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G}JB|,#P#DE 1 HI BDEHHII 1 B 1 ,^ 1 70,0La- B V,#PH},^ 1 70 0L#L!-* 1P* 1 y0Yj383}mm ݭI}}`8}``|* ? ɛ,`|:-)| / 1L!`DESTINATION CANT BE DOJ}S.SYS0 0H{ 24Δ 28/L!/) 2 Π 2 0 ξK}hAΞB,0 J 1 BDEHI,HÝDE 1HIHIDELSAVE-GIVE L}FILE,START,END(,INIT,RUN)O S0 1`BDEPHI V` S0H 1 L!M}0 0 1L~0`PLEASE TYPE 1 LETTER,0`hhL! 70 1L0L<1 ,;ɛ7,"ɛ:ݦ1ݥN}A"D|ݤD|ȩ:|ȩ|ɛ,,(/+.ީ1 1,ɛ`轤{NAMEO} TOO LONG B VL!` L1I H1EΝDL1|mDiE` V0`8d/8 i:222 1 LP}!ERROR- 138ɛ+,' 20*.. өr2 1``2TOO MANY DIGITSINVALID HEXAQ}DECIMAL PARAMETER800 0 8 00`,0'D800 H,ɛh`2L1NEED D1 THRU D8uR} ECIMAL PARAMETER800 0 8 00`,0'D800 H,ɛh`2L1NEED D1 THRU D8u P a b Q w k The original .T}QWK reader for the Atari 8-bits. Version 1.1 Beta U} 1 Jan 1993 By Pab Sungenis Copr. 1992 Low-BV}udget Productions, Ltd. Another Shareware Offering INW}STRUCTIONS/DOCUMENTATION COPYRIGHT NOTICE X} This documentation and the program accompanying it are both Copyright 1992, 1993 Low-BudY}get Productions, Ltd. All rights reserved. This software may be freely used and distributed exZ}cept as specified below: The program archive must be distributed intact, with all [}files including this notice. This program may not be sold, excepting a nominal cost-of-disk fee\}. Due to Amendment 2 of the Colorado State Constitution, this program may not be used or distri]}buted by legal residents of or citizens of the State of Colorado without written permission from th^}e author. Write to the address specified in this documentation for more details. Any use or du_}plication of this software contrary to these restrictions shall constitute copyright infringement and may `} be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. a} TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to the new version..........................1 b} System Requirements......................................2 Configuring the mail door...................c}.............4 Configuring your copy of PabQwk..........................9 Files in a QWK packet....d}...............................12 Preparing your packet...................................15 Runnine}g PabQwk..........................................17 Reading messages........................................25 f} Entering messages.......................................31 Our friend, the tagline!................g}................38 Registering PabQwk......................................41 In conclusion........h}...................................43 i} INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW VERSION Earlier this year, I released my PabQwk offlinj}e reader, which quickly became the most popular program I had ever written. Not to mention one of k}the few programs I use on a weekly basis. As time went on, a few bugs showed up that were l} unfortunately weeded out in the three months the program spent in beta-test (mostly due to mail doom}rs like TomCat! that don't follow the QWK format properly) and suggestions were made for improvemenn}ts, most of which I took to heart. The result is the program you see in front of you. If you used o}version 1.0, I suggest you read the UPDATES.TXT file in this archive. It gives you a quick overview of the new p} features and capabilities. There's also a new quick-reference file in the archive you might want tq}o keep handy until you get acquainted with the system. If you're new to the program, please read tr}his manual in its entirety. I had some people write with "problems" that turned out to be caused bys} their not reading the instructions! Special thanks to everyone who helped with this new vt}ersion. Here's the new version. Enjoy yourself. PabQwk/Pu}age 1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS While PabQwkv} is not a very large program, it requires massive amounts of memory for buffers, screen display, and w} other data. The program will run on: * Any XL or XE computer with more than 64K of memory. x} * MYDOS 4.5 or SpartaDOS X. Sparta recommended. * Bob Puff's SUPER UNARC program is required, as it's thy}e only unarchiver which supports the "Squashed" method used by PkArc on IBM's. z} * A high-capacity (hard) disk, 3.5" upgrade, or EXTREMELY large ramdisk (1 Meg MIO, for example) is HIGHLY {} recommended. PabQwk is written in compiled TURBO BASIC XL. A special version|} of the TBXL runtime code is included with PabQwk as the AUTORUN.SYS file. This version has not only been }} translated into English, but will automatically run the main PabQwk program. Since~} TBXL "hides" part of itself under the OS RAM, PabQwk/Page} 2 SpartaDOS X users will have to reconfigure their system to use PabQwk. (See the S}DX manual, Appendix D, for details on doing this.) If you're using PabQwk on a stock XE under SDX, } the program will only use the three lowest banks of expanded memory, leaving the SDX DOS bank untouched. If yo}u try the program under both MYDOS and SDX, you'll notice the program runs better under Sparta. (F}or one thing, the