
Saturday 18-Dec-93 19:19:20

--1350--

BA> How does David test this stuff?
BA> Have a full v2.63 BBS set-up *AND* a full v3.0 BBS set-up?

D> releasing lately, like WOF, v6.0a, v6.0b, etc. These versions were
D> released, because 2.63 owners had alerted me to problems with certain
D> commands, etc.

I have to PERSONALLY write/check/test/re-write things.
I can't rely on "that doesn't work either.  Guess again.  Nope, that doesn't
fix it either, try again... etc"
(The lack of full CNet programming docs makes that 10000x worse.)

BA> I just don't have the time, effort, or desire to support both.

D> As for it taking much time or effort to program for both, the differences
D> are minor, and most of the time only result in 1 or 2 extra lines of code.
D> I think we can ALL afford that!

How often do the CNet headers change?  Do you keep 5 different cnet.h files?
Why not support MANY old CNet releases?

D> You said it yourself awhile back how many people
D> grabbed 2.0 when it first came out, only to find how riddled it was with
D> bugs.

Please post my quote on that.
(I only started running CNet as of v2.76beta.)

D> versions, and as many system setups as possible. Please don't lock
D> yourself into that "it works on MY system, I don't know why it doesn't on
D> yours" attitude.

I never had, nor ever will, have that kind of an attitude.  I am 100% honest
with users:  "This was written/tested for CNet vX.X, it may or may not work
with older/newer releases."  CNet sometimes changes abruptly, I can't
guarantee past or future (and definitely not lifetime) compatibility.

BA> I just don't have the time, effort, or desire to support both.

D> Also, if this is truly how you feel, why did you respond to the majority
D> of your files on Future World with the question "Does this work on 2.63
D> systems"? Just so that if it doesn't, you can then SAY it doesn't work
D> under 2.63, or were you going to find out WHY it didn't function under
D> 2.63 and GET it to function?

I would say, "unfortnately I don't have the time, effort, or desire to support
50-100 pfiles for 2 (or more) old releases of CNet.  Please upgrade to a more
recent release of CNet."  And afterwards I could clearly mark that
pfile as "CNet v3.0 ONLY".

CNet v2.63 is from 01-Apr-93 and has been changed in a bazillion ways as
compared to CNet v3.0 from 27-Dec-93.

How do you feel about non-pfiles marked as "WB2.0 ONLY" or "WB3.0 ONLY"?
Should everyone also support 1-2-3 older releases of WB?

Running randomly selected pfiles can already be a dangerous adventure
sometimes.  Let's not make it worse by running pfiles that have never even
been tested by the author, with the release you are using (or with the last
*15* releases).

I would much rather have a user NOT run one of my pfiles than to report, "I
tried to run that pfile written/tested on CNet v3.5 pfile with my v2.63 and it
corrupted my datafiles."

Gee, I wonder why?

--1351--

I'd like to see vote results as:
> Acct#    Real-Name       Choice-Picked
>  1      Bill Beogelein     Buy CNet
>  2      Santa Claus        Buy CNet
>  3      Pete Claus         Buy CNet

Get Ken to release info on the structures used by VOTE
topics/choices/results/etc, and I'm sure someone will come up with many
inventive things.

--1352--

PB> You can not change the UUCP ADDRESS back to the users ID#. The system
PB> prohibits this.

(SysOps running) "EA" allows that.  (As it should be.)
(Users running) "EP" does NOT allow that.  (As it should be.)

PB> any address that fits the following criteria:
PB> 1: must be lowercase
PB> 2: must start with an alpha character
PB> 3: no inbedded spaces
PB> 4: max length is 8 characters
PB> 5: UUCP Policy dictates that HANDLES are NOT PERMITTED.
PB>    Pete Baker could be  pbaker -or- peteb

I wish CNet stated that.

It just tells users:
> This name must be 8 characters or less, all lowercase letters only.

CNet even allows "ss!ss.ss" as my UUCP-ID.
Pete, would that mess things up?
I didn't see any restrictions on "@" (or other punctuation chars) in your 1-5
list.

My UUCPgate.rexx file needs to do some checking for valid UUCP-ID addresses.
Where can I get the *FULL* description of 1-5 (and more).
(Preferably the exact quote from the UUCP-Gods themselves.)

--1353--

N> Another good tip, is to ALWAYS be sure to quote it again, and again ,
N> making it bigger and bigger, thus bringing your point to the attention of
N> EVERYONE who see's it. :)

Another good tip is to ALWAYS quote a quote of the quote of the quote of the
quote, never the original.  So that you can end up with:

BA> TP> WB> DS> BS> BA> WT> ED>
BA> TP> WB> DS> BS> BA> WT> ED> Who said what?
BA> TP> WB> DS> BS> BA> WT> ED>

(But don't quote me on that.)

