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Text File | 1992-06-16 | 29.6 KB | 597 lines

Tag Line Xpress v1.1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ release date 06/19/92 Introduction ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tag Line Xpress (TLX) is an enhanced tagline manager for offline message mail readers. A tagline is a single line comment that is added to the end of each message by mail readers, and is often a funny or ridiculous statement. Most mail readers available today have limitations to the amount of taglines they can handle, and one has to physically select a tagline from what could well be a sizeable collection, or the mail reader will cycle through the available taglines sequentially or randomly. TLX makes the job of maintaining and selecting taglines infinitely easier. Tag Line Xpress (TLX) supports UNLIMITED taglines. TLX uses a database to store your tagline collection, and keeps a count of how many times each tagline has been used. TLX will read the message you are sending, and suggest taglines from the database depending on the subject and contents of the message, giving priority to lesser used taglines. TLX can steal taglines from entire QWK mail packets. There is even a quote enhancement feature that places a quote box around the message that you are responding to. TLX is self installing (when used with the Silly Little Mail Reader or Off Line Xpress). Any mail reader that supports a tagline manager can be set up to use TLX. Mouse users will appreciate the Mouse Menus that allow you to handle almost all operations without using the keyboard at all! When Mouse Support is selected, and a functioning mouse is located, TLX will display the mouse menu on the right side of the screen with all the normal alpha-numeric characters displayed. Clicking on a character in the Mouse Menu is the same as typing it in. All features in TLX are fully configurable. TLX only needs 260K of system memory to work, any memory over that including Expanded Memory will be used by TLX for dynamic caching and buffers. Tag Line Xpress (TLX) is being distributed under the Shareware concept, you may freely copy and distribute TLX in it's original unmodified archive form. TLX is NOT crippled or restricted in any way, the shareware version is a fully functional program to allow you to evaluate it's performance - except for the random appearance of a nag screen reminding you to register. After a reasonable evaluation period you are expected to register TLX with the author and send in a registration fee of US $10.00 (ten US Dollars). Once you send in your registration fee, you will receive a valid registration number that will eliminate the nag screen, send $10 is cash or a check to the author at : R.Janorkar 651 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY 10304-2409. please include your full name, mailing address, version number of TLX you are using, and the mail reader program you are using. If you send a registration fee of US $25.00 (twenty five US Dollars) or more, you will also be mailed the next release of TLX when it is available. What's New ~~~~~~~~~~ TLX v1.1 fixes a couple of minor glitches, and also introduces a new Mouse Menu that allows you to use a mouse for virtually all operations in TLX, including typing in new taglines! Quick Start ~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are using SLMR or OLX mail readers, TLX will install itself automatically. If you are using another mail reader you will need to manually install TLX within your mail reader. This section is for SLMR and OLX users only. Copy the distribution files into your mail reader directory, or create a new directory for TLX. The location of TLX when it is installed is important, since the installation process writes this information into the changes it makes in the SLMR or OLX configuration file. If you have to move TLX after it has been installed, you must re-install it from the new directory. Once the files have been copied, simply type TLX at the DOS command line, and TLX will start the installation process. When TLX is started for the very first time it will ask if you want to continue before beginning installation. TLX will then modify the mail reader configuration files and create all the necessary batch files it needs. The tagline database is also created. Next TLX will display the default settings that it will use every time it is run. You can modify these and Save them to the TLX configuration file. TLX will then look for tagline files and if it finds one it will display the name of the tagline file and ask if you want to use that file. If TLX can not recognize any tagline files it will ask you to enter a file name. You can press ENTER to accept the default name it finds, or type in a new drive:\path\filename.ext. TLX will then read all taglines into the database, and remove duplicates. Once it is completed, TLX will ask if you want to rename this tagline file so your mail reader will not use it (this saves memory and results in faster operation). Type Yes, since the reader configuration has been modified to disable the internal tagline support. Press ENTER to accept the name of the file that TLX suggests, or enter a new file name. TLX is now installed