen, in the paragraph 5.5.3.1.6 that the Hudson Message Base is composed of several files. In this case The "FEUTIL Index" program will regenerate the following HMB index files: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 128 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── MSGIDX.BBS This file contains the messagenumber and board of each record in the messagebase MSGTOIDX.BBS This file contains the names of the addressees of each record in the messagebase MSGINFO.BBS This file contains global information about your messagebase regarding the number of messages (on each board, highest/lowest message etc.) For JAM areas it only recreates the .JDX file out of the info found in the .JHR file. 7.2 - FEUTIL Link ----------- The "FEUTIL Link" function provides an easy and immediate way of building the so called reply-link chains within your HMB, JAM or *.MSG messagebases. But what is the "reply chain"? When the "FEUTIL Link" function is invoked it starts scanning your messagebases in order to find the answers (reply) to any messages generating the proper link between them. For example: ┌──>(1) From:Bob Jopers (4) From:Kitty Kant │ To:Maxx Berni To:John Candy l│ Subj:FastEcho Subj:Hi there! i│ n│ (2) From:Reed Richards l┌───>(5) From:Bob Jopers k│ To:Ben Grimm i│ To:Maxx Berni │ Subj:Doc.Destiny n│ Subj:FastEcho │ k│ └──>(3) From:Maxx Berni ───────┘ (6) From:Reed Richards To:Bob Jopers To:Jonny Storm Subj:FastEcho Subj:Flames Assuming that the headers shown above are message headers within a board in your HMB or JAM or Fido messagebase.When you start the "FEUTIL Link" function, it will create a connection upon three messa- ges: (1) -> (3) -> (5) In fact, as you can see, the message (1) is the first one, message (3) is the first reply to the (1) and message (5) is a subsequent reply to message (3). As many "replies" will exist in a board, as many reply- links FEUTIL will create. Furthermore, the connections created among messages' replies, will be useful and convenient so that you can easily follow all the discussions (as known as "thread") existent in one or more boards, within your messagebase, by means of your messagebase edi- tor. "FEUTIL Link" can establish the replies-link thanks to the hidden ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 129 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── message kludges. Every message, in fact, has got a unique hexadecimal number, called MSGID (^AMSGID); the messages that reply to the original one will have their unique MSGID of course, but, furthermore, they have another particular hidden kludge called REPLY (^AREPLY) that refers to the ^AMSGID number of the message they have replied to; In this way the connection can be made. In the same example seen above, the messages linked will have the following kludges: (1) From:Bob Jopers (3) From:Maxx Berni (5) From:Bob Jopers To:Maxx Berni To:Bob Jopers To:Maxx Berni Subj:FastEcho Subj:FastEcho Subj:FastEcho --------------- --------------- --------------- ^AMSGID:15aab3c ^AMSGID:ff3a2ab ║─┐ ^AMSGID:86c002a ═══╤═══ ^AREPLY:15aab3c │ ^AREPLY:ff3a2ab │ ═══╤═══ │ ═══╤═══ └─────────────────────┘ └──────────────┘ As you can immediately see, the MSGID kludge of the first message matches the REPLY kludge of its first answer (3), while, the MSGID of this first answer matches the REPLY kludge of the second answer (5), which is, pratically, the reply to the reply.... and so on. 7.2.1 - FEUTIL Link -F[orce] In order to speed up the link operation, FEUTIL, normally, uses a particular file called "IMPORT.XYZ" (.JAM, .SDM for the other message base types)created by "FastEcho Toss". This file, internally, has stored a list of areas in which new messages are present since the last toss. In this way, FEUTIL avoids rescaning all your boards in all thee messagebases by directly aiming to the ones reported in this file. Nevertheless, FEUTIL can work without this support file too, but, if the present switch is specified, FEUTIL will be forced to use it. When this switch is used and no IMPORT.??? file is not found, no further actions will be taken. 7.2.2 - FEUTIL Link -I[gnore] As opposed to the previous one, the "-I" switch will force FEUTIL to completely ignore the aforesaid "IMPORT.???"files, even if present. This will result in a complete messagebase board scanning for reply links connection. It may be useful to specify this switch in case you already have one or more messagebases filled with messages and, up to now, you have never linked. 7.3 - FEUTIL Purge The "FEUTIL Purge" command starts the effective purging operation all over your messagebases. With this function, FEUTIL starts scanning all areas configured, marking for deletion all the messages that match the purge specifications you set up in the "Purge Default" section of FESetup - FEUTIL parameters (see chapter 5.4.9.1 and in the area-purge definition of FESetup - Area Configuration (see chapter 5.5.3.1.22) As we have seen in these chapters, the purge operation doesn't physically remove the messages; it only marks them for deletion and "FEUTIL PACK" command does the rest (as we shall see in the next paragraph). The "FEUTIL Purge" is normally executed if your HMB messagebase reaches its limits (about 16.000 messages), but it can be performed whenever you ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 130 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── want, according to your needs. (I.E. the JAM and the Fido messagebases don't suffer from this limitation and the maximum number of messages held by them is limited only by the operative systems internal limits, but, an excessive number of messages in your messagebases may impugn your system performances). FastEcho provides an easy way of letting your batch-file detect when the Hudson Message Base is going to excede its limits: by means of the Flag-File PACKHMB.FE. FastEcho, in fact, it creates this file in its system directory, during the "TOSS" operation, when it senses that the messages should be tossed beyond the HMB limits. If FastEcho notices the HMB limits approaching, then it creates this flag-file and stops any further toss or import operation to avoid the messagebase overflow. 7.3.1 - FEUTIL Purge -D[elete] The "-Delete" switch, appended to your "FEUTIL Purge" command, will cause, after the normal purging (we have seen in the previous para- graph), the complete deletion of all messages belonging to undefined boards. It may happen, in fact, that in your current configuration, you decide to delete one or more EchoMail, NetMail or Local boards, by using the "Del" function seen in chapter 5.5.3.1.26.7 of FESetup. At this time, the messages already exsistent in your messagebase, still exist but their board is undefined (because it has been just deleted to you). If these undefined messages have really become useless for you, you may decide to definitely remove them in order to free more disk space. This is the time to use the "FEUTIL Purge -Delete" command. 7.4 - FEUTIL Pack ----------- The "Pack" is the operation that PHYSICALLY REMOVES all the messa- ges that, in your messagebase, have been marked as deleted by the "Purge" operation (or manually by your editor) we have seen in the previous paragraph. When "FEUTIL Pack" is invoked without any additional parameters, it performs the packing operations in the maximum security by keeping the old messagebase while it creates a new clean one. The old messagebase will be removed only after the new one has been created without errors. This method more secure than other but it has some disadvantages: It's very "time-consuming" and, furthermore, requires a lot of disk space to complete the operation. However, the "Pack" function can rely upon four commandline switches and, by using them, you can fine tune its performances. Let's see them in detail. 7.4.1 - FEUTIL Pack -F[orce] The use of the "-F" switch may be helpful if you are short on disk space. As we have seen in the previous paragraph, normally, the "Pack" function needs a lot of free disk space to correctly perform its opera- tions, about twice of the space of your current messagebase. That's because, normally, for security purposes, your current messagebase is left untouched until FEUTIL finishes all the operations upon the new "packed" messagebase. By using the "-F" switch, instead, FEUTIL will always overwrite the old unpacked messagebase while it creates the new "packed" one. This method has two advantages:It doesn't need free disk space and the new "packed" messagebase, which it creates, is less frag- mented than the one created without overwriting; and one disadvantage: you can totally lose your messagebase data if the "Pack" operation is ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 131 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── interrupted during its execution. This switch only has effect upon the Hudson Message Base. 7.4.2 - FEUTIL Pack -O[verwrite] Using the "-O" switch, you will obtain, approximately, the same results seen before in paragraph 7.4.1 and 7.4, but, in this case, you allow FEUTIL to senses if, on your hard disk drive, exists enough free space to correctly perform the "maximum security" packing (7.4), otherwise FEUTIL automatically switches to the method seen in the paragraph 7.4.1. Pratically, the "-Overwrite" switch will cause FEUTIL to only overwrite the messagebase if short on disk-space. If you use this switch or not depends on you only. Without this switch FEUTIL will quit its operation without packing your messagebase if short on disk- space. It only has effect upon the Hudson Message Base in this case too. 7.4.3 - FEUTIL Pack -R[enumber] When this switch is used, FEUTIL will perform its packing operation and furthermore it will force the renumbering of the whole messagebase, updating the lastread pointers too (the lastread pointers are flags that point to the last message you read in any board of your message- base). I wish to remind you that FEUTIL has an "automatic renumber" de- vice that automatically intervenes, without specifing the "-R" switch too, during the normal "Pack" operation, whenever it detects that the highest messagenumber in your HMB is higher than the limits you defined in FESetup for "Autorenumber" option (see: 5.4.9.3 chapter). 7.4.4 - FEUTIL Pack -D[elete] It may happen that your messagebase has crosslinked records. This could be mostly due to HMB messagebase overflow, lack in electrical energy, messagebase editor faults or other umpredictable reasons. These are messages untidily interwoven in the MSGTXT.BBS file, and, normally, they are unrecoverable, thus, your only solution is to delete them. This operation can be conveniently performed by using the "-D" command- line switch while invoking the "FEUTIL Pack" command. 7.4.5 - FEUTIL Pack -Q[uick] This switch works only over JAM areas. It now allows improved processing speed while packing this type of messagebase. By using the Q[uick] switch, FEUTIL performs the "Pack" operation only over the JAM areas where deleted messages exists, avoiding to waste precious time trying to pack untouched JAM areas. 7.5 - FEUTIL Sort ----------- This switch may be useful if you recognize that your messagebase needs to be sorted by board, date and time respectively. Having your messages sorted will help you and your user to keep the correct thread path within your EchoMail/NetMail and Local areas reading the messages contained in there. (For further information about the "thread" meaning see the chapter 7.2). The "Sort" switch, when sorting, to speed up this function, doesn't involve the whole messagebase but only the new ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 132 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── messages received in the last "TOSS" operation. In order to find where the new messages begin it bases itself upon the lastread pointer position (the lastread pointers, as said before, are flags that point to the last message you read in any area of your messagebase). If you need to perform a global sorting, I can only suggest you move manually your lastread pointer upon the first message in any board within your messagebase, by means of your preferred messagebase editor, or, better relying upon customized messagebase tools that do the same operation automatically, just before starting with the "FEUTIL Sort" operation. 7.5.1 - FEUTIL Sort -B[ackup] When the "FEUTIL Sort" command is invoked with the "-Backup" switch, before starting with the sorting operation, as explained in the previous chapter, it creates, as precaution, a backup copy of the MSGHDR.BBS file. The last steps remain the same as we have seen in the paragraph 7.5. 7.6 - FEUTIL Check ------------ The "FEUTIL Check" completely analyzes your Hudson messagebase in one pass. Might be very good practice to execute the "FEUTIL Check" sometime upon your Hudson messagebase in order to keep it always perfectly functional. With the "Check" operation you can discover and, optionally, fix errors due to bad or crosslinked messages within it. When the "FEUTIL Check" is invoked without any additional parameters it simply feeds you back if and what kind of problems exist. If no errors are detected, then it returns a "No errors" message. In your batch file you can handle the results of "checking" simply by detecting the Errorlevel 111 provided directly by "FEUTIL Check". 7.6.1 - FEUTIL Check -D[elete] If the "FEUTIL Check" program is executed with its optional com- mandline switch "-D" then, if it detects errors within your messageba- se, it will try to recover them by deleting bad or crosslinked messages and rebuilding the HMB index files: (MSGIDX.BBS, MSGTOIDX.BBS and MSGINFO.BBS). In most cases it would be enough. It is advised that you do not use the -Delete switch if you run CHECK from a batch file, only use the -Delete switch if you know that and which errors are in your HMB. 7.7 - FEUTIL Undelete --------------- As mentioned several times, up until now, throughout this manual, when one or more messages are marked for deletion (by means of the "FEUTIL Purge" operation or by means of your messagebase editor), they won't really be removed from your messagebase. Until they are materially removed through the appropriate function (that's FEUTIL Pack), they could always be "Undeleted". In fact, by using the "FEUTIL Undelete" function it will be possible to restore messages that have been previously marked for deletion. It can act both, upon selected boards only or upon the whole messagebase (only HMB). If you wish to restore the previously deleted messages which are present in one particular board, then, you can specify this board after the "FEUTIL ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 133 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Undelete" command. For Example, if you want to undelete all the messages marked for deletion existing in the CHATTER.332 EchoMail board then the command you must input from your DOS prompt will look like the following: FEUTIL UNDELETE CHATTER.332 If you wish, you may specify the HMB board number instead of its EchoTag, preceding the board number by the "#" sign. So, Assuming that the EchoMail board CHATTER.332 is the board n.29, then, in order to perform the same operation seen above on the same board, your command will look like the following: FEUTIL UNDELETE #29 while, if it is used without any other additional parameter it will scan the whole messagebase in order to search and restore any deleted message it will be capable of discovering inside. Bare in mind that, the "FEUTIL Undelete" command works only upon the HMB messagebase and, furthermore, I wish to remind you that FEUTIL can't undelete any messa- ge after the messagebase has been packed by means of the FEUTIL pack utilities: that's because it materially removes all messages previously marked for deletion. 