
Tide version 1.10 Full Screen Editor
Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997 Errol Smith
All Rights Reserved



QUICK 2 MINUTE INSTALL:

 Copy the contents of this archive to a directory of your choice,
eg. "C:\BBS\TIDE\"
 Load your BBS's configuration program, change the Full Screen Editor
command line to: "[drive]:\[path]\TIDE.EXE -N*N *M" where *N is the
node number & *M enables memory swapping.
eg. For Ezycom, "C:\EZY\TIDE\TIDE.EXE -N*N *M" in Messages>Misc>Ext.Editor
 For Ezycom BBS's, make sure that 'Old Style MSGTMP = NO'
 Exit & save your BBS setup, and test run it.  If you have problems,
read the detailed installation and/or FAQ later in this file.



Contents:

 1 - What is Tide?

 2 - Feature Summary

 3 - License Agreement & Registration
 
 4 - Installation & Hardware/Software requirements

 5 - Command reference and Features in detail

 6 - Command line parameters

 7 - Problems & Frequently Asked Questions

 8 - Credits

 9 - Contacting the author.




======================================================================
 1 - What is Tide?
======================================================================

   Tide is a full screen editor (FSE) for use with Ezycom,
  RemoteAccess, QuickBBS, SuperBBS and other BBS systems using the
  QuickBBS style of external editor interface. 

   Tide was originally started because I felt there was a need for a
  more reliable, more efficient editor than the ones currently
  available, (especially for Ezycom) none of which seemed to work
  very reliably.
   I also wanted an editor that fully supported Avatar0+ and made full
  use of its powerful scrolling commands, which were perfect for a
  full screen editor.
   After about 8 months of developing and beta testing, 'Tide' is the
  result!



 
======================================================================
 2 - Feature summary:
======================================================================
 
  - Supports both AVATAR0+ & ANSI graphics commands, making extensive
    use of Avatar's screen scrolling commands.
  - Extremely efficient, even low speed users can use this editor! (-:
  - Doorway mode for remote connections to enable 'extended' keys
    such as page up/down, ctrl-home/end etc.
  - Recursive word-wrap routines & automatic paragraph handling.
  - Powerful paragraph reformat routine (Ctrl-D).  Will even reformat
    & re-quote quoted text, fixing the dreaded 'chainsaw' effect.
  - Fast spell checking routine. (Ctrl-E)
  - Multi-line cut/copy/paste buffer.
  - When a user runs out of time, it gives them the option to save or
    abort their unfinished message.  A 10 second time-out will
    automatically save the message if they do not respond.
  - Reads the users screen length, and adjusts the editing/quote
    window sizes accordingly.                            [ezycom only]
  - General/User help. (F1)
  - Sysop/Local help. (F2)
  - Importing of text files. (F3)                         [local only]
  - Exporting to a file. (F4)                             [local only]
  - 'To:' field name/handle search. (F5)                 [ezycom only]
  - Reads the users record for text/quote colours.       [ezycom only]
  - Gives away time slices when idle for multitasking systems.
    Directly supports OS/2, DESQview, Windows & generic timeslicing.
  - Alt-J shell to DOS from within editor.
  - Allows user to change privacy flag & message subject [ezycom only]
  - Support for forwarding of messages.                  [ezycom only]
  - Sysop (local) macros. ALT F1-F12
  - Built in full screen split sysop <-> user chat. (Alt-C)
  - Alter users remaining time while in editor.
  - Tagline support. (optional)
  - Security lockout for local/sysop keyboard functions.
  - No configuration program/files needed, and no need for an
    environment variable.
  - Only one copy of the editor & key is needed on your system.  (but
    you can have multiple copies on your system without problems)
  - All help screens are built in to the .EXE file.
  - Unregistered version not crippled. (all features are enabled)
  - Written by a BBS user -for- BBS users.




