Jason Aller Floppy Collection/147.img/NETMAL46.ZIP/HISTORY

Text File | 1990-01-30 | 23KB | 513 lines

NetMail  Version 4.6  Copyright (c) 1989,90  Mark J. Findlay
                                             Home Dba Software
                                             Home Dba BBS  [phone]
                                             (WASEA)

01-30-90

- Added configuration options for direct screen writing, beeps and
  bells toggle, and the automatic creation of COMM, WORK, and FILES
  directories specified during configuration but which may not yet
  exist. For those running PCBoard MultiNode versions, CONFIG.EXE
  also creates all the required WORK directories used by NetDoor.



01-18-90

- Fix to NetDoor to properly update NETWORK.LST records (network-wide
  nodelist). Also, corresponding fix to NetStat.exe.


01-10-90

- Added displays in import.exe and netdoor.exe indicating the number
  of messages addressed directly to sysop in messages being imported.

01-06-89

- Fixed write to caller log entries to properly format all entries from
  import and export processing.

01-03-89

- Fixed import.exe to NOT check the echo flag on any incoming messages.

- Added displays to NetDoor to show when a message base is locked during
  import processing.


01-01-90

- Enhanced NetDoor to now be able to process multiple nodes simultaneously.

- Changed Refer To and duplicate message handling to now check additional
  fields to avoid errors. The fields now checked are: DATE, TIME, WHOTO,
  WHOFROM, SUBJECT, and the first 128 bytes of the message text.

- Added ability for nodes to turn on the PCBoard message echo flag for
  all outgoing messages.

- Removed several displays from the NetDoor program.

- Formatted the nodelist created by the CONFIG.EXE program to conform exactly
  with that created by the NetDoor.



11-05-89

- Added automated network-wide nodelist maintenance to NetDoor.
This function will automatically create and maintain a network-wide
nodelist (which can be viewed at any time by NetStat users). This
nodelist xref will display the participating nodes, their tag lines,
their date of last successful mail transfer and a complete hierarchical
chart of every node and hub.

NOTE: HUBS NEED TO ADD A 5th NETDOOR STARTUP PARAMETER TO THEIR
NETDOOR BATCH FILE INDICATING THE LOCATION OF THEIR NODE NETMAIL
DIRECTORY!  (see sample netdoor batch file!)        ^^^^

- Override enhancement for # of messages to recall in export.
You can now use the OVERRIDE parameter of EXPORT.EXE to request any
number of messages back from the last message received from the hub.
In other words, if the last message you had received from the hub was
message #1000 and you wished to receive the last 100 messages over
again (message #900 - #1000), you would specify the conference name and
the value 100. You no longer need to know the message number on the hub
system in order to retrieve the last X number of messages in a
particular conference.

- Ability to recall last mail run from netdoor.
Each time you call NetDoor, you will be prompted as to whether or not
you wish to receive your last mail run's packet over again. You will be
given 5 seconds to respond. If no response is given (in case you're
calling via a automated script etc.) then default of "NO" will be
assumed. If you respond "Y", NetDoor will retrieve messages for you
starting at the same location it had for your last successful mail
transfer. This eliminates lost mail packets due to bad protocol
programs, power failures, bad clusters etc. This also allows you to
re-receive your last mail packet even if all functions went according
to plan.

- Sending to netdoor of user file (NODE ONLY) to receive private messages
  only if addressed to users on the Node's system.
This function is now automatic. For those defined as NODES ONLY, the
private messages found on the hub system which are NOT addressed to
users on the NODE system, will not be included in the NODE's incoming
mail packet.

- Advanced Refer To: and Duplicate Message checking.
A more advanced function has been put in place to detect message
duplication and messages which refer to other messages in a conference.
Prior processing had sometimes thought a message to be a duplicate when
it was not and messages were not always referred to the other messages
in a conference of which they were replies.

- Fixed "garbage" rec in BBS.NET.
The problem with the "garbage" record in the BBS Maintenance screen has
been resolved. Those with existing garbage recs can either leave them
as they are, delete their BBS.NET file and reconfigure, or run
BBSFIX.EXE against them. (BBSFIX.EXE can be downloaded from the HOMEDBA
conference on HOME DBA BBS.

- Removed option within EXPORT.EXE to receive only messages addressed
  to users on the node's system regardless of whether or not the messages
  were private.

- Check for existence of msg base prior to processing it.
All import and export functions now check for the existence of a
message base prior to processing it. this differs from the previous
versions where the conference's existence was checked only at
configuration time due to those renaming the conference without
reconfiguring their system.

