Message filtering (Appendix 16)

# Message filtering.

(Appendix 16)

     FBB software allows filtering messages. Filtering is not done by the BBS
    software but by external programs developed by users.

     When the BBS starts, the M_FILTER does not really need to be there.  But at
    the first message, it must exist.  If it does not exist at THAT time, it will
    not be checked again.  So if a M_FILTER is added after that, the BBS must be
    rebooted for the filter to take effect.

    M_FILTER may be interactive and allows to incorporate some features like
    dedicated information for predefined callsigns, password filtering, etc...

     I did not develop such programs, but this is an open door to many
    applications.

     The M_FILTER program must be found by the PATH of MsDos. Its extension can
    be COM or EXE, and it must be little and fast as multitasking is stopped
    during the activity of this program. If this program is not found, it will
    not be called until the BBS is rebooted.

     The M_FILTER may also be created as a DLL.  Both for WinFBB and DosFBB (!!).
    The filter must be installed in the path (\FBB\BIN) of Dos.

     The message filter is called (if found) each time a message is ready to be
    recorded (when Ctrl Z or /EX is received). The decision to validate or not
    the message is function of the exit value of the M_FILTER program.

     The M_FILTER program (if found) is called with some arguments including a
    level number. This number is incremented each time the program is called in
    the same connection session. The first time the level number will be 0.

     The line arguments given to the M_FILTER program are :

    - File name including the text of the message.
    - Type of the message (P, B, T).
    - Sender.
    - "To" field.
    - Record number of DIRMES.SYS file.

     The M_FILTER program ends with an exit value. This value is very important
    and tells the BBS what to do :

     0 : Message is recorded.
     1 : Message is killed   (status = K).
     2 : Message is archived (status = A).
     3 : Message is held     (status = H).

    /*
     * M_FILTER.C
     *
     * The message filter MUST be named M_FILTER (COM or EXE).
     *
     * This example only writes its call arguments in the TEST.MES file.
     *
     * It is called with 5 arguments :
     *   File name of the message.
     *   Type .
     *   Sender.
     *   To.
     *   Number of the record in the DIRMES.SYS file.
     *
     * If it returns 0 : The message is accepted.
     *               1 : The message is killed (status K).
     *               2 : The message is archived (status A).
     *
     */

    #include <stdio.h>
    main(argc, argv)
    int  argc;
    char **argv;
    {
      int  i;
      FILE * fptr = fopen("TEST.MES", "at");

      for (i = 0 ; i < argc ; fprintf(fptr, "%s ", argv[i++]));
      fputc('\n', fptr);

      fclose(fptr);

      return(0);
    }

    This page was last updated 17-Apr-99