####.............. ..... ............ ######### ###.############# ..#####. .############.. ######### ###.# -######## .#######. .# -##########. ######### ###.# -######## .## -###. .# -############. ########### ##.#-######## .## ####### .#-#############. ########### .########## .# -####### .######...#######. ########### ##### ##### #### ####....##### .##-#####... .######. .######. ############# ################## ##### .##### .#######. .######. .#-####. ###### ###### ################### ##### .##### .######. .######...## ####. ###### ###### ################### ##### .##### .######. .#########- -###. ####### ####### ##### ##### ##### ##### .##### .######. .########- #####. ###### ###### ##### ##### ##### ##### .##### .######. .##############. ###### ###### ##### ##### ##### ##### .##### .#######. .############.. ################# ##### ##### ##### ##### .##### .########... .######...... ################# ##### ##### ##### ##### .###### .########## .######. ################# ##### ##### ##### ##### .###### .########## .######. ################# ##### ##### ##### ##### .######. .########. .######. ###### ###### ##### ##### ##### ##### .######. .#######. .######. ###### ###### ##### ##### ##### ##### .######. ..#####. .######. ...... ...... ...... # # # # # # # # ### # # ## ### # ## ###### # # # ## # # # ## ##### # # ##### # # # ##### # ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ### # # ## ### # # # - Version 1.14 20.VII.95 - By Ben Vost This is just a little gizmo to work with the Demon AmiTCP installation. It possibly won't cope with any other AmiTCP setup but you can try. To start with it needs a script called "startnet" in Amitcp:bin/. You can set the tooltypes to reflect the programs you want to use for linking, ftp, mail, news, etc. It was written using a mixture of CanDo 2.0 and 3.0 and requires the supplied cando.library (in libs:). Unfortunately, any errors in location or setup just result in the program not running at all, with no explanation for what went wrong. Make sure that you have Rexxc in your path, or copy the "RX" program from Rexxc into C:. Requirements ------------ As far as I know it should run on any Amiga with an AmiTCP installation (and possibly a Demon account :)). I have tested on an Amiga 3000 and 3000T running WB3.1 and also an A4000/040 running WB3.0. I don't think that there is a reason why it shouldn't run on an earlier operating system, but you do need ARexx. To use the GetNews button you must have the script "NNTPTransfer" in AmiTCP:bin. The provided nntptransfer script has a couple of alterations to the one provided by DIS, namely paths for all the commands and an automatic retry if News is busy (thanks Tez (Tez@tezboyes.demon.co.uk)). Installation ------------ This part's really tricky so pay attention. Copy AmiTCPHelper anywhere you like. :) (Seriously, do check that the tooltypes agree with your set up and that the supplied nntptransfer script is in AmiTCP:bin. You might also want to put AmiTCPHelper in your Downloads: directory as I don't seem to be able to set a default directory for FTPing at the moment. You can always "Leave Out" the icon for AmiTCPHelper if you are worried about starting it.) Buttons ------- The buttons do what they say they do. If you have entered NONE for some of the tooltypes then the relevant button will be disabled in AmiTCPHelper. The Mail button changed in version 1.07 to account for multiple mailboxes. The problem with the unfriendly mailboxes has been sorted out in version 1.11 (thanks to Ben Scott) and now the mailbox names are presented in the requester's button as they should be. Ping, Finger, Clock & Telnet ---------------------------- Just type in the name of whomever you want to ping or finger and hit return. Clock works the same way and will save the resulting time. AmiTCPHelper will pop up a window with the relevant details. I have finally added Telnet to AmiTCPHelper, it's not that it was difficult to do, it's just that I never use it, so I didn't put it in. But then again, I hardly ever use Gopher, but I put that in, so there you go :þ Telnet works the same way that all the other field-based tools in AmiTCPHelper do, just type in where you want to go. You can include the port name as well. Newsgroups ---------- This window will list any newsgroup configs you have. You can double-click on an entry to make it the current "NewsGroups" file. Newsgroup files should be named "newsgroups.what_you_like" and put in where newsroups