JAMPACK.EXE - JAM Message Base packer for T.A.G. 2.7b
(c) Copyright 1994 by Mark McKay,
The Skeleton Closet BBS (Mark & Debbi McKay sysops),
1:275/138,139,140 (804-671-8547,804-499-5150,804-473-2217)
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Disclaimer/Legal Stuff ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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Although this program has been tested, this software has no warranty,
either expressed or implied. The use of this software is at the user's own
risk. Mark McKay shall in no way be responsible for any special, incidental,
consequential or other damages resulting from the use and/or misuse of this
software. Every effort has been made to test this software and its
documentation for possible errors, but no guarantee to that effect is made.
This program must be distributed AS IS in it's original archive. This
program may not be distributed as part of any other software package without
the expressed written consent of the author, Mark McKay. It may not be
altered or reverse engineered in any way, shape or manner.
The usual I don't promise it will do anything and if it messes up/you mess
it up, you own the pieces. If you use it, you alone are liable for the
results.
There are no promises either expressed or implied of updates to this
program.
JAM(mbp) - Copyright 1993 Joaquim Homrighausen, Andrew Milner,
Mats Birch, Mats Wallin.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Why even have JAMPACK? ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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Because as of November 19, 1994 there are no real working JAM message base
packers for any BBS that I can find. MBButil and RemoteAccess's RAMSG
programs claim to work, but don't do as advertised on my system anyway.
Also you only have to run JAMPACK once, not with a PURGE then PACK
parameter.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Quick Notes ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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1. JAMPACK has no prompts and is intended to be run from a batch file
unattended. I made it colorful because I can't stand plain dull
grey and subconsciously you think the program runs better if it
looks slicker.
2. JAMPACK creates JAMPACK.LOG to tell you what it did. Keep an eye on
the size of this file. It gets big quickly.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Setup ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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These docs are really short, but hopefully not that complex. This program
is intended to be simple to setup. All you do is the following:
1. Unzip JAMPACK4.ZIP into your DATAFILES DIRECTORY, the directory where
your MBOARDS.DAT is located.
2. Copy MBOARDS.DAT to MBOARDS.BAK. (If you don't JAMPACK will for you).
3. Run MBEDIT.EXE and edit the number of days per area and Max messages
to keep in each area.
4. JAMPACK must be run with either
a. the -D commandline parameter for packing by age of messages
or
b. the -M commandline parameter for packing by number of messages.
If you are more concerned with speed than space on your system run
JAMPACK in -M mode. If has lots less checking to do than when in
-D mode.
Examples:
1. Number of Days
JAMPACK -D
This example will kill all messages not received in the number of days
configured for each area in the MBOARDS.BAK you choose when you ran
MBEDIT.
2. Number of Messages
JAMPACK -M
This example will pack the area if there are more messages in it than
the number you have configured for each area in the MBOARDS.BAK you
choose when you ran MBEDIT.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ What does this thing do? ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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JAMPACK is a JAM message base packer written exclusively for T.A.G. BBS
sysops. It does the following:
1. Looks for your MBOARDS.BAK in the same directory as JAMPACK.EXE.
2. It opens MBOARDS.BAK and reads it area by area.
3. If the area is a JAM style base it does the following.
a. Checks the temporary directory it will make and kills any preexisting
JAM files. (we don't want to add to an existing one, it defeats the
whole purpose of JAMPACK).
b. It checks for enough free space to make a new base (the size of
the current area JAM files + 20K).
c. If there is enough space free, JAMPACK creates a temporary directory
off of the jam directory for the current area named JAMPCK. If there
is not enough disk space for THAT area or there are no JAM files
JAMPACK skips the area. If you are short on diskspace larger areas
may be skipped but smaller ones packed.
d. By popular demand, if you use -M mode, JAMPACK now counts the messages
in the JAM base. If this number is greater than the MaxMsgs for the
area in MBOARDS.BAK then the starting point is calculated as the high
message number minus the MaxMsgs in the MBOARDS.BAK. If for
some reason this number is less than one or one then the area will
be skipped. Then JAMPACK reads the JAM messages one by one, (from the
start point calculated above) and if the message isn't marked as
deleted then it is rewritten to the JAM Base in the new directory.
