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- WHAT'S NEW?
-
- This file contains a list of new features in version 2.0. This
- file lists only those changes since version 1.02; if you are
- upgrading from an earlier version of Maximus, you'll have to
- consult the Max 1.02 installation kit for more information.
-
- To keep things (relatively) brief, this file only includes new
- features. For detailed information on any of the features below,
- please see MAX_OP.PRN and MAX_REF.PRN.
-
-
- INSTALLATION PROGRAM
-
- * Max now includes a menu-driven, "mousable" installation
- program. Installation options and paths can now be selected
- in dialogue boxes, instead of the old TTY routines.
-
- NEW MESSAGE BASE FORMAT
-
- * Maximus can optionally use the "Squish" message format. The
- Squish format is flat-file, using two files per message
- area. Squish was designed for fast, efficient and reliable
- message storage. This format is OPTIONAL on an area-by-area
- basis. (In other words, you can choose between *.MSG and
- Squish format for each message area on your system.)
-
- * A separate program, SquishMail, can be used to directly
- manipulate Squish-format areas for both NetMail and
- EchoMail. SquishMail is a full-fledged mail processor,
- including full 4D support, passthru echoes, multizone
- awareness, and more. For more information, please look for
- a copy of SQSH_*.LZH at a distribution point near you.
-
- MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT
-
- * Maximus now has full support for multiple languages. All of
- the internal prompts and keystrokes can be completely
- customized through external language files. Users can
- switch language files on-the-fly, but the SysOp interface
- always uses a predefined language. In addition to
- supporting multiple languages, language files can also be
- used to modify the BBS's prompts to your liking.
-
- * The language file compiler is distributed with Maximus.
- Although only the ENGLISH and AMERICAN languages are
- available at the present time, end users of the Maximus
- software are free to create and distribute their own
- language files.
-
- * Max now supports two alternate character sets. In MAX.CTL,
- "Charset Swedish" and "Charset Chinese" enable internal
- support for Swedish 7-bit and Chinese "BIG5" character sets
- (respectively). To properly implement the Swedish 7-bit
-
-
-
-
-
- format, you must also edit ENGLISH.MAD and uncomment the
- appropriate definitions for LBRACKET and RBRACKET, since the
- default definitions conflict with the Swedish character set.
-
- QWK MAIL PACKER
-
- * Max 2.0 now features a built-in QWK mail packer. After
- selecting a set of message areas, users can automatically
- download messages from those areas in the popular QWK
- format. The messages can then be read using any of the off-
- line QWK readers available, and replies can be uploaded and
- tossed to the appropriate area. The mail packer fully
- supports bulletins, news files, new file listings,
- unattended mail packing, and more. For more information on
- the QWK mail packer, please see the section in MAX_OP.PRN
- entitled "QWK MAIL PACKER".
-
- WAITING-FOR-CALLER SUBSYSTEM
-
- * Maximus now includes a windowed phone-answering subsystem.
- Using the "-w" command-line switch instructs Maximus to wait
- for a caller, answer the phone, and start the BBS core. The
- waiting-for-caller (WFC) module also fully supports external
- events through the EVENTSxx.BBS file. The "-p" and "-b"
- command line switches can also be used in WFC mode; this
- means that you can use the same set of control files (and
- even the same directory) for multiple nodes.
-
- * When using Video IBM/BIOS, the WFC screen also includes a
- number of pop-up windows. The modem status, current
- activity, and daily statistics will be shown while waiting
- for a caller. <Alt-J> can be used to shell to the OS;
- <Alt-K> can be used to start a local copy of the BBS; and
- <Alt-X> will take the BBS down and exit to the OS.
-
- * When the WFC module is active, other users will see that
- node on the "Who Is On" screen. Nodes in WFC will show a
- username of "Maximus" with a status of "Waiting for caller".
-
- MESSAGE AREA ENHANCEMENTS
-
- * Maximus 2.00 supports several new commands in the message
- areas. Some of the new additions are:
-
- Msg_Tag Disgrace "Tag Area"
-
- The Tag command allows users to select/deselect areas
- by number. A list of available areas can be displayed
- by using the '/' key. (The list will always be
- displayed using the MsgFormat control line in MAX.CTL.