--1354--

RB> Its certainlly 70.. I am sure.  Most mail readers & senders do it to
RB> remain compatable with smaller screens, it also allows smaller windows
RB> without the message wrapping all over the place.

What would be your recommendation to Ken/CNet?

1) If a sub has the UUCP-flag set ON, use 70 or the user's-width setting,
   whichever is LESS.

2) If a sub has the UUCP-flag set OFF, use the user's-width setting.

--1355--

Ken, right BEFORE I switched from CNet v2.94 to v2.99, one of my subs
starting displaying scrambled filelists during SCANs.

RR (v2.92) could NOT fix it.  It just gave "No memory available".

Maybe it was beyond help.  But it would be great if RR could fix even
the most scrambled sub data-files.  (Even if they could only be
partially restored.)

I had a tape backup (1 month old) and restored what I could.
And re-AO'ed the remainder.

Maybe these 6 sample _data-files will help build a more potent RR cmd
for a future release.

--1356--

You might want to add a few lines like this onto the top (and bottom) of your
start-up sequence, and/or your CNET start-up script...

CLI  Echo  >>t:avail.LOG `Date` "Top " NOLINE
CLI  Avail >>t:avail.LOG TOTAL

Check the log every few days.  And hope you don't see things like:
Fri 24-Dec-93 05:27:26 Top 5607752
Fri 24-Dec-93 05:27:46 Bot 38732
Fri 24-Dec-93 15:11:26 Top 5607752
Fri 24-Dec-93 15:11:46 Bot 39883

It's very hard to track if a prg is using more memory "than before", if you
don't know how much it was using before.

Heck, you could even run it as a CNet event, every 4 hrs, or so.

--1357--

Ken> The only reason I even CONSIDERED this change was because I entertained so
Ken> many questions like "why doesn't that row/column display show from remote?"
Ken> The answer, of course, was that it would be WAY too slow to update that
Ken> between each keystroke.  After using MS-Word for a while, I noticed they did
Ken> not update their display until you paused typing.  I thought it was a
Ken> brilliant idea!

Ken, stay away from those IBM-type machines.
They are the devil's work. ;-)

--1358--

Ken, as long as we are talking about MS word-processing type features,
how about making the full-screen editor, in the local-mode, use the
keypad as editing keys?
> 7=HOME
> 9=PAGE UP
> 3=PAGE DOWN
> 1=END
> 8,6,2,1=CURSOR MOVEMENT
> 5=MOVE TO CENTER OF SCREEN (Or as close to row #20, col #40 as possible.)

(You could add a CONFIG/OPTION "Use KeyPad" to turn this feature ON/
OFF, for those that "just have to" use the keypad for numerical input.
But I don't think that's too common.  I never use it for such.  In fact,
I never really use it at all.  18 wasted keys that could be useful.)

I used SetMap/KEYMAPS: to re-map those keys as such, but CNet only
obeyed 3 and 9 and ignored the rest.  I'm not sure why.  Ken, I can
U/L my "ReMapPad.lha" attempts, if you want to take a look at it.

--1359--

In the full-screen editor...
1> ^U   Up       Move to the top of the screen, then top of text
2> ^O   Down     Move to the bottom of text

Is there a way to change #1 into #2's "companion" function:
1> ^U   Up       Move to the top of text

We already have ^A and ^Z to move to top-of-screen and bottom-of-screen.
Why have ^A and ^U (on the 1st hit) do the same things?

--1360--

PB> I use Nmail and if a LONG message is sent (like rules of the board) you
PB> run the risk of getting a HARD DRIVE FULL message one day in the future.
PB> This feature needs to be listed as useful but KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

CNet needs to have a companion "SysText:Nfile" file.
It would be the [D]ownload'able file attached to new-user mail.

1000 users would all be sent the same 1 copy of that file.
(No need for 1000 individual copies of it, on your "soon to be full" HD.)

(Handy for the callers too.  D/L it and read it off-line to save $$$.)

As always, the SysOp could decide to have Nmail, or Nfile, or both, or neither
sent to new-users.

--1361--

TW> No i do not have access to internet but you can call my BBS at
TW> 913/784-4703 and download it!

Get a copy of UUCPgate.LHA.  If you have Fidonet access, you now have the
ability to send UUCP-mail to 110 different countries.
(Including Chicago, Illinois.)

--1362--

A handful of options for RR would sure come in handy...

