FidoNews · Vol 3, No 36 · 22 September 1986
Volume 3, Number 36 22 September 1986
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| _ |
| / \ |
| /|oo \ |
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
| _`@/_ \ _ |
| International | | \ \\ |
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
| (jm) |
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1/1.
Copyright (C) 1986, by the International FidoNet Association.
All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted
for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
please contact IFNA.
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
Everything here is subject to debate.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES
HELP!!! Copyright Violation
OUTER is here! A new program for the "O" command
Pittsburgh Area BBS Picnic
Sweden and their Vikings!
An Unsolicited Testimonial
Shareware Authors: Under Attack?!
Who Reads FidoNews?
2. COLUMNS
MS-DOS Directory Trees
Computer Industry Spotlight
FidoUtil ver 1.10 review
3. FOR SALE
DataCare Hard Disk Utility
Public Domain Software Library Sale!!
4. NOTICES
The Interrupt Stack
ListGen warning!
Pixie and Sched update
Fidonews Page 2 22 Sep 1986
=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================
By: Brian Walsh
Sysop 109/640
COPYRIGHT VIOLATION
-------------------
MOVBASIC.COM,MOVBASIC.ARC
I have recently noticed a program called MOVBASIC.COM and I
also noticed that it was very similar to a piece of commercial
software that my company is currently beta testing. I then
downloaded the file MOVBASIC.ARC. When I unarced it and checked
it out I relized that it was the beta test version of our
package with the messages changed a bit. I then called all the
people that we had beta testing and asked them about it and I
found that one person had inadvertantly uploaded it to a RBBS-PC
system. I was given a copy of the message left to the sysop of
the Board after he relized what he did but couldn't "kill" the
file. I will list it below. (Names Changed for our security)
TO:SYSOP
FROM:John Doe
Subj:PAKBASIC
sysop,
Please delete the file PAKBASIC.COM From your
file listing and you hard disk as in it was
mistakenly uploaded and is a beta test version
of a commercial package that I am testing.
Thank You VERY much!
John Doe
The Sysop Did delete it but somewhere someone must have
gotten it before he could delete it.
The Only Thing I ask Is that All Fido Sysops PLEASE delete it
from your board and put in you files.bbs:
MOVBASIC.ARC NOT P.D. Commercial Software
I Thank You For This and Hope that you will call out BBS
Soon.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 3 22 Sep 1986
OUTER is here! A new program for the "O" command
There has been a program floating around for some time
now called OUTSIDE that was a "mini BBS" and could be
used in conjunction with the "O" command from FIDO's
main menu. The problem was that OUTSIDE was unreliable -
it would occasionally cause the system to hang up, and it
was hard to use. Upon contacting the author, I found out
the program was written in what he called "an antiquated
language" and he was not willing to release the source.
I realized it was time to re-write the whole thing. Jim
Fullton did most of the work, and I've been making fixes
and small improvements from the beginning. The program
is called OUTER, and we believe that it will soon replace
OUTSIDE.
From Grant Fengstad (134/0) Alberta Fido Coordinator:
DATE: 10 Sep 86 23:32:12
TO: Ron Bemis
SUB: Howdy
Hi Ron. I recently rec'd your Outer program and I must
say "Fantastic". I had used Outside previously, but your
program puts it to shame...
The comments are rolling in, and the program hasn't even
been released yet! Some of the advantages:
o Single keystroke execution of commands
o SysOp-selectable access by privilege level - no passwords
o Built-in watchdog timer/carrier detect monitor
o Control-C and Control-Break disabled
o Absolute security when used with IBMAUX
o Checks SCHED.BBS so a user can't "over-run" an event
o Displays "time left" each time a user sees the menu
o Easy to understand and set up command file for control
o Optional help and welcome messages may be displayed
o Complete accountability of user activity
The program can be downloaded from file area #5 on Fido
151/104 Nibbles and Bytes. A first-time user can download
it. C source code is available for "registered" users.
Oh, and for the folks that got the program before it was
released - we're now in version 1.15 and there are quite
a few goodies in the ARC that you probably don't have.