- You must have the "%*" option added to the beginning of
- the MsgFormat line, since it is used to show the user
- which areas have been tagged.) Message tagging
- information is stored across calls.
-
-
-
-
-
- Msg_Current Disgrace "*Current Message"
-
- This command simply allows the user to redisplay the
- current message.
-
- Msg_Browse Disgrace "Browse Messages"
-
- Max 2.0 introduces the Browse command, a powerful
- message database engine. B)rowse includes the
- functionality of S)can, L)ist, I)nquire, the
- mailchecker, and much more.
-
- The Browse command acts like a database query manager,
- since users can select a set of areas to search, a set
- of criteria to search for, and an operation to perform
- on the found messages.
-
- Users can select the current area, the set of areas
- selected through the Tag command, or all message areas.
-
- For message selection, users can pick:
-
- - ALL messages. This selects all messages in the
- specified areas.
-
- - NEW messages. This selects all messages above the
- lastread pointers in the specified areas.
-
- - YOUR messages. This selects all messages which
- are addressed to the current user.
-
- - FROM a specified message number. This selects all
- messages from a given message number and up.
-
- - SEARCH for specified criteria. Users can enter up
- to sixteen different keywords, using boolean
- AND/OR operators to connect each keyword. The
- search logic is menu-driven and easy to use.
-
- After selecting a set of areas and messages, Max allows
- the user to:
-
- - READ the specified messages. This displays the
- messages in full, allowing the user to reply or
- kill the message.
-
- - LIST the specified messages. This displays the
- messages one to a line, allowing the user to
- quickly scan messages which match the specified
- criteria.
-
- - PACK the specified messages. This will place all
- of the selected messages into a QWK mail packet,
- ready for the user to download.
-
-
-
-
-
- Msg_Edit_User SysOp "@Edit User"
-
- This command causes Max to fire up the user editor and
- perform an automatic search. Max will scan the "From:"
- field of the current message, search for the record,
- and present that user for editing. This is extremely
- handing for processing validation requests or other
- administrative tasks.
-
- * Max now supports 9-character area "numbers". Instead of the
- two-character limit of 1,296 message areas, Max supports a
- theoretically unlimited number of message and file areas.
- Area names are alphanumeric, so you can now call your areas
- "COMMENTS" and "MUFFIN" instead of "1" and "2".
-
- * Max can now handle FIDOUSER.LST searches. If you add the
- statement 'FidoUser D:\Path\FidoUser.Lst' to the MATRIX
- session of MAX.CTL, Max will automatically search
- FIDOUSER.LST to find the address of the recipient.
-
- * Max now has a feature similar to FrontDoor's NAMES.FD. If
- you place a file called NAMES.MAX in your system directory,
- Max will use it as an "alias" file for entering NetMail
- messages. NAMES.MAX has the following format:
-
- alias,name,address[,subject]
-
- You can have any number of aliases listed in NAMES.MAX. If
- Max spots a message addressed to "alias" (which can be done
- by entering the name directly at the prompt, forwarding
- messages, or doing carbon copies), your message will be
- automatically readdressed to "name". Example:
-
- jdh,Jesse David Hollington,1:225/1
- adf,Andrew Farmer,1:163/115
- sjd,Scott Dudley,1:249/106
-
- Entering the initials in the first column causes Max to
- readdress the message to the specified person and address.
-
- If a '*' is the first character on a line, that entry will
- only be accessible only to callers with a priv of SysOp.
- This is useful for protecting Areafix passwords and the
- like.
-
- * Max now comes with a *.MSG maintenance utility called MR.
- MR replaces both MaxRen and Renum, and it can purge,
- renumber and relink all in one step. By placing the "Renum
- Max <number>" and "Renum Days <age>" statements in MAX.CTL,
- you can renumber all of the *.MSG areas on your system with
- a single "MR" command.
