PubFreq PubFtran User's Manual 1. Introduction 1.1. What is filerequest/filetransfer? Filerequest is the fastest way to get files from a BBS. To do a filerequest you need to have a FidoNet-address and a Mailer (TrapDoor is the most common mailer in the Amiga world). The BBS you want to request from must also have an FidoNet-address and support file requests. NOTE Not all BBS's support filerequest. Filetransfer is the opposite of filerequest, it allows you to send files to a BBS. PubFreq and PubFtran are two small programs that will help you create the files needed to do filerequest/filetransfer. If you're completely confused by now, then these programs will probably be of no use to you. Sorry for wasting your time. :-) 1.2. So what's different? Not much. Except: a) They are small. No need for a 50kb utility to do these things. ;-) b) They can open on any public screen. Eg. Foozle, TrapDoor etc. c) They have a nice gadtools interface. 2. System Requirements a) A mailer (TrapDoor 1.83 or higher will do fine). traplist.library v4+. b) KickStart 2.04 or higher. c) A Nodelist is recommended to get information about the BBS, but not needed. 3. Installation 1 PubFreq PubFtran User's Manual Copy the executables to a directory of your choice. I suggest "Mail:Bin". If you're using Foozle you might want to add entrys to your "Foozle.ext" file. See the example file that should be present in this archive. 4. Usage 4.1. Input format Both the executables use same input format, which is: NODE,PUBSCREEN/K,NLDIR/K,OUTBDIR/K,POLL/K,FONTNAME/K,FONTSIZE/K/N 4.1.1. NODE Optional node number of the node to request from. Format is xx:yyy/zzz 4.1.2. PUBSCREEN/K Optional name of the Public Screen that the program should open it's window on. Defaults to "Workbench". Example: PubFreq PUBSCREEN=TrapDoor 4.1.3. NLDIR/K Optional nodelist directory, if you don't use a nodelist, be sure to specify: PubFreq NLDIR="" Defaults to "Nodelist:" 4.1.4. OUTBDIR/K Optional outbound diretory. This is where the files will be placed. Defaults to "Mail:Outbound". Example: PubFreq OUTBDIR="RAM:" 4.1.5. POLL/K Optional command for Poll gadget. You can use this to install the command to call TrapDoor. PubF will substitute "%n" with the nodenumber. Defaults to "rx *"address 'TrapDoor' 'CALL %n'*"". Example: POLL="run Mail:Bin/TrapDoor call %n" 4.1.6. FONTNAME/K FONTSIZE/K/N Optional alternative font to use. Defaults to using the public screen's font. Example: PubFreq FONTNAME=helvetica.font FONTSIZE=13 4.2. PubFreq 2 PubFreq PubFtran User's Manual A window will open allowing you to specify the node you want to request from along with the files you want to request. Add files with the "Add" gadget, Remove them with the "Del" gadget. TrapList.library and the nodelist will be used to find the name of the BBS if possible. When you're satisfied with the contents, click "OK". A .REQ file will be created in your Outbound directory containing the names of the files you want to request. Selecting "Cancel" or the close gadget will abort the request (nothing will be saved). Tell your mailer to call the node. With TrapDoor you should use: "TrapDoor CALL xx:yyy/zzz" if you're using a nodelist and "TrapDoor CALL phoneno. BOSS xx:yyy/zzz" if you don't have a nodelist. Substitute phoneno. and xx:yyy/zzz as appropriate. Clicking the "Poll" gadget will save the list too, but will tell TrapDoor to call the node afterwards. 4.3. PubFtran A window will open allowing you to specify the node you want to transfer files to along with the files you want to transfer. Pressing the "Get" gadget will use an ASL-filerequester to fetch the filenames. Remove them with the "Del" gadget. TrapList.library and the nodelist will be used to find the name of the BBS if possible. When you're satisfied with the contents, click "OK" or "Poll". Depending on the state of the checkmark HOLD gadget either .HLO file or a .FLO file will be created in your Outbound directory containing the names of the files you want to transfer. If HOLD is set then the file will be put on HOLD for that node, eg. it will be transferred when the node calls you. Not recommended for points ;-). Selecting "Cancel" or the close gadget will abort the request (nothing will be saved). If neccesary use your mailer to call the node. See chapter 4.2. 