FILE REQUESTING WITH TERMINATE File Requesting is an easy and efficient way to pick up files from a FidoNet node without first having to go online in the BBS. This saves phone costs and the hassle of having to log in for the first time, filling out an user questionnaire etc. You will find detailed information about how to request files in the online help for TerMail and the Point System. To know what files you can request from a system, you will either need a file list from this system or you will have found the filename you want in a message. To get a filelist from a node, you should always be able to request the magic name FILES and you will receive a file list. Be aware that some large systems might send you file lists that are several MegaBytes large! On big systems, you might want to request some information about the node first. This can be done with the magic name ABOUT. Note: A "magic name" is a name which stands for one or more files which have a common "alias". For example, when you request TERMINAT at DAN BBS, you will not get a file named TERMINAT, but the latest version of Terminate, a file called XXXTER.ZIP where XXX stands for the current version number. You might also find the name of a file which you can request when reading a FidoNet conference, such as a request area (where people ask for files and others offer new files in the file base of their BBS). TerMail offers the possibility of easily requesting one or more files from a message using Ctrl-F. When you quit TerMail, you will find a file request package in your outbound window. Now you can call that system and pick up the files you wanted. Sometimes, a file request will fail and you will not receive what you wanted. Instead, you will probably get a netmail telling you about the reason why your file request has failed. Possible reasons for a failed file request are: - You entered the wrong file name. Check whether you entered the correct file name in your request. - The BBS where you tried to request files from re-packs the archives that arrive on his/her system. Therefore, the file might have been announced as GREATPRG.ZIP but it has been re-packed into GREATPRG.ARJ. Try requesting the file again, using a wildcard instead of the file extension. In our example, that would be GREATPRG.* - The BBS where you tried to request only accepts requests from listed systems. If your point or node number cannot be found in its nodelist and/or point list, the system might not even give you a netmail reply but just hang up. Not nice, but some BBS SysOps are very strict about these things. - The BBS where you tried to request files doesn't accept requests from points. Try getting the file(s) online instead, by logging into the BBS normally. - The BBS where you tried to request files doesn't accept requests from Terminate users. This is rather unusual, but in Germany and other countries some SysOps have started to use special tools to keep Terminate users away. These SysOps claim that Terminate users are often using false node numbers and names to download a lot of files from their systems while blocking the line for other users. Please, when requesting files with Terminate, be aware that you are asking for a favor of the SysOp who offers these files. For most SysOps, these files don't come free of charge, they have to request these files or download them using so-called "file nets". When requesting files, please observe the following unwirtten rules of proper behavior: - Never request under a false name or a false address. - Never, NEVER request under the name and/or address of somebody else! - Never try to request beyond the time/kbyte limits of that BBS by changing your name or address. - Never try to request files during the so-called zone mail hour (ZMH) ! The ZMH lasts from 2:30 to 3:30 GMT; it's purpose is to make it possible worldwide to crash mail to another node. A FidoNet node must fill this one minimum requirement: being online during the Zone Mail Hour. So if you do a file request during that time period, the system would not be able to send or receive important mail. Note: To find out what time the ZMH is in your country, from the Terminal screen in Terminate check Alt-M, GMT & time zones for information. - If a request has failed for whatever reason, never write an angry message to the SysOp! It is unlikely that he/she will be better-disposed towards you if you behave in such a manner. Some SysOps have become very irritated about file requesters using Terminate. They send mean ASCII pictures to you if they see that you are using Terminate. Just don't mind them and see whether you can get the files somewhere else. Should you be unable to get a file from one node, simply try another BBS. Most files that are publicly available arrive through file nets, so it's likely that not just the node you wanted to request the file from initially will have it. Always keep in mind that file requests are not a right, they are a privilege! Some SysOps allow you that privilege, while others don't. Good luck and have fun with the File Request feature of Terminate!