Lion Share/lionsharecd.iso/utils_mz/sts_400.zip/CHANGES.TXT

Text File | 1992-05-12 | 19KB | 343 lines

Note:  This file is arranged from the latest release back to version 2.00
       of Stereo Shell.  It is intended as a reference for updating users
       to notify them of the changes made to the program.  It is suggested
       reading for all users however...

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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.21 to 4.00

**  Removed the setup program from the main code and made it an integrated
    external program.  This prevents the wasting of valuable memory space
    while the main program is executing.  The setup program is loaded only
    when and while needed.  The setup program MUST reside somewhere in the
    PATH= definition so that it can be found by STS.EXE.

**  Added selective marking capability.  If the F2 marked file menu is
    invoked with no files marked, the marking menu will appear allowing
    the user to define a marking criteria.

**  Added directory tree generation/display capability that includes a
    file preview window.  Pressing the [Ins] key, the space bar, or both
    mouse buttons while the cursor is in the center window will allow
    the user to view a tree of the drive and all files in each
    sub-directory.

**  Added automatic recognition and support for international date formats.
    This seems to be the leading request from the Canadian, European, and
    Japanese registering users.

**  Added string search capability to the StS internal viewer.  This is a
    case-insensitive forward search that works in both the hex and ASCII
    modes.  The Boyer-Moore search technique is used and provides StS with
    one of the fastest searches in the business.

**  Added support for up to 8 file compression programs.  This represents
    an increase from 4 in previous versions.  At release, version 4.00
    includes built in default commands for; PKZIP, PKPAK, LHA, PAK, and
    ARJ.  Three "spare" slots are also available.

**  Added support for up to 8 external programs which allow the user to
    enhance the file compression programs.  Each compression type may now
    have an additional external program defined for it.

**  Added support for up to 10 USER defined external programs.  This is
    an increase from the previous 8.

**  Added support for 10 LAUNCHABLE application programs.  A new feature
    of StS which allows the user to execute a program based on the
    filename extension of the highlited file.  A logical progression
    from the basic idea StS has always used to make life simpler.  One
    may now run any external application based on the filename extension
    of one of its data files.

**  Added the "pass filename 1st" option on external program definitions
    which will allow programs that require the filename preceed the paremeters
    to be executed.  LIST.COM is a notable program in this catagory.

**  Added "executable file filter".  At the press of a key, only executable
    files will be displayed in a window.  This allows the user to quickly
    eliminate the "trash" and see what there is to run.  Pressing the back-
    space or asterisk key will filter the executables.

**  Added the ability to disable duplicate filename checking when copying
    and moving files.  When the first duplicate is found, the user may
    bypass all future checking by selecting the <A>ll option.

**  Added 4DOS (tm) compatible file comment system.  StS will now automatic-
    ally move, copy, rename, and delete 4DOS file comments when manipulating
    files on the disk.  File comments may also be created, edited, and
    deleted, with StS.  Press the <Alt><C> key pair to view/edit a file
    comment.

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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.20 to 3.21

**  Removed keyboard buffer clearing on all but the [ALT][F10] file erase.
    command.  Buffer clearing was installed in 3.20 to prevent keyboard
    run-on but several users who like to feed StS fast keystrokes, complained
    about the buffer clearing.

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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.12 to 3.20

**  Added a new medium resolution video mode supported on VGA equipped
    machines.  This mode provides a nice 28 line mode or 33 line mode when
    using V33.  V33 is another M.R.E. product available as freeware from
    us.

**  Changed internal file data structure in preparation for future 4.00
    version.  This change allows StS to keep more information in less
    memory and provides the enhanced time display mentioned later.

**  Changed ALT-T time command so that it toggles the entire file window
    into time/date mode.  The user may save the window settings for this
    display type in a manner identical to how the sort type is saved.

**  Changed the screen display so that the file size, time, date, and
    attributes, can always be seen for the highlighted file.  This change
    also allows display of the sub-directory creation dates, times, etc.

** Fixed a couple of minor bugs. (1.) Screen glitch when marking files bigger
   than 10 megabytes.  (2.) I/O redirection option error when creating a
   compressed file from files located on a disk root directory.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.10 to 3.11 & 3.12
**  Fixed a couple more minor bugs and added the ability to "see" hidden
    sub-directories when the hidden files switch is on.

**  Fixed bug in new extended ZIP menu that would cause erratic operation
    when using page up / page down keys inside large .ZIP files.

