Jason Aller Floppy Collection

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Text File | 1990-11-07 | 47KB | 1,016 lines

The following information pertains to features that are new additions in version 14.5 or enhancements to those that were in version 14.2: BYE added: logoff command that can be used in place of the (G)oodbye command to avoid the "Proceed with logoff" prompt .. also, "G Y" will do the same thing. B)ulletin added: A = All, display all bulletins added: N = New, display all new bulletins added: S = Scan, allows AND/OR searches and then displays the entire bulletin if the text was found anywhere in it added: D = Download, queues up all requested bulletins for downloading (whether explicitly requested or requested via the All, New or Scan subfunctions) D)ownload enhanced: Batch downloads now accept wildcards added: Ymodem and Ymodem/G as internal BATCH protocols enhanced: During shelled protocols the top 3 lines are frozen enhanced: Prior to initiating the file transfer you can edit the list of files batched up for file transfer - adding or removing files from the list. E)nter Message added: Full Screen Editor added: F = return to Full Screen Editor added: Q = quote mode added: U = upload mode (non-echo mode) added: 79 column mode (press CTRL-underline to toggle) enhanced: Saves the message "as is" if carrier is lost prior to the user saving the message (the message can later be re-edited using the new EDIT command described below) E)dit Header (subfunction of read command) added: N = Refer Number added: R = Read Status added: P = Protection (including Sender and Group Password) EDIT) Msg (subfunction of read command) new cmd: Allows the originator of a message to re-edit his message after having posted it. F)iles enhanced: Optionally will colorize DIR files on the fly (applies to the "L", "N" and "Z" commands as well) enhanced: V)iew now passes the comm port number to the batch file added: G = Goodbye added: P = displays the PRIVATE upload directory to the sysop FLAG) File main prompt, subfunction of Files prompt or more prompt new cmd: Allows the caller to "flag" a file for later download. Any number of files may be flagged up to the batch file limit set by the sysop. G)oodbye enhanced: PCBoard can now be set to warn the caller of files that are flagged for download prior to logging off and ask him if he wishes to proceed with the logoff. H)elp enhanced: Custom written help files can now be provided by the sysop. All he needs to do is create a file (up to 8 characters in the filename) and place it in the PCB HELP directory. The user then types "H XXXXX" where "XXXXX" is the name of the help file to be displayed. J)oin enhanced: Now accepts either a conference number or a name also typing "J MAIN" can be used to return to the Main Board (in addition to "A", "J 0" or "J MAIN BOARD"). L)ocate enhanced: Displays all secondary lines after the matched filename enhanced: If an invalid file is requested it will automatically switch to a Z)ippy search command enhanced: If the filename is less than 8 characters long and no wildcards have been used it automatically appends "*.*" to the name (ie searching for BETA turns into BETA*.*). enhanced: Changes a request of "FILE*" to "FILE*.*" added: D = Download, download files that are found added: N = New, locate files using filespec and date MENU added: A new command to redisplay the menu even when in expert mode. M)ode (normally just a toggle for graphics/non-graphics mode) added: CTTY - puts you into CTTY (non-ansi) mode added: ANSI - puts you into ANSI (non-graphics) mode added: GRAPHICS - puts you into ansi graphics mode N)ew enhanced: displays all secondary lines after the file is found added: D = Download, download files that are found O)p Page enhanced: When done the caller's screen is restored and the session continues from where he left off OPEN a DOOR enhanced: Now accepts either a door number or a door name enhanced: If files are flagged for download the caller will be warned prior to opening the door and asked if he wishes to proceed. Q)uick Scan enhanced: TS (see TS enhancements in the Read command) R)ead command enhanced: A = the "R A" command now writes the names of the conferences joined to the callers log so that sysops can tell from the log which conferences are being read and which are being ignored enhanced: TS = now scans the message text as well as the header enhanced: TS = if in graphics mode it highlights the text enhanced: TS = allows AND/OR searches to be performed enhanced: TS = allows stacking of search text and msg number added: / = the slash will redisplay the current message added: ALL = while the "R A" command reads all SELECTed conferences, the "R ALL" command reads all conferences in which you are registered added: COPY = COPY a message (similar to MOVE a message) added: DESELECT = deselects the current conference removing it from future message "R A" and "Y A" scans added: G = goodbye added: J = join a conference added: JUMP = similar to the SKIP command, it jumps to the next conference on a "R A" command but does not adjust