Category : OS/2 Files
Archive : BW212OS2.ZIP
Filename : BWAVE2.DOC
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader, version 2.12 OS/2
Copyright (C) 1992-1994 by Cutting Edge Computing
All Rights Reserved.
Operations Manual
Written by George Hatchew
Cutting Edge Computing
PO Box 90476
Burton, Michigan USA 48509
BBS Support Number: 810-743-8464 (online credit card registrations)
FAX Support Number: 810-743-5910 (FAX and FAX/back cred. card registrations)
Voice Tech Support: 810-743-9283 (for registered users ONLY!)
For Registration Information, Please see the following files:
REGISTER.BW - Registration form for anywhere in the world.
REGISTER.EUR - Registration form for Europe.
REGISTER.AUS - Registration form for Australia.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
LICENSE AGREEMENT 3
INTRODUCTION 4
What is Offline Mail? 4
Why Bother to Read Mail? 5
What Will The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Do For Me? 6
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 7
Software Requirements 7
Hardware Requirements 7
Required External Programs 8
Optional External Programs 8
COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS 9
INSTALLATION AND SETUP 10
THE PRIMARY MENUS 12
The Setup Menu 12
The Miscellaneous Sub-Menu 13
Global Reader Toggles 13
Message Reading Options 15
Enter/Reply Options 18
Tagline Configuration 20
Printer Configuration 22
Color Configuration 23
Video Configuration 24
The Directories Sub-Menu 29
The Archivers Sub-Menu 36
The Strings Sub-Menu 39
The Registration Sub-Menu 41
GLOBAL COMMAND KEYS 42
THE MAIN MENU 45
Open Mail Packet 45
Closed Packet Menu 46
Packet Management 47
Setup Parameters 48
Quit The Blue Wave 48
THE OPEN PACKET MENU 49
Read Mail Packet 49
Enter New Mail in Any Area 52
View, Edit or Kill Replies 52
Welcome Messages and Bulletins 52
Offline Configuration 53
File Request/View New Files 53
Quit and Close Packet 53
THE CLOSED PACKET MENU 55
Enter New Mail in Any Area 55
View, Edit, or Kill Replies 55
Offline Configuration 56
File Request 56
Quit to Main Menu 56
OFFLINE CONFIGURATIONS 57
FILE REQUESTING 61
READING MESSAGES 63
Message Movement 64
Message Command Keys 67
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
-----------------------------
THE REPLIES MANAGER 75
ENTERING MESSAGES 78
Entering Local, Echomail, and QWK-style Messages 78
Echomail versus Netmail 80
Entering Netmail 81
KEYWORD SEARCHING 86
USING THE MOUSE 88
TAGLINES 92
Installing John Hancock 93
The "Prompt" Tagline Selection Type 93
Tagline File Format 95
TAGFILES.BW 96
USING THE BLUE WAVE MAIL DOOR 98
APPENDIX A
Files Created, Maintained, and Used by the Reader 99
PRODUCT SUPPORT 100
INDEX OF KEY WORDS 101
LICENSE AGREEMENT
-----------------
Cutting Edge Computing has taken every precaution to ensure that no
harm or damage will occur on systems running The Blue Wave Offline
Mail Reader. However, we cannot be responsible for any damages or
other losses suffered as a result of running The Blue Wave Offline
Mail Reader on your system. The user assumes full responsibility for
the proper use of this mail system, whether damage occurs as a fault
of operator error or software error. NO WARRANTIES ARE IMPLIED OR
EXPRESSLY STATED.
The Blue Wave Offline Mail System and this documentation are
copyrighted materials of Cutting Edge Computing. Cutting Edge
Computing reserves all rights to these materials, and is protected
under United States and International Copyright Laws. No part of
these materials may be reproduced or modified in any way without the
prior express written permission of Cutting Edge Computing.
Use of The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader constitutes acceptance of the
stated terms and conditions. Cutting Edge Computing reserves all
rights which are not expressly granted.
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader is fully copyrighted, and said
copyright is registered in Washington D.C. with the United States
Copyright Office. The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader is NOT FREEWARE.
It is distributed under the concept of ShareWare. Users are allowed
to try this program in its unregistered state for 30 days before
paying for and registering the mail system with Cutting Edge
Computing. If, after 30 days, you decide that The Blue Wave Offline
Reader performs to your expectations, you are required by law to pay
for and register your copy with Cutting Edge Computing. If the
software does not meet your needs, and you do not plan on registering
with Cutting Edge Computing after your 30 day trial period, you are to
cease usage of the mail system. Continued use beyond the authorized
evaluation period requires payment of the registration fee in full.
Cutting Edge Computing grants an unlimited license to make and
distribute unregistered copies of this software. Absolutely no
modifications to the files contained in the software package,
including this documentation file, may be made before distribution.
No fee may be charged by anyone other than Cutting Edge Computing
beyond the actual cost of providing these copies without the prior
written consent of Cutting Edge Computing.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 3
INTRODUCTION
------------
Welcome to the world of offline E-Mail! You are about to evaluate one
of the easiest to use, most powerful, most configurable, and one of
the most popular offline mail systems available today. The Blue Wave
Mail System
is for novices and experts alike. After over two years of
development, refinement, and never ending user input, The Blue Wave
Mail System has become a favorite offline mail system all over the
world. Several thousand people, from all over the world and from all
50 States have found the enjoyment and informative world of E-Mail
come to life through the use of The Blue Wave Offline Mail System.
But, no matter what OTHER people think, you're about to see and use
the mail reader for yourself.
Because Cutting Edge Computing believes in the concept of ShareWare,
and several thousand registered users from across the globe also
believe in the concept, this offline reader is here for you to
evaluate today, and pay for it tomorrow. ShareWare works because
authors and users alike believe in the system. Please do your part if
you use the mail system for more than your thirty day evaluation
period; register your copy!
Complete registration details are found in two separate files
contained within the Blue Wave reader's distribution archive.
REGISTER.BW contains registration information for ordering your
registration key in the United States, Canada, and where a local
registration site is not available. REGISTER.EUR contains
registration information for ordering your registration key from
anywhere in Europe, and REGISTER.AUS is for those living in Australia.
What is Offline Mail?
---------------------
Before we begin the details of The Blue Wave Offline Reader
Operations, let's take a moment to look at the history of offline mail
readers.
Back in the early to mid 1980's, many people were beginning to get
home computers, modems, and began communicating in several ways
through Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's). BBS systems began offering
message bases, where people of similar interests could communicate
with each other through electronic means. In many ways Electronic
mail (E-Mail) was faster than the traditional first-class mail through
the postal service. You could leave a message to a friend, and sign
off of the BBS system. As soon as the recipient signed on, they would
see a copy of their message, and could respond immediately, on line.
As time went on, commercial services began offering E-Mail which could
be transmitted to the message recipient several thousands of miles
away in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds. Eventually, many
people had become dependant on e-mail.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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While the commercial companies were developing new and better ways to
transmit e-mail across the world, so were the amateur BBS operators.
Several amateur e-mail networks and technologies were formed. One of
the largest amateur e-mail networks still popular today is FidoNet.
(Don't let the term 'amateur' fool you. Many of the people that are
responsible for keeping FidoNet up and running may be classified as
amateurs, but several years of experience and knowledge, and sometimes
thousands of dollars of equipment, have earned them a respectable very
title.)
Today, FidoNet is over 25,000 nodes strong, and still growing! As the
networks and the number of home computer users has grown, the need for
reading and replying to e-mail offline has become more and more
essential. When BBSing was young, there was plenty of time to read
and reply to messages on-line. Today, with more users than ever and
more e-mail flowing than ever, there just is not enough time for every
user to spend a half hour, an hour, or even two hours on-line to their
local BBS. Long distance phone rates can also get to be outrageously
expensive after just a few of these sessions per month.
This is where offline mail reading comes into play. With today's
innovations in offline mail processing, you can spend just a very few
minutes per day on-line to your favorite BBS system and do all of your
work offline, where there is no time limit to run up against, and
where the phone company's meter is not running.
Best of all, you can read your mail at any time you like. Today's
communications software allows you to build script files, which in
turn allows you to retrieve your mail automatically at even the oddest
times of the day or night (especially when long distance phone rates
are low). When you're ready to read your mail, all you need to do is
fire up your favorite offline mail system, and you are on your way!
Why Bother to Read Mail?
------------------------
At this point you may be asking yourself; "Why even bother with it
all?". Some people unfamiliar with mail networks and e-mail sometimes
cannot understand the enjoyment and knowledge that can come out of
being an active participant on an e-mail network. Not only can you
communicate with people from all corners of the world, but you can
learn more about your favorite computer software, share recipes with
others, learn how to repair your leaking roof, get advice from others
on product quality ratings, or just join in a chat between long
distance friends.
As a matter of fact, FidoNet offers well over 300 e-mail topics
ranging from Aardvarks to Zymurgy.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 5
What Will The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Do For Me?
------------------------------------------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader will allow you to actively
participate in this fun and fascinating hobby to any extent you like.
You can retrieve mail from your favorite BBS system to your own
computer, where you are free to take your time and enjoy yourself.
You aren't forced against the BBS system's time limits or the long
distance charges. You are also doing your part to allow more people
on your favorite BBS system so there are less busy signals, and more
productive on-line sessions. It is a complete mail manager, which
allows you to reply to messages, save messages to disk in a text file,
print messages to your printer, and help you search out only the
messages that you are interested in through the use of keyword
searching. But most of all, to enjoy yourself!
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 6
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
In order for The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader to be useful to you,
your favorite BBS system must support offline mail reading through the
use of an on-line message bundler, which is sometimes called an
Offline Mail Door. The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader supports
approximately 9 out of 10 BBS message bundle types in use today on BBS
systems. If your host system (the BBS) has The Blue Wave Mail Door
available, you can read packets that it creates with this mail reader.
Another common offline mail bundle type is called the "QWK" mail
packet. The QWK mail packet is in very wide use among several BBS
systems. If the mail packets that the sysop's on-line door creates
has a file extension of "QWK", "QW1", "QW2", etc., the mail packet
will most likely be readable with The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader.
If you are unsure of the type of offline mail that your host BBS
system supports, ask your sysop. He or she will probably be glad to
help get you started in your offline mail experience.
Software Requirements
---------------------
In order to run The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader for OS/2, you must
be running IBM Operating System/2 version 2.0 or higher. The Blue
Wave Reader for OS/2 is a 32-bit multi-threaded application for use in
OS/2 text mode (full screen) or in an OS/2 window on the desktop.
This version of the mail reader is NOT a Presentation Manager
application.
Hardware Requirements
---------------------
Other than the minimum hardware requirements required to run OS/2 v2.0
and higher, the reader requires no special hardware.
Systems equipped with an EGA or VGA video card and monitor can make
use of reader's support for extended line modes, allowing either 43
(EGA systems) or 50 (VGA systems) lines to be displayed on one screen.
The extended number of lines allows you to view more of a message on
the monitor at once.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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Required External Programs
--------------------------
Nearly every offline mail system in existence requires the use of an
external compression program; sometimes referred to as 'archivers' or
'data compression utilities'. There are several popular archive
formats in use on public and private BBS systems today. Some of these
programs are FreeWare, and others are ShareWare.
PKZIP and PKUNZIP by PKWare, and ARJ by Robert K. Jung are two of the
most popular archive formats available. Each of these programs is
ShareWare, and is almost definitely available from the same source you
received The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader. Most people who are
active in BBSing already have these utilities on their system, so you
may be all ready to begin.
LHA by Yoshi is another popular archive program that is FreeWare. If
you cannot find any of these data compression programs locally, you
are welcome to log into The Blue Wave Support BBS (Wild! Blue) in
Flint, Michigan and download them at no cost. The phone number for
the Wild! Blue BBS is 810-743-8464, and the BBS is running a
USRobotics 14400 HST/v32/v32bis compatible high speed modem.
The only other required program for full operation of The Blue Wave
Offline Mail System is an ASCII file or text file editor. OS/2, as
distributed from IBM, contains 2 such editors, and will be installed
for use by the reader's installation program if no other text editors
are found. Both E.EXE and EPM.EXE (supplied with OS/2) work just
fine.
If you already have a favorite text editor, and you would like to use
it to enter messages with the reader, you can do so by modifying the
Editor Command Line in the reader's setup menu (this will be discussed
later). Some excellent text editors that come highly recommended by
other users include BOXER/2 by David Hamel, and QEDIT/2 by SemWare.
All of these files are available on The Blue Wave Support BBS, and are
probably also available on a BBS near you.
Optional External Programs
--------------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader provides an internal means of
loading and executing several optional external programs.
John Hancock, an external tagline selection and beautification utility
for DOS systems by Dan Moore is supported, as well as a quick and
convenient shell to external utilities such as your communications
program and ASCII file viewer/editor.
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader sports a simple interface to an
external spell checker, which allows you to spell check your messages
and replies quickly and easily.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 8
COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
-----------------------
Before jumping into the installation procedures, you should take a
moment to quickly read over the command line parameters described
here. When first executing the reader, you may need to add one or two
command line switches to your command line.
To execute the program normally, simply type BWAVE2 from the OS/2
command line. To override the default reader behavior, add the
following switch(es) to the command line:
-m Forces the reader into MONOCHROME Mode.
-lcd Forces the reader to map colors compatible with LCD displays.
Once the reader is successfully loaded, you can configure all of these
command line switches to your liking in the reader's setup menu.
After they are saved to the reader's configuration file, it will no
longer be necessary to use the command line switches.
There are two more command line parameters that offer more advanced
users great power and flexibility in automating their offline mail
sessions:
-t Forces the reader to execute the defined TERMINAL program
command
line (defined in the reader's setup) automatically upon reaching
the main menu.
-l Automatically loads the NEWEST mail packet in your reader's
'download', or mail packet storage directory upon reaching the
reader's main menu.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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INSTALLATION AND SETUP
----------------------
Your first step is to create a new directory on your hard drive.
Throughout the documentation, the reader's directory will be assumed
to be 'C:\BWAVE'. Of course, if you want to place the reader on a
different drive and directory, that is your option. It is highly
suggested that you follow the manual's directory setup until you
become familiar with the operation of the reader. At that point in
time, you will be comfortable enough with the system to be able to
modify your setup to suit your likings or needs.
All of the files from the reader's distribution archive should be
copied into the C:\BWAVE directory. This includes:
BWAVE2.INS
BWAVE2.EA
INSTALL.CMD
BWSETUP.HLP
TAGFILES.BW
TAGLINES.BW
KEYWORDS.BW
NAMES.BW
The second thing you need to do to install the reader is to run the
supplied file INSTALL.CMD. INSTALL.CMD is an OS/2 command file that
will combine BWAVE2.INS and BWAVE2.EA into one file (BWAVE2.EXE). The
installation command file performs some 'safety' checks, and then
proceeds to do the following:
1) Renames BWAVE2.INS to BWAVE2.EXE
2) Executes EAUTIL.EXE (supplied with OS/2) to reattach the extended
attributes (stored in BWAVE2.EA) to BWAVE2.EXE. If this step
fails, you will still have an executable program, but there will
be no icon (.ICON Extended Attribute) associated with the file.
At this point in time, you're ready to begin running the reader!
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader is, for the most part, self
configuring. When you execute BWAVE2.EXE from the OS/2 prompt, the
reader first checks to see if the reader's configuration file
(BWAVEOS2.CFG) is present. If this is a first time installation, or
it cannot find BWAVEOS2.CFG, you will be asked if you wish to continue
building a new configuration file. If you have made a mistake, and do
not wish to build a new configuration file, press 'N'. Otherwise,
press 'Y', and the reader will begin to perform its initial
installation.
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After selecting 'Y' to build a new configuration file, you will
probably notice a bit of hard disk activity. During this time, the
reader is searching your OS/2 Path statement for several external
programs that may be needed to run the reader. If these programs are
found, they will automatically be placed into your BWAVEOS2.CFG file
with the proper command lines to execute them.
The following programs are automatically inserted into your
configuration file when found: ZIP/UNZIP (InfoZIP Project's OS/2
native archiver utility), PKZIP/PKUNZIP, PKARC/PKXARC, PKPAK/PKUNPAK,
PAK, LH.EXE, LH2.EXE, LHARC/LHA, ARJ, Q.EXE (Qedit, an external text
file editor), EPM.EXE (supplied with OS/2), and finally E.EXE (also
supplied with OS/2).
If you have these programs somewhere on your system, but they are not
included within your OS/2 'path' statement, it will be necessary to
manually insert them into the SETUP menu, which will be described in
the next section.
When the reader is finished building its configuration file, you will
be prompted as to whether or not you would like the reader to create
an object (Icon) on the OS/2 desktop. You may either select 'Y' or
'N'. If you decide NOT to allow the reader to install the desktop
icon, you can allow the reader to do it later by selecting the
appropriate menu item from the reader's SETUP menu (described later).
If you decide to allow the reader to install the Workplace Shell
Object, you will be asked if you want the reader to start in a full
screen or windowed OS/2 session. There are advantages and
disadvantages to both installation types, so the answer you give to
this question is purely a personal preference. If you decide to run
the reader in an OS/2 windowed session, you will achieve greater
performance by turning OFF "Exploding Window Frames" in the reader's
SETUP menu.
After initial installation is complete, the reader will take you to
the Main Menu. From here, you should select option 'S' to be taken to
the SETUP menu. Full, detailed descriptions of every item on the
SETUP menu follows.
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THE PRIMARY MENUS
-----------------
The Blue Wave Offline Reader is divided into four 'primary' menus,
which include the MAIN menu, the SETUP menu, the OPEN PACKET menu, and
the CLOSED PACKET menu. The first menu that you encounter as you
enter the program is the MAIN menu. The main menu has items that take
you to the various functions of the reader.
