Category : Network Files
Archive   : NWHAT.ZIP
Filename : NWHAT.DOC

NWHAT - Network What
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

The following copyrights and trademarks apply:

NWHAT is a software product of
Precision Data Consultants & William Stackpole
Copyright (c) 1989. All rights reserved.

Novell Advanced Netware is product of Novell, Inc.
PC-DOS is a product of IBM, Inc.
MS-DOS and MS-C are products of MicroSoft, Inc.
Network Assistant is a product of

Written in MicroSoft C v5.1

Disclaimer:

This product is supplied without any warranty of any kind with
regard to this material including, but not limited to, the
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose. Precision Data Consultants shall not be liable for
errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages
in connection with furnishing, performance, or use of this product.


NWHAT - Network What Page 2
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

Purpose:
NWHAT gets various pieces of information from a Novell network
and returns this information to a batch process in the form of an
error level or by writing the result to the DOS enviroment table
as the NWHAT variable.
I wrote NWHAT because I got tired of writing custom menus for
all of my users. Seems like every workstation has a slightly
different set up and requires a different configuration file for
every application on the network.
NWHAT allows dynamic branching within a batch file or Novell menu
based on the work station and user information it can supply. It
also allows me to edit LOGIN scripts with a text editor instead of
going into SYSCON and I use NWHAT to login Network Assistant printer
servers onto the network when the user logs out.


Usage:
NWHAT -command [arguement]

Running NWHAT without a proper command will produce a help screen.


Result Codes: (General)
NWHAT will return a error level or zero (0) if the command com-
pleted successfully.

Errors which keep the program from completing correctly return
an error level of one (1). These errors include:

"Not attach to the Network"
"Out of Environment Space"
"Invalid Command"
"Invalid or Missing Arguement"

These errors will also produce an accompanying error message.

Commands which require simple yes or no result return error levels,
all others commands output their results to the NWHAT variable in
the DOS environment table. If the variable does not exist it is
created. If it does exist it is overwritten with the results of
this command. The information written to the NWHAT variable can
then be read by a batch file using the %NWHAT% syntax or viewed by
entering a SET command at the DOS prompt.

NWHAT - Network What Page 3
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

Commands:

A command must be entered with a proceeding dash (-) or slash
(/) character. Only the first two characters of the command are
required. Improperly entered commands cause a help screen to be
displayed.

Command Purpose

-name Returns the user's LOGIN NAME.
Returns ERRORLEVEL 2 if you are not logged in to the network.

-full Returns the user's full name as entered during the MAKEUSER
process. Spaces are translated to underscore (_) characters
to be compatible with the operation of the SET command.
"UNKNOWN" is returned to the environment if no full name was
ever entered for the user.
If no arguement is entered NWHAT returns the full name of the
user logged in at this workstation. Otherwise NWHAT will the
return the full name of the user with that LOGIN NAME.
Return's ERRORLEVEL 3 if no user by that LOGIN NAME exists on
this server.

-id Returns the user's mail box ID. This is the name of the sub
directory under \MAIL on the SYS volume where the user receives
their mail. This is also where the user's LOGIN script and
PRINTCON configuration files are kept.
If no arguement is entered NWHAT returns the mail ID of the
user logged in at this workstation. Otherwise NWHAT will the
return the mail ID of the user with that LOGIN NAME.
Return's ERRORLEVEL 3 if no user by that LOGIN NAME exists on
this server.

-station Returns the logical station number that this work station is
attached to on the file server.

-physical Returns the physical station number (usually the network
interface card number) of this work station.

-display Returns the video display type. Will return VGA, EGA, CGA,
MCGA or MGA. Defaults to CGA if video card type is unknown.

-logged Returns ERRORLEVEL 0 if the work station is logged in to a
file server. ERRORLEVEL 2 if the network shell has been
loaded but the work station is not logged in.

-fserver Returns the name of the file server name mapped to the
default disk drive or to the drive specificed in the
arguement. If the drive is not mapped to a file server
the primary file server name is returned. If no argue-
ment is entered the current default drive is assumed.
NWHAT - Network What Page 4
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

-volume Returns the name of the disk volume on the file server
mapped to the default disk drive or to the drive spec-
ificed in the arguement.
Returns ERRORLEVEL 2 if the drive is not mapped to a
file server volume. If no arguement is entered the
current default drive is assumed.

-map Returns the network map specification (including the
volume name) of the default disk drive or the drive
specified in the arguement.
Returns "LOCAL" if the drive is mapped to a local DOS
drive. Returns ERRORLEVEL 2 if the drive is not a local
drive and is not mapped to a file server.

-netbios Returns ERRORLEVEL 0 if NETBIOS is loaded.
Returns ERRORLEVEL 2 if NETBIOS is NOT loaded.

-user Used to tell if another user is logged into this file
server. Returns ERRORLEVEL 0 if the Login ID is valid
and the user is presently logged in to the server.
Returns ERRORLEVEL 2 if the Login ID is valid for this
file server but the user is not logged in.
Returns ERRORLEVEL 3 if the Login ID is invalid for this
file server.

Additional Information:

NWHAT writes the results to the "REAL" DOS environment table.
NWHAT searches back through the running programs to find the root
COMMAND.COM. The search technique I'm using works fine on PC-DOS v3.3
and Vectra DOS v3.3 but I have not tested it on other versions of MS
DOS. I adapted it from an assembly routine written by MicroSoft so it
should be pretty reliable.
This does mean that the results of NWHAT will NOT be written to the
environment of a secondary COMMAND.COM! This won't be a problem if you
are running the secondary COMMAND.COM in the single command mode
(the /c switch). Most programs which allow you run a DOS command from
within them (like the Dbase RUN command) use this mode. However programs
like Lotus 123 which run a secondary COMMAND.COM will give you erroneous
results. The NWHAT results will not appear in the environment table of the secondary COMMAND.COM.
NWHAT only overwrites the results of a previous command if the current
command completes successfully so you should always test for an error
level of zero to make sure the NWHAT variable has been updated. This is
particularly important when you are using commands with optional para-
meters since these are most likely to fail from 'Invalid or Missing
Parameter' errors.
NWHAT - Network What Page 5
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

Example batch files:

Example 1: This batch file demostrates a controlled auto login process.

