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READ.ME
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1994-01-15
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Welcome to XA Version 2.1
=========================
This README file contains important information about XA Version 2.1
that may have been left out from the manuals. For the latest information
about XA and its accompanying programs and manuals, read this file in
its entirety. Be sure to read the file XA_201.TXT for complete details
about the operation and features of XA.
Contents:
======================
1) Attention New Users - XA's DEMO program.
2) Attention Registered Users of XA V.2.0
3) Attention ALL Registered Users
4) What's New in Version 2.1
5) Bug Fixes
6) Additional Information
7) Distributing the Shareware version of XA
8) Contacting the Author
1) Attention New Users - XA's DEMO program.
================================================
A short demonstration program has been added to show new users the
capabilities of XA. First, copy ALL of the files from the distribution
floppy (or archive) to the directory where you normally keep your X10
files.
Next, type one of the following command at the DOS prompt:
DEMO (for color monitors) or,
DEMO_BW (for monochrome monitors.
2) Attention Registered Users of XA V.2.0
================================================
Normally, all registered users receive the latest version of XA
according to the terms of the registration agreement. Since the
release of Version 2.1 (January 94) follows so closely to the release
of Version 2.0 (Oct-Nov 93), I am not planning on automatically
sending V 2.1 to those users unless they specifically request it.
When more powerful enhancements are added in the future, you will
receive your registered upgrade. However, if you would still like
V2.1, please contact me via one of the addresses listed below. Please
remember that this mailing of XA V.2.1 may count towards fulfilling
your registration agreement.
3) Attention ALL Registered Users:
================================================
If you have already received the number of upgrades as specified in
the registration agreement, you may upgrade to the latest version of
XA for a very nominal fee. Please fill out the registration form
(REGISTER.TXT) and mail it with the specified payment to the address
listed below.
4) What's New in Version 2.1
================================================
* Added "polling" mode communications (non-interrupt driven).
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Polling mode (i=0, IRQ 0) for CP-290 communications was removed
from V 2.0. It has been added in V.2.1. of XA.
- Also, FINDX10 has been modified to handle polling.
- Validated additional checksums in CP-290 messages to ensure
communications are correct.
* Modified syntax for the "THRU" token.
-------------------------------------------------------------
- The syntax for THRU has been modified to allow for an optional
DATE token.
Syntax: DATE 11/25/1993 THRU DATE 1/1/1994
^^^^
- This allows a more consistent approach to DEFINING special events.
DEFINE NEW_YEARS DATE 1/1/1994
DEFINE THANKSGIVING DATE 11/26/1994
DEFINE CHRISTMAS DATE 12/25/1994
THANKSGIVING THRU NEW_YEARS EXCEPT CHRISTMAS A1 ON SUNSET
* Added DEMO files to show new users the capabilities of XA.
-------------------------------------------------------------
- To run, type DEMO when using a color monitor,
type DEMO_BW for a monochrome monitor.
* Enable VIDEO highlighting
-------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO highlighting has been enabled in the shareware version. This
feature will allow you to tell at a glance whether an event based on
certain date criteria is downloaded to the CP-290. When using the
DATE/THRU/EXCEPT tokens, XA will highlight the command using the
VIDEO4 colors if the event is downloaded to the CP-290. If the event
does not fall within the programmed range, then the VIDEO2 colors
will be used.
5) Bug fixes
================================================
The following problems have been reported with XA Ver. 2.00. Most have
been rectified in this release.
* ERASE in XA.INI causes XA.EXE to abort.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Do not put ERASE token in XA.INI. When ERASE is parsed, XA attempts
to send a command to the CP-290 prior to the proper communication
channel being opened. ERASE was not intended to be placed in XA.INI.
Doing so would force all events in the CP-290 to be cleared whenever
XA was invoked.
No direct commands, events, or other tokens that may communicate with
the CP-290 will be sent to the CP-290 while parsing the XA.INI file.
* Monitor causes events to be downloaded.
-------------------------------------------------------------
This occurs when invoking the monitor function by using the "+m"
command line parameter, and the XA.INI includes the XACMD token. The
solution is to invoke monitoring as follows:
XA "monitor",
not: XA +m
The manual incorrectly stated that you could add the "-e" option to
prevent parsing of the command file. Beginning with XA 2.00, the "-e"
option ignores all communication with the CP-290. This allows you to
verify a command file before storing its data to the CP-290.