Navigating the menu system is very easy. You will notice that the
menu selections have their first letters highlighted. You can choose
a menu item by simply typing the highlighted letter on the menu, by
pointing the mouse cursor (if you have a mouse and a mouse driver
installed) at the desired menu item and clicking the left mouse
button, or by moving the highlighted menu bar to the desired item with
your cursor (arrow) keys and pressing ENTER.
Since you are probably eager to get started, we will begin by
discussing the SETUP menu.
The SETUP Menu
--------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader was designed to be extremely easy to
use, yet very configurable. A first glance at the setup menu may seem
overwhelming, but don't let the appearance scare you. It is really
quite easy to navigate and configure to your liking.
When first selecting 'S' from the MAIN menu, you will be taken
directly to the SETUP menu. The setup menu is a pull-down menu
structure that is grouped into several subdivisions: Miscellaneous,
Directories, Archivers, Strings, Registration, and Quit. The
Miscellaneous pull-down menu is further divided into categories to
allow you to find options quickly and easily.
Each menu item on the setup menu contains a short, one-line
description of the menu command at the bottom of the screen to be
meant as a quick reference guide. The help text that is displayed at
the bottom of the screen is loaded from an external file called
BWSETUP.HLP. The reader expects to find BWSETUP.HLP in the current
directory. If the file is not available to the reader, it will
display a red warning message informing you of the fact, and the help
messages will not be available. Although the help text serves as a
quick memory jogging tool, for the most complete description of each
option you should refer to this Operations Manual.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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The Miscellaneous Sub-Menu
--------------------------
As described above, the miscellaneous sub-menu is divided
further into sub categories to make locating certain
options, toggles, and settings easy. This menu is grouped
into Global Reader Toggles, Reading Options, Enter/Reply
Options, Tagline Configuration, Printer Configuration, Color
Configuration, Video Configuration, and "Install Icon to
Desktop".
Global Reader Toggles
---------------------
On-Screen Clock:
If this option is toggled ON, the reader will
display the current date and time on-screen
throughout the entire mail-reading session.
Whenever there is keyboard inactivity, the clock
will be updated. For best overall system
performance (especially with background tasks
running), it is recommended that you turn the On-
Screen Clock OFF.
Mouse Support Enabled:
If you have a mouse installed on your system, the
reader can utilize the capabilities of your mouse
to make your offline mail session nearly keyboard-
free. If a mouse is detected (you must have a
mouse driver installed), the reader normally
activates it and makes it available for use. If
you do not want the mouse support enabled in the
reader, set this option to "No". For full details
of using your mouse, please see the section in the
documentation titled "Using the Mouse".
FidoNet-QWK Compatible:
Due to differences in message formatting between
various message networks, this option is available
in the setup menu. If you use The Blue Wave Mail
System in a FidoNet message environment, you will
need to set this option to "Yes", which is the
default mode. If you use the reader in other
networks, such as RIME, Itelec Net, or almost any
other network, you should set this option to "No".
It will cause the reader to format messages to be
uploaded to the BBS in the appropriate manner.
NOTE OF CAUTION: If you have this option set to
"No" while using the reader in a FidoNet area, you
may get warnings from moderators asking you to fix
your reader! This is the appropriate place to do
it.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 13
Beep on Error Messages:
When the reader wants your attention (an error
message, for example), it normally sounds a short
beep. If you wish to turn off this beep, set this
option to "No".
Exploding Window Frames:
Exploding windows are used throughout the reader
to create a dramatic and eye pleasing effect. If
these exploding windows are too slow on your
system, or they just plain drive you crazy, you
can disable them by setting this option to "No".
"No" is the recommended setting for Windowed OS/2
sessions.
Display Archiver Output:
This option is set to "Yes" by default so that you
are able to see the display of the external mail
archivers when they are in action. This is mainly
provided as a debugging tool so that you can find
problems during your first few uses of the reader.
For a cleaner and faster display, you should set
this to "No" when you are comfortable that your
archivers are working properly.
The reader hides the output of the archivers by
directing their screen writes to the NUL OS/2
device. Some archiving programs (LHA/LHARC for
example) do not allow their output to be
redirected to a NUL device, so their screen writes
will 'bleed through' unless you add a /n2 command
line parameter to LHA.
Packet List 2nd Sort Field:
When displaying mail packets for selection (The
"Open Mail Packet" command and the "Packet
Management" command on the MAIN menu), the packets
are displayed from NEWEST to OLDEST in the
selection window.
If you would like the reader to sort the packets
on a secondary field before displaying them, you
can instruct it to do so here.
There are three settings for this menu item:
None, Root Name, and Extension. When set to None,
the reader does not do any further sorting on the
list of mail packets. They are simply displayed
from NEWEST to OLDEST.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 14
If this option is set to 'Root Name', the packets
will be sorted in alphabetical order, and then by
date and time.
When set to 'Extension', the packets will be
sorted by packet extension, and then by date and
time.
Screen Saver Activation:
The Blue Wave Offline Reader has a built in Screen
Saver option. After the defined number of seconds
have elapsed with no keyboard or mouse input, the
reader will clear the screen and display a moving
window informing you that the screen saver is
active.
If you do not want to enable this feature, set the
number of seconds to 0. If you feel this feature
will come in handy, define the number of seconds
to wait for keyboard inactivity before activating
the screen saver (120 seconds is 2 minutes, etc.).
The maximum value is 9999 seconds, and the minimum
value is 60 seconds. 0 is accepted only to
disable the screen saver activation.
Message Reading Options
-----------------------
Automatic Title Scan:
The reader defaults to showing a "Title Scan" each
time you enter a new message area from the "Choose
Area to Read" menu. The title scan makes it fast
and easy to scan through the message headers in
the message area. On the title scan screen, you
can see information about each message in the area
including the FROM: field, the TO: field, the
SUBJECT: field, and whether you have read or
replied to the message. If you decide to disable
the automatic title scan, it can still be called
up by pressing "T" in read mode.
Automatic Personal Mail Scan:
When you first open a mail packet for reading, The
Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader will automatically
scan for personal messages (messages addressed to
you). To disable the automatic personal mail
scan, simply set this option to "No". A global
personal mail scan can be performed at any time
during your mail session by pressing
the "Choose Area to Read" selection window.
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Noise on Personal Messages:
When this option is set to "Yes", the reader will
sound a two-tone beep in message reading mode
whenever you encounter a message that is addressed
to you. To disable this noise and allow the
family members to continue sleeping, turn this
option off.
Read Messages Sorted on Which Field:
Before reading messages in a message area, the
reader will sort them by their SUBJECT: lines,
FROM: fields, or TO: fields if this option is
enabled. The fields are sorted into alphabetical
order. In order to maintain message threads, the
reader ignores any leading "RE:" characters during
the message sort of subjects.
Save Message Read/Mark/Reply Tags:
This menu item has three different settings: Ask,
Yes, and No.
During a mail session, the reader keeps track of
which messages you have read, which messages you
have replied to, and which messages you have
"marked" for later operations. In order for these
marks to be saved between mail sessions, the
reader must place the 'bookmark' file back into
the mail packet that you are reading. Because
this process involves invoking the external
archivers and partially repacking the mail bundle,
it may take a few seconds on some machines.
If this option is set to ASK, the reader will
prompt you just before closing a packet as to
whether or not you would like to perform the
process of repacking the mail archive, skip the
packing, or simply delete the mail packet.
If this option is set to YES, it will be performed
automatically by the reader.
Begin Reading with First Unread Message:
If you would like the reader to place you at the
first message that you have not read when first
entering a message area, set this option to "Yes".
If set to "No", the reader begins with the first
msg.
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Begin Reading with Last Unread Message:
This function performs similarly to the previously
described option, but it will begin reading
messages after your LAST read message. This
option is most useful when you often skip reading
certain messages by using the automatic title
scan. If you later re-enter the message area, you
will be placed at the point where you quit reading
messages. If you have read the very last message
in an area, you will be placed at the last message
when starting to read. You cannot combine this
option with the above option.
Jump to Next Area with Unread Messages:
When you are finished reading a message area, the
reader will automatically return to the "Choose
Area to Read" selection window. If you would like
the reader to automatically advance to the NEXT
message area with UNREAD messages, set this option
to "Yes". If set to "No", the reader's highlight
bar will stay on the current selection area and
you can advance to another area manually.
Only Display Areas with Messages:
When loading a mail packet, the reader normally
displays ALL message areas that you have turned on
in your offline mail door configuration, even if
they have 0 messages in them. If you would like
the reader to only display message areas that
actually contain messages at the "Choose Area to
Read" selection window, simply toggle this option
to "Yes".
Inform when All Messages have been Read:
After choosing a message area to read through the
"Choose Area to Read" selection window, the reader
normally processes the message area and begins
reading immediately. However, if this menu item
is set to "Yes", the reader will display a
dialogue box with the question: "All messages have
been read. Read Again? (Y/N)" if you have
already read all of the messages in the area you
have just selected.
Delete Mail Packet After Reading:
This menu option comes into play when you have
finished reading a mail packet and are ready to
quit back to the reader's main menu. If this
option is set to "Ask", the reader will ask you if
you want to delete the mail packet you are about
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to close. If you select "No" to this menu item,
the packet will always be preserved (you can later
delete the mail packet through the PACKET
MANAGEMENT function available on the main menu).
Please be aware that once you delete a mail
packet, none of the messages in that packet can be
read again! For this reason, there is no "Yes"
default to this menu item.
Enter/Reply Options
-------------------
Add To Existing Reply Packets:
When the reader unpacks a mail bundle to read, it
checks your reply storage directory to see if a
reply packet already exists for the BBS that you
are about to read mail for. If one does exist,
you are normally asked whether you would like to
continue adding to the reply packet or if you want
to delete it. (This is the default "Ask" mode for
this option)
Some users of the mail system have developed
script files and batch files for their
communications programs that automatically delete
the reply packet after it has been uploaded to the
BBS. Therefore, they assume that if a reply
packet exists in the reader's upload directory
that it has NOT yet been uploaded, and it should
be added to.
When this option is set to "Yes", the reader skips
the "Add to this mail reply bundle" prompt, and
automatically assumes that the packet should be
added to.
When to Quote Message Replies:
When replying to a message, it is often a good
idea to quote a small portion of the message you
are replying to so that the context of your
message is understood. The Blue Wave Offline Mail
Reader has three options for quoting messages.
You can tell the reader to NEVER quote a message
("No"). In this case, the reader will load your
editor with an "empty" file, just as if you were
entering a brand new message.
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If you select "Yes" for this option, the reader
will always quote the message you are replying to,
and load your editor with the quoted message
intact.
If you would like to select whether or not to
quote the message for each one that you reply to,
set this option to "Ask". Each time your press
will first ask you whether or not to quote the
current message.
Insert Quote Header in Replies:
When quoting a message reply, the reader will
insert the "Quote Header" you have defined under
the 'Strings' setup menu item (to be discussed
later). If you want the quote header to appear in
your messages you must enable this option and also
define a Quote Header String to be used.
Prefix Reply Subjects with "Re:":
When replying to a message, the reader normally
takes the subject line of your reply, and prefixes
it with the "Re:" string. This enables other
people to see that this is indeed a reply to a
message, NOT the original message.
For example, if you were to reply to a message
with the subject of "Blue Wave", the message
subject would become "Re: Blue Wave".
Some people like this procedure, and many others
do not. Therefore, you can configure the reader
to behave as you like in this regard.
Automatically Save Messages and Replies:
After entering a message through the reader, a
small menu normally appears with the following
options: Save, Edit, Kill, Check Spelling, or
Make Carbons. You have the option of bypassing
this menu and forcing a SAVE of the message by
setting this menu item to "Yes". Please be aware,
however, that if you need to edit or delete a
message that you have entered, it will be
necessary to do so through the reader's
VIEW/EDIT/KILL Replies menu item.
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Quote-O-Meter Warning Threshold:
The Blue Wave Mail Reader has an internal quote
percentage calculator that can help you to keep
the amount of quoted material in your message
replies under control. When quoting messages, it
is always best to keep the amount of quoted
material to only the essential clips of text that
you need by deleting lines that are unnecessary.
The reader defaults to a quote-warning ratio of
80% on first time installations. This means that
after editing your message, the reader will scan
your reply and warn you if over 80% of your
message is quoted material. If you exceed the
threshold designated here, you'll immediately be
given the option of reediting your message or
continuing.
Although you can disable this option by setting
the percentage to 0, it is highly recommended that
you keep the warning level near the 90% mark. If
your message text exceeds 90% of quoted material,
you should seriously consider trimming your
message down.
Set Default Netmail Bits:
When entering FidoNet Netmail through the reader,
you are asked for the message attributes that you
want to place on the message. This allows you to
define the DEFAULT bits used. See "Entering
FidoNet Netmail".
Tagline Configuration
---------------------
Taglines (or signature lines, as previous versions of the
reader referred to them) have fast become a 'second pastime'
of many people. In fact, some networks even have tagline
sharing echos and conferences where people swap their funny,
witty, and sometimes cynical creations.
Taglines have been dedicated a complete section in the
documentation due to their popularity and the very powerful
way in which The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader allows you to
manage taglines.
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Tagline Selection Type:
This menu item allows you to define the DEFAULT
tagline selection type to be used for placing
taglines on your messages. There are five
possible choices here.
If taglines do not interest you, and you do not
want to be bothered with them at all, simply set
this item to "None". You will never have to
bother with the pesky things.
If you are a creative person, and you want to
customize a tagline for every message you write,
set this option to "Manual". After entering a
message through the reader, you'll be given an
editing field which allows you to type your own.
If you are adventurous, you can opt to have the
reader select taglines randomly from a text file.
(The reader comes with a sample tagline file
called TAGLINES.BW). Taglines will then be
selected at random from the tagline file that you
can define in the 'Directories' portion of the
setup menu.
If you are finicky or want the most power out of
the tagline selection process, set your tagline
selection type to 'Prompt'. After each message
you save in the reader, you'll be given a 'pop-up'
list of all the taglines from your tagline
selection file (TAGLINES.BW). Through this pop-up
list, you can perform ALL of the above described
tagline entry types, or simply select a tagline
that suits your fancy.
If you are plain crazy, or love to have more fun
with taglines than the average bear, hunt down a
program called JOHN HANCOCK, written by Dan Moore.
At the time of this writing, version 3.0 is the
latest. If you cannot find this file locally, you
are welcome to download it free from the Blue Wave
Support BBS (information at the tail end of the
documentation). The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader
features internal support for this external
tagline selection utility. Set the menu option to
read 'J.Hancock' if you would always like to
invoke John Hancock for your tagline selections.
(J.Hancock is a DOS mode program).
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Whichever your preference, if you like taglines,
it is highly recommended that you read the section
of the documentation called 'TAGLINES' for
complete information. The Blue Wave Offline Mail
Reader boasts one of the most powerful tagline
selection systems available in an offline mail
reader!
Check for Dupes Before Adopting:
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader has the ability
to adopt taglines directly out of messages that
you are reading. When you adopt a tagline, not
only do you give it a good home, but you can add
it to your own personal collection of taglines.
Adopting a tagline in the reader will place a
tagline that is on the screen into your
TAGLINES.BW file.
When this option is turned on, the reader will
scan your tagline file to make sure that the one
you are adopting isn't already a part of your
collection.
Printer Configuration
---------------------
Default Printer Port:
The reader is able to talk directly to your
printer for the purpose of printing hard copies of
messages in a download packet and copies of your
replies. Here you need to define the port that
your printer is connected to.
If you constantly get an error message indicating
'Printer is not responding', or 'Error writing to
Printer', make sure that you have the correct port
defined here. Supported printer ports are LPT1,
LPT2, and LPT3.
Printer Init String:
Some printers require an initialization string to
be sent to produce the desired output quality or
font. The reader sends the printer initialization
string EACH time you begin a print job. You can
enter any characters here from the IBM character
set. Many printers use 'escape sequences' for
printer commands. In order to enter an ESCape
character into the string, press
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Printer Reset String:
This field functions very similar to the Printer
Init String, but the reader sends the reset string
to the printer AFTER each print job. Use this
command if necessary to restore the state of the
printer before the init string was sent.
Send Form Feed After Printing Each Msg:
When this option is turned on, the reader will
send a form feed to your printer after printing
each message in message reading mode or view
replies mode.
Send Form Feed After Printing Each Msg in Batch Mode:
The reader prints in batch mode only when you have
'marked' messages for later printing. Batch
printing mode is invoked from the "Choose Area to
Read" selection window with the F5 key (Msg
Utilities).
It is highly recommended that this option be kept
OFF, and is provided for those who really need the
capability.
Color Configuration
-------------------
Custom Color Configuration:
The custom color configuration option allows you
to customize your screen colors while using the
reader in 'message reading mode'. When you select
this option from the menu, you will have the
chance to change the color of several display
items while you are reading messages.
You'll be taken to a new screen. The top half
looks very similar to the message reading screen.
As you change your color configuration, the sample
screen will be updated so you can immediately see
what your color configuration will look like.
After you change your color configuration, you
will be asked if you would like to permanently
save it. To make the color configuration active
for the current session only, press 'N'. If you
would like to permanently save your color
configuration to disk, answer 'Y'.
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Version 1.00 Color Scheme:
Selecting this menu item will set the color
configuration to the Blue Wave version 1.00
default colors. The version 1.00 color scheme is
a black background with bright colored highlights.
Version 2.00 Color Scheme:
Selecting this menu item will set the color scheme
to the Blue Wave version 2.00 default colors. The
Blue Wave version 2.00 color scheme is a blue
message reading background, with easy-to-read
pastel colors used for highlighting.
Version 2.10 Color Scheme:
Selecting this menu item will set the color scheme
to the Blue Wave version 2.10 default colors.
