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Scheduled query (GPAUTO)

The scheduled query runs a short script against a BBS or a DX cluster: connect, wait for a prompt, send a command, capture the reply, disconnect. It is for operators who check the same BBS or cluster again and again, as Graphic Packet's GPAUTO did.

What it does

The packet terminal owns the connection. While its TNC is open it offers the session.script service, which runs one script at a time. The tool hands it the steps and shows the progress and the last ten captured lines in its panel.

A script is up to 20 steps, separated by ; or one per line:

Step Does
connect <call> Connects to the station; always the first step
waitfor <text> [seconds] Waits until a received line contains <text>; 60 seconds when left out
send <line> Sends one line
wait <seconds> Waits
disconnect or bye Disconnects

A line that starts with # or rem is a comment, and the parser skips a line it does not know.

Use it

Command Does
/gpauto <steps> Runs the script now, and keeps it
/gpauto every <minutes> <steps> Runs it now, then every <minutes>, 10 or more. Each scheduled run's outcome goes to the tool log
/gpauto run Runs the kept script again
/gpauto off Ends the schedule
/gpauto Says whether a script is kept

For example:

/gpauto connect HB9W-8; waitfor Cluster; send sh/dx; disconnect

Open the packet terminal's TNC first; without it the tool answers Open the packet TNC first (no session service).

What it transmits

  • The connect, the lines your script sends and the disconnect, through the packet terminal's own session. That session transmits only while your callsign is control-verified, with the terminal's own transmit consent.
  • Within the tool's budget. Each run draws on the tool's transmit budget of one transmission a minute and six an hour: one for each connect, and one more for each five send steps. A run the budget cannot cover is refused: a run you start answers Refused: with the reason, and a scheduled one writes it to the tool log.
  • Only the scripts you give it, when you ask or on the schedule you set. A new script closes the channel the last one held, and switching the tool off or removing it cancels its script.

Permissions

Permission Why
command Registers /gpauto
event Counts the minute tick for scheduled runs
ipc Calls the terminal's session.script service and reads session.progress
panel Shows the progress and the captured reply
tx The session.script service connects and sends over your TNC, so it requires this permission

Version and tool API
Manifest name sched-query
Version 1.0.1
Tool API 1.0, the minimum it needs
Author OE8APR
Shows on terminal, node
Commands The operator's alone
Licence MIT
In the project registry Listed, as version 1.0.1
Source tools/sched-query/

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