OS/2 Shareware BBS: 6 File/06-File.zip/fm2_025b.zip/HISTORY.FM2

Text File | 1995-09-21 | 20KB | 296 lines

The history of the development of File Master/2.

 0.25ß (September 12, 1995) When copying/moving files that are off-line or
       that have a size of zero bytes, File Master/2 would hang, and there
       wouldn't be a way to exit File Master/2 at all. Not even closing
       File Master/2 forced by OS/2 would help. The only way to exit is by
       pressing that one little red botton... <G> Well, the problem has been
       fixed. When File Master/2 encounters a file that is off-line, or has
       a size opf zero bytes, File Master/2 will only copy/move the
       description of the file to the new file-area.
       (September 3, 1995) Both the new-files list and the all-files list
       will be compressed now using the COMPRESS:<xxx> option.
       The LZH compression method is now supported by File Master/2.
       I've added keyword ShowAvatar to the config file. The purpose of the
       keyword is to show the Avatar codes in the file-area editor. Yes will
       show the avatar codes, anything else won't show them.
       (September 2, 1995) I removed the keywords DeCompression1 tru
       DeCompression5. I've replaced them with the keywords ZIP, unZIP,
       ARJ and RAR. These new keywords are only followed by the executables
       of the compressiontype. File Master/2 will take care of all the
       parameters, and the headers.
       (August 30, 1995) The list of new files is now also generated.
       (August 27, 1995) The FileList option is ready. This is that a list of
       all files is made. The list is not yet compressed, and the new files
       list is also not yet made.
       (August 23, 1995) The 'Group:' option is ready too. There are two ways
       this option can be used. You can define one group at a time, and you
       can define a range of groups. (i.e. Group:0-3,10)
       When you wanted to abort a copy/move command of files, File Master/2
       would ask if you wanted to quit File Master/2. Responding Yes would
       end up as the abortion of the copy.move command. This problem has
       been corrected.
       (August 20, 1995) I've made a start on the command-line processor.
       It is mode dificult than I thought, but I'm on my way, and looking
       at it, all seems to work well.
       At this moment I've only made the commands 'FileList' and
       'BestDownload', and the options 'CD', 'NoCD' and 'Compress:'. The
       'Group:' option is in the make, but I think that'll be a though one.
       NOTE: File Master/2 has now reached over 2500 lines of source! The
       size of the C++ source code is now 71.5Kb.
 0.22ß (August 14, 1995) I found a major bug in File Master/2 version 0.21ß.
       When copying/moving a file from one area to the other, File Master/2
       souldn't append the new file (and the description) to the FILES.BBS,
       but File Master/2 would over-write the first part of the FILES.BBS.
       The bug was caused because I made a globel change of the way I let
       File Master/2 write to a file. Technically spoken I changed all
       write() instructions to _write(). For the copy/move command I changed
       if back to write().
       (August 12, 1995) When loading a file-area without a FILES.BBS in it,
       File Master/2 would give you one 'file' containing garbage. The bug
       is fixed. File Master/2 now places a file DUMMY.TXT in the FILES.BBS.
       I finally fixed the bug with theJPEG size extraction when the size of
       a picture is 538. (see comment on June 19, 1995). I've tricked File
       Master/2 (and the compiler with it) to step over the 'End of File'
       signature (ASCII 26) that is in the JPEG file.
       (August 9, 1995) Pressing F2 will save the FILES.BBS now.
       (August 8, 1995) When pressing one of the special keys (function
       keys, direction keys) in the on-line help, some weired things could
       help, as if you pressed other keys afterwards. I fixed the problem
       by checking if the special keys are pressed.
 0.21ß (August 5, 1995) When importing a FILE_ID.DIZ from a compressed file
       the last line wouldn't be read. I've corrected the problem.
       The same problem as I fixed on August 2, 1995 with the Page-Down key
       was also there when pressing the End key. I've fixed this bug too.
       (August 3, 1995) When exiting File Master/2, it will now ask if you
       realy want to exit.
