VISK Version 1.30 Official Release Virtual Internet Survival Kit Copyright (C) Roland De Graaf 1996 BBS: 616-399-4818, 616-399-8791 WWW: http://virtualc.com Introduction The Virtual Internet Survival Kit is a series of programs that run on top of a Windows WinSock 1.1 Environment that connects Virtual Advanced Bulletin Board systems to a live Internet feed. The SMTP, POP3, and NNTP programs are geared for use with Virtual Advanced's VUUCP mail tosser engine. The version of VUUCP required is 3.00, or higher. Possible WinSock 1.1 Environments: Windows 3.1 w/Trumpet Winsock or equivalent Windows 3.11 for Workgroups w/Microsoft's 32-bit TCP/IP pkg Windows 95 (TCP/IP and Dial-Up Networking Built-In!) Windows NT Internet Account Type Details In order to use WinSock 1.1 Applications, you will need a PPP or SLIP Account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). PPP is preferred over SLIP for ease of use and better performance. With this type of account, your computer obtains an IP address, and becomes an actual part of the Internet's Wide Area Network, just like any other Host Site or User Computer. It is important to note that you can you use VISK with any kind of SLIP or PPP Internet Account. It does not matter if you have dedicated or non-dedicated access, dynamically assigned IP or fixed IP, registered domain name or not. Dedicated vs. Non-Dedicated Access: With dedicated access, your computer is connected to the Internet full-time, 24 hours per day. The typical rate of this type of access averages $150 per month in the US for a 28.8k or 33.6k (USR) connection, and it would be suitable for most BBS's, schools, companies, and institutions that want to easily and inexpensively run an Internet host site under Windows. Internet users with dedicated access almost always also use a fixed IP address. With non-dedicated access, you only connect to the Internet for the duration you need -- such as the time needed to send mail with SMTP, pickup mail with POP3, and post/retrieve newsgroups with NNTP. Note that simce Windows and TCP/IP are capable of multitasking, several Internet apps can, and often do, run at the same time. Cheap, so-called "unlimited" Internet access is available from many sources for average $19 per month. Just what is meant by "unlimited" most likely varies, but I do not think that the ISP's intend "unlimited" to mean the same as dedicated access. Usually what happens is that you can use as many hours as you want, but you are limited to 4 hours per call. Dynamically assigned IP addresses are usually used with the cheap, low-rate Internet access accounts. This tends to make these types of accounts unsuitable for dedicated access -- especially if your ISP enforces the 4-hour per call limit, and your IP address changes every 4 hours. Fixed IP Address vs. Dynamic IP Address: There are not enough possible Internet IP addresses available such that every computer on the planet can have its own unique fixed address. To overcome this problem, dynamic addressing was developed. With dynamic addressing, each ISP gets a block of addresses for their use. When a user dials in and logs into the system, an address is allocated from the available pool of addresses, and the user's computer is known by this dynamically assigned IP addresss for the duration of the session. When they disconnect, the address is returned to available pool for re-use. Most direct users of the Internet will not require a fixed IP address, and a dynamic address will work just fine. For example, SMTP, POP3, NNTP, and WEBDL don't care either way. You will need a fixed IP address if you intend on using WEB, or any other "server" software that makes your site a host site on the Internet; you need the fixed IP address so that people can find your system on a consistent basis. Whether or Not to Register a Domain Name: A IP address is a string of digits with periods in between. 205.138.136.151 is an example of a fixed IP address used by Virtual ComTech's host site. Most people aren't good at remembering strings of digits, so a more human-friendly way was developed called Domain Names or Host Names. The name associated with the fixed IP address 205.138.136.151 is "virtualc.com". A process called a Name Server (usually run by your ISP) is automatically called upon by your computer's TCP/IP, when you give a domain name or a host name (such as "virtualc.com") to resolve. The Name Server looks up the host name virtualc.com and returns to your computer the IP address. If you have a fixed IP address, and are a host site on the Internet, you may wish to consider registering a domain name on the Internet. Often times, your ISP can help you with the paperwork on this, but beware that many ISPs overcharge for this