1) Just do file areas
2) Just do msg areas
3) Use this path (not RAM: or my msg base, but a path *I* specify) during
   rebuilds.

--1363--

LH> Or you could do as I do, Bill, and use MCI to call a file from the NMail.
LH> I use the text display code to do this and I don't have users with full
LH> mailboxes because of NMail...

That's a handy tip.  Still not as handy as "Hit [D] to download the attached
file".

I also tried another method.  I created a "Mail:Users/1/_select3" under my
acct, that just contains 1 selected file.  My new-user help file.  I then
renamed it to something else, and copy it into a new-user's home-dir during
their 1st call.  Unfortunately, CNet needs something more than just to find
the _select3 file.  (What?)

I also feel that each time we offer these "work-around" solutions...
(Yours that DOES work, and mine that does NOT.)
that we move closer to convincing Ken that a handy "Nfile" feature is NOT
needed.  And it won't get added.

A "SysText:Sfile" would also be handy.  It would be a list of full-path
filenames.  These would become a new-user's "automatically selected" files.

--1364--

I think the only 2 things that should close the buffer should be:
1) The pull-down menu.
2) Closing down that port.  (it would have to do it here)

What if I specifically want to capture Term-text, BBS-text (and whatever other
text) together?

"I control what CNet does", NOT "CNet controls what it thinks I want to do".

--1365--

Jim, we STILL can't turn on CA for these subs...

> 1.   + FIDONET programs             2.   + FIDONET discussion
> 3.   + UUCP programs                4.   + UUCP discussion

  CA1
  Carbon-copy NOT allowed.

Please flip the "EL" sub flag.
Thanks

--1366--

I sent something like this from my system to FW:

--- cut here ---

JS  On Wed 22-Dec-1993  4:20a, Bill Beogelein wrote:

JS  BB  @MSGID: 1:2410/207@fido 2d17a9af
JS  BB  @PID: CNet 3.0

JS  Apparently Ken has located the problem and these lines will no longer be
JS  included in message displays.

Test, test, test.

--- cut here ---

And Jim couldn't reply to it.

Maybe CNet is looking at 2 sets of "@MSGID:/@PID:" strings?
(The msg's real ones, and the text I posted?)
And gets confused?

--1367--

Ken> The new license file is "cnet:bbslicense."  The one on this disk is
Ken> for a DEMO copy (no serial number).  The demo version is FULLY
Ken> FUNCTIONAL except that you will have to re-install "cnet:bbslicense"
Ken> and reboot once a week to keep it operational (it will tell you the
Ken> expiration date).  You will have to do this until you receive your
Ken> package in the mail.

Does that mean 1, 2, and 3?
Or just 2 and 3, using the same BBSlicense file?

1) D/L a new copy of a new BBSlicense.
2) Re-install it.
3) Reboot

--1368--

Either Help/Mail or BBSmenu needs to be changed in CNet v3.01.
There isn't any "userinfo" or "send" cmd at the mail-prompt.

Help> Again      Read the same message over again from the beginning.
Help> Send       Send this message to another user (may require access).
Help> Pass       Keep this message, and move on to the next.
Help> Kill       Remove this message from your mailbox.
Help> Quit       Exit mail-read.  All messages not Killed will be kept.
Help> Reply      Send a reply message to the user who sent the last message.
Help> Userinfo   Give more information about the user who sent the last message.
Help> List       If a bulk mail message, list all recipients.
Help> Download   If file-mail, go to download mode to receive the file.

BBSmenu> 7; Read mail
BBSmenu>    ?
BBSmenu>    .,Again,Over
BBSmenu>    Yank
BBSmenu>    FOrward
BBSmenu>    Group
BBSmenu>    Kill
BBSmenu>    Quit
BBSmenu>    Reply
BBSmenu>    Scan
BBSmenu>    List
BBSmenu>    *
BBSmenu>    Download
BBSmenu>    Pass
BBSmenu>    Noreceipt
BBSmenu>    Write
BBSmenu>    Grab
BBSmenu>    Examine

--1369--

Is anyone missing a "SysText:new/nu1" file?

--1370--

"EP;12" (Your UUCP id) needs to better limit the characters that users
are allowed to have in a UUCP-ID.

CNet allows "oo!oo.oo%oo".  These need to be stripped/forbidden.

(Pete Baker and Bob Maple can better tell you exactly which chars
are/aren't allowed.)


> "EP;12" (Your UUCP id) needs to better limit the characters that users
> are allowed to have in a UUCP-ID.

TB> Only the 26 letters in the alphabet

Any opinions on uppercase VS lowercase?