======================================================================
 3 - License Agreement & Registration
======================================================================

  IMPORTANT: Please read this license agreement before using this
  software.  By using this software you acknowledge your agreement to
  the terms of this license.  If you do not wish to follow the terms
  of this license agreement, you must remove this software from your
  system.  The only portion of the Software that you may retain is the
  distribution archive itself which may be used solely for
  distribution purposes.

   Distribution of this package is encouraged, so long as no charge is
  levied for the distribution.  Commercial Software Libraries may not
  include Tide in their libraries, without the written permission of
  the author.

   The distribution archive of Tide may not be tampered with in any
  way, shape or form.  Conversion to another archive format is allowed
  but strongly discouraged.  Adding comments, headers or extra files
  to the archive, or the removal or modification of any files in the
  archive is NOT permitted.  Modifying, reverse engineering or
  disassembling of Tide executables or key files is strictly
  prohibited.

   Distributing the registration key or otherwise making it available
  to persons other than yourself is a violation of the licensing
  agreement.  Copies of the registration key may be made ONLY for
  backup/archival purposes.

   The use of tampered versions of Tide, or the use of keys not
  distributed by official registration sites is an infringement of
  International Copyright Laws.

   'Tide' is supplied 'as is'.  This product (including any and all
  files included in the original distribution archive) has no
  guarantees or warranties of any kind.  Apart from the likelyhood of
  it taking up disk space on your system, this product promises
  nothing.

   The author will not be held liable for any damages caused to you or
  your system by this product, whether from use, misuse or any other
  factor.  Every effort has been made to make this product as 'safe'
  as possible, but due to the nature of Bulletin Board Systems and
  computers in general, there is always the chance of damage to system
  files and/or any associated hardware/software.

 Registration:

   This editor is NOT free.  This software is shareware, meaning you
  MUST pay for it if you intend to use it beyond a 30 day evaluation
  period.  After expiration of the 30 day evaluation period, you must
  either register or remove this software from your system.

   When unregistered, the editor does have some restrictions, however
  it is NOT 'crippled'.  All functions are enabled, allowing you to
  effectively evaluate the editor before you decide to register it or
  discontinue using it.

   However, the editor won't let you edit a message larger than 100
  lines long.  The editor will regularly remind you & your users that
  it is only for evaluation, and occasionally put a message to this
  effect on the end of saved messages.  The number of useable taglines
  is also limited to 10.

   When registered, all these restrictions are removed.
  Registration is A$25 (Twenty Five Australian Dollars) for a single
  registration and less for group registrations (2 or more people
  using one payment, eg. one cheque for 3 registrations).
  
   See the accompanying registration form for details on how to
  register Tide.





======================================================================
 4 - Installation & Hardware/Software Requirements
======================================================================

   The only requirements for this editor are that a FOSSIL be present
  for remote connections.  If you are running a BBS, then you will
  most likely already have one loaded, so this isn't a problem.  It
  has been tested with both X00 by Raw Gwinn and BNU by David Nugent.

   The editor should run on any hardware, even an XT, as long as it is
  running some form of DOS (3.x or higher recommended), and has been
  tested under OS/2 Warp, DESQview and Windows without problems.
  It will also pass timeslices to these systems to help multitasking.
   Typically, at least 200k of free memory is required.  In most
  cases, the editor will load without the BBS doing a memory swap.

   Installation is easy.  Simply extract the distribution archive to
  a directory on your system, (eg. C:\BBS\TIDE) and modify your BBS
  configuration appropriately.
 
