$ # K Config Menu Commands
Before you use WinVN to read news, you must give it the information it needs to contact the news server, send electronic mail, and so on.   In addition, you can customize WinVN's colors, fonts, and behavior.
All configuration information is written to the WINVN.INI file.

Communications...
Personal Info...
Logging...
Smart Filer...
Confirmations...
Group List...
Article List...
Article...
Execute
Compositions...
Attachments...
Decoding...
Fonts
Color
Save Configuration

$ # K Configure Communications...
Opens a dialog box allowing you to select communications/networking options.  
WinVN is a Winsock based TCP/IP application.  You must have networking software loaded on your PC and a Winsock compliant Dynamic Link Library (DLL) in your Windows or Windows System directory.   WinVN makes all calls to Winsock through its generic network interface DLL called GWINSOCK.DLL. See Installing WinVN.

NNTP (News) Server
Fill in the Internet address of a news server.   Obtain this information from your system administrator.  
TCP port
Fill in the TCP port designation of the news server program.  Typically this is "nntp".  In the case of some misconfigured TCP/IP software, you may need to type in the value 119, which is almost always the port number used by news servers.  Other values can be used only if your local news server is so configured.
Connect at startup
When selected, WinVN will connect to your news server as soon as WinVN starts,  When deselected, WinVN will not connect at startup, and you will need to manually connect.
Username & Password
Some NNTP news servers require you to provide an authorizing username and password before they will allow you full access to some or all newsgroups.  If you plan on connecting with such a server, you should fill in the appropriate username and password for the server you have selected.  WinVN stores your password in encrypted form in winvn.ini.  However, be aware that the NNTP AUTHINFO protocol used to authenticate you to the server is quite insecure, so your use of this option may be hazardous.  You should leave the name and password blank if the news server does not require authentication - if you have specify a name and password, and the server does not require it, your connection will most likely be refused. 
Save Password
When selected, the password entered will be saved (encrypted) in the WinVN configuration file.  If deselected, WinVN will not save your password.
SMTP (Mail) Server
Fill in the Internet address of an SMTP mail server if you plan on using TCP/IP mail from within WinVN.  
Time Zone
If you are running Windows 3.x, the time zone must be set  for your messages to be time stamped correctly.  See Setting the TZ Environment Variable for proper syntax in this field.
Mail Transport
Select one of 4 options used to determine how WinVN will send mail.   The options are:
	Disabled	Do not allow outbound mail.
	Use SMTP	Send mail via the Internet Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) interface.  WinVN provides the ability to compose mail using the same composition window as used when creating news postings.
	Use MAPI	Send mail via Microsoft's Mail Applications Protocol Interface (MAPI).  Use this option if you are using Microsoft Mail at your site.  
	Auto Select	WinVN will attempt to locate MAPI and use it if available,  If MAPI is not available, it will default to SMTP.
MAPI Demand Logon
If you have the Demand Logon option selected, WinVN will force a MAPI login "upon demand" (when mail is sent) instead of requiring a login instantly when WinVN is started.
See Saving Configuration Information and Authorizing Yourself to the News Server.

$ # K Configure Personal Info...
Opens a dialog box allowing you to specify personal information. This information is used to construct headers for articles and electronic mail messages that you write.

Your name
This is typically your full name.  This will be shown as part of the "From:" header in compositions.
Your email address
This is your email address. This will be shown as part of the "From:" header in compositions.  For example, "From: jcooper@planetz.com (John S. Cooper)"
Reply-to email address
Only enter a Reply-to address if it is different from your email address.  You may do this, for example, if your "official" address is at work, but you would like people to reply to your personal email address.  Note that you can change this at composition time by selecting Show Reply-To Header in Configure Compositions.
Organization name 
This is  typically the name of your employer or educational institution.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Group-List...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to the main group-list window.

Retrieve group list on connect?
When WinVN connects to the news server, it can ask the server for a status list of all the news groups.  This operation can be time-consuming if you have a slow connection.  However, it's useful to know how many new articles and groups there are.
You control whether WinVN requests this information from the server by choosing Yes, No, or Ask.  If you choose Ask, WinVN will always prompt you whenever it connects to the server.
Use shift/control-selections
If checked, you can select groups from the group-list using the standard windows paradigm.  Clicking on one group will select that group and deselect all others.  Control-clicking on a group will select that group, without deselecting any already selected.  Shift-clicking will select all groups between the last group selected (the "anchor") and the group clicked on.
If not checked, you select groups simply by clicking on them.  To deselect a group, click on it again.  You can drag select/deselect by clicking on a group and dragging over other groups.
Show unsubsribed groups
If checked, the group-list main window will show only the subscribed groups; all unsubscribed groups will be hidden.  If not checked, all newsgroups (subscribed and unsubscribed ) are shown. This can also be toggled from the toolbar.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Article-List...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to group article-list windows.