How about if it allowed this:
A) a-z (lowercase only)
B) 0-9 (CompuServe's 700,000 users already have UUCP-IDs with #s.)
C) Absolutely no other punctuation, or any characters, of any kind.
D) Can have 0-9 in any position (start, end, middle)
E) But can't be 100% numbers
   (Due to conflicts with standard CNet home directory #s.)

Does that cover it all?

--1371--

Try this...

Move into a sub that has A LOT of items/responses (1000+).
Type "WHO" at the sub-prompt.  WHO's info is displayed immediately.

Read item #1 and type "WHO" at the "response/pass" prompt.
WHO's info is delayed.  And a large/lengthy bit of disk access occurs.

Is this necessary?

I only tested this with 1 user online.
But this could be a problem with 15-30 users online at once.

Is CNet unloaded/reloaded that subs msg headers+items?
They're just too big for me to keep in memory.
But I can't figure out why "WHO" would be effecting that anyway.

I also notice MANY other cmds work in this same fashion.

--1372--

At the response/pass prompt, I often need to change a file's date to today's
date.  This can be done with "EDIT [RETURN] [RETURN] Y * N N N".

How would I equate those cmds into the word "TOUCH" in BBSmenu?

BBSMENU> 5; Respond or Pass?
BBSMENU> TOUCH~EDIT;;;Y*;NNN

It "should" be something near that.  But it doesn't work at all.

--1373--

> I wanna be able to creat a "BBS PORT" file that has the baud rate of
> 115200 in it.  (got my USR 21.6 today).  Anyone got ideas of how to
> modify this file, or if it is even possible (ken has a limit of 99999
> in Config).

As of CNet v3.01beta (and maybe before that) you can have 115200-230400bps in
CONFIG/MODEM.

With locked ports, how high can 28.8K go?
Or null-modem cables?

--1374--

MF> Is there a voice number for Perspective? I'd like to call and order CNet/3
MF> if
MF> I can. I haven't found a number anywhere! I even called information for
MF> Redford

You might want to address msgs like this directly to "Jim Selleck" or "Ken
Pletzer" instead of "no one".  This echo DOES (finally) go into
FutureWorld-BBS now.

What did "information" tell you?

Everywhere I see Jim or Ken post info about CNet v3.0, I never see any
ordering info (names, addresses, phones#, costs, etc.) posted with it.

(Don't wait until they get swamped with 100s of orders.  Do it now!)

I hope this is still current:
> Ken Pletzer
> Box 87175
> Canton, MI 48187
> FAX   : 313-537-5942
> ORDERS: 800-237-6168
> CNet 3.0                 $ 199.95, $10.05
> CNet 3.0 UPDATE          $  79.95, $10.05
> CNet 3.0 UPDATE w/BINDER $  89.95, $10.05
> Shipping 31-Dec-93

Ken, Jim, is that still accurate?

--1375--

BM> How about, when a person sends an OLM to a port thats being muffled, it
BM> says 'You are muffling that port. Send OLM anyway? [y/N]:' so that person
BM> wont wonder why s/he isnt getting a response...

I'd rather see:
> You are muffling that port.  Unmuffle it [Yes]:

Or you will be allowing people to dump msgs into my screen, but when I try and
reply, I'll be forbidden from doing so.

--1376--

D> 2: I am one who HATES using the 24-Hour time mode, so always make sure the
D> AM/PM setting is selected. One place I've noticed this is NOT being used
D> for is in the Control Window.

Is there enough room to fit "11:22P" or "11:22PM" in there?

D>           I'd like to see you properly announce what this function is:
D>                         CNet/3 Control Panel

It's not "CNet/3" anyway.  "CNet v3.02" would be better.
(The node-screens don't even mention either one.)
With all the many files that need replacing during an update installation, you
could see immediately FULL version #s right in the title-bards.

D>    - In the NM List command. When MCI Colors are used in Base Titles,
D>      the spacing of the numbers that follow them is all messed up.

Don't MCI color-codes use-up 0 spaces?
>   1 Test Msg Base                           2  45  2  9
>   1 \c4Test \c3Msg \c2Base                  2  45  2  9
Don't those lines already line-up?
If not, CNet doesn't need to STRIP them out, just display them correctly.

