******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* (c) Copyright - Challenge Business Systems Burnaby, B.C. Canada May, 1995 All Rights Reserved SYSOP GUIDE & INFORMATION ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 1.0 - Program Overview......................................... 2 2.0 - The U-Net Editor......................................... 3 2.1 - Adding UseNet Conferences............................ 3 2.2 - Changing U-Net Conference Information................ 4 2.3 - Deleting UseNet Conferences.......................... 4 2.3 - Using The Auto-Update option......................... 4 2.4 - Downloading A UseNet Conference List................. 5 3.0 - The U-Net Purge Utility.................................. 6 3.1 - Delete Messages...................................... 6 3.2 - UnDeleting Messages.................................. 7 4.0 - Important Program Information............................ 8 - 1 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 1.0 - PROGRAM OVERVIEW The U-Net Messager is comprised of 3 programs. These are the users module - UNET.WCX, the setup and maintenace module - UEDITOR.WCX and the purge UseNet messages module UNETPURG.WCX. UNET.WCX - This is the program that callers to your BBS will use to join, read and write messages with. The file UNETGDE.TXT explains how this program operates. Please refer to it after reading this manual. UEDITOR.WCX - This your program for initial and on-going maintenance of the U-Net Messager. This program must be run at least once to setup the database that will hold your list of UseNet conferences. See the file UNETSET.TXT for initial setup instructions. UNETPURG.WCX - This is a handy utility to get rid of old dated messages in any or all of your UseNet conference. It allows you to delete (and undelete) messages by date for all or selected UseNet conferences in the U-Net Messager database. - 2 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 2.0 - THE U-NET EDITOR The first time you enter this program it will automatically create your U-Net Database and add your UseNet Conferences. We made the decision to place all the UseNet conferences in a database for speed considerations only. Our tests showed that repeated scanning and searching the Wildcat conference database for UseNet groups left much to be desired, epecially if you have a large number of conferences with a multi-line BBS. For the unregistered version it will add the first 5 it finds in number order. For the registered version a maximum of 3,200 is allowed. If you elect to register the program the auto startup feature will run again to automatically add the rest of your UseNet conferences. Once the "auto startup" has been run the U-Net Messager is ready to go and no further action is required. This program need only be run again if you make any additions, changes or deletions to your UseNet conferences. 2.1 - ADDING U-NET GROUPS Before you can add a UseNet conference to the U-Net database it must have been created using Wildcat's Makewild Utility and designated as UseNet type Conference. From the Main Menu press the letter "A" to add a new UseNet Conference. You will be prompted to enter the conference number. This is the same number as assigned by Wildcat. If a valid UseNet conference number is entered the name you gave it via Makewild, will appear. You will prompted to enter a description. You may enter up to 30 characters to describe what this conference is about. To skip adding a desription just press the "ENTER" key. The program will then prompt you to enter a "Y" or "N" to allow users to post messages to this Newsgroup using their Alias (Handle) instead of their real name. Enter "Y" for YES-use an alias if they have one or "N" for NO-real names must be used. The default is "N". You may press "ENTER" if this is what you want. The conference description is NOT changable from within the U-Net Editor. To change the name of a conference use your Makewild utility (see Update conferences. The program remains in "Add Mode" until you press the "ENTER" key by itself without a conference number. If any additions are made the U-Net database will be sorted into proper numerical order when you exit the program ("Q" from the Main Menu). Depending on how many conferences you have this could take from 1 to 15 minutes. 2.2 - CHANGING U-NET GROUP INFORMATION To change a description or to modify the Alias press the letter "C" from the Main Menu. You will be prompted to enter the conference number. This is the same number as assigned by Wildcat. - 3 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 2.2 - CHANGING U-NET GROUP INFORMATION (Cont.) If a valid number is entered the name you gave it via Makewild, will appear. You will prompted to enter the new description. You may enter up to 30 characters to describe what this conference is about. To skip changing the desription just press the "ENTER" key. To erase the existing description use the "Space Bar" or "Del" key. The program will then prompt you to enter a "Y" or "N" to allow users to post messages to this Newsgroup using their Alias (Handle) instead of their real name. Enter "Y" for YES-use an alias if they have one or "N" for NO-real names must be used. The default will be "N" unless you have changed it previously. You may press "ENTER" to keep the current setup. By choosing the "Change" option the name of the conference will automatically be updated if it is not the same as what is in the U-Net database. If you have deleted the conference via Makewild the name will be replaced with "Deleted Conference" and further access blocked. It must be removed via "Delete" or "Update". The program remains in "Change Mode" until you press the "ENTER" key by itself without a conference number. 