   This will generally involve changing the command line for the
  external editor to "[drive]:[path]\TIDE.EXE -N*N *M"

   BBS detection is automatic, looking at your environment variables,
  but can be overridden on the command line if you have problems (for
  example, you have more than one environment variable that the
  editor recognises - see "/B" under command line options)

   Order of detection is:
     EZY
     RA
     QBBS
     SBBS

   Whichever one it finds first will be the default.  (internally, all
  modes except Ezycom are identical, so the editor will work with
  QuickBBS even if it finds an RA environment variable first.  However
  I have included the separate options for future expansion, for
  example direct support of each BBS's dropfiles)

   If none of these is found, the editor defaults to the QuickBBS/RA
  style of editor interface, using "DORINFO1.DEF" for the user/port
  info, and "MSGTMP." for the quote & message text.  "MSGINF." is
  optional (contains message information).  All these files must be in
  the current directory.  See the FAQ for more info.

   Ezycom files are read from the Ezycom system directory as defined
  by the "EZY" environment variable.  If Ezycom mode is forced and no
  EZY environment variable exists, the current directory will be used.


 Ezycom Installation:

   In Ezycom's CONFIG, go into 'Messages > Misc > External Editor'
   And set it to:

   [path]TIDE.EXE -N*N *M

   eg. 'C:\EZY\TIDE\TIDE.EXE -N*N *M'

   Make sure that 'Messages > Misc > Old Style MSGTMP' is 'NO'.

   The -N*N passes the node number (See command line options), and 
   the *M tells Ezycom to do a memory swap.



 RemoteAccess Installation:

   In RACONFIG, go into 'Options > Messages > External Editor'
   And set it to:

   [path]TIDE.EXE -N*N *M

   eg. 'C:\RA\TIDE\TIDE.EXE -N*N *M'

   The -N*N passes the node number (See command line options), and 
   the *M tells RA to do a memory swap.



   When you register, the KEY file should be placed in the same
  directory where you installed Tide, your BBS system directory,
  and/or in the current (DOS) directory that the BBS operates in.
  The Key file is searched for in that order.



======================================================================
 5 - Command Reference & Features
======================================================================

   A summary of these commands is available in the online help.  Press
  ESC H or F1 for general help and F2 for sysop/local help.

 Edit Window:

  Command:   Alternative:       Function:

  Control-A  (Ctrl-LeftArrow)   Moves the cursor to the first
                                character of the previous word.

  Control-B                     Change the case of the word the cursor
                                is on.  Order is lower case; upper
                                case; first char uppercase, remaining
                                chars lower case. ie:
                                hello -> HELLO -> Hello -> hello .....

  Control-C  (Page-Down)        Go down one page of text.

  Control-D                     Reformat and re-quote the current
                                paragraph.  The paragraph is
                                reformated from the current line
                                downwards until a blank line is
                                encountered.
                                 Lines longer than the right margin
                                (70chars) are word-wrapped to the next
                                line.
                                 Lines that are shorter than the
                                margin will 'pull-up' words from the
                                next line.  This effectively
                                'compacts' a paragraph.
                                 If the line the cursor is on is
                                quoted (ie has a '>' in the first few
                                characters), then that quote prefix is
                                used in front of all lines in the
                                paragraph.  Also, any quote prefixes
                                in following lines are removed.  This
                                effectively re-quotes the paragraph.
                                 This is an extremely powerful command
                                - when used on quoted text, it will
                                completely eliminate the dreaded
                                'chainsaw effect'.  After getting used
                                to it, you will find yourself hitting
                                Ctrl-D on all your quoted paragraphs
                                when replying to messages.
                                 It can also be used to 'quote' an
                                un-quoted paragraph by adding a quote
                                prefix to the current line and then
                                running it.  Transversely, it can be
                                used to 'un-quote' a paragraph by
                                removing the quote prefix from the
                                current line before using it.
                                 This is similar to the Qedit command
                                'WrapParagraph' (Alt-B).

  Control-E                     Run/restart spellchecker. Useful
                                after editing misspelled words.

  Control-F  (Ctrl-RightArrow)  Moves the cursor to the first
                                character of the next word.

  Control-G                     Paste a "<grin>".

  Control-H  (Backspace)        Delete the previous char, scrolling
                                the rest of the line left.

