IBM Presents OS/2 Software Hits 1995/OS-2_SW_HITS_2ND_EDITION_1995.ISO/i03/vfid2700.05a/VFIDO.DOC

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 47KB | 1,035 lines

VFIDO OS/2 Fido Gateway 7.00.05a
================================

Copyright Neil J Marshall 27th November 1994
    TransAtlanticBBS
        1 @ 440 VirtualNET
        Neil J Marshall @ 2:440/211 Fido


Introduction
============

This program implements a complete Gateway to Fido networks.
It enables the exchange of NetMail, EchoMail, Tick Files,
Node Lists and Diffs, AreaFix and AllFix messages between
VBBS and Fido. VBBS and VFIDO are fully capable of handling
all Fido type Network calls as a Front End Mailer, though you
can use FrontDoor as a Front End Mailer.


Contents
========

Initial Configuration Of VFIDO To Give E-Mail Functionality
Configuration Of VFIDO To Add Conference Functionality
Configuration Of VFIDO To Add Interface To FrontDoor
Creation Of A Fido Network List For Use By VBBS
Summary Of VFIDO Command Syntax
Technical Information
Development History


Initial Configuration Of VFIDO To Give E-Mail Functionality
===========================================================

Place the VFIDO.EXE and VFITO.EXE programs in your VBBS directory.

Run VFIDO /E NETWORKID=#, where # is the Network Number you are
setting up, as shown in the NETWORKS.LST or VCONFIG.

1. Fido Address:       2:440/211
    Your Fido network primary address in Zone:Net/Node.Point format
2. EchoMail Server:    2:440/410
    Your main EchoMail server in Zone:Net/Node.Point format
2. NetMail Directory:  C:\VBBS\NETMAIL
    Where Fido NetMail will be stored - must specify the same
    directory for every Fido-type network you set up
3. EchoMail Directory: C:\VBBS\ECHOMAIL
    Where Fido EchoMail will be stored - must specify the same
    directory for every Fido-type network you set up
4. Archiver:           ZIP
    Compression Type for Outgoing EchoMail:
        ZIP   means use PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE
        PKPAK means use PKPAK.EXE and PKUNPAK.EXE
        PAK   means use PAK.EXE
        LHA   means use LHA.EXE
        ARJ   means use ARJ.EXE
        ARC   means use ARC.EXE
        ZOO   means use ZOO.EXE
6. FIDO Front-End:     Standalone
    Select Standalone or FrontDoor.
7. Node List Name:     NODELIST
    The name of the nodelist for the network
8. Zones:              1-7
    The range of Zones that are valid for that network (ie the Domain)
9. Origin:             TransAtlanticBBS
    The text you want to appear in the Origin line of EchoMail

D. Dial List
    1. Node Number:            2:440/59
        Fido address of node to call
    2. Phone Number:           0689-824890
        Full phone number to dial
    3. Poll Priority:          Hold
        Hold means never call, Always means call as soon as mail is
        waiting, Daily means only one call a day is made
    4. Preferred Session Type: EMSI
        EMSI Handshaking is the fastest mail protocol in FIDOnet,
        and is supported by all modern mailers. TSYNCH Handshaking
        is the original standard for FIDOnet and should be used
        with systems not supporting EMSI
    5. Session Password:       FRED
        The password to use in the EMSI or TSYNCH session with the
        other BBS, which may be blank. The password must be linked
        to the FIRST address your connect presents in his EMSI
        handshakes
    6. AreaFix Password:       JOE
        The password that must be used in AreaFix messages between
        your BBS and the other system. This must be set to a
        non-blank value if you want the other system to be able
        to make AreaFix requests
    7. AllFix Password:        TOMMY
        The password that must be used in AllFix messages between
        your BBS and the other system. This must be set to a
        non-blank value if you want the other system to be able
        to make AllFix requests
    8. Flags:                  ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
        The access flags, corresponding to those set in VCONFIG for
        the Message and File Areas, which this BBS is entitled to
        access using AreaFix and AllFix

R. Routing
    1: 2:440/59 2:440/59.*
        Routing defines the way your mail is sent to its addressee.
        The format is {Send To Address} {Addressee Address}. The
        above example says send all mail to 2:440/59 or any of its
        points (the .* wild card) to 2:440/59
    2: 1:1/1 1:*/*
        This says send any mail to Zone 1 systems to 1:1/1
    3: 2:440/6 2:*/*
        This says send all other Zone 2 mail to 2:440/6
        If you do not include this kind of "catch-all" final routing
        line, all mail that does not match one of the routing options
        above will be left "on hold" on your BBS for its addressee
        to collect

A. AKAs
    1: 2:440/59.3
        Alternative address for the board - must be same Zone
    2: 2:440/0

Once this configuration is completed, go to the main VBBS directory
and run:

    VFIDO /C NETWORKID=#

You should rerun this every time you change the above configuration
information, although VFIDO will now detect these changes
automatically and rerun the above command.

You will also need set up a file containing phone prefix aliases
called VFIDO.FON in your DATA subdirectory. This is used to ensure
that the phone numbers listed in the nodelist are converted to a
format that can be dialed from your BBS. This is used for removing
your country code for national calls and area code for local calls.
VFIDO needs the correct phone numbers listed so it can call any BBS
in the nodelist when Crash Mail, File Attaches or File Requests are
sent.

