original_readme.txt
NNTP/NEWS POWER-POST 2000 - README.TXT
NNTP/NEWS POWER-POST 2000 Version 1.3 Build 25 (December 14, 2000)
(C) 1999-2000 by Chris Morse
http://net-toys.8k.com
Finally a new release of Power-Post 2000. This version of Power-Post
fixes a few problems (and hopefully does not introduce any!) Please
check the web site every now and then for updates. The 'Help / About'
window in POWER-POST 2000 has a button to take you there easily. This
version will be updated sometime in early Jan 2001; and probably again
a few weeks later.
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NEW FOR THIS RELEASE:
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- Timeout Auto-Retry. On the posting progress graph, you'll see a
dotted white line. This represents 2 minutes of time. If the graph
is "Flat-lined" up to the white line, Power-Post will automatically
close the server connection and retry. (See NEXT RELEASE notes below.)
- The "$F" (Filename) parameter in the subject template has been fixed.
Previously, you had to put the $F parameter at the END of the subject
text in order for Agent users to see your file's parts 'combined'.
This is actually a bug in Agent (rather, a lack of parsing skills.)
Now the part number (eg, "(1/10)") will always follow the filename
($F) so Agent users should be happy from now on.
- The Subject Template string now defaults to the previous one you used.
- For MindSpring users getting an "EMP" error when posting the last
part of a file (usually a part with just a few lines), you can try
and check the 'Add X-Server-Date Header' in Setup/Headers. This was
a field used by Peck's Power Post that I didn't include. It may help.
More work will be done, though, to help counter this error. (The
EMP error stands for 'Excessive Multiple-Posting' and is the result
of MindSpring trying to filter out what it thinks is spam.)
- New "$D" option in the subject template. This will insert the directory
name of the added file. NOTE: THIS IS NOT COMPLETE. I need to fix
it so that it uses the last part of the directory name; currently it
includes the FULL PATH. I will have this fixed in the next release.
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NEXT RELEASE:
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- Will make the $D (Directory) Subject-Template option work as expected.
- Will make the Timeout Auto-Retry feature optional and allow you to
set the timeout time.
- There will be automatic word-wrap on any prefix text you enter.
- Posting will be tranmitted in 4k to 8k chunks at a time; currently
Power-Post does a send() for each line. For broad-band users, this
will most certainly increase performance.
- Setup/Server will allow you to enter multiple servers. This will make
it easier to switch between servers. Power-Post will NOT automatically
switch servers while posting in response to excessive use errors.
- Sound configuration will be enhanced; Sound on/off toggle will be
available while posting is in progress. You will also be able to
selectively enable/disable or remap any of the sounds events.
- Will add the option to log activity. This will include what you have
posted (and to where) and the speed at which posting progressed.
- For MindSpring users, if I cannot find another suitable method of
avoiding the EMP error on small parts, I will include an option to
'Pad' the last part so that it is a minimum size. This will not pad
the actual file, but will simply be extra text appended at the end
of the message. This may also be an 'Option on Demand'.. If you
get the error, it will auto-retry with the option set.
- Soft Stop Button. This will be a 'Stop' button that makes Power-Post
stop posting after when the current FILE has been uploaded.
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OTHER ENHANCEMENTS PLANNED:
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- Header & Footer Text. This will be text that is placed before and
after the actual binary attachment. This has been requested mainly
by people who post images/pictures and want text in the actual
article and not as a seperate (0/n) file.
- Let me know if you have any others!
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NNTP POWER-POST 2000 is a usenet newsgroup binary file poster. It is
primarily oriented towards posting 1 to many files to a small set of
binary newsgroups. It is not geared towards sending 1 file to ALL
newsgroups (A.K.A. Power Auto-Spamming.)
Currently there is no setup program. You will, however, need two DLL's
that are most likely already installed on your computer. These are
MFC42.DLL (MFC Class Library) and MSVCRT.DLL (MS C-Runtime Library).
In addition, you need to have TCP/IP and Windows Sockets already
installed. If you're on the internet, you should be set. The MFC and
C-Runtime libraries are available at the web site for download. These
files can be installed either in your SYSTEM directory or in the Power-
Post directory.
To get started, unzip the POWRPOST.EXE file to a new directory on
your hard drive. For example, "C:\Program Files\POWER-POST"
POWER-POST 2000 will create an INI file in its directory (for all
the program settings) and will store any history and queue data there
as well.
After running POWER-POST 2000, you should first go into the program
setup and enter your news server information (and login, if required.)
Also set up your e-mail address and nick-name (if you want to use one.)
Using the program should be very straight forward if you understand
what the purpsoe of the program is. All you really have to do now is
drag/drop files onto the POWER-POST 2000 window, enter the title of
your post, select the newsgroups you want to post them to and then
hit the 'Play' button to start sending.
Cheers!
// CHRIS
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