Ron Bemis
Fido 151/104
(919) 942-9267
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 4 22 Sep 1986
Clay Zahrobsky
FIDO 129/26 Sounding Board
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh Area BBS Picnic
Recently the Pittsburgh Area BBS SysOps got together and
organized the 1st BBS picnic for all FIDO users in the
area. Before the SysOps had SysOp picnics but they decided
to have one that involved everyone. A nearby picnic area
was chosen and directions and info was distributed
through out the net. Not being a SysOp (Hoping to be one
soon) I was excited about this type of gathering. I was
wondering about the people I would meet. Would they
meet my expectations that I have associated their
messages with their personality? Then the day came, and
to say the least I was not disappointed!!! It was very
interesting to meet all the people that I have typed to
and have had discussions (sometimes arguments) with.
Some met their type of messages and some even over
my expectations. All day people ate, drank, played and
of course talked SHOP. SysOps gave info on how to run
FIDO more efficiently and correctly. Some also brought
defective equipment to see if anyone could figure out
how to fix it. There was one Tandon Hard drive that even
Tandon would not want to fix.
I would advise all other nets and such to try to
organize something of this nature. All the users that
showed up did not go home disappointed. This is a great
way to get people closer together and to make new friends.
I can't wait for the next one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 5 22 Sep 1986
By Joaquim Homrighausen
Sysop at Future Hacker Central 501/4609
September 7th, 1986 at 3:49 am!
Hello all people out there. This should be an unusual place
to receive an article from. Here in Sweden, things are growing
rapidly, and as times goes by it gets colder. But what the heck
we're vikings right?! And we're born from a packet of ice with
a label on it telling wether it's a female or a male.
Let's get serious. The main reason for this article is to let
people (mainly FIDO sysops of course) listen to the voice from
this part of the foreign world. And don't worry, Tjernobyl has
not poluted these bytes in which this letter resides! But
anyway, I've just finished a "hot" dispute with my fellow sysop
(or co-sysop). And we've come up with some (from a "poor" guy
like me) interesting facts. Fido started all up as a Public
Domain and there weren't any problems opening a new BBS because
it was all free. Sure great, I can just download the CORE files
and then open a FIDO BBS of my own, and then eventually join
the net. Sounds good to me, except for the terrifying "news"
from the "good-old-US" (yes, I've been working at both Apple,
Commodore, and IBM in the United States of America, so I'm not
a total outsider) that Fido probably won't be "Public Domain"
anymore.
What's this (my co-sysop said BULLS??? about it), we're getting
greedy aren't we? OK, let's look at it from this angle. How
many hours do you think people have spent all over the world
creating new FIDO utilities to make life easier for users/sysops
of a FIDO BBS? Several (me included), and how many hours
compared to that do you think the developer(s) of FIDO have
spent? About a ten to one ratio would be very close. So let's
start charging all users/hosts and sysops all over the world so
we could get something in return for all the work we have put in
to it. THINK (yes with those gray things called cells)! WHY do
"we" have to start charging people for this GREAT service? Huh?
This is not IBM nor is it DEC, or IS IT? Since when did Public
Domain BBS go off the market? Well, I guess it started with a
program called FIDO, or something like it uh? This is really
a "John Cleese" (M.Python) classic. I mean BE SERIOUS.
Well, I'd like to have some FEEDBACK on this, my Net/Node number
was at the top of this article, so start typing. And to the
author(s) of FIDO I'd like to dedicate this last line. If a
machine isn't anything without good software what good is the
core of an apple without the "goodies" around it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 6 22 Sep 1986
Christopher Baker
Metro-Fire Fido, 135/14(0)
SEAdog, I Love It!
This is an unsolicited testimonial. I have no financial interest
in SEAdog or in S.E.A. I have never met Thom Henderson or any of
his S.E.A. cohorts. I am writing this to encourage other Sysops
to become SEAdog capable (XP:) and make their systems much more
flexible.
SEAdog is a stand-alone, E-Mail processing program. It sells, on
the open market, for $100.00. It is designed to provide a method
for corporate users to automate their message and file handling
between branches or offices during regular business hours or
after the offices close for the day. It allows corporate users
to get more value from their computer installations by making
them work nights when they might otherwise be idle.
SEAdog has an added benefit for Fido system operators. In
addition to its mail and file handling abilities, SEAdog can
invoke a BBS by setting a command line and executing a batch
file. When run in front of a Fido board, SEAdog becomes a 24
hour, mail handling system and allows your system to send or
receive mail at any time. With SEAdog on-line, you are no longer
restricted to the National FidoNet window for message or file
transfers.
The SEAdog package comes with several utility programs that
further enhance the operation. Included are two powerful file
handling utilities; GET and SEND. With these programs, it is
possible to send or request files to or from other SEAdogs at
any time. The MAIL program also allows you to request updates of
files you already have and the files will only be transferred if
the remote SEAdog has a NEWER version of the file than you do.