The format of this file is:

{International Dialing Prefix}
{Convert This Dialing String} {To This Dialing String}
    .
    .
    .
{Convert This Dialing String} {To This Dialing String}

An example of this file for the USA would be:

011-            The prefix for dialing international phone numbers
1-616-399- 399- Sets up the toll free codes for your area code
1-616- 1-       Makes all other calls in your area code long distance
1- 1-           Ensures all US phone numbers are not made international

This example would convert a phone number listed as 1-616-399-4818 to
399-4818, or convert 1-616-772-0482 to 1-772-0482, or 44-689-890937 to
011-44-689-90937

and for Europe:

010-            The prefix for international calls
44-689-         Strip the country and area code for local calls
44- 0           Add a 0 prefix for national calls

As an example, the above would convert an international phone number
listed in the nodelist as 1-616-399-4818 to 010-1-616-399-4818, or a
national number in the nodelist as 44-689-890937 to 0689-890937.

Place the unarchived nodelist into the C:\VBBS\NETMAIL directory and
run:

VFIDO /A NETWORKID=#

You will normally receive a new NODELIST or NODEDIFF file from your
Server or Hub once a week. Whenever you receive these files, the
above command should be run. You can also set it up as a daily event
if you want.


Sending E-Mail Using VFIDO
==========================

To send an E-Mail message from VBBS to any Fido-type network, invoke
the E-Mail routine as normal. The User Network Address field should be
completed in the format User Name@Fido Address, so to send E-Mail to me
use Neil J Marshall@2:440/211.

If you want to send Crash Mail, that is where the E-Mail is sent
directly to the addressee's BBS, ignoring the routing logic, then
add a " +c" after the addressee's name, so to send Crash Mail to me use
Neil J Marshall +c@2:440/211.

In Fido-type networks it is policy that messages with files attached
must go directly to the addressee's BBS and ignore the routing logic,
so if you attach a file to a message it will be held on your board
awaiting a call from the addressee's BBS unless you send it Crash Mail
or the addressee is one of the BBSs in your dialing list that you call.


Running An EMAIL Gateway Using VFIDO
====================================

If you are in more than one Network, you can operate an EMAIL/NetMail Gateway
service to allow people in a Fido Type Network to send NetMail to people in
other non-FTN Networks.

To send the mail to the Gateway, it must be sent To: {Network Name} Gateway
and the Subject line must read either {User Name}@{Address}, or
{User Name} {User Number}@Address, or {User Number}@{Address}. For example,
to send mail to me you would make it To: VirtualNET Gateway and make the
Subject line read Neil J Marshall 1@440 or Neil J Marshall@440 or 1@440.

Inside the body text of the message, if you put a line that reads
Subject: {Real Subject Of This Message} the Gateway will move that into the
correct Subject field at the Gateway.

Outgoing EMAIL/NetMail to a Gateway is handled using the GATEWAY.* files as
described in the VBBS documentation.


File Requests Using VFIDO
=========================

If you want to send a File Request to another Fido-type BBS invoke the
e-mail routine as normal. The User Network Address field should be
completed in the format Sysop +f@Fido Address, where the " +f" is the
switch to indicate this is a File Request. The Filename requested is
put in the Title field of the message. All File Requests are sent direct
to the addressee's BBS and ignore routing. If the addressee's BBS is not
one that you have set up in your dialing list, then you must also use
the +c switch to make the File Request a Crash E-Mail. To request the
latest version of VFIDO from me, you would invoke the E-Mail function
and address it to Sysop +f +c@2:440/211, then make the Title of the
message VFIDO.

VFIDO also supports incoming File Requests. When a File Request is
received, VFIDO searches each of the File Areas that you have set up in
VCONFIG and sends the file back if it is found. VFIDO also supports
"Magic Names" for File Requests - this is where a pseudonym is
associated with an actual file for ease of access by calling systems.
Magic Names should be set up in the file VFIDO.MAG in your DATA
directory. The format of this file is one entry per line, giving the
"Magic Name" followed by the full path and filename of the file to
associate with the Magic Name, for example

    VBBS C:\VBBS\FILES\SYSOP\VBBS620.ZIP
    FILES C:\VBBS\MASTLIST.TXT

might be some of the most common ones. Magic Names must be a single
word only and must not contain any spaces.


Configuration Of VFIDO To Add Conference Functionality
======================================================

Before conferences can be subscribed to you must place
whichever EchoMail archiver you want to use in a
directory accessable through the PATH statement.

If you want to access public message areas in Fido, you will
need to know the AREA name that uniquely identifies each Fido
conference. Supposing for example you wished to set up VBBS to
participate in a Fido conference whose AREA name was HARPOON.

Run VCONFIG.EXE and select Database Configuration, Message Bases,
the relevant Group and Database. Then select Networks Configuration,
A for add, select the network, and on the line for the Network
Conference Identifier, put the AREA name of the Echomail conference
in the network, then a space, then the Fido address of the EchoMail
server from whom you receive the conference. If you are acting as a
local hub, also add, separated by a space, the Fido addresses of the
nodes to whom you directly circulate the conference. You are currently
limited to 80 characters in VCONFIG although you can manually edit
the file in DOS to create longer subscription lists.

