InterMail Software Inc. InterMail Info - Jun 29 1994 ===================================================================== Copyright 1992-1994 InterMail Software Inc. All rights reserved. This leaflet is a short description of InterMail. Please see README.1ST for more details. What is InterMail? ------------------ InterMail is a computer software for electronic mail and automatic file transfers via modem. InterMail can be used both alone and with a BBS (Bulletin Board System). InterMail is the kind of software often referred to as a "front-end mailer". InterMail can easily communicate with BBSes and nodes within FidoNet and other Fido Technology based networks, no matter which type of computer or software they use. Why InterMail? -------------- InterMail lets you transfer all types of files much more easily and cheaper than with any ordinary communications program. Everything is taken care of automatically. InterMail takes all the hassle out of file transfers. You just tell it the destination and which files to send, InterMail takes care of the rest. It will keep dialing a busy number until it gets through, establish a connection with the correct settings, identify itself, send the proper password, and then send or receive files with the highest possible security. It will even call up and try again if line conditions should be so adverse that the modems lose the connection. If the connection is lost during a file transfer, InterMail will dial again and when a session is established it will continue from where it was interrupted. It will not start the file transfer from the beginning. InterMail and a BBS ------------------- InterMail is often used in front of a BBS. You can recognize it, if you call with a terminal program and find this: InterMail 2.28 Press ESC twice for ...... InterMail takes care of the modem, answers incoming calls and starts the BBS software. When the caller quits from the BBS software, InterMail will start again, ready for the next caller. If you are running a BBS and want to connect it to FidoNet or any other email-net, you may use InterMail for this purpose. Keep your old setup and just add InterMail. InterMail without a BBS ----------------------- InterMail works very well even without any BBS software. When run as a "Mail Only System" only another mailer like InterMail is allowed to call in. A human calling with a terminal program may be shown this: InterMail 2.28 Mail-only system. Please hang up. One reason for not having a BBS program set up behind InterMail, is to get more time available for automatic file transfers. The Building Blocks =================== InterMail comprises several separate programs which work together by sharing common databases. The Mailer ---------- The Mailer is the most important part. It is responsible for the modem and the actual transmission. It answers all incoming calls and dials all outgoing calls. The Mailer is controlled by mail events, user-defined periods of the day and night. Each event may be programmed to send all, or some, of the waiting mail. Events may also make InterMail call (poll) another InterMail and pick up waiting mail. Events may even be used to exit from the Mailer to run other programs, for example a daily system maintenance. InterMail may use several modems and phone lines simultaneously. This is called multi-line. Each modem is governed by one Mailer. To be able to run several Mailers, you need the ability to run several DOS-tasks at the same time. This is possible under Windows 3.x, OS/2, DESQview or in a LAN (Local Area Network) environment. The Mailer picks the right messages to send, packs them in bundles and puts them in a queue. For each bundle of mail, the correct telephone number is fetched from the nodelist. A check is made to see if there are any special rules governing how the bundle should be sent (routing), such as via another mailer (hub/host) or direct. Finally, the Mailer checks the queue, chooses a bundle, dials the number, makes contact and transfers the mail. If it's busy it chooses another bundle and dials another number. The Mailer produces a log file and history files, allowing you to keep track of what is happening on your system, and what calls are made where and at what cost. InterMail has its own script language which allows you to closely define call routines, and log-on procedures. This makes it possible to automatically contact database hosts and pick up information, even if the database host is not directly compatible with InterMail. The transfer window lets you know how much time is left with just a quick look at the graph to the right. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � InterMail 2.25 - Node 1:369/102 Wen 30 Jun 93 12:46 PM � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컫컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � + Using internal SIO driver, UART=16550A � BUSY � � Running under DESQview 2.42 � OK � � Mail S郞袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Receiving 팠袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴拷 � � Checki� The InterZone Cafe InterMail 2.23 � � � Initia� Pembroke Pines FL 1:369/35 � � � Waitin쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컫컴캑 � � + Event � Protocol : Zmodem/32 Speed : 16800 � � � � � Checki� File : NODELIST.ZIP Time : 3:27 � � � � � Using:� Left : 1:93 � � � � � - Prepar� Size : 663729 Cps : 2116 � � � � � 1:369/� Bytes : 416768 (8192) Eff % : 126 � � � � � + Callin쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컨컴캑32� 쳐컴컴컴컴� 냐캑 � From: Ke� Synchronizing with sender � � � 6-� Receiving file � � � To : Mi突袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴槁a � � 6-22-93 9:35p V꼡j�, Sverige � � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컨컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Press F10 for menu � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The Editor ---------- The Editor is a word processor with extra features to facilitate the management of messages. You can create, edit and reply to messages. Passwords limit a user to only access his or her own private messages. This makes it possible for several users to share one mailer on a singel PC or via a LAN. The Message base can be divided into different areas (folders), with each folder storing messages for a certain topic or echomail conference. See IEINFO.DOC. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 1:369/102 3:41p Net mail folder � �[5] Fri 22 Jan 93 2:45p Cost: 0 � 쿍y: Patrik Bertilsson, InterMail Tech Support (369/102) � 쿟o: Peter Stewart, InterZone Software (369/35) � 쿝e: D:\INTRMAIL.ZIP � 쿞t: Pvt File Kill Direct � 냐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 쿓i Peter � � � � > Next time, could you please run this through a spell checker � � > before submitting it for my perusal? ;-) � � � 쿌nd here I thought I was being creative with my spelling! � � � 쿟TYL - Patrik � � � � � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴쩡컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Ctrl-Z Save F10 Menu � Line: 14 Col: 2 � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴좔컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� IMSend ------ IMSend is a robot message maker that lets you create messages automatically from batch files or other programs. It is a very powerful tool if you need to setup automatic file transfers. This sample creates a message similar to the one above: C:\>imsend mf d:\intrmail.zip 1:369/35 /t=MsgBody.txt /s=pfkd There is also a DLL version for windows available. You may run InterMail in a background DOS-box and let your own windows program "talk" with InterMail via IMSEND.DLL. Price on request. The Nodelist Manager -------------------- Names and telephone numbers are stored in the nodelist. The Nodelist Manager helps you maintain and edit your own nodelist. You may export parts of the nodelist and distribute them to other nodes in your own network. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � InterMail 2.24; Nodelist manager � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴켭袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Flags 팠맣컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � � CM : 24 hour Mail � � � � Node number: � MO : Mail Only � Status : � � � XX : File requests � � � � Node name : � HST : USR HST � � Cost : 0 � � Location : � H96 : Hayes V9600 � � � Phone no : � PEP : TeleBit � Max baud: 9600 � � � MAX : Microcom AX/96 � � � Routing : � CSP : CompuCom � Group : � � � ZYX : Zyxel � � � Flags : � V29 : V.29 � � � � V32 : V.32 � � � � Sysop : � V33 : V.33 � � � � V34 : V.34 � � � � V42 : V.42 � � � � � V32b: V.32bis � � � � � V42b: V.42bis � � � � � H14 : HST 14400 � � 쳐컴컴쩡컴컴컫 � H16 : HST 16800 � 냐컴컴컫컴컴컴쩡컴컴컫컴컴컴� � � � 突袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴槁Prev. 쿙ext � 쿐xit � � � � � � � 쿯ield 쿯ield � �/Save � 픃1컴컨F2컴컴핮3컴컴핮4컴컴핮5컴컴핮6컴컨F7컴컴핮8컴컴핮9컴컴핮10컴켸 The IMSetup program ------------------- Nearly all settings may be changed from this program. The structured pull-down menus make it quick and easy to find just the area you are looking for. The short text line at the bottom gives you extra on-line help. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Exit Global Mailer Editor Terminal Modem Printer Manager � 넌袴袴袴旼컴컴컴컴컴컴와袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 낢굇굇굇� Mail Server 낢굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇� 낢�袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� Filenames and paths 뺑교 낢� System C:\IM\SYSTEM\ 볍교 낢� Netmail C:\IM\MAIL\ 볍교 낢� Files C:\IM\FILES\ 볍교 낢� Sec Files C:\IM\SECURE\ 볍교 낢�*Packets C:\IM\PACKETS\ 볍교 낢�*Log file C:\IM\IM.LOG 볍교 낢� Banner C:\IM\SYSTEM\WELCOME.TXT 볍교 낢� Nodelist C:\IM\NODELIST\ 볍교 낢� In-event C:\IM\SYSTEM\MAILONLY.TXT 볍교 낢� Swapping C:\IM\ 볍교 낢� Semaphore C:\IM\SEMA\ 볍교 낢� 볍교 낢� * = Must be unique for each Mail Server 볍교 낢훤袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴暠굇� 낢굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇굇� 냐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Mail server: 01 쳐� � Where InterMail's system files are located � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The Terminal Emulator --------------------- The Terminal Emulator allows you to communicate with other systems such as database hosts and bulletin boards. It provides several terminal emulations: VT100, VT52, ANSI (with Avatar/0) and TTY. The Terminal emulator has no role in the exchange of mail and is merely included as an extra convenience for the user. However, such convenience includes power script language, automatic Zmodem downloads, screen capture and other useful abilities. The Manual ---------- A brief description of the contents of the manual with number of pages per chapter. A. Table of Contents 8 B. General Section This section gives you instructions on how to install the program on your computer and then a short presentation of the InterMail system. 