MR/2 ICE v2.49 - An Internet EMail Client for Windows and OS/2

Copyright (c) 1996-2004 Knightware Software Company.
All rights reserved.

See UPGRADE.TXT for information on how to update an existing install.

==================
Table of Contents
==================

1.  Release Information.
2.  Shareware Notice and Ordering Instructions.
3.  Credits
4.  List of major features.
5.  Quick start instructions.
6.  Known bugs/problems/missing features.
7.  Contacting the Author.

Release History has been moved to the file "history.txt"


===================================
1-RELEASE INFORMATION - 07/01/2004
===================================

Thank you for trying the latest addition to the MR/2 family of
electronic messaging software for OS/2 ... the MR/2 Internet Cruiser
Edition.  MR/2 ICE is an Internet EMail client.  It can read mail via a
POP3 mail server and/or has direct SMTP hooks available.

There are no limits to the "shareware" version.  I don't like
crippleware, but I will no doubt offer some incentive to register, or
add a minor anoyance or two if you don't.  Right now there is none of
this, barring a simple nag screen that starts showing up after 45 days.

MAILING LIST:  Send email with SUBSCRIBE in the subject to
mr2ice.list@mr2ice.com

SEE MY WEB PAGE at http://www.mr2ice.com for late-breaking news.

THE OFFICIAL MR/2 ICE FAQ page is available as link from my
WWW home page, listed above.



=============================================
2-Shareware Notice and Ordering Instructions
=============================================

N O T I C E
-----------

This IS a shareware package, and does require a registration fee if
you choose to continue using it after 30 days.  The registration
fee for this product is currently $40 US.

Register by filling out and mailing REGISTER.DOC to me with a check.
You can pay by credit card using Paypal to sales@mr2ice.com, but it's
easiest just to use:

    http://www.mr2ice.com/paypal.html.

Other options exist; see the home page for details.

NOTE:  Registration letters with keys are sent out via email within
a week of arriving to me; often sooner.  If you don't get a letter,
write.  They sometimes get lost in email-limbo, and I will happily
resend.


Here's my registration policy:
------------------------------

    Register MR/2 ICE for $40 after you are satisfied it will work well
    for you.  You will get emailed a registration key that will prevent
    the 45-day nag screen and will possibly (later) enable some control
    over other features

    Registration by an individual includes the capability of using
    this registered copy at home and/or at work.  YOU are registered,
    not a particular machine or system.

    I reserve the right to charge a nominal upgrade fee for future
    version.  Version 2.0 was released as a $20 upgrade from any v1.0
    license.  This, after almost exactly 4 years of continued
    development on v1.00 through 1.62 (before the v2.0 betas started).

    I have devised a site license pricing tier.  You can always write
    me for a discussion.  These are for licenses of MR/2 ICE running at
    a single location (usually a company or other organization).

             5 User - $145
            10 User - $250
            25 User - $485
            50 User - $625 ($4 per additional user)

            For each user above 50 add $4
              (e.g., 200 user = $625+(150*4) = $1225)

    All pricing is subject to change without notice.  We can
    interpolate for in-between counts (e.g., 30 users at $515).
    I'm basing these prices on a product I once purchased in this
    manner.  I want to be reasonable, but still make a profit.
    Email me for more detailed discussion.

    INCREMENTAL SITE LICENSES.  Those purchasing a site license may
    increase the license count at some later date in time by submitting
    the difference between the two licenses (based on what was
    originally paid vs. what the current total site license would
    cost), plus a flat modification fee of $10.

    For example, a company purchases a 50 user site license at $425 under
    old pricing.  A year later they wish to increase the license count to
    100 users.  They would sumbit a check or purchase order for 50
    incremental licenses at a cost of $235.  With the price increase to $500
    for 50 users (where 100 users would be $650), the amount due would
    be $235.  It's an easy calculation:

        What you'd have to pay today for the total licenses desired
      - What you've already paid
      + $10.

    Since this is a "try before you buy" opportunity, I would expect
    there to be no need to ever issue a refund.  Please consider all
    sales final.

    Registration keys/licenses are NON TRANSFERABLE.


==========
3-Credits
==========

This software wouldn't exist, nor would it have survived healthily
for 8+ years without help and support from many, many people.  Thanks!

I particularly can't forgot all of my beta testers and mailing list
participants, many who have donated conversion routines, REXX scripts
and all-around expert feedback throughout the beta cycle.