service. Your better off doing it yourself -- its quick and easy. The cost to keep the domain name registered is $100 for two years, at that this doc was written. You pay this $100 to the InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center) directly -- they send you a bill in the mail! If you don't want to go the whole 10 yards and get your own domain name, you might be able to "hang off" the domain of your ISP; for example, if your ISP were "isp.com" and your BBS was called "Acme", maybe you could be "acme.isp.com" -- this may be a cheaper alternative. This is sometimes called an unregistered domain name or unregistered site name. If neither option is appealing, then don't worry about it. Just because domain names exist does not mean you have to use them. In other words, you can accessed via your IP address directly (for example, try http://205.138.136.151), and you can access others that way too. Single-User MailDrop vs. Multi-User MailDrop: If you have registered a domain name (example: mysystem.com), or if you "hang off" your ISP's domain (example: mysystem.isp.com), you should request a multi-user POP3 mail-drop from your ISP. What this means is that users of your bulletin board system (and possible gateways provided by your system) will be able to receive Internet email in the simple format: @ : This part is automatically assigned by VUUCP, the first time the user sends an email message. The handle, once generated, is remembered for future reference in sending subsequenet emails, and when receiving replies back . : This would be your sites registered or unregistered site name. It should be noted that the Multi-User Mail-Drop is usually standard with dedicated access; the Single-User Mail-Drop is usually associated with the non-dedicated access, or cheap flat-rate accounts. It is possible to do POP3 email with a Single-User Mail-Drop, but email exchange will be limited to the SysOp in those cases, since the ISP isn't giving you a mailbox which supports multiple users (ie te SysOp and his/her callers). I hope to propose the additon of a "X-" extension header line to give a place for custom addressing, so that a Single-User Mail-Drop might be able to be used in multiuser situations. This would be something VUUCP would need to be concerned with, not SMTP/POP3. Connecting To The Internet No matter what type of account you have (PPP or SLIP), or whether you use a fixed IP address or a dynamic address, registered domain or not, there are a variety of ways you can physically make the connection to the Internet. When you connect your computer to the Internet, its essentially like being on a really big LAN. Once you make the physical connection, you are ready to begin communicating with any other computer currently attached to the Internet -- that's any computer, anywhere in the world -- in real-time. The type of connection you get will largely depend on what you can afford. For most of us, this will mean a simple dial-up type of connection using a V.34 modem. With this type of connection, the dialing process varies with the version of Windows and brand of TCP/IP you are using. With Windows 95, you will use the built-in "Dial-Up Networking." For a few, this may mean a more intense (and more expensive) connection using ISDN, digital 56k, digital T1, digital T3, or some other type of high-speed digital transport such as FDDI or HSSI. Communicating With Other Computers Once you've established the physical connection, your computer is ready to communicate with other computers on the Internet. This is where the WinSock-dependent applications take over, and get things done. Here are some examples: If you start-up the SMTP client, it will attempt to deliver outgoing email to your ISP's SMTP Server. It does this by requesting a temporary link to the Server, sending commands and data, and then closing the link appropriately when done. If you start-up the POP3 client, it will attempt to retrieve incoming email from your ISP's POP3 Server. It does this by requesting a temporary link to the Server, sending commands and receiving data, and then closing the link appropriately when done. If you start-up the NNTP client, it will attempt to post outgoing articles, and then retrieve incoming all new incoming articles with your ISP's NNTP Server. It does this by requesting a temporary link to the Server, sending commands, and sending and receiving data, and then closing the link appropriately when done. Note that SMTP, POP3, and NNTP can be run as often as practical, but should be scheduled appropriately for optimal efficiency. Just what that means to you depends on your needs and resources. If you start-up the Web Server, it will open up a socket to "listen" on for incoming