| Document: FSC-0092
| Version: 001
| Date: September 12th 1996
| Author: Michael Hohner
New control lines
for forwarded messages
by
Michael Hohner
2:2490/2520.17
September 1996
Status of this document:
This document proposes a standard for the Fidonet(tm) community
and for other networks using Fido technology. It may be freely
distributed if unchanged.
You can reach the author at one of the addresses listed at the end
of the document.
Abstract:
Most fidonet message editors offer a "forward" function. Using
this function a user A can sort of "redirect" a message from user B
to another user C, maybe because A is not the correct recipient or
because C is a better person to answer the message. The name and
address of B 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 C wants to reply to sender B
of the forwarded message. The forward contains the intermediate user A
as the sender. So user C must insert the name and address of B
manually, using the information contained in the message text. The
message editor of C 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 6 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.
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 followed by the control line name followed by
whitespace followed by the control line's content followed by ASCII 13.
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.
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, user preference or 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> ...
...
Compatiblity:
Editor programs which are not prepared for the proposed control lines
usually just ignore them and remove them from a reply. A reply goes
to the forwarder. Nothing gained and nothing lost.
Implementations:
This proposal is implemented in the author's Fidonet editor
"FleetStreet for OS/2" (versions 1.17 and above).
Contacting the author:
The author may be contacted electronically at the following addresses:
Fidonet: 2:2490/2520.17
Internet: miho@osn.de
CompuServe: 100425,1754
Suggestions, comments and corrections are always welcome.
Go Back