MAILCFG - Configuration program for Mail Manager

Copyright (C) 1991-92 Morrow & Wilson - All rights reserved

Version 1.34 - May 29, 1992

Mail Manager's configuration file (MAILMGR.CFG) is binary in nature (for
FAST loading), and must therefore be manipulated by the supplied program,
MAILCFG.EXE.

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HINTS
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If you're reading this file BEFORE installing Mail Manager, WE APPLAUD YOU!
Since you went to all this trouble, here are some important pointers for
you to consider:

1 - Your MAIN message base must ALWAYS be configured as conference #1
in MailCFG. This is very important, and Mail Manager simply will
not function properly if your MAIN area is not #1.

2 - Once MailCFG creates your configuration file, and your users
start using the door, you cannot easily re-sort your conferences.

3 - If you have several different TYPES of conferences (such as
local, RBBS-NET, FIDO-NET, etc.), you'll want to consider
how to group the conferences together for the user's purposes.

4 - Will you be adding more conferences at some point? Will you
want those conference names to be inserted in the middle of
your list of conference numbers, or will it be ok to just tack
them onto the end?

5 - After Mail Manager's been running for a while, and you decide to
delete a conference, delete it, but RESERVE THE SPACE FOR THAT
CONFERENCE NUMBER!!! If you don't, your conferences will be
re-numbered (with the axed conference being deleted), and the
unsuspecting users might inadvertantly upload a reply to the
wrong conference number.

If all this is too much to think about for the moment, consider this
relatively simple example... Say you have a total of 3 conferences:

1 MAIN message base
1 RBBS-NET area
1 FIDO-NET area.

Now, if you think at some point that you might add two more conferences
to your list of RBBS-NET conferences, and maybe five more local areas,
here's how you might want the conference numbers to look from Mail
Manager's standpoint:

1 - MAIN
2 - ---
3 - ---
4 - ---
5 - ---
6 - ---
7 - RBBSNET
8 - ---
9 - ---
10 - FIDONET

Now, when you do add an extra local conference, you can insert it
in position #2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Otherwise, your conferences will be ordered as:

1 - MAIN
2 - RBBSNET
3 - FIDONET

... and you would have to tack that new local conference on at
position #4.

Starting to make sense now?

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CONFMAIL.DEF
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OK... with that in mind, if you have a CONFMAIL.DEF file (RBBS-PC's list
of conferences), copy it to your Mail Manager directory, and take a look
at it. If you don't, go ahead and skip this section.

Are your conference types grouped together? Do you want to leave spaces
between any of them?

Now's the time to sort it however you see fit, making sure that your
MAIN area is the very first one listed, at the top of the file.

If you want to add empty conference numbers between any of them,
add the following line:

{EMPTY}U.DEF,

MailCFG will reserve that spot for future use. Using a real quick
example, say you have two conferences, and your current CONFMAIL.DEF
looks like this:

C:\RBBS\MAINU.DEF,C:\RBBS\MAINM.DEF
C:\RBBS\BBSADSU.DEF,C:\RBBS\BBSADSM.DEF

If you wanted to reserve a space between these two, you would edit
CONFMAIL.DEF (the one that you copied to Mail Manager's directory,
obviously) to look like this:

C:\RBBS\MAINU.DEF,C:\RBBS\MAINM.DEF
{EMPTY}U.DEF,
C:\RBBS\BBSADSU.DEF,C:\RBBS\BBSADSM.DEF

Mail Manager will see conference #2 as empty, and you'll be able to go
back into MailCFG to add it in later.

Last thing to note here is that Mail Manager always displays conferences
to the users in columns of 10, like so:

1 11 21
2 12 22
3 13 etc..
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20

If you have a large number of conferences, you may want to take that
into consideration as well.

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FIRING UP MAILCFG FOR THE FIRST TIME
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The first time you fire up MAILCFG, it isn't going to find the configuration
file, MAILMGR.CFG. MAILCFG will report to you as such, and ask you if this
is a first-time setup. (Just answer "Y" at this point).