connections. When one comes in, a temporary link is established between the remote computer and your computer. In the case of the Web Server, once the link is established, your computer will wait for the remote end to send up a command to be processed. Once the processing is complete, the link is closed, and made available for re-use. The Web Server remains available to users on the Internet until you either shut-down the Web Server software, disconnect from the Internet, or shut-off the computer entirely. It is important to note that establishing temporary links to other computers on the Internet does not change the status of your physical connection to the Internet; these things are independent of each other. Software Overview VISK is a modular design; each program, generally, handles one specific Internet-related task, and you make use of just the module or modules you need. The modules included with VISK Ver 1 Official Release: SCHEDULE (Automated Scheduler) [Utility] Automates Execution of SMTP, POP3, and NNTP Also A Configuration Editor for SMTP, POP3, and NNTP SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) [Client] Sends Internet Email To ISP POP3 (Post Office Protocol Ver 3) [Client] Retrieves Internet Email From Maildrop At ISP NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol) [Client] Posts To Internet Newsgroups Retrieves Internet Newsgroup Articles VAIRC (Virtual Advanced IRC Software) [Client] Connects Virtual Advanced BBS Teleconference To Internet Relay Chat WEBDL (Web Download Software) [Client] Download Files From Any Internet Web Site Download VirtualNET Packets From virtualc.com WEB (Web Server Software) [Server] Makes Your Windows Computer A Host Site On The World Wide Web FINGERS (Finger Server Software) [Server] Makes Your Windows Computer A Host Site Capable Of Responding To User Information Requests MAKEWWW (Creates HTML Pages) [Utility] Automatically Creates HTML Pages Using Data In Virtual Advanced BBS File Area Databases MAKEHTML (Creates HTML Pages) [Utility] Automatically Creates HTML Pages Using Data From Any ASCII Text File It should be noted, that, of the above modules, only SCHEDULE, VAIRC, WEB and FINGERS need to be run continuously. SMTP, POP3, NNTP, and WEBDL are programs that start-up, do their business, and quit. MAKEWWW and MAKEHTML might be set-up to called from .BAT files, perhaps as an automatic daily event. [Client] A program which will interact with the like Server Process at your ISP. For example, the SMTP Client application running on your computer establishes a link to your ISP's SMTP Server Program. The SMTP Client delivers mail to the SMTP Server, and closes the link. The SMTP Server Process at your ISP then delivers your email wherever it needs to go -- all around the world -- almost instantly. [Server] A program running, usually continuously, on an Internet Host Site which allows Client Applications to make use of its services. For example, a POP3 Server sits and waits for incoming links. When a client establishes a link, the Server "wakes up" and processes the commands and inputs from the client. This might entail sending or receiving of requested data (email messages, in the case of POP3), or even a "quit" command which closes the link. Typically, a Server Process can handle many users at a time, and there are a generous number of services possible on the Internet. [Utility] A program which does not communicate with the Internet directly, but interacts with other programs -- clients and servers -- that do. VISK Software Installation and Set-Up The first thing you'll need to decide is whether you'll be runing your BBS (Virtual Advanced) and your VISK Software on the same computer, or on separate computers connected together via LAN. Single Computer Set-Up: If you intend to run everything on one computer, Windows 95 or Windows NT is recommended; you could think of Windows 95 as a "the poor man's" NT, and so far I personally like Win95 very much. I am impressed with its ability to handle my dedicated Internet connection -- not too bad for an $85 operating system. If you run Windows 95, then naturally you'll have to run the DOS version of Virtual Advanced, since the OS/2 version of Virtual Advanced will not run under Windows 95. It is possible that Virtual Advanced for OS/2 will work with Windows NT, but I have not tested this. With the single computer set-up, the Virtual Advanced BBS Software (and VUUCP), will communicate with the VISK program modules via three shared hard drive directories. For example, to send out email, VUUCP will compose the RFC822-format message, and write the file to one of the three directories. SMTP, next time it is run, will check that same directory for possible outgoing email. If there