RBBS in a Box Volume 1 #2/RBBS_vol1_no2.iso/add2/ch100b4.zip/README.DOC

Text File | 1989-03-25 | 12KB | 278 lines

Release time of CompuHost 1.00ß 5:00pm on March 6, 1989

Last minute notes for CompuHost 1.00ß:

At the last second the bug that has been bothering us was fixed and
the 'Closed System' feature was implemented successfully.

The system now greets the caller when he logs on right after the mail
check.

Using a new technique CompuHost will have a faster 'Your Mail' search
then any other BBS or Host mode, including PC-Board 14.0 (tm), Qmodem 4.0,
and RBBS.

The Private message directory configuration option is now enabled, but it
is useless, due to lack of a working message system.  IT MUST NOT BE THE SAME
AS THE MESSAGES DIRECTORY.

---The changes under this comment have not been mentioned in the documentation
   due to the time they were implemented.

The DOORS path configuration selection has been added.

It is 3:01p on the 6th and the programming team has just finished the comment
routine.  In its current form it does not work with the external editor.  It
will not in this version.  Top managment has decided that the team should
now focus their efforts on a temporary message area, until the real one is
finished, this system is primitive to the one planned, but something is
better then nothing.

It is 3:22p on the 6th and the team has just finished a primitive message
base to supplement for the absence of the real one.  It is quite like BOYAN's
but the real one will be more like PC-Board's.

It is 3:56p on the 6th and we have just finished the new user's questionaire.
The script name is NEWUSER and the answers are put in NEWUSER.ANS, both these
files must be located in the main CompuHost directory.

It is 4:16p, the programming team has decided on a new file format for
expanding the users file.  Like the messages, there will be a seperate file
for each user.  This takes up a few bytes more, but it is much faster.  It
has not been decided if this file will be part of the user's message file yet.
Do not fear the user's file format will be changed.  All other formats will
be appened to the end of the new users file.

5:25:13p  WHEW! top management has delayed the release until 5:45pm.  That
          gives us some time.  We are working on implementing the new user's
          format.

5:37p     We have implemented the CALLBACK feature.  There was no time
          to test it remotely but we are confident that it works.
          A file, "callback.ch", displays information to the user on
          the call back procedure and misc. things.  Can be edited.

5:40p     ARCVIEW now checks for existance of file.  Next version will
          allow the name with either the .ARC or without.

5:43p     User's file renamed USER.CH.  This was done to conform with
          other extensions.  New user's file is now created with every
          new user (USERNAME.INF)

5:45pm    Time tables were met.  CompuHost 1.00ß is now offically launched.

8:00pm    WHOOPS!!  Fortunately, we have not released any copies to BBS's yet.
          One of our programmers found a problem with one of the windows of
          the program.  The time it took to fix this gave us time to enchance
          the [A]rcView feature to allow files with or without the .ARC ext.
          typed.  CompuHost will be sent to bulletin boards Tuesday or
          Wednesday.


-----------  VERSION 1.00ß2 is out -----------

Today it is the 12th of March.  I have a few things to say:

A> Anyone wish to write some documentation?  We do not write very good
   documentation.

B> I finally recived Qmodem 4.0.  I must congratulate  Mr. Friel on a job well
   done.  However, at CompuProducts Ent., we are committed to mataining a lead
   in user interface and technological advancement.  To respond to this
   formidable chalenge, we are implementing a new and better message editor,
   and in this version we have added the capacity for external extentions.
   Quite simply put, they are compiled SALT scripts that the sysop may write
   to customize his BBS.  Note: If you have a menu selection called '1',
   CompuHost will execute a script called '1'. If you are in local mode,
   an 'L' is added to the end of the script name, so if you selected '1'
   in local mode CompuHost would execute a script called '1L'.  Note:
   A extension name may not be more then seven characters, due to the fact
   an 'L' will be added in local mode.  The scripts TESTEXT.SLT and
   TESTEXTL.SLT, are included as examples.

C> This program will be in BETA for a very long time.  This is because we
   do not get many chances to test this program remotely.  This does not
   mean no features will be added.  It means features will be added in a
   different version method. BETA 1, BETA 2, BETA 3, etc.

D> We, at CompuProducts Ent., are extremely apoligetic about the bugs that
   this first version shipped with.  While we have corrected many of them,
   a few still remain.  Keep with us.  It follows our two rules:
   1> Now is better then later
   2> Follow your time tables.

   While some of you might disagree, please note that you may avoid
   CompuHost until the bugs are out.  Thank you.  Management.

Bugs Fixed:

CALLBACK -- It was always active

THE MESSAGE HEADER -- It printed Msg#, this is part of the comming advanced
                   message base.  It is now taked out.

DETERMINING BAUD MESSAGE -- The screen was erased before it printed.

MAIL CHECK -- It is part of the comming message base.  Removed for now.

Other little things.

CompuHost only checks for the exsistance of the upload and download
directories.  We all know you can find a way around anything if you want
and if you enter a invalid name for anything else it is not checked.  We
are not going to add checking because of the space it takes.  We might,
if we find a decent method, that does not take up much space.

Note:  If your modem always fails to detect the baud rate, try setting it to
       300 Baud befroe you run CompuHost.  If that doesn't work set it to the
       baud rate of the caller that is about to call.


