Subj : openxp..
To   : Rob Mccart
From : August Abolins
Date : Thu Aug 21 2025 20:51:00

Hello Rob!

** On Monday 18.08.25 - 09:04, you wrote to me:

 AA>> You might like to look into OpenXP.  It would make your
 >> connection operate as a point, and you benefit from having all
 >> messages stored into a database for easy search and lookup
 >> later.  I built https://openxp.kolico.ca to help promote it.
 >> See the screenshots there.

 RM> I briefly had a look at that. I access this board by having
 RM> QWK files eMailed to me.. Is that how you use OpenXP ?
 RM> I didn't see any reference to QWK in the PDF Manual, and
 RM> the help file won't open in Windows 7, although possibly
 RM> I can DL the software to fix that.

OpenXp is a complete FTN/NNTP/email system.  Wrt to FTN, you  
simply configure it to "talk" with a sysop's system (the boss  
node) like it was another Fido machine connecting to it to  
exchange messages.

You can even "crash" netmail to another TLD (z:nnn/nnn) node.   
It can even make file-requests.  For that to work, a nodelist  
is required.


You do have to be a bit familiar with what a bossnode is, and  
you and that sysop must establish the correct connection  
credentials and packet configuration for the echomail.


 RM> My main issue that brought this on was an inability to copy
 RM> and paste into SLMR with the setup I have. Is OpenXP Windows
 RM> software, as opposed to DOS and does it support that ?

OpenXP requires a Windows-based machine, yes.  But the program  
itself operates like a console app - text based - as you could  
see in the screenshots.


 RM> Looking at the screen shots it doesn't look a whole lot
 RM> easier to deal with than SLMR otherwise..

I was reluctant to use OpenXP at first too!  But I was coached  
by a wonderful user/supporter of the program and ultimately  
realized that OpenXP is truly quite feature-rich for messaging.

There might be a bit of learning curve.. so yes, it's not  
necessarily "easier" at first.   The internal editor uses Word- 
Star editing shortcuts, for example - but don't need to know  
them all - a few basic shortcuts are all you need for deleting  
lines, line-wrapping, copying to and from the clipboard, etc.

But the program has an internal context-sensitive HELP (F1)  
when help is needed at any menu/page.

I use OpenXP with several different bossnodes and several  
different networks: Fidonet, FSXnet, Micronet, Dovenet, and  
even with End-Of-The-Line BBS in NNTP mode.

I simply wasn't happy limiting myself to QWK.  With QWK, you're  
basically stuck reading and replying to one QWK file at a time.  
With OpenXP, the messages get stored database style, and can be  
accessed at any time. You can easily mark messages for reply  
later, mark messages to keep, export to another file/clipboard,  
and http:// links are recognized directly for easy copy/paste  
into a browser.


-- 
  ../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
 * Origin: Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're a Cheese (1:396/45.29)

.