your last message read pointer so that you may later go back and read messages there added: L = read in reverse order from the last message back added: O = Read Only - it doesn't set Last Msg Read pointer it doesn't mark a message as being read. It can be restricted by security level. added: Q = turns the message read scan into a Quick Scan to display the headers instead of messages added: RR = read the reference message added: SELECT = selects the current conference for future message base activity such as "R A" and "Y A" added: SET = set last message read pointer added: SKIP = sets the last message read pointer to the last message and if used while performing an "R S" or "R A" read command will skip to the end of the message base (in the case of "R A" it then moves on to the next conference selected to read). added: U = read only mail that has not been flagged as read added: USER = read mail either to or from a specific user added: YA = read mail address to YOU and to ALL added: Z = zip (compress) capture file before downloading SELECT new cmd: Can be used to select or deselect conferences the user wants to scan and also to reset the last message read. TEST new cmd: Can be used to test a file for CRC errors or viruses prior to downloading (if the sysop provides the test). U)pload added: Ymodem and Ymodem/G as internal BATCH protocols enhanced: Allows external batch uploads using DSZ-log compatible protocols enhanced: Allows user supplied multi-line descriptions with word wrapping while typing in the descriptions enhanced: Records the name of the uploader in the description USERS command new cmd: Allows caller to see the names of users in a conference and to search the user names/cities for any text WHO command new cmd: Allows a caller to view the list of callers currently online - WITHOUT giving them access to the node chat functions (can be useful if you want the caller to know who is there but don't want them tieing up the system chatting with other callers while online). Y)our Mail Scan added: ALL = while the "Y A" command scans all SELECTed conferences, the "Y ALL" command scans all conferences in which you are registered added: Q = Quick Scan for your mail. It displays only the number of messages found and the number that are for you using 1 line per conference instead of the normal 3 line display. Z)ippy Search enhanced: Displays all secondary lines as well as filename enhanced: If in graphics mode it highlights the "found" text enhanced: Allows AND/OR searches to be performed and will even find matches if keywords are on SEPARATE lines in the DIR file added: D = Download, download files that are found added: N = New, locate files using filespec and date 1) View Log added: S = Scan, allows AND/OR searches of the caller's log enhanced: The caller's log is now colorized on-the-fly according to the activity in the log 5) Scan Header enhanced: TS (see TS enhancements in the Read command) 7) User maint enhanced: Combines both user maintenance menus into one menu enhanced: Will not display user records that have a HIGHER level than the user issuing the 7 command enhanced: Will not allow the user to create a new user or modify any existing user to have a security level higher than his own 7) Scan Users enhanced: Allows AND/OR searches to be performed 13) View Node added: S = Scan, allows AND/OR searches of the caller's log added: A = All, allows all node logs to be displayed/searched enhanced: The caller's log is now colorized on-the-fly according to the activity in the log 14) Drop to DOS enhanced: Now allows a node to be dropped to DOS when waiting for a call to come in F1, F2 & F8 enhanced: These keys are now guarded by a pop-up window F5 - shell enhanced: When done the caller's screen is restored and the session continues from where he left off F6 - upgrade enhanced: Will not work in local mode so that a local user cannot upgrade his own security level F9 - scrn off enhanced: Turning the screen OFF sends output to a 'virtual screen' so that pressing F9 will restore the screen contents as if the screen had never been toggled off More Prompt removed: While inside a file listing at a "more?" prompt the (D)ownload and (U)pload features have been removed. Instead the FLAG command should be used to flag files that you wish to download. Then download the files after you finish viewing the file listing. ALT-F1 or CTRL-F1 added: Decrease caller's time by 5 minutes (was DN arrow) ALT-F2 or CTRL-F2 added: Increase caller's time by 5 minutes (was UP arrow) ALT-F9 or CTRL-F9 added: Decrease caller's security level (was LEFT arrow) enhanced: Code now checks the PWRD file to find the next "real" security level - when found it properly adjusts the time limit as well as download byte limit ALT-F10 or CTRL-F10 added: Increase caller's security level (was RIGHT arrow) enhanced: Code now checks the PWRD file to find the next "real" security level - when found it properly adjusts the time limit as well as download byte limit ALT-B added: Sends a BELL (ascii 7) character to the caller ALT-D added: Shell to PCBFiler ALT-H added: Toggles thru Help/Name/Conf/Comment/Modem status lines ALT-S added: Shell to PCBSM Shift F-Keys enhanced: Now uses a "^M" character sequence for carriage returns so that multiple lines of information can be placed in the function key definition. NOTE: Placing a carat "^" in front of any uppercase letter can be used to put CONTROL characters into the function key definition. enhanced: Allows the use of "%" followed by a filename which will automatically import the file. Comm Routines enhanced: Utilizes the 16550A FIFO Buffer enhanced: Uses dual input and output ring buffers enhanced: Allows up to 115,200 baud operation (tested & reliable at that speed on an AT-class machine with a 16550A chip installed - with speeds in excess of 11,000 CPS) enhanced: Now allows non-standard comm ports to be installed in the system (comm ports beyond COM1 and COM2) by specifying the IRQ and BASE address for the comm port. New @-variables: see bulletins 29, 32 and 35 in the BETA conference Removed: HOME - help/status line (see ALT-H) PGUP - help/status line (see ALT-H) PGDN - help/status line (see ALT-H) END - help/status line (see ALT-H) DN - decrease time (see ALT-F1) UP - increase time (see ALT-F2) LEFT - increase security (see ALT-F9) RIGHT - decrease security (see ALT-F10) Enhanced: * At logon it now displays the bulletin numbers of updated bulletins. * The callers log now includes "attempted to logon as" records to indicate when a caller changes his name and re-attempts the logon. This includes all attempts - including new users, existing users and users who decide not to register. * PCBoard now uses an "auto ansi detection" routine so that if a user chooses not to use color graphics but his comm program has ansi capabilities PCBoard will take advantage of them (for faster cursor movement, defaulting to the full screen editor, etc). * PCBoard now displays an asterisk "*" to the right of the FILE DATE when displaying file listings to indicate that the file is new to you i.e. the file is more recent than your "Date of Last DIR Scan". * PCBoard now removes the vertical bar "|" from the display when secondary file descriptions are found. * PCBoard now only updates the user's "Last Date DIR Scanned" to match the date of the most recent file posted rather than using the date on which he performed the scan. * PCBoard now passes a 4th and 5th parameter to external protocol batch files signifying the "connect speed" of the caller as reported by PCBoard and the "carrier speed" for those modems which return a carrier speed setting to provide for proper calculation of file transfer times by the external protocol. * PCBoard now allows an alternate method of logging into the system (as sysop or local user) without taking the phone off the hook. If the phone rings while you are logged on you will be informed and can then exit back to the call waiting screen to let PCBoard answer the phone. This option allows you to snoop around the system without giving callers a busy signal and then let the system answer the call if the phone does ring. * PCBoard now sports a new Call Waiting screen with a new look and new capabilities - including system wide as well as node-specific statistics for the activity of your system. In addition, a module is provided so that third party software can update the statistics without having to write directly to the file. * Also, the Call Waiting screen will now display the complete modem connection process (the result codes returned by the modem) so that you can see what is happen as an attempt to connect is made. * Added support for security specific NEWS, CNFN, DOORS, CLOSED, EXPIRED and WARNING files. * Added the ability to have a PCBTEXT entry display a complete file rather than just the limited text found in PCBTEXT. For instance instead of displaying the line "your time has been adjusted for an upcoming event" you could display a complete file explaining to the caller when the event will be run and why their time was adjusted. * All multi-letter commands (COPY, MOVE, LANG, OPEN, NODE, etc) can now be called by typing just the first two letters. * For a "R A c/d/z" command (capture,download,zip) you can now set the maximum number of messages by area and total for the scan so that the caller does not overrun your hard disk on a capture. * When a users time limit falls below 10 minutes you can now decrement his remaining time 1 minute at a time instead of 5 minutes. * External protocols can be specified as requiring MNP. They also can be set to keep the comm port open and to freeze or not freeze the status lines on the screen depending on the external protocol's needs. * Added the ability to set the number of "rings" before answering. * The status lines include not only the logon time and current time but also the current minutes online and minutes remaining. * Searching for files (for downloading) now begins with the default filename extension if no extension was provided by the caller - in other words if the caller asks for TEST it will first search for a file called TEST.ZIP and not finding one will then search