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Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso
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HISTORY
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1991-03-18
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Recent Revision History
-----------------------
This file contains a list of changes to the current release and also to
several recent releases. If you have used {COMMO} before, please make sure
you are caught up on all the changes and improvements.
------------ -------------
{COMMO} 4.52 March 2, 1991
------------ -------------
Bugs Fixed
----------
A few users were having a problem with output data being sent repeatedly. The
program had to be terminated to get out of it. I was unable to recreate this
myself (I suspect flaky hardware). I have changed the transmit logic to
accommodate more conditions and I would appreciate hearing from anyone who had
this problem.
The prompt timer in the LOOKfor function was expiring early when a beep was
sounded. This caused difficulty in PCBoard login macros, for example, causing
an "n|" to be sent too soon.
The timer for the modem init string at program startup was beginning before
the string was sent instead of after, leaving very little time for the modem
to settle before dialing began.
--------------------
Support File Changes
--------------------
Configuration File
------------------
This release uses the same configuration file as 4.5 and 4.51.
Dialing Directory
-----------------
The [M] command, Manual Dial, no longer makes an entry in the Directory.
Instead the number last entered is displayed when you press [M] again. [N] is
no longer an option. Sorry, but this feature was incompatible with some of
the recent changes and had to be sacrificed.
Macro Processor
---------------
Macro Processing has been streamlined to make execution of long macros even
faster. The macro error window will now show the closest macro-id prior to
the errant function.
Now you can have as many as 15 GOLOoks plus the LOOKfor, for a total of 16
strings that can be scanned for at one time.
New functions (see COMMO.DOC for details on these functions):
STATusline This function will turn the Status Line on or off at
any time.
PUSHstack This will save a macro location to the macro stack. It is
primarily useful for turning GOLOoks into subroutine calls.
POPStack Removes an element from the macro stack. Used when a return
from a GOLOok is not needed.
General
-------
Now you can press the [Spacebar] in ASCII Upload to get things moving when
{COMMO} is waiting for a pacing character that won't come. This helps when you
have specified the wrong pacing character or if you intentionally want to
manually pace the output, line by line.
A new key has been added in the Scrollback window. Pressing [C] will let you
change the Screen Image pathname without leaving the window.
Doorway Mode will now use the number of text lines on the display (instead of
forcing 25 lines). This means that you must set the display correctly before
starting {COMMO}. Most Doorway applications require the normal 25 line
display, but {COMMO} will now handle more lines if required.
The Status Line may now be turned on while in Doorway Mode. See the details
under "Doorway Mode" in COMMO.DOC. Also, the DOORway macro function no longer
has a y/n argument. It was too easy to get stuck in Doorway Mode!
VT102 terminal emulation has been improved by holding the cursor in column 80
when 80 column lines are displayed. This will prevent double spacing when
linewrap in on (linewrap now defaults to ON when you switch emulations).
A message will be displayed for several seconds at startup if another copy of
{COMMO} is running. This warning is intended to reduce the chance of losing
support file data when files are saved at program exit (does not seem to work
between DESQview windows, however).
------------ ----------------
{COMMO} 4.51 February 3, 1991
------------ ----------------
This release is primarily a bug-fix, plus several new features have been
added.
Bugs Fixed
----------
There was a problem with memory allocation on startup that aborted the startup
under very rare circumstances. "Sorry, out of memory" would be reported when
loading the Macro File.
When using the Color Chart in the Internal Editor, changes made to the file
would mysteriously disappear. The changes were actually recorded in the file
and would reappear when the file was redisplayed.
Configuration File
------------------
Item 50. {COMMO} will now automatically detect the number of display columns
(as well as the number of rows) if this item is "yes." Up to 127 rows and up
to 255 columns are supported. Remember, the display mode MUST be set before
starting {COMMO}. The "/L=" switch is no longer supported.
Macro Processor
---------------
New functions and improvements to existing ones (see COMMO.DOC for details on
these functions):
EXED Execute a program without using the command processor. This
gives faster execution with less memory used. It also allows
a return code to be tested. The complete pathname of the
program must be specified.
IFERrorlevel Test return code after an EXED function.
UNMArk This function has been improved to allow selective unmarking
of Dialing Directory entries. Now you can MARK multi-node
systems, then when one connects you can UNMArk all of the
nodes.
IFEXist A hitherto undocumented feature of this function is the
ability to use wildcards in the filename. The "exist" branch
will be taken if any files match the specification.
General
-------
A new key-id has been added to the list of keys supported on the enhanced
keyboard: Pressing [Alt-,] will activate the key-id "al<". The "<" is used
because the comma is a dilimiter in macro functions.
----------- ----------------
{COMMO} 4.5 January 12, 1991
----------- ----------------
Bugs Fixed
----------
Pressing Esc to exit a window would cause a macro to terminate (if one was
running).
There was a problem with timers expiring early at the stroke of midnight,
This caused the "Holding until ..." message to go away, the PAUSe function to
terminate early, etc.
The DISPlay function would write some unwanted characters when used only to
position the cursor.
Major Changes
-------------
{COMMO} now has Scrollback! Just press Alt-K from the Terminal Screen.
The Capture File feature now offers two new modes: Filter and Raw. Use these
when you need to capture data as it comes from the serial port.
Chat Mode and Doorway Mode have been enhanced (see below).
