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FTSC FIDONET TECHNICAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE
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Publication: FSP-1008
Revision: 2
Title: New control lines for forwarded messages
Author: Michael Hohner, 2:2490/2520.17
Revision Date: 29 December 1997
Expiry Date: 29 December 1999
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Contents:
1. Specifications
2. Usage
3. Compatiblity
4. Known implementations
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Status of this document
-----------------------
This document is a Fidonet Standards Proposal (FSP).
This document specifies an optional Fidonet standard protocol for
the Fidonet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements.
This document is released to the public domain, and may be used,
copied or modified for any purpose whatever.
This revision is an update to FRL-0092.001. The basic specifications
are unchanged.
Abstract
--------
Most fidonet message editors offer a "forward" function. Using this
function a user A ("forwarder") can sort of "redirect" a message
from user B ("author") to another user C ("final recipient"), maybe
because the forwarder is not the correct recipient, or because the
final recipient is a better person to answer the message. The name
and address of the author are usually included in the forward in
free-text format. The message text is included in non-quoted format.
A problem arises when the final recipient wants to reply to the
author of the forwarded message. The forward contains the forwarder
as the sender. So the final recipient must insert the name and
address of the author manually, using the information contained in
the message text. The message editor of the final recipient can't do
this automatically because of the free-text format. The editor will
also use incorrect quote initials, which is at least irritating.
This document introduces 7 new control lines which contain the
header information of the original message. With these control lines
the message editor can use the original header information
automatically.
1. Specifications
-----------------
There are 7 new control lines: FWDFROM, FWDTO, FWDORIG, FWDDEST,
FWDSUBJ, FWDAREA, FWDMSGID. As all control lines they start with an
ASCII 01 character (SOH) followed by the control line name followed
by whitespace followed by the control line's content followed by
ASCII 13 (CR).
Please note that all these control lines do not have a colon (like
the control lines in FTS-0001). This would be just waste of space.
FWDFROM
-------
This control line contains the name of the original sender as found
in the FROM field of the original message. Leading and trailing
whitespace should be removed. This control line should be omitted
altogether if the FROM field is empty.
FWDTO
-----
This control line contains the name of the original recipient as
found in the TO field of the original message. Leading and trailing
whitespace should be removed. This control line should be omitted
altogether if the TO field is empty.
FWDORIG
-------
This control line contains the address of the original sender as
found in the ORIG field of the original message. The usual 5D ASCII
notation (zone:net/node.point@domain) should be used. This control
line should be omitted altogether if the address is not known.
FWDDEST
-------
This control line contains the address of the original recipient as
found in the DEST field of the original message. The usual 5D ASCII
notation (zone:net/node.point@domain) should be used. This control
line should be omitted altogether if the address is not known or
unsure (as it is the case with forwarded echomail messages).
FWDSUBJ
-------
This control line contains the subject line of the original message.
This control line should be omitted altogether if the SUBJ field is
empty.
This control line should by made optional for security reasons. Echo
manager passwords are too easily revealed with it.
FWDAREA
-------
This control line contains the name of the echomail area where the
original message was forwarded from. It should be omitted altogether
if the original message was not forwarded from an echomail area.
FWDMSGID
--------
This control line contains the MSGID control line of the original
message. It should be omitted altogether if a MSGID control line is
not present in the original message.
2. Usage
--------
When the "forward" function of the message editor is invoked, the
editor program should generate the proposed control lines from the
header of the original message. If the original message already was
a forwarded one (indicated by the presence of at least a FWDORIG
control line), the editor should keep all FWD* control lines and
should not add any FWD* control lines. This preserves the FWD*
control lines of the first forwarder, containing the header data of
the author of the original message.
The editor should not generate FWD* control lines, if the message
isn't to be forwarded. A mail forwarding robot may also generate
these control lines, if it not just readdresses the message.
When the "reply" function of the editor is invoked the program
should use the control lines' contents instead of the header
information. The control lines should not be included in the reply.
Since it may not be immediately clear whether the user wants to
reply to the forwarder or to the original sender, the editor should
offer a means to ignore the proposed control lines and start a
"normal" reply instead, e.g. by two distinct functions, by user
preference or a dialog.
Pseudo code:
forwarding_message:
if is_forwarded_message then
don't change FWD* control lines
else
add FWD* control lines
quoting_message:
if is_forwarded_message then
if reply_to_forwarder then
use header data (normal quoting)
else
use FWD* control lines
remove FWD* control lines from reply
else
use header data (normal quoting)
other_functions:
remove/ignore FWD* control lines
Example:
Message from Joe User to my boss node:
From: Joe User 1:234/567
To: Harry Herrmannsdoerfer 2:2490/2520
Subj: Some questions
@MSGID: 1:234/567 12345678
Text: Hello Harry!
...
Harry forwards the message to me:
From: Harry Herrmannsdoerfer 2:2490/2520
To: Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520.17
Subj: Joe's message
@FWDFROM Joe User
@FWDORIG 1:234/567
@FWDTO Harry Herrmannsdoerfer
@FWDDEST 2:2490/2520
@FWDSUBJ Some questions
@FWDMSGID 1:234/567 12345678
Text: Hi Michael!
...
My answer using the new control lines:
From: Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520.17
To: Joe User 1:234/567
Subj: Some questions
@REPLY: 1:234/567 12345678
Text: Hi Joe!
JU> ...
...
3. Compatiblity
---------------
Editor programs which are not prepared for these proposed control
lines usually just ignore them and remove them from a reply. A reply
goes to the forwarder. Nothing gained and nothing lost.
4. Known implementations
------------------------
This proposal is implemented in the author's Fidonet editor
"FleetStreet for OS/2" (versions 1.17 and newer).
Also implemented in Odinn Sorensens Fidonet editor "GoldED"
(versions 3.00.Alpha5 and newer).
A. Contacting the author
------------------------
The author may be contacted electronically at the following
addresses:
Fidonet: 2:2490/2520.17
Internet: miho@osn.de
Suggestions, comments and corrections are always welcome.
B. History
----------
Rev.1, 19960912: First release as FSC-0092.001.
Rev.2, 19971229: Submitted as FSP.
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