for TEST. * When you answer YES to the question "Display NEWS only when changed" it will now display the news file if it is at least one minute newer than the last time the caller was on - previous versions required the NEWS file to be created at least a day earlier. * The question in PCBSetup "Display News Only When Changed" now accepts "A" for ALWAYS in addition to the Yes and No answers. When ALWAYS is used the caller will always see the news file every time he joins a conference that has one. * The NEWS file, however, will not be displayed if, as the caller moves from one conference to the next, the file to be displayed is the same file (causing redundant displays of the same file). * The default subscription period may now be defined by the sysop. Also, the default 'expired security level' can be set to a value other than the new user security level. * The "guard time" prior to an event during which uploads are not allowed is now configurable by the sysop. * The maximum files in a batch can now be configured according to security level. * The Maximum Download Bytes can now operate in two modes: 1) as in previous versions it can be an "absolute" limit or 2) it can now be adjusted according to the baud rate of the caller so that a caller at higher speed can download more bytes. * A "Maximum Download Bytes" setting of "32767" results in unlimited download bytes (i.e. the caller is displayed "Unlimited" and when a transfer is performed his maximum download bytes are not adjusted by the number of bytes downloaded). * Adjustments can now be made to a user record (such as security or conference registration changes) from another node or from PCBSM *while* the user is online without losing the updated information. * When reading messages the caller can have the screen cleared prior to displaying a message - this can be set with W)rite User Info. * Input fields which are surrounded by parenthesis (i.e. having the "(" and ")" characters around the field) can be edited using the cursor keys or the CTRL-Key substitutes that are used by the Full Screen Editor. * The LOGOFF Script Questionnaire now allows for graphics or non-graphics, multilingual and security specific versions of the file. In addition, if the name of the LOGOFF ANSWER file is blank then you can dispense with the leading semicolon since the code will assume that none of the lines in the file are questions. This will make it easier to use a program such as THEDRAW to create logoff files. * Prior to dropping to a DOOR the code can now create a DOOR.SYS file for those who want to read DOOR.SYS instead of PCBOARD.SYS. * Files can be chained together for display (such as NEWS files or bulletins, etc). * If a caller is online and the screen is logically toggled off - then any keypress on the LOCAL keyboard will toggle the screen back on to help avoid accidentally typing into a caller's session. * The default behaviour of the "do you want to scan for mail" prompt can now be set to scan ALL conferences so that the user does not have to know to type "A" in response to the question. * PCBSetup now differentiates between "editing your own message" and "editing any message" for security purposes. * PCBoard can now be set to ask the built-in questions of a new user AND to also ask the questions in the NEWASK file so that you can conveniently get new users onto the system while at the same time gathering extra information about them. * The "Allow Only Password Changes" has been changed to "Disallow complete update" so that if you answer YES the caller will still be able to change his password, his conference scans and his "clear screen between message" settings. * PCBoard now supports more than 40 conference areas. It does this by way of an external users file which has been designed to be dynamic in nature and provides for a maximum of over 65,000 total conference areas in the system. The BBS software as well as each of the utilities have been redesigned to provide the capability of going way beyond the previous 40 conference area limit. * The external users file (called USERS.INF or Users Info file) provides for the capability of installing Third Party Software into the file - allowing PCBoard software to manage the data for Third Party Authors (i.e. adding new records when a new caller calls in or removing records when you pack the users file). * In conjunction with the USERS.INF file a new file called USERS.SYS is created by PCBoard prior to dropping to DOS for a door application. The USERS.SYS file contains everything there is to know about the user - including the information from the USERS file as well as from the USERS.INF file (both PCBoard and Third Party Application records). This makes USERS.SYS a "one stop shopping spot" for everything you need to know about the user. The file format (like USERS.INF) is dynamic allowing for more conferences or larger Third Party Application records. * The USERS.SYS file is a READ/WRITE file - meaning that if an application modifies it while the caller is out to DOS then PCBoard will read USERS.SYS back in and update the