----------------------------------------------------------------------
     FrontDoor; Shell-to-Mailer Bridge (FDSMB) 1.00 - USER GUIDE
          FDSMB.TXT // DEF-E-FDSMB-D-980100-EP // 23-Mar-98
      Copyright 1998 Definite Solutions HB; All rights reserved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


INTRODUCTION
============

FrontDoor Shell-to-Mailer Bridge, "FDSMB" hereafter, is a small and
compact utility program intended to be used as a "bridge" between a
BBS featuring "Shell-to-Mailer" mode and the FrontDoor Mailer, "FD"
hereafter.

This program will only work with FrontDoor 2.30.mL; at the time of
the Shareware release (2.25), this program will be updated to support
both versions.


USAGE
=====

Simply put, FDSMB is loaded by the BBS software INSTEAD of FD. FDSMB
then loads FD, does some checking and conversion, and returns to the
BBS software.

FDSMB uses two errorlevel values internally to signal some type of
condition to the calling program. An errorlevel of zero is used to
indicate that no action was taken; i.e. no command-line parameters
(nothing to do). An errorlevel of thirty is used to indicate that an
error occurred while FDSMB was reading its configuration file (see
below) or while attempting to invoke the specified program.

All other errorlevels returned by FDSMB are either those returned by
the program (specified on the command-line) or an errorlevel that has
been converted by FDSMB.

To use FDSMB, you must supply the program with at least one parameter.
This parameter is the program that FDSMB should "bridge", i.e. invoke.
All parameters following the name of the program will be passed on "as
is" to the specified program. If the specified program is located in
a directory listed in your PATH, no directory needs to be specified.
Batch files (.BAT and .BTM) can also be loaded directly from FDSMB. It
will invoke the command processor (i.e. COMMAND.COM or 4DOS.COM) as
necessary.

The format of the FDSMB command-line is as follows:

  FDSMB <program to bridge and its parameters>

To load FD with the /NOEMS parameter from FDSMB, the following should
be specified:

  FDSMB FD /NOEMS

It should be noted that when used with RemoteAccess in Shell-to-Mailer
mode, the parameters should be separated by an underscore (_)
character rather than a space character; e.g.

  RA -mc:\fd\fdsmb.exe_c:\fd\fd.exe_/NOEMS*M -E20 -N%1

(*M, -E20, and -N%1 are parameters to RA, and NOT to FDSMB).


OUTPUT
======

Two versions of FDSMB are included in the distribution package. One
is called FDSMB.EXE, the other is called FDSMBV.EXE. The former
produces a minimum of screen output (except in the event that an
error occurs), the latter features slightly more verbose screen out-
put. The reason for two distinct executables is that there are no
command-line parameters to FDSMB itself.


MEMORY
======

Although FDSMB requires very little memory to run, it is rarely
desirable to leave a program in memory with any "above-tiny" footprint
(i.e. memory usage); which is why FDSMB attempts to swap as much of
itself out of memory as possible, before loading the specified
program.

FDSMB will attempt to use available XMS and LIM/EMS memory, before
it reverts to using a temporary swap (disk) file. 


CONFIGURATION FILE
==================

The FDSMB configuration file, FDSMB.INI, is a normal ASCII file
containing one or more lines, each terminated with a <CR><LF> pair
(ASCII 13, ASCII 10). Text placed after a semi-colon is treated as a
comment and ignored by FDSMB.

FDSMB.INI must be placed in the same directory as FDSMB.EXE. A sample
file is included in the distribution package. The format of each line
in the file is as follows:

  MAP DCErate Errorlevel

where DCErate must be a positive number above zero; no other
restrictions apply. Errorlevel must be a positive number in the range
31-255.


HOW DOES IT ALL WORK
====================

The BBS software, configured to use "Shell-to-Mailer" mode, is
configured to load FDSMB. The parameters specified in the BBS software
configuration should include the program that FDSMB is to load (i.e.
"FD", sans quotes).

FDSMB is loaded by the BBS software, and after retrieving some data
from SETUP.FD and checking its configuration file (see above), FDSMB
loads the specified program (i.e. FD).

When the specified program terminates, FDSMB checks the returned
errorlevel and compares it with the MAILER.BBS/ERRORLEVELS.BBS setting
(FDSETUP).

If a match is made, it attempts to remap the speed at which FD has
reported the connection with an errorlevel, as configured in
FDSMB.INI. The speed reported by FD is retrieved from the CALLER.nnn
file in the FrontDoor SYSTEM directory. If FDSMB can successfully
remap the speed, it will terminate with the errorlevel specified in
its configuraiton file for the given speed.

If no match is made (i.e. FD has terminated with another errorlevel),
FDSMB terminates with that errorlevel.


LEGAL NOTICE
============

All Definite Solutions products and trademarks are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Definite Solutions HB; with the exception of
FrontDoor, which is a registered trademark of Joaquim Homrighausen.
Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.

This publication is protected by international copyright laws and
treaty provisions. It may only be distributed and used in accordance
with those laws and treaty provisions.

FDSMB is provided to you "as is", without warranties of any kind. In
no event shall Definite Solutions HB be liable to you or anyone else
for any damages or costs arising from the use or inability to use this
program.

FDSMB is protected by copyright laws, and may not be modified,
reversed engineered, sold or distributed in any way that would involve
some sort of trade, without written permission from Definite Solutions
HB.

FDSMB may be used without charge by anyone that is running a
registered copy of the shareware version of FrontDoor, or the
commercial version of FrontDoor.

FDSMB may also be used during the 30-day trial/evaluation period of
the shareware version of FrontDoor. After this period, FrontDoor must
be registered if you want to continue using this program (or
FrontDoor).


REVISION HISTORY
================

1.00      Initial release for DOS.
23-Mar-98


CONTACT INFORMATION
===================

Definite Solutions can be reached at:

  Postal address:   Definite Solutions HB
                    Frskottsvgen 11
                    S-129 32  Hgersten
                    SWEDEN

       Telephone:   +46 8 6456495       (0800-1800 CET, Mon-Fri)

             Fax:   +46 8 55630102

             BBS:   +46 8 55630102      (V.34 8N1, X.75 ISDN)
                    +46 8 55630103      (V.34 8N1, X.75 ISDN)

         FidoNet:   2:201/329
                    2:201/330

        Internet:   sales@defsol.se
                    http://www.defsol.se/


Please refer to our website (above) for additional information such
as the FrontDoor Developer's Kit (FDDEV), the FrontDoor Frequently
Asked Questions (FDFAQ) document, and more.

// end of file "fdsmb.txt"
