From: bobl@bobsbox.rent.com (Bob Lindabury - SysAdmin)
Newsgroups: alt.sys.amiga.uucp
Subject: Cnews?  Help!
Date: 26 Sep 92 14:02:39 GMT
Organization: Raven Enterprises -- Piscataway, NJ USA
X-NewsSoftware: GRn 1.16e (7/4/92) by Mike Schwartz & Michael B. Smith

Well, I've setup CNews on my system and I seem to be in hell!

I'm hoping that someone out there can help me out a bit with the configs
and such as I have some of it working and some of it just doesn't want
to work as it should.  Maybe it's me or maybe it doesn't do what I
expect it to do.

I have setup in.coming and out.going directories in NewsArts: (UUNEWS:)
and have also setup directories for each site that receives batches
inside of the out.going directory.

RNews seems to run fine after news is transfered into my system. It then
produces *.z files in the in.coming directory which are processed fine
by the unbatch.e script.  However, this script doesn't seem to work with
uncompressed items.  The *.z files are uncompressed and then posted to
the appropriate directories, the sys file is read and appropriate togo
files are created in the newsarts:out.going/[system] directories.

However, relaynews doesn't seem to update the .next files in the
NewsArts: (UUNEWS:) directories.  Is this the way it is suppose to work?
GRn doesn't recognize the new articles because the .next files are not
updated.  How can I fix this?

Also, anything posted locally doesn't get posted.  It gets queued into
NewsArts:incoming as an uncompressed article and unbatch doesn't
recognize it.  How can I get articles posted to queue out?

As for batching, the scripts just seem to fail.  I've tried several
times to batch news to go out and it doesn't get queued into uuspool:.
Does anyone have *working* newsbatch scripts for CNews.  I have manually
gotten a couple of togo files to batch and compress but then I have
these batch_*.z files in the NewsArts:outgoing/[system] directory...how
do they get queued for delivery...uux?  I will post the dobatch.e and
dobatch.e2 scripts I currently have.

I also tried to use the CB Cnews Arexx scripts with no success.
Probably because I don't have WShell.  If these work as they should I
will probably use them if I can just find a copy of WShell.

PLEASE.  Any help would be appreciated as I feed quite a few other sites
and normal AmigaUUCP 1.16 just is a bit too slow and incomplete to do
the forwarding I need to do.  Thanks in advance.

Oh..please email me with any information.

To start with, I have Cnews all configured as follows in the
NewsCtl:Cnews Config file:

---------- CNEWS-CONFIG

#       This file Copyright (c) 1990, 1991 by Frank J. Edwards.
#       All Rights Reserved.  You may freely fulfill any desire
#       to further redistribute this file as long as this notice
#       remains intact and at the top of the file.
#:ts=4

NEWSARTS   = "NewsArts:"                # Top-level directory for articles
NEWSCTL    = "NewsCtl:"                 # Where control files are kept
NEWSBIN    = "NewsBin:"                 # Where are `expire', `relaynews', etc
#NEWSPATH   = "C:,CNews:"               # $NEWSBIN will be added to this list...
#NEWSUMASK = "002"                              # unused
NEWSMASTER = "usenet"                   # Who receives mail messages?
TZ         = "EST5EDT"                  # Unix-style timezone variable

SENDMAIL    = "sendmail -s"             # How does News send mail?
SENDSYS     = "NewsBin:relay/sendsys.e %s %s"           # arguments are article_name
SENDUUNAME  = "NewsBin:relay/senduuname.e %s %s"        #   and the rest of the
VERSION     = "NewsBin:relay/version.e %s %s"           #   Control: header
RMGROUP     = "NewsBin:relay/rmgroup.e %s %s"
NEWGROUP    = "NewsBin:relay/newgroup <%s %s"
CHECKGROUPS = "NewsBin:relay/checkgroups <%s %s"
ADDGROUP    = "NewsBin:relay/newgroup"
DELGROUP    = "NewsBin:maint/delgroup"

#
#       These variables are for AmigaRN.  This _IS_NOT_ a port of the Unix rn(1)
#       program, but an incredible simulation!
#
NEWSRC     = "NewsCtl:.newsrc"        # Where is the .newsrc stored?
RNTEMP     = "T:"                                       # Temp directory for files

#       Each of these programs MUST have the %s placeholder for the name
#       of the file...
#RNPAGER   = "more %s"                          # What binary should RN call for reading?
RNMAIL     = "sendmail <%s"                     # How does RN send mail?
RNEDIT     = "dme %s"                            # Which editor should be used within RN?
RNPOST     = "relaynews <%s -i -s"      # How does RN post articles?