If you are in a hurry, you can send mail or make file transfers
immediately by invoking a CRASH event. The MAIL program is also
a sophisticated message editor that allows you to FORWARD
messages to other Nodes, operate under different Net/Node
numbers (useful for Hosts and private Net participants), print
messages, write messages to files, send 'Carbon Copies' of
messages to other Nodes while writing the message to one Node,
enter messages by entering the name of the person you are
sending it to while SEAdog adds the appropriate Net/Node number,
and many other features.
This Node has been operating under SEAdog 3.80 for several
months and the support from S.E.A. has been terrific, both by
telephone and by Net mail. I have had several weird problems in
fully implementing SEAdog due to my peculiar hardware and Thom
has been patient with my myriad questions and helped me at every
turn. I've also received a lot of help from the IBM HELP, SEADOG
HELP and MODEMS EAST HELP Nodes in resolving some of the more
arcane problems.
Fidonews Page 7 22 Sep 1986
SEAdog is available to Fido Sysops for the ridiculously low
price of $50.00. This is a special offer to Fido Sysops only.
SEAdog requires an IBM or compatible computer and a Hayes or
compatible modem. There is a DEC version in beta-test on 1/0,
even as I write.
I suggest you send for the program as soon as possible. You will
find it much more valuable than the fifty dollars it costs and
your system will be tied into the growing number of SEAdog
capable Nodes and become a 24 hour NetMail system. Your system's
efficiency and capabilities will be dramatically enhanced.
I love it. If you are into NetMail, you will too!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 8 22 Sep 1986
From: Mark J. Welch, Fido 161/459 [WelchNet, Berkeley, CA]
Shareware Authors: Under Attack
[Even if you skip the article, please read the request at the
end.-mjw]
I have just been notified that PC-SIG's attorney is sending
threatening letters to a number of firms engaged in the
business of selling disks that contain Shareware and public
domain programs.
For those who don't realize, PC-SIG is not a user group. It
is a profitable business, owned by an individual. It has a
rapidly-growing staff of paid employees, and is planning to
release a CD-ROM disk soon with its entire library on it. Its
main business is selling disks with MS-DOS Shareware and
public domain programs on them for $6 each.
I have not yet seen the letter, but was told it makes the
following demands:
a) The recipient firm must cease using the PC-SIG numbering
scheme. (Trivia question: where did PC-SIG get its
numbering scheme?)
b) The recipient firm may not include the PC-SIG disk summary
files on disks being resold or in their own catalogs. PC-
SIG is claiming copyright ownership of that text, despite
the lack of any copyright notice on the disk or file.
c) The recipient firm is ordered to put a notice in its
newsletter or other brochures advising all its customers
that it is not PC-SIG, does not represent PC-SIG, and
including PC-SIG's address and phone number.
Several firms, not having the financial resources to
investigate their legal options or resist this intimidation,
have complied with the first two demands, adopting new
numbering schemes and creating their own "disk summary"
files.
In my opinion, these letters are intended to intimidate
legitimate individuals and companies who wish to assist
Shareware authors and their customers, and who usually want
to make a few dollars from that enterprise. The immediate
effect is that several such companies have pulled GAGS and
other programs from their software libraries until they can
review the disks to create their own summary files.
In other words, fewer copies of GAGS are being sold, and PC-
SIG is thus attempting to monopolize the market for my
program (and others).
[This is not to say that all of the folks out there selling
Fidonews Page 9 22 Sep 1986
disks are good guys. Many are themselves selling GAGS
(and other programs) illegally, since they haven't requested
my permission to do so, as required in the documentation. But
at least one firm that properly asked for my permission was
later forced to pull the disk while he re-did the summary
file.]
I would like to gather as much information about all of this
as possible.
REQUEST:
I am trying to gather information on the facts and legal
issues surrounding all of this.
1) Please send me the names and addresses of any organization
(commercial or non-profit, user group, individual, or
business) which sells disks containing public domain and
Shareware programs.
2) Please let me know if you, as a Shareware author or
vendor, have been treated in an unexpected way by any
vendor or author. (In other words, have any authors been
screwed over, or vendors received threatening letters?
Also, has anyone been exceptionally nice to you?)
3) Please point me to any legal authorities, articles, or
such, which discuss the legal issues involved in
Shareware. Have there been any legal actions yet?