is some waiting, it is sent. To send out a newsgroup post, VUUCP will compose the RFC822-format message, and write the file to a different one of the three directories. Next time NNTP is run, it will check this directory for outgoing posts, and if any exists, it will be posted to the newsgroup. The third directory is for POP3 and NNTP to place incoming data that needs to be processed by the VUUCP /R command. Dual or Multiple Computer Set-Up: If you intend to run the BBS and the "Internet Box" on separate computers, then there are fewer limitations to the version of Windows you can run (though Win95 is still recommended) for your "Internet Box," and fewer limitations to the version of Virtual Advanced you can run (either Virtual Advanced for DOS or Virtual Advanced for OS/2) for your BBS. With the multiple computer set-up, you'll need a LAN of some type. Virtual Advanced and VISK are compatible with most any LAN. With the multiple computer set-up, the Virtual Advanced BBS Software (and VUUCP), will communicate with the VISK program modules via three shared, networked hard drive directories, exactly like the single-computer set-up. Installing the VISK Files: VISK is distributed with the following files: CSWSOCK.VBX VBSOCK.VBX VBRUN300.DLL SCHEDULE.EXE SMTP.EXE POP3.EXE NNTP.EXE VAIRC.EXE WEBDL.EXE WEB.EXE FINGERS.EXE MAKEWWW.EXE MAKEHTML.EXE HEADER.HTM TRAILER.HTM and SETUP.EXE Executing SETUP.EXE will copy the DLL and VBX files to your Windows System directory, and will copy the EXE files to your Windows directory. Creating the Three Shared Directories: Next, create the three shared directories described in previous paragraphs. For the purpose of example, let's use G:\SMTPOUT, G:\NNTPOUT, and G:\INCOMING. You may choose a drive other than "G:", of course. md G:\SMTPOUT md G:\NNTPOUT md G:\INCOMING Run SCHEDULE.EXE to Initialize INI file VCT-INET.INI: Next, execute the SCHEDULE.EXE program. When it detects that you have no prior VCT-INET.INI file in your Windows directory, it will create one for you with default settings, and let you immediately modify those settings to fit your needs: SMTP Settings Host This specifies the address or host name of the SMTP Server provided by your ISP. Typically, if your ISP were "isp.com" your SMTP Server would be "mail.isp.com" -- if in doubt or having trouble, contact your ISP. Domain If you have a registered domain name, or one given to you by your ISP, enter that address here. If not, then put your ISP's main address here (for example, isp.com). Path This specifies the directory where SMTP should look for outgoing email to send. For our example, this would be the G:\SMTPOUT path created earlier. POP3 Settings Host This specifies the address or host name of the POP3 Server provided by your ISP. Typically, if your ISP were "isp.com" your POP3 Server would be "mail.isp.com" -- just like the SMTP Server. In fact, most often they are the same machine. If in doubt or having trouble, contact your ISP. Login Password In order to retrieve your email from your service provider's POP3 Server, the POP3 Client must authenticate itself with a login ID and a password. In most cases these will be exactly the same, as the ones you used to make the Physical Connection, described earlier in this text. Note that thse two fields may be case-sensitive. Path This specifies the directory where POP3 should put incoming email to be processed by VUUCP and put onto the BBS. For our example, this would be the G:\INCOMING path created earlier. NNTP Settings Host This specifies the address or host name of the NNTP Server provided by your ISP. Typically, if your ISP were "isp.com" your NNTP Server would be "news.isp.com" -- if in doubt or having trouble, contact your ISP. In-Path This specifies the directory where NNTP should look for outgoing data to post to Internet Newsgroups. For our example, this is G:\NNTPOUT. Out-Path This specifies the directory where NNTP should put incoming data it has received, for later processing by VUUCP (posting the messages to the BBS). For our example, this is G:\INCOMING. Note: You should put the file NEWS.LST in your Windows directory. NEWS.LST can be automatically generated by the Virtual Advanced BBS VCONFIG program. You should generate the file with VCONFIG, and then copy it to your Windows directory. Scheduling Each module has its own separate scheduling capability that you can customize to fit your needs: Disabled Disables automatic execution of a module. Hourly Automatic execution hourly at a certain time past the hour, expressed in minutes from 0 to 59. Daily Automatic execution daily at a certain time of day, expressed in hh:mm format. Minimized Execute the module minmized. Run VCONFIG.EXE on the BBS to Set-Up VUUCP For Use