From: jkilday@nlbbs.UUCP (Jack Kilday)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: ZipNews FAST News Access for Waffle Now w/PCBoard Capability
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 23:08:30 EST
Organization: The Northern Lights BBS, Portland, ME  * 207-761-4782 *

A new BETA of ZipNews, v0.94, is available today.  This one adds
capability for accessing directly from PCBoard on systems running Waffle
as a DOOR.  Here's the updated features list:

  * Offers high-speed, efficient access to Usenet newsgroups for callers
    to Waffle BBSs (as a Door or Waffle "external command").

  * Produces a single compressed ASCII text file of all new articles
    contained in newsgroups listed in the caller's Waffle JOIN file.
    (The ASCII text format is the first of a number of different formats
    planned.  Future formats may include support for several offline
    readers/mailers with any of several formats being selectable by
    the caller.)

  * Updates the last article read pointers in the Waffle JOIN file only
    if the download completes successfully.

  * Also can serve as a PCBoard Door on systems running Waffle as a DOOR
    under PCBoard.  That is, it is accessed directly from PCBoard
    without requiring the caller to log into Waffle each call.  FAST!

  * ZipNews is SHARE-compatible, and supports multi-node operation
    (unlimited simultaneous BBS node access).

  * Allows complete system operator and caller freedom in specifying and
    selecting from archiver utilities and file transfer protocols.
    System operator can configure choices of up to 5 different archiving
    utilities and up to 10 file transfer protocols.  (Limits are pretty
    arbitrary; will increase if there is demand.)

  * Individual caller configurations are "remembered" for reference
    during subsequent calls.

  * Handy "local" mode of operation to support system operator testing.

  * Supports RAMDISK work directories for speed and easing the burden
    on hard drives.  A different directory for each BBS node can be
    specified using a single entry in one config file.

  * Complete comm port support built-in (supports non-standard comm
    ports).  Disables FOSSIL communications to use its own comm
    routines.  (FOSSIL comm is "reset" upon return to Waffle in the
    normal way.)   CAUTION: Will not work with multi-port boards
    requiring special drivers (e.g., DIGIBOARD, ARNET, etc.).

  * Includes carrier monitoring & keyboard timeout monitoring.  Returns
    to Waffle in the event of lost carrier or keyboard timeout (3 mins.).

  * No fancy graphics in normal operation -- compatible with any/all
    caller platforms -- similar to Waffle in this regard (i.e.,
    boringly plain!).

  * No charge for upgrades to future versions.  (Once you have a
    registration number, it may be applied to all future upgrades.)

 Registration COST: $19.95

 Distributed as uncrippled, full-featured, fully functional SHAREWARE.  The
 unregistered version of the product DOES prominently display that it is
 an unregistered, evaluation copy, etc., on-screen and in the text files it
 produces.   (I have avoided making this crippleware, and, I hope, I've
 struck a happy medium and avoided "annoyware" as well.  Comments welcome.)

 The executable is self-registering in that "Evaluation Copy" and
 "Unregistered" remarks are removed by running in "register" mode and
 entering registration number supplied when you register the product.

 Very soon to be at the major archive sites, but if you'd like to grab it
 via our mail-based server, e-mail to file-server@nlbbs.rn.com (any subject).
 Include the following text line in the body of the message:
 get \temp\znews094.zip.

 It's a 37K file.  Enjoy.

--
Jack Kilday                |         nlbbs!jkilday@uunet.uu.net
The Northern Lights BBS    |                     -=-
207-761-4782 (v.32bis/HST) | 4-Nodes, 700 Megs * Internet: UUCP, FTP, Telnet