7.8 - FEUTIL Move ----------- Sometimes you may need this feature in order to pour off all messa- ges from one board to another. It may happen, in fact, that an EchoMail areas changes its EchoTag because it has been split into two or more detailed EchoMail areas (For example the COMMS.ITA may be splitted and distributed into two areas COMMS_MODEM.ITA and COMMS_PHONE.ITA). If you don't want to miss the still present messages contained in COMMS.ITA, then by means of your "Move" function it will be possible to preserve them. It will be sufficient to pour off all the messages contained in the old and, by now, useless COMMS.ITA to one of the new active boards. For this command, like the previous, the target board may either be the area-name or the Hudson board number preceded by the "#" sign. If you want, for example, to move all the messages contained in the COMMS.ITA EchoMail board into the new COMMS_MODEM.ITA board, then your command will look like the following: FEUTIL MOVE COMMS.ITA COMMS_MODEM.ITA Where the COMMS.ITA represents the source board where the messages will be picked up,and the COMMS_MODEM.ITA the target, where the messa- ges will be moved to. 7.9 - FEUTIL Post ----------- This powerful feature provides a convenient way to post a text file in any your configured area: EchoMail/Local and NetMail. It may be use- ful in several occasions, for example to insert documents manually in- side your areas or to periodically post files or statistics by means of batch files called automatically from your mailer's external events. The Command's syntax is the following: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 134 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FEUTIL POST <file> <board> [-DELETE] [-From name] [-To name] [-Subj text] [-Flags <flags>] [-Addr <address>] It may seem complex but it isn't. 7.9.1 - <file> (mandatory) Here you must specify the file name you wish to be posted. It has to be a plain ascii file of course, DOS wildcards may be used to post multiple files in one run. 7.9.2 - <board> (mandatory) In this position you must specify the board number or the area name in which you want your file to be posted to. You may specify the board with two different notations: By board name, specifing directly the area tag, or by board number. When using the HMB board number you must always specify it preceded by the "#" sign (I.E. #1 or #154). 7.9.3 - [-Delete] If you specify the "-Delete" switch in your "Post" command, then, the file to be sent (defined in the paragraph 7.9.1) will be deleted after the post operation is correctly performed. 7.9.4 - [-From name] Here you may specify the optional sender name (I.E. -From SysOp). Remember that, if the sender name is composed of two or more words separated by space, then it must be enclosed within double quotes: -From "Reed Richards" If you don't specify any "-From" option then your message sender will result the first user name that FEUTIL detects in your FESetup "User Name" definition. 7.9.5 - [-To name] In this option you may specify the addressee of the message you are going to send. Here also, if the addressee name is composed of two or more words separated by space, it must be specifically enclosed in dou- ble quotes; for example, to specify Ben Grimm as addressee you must type: -To "Ben Grimm" If you don't specify any "-To" option, then your message will be automatically addressed to "All" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 135 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7.9.6 - [-Subj text] After the optional "-Subj" option you may specify the subject of your message. As usual, if your message subject is composed of multiple words, then it must be enclosed within double quotes; for example, to specify, as message subject 'this is a test' you must type: -Subj "this is a test" If in your "FEUTIL Post" command you don't include this option at all, then the messages Subject will be defaulted to the name of the posted file (see:7.9.1) 7.9.7 - [-Flags <flags>] When posting a message by using the "FEUTIL Post" feature, you can also decide what kind of flag (attribute) must be set in its header. The "Post" function provides a complete set of message attributes that you may use separately or jointly by chaining them. The available at- tributes are the following:: Pvt, Crash, File, Freq, Kill, Hold, Dir, Imm, Del, Trunc, CFM and RRQ. Assigning multiple flags to a single mes- sage will be possible by joining them to the '+' chaining sign without enclosing them between quotes; for example: -Flags PVT+CRASH+IMM For further details about attributes see in appendix C. 7.9.8 - [-Addr <address>] This last option will be helpful only if you plan to use the "FEUTIL post" function to post messages in NetMail areas, where the ad- dressee NetMail address of the posted message will be mandatory, of course. The NetMail address must be specified in its standard notation after the "-Addr" option. To post a NetMail message to the 2:393/393 system you must specify the -Addr option as follows: -Addr 2:393/393 without enclosing it between quotes. The "-Addr" option will be manda- tory only if you have specified a NetMail board in the <board> item (See paragraph 7.9.2). If you post a message in a NetMail board without specifying a NetMail address in the present "-Addr" item, then no fur- ther action will be performed. 7.9.9 - FEUTIL Post Examples & Application As said before, the "Post" function of FEUTIL may be very useful to let your system to automatically send periodical messages generated by system tools such as EchoMail statistics generator (Such as FastEcho Stat) or moreover by specifical statistic programs used normally by mo- derators in order to post to their areas the monthly statistics about the best or worst message writer, the best or worst message quoters and so on. Furthermore, by means of the FEUTIL Post function you can send, to any of your configured areas, pieces of logs and/or text messages whenever you want. Now, in order to show an application example, we will pretend to need to post in the SysOp.332 EchoMail area the ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 136 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── monthly EchoMail statistics about the areas belonging to the A,B,L,K,J groups with, embedded, all the statistics reporting the bytes sent/received by the systems that have access to at least one area belonging to these groups. Furthermore, we want to post, to a NetMail area, the statistic report of the EchoMail traffic about areas belonging to the C,I,M,X groups and then send it to NetMail (corresponding to the board number #2 in your Area-Definition) to the 1:323/323 "Richard Gizmo" and 1:256/767 "Bob Wisdom" systems. Then you want to send in "File/Attach", the statistic file to "Edwin Marshall" (2:888/405) in immediate mail (For this purpose create a little empty file called "EMPTY.TXT". I assume that your statistic file name, de- fined in FESetup - System - Filenames - Statistics Item (See 5.4.5.3) has been defined as FAST.STA and the FAST.STA path is C:\FAST. Your batch file will look like the following: --------------------------------------------------------------------- FastEcho Stat -GABLKJ -O FEUTIL Post C:\FAST\FAST.STA SysOp.332 -From "Reed Richards" -To "All guys" -Subj "Monthly Statistics" FastEcho Stat -GCIMX -RS -O FEUTIL Post C:\FAST\FAST.STA #2 -From "Reed Richards" -To "Richard Gizmo" -Subj "Monthly Statistics" -Flags Pvt -Addr 1:323/323 FEUTIL Post C:\FAST\FAST.STA MYNETMAIL -From "Reed Richards" -To "Bob Wisdom" -Subj "Monthly statistics" -Flags Pvt -Addr 1:256/767 FEUTIL Post C:\FAST\EMPTY.TXT #2 -From "Reed Richards" -To "Edwin Marshall" -Subj "C:\FAST\FAST.STA" -Flags PVT+FILE+IMM -Addr 2:888/405 FastEcho Scan --------------------------------------------------------------------- Be aware that the "FEUTIL Post" lines, in your batch file must always be inserted in a single line although in this manual they are shown upon multiple lines (to fit them in the available page space.. sorry). This batch file may also be automatically and periodically invoked directly by your Mailer relying upon its external events. 7.10 - FEUTIL Import ------------- As we mentioned several times throughout this manual, in your con- figuration must exist one Main NetMail Directory called Primary NetMail Area which is commomly defined for FastEcho and your mailer; and there may exist one or more secondary NetMail area(s) defined by you in your preferred messagebase. This, mostly, happens in BBS systems to allow the interactive BBS users have access to it while, for point systems, its definition is somewhat useless (Unless they wish to put the NetMail messages that come from different networks in different Secondary NetMail areas instead of having all NetMail messages gathered in a single Secondary NetMail area; Nevertheless it may be useful only when ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 137 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── the point system is involved in more than one network with more than one single Aka). When your incoming mail is tossed by means of the FastEcho TOSS function, all the NetMail messages that may be contained in the incoming mail bundles will never be directly tossed in your secondary NetMail area but will always be left in the primary for further processing or routing. To obtain that NetMail messages addressed to you or to the interactive BBS users can be imported in your Secondary NetMail area you must use the "FEUTIL Import" utilities. Using "FEUTIL Import" you have some switches available to fine tune its behavior in order to import only specified names or avoid the importation of other specified names. In addition you may let "FEUTIL Import" always imports all netmails addressed to any of your BBS users directly: to do so you must switch to "Yes" the option "Include USERS.BBS" in FESetup/FEUTIL parameters (see paragraph 5.4.9.6). Let's now see these FEUTIL Import switches in detail. 7.10.1 - FEUTIL Import -Incl <file> When the "FEUTIL Import" command is invoked with the "-Incl" switch it looks for a file name, that must be specified in place of the <file> item, in order to complete the correct command syntax. The target of this command is to allow FEUTIL to import, from the Primary NetMail Area to the Secondary one, only NetMail messages addressed to one of the user listed in the file above mentioned; NetMails which are not ad- dressed to the user listed therein will be, instead, completely ignored and left in your Primary NetMail Area. Assuming that in the file NIMP.TXT you have listed the names of the only NetMail message's ad- dressee that you want FEUTIL to import in your Secondary NetMail area, then your command will look like the following: FEUTIL Import -Incl NIMP.TXT 7.10.2 - FEUTIL Import -Excl <file> Like the switch previously seen, when the "-Excl" item is specified invoking FEUTIL Import, the contents of the file specified in place of the <file> item will be read from FEUTIL in order to let it know what ase the NetMail message's adressees that you DON'T WANT imported from the Primary NetMail area to the Secondary one. So, this option works to avoid to importation of NetMail messages addressed to one of the users specified in the <file> item, as opposed to the "-Incl" option we seen in the previous paragraph. Assuming that in the file NONIMP.TXT you have listed the names of the NetMail Message's adressees that you want FEUTIL to avoid importing in your Secondary NetMail area, then your command will look like the following: FEUTIL Import -Excl NONIMP.TXT 7.10.3 - FEUTIL Import -FORCE When this switch is used, FEUTIL will be bound to Import again the already imported NetMails that remain in your Primary NetMail Area when the switch "Keep NetMails" is active (See FESetup - Keep NetMails 5.4.9.6). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 138 - FastEcho MANUAL - Using FEUtil - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7.10.4 - Notes about FEUTIL We have seen that both in "-Incl" and in the "-Excl" options there must be specified a file containing a list of users. The format of this file may be in plain ascii with an addressee name on each line or, moreover, a convenient USERS.BBS file compatible with QBBS or RA2 stan- dard, may be directly specified. The two items "-Incl" and "-Excl" (and -FORCE too), could be specified in the "FEUTIL Import" command at the same time, but, keep in mind that the "-Excl" always has priority over the "-Incl". It means that if in the "-Excl" and in the "-Incl" file only one name has been specified, then, a NetMail message addressed to this name won't be imported (even if specified in the "-Incl" file). Keeping the same sample file mentioned in paragraph 7.10.2 and 7.10.3, then the complete command will be: FEUTIL Import -Incl NIMP.TXT -Excl NOIMP.TXT You may use the "FEUTIL import" command to import NetMail from all your aka addresses separately. This can be done by defining different NetMailbards for your different akas; in this case remember to set the correct 'Use Aka' (See paragraph 5.5.3.1.9) which refers to the aka address you wish to use for any NetMail area you define. May also happen, that you define more than one NetMail area for the same aka, well, in this case "FEUTIL import" will import NetMail messages relati- ve to this aka in the NetMail area having the lowest read-security le- vel (See: chapter 5.5.3.1.23.1). 8 - ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES ===================== If specified, FastEcho may use several environment variables, each one with its particular meaning. You can set an environment variable by assigning it directly from your DOS prompt or automatically, inside a batch file. For Example to assign the FD environment variable to point to your FrontDoor System Directory, from your DOS prompt you must type: C:> SET FD=C:\FD The same line can be inserted in your Autoexec.bat, or other batch file, to assign it automatically. Let's now see all the environment va- riables supported by FastEcho and their meaning. 8.1 - FD, IM, DB environment variables These environment variables may respectively point to the Front- Door, InterMail, D'Bridge installation directories, according to the Mailer you are currently using. Doing so, FastEcho will be able to aim directly to the directory of your Mailer in order to find its confi- guration files to correctly perform the Auto-Area-Create function (we have seen in chapters 5.4.7.3 and 5.4.7.4). If the Auto-Area-Create function is active and the mailer environment variable isn't set, then FastEcho will search the mailer configuration files in the current di- rectory. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 139 - FastEcho MANUAL - Environment variables - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8.2 - FE environment variable The FE environment variable may point to the installation directory of FastEcho where all the files relative to FastEcho reside. Setting this environment variable allow you to start FastEcho anywhere in your Hard Disk. 8.3 - FEUTMP environment variable When FEUTIL performs the Pack operation upon JAM areas, it creates some temporary files which, when the packing operation it completed, will automatically be deleted. If you set this environment variable to point to one particular directory (for example JAMTMP) it will be used to store the JAM temporary files above mentioned. If this variable is not specified, then FastEcho will use the actual directory to store the JAM temporary files. By default, FEUTIL will create these files in the current directory. 8.4 - HMBLOCK environment variable When working in MultiLine/Multitasking environment it happens that the same Hudson Message Base must be shared between two or more tasks. As you certainly know, when writing, one file can be accessed by one task at time because an indiscriminate write-access from more than one task upon the same file may cause loss of data. So FastEcho must be aware of it. When FastEcho operates with the "Share HMB" flag set (See: chapter 5.4.7.9 of FESetup), while it's involved in the Hudson Message Base processing, it checks, in the messagebase directory the existence of a particular semaphores-file called "MBUNLOCK.NOW"; when this se- maphore is found, it means that another program (RA), in another task needs to write-access the same messagebase currently used (and locked) by FastEcho. When FastEcho detects this semaphore it unlocks the mes- sagebase, by setting it free, while the program in the other task per- forms its requested write-operation.As soon as the concurrent program finishes, FastEcho resumes and completes its previously suspended ope- ration. This environment variable is needed in order to define the in- terval of time in which FastEcho, when tossing the incoming mail, should check for the MBUNLOCK.NOW semaphore presence. The time interval must be specified in seconds. For example: SET HMBLOCK=20 This setting will tell FastEcho: "When you are involved in any write operation on the Hudson Message Base, check every 20 seconds in the MessageBase directory for the possible presence of the MBUNLOCK.NOW semaphore. If you find it then suspend your operations, unlock the messagebase and wait until the other program finishes. Resume your process afterwards". 