(M,14,10,3)
The FreePort file sharing mechanism is implemented using a set of programs
and a set of conventions.

Each user has a `working directory'.  It's not important to know where it
is, just that's it's there.  All methods for manipulating files described
in this document move these files to and from this working directory.  You
use FTP to get files into this directory initially; the files come from
another machine (a PC, another computer on campus, whatever).  Once you get
the files into this directory, you can use the programs described below
(dired and ups) to edit them, send them to another user, or include them in
a mail message.

Here's a sample of what might be needed to send a file named `testfile' from
your PC (or Mac, or workstation, or whatever) to the user `xx999':

        start FTP on your PC
        connect to FreePort
        log in as you, with your password
        send the file `testfile' (with `put' or `send' or a comparable command)
        exit FTP
        log in to FreePort
        type `go post' to go to the post office area
        choose option `Edit your work directory'
        once in dired, type `s' to send the file
        type `xx999' when prompted for the user name to send to
        type a short explanatory message (so I know what this is all about :-)
        exit dired with `q'

        That's it!  xx999 will soon get a mail message announcing the delivery
        of the file, and can pick it up as soon as he likes.


CONVENTIONS

        o  That each user who makes use of the file sharing mechanism has
           a subdirectory of his home directory named `work'.  All files
           manipulated by this suite of programs are relative to ~/work.
           This directory is the `working directory'.

           NOTE: ALL FILES IN THIS WORKING DIRECTORY WILL BE REMOVED IF
           THEY ARE MORE THAN 24 HOURS OLD.  NO FILE WILL SURVIVE LONGER
           THAN ONE DAY.

PROGRAMS

        o  FTPD -- a slightly modified version of the ftp server that
                   places the user into his working directory upon login.
                   The process's root directory is also changed to the same
                   directory, so all the user can do is put files into and
                   get files from his working directory.  The idea is that
                   as soon as you login to the host, you will be placed by
                   default into this `working directory', so you can simply
                   connect, log in, send your files, and quit.

        o  dired -- a standalone directory editor based on the look of the
                    Twenex Emacs and GNU Emacs dired modes.  It allows the
                    user to employ a `point-and-shoot' mechanism to select
                    files on which to perform common operations:

                        + send a file to someone (with ups, of course)
                        + edit a file
                        + edit a file in `read-only' mode
                        + copy a file
                        + rename a file (what `mv' does)
                        + delete a file
                        + view a file with a pager like `p'
                        + type a file quickly with an eye to downloading
                          into a PC `capture buffer'.

                    The menu entry that allows access to dired from FreePort
                    is in the Administration building (as "Edit your `work'
                    directory").  There is another in the Post Office.

        o  UPS -- The UPS service (cute name) allows users to send files
                  to each other by name.  A user may use more than one method
                  to submit files to the UPS system: dired, or a command in
                  the post office area of FreePort that will prompt for a line
                  containing a list of file names (relative to the working
                  directory, of course) and call ups on those file names.

                  (A note about the post office menu entry:  typing a `?'
                  when it asks you which files to send will cause the files
                  in your work directory to be listed, and you can send
                  any or all of these.  DO NOT try to specify a full
                  pathname.)

                  The recipient will be notified by mail that he has files
                  waiting in the UPS spool area.  An option has been added to
                  the Post Office menu to allow a user to retrieve files
                  by name from a list of waiting files.

OPERATION

The idea is that a user who wishes to distribute a file or files to
possibly multiple recipients will FTP it from his PC, or wherever the file
resides, to a FreePort machine, into his working directory.  Once it is there,
he can manipulate it with `dired'; cleaning it up with an editor, for
example, and send it off to the intended recipients.

Once a user is notified by mail that he has files waiting, he can pick and
choose which to have delivered.  The ones he chooses to receive will be
copied from the ups spool area to his work directory and immediately
deleted from the spool area; those he chooses not to receive will remain
for some time (up to one day) and eventually be automatically deleted.
From there he may retrieve it with FTP, enclose it in a mail message to a
colleague at a different school, or a number of other things.

Copyright 1991 Case Western Reserve University.  All Rights Reserved.