2.3 DELETING U-NET CONFERENCES To delete existing conferences in the U-Net database press the letter "D" at the Main Menu. You will be prompted to enter the conference number. This is the same number as assigned by Wildcat. If a valid number is entered the name you gave it via Makewild, will appear. You will then be asked to confirm the deletion. Press "Y" for YES-delete this conference or "N" for NO-do not delete this conference. The program remains in "Delete Mode" until you press the "ENTER" key by itself without a conference number. If any deletions are made the U-Net database will be sorted into proper numerical order when you exit the program ("Q" from the Main Menu). Depending on how many conferences you have this could take from 1 to 15 minutes. 2.4 - AUTO-UPDATING THE U-NET DATABASE This option is a quick and easy way to add or delete UseNet conferences and update any conference name changes. If you have more than 1 addition, change or deletion just run this option instead of going thru the 3 manual steps listed above. From the Main Menu press the letter "U". You will be prompted to confirm that you wish to run the Auto-Update. Press "Y" for YES-start the process or "N" for NO cancel and return to the Main Menu. If you press "Y" program will commence the update process as follows. A) Delete any conferences you have removed with Makewild (or changed to a non-UseNet type). - 4 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 2.4 - AUTO-UPDATING THE U-NET DATABASE (Cont.) B) Add any UseNet conferences that are not currently in the U-Net database. (Max. 5 total for the unregisterd version.) C) Change any conferences names in the U-Net database that do not match what is in the Wildcat conference database. Each step will be displayed on the screen. If any additions or deletions are made the U-Net database will be sorted into proper numerical order. Depending on how many conferences you have this could take from 1 to 15 minutes. When finished, a recap of any additions, deletions or changes will be displayed on the screen with a copy written to the Wildcat activity log for the node you are on. NOTE: Should the index files for The U-Net Messager ever become corrupted for any reason just delete them from the U-NET directory. They will be automatically re-created for you when you enter the U-Net Editor. The names of the 2 files are UNETGRPS.IDX & UNETSORT.IDX. 2.5 - DOWNLOAD A USENET CONFERENCE LIST By choosing this selection you can download a complete list of all the conferences in the U-Net database, either remotely or locally. This file is formatted as a report with date and page numbers ready for printing on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, using a text editor or word processor of your choice. From the "Main Menu" press the letter "L". You will be asked to confirm you want the file downloaded to you. Enter the letter "Y" for YES-download this list to me or "N" for NO-stop, cancel the download. If you calling into the BBS remotely and have chosen a default download protocol as part of your BBS settings it will be used, otherwise you will be prompted for a protocol. The file will be placed in your remote computer's normal download directory as "UNETGRPS.TXT" If you are logged on locally the file "UNETGRPS.TXT" will be placed in your U-Net program directory. - 5 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 3.0 - THE U-NET PURGE UTILITY The U-Net Purge utility is an easy way to "Flag" all those old unwanted UseNet messages in your Wildcat message database for deletion. By using this program you no longer have to do it "By Hand". Just pick the date and conferences. If you make a mistake just run the undelete part and "undo" what you did. NOTE: WCPACK or WCREPAIR must be run to physically remove the messages from from your database. 3.1 - DELETING MESSAGES There are 2 ways to remove old messages. Both of them require you to enter a date. All messages BEFORE this date are removed (i.e. 05/01/95 means all messages up to and including 04/30/95). When finished, a recap of the number of deletions will be displayed on the screen with a copy written to the Wildcat activity log for the node you are on. From the Main Menu press the letter "D". You will be prompted to choose between deleting messages in ALL conferences or SELECTED conferences. To exit Delete Messages at this point press the letter "Q" DELETING BY DATE FOR ALL CONFERENCES If you press the letter "A" you will be asked to enter the purge date. Enter it in MM/DD/YY format. To cancel at this time just press the "ENTER" key without putting in a date. You will be asked to confirm the message purge using the date you entered. Press "Y" for YES-continue