Version 2.10 of the reader allows more color
configurability, primarily to the message header
region of the screen. This color scheme exploits
the new color configuration options; there is a
cyan header background combined with a grey
message reading background for a very dramatic
message display.
Those users with monochrome monitors may find that selecting
the version 1.00 default color scheme will produce the best
results. Of course, if you have a monochrome system, you
are free to customize your color configuration so as to
produce the best results for your system. For added
convenience, the currently active color is displayed in
words at the bottom of the split custom color configuration
section.
Video Configuration
-------------------
LCD Color Mapping:
You should enable this option ONLY if you are
running an LCD screen display that has trouble
displaying the option settings on the SETUP menu.
You can temporarily enable this option through the
use of the -LCD command line parameter.
Monochrome Color Mapping:
You should enable this option ONLY if you are
running a Monochrome video system. This menu item
will cause the reader to 'map' all colors
throughout the mail reader to a 'black and white'
color scheme that is easy to view on monochrome
monitors.
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Unpredictable results will occur if you are
running a color system and toggle this menu item.
Some screens in the reader will be black and
white, while others will be in color. This is
normal behavior. If you are running a color
system, and desire the monochrome color mapping
mode, set the option to ON, save your
configuration, quit the reader, and restart again.
Video Mode:
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader has the ability
to use the extended line modes on VGA and EGA
equipped computers.
If the reader detects an EGA video system, it will
allow you to set the number of lines displayed on
the screen to 43. If the reader detects a VGA
video system, it will allow you to set the number
of lines displayed on the screen to 50.
The extended line modes enable you to view more of
a message on the screen at one time, and see more
of the various selection windows.
Set 25 Lines for Message Editor:
If you are running in one of the extended line
modes (43 or 50 lines per screen), it may be
necessary for the reader to restore the video
system to 25 line mode before shelling to your
message editor.
Some message editors cannot detect extended line
modes, or will not restore the video system
correctly before returning to the reader.
If you experience problems when shelling to your
message editor with extended line mode enabled,
try turning this option on. The reader will set
25 line mode for your editor, and upon returning,
will return the reader's video system to its
original state.
Set 25 Lines for Spell Checker:
Set 25 Lines for OS/2 Shell:
Set 25 Lines for Terminal:
Set 25 Lines for External File Lister:
All of these options work the same as the 'Set 25
Lines for Message Editor' option described above.
The only difference is that they work with their
respectively identified external programs.
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National Language Support
-------------------------
The National Language Support provided in The Blue Wave
Offline Mail Reader is for the convenience of those who use
the reader in countries that do not use the United States'
time, date, and character conventions.
On-Screen Time Format:
If you have enabled the "On-Screen Clock" in the
reader's SETUP menu, you can change the format of
the time displayed in the upper right hand corner
of the screen. There are 5 different options
available, and you can cycle through the options
by pressing ENTER.
The first is "12:mm PM". This will display the
time in a 12-hour format with either the
designation AM or PM appended. This is the common
format used in the US.
The second available time format is "24:mm:ss".
This will display the time in a 24-hour format
with a moving seconds display. In this mode, the
time is updated approximately once per second.
"12:mm:ss" displays the time in a 12-hour format
with a counting seconds display, much the same as
described above.
The final option is "24:mm". If this format is
chosen, the reader will display the time in a
strictly 24-hour format, with no moving seconds
display.
On-Screen Date Format:
If you have enabled the "On-Screen Clock" in the
reader, you can change the date format displayed
in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
There are 5 available options for the display of
the current date.
"Month D, YYYY" will display the full name of the
month, the day of the month, and the current year.
This is the most popular US date format.
"DD Mmm YY" will display the current date in a
more international format. The date is displayed
with the day number first, the first 3 letters of
the current month, followed by the last 2 numbers
of the current year.
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"MM-DD-YY", "MM/DD/YY", and "DD/MM/YY" all
function similarly. The only difference between
them is the order of the month, day, and year and
the number separator used
Double-Byte Language Support:
Some languages, such as Chinese, represent a
"letter" by using 2 bytes, or characters on the
screen. These languages also use the full range
of characters available in the IBM 8-bit character
set.
This poses a problem when messaging on FidoNet,
because the ASCII 141 character () is used in the
network as a "soft carriage return". In order to
present messages properly, the reader must ignore
this character completely. Because this is also a
valid "letter" in double-byte languages, messages
are often-times not shown properly for these
users.
Enabling this option only has one function; it
prevents the reader from ignoring this character,
and it will display it as any other character in
the message.
Because users of double-byte languages often must
change this setting between messages or message
areas, a special key has been assigned in Message
Reading Mode to quickly toggle this function.
Pressing the tilde key (ASCII 126 or ~) will
switch quickly and easily between display modes.
Enable Inbound Translations:
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader allows you to
define a custom inbound translation table for
every IBM 8-bit ASCII character from ASCII 33 to
ASCII 255. When reading messages from disk, the
reader will use the Inbound Character Translation
Table defined to translate FROM: fields, TO:
fields, SUBJECT: fields, and the message text if
this option is turned ON.
These translation tables are mainly for use by
people whose languages require translations of
certain characters to be read properly.
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Enable Outbound Translations:
This option works in much the same way as "Enable
Inbound Translations". However, when this option
is enabled, it will perform the character
translations on OUTBOUND messages. After entering
a new message or reply, the reader will translate
the FROM:, TO:, SUBJECT:, and message text
according to the user defined Outbound Character
Translation Table.
Inbound Character Translation:
Outbound Character Translation:
These options will allow you to define the
respective translation tables. Instructions for
defining the character translations are given on-
screen. The procedure is very self-explanatory, so
a detailed expanation need not be given here.
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The Directories Sub-Menu
------------------------
The directories sub-menu allows you to define several
directories that the reader will use throughout its
execution. This is also where you will give the reader the
name of your message editor (an editor that will save
straight-ASCII text files), default file names used in the
reader, and all of the command lines to call any optional
external utilities you may want to set up.
Download Directory:
The download directory is where the reader will
look for mail packets that you have downloaded
from your host BBS system. Each BBS Sysop selects
a "Packet Name" that identifies his or her BBS.
When you download mail through The Blue Wave
Offline Mail Door, or one of the generic QWK
offline mail doors, you should either download it
to the directory you specify here, or copy the
mail bundle into this directory. If you enter a
directory name that does not exist, The Blue Wave
Offline Reader will ask you if you would like to
create it. If you answer "y", the reader will
attempt to create the directory. If the creation
of the directory failed for one reason or another,
you will be informed of this fact, and you should
create it yourself from the OS/2 command line.
Please note that the reader *needs* these
directories in order to operate properly. If the
reader was unable to create the directory, or if
you wish to do it manually, it is absolutely
necessary that you do so before opening a mail
packet for reading. The expansion of your mail
packet will probably fail if the download and work
directory do not exist.
Upload Directory:
The upload directory is where The Blue Wave
Offline Mail Reader will create your reply packets
to be uploaded to the BBS. Reply packets are
named according to the BBS's packet name that the
sysop has chosen for his or her BBS. After you
have completed reading a mail packet, and wish to
return to the Main reader menu, your reply
directory is checked to see if any files have been
created that need to be uploaded to the BBS.
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When the reader detects that a packet should be
made, the appropriate archiver is used to Mash
your reply packet for transfer to the BBS. If you
downloaded a mail packet called WILDBLUE.TU1, and
have performed an Offline Configuration, a File
Request, or have replies or entered new mail, a
file called WILDBLUE.NEW will be created in the
UPLOAD directory.
If you have generated replies during a QWK mail
packet session, the reply file created by the
reader will end with a ".REP" file extension, and
be placed into the reader's UPLOAD directory.
The next time you sign onto the BBS that you
downloaded the mail packet from, you need to
upload the resulting .NEW file (for Blue Wave
doors) or .REP file (for QWK doors) so that the
mail door can process your reply packet. After
the mail packet has been successfully uploaded,
you can delete the mail packet from your system.
Please note that the upload directory must be
present. Each time the reader is loaded, it
attempts to make the appropriate directories, if
they are missing. If you are having trouble with
the reader and/or external archivers NOT Mashing
your reply packet(s) properly, please be sure that
the UPLOAD directory does indeed exist.
Work Directory:
The WORK directory is where the reader will tell
the external archivers to unMash your mail packet.
This directory should point to a drive and
directory that has plenty of space to hold the
completely unarchived mail packet. While you are
reading a mail bundle, the complete archived
packet is still left in your DOWNLOAD directory.
If you are running on a floppy drive-based system,
you should be sure that you download a small
enough mail packet so that the completely
unarchived packet will still have enough room to
decompress onto one of your floppy drives.
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As with the DOWNLOAD and UPLOAD directories, the
WORK directory *must* exist. When the reader is
loaded, it does a check to be sure that the
directory you have defined does indeed exist. If
not, it attempts to create it. However, the
reader will *not* abort if the directory cannot be
made so that you have the opportunity to go to the
SETUP menu and redefine your directories.
When The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader is exited
properly (through the Q)uit Option on the main
menu), this directory should be removed
automatically by the reader.
You should NEVER place files in the WORK directory
that you do not want to loose! The reader DELETES
THIS ENTIRE DIRECTORY after closing a mail packet
as part of the normal 'cleanup' process. If you
define your work directory as a directory that
already contains files, the reader will warn you.
Editor File Path:
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader requires the use
of an external editor for the purpose of editing
replies and new messages. You should give the
name of the editor you would like to use here.
Although you do not need to enter the full drive,
path, and file name of your editor here, it is
highly suggested. Q.EXE will work just as well as
C:\BWAVE\Q.EXE, but each time the reader tries to
load the editor, a full search of your OS/2 path
must be done in order to locate it. By supplying
the reader with the full path specification, it
will significantly decrease the amount of time it
takes to load the editor. In other words, if
your editor is NOT on your OS/2 path statement,
you *must* specify the full drive, directory, and
file name. The same should be done with ALL of
the external programs that you define in the
reader's setup menu.
If the reader encounters an @F in the editor
command line, it will replace it with the file
name of the message text to be worked on. If @F
is not found the file name will be passed LAST on
the command line.
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Spell Checker Command Line:
The Blue Wave Offline Reader is capable of
interfacing with an external spell checking
program. Many people use a spell checker to spell
check their messages and replies for obvious
spelling errors. A spell checker that comes
highly recommended by many users is ShareSpell; a
ShareWare spell checking program which can be
found on many BBSes, including the Blue Wave
Support BBS. At the time of this writing, the
latest version of ShareSpell available was 2.4b.
ShareSpell is written by Acropolis Software.
The same rules for defining the spell checker
command line apply as for defining the editor
command line described above.
Most spell checkers require you to pass the file
name on the command line of the file that you want
to check. A simple command line for ShareSpell
would be
C:\SSPELL\SS.EXE @F
The '@F' in the command line causes the reader to
REPLACE the '@F' with the name of the file that
contains your message text. As long as you have
the '@F' in the command line, the reader will
worry about passing the file name to spell check.
Terminal Command Line:
The reader has a quick and convenient way to
access a user defined terminal (or communications)
program. From anywhere within the reader, you can
press the keys
Line will be executed.
The rules for defining the Editor Command Line
also apply to the Terminal Command Line; you must
include the full path and file name of the batch
file or program to run if it is NOT on your OS/2
Path.
To help in automating your offline mail sessions,
a command line parameter added to the reader will
automatically load and execute your terminal
program as soon as it reaches the main menu.
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Running "BWAVE2 -t" from the OS/2 command line
will cause the reader to execute the Terminal
Command Line as soon as it reaches the main menu.
This command line parameter will work on both
unregistered and registered versions of the
reader, however, unlicensed copies must wait for
the ShareWare notice.
External LIST Command Line:
The reader has a very simple built in ASCII File
Viewer, or LIST program which is available by
pressing
This command line definition is supplied for those
who would like a more powerful file lister, such
as Vernon D. Buerg's LIST to be accessible while
using the reader.
If *no* command line is defined here, the reader
will prompt you for a file name to view when
pressing
file lister to display the file to your screen,
allowing you to scroll through the file.
However, if you do define a command line here, the
reader will prompt you for a file name, and then
pass control to the external list command line
that you set up. In order to get the file name
that you enter in the reader to be passed to the
external list program, you must use the '@F'
token, just like the Spell Checker Command Line.
A sample command line for the external LIST
command might be:
C:\UTIL\LIST.COM @F
Of course, you will need to replace 'C:\UTIL\'
with the actual drive, path, and file name of the
program that you would like to call.
John Hancock Command Line:
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader sports a very
simple interface to the external John Hancock
tagline selection and beautification utility.
John Hancock is a ShareWare program by Dan Moore
which allows you to select taglines, modify
defined taglines, and much, much more. Full
details on installing the John Hancock program are
given in the section of the documentation about
Taglines.
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If you have John Hancock installed on your system,
and it is located in the directory
C:\BWAVE\JHANCOCK, the command line:
C:\BWAVE\JHANCOCK\JH3.EXE
Is all you need to place here. The reader does
not pass any command line parameters to the John
Hancock program.
All ShareWare programs that are discussed in the preceding
pages are available on BBS systems everywhere. If you have
trouble locating any of these files, you are welcome to
download them free of charge from The Blue Wave Support BBS.
Tagline File Name:
When entering or replying to messages, The Blue
Wave Offline Mail Reader allows you to select a
Tagline in 4 different ways, or none at all. If
the Tagline Selection Type is set to PROMPT or
RANDOM, the file defined here will be used to pull
taglines from. If this file does not exist, the
reader will show an error message, and allow you
to enter a tagline manually.
This default Tagline File Name can be overridden
for each BBS, and even for each message area on
different BBSs, allowing you the most flexibility
of any offline mail system. Please see the
section of the documentation on 'Taglines' for
more information. Specifically, you can scan the
documentation for "TAGFILES.BW". A sample
override file, TAGFILES.BW, should have been
enclosed with your copy of the reader.
Default Message Save File:
When reading messages with the reader, you may
happen upon a message which you would like to save
to disk as an ASCII file. The reader provides the
"S" command while reading messages that does just
that.
Here you can define the default ASCII save file
name that you would like to use. This simply
saves you the trouble of typing the file name each
and every time that you want to save a message to
disk.
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The reader uses a special macro that gets expanded
before you save the file to disk: @AT@.
@AT@ is replaced by the area's AREA TAG before
committing the message to disk. The Area Tag is
supplied by the host BBS system, and often
reflects the name of the message area that you are
reading.
For instance, the International Blue Wave Support
Echo on FidoNet has the area tag of "BLUEWAVE".
The default save file name of
"C:\BWAVE\SAVE\@[email protected]" would be expanded to
"C:\BWAVE\SAVE\BLUEWAVE.TXT" automatically for
you.
Default Replies Save File:
The default Replies Save File is very similar to
the default message save file, except it is used
while viewing your replies through the reader's
Reply View/Edit/Kill mode. The replies manager
allows you to save messages to disk with the "S" -
save reply to disk command.
The reader also allows the use of the macro "@AT@"
in the default replies save file, as described
above.
Default Keyword List File:
When reading messages, it is often necessary to
perform a 'keyword search' to limit the reader to
only displaying messages that contain key words or
phrases. The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader sports
a VERY powerful keyword search system which allows
you to type keywords manually during a message
reading session (the
'keyword list file' (the
A sample keyword list file should have been
supplied in your distribution archive of the
reader. The file KEYWORDS.BW contains information
on building and customizing your own keyword list
search file.
For complete information on keyword searching, see
the section titled "Keyword Searching", later in
the documentation.
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The Archivers Sub-Menu
----------------------
The Archivers sub-menu allows you to define the paths and
command lines that will be used by the reader when Mashing
and unMashing your mail and reply packets. There are 6
entries on this sub-menu. You can define compression and
decompression command lines for ZIP, ARC, PAK, LZH, and ARJ.
There is also an entry called "External". You can use this
"External" Slot for any archivers/unarchivers that may come
along that the reader will not recognize.
When the reader does not recognize the archive format of a
mail packet, the command line entered in the "External" slot
will be used. If that command line fails, the reader will
abort that mail packet, and take you back to the Main Blue
Wave Menu.
Two "macro" characters may be used in the command line
definitions for automatic insertion of the file names and
directories by The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader.
Where the archiver command line needs the name of the file
to be worked on, you should use the "macro" @F. The other
"macro", @I, is usually used as the second command line
parameter to the archiver or unarchiver. For example,
suppose your download directory is "C:\BWAVE\DOWN", and the
packet that you are about to open is WILDBLUE.TU1. You also
have your work directory defined as "C:\BWAVE\WORK". In
order for The Blue Wave Reader to successfully decompress
your mail packet (ZIP compression is assumed), it would need
to execute the following command:
PKUNZIP C:\BWAVE\DOWN\WILDBLUE.TU1 C:\BWAVE\WORK
If you have this defined as your ZIP decompression command
line:
PKUNZIP.EXE @F @I
the reader would do all of the work for you. For each
compression type that the reader supports, a sample command
line will be given. Please remember that if the archiver or
unarchiver you are trying to use is NOT located on your OS/2
path or in your reader directory, you will need to insert
the FULL drive:\path\filename.ext in these fields.
Otherwise, you may just specify the name of the .EXE file.
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ZIP:
These are the suggested command lines for ZIP
compression and decompression:
InfoZIP's ZIP and UNZIP utilities require a
slightly different command line than the rest of
the archivers. Because UNZIP does not support the
option of placing a directory to decompress files
TO on the command line, you must leave off the
'@I' (which is usually required by all other
archivers).
ZIP.EXE -jk @F @I
UNZIP.EXE @F
PKZIP.EXE @F @I
PKUNZIP.EXE @F @I
ARC:
These are the suggested command lines for ARC
compression and decompression. (Please remember
that you may substitute PKPAK and PKUNPAK for
PKARC and PKXARC below).
