컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 賞栢賽賞栢 賽賞栢賽� 栢幡賽賞栢 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 蔔幡 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 蔔幡 栢� 栢� 栢� 複複 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢幡栢 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 霜栢� 栢� 栢� 栢� 栢幡賞白 蔔栢複蔔栢 栢� 栢白複蔔栢 栢白蔔栢複栢� 栢� 賞白 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴俳컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Version 1.4 複� Reading Program for QWK-compatible mail packets (c) 1993-94, Daniel Tietze USER MANUAL -============- 郞袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴敲 � Shareware Evaluation Version � � Registration required after evaluation � � period of 3 weeks! � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴캭 Snail-Mail: E-Mail: ----------- ------- Daniel Tietze Internet: tietze@darmstadt.gmd.de Ettesterstrasse 5 64291 Darmstadt FIDO : Daniel Tietze@2:2464/420.31 Fed. Rep. of Germany ==================== 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 2 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� I. Contents 袴袴袴袴袴� I. Contents 2 II. Introduction 4 A. Thank You 4 B. Support BBS and contacting me 5 C. Copyrights/Trademarks 5 D. System Requirements 5 1. Known problems 6 E. Why read/write offline? 7 F. How does QWK work? 7 G. New features in DT-QWK 8 H. Calling all universities 9 III. Installing DT-QWK 9 A. Configuration 9 1. Compression Programs 13 2. Keyboard Macros 14 3. External Editor 14 B. Subdirectories 14 C. Printer Configuration 15 D. IMPORT directory for external files 15 IV. The Message Base 16 A. Layout of the message base 16 V. Using DT-QWK 17 A. Importing QWK packets 18 1. Directly importing a packet 19 B. Reading Messages 19 1. Messages addressed to you 20 C. The numeric keypad 20 D. The popup menu 20 E. Writing messages 21 1. The Taglines 21 2. Personal message to multiple users 22 3. The signature file FOOTER.TXT 22 F. Replying to messages 22 1. The reply template QWKQUOTE.TXT 23 G. Editing FOOTER.TXT and QWKQUOTE.TXT 24 H. Access without a QWK packet 24 I. The external text files (SLBBS) 24 1. The global include directory 25 J. Closing a packet 26 K. Editing replies 26 L. List of Messages 26 M. Searching Messages 27 N. The Bulletins 27 O. The list of new files (NEWFILES.DAT) 28 P. Forwarding a message 28 Q. File Requesting 28 VI. Message Threading 29 A. Limitations of message threading 30 VII. Problems with the message base 30 VIII. Hints for QWK door programs 31 A. VALENCE 31 IX. Extensions to the QWK format 32 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 3 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� A. File Requests 33 B. INCLUDE-Diff 34 X. Menu Overview 34 XI. Copyright Notice 36 XII. Shareware License 37 XIII. Final Comments 38 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 4 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� II. Introduction 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 For the development of a QWK door program for my BBS program, DATELINE MAIL SYSTEM, I had to understand and implement the QWK format, which has by now established itself as a standard for information exchange between a BBS and its users. During the development and evaluation process of this program I was forced to use several offline reading programs to verify the compatibility of my program. While using these programs I noted several drawbacks and began developing my own reading program. At first, the program was only intended to include one advantage over the other QWK programs known to me: the persistent message base (more information about the message base in a later chapter). Because of the large response from users in a local BBS DT-QWK's capabilities increased more than I had originally intended and also proved to be much more work than I had been willing to invest when I started the program. The result of this work is now available as DT-QWK. Note: As this program is aimed at BBS users, I take for granted that the user is familiar with emoticons (smileys) and will use them in this manual wherever I find them appropriate. Furthermore I will use the following abbreviations in this manual: OLR : Offline reader (e.g. DT-QWK) SLBBS : Searchlight BBS A. Thank You 컴컴컴컴컴컴 Special thanks go to the following people: Mogwai, sysop of FANTASIA BBS, Achim, for his suggestions and his constant support during the development of DT-QWK (also for all the free PR he gave me in his BBS). Patrick Y. Lee for the documentation of the QWK format, which was very valuable assistance while fighting with all the little inconsistencies and bugs. Also the following users of FANTASIA BBS, Achim, who spent their time testing this program and who made more or less useful suggestions for possible features: Andreas Muschkat, Fish, Mnemotron, Basti, Knight Rider and Necromancer. An additional note of thanks to Fish for the DT-QWK logo which now graces the front page of this documentation and the reminder screen. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 5 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� B. Support BBS and contacting me 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 I will do my best to make DT-QWK available to several shareware dealers. My own support BBS for DT-QWK ist based in Darmstadt, Germany. Phone: (++49)-6151/351852 (online 24h, 14400 bps). This is the best and fastest way of contacting me. Of course, the current version of DT-QWK ist always available in my BBS. In addition to that, you will always find the newest release of this program in the FANTASIA BBS, Achim, here in Germany. I call this BBS regularly and can also be reached by private mail in this BBS. Simply send a personal message to Daniel Tietze or post a message in the area DT-QWK. The phone numbers of FANTASIA BBS are: (49) - 4202 - 63478 Ports 1 to 4 equipped with US-Robotics (49) - 4202 - 84649 DST modems (14.400 bps) and online (49) - 4202 - 84777 24h/day (49) - 4202 - 881141 (49) - 4202 - 881532 <- ZyXEL+ (19200 bps) (49) - 4202 - 881995 <- Hayes V.fast class (28.800 bps) Should you have access to eMail you can reach me via Internet : tietze@darmstadt.gmd.de via FIDOnet : Daniel Tietze@2:2464/420.31 C. Copyrights/Trademarks 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Searchlight BBS is a bulletin board system by Frank La Rosa, the name Searchlight is a registered trademark. DATELINE MAIL SYSTEM is a bbs program by Daniel Tietze (me). The QWK format is (c) 1987 by Sparkware All products mentioned are trademarks of their respective manufacturers. D. System Requirements 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 For best performance, DT-QWK requires your PC to be equipped with - a mouse (since the whole user interface is mouse controlled and makes use of windows, buttons and the likes) - a colour display (won't look too good on monochrome) - free hard disk space to maintain the message base - lots of free conventional memory - at least 560000 bytes of conventional memory are required for DT-QWK to perform correctly 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 6 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 1. Known problems 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The beta test has shown that DT-QWK has problems with a few PC configurations. I do not know yet, why this is so. As soon as I find a solution I will try to fix the problems. DT-QWK might not perform correctly with the following device drivers: Memory Commander, HIDOS, DR-DOS' EMM driver (although it works flawlessly with Novell DOS's EMM386). If you have problems with DT-QWK's use of expanded (or extended) memory, you can specify one (or both) of the following command line switches : /E : don't use EMS for overlay swapping /X : don't use XMS for overlay swapping If you specify both switches, DT-QWK will swap the overlay to and from disk. If you have a caching program with write caching installed in your PC, this can lead to problems when accessing the list of personal messages. A solution to this problem could be to reduce the period of time before your cache program flushes the cache buffers. Consult your cache program's manual for information on how to achieve this. I would like to include a solution for this problem in DT-QWLK, so that cache buffers are flushed automatically, due to the large number of cache programs available, it isn't easy to find a general solution that works with all these programs. Should you experience problems while using DT-QWK with OS/2, try disabling the swapping in the DT-QWK settings. Most computers can run DT-QWK without the internal swapping. The compression program ARJ needs quite a lot of memory when compressing files. Even with 590000 bytes of memory available it will not cooperate with DT-QWK. The result ist that DT-QWK report error number 8 (not enough memory) after trying to compress the files. Should you encounter this problem you can change the default compression options for ARJ (default setting is "m"). Change the options to: a -m3 With this option ARJ does not compress the files as much as it ususally does, but at least ist works with less memory. For instructions on how to change this option, see the section on configuration of compression programs. In the long run you might consider changing the compression program in the BBS to another one. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 7 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� E. Why read/write offline? 