MessageCentre for the S3A version 0.1.


What is it?

An offline mail & news reader for the S3A.  It relies
on an intermediate machine to link to the network.

It is intended to be used as a mobile alternative to 
your big machine, not a replacement.  I wouldn't recommend 
large newsfeeds or huge mail items.  (Can you afford the 
SSDs?)

It can use the standard word app as a reader, but this 
is less than satisfactory.  I thoroughly recommend 
Peter Muys' eTxtReader http://door.hookon.be/~petemuys

The icons are taken, with permission from Neil K Bee's excellent 
Psion Icon Index.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/n.bee/psion/icons/index.htm, 
email:n.bee@ukonline.co.uk


Usual disclaimer

It is copyright to me, Andrew Scheele.

If it mucks about with your system, then I'm sorry, but 
it's not my fault.


How do I get my mail/news?

There is a simple directory based spooling system based
on KA9Q.  Essentially you have to find some way to dump
your mail & news files (1 per message) into the appropriate 
directory using a plug in OPL module.  Currently I have only 
written one for windis/ka9q, although it should be relatively 
simple to write one for unix (dial-up or serial).  
Other formats I don't know about.  I've included the OPL source
for windis as a starter, hope you can follow it.

E-mail me with your questions or if you successfully implement 
another method.


What is Windis?

From the windis help file:
>WinDis is a Windows front end for a Demon Internet Dial-Up Connection. 
>It has been developed in C++ by Ewan Kirk as a public domain program. 
>Its further development is being undertaken by a band of volunteers who 
>have been inspired by the original program to take a hand in improving 
>the application.  It is available in both 16- and 32-bit versions for all 
>flavours of Windows.  In this help file, WinDis is taken to refer to either 
>version, unless stated otherwise. WinDis basic functionality is:
>
>	NNTP News Client - downloads news for reading with an off-line reader.
>	SMTP Mail Client - uploads mail, as individual e-mail, to a mail server.
>	SMTP Mail Server - downloads waiting mail, from the mail server, for an off-line mail.
>	Finger Client - fingers servers as appropriate.
>	Finger server to provide remote computers with any information you wish.
>	Time Client - gets server time and synchronises the time on your computer accordingly.

Plesae note that it is not _just_ for demon, it can be used on its own on a PC, or 
to receive from a local source, such as a unix box.

Installation

Unzip the distribution and dump onto your psion in the 
usual manner.  You need the stuff in the APP directory,
and the spool directory, it should be possible to put
these two directories onto two separate drives.  

You will also need an address book, I have supplied email.dat,
but you should be able to use any data file, provided the 2nd field 
contains the email address .

Install the icon on the system screen and fire-it up.

Assuming that I've got the distribution files right, it 
should then prompt you for some preferences.  Fill them
in as best you can.  The program will validate some 
items, but cannot do the remote stuff.

Remote spool/remote user are used by the comms module 
once linked.  For example:
	Remote spool: rem::c:\ka9q\spool\
	Remote user: psion

Remember to put the "\" at the end of the spool directory.

It should now start working, if it doesn't then restart 
the app, this may be due to one of the variables not 
being properly reset.

If it still won't start then delete \app\msgcentr.dbf.

If you want to change any preferences then this can be done using 
<psion>-p from the main screen.

If your still having problems then get in contact.

The news forwarder is the email address of a program that will post
news messages to usenet.  For example mail2news@news.demon.co.uk.


Setting up the remote server

The supplied comms module expects to 'mount' the remote
file system. If you are using PsiWin then you will need to 
enable it, from the FAQ:

>If you want to access PC drives from your Psion (they will appear,
>in dialogs, with "REM::" before their drive letter), edit the
>PSIONPRC.INI file in your "Windows" directory, and remove the "-x"
>from the end of the following line:
>     
>engine=prcenwin.exe -x


Setting up windis

Set up your newsfeed so that it does not remove the batch when windis
is finished.  This will create an rnews format news packet which 
MessageCentre will find and delete after unbatching.
	
So that you get mail on both the PC & psion you may like to
set up an alias to two addresses, one for your main system & 
one for the psion.

Have a play.  I've included some sample messages.


The future

This test version program will expire on 1/2/97.

When you find any bugs, want any enhancements or info
on writing your own filters then e-mail me at 
shay@turtle.demon.co.uk

By this time, work permitting, and assuming there
is enough interest I hope to have fixed the bugs you
will find and added a number of enhancements.  Some 
of my ideas are:
	1) Cleared up the limitations (see below)

	2) Decent incoming/outgoing mime support (currently v. 
	limited incoming only)

	3) Plug-in support for other file formats. (word, excel?) 
	
	4) Integrate with outgoing fax (but I don't have 3fax)
	
	5) Hook up to SMS (need to get the developers kit)
	
	6) Get it working on the siena.
	
	etc. etc., suggestions welcome.

To do this I need encouragement.  If you ain't interested then
I'll not bother.

My instinct is to GPL the software, but some of my ideas will 
require cash, so it might be necessary to make it shareware
in the future.

Known Limitations:
	1) Less than minimal incoming mime compliance.  It will 
	basically hide anything but text from you.
	
	2) It does not wait for other applications to stop.  (I need 
	to read system calls properly.
	
	3) You have to manually insert <CR> whilst editing messages.
	
	4) No sorting/locking/status etc. of the messages.
	
	5) No separating of the newsgroups (All in one directory)
	
	6) No threading of messages.
	
	7) Can only write to a single address (need to figure
	out how windis does multiple recipients and how to do
	a multiple select using something like dCHOICE)
	
	8) Little error checking (especially on disk space, 
	large newsfeeds which fill the disk will probably kill
	it.)
	
	9) No help files.
	
	10) Main screen handling a little slow.
	
	11) Anyone want a go at designing a groovy set of icons?
	
	12) Does not understand the Reply-To header.
	
Lots of others, but I'm going to release it anyway.


History

	0.1 (8/12/96) beta version to expire 1/2/96.