4) Please let me know of other authors who have placed a
price-per-disk restriction on PC-SIG's right to sell their
programs. (Their CD-ROM disk will sell for considerably
more than the $8 maximum I allow.)
PLEASE: Don't assume that "someone else" will provide me with
information you know about! Every little piece of information
will help! Thanks.
I will try to gather the information together and will
summarize the results in a future issue of FidoNews.
Mark J. Welch
P.O. Box 2409
San Francisco, CA 94126
(415) 845-2430 [voice: Berkeley CA]
Fido: 161/459 [private]
BIX: 'mwelch'
[Disclaimer no longer needed: as noted earlier, I no longer
work for InfoWorld or BYTE. I am now a law student and
freelance writer. -mjw]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 10 22 Sep 1986
Robert A. Rudolph
FIDO 109/628
Who Reads FidoNews out there?
A few weeks ago I wrote an article for FidoNews enthusiastically
praising a product I know and have come to love, DataCare. I did
this because I thought it to be a good, worthwhile product, and
had learned that not many people out there in FidoLand have ever
heard anything at all about it, good or bad. So I wrote this
article, and it appeard, and I looked at it, found a misspelled
word and asked myself, "If I read this, would it interest me?",
and myself replied "It sure would!".
The reason for the rhetorical question that is the title is that
the author of the product read the review (he probably got it off
my board, wlthough I am not sure) and left me mail thanking me
for my effort, as he had not known of my intentions to review
his product. HE liked the review. He also found the misspelled
that I thought nobody would find.
I ran into him at lunch today and asked "Have you had any feed-
back from that review?", expecting that he had been inundated
with inquiries as a consequence of having had his product re-
viewed in FidoNews. He responded that he had had ONE inquiry.
So I thought I would write this article soliciting FidoMail from
anyone reading it, just to see if the response I get is about
the same in quantity as the inquiry volume he got.
Please do not misunderstand - I look forward to each new issue
of FidoNews - I really enjoy reading them, and just made the
dumb assumption that everyone else did. With the number of
Fidos that we know about, the network connections, the number
of potential users and readers, FidoNews readership should be
eclipsed only by the readership of the Wall Street Journal.
I will continue to write articles to FidoNews as long as they
continue to be published. I would like to think they were being
read, but most folks who write would, as I do, write for their
own amusement only if there were no other audience. But I would
like to hear from folks out there in FidoLand, as to who reads
FidoNews, and what they seek in it.
We have a very powerful vehicle here for the dissemination of
ideas and information - an idea and medium that exists nowhere
else in the (known) universe - a totally unorganized network,
amorphous in topology, largely unmanaged, that actually works.
FidoNet sets historical precedent on a daily basis. With the
vehicle of FidoNews there is not any excuse for us not to be
informed about any issue that impacts our precious BBSes.
But two things are needed -
1. Someone's gotta write the stuff;
2. Someone ELSE has got to read it.
Fidonews Page 11 22 Sep 1986
is anybody out there???
s
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 12 22 Sep 1986
=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================
CLIMBING TREES
By Bill Ross
The only advantage to the study of history is that it might allow
us to learn from past mistakes. In this regard, MS-DOS is the
child of CP/M. Like most children though, it does things a
little differently than its parent. And in many cases, a little
better.
For some of us, one of the greatest irritants to CP/M is the
limitation of 64 floppy disk directory entries, even on a double
sided disk. If we keep copies of short correspondence, such as
letters, on a disk, we usually run out of directory space long
before we exhaust disk file storage capacity. MS-DOS is a little
better; a single sided disk provides 64 directory entries and a
double sided disk allows 112. The availability of hard disks
muddied the water. Although there was no longer a realistic
problem on directory space, they presented another problem: how
to keep track of so many directory entries.
For CP/M somebody, I'm not sure who, finally wrote LIBRARY, a
program that allows you to keep track of numerous files under one
directory space. And for hard disks, CP/M resorted to User
Areas. These are both good solutions, with only minor flaws.
LIBRARY is a program external to the operating system and User
Areas are awkward and still limited. MS-DOS utilizes a
combination of both ideas. Technically, it's called pathing but
most of us commonly refer to it as Trees.
The term trees comes from the fact that the main directory of a
disk under MS-DOS is, in fact, only the root of a potential
structure of inumerable subdirectories that spread out much like
the branches of a tree. Each directory space may be utilized to
build a completely isolated "user" area with as many files as
necessary to fill its particular needs. The advantages of such a
system are immediately apparent. We now can have as many "user"
areas as we are allowed directory entries on a disk (SS-64, DS-
112, or Hard Disks-512), and the size of the area is limited only
by the total capacity of the disk on which it resides.
