Light ROM 1/LIGHT-ROM 1 (Amiga Library Services)(1994).iso/ffdisks/d883.lha/bbsQUICK/bbsQUICK.DOC

Text File | 1993-07-16 | 9KB | 195 lines

                     bbsQUICK.DOC    29 March 1993

>> What is it?

bbsQUICK.rexx is an offline read/reply/upload/download module for the
BaudBandit BBS system. With it, you can download a "QUICKOUT" archive
containing all new BBS activity, logoff, and do your BBS work offline,
have a "QUICKIN" archive made of your responses and requests, and
simply upload that archive to the BBS.  The archiver used is LhA.

        NOTE: THIS PROGRAM ONLY WORKS FOR BBBBS BBS USERS!
       No other BBS formats are supported by this software.



>> Why do I need it?

If you call long distance to one or more BBBBS systems, the QUICK
procedures can save you time and phone charges. Since the archiving
and de-archiving are handled by the BBS, you don't have to be online
while the work is being done. Your time online with the BBS can be
limited to the time it takes to upload your replies and file requests,
plus the time to download new activity. Since most of these files are
straight ASCII text, LhA typically will reduce their size by 70%, so
the upload/download tranfer times are usually short (and cheap!).

There is also a case to be made that more people can make use of a BBS
when offline handlers are used, and therefore their use should be
encouraged.

If you are a sysop, there are certain "batch" operations (renaming
or deleting, for example) that are more efficiently done from a list
as opposed to doing it one file at a time from within the BBS.

Finally, users don't feel so "under the gun" when they are allowed to
deal with BBS matters offline in their own time.



>> Requirements

bbsQUICK is written in ARexx and so requires the standard ARexx
libraries and command files. In addition, it makes extensive use
of the rexxarplib.library (thanks once again to Willy Langeveld!)
which itself needs some freely distributable libraries.
In addition the ARexx command files, the following are REQUIRED!

   rexx:bbsQUICK.rexx          ; GUI to handle QUICK archives
   rexx:Palette.rexx           ; Module to change colors for QUICK

   libs:rexxsyslib.library     ; comes with ARexx
   libs:rexxsupport.library    ; comes with ARexx
   libs:rexxarplib.library     ; by Willy Langeveld, on many BBSes
   libs:screenshare.library    ; comes with rexxarplib
   libs:rexxmathlib.library    ; by Willy Langeveld, on many BBSes
   libs:arp.library            ; available on most BBSes

      C:LhA                    ; at least version 1.38, on most BBSes
      C:join                   ; standard Amiga 'C' command
      C:delete                 ; standard Amiga 'C' command



>> Activation:

To activate the QUICK processes, add the keyword "QUICK" to your user
option preferences ('Y' from the main BBS menu, then line 8).  The next
time you call you will be prompted concerning the various QUICK options.
You may elect to start the process and remain online (you will be
signaled when the archive is ready), or logoff and call back later.



>> Using bbsQUICK.rexx

1. Request and download a QUICK_n.lha archive from your favorite BBBBS.

2. From Shell or CLI type,   rx bbsQUICK

3. bbsQUICK will prompt you to enter your path preferences. There is a
help screen to explain the purposes of the various paths. You may also
alter the colors of bbsQUICK's 4-color custom screen using my PD ARexx
color requester. If you save these preferences to S:bbsQUICK.prefs
(which is the default), the next time you run bbsQUICK you will not be
required to go thru the preference setting process again.

4. A file requester will ask for the location of your QUICK_ archive.

5. Once it has a QUICK_ file, bbsQUICK will uncrunch it and organize the
various data files within (for example, all email from one person will
be joined together in one file for more coherent reading). Be patient,
depending on the size of the data, this might take a few minutes.

6. There are 6 "modes" in bbsQUICK; "Notices", "Email, "Messages",
"Conferences", "FileList", and "Libraries". There are a large number
of menu choices for each mode in addition to clickable gadgets for the
most used functions. Almost all commands have keyboard shortcuts.

