Hi All,

I'm running MS-DOS versions of Seal and Squish, the fidonet backbone echo areas is now a small 200 areas, my squish.cfg needs a clean up of dead echo areas.

Any quick way of doing this?


Kevin
klement@gypsy-designs.com

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Gypsy BBS -- Gypsy Designs CDN (403) 242-3221 (1:342/77)

HI KEvin,

Kevin Klement wrote in a message to All:

I'm running MS-DOS versions of Seal and Squish, the fidonet backbone
echo areas is now a small 200 areas, my squish.cfg needs a clean up
of dead echo areas.

I wrote a simple batch file to help me with such chores.
I use sqafix for areafix, and it keeps all echotags in a flat text file separate from its configs. THe batch builds other batches using the echo tags found in this file.

THis batch file, which runs under ms dos 6.22 depends on a
couple of batch enhancements, fgrep386.exe and Horst Schaeffer's listmod are the two it needs.

My batch searches the flat text file my areafix program produces as well as any
queue files and creates another batch using listmod which then searches backbone.dst and backbone.no for dead echoes. IF found in backbone.dst the batch builds another batch which uses my areafix from the command line to unlink my system and any downlinks from said dead echoes. INactive echoes are left alone until they become listed in the destroyed list.

IF you'd like to see the master batch file as a sample with which to build your
own I can send it to you via netmail. The bfds headquarters can get you the two
dependencies it needs. MOst systems carrying the bfds file echo should have them as well.

Be glad to send you the sample batch via routed netmail if you like.

Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS (1:116/901)

Hello Kevin!

12 Jul 08 13:39, Kevin Klement wrote to All:

I'm running MS-DOS versions of Seal and Squish, the fidonet backbone
echo areas is now a small 200 areas, my squish.cfg needs a clean up of dead echo areas.

Any quick way of doing this?

DROP will both clean up the SQUISH.CFG entries and delete the message data files for the area. I assume you are looking for an easy way to identify which
tags to drop, based on the criteria that they no longer are listed in the .NA file?

If so, you can force SEAL to update the descriptions for the areas on the ;EchoSpec lines with:

SEAL DESCRIBE E <.NA filename> -FORCED

Without -FORCED, only missing descriptions are updated with current ones...so the old lines will still have their old descriptions that were added when the area was first created. Adding -FORCED will change them to blank, "(no description available)", or whatever SEAL.INI has defined as DefaultDescription.

After that, a little FIND on the "no description" string and search-n-replace magic is all it takes to make a .BAT with one SEAL DROP E <tagname> line per area. Scan the tags to make sure you don't accidentally delete local or regional echoes that either don't appear in the .NA or come from another uplink.

Setting GroupLines to "yes" may also be helpful if you normally see each ;EchoSpec line immediately after its corresponding EchoArea line. It toggles them from being interleaved to listed as a block of EchoArea lines and separate
block of ;EchoSpec lines. Don't forget to run SEAL UPDATE to have it rewrite the SQUISH.CFG after toggling the setting in SEALCFG or directly in SEAL.INI.

I recently had a downlink leave and then come back, and PAUSE / RESUME would do
pretty much what you're after more simply since it won't RESUME areas that aren't found in the .NA with your uplink...but it doesn't like your own address
or the feed address as an argument.

.\\ike

--- GoldED/2 2.50+
* Origin: -=( The TechnoDrome )=- Austin,TX 512-327-8598 33.6k (1:382/61)

Hi Richard,

Saturday July 12 2008 22:42, Richard Webb wrote to Kevin Klement:

I wrote a simple batch file to help me with such chores.

I'm using Seal386 for my areafixing chores.

THis batch file, which runs under ms dos 6.22 depends on a
couple of batch enhancements, fgrep386.exe and Horst
Schaeffer's listmod are the two it needs.

My BBS Box OS is MS-DOS 6.22. :)

My batch searches the flat text file my areafix program
produces as well as any queue files and creates another
batch using listmod which then searches backbone.dst and

Maybe I can tweak your batch files to work with Seal/Squish?

IF you'd like to see the master batch file as a sample with
which to build your own I can send it to you via netmail.

Sure.. email it to: klement@shaw.ca


Kevin
klement@gypsy-designs.com

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Gypsy BBS -- Gypsy Designs CDN (403) 242-3221 (1:342/77)

Hello Kevin!

13 Jul 08 14:31, Mike Tripp wrote to Kevin Klement:

EchoArea lines and separate block of ;EchoSpec lines. Don't forget to
run SEAL UPDATE to have it rewrite the SQUISH.CFG after toggling the setting in SEALCFG or directly in SEAL.INI.

Oops: UPDATE is to sync the binary version of the file with the text SEAL.INI if you bypass SEALCFG.EXE and manually change the text file. You would only need that if you changed GroupLines from "no" to "yes" in your text editor.

FORMAT is the command to rewrite SQUISH.CFG based on new settings after a change.


