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FidoNews · Vol 7, No 8 · 19 February 1990

     Volume 7, Number  8                              19 February 1990
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
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     |                                                /|oo \         |
     |        - FidoNews -                           (_|  /_)        |
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     |         FidoNet (r)                           |     | \   \\  |
     |  International BBS Network                    | (*) |  \   )) |
     |         Newsletter               ______       |__U__| /  \//  |
     |                                 / FIDO \       _//|| _\   /   |
     |                                (________)     (_/(_|(____/    |
     |                                                     (jm)      |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     Editor in Chief:                                  Vince Perriello
     Editors Emeritii:                    Thom Henderson,  Dale Lovell
     Chief Procrastinator Emeritus:                       Tom Jennings

     Copyright 1990, Fido Software.  All rights reserved.  Duplication
     and/or distribution permitted  for  noncommercial  purposes only.
     For use in other circumstances, please  contact  Fido Software.

     FidoNews  is  published  weekly  by  the  System Operators of the
     FidoNet  (r)  International  BBS Network.  It is a compilation of
     individual articles  contributed  by  their authors or authorized
     agents of the  authors.    The  contribution  of articles to this
     compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. 

     You  are  encouraged   to  submit  articles  for  publication  in
     FidoNews.  Article submission standards are contained in the file
     ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1.    1:1/1  is a Continuous
     Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.

     Fido and  FidoNet  are  registered  trademarks of Tom Jennings of
     Fido Software, Box  77731,  San  Francisco  CA 94107, USA and are
     used with permission.

     Opinions expressed in  FidoNews articles are those of the authors
     and are not necessarily  those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
     Most articles are unsolicited.   Our  policy  is to publish every
     responsible submission received.


                        Table of Contents
     1. ARTICLES  .................................................  1
        LSTFMT Version 1.60  ......................................  1
     2. LATEST VERSIONS  ..........................................  5
        Latest Software Versions  .................................  5
     3. NOTICES  ..................................................  8
        The Interrupt Stack  ......................................  8
     FidoNews 7-08                Page 1                   19 Feb 1990


     =================================================================
                                 ARTICLES
     =================================================================

                            LSTFMT Version 1.60

       The NodeList Formatting Utility for FTSC Compliant NodeLists

                             Steven K. Shapiro

                            SysOp LoneStar CBCS

                             FidoNet 1:382/35
                             AlterNet 7:49/382
                             Network 8:7102/35
                             EggNet 99:9100/35


     LSTFMT is an abbreviated form which stands for List Formatter.
     LSTFMT is designed to take a RAW, FTSC compliant nodelist, and
     produce output in a variety of formats based on the user
     specified switches.

     When I first became a member of FidoNet, I wanted to have just a
     list of those nodes in my local net.  In order to get it I had to
     edit a 500K+ nodelist and then search for Host,382 (which took a
     LONG time).  Then, once I had extracted this information, I still
     had to 'tidy it up' to be of a more human readable form.  I also
     wanted all of the fields to line up.  And then, to get it to all
     fit in 80 columns.

     What I also wanted to do was extract all of the nodelist header
     comments to be able to read about any new developments going on
     in the net.

     Thus the initial release of LSTFMT only supported these 2
     functions.  But, as is the nature of software, other SysOps had
     additional ideas of functionality I could add.  So, in a mere 3
     months, the current version scarcely resembles the original.

     Here is a brief list of the features of LSTFMT:

     1.   Ability to extract comments from a nodelist.
     2.   Ability to extract information about nodes that match a
          keyword.
     3.   Ability to format information about any zone, region or net
          in the nodelist.
     4.   Ability to format the information in a variety of forms:
          1.   Raw output
          2.   Formatted output 132 columns wide
          3.   Formatted output 80 columns wide
     FidoNews 7-08                Page 2                   19 Feb 1990


          4.   Explicitly specify which fields to format and output
          5.   Shrink the nodelist for specific net processing
     5.   Ability to append multinet information into a single list.

     Because all you need is an FTSC compliant nodelist, you may use
     nodelists from virtually all of the amateur networks, including
     but not limited to FidoNet, EggNet, AlterNet, Network and more!

     The following is a brief description of the operation of the
     program:

     LSTFMT /I<Input_file> /O<Output_file> /N<Net_number>
     /S<System_info> /Pnscypbf /K<zone>,<region>,<net> /C /T /A /R

     Where all arguments are entered on the same line interactively or
     via a batch file.  All arguments are optional.