  Control-I  (Tab)              Move the cursor to the next tab stop.
                                If insert mode is on, the text in
                                front of the cursor will be moved
                                along with it.

  Control-J                     Centre the current line.

  Control-K  (Esc Q)            Alternative to Quote (Control-Q).

  Control-L  (Esc R)            Redraw the screen.  This can be used
                                if the user receives line noise to
                                redraw the display.

  Control-M  (Enter)            Move the cursor to the beginning of
                                the next line.  This will also insert
                                a blank line.  If the cursor was not
                                at or past the end of the line, the
                                rest of the line will be moved to the
                                next line.

  Control-N                     Insert a new line.

  Control-O  (Esc)              Alternative to ESC (Activate menu).

  Control-P                     'Paste' a line from the multiline
                                cut/copy/paste buffer.
                                 This can be used to move and/or
                                copy lines of text.

  Control-Q  (Esc Q)            Switch between the quote window and
                                the edit window.  If the quote window
                                is not open, it will be opened.  This
                                will have no effect if there is
                                nothing to quote.

  Control-R  (Page-Up)          Go up one page of text.

  Control-S                     'Save' (ie. copy) the current line
                                into the multiline cut/copy/paste
                                buffer.

  Control-T                     Delete the current word, regardless of
                                where in the word the cursor is.

  Control-U                     Delete from the cursor to the end of
                                the current line.

  Control-V  (Insert)           Toggle insert/overwrite mode.

  Control-W                     Toggle quote window.  This will open
                                the quote window if it isn't open and
                                close it if it is open.

  Control-X  (Esc A)            Abort the message and exit.  You will
             (Esc Esc)          be asked for confirmation.

  Control-Y                     Delete/Cut the current line. The line
                                is stored in a multiline buffer. You
                                can 'undelete' the line(s) with
                                control-P. (paste)

  Control-Z  (Esc S)            Save the message and exit the editor.

  Control-[  (Esc)              Activate the menu.

  Control-\                     Quote the current line as if from
                                the person the message is to.


  Commands for Doorway mode & Local only:

  F1         (ESC H)            Help Screen(s)

  Page-Up    (Control-R)        Go up one page of text.

  Page-Down  (Control-C)        Go down one page of text.

  Control-Home                  Top left of edit window.

  Control-End                   Bottom right of edit window.

  Shift-Tab                     Reverse Tab.

  Alt-X                         Abort message without confirmation.


 Quote Window:

   The following keys are for the quote window.  Function is similar
  to the same keys in the edit window, except where detailed.
   Use Control-Q, Control-K or ESC Q to access the quote window.  The
  option will not be accessible if there is nothing to quote.

  Command:   Alternative:       Function:

  Control-C  (Page-Down)        Go down one page of text.

  Control-K  (Esc Q)            Switch between the quote window and
                                the edit window.
                                (Alternative to Control-Q)

  Control-L  (Esc R)            Redraw the screen.

  Control-M  (Enter)            Quote the current line - the quoted
                                line that the cursor is currently on
                                will be copied into the edit window.
                                If the quotemode is insert (default),
                                then the quoted line will be inserted
                                before the current edit line.  If
                                quotemode is overwrite, then the
                                quoted line will overwrite the current
                                edit line.
                                 Both the current quote line and edit
                                line will be advanced.

  Control-O  (Esc)              Activate the menu.

  Control-Q  (Esc Q)            Switch between the quote window and
                                the edit window.

  Control-R  (Page-Up)          Go up one page of text.

  Control-V  (Insert)           Toggle insert/overwrite mode for
                                quoted lines.

  Control-W                     Close the quote window and return to
                                the edit window.

  Control-X  (Esc A)            Abort the message and exit.  You will
             (Esc Esc)          be asked for confirmation.

  Control-Z  (Esc S)            Save the message and exit the editor.

  Control-[  (Escape)           Activate the menu.

