
Sunday 23-Oct-94 08:43:23

--1800--

IC> Oh, and, incidentally, I do NOT have a problem with C-Net Amiga crashing,
IC> as nothing for C-Net Amiga I use uses PowerPacked files.

I'm not sure if I accidently powerpacked them somehow, or if they come with
CNet like that, but what about stuff in the "CNet:c" dir:
> EM                     31684 --p-rwed 13-Sep-92 21:07:48
> ZipView                 6364 ----rwed 13-Sep-92 02:50:11
> Sound                   6836 ----rwed 11-Apr-90 21:28:38
> HSCHK                   4604 ----rwed 15-Sep-93 17:08:32

All are packed in some form, or another.

Remember, each time you run powerpacked stuff, they automatically run special
"unpacker code" first.  If there are any bugs/problems/conflicts in that code,
you could be corrupting your system.  I want 100% UNpacked stuff.  And I feel
CNet should only be distributed with such.  (Jim?)

I've successfully unpacked and re-saved them all.
But I can't seem to unpack/resave "HSCHK".
It's apparently a "PowerPacker 3 MASTER" type-file.
How do I unpack/resave that one?  When I try, PowerPacker just gives "BUFFER
OVERFLOW" and aborts.
What is the latest version of PowerPacker available?

BA> > HSCHK                   4604 ----rwed 15-Sep-93 17:08:32
D> When I got mine, I checked it and found it was Imploded.

How did you determine it was "Imploded"?  I get:

> CFX Crunched File Examiner Pro
> # Bob Rye & Marcus Mroczkowski    Public
> Copyright (c) 1988, 89, 90, 91    68000
> VER 5.115 20:13:41 Jan 14 1992    Version
> HSCHK                        4604     X-R-- H2    PowerPacker 3 MASTER

D> I just
D> un-imploded it before sticking it in my C dir. It's 6024 bytes. BTW, the
D> version I have is 4.19F. Dunno if there's a newer one out or not.

Are you saying that UNIMPLODE is v4.19F?  I'll have to see if I can find a way
to UNIMPLODE HSCHK.

Jim, please consider making sure NONE of the prgs distributed with CNet are
packed in any way.  Each "self-extracting" prg has a small bit of code added
to it.  If that code has bugs, or incompatibilities with other
hardware/software, problems arise.  (And the space saving is EXTREMELY small
anyway.)

--1801--

David Cook

What can you (or anyone) tell me about the prg used to process msgs
addressed to "VOTE MANAGER".

(I hope they are processed by software means.)

I couldn't find anything about the executable on FutureWorld.

Does it support msgs handled with CNetToss?
If not, does anyone plan on writing one?

--1802--

WC> Along the same lines, does anyone knowa GETUSER for the
WC> ORIGIN/DISTRIBUTION line from a sub's EL screen?? I _really_ need this to
WC> finish a project i'm working on...

Dial 810-473-2020 type "GU" (GetUser) at any prompt....

> GU ORIGIN
> Echo Origin (to appear in Echo Messages)   |* 2316892
> Net Origin  (to appear on this BBS)        |* 2316972

It just searches the master get-user list and displays the results.

Rexx:ListSearch.rexx does the searching.
(Install it on your BBS, too.)

--1803--

KD> I want to know if there is a GETUSER variable, or something else I
KD> can use to see if the sub-board a user is in, is a 'Networked' sub.

File-requ "GetUsers" and get "CNet3:GU30_Pkg.LHA".
100s of getuser values listed.

Some are NOT available as direct getuser values, but have to be obtained
through pointers.  I'm not sure if your flag is that type or not.  If it is,
please post a public msg to PMK or Peter Klein.

He's on my list of helpful, get-those-tricky-point-getuser-value gods.

--1804--

DA> Each of you has a "NEC" as a uplink (unless you are the NEC :)).  You need
DA> to send a net message to that NEC saying "Please request that CNET_BBS be
DA> added to the Zone 1 backbone".

Dave, that's great news!  My netmail just went out.  Let's hope everyone does
the same.

Any tips on how folks can quickly find who their NEC is?
(Don't laugh, for those of us that never need to contact him, "who is he?" is a
valid question.)

With CNet, I use this:
> MS SysOp@;?

And set-up a search pattern like:
> Search patterns:
> 1) Address:  1:2410         (Or wherever you are)
> 2) System:   net echo
> 3) Location: <INACTIVE>
> 4) Sysop:    <INACTIVE>
> 5) Phone:    <INACTIVE>

Also, would it help if we also mentioned in the NEC Netmail anything else:
1) It's the support echo for our BBS software.  Our life-blood.
2) It's only of interest to Amiga users, so the volume won't be
   massive or crippling.
3) It's the support echo for our BBS software.  Our life-blood.
4) It's the official echo from the CNet author himself.
5) CNet is the most used AMIGA BBS software on planet Earth.
   (This isn't just another petty chat-echo.)

Or should we just leave it as:
DA> "Please request that CNET_BBS be added to the Zone 1 backbone".

--1805--

D> also there is a problem with all the
D> users that use the visual editor, it changes back to the line editor each
D> time they log on.. (or at some other time)..

Do a few experiments.  I know that the full-screen editor needs certain other
things set correctly too.  I'm not sure which, or how many, but check:
> ANSI ON/OFF setting
> Screen width #
> Screen height #

I wish I could help more.

--1806--

BB> If we could just get Jim to even ALLOW JoinLink sessions at
BB> FutureWorld it would be nice.

DC> Everybody call FW and leave Jim mail requesting a Joinlink...

Just tell Jim all he really needs to do is set-up 2 events.
He makes 0 calls.  Costs $0.  He can pick a low activity time (AG) when most
of his 6 lines are open anyway.

           Port  MO/DT   Weekdays  Start    Dur    Int  Repeat     Type
JoinLink 0   4   -----   SMTWRFS   22:05   22:50    0      1   Idle or online
JoinLink 1   4   -----   SMTWRFS   20:55   01:10    0      1   Idle or online

I've mentioned it several times.  I'm not sure why he's reluctant to even
ALLOW JoinLinking at FW.  The benefits are great.  The costs are nothing.

--1807--

BB> If we could just get Jim to even ALLOW JoinLink sessions at
BB> FutureWorld it would be nice.

DC> Everybody call FW and leave Jim mail requesting a Joinlink...

Just tell Jim all he really needs to do is set-up 2 events.
He makes 0 calls.  Costs $0.  He can pick a low activity time (AG) when most of
his 6 lines are open anyway.

           Port  MO/DT   Weekdays  Start    Dur    Int  Repeat     Type
JoinLink 0   4   -----   SMTWRFS   22:05   22:50    0      1   Idle or online
JoinLink 1   4   -----   SMTWRFS   20:55   01:10    0      1   Idle or online

I've mentioned it several times.  I'm not sure why he's reluctant to even ALLOW
JoinLinking at FW.  The benefits are great.  The costs are nothing.