The line will look like this:

Network Conference Identifier: HARPOON 2:440/59 1:2/3 1:3/4
                               ^       ^        ^
                               |       |        |
                               |       |        These are the addresses
                               |       |        of BBS whom you pass the
                               |       |        conference on to when
                               |       |        you are a local hub
                               |       |
                               |  This is the Fido address of the
                               |  EchoMail server from whom you
                               |  collect the conference
                               |
                   This is the AREA name of the Fido
                   conference

After you have set up all your conferences, you must run VCONFIG,
Database Configuration, Compile Network Configuration, then
VFIDO /C NETWORKID=#. You should rerun these two steps every
time you change the network configuration of a database in VCONFIG,
although VFIDO will now detect that Compile Network Information has
been run and will automatically run the VFIDO /C NETWORKID=#.

With these simple steps taken, every message posted on that
conference will be echoed to Fido, and every message from Fido
on that conference will be fed into VBBS.

You may find, from time to time, that new Message Areas arrive at
your BBS which you do not have configured. If you have a Message
Area set up in VCONFIG called DEADMAIL, all these "unknown area"
messages will be posted there.

Once EchoMail has arrived in DeadMail, you can run:

    VFIDO /ADD NETWORKID=#

which will automatically set up the Areas found in DeadMail.


File Distribution Conferences
=============================

Fido networks uses a procedure called "Tick" to automatically distribute
files to all BBS subscribing to File Distribution Conferences.

The procedure for setting up a File Distribution Conference is the same
as for an EchoMail conference. You must remember to configure a Files
Path in VCONFIG, Database Configuration, File Directories for each of
the File Distribution Conferences you set up, and you must also remember
to physically create the Directory specified in the Files Path on your
Hard Disk.

VFIDO processes incoming "Tick" files and places them in the correct
Files Path for the File Distribution Conference to which they belong.
It also creates "Tick" messages to forward these files on to any of
your Clients subscribing to the same File Distribution Conference.

All incoming "Tick" files will be passed through the Virus Scanner
and will have their file descriptions, in FILE_ID.DIZ or DESC.SDI
format, uploaded into their long description field.

Where "Tick" files have Magic Names associated with them, VFIDO will
automatically add the Magic Name to your Magic Name file VFIDO.MAG
or will update an existing Magic Name to show the new File Name.

If you are uploading files locally to VBBS and want to have a Magic
Name associated with the file, ensure that one of the lines of the
Long Description of the file reads:

    Magic MagicName

VFIDO will update your own Magic Name file with this information and
will also include the Magic Name in the "Tick" message sent to each
other BBS subscribing to the File Distribution Conference.


Using AreaFix Or AllFix To Request Conferences
==============================================

You can add or remove your BBS to the subscription list for conferences
on other Fido BBS using AreaFix for EchoMail Conferences and AllFix for
File Distribution Conferences.

All you have to do is to send a NetMail to AreaFix or AllFix, as
appropriate, at the BBS address with your AreaFix or AllFix password
as the title (the AreaFix or AllFix password is agreed in advance by
yourself and the other Sysop) and a content that lists, line by line,
the Area name of a conference, preceded by a - for remove.

For example, a message whose content read:

VFIDO_SUPPORT
-GAMES_DISCUSSION
---

would add your BBS to the VFIDO_SUPPORT conference and remove it from
the GAMES_DISCUSSION conference.

At the end of the list of areas you want to add and drop, put three
dashes --- at the start of a line to indicate you have finished.

VFIDO also supports the use of the -L and -Q commands in the message
subject. The -L command returns a list of every Echo that is available
from the BBS. The -Q command returns the same list, but also marks with
a * each Echo that you are subscribing to. Just make the Subject of the
message read PASSWORD -L or PASSWORD -Q to operate this function.


Acting As An EchoMail Or File Distribution Hub
==============================================

VFIDO supports incoming AreaFix Requests as an EchoMail Hub and
AllFix Requests as a File Distribution Hub when your BBS has Clients.
The passwords presented are checked against those set up for the
calling BBS in VFIDO /E, and the Access Flags the calling BBS has are
checked against each Conference before subscription is allowed.

If you receive an AreaFix or AllFix request from a Client for an
EchoMail Conference or File Distribution Conference that you do not
already receive, VFIDO will generate an AreaFix or AllFix request to
your EchoMail Server automatically.

It will also set up the new EchoMail Conference or File Distribution
Conference as a Pass Through area on your BBS. That means the EchoMail
messages or File descriptions will not be posted to your BBS, but they
will be bundled and processed for your Clients.


Summary Of VFIDO Command Syntax
===============================

VFIDO {channel number} {option} NETWORKID=#

# is the network identifier as specified in the NET.0 file for
the network you are connecting to.

{channel number} is only necessary with /DIAL, /HOST and /POLL options.

{option} is one of:

/A      Build network list from Node List and Node Diffs
/ADD    Adds EchoMail Areas that have gone to DeadMail
/C      Compile Fido configuration
/E      Edit Fido configuration
/DIAL   Make a call to another Fido address, specifying the address
        right after the switch like /DIAL2:440/211
/HOST   Answer an incoming Fido call
/POLL   Call all systems for whom Crash Mail is pending
/U      Scan VBBS mail and toss to Fido
/T      Scan Fido mail and toss to VBBS


Technical Information
=====================

VFIDO creates FTS-0001 packets for NetMail with FSC-0039 extensions for
Zone and Point 4D addressing, FTS-0004 ARCmail packets for EchoMail,
and FTS-0006 WaZOO-format File Requests.

