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- The *Complete* Netmail Processor
- Version 1.50 Reference Guide 11/1991
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- A totally free mail bundler for use on FTSC compliant .MSG
- files with the BinkleyTerm 2.50 FidoNet Mailer
-
-
- Software & documentation by Ron Pritchett of 1:376/74.0
-
-
-
- Copyright (c) 1991 Realm Software
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
-
- Realm Software
- 133 WaterView Dr
- Columbia, SC 29212
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- 2DaPoint Page 2
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
- This software was written on a whim. After noticing how well Maximus
- CBCS handles point addressing, I started searching for an equally
- point-aware NetMail Bundler. The idea is that the average caller/user
- shouldn't have to know anything about the pseudo point network/secondary
- set of addresses. The only thing I found that came close was REMAPPER by
- Bob Hartman (of ConfMail fame), but this didn't work quite the way I
- wanted it to & lacked a few features. Finally I downloaded a copy of the
- FTSC specs & went to work on my own program. Here it is.
-
-
- >>What it does<<
-
- - Full zone support.
-
- - Complete Message bundling (.?UT file generator) for normally addressed
- messages including File Requests, File Attaches, Forwarding, Crash,
- Hold, & Kill. Also processes any Echomail that has happened to have
- landed in your netmail dir. (ie the whole 9 yards)
-
- - Through File Attaches between points or BBSes which can optionally be
- deleted once sent. Multiple File Attaches & File Requests are supported
- too.
-
- - Recognition of point addresses embedded within messages to send the
- message to the proper host or point host.
-
- - Address redirection (including points) via name recognition.
-
- - Name remapping via alias name recognition.
-
- >>What it doesn't do<<
-
- - It won't do XRobot-type automatic mailings/file attaches.
-
- - It won't balance your checkbook.
-
- - It won't fix your recently pedestrian-damaged Buick Impala for free or
- even at a discount rate.
-
- CONTROL FILE
-
- 2DaPoint requires the presence of a control file called 2DAPOINT.CTL
- which must reside in the same directory the executable program is. There
- is no way/reason to have the control file named anything else.
-
- A sample configuration file with internal documentation is included. The
- sample is actually MY control file. It's short & sweet. Not too many options
- or things to go wrong. 2DaPoint is very forgiving about the information
- contained in the control file. If information is missing or invalid, the
- program will point out which additional information is needed/invalid.
-
- 2DaPoint Page 3
-
- The commands are listed here in alphabetical order for reference ease.
-
- Address <(zone:)net/node(.point)>
-
- Here your full address must be specified. Zone & point are not
- a required portion of the address; zone 1 is assumed & .0 is
- also assumed. The point portion of the address is recognized,
- but is only for future expansion. It may possible to run this
- program from a point system, but I haven't tried it.
-
- FileFwd <Kill | Save>
-
- This options controls whether or not a file passing thru
- your node is to be killed or saved. If 'Kill' is specified,
- then file will be killed by your mailer after it has been sent.
- If 'Save' is specified, the file will not be killed, it'll just
- sit in your inbound directory. NOTE: This only applies to
- passthru files (ie they didn't originate from your node & they're
- not destine to your node).
-
- Forward <Kill | Save>
-
- This options controls whether or not a message passing thru
- your node is to be killed or saved. If 'Kill' is specified,
- then message will be packed up & then the .MSG file will
- be erased. If 'Save' is specified, the message will not be killed
- just marked as 'Sent'.
-
- Inbound <directory>
-
- This is the path of your incoming file/mail directory. This is
- used for passthru file attaches for your node. This way points
- can send mail amongst themselves via your host or even to other
- nodes or other points on other nodes.
-
- For Example, when a point sends a file to another point, the
- subject line of the message contains the path & filename of the
- file to be sent. Well, there's only a one in a million chance that
- this will be the same on the both the point's & Host's computer.
- 2DaPoint will replace the path on the incoming message with the
- directory name that you have specified. (ie where the file is now
- located on the host system.)
-
- Log <filename>
-
- This filename, which can include drive & path specifications,
- is where 2DaPoint logs it's activities. Versions prior to 1.50
- were forced to use the file: 2DAPOINT.LOG in the directory where
- the program was being run.
-
- Mail <directory>
-
- This is the path to your netmail messages directory. 2DaPoint
- looks here for messages that need to be sent, etc.