Just for the record, if you tell it "N", (this is not a first-time
setup), MAILCFG will figure that you started it from the wrong
directory, and will ask you for the correct path/name to MAILMGR.CFG.

After you press "Y", MAILCFG will prompt you whether to A)uto-config, or
M)anually configure your conferences.

A)uto - If you're not familiar with CONFMAIL.DEF, ignore this option,
and choose M)anual instead.

This option will let you choose the path\filename of your
CONFMAIL.DEF, and then ask you for default values to auto-
create for EVERY conference. This can save LOTS of time
if you have many conferences to configure into Mail Manager.

SUGGESTION: At this point, you should key in the path/name
to THE EDITED COPY of CONFMAIL.DEF that you
created after reading the last section of this
document.

MailCFG will then step through your CONFMAIL.DEF and set
things up for Mail Manager's use.

The ONE REQUIREMENT for using CONFMAIL.DEF is that your
MAIN message base absolutely *MUST* be the first conference
listed!

M)anual - Will create a default configuration file, and require you
to manually add all of your conference information.

There are four main screens. Use the cursor keys to move around in each
one. [Esc] always takes you back to the previous level. Now, we'll take
each one individually:

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SCREEN 1 - GENERAL CONFIGURATION (Screen #1 of 2):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unless you're configuring Mail Manager for the first time, this is the
screen that pops up when you load MAILCFG. It looks someting like this:

Name of your BBS................ : RBBS-PC
Remote Sysop Name............... : SECRET LOGONNAME
Sysop First Name................ : SYSTEM
Sysop Last Name................. : OPERATOR
Security to read ALL messages... : 10
Security to use in local mode... : 10
Use ANSI graphics in local mode? : Y
Tagline : Your friendly neighborhood RBBS-PC - (123) 555-1212
Network type (local mode only).. : DOS
Filename to use for extracts.... : RBBS-PC
Default file compression........ : ZIP
Path/Name of your NEWS file .... : C:\RBBS\MAIN.NWS
Path/Name of your FMS directory. : C:\RBBS\MASTER.DIR
Handshake method (F, R, X, N)... : XON/XOFF

Next Screen Edit Conference selections Exit

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now to take these one at a time:

- Name of your BBS................ :

This should be the name of your board as set in RBBS CONFIG.
You can stick anything in here, however. This name will be
shown to the user several times, and will be shown in the
offline mail reader as the board name.

- Remote Sysop Name............... :

This *MUST* be the full name that you use to log on remotely.
Mail Manager will not operate properly if it cannot find you
(the sysop) in the various users files.

- Sysop First Name................ :

Your first name as you are known to your users.

- Sysop Last Name................. :

Your last name as you are known to your users.

- Security to read ALL messages... :

This should be set to either SYSOP or CO-SYSOP level only!
Anyone with this security level or higher can read any
message addressed to any user, regardless of whether or
not it's private!

Mail Manager also uses this security level for many of it's
Sysop-only functions, such as the ability to use the I)nfo
option from Mail Manager's main menu.

- Security to use in local mode... :

Should be set to SYSOP level. Whenever Mail Manager is brought
up locally, it will use this security level, and the Sysop
name(s) as listed above.

- Use ANSI graphics in local mode? :

Either "Y" or "N", and pretty self-explanitory, I think.

- Tagline :

If this is left blank (or "NONE"), Mail Manager will not
append a tagline to the bottom of each message that the user
downloads. This can be anything that you'd like to stick
on the bottom of all messages. (Usually a very brief BBS
advertisement).

Please note that taglines can be different in each conference.
This is simply what you use as a default.

- Network type (local mode only).. :

This setting affects local operation only. Valid settings are:

D = DOS - No file/record locking in place.
Q = DESQview - Use DESQview resource locking.
N = NetBIOS - Use NetBIOS file/record locking, and
implement file sharing. Unless you're running
in a Novell network, this option requires that
DOS SHARE be installed.

Type of network is fully explained in MAILMGR.DOC.

- Filename to use for extracts.... :

Specify up to 8 characters here. All downloaded files will
begin with this filename. You might want to abbrieviate your
board name here to make it clearer to the users once they've
downloaded their file(s). Mine's "NC", for instance.