As an illustration, let us suppose that we might wish to place
all MicroPro programs in one area utilizing a root directory name
of STAR. Each program would then be listed under the root as
follows:
WORDSTAR
DATASTAR
CALCSTAR
REPORTSTAR
These programs would not, in actuality, lie one under the other
Fidonews Page 13 22 Sep 1986
of course; each would be directly acccessible from the root as in
the following illustration:
STAR
WORDSTAR/ DATASTAR/ \CALCSTAR \REPORTSTAR
and the subfiles under these programs would reside in a similar
manner:
STAR
/ / \ \
WORDSTAR DATASTAR CALCSTAR REPORTSTAR
/ \ / \ / \ / \
WS.1 WS.2 DS.1 DS.2 CS.1 CS.2 RS.1 RS.2
The subfiles above might include any of the program files
required to make the named programs functional (i.e. WSMSG.OVR,
WINSTALL.COM, etc.) and were limited to two here just to
illustrate the tree like structure that pathing generates. For
those of you who fail to see any semblance of a tree, turn the
page upside down.
Pathing is accomplished with the aid of three internal MS-DOS
commands: MKDIR (MAKE DIRECTORY), CHDIR (CHANGE DIRECTORY), and
RMDIR (REMOVE DIRECTORY). More commonly used but fully
functional short forms for these commands are MD, CD, and RD.
They are relatively simple to use.
Let's generate the pathway directory structure of the previous
illustration. Utilizing MD we first generate the STAR
subdirectory listing in the disk root directory.
A>MD STAR(Return)
We can view the results by calling up the disk directory.
A>DIR(Return)
DOS shows the file STAR:
Volume in drive X has no label
Directory of X:\
STAR <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
1 File(s) 360448 bytes free
If we want to view the contents of a subdirectory we address
it specifically:
A>DIR STAR(Return)
Fidonews Page 14 22 Sep 1986
and will see the following:
Volume in drive X has no label
Directory of X:\star
. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
.. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15A
2 File(s) 360448 bytes free
Even though we just created this subdirectory, it would seem that
two files all ready exist in it. These <DIR> subdirectory file
entries are reference files only and are generated for the use of
the subdirectory functions. For the moment, note their presence
but don't worry about them.
We can, if we desire, now copy each of the programs we want into
the subdirectory, but in this case it would not be a good idea.
The reason for this is that each program is composed of multiple
files and, after we transfered them in, they would be listed
amongst the files of the other programs, as well as any working
files we might generate as we use them. Gad! how confusing. No,
the purpose of this system is to maintain order so let's go one
step further by generating additional subdirectories for each of
the programs to occupy. In this way, we can actually provide
each with its own private "user" area in which to reside and
work.
We do that in a similar manner in which we made the first one.
The primary difference is that these subdirectories will reside
at a lower level and we must use specific instructions to MS-DOS
so they will appear where we want them. In this case we want
them all to reside within the area commanded by STAR. In order
to place them there, we give the command:
A>MD \STAR\WS(Return)
This command instructs MS-DOS to (MD) Make a Directory (\) below
STAR (\) under the name WS. Since we still physically reside in
the Root Directory, we utilize these \ (reverse slash) marks to
show the PATH to the place in which the new subdirectory is to be
generated. We generate subdirectories for each of the other
programs by repeating this procedure with appropriate titles and,
to save space, will not repeat it here. and, if we perform a DIR
STAR, we will then see:
Volume in drive X has no label
Directory of X:\star
. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
.. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
WS <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
DS <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
CS <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
RS <DIR> 07-23-85 8:15a
6 File(s) 358304 bytes free
Fidonews Page 15 22 Sep 1986
Well now that we have this orderly layout of directories under
which to organize our programs, how do we get the programs in
them so that we can utilize them? We simply use the same
commands that we have always used, except that we add Path
directions. For the purposes of illustration, we will assume
that we have generated STAR on the Drive B. In order to copy our
WordStar program and its supporting files into the WS
subdirectory, place the disk with these files in Drive A and
issue the command:
A>COPY *.* B:\STAR\WS/V(Return)
and MS-DOS will echo each file as it copies and then state how
many files were copied.