===================
4-LIST OF FEATURES
===================

o   POP3 or SMTP reads.

o   POP3 or SMTP sends.

o   Use of pop-up or "context" menus abound.  Try the right mouse button
    in index lists, on toolbar buttons and in address fields.

o   Filters ... supports "simple" search criteria OR more powerful
    free-form criteria allowing the testing of various message areas
    (including specific header lines) with full boolean and/or/not.
    Includes soundex capabilities and case sensitivity options.

o   Persistently sizable windows almost everwhere.  Multiple message
    windows can each have different positions.

o   Toolbars w/hints ("tooltips"), status bars, progression
    indicators.  Optional whenever possible.

o   Font and color selection dialogs, as well as drag/drop support from
    OS/2 pallets for message viewer windows.

o   Powerful message viewer and editor.  Things like a split screen
    editor (OS/2 only at this time).  Spelling checker and thesaurus
    available (as separate files, get the MR/2 QWK-reader files via
    www/ftp).  Simple things like Rot13 support and case conversions
    supported.  Mono/PS font toggle (you can configure the font for each
    mode).

o   Formatted *and* draft printing.

o   Selectable reply "templates" allow you to boiler-plate needed replies.
    Powerful set of reply-time variables available.

o   Auto-checking for new messages via configurable time period.  Beeping
    when mail arrives, and (optional) periodic beeping when new mail has
    arrived and MR/2 has not acquired focus.  Minimized icon and task list
    show new mail count.

o   Links to external utilities like IE/WebExplorer and Ftp ... simply
    click, RMB, click to load or ftp any URL embedded within a message.

o   MIME support with many configurable options.

o   UUEncoding/decoding.  Multiple files-per-message supported.

o   Address book with description, email address, notes and "tags".
    Group addresses to with unlimitted address listings, including
    nested groups/address book entries and lists from external files.

o   Pop up calendar (will be enhanced to provide to-do list/appointments).

o   Pop up calculator (OS/2).

o   Multiple account support.

o   Sort message indexes to 3 levels (lots of options :).  Find text
    in the message list

o   Dynamic window index ... easily find any open window and/or
    messages index.

o   Many configurable options.  For example, turn on/off various
    warnings and prompts.

o   Auto-backup feature.  MR/2 ICE will recover most/all of any open
    editor sessions if an application *or FULL SYSTEM* crash occur.
    This includes lock-ups where a manual reboot has to be performed.

o   Clipboard access enhanced to include APPENDING to clipboard and
    pasting *with* quote string.

o   Bcc's work the way they're *supposed* to.



==============
5-Quick Start
==============

Let's get to some simple instructions.  MR/2 ICE quick start:

o   The Windows verson has an installer.  Install, then skip
    the next block.  If you're reading this, you've probably
    already installed.

o   Make a directory and unzip MR/2 ICE into it.  You may set up
    a desktop icon to invoke MR/2 ICE or simply run it from the
    command line.  When running MR/2 ICE for the first time, it
    will jump right to the Network configuration screen.  Fill
    this out carefully.  Press OK.

o   Once the network settings have been filled in, please select the
    User Preferences tab and make any desired changes.  Close the window
    by clicking in the corner.

o   You're ready to start.  MR/2 ICE will, by default, poll the POP3
    server every 2 minutes.  Adjust accordingly.  Mail is kept in a
    MAIL subdirectory of your MR/2 ICE software directory.

o   Command line switches:

        /Iinifile   Specifies a file where user interface
                    settings (e.g., toolbar visibility and
                    position, window positions) are kept.
                    The default is mr2i.ini.

        /Mmailcfg   Specifies the file in which to keep and
                    access your EMail configuration.

        /Npath      Specifies a path to use for news files.

        /#          where # = 1, 2 or 3.  Starts MR/2 ICE on a
                    specified notebook page where 1 os the inbox
                    (the default), 2 is the outbox and 3 is the
                    folder page.

        /S          Suppresses the polling and delivery of
                    email.  No network access is attempted.

        /SN         Suppress NEWS polling and fetching (until manually
                    invoked, then periodically polls)

        /SC         Suppress the clipboard history manager.  Helpful when
                    using a clipboard utility and MR/2's manager is
                    interfering or causing trouble.

        /T          Toolbar-less operation.  Bypasses the crash
                    caused by some bug in Soft & GUI's CmdLine.exe.

        /L          Logs activity to mr2i.log - debugging information.
                    Adding /L2 provides a higher level of detail.

        /H          Causes MR/2 to change the default path to that
                    of the mr2i.exe file just invoked.  In otherwords,
                    the default path is changed to match the location
                    of the file mr2i.exe being run.

        /Fn         Select a default font for custom control windows.
                    (Necessary only if problems appear in install)

        /P#         Specify an alternate Pop3 port of #.

        /PN#        Specify an alternate NNTP (news) port of #.

        /-          Minimize on start

        /X          Poll for new mail, exit.

        /XS         Poll for new mail, send any queued mail, exit.