--1808--

JR> In each of my FIDO areas I try to maintain 250 messages, and it's a VERY
JR> active area I set it to 500.  But this doesn't seem unreasonable... And
JR> the importing process I think almost everyone experienced in FidoNet think
JR> is slow...

Prgs like my "TossReport.LHA" can help keep track of how many msgs are
tossed per minute.

> 28Oct94   6 day total:  154 tosses;  3965 msgs;  20 msgs per min
> 21Oct94   6 day total:  128 tosses;  4194 msgs;  19 msgs per min
> 14Oct94   6 day total:  114 tosses;  4791 msgs;  22 msgs per min

I hope you are getting at least 22 per minute.
(Some of my subs have over 5000 msgs in them.)

I tried to get other SysOps to post their "per minute totals" just to
see what is considered good/bad/average.  We'll never know otherwise.

AD>     You mentioned that you got something like 22 mess/min.
AD>     I just got 61.25/min.  Tossed 10473 messages in 171 mins.

MF> controller, cnet 3.05c, 3.1 roms and I get over 120 messages tossed per

Some people are forgetting to mention something...
Largest # of msgs in any 1 sub.  (Some of mine are 5000-10000.)

I bet CNetToss is faster if you are trying to insert new msgs into a
sub with 23 existing old msgs in it, than into a 6,783 msg sub.
(Trying to find an "open hole" or appending onto a 10,376,392 byte
_Text file.)

TossReport also lets you track just 1 sub.
What is your msgs-per-minute rate in your 1 biggest sub?

I think I need to check into this deeper...
Some people are getting 10-20msgs/min.
Others are getting 1-2 HUNDRED per min!

--1809--

GM> I need it for Protector.  I wanted to give it a try, but its
GM> missing a library I don't have.  I am already using BBSGuard and REQOff,
GM> but I wanted to give Protector a try!

Have you already posted a msg regarding the problem you are having
that requires Protector/BBSGuard/REQOff, etc?  If not, please do so.

In all the years I've run a variety of BBS software, I've *NEVER* had
a need to run Protector/BBSGuard/REQOff type prgs.

Fix the problem, don't just put a band-aid on it with Protector/
BBSGuard/REQOff prgs.

--1810--

TW> Since we are on this topic, I was wondering how a sysop like myself can
TW> run PowerPacked Gfiles, like txt files with CNet? Any Ideas from any one
TW> would help! thanx

I have many of my gfiles entries display text directly from LHA archives.

Why keep a text-file (or a PowerPacked-file) *AND* the LHA file online for D/Ling.
I just keep the LHA file, and use:
> "LHA p archive_name.LHA text_file.txt
right in my gfiles menu.

1 copy of the file instead of 2 or 3.

--1811--

N> I tried to crashmail you but for some reason 7000/0.3 it cant find a
N> number for that node.

N> Thanks for the clear up Dave!  Do you know who he polls from?  7000/0?
N> Would he get a message there faster if I crashed it to him at that
N> address?  Or just keep sending it this way?

Anyone that has a point address of 7000/0.3 will be polling 7000/0 for it.

Best ways to reach me (in order):
1) A PUBLIC Fidonet msg base like CNET, CNET_BBS, etc
2) A PUBLIC CLink msg base like CLINKCNETAMIGA, CLINKCNETPROG, etc.
3) Direct call to my BBS at 810-473-2020
4) Netmail to my BBS at 1:2410/207
5) Direct call to Future World at 313-255-2466
6) Netmail to Future World at 1:2410/215
7) Netmail to Future World at 911:7000/0

That's more than enough.

Please keep 99.99% of the questions/answers/comments/discussions in
*PUBLIC* echos.  I like everyone to join in.  Everyone to benefit.
There just aren't enough hours in the day to answer the same questions
via netmail 1-by-1, over and over.

Thanks for understanding.

--1812--

M> there's no way in hell you can get 25 minutes worth of data transfer to
M> suddenly, and with no difference beyond a protocal, only take 12.5
M> minutes.

M> But I personally will hunt down Hydra, and see what it can do
M> whenever I find the blasted thing.

That's all that I ask.  Try it.  And, of course, post your results.
After you do, please help the rest of us convince other folks that are
also positive (as you were) that the many 2-way protocols just can't
work.  They do.  Honest.  No one was a stunned as I was.

You do know that telephones and modems are 2-way devices, don't you?
You can talk to Aunt Martha at the same time she's talking too.
It's *NOT* like a "2-way" radio where you have to key a mic and talk
in turn, 1 at a time.

I don't know much about the inner workings of telephones, modems, or
2-way protocols.  But they can send and receive data AT THE SAME TIME.

The interesting exception is the HST protocol.
Unlike 2400/9600/14.4/28.8 protocols, HST does something like "full
speed in 1 direction" while doing "450bps in the other".  Ugh.  Not
really too useful for a slick, true, 2-way protocol like Hydra.

--1813--
> Maybe Bill B. can let us know when it is due?

BB> Bill B. doesn't know anything more about a release date than anybody else.
BB> You'll have to contact the folks that make and sell CNet.
BB> Ken and Jim.
BB> - Spread facts, not fiction.

MW> Bill,
MW> We are just waiting for the day when we get you ticked off enought to
MW> drive over to jims place (since you said it was 5 minutes away at one
MW> point), and DEMAND a new update!.. (Be interesting to see)

You've most likely got quite a wait for that to occur.
Bill doesn't get "ticked off".  And certainly not over BBS software.
No one is in any position to *DEMAND* anything from anyone.

To the best of my knowledge, CNet has followed all the rules:
1) Bugs will be fixed when they are fixed
2) Updates will be released when updates are available
3) All updates (maybe many, maybe 0) between 3.0 and 4.0 will be free
4) No positive release dates/times will be given

If you've mistaken thought otherwise.  You are in error.
1) Bugs will be fixed immediately.  When *I* demand they get fixed.
2) Updates will be released every x months, like clockwork.
3) I demand that x free updates are given between 3.0 and 4.0

Would it be "a good idea" to fix bugs?  Of course.
A good idea to release updates?  Of course.
Can we *DEMAND* a software company does it?  Nope.
Can we force code to flow out of Ken's fingertips?
You can try.  I wish you luck.

I don't like the delays any more than anyone else does.
I bet even Ken and Jim wish that v3.4 could be released immediately.
But it ain't done yet.  You can't release something that doesn't exist yet.

If I decide CNet is no longer the best BBS around, I'll just switch to
the best available.  That was the same thing that brought in *TO* CNet
in the first place.

