PRB: MSGDIR.CTL file corrupt or missing

ZTN1009

ID: ZTN1009

This Zetafax technical note applies to:

• Zetafax 5 and later.

Symptoms

The MSGDIR.CTL file becomes corrupt, causing one or more of the following symptoms:

• The Zetafax Client IN or OUT window is blank (empty).
• The Zetafax Client reports that the file is corrupt or missing
• The Zetafax Server reports that the MSGDIR.CTL file is corrupt or missing.

Cause

The MSGDIR.CTL file is used by Zetafax to store a list of fax messages that appear in the IN or OUT windows at the Zetafax client.

If there is a network error this file can become corrupt, in which case the client is unable to retrieve the list.

Resolution

Release 6.00b and later of the Zetafax client will rebuild the MSGDIR.CTL file automatically if it is missing.  If you have that version or later of the client, you should exit the Zetafax client, delete the relevant MSGDIR.CTL file, then restart the Zetafax client.

If you have an earlier version of the client, you can recreate an empty file by following the steps below. 

1. If you are rebuilding the file in the IN window you may wish to save any previously received faxes.  If so, create a BACKUP directory then copy all *.G3* files from zfax\USERS\username\Z-IN to this directory.  The faxes can be displayed in the Zetafax Client by selecting the BACKUP directory from the FILED window.
2. Locate the MSGDIR.CTL file.  For the IN window it will be in folder zfax\USERS\%USERNAME%\Z‑ IN (where 'zfax' is the name of the directory where the Zetafax server files are installed).  For the OUT window the folder is zfax\USERS \%USERNAME%\Z‑ OUT.
3. If the file is missing you will have to create a new one.  If the file is corrupt you will have to delete it and create a new one.
4. Creating a new MSGDIR.CTL for the Z-IN directory.
5. Load notepad and type the following:

[ZETAFAX]

Type: ReceiveDir

Revision: A

6. Save the document as \ZFAX\users\%USERNAME%\z-in\MSGDIR.CTL.
7. Delete all files in the current Z-IN directory. (Except the newly created MSGDIR.CTL file)
8. Creating a new MSGDIR.CTL for the Z-OUT directory.
9. Load notepad and type the following:

[ZETAFAX]

Type: SendDir

Revision: A

10. Save the document as \ZFAX\users\%USERNAME%\z-out\MSGDIR.CTL.
11. Delete all files in the current Z-OUT directory. (Except the newly created MSGDIR.CTL file).
12. Delete all files in the PREVIEW, G3F and G3N directories.

Status

Release 6.00b and later of the Zetafax client will rebuild the MSGDIR.CTL file automatically if it is missing.

Last updated: 4 January 2000 (GC/GW)