What is QWKRR128?

QWKRR128 is a C128 80 column QWK format Offline Mail Reader by Rod Gasson. It allows you read and reply to BBS mail offline and at your own pace. QWKRR128's functions are primarily for the BBSing community, but it can also be used to read and reply to Internet Email as well as Newsgroups, depending upon the software for creating QWK packets that's available to you. Reading mail offline saves telephone bills for long distance users, and saves time online for other things such as downloading files, game playing and if your BBS is connected to the Internet, World Wide Web surfing. Sysops generally appreciate the use of an offline mail reader as it means that you're using the BBS, but it lets more users access the system while you're reading messages offline. Reading
mail offline also keeps your telephone free for incoming or outgoing calls.

Hardware Requirements

You will need a C128 an 80 column monitor and at least one disk drive, although more than one disk drive is recommended. Most Commodore disk drives are compatible with QWKRR. Having a larger capacity drive is highly recommended. The following disk drives have been tested with QWKRR: 1541, 1570, 1571, and 1581. CMD (Creative Micro Designs, Inc.) devices that QWKRR is compatible with include the FD2000, FD4000, HD Series Hard Drive, and RAMLink. QWKRR128 is *NOT* compatible with RAMDOS.

Although QWKRR128 doesn't make direct use of it, in order to read BBS mail (online or off), you will need a modem.

Software Requirements:

You will need a terminal program so you can access a Bulletin Board or Internet provider to obtain the mail packet, and to send your replies back to the system.

As QWK format mail is archived, you will need software to extract the files that QWKRR requires. These are listed in the QWKRR128 files page, and in the documentation.

Most offline mail readers on any platform are *NOT* stand alone programs. Almost all require that the programs to deal with archived files also exist on the same computer and can be "accessed" in some way. Many mail readers only show messages, and require an external text editor to create messages or reply to mail. QWKRR has a built-in editor for messages and will archive your replies. However, QWKRR requires the use of external programs to extract the files needed from the downloaded mail packet.

User Requirements:

As a user, you will need to be familiar with using your terminal program and with transferring files. If you aren't already familiar with uploading and downloading files, before using QWKRR, become familiar with the process. Learn what file transfer protocols can and can not be used reliably on the BBS or Internet provider that you use. This may seem insignificant, but it is essential that you master these steps before trying to use a program such as QWKRR.

You will need access to a BBS with QWK format offline mail facilities. These are usually (but not always) referred to as "Mail doors". As an alternative, you can also make use of Internet providers that offer QWK format mail utilities. Additionally, because the mail is downloaded in an archived format, you will need to ensure that the mail facility uses a compatible archive format. Last, you should be familiar with dissolving,
or "unpacking" archived files.