normally go, your Amitcp:usr/lib directory. This is where AmiTCPHelper will look for them. You might want to make a newsgroups.std list containing your standard config so that you can have a variety of newsgroup setup but still be able to return to your normal newsgroups when you need to. Tooltypes and their meanings: ----------------------------- If you enter NONE for the tooltypes for FTP, Mail, Gopher, WWW, IRC or HList, then AmiTCPHelper will disable the appropriate button. (HList doesn't have a button but it won't be looked for when a web browser is loaded.) WindowX Gives the final x position of the AmiTCP helper on the screen. WindowY Gives the final y position of the AmiTCP helper on the screen. DONOTWAIT Standard commodity stuff if you want AmiTCPHelper in your WBStartup drawer. FTP Put the path and name of your favourite FTP tool here. Possibilities would include "AmiTCP:bin/mftp" or "Comms:AmiTCP/ftp", etc. (No quotes are needed). I have tested it with both of these and ncftp. Mail As for FTP. It has been tested with Elm. It doesn't work with Mail since v1.07, but I forgot to change the docs to reflect this, so sue me :) WWW As for FTP. Well, it's been tested with AMosaic, but if there is a secret Netscape clone for the Amiga that I could test it with, will someone PLEASE let me know? :) Gopher As for FTP. Tested with Graham's AmigaGuide-based Gopher. AmiTCPhome This is the home directory for AmiTCP. Make sure you include trailing "/" or ":", ie. "Data:AmiTCP/". Editor This is the editor you will run when editing your config in the menus. Put the complete path and name of the program. To be able to edit the files it says it can they have to be in the AmiTCP:db and AmiTCP:usr/lib directories. Tested with TurboText and one of my users says it also works with GoldEd. Link This is your *ARexx* link script. AmiTCPHelper automatically looks for this script in your AmiTCPHome bin directory. Tested with "Link" and phil's (phil@curve.demon.co.uk) "PLink". LinkOpts The options for linking up. You should at least give "up" as an option, but you can also put "up news" or any other commands that your link script supports. HList As for FTP. This is the Hotlist program for Mosaic. There is only one as far as I know and it becomes slightly obsolete now that AMosaic 2 (1.4ß) is available although I still prefer it to the built-in hotlist. Ping As for FTP. This is your Ping command. Finger As for FTP. This is the command you should use for finger (oo-err). Clock As for FTP. This is the clock command you are going to use. So far I have only tested it with Syncro. IRC As for FTP. Enter the name of your IRC client. Remember to include the path. Tested with Grapevine. Telnet Your telnet application. It works with Telnet_VGOODER from Demon and should work with most if not all of the others. Startnet This tooltype determines whether you want the startnet script executed by AmiTCPHelper or in your user-startup. Enter yes for yes and no for no (quel surprise!). WinSize WinSize sets the size for the output window that AmiTCPHelper produces. It should consist of four numbers separated by /. For instance:- 0/0/400/200. This will open the window in the top left hand corner of the screen which will be 400 pixels wide and 200 pixels high. Menus: ------ Project Menu About This shows you what version of AmiTCPHelper you are running and my name and email address. If you register this is where your personalisation will appear. About CanDo This gives some information about CanDo v3. Quit Surprisingly enough, this actually quits out of AmiTCPHelper. Edit Menu Aliases Hmm, God knows what this does... Config This lets you edit your AmiTCP:usr/lib/config file. I'm not really sure if this is any use at all... DialScript Lets you edit that dialscript... NewsGroups Surprise, surpise, surprise... This lets you edit your newsgroups. Remember kiddies, the number after the newsgroup is how many days to keep news for before it gets trimmed. NewsStamp Lets you edit the newsstamp so you aren't on the blower downloading all night... :) Startnet Lets you edit the startnet script. Changes made will obviously not work until you re-run the startnet script. .signature Duh, not sure really... To Do List: ----------- Sort out the default directory for downloading. Amigaguide documentation. (Like it really needs it! :) ) Add a newsgroups editor that grabs the new newsgroups list from nntptransfer, and also lets you browse an "active" list. Done! It's a