#Order of Operations
6 messages in this thread
Actually, Henry, I prefer Whap! doing a RM at the start. This way I can get
the messages addressed to me at once and then peruse the bulk download at my
leisure.
I'd like to see an easier way of telling Whap! to just check for marked
messages and not do a QSN or RTM and certainly not do a HI;L. I like to check
for messages daily and then do a bulk download or QSN once or twice weekly.
Geo
I was thinking – what would help out a whole lot is if CIS could make some
software enhancements to accomodate programs like Whap!, then things would be
much more flexible and with many more options.
Well, Henry, speaking as an experienced DP'er, I know how CIS could make it
very easy for programs like Whap!.
The best way for these programs to work is to send and receive messages and
files in a transaction format that is optiomized for program to program
communications.
Of course, CompuServe would have to write a completely different interface
for such a format, but the chief advantage is that this new interface is
completely separate from the current interactive interface. If CIS changes the
SIGware again, the batch users wouldn't care because they wouldn't be using
that interface.
The tricky bit is defining the batch interface. I'd imagine that it be a
variable length record (either ASCII text or binary) with a verb, parameters
and data. All the data fields would be strongly defined which would eliminate
the need to parse the heck out of the Forum messages. Each field would be
identified and have implicit or explicit length. The user's batch program would
be able to easily extract information like: TO; FROM; SUBJECT; Message Number;
SubTopic; Replies and Message Text. In theory, they could use a compression
technique ala ARC and B Protocol for the transfer.
It'd be a BIG job, but it could be done. The issue is whether or not the
effort is worth it. I think it has great potential for the unsophisticated
Forum user. Oh, well, I am rambling amok.
Geo
George,
That does sound like a great idea, but somehow I don't think CIS is gonna go
for it. They are in business to make money, and that sounds like it would cut
everyone's usage down ALOT which means of course it would cut into CIS's gain
quite a bit 🙂
I'm just happy we have a program like Whap! to help us out. This has been
really great so far.
Allen
Allen,
CIS believes, and rightly so, proven by past experience, that when the
customer's online time is cut way down, yet the same benefit is gained in terms
of information gathered or sent, that their revenues go _up_, not down. Believe
me, if it was feasible for them to provide a non-interactive interface that
would allow you to do the same things in half the time, they would do it, and
would profit from it. This comes about because of two reasons… one is that a
person receiving the same benefit in less time is liable to use the system
more, normally to a degree that comes close to matching the previous time
spent, and the other is that new users are attracted due to the decreased cost.
They will always profit if the perceived value per dollar spent is increased.
-larry
George,
Looks like perhaps CIS is thinking about the future. Thre should be an
extension to the B+ protocol to handle an 'Applications Packet' type of packet.
Maybe….
Doug