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ROS version 3.7 Release Notes These notes describe features and corrections added since version 3.6, including those made in 3.61 (a maintenance release). Many suggestions have been made for improvements to ROS, the two most frequently received have been for file descriptions and the ability to type from within an archive. Both features, as well as several others have been added with this release. This file is intended for sysops currently running ROS 3.6 or 3.61 as an aid to conversion. Complete system documentation is contained in ROSSYS.DOC. File catalog system A fully integrated file catalog system has been added to ROS. Not only does this system maintain one-line descriptions for all files, several other data fields and commands make the sysop's job easier. For example, ROS will automatically migrate files from the "NEWIN" area to their "home" area, then to "DUSTY," and finally to "ARCHIVE." Each of these move depends on the expira- tion of a time period for the file and can be made to take place without any action by the sysop. To support this catalog data- base, an editor has been added, similar to the user file editor, which completely replaces the "NEWIN" area editor. Typing text files from within ARChives ROS has always had the ability to type files from libraries (.LBR) and since version 3.5 could display the directory of ar- chives (.ARC). Now, full support has been provided for archives with the ability to type text files and download from within an archive using Xmodem protocol. This file then becomes an archive in its own right on the destination system and can be extracted with most archive utilities. ROS is fully compatible with ARC version 5.21 by System Enhancement Associates and with PKARC version 3.5 by Phil Katz, including type 9 or "squashed" files. Improved text editor Insert and delete have been added to the message and macro text editor. Version display While in the sysop sub-system, enter a "V" for version. ROS will display its internal version number, that of DOS, and of DESQview if present. Initialize system files An "initialize" command has been added for sysops that normally operate their system from a remote site. With this command, ROS can be forced to read new AREA.ROS and SYSMTXT.ROS files. Nor- mally, these files are only read at startup. Brief directory toggle A brief directory toggle allows display of file directories in a format similar to that of previous versions or in the newer ex- panded description format. Date entry The format for entry of date into the system has been changed to day, month, year and the parsing code has been improved. User record editor When given the command to edit a user, ROS will immediately enter the edit menu at the first record or the last edited record. Previous versions were supposed to lock-out alternate sysops from displaying records of users, the sysop for example, with a high- er access level. While the <S>elect command did so, <N>ext and revious could be used to access these records. This has been corrected. Interrupt Driven I/O Drivers Communications port I/O is now fully interrupt driven (thanks to Blaise Computing and their excellent tools). This improves the user response and makes the system much more amenable to multi- tasking. ROS is fully "aware" of is DESQview and gives up any excess portion of its time slice. This improves operation with programs in other windows. The communications port driver uses a separate program, LCOMX.EXE which MUST BE RUN FIRST. If not, ROS will issue an error message and quit. This RAM resident program may be installed from the AUTOEXEC.BAT or from a batch file which also starts ROS. The advantage of AUTOEXEC.BAT is that LCOMX needs to be run only once, regardless of how many times ROS is brought up and down (without doing a warm or cold boot), and is also capable of sup- porting two copies of ROS simultaneously, e.g. under DESQview. In other words, this program is RAM resident and should be run exactly one time each time the computer is brought up from a warm or cold boot. Status Line Several changes have been made to the status line. Instead of cramming the access level, time on, and time left into one block, the time on and time left are separated with a diamond in one block. The access level is by itself in the next block to the right. The first field on the status line displays the current connect rate. The pulse indicator is now the time of day which alternates highlights to keep the screen from burning. Command Line Parameters Three command line parameters are available in this version: /d instructs ROS to ignore modem responses and clear-to- send (CTS) to assist in direct connections, i.e. directly connected to another computer instead of through a modem. /m enables modem input and output display on line 24 of the display. This is very useful when first setting ROS up with a new modem. The left half of the line shows output to the modem, the right displays the modem responses (arrows in the middle of the line assist in remembering which is which). /o=x allows the sysop to specify a path to the ROS overlay files (ROS.00?). If this parameter is omitted, ROS will try to find its overlay files in the default (current) directory. The value "x" may be set to any valid sub-directory on any disk drive, including a RAM disk. /r rebuilds the user and catalog data files, then the associated index files. Expert Mode Toggle Users may now enter an "X" to toggle expert mode on and off, i.e. help level 1 or 3. As sysop, you will still enter the sysop sub- system. While there, an "X" will have the same response as for the users. Time Initiated Macros When starting, ROS looks at the MACRO.ROS file for line entries beginning with a colon (":"). If it finds such a line, ROS will parse the line for a time in the form "hh:mm:ss" which will be used to initiate the macro on the rest of the line. The macro, starting with the first character after the time, will