       (August 2, 1995) There definately was a bug in the file-area selection
       screen. In the documentation of version 0.20ß I thought there might
       be a bug in that screen when you were running a BBS with less than
       21 file-area's. And so the bug was there. A lot of garbage would be
       displayed. I've fixed the bug, and I made all function keys in the
       screen correspondend to the less than 21 file-area's.
       There was also a bug then there were 22 files listed in a FILES.BBS
       listing. When you would press the <Page-Down> key, the file-selection
       bar would fanishe from the sreen. In fact, the selection bar was one
       line under the screen. The problem is fixed, and File Master/2 will
       now set the selection bar to the last file in the FILES.BBS.
 0.20ß (July 27, 1995) I finally completed the registration coding. Now
       File Master/2 is ready for a Beta release. The public Beta will be
       released after I've updated the documentation.
 0.16α (July 22, 1995) There was a bug when moving tagged files. If one file
       already existed, the movement of the tagged files (and the deletion
       of the already copied files) would be canceled. The bug seems to be
       fixed now.
       (July 21, 1995) After a short break (an one week holiday) I've picked
       up working on File Master/2. Before the holiday I had to re-write a
       huge part of the 0.16α version because the compiler went crazy and
       gave me a lot of strange error-codes.
       Today I've finished the on-line help part. It now only works in the
       file-area selection screen, but it'll work for all other options
       real soon.
       (July 8, 1995) I finally fixed the bug that would cause the original
       file to be deleted, when the file to be moved was already presented
       in the destination area.
       I've started with the on-line help system. The program to create the
       help-file was written on the 6th this month, and now I'm busy writing
       the on-line help system in File Master/2.
       (July 4, 1995) I changed the keyword 'TaggedColor' into 'BarColor'.
       I've added the <Home> and <End> keys in the description editor.
       I've displayed om the border in the upper left corner the file-area
       number and file-area name, so you always know in what file-area you
       are working.
 0.15ß (July 1, 1995) The 2nd Beta version. This one will be available to
       Henk Dijksma and Maurice Elfert only. This Beta is only meant to see
       if I didn't overlook huge bugs. I've tested the last few Alpha
       versions constantly.
       Next thing to add is an on-line help system. With version 0.25 I'll
       release a public-Beta version. I think that'll be at the end of this
       month.
 0.12α (July 1, 1995) I've added the support for an external archive shell.
       (June 29, 1995) I forgot to close a file when I was reading the size
       of a JPEG file. This would cause File Master/2 not to delete files
       that were scanned for the size of a JPEG file. The problem has been
       fixed.
       (June 25, 1995) When File Master/2 adopts orphan files, if now
       also reads the FILE_IS.DIZ froma compressed file, and it also
       reads the size of a JPEG picure.
       File Master/2 would not sort the tagged file flag along with the
       file. It would stay where it was. i.e. When you tag the first two
       files in the file-area, after a sort, the two files would be on a
       new place, but still the first two files (now they are other files)
       are tagged. This problem has been fixed.
       (June 24, 1995) I've made the keywords DefaultColor, TaggedColor
       and PopupColor work.
       Fixed a bug. When the keyword JPEG-View was not defined, File
       Master/2 would try to execute the JPEG file.
       (June 19, 1995) Fixed a bug in the tagged file copying. After the
       files have been copied, the files still were tagges.
       I've found a bug in the picture-size reading. When File Master/2
       encounters the value of 538 in the size, it can't process the size.
       I know where the fault comes from, but at this time I'm not able to
       get rid of it. I'll try to fix the bug in the future. A picture size
       of 538 isn't too common and on the CD-ROM I've got on-line on my
       own BBS, it was there only twice. The CD-ROM has 7200 JPEG files!
       I've added batch processing for reading the FILE_ID.DIZ of tagged
       files. I've also added batch processing to set the file-date of
       all tagged files to today.
       (June 18, 1995) I've added batch processing for copying and moving
       of tagged files.
       I've added batch processing of reading the size of JPEG files of
       tagged files.
       (June 17, 1995) I've added ALT-T for tagging all files, and CTRL-T
       for de-tagging all files.
       I've fixed a bug that came in the 0.11α version. When you wanted to
       move a file, and you hit escape in the file-area selection screen,
       the file you wanted to move would be deleted.