We can check our work by requesting a directory listing of the WS
subdirectory. Using path directions we enter:
A>DIR B:\STAR\WS(Return)
and MS-DOS displays the following directory:
Volume in drive B has no label
Directory of B:\star\ws
. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:23a
.. <DIR> 07-23-85 8:23a
WS COM 21375 01-01-80 11:02a
WSOVLY1 OVR 41216 03-16-84 8:02a
WSMSGS OVR 29056 03-16-84 8:02a
5 File(s) 7726496 bytes free
And of course we repeat this procedure for each of the programs.
All right, now that we have everything where we want them, how do
we use them?
Up to now, we have done everything from the root directory. We
have generated subdirectories, copied files into them and
examined the directory listings without moving ourselves at any
time. This is all well and good for disk maintenance and the
like, but things become very awkward if we try to use
subpositioned programs from such a lofty position. To begin
with, program functions seldom recognize the path instructions
that would be necessary under such conditions. So, if the
mountain can't come to Mohammad, then Mohammad must go to the
mountain. Our magic carpet in this case is CHDIR or, more
simply, just CD.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 16 22 Sep 1986
William/Eunhee Hunter
Fido 109/626
Computer Industry Spotlight on:
COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION -- CSC is one of the world's
largest, most diversified information service companies. Clients
range from NASA to FORTUNE 500 companies around the world. CSC
experts are responsible for the analysis, design, and
implementation of large-scale communications and management
information systems for government and commercially based
clients. There are ongoing entry-level positions for programmers,
systems analysts, computer scientists, and customer service
representatives. There is also tuition reimbursement for
company-approved courses.
Contact: Corporate College Relations, Computer Sciences
Corporation, 650 N. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 17 22 Sep 1986
Jerry Hindle
123/6
In this article i will attempt to give you a synapse of the
features of FidoUtility version 1.10. This program was written by
Benn Mann and Marshall Presnell of Fido 151/10 and 151/2.
I found the first version of this amazing utility on the Region
18 coordinators system and after toying around with it for a few days
I decided to go ahead and send the message to the author (sneaky
wasn't he). I discovered that the first version used a hidden read-
only file as the key to testing for the message send prompt. He has
since changed this.
Ok on to the good stuff.
In version 1.10 he has implemented the following utilities:
Killsrvr Lastuser Twituser
Bounce Ricochet Killto
Killfrom Waittime Month
Userlist Wait Weekday
Killrobt Status Password
Setpriv Adopt Twix
Robot Sched
Although all of the programs reside in this utility, some are
limited in scope (and in my opinion, use). Marshell and Benn have
done an admirable job of implementing those that are there however
and they are to be commended for their efforts.
I will take the utilities one-at-a-time from the top of the
above list.
Killsrvr
--------
This will follow the fidomail message path and kill ALL messages
generated by server whether they have been sent or not. If you run
server on your system then you can run this as a scheduled event
after sending the messages to insure that the same message is not
sent twice. This program has limited application in that it is NOT
selective as to which server messages it kills. An improvement here
would be to add the ability to kill only those messages that have
been sent, or all messages, selectable by switchline command.
Lastuser
--------
This will tell you the name of the lastuser and print it to the
standard output device. While there may be a need to know this
information sometime I find no valid use for this program as all the
system operator need do it TYPE the "lastuser.bbs" file to see who
was the last one on the system. The authors do however make
provisions for generating an errorlevel if the lastuser on the system
matches a name entered on the command line. The only use I can think
Fidonews Page 18 22 Sep 1986
of for this would be remote triggering of a non-standard event by the
sysop by placing a call to the system. One could have the RUNBBS.BAT
file trap an errorlevel 2 and if the last user to call before a
specified time was in fact the sysop (or some other user specified on
the command line) then this errorlevel could trip a non- standard
event to run.
Twituser
--------
This is useful for those of us who like to "lurk" on our side of
the keyboard. I have occasion to have to RAPIDLY twit a user if they
are the type that likes to call right before midnight use up all
their time and log off at 23:59, only to call right back at 00:01 to
go to it again. This type person can be taught a QUICK lesson by
simply breaking out of Fido typing the command to TWIT him and re-
booting Fido. When the user calls back they are surprised to find
they can do little other then get off. The command line again
contains the name of the user (exactly as shown in the userlog) to
twit.
Bounce
------
This sends the message back to it's originator, why I don't
know. If a person sends a message to me that I do not care to get I
simply kill it when I read it. Why bother (not to mention the cost)
to send their own message back to them. I find this utility totally
useless, and will not go into any detail here on it.
Ricochet
--------
This one is GREAT. Kind of like call forwarding for messages!
