CA> I have a question about how you laid our your db containing msgs that i
 CA> thought you might answer.
 CA> In storing messages, specifically echomail, do you save each kludge
 CA> as a seperate value or do you just simply save the header info and then
 CA> the entire message text with kludge?

The message text and the kludges are stored separately.  JAM bases have a message header/index with mostly integer-based data, and then a message text buffer.  Part of that text storage is a sub-text buffer that stores custom fields and it has a variable length which allows field expandability without breaking the format.  The subtext is where the kludges are stored.

I believe Synchronet's format uses a similar approach too.

... A SQL query walks into a bar and sees two tables. Asks: 'Can I join you?'

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/03/14 (Windows/64)