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Conference noted::hackers_v1

Title:-={ H A C K E R S }=-
Notice:Write locked - see NOTED::HACKERS
Moderator:DIEHRD::MORRIS
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 03 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:680
Total number of notes:5456

311.0. "VAXMAIL problem" by LINCON::BOGGS (It's been a mind Boggling experience) Mon Sep 15 1986 11:59

I am trying to send VAXMAIL to a system that is in a noisy environment but
MUST respond to the mail within 30 minutes. They are having a problem
hering the 1 bell that mail does when it receives a new message. They
are using a VT100 terminal so without hardware modifications, there is
no way to increase the volume. I think that if I could get VAXMAIL to 
ring the bell multiple times, that it would improve the situation. 

My thought was that since VAXMAIL displays the personal name when a new
message arrives, that I could just embed CTRL/G in the personal name
and do it that way. Unfortunately, VAXMAIL will not allow control characters
to be input. Next, I tried to force them into VMSMAIL.DAT using some ideas
found in SYS$EXAMPLES:MAILUAF.COM. I must not be doing something right
because even though the bell characters get stored in the file, VAXMAIL
doesn't seem to do anything with them. Does anyone have any suggestions.
This is real important as it relates to being able to electronically dispatch
field service calls. 

I am posting this note in both the VMS and HACKERS notes files.

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
311.1Hacks While-You-WaitVAXUUM::DYERWorking For The Yankee DollarMon Sep 15 1986 12:1110
<>	    Write a hack (running in a subprocess) that catches your
  	broadcast messages and adds megabeeps to each one.

<>	    Collect a bunch of VT100s (and VT52s, if you like the
	"electronic raspberry" contrast) and log into all of them
	so that each mail message sends off a sea of beeps.

<>	    Hook up a microphone and amplifier to the beep speaker.

			<_Jym_>
311.2Its the bells made me deaf, Master40966::MAGICConor Moran - GalwayMon Sep 15 1986 12:2117
	You could probably modify one of the COM files in topic 39
	to imbed ^Gs in the username. This would have the disadvantage
	that the bells would not only be heard from the broadcast, but
	also when doing a DIR or READ in mail (I'm not sure though).

	Another approach if you didn't mind tying up a terminal would
	be to use SET BROADCAST to disable everything except MAIL, and
	have a continuously running program which uses the SMG$ functions
	which allow broadcast trapping. I'm not sure of their names but
	a guess would be:
			SMG$ENABLE_BROADCAST_TRAPPING
		      & SMG$GET_BROADCAST_MESSAGE

	As soon as you get a broadcast, stick it on the screen with 
	as many ^Gs as you can stand.

<CFM>
311.3Cut out & attach to .240966::MAGICConor Moran - GalwayMon Sep 15 1986 12:308
	Oops - .1 slipped in while I wasn't looking.

	The hacked up SENDMESS.COM would of course be used by the
	mailer as opposed to the mailee which may or may not be
	practicable.

<CFM>  
311.4PATCH MAIL.EXE, UPDATE...BARAKA::LASTOVICANorm LastovicaMon Sep 15 1986 17:294
    Patch MAIL.EXE to replace the single 'beep' with several.  I'd guess
    that it is in a string descriptor.  Or, change the "New mail from
    ..." message to include a few extra bells.  No sweat doing this,
    we've done more with less!
311.5Change the personal nameERIS::CALLASO jour frabbejais! Calleau! Callai!Mon Sep 15 1986 17:3240
    Or, you could use this command file to change your personal name
    to one with a lot of beeps in it.
    
    	Jon

$ prev_priv = f$setprv("SYSPRV")
$ sysmai = "SYS$SYSTEM:VMSMAIL.DAT"
$ open /share=write /read /write /error=no_file f1 'sysmai'
$ goto file_open
$no_file:
$ write sys$output sysmai," not found...exiting"
$ exit
$file_open:
$ on control_y then goto done
$fulluser[0,31]:='p1'
$ read /index=0 /err=nosuchuser /key="''fulluser'" f1 record
$ address = f$extract(68,255,record)
$ addr_length = f$cvui(67*8,8,record)
$ fnmlng=f$cvui(66*8,8,record)
$ naddress = f$extract(0,addr_length,address)
$ full_name := "''f$extract(68+addr_length,fnmlng,record)'"
$ write sys$output "Personal name for ''p1' was:"
$ write sys$output "'","''full_name'","'"
$ rest_of_rec = f$extract(68+addr_length+fnmlng,255,record)
$ t3 = 'f$length(rest_of_rec)
$ t2 = 'f$length(naddress)
$ t1 = 'f$length(p2)
$ record[528,8]='t1'
$ record[68,255]:= "''naddress'''p2'''rest_of_rec'"
$ record = f$extract(0,68+t1+t2+t3,record)
$ write /update f1 record
$ write sys$output "Changed to:"
$ write sys$output "'","''p2'","'"
$ goto done
$nosuchuser:
$ write sys$output "User ",p1," does not exist"
$done:
$ close f1
$ prev_priv = f$setprv(prev_priv)
$ exit
311.6flash too!!?IOSG::HORSFIELDjakc - the well-known typoTue Sep 16 1986 05:188
	if you're doing all this hacking, why not have a visible 
	bell too? you could have the screen flash horribly.
	