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 As the number of people using a BBS increases, the less chance a user has to actually connect to the system. Every action taken in a BBS needs time and during this time the line is busy. Even for BBS users the day only has about 24 hours and peak activity is mainly during a few of these hours. This is due to such inventions as office hours and lower phone rates. The more users wish to access a BBS during this period and the more time they spend in the system, the more the probability of actually reaching the system decreases. In addition to this, reading and writing messages takes a lot of time and in effect costs money if performed online. For this reason, transferring the messages to and from a BBS in compressed format has several advantages for all users of a system: - Transferring compressed mail takes a lot less time and thus saves money - By spending less time in the BBS, other users also get a chance to exchange information via the BBS - Many people seem to be more willing to write messages if they are doing this offline, since they are free to correct any mistakes, rephrase it if neccessary, all without having to pay for it and without a sysop watching them - The more people write messages, the livelier a discussion tends to be, which in turn results in more messages from the users F. How does QWK work? 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Note: Experienced users of QWK can skip this chapter, as it is highly unlikely that I will write anything that is new to them. As in any dialog, QWK mail transfer requires two people (or, in this case, programs): One program which bundles the messages in the BBS, sends them to the user and in return receives the messages from the user and inserts them into the BBS's message base, and one program to allow the user to read the messsages received from the BBS, to enter new messages or to reply to messages. The latter functions are provided by DT-QWK. Actually, two programs are involved at the user's end of the dialog: a normal terminal program for transferring the message packets and the reading program. The information exchange can be schematically displayed as: 旼컴컴커 (QWK) 旼컴컴컴컴커 � BBS �------>� User � � �<------�(Terminal)� 읕컴컴켸 (REP) 읕컴컴컴컴켸 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 8 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� The BBS transfers a file to the user which contains the new messages entered in the BBSs message base since the last transfer. This file usually has the extension .QWK, which is why it is called a QWK packet. DT-QWK then unpacks the messages and lets the user (i.e. you) read them. As this does not yet make up a real dialog, DT-QWK also enables the user to enter new messages or reply to messages from other users. These replies are then compressed into a file and transferred to the BBS. This file has an extension of .REP (for REPly). The format used in the QWK and REP packets is similar in many respects, but not totally identical. Apart from the messages from the BBS, the QWK file also contains several other files, some of which are used to tell the reading program something about the BBS message base (e.g. a file called CONTROL.DAT), and others that contain information for the user (e.g. the list of new files or the bulletins). Basically, this is all you need to know about QWK file transfers. For additional information I reccomend the text file "QWK Mail Packet File Layout" written by Patrick Y. Lee. The exact procedure to perform QWK transfers differs from BBS to BBS, so no general statements can be made here. The best thing to do is to ask your local sysop if you have any questions. G. New features in DT-QWK 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK has several new features that other QWK-Readers are missing. These are: - Automatic conversion and display of colour codes generated by the BBS programs Searchlight BBS (SLBBS), PC-Board and DATELINE MAIL SYSTEM (DMS). - Automatic processing of include statements (%% ) in mail packets received from SLBBS systems. - DT-QWK is multi-lingual. At the moment it is possible to choose between German and English. (Does anybody want to help me with a French version, or any other language?). - DT-QWK maintains a message base into which incoming QWK packets are imported and which is accessible without having a QWK packet at hand. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 9 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� H. Calling all universities 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� I am currently studying computer science at the university of Bremen, Germany. As soon as I have my diploma (around July 1994), I would like to go abroad for post-graduate studies. My preferences lie with research in the field of software engineering and computer communications. I would especially like to work for a university, or an institute with close affiliation to a university, in the U.S. or in Great Britain, with the possibility of obtaining a Ph.D. I am currently employed part-time by an institute at the university of Bremen, where I develop economical applications for production planning using C and UNIX. If anyone knows of a university or institute offering possibilities in this field, could they please contact me? I'd be more than grateful for any reasonable offers. Well, it's worth a try, isn't it? III. Installing DT-QWK 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 To install DT-QWK, you simply create a directory on your hard disk and copy all files from the distribution archive into it. The environment variable COMSPEC should point to your copy of COMMAND.COM, if the compression programs needed are not made directly accessible to DT-QWK (see below for more information). To do this, simply add the line SET COMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (of course, you would have to modifiy the directory specified if your COMMAND.COM is located somewhere else - but then, you all knew that, didn't you?). A. Configuration 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Before using DT-QWK for the first time, you should configure it to meet your requirements. After all, you want the program to do what you want, not what I coded into it as default settings. To do so, select the menu option "Setup" in the pulldown menu "Options". The setting dialog is divided into several pages (similar to the "notebooks" used in OS/2). You can select the page of options you wish to set with the tags at the top of the dialog. Simply click the mouse button on one of the tags to bring that page to the front. If a dialog object on the current page is active you can also flip through the pages with the keys CTRL-Left and CTRL-Right. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 10 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� The available configuration options are : QWK path -------- The directory in which DT-QWK finds incoming QWK packets. Typically, this entry points to the download directory of your communication program. REP path -------- The directory in which DT-QWK creates REP files to be sent to the BBS. Typically, this entry points to the upload directory of your communcation program. Compress path ------------- The directory in which DT-QWK can find the compression programs. By default, DT-QWK is set up to access ZIP, ARJ, LHA and PAK. The applicable program is detected automatically by DT-QWK. You can also configure the command line parameters for the compression programs. If no directory is entered, DT-QWK tries to locate the programs by calling COMMAND.COM. For this, your environment variable COMSPEC must point to COMMAND.COM. Path for Messagebase -------------------- Here you can specify the directory beneath which DT-QWK will create the directories for the message bases. If you do not specify a directory, the current directory is used. If you do not wish to keep your message bases, you can use this option to make DT-QWK create the message bases on a RAM disk, thus speeding up the importing process. Language -------- Should be fairly obvious. Screen ------ If your PC is equipped with an EGA of VGA graphics adapter, DT-QWK can use the enhanced screen mode, which gives you more characters per screen. Max. number of messages per area -------------------------------- If the number of messages in an area exceeds the value entered in this field, DT-QWK will automatically expire the oldest articles, until the number matches the value you entered. If you enter 0, no messages are expired. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 11 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Swap ---- DT-QWK can swap the message and editor windows out of memory in certain situations. With this configuration option you can tell DT-QWK whether to swap at all and, if so, where to swap to. The available options are: no swapping : means just what it says to EMS : swap to and from EMS memory to disk : swap to and from disk files. Should DT-QWK show weird behaviour (i.e. hang or crash), try fiddling with the swapping options to improve performance. Message Threading ----------------- If this option is activated, DT-QWK tries to gather message thread information from the QWK file while importing it. This enables you to view and follow message threads in DT-QWK while reading messages. More information on message threading can be found in a later section of this manual. You should be aware that gathering the message thread information takes its toll on the importing speed. But importing will not slow down drastiacally and this is a low price to pay for the additional functionality. Keep Message Base ----------------- If you activate this option, messages imported from a QWK packet are kept in the message base for easy access. If you deactivate this option, you switch off what is probably DT- QWK's most important feature. DT-QWK then removes the message base from the hard disk when you close the QWK packet. Use Colours ---------- If this option is activated, colour control codes in the messages (SLBBS and DMS style) are processed and displayed on the screen. If it isn't, they're not :-) Mark read msgs. --------------- If you activate this option, DT-QWK will mark the messages as read while you are reading them. This way, each message will only be displayed to you once as a new message. If you deactivate this option, messages are available as new messages until you import a new QWK packet. Show WELCOME&GOODBYE -------------------- If this option is activated, the WELCOME and GOODBYE screens from the BBS are displayed when opening and closing a packet (and when entering and leaving a system in the message base). 