* F4 ON SUNDAY SUNSET EXCEPT DATE 11/12/1996
uses EVERYDAY instead of SUNDAY
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed in Version 2.1.
* Testing a SUNRISE or SUNSET time may not evaluate correctly:
-------------------------------------------------------------
For example:
IF (SUNRISE > TIME 5:45 AM) # Sunrise is 6:55 am
XA was only calculating SUNRISE or SUNSET times when they appeared in
an EVENT statement (A1 ON MONDAY SUNRISE). If a CONDITIONAL statement
tested SUNRISE/SET before any events were programmed in the command
file, the resulting SUNRISE/SET time was midnight (0). If the
CONDITIONAL statement appeared after an event statement, the
SUNRISE/SET time would be correct.
Fixed in Version 2.1.
* XA.RPT file did not reflect proper modules.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Using REPORT1, if multiple modules on the same housecode but in
differents unit ranges (1...8) and (9...16) are programmed for the
same event, only modules in the first range (1...8) are reported.
Those modules in the upper range are reported incorrectly as modules
in the range (1...8).
For example:
C4 C10 ON EVERYDAY SUNRISE
REPORT1 will show:
6:15am ON C4 (1)*
6:15am ON C4 (1)*
instead of:
6:15am ON C4 (1)*
6:15am ON C10 (1)*
Fixed in Version 2.1.
* Use of the "UNIT ALL" tokens did not program all units for the
selected housecode.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed in Version 2.1.
* The following statement would not parse the date range correctly:
THANKSGIVING THRU NEW_YEARS XMAS_LIGHTS ON SUNSET
-------------------------------------------------------------
XA did not convert the DEFINE for NEW_YEARS (or any other definition
for the "THRU" token) properly.
Fixed in Version 2.1.
6) Additional Information
================================================
* Warning Messages:
-------------------------------------------------------------
XA will display the following message when it encounters a token it
doesn't recognize:
---ERROR--- Invalid expression in statement:
(...statement displayed here...)
You must edit the file where this warning was encountered. XA always
displays the directory and name of the file being parsed.
Note: If this is the SHAREWARE version of XA, see the next section for
tokens that are NOT supported in this release.
* Shareware Version:
-------------------------------------------------------------
The following tokens are NOT supported in the SHAREWARE version of XA.
- IF, ELSE, ENDIF
- INPORT, OUTPORT
- Arithmetic Operators (+, -, *, /)
- Logical Operators (AND, &&, &, OR, ||, |)
- Relational Operators (=, <, >, <=, >=, ==)
As a result, the sample command files (PHONE.CMD, XMAS.CMD, and
JOYSTICK.CMD) will report errors when they execute. These files
are intended to demonstrate various script files you may create
with the registered version of XA.
You must register XA with the author to have these tokens enabled.
Upon registration, you will receive a registered version and printed
User's Guide. Please fill out the form "REGISTER.TXT".
* Using XA with Windows:
-------------------------------------------------------------
The following files have been included to help you run XA within
Windows:
- xa_event.pif - PIF file for downloading contents of XA.CMD to CP-290
- xa_mon.pif - PIF file for monitoring events and commands.
- xa_power.pif - PIF file for power fail recovery.
Place these files in your Windows subdirectory (normally C:\WINDOWS).
These PIF files expect XA to be in the C:\X10 directory. If this is not
the case, use the Windows PIF editor to modify the settings. See your
Windows User's Guide for complete details. Also, see "Appendix D" in
XA_201.TXT for other important details regarding XA and COM ports.
In some cases, you may notice that some video messages are not displayed
correctly. Use the Windows PIF editor to change the "Display Usage" from
"Windowed" to "Full Screen". All messages should be restored properly.
7) Distributing the Shareware version of XA
================================================
You are encouraged to distribute the SHAREWARE version of XA to your
friends, BBS's, or online services. Please use the pre-zipped
SHAREWARE files that are located in the "X10_ZIP" directory of this
distribution floppy (if applicable).
Please remember, it is a violation of copyright laws to distribute
"REGISTERED" versions of XA without permission from the author.
8) Contacting the Author
================================================
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Bruce Christensen CompuServe : 73201,1531 │
│ 6594 Hudson Ave. Prodigy ID : MHNC39A │
│ Mentor, OH. 44060-4545 America On-Line: AuggieBen │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