============================================================================
TAGTOOLS
TAG tools for SilverXpress Version 300H1
HMS Style Message Bases
(TAG Copyright Robert Numerick, and Victor Capton)
(SilverXpress(tm) CopyRight Santronics Software)
(QuickBBS(tm) Copyright Pegasus Software)
Special Thanks to The TAG team (Victor Capton, Paul Williams and Randy
Goebel) For making the need structures readily available and to Hector
Santos (author of SilverXpress) for passing on the information I need
to make TAG integrate more readily with his Excellent SilverXpress
mail Door.
============================================================================
- Included files
TAG2XPR.EXE - Creates the necessary QuickBBS system files that
Xpress 300H1 expects to find during setup.
QUICKCFG.DAT
MSGCFG .DAT
FILESCFG.DAT
LIMITS .CTL
TAG2EI.EXE - Creates the drop files XPress 300H1 expects to find
when the door executes.
EXITINFO.BBS
ALIAS .BBS
PREINST.BAT - Replacement for the PREINST.BAT file that is included
with the Xpress 300H1 door package.
- Obligatory Denial of responsibility
The author if the enclosed utility programs assumes no liability for
any adverse consequences caused by executing the enclosed files. If
you don't want to accept the responsibility then do not use the
programs. Adverse consequences include but are not limited to:
o Loss of data
o Breach of security
o Pregnancy
o Body oder
o Instigating World WAR
- Purpose
The purpose of these utilities to to make integration of the popular,
powerful, and convenient offline mail door, SilverXpress, easier to
install and more seamlessly integrated to the TAG BBS systems using
version 2.6 or higher. If you are running TAG and using the Hudson
(referenced in these docs as HMS) message base system then these
programs allow you to port your system and security setups to a format
understood by the Xpress mail door.
As always these utilities are freely available and can be distributed
as long as they are not modified in any matter. Even though they have
been released as freeware the copyrights and ownership remain with
Rick Cooper and Simple Minds Software.
- Using the TAGTOOLS
I. Installation of the Xpress 300H1 door
The first step in setting up the door with TAG is to create the
main Xpress door directory.. For the sake of these docs it will
be assumed that the following directories exist (your own names
will probably be different).
C:\BBS - Directory where STATUS.DAT resides
C:\HUDSON - Path to your Hudson message base directory
C:\XPRESS - Path where the Xpress mail door EXE resides
If you run two bases (one local one echo) or more
C:\XPRESS\TYPE1 - Echo area data files
C:\XPRESS\TYPE2 - Local area Data files
after creating the XPRESS directory unarchive the Xpress archive
file (SX300H1.ZIP is the original archive) into this newly
created directory. Now unarchive the XPTOOLS.ZIP file into the
new Xpress directory as well.. they MUST be unarchived in this
order as It's critical that you over-write the PREINSTAL.BAT
file that comes with the Xpress archive.
-= DO not unarchive the nested ZIP files you will find in the
Xpress archive.. Xpress will handle this and the creation of the
support file directories it's self. =-
Now type INSTALL.. Xpress will do some maintenance and look for
old version file that it needs to remove. Next you will be
prompted for the directory name where your STATUS.DAT file
resides... And after that a path to your hudson message base.
For those of you wondering why I don't take it directly from TAG
it's simple.. You may have more than one and Xpress doesn't
support more than one.. nor does anyone else at this time except
for TAG (as you have probably already found out.).. So for now
enter "A" path to (one of) your HMS base directory(s)
You will, at this time, see the TAG2XPR utility progress as it
created the QBBS data files Xpress will need in a few moments.
This will happen quite fast. Once complete you will return to
the Xpress installation program.. When you come to the
installation paths section MAKE SURE and change the default
directory for Xpress to install TO .. it needs to be the same as
the directory above it.
Xpress will now unpack and position all of the related files and
screens.. it takes a bit of time.. and then will ask you if your
wish to continue the quick installation.. of course you should
answer YES. (if something should go wrong rerun the complete
installation process please)
Answer the questions you will be asked and when you are prompted
for the location of QUICKCFG.DAT type in the name of the Xpress
directory (the current directory you are in)
You are now basically Done! only a bit of specific information
will have to be entered.
============================================================================
-=[ Important NOTE ]=-
At any field within XPADM press F1 for context sensitive help if
you don't know for sure what is meant.
============================================================================
II. Final setup
You should now type XPADM at the dos prompt and set the areas
listed below to your own preferences.
Register - If you are registered enter your
registration code now
Net/Echo Mail - Set the security options the way you
wish them.. I defaulted all of them to
10 so make sure these are set. Also
specifically the ^AINTL flag as to how
your mailer expects it, your
preference to the DUMP and unknown
netmail costs options.
BBS Information - If you have a Co-Sysop you may want to
enter their name in the assistant
Sysop name field.. The rest should be
correct.
Node Specifics - Set any of these options they way they
need to be depending upon how you
plan to use Xpress.