PKARC.COM -a @F @I
PKXARC.EXE @F @I
PAK:
These are the suggested command lines for PAK
compression and decompression:
PAK.EXE a @F @I
PAK.EXE e @F @I
LZH:
These are the suggested command lines for LZH
compression and decompression. (Please note that
you may substitute LHARC.EXE for LHA.EXE below).
If you have "Display Archiver Output" set to YES:
LHA a /m @F @I
LHA e /m @F @I
If you have "Display Archiver Output" set to NO:
LHA a /m /n2 @F @I
LHA e /m /n2 @F @I
The purpose of the /n2 switch when using LHA is to
prevent 'bleed through' of the archiver output
when "Display archiver output" is set to NO.
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ARJ:
These are the suggested command lines for ARJ
compression and decompression:
ARJ.EXE a -e @F @I
ARJ.EXE e @F @I
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The Strings Sub-Menu
--------------------
"Any Name" Default:
This field is provided as a convenience to you.
It could possibly serve several purposes, such as
to monitor mail to other people, or look for mail
addressed to a different alias than the one(s) you
use on BBS systems. When the reader encounters a
message addressed TO or FROM the "Any Name"
Default, it will act as if it has encountered a
PERSONAL Message. If you have "Beep On Personal
Messages" enabled, the reader will sound a beep
when this name is encountered.
Some BBS host systems have message areas that
allow you to post under ANY alias you like; that
is to say, you can modify the FROM: field of a
when replying or entering a message. The name in
the "Any Name" Default field will be used to fill
in the FROM: field automatically. Of course, you
may change the field if you like. It is only
provided as a default response.
QWK Alias Name:
One of the weaknesses of the QWK formatted mail
packet is the fact that only ONE name is passed
from the host BBS system to the reader. This
presents a problem when you are scanning for
personal messages, especially if you use both your
real name and an alias for posting messages.
The QWK Alias Name is used to scan for personal
messages while you are using the reader in "QWK
mode". You may place any name here you like.
Quote Header String:
The Quote Header string can be used to add some
'color' to your messages. If you have enabled the
option "Attach Quote Header to Replies" in the
setup menu's Enter/Reply Options menu, this is the
string that will be placed at the beginning of all
of your replies. Several MACRO characters are
available, which are replaced by actual text when
quoting:
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@F - This is replaced with the name in the FROM:
field of the message you are replying to.
@FF - This is the First name ONLY in the FROM:
field.
@FL - This is the Last name ONLY in the FROM:
field.
@T - This is replaced with the entire TO: field.
@TF - This is the First name ONLY in the TO:
field.
@TL - This is the Last name ONLY in the TO: field.
@S - This is replaced with the SUBJECT Field.
@D - This is replaced with the DATE of the
message.
@N - Create a New Line, or carriage return.
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The Registration Sub-Menu
-------------------------
When you register your copy of the reader with Cutting Edge
Computing, you will be issued a registration code. The
registration code you receive will tell the reader that you
have indeed paid for your copy, and will unlock the
registered user only features in the mail system.
Additionally, the ShareWare notice screen will disappear,
and there will not be a delay when loading the reader.
When you receive your registration information from Cutting
Edge Computing, you will need to enter the information that
is on this menu:
Registration Name:
Here you should enter your name, EXACTLY as it
appears on the registration form you received from
Cutting Edge Computing. If you do not enter it
EXACTLY as shown on your form, the reader will not
acknowledge your registration properly. If you
used a middle initial or other punctuation, and
this is displayed on your registration form, you
must enter it here. Example: "Jonathan Q.
Public".
Registration Number:
Upon receiving your registration papers, you will
receive a unique registration code. Enter the
code here EXACTLY as it appears on your
registration form.
Secondary Registration
----------------------
The secondary registration fields are provided so that two
separate users can enter registration information into the
reader. The secondary registration name and number serve
the same purpose as the primary registration; they tell the
reader that the person reading the mail packet is a
registered user.
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GLOBAL COMMAND KEYS
-------------------
Before we begin discussing the operation of the reader, it seems
appropriate to discuss the keys that are available throughout the
ENTIRE reader. At *any* point in the execution of the reader, the
following key presses will activate the described function.
-------
Pressing
activate the Global Command Key help window. This help
window briefly describes all of the keys that are available
to be called globally.
-------
The
command line. To exit the OS/2 shell and return to your
mail reading session, simply type "EXIT" at the OS/2 command
line, and press ENTER. The reader will resume execution at
the exact point in which the shell to OS/2 was activated.
-------
Another useful function of the reader is the
This hotkey causes the reader to jump to the SETUP, or
Configuration menu. Unlike the other global hotkeys, the
menu. To enter the setup while you are at the main menu,
simply select the "SETUP" menu item.
When you enter the SETUP menu through the
few menu items will be disabled. Changing the WORK
directory, the DOWNLOAD directory, or the UPLOAD directory
is not allowed when jumping to the setup menu with this
hotkey. Additionally, you cannot change video modes
(25/43/50 line modes) when you do not enter the SETUP menu
through the main menu.
This function is provided to make quick changes to your
configuration while you are currently processing a mail
packet.
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-------
The
The users of Blue Wave affectionately call this the "Boss
Key". If you are hard at work reading messages and your
boss happens to walk in, a quick press of the
will take care of any prying eyes. The screen is cleared,
and a fake "C:\OS2" prompt is displayed. You MUST press the
ESCape key to exit.
-------
The
contains information about the version of the reader you are
using. The version number, the copyright holder, and the
registered status appear at the top of the window.
The bottom half of the window provides you with useful
information about the operating environment of the reader.
The amount of free disk space available on your WORK drive
is also displayed.
-------
Pressing the
the one above the lettered keys on the keyboard. Pressing
correctly) will bring up a Reminder Timer.
The reminder timer serves as a very useful tool. You can
define the number of minutes you would like the reader to
wait before reminding you that your dinner is burning (or
any other life-threatening event).
When the alarm timer has expired, you will be given a screen
show, complete with alarm noise and a snooze button!
-------
Pressing
for a file name to view. The purpose of the
is to allow you to view text files on your drive(s) while
using the reader.
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If you have an "EXTERNAL LIST COMMAND LINE" defined in the
reader's setup menu, the reader will execute that command
line with the file name you type in the window as the
command line parameter.
The reader also has a built-in file viewer. If you prefer
to use The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader's internal file
lister, simply delete any command line defined in this slot.
The reader will automatically use the internal file lister
if no command line is defined.
If you are using the reader's internal file lister,
instructions for moving within the lister will appear on the
bottom line of the screen. To return to the normal
operations of the reader, simply press ESCape.
-------
The
enter your favorite terminal (or communications) program.
When you press
"TERMINAL COMMAND LINE", defined in the reader's setup menu,
is executed.
Registered users of The Blue Wave Offline Mail System also
have the option of using the "-t" command line parameter.
If you execute the reader with the command line "BWAVE2 -t",
the reader will automatically execute the terminal command
line upon reaching the main menu. For advanced users, it is
possible to set up batch and script files to completely
automate your offline mail sessions!
--------------------------
Pressing
the reader to execute an OS/2 command file called
"ALTF1.CMD", "ALTF2.CMD", "ALTF3.CMD", and so on.
The Alt-FKey command files are provided as a further
convenience to you, since you can define your own programs
to run through the reader.
As an example, you can create a command file called
ALTF7.CMD in your reader's directory that calls up your
favorite word processor. When you press
batch file will automatically be called by the reader.
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THE MAIN MENU
-------------
After your initial configuration is complete, you will be returned to
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader's MAIN Menu. The main menu will
also appear as the first menu each time you load BWAVE2.EXE from the
OS/2 command line or Workplace Shell.
From the Main Menu, you can select from five options: Open Mail
Packet, Closed Packet Menu, Packet Management, Setup Parameters, and
Quit.
Open Mail Packet
----------------
When you select "O"pen Mail Packet from the main menu, the
reader will do a quick scan of the directory you have
defined as your "Download Directory" in the SETUP Menu. The
reader will attempt to find all packets that it believes to
be Blue Wave Mail Packets, or QWK Mail Packets.
Any file whose file extension falls into one of the
categories below will be displayed in a selection window:
.Sa1 - .Sa9 ---|
.Su1 - .Su9 | Mail packets with these extensions normally
.Mo1 - .Mo9 | are Blue Wave Mail Door-generated mail
packets
.Tu1 - .Tu9 |
.We1 - .We9 | The file extension indicates the day of the
.Th1 - .Th9 | week the file was downloaded.
.Fr1 - .Fr9 ---|
.QWK The .QWK file extension normally indicates
.QW1 - .QW9 that the file was downloaded from a generic
QWK-style mail system.
.1 - .9 ---| The reader allows you to rename mail
packets
.01 - .99 | to have purely numerical extensions so that
.001 - .999 ---| many mail packets can be saved for later
use.
You are allowed to rename mail packet extensions however you
like. The reader does not care if you rename a .QWK packet
to have a .971 file extension, nor does it care if you
rename it to have a .Su7 file extension. The reader will
auto-detect the type of mail packet it is after
decompression.
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All mail packets are sorted in the packet selection window
from NEWEST to OLDEST. Therefore, you should be able to
find your newest mail packets at the top of the list. You
can scroll through the list of mail packets with your cursor
keys or your mouse to highlight the packet you would like to
read. When you have highlighted the correct packet, press
ENTER.
After the packet has been selected, the reader will
decompress the mail bundle to your defined WORK directory,
process the mail packet, and then look for any reply files
you may have waiting in your UPLOAD directory. If a reply
packet is found for the BBS you are about to read mail for,
you will be asked:
A Reply Packet Exists for this BBS. Do you want to ADD to
it?
If you answer "Y", the reader will then begin to decompress
your reply packet to the WORK\REPLY directory so that it can
be added to during your mail session. If you answer "N",
the reader will DELETE the reply packet for you, and
continue with the mail reading process.
If the unpacking of the mail packets was successful, you
will be taken to the OPEN PACKET MENU (described later).
If the unpacking of the mail packets was NOT successful, the
reader will give you some type of error message, and then
return you to the main menu. In order to read the
troublesome mail packet, it will be necessary to correct the
error condition (it is usually a wrong DECOMPRESSION COMMAND
LINE) and attempt to reload the mail packet.
Closed Packet Menu
------------------
In order to enter the Closed Packet Menu, you must have
downloaded at least one Blue Wave Mail Packet or QWK mail
packet from a BBS, and have opened the mail packet with the
"Open Mail Packet" menu command. Each time a mail packet is
opened, the reader compares the INFormation file (*.INF)
contained in the mail packet with any that may be located in
the main Blue Wave directory. If you do not have an
INFormation file from that BBS, or if the INFormation file
you have is older than the one contained in the mail packet
that you are opening, the reader will make a copy of it in
the current directory.
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The Closed Packet Menu allows you to enter new messages,
perform offline configurations, enter file requests, and
edit or kill replies without having to have a current packet
for the BBS you would like to work with. This is a feature
not available in most offline mail readers.
When you select "C"losed Packet Menu from the Blue Wave MAIN
menu, you will be shown a list of all BBSs that you have
previously downloaded. Highlight the BBS that you would like
to work with, and press ENTER. (If only one .INF file is
available, it will automatically be loaded by the reader.)
As with the Open Packet Menu, the reader will scan your
reader UPLOAD directory for any mail packet that may be
waiting to be uploaded back to the host BBS system and ask
to ADD to the pkt.
Packet Management
-----------------
The Packet Management system allows you to manage the mail
packets that are sitting in the reader's DOWNLOAD directory.
When selecting this menu item, a list of all mail packets in
your download directory is generated and displayed in the
same fashion as when selecting "Open Mail Packet".
When using the Packet Management system, you can mass delete
packets, delete single packets, and rename packets in your
DOWNLOAD directory.
To purge mail packets one at a time, move the highlight bar
to the packet you would like to delete and press ENTER. The
reader will then ask for confirmation. Type "Y" if you wish
to delete the packet. Type "N" or ESC if you do not want to
delete the file.
To delete several mail packets at a time, move the highlight
bar to the first packet you would like deleted and press the
SPACEBAR. Continue this process until you have selected all
packets that you would like purged. When done tagging
packets, press ESC. The reader will then ask for
confirmation before deleting the mail packets. To abort the
deletion, press "N" or ESC. To delete the mail packets,
type "Y".
The packet management system also allows you to rename mail
packets. To rename a mail packet, highlight the packet you
want to rename. Then press F10, or click the left mouse
button on the letters "F10" at the bottom of the screen. A
popup window will appear in the center of the screen, and
ask you for the new file extension you would like to place
on the packet.
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When renaming mail packets from the OS/2 command line, it is
very important that you NOT modify the root name of the
file. The reader will not load the mail packet properly if
the root name of the mail bundle is different from the names
of the files inside of it. (This does NOT apply to QWK mail
packets. QWK mail packets may be renamed any way you like).
Setup Parameters
----------------
Selecting "S" from the Main Menu will take you to the
SETUP/Installation Menu. For full details on the SETUP
menu, please see the previous section in the documentation.
Quit The Blue Wave
------------------
Pressing ESC or "Q" from the Main Menu will allow you to
exit The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader normally. Whenever
you use the reader, you should be sure to properly exit the
program so that anything that needs to be done with your
reply and/or mail packets may be processed. You may loose
your replies otherwise!
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THE OPEN PACKET MENU
--------------------
After selecting "Open Mail Packet" from the main menu and your mail
packet has been successfully opened, you will be shown a new screen
with a new menu.
This screen is referred to as the OPEN PACKET MENU. At the bottom of
this screen, you will notice some information about the current
packet. The file name of the packet that you have open is displayed
on the top border of the information window. Inside the window, you
will find the name of the BBS that the mail packet came from, along
with the Sysop's name.
At this point, your mail packet is open and ready for use. There are
several choices on the Open Packet Menu, and each one will be
described in detail below.
Read Mail Packet
----------------
Selecting "R"ead Mail Packet from the Open Packet Menu will
allow you to read the mail that you have downloaded through
The Blue Wave Mail Door or one of the generic QWK mail
doors. You will be shown a list of all message areas that
you are currently downloading, along with the total messages
in each area, the number of messages in the area that you
have NOT read, and the total number of personal messages in
each area.
Select the message area that you would like to read from
this list, and press ENTER. The reader will then begin the
message reading process for that message area. For the
commands available while reading messages, please see the
section titled "READING MESSAGES".
The screen that is displayed after selecting "Read Mail
Packet" is known as the "Choose Area to Read" selection
window. Much of the power of the mail system is accessible
through this selection window. Below are the descriptions
of the functions available while at the "Choose Area to
Read" selection window:
-----
Position the highlight bar on a message area that you would
like more information on, then press the
window will appear on the screen with more information about
the area that is highlighted.
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-------
The
of all messages that are addressed TO you (personal
messages). After pressing
reading all personal messages, or only the UNREAD personal
messages, if there are any in the mail packet.
-------
The
function. While reading messages, you can 'mark' certain
ones for deletion from a mail bundle. The
is used to actually pack these deleted messages out of the
mail bundle.
The
which have already been read in addition to messages that
have been marked for deletion.
----
As you read messages through the reader, it keeps several
bits of information as to the 'status' of the message.
These status bits include whether you have read the message,
whether you have replied to the message, or whether you have
marked the message for later replying, printing, deletion,
or saving to an ASCII file.
Pressing F1 will allow you to clear, set, or toggle the
status of any or ALL of these bits in either the currently
highlighted message area or all areas in the current mail
packet.
----
The F5 key is a very powerful tool when you want to save
entire groups of messages to either your printer or disk
file.
As you read messages in the reader, you can 'mark' messages
for later Saving, Printing, or Replying. When you are ready
to either save or print these groups of messages, all that
is necessary is to press F5.
You will be first asked whether you would like to save
messages to an ASCII file, or write them to the printer.
Press 'S' to save messages to an ASCII file, or 'P' to print
messages to your printer.
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The next screen will prompt you for which messages you would
like to operate on. You can choose to operate on ALL
messages, UNREAD messages, only your PERSONAL messages, or
messages that are marked for Saving, Printing, or Replying.
And finally, you will be asked if you would like to operate
on ALL areas in your download packet, or only the currently
highlighted message area.
The reader will then proceed to perform the desired
operation on the messages that you have indicated. If, at
any time, you wish to abort the procedure, simply press your
ESCape key or click the right mouse button. If you have
indicated that you want to save messages to an ASCII file,
the reader will then ask you for the file name to save the
messages to.
----
Pressing F7 will allow you to enter a message to the
currently highlighted message area. The reader will perform
the same steps as if you were entering messages elsewhere in
the reader. For more information on entering messages,
please see the section titled "ENTERING MESSAGES", later in
the documentation.
----
Pressing F9 while at the "Choose Area to Read" selection
window will allow you to dynamically change the sorting
parameter for the currently highlighted message area.
After highlighting the message area that you would like to
read, press F9. You will be given a small menu that asks
you for your choice as to how you would like the messages
sorted. You can choose to sort on the FROM: field, the TO:
field, the SUBJECT: field, or to load the messages with no
sorting done on them.
-----
The F10 key is another very powerful feature of The Blue
Wave Offline Mail Reader. Pressing F10 at the selection
window will allow you to read certain messages across
different message areas.
A secondary selection window will pop up on the screen
asking you if you would like to read messages marked for
Saving, Printing, Replying, all personal messages, or only
unread personal messages.
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After pressing F10, the reader will gather all messages that
you have selected from ALL message areas, and begin the
message reading process.
