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The network structure PPoint is designed for is FidoNet. This is an extremely efficient structure developed by hobbyists throughout the world. FidoNet has been around since the beginning of the PC, and there are currently 14000 plus nodes around the world (not including Point nodes). A FidoNet node is a node that is online 24 hours a day, and connected with other nodes in the same manner. This Fidonet node is registered in an international node list as being a Continuous Mailer or CM (accessible any time). Without getting into the details, a typical FidoNet node is connected to an official Network node, which is connected to a regional node, which is connected to a Zone node. There are several Zones that represent geographical areas of the planet. A Point node is a node which is connected to a FidoNet node as described above. This Point get's it's mail from that node which is called a Boss node, or a Host node. The Point also sends it's mail to the Host for insertion into the network. The Point therefore does not have to be online or accessible continuously, instead it is only network active when the Point user connects to the host to transfer (send/receive) email. Then all mail management is done off-line at the Point users convenience. Point nodes are not in the international node list that is an integral part of the FidoNet structure. They are authorized, created, serviced, and the responsibility of the Host which is an official FidoNet node. All activity from the Point node is managed by the Host, so in fact the Point is like an extension or branch of that node. The Point's address becomes the Host's address, with an extension of .x where x is the Point number. A typical address is (my address) 1:249/114 which is Zone 1, Network 249, and node 114. One of my points have the and address of 1:249/114.7 which is my point number 7. Page 2 PPoint - Professional Point System P P o i n t DESIGN OBJECTIVES The main objective behind the development of PPoint was to create a system that was easy to setup, easy to use, and easy to maintain. The user interface has been designed to offer intuitive navigation thought the various functions and controls. There are certain forced paths, and certain suggested paths, all intended to make email management enjoyable, efficient and effortless. The hardware required is minimal. Any PC with 256k memory and 500k of disk space. The file structure for the email database is an advanced database structure where each message area has 2 files containing all the related information (some older systems created endless individual files for each message). OVERVIEW PPoint is a professional network EMAIL management system. It is self installing, FidoNet compatible, and is complete in terms of it's functionality, and automatically installs a few other complex systems it transparently integrates with. PPoint accomplishes all of the tasks required to create, process, and transfer email and files all without the user having to be a "computer nut". A Point system is usually a complex assortment of various processors and utilities, driven by a sophisticated batch file which takes an experienced person to setup. Most of the associated utilities and processors are only used to 30% of their respective capacities, whose design were intended for much more complex data processing. Transferring email requires the ability to manage data locally, and transfer it to/from the Host. PPoint handles everything except the mail packet transfer itself. To transfer data from PPoint, we suggest you use the BinkleyTerm mailer system. PPoint will work with any FidoNet compatible mailer system, however PPoint will automatically do the installation/setup of BinkleyTerm for you (this is the simplest most efficient system). BinkleyTerm is a system which is freely available for noncommercial use (<=3 commercial sites at one time - see documentation for BinkleyTerm) and is the smallest, most efficient of all the various mail processors. There are processors that are easier to setup, and that have more Page 3 PPoint - Professional Point System features, BUT, Binkley was our choice since WE do the setup for it internally through PPoint, and you don't even notice it. Part of BinkleyTerm's efficiency is size. Some mailers range from 600k to 2megs in disk size, where Binkley is less than 250k. The additional features available in other processors are simply not needed for managing a Point, but again, PPoint can be used with any mail processor. PPoint also allows you to use your favorite editor. Most users get use to an editor, and prefer to stick with it. Most users prefer QEDIT. If you don't have an editor, but do have DOS 5, you may want to try Microsoft's \dos\edit, it's a pretty nice editor too. INSTALLATION If you received PPoint on disk, then simply type A:INSTALL and press enter. It will handle the entire installation. If you downloaded an archive of PPoint, unarchive it in any subdirectory. If you don't have one in mind, may we suggest using C:\EMAIL. To install, just run PPOINT.EXE, and read the screens. Later, highlight each pulldown menu item, and Press F1 for a description of it's use. The following files are required to operate PPoint... PPOINT.EXE The Main program PPOINT.HLP Help file data PPOINT.HLX Help file index (Usually in an archive named POINT???.ZIP) The following files are created by PPoint... PPOINT CFG 441 02-25-92 PPOINT ARE 106 02-25-92 BINKLEY EVT 42 02-25-92 BINKLEY CFG 756 02-25-92 MAILER BAT 32 02-25-92 The following are additional files you will need to install BinkleyTerm as your mailer. These should either be in your Page 4 PPoint - Professional Point System path, or on your PPoint directory. Editor... You can use QEDIT as suggested below, or any other text editor (not a word processor!). You can use \dos\edit which is actually a pretty nice editor if you have DOS 5.0 or later. Q.EXE An editor (Usually in an archive named QEDIT???.ZIP) Archiver... PKUNZIP.EXE An unarchiver (Usually in an archive named PKZ???.EXE [this is a self extracting archive - no unarchiver needed]) Mailer... These should be in your PPoint directory. Note: The current version of Binkley is 2.50. BT EXE 232686 09-15-91 11:39p This is the mailer. BINKLEY