General Info Template Language WCTL Commands WebX/Chat WebX/Pro
Release Notes Standard Templates URL Codes WebX/Multi FastCGI, NSAPI, ISAPI

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Web Crossing version 3.0

Web Crossing version 3.0 provides numerous new features, performance enhancements and bug fixes, and is strongly recommended for all Web Crossing sites.

Major Features

  • Supports both threaded messages and our original conversation-based model for discussions.

    The sysop or host can set the format for a discussion or area, or can allow users to chose their preferred model. A discussion can be viewed in both modes: as threaded messages, and as a conversation. The default threaded-messages view shows multiple messages in one page to increase user productivity.
    [See sysop Discussions panel, Edit Folder, Edit Discussion, User Preferences.]

  • Supports both Web-browser and newsreader (NNTP) access to messages.

    Each Web Crossing folder can be configured as an NNTP newsgroup. All messages, access control, moderation and authentication are shared by both Web-browser and NNTP access paths.
    [See sysop Newsreader services panel, Add/Edit Folder]

  • Supports mirroring of an external e-mail listserv.

    Each Web Crossing folder can mirror one e-mail list, and can be configured so that posts to Web Crossing are forwarded to the list. This allows you to archive a e-mail list for Web-browser access and searching, and to provide a completely Web-based interface to any e-mail list.
    [See sysop General Settings to set e-mail services, Add/Edit Folder]

  • Supports enclosures.

    Documents can be posted through a Web browser, through a newsreader, or through an e-mail list, and can be downloaded through a Web browser or newsreader.
    [See sysop General Settings]

  • Provides fast indexed keyword searching for all versions on all platforms.
    [See sysop General Settings]

  • Allows users to get a complete list of new messages, instead of just one message at a time.

    By default, users get a periodic refresh of their new message list, with a beep when new messages are available. This increases traffic because of page refreshes and the increased involvement of your user community.
    [See sysop Other Settings to enable bookmarks, Bookmarks button]

  • Adds easy integration of Web Crossing into external user directories, by providing filter macros. All aspects of authentication and member directory changes are now under your control through the Web Crossing Template Language (WCTL).
    [See syswctl.htm, Filter Macros]

  • E-mail validation and the ability to send e-mail messages from WCTL are now available in all versions on all platforms.

  • The high-performance Web Crossing/Pro database is now provided in all versions on all platforms. Standard and Multi versions continue to support up to 512 Mbyte databases, while Pro versions support up to 2 Gbyte databases.

    Other enhancements

  • Reworked the user interface to use tables, giving it a much crisper apperance.

  • Added Javascript logic to set the focus to the first field in each form, and to Tab through the login page. This means that you don't have to click again to start posting, and allows users to login without using the mouse.

  • Added a sysop setting to control the number of threads available for sending e-mail.

  • Changed sysop logging options to use a form with checkboxes.

  • Added logging option to track user authentication.

  • Enhanced e-mail logging

  • Direct access protocol: added an EXISTS command to check for existence of a username.

    Web Crossing Template Language

  • Added filter macros for authentication, login, registration, and user preferences changes.

  • Added interface to new search index: searchItems, siteSearchIsReady, siteIndexSearchStatus, pathSearch

  • Added support for enclosures: pathEnclosures, pathDocumentIsImage, pathDocumentIsText, pathDocumentName, pathIsDocument, siteHttpUploads

  • Added support for building a list of new messages: u.userNewMessages, mostRecentNewMessage

  • Added access to checking for objectionable words, and for marking a string with objectionable words: .isObjectionable and .markObjectionable( [before, after] )

  • Added settings for threaded messages: pathInheritsByUserPreferences, pathShowByUserPreferences, pathNetTreeView, pathNetReplyTo, pathNetSummaryButton, pathNetMessageTitle, "treeorder" option to pathSelect specification, u.userThreadingBySite, siteUserDefaultThreading, u.userThreading, u.userReplyTo, siteUserDefaultReplyTo, user.userSummaryButton, siteUserDefaultSummaryButton

  • Added settings for newsgroups: editNewsgroup, siteHasNews and pathNewsgroup

  • Added settings for e-mail: pathEmailMirror, siteHasEmailServices, editEmailMirror, editEmailPW, editEmailStripSig, editEmailPostThru editEmailReply, editEmailReplyTo, editEmailFrom, pathEmail, pathEmailPW, pathEmailReply, pathEmailPostThru, pathEmailReplyTo, pathEmailFrom, pathEmailStripSig

  • Added site settings: siteHasPasswordForm, siteAllowsHttpBasic, userIsHttpBasic, siteUseEmailScript, siteToolbarAcross, siteFolderShowSysop, siteFolderShowAuthor, siteDiscussionShowSysop, siteDiscussionShowAuthor

  • Added format control for numbers: numberString.numberFormat( format ). The format specification works for currency and scientific formats as well as integer numbers.

  • Added support for date objects: dateObject and dateObj format strings, dateString.dateFormat( format ), dateString.dateAddSeconds( seconds ), dateString.dateSubtractSeconds( seconds ), dateString.dateDeltaSeconds( date2 ), dateLessThan, dateEqual, dateGreaterThan

  • Allow WCTL to write to the logNNN file: string.log

  • Added user functions: userCreate( name ), u.userDestroy, userLookup( name ), u.userCheckPassword( password ), u.userClearSubscriptions.

  • Miscellaneous: registerError, changed secsFrom1970 to be in GMT, setPathAuthor

    Bug fixes

  • Improved MX lookup and error retry for e-mail transmissions.

  • All sysop settings are now saved in the roll-forward log. Before, only settings that were propagated between redundant servers were saved, so local settings were lost by a roll-forward recovery.

  • Fixed a problem resetting webx.tpl when sysop heading/footing settings used a lot of local variables. Would halt with a "bad local variable index" assert.

  • Fixed a rare intermittent problem with a memory reclaim in exactly the right place during the open of a WebX location. Would halt with a "bad list" assert.


    Please report any problems you encounter in the Web Crossing discussion area at our Web site.

    Copyright © 1996-98 by Lundeen & Associates, Alameda, California.