Transfer Prots - Modify as needed.. Xpress Does allow
for Bi-Directional protocols BTW.
If you run a lock comport (Xpress will
all ready have the information)
modify the protocols to accommodate
this by adding /LB %lb to the default
protocols..
Archive Options - Xpress's defaults included ARJ, ARC, LZH,
PAK, ZOO.. but if you need something
else included it here (make sure you
comment out the archive types you do
not support)
Bulletins - Up to you.. Remember you can use the
instant display .BSV files created by
THEDRAW.
FIle Scan - All of your file areas will be
selected for scanning and your
security (S/L AR flags) will be
respected BUT you may deselect and
areas you don't want Xpress to scan.
-=NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE=-
Xpress will be looking for a current
FILES.BBS file in the directory to be
scanned so make sure you use one of
the many utilities out these designed to
create a QBBS format FILES.BBS form
the TAG .DIR file before putting
Xpress online.
LAN information - Do what you need.. the defaults are
for no LAN
Xpress Options - Set these to your own preferences..
they set Xpress specific parameters
and preferences.
Local Options - Again it's your system and preferences
all this only takes a couple of minuets and and is really quite
painless.
III. Later modifications to your setup
If you modify your setup at a later date simply run the
TAG2XPR.EXE program again and then run XPADM -U.. all the
information (system, message, file, and security) will be
updated.
V. Running the door
Running the door is simple. Create a menu command with:
PKEY : <
PDATA : @ XPRESS.BAT
or
PKEY : <
PDATA : @ XPRESS#.BAT : For Echo
PKEY : <
PDATA : XPRESS#.BAT : For Local
The # refers to a designator to differentiate multiple batch
files for multiple HMS systems as you will see in a moment.
If you have more than one hudson base you should create more
than one Xpress data files (move them into sub directories below
Xpress as you create each one) and store them as follows
Xpress ----------+
|
|
+--- TYPE1
| +----- *.DAT
| +----- *.PRM
| +----- *.CTL
| +----- XPUSER.*
+--- TYPE2
| +----- *.DAT
| +----- XPMAIL.PRM
| +----- *.CTL
| +----- XPUSER.*
You will have to copy the files into the directories and rerun
TAG2XPR and XPADM -U for each different hudson directory. This is
of course because *only* TAG allows for multiple HMS bases at this
time.. Typically there will only be two separate bases one for
echo and one for local mail.. You will have to setup TWO
different Xpress menu options one for echo and one for local
messages.. any more than two bases is ridiculous unless you have
more than 400 message bases running. (personally I recommend only
one HMS base to maintain compatibility for the proliferation of
QBBS/RA utilities).
=======================[ Single Base Setup ]=====================================================
For Single base setup:
XPRESS.BAT
@Echo Off
TAG2EI %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 C:\XPRESS C:\BBS
CD\XPRESS
XPMAIL -A%2
CD\BBS
That is it. The C:\XPRESS refers to the path to SilverXpress
Files and the C:\BBS refers to the path to your STATUS.DAT file.
=======================[ Multiple Base Setup ]=====================================================
For Dual base setup:
XPRESSE.BAT
@Echo Off
TAG2EI %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 C:\XPRESS C:\BBS
CD\XPRESS
Copy TYPE1\*.*
XPMAIL -A%2
COPY *.DAT TYPE1
COPY *.CTL TYPE1
COPY XPUSER.* TYPE1
CD\BBS
XPRESSL.BAT
@Echo Off
TAG2EI %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 C:\XPRESS C:\BBS
CD\XPRESS
Copy TYPE2\*.*
XPMAIL -A%2
COPY *.DAT TYPE2
COPY *.CTL TYPE2
COPY XPUSER.* TYPE2
CD\BBS
That is it. The C:\XPRESS refers to the path to SilverXpress
Files and the C:\BBS refers to the path to your STATUS.DAT file.
The data files you copy allow you to keep the users seperate and
not have to call Xpress with the "*" option for the local bases..
this is highly recommended.
===================================================================================================
That about does it.. Again I would HIGHLY recommend setting your system
up with single HMS bases unless the 200 message area of the format is a
problem.. you will simplify your life and make your self available for a
wide range of offline editors,and utilities.
Oh.. incase you wondered about the lack of netmail discussion.. it's
because TAG doesn't presently support a HMS style Netmail base.. Oh well
great things take time.. like a fine wine TAG only gets better.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
)-=[ Bug List/Fix List ]=-(
-09/10/92
Known problem with user aliasing.. Xpress doesn't appear to be
reading the ALIAS.BBS File for some reason. Hector hasn't gotten
back to me as to why.
Known bug with passing user time through the EXITINFO.BBS file..
Hector is looking into the problem at this time
Rick's stupid
Original DOCS confused the %2 time left parameter with the %3
user number parameter.. It read "-A%3" rather than the correct
"-A%2"... Ack!