prescan process is MUCH faster) This is because PabQwk uses several Sparta-only }features which cannot be duplicated under MYDOS, and are therefore not used. Put the AUTOR}UN.SYS, PABQWK.CTB, PABQWK.SYS (special screen drivers and a custom character set), AC3.COM (my ML }routines to access banked memory), and TRN2.TBL (an IBM-ATASCII translation table) on the same disk (along with } your TAGLINES.DAT file if you have one, see the "Our friend, the tagline!" section for details), bo}ot the system, and you're ready to go! } PabQwk/Page 3 CONFIGURING THE MA}IL DOOR Mail doors differ in features and capabilities, so some experimentation is req}uired on your part. I've included here guidelines, along with complete instructions for two common } doors, Sparkware's QMAIL4 (the original, and by far the most popular) and Mythical Kingdom's MKQWK. } CONFIGURING QMAIL4 FOR PABQWK This is the menu offered by QMAIL4's "C"onf}igure command, with the recommended options listed below. 1. D/L your replies.......... OFF 11. Use e}xtended prompts........... OFF 2. D/L packets without msgs.. OFF 12. Delay prompts one second....... OFF 3. Logoff }after U/L replies.. OFF 13. Clear keyboard buffer.......... OFF 4. Send the WELCOME screen... OFF 14. Enable "QwikSta}rt"............. OFF 5. Send the system NEWS...... OFF 15. Repeat scanning................ OFF 6. Scan for new BULL}ETINS.... OFF 16. Replace @variables............. ON 7. Scan for new FILES........ OFF 17. Selected confs in CONTROL}.DAT.. OFF 8. Send the GOODBYE screen... OFF 18. Capture reply insertion........ OFF 9. Send the DeLuxe menu...... }OFF 19. Do not create .NDX files....... ON 10. Send SESSION.TXT......... OFF 20. BBS time stamp on replies...... OFF} ________________________________________________________________________ | A Autostart command } R Reset message pointers | | ARC Archivers S Select conferences | | }L Limit packet size SER Qmail Door services | | M Toggle graphics X Exp}ert mode toggle | | O Page the sysop Q Quit configuration | | OPT Qma}il Door options G Goodbye | ________________________________________________________}________________ PabQwk/Page 4 } Taking important options one at a time: 1. DOWNLOAD YOUR REPLIES: If this option is turned o}n, messages written by you will be included in your mail packet. If you want to read them, turn this op}tion on. I suggest leaving it off. 4-8. SEND SCREENS: If you have these options turned on, the } selected file(s) will be included in your mail packet, and may be viewed (by registered users) with the PabQ}wk "V" command. If you are not registered, or do not want the screens in your packet, turn this option} off. 9. SEND MENU: This option is only for the IBM reader QMail Deluxe. Make sure it is }OFF 10. SEND SESSION.TXT: This is a file describing everything that happened while preparing your mai}l packet. If you're curious (and a registered user), you can view this file with the "V" command. Oth}erwise, turn it off. 17. SELECTED CONFERENCES IN CONTROL.DAT: PabQwk reads the CONTROL.DAT file first} thing after running. If a conference is not listed in CONTROL.DAT, you will not be able to enter a me}ssage in it. Generally, leave this option OFF. 18. CAPTURE REPLY INSERTION: PabQwk already allows you to } capture and insert messages into replies. Leave this option OFF. 19. DO NOT CREATE .IDX FILES: }Since most Atari DOS's (except for SpartaDOS) do not support relative file pointers, PabQwk cannot use }the .IDX files created by the mail door. PabQwk creates its own index by prescanning MESSAGES.DAT. Turn this } option ON. 20. BBS TIME STAMP: If this option is turned on, your replies will be stamped with} the time they were uploaded. If you're using SpartaDOS or an R-Time 8, leave this option OFF, since P}abQwk will stamp your replies automatically. If you're using MYDOS, you might want to turn this option ON. } ARC: PabQwk will ONLY work with the PkArc archiver. Be sure to set your archiver selection to PKARC with t}his command. Make sure the SysOp has PkArc in his path, since many only use PKZIP. S, SELE}CT CONFERENCES: Select the conferences you want to read and download with this option. You may enter a message } in ANY conference, even if you didn't download any messages from it on this run. } PabQwk/Page 5 SER, SERVICES: These are usually text fil}es (like a network newsletter) that can be included in your packet. Any text file services can be read }(by registered users) with the "V" command. See if there's anything that interests you on that particu}lar BBS. M, GRAPHICS: Make sure graphics are OFF at all times. OPT: This gives detailed information} on the options, including those not listed in this documentation. If you're curious, check them out. } L, LIMIT PACKET SIZE: Under MYDOS or SDX with more than 128K, PabQwk can support packets of up to 230}0 messages. Under SDX on a stock XE, PabQwk can support 500-1000 messages, depending on your system se}tup. If you're using a 1050 drive, st your packet size to 90K. If using an XF551, 200K. If using a 3.