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Cream of the Crop 20 (Terry Blount) (1996).iso
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README.1ST
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1996-06-18
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{COMMO} 6.6e BETA TEST RELEASE June 18, 1996
This release contains only these files:
README.1ST This file
COMMO.EXE {COMMO} BETA TEST executable
COMMO.MAC New Macro File
COMMO.HLP Updated Online Help File
BPLUS1.POV B Plus protocol overlay
FILE_ID.DIZ BBS file description
This is a public beta test release which may be distributed only for testing
purposes and is not to be combined with files from any other {COMMO} release.
If you do not already have COMMO66.ZIP, please download it from your favorite
bulletin board or online service. It contains the full documentation and
supplementary files necessary for the full use of {COMMO}.
Documentation for changes in beta releases is shown below.
If you notice any difference (good or bad) between this release and {COMMO}
6.6 or a previous beta, please report your findings via any of the {COMMO}
support channels (see 66INFO.DOC in the {COMMO} 6.6 archive).
Thank you.
Fred P. Brucker
New Standard Software
P.O. Box 141537
Columbus, OH 43214
Voice: (614) 326-1309
=======
BETA66E
=======
Bugs Fixed
----------
A space (or other non-numeric character) at the start of the PARMS field in
the Dialing Directory (or the PARMs function) caused the baud rate to be set
to an erroneous speed.
Improvements/Changes
--------------------
You can now specify the size of Variable Space in the Setup File. The new
item (in the Miscellaneous section) is:
{vsp=3} Variable Space size in kilobytes (1-64)
Note that the value is now in kilobytes instead of bytes.
IMPORTANT! The /v command line switch must now be in kilobytes as well.
Speech Friendly Interface
-------------------------
The Alt+P (Set Terminal Parameters) window doesn't speak all of the
information now. It will speak when you press C or D to edit one of the sets
of parameters.
=======
BETA66D
=======
Bugs Fixed
----------
Resuming a file in Zmodem gave the "Unable to open file" message, and aborted
the transfer.
Compiling a source Macro File larger than 65510 bytes caused a system crash
(this was a very old bug).
Improvements/Changes
--------------------
The key-label "art" has been replaced with "aen" (Alt+Enter). Macros that use
"art" will have to be changed to "aen".
Speech Friendly Interface
-------------------------
The "sfi" item in COMMO.SET can now be set to "expert." The "yes" option
("novice") will speak some additional information when windows pop up.
The Online Help file (and later the .DOC files) will be more speech friendly.
Brackets have been removed from key names (for example Alt+A instead of
[Alt-A]) and most keys are now shown on separate lines.
=======
BETA66C
=======
Bugs Fixed
----------
The "Another copy running" test did not work in the INT 14 driver mode.
Improvements/Changes
--------------------
There is a new setting "auto" for the "min=" item in COMMO.SET. This setting
will cause the Modem Init String to be sent only if Carrier Detect is off at
program startup. The /in or /iy switches will override the setting.
{min=auto} Send Modem Init String (auto/yes/no)
You can now set any port speed that is valid for your serial port (or internal
modem). If you try to set an invalid speed, {COMMO} will set the nearest
valid speed. Note that the two character speed abbreviations are no longer
allowed (i.e., 57 will now be 57 bps, not 57600).
You can also change the serial port "frequency" (for most PC hardware, this
is 115200, which is the default). This parameter may be specified in the
"com=" item in COMMO.SET or with the PARMs-C macro function. For example:
{com=4,2e8,3,256000}. This value must be the speed that results when the
Baud Rate Divisor is equal to one (this is usually the crystal frequency
divided by 16). It may be as high as 40,000,000 bps.
The Alt-P key command now presents the Terminal Parameters in string format
and allows you to edit them directly.
The restriction that port addresses must be 200h or greater has been
eliminated.
A switch "N" on the SETLook function provides an important new feature. The
default "N0" (or no switch) works the same way as before:
The third and fourth arguments are a timer and a string to be sent if no
characters come in from the serial port for the duration of the timer
interval (the timer is restarted every time a character comes in). This is
used to answer unexpected prompts during a login sequence.
When "N" or "N1" is present the third and fourth arguments are a timer and a
macro label. In this case {COMMO} will GOTO the macro instead of sending a
string. This can be used when you're using a LOOKfor to capture a lot of
data. For example, you have your main SETLook timer set for 5 minutes. But
you want to know if no data comes in for 30 seconds, which might mean that
the host connection has died. So you write {setl-n 300,hng,30,nodata}.
In Zmodem {COMMO} will now skip incoming files whose names are not DOS
compatible. Previously, the rest of the batch would be cancelled when such a
filename was received.
Speech Friendly Interface
-------------------------
{COMMO} will speak some additional information now when command keys are
pressed. For example, when Alt-D is pressed you'll hear "F1 for online help,
esc to exit." And when "E" is pressed to edit, you'll hear "Editing file."
The Alt-L Capture File menu has a new selection "G" to get the current Capture
File status. It'll tell you the filename and whether the file is open or
closed.
=======
BETA66B
=======
Bugs Fixed
----------
Switching to a different serial port with the Alt-P key command could have
caused a system crash after {COMMO} was exited.
Improvements/Changes
--------------------
The upload macro supporting BPLUS1.POV has been improved. It now can use the
SELECT process to get the filename. Follow these instructions:
When you get to the "Filename for your computer" prompt, don't type
anything. Press PgUp and "B" and select a file in the usual way. {COMMO}
will send the filename for you and then send the file.
Remember that in the forums there is an earlier "File name:" prompt. Type
in the name as you want it to appear in the forum library (this name must be
CompuServe compatible: six characters maximum plus a three character
extension).
The INT 14 support has been fine tuned and performance should be a little
better. Adjusting the size of the buffers in the driver can also improve
performance under certain conditions. Here are some notes on using
the X00 FOSSIL driver:
In Win95 X00 doesn't seem to work well if it's loaded at system bootup. It
works much better for me if I load it in the DOS window where it will be
used.
In Win95 I get better results when I set the transmit and receive buffers to
2048 bytes.
Use the XU utility to activate the FOSSIL (prior to starting {COMMO}) or X00
will be operating in BIOS emulation mode only.
The SETEsc function has a new switch "K". "K0" causes {COMMO} to ignore all
typed keys except Ctrl-Break. "K1" (the default) allows all keys again.
If a macro label is included with SETEsc, the macro will be executed when
Ctrl-Break is pressed (no warning message). Otherwise Ctrl-Break causes the
macro to STOP. In either case, the keyboard is active again as soon as
Ctrl-Break is pressed.
Example: {sete-k0 label}.
NOTE: System keys such as Ctrl-Alt-Del, Shift-PrtSc, NumLock, etc., are not
affected (they remain active).
16 serial ports (COM1 to COM16) are now supported. All ports beyond COM4
default to {com=n,3f8,4}. Change these as necessary by adding {com=...} items
in COMMO.SET. Note that the "address,IRQ" doesn't matter when using an
external communications driver.
Two built-in variables have been added:
_cfs Capture File status: 0=closed, 1=o