                          SkyReader v0.55 public beta

                        Copyright (c) 1996 Timo Sirainen


 * Sorry about these docs, I just didn't had enough time to write these! If you
   have any questions / suggestions / bug reports, you can contact me using the
   info at the end of this text.

 * I hope Win32 version works right, I can't test it myself 'cause I don't have
   Win'95 or WinNT installed ...


.. First of all, disclaimer:

  This program is provided 'as is', without any warranties. You run this
  program on your own responsibility. The author is not responsible of any data
  loss or any other damage this program might cause to you.


.. I hope that was enough.. And a licence agreenment :

  SkyReader is "betaware" at the moment. You may use SkyReader with the
  following restrictions:

     - You may NOT change SkyReader executables in any way.
     - You may NOT sell, sublicense or rent SkyReader.
     - If SkyReader is to be distributed, it should be distributed unaltered
       and in full.
     - Author can terminate this license at any time.


.. These files should come with SkyReader:

        readme.txt      - This file
        readme.fin      - Finnish readme.txt
        colors.cfg      - Color configuration file
        language.dat    - Language file
        tables.dat      - Translation tables
        whatsnew.txt    - What's new in SkyReader
        whatsnew.fin    - Finnish what's new
        skysig.txt      - Default signature file
        default.tag     - Default tagline file
        keycfg.exe      - Keyboard config. DOS executable
        readmsg.kbd     - Keyboard data file
        file_id.diz     - Diz...

   And depending of the version you are using you should have some of these:

        skyread.exe     - 8088 version of SkyReader. Not in public yet, though.
        sky386.exe      - 386 version of SkyReader. REQUIRES DOS4GW.EXE!
        sky2.exe        - OS/2 version of SkyReader.
        skyw32.exe      - Win32 character mode version of SkyReader.


.. Then something what SkyReader currently is:

  *  Blue Wave v1, v2 and almost v3 compatible offline mail reader. The .OLC
     file of Blue Wave v3 isn't yet available, only the .PDQ file in v2.
     SkyReader can read also QWK, Hippo v2 and OMEN mail packets. Though they
     might not be as bug free as Blue Wave format.

  *  SkyReader has 386, OS/2 and Win32 character mode executables. 8088
     compatible version is also coming, I just have to optimize my code a
     little bit. SkyReader just takes too much memory! You also need a DOS4GW
     extender to run SkyReader/386. Almost everybody has it, so I won't put it
     to SkyReader archive yet.

  *  SkyReader can use almost any screen resolution your video card / video
     drivers can make. 255x255 is the limit.

  *  You can define your own keys to SkyReader with keycfg.exe. This is an old
     program made with pascal, I haven't got time to convert it to C++.

  *  You can change screen colors from colors.cfg file. This will be build into
     SkyReader's setup some day.

  *  SkyReader can keep Hippo packets unpacked in PACKETS directory. Other
     formats will come also..

  *  In signature, tagline file and almost everywhere except in message text
     you can use some macros :

       @CR@     : This macro will be replaced with CRLF characters.
       @AT@     : Area tag in "filename" mode, can be used for example when
                  saving messages to file. Eg. "Area.Tag.Name" -> "Area_Tag".
       @VER@    : Current version number of SkyReader. Eg. 0.55b
       @OS@     : Operating system ID (D, 386, 2, Win32)
       @LONGOS@ : Longer version of @OS@ (DOS, 386, OS/2, Win32)
       @FORMAT@ : Offline format used in currently opened message packet (BW,
                  Hippo, OMEN, QWK)

       @AREA@   : Current area

       @D@      : Current date
       @DD@     : Current day
       @DM@     : Current month
       @DY@     : Current year
       @T@      : Time currently

       @FROM@   : Message from
       @FFROM@  : First name 
       @LFROM@  : Last name

       @TO@     : Message to
       @FTO@    : First name
       @LTO@    : Last name

       @SUBJ@   : Message subject
       @DATE@   : Message date

       @RFROM@, @RFFROM@, @RLFROM@, @RTO@, @RFTO@, @RLTO@, @RSUBJ@ and @RDATE@
       are same as above, except for replies. These should be used in taglines
       and signature files. The upper ones should be used in setup strings. All
       the @Rxxxx@ macros will some day will some day work also without the 'R'
       character..

       Also for Blue Wave tagline files compatibility:

         @N@ = @RTO@ = User name (reply to)
         @FN@ = @RFTO@ = first name
         @LN@ = @RLTO@ = last name

  *  Different quote styles :
        >>>>>> = Just add a '>' character to each line
        TS>JS> = Add initials and '>' character to each line
        TS>>>> = Add initials if line is not already quoted. If it is, add a
                 new '>' character after initials.

  *  SkyReader can use CHARSET or CHRS kludge if found. Eg. if SkyReader founds
     line :

        ^ACHARSET: LATIN-1

     It will look if "LATIN-1" translation table is defined in translation
     table setup and convert the current message through that translation
     table.


.. Something that will be coming:

     Search text command (combined really_easy_to_use_part and RegExp probably)
     Twit filter
     The rest of the offline config (again, didn't have enough time..)
     Online help (anyone wanna write texts?)
     Filemanager (I guess it's wrong word for it..), for finding files easily
     *MUCH* more lines to language.dat file
     Fully user definable keyboard config
     Build in color config to SkyReader's setup
     ... and many other cool thing ... ;)

     Also GUI versions for OS/2 and Windows _might_ be coming, but not in the
     near future.

.. Something about the non-definable keys:

  *  "Select area to read" screen:
        Enter : Select area
        E     : Enter new message to area in cursor
        Alt-P : Personal mail scan
        Alt-R : Read only msgs which have reply mark on.

  *  "Select message to read" screen:
        Enter : Read message
        E     : Enter new message
        *     : Toggle message read status
        ~     : Toggle message replied status
        Ctrl-S: Toggle save mark
        Ctrl-R: Toggle reply mark
        Delete: Toggle delete mark

  *  "Select reply to read" screen:
        Enter : Read reply
        Delete: Toggle delete mark

  *  "Reading reply" screen:
        Delete: Toggle delete mark
        S     : Save reply
        E     : Edit reply
        M     : Move area
        Alt-T : Select new inbound translation table
        Alt-O : Select new outbound translation table
       Ctrl-F3: Toggle Rot13 crypting on/off

  *  Setup -> Area override -> Selection screen:
        Space : Flag area
        -     : Unflag all areas
        +     : Flag all areas
        *     : Invert all area flags


.. New versions:

     You can always frequest or download the newest version of SkyReader from
     my BBS (see below). There will come about 0-3 versions in a week depending
     on how many and how bad bugs I've fixed.

     Use these magic names for frequesting:

        SKYDOS - not available yet
        SKY386 - SkyReader/386
        SKYOS2 - SkyReader/2
        SKYW32 - SkyReader/Win32


.. Contacting info:

     Fidonet : 2:227/33.0
     E-Mail  : timo.sirainen@f33.n227.z2.fidonet.org
     BBS     : +358-55-176242, 24h, v34

     And snailmail:

        Timo Sirainen
        Huusharjuntie 10
        FIN-50180 Mikkeli
        Suomi / Finland