Connections can be using FTS-0001 (TSynch) using XMODEM or
FSC-0056 (EMSI) using the ZModem Uni-Directional and/or the
Hydra Bi-Directional protocol depending on the capabilities of
the remote system.

VFIDO requires the presence of DSZ.COM/DSZ.EXE, HYDRACOM.EXE,
the DOS SORT program, and the appropriate archiver programs
(PKZIP, PKUNZIP, PAK, ARJ, LHA, PKPAK, PKUNPAK, ARC, ZOO) in a
directory accessable through the PATH statement.


Release Notes
=============

7.00.05a Roland has corrected the problem with sending and receiving files
         once the connection is made

7.00.05 Revised COM port routines to work better with the 6.14a serial
        routines and reduce the chances of crashes
7.00.05 The FILE_ID.DIZ from incoming TIC files is now automatically added
        to the file's long description using the Upload Scanner
7.00.05 Now automatically falls forward to the first configured Fido Type
        Network when FIDOnet itself is not configured, so you no longer
        need to configure a fake FIDOnet address if you are not a member
        of FIDOnet
7.00.05 Added a /MONO monochrome option for those without colour screens
        or who prefer not to see my colour scheme
7.00.04 Phone Number Verification now works very much faster during Node List
        compilation
7.00.04 Node Lists are now sorted into ascending Zone:Net/Node order during
        compilation
7.00.04 Phone number verification during Node List compilation no longer
        resets phone numbers to Unpublished
7.00.04 Solved an obscure problem at the NetMail Gateway when someone
        addresses mail to the Gateway and specifies the Gateway's address
        in one of the other Networks as the final destination address
7.00.04 Resolved a problem caused by running /ADD when there is no EchoMail
        in DEADMAIL that can be added
7.00.04 Identified and rectified cause of Hydra locking up when the Slow
        setting for Handshake is set up in VCONFIG Channels Configuration
7.00.03 Added full EMAIL/NetMail Gateway between Fido Type Networks and
        non-FTN Networks such as VirtualNET or Internet using the VBBS
        GATEWAY.* files for outgoing EMAIL and a To: NetworkName Gateway
        format for incoming NetMail as described in the main documentation
7.00.03 Now answers incoming calls faster by short-cutting some of the
        startup routines
7.00.03 Word wrapping now works at column 80 instead of column 79 which
        ensures some of those fancy taglines do not wrap
7.00.03 Word wrapping now wraps lines containing Heart ANSI and Real ANSI
        so they are not split unnecessarily by ignoring the ANSI codes
7.00.03 Added code to limit the To and From Names to 36 characters and the
        Title/Subject to 72 characters
7.00.03 Corrected a problem with the SEEN-BY and PATH lines created when
        hubbing mail to a point
7.00.03 Identified and rectified cause of VFIDO dropping carrier on other
        Channels than the one it is working on
7.00.03 Added packet passwords to the empty TSYNCH fake packet where a
        Session Password is used
7.00.03 When adding Echoes from DEADMAIL using /ADD, it now supports mail
        with MSGID and Origin information showing that post if from another
        Domain to the one the Echo from which has been received
7.00.02 Added support for the Hydra Bi-Directional Protocol in EMSI sessions
        with other Hydra-capable Mailers, for example FrontDoor

7.00.01 Modified the off-hook routine to prevent the phone ever being
        taken off-hook if the Modem Idle setting in VCONFIG is set to
        do nothing

7.00.00 Changed to support provisional new VBBS 7.00 configuration files
7.00.00 Now sends you a Daily Report in EMAIL of its activities
7.00.00 Split the program into VFIDO.EXE which handles the
        phone calls and VFITO.EXE which handles the mail
        tossing, freeing up memory and improving performance
7.00.00 The Origin Line is now configurable for each separate Network
7.00.00 Renamed the AreaFix function for File Distribution
        Conferences to AllFix to follow Fido conventions
7.00.00 Added separate AllFix password separate from the
        AreaFix password
7.00.00 Added Access Flag security to the AreaFix and
        AllFix functions using the 26 Access Flags you
        can set in VCONFIG for each Echo
7.00.00 Daily Feedback now reports Addresses as well as
        Names of calling BBSs
7.00.00 When presented with out-of-spec Seen-By and Path
        lines containing Nets or Nodes over 32767, will not
        crash any more
7.00.00 VFIDO /ADD now limits itself to a subset of the
        DEADMAIL to ensure the DOS SORT function does not
        run out of memory
7.00.00 VFIDO /ADD now detects TIC Areas and does not set
        them up accidentally as EchoMail areas
7.00.00 Now puts the phone on-hook before trying to
        initialise it
7.00.00 Identified a DOS bug that was causing the mysterious
        hanging at the end of the Loading Todays Callers
        section
7.00.00 Now logs the connect time to the Network Log for
        reporting and analysis purposes

Gamma 10
6.20.00 Added a new /ADD command to automatically scans
        your DEADMAIL, sets up any new EchoMail Areas
        that it finds and transfers the posts over from
        DEADMAIL to the new EchoMail Areas
6.20.00 Added support for incoming File Attach messages
        using Wildcards as File Names
6.20.00 File Attach NetMails from Tick and ArcMail are no
        longer posted to the local EMAIL database
6.20.00 EchoMail where the To: address is not known now
        appears as To: {EchoMail} instead of the old
        To: {Not Available}