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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.00 to 3.10

**  Added Extended Zip menu.  The "EZ" menu allows the user to mark files
    within a .ZIP file for extraction/deletion/viewing.  This eliminates the
    need for extracting all the files in a .ZIP or trying to remember the
    filenames.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.2x to 3.00

**  The DOS gateway command (<Alt><D>) has been improved in two ways.  First,
    the gateway path is now derived from the hooked window instead of always
    gating to the left window path.  Second, the user may now execute a DOS
    command directly from Stereo without completely shelling out to DOS.
    This eliminates the need to type EXIT and go through that whole nine
    yards every time one wishes to issue a single DOS command.  The gateway
    is still available and is entered by NOT issuing any command when
    prompted after an <Alt><D>.  Pressing just plain <ENTER> will cause StS
    to gateway to DOS.

**  Files can now be moved between drives.  This has to be the number one
    request I have received from users of older versions and it is now a
    reality.  Logic has been incorporated within StS to do an automatic
    copy/delete sequence simulating a file move between different logical
    disk drives.

**  DOS commands now work directly from StS.  Call it a bug, an error or
    whatever, earlier versions of StS had problems running the DOS utility
    programs like CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, FORMAT, etc.  The problem was that the
    parameters could not be passed properly.  The real problem was that this
    programmer did not realize that Microsoft was still using a PC-DOS 1.00
    method to pass these parameters and had not incorporated it in Stereo's
    routine that executes external programs.  After some research, the
    oversight has been corrected and the author has re-learned a valuable
    lesson:  Old programs never die, they just get "enhanced".

**  All windowed menus now support the use of letter key command entry in
    addition to the use of function keys and point-n-shoot.  This was done
    in response to some of you who can type. <grin>  The letter that applies
    to each command appears to the left of the command and is in the window
    border color.  The menus have also been enhanced in that they scroll down
    and lock at the command selected when a letter or function key is used to
    make the selection.

**  An "EXIT" prompt similar to ProComm's (tm) DOS gateway exit prompt has
    been added to Stereo.  This serves to remind the user that he is shelled
    to DOS and is not running the base copy of the command processor.

**  Stereo's internal video routines have been completely re-written.  This
    was done in an attempt to make the program as fast and as compatible as
    possible with the 14,283.5 different video display cards that are on the
    market today.  Some users reported minor problems running in high
    resolution modes with garden variety EGA cards in older versions.  The
    new routines follow all the guidelines this programmer can find in an
    attempt to eliminate the quirks.

**  The program's "beep" sound has been changed to a shorter less irritating
    tone.  This is in keeping with President Bush's "kinder, gentler" America
    theme.

**  Internal logic that locates system disk drives has been improved.  Users
    of network systems that have disk drive letters not assigned in sequence
    will find that this version of StS will not report drives that are not
    there.  If you have a "G" and an "I" drive but no "H" drive, StS 3.00
    will not bother you by displaying the letter H in the drive selection
    list.  A C D E F G I J K ...   would be a typical display.

**  Exit stage right?  OK.  The program now allows the user to exit to the
    left window path, the right window path, or back to the sub-directory
    from which it was invoked.

**  EXIT right now!  A new <Alt><Q> command will dump you immediately
    back to the operating system in the original load directory.

**  File window wrap around re-engineered.  Mouse users can now quit cussing
    because StS will no longer wrap around sideways when the mouse is used to
    direct the cursor.  The keyboard will still allow horizontal wrap/re-hook
    but the mouse hits the wall.  This feature really improves control with
    the mouse.

**  Vertical wrap around in file windows now an option.  If enabled, the file
    windows will wrap from top to bottom - bottom to top when the first/last
    file is moved past.  The program "beeps" to inform the user that it has
    wrapped around.  Set this option from the Set-up Menu.

**  BBS sysops and user's involved with network mail arriving in compressed
    formats with extensions like .A14 or .Z02 have asked that the program
    be able to recognize these extensions as compressed files.  This version
    incorporates internal logic to accomplish this task.  Any file with an
    extension matching the 1st letter of a compressed file extension followed
    by either the correct remaining letters or a numeric digit will be
    processed as a compressed file by StS.  examples: .Z04, .LZ6, and .A2C
    would be assumed to be ZIP, LZH, and ARC files.  This  change does not
    apply to any other file types.

**  The tab key is now active.  The Tab key will now move the cursor between
    windows.

**  File date and time now changeable with Stereo.  The file attribute editor
    has been enhanced and will now allow the user to change the file date and
    time as well as its attributes.

**  File times may now be displayed with StS.  A new <Alt><T> command allows
    the user to see the creation date/time of the hi-lighted file.

**  Marked file options abound.  Several marked file options have been added
    in response to user requests.  The changes are too numerous to go into
    here and are generally self explanatory anyway.  Open the marked file
    menu and try them out.

**  Stereo's internal file viewer will now allow selected printing from the
    displayed file.  This feature will allow the user to print anything from
    a few lines to a complete file.  The feature is also supported in HEX
    mode and will do a hard copy HEX dump.

