QWK Mail Packets

A QWK mail packet is a compressed bundle of all the new messages in your scan list, packaged so you can read them offline in your own mail reader, then upload your replies in a REP packet for the BBS to post on your behalf. QWK was the dominant offline-message protocol of the BBS era and is still actively used today, especially for cross-BBS networks like DOVE-Net.

The QWK Mail Packet Menu in Synchronet is invoked from the command shell — in Classic, that's Q from the Main prompt. The menu itself (built in to the BBS, not a separate loadable module) lets you:

• Download a QWK packet (your new messages + new files list)
• Upload a REP packet (your offline-composed replies, to be posted)
• Bidirectionally transfer both at once
• Configure Ctrl-A code handling for the packet

A live capture from vertrauen:

┌───────────────────────────┐
│  QWK Offline Reader Menu  │
├───────────────────────────┴──────┐
│ C Change Packet Configuration    │
│ S Select Message Areas to Scan   │
│ P Modify New-message Pointers    │
│ U Upload REP reply packet        │
│ D Download QWK message packet    │
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Q Quit back to Main menu         │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

QWK:

Builds a QWK packet containing:

• All new messages in every sub-board flagged ON in your new-message scan list
• Any new e-mail addressed to you (depending on your packet config)
• A new files list if enabled
• Optional file attachments if enabled
• Optional VOTING.DAT (poll data) and HEADERS.DAT (extended headers)

You're prompted to choose a Ctrl-A handling mode (also configurable persistently — see C below):

• E — Expand Ctrl-A codes to ANSI escape sequences (recommended if your offline reader supports ANSI)
• L — Leave Ctrl-A codes in (your reader must handle them)
• <CR> — Strip Ctrl-A codes (safest for non-ANSI readers; messages lose color/attributes)

Then choose a transfer protocol (Z-modem, etc.) and the packet downloads.

After the download, your new-message scan pointers are updated to the most recent messages included in the packet. If you want to scan messages online again afterwards, use ''[&I]'' (reinitialize) or ''[&P]'' to roll the pointers back.

Uploads a REP (reply) packet your offline reader produced. Synchronet processes the messages and posts them to the appropriate sub-boards on your behalf. NetMail-routed messages get queued for the next outbound run.

Some transfer protocols (e.g. Z-modem) can send and receive simultaneously. Bidirectional mode uploads your REP and downloads your QWK in one round trip. Saves call time on dial-up; less relevant on modern Internet connections but still works.

Persistent settings for what's included in your QWK packets — the same options you set during DOVE-Net signup (see DOVE-Net howto for canonical defaults). Among the options:

• Ctrl-A handling (Expand / Leave / Strip)
• Archive type (zip is universal)
• Include e-mail (none / un-read only / all)
• Include file attachments
• Auto-delete e-mail after packing
• Include new files list
• Include index files
• Include control files
• Include VOTING.DAT (Synchronet v3.17+)
• Include HEADERS.DAT (Synchronet v3.15+)
• Include messages from yourself (echo-back)
• Include time zone @-codes
• Include @VIA path codes
• Include @MSGID / @REPLY codes
• Include UTF-8 characters
• MIME-encode message text
• Word-wrap exported messages
• Extended (QWKE) packet format

Same as the new-message scan list configuration ([&N]), but reachable from the QWK menu. Toggles which sub-boards are included in QWK packets — only ON sub-boards contribute messages.

Same as ''[&P]'' — manually set how far back the QWK build looks for messages, per sub-board.

Returns to the Main prompt.

You'll need an offline mail reader on your local machine to actually read the QWK packets and compose replies. Many readers exist; classics include:

• Blue Wave
• OLX (Off-Line Xpress)
• MultiMail (cross-platform, still maintained)
• MR/2 ICE (OS/2)

Modern Synchronet sysops/users often use MultiMail — it works on Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSD.

QWK isn't just for personal offline reading — it's also the protocol behind QWK networks (QWKnet). DOVE-Net is a popular Synchronet QWKnet. If you're a sysop instead of an end user, see Run a QWK Network Hub for the operator side.

• User Documentation
• Message Bases — what gets packed into your QWK
• Electronic Mail — your inbox; can be included in QWK
• QWK packet format
• QWK Network Extensions
• Join DOVE-Net
• Run a QWK Network Hub
• qwknodes utility (sysop)