-
- * If a file called RULES.BBS is placed in a *.MSG subdirectory
- (or a .SQR file is created for a Squish area), Maximus will
-
-
-
-
-
- display that file whenever callers enter the specified
- message area. (To display a file to users only once, see
- the comments on DESCRIPT.BBS in MAX_OP.PRN.)
-
- * Maximus will now accept the shorthand ".P" to reference a
- point off the current system. For example, if your address
- is defined as "1:249/106.0", entering ".8" at the NetMail
- address prompt would yield a destination address of
- "1:249/106.8".
-
- * The logoff comments area is now configurable. By placing
- the statement "Comment Area <anum>" in the SESSION section
- of MAX.CTL, Max can be instructed to use an area other than
- area 0. <anum> is the area "number" in which you want
- comments to be placed. The area number specified here also
- applies to the [leave_comment] MECCA token.
-
- * Max now has a new message header entry screen is now used
- for ANSI callers. This looks much better than the old
- message entry screen, and it allows for much more control.
- For example, SysOps can now edit the origination name and
- address, in addition to specify all of the NetMail
- attributes on one screen. <tab> and <shift-tab> can be used
- to switch between fields, and all of the command line
- editing features are also available.
-
- Through the "Chg_FSR" menu option, this new header can also
- be used when reading messages. The header will show each
- message's reply links and origination/destination
- information, in addition to other information that the
- standard header does not show.
-
- * The message editors now support a "carbon copy" feature. If
- the first line of your message has the following format:
-
- cc: name1, name2, name3
-
- Max will automatically forward your messages to the
- specified names. NetMail carbon copies can also be entered
- using the following format
-
- cc: name1 123/456, name2 234/567, name3 345/567
-
- Max will also search FIDOUSER.LST and NAMES.MAX when
- performing carbon copies.
-
- * Maximus now supports a "Conference" area type. Conference
- areas are similar to EchoMail areas, except that a PID is
- used instead of origin and tear lines. Conference areas are
- useful for GroupMail or SEEN-BYless EchoMail. MENUS.CTL now
- supports a "Conf" modifier, as do SCANBLD and MSGAREA.CTL.
-
- * Max now uses some deductive logic when quoting messages. A
- wide margin will be used when quoting text created with hard
-
-
-
-
-
- carriage returns, whereas a narrow margin will be used for
- quoting wrapped text. In addition, when creating replies to
- a message, Max will never "requote" a previously-quoted line
- in a message.
-
- * When checking for mail, Max won't report waiting NetMail
- messages unless they are addressed to the current system.
- The same goes for the ability to kill and read private
- NetMail.
-
- * When packing QWK messages from a NetMail area, Max will put
- a 'From:' line at the top of each message, indicating the
- origination address of that NetMail message. To ensure that
- your reply goes to the right place, quote the message,
- remove the quote initials, and change the 'From' to a 'To'.
-
- * Max now allows you to upload messages with any transfer
- protocol, internal or external.
-
- FILE AREA ENHANCEMENTS
-
- * Introduced a utility called FB. This program builds a
- binary file database based on the file information in
- FILES.BBS. If you use FB, Max can also perform upload dupe
- checking and global file downloading. FB should be used to
- recompile the database whenever you add or delete a file
- from an external program. (Max will automatically update
- the database when Killing or Uploading a file.)
-
- * If you are using FB, Maximus will use the binary data files
- when performing a Locate or a Newfiles. This means that the
- Newfiles command will be roughly 4 times faster than it was
- in 1.02, and the Locate command will be about twice as fast
- as before. If you have any files on a CD-ROM or WORM, the
- speed increase will be even more.
-
- * You can now allow "free file downloads". Files can be
- selected for "free download bytes" (file doesn't count
- against user's download limit), "free download time" (file
- doesn't count against user's time limit), or both.
-
- A slash and an identifying character can be placed before a
- file's description in FILES.BBS. If '/b' is used, Maximus
- will not count that file against the user's download quota.
- For example:
-
- MAX200-1.LZH /b This is Max 2.00!
-
- If you don't want to count the file against the user's time
- limit, use the following:
-
- MAX200-1.LZH /t This is Max 2.00!