	and you could run a command procedure or something so that 
	the bell keeps ringing until answered, rather than just 
	giving out 100 or so rings..
	
	jack 
311.7let the terminal beep.AUSSIE::MOSSimplemented on the LSI11/03 onlyTue Sep 16 1986 07:2513
    If the destination users have standard vt100's, why not really
    get their attention using the following escape sequences:
    
    <esc>[155q   (set term/piano ??)
    <esc>[153q   (beeps forever)
    
    Of course, this assumes that:
     1. the terminal is in autorepeat, keyclick enabled mode.
     2. it is possible to include these characters in the mail
        announcement.
                                   
    David.
    
311.8Er, shouldn't that be ...40966::MAGICConor Moran - GalwayTue Sep 16 1986 10:008
Re .7 :

	Isn't it <ESC>[154q that beeps or am I wrong ?

	/piano only makes the keyboard repeat faster (mind you it
	does sound interesting if you type something)

<CFM>
311.9Buy a DECtalkREGENT::MINOWMartin Minow -- DECtalk EngineeringTue Sep 16 1986 11:048
Write a program to check for new mail and have the DECtalk call you
(or give a yell on the PA system) when it arrives.

Make technology work for you.

(Help my group make our budget.)

Martin.
311.10Do it the DEC wayBARAKA::LASTOVICANorm LastovicaTue Sep 16 1986 13:114
    Hire a person to sit there and wait for mail.  When it comes, have
    the person notify your manager.  The manager will get ahold of you
    and make sure that you know that you've not read your mail.  Much
    more effective than beeps anyhow.  
311.11yet another way...RUMOR::FALEKThe TU58 KingTue Sep 16 1986 18:3911
    There is a public domain sharable image (deliver_mailshr.exe) which
    can automatically process your mail - you set autoforwarding to
    DELIVER%yourname (It gets invoked via the foreign protocol hook
    in VMSMAIL, the same hook NMAIL uses) This could be used to execute
    a command file upon receipt of mail.  I found the pointer to this
    in the VMSMAIL notesfile, it came from the Arpanet. I have a local
    copy of it on RUMOR::SAVE$:[falek.deliver]  -  you want to copy
    deliver_make.com, which contains the whole thing and makes its own
    individual pieces.  DELIVER% may not do exactly what you want,
    read the documentation.  anyway, its neat and possibly useful.
    
311.12Good answer, Good answerLINCON::BOGGSIt&#039;s been a mind Boggling experienceTue Sep 16 1986 18:4115
    Hey guys this is really great. The command procedure (when suitably
    hacked) in .5 allowed me to insert 10 bells in the personal name
    which woke up the operator on the other end. I guess I must have
    been doing something wrong when I tried it myself.
    
    Re .7 - I would really love to do that if i could figure out how
    to turn it off with an escape sequence after they had gotten the
    message
    
    re .10 - That idea was already thought of. In fact, in the true
    DEC spirit that's the way we already do it. We have 10 people who
    spend their time calling the local office just to log field service
    calls manually. This project is meant to bring us into the electronic
    age.
    
311.13Solution to the lack of managers problem at DECBARAKA::LASTOVICANorm LastovicaTue Sep 16 1986 22:174
    RE: .-1
    	But think of all the people who you are putting out of work
    with this simple change.  Now is THAT the DEC way?  You bet, make
    them managers if they have nothing better to do now.
311.14EasyVAXUUM::DYERWorking For The Yankee DollarWed Sep 17 1986 02:184
	    [RE .12 [RE .7]]:  To turn off the "siren", reset the
	terminal.  This is done by hitting the "SET-UP" key and then
	the "0" key on the keyboard (not the one on the keypad).
			<_Jym_>
311.15The EZ WayCYBORG::ALLENHack it to me BabyWed Sep 17 1986 21:1715
   How about trying the following to put bells in(as many as you want)

 Keypad PF1
 
 Number "7" (not keypad 7)

 Keypad PF1

 Keypad 3

You have to use send/edit etc... from mail ....


                            Just throwen my 1/2 cents in.
					#6HACK
311.16simple way ?BIGALO::MACKAY_RANDYTue Sep 23 1986 07:5123
    Too simple ? how about a com file that submits another file that  
checks the mail then sees if anything is new and rings the bell ?    

    
$!mail.com    
$ mail    
dir newmail    
EXIT
$ exit 
    
$ !check.com    
$ start:    
$ purge mail.log
$ sub/noprint mail.com
$ wait 00:00:30
$ SEAR MAIL.log "# from"
$ IF $SEVERITY .EQS. "3" THEN GOTO start
$ bell:
$ BELL[0,7]=%O7
$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT BELL
$ wait 00:00:02
$ GOTO BELL
    
311.17why for ?BIGALO::MACKAY_RANDYTue Sep 23 1986 07:555
    
    	btw :: howcum ? mail don't put the You have x new messages string
    into the log file ?
    
    							randy