with the purge or "N" for NO stop the purge. The system will then ask you if you wish to exclude any conferences from having messages removed from them. If you press "Y" you may enter up to 50 conference numbers. To stop adding conferences to the exclusion list press the "ENTER" when prompted for a conference number. After entering your exclusion list or pressing the letter "N" (for no exclusions) the purge process will begin. As each UseNet conference is processed it's name will be displayed on the screen. Depending on the number of conferences your system has this process could take from 1 - 20 minutes. DELETING BY DATE FOR SELECTED CONFERENCES If you press the letter "S" you may select up to 50 conferences for purging messages from. To stop adding to the selected purge list press the "ENTER" when prompted for a conference number. After this step the system will ask you to enter the purge date. Enter it in MM/DD/YY format. To cancel at this time just press the "ENTER" key without putting in a date. As each UseNet conference is processed it's name will be displayed on the screen. Depending on the number of conferences your system has this process could take from 1 - 20 minutes. - 6 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 3.2 - UNDELETING MESSAGES The process for undeleting old messages is exactly the same as the Delete Messages Process. There are 2 ways to undelete old messages. Both of them require you to enter a date. All messages BEFORE this date will be undeleted (i.e. 05/01/95 means all messages up to and including 04/30/95). When finished, a recap of the number of messages undeleted will be displayed on the screen with a copy written to the Wildcat activity log for the node you are on. From the Main Menu press the letter "U". You will be prompted to choose between un deleting messages in ALL conferences or SELECTED conferences. To exit Undelete Messages at this point press the letter "Q" UNDELETING BY DATE FOR ALL CONFERENCES If you press the letter "A" you will be asked to enter the undelete date. Enter it in MM/DD/YY format. To cancel at this time just press the "ENTER" key without putting in a date. You will be asked to confirm the message undelete using the date you entered. Press "Y" for YES-continue with the undelete or "N" for NO stop the undelete. The system will then ask you if you wish to exclude any conferences from having messages undeleted from them. If you press "Y" you may enter up to 50 conference numbers. To stop adding conferences to the exclusion list press the "ENTER" when prompted for a conference number. After entering your exclusion list or pressing the letter "N" (for no exclusions) the undelete process will begin. As each UseNet conference is processed it's name will be displayed on the screen. Depending on the number of conferences your system has this process could take from 1 - 20 minutes. UNDELETING BY DATE FOR SELECTED CONFERENCES If you press the letter "S" you may select up to 50 conferences for undeleting messages from. To stop adding to the selected undelete list press the "ENTER" when prompted for a conference number. After this step the system will ask you to enter the undelete date. Enter it in MM/DD/YY format. To cancel at this time just press the "ENTER" key without putting in a date. As each UseNet conference is processed it's name will be displayed on the screen. Depending on the number of conferences your system has this process could take from 1 - 20 minutes. - 7 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 4.0 - SYSOP INFORMATION There are several keys points that you, as the sysop, should be aware of regarding this program . We want you to have this information as a reference because we think its important that sysops know as much as possible about any program running on their BBS. The Key Points: 1) All users who enter the U-Net Messager will automatically have a datafile and index created for them. These files hold the conference numbers and the highest message read for each UseNet conference the user has read or downloaded message from. The purpose of this was to let active readers review, read & download only the new messages in a conference since the last time they were in it. Wildcat does NOT track the last message read for users in public conferences. Without this your users would be required to page thru piles of old messages to get to the new ones or read them is reverse order (highest to lowest)-not a good idea since most topics are on-going. The naming system for these files are unique to each user based on their user id number assigned to them by the BBS. Example - User 101 on the BBS would be assigned a datafile called UN000101.DAT where UN stands for the U-Net program, .DAT is the file extension for datafile and 101 is their Wildcat User Id Number, leading 0's are placed after the UN and in front of the id number, if necessary to ensure the file names are always a length of 12 characters. The naming process for the index that goes with the user's datafile is the same except the extension is .IDX instead of .DAT These user files will be placed in the U-Net directory and should be added to your routine backup for protection from loss or damage. 