.\\ike

--- GoldED/2 2.50+
* Origin: -=( The TechnoDrome )=- Austin,TX 512-327-8598 33.6k (1:382/61)

HI KEvin,

Kevin Klement wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

I wrote a simple batch file to help me with such chores.

I'm using Seal386 for my areafixing chores.

THis batch file, which runs under ms dos 6.22 depends on a
couple of batch enhancements, fgrep386.exe and Horst
Schaeffer's listmod are the two it needs.

My BBS Box OS is MS-DOS 6.22. :)

SO is mine, so that won't be a problem. You'll need listmod and fgrep386. IF you have trouble getting the dependencies through a bfds site near you let me know, I"ll email attach 'em uuencode.

Btw i"ll just send the batch itself in the text of a message, make sure it can go. I have better luck with uuencode than mime, but if you really need HOrst's enhancements or fgrep386 let me know.

My batch searches the flat text file my areafix program
produces as well as any queue files and creates another
batch using listmod which then searches backbone.dst and

Maybe I can tweak your batch files to work with Seal/Squish?

Maybe so. DOes seal produce a text file of all areas you handle? I know sqafix does. I only ran seal briefly back in the '90's and switched to another
areafix. THerefore I don't recall much about it.

IF you'd like to see the master batch file as a sample with
which to build your own I can send it to you via netmail.

Sure.. email it to: klement@shaw.ca

Consider it done. wIll be going out shortly to you.

I"ll comment them liberally with :: beginning each comment line.



Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS (1:116/901)

following up a message from Richard Webb to Kevin Klement:

CHanged my mind, I uuencoded the batch to you, as word wrap was screwing up the
lines beyond all recognition. iS on its way to you.

I hope it's understandable.

I know MIke gave you a seal solution, but don't know enough about seal to suggest which would be preferrable for you.

LEt me know if it's helpful.

Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS (1:116/901)

Hi KEvin,

Kevin Klement wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

IF you'd like to see the master batch file as a sample with
which to build your own I can send it to you via netmail.

Sure.. email it to: klement@shaw.ca

Been there done that, got a bounce. HOwever, I did see MIke post a solution that might be better for you using seal. IF that doesn't work for you and you'd still like to see my solution to the problem let me know and we'll figure
out a way to get you that master batch etc. vIa routed. OR, since I see you're pots, guess I could spend a buck or two and crash a zip archive to you with the
batch and some explanatory documentation.

Mike's solution does appear to be a better fit for seal users, from what I recall of how seal operates.


Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS (1:116/901)

Hi Mike,

Sunday July 13 2008 16:35, Mike Tripp wrote to Kevin Klement:

FORMAT is the command to rewrite SQUISH.CFG based on new
settings after a change.

Hey Bro...

Been busy... this is my first chance to read my fido mail, I'll let you know how I made out with your help.

Talk to you soon.


Kevin
klement@gypsy-designs.com

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Gypsy BBS -- Gypsy Designs CDN (403) 242-3221 (1:342/77)

Hi Richard,

Sunday July 13 2008 22:34, Richard Webb wrote to Kevin Klement:

LEt me know if it's helpful.

Look for my netmail. :)

ttyl...

Kevin
klement@gypsy-designs.com

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Gypsy BBS -- Gypsy Designs CDN (403) 242-3221 (1:342/77)

HI KEvin,

Kevin Klement wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

LEt me know if it's helpful.

Look for my netmail. :)

Saw it, replied. Wasn't sure the way you worded your message if the file actually made it to you or not. IF it did it'll probably give you something to go on, especially coupled with Mike's solution.

Regards,
Richard
... Braille: support true literacy for the blind.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS (1:116/901)

Hi Mike,

Sunday July 13 2008 14:31, Mike Tripp wrote to Kevin Klement:

DROP will both clean up the SQUISH.CFG entries and delete
the message data files for the area. I assume you are

I'm going to try to find time today to get this done, then I gotta update Maximus's message area control file.

But it's a hot day here today, so I ALSO want to get out to the parks, Hmmmmm parks work, parks work... what to do?

I'm out of here!

Kevin
klement@gypsy-designs.com

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Gypsy BBS -- Gypsy Designs CDN (403) 242-3221 (1:342/77)

Hello Kevin!

19 Jul 08 14:04, Kevin Klement wrote to Mike Tripp:

I'm going to try to find time today to get this done, then I gotta
update Maximus's message area control file.

Yep...Seal does a dandy job of that, too, if have 45 secs to spare. I'll save you the first 10 secs looking up the syntax:

MSGCTL <lvl> <lock(s)> <priv> <file> Create Maximus MSGAREA.CTL file

But it's a hot day here today, so I ALSO want to get out to the
parks, Hmmmmm parks work, parks work... what to do?

It's a bit warm here in Texas now too, but there's not much in the parks around
here that will help with triple digits unless you're into dunking into ice-cold
spring water. Hibernation in the AC until October is more my speed.

.\\ike

--- GoldED/2 2.50+
* Origin: -=( The TechnoDrome )=- Austin,TX 512-327-8598 33.6k (1:382/61)