       I've added the option to delete and remove tagged files.
 0.11α (June 15, 1995) Looking at it I think I've prepared File Master/2
       for the batch processint, using file-tagging. To add this option
       to File Master/2 I had to do a lot of rewriting and replacing of
       parts of the source. Luckily everything went well, and I was even
       able to fix a small number of hidden bugs.
       I also corrected the 'Help' screen in the file-area list when the
       F1 key was pressed. Henk Dijksma pointed that not all function keys
       were mentioned.
       (June 14, 1995) I fixed the problem with the editor, that if you
       didn't acually edit the description. File Master/2 will only ask
       you to save a modified FILES.BBS when you actually did modify the
       description of one (or more) files.
       Fixed the bug in the Area-Info screen that counted tagged description
       lines as tagged files.
       (June 12, 1995) Yep, I solved the problem with the escending dort
       of the FILES.BBS. The problem was that while I was sorting the
       FILES.BBS, I looked at record -1... And as we all know about a
       database, record -1 doesn't exist... <G>
       I've fixed two bugs in the JPEG support that File Master/2 holds.
       Both bugs had to do with the CD-ROM. File Master/2 didn't read the
       format of the JPEG file and File Master/2 also didn't show the JPEG
       file using the defined JPEG viewer.
       (June 11, 1995) I've started programming on the next part of File
       Master/2. The file-tagging, and processing of it. But before I'll
       be able to do that, I'll have to solve a few problems...
       Henk Dijksma asked to replace the initialisation of memory to the
       beginning of File Master/2, because when you enter a file-area at the
       first time, it takes too long before you get to see the file-area.
       I've done that, but now the sorting (only the ascending part) doesn't
       work anymore.
 0.10ß (June 3, 1995) As I've said yesterday, when I'm sure the file sorting
       is good, I'll release the first Beta version. Well, that moment is
       now. Eventhough the executable files are dated June 2, I'll release
       the Beta on June 3, because that is also the day I'll introduce
       LoraBBS-OS/2 on the Dutch OS/2 user-group... A nice opertunity I
       thought so. Also because Henk Dijksma (one of the Beta testers) will
       be there too...
 0.05α (June 2, 1995) Yesterday I thought I had File Master/2 sorting the
       files on filename, date or size, and that the description was linked
       with it. Well, it seemd I was wrong. I didn't check the link with the
       file and the description good enough (real bad to be hounest <G>).
       I've fixed the problem, and looking at it File Master/2 now realy
       sorts the FILES.BBS good. Please test this option real good!
       (Juni 1, 1995) I think I've finally made File Master/2 to sort the
       description too. Now it's up to me top check the sorting of the
       description real good, and the first Beta version of File Master/2
       can be released!
       (May 28, 1995) I've renamed FMS (File Management System). The new
       name will be File Master/2. The name also suits more the abilities
       that I have in mind for File Master/2... <G>
       I've also added the sorting of the FILES.BBS. At this moment File
       Master/2 only sorts on the filename, size and date. The link to the
       description isn't made yet, but that won't take long... When that's
       finished, the first beta version of File Master/2 will be released!
 0.04α (may 25, 1995) Fixes a couple of bugs in the description editor. All
       the fixed bugs had to do with the line-wrap that I build in.
       (may 21, 1995) Fixed a real sully bug. When you're updating the
       description of a file, not using insert, at the end of the
       description, FMS would take the rest of the description you've
       edited right before the description you're now editing.
       (may 19, 1995) Fixed a bug that caused FMS to crash when a file
       didn't have a description in the FILES.BBS.
       (may 14, 1995) FMS now has the ability to read the size of a JPEG
       picture. The size of the picture will be immediately imported into
       the description.
       (may 12, 1995) I've enhanced the import of the FILE_ID.DIZ from a
       compressed file. FMS now supports both DOS and OS/2 executables to
       extract the FILE_ID.DIZ, and for the OS/2 executables, you won't
       see a thing of the extraction of the FILE_ID.DIZ.