    Notices:  The welcome and goodbye messages from the BBS including any
               special day notices, new Information files, BBS stats, etc.
              If you are a sysop of the BBS, you will also find info
               about the system devices, ram, and rexx clips here.

      Email:  Use the Next and Previous commands to navigate through each
               item of email. Use "Write" to reply to the current letter,
               (or write a new letter by just changing the addressee).

   Messages:  Use the Next and Previous commands to navigate through the
               Public Message Conferences. To reply to a message, use the
               "Write" command and enter the original message number.

Conferences:  Displays the list of available public message conferences.
               Use "Write" to post a new message.

   FileList:  The browselist (long file descriptions) with the latest
               files on top. "Download" prompts for a file number and
               places it on the File_Requests list.
              If you are a sysop of the BBS, you can also delete a file
               or change it's name, library, keywords, and/or uploader.

  Libraries:  Displays the list of available public file libraries. You
               may upload from here, entering the same kind of file
               description you would enter in BBBBS. You will be
               prompted for the filename by file requester.

7. WAIT! until just before you are ready to call the BBS (because
sometimes you have some last minute messages to send!-) and then run
bbsQUICK again (you DID make your upload path preference somewhere other
than RAM:, right? Of course you did!-)  Select a BBBBS and then select
"Archive" from the Project menu and note the name of the archive.

8. Call the BBS.  Almost as soon as you enter your password you will be
prompted to upload your QUICKIN.lha file (don't worry about it having a
different name, the BBS will rename the upload to QUICKIN.lha). Then,
if there are any QUICKOUT files (QUICK_nnnn.lha) you will be given the
chance to download them. Then, you may start the process to make a new
QUICKOUT archive and either stay online until it is ready, or logoff.



>> Remote Extras For Sysops

If you have sysop level at a given BBS, you will be able to do several
other things with the QUICKIN.lha file. Although bbsQUICK.rexx does not
give you a GUI for it, you can use DiskMaster or Opus or some such to
create additional directories within your QUICKIN archive. The easiest
way is to make the needed directories right in the OUT/BBSname drawer
within your upload directory, and after you have copied all your updated
files, use bbsQUICK.rexx to archive everything. There is, however,
nothing keeping you from adding the data later as long as you maintain
the proper directory structure. The supported directories for simple
updating are; "Information", "BBS_TEXT", "rexxDoors", "REXX", "C", and
"S". Files in these directories will simply be copied to the Information,
BBS_TEXT, or rexxDoors (rexxDoors/Data is also copied) dirs on the BBS,
or to the system REXX:, C:, or S: dirs respectively. In addition, there
is a "special" directory, "Super", which is only allowed to carry one
file, "Super.rexx". If this macro is found when the QUICKIN archive is
processed, and the user has super-sysop (level 99) status,
"Super/Super.rexx" will be executed. Note that REALLY TERRIBLE THINGS
can happen if the Super-Sysop is not VERY, VERY careful. Debug your
Super.rexx THROUGHLY before uploading! Note that if the user does NOT
have sysop status all these files and directories will simply be
ignored when bbsQUICKIN.rexx finds them.

bbsQUICK.rexx DOES allow the sysop to do some file library management
by allowing deletes, renames, change of uploader, and library moves.
Again, without sysop status, file-change instructions are ignored.



>> Wow! What WON'T this wonder of the universe do?

It can't access the rexxDoors area.
It can't download from External devices (like the Fred Fish CD).
It can't use the Profiles section.
It can't search for ANYTHING.
It can't chat with the sysop. ;-)



>> Legal crap

bbsQUICK.rexx is copyright 1993 Richard Lee Stockton, all rights are
reserved. HOWEVER, these files may be freely distributated and used in
non-commercial applications as long as the copyright notices remain.

For any COMMERCIAL use, please contact me FIRST for approval:
  Richard Lee Stockton
  21305 60th Ave West
  Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA
  [phone] (voice)
  [phone] (fax)
  [phone] (bbs)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------