Hello All,

Well, it would seem that nothing I can do now helps, so any idea would be really welcome. All the QWK packets I download now crashes MultiMail. The actual file itself seems to be a valid ZIP file, so I do not think the
problem is with the actual archive creation process. Somewhere inside Mystic
we have an issue. Any thoughts on what else I can do to troubleshoot this?

Regards,
Jan Henkins

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Linux)
* Origin: UnderZaNet BBS (21:2/108)

On 03/13/17, dotslash pondered and said...

Hello All,

Well, it would seem that nothing I can do now helps, so any idea would be really welcome. All the QWK packets I download now crashes MultiMail. The actual file itself seems to be a valid ZIP file, so I do not think the problem is with the actual archive creation process. Somewhere inside Mystic we have an issue. Any thoughts on what else I can do to troubleshoot this?

I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help on this one as I don't have
experience of QWK. Is MutltiMail as QWK reader?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Windows)
* Origin: Agency BBS | telnet://agency.bbs.geek.nz (21:1/101)

On 03/13/17, dotslash said the following...

Well, it would seem that nothing I can do now helps, so any idea would be really welcome. All the QWK packets I download now crashes MultiMail. The actual file itself seems to be a valid ZIP file, so I do not think the problem is with the actual archive creation process. Somewhere inside Mystic we have an issue. Any thoughts on what else I can do to troubleshoot this?

The first is in the Message area there is (D) Set Newscan Date. Set it to
only give you a few days output and try that. I have had problems with
QWK/QWKE even on Mystic A31, making the zip smaller seemed to help. You can keep changing the start date till it fails and get an idea if that helps and how big you can make it before it fails. You might also try different BBS,
some use 64 bit Linux, Windows10 64 bit, most use 32 bit Linux/Windows. Try
to find BBS with each and test which work and which don't, I suspect that smaller zips and 32 bit systems are the most stable from what I've seen.
Yes, the zip files are generally valid and work fine - I noticed that too.
I'm thinking it's Multimail that is the real problem and Mystic before A31. The Multimail I used was old and I ran it on 64 bit Linux, that didn't work well with big zips, but mostly worked with smaller ones. I think it's a 32 bit vs 64 bit problem with size and mis-matched libraries. Also on your BBS make sure all the Mystic files are the same version (A29, A30, or A31) and not a mix. try updating the Linux/Windows files as well. I don't really know how,
but I found a mix of versions at one point that caused problems on mine.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Raspberry Pi)
* Origin: Mystic Pi BBS bcw142.zapto.org (21:1/145)

dotslash wrote to All <=-

Well, it would seem that nothing I can do now helps, so any idea would
be really welcome. All the QWK packets I download now crashes
MultiMail. The actual file itself seems to be a valid ZIP file, so I do not think the problem is with the actual archive creation process. Somewhere inside Mystic we have an issue. Any thoughts on what else I
can do to troubleshoot this?

I've seen this occasionally. Haven't found a pattern, but occasionally, a QWK packet from Mystic crashes Multimail. Bluewave reads the same packet fine.


... Doesanyoneknowhowmuchitcoststogetaspacebarrepaired?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
* Origin: Freeway BBS - freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Hello Vk3jed!

14 Mar 17 20:13, you wrote to dotslash:

I've seen this occasionally. Haven't found a pattern, but
occasionally, a QWK packet from Mystic crashes Multimail. Bluewave
reads the same packet fine.

It's somethign to do with the indexing feature in MM, you either
need to disable it or enable it. My memory isn't the best and I don't
have that laptop here right now to check.

Shawn

... You don't have to think too hard when you talk to teachers.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20160322
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - www.tinysbbs.com (21:1/130.3)

Hello bcs142,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

The first is in the Message area there is (D) Set Newscan Date. Set it to only give you a few days output and try that. I have had problems with QWK/QWKE even on Mystic A31, making the zip smaller seemed to help.

This is sound advice. Even so, it did not help.

[snip] You might also try
different BBS, some use 64 bit Linux, Windows10 64 bit, most use 32 bit Linux/Windows. Try to find BBS with each and test which work and which don't, I suspect that smaller zips and 32 bit systems are the most
stable from what I've seen.