- Added POP UP Help in CONFIG.EXE and NETSTAT.EXE
Users can now summon up a detailed pop-up help facility in both
CONFIG.EXE and NETSTAT.EXE. Pressing F1 will display an alphabetized
help menu with all the help topics available. Help topics cover every
field of every screen as well as miscellaneous functions.

- Allow editing of LAST MESSAGE NUMBER PROCESSED and CONFERENCE FILENAME
  from within Conference Configuration of CONFIG.EXE.
Users can now alter these two fields through the Conference
Configuration edit screen. Please read documtation very carefully prior
to altering the LAST MESSAGE NUMBER PROCESSED field!!!

- Check now takes place in CONFIG.EXE to insure that a Conference Name or
Full Conference Filename specified does not duplicate one already on
CONF.NET. An error message is presented to the user.

- Added ALT-U function in conference configuration to allow universal
  update of a field.
Users can universally update seclected fields across all conferences
from within the Conference Configuration Screen. By placing the desired
value in a field and pressing ALT-U, the field will be duplicated in
that same field across all conferences immediately.

- Added ability to create network-wide nodelist text file to NETSTAT.EXE.
Registered users can now print out a detailed structural chart of the
network-wide nodelist and other information via NETSTAT.EXE

- Added ability to create text file of CONF.NET and GLOBAL.NET to CONFIG.EXE.
Basically an informational tool, the ability to print a formatted
report of the user's CONF.NET and GLOBAL.NET in a text file.

- Check for "slide" event indicator before locking a caller out of NetDoor.
If an event is pending within 15 minutes when a Node caller enters
NetDoor, NetDoor will first check to see if the even can slide prior to
dropping the user back to PCBoard.

- Changed time count for lock check from 5 minutes to 1 minute
When NetDoor encounters a LOCKED directory due to another node
transferring mail simultaneoulsy, NetDoor will count-down for 1 minute
prior to returning the calling node back to PCBoard, rather than the 5
minute wait encountered in previous versions.

- Created separate SEND program.
The SEND function has now been taken out of the CONFIG.EXE program and
given its own .EXE status.

- Sysop's real name no longer converted to "SYSOP".
Imported messages no longer have the sysop's real name converted back
to "SYSOP". This change is part of the improved refer-to and duplicate
message check processing.

- Added sample PROCOMM script file to SCRIPT.ZIP.


05-30-89   Created NETSTAT.EXE, the complete NetMail Statistics and
           Report Generator, (for registered users only). Maintains
           history and reports on total and average imports and exports,
           index file capacities and projected fill dates, all on a
           conference by conference basis, and for each node as well.
           See NetStat.bat and NetStat.doc for further information.

           Added PCB Caller Log entry option to node Export and Import
           function.

           Added search for TAG lines option in node import function.
           Based on entries in TAGS.NET, node import can drop all but
           the 1st tag of each incoming message, leaving the origin of
           a message intact.

           Added ability to specify user names for which incoming messages
           are to be removed.

           Converted TCAN search processing to assembler, greatly enhancing
           processing speed.

           Removed TCAN editing function from CONFIG.EXE. User now enters
           trash can words using text editor.

           Removed "remove entire line" option of TCAN editing of incoming
           messages. This function was created primarily to remove
           excessive tag lines which is now handled by import processing.

           Removed reporting of index file space from import processing.
           This function is now handled by NetStat, the NetMail Statistics
           and Report generator. (registered users only).


05-12-89   Doubled scope of tag line search in outgoing message. Now finds
           existing tags more than a single message block apart from previous
           tag.

           Removed TCAN function from Regional HUB on import.exe. This
           function is dedicated solely to destination nodes.

05-10-89   Fix for tag line problem in NetDoor previously thought to be
           corrected in 3.3 release.

           Significantly reduced memory requirements during all import and
           export processing in all .exe programs. This should enable larger
           index files to be read during these processes.

05-06-89   Altered private message and "Echo=Yes" message handling to
           be effective ONLY at the destination node level. All HUBS and
           regional HUBS will have NO control over private message and
           "Echo=Yes" messages at import OR export time. Any selection,
           conversion or deletion of these messages will occur only at
           the final destination node level.

           Allow NODES to receive ONLY their users' mail from the HUB
           system at DOWNLOAD time. Instead of downloading a large mail
           packet from the HUB, the node can download only those messages
           belonging to users on the node's system. This can represent
           a significant savings of time and money.

           Added Regional HUB indicator to NODELIST and BBS Maintenance
           screen. This indicates to the HUB system, which nodes are also
           operating as regional HUBs.

           Added "Last Called" indicator to BBS Maintenance screen. This
           allows HUB sysop to monitor "last called date" of all nodes.