Enter New Mail in Any Area
--------------------------
The "E"nter New Mail In Any Area command will allow you to
post messages in bases that you are not currently
downloading. If you need to enter mail in a base that you
are not downloading, or a base that currently has no
messages in your download packet, you will want to enter
this command.
The reader will then display several message areas,
including ones that you ARE currently downloading.
Highlight the message area that you would like to enter the
new message in, and press ENTER. The reader will go through
the same process just as if you were entering mail through
the message reading mode.
When you are done entering mail, simply press ESCape, and
you will be taken back to the Open or Closed Packet Menu.
NOTE THAT SOME QWK DOOR IMPLEMENTATIONS DO NOT ALLOW THIS
ITEM TO WORK!
View, Edit or Kill Replies
--------------------------
Selecting "V"iew, Edit, or Kill Replies from the Open Packet
Menu will allow you to see inside of your current reply
packet (*.NEW files for Blue Wave Packets, or *.REP files
for QWK packets).
The replies manager is a very powerful system, and is
described in full detail in its own section. Please see
"THE REPLIES MANAGER" for full instructions on using the
View, Edit, or Kill replies mode.
Welcome Messages and Bulletins
------------------------------
The Blue Wave Mail Doors and many of the QWK mail system
doors provide the capability for the Sysop of the host BBS
system to include Welcome Messages and Bulletins with your
download packet. Many times these announcements contain
listings of new message areas available and other important
information.
Selecting this menu item will present you with a list of all
available bulletins and welcome screens enclosed in your
mail packet. You can scroll through the listing of
bulletins and select the one(s) you would like to view.
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Offline Configuration
---------------------
Selecting "O"ffline Configuration from the Open Packet Menu
will take you to the Offline Configuration Menu.
The Offline Configuration Menu allows you to configure The
Blue Wave Mail Door while you are using the reader and not
connected to the host BBS system.
This feature is DISABLED when reading a .QWK mail bundle,
since the various QWK mail packaging systems simply do not
provide a consistent, usable interface between the different
systems. For full details, please see "OFFLINE
CONFIGURATIONS".
File Request/View New Files
---------------------------
If a file called NEWFILES.??? exists in your mail packet,
the reader will display a scrollable listing of the file on
the screen. As you are viewing the new files listing, you
can simply type
window.
If NEWFILES.??? does not exist in your mail packet, you will
get an informational message, and the File Request window
will become active.
For more information on file requesting, please see "FILE
REQUESTING", later in the documentation.
Quit and Close Packet
---------------------
Selecting "Q"uit and Close Packet from the Open Packet Menu
will close the mail bundle you are currently working with,
and return you to the Blue Wave Main Menu.
If you have enabled the option to ALWAYS or PROMPT save of
your message read pointers and marks, the *.XTI file built
by the reader will be compressed into your mail bundle with
the appropriate archiver.
Before completely closing the packet, however, the reader
will ask you if you would like to DELETE the mail packet (if
you have enabled that option within the reader's setup
menu). If you delete the mail bundle, please remember that
there will be no way to read it again!
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The reader will then erase all of the files in your WORK
directory (the uncompressed mail bundle), and archive any
replies, offline configurations, or file requests that you
have made during the current session. If the packet you are
reading is a QWK style mail bundle, the upload file will end
with a .REP file extension, and be placed in your reader's
UPLOAD directory. If you are reading a mail packet from a
Blue Wave Mail Door, your reply packet will end with a .NEW
extension and will also be placed into your reader's defined
UPLOAD directory.
If a reply file is made, you should upload the resulting
reply file the next time you sign onto the BBS that the mail
packet came from. This will complete the mail
download/upload cycle.
If you do not upload your reply packet, your replies will
never make it to the BBS, and any offline configurations you
may have made will not become active.
After the reader returns to the Main Menu, you are free to
quit the reader, or load another packet to read!
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THE CLOSED PACKET MENU
----------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader allows you to perform some of the
same functions that are normally available on the Open Packet Menu
EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE A MAIL PACKET AVAILABLE FOR THE BBS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH!
In order to perform a "Closed Packet" function from The Blue Wave
Offline Mail Reader, it is necessary to have downloaded and opened at
least ONE mail packet from the BBS you would like to work with. Each
time you open a mail packet for reading, the reader checks to see
whether the current BBS information is newer than that which the
reader has stored for use in the Closed Packet Menu. If so, the
reader updates its information, and stores it in your main reader
directory in a file known as the INF, or INFormation, file. The
file's ROOT name will be the same as the packet name that the sysop
has selected for his or her system. (If you download a packet called
WILDBLUE.FR2, the reader will store a file called WILDBLUE.INF in your
main reader directory.)
When you select the Closed Packet Menu from The Blue Wave Offline Mail
Reader's MAIN menu, the reader will initialize itself with the
information stored in one of these files. If only one INFormation
file is found, it will automatically be loaded, and the BBS
information will appear on the lower four lines of your screen. If
more than one INFormation file is available, you will be prompted as
to which BBS you would like to select. Move the highlight bar to the
appropriate BBS, and press ENTER.
Enter New Mail in Any Area
--------------------------
Selecting this option from the Closed Packet Menu will allow
you to enter mail in any area on the BBS that is available
to you. The reader will go through the normal Message Entry
screen, and then load your editor for you to enter the
message.
View, Edit, or Kill Replies
---------------------------
View, Edit, or Kill Replies will allow you to edit any
messages that may be in your current reply file (.NEW file
for Blue Wave bundles, and .REP file for QWK bundles). For
more information on using the replies manager, please see
"REPLIES MANAGER" elsewhere in the documentation.
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Offline Configuration
---------------------
When working with a BBS that uses a Blue Wave Mail Door, the
reader will allow you to perform an Offline Configuration
for the current BBS while at the Closed Packet Menu. Please
see the section titled "OFFLINE CONFIGURATIONS" for detailed
information on performing an Offline Configuration.
File Request
------------
The reader will allow you to perform a File Request from the
Closed Packet Menu, also. This function works the same as
the "Open Packet Menu". For more information on File
Requesting, please see the section in the documentation
regarding "FILE REQUESTING".
Quit to Main Menu
-----------------
After you have finished working at the Closed Packet Menu,
you should select this option, and return to the Main Menu.
Selecting "Q"uit will cause the reader to compress any reply
packets that may need to be processed for uploading to the
host BBS system.
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OFFLINE CONFIGURATIONS
----------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail System will allow you to perform Offline
Configurations in a very simple, easy to use manner. The entire
offline configuration process is menu driven, and does not require
kludgy "messages" to operate, as is required when using other offline
mail systems.
First, a word about offline configurations. Offline Configuration is
a way for you to communicate to The Blue Wave Mail Door any changes
that you may want to make in your DOOR configuration. You can change
your HotKeys mode, Xpert Mode, the message areas that you are
downloading, and keywords/filters. In fact, the only thing that you
cannot change through the Offline Configuration process is the
selection of your Archiver and Protocol.
Offline configurations can save you precious time and money, because
you can take your time setting up The Blue Wave Mail Door the way you
like without tying up the BBS and watching the phone company get rich.
Offline configuration is a feature that is totally enabled upon
registration of The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader. Since the reader
and door are ShareWare products, you are given a fair chance to try
them out before paying for the software. After 5 offline
configurations, this feature is disabled for unregistered users. When
you register your reader with Cutting Edge Computing, the door will
allow you to perform as many offline configurations as you please.
The reader communicates your offline configuration to the door through
your UPLOAD, or reply packet. When you perform an offline
configuration, a special file is placed into your .NEW packet. In
order for the door to recognize that you have made an offline
configuration, you will need to upload your .NEW packet through The
Blue Wave Mail Door. After processing any messages that you have
uploaded, you will see a message from the door indicating that it is
processing your offline configuration request. Your new configuration
is in effect immediately after your packet is uploaded. If you want
your configuration to become active AFTER your current download
session, you should upload the configuration after downloading your
mail packet.
When you first select "Offline Configuration" from either the reader's
Open Packet or Closed Packet Menus, the reader will do a quick scan of
your reply directory to see if any offline configurations are pending
(waiting to be uploaded to the BBS.) If an offline configuration file
is found, you will be asked if you would like to load the NEW
information (that which is waiting to be uploaded to the BBS). To
load the ORIGINAL information, select "N". To load the changes that
are waiting to be uploaded, press "Y". The reader will then take you
to the Offline Configuration Menu.
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The Offline Configuration Menu is only available while reading a mail
packet from a Blue Wave Mail Door. QWK mail systems do not have a
standard interface for offline configuration, so you will need to
check with the sysop of the QWK system for instructions with his/her
mail door.
Password
--------
Press ENTER on the Password option to choose the type of
passwording (if any) you would like to use within The Blue
Wave Mail System. You will then be asked to fill in two
fields.
The first field is the password that you would like to use
to protect your access to either The Blue Wave Mail Door,
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader, or both. Type your
password here.
The second field asks you which type of passwording you
would like. You can selected between "None", which disables
the passwording feature, "Door Only", "Reader Only", or
"Both Reader and Door". Select the option you would like
using the cursor keys, and press ENTER.
Keywords
--------
The Blue Wave Mail Door will scan and bundle messages based
upon Keywords that you may define. To learn how to use
Keywords in The Blue Wave Mail Door, please see "Using The
Blue Wave Mail Door", later in the documentation.
Press ENTER on the Keywords option to edit the Keywords that
you would like the door to use. You can use the cursor keys
to move between the fields, and press F10 when done.
Filters
-------
As with Keywords, The Blue Wave Mail Door will FILTER mail
based upon strings that you may define as Filters. To learn
how to use filters in The Blue Wave Mail Door, please see
"Using The Blue Wave Mail Door" later in the documentation.
Press ENTER on the Filters option to edit the Filters that
you would like the door to use. You can use the cursor keys
to move between the fields, and press F10 when done.
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Macros
------
The Blue Wave Mail Door allows you to define up to 3
Bundling Command Macros. These macros allow you to enter a
bundling command that you use frequently in just 2
keypresses while online. Again, this option can save you
both online time and money.
Pressing ENTER on the Macro Menu option will allow you to
edit your 3 Blue Wave Bundling Command Macros. As with the
previous fields, you can use the cursor keys to scroll
through the fields. Press F10 or ENTER on the last field
when you are finished editing your Bundling Command Macros.
BBS
---
Pressing ENTER on the BBS menu item will allow you to define
whether or not HotKeys, Xpert Mode, and ANSI graphics in the
door are ON or OFF.
Additionally, the "D/L Msgs From You" toggle will tell the
door whether or not you would like to receive messages in
your mail packet that have your name in the "FROM:" field of
the message. (Messages that you have entered on the BBS or
through the offline mail system.)
Areas
-----
Selecting the Areas menu item will allow you to toggle
on/off the message areas on the BBS that you are currently
scanning and downloading.
You will be shown a list of all message areas available to
you on the BBS that is currently active. The message areas
that are currently ACTIVE (those which you are scanning
through the door) will be indicated by an asterisk (*) in
the left-most column. Inactive areas will not be
highlighted.
If an area is currently ACTIVE, and you wish to tell the
door to stop scanning the area, highlight it and press the
SPACE BAR. The (*) will disappear, indicating that it will
no longer be active.
If an area is currently INACTIVE, and you wish to begin
scanning that area for mail, simply move the highlight bar
to the desired message area and press the SPACE BAR.
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When you are done selecting or deselecting areas for
scanning, press ENTER or ESCape. If the reader thinks that
you have changed your area configuration, you will be
prompted whether or not you wish to upload (send the Blue
Wave Mail Door) your area configuration. Press ENTER or "Y"
to save your area configuration to your .NEW packet. If
you wish to discard the area infomration and keep it the
same, press "N".
The next time you log into The Blue Wave Mail Door and
upload your .NEW packet, the door will activate and/or
deactivate the areas that you wish. It will then give you a
list of all active areas.
Quit
----
Selecting the Quit option will return you to the Open or
Closed Packet Menu, depending on where you were when you
entered the Offline Configuration Menu. If you have made
changes to your door configuration, the reader will ask if
you want to save the changes. If you want to save your
changes, press "Y". You should then upload your resulting
.NEW file to the mail door.
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FILE REQUESTING
---------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail System incorporates a powerful File Request
system to save you even more online time and money.
File request sessions are controlled by the Sysop of each individual
BBS system. Therefore, the BBS that you call may not support The Blue
Wave Mail System's file request procedure. File Requesting is also
limited in UNREGISTERED versions of The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader.
You will be given 5 opportunities to try the system's file request
sessions if you are an unregistered user. After you have exceeded
this limit, you must either discontinue file requesting, or register
your copy of The Blue Wave offline Mail Reader with Cutting Edge
Computing. Registered users may file request any number of times,
provided they do not exceed the Sysop's limit of files or any possible
upload/download ratios. ** File requesting in QWK mode is not
supported, due to the fact that few (if any) QWK mail doors support
this option.
Entering your file request through the reader is simple; just choose
"File Request" from either the Open or Closed Mail Packet Menu. You
will then be able to enter up to 10 file names that you would like to
download from the current BBS during your next upload/download session
through The Blue Wave Mail Door. (The sysop may configure the door to
allow less than 10 file requests. If less than 10 file requests are
allowed, you will only be allowed to enter the number of file requests
that your sysop allows). Wildcards in file names (the DOS '*' and '?'
characters) are NOT supported.
Whne you have entered a file request, the reader will include a
special file in your upload (reply) packet indicating to the door
which file(s) you would like to download. When you upload your packet
through the door, it will search the BBS's file directories for the
file(s) you have requested. If they are found, you will be given the
chance to download them.
When installing The Blue Wave Mail Door, the Sysop can indicate which
protocols are BATCH, and which are SINGLE file protocols. The door
will respond differently according to the protocol that you have
chosen.
Single-File Protocols
---------------------
If you are using a protocol that has been installed as a
SINGLE FILE protocol, you will be asked, one by one, whether
or not you wish to download the file that you have requested
while you are ONLINE with The Blue Wave Mail Door. Pressing
"N" will skip the currently displayed file, and continue to
the next file in your request packet. If you wish to
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download the file being displayed, press "Y". The door will
then begin sending you the file with the protocol that you
normally download mail packets with.
Xmodem, Xmodem-1k, and Jmodem are examples of single-file
protocols.
Batch Protocols
---------------
If you are using a protocol that has been installed as a
BATCH protocol, the door will always send you your requested
files in a BATCH. Using a batch protocol gives you not only
increased speed, but also greater flexibility.
The door will build a "batch download queue" of the file(s)
that you have selected. After the door as processed your
last file request, the door will ask you whether or not you
wish to continue with the file request session NOW.
Pressing "Y" will immediately begin your download session.
At this time you should tell your communications program to
begin receiving a BATCH download.
Pressing "Q" will abort the file request session, and
continue just as if no file requests had been received.
Pressing "N" will allow you to download the file requests at
the same time you download your regular mail packet. The
door will return you to the main menu, where you should
select "D)ownload New Mail". After the door has gathered
and bundled your mail packet, it will display the "normal"
screen indicating the file name and size/time of your mail
packet. You will also notice that it says "Req. Size:".
The total size of your file request will be shown here.
Begin your mail download as usual, indicating to your
communications program that you will be receiving a BATCH
download.
The door will then begin sending all of the files in the
"download queue", beginning with the files that you have
requested. Your mail packet will be sent LAST.
Examples of batch protocols include Zmodem, Ymodem, Ymodem-
G, and HSLink.
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READING MESSAGES
----------------
It is highly probable that the great majority of the time you spend
using The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader will be spent actually reading
messages. When it comes right down to it, the entire purpose of the
reader is to allow you to read your mail OFFLINE, while saving you
money in phone connect charges and allowing others to access the host
BBS system.
The reader allows you to enter new messages and reply to current
messages offline too. Besides the obvious savings in online time in
replying, you are not pushed against time limits when creating
messages offline. You have time to think your messages through and
create useful replies. In fact, the advent of offline mail systems
has not only increased the popularity of messaging on BBSs, but has
made networking (with amateur networks such as FidoNet) expand into a
huge pool of useful information.
As you are probably aware, BBS message bases are usually divided into
sub-topics somtimes called Conferences, Message Areas, Echos, and
Special Interest Groups (SIGS). When you download your mail through
The Blue Wave Mail System, these message area distinctions are
preserved. Selecting "Read Mail Packet" from the reader's OPEN PACKET
MENU will take the reader into "message reading mode".
You will be shown a list of all of the areas that you have instructed
the door to bundle messages in, along with the total number of
messages in the area, the total number of UNREAD messages in the area,
and the total number of PERSONAL messages in the area. To actually
begin reading your mail packet, you need to highlight the message area
that you would like to read, and press ENTER.
If you have enabled the Automatic Title Scan option in the reader's
SETUP menu, you will be shown a list of all messages in the current
message area. The title scan allows you to "page" through the
messages and begin reading with the message that you have highlighted.
To begin reading your mail on the first message, simply press ENTER
again when the title scan is shown.
If you press ESCape while reading messages, the reader will take you
back to the Title Scan screen, and position the highlight bar on the
last message that you have read. You can then page through the
messages some more, and press ENTER on the message to read, or press
ESCape again to return to the "Choose Area to Read" selection window.
There are various keys that are active while reading mail. Each one
will now be explained below in detail. At any time while reading
mail, pressing F1 will give you an abbreviated HELP screen, with short
descriptions of each of these keys.
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Additionally, pressing
clicking the LEFT mouse button while the mouse cursor is on the word
"Menu" (on the 6th line of the screen), will cause the reader to
display a pull-down menu system. All functions can be accessed
through the menu.
Message Movement
----------------
The following section will describe the keys available to you while
reading messages in a message area. For full information on using the
mouse to navigate the reader, please see the section titled "USING THE
MOUSE", later in the documentation.