LNG 13328 09-15-91 10:13p " " (Usually in an archive named BEXE_???.ZIP) BNU COM 11232 10-26-89 1:56a This is a fossil. (Usually in an archive named BNU???.ZIP) ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Basically, you need the following archives for a complete │ │ setup... │ │ │ │ POINT???.ZIP, QEDIT???.ZIP, PKZ???.EXE, BEXE_???.ZIP, and │ │ BNU???.ZIP. │ │ │ │ NOTE: YOU ONLY NEED THE FILES LISTED ABOVE OUT OF EACH │ │ ARCHIVE. │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you want to use a different mailer, then just alter a file PPoint creates called mailer.bat to accommodate. Page 5 PPoint - Professional Point System ADVANCED NOTES PPoint supports 4d Point addressing (type 2+). This means it will work with current hosts like Squish or Front Door. This packet design is the latest most efficient structure offered by FidoNet. Command line controls ... /P initiates an immediate poll when ppoint is run Command line controls ... /E Exits to dos after the first poll PPoint has one unique feature that is designed to work with mailers like Binkley. If you Poll your Host and there is no mail, the mailer will not exit back to PPoint. To force the mailer to exit, have your Host put a small text file called PPOINT.$$$ in a requestable position. The Host might make a Freq name of HOST which locates PPOINT.$$$. This can be placed on PPoint's autofreq list, causing it to arrive every time the Host is polled. If PPoint detects a file called PPOINT.$$$ in the inbound directory, it will delete it making the intention all very transparent. Distribution, and Registration PPoint is marketed as shareware. It may be used for a 10 day trial period, and then must be registered. PPoint is fully functional. There are no timers, or limits imposed. There are no keys required for installation. Your honesty is our only protection against insufficient future development funds, and we have learned to trust in that with the success of our other shareware products. To register, please fill out the REGISTER.TXT application. You can load it into your word processor or editor, and edit it, or copy it to your printer and do it by hand (COPY REGISTER.TXT PRN). Harvey Parisien Box 323 Station A Kingston, Ontario Canada K7M 6R2 Registering PPoint is only necessary once, and entitles you Page 6 PPoint - Professional Point System to new versions of PPoint as they are released. The latest versions of PPoint will be available on your favorite SDS system, or directly from FidoNet 1:249/114. Registration is $85.00. NON COMMERCIAL users may register for $ 15.00. LEGAL STUFF DISCLAIMER - This program is provided as is. You may use it at your own risk. There is no warranty of any kind or any form covering this program. The author may in no way be held liable for any damage of any form in connection or arising from the quality and/or use of this program and any associated files included with it. Registered users feel free to contact me via NETMAIL, or by calling my BBS for instant support... Harvey Parisien, FidoNet 1:249/114 613-389-3992 BBS ** YOUR FEEDBACK, AND SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED ** Page 7 ┌─────┐┌─────┐ │ ┌─┐ ││ ┌─┐ │┌─────┐┌─┐┌───┬─┐┌─────┐ │ └─┘ ││ └─┘ ││ ┌─┐ ││ ││ │ │└─┐ ┌─┘ │ ┌───┘│ ┌───┘│ └─┘ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ └─┘ └─┘ └─────┘└─┘└─┴───┘ └─┘ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Professional Point System ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Copyright (c) 1992 Harvey Parisien Box 323 Station A, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA K7M 6R2 FidoNet 1:249/114 U S E R S G U I D E PPoint - Professional Point System RUNNING PPOINT When you run PPoint, by entering PPOINT at a DOS prompt, or selecting it from a system menu, it will display a title screen, and then immediately bring you to the main pulldown menu interface. The use of pulldown menus has been implemented to organize your availability of various functions at different times, and by separating them into separate related areas. The first pulldown menu is the set of functions that relate to HOST connections, and management. The next pulldown menu contains functions related to MAIL management. This is the menu you first arrive on when you run PPoint, since it's the area most commonly used. The other two menus are OPTIONS, which is where not so common functions are made available, and the SETUP. The Setup menu contains all of the various user definable options, and settings required to operate and maintain PPoint. A TYPICAL PPOINT SESSION A typical PPoint session might start where you would choose HOST TRANSFER on the HOST pulldown menu. This will transfer any outstanding mail created by your system to your Host, and process any incoming mail or files from your Host. Your system automatically dials your Host, connects, and transfers information. When a Host transfer is complete, and if you have received mail, you will find yourself on the MAIL pulldown menu, on the selection READ NEW MAIL. This is the next logical choice you would make when mail is received. * * * Let's review each PPoint function one by one. Page 9 PPoint - Professional Point System M e n u F u n c t i o n S u m m a r y H O S T M E N U Host Transfers This connects you to your HOST system (or boss node) to collect new mail/files, and send any outstanding mail from your system. It is not necessary to have mail to send in order to connect to your host. You can Poll for mail when ever you wish to see if there is anything waiting for you on the host system, or to request or send files. You will have the option to set a timer to Poll at a future time. If you choose to do so, the screen will display the Poll time, and current time. Pressing Esc aborts the Poll, any other key starts immediately. After 60 seconds (or pressing the space bar) of waiting, the screen will blank, all except for the timer display. If you use the Timer, then after the Poll is completed the screen will go blank again after 60 seconds, to preserve your hardware. Activity Report This displays your systems log, which shows details on processing mail into and out of PPoint, and information on transfers to your host. View Outbound This shows any files waiting in your outbound area. These are files waiting