@database DBatchFTP.guide
@master AmiTCP:Thor/Docs/DBatchFTP.guide
@$VER: DBatchFTP.guide v1.0
@author "David Stroud"
@(c) "1997"
@remark ###################################################################

@node "Main" "DBatchFTP.guide"
@{fg shine}
                          DBatchFTP.thor v1.0
@{fg text}
                     @{b}© @{" David Stroud " link Me}, August 1997.@{ub}

                    <DaveStroud@nebula.demon.co.uk>

         IMPORTANT »»»---@{" Disclaimer       " link Disclaimer   }---> PLEASE READ
         IMPORTANT »»»---@{" Distribution     " link Distribution }---> PLEASE READ

                         @{" Introduction     " link Introduction }
                         @{" Installation     " link Installation }

                         @{" Requirements     " link Requirements }
                         @{" Configuring      " link Configuration }

                         @{" Feedback please! " link GetInTouch }
                         @{" Acknowledgements " link Thanks }

                         @{" History          " link History }
                         @{" Future           " link Future }

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Introduction

@{fg shine}Description@{fg text}
-----------+

·DBatchFTP.thor is an ARexx script for converting Aminet download events in a
 Thor system to an email addressed to Demon Internet's Batch-FTP service.


@{fg shine}Why use it?@{fg text}
-----------+

·In my experience at least, when FTP'ing to an Aminet archive via Demon, data
 wasn't being sent through my modem all the time, like it was when I was
 downloading stuff from my home directory on Demon.

·Cutting out the extra link speeds things up for you, but also has another
 benefit: As Demon gets your files from Aminet quicker than you could, less time
 is spent accessing Aminet, and so the load on the site in question will be
 lessened, making other people's attempts at accessing Aminet more fruitful.


@{fg shine}What @{u}is@{uu} Batch-FTP anyway?@{fg text}
-------------------------+

·For those who aren't in the know, more information on Demon's Batch-FTP service
 can be found on Demon's web pages at:

 @{u}@{fg fill}Http://www.demon.net/services/ftp/batchftp.html@{uu}@{fg text}

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Installation

@{fg shine}Installation@{fg text}
------------+

·Copy DBatchFTP.thor to Thor's "rexx" directory ("Thor:rexx/")

·Copy this DbatchFTP.guide file to "Thor:Docs/" or wherever you keep the ARexx
 script docs on your system.

·Configure the ARexx menu in Thor to run "Thor:rexx/DBatchFTP.thor" from a free
 slot, if you have one ;)

·Now @{" configure " link Configuration} it!

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Requirements

@{fg shine}Requirements@{fg text}
------------+

·An Amiga
·THOR v2.4
·RexxMast running, as for all ARexx scripts.
·A Demon Internet dial-up account.


@{fg shine}Tested on@{fg text}
---------+

·Accelerated A1200 (via Blizzard 1220/4) with 6Mb RAM total, running Thor 2.4

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Configuration

@{fg shine}How to use it@{fg text}
-------------+

·First, load DBatchFTP.thor into your favourite editor, and @{b}check the variables
 set at the start of the script.@{ub} Change them if necessary, to suit your system.

·Create some download events in Thor, via the FileDatabase or NewFiles windows,
 in the usual way. (See Thor documentation for details on how to do this).

·@{b}DBatchFTP.thor picks up frozen download events *only*@{ub} - so, in the Events
 Window (RightAmiga-8), freeze the download events you want picked up by
 DBatchFTP.thor.

·Run DBatchFTP.thor from the ARexx menu in Thor. (Either from "Execute
 Script..." or configuring one of the menu options to run DBatchFTP.thor).

·If all goes well, you should be told how many events DBatchFTP.thor processed.
 Go back to your Events Window and you should see that a new Email event has been
 created!

·(You can edit the text of this email in the usual way, to get rid of files you
 later decide you don't want to retrieve via Batch-FTP.)

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node GetInTouch

@{fg shine}Did it work?@{fg text}
------------+

·Whether it did or not, please give me some feedback. If nothing seems to be
 going right, however, and the cause of your problems is specific to
 DBatchFTP.thor, lemme know!

·My Email address for probs/feedback is as shown on the @{" contents page " link main}.