REM NET.BAT

echo off
cls
Rem See if the user is attached to the network.
NWHAT -logged
If ERRORLEVEL 2 Goto LOGIN
If ERRORLEVEL 1 Goto SHELL
NWHAT -fserver
echo This work station is attached to server %NWHAT%
NWHAT -station
echo as station %NWHAT%.
NWHAT -name
echo Login ID is %NWHAT%
Goto END
:SHELL
IPX
NET3
:LOGIN
LOGIN %1 %2
:END


Example 2: Sending and Receiving Files through mail directories

This batch file transfers a file into a user's mail directory.

Rem SENDMAIL.BAT
Rem Command line Usage
Rem SENDMAIL filename LoginID
echo off
cls
NWHAT -id %2
If ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO NO_USER
If ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_NET
MAP M:=SYS:MAIL\%NWHAT%
COPY %1 M: /V
MAP DELETE M:
Echo Mail file %1 delivered to MAIL\%NWHAT%.
Goto END
:NO_USER
Echo %2 is not a valid User ID for this sever.
Goto END
:NO_NET
Echo You must be logged into the network to send mail.
:END
NWHAT - Network What Page 6
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

Rem VIEWMAIL.BAT
Rem Get a directory list of the files in your Mail Box.
echo off
cls
NWHAT -id
If ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_NET
MAP M:=SYS:MAIL\%NWHAT%
DIR M: /P
Pause
MAP DELETE M:
GOTO END
:NO_NET
echo You must be logged into the network to view your Mail Box files.
:END


Rem GETMAIL.BAT
Rem Copy a file from your mail box to the current directory
Rem Usage: GETMAIL filename
echo off
cls
NWHAT -id
If ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_NET
MAP M:=SYS:MAIL\%NWHAT%
IF NOT EXIST M:%1 GOTO NO_FILE
COPY M:%1 /V
MAP DELETE M:
GOTO END
:NO_NET
echo You must be logged into the network to view your Mail Box files.
Goto END
:NO_FILE
echo The file %1 is not in your Mail Box.
:END

Example 3: Edit a login script file without going into SYSCON
This batch file uses the TED editor from PC Magnet
but would work with anything else.

Rem EDLOGIN.BAT
Rem Allows SUPERVISOR (or User) to edit a LOGIN script
Rem Usage EDLOGIN LoginID
echo off
NWHAT -id %1
If ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO NO_USER
If ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_NET
MAP M:=SYS:MAIL\%NWHAT%
If NOT EXIST M:LOGIN. GOTO NO_FILE
TED M:LOGIN.
MAP DELETE M:
Goto END
:NO_FILE
Echo There is no LOGIN script file to edit for this user.
Goto END
:NO_USER

NWHAT - Network What Page 7
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

EDLOG.BAT Continued

Echo %2 is not a valid User ID for this sever.
Goto END
:NO_NET
Echo You must be logged into the network to edit a LOGIN script.
:END

Example 4: Saving and restoring a drive map


NWHAT -map L:
If ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO SET NWHAT=NONE
If ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO END
Rem Sample of Program map and execution
MAP L:=SYS:APPLICS\WS50
L:
WP
IF %NWHAT%==NONE GOTO DEL_MAP
MAP L:=%NWHAT%
Goto END
:DEL_MAP
MAP DELETE %1
:END

Example 5: Keeping a NASSIST print server on line when user logs out

Requires that a dummy user be set up. I use PS for my print servers.
When the user logs out this batch file logs the print server in so
printing can continue normally.

LOGOFF.BAT

echo off
SET PS=NONE
NWHAT -physical
IF %NWHAT%==AA2700010100 SET PS=PS
IF %NWHAT%==346700010100 SET PS=PS
IF %NWHAT%==451000010100 SET PS=PS
IF %PS%==NONE LOGOUT
LOGIN PS

NWHAT - Network What Page 8
A batch file enhancement program for Novell Networks
Version 1.1
Date - 07/26/89

License:

You are free to use NWHAT for your own personal use. You
may copy and distribute NWHAT and the accompanying documentation
provide no fee is charge for other than the copying of the
media. This includes posting NWHAT on Bulletin board systems
and information services.

You may NOT distribute NWHAT without the documentation and
copyright notice. You may NOT use NWHAT in a commercial
application without paying the license fee. You may NOT use
NWHAT in a government application without paying the license
fee except for the Federal government. Federal government
agencies may use NWHAT free of charge.

You may obtain a license to use NWHAT on a single file server
by mailing a check or money order for $20.00 (US) to:

Precision Data Consultants
NE 1670 Old Belfair Hwy
Belfair, WA 98528

If you would like the latest version of NWHAT enclose an
additional $5.00 and we will mail you the most current version.
Either way we will put you on our mailing list and keep you up

to date on all our products.

If you feel that $20.00 is too much to ask for the use of NWHAT
please check the pricing for other network software. If you still
think $20.00 is unreasonable then please do not use NWHAT for
other than personal purposes.

We welcome your suggestions, questions and your bugs/
abnormality reports, give us a call at (206) 275-5597 or
EasyPlex a message on Compuserve (73347,3225).

I would like to express my special thanks to John McCann
Compuserve NOVUSER Sysop for helping me understand the packet
structures for Novell calls and replies.