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- eXpress Response System "Quick Start" instructions:
-
- (for a more detailed description, see the
- "Checklist" inside the main documentation)
-
- 0) Before you can really use XRS, you must get an XRS 'mailbag' or a .QWK
- format mail bundle from your favorite BBS.
-
- 1) Create and change to a new sub-directory on your disk - name it "XRS".
-
- 2) Unarc XRS45COR.ZIP - it contains files essential to all RESP*.EXE versions.
- XRS uses RTLink+ "Run-Time Link" technology. 75% of the program code which
- never changes (the Turbo C library, C_Worthy Interface library, CXL, etc) is
- permanently coded into XRS$CORE.RTL (the "Run-Time Library) which each of the
- various RESP*.EXE program versions uses, linking in the routines at run-time,
- rather than requiring me to issue several 100K of the same code over and over
- again with each new release (this file has not changed since XRS v3.43 which
- was released over 6 months ago).
-
- 3) Unarc either XRS450XT.ZIP or XRS450AT.ZIP ("XT" runs on any machine, "AT"
- requires a NEC V20/30 or 80186 or higher CPU). This contains a binary native
- language (English) overlay - other languages are available - and also has the
- RESPONSE.EXE, RESP_OVL.EXE & RESP_OVL.OVL for "XT" version, or RESP_286.EXE,
- RESP_RTL.EXE & RESP_RTL.OVL files in the "AT" version. The overlayed version
- in each case takes 80k less memory to run, and if you have 96k LIM/EMS 3.2+
- or XMS 2.0 memory, it runs at 100% the speed of the non-overlayed version,
- since XRS automatically 'caches' overlays using that memory instead of disk.
-
- 4) Unarc XRS45DOX.ZIP - which contains the complete documentation. Depending
- upon your personal knowledge of the program, you will likely want to print
- either the "_NEW_IN_.450" file or "XRS450.DOC" (the complete documentation).
- You will want to adjust your "CONFIG.XRS" file to best fit your own computer
- environment and fine-tune your personal preferences, including macros, etc.
- You might want to rename "CONFIG.DMO" to "CONFIG.XRS" as a starting point -
- it is a good 'generic' starter configuration file which will help you begin
- to exploit many of XRS's advanced features now, allowing you to get XRS "up
- and running" first and consult the docs as you begin to use the program, so
- you can fine-tune later. Experienced XRS users should read the "CONFIG.NEW"
- file to see which parameters and options might be useful in your situation.
-
- 5) If you want .QWK support, you must have Rudi Kusters' "eXpress Conversion
- System" (XCS) programs - at least the two named QWK2XRS.EXE and XRS2REP.EXE
- although all the other programs allow you to convert to and from many other
- formats including "flat" text files, to and from fidonet *.PKT format, to
- and from VAX VMS mail, etc. They also allow you to re-use 'archived' XRS
- format mail, slice and splice mailbags apart (or together), etc. Make sure
- the programs are either in the same subdirectory or available on your "PATH"
- somewhere. "XCS100.ZIP" is current as of this writing.
-
- 6) Enjoy! You are now ready to read, quote, reply or create messages at your
- leisure offline, using either the 'native' XRS mailbag format or the 'alien'
- .QWK format (which is converted to XRS "ISAM" format for speed of access).
-
- (Remember: Before you can do any useful with the program, you must download
- your first mailbag from your favortite XRS- or .QWK-supporting BBS!)
-