-
- Finally, if you don't want to count the file against either
-
-
-
-
-
- the user's time of download quota, the following also works:
-
- MAX200-1.LZH /tb This is Max 2.00!
-
- * If a file called RUNFB.BAT exists in the Max root directory,
- Max will shell out to it after receiving an upload. This
- batch file can be used to recompile the file database with
- FB, plus perform any user-specified actions or conversions.
- Max will call this batch file with the following parameters:
-
- runfb.bat d:\max\area.dat 12 -u
-
- where d:\max\area.dat is the path to the current AREA.DAT
- file, "12" is the area that received the upload, and "-u" is
- a command-line parameter that tells FB to process the upload
- areas only.
-
- Ideally, runfb.bat would consist of the following:
-
- fb %1 %2 %3
-
- such that FB would be run as soon as an upload was received.
-
- However, if memory is tight, you can use the following
- configuration to run FB after the user logs off:
-
- In runfb.bat:
-
- echo fb %1 %2 %3 >>_runfb.bat
-
- In spawnbbs.bat:
-
- if exist _runfb.bat del _runfb.bat
- max -p%1 -b%2 -p%3
- if errorlevel x goto y
-
- ...
-
- if exist _runfb.bat call _runfb
- if exist _runfb.bat del _runfb.bat
-
- This will cause Max to queue the FB instructions until
- later, and run everything after the caller logs off.
-
- * Max can optionally shell out to a virus checker after
- receiving an upload. By placing the following command in
- the SESSION section of MAX.CTL:
-
- Upload Check Virus Vircheck.Bat
-
- Max will call VIRCHECK.BAT for each file uploaded. See
- MAX_REF.PRN for more information.
-
- * Max now supports upload dupe checking. If you use FB, Max
-
-
-
-
-
- can automatically scan for and refuse or delete duplicate
- uploads. Two separate, mutually-exclusive options are
- available in MAX.CTL:
-
- Upload Check Dupe
-
- For purposes of dupe checking, this option compares
- filenames only. Extensions are not checked, so ABCD.ZIP and
- ABCD.ARJ _will_ be treated as duplicate files.
-
- Upload Check Dupe Extension
-
- Compare full filenames. Extensions are checked, so ABCD.ZIP
- and ABCD.ARJ are NOT treated as dupes.
-
- * A new external protocol interface. Max is now capable of
- spawning external protocols directly; in most cases, no
- external protocol interfaces are required. Opus-style
- protocols are still supported. The distribution version of
- Max comes with protocol configurations for DSZ, MPt,
- BiModem, OKermit and OASCII. Please see PROTOCOL.CTL and
- MAX_REF.PRN for more information.
-
- * A new look for the download command. Users can enter
- multiple lines of files to transfer. The download command
- now allows global downloading (if FB is used), automatic
- logoff after download, transfer list editing, and so on.
-
- * Maximus now supports file tagging. The File_Tag command is
- used to "tag" a specified file for later downloaded. Up to
- a total of 30 files can be queued at any one time. The Tag
- command also supports global tagging, assuming that FB is
- used.
-
- * Max now has a new look (and a fancy box) for the canned
- upload/download protocol menu.
-
- * File descriptions can now be indented by a particular
- offset. The "FileList Margin <col>" can be used to start
- descriptions at a column other than 34. This option is
- useful in conjunction with external download counters, since
- it helps to keep file descriptions lined up in a vertical
- column.
-
- * The 'q' key can now be used to abort a new-file search at
- the "Enter date:" prompt.
-
- * Max can now display a file to the user when a download
- request would exceed that user's download limit, ratio, or
- time limit. The files EXCBYTES, EXCRATIO, and EXCTIME
- (respectively) will be displayed in addition to the standard
- "You don't have enough time/bytes/ratio" message.
-
-
-
-
-
- EXTERNAL PROGRAM TRANSLATION CHARACTERS
-
- * Maximus now supports the use of the percent-sign translation
- characters in the ECHOTOSS.LOG filename, as defined in
- MAX.CTL.