}5" drive, 400K. If using a hard drive, I recommend limiting the packet size to 750K, as this should ke}ep the total number of messages under 1000. Also remember when setting your packet size, that you're actually goi}ng to have to sit and read the thing! Don't bite off more than you can chew. } This gives you the basics needed to configure a QMAIL door to work with PabQwk. Download a sample packet} to use as we go through the next few chapters. CONFIGURING MKQWK FOR P}ABQWK This is the options menu as offered by MkQwk: } PabQwk/Page 6 ___________________________________________________}____________________________ | MKQwk Mail Door - Configuration Menu | +-------------}----------------------------------------------------------------+ | (N)ew Files Option (P)rotocol } | | (S)creens Option (A)rchive/Packer Type | | (B)ulletins Opti}on (F)lag Messages As Read Option | | (L)imit # Of Messages (O)wn Messages Option} | | (C)onference # Of Msgs Limit (Y)our Mail in All Areas Option | | (D)isplay Current Setti}ngs (Z)ero Message Packets Option | | (T)ype of mail packet } | | (V)erify you want packet (Q)uit to Main Menu | ___________________________________}____________________________________________ Taking the pertinent options one at a ti}me.... (N)ew files: Turn OFF (S)creens and (B)ulletins: If you have a registered copy of } PabQwk, you can view these screens with the "V" command. If you're curious, turn it on, otherwise le}ave it off. (L)imit number of messages: Under MYDOS or SDX with more than 128K, set this to 230}0. Otherwise, set it to 750. (C)onference # of messages limit: Does not matter. Make it what }you want. (T)ype of mail packet: This should be QWK. (A)rchive/packer type: MUST be PkArc. } PabQwk/Page 7 (O)wn messages:} If you want to read messages you have entered, turn ON. Otherwise, turn OFF. } OTHER DOORS Other mail doors will offer similar options, experiment. Just always k}eep your packets under 1000 messages and make sure the door offers PkArc as an archiver. Ask the Sy}sOp for help if you need it. } PabQwk/Page 8 CONFIGURIN}G YOUR VERSION OF PABQWK Version 1.1 of PabQwk is considerably more configurable than }the original. To run the configuration program, first load PabQwk, and hit at the "CONTROL.DAT Not Found!" } message or from the main menu. Then hit L and type the word "CONFIG" and hit RETURN. The conf}iguration program will load and run. The program will show you your current configuration.} You can then either hit X to determine the best configuration for your system setup, or change eac}h item by hand. The options are: (I)NDEXING BANKED/STANDARD } If you have more than three banks free (the default under MYDOS or SDX with more than 128K of me}mory), PabQwk can use bank #4 as an index bank. This will allow packet sizes of 2300 messages, comp}ared to 500-1000 under standard memory. If you are using SDX and aren't sure how many banks are free, } PabQwk/Page 9 use the MEM command from th}e SDX prompt. (A)NTIC ADDRESSABILITY ON/OFF Stock XE's and some upgrades (for }example, the Newell 1MB) allow the ANTIC chip direct access into banked memory. If your system has }this ability, PabQwk can use banked RAM for most display memory, freeing room for a larger index or } more taglines. (Plus, direct access to the bank is faster.) If you are uncertain about whether your upgrade is} ANTIC compatible or not, use the X command to determine whether or not it is. }(D)EFAULT PATH D: This is the path where PabQwk will look first for a message} packet. If you only download messages from one BBS, or will usually want to read a specific packet, set this t}o the pathname you want to be PabQwk's default path. (P)RINTER DEVICE P: } This is the device all printer output will be sent to (mainly through the

command while readin}g messages). If PabQwk/Page 10 }you don't have a printer, you can specify a disk file here to act as a "pseudo-printer." I}f you have any doubts, use the X command to automatically determine your best setup. } } PabQwk/Page 11 FILES IN A QWK PACKET } Files in an average QWK packet fall into three categories: Messages, text, and control. } This is an archive listing (created with SDX's ARC L command) of a typical QWK. (This one is from Connec}tions! BBS) Filename Length Date Time ============ ======= ======== =====}= 001.NDX 45 5-05-92 9:56 002.NDX 55 5-05-92 9:56 004.NDX } 10 5-05-92 9:56 063.NDX 10 5-05-92 9:56 PERSONAL.NDX 10 5-05-92 9:56 } These are index (or NDX) files. Most IBM readers use them, but PabQwk cannot (since they use rela}tive addressing in a file, which most Atari DOS's do not support. PabQwk creates its own index by }prescanning the messages file. BLT-0.8 2992 5-05-92 9:56 } PabQwk/Page 12 This is a bulletin file. (Super UnArc will change the} - to a "Q", so the actual filename would be BLTQ0.8) Bulletins are text files on important (or oc}casionally unimportant) matters. Like all text files, registered users may read the bulletins with} the "V" command. CONTROL.DAT 1514 5-05-92 9:56 DOOR.ID 196 5-05-92 9:56 } These are the two most important control files. CONTROL.DAT contains all the important informati}on on the BBS and the packet (including the names of the conferences, the BBS's control name, and y}our name - which is how the Personal mail scan in the registered version identifies your messages.)