2) The differences between the 4.01 and 4.10/4.11 versions is minor and only affects writing messages but WCCODE 4.10/4.11 does contain 1 bug fix in this area so we incorporated it. Uploading attached files in "Write Messages" from a wccode application does NOT work in 4.01. This was fixed in 4.10. Users of the 4.10/4.11 versions will NOT be asked if they wish to upload a file to attach to the message when first selecting "Write Message". 3) Using Wildcat temporary directories with WCCODE (both versions). If your node batch startup files don't contain a SET TEMP= statement then WCCODE is going to look for a directory called TEMP in the node's home work directory (i.e. C:\WILDCAT\WCWORK\NODE1\TEMP) and create this directory if it doesn't exist. If you don't want this to happen then you must tell WCCODE what temporary directory to use for temp. files the program and user creates. WARNING - Do NOT use the same SET TEMP= statement such as SET TEMP=C:\TEMP for all your nodes. The program uses the same file names for all users on at the same time (so does Wildcat). This will cause errors on message text file uploads and new messages. - 3 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 4.0 - SYSOP INFORMATION (Cont.) 4) All activity such as entering The U-Net Messager and program errors are written to the appropriate node's activity log for your review. This includes the date & time plus a description of the error, if any. 5) All activity when using The U-Net Messager Utilities are written to the appropriate node's activity log for your review. This includes the date & time plus a description of the error, if any. 6) This program reads the following Wildcat data files. A) Allusers.dat - The User Database B) Confdesc.dat - The Conference Database C) Makewild.dat - The Main Wildcat Configuration File D) Messages.dat - The Message Header Database E) Security.dat - The User's Security Level Database F) Nodeinfo.dat - The User's Node File 7) This program writes to the following Wildcat data files. 1) Allusers.dat - The User Database 2) Messages.dat - The Message Header Database 3) Activity.??? - The Node's Activity Log File (??? being replaced with the node Number) 8) What is written to the datafiles. The following fields are changed during the use of the program if the user actually writes messages, downloads a message or downloads a UseNet conference list. A) The Users Database (ALLUSERS.DAT) 1) The Messages Written count is increased by 1 each time a message is written (and actually saved). 2) If you are charging messages downloads to the user's Upload/ Download Ratio (see UNETINS.TXT) The Download Kbytes Field is increased (+)IK and the Download Files Total is increased by (+)1 upon a successful message download. or (+)2K & +(1) if they download a UseNet conference list. These file sizes are set by the program and can not be changed. This was done because you can determine a file size from within a WCCODE program when doing a single download. If the user selects batch download the correct totals will be written to the user's record. B) The Messages Header Database (MSG?????.DAT) The actual name of this file is MSG plus the your Internet UseNet conference number. It is located in the confernece's directory as you defined with the Wildcat utility Makewild. New records are added to this file for every message written so all relevant fields are updated. See Item 9 for further changes to this file when deletions are made. - 3 - ******* THE U-NET MESSAGER ******* 4.0 - SYSOP INFORMATION (Cont.) 9) If a user elects to delete a message that has a file attached to it the file will be deleted from the selected UseNet conference attach files directory, upon the user confirming the deletion. The Messager header will have both the internal and external files names erased as well. While we still show the users the deleted messages on the screen (flagged with a "D" in Red) the attached file must be deleted when the user confirms the deletion. This is because Wildcat does not remove the attached file when you run Wcpack or Wcrepair. This conforms to what happens when the user selects Wildcat's Delete Message. (You can confirm this easily enough if you wish.) WARNING: A) Should a problem arise with any of the datafiles listed above in 5 & 6 The U-Net Messager will not function properly (and probably the rest of your BBS too). B) Strange things can happen if your user's database and/or the messages database index files become corrupted. This includes putting the wrong user-id number in the message header. If that happens WCGATE will put the wrong e-mail return name on the message when it exports it to FXUUCIO. This will get your users quite upset when they don't see their message postings as being from them and some users will get very, very upset if their name gets accidently posted in an ALT.SEX.???????? Conference. Should your BBS suffer a system crash be sure to run the Wildcat Utility Wcrepair and re-build these index files. 10) Our "In-House" testing has shown that the regular (daily?) use of WcPack or WcRepair to remove deleted messages and re-index your message conferences greatly enhances the overall performance of The U-Net Messager. *********** END OF INFORMATION ********** - 3 -