Data And File Formats

This page documents files used by the packaged ATR and live board. Source of truth: tools/package_mutineer_atr.py, tools/build_mms_apps.py, source/text/*.bas, and source/config/MMSAPPS.CFG.

ATR Directory Layout

Normal Mutineer ATR:

• Root: AUTOEXEC.BAT, AUTOGO, RHND850.COM, MMS.COM, README.
• D1:>CORE>: tokenized BASIC modules and offline tools.
• D1:>DATA>: runtime databases and config.
• D1:>ASCII>: ASCII menus/static files.
• D1:>ATASCII>: ATASCII menus/static files.
• D1:>MAIL>: default message base files.

Configuration Files

D1:>DATA>CONFIG is line-oriented text:

CSECT
CBYTE
CALLNO
MSECT
MBYTE
MSGS
HMSG

WFC, CORE, and SYSOP read it to track caller history pointers and message counts. The packaged default is 657, 48, 0, 559, 21, 1, 1.

D1:>DATA>MSGBASE.CFG stores the message-base root path. The packaged default is:

D1:>MAIL>

D1:>DATA>ACL.CFG is comma-separated:

level,session_minutes,daily_minutes

Level 0 is banned. Level 9 is sysop. WFC applies session and daily limits from this file during login/registration.

Users

Files:

• D1:>DATA>USERS.DAT: fixed-width user records.
• D1:>DATA>USERS.IDX: fixed-width handle index records.
• D1:>DATA>NEXTUSER.DAT: next user number as text.

USERS.DAT records are 128 bytes:

• status byte;
• user number high/low;
• handle, 16 bytes;
• full name, 24 bytes;
• email, 40 bytes;
• password, 12 bytes;
• access level;
• flags;
• call count high/low;
• daily date, 8 bytes;
• daily used minutes high/low;
• reserved tail bytes.

USERS.IDX records contain normalized handle text, user number high/low, status, and a reserved byte. Registration creates the first user as access level 9; later self-registered users are level 1.

Caller History

D1:>DATA>CALLERS.DAT is a text file. The packaged file starts with *. WFC recalibrates the append pointer on startup and appends caller identity, date, and time. CORE reads it for the caller-list command.

Application Registry

Editable source: source/config/MMSAPPS.CFG. Packed runtime: D1:>DATA>MMSAPPS.DAT. Packager script: tools/build_mms_apps.py.

Source rows:

handle,key,return,type,flags,access,route,term,name,path

Validation rules:

• up to 32 records;
• handle range 1..254, unique;
• stable key unique, hexadecimal in the source file;
• return key must be 0000 or match another app key;
• access must be 0..9;
• path must fit 24 bytes and match supported SDX path syntax;
• name must fit 8 bytes.

Packed format:

• header signature MAPR;
• version 1;
• record size 48;
• record count and generation byte;
• 16-bit checksum over record body;
• 48-byte records with handle/type/flags/access, key, return key, path, name, route, term, and reserved bytes.

Message Bases

Default files:

• D1:>MAIL>MESGA.MET
• D1:>MAIL>MESGA.DAT
• D1:>MAIL>MESGA.IDX

MESG?.MET stores:

• version;
• base ID;
• base name;
• short name;
• required access level;
• data file path;
• index file path;
• next message number;
• active message count.

Message records include status, message number, from, to, subject, kill password, date, time, line count, and body lines. Index records are 16 bytes and point to message data records. MSGMGR creates, verifies, deletes, undeletes, and compacts message bases.

Caller commands in MESGAREA:

• Q: quick scan.
• S: summary.
• R: read.
• E: enter.
• K: kill.
• A or L: select/list bases.
• X: return to main menu.

File Areas

Default files:

• D1:>DATA>FILEA.MET
• D1:>DATA>FILEA.DAT
• D1:>DATA>FILEA.IDX

FILE?.MET stores:

• version;
• area ID;
• area name;
• view level;
• download level;
• upload level;
• data file path;
• index file path;
• upload path;
• next file number;
• active file count.

File records include status, file number, filename, description, type, location, uploader, upload date, file size, and download count. Index records are 16 bytes and point to file data records. FILEMGR creates, verifies, deletes, undeletes, and compacts file areas.

Caller commands in FILEBASE:

• B, F, A, N: browse/list configured areas and files.
• D: download by number or name.
• U: upload into an area.
• I, H, ?: file-area information.
• L: reports no marked files.
• C: clears marked files.
• M, S, P: currently inactive.

Door Catalog

Live file: D1:>DATA>DOORS.CFG.

Rows are comma-separated:

id, door name, filename, path, access level

The path must end in >. DOORS appends filename to path and runs the result. Missing door programs return DOOR UNAVAILABLE. and leave the caller in the door menu.

Text Assets

Editable sources:

• source/textfiles/ascii/
• source/textfiles/atascii/

Packaged directories:

• D1:>ASCII>
• D1:>ATASCII>

Menus/static files include MAINMNU, FILESMNU, MESGMNU, DOORMNU, BULLMNU, BULL1, BULL2, BULL4, INFO, OBBS, and WELC. The packager also writes generated branded text files HELP, NEWU, and FUNC, and stages TEXTF article files.