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Hippo v2 -format message reader
Copyright 1993-1995 Markku Leiniö
1. First of all
2. Good to know
3. Registration
4. Differences between HipHop/D and HipHop/2
5. Installing HipHop
6. Hardware requirements (OS/2)
7. Starting HipHop
8. Exiting HipHop
9. Configuring HipHop
10. Available key-commands
11. Hippo v2 -format
12. HipHop/2 -project (OS/2)
13. Copyrights and thanks
1. First of all
---------------
Here it is: HipHop/2, the ultimate message reader for OS/2!-)
HipHop uses only Hippo v2 -format to get and send messages. At
the moment I know only two BBS programs that support Hippo v2
-format: BBBS and HBBS (both Finnish). (More information about
the format can be found in HIPPO2.DOC.)
HIP2_145.LZH -packet includes the following files:
HIPHOP2.DOC (you are reading this right now)
HIPHOP.FAQ Frequently Asked Questions; it's worth reading!
HIPHOP2.EXE The program file.
HIPHOP2.ICO An icon file. (New ideas?)
HISTORY2.TXT Some kind of development history. Here are
listed the changes from version to version.
FILE_ID.DIZ (short description for BBSs)
HIPPO2.DOC Hippo v2 -format specification.
There shouldn't be any other files in the packet.
HipHop can be freely distributed provided that all files listed
above are included unmodified.
F1-key gives you quick-help!
2. Good to know
---------------
Shortly: Absolutely NO WARRANTY!
The author is not responsible for any possible harm caused by
the HipHop program. By using the program you accept this.
However, I myself use HipHop every day, and I test versions
before releasing them.
Bug reports, comments and suggestions can be sent to:
Markku Leiniö
Tuiskula 1
FIN-21360 LIETO AS.
Finland
Netmail (Fidonet): 2:222/151 (BCG-Box; Turku, Finland)
Email: matale@utu.fi
The HipHop's newest version can always be found in BCG-Box
(+358 21 240 4036, or (921) 240 4036 from Finland).
I can't guarantee all suggestions will be implemented in HipHop.
I'm not a full-time HipHop-maker... But any suggestions are
still welcome.
3. Registration
---------------
Registering is easy. Send me Netmail (via Fidonet to address
2:222/151, username Markku Leiniö) or Email (matale@utu.fi), and
I will send you your own registration code.
Please include also some information about your machine and why
do you use HipHop.
With the registration I'd like to know if anyone uses this
program...
Registration code is personal and it must not be given to
someone else. Nobody has any reason to use the program with
someone else's name.
You can use the same registration code with both HipHop/D and
HipHop/2.
4. Differences between HipHop/D and HipHop/2
--------------------------------------------
In this document the name 'HipHop' means both DOS and OS/2
versions of HipHop, unless the other version (HipHop/D or
HipHop/2) is specifically mentioned.
You can use the same directory with HipHop/D and HipHop/2. All
common files are named HIPHOP.*, while DOS and OS/2 version's
files are named HIPHOPD.* and HIPHOP2.*, respectively.
As a OS/2 user, the author is not really interested in making
a DOS version of HipHop. ;-) Because of the special features of
OS/2, HipHop/D will not have all the same functionality as
HipHop/2.
The titles in this document indicate if the chapters contain
DOS or OS/2 specific information, so you can skip some chapters
if you are already familiar with the other version of HipHop.
5. Installing HipHop
--------------------
HipHop doesn't have any separate install-program. Installing is
simply made by copying the required executable file to the right
directory.
Usually HipHop is installed to own directory, C:\COMMS\HIPHOP,
for example.
At the first start HipHop makes the configuration file that
contains user definable settings.
Similarly, at the first start, HipHop makes MSGS- and OLDMSGS-
directories to the HipHop-directory. MSGS-directory is used to
store written messages and other operations before the packet is
sent to the BBS. Old message packets are stored in OLDMSGS-
directory. They are packed, same packets that were taken from
BBS's. From there you can search some old messages if needed (by
hand). The number of saved packets is configurable between 0-50
(see chapter 9).