} This is the first file PabQwk reads. DOOR.ID is created by most doors (QMAIL4 being the most }obvious exception) and contains important information on the door itself and the kinds of commands it can proces}s. If DOOR.ID is inthe packet, registered users will be able to add and drop conferences from with}in PabQwk. MESSAGES.DAT 28160 5-05-92 9:56 This is the meaty portion, the important fil}e, the messages PabQwk/Page 13 i}tself. MESSAGES.DAT is arranged into 128-byte records, including headers for each message. (I won't take the s}pace to go into too much detail) MESSAGES.DAT is usually the largest file in the archive, often ex }ceeding 100,000 bytes (this one was a small mail run). GOODBYE.ASC 1662 5-05-92 9:56 } NEWFILES.DAT 24 5-05-92 9:56 WELCOME.ASC 1336 5-05-92 9:56 These are samp }le text files. WELCOME and GOODBYE are obvious. NEWFILES.DAT is a file created by some doors with a } listing of all new additions to the file download section (which you won't be using too often). There will o }ften be a BBSNEWS or other file included. All text files may be viewed (by registered users) with }the "V" command. Other files may be included in the archive, like a network newsletter }. These are what QMAIL4 calls "Services." If you see an unfamiliar file, play it by ear. Usually its } purpose will become apparent soon. }PabQwk/Page 14 PREPARING YOUR PACKET } While IBM readers have the ability to take a raw QWK and do everything automatically, this is a luxury the At }ari cannot support. Before reading your packet, you must prepare it yourself. Don't worry, it's a } simple process. Since all QWKs will have the same basic filenames (CONTROL.DAT, MESSAGES. }DAT, etc.), you obviously can't have two extracted packets in the same directory at the same time. }I suggest using either a separate disk or a separate subdirectory for each BBS you download QWKs from, and don't } extract any packets to your default directory. If PabQwk doesn't find a CONTROL.DAT file in the m }ain directory, it will allow you to specify a pathname and/or drive number for the packet, then sta }rt from scratch. After downloading the packet, run Super UnARC. Extract the file to the p }roper disk/directory. If your disk space is at a premium (using a 1050 or XF551), you may want to use } Super UnARC's "Extract with Query" option, and not extract text files and indexes. } PabQwk/Page 15 NOTE TO SPARTADOS U }SERS: If you're using PabQwk on a stock 130XE with SpartaDOS X, you will not be able to }run Super UnARC (for most packets) while USEing BANKED memory. Reboot your system holding } down the OPTION key (to use the default configuration) before running Super UnARC, then } reboot normally to run PabQwk. If you have more than 128K of memory, this step is unnecessary. } When your PabQwk session is finished, a file named *.MSG (where the * is the BBS ID, t }he same name used in the QWK packet name) will be in the same directory as the packet itself. Arch }ive this file to a file named *.REP (where, again, the * is the BBS ID.) For example, if the name of the } QWK was OMEGA.QWK, archive OMEGA.MSG to OMEGA.REP. If the QWK name was CASINO.QWK, archive CASINO.MSG to } CASINO.REP. This archive is the file you will later upload to the mail dor on your next call. (NO }TE: The SpartaDOS X ARC command WILL properly create a *.REP file. SDX users do NOT need to use Su }per ARC, just Super UnARC to extract their packets.) Now that the packet is extracted and where we want } it, it's finally time to run the program. } PabQwk/Page 16 RUNNING PABQWK !} If you're using a floppy-only system, insert the PabQwk disk into drive one. Insert the disk with your "}extracted QWK packet into drive two. Reboot the system. If you're using MYDOS, hold down OPTION w #}hile booting. PabQwk will automatically load and run. If you're using SpartaDOS X, run PabQwk by $}typing X AUTORUN.SYS and pressing RETURN. The first thing PabQwk does %} after booting is check the default directory for a file called PABQWK.CNF, which can be created by &} the CONFIG.CTB program in this archive, to determine how to set up your system. If PABQWK.CNF does not '} exist, the computer will determine what setup is best for your system and select it. See the section on " (}CONFIGURING PABQWK" for more information. PabQwk then checks the main directory of D: for, )} and loads, PABQWK.SYS, AC3.COM, and TRN2.TBL. It then determines whether you are using MYDOS 4.5 *}or SpartaDOS X, and whether PabQwk/Page 17 +} or not you are using an R-Time 8 (by looking for the Z: handler). After this, it will check D: for a ,} CONTROL.DAT file (and, thus, a packet.) If it does not find it in the main directory of D:, the p -}rogram will display: CONTROL.DAT not found! bort etry .