With VISK: Even though the VISK SMTP/POP3/NNTP programs used over a PPP or SLIP connection completely eliminate the need to use UUCP, you still need to put an entry into the VUUCP dialing list for mail tossing purposes only. Let me make it clear that you will not be using VUUCP to do any dialing; you will be using it just to toss mail. Main VUUCP Config Screen (VCONFIG) 1) System Name: Your registered domain name if you have one. If you don't have a registered domain name, then put here the host name given to you by your ISP. If you don't have one of those either, then put your ISP's domain name here. 2) Spool Directory: Typically this is C:\SPOOL or D:\SPOOL, or similar. VUUCP uses this directory, and automatically creates additional directories below this one as needed. For the purpose of example, let's assume this is set to C:\SPOOL. Remote Configuration VUUCP Config Screen (VCONFIG) 1) Remote System Name: This would be the host name or domain name of your ISP. 2) Remote System Phone: Since you won't actually be doing any dialing with this entry, this field is used to store some needed Path information instead. This field should contain two paths separated by a semi-colon. The first path tells VUUCP where to write outgoing emails (from our example G:\SMTPOUT), and the second path tells VUUCP where to write outgoing posts (from our example G:\NNTPOUT). Thus, a complete example for this field would be: G:\SMTPOUT;G:\NNTPOUT Remote Configuration Options 3, 4, and 5, can be left at default settings. Create a Batch File to Process Incoming Data: Finally, the last step in the set-up process. Create a .BAT (or for OS/2, a .CMD) file that will run on the BBS computer that will retrieves all data from the incoming directory (for our example, G:\INCOMING) and copies it to the SPOOL\TMP directory (C:\SPOOL\TMP, in our example) for processing. if exist c:\spool\tmp\nntp.d goto no if not exist g:\incoming\nntp.d goto no copy g:\incoming\nntp.d c:\spool\tmp if not exist c:\spool\tmp\nntp.d goto no del g:\incoming\nntp.d vuucp 0 /r :no if not exist g:\incoming\p*.d goto no2 copy g:\incoming\p*.d c:\spool\tmp del g:\incoming\p*.d vuucp 0 /r :no2 if not exist g:\incoming\rm*.d goto no3 copy g:\incoming\rm*.d c:\spool\tmp del g:\incoming\rm*.d vuucp 0 /r :no3 If you cut and paste the above batch file, don't forget to change drive and directory references as appropriate. You can schedule the batch file to run as an event from the Virtual Advanced BBS. SCHEDULE SCHEDULE.EXE is responsible for automatically executing SMTP, POP3, and NNTP. It also functions as a simple configuration editor for the VCT-INET.INI configuration file used by SMTP, POP3, and NNTP. And it provides a simple mechanism for viewing the log files created by these programs. Schedule takes a simple command line: SCHEDULE Note that SCHEDULE is, perhaps, most useful in situations where you are running a dedicated connection 24 hours per day. If you don't need to run SCHEDULE, you'll still need it for the confguration editor. SMTP POP3 NNTP By default these three programs take their settings from the VCT-INET.INI file, located in your Windows directory, when you run them without parameters. Simple examples: SMTP POP3 NNTP You can, however, selectively override the VCT-INET.INI settings by specifying otherwise on the command line, if you wish: SMTP /host= /domain= /path= Example: SMTP /host=mail.isp.com /domain=isp.com /path=G:\SMTPOUT SMTP will write a SMTP.LOG in the Windows directory. POP3 /host= /login= /pw= /path= Example: POP3 /host=mail.isp.com /login=myloginid /pw=mypassword /path=G:\INCOMING POP3 will write a POP3.LOG in the Windows directory. NNTP /host= /inpath= /outpath= Example: NNTP /host=news.isp.com /inpath=G:\NNTPOUT /outpath=G:\INCOMING NNTP will write a NNTP.LOG in the Windows directory. Note: You should put the file NEWS.LST in your Windows directory. NEWS.LST can be automatically generated by the Virtual Advanced BBS VCONFIG program. You should generate the file with VCONFIG, and then copy it to your Windows directory. VAIRC VAIRC requires the following command line parameters: VAIRC /ch= /path= VAIRC provides a bridge between the popular Internet Relay Chat service and the Virtual Advanced BBS Teleconference Program. You must execute one copy of VAIRC.EXE for each Virtual Advanced BBS channel that you wish to make IRC-capable. In other words, if you run a two-line BBS (channels 1 and 2), plus a local node for the sysop (channel 0), then you'd run three copies of VAIRC.EXE. (/ch=0 for channel 0, /ch=1 for channel 1, and /ch=2 for channel 2) Example: VAIRC /ch=0 /path=i: VAIRC runs continuously, checking to see if it is needed by the BBS user. During this inactive time, the program comsumes extremely