8.5 - TZUTC environment variable This environment variable is needed in order to communicate to FastEcho the time difference from the G.M.T. (Greenwich Mean Time) and the time in your country. Its usage is the following: SET TZUTC=[+/-]HHMM Where the "+" or "-" signs represents the sign of difference respect to the GMT and your country and HHMM represent the relative ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 140 - FastEcho MANUAL - Environment variables - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── time difference. For example If the time in your country is 06:00 PM and the G.M.T. is 08:00 PM, the time amount difference is -2:00; In this case you can set the TZUTC environment variable as follow: SET TZUTC=-0200 8.6 - FEMAXMEM environment variable By setting the FEMAXMEM environment variable you can now fix the maximum amount of memory that FastEcho is allowed to use for outbound PKT buffering. The usage syntax is the following: SET FEMAXMEM=<memory size in Kilobytes> The memory amount assigned to "FEMAXMEM" variable, refers to EMS- type for the DOS version of FastEcho while for the DPMI version it refers to extended memory. The default value (if FEMAXMEM is not defined) for the OS/2 version is 4MB, all other versions will us all available memory if FEMAXMEM is not defined. 8.7 - FEOPT environment variable This is a particular environment variable that may be used to per- manently set several runtime parameters for FastEcho, instead of speci- fying them directly on the commandline when invoking FastEcho from the DOS prompt. Its Usage is the following: SET FEOPT=<flag>,<flag>,<...> In several cases, in fact, using the FEOPT environment variable may be more convenient than using the standard syntax that,for example may be: FastEcho TOSS /<flag> /<flag> FastEcho supports several FEOPT flags that may be used to cope with a lot of circumstances. Let's now see them in detail. 8.7.1 - USEBIOS flag To display its dialog screen, by default, FastEcho, uses the "di- rect screen writes" method. By specifing this flag, instead, it will always use the "BIOS-calls" method. Using "BIOS-calls" assures the maximum compatibility but will result slower than the default method. 8.7.2 - NO386 flag FastEcho and FEUTIL, to increase their performances, can automati- cally take advantage from 386 or higher CPU. In case you come across any problem using FastEcho, with machines equipped with such processors then try to activate this flag and see if the problem has disappeared. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 141 - FastEcho MANUAL - Environment variables - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8.7.3 - NOEMS, NOXMS flags FEUTIL, FastEcho and FESetup, can increase their potentiality by using the Expanded Memory or Extended Memory available on your system (see: 5.4.7.12, 5.4.3.3. and 5.4.4.11). If you wish to avoid this beha- vior or you have some problems when FastEcho uses your EMS/XMS, then, by using these flags, respectively, you will have the choice to disable this feature. 8.7.4 - NOAFIX flag We have seen, in the chapter 6.2 that, when FastEcho finishes tossing the incoming mail, it automatically invokes its "built-in" AreaFix processor. By using this flag you can, instead, make FastEcho avoid this automatic AreaFix request processing after every "TOSS". Be aware that, with this flag enabled, when you decide to process the AreaFix request sent to your system by your downlinks you must specifically invoke the FastEcho AreaFix processor by means of the "FastEcho Afix" command. 8.7.5 - NOPACK flag Normally, when FastEcho finishes exporting your outbound mail, by means of the "FastEcho Scan" command, it creates one or more mail pa- ckets with the .QQQ extension and, then, it archives them in an ARCmail bundle ready to be sent or picked up. When this flag is activated, these .QQQ mail packets will be left, as they are, in the outbound directory. Furthermore, they will be correctly archived the next time the "FastEcho Pack" function is called. 8.7.6 - NODUPES flag When this flag is set as active, then the dupechecking feature provided by FastEcho based on the dupe database will be disabled even if they are all active in according with your FESetup settings. Use this flag only if you really need it. 8.7.7 - NOEXPORT flag The standard FastEcho procedure that FastEcho follows after every "TOSS" operation is to detect all the areas joined by all your down- links and to forward their mail to them. By using this flag, you can temporarily change this standard FastEcho behavior, binding it to avoid forwarding mail to your downlinks. 8.7.8 - NOSEENBY flag FastEcho has the power to detect duplicated messages in several ways: using its custom dupes database, using the messages' CRC check- sum, usingthe SEEN-BY lines and using the MSGID kludge. By using this switch you can compel FastEcho to ignore the SEEN-BY lines when it checks for duplicates. Be aware that, if you disable this FastEcho feature, your outgoing mail will be exported even if the target system is already listed in the SEEN-BY lines. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 142 - FastEcho MANUAL - Environment variables - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8.7.9 - NOMSGID flag Like the flag seen in the previous paragraph, this flag can disable one standard FastEcho dupechecking feature. When this flag results ac- tive, FastEcho will ignore the MSGID kludge contents when it checks for duplicated messages; it will re-calculate a message header checksum instead. 8.7.10 - NOAUTOFAIL flag FastEcho has some automatic security features in order to avoid any sharing violations happening when running in Multiline/Multitasking en- vironments. Normally, when FastEcho senses that a sharing violation oc- curs, it automatically stops its execution. By setting this flag acti- ve, instead, you will bind it to ignore any FastEcho "sharing viola- tion" automatic failure. 8.7.11 - RDEBUG flag When using the NetMail-Packer-Router "FastEcho Pack" command with the -R<file> switch (see: chapter 6.4.2), you can also rely upon this very helpful flag. By enabling the RDEBUG flag, in fact, you can check the functionalities of all the statements you inserteded inside the ROUTE.FE files by logging all the relating debug information in your main log file. 8.7.12 - STRIPTEAR flag This flag acts upon the standard tearline normally inserted in eve- ry message. When this flag is activated, in fact, FastEcho will strip the tearline if it is able to find it in your messages; so they will result in having only the "* Origin" line. (For further information about the tearline meaning, see paragraphs 5.4.7.1 and 5.4.7.2). 8.7.13 - PACKONE flag By using this flag, you will bind FastEcho to only call the com- pression programs with one mail packet (.PKT) each time instead of cal- ling them with as many mail packets as possible. This doesn't apply to compression programs with a 'List' prefix set up. 8.7.14 - SHOWCURSOR flag By setting this flag you will bind FastEcho to show a blinking cursor, in addition to the normal highlighted box, while working with FESetup configuration utility. 8.7.15 - NOLIMIT flag When used, the NOLIMIT flag will disable FastEcho toss from che- cking the "Minimum packet size" setting. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 143 - FastEcho MANUAL - Environment variables - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8.7.16 - NORES flag FastEcho is capable to resolve the paths it founds in ECHOMAIL.JAM when comparing them with the paths of the JAM areas settled by means of FESETUP area configuration (AKA truename function). This functionality can be disabled simply by using the NORES flag. 8.7.17 - NOERREP flag FastEcho has the ability to report to the sysop several errors occourred while it processes mail. By Default the report is automatically generated and addressed to the SysOp in a NetMail message but you can disable this feature with the NOERREP flag. 8.7.18 - ZONEGATE flag When your system acts as outbound zonegate you may need to strip all the SEEN-BY information present in your echomail for all messages addressed out-of-zone. FastEcho is capable to do that simply by enabling this feature (which is disabled by default). This can be done by using the flag ZONEGATE in FEOPT. In any case FastEcho acts as an inbound-zone-gate, which means SEEN-BYs will be stripped when processing EchoMail coming from another zone. .-.-. FastEcho TOSS /NODUPES /NOAFIX Or, alternatively, you can set, directly or in your autoexec.bat file, the environment variable FEOPT in this way: SET FEOPT=NODUPES,NOAFIX and, then, start the FastEcho TOSS normally without any trailing flag. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 144 - FastEcho MANUAL - Errorlevels - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 9 - ERRORLEVELS =========== When FastEcho terminates its tasks, it exit to DOS feeding back an errorlevel in order to communicate to the batch file what action it has to take according to the operation that FastEcho has performed or if some errors occoured. You must, of course, adjust your batch file in conformity with the errorlevels given back from FastEcho. Here below is a report of the complete errorlevel list. ┌──────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ERRORLEVEL│ M E A N I N G S │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 0 │FastEcho has found that there is nothing to do on your│ │ │messagebase nor are there any mail packets to process.│ │ │The same errorlevel means that FastEcho has terminated│ │ │its execution with no errors. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 1 │FastEcho has terminated its execution after NetMail or│ │ │EchoMail has been Packed or Scanned. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 3 │FastEcho has sensed some irregularity in your registra-│ │ │tion key file. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 10 │FastEcho/FEUTIL have imported one or more NetMail mess. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 11 │FastEcho has imported one or more EchoMail-only mes-│ │ │sages (FastEcho TOSS). │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 12 │FastEcho has imported both EchoMail and NetMail mes-│ │ │sages. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 245 │FastEcho isn't able to extract an archive. Your Hard│ │ │Disk Drive is probably Full. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 246 │FastEcho has detected that you manually interrupted its│ │ │execution. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 247 │FastEcho can't write a NetMail File │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 248 │FastEcho can't write a MsgBase File │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 249 │FastEcho can't create a .PKT file │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 250 │You have used a wrong switch │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 251 │HMB file size mismatch │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 252 │FastEcho is unable to lock the messagebase. │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 253 │FastEcho has detected that your HMB messagebase has rea-│ │ │ched its limits and now it needs to be purged and packed│ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 254 │FE hasn't enough memory to run │ ├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 255 │General error │ └──────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 145 - FastEcho MANUAL - Semaphores - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 10 - SEMAPHORE FILES =============== FastEcho has the power to handle, and create too, several semaphore files. Each semaphore has its specifical meaning and purpose. In the following table are reported all the semaphore-files handled by Fast- Echo with their purpose. Refer to this table whenever you need explana- tion about them. ┌────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ FILENAME │ P U R P O S E S │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │NEWAREAS.FE │When this semaphore is present it means that the Fast-│ *│ │Echo TOSS function has added new areas to the FastEcho│ │ │setup thanks to the AutoAreaCreate Feature. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ *│PACKHMB.FE │FastEcho TOSS has sensed that your Hudson MsgBase is │ │ │going out of its limits and needs to be purged/packed.│ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │MBUNLOCK.NOW│The FastEcho TOSS function will check for this file in│ │ │the messagebase directory and will temporarily unlock │ │ │the Hudson Message Base it was found/updated. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FEBUSY.<lne>│This semaphore, created by FE,FEUTIL, FESetup & FEUTIL│ │ │allow the suspension of their execution when a pre-│ │ <lne>=line │vious FEBUSY.* semaphore will be found in the sema-│ │ │phore or system directory. This is done to avoid that│ │ │two or more copies of FastEcho or FEUTIL run at the│ │ │same time. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FEPACK.REC │This semaphore is created by FastEcho when interrupted│ │ │or hanged while archiving ARCMAIL. Thanks to this se-│ │ │maphore FastEcho is capable to recover the previous-│ │ │ly failed mail forwarding session without problems. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FDRESCAN.NOW│This semaphore will be created/updated if new NetMail│ #│FMRESCAN.NOW│(included file-attaches ecc.) have been created and│ │ │in FrontDoor Environment the "Force Mailer Rescan" op-│ │ │tion is turned on. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ #│IMRESCAN.NOW│Same as above, but for InterMail environment │ │IERESCAN.NOW│ │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ #│DBRIDGE.RSN │Same as above, but for D'Bridge environment │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ #│DBRIDGE.NMW │This semaphore will be created by FastEcho TOSS when │ │ │new NetMail has ben received and you are working in │ │ │D'Bridge environment. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ #│DBRIDGE.EMW │This semaphore will be created by FastEcho TOSS when │ │ │new EchoMail has been received and you are working in │ │ │D'Bridge environment. │ └────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ (*) - Semaphores created in the FastEcho system directory (I.E. where you installed it and where FastEcho.CFG is read from) Your batch file may check for these file only aiming there. (#) - Semaphores created/updated only if you have defined the "Semapho- re directory in FESetup (see: paragraph 5.4.4.8). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 146 - FastEcho MANUAL - Files created or used by FastEcho - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 11 - FILES CREATED OR USED BY FastEcho ================================= Here below is summarized the complete set of files created and/or used by FastEcho. Refer to this table everytime you need information about FastEcho Files: What they do, What purposes they have, when you need them. ┌────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ FILENAME │ P U R P O S E S │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FastEcho.CFG│This is the main FastEcho configuration file. Here all│ │ │your FESetup setting are permanently stored. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FastEcho.DAT│In this file FastEcho stores all your daily mail mo- │ │ │vement in order to create the statistic file when you │ │ │request it using the "FastEcho Stat" command. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FastEcho.DUP│In this file FastEcho will keep track of all your al- │ │ │ready processed mail in order to search for possible │ │ │duplicated message in your incoming mail packets. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │FTSCPROD.FE │This file contains a list of all products having a│ │ │FTSC product code. This product code will automatical-│ │ │ly show up when FastEcho processes the inbound mail│ │ │packets. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ *│IMPORT.XYZ │This is a plain ascii file containing a list of areas │ │ │to which messages were imported the last time you exe-│ │ │cuted the TOSS operation. This file will then be used,│ │ │by default, from the FEUTIL link function. │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ *│IMPORT.JAM │Same as above, but for JAM areas │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ *│IMPORT.SQ │Same as above, but for Squish areas │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ *│IMPORT.SDM │Same as above, but for Fido/*.MSG areas │ ├────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │NOLINK.FE │These files aree strictly related to Fido/*.MSG areas.│ │NOPURGE.FE │If one (or more) of these files is present in a Fido │ │NOPACK.FE │*.MSG directory, then FEUTIL won't process the indica-│ │ │ted function even if it's specifically invoked. │ └────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ (*) - These IMPORT files will be used (and then deleted afterwards) by several FEUTIL functions. If any of these files are already pre- sent, then FastEcho TOSS appends its data to them (the areas in which the new tossed mail has been imported to). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 147 - FastEcho MANUAL - Batch file examples - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 12 - BATCH FILES EXAMPLE =================== Here below is reported a batch file example to give you a simple outline about how to run FastEcho and FEUTIL in batch mode. I assume that you are using FrontDoor as Mailer and you have configured it in order to exit with the errorlevel 110 when any mail is received. rem <- CALL YOUR MAILER :START cd c:\fd fd rem <- If your mailer recei- rem ves EchoMail or net- rem mail it exit with an rem errorlevel of 110 if errorlevel=110 goto TOSS [...] if errorlevel=??? goto ??? other errorlevel and if errorlevel=??? goto ??? other label to run if errorlevel=??? goto ??? your BBS (if any) [...] goto START rem rem <-TOSS INCOMING MAIL :TOSS cd c:\fast\ rem <- Process the incoming rem mail bundles with the rem Carbon Copy function rem activated. FastEcho toss -C rem <- If the packhmb sema- rem phore is detected rem then you must go to rem MAINTAIN procedure. if exist c:\fast\packhmb.fe goto MAINTAIN rem <- Otherwise follow with rem the aftertoss proced. rem rem <- DETECT THE TYPE OF rem MAIL RECEIVED :AFTERTOSS rem <- Detect the exit error- rem level given back rem from FastEcho toss and rem choose the right des- rem tination label rem rem <-12=Echo/NetMail rcvd rem process both. if errorlevel 12 goto EchoMail rem <-11=EchoMail received rem process both. if errorlevel 11 goto EchoMail rem <-10=NetMail received rem pack only NetMail. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 148 - FastEcho MANUAL - Batch file examples - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── if errorlevel 10 goto PACKNetMail rem rem <-if the errorlevel is rem different from 12,11 rem or 10, restart FD goto START rem rem <-PROCESS EchoMailS :EchoMail rem <-Process EchoMail by rem sorting (with backup) rem and linking the messa- rem gebase (ignoring the rem IMPORT.??? file) FEUTIL sort -b FEUTIL link -i rem <-When finished restart rem FrontDoor goto START rem rem <-PACK/ROUTE NetMail :PACKNetMail rem <-By using the advanced rem Route.fe method. FastEcho pack -rROUTE.FE rem <-When finished restart rem FrontDoor goto START rem rem <-MAINTAIN MESSAGEBASE rem rem <-When the HMB excedes rem its limits the batch rem does it automatically :MAINTAIN rem <-Purge the messagebase FEUTIL Purge rem <-And then remove physi- rem cally the messages rem marked for deletion. FEUTIL Pack -Force -Delete rem <-Delete the overflow rem semaphore. del c:\fast\packhmb.fe rem <-When finished return rem to the TOSS operation goto TOSS ------------------------------------------------------------------- This batch file must be tuned, of course, in accordance with your specifical system configuration. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 149 - FastEcho MANUAL - Differences between DOS & DPMI versions ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 13 - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DOS AND 16 BIT DPMI VERSIONS ================================================ The FastEchoDPMI version works in protected mode giving you some extra performance. There are, of course, some operational differences between the 16 bit version and the DOS on; further you must take care about some precautionary measures. Altogether, if your systm can rely upon enough memory availability, using the new DPMI versionyou may ob- tain considerably advantages. 13.1 - DPMI Version Requirements If you want run the DPMI 16 bit version of FastEcho you will need to have RTM.EXE and DPMI16BI.OVL either in your installation directory or in a directory defined in your PATH environment variable. If you use another DPMI server rather than the included one (for example OS/2 or QDPMI) you will avoid the following compatibility problems. 13.2 - Compatibility problems using the included DPMI server As told before, using the included DPMI server you may run into some compatibility problems: - PKZip 2.04 needs the '-3' switch (without quotes) or it will hang occasionally; further, in certain environments it might be a good idea to disable the PKZip's DPMI support with the '-)' switch (without quotes). - .EXEs hang when running under DESQview (works fine with QDPMI) 13.3 - Precautions using the DPMI version When using the DPMI 16 bit version of FastEcho you must always take care of the following suggestions: - You cannot call external programs which make use of their own DOS extender like DOS4GW. Alternatively you can execute them before, or after, you run FASTECH16.EXE rather than define them in the 'After Unpack' or 'Before Pack' items of FESetup. - You need a certain amount of free memory, both conventional and extended, otherwise the program will be very slow, because it continuosly has to swap the overlays. When short in memory it further may occasionally hang. The amount of memory nedeed de- pends, of course, on your personal FastEcho setup. If you notice that FastEcho takes more than 10-20 seconds before the program logo appear when you call it manually, you can be almost sure that there isn't enough memory. Furthermore, if you are low on memory, FastEcho/16 will probably not be able to call the com- pression programs returning an error code (or may even occasio- nally hang). ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 150 - FastEcho MANUAL - Differences between DOS & DPMI versions ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - you can't call the executables directly from an OS/2 session (if you for any reason don't want to use the OS/2 executables), you have for example add the following to the .CMD you're using: COMMAND.COM /C FASTEC16 TOSS -C Calling them within a DOS session under OS/2 works flawlessly, of course. 13.4 - Differences between the DOS and protected mode versions The main differences between the DOS and protected mode version of FastEcho are synoptically syntetized below: - Using the 16 bit version you can rely on a plenty of free memory - The 16 bit version is a bit slower in several places as regards the DOS one. That's because it has to switch from protected mode to real mode every time it calls DOS interrupts. - The 16 bit version allows up to 262000 dupe records but in needs more memory than the real mode version for the same number of records but it is a lot faster than the EMS and XMS support. 13.5 - DPMI Runtime module options Through the RTM environment variable you can set several option for the 16 bit version of FastEcho fine tuning its behaviour in according with your needs. The setting sintax is, as usual: SET RTM=[OPTION nnnn [OPTION nnnn [...]]] Here below are summarized and described all the options availables. EXTLEAVE nnnn :Allows you to leave at least nnnn Kb of free Exten- ded memory. EXTMAX nnnn :Prevent RTM to use more than nnnn Kb of Extended Memory. EXTMIN nnnn :Bind RTM to exit if it senses that less than nnnn Kb of Extended memory are available. REALLEAVE nnnn:Bind RTM to leave at least nnnn _segments_ of free conventional memory during its operation. REALMAX nnnn :Has the same meaning of EXTMAX, but for real mode memory _segments_, 1 segment = 16 bytes. REALMIN nnnn :Has the same meaning of EXTMIN, but for real mode memory _segments_, 1 segment = 16 bytes. Example: SET RTM=EXTMAX 2048 REALLEAVE 8192 By setting these options, RTM starts its operation binding itself to to use more than 2048 Kilobytes of Extended Memory and leaving 8192 _segments_ of conventional memory free. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 151 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Appendix (A) - Zone/Net/Node/Point =================== When talking about four dimension addresses we mean a pratical method to conveniently identify any item that constitutes a NetWork, its task and its geographical location. A typical 4D address is compo- sed of four items; for example see the following address: 2:332/317.2 ┌───────────────┐ │This address │ NET─┐ ┌─NODE │identifies the│ v v │first point of│ ┌─┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌─┐ │the 17.th node│ ZONE─────>│2│:│332│/│317│.│1│<─────POINT │of the Hub 300 │ └─┘ └─┬─┘ └─┬─┘ └─┘ │located in the│ ┌────┘ └────┐ │2.nd Net of re-│ ┌───┴──┐ ┌───┴───┐ │gion 33. │ │ │ │ │ └───────────────┘ ┌┴─┐ ┌┴┐ ┌─┴─┐ ┌─┴┐ REGION<─────┤33│ │2│ │300│ + │17├──────> 17.th NODE └──┘ └┬┘ └─┬─┘ └──┘ NET NUMBER<─────────────┘ └───────────────> HUB(*) * The HUB clause is valid for Z2 only. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PARTS OF A 4 DIMENSION NETWORK ADDRESS │ ├─────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ I T E M │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├─────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ZONE │ The "Zone" represents a large geograhical area such as │ │ │ all Europe or North America. Actually the allocated Fi- │ │ │ doNet Zones are six: │ │ │ 1 North America and Canada │ │ │ 2 Europe │ │ │ 3 Australia, Tasmania, NewZealand │ │ │ 4 Latin America │ │ │ 5 Africa │ │ │ 6 Asia │ ├─────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ REGION │ The region is a geographical area smaller than the │ │ │ "Zone",It can be assimilated to a country or, in case of │ │ │ very big countries, to a part of it. As you certainly │ │ │ have already understood, a Zone is constituted by a set │ │ │ of regions. │ ├─────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ NET │ A Net is, normally, a set of local systems that resides │ │ │ in a city or in its district or suburbia. A set of nets │ │ │ constitutes one region. │ ├─────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ NODE │ A single system within a net, useless, at this point,men-│ │ │ tion that a set of nodes constitutes one net. │ ├─────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ POINT │ A point is a single system subordinated to a node. A │ │ │ point system is assimilated to a user logging on to a │ │ │ node using a terminal program, with the main difference │ │ │ being that a point performs most of its activities off- │ │ │ line by using smart software to collect and transmit │ │ │ mail to the node to which belongs. │ └─────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 152 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Appendix (B) - Message kludges =============== The, so named, message kludges, are special control lines, having a '^A'(01h) as first character of the line. In the table below will be reported the most used message kludges with a brief explanation about their meaning: ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ M E S S A G E K L U D G E S │ ├─────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ I T E M │ REFERENCE │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ CHARSET │ FSC-0050 │ Hig-bit characters normalization. This klud-│ │ │ FSC-0054 │ ge has a parameter that specifies the set u- │ │ │ │ sed by the message sender. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ CHRC │ FSC-0054 │ Characters font changer. The parameter spe- │ │ │ │ cified after this kludge specifies the font │ │ │ │ and the character attributes used by sender │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ DOMAIN │ FSC-0038 │ This kludge is used in the Inter-Domain mes- │ │ │ │ sages in order to solve the problem of the │ │ │ │ mail having to cross the domain boundaries. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ FLAGS │ FSC-0053 │ Used only in NetMail messages. When used it │ │ │ │ provides special non-standard attributes that│ │ │ │ may be customized to be understood between │ │ │ │ programs that support them. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ FMPT │ FTS-0001 │ Used only in NetMail messages and only if│ │ │ │ message has been sent from a point system. It│ │ │ │ identifies the originator point number. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ INTL │ FTS-0001 │ Used only in NetMail message. This is a klud-│ │ │ │ ge that specifies when a NetMail message has │ │ │ │ to cross from one Zone to another. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ MSGID │ FTS-0009 │ Is a NetMail/EchoMail kludge that having the │ │ │ │ task to univocally identify a message. This │ │ │ │ kludge is mostly used to obtain reply-link │ │ │ │ and duplicated message seeking. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Original│ * none * │ It's a kludge generated only by the FrontDoor│ │ │ │ folder manager (FM) when it generates carbon │ │ │ │ copies (it marks the original one) │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PATH │ FTS-0004 │ It identifies the path followed by a message │ │ │ │ in order to reach your system. It can be used│ │ │ │ to check for net-routing errors. It supports │ │ │ │ only 2D addressing. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PTH │ * none * │ It performs the same task as the PATH kludge │ │ │ │ but is 5D capable. │ └─────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 153 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ M E S S A G E K L U D G E S │ ├─────────┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ I T E M │ REFERENCE │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PID │ FSC-0046 │ This kludge reports the information about │ │ │ │ the first mail processor that treated the │ │ │ │ message in which it was inserted. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ REPLY │ FTS-0009 │ Identifies that this message is a reply to │ │ │ │ another message.The Reply kludge reports the │ │ │ │ MSGid contents of the message it has replied │ │ │ │ to in order to allow the creation of the re- │ │ │ │ ply link (see: chapter 7.2 for further info) │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ SEEN-BY │ FTS-0004 │ This Kludge may, or not, have the ^a charac- │ │ │ │ ter at its begining, in any case it is use- │ │ │ │ ful to let Mail processors find duplicated │ │ │ │ messages or EchoMail routing errors. It Pra- │ │ │ │ tically lists all the system which have al- │ │ │ │ ready seen the message. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ TOPT │ FTS-0001 │ This kludge is used in NetMail messages only │ │ │ │ and it identifies the number of points which │ │ │ │ this message is addressed to. │ ├─────────┼───────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ NPD │ │ Acronym for "Non Proportional Display". It's │ │ │ │ aim is to tell to mail editors working in GUI│ │ │ │ (Graphics User interface) environments (Such │ │ │ │ as Windows and OS/2 Program Manager) to use a│ │ │ │ non proportional (fixed pitch) font to dis- │ │ │ │ play the message. This kludge is mainly used │ │ │ │ for list created by AreaFix or other program-│ │ │ │ generated report. │ └─────────┴───────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 154 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Appendix (C) - Message Attributes ================== The message attributes specify, mostly, the messages aim and/or the message status, furthermore, them determines how the mailer must treat the outgoing NetMail messages and how your editor must handle the inco- ming NetMail messages.. There are a lot of message attributes, standard or not. In the table below the most common of them will be summarized. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ M E S S A G E A T T R I B U T E S │ ├───────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ATTRIBUTE │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ATT │ Means that the present NetMail message has a file at- │ │ │ tached to it. The path and file specification of the │ │ │ file to be sent must always be specified in the messa- │ │ │ ge subject. The message text may contain other infor- │ │ │ mations too. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ CRA │ Crash or High-Priority mail. The messages having this │ │ │ attribute set, bypass any routing statement and are, │ │ │ usually, sent directly to the addressee system. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ DIR │ This means "Direct". the presence of this attribute in │ │ (*) │ te in a NetMail message implies that it can be sent │ │ │ to this system directly (avoiding to go through in-│ │ │ termediary systems). If, for example, a NetMail messa-│ │ │ ge has the DIR and the HOLD attribute together, it re-│ │ │ quires that only the destination system (points inclu-│ │ │ ded) calls your system to be able to pickup their mail.│ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ FRQ │ File/Request. When a NetMail message having this attri-│ │ │ bute is sent, then the addressee system will consider │ │ │ it as a request to send one or more files to the reque-│ │ │ sting system. The files requested must be indicated in │ │ │ the message subject. A NetMail message having this at- │ │ │ tribute set, must always be sent directly and never │ │ │ routed. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ HLD │ This means "Hold". If a NetMail message has this attri-│ │ │ bute set, then the mailer doesn't route or send it un-│ │ │ less the addressee system calls yours. In case of net-│ │ │ mail message addressed to a point system, it will be │ │ │ delivered through its boss but only if the boss calls │ │ │ your system (this doesn't apply if the message also │ │ │ has the DIR status (seen before). │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ IMM │ When a NetMail message has the "IMM" (Immediate) attri-│ │ (*) │ bute set, then it will be sent immediately, ignoring │ │ │ any mailer restriction and/or qualification. So it │ │ │ will force the mailer to call the destination system │ │ │ to give it your mail. │ └───────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 155 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ M E S S A G E A T T R I B U T E S │ ├───────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ATTRIBUTE │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ K/S │ It's the Kill/Sent attributes. It does mean that the │ │ │ NetMail message,having the Kill/Sent attributes set, │ │ │ will be automatically deleted as soon it will be sent │ │ │ or routed to the addressee system. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ KFS │ This attributes means "Kill-File-Sent". It's only used │ │ (*) │ in NetMail messages that already have the ATT attribu- │ │ │ te (seen before), in order to let your mailer delete │ │ │ the original attached file as soon as it's succesful- │ │ │ ly sent to the addressee system. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ LOC │ This is the "Local" message attribute. Normally all │ │ │ your NetMail/EchoMail message will have this attribute │ │ │ set by default. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ LOK │ This is the "Locked" attribute. One locked message can │ │ (*) │ not be deleted nor purged and not sent at all. It is │ │ │ useful in case you want to preserve one or more impor-│ │ │ tant messages from manual deletion or from automatic │ │ │ purging/packing routinges.This attributes can only be │ │ │ set upon Old-Fido-Style *.MSG messages. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PVT │ A message having this attribute is considered as priva-│ │ │ te. This means that, theoretically, it could be read │ │ │ only by its addressee and not by anyone else. Normally │ │ │ ly only the NetMail message may have this attribute. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PGM │ It means that the message having this attribute set has│ │ │ been automatically generated by a program. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ RCV │ When a NetMail message has this attribute does mean │ │ │ that it has already been received and read by its ad- │ │ │ dressee. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ RRQ │ This is a request for a return receipt from the ad-│ │ │ dressee system. When a NetMail message having this at-│ │ │ tribute is sent, then the destination system will gene-│ │ │ rate (if capable) a confirmation receipt automatical-│ │ │ ly addressed to the original message sender in order │ │ │ to confirm that the NetMail message has reached its │ │ │ correct destination. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ RRC │ This is the flag automatically set by the mail proces- │ │ │ sor or mailer (capable of handling the NetMail messa- │ │ │ ges having the RRQ flag) when they produces their "Re- │ │ │ turn Receipt Confirmation" as answer to the message │ │ │ having the "Return Receipt reQuest" attribute set. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ SNT │ Mean that the message, having this attribute, has al- │ │ │ ready been sent or routed towards its destination. │ └───────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 156 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ M E S S A G E A T T R I B U T E S │ ├───────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ATTRIBUTE │ D E S C R I P T I O N │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ TFS │ This attribute involves mostly the ARCmail attaches. │ │ (*) │ It implies that the ARCmail bundle attached to this │ │ │ NetMail message,after being sent to the addressee sys- │ │ │ tem has to be truncated to a file having a null- │ │ │ length size instead of deleted. Leaving this zero │ │ │ length file in your outbound directory may be useful │ │ │ for references. (A truncated file cannot be undeleted) │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ TRS │ This is the "in-Transit" attribute. A NetMail having │ │ │ this attribute is only transiting upon your system │ │ │ and was originated outside it. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ UNS │ This attributes does mean "still Unsent". It normally │ │ │ can be located in the EchoMail/NetMail messages which │ │ │ haven't been exported from your messagebase. │ ├───────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ URQ │ Means "Update Request". This is an attribute similar │ │ │ to the FRQ one (we mentioned above in this appendix. │ │ │ The only difference is that,in this case, the reques- │ │ │ ted file will be sent only if the file owned by the │ │ │ requester is older than the file owned by the system │ │ │ tem that accepts the Update Request. To perform the up-│ │ │ date request,in the Message Subject,the demandant must │ │ │ indicate the complete pathname and filename of the file│ │ │ that he wants be updated. │ └───────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ (*) These attibutes are extensions of the "FLAGS" kludge. Appendix (D) - Technical Notes =============== * The FTSC product-code for FastEcho is 0xAF (hex), 175 (dec). * FastEcho can handle up to 1024 systems and 4096 areas. * FastEcho can process EchoMail messages up to 64kB (512kB for the OS/2 version), depending on the settings in FESetup/Advanced Options /Messagebuffer. * The mail-packets created by FastEcho are compatible to FTS-0001, FTS- 0004 and FSC-0039, using the Type 2+ packet-header and supporting the Capability Word. FastEcho will also recognize incoming FSC-0048 and FSC-0045 (Type 2.2) mail-packets. * Linefeeds are always stripped when processing mails, soft CR's are treated as normal, valid characters. * SEEN-BY lines and ^APATH kludges are created and updated. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 157 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * SEEN-BY is used for duplicate prevention - if a system is already listed in the SEEN-BY of an incoming message, FastEcho will not for- ward that message to this system. [This does NOT apply to point-sys- tems as the SEEN-BY are 2D only !] * FastEcho can parse both SeaDog and Fido/Opus date-fields, it gene- rates Fido/Opus-style dates when exporting EchoMail. * FastEcho supports the RemoteAccess/FrontDoor Hudson-messagebase sha- ring specifications and sharing of JAM and Squish messagebases. * The dupechecking algorithm checks the ^MSGID kludge if available and a header checksum if not. In order to store the maximum 131000 re- cords in while tossing/scanning it needs 512kB of EMS or XMS memory. * Outbound mail-packets generated by FastEcho have a .QQQ extension. To compress them, FastEcho renames them to .PKT and adds 2 <NUL> by- tes at the end of the packets. If any error occurs while running the archiver, FastEcho will rename them back to .QQQ, so they may be com- pressed in a further run of FastEcho. * For a better performance, unlike other EchoMail processors, FastEcho keeps the outbound mail-packets open while processing. Therefore to run without error you must give FastEcho all the FILES=??? that are necessary to have the packets for every system defined in the Node- Manager simultaneously open. * FastEcho supports the 4D addressing which BinkleyTerm 2.50+, Xenia, McMail and other Binkley compatible mailers offer for points. Futhermore it supports BinkleyTerm's 5D (domain) outbounds. * FastEcho supports the '.BSY' files created by BinkleyTerm 2.50+ in multiline-environments and will not compress mail for a system cur- rently online. * FastEcho supports the crc.`nn semaphore files FrontDoor 2.20/c crea- tes in multiline-environments and will not compress mail for a system currently online. * FastEcho supports the Xnnnnnnn.nll semaphore files created by InterMail 2.25 for checking if a system is currently online. * FastEcho supports the RemoteAccess-Messagebase-Locking technique as proposed in RALCK003.DOC by Andrew Milner including the support for MBUNLOCK.NOW (supported by GoldEd 2.40+, RemoteAccess 2.00, FM 2.20). * Before calling an external de-/compression utility, FastEcho checks if the archive file is currently locked/opened by another task and will skip it to prevent Share Violations when the utility tries to access the file and doesn't have a proper exception handler. * FastEcho was written in C++ (compiled with Borland C++ Version 3.1 (DOS), Borland C++ 4.02 with PowerPack (DPMI) and Borland C++ for OS/2 2.0) and assembly language (Turbo Assembler Version 4.1). FESetup was compiled with Watcom C++ 10.0a ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 158 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * File-IO is performed using standard DOS filehandle functions. The PSP filehandle table is expanded to 230 entries. * All programs automatically detect DESQview and write to its screen buffer. They also furthermore detect Windows, OS/2 2.x as well as PCMOS/386 and give up time-slices in these environments if possible (when waiting for messagebase (un-)locking for example). * The configuration file of FastEcho may be used with any newer GoldED version using the "AREAFILE FastEcho <path>" keyword and with newer timEd versions using the "FastEchoCFG <file+path>" keyword. * The structures for 'C' and 'Pascal' of FastEcho.CFG are available as FECFG146.RAR (or magic filename FECFG). * The swapping routines used are provided by Thomas Wagner (EXEC 3.3) and allow EMS-, XMS- and disk-swapping. * FESetup makes intensive use of the TesSeRact CLX User Interface TCXL Version 6.12 copyrighted by Innovative Data Concepts. * The FESetup menu now sets the hard cursor to make its use easier for blind people that use Braille terminals (SET FEOPT=SHOWCURSOR). * FastEcho uses the JAM(mbp) API - Copyright 1993 Joaquim Homrighausen, Andrew Milner, Mats Birch, Mats Wallin. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. About the OS/2 and the DPMI versions of FastEcho ================================================ Throughout this manual has already been pointed out all the exis- ting differences between the DOS and DPMI versions (see chapter 13 through 13.5). The OS/2 characteristics are about the same of the DPMI one. The DOS, DPMI and OS/2 release are dealt into three different ar- chives: FE146.RAR Contain the full DOS release with this documentation FE146X.RAR Contain only the executables needed to run FastEcho in protected mode FE146P.RAR Contain only the executables needed to run FastEcho in OS/2 native code. You can reach these archives at your nearest FastEcho registration site or Support Site. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 159 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Help Systems, Registration Sites & Support ========================================== If you want to register FastEcho or want to obtain nearer information about FastEcho please refer to following Help systems: Headquarters: Software Technik Burchhardt Mittelkamp 18 D-45731 Waltrop Germany Tel. ++49-2309-77597 (voice/answering machine) ++49-2309-77019 (data/fax/ISDN) ++49-2309-77499 (data) ++49-2309-91223 (ISDN) Email: 2:2448/400@fidonet (Tobias Burchhardt) 9:492/6050@virnet Internet: tobi@ttown.com Help & Registration BeNeLux: Slash - FastEcho Registrations Postbus 502 5800 AM Venray The Netherlands Email: 2:512/5@fidonet (jeroen van de leur) Internet: slash@xs4all.nl Homepage: http://www.xs4all.nl/~slash/fastecho.html Help & Registration Spain/Portugal: Atlantis BBS Apartado Postal 3.097 18080 Granada Spain Email: 2:345/801@fidonet (Alfredo Sanchez) 9:341/101@virnet Help & Registration Austria: HR-MailOrder! und mehr c/o Herbert Riess jun. Krieglergasse 2/19 A-1030 Wien Austria Email: 2:310/79@fidonet ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 160 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Help & Registration Canada: Alex Stuart 2759 Belmont Ave. Victoria, B.C. Canada V8R 4A9 Email: 1:340/30@fidonet Registration United States of America and International Credit Card orders: FastEcho Registrations Ed Meloan 1110 Terrace Circle Drive North Augusta, SC 29841-4349 USA Email: 1:360/1@fidonet Internet: e.meloan@csra.net Help & Registration Sweden: Definite Solutions Förskottsvägen 11 129 32 Hägersten Sweden Email: 2:201/329@fidonet (Mats Wallin) Internet: mw@defsol.se Help & Registration United Kingdom: FastEcho Registrations UK PO Box 443 Bangor Co.Down, BT20 3BF United Kingdom Email: 2:443/13 (Colin Turner) Help & Registration Italy: FastEcho Reg.Site per l'Italia Ugo Uggetti Via Brigata Pavia, 8 27100 Pavia Italy Email: 2:331/501@fidonet ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 161 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Help & Registration Israel: Rudy's Place BBS PO BOX 8394 Rishon Le-Zion, 7525 Isreal Email: 2:403/138@fidonet (Nemrod Kedem) Help & Registration Australia/New Zealand: Aquarius Communications P.O. Box 4772 SYDNEY NSW 2001 Australia Email: 3:714/930@fidonet (Glen Harvy) Internet: registrations@aquarius.com.au Homepage: http://www.aquarius.com.au (Online registration possible) Help & Registration Asia/Taiwan: Aim Point BBS Kuan-yu Chen Check REGISTER.TWN for more details ... Email: 6:720/255@fidonet Help & Registration Ex-Soviet-Union States: FastEcho Registrations Egons Bush 20 Virzas street Iecava, District Bauska LV-1339 LATVIA Email: 2:5100/8@fidonet Help & Registration Poland Integraal Microsystems Biuro Handlowe ul. Chmielna 12/4 00-020 Warszawa Tel: ++48-22-276333 (voice) ++48-22-276333 (data from 9:00pm to 9:00am local time) Email: 2:480/1496@fidonet (Andrzej Bursztynski) 76560.204@compuserve.com For further information regarding registration, please refer to the enclosed LICENSE.DOC and the registration forms in REGISTER.RAR! ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 162 - FastEcho MANUAL - A p p e n d i x e s - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Support Sites ------------- These sites always have the latest version of FastEcho available for download or file-request, can provide help for setting up FastEcho and will try to help when you have problems with FastEcho. Alex Stuart Quantum Leap BBS 1:340/30 +1-604-595-4407 Mark Lewis Waldo's Place USA 1:3634/12 +1-919-774-5930 Mats Wallin Definite Solutions 2:201/329 +46-8-55630103 Jens Jensen FastEcho Support BBS 2:237/15 +45-63330011 Tobias Burchhardt WayForward BBS 2:2448/400 +49-2309-77019 jeroen van de leur Slash BBS 2:512/5 +31-478-550103 Herbert Riess Austria's MAIL Hupferl 2:310/79 +43-1-7101818 Ugo Uggetti Venus 2:331/501 +39-382-579979 Alfredo Sanchez Atlantis BBS 2:345/801 +34-58-132748 Nemrod Kedem Rudy's Place 2:403/138 +972-3-9667562 Andrzej Bursztynski Z-BBS [21:00-09:00] 2:480/1496 +48-22-6512544 Glen Harvy Aquarius 3:714/930 +61-2-9948-9122 Kuan-yu Chen FastEcho Support Asia 6:6/107 +886-2-255-0214 Official FTP site: ftp.ttown.com, pub/fastecho FastEcho EchoMail & EchoFile Support ==================================== Watch out for the international FidoNet help conference FE_HELP which is currently available on the U.S. backbone and at least in Zone 2. If you have problems to get this area contact Tobias Burchhardt or one of your nearest support sites. For german-speaking FidoNet members the help conference FASTECHO.GER is available in Regions 24, 30 and 31. For users in Region 28 please refer to FASTECHO.028. For Italian-speaking Fidonet members the help conference FASTECHO.ITA is available. All FastEcho public releases and FastEcho related utilities are hatched into a echofile named FastEcho, for details on that topic please contact your nearest support site or betatester. If you need always the last FastEcho release, utilities and tools for FastEcho then ask for the official FastEcho FileEcho area which is mainly available on the Z1 filebone and several other places too. Ask your nearest support site or beta site for its availability. Thanks I would like to thank all the people who contributed, with their ideas and suggestions, to the creation of this manual. Very special thanks to Tobias and to all the irreplaceable beta crew, expecially to Raymond Dijkxhoorn who collected all the possible FastEcho FAQ. Thanks, also, to all the FastEcho guys in FE_HELP.331 and POINT.ITA for sugges- ting some additional subject they wished to be dealt herein. To contact me refer to the following addresses: 2:2448/400.7@Fidonet.org 2:331/501.25@Fidonet.org 2:332/300.100@Fidonet.org .-.-. ..And I never forgotten gipsy girl and what she said to me.. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 163 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │ S M A R T I N D E X │ └─────────────────────────────────┘ - A - 16 bit dpmi version vs. dos version................................ 150 4D/type 2+ (Node configuration).................................... 51 Active column (forward requests)................................... 103 Add '+' (forward areafix requests)................................. 107 Add '+'............................................................ 57 Add '---' (forward areafix requests)............................... 107 Add '---' <tearline>............................................... 57 Add list to receipts (areafix options)............................. 100 Add node (global changes) (area manager)........................... 83 Addressing type (4d/type 2+ node configuration).................... 51 Advanced Options................................................... 24 After unpack (external programs)................................... 41 Aka (your aka in node configuration)............................... 46 Allow %compress (areafix options).................................. 99 Allow %FROM........................................................ 55 Allow %PKTPWD (AreaFix Options).................................... 99 Allow %PWD (AreaFix Options)....................................... 99 Allow %RESCAN (AreaFix Options).................................... 98 Allow area deletion................................................ 56 Allow area renaming................................................ 56 Allow Rescan....................................................... 55 Appendix (A) - Zone/Net/Node/Point................................. 152 Appendix (B) - Message Kludges..................................... 153 Appendix (C) - Message Attributes.................................. 155 Appendix (D) - Technical notes..................................... 157 Archive extensions (Inbound)....................................... 32 Archive extensions (Outbound)...................................... 32 ARCmail (node configuration)....................................... 46 ARCmail attaches (Kill)............................................ 33 ARCmail attaches status (node configuration)....................... 47 ARCmail Options.................................................... 31 ARCmail sizing..................................................... 23 ARCmail type 0.60.................................................. 51 Area Configuration................................................. 68 Area definition layout............................................. 69 Area list (forward areafix requests)............................... 104 Area-Create (Allow)................................................ 52 AreaFix (linking one or more new areas)............................ 89 AreaFix (Options).................................................. 97 AreaFix (Password)................................................. 47 AreaFix (unlinking one or more areas).............................. 90 AreaFix (What is).................................................. 89 AreaFix (Wilcarded Link/Unlink).................................... 90 AreaFix flags...................................................... 54 AreaFix logfile name and path definition........................... 20 AreaFix MetaCommand %AVAIL......................................... 92 AreaFix Metacommand %COMPRESS <type> <?>........................... 94 AreaFix MetaCommand %DAYS <nnn>.................................... 93 AreaFix MetaCommand %EXPORT........................................ 96 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 164 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AreaFix Metacommand %FROM <net address>............................ 95 AreaFix MetaCommand %HELP.......................................... 95 AreaFix MetaCommand %INFO.......................................... 91 AreaFix MetaCommand %LIST.......................................... 91 AreaFix MetaCommand %MSGS <nnn>.................................... 93 AreaFix MetaCommand %NOEXPORT...................................... 96 AreaFix MetaCommand %NOTE.......................................... 92 AreaFix MetaCommand %PAUSE......................................... 92 AreaFix Metacommand %PKTPWD <password>............................. 95 AreaFix Metacommand %PWD <password>................................ 94 AreaFix MetaCommand %QUERY......................................... 91 AreaFix MetaCommand %QUIT.......................................... 96 AreaFix MetaCommand %RESCAN........................................ 92 AreaFix MetaCommand %RESUME........................................ 92 AreaFix MetaCommand %UNLINKED...................................... 91 AreaFix MetaCommands............................................... 89 AreaFix Options (add list to receipts)............................. 100 AreaFix Options (allow %compress).................................. 99 AreaFix Options (Allow %PKTPWD).................................... 99 AreaFix Options (Allow %PWD)....................................... 99 AreaFix Options (Allow %RESCAN).................................... 98 AreaFix Options (default for rescan)............................... 98 AreaFix Options (defaults for %days)............................... 99 AreaFix Options (defaults for %msgs)............................... 98 AreaFix Options (Detailed List).................................... 100 AreaFix Options (file for %help definition)........................ 102 AreaFix Options (forward requests)................................. 102 AreaFix Options (Keep receipts).................................... 100 AreaFix Options (Keep requests).................................... 100 AreaFix Options (max. receipt size)................................ 102 AreaFix Options (maximum for %days)................................ 99 AreaFix Options (maximum for %msgs)................................ 99 AreaFix Options (password in %info)................................ 101 AreaFix Options (rescan defaults).................................. 98 AreaFix Options (rulefile area tag prefix)......................... 101 AreaFix Options (scan before tossing).............................. 100 AreaFix Options (send conference rules)............................ 101 AreaFix receipts status (node configuration)....................... 48 AreaFix type....................................................... 56 AREAS.BBS (Export)................................................. 109 ASCII file (Export)................................................ 109 Attributes (Message)............................................... 155 Auto Area Create................................................... 26 Automatic error report............................................. 144 Automatic inclusion of user.bbs file............................... 36 Automatic passive (node configuration)............................. 58 Autorenumber....................................................... 35 AVAIL (AreaFix MetaCommand)........................................ 92 Average ratio definition in compression programs................... 38 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 165 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - B - Batch files example................................................ 148 BBS configuration (auto updating).................................. 26 BBS Configuration location......................................... 19 BBS defaults for the new areas (auto updating)..................... 27 BBS Software definition............................................ 13 Be 'quiet'......................................................... 14 Before Pack (External programs).................................... 41 Binkeley style NetMail packing..................................... 123 Board (Area Configuration)......................................... 73 Board (default).................................................... 65 Buffer for the Toss operation...................................... 30 - C - Calling conventions................................................ 40 Carbon Copies (Copy to)............................................ 87 Carbon Copies (Examples)........................................... 88 Carbon copies (search for string).................................. 87 Carbon copies (suggestions and notes).............................. 88 Carbon Copies (Test)............................................... 86 Carbon Copies...................................................... 86 Check complete Inbound files....................................... 33 Check mailer semaphores............................................ 32 Command line switches (FESetup).................................... 8 Comment (Area Configuration)....................................... 70 Comment (default).................................................. 63 Compatibility problems using the included dpmi server.............. 150 COMPRESS (AreaFix MetaCommand)..................................... 94 Compress mail after................................................ 24 Compress mail free................................................. 24 Compression Programs............................................... 37 Compression ratio (Maximum)........................................ 33 Configuration of nodes............................................. 45 Convert umlaut (area configuration)................................ 75 Convert Umlaut..................................................... 52 Copy to (Carbon Copies)............................................ 87 Cpd circular path detection (area configuration)................... 74 Create "in session" (mailer's semaphores).......................... 32 Create as passtrough (forward areafix requests).................... 108 - D - Data DropDown Menu................................................. 44 DAYS (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 93 Days purging (area configuration).................................. 77 DB Environment variable............................................ 139 Decompression Programs............................................. 39 Default Aka........................................................ 66 Default board...................................................... 65 Default comment.................................................... 63 Default Export-To.................................................. 67 Default for rescan (areafix options)............................... 98 Default origin..................................................... 63 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 166 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Default path....................................................... 65 Default SEEN-BY.................................................... 66 Default storage.................................................... 65 Default type....................................................... 64 Defaults for %days (areafix options)............................... 99 Defaults for %msgs (areafix options)............................... 98 Defaults for area groups (set-up).................................. 62 Defaults for the areas automatically created....................... 52 Defaults for the areas automatically created....................... 54 Del Key - Delete (Node Manager).................................... 62 Delete node (global changes) (area manager)........................ 84 Deleting areas via AreaFix......................................... 96 Deny list (forward areafix requests)............................... 106 Description........................................................ 3 Destination of PKTs (check)........................................ 29 Detailed List (AreaFix Options).................................... 100 Differences between dos and 16 bit dpmi versions................... 150 Differences between the dos and protected mode versions............ 151 DIRECT (Routing)................................................... 120 Disable passive (area configuration)............................... 76 DPMI and dos mode version differences.............................. 159 DPMI Runtime module options........................................ 159 DPMI server compatibility problems................................. 150 DPMI version (precautions using)................................... 150 DPMI version of FastEcho........................................... 163 DPMI Version Requirements.......................................... 150 DPMI version....................................................... 150 Duperecords (limits and enabling).................................. 22 Duplicates (automatic kill of)..................................... 28 - E - Echolist (Export).................................................. 109 EchoMail (What is)................................................. 42 EchoMail vs. NetMail (matrix)...................................... 42 EchoMail/EchoFile Support.......................................... 163 EMS (use for buffering)............................................ 29 Enter Key - Edit (Area Manager).................................... 80 Enter Key - Edit (Node Manager).................................... 59 Environment variables (FD,IM,DB)................................... 139 Environment variables (FE)......................................... 140 Environment variables (FEMAXMEM)................................... 141 Environment variables (FEOPT)...................................... 141 Environment variables (FEUTMP)..................................... 140 Environment variables (HMBLOCK).................................... 140 Environment variables (TZUTC)...................................... 140 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES.............................................. 139 Error reporting (Automatic)........................................ 144 Errorlevels........................................................ 