Current QWK Related Products Frequently Asked Questions by Jim Hanoian November 2, 1996 A FAQ covering mail readers was once published by James Nuckolls. He has apparently abandoned this project, and I've decided that I wanted to include a FAQ in my QWKProducts listing, so I have used some of his ideas as a starting point. Permission is hereby given to use and redistribute this file in any form (electronically, paper, etc.) provided this copyright notice is preserved. Permission is granted to use/distribute portions of this file without credit, but please use common courtesy when using larger portions. The QWK-format is Copyright 1987 by Sparkware. Other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. The author provides this compilation as-is without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. You are using the information in this file at your own discretion. The author assumes no responsibilities for damages, either physically or financially, from the use or misuse of this data. I would like to thank all the people who have assisted me in keeping this list current. Please help by sending corrections/additions to me rather than distributing a modified version of the list. Although I do follow the Offline Conferences in ILINK, Fido, and several other nets, primary contact points for me are: RIME: ->LUNATIC (#1282) in the Offline Mail, Software Reviews and Shareware conferences. Internet: jim_hanoian@alpha-one.org The entire file is updated monthly and is available as QWKPyymm.ZIP. -=-=-=-=-=-=-<>-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1. I am new to the offline readers and I am looking for a very simple reader, which one do you suggest? Probably the best "first" reader is SLMR (or the OLX upgrade) since it is fast, easy, and friendly. It does all that you need initially, and you can continue using it while you explore the others (if you really want to find something else). 2. What is the best all around reader? Deciding what is best for you is impossible for anybody except you. You can narrow the search by deciding your prefered platform (DOS, Win, OS/2, etc). Another issue is the amount of mail you normally read, and if you require (or desire) to maintain easy access to mail from previous days. Some readers deal with only a QWK packet at a time (QAAT readers) and at the opposite end of the spectrum are databased readers. There are quite a few that defy categorization by having some databasing features such as folders for saving special mail. 3. How is a databased reader different from the others? A databased reader is one that uses the QWK (or other kind of) packet as a transport method and then imports the messages into some other kind of storage/retrieval method. The QWK can then be deleted. Databased readers can maintain all the messages in one huge file, separate files for each BBS, or even separate files for each conference on each BBS. The primary advantage that a databased reader offers is that a history of messages can be maintained, instead of just the traffic from a single day. This makes offline reading more like staying online since you end up basically recreating the BBS's messagebase on your own machine. 4. Where can I get a copy the the QWK format? The QWK format is published in the QWKProducts listing monthly. This layout was reverse-engineered as have been all QWK readers, utilities, and doors because the QWK "standard" had never been (until very recently) officially established. 5. I am looking for a specific reader, do you know where I could find it? Most larger BBSs support the use of offline readers since it reduces the amount of time that users are online (permits more callers) and increases the readership of the conferences. The BBSs will usually have several readers available, so check around. If all else fails, The Lunatic Fringe, (214)235-5288, prides itself in having the current version of virtually ALL readers and QWK utilities available for first-time callers to download. 6. How come SLMR has not been updated for a while? Production of SLMR was halted when Greg Hewgill was hired by Mustang Software. They also purchased the code/rights to his SLMR program, and it became the basis for Mustang's OLX. 7. I run OS/2 (or Windows), where can I find a reader for my environment? There are getting to be more and more GUI readers, offering a range of features to users. As use of GUIs increase, the demand and the development of readers has followed. I expect that eventually the cutting-edge of technology will shift away from DOS readers even though mail is *currently* text-based. The QWKProducts archive includes a separate list for the GUI readers. You should be able to find something there that suits your needs. 8. How do I address InterNet e-mail with a QWK based reader? That depends on the exact implementation of the QWK handler that your sysop has installed. Since these differ, you should ask your sysop for guidance. For the most part, "extended" addressing uses the first-line method where the address is specified on the first line of the text portion of your message. The mail utilities pick up that first line and insert it in the appropriate place. To use the first-line method, place the word "to" (with no quotes) at the beginning of text area of the message. Follow with a colon, a space, and then the "long" address. For example: to: jim_hanoian@alpha-one.org This work-around is due to the 25 character limit imposed by the QWK "standard" and applies to the FROM, TO, and SUBJ fields in the message header. 9. How do I add or drop message conferences with a QWK based reader? Many doors and internal QWK processors permit offline configuration of the door by addressing a message to QMAIL in the desired conference with a subject of ADD or DROP. Many doors will permit more extensive configuration such as ADD -50 (add the conference and give me the last 50 messages only) or ADD YA (add the conference and take messages that are personally addressed to you or ALL only). The QWKProducts archive includes specific offline configuration for many doors. 10. Is it possible to import a text file into a message? Most offline mail readers use an external editor. This means that when you tell the reader that you want to make a message (enter a new one, or reply to an existing message) it goes to DOS and fires up whatever editor you have specified in the reader's configs. In this case, importing text is a function of that editor, not the reader. If your present editor will not permit importing text, then you should have the reader use an editor that will. Quite often, editors will respond to the old WordStar command set, where Alt-R was "read in text file". 11. Where did taglines really originate? According to a source, taglines originally came from Mark "Sparky" Herring. It seems that he had some leftover space at the end of the reader ID, and one of the original beta testers suggested that he use the space for witty sayings, like a Chineese fortune cookie.