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- 31th July 1997
-
- Hi,
-
- this is the third beta version of PARCP 3 with full screen user interface,
- very similar to Norton or Midnight Commander. There's no complete
- documentation in this package - please refer to real PARCP release (the
- latest is PARCP 2.62 by the time of writting this document).
-
- News since last beta:
- =====================
-
- - F3 works on also in Server window (needs the TMP dir)
-
- - F7 works
-
- - a kind of pull-down menu implemented
-
- - internal viewer implemented
-
- - many bugs fixed (and probably new ones introduced.. :)
-
- - PARCP QUIT is on F20 (Shift+F10) or Escape key
-
-
- Features:
- =========
- - compiled with NCurses 4.1 (on MiNT and Linux) and PDCurses 2.2 (on DOS).
- A great amount of work (more than three months!) has been spent on
- porting NCurses library to TOS. The port has been finished this month so
- you can now run ParShell not only under MiNT with terminfo or termcap
- databases, but also even under plain TOS with its VT52 emulator in ROM!
-
- - one new PARCP.CFG directive - Shell (Yes/No). As you may expect, by setting
- Shell to NO you get the usual `ftp-like' line oriented user interface.
- Shell is set to Yes by default.
-
- - new section in PARCP.CFG file - the head of this section is [PARSHELL]
- and it contains directives for ParShell only. The section is created
- automatically by running the new PARCP.
-
- A brief list of new directives:
-
- UseColors = Yes/No
- UseMarks = Yes/No
- SmoothScroll = Yes/No
- ShowSize = Yes/No
- ShowDate = Yes/No
- ShowTime = Yes/No
- Viewer = name of your favourite TOS/DOS viewer
- Editor = name of your favourite TOS/DOS editor
- TempDir = path to directory for ParShell temporary files (not used)
-
- The names of directives are nearly self-explaining, I hope. If not, just
- try it out and you'll see.
-
- - functions of interface are started by pressing function keys (see the bar
- at lower end of screen). All function keys work except the MakeDir (F7).
- For viewing (F3) and editting (F4) you must specify the viewer and editor
- in the PARCP.CFG file first.
-
- - You can mark/unmark files by pressing the Insert key and '+' (plus), '-'
- (minus) and '*' keys. Marked files can be copied, moved or deleted.
-
- - the '/' key will move you to the list of installed logical drives
-
- - fixed some bugs and introduced new work-arounds for bugs in MiNT-libs.
- Use this version of PARCP even for server, don't use the server version
- 2.62 with this new 3.0 version, please.
-
-
- Limitations:
- ============
-
- Unregistered version of PARCP 3 has the following limitations:
-
- - maximal length of directory listing is 40 lines only
- - the directory listing is always unsorted
-
- The registered version doesn't have these limitations. For details on
- registration please refer to the full documentation of PARCP 2.62 package.
-
-
- Known bugs:
- ===========
- - various VT52 emulators in GEM windows on Atari make serious troubles.
- I am going to help the author of TOSWIN II (great program, BTW!) with
- fixing it, so TOSWIN under MultiTOS will work soon OK. For now I would
- suggest you to run PARCP under virtual consoles from Juergen Lock. The
- virtual consoles are hardware accelerated so you get the maximum speed of
- screen output of ParShell there.
-
- As for MagiC, its VT52.PRG works fine so long as you stay away from colors.
- Color emulation doesn't work correctly there.
-
- Also, for faster scrolling on slower machines you can use the SmoothScroll
- directive (set it to No or False and watch the difference).
-
- - DOS PARCP crashes after returning from DOS (external viewers, FTP interface).
- This seems to be a bug of PDCurses 2.2 (the library used to build PARCP).
- I would really need a DOS port of NCurses 4.x...
-
- - folders on CD-ROM are not always recognized on Atari - needs debugging.
-
- What I need to know from you:
- =============================
- How fast is the redrawing and the whole interaction with Shell? Under DOS
- or Linux it's always fast enough, so I am interested especially in
- experiences with new PARCP under TOS/MiNT/MagiC on slower machines than is
- my AfterBurner040 :-) I know it is slow, but does SmoothScroll=No help
- a bit at least? Is it usable?
-
- Do you like the basic idea of ParShell? Should I continue developing it?
- Tell me your opinion, please.
-
- Enjoy, Petr
-
- e-mail stehlik@cas3.zlin.vutbr.cz
- WWW http://ft3.zlin.vutbr.cz/stehlik/home.htm
-
- Disclaimer:
- ===========
- The author accepts no liability for any damages to users or to third
- parties, arising in any way out of the use of the PARCP, PARCP cable and
- UNI-BI adapter. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
-
-
- Shareware:
- ==========
- PARCP is shareware. If you use it regularly please register. For
- registration details please read the complete documentation in PARCP
- full release package.
-