RNINDENT   = ">"                                        # this is the default
USERNAME   = "bobl"                            # machine name comes from "NewsCtl:mailname"
REALNAME   = "Bob Lindabury"
POSTSIG    = "UULib:.postsig"
MAILSIG    = "UULib:.mailsig"
ORGANIZATION = "Raven Enterprises"

Ok..the above seems to be ok.  I have changed the following in my
UULib:Config file:

---------- UULIB:CONFIG (partial)

#   These may be used to specify explicit paths to auto-run programs.
#   Example paths are shown.  If not specified, the programs in question
#   are assumed to exist in your command path.
#
Uux          UUCP:c/Uux
Sendmail     UUCP:c/sendmail
Postnews     UUCP:c/postnews
Uuxqt        UUCP:c/uuxqt
RMail        UUCP:c/rmail
Unbatch      Newsbin:unbatch.e
CUnbatch     Newsbin:unbatch.e
RNews        NewsBin:rnews

This allows for CNews's RNews to be called instead of AmigaUUCP's.  I
threw in the unbatch and cunbatch for the hell of it..is it needed?

Then my CNews sys file...my site is bobsbox..my feed site is rutgers:

---------- SYS

#       Default sy_cmd is (when no batching option is used, i.e. "F" or "f"):
#               uux <article - -r -z [systemname]!rnews
#                   ||||||||
#               This is always provided regardless of the content of sy_cmd.
#               Choose the command provided by the transport mechanism you're
#               using for execute requests to a remote host.
#
#       Default batch filename is (when "F" or "f" is used):
#               NewsArts:out.going/[systemname]/togo
#
#       See the file "sys.flags" for additional info on this file's format.
#       See the scripts and programs in NewsBin:batch for details on processing
#               the "togo" file.
#
bobsbox:all/all:Lf:
#
# grayhawk newsfeeds - 22Jul92
#
grayhawk:alt.cyberpunk,news.announce.newgroups,rent,to.grayhawk/all:f:
#
# asylum newsfeeds - 08Jan92
#
#asylum:rent,to.asylum/all:f:NewsArts:out.going/asylum/togo
#
# s4mjs newsfeeds - 06Jun92
#
s4mjs:alt,comp,gnu,misc,news,nj,rec,rent,sci,to.s4mjs/all:f:
#
# Batch outgoing posts to Rutgers - 03Oct91
#
rutgers:all/all:Lf:
#
# Feed my Waffle system - 19Mar92
#
graphics:news,nj,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.amiga,misc,alt.bbs,\
         comp.bbs,comp.sys.ibm,comp.sys.apple2,comp.dcom,phl,pro,\
         alt.cosuard,alt.cyberpunk,alt.cyberspace,alt.cybertoon,\
         alt.graphics.pixutils,alt.sex,alt.society.cu-digest,alt.sys.amiga,\
         comp.graphics,comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.org.eff,comp.risks,rent,\
         sci.space,sci.astro,to.graphics/all:f:
#
# Feed Sherwood stuff - 28Mar92
#
sherwood:news,nj,pro,rent,to.sherwood/all:f:
#
# spatula newsfeeds - 26Jul92
#
spatula:comp.bbs.waffle,alt.society.cu-digest,alt.privacy,\
        alt.folklore.computers,comp.dcom.telecom,comp.os.cpm,comp.risks,\
        comp.robotics,comp.sys.3b1,comp.sys.laptops,comp.sys.tandy,\
        misc.forsale.computers,news.admin,\
        nj.events,nj.forsale,nj.general,rent,\
        rec.arts.bodyart,rec.arts.int-fiction,rec.autos.driving,\
        rec.autos.tech,rec.autos.vw,rec.backcountry,rec.games.design,\
        rec.games.programmer,rec.games.trivia,rec.juggling,rec.radio.swap,\
        rec.kites,rec.humor.funny,rec.sport.disc,soc.culture.german,\
        rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.amateur.packet,to.gnat/all:f:
#
# mtlbrain newsfeeds - 06Jun92
#
mtlbrai:comp.lang,comp.sys.amiga.games,comp.sys.amiga.reviews,\
        nj,rec.arts.comics,rec.games.hack,rec.sports.paintball,\
        rent,to.mtlbrai/all:f:
#
# thoth newsfeeds - 15Jun92
#
#thoth:alt.folklore.computers,comp.sys.3b1,comp.sys.atari.st,\
#      comp.os.os9,comp.sys.dec,comp.sys.dec.micro,comp.sources.3b1,\
#      comp.sources.unix,comp.binaries.atari.st,comp.os.cpm,nj.forsale,\
#      misc.forsale.computers,news,rec.humor.funny,rent,to.thoth/all:f:
#
# wefunk newsfeeds - 06Jun92
#
#wefunk:alt.bbs.waffle,alt.os.linux,comp.bbs.waffle,\
#       comp.binaries.os2,comp.os.linux,comp.os.os2,\
#       rec.arts.startrek,rent,to.wefunk/all:f:
#
# jobwire newsfeeds - 06Jun92
#
jobwire:rent.admin,rent.chatter,to.jobwire/all:f:

----------

These are the Dobatch.e and Dobatch.e2 files that came with Cnews..