} hange Directory bort is obvious; it ends the program. etry will check the main direc /}tory again (in case you swapped disks, which is not recommended). Most of the time you get this message, you 0} will choose hange directory. If you hit C, you will be prompted for the drive number. 1} Press 1-9 (or A-I if you prefer on SpartaDOS). PabQwk then checks that drive for subdirectories (whic 2}h is another feature that's much faster with SpartaDOS X). If any are found, you will be asked to 3}pick one or press RETURN to use the main directory of that drive. If no subdirectories exist, the 4}program will default to the main directory. NOTE: Using hange directory does NOT change the 5} designation of D: under either MYDOS or SpartaDOS. It changes PabQwk's own default path. D: will keep its 6} current designation. PabQwk/Page 18 7} Once PabQwk finds a CONTROL.DAT file, it will read in the pertinent information from 8}it. This can take anywhere from a few seconds up to a minute. The program will load in the BBS's 9}identification and control codes, your information, the names and numbers of conferences (PabQwk can support :} conferences numbered from 0 to 1260), and sets its time to the time the packet was created (if using M ;}YDOS without an R-Time 8). Next, the program will scan MESSAGES.DAT, checking for <} message headers and creating its own index. If this is the first time you have read the packet, PabQwk wil =}l write its internal indices to disk and reload them on subsequent readings. The time this step ta >}kes depends on the size of the packet, the DOS you are using, and the speed of the drive. A very la ?}rge packet (around 300K of messages) can take up to ten minutes if using MYDOS. If you are using a @} registered copy, the program will create a special index of messages in the packet (up to 100) addressed to you A}, and later allow you to read them with the

ersonal read command. This is the longest step, but B} allows the program to access messages very quickly later on, so be patient. Next, the pro C}gram checks D: for a text file called TAGLINES.DAT, and scans through it if it is there. If it is D}not there, taglines will not be added to messages you enter. See the chapter "Our friend, the tagline!" for more E} PabQwk/Page 19 information on T F}AGLINES.DAT. Next, the program checks the directory for a file called BOOKMARK.DAT, and if G} it finds it, loads the data and deletes the file. This allows you to "mark your place" when reading H} a long packet with the command, and come back later to that point. More on this function later. I} Finally, the program creates a *.MSG file (see previous chapter) for that packet. If a *.MSG file J} already exists, you will be asked whether to overwrite it or append to it. (In case you decide to K}drop to DOS for some reason and are returning to finish the packet). Once all this is fini L}shed, the PabQwk menu will be displayed. Commands in the left column are the basic and most often M}used functions, and are available in every copy of the program. Only registered users can use the right column N} of commands, which are some of PabQwk's "nicer" features. Going down the left column are: O} EAD ALL: This will go through the packet and let you read every message in every c P}onference. If you used the "Bookmark" option during a previous read, the program will st Q}art with the marked message. PabQwk/Page 20 R} ONFERENCE READ: This will allow you to read messages in the packet that are in a spe S}cific conference. You will be prompted for the conference number. T} If you don't know the number of the conference you want to read, hit RETURN. The program will U} open a window in the middle of the screen, and let you search through the conference names with V}the up and down arrows. When you find the conference you want, hit RETURN. (You can onl W}y read messages in a conference if you selected it in your mail door configuration, so do X}n't waste your time trying to read conferences you didn't download!) The process Y} of reading messages will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. NTER MES Z}SAGE: This allows you to enter a stand-alone message (one that isn't a reply to another) [}in the conference of your choice. This command will be covered in depth later on. \} UIT: This command exits PabQwk. The TBXL PabQwk/Page 21 ]} runtime program will display: End of program: Dos, Re-run, Load. ^} You can hit D to exit to DOS, R to re-run the program, or L to load and run _} another compiled TBXL program (like the registration program). he next four commands `} are only available in the registered version of PabQwk. They aren't essential, but do come in han a}dy.