and ready for use! The original mail reader configuration file will be saved as CONFIG.OLD, if ever you wish to undo all the changes that TLX has done to the mail readers' configuration, you can copy this file over the mail reader configuration file (CONFIG.OLX for OLX and CONFIG.MR for SLMR). You can now use TLX by starting up your mail reader. When you reply to a message, TLX will intercede and place a quote box instead of the normal xx> quote symbols. Note that if you initiated a new message then there will be no quote box. You can now type your message as you normally do. Once you save the message and exit your editor, you will see the tagline manager menu. TLX will first read the message and analyze it, then suggest taglines from it's database. You can use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate around the menu. If you want to see more taglines press the PageUp or PageDown keys. You can switch between these suggestions and the tagline database, and search for specific taglines in either. You can also view the message that you are processing. Press ENTER to select a tagline (or press the number next to the tagline wanted), or select the Quit without tagline option (or press ESCAPE) to quit TLX without adding any tagline to your message. You can also modify the TLX default configuration settings, or type a new tagline that will also be added to the tagline database. Detailed explanations ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TLX will have to be manually installed into other mail readers. There are two parts to the installation, the quote enhancer and the tagline manager. The specific details are given after the next section describing all the TLX options. TLX requires a minimum of 260K of system memory to work. It may be necessary to enable swapping in your mail editor. If you have EMS memory TLX will use it for dynamic disk caching and buffers. The syntax for TLX is : <d:\path\>TLX <option> <d:\datapath> <d:\path\filename.ext> where <d:\path> is the full drive:\path to the TLX.EXE program file (if not in the same directory); and <option> is the specific feature required (listed below); and <d:\datapath> is the full drive:\path to the TLX database and configuration file; and <d:\path\filename.ext> is the full drive:\path\filename.ext of the feature specific file. Or when in the same directory as the tagline database : TLX this activates the interactive menu mode, all features except Quote Enhancer and Tagline Manager are accessible through the TLX menu. These are the various options (with command line switches) possible with TLX : Install ~~~~~~~ TLX will automatically install itself into the SLMR and OLX mail readers. If SLMR or OLX are not found in the current directory, TLX will ask for the correct path to your reader. Press ENTER if you are in your mail directory, or type in the new path. If TLX still cannot find SLMR or OLX, it will assume that you are using another mail reader and will create generic batch files in the specified directory, or modify the following parameters within the SLMR/OLX configuration file if it is found: ENABLETAGS - taglines will be disabled within SLMR/OLX - 01 REPLYHEADER - header on replies for the Quote Enhancer - Y QSTYLE - quoting style for reply file generated (none) - 01 QSTRING - quote characters to use for reply file (none) -blank- EDITOR - Editor name, TLX batch filename - TLX_RUN.BAT SWAP - swapping enabled - Y SWAPXMSEMS - EMS/XMS swapping enabled - Y QUOTEDFILE - file that SLMR/OLX creates - REPLY.MSG REPLYFILE - file that SLMR/OLX reads with changes - REPLY.MSG The original configuration file is saved as CONFIG.OLD, the TLX database file (TLXTAGS.DBS), the TLX batch files (TLX_RUN.BAT for SLMR/OLX; or TLXQUOTE.BAT and TLXTAG.BAT for other mail readers), and a tagline theft batch file (STEALQWK.BAT) will be automatically created. TLX will then automatically jump to the next feature. syntax (must be in TLX directory) : TLX i or (must be in TLX directory) : TLX Configure ~~~~~~~~~ All features in TLX are fully configurable. These options are saved in a configuration file (TLX.CFG) and are used each time TLX is invoked (and if it finds this file). They are : Your Name - required if Registration number is used Validation Number - when TLX is registered eliminates Nag screen Mouse Support - enable or disable mouse support Reader Signature - use a custom signature instead of the default Auto Tag Select - will select a tagline without any prompting Quoter Enabled - quote enhancer feature enabled/disabled Quote Characters - characters to use instead of random default Strip ANSI Lines - remove ANSI graphic lines while quoting Tag File Name - for Generic tagline mode returns tagline in file Color Selection - set default colors Internal Defaults - use internal default values for all settings Save and Exit - save changes into the configuration file & exit Abort and Exit - exit and abandon changes This configuration file will be used if found, or TLX will use the internal default values if it cannot be found. Note that this is a straight ASCII text file, and may also be edited with a standard text editor (erroneous entries will be ignored). The Registration number is encode with your name, when you register TLX you will receive this number and the nag screens will disappear. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX c <d:\datapath> or if in same directory : TLX Add Taglines ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imports your existing SLMR/OLX or other ASCII tagline file into the database, removes duplicate taglines and builds the index keys. Tagline files must be in straight ASCII format, with a carriage return between each line, and a maximum tagline length of 57 characters. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX a <d:\datapath> <d:\path\tagfile.ext> or if in same directory : TLX Maintenance ~~~~~~~~~~~ The maintenance mode will sort the taglines alphabetically, and remove duplicate taglines. It will also repair the index keys. If at any time TLX appears to behave irrationally, you should use the maintenance option to rebuild the index keys. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX m <d:\datapath> or if in same directory : TLX m or if in same directory : TLX Steal Taglines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TLX has the ability to steal taglines from entire QWK packets. There are four compression formats recognized - ZIP, ARJ, LHA and PKARC - and the respective decompressors must be available in the system path. No duplicate checking is done when stealing taglines. However, after stealing from several QWK mail packets the Maintenance mode may be used to remove any duplicate taglines that may have been imported. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX s <d:\datapath> <d:\path\mailpack.qwk> or if in same directory : TLX Quote Enhancer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Quote Enhancer in TLX is directly compatible with the SLMR and OLX reply message headers, and also Speed Reader. Other mail readers require the following compatibility parameters for this feature to work : Header must begin with =============== ; or || Header must end with ----------------- The only information extracted from this header is the name of the message writer, which must be in the format "From:". If the "From:" string is not found within the message header, TLX will not write the name of the person who wrote the message into the quoted reply. If the header ==== (or Speed Reader ||) is not found, TLX will assume that this is a re-edit of a previous message and will quit without adding a quote box. You must also configure your mail reader to NOT use any quote characters when it creates the reply file. If the TLX configuration is not set to any specific quote characters to use, TLX will generate a random set of quoting characters for each message. If the ANSI strip setting is enabled in the configuration file, TLX will also strip out all ANSI coded lines in the message. The original message's Reader Signature and Network Signature (if any) will always be automatically stripped out. The quote enhancer can be disabled at any time by configuring TLX (note that the reply header from the mail reader will then be present at the top of the message). syntax : <d:\path\>TLX q <d:\datapath> <d:\path\repfile.ext> Tagline Manager (OLX) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is the primary function of TLX. This mode is specifically meant for the SLMR and OLX mail readers, as well as any other mail reader that will allow you to shut off internal taglines (including the reader signature). For other mail readers that follow the John Hancock protocol, use the next mode (Generic). TLX will make tagline suggestions based on the Subject of the message. It will then read the entire message and make more suggestions based on the content of the message. You can use the cursor keys (Up/Down/PageUp/PageDown) to view these suggestions, and select a tagline by pressing the ENTER key or the number shown next to the tagline. If none of the suggestions suit your fancy, you can manually search the tagline database for a suitable tagline. You can also switch between these suggestions and the database, add a new tagline (that is also added to the database), change the Reader Signature on the fly, view the message being processed, modify the default configuration, or quit without adding a tagline or Reader Signature. TLX counts how many times each tagline is used and displays this number next to the tagline. When TLX makes suggestions it will suggest lesser used taglines. If the Auto tagline select is enabled in the configuration, TLX will add a tagline automatically, without any user intervention. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX t <d:\datapath> <d:\path\repfile.ext> Generic Tagline Manager ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This mode is for mail readers that follow the John Hancock method of returning a tagline through a text file to the mail reader. The mail reader must be configured to call TLX with the correct syntax and command line parameters, or simply call the batch file that TLX creates during installation (TLXTAG.BAT) which contains the correct syntax. Since TLX reads the message reply file, a copy of this file MUST be available to TLX. This simply means that the message must be edited before TLX is invoked. Additionally the mail reader must be set up to accept the tagline return file (default name TLX.TAG), or TLX may be configured to use a different tagline return filename. All the options are available as in the standard tagline manager mode, except the Reader Signature - which CANNOT be changed (since the mail reader is only accepting a tagline from TLX). syntax : <d:\path\>TLX g <d:\datapath> <d:\path\repfile.ext> Browse Taglines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TLX contains a built in database browser/editor. You can use the cursor keys to navigate within the database entries (Up, Down, PageUp, PageDown) and press the ENTER key (or the number next to the tagline) to edit a tagline. Once a tagline is selected, a cursor will appear within the tagline window and changes may be made, if the F1 key is pressed the tagline is deleted. You can add a new tagline, jump to a specific record number (the current record number and total records are displayed), or search for a matching tagline. Once you quit, the deleted records are purged from the database. No duplicate checking or sorting is done, if necessary the Maintenance mode may be invoked. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX b <d:\datapath> or if in same directory : TLX b or if in same directory : TLX Dump Database ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This feature converts the TLX tagline database into a straight ASCII text file, one tagline per line separated by a carriage return. The order of the resultant text file is dependant on the order of the database when this feature is invoked, if necessary the Maintenance mode may be called before dumping the database. Once invoked, you will be prompted for a new file name for the ASCII text file, pressing ENTER will accept the default name or you may enter a new file name (with path if required). syntax : <d:\path\>TLX d <d:\datapath> or if in same directory : TLX d or if in same directory : TLX Program Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Displays information about Tag Line Xpress. syntax : <d:\path\>TLX ? or : TLX h or : TLX Other Mail Readers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you attempt to install TLX with any other mail reader, it will create three generic batch files in the specified directory TLXQUOTE.BAT, TLXTAG.BAT, and STEALQWK.BAT. You must modify your mail reader configuration manually to make TLX work with it. The first step is to enable swapping, since TLX requires 260K of system memory to run. Next change the editor name to : <d:\path\>TLXQUOTE %1 where <d:\path\> is the full drive:\path\ to the batch file; and TLXQUOTE is the batch file that calls TLX in the quote enhancer mode; and %1 is the standard system by which mail readers pass the name of the message reply file, but it is possible that your mail reader uses another method (read the reader documentation for more information). You must make one change in the TLXQUOTE.BAT file, add the name of your editor on the second line : <d:\path\><editor> <options> %1 where <d:\path\> is the full drive:\path\ to your editor; <editor> is the filename of your editor; <options> are any applicable options that your editor may need; and %1 is a standard variable that will be replaced with the message reply file name (or enter the name of the file itself). Also configure your mail reader to create a message header for each message that is compatible with SLMR/OLX or Speed Reader format (a line of ==='s on the first line, the message writer's name as "From:" and end with a line of ---'s). TLX will remove this header after it extracts the message originator's name. If you do not use the "From:" in the header, TLX will not write the message writer's name into the quoted message. The next step is to modify your mail reader configuration to enable tagline manager support. If your mail reader can be set to turn off taglines INCLUDING the mail reader signature, you can add the following to the bottom of the TLXQUOTE.BAT file : <d:\path\>TLX t <d:\datapath> %1 where <d:\path\> is the full drive:\path\ to TLX; and TLX t calls the program with the t option; and <d:\datapath> is the drive:\path\ to the TLX database including the trailing backslash; and %1 is a standard variable that will be replaced with the message reply file name (or enter the name of the file itself). If you cannot disable the mail reader taglines altogether, you will have to use the generic tagline support feature that most mail readers have. Normally they allow you to specify your tagline manager program and the tagline return file name. Enter the information contained within the TLXTAG.BAT file in the space for tagline manager and options : <d:\path\>tlx g <d:\datapath> <d:\path\message.ext> where <d:\path\> is the full drive:\path to the TLX program; and TLX g calls program with the g option; and <d:\datapath> is the full drive:\path to the TLX database including the trailing backslash; and <d:\path\message.ext> is the full drive:\path\filename.ext of the message reply file. Note that TLX needs to read the completed message when making suggestions, so you should edit the message before calling the tagline manager. If you can change the tagline return file name you should set it to TLX.TAG (the default name that TLX will use), or any other file name (you will need to configure