PCB-Net v7.1 for PCBoard 15.0-15.2 Description: This program will update Mail Waiting flags for specific users who have mail waiting in any conference. This program should be used for EchoMail type conferences (Although you can use it whenever you want). WHY Use It: If you are like me and carry Echo Mail Conferences (ILink, MetroLink, PCRelay, FidoNet, etc.) most of the software out there will not update the Mail Waiting Flags for your Users when they have mail. This program *WILL* do it and it is VERY FAST. WHAT Happens: After you run PCBNet, and it finds a user in your NDX files, it will update the Mail Waiting Flags both in the USERS and USERS.INF file for each specific conference. When the user logs onto your BBS they will be notified that they have MAIL WAITING in that specific conference. Is nice to know if you finally got that message to a reply. The new version of PCB-Net is 500% to 1000% times faster. How? Let's just say a LOT of thinking and experimentation went into this version to speed things up. I can scan my main board message base with 5000+ messages under a minute with this version. With the new version of PCBoard, some things were changed and added to PCBNet. One very important one is when a MSGS.IDX file has not been updated properly, PCBNet will update the file(s). This will insure that your users get their mail. Some Third Party Software do not take advantage of the new .IDX format and thus it has to be updated. Please note that PCB-Net uses a LOT of memory to speed up things. If you run into a memory problem, please contact me at 801-785-7012 [Tuesday thru Friday, 1pm to 6pm]. If you do run into memory problems, the program will automatically switch to the /SAFE mode, which doesn't use any extra memory to speed things up. Possible problems may be that you are running the program in the $$LOGOFF.BAT file and haven't enabled PCBoard to "Swap Out During $$LOGON/$$LOGOFF.BAT" in PCBSetup. Make sure you have this enabled if running in that BATCH file. READ NOW: There is a 5 second plus 1 second for every 250 mail flags that have been updated delay for non registered users. Once you register you won't get delay. Unfortunately, shareware isn't that profitable unless people are reminded that they need to register. Since PCB-Net usually runs in the background, I had to add a delay of some sort since only about 1% of all PCBoard Sysops will register utilities that they never see again .. What Version PCBNet v7.1 was specifically written for PCBoard 15.0-15.2. of PCBoard: You can use PCBNet v7.1 with PCBoard 14.5. However, please be aware that the .IDX file(s) will be created (which means you need to use the /CHKIDX command line switch). Other than that, the code will work just fine (and it'll probably run a little slower than the one made for PCBoard 14.5 since creating the .IDX files is a waste of time). Misc Information.... Unlike the old version, the new version nor longer uses the /INIT switch. Everything is done dynamicly and very smart. I'm sure you'll find the new version very easy to use. Command Line Switches... In order to properly use this program you *MUST* pass at least the /AREA:xxx command line switche to it: The command line switches look like this: /AREA:l-h;etc. l means LOW conference number, h means HIGH conference number. You can add as many as you like. /AREA:ALL This will scan all of your conferences. This comes in handy if you are constantly deleting/adding conferences. This way you don't have to modify any of your BATCH files. I suggest using this. /CFG:path/name example would be: /CFG:C:\UTILS\PCBNET\PCBNET.PTR The default filename is PCBNET.PTR. It is created in the current directory that PCBNET.EXE is running. /FAST If you wish to bypass some of the information that is written to the screen while running the program, use this switch. This switch can speed up the process since very little information will be written to the screen. This also causes the program to turn off the exploding windows. /INIT Use this option ONE TIME ONLY. Use this when using PCB-Net for the first time. This will set your PCBNET.PTR file to the Highest Message in each conference that you have defined on the /AREA: switch (I suggest using /AREA:ALL /INIT for first time installation). You need to use this switch with the /AREA:xx option. /SAFE This will update mail flags at a SAFE rate. This is the slowest way, but it ensures that nothing can go wrong. /CHKIDX Updates the MSGS.IDX file. Isn't need these days if you are using PCBoard 15.2 and mail tossing software that automatically updates the MSGS.IDX files. Examples: PCBNET.EXE /AREA:100;200-400;1000 /FAST /CFG:C:\PCB\PCBNET.CFG PCBNET.EXE /AREA:ALL What directory do you run it from? PCBNet *MUST* be run from a directory that contains your PCBOARD.DAT file. In most cases, you will use this program in an EVENT. Be sure you change to the directory that contains the PCBORD.DAT (usually \PCB). You can also run PCBNET in your $$LOGOFF.BAT file. A number of people do this to insurance things are being updated properly. Follow the example in the Event Running on how to add it to a batch file properly. Event Running: Once you have used the first time initialization, you should append this example to your EVENT file(s). Example: C: CD \PCB PCBNet /AREA:l-h rem note l-h are the conferences you want to update for mail for your users. Registration: PCBNET v7.1 is being released as shareware. We're asking a mere $10.00. A lot of time and effort has gone into the new version to make things a little easier and better for your Bulletin Board System. You can register three different ways: 1) Call us at 801-785-7012 [Tuesday - Friday 1pm to 6pm]. You will need to have a Visa,MasterCard,Diners Club, or JCB Credit Card. All Credit Card Orders are shipped out (unless you're a previous customer of ours, but be sure to leave us a message stating that you want to download the KEY file). 2) Call the support board and use the PURCHASE Door at 801-785-6286 or 801-785-6190. We are using HST DS 16.8K modems (v.32/bis compatible). You will need to have a Visa,MasterCard,Diners Club, or JCB Credit Card. All Credit Card Orders are shipped out. However, if you are a previous customer we will allow you to download, but we will still need to ship the disk. We've had too many people lose key files. It's much better to pay for the shipping now instead of having to pay for another copy of the software. 3) Fill out the REGISTER.DOC and mail your check/money order. Thank you for considering Cam DeBuck Software as an alternative and supporting the shareware concept! Please help us so we can continue supporting you.