-
- 2DaPoint Page 4
-
- Mode <Net | Node>
-
- This option controls whether a message bound for a point is
- to be saved in a .PNT directory (for pickup or mailing) or
- it's to be sent to the point's host system. If operating in
- 'Net' mode, any mail bound for a point in your zone & network
- will be packed up for it's full 4D address & placed in a .PNT
- subdirectory in your outbound mail area.
- (If you're unfamiliar with the new .PNT directory format, refer
- to the Binkley 2.50 documentation or the example in 2DaPoint.ctl.)
-
- If operating in 'Node' mode, the additional constraint of a point
- being your point is added. If a message is received for your
- point, then (as above) it is bundled into a .PNT directory.
- Otherwise, the message is sent to that point's host. Once there
- the ^ATOPT would be recognized & the message would be sent along
- the proper path.
-
- Names
- This marks the beginning of your name service addressing. One
- name & address appear per line until the keyword END is
- encoutered. If a message is bound for a node in your Network
- or your PointNet and the name is in the control file, then the
- destination in the control file is used instead of the one
- embedded in the message. (Read that sentence again, I'm sure
- it'll be the source of some confusion. <grin> )
-
- The syntax of the NAMES block is:
-
- Names
- ( <alias1> ^) <name 1> <address | Hold>
- ( <alias2> ^) <name 2> <address | Hold>
- ........ .........
- ( <aliasx> ^) <name x> <address | Hold>
- End
-
- Where <name> can be any numbers of words (theoretically). And
- <address> is a full or partial address. "What's a partial
- address?" you're asking. Well basically it means that the part
- of the address that you don't explicitly enter, will be assumed
- based upon what address you have specified for your address via
- the ADDRESS statement. See examples in control file.
-
- If an <alias> is present, then any message addressed to
- <alias> or <name> will be sent to <name> @ <address>. The ^
- character delimites between the <alias> & <name>. See example
- control file for examples that might wipe away your confusion. <g>
-
- Also: the <address> may be "Hold" which will simply hold the
- message and not send it anywhere.
-
- 2DaPoint Page 5
-
- Notify <None | OurNet | All>
-
- If someone sends a message to your system & it is mis-addressed
- (according to the name service table) then the sender of the
- message will get a notice saying that they haven't sent their
- msg to the wrong address & also listed will be the correct
- address.
-
- None - will disable this feature.
- OurNet - will only send to nodes/point in your network.
- All - will send a FYI msg back to the sender no matter what
- net or zone they're in.
-
- Outbound <directory>
-
- This is the path to your outbound mail directory. All generated
- outbound bundles/packets will be placed in this directory.
-
- PWFile <filename>
-
- This filename, which can include drive & path specifications,
- is where 2DaPoint reads passwords for use in secure enviroments.
- In a secure enviroment, packet headers have paswords embedded in
- them. The password command syntax in the PWFile is:
-
- Password Address Password_for_That_Node
-
- Example:
- Password 1:376/74.51 BLAHBLAH
-
- SetBit <bitmask>
- StripBit <bitmask>
-
- Once it's been determined that the message needs to be sent, The
- bits defined here will either be turned on or off in the status
- of the message. This doesn't apply to echomail destine for other
- systems that has happened to land in you netmail directory.
- See Control file for detailed info.
-
- ZoneGate <On | Off>
-
- Use zone gating. See Control file for detailed info.
-
- 2DaPoint Page 6
-
- COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
-
- -B = Use BIOS calls instead of direct video writes.
-
-
- EXIT ERRORLEVELS
-
- Exit ErrorLevel Codes
- 0 - No Mail Processed
- 1 - control file missing
- 2 - Incorrect Control file parameter(s)
- 3 - Netmail, Inbound, or Outbound dir doesn't exist
- 4 - Outbound Mail Created
-
-
- LEGAL STUFF
-
- I take no reponsibility for what this program will do. It is NOT a trojan
- horse type program, but who knows what could happen with an incompetent user.
-
-
- CLOSING THOUGHTS
-
- This program has been thoroughly tested with Maximus & should work on Fido,
- Opus & any other FTSC-compliant BBSwares. Please report any problems
- encountered, if any. The latest version can be F'req-ed from 1:376/74 with
- the magic filename of 2DAPOINT.
-
- That's it! I'm not much on docs. I'd love to hear from you. If you thought
- this software is trash, helpful, lacking in a few areas, whatever!
-
-
-
-
- Ron Pritchett
- 1:376/74.0