Gamma 9
6.20.00 Enhanced screen display

Gamma 8
6.20.00 Cured problem in EchoMail that was causing some
        EchoMail to be treated as NetMail - that was a
        side effect of the Gamma 7 fix for NetMail
        containing the word AREA:

Gamma 7
6.20.00 Cured problem in NetMail Routing to Points
6.20.00 Corrected problem in recognising LHA archived
        EchoMail packets, NODEDIFFs and NODELISTs
6.20.00 Incoming AreaFix requests that are sent Crash
        Mail are no longer replied to by Crash Mail,
        just by normal NetMail
6.20.00 Cured problem of NetMail containing the word
        AREA: being mistaken for EchoMail

Gamma 6
6.20.00 Added support for extra archive methods using
        ZOO.EXE, ARC.EXE and PKPAK.EXE/PKUNPAK.EXE
6.20.00 Enhanced error handling for unknown archivers,
        missing unarchiver programs, and memory problems
        with unarchivers
6.20.00 All AKAs for the Domain are now added to SEEN-BY
        lines for EchoMail to reduce the chance of dupes
6.20.00 Added support for AreaFix commands %LIST %QUERY
        in incoming AreaFix commands, and cured problem
        with spurious + on Area names

Gamma 5
6.20.00 Modified Network Validation logic to only require
        validation when you have Validation On and where
        you are gating between networks
6.20.00 Enhanced message tossing still further to eliminate
        out of string space problems

Gamma 4
6.20.00 Added an internal equivalent of the VCONFIG Network
        Configuration screen for Fido type networks to allow
        all the extra fields missing in VCONFIG to be set up
6.20.00 Added proper Hubbing functions including sending
        AreaFix requests to your Server when a Client requests
        an EchoMail conference you don't carry, and support for
        Pass Through EchoMail areas
6.20.00 Now detects when any aspect of the Fido configuration
        has been changed and automatically runs a VFIDO /C
        to compile the new configuration
6.20.00 EMSI handshakes now give 5D addresses including Domain
6.20.00 Automatically runs VCONFIG's Compile Network Information
        when new Pass Through areas have been added
6.20.00 Added support for separate Session and AreaFix passwords
6.20.00 Restricted Session and AreaFix passwords to 8 characters
        to conform to Fido Technical Standards
6.20.00 Changed processing of message packets to solve the
        Out Of String Space problems
6.20.00 When you connect with another Fido system, VFIDO now
        only lists addresses for those Networks you have in
        common in the Today's Callers list
6.20.00 Will now not send NetMail with File Attaches or
        File Requests, nor EchoMail or Ticks, between the
        Net Low time and Net High time defined in VCONFIG,
        enabling full Zone Mail Hour compliance
6.20.00 Improved the screen display of calling node
        information when answering EMSI to the same level
        of detail as shown when calling out using EMSI
6.20.00 AreaFix requests incoming from Fido networks using
        other NetworkIds than Slot 4 now work correctly
6.20.00 Now removes any blank lines or illegal lines found
        after the Tear Line in EchoMail
6.20.00 Added .MSG creating and tossing functionality to support
        BRE and other similar games, and FrontDoor

Gamma 3
6.20.00 Seen-By lines are now presented in sorted order in
        accordance with unpublished Fido Technical Standard
6.20.00 Original Fido & VirtualNET Date & Time fields are
        now preserved
6.20.00 Message Threading now works for messages from and to
        Fido Networks
6.20.00 NetMail Tossing and Tick Tossing now operates faster
6.20.00 Tossing Performance in Kb/Minute is now reported in
        the Network Log and Daily Feedback
6.20.00 Incoming Mail Tosser now counts up the total number
        of messages processed instead of the number in each
        packet

Gamma 2
6.20.00 Incoming file requests are now logged to NETWORK.LOG
6.20.00 All Tick files are automatically passed through the
        Virus Scanner and have the FILE_ID.DIZ descriptions
        uploaded into the Long Description
6.20.00 Now logs the Fido Address of any invalid subscribers
        to the daily Feedback message and the Network Log
6.20.00 ARCmail file attach messages and other file attach
        messages which contain nothing but the file name
        are now sent as "null" messages so that the empty
        message can be deleted automatically by the
        receiving BBS
6.20.00 File Attach messages now just place the filename
        in the Subject field instead of the path and the
        filename
6.20.00 Command line use of DSZ now includes passing the
        estimate parameter while sending files and the
        restrict parameter while receiving files
6.20.00 Taglines from EMAIL.TAG are automatically stripped
        from otherwise empty EMAILs, such as File Requests
        and File Attaches, so that an empty NetMail is
        received at the other BBS which can be deleted
        automatically
6.20.00 Fixed a bug from Gamma Candidate 1 which was letting
        the PATH lines, hidden by a Diamond 0 combination,
        be seen by non-SysOps