little system processor time. Once invoked by a user, however, the program wakes up and services the caller, providing a bridge between Internet Relay Chat and the BBS teleconference. The program will keep the bridge going until the caller quits, drops carrier, or runs out of time. Then it will return to the inactive state, waiting for the next user. You should be able to have multiple-users using IRC all at the same time without any conflicts. They can be accessing the same or different IRC servers. Note: For maximum performance, your Virtual Advanced CONTROL.DAT Directory should be located on a RAMDRIVE or write-cached harddrive if no RAMDRIVE is available. WEBDL WEBDL requires one or more command line parameters: WEBDL Examples: WEBDL //virtualc.com/welcome.htm Download the current Virtual ComTech Home Page WEBDL //virtualc.com/va/va1b4.zip Download Virtual Advanced Ver 1 Beta 4 for DOS WEBDL //www.microsoft.com/ Download Microsoft's Home Page WEBDL can be used to download files from any site running a HTTP/0.9 or HTTP/1.0 compatible web server. WEBDL can also be used to download VirtualNET packets through the Internet. This feature works only with virtualc.com: WEBDL /VNET When used in this mode, WEBDL will receive the file with the filename as INCOMING.PKT. This can be immediately passed to VNET ver 8.02 or higher, on the BBS computer: VNET 1 /IMPORT=INCOMING.PKT (Note that you may need to include some path information if INCOMING.PKT is not in the main VADV directory.) WEB WEB is the Web Server software included with the VISK package. It has some unique capabilities, and can handle average to light duty; it is ideal for the hobbyist, sysop, or small business to put a cheap but effective site up on Internet, on a budget. WEB takes the following command line: WEB If WEB is run with no parameters, then defaults to C:\WWW. For purpose of example, let us assume C:\WWW. NOTICE: Internet Web Users will be able to access all files in C:\WWW and ALL FILES in directories below C:\WWW You must create this directory manually before running WEB for the first time. Within C:\WWW, you must place WELCOME.HTM -- your site's main home page. You may create additional directories below this directory as desired. For example, C:\WWW\TEST. It should be noted that C:\WWW is then equivalent to the Internet URL http:/// which is the Root Directory, and URL http:///test/ would refer to hard drive directory C:\WWW\TEST. NOTICE: Internet Web Users will be able to access all files in C:\WWW and ALL FILES in directories below C:\WWW, such as C:\WWW\TEST, so be VERY CAREFUL that you don't put anything there that isn't suitable or desired for public viewing. WEB maintains two files in its root directory: WEB.LOG, a log file, and WWWHITS, a stats file. Note: When a web user asks for a directory only (ie no filename given), then WELCOME.HTM is assumed by the web server software. Therefore, if you are using C:\WWW, then C:\WWW\WELCOME.HTM should be the very first page you create! Your .HTM pages may contain text and HTML tags as defined by the HTML specification. Virtual Web Server passes the information in the html file verbatim, with the excpetion of the following special tags recognized by WEB: At fetch-time, WEB replaces the special tag with the number of hits to this page. WEB maintains hit statistics for up to 200 pages on your web server. FINGERS FINGERS is the Finger Server software included with the VISK package. It has some unique capabilities, and is ideal for providing limited user information and other text information from your BBS to users on the Internet. The amount of information transmitted is kept limited for security reasons, since the information is freely accessible by anyone. In order for users on the Internet to use your Finger Server, they will need a Finger client -- several are available on ftp and web sites everywhere. FINGERS takes the following command line parameters and options: FINGERS Possible allow you to customize the data available from your site: /NOU No User Listing Prevents users on the Internet from obtaining a list of all users. /NOS No Search Prevents search/display of user information. /NOI No Information Prevents display of text file SITEINFO.FGR (Windows Dir) /NON No News Prevents display of text file SITENEWS.FGR (Windows Dir) /NOC No Callers List Prevents display of your Today's Callers file (DATA\CALLERS.LST) /NOA No Net Calls List Prevents display of your Net Calls file (DATA\NETCALLS.LST) MAKEWWW MAKEWWW is a utility program that creates HTML pages based on the contents of your VIrtual Advanced BBS File Area Databases. MAKEWWW is a DOS-based program, and must be executed from your Virtual Advanced BBS Main Directory to execute properly. In addition, this