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Hi,
The MAILbus Conversion Manager can do what you want (transparently)
without requiring any changes in how mail is addressed.
Assuming you have an appropriate conversion package installed (eg, one
that can convert WordPerfect to ASCII) then MCM can convert the WP
attachments as you wish "on the fly" with no special addressing by the
users.
From the Conversion Manager Fact Sheet...
"Conversion Manager provides for transparent, destination
based message attachment processing. This is accomplished
by installing the Conversion Manager software as a mail-
enabled application servicing a Message Router mailbox of
the same name as the VMS node (or cluster alias) on which
the software is executing.
There is no need for existing users to change the way they
currently address messages for delivery. Messages which
contain the VMS node name (i.e., the Conversion Manager
mailbox name) in their delivery address are automatically
processed."
The complete Fact Sheet is attached below.
Regards,
Rick
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DIGITAL
Digital Equipment Corporation Enterprise Messaging
Services Fact Sheet
MAILbus Conversion Manager
Release 1.0
Description
MAILbus Conversion Manager (Conversion Manager) is a VMS soft-
ware application which uses the Message Router Transport and
Distributed Directory Service (DDS) in combination with commer-
cially available file converter technology to provide users con-
nected to a MAILbus network with transparent, destination-based
message attachment conversion services.
Conversion Manager is a mail-enabled application which makes it
possible for users on a variety of different compute platforms
-using different word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and
image formats- to interchange meaningful electronic mail mes-
sages. Each message delivered may be transparently reformatted
to accomodate the personal preferences of the recipient without
any special knowledge or action being required on the part of
the message sender.
To enable message conversion services, MAILbus users (or their
messaging manager) register attachment preferences in the Mes-
sage Router Distributed Directory Service (DDS). Preferences are
specified by placing a profilename into a user's DDS entry. A
profilename is the association of a user-friendly text string
with a list of both acceptable and preferred document, spread-
sheet, graphics, and image attachment styles the user wishes to
July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3 1
receive. Profiles are used by Conversion Manager during message
processing to determine which file converters to invoke.
Upon receipt, Conversion Manager examines each attachment to
a mail message and determines if the format of the attachment
is acceptable to the message recipient. If all attachments are
in an acceptable format, the message is routed directly to its
destination. If one or more attachments are in an unacceptable
format, and appropriate format converters are available, Conver-
sion Manager invokes these converters to reformat the message
attachments prior to reposting the message for delivery to the
intended recipients.
Conversion Manager is available as an Enterprise Messaging
Service, a packaged offering of the VMS software application,
documentation, on-site installation and configuration, and
customer orientation.
Features
o Conversion Manager provides for transparent, destination
based message attachment processing. This is accomplished
by installing the Conversion Manager software as a mail-
enabled application servicing a Message Router mailbox of
the same name as the VMS node (or cluster alias) on which
the software is executing. There is no need for existing
users to change the way they currently address messages for
delivery. Messages which contain the VMS node name (i.e., the
Conversion Manager mailbox name) in their delivery address
are automatically processed.
o Designed especially for a multivendor environment, Conversion
Manager supports messages which are originated by Digital-
provided User Agents, or are delivered to a MAILbus network
via Digital's X.400, PROFS, SNADS, Ultrix, or VMSmail gateway
products.
2 July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3
o Mail delivered using Digital's VAX Message Router product
is identified by both "tag" and "type" parameters. These
parameters are sometimes referred to in combination as an
"object-identifier". Using object-identifiers, Conversion
Manager can determine whether the format of a message is
compatible with the receive capabilities of the intended
message recipient.
o Conversion Manager supports four (4) classes of object iden-
tifiers. These include: word processor, spreadsheet, graphic,
and image. Each message attachment tag used within a Mes-
sage Router network must be defined to belong to a single
object-class. Users register in the DDS with a profilename
identifying their preferred attachment format for each of the
four supported classes. With suitable converter technology in
place, Conversion Manager will invoke the appropriate con-
verters and match the message attachment format to the user's
registered preferences.
o In certain situations, messages being processed by Conver-
sion Manager may not have an associated object-identifier
(type-tag). This situation is most common when using CCITT
X.400/84-based mail gateway products to exchange binary files
(e.g., Bodypart-type 14 attachments). In these cases, Con-
version Manager uses the profilename of the message sender
to "infer" the format of the original message attachment. In
a properly-constrained MAILbus network (where both the mes-
sage sender and recipients are registered in the DDS) this
will result in an accurate determination of the originating
message format and subsequent attachment reformatting. When
available, Conversion Manager can also be used to invoke a
"file-sniffer". Sometimes referred to as an "auto-detect"
feature, file-sniffers may be used in a final attempt to
determine the format of an untagged attachment.
o Conversion Manager supports virtually any converter package
which is accessible to VMS and can be invoked using a command
line interface (with optional command parameters). A config-
uration utility is provided to enable the messaging manager
July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3 3
to specify which converters exist and the appropriate call-
ing sequence to execute upon encountering of each specified
object-identifier tags.
o Conversion Manager comes pre-configured for use with Digi-
tal's CDA Runtime Services and CDA Converter Library (each
purchased separately). CDA Converter Library is a software
product which can be used by Conversion Manager to support
the meaningful exchange of attachments between users of var-
ious different word processor and spreadsheet packages. De-
fault configurations enable the messaging manager to quickly
bring Conversion Manager on-line without requiring detailed
knowledge of many of the common file attachment types which
may be sent through a MAILbus network.
o Up to thirty-two (32) copies of Conversion Manager can be
executed simultaneously on a single VAX processor. By em-
ploying multiple copies of the software, each sharing the
workload, message throughput need only be limited by the
physical resources available on the host computer system.