----------- CompuHost 1.00 BETA 3 is Released -------------- 03/17/89 ----

Main Enchancements:  This version was made to speed up CompuHost and save
                     some disk space.  Also a bug-fix release (maint.)
                     Cosmetic changes.

New features/Bugs Fixed:

Baud Rate settings fixed!  Your modem MUST return result codes (CONNECT,
 CONNECT 1200, CONNECT 2400, etc).

Checks for existance of ALL directories.  We actually SAVE a few bytes with
our new method.

Some unused code was removed.

CompuHost now does not re-initialize the modem after every caller.

The 'DIRECTORIES DOES NOT EXIST' error window now is displayed properly

CompuHost now does not check for directory structre after every caller.
We might put this back on the basis a sysop may shell to DOS and change the
directory paths.

The USER EDITOR code has been removed.  It was quite a large piece of code
and had a bug that made it useless.  Until that bug is fixed,  the user
editor will not be put back.  This saved over 1K of disk space, and 8K of
RAM when executing.

We have added to the USERNAME.INF file.  The format is as follows:

Business/Data Phone Number
         Home Phone Number
         Password
         Access Level

If a piece of information is not found, it will be asked for, and then
recorded in the USERNAME.INF file for subsequent reference.  Expect a
user editor based upon this file in a comming version.  Also look for
Upload and Download numbers/ratio.

We thought we had the [Baud Rate Status] message fixed, but we didn't.
It is fixed now.

Expert mode OFF message added when the user switches from expert to novice.

The [Sysop: [F8] For command menu] message has been removed.  It caused
numerous display problems.

CompuHost is now compatible with the SHEDIT wrap-around character.  This
character is the standard with QuickBBS editors. (Except Quick-Ed which
already inserts a CR/LF after each line).

We have added a menu for level 1 users.  This means each level has its
own menu. The menu names are as following:

MENU1.CH  --  Access Level I
MENU2.CH  --  Access Level II
MENU3.CH  --  Access Level III

The menus have apropriate prompts (i.e.  CompuHost New user Menu Command > )

All commands that have not been assigned a access level now have been
assigned one.

-------- BETA 4 IS OUT! ---------------- 03/24/89 ---------- 5:45pm -------

                           Main enchancements:  A completely revamped and
                                                better configuration program
                                                that has auto-install and
                                                fewer paths.  Other.


NO MORE PATHS!! : We have effectively removed alot of paths. The new
                  configurable paths are:  Uploads, Downloads, Misc.,
                  Messages. The extensions for files that go in the
                  MISC path are as follows:

     Script Questionnaire Files    -- .SCR
                   File Listings   -- .DIR
                   Help Files      -- .HLP
                   Bulletins       -- .BLT
                   *DOORS          -- .BAT
                   Extensions      -- .SLC

     The extensions for the MESSAGES directory are as follows:

              **Private Message    -- .PRV
             ***Normal Messages    -- NONE

  * -- The DOORS directory is simply a batch file.  This batch file may
       direct DOS to a different path.  This was to prevent forcing Sysops
       to set up a DOORS path.

 ** -- Private messages have not been implemented yet.

*** -- No extension is added to a normal (Public) message.

We had numerous complaints about too many paths.  This begins to fix them.
We would have liked to condense messages in to MISC, but that would make the
MISC directory harder to maintain.  Also we would have liked to condense the
Upload/Download directories, but having two is a "feature", and to do so would
lower the technical excelence of the product.

Complete instalation is now preformed.  The configuration program, will at
your request, make all the specified directories, and copy the files to
the proper directories.  To use this feature, just press 'Y' in the config
program asks if you want to use 'Auto-Install'.  This was done in response
to the people who complained installation was too hard.

Messages 'TO' someone are now allowed.  This is the first part of the new
message system.

The Caller's/User log was re-named to [LOG.CH]

Upload bug fixed (Always asked for decription etc. even if upload was aborted)

Download bug fixed (Always said Insufficent Access! Found in BETA 2, BETA 3)

Log on routines now function correctly in all aspects

A CR/LF is now given after some newuser questions.  This was accidentally
ignored in previous versions.

The Auto-Install compiles the TESTEXT.SLT and TESTEXTL.SLT automaticly.
It then deletes the sources.

When using Auto-Install, make sure you are in the directory in which you
wish for CompuHost to be installed.

Several people have complained about a 'BUG' that skips the first letter of
the name when writing the .MSG and .INF files.  This is NOT a bug.  This
was done, so there could be more options of names.  Such as in PETE and PETER.
With the first letter included they would both come out to PETE.  With the
second leter method, it would come out to ETE, and ETER.  Management.

The HELP files are finished.  Due to DOS limitations, there can not be a help
file for commands [+]EFL, [?]Redisplay, [^Z]Shutdown

The [L]ister, [Y]our Mail, and [S]cript help files are not finished.  See
below.

Talk about hidden commands!  We accedentally forgot to put the [L] command on
the menu.  This command allowed you to enter a new BBS on the list, or view
the list.  SORRY!

Also accedentally left out: [Y]our Mail, [S]cript Questionnaire  SORRY!