ERSONAL READ: This will, like the R and C commands, let you read messages in t b}he packet, but will only display messages addressed specifically to you. Use this comman c}d when you want to deal with your personal mail immediately (mainly when dealing with 200 d}K or 300K packets). DD CONFERENCE and ROP CONFERENCE: These two commands (not s e}upported by all mail doors) allow you to add and drop conferences while in PabQwk. (what f}they actually do is enter a "request" that the mail door add or remove them from your g} PabQwk/Page 22 configuration.) The changes will be r q}B%DOS SYSB*)DUP SYSBSPQDOCS TXTeflected in your next mail packet. You will be asked for the conference number to add or r} drop. If you don't know it, hit RETURN. The program will open a window in the middle o s}f the screen, and you can select the conference with the up and down arrows. Press RETURN t} again when you pick the conference you want to add or drop. IEW FILE: This allows u} you to view a text file included in the packet, or any text file with CR/LF formatting. v} (Generally known as ASCII translation). The file will be displayed in the message text w}window (see the next chapter) and you can scroll through it with the arrow keys. All IBM x} graphics characters will be translated into their rough ATASCII equivalents. (Not a perfect y} translation, but good enough for most.) Only 100 lines of file text may be displayed at one time. z} If the file is over 100 lines, hit N to see the rest of it. {} The easiest way to get to know PabQwk is to experiment. You know enough right now to start reading a packet, |} so if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, feel free to do so now. When you're ready to lea }}rn exactly what the program can PabQwk/Page 23 ~} do, and how you can make it do it, I'll see you in the next chapter. Have fun. } } PabQwk/Page 24 READING MESSAGES } This is the most important feature in the program. And it's the one you will be using t }he most often, whether you do it through the R, C, or P command. If you selected to ead } all or

ersonal read, the program will start loading and displaying messages immediately. If yo }u onference read, there is a little the program will need to know. You will be asked for } Conference: If you know the number of the conference you want to read, enter it } now. If you don't know, or aren't sure, just hit RETURN. The program will open up a window in the middle } of the screen, and allow you to select the conference with the up and down arrows. Only conferences yo }u have access to will be displayed. All others (or conference numbers that aren't assigned to a co }nference) will display a blank line in the window. When you see the conference you want to read, h }it RETURN. PabQwk/Pae 25 } PabQwk then scans through the message packet for messages in that conference. If there are not, the program } will tell you so and abort to the main menu. If there are messages, however the system will display }: xx messages from nnnn to nnnn. Start read at message number: You can } start a conference read at ANY point in the conference. Hitting RETURN by itself starts at the first } message in the conference. While you are reading messages, the screen display is b }roken into four windows. The next page includes a sample display (not drawn to scale.) } PabQwk/Page 26 } +--------------------------------------+ A |BBS Name City, State | } +--------------------------------------+ |Msg#: ConfName | } | To: | B |From: | } |Subj: | +--------------------------------------+ } | | | | | } | C | | | } | | | | } | +--------------------------------------+ D | PabQ }wk 1.1 By Pab Sungenis | +--------------------------------------+ } (A) BBS Identification. This window shows the name of the BBS, and (if provided) the city and state the BBS is } located in. (B) Message header. This shows you the message number, the name } of the conference the message is in (up to 12 characters), the message's addressee ("To:"), the message's } author ("From:") and the message's subject ("Subj:"). (C) Message text. This window shows 18 l }ines of 40 column text, which is scrolled through the entire message text. Move the window around }the message by using the arrow keys. (SHIFT and the arrow keys will scroll by the window size. If } you press SHIFT and the right arrow, the rightmost 40 columns of text will be shown. SHIFT and the left arrow, } and the leftmost 40 columns will be shown. SHIFT and the up } PabQwk/Page 27 arrow slides the window up 18 lines, and SHIFT and down }slides it down 18 lines.) If you've ever used AtariWriter plus (or regular AtariWriter's Print Preview option), } you should already be familiar with the concept of a sliding window. If not, play around until yo }u get comfortable with it. (D) This window is only there to satisfy my inexecrable } vanity. It displays the current version number. While you are reading a message, you have th }e following commands at your disposal: UIT: This will let you stop reading messages, an }d return to the main menu. EXT: This proceeds to the next message. } EPLY: This allows you to enter a reply to this message. See the next chapter for details. } NTER: This allows you to enter a stand-alone message in the conference you are currently } reading. (If eading all, it will be entered in the same conference as the message cur }rently displayed. PabQwk/Page 28 } OME MESSAGE: This will slide the window up to the upper left-hand corner of the message text. } OTTOM OF MESSAGE: This will slide the window down to the lower left-hand corner of } the message text. AKE TAGLINE: (registered version only) This will allow you to }copy the tagline of the message into your own TAGLINES.DAT file (if you have one). Since there is } no exact way to tell just where the tagline is in a message (especially with some mail doors), th }e program takes its best guess. You will be asked to verify whether or not the program g }uessed correctly, and if you want to add it to your tagline collection. More on tagline }theft in the chapter "Our friend, the tagline!"