I don't see myself switching to other software for many years.
But it could happen tomorrow.
That has nothing to do with the current delays in CNet.
That's the way I've always done things.
I want to run the best BBS software on Earth.
Currently, it's CNet.  Next month it might be something else.

--1814--

TK> occurring...like "AO!" adopting 100 new files...and only ADDING about 12
TK> to the list...

What is your config/limits/"Maximum U/Ls per batch" set to?
It also effects AO.

I've asked Ken to only allow that variable to effect actual U/Ls, NOT
"AO" stuff.  (But I think I'm the only 1 that took the time to mention
it to him, so he most likely will NOT be changing that.  If you want
it changed, please type "MS SysOp@1:2410/215" and mention it.)

TK> Jeeeeeez...does anyone else remember when we actually had periodic bug
TK> fixes and new releases from time to time?!

It was Feb 1994.

--1815--

JH> Can anyone out there have a Join-link with an MS-DOS bbs?
JH> I local friend of mine, running TAG is interested in a joinlink with my
JH> C-Net system.  Is it possible?

You should be able to joinlink with any BBS (running any software) (on
any machine) that does #1 instead of #2...

1) All the text typed in by users is sent to the remote system as plain text.
   All the text users there type in, is sent back as plain text.

2) Use the CNet specific method and CNet joinlink handshaking protocol.

I know that MajorBBS (IBM) can do #1 with CNet (because Major has a
door for it).  I don't know about TAG.

CNet itself only does #2.
I sure hope somebody writes a CNet pfile that does #1.
Then TAG (and every BBS software package) can talk with CNet.

Heck, you could even JoinLink with the 2,000,000+ members on CompuServe.
I bet they have some big confs there.
(As well as some big names present in the Amiga world.)

Dave?  Interested in doing a #1 pfile?

--1816--

R> command to add some string to the input buffer.  The problem is I don't
R> know how to finish entering the string (how to 'press' return from within
R> the arexx script).

I'm not sure if it'll work for your needs, but it's worth a try...

> The special character ` may be used in a control-key macro to perform
> a carriage-return.

(Try it with 'addKeys' in Arexx.)

Remember, the arexx script must end/exit before the 'addKeys' stuff takes effect.

> 'transmit' "Line One"
> 'AddKeys'  "Line Two `"
> 'transmit' "Line Three"

will display 1, then 3, then 2.  Odd but true.

--1817--

SI> I've said it once.
SI> I've said it twice.
SI> I've said it a million times.
SI> I'll say it again.
SI> People are stupid.

I wouldn't call them "stupid".  We were all "new" to CNet cmds at one
time.  And to "BBSing" in general.  And even to "computers" themselves.

Even users at the same 'experience level' are different.
Different people have different thought processing methods.
Things very obvious to someone might be as hard as heck to understand by others.

Brief, clear menus help.
Aliasing cmds into other choices (every one you can think of) definitely helps.
Make D equal DL equal DOWN equal DOWNLOAD equal DLOAD equal SEND equal
SX equal TAKE equal RECEIVE equal RX etc...

It costs the SysOp nothing.  (Other than a little time.)

--1818--

BB> Try a few (or even 1!) HYDRA session and post *YOUR* results.

SI> I never said for sure that It DOESN'T work.  I said I don't believe
SI> it does...

I don't remember your exact words, but it sure sounded like you felt
Hydra's 2-way methods would be 0 bytes faster than non-2-way methods.

SI>     ...A lot of people are stupid.  I took to a way of living a long time
SI> ago that runs something along the lines of believe nothing that you hear
SI> and only half of what you see.

That's good way to do it.  And the more unbelievable a matter is, the
more proof I need.  Hydra is truly amazing.  But it works as
advertised.  I can understand your disbelief.  But at which point do
you become a believer?  Do you think Hydra's author just wrote all
this code as a joke?  A hoax, maybe?  All the people that do use it
are just kidding about it?  (Hydra's source code is even available if
you'd like to take a look at it.)  All the IBM systems that use it for
2-way Fidonet mail transfers are lying about it?  I'm trying
desperately to understand exactly what is going through you mind about
it.

In addition...
Imagine how the rest of us feel to see that stunning power, and then
see CNet (and the majority of other Amiga BBS software) (and the
majority of terms) (and the majority of mailers) *NOT* fully support
it.  And *NOT* see Hydra in wide-spread use around the world.  And
some folks not even believe Hydra works.

And I've heard nothing from Ken regarding that he will *EVER* make
Hydra (or any 2-way protocol) fully compatible with CNet.  I sure wish
more folks would send email to Ken about its importance.  I bet Ken
thinks less than 5 SysOps want it, or will ever use Hydra.  Wrong.

P.S.  Hydra also works great as a 1-way protocol, too.
It could easily replace 1-way ZMODEM transfers forever.  But how many
years will it take to convince BBS (and term) authors of that fact?

A lot has changed between the 2400bps '286 days, and the 28800bps
'486/Pentium days.  Better/faster/more clever protocols are now
available.  (And have been for years.)  Use them.  If they shave even
as little as $10/month off of 50% of the phone bills in the current
Fidonet nodelist, we are talking about an over 1.9 *MILLION* dollar
reduction in phone bills each year.  And that's just Fidonet msgs, not
Usenet, not all the other networks, no file-nets, no U/Ls or D/Ls by
callers, etc.

If you want to waste your money, send me the $1.9 million instead.

--1819--
AB> If you notice a file with that sort of crap in it, you could just delete
AB> the whole archive and hope someone else uploads a clean version.

That's pretty drastic, but I guess it's one man's "solution".

My BBS software can automatically remove BBS ads from within archives.
But the authors that write the archiver prgs need powerful options.
LHA has more than 60.  But how do I do get it to do things like:
> Delete all files called "*ReadMe*" without deleting the files
> called "ReadMe".

AB> Someday when we're all live on the Internet with super-high-speed lines,
AB> we'll just go to the source to pick up files where they're guaranteed to
AB> be clean.  No need to have zillions of copies of a file uploaded to
AB> zillions of boards around the world when one copy can be accessed
AB> equally by all.

I think we'll all look back onto the 1990's years from now and say things like...
Look, they actually used to use modems in those days.
They couldn't daisy-chain 100 sites around the country into 1.
They actually had to change data into sounds, and then back into data.
47-line BBSs actually had to have 47 phone lines and 47 modems.
They actually used 1-way transfer protocols.
They ran at a slow 28.8k bps.
1000s of BBSs all had many of the same files available for D/Ling,
instead of using 1 central, global site.

Some BBS authors are already addressing many of those things.
Some already have released BBS software that can doing many of them.
Some SysOps are already using it.

Some other SysOps are still busy working on things like:
Gee, how do I get my menus to display ANSI codes correctly?

--1820--

MW> to handle accounting and ACCESS if I had several PFILE areas to choose
MW> from.. Some of the INTERNET software has to go into the PFILES area, but I
MW> don;t want to mix it up w games and such..