**  Compressed file I/O may now be re-directed.  This feature allows the user
    much easier control over the file compression system.  Files may be
    extracted, freshened, updated, or created from, any sub-directory on the
    system.  The ability to work between windows without the need to type in
    a complete path is the main advantage of this new feature.

**  Floppy drive drag cut to a minimum.  Older versions of StS constantly
    re-read a floppy disk drive when a window was pointed at one.  This
    version incorporates several improvements in the way that the disk
    sub-directory information is stored internally and thus reduces the need
    to constantly read the floppy drive to retrieve that information.  Users
    should note that using the right window to point at floppies will produce
    the least number of re-reads, however the overall system performance when
    either window is used has been greatly improved.

**  Arrrggggh! I got dots on the screen!!  Relax, the little dot that appears
    right after the file size is indicating the file "archive" bit is set.
    This new feature was included for users who have disk backup systems that
    are capable of backing up only files that have been changed since the
    last backup was made.  The archive bit is set whenever you edit or
    otherwise change a file.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.1x to 2.20

**  ZDIR will hereafter be called the "working directory"  since the name and
    path is no longer hard coded into the program.  A new setup option will
    allow the user to rename/relocate the working directory.  See the
    File/path options in setup mode.

**  StS now has the ability to auto-load a HELP file.  We have included a
    prepared help file named HLP.TXT with this package.  This is a standard
    ASCII text file that may be edited/appended by the user.  The default path
    for the help file is C:\STEREO but it may be changed by the user.  See the
    File/path options in setup mode.  Press <Alt><H> for help!

**  An instant DOS gateway key is now supported.  Press <Alt><D> to gateway
    to DOS instantly...type EXIT to return to StS.

**  A new screen saver feature has been added.  Under the Screen/mouse options
    in setup mode you may activate this feature.  This is a three mode feature
    which may be either OFF, ON, or MSG.  The ON mode simply clears the screen
    to black, whereas the MSG mode will "bounce" a message at random around
    the screen.  This is a simple CLS saver with a 10 minute delay.  It is
    only active when StS is running and will not effect any external program
    you have executed from StS.

**  StS will now allow the renaming of directories via function key <F8>.  DOS
    version 3.00 or above is required to use this feature.  If you are not
    using a supporting DOS version, StS will respond to the command with a
    beep.

**  The StS viewer high resolution HEX mode now displays more rows of data.  A
    couple of minor bugs in the viewer were also killed.

**  Window capacity increased from 500 to 600 files per screen side.  600
    files and 200 sub-directories/side = 1600 total entries!

**  The program now accepts lower-case letters when prompting for parameters
    for running external programs.  This fixes a previous oversight on our
    part.

**  Fixed a bug that caused sub-directories that were created from the right
    side while it was pointed at the root directory to be placed incorrectly.

**  Implemented a better drive detection routine so that StS will report the
    correct number of disk drives available.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.0x to 2.10

**  The name designation has been changed from "Registered" to
    "Professional" in the version supplied to registered users.

**  The environment string "SET" string has been changed to STS_CFG and the
    default name for the config file is STSCFG.CFG.  I hope to standardize
    on these names.  The .CFG file is NOT compatible with the 2.0x version
    .CFG file.  Refer to the .DOC file for information about how to use
    the environment SET string.

**  The program now supports 8 user defined utilities instead of 4.

**  This version supports an optional external LIST or VIEW utility.  If the
    user desires to use a utility such as LIST64A.COM instead of the
    built-in viewer, all that need be done is define this utility in SETUP
    mode.  If the viewer is not defined, StS will default to its internal
    routine.

**  StS version 2.10 now supports "hot" parameter passing to the editor,
    viewer and user defined utilities.  In SETUP mode, if the user defines
    the parameters to pass as a simple question mark (?), that user program
    will prompt for input when it is executed.  Defining any other parameter
    string or nothing at all will skip the prompting and send any defined
    parameters to the utility.  This new feature is useful for programs
    such as file finders that require a different filename when executed or
    in cases where the user wants to use different parameters for programs
    when the programs are used in different situations.

**  Horizontal mouse movement has been "dampened" to allow the user a more
    comfortable level of control with the mouse.  The overall mouse
    sensitivity range has also been increased by a factor of 100.  This change
    should allow StS to be used with a wider variety of mice species.

**  A compatibility problem with Desqview (tm) was fixed.

**  A bug involving spaces in the volume label was fixed.  StS will now
    display the complete volume label including imbedded spaces.

**  A bug involving using StS with the new PAK2x file compression program
    was fixed.
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I welcome user input!
                                                   Emery Wooten