RINT MESSAGE: (registered version only) This dumps } the message you are reading either to your printer or the file designated as pseudo-print }er in PABQWK.CNF (see the section on configuring your system). The message is dumped "as } is," control codes are NOT stripped or converted. Some messages with IBM graphics characters } may cause problems with your printer. OOKMARK: (registered version only) This places } the system's "bookmark" in front of the message you are reading. Any subsequent ead All }command will begin PabQwk/Page 29 } with the marked message. If you uit PabQwk with a bookmark in place, the program will write a fi }le called BOOKMARK.DAT to the directory your packet is stored in. This allows you to quit } the program, go to DOS or reboot, come back later, and pick up right where you left off. } NOTE: Every time the ead all command jumps to the "bookmark," the bookmark is cleared, and must be } reset. Hitting RETURN at any time while reading a message will } slide the window back to display the leftmost 40 characters. } PabQwk/Page 30 } ENTERING MESSAGES There are three different ways to enter a message: } 1. By the "E" command at the main menu. 2. Pressing "E" while reading a message to ent }er a message in the current conference. 3. Pressing "R" while reading a message, to enter }a reply to the message. The prompts differ slightly depending on which of these } three methods you choose, but the main method is the same. If you use the "E" command, the first } thing you will be prompted for is: Conference number: } PabQwk/Page 31 If you know the number of the confe }rence you want to enter the message in, enter it. If you don't know it, just hit RETURN. The prog }ram will open a window in the middle of the screen, and let you select the conference to enter in w }ith the up and down arrows. Unlike reading a message, you CAN enter a message in a conference not in your confi }guration or that you didn't download messages from. Next, you will be prompted for: } To: Enter the name of the person to address the message to, or hit }RETURN for the default shown. If you are entering a stand-alone message, the default is "ALL." If you are } replying, the default is the name of the author of the message you are replying to. This allows you to } "re-direct" a thread. Next, you are prompted for: Subject: } PabQwk/Page 32 Again, e }nter a subject or RETURN for the default. If entering a stand-alone message, the default is "General." If } replying, it's the same subject as the message you are replying to. The next prom }pt is: Use a prepared text file? PabQwk allows you to convert a pre-forma }tted text file into a message, and upload it as if you had typed it on-line or in the PabQwk messag }e editor. This comes in handy if you want to type in a long message and prefer to use a text edito }r (like Textpro) or a word processor. The text file must be formatted into 79-column lines with no top or botto }m margins. Usually, you will create a file like this with the text/word processor's "Print" comman }d. See your manual for more details on this. The maximum message length in PabQwk is 100 }lines. If the text file is longer than this, the program will break it into two or more messages. } These additional messages will have the same tagline as the first, and will have a number added to } the subject line. (Example: if your subject is "What's going on?," the second part would be "What's going } PabQwk/Page 33 on? (#2)," the third } "What's going on? (#3)," and so on. If you choose not to use a prepared text file, the p }rogram will use the PabQwk message editor. If you are replying to a message, you will be asked: } Quote original text? If you answer yes, the text of the message you are } replying to will be "quoted" into your reply. Each line will be preceded by the original author's initials }. For example, a reply to a message from Michael Nelson will have "MN>" added before each line. I }f the original author only had a one-word name or handle, the "initials" will be the first two lett }ers of his/her name. Enter your message text. Words will wrap automatically at the end of } each (80-column) line. Hitting RETURN at any time will force a line-feed. There are thre }e special commands that can be used while entering a message to format a text line. } CENTER: Hitting CONTROL-C will center the current PabQw }k/Page 34 line. RIGHT-JUSTIFY: Hitting CONTROL-R will adjust the } current line, so the text ends at the 79th column. The front of the line will be padded with sp }aces. This command comes in handy to create "signature" lines. LEFT }-JUSTIFY: Hitting CONTROL-L will delete all spaces at the beginning of the current line. If } effectively undoes indentation, centering, and right-justification. } NOTE: If you use one of the three CONTROL commands, the word wrap mechanism can get "confused." You MUST hit R }ETURN to force a line feed on that line after centering, right-justifcation, and it's recommended a }fter left-justification, but not always needed. When you're done entering the text, or wan }t to edit what you have done, hit ESC at any time. The program then gives you a series of editing }commands: ONTINUE: This will allow you to resume entering message t }ext. You will be "dropped into" the end of the last line of the message. } PabQwk/Page 35 DIT LINE: This will allow you to do a } "search-and-replace" on any line of the message. You will be prompted for line number, search } string, and replace string. All occurances of the search string will be changed to the r }eplace string. You will be asked to verify the changes before they are made permanent. } ETYPE LINE: This is for lines that can't be dited very easily, or to replace bla }nk lines created by the nsert command. You will be asked for the line number, and can } then retype the line. The line must be less than 80 characters, and can be centered, lef }t-justified, or right-justified. ELETE LINES: This will allow you to delete a numb }er of lines from the message text. You will be asked which lines to delete. Hitting RETURN on the } "Delete to which line number:" prompt will only delete one line. NSERT }LINES: This allows you to insert a number of blank lines in the middle of a message, to make } room between lines for new text. You will be asked how many lines to insert and where to insert them. } These blank lines can then be replaced by the }PabQwk/Page 36 etype command. BORT MESSAGE: Use this when you "gi }ve up" and decide not to save the message. It exits the editor without saving what you'v }e entered. AVE MESSAGE: This saves the message as you have entered it. } If a TAGLINES.DAT file exists, you will now be allowed to select