README for multi v1.21 for Linux and FBB
(c) 1997 by Dave Stewart, KE4UWL

LICENSE:
This program is licensed under the terms of the GPL.  

This program may be distributed, provided there are no modifications made
to the source code or this file.  

INTRODUCTION:
multi is a server for the Linux version of FBB.  It allows the sending of
a single messages to multiple addresses on the local system.

INSTALLATION:

To compile and install multi:

Simply:  make

This will compile the program.  

After compiling:

Edit the Makefile to reflect your FBB base directory - this is the directory
where init.srv is stored.

Then:

make install

This will install the files multi and multi.hlp to your FBB base directory.
multi.hlp is the help file sent to users when they use the H command (see
below for info on commands).

The format of the helpfile is free-form; it can contain anything you wish
it to contain, since it's simply sent to the user requesting it (see the
COMMANDS section below).  Comment lines begin with # and are ignored (they
are not sent to the user requesting them).

***************
** IMPORTANT ** 
***************

** Make sure your init.srv has been edited to change the
** file name of mail.in.  By default, the installation script that comes with
** FBB leaves uppper-case path names and file names.  You should change these
** to lower case, even if you choose not to use multi.  Remember, Linux is a
** UNIX system, and UNIX is case sensitive.  If you do not change these in
** init.srv, Multi will not work properly!  

USEAGE:

Edit your init.srv file to include a line similar to this under the "List of
servers":

MULTI	multi	Multiple message sending

The first parameter on the line is the name of the mailing list, so You 
should replace the first MULTI above with the name of the list you are
creating, such as:

CLUB	multi	Send message to all club members

Now, create a data file for the list.  The data file name must be the name
of the list, followed by .dat:

   club.dat

Remember that Linux is case sensitive, and the filename must be in all 
lower case letters.

This file consists of only callsigns and comments.  Comment lines begin with
#, and are ignored by the server.  

Every callsign must be on a line by itself.

An example of a data file for the club mailing list:

#
# Club Mailing List
#
KE4UWL
KF4EWA

As you can see, the data file is very straightforward.

You also must have a configuration file for the list.  This filename is:

	<listname>.cfg

For example:

	club.cfg

This file contains only the status of the list, either OPEN or otherwise. Only
the first line is read, so your .cfg file for each list should show:

Open 

on the first line if it's an open list, or 

Closed

on the first line if it's a closed list.

The data and configuration files must be in your FBB base directory (the
same directory as multi, multi.hlp and init.srv)

Restart the BBS, log on and send a message to the list, in this fashion:

SP <listname>

Enter the subject as prompted, and enter your text.  When you complete your
message, use the /EX as usual, and multi will be called.

multi will deliver a copy of the message to each callsign listed in the
data file for that list, and deliver a confirmation message to the
sender.

COMMANDS:

You can send commands to multi, as well.

The command must be the subject of the message addressed to a mailing list.

Current commands:

A	Auto-add member to the mailing list.
	This adds the sender to the mailing list if it's an OPEN list.

L	List members of the mailing list
	EXAMPLE:  To find out who's on the club mailing list, send L as the
	subject of your message to club:
		SP CLUB     <---- Send a message to the list
		L           <---- Must be the only thing on subject line
		/EX         <---- No message body is required

H	Retrieve a help file for the server
	EXAMPLE:  To receive a help file for the server, simply send H as
	the subject of your message to club:
		SP CLUB     <---- Send a message to the list
		H	    <---- Must be the only thing on subject line
		/EX	    <---- No message body is required


LIMITATIONS:

Messages are limited to 4096 bytes.  It's an arbitrary number, based on 
what I think the max message size should be for forwarding.

DISCLAIMER:

This program is provided with no warranty, guarantee or even possibility that
it will work for you on your system, in your configuration.  The author will
not be responsible for any damages that may be caused by the use of this
program.

In other words, you're on your own!

                                
Let me know if you find it useful:

KE4UWL@KE4UWL.#MVL.GA.US.NA    :   Packet
dbs@dbscom.com                 :   Internet




