QWK Format

QWK packets and their closely related Reply (REP) packets are single-file archives (usually in PKZIP format) containing one or more data. QWK packets are filenames with a .QWK suffix/extension, while Reply packet filenames have a .REP suffix.

QWK File

QWK packets are typically created-on and downloaded-from a large message archive (e.g. a collection of message bases) on a remotely-accessible system (e.g. BBS). The messages contained in the packet may include both private messages (e.g. e-mail) and public messages (e.g. posts on topical conferences). While the private messages are typically addressed *only* to the user that downloaded the QWK packet, the public messages may be addressed to anyone (or often, “All”).

The files that may be contained within a QWK packet (archive) include:

Filename	Standard	Description
`MESSAGES.DAT`	QWK	Binary file containing body text and limited header information for all messages contained in the packet (at minimum, a QWK packet must contain this file)
`HEADERS.DAT`	Synchronet	Text file (in .ini file format) containing detailed header information for every message in the packet
`VOTING.DAT`	Synchronet	Text file (in .ini file format) containing voting information (polls, ballots, up/down-votes) contained in the packet
`CONTROL.DAT`	QWK	CRLF text file containing metadata about the system (BBS) where the messages cam from including the names of the conferences where public messages may have originated
`DOOR.ID`	QWK	CRLF text file containing metadata about the software that created the QWK packet
`NETFLAGS.DAT`	QWK	Binary file containing a 'net status' indicator (0x00 or 0x01) for each message conference
`NEWFILES.DAT`	QWK	CRLF text file containing list of newly added/uploaded files on the system that created the QWK packet
`PERSONAL.NDX`	QWK	Binary file containing pointers to messages addressed to the user that created / downloaded the QWK packet
`000.NDX`	QWK	Binary file containing pointers to in the mail “inbox” for the user that created / downloaded the QWK packet
`x00y.NDX`	QWK	Binary file containing pointers to messages in public message group x, sub-board y
`TOREADER.EXT`	QWKE	CRLF text file containing metadata about the user that created / downloaded the QWK packet

The first 3 files (MESSAGES.DAT, HEADERS.DAT, and VOTING.DAT) are the most important when it comes to Synchronet QWK networking.

NDX files

The .NDX (index) files contained in QWK packets are of a notoriously bad format. These files contain byte offsets into the MESSAGES.DAT file, which is fine. But these offsets are stored as 32-bit real numbers in an obsolete “Microsoft Binary Format”. Additionally, each record contain a conference number, but that conference number is only 8-bit, limiting its usefulness to only 256 possible message areas.

Some message reader do not require or can be configured to ignore these .NDX files. There is no unique information stored in the .NDX files, so it's entirely possible for any consumer of QWK packets to be programmed to create their own useful index information on-the-fly (e.g. the first time the packet is opened).

Synchronet does not parse or use .NDX files in any way.

NETFLAGS.DAT

The NETFLAGS.DAT is of questionable usefulness or value. Synchronet creates this file only for QWK packets destined for QWK network nodes (all bytes containing 0x01). Synchronet does not read or use this file from incoming packets.

Bulletin Files

Optional bulletin files (in CRLF text format) may also be found in QWK packets. For example:

Filename	Description
`HELLO`	Displayed to reader of message packet
`BBSNEWS`	Displayed to reader of message packet
`BLT-*`	Displayed to reader of message packet
`GOODBYE`	Displayed to reader of message packet upon exiting packet

Additional Files

Other files found in a QWK packet were usually placed there because the user requested them to be included (e.g. from a download queue) or they were attached to messages included in the packet.

REP File

REP (reply) packets are typically created by a user using an offline mail reader or by a system participating as a down-stream node in a message network using QWK packet technology (e.g. DOVE-Net).

The files that may be contained within a Reply packet (archive) include:

Filename	Standard	Description
`ID.MSG`	QWK	Binary file containing replay message (format nearly identical to that of `MESSAGES.DAT`). The base filename is the unique QWK-ID of the system where the packet was created / downloaded-from
`HEADERS.DAT`	Synchronet	Text file (in .ini file format) containing detailed header information for every message in the packet
`VOTING.DAT`	Synchronet	Text file (in .ini file format) containing voting information (polls, ballots, up/down-votes) contained in the packet
`TODOOR.EXT`	QWKE	CRLF text file containing control instructions from the offline mail reader to the BBS