separate program called GroupEditor, downloadable from an Aminet site near you (comm/tcp). Not sure of anything else, really. Any suggestions? How many people would object if I switched back to eight colour buttons, à la MUI? I don't really want to put in a four colour page and an eight colour page as this will double up the size of the executable and mean extra work for me if anything needs changing. Legal Stuff: ------------ Disclaimer ========== THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. AmiTCPHelper is not Public Domain and is © Ben Vost 1995. If you register with me for £10, I will ensure that you receive all upgrades, until further notice, via EMail automatically. I can also configure AmiTCPHelper to your tastes, changing the Ping, Finger, Telnet and Clock default addresses, things like that. I can also reinstate the much nicer eight-colour buttons. If you do not have an EMail facility, I'm not sure what I will do (and why are you using my program?!), but contact me at the following address: EMail: Ben@subway.demon.co.uk SMail: Ben Vost 124 Bank Street Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 7AR Tel: 01625 730741 History ------- v1.14 There was no version 1.13 but only because I don't like to tempt fate :) v1.14 sees the addition of the Mailqueue clone to the AmiTCPHelper window. At the moment this checks uuspool: every five seconds to see if there is new mail or if mail has been sent. It creates a text file in T: called SpoolList, so if you find your DOpus constantly rereading T: that is the reason. Changed the About menu item back to the standard one, the one in v1.12 was only for registered users. Rewrote some of the documentation to stop it seeming so dated. Changed the way the mailboxes were checked and now the requester will change dynamically if mailboxes are deleted. In previous versions you had to restart AmiTCPHelper to see any changes. The names in the requester are also now in alphabetical order. Internal simplification. I got rid of a couple of tooltypes that didn't do anything along with their mentions in the scripts. v1.12 Yet another rejig of the buttons as the Prefs and Read News buttons have been removed. Not sure if I like the new layout so it might get changed yet again... I've added a DOSNotify event to check to see if a new mailbox has been added when mail is received. Previously, the only time AmiTCPHelper checked for the names of the mailboxes was at startup. One internal change with regard to how registered owners are dealt with... Dumped the Prefs page as being beyond my capabilities and also a bit pointless. v1.11 Changed the nasty mailbox requester to something a bit more standard. Removed the Newsgroups backup option at startup. Added a tooltype to allow AmiTCPHelper's output window to be sized and positioned where desired. v1.10 Added Telnet support (for completeness sake). Added a new eight-colour (and four-colour) icon that freely plagiarises the Xen style :) More internal wrangling going on for the prefs page which should be complete soon (maybe v1.12). Added Startnet tooltype. v1.09 Added startnet script editing in the Edit menu. Added IRC and Prefs buttons to the interface which has been jiggled to fit the new buttons in without requiring more space. The Prefs button doesn't work at the mo, but will eventually let you edit TCP-related ENV variables and the co-ordinates and size of the windows that AmiTCPHelper opens amongst other things. v1.08 The Get News button now works! Hurrah! v1.07 Changes made to the way Mail is dealt implemented in this version. v1.06 General tidying up. Internal changes to the way mail is dealt with. v1.051 Changed the buttons to four colour ones for the Amiga Computing Cover disk. v1.05 Made Mail detach when run from AmiTCPHelper. Added the Clock function. Took out the sound samples, they were taking up far too much space. If anyone wants them back, I can put them in just for you. Changed the About message and added the CanDo about. Fiddled about with Get News, it's still not quite ready, but hopefully the next release should see that button enabled. (No promises... :) ) v1.04 Added support for multiple newsgroups. v1.03 Changed the shape of the window to make it easier to use Ping and Finger. Miscellaneous internal tidying up. v1.02 Added support for Ping and Finger. v1.01 Added support for user definable link command and options. Added better support for AMHotlist. Added Info menu item. v1.0 First public release