Techniques for Off-Line Mail Reading 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Prepared by Robert Dionne Feeding Hills, MA 01030-1601 Revised May 6, 1990 Presented by The Data Express Information System to help newusers become aware of options available for Mail handling DOWNLOADABLE AS BLT6.ZIP 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The tips and techniques described herein are primarily for use with IBM PC's and clones and other MS-DOS computers connecting to a host BBS that uses PC Board 14.2/D and higher with ProDoor 3.1. If you are using a different kind of computer, you may be limited to using the tips and techniques for plain ASCII text. If there are mail doors available, they, along with the applicable off-line mail reading programs, should be used as the preferred method of off-line mail reading. If you choose not to use a mail door, then the techniques presented will allow you to read and reply to more mail in addition to reducing the on-line time spent reading mail. The purpose of this tutorial is not to teach you how to use the various programs mentioned through out the tutorial. Rather, the purpose is to show you how the various programs can be used to read and reply to mail off-line. Therefore, it is assumed that you are familiar with the following: 1. ASCII Text Editors i.e. QEdit, PEdit, Brief, John Hancock Editor, SLED, TED, or perhaps even the one that may be included with your communication software. (It is best if your text editor can handle two open files at the same time.) or 2. Word Processor that can read/write ASCII files or that can convert from/to ASCII format. (It is best if your word processor can read/write ASCII files without a conversion process and if it can handle two open files at the same time.) 3. File compression utilities such as PKWARE's PKZIP and PKUNZIP. 4. Your communication software's session capture or session logging feature. 5. Downloading a file using ASCII protocol or the protocol you selected for use on this BBS. 6. Uploading a file using ASCII protocol. If you need help with any of the above, please refer to the appropriate documentation. Your Sysops can advise you on the text editors and file compression utilities available on this BBS and they can advise you on transfer protocols. In addition, the off-line mail reading program EZ-Reader can be used to read and reply to mail received from PC Board 14.2/D mail capture feature or ProDoor 3.1 ZIPM feature. The utility programs found in EZUTL10x.ZIP (EZUTL103.ZIP is the latest release as of this writing) will convert PC Board capture files and ProDoor ZIPM mail packets into a QMail/MarkMail (*.QWK) format file readable only by EZ-Reader. If you have never used an off-line mail reading program such as EZ-Reader, I urge you to obtain a copy. Using an off-line mail reading program is the most efficient method of all the techniques presented in this tutorial. Unfortunately, other off-line mail reading programs, i.e. QMail 2.01 & 2.02, DeLuxe, cannot be used to read the *.QWK format files created by EZUTL10x.ZIP. These other fine off-line mail reading programs can be used to read the *.QWK mail packets created by the QMail and MarkMail mail doors. 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Method #1 컴컴컴컴- Using your communication program's session capture feature Programs needed: Your communication program. A text editor or word processor that reads/writes ASCII or converts from/to ASCII format files. Your text editor or word processor should be able to have two files or documents open at the same time and be able to copy and paste text between the two files. Overview: Most communication software will allow you to capture or log all incoming characters to a text file. This file is a simple text or ASCII file that can be read in several ways. The technique described here involves using your communication software's capture feature to capture all messages non-stop, log off the BBS, read the capture file (messages) off-line, and prepare individual replies to be uploaded on your next call. This method works with PC Board. You should refer to your communication software manual if you need more information about starting and stopping a capture file. Please refer to your text editor or word processor manual for information about converting ASCII files and working with more than one document at the same time. On-line Procedure: Call the BBS and log on as usual. When the Main Board prompt appears, open or start your capture file. At the Main Board Command? prompt, type R;A;NS or R A NS or R;S;NS or R S NS R;A;NS and R A NS = R)ead mail in A)ll conferences based on selection, NS) display text in non-stop mode. R;S;NS and R S NS = R)ead mail S)elect messages in current conference above the last one you have read, NS) display text in non-stop mode. (Refer to PC Board on-line help for a complete explanation of the commands and options or ask your Sysops for assistance.) The messages from the main board message base will scroll non-stop on your screen and be captured to your capture file. When the main board messages have stopped you may join other conferences and read the messages there using the above commands. After you have finished capturing all the messages, close or stop your capture file. You may now