program can only be used in conjunction with the Virtual Web Server in this VISK package. Other WEB SERVERs may or may not be compatible with the special MS-DOS drive and directory conversion that the Virtual Web Server supports. MAKEWWW takes the following command line parameters and options: MAKEWWW If run with no parameters, MAKEWWW will display help syntax. Here is an example using MAKEWWW: MAKEWWW C:\WINDOWS C:\WWW D:\VADV\DB yoursite.com MAKEWWW will create a FILEAREA.HTM, which will allow the web user to select a directory for viewing; it should be noted that only directories with the FREQ option enabled (VCONFIG, Database Configuration) will be available for access. The FILEAREA.HTM will be written to the designated WWW directory. To make the file downloads available to web users, you'll need to make a reference to FILEAREA.HTM, either on your WELCOME.HTM page, or some other page. MAKEWWW will also create one page for each file area, listing the actual files and descriptions, and allowing the user to click on them to download the file. These files are named FLST#.HTM, where # is a number starting at 0 and counting upward. As described in the previous paragraph, the FLST#.HTM files are automatically referenced by FILEAREA.HTM, so there is no need to reference thse files from other web pages, unless desired. Note: When MAKEWWW.EXE is making pages, it uses data from HEADER.HTM (at the top of the web document) and TRAILER.HTM (at the bottom of the document), allowing you to customize your pages quite a bit. You could, for example, use custom borders, backgrounds, graphics, etc. The TRAILER.HTM is usually a good spot to put your copyright notice for your page. Example HEADER.HTM and TRAILER.HTM files are included for easy editing and use; put them in your main Virtual Advacned directory for MAKEWWW to find them. Another file created by MAKEWWW.EXE is WWWPATHS.LST, in your Windows Directory. The purpose of this file is to allow the web server software to have controlled access to paths (directories) other than the WWW directory (and its child directories). MAKEWWW lists out the paths where your file downloads reside. Again, only FREQ-able directories are in this list. WWWPATHS.LST is read by the web server software when the web server software starts up; if you add or remove directories from WWWPATHS.LST, then WEB.EXE must be restarted for the changes to be recognized. You do not need to restart WEB.EXE if file downloads themselves are added or removed when MAKEWWW is executed; only when directories themselves are added or deleted. MAKEHTML MAKEHTML is a utility program that creates HTML pages from plain ASCII text files. MAKEHTML is a DOS-based program, and must be executed using the following command line syntax: MAKEHTML Like MAKEWWW, MAKEHTML will use the HEADER.HTM and TRAILER.HTM found in the current directory to begin and end your html file. Shareware Registration VISK is a set of shareware programs. You may use the programs for up to sixty (60) days before you must register the software, or discontinue its use. In addition there are a number of limitations to the unregistered shareware version: -WEB shuts down after 25 accesses -POP3 only retrieves one email at a time -SMTP delivers only one email at a time -NNTP only retrieves first newsgroup listed in NEWS.LST -VAIRC only works on channel 0 Once you register VISK, you will receive a PROD5.ID file, which should go in your Windows directory. PROD5.ID will unlock your shareware version, and make it fully operable. See ORDERFRM.TXT for ORDERING INFORMATION. Windows 95 Tips 1. If using Dial-Up Networking for a dedicated connection, get a program like DUNCE (filename DUNCE1_3.ZIP), which will automatically re-establish a connection in event of disconnect (dropped carrier, etc). For best possible results, put a Windows 95 Shortcut to DUNCE in your Start-Up Folder. 2. If using Dial-Up Networking for a non-dedicated connection, consider getting programs that will let you schedule an automated connection, or activate one from the Win95 command line. Such tulities are available from the BBS and Web Site printed at the top of this document. Additional Sources of Information In the interest of educating the public, Virtual ComTech includes the following information, which is believed to be accurate at time of publication of this document. As with any network, sites and services can come and go without warning on the Internet. No guarantee is made as to the accuracy of this information, nor is this to be considered as an endorsement of any particular site or service. WWW Search Engines: altavista.digital.com www.yahoo.com www.excite.com search.com WWW Shareware Archives: www.shareware.com www.jumbo.com www.windows95.com