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1992-01-01
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PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 1 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 7.10
Released January 1st, 1992
As new features where developed for PKInsert, it was chewing up an
increasing amount of memory. This came from using Arrays which kept
positions and archive information in memory. Although fast, it is not
practical for large applications.
Prompted by WWIV SysOps, which have very little memory to work with, I
started re-writing large sections of PKInsert. Version 7.10 is the
result. Almost all Arrays have been eliminated and the information
they once contained is now handled by temporary database files. Each
archive's information is held within a 100 byte record.
Not only does this new structure improve memory requirements, but it
also eliminates previous wild-carding restrictions!
Added a new ARJ parameter for inserting comments only. If PKInsert
V7.00 was configured to insert an archive comment, but not add files,
ARJ would add all the files in a directory to the archive. This is a
default action by ARJ and could not be countered without adding
another set of ARJ parameters to the configuration file.
Thanks to our beta test team:
Skoal Bandit Howell
John Theos Montreal Quebec
Edward Huzyk Pierrefonds Quebec
Denis Grenier Repentigny Quebec
Shawn Rausch Dublin Ohio
Troy Hunt Cincinnati Ohio
And special thanks to John Eason of Crofton Maryland for his
suggestions, and bug reports. Without his input, PKInsert might not
have been so complete.
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 2 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 7.00
Released December 4th, 1991
I'm very proud of this release. Although the amount of new features
may not seem lengthy, it took me several days to work them in 'just
right'. By no means is this the end of the PKInsert saga, I'm already
planning a few additions for V7.00 and a major one for V8.00.
New Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've re-worked the entire tagline structure. Version 7.00 will still
pick up taglines from Versions 6.xx.
HANDLING OF ZIP, LZH, AND ARJ ARCHIVES! This was the hole reason
behind Version 7.00. You really don't have to worry about what
standard your feeding PKInsert (or which types are nested).
Since Version 6.00, PKInsert has always recognized archives by their
unique signatures. This prevents nested archives from hiding
themselves under different names. Following are the signatures
Version 7.00 uses to distinguish the different compression types.
Beginning of File End of File
==================== ===========
PKZIP/UNZIP 50 4B 03 04 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
LZH .. .. 2D 6C 68 .. 2D .. .. .. ..
ARJ 60 EA .. .. .. .. .. 60 EA 00 00
ARJ-SFX 4D 5A .. .. .. .. .. 60 EA 00 00
**********************************************************************
WARNING: PKInsert V7.00 will NOT read or convert configuration files
of older versions! Although this makes upgrading a bit longer, it
saves on code size.
**********************************************************************
Version 6.62
Released November 24th, 1991
Pkinsert now calls Pkzip/unzip and Scan with full path names. It was
reported that archives containing Pkzip/Pkunzip (.Exe/.Bat/.Com) where
being executed instead of the systems own Pkzip/Pkunzip.Exe.
Special thanks to John Eason of Crofton Maryland, USA for reporting
this rather sensitive bit of information.
Version 6.61
Released November 20th, 1991
Premature EOF characters (Ascii 26) in archive comment would cause
system freeze.
Version 6.6
Released November 14th, 1991
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 3 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Auto-park cursor at column/row 1/1 for clearer displays when running
in DESQview window.
Added logic to compare previous history taglines against each other to
filter out duplicates.
Eliminated the node number configuration value which was used to
create work directories. This new version, using a random number
seed, sequentially seeks an available directory name (it always
bothered me to keep track of which node number I was using).
Also eliminated the configurable Network delay retry attempts value.
It's now hard-coded for 5 retries.
Added display of errorlevel code on exit.
Pound (#) signs within TEXT ENTRIES are replaced with the current node
number (except in the Tagline field). Node numbers are retrieved from
the Pcboard.Sys and/or Door.Sys file in the current directory. If
none is available, the node number defaults to zero (0).
Example:
Config Value D:\PKINSERT\NODE-#.LOG
Becomes D:\PKINSERT\NODE-0.LOG (default value)
(/L)OG PATH PARAMETER IS NO LONGER VALID. Using the above feature, it
is possible to customize the log file names for every node.
Those wishing to retain ONE configuration file in a MULTI-USER
environment, and do not have Pcboard.Sys and/or Door.Sys available,
you may specify node numbers using the (/N)ode parameter.
Bugs Squashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If file swapping went past two on a @filelist it would create a
conflict with another open file. Fixed by having the compiler assign
free file handles instead of assigning them myself.
Version 6.5
Released October 22nd, 1991
Refer to the Pkinsert.Doc manual for upgrade instructions. Special
thanks to John Theos from AAxiss BBS for Beta testing.
New Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Errorlevel 113 exit for 'Unknown Configuration File Format'.
Errorlevel 114 exit for 'Unable to Locate File' (see next feature).
Depending on the configuration options chosen, Pkinsert will verify
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 4 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
the location of the executable it will need (Pkzip, Pkunzip, and
Scan). Since Pkinsert moves around quite a lot (keeps DOS shell
commands short), it will ONLY search Pathed directories. Failure to
locate a needed file will cause Pkinsert to end with an error.
