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WHATSNEW.120
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1993-04-11
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==========================================================================
SUMMARY OF WHAT'S NEW IN HS/LINK VERSION 1.20
==========================================================================
HS/Link version 1.20 corrects all known problems in version 1.12 and adds a
number of new features and options. This version can successfully connect
and transfer files with prior HS/Link release versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.12.
Earlier "Alpha" (α) or "Beta" (ß) version numbers represent unfinished
versions and should not be used.
HS/Link version 1.20 is a direct replacement for version 1.12 and does not
require any change in command line options or configuration options. There
are a number of NEW options you may want to take a look at.
The most important new feature is the "CHAT" function, which allows you to
CHAT with the remote user during a file transfer. You must have a registered
copy of HS/Link to initiate a CHAT. Unregistered copies can still CHAT if a
remote registered copy initiates the CHAT.
The following options have been added or enhanced:
-CPn Control the position of the status display. Use a setting of -CP0
to move HSLINK's display UP so that the bottom two lines will be
untouched.
-FTn Control NS16550AN Fifo Threshold. Higher thresholds reduce
interrupt overhead but increase the chances of a receiver OVERRUN
error under multi-taskers such as Desqview and Windows.
-I4 Give up idle time under Windows, OS/2, DOS 5 and other
environments that support the "int 2fh/ax=1680h" idle call.
-N! Do not force remote to use local settings. Will override any
previous -! option in either the command line or a configuration
file.
-NA Disable Alternate XON/XOFF method for compatibility with versions
1.0 and 1.12.
-NEn Controls the number of repeated errors that will abort a file
transfer.
-NG Do not allow Control-G (BEEP) characters in CHAT mode. This keeps
remote callers from beeping your speaker during a file transfer.
-NK Do not keep aborted downloads. Will override any previous -K
option in either the command line or a configuration file.
-T If you include -T in the HSLINK command line, you will be placed
into a simple mini terminal emulation prior to starting the
transfer.
==========================================================================
DETAILED LIST OF CHANGES IN VERSION 1.20
==========================================================================
Added -CP option to control the position of the status display. The default
is -CP2, which causes HSLINK to leave the top 2 lines untouched. Use a
setting of -CP0 to move HSLINK's display UP so that the bottom two lines
will be untouched. This solves problems with some BBS softwares that
protect the bottom two lines of the screen.
Added -FTn option to control NS16550 Fifo Threshold. Possible values are
-FT1, -FT4, -FT8, -FT14. Higher thresholds reduce interrupt overhead but
increase the chances of a receiver OVERRUN error under multi-taskers such as
Desqview and Windows. The default is now -FT4.
Added -I4 option to give up idle time under Windows, OS/2, DOS 5 and other
environments that support the "int 2fh/ax=1680h" idle call.
Added -N! (do not force remote to use local settings) option to override any
previous -! option in either the command line or a configuration file.
Added -NE option to control the number of repeated errors that will abort a
file transfer. The default is to abort at 20 consequtive errors, but some
users may wish to set this to a higher or lower number.
Added -NG option to block Control-G (BEEP) characters in CHAT mode. This
keeps remote callers from beeping your speaker during a file transfer.
Added -NK (do not keep aborted downloads) option to override any previous -K
option in either the command line or a configuration file.
Added a check for
SET HSERR=path\logfile
to enable a new error logging facility. When enabled, most screen
information and error messages are logged to the specified logfile.
Added a mini terminal feature. If you include -T in the HSLINK command
line, you will be placed into a simple terminal emulation prior to starting
the transfer.
Added logic to allow the link to continue in CHAT mode when all file
transfers are completed. The link will terminate when CHAT is manually
terminated with ESC or when 30 seconds of idle time elapse.
Added logic to automatically reduce 'window' size when flow control appears
to be failing. This helps to save failing PC Pursuit sessions.
Added logic to cancel a link when the same error is reported ten times in
sequence.
Added logic to detect failure of flow control to suspend flow in slow
handshake mode prior to disk activity. When flow continues for 3 seconds
after flow control is asserted, the message Warning: Flow control failure!
Slow handshake disabled. will be displayed and the -HS option will be
disengaged for the rest of the session.