Enterprise Messaging Services
Consulting services are available to assist you in the de-
ployment of MAILbus Conversion Manager. A Digital Messaging
Specialist will:
o work with the messaging manager to ensure all prerequisites
are met prior to Conversion Manager installation
o perform onsite installation, configuration, and demonstrata-
tion of Conversion Manager at a single customer site
o provide an orientation session on the installation, configu-
ration, operation, and management of the Conversion Manager
software. Orientation is conducted as a practical learning
exercise. Representative mail messages are sent to the Con-
version Manager application and results of the attachment
4 July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3
conversion process are examined. Customers learn how to cre-
ate user profiles and register these profiles in the Message
Router Distributed Directory Service. If required, customer
may request Digital assist in the customization or creation
of a conversion-tag logic (symbol) table.
Typically, onsite activities are completed in less than two
(2) working days.
Software Licensing
This software is furnished under the licensing provisions of
Digital Equipment Corporation's Standard Terms and Conditions.
For more information about Digital's licensing terms and poli-
cies, contact your local Digital office.
Warranty
The MAILbus Conversion Manager software is warranted to conform
to this MAILbus Conversion Manager Enterprise Messaging Service
Fact Sheet. This means that Digital will remedy any non confor-
mance when it is reported to Digital in writing by the Customer
during the warranty period. The Warranty period is ninety (90)
days, and begins when the MAILbus Conversion Manager software is
installed.
Optional Extended Warranty, providing functionality enhancement
updates during the period of coverage, is also offered.
Telephone support is available.
July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3 5
Media and Documentation
MAILbus Conversion Manager software is supplied on TK50 distri-
bution media. The following documentation is also included:
Getting Started with MAILbus Conversion Manager
MAILbus Conversion Manager System Manager's Guide
Prerequisite Software
The following Digital software products must be installed and
operational prior to installation of MAILbus Conversion Manager:
o VAX/VMS operating system version 5.4 (or later)
o VAX Message Router software version S3.2-002 (Transport and
Directory Service components must be enabled and configured)
MAILbus Conversion Manager uses the Message Router Distributed
Directory Service to access directory profile information for
the sender and recipient of a message. Digital recommends that
the Conversion Manager application be run on a DDS World Search
node (WSN) for maximum message throughput.
Appropriate converter products must be installed and operational
prior to the installation of Conversion Manager. Converter
installation, testing, and configuration is not included in
the Conversion Manager installation service.
Optional Software
Converson Manager has been tested with the following software:
ALL-IN-1 Integrated Office System software versions 2.3, 2.4
DEC MAILworks server software versions 1.0, 1.1
VAX Message Router VMSmail Gateway software versions 3.1, 3.2
6 July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3
VAX Message Router/P Gateway software versions 1.1, 1.2
VAX Message Router/S Gateway software Versions 1.1, 1.2
VAX Message Router X.400 Gateway software versions 2.1, 2.2
Ultrix Mail Connection Gateway software versions 1.0, 1.1
MAILbus Conversion Manager provides the messaging manager with
the ability to use virtually any combination of special purpose
converter software packages (which must be purchased separately)
to complete the message attachment processing.
MAILbus Conversion Manager has been tested using the following
converter packages:
CDA Runtime Services version 1.0
CDA Converter Library version 2.0
KEYpak version 2.9 from Keyword Office Technologies
ALL-IN-1 Integrated Office (including WPSPLUS Personal Of-
fice)
NOTE
It is possible to use both the CDA Converter Library and
KEYpak converters in combination. Digital recommends cus-
tomers who wish to combine the two converter technologies
consider using DDIF as the common interchange format be-
tween the two converter families.
Minimum Hardware Required
Refer to the Software Product Description for VAX Message
Router, SPD #26.33, for minimum hardware requirements.
July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3 7
Minimum Disk Space Required
Disk Requirements for MAILbus Conversion Manager are:
o Installation disk space: 3,000 blocks
o Permanent disk space: 1,000 blocks
Additional temporary disk space will be needed during the opera-
tion of Conversion Manager in order to accomplish the attachment
conversion process. Usually, 1,000 blocks per simultaneously
operating copy of Conversion Manager is sufficient.
More Information
Conversion Manager faithfully invokes the designated con-
verter(s) upon receipt of an appropriately tagged message
attachment. However, absolute fidelity between an original at-
tachment and the resulting attachment as printed or displayed by
the receiving system is not guaranteed. The differences between
vendor's approaches to word processing and other common attach-
ment formats, the transformations required for the conversion
and rendering of an attachment, the limitations of the display
device, and the attachment converter itself, all impact the fi-
nal format of the attachment. Not all attachment types can be
completely rendered from one format to another without loss of
information or changes in attachment's physical appearance.
For more information about MAILbus Conversion Manager or any
other Digital Enterprise Messaging Service, contact your local
Digital sales representative.
8 July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3
Trademarks
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
DIGITAL
ALL-IN-1
DECnet
MAILbus
Message Router
DEC MAILworks
WPSPlus
VAX
VMS
Ultrix
The following are third-party trademarks:
PROFS - registered trademark of International Business Ma-
chines Corporation (IBM)
SNADS - registered trademark of International Business Ma-
chines Corporation (IBM)
KEYpak - registered trademark of Keyword Office Technologies
July, 1992 Fact Sheet Rev 1.0.3 9
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