Type "AL" and create a specific, separate dir for it.
As many as you like.  Even dirs within dirs, if you like.

MW> Anyways, that's what I would us diff PFILE areas for...

See, it pays to state *WHY* you'd like a certain new feature added.
What you are asking for has already been a part of CNet for ages.

MW> There MAY be a way to do this w/  just ONE pfile area.. I dunno.. *I*
MW> don;t have a manual for CNET PRO, despite having paid for it 3 months
MW> ago...

That's very unfortunate.  I hope that manual gets to you ASAP.  But
only Jim/Ken can help you there.  Don't give up.  In the mean time,
I'm sure folks in this echo will help you out as much as possible.

--1821--

SF>     CNET_BBS                      28      30      15, 18
SF>          Topic:      International C-Net BBS support
SF>          Moderator:  Sean Fleeman, 1:3619/25
SF> THIS IS IT.... I AM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY I AM SHOUTING!!  Sorry... :)  This is
SF> now backboned folks!!!!!!!!!  INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION VIA FIDONET!!!!!

That would make a great log-in NEWS-file at CNet's main HQ BBS, Future World.
I bet "a few" SysOps wouldn't mind picking up CNET_BBS off the backbone now.
Thanks.

--1822--

BB> What do you think are the chances on convincing Ken/Jim to pick up the
BB> CLINK File Bone Echo?  Even if they just got 1 area.  (CNET, of
BB> course.)  Would anybody (already calling there) be willing to feed them?

DA> John Hoyt already sends C-Link to Future World on his dime now, i'll just
DA> tell him to add 7000 to it.

Those guys are going to get all this great stuff even if we have to
force it on them!  ;-) heheheheh

I hope JH doesn't mind the extra $$$.

DA> Then it's just a matter of getting Jim to add a tick processor.

What is recommended as the simplest?  I guess that's all he needs for
right now.  If fact, would someone be willing to send Jim something
with a config-file already setup for Future World?  I know we
shouldn't have to do all this by brute-force, but maybe we do.

Heck, Jim could just copy the inbound File-Bone files into the CNet-
dir for right now.  (And let CNet ADOPT them itself.)

--1823--

IC> I find Ken's use of RAM ridiculous!  I mean, not ALL of us have 32
IC> megabytes of RAM at our disposal!

I run 2 lines on an 8 meg machine with plenty left over.
Ken's own BBS runs 6 lines with only 10meg.

IC> He allocates RAM that isn't even available...

How is that possible?  Or do you mean "*attempts* to allocate"?  How do you
know that either one is occurring?

IC> to play with, and once C-Net runs "repair_sub", I am left with only 1.2
IC> megabytes of RAM.  Now, WHERE the hell does the other one megabyte of RAM
IC> go?

Do you have any subboards set to "keep headers or items in memory"?
When a user visits those subs, headers are kept in memory (as they should be).
Maybe when repair_sub enters each sub is also counted as a "visit".
Maybe same for amaint.
Does anybody know?

IC> Plus, it takes almost 6 hours to complete my whole message base
IC> with repair_sub!

How many subs do you have?

If you have about 150 subs, and it takes about 5 minutes per sub, that's 12.5
hours total.  The secret is to *NOT* repair subs that don't need it.
Prgs like RR_CHECK.LHA will allow you to automatically locate and repair only
certain subs.  The biggest ones.  The smallest ones.  The most fragmented ones.
One or more.  Any or all.  In RAM or on disk.  Anything you like.  All via 1
simple CNet event.

--1824--

JB> Is there anyway to make CNet have UM on as default for everyone?

GV> In BBStext I think is a line that determines the default logon macro.
GV> Usually it is NSAL. Change it to NSAL;UM and see if it does the trick.
GV> It's near the beginning.

Keep in mind, users will be bombarded with all the "logging in" and "logging
out" msgs.  I called a 15-line CNet that had "UM" ON by default and that's all
everyone was getting dumped into their screens.  Several users where OLM'ing me
begging me to tell them how to SHUT IF OFF!!!  It's easy to turn off, but not
if you don't know the cmd.

--1825--

BB> What does TossReport.LHA state is your "msgs tossed per minute" total?

DC> I haven't seen that option. Here's a clip of what mine (title customized)
DC> does:

You have to run something like this every week:
> rx Rexx:TossReport.rexx >>Logs:MyLog NOHEADER NONAME NOLIST DATE DAYS=7

Should be mentioned in the docs.  If not, let me know, I'll add it
immediately.  (Or any kind of "better explanation" you can suggest.)
TossReport has literally thousands of different option combinations.

BB> Is my "22 per minute" considered VERY high?  Very low?  Average?

DC> CNet would do better here if my feed would send 1M or less multiple pkts,
DC> but he sends like CNet 8-13M single files. Got a 29Megger yesterday. Took
DC> 8 hours to toss.

Wow!!!  I'd really like to see your tossed-msgs-per-minute numbers.

DC> ... if my feed would send 1M or less multiple pkts...

For higher tosser speeds?  Or in case a problem a raises?  Both?

I assume you poll for mail once per daily?  Would 2-3 polls/day help?
Or are these long-distance calls?  (I think all phone companies should
join together and agree that all Fidonet calls are free.  For the
betterment of The Net.  Hehehehe)

BB> Is my "22 per minute" considered VERY high?  Very low?  Average?
BB> Does anyone know how that compares to TrapToss? Or other Amiga tossers?

AN> I use EMS... this toss ca. 200 Messages/Minute on here. I use an
AN> A3000/25/14 and a fast Fujitsu 1Gig-HD. Ca. 500 Areas, 9 Downlinks, 3
AN> Uplinks, 5 Mb Echomail per Day.

That's the kind of info Ken needs.  Detailed, and proof that CNetToss needs a
speed increase.

I'm not familiar with EMS, does it do the "1 msg per file" method like
TrapToss?  Maybe that's the speed-up factor.  Although I would imagine that
2-step process would actually make things SLOWER.

Any ideas on what EMS is doing differently to make a 9-fold speed difference?

--1826--

KR> Why would that surprise you? I would think if you haven't joined an echo
KR> you obviously don't read it. Therefore you wouldn't want to be bother by
KR> messages coming into it.

You might only be concerned with msgs addressed specifically to you.
And don't want to read the rest, or even search it.
Just have the msgs appear in your mbox.

Thus "DROPPING", but leaving "CA" ON, becomes the ideal method.

--1827--

BH> Hey I have a unique problem with c-net.......I believe in my area there is
BH> a few pirated c-net boards.....cause the sysops call and ask me stupid
BH> questions..concerning mci and other things that is listed in the
BH> manual...is there a way to tell if they are registered or not

Only Jim/Ken have a list of legal CNet sites.