The command line contains the net/node to forward to and if
applicable the name to send it to. If no name is specified then it is
sent as a message to ALL. The only flaw with this utility is that if
the message being forwarded is from out of town then the REPLY link
is broken since the from line in the header is changed to read
FIDOUTIL RICOCHET and the net/node number is changed to read your
net/node number instead of the original senders. I suggest the
authors change this to keep the original senders name and net/node
number.
Killto & Killfrom
-----------------
These utilities will kill any messages either to or from the
username specified on the command line. You must also specify the
area # to kill messages in. This is handy for cleaning up after a
user has gone berserk and left illegal (or profane) messages all over
your system. You simply kill them all with one fell swoop. I suggest
that the author make a switch to kill messages either to or from a
user in ALL areas at one time (very handy). I also suggest that you
TWITuser immediately after running this utility.
Fidonews Page 19 22 Sep 1986
Waittime & Wait
---------------
These two do just what the names imply. Waittime will stall a
batch file until a specified time and then resume execution, while
wait (if invoked without any switches) will wait till the next
minute. If Wait is invoked with a number after it (ie WAIT 15) then
it will stall that many seconds and then resume. This is nice for
those 1 minute events that actually take 15 or 20 seconds to execute,
thus keeping Fido from cycling thru the same thing over and over till
the next minute when the window closes.
Month
-----
Month if used in conjunction with the runbbs.bat file will
return an errorlevel based on the month of the year (ie 0 for January
and 8 for September...etc.). While this may be useful for certain
things, I have yet to find any of these to use this particular item
on.
Userlist
--------
This one is used to get a listing of certain information from
the userlog. It will list either:
Username, password, times called (command switch "/p")
Username, last date on, times called ( " "/d")
Username, Privilege level, times called ( " "/r")
Username, Fidomail credit, times called ( " "/$")
With no command line switches it will list the username, city,
and times called. Handy for a quick printout.
Weekday
-------
Like month this will return an errorlevel based on the day of
the week. I find this one more useful the month since I run different
things on different days at odd hours.
Killrobt
--------
This one acts like Killsrvr and kills any messages from ROBOT
found in the network message area. Again I suggest a switch to kill
only SENT messages.
Status
------
Probably the BEST status report layout and information content I
have ever seen! This utility is GREAT. The information it lists is
EVERY system?.bbs file you have showing the path for u/l and files
and messages and privilege, etc. It also list the info set with the 4
command (ie net/node # , alt net/node #, etc). It will also list out
Fidonews Page 20 22 Sep 1986
the schedule file showing all events you have whether enabled or
disabled. The whole program is worth it for this utility alone. I
forgot to mention it will also list out your route?.bbs files and
what they contain. A GREAT UTILITY guys !
Password
--------
This one as the name implies allows you to change a users
password. You invoke it with the NEW password and the username on the
command line, in that order. Handy for changing the sysop password
easily.
Setpriv
-------
This will allow you to change the privilege level of any user
from the command line. You use the first letter of the privilege and
the username to change. Handy for reversing Twituser.
Adopt
-----
Allows you to adopt those orphan messages for a retry at sending
them out. Simple straightforward and easy to use.
Twix
----
Works exactly like the free-standing utility. This will list to
the printer messages that are NEW. It is also able to list to the
screen.
Robot
-----
This is a limited use version of Thom famous automated file
transfer utility. The author of FidoUtil says it operates in the
interactive mode. I say it operates PERIOD. It does what it is
supposed to do when it is supposed to do it.
Sched
-----
This one allows you to change the scheduler from outside Fido.
While this is not a bad idea I think most of us dummies would like to
have a printout on the screen to look at while we make the changes
needed. As it is not you must either use the status to get a hard
copy printout and work from that, or go into Fido to make the
changes, or use some other utility. Suggestion here is to add a
switch to list the entire scheduler to the screen, then allow the
sysop to change as he needs.
There are a number of other things about FidoUtil that make it
nice. These are the savings in disk space as mentioned by the
authors, due to the smaller size of the file as opposed to the size
Fidonews Page 21 22 Sep 1986
of the combined utilities. Also this program has a config file that
takes the place of the config files of the other programs that make
use of one. This file is also smaller then the config files of the
rest combined.
The authors have gone to great trouble to put EXTENSIVE help
files into the setup for each utility involved with such info as the
syntax for the command line, what switches are available, and the
version number of the individual utility involved. They have also
done a good job on the documentation included in the ARC file of
their program. I commend them for a job well done. I also say that
they continue to do the job as they are making every effort to ad at
least one new utility a month to the package. Pretty soon we can use
one program to do it ALL.
