Copyright (C) 1994-1995 Alexander Stirmlinger `NetCall' is shareware. All rights of the program, files and documents belong completely to the author. The archive and its files (program, documents and the keyfile) must not be changed in any way. No files may be added or deleted to/from the archive. You may charge a fee to recover distribution costs. The fee for diskette distribution may not be more than the cost to obtain a public domain diskette from Fred Fish. NetCall - Release 2 Poll-handler for Fido-Net-Systems Version 2.0b User's guide (Last change: 22.04.95) Copyright © 1994-1995 Alexander Stirmlinger "Amiga - keep the faith..." General informations ******************** Features of NetCall =================== * Simplifies the treatment of file-requests and crash-mails (pending jobs are displayed in a list-view-gadget). * Enables automatic polling on all lines of the destination system (if one line is "BUSY", `NetCall' will automatically dial up the next line). * Includes #?.REQ-file editor ('request file') to create or edit .REQ-files in the "OUTBOUND"-directory. * Searches (even when your mailer polls already) for other lines of the destination system in the nodelist (crashing or frequesting). * Supports/simplifies multi-bossing. * Simplifies polling on a line of your boss, which is not listed in the nodelist. * Hides your own password when crashing or frequesting. * Supports TrapDoor in resident or in shell-mode. * Supports automatical operation (without user-interaction). * Font-sensitive GUI. * Opens public-screen if desired. * User-defineable menus (user-commands). * Extensive ways to configure. * Many shell-arguments. * Localized (OS2.1 and better). * Iconify-function (including "QUIET"-mode). Copyright ========= Copyright (C) 1994-1995 Alexander Stirmlinger `NetCall' is shareware. All rights of the program, files and documents belong completely to the author. The archive and its files (program, documents and the keyfile) must not be changed in any way. No files may be added or deleted to/from the archive. The keyfile is personalized to its owner and must not be changed, saled, hired or lended. Warranty ======== `NetCall' is provided "AS-IS". I can't guarantee the expected work of the program. Though, I'm always anxious to remove all bugs and misbehaviors. Reports, hints and suggestions are always welcome. (*Note Author info: AUTHOR.) THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAMS, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAMS "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 PROGRAMS IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAMS 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 PROGRAMS 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 PROGRAMS (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 PROGRAMS TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Restrictions of the unregistered version ======================================== * Nerving requester * Nerving wait-function (appears randomly) Installation ************ Assumptions to the hardware =========================== `NetCall' does not make any assumptions to the hardware. `NetCall' runs on every Amiga with at least 512 KB RAM. Assumptions to the software =========================== `NetCall' runs on Amigas equipped with AmigaOS 2.04 or later. AmigaOS 3.x is, of course, supported, too. Additionally, you need "TrapDoor"(1) (not included in the `NetCall'-archive) as a FidoNet-mailer. Other mailers may only be used, if they use the same shell-arguments and a compatible logfile (`NetCall' needs to scan the "TrapDoor"-logfile). ---------- Footnotes ---------- (1) "TrapDoor" is copyright (C) Maximilian Hantsch and Martin Laubach Installer ========= The installation is easily done by Commodore-Amiga's "Installer". Just double-click on one of the install-icons (english or german language). All needed files will be copied to your hard-disk. After having installed `NetCall', you'll have to configure `NetCall' to your wishes and to your FidoNet-software. Please read the configuration-chapter of this document for further information. *Note Configuration: CONFIG. Installer and Installer project icon (c) Copyright 1991-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore. INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE; NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED. Execution