Article list retrieval
WinVN fetches header information on articles when you view a newsgroup.  Ask if more than... determines how many article headers you are willing to have WinVN automatically fetch from the server.  If the number of articles in a group exceeds this number, WinVN will prompt you with a dialog box before proceeding.  Automatically retrieve latest unread will retrieve all articles in the newsgroup starting with the first unread article. Fetch at least... determines the minimum number of articles WinVN will retrieve in the case when retrieving latest unread, and there are very few unread articles.
New window for each group
If checked, WinVN will attempt to create a new group window for each newsgroup selected from the main window.  If this option is not checked, WinVN will reuse an existing group window to display newly-requested newsgroups.
Use shift/control-selections
If checked, you can select articles from the article-list using the standard windows paradigm.  Clicking on one article will select that article and deselect all others.  Control-clicking on a article will select that article, without deselecting any already selected.  Shift-clicking will select all articles between the last article selected (the "anchor") and the article clicked on.
If not checked, you select articles simply by clicking on them.  To deselect a article, click on it again.  You can drag select/deselect by clicking on a article and dragging over other articles.
Full 'from' name in article list
If checked, WinVN will display the name of each article's author instead of the author's E-mail address.   If WinVN can't find the author's "Full Name", it will use their E-mail address out of the news article's "From" field.  Note that this will only affect newly retrieved newsgroups, as the name is obtained during article-list retrieval.
Compute threads in article list
If checked, WinVN will request additional "references" data for each article in the displayed group.  You can then sort articles by threads. Note that this will only affect newly retrieved newsgroups, as the references are obtained during article-list retrieval.
Show full subject in threads
If checked, WinVN will show the full subject of each article in a thread when sorting the article-list by threads.  If not checked, the subject of each article in the thread after the first article will be replaced by the thread depth indicator.
Save Newsrc on Closing Group
If checked, WinVN will save the newsrc file when you exit the article list window.
Track Seen Subscribed Crosspostings
If checked, WinVN will track articles that have been crossposted to more than one newsgroup and mark them as having been seen in the other subscribed groups.  
Track Seen Unsubscribed Crosspostings
If checked, WinVN will track articles that have been crossposted to more than one newsgroup and mark them as having been seen in the other unsubscribed groups.  This selection is made an option by default to protect against excessive fragmentation of the newsrc file.
Enable Killfile Support
If checked Killfile/Smart Article Selection will be enabled.  Set up of this feature is found in  View | Filters....
Thread depth indicator
This is the character which will be used to replace subjects in threads.  Common thread depth characters are '»' and '>'.  A common technique for obtaining a thread depth indicator is to run the Windows Character Map accessory, select the font you use for the article-list (See Config Fonts), and copy the desired character into the clipboard; then you can simply paste this character into to the Thread depth indicator field. 

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Article...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to article view windows.

Wrap article text to...
If checked, and a number is specified here, WinVN will wrap article text during retrieval to this number of characters.  This is useful when retrieving articles posted by people who have written their article with very long lines, or (as is sometimes the case due to misconfigured posting software) their article has ended up all on one line with no line breaks).  Note that this will only affect newly retrieved articles, as the lines are wrapped during article retrieval.
Trim headers during article retrieval
If checked, WinVN will trim article headers during retrieval, by ignoring any article headers not included in the following list: Newsgroups, From, Subject, Date, Reply-To, Distribution, Message-Id, Keywords, Summary.  This will clean up incoming articles by removing potentially confusing headers like Path, and X-headers. Note that this will only affect newly retrieved articles, as the headers are trimmed during article retrieval.
New window for each article
If checked, WinVN will attempt to create a new article window for each article selected from the group article-list window.  If this option is not checked, WinVN will reuse an existing article window to display newly-requested articles.
Scroll past headers after retrieval
If checked, WinVN will scroll the article view window past the headers upon completion of article retrieval.
Italicize quotes in article window
If checked, WinVN will italicize quoted text in the article view window.  Quoted text is any line beginning with the '>' quote character.  This is useful in distinguishing the reference text from the response, but may not be very readable with your selected fonts.  See Configuring Fonts.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K URL Execute Setup
In each of the places provided, enter the complete command line required to start the necessary application and act on the parameters passed to it.  Environment variables are supported by wrapping them in percent signs. Here are some examples:

Web Browser:  C:\mosaic\mosaic %u
Start Mosaic in the mosaic directory and load the URL represented by %u.