     /I<Input_file>

     This is the nodelist file from which to extract the information.
     If you fail to specify the filename extension, LSTFMT will
     calculate the day number of the current nodelist and will attempt
     to open the file with the nodelist day as the file name
     extension.  If you do not use this switch, LSTFMT will attempt to
     use the current expected NODELIST.### file.

     You may use any valid Drive:\directory\path\filename.ext.

     /N<Net_number>

     This is the Zone, Region, or Host net from which to extract and
     format the information.

     If an '*' is specified as the net_number, then all nets in the
     input nodelist will be formatted.  This parameter will supercede
     the /S switch.

     /C

     This indicates that all comments should be extracted from the
     nodelist input file.  Only comments with text following them will
     be extracted.

     /O<Output_file>

     Is the file to which the extracted information is to be written.
     This file does not have to exist, but it will be created in the
     same directory as LSTFMT if it does not exist.

     You may specify any valid Drive:\directory\path\filename.ext.

     FidoNews 7-08                Page 3                   19 Feb 1990


     If this switch is not specified, the output will be sent to the
     system terminal (console).

     If the <Output_file> cannot be opened, or if none is specified,
     then the output will be sent to the system terminal (console).

     *WARNING* If the file <Output_file> exists, it will be deleted
     and the current output from LSTFMT will be directed to the new
     file.  Refer to the use of the /A switch for appending output to
     existing files.

     /S<System_info>

     This is specific system information that LSTFMT is to search for
     and extract to the output file.  This may be any text string.
     Each system found which contains this information in the
     input_file will be formatted and written to the output file.
     This may be system name, sysop name, baud rate, etc.

     If no /N net number is specified, all Zones, Regions and Hosts in
     the input file will be searched.  If a /N net number is
     specified, only that net will be searched for this information.

     /T

     This indicates that the /Net output should be formatted for 80
     columns.  This is handy if you wish to use the output file for
     display via a B)ulletins Menu item.

     /A

     This switch indicates that the output is to be appended to the
     output file if it exists, rather than deleting the existing file
     first.  If the file specified does not exist, it will be
     created.

     /R

     This switch allows for RAW nodelist output.  If specified, the
     output will not be formatted for display purposes.  This switch
     overrides the /T switch.

     /K<zone>,<region>,<net>

     This switch will cause LSTFMT to produce a shrunK, or pruned
     NODELIST file which may be used as input to such programs as
     Parselst or Xlatlst.  LSTFMT does not attempt to provide the same
     kind of versatility as is available with programs such as
     ShrinkNl or Prune.  The intended purpose of this feature is to
     produce a list for the SysOp who only wishes to have a nodelist
     which is comprised of his local net, or a small number of
     specific nets.  This switch overrides the /P, /T and /R
     switches.

     FidoNews 7-08                Page 4                   19 Feb 1990


     These parameters must be in the order indicated.  Each parameter
     is optional.  If you do not specify any Zones, Regions or Nets,
     then LSTFMT will ignore this switch.  If you omit the Region and
     Net number, then LSTFMT will produce a list containing ALL nodes
     in ALL Nets in ALL Regions in the Zone specified.  If you omit
     the Net number, then LSTFMT will produce a list containing ALL
     nodes in ALL Nets in the Region specified.

     This switch supercedes the /N, /S, /P, /T and /R switches.

     /Pnscypbf

     This switch allows for POSITIONAL nodelist output.  If specified,
     the output will be positionally formatted for display purposes.
     This switch overrides the /T switch and the /R switch.

     The fields to be output are specified via the argument list.
     These are:

     1.   N - Node number.  This includes any information such as
          HOST, HUB, etc.  The field width is 10 characters wide.
     2.   S - System name.  The field width is 25 characters wide.
     3.   C - City.  The field width is 25 characters wide.
     4.   Y - sYsop name.  The field width is 21 characters wide.
     5.   P - Phone.  The field width is 16 characters wide.
     6.   B - Baud.  The field width is 5 characters wide.
     7.   F - Flags.  The field width is 25 characters wide.

     If the data for any field is larger than the field width, the
     data is truncated so that the information may be formatted in the
     specified widths.

     These switches may be in any order and may be in either upper or
     lower case.  They must be separated by a space.

     And that's all there is to it.

     LSTFMT is available via the SDS, or from LoneStar CBCS by using
     the 'magic' filename of, what else, LSTFMT.

