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1
PROGRAM INFORMATION
PPoint - Copyright (c) 1992 Harvey Parisien
         Box 323 Station A, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA  K7M 6R2
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Other software by Parisien...

  Magic FREQ names for 1:249/1 Canada, 1:128/77 US, 2:254/71 UK.

      DB = CONTACT MANAGER, PIM, & Generic dBASE III+ Database Mgr
     RAD = dBASE III file compatible, BBS or REMOTE online database
   OMENU = oMENU the Ultimate disk Menu System
   POINT = PPoint - Professional Point System 
 OFFLINE = The easy to use, QWK offline reader.
  HARVEY = Harvey the Robot automated message mailer *.PKT format
   HLIST = HLIST File List Compiler for files.bbs systems.
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To create an up-to-date User Reference Guide, press F1 for a help 
screen.  Select Help Index and select the last choice which is Print
User Reference Guide.  This will print a complete function by function
guide to running PPoint.  This guide contains the complete contents of
your online Help System.
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101
Host: Host Transfers
This connects you to your HOST system (or boss node) to collect new 
mail/files, and send any outstanding mail from your system.  It is not
necessary to have mail to send in order to connect to your host.  You 
can Poll for mail when ever you wish to see if there is anything 
waiting for you on the host system, or to request or send files.
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You will have the option to set a timer to Poll at a future time.  If 
you choose to do so, the screen will display the Poll time, and 
current time.  Pressing Esc aborts the Poll, any other key starts 
immediately.  After 60 seconds (or pressing the space bar) of waiting,
the screen will blank, all except for the timer display.  If you use 
the Timer, then after the Poll is completed the screen will go blank 
again after 60 seconds, to preserve your hardware.
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 Request Files
 Send Files
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102
Host: Activity Report
This displays your systems log, which shows details on processing mail
into and out of PPoint, and information on transfers to your host.
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103
Host: View Outbound
This shows any files waiting in your outbound area.  These are files 
waiting to be delivered to your host on your next transfer.
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104
Host: View Inbound
This shows any files received from your host on previous transfers.
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106
Host: Request Files
This allows you to request files FROM YOUR HOST.  For a list of your
hosts files, you just simply request FILES.  It is not necessary to 
have mail to send in order to connect to your host.
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You also will have the option to request any new entry automatically 
every time you connect with the host.  This is handy if your host has
an updated file continually waiting for you.
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This feature can also be used to cause your mailer to exit even if 
there was no mail received from the host.  Usually the host will have
a file called ABOUT which is a very small text file containing 
information on your host.
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TO REQUEST FILES DIRECTLY from other nodes in your network, you need
a nodelist.  This is a more traditional way of requesting a file.  You
send a netmail message to the source node (just use SysOp if you don't
know his or her name) of the file and put the file to be requested on
the subject line like this:

/freq bexe_256.zip

... and the file will be requested.  This is often refered to as
FILE REQUESTING or FREQING.
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 Send Files
 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
 Setup: Edit Nodelist
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107
Host: Send Files
This allows you to send files TO YOUR HOST.  This can be a complete 
drive and path description.  This will be sent to your host on your 
next transfer.  It is not necessary to have mail to send in order to 
connect to your host.
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You also will have the option to send any new entry automatically 
every time you connect with the host.  This is handy if you have an 
updated file to continually send to your host.
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TO SEND FILES DIRECTLY to other nodes in your network, you need a 
nodelist.  This is a more traditional way of sending a file.  You
send a netmail message to the receiver of the file and put the file
to be sent on the subject line like this:

/send c:\trash\oldstuff.lzh

... and the file will be sent.  This is often refered to as
FILE ATTACHING.
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 Request Files
 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
 Setup: Edit Nodelist
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109
Host: Exit
This exits PPoint to DOS
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 PROGRAM INFORMATION
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201
Mail: Select message area
This displays a list of all the current message areas (or sometimes 
called conferences) on the system.  As PPoint receives new areas, they
are automatically setup (no need to fuss with configuration files).  
This function allows you to select an area to read mail in.
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203
Mail: Read/Reply messages
This is the area where you read and/or reply to mail.  You can list 
areas, and messages from the READING AREA, as well as export or print
messages.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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204
Mail: Enter a message
This allows you to enter a new message in any message area.
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 Address Book and Carbon Copy Messages
 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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206
Mail: Read your new mail
This checks all message areas for mail addressed to you.  You can 
check your whole message database, or just UNREAD mail.
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207
Mail: Find & Read messages
This allows you to search one or all message areas for a match to your
search text in the message header (the To, From, and Subject fields), 
or complete message.