-
- * Max now supports the "%"-style translation characters for
- the [open] MECCA token.
-
- * The "First Menu" option in MAX.CTL can now include "%"
- translation characters.
-
- * Max now supports a number of new external program
- translation characters:
-
- Char Description
-
- %! This token embeds a newline inside a string. This may
- be useful for the [apb] MECCA token.
-
- %K This translates to the current task number, expressed
- as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
-
- %R All remaining stacked command, as entered at the last
- menu.
-
- %w The path to the current FILES.BBS-type file. This
- takes into account the alternate names which may be
- used by the `FileList' option in FILEAREA.CTL.
-
- %W The "steady baud rate", as passed via the -s command
- line switch.
-
- %x This translates to the current drive letter, in
- uppercase. This is used for several of the external
- protocol command lines.
-
- %X This translates to the lastread pointer in the current
- message area. This token only works while inside a
- message area.
-
- %Y This translates to the language number of the current
- user, with 0 being the FIRST language in MAX.CTL, 1
- being the SECOND language, and so on.
-
-
- MENU COMMANDS
-
- * Some of the menu commands not covered elsewhere include:
-
-
-
-
-
- Chg_Language Disgrace "@Language"
-
- This command allows the user to select a language file
- from those available on the system.
-
- Chg_Userlist Disgrace "%Show in Userlist"
-
- This option allows the user to "hide" his/her name in
- the userlist. If this option is turned off, that user
- won't appear in the userlist to anyone except the
- SysOp.
-
- Chg_Protocol Disgrace "$Protocol Default"
-
- This option can be used to select a default file
- transfer protocol. The default protocol can be any of
- the protocols available, including external protocols.
- If no protocol is specified, Maximus will ask the user
- to select a protocol before each download.
-
- Chg_Archiver Disgrace "&Archiver Default"
-
- The Chg_Archiver command allows the caller to select a
- default archiving program for QWK mail packing.
-
- * New options for custom menu handling:
-
- "SilentMenuHeader" can be used in place of "MenuHeader".
- SilentMenuHeader indicates that the message/file area entry
- functions should be performed, but nothing is to be
- displayed to the user. This should be used to replace a
- [message] or a [file] token at the top of a MenuFile or
- HeaderFile, since the SilentMenuHeader gives Max more
- information about the area itself.
-
- The "Stay" modifier can be used on a Display_Menu command.
- Normally, when Max executes a Display_Menu, it "leaves" the
- current message or file area. (If you are using the
- standard MenuHeaders, this would cause the header to be
- redisplayed.) However, "Stay" instructs Maximus to stay in
- the current message/file area when displaying the new menu,
- which is ideal for a "READ" submenu or other menus which
- hang off the main message menu.
-
-
- MULTI-NODE CHAT ENHANCEMENTS
-
- * The user's "Available for chat" setting is now saved in the
- user file, meaning that users who never wish to chat can
- make that setting permanent.
-
- * Changed the filename of the multi-node chat help file. Now,
- both the distribution version of MENUS.CTL and the internal
- "/?" command will display the file \MAX\MISC\CHATHELP.
-
-
-
-
-
- Prior versions of Maximus used \MAX\HLP\CHAT, so you may
- want to move some files around.
-
- * Added a "/s" command to the multi-line chat. "/s" will
- display a list of ALL users on the system (similar to the
- W)ho Is On option), as opposed to just users on the current
- channel.
-
- USER RECORD ADDITIONS
-
- * The user record has been expanded. Among other things, this
- means:
-
- * All Opus 1.0x utilities which rely on the user file
- format will no longer work. HOWEVER, all properly-
- written Max utilities should be able to run under the
- new user file with no problems. Only a very small
- number of utilities will fail to function with Max 2.0.
-
- * The key/lock system has now been expanded to 32 keys.
- Keys 1-8 have their usual meanings, and the letters 'A'
- through 'X' are used to access the remaining 24 keys.
-
- * A new subscription/expiry system. Max now supports
- user subscriptions based on expiry date or on-line
- usage. Please see MAX_OP.PRN and the user editor for
- more information.
