ReAddress.rexx documentation ============================ Last Updated: 23rd July 1997, version 1.1 OVERVIEW This AREXX script adds AdMail 'aliases' to YAM's 'address book'. REQUIREMENTS AdMail (Any version? Tested with AdMail 1.7) ARexx (Any version? Tested with RexxMast 36.5) YAM 1.3.x (July 1996 to July 1997 - other versions use incompatible address book formats. Contact me if you need any other). RATIONALE This is convenient for people who wish to move from AdMail (which works, but is rather clumsy in its handling of MIME encoded files) to the all-singing, all-dancing YAM. Once the script has been run all the names and addresses known to AdMail are added to the YAM address book, and can be selected just like the names built into YAM when you receive it. This saves re-entering names and email addresses when you change Email programs. ReAddress was written by Simon N Goodwin on 18 July 1997, and is freely distributable. This is the first revision. Comments and encouragement are welcomed at simon@studio.woden.com. Just for fun, this name is added to your Email contact list. I'm eager to hear from anyone who uses this script, so please send a brief mail. If you really want to know how ReAddress works, examine the source file ReAddress.rexx. It's pretty simple - mostly error-trapping! USAGE You call ReAddress from the Shell (sorry!) like this: RX ReAddress USR:Simon/aliases Comms:YAM/.addressbook The first parameter is the location of of AdMail's list, e.g:" USR:YourName/aliases This parameter is mandatory. The first part uses the recommended assignment of USR: to point to user-specific configuration files. This directory holds one sub-directory for each user, by name. In the example I've put 'YourName' instead of your literal name, as I don't know the configuration of your system and you may have more than one user set up. I'm called Simon, so the path on my Amiga is USR:Simon/aliases The last part 'aliases' is the name of AdMail's name-and-address file. You should not need to change this. The second parameter is optional, and determines the location of the file that is extended with names and addresses from the AdMail alias list. This file must exist. The default file name is: YAM:.addresslist If the usual assignment to YAM: has been set up, there's no need to specify the location of the list, as ReAddress will work it out. Just in case you've got a strange set-up, ReAddress allows you to specify an explicit path and file name. This can be useful if you want to test ReAddress on a dummy file before letting it loose on your real YAM setup. You'll need to create the file as ReAddress only extends an existing file - it does not create a file from scratch. STARTING AREXX Since it is written in AREXX, ReAddress needs RexxMast - the AREXX interpreter and control program - running before you can use it. If you ignore this advice, the RX command causes this report: rexxmast: Unknown command rexxmast failed returncode 10 ARexx server not active To cure this problem, you need to start the ARexx server :-) If you do not run RexxMast as a matter of course, you can start it by opening the Workbench System drawer and double-clicking on the RexxMast icon, or typing: SYS:System/RexxMast >NIL: in a shell window or Workbench 'Execute Command' menu (RAMIGA-E). MESSAGES If you start ReAddress without specifying any parameters, brief help is displayed. All other informative messages are prefixed with "****>" so that they stand out from other output: commands and names and addresses. If the input file is not present or unreadable, ReAddress reports: ****> Sorry, input file OLDBOOK cannot be read. The name specified appears in space of OLDBOOK in the example. Similarly, if the output file does not exist or cannot be accessed, ReAddress reports: ****> Sorry, output file NEWBOOK cannot be read. Or if the file is found but protected against changes: ****> Sorry, output file NEWBOOK cannot be altered. Or if the file is present but in the incorrect format: ****> Sorry, output file NEWBOOK is not in YAM 1.3 format. In each case, the name of the YAM address file sought is reported in place of NEWBOOK. If any of the above errors occurs, the script stops and you must try again with correct parameters. Otherwise: ****> Converting OLDBOOK to NEWBOOK appears, showing the checked input and output file names, and ReAddress scans through OldBook, adding names to NEWBOOK. The heading from the AdMail alias file is reported but otherwise ignored. This indicates the version in use - I used AdMail 1.7. Blank lies in the 'aliases' file are ignored, with this message: ****> Skipping blank line ReAddress adds all the names in one YAM 'group' named 'AdMail' and described as 'AdMail aliases'. AdMail stores all names in one block, formatted as a name followed by a colon and an email address, whereas YAM allows an 'Alias' (short name) as well as the 'Real Name', 'Email address' and an optional description. ReAddress stores the same name for Alias and 'Real Name' and makes no use of the 'description'. You can add your own descriptions later, if required, using the EDIT option from the YAM name list window. This also allows you to prune old names out of the list and update ones which have changed. As ReAddress scans the AdMail file it displays the names and addresses it finds. You may redirect output to a file if you wish to keep a record, in case names are incorrectly parsed or missed out. If all goes to plan, this message appears: ****> OLDBOOK appended to NEWBOOK OK. You should now be able to use all the names from your AdMail list from within YAM. If not, please report the fault to me, giving as much detail as possible, and I shall try to help. Simon N Goodwin, Oldbury, UK, simon@studio.woden.com 23/7/97 CREDITS I am grateful to the following people for their help: Marcel Beck for writing YAM and providing it for free. Simon Brown of Amazing Developments for writing AdMail. Peter Corlett for configuring AdMail and YAM for me. Ben Vost of Amiga Format for persuading me to upgrade.