1. Introduction 4 2. Installation 2 3. Getting Started 7 4. How to Write and Send a Message 4 5. How to Send and Receive Files 6 6. General Overview 12 7. Planning Your System 6 C. Tutorial Section This section contains information on all InterMail features which are relevant to the normal user. 8. The Editor 72 9. The Mailer 40 10. The Terminal Emulator 26 D. Reference Section This section describes in depth how to configure your system. 11. The IMSetup Program 52 12. Events 17 13. Folders 12 14. Security 16 15. Routing 22 16. Nodelist 20 17. Script Language 18 18. Serial Port 12 19. Miscellaneous 36 E. Appendices Information that may not be immediately necessary, but sometimes can be useful. A. Error Messages 6 B. Errorlevels 2 C. Input fields 3 D. Glossary 8 E. File information 6 F. Index 7 How can I use InterMail? ======================== The main idea behind InterMail is that it can be used as an automated messaging and mailing system for companies, both large and small, national and multinational or individuals. It can be used internally within a company, or to link up companies, consultants, subcontractors, and clients both in the USA and overseas. As a final link, you may install InterMail on your computer at home and send files and messages between home and work. No more time consuming last minute rushes to see that you get the right diskettes and files home with you! The Server function even allows you, to a limited extent and with password security checks, to control a remote system by sending DOS commands or running certain programs. Receiving Files --------------- To receive files with InterMail couldn't be easier. The only thing you have to do is to make sure that the Mailer program is running and ready to answer incoming calls on the modem. InterMail will take care of the rest and place the received files in the directory you've specified for incoming files. Requesting a File ----------------- Requesting files is similar to sending file attaches, the main differences being the message status of File request. You just specify the file you wish to request from the other system instead of a file you wish to send. Events ------ The term events refers to the different times of the day and night when InterMail performs various tasks. The Mailer program is the part of InterMail that is primarily affected by events. The events decide which messages are qualified for sending and how they should be sent. The event based way of governing the activities of the Mailer makes it immensely flexible. Events may be set up in innumerable ways to suit the needs of the individual organization, from the most simple, where all messages are always qualified to be sent, 24 hours a day, to complex schemes where messages are sent - or held back - in different ways for every hour of the day. Routing ------- In many cases it may not be desirable or possible to send a message directly to the addressee. Nodes in a net may not be available for incoming calls and use a central (host) InterMail as a "post office" for all their mail. It may often be more cost effective to send a large number of messages for different systems in a single call to a network host. When mail is sent via another system instead of direct, it is called routing. InterMail supports routing in many different ways. User password ------------- It is possible to severely restrict access to InterMail, by setting up password protection for various features. Some features are protected by the password for the individual user, others are protected by a common access password. Session passwords ----------------- If a session password has been installed for a system, that system will not be able to pick up its mail without presenting the correct password. If mail from unprotected systems is allowed, it will be able to call in with another alias and deliver mail, but won't be able to pick up anything. File request security --------------------- No file may be requested from a system, unless it is placed in a directory that is explicitly listed as requestable, or has been listed under a "magic" filename. No other parts of your system are in any way available to a caller. Files may be password protected one by one or even on a directory wide basis. Unless the proper password is sent for each file specification, the caller will only get a message back saying that the files is missing or there has been a password error. Trademarks ---------- All products by InterZone Software, Inc. are trademarks or registered trademarks of InterZone Software, Inc. All products by InterMail Sales, Inc. are trademarks or registered trademarks of InterMail Sales, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. InterMail Software Inc. Voice 1-305-436-1587 10620 Washington Street #101 Fax 1-305-436-5587 Hollywood, FL 33025-3552 BBS 1-305-436-1884 USA Fido 1:369/102 InterMailNet 211:211/0