from a shell ====================== The following arguments may be passed if `NetCall' is executed from a shell: POLLID,CALL/K,CONFIG/K,OUTBOUND/K,PUBSCREENNAME/K,NOREQ/S, NOPOLL/S,NOCRASH/S,NOFREQ/S,ALLACTIVE/S,OPENBIG/S,TERMREQS/S, TELL/S `POLLID POLLID(S)' This is the "ID" from your bosses, where you want `NetCall' to poll. The "IDs" given here must correspond with the BOSS-entries in your `NetCall.cfg' (case-sensitive). You may pass a valid AmigaDOS-pattern as an argument here (`POLLID (BBS1|BBS2)' would cause `NetCall' to poll at node "BBS1" and "BBS2"). `CALL NODE/PHONE' Node- or phone-number where you want `NetCall' to poll (example: `CALL 2:246/1045'). `CONFIG CONFIG-FILE' Use the given configuration-file rather than the normal configuration. (example: `CONFIG Work:NetCall/Config2.cfg'). `OUTBOUND OUTBOUND-PATH' Scan this "OUTBOUND"-directory rather than the directory specified in the configurationfile. `PUBSCREENNAME PUBLIC-SCREEN' Force to open `NetCall''s and the mailer's windows on this public-screen. `NOREQ' Use "stdIO" for error-output rather than a system-requester. `NOPOLL' Do not pick up entries where `NetCall' would just poll (in other words: exclude your bosses). `NOCRASH' Exclude entries where `NetCall' would crash mails to. `NOFREQ' Exclude entries where `NetCall' would file-request from. `ALLACTIVE' Mark all entries as active immediately after `NetCall' gets started. `NetCall' will start to poll immediately. `OPENBIG' Always open `NetCall''s big window (two list-view-gadgets, one text-gadget). `TERMREQS' Forces `NetCall' to terminate requesters (even error-requesters!) automatically. This option allows automatical operation without user-interaction. `TELL' If you are running "TrapDoor" resident in the background, `NetCall' may control "TrapDoor" via the "TrapTell"-command. To enable this option, specify "TELL" as a shell-argument and define the "TrapTell"-command in `NetCall.cfg'. *Note Configuration of NetCall: CONFIG. Execution from workbench ======================== `NetCall' can easily be started by double-clicking on it's icon. The following arguments may be passed as tool-types in the program icon: `ARGS = ' All arguments, which can be passed as shell-arguments, can be passed in the ARGS-tool-type, too. *Note Execution from a shell: SHELL. `TOOLPRI = ' Taskpriority of `NetCall'. Configuration ************* The configuration-file NetCall.cfg ================================== `NetCall' will look for its configuration-file in the following directories: 1. Mail: (if assigned) 2. The current directory 3. The directory, where the environment-variable "NETCALLCONFIG" points to 4. Shell-argument "CONFIG" (*Note Execution from a shell: SHELL.) The configuration-file of `NetCall' may/must include the following parameters: `OUTBOUND "PATH"' "OUTBOUND"-directory of your mailer (example: `Mail:Outbound'). `NODELIST "PATH"' Directory where your nodelist can be found (example: `Mail:Nodelist'). If you don't have a nodelist, delete this line from your configuration-file or mark it out as a comment. `MAILER "PATH/MAILER"' TrapDoor-mailer (example: `Mail:Bin/TrapDoor'). `TRAPTELL "PATH/TRAPTELL"' If you want `NetCall' to start "TrapDoor" not as a shell-command, but to control "TrapDoor" via then "TrapTell"-command, you must specify the "TrapTell"-command here. To enable the tell-function, you have to specify "TELL" as a shell-argument to `NetCall'. *Note Execution from shell: SHELL. `ARGAPPEND "MAILER SHELL-ARGUMENTS"' Arguments specified here, will be passed to the mailer, directly. To work probably `NetCall' and not "TrapDoor" should be responsible for the retries. This can either be achieved by writing `RETRIES 0' in your `TrapDoor.cfg' or passing `RETRIES 0' here as a shell-argument to the mailer. *Note Configuration of TrapDoor: TRAPDOORCFG. (example: `RETRIES 0'). `ARGAPPENDICONIFIED "MAILER SHELL-ARGUMENTS"' Additional shell-arguments passed to the mailer, when `NetCall' operates in the iconified mode (example: `QUIET' would cause "TrapDoor" to open no windows, when `NetCall' is iconified). `TDLOGFILE "PATH/TRAPDOOR-LOGFILE"' LogFile of TrapDoor (example: `Mail:Logs/TrapDoor.log'). `NETCALLSTART "SHELL-COMMAND"' This shell-command gets executed at `NetCall''s startup. `NETCALLEND "SHELL-COMMAND"' This