ESCape
------
Pressing ESCape while reading a message in an area will drop
the reader backwards by one screen. If "Automatic Title
Scan" is enabled in the reader's SETUP menu, you will be
shown the Title Scan screen. If the Automatic Title Scan is
OFF, the reader will drop to the "Choose Area to Read"
selection screen.
RightArrow
Grey ENTER
ENTER Key
----------
Each of these 3 keys will advance you to the next message in
the area. If you are currently reading the LAST message in
an area, the reader will sound a short beep. Pressing any
one of these keys again will automatically drop you back one
screen. (The reader will act as if ESCape was pressed).
LeftArrow
Grey MINUS
----------
These two keys will move you BACK one message in the current
area. As with the "forward direction" keys, if you are
reading the FIRST message in an area, the reader will beep
once. Pressing these either of these two keys a second time
will make the reader act as if an ESCape was pressed.
UpArrow
-------
The UpArrow (cursor key) will scroll the current message UP
one line. If you are at the top of the message, this key
becomes inactive.
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DownArrow
---------
The DownArrow (cursor key) will scroll the current message
DOWN one line. If you are at the BOTTOM of the message,
this key becomes inactive.
PageDown
--------
The PageDown key (labeled PgDn or PgDwn on some keywords)
will scroll the current message down one complete screen.
PageUp
------
The PageUp key (labeled PgUp on some keyboards) will scroll
the current message down one complete screen, or page.
SpaceBar
Grey PLUS Key
-------------
The SpaceBar and Grey PLUS keys serve a dual-purpose in the
reader. When a message contains more than one screen of
text, pressing one of these keys will act as if PAGE DOWN
was pressed. It will continue performing the PAGE DOWN
function until the last page of the message is on the
screen.
When the last page of the message is on the screen, pressing
the SpaceBar or Grey Plus key advances to the NEXT message
in the message area.
Home
----
The HOME key will take you to the first "page" of the
current message. If the top of the message is already on
the screen, this key becomes inactive.
End
---
The END key will take you to the last "page" of the current
message. If the last line of the current message is already
on the screen, this key becomes inactive.
---
Pressing the "F" key will take you to the very FIRST message
in the current message area. If you are already at the
first message in the area, this key becomes inactive.
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---
Pressing the "L" key will take you to the very LAST message
in the current message area. if you are already at the last
message in the area, this key becomes inactive.
---
Pressing "J" while reading messages will allow you to JUMP
to a specified message number in the current area. You will
be prompted to enter a message number. If the message is
available, the reader will immediately JUMP to that message.
If the message is unavailable, you will be given an error
message, and the reader will stay on the current message.
0-9
---
Pressing the 0 through 9 'number' keys will immediately
bring up the "Jump to message number:" entry window.
Control-RightArrow
------------------
This key is only useful when reading a mail packet on BBSs
that support Reply Chaining, or Reply Linking. If the
current message has a line on the message header that reads
"Reply at #nn", you can press the Control-RightArrow key
combination to go directly to the reply of the current
message. (Hold down the CTRL key, and press the right
cursor key). If the reply is not available, the reader will
give you an informative message, and stay on the current
message.
Control-LeftArrow
-----------------
This key combination is similar to the Control-RightArrow
combination, but instead of moving to the reply of the
current message, the reader will jump to the ORIGINAL
message, if available. If the message header displays the
line "Reply to #nn", this key will take you to the proper
message number.
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Message Command Keys
--------------------
The following keys allow you to perform various, useful functions
while reading messages in a mail packet:
---
Pressing "R" while reading messages will allow you to REPLY
to the current mesage. If enabled, you will be asked if you
would like to Quote the current message. You will then be
given the message entry "from" to fill out, containing the
PRIVATE status of your message, who the message is FROM, who
the message is TO, and the message SUBJECT. After the
"form" has been completely filled out, the reader will load
your text editor and allow you to enter the text of your
message.
-------
This function is very similar to the
described above, however when you press
reply to the current message in a DIFFERENT message area.
After pressing
all message areas that are available to you on the BBS.
Choose the area you want the reply to go to with the
highlight bar, then press ENTER.
After the message area selection process is finished, you
will be given the message entry form to complete, and the
reader performs the same steps as for the
---
The "E" key is similar in operation to the "R" key, except
that you are not asked if you would like to Quote the
current message. Use the "E" key when you would like to
enter a NEW message in the message area. The reader will
prompt you for the appropriate information, and then load
your text editor. Enter the body of your mesage, and quit
the editor. You can then choose to save your message, edit
your message again, kill the message, spell check the
message, and even cross-post or carbon-copy your message.
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-------
The
key combination. Pressing
an area will allow you to post a NEW message in any message
area on the BBS.
The reader will display a selection list of all messages on
the BBS. Simply move the highlight bar to the message area
you would like to post the new message in, and press ENTER.
The message entry procedure (described in the section
"ENTERING MESSAGES") is followed.
---
The
message. On a normal reply, the reader places the name in
the "FROM:" field of the message you are reading into the
"TO:" field of your reply.
Using the
name in the "TO:" field of the message you are reading into
the "TO:" field of your message reply.
The normal message entry procedures follow when using
-------
Pressing
reply to the current message via NETMAIL. This key is only
functional when using a Blue Wave Mail Packet, as QWK
packets do not provide the interface necessary for
addressing FidoNet-style netmail properly.
After pressing
information file for a message area defined as NETMAIL. If
the reader cannot locate a netmail base on the BBS that you
are reading messages from, an informational message will be
displayed, and the message entry procedure will be aborted.
If the reader was successful in locating a netmail base, it
will begin the netmail message entry procedure (See
"ENTERING MESSAGES", later in the documentation). If
possible, the reader will scan the network address out of
the Origin line of the original message, and place it into
the netmail message entry form for you.
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-------
Pressing
perform a 'manual' keyword search of the current message
area. A popup window will appear with five keyword entry
slots. After entering the keywords that you would like to
search for, the reader will begin scanning the message area
for matches to your input, and then begin displaying
messages that contain your keyword(s).
To exit "Keyword Search/Read Mode", simply press ESCape.
The reader will resume normal reading.
For full information on keyword searching, please see
"KEYWORD SEARCHING", later in the documentation.
---
Pressing
for keywords from a prepared TEXT file. Many genealogists
use this function to scan for several names at one time.
The reader will prompt you for the name of a keyword-list
file, and then begin the keyword search. Keyword-list
searching is intended for REGISTERED users only. However,
the reader will allow UNregistered users to search for only
5 keywords at a time. Registered copies of the reader allow
for ANY number of keywords to be searched at any one time.
After the reader has entered search mode simply press ESCape
to resume reading mail.
For full information on keyword searching, please see
"KEYWORD SEARCHING", later in the documentation.
-------
Pressing
reader's HEADER SEARCH feature. You will be given a "form"
similar to the message entry form. Fill out the search
criteria, and press F10 or ENTER on the last field of the
window when finished.
You can instruct the reader to perform a header search for
ANY matches that it finds by answering "N" to he "Must match
all search criteria" question. If you want the message to
match ALL of the criteria, answer "Y" to this question.
Press ESCape when you have completed your header search.
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---
Pressing
while reading messages will make the reader
search for PERSONAL mail in the current message area ONLY.
(To perform a global search for personal messages, use the
selection window). The reader will act the same as if it
were performing a user-defined search of the current message
area headers.
---
Pressing the key while reading a message will allow you
to save it to an ASCII Disk file. The reader will prompt
you for the file name to save the message to. Press ESCape
to abort the save function.
If the file you specify already exists, it will
automatically be APPENDED to, unless you press F10 after
entering the file name. If the file does not exist, it will
be created by the reader.
-------
The key combination
the ave to ASCII file function, but instead writes the
current message to your PRINTER. If you have toggled "Send
Form Feed after Printing Msgs" ON, the reader will send a
form-feed to the printer after printing each message.
---
Pressing the
replies manager, or View/Edit/Kill Replies mode. If you do
not have any replies that belong to the currently open
message bundle, an informational message will be displayed,
and you will be returned to message reading mode. See
"REPLIES MANAGER".
-------
The
current message on-screen, as is. This command is useful
for BBSs that support the uploading or entering of ANSI
messages (those which contain the ANSI Escape Color Codes).
The reader will simply output the current message to the
screen, no message formatting or word wrapping takes place.
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader has an INTERNAL ANSI
display driver, allowing you to view ANSI messages on the
screen very quickly and easily.
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---
The
message area. The Title Scan can be very handy to use if
you have disabled the Automatic Title Scan. The Title Scan
allows you to page through the message "headers", as a type
of 'preview' of the message text. It displays the messages
"read" and "reply" status (whether or not you have already
read or replied to the message), who the message is FROM,
who the message is TO, and the SUBJECT of the message.
It is also a quick way to jump between messages. You can
move the highlight bar to the message that you would like to
read, and press ENTER. The reader will immediately move you
to the message that you have selected, and begin reading
from there.
---
Pressing while reading a message area will give you more
information about that area. This display shows you the
"AreaTag" of the message area, the number of personal
messages, the number of unread messages, the total number of
messages, and whether the current base is Echomail, Netmail,
or a Local conference.
-------
Pressing
FORWARD the current message to another user in another
message base.
When reading a mail packet that has come from a Blue Wave
Mail Door, you MAY NOT HAVE THIS OPTION AVAILABLE TO YOU.
Forwarding messages is usually a reserved sysop-only
function.
The sysop of your host system has the ability to control
access to this function in the reader.
---
Pressing while reading messages will bring up a window
which contains an editing field. The purpose of this
function is to allow you to edit and/or create a TAGLINE
while reading messages. After editing or entering a tagline
in the editing window, the reader will append the tagline to
your defined tag file.
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If a tagline is currently on the message reading screen (the
line begins with "... "), the current tagline will
automatically be brought into the editing window.
The key also allows you to cut and paste a tagline from
the message reading screen. When the editing window is on
the screen, simply press F9. You will then be able to mark
a block of text for editing and later appending to your
tagline file.
When adopting a tagline with the key, the new tagline
automatically is placed in the file defined as your DEFAULT
TAGLINE FILE in the reader's setup menu. If you would like
to adopt the tagline to an alternate file, use the
adoption process.
-------
Pressing
line beginning with the characters "... ") will cause the
reader to adopt the current tagline to the default tagline
file with NO questions asked. It is a very quick way to
adopt a tagline.
When adopting a tagline with the
tagline automatically is placed in the file defined as your
DEFAULT TAGLINE FILE in the reader's setup menu. If you
would like to adopt the tagline to an alternate file, use
the
--------
Pressing
adopt a tagline in much the same manner as the key
process, with one exception.
The
alternate tagline file. If you would like to adopt, enter,
or edit a tagline to a file that is not defined as your
DEFAULT TAGLINE FILE, you must do so with this function.
the text of a message. Simply press F9 while the
dialogue box is on the screen, mark the block of text you
would like to edit or adopt, and the reader will take care
of the rest for you! For more information, please see the
section "TAGLINES".
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---
Pressing
that message for later operations.
A sub-menu will appear asking if you would like to mark the
current message for later Saving to ASCII file, Printing,
Deletion, or Replying. Select the appropriate item from the
menu, and the reader will continue where it left off.
Five short cut keys are provided so that you may bypass the
pop up menu if desired:
--------
Pressing
Saving to an ASCII file.
--------
Pressing
Printing.
--------
Pressing
replying.
--------
Pressing
Deletion from the mail packet.
-----
Pressing the Key will mark the current message for
later deletion, just as the
key adds a different twist; the reader automatically
advances to the NEXT message in the message area.
These various markings come in handy when you wish to dump
entire blocks of messages to a text file at one time, print
messages in a batch mode, reply to messages all at one time,
or delete messages from your mail packet.
All operations that can be performed on Marked messages are
accessible through the 'Select Area to Read' selection
window (the F5 through F10 Keys).
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If a message currently has a mark SET, and you wish to
remove that mark, simply perform the same step(s) you made
to place the mark on the message. This will cause the
reader to REMOVE the mark from the current message.
<*>
---
Pressing the '*', or asterisk key, will toggle the "read"
status of the message. If you are reading a message, but
would like to mark it as UNREAD so that you can come back to
it later, simply press this key. If you are using a mouse,
you can accomplish the same thing quickly by moving the
mouse cursor to the words "Read: Yes/No" in the message
header display and clicking the LEFT mouse button.
<~>
---
The tilde key will allow you to quickly toggle the current
setting of the "Double-Byte Language Support". For more
information about who and when you should enable this
option, please see "Double-Byte Language Support" in the
section regarding the SETUP menu.
-------
Pressing the
activate the reader's PULL DOWN MENU SYSTEM. This menu is
extremely useful when you need to browse through all of the
commands available to you.
The pull down menu system is also the main navigation tool
when using a mouse with the reader. The pull down menu
system is activated by placing the mouse cursor on the words
" Menu " on the message header border, and pressing the LEFT
mouse button.
If you have a 3-button mouse, the MIDDLE mouse button also
activates the pull down menu system.
For full details on using the mouse with the reader, please
see the section "USING THE MOUSE".
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THE REPLIES MANAGER
-------------------
The replies manager, or "View, Edit, or Kill Mode", allows you to
perform operations and manage your currently active replies and new
messages.
Viewing your replies is strikingly similar to message reading mode,
which was described in the previous section. When entering the
replies manager, you are automatically presented with a title scan of
your reply packet. You can move the highlight bar to the desired
reply and press ENTER. This will take you directly to the reply that
was highlighted.
After you are in the replies manager, you are presented with the
replies in your reply packet, one by one. You can scroll through your
replies and move from one reply to the next through the use of your
cursor keys. The cursor keys (and all of the other "MESSAGE MOVEMENT"
keys work as described for message reading mode).
When you are finished editing, deleting (killing), and performing the
various other functions with your replies, simply press the ESCape key
(or the RIGHT mouse button, if you are using the mouse). You will be
returned to the point in the reader at which you entered the replies
manager.
The following keys perform the described functions while in View,
Edit, Kill mode (the replies manager).
---
Pressing the
currently being displayed on the screen. You will first be
given the standard message entry "form", with all of the
fields pre-filled with the information contained in the
current message. After accepting the information on this
screen, you will be asked "Edit the message text?". If you
would like to edit the text of your message, press "Y", or
the LEFT mouse button. Your text editor will then be loaded
with the current message for you to edit.
After the editing is complete, the reader will re-display
your message with the changes you have made.
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---
Pressing the
is currently displayed on the screen to ANOTHER message area
on the BBS. After typing
selection list window of all message areas on the BBS.
Simply highlight the message area that you would like the
reply moved to and press ENTER. You have now moved your
message to the new area.
------------
Pressing the key will cause the reader
to mark the current reply for DELETION from your reply
packet.
The reader does NOT delete the reply immediately. Instead,
the message is tagged, and the word "DELETED" appears on the
bottom of the message header border. If you accidentally
delete a message, simply press again, and the
DELETED status will be removed.
When you leave the replies manager, the reader will present
a red dialogue box with the question:
There are replies marked for deletion!
Are you SURE you want to delete these replies?
If you are sure that you would like to delete the messages
that are marked, answer "Y". If you have mistakenly deleted
messages, simply press "N", and the reader will not pack the
replies out of your reply packet.
---
Pressing
reader to execute the "SPELL CHECKER COMMAND LINE", which is
defined in the SETUP menu. The current message text file
name will be sent to the command line (the @F parameter will
be replaced by the file name). Use this command if you
would like to spell check the current reply.
---
Pressing while in the replies manager will allow you to
save your current reply to an ASCII disk file. You will be
asked for the file name to save the message to. Type the
name of the file, and press ENTER to append to or create the
file. Press F10 to overwrite an existing file.
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Pressing F5 while the "Save Message to ASCII file" window is
active will present you with a directory list, allowing you
to select the file you would like.
-------
Pressing
your defined printer. This function operates identically to
the
---
Pressing the
TITLE SCAN of your current reply packet.
<~>
---
Pressing the tilde key will toggle the current status of the
"Double-Byte Language Support" option, which is explained in
detail in the SETUP menu section.
-------
The
Mode menu system. This will allow you to browse through the
options available to you in the replies manager and choose
the function you would like to perform, without having to
memorize the command keys available.
If you have a 3-button mouse, pressing the MIDDLE mouse
button while in the reply manager will also activate the
menu system. If you do not have a 3-button mouse connected
to your system, you can simply move the mouse cursor to the
word "MENU" on the bottom line of the message header window,
and click the LEFT mouse button.
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ENTERING MESSAGES
-----------------
One of the "other" main functions of The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader
is the process of entering messages offline. Not only does entering
messages offline save you connect time to the host BBS system, but it
also allows you to reply to your messages quickly and easily. It
allows you to format your replies intelligently, research your facts,
and present your ideas in a clear and concise way.
There are two types of message entry in The Blue Wave Offline Mail
Reader. QWK mail packets, local message bases (bases that are not
echoed to other systems through a mail network), and Echomail bases
all use one form of message entry. FidoNet style netmail bases use
another similar, but extended format for message entry.
FidoNet style netmail entry is ONLY available when reading mail
packets from a Blue Wave Mail Door compatible host system. The basic
reason is that the QWK mail packet format does not provide a
consistent interface for entering FidoNet netmail. Not only that, but
the QWK packet format is not capable of passing information to the
reader which communicates the TYPE of message base each area is
defined as on the host BBS system.
To enter messages with The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader, it is
required that you have an EXTERNAL ASCII-capable TEXT EDITOR defined
in your reader's SETUP menu, as was described at the beginning of this
documentation. A very simple text editor (TED3.COM) was supplied in
the reader's distribution archive. If you do not have another ASCII-
capable text editor available, TED3.COM will get the job done.