HIPHOP.ALA -file is created when needed, and it contains the
alarm setting.
HIPHOP.COL contains color settings, if any. Can be freely
deleted to restore built-in colors.
For each message packet, HipHop makes three files: <packet>.DAT,
<packet>.IDX and <packet>.ARE. They are for HipHop's internal
use. <Packet>.ARE contains message area list of the BBS.
<Packet>.DAT and <packet>.IDX are deleted when message packet is
done (Alt-Q), but <packet>.ARE is left on the disk, so that you
don't have to take the area list with the message packet every
time. Area list is in Hippo v2 message packet, depending on the
BBS program. If you don't have the list, you can still enter
messages to the BBS, but the list enables HipHop to warn you
when you try to do something you don't have access to, or the
message area doesn't exist. Therefore the list should always be
up-to-date.
If an individual signature for a BBS is defined, it is stored in
text format in file <packet>.SIG.
6. Hardware requirements (OS/2)
-------------------------------
Well, if you can run OS/2, you can run HipHop/2.
Extended screen modes (100*40, 132*43, etc.) can be used if
HipHop is started in that kind of mode. However, HipHop uses
only first 80 columns. 80 columns is also the minimum.
All necessary (un)packers must be found. They are searched first
from the HipHop directory and then from the PATH setting. See
configuration settings for info about required programs.
HipHop/2 has been successfully tested with OS/2 versions 2.1 and
Warp 3.
7. Starting HipHop
------------------
Reading is started with command 'HIPHOP2 packet', where 'packet'
is the name of the message packet downloaded from a BBS. Packet
name may also be omitted, in which case HipHop shows file
selection menu. If specified packet doesn't exist, HipHop asks
if it should be created, enabling you to write messages without
downloaded message packet.
When HipHop is instructed to open a message file, it first
checks if <packet>.HD is found in the HipHop directory and opens
it if found. If no unpacked message file exists, then HipHop
searches download directory for the file, and unpacks it. Notice
that even if you select a packed message file in the file
selection menu, HipHop anyway opens the unpacked file with the
same name, if exists. Only one packet can be unpacked from a BBS
at a time. You must quit the packet with Alt-Q before you can
open next packet *from the same BBS*.
Starting examples:
HIPHOP2 BCG-MSG1 opens .HD if found, then searches for
packed file
HIPHOP2 BCG-MSG1.LZH the same; file path and extension are
ignored
HIPHOP2 starts the file selection menu
8. Exiting HipHop
-----------------
HipHop is exited with key Q. In that case, HipHop does not
prepare any message packet to be sent.
With key Alt-Q HipHop deletes the message packet. If there are
any written messages (or other operations), the packet is packed
and prepared to be sent to BBS.
9. Configuring HipHop
---------------------
HipHop has some settings that have to be checked so that HipHop
can operate correctly. When first started, HipHop automatically
goes to the configuration menu. Later the settings can be
modified with key Alt-C in normal mode or in file selection
menu. Also, configuration menu can be entered from OS/2 command
line by starting HipHop with parameter '/C' ('HIPHOP2 /C').
You can move in the configuration menu with arrow keys. Press X
to exit and save changes, or Q to quit without saving.
These are the settings:
User name Your name. HipHop uses this name to indicate
messages to you.
Default signature String to be added to every written message. Not
allowed in some BBSs! HipHop first checks if
<packet>.SIG is found and uses it. If not found,
then this is used.
Editor command Command to start the message editor. Can be a
batch file (command interpreter specified by
COMSPEC is used). File name is given as the
first argument.
Download dir Directory, where your downloaded message packets
are. Usually the same as your terminal program's
download directory.
Upload dir Directory, where packed message files should be
put to wait for sending. Usually the same as
your terminal program's upload directory.
Quote char to use Character to be inserted before every quoted
line. Default is '>'. Please don't change this
unless you absolutely have to because '>' is 'de
facto' standard.
