Hi DM,

I've noticed a possible issue with the scan pointer for a new user with Synchronet 3.17. The first time a new user starts reading one of the sub-boards, msg_area.sub[subBoardCode].scan_ptr has a very high value, 4294967295. I'm not sure if that's valid or not. I have a message reader mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to let you know in case that value is not by design.

I'm running Synchronet for Windows. I noticed the issue a couple weeks ago. I was running the Synchronet build from January 3, 2016, then I updated to the latest build at the time (July 23) and noticed the issue was still there.

Nightfox

Subject: First-time scan pointer value
@MSGID: <57A63835.2225.sync-js@vert.synchro.net>
@REPLY: <57A60FE7.2199.dove_sync_js@digitaldistortionbbs.com>
@TZ: c1e0
Re: First-time scan pointer value
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Sat Aug 06 2016 09:27 am

Hi DM,

I've noticed a possible issue with the scan pointer for a new user with Synchronet 3.17. The first time a new user starts reading one of the sub-boards, msg_area.sub[subBoardCode].scan_ptr has a very high value, 4294967295. I'm not sure if that's valid or not.

It's not a valid message number, but it is a valid pointer value (0xffffffff) which indicates that user's message scan pointer should point to the *latest* message number when the msg pointers are save for the first time (e.g. when a new user logs off). This should only occur:

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set to 0.
2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as "new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

I have a message reader
mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to let you know in case that value is not by design.

Yes, it's by design. It was added in Nov-2015 with this commit: http://cvs.synchro.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/src/sbbs3/userdat.c?r1=1.160&r2=1.16 1

~0 (of a 32-bit integer) is short-hand for 0xffffffff.

I'm running Synchronet for Windows. I noticed the issue a couple weeks ago. I was running the Synchronet build from January 3, 2016, then I updated to the latest build at the time (July 23) and noticed the issue was still there.

I think it's going stay that way too. :-)

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #30:
NNTP = Network News Transfer Protocol
Norco, CA WX: 79.8°F, 62.0% humidity, 3 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: First-time scan pointer value
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sat Aug 06 2016 12:19:17

the sub-boards, msg_area.sub[subBoardCode].scan_ptr has a very high
value, 4294967295. I'm not sure if that's valid or not.

It's not a valid message number, but it is a valid pointer value (0xffffffff) which indicates that user's message scan pointer should point to the *latest* message number when the msg pointers are save for the first time (e.g. when a new user logs off). This should only occur:

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set to 0.
2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as "new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

My "Days of New Messages" setting is 0. I may have changed that a long time ago; I don't remember now.

I have a message reader
mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages
for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that
I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to
let you know in case that value is not by design.

Yes, it's by design. It was added in Nov-2015 with this commit: http://cvs.synchro.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/src/sbbs3/userdat.c?r1=1.160&r2 =1.16 1

I see, thanks.

Nightfox

Subject: First-time scan pointer value
@MSGID: <57A77917.2227.sync-js@vert.synchro.net>
@REPLY: <57A6578F.2201.dove_sync_js@digitaldistortionbbs.com>
@TZ: c1e0
Re: First-time scan pointer value
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Sat Aug 06 2016 02:33 pm

Re: First-time scan pointer value
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sat Aug 06 2016 12:19:17

the sub-boards, msg_area.sub[subBoardCode].scan_ptr has a very high
value, 4294967295. I'm not sure if that's valid or not.

It's not a valid message number, but it is a valid pointer value (0xffffffff) which indicates that user's message scan pointer should point to the *latest* message number when the msg pointers are save for the first time (e.g. when a new user logs off). This should only occur:

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set to 0.
2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as "new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

My "Days of New Messages" setting is 0. I may have changed that a long time ago; I don't remember now.

That (0) is actually the default now. So you probably didn't change it. But before Nov-2015, new users had *all* messages marked as "new" (and scan ptrs would be initialized to 0).

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #8:
BSO = Binkley Style Outbound
Norco, CA WX: 75.9°F, 68.0% humidity, 5 mph ESE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Quoting Digital Man to Nightfox at 08-06-16 12:19 <=-

Hello, Rob!

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set
to 0. 2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you
change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as
"new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

I have a message reader
mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to let you know in case that value is not by design.

Yes, it's by design. It was added in Nov-2015 with this commit: http://cvs.synchro.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/src/sbbs3/userdat.c?r1=1.160 &r2=1.16 1

~0 (of a 32-bit integer) is short-hand for 0xffffffff.

I'm using Sync 3.16c and not have Days of News Messages field
on New User Values. How can i upgrade this?

TIA

[]'s
│
─────────── Mauro R. Veiga ─ abutre.no-ip.org:2323 ──────── * ──────
│

MeSSaGe SiTTeR 1.00 - Full Version
Live Long and Prosper

... While drunk, O'Brien builds a leprechaun transporter.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

---
■ Synchronet ■ Ninho do Abutre 2 BBS - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Re: Re: First-time scan point
By: Mauro Veiga to DIGITAL MAN on Sat Aug 13 2016 06:28 pm

Quoting Digital Man to Nightfox at 08-06-16 12:19 <=-

Hello, Rob!

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set to 0. 2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you
change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as "new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

I have a message reader
mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to let you know in case that value is not by design.

Yes, it's by design. It was added in Nov-2015 with this commit: http://cvs.synchro.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/src/sbbs3/userdat.c?r1=1.160 &r2=1.16 1

~0 (of a 32-bit integer) is short-hand for 0xffffffff.

I'm using Sync 3.16c and not have Days of News Messages field
on New User Values. How can i upgrade this?

You can upgrade to the daily development builds (sbbs_dev.zip for Windows).

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #15:
DOVE = Domain/Vertrauen
Norco, CA WX: 92.1°F, 37.0% humidity, 8 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Quoting Digital Man to Mauro Veiga at 08-13-16 16:00 <=-

Re: Re: First-time scan point
By: Mauro Veiga to DIGITAL MAN on Sat Aug 13 2016 06:28 pm

Quoting Digital Man to Nightfox at 08-06-16 12:19 <=-

Hello, Rob!

1. If you have SCFG->System->New User Values->Days of New Messages set to 0. 2. And a new user logs on for the first time

I think the default for "Days of New Messages" is not 0. Did you
change it? 0 is valid, but it means that a new user would see *no* new messages when they first scan for new messages upon logging as as "new". I just want to make sure you knew how that worked.

I have a message reader
mod I wrote in JavaScript, and it has had trouble accessing messages for new users, seemingly due to that value of scan_ptr. I found that I can check for that value and work around it, but I still wanted to let you know in case that value is not by design.

Yes, it's by design. It was added in Nov-2015 with this commit: http://cvs.synchro.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/src/sbbs3/userdat.c?r1=1.160 &r2=1.16 1

~0 (of a 32-bit integer) is short-hand for 0xffffffff.

I'm using Sync 3.16c and not have Days of News Messages field
on New User Values. How can i upgrade this?

You can upgrade to the daily development builds (sbbs_dev.zip for Windows).
digital man

Thanks, Rob! Works fine here. :-)


[]'s
│
─────────── Mauro R. Veiga ─ abutre.no-ip.org:2323 ──────── ☼ ──────
│

MeSSaGe SiTTeR 1.00 - Full Version
Live Long and Prosper

... This is an airlock, Allow me to demonstrate - Worf
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

---
■ Synchronet ■ Ninho do Abutre 2 BBS - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil