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- This is a quick write-up on "User Requests" which are supported
- beginning with RaQmSeX 1.43 - I attempted to give perspectives
- for both the users and the SysOps, so some of the information may
- be just "FYI" if you are a user. Mike (22-April-1991)
-
-
- Version 1.44 supports "User Requests". User requests at present are
- for either Files or Messages. SysOps would call these file requests
- "pseudo File Requests", since they do not request files from other
- systems, but rather request a file available for download from the
- BBS. SysOps have total control over User File Requests - a new file
- "DOWNLOAD.QMX" which uses the same format as "FLSEARCH.QMX" allows for
- greater flexibility by bypassing the normal methods, which would allow
- SysOps to define only certain areas as being requestable via RaQmSeX.
- If "DOWNLOAD.QMX" is not found, "FLSEARCH.QMX" is used instead.
-
- User Message Requests are simply requests to turn an area on or off.
-
- User Requests are performed at "Mailbag Upload" time. To create User
- Requests, XRS users simply address a message to "XRS" with requests
- in the text portion of the message. All forms of requests can be
- mixed and matched in a single message, and multiple messages per
- session are allowed as well (for now the subject is ignored). Each
- request must be placed on a separate line! Each line is checked and
- interpreted as follows: If a '.' character is found, the line is
- always interpreted as a User File Request, the areas in DOWNLOAD.QMX
- (or FLSEARCH.QMX if no DOWNLOAD.QMX file exists) for which the user is
- eligible are each searched serially until a matching file is found,
- then the file is sent using the selected file transfer protocol (with
- Z-Modem auto-download, all of this could be easily automated!);
- otherwise, a User Message Request is assumed and the program looks
- through the tables trying to match either the AREA: tag _or_ the
- SysOp-defined 'topic' of the area or if the request is numeric, turns
- on that area number. Using the area number is the easiest method. A
- request to turn an area off is preceeded with a minus sign. Wildcards
- and paths are not allowed! If any user requests are found, a new
- *.PKT file is built without those messages. Note that the "LOCAL"
- (area 0) should be used for User Requests, but RaQmSeX intercepts,
- interprets and removes them from any message area.
-
- Version 1.44 of "XRS Door" (formerly "RAX"/"QMX"/"SeX" or "RQSeX")
- recognizes the "`" as an "escape" character for area requests, to
- force XRS Door to process it even with a period in the echo area
- name (like "comp.pc.prog.c" or whatever) - see example below.
-
- Since XRS Door now supports more than message transport, the clock is
- watched and displayed to keep the user apprised of available time.
- In order to allow users more time if they use the RaQmSeX door, a new
- QMXSETUP.CFG parameter "FreeTime xx" will add 'xx' minutes to the time
- which the system shows as available. NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE
- "*!" (don't enforce time limit) PARAMETER FOR YOUR MENU ENTRY, THE
- PROGRAM WILL LIKELY BE INTERRUPTED BY THE BBS WHEN TIME WOULD NORMALLY
- RUN OUT! Again - this allows you to be more flexible.
-
- An example:
-
- -Dr_Debug
- C Programming Echo
- SOMEFILE.ZIP
- *.ZIP
- C:\RA\USERS.BBS
- XRS411AT.ZIP
- 78
- NEW_ECHO
- `comp.pc.biz
-
- The first one would turn off "DR_DEBUG" echo (note - upper/lower/mixed
- cases are equivalent, and leading spaces are ignored). The second one
- (assuming the SysOp named C_ECHO "C Programming Echo") would turn on an
- area, the third line would search DOWNLOAD.QMX for available areas, and
- attempt to find a matching file to send in them - it would send it with
- the user-selected protocol automatically if found. Both the fourth and
- fifth requests are invalid - if any of these characters ('?', '*', ':',
- '\') are found a file request is ignored. The next request would send
- the file XRS411AT.ZIP if it is found in an eligible area. Next, there
- is an example of a numeric message area request - assuming area # 78 is
- available to you, it would be turned on. The next to the last one would
- turn on an area named "NEW_ECHO" assuming it was found and the level and
- access flags check out, and the last one uses the "`" override to turn
- on an area with a period in the AREA: name (typical in uucp conferences).
-