be played back to the system just as if the characters were coming from a remote site or from the local console at the appointed time. Since the system expects a valid login, you must include a user name and password in the macro. In this "Internal Login" mode, the pagination line counter is disabled so that ROS does not have to wait for a "More" response. A sample macro file, MACRO.ROS, demonstrates time initiated macros. This macro file logs in, updates the catalog, and logs out. You will have to add your own password in where it says "PASSWORD." The F7 function key may be used to simulate the passage of the time specified in the macro to facilitate testing. DOS Shelling DOS shelling is available in the sysop sub-system by pressing "J" for <J>ump to DOS. If logged in remotely, ROS will require a batch file name. If local, you may either enter a batch file (ROS will assume a file extent of ".BAT" if not specified) or simply press <RET>. While in DOS, you may execute any normal DOS command (be careful with the ROS system files - they are still open!). After all DOS commands have been completed, type "exit" to return to ROS where you left off. Using the DOS shell command remotely DOS has an internal command "CTTY" which redirects standard con- sole I/O to the specified device. Normally, this device will be COMx where "x" is either 1 or 2, indicating the COM port that ROS was using. For example, if your batch file contains the single line "CTTY COM1", when you jump to DOS remotely and tell DOS to execute this batch file, you will still have access to your com- puter even though you are now running DOS! When you have comple- ted your work in DOS, type "EXIT" to return to ROS where you left off. CAUTION: to re-establish interrupt driven I/O with the COM port, ROS has to close the port and then open it again. This will briefly drop DTR which may hang up the modem if it is set to respond to DTR. If you need access to DOS remotely, you MAY need to set your modem so that it does not respond to the loss of DTR by hanging up. Open vs. closed systems Most systems will run "open," that is, new users will be allowed some access and will eventually be allowed to register for full access. Certain applications, notably government and private systems, require a more carefully controlled environment. For these situations, ROS provides a closed system in which users must be pre-registered. If a user calls who is not already loaded, ROS will display a message (written by the sysop) and immediately disconnect. Corrections to errors in previous versions Version 3.61 had some problems with the EGA which have been fully corrected - ROS uses only BIOS calls for all video I/O. While this makes some operations such as the signon a little slower, it eliminates all compatibility questions. All known Xmodem protocol transfer problems that were present in version 3.6 have been corrected. Several other minor bugs have been corrected, and many internal "flow" changes have been made to improve operation and appearance. Deletions The WaitRing parameter has been deleted from the CONFIG.ROS file. The commands <R>edirect and <D>elete have been removed from the sysop sub-system since they are implied by other commands in the catalog editor. SYSMTXT changes The following are menus that have changes/additions with this release. Please incorporate them into your system. :HM - Help for message sub-system Message Sub-System ==== Functions ==== ==== Bulletins ==== == System Changes == <A>nswer last msg ulletin <G>oodbye (logoff) <C>hange msg area <1> Turbo User Group <F>ile Sub-System <D>elete a msg <2> Xmodem tility Sub-System <E>nter a msg <3> ROS <X>pert mode toggle nfo for new users <O>ther systems list <Q>uick-scan messages <R>ead messages <S>can messages :HF - Help for file sub-system File Sub-System =============== Functions =============== == System Changes == rief dir toggle <F>ilesize display <G>oodbye (logoff) <C>hange file area <N>ewin list <M>essage Sub-System <D>irectory of files <W>here is file tility Sub-System <L>ibrary or archive open/close <X>pert mode toggle <R>eceive file using Xmodem protocol (you --> ROS) <S>end file using Xmodem protocol (ROS --> you) <T>ype ASCII or squeezed file (Xon/Xoff supported) :HU - Help for utility sub-system Utility Sub-System =============== Functions =============== == System Changes == <A>lter configuration <S>tatistics <G>oodbye (logoff) <C>hat with sysop <T>ime and date <F>ile Sub-System <R>egister for access ser list <M>essage Sub-System <X>pert mode toggle :HE - Help for editing text ======= Text Editing Functions ======= === Editor Commands === CTRL-A Move cursor one word left <C>ontinue text entry CTRL-S Move cursor one character left <D>elete selected line CTRL-D Move cursor one character right <E>dit a selected line CTRL-F Move cursor one word right nsert new text TAB Space to next tab position <L>ist current text Backspace, RUB, or <S>ave text to disk DEL Delete character left of cursor <Q>uit without saving CTRL-G Delete character at cursor CTRL-X Delete line left of cursor RETURN Complete line entry New characters are inserted into the existing line. If there are characters to the right of the current cursor position, they will be moved over to make space. Insertions will not be shown until the line is explicitly re-listed. :HS - Help for sysop sub-system Sysop Sub-System =============== Functions =============== == System Changes == <A>udit trail toggle <L>ist system files <G>oodbye (logoff) <C>atalog operations <O> Macro operations <F>ile Sub-System <E>dit user record urge files <M>essage Sub-System nitialize files <T>oggle printer tility Sub-System <J>ump to DOS <V>ersions <X>pert toggle :HR - Help for edit user record Add Delete Edit Force Next Previous Registered Select Validate Quit :HY - Help for catalog system Build Describe Edit Leaders Post Reconcile Quit :HZ - Help for catalog record editor Add Delete Backward Forward Previous Next Change Select Edit Hide Release Quit