     Regards,
     Steve.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 7-08                Page 5                   19 Feb 1990


     =================================================================
                              LATEST VERSIONS
     =================================================================

                          Latest Software Versions

                               MS-DOS Systems
                               --------------

                           Bulletin Board Software
     Name        Version    Name        Version    Name       Version

     Fido            12q+   QuickBBS       2.62*   TBBS           2.1
     Lynx           1.30    RBBS          17.2B    TComm/TCommNet 3.4
     Kitten         2.16    RBBSmail       17.2    TPBoard        6.0
     Opus          1.03c+   RemoteAccess   0.01*   Wildcat!      2.10*
     Phoenix         1.3    TAG           2.5d1*


     Network                Node List              Other
     Mailers     Version    Utilities   Version    Utilities  Version

     BinkleyTerm    2.30    EditNL         4.00    ARC           6.02
     D'Bridge       1.30*   MakeNL         2.20    ARCA06        2.20*
     Dutchie       2.90C    ParseList      1.30    ARCmail        2.0
     FrontDoor     1.99b*   Prune          1.40    ConfMail      4.00
     PRENM          1.47    SysNL          3.01*   EMM           2.02
     SEAdog        4.51b    XlatList       2.90    Gmail         2.05*
                            XlaxDiff       2.32    GROUP         2.16
                            XlaxNode       2.32    GUS           1.30*
                                                   LHARC         1.13
                                                   MSG            4.0
                                                   MSGED         1.99
                                                   PK[UN]ZIP     1.02*
                                                   QM             1.0
                                                   QSORT         4.03
                                                   StarLink      1.01
                                                   TagMail      2.11b*
                                                   TCOMMail       2.2
                                                   TMail         1.12
                                                   TPBNetEd       3.2
                                                   TosScan       1.00*
                                                   UFGATE        1.03
                                                   XRS           3.10
                                                   ZmailQ        1.10*

                                 Macintosh
                                 ---------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     FidoNews 7-08                Page 6                   19 Feb 1990


     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Red Ryder Host   v2.1b4   Tabby         2.1   MacArc        0.04
     Mansion            7.15   Copernicus   1.0d*  ArcMac         1.3
     WWIV (Mac)          3.0                       StuffIt       1.51
                                                   TImport      1.331
                                                   TExport       1.32
                                                   Timestamp      1.6
                                                   Tset           1.3
                                                   Import        2.52
                                                   Export        2.54
                                                   Sundial        2.1
                                                   UNZIP         1.01*

                                   Amiga
                                   -----

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailers     Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     Paragon            2.00+* BinkleyTerm  1.00   AmigArc       0.23
                               TrapDoor     1.11   booz          1.01
                               WelMat       0.35*  ConfMail      1.10
                                                   ChameleonEdit 0.10
                                                   Lharc         1.10*
                                                   oMMM         1.43b*
                                                   ParseLst      1.30
                                                   PkAX          1.00
                                                   PK[UN]ZIP     1.01*
                                                   RMB           1.30
                                                   UNzip         0.86
                                                   Zoo           2.00


                                    Atari ST
                                    --------

     Bulletin Board Software   Network Mailer      Other Utilities

     Name            Version   Name      Version   Name       Version

     FIDOdoor/ST        1.5c*  BinkleyTerm 1.03g3  ConfMail      1.00
     Pandora BBS       2.41c   The BOX     1.20    ParseList     1.30
     QuickBBS/ST        0.40                       ARC           6.02*
     GS Point           0.61                       LHARC         0.51
                                                   PKUNZIP       1.10
                                                   MSGED        1.96S
                                                   SRENUM         6.2
                                                   Trenum        0.10
                                                   OMMM          1.40

     FidoNews 7-08                Page 7                   19 Feb 1990


     + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software)
     * Recently changed

     Utility authors:  Please help  keep  this  list  up  to  date  by
     reporting  new  versions  to 1:1/1.  It is not our intent to list
     all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     FidoNews 7-08                Page 8                   19 Feb 1990


     =================================================================
                                  NOTICES
     =================================================================

                          The Interrupt Stack


     17 Mar 1990
        Release date for Opus v1.10

      5 Jun 1990
        David Dodell's 33rd Birthday

     12 Jun 1990
        Fifth anniversary of FidoNet's switch to multiple nets.

     27 Jul 1990
        The beginning of the REGION 17 Convention at Menucha Resort in
        the Columbia Gorge, Oregon.  For details contact Ken Zwaschka,
        1:105/54.

      1 Aug 1990
        Start of FidoCon '90. Contact Bill Vanglahn at 1:1/90 for
        details.

      5 Oct 1990
        21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

     14 Nov 1990
        Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at
        2:332/16.0

      1 Jan 1991
        Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact
        Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description.

     16 Feb 1991
        Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush.

     If you have something which you would like to see on this
     calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.

     -----------------------------------------------------------------



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