Once a FIND/SEARCH has been requested, just use the normal keys to
review all finds ie: Right Arrow Key or ENTER causes a FIND AGAIN.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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209
Mail: Export a message
This allows you to send a message to a disk file of your choice.  A 
default file will be suggested, this is the one you indicated during
setup.  You can change it anytime in setup, or just modify it on the
fly.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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210
Mail: Print a message
This allows you to send a message to a dot or laser printer.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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212
Mail: Delete old mail
This deletes old messages based on how many days old they are.  Each
area can be set for a different number of days.  After messages are
deleted, the system will automatically Pack the Databases.

Messages that are NEW (ahead of your book mark) will not be deleted. 
Messages that are FROZEN, using Alt-F in the read area, will not be
deleted.
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 Mail: Pack databases
 Setup: Automatic Maintenance
 Setup: Edit Message Areas/Delete days
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213
Mail: Pack databases
This removes all deleted messages from your databases.  It provides 
more disk space, and makes things process a little faster.
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 Mail: Delete old mail
 Setup: Automatic Maintenance
 Setup: Edit Message Areas/Delete days
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301
Options: Shell to DOS
This allows you shell out to dos, leaving PPoint resident.  To return 
from a DOS shell, type EXIT at the dos prompt, and press ENTER.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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302
Options: Blank Screen
This function just clears the screen if you want to leave it blank for
a while.  They say if you leave your screen blank and stare at it for 
about 10 minutes straight without blinking you'll see rabbits.
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303
Options: Edit taglines
This allows you to edit your tagline file.  This is a simple text file
containing up to 300 taglines which will be appended to your message.
If you have > 10 taglines in this file, taglines will be presented 
RANDOMLY for your selection.
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When reading messages, you can copy tag lines (or any text for that
matter) from a message by pressing Alt S, then moving the cursor to
the start of the line of text you wish to capture, press enter.  The
line can then be edited.  Press enter again and it will be appended
to your tagline list.

 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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304
Options: Manual processing
This allows you to manually copy mail packets into your inbound, or 
outbound areas and process them.  You should know what you're doing
before attempting this.
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401
Setup: Message Display Mode
The message display can be toggled to show internal network addressing
information.  This can be annoying to most users, and is by default
turned off.
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 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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402
Setup: Color/Monochrome
Allows you to choose Color or Monochrome monitors.
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403
Setup: Directories
This is where you setup your various directories.  As you go through 
this area, you are explained what each directory is for.  Generally 
you are recommended to use the defaults.
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404
Setup: Printer
This is where you choose your printer type (dot or laser) and printer 
port number.
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405
Setup: Archiver/Editor/Spell Checker
This is where you choose a preferred archiver for your system.  PPoint
will automatically detect the type of archiver required for 
unarchiving incoming packets.  This setting is used to choose an 
archiving method for outgoing packets, although this feature is not
yet implemented.
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This is also where you choose the editor you will use.  If you use DOS
version 5 or better, and don't have a particular editor in mind, try 
using the one that comes with DOS by entering \DOS\EDIT at the prompt.
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You also have the option to use an independent spell checker. If you 
are looking for one, we recommend a shareware system called 
ShareSpell.
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406
Setup: Sound & Screen
Sound has been used at a minimum, and when it is used it's very quiet.
If you still find it annoying, by all means turn it off.

PPoint can be used with various screen lengths.  Some monitors only 
use the standard 25 line mode.  Feel free to try any one of the 
settings.  PPoint will tell you if any mode is not supported.
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407
Setup: Automatic Maintenance
PPoint can automatically perform it's maintenance after each HOST
poll.  This deletes messages after they are over age, and packs the
database.
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 Mail: Delete old mail
 Mail: Pack databases
 Setup: Edit Message Areas/Delete days
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408
Setup: Edit AREA Address/Delete days
This is where you can edit details on each individual message area.

