Media Share 9/MEDIASHARE_09.ISO/bbsdoor/ansi330.zip/AAG.HST

Text File | 1994-12-03 | 13KB | 318 lines

                        ANSi Art Gallery version 3.30
                                Update History

ANSi Art Gallery v3.30 - New features!                  [02/13/94]
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If updating from a prior version of AAG, read AAGSETUP.DOC before running
AAGSETUP.

If installling from the beginning, follow the instructions listed in
ANSIART.DOC.

Converting the records to the new v3.30 format has been simplified.  Run
AAGSETUP to convert the records.  AAGSETUP will automatically detect which
version needs to be converted to.  Read AAGSETUP.DOC for more information.

An art directory is used now to store ANSi pictures.  With this new storage
method, ANSi Art Gallery should be more efficient.  Read ANSIART.DOC under
"New Storage Method" for more details.

New installation program included.  AAGSETUP now replaces ARTINST.EXE.

AAGVER included.  This program will give information about ANSI.DAT,
including version number.

Run CLEANUP.BAT to remove all obsolete files.  Useful for clearing the AAG
dir of unnecessary files taking up space.

The 10 ANSi limit has been removed for unregistered users.  Several SysOp
functions may now be used in unregistered versions.  Commands A-E are disabled
for unregistered versions.

Apologies for this long-awaited release.  Almost two years have elapsed since
version 3.20 was released.

Social Distortion [phone] has been removed as a support site.

Status line has been removed.  This conflicted with ANSi's with over 25 lines.
Function keys are still operational, however.

All filenames should be stored as uppercase now.

A hatched flag has been added to the records.  This will allow for Inter-BBS
sharing of ANSi's later.

ANSIART.CFG is no longer used.  AAGSETUP.CFG contains a new format which
replaces ANSIART.CFG.

Minimum baud rate to view a file has been added for limiting access to large
ANSi's to those with faster modems.

SysOp functions revised.

Swapping with disk, EMS, or XMS has now been added.  Thanks go out to Ralf
Brown for providing the SPAWNO routines. You may select which of these you
would like to use in the installation program.

Batched downloads have been revised.

The main menu system has been revised again for efficiency.

New validation toggle in the sysop functions.  Allows sysop to make an ANSi
unvalidated for screening.

Internal copying.  No more shelling to DOS to copy.  Increases speed and
memory.

Sysop functions were all modified to correspond with the new storage method.

Many files were not closed when finished, causing some sharing violations
when a sysop shelled to DOS.

Viewing descriptions should be faster.

Importing files will now be copied into the Art Directory.

The algorithm for checking for ANSi's with no description has changed because
of the new storage method.  ANSIDAT3.ANS is now included.

Hitting ".S" or "." when searching for ANSi's with no description will either
skip adding the description or abort adding, respectively.

Extended information now contains the # of times the file has been downloaded,
the uploader, validation status, and original filename.

Cleaned up the source code a little.

ANSi Art Gallery v3.20 - Major revisions                [09/19/92]
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Please make sure you overwrite every file that was included in the package.

Data structures have changed again.  If you are using version 3.10, use
31TO31B.EXE.  This will convert your structures to version 3.1b.  Then run
31BTO320.EXE to convert 3.1b files to 3.20.  Do not run these programs again.
They will [inadvertently] corrupt your ANSI.DAT if you attempt to do so.

Run ARTINST.EXE to install ANSi Art Gallery.   This is a must for running the
door.

Multiple protocols are now installed.  Xmodem-CRC, Xmodem, Ymodem, and Zmodem
are installed.  Only Ymodem and Zmodem are capable of batch transfers.

For all registered users, you will find that the Sysop Functions have been
rewritten.  The functions are now using windows and have been programmed more
efficiently.

The import function would copy ALL files in a directory into an ANSi, if
a sysop specified a directory.  This has been corrected.

The main menu and sysop functions are now redrawn automatically after
chatting with the user.

Some routines have been optimized to save memory and space.

The descriptions can now be aborted by hitting Ctrl-K.

Some carrier detects were not functioning properly.  Fixed.

The main menu system has been redesigned to be more efficient and take less
memory.

ANSi records with no descriptions are now created in ANSI.DAT before a user
adds descriptions or a file is imported.  This will prevent any problems with
your ANSI.DAT.

ANSi descriptions with more than 64 characters would display a strange
character afterwards.  This has been fixed.

ANSi files tagged and packaged by the user will now be compressed together
with ANSIART.AD.  You may modify, add, or delete this file if you wish.

Extra security added.  See ANSIART.DOC under "Protection."

Ctrl-C signal is now trapped and ignored.  This should prevent any hangups or
problems.

The TRANSFER.LOG has been taken out.  This file was getting too large and was
not regularly maintained by ANSi Art Gallery.

If a sysop deleted an ANSi number WITHOUT deleting the ANSi description, ANSi
Art Gallery will now replace the ANSi record instead of adding another one.
This will only occur when a user or a sysop adds another ANSi.

ANSISND.ZIP is included with ANSi Art Gallery.  This program will allow you to
hear ANSi music (for the local side only) that users view.  However, there is
no way to turn it off except to uninstall the driver.  This could disturb you
during the day or night.

Batch downloads have been added.  Original filenames will be renamed and the
user will have an option to package the ANSi's up.  If the original filename
is not found for some reason, AAG will use the ANSi number.

There is now an option for the user to compress files into a ZIP file before
downloading.  This should help minimize transfer time by a wide margin.

ANSi Art Gallery will retain the original filename that was uploaded. (i.e.
ANSIART.ANS).  This variable will be used for batch downloads.

All files are now compressed using PKLITE by Phil Katz.  The EXE files should
be considerably smaller thanks to the compression.

ANSI.CFG is not used anymore.  You may delete it if you have it in the
directory.

DSZPORT & DSZPATH are no longer required.  You may remove them from your
AUTOEXEC.BAT if you are not using it.

New installation program.  Run this after copying all required files to the
ANSIART directory.  There are only four questions that need to be filled out.
Read ANSIART.DOC if you have questions.

A temporary directory is now required.  The installation program will prompt
if you would like to create a new one.  Make sure it is EMPTY.

Batch uploads installed.  A user can upload more than one ANSi and be prompted
for the description after the transfer is complete.

Added support for WWIV.  To run with it, type:

        ANSIART d:\path\to\CHAIN.TXT

Minor bugs fixed.

There was a problem with hitting 'U' twice in the door. This was thought to have
been fixed before.  It should be fixed now.

Added support site: The Fast Tracks BBS [phone]

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ANSi Art Gallery v3.1b                                  [02/18/92]
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Registered sysops may obtain a free registration code WITH proof, if needed,
that they have already registered the program previously.  Call The Dark Side,
The Fast Tracks, or Social Distortion to request one.  The authors reserve the
right to refuse to give it to you.

If you are running version 3.10, use 31TO31B.EXE to convert ANSI.DAT.

Seems that multiple protocols will have to wait.  There were many other things
that had to be added first.

For registered sysops: The SYSOP.LST bug is fixed.  It was not letting
sysops access the functions because of trailing white spaces after their names
caused by the door information file.

A function that will allow importing ANSi's into ANSi Art Gallery is added.
Push 'U', and you should be given a menu.  Hit 'I' to import the ANSi.  You
will have to supply the path and filename.

Added uploader and number of times downloaded for file descriptions, extended
descriptions are now available.

Files not having descriptions will be asked to add them when the sysop checks
for them.  You do this by hitting 'U' at the main menu and then 'C'.

Miscellaneous minor changes.

EXE file reduced about 20% in size.

Added Extended keyboard settings.  This means that it is not required to push
Num Lock to move to the selections.

Displaying descriptions should be faster.

Pausing on descriptions fixed.

Environment table DSZPATH added.  In your AUTOEXEC.BAT, add the following
line:

  SET DSZPATH=[directory where DSZ.COM or DSZ.EXE is located. ]
  Ex. SET DSZPATH=D:\ANSIART\

Make sure you have a backslash at the end or ANSi Art Gallery will not
function properly.  Otherwise, the program will search for DSZ in the PATH
directories.

Registration number added.   See Registration Information for details.
ANSIDAT.ANS would corrupt if ANSI.DAT was not found.  Fixed.

Displaying a file locally has increased in speed.  You should notice a
significant change.  Thanks to Rickie Belitz.

Error level returned if an error has occured when trying to run the program.

0   ;Successful
1   ;Unable to open BBS system file (pcboard.sys,door.sys etc)
2   ;Problem reading BBS system file
3   ;Unrecognized BBS file type
4   ;Unable to open pcboard USERS file
5   ;Invalid User record or problem seeking to user record
6   ;Problem reading USER record
7   ;PORT command syntax error
8   ;Fossil driver specified but no Fossil driver installed
9   ;Memory allocation problem

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

ANSi Art Gallery v3.1 - Major & Minor Changes! READ!!!  [06/22/91]
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Converted ANSI.DAT to binary instead of text.   Sysops who have ANSi Art Gallery
3.0 installed, must erase ANSI.DAT or rename it to ANSI.OLD.

Modified Credits selection and changed it to Other Information.  Users may
view TRANSFER.LOG or the credits ANSi.

After viewing an ANSi and after a user presses a key to continue, the view
ansi prompt will pop up again.  Added 'Q' to quit back to main menu.

Pausing after every 19 ANSi's in the see description menu added.  The user or
sysop may either (Q)uit back to the main menu or continue seeing the
descriptions.

FOSSIL Driver Support added courtesy of Rickie Belitz.  Read ANSIART.DOC
for information on how to use it.  Use of a FOSSIL is OPTIONAL.

You may now select where the listing of the descriptions will begin.

Added a transfer log.  TRANSFER.LOG is created or appended after a file has
been uploaded or downloaded.

After an transfer over 7 minutes using an upload or download, the program
would think you hadn't touched a key and quit back to the bbs.  Fixed.

Part of Sysop functions revised in registered versions.

Next version will include multiple protocols!

NOTE: You may need to edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT and type in SET DSZPORT=x where x
      equals your communciations port.  This was mentioned in the previous
      version, but it was a bit vague.

Converted ANSI.DAT to binary instead of text.  Sysops who have ANSi Art
Gallery 3.0 installed, must erase ANSI.DAT or rename it to ANSI.OLD.

Local sysops can now add descriptions while running the program.  Type 'U' in
the main menu to use this function.  Sysops who have ANSi Art Gallery 3.0
installed: Use this function to add descriptions.

ANSIDAT.ANS, and other screens modified to look better.

Added delete, sorting, insert, and modify ansi descriptions in sysop
functions.

Carrier Detect and F8 Problem Fixed.

After chat mode or shelling to dos, main menu will refresh screen after a key
is hit.

Sysop can now use functions keys during chat mode.

Added support site: Omega-One BBS [phone]

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