USERS and USERS.INF files based on the information found in the file. * The USERS.SYS file can be created from the command line using the /USERSYS command line switch so that multiple doors can share the same TPA information. * Door applications can now be executed without having to type OPEN or DOOR and a number. Plus they can now be given command line parameters at the time of opening. * PCBoard now supports Conference Sysops - where you can define via conference flags (similar to conference registration or conference scan flags) whether or not a caller's security level should be increased to that of "sysop" while logged into that conference. * PCBoard now keeps track of the number of messages read or written by the caller while online in PCBoard and displays that information either in PCBSM or on the PCBoard status line together with the total bytes uploaded or downloaded (which was previously being recorded but not shown on the status line). * PCBoard now records (in the user's record) when a message is left for him via PCBoard so that when he logs on he will be informed of the fact that there is mail waiting for him AND which conferences have mail waiting without having to scan for new mail. In addition if a message is left to him while he is ONLINE he will be notified at the command prompt of new mail waiting and which conference it is in. * PCBoard now provides both the normal 'registration' method for allowing a user into a conference as well as a security level based method for conferences that are non-public. * PCBoard will continue to pre-register NEW callers into public conferences and set their default 'scan' and 'expired' conference registration flags UNLESS the public conference has a security level requirement (that is NON-zero) for joining it. * A caller can be kept out of a public conference by not registering him and by setting the security requirement either above his level or by setting it to "-1". The negative value is used to tell PCBoard to automatically register new callers while denying access to existing callers who are not registered in the conference. This resembles the older PCBoard idea of "public conferences". Also, the caller can have his conference flags set to "L" for LOCKED OUT to keep him out of public conferences. * Currently both a regular and a VROOM OVERLAY version of PCBoard v14.5 are being tested with the VROOM version requiring 180K of memory or less to operate. Sysops with memory constraints are urged to use the VROOM code to relieve them. Additionally, a new switch has been added (/SWAP) which can be used to tell PCBoard that it should swap itself out of memory during a SHELL operation such as external file transfers, file testing/verification, sysop shell to DOS via the F5 function key, viewing file contents, etc. The SWAP capability allows PCBoard to swap itself to any of three different locations: 1) EXTENDED memory if an XMS memory driver is loaded (such as Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS or Quarterdeck's QEMM.SYS or Qualitas' 386-to-the-MAX) enabling sysops to finally put to good use the 384K of extended memory on 286 systems which previously has been wasted. 2) EXPANDED memory using any of the existing expanded memory drivers. Or 3) DISK space is used if neither extended nor expanded memory is available. The SWAP capability allows PCBoard to reduce itself down to a minimum of 10K of memory during a shelled operation and works with both the regular and the VROOM code so you could reasonably expect to run a PCBoard system in less than 200K of memory - assuming that any shelled operations or other doors you may be running will not require any more than that. * A 'debug mode' has been added with varying levels of reporting so that a more complete report of what the system is doing at a given time can be made available. * Versions 14.0 to 14.2 required that user names start with a letter from A to Z while the new code removes that restriction. Also, it can now be set to allow one name users to log onto the system and more fully supports users with more than two names. * A path can be defined for each individual DOOR batch file so that batch files can be consolidated in a single area if desired. * Replying to a message that is FROM yourself will now result in the TO field being copied over to the TO field of the reply rather than copying the FROM field across. * Added support for FREE files - where files can be downloaded and not be charged in the files or bytes downloaded record as well as not charging against the time online if desired. * Messages addressed to users via the @##@ or @##-##@ substitution variables are automatically protected against being deleted. In addition, the messages are treated as PRIVATE in that users without the proper security level will not even see the message. * Messages addressed to users vai @user@, @##@ or @##-##@ are now automatically protected against deletion by anyone who is not a sysop. * The sysop can now set in PCBSetup the hours when he is 'in' for answering the page bell. * When the sysop is not in, the page