/==============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\==============================================/
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/============================\
/ T.A.G. Bulletin Board System \
< Copyright (C) 1986-1993 >
\ The T.A.G. Team /
\============================/
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
This release adds QWK support to T.A.G. internally. Additionally, several
new features have been added for functionality, along with the usual
compliment of minor bug fixes. To upgrade your T.A.G. version to 2.6f, you
should currently be running version 2.6d or later. For prior version
upgrades, use the conversion programs for each interim release.
/=================================\
< Highlights of T.A.G. version 2.6f >
\=================================/
* Internal QWK support
. Message Scanning/Packing . LOGON/LOGOFF Screens
. New Bulletins . New Files
. Netmail . Special QWK files
* Automatic New Message Scan at logon for all flagged message areas
* Auto Add to Batch Download with display screens
* Include files in String Files supported
* Documented SDR codes
* Minor bug fixes
/=================================================\
< Quick Start - For those that don't read the docs! >
\=================================================/
1. Backup your system! The conversion program will modify your
STATUS.DAT file and your MBOARDS.DAT file. Make sure these are
backed up at minimum.
2. Run the conversion program CONV26F from your Main T.A.G.
(status.dat) directory. The conversion program will prompt you
for all new fields required, including your message base QWK
conference numbers and QWK names (read the rest of the docs for
the details on QWK additions. (Multi-node systems: Run once in
each main T.A.G. directory, but only change the Message boards
once!)
3. Copy the two new .BAT files (TAGARC.BAT, TAGUNARC.BAT) to your
main BBS directory. (Multi-node systems, copy them several
times).
4. Copy the new default string files (TSTRDEF.TXT, MSTRDEF.TXT) to
your AFILES directory.
5. Compile your string files by running TAGSTR version 2.6f
(included) from your AFILES directory.
6. Replace your old TAG.EXE/TAG.OVR files with the new version.
7. Make sure your CONFIG.SYS file has at least 20 files allocated
(i.e. FILES=20). Reboot your system if you make changes to the
CONFIG.SYS
8. Start the BBS, log on, and add any new commands (see the docs) to
the message (or main) menu. You can also create a "QWK" menu, and
consolidate the various QWK related commands and options on a
single menu.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/=============================\
< New Pkey/Pdata Commands Added >
\=============================/
The following is a list of all PKEYS/PDATA added to T.A.G. version 2.6f.
Pkey Pdata Function
---- ----- --------
"D" "41" Toggles "Logon scans all flagged message areas for NEW
messages TO you" user flag. Message pointers are NOT
updated. This command should be used by users to toggle
whether a scan of all message areas is automatically
done at logon.
"D" "42" Toggles including new BULLETINS in QWK packets. If
toggled ON, new Bulletins are automatically included in
a users QWK packets.
"D" "43" Toggles including new FILES list in QWK packets. If
toggled ON, a new Files list will be generated and
included in the users QWK packet.
"N" "T" Scans all flagged message areas for NEW messages TO the
user. Message pointers are NOT updated. This is the
same function that is automatically done at logon if the
flag is ON for the user.
"%" "D" Download QWK packet. Scans and packs the flagged
message bases for the user (according to access and
system limits) and presents the file to the user for
download. Aborted downloads are preserved in the QWK
directory for subsequent downloading.
"%" "U" Upload QWK packet. Allows the user to upload the QWK
replies and posts from the user, and tosses to the
appropriate message areas as new posts, observing normal
T.A.G. security for posts.
"D" <FileName> [File Area Only] Auto Batch Download.
Automatically adds a list of files to the users
Batch Download queue.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/======================\
< New System Files Added >
\======================/
Filename Location Description
------------ -------- ------------------------------------------------
BULLET??.QWK AFILES Special QWK versions of Bulletin files. If they
exist, they will be included in the user's QWK
packet instead of the standard BULLET??.MSG/CLR
files.
LOGON.QWK AFILES Special QWK version of LOGON.MSG/CLR file. If it
exists, it will be included in the user's QWK
packet INSTEAD of the standard LOGON.MSG/CLR
files. Note: The additional (optional) LOGON*.MSG
or CLR files are NOT included in the QWK packets.
LOGOFF.QWK AFILES Special QWK version of LOGOFF.MSG/CLR file. If it
exists, it will be included in the user's QWK
packet INSTEAD of the standard LOGOFF.MSG/CLR
files. Note: The additional (optional) LOGOFF*.MSG
or CLR files are NOT included in the QWK packets.
TAGARC.BAT MAIN Batch file to pack QWK packets up for the user.
T.A.G. automatically shells to this batch file
after packing up a users messages. The parameters
passed to the batch file are:
%1 Archive Type to use: ZIP, ARJ, LZH, PAK and
ARC are the only currently recognized types.
%2 The name of the archive to create. Created
from the BBSID field in the system config.
%3 Path to the (temporary) directory where the
users QWK messages and control files are
stored.
TAGUNARC.BAT MAIN Batch file to unpack QWK packets uploaded by the
user. T.A.G. automatically shells to this batch
file after receiving an uploaded packet from the
user. The parameters passed to the batch file are:
%1 Archive Type to use: ZIP, ARJ, LZH, PAK and
ARC are the only currently recognized types.
%2 The path to the uploaded archive file. MUST
agree with the BBSID field in the system
config for the packet to be accepted by
T.A.G. for processing.
%3 Path to the (temporary) directory where the
uploaded packet will be extracted.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/=====================================\
< New System Configuration fields added >
\=====================================/
B. System Information and Directories
=====================================
Added "7. Board City, ST"
The City and State where your BBS is located. This field is included
as part of the CONTROL.DAT file sent to a QWK user.
Added "8. Board QWK ID"
This is the FILENAME (8 Char) that will be sent to the user when doing
a QWK Download. It is also imbedded into his CONTROL.DAT file sent
with the QWK packet, and it is checked on his Reply Packet.
Reply packets without this identifier will not be tossed (i.e., a user
can't download from one board, then upload the reply packet to another
system.
Added "G. QWK packet directory"
This is the "BASE" directory T.A.G. will use for QWK packets. For each
user, T.A.G. will create, under this "BASE" directory, a subdirectory
called "QWK####", where the #### is the (left zero padded) user
number.
T.A.G. will automatically create and clean up this subdirectory as
necessary.
/=============================\
< New Message Area Fields Added >
\=============================/
Message Board Editor
====================
Added "L. Qwk Info"
Conference=####
This is a *UNIQUE* number associated with the message area.
Once set, this conference number should NOT be changed. QWK uses
these conference numbers in REP (Reply) packets.
Setting the Conference number to ZERO means that the area WILL NOT BE
QWK SCANNED, in spite of user scan settings.
Name=<10 Character Conference Name>
This is the (short) name of the conference sent in the QWK packet.
This field is for the QWK users benefit only; T.A.G. makes no use of
it except to include it in the QWK packet. However, if the Name field
is NOT set, the area WILL NOT BE QWK SCANNED, in spite of any user
scan settings.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/==========================\
< QWK Netmail Kludge Support >
\==========================/
T.A.G. supports the Netmail kludge for QWK. If the 1st line of the QWK
message (in the netmail area) is TO: <Address> the message will be posted
Netmail with the usual TAG restrictions (Credit, valid address, etc.)
/===================\
< Auto Batch Download >
\===================/
Pkey: "D"
Pdata: <FileName> (8 Characters, No Extension)
The file area download command (Pkey "D") has been modified to also
accept Pdata. The pdata is an 8 character file name (no extension).
The file name (supplied in the Pdata) refers to two separate files,
both located in the AFILES directory. Both files must exist, or an
error message is sent to the user, and logged to the sysop log.
<FileName>.MSG/CLR This file is displayed to the user prior to adding
the files to the batch download queue.
<FileName>.TXT This is a list of files to add to the batch
download queue. The format of each line of the
file is:
<Absolute Pathname to File> [NR] [;Comment]
The ";" character is used for comments, these are for the sysops reference
only, they are never displayed to the user.
Each file is checked for existence prior to executing the command. If ANY
file does not exist, or any one of the files is illegal to download, the
command will fail with an error message to the user and a note in the sysop
log.
The (optional) "NR" indicates that there is "No Ratio" for the file.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/====================\
< String Files Updated >
\====================/
Several strings were added to the default string files (Most associated
with QWK). In particular, the Archive types for QWK packets are
programmable to a limited extent. You CANNOT add other archive types;
however, you can eliminate one or more of the archive types.