Entering Local, Echomail, and QWK-style Messages
------------------------------------------------
When you begin entering a message to a message area that is
defined as a local base or an echomail base (with Blue Wave
Packets), or when you begin entering a message when
utilizing a QWK-style mail packet, you will presented with
the 'standard' message entry form.
The standard message entry form consists of four entry
"fields". The first field is the PRIVATE status of the
message. (If you are using a Blue Wave Mail Packet, this
field may be DISABLED. If the host BBS system indicates
that private messages are either not allowed, or are forced
to private status, then the reader will automatically place
the correct value in this field, and not allow you to toggle
the status). If you would like to make your message
PRIVATE, enter a "Y" in this field. If you want to make the
message PUBLIC, enter a "N" in this field.
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This field is always enabled with QWK message replies, due
to limitations of the QWK format. Even though you can set
the PVT status, the mail door *MAY* change the status of the
message.
The second field displayed is the FROM: field. More often
than not, this field will be DISABLED. Most message areas
on the BBS host systems allow only one type of name to be
entered in the FROM: field; either your alias or your real
name (if aliases are allowed on the host system). If you
are using a Blue Wave Mail Packet, and the sysop of the host
BBS system allows ANY alias to be entered in the FROM: field
of the current message area, the reader will allow you to
edit this field.
The third field used to enter the name of the person to whom
you are addressing your message. When entering NEW
messages, this field will default to "All". If you would
like to address a new message to a specific person, simply
type their name over the word "All". If you are REPLYING to
a message, the person's name to whom you are replying will
automatically appear in the TO: field. If you would like to
change the addressee of the message, simply begin typing the
new name. The reader will erase the default name as soon as
you type a letter. To accept the default, simply press
ENTER.
You will notice that when the highlighted field is the TO:
field, a message will appear on the right hand side of the
dialogue box which reads: "? for Name Lookup List". If you
type ?[ENTER] in the TO: field, a window will appear
directly beneath the message entry dialogue box which lists
all of the names you have defined in your NAMES.BW file.
You can then highlight the name of the person to whom you
would like to address your message and press ENTER. The
reader will fill in the fields for you. For more
information on using NAMES.BW, please see the sample
NAMES.BW file enclosed with your reader.
The fourth and final field in the message entry dialogue box
is the SUBJECT of the message. Here you should enter an
appropriate subject for your message so that other users,
when they scan the messages in a message area, will read
your message if the subject line piques their interest.
To finish your message header entry, simply press ENTER on
the SUBJECT field, press F10, or click the LEFT mouse button
the the words "F10 - Accept" at the bottom of the message
entry window. The reader will then load your text editor
and you can begin entering the text of your message.
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At any time during the message entry procedure, you can type
your message. Details of these operations are described
near the end of this section.
At any time during the message header entry procedure, you
can press ESCape or click the LEFT mouse button on the words
"ESC - Abort" to abort the message entry function. Clicking
the RIGHT mouse button will also act as if an ESCape was
pressed during the message entry process.
Echomail versus Netmail
-----------------------
Before the process of entering netmail is described, it may
be appropriate to discuss the concept of netmail in general.
If you are active on FidoNet message bases, you may see the
term "NETMAIL" used daily. Netmail is similar to Echomail
in some ways. Both echomail and netmail are entered on one
BBS system, and travel to at least one other BBS system on
the network.
There are, however, several big differences between Echomail
and Netmail. Echomail is never addressed to only one BBS
system. Echomail travels to ALL SYSTEMS that carry that
particular echomail base. Sometimes echomail bases are
carried by only a very few systems, and sometimes they are
carried by several hundred or several thousand systems
around the country (and even the world!). The FidoNet
International BLUEWAVE Support echo is an example of an
echomail base that is carried throughout the world. When
you enter a message into the BLUEWAVE echo, and you address
the message to me (George Hatchew), not only does the
message travel to my system, but also to ALL systems that
carry the BLUEWAVE echo.
Netmail has a specific destination. It is addressed to a
person or several persons on ONE BBS SYSTEM. Netmail gets
to the final destination by way of an addressing scheme that
is used by FidoNet and other FidoNet Technology Networks
(FTNs). Netmail addressed to me will be destined for my
system, and my system only. Other BBS participants that
carry other echos will not see the message.
Netmail is normally used for PRIVATE correspondence between
two people. When a message has no value to other
participants of a particular echomail base, it is always
best to send it via Netmail so that other people are not
paying for the cost of your message.
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Netmail is a somewhat complex concept, and one which much
too involved for a complete discussion here. A complete
document the size of this manual could probably be written
about the details of netmail and how it can be routed and
handled by different mailers. If you are seriously
interested about getting access to or getting involved with
netmail transmissions, it is probably best to ask the Sysop
of your host BBS system. He or she will be able to provide
specific details about how netmail is handled on his or her
system. (All BBS systems handle netmail a bit differently).
Many times netmail is sent DIRECTLY from the host BBS system
to the destination system. For instance, if a netmail
message was entered on my BBS system in Flint, Michigan, and
was destined for Phoenix, Arizona, the message would be
delivered DIRECTLY to Arizona. The phone connect charge
from Michigan to Arizona would be billed to my phone bill as
any other call.
Because of the cost involved in handling direct netmail,
many sysops do not allow access to netmail bases unless
prior arrangements have been made. If there is not a
netmail base accessible in your mail packet, ask your sysop
if one is available.
Entering Netmail
----------------
When entering messages to a base that has been defined as
NETMAIL by the sysop of the host BBS, the reader will
present you with an entry form that is very similar to the
standard message entry form. There are two more fields to
take into consideration when entering netmail.
The ADDR: field is where you will enter the destination
address of your message. All FidoNet nodes and networks
that use the FidoNet Technology (FTNs) are assigned network
addresses. These addresses usually consist of three numbers
(or four numbers, if the destination address is a point
system). The addresses take the form of
ZONE:NET/NODE.POINT. In order to enter a netmail message,
you will need to know the destination address of your
message. The Blue Wave Support BBS has the address
1:2240/176.0, or Zone 1, Net 2240, Node 176, Point 0. Enter
the destination address of the netmail message in this
field.
The last field is the ATTR: field, or the Attributes to
place on the message (sometimes called BITS or NETMAIL
BITS). You cannot actually move the highlight bar to the
ATTR: field. Instead, the reader provides a quick and easy
way to toggle the attributes of a netmail message.
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At any time during the message entry procedure, you can
press one of the "Control Keys" displayed under the netmail
header entry box to toggle the status of the message. The
Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader allows the setting of 7
netmail status bits. All, some, or none of these bits may
be available to you. Because of the cost that is involved
of transferring netmail, sysops control which bits are
accessible. All of the bits will be described here for
completeness. If you are not the sysop or an assistant of
the host BBS system, it is VERY LIKELY that some or all will
be unavailable.
Crash
--------------
If the Crash option is available, pressing
CRASH status of the message. Various FidoNet
mailers treat the crash bit differently, but all
of them treat the message as going DIRECTLY to the
remote system. When the CRASH bit is set on a
message, the message will not be routed through
other systems, and it usually means the message
will be transmitted ASAP.
Direct
---------------
If the Direct option is available, pressing
DIRECT status of the message. This bit is usually
used when CRASH mail is not desireable, yet the
message should go directly to the destination
system. (Crash mail usually means send ASAP, and
to not wait until the phone rates are cheap.)
Attach File
--------------------
If the File Attach option is available, pressing
the w/FILE status of the message. THIS OPTION IS
NORMALLY NOT AVAILABLE. Attaching a file to a
netmail message does not mean that the reader will
send a file with your mail packet upload. This
option allows the sysop of the host system to use
the reader on his or her local system to attach a
file to a remote node.
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Hold for Pickup
------------------------
If the Hold option is available, pressing
will toggle the HOLD status of the netmail
message. Hold status is interpreted by nearly all
mailers as meaning one thing: The mailer will NOT
dial out to deliver the message. The message will
be packed and placed on hold for pickup by the
remote system. Unless the destination system
calls the host system to pick up the message, it
will never be delivered.
Immediate
------------------
If the Immediate option is available, pressing
netmail message. Some mailers and mail processors
do not use this message status at all. This
capability is mainly provided for those sysops
running FrontDoor, InterMail, or D'Bridge as the
mailer. IMMediate message status forces the
mailer to pack the message for immediate, DIRECT
delivery barring all costs and calling
restrictions. NOTHING is going to stop an
IMMediate message from being delivered.
Kill/Sent
------------------
If a message is marked as K/Sent, it will normally
be deleted by the mailer after successful delivery
to the remote system. This option is especially
useful when you do not wish to keep a copy of the
original, as it helps to maintain a 'clean'
message base.
Request a File
-----------------------
If this option is available to you, pressing
netmail message. File Requesting is, more often
than not, limited to the sysop and his
assistant(s). Setting the File Request bit is a
little different than the rest.
Instead of entering a subject in the SUBJ: field
of the message, the name of a file to request is
entered there. For example, if you had the
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capability to file request, you could possibly
enter a message to my system (1:2240/176), set the
FILE REQUEST toggle to ON, and in the subject
field type "BWAVE210.ZIP". This would cause the
mailer to call my system to file request the file
BWAVE210.ZIP.
Because of the obvious cost involved in requesting
files from other nodes in a network, this option
should be used very prudently, if you do have
access to file request files from other nodes.
As with the standard message entry procedure, the netmail
process also allows the
function. Full details of carbon copying and cross posting
follow.
Make Carbon Copies
---------------------------
At all message input forms, you can type the
combination to inform the reader that you would like to make
'carbon' copies of the message you are about to enter.
The reader's Carbon Copy feature allows you to write one
message, and send that SAME message to several people in the
same message base. Carbon Copying is allowed in both Local
and Netmail message bases. However, carbon copying is NOT
allowed in Echomail bases. Carbon copying in echomail bases
is considered annoying behavior by many people. By
definition, all people receiving an echomail area will also
receive a copy of your message. Sending several copies of
the same message to different people in an echomail area
only serves to waste the money of those people paying to
transmit the messages to other systems.
When the reader has been told to enter Carbon Copy mode, a
message will flash on the right hand side of the message
header entry form. You should complete the entry of your
message as normal.
After your message has been saved, the reader will enter
Carbon Copy mode. It will begin presenting message entry
forms, one by one, for you to fill out. After you have
completed the entry of the LAST message header, simply press
ESCape. This will exit carbon copy mode, and the reader
will resume where you began entering the message.
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Cross Post Message
---------------------------
Cross posting messages is very similar to the procedure of
making Carbon Copies of messages.
Cross posting a message results in the reader posting a copy
of your message in SEVERAL DIFFERENT message areas, whereas
carbon copying posts copies of your message in the SAME
message area.
Cross posting is available in Local and Echomail Bases (and
all QWK bases). When you have instructed the reader that
you would like to cross post your message, the normal
message entry procedure is followed. When you have saved
your message, a selection window will appear on your screen,
listing all message areas available on the BBS.
If you want to cross post your message to only ONE
echo/local area, simply highlight the area you would like to
cross post the message to and press ENTER. You will then be
given another message entry form to fill out, and the
process is complete.
If you would like to cross post your message to more than
one message area, you will need to TAG the desired areas.
Simply find the first cross post base, highlight it, and
press the SPACE bar (or the MIDDLE mouse button, if you have
a 3-button mouse). Then move to the next base to post the
message to, and press the space bar. Repeat this process
until all areas you want the message posted to are tagged,
then press ENTER.
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KEYWORD SEARCHING
-----------------
One of the most requested and one of the most powerful features of The
Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader is the very flexible KEYWORD SEARCHING
system. Keyword searching will help you to quickly and easily locate
messages in your download packet that contain topics of interest to
you.
There are two ways to perform a keyword search of a message area when
you are in message reading mode. The first is a "manual keyword
search" function. The manual keyword search function is called up by
pressing
performing a keyword search is through a keyword list file. The
keyword list file search is VERY powerful and easy to use; especially
if you consistently search for the same keywords on a regular basis.
Keyword List File Searching
---------------------------
Keyword list file searching is best described by using an
actual application. Many genealogists use The Blue Wave
Offline Mail Reader for reading the national and
international FidoNet echos relating to genealogy. Some of
these echos generate very large amounts of traffic,
sometimes 300 to 400 messages per day. A serious
genealogist with limited time will most likely not have time
to read through this many messages every day. Additionally,
only a small percentage of these messages may actually be
useful and informative.
Through keyword list file searching, you can build a
"keyword list" (a simple ASCII text file) which contains all
of the names that you are currently researching. A sample
keyword list file, KEYWORDS.BW, was supplied in the reader's
distribution archive. This sample file describes the format
to use.
Basically, the keyword list file should contain a list of
keywords that you want the reader to search for, one per
line. The reader ignores the CASE of keywords when
searching for a match (CAPITAL and lower case letters will
both be treated equally).
The default mode of the reader is to find matches to any
string that is a direct match or contains a superset of the
keyword. For instance, a keyword of "the" will find "the",
"them", "parthenon", and "breathe". The following keyword
search parameters can be forced for any keyword that you
define in your keyword list file:
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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!keyword - Searches for a match to
of messages ONLY.
@keyword - Searches for a match to
HEADERS of messages ONLY.
#keyword - Matches only if
After you press
open up a dialogue box, asking for the name of your keyword
list search file. Simply enter the correct file name (or
simply press ENTER if the default file name is correct), and
the reader will begin scanning the current message area for
your defined keywords.
After the scan is complete, the reader will begin presenting
the messages which contain your defined keywords, with the
keywords HIGHLIGHTED. You can move from message to message
just as in normal message reading mode. To exit keyword
search/read mode, press ESCape.
For further details on keyword list searching, please see
the sample keyword list file, KEYWORDS.BW, which should have
been enclosed with your copy of the reader.
Manual Keyword Searching
------------------------
It is often desireable to search a message area for a
specific keyword or keywords on a whim. Pressing
message reading mode will allow you to perform the same
function as a keyword list file search, but it allows you to
type the keywords directly into 5 editing fields.
Full instructions for using this option are displayed on the
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USING THE MOUSE
---------------
The Blue Wave Mail System fully supports the use of a MOUSE for moving
through the menu system, selecting items from lists, providing input
in dialogue boxes, and entering one-key input through the keyboard.
In order to take advantage of the mouse support, you must have "Mouse
Support" in the reader's SETUP menu activated. For more information
on installing your mouse driver, please see either your Mouse
reference manual, or the OS/2 Documentation.
There are five types of input required through The Blue Wave Offline
Mail Reader; Yes/No responses, Menu Input, List Selection, Dialogue
Box Input, and Multiple Choice Mini-Menus. Mouse functions while
reading mail will be discussed also.
Mouse Yes/No Responses
----------------------
Most of the input required at prompts in the reader require
either a "Yes" or "No" response, Instead of pressing "Y" or
"N", you can use the mouse as the "keyboard". Pressing the
LEFT mouse button at a Yes/No prompt will translate into a
"Y". The RIGHT mouse button translates to a "N".
Menu Input
----------
You can select a menu item by simply moving the mouse cursor
to the desired menu option and pressing the LEFT mouse
button. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button while the reader is
processing a menu will have the same effect as pressing the
ESCape key.
List Selection
--------------
The reader has several screens where you must highlight an
item from a selection "list", and press ENTER to select the
item (such as when choosing a message area to read). Mouse
input on these lists is very simple and straight forward.
To select an item on the current screen, move the mouse
cursor to the desired line and press the LEFT mouse button.
If there is more than one "page" of choices, the reader will
place a "[PgDn]" or a "[PgUp]" icon at the bottom of the
selection list. To move down one page, move the mouse
cursor to the "[PgDn]" symbol and press the LEFT mouse
button. To move up one page, move the mouse cursor to the
"[PgUp]" symbol and press the LEFT mouse button.
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Pressing the RIGHT mouse button while the reader is
processing a "list" will make the reader behave as if you
pressed the ESCape key.
If you have a 3-button mouse, the MIDDLE mouse button will
always act as a
windows allow you to 'tag' items by pressing the space bar.
Pressing the MIDDLE mouse button will tag the currently
highlighted item and advance the highlight bar down one
item.
If a list selection window does not allow item tagging, the
MIDDLE mouse button serves as an ENTER key.
Some list selection windows provide even more capabilities
than a simple highlight/press ENTER selection. For example,
the "Select Area to Read" selection window will allow you to
press F10 on the keyboard for global message reading. To
activate this function with the mouse, move the mouse cursor
so it is resting on the words "F10 - Global Msg Reading",
and press the LEFT mouse button. The reader will then act
just as if you had pressed F10 from the keyboard.
Dialogue Box Input
------------------
Many Dialogue Boxes in the reader require keyboard input to
perform various functions. Sometimes messages appear in a
pop up window indicating "Press F10 to Accept", etc. You
can perform these various functions very easily with the
mouse.
Simply move the mouse highlight cursor to the words or
action that you would like to perform, then press the LEFT
mouse button. The highlighted action will then be
performed.
Pressing the RIGHT mouse button while a dialogue box is
active in the reader has the same effect as pressing the
ESCape key (normally it closes the dialogue box and the
reader resumes execution).
Multiple Choice Mini-Menus
--------------------------
Sometimes the reader will allow you to enter more than just
a "Yes/No" response. Some prompts in the reader allow for 3
or more choices from a mini-menu.
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The default action will always appear on the screen. To
accept the default response, simply click the LEFT mouse
button on the default response shown.
To accept any of the responses that are displayed on the
screen, position the mouse highlight cursor on top of the
response that you would like and press the LEFT mouse
button. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button during mini-menu
processing will act as if an ESCape key was pressed.
Reading Messages with the Mouse
-------------------------------
Reading messages with the mouse in The Blue Wave Offline
Mail Reader is very easy. When mouse support is enabled in
the reader's SETUP menu, the reader will format the message
header box with a few mouse ICONS. Clicking the LEFT mouse
on these icons results in the action being performed.