145 Examples (Carbon Copies)........................................... 88 Examples (Direct Routing).......................................... 118 Examples (FEUtil Post)............................................. 136 Examples (ROUTE.FE)................................................ 122 Examples (Security)................................................ 78 EXCEPT (Routing)................................................... 120 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 167 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Exclude SysOps..................................................... 36 Exclude Users...................................................... 35 EXPORT (AreaFix MetaCommand)....................................... 96 Export AREAS.BBS................................................... 109 Export ASCII file.................................................. 109 Export by name..................................................... 54 Export DropDown Menu............................................... 109 Export Echolist.................................................... 109 Export ROUTE.FE.................................................... 110 Export SQUISH.CFG.................................................. 109 Export-to (Area Configuration)..................................... 79 Export-To (default)................................................ 67 Extensions of Inbound archives..................................... 32 Extensions of Outbound archives.................................... 32 External programs (after unpack)................................... 41 External programs (Before Pack).................................... 41 External programs.................................................. 40 - F - F2 Key - Routing (Node Manager).................................... 59 F2 Key - Sorting (Area Manager).................................... 81 F3 Key - Browse (Node Manager)..................................... 60 F3 Key - Tag (Area Manager)........................................ 81 F3 key - tag by group (area manager)............................... 82 F3 key - tag by name (area manager)................................ 81 F4 key - area list (node manager).................................. 61 F4 Key - Search (Area Manager)..................................... 82 F5 Key - Copy (Area Manager)....................................... 82 F5 Key - Copy (Node Manager)....................................... 61 F6 key 'global' (add node) (area manager).......................... 83 F6 key 'global' (delete node) (area manager)....................... 84 F6 key 'global' (other items) (area manager)....................... 85 F6 key 'global' (replace <node> with <node>) (area manager)........ 85 F6 Key - Global (Area Manager)..................................... 83 FastEcho Afix...................................................... 124 FastEcho EchoMail & EchoFile support............................... 163 FastEcho F.A.Q..................................................... 157 FastEcho Help...................................................... 125 FastEcho Notify.................................................... 124 FastEcho Pack (in general)......................................... 117 FastEcho Pack -F................................................... 123 FastEcho Pack -I................................................... 123 FastEcho Pack -P................................................... 123 FastEcho pack -r<route filename>................................... 119 FastEcho pack <addr> <addr> <...> via <addr>....................... 117 FastEcho Relink.................................................... 125 FastEcho Scan (in general)......................................... 114 FastEcho Scan -A................................................... 115 FastEcho Scan -F................................................... 116 FastEcho Scan -I................................................... 116 FastEcho Scan -L<file>............................................. 116 FastEcho Scan -N................................................... 115 FastEcho Stat (in general)......................................... 126 FastEcho Stat -G<groups>........................................... 126 FastEcho Stat -H................................................... 127 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 168 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FastEcho Stat -N................................................... 127 FastEcho Stat -O................................................... 127 FastEcho Stat -R................................................... 126 FastEcho Stat -RS.................................................. 126 FastEcho Toss (in general)......................................... 112 FastEcho Toss -B................................................... 113 FastEcho Toss -C................................................... 113 FastEcho Toss -F................................................... 114 FastEcho Toss -S................................................... 114 FD Environment variable............................................ 139 FE environment variable............................................ 140 FEMAXMEM environment variable...................................... 141 FEOPT environment variable......................................... 141 FESetup TopBar Dropdown menu....................................... 7 FESetup, dos command line switches................................. 8 FEUtil Check -D[elete]............................................. 133 FEUtil Check....................................................... 133 FEUtil Import (in general)......................................... 137 FEUtil Import -Excl<file>.......................................... 138 FEUtil Import -FORCE............................................... 138 FEUtil Import -Incl<file>.......................................... 138 FEUtil Index....................................................... 128 FEUtil Link (in general)........................................... 129 FEUtil Link -F[orce]............................................... 130 FEUtil Link -I[gnore].............................................. 130 FEUtil Move........................................................ 134 FEUtil Pack (in general)........................................... 131 FEUtil Pack -D[elete].............................................. 132 FEUtil Pack -F[orce]............................................... 131 FEUtil Pack -O[verwrite]........................................... 132 FEUtil Pack -Q[uick]............................................... 132 FEUtil Pack -R[enumber]............................................ 132 FEUtil parameters.................................................. 34 FEUtil post examples & application................................. 136 FEUtil Post........................................................ 134 FEUtil Purge (in general).......................................... 130 FEUtil Purge -D[elete]............................................. 131 FEUtil Sort (in general)........................................... 132 FEUtil Sort -B[ackup].............................................. 133 FEUtil Undelete.................................................... 133 FEUTMP environment variable........................................ 140 File for %help definition (areafix options)........................ 102 Filenames definition............................................... 20 Files created or used by fastecho.................................. 147 Flags (NO386)...................................................... 141 Flags (NOAFIX)..................................................... 142 Flags (NOAUTOFAIL)................................................. 143 Flags (NODUPES).................................................... 142 Flags (NOEMS,NOXMS)................................................ 142 Flags (NOERREP).................................................... 144 Flags (NOEXPORT)................................................... 142 Flags (NOLIMIT).................................................... 143 Flags (NOMSGID).................................................... 143 Flags (NOPACK)..................................................... 142 Flags (NORES)...................................................... 144 Flags (NOSEENBY)................................................... 142 Flags (PACKONE).................................................... 143 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 169 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Flags (RDEBUG)..................................................... 143 Flags (SHOWCURSOR)................................................. 143 Flags (STRIPTEAR).................................................. 143 Flags (USEBIOS).................................................... 141 Flags (ZONEGATE)................................................... 144 Force Mailer Rescan................................................ 28 Foreword........................................................... 1 Forward (forward areafix requests)................................. 104 Forward AreaFix requests (add '+')................................. 107 Forward AreaFix requests (add '---')............................... 107 Forward AreaFix requests (area list)............................... 104 Forward AreaFix requests (create as passthrough)................... 108 Forward AreaFix requests (deny list)............................... 106 Forward AreaFix requests (forward)................................. 104 Forward AreaFix requests (groups).................................. 106 Forward AreaFix requests (list type)............................... 105 Forward AreaFix requests (new area default group).................. 107 Forward AreaFix requests (remote program).......................... 105 Forward AreaFix requests (security)................................ 107 Forward AreaFix requests (setup)................................... 103 Forward AreaFix requests (unconditional)........................... 104 Forward changes.................................................... 57 Forward requests (active column)................................... 103 Forward requests (areafix options)................................. 102 Forward requests (Forward to)...................................... 103 Forward requests (List file)....................................... 103 Forward requests (remote program column)........................... 103 Forward requests................................................... 55 FORWARD-FOR (Routing).............................................. 121 FORWARD-TO (Routing)............................................... 120 Frequently Asked Questions......................................... 157 FROM (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 95 Function keys active in 'area manager'............................. 80 Function Keys in 'Node Manager'.................................... 58 - G - Global (add node) (area manager)................................... 83 Global (delete node) (area manager)................................ 84 Global (replace <node> with <node>) (area manager)................. 85 Global (the other global items) (area manager)..................... 85 Graphical tossing.................................................. 30 Group (Area Configuration)......................................... 70 Group area defaults (other switches)............................... 66 Group Area Defaults (set-up)....................................... 62 Group names........................................................ 41 Groups (forward areafix requests).................................. 106 Groups available (node configuration).............................. 50 Grunged date (killing)............................................. 36 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 170 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - H - HELP (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 95 Help on line....................................................... 111 Help Systems, Registration Sites & Support......................... 160 Hide Area (Area Configuration)..................................... 77 HMB directory definition........................................... 16 HMB Sharing........................................................ 28 HMBLOCK environment variable....................................... 140 - I - Ignore old semaphores.............................................. 24 IM Environment variable............................................ 139 Import DropDown Menu............................................... 110 Inbound archives extensions........................................ 32 Inbound directory definition....................................... 16 Inbound files (check if complete).................................. 33 Include USERS.BBS.................................................. 36 INFO (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 91 Infozip calling conventions........................................ 40 Ins key - new entry (node manager)................................. 61 Ins/del keys - global (area manager)............................... 85 - K - Keep netmails (area configuration)................................. 77 Keep NetMails...................................................... 36 Keep receipts (AreaFix Options).................................... 100 Keep requests (AreaFix Options).................................... 100 Keep seen-by (area configuration).................................. 74 Keep tearline clean................................................ 25 Keep Users (Area Configuration).................................... 76 Kill duplicates.................................................... 28 Kill empty NetMails................................................ 27 Kill grunged date.................................................. 36 Kill Read (Area Configuration)..................................... 76 Kill stray attaches................................................ 33 Kludges (message).................................................. 153 - L - Linking one or more new areas (areafix)............................ 89 LIST (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 91 List file (Forward Requests)....................................... 103 List type (forward areafix requests)............................... 105 LISTED (Route Macro)............................................... 122 Local inbound directory definition................................. 17 Logfile directory/name definition.................................. 20 Logging............................................................ 30 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 171 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - M - Macro in Route file................................................ 121 Mailer configuration (auto updating)............................... 26 Mailer Rescan (Forced)............................................. 28 Mailer type definition............................................. 13 Mailer's semaphores (check)........................................ 32 Mailer's semaphores (create "in session").......................... 32 Main address (node configuration).................................. 46 Mandatory (Area Configuration)..................................... 74 Max. receipt size (areafix options)................................ 102 Maximum ARCmail size............................................... 23 Maximum compression ratio.......................................... 33 Maximum for %days (areafix options)................................ 99 Maximum for %msgs (areafix options)................................ 99 Maximum Messages per PKT........................................... 23 Maximum open .QQQs................................................. 22 Maximum Pkt size................................................... 23 Maximum size of the archives produced by packers................... 49 Maximum size....................................................... 49 Message Attributes................................................. 155 Message buffer size................................................ 22 Message kludges.................................................... 