Lastread pointers are updated as necessary. If you have deleted
messages you will end up with less than the maximum number.
e. If you ran JAMPACK in -D mode, then JAMPACK reads the JAM messages one
by one. If the message date is newer or equal to (the date the message
was received) the number of days specified in the MBOARDS.BAK and not
marked as deleted then it is rewritten to the JAM Base in the new
directory. Lastread pointers are updated as necessary.
d. Once the area is done the original JAM files are deleted and the
new JAM files are renamed to the same as the old. (It's faster
than copying then deleting them and they're on the same drive
anyway.)
4. The process is continued until the end of your MBOARDS.BAK is
reached.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Command Line Parameters ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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There's one and it's required: Which mode to run JAMPACK in, -D or -M.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Registration ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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JAMPACK is not now, has never been and will never be "FREE" software.
JAMPACK is provided as "Shareware" for those T.A.G. BBS sysops looking
for a JAM Message base packer for T.A.G. BBS.
If you honestly plan on registering the program within 14 days if you
find it useful, then feel free to test it out to see if it meets your
needs. If you have no intention of ever registering it, then don't
even bother running it.
You "should" be able to tell within a few days if the program is "what
you have been looking for". It you have not registered the program
within 14 days of setting it up you must remove it from your system.
Registration is for the version of the program that you tested. There
are no guarantees either expressed or implied of any updates to the
program or addition of any "new features" if you register. You are
registering it "as is". When you do register you are entitled to use
all future versions of "this" program as a "registered user" should
there be any.
Pricing as of 19 November 1994 :
Number of Regs "Proper Amount"
-------------- ---------------
1-2 $10.00 each
3-10 $8.00 each
11-20 $5.00 each
20+ $2.50 each
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This means that if you and two other TAG sysops in your area want to
register JAMPACK together you'll each save $2 on the registration.
These rates apply only if it is in the same envelope. It doesn't mean
that if "Joe down the Street" and "Sally next door" registered a month
ago that you get yours for $8. It means that if you, "Joe" and "Sally"
get together and send $24 with the proper info you will each be
registered.
If you send less than "the proper amount", you will get the amount you
sent minus the cost of a stamp, envelope and a money order provided it
covers such. Plain and simple. Amounts in excess of "the proper amount"
are cheerfully accepted and considered "donations".
All registrations must be in US funds. If you live outside of the US
you must send a money order drawn on US funds. For example a personal
check from Canada is worthless paper. Most Canadian banks will give
you a money order drawn on US funds with little to no hassle.
If you run a multi line system you only need to register one copy.
With the payment include the following information:
Sysop name from your "System configuration" (case sensitive), ie if your
real name is "Anthrax Buttsnorkler" but the name you give on the BBS is
"John Doe" then you need to supply the name "John Doe". If you use the
name "FuNkY sPeLlEr" then give it as "FuNkY sPeLlEr".
Sysop name from TAG config :______________________
Fidonet Node Number (if in Fidonet) :______________________
BBS Phone Number :______________________
Send the JAMPACK registration fee (money order preferred) to
Mark McKay
PO Box 68063
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
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│▓▓▓▓▓ History ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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1.00 - September 4, 1994 - Initial release
1.01 - September 5, 1994 - Cosmetic changes
Added updating lastread pointers (oops)
1.10 - September 7, 1994 - Wrote MBEDIT (never released)
1.20 - September 9, 1994 - Rewrote MBEDIT and JAMPACK to use MBOARDS.BAK
instead of MBOARDS.DAT.
JAMPACK now reads MBOARDS.BAK for number of days
in each area and can keep seperate numbers of
days messages in each area.
Now reads areas one by one and closes the MBOARDS
file instead of leaving it open the entire time.
2.00 - November 19, 1994 - Added packing by number of messages.
Changed JAMPACK to use -D mode or -M mode.
2.02 - November 30, 1994 - Fixed bug in v2.00 that only gave you usage
screen no matter what you did.
Updated MBEDIT to show days and number of msgs
on main list
2.03 - December 2, 1994 - Minor changes, never released.
2.04 - Decmeber 4, 1994 - Major rewrite of JAMPACK, "should" fix any
problems with previous versions.
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│▓▓▓▓▓ Known Problems ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓│
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None as of v2.05
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