I found a copy of Platinum Xpress/DOS Test Drive online - the filename is PX10TD.ZIP on this page:
http://annex.retroarchive.org/cdrom/smsw-modmad-2/WILDCAT/index.html

This is a pre-release Test Drive version of Platinum Xpress/DOS for Wildcat 4.x.


Now this has me wondering a couple things:

1) I wonder if the test drive version can be upgraded with the patches/updated versions of Platinum Xpress from the Santronics FTP server.

2) I wonder if I'll need to setup a whole Wildcat system to play with Platinum Xpress at all.


Chris/akacastor

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (911:1503/0)

I found a copy of Platinum Xpress/DOS Test Drive online - the filename is PX10TD.ZIP on this page:

A 1-byte patch to PX.OVR allowed Platinum Xpress/DOS Test Drive to run without a valid test drive key. I didn't test it further than starting the program and reaching "Waiting for Call..." status.

In PX.OVR at offset 0x28D5:
08c075276a0f8bde
08c074276a0f8dbe
^^
byte at PX.OVR 0x28D7: '75' changed to '74'

1) I wonder if the test drive version can be upgraded with the patches/updated versions of Platinum Xpress from the Santronics FTP

The answer to this appears to be "maybe". I installed Platinum Xpress/DOS Test Drive, ran PXSETUP, ran PX which exits due to no valid test drive key. Then copied the contents of PX14UPD.ZIP into the \PX\ directory, and ran PX which starts up and runs as Platinum Xpress 1.4.

The unanswered question is - will this actually WORK? It does start up and wait for calls, but I haven't tested it further.

The PXSETUP included in PX14UPD.ZIP doesn't like the PXSETUP.LIB file from the test drive version, so it doesn't work. The PXSETUP from the 1.0 test drive version does work, but I don't know what changes to the setup files have been made.

screenshot of Platinum Xpress/DOS 1.4 waiting for call: https://imgur.com/L9tgX26

2) I wonder if I'll need to setup a whole Wildcat system to play with Platinum Xpress at all.

Platinum Xpress does complain about not having a Wildcat installation when it scans for outbound mail, but it does at least start up and appears to wait for calls. I think all the message base configuration is supposed to be pulled from the Wildcat installation, so I guess without that it wouldn't be possible to actually receive mail.


Chris/akacastor

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (911:1503/0)

On Tue, 28 May 2024 00:44:48 -0700, you wrote:

This is a pre-release Test Drive version of Platinum Xpress/DOS for
Wildcat 4.x.

Now this has me wondering a couple things:

1) I wonder if the test drive version can be upgraded with the patches/updated versions of Platinum Xpress from the Santronics FTP server.

2) I wonder if I'll need to setup a whole Wildcat system to play with Platinum Xpress at all.

You're leading yourself down a rabbit hole. Just figured I'd make sure you were aware of this before you continue (I have a feeling you already know, and have already stepped into the hole). :)

Regards,
Nick

... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
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* Origin: _thePharcyde distribution system (Wisconsin) (911:1262/1)

On Tue, 28 May 2024 03:07:32 -0700, you wrote:

screenshot of Platinum Xpress/DOS 1.4 waiting for call: https://imgur.com/L9tgX26

Rabbit hole breach has been confirmed! :D

Platinum Xpress does complain about not having a Wildcat installation
when it scans for outbound mail, but it does at least start up and
appears to wait for calls. I think all the message base configuration
is supposed to be pulled from the Wildcat installation, so I guess
without that it wouldn't be possible to actually receive mail.

By all means, keep going. Inquiring minds want to know! :)

Regards,
Nick

... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
--- Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:115.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderb
* Origin: _thePharcyde distribution system (Wisconsin) (911:1262/1)