       (may 7, 1995) I thought I had solved the bug when editing the file
       description, but I didn't. I've re-written a peace of source, and
       looking at is now, I realy have solved the bug. The problem laid in
       the allocation of a piece of memory.
       (may 2, 1995) I've made FMS able to import the FILE_ID.DIZ from
       both ZIP and ARJ files. At this time it is done by default values,
       but I've programmed FMS so that you can define your own compression
       types. That'll be the next thing to do for me <G>.
       (april 30, 1995) Orphan file adopting has been added.
       I found yet an other bug. Ever tried to copy/move a file to CD-ROM?
       Guess it didn't work right. <G> FMS was (until now) able to copy to
       the CD-ROM. I forgot to explude that option.
       FMS has an option to set the date of a file to the current file date.
       It seemed to me a very usefull option, and until now I never sow it
       in a FILES.BBS manager.
       (april 29, 1995) Happy 26th birthday! This morning I made FMS to
       read/edit and write the comment lines. Each line is handeled in it's
       own record, so 10 comment lines means that you will have 10 less files
       to be read into memory.
 0.03α (april 28, 1995) The description editor is finally completed. All
       functions that I've described earlier in this documentation are
       added and work right.
       There is onmly one limitation to the editor. The editor can't handle
       more than 100 lines, and each line can't hold more than 250
       characters, but I think that these limitations are big enough. <G>
       (april 27, 1995) The bug found with the F1 key and the <Esc> key in
       the editor has been solved. I forgot to free some reserved memory.
       The <Del> key has been added to the editor. And this option showed
       me the fun of programming... With the first test, the <Del> key added
       a space, instead of deleting the current character... <G>
       (april 25, 1995) The general editor is ready. But I still have to
       add the <Enter> key for a new line (inserting a new line), <CTRL>-Y
       for removing a line, and of course <BackSpace> and <Del> for deleting
       characters from the description.
       How ever I think there is a small bug left (I'm not sure). When
       pressing the F1 key, and then <Esc> FMS will crash in an error. I hope
       to figure that one out.
       (april 24, 1995) It took a long time, but finaly the basics of the
       description editor are ready. It might sound silly, but you're now
       able to use the <Ins> key, and all four the arrow keys, allowing you
       to scroll thu the file-description. Next thing to do is implementing
       the 'normal' keys for writing, the <Del> key and the <BackSpace> key.
       (april 18, 1995) Yet an other bug found. When changing/editing a
       FILES.BBS from a CD-ROM area, FMS wouldn't make a backup file of
       the old file.
       (april 17, 1995) The copy and move command have been added. There is
       only one small problem at this moment. The description of the copied/
       moved file is appended to the existing FILES.BBS. So if you've just
       overwritten a file, the description of the file is in it twice.
       (april 15, 1995) When returning from a file-area to the file-area
       selection menu, FMS will now place the selection-bar on the file-area
       where you came from. In the past the selection-bar would go to the
       first file-area on your BBS.
       Yet again a little re-programming of the source. I started with the
       copy/move command. When selecting the target file-area, FMS would
       crash in an error. This was because FMS would erase all files in
       memory.
       (april 14, 1995) I've made the basics for the description editor.
       I've also siplyfied the source for the delete/remove. These two
       menu options have been melted into one, where the remove option
       removes the deleted file.
       I've also added a DUMMY.TXT file, for when the file-area is empty,
       so that the FILES.BBS will always have a file in it.
       When pressing '?' you'll get some general information about the
       current file-area. Nice option I thought so...
       File tagging is an option now. But you can't do anything with the
       tagged files by now... That'll be implemented after version 0.10.
       A bug fixed (that's why it's still in Alpha status). When you press
       the End key and then the Page-Up key, the last two displayed
       file-areas are identical.

 0.02α (april 9, 1995) I've added the first two basic functions that a
       FILES.BBS manager should have. These functions are Delete ans Remove.
       FMS also keeps track if the FILES.BBS is modified. If the FILES.BBS
       is modified, FMS will ask you if you want to save the new FILES.BBS.

 0.01α (april 7, 1995) The very first version. I started programming it on
       march 31, 1995. This version supported only the viewing options. No
       editing of the FILES.BBS was possible.