The following strings were added:
String Name Displayed to user when
------------------------------ ----------------------------------------
FILE_INTERIOR_UNKNOWN_OR_BAD Unable to determine archive type
MESSAGE_QWK_NO_NETMAIL_ADDRESS No TO: line in Netmail QWK message
MESSAGE_QWK_PENDING QWK packet from prior scan exists
MESSAGE_QWK_SCAN_HEADER Scanning/Packing QWK messages
MESSAGE_SCAN_NEW_TO_USER New scan all flagged bases
MESSAGE_SCANNING_ABORTED Aborted New message scan
In addition, T.A.G. now supports an INCLUDE directive in the string files.
The syntax is:
#INCLUDE <Path to file>
This feature makes imbeding of ANSI, etc. much cleaner, and permits the
files to be edited. NOTE: the included file is compiled into the *.DAT
files. Changing the include file requires re-compiling the string files to
take effect.
/===============\
< FILES= Required >
\===============/
Because of the method T.A.G. uses for QWK packing, the minimum recommended
number for FILES= in your CONFIG.SYS file is now 20.
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/=========\
< SDR codes >
\=========/
In the last release, several SDR codes were added but undocumented. Below
is a complete list of current SDR (User and System) SDR codes.
User Info: To obtain user info, use the code Ctrl-U (For User) followed by
a letter (case insensitive) indicating the particular information required.
The code letters used were chosen to match the current "user editor" codes
as nearly as possible.
A : Address B : Highest Baud C : City, State
D : DSL E : Special Flags F : AR Flags
G : Birthday H : Help Level I : Last DL Base
J : User Name K : Sysop Note L : Laston Date & Time
M : Mailbox Status N : First On Date O : Expiration date
P : Phone Q : Unused R : Real Name
S : Security Level T : Computer Type U : User's first name
V : Phone number 2 W : Unused X : Screen (Rows x Cols)
Y : Extra info * Z : Zip Code
1 : # of Downloads 2 : DL K-Bytes 3 : # of Uploads
4 : UL K-Bytes 5 : Number of Calls 6 : Total Time On
7 : Calls Today 8 : Time On Today 9 : Unused
# : User Number $ : Debit / Credit * : Time on (hh:mm:ss)
^ : Points @ : Time Bank % : Time left (minutes)
! : Time left (hh:mm:ss)
* The "Y" should be followed by a single letter:
A: Extra string 1 B: Extra string 2 C: Extra string 3
D: Extra date 1 E: Extra date 2 F: Extra number 1
G: Extra number 2 H: Extra number 3 I: Extra number 4
J: Extra character 1 K: Extra character 2 L: Extra character 3
M: Extra character 4 N: Extra phone number
System Info: To obtain system info, use the code Ctrl-S (For System)
followed by a letter (case insensitive) indicating the particular
information required.
A : AltPath B : BoardName C : LastCaller
D : Current date E : ErrorsToday F : Uboards.Name
G : GfilesPath H : NusersToday I : MailAddress
J : Current FB # K : Current FB NoCharge L : Unused
M : ActiveMB.Name N : CallerNum O : Current MB #
P : BoardPhone Q : Unused R : Current MB # ActMsgs
S : SysopName T : CurrentTime U : multiuserpath
V : TAGVersion W : MsgGroupMask X : NumberActiveUsers
Y : FileGroupMask Z : ChatPW
1 : MaxBdNum 2 : MaxBuNum 3 : UlKtoday
4 : DlKtoday 5 : CallsToday 6 : MsgPostToday
7 : EmailToday 8 : FbackToday 9 : UlToday
0 : DlToday # : MU Node Number % : PercentActive
! : Current Date/Time Extended Format
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6f New Features Documentation >
\===============================================/
/==========\
< Bugs Fixed >
\==========/
There has been the usual minor bug fixing, speling and gramer fixes, etc.
Here's a few that might be worth noting:
//TimeDate prompting twice for the date. *FIXED*
")" Pkey (New-New DOOR.SYS) worked, but returned a message after the shell
saying "Pkey inoperative". *FIXED*
The "StatusPath" command line parameter wasn't working. *FIXED*
"INTL" Kludge was not always added to Netmail messages, causing some
confusion with mail to other zones/networks. *FIXED*
Editing the system configuration "Temp DL Path" would prompt for "Current
Nodelist Directory". *FIXED*