Using this example, QWK downloads would be named NC.QWK,
and text extracts would be named NC.ZIP, ARJ, or LZH.

Also, all uploaded replies will be expected to have this
filename, with the extension ".REP". Any uploads that don't
have an exact match on filename are ignored.

- Default file compression........ :

Must be three characters, and one of the following:

ARC - Use Katz's PKARC.
ARJ - Use Jung's ARJ.
LZH - Use Yoshi's LHARC.
ZIP - Use Katz's PKZIP/PKUNZIP.

Unless you use Mail Manager's list of archivers, all downloads will
be compressed using this format, and all uploads will be expected
to be in this format. The archiver of your choice absolutely
*MUST* be in a DOS path if you are not using the list of archivers!
Just sticking it in the Mail Manager directory won't do. If you
are using the list of archivers, Mail Manager will use the archiver
list to determine how to call the archiver.

- Path/Name of your NEWS file.... :

Type in the full path to your RBBS-PC news file (usually
MAIN.NWS in your RBBS-PC bulletin directory). If this file
is newer than the user's last logon, it will be included in
their QWK packets. Otherwise it will be skipped when their
QWK packet is created.

- Path/Name of your FMS directory :

If you are using an RBBS-standard FMS directory, and would
like to make a list of new files available to your users
(since their last trip into the Mail Manager door), key in
the full path/filename of your FMS directory here. If you
do not want to use this option, leave this blank, or key
in the word "NONE" (with no quotes).

- Handshake method (F, R, X, N)... :

Allows you to specify the type of flow control that you'd
like Mail Manager to use. The four possible settings are
as follows:

F = FOSSIL (Always try to use a FOSSIL) If Mail Manager
is unable (for whatever reason) to initialize
your FOSSIL driver, it will default to XON/XOFF.

R = RTS/CTS (Use request to send/clear to send)
X = XON/XOFF (Use XON/XOFF)
N = NONE (No handshaking)

If set to R, X, or N:

The FOSSIL argument is passed to Mail Manager from RBBS-PC
in the DORINFOx.DEF file. If Mail Manager finds that a FOSSIL
is active in RBBS-PC, it will automatically attempt to utilize
the FOSSIL, regardless of this setting.

Mail Manager will default back to this setting if it is unable
to use your FOSSIL driver.

Use of a FOSSIL with Mail Manager is further explained in
MAILMGR.DOC.

- Next Screen

Position the cursor over this option, press [ENTER], and you
will be taken to the second general configuration screen.

- Edit Conference selections

Position the cursor over this option, press [ENTER], and you
will be taken to the conference selection screen.

- Exit

Position the cursor over this option and press [ENTER] (or
press [Esc] from anywhere on this screen), and you'll be
asked to save your configuration before MAILCFG exits to DOS.

Thus endeth screen #1.

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SCREEN 2 - GENERAL CONFIGURATION (Screen #2 of 2):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This screen should look someting like this:

Path/Name of your bulletin list. : C:\MAILMGR\MAILMGR.BUL
Path/Name of protocol definitions: C:\MAILMGR\MAILMGR.PRO
Path/Name of list of archivers...: C:\MAILMGR\MAILMGR.ARL
Environment variable to check....: DSZLOG
Modify uploaded msgs date/time? .: No
Location of your BBS.............: Anytown, USA
BBS Phone number (xxx-xxx-xxxx)..: 123-456-7890

Previous Screen Edit Conference selections Exit

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Now to take these one at a time:

- Path/Name of your bulletin list :

Type in the full path to your list of bulletins that you
would like to include to your users in their QWK packets.
This is a text file, and simply lists the paths and names
of your commonly updated bulletins. The default is
MAILMGR.BUL in a directory named C:\MAILMGR. This file
should look something like this:

C:\RBBS\BULLET1
C:\RBBS\BULLET2
C:\RBBS\BULLET3
**C:\RBBS\ALWAYS.BUL
... etc.