bell is off or when the sysop fails to answer his page the user will now be prompted as to whether or not he would like to leave a comment to the sysop instead. The message indicating the sysop is not in could be modified in PCBTEXT to display a file indicating the hours of the day when the sysop is available for chat. * PCBoard's NODE list will now show when a caller is paging the sysop and PCBMONI will show the same but will ring a page bell at the same time allowing the sysop to monitor all nodes for pages from one screen. * The node status, when set to unavailable, previously stayed in that state at all times until the caller hung up or changed it back to available thus masking what he was doing while online. The node status will now reflect whatever he is doing (such as entering a message or transfering a file) but then go back to unavailable when he finishes. * Uploads can now be tested for CRC errors or viruses after the file is finished being uploaded. Additionally, a new command TEST can be used by the caller to test any file he suspects of having errors. After the post-upload TEST is completed PCBoard will re-check the file size of the upload in case text was added to or removed from an archive file during the testing process. * The name of the message CAPTURE file can now be set in PCBSetup or when not specified it defaults back to the caller number. * The CAPTURE file when downloaded can now be set to not charge the download time against his session time. * The "HAS REPLIES" indicator is now displayed on all messages that have replies not just messages addressed to "ALL". * The Full Screen Editor can be chosen as the default by using the (W)rite User Info command. * ESCAPE codes can now be entered *and* EDITED in the full screen editor by turning the ESC character into an ascii 29 while display the message edit buffer on the screen. This allows you to move the cursor around on the screen and edit both escape codes and regular text data. * Security has been increased by protecting against co-sysops or conference sysops having access to user records which have a higher security level than they have. * PCBoard now sets an ERRORLEVEL upon exiting to DOS which can be tested within a batch file according to the following table: 0 = normal exit at sysop request 1 = exit to dos for the event 2 = exit to dos for a door 3 = exit to dos for remote dos operation 4 = exit to dos to run pcbpack 5 = exit to dos caused by caller saying goodbye 99 = an error occured which dropped it to dos * Auto Login Doors are doors which have been set with a specific security level (such as the new user security level) to force the caller into the door upon logging into the system. Setting the security level to zero forces all callers into the door at login. * External protocols and other batch files will now be searched for along the DOS PATH removing the requirement that they exist within the default subdirectory. * The caller's security level, caller number and the modem connect string can all be recorded in the callers log at the time. * When a user attempts to sign on and can't remember his password PCBoard will now ask him if he'd like to leave a comment to the sysop prior to logging him off due to password errors. * The callers log is now displayed in color to help highlight and spot specific caller activities and errors. * You can now choose to write the following to the caller's log when a caller connects: caller number, caller's security level and the modem's connect string. * PCBoard can now be configured to re-read the PWRD file to adjust a caller's TIME, BYTE or BATCH limits when he joins a conference if that conference is adjusting his security level. * PCBoard can be set up to display a caller's city/state information and ask him to confirm who he is before continuing the logon process. This can help in areas where there are a large number of people attempting to log in possibly with duplicate names. * File Directories and Download Paths can now be made security level specific so that users with differing security levels can actually see completely different lists of files available for download. * PCBoard may now accept from the command line a series of keystrokes that can be used for automating the login process. * During the login process PCBoard will "busy out" an entry in the USERNET.DAT file indicating "Logging into system" with a blank name until the caller has a chance to enter his name. * If the caller has chosen a BATCH protocol as his default protocol he will now be given the opportunity to select multiple files by typing "D" and pressing ENTER to enter each of his filenames (i.e. the "DB" command is no longer needed). At the same time, however, typing "D FILENAME" will *still* send a single file to the caller without the need for the extra prompts that normally follow a batch download request. * PCBoard will now wait for data to finish going out the comm port before displaying a command prompt so that while it is going out the comm port the caller can utilize the CTRL-X or CTRL-K keys to abort the display