Quote indicators These characters indicate that the line is
quoted. Used to show quoted lines in different
color.
Screen saver Time (in minutes) after which the screen saver
activates, if no key is pressed. 0 to disable.
Default name ext Specifies how a packet should be packed, if it
is not otherwise known (empty packet created, or
message packet was not packed).
Name case convert When HipHop asks for a name, it automatically
shows name in 'name case' (first letter is
upper case). This behavior can be changed at run
time with Tab key. This specifies the default.
Saved old packets When HipHop unpacks message packet, it also
copies the packed file to OLDMSGS-directory.
This specifies how many packets will be saved.
If 0 is specified, no files will be saved.
Recommended setting is at least 5, unless you
are extremely low in disk space (buy one more
hard disk, man!-)).
Packers... Specifies external programs to be used to pack
and unpack messages. Defaults are:
OS/2: LZH: LHA.EXE
ZIP: ZIP.EXE/UNZIP.EXE
ARJ: ARJ.EXE
DOS: LZH: LHA.EXE
ZIP: PKZIP.EXE/PKUNZIP.EXE
ARJ: ARJ.EXE
10. Available key-commands
--------------------------
The following keys can be used when in the normal message
reading mode.
F1 Shows quick help.
Enter Shows next page, or next message.
Right/left arrow
Shows next/previous message.
Up/Down/PgUp/PgDn/Home/End
Scrolls the message.
Ctrl-Home/End
Goes to first/last message in the packet.
Ctrl-Right/Left
Goes to next/previous message area.
> Goes to message that is reply to current message.
< Goes to message to which current message is a reply.
= Goes to next reply to message to which current message
is a reply.
N (Next) Goes to next message that is to/from you.
E (Enter) Lets you write a new message to any area.
R (Reply) Replies to a message.
G (Goto) Goes to selected area. Shows also the number of
messages in the areas.
M (Messages) Goes to selected message.
L (List) Lists operations you have made (ie. written
messages and area joins/resigns).
P (Print) Saves/prints current message to a file/printer.
Alt-P Saves current message to file <packet>.CLP.
J (Join) Joins an area.
U (Unjoin) Resigns from an area.
F (Find) Tries to find specified text from headers, text
body, or both.
Alt-F Repeats previous find.
Alt-L Shows area list.
Alt-C Configures HipHop.
Alt-S Changes screen colors.
Alt-I Edits BBS signature.
Alt-R Changes screen mode between 25 and 43/50 lines.
Alt-T SF7 character conversion toggle on/off.
Alt-D Goes to OS shell. (Return to HipHop with EXIT command.)
Alt-A Sets alarm.
Alt-N Saves current name and netmail address to ADDRBOOK.NET
(address book). ADDRBOOK.NET can also be edited
manually.
Alt-1..9 Sets/resets a bookmark.
1..9 Goes to bookmark position.
0 Clears specified bookmark.
Q Quits HipHop. No packet is prepared for send.
Alt-Q Quits HipHop and makes message packet if needed.
11. Hippo v2 -format
--------------------
Hippo v2 -specifications can be found in the file HIPPO2.DOC.
12. HipHop/2 -project (OS/2)
----------------------------
HipHop/2 saw the daylight in December 1994. The autumn was spent
porting HipHop's DOS version from Turbo Pascal to Borland C++.
Because I'm using OS/2 myself, it was natural to port HipHop to
OS/2. It went easier than I thought, and here we are!-) HipHop/2
is compiled with Borland C++ 1.5 for OS/2.
If you want more information about HipHop's rise, see the
HIPHOPD.DOC file in HipHop's DOS version's packet
(HIPD_vvv.LZH).
13. Copyrights and thanks
-------------------------
Product and company names mentioned here or somewhere else in
the HipHop packet are copyrights or trademarks of their
respective owners.
Thanks to all registered users of HipHop! Thanks also to
everyone who has reported bugs or somehow else helped with the
development. Special thanks to Toni Nikkanen and Sami
Luoma-Pukkila for beta testing!