FTP Browser:  %INTERNET%\ws_ftp %h %f
Start ws_ftp located in the directory pointed to by the environment variable INTERNET and transfer the file %f anonymously from host %h.

Each application varies, consult the documentation for your application.  
See also: Using Clickable URL's
 
$ # K Configure Composition...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to compositions and composition windows.  
Since From, Reply-To and Organization are not items you will change often, it is recommended that you disable showing these header fields.
Word wrap in composition body text
This sets the default word-wrap setting for the body text of a composition.  Word-wrap can be toggled during composition from the Composition Edit Menu.
Prefill 'Cc:' address in followup postings
With this option set, on follow-up postings the CC field will be automatically set to the original author's email address. (only available for SMTP mail.)
Show from header
If checked, the From  header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window, allowing you to modify it at send time. Note if this header field is not shown, but you do have a From  set in you Personal options (See Configure Personal Info...), this header will still be sent.
Show organization header
If checked, the Organization  header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window, allowing you to modify it at send time. Note if this header field is not shown, but you do have an Organization  set in you Personal options (See Configure Personal Info...), this header will still be sent.
Show reply-to header
If checked, the Reply-to  header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window, allowing you to modify it at send time. Note if this header field is not shown, but you do have a Reply-to  set in you Personal options (See Configure Personal Info...), this header will still be sent.
Show keywords header
If checked, the Keywords header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window.  If you would like to send a list of Keywords with your articles, check this option.  If this header field is not shown, no Keywords header will be sent (unless this is a reply to a message containing a Keywords  header, in which case the original Keywords  header will be sent).
Show summary header
If checked, the Summary header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window.  If you would like to send Summary information with your articles, check this option.  If this header field is not shown, no Summary header will be sent.
Show distribution header
If checked, the Distribution header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window.  If you would like to limit the distribution of your article, check this option.  If this header field is not shown, no Distribution header will be sent (unless this is a reply to a message containing a Distribution header, in which case the original Distribution header will be sent). 
Show follow-up to header
If checked, the Follow-up to header field will be shown in the header fields of the composition window.  If you would like to edit the Follow-up to header field, check this option.
Signature file
If Enable is checked and you enter the name of a valid text file, WinVN will read the contents of the text file into each new composition window.  Note that WinVN will always prepend the standard "-- " delimiter (two dashes and a space) on a line before your signature.
Says templates:
These allow you to customize the introductory text which WinVN adds to follow-up and reply messages.  In the template, you may use the following "variables":
%i in the template will be replaced by the original article ID
%d in the template will be replaced by the original article date
%n in the template will be replaced by the original author's full name
%a in the template will be replaced by the original author's E-mail address
use %% in the template if you need a literal percent sign
For example, a common Follow-up says template is:
In article %i, %a (%n) says...
and a common Reply template is:
In article %i, you say...

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Attachments...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to attachments.

Article Split Length
This option determines how large an individual posting is allowed to grow before it is split into a multi-part posting.   Posting extremely large files as a single Usenet post will break some news sites and is considered good "netiquette" to break the post into multiple parts.  If you are posting with large attachments it is recommended you set this value to less than 64,000 however you can disable article-splitting by setting this option to None.
Start attachments in new article by default
This checkbox sets the default for attachments, which you can then override in the Attach dialog.
Default Encoding Type
This checkbox sets the default for attachments, which you can then override in the Attach dialog.
Custom Encoding Table
Specifies a custom table of exactly 64 unique characters for use with the Custom Encoding Type.  See Custom Encoding Tables

Subject Line Template For Multi-Part Send
The Subject Line Template allows you to customize a detailed subject line for a multi-part send.   A text string can be entered and interspersed with the symbols %s, %f, %p or %t:
%s in the template will be replaced with original subject line
%f will insert the filename of an attachment (or the words "N attachments" where N is a number greater than one)
%p is the part number of a multi-part message
%0p is the part number of a multi-part message, prepended with zeros to match the length of the total number of parts
%t is the total number of parts transmitted.
use %% in the template if you need a literal percent sign

WinVN defaults to the following Subject Template:
%s - %f [%0p/%t]
For the 5th part of a 12 part send with an original subject called "Testing " and an attached file called "aconfig.bmp", this would produce the subject line:  "Testing - aconfig.bmp [05/12].
For the 1st part of a 7 part send, with an original subject of "Hello", and 4 attachments, this would produce the subject line: "Hello - 4 attachments [1/7]"

See MIME Configuration and  Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure MIME Section of Attachment Preferences
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) in attachments.