or the CTRL-S key to pause it. * PCBoard now stops the clock when filling out script questionnaires (especially important for the logoff questionnaire but useful for the newreg and other questionnaires as well). * PCBoard may now be configured to give back a sysop-specified ratio of time for credit on an upload using the /UPCRED switch (i.e. PCBoard could give back double the time spent uploading). * PCBoard may now be configured to give back a sysop-specified ratio of bytes for credit on an upload using the /BYTECRED switch to allow the caller to download more bytes that day than his daily download byte limit would otherwise allow. * PCBoard now accepts a command line parameter of /EVENT:### to specify that it must return to DOS for the even within "###" minutes overriding any event settings (or lack thereof) in the PCBOARD.DAT file. (useful for front end processing) * PCBSetup can now take the name and location of the PCBOARD.DAT file on the command line so that you can edit multiple configurations without having to change drives or directories. * MKTXT145 can now accept the name and location of the PCBTEXT file to be edited on the command line. * PCBFiler now works with the large number of conferences that PCBoard allows and has been compiled using the VROOM OVERLAY technology to speed up processing of large DIR files. * Inserting the secondary description lines in PCBFiler's editor is now much easier with the automatic placement of the vertical bar on the line in the position you prefer and automatic cursor movement keeps cursor where it's easy to edit the text. * Added an ALT-X toggle so that new users can use the NOVICE mode where they are not bothered with the conference and directory number information and are able to see expanded abbreviations for the file status displayed on screen while at the same time allowing experts to switch back to the cluttered and more terse mode. * Multiple files can be selected with ALT-S and then moved all at once with the ALT-M keystroke in PCBFiler's editor. After pressing ALT-S the cursor is then moved to the next file you are most likely to want to look at skipping over secondary lines to save you keystrokes. * Added ALT-O to PCBFiler's editor to allow quick shells to DOS. * The ALT-T command in PCBFiler's editor allows you to set the DATE of any file to the current date. In addition, you can set the default behaviour of PCBFiler's processing to automatically set the date of all files being MOVED to today's date. * The /SORT command line switch for PCBFiler will accept a subcommand of UPLOADS (e.g. /SORT;UPLOADS) to process only the upload DIRs. * For the conference master list creation and also the conference scan for missing/duplicate files you can now specify which conferences to scan by typing in ranges and selected numbers instead of using the old "XXX" scheme. * Sped up the "verify file existence" option prior to entering the PCBFiler editor tremendously - especially on networks. * Sped up PCBPACK tremendously by rewriting it in C and assembler using the same routines used by PCBoard v14.5. * Added /KEEP to keep private messages that have not been read from being removed. * Added /MAXMSGS which will put a maximum limit on the number of messages in the message base (if more exist then messages at the beginning, being the oldest, are removed). * Added /KILLDUPS which will analyze both existing messages and past messages and remove any that are duplicates. * Added the ability to give a RANGE of conferences to be packed so that a single PCBPACK command line can pack ALL message bases at once. * Added /KILLBAK which removes the backup file normally created by PCBPACK for safety. * Added /CAP which will capture the packing activity to a file. * Added /NOCALLER to avoid writing pack messages to the callers log. * Added /UPCASE which will convert the subject fields in message headers to uppercase letters since some sysops prefer the more consistent all-uppercase headers. * Added /RAMDISK to send the initial message base to a ram disk during packing to reduce hard disk fragmentation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (example usage of some of the new commands): * R A Z <enter> The above command will capture all messages in all conferences since the last message read, compress the capture file and the begin the download procedure. * R F Y 1+ <enter> The above command will read all mail that you have left which has not yet been read by the user you addressed the message to. * R YA A Z <enter> The above command will read all new mail in all conferences that is either addressed to YOU or to ALL, capture it in a file, compress it and immediately begin downloading the capture file to you. * R A <enter> ... (read messages in a conference) DESELECT <enter> If you have grown tired of a conference and no longer wish to participate it in the DESELECT command will remove a previously SELECTed conference from future "R A" and "Y A" scans. * R S <enter> ... (read messages in a conference) SELECT <enter> Similarly, if you are reading messages in an unSELECTed conference