This file is copyright  Ant Skelton 1995.

Setting Up a Multiple Signature File
====================================

Generating a file which MailMode can use to provide multiple signatures is
actually pretty easy. In order to do it, you'll need the BASIC program 
'MakeSig', which ought to be in the same directory as this help file.

To generate a multiple signature file from scratch, two steps are involved:

1) compose the signatures you wish to use, separating each with a form feed
   character.
   
2) run the 'MakeSig' program and give it the name of the file you created in
   step 1.
   
This file can now be used with Zap's multisig option. 

Editing the file
----------------

A multiple signature file for use as input to 'MakeSig' must consist of a number of
signatures, each followed by one formfeed character. If you don't know how to enter
formfeed characters into Zap, then refer to section B.6 'Inserting Text/Control
Codes' of the !Help file in the main !Zap directory. (But basically, it's ctrl-Q
ctrl-L, if you haven't mucked about with the key bindings too much.) Note that the
last signature must also be followed by a form feed character. The rule is, 'one 
signature, one formfeed' :). 


An example file 'PreMakeSig' can be found in the same directory as this file. 

Running 'MakeSig'
-----------------

After you've created a suitable input file, run MakeSig to make it MailMode-friendly.
MakeSig will prompt you for the name of the file - please note that this is a full
pathname, not just the filename.

The easiest way to run 'MakeSig' is:
	1) Start a TaskWindow in !Zap
	2) Shift drag the 'MakeSig' program into the taskwindow - it will then start
	3) Shift drag your prepared file into the task window - MakeSig will then start
	   processing it.
	   
Note that the processed file will have the same filename as the original file, so make a 
back-up of the original file if you're not too certain about this procedure.



Adding more signatures to an existing multiple signature file
=============================================================

Once you've created a MailMode friendly signature file, you can easily add more signatures to
it, or remove some of your existing signatures. Firstly, add or remove signatures as necessary,
taking care to follow each one with 1 formfeed character. Then, run the 'MakeSig' program on the
file again. 'MakeSig' will re-order the file to take into account the changes you have made.


What is MakeSig actually doing?
===============================

If you're curious/suspicious about what MakeSig does, here's the low-down. All MakeSig does to your
signatures file is to bolt some header information on to the front of it. MakeSig counts the number
of signatures in your file (which it does by counting form feeds) and creates an index to the
signatures themselves, which MailMode uses to locate them quickly. MakeSig also records the total
number of signatures in the file, and randomly selects one of these to be used by MailMode the next
time you request a signature to be appended. Subsequently, MailMode will use the signatures in
sequence, starting at the first one again when it reaches the end of your signature file.

MailMode records which signature you last used in the file, to make sure they all get used evenly.