        /Cn         Overrides the OS/2 Code page setting to n.

        /B          Advanced option: TCP/IP buffer sizes.  Defaults to
                    24000.

        /Qfile      Will add the names file to the MR/2 ICE outbox and
                    exit.  File is assumed to be a properly formed
                    message file.  You can force MR/2 to attempt to send
                    the message via use of the /XS flag.

        /Q file emailto subject

                    will copy file to a temp name (fax-oriented), MIME
                    encode this file and add it to the outbox addressed
                    to the specified user with the specified subject.

        /Q *file emailto subject

                    will copy file to a temp name (fax-oriented),
                    UUencode this file and add it to the outbox addressed
                    to the specified user with the specified subject.

        /Q:file emailto subject

                    will MIME encode the named file into a new message,
                    placing this message into the outbox, addressed
                    to the specified user with the specified subject.

        /Euser@domain

                    Starts MR/2 ICE and immediately invokes a new
                    message to the address specified.  For use by a
                    third-party address book program still in the works,
                    but it surely has other applications.

        /D message [log]

                    where message is a filename containing a valid message
                    with attachments.  Log file name is optional.
                    Detaches all attachments found in message, recording
                    create file names in log.  Overwriting of existing
                    files is automatic.

        /Ofile [msg]

                    Opens a file into an MR/2 message window as a message,
                    ready to send.  Optional "message" is popped up as
                    a message box.

        /Vfile [msg]

                    Opens a file into an MR/2 message window as a message,
                    ready to read.  Optional "message" is popped up as
                    a message box.

        /W          Delete with safety.  Normally, MR/2 ICE bypassed any
                    use of the DELDIR feature.  With /W specified, the
                    OS/2 DELDIR mechanism is allowed to function.

        /Zs         Sets the NEWS READER data model where s may be
                    'S' for small, 'M' for medium, 'L' for large or
                    'H' for huge.


o   Command-line control of a running copy of MR/2 ICE.  The commands
    above will actually cause an existing instance of MR/2, if found,
    to do the desired work.  I went the extra step of support this for
    multiple accounts, so specifying an account should talk to the right
    copy of MR/2 ICE.  So, using the /Q option to queue a file actually
    puts it in the outbox of a running copy, and proceeds to send it.
    Using the /E option causes a New Message header screen to pop to the
    desktop from a running copy of ICE.  Also:

        /Qfile  - as described above

        /Euser@domain - as described above

        /+  will restore and bring focus to a minimized/burried
            copy of MR/2 ICE.

        /-  will minimize an existing, running copy of MR/2 ICE.


o   New message:  Click on the first toolbar icon, or select NEW
    from the File menu.

    Fill out the header editing screen and press OK.  Now, type
    in the message and press SEND.  Depending on the options in
    your User Preference settings, you may be shown the header
    editing screen again.  Press OK to send it.

o   Replying:  Viewing any message, press on the REPLY button.
    You will be prompted with the Header Editing screen (optionally),
    the allowed to edit the reply.  The simple editor allows you
    to toggle back to the original (the "<" button) and then
    forward to the reply (the ">" button).  It also allows you to
    split the screen and show both windows (the "-" button").

o   When incoming messages are first displayed, an empty checkbox
    icon is next to them ("fresh" incoming mail is colored in red
    text, too).  Once read, a black check mark is attached.  If
    you reply, the message is marked with a RED checkmark.

o   The Out Box shows all messages sent.

o   The Right Mouse Button (RMB) is used often.  Try it inside message
    index lists, on toolbar buttons, and inside address fields.

o   Selecting message(s).  Mark the message(s) you want to open with the
    mouse and use the RMB to call up the popup menu (or use the main
    menu).  Click on OPEN.  Alternately, double click on any single
    message will to open it.

o   Outbox:  Unsent messages have a mailbox icon.  Sent message switch to
    an envelope icon.  There is a resend option on the popup menu (RMB)
    and on the viewer screen.  Resending fron the viewer screen provides
    an optional chance to modify the message first.



========================
6-CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
========================

You  can contact me in a number  of ways.

US Mail:        Nick Knight
                P.O. Box 29076
                Parma, Ohio 44129

Web:            http://www.mr2ice.com (Includes MR/2 ICE FAQ)

Internet:       nick@mr2ice.com

Internet FTP:   Due to firewall restrictions, my ftp server was closed.
                However, all files on my site are available via http
                links listed on http://www.mr2ice.com/


=========================================
7-KNOWN BUGS/PROBLEMS - MISSING FEATURES
=========================================

o   Help is still work-in-progress.  Part is coding, part is more
    help text and polish.

o   Still many areas that need optimization and minor rework/threading for
    performance reasons.  For example: formatted printing AND pop purges.