4.4. Examples PubFreq 2:230/311 PUBSCREEN=FOOZLE NLDIR="" FONTNAME=helvetica.font FONTSIZE=13 3 PubFreq PubFtran User's Manual Opens a window on the Foozle screen using helvatica font with node set to 2:230/311 and doesn't use the nodelist to look up the name. 5. Boring stuff 5.1. Copyright PubFreq and PubFtran are Copyright (C) 1993 Brian Jacobsen, but freely redistributable as POSTCARDWARE: If you like these programs and use them regularly, you are obliged to send me a postcard. *;) Preferably a physical SnailMail postcard, but even netmails or other virtual mail-media will do. Please respect this...! 5.2. No warranty The software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will the author be liable to you for any incidental or consequential damages arising from your use or inability to use the software (including, but not limited to loss of data or data being rendered), even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages or for any claim by any other party. 5.3. Author's address Please send postcards to the following address: Brian Jacobsen Glumsøvej 21 st.tv. 2700 Brønshøj DENMARK You can also reach me through Fidonet: 2:230/311.17 AmigaNet: 39:141/107.17 Sorry but currently I have no usenet access. Please send Bug-reports and suggestions electronically. If you send a bug-report, please include DETAILED relevant information; that may include: a) A concise but brief description of the problem. 4 PubFreq PubFtran User's Manual b) A description of your Setup. 6. Not quite so boring stuff 6.1. Background PubFreq was originally written as part of my TIF (TrapDoor Intuition Frontend) project, but released together with PubFtran as seperate programs, because I lacked a decent filerequest/filetransfer option in Foozle (Sorry Peer ;-). I also heard rumours that April was missing these features, so it might be useful to April users. 6.2. Program history 1.00 06-Apr-93 First public release. 1.01 13-Apr-93 Added FONTNAME, FONTSIZE. 1.02 15-Apr-93 Added POLL. 6.3. Acknowledgements The following names are either trademarks or the efforts of the person and/or company listed: - Amiga, AmigaDOS by Commodore-Amiga, Inc. - TrapDoor by Maximilian Hantsch and Martin Laubach - traplist.library by Martin Laubach and Maximilian Hantsch - Fido and FidoNet are trademarks of Tom Jennings, Fido Software - Foozle by Peer Hasselmeyer - April by Nick de Jong My sincere thanks to the following persons - Klaus Seistrup, Adam Sjoegren for betatesting and suggestions. - Maximilian Hantsch and Martin Laubach for TrapDoor. - Peer Hasselmeyer for Foozle. 5 Table Of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................ 1 1.1. What is filerequest/filetransfer? ................ 1 1.2. So what's different? ............................. 1 2. System Requirements .................................. 1 3. Installation ........................................ 1 4. Usage ............................................... 2 4.1. Input format .................................... 2 4.1.1. NODE ...................................... 2 4.1.2. PUBSCREEN/K ............................... 2 4.1.3. NLDIR/K ................................... 2 4.1.4. OUTBDIR/K ................................. 2 4.1.5. POLL/K .................................... 2 4.1.6. FONTNAME/K FONTSIZE/K/N .................... 2 4.2. PubFreq ........................................ 2 4.3. PubFtran ....................................... 3 4.4. Examples ....................................... 3 5. Boring stuff ......................................... 4 5.1. Copyright ...................................... 4 5.2. No warranty ..................................... 4 5.3. Author's address ................................ 4 6. Not quite so boring stuff............................... 5 6.1. Background ..................................... 5 6.2. Program history ................................. 5 6.3. Acknowledgements ............................... 5 - I -