Generate MIME headers
If checked, MIME headers will be generated when sending compositions.
Enable MIME usage suggestions
If checked, WinVN will prompt you if it thinks you may be doing something inappropriate with MIME.  For example, using Base64 encoding without MIME, and using non-Base64 encoding with MIME are not recommended, but you can do both if you like.
Default Content Type
This allows you to specify the default MIME content type which will be used for an attachment if none can automatically be determined by the attachment file name extension.  For example, an attachment file name "image.gif" will automatically be recognized as type "Image/GIF", but a file name "foo.bar" will not be recognized, and will use the content you specify here..

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Custom Encoding Tables
To create your own encoding table, choose exactly 64 unique ASCII characters (i.e.: no character can be used more than once).   Enter these in the Custom Encoding Table section of  Configure Attachments.... 
When using custom encoding tables, a "table" line will be added, followed by two 32 character lines representing your custom table.  The standard "begin" and encoded data will follow.
Custom Encoding Tables are discouraged in the MIME standard and are only needed when an attachment is failing to pass through a particular gateway when using Base64, UU or XX encoding, or if you are particularly eccentric.
Be warned that not all decoders support custom-tables, so the further you deviate from common encoding standards, the less likely that the general population will be able to decode your attachments.

$ # K K Configure Decoding...
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to decoding.

Block coding status window always on top
Makes the window that displays the decoding progress so that it cannot be covered by another window. 
Verbose decoding status windows
If checked, one status window will be displayed for each binary decoded.  This window shows detailed status of the decoding progress for each file.  If not checked, there is only one thread status window and only a simple message identifying the start and completion of each binary thread decoded.  Verbose status windows are useful if attempting to determine a decoding problem, but should typically be left disabled.
Auto-minimize decoding status windows
If checked, the status windows will minimize when decoding.

Execute decoded files
If checked, decoded files will be executed on decode completion.  This option relies on your appropriate use of the Windows association lists, configured by the Associate option in the Windows File Manager.
Keep current article header visible
If checked, as each article decode starts during decoding the selected articles, the group article-list will scroll if necessary to ensure that the article header is visible.  This option is disabled if this is a single-file decode.
Include open articles in decodes
If checked, WinVN will decode any already-retrieved open articles, in addition to the articles selected for this decode.  For example, if you have retrieved the 1st part of a 10 part encoded file in order to read its description, and decide you would like to decode this file, you can select all the article parts in the group article-list and initiate the decode.  The part 1 you have already retrieved will be decoded first, and then the other 9 parts will be retrieved and decoded.  Note this option is disabled if no article windows are open.
Use Dumb decode
This option should only be used if all other attempts at decoding articles fail.  If checked, WinVN will not attempt to be smart about piecing together out-of-order or split-up articles during decodes.  In other words, when decoding a multi-part article using Dumb Decode, the articles must be in strict order, with no mixing of separate logical files.  For more information on when Dumb Decode may be appropriate, see Decoding Concepts.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Confirmations
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to confirmations.

Confirm batch send/close operations
If checked, WinVN will prompt for confirmation before executing batch operations, such as closing all WinVN windows, sending all open Mail windows, etc.
Confirm disconnect
If checked, WinVN will prompt for confirmation upon selecting the Disconnect menu item.
Confirm Use of Reply-To
If checked, WinVN will prompt you for confirmation anytime you reply to a post that has a From: address different than its Reply-To: address.   A number of large sites on the Internet allow their people to send mail directly from computers inside their facility but don't allow responses to come back through the same route.   Those sites typically will use the Reply-To field of a mail message to identify a proper return address.   However, other sites have broken mail software and checking this option will allow you to verify addresses.  You usually won't know what is a proper address so the typical procedure is to use the Reply-To field (if it exists), and if the email bounces, try the From: field.
Confirm save on exit 
If checked, WinVN will prompt the user to save the winvn.ini and newsrc files upon exit.  If this options is disabled, WinVN will automatically save these files.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Append saved articles
Checking Append saved articles affects what WinVN does when you attempt to save the contents of an article to an existing file.  If this box is checked, WinVN will append the article to the previous saved file.  Otherwise, it will ask you what to do.  See File Menu Commands.

$ # K Configure Logging...
Opens a dialog box allowing you to specify whether all outgoing posts or mail messages should be logged to a local text file.  If you enable these options, you must also specify the file names to which postings or electronic mail messages should be written in a mailbox-compatible format.