D>         - Within the TOSS procedures, so you're seeing as much of the base
D>           name as possible in the outputs. (This is one area where you can

Chopped...
Importing to Fido Amiga: SAS/Latt: 0 item(s); 1 response(s)
Importing to Fido Amiga: Operatin: 1 item(s); 0 response(s)
Importing to Fido Amiga: Programm: 2 item(s); 0 response(s)
Importing to Fido Amiga: Amiga Vi: 2 item(s); 3 response(s)
Importing to Fido Amiga: Point So: 0 item(s); 2 response(s)
Importing to Fido Amiga: Tech. Ha: 2 item(s); 2 response(s)

Maybe like:
In  FIDO  Fido Amiga: Amiga Video    : 9999 item(s); 9999 response(s)
In  CLINK Fido Amiga: Amiga Video    :   99 item(s);  999 response(s)
Out FIDO  Fido Amiga: Amiga Video    :    9 item(s);   99 response(s)
Out CLINK Fido Amiga: Amiga Video    :  999 item(s);    9 response(s)

Shows the network name, more of the subname, and even aligns the items and
response counts.

D> 7: Late Addition: Want a SURE way to lock up your port? Using CNet's Term,
D> call another CNet, enter the editor and select ZIP upload using Xmodem,

CNet also needs to allow ALL protocols during ZIP-msg text U/Ls.
With the user's acct default, as the default.
If this HAS TO BE hardcoded as 1 protocol, use Zmodem, not the ancient Xmodem.

--1377--

P> Its not said enough around here, but your doing an excellent Job.
P> Sometimes we get a little impatient.

And since beta-testers usually mention bugs, not working features, it
sometimes sounds like "here's a list 100s of bad/buggy things in CNet, and 0
good things".

Or "here's 75 new features I want added, why are they missing?".

(But Ken/Jim seem to understand this and take it in stride.)



Yes, an excellent job.  I can't even imagine how I could ever convert back to
ANY of the many non-CNet BBS I've run over the years.  The many missing
features would just be too much to stand.  (And many can't even be added with
3rd party doors and arexx scripts either.)

--1378--

D> fb : feedback
D> ms : mail sent
D> m1 : mail sent to ID # 1
D> po : posts
D> re : responses
D> gf : gfiles
D> ne : news
D> uf : uploaded files
D> uk : uploaded kilobytes
D> df : downloaded files
D> dk : downloaded kilobytes (you forgot this one)
D> mu : minutes used
D> mi : minutes idle
D> ch : number of chats

1> fbmsm1poregfneufukdfmumich
2> fb: ms: m1: po: re: gf: ne: uf: uk: df: mu: mi: ch:

Dan, if Ken had used #2 in BBStext, instead of #1, would it have made
it clear without asking?

--1379--

M> 3 months too late, and too damn much money for this REGISTERED Sysop to
M> buy.
M> I don't need 100 nodes, nor do I need a tosser,  I will stick with 2.63

3 months too late : It was actually longer than that.

Too much money    : Some consider it such.  Some consider it the bargin of
                    the decade.  Opinions and income, differ.

New features      :It is FAR, FAR more than just "100 nodes and a
                   new tosser".

I'd say it was worth the update fee even if I could only use 50% of the ton of
new goodies.  ("50% of a ton", is still quite a bit.)

Do you have a copy of Ken's ReadMe?
I'm sure some of the 3653 lines will impress you.  No?  None?
Ken stopped adding to the ReadMe as of 21-Oct-93, and a lot of stuff was done
since then.

Heck, you'd think for Ken's own benefit (as well as ours) he'd keep a
list of things "fixed", "not fixed", "added", "proposed", "planned",
etc.  Why try and keep all this in your head?

CLI> Copy ReadMe TO SysText:Help/

I sure wish Ken/Jim would put a copy of the ReadMe in SysText:Help/ReadMe.

We could refer to the VERY LATEST info with just a simple "HELP" cmd,
right online, anytime, at any prompt.

(Or maybe just the v2.63+ or v2.90+ stuff.)

--1380--

Under CNet v3.01 some news-files with purge-dates of "00-Jan-00 00:00" are
shown by "S!" as "Thu 00-Fri-1900 12:00a instead."
                         ^^^
                        Month?

CNet is apparently reading variables beyond the array's limits.
Luckily, it seems to be hitting "Fri", but it could be bad news (no
pun intended) if it hits some large block of random memory instead.

--1381--

RB> Anyone here experiencing any upload errors/offsets?  Users have reported
RB> various problems uploading since I switched to 3.02... and I just uploaded
RB> here to Future World and got TONS of errors.  I haven't changed
RB> anything... except for the new CNet version.

Which term were you using?
Which protocol?
Which version of CNet did you change FROM?

Might be worth running CPSview.rexx for a while.
Here's mine, but that's with CNet v3.01...

