┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NFX v2.8 │─┐
│ │ │
│ (c) Copyright 1996 By Blueview Software │ │
│ All Rights Reserved │ │
│ │ │
│ (simple docs) │ │
└─┬───────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ INTRODUCTION │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
NFX is a packet offline mail reader. It works with QWK packets generated
by QMAIL, RoseMail, and other QWK type doors. NFX also works with SOUP
packets used primarily for internet mail and usenet news articles. If
your ISP (Internet Service Provider) doesn't offer a means to download
messages in SOUP format please ask them to consider adding such an option.
NFX is small, fast, easy to use, and best of all its FREE to end users.
See LICENSE.TXT for more information on custom and personal versions.
Previous versions of NFX (up to v1.2) did not contain any documentation,
but this didn't stop users from trying NFX. During this time I have received
many thank you notes and suggestions to improve NFX. For all those that took
the time to write me a message or call LD to Canada I want you to know that
your time was appreciated and I thank you with this new release of NFX.
For those that did try to send me a message and did not receive a response
it was due to few factors. My email address had changed three times over the
lifetime of NFX.
My current internet address is nick.onoufriou@westonia.com and you may begin
sending thank you notes and reporting bugs/problems or any other suggestions
you may have.
It is very difficult to keep a FREE program constantly updated. With version
2.x I have decided to include a new licensing agreement that will improve
things a little and still keep the program FREE to most end users.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REQUIREMENTS │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Color monitor
Dos 3.1+
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CUSTOMER SERVICE │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions,
Blueview Software can be contacted by:
Voice - (416) 757-7944
CAP/CANADA BBS (416) 287-0935 (Blueview Conference)
Surface Mail - Blueview Software
2300 Lawrence Ave. East BOX 80551
Scarborough, Ontario
CANADA M1P 2R0
CompuServe: >INTERNET:nick.onoufriou@westonia.com
Internet: nick.onoufriou@westonia.com
NOTE: All email _will_ be answered. If you do not receive a reply
within a few days please try again, mail does get lost.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DISTRIBUTION │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The freeware version of NFX can be distributed in its original form by
BBS, Internet, Online Services, Disk vendors, and CD-ROM vendors.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONFIGURING │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
From the main menu select configure settings.
QWK Settings
QWK Directory:
The directory where your QWK packets reside.
Reply Directory:
The directory where your QWK reply messages will be placed in.
QWK File Pattern:
Used by the File Selector to list your QWK packets. The default
setting is *.Q* which is lists all files with the extension Q.
Reply Extension:
The file extension that will be used to create your reply packet.
Default setting is REP, if the packet id is WESTONIA then
the reply packet will be WESTONIA.REP
SOUP Settings
SOUP Directory:
The directory where your SOUP packets reside.
Reply Directory:
The directory where your SOUP reply messages will be placed in.
SOUP File Pattern:
Used by the File Selector to list your SOUP packets. The default
setting is *.Z* which is lists all files with the extension Z.
Reply Extension:
The file extension that will be used to create your reply packet.
Default setting is SRP, if the packet id is WESTONIA then
the reply packet will be WESTONIA.SRP
From Email:
Your email address with your real name in brackets.
eg. nick.onoufriou@westonia.com (Nick Onoufriou)
Leave this field blank if your packet processor adds your From email
by default. If you are using WSsoup to upload your reply messages
then leave it blank, if you are using Souper then fill it in
Reply Email:
Leave this field blank if your Reply address will be the same as the
From address. This is true for most users, change only if you want
replies to be sent to a different email address.
Time Zone:
Time Zone used in your region, eg. EST
Leave this field blank if the Date is inserted by the packet processor
Domain Name:
Usually the part of your email address that is listed after the "@"
character. Leave this field blank if the packet processor creates
the Message-ID field.
Organization:
A business name, school, or club that you belong to. Leave this
field blank if you don't want the Organization header to be listed in
your messages.
General Settings
You can also select an external editor if you do not wish to use the
internal editor. Set External Editor to yes by selecting 'y' while the
field is highlighted. Enter the full path of your editor in the form of
"C:\MYDIR\EDITOR.EXE %1", the "%1" tells NFX where to place the name of
the file to be edited.
The next set of options allow you to select the number of conferences/areas,
messages, and length of the messages that best represents the size of
the packets you will be reading. Users who download packets over a megabyte
may have to modify these settings.