  AREA DESCRIPTION: General Point Support
     HOST AREA TAG: POINT
DATABASE FILE NAME: 00000004
       DELETE DAYS: 10
  AREA ORIGIN LINE: OFFLINE Systems
      AREA ADDRESS: 1:249/114.1
 AREA HOST ADDRESS: 1:249/114
AREA ROUTE ADDRESS: 1:249/114
USE ON ORIGIN LINE: 1:249/114.1

The AREA DESCRIPTION is by default the same as the HOST AREA TAG.
These names are sometimes not as descriptive as you may like, so this
allows you to rename them.

The HOST AREA TAG and DATABASE FILE NAME are created by PPoint and
can not be changed.

The DELETE DAYS entry is the number of days of mail to be kept when
PPoint deletes old mail.  The age of your mail is determined by the
message date, not when it was received.  Messages that are NEW (ahead
of your book mark) will not be deleted.  Messages that are FROZEN, 
using Alt-F in the read area, will not be deleted.  If set to 0,
PPoint will remove everything in the area except for messages marked
as FROZEN, and messages that are below your book mark.  If set to -1,
PPoint will delete everything in the area no matter what the age or
status of the messages are, but it will preserve the area setup
information.

The ORIGIN LINE is the usually the name of your system, or your name.
This can be edited to whatever you like for each area.

The AREA ADDRESS defaults to the address you entered in setup under
User/Host/Mailer Info.

If you are using multiple HOST systems, you can change each area to 
individually use this address and link to an individual AREA HOST 
ADDRESS and AREA ROUTE ADDRESS as well.  In this case, you will have
to implement a nodelist with your various alternative Host/Boss nodes
details in it.

Finally, the USE ON ORIGIN LINE address has to do with fakenet
addressing, see help in that area for details.

CAUTION!!

Most systems are used for ONE HOST, so be very cautious if you change
the AREA ADDRESS, AREA HOST ADDRESS, AREA ROUTE ADDRESS, or USE ON 
ORIGIN LINE settings.
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 Mail: Delete old mail
 Setup: Automatic Maintenance
 Setup: User/Host/Mailer/Nodelist Info
 NodeList Setup Information
 Setup: Edit Nodelist
 FakeNet Addressing Information
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409
Setup: Add New Message Area
This is where you can add new areas manually.  In case you want to 
enter a message in an area you don't yet have.  Otherwise, these names
area automatically added as mail is received.
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410
Setup: Delete a Message Area
This is where you can remove an area, and the associated message 
databases.
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411
Setup: User/Host/Mailer/Nodelist Info
This is where you setup your user name, and point addressing.  You 
host will provide you with the addressing details.

This is where your configuration file for BinkleyTerm is created or
updated.  See Binkley Setup Information.
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 Binkley Setup Information
 NodeList Setup Information
 Setup: Edit Nodelist
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412
Setup: Turn Title Screen On/Off
PPoint has been designed to be as efficient as possible.  As a 
commercial product, we tend to put a fancy title screen in front of 
you when you run PPoint.  In the interest of your time, you have a 
choice to turn the opening title screen on or off.
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413
Setup: Setup Report
PPoint will create a text file report called REPORT.TXT which will
contain information on your point SETUP, and AREAS setup.  It will
be presented to you in your editor for review.  It can be imported
into a message with your editor for support purposes.
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414
Setup: Edit Nodelist
PPoint will compile a nodelist (version 6) from a text file that 
contains manually entered listings.  The format is...

     zone:net/node , system , phone , password , baud , cost

Selecting Edit Nodelist causes PPoint to place your raw nodelist text
file in your editor for editing or reviewing.  When you exit, PPoint
will compile the data into a VERSION 6 type nodelist. This is the
default nodelist binkley requires if you use a nodelist.

Here's a sample raw nodelist text file...
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;------------------------------------------
; Private Nodelist Text for use with PPOINT
;------------------------------------------

;Entries must be in ZONE order, ie zone 1's first, zone 2's next.

;zone:net/node,system,phone,password,baud,cost

; All lines in this text file that start with a ; are just comment
; lines and are ignored by all processors.  Feel free to make any
; notes in this file as long as you start the line with a ;.