Main> CPS
>
>                             UPLOADS
>  Date   Protocol  Char-Per-Sec   FileSize     Speed    Efficiency
> 30-Dec   Zmodem        230         203 K     2400 bps      95 %
> 30-Dec   Zmodem        233         150 K     2400 bps      97 %
> 30-Dec   Zmodem        233         258 K     2400 bps      97 %
> 31-Dec   Zmodem        234          50 K     2400 bps      97 %
> 31-Dec   Zmodem        941          75 K     9600 bps      98 %
> 31-Dec   Zmodem        955          33 K     9600 bps      99 %
> 31-Dec   Zmodem        932         245 K     9600 bps      97 %
> 31-Dec   Zmodem        938         130 K     9600 bps      97 %
>
>                          DOWNLOADS
>  Date   Protocol  Char-Per-Sec   FileSize     Speed    Efficiency
> 30-Dec  Zmodem       1662          87 K    14400 bps     115 %
> 30-Dec  Zmodem       1689          75 K    14400 bps     117 %
> 30-Dec  Zmodem       1659         101 K    14400 bps     115 %
> 31-Dec  Zmodem       1682          94 K    14400 bps     116 %
> 31-Dec  Zmodem       1671          93 K    14400 bps     116 %
> 31-Dec  Zmodem       1742          66 K    14400 bps     120 %
> 31-Dec  Zmodem       1696          84 K    14400 bps     117 %
> 31-Dec  Zmodem       1702          66 K    14400 bps     118 %

--1382--

This whole new bbslicence method should be been installed back in v2.90 and it
could have been thoroughly tested and debugged BEFORE v3.01.

It's a heck of a thing to drop in just a few days before a final, final
release.

It can be pretty hard to test and report problems with bbslicense, when we
don't even know exactly what it's suppose to be doing.

Ken needs to state:
"Check this out throughly:"
1) Make sure a requester occurs here and here, but not here and here.
2) Make sure a gadget-click is needed here and here, but not there.
3) Make sure it works for 1 week starting from ????  (My install date?
   My bbslicense file date/time stamp?
   A date hardcoded into each bbslicense?)
4) The license text window should state ???
5) The demo-license is/isn't needed.  Use the Ken-bbslicense.
6) What exactly happens after 1 week?
7) Both, either, neither, bbslicense and/or bbs.idata is now needed.

>> Yes, Ken, this *IS* a bug with bbslicense.  QUITE ANNOYING!

I'm not surprised people are confusing "new bugs" and "new features".

I'm sure folks will just run an "auto-answer-requester" prg, to get around
this simple way of crippling a demo.  See my KEN34 file.

--1383--

> Anyone here experiencing any upload errors/offsets?  Users have reported
> various problems uploading since I switched to 3.02... and I just uploaded
> here to Future World and got TONS of errors.  I haven't changed anything...
> except for the new CNet version.

Just happened to me too.
I'm on port #2.
Using Ncomm v2.0 to U/L.  (as always)
FW is using v3.02.
Using Zmodem (as always)

D/Ls work fine.

If this is a bug in CNet, it's a great example why v3.0 should ALWAYS undergo
1-2 WEEKS worth of testing, NOT 12-24 HOURS, before going out the door.

--1384--

BG> We have tried the joinlink here.  We have 3 boards (2 calling into 1).  We
BG> connect and can see everyone typing, and it appears to be okay.  Now, when
BG> we do a /L for the roster, sometimes it is correct and sometimes it is
BG> not.  It looses people from the list!  Sometimes it doesn't even show

BB> get around (and REMOVE) the /V command entirely

Sounds like Ken is working on a fix, or better yet, maybe a way to eliminate
the need to even have a "/Verify" cmd at all.  (That's really what needs to be
done.)  Maybe make every "/LIST" execution, do a "verify" right before it
display's its text.

--1385--

This is on FW under v3.02.  (Just text errors.)

> Browse#-# Cancel#-# List#-# Read#-# Yank [?=menu]: ?
>
> Scan subboards for new messages
>
> Browse   :  List new items with option to Read, Download
> Cancel   :  Cancel the 'new' status for subboards
> List     :  List all subboards with new messages
> Read     :  Read new messages NOW
> Yank     :  Start packing new messages for off-line reading
>
> You may specify a RANGE of subboards with the Browse, New, Read, and Scan
> commands.
>
> Browse#-# Cancel#-# List#-# Read#-# Yank [?=menu]: new
>
> Unknown command "new" ... enter ? for a list of commands.

> You may specify a RANGE of subboards with the Browse, New, Read, and Scan
> commands.                                             ^^^

1) "You may specify a RANGE of subboards" with CANCEL, too.
2) There isn't any NEW cmd.
3) "You may specify a RANGE of subboards" with LIST, too.