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Fonts
Activates a submenu which allows you to select the fonts used for the various window types.
WinVN System
This is the font used for the initializing status ("Connecting to news server..."), all status bar text, and the header-entry fields of the composition window.  If you find that with all the desired headers shown in the composition window, the headers take up too much screen space, try reducing the WinVN System Font size.
Group/Article List
This specifies the font used in the main group-list window and the group article-list window
Article Text
This specifies the font used in the article window.
Composition Text
This specifies the font used in the composition window body text
Status Text
This specifies the font used in the decoding status window, the send status and block coding status windows.
Print Text
This specifies the font used in printed articles.  This font and size will be used for the main article text of the printed article.  A slightly larger version of the same font will be used for any subject headings and page titles.

$ # K Configure Color
Activates a submenu which allows you to customize the foreground and background colors used by WinVN in each of its windows.

Unsubscribed Group
This is the text color used in the main group-list window for unsubscribed groups.
Subscribed Group
This is the text color used in the main group-list window for subscribed groups.
Unseen Article
This is the text color used in the group article-list window for unseen articles.
Seen Article
This is the text color used in the group article-list window for seen articles.
Marked Seen Article
This is the text color used in the group article-list window for articles marked with the Killfile/Smart Article Selection.
List Background
This is the background color used in the main group-list window and the group article-list window.
Article Background
This is the background color used in the article window.
Article Text
This is the text color used in the article window.
Status Background
This is the background color used in the status window.
Status Text
This is the text color used in the status window.
True Inverse Selections
If checked, selections in the main group-list window and the group article-list window will be true reverse video (i.e. a selected line will show the text in the window background color, and the selection bar background in the text color).  If not checked, the text color for a selection will be preserved and the selection bar background color will always be black (or gray black would make the text unreadable).

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Configure Smart Filer
Opens a dialog box allowing you configure options related to handling of file names and extensions.  This is primarily for file names encountered during decoding, and comes in handy when decoding files which were created on other operating systems (i.e. UNIX) which support very long file names.
Max Name Length
This is maximum length of the portion of a file name before the extension.  In DOS, or Windows 3.x, (or when the FAT file system is being used), this should be 8.  With NTFS or HPFS, this number can be larger.
Maximum Extension Length
This is the maximum length for the extension portion of a filename. In DOS, or Windows 3.x, (or when the FAT file system is being used), this should be 3.
Extension Conversion
Extension conversion allows extensions encountered during decoding which are not appropriate in Windows to be renamed.  For example, you can specify that any time a 'JPEG' file is encountered, rename the extension to 'JPG'.  You can make strange mappings like mapping 'ZIP' to 'FOO' if you so desire.
To add a new extension mapping, enter the Source Extension and the New Extension in the appropriate fields, and click on Add.  To remove an extension mapping, select the mapping in the list, and click on Delete. 
On Duplicate Name...
This allows you to specify how WinVN will react if, during a decode, a duplicate file name is encountered.  You have the following options:
Prompt for new file name
Replace extension with number (i.e. sound.wav becomes sound.001)
Preserve extension, prepend number to name (i.e. sound.wav becomes 1sound.wav)
Preserve extension, append number to name (i.e. sound.wav becomes sound1.wav)

On Name or Extension Too Long...
This allows you to specify how WinVN will react if, during a decode, a file name or extension is encountered which is longer than the length limits you have specified.  You have the following options:
Prompt for new file name
Truncate at max name length (i,e, avery-longname.wav becomes avery-lo.wav)
Condense (skip vowels, punctuation) (i.e. avery-longname.wav becomes vrylngnm.wav)

The order of file name handling is as follows:  Extension Conversion occurs first, then Too-Long name, then Too-Long extension, then Duplicate Name. 

See Saving Configuration Information. 

$ # K Save Configuration
Immediately saves your WinVN configuration information to the WINVN.INI file.  Normally, saving of WINVN.INI is done only upon exit from the program.

# $ K Saving Configuration Information
When you exit WinVN via the main window's Network/Exit menu command, you are given the option of saving the configuration options you have set during the session.  (The information is saved to WINVN.INI.)  If you haven't changed any configuration options during the session, it doesn't do any harm to save them anyway.  
If you change configuration options and want to save them immediately to guard against the computer crashing (yes, this has happened with WinVN!), use the Save Configuration menu command of the main window.
$ # Block coding status window always on top
When decoding, a small block coding status window will be displayed.  If this option is checked, the status window will "float" above all other windows.  This option can also be selected while a coding status window is open, by checking the "Always on top" option from the status window's Alt-space system menu.