           Fixed multiple tag line problem. Now only 1 NetMail tag is
           appended to outgoing mail. If a NetMail tag exists on the message
           already, no further tags are added. (Note: the existing tag must
           be the last tag on the message at time of check).

           Expanded BBS.NET file to handle additional features. Please see
           CONVBBS.EXE and CONVBBS.DOC if you are operating as a HUB.


04-30-89   Added detailed logging of all import and export activity on
           a conference by conference basis to NetDoor. PCB Caller Log
           will contain number of messages exported and imported by a
           calling node for each conference.

           Removed necessity for NetDoor batch file designation of DSZPORT.
           HUBs should remove:

                              SET DSZPORT=x

           from their NETDOOR batch file(s).

           Fixed HUB's receiving of node's SEND files.


04-29-89   Added ability for Node to set "Last Message Exported" field
           on the HUB system. This is done through an override during
           the node's export. Node can start receiving messages from any
           message number in any conference on any call to the HUB.
           Even first time node callers can begin receiving messages from
           any message number. (See NetMail Documentation for instructions).

           Added Global configuration field to indicate whether a system
           is operating as BOTH a node AND a HUB. This is necessary to allow
           private messages to pass through several "regional hubs". Enter
           GLOBAL configuration screen through config.exe to specify if
           you are acting as both a node AND a hub.

           Added check to CONVERT.EXE to abort if attempt is made to convert
           global or conference file which has already been converted to
           3.0 format.

           Added personalized greeting to NetDoor.


04-26-89   New format for CONF.NET and GLOBAL.NET to handle new functions.
           Sysop MUST execute CONVERT.EXE from NetMail directory for each
           node and hub Sysop is operating, PRIOR to running any NetMail
           3.0 program. (See convert.doc).

           Node import process now imports private mail ONLY if addressee
           is a member of the target BBS. Private mail addressed to users
           not on the importing BBS will NOT be imported. This is done
           completely transparent to the BBS users. No auxilliary process
           is required of the users. This function was formerly an import
           command line option, which simply checked for the existence of
           a user on a system, regardless of the status of the message.
           the import command line option has been removed.

           HUB can now designate an "unavailable" period for NetDoor, during
           which time NetDoor is unavailable to calling NODEs. This allows
           the HUB system to free his/her board for certain hours for the
           general public.

           Sysop can now specify that ONLY messages created with the PCBoard
           or ProDoor prompt "Echo Message=Yes" should be echoed. This allows
           the users to keep messages on a single system by responding "N" to
           the "Echo Message?" prompt produced by PCBoard or ProDoor when the
           message is first created. This function is configurable on a
           conference by conference basis.

           Cursor bypasses non hub-related fields in global configuration
           when "BBS Operating as a HUB" is set to "N".

           Enhanced color scheme in GLOBAL and CONFERENCE configuration for
           more readable displays.

           Added information to NETMAIL.DOC on how the HUB system can act as
           an "intermediary" system, maintaining message bases for the
           network without having to carry the conference on PCBoard.


04-23-89   Greatly increased speed of screen writes in config.exe.

           Check for video type prior to presentation of opening screen
           in config.exe. Now handles monochrome monitor video address
           correctly.

           Added additional script (Qmodem) to sample script collection.

           Altered NetMail tag line prefix to replace "diamond" with '/'.
           The diamond character was being interpreted by some comm
           programs as cr/lf and disrupting comm display.

           Increased STACK space in NetDoor from 4000 to 5500.

           Added information to documentation concerning the use of the
           environment variable PRODEBUG=ON to log NetDoor activity.

           Corrected TCAN processing in NetDoor which improperly altered
           index file pointers if TCAN.NET processing occurred.


04-19-89   Enhanced RESET (both individual conference reset and global
           reset) to also update all the node records on the HUB system's
           BBS.NET file. This keeps all nodes in sync with hub system
           message pointers.

           Made the HUB generation of the NODELIST text file part of the
           standard config.exe menu.

           Added sample Telix script file for automating HUB/NODE transfers.

           Backed out import enhancement which bypassed import processing
           on a conference if no incoming mail was present. The conf.net
           file was also being bypassed in its updates for those conferences
           which caused ensuing exports to send mail already sent.

04-17-89   Fixed Import.exe and NetDoor Import function to properly handle
           indexes for message bases that have zero messages (such as a
           newly created message base), or 1 message (such as a "starter"
           message).

           Import function now much faster. Will only display import
           information for files actually imported from HUB. Will not
           open target message base if source import file does not exist.

04-16-89   Added "Questions and Answers" section to NetMail documentation.

           Enhanced display of error messages in NetDoor.