-
- * The user's 'date of last call' has been converted into
- a DOS-style bitmapped date.
-
- * Max now supports 32-bit counters for the number of
- kilobytes uploaded and downloaded.
-
- * The user record now holds the user's default file
- transfer protocol, default language, "Show in Userlist"
- setting, default archiver, multi-node chat
- availability, the "NERD" setting, and more.
-
-
- EVENT CONFIGURATION
-
- * Maximus now supports an events configuration file. In
- addition to replacing all of the `Yell' information in
- MAX.CTL, this also encompasses external events for the WFC
- subsystem. Events are kept in an ASCII file named
- EVENTSxx.BBS, where 'xx' is the task number for which the
- event file applies. (If you are running a one-line system,
- then this will be called EVENTS00.BBS.)
-
- The Yell command can also be configured in the events file.
- On the basis of time, you can activate/deactivate the yell
- command, specify the number of times that the console will
- beep, specify the number of times that users can yell in one
-
-
-
-
-
- session, and specify the tune number to be played. (For
- more information on tunes, please see the "MISCELLANEOUS"
- section of WHATSNEW.PRN.)
-
- The "-e" command line switch can be used to select an
- alternate events file. By default, Max will look for a file
- called EVENTSxx.BBS, where `xx' is the current task number.
- However, if you wish to use the same event file for all
- tasks, the -e switch can be used to specify an alternate
- events file.
-
- SYSOP FUNCTIONS
-
- * The chat function has been changed from `C' to <Alt-C>.
- This should help to prevent the sysop from engaging the chat
- function by mistake.
-
- In chat mode, <Alt-T> can be used to display a file to the
- user. <Alt-C> can be used within chat to toggle the status
- of the chat log.
-
- * Max now uses a tiled window library with pop-up windows.
- These windows are used for sysop displays within MAX.EXE,
- thereby making SysOp interface much slicker and easier to
- use. Windows are only supported for the Video IBM and BIOS
- video modes. If you use DOS/FAST/FOSSIL, you are stuck with
- the old interface.
-
- There's now an easier way to adjust an on-line user's priv
- level if you are using Video IBM. Press 'S' from the local
- console, and simply follow the on-screen instructions.
- Notice that the user's session is NOT interrupted while you
- are modifying his user information.
-
- If you wish to remove any of the "floating" status windows
- from the screen, simply press <esc>.
-
- * Max now has a new "nerd" setting in the user editor.
- Enabling this flag tells Maximus to silence the yells of
- this user, and for that user alone. This flag will work
- regardless of the "!" yell setting. To toggle the NERD
- setting while a user is on-line, press <Alt-N>.
-
- * The "^" key in the user editor simply marks users for
- deletion. Deleted users can be purged from the user file
- with the new "|" command.
-
- MECCA TOKENS
-
-
-
-
-
- [msg_conf]
-
- The [msg_conf] token tells Max to display the rest of the
- line only if the current area is a Conference-style area.
- (See the "Conference" keyword in MSGAREA.CTL for more
- information.)
-
- [ifexist]<filename>
-
- Max will display the rest of the line only if the specified
- filename exists. the filename must be separated from the
- rest of the line by a space.
-
- [iftask]<tasknum>
-
- Max will display the rest of the line only if the current
- task number equals <tasknum>. <tasknum> should be specified
- in decimal, and the task number must be separated from the
- rest of the line by a space.
-
- [tune]<name>
-
- The [tune] token causes Max to play a tune from TUNES.BBS.
- <name> should specify the name of the tune that is to be
- played. For example, the following line:
-
- [tune]Yell1
-
- would cause the "Yell1" tune to be played on the local
- speaker.
- [iflang]<langnum>
-
- This token causes Max to skip the rest of the line unless
- the current language number is equal to <langnum>. NOTE!
- The FIRST language file defined in LANGUAGE.CTL is language
- 0, the SECOND file is language 1, and so on.
-
- If the user's current language matches the specified
- language number, then the rest of the line will be
- displayed. <langnum> should be separated from the rest of
- the line by a space.