--------------------
Support File Changes
--------------------
Configuration File
------------------
The Configuration File has a new (and very fast) processor. The file is
processed at startup and then released from memory. Pressing Alt-G reads it in
for editing and re-processing. It will stay in memory until the space is
needed for something else (like Shell to DOS). This frees up almost 5k for
other purposes (the file is saved automatically whenever necessary). The
editing command, Alt-Q, no longer applies to the Config File since it is
inconsistent with these changes.
A number of new items have been added. Please take a few minutes to edit the
new sample file to your own needs. The simplest way is to print your old
file, then edit the new file using the printout as a guide. You will NOT be
able to start {COMMO} using your old Configuration File.
New items:
Item 34. Startup pacing character. This allows you to specify an initial
ASCII Upload pacing character without having to use a macro.
Item 39. Startup Capture File Mode. SCREEN captures data as it appears on
the screen. RAW captures data as it comes from the serial port -- with ANSI
control characters, etc. FILTER is like raw, but filters out ANSI control
sequences -- useful for data with lines longer than 80 characters.
Item 46. Scrollback Buffer size in kilobytes. This allocates memory for the
Scrollback buffer. 0 will disable the feature.
Item 50. Obtain number of screen lines from DOS. If this is "yes" {COMMO}
will automatically adjust to the number of screen lines currently set in DOS.
You no longer need to use the "/L=" command line switch.
Item 51. Number of lines in upper Chat Mode window. This allows customizing
the Chat Mode split.
Item 52. Send when Enter is pressed in Chat Mode. Set this to "yes" to use a
"CB Simulator" or other host that echoes what you type.
Macro Processor
---------------
New functions:
CAPMode. Allows the Capture File Mode to be set via macro.
SCROllback. Displays the Scrollback buffer.
A new EXECute parameter "%m" has been added. This variable contains the speed
from the modem connect message and may be used to pass the modem connect speed
to external protocols for time estimation.
General
-------
A color chart is now available in the Internal Editor. Use it to set the
colors in the Configuration File or for the DISPlay function in the Macro
File. Just press F10 at any time to pop it up.
The screen is no longer cleared when Doorway Mode is entered. Also the
terminal mode parameters are not reset. If needed, these can be done with a
macro. See "Doorway Mode" in COMMO.DOC for details.
----------- ------------------
{COMMO} 4.4 September 29, 1990
----------- ------------------
This release contains some important technical enhancements and a number of
improvements to the user interface. Please read the information below to
familiarize yourself with all these changes.
COMMO.DOC and the Online Help file have been reorganized. COMMO.DOC now
contains detailed information about all program operations. Online Help is
more concise and reference-oriented.
Bugs fixed
----------
The LOOKfor timer was taking on erratic values if more than 255 seconds were
specified.
On rare occasions a GOLOok match would fall through the LOOKfor instead of
GOTO'ing the macro-id specified (as if a null macro-id were given).
--------------------
Support File Changes
--------------------
Configuration File
------------------
Several new items have been added. Please take a few minutes to edit the new
sample file to your own needs. The simplest way is to print your old file,
then edit the new file using the printout as a guide. You will NOT be able to
start {COMMO} using your old Configuration File.
Flow Control (items 5, 6). You can now specify software (XON/XOFF) and/or
hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control. See Appendix C "Flow Control" in COMMO.DOC.
Auto Receive strings (items 8-11). These allow you to configure "signatures"
for automatic downloading. A macro will be started when a given string is
received. They may be used for other purposes as well, since any string may
be used to trigger any macro. See "Auto Receive" in COMMO.DOC for details
(Auto Receive does not operate in macros).
Terminal Screen BIOS display (item 40). This directs the Terminal Screen
display through the BIOS, allowing it to be intercepted by resident programs.
This is mainly intended for blind users with speech synthesizer equipment.
Enhanced Keyboard (item 41). Support has been added for all eight
combinations of F11 and F12 (Normal, Shift, Ctrl, Alt) and for ten other keys.
Set this item to "yes" if your BIOS has enhanced keyboard support (most of the
keys should work on the 83-key keyboard as well). See "List of Key
Identifiers" in Online Help for the new key-id's.
Time with System Name (item 42). This lets you have the time of day displayed
on the Status Line along with 30 characters of the System Name.
Dialing Directory
-----------------
There is a new window command "N" which is a variation of Manual Dialing "M".
It dials the number entered, but it does not make an entry in the directory.
If a marked number is dialed by pressing Enter, and a connection is made, the
number will be unmarked. Previously numbers were unmarked only when using
Multi Number Dialing.
Macro Processor
---------------
A new function, DISPlay, lets you display strings and control information to
the screen.
A new function, CURSor, will turn the Terminal Screen cursor on or off.
A new function, DOORway, will toggle Doorway mode.
The HELP function now includes an argument: the Online Help topic number. You
can write {help 5} to go directly to topic 5, etc.
General
-------
You can now look behind the small windows (Capture File Options, EXEC a DOS
Command, etc.) if you need to see what is on the Terminal Screen. Just press
PgUp at any time and the window will disappear until you press a key.
The current value of the Inter-Character Delay will now appear in the Alt-L
window when you press "D" to change it. A symbol next to the Terminal-Type on
the Status Line indicates an Inter-Character Delay > 0.
The Signal Lights can now be seen during an ASCII Upload. The FIFO
buffer indicator is now shown with the Signal Lights.
ASCII Upload can now have a linefeed as the pacing character (^J). This means
that any of the 256 characters may be used.
Each time a character is typed to the remote during macro execution, the
prompt timer will now be restarted. This prevents an "n|", for example, from
being sent while you are typing a response that your macro did not expect.
-end-