shell-command gets executed at `NetCall''s shutdown. `AFTERSESSION "SHELL-COMMAND"' This shell-command gets executed after each poll. `HELPCOMMAND "SHELL-COMMAND"' This shell-command gets executed if you press the <"HELP">-key when the `NetCall'-window is active. (`SYS:Utilities/AmigaGuide HELP:english/NetCall.guide PUBSCREEN NETCALL'). `STARTUPDELAY SECONDS' Time that should delay before `NetCall' starts the poll-process. This delay allows you to deselect unwanted list-entries. This option is only active when "ALLACTIVE" is given as a shell-argument. (`STARTUPDELAY 0' means no delay). `REDIALDELAY SECONDS' Time that should delay if all lines are "BUSY". `MAXRETRIES RETRIES' After having reached this amount of retries, `NetCall' will automatically deactivate all active list-entries. (Use `MAXRETRIES 0', if you don't want automatical deactivation. `MULTILINE' This keyword will cause `NetCall' to search for other nodes of your destination system(s) in the nodelist. The search will be performed by a second task, so no delay of the polling-task should be noticeable. Use "NOMULTILINE" if you don't want this option. `AUTOQUIT' `NetCall' will be automatically terminated as soon as all jobs are processed. Use "NOAUTOQUIT" if you don't want this option. `MAILERABORT (ABORTNETCALL|CONTINUE|REQUEST)' If you quit your mailer (user-break, <"ESC">), `NetCall' may: * be quitted, too ("MAILERABORT ABORTNETCALL") * poll at the next node ("MAILERABORT CONTINUE") * open a requester ("MAILERABORT REQUEST") `SAVELASTPOLLDATE' If this option is enabled, `NetCall' will display the date of the last successful call to each of your bosses in the listview-gadget. `NetCall' will store the needed data in a file called `NetCall.polldates', which can be located in your `Mail:'- or in the current directory at `NetCall''s startup. ("NOSAVELASTPOLLDATE" if you don't want this option). `OPENPUBSCREEN "SCREENNAME" WIDTH HEIGHT DEPTH SCREENMODEID' Force `NetCall' to open its own public-screen. All values must be given in decimal format. To specifiy the "ScreenModeID", you may use the "ScreenModeViewer"-Utility (example: `NETCALL 640 256 2 167936'). `PUBSCREEN "SCREENNAME"' Open `NetCall' on this public-screen. If `NetCall' can't find this screen to open on, `NetCall' will open its window on your workbench. If you wish `NetCall' to open its own public-screen ("OPENPUBSCREEN") you must specifiy the same name at "OPENPUBSCREEN" and "PUBSCREEN" (example: `NETCALL'): `SCREENTOFRONT' If "SCREENTOFRONT" is specified, `NetCall' will automatically bring the screen where the `NetCall'-window is opened to the front. ("NOSCREENTOFRONT" if not desired). `BACKDROPWINDOW' `NetCall' can optionally open an invinsible backdrop-window on its own public-screen. If you enable this option, you are able to select `NetCall''s menu even if you clicked outside the `NetCall' main-window. This option becomes only active, if `NetCall' opens its own public-screen. Opening a backdrop-window does *not* need any memory, but it could slow down window-refreshing (esp. if many windows are open). Use "NOBACKDROPWINDOW" if you don't want a backdrop-window. `PUBSCREENMAILER "SCREENNAME"' You can optionally force the mailer to open its windows on this public-screen (example: `Workbench'). `WINDOW X/Y/WIDTH/HEIGHT' Window-position/-size (big `NetCall'-window, incl. list-view-gadgets and text-gadget) (example: `30/30/400/180'). `WINDOWZOOM X/Y/WIDTH/HEIGHT' Window-position/-size of the zoomed (little) `NetCall'-window. If you specifiy "AUTO" rather than a decimal value as the height, `NetCall' will automatically adapt its window-height to your actual font-size (example: `30/30/400/AUTO'). `WINDOWFILEREQ X/Y/WIDTH/HEIGHT' Position/size of the REQ-file editor window. (example: `50/40/190/240'). `WINDOWFILEREQZOOM X/Y/WIDTH/HEIGHT' Position/size of the REQ-file editor window in zoomed state. (example: `50/40/200/100'). `WINDOWACTIVATE' Activate the `NetCall'-window when opened (use "NOWINDOWACTIVATE" if you don't want to activate). `WINDOWFONTNAME "FONTNAME"' The Font that should be used for the list-view-gadgets (example: `topaz.font'). `WINDOWFONTSIZE HEIGHT' Font-size used for the list-view-gadgets (example: `8'). `LVITEMHEIGHT PIXEL' Space between the list-view-entries (given in pixel) (example: `1'). `OPENBIG' If you specify "OPENBIG", `NetCall' will always open its big window, no care if there are file-requests or crash-mails in your "OUTBOUND"-directory. Use "NOOPENBIG" if you don't want this option. `SEARCHOPTS 5/6' Search-options (for "MULTILINE"). Leave it be... `SEARCHPATTERN "PATTERN"' Pick up all nodes with this fido-flags to the ToDo-list. A valid AmigaDOS pattern can be given here. If you specify `~(#?ISDN#?)' `NetCall' will pick up all fido-nodes without "ISDN". If you don't specify "MULTILINE", this keyword will have no effect. `SUPRESSREQ "TRAPDOOR ERROR"' `NetCall' may supress/terminate some of its error-requesters automatically. You may specify any amount of "SUPRESSREQ"-commands here. (Note the "#?...#?"). (example: `"#?NO CARRIER#?"'). `COMMAND "NAME OF THE MENU-ENTRY" "SHELL-COMMAND" ASYNC' With this keyword you are abled to define your own menu-entries in the `NetCall'-menustrip. You may specify any number of "COMMAND"-keywords here. If you add "ASYNC", `NetCall' will launch the command as an seperate process. (example: `Test1 SYS:Prefs/Time'). `BOSS ID(*) NODE/PHONE MYADDR PASSWORD RETRIES BEFORESESSION AFTERSESSION' With the "BOSS"-keyword you can define all lines of your own fido-bosses. You may specify any number of "BOSS"-keywords. By using several different "IDs" you can configure your system for multi-bossing. Entries with a * behind the "ID" will be displayed in the `NetCall'-window (list-view-gadget). You may use different amounts of retries for each line of your boss (optional). You can specify phone-numbers rather than node-numbers if your boss has unlisted lines. "BeforeSession" and "AfterSession" can be scripts, which will be executed before and after the mailer-call to the corresponding "BOSS" (optional). Example: BOSS SO* 2:246/2248 2:246/2248.20 test 3 Export Import BOSS SO 2:246/2249 2:246/2248.20 test BOSS CDS* 2:246/1045 2:246/1045.11 test 0 Export Import BOSS CDS 2:246/1046 2:246/1045.11 test BOSS CDS 2:246/1047 2:246/1045.11 test 3 BOSS CDS 07131167890 2:246/1045.11 test `CALL ID(*) NODE/PHONE MYADDR PASSWORD' The "CALL"-directive can be used to add fido-nodes to `NetCall''s ToDo-list, which are no personal bosses. This might be useful if you call a system regularly, to receive data put on hold for you. The password is optional. Example: CALL ID1* 2:246/1234 2:246/1045.11 test CALL ID2* 2:246/5678 2:246/1045.11 The configuration of TrapDoor ============================= You should set the amount of "RETRIES" in your `TrapDoor.cfg' to 0 (`RETRIES 0'), because `NetCall' will do this from now on. `NetCall' will call each line of the desired destination-system, if the other lines are "BUSY". The usage of NetCall with Spot ============================== To use `NetCall' with "Spot"(1) as optimized as possible, you should configure "Spot" as follows: Execute `NetCall' "only" from your first boss-entry in the "Spot"-configuration (Settings -> System...). Enable the "asynchronous"-button. NetCall >NIL: OPENBIG All other "NetCall"-entries of "Spot" should be cleared. If you press the "NetCall"-button of "Spot", `NetCall' will be started. If you have multiple bosses, "Spot" will no longer ask you where to poll. You can choose this directly in the `NetCall'-window. ---------- Footnotes ---------- (1) "Spot" is copyright (C) Nico François The usage of NetCall with UMS ============================= If you want to use `NetCall' with "UMS"(1) you don't have to change anything in your `ums.config'. `NetCall' can easily be started by double-clicking its icon on the workbench or executing it in a shell. ---------- Footnotes ---------- (1) "UMS" is copyright (C) Martin Horneffer The usage of NetCall with MailManager ===================================== Just like at the usage of `NetCall' with "UMS", you have to change nothing in your configuration of "MailManager"(1) if you want to use `NetCall' with "MailManager". *Note The usage of NetCall with UMS: USEUMS. `NetCall' can easily be started by double-clicking its icon on the workbench or executing it in a shell. ---------- Footnotes ---------- (1) "MailManager" is copyright (C) Pino Aliberti Author information ****************** You can always reach me as follows: Alexander Stirmlinger Home: Weinbergweg 10 D-74831 Gundelsheim Phone/Fax: ++49 - 62 69 - 89 92 FidoNet: 2:246/1045.11 Acknowledgements **************** I'd