·@{b}NOTE:@{ub} If the problem is ARexx-related, ask on the Thor Mailing List or News
       Group. Seeing as this is my first ever attempt at ARexx coding, I'm
       unlikely to be able to answer ARexx queries :)

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Future

@{fg shine}Future@{fg text}
------+

·Perhaps implement requesters so that FTP site and main Aminet directory can be
 specified by the user, or default to the values held in the script. I don't
 think this is really necessary, though. Drop me a line if you think otherwise.

·Learn ARexx properly :)

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node History

@{fg shine}History@{fg text}
-------+

Version    Date                              Notes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  0.1    05/08/97   · DBatchFTP.thor is created!  And Works!

  1.0    06/08/97   · First public release.
                    · Added automatic event-creation.
                    · Removed need for creation of temporary data file in Ram:
                    · Removed redundant code, and generally tidied up.
                    · Vincent Gulliver, oldest man in Britain, dies aged 109.

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Thanks

@{fg shine}Thanks to@{fg text}
---------+

·Eirik Nicolai Synnes, on whose CalcDl.thor ARexx script this script was
 initially based. Made my job of learning ARexx a lot simpler :) Thanks Eirik!

·Neil Bothwick, for his AutoReply.br script, which I used as the basis for the
 automatic event-creation in DBatchFTP.thor.  Thanks Neil!

·The THOR development team, for an excellent program :)

·Amiga.  Long may she reign.

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Distribution

@{fg shine}Distribution@{fg text}
------------+

· DBatchFTP.thor · Is freely distributable.
                 · Remains © David Stroud, 1997.
                 · @{b}May not@{ub} be included in any commercial distibution without my
                   prior consent.
                 · @{b}May@{ub} be included in any Aminet collection CDs.
                 · @{b}May@{ub} be included on magazine coverdisks (Floppy, CD or
                   otherwise) @{b}as long as@{ub} I am notified beforehand, and
                   offered a copy of the magazine on its publication.
                 · Makes life easier (in its intended usage :)
                 · Requires money to be sent, in recognition of the above fact,
                   direct to me. @{b}And don't spare the horses!@{ub}

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Disclaimer

@{fg shine}Disclaimer@{fg text}
----------+

·I take no responsibility for any damage done as a result of using this script
 with Thor.

·DBatchFTP.thor was thoroughly tested (@{" on my system " link Requirements}) before it was
 released.

·As with everything in this life, @{b}USE AT YOUR OWN RISK@{ub}.

@endnode
@remark ###################################################################
@node Me

@{fg shine}Who?@{fg text}
----+

·For those who are interested, here's a little background info on my humble
 existence. Some may already know parts of this from what I've said on the NG or
 ML, but allow me to fill in a few gaps...

·I'm twen... twen... tw... nineteen plus one :) years old, and am currently on
 my summer break before I head back to uni for my third and final year.

·I say "uni", but really, for the pedantic among you, it's "Southampton
 Institute of Higher Education". I'm sorry I don't attend a proper university
 like some, but then Southampton Uni don't do my course. Indeed, when I applied
 to do journalism, there were only 3 or 4 places offering it in the country!

·I've been an Amiga owner since, oooooooh, 19.. <counts on fingers> 1989/1990
 ish. Or whenever the A500+ came out. I had that for a good 3 or 4 years, before
 upgrading to my current A1200. Contrary to popular theory, the A500+'s
 brick-mouse served me well, and never went wrong in that whole time. Using the
 A1200 mouse was such a good experience in comparison that I've kept it to this
 very day, and it, too, has never gone wrong.

·I don't have a mouse mat. Not an official one anyway. I can't stand those
 horrible foam-backed A5 things. Especially the cloth-covered ones you get free
 with just about everything bar chewing gum. So, what? Do I keep the mouse on the
 desk? Use it on my knee? No! Announcing the ultimate mouse-mat! Free with
 compulsory education... The National Record of Achievement! It's perfect -
 slightly bigger than A4, nice grippy maroon leathery finish, and it even has
 some of those gold-plated L-shaped corner things on the front.

·Oh, and I also go under the pseudonyms "Newt" or "Turnip Fish". The latter
 comes from a song by The Sultans (formerly The Sultans of Ping F.C. and soon to
 be the ex-Sultans as they're breaking up *sniff*) of the same name. "Newt" comes
 from the phrase "p*ss*d as a newt". Enough said.

·One more thing: you can visit my web page at:

 @{fg fill}Http://www.nebula.demon.co.uk/@{fg text}

 for even more info about me, as well as some other stuff.

@endnode