; zone:net/node - this is a standard fidonet address
;        system - this is the system name you are listing
;         phone - this is the exact phone number for the system you
;                 are listing including a 1 or area code if it's long
;                 distance.
;      password - this is the session password which must be
;                 prearranged with this system you are listing.  This
;                 can be left blank, but the commas are still required
;                 ie...
;                 1:249/114, Harvey Parisien,  1-613-634-6125,,9600,30
;          baud - this is the baud of the system you are listing
;          cost - this is an estimated cost per minute in cents to call
;                 the system you are listing.  If the listing is local,
;                 use a 0 for cost.
;
;zone:net/node,system,phone,password,baud,cost
;
1:128/77,  Preston Smith,    1-719-599-4568,piano,9600,0
1:249/114, Harvey Parisien,  1-613-634-6125,,9600,30

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 Binkley Setup Information
 NodeList Setup Information
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9909
FakeNet Addressing Information
Older FidoNet compatible systems may require you to use 3d addressing
as opposed to the standard 4d addressing.  To accommodate this, PPoint
supports FakeNet addressing.  

4d means an address has 4 parameters ie ZONE:NET/NODE.POINT.
3d means an address has 3 parameters ie ZONE:NET/NODE.

For example, you may have a HOST with an address of 1:249/114, and you
are to use 1:24914/2 as a fake address.  Your HOST's system will then 
translate your incoming and outgoing mail from a fake address of 
1:24914/2 to a real world address of 1:249/114.2 since it's system can
not handle the fourth dimension in the address, being the point 
number.

If your HOST requires that you use a fakenet address, this means it
will not have the proper .x at the end of your address.  To make your
message origin lines display exactly what you want, go to the setup
menu and Edit Area Address information.  Edit the USE ON ORIGIN line.

  AREA DESCRIPTION: General Point Support
     HOST AREA TAG: POINT
DATABASE FILE NAME: 00000004
       DELETE DAYS: 10
  AREA ORIGIN LINE: OFFLINE Systems
      AREA ADDRESS: 1:24914/1
 AREA HOST ADDRESS: 1:249/114
AREA ROUTE ADDRESS: 1:249/114
USE ON ORIGIN LINE: 1:249/114.1

The last line is the origin address that will show in your messages.
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 Edit AREA Address/Delete days
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999
Operational Keys in the Reading Area
The following keys display the AREAS LIST: A, or Del.
The following keys display a MESSAGE LIST: M, or Ins.
On the message list, Space Bar Marks messages.
In the reading area, Space Bar moves to Marked messages.
The Arrow keys move to next or previous messages.
PgDn will page down one screen at a time to the bottom of a message.
ENTER is like PgDn but will go to the next message when at the bottom.
The Esc key or Mouse Button 2 exits this area.

R=Reply to the current message.
E=Enter a message.
C=Change/Edit a message (only if it was from you).
K=Kill the current message.
P toggles Private on/off.

F=Find messages based on search text match.
+=Initiate a Find based on Subject.
Home=Go to the First message.
End=Go to the Last message.

^E=Export current message to a text file.
^P=Print current message.
^R=Resends a message (only if it was from you).
^S=Toggle internal network addressing information.
^F=Forward or Move the current message to any area.
F4=Detailed message attribute display.
Alt and L invokes LIST by Vernon Buerg.
Alt and F=Freeze Message (can't be deleted or packed)
F10 SHELLS TO DOS (and clears the screen).
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Request/Send Files using a message

To send (attach) or request (freq) a file, enter a netmail message to
the SysOp (just use SysOp if you don't know his or her name) and on 
the subject line, put...

/send c:\trash\oldstuff.lzh
... and the file will be sent.

           -or-

/freq bexe_256.zip
... and the file will be requested.

 Request Files
 Send Files
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Alt and S=Copy Tag Lines

When reading messages, you can copy tag lines (or any text for that
matter) from a message by pressing Alt S, then moving the cursor to
the start of the line of text you wish to capture, press enter.  The
line can then be edited.  Press enter again and it will be appended
to a file called OFFLINE.TAG in the current directory.  This is a
tagline list used by OFFLINE or PPOINT. Both are mail management 
systems by Harvey Parisien.