Packer/Unpacker Settings
The remaining options are for the external packers/unpackers. NFX will
try and fill these automatically. If the packers/unpackers are not in
your DOS PATH you will have to modify these and place the file path of
each packer/unpacker manually. For Zip Packer you may have to place
something like "C:\PKWARE\PKZIP.EXE %1 %2"
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SELECTING A QWK/SOUP PACKET │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
From the main menu choose "Select QWK Packet" or "Select SOUP Packet"
If you have configured NFX correctly there should a list of all your QWK
or SOUP packets. The packet files are sorted by alphanumeric and date
order, this means that your most recent downloaded packet is always
listed first.
To select a packet use the up/down/pgup/pgdn arrow keys and hit the enter
key when you have found the packet you wish to read. NFX will determine
what compression program (PKZIP/ARJ) was used to compress the packet. It
will then execute the correct un-compressing program (PKUNZIP/ARJ) listed
in your configure settings.
You can also delete packets using the "d" key. Sometimes you may end up
collecting several packets that you wish to delete at once. Simply
tag the packets with the space bar and hit the "d" key, this time all the
tagged packets will be erased.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING THE CONTENTS OF A QWK/SOUP PACKET │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
If a QWK is successfully un-compressed a new menu will appear listing
some of your options. You can read MAIL, NEWS, BULLETINS, or FILES. Some
of these option might not be listed if your QWK packet does not contain
these files.
When a SOUP packet is successfully un-compressed a menu will appear with
one option. Additional options will be added in future versions.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING MESSAGES │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Select Messages to read the messages in the packet. The first thing
you will notice is a new screen listing the conferences/Areas you have
selected in your packet. Use the arrow and page keys to navigate
through the conference/Area listing, you can also use the "n" key to jump
to the next conference/Area with messages, or use the "p" key to jump to
the previous conference/Area. Once a conference/Area "with messages" has
been selected hit the enter key. You will see your first message in the
conference/Area.
When in the message read mode, you can do a number of things. You can use
the arrow and page keys to scroll through the entire contents of the
message. Messages can be marked using the "m" key and saved with the
"s" key. The 'c' key can be used to clear marked messages. Messages can
also be saved to Folders in a similar way using the "ALT F" key. Select
which messages you want to save and then the folder to save the messages
in.
Messages can be sorted by selecting the 'o' key. You can also search for
key words using the 'f' key. A quick index of the messages can also be
obtained by using the "L" key.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REPLYING TO A MESSAGE │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
QWK Packet
When you are reading a message hit the "r" key, this will bring up
another menu with numerous input fields, the default values are usually
correct when replying to a message, if they're not you can move the green
highlighter to the field you wish to edit.
Pick lists are available when in the message editing screen, just move
the green highlighter over the FROM/TO/SUBJECT/TAGLINE fields and hit the
"F2" key. You can also add the default values of the FROM/TO/SUBJECT/TAGLINE
fields directly to the pick list with the "F3" key.
SOUP Packet
Enter 'r' to reply to a message you are currently reading. A menu will
appear giving you the option to reply as "MAIL" or "NEWS"
If you select MAIL the message will be sent privately to that individual
only. If you select NEWS then the message will be posted publicly in the
Newsgroup(s) that are listed in the Newsgroups: field.
Pick lists are available when in the message editing screen, just move
the green highlighter over the From/To/ReplyTo/Subject fields and hit the
"F2" key. You can also add the default values of the From/To/ReplyTo/Subject
fields directly to the pick list with the "F3" key.
Editing & Saving the Message
To edit the message contents hit the "F9" key. This will run the previously
defined editor or use the internal editor to load the message.
If you are using an external editor follow what ever procedure you would
normally do to edit text. Once you have finished editing save the contents
and exit the text editor. You will be brought back to the previous menu,
simply press the "F10" key to save the entire message (header and contents.)
You may also hit the "ESC" key to abandon the reply. All saved replies are
placed in the REPLIES conference/Area.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ENTERING A MESSAGE (WITHOUT REPLYING) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Sometimes you may want to enter a message to "all" or a specific individual.
From the conference listing screen move the cursor the conference you wish
to enter the message and hit the "e" key. You can also enter a message from
the current conference/Area while you are reading another message.
