====================================================================== RED CIENTIFICA PERUANA NOFTP HELP ====================================================================== 26/03/93 15:42:26 Welcome to U P Cayetano Heredia NOFTP Batch Mail Server Today we have 348 files available, that is 14.79 megabytes. To request instructions, type HELP in the subject line or message body. NOFTP will return this help message to the sender (From). File Server Facility -------------------- To request a file, type a line in the message BODY such as : GET filename Several files can be requested in the same message, one file per line. SEND can also be used instead of GET. Case is not significant. Files will be automatically coded (UUENCODE or ASC2BIN) and packed (PKZIP or ZOO) if files are binary and/or too large. The coding method used is mostly UUENCODE. ASC/BIN is used only when the sender has PcCorreo as the mailer. We are curently using PKZIP V2.04 or ZOO V2.01 for packing. If you do not have these versions available, or your current version can not unpack the files, then send, as you require, a request like : GET PKZIP.EXE GET PKUNZIP.EXE GET ZOO.EXE To request a list of files available, type a line in the message body with : DIR (a valid synonym for DIR is also INDEX). This example message requests a list, explanation and several files : DIR HELP GET RCP.LST GET PERUDPTO.PCX GET UPCH.LST Notice that file names and extensions are together, separated by a single perido. Also notice that there is no final period at the end of the line. Files larger than 131072b are put in queue for bulk delivery, and sent when >5 users request them. [pending queries will be served on weekends at the latest] Binary files or files larger than 51200 are compressed before send. You may re-direct answers to a different address than the one sending the message. To do that insert a line with USER followed by a valid Internet e-mail address every time you wish the requests after to be answered to a different address. Thus : USER lpasteur@microbes.follies.fr GET MEDN0604.TXT GET MEDN0603.TXT USER minstro@cuarto.moh.sld.pe GET INET.TXT will send two files to the first USER named, and one file to the other. Both USERs do not need to be the same as the sender of the message. XBASE Facility ('The Joy of Batch') -------------- NOFTP can receive and process a subset of batch XBase (dBASE/Fox) commands. Such commands can be applied to any pre-defined VIEW, as listed in the directory as 'X' type files, with typical extension .VUE. Usually a text file with the same name provides particulars about the database structure. A subset of submitted XBase commands is separated by BEGIN XBASE and END XBASE statements. Before any valid command can be executed, a VIEW must be selected by the extended command **.VIEW, which specifies the database the user wants to query. Notice that the sequence '**.' signals NOFTP to understand the extended command. XBase commands that are accepted include SELECT, LIST, DISPLAY, REPORT, print (?) and comment (*). The extended ANSI SQL SELECT statement as implemented in FoxPro 2 is also supported. An example is as follows : HELP DIR GET O92JCCH.TXT BEGIN XBASE **. VIEW O92JCCH DISPLAY STRUCTURE REPORT FORMAT O92LISTA FOR "VIRUS" $ UPPER ( TITULO ) REPORT FORMAT O92RESUM FOR CLAVEPRO = "132" OR CLAVEPRO = "223" END XBASE GET RCP.LST GET UPCH.LST This example queries a references database and searches for particular records according to the FOR clauses. The REPORT commands make use of pre-defined report formats that are documented for the example database in the text file requested. Each database may have its own set of reports and views. The output is sent to the user as a text file, even if is long. Be selective. Most syntax errors are trapped by NOFTP, but try to avoid them, as they will waste computer and operator time. Do not send output to intermediate files (TO clause), because you will not have access to such files. ISIS MX Facility ('Promethus Released') ---------------- NOFTP can now process queries for MicroIsis databases. The databases available are identified in the directory listing by having a DBN extension. Usually, there is an associated TXT file with the same name which describes the services accessible in that particular database. Once you have chosen a database, you may send to the server queries in MicroIsis language within BEGIN/END blocks in this manner : BEGIN ISISMX LIPECS Abdomen END ISISMX This example requests a search in the LIPECS database (specified in the first line after the BEGIN line). The next line specifies the keywords that are to be searched for. You can specify more complex queries according to the MicroIsis format : BEGIN ISISMX LIPECS Abdomen*Peru END ISISMX which specifies a search for records containing BOTH keywords. The database manager at the server site will arrange for proper indexes to be set up on relevant fields, as well as setting up default and accesory report formats. By default, a report format with the same name as the database is asumed present. The specific database documentation will refer to additional reports available, as in : BEGIN ISISMX LILACS Abdomen*Peru pft=SHORT.PFT END ISISMX The server will return the output of the query. Virus Security ('Safe Relax') -------------- As the virus threat grows, server managers make every attempt to keep the files available clean from infection. Viruses are not normally transmitted 'alive' through e-mail, but they might be passively transmitted just like any other file. You need to be careful then. Never execute a downloaded EXE or COM file without a previous check for viruses. Try as much as possible to run newly acquired programs (specially those from BBSs and public servers) in isolated machines for a couple of weeks before general use. In this server you might request antiviral files : GET SCAN.EXE GET CLEAN.EXE GET SCAN.LST The latest versions of these files are usually kept. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember that, at the usual 2400 bps modem speed, it may take nearly 10 minutes of phone call to transfer a single 100K file. Be sober. NOFTP requests may be received anytime at this server, however, they might be served at certain times of the day only (usually low-fare night shifts). Thanks for your understanding. Send messages with requests to Any questions for (lousy) humans, send mail to Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Thanks for helping us help you. -- * . . . _ .