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VK2ZRG > TPK 04.12.04 04:53l 56 Lines 2726 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 974_VK2ZRG
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: Makelist
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0MRW<DB0WUE<DK0WUE<DB0RES<ON0AR<7M3TJZ<HG8LXL<CX2SA<
VK4TRS<VK6HGR<VK5UJ<VK5BRC<VK5ATB<VK2AAB<VK2WI
Sent: 041204/0209Z @:VK2WI.#SYD.NSW.AUS.OC #:55657 [SYDNEY] FBB7 $:974_VK2ZRG
From: VK2ZRG@VK2WI.#SYD.NSW.AUS.OC
To : TPK@WW
VK2ZRG/TPK 1.83d Msg #:974 Date:04-12-04 Time:2:09Z
Hello Ian and TPK users,
Thanks for putting out Roger's MAKELIST utility. Right
now I've got no use for, but it may prove useful in the future. I've had a
look at the DOC file, and can see how the system works. There is one problem
with the idea however. If you have your packet system off air for a sufficient
time that the BBS has deleted a bulletin (that may have been of interest), you
will never know about the missed bulletin(s).
However, there is another way to achieve the same result, if you are prepared
to have your packet system turned on by a time switch, or timer, and use a
simple little programme that I wrote.
The idea is that you obtain a timer that can be set to turn on the AC power
to your PC, a number of times per day, for a period of say 20 or 30 minutes
each time. You then add a command to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to automatically
run TPK after the PC fires up. If you set the interval time and PC on time
correctly, then you won't miss any message headers.
Now there is one problem with this scheme. It is, that TPK doesn't like being
cut off in mid stride, so to speak, when the AC power is turned off by the time
switch. Sooner or later your HDD directory structure will end up being
corrupted. I know this to be a fact, as a friend of mine was running his packet
system (with TPK) this way.
This is where my programme comes into play. The programme is basically a
timer that automatically shuts down TPK (or any other programme), before the
time switch turns the power off. My programme works something like a TSR,
except that it doesn't remain resident. This is how it works.
Firstly you start my programme which has a part of it hooked onto the `timer
tick' of the PC. My programme then calls TPK (or any other programme), but
keeps on running in the background, counting the `timer ticks'. After the
set time has elapsed, the command to shut down TPK (or whatever) is injected
into the keyboard buffer, and TPK (and my programme) then close down. All
possible key press combinations can be injected into the keyboard, with the
maximum number limited by the DOS command line length. The time interval of
my programme can be set from one second to more than a year.
(Try doing all that with a spread sheet!)
My friend tells me that my programme works very well; no more problems with
HDD corruption. The programme has been in use for a few years now.
Of course you can have TPK tag and download any bulletins of interest while
the PC is on, so you won't miss to much.
Merry Cricket, Ho Ho Ho
73s from Ralph VK2ZRG@VK2WI.#SYD.NSW.AUS.OC
/ack
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