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Der Mediaplex Sampler - Die 6 von Plex
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DOS_36
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STS410.ZIP
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CHANGES.TXT
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1993-06-24
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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 4.02 to 4.10
** Added 4DOS(tm) ON-LINE file description display. If enabled in the
setup, StS will now display the 40 character file description on the
title/copyright line of the main screen. The display allows one to see
the file and directory descriptions as the cursor is moved from entry
to entry.
** Added password security to some important setup options. This will allow
business users to limit access to hidden files, external program
definitions, and the DOS prompt.
** Made changes in the default commands for use with the new PKZIP.
** Fixed various minor bugs and gltches with the most notable being the extra
form feeds encountered when printing on network printers.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 4.01 to 4.02
** Fixed timing bug causing divide overflow 66Mhz 80486 machines.
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CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 4.00 to 4.01
** Added the ability to direct printing from the viewer to LPT1, LPT2, or
LPT3.
** Added a setup option to allow the user to control the sub-directory
memory. With the memory turned on, when the user goes back toward the
root directory, the cursor is placed on the sub-directory that was used
to decend on the branch. With the memory off (default) the cursor always
returns to the top (.. directory).
** Fixed bug in the USER program sub-menu that appears for merked file
operations. The bug limited the program to 8 USER programs on this menu
instead of 10.
** Fixed a couple of minor bugs and typos.
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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