--1386--

> file: ReDMS (3246 bytes, 0m 2s, 0 xfers, 0 cps best)

This would also be a handy way to check on U/L CPS rates...
(As well as give users a good idea on D/L rates for brand new files that
haven't even been D/Led yet.)

If xfers==0 then cps_best==U/L rate.
If xfers 0  then cps_best==best D/L rate.

The "0 cps best" doesn't tell us much.

--1387--

PB> without a file description all is fine.  but when you direct upload with a
PB> file descript it GURUS HARD!  Invalidated my hard drive and caused
PB> problems with a couple files.

I've used several BBS programs that allowed the sysop to configure a "tmp UL
area".  If the system GURUs, your HD is still safe.
(rad: can also be 10x faster than a HD.)

HDs that won't "validate" can be a big loss.

PB> Direct upload subboards
PB> have worked fine in the past.  NOW they do not.  They not only do not
PB> work.. they cause your machine to GURU and invalidate the partition you
PB> are using.  This is the version we want to ship??

GURUs definitely need to be found and fixed.
(Did you think I meant they should be left into CNet???)

My "ULs to temp path" was an *ADDED* measure.
(I believe this isn't a "workarounds" at all.  It currently can't be done.
Ken would have to add that feature.)
Saves your harddrive in case CNet has bugs, a 3rd party pfile has bugs, and
even if running something totally unrelated to CNet, crashes your system.

Even helps save your harddrive during power failures while U/Ling!!!

Heck, even if you just used it temporarily while Ken fixes the GURU, it
would be an invaluable feature.  (Pete, I'd bet you'd be using it right now.)

*AFTER* Ken spends 2-5 days trying to rebuild a HD, I think he'll add this
simple feature.

It's as simple as adding a CONFIG/PATH/TMP-UL gadget, and using THAT instead
of CNet's current method of U/Ling right to the HD.  Everything else stays the
same.

(As always, SysOps can "not use it" if they wish.)

See what users are saying....

CH> Has anyone had trouble downloading at 14.4k with a GVP 68030
CH> board installed?

S> I also had this problem.  And this is what I found out:
S> The GVP series II scsi controllers and CNet do not get along at all.

How do transfers to a ram:drive work?  Or rad:drive?  Or FFS rad:drive?
(It's runs 500%-700% faster than a ram:drive!!!)

I've been trying to get Ken to add an option to CNet config/paths.
> Temp U/L path :

But a few of the other beta testers are VERY much against it.

(You wouldn't have to use it, it would be an optional path where uploads would
go initial, before being copied to the HD.)

Try a few rad:drive or FFS rad:drive transfers and see what I mean.
(The data doesn't even go through your HD controller AT ALL during the
transfer.  Even the slowest, worst designed SCSI cards in the world, don't
effect the UL/DLs speeds.)

--1388--

When a JoinLink occurs/ends is this fact written to the logs?

If CNet v3.0 makes JoinLinks even 1/2 as popular as I imagine it will,
this feature needs to be logged.

Just something simple like:
> 6-Jan  9:40 JoinLink  The Amiga ShareWare HQ BBS, JL-ID #47, Start
> 6-Jan  9:59 JoinLink  The Amiga ShareWare HQ BBS, JL-ID #47, End

--1389--

With the QWK upload cmd available at any prompt, I'd like to hide
my QWK-sub, or at least DROP it, or make it default to DROPPED.

But if you haven't specifically searched for the sub, and JOINed it,
the "QWK" cmd will give:
> A QWK upload area has not been created.

And the user thinks I don't allow QWKs.

I feel "QWK" should work regardless of a join/drop flag setting.

--1390--

CNet v3.1+ idea...

If a msg is quoted from a poster that has the same initials as the
original poster, CNet could the quoted text as:

BB> Bill Beogelein's quote...
bb> Bob Beckle.s quote...
Bb> Big Brother's quote...
bB> Betty Bourbon's (my personal bartender) quote...

(Or some such distinction.)

--1391--

> +/- n  :  Skip forward or backward n responses.
> </> n  :  Skip forward or backward n items.

Will "READ MESS" response/pass prompts also be getting these 2 VERY
handy cmds?

--1392--

Attention all pfile authors....

If you write a new pfile, please also include a SysText:Help/CMD file.

Use the same format that CNet's "HELP" cmd uses:
> Command:      UUCP
> Purpose:      to send UUCP-mail to any 1 of 10,000,000 Internet users.
> Available at: all " " prompts system-wide.
> Author:       Bill Beogelein, BBS 810-473-2020, Fidonet: 1:2410/207
> Description...

Thanks, and keep those pfiles coming.

--1393--

R> guess Jim can do this as well if he wants.  Just use a Joinlink ID of 4
R> and give me a # and time to call and I will be more than happy to do it
R> with Future World.