The date stamp on these files will be checked against the
last logon date of the user, and if they are determined to
be the same as (or newer than) the user's last logon date,
they will be included in his/her QWK packet.

Bulletins preceded with a double-asterisk "**" are deemed
as "mandatory for inclusion", and will be included in the
user's mail packets regardless of whether or not the user
has turned "off" the ability to receive new bulletins.

Bulletins without the leading double-asterisk are deemed
as "optional", and will not be sent to the user if they
have turned "off" the ability to receive new bulletins.

- Path/Name of protocol definitions :

Type in the full path to the RBBS-PC PROTO.DEF that you
wish to use with Mail Manager. The supplied file MAILMGR.PRO
allows X, Y, and Zmodem via DSZ. The very last protocol
letter listed in this file MUST be "N", for none.

- Path/Name of list of archivers...:

Type in the full path to Mail Manager's list of archivers
(default is MAILMGR.ARL in the C:\MAILMGR directory).
If you do not want to give your users the option of which
compression format to use, leave this line blank, or enter
"NONE" (no quotes), and Mail Manager will use only your
default type of file compression.

See MAILMGR.DOC for further details regarding the format
of MAILMGR.ARL.

- Environment variable to check....:

Key in the name of the environment variable that Mail Manager
is to check to determine where to look for "XFER-x.DEF".
Most of us seem to be using Forsberg's DSZ for transfers,
so in this case you would key in the default name of
"DSZLOG".

When you're finished configuring Mail Manager, check your
environment variable to insure that it points to XFER-x.DEF.
Without XFER-x.DEF, Mail Manager will assume that all file
transfers have failed.

- Modify uploaded msgs date/time? .:

Either "Y" or "N". Setting to "Y" tells Mail Manager to use your
computer's current system date and time for all uploaded replies.
Setting to "N" tells Mail Manager to use the date and time stamp
as it was received in the uploaded reply packet.

Advantage: Having Mail Manager modify this field assures that
all uploaded messages will have the correct date
and time stamp applied before inserting into your
message base(s).

Disadvantage: If a user uploads several replies in the same
mail packet (many do), some mail networks (like
FIDO-NET) will have trouble with several messages
containing the exact same date & time stamp, and
will likely refuse everything but the first msg
of the "offending" group. If you're a member of
one of these networks, you'll probably want to
take the date/time stamp as-received from the user.

- Location of your BBS

The city, state that your system is located in. This is added
to the CONTROL.DAT file that is included in all QWK packets,
is part of the QWK standard, and is not used anywhere else by
Mail Manager.

- BBS Phone number (xxx-xxx-xxxx)

The phone number to your system. This is also added to the
CONTROL.DAT file that is included in all QWK packets, is part
of the QWK standard, and is not used anywhere else by Mail
Manager.

- Previous Screen

Position the cursor over this option, press [ENTER], and you
will be taken to the first general configuration screen.

- Edit Conference selections

Position the cursor over this option, press [ENTER], and you
will be taken to the conference selection screen.

- Exit

Position the cursor over this option and press [ENTER] (or
press [Esc] from anywhere on this screen), and you'll be
asked to save your configuration before MAILCFG exits to DOS.

Thus endeth screen #2.


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SCREEN #3 - CONFERENCE SELECTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This screen should look something like this:


MAILCFG v1.34 - Copyright (C) 1991-92 Morrow & Wilson - All rights reserved.

1 MAIN 11 21 31 41
2 12 22 32 42
3 13 23 33 43
4 14 24 34 44
5 15 25 35 45
6 16 26 36 46
7 17 27 37 47
8 18 28 38 48
9 19 29 39 49
10 20 30 40 50


CONFERENCE SELECTION SCREEN

Use cursor keys to select a conference to edit.

[ENTER] = Edit this conference.
[PgUp] = Move to previous screen.
[PgDn] = Move to next screen.
[Esc] = Finished editing.



You can use the cursor keys, [PgUp], and [PgDn] to switch between all
of the different conferences possible. You can configure as many as
250 conferences. Position the cursor over the conference that you wish
to edit, press [ENTER], and you will be taken to the conference edit screen.