 Edit taglines
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Alt and I=Copy UUCP/Internet Addresses

When reading messages, you can copy internet addresses from the
current message by pressing Alt and I, then moving the cursor to the
start of the line of text you wish to capture, press enter.  The
line can then be edited.  Press enter again and it will be appended
to a file called UUCP.TXT in the current directory.

 UUCP Addressing
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Internal network details.

When reading mail, the text at the bottom left of your screen, is the
origin line for the current area.  This information changes to the
area tag name if you have your message display mode set to show
internal network details.

 Message Display Mode
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4444
Binkley Setup Information
All setup information related to BinkleyTerm is found in the file on
your PPoint directory called BINKLEY.CFG which is automatically
created by PPoint.

Some of the settings in Binkley.cfg CAN NOT be changed except by 
PPoint in order to insure the settings are exactly the same as 
contained in PPoint's setup files.  These are identified in the 
Binkley.cfg file, and referred to here as part 1 of your Binkley.cfg
file.

However, there are times when you might need to change some of the 
settings for example a common one is your modem INIT string.  For more
details on modifying your Binkley.cfg file, refer to the documentation
provided with that system.

In order to allow you to change some of the settings, PPoint allows a 
file called BINKLEY.ADD to be changed by the user.  Binkley.add will 
contain the contents to be included as part 2 of your Binkley.cfg 
file when PPoint updates it.

If you have special configuration requirements, use your text editor
to edit Binkley.add and change or add as necessary, then update your
Binkley.cfg file.

To update your Binkley.cfg file, choose "User/Host/Mailer Info" on the
Setup Menu and change or verify any of the information.  When you 
finish this, PPoint will recreate your Binkley.cfg file.
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 Setup: User/Host/Mailer/Nodelist Info
 NodeList Setup Information
 Setup: Edit Nodelist
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4343
Address Book and Carbon Copy Messages
OPTIONAL ADDRESS BOOK:

If you have an address book in place (the system creates this for you)
it can be accessed for NETMAIL or ECHOMAIL by pressing F4 when you are
ENTERING a message, placing text in the TO: field.  Your address book
is built by the system.  Every time you enter a NETMAIL message, it 
prompts you as to whether or not you would like to add the current
entry to the address book.  It will only prompt you for entries that
do not currently exist.  This way you build an address book while you
use the system, as opposed to sitting down and typing in 50 names.
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OPTIONAL CARBON COPIES:

To send a message to several people you can have a continuous list of
names in a text file in the format: first last,zone:net/node{.point}.

For example...

Bill Cassidy, 1:249/1
Harvey Parisien,1:249/114.7
Scott Dudley, 1:249/106
Don Laverdure, 1:249/124.2

Entering CC:filename.ext in the TO: field causes carbon copies to be
sent to all people/addresses in your list.
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4999
NodeList Setup Information
To send netmail directly to other nodes or directly to other networks,
you will need a nodelist.  By default, PPoint is designed to route all
mail via your host.  However, if you need a more advanced setup, you
need a nodelist.  To compile a nodelist, look for a nodelist manager
like XLAXNODE or QNODE.  For a SMALL simple nodelist, PPoint has an
option under the Setup menu called Edit Nodelist.  This works just
fine for smaller nodelist requirements.

 Setup: Edit Nodelist
 Setup: User/Host/Mailer/Nodelist Info
 Binkley Setup Information
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5000
UUCP Addressing
The easiest way to handle UUCP/Internet addressing is to create a text
file called UUCP.TXT containing a bunch of valid addresses.  If your
message is To: UUCP, then you will be prompted for these addresses.
After you complete entering your message, the correct message format 
and addressing will be handled by PPoint.

For more information on UUCP, ask your local sysop.  For your closest
UUCP/FidoNet Gateway, ask your local sysop.

For information on the Alt and I=Copy UUCP/Internet Address command
see...

 Operational Keys in the Reading Area
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5001
Message Footers
To make each message you enter, end in a standard user defined
footer (block of text), just create a file called FOOTER.TXT and have
it in your PPoint directory.  Every message you enter, will contain
this footer.  In respect for your particular network, please do not 
get into long blocks of text.  This is meant for a simple;
Yours truly, or Cheers...
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Copyright (c) 1993 Harvey Parisien, Kingston, Canada         1:249/114
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