The authors request that any bug reports be sent to Fido 151/10.
Although I haven't as yet found any I will pass this info along. The
latest version of FidoUtil is available from either 151/2 (the
authors system) or mine (123/6). Again I take my hat off to these two
men for an excellent job. (Benn and Marshall....I believe bows are in
order here gentlemen)
Jerry Hindle
123/6
(901)353-4563
300/1200/2400
24hrs 365 days
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 22 22 Sep 1986
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
Ellicott Software
Fido 109/628
DataCare, a PC Magazine choice in its recent review of hard
disk products, is available at a new low price - $49.95, down
from $129.95. This is the same product that has been favorably
reviewed. The price is for a limited time only.
This product is used by a number of Fido BBS's in net 109, and
has found favor with many people that are not SYSOPS in the
Baltimore - DC - Virginia area.
Three-week trials are available from any user of the product.
The review can be read in the PC magazine issue that had as its
emphasis EGA boards. A review has also appeared in FidoNews
Volume 3 Issue 29, written by the Sysop of Fido 109/628, the
Reindeer Shed in Reisterstown, who uses and loves the product.
DataCare is published by:
Ellicott Software, Inc.
3777 Plum Hill Court
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(301) 465-2690
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 23 22 Sep 1986
Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!!
Public Domain collection - 550+ "ARC" archives - 20+ megs of
software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size!
When unpacked, you get approximately 28 megabytes worth of
all kinds of software, from text editors to games to
unprotection schemes to communications programs, compilers,
interpreters, etc... Over 66 DS/DD diskettes!! This
collection is the result of more than 15 months of intensive
downloads from just about 150 or more BBS's and other
sources, all of which have been examined, indexed and
archived for your convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board
System? Want to add on to your software base without
spending thousands of dollars? This is the answer!!!
To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check,
postal money order or company purchase order) to:
Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 166/1
Post Office Box 4296
200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard
Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296
Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order.
Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain
software in this collection. The price is applied entirely
to the cost of downloading the software over the phone
lines, running a BBS to receive file submissions, and
inspecting, cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the
files. Obtaining this software yourself through the use of a
computer with a modem using commercial phone access would
cost you much more than what we charge for the service...
The following format choices are available:
- IBM PC-DOS Backup utility
- Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility
- DSBackup
- Fastback
- ACS INTRCPT 720k format (Requires a 1.2m floppy
drive and PC-DOS 3.2)
- Plain ol' files (add $50)
Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more
expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling
charges. California residents add 6% tax.
For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 24 22 Sep 1986
=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================
The Interrupt Stack
24 Aug 1989
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I.P.R. Echomail
( Interpersonal Relationships )
Are you interested in the discussing the moral,social,
and ethical issuses of our time? I have had quite a bit of
success offering such a message sig on my B.B.S. It has
encouraged a great deal of intelligent interaction. Have
several issues often passed through your board on today's
controversial subjects like Euthinasia, Divorce, Abortion,
public aide programs, Genetic Engineering Etc.? Well then
you may be interested in hooking your users into I.P.R.
National Echomail. This forum is assured to spur users to
engage in stating the various viewpoints in an interesting
fashion that will get all involved. It is an enjoyable sig
for everyone.
For information on how to hookup please Netmail a note to:
Randall Kobetich 150/130
Wilmington, Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The ListGen program, used to translate node lists into Fido-
usable form, currently has a limit of 1400 node list entries. As
of next week, the FidoNet node list will be too large for ListGen
to handle. You are advised to make other arrangements for
translating your node list.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I've recently received several notes from people who are
using old versions of these utilities. Because of this
I think an update notice is in order.
Fidonews Page 25 22 Sep 1986
Pixie's latest version is 1.31. This is much faster than
older versions and depending on the version you have may
have several new features, as well as a few bug fixes.
This will be the last major release in a while as major
changes are planned for Pixie.
The latest version of Sched is 5.0. This version allows
completely initialization of a file and specification of
the filename to work on. Both of these changes were made
to facilitate Sched's use with a stand-alone scheduler
which is currently on the back burner here at the Ark.
Both of these utilities may be File Requested or downloaded
from node 137/19. Pre-registration is required if you come
in person so send me a password first.
Wes Cowley
Ark Tangent
Fido/SEAdog 137/19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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