In FidoNet (FTN) message formats, the maximum length for the subject line depends on the specific message format being used. The two common message formats in FidoNet are FTS-1 (FidoNet Technical Standard 1) and FTS-9.
* In FTS-1 (the original FTN message format), the subject line is limited to 72 characters. * In newer formats like FTS-9, which supports more advanced features and attachments, the subject line is typically limited to 80 characters. So, the subject length in most cases is either 72 or 80 characters, depending on the FTN message format being used.
NA> can u tell me more about FTS-9 format?
FTS-9 (FidoNet Technical Standard 9) is an extended message format for FidoNet (FTN) that introduced additional capabilities beyond the original FTS-1 standard. FTS-9 was designed to support advanced features such as multi-part messages, attachments, and better international character handling. It was introduced to handle some limitations in earlier message standards, particularly in areas like extended data formats, larger file transfers, and more complex addressing.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of the FTS-9 message format and its features:
Key Features of FTS-9: 1. Larger Subject and Message Length: * The subject field is typically limited to 80 characters, slightly longer than the 72-character limit in FTS-1. * FTS-9 supports larger message bodies, enabling users to send longer texts compared to the older FTS-1 format.
2. Support for Binary Attachments: * One of the significant advancements in FTS-9 is the ability to send binary attachments within messages. This allows for the transfer of files, images, and other data types, which wasn?t natively supported in FTS-1.
3. Enhanced Internationalization Support: * FTS-9 introduced improved character encoding to support international characters. This was important for non-English users of FidoNet who needed proper encoding for their languages.
4. Extended Message Headers: * The message header in FTS-9 includes additional fields to accommodate more complex message routing and tracking. The extended header can store more detailed information like additional origin lines, file attachment indicators, bulletin board system (BBS) tags, and routing information.
5. Multi-part Message Handling: * FTS-9 supports splitting large messages into multiple parts, allowing users to send large messages over multiple packets or "frames." This was especially useful when dealing with long text files or larger data that couldn't fit within the size limits of FidoNet packets.
6. Enhanced Security Features: * FTS-9 provides mechanisms to support enhanced security features such as message encryption, integrity checks, and signature verification to help ensure that the messages are authentic and have not been tampered with.
7. Better Handling of File Requests (FREQs): * File Request (FREQ) is a feature in FidoNet where a node can request specific files from another node. FTS-9 enhanced the FREQ system by supporting larger file transfers and providing better control over access rights and file descriptions.
*. Improved Routing and EchoMail Support: * Routing of messages, particularly in EchoMail (group discussion areas in FidoNet), is better supported in FTS-9. It allows for more flexible routing paths, better error handling, and optimized network bandwidth usage.
Header Structure: FTS-9 uses an extended message header format compared to FTS-1. Some additional fields include: * Date and Time fields with improved precision * Message ID and Reply ID fields for better tracking of message threads * Flags for specifying message types (e.g., private, public, urgent) * Extended address fields for nodes in more complex setups, supporting better zone, net, and point addressing
Compatibility: * While FTS-9 provides many enhancements, it is backward compatible with FTS-1, meaning that FidoNet systems still operating on FTS-1 can communicate with systems using FTS-9, but they may not support all the features (like binary attachments or extended headers).
Use in FidoNet Today: While FTS-9 was a significant step forward when introduced, today, many systems have moved beyond traditional FidoNet technology. However, some BBS software and FidoNet networks still use FTS-9 to leverage its advanced features for hobbyist communication and archival purposes.
FTS-9 essentially brought FidoNet messaging closer to the capabilities of modern email systems, offering improved handling of larger messages, internationalization, and file attachments. However, with the decline of FidoNet in the late 90s, the format's widespread adoption was somewhat limited.
Best Regards, Nil --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240306 * Origin: FidoNet member since 1995 (2:5015/46)
