OS/2 Professional/OS2PRO194.ISO/os2/wps/com/sob/sob.hlp

OS/2 Help File | 1993-09-08 | 21KB | 557 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Outbound Manager ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You are currently in the SOB outbound directory manager. The outbound directory
is where a mail tosser, such as Squish, places mail that is to be delivered to
other systems by a FidoNet<tm> such as BinkleyTerm.

The list that is displayed, are the contents of your outbound directory and
contain the following columns:

Address             This is the address the mail is to be sent to.  If a node
                    has more than one item, only the first item has the
                    address.  An address of N/A indicates that SOB could not
                    determine a correct address for the file.

Type                This column indicates the type of file. See the file
                    descriptions below.

Date                The date the file was last written to.

Time                The time the file was last written to.

File Name/Path      The filename and or complete path for the file.  The
                    complete path is used in FLO files and in Update Request
                    type request files.

The file types are defined as follows:

ArcMail   This is an archived mail file, and is sent as a file attach. This
          file contains compressed mail packets, typically echo mail. An
          ArcMail file is supposed to be included in a file attach file.  If an
          ArcMail file is orphaned SOB allows you to un-orphan the file by
          creating a new file attach file or add it to an existing file. After
          an ArcMail file is sent to the targeted system, it is truncated to a
          length of zero.  This indicates to mail processor that the file has
          been sent and not to add any new mail packets.

          The file filtering in SOB allows you to eliminate truncated ArcMail
          files from the display.

Fiat      This file contains a list of files to be sent to another system.
          Each file attach file, has it's list of files displayed immediatly
          after it.  If you do not wish to see these files, the file filtering
          in SOB will prevent these entries from being displayed.

          A file attach file has a flavor (priority) that is described below.

FileReq   This is a list of files, that your system is requesting from another.
          The files to be requested are listed immediatly following the file
          request entry.

          If you do not wish to see these files, the file filtering in SOB will
          prevent these entries from being displayed.

NoConnect This file contains the number of times your system attempted to
          connect to the target system.  This count is displayed after the file
          name in the file name column.

          If you do not wish to see these files, the file filtering in SOB will
          prevent these entries from being displayed.

NodeBusy  This indicate that either BinkleyTerm is connected to, or attempting
          a connection to the node, or that a mail processor such as Squish is
          packing mail for that node.

          If you do not wish to see these files, the file filtering in SOB will
          prevent these entries from being displayed.

Poll      This file is used to force a call to a remote node.  This file may
          also contain netmail messages that have not been added to an ArcMail
          bundle.  A Poll is also used to send a file request file.

Tick      This file is produced by a file distribution processor, such as Tick.

Other     These are files that do not fit any of the above descriptions.

          If you do not wish to see these files, the file filtering in SOB will
          prevent these entries from being displayed.

The Flavor or Priority for FLO and packet files are as follows:

If anyone has a better definition of these, I would appreciate very much if you
would send them to me.

Crash     Typically high priority mail that is sent immedialty.

Direct    Same as Crash

Hold      Mail is to be held until the target system calls your system or until
          you call the other system.

Leave     Mail will never be sent.

Normal    Sent "Normally" based on the mailer event setup.

Mail processors create most of the entries in your outbound area. SOB's
outbound manager gives you the ability to easily maintain and manipulate your
outbound area.  You can generate Polls, request and send files, and delete old
or undeliverable mail.

To manipulate any of these entries, select an entry by pressing enter on the
highlighted entry, or double click with the right mouse button and you will be
presented with an Actions Menu


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Options Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu presents the options that are available to you in using SOB:

Configuration SOB Configuration

File Filtering Filtering on certain files types in the outbound display.

Exit      Terminating SOB

About     A Brag dialog that seems to be present in all OS/2 PM applications.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option allow you to configure SOB with the information it needs to
operate.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2. File Filtering ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option provides file filtering, to allow some flexability in controlling
what files are displayed in SOB's outbound window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option will terminate SOB. Prior to exiting, the position and size of
SOB's window will be saved.  The next time SOB is started it will be at the
same location and will be the same size as the last time you used it.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.4. About ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is nothing more than a Brag item. The About selection typically tells who
the author is and displays copyright information.

Every OS/2 PM application seems to have one, so I have included it.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Misc. Outbound Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

*** Help not ready ***


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Cleanup Outbound ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

*** Help not ready ***


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.1. Clean Up Noconnects ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This clean up option will delete files with an extension of *.$$*


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.2. Clean up Truncated ArcMail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This cleanup option deletes all ArcMail bundles that have been sent.

After an ArcMail bundle is sent, it is truncated to a length of zero.  The zero
length indicates to a mail tosser, such as Squish, the bundle has been sent and
not to add any additional mail packets to the bundle.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.3. Clean up Other ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This clean up option, deletes files that are listed with a type of Other

Other files, are files that are in the outbound and are not recognized by a
mailer such as BinkleyTerm.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.4. Clean up Missing ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This clean up option will delete from *.?LO files, any entries that can't be
found.

*.?LO are labeled as FiAtt


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.5. Clean up Empty FiAT ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The cleanup option deletes any

*.?LO that do not have any entries.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.6. Clean up ALL ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This cleanup option will delete all of the files eligible for cleanup, which
are:

o No Connects

o Sent (truncated to zero length) ArcMail bundles.

o Files labeled as Other.

o Files listed as missing in *.?LO files.

o *.?LO files that have no entries.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Outbound Rescan ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This Misc menu causes a rescan of the current outbound area, and a refresh of
the outbound display.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Generate a POLL ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This Misc menu option will generate a POLL packet, which causes Binkley to call
another system.

You should not generater a POLL unless you do not have mail destined for the
targeted system, or unless you wish to create a POLL with a higher priority
than current waiting mail targeted for the system to be polled.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Selected Item Actions Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You have selected an item in the you outbound area.  This menu offers several
actions that can be performed on the selected item:

Re-Address     This option allows you to re-address a Flow or Packet file.

Change Flavor  Change the Flavor of a Flow or Packet file.

Erase          Erase any file on the outbound display.

Un-Orphan      Un-Orphan an ArcMail bundle.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Selected Item Actions Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the destination address of the selected Flo or Packet file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Change Flavor to Crash ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the Flavor (priority) of the selected item to Crash


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. Change Flavor to Direct ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the Flavor (priority) of the selected item to Direct


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. Change Flavor to Hold ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the Flavor (priority) of the selected item to Hold


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. Change Flavor to Leave ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the Flavor (priority) of the selected item to Leave


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.6. Change Flavor to Normal ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Change the Flavor (priority) of the selected item to Normal


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.7. Erase Item ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Erase/delete the selected entry


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.8. UnOrphan ArcMail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

ArcMail requires that a Flow file has the bundle name in it, in order for the
bundle to be sent.  This option will create the Flow file for the selected
ArcMail bundle if it does not exist.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. SOB Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

***Help not ready***


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Net Address ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Zone Change ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Send, Request, Update Request files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Generate a poll ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. File Filtering ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Packet / Bundle Flavor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help is currently not available


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Nodelist Editor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The SOB nodelist editor is a full and complete Version 7 nodelist editor.  You
can change information for an existing node, delete an existing node, or add a
new node. You can also perform searches on the nodelist for a specific node, a
SysOp name, or a partial last name.

Note:  In attempting to gather information for the packing algorithm used in
the data file, I sent a couple of netmail messages each, to folks who had
worked with the Version 7 nodelist.  Neither of these folks had the courteousy
to respond.  So much for friendly FidoNet help. I sent a message to Alberto
Pasquale, the author of FastList.  Not only did I get an immediate response
from Alberto, he sent me, at his own expense from Italy, the code for the
packing algorithm. Thank you Alberto.  Without your help I couldn't have done
it

A Version 7 nodelist has 3 seperate components:

Node Index     The node index contains an entry for each node found in a raw
               nodelist. Each index entry contains a pointer into the data file
               for that nodes information.

Sysop Index    The SysOp index contains at least one entry for each SysOp in
               the nodelist.  Most Version 7 nodelist compilers will remove
               duplicate names within the same Net.  Most of these same
               compilers also provide options for allowing duplicate names in
               the SysOp index. When updating or adding a new node, and an
               entry for the SysOp exists in the SysOp index, SOB will ask if
               you want a duplicate SysOp index entry.

Data File      The data file contains all of the information for a node.  Each
               of the indexes contain a pointer to it's information within the
               data file.

Each of the above indexes is based on a variation on the B+-tree algorithm and
is derived from the balanced tree algorithm in Aho, Hopcroft, and Ulman. For a
more indepth understanding of B-trees and other data structures see "The Design
and Analysis of Computer Algorithms", by Aho, Hopcroft, and Ulman
(Addison-Wesley, 1974).

The editor screen is divide into 5 sections:

Address Bar    The address bar displays the Zone, Net, Node, and HUB in
               formation for the node selected from the list box.  By changing
               either the Zone or the Net number, then selecting the List
               button, the list box will contain an entry for each node in the
               Zone:Net.

General Info   This section contains then general information for a node. To
               change a nodes information, just start keying the new
               information. Once data is entered, you will enter update mode.
               You will notice that the Upd and the Cancel buttons will become
               activated, and you will be in update mode. To save your changes,
               select the Upd button, or to discard your changes, select the
               Cancel button.  While in update mode, most of the other buttons
               will be inactivated.

Flags          These are the characteristic flags for the node.

Action Bar     The action buttons allow you to perform certain actions.  Some
               of the buttons are mutually exclusive therefore, some will be
               disabled while others are enabled.  For example, while in update
               mode, you are not allowed to add a new node.