wish to thank the following people for their bug-reports, their many suggestions and their endless support during the beta-test: Martin Biallas Frank Dürring Klaus Gessner Stefan Hirth Manfred Hoffmann Peter Jachmann Gerald Kleesiek Markus Mayer Sven Meyer Alfred Schindler Werner Senden How to register *************** If you want to use `NetCall' regularly, you have to register! If you register, you can use `NetCall' without any shareware-reminders. *Note Restrictions of the unregistered version: UN_REG. Once registered, you are able to use all forthcoming versions of `NetCall' without shareware-reminders; your keyfile will be valid forever. `NetCall' is shareware and costs 10,- DM (10.- US$). The following data is required for registration: your name, street, ZIP-code, city, telephone-number and your email-address(es). You may pay the share as follows: 1. Euro-cheque: DM (Deutsche Mark), payable to Alexander Stirmlinger. 2. Wire bank transfer: Please give `NetCall' as a comment. Please send me your address etc. via email or mail. 3. Cash: DM or US$ - at your own risk. If you wish to get your keyfile PGP-encoded, send me your PGP-public first. If you want to get your keyfile by mail, please send me a blank disk and a self-addressed and stamped envelope. *Note Author info: AUTHOR. Bank: Kreissparkasse Heilbronn Account : 190 3780 BLZ : 620 500 00 Thank you for supporting shareware! Support/Updates *************** You can always file-request or download the most recent version of `NetCall' at the "CyberDyne System", Heilbronn, Germany (magic: "NETCALL"). Registered users will receive release-notes as carbon-copies via email, if new `NetCall'-releases are available. CyberDyne System (24h online): Node 1: +49-7131-176169 * 2:246/1045 * 1200 - 16800 BPS V.32B V.42B ZYX Node 2: +49-7131-161614 * 2:246/1046 * 1200 - 14400 BPS V.32B V.42B HST Node 3: +49-7131-167890 * 2:246/1047 * 1200 - 28800 BPS V.32B V.42B V.FC Node 4: +49-7131-950371 * 2:246/1048 * 64000 BPS BLASTER X.75 V.110 ISDN Node 5: +49-7131-950372 * 2:246/1049 * 64000 BPS ELINK X.75 V.110 ISDN History ******* NetCall - Version 2.0 ===================== * First public release. NetCall - Version 2.0a ====================== * English documents included. * New config-variable: MAXRETRIES. * Minor ALLACTIVE-bug fixed. * New shell-argument: TERMREQS. Supports automatical operation. NetCall - Version 2.0b ====================== * New config-variable: CALL. * Minor bug fixed: no text was displayed in the text-gadget on startup under some conditions. * New config-variable: BACKDROPWINDOW. * New config-variable: STARTUPDELAY. * Minor bug fixed: NetCall opened two requesters on exit (instead of exiting) under some conditions. * Minor bug fixed: font adaption problem of the text-gadget solved. * #?.REQ-file editor ('request file') added. * New config-variable: WINDOWFILEREQ. * New config-variable: WINDOWFILEREQZOOM. * New config-variable: AFTERSESSION. * Now supports TrapDoor in resident mode, too. * New config-variable: TRAPTELL. * New shell-argument: TELL. * New config-variable: SCREENTOFRONT. * New config-variable: SUPRESSREQ. * New config-variable: SAVELASTPOLLDATE. * New menu-item: Rescan outbound. * New menu-item: Add node entry. * Expanded BOSS-config-variable. * Changes in the OUTBOUND-directory will immediately become visible in the listview-gadgets of NetCall (notify-function). * All entries in the listview-gadget can now be selected with the function-keys, too. Index ***** * Menu: * Assumptions to the hardware: HARDWARE. * Assumptions to the software: SOFTWARE. * Author information: AUTHOR. * Configuration: CONFIG. * Copyright: CRIGHT. * Execution from workbench: WB. * Features of NetCall: POWERDOTS. * FidoNet: AUTHOR. * General informations: ALL. * History: HISTORY. * Installation: INSTALLER. * Installer: INSTALLER. * Keyfile: REG. * MailManager: MAILMGR. * NetCall.cfg: NETCALLCFG. * NetCall.polldates: NETCALLCFG. * No warranty: GUARANTY. * Paramenter: SHELL. * Paramenter: WB. * PGP: REG. * Restrictions of the unreg. version: UN_REG. * ShareWare: REG. * Shell: SHELL. * Shell-arguments: SHELL. * Spot: USESPOT. * Support: SUPPORT. * Tool-types: WB. * TrapDoor: TRAPDOORCFG. * TrapDoor: SOFTWARE. * TrapDoor.cfg: TRAPDOORCFG. * UMS: USEUMS. * Updates: SUPPORT. * Updates: REG. * Warranty: GUARANTY. * Workbench: WB.