At any time in message reading mode, clicking the MIDDLE
mouse button (if you have a 3-button mouse) will activate
the reader's pull down menu system. Through the pull down
menu system, you can access ALL of the functions of the
keyboard in message reading mode.
Along the right hand side of the message reading screen you
will see an UP arrow and a DOWN arrow. The UP arrow icon
serves as a PageUp key. When you click on this icon, the
current message will scroll up one full page.
The DOWN arrow icon serves a dual purpose. If the bottom of
the message is on the screen (there are no more pages to
view of the current message), clicking on the DOWN arrow
icon will cause the reader to move to the next message in
the area. If there is more of a message that is not
displayed on the screen, the DOWN arrow icon will serve as a
PageDown function, and display the next page of the current
message.
Along the bottom border of the message reading mode header
box you will find four more icons. The farthest icon to the
right is the "NEXT" icon. Clicking the LEFT mouse button on
this icon will advance the reader to the next message in the
current message area. The next icon to the left is the
"PREV" icon. Clicking the LEFT mouse button on the "PREV"
icon will cause the reader to move to the previous message
in the current message area.
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The icon farthest to the left of the screen is the "MENU"
icon. If you do not have a 3-button mouse, clicking the
LEFT mouse button on this icon will bring up the reader's
pull down menu system. (Remember, if you have a 3-button
mouse, the MIDDLE mouse button will also bring up the menu
system).
Next to the "MENU" icon is the "MARK" icon. Clicking the
LEFT mouse button the the "MARK" icon will bring up the
reader's mark-message menu. (The
keyboard).
And finally, you can scroll the text of the currently
displayed message. To do this, you will need to position
the mouse cursor anywhere within the TEXT window of the
screen. Holding down the LEFT mouse button while the cursor
is on the bottom half of the screen will scroll the text UP.
Holding down the LEFT mouse button while the cursor is on
the top half of the text window will scroll the message text
DOWN.
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TAGLINES
--------
Although The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader supports the use of an
external tagline selection utility (John Hancock v3.0), the reader has
a very sophisticated tagline manager built into it. (Previous
versions of The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader and documentation
referred to taglines as "Signature Lines".)
"What are taglines?", you might ask. Taglines are usually used to add
spice, humor, and/or satire to messages. Many people find the sharing
and collection of unique taglines turns into a fun hobby all by
itself. There are several sources of picking up taglines (The reader
allows you to quickly and easily adopt taglines right out of a message
that you are reading. See "READING MESSAGES" for a description of the
,
FidoNet TAGLINES echo. Other networks also have similar conferences.
However, the best taglines are probably the ones you can create using
your own imagination and wit!
The reader automatically appends taglines to messages, if configured
to do so. At the end of many messages, you will find something
similar to the following:
... A programmer's work is never done!
--- Blue Wave v2.12 OS/2
* Origin: The Blue Wave Support BBS -=* Flint, MI *=-
(1:2240/176.0)
The line "... A programmer's work is never done!" is considered the
tagline of the message.
There are several ways to configure the reader to add taglines to
messages. If you do not care to add taglines to your messages, simply
configure the reader tagline selection type to "NONE" in the reader's
SETUP menu. A "Manual" tagline entry is also provided for those who
wish to create taglines on the fly, but it is often tedious. I
suspect that very few people use this as the default setting.
Three other ways of selecting taglines are provided in the reader:
Random, Prompt, and the external tagline selection utility John
Hancock. (Simply calling John Hancock a tagline selection utility is
grossly understating its power. You can beautify taglines, mutilate
taglines, and much more.)
When the reader is configured to use the "Prompt" and "Random" tagline
selections, an ASCII text file is used to select taglines from. A
sample tagline file, TAGLINES.BW, should have been supplied with your
copy of the reader.
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When the reader selects taglines randomly, it scans the tagline file
and automatically picks one for you. There is no prompting or other
pop up windows to deal with.
The most fun is probably had by using the "Prompt" setting. This
setting is the most flexible to use, and is probably the hardest to
document (although once you understand how it works, it becomes very
simple).
Installing John Hancock
-----------------------
Configuring John Hancock to work with the reader is fairly
straight-forward. Because John Hancock is a fairly
complicated program in its own right, full information about
configuring and the initial installation of John Hancock
itself is well beyond the scope of this documentation.
Please see the JH documentation for full details.
Once John Hancock is configured to work on your system, all
you need to do is edit the "John Hancock Command Line" in
the reader's SETUP menu. If John Hancock is installed in a
directory called "C:\JHANCOCK", the command line you should
put in this field is "C:\JHANCOCK\JH3.EXE". If you want to
use John Hancock as your primary tagline selector, set
"Tagline Selection Type" to "J.Hancock" in the reader's
SETUP menu.
The reader will take care of all the rest!
Upon return from John Hancock, the reader expects to find a
file called "JH?.REP" in the reader's home directory (the
current directory while the reader is executing). The
tagline found in JH?.REP will be appended to your message
upon return to the reader. If the JH?.REP file is *not*
found upon return, you will be given a message to that
effect so that you can check your John Hancock
configuration, if necessary.
The "Prompt" Tagline Selection Type
-----------------------------------
As mentioned earlier, the "Prompt" tagline selection type is
by far the most flexible tagline selection option. After
entering and saving a new message or reply, the reader will
scan your defined tagline file and present you with a
windowed tagline selection list. Highlight the tagline that
you would like to append to your message and press ENTER.
To skip adding a tagline to your message, press ESCape.
The tagline selection window also has six function keys
available:
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 93
-----
Expands the currently highlighted tagline and displays it
for you to view. The tagline expansion replaces any "@"
macros with information from your current message. The use
of "@" macros are discussed in the sample tagline file
distributed with the reader (TAGLINES.BW).
----
Pressing
CURRENTLY HIGHLIGHTED tagline to the end of your tagline
file. After pressing
which to type the search string. Press ENTER, and the
reader will begin searching your file. The search function
also searches [COMMENTS] and [ALTLISTS] for text.
After performing your initial search, the
active. You can then repeat the last search that you made
by pressing a single key.
----
Pressing
file. If you are currently viewing "TAGLINES.BW", but the
tagline you want is in a file called "MYTAGS.TXT", simply
press
will load the alternate tagline file.
----
When you press
reader will randomly highlight a tagline from your tagline
list. To accept the newly highlighted tagline, simply press
ENTER. You can press the
like, until an appropriate tagline is found.
----
Pressing
that the reader automatically selects a tagline and appends
it to the message. No further prompting is done.
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-----
Pressing
you to manually enter a tagline. Simply type the tagline
you would like to place on the message in the editing
window. If you would like the reader to add the newly
created tagline to your tagline file, simply press F9.
Otherwise, press ENTER.
Tagline File Format
-------------------
The sample tagline selection file supplied with the reader
(TAGLINES.BW) contains much of the information for building
your tagline selection list.
Each line in the tagline selection file that does not begin
with a comment line (a line beginning with a ';' character)
and that does not begin with [COMMENT], [ALTLIST], or
[HANCOCK] will be considered a valid tagline.
The reader ignores all characters past column 76 in the
tagline selection file. You should keep all lines shorter
than this, or they will be truncated by the reader.
The [COMMENT] Token
-------------------
The [COMMENT] token can be used to place comments in the
tagline selection window. Any line beginning with [COMMENT]
will be displayed as-is in the tagline selection window. It
will be non-selectable as a tagline, but the reader will
search for text in a comment line when using an
This can be useful if you want to divide your tagline file
into groups or sections of related taglines.
The [HANCOCK] Token
-------------------
Any line beginning with [HANCOCK], when highlighted and
selected from the tagline selection window, will cause the
reader to execute the John Hancock Command Line, defined in
the reader's SETUP menu. A sample tagline file entry might
look like this:
[HANCOCK]Press ENTER here to load John Hancock.
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The [ALTLIST] Token
-------------------
The [ALTLIST] token gives the tagline selection process its
greatest power and flexibility. The following tagline file
entry:
[ALTLIST]C:\Bwave\StarTrek.Tag
when highlighted and selected from the tagline selection
window, will cause the reader to load an alternate tagline
file called STARTREK.SIG in your C:\BWAVE directory. Using
these command tokens appropriately will give you the power
to build your own tagline selection "menu tree".
For full details and samples, it is highly recommended that you read
through the sample TAGLINES.BW file supplied with the reader.
TAGFILES.BW
-----------
TAGFILES.BW is a 'hardcoded' file name in the reader.
Whenever the tagline selection process is about to take
place, the reader opens the file TAGFILES.BW and scans it
for parameters relating to the BBS and message area that you
are entering the message to.
The purpose of this file is to round out the extremely
customizable tagline selection system. For each BBS that
you call, you can define separate tagline files and tagline
selection types. To go even further, for every message area
on every BBS that you call, you can define tagline selection
parameters!
THE USE OF THIS FILE IS COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. If this file
is not found, the reader will not complain nor will it care.
When a BBS entry or echo entry is not found, the default
reader tagline configuration defined in the SETUP menu will
be used.
This file is a flat ASCII (text) file that you can edit with
any text editor. Here is a sample entry:
BBS_ID WildBlue C:\BWave\WildBlue.Tag Prompt
BLUEWAVE C:\BWave\Bluewave.Tag Random
COMM None Hancock
The BBS_ID line tells the reader that when reading packets
with the root name of "WILDBLUE" (such as WILDBLUE.MO1,
WILDBLUE.QWK, etc), it should use the tagline file
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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"C:\BWAVE\WILDBLUE.TAG", and the default tagline selection
type is "Prompt".
When replying or entering messages in the message area with
the area tag of "BLUEWAVE", the reader should randomly
select taglines from the file "C:\BWAVE\BLUEWAVE.TAG".
When replying or entering messages in the message area with
the area tag of COMM, no tagline file is to be used.
Instead, the John Hancock Command Line will be executed each
time a tagline selection is necessary.
Other parameters for the tagline selection type in this file
are "None" (used when you do not wish to add taglines to
messages entered in certain areas) and "Manual".
Remember, the BBS_ID line gives an override to the entire
message packet. If there are parameters listed under the
BBS_ID line, they will override the BBS_ID line in the area
tags defined.
The correct value for the Area Tag can be found by
highlighting the message area in question at the 'Choose
Area to Read' selection window and pressing the
or by pressing while reading messages in that particular
message area.
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
Page 97
USING THE BLUE WAVE MAIL DOOR
-----------------------------
This section of the documentation regarding use of The Blue
Wave Mail Door has been moved to a separate file.
BWDOOR.DOC should have been included with your archive of
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader. BWDOOR.DOC contains an
in-depth explanation of the many features and options of The
Blue Wave Mail Door.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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APPENDIX A: Files Created, Maintained, and Used by the
Reader
-------------------------------------------------------
TAGFILES.BW - This file defines the overrides for certain BBS
systems and message areas in regards to tagline
files to use and the tagline selection type to
use. Please see the section titled "TAGLINES",
and the sample TAGFILES.BW enclosed with the reader.
PKTSTATS.BW - PKTSTATS.BW holds the packet information
displayed at the 'Select Packet to Read' selection
window. This file is automatically maintained by
the reader each time you leave the "PACKET
MANAGEMENT" menu item on the reader's MAIN MENU. If
this file does not exist it will be created by the
reader. You may delete this file at any time.
However, you will loose the packet information which
is displayed.
BWAVEOS2.CFG - This is the default configuration file used by the
reader to load and save your reader configuration
items which have been set from the SETUP menu. You
may use more than one configuration file by
executing "BWAVE2
command line. For example, to load a configuration
file called "MYSETUP.CFG", type "BWAVE2 MYSETUP.CFG"
to load the reader.
BWCOLOR.200 - Your custom color configurations are stored in
this file so that you can easily trade color
combinations with your friends. If BWCOLOR.200
exists in the reader home directory, it will
automatically be loaded.
NAMES.BW - This is a hard coded file name that is used to
present a list of quick lookup names when pressing
'?' in the TO: field while entering a message. The
format for NAMES.BW is described in the sample file
enclosed with your reader.
BWSETUP.HLP - The reader loads the help text for the SETUP
menu from this file each time you enter the SETUP
menu. If this file does not exist, a warning
message will be displayed.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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PRODUCT SUPPORT
---------------
The Blue Wave Mail System is a growing and developing
software package. Cutting Edge Computing is always
interested in hearing your comments, complaints,
suggestions, and of course kind words. We take into
consideration every request that we get in order to make The
Blue Wave Mail System a first class offline mail package.
We would like to hear from you!
If you are having trouble with The Blue Wave Offline Mail
Reader, or have comments and suggestions, please drop us a
line. We can be reached via direct FidoNet NETMAIL, through
the International BLUEWAVE Echo (available on the FidoNet
Backbone and Distribution Hubs), and of course through the
US Mail.
Voice technical support is provided Monday through Friday at
810-743-WAVE (that's 810-743-9283, for those of you without
letters on your telephone!).
Cutting Edge Computing is owned and operated by George
Hatchew in Burton, Michigan, USA. Here are the addresses
where you may contact me directly:
US Postal Service
-----------------
Cutting Edge Computing
PO Box 90476
Burton, Michigan 48509
USA
The Cutting Edge Computing Support BBS
--------------------------------------
The Wild! Blue BBS
1-810-743-8464
Flint, Michigan
1200-14400 bps HST/v.32bis Compatible
FidoNet 1:2240/176
Sysop: George Hatchew
Voice Technical Support
-----------------------
1-810-743-9283, Monday through Friday
Available ONLY to registered users!
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The Blue Wave Offline Mail Reader Operations Manual, v2.12 OS/2
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INDEX OF KEY WORDS
------------------
-l 9
-lcd 9
-m 9
-t 9, 33
[ALTLIST] 95
[COMMENT] 95
[HANCOCK] 95
Add To Existing Reply Packets 18
Adopting a tagline 72
Alarm 43
ALTF1.CMD 44
ARC 37
ARJ 8, 11, 38
Automatic Personal Mail Scan 15
Automatic Title Scan 15
Automatically Save Messages and Replies 19
BBS_ID 96
Beep on Error Messages 14
Begin Reading with First Unread Message 16
Begin Reading with Last Unread Message 17
Blue Wave Support 8
Boss Key 43
BOXER/2 8
BWAVE2.EA 10
BWAVE2.INS 10
BWAVEOS2.CFG 99
BWCOLOR.200 99
BWSETUP.HLP 10, 99
Carbon Copy 84
Check for Dupes Before Adopting 22
Closed Packet Menu 47
Command line parameters 9
Compression program 8
Copyright 3
Cross posting messages 85
Custom Color Configuration 23
Cutting Edge Computing 3
Default Keyword List File 35
Default Message Save File 34
Default Printer Port 22
Default Replies Save File 35
Delete Mail Packet After Reading 17
Display Archiver Output 14
Double-Byte Language Support 27
Download Directory 29
Echomail 80
Editor File Path 31
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Enable Inbound Translations 27
Enable Outbound Translations 28
Entering a message 78
Entering messages 78
Europe 4
Exploding Window Frames 14
External LIST Command Line 33
FidoNet-QWK Compatible 13
Global Command Key 42
History 4
Inbound Character Translation 28
Inform when All Messages have been Read 17
Insert Quote Header in Replies 19
INSTALL.CMD 10
John Hancock 8, 21, 92, 93
John Hancock Command Line 33
Jump to Next Area with Unread Messages 17
Keyword list file 86
Keyword searching 86
KEYWORDS.BW 10
LCD Color Mapping 24
LH.EXE, LH2.EXE, .i.LHARC/LHA 11
LZH 37
MONOCHROME 9, 24
MOUSE 88, 89, 90
Mouse Support Enabled 13
NAMES.BW 10, 99
Netmail 80
Netmail entry 78
Noise on Personal Messages 16
On-Screen Clock 13
On-Screen Date Format 26
On-Screen Time Format 26
Only Display Areas with Messages 17
Optional external programs 8
OS/2 shell 42
Outbound Character Translation 28
Packet List 2nd Sort Field 14
Packet management 47
PAK 11, 37
PKARC/PKXARC 11
PKPAK/PKUNPAK 11
PKTSTATS.BW 99
PKZIP 8
PKZIP/PKUNZIP 11
Prefix Reply Subjects with "Re
;: 19
Printer Init String 22
Printer Reset String 23
Q.EXE 11
QEDIT/2 8
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Quote Header String 39
Quote-O-Meter Warning Threshold 20
QWK Alias Name 39
QWK mail 7
Read Messages Sorted on Which Field 16
Reading messages 63
Registration details 4
Registration Name 41
Registration Number 41
Reminder Timer 43
Replies manager 75
Save Message Read/Mark/Reply Tags 16
Screen Saver Activation 15
Secondary Registration 41
Send Form Feed After Printing 23
Set 25 Lines 25
Set Default Netmail Bits 20
SETUP menu 12
ShareWare 4
Spell checker 8, 76
Spell Checker Command Line 32
Support 100
Support BBS 100
TAGFILES.BW 10, 96, 99
Tagline File Name 34
Tagline Selection Type 21
Tagline selection window 93, 94
Taglines 20, 92
TAGLINES.BW 10
Terminal Command Line 32
Upload Directory 29
Video Mode 25
Voice Technical Support 100
WARRANTIES 3
When to Quote Message Replies 18
Work Directory 30
ZIP 37
ZIP/UNZIP 11
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Very nice! Thank you for this wonderful archive. I wonder why I found it only now. Long live the BBS file archives!
This is so awesome! 😀 I’d be cool if you could download an entire archive of this at once, though.
But one thing that puzzles me is the “mtswslnkmcjklsdlsbdmMICROSOFT” string. There is an article about it here. It is definitely worth a read: http://www.os2museum.com/wp/mtswslnk/