Frozen Fish 1: Amiga/FrozenFish-Apr94.iso/bbs/oct93/comm/4d-bbsdemo.lha/4D-BBSDemo/History

Text File | 1993-09-02 | 10KB | 203 lines

         4D-BBS Ongoing Report
         ---------------------

One of the things we are trying to do is allow more awareness of what
has changed in the new versions.  I will try to maintain this file with
the up-to-date info on the new versions, and what has changed.


--- V2.89d - August 20, 1993

* For Multi-line (now that I have it) you can append a .# to the end
  of any files which end in a ".ansi" or ".ascii" text to send a
  specific file for a specific node.  If this file is not found, the
  default file without the .# extension will be sent.  Example:
  "logon.txt.ansi" would be sent to line 0, while "logon.txt.ansi.1"
  would be send to line 1.  Remember, the "line" is determined by
  the ARexx port name.  (See Below)

* Fixed some ARexx stuff up concerning multiline. When booting up
  multiple copies for multiline, you need to run the copies (with
  serial port /u# parameters) IN THE ORDER you want the lines
  to come up, or explicitly give the ARexx port name "ie: /a4D-BBS4".
  If you explictly give the port name it must NEVER exist, or the
  BBS will add a number to it, not giving the desired effects.  Only
  16 lines are currently supported.

* Added a new EIC "^]WX%" to print out the node number of the BBS
  the user is on.  This will print out a number of the range 1-16,
  normally derived from the last one or two numbers of the ARexx
  port name (if there is no numbers at the end of the ARexx port
  name, line 0 is given...it is also the default).

* Made MANY changed to the ARexx interface.  The default port is now
  4D-BBS0 instead of 4D-BBS.  Also, you can specify a specific port
  or node by giving a number after the name (IE: 4D-BBS4...to use the
  .# extensions mentions above).


--- V2.88d - July 18, 1993

* Fixed the problem people were having with running the editors from the
  pull down menus.  Running the editors from the pull down menus should
  work fine, and open up a window on the WorkBench Screen.  The on-line
  user editor should automatically update the the user during an edit,
  also.  The window opened up on the Workbench screen in RAW:.  If anyone
  finds a problem with this, I can change it back to CON: (although RAW:
  works MUCH better!).  I am also looking into making 4D's screen a
  Public screen, and having the editors open up on 4D's screen.

* I took out the upper case 'K' in the FIFO driver.  This was causing
  a couple people problems, and should alleviate having to binary edit
  it out. Anyone know what it is used for? :).

* Don't know why I didn't get a bunch of people ramming me down the
  throat with this error, but for some reason the fax checking was
  getting in the way of the asnwering routines.  Should be working
  fine now, though.

* Fixed a problem in cfg_ed where setting the sysop available flag
  would munch the BBS: path. Thanks Raymond!

* There was a configuration file name difference betwen cfg_ed and
  the main BBS.  The BBS was looking for a file called "4D.Config"
  while the cfg_ed program defaulted to "Config.4D".  The correct
  name should be "4D.Config" and cfg_ed has been updated to reflect
  this.  Version number is V2.69d.

* Now when someone requests a chat, the ARexx script "4DChatReq.Rexx"
  will be executed.  This will allow for sysops to "log" who wanted
  to chat and such.  The ARexx script is passed three paramaters:

  1st:  The ARexx portname of the BBS
  2nd:  The Name of the User
  3rd:  The Reason why the user wants to chat.

* Changed the Afterpost command.  All 4D ARexx commands will be of the
  format "4D[COMMAND].Rexx".  So the two we have going so far are
  "4DAfterPost.Rexx" and "4DChatReq.Rexx".  If you would like to
  function command scripts, please let me know.

* Fixed a couple of the chat bugs like adding garbage to whatever
  reason the user gave for wanting to chat.

* Changed the stats screen stuff a little bit.  Two files are actually
  sent now.  The first is the file "Stats.Txt.Ansi" OR "Stats.Txt.Ascii".
  Which file is sent depends on WHICH mode the user is in (read the manual
  for more info on this).  SECONDLY the file "Stats.Txt" will be sent
  REGARDLESS WHETHER THE OTHER ONE WAS FOUND.  Whats the purpose of this?
  You can make the stats.txt.a* files sent all the neat, cool information
  and such, and then have stats.txt have the information to query the user
  to check mail, new mesages, etc.  This allows you to not have to
  duplicate these checks, since you would have to put the EICS in BOTH
  files.  This is a somewhat fix, as versions before V2.89 where ONLY
  sending the stats.txt file, AND NOT the stats.txt.a* file.
  Thanks Phil!