If you suspect an illegal site...

Log-in.  Type "!V" at any prompt.  Write down the info.

Send it to CNet's authors:  Jim/Ken.  1-313-255-2464, Fidonet 1:2410/215

(Include the site's phone #, sysop name, address, and anything else you can think of.)

That illegal registration # will cease to function after the next
release of CNet.  (And the user's account at Jim/Ken's BBS will be
deleted.)

--1828--

BB> Some companies have a firm policy of "charge the credit card immediately",
BB> others wait until the item is actually shipped.

C> Horse hockey Bill...

Are you saying *NO* company policies differ?  Sure they do.  Check on
a few.  Don't buy from the places that have policies you don't like.
(I don't.)

C> his card was charged in week one Beverly James simply took the money and
C> ran!

Ran where?

C> Why do you praise them for such shoddy and disrespectful tactics?

I can't find a single "praise" in my simple statement that different
company policies differ.  They do.  "Charge immediately" VS "charge
when shipped".  I mentioned nothing about a 3rd method:  "charge and
never ship".  Did you think I meant that also was an OK company
policy?  It is not.  (I didn't think I had to mention the obvious.)

C> What is your cut?

Grand total to date:  $0

C> I always ask, and NEVER buy from any place that "charges before they
C> shipping".

C> Then I guess you won't be upgrading to the next chargeable version of CNet
C> then will you?

Credit cards are only 1 (of many methods) of purchase.

C> Are you sure you still want to 'buddy-up' with this Beverly James crowd?

I'm not sure what you mean by 'buddy-up'.  I speak what's on my mind.
Good and bad.  I've received near instant shipping.  Others have not.
So be it.

C> Just my $.02 worth as I read the NUMEROUS horror stories about people
C> waiting for prepaid orders and license numbers that were requested MONTHS
C> ago!

I've only seen a few.  None should happen, but they do.  Only Jim/Ken
can fix them.  Not me.  But EVERYONE should know about them.
(Although I don't know what effect "slow new order handling" has on
100s of people that already have CNet.)

It also tells me CNet is still a hot, hot product, still much in
demand.  I can't think of too many products I'd order, pay for, and
wait 8-10 weeks for.  I would have cancelled my order ages ago if it was
anything other than a product called:  CNet-BBS.  (But, of course, I
received mine nearly immediately.)

--1829--

FD> All of a sudden my BBS is giving me a system request for "FIFO" when ever
FD> a user trys to use some PFiles such as Hack & Slash.  I've been using the
FD> same setup for months with no problem and have not changed anything in
FD> awhile.  I'm running CNET 3.03 Reg  DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON
FD> HOW I CAN FIX THIS!

There have been many updates to CNet since v3.03.
And many new "libs:fifo.library" files released since FIFO was 1st introduced.

About all I can say is:
1) Switch to CNet v3.05c
2) Switch to the fifo.library file that comes with #1.

If you've already paid for "v3.03 REG" then v3.05c is a 100% free upgrade.

--1830--

MW> Whenever I do a FIDO run, CNET posts the FIDO messages in Reverse Order..
MW> That is, the newer messages are posted first, and the post that started
MW> the thread is read last.

Are they ALWAYS in exact reverse order?  (Some should be correct, some
should be wrong.)

CNet apparently tosses new fidonet msgs as they come in.  It doesn't
try and check every single date/time of each msg and "squeeze" them
into the correct order of existing messages.

Thus if it starts tossing 1 packet (the response), before it starts
tossing another packet (the post), things occur out of order.

Several proposals have been made to Ken regarding his next release...
1) Do the per-msg check.   (But that could be horribly slow.)
2) Check the date/time of each mail-pkt and toss them in order.
   (Would only help somewhat.)

Any other ideas?

I'd like to see #2.  (With an option in the TOSSER to do #1.)

How do other Tossers do it?  Remaining very fast, and still sorting
correctly? (Or do they?)

--1831--

MW> After I upgraded to 3.1 KS, when ever I selected the CLOSE gadget on the
MW> control screen, instead of getting the "C" box, my control screen

I'm running an A3000 with WB3.1 and working fine.

MW> Due to circumstances, I was forced to restore 2.0 and, guess what??  I
MW> STILL lose the control screen when I use the CLOSE gadget!!!

Sounds like it's NOT a 3.1 VS 2.0 problem.

The "C" box isn't hiding behind any other screens/windows, is it?

Save a copy of your "CNet:config" file and try an original CNet one.
(The size and placement of the control-panel is stored there.)

Do you have plenty of free memory?
(I've seen screens "disappear" because they didn't have enough ram to open.)

--1832--

JR> Speaking of this, does someone have a list of all C-Net boards that are
JR> TELNET'able...

I'd love to see that list.  Who wants to be the central site where
everyone can throw their BBS telnet info to?  Volunteers?

If you file-requ BigCNets from the address listed below, it lists
about 100 CNet's that have 8-50 lines.  (Some are telnet'able, most
are NOT.)

It's a start.

Can some kind of internet-map be searched for the string "CNET"?

--1833--

I would highly suggest getting things 100% working without adding anything.
(Or changing anything.)
And even wait 1-2 weeks after that.

LJ> your favorite and can't-live-without-it utilities/pfiles/misc tips and so
LJ> on.

I've authored quite a few, but I wouldn't call them "can't live without".

Here's some of my favorites.  (Some I've authored, some not.)

TossReport.LHA             12122 ----rwed Today     18:59:21
: Turns a CNet-BBS CNetToss-log into a toss-report

Pros.LHA                    5867 ----rwed Today     00:01:37
: Users can type "PROS" at any prompt and see a list of knowledgeable users

TimeValid.LHA               6423 ----rwed 25-Jul-94 17:06:11
: Tells how many hours/minutes between any 2 times

305cHELP.lha               11772 ----rwed 23-Sep-94 01:23:05
: Line-by-line description of v3.05c CNet:BBStext file

CredTotals.LHA             14609 ----rwed 14-Sep-94 01:53:51
: Shows what kinds of credits all your users have built-up on your CNet-BBS

CNetRIP.lha                22601 ----rwed 09-Sep-94 23:59:59
: Some screen shots of a CNet that uses RIP menus.  (Does NOT include menus)

Banners.LHA                11859 ----rwed 20-Oct-94 17:35:01
: Allows each CNet user to have 25 different WHO banner-strings

CNetTypos.lha               2881 ----rwed 14-Mar-94 19:06:23
: 35 typos found in the CNet v3.0 manual.  Write these corrections in.