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 12 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Show Includes ------------- (Only applicable to QWK packets downloaded from SLBBS sytems) If you do not wish to be bothered by the %%-include files from the BBS, simply deactivate this option. Sound via ADLIB --------------- If your PC is equipped with an ADLIB music card, DT-QWK can use this for amazing sound effects (well, actually just a PING). Random Tagline -------------- Enable this option if you want DT-QWK to select a tag line from QWKTAGL.TXT at random whenever you enter a message. Note: This could take a while with really HUGE tagline files. After entering all the information, click on the button marked "OK" to save the configuration. Generate Tagline ---------------- If you do not wish to have a tagline underneath your messages, simply deactivate this option. Confirm exit ------------ This option specifies whether DT-QWK should ask for confirmation before closing a system and leaving the program. Quote initials -------------- When replying to a message, DT-QWK automatically quotes the original message. If this option is activated, all lines of the quoted text will begin with the initials of the original message's author and a ">" character. If this option is deactivated, the initials will not be included. Start in area list ------------------ Activating this option makes DT-QWK behave just like most other QWK readers, i.e. when entering a system or importing a packet, DT-QWK will not automatically display the first new message, instead the area lisrt window will be opened and you can choose where to start reading. Ask header AFTER edit --------------------- If you activate this option, DT-QWK will prompt you for message header information (recipient, subject, etc.) AFTER you have completed the message, not before writing it. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 13 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 1. Compression Programs 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK is able to find out which compression program was used for compressing a QWK packet. Currently, the following compression programs are supported: PKZIP by PKWare Inc. PAK by NoGate Consulting LHA by Haruyasu Yoshizaki ARJ by Robert K Jung With the option "Setup / Programs" you can change the program names and parameters used to call the compression programs. The defaut settings should generally work, but should a newer version of one of these programs need other command-line parameters, you can use this option to change the values. The format of this configuration screen is fairly straightforward: for each compression type there are four entry elements. The first is the name of the program to call for unpacking the QWK file, the second one defines the parameters used to uncompress the QWK file, the third entry field is the program to compress the REP file and the last one defines the parameters to be used for compressing the file. The program is then called by DT-QWK as follows: Where is the name of the program as entered in the first or third entry field is the option string entered in the second or third entry field is the name of the file to be compressed or uncompressed is the file containing the replies from the message base. This last parameter is only used when compressing. You should not be concerned with the actual process of calling the program, as DT-QWK handles this for you. Should you use a compression program which does not function correctly with this calling mechanism, please inform me, so that I can change DT-QWK accordingly. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 14 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 2. Keyboard Macros 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 DT-QWK lets you assign macros of up to 40 characters each to the key combinations CTRL-F1 through CTRL-F10. These macros are available in the internal editor and can be used to easily insert standard phrases (such as a signature) into messages you write. You can configure the macro definitions with the menu command "Options / Macros". Simply enter the macro texts you want to assign to a specific key combination in the appropriate entry fields and klick the OK button to save the macro definitions. 3. External Editor 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 With the menu command "Options / External / Editor" you can enter the name of a program to be called as an editor (thus disabling the internal editor in DT-QWK). Please specify the full path name, file name and file extension (e.g. .EXE) of the program to be called, otherwise DT-QWK will not be able to invoke the editor correctly. The name of the file to be edited will be passed to the editor as the first command-line parameter, so the editor you use should be able to process command-line parameters. You should not change the name of the file being edited, as DT-QWk expects the resulting message to be in the specified file after return from the editor. Some editor programs can create problems when run from DT-QWK. This is due to such things as memory usage, etc. Determining whether your preferred editor will cooperate with DT-QWk is simply a matter of trial and error. B. Subdirectories 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� During opration, DT-QWK creates several subdirectories beneath the directory you configured as the message base directory. For each BBS from which you import packets, a new directory is created. The name of this directory is the BBSID of the system (which is obtained from the file CONTROL.DAT). Beneath this directory another subdirectory called WORK is created, where the messages that you write to this system are stored. In addition to these BBS-related directories, DT-QWK creates a temporary directory called $$$TMP. After successful operation, DT- QWK removes this directory. Should this not be the case (e.g. because of a serious error occurring during importing), you can safely remove this directory, should you wish to do so. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 15 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� C. Printer Configuration 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 DT-QWK can print messages from the message base. If you configure it for your printer, it is capable of producing much more attractive print-outs. To set up DT-QWK for your printer, you can enter the correct printer control codes in the configuration window that is displayed when you select the menu command "Options / Printer". The DT-QWK packet already includes printer specifications for about 300 printers. If your printer is contained in the list on the right-hand side of the dialog window, you can simply load the information into the input elements with the buttons marked "Load", thus saving a lot of time. Should your printer not be included in the list, you can enter the control codes manually, entering each element of the code in decimal form and separating the elements with a comma. Example: 27,205,68,13 DT-QWK will translate these values correctly. In addition to the control sequences you need to tell DT-QWK which printer port to use (LPT1 or LPT2). If you want the print-out to be in LQ (letter quality) mode, simply activate the LQ check box. When printing the message, the elements of the message header (such as the author's name, the subject, the area name, etc.) will be printed in bold letters. Should you not wish to have your print-outs formatted this way, don't enter any control codes and just specify the printer port. D. IMPORT directory for external files In DT-QWK's internal editor you can import files with the F3 key (or the appropriate menu command). If you create a subdirectory called IMPORT under the main DT-QWK directory, the selection dialog for the file to be included in the message will begin in this directory. You can use this functionality to quickly find the files you want to import by copying the file to the IMPORT directory before importing it. That way you don't have to search through your hard disk for the file, as it will be presented to you right away. If the subdirectory IMPORT does not exist, the file selection starts in DT-QWK's main directory and you can search for the file from there. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 16 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� IV. The Message Base 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 With most QWK reading programs around today, the messages don't last very long. Their life span is as short as that of the QWK packet in which they are contained - if the QWK packet is erased (e.g. because of a newer one arriving), the messages are gone for good. The only help for this so far was to archive the QWK files somewhere and re-import them when looking for a specific message. This could prove to be quite tedious, as surely no one recalls off-hand which QWK packet contained which messages. DT-QWK has a different strategy for message handling. For each BBS that you receive QWK packets from, DT-QWK maintains a message base. When a QWK packet is opened, the messages are imported into the appropriate message base. The messages remain in this message base even when the actual QWK file is erased, so that your message base gradually becomes a copy of the actual message base in the BBS. If you receive QWK packets from several systems, in effect you have the message base of each of these systems available to you at home. A. Layout of the message base 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� For every message area in the BBS, DT-QWK creates two files in the message base subdirectory: AREAnn.MSG and AREAnn.HDR (where nn denotes the number of the message area). The .HDR-file contains the message headers, the .MSG-file contains the actual messages. Information about the message bases is stored in a file called AREAS.INF. You should NEVER erase one of these files manually, as this can confuse DT-QWK and lead to erratic operation (to say the least). What you CAN do is delete the whole subdirectory. This effectively removes all messages from the message base but at least leaves the system in a well-defined state from which it can continue. In addition to the message files the folowing files are copied from the QWK file to the BBS directory: WELCOME : The opening screen of the BBS GOODBYE : The logoff screen of the BBS BLT*.* : The bulletin files NEWFILES.DAT : The list of new files SESSION.DAT : A file containing information about the last transfer session CONTROL.DAT : A file with information about the BBS and its message areas With the exception of CONTROL.DAT, these file are only of interest to the user and not vital to the opration of DT-QWK. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 17 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� V. Using DT-QWK 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� If you know what windows, buttons and pull-down-menus are, using DT-QWK should not be too difficult for you. Otherwise, I'd advise you to just fiddle around with it until you get the hang of it. I'm definitely not going to explain the whole paradigm of this style of user interface here. DT-QWK's main user interface is made up of several distinct parts: 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 � Menu Bar � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴캑 � � � � � 旼[]컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 旼[]컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 � � � List of QWK files in � � List of systems � � � � the QWK directory � � already installed � � � � � � � � � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴캑 � Status line / Comand bar � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 The menu bar and status line should be familiar from other programs with similar user interfaces. The window on the left of the screen displays all files matching the *.QW? wildcard found in the QWK directory specified in the system configuration. This can help speed up the use of DT-QWK, since you do not have to navigate through the pull-down menus and a file selection box to import a QWK file. The window on the right displays all systems currently present in the DT-QWK message bases. Both windows respond to double-clicking on the desired object. In addition to that, the windows have local menu command related to the objects displayed in the list boxes. If you activate a menu option the status bar will show a brief reminder of what that menu command actually does. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 18 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� A. Importing QWK packets 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Before you can read the messages downloaded from the BBS, you have to import them into DT-QWK's message base. For this, you use the menu option "Packet / Open" and select the QWK packet from the file selection box. DT-QWK will then unpack the file and import the messages from it. If the QWK packet you wish to import is displayed in the left-hand window (which shows all QWK packets found in the directory you specified as QWK directory), you can simply perform a double-click on the desired packet to import it. After importing the messages from the QWK file, DT-QWK asks you whether you wish to delete the file. If you want to archive QWK files (which shouldn't be neccessary, since you're using DT-QWK), answer "No", otherwise answer "Yes". If you don't let DT-QWK delete the file, you should erase it manually before downloading the next one, as many file transfer programs can't handle transferring a file if there is already one with the same name present (of course, if the QWK door used in your BBS offers the option of transferring "numbered packets", this comment can be ignored). If there are any messages to the system still in DT-QWK's directory, you will be asked whether you wish to delete them. If you have already uploaded these to the BBS, you should delete the messages, otherwise you will upload them again the next time you upload a REP file, thus creating "dupes", which can be very annoying to the other users of the BBS. Should a REP file for the BBS from which you are just importing messages be found, DT-QWK simply deletes this file (wihout bothering to ask you beforehand). This action is not as drastic as it sounds, as all messages written to the BBS are contained in DT- QWK's directories and are compressed into a new REP file after closing the current QWK packet. This is simply done for the reason that you might write new messages in reply to those just imported. By compressing ALL replies present, DT-QWK does not have to analyse or even unpack the old REP file before creating a new one. Also, you can still edit or delete any message written to the BBS as long as they are in DT-QWK's directory (see a later section for more information). If you have not activated the option "Mark read msgs.", DT-QWK will mark the messages currently in the message base directory as read, so that you only read the messages from the new packet as unread messages. Should you have specified a maximum number of messages per area, DT-QWK will then erase old messages from the message base until their number matches the value entered by you. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 19 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� During this process, care is taken not to delete any messages that you just imported, so that no information is lost. This way it can happen that a message area contains more messages than the value you specified, but these are then simply expired later on. 1. Directly importing a packet 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 You can also call DT-QWK with the name of a QWK packet in the QWK directory as command-line parameter. DT-QWK will then automatically import the QWK file and open the message window. This might be a useful feature for people using the Norton Commander or a similar program. B. Reading Messages 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� After importing the messages, DT-QWK displays the first message from the file on the screen. If you press SPACE, DT-QWK will jump to next new message, also switching areas while doing so, if there are no new messages left in the current area. You can page forward and backward through the current area with the plus and minus keys on the numeric keypad. This does NOT change areas. If you have reached the beginning or the end of an area, you will simply hear a beep (or a PING) informing you of this fact. DT-QWK will then display the area selection window from which you can select a new area. During Beta-Testing of this program, it was brought to my attention that a few users don't understand the difference between paging through the new message with the SPACE key and browsing forwards and backwards through the messsages with the plus and minus keys. Pressing the SPACE key displays the next message which has not been marked as read yet. This need not be the message directly following the one that is currently being displayed. If you step backwards with the minus key and then hit SPACE again, DT-QWK looks for the first unread message it finds and displays it. This is not neccessarily the message from which you started browsing. If the current message is longer than the text currently displayed on the screen, pressing ENTER will display the next page of text before displaying the next new message. Pressing SPACE will take you directly to the next new message. I hope this was comprehensible and you are not completely confused. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 20 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 1. Messages addressed to you 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 When importing a QWK packet, DT_QWK automatically creates a list of all those messages addressed to you (i.e. containing your user name in the "To" field). With ALT-F5 (or "Message / Messages to Me") you can access this list of messages and directly read the message. By pressing CTRL-ENTER in the message window you can jump directly to the next message addressed to you. If the message is longer than the current screen display, the remainder of the message will be displayed before jumping to the next personal message. In this manner you can read only those messages concerning yourself, without having to scan through the entire load of new messages. C. The numeric keypad 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Several actions in DT-QWK can be controlled with the aid of the numeric keypad. For this, NUM LOCK must not be activated. This method of controlling the program has been adopted because it allows you to control the reading process without your right hand leaving the numeric keypad. The control keys available are: 旼컴컫컴컴쩡컴컫컴컴� � � � � PM � Up : Scroll message up 쳐컴컵컴컴탠컴컵컴컴� Dn : Scroll message down � FM � Up � � � NM : Next message 쳐컴컵컴컴탠컴캑 NM � PM : Previous message � � � � � NNM : Next New Message 쳐컴컵컴컴탠컴컵컴컴� Post : Write mesage � LM � Dn � � N � FM : Go to first message 쳐컴컨컴컴탠컴캑 N � LM : Go to last message � Post � � M � 읕컴컴컴컴좔컴컨컴컴� D. The popup menu To speed up access to the more frequently used functions, the message window of DT-QWK has a popup menu which can be activated by clicking the right mouse buttons somewhere withing the message window. With this popup menu you don't have to go to the pulddown menu to look for the function you require. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 21 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� E. Writing messages 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Of course, DT-QWK not only lets you read the messages written by other users, but also lets you write your own messages (otherwise it would be quite useless). To write a new message, simply press the INS key. DT-QWK will open a dialog window asking you for information about the message you are about to write. Your name is already known to the program and is inserted accordingly. You have to enter a subject for the message and name a recipient for the message in the BBS. Please note: DT-QWK does not accept messages without a subject entry. The basic assumption is that a message for which you cannot even come up with a subject should not be written at all. With the check box "private" you can specify that the message is to be a personal message only to be read by the designated recipient. In the dialog window you can also choose a message area in which you wish to write the message. By default, DT-QWK always uses the area currently displayed in the message view. Use the button next to this output to select another area. Note: Not all QWK door programs can handle a personal message in a public board. Please contact your sysop if you have any doubts about this. You can add a tagline to your message. You can either enter a tagline manually in the entry field or choose one from the list of taglines included with DT-QWK. To select a tagline from the file, click on the button next to the entry field marked "tagline" and select an appropriate tagline from the list presented to you. 1. The Taglines 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The taglines displayed in the selection window are contained in the file QWKTAGL.TXT. This file is a plain ASCII text file with one tgaline per line of text. You can add new taglines to DT-QWK or change the ones already included by editing this file. Please use a normal ASCII editor to manipulate the file QWKTAGL.TXT, not a word processor. Most word processing programs insert addition control codes and formatting information into the file, which will utterly confuse DT-QWK. It is vital that the file remains a plain ASCII text file. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 22 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 2. Personal message to multiple users 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK supports sending copies of a private message to multiple recipients (carbon copies). This feature can be useful if you want to send identical messages to several users on the current BBS. This way you don't have to enter the message several times, but can let DT-QWK handle this for you. To use this feature, enter the first recipient in the entry field of the header dialog and click on the button marked "Copies to ..". In the new dialog box you can enter up to 10 further users who will receive a copy of the message. A special feature of DT-QWK is the management of carbon copy lists, i.e. lists of users receiving carbon copies. If you send a message to the same group of users more than once, you can save the list of users to a file and won't have to enter the user names more than once. To save the list of names, simply click on the button marked "Save" and enter a file name for the list. DT-QWK will then save the list with the extension of .CCL (carbon copy list). If you want to send carbon copies to the same group of users again later on, click on the "Copies to.." button and then load the list into memory with the "Load" button. Of course you can add new names to the list of users you have just loaded and can then save the new list again. 3. The signature file FOOTER.TXT 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 If the DT-QWK directory contains a file called FOOTER.TXT, the contents of this file will be appended to every message you write. This is a fast and economical way of appending a signature to each of your messages without having to enter it over and over again. F. Replying to messages 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK only lets you reply to the message which is currently displayed on the screen. To reply to a message select the menu option "Message / Reply" or press "R". You will be prompted for header information for the reply message in a window similar to that opened when you write a new message. This time, though, DT-QWK already has some of the information which it could fetch from the message you are replying to. The author of the original message is automatically inserted as recipient of your reply, and the subject of the original message is taken as the subject of your reply. DT-QWK adds "Re:" to the subject of the original message to indicate that the message is a reply. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 23 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� With the selection item labeled "Quote" you can specify whether DT-QWK is to load a copy of the original message into the editor to which you can add your comments. If the message you are replying to was a personal message, the check box "private" is alread checked, as a reply to a private message should also be a private message. If you have instructed DT-QWK to quote the original message, the message editor will have the message text of the original message ready for you to reply to. In this quoted text each line is prefixed by the initials of the original message's author and a ">" character. This addition makes it easier for the other users to distinguish between those lines quoted from the original message and those lines added by yourself. This seems to be the right time for a word of warning about quoting messages in a BBS: Modern communication programs make it quite simple for the user to quote the message just to add a few lines of comments. This also applies to DT-QWK. You should bear in mind that the message to which you are replying is also in the BBS, so that most users will probably already know its contents. You should just quote those lines from the original message which are absolutely neccessary to understand your reply. If your reply can be understood from reading the subject line, you should choose not to quote any text at all. No BBS user likes to read pages of message text which he has already read. Rule of thumb: If the number of lines quoted from the original message greatly exceeds the number of lines written by yourself, you could be quoting too much and should consider removing quoted lines from the message. 1. The reply template QWKQUOTE.TXT 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 When quoting a message, DT-QWK offers another feature to enable the readers to understand your reply: A reply template. This template as conntained in the file QWKQUOTE.TXT and can be modified to suit your needs. In this file you can use several variables which DT-QWK automatically replaces with the appropriate values from the message you are replying to. These are: %D : Date of original message %F : Name of original message's author %T : Recipient of original message %S : Subject " " " 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 24 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� As an example, the reply template On %D %F wrote to %T about "%S": could be expanded by DT-QWK into: On 05-08-93 DANIEL TIETZE wrote to ALL about "More errors in DT- QWK": DT-QWK automatically formats the lines correctly. If the expanded template turns out to be too long to fit on one line of the editor, the text is automatically wrapped onto the next line. G. Editing FOOTER.TXT and QWKQUOTE.TXT 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 DT-QWK includes a text editor for creating and editing the signature file FOOTER.TXT and the quote template QWKQUOTE.TXT. From the pulldown menu "Options" simply open the sub-menu "Files" and select the file which you wish to edit. DT-QWK will then open a text editor containing the current version of the file ready for editing. When you have finished editing the file, close the window with the close gadget or by pressing ESC. H. Access without a QWK packet 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 The best message base would be of absolutely no use at all if the user would always need a QWK packet at hand to read the messages. If you have already imported packets, you can enter the message base for a BBS by selecting the BBS from the right-hand window on the screen. DT-QWK will automatically display the first unread message from the BBS in the output window. From here on, everything works just like it does after importing a QWK file. I. The external text files (SLBBS) 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 As you might already know, Searchlight BBS (SLBBS) provides a file area called INCLUDE, from which text files can be included into a message by using the include command (%% followed by the name of the file to be included). This include statement is not automatically processed when saving the message, but remains in the message and is expanded when the message is read by a user. The great drawback of this method is that users of OLR programs simply see the %% statement, rather than the correct text file, which does not look too nice. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 25 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Also, SLBBS users often use this feature to supply signatures in their messages. These signatures were not visible to the users of OLR programs, either. This is where DT-QWK comes in. The same functionality as provided by SLBBS is included in DT-QWK, which can display the correct text file instead of simply showing you the %% statement. This functionality is only available if you have enabled the option "Show includes" in the system configuration. Obviously, the text files to be included have to be present somewhere within the DT-QWK system, as the program is not yet capable of making up these files by itself. For this feature to work, you need to create a subdiectory INCLUDE beneath the message base directory of the BBS into which you then copy the include files downloaded from the BBS. As an example for this, if your message base directory (specified in the system configuration) is C:\DTQWK\MSGBASE and the ID of the BBS is FANTA, the messages for this BBS are stored in C:\DTQWK\MSGBASE\FANTA. The include files then should be placed in C:\DTQWK\MSGBASE\FANTA\INCLUDE, so that they can then be displayed in DT-QWK. If DT-QWK now finds an include statement, it looks for the file specified in the appropriate INCLUDE directory. Of each text file SLBBS can handle two versions: one with the extension .TXT, which is a plain text file (or coloured using the SLBBS colour codes), and a version with the extension .ANS, which uses ANSI colour codes. This distinction is also made in DT-QWK. When reading the message in the message window, the .TXT version of an include file is used. If the correct file is not present, DT-QWK displays a message telling you just this. The .ANS version is only displayed when viewing the message as ANSI (with the menu option "Message / Type"). 1. The global include directory 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� If you don't want to have the include files for each BBS in their own directory you can also create a global include directory used for all systems included in DT-QWK. This directory must also be located beneath the message base directory, and must also be called INCLUDE. In the previous example the global include directory would be C:\DTQWK\MSGBASE\INCLUDE. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 26 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� When looking for a file, the BBS-related include directory takes precedence over the global directory. Only if the desired file is not found in the BBS-related directory, the global directory is searched. You can use this distinction to keep those files which are identical for all BBS system (e.g. the users' logos and signatures) in a single directory and storing those files relevant to a single BBS in the BBS-related directory. J. Closing a packet 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� When you are finished with reading all messages from a BBS and writing your relies, close the system with the menu option "Packet/Close" or press the ESC key. The messages you have written will then be compressed into a REP file ready for uploading to the BBS. K. Editing replies 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK allows you to review and edit messages you have written to the BBS. For this you can use the menu option "Message / Replies" (not "Message / Reply", which does something completely different). You will see a window containing the message waiting to be compressed into a REP file and sent to the BBS. From this list you can select a message and perform the following actions with the buttons on the right-hand side of the window: Delete : Removes the message Edit : Edit the message again View : Show the message in preview mode, just like it would be displayed in the BBS. You can use this option to quickly check whether everything is correct or whether you need to edit the message again. L. List of Messages 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� With the menu option "Area / List" you can open a list of messages in the current area. In this list DT-QWK displays the author and subject of the message, as well as two flags. If there is an asterisk (*) in front of the message, this means that you have already read the message. A tag (�) shows that the message is addressed to you. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 27 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� With the buttons to the right of the message list you can perform the following actions on the highlighted message : Goto : Go to highlighted message. The message list window is discarded Show : Display message in message window. The message list remains active Export : Save message to text file Print : Dump message to printer M. Searching Messages 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� With DT-QWK you can search messages for a string. For this, use the menu option "Scan". In the dialog window you can enter the text to look for in the messages and have the following options: Scan Subject : Only look for the string in the message subject Scan Body : Only look for the string in the message body Scan All : Search subject and message body Case Sensitive : Perform case sensitive search Scan all areas : Search messages in all areas of current BBS The messages found with these criteria are not displayed directly. DT-QWK copies these messages to a temporary area number 999 (Scan Result). You can view and process this area just as you would any other area. The only difference is that replies written to a message in this area are not posted in area 999 (which would most probably not be available in the BBS, anyway), but go to that area in which the message was found. The temporary area 999 is removed when closing a QWK packet or leaving the system. N. The Bulletins 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 If the BBS's bulletin files are included in the QWK file, you can view these with the menu option "Packet / Bulletins". You will see a dialog window containing a list of all bulletin files present in the BBS directory. To help you find the new bulletins, the file date of each bulletin file is included in the list. To read a bulletin, simply highlight it in the list box and klick on the button marked "Show". 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 28 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� O. The list of new files (NEWFILES.DAT) 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Should the QWK file include a list of new files uploaded to the BBS (NEWFILES.DAT), you can view this file with the menu option "Packet / File list". The file list will be displayed in a window on the desktop. This output window also support ANSI codes, as several door programs have the ability of colouring the file list to make it more attractive. P. Forwarding a message 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� With DT-QWK you can forward any message from any board (including the private messages) to another user. To forward the current message, simply select the menu option "Message / Forward" or press CTRL-F. DT-QWK will then prompt you for the name of the user to forward the message to. The forwarded message will then be added to those messages written by you and will be compressed into the REP packet when leaving the current system. But this is only half the fun! With DT-QWK you can even forward a message from one system to a user in another system. Simply click on the button marked "Choose System" in the forwarding dialog and select the system you wish to forward the message to. The message will then be added to the list of messages to the specified system and will be included in the REP file for that system the next time you enter and leave it. But be careful with this function: The next time you import a QWK packet from the system to which you forwarded the message, DT-QWK will ask you "Clear old replies to XYZ?". If you answer Yes to this question, the replis will be deleted and the forwarded message will also be gone, possibly before you had a chance to upload it to the BBS. Q. File Requesting 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 DT-QWK enables you to request files from the file list. To send a file request to the door program, simply perform a double click on the file you wish to receive. DT-QWK will then generate a request message which will be sent to the door program the next time you upload a REP file. This feature can only work if the door program supports file requests. If it doesn't, DT-QWK will inform you of this and will not generate a request message. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 29 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� VI. Message Threading 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� As of version 1.4, DT-QWK has the ability to include message thread information (links between a message and the answers to it) in the message base and present this information in a semi- graphical manner. If the option "Message Threading" is activated in the system configuration, the message header may contain two more pieces of information: If the current message is a reply to another message in the message base, the first line of the message header display will contain the sequence (<-). In this case you can press CTRL and Cursor Left (simultaneously) to jump to the "parent" message. If there are replies to the current message, this will also be displayed in the first line of the message header. You can then open the thread view with the menu option "Message / View Thread" (or by pressing #). DT-QWK will open another window which displays a graphical representation of the message thread in a format similar to that used for directory displays in programs such as TREE or Norton Commander. For each message in the thread, the name of the message's author is displayed: DANIEL TIETZE 쳐� COUNT DRACULA � 쳐� RENFIELD � 읕� DANIEL TIETZE 읕� PETER PAN In this example, both Count Dracula and Peter Pan replied to a message written by myself, Renfield had something to say about the Count's message and I also wrote a reply to the Count's message. In the thread view window you can now select a message which you wish to read by double-cklicking on it with the mouse or by hightlighting it in the list and pressing ENTER. You can close the thread view with the ESC key or with the close box on the window's frame. The message display will then automatically return to the message where you started viewing the thread. When reading messages in the thread view, these messages are NOT marked as read, regardless of what you selected in the configuration. This is so that you will not miss any of the messages in between when continuing to read the new messages. You can toggle between the message and thread view windows with the TAB key. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 30 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� A. Limitations of message threading 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� DT-QWK can only produce message thread information that makes sense if the QWK packet conatains the correct information. I have already come across several QWK packets in which this was not the case. This is a good demonstration of the "garbage in - garbage out" principle. If DT-QWK does not receive sensible information, it will most likely not produce a sensible output. If the thread processing goes wrong, please don't blame me. DT-QWK does not posess the intelligence to check whether a message is REALLY a reply to that message to which it is linked in the QWK file. When creating the message tree, DT-QWK checks for circular dependencies (e.g. when a message refers to itself) and displays a warning message if such a circularity has been detected. The QWK standard only provides the possibility of following a message thread within the current QWK file. If a message is a reply to one in a previous packet, DT-QWK cannot (yet) join the two threads. VII. Problems with the message base 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 Under certain conditions there might be slight problems with the message base, which can result in one of the greatest sideshow tricks: "The miraculously disappearing subboard". I will try to describe the problem to you and present a solution. In each QWK packet downloaded from the BBS there is a file called CONTROL.DAT. This file contains information about the message areas in the BBS (basically the names and numbers). As the subboard numbers could theoretically be different for each QWK packet (e.g. the system operator might delete a subboard), DT- QWK analyses the file CONTROL.DAT and checks for inconsistencies with the current message base. This verification is done using the subboard names (i.e. looking up each subboard in the file CONTROL.DAT). This has to be done to ensure that the area numbers are up to date and messages that you write are not inserted into the wrong subboards in the BBS. If DT-QWK encounters inconsistencies, it proceeds a follows: - If the subboard has a different number in the CONTROL.DAT file, the message base is updated to contain the new number. - If a subboard is not contained in CONTROL.DAT any more, it is removed! The first item is not really a problem, in most cases you don't even notice that the number has changed. The problem is the second item. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 31 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� The subboard is deleted, so that you do not post any more messages in a subboard that isn't present in the BBS any more, which might result in strange effects. There are several QWK door programs which have the option of sending an "abbreviated area list", which only contains those message areas in which new messages have been found. The problem with this is that DT-QWK cannot decide whether the subboard has been deleted in the BBS or whether it simply didn't contain any new messages. The result of this is that subboards can simply disappear, even if they are still available in the BBS. The simplest solution to this is to configure the door program to ALWAS send a list of all the subboards. If you do so, then these problems should not show up any more. What can still be a problem is if the system operator renames the subboard. Then DT-QWK will delete the old area from the message base and insert a new one accordingly (the messages from the old area are then gone). If anyone has a more intelligent solution to this problem, I'd like to hear it, so that I can possibly remove this problem in later versions of DT-QWK. VIII. Hints for QWK door programs 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 In this section I would like to give hints for setting up various QWK door programs for use with DT-QWK. Currently the hints are limited to only one door program. If you have encountered any problems with a door program which you were able to solve in one way or another, please let me know, so that your hints can be included in this section in a later version of DT-QWK. Since DT-QWK imports the whole message file into its message base, the conference index files (*.NDX) are not used. If the QWK door program supports this, you can deactivate the option to create NDX files. This make the resulting QWK packet a little smaller and might even speed up the creation of the packet (depending on the door program). A. VALENCE 컴컴컴컴컴 VALENCE is a relatively new door program for SLBBS systems. It offers several powerful and advanced features and will probably be used in many SLBBS systems. The powerful features of VALENCE make it neccessary to configure the program correctly if you wish to use DT-QWK with packets generated by VALENCE. VALENCE is able to process the include statements in messages and insert the desired file. This functionality is not needed when using DT-QWK and it might even be quite annoying. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 32 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� As VALENCE expands the include statements in each message, the resulting message file might turn out to be quite large. Also, by including the files directly, you lose much of DT-QWKs functionality and flexibility. For this reason, you should deactivate the option to "expand include files" in your user configuration of VALENCE. Unfortunately, this option is activated by default, so you need to deactivate it yourself. In addition to that, VALENCE is capable of converting the SLBBS colour codes into ANSI codes. As DT-QWK can display the SLBBS codes correctly, this function is not needed either (it can result in quite ugly messages) and thus should also be disabled. VALENCE's option to colour the file list should be activated, as this makes the file list much more attractive and easier to read. DT-QWK will automatically detect the ANSI codes ans display the the file list correctly. Here is a list of the relevant options and their settings to make the most use of the combination of VALENCE and DT-QWK: (Normal settings) Text packets insted of QWK : NO (In ANSI translation options) Expand metacharacters : NO Strip color codes : NO Convert color codes to ANSI : NO Ignore flashing codes : NO Expand include files : NO Color the filelist : YES (if you like) IX. Extensions to the QWK format 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 As the QWK format seemed to be inadequate in certain points, or rather did not offer the neccessary features, I have taken the liberty to make two additions to the format in DT-QWK to support the added features. Since it is of no use if only DT-QWK understands these additions and they are not supported by the door programs, I will describe the additions in detail in the following sections, so that the programmers of QWK doors can implement these features in their programs. These additions do not change the basic QWK format in any way, so there should be no problems with QWK doors which do not understand or support these features. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments about the additions. I really want these features to be supported in as many door programs as possible, so I'll try to help you with any questions or problems as much as possible. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 33 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� These additions to the QWK files are not copyrighted in any way, as I want everybody to be able to include them in their programs. But at least with the INCLUDE feature I would like to see an indication that this feature was originated by myself. That's my moderate claim for fame. The file request format is based on a suggestion by William McBrine and was implemented and finished off by myself (don't blame William for anything!). An indication of this in any program including this feature would be very nice. A. File Requests 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 A major advantage of FIDOnet, from which many FIDO points benefit, is the ability to request files from the host node's file list. The QWK file already includes a list of new files from the BBS in NEWFILES.DAT, so it seems natural to use this file list for file requests. The only thing needed is a method of telling the QWK door program which files the user wishes to receive, so that this information can be used to transfer the files to the user. For this, DT-QWK generates an additional control message. This message is sent to the user specified in the DOOR.ID file as CONTROLNAME, just like all other control messages. A door program supporting file requests needs to indicate this by including a line CONTROLTYPE = REQUEST in the DOOR.ID file. The control message generated for a file request has the message subject REQUEST. The names of the files requested are in the message body, one file name per message line. The list of file names ends at the tearline (---) or at the end of the message (whichever comes first). Since DT-QWK cannot know the file area structure of the BBS and can't read this information from the NEWFILES.DAT, the request message does not contain information about the file area from which the file was requested. If a BBS program allows files of the same name in different file areas, it is the door program's responsibility to react accordingly. This is a problem with the DMS (my BBS program), but since the QWK door for this system is also written by myself, I'll have to work something out. There goes my weekend :-) The door program should now analyse this message, look for the files in the file areas and transfer them to the user (probably with the user-selected default protocol). Alternatively, the list could be passed to the file area manager of the BBS, ready for downloading. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 34 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Of course, door programs offering this feature should handle such things as access levels, upload-/download-ratios etc., but this depends on the BBS system for which the door is written, so I cannot really make any suggestions here. B. INCLUDE-Diff 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� This extension is currently only useful for SLBBS systems and the doors developed for this system. As I have already stated, DT-QWK supports the %%-style include statements used in SLBBS by inserting the correct file into the message while displaying it. The problem with this is: How does the user receive the new files received in the INCLUDE directory without having to download them manually? The solution for this is relatively simple: The QWK packet includes one more file, which is an archive of the new files received in the file area INCLUDE since the last transfer. If DT-QWK finds a file called INCLUDE.* (e.g. INCLUDE.ZIP or INCLUDE.ARJ or one of the other compression programs supported), it assumes that this is an archive of files to be put into the INCLUDE directory and does this automatically (i.e. uncompresses the INCLUDE file into the correct INCLUDE directory). A QWK door program for SLBBS should now scan the INCLUDE file area for new uploads when creating the QWK packet, compress these and put the resulting file archive into the QWK file as well. This feature should be optional, since some people don't want to see the included files at all. X. Menu Overview 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Here is a list of menu options available in DT-QWK, as well as a brief description of the functionality: � About : Info about DT-QWK DOS Shell : Jump to DOS. Return by entering EXIT at the DOS prompt Help : Open help window Exit : Leave DT-QWK :-( Packet Open : Import QWK file Close : Close current QWK file Bulletins : Show bulletins from BBS sysop File List : Display list of new files Session : Display session information 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 35 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Message Next : Go to next message in current area Previous : Go to previous message in current area Goto Msg #: Go to specified message number Msgs. to me : Display a list of message addressed to yourself Next personal msg : Show next message addressed to yourself View Thread : Open thread view for current message Export : Save current message to file Print : Dump current message to printer Type : Show current message as ANSI Steal Tag : Steal tagline from current message Forward : Forward message to another user Keep Msg. : Mark message as "kept" so that it will not be expired. Write : Write new message Reply : Write a reply to current message Relies : View/Edit/Delete replies to BBS Scan : Search message base for text Area Change : Select another area from area list List : List messages in current area First Msg.: Go to first message in current area Last Msg. : Go to last message in current area Management Area Management : Delete, drop or join areas Remove System : Remove system and its message base from disk Info : Information about QWK door at current system Statistics : Info about boards in current system Mark All : Mark all message in current system as old Options Setup : Configure DT-QWK Files : Edit FOOTER.TXT and QWKQUOTE.TXT Extern : Set up external tools (only "editor" currently vailable) Printer : Configure the printer to be used for message printing Programs : Change parameters for compression programs Colours : Change system colours Macros : Define keyboard makros for editor Screen : Select screen mode 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 36 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� XI. Copyright Notice 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 DT-QWK and its accompanying files and documents are (c) 1993-94 by Daniel Tietze. Neither DT-QWK nor any files accompanying it may be modified in any way. This documentation may only be distributed together with DT-QWK. It may not be reproduced in any way without prior written agreement from author. DT-QWK is shareware. It can be copied and distributed condition to the terms that - distribution is not made for profit or other benefits - the program archive is distributed in its original form and is not modified in any way - neither the program nor any files accompanying the program are modified in any way The right to distribute DT-QWK expressly includes the right for distribution by electronical means. DT-QWK may not be included with other programs, if these are not shareware or public domain products. Bundling of DT-QWK with other commercial products (e.g. books) is only allowed with prior written permission from me, the author. DT-QWK is provided as is, with no warranty of any kind concerning correctness or suitability of the program. Use of DT-QWK is entirely at the user's own risk! In no way can the author be made responsible for damages, loss of profits, investments or otherwise, resulting directly or indirectly from the use or possession of DT-QWK. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 37 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� XII. Shareware License 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 DT-QWK not free software, it is distributed as shareware! You may use the unregistered evaluation version for a period of three weeks. If you wish to use DT-QWK after this period, you MUST register your copy with me. Use of the unregistered evaluation version of DT-QWK after the three week evaluation period is illegal! The registration fee for DT-QWK is: 1 to 9 copies : US$ 30.- each 10 or more copies : US$ 20.- each To register your copy of DT-QWK fill in the form REGISTER.FRM supplied with DT-QWK and send it to me: Daniel Tietze Ettesterstrasse 5 64291 Darmstadt Fed. Rep. of Germany and include the registration fee. You can also transfer the registration fee to my account no. 45 24 989 at the Deutsche Bank, Bremen (bank code number 290 700 50) or send me a Eurocheque made payable to Daniel Tietze. Any funds reaching me without your name and address will be treated as donations. I will definitely not try to find out where the money came from. I do not send copies of DT-QWK c.o.d., as this is currently too much of a hassle. If you want to register more than one copy of DT-QWK, I need the names of every user, so that I can personalize the registered copies, and at least one address to which I can send the disks. Please be fair! If you are not prepared to pay me for the amount of work invested in DT-QWK, please remove DT-QWK from your harddisk and use another program. Due to a lack of response to DT-QWK so far, several changes have been made to the unregistered version of the program. DT-QWK appends a line to each message, indicating that the message was written with an unregistered version of DT-QWK. In addition to that, the evaluation version includes a timed delay of 5 seconds, displays a reminder window on the desktop and does not include support for the printer drivers. I myself don't like shareware reminders and crippled software, but I think that a delay of 5 seconds is tolerable. Also, the support for printer drivers is not a vital function for a QWK reading programm, thus the unregistered version of DT-QWK is by no means crippleware. 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� DT-QWK User Manual Page - 38 - 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� For your registration fee you will receive a disk containing a personalized copy of DT-QWK and the printer driver file and are eligible for updates, should a new version be released. The registered version does not display the reminder screens and does not add a line to each message written by you, thus showing everyone reading your messages that you support the shareware concept. Please note that distribution of registered copies of DT-QWK is illegal and can be prosecuted. XIII. Final Comments 袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴 Should you have any comments about DT-QWK or have ideas for additional features, please contact me and let me know about your ideas. I can only expand and enhance DT-QWK if you tell me what you want the program to do! I hope you enjoy using DT-QWK and find it to be a useful tool for your computer communications. Daniel Tietze, Bremen, 1994.