-
- [language]
-
- The [language] token invokes the Chg_Language menu option.
-
- [ibmchars]
-
- The [ibmchars] token causes the rest of the line to be
- displayed only to those users who have IBM Characters
- enabled.
-
- [apb]<text>
-
-
-
-
-
- The [apb] token sends a message to all users currently
- on-line, assuming that the IPC support is enabled. The rest
- of the line will be send verbatim, although the outside
- translation characters will be translated.
-
- Example:
-
- [apb][yellow bell]%!User [lightgreen]%n[yellow] just logged
- on the system%!
-
- or even:
-
- Enter a message to send to all users: [readln]
- [apb][yellow bell]%!User "%n" says "%J"%!
-
- [ifkey]<keys>
-
- If the specified keys are set, Max will display rest of the
- line. You can specify as many keys as you like, but they
- must be separated from the rest of the line by a space.
-
- ie. [ifkey]123a You have keys 1-3 and key A set.
-
- [notkey]<keys>
-
- Same as above, except that the line will be displayed only
- if the specified keys are NOT set.
-
- ie. [notkey]8b You don't have either key 8 or key b.
-
- [keyon]<keys>
-
- This command turns ON the specified keys. <keys> must be
- separated from the rest of the line by a space.
-
- ie. [keyon]6abc User, you now have keys A-C and key 6.
-
- [keyoff]<keys>
-
- This command turns OFF the specified keys.
-
- ie. [keyoff]fgh Keys f, g and h have been taken away.
-
- * The '|' character can now be used to key_poke an <enter> for
- the download and tag commands, like everywhere else.
-
- * OACOMP-like priv tokens can also be used to test for keys:
-
- [EQ /1234abc]Keys 1-4 and keys a-c are set.
- [EQ Sysop/1234abc]Keys 1-4 and a-c are on, and you are the
- sysop.
-
- Note that NO extra space is required if you are using the
- OACOMP-like tokens.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- MAX.CTL ADDITIONS
-
- * A new keyword in the SESSION SECTION of max.ctl:
-
- Chat Capture On
-
- This causes the capture file to be automatically turned on
- whenever the SysOp enters chat mode.
-
- * By placing the statement 'Input Timeout <mins>' in the
- SESSION section of MAX.CTL, you can tell Max to hang up on a
- user after <mins> minutes of inactivity. <mins> should be a
- number of minutes between 1 and 255. The default value for
- the inactivity timer is 4 minutes. After this period of
- time, Max will send a warning message ("Please respond:")
- and will wait ONE MINUTE LONGER. If no input is received
- during that minute, Max will finally hang up.
-
- * The 'Alias System' and 'Ask Alias' keywords now function
- differently. If you are using a system which supports
- aliases, please see the section in MAX_REF.PRN dealing with
- these two keywords.
-
- * Running 'cvtusr -s' will swap the 'name' and 'alias' fields
- in a Max 2.00 user file. If you were using the
- alias/realname feature of Max 1.0x, then running this after
- the standard CVTUSR will be necessary. See the notes below
- on the alias/realname system.
-
-
- MISCELLANEOUS
-
- * During the new-user sequence, Maximus will now ask the user
- whether or not hotkeys are desired. A new help file,
- \MAX\MISC\WHY_HOT, has been created for this question.
-
- * A new command-line switch for CVTUSR: "-l" will correct
- crosslinked lastread pointers, without touching anything
- else in the user file.
-
- * Maximus now supports a "tunes" file; this file can be used
- to play custom tunes after certain actions. To tell Maximus
- where to find TUNES.BBS, you must add the following line to
- the SESSION section of MAX.CTL:
-
- Uses Tunes D:\Path\Tunes
-
- The format of TUNES.BBS is as follows:
-
- * <tag>
- [<note> ...]
-
- <tag> is simply a descriptive name assigned to the tune.
-
-
-
-
-
- This name must be one word only.
-
- On the next line, any number of notes may be specified.