Added logic to force a special COMM driver mode when -FT16 and higher are
specified. In this mode attempts will be made to perform multiple character
i/o per interrupt service, even when the UART appears to be an 8250 or
16540. This logic may improve the performance with some internal modems,
such as the Forval, but may cause the transfer to fail with others. Use with
caution.
Added logic to give priority to the lower serial numbered copy when two
registered copies attempt to use the -! option. This may save transfers
that would otherwise fail due to conflicting setting overrides.
Added logic to insure proper operation under marginal memory conditions.
Added logic to prevent internal transmit queue overflows when using large
blocks and very high effective speed settings.
Added logic to warn the user when an invalid registration code is entered,
rather than triggering the tamper detection logic.
Changed initial handshake logic to default to new alternate XON/XOFF
encoding method, instead of first attempting the old method. This should
speed up the initial handshake process and also prevent some occasional
handshake failures. Added -NA option to disable this logic for
compatibility with release 1.12 and earlier.
Changed transfer abort logic to exit more quickly if ^X is typed 6 or more
times. Otherwise HSLINK will wait for remote data flow to stop before
releasing control.
Changes in batch status window calculation to base time estimate on the
direction with the most estimated TIME remaining rather than the batch with
the most BYTES remaining to transfer. This should prevent the estimates
from jumping around as much.
Changes to eliminate all remaining false "exit code 2" conditions following
a successful transfer.
Corrected HSCONFIG to set MONO default colors only when a new configuration
file is being created.
Correction in batch status totals when files are skipped in the incoming
files window.
Implemented proper RTS handshake in addition to XON/XOFF when receive buffer
nears overflow.
Internal changes to correct operation with the internal Intel Satisfaxion
Modem/400E.
Internal changes to guard the codes 0x91 and 0x93 when XON/XOFF handshake is
enabled. This change was required because some common FOSSIL drivers accept
these codes as alternates for the normal 0x11 and 0x13 XON/XOFF codes. This
solves problems with XON/XOFF handshake via PC Pursuit. The remote must be
running version 1.13ß or later for this logic to go into effect.
Internal changes to protect the CR-@-CR sequence used by PC Pursuit to
escape to a command mode.
Internal changes to reduce memory requirements by about 10k compared to
earlier versions. Hslink works best with about 103000 bytes of ram, but
will now work successfully with at little as 78000 bytes.
Note: When running HS/Link in Windows Enhanced mode and you are getting COM
Overrun errors, you may need to add the following statement in the [386Enh]
section of your SYSTEM.INI file:
COM1BUFFER=8192 ;if you are using COM1, or
COM2BUFFER=8192 ;if you are using COM2
The following ERRORLEVEL codes are now possible:
ERRORLEVEL Reason for link termination
---------- ----------------------------------------
0 One or more files transferred successfully
1 ^X typed at local keyboard
2 ^X received over COM port
3 Incompatible BETA versions
4 No files transmitted or received
5 Remote did not respond within 2 minutes
6 Too many framing errors, possible -B mismatch
7 Possible tampering or corruption in HSLINK.EXE
8 Possible tampering or corruption in HSLINK.EXE
9 COM port not responding, incorrect -P options
10 Carrier lost during initial handshake with remote
11 Link aborted due to CTS lockup
12 Bad command line or config file option
13 Repeated identical errors in excess of -NE setting
The HS/Link program and installation tips files are now available via FTP at
simtel20.army.mil in PD1:<MSDOS.MODEM> !!!
The most reliable operation under Microsoft Windows seems to occur when the
-N5 option is used, even if the COM port actually does have the NS16550AN
attached.
The new CHAT mode is now a "registered" feature. If you are running an
unregistered copy of HSLINK, you will not be able to INITIATE a CHAT, but
you can CHAT with the remote if the remote is registered and initiates the
CHAT.
The new FOSSIL version of HS/Link was created. See FHSLINK.EXE and
FHSLINK.DOC for details.
To initiate a CHAT, just hit ENTER ... two CHAT windows will pop up and you
will have a two-way CHAT. Press the ESCAPE key to close the CHAT windows.
The remote must be using version 1.13α or newer.