enjoy other features offered on the BBS or simply log off. You will read these messages later, after you have logged off. Off-line Procedure: Use your text editor or word processor to read the capture file. Some word processors cannot read a text or ASCII file directly. A conversion process may be required to translate a text or ASCII file into a format the word processor can read. Refer to your word processor manual for information about ASCII file conversion. When you want to reply to a message jot down on paper the conference number, if applicable, the message number, recipient's name, subject, and receiver only, if applicable. Then open a second file or document giving it a unique file name. Jot down this file name with the other data. Now use the text editor or word processor to copy and paste quotation text from the capture file to the reply file and type your reply. Do not exceed the maximum line limit for messages as established by the BBS. After the reply is completed close or save the reply file. When you want to reply to another message repeat the above procedure except when you open the second file use a different filename. If you want to enter a new message use the above procedure and again use a different filename for the second file. If you are using a word processor that does not read or write ASCII files directly you will be required to convert each of the reply files from your word processor's format to ASCII format. Refer to your word processor manual for information about ASCII file conversion. What you wind up with are several reply files in ASCII format that you will upload instead of typing your messages on-line on your next call to the BBS. Next On-line Procedure: Call the BBS and log on as usual. You may use PC Board or open the ProDoor door. At the PC Board main board prompt join the appropriate conference and REPLY to a message number, i.e. REPLY 135 , or E)nter a message (Refer to those paper notes for the message number, name, subject, etc.) and follow the prompts. If you use ProDoor, do not use ProDoor's visual editor. When you are prompted to enter the first line of your message do not type anything. At this point you initiate an upload of the appropriate reply file using the ASCII protocol. Sit back and watch the message being typed for you. If you're using ProDoor and forget to turn off the visual editor, the screen will fill with garbage text such as [6f2[8a4[5h7. Don't panic! Let the upload continue! When the upload is completed save the message in the usual manner. Repeat this procedure for each of the remaining replys or messages. Just make sure you are in the correct conference before you initiate the next reply or message. 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Method #2 컴컴컴컴� Using PC Board Capture File Programs needed: Your communication program. A text editor or word processor that reads/writes ASCII or converts from/to ASCII format files. Your text editor or word processor should be able to have two files or documents open at the same time and be able to copy and paste text between the two files. Overview: This method is identical to Method #1 except you will not use your communication software's session capture feature. You will use PC Board's mail capture feature instead. Replies can be uploaded to PC Board or to ProDoor. On-line Procedure: Call the BBS and log on as usual. At the Main Board Command? prompt type R;A;D or R A D or R;S;D or R S D R;A;D and R A D = R)ead messages in A)ll conferences based on selection D) automatically capture and download read request. R;S;D and R S D = R)ead messages S)elect messages in current conference above the last one you have read D) automatically capture and download read request. PC Board will scan the conference message base for all messages. These messages will be placed into an ASCII or text file that you will download using the protocol you selected for use on the BBS. These ASCII files are free downloads. (Refer to PC Board on-line help for a complete explanation of the commands and options or ask your Sysops for assistance.) Off-line Procedure: Follow the procedures presented in Method #1 to read and reply to these ASCII files. Next On-line Procedure: Follow the procedures presented in Method #1 to upload your replies and messages. You may use PC Board or ProDoor. 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Method #3 컴컴컴컴- Using ProDoor ZIPM Mail Capture Programs needed: Your communication program. PKWARE's PKUNZIP file decompression software A text editor or word processor that reads/writes ASCII or converts from/to ASCII format files. Your text editor or word processor should be able to have two files or documents open at the same time and be able to copy and paste text between the two files. Overview: This method is identical to Method #1 except you will not use your communication software's session capture feature. You will use ProDoor's ZIPM mail capture feature instead. ProDoor's ZIPM will Zip new mail. ZIPM should capture up to 200 new messages in selected conferences and then archives them into one file using a file compression program, usually PKWARE's PKZIP, for smallest possible download time. The compressed file is an ASCII or text file. You download the file and decompress it. Replies can be