- Each <note> is a pair of numbers: the first in the pair
- specifies the note's frequency in Hertz, and the second
- specifies the note's duration in hundredths of seconds.
- Each tune is terminated by a blank line.
-
- For example, the following defines a tune called "StarTrek",
- which plays the familiar Trek theme:
-
- * StarTrek
- 444 200 590 40 790 400 750 150
- 590 150 500 200 670 200 900 400
- 0 1000
-
- Note! If you are defining a tune to be used when Yelling,
- ensure that the tune ends with a pause of approximately one
- second. Otherwise, the yell sound may be continuous. Also,
- tunes to be played during a yell must be called 'Yell<num>',
- where <num> is the tune number specified in EVENTSxx.BBS.
-
- * Max and ORACLE now support a new mode for local output:
- 'Video BIOS' can be enabled to use BIOS screen writes. In
- addition, this mode is compatible with Max's status line, so
- you can now use the status line while running under
- DoubleDOS and other multitaskers.
-
- * Max's video mode can now be selected from the command-line:
-
- -vo FOSSIL (slowest)
- -vd DOS (slow)
- -vf FAST (medium)
- -vb BIOS (fast)
- -vi IBM (fastest)
-
- In addition, Oracle now supports the '-mb' command-line
- parameter, which selects the BIOS output mode.
-
- * Max now supports header types 1 and 2 for LHarc, which means
- that it can now correctly display the new-format files
- created by LHarc 2.0x.
-
- * Max now has support for using the Contents command on .ARJ
- files.
-
- * Added multitasker autodetect code. If you use 'Multitasker
- None' in MAX.CTL, Max will automatically determine which
- multitasker it's being run under. The multitaskers
- supported by Max are:
-
- - DESQview
- - DoubleDOS
- - PC-MOS
-
-
-
-
-
- - Windows 386/Enh
- - Multilink
- - Any other program which hooks the int 28h call
-
- * Max will now use AREA.NDX as the name for the primary area
- index, regardless of what is specified in MAX.CTL. SILT
- will also create an old-format AREA.IDX for compatibility
- with Max 1.02 programs.
-
- * If a user runs over his/her time limit, Max will now display
- \MAX\MISC\TIMEUP.BBS in addition to printing "TIME UP."
-
- * Max now has definable colours. See COLOURS.CTL for more
- details.
-
- * Max now has its own critical error handler. This handler is
- not terribly fancy, but it will instruct DOS to fail the
- operation after printing one of the following error messages
- through the BIOS:
-
- Critical error reading/writing drive X:
-
- or
-
- Critical error accessing device COMx
-
- This will stop the system from displaying an
- "Abort/Retry/Ignore" error message when a critical error
- occurs, such as when an open floppy drive is accessed from
- remote.
-
- If you do NOT wish to use the built-in critical error
- handler, place the statement "No Critical Handler" in the
- EQUIPMENT section of MAX.CTL.
-
- * The files YELL.BBS and NOTIN.BBS have been moved to the
- \MAX\MISC directory. (These files were originally in the
- main \MAX directory.)
-
- * The ~)Search command in the user editor can now be used to
- search for a phone number (in addition to the user's name).
-
- * In the user editor, the double quote key (") will undo any
- changes which have been made to the selected user. Once you
- have moved to a different user record, no changes can be
- undone.
-
- * The U)serList command now includes the city of each user.
-
-
- USER INTERFACE
-
- * Maximus now supports editing on the command-line. The
- <left>, <right>, <home>, <end>, <bs>, <del>, <ctrl-left>,
-
-
-
-
-
- and <ctrl-right> keys (and their ANSI/VT-100 equivalents)
- may now be used to position the cursor and edit commands
- before they are executed. However, command editing is only
- available to ANSI/AVATAR users. Command editing will not be
- activated until the user has logged on completely.
-
- * MaxEd now has a delete-right-word function. <ctrl-t> causes
- Max to delete the word to the right of the cursor.
-
- * Rewrote the ANSI code generation sequences. Maximus will
- now produce "near-optimal" ANSI code, both for the local
- DOS/FOSSIL modes and for remote users.