  Quote Commands for Doorway mode & Local only:

  Page-Up    (Control-R)        Go up one page of text.

  Page-Down  (Control-C)        Go down one page of text.

  Control-Home                  Top of quote window.

  Control-End                   Bottom of quote window.

  Alt-X                         Abort message without confirmation.


 Menu:
   Press ESC or ctrl-O to access the menu.  The uppercase letter of
  each function indicates which key activates the command.

  Menu       Keyboard
  Command:   Alternative:       Function:

  Help       ESC H              Display the help screens.

  Save       Control-Z          Save the message and exit the editor.

  Abort      Control-X          Abort the message and exit.  You will
             ESC ESC            be asked for confirmation.

  Redraw     Control-L          Redraw the screen.  This can be used
                                if the user receives line noise to
                                redraw the display.

  Quote      Control-Q          Switch between the quote window and
                                the edit window.  If the quote window
                                is not open, it will be opened.  This
                                will have no effect if there is
                                nothing to quote, and the option will
                                not appear on the menu.

  Private                       Toggle the privacy status of the
                                message on or off (if allowed in the
                                current message area).  [Ezycom Only]

  sUbject                       Change the subject of the message.
                                (if allowed in the current message
                                area) [Ezycom Only]

  spElling   Control-E          Run spell checking routine.

  Enter (or any other key)      Exit the menu.


 Local/Sysop commands:

  F1    Display help screens.

  F2    Summary of local/sysop commands.

  F3    Import a text file into the message.  If insert is on,
        imported lines will be inserted before the current line.  If
        insert is off, imported lines will overwrite lines starting
        from the cursor.  Imported text will be word-wrapped to the
        right margin.

  F4    Export the message text to a text file.

  F5    To: field name/alias search.  This will search the BBS user
        base for any user who's real name or alias matches who the
        message is being posted to, and display both.  This is
        especially useful if handles are used on your BBS.  For
        example, this command will tell you who someone called
        'Freddo' really is.  [Ezycom Only]

  ALT F1-F12
        Sysop macros - see the section on sysop macros below for more
        information.

  Alt-C Chat to the remote user.  This will put you into a split full
        screen chat mode.  What you type and what the user types will
        be in separate windows.  Press ESC to exit.  The users screen
        will be automatically redrawn on exiting chat so don't be
        afraid to use it! (-:

  Alt-J Shell to DOS.  Note: This may cause problems if when the
        editor loads there is not much free memory.

  Alt - Decrement users remaining time

  Alt = Increment users remaining time


 Sysop Macros:
  Sysop macros are accessed by holding the ALT key and pressing
  function keys F1 through F12.  The macros are defined in a text file
  called 'TIDE.MAC' which should be placed in the same directory as
  TIDE, or the BBS system directory.  The file is a simple text file
  where each line corresponds to a macro key.  ie the first line in
  the file is the macro for ALT-F1, the second line for ALT-F2 and so
  on until the 12th line for ALT-F12.  The vertical bar '|' (pipe
  symbol) is used to define a carriage return.

  Example: the macro: 'Regards,|Errol Smith' (without the quotes) will
  produce an output like...
  Regards,
  Errol Smith
  ...in the message.  Use the sequence '|/s|' to save the message with
  the macro. eg 'Regards,|Errol Smith|/s|' would do as above but also
  save the message automatically.


 Taglines:
   Taglines are optional.  If the file 'TIDE.TAG' exists in the Tide
  directory, the BBS system directory or the current directory, a
  random quote will be taken from it & added to the end of message
  text.  Taglines look something like:

  ... This is a tagline. Please steal me!

   If you don't want taglines added to your messages, then simply
  delete (or don't create in the first place), the file TIDE.TAG.
   The file uses a custom format to store taglines, and I have
  supplied a utility with the editor to convert normal ascii text
  files into the format used.