TLX with this name too). Once TLX has been installed into your mail reader, you must configure TLX. Type TLX on the DOS command line, and select Configure. Modify the specific features as required, then Save the configuration. Next you should import your existing tagline collection by selecting Add taglines. TLX will read the tagline file specified, and import all the taglines. It will then remove all duplicate taglines. If you have several tagline files you can import them all into TLX this way. Speed Reader only ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is specific information for installing TLX into Speed Reader. Versions 1.10 and above - """"""""""""""""""""""""" When TLX first starts up, it will report that it cannot find any configuration files for SLMR/OLX, but it will create generic batch files in the specified reader directory. These files are TLXQUOTE.BAT (quoter utility), TLXTAG.BAT (generic mode tagline manager) and STEALQWK.BAT (command line theft batch file for QWK packets). You must make the following changes within the General Options window in Speed Reader : Initials: NONE Quote String: ___ (blank) Smart Quoting: OFF EXTERNAL PROGRAMS - Editor: command.com /c \speed\tlxquote.bat %s Tagline Mgr: command.com /c tlxtag.bat \sr$reply\$reply.sr Tag Ret. File: tlx.tag (note - if you are using a RAM drive or have your work directory on a different drive, add the drive parameter before the reply file path\name in the Tagline Mgr window). and add your editor name on the second line in the TLXQUOTE.BAT file with %1 as the filename parameter : <d:\path\editor> <options> %1 Versions 1.2c and above (Registered ONLY) - """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Speed Reader when registered (v 1.2c and above) allows you to disable the default reader signature. TLX can then be used in the standard Tagline mode, and works seamlessly within Speed Reader. You must make the following changes within the General Options window in Speed Reader : Initials: NONE Quote String: ___ (blank) Smart Quoting: OFF Taglines: REG. OFF EXTERNAL PROGRAMS - Editor: command.com /c \speed\tlxquote.bat %s Tagline Mgr: (blank) Tag Ret. File: (blank) Note that the tagline manager function is NOT used with these versions, rather we will make changes to the TLXQUOTE.BAT file to allow TLX to operate. Make the following changes to the TLXQUOTE.BAT file - enter your editor name on the second line with the %1 paramter, then add the TLX command line as shown : <leave first line alone> EDITOR %1 TLX t <d:\datapath> %1 You can use the same <d:\datapath> that TLX will have written on the first line. When you reply to a message, TLX will enhance your quote, you can reply to the message, and then TLX will again intercede and show you the TLX tagline selection menu automatically! Disclaimer ~~~~~~~~~~ Tag Line Xpress (TLX) is Copyright (C)1992 R.Janorkar all rights are reserved. Licence is hereby granted for free distribution of this program in it's original unmodified archive form. Tag Line Xpress (TLX) has been released as Shareware, with all features available for evaluation purposes, NO features are restricted or crippled. A nag (reminder) screen will appear from time to time reminding you to send in your registration. After a reasonable evaluation period you are expected to register Tag Line Xpress (TLX) with the author, and send in a registration fee of US $10.00 (ten US dollars). You will receive a valid registration number that will eliminate the appearance of the nag (reminder) screens and enable the author to continue writing more shareware software. This registration number is issued only to the person sending the registration fee, and you may NOT distribute this registration number. If you send a registration fee of US $25.00 (twenty five US Dollars) or more you will also receive the next release of Tag Line Xpress (TLX) by mail when it is available. The registration number will work with all future releases of Tag Line Xpress (TLX), however, the author reserves the right to change the registration method. Tag Line Xpress is provided with NO warrantees, expressed or implied. Use it at your own risk. The author of Tag Line Xpress (TLX) will NOT be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from the ability or disability to use Tag Line Xpress (TLX). The use of Tag Line Xpress (TLX) on your computer system indicates your acceptance of these disclaimers. Please report problems or bugs to the author by mail at the address given above, or you can contact the author on The Photographers Network BBS (718) 876-0337 (*note* this line has been promised by the phone company for 06-19-92). Thanks go to ... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ßeta test team; Ron 'Q' Kulick, Harris 'Speedy' Lam, David 'The Man' Kaufman, and David 'Aardvark' Greenberger; and the users of CatNet, without whom there would be no use for TLX. Copyright notices ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Off Line Xpress and Silly Little Mail Reader are copyrights of Mustang Software Inc; John Hancock is the copyright of Dan Moore and/or Silicon Frog; SpeedReader is the copyright of J.E.Smith; other products mentioned in this documentation may be copyrights of other software companies.