BeamUp V0.2

© by Patrick van Beem in 1997

Documentation: 8 march 1997

Introduction

BeamUp

At the moment, the programm only supports outgoing calls. That makes it perfectly usable for so called 'Points' like me, but (yet) not usable for a BBS system. Wel, neither a point-packadge or a BBS system are available for the BeOS yet, so... As you might guess, we (I) are working on that (what else would be the purpose for this poll package?). I released this programm, so you all get the change to test the program and report any errors. Also, it's an ideal method of transfering several files over a null-modem (it's fast, AFAIK) or to request files from an other system.

For the first thing (transfering files over a null-modem), the programm has a special feature. When you select the check-box 'nullmodem', the dialer will be skipped, and a nullmodem will be emulated. See below.

Configuring BeamUp

configure

Adresses The node numbers of your system, separated by spaces. The numbers are in general Fido format. For example: 2:280/464.2 This is a mandatory field. System name The name of your system. Optional. This field will only be showed on the host system. System city The city where your system is located. Optional. This field will only be showed on the host system. Sysop phone Your phone-number. Enter -Unpublished- if you don't want others to know your phone-number. This field will only be showed on the host system. Sysop name Your name. Also optional, also only showed on the remot system. Dial numbers The phone-numbers of your boll, separated by a space. These numbers will be dialed sequentially and repeatedly until a connection is established (or one of the other conditions is met). Dial timeout Time in secs. given to the modem to establish a connection after the dial command for that number has been sent. Dial delay Time in secs. between two repeated sequences of dialing the phone numbers. # retries Number of repeated dial sequences befor giving up ever establishing a connection. Device The device to use for the connection. Inbound The directory to use for the incomming files. The directory must exist! It's NOT being created for you. /boot/usr/mail/inbound is recommended. Outbound The directory where the outgoing files can be found. The directory must exist! /boot/usr/mail/outbound is recommended. Logfile The logfile to use. If not specified, no log is kept. Log level The level of information to log. Varying from -2 (nothing) to 2 ('debug' information). Baud rate The baud-rate at which the device is set. Dial prefix Prefix to add before any number to dial. Modem reset Modem command string used to initialize the modem before each dial command. Password Optional password used on the host system. Ask your sysop. Seven-wire If checked, a full 7-wire modem-cable is assumed and hardware handshake is enabled. Nullmodem When checked, the normal dialler is skiped and it's options are ignored. Instead, when a poll starts, the program waits a little time, sends the string OK, waits a little time, sends the string RING, waits a little time, sends the string CONNECT 14400 and then starts the session. This ought to be enough to fool a receiving communication program in thinking it's actually talking to a modem. Works for me with TrapDoor on my beloving Amiga computer.

Well, after that, you can accept the changes and save them (the OK button) or cancel the changes and throw 'm away (the Cancel button).

Using Beam

When connected, the host system is asked for it's node numbers. All files waiting for that host, are being send to the host. Then, the programm waits to receive files from the host. After that, it disconnects. Once connected, the program will NOT dial again. Whatever the session failes or not.

Supported file-extensions

OUT Normal mail. Send to the host as nnnnnnnn.PKT file. Deleted after sent. Example: 2.280.464.0.OUT CUT Continues mail. Send to the host as nnnnnnnn.PKT file. Deleted after sent. Example: 2.280.464.0.CUT DUT Direct mail. Send to the host as nnnnnnnn.PKT file. Deleted after sent. Example: 2.280.464.0.DUT REQ Filerequest. Send to the host as nnnnnnnn.REQ file. Deleted after sent. Example: 2.280.464.0.REQ FLO List file. The given file is read line by line. Each line is interpreted as being a file (with an optional path). The file is being send. If the filename looks like a node number, it's converted to nnnnnnnn, with the original file-extension. For example, 2.280.464.0.SU0 will be sent as 32474DE7.SU0. The first character of each line may be a special character: # = the file will be made empty after sent. ^ = the file will be deleted after sent, which will be recorded in the logfile. - = the file will be deleted after sent. ~ = the file will not be processed. The .FLO file is deleted after all of its listed files are sent. Example: 2.280.464.0.FLO CLO Will be treated the same as a .FLO file. Example: 2.280.464.0.CLO DLO Will be treated the same as a .FLO file. Example: 2.280.464.0.DLO

At the moment, a maximum of 50 files can be sent in one session.

The author and ©

You can reach me at:

K.P. van Beem
Parlevinker 5
2152 LC Nieuw-Vennep
The Netherlands

e-mail: patrick@aobh.xs4all.nl (prefered) or Patrick.van.Beem@nldhgocp.origin.nl

phone: +31 - (0)252 - 67 34 61

Please, let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, bug-reports or waht so ever.

This programm is Share-Ware. There are no limitations or registrations. If you keep using the program, send 25 Dutch Guilders (or $ 15) to the address above, or transfer it to my bank account (Postbank: 6047762). Your money will be used to buy newer equipment and tools to develop this and other products further on the BeOS.

Greetings,

Patrick van Beem.