Gamma 1
6.20.00 Mail tossing time reduced by 65% for incoming mail
        and 75% for outgoing mail
6.20.00 VFIDO supports multiple Fido style network gating
        with different EchoMail Area names for each network
6.20.00 VFIDO now deletes null (60 byte) packets each run
        instead of leaving them in the NetMail directory
6.20.00 Modified the compiled Nodelist format to show the
        telephone number as shown in the source Nodelist,
        including - separator characters
6.20.00 Changed phone prefix technique to read the VFIDO.FON
        as phone numbers are dialed instead of requiring the
        Nodelist to be recompiled each time the VFIDO.FON
        is altered
6.20.00 Nodelist compilation now automatically checks and
        corrects the phone numbers listed in your dialing
        list in VCONFIG Network Configuration
6.20.00 Added Network Validation for incoming Fido EchoMail
6.20.00 SEEN-BY: and PATH: lines are now concatenated onto
        existing lines where possible instead of automatically
        starting a new line
6.20.00 Messages incoming from Fido are now stored with all
        their Fido "kludge" lines intact, but hidden by
        Diamond 0 prefixes, so they can be viewed only by
        the SysOp
6.20.00 NetMail routing modified so that mail always routes
        directly if there is no suitable routing logic, to
        assist those Nets with lots of local boards who have
        to route direct and don't want to enter it manually
6.20.00 Incoming NetMail now scans the USERFILE.IDX to find
        the User Number so that you don't need to have sent
        NetMail to Fido networks before being able to receive
        incoming NetMail to your Real Name or Handle
6.20.00 EMSI handshaking now presents the primary address for
        the NETWORKID as the first address in the handshake
        sequence, rather than always presenting the FIDOnet
        address first
6.20.00 When answering EMSI calls, VFIDO shows the primary
        address corresponding to the primary address shown by
        the caller
6.20.00 Added code to handle messages gated from WWIV networks
        using VWW4 that contained spurious ^A characters
6.20.00 Now strips heart colour codes from the From and To
        Name fields and the Subject field
6.20.00 EchoMail now reports the To: address in messages as
        {Not Available} where VFIDO is unable to identify
        the real To: address
6.20.00 VFIDO now adds dialing entries to the correct
        NET.# file instead of always adding them to the
        file for the Networkid # it was run under
6.20.00 No longer tries to look up phone numbers for Points
        from the NODELIST
6.20.00 Now displays connect's address and name during file
        transfer in EMSI mail sessions
6.20.00 Now records connect's BBS name and SysOp name from
        EMSI mail sessions in network.log
6.20.00 Now completes all of the EMSI handshake optional
        fields based on information extracted from the
        NODELIST
6.20.00 Changed VFIDO's AreaFix LIST command to the conventional
        -L or -Q after the password instead of the earlier
        LIST command which was non-standard
6.20.00 VFIDO's AreaFix now automatically returns a list of all
        Echoes that the caller is subscribing to when the caller
        makes any kind of AreaFix request
6.20.00 EchoMail sent to {DEADMAIL} will now be tossed to a
        Message Area with a database file name of DEADMAIL if
        you set one up in VCONFIG, Database Configuration
6.20.00 Now automatically unarchives NODELIST files
6.20.00 Deletes old NODELIST files when a newer one is received
6.20.00 Correctly picks up a "this year" .001 NODELIST in
        preference to a "last year" .365 NODELIST
6.20.00 Now processes NODEDIFF files and updates the NODELIST
6.20.00 Cured bug that was failing to delete sent EchoMail and
        NetMail packets that were over 1Mb in size
6.20.00 Added full incoming and outgoing Tick file handling,
        including moving files to the relevant directories
        as defined for each File Area in VCONFIG
6.20.00 The VFIDO.FON dialing translation file now handles
        translate patterns where the second part of the pattern
        is blank, eg translate 1-616- to nothing
6.20.00 Changed order in which attached files are sent to
        ensure that attached files are resent when a connection
        fails with some of the files sent and some not
6.20.00 Logs the type of incoming connect, EMSI or TSYNCH, in
        the NETWORK.LOG
6.20.00 NetMail addressed to unknown users is forwarded to the
        SysOp account automatically

6.10.05 Improved mail tosser logic to prevent tossing to
        "silly" node numbers
6.10.05 Modified NODELIST compiler to only print summary
        information to screen to improve performance
6.10.05 Spacebar aborts of outgoing calls now hang the phone
        up immediately
6.10.05 Added code to support password EMSI handshaking with
        boards who insist on adding a .0 to the end of their
        full node addresses

6.10.04 Added unique thread id to prevent accidental deletion
        of messages by VME as duplicates
6.10.04 Corrected EchoMail routines to support hubbing between
        VFIDO systems
6.10.04 Added routine to handle overlength date/time fields
        in packed message headers
6.10.04 Improved still further the routines for extracting
        origin information from EchoMail
6.10.04 Disabled VFIDO mail tossing on nodes 2 and over of a
        multi-line BBS to prevent locking and crashing
6.10.04 Added packet level passwords for outbound mail

6.10.03 Corrected operation of VFIDO in a multinode BBS

6.10.02 Rectified routing problem in non-crash direct mail such
        as EchoMail file attaches

6.10.01 Rectified problems in EMSI and TSYNCH handshake caused by
        VFIDO 6.10.00

6.10.00 Modified LOCALNET processing routines to support the new
        NETWORKS.LST format

6.00.05 Modified configuration compilation to support zones=
        fields with only a singe zone number listed
6.00.05 Removed need for GUS by inbuilding archive detection
6.00.05 Modified incoming EMSI routing to support badly behaved
        EMSI mailers
6.00.05 Added more detail to the log in VFIDO.TOS and VEMSI.LOG
        to assist debugging