or enter a tagline for } the message. The program will randomly select a tagline from TAGLINES.DAT. Using this tag as a s }tarting point, you can move through the file with the up and down arrow keys. If you want to enter a special } tagline that's not in your TAGLINES.DAT file, press E. You can then enter a tagline, up to 57 charac }ters, for that message. More on taglines in the next chapter. The message will then be wr }itten to the *.MSG file. Afterwards, the program will either proceed to the next message (if readin }g) or return to the main menu. PabQwk/P }age 37 OUR FRIEND, THE TAGLINE Tagl }ines were the main reason I wanted to read offline. They are truly wonderful things. A tagline is a one-line } "mini-message" attatched to the end of a message. It can either be relevant or totally irrelevant to } the main message text. Some people like to use song lyrics, some use quotes from movies or TV (I' }ve counted about 200 taglines just from Monty Python), others slip in little words of wisdom or wit }ticisms. Just about anything can be in a tagline! PabQwk supports taglines of up to 57 characters, } slightly longer than those spported by most IBM readers. This makes it easy to "steal" taglines from o }ther users, and let them "steal" yours. (ALSO: with this version, PabQwk becomes the first QWK rea }der for ANY system to be able to identify and steal taglines created by the IBM BlueWave reader.) } TAGLINES.DAT is a simple text file, with an EOL (RETURN) between the individual taglines. }You can create it yourself with a text editor or word processor. Start your TAGLINES.DAT file with } just a couple of lines off the top of your head. As you read messages, you'll come across many } PabQwk/Page 38 taglines you'll either steal or }use as a jumping-off point to create one of your own. Build your file gradually. I started with f }ive tags and now have over 300, most of them original. (Really!) Many networks have tagline conferences } where you can sit and swap taglines all day long. They're often worth a look. For }those who want to be fancy, PabQwk supports Tagline macros, which enable you to imbed the name of the person thi }s message is to or other information in the tagline itself. Tagline macros consist of an inverse-ex }clamation point character (created in Textpro by SELECT-SHIFT-1 and most other editors by the inver }se video key) and a command letter. Command letters currently supported in tagline macros are: } [!]T = Person this message is TO [!]N = First name of addressee [!]S = Message } subject (More macros will be added as time goes on.) For example, if you have the ta !}gline: Set phasers to "kill." Fire at [!]N!! and the message is to JASPER PINO, the prog "}ram will convert the tagline to: PabQwk/Page 3 #}9 Set phasers to "kill." Fire at JASPER!! Experiment with tagline $}s, and you will see why they are so popular. %} PabQwk/Page 40 &} REGISTERING PABQWK You may have heard me refer to the "regis '}tered version" over and over again throughout this manual, and the niceties that only become availa (}ble after registering. For those of you for whom this is a new concept, let me explain. P )}abQwk is a ShareWare program, not public domain. If you enjoy the program and find it useful, you are expected *}to make a donation to help cover my expenses in developing it. This is not necessary, but is recomm +}ended. You could conceivably download PabQwk and use it for years without ever paying a cent. But ,} I'm hoping you'll appreciate the months of work in this program, plus want the convenience of the -}added features, to register it. The recommended donation is $10.00, but this isn't necessa .}rily a minimum or maximum. The idea of ShareWare is you pay what you think the program is worth, and get to "te /}st drive" it before you pay. To register the program, first tear out the last page of 0} this manual, fill it out, and send it (with whatever donation you think appropriate) to me at the addre 1}ss given in the PabQwk/Page 41 c 2}onclusion. Within a couple of weeks, you will receive a post card with all the information you need to register 3}. Aftr you receive this card, run PabQwk. Hit Q, then L, and type "REGISTER" when asked f 4}or the filename. When prompted, enter the information on the card EXACTLY AS SHOWN. (Case and spac 5}es count.) If all information matches, the Registration program will upgrade your copy of PabQwk to the 6} "registered version." You will then have access to all of the advanced features offered by the registered 7} version. If something goes wrong, please contact me immediately If you're on GEnie, and 8}want your registration information right away, include your GE Mail address with your registration 9}form. I will then E-Mail your registration information instead of sending a postcard. As :}another added incentive, registered users will receive free upgrades as the program is refined and enters ;} future versions. Again, it's not necessary to register PabQwk, but it is recommended. If you enjoy usin <}g the program, please show your gratitude. =} PabQwk/Page 42 IN CONCLUSION >} Well, the time has come again to end the documentation. Remember that it was users like YOU who ?}suggested most of the new features in the program. I VALUE what people have to say so give me a bu @}zz! If you have any questions or comments, I can be reached by one of the following method A}s: GEnie: P.SUNGENIS1 RIME: ->UNION Internet: p.sungenis1@genie.geis.com B} Fido: PAB SUNGENIS at 1/266:73 (Connections! BBS) FoReM: PAB SUNGENIS at node 168, CCBBS C} US Mail: LOW-BUDGET PRODUCTIONS POST OFFICE BOX 306 AVALON, NJ 08202- D}0306. Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you. E} Pab Sungenis PabQwk/Page 43 F} PROGRAM REGISTRATION FORM Prog G}ram: PabQwk Name: ______________________________________________________ Address: _______________________ H}____________________________ City, State/Province, ZIP/Post code: _______________________ _______________ I}_____________________________________________ Voice phone number: ________________________________________ J} (for registration purposes only!) Where did you get the program? _____________________________ K} Comments: __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ L}_____________ ____________________________________________________________ ______________________________ M}______________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Send to: N} LOW-BUDGET PRODUCTIONS POST OFFICE BOX 306 AVALON, NJ 08202-0306 Please write "Registration" on th O}e front of your envelope. NO DONATION IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER THIS PROGRAM. P} PabQwk/Page 44 REQUIRED TO REGISTER THIS PROGRAM. 0