QWKBase (c) Copyright 1993 By Blueview Software. All Rights Reserved. Introduction QWKBase is an add-on program for offline mail readers that handle mail one packet at a time. Most users prefer this method of reading mail while others choose a different style reader that stores messages in a database. The problem with database readers is that they can be a little more powerful (and complicated ) than what the average user needs. QWKBase allows the user to stay with the ease and convenience of their reader and at the same time enjoy some of the benefits of a database reader. Once QWKBase is properly configured you can read mail the traditional way with the added option to store your mail packet into a database. The database that QWKBase creates can be read at any time with your reader because its stored in QWK format. Requirements SLMR 2.1a or OLX 2.1 Hard Drive Space (based on the size of the Database) Customer Service If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, Blueview Software can be contacted by: Voice - (416) 757-7944 For (1) General information. (2) Technical support. (registered users only) Surface Mail - Blueview Software 2300 Lawrence Ave. East Box 80551 Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1P 2R0 BBS - Baudeville BBS (416) 283-0114 - Leave message to NICK ONOUFRIOU in the main conference or conference 21. - CAP/CANADA BBS (416) 287-0935 (Conference 3) - CAP/USA BBS (708) 854-0255 Shareware Conferences - RIME, INTELEC, NANET, CITY2CITY, FIDONET, and ILINK. Leave message to NICK ONOUFRIOU. Fido net-mail: (1:250/304) Internet: nick.onoufriou@rose.com nick.onoufriou@bville.gts.org To keep updated on Blueview Software's activities, you can call Baudeville BBS (416) 283-0114 and read conference 21. Our files are also free downloads from Baudeville's conference 0. If you have access to Internet mail, you can join our mailing list. Address the message to listserv@bville.gts.org and in the body of the message put: SUB blueview-software [your email address w/o brackets] NOTE: All mail _will_ be answered. If you do not receive a reply within a few days please try again, mail does get lost. Installing QWKBase 1) Copy QWKBASE.EXE to your SLMR/OLX directory or to a directory in your path. 2) Select configure option. ALT-C for SLMR, ALT-N for OLX. 3) Select packers. 4) Replace the contents of ZIP unpacker with "SWAP:QWKBASE.EXE !" 5) Select F10 Configuring QWKBase The first time you run your offline reader (with QWKBase installed) it will create a file called BBSID.SET (the BBS ID is the name of the bbs) in the directory where your QWK packets are located. Each BBS will also have its own database file called BBSID.QBS located in your QWK directory. The BBSID.QBS file will be updated each time a new packed is selected. Once a *.SET file is created you can re-edit the default settings to something more preferable. The *.SET files are in text format that can be edited with any standard text editor. Option [1] Setting for the number of days to purge the messages. This option controls the life span of a message. If the message is older than the purge period it will not be included in the next message base repacking. [2] Setting for the number of days to purge bulletins. This option controls the life span of bulletin files. This option can be used with option 17 to decide if the bulletin should be deleted. [3] Setting for the number of days to purge the news file. Use option 16 for additional control. [4] File description processing. QWKBase allows two methods to handle the NEWFILES descriptions. Each time you add a packet to the database the NEWFILES.DAT file will be replaced with the latest one. The cycle option updates the listing to show the new files. With the cycle option you can also have to specify the number of days to purge the file descriptions with Option [5] [5] Number of days to purge file descriptions. In order for this option to work Option [4] must be set to cycle. [6] Number of days between message base repacking. This option controls when the next message repacking will occur. All the messages that are older than the purge period specified in Option [5] or [10] will be deleted. [7] Date of last message base repack. This option list the last time the message base was repacked. [8] Old replies conference. This conference is created by QWKBase automatically which stores all the messages written by you. The conference number can be changed to any unused number. [9] Maximum number of messages per conference. This option can be overwritten with Option [10] [10] Extra conference settings. This option allows you to specify exact settings for each conferences. This option requires a setting in the form of [C:M:P:T] where C is the conference number, M is the maximum amount of messages allowed, P is the number of days to purge the messages, and T is the type of messages acceptable, 0=none, 1=all, 2=messages from you, 3=messages to you, 4 messages from and to you. [000:50:150:4] sets conference 0 to to accept a maximum of 50 messages, purge for 150 days, and only import messages "from and to you." [PERSONAL:50:150:*] sets the personal conference. The "*" is used because the last field cannot be overwritten in the personal conference. [*:50:150:1] sets all conference. [001:50:150:1] [2000:50:150:3] sets conference 1 to accept all messages and conference 2000 to accept only messages for you. [001:50:150:1] [*:50:150:3] sets conference 1 to accept all messages and the remaining conferences to accept only messages to you. The "*" can be used in place of M, P, and T to specify the default settings. [11] Date stamp new messages. Changes the date of the messages that are imported into the database. Can be set to (N)o, (P)acket date, (C)urrent date. [12] Date stamp BULLETIN files. Can be set to (N)o or (C)urrent date. [13] Date stamp NEWS files. Can be set to (N)o or (C)urrent date. [14] Prompt on importing messages. Will prompt for a yes/no response whether to import the selected packet to the database. If set to (N)o messages will be imported automatically. [15] Prompt on repacking message base. Will prompt for a yes/no response whether to repack the message base. If set to No message base will be repacked automatically. [16] Prompt on deleting NEWS file. Will prompt for a yes/no response whether to delete NEWS files. This will only occur if the file is found be older than the purge date specified in Option [3] [17] Prompt on deleting BULLETIN file(s). Will prompt for a yes/no response whether to delete BULLETIN file(s). This will only occur if the file is found be older than the purge date specified in Option [2] [18] Delete QWK packet. This option can be set to delete the last QWK imported. Options include (Y)es, (N)o, and (P)rompt for a (yes/no) response. Registering QWKBase... QWKBase is shareware and carries a modest registration fee of $15. All registered users will receive the latest version of QWKBase and a key file that removes the "Press a to continue." reminder. Registered QWKBase users are also entitled to voice tech support. See order.txt for additional ordering information.