********************************************************************** FTSC FIDONET TECHNICAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE ********************************************************************** Publication: FSP-1008 Revision: 2 Title: New control lines for forwarded messages Author: Michael Hohner, 2:2490/2520.17 Revision Date: 29 December 1997 Expiry Date: 29 December 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents: 1. Specifications 2. Usage 3. Compatiblity 4. Known implementations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Status of this document ----------------------- This document is a Fidonet Standards Proposal (FSP). This document specifies an optional Fidonet standard protocol for the Fidonet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. This document is released to the public domain, and may be used, copied or modified for any purpose whatever. This revision is an update to FRL-0092.001. The basic specifications are unchanged. Abstract -------- Most fidonet message editors offer a "forward" function. Using this function a user A ("forwarder") can sort of "redirect" a message from user B ("author") to another user C ("final recipient"), maybe because the forwarder is not the correct recipient, or because the final recipient is a better person to answer the message. The name and address of the author are usually included in the forward in free-text format. The message text is included in non-quoted format. A problem arises when the final recipient wants to reply to the author of the forwarded message. The forward contains the forwarder as the sender. So the final recipient must insert the name and address of the author manually, using the information contained in the message text. The message editor of the final recipient can't do this automatically because of the free-text format. The editor will also use incorrect quote initials, which is at least irritating. This document introduces 7 new control lines which contain the header information of the original message. With these control lines the message editor can use the original header information automatically. 1. Specifications ----------------- There are 7 new control lines: FWDFROM, FWDTO, FWDORIG, FWDDEST, FWDSUBJ, FWDAREA, FWDMSGID. As all control lines they start with an ASCII 01 character (SOH) followed by the control line name followed by whitespace followed by the control line's content followed by ASCII 13 (CR). Please note that all these control lines do not have a colon (like the control lines in FTS-0001). This would be just waste of space. FWDFROM ------- This control line contains the name of the original sender as found in the FROM field of the original message. Leading and trailing whitespace should be removed. This control line should be omitted altogether if the FROM field is empty. FWDTO ----- This control line contains the name of the original recipient as found in the TO field of the original message. Leading and trailing whitespace should be removed. This control line should be omitted altogether if the TO field is empty. FWDORIG ------- This control line contains the address of the original sender as found in the ORIG field of the original message. The usual 5D ASCII notation (zone:net/node.point@domain) should be used. This control line should be omitted altogether if the address is not known. FWDDEST ------- This control line contains the address of the original recipient as found in the DEST field of the original message. The usual 5D ASCII notation (zone:net/node.point@domain) should be used. This control line should be omitted altogether if the address is not known or unsure (as it is the case with forwarded echomail messages). FWDSUBJ ------- This control line contains the subject line of the original message. This control line should be omitted altogether if the SUBJ field is empty. This control line should by made optional for security reasons. Echo manager passwords are too easily revealed with it. FWDAREA ------- This control line contains the name of the echomail area where the original message was forwarded from. It should be omitted altogether if the original message was not forwarded from an echomail area. FWDMSGID -------- This control line contains the MSGID control line of the original message. It should be omitted altogether if a MSGID control line is not present in the original message. 2. Usage -------- When the "forward" function of the message editor is invoked, the editor program should generate the proposed control lines from the header of the original message. If the original message already was a forwarded one (indicated by the presence of at least a FWDORIG control line), the editor should keep all FWD* control lines and should not add any FWD* control lines. This preserves the FWD* control lines of the first forwarder, containing the header data of the author of the original message. The editor should not generate FWD* control lines, if the message isn't to be forwarded. A mail forwarding robot may also generate these control lines, if it not just readdresses the message. When the "reply" function of the editor is invoked the program should use the control lines' contents instead of the header information. The control lines should not be included in the reply. Since it may not be immediately clear whether the user wants to reply to the forwarder or to the original sender, the editor should offer a means to ignore the proposed control lines and start a "normal" reply instead, e.g. by two distinct functions, by user preference or a dialog. Pseudo code: forwarding_message: if is_forwarded_message then don't change FWD* control lines else add FWD* control lines quoting_message: if is_forwarded_message then if reply_to_forwarder then use header data (normal quoting) else use FWD* control lines remove FWD* control lines from reply else use header data (normal quoting) other_functions: remove/ignore FWD* control lines Example: Message from Joe User to my boss node: From: Joe User 1:234/567 To: Harry Herrmannsdoerfer 2:2490/2520 Subj: Some questions @MSGID: 1:234/567 12345678 Text: Hello Harry! ... Harry forwards the message to me: From: Harry Herrmannsdoerfer 2:2490/2520 To: Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520.17 Subj: Joe's message @FWDFROM Joe User @FWDORIG 1:234/567 @FWDTO Harry Herrmannsdoerfer @FWDDEST 2:2490/2520 @FWDSUBJ Some questions @FWDMSGID 1:234/567 12345678 Text: Hi Michael! ... My answer using the new control lines: From: Michael Hohner 2:2490/2520.17 To: Joe User 1:234/567 Subj: Some questions @REPLY: 1:234/567 12345678 Text: Hi Joe! JU> ... ... 3. Compatiblity --------------- Editor programs which are not prepared for these proposed control lines usually just ignore them and remove them from a reply. A reply goes to the forwarder. Nothing gained and nothing lost. 4. Known implementations ------------------------ This proposal is implemented in the author's Fidonet editor "FleetStreet for OS/2" (versions 1.17 and newer). Also implemented in Odinn Sorensens Fidonet editor "GoldED" (versions 3.00.Alpha5 and newer). A. Contacting the author ------------------------ The author may be contacted electronically at the following addresses: Fidonet: 2:2490/2520.17 Internet: miho@osn.de Suggestions, comments and corrections are always welcome. B. History ---------- Rev.1, 19960912: First release as FSC-0092.001. Rev.2, 19971229: Submitted as FSP. **********************************************************************