Node List Box  SOB maintains 2 lists.  The first is a list of the nodes in a
               net.  When you first enter the nodelist editor, this list
               contains nodes in your net. Selecting the List button will
               refresh this list with the nodes in Zone:Net from the address
               bar.

               The second list, is the hit list from a search.  Once a search
               has completed, the Swap button will become activated allowing
               you to swap back and forth between the two lists.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.1. Address Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The address bar show the zone, net, and node of the node whose information is
displayed in the  general info section.  If the node belongs to a HUB, the HUB
number is also displayed, otherwise the HUB number is 0.

You should notice that in most cases, the node number field is not active.
This is because it is not a modifyable entry.  The only time the node number
field is activated is when you insert a new node into the nodelist.

Selecting the List button, will a list of nodes contained in the Zone:Net of
the address bar.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.2. General Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The general information section of the nodelist editor is where most of the
information for a node is contained. The information presented here belongs to
the Zone:Net from the address bar. To change to a different node, select the
desired node from the list box on the right side of the window.

SysOp Name     Name of the system operator for the node. Typically, if a SysOp
               has more than one node, his name will be in the SysOp index only
               once. If changing or adding a new node would cause a duplicate
               name in the index, you will be asked if you want the duplicate
               index entry created.

               Note:  When adding a new node, or updating a node, the SysOp
               name is required.

System Name    Simply, the system name. (what can I say)

Location       City, State and possbily country where the node is located.

Telephone      Phone number of the system.  Enter this just as your system
               would dial it.

               Note:  When adding a new node, or updating a node, the phone
               number is required.

Password       This is the password your system will send when connecting to
               this node.

Modem Type     I haven't the foggiest idea.  If anyone can offer an
               explanation, I'd appreciate it.

Modem Baud     This is your modems maximum baud rate, with a maximum of 9600.

               Note:  When adding a new node, or updating a node, the baud rate
               is required.

User Cost      Cost for a BBS user to send a net mail message to this node.

Call Cost      The actual cost for your system to call this node.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.3. Nodelist Flags ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

These are the flags currently used by Binkley.  If you are aware of any others,
please let me know and I will include support for them.

Zone      Flags this node as a zone Cordinator.

Region    Flags this node as a regional cordinator.

Host      Flags this node as a network host, or network cordinator.

HUB       Flags this node as a HUB cordinator within a net.

CM        Flags this node as a  continious mail node.  In other words, this
          node is capable of receiving mail 24 hours a day.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.4. Action Bar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The button bar is where all of the actions on the nodelist are initiated.
Depending on the mode you are in, some of the buttons will not be activated.

Quit      This button terminates the nodelist editor.

Add        Adds a new node. When selected, all fields are cleared.  You then
          must enter the information for a new node. You will notice that Node
          will be activated on the address bar.  The node number must be filled
          in.  If Zone and Net are omitted, they will default to your Zone and
          net.

Del       Selecting this button will delete the node being displayed.  Before
          deleting the node SOB will ask you for confirmation prior to actually
          deleting the node.

          Note:  If you have suppressed the "Are you sure" message in the
          configuration dialog, you will not see the message

Upd       When you select Add or if SOB When you are finished with all of your
          changes, selecting this but will apply your changes to the nodelist.

Cancel    This button becomes activated at the same time the Upd button becomes
          activated.  Selecting this button will cancel any changes you have
          entered.

Search    Initiates a search of the nodelist.  You can do a search for a
          specific node number, a full SysOp name, or a partial last name. Once
          the search is completed, the list box will contain a list of nodes
          that matched the search criteria, with the current node, the first
          node found. The Swap key will become activated at the completion of
          the search. This allows you to switch between the hit list, and the
          list of nodes in a net from when the List button was last pressed.

List      Selecting this button, will list all the nodes in the Zone and net
          that are displayed in the address bar.

Swap      Switches between a list of nodes that is the result of a search and
          the list of nodes from when the List button was last pressed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.5. Node List Box ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The list box contains the list of nodes from either the last time the List
button was selected, or a successful search was completed.

Selecting any node number in the list, will display that nodes information.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Nodelist Editor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Specify the argument you want used to search the nodelist. You can specify a
node number, a SysOp name, or a partial last name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Squish is a mail tosser and packer written and Copyrighted by Scott Dudley.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Binkley is a FidoNet(tm) mailer front end written and copyrighted by Bit Bucket
Software.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

FidoNet is a Trademark of Tom Jennings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Tick if anyone know the author of this software please send me a netmail so I
could include it here.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If anyone has a better definition of these, I would appreciate very much if you
would send them to me.

Crash     Typically high priority mail that is sent immedialty.

Direct    Same as Crash

Hold      Mail is to be held until the target system calls your system or until
          you call the other system.

Leave     Mail will never be sent.

Normal    Sent "Normally" based on the mailer event setup.