153 Message purging (area configuration)............................... 77 Messagebase directory definition (hmb)............................. 16 Minimal System Requirements........................................ 4 Minimum Inbound .PKTs size......................................... 23 Miscellaneous (System)............................................. 13 MSGS (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 93 MYNET (Route macro)................................................ 121 MYPOINTS (Route macro)............................................. 122 MYZONE (Route macro)............................................... 121 - N - Name (Area Configuration).......................................... 69 Name (Node configuration).......................................... 46 Net explanation.................................................... 152 Netmail (automatic kill of empty).................................. 27 NetMail (What is).................................................. 43 Netmail directory definition (primary)............................. 15 NetMails (keep).................................................... 36 Network addresses.................................................. 11 New area default group (forward areafix requests).................. 107 New area default group............................................. 54 New area defaults.................................................. 27 NO-ROUTE (Routing)................................................. 120 NO386 flag......................................................... 141 NOAFIX flag........................................................ 142 NOAUTOFAIL flag.................................................... 143 Node Configuration................................................. 45 Node explanation................................................... 152 Nodes security (node configuration)................................ 50 NODUPES flag....................................................... 142 NOEMS flag......................................................... 142 NOERREP flag....................................................... 144 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 172 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── NOEXPORT (areafix metacommand)..................................... 96 NOEXPORT flag...................................................... 142 NOLIMIT flag....................................................... 143 NOMSGID flag....................................................... 143 NOPACK flag........................................................ 142 NORES flag......................................................... 144 NOSEENBY flag...................................................... 142 NOTE (AreaFix MetaCommand)......................................... 92 Notes about FEUtil................................................. 139 NOXMS flag......................................................... 142 - O - Obtaining better performance....................................... 5 Optimized i386 routines............................................ 5 Options (ARCmail).................................................. 31 Options (AreaFix).................................................. 97 Origin (Area Configuration)........................................ 71 Origin (default)................................................... 63 Origins (Definition)............................................... 42 OS/2 version of FastEcho........................................... 163 Out-of-zone echomail message....................................... 144 Outbound archive extensions........................................ 32 Outbound directory definition...................................... 17 Outbound Type (Temporary).......................................... 31 - P - Pack priority...................................................... 52 Packer maximum size................................................ 49 Packer selection (node configuration).............................. 49 Packet - Password.................................................. 47 PACKONE flag....................................................... 143 Parameters (System)................................................ 21 Passive (Area Configuration)....................................... 75 Passive (automatic switching to)................................... 58 Passive (Node configuration)....................................... 58 Password in %info (areafix options)................................ 101 Passwords (areafix - node configuration)........................... 47 Passwords (Node configuration)..................................... 47 Passwords (packet - node configuration)............................ 47 Passwords.......................................................... 47 Path (Area Configuration).......................................... 73 Path (default)..................................................... 65 Pathnames.......................................................... 15 PAUSE (AreaFix MetaCommand)........................................ 92 PKTPWD (AreaFix MetaCommand)....................................... 95 Pkts (maximum number of messages contained)........................ 23 PKTs destination (check)........................................... 29 Point explanation.................................................. 152 Precautions using the dpmi version................................. 150 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 173 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Preliminary Operations............................................. 6 PURGE - Days....................................................... 35 PURGE - Messages................................................... 34 PURGE - Rcvd Days.................................................. 35 PURGE defaults..................................................... 34 Purging (Area Configuration)....................................... 77 Purging (days) (area configuration)................................ 77 Purging (msgs) (area configuration)................................ 77 Purging (rcvd days) (area configuration)........................... 77 PWD (AreaFix MetaCommand).......................................... 94 - Q - QQQs files (maximum handles)....................................... 22 - R - RDEBUG flag........................................................ 143 Read (security) (area configuration)............................... 78 Received days purging (area confgiguration)........................ 77 Registrations...................................................... 1 Relink (FastEcho commandline)...................................... 125 Remote changes (area configuration)................................ 76 Remote program (forward areafix requests).......................... 105 Remote program column (forward requests)........................... 103 Remote program..................................................... 56 Renaming areas via AreaFix......................................... 96 Replace <node> with <node> (area manager).......................... 85 Requirements of the fastecho dpmi version.......................... 150 RESCAN (AreaFix MetaCommand)....................................... 92 Rescan (Mailer).................................................... 28 Rescan defaults (areafix options).................................. 98 RESCAN special syntax.............................................. 96 Respond to RRQ..................................................... 29 RESUME (AreaFix MetaCommand)....................................... 92 Retear............................................................. 25 Return receipt request (automatic answering)....................... 29 Route Macro (LISTED)............................................... 122 Route Macro (MYNET)................................................ 121 Route Macro (MYPOINTS)............................................. 122 Route Macro (MYZONE)............................................... 121 ROUTE-TO (Routing)................................................. 119 ROUTE.FE (examples)................................................ 122 ROUTE.FE (Export).................................................. 110 Routing 'ROUTE-TO'................................................. 119 Routing (commandline) statements................................... 117 Routing (DIRECT)................................................... 120 Routing (EXCEPT)................................................... 120 Routing (file) statements (route.fe)............................... 119 Routing (FORWARD-FOR).............................................. 121 Routing (FORWARD-TO)............................................... 120 Routing (NO-ROUTE)................................................. 120 Routing address' macro............................................. 121 Routing Direct (Examples).......................................... 118 Routing shortcuts (shortened points routing)....................... 117 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 174 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Routing shortcuts (wilcards/abbreviations/macros).................. 117 RRQ (Automatic answering).......................................... 29 Rt. values in compression programs................................. 38 Rule files directory definition.................................... 19 Rulefile area tag prefix (areafix options)......................... 101 Rules (Send) ...................................................... 55 - S - Scan before tossing (areafix options).............................. 100 Search for string (carbon copies).................................. 87 Security (Examples)................................................ 78 Security (forward areafix requests)................................ 107 Security (Node configuration)...................................... 50 Security (read) (area configuration)............................... 78 Security (write) (area configuration).............................. 78 Security settings in area configuration............................ 78 Security........................................................... 29 SEEN-BY (Area Configuration)....................................... 79 SEEN-BY (default).................................................. 66 Seen-by for out-of-zone echomail messages.......................... 144 Semaphore files.................................................... 145 Semaphores (check mailers)......................................... 32 Semaphores (mailer - create "in session").......................... 32 Semaphores directory definition.................................... 18 Send conference rules (areafix options)............................ 101 Send Help (Node configuration)..................................... 58 Send notify (node configuration)................................... 57 Send Rules......................................................... 55 Setting for outbound arcmail bundles size.......................... 23 Setup (forward areafix requests)................................... 103 Share HMB.......................................................... 28 Shareware Notice................................................... 1 Sharing the messagebase............................................ 5 SHOWCURSOR flag.................................................... 143 Size of message buffer (maximum)................................... 22 Size of outbound arcmail bundles................................... 23 Size of Pkts (maximum)............................................. 23 Size of Pkts (minimum)............................................. 23 Special %RESCAN syntax............................................. 96 Special AreaFix MetaCommands....................................... 96 SQUISH.CFG (Export)................................................ 109 Static queue....................................................... 19 Statistic file name and path definition............................ 21 Status (ARCmail)................................................... 47 Status (AreaFix)................................................... 48 Status............................................................. 47 Storage (default).................................................. 65 Storage type (area configuration).................................. 72 Strip any tearline................................................. 25 STRIPTEAR flag..................................................... 143 Suggestions (General).............................................. 5 Suggestions and notes (carbon copies).............................. 88 Swapping directory definition...................................... 19 Swapping........................................................... 14 SysOps exclusion................................................... 36 SYSTEM TopBar Dropdown menu........................................ 11 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 175 - FastEcho MANUAL - Smart Index - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - T - Tag by Group (Area Manager)........................................ 82 Tag by name........................................................ 81 Tearline stripping................................................. 25 Tearline........................................................... 26 Technical notes.................................................... 161 Temporary inbound directory definition............................. 16 Temporary outbound directory definition............................ 18 Temporary Outbound Type............................................ 31 Test (Carbon Copies)............................................... 86 Thanks............................................................. 164 The FESetup Main Menu.............................................. 6 Tiny seen-by (area configuration).................................. 74 Toss Buffer........................................................ 30 TosScan............................................................ 51 Tutorial........................................................... 5 Type (Area Configuration).......................................... 71 Type (default)..................................................... 64 TZUTC environment variable......................................... 140 - U - Umlaut conversion (area configuration)............................. 75 Umlaut conversion.................................................. 52 Unconditional (forward areafix requests)........................... 104 UNLINKED (AreaFix MetaCommand)..................................... 91 Unlinking one or more areas (areafix).............................. 90 Unpack Unprotected................................................. 33 Unprotected inbound (allow unpacking).............................. 33 Unprotected inbound directory definition........................... 16 Update BBS config.................................................. 26 Update Mailer Configuration........................................ 26 Use Aka (Area Configuration)....................................... 73 Use Aka (default).................................................. 66 Use arrival date................................................... 35 Use EMS for buffering.............................................. 29 USEBIOS flag....................................................... 141 User names......................................................... 12 Users exclusion.................................................... 35 Using FastEcho..................................................... 111 Using FEUtil....................................................... 127 - W - What FastEcho does................................................. 2 What's AreaFix..................................................... 89 Wilcarded Link/Unlink (AreaFix).................................... 90 Wilcards (using them in routing)................................... 117 Write (security) (area configuration).............................. 78 - Y - Your AKA........................................................... 46 - Z - Zone/Net/Node/Point explanation.................................... 152 ZONEGATE flag...................................................... 144 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - 176 -