  The usage is dead easy:
  TIDETAG.EXE [inputfile] [/E]

   With no options, it will give you a little reminder of how to use
  it.  The default input file is straight ascii, one tagline per line.
   It will also convert the Ezycom 'RUMOURS.BBS' format.  To do so,
  put a /E on the command line after the filename.
   eg. TIDETAG RUMOURS.BBS /E

   The output file will always be TIDE.TAG in the current directory.
  If it already exists, it will be overwritten.

   Notes:
      - The "... " prefix is added by the editor, and should NOT be
        part of the input text file.
      - When the editor looks for TIDE.TAG, it looks in the directory
        Tide was loaded from, then the BBS system directory
        (as defined by the appropriate environment variable),
        then the current DOS directory.  This should mean only one
        copy of TIDE.TAG is needed on your system.
      - Input lines longer than 65 characters will be ignored.




======================================================================
6 - Command line parameters
======================================================================

   Command line parameters must begin with either a '/' or a '-'
  followed by a letter to indicate the option, then (in most cases) a
  parameter.  There must be at least one space between separate
  command line parameters.  Case is NOT sensitive.
   eg. to define node 3 all the following will work:

   /n3 /N3 -n3 -N3

   All command line parameters are optional.  Defaults are listed
  where applicable.


  - /N#
    This defines which node the editor is on, '#' being the node
    number:
    eg /N2

    This will normally be on the BBS config line as '/N*N'
    Default is 1.  This option is MANDATORY for multiline systems.

 
  - /B#####
    Define BBS type.  This will override automatic detection
    (see installation)
    Where ##### is:
   
      EZY   - Ezycom
      RA    - RemoteAccess
      QBBS  - QuickBBS
      SBBS  - SuperBBS
      OTHER - Other (QuickBBS/RA style editor interface)
   
    Only the first letter is required, all others are ignored.

    eg. /BE /BEZY /bEzy  (force Ezycom mode)

    This will usually only be required if you have more than one
    environment variable that Tide recognises (eg. you have both EZY
    & RA variables and you want the editor to load up in RA mode)


  - /S[ecure]
    This will disable local sysop functions such as shell-to-dos,
    import, export & changing users time.  This would normally be used
    as a security measure in places where the BBS software is used for
    local logins (eg schools), or is in a public area and you don't
    want users accessing the operating system or otherwise being able
    to 'hack' your system.  Typically this would be used in
    conjunction with similar security inside the BBS, such as the
    'Keyboard Password' in Ezycom.

    eg. /S /Secure /SECURE


  - /V
    Turn off video mode changes.  Tide will by default attempt to
    switch to a bigger video mode to accommodate remote users with
    long screen-lengths that won't fit on the current screen mode.
    (eg 50 rows).  Local logins always get the full current
    screenlength, regardless of their user setting.
     If your BBS is already in 43/50 row mode when Tide loads, or if
    none of your users have more than 24 lines then you are unlikely
    to notice.  Only Ezycom passes the screenlength, so other BBS
    systems will have no need for this switch.
     This switch would generally only be used under a multitasker.
    (eg. Desqview may switch to graphics mode to accommodate large
    windows, which can get annoying)


  - /H
    Disable high ascii. (ascii codes > 127 decimal)  This will stop
    users entering high ascii in messages.  The default is to allow
    high ascii.
    (Under Ezycom, high ascii is not allowed if the user has ibm
    extended chars off.  However other BBS systems have no way of
    'telling' the editor whether to allow high ascii or not.)


  - /F########.###
    If you are using a BBS system that uses a filename other than
    "MSGTMP." to contain the message text, then this can be used to
    override the default ("MSGTMP." for RA/QuickBBS, or "MSGTMP.nnn"
    for Ezycom, where nnn is the nodenumber)

    eg. /Fmsgtxt.xyz

  - /R##
    This defines the maximum number of rows available for editing.
    ie the maximum length of the message in lines.
    eg /R20 will limit all messages to a maximum of 20lines.