uploaded to PC Board or to ProDoor. On-line Procedure: Call the BBS, log on as usual and open the ProDoor door. At the ProDoor [Main Board] Command? prompt type ZIPM where are the conferences you specify. Example: ZIPM 0 1 4 . Other Examples: ZIPM N ;list new messages by conference before capture ZIPM A ;archive mail in all conferences ZIPM M 10 14 ;archive mail in main board (M), areas 10 and 14 ZIPM TOOLS AI ;archive TOOLS and AI conferences Use (L)ast-read command to reset your "last read" message pointers. Use (J A)uto-config to select message areas in (ZIPM A)ll. (Refer to ProDoor's (?) help messages for a complete explanation of the command details or ask your Sysops for assistance.) ZIPM will scan the specified conferences for all messages since you last logged on and compress them into one file. You will download this file using the protocol you selected for use on the BBS. Do not use ASCII protocol. This file will be a free download. Off-line Procedure: Decompress this file using the applicable decompression program, usually PKWARE's PKUNZIP. Refer to PKWARE's manual for information about using PKUNZIP. The decompressed file will be an ASCII or text file. Follow the procedures presented in Method #1 to read and reply to this ASCII file. Next On-line Procedure: Follow the procedures presented in Method #1 to upload your replies and messages. You may use PC Board or ProDoor. 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Method #4 컴컴컴컴- Use EZ-Reader Utilities (EZUTL103.ZIP) to convert PC Board Capture File (from Method #2) or ProDoor ZIPM Mail File (from Method #3) to QMail/MarkMail file format *.QWK. Programs needed: Your communication program. PKWARE's PKZIP & PKUNZIP file compression software EZ-Reader Utilities EZUTL103.ZIP EZ-Reader off-line message management software (EZ124B.ZIP or higher recommended) A text editor to be used with EZ-Reader Your text editor should be able to have two files or documents open at the same time and be able to copy and paste text between the two files. Assumption: Method #4 assumes that you have used EZ-Reader off-line message management software. This tutorial will not teach you how to use the EZ-Reader program. Overview: The utility programs contained in EZ-Reader Utilities EZUTL103.ZIP PCB2QWK.EXE REP2PCB.EXE ZIPM2QWK.EXE REP2ZIPM.EXE will convert PC Board capture files (from Method #2) and ProDoor ZIPM mail packets (from Method #3) into QMail/MarkMail format files *.QWK that can only be read using EZ-Reader. Replies and messages created by EZ-Reader will be converted from QMail/MarkMail format files *.REP to ASCII files that will be uploaded to PC Board or ProDoor. Uploads to PC Board require special scripts for your communication software. A sample Qmodem script is included in EZUTL103.ZIP. Uploads to ProDoor do not require a special script. They are uploaded at the [Main Board] Command? prompt using ASCII protocol. If ProDoor is available use it instead of PC Board. On-line Procedure: Follow the procedures in Method #2 to download a PC Board capture file or Method #3 to download a ProDoor ZIPM mail packet. Off-line Procedure: Make sure the PC Board capture file or the ProDoor ZIPM mail packet is in the download directory you specified in EZ-Reader's configuration file, the EZ-Reader utilities are in the your EZ-Reader directory, and that you are in the EZ-Reader directory when use run the utilities. PKZIP and PKUNZIP must be located in the directory you specified in EZ-Reader's configuration file or must be located in the path. Converting PC Board capture files: PCB2QWK.EXE converts the PC Board capture file into a QMail/MarkMail format file (*.QWK) readable only by EZ-Reader. At the DOS prompt, type: PCB2QWK pcb_filename[with no ext] You do not need to type the extension. PCB2QWK.EXE supplies the default extension CAP. The resulting Qmail/MarkMail mail packet will be placed in the download directory you set in EZ-Reader's configuration file. EZ-Reader can not handle more than 200 messages per conference. If you have more than 200 messages per conference, you will have to break up the PCB capture file into smaller files with less than 200 messages per conference before using PCB2QWK.EXE. Converting ProDoor ZIPM mail packets: ZIPM2QWK.EXE converts the ProDoor ZIPM mail packet file into a QMail/MarkMail format file (*.QWK) readable only by EZ-Reader. At the DOS prompt, type: ZIPM2QWK zipm_filename[with no ext] You do not need to type the extension. ZIPM2QWK.EXE supplies the default extension ZIP. The resulting Qmail/MarkMail mail packet will be placed in the download directory you set in EZ-Reader's configuration file. ProDoor should only allow you to download 200 messages per ZIPM mail packet. Therefore, ZIPM2QWK does not check to see if you have more than 200 messages per conference. Use EZ-Reader to read and reply to the resulting *.QWK files. Converting replies *.REP for uploading: For *.REP packets resulting from a *.QWK that was created from a PC Board capture file - REP2PCB.EXE converts reply file (*.REP) created by EZ-Reader into an ASCII file that can be uploaded to PC Board. This ASCII file must be uploaded using a script that you create using your communications software. A sample Qmodem script file is included in EZUTL103.ZIP. At the DOS prompt, type: REP2PCB