Document: FSC-0053
Version: 002
Date: 08-Dec-92
Specifications for the ^aFLAGS field
Joaquim H. Homrighausen
2:270/17@fidonet or joho@ae.lu
December 8, 1992
Status of this document:
This FSC suggests a proposed protocol for the FidoNet(r) community,
and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements.
Distribution of this document is unlimited.
Fido and FidoNet are registered marks of Tom Jennings and Fido
Software.
Purpose
To explain and document the existing usage of the ^aFLAGS field used
by many software packages, including FrontDoor, TosScan, and
D'Bridge. And to inform software authors of its proper usage.
Prologue
One of the problems with the FTS-1 (stored) message format is its
limitations in regards to message attributes. Several bits are used
(reserved) by SEAdog, another by several packers and editors - even
though most mailer authors don't support them, they remain. One
reason would be backward compatibility with older software.
Unfortunately, this presents a problem for software authors that
would like to pass extended message attributes for use and handling
by other software.
Some software packages have been using an alternate method called
"FLAGS" which is 7-bit ASCII placed behind FLAGS somewhere near
the beginning of a message. The various flags will now be described.
Flags
The FLAGS string should be placed somewhere near the beginning of
the message text, and is preceeded by a (^a) character. There
is no need to support all or any of the below mentioned flags.
If flags are stripped when a message passes through a system, all
relevant and correct FTS-1 status bits should be updated to indicate
the original contents of the FLAGS field.
Flag Brief Long description
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PVT Private Indicates that the message may only be read
by its addressee and author.
HLD Hold Message should be held for pickup by its
destination system.
CRA Crash High-priority mail.
K/S Kill/Sent Remove message after it has been success-
fully sent.
SNT Sent Message has been successfully sent (used
for message without Kill/Sent status).
RCV Received Message has been read by its addressee.
A/S Archive/Sent Place message in "sent mail" archival
system after it has been successfully sent.
DIR Direct Message must be sent directly to its
destination and may not be routed.
ZON Zonegate Send message through zonegate (if
possible).
HUB Hub/Host-route Host- or Hub-route message (as
appropriate).
FIL File attach Message has one or more files attached to
it.
FRQ File request Message has one or more file requests in
subject field.
IMM Immediate NOW!-priority mail. Send at first
opportunity, override any transmission
restrictions enforced by events, costs, or
qualification.
XMA Xmail Message has alternate form of compressed
mail attached.
KFS Kill file Remove attached file(s) after they have
been successfully sent. Only valid for file
attach message.
TFS Truncate file Truncate attached file(s) to zero length
after they have been successfully sent.
Only valid for file attach message.
Primarily used by Conference Mail
processors.
LOK Lock Prevent message from being processed.
This includes sending, deleting,
purging, and editing.
RRQ Receipt REQ When the mailer/packer at the message's
final destination unpacks the message, it's
asked to generate a receipt to the author
of the message that indicates that the
message arrived at its final destination.
CFM Confirm REQ When message is read by its addressee, a
Confirmation Receipt should be generated to
the author of the message.
HIR HiRes FAX: Hi-Resolution image.
COV CoverLetter FAX: Cover sheet.
SIG Signature FAX: Signature.
LET LetterHead FAX: LetterHead.
| FAX Fax image The filename specified in the message's
| subject field contains a fax document that
| should be viewed using software capable of
| doing so.
| FPU Force pickup Treated as a message with an IMM flag. This
| instructs the mailer to keep calling the
| destination system, if the connection is
| aborted for some reason, until a valid "End
| of files" signal is received (i.e. no more
| files remain to pick up).
Notes
Xmail is related to the ARCmail 0.60 standard as adopted by the FTSC.
The exception is that any type of compression method may be used and
the naming convention isn't necessarily limited to that of the
ARCmail 0.60 standard.
Epilogue
Feedback would be appreciated and can be sent to me at the addresses
specified on the title page. Please send feedback via netmail.
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