RR_Check.LHA               15530 ----rwed Friday    18:23:39
: Shows how much HD-space each sub uses and allows you to just rebuild those

Which.LHA                   7188 ----rwed 15-May-94 20:40:28
: CNet users type `WHICH cmd' online to find out more info about cmd aliases

AMvde.lha                  13049 ----rwed 03-May-93 18:35:36
: CNet users can view/edit 65 system "AM" variables v0.2

GetUser263.lha             31070 ----rwed 29-May-93 06:50:43
: List of 500+ CNet-BBS Arexx `GetUser' codes

SubAdd_13.LHA              16846 ----rwed 18-Feb-94 18:44:33
: Quickly add 1000s of Usenet groups to your CNet v3.0 subs.  v1.3 Feb94

GU30_Pkg.LHA              110837 ----rwed 23-Jun-94 17:50:21
: 640 Arexx 'getUser' values for CNet v2.63-v3.0+ (includes CNet ToolBox tips)

Growth.lha                 21881 ----rwed 17-Apr-94 01:47:48
: Keep a log of how your CNet-BBS grows v0.7

ftick090.lha               22820 ----rwed 29-Aug-93 05:22:34
: FTick v0.90 11Feb92 and FHatch v0.95 11Feb92

EditMenu.LHA                8782 ----rwed 05-Sep-94 15:52:39
: CNet-rexx pfile puts EF EA EU EG ET EP all in 1 handy menu

PrtEvent.lha                2327 ----rwed 06-Jul-94 20:08:58
: Turns CNet-BBS v2.75-v3.05c event-files into readable text

PrtModemCFG.lha             2008 ----rwed 09-Jul-93 21:15:05
: Turns CNetBBS v2.77+ BBSport# files into txt

CNetTotals.LHA              7394 ----rwed 05-Sep-94 15:06:44
: CNet-BBS door shows users just how big and impressive your BBS really is

CNetIndex12.LHA             8785 ----rwed 14-Feb-94 14:30:18
: CNet/3's Extended Manual Index v1.2 by Dave Anderson, 650 topics listed

LineUse.LHA                11161 ----rwed 14-Aug-94 09:18:47
: Displays # of users online at various times during each day of the past week

CNetDial.LHA                4005 ----rwed 07-Feb-93 17:17:48
: Adds an auto-redialer to CNet's term-mode

Help_Rexx.LHA               7710 ----rwed 15-Mar-94 18:27:51
: Replace CNet's HELP cmd with a different method

PrtEchoes.lha               3573 ----rwed Thursday  17:00:45
: Displays a list of your CNet config'ed Fidonet echos and descriptions

CPSview.LHA                 2099 ----rwed 21-Nov-93 08:06:36
: Shows users what char-per-sec transfer rates they can expect on your

CNetMods.LHA               39567 ----rwed Friday    00:01:30
: Bill Beogelein tells of many simple ways for SysOps to modify their CNets

Most (not all) are file-requ'able.
Get a list by file-requ'ing "FILES" from the BBS listed below.
There are 100s of others.

LJ> of my copy once I get it. Speaking of which, are there any utils that will
LJ> help in the adding of any new text lines to the BBSText file when upgrades
LJ> are installed?

UpBBStxt.LHA               20236 ----rwed 04-Aug-94 21:17:17
: Compares/updates your CNet-BBS BBStext file in 5 seconds

Always save backup copies!!!

--1834--

MT> youh have NO set on the EL Screen for "Invitation Only". :)

AD>     Use of the IN command in a subboard not set up as INVITE only,
AD>     will toggle a single users access to that subboard.

If you change list #4 in BBSMENU from:
> INVite
into
> INVite, UNInvite

It'll act as a handy reminder that the same cmd that INVITES can also
UNINVITE.  Very useful.

--1835--

I'd just like to mention a typo found in the docs of TossReport v0.4....

Since TossReport is a DOS-arexx script, you can't run it via BBSMENU
with MCI code {#0}.  You'll need something like:

TOSSReport | {#5 rx Rexx:TossReport.rexx TOSS INBOUND OUTBOUND}
TOSSReport | {#5 rx Rexx:TossReport.rexx INBOUND OUTBOUND}
TOSSReport | {#5 rx Rexx:TossReport.rexx SHOWALL}

(The program doesn't have a bug, it's just a typo in the docs.)

The latest release is "TossReport v0.5 Tue 08-Nov-94 18:55:35" and
file-requ'able as "TossReport" from the system listed below.
(v0.5 and v.04 are the same, except for the corrected docs.)

For those of you not familiar with TossReport, it allows you to track
statistics like:

      TagName     Toss |   In |  Out | In/Day | Out/Day | In/Toss | Out/Toss
 1 AMIGA_BBS         2 |    5 |    0 |      0 |       0 |       2 |        0
 2 AMIGA            15 |  230 |    0 |     28 |       0 |      15 |        0
 3 CNET             20 |   94 |    0 |     11 |       0 |       4 |        0
 4 NET2410_SYSOP    23 |   91 |    0 |     11 |       0 |       3 |        0
 5 CONSUMER_REPORT  22 |  522 |    0 |     65 |       0 |      23 |        0
 6 AMIGA_TECH       42 |  165 |    0 |     20 |       0 |       3 |        0
 7 AMIGA_PDREVIEW   10 |   32 |    0 |      4 |       0 |       3 |        0
 8 FS               12 |   40 |    0 |      5 |       0 |       3 |        0
 6 day total:  103 tosses;  4035 msgs;  14 msgs per min

Or weekly totals...
> 03Jul94   7 day total:   87 tosses;  4893 msgs;  28 msgs per min
> 10Jul94   7 day total:   91 tosses;  5778 msgs;  26 msgs per min
> 17Jul94   7 day total:   84 tosses;  5992 msgs;  29 msgs per min
> 24Jul94   7 day total:   84 tosses;  4873 msgs;  32 msgs per min

Or keep an eye on one 1 echo...
>  Date       TagName      In/Day | In/Toss |
> 07Jun94  BAD_MSGS             3 |       1 |
> 14Jun94  BAD_MSGS             2 |       1 |
> 21Jun94  BAD_MSGS             1 |       1 |
> 28Jun94  BAD_MSGS             3 |       1 |
> 05Jul94  BAD_MSGS             1 |       1 |

--1836--

If you have a problem or question about CNET, please post a PUBLIC
msgs about it.  Don't netmail me a private msg.  I would much rather
have 100 people help answer questions.  (I just don't have the time to
do it all myself.)

Also, 100 people will benefit by PUBLICLY posted answers, too.
(I don't have time to answer private questions 1-by-1-by-1-by-1.)
Thanks.

Here's a commonly asked question...

Q> I can't get certain config values to SAVE.
Q> After I edit and save them, they remain set to their old values.

Some values don't "stick" unless you do this...
1) Shut down all BBS lines.
2) Shut down the control-panel.
3) Just run CONFIG.
4) Edit and save the values.
5) Exit CONFIG.
6) Re-run the control-panel and the individual ports.

(You own me $7.50 for that help.)