           Fixed Network Indicator check in NetDoor. Nodes calling the HUB
           system were able to receive a requested conference even if the
           HUB system had indicated "N" in network indicator.

04-15-89   Cosmetic changes to BBS Maintenance screen.

           NetDoor now uses 21K less memory at time of PKZIP of outgoing
           mail than version 2.2. Some users were reporting "insufficient
           memory" messages when NetDoor attempted to zip outgoing mail.

04-13-89   NODE can now specify to import only messages addressed to
           users on the NODE system. Users do NOT need to enter their
           name via any door or auxilliary process. The message/user
           checking is done automatically by NetMail.

           HUB system can now create NODELIST text file via config.exe.

           Now allows editing of Conference Name Assigned by HUB in the
           conference configuration screen. This was previously only
           accessible through the ALT-A command to add a conference.

           Reformatted NODELIST text file to be more "readable".

04-10-89   Config now creates/updates BBS.NET whenever HUB saves
           conference information.

           BBS Maintenance now reserved for HUB systems.

           Export, Import, now will NOT function if executed from a system
           defined as a HUB. NetDoor now performs all import and export
           functions on the HUB's behalf.

04-09-89   NetMail 2.0 released.  Program now ShareWare.

           HUB system no longer maintains individual holding files for
           each conference carried by each NODE. NODEs now receive mail
           DIRECTLY from HUB's message bases when calling through NetDoor.

           Sysop can now specify max age (in days) of message to accept.

           Sysop can now specify maximum K bytes packet to receive from
           HUB.

           Sysop can now specify whether or not to accept SEND files waiting
           on the HUB system.

           Conferences are now determined by NAME, NOT by Conference Number
           Set by HUB.

           Configuration of Conferences now auto-load capable from the
           CNAMES or CONFINFO file.

           For each conference, Sysop can now specify to:

             Stop incoming private messages.
             Stop outgoing private messages.
             Convert incoming private messages to public.
             Convert outgoing private messages to public.

           NODE can now request text file node list of all participating
           NODEs in network, their BBS Codes, the Sysop's Name, their Tag
           lines, and all conferences carried by each NODE.


03-23-89   Enhanced export.exe to perform more scrutinous inspection of


03-23-89   Enhanced export.exe to perform more scrutinous inspection of
           outgoing mail as well as increased buffer performance.

03-13-89   Increased buffering of Export and Import I/O.

           Bypass processing of "Last Message Number Processed" on
           null incoming mail packets.

           Changed Conference definition function to automatically
           RESET message pointers for newly defined conferences as
           well as those added with ALT-A. This insures that new
           conferences will not enter the network with entire message
           bases being initially transferred from the NODE.

03-08-89   Follow-up for ALT-A fix provided in NETM0307.ZIP.

03-07-89   Fix for Conferences Added via the ALT-A command in the config
           program. Prior version could place incorrect "last msg number
           processed" in conf.net file. To correct prior versions, RESET
           ALL conferences.

           Export now deletes any possible exported or imported mail
           packets left in comm directory prior to creating outgoing
           mail packet. This to avoid confusing file transfers etc.

           Fix to account for duplicate message if that message was a
           thread of another in the same conference. Prior to this,
           duplicate messages were killed unless the incoming message
           was a thread of an existing message.


03-05-89   Checks to see if NetMail tag line already present on Exported
           messages. If so, will not add additional tag line. This keeps
           messages that pass from regional HUBs to other regional and/or
           national HUBs from becoming swamped with tag lines. Only tag
           line from originating BBS will remain intact.

           Fixed bug in BBS.NET processing in Export processing. ALL NODES
           SHOULD INSTALL THIS VERSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID FURTHER
           HUB BBS.NET CORRUPTION.

03-02-89   Message Threading added.  Messages responded to on other BBSes
           will now have proper original message number in "Refer To:"
           field upon Import into originating BBS.

Further enhanced I/O handling.

           Step by Step walk-through of NODE and HUB set up and processing
           operations, especially helpful for first time networkers.

02-26-89   Kill Duplicate Messages on Import.

           Enhance mail delivery in NetDoor by bypassing incoming mail
           with 0 length.

           Enhanced SEND function within NetDoor by maintaining single
           copy of file for all target NODEs. Altered Config.exe to
           insure preformatting of <TIME STAMP>.SND record.

02-25-89   Allow SEND to "ALL" participating NODEs with single command.

           Update "Last Message Processed" value after Import instead
           of after Export. Now, should an Export fail to reach the
           target HUB, subsequent Exports will gather same mail as
           well as new mail until successful Import is performed.

           Display correct maximum number of message blocks allowed
           per message base index (8).

02-22-89   Initial release.