YES!

Ken/Jim, just set-up an event and forget about it.

KEN> Type     Command  Arguments   Time   Valid Iter Int
KEN> ----     -------- ---------   ----   ----- ---- ---
KEN> OFFLINE  JoinLink    2        2100     15    1   0
KEN> IMMEDIA  JoinLink    1        2115     45    1   0
KEN> IMMEDIA  JoinLink    0        2200   2300    1   0

KEN> This system will reserve itself for ONLY incoming Join
KEN> Link calls during the first 15 minutes.  For the remainder
KEN> of the hour, other calls will also be accepted.  At the
KEN> end of the hour, JoinLink will be terminated altogether.

Use your last trunk-hunt line.
Pick SAT and/or SUN (when the phone rates are low).
FW won't be calling out at all, just accepting incoming calls.
Costs for FW : $0.00

Do it now.

--1394--

27-Nov 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase7:1.3/Ren&Stem.lha (7796 --  7796)
27-Nov 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase7:1.3/vt257.lha (383884 --  383884)
10-Dec 12:05a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase4:12.1/Mod_Prof.LHA (19795 --  19275)
15-Dec 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase3:6.4/QB201.lha (65664 --  65664)
17-Dec 12:05a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase4:12.1/SoundMach.lha (32731 --  32731)
21-Dec 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase3:6.4/scsi203.lha (32540 --  32047)
21-Dec 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase3:6.4/dskspd42.lha (75400 --  75400)
 2-Jan 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase3:6.4/DirWork162.LHA (79253 --  78837)
 3-Jan 12:04a  TRANSFORMED:    UDBase6:1.3/JBPOK10.LHA (184980 --  184980)

I also wish the logs could mention "xxx2xxx" so I could see the savings in
converting arc->zoo, zip->lha, etc.  And see the name of the script that did
the damage or benefits.

--1395--

>  5; Respond or Pass?
> 10; Editor-empty or with text
> 31; Reading messages ("mess" option)

In Ken's original CNet:BBSmenu file, what do all the "?,Help" lines mean?

"HELP" gets you CNet's HELP subsystem.
And "?" gets you a list of cmds-available-at-this-prompt.
(as they both should.)

Yet BBSmenu shows "HELP" and "?" as aliases for the same cmd.
(Which they aren't, nor should they ever be.)

--1396--

It is also a good idea to include a line like:
Arexx> 'ChangeWhere' my-cmd-name
somewhere near the start of your code.

Then "WHO" will show what the users are running.

--1397--

S> I am making a last SECOND adjustment to BBSTEXT.  Can somebody tell me what
S> to change the chat sound noise to read instead of calling the "Sound" program?

Here's what I use.  Full paths, no room for problems.

You can also (optionally) make the 2 sounds different pitches/volumes to
signal log-in VS chats.

> {$0 run >nil: <nil: CNet:c/Sound SysData:Chat.snd 16000 v55 q}
> {$0 run >nil: <nil: CNet:c/Sound SysData:Chat.snd  7000 v45 q}

"run" so that you don't have to wait for long sounds to finish playing.
"nil" to get rid on any I/O.
Full paths of executable, and sound data file.
"q" to stop a window from opening.
You can leave off those options, if you want.

Note the size of "sound", it's NOT the 1989 version.
(I sure wish someone could find a 1994 version.)

sound                       6836 ----rwed 11-Apr-90 21:28:38
: Richard Lee Stockton's 'FreeWare' sound prg
sound.doc                   9316 ----rwed 11-Apr-90 21:21:42
: Richard Lee Stockton's 'FreeWare' sound prg

There must be a 500 byte 100% machine language 68000-68040 sounds player
available some place.  Anyone?

--1398--


I'd like to see a sub flag that instructs amaint to "skip this dir entirely".

Don't check for purge-dates for files/items/responses, or anything that needs
testing, or transforming, or validating, or missing, adopting, nothing.
Don't load headers, items, nothing.

If you have a "full-sub" just mark it as such, and amaint skips it in 1 sec.

Currently (even if a sub is set to 0 purge days), doesn't amaint STILL have to
load headers for 100% of the items, and STILL scan 100% of them 1-by-1, to see
if any have purge dates?

--1399--

Looks like I'm going to have to be the one to ask...

Was FW running v3.03 yesterday.  I now see it is using v3.02.  Just
wondering what happened.

--EOF--

Wednesday 05-Jan-94 05:54:31

-Bill "Mr. BBS" Beogelein, 810-473-2020, 2-line HST 14.4k USR-DS, 1:2410/207