If anyone knows which of the config-values are "difficult to set" like
that, please send Ken a msg.  Tell him ALL the config-values should be
the simple EDIT&SAVE type.  NONE should require 1-6 steps.

I'm sure he'll be happy to fix that.  But he needs to know that MANY
people want it fixed.

--1837--

To: toinas@freenet.hut.fi

From: bill.beogelein@f207.n2410.z1.fidonet.org

13-Nov-94

Tero Oinas,

I hope this msg reaches you.  Not everyone has internet mail access.
Do you have a Fidonet address you can be reached at?  You are
certainly welcome to join us at the BBS listed below if you need a
Fidonet site to read/write mail.

I just got MoreText.  It looks VERY handy.  Is v0.28 the very latest?
(A date mention would help.)

Please consider added a few things:

A Fidonet contact address for the author.

A standard CBM "$VER: 0.28 31.12.94" string in the executable.
(I personally prefer the "$VER: v0.28 31-Dec-94" style.)

"Dates" in the history-text.

Upon initial start-up, the first link should already be highlighted.

Support for keys that are already a part of AmigaGuide itself.
(And that everyone is already familar with.)
/ means retrace (not search)
> means browse
< means browse
ESC means exits
(and all the others)

Inverted text is always visible.
Highlighted (or colored) may or may not be visible.
(Based on 100s of different color combos that different people use.)

You might also want to mention the exactly usage that all CNet-BBS
SysOps will need to know.  (But might not figure out easily.)

> {#4 c:MoreText FILE=Path:Dir/FileName.guide LINES=%1100468}

(CNet is the most popular Amiga BBS on the planet.)

Thanks for listening.

- Bill "Mr. BBS" B ogelein, CNet-BBS v3.05c Beta-Tester
- SysOp of The Amiga ShareWare HeadQuarters BBS, 1:2410/207, 1-810-473-2020
- Author of over 110 CNet-BBS doors/tools.

--- CNet/3  * Origin: Amiga ShareWare HeadQuarters 1-810-473-2020  (1:2410/207)

--1838--

BT> I had a 2 hour phone call with Jim last evening.  He is alive and well.
BT> So is CNet.  You will see some changes, that is all I am at liberty to
BT> disclose.

Perhaps that is because other BBS authors will "steal" the new ideas?
Is that the reason for secrecy?  If so, that's a good reason.  But...

Can't things that are *already* in other BBS packages be mentioned?
(Those aren't "new ideas".)

You can't even mention which bugs will/won't be fixed?
And you can't mention things like RIP displays, 2-way protocols, IBM versions,
etc.

Keep the "new ideas" secure, but not the bug reports, or "old ideas".

TW> Maybe it is a matter of if Bill discloses the information he will have to
TW> be shot! hehe Sounds like the "Name, Rank, and serial number routine!"

Bill doesn't know anything more than the other readers here already know.

And Bill doesn't understand why even these 2 things need to be secret.
1) A list of bugs that Ken has already fixed.
2) Implimentation of features that are new to CNet, but are already in
   other BBS packages.

I *can* understand secrecy about things like:
3) An exact release date/time.
4) New features that aren't a part of any known Amiga BBS software.

--1839--

SI> (the only think I can think of is faking an IDCMP message...  but I
SI> don't know enough about a lot of things to do that...)

I've seen some giant 100-200K executables who's purpose are to send
fake IDCMP messages to any screen.  (And they do much more.)

That's a lot of stuff just to satisfy my simple need of:
1) Send Amiga-O to a screen called CNet.

That's really all that is needed to open/close capture buffers.

Has anyone seen a small, simple IDCMP faker prg?  It really just needs
a way to "send any key to a specified screen".  Nothing else.

It would open-up *ALL* the power of CNet's pull-down menus right from
DOS-scripts or Arexx-prgs.  Online or offline use.

--1840--

DF> I run a system in which one of the lines is donator-only.  Is there an
DF> easy way for me to boot users without enough access?

DF> Ideally, I would prefer a system which did not:
DF> a) take one of the user's calls for the day.

You could always use MCI to re-add 1 call for the day.
1) Store the current #.
2) Add 1 to it.
3) Save the # back.
(I'll have to look-up the exact 'GetUser' values if you want to do that.)

DF> b) show them the headers for all the new news before kicking them off

What are "new news" "headers"?

Is there any reason why you don't want to just use CNet's own built-in
"LogonACC" event powers?  Limit any access groups (or ranges of
groups), to any ports, to any days, to any times, you like.  (And
individual accounts can even be made to override that, if you like.)

No additional arexx-scripts or MCI-scripts needed at all.

--1841--
TB> Here's a partial answer I found to that question.  When you are editing
TB> a person's account, if you change the access group, MOST other changes
TB> you make to their account will not be saved.  Specifically, this
TB> includes special access flags.  In my own case, I use a flag to mark
TB> people who have adult access, but this flag disappears every time I
TB> change someone's access group.

That's been mentioned to Ken.  I don't know if that is going to be
changed in the future or not.

I'm sure different people look at it differently:
1) When I change a person's access group, I WANT all the new flags and
limits and settings to also change.  (That's why I set them up that
way.)

2) When I change a person's access group, I do NOT want all the new
flags and limits to be picked up, too.  That causes the old settings
to "disappear".  (Obviously.)

Who's right?  What's the solution?  Should all (or some) things change
when the access group is changed?  Which ones should or shouldn't?
Why?  (I'm sure 100 different people will want if done differently.)

On Mon 14-Nov-1994  8:10a, Michale Worley said to Bill Beogelein:
MW> I had that same problem as well, and I found the answer in the 3.05c
MW> README...
MW> Seems that when you EA a persons account to a different AG, CNET changes
MW> all the info in that account to the NEW AG wiping out ALL changes made...

I think you meant to address that to "Thomas Brooks", the person that
asked the question.  (I hope he see's your response.)

MW> This is particularly aggravating to me, as when I change a person's AG, I
MW> have to change their AG, SAVE/EXIT and then RE-EA their account and make
MW> other custom changes, most notably the EXPiration date of their AG....

If you could tell Ken how CNet "SHOULD" work in the next release, what
would you say?

Should all (or some) things change when the access group is changed?
Which ones should or shouldn't?  Why?  Which priv-flags?  Which msg/
file/gfile access flags?  Just 6,9,12, but never 3, 17, and 30?  Which
dates?  Who decides which?  You?  Me?  Ken?

I'm sure 100 different people will want if done differently.
Who's "right"?

I say "AG to level 14 and you get *all* the level 14 stuff".
Not just "some".

Ken could tweek things quite simply to make these 2 steps, into 1...
MW> have to change their AG, SAVE/EXIT and then RE-EA their account and make
MW> other custom changes

--1842--

JB> BB> 2) Check the date/time of each mail-pkt and toss them in order.
JB> BB>    (Would only help somewhat.)