6.00.04 Modified the logging to VFIDO.TOS to include all tossing
        within a single running of VFIDO
6.00.04 Amended the off-hook routine to ensure that the phone is
        taken off the hook on some slower modems
6.00.04 Modified the handshaking delays to ensure connects with
        Binkley systems
6.00.04 Modified outgoing EMAIL routine to delete outgoing NetMail
        with incorrectly formatted node numbers
6.00.04 Removed need for NET.1 and NET.4 to be configured for VFIDO
        to operate successfully

6.00.03 Added tossing log file VFIDO.TOS to assist debugging of
        EchoMail and NetMail tossing problems

6.00.02 Improved handling of CD-ROM file requests
6.00.02 Modified NetMail identification routine to support file
        attaches generated by BRE
6.00.02 Increased the archiving formats to support ARC, PKPAK, DWC
        and HYP
6.00.02 Changed to use a GUS General Unarchiver Shell program to
        allow almost any incoming archived mail format to be used
6.00.02 Reintroduced some delays before DSZ to assist Binkley connects
6.00.02 Modified call logging routine to record every connecting AKA

6.00.01 Improved wildcard file request handling
6.00.01 Improved automatic polling logic to work according to original
        concept

6.00.00 Official release

5.60.11 Cured bug in the outgoing EchoMail packets generated by a hub

5.60.10 Enhanced AreaFix routines to support the use of the session
        password as the AreaFix password, and to recognise the LIST
        command as a method of showing all available databases
5.60.10 Modified password routine to recognise passwords from any
        network on incoming calls
5.60.10 Modified outgoing call routines to automatically use EMSI or
        TSYNCH as appropriate
5.60.10 Modified routines calling DSZ to use PORTX instead of PORT
5.60.10 Modified call logging routine to list correct Network name
5.60.10 Modified NODELIST processor to exclude DOWN systems

5.60.09 Modified EchoMail archive packet naming for points
5.60.09 Corrected bug in incoming file request handler

5.60.08 NetMail no longer carries a tear and origin line
5.60.08 Outgoing file requests and crash mail can only be sent by
        the Sysop account
5.60.08 Modified EMSI checksum routine to ensure 4 digit checksums
5.60.08 Removed reliance on DOS DIR command
5.60.08 Added support for LocalNET slots configured as Fido type
5.60.08 Modified file request code to support CD ROM drives and to
        ignore wildcard file requests
5.60.08 Improved analysis of results of a call to ensure sent packets
        are deleted even if the receive fails

5.60.07 Modified incoming mail user name recognition to cope with
        names with the first character missing
5.60.07 Overhauled the FTS-0001 packet exchange section to get better
        results with Binkley connects

5.60.06 Modified packet creation routine to make the packet show
        the address in the correct network as the origin
5.60.06 Corrected a bug caused by the switch to 60 byte null
        packets in 5.60.05 which caused outgoing mail to be
        ignored or two bytes out of phase

5.60.05 Modified the /c and /f email switches to +c and +f
        because of conflict with MultiMail function
5.60.05 Modified null packet length to the correct 60 bytes
5.60.05 Modified EchoMail processing to detect NetMail containg
        AREA: in the text as NetMail instead of EchoMail
5.60.05 Introduced a quick return to Waiting For Call where call
        was unsuccessful
5.60.05 Modified incoming and outgoing call routines to improve
        success rate with VFIDO, FrontDoor and Binkley connects
5.60.05 VFIDO now remembers the telephone numbers of Crash Mailed
        systems so the nodelist does not need to be searched again
        if further Crash Mail is sent or redials are needed
5.60.05 Modified routine that processes EMSI caller's address
        information to handle 5D addressing and spurious .0
        point addresses

5.60.04 Modified telephone answering routine to handle incoming
        Binkley 2.56 calls using EMSI or FTS-0001
5.60.04 Modified incoming file request processor to take account
        of comments and directory names
5.60.04 Improved the incoming EMSI handshake performance
5.60.04 Modified the EMSI handshake routine to detect carrier
        dropped right at the start of the handshake
5.60.04 Modified the routine to detect nodelists in VFIDO /A
        so that it runs a bit faster

5.60.03 Corrected bug in Crash Mail introduced in 5.60.02
5.60.03 Incoming EchoMail is now forced to appear from the same
        network as it is addressed to, preventing reflection
5.60.03 Added even more code to remove junk in incoming MSGID,
        REPLY and Origin fields

5.60.02 Corrected bug in receive EMSI handshaking that was
        causing an infinite loop
5.60.02 Corrected a bug causing a crash if you sent crash mail
        to the same address more than once then made a connect
5.60.02 Modified incoming mail processor to add a /c to crash
        mail to allow the reply to be sent as crash mail
        automatically
5.60.02 Changed MSGID, REPLY and * Origin routines to detect
        where Zone is 0 and default the network to FidoNET
5.60.02 Completely rewrote inbound EchoMail processor to allow
        for situations when the from and to addresses are in
        completely different networks
5.60.02 Corrected origin network processing for mail whose
        origin line indicates an invalid Zone
5.60.02 Corrected incoming File Request processing routine
5.60.02 Suppressed sending of null packets during EMSI session
5.60.02 Enabled routing to #:#/0 addresses
5.60.02 Corrected routine that takes modem off hook during
        tossing to use correct COM: port and only activate if
        VCONFIG is set to Idle Modem
5.60.02 Checks VCONFIG file request flag to see if file areas
        are FREQ'able or not
5.60.02 Added code to recover from invalid addresses in the
        REPLY field from other Fido mailers
5.60.02 Added some strategically placed pauses to allow screen
        to be read to assist debugging
5.60.02 Spacebar now aborts the whole redial sequence for a node
5.60.02 Checks for null packets received during a TSynch session
        to prevent attempting to apck mail for 0:0/0