to be delivered to your host on your next transfer. View Inbound This shows any files received from your host on previous transfers. Request Files This allows you to request files from your host. For a list of your hosts files, you just simply request FILES. It is not necessary to have mail to send in order to connect to your Page 10 PPoint - Professional Point System host. You also will have the option to request any new entry automatically every time you connect with the host. This is handy if your host has an updated file continually waiting for you. This feature can also be used to cause your mailer to exit even if there was no mail received from the host. Usually the host will have a file called ABOUT which is a very small text file containing information on your host. Send Files This allows you to send files to your host. This can be a complete drive and path description. This will be sent to your host on your next transfer. It is not necessary to have mail to send in order to connect to your host. You also will have the option to send any new entry automatically every time you connect with the host. This is handy if you have an updated file to continually send to your host. Exit This exits PPoint to DOS M A I L M E N U List/Goto Areas This displays a list of all the current message areas on the system. As PPoint receives new areas, they are automatically setup (no need to fuss with configuration files). This function allows you to select an area to read mail in. Read/Reply Messages This is the area where you read and/or reply to mail. You can list areas, and messages from the READING AREA, as well as export or print messages. Page 11 PPoint - Professional Point System Keys available in the READING AREA are... The following keys display the AREAS LIST: A or Del. The following keys display a MESSAGE LIST: M or Ins. The Arrow keys move to next or previous messages. The Esc key or Mouse Button 2 exits this area. R=Reply to a message, E=Enter a message, F=FIND a message. C=Change/Edit a message (only if it was from you). K=Kill a message, P toggles Private on/off. Home=Goto the First message, End=Goto the Last message. ^E=Export current message. ^P=Print current message. ^R=Resends a message (only if it was from you). F10 SHELLS TO DOS (and clears the screen). Enter Messages This allows you to enter a new message in any area. You can also enter new messages from the READING AREA, as well as export or print messages. See help in that area. Read your new mail This checks all message areas for mail addressed to you. You can check your whole message database, or just UNREAD mail. Find & Read messages This allows you to search all message areas for a match to your search text in the To or From fields, or the Subject field in the entire message base (all areas). A future version will allow you to search one or all message areas for a match to your search text. You will be able to search messages in the To or From fields, or the Subject field, or even the message body. Search queries will be able to be store d for repeated use. Export a message This allows you to send a message to a disk file of your choice. A default file will be suggested, this is the one you indicated during setup. You can change it anytime in setup, or just modify it on the fly. Page 12 PPoint - Professional Point System Print a message This allows you to send a message to a dot or laser printer. O P T I O N S M E N U Shell to DOS This allows you shell out to dos, leaving PPoint resident. To return from a DOS shell, type EXIT at the dos prompt, and press ENTER. Blank Screen This function just clears the screen if you want to leave it blank for a while. They say if you leave your screen blank and stare at it for about 10 minutes straight without blinking you'll see rabbits. Delete old mail This deletes old messages based on how many days old they are. Each area can be set for a different number of days. See help in Setup: Edit Message Areas/Delete days. Pack databases This removes all deleted messages from your databases. It provides more disk space, and makes things process a little faster. Manual processing This allows you to manually copy mail packets into your inbound, or outbound areas and process them. You should know about network structure before attempting this. Page 13 PPoint - Professional Point System S E T U P M E N U Message Display Mode The message display can be toggled to show internal network addressing information. This can be annoying to the average user, and is by default turned off. Color/Monochrome Allows you to choose Color or Monochrome monitors. Directories This is where you setup your various directories. As you go through this area, you are explained what each directory is for. Generally you are recommended to use the defaults. Printer This is where you choose your printer type (dot or laser) and printer port number. Archiver/Editor This is where you choose the archiver your host will be using. Sound On/Off Sound has been used at a minimum, and when it is used it's very quiet. If you still find it annoying, by all means turn it off. Screen Length PPoint can be used with various screen lengths. Some monitors only use the standard 25 line mode. Feel free to try any one of the settings. PPoint will tell you if any mode is not supported. Page 14 PPoint - Professional Point System Edit Message Areas/Delete days This is where you can edit the area names. By default, incoming message areas are named after there network area tags. These names are sometimes not as descriptive as you may like, so this allows you to rename them. Add New Message Area This is where you can add new areas manually. In case you want to enter a message in an area you don't yet have. Otherwise, these names area automatically added as mail is received. Delete a Message Area This is where you can remove an area, and the associated message databases. User/Host/Mailer Info This is where you setup your user name, and point addressing. You host will provide you with the addressing details. * * * Registered users feel free to contact me via NETMAIL, or by calling my BBS for instant support... Harvey Parisien, FidoNet 1:249/114 613-389-3992 BBS ** YOUR FEEDBACK, AND SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED ** Page 15