OK, this seems like a good thing to investigate. My system is currently a 64-bit only system, but it will be easy to revert to a 32-bit one.

Yes, the zip files are generally valid and
work fine - I noticed that too. I'm thinking it's Multimail that is the real problem and Mystic before A31. The Multimail I used was old and I
ran it on 64 bit Linux, that didn't work well with big zips, but mostly worked with smaller ones.

I've tried both the MultiMail that is part of the Ubuntu repositories, as
well as a self-compiled version of the latest code from GitHub. While this doesn't rule out a possible issue with MultiMail itself, I think that the
issue is more the QWK packet itself.

I think it's a 32 bit vs 64 bit problem with
size and mis-matched libraries. Also on your BBS make sure all the
Mystic files are the same version (A29, A30, or A31) and not a mix. try updating the Linux/Windows files as well. I don't really know how, but I found a mix of versions at one point that caused problems on mine.

I have only ever used A31, so this won't be an issue for me. The 32 vs.
64-bit issue looks like a worthy avenue to explore.

Cheers!

Regards,
Jan Henkins

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Linux)
* Origin: UnderZaNet BBS (21:2/108)

Tiny wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I've seen this occasionally. Haven't found a pattern, but
occasionally, a QWK packet from Mystic crashes Multimail. Bluewave
reads the same packet fine.

It's somethign to do with the indexing feature in MM, you either
need to disable it or enable it. My memory isn't the best and I don't have that laptop here right now to check.

Ahh OK, I have a packet that crashes MM saved away, so I can experiment at some stage. ;0


... If you do a favor, forget it. If you receive a favor, remember it.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
* Origin: Freeway BBS - freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Hello Tiny and Vk3jed,

It's somethign to do with the indexing feature in MM, you either

need to disable it or enable it. My memory isn't the best and I don have that laptop here right now to check.

This is a great lead, thanks! I will experiment as soon as I am back at work.

Regards,
Jan Henkins

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Linux)
* Origin: UnderZaNet BBS (21:2/108)

On 03/13/17, dotslash said the following...

Well, it would seem that nothing I can do now helps, so any idea would be really welcome. All the QWK packets I download now crashes MultiMail. The actual file itself seems to be a valid ZIP file, so I do not think the problem is with the actual archive creation process. Somewhere inside Mystic we have an issue. Any thoughts on what else I can do to troubleshoot this?

Same thing is happening to me. It seems that this is more prone to happen when the QWK packets are big, let's say, bigger than 2 MB in size. This was happening to me mostly into fsxNET packages (because I would download my QWKs once a week or every 15 days) and I lost many QWK packets as a result.
It seems like a bug to me, because I was able to open with Multimail big QWK bundles from other BBSs like Synchronet, and my failed QWK packages could be opened by a friend's Blue Wave reader.

At the end of the day I have setup this small system to read and reply fsxnet messages :(

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

On 03/14/17, Avon said the following...

I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help on this one as I don't have experience of QWK. Is MutltiMail as QWK reader?

Yes, it's basically the only QWK reader left in the market.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

On 03/14/17, Tiny said the following...

It's somethign to do with the indexing feature in MM, you either
need to disable it or enable it. My memory isn't the best and I don't have that laptop here right now to check.

Well, looking at my .mmailrc file I have:

# For QWK only: Generate indexes from MESSAGES.DAT instead of *.NDX
IgnoreNDX: No

Would that be the case? I'll give it a try.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

Hello Nighthawk!

15 Mar 17 10:20, you wrote to me:

# For QWK only: Generate indexes from MESSAGES.DAT instead of *.NDX IgnoreNDX: No
Would that be the case? I'll give it a try.

I believe that is what solved the issues I was having.

Shawn


... It is necessary to have purpose. Alice #1, I, Mudd, stardate 4513.3.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20160322
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - www.tinysbbs.com (21:1/130.3)

On 03/16/17, Tiny said the following...

I believe that is what solved the issues I was having.

It did. I made the change and MultiMail read the QWK package instantly!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

Hello Nighthawk!