---------- DOBATCH.E

path add NewsBin:batch

list newsarts:out.going/#? lformat "DoBatch.e2 %s" to T:Exec[$$]
sort T:Temp[$$] to T:Exec[$$]
Execute T:Exec[$$]

Delete quiet T:List[$$] T:Exec[$$]

echo "Now queue up the files in NewsArts:Out.Going/* that end in `.Z'"
echo "Ex. `search from newsarts:out.going file #?.Z all'"
echo "(see your transport medium documentation for details)"
echo ""
echo "Following is a list of files that failed to batch properly:"
search from newsarts:out.going file togo.failed all
echo "End of List."

----------
Well, the above didn't work at all so I changed it to:

----------
path add NewsBin:batch

list newsarts:out.going/#? lformat "DoBatch.e2 %s" to T:List[$$]
sort T:List[$$] to T:Exec[$$]
Execute T:Exec[$$]

Delete quiet T:List[$$] T:Exec[$$]

echo "Now queue up the files in NewsArts:Out.Going/* that end in `.Z'"
echo "Ex. `search from newsarts:out.going file #?.Z all'"
echo "(see your transport medium documentation for details)"
echo ""
echo "Following is a list of files that failed to batch properly:"
search from newsarts:out.going file togo.failed all
echo "End of List."
----------

The above seems to work.  I get a T:List[] file and then a sorted
T:Exec[] file which then gets executed.


The following batching script fails miserably.  I had to change the
"batcher" command line to remove the -p (prefix) option as I kept
getting some sort of error about prefix specified twice.  Also, if there
isn't any "togo" file in the system's directory, the script seems to
just quit when it should return back and try to process the next
system's togo file. Here's the Dobatch.e2 script...

---------- DOBATCH.E2

.key SYS
.bra [
.ket ]

cd NewsArts:Out.Going/[SYS]
if not exists togo
        quit 5
endif

if exists T:Batch.[SYS]
        echo "Batcher already running for [SYS]"
        quit 5
endif

date >T:Batch.[SYS]
delete quiet togo.last
rename togo togo.last   ; move `togo' in case relaynews creates more...

echo "News batched for `[SYS]' is in NewsArts:Out.Going/[SYS]/batch_#?.Z"
batcher -s 100000 -f togo.last ; -S [SYS]; (system name for batchparms)
if val $RC eq 0
        list batch_#? lformat "acomp %s" to temp
        sort temp exec.compress
        execute exec.compress
        delete exec.compress temp quiet
else
        echo "Hmmm.  Something in `batcher' didn't work!"
        date >>togo.failed
        join togo.last to togo.failed
        rm togo.last
fi

----------

Ok..fi..what the heck is fi??  If val $RC eq 0????  Is this value of
return code?  When the script gets here it creates uncompressed batches
and then tells me it can't batch from togo.last..ARGH!  So, nothing gets
compressed.  I did the code in the if statement manually and it creates
the compressed batch file ok but then how does it get queued to go out??

The following is a sample togo file:

---------- togo

NewsArts:comp/ai/philosophy/243 1354
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3554 834
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3555 3033
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3556 3674
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/chatsubo/456 1535
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3557 2442
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3558 1648
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3559 2387
NewsArts:alt/cult-movies/2184 1111
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3561 1497
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3562 878
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3563 791
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3564 1331
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3565 974
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3566 1293
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3567 3020
NewsArts:alt/magick/92 1326
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3569 823
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3570 1417
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3571 1250
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3572 635
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3573 7317
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3574 1823
NewsArts:alt/magick/93 1089
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3576 1184
NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3577 1109

----------

There also seemed to be a problem with this as batcher gave me errors
finding the articles as follows:

NewsArts:NewsArts:alt/cyberpunk/3577 not found

Where is it getting the additional "NewsArts:" from?  I deleted
NewsArts: out of a togo file and batched it manually and it worked fine
as far as batching goes.

--

 Bob Lindabury

InterNet: bobl@bobsbox.rent.com                | Raven Enterprises
    UUCP: ...rutgers!bobsbox!bobl              | 25 Raven Avenue
  BitNet: bobl%bobsbox.rent.com@pucc           | Piscataway, NJ 08854
  Home #: +1 908/560-7353                      | +1 908/271-8878