* Made a couple fixes to fcl_ed and mb_ed.  If the diretories do not
  exist when you specify them, the editor will tell you this, and
  prompt you to whether you would like to create the directory or
  not.

* Fixed the bug in fcl_ed where it would not recalculate the maximum number
  off screens when you added sections.  You will now be able to get to the
  last screen if you add a file section which is a multiple of 10.

* Added a new option to fcl_ed that would allow it to read a file which
  contains a list of files and descriptions.  This is made to work with
  some CD-ROMs which give a listing of the files in each directory in a
  text file (the format is one line for file, with the file name first,
  a space (or multiple spaces) and then the description.


--- V2.87d - July 2, 1993

* Made a new menu option.  It makes hotkey + number menus a TON easier
  to use.. What you do is simply place the line "##:k" in your message
  base menu, turn hotkey+number mode on, and your set.  You don't need
  100 lines to allow the numbers to work.  4D will append to the menu
  command whatever you user inputs.  IE:  They enter "47", 4D will
  make the command "47:k 47" and pass it to the menu parser.  This
  should save LOTS of menuing heaches!

* Went throught and added some more lines into the def_say.t file.  You
  should either append the lines of the attached one to your, or just
  use this one.  You need to notice the different in lines 19 and 20,
  also.

* Added two now EICs.  "^]FA" will turn on showing the menu in novice
  mode, and "^]FB" will turn OFF showing the menu in novice mode.  This
  works VERY similar to toggle the users expert/novice mode, but does
  NOT actually change this setting.  The BBS DOES NOT change the setting
  back, so you will need to change it back (possibly in the prompt) if
  you only want it active for one command.

* MB_ED:  Took length down to 76 so it would not wrap on some screens.
  Added the "I" type sub-board for internet mail.  Did some cosmetic
  cleanup, also.  Ripped out Door support so it ONLY uses FIFO/CLI/WB
  (this took the size down quite a bit!).

* Now ALL menu lines will expanded if EICS are in them.  What does this
  really mean?  I HECK OF a lot of power!  Try it out.  You can now
  force user-dependant actions in commands.  The FIFO passing was the
  first one that I used this with, and thought all of them would be
  nice to have this function.  Of course there ARE menu commands that
  are inappropriate for this (like changing to a message board, etc)
  but they all have the capabilities.

* CFG_ED:  At LAST!  The new config editor is out.  Fixed the BBS
  name and annoucement conflicts, made it look like the rest of the
  editors, and cleaned up many problems with it.  Should be a LOT
  nicer to use now.

* Fixed a bug in the fax string that wouldn't allow it to work.  The
  BBS will not look for the fax string ANYWHERE in a string from the
  modem.  This means you can put "FAX" as the string, and whether
  your modem returns "FAX" or "CONNECT FAX" it will work now.

* FCL_ED:  Fixed a couple bugs including display, I/J when editing a
  file, and the new extended descriptions rule.  Files can now have
  BOTH an extended description and a short description.  An extended
  description is noted by an * in front of the short description in
  the BBS, and FCL_ED will put a "(MB #/Mess #)" designator in front
  of the short descript.

* B_ED: AT LAST!  We now have a bulletin editor. You must use v2.88d
  in order for the BBS to recognize the new format.  Use the -c
  parameter to convert your old bulls.dat file to the new bulls.d
  format.

* Added option G in CFG_ED (V2.68d) to allow toggling of the Sysop
  available flag's default setting when 4D-BBS is ran.


--- V2.85d - July 1, 1993

Ok.  I have changed plenty here... Thanks to Jim Aites for getting
on my case about some of the "problems" he conjurred up!  Make sure
you add line 298 to your def_say.t file.

* Fixed Double Origin Printout

* Moved initial advertisement in an eic.  The EIC "^]W2%" will print out
  the connection information.  Use it like "Connect: ^]W2%".

* line 298 in def_say.t is now displayed as the FIRST line when a user
  FIRST LOGS on.  The above string defaults to be in this line (so you
  probably won't notice a differemnce, but its a lot more flexible.

* New EIC:"^]W1%". This is an optional EIC to set the user's initial ANSI
  setting.  It works like the old Ansi question in 1.63.  The BBS will
  now try to display text:logon.txt.ascii UNLESS this EIC is used and
  the user opts for ANSI.  Then text:logon.txt.ansi will be displayed.
  text:logon.txt is no longer used.  This EIC can go in def_say.t line
  298 mentioned above.

* Fixed a bug where a sub-board flag of "N" would force the real name
  of the user no matter what.

* Fixed some memory and port problems.  We were not releasing all of
  the memory and after many times of running the BBS it would start
  to not working properly.