16 Mar 17 10:56, you wrote to me:

It did. I made the change and MultiMail read the QWK package instantly!

Should post that on the mystic bbs wiki... I'm still not sure if it's
a bug in multimail or a bug in Mystic that causes it.

Shawn

... Alimony is like buying oats for a dead horse.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20160322
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - www.tinysbbs.com (21:1/130.3)

On 03/16/17, Tiny pondered and said...

It did. I made the change and MultiMail read the QWK package instantly!

Should post that on the mystic bbs wiki... I'm still not sure if it's
a bug in multimail or a bug in Mystic that causes it.

Good idea

Can someone please type up some text for a FAQ entry and post it here or
email it to me at avon@bbs.geek.nz and I will add it to the Wiki.

Best, Paul

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Windows)
* Origin: Agency BBS | telnet://agency.bbs.geek.nz (21:1/101)

Hello Avon!

17 Mar 17 07:02, you wrote to me:

Good idea
Can someone please type up some text for a FAQ entry and post it here
or email it to me at avon@bbs.geek.nz and I will add it to the Wiki.

If no one else does I will do it next week for you Paul and Thank you!
Again I think you should include that we dont' know if this is a fault
with Mystic or MultiMail. If anyone has figured it out please tell Paul! ;)

Thanks,

Shawn

... Now and then an innocent man is sent to the legislature.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20160322
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - www.tinysbbs.com (21:1/130.3)

On 03/16/17, Tiny pondered and said...

Can someone please type up some text for a FAQ entry and post it here or email it to me at avon@bbs.geek.nz and I will add it to the Wiki.

If no one else does I will do it next week for you Paul and Thank you! Again I think you should include that we dont' know if this is a fault with Mystic or MultiMail. If anyone has figured it out please tell

Thanks Shawn. There's no rush but I figure if someone that's more familiar
with QWK , the issue and the software involved wrote something up it's better than n00b me :) I'm just the dude that will publish it for everyone :)

Best, Paul

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Windows)
* Origin: Agency BBS | telnet://agency.bbs.geek.nz (21:1/101)

On 03/16/17, Tiny said the following...

Should post that on the mystic bbs wiki... I'm still not sure if it's
a bug in multimail or a bug in Mystic that causes it.

Actually the error happened again when I downloaded a new QWK package,
this time with 2.5 MB.
I'll raise a ticket within MM's Sourceforge...

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

Hello,

It did. I made the change and MultiMail read the QWK package instantly!

Should post that on the mystic bbs wiki... I'm still not sure if it's
a bug in multimail or a bug in Mystic that causes it.

I think so too. I also set up MultiMail IgnoreNDX to No, but in my case it
did not make any difference. This puts me in a bit of a quandry, I am almost tempted to set up my BBS from scratch, or take the plunge and set up
something like Synchro as a point node to act as a working QWK solution.

Regards,
Jan Henkins

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Linux)
* Origin: UnderZaNet BBS (21:2/108)

On 03/17/17, dotslash said the following...

I think so too. I also set up MultiMail IgnoreNDX to No, but in my case
it did not make any difference. This puts me in a bit of a quandry, I am almost tempted to set up my BBS from scratch, or take the plunge and set up something like Synchro as a point node to act as a working QWK solution.

Actually I found MultiMail at GitHub, and raised a ticket regarding the issue... William got in touch with me and I shared the QWK packets I have...
It seems that he will come up with a patch for it. I'll advise later on.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)

Hello Nighthawk,

Actually I found MultiMail at GitHub, and raised a ticket regarding the issue... William got in touch with me and I shared the QWK packets I have... It seems that he will come up with a patch for it. I'll advise later on.

Brilliant news, will keep fingers crossed! :-)

Regards,
Jan Henkins

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (Linux)
* Origin: UnderZaNet BBS (21:2/108)

On 03/23/17, dotslash said the following...

Brilliant news, will keep fingers crossed! :-)

It's working now. William provided me a 0.50 patch that solves the issue. You can either get it from GitHub or email him directly, he can provide you with the executable.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A31 (OSX)
* Origin: Chiron, experimental system - Brazil (21:1/146.1)