  - [filename]
    Putting a filename FIRST on the command line will override
    everything else and bring the editor up in local mode, with the
    [filename] loaded into the quote window.
     This will enable you to use the editor with an offline reader,
    for example BlueWave. (in theory (: )

    eg. TIDE message.txt




======================================================================
 7 - Problems & Mini F.A.Q.
======================================================================

  The editor won't load!
    Double check your BBS setup.  Make sure that the command line is
    correct, and that you are enabling the memory swap. (eg. *M)
     Also make sure that the editor actually IS where you tell the BBS
    it is. (eg if you are loading the editor from a ramdisk, make sure
    that the .EXE is there and that your startup copies the editor
    .EXE to the ramdisk)


  The editor loads, but I get "WARNING!! CAN'T FIND 'MSGINFO.nnn'" or
  "WARNING!! CAN'T FIND 'EXITINFO.nnn'" (possible Ezycom problem)
    - The editor thinks you are running under Ezycom when you aren't -
      Force the BBS type with the /Bx command line or get rid of your
      EZY environment variable.
    - Your EZY environment variable doesn't exist, or contains the
      wrong path to your BBS system directory.
    - The node number is not being passed to the editor properly.
      Check you have the /N*N command line parameter.  This would be
      indicated by the extension of either filename not being the
      correct number for that node.
    - You're running Ezycom, and haven't set:
      'Messages > Misc > Old style MSGTMP'
      to "NO" in your BBS configuration. Fix it!


  I'm using Ezycom, and the editor appears to work, but the message
  doesn't get saved properly, and/or there is no text to quote.
    You haven't set 'Messages > Misc > Old style MSGTMP' to "NO" in
    your BBS configuration. Fix it!


  The editor only works on node 1.
    You aren't correctly passing the node number to the editor.  Make
    sure that you have the /N*N parameter on the editor command line.
    Alternatively, you have incorrectly setup the command line for
    your other node(s).


  I get a run-time error when I try to do a shell-to-dos (alt-J) from
  inside the editor.
    There is not enough free memory to do a shell after the editor has
    loaded.  If you want to shell to dos, exit the editor first &
    shell from within your BBS software.  (remember to save the users
    message first..)  Alternatively, enable the memory swap when the
    editor is loaded (if you haven't already).


  The paragraph reformat routine (Ctrl-D) leaves some of the quote
  prefix (usually the initials) in the paragraph when I run it on
  quoted lines;  or the reformated paragraphs don't line up with
  unformated ones.
    The quote prefix has a space between the initials and the ">", or
    is missing a space before and/or after the quote prefix.  Go to
    your BBS setup and change the quote prefix to: " @> " or " > "
     ie. a space, the initials (optional), a greater than sign, then
    another space.  This is the (unofficial) fidonet standard as
    defined in FSC-0032.TXT.


  There aren't enough lines available for editing big messages, and it
  occasionally puts annoying 'unregistered' taglines on my messages!
    Simple solution. Register!


  Why is it called 'Tide'?
    'tide' is 'edit' backwards. Get it? (-:


  Can I use it with a BBS system other than Ezycom, RA, QuickBBS or
  SuperBBS??
     Yes, if your BBS software uses the RA/QuickBBS system of external
    editor handling.
     That is, 3 files in the CURRENT directory:
    DORINFO1.DEF - standard drop file containing line/user info
    MSGTMP.  - (no extension) An ascii file.  If it exists when the
               editor loads, it will contain the quoted text.
               When the editor exits, this file will contain the
               saved message (or not exist if message aborted)
               (The name of this file can be overridden on the
                command line - see /F in command line parameters)
    MSGINF.  - (no extension, optional)  A text file containing
               message information:
               line 1: Who the message is FROM
               line 2: Who the message is TO
               line 3: Message subject
               line 4: Message number }   Where message is being
               line 5: Message area   }   posted. (not used in editor)
               line 6: Private flag ("YES" or "NO")
     If your BBS software does not support this method of using the
    external editor, there may be 3rd party utilities to make your
    system 'emulate' them.
     Of course it will also work with other BBS systems using Ezycom's
    advanced FSE handling, but I don't know of any at the moment! (-:


  I want it to load faster! -
    - Put the editor in a RAMDisk.  Even over a network, this will
      usually decrease load time significantly.  Putting it in a local
      ramdisk on each machine on your network will make the most
      difference.  The editor doesn't care where it gets loaded from,
      so you can have multiple copies on different machines.
      Alternatively, if you don't want to/can't have a RAMdisk on each
      machine in your network, then having a copy on each machine's
      local hard drive will still speed things up.

    - Try disabling the memory swap when the editor loads.  (this
      usually involves removing the *M from the command line).  This
      will make a noticeable difference especially if your system
      swaps memory out to disk.
       This may or may not work, depending on how much memory your OS
      & BBS software uses up.  Try it, and if the editor runs
      reliably, then leave it that way!
       In most cases, Tide WILL run without a memory swap.  However, a
      Dos-shell from within the editor when the BBS is not swapped out
      will not leave much memory for the shell.  You have been warned!




======================================================================
 8 - Credits & Support/Beta sites
======================================================================

   Many thanks go to the following people for beta-testing, bug
  hunting, many suggestions & general hassling:

   Dave Chapman     (The Web BBS)
   Peter Davies     (Author of Ezycom)
   Darren Gibbs     (Way Out West BBS)
   Simon Phillips   (Zzap BBS)
   Scott Farrell    (Blue Marlin BBS)
   Phillip Dean     (Eagle's Nest BBS)
   Robert Wilson    (Restless BBS)
   Alistair Simpson (Satellite BBS)
   Neil Lees        (Altered Reality)


  Support/Beta test sites -
   The latest version of Tide should be available from any of the
  following BBS systems.  It should also be available on any other
  Ezycom support site.  It is also being distributed via the Ezycom
  file distribution network.

  The Web            61-2-528-5941  (Dave Chapman)
  Way Out West       61-2-628-8888  (Darren Gibbs)
  Restless           61-45-76-6185  (Robert Wilson)
  Blue Marlin        61-47-76-1211  (Scott Farrell)
  Altered Reality    61-3-887-2115  (Neil Lees)




======================================================================
 9 - Contacting the author
======================================================================

   If you have any suggestions or comments about Tide, then feel free
  to contact me.
   If you are having problems with it, PLEASE read the Problems/FAQ,
  and check your setup.  I don't like to tell people to RTFM! (-:
   When reporting a problem, please give me as much information as
  possible, including the version number that you are using.  If the
  problem results in a run-time error, please tell me the error code &
  procedure name that are displayed by the error handler.  Telling me
  only "It doesn't work!" is not very helpful in fixing the problem!

   I can be contacted as 'Errol Smith' in the Ezycom_Utilities,
  Ezycom_Support & Ezycom_Development fidonet echoes.  The
  Ezycom_Utilities echo is the preferred echo.  Please do not post in
  the other areas unless you do not receive the Utilities echo.
  (Utility support is technically off-topic in the other echoes).
 
   Netmail/crashmail to my point address: (preferred)

    Errol Smith, The Web BBS, 3:712/523.5 (fidonet)

   Or netmail/crashmail to 'Errol Smith' at The Web BBS:

    Line 1: 61-2-528-5941  (v34, Mailer, Crashmail)
    FidoNet   - 3:712/523
    Adventure - 169:3005/2
    WorldNet  - 61:9600/350

   E-mail:
    errol@ros.com.au

   World Wide Web:
    http://www.ros.com.au/~errol/tide.html

   Or via snail-mail (post) to:

    Errol Smith
    PO Box 119
    Round Corner, NSW, 2158
    Australia