JB> This is how all other tossers do it.  It is actually quite easy, and 100%
JB> effective.  The cryptic ????????.pkt actually has a time code in the file
JB> name.  I do not know how the file names are created, but I do know that
JB> the file name indicates which packets were done before the others.  If Ken
JB> would take into account the names of the files, the reverse toss order
JB> would go away completely.

Jon, I did NOT know that.  Where can I get the exact definition of
this "time code filename" stuff?  Without searching through tons of
Fidonet specs.

It's probably something terrible simple.  Ken needs to know.  (If he doesn't already.)

--1843--

M> updates weekly most of the time.. Only updates we had to pay for was the
M> up from 1.98 to 2.0 and the one from like 2.63 or whatever to 3.0....

As far as I know, that is STILL their company policy as of today.
You'll pay update fees only on v2.0 -> v3.0 -> v4.0 -> v5.0 jumps.
NEVER in between.

Has anyone ever paid (or been asked to pay) for "in between" updates?
If so, please let us know.

--1844--

FK> Well, I had someone try to break into my account and just thought that
FK> would be an added security measure...

"Trying" to break in is pretty different than "breaking in".
Did they just start randomly guessing passwords?
That could take years.
A 6 character password has over 4,096,000,000 possible combos.

You can always change CNet:BBStext to drop-carrier on their 1st wrong guess.
Change 1 into 2...
1> Access denied
2> Access denied {% 31-12-99}

You can further change CNet:BBSmenu to not even allow the ID cmd to be
executed AT ALL, except by certain groups.
Change 1 into 2...
1> IDentify
2> IDentify `20-31

A lot better than having to constantly change and remember new passwords.

--1845--

TO> I have a question since I have 7 CD roms online people do use them alot
TO> but it seems to be a waist when some one aborts the D/L or it aborts do to
TO> errors and then they tries again and guess what it copies all the files
TO> again to ram and this seems to be a big waist of time when they are
TO> already there, any suggestions to speed up this process?

Does anyone know if the "c:copy" cmd that CNet uses to copy files is
in BBSTEXT some place?  (Which line #?)

If so, you could replace it with the ARP COPY cmd instead.  It has a
"QUICK" option that only copies files if they need to be copied.  (If
they don't already exist at their destination.)

--1846--

W> by typeing "EXIT" you would exit the program... NO big graphics or
W> anything
W> around it, just that simple text,  I guess the user decided they wanted
W> out, so
W> they typed quit,  and when that didn't work, they tried END, and BYE and
W> GOODBYE and all sorts of neat stuff, without typeing EXIT, they filled

Since CNet itself can already allow
BYE=GOODBYE=EXIT=END=QUIT=OFF=LEAVE, maybe a few online games should
do it also.

Very simple to code.

You have to keep in mind that SO many different games (and different
BBSs) have SO many different cmds meaning "EXIT".  Might as well make
many different cmds all mean "EXIT".  Everyone is happy.

--1847--

N> Is there a way to gave the User id's  and the user account numbers
N> to be the same?

BB> Do you mean:
BB> 1) User account number
BB> 2) User serial ID#

BB> Why do you want them to be the same?  They are 2 very different
BB> things.

N> They only problem is when using CNET Totals Pfile, if the numbers arent
N> the same the program tells that you have alot more users than you actually
N> have online....

Changing every user's serial # into his acct # won't help that.

Are you running "Totals v1.6"?

It should be displaying both "overall users" and "current users".
> Total Users :   2596
> Active Users:   1499

You can, of course, change the "wording" to read "overall/current/past/
total/active/regular/highest/etc".  Anything you like.

It's 100% normal for the 2 numbers to *NOT* be the same.
(Unless you've never purged a single acct, and never plan to.)

File-Req "RexxTotals" for the latest release, from the BBS listed below.
I sure would love to collect everyone's "system totals" files into 1
big archive.  "RexxTotals" also contains instructions on how to do
that.  File-requ "TOTALS" for the systems that have already done so.

--1848--

MW> I would probably request of Ken that all the changes be copied over except
MW> expiration DATES, simply because DATES are not part of the EG command...

But "Def. days until exp." IS part of "EG".

How would your suggestion deal with all the sysops that *DO* want
level x to have a certain expiration date?  (It would be ignored
whenever you changed callers to that level.)

I really don't think we're going to make everyone happy no matter how it's done.
I'll be happy if Ken does:
1) Changes in access level pickup *ALL* the changes.
2) Upon exiting "EA" first #1 is done, then any additional, manual changes you
   have made will overwrite #1.

(Never a need to run "EA" twice to change access-level and make custom
changes too.)

--1849--

David Weeks@1:260/121 (Dotoran) ...

> The following is a list of ALL 60 CNet ARexx Commands available for your
> use, as of CNet Amiga, v3.05c.

61.
You forgot (everyone's favorite) 'BufferFlush'.

> Something I have come across in my investigations of the $VER: usage is
> that the VERSION command will STOP reading characters when it comes across
> the first SPACE found AFTER your period.
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Mine does not.  Try it and see...
BB> $VER: one two three 1.2 and more

You should also state a few things like:

Versions like "1.03" are illegal and should never be used.

Versions like "1.21" are always NEWER than "1.3".
(One dot twenty-one VS 1 dot three.)

> ARexx Version Strings...

Not just arexx scripts but *ALL* executables, libraries, devices,
handlers, source code, even docs and text-files can (and should) have
version #s in them.

> The V, E, and R should be CAPITAL letters, and you MUST include the SPACE
> after the colon(:), else the first character of your program's name will be
> chopped off.

I can't seem to get the program name to appear as "chopped off" with or without
the space.  (But the space SHOULD be present.)

--------------------------------

Your version-string discussion also needs to mention 1 very important point...

Much of what you state produces very illegal version-strings.

> (DD-MMM-YY)

The date format is wrong.

The version # format is wrong.

> Finally, include the version number of your program. (Using the "v" is
> another aesthetic inclusion I like to use, although it is NOT necessary)

The "v" is illegal.

> v6.3a

The "a" is illegal.

> Next, for aesthetic purposes, I like to include a COMMA and SPACE before
> the version number.

The comma is illegal and even if it wasn't why would you want a non-
FULL c:version display to look like "FileName,"

CBM mentions the official method.  Unfortunately, the style of version-string
that they state is mandatory is odd and unclear.
> $VER: filename 1.2 (1.2.94)

Readers should know that your discussion is NOT the legal method.
(But it does produce even clearer version-strings than CBM.)

I am *NOT* the version # expert.  I am *NOT* 100% certain about all of the above.
But get the file "VerInfo" from 1:2410/207 and check it out.

--EOF--

Tuesday 22-Nov-94 23:48:43

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