5.60.01 Modified the /POLL routine to only poll within the
        specified NETWORKID
5.60.01 Added display of EchoMail From Address during tossing
        to assist correct configuration of EchoMail processor.
5.60.01 Corrected TSYNCH handshake to cope with empty incoming
        packets
5.60.01 Corrected the AreaFix message format to follow the Fido
        standard for add requests
5.60.01 Modified the initial handshake after CONNECT to support
        mailers that generate a single Escape character
5.60.01 Added code to mask out REPLY lines reading 0:0/0
5.60.01 Added code to mask out invalid MSGID lines from Xenolink
5.60.01 Added support for Session Passwords
5.60.01 Updated processing of Origin information in EchoMail to
        handle invalid formats of the Origin without crashing
5.60.01 Corrected incoming EchoMail processing logic to handle mail
        from multiple networks simultaneously
5.60.01 Takes phone off hook during mail tossing
5.60.01 Modified call to DSZ to handle duplicate incoming file names
5.60.01 Added abort by spacebar in dialouts
5.60.01 Added pause between redials
5.60.01 Corrected processing of nodelists with sub-100 extensions
5.60.01 Added Carrier Detect functions to detect loss of connection
        in incoming and outgoing calls

5.60.00 Added incoming AreaFix functionality
5.60.00 Added incoming & outgoing Crash Mail functionality
5.60.00 Added incoming & outgoing File Attach functionality
5.60.00 Added incoming & outgoing File Request functionality
5.60.00 Integrated the FrontDoor telephone handling functionality
5.60.00 Introduced support for Domains
5.60.00 Upgraded routing to give unlimited routing flexibility
5.60.00 Introduced support for Aliases
5.60.00 Introduced support for simultaneous multiple Fido-type networks
5.60.00 Reintroduced the PATH statement in EchoMail
5.60.00 Introduced support for unarchived EchoMail
5.60.00 Improved the detection of origin information on incoming EchoMail
5.60.00 Added processing to correct Private EchoMail and Public Netmail
5.60.00 Added support for To: field in EchoMail
5.60.00 Upgraded to support VBBS 5.60

5.52.04 Corrected the problem that was preventing messages from Fido being
        gated out to VirtualNET clients and servers
5.52.04 Improved the detail provided on-screen as messages are being
        processed (to give you something to read as the program chugs
        slowly along!)
5.52.04 Cured the problem of VFIDO "reflecting" EchoMail back to the
        original sender thereby causing duplicates
5.52.04 Corrected the display of the From address for incoming EchoMail so
        that it no longer always shows the Server's address
5.52.04 Removes the AREA and SEEN-BY lines from incoming EchoMail before
        posting it to VBBS
5.52.04 Introduced an automatic word-wrap on incoming messages to cater for
        those annoying Fido mailers that fail to word-wrap their messages as
        they are entered

5.52.03 Corrected another bug in the usa of LHA for archiving

5.52.02 Corrected a bug that was making the VBBS mail tosser skip messages

5.52.01 Corrected the use of LHA as an archiving and unarchiving protocol
        since it was making VFIDO crash

5.52.00 Completely rewrote echomail handling for multiple clients (the
        last version was my first attempt and was not too good!)
5.52.00 Added recognition of soft carriage returns in message text
5.52.00 Corrected SEEN-BY line on echomail to show NET/NODE only
5.52.00 Forced e-mail to use real name
5.52.00 Corrected FLAGS for file-attached archived message packets
5.52.00 Corrected expected name of NODELIST files
5.52.00 Added a VFIDO.LOG file that records file access attempts to help
        debug obscure file problems

5.51.00 Added support for VBBS 5.51

5.50.06 Added support for multiple servers and multiple EchoMail clients
        (this was a MAJOR job, let me tell you!)
5.50.06 Corrected bug causing crashes if subdirectories under NETMAIL
5.50.06 Fixed crash caused by blank lines in NET.0
5.50.06 Fixed crash caused by archived NODELIST in VFIDO /A

5.50.05 Fixed ARCmail file attach message bug
5.50.05 Fixed INTL addressing bug

5.50.04 Fixed horrendous bug in the 5.50.03 EchoMail processor

5.50.03 Rewrite of mail processor to handle large messages

5.50.02 Fido mail addressed to SysOp is routed to #1 account
5.50.02 Origin line now has only 1 leading space
5.50.02 SEEN-BY and PATH now in correct order on Conference mail

5.50.01 Failure to toss Fido Conference mail to VBBS message areas

2.2     Fixed bug in showing Fido node in VBBS

2.1     Fixed bug in Fido echomail to VBBS conversion

2.0     First Public Release

1.5     Beta

1.4     Beta

1.3     Beta

1.2     Beta

1.1     Beta

1.0     Beta