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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.
-
-
-