From this point on follow the same directions as you would if you were
replying to a message. This information has been described above.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RE-EDITING REPLIES │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
When entering messages you sometimes make mistakes and wish to modify what
you have entered. From within the replies conference select the message
and hit the "r" key followed by the "F9" key.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ KILLING REPLIES │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
From within the replies conference select the message hit the "k" key, this
will toggle a flag in the message header indicating that the message has
been killed. To un-kill the message hit the "k" key again. If the message
is marked "Killed" it will not be placed in your REP (reply) packet.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING NEWS/FILES (QWK Packets Only) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Selecting one of these options will invoke the internal file viewer, use
the arrow and page keys to view the contents.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READING BULLETINS (QWK Packets Only) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Selecting this option will bring up another menu listing what bulletins
are available, select a bulletin using up/down arrow keys and hit the
enter key. The internal file viewer will be invoked allowing you to view
the contents.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ENTERING A MESSAGE WITHOUT A PACKET (QWK Packets Only) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Each time you read a packet from a different BBS NFX stores this
information in the BBS sub-directory. When selecting this option from the
main menu NFX will list all the available BBSes. If the BBS you wish to
enter a message is not listed you can add it to the list as long as you
know the BBSes ID. The BBS ID is used to create the correct REP (reply
packets.)
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FOLDERS │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Folders are provided as a means to keep track of large quantities of
messages. Normally if you wanted to keep an important message you would
save it to a file, but that becomes tedious when you have many messages.
Folders provide an easy way to do this. Once a message is saved to a folder
it can be easily found by selecting the correct folder. You can also search
and sort your folder messages just like in QWK/SOUP packet mode.
You can access the folders from three different areas of the program. From
the main menu, the QWK Options menu, and the SOUP options menu. Accessing
the folders from QWK/SOUP options menu gives you the added ability to
reply to a folder message. You can also use this mode to resend previously
written messages.
There are two special folders, IN and OUT. The "IN" folder is where all the
messages you have received are stored. The "OUT" folder is where all the
messages you have written are stored.
From the folder listing you can also add "ALT A", edit "ALT E", or delete
"ALT D" folders. You can also pack "ALT P" the folders to remove any
unwanted messages. Messages that have been marked as killed "k" will be
permanently removed from the folder once it is packed.
Once a message is in a folder it can be edited using the Full Edit command.
First select the message then "ALT E", you will notice that the "full"
message is listed including the headers.
If the folders have been accessed from the QWK/SOUP option menu you can
reply to the message with the "r" key. You can also resend the message
using the "ALT S" key. In QWK mode the message will be placed in the
"Replies" conference. In SOUP mode the message will be placed in the
"Replies - Current" area. You can view the message by returning to the
QWK/SOUP option menu.
When reading a message in QWK/SOUP mode you can save the message to
folders using the "ALT F" key.
--- ADVANCED FOLDER OPTIONS ---
From the main menu select configure and then F10. This will update your
NFX.CFG file. Using a Text editor you can edit the following variables:
MAX_FOLDERS = 200
Set to the maximum amount of folders you will be using.
QWK_INFOLDER = 3
A setting of 0 - disables the importing of QWK messages to the "IN" folder.
1 - imports only private messages addressed to you.
2 - imports only public messages addressed to you.
3 - imports private and public messages addressed to you.
QWK_OUTFOLDER = 3
A setting of 0 - disables the importing of QWK messages to the "OUT" folder.
1 - imports only private messages you have written.
2 - imports only public messages you have written.
3 - imports private and public you have written.
SOUP_INFOLDER = 1
A setting of 0 - disables the importing of SOUP messages to the "IN" folder.
1 - imports mail messages
SOUP_OUTFOLDER = 3
A setting of 0 - disables the importing of SOUP messages to the "OUT" folder.
1 - imports only mail messages you have written.
2 - imports only news messages you have written.
3 - imports mail and news messages you have written.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LICENSING │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
NFX is FREE when used in a non business or non government environment.
This allows a majority of the users to use NFX. If you are not sure this
includes you please contact me.
A low cost license can also be obtained for users that do not fall in the
free category. See LICENSE.TXT for additional information.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SPECIAL THANKS TO... │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
DERREN WHITEMAN for providing a stable support BBS
DAVID E. SMITH for WESTONIA BBS/Internet services
DANE BEKO for helping test the SOUP portion of NFX
ANTHONY MANGOS & CHRYS IOANNOU for helping with other aspects of NFX