you can tell PCBoard that you'd like to automatically scan that conference in the future. * R A <enter> ... (read messages in a conference) SKIP <enter> While reading messages in a conference you can issue the SKIP command which will not only skip out of the current conference but will also set your last message read pointer at the same time as if you had finished reading all messages in that conference. * R ALL <enter> Similar to the "R A" command which reads messages ONLY in those conferences which you have SELECTed, the "R ALL" command reads messages in all conferences in which you are registered. The "ALL" command can be used in conjunction with all other read and message scanning commands. * TS ALL 1+ <enter> PCBoard & LANtastic <enter> The above commands will search thru every available message in ALL conferences areas you are set to scan for any message that has both the word "PCBoard" AND the word "LANtastic" in it. * TS ALL 1+ <enter> PCBoard & (LANtastic | DESQview) <enter> The above commands will search thru every available message in ALL conferences areas you are set to scan for any message that has both the word "PCBoard" AND either the word "LANtastic" OR the word "DESQview" in it. The parenthesis tell PCBoard how you want to group your criteria if you have a complex search request such as the one above. It will allow for nearly any number of parens and any combination of AND's (using the "&" character) and OR's (using the "|" character). * TS ALL 1+ USER JOHN DOE <enter> PCBoard & Help <enter> The above command (similar to examples above) adds the keyword USER to the command line specifying that only messages that are either TO or FROM John Doe should be displayed if they are found to have both the words PCBoard and Help in them. * R SET 100 <enter> Sets the last message read for that conference to 100. * Y A S Q <enter> The "Q" which is a new parameters gives a new display showing each conference on a single line and shows only the number of messages for you and the number found. It looks something like this: Messages Messages Num Conference To You Found --- ---------- -------- -------- 0 Main Board 0 18 1 Support 12 1628 2 DOOR 5 370 3 Utility 0 431 4 Net_Mail 1 895 5 LANtasti 2 642 * Z A <enter> PCBoard & DESQview <enter> The above commands will search all of the file directories for any file that has both the word "PCBoard" and the word "DESQview" in the description (anywhere - including secondary description lines). * L PCB*.* A N <enter> 120189 <enter> The above command combines a Locate Search of the file directories with a "new files search" for files that begin with "PCB" and were posted on or after 12/01/89. * Z DESQview A S D <enter> The above command combines the Zippy Search of the file directories with a "new files since" search and then tags all files found for later downloading (i.e. files with "DESQview" in the description that are new since the last time you were on) * USERS <enter> Utah <enter> The above command searches for the names of users that participate in the current conference who have the word "Utah" in their user record (USERS does a text search on the name and address fields). * 7 S <enter> John & (Smith | Doe) <enter> The above command (sysop function 7) will search the entire user record (name,address,phone,comments,etc) for the any user record that has both the word "JOHN" and either the word "SMITH" or the word "DOE" in it. * J SUPPORT <enter> The above command will search and join the SUPPORT conference (rather than having to know the number of the conference). * B A <enter> The above command will display all bulletins. * B A N D <enter> The above command will download all new bulletins. * B A S D <enter> DESQview & LANtastic The above command will download all bulletins that have both the word "DESQview" and the word "LANtastic" somewhere in the file. * 13 A S <enter> JOHN DOE | JOHN SMITH <enter> Searches all caller logs and displays entries where either John Doe or John Smith were logged on. * SELECT D 1-3 6 <enter> The select command is used to select or deselect conferences. The above command starts out by deselecting all conferences after which it reselect conferences 1 thru 3 followed by 6. It will then prompt the caller for any last message read changes in each of the newly selected conferences. * OPEN 1 * OPEN MYDOOR * OPEN 1 PARAMETERS TO MYDOOR * OPEN MYDOOR PARAMETERS TO MYDOOR * MYDOOR * MYDOOR PARAMETERS TO MYDOOR All of the above are now valid ways of opening a door. In these examples the door name is "MYDOOR" and it can be opened either with or without the words OPEN or DOOR. Additionally, parameters may be typed in on the command line which will then be sent to the door application on the assumption that it can use the parameters. * HELP QMAIL * HELP DATABASE * HELP NEWUSER The above are examples of how you can add any kind of help directly into PCBoard just by creating a file by the same name and placing it in your \PCB\HELP subdirectory. Now you can offer users help on various doors and other features of your system directly from within PCBoard.