On 2020 Apr 10 16:11:36, you wrote to me:

 VC>>> For DESCription and rules text the width limit is 75 characters
 VC>>> with a maximum of 15 lines for DESCription.

 >> does this mean 75 characters after the required "DESC " on each line
 >> making 80 characters per line max?

 VC> Yes 75 after the keyword and space.

ok so 80 characters max per line all total... gotcha...

 VC>>> The rules and be any length from 5 to even 500 although the
 VC>>> longer they are the more ignored by posters will occur !

 >> here, when you say "any length" are you meaning "any number of lines"?

 VC> Any number of lines for rules.

ok...

 VC> DESC can have only  a maximum of 15 lines as that is the space
 VC> availble in the data base. This is a limit that has been in place for
 VC> what 20+ years.

yeah, i was asking specifically about the rules part and also subtly offering
an edit to the wording there ;)

 >> and lastly, i'm confused about a few things regarding the .ECO files:
 >>  1. your system cannot process netmails for entry updates?

 VC> Correct I have not yet found anything that allows me to read JAM netmails
 VC> and there fore gives me an option to create a file for processing. I will
 VC> carry on looking same as for email in/out processing.  For the moment all
 VC> submissions must be as files that are dropped off at 2:2521 or 2:250/1.

can't you use something in mbse or some of its existing code? reading JAM
netmails should be no different than reading JAM echomail... there's only a
couple of slight differences between the two and JAM is only a storage
format...

 >>  2. does the filename and extension /have/ to be UPPERCASE?

 VC> No, they can be lower case as elist will search for files with extensions
 VC> of .eco,  .ECO, .rul and .RUL.

ok... i was asking because everything had them in uppercase and i know that
some systems are case sensitive at the file level...

 >>  3. do the ECO files have to be attached to a message or just the raw
 >>     file dropped in your inbound?

 VC> Just the files but if your system requires that they be attached to a
 VC> netmail that is fine. Just make sure the netmail goes to 2:25/21 (or
 VC> 2:250/1).

ok... binkd outboxes will work fine for this, then... my new system works a lot
differently than my old RA/FD/FE setup did... doing a filebox for this
particular task will be the easiest method and not involve the message base
code at all...

 >>  4. if we send ECO files, there /must/ be a SUBJ line in them?
 >>  4a. with only valid values of MOD-ADD, MOD-UPD, MOD-DEL, or HELP?
 >>  4b. when your system starts processing netmails, will that SUBJ
 >>      line cause problems if it is in the netmail update/addition?

 VC> There are a few keywords that are mandatory - they MUST be supplied.

when using ECO and RUL files... ok...

 VC> SUBJ  With MOD-ADD or MOD-UPD or MOD-DEL
 VC> TAG   Echo tag name
 VC> FROM  Your contact details in the format first last name, netmail address
 VC>                            {, email address}   where {} is optional.

ok, so you want FROM instead of REPLY and i only need to add SUBJ to my
existing files... gotcha...

 >> i'm looking for clarification on all of the above before i dump a load
 >> of ~40 updates on you... i don't want to post them as netmails and
 >> cause you to have to manually export, edit, and submit them to your
 >> processor...

 VC> No problem glad to clarify but are you saying that the help file is not
 VC> being help full ?

i was saying that some of the wording was slightly confusing... mainly
because... i dunno... i guess i was not seeing a clear delineation between
using netmail and using ECO/RUL files...

 VC> If so I will have to look at re writing it but most came from Dana
 VC> with updates from Ben.

i understand...

 VC> When you are ready send one with what you now think is correct and see
 VC> what happens when elist processes it and this occurs every 30 minutes
 VC> past the hour.

i'll be pumping them out "shortly... -ish" ;)

thanks for the clarifications!


)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty,
ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... There's a difference between criticism & abuse but most don't know it.
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