*************************************************************************
* It is VERY IMPORTANT to have your MAIN message area as the first *
* conference listed, and that ALL MAIL MANAGER USERS have sufficient *
* security to at least READ in this area! Mail Manager uses this *
* internally for some of it's functions (such as W)ho's online). *
*************************************************************************

Press [Esc] when you're finished editing your conferences, and you'll
be taken back to the general configuration screen.

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SCREEN #4 - CONFERENCE EDIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once you've pressed [ENTER] at the conference selection screen, up will pop
something that looks like this:



Editing Conference #1

Conference Name .............................: MAIN
Path/Name of conference USERS file:
C:\RBBS\MAINU.DEF
Path/Name of conference MESSAGES file:
C:\RBBS\MAINM.DEF
Allow ANSI graphics in uploaded messages? ...: Y
Allow high & low ASCII in uploaded messages? : Y
Security level to READ this conference ......: 5
Security level to POST in this conference ...: 5
Tagline for this conference:
NONE
Use Fido-style tearlines? ...................: N
Is this a FIXED-LENGTH message base? ........: N


- Conference Name

Up to 7 characters that you will use to describe this conference
to the users. Normally set as the first 7 characters of the name
of the MESSAGES and USERS file, although you can put anything in
here.

The important thing is to describe the conference as fully as
possible (for the users) in the 7 characters that you have
available.

If the conference name is left blank, or it is set to "{EMPTY}",
pressing [F10] will cause MAILCFG to ask you whether or not to
reserve a space for this conference number. If you do NOT
reserve the space, this conference number will be skipped when
you save your settings.

- Path/Name of conference USERS file

Full path to your users file for this conference.

A quick note here: You really should have a unique USERS file
for each conference/subboard. RBBS-PC does not absolutely
require this, but it is necessary to keep the last message read
in each conference updated, and for Mail Manager to know exactly
which messages to extract and prepare to download for the users.

- Path/Name of conference MESSAGES file

Full path to your messages file for this conference.

- Allow ANSI graphics in uploaded messages?

"Y" or "N". If set to "N", Mail Manager will strip all escape
characters out of uploaded messages, effectively disabling
ANSI.

- Allow high & low ASCII in uploaded messages?

"Y" or "N". If set to "N", Mail Manager will strip all high
and low ascii characters out of uploaded messages, replacing
them by either blank spaces, or an equivalent "normal"
character.

The most common reason for disabling both ANSI and ASCII is
to conform to FIDO-NET rules & regs, although there are
several reasons why you might want to disable ANSI.

- Security level to READ this conference

Minimum security level required to see this conference listed
in Mail Manager's configuration menu. If the user does not
have sufficient security to READ this conference, the conference
name will be replaced by " --- " in Mail Manager's menu, and
the user will not be allowed to download messages in this
conference.

- Security level to POST in this conference

Minimum security level required to leave a message in this
conference. If the user's security level is lower than this,
yet the same as (or higher than) the security required to
READ, any messages that he/she uploads to this conference
will result in the following:

A Mail Manager security violation notice being passed
back to the user in the MAIN area, as a private message.
This message will be shown as being from "MAIL MANAGER".

The uploaded message itself being ignored. Nothing
will be posted in the conference.

- Tagline for this conference

The tagline that you want to use for this particular conference.
If set to "NONE", Mail Manager will use the default tagline. If
the default tagline is also "NONE", no tagline will be appended
to the end of the message.

- Use FIDO-style tearlines?

During our development of Mail Manager, there was much discussion
to and fro in the various echo conferences regarding the
allowability of mail reader tearlines "---". At this writing,
it is not clear as to whether or not these additional tearlines
on echo messages will be permissable. In any case, we gave you
an out. Set this to "Y", and any mail reader tearlines will
be replaced by three blank spaces. Set to "N", and they will
be passed into the message untouched.

- Is this a FIXED-LENGTH message base?

Very important, and either "Y" or "N". RBBS-PC and Mail Manager
handle fixed-length conferences differently from those that are
configured to "grow" as messages are added.

Press [Esc] or [F10] when finished with the conference.