If a Pcboard V14.5a Pcboard.Sys or Door.Sys file exists in the
start-up directory, Pkinsert will log the node number, user name, and
bps rate (and city if Door.Sys is available). Pkinsert will also use
the node number to create it's work directory, overriding a previous
node number value. Node number priority sequence follows (least to
most):
Configuration File
Environment Variable
Command Line
Pcboard.Sys
Door.Sys
Improved the standard log file output. Now includes many of the same
results as the Fail and Pass log files.
I finally had time to incorporate a feature which had been pinned on
my cork board for quite a while, called "Tagline History". PKinsert
will keep a record of past system Taglines in the archive comment
screen. SysOps and Users can then track the trajectory an archive
took through various systems. This feature is enabled by setting the
"Number of Taglines to Keep :" bigger than zero. Pkinsert must also
Test, Delete, or Scan in order to pick up the tagline information.
When disabled, PKinsert will clear any old Histories.
Note - Pkinsert recognizes taglines through a unique 4 byte
signature. Other utilities wishing to be compatible or use
Pkinsert's tagline info, should use this standard. The 4
byte signature comes immediately after a Cr/Lf sequence in
the archive comment.
Signature (in Hex): FF 08 xx FF {Tagline}
Pkinsert will not delete Pkzip.Exe and Pkunzip.Exe from any file named
Pkz###.Exe (where ### is bigger or equal to 110). You can therefore
enter Pkzip.Exe and Pkunzip.Exe as filespecs in the Pkinsdel.Lst file,
without worrying about killing Pkzip upgrades. :)
Previously, if disk space ran short (as specified in configuration
file), an archive would be renamed to .Err. In Version 6.5 an archive
will be renamed to .Hld (configurable) if a file measures 0 bytes,
disk space runs out, or the file is not a valid archive (Rename option
must be enabled).
Another new feature is the '@Filelist' command line option. Any
filename preceded with an '@' symbol will be expected to contain a
list of files to process. Each file specification in this list must
occupy a separate line. Wildcarding is accepted.
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 5 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ie. Files.Lst
~~~~~~~~~
D:\Arc\*.Zip
Archive.Zip
E:\Main\Files\Backup.Z??
\Work\A*.Tmp
You may also use a combination of directory pipes.
ie. C:\>Dir D:\Arc >>Files.Lst
C:\>Dir E:\Main\Files\*.Zip >>Files.Lst
Instead of entering redundant directory information you can tell
Pkinsert to change drives and directories. Use the 'Cd' command
followed by a space, or back-slash, and the directory name.
ie. Files.Lst
~~~~~~~~~
Archive.Zip
Cd\Arc
*.Zip
Cd E:\Main\Files
Good*.Zip
Bad*.Old
Ugly*.$$$
Cd\C:\Temp
Backup.Z??
These techniques can be used together for greatest versatility.
Note - Normal array size boundaries apply ONLY to wildcards
within this list. There is NO LIMIT to the amount of
filespecs contained in the file list. If you have a
directory of several thousand archives you could use a
command sequence along these lines:
C:\>Dir J:\Uploads\*.Zip >>Files.Lst
C:\>Pkinsert @*.Lst
Wildcarding is also acceptable for filelist names.
Bugs Squashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Virus Comment files where not being added to the extended fail log. I
was using an "AND" where it should have been "OR".
Redundant CR/LF sequences where being added under odd circumstances.
Version 6.4
Released September 22nd, 1991
Set maximum file read length to 8k. This solves a string overflow
problem reading an extremely large capture file (created by shelling
to Pkzip). In cases where the limit is exceeded, an ///EOI///
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 6 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
(end-of-input) marker will be displayed. This has no other effect
than limiting the amount of text scrolled on the screen.
In order to properly link with other PCBoard archive utilities, the
handling of the Extended Pass and Fail logs has changed. Details
follow.
If an Extended Pass log already exists, Pkinsert will rename this
log to Fail before appending it's own Fail report.
Ie. The archive has passed test #1 which created Pcbpass.Txt.
Then comes Pkinsert (test #2) and the archive fails. The
Pcbpass.Txt from test #1 is renamed to Pcbfail.Txt and
Pkinsert appends it's report.
If an Extended Fail log already exists, it will be used to append
the Pass or Fail reports.
Ie. The archive could fail test #1 but pass Pkinsert (test #2).
In this case Pkinsert would append it's Pcbpass.Txt report to
the already existing Pcbfail.Txt log.
Batch files should therefore start with deleting any old Pass or
Fail logs. Otherwise Pkinsert will simply append it's reports.
Version 6.3
Released September 8th, 1991
Pkinsert will recognize and process self-extracting Zips.
File reading and swapping from disk was unbearable. It turns out that
for every record accessed, the last position within a file was being
lost. I have to apologize to everyone for this one ...
When renaming was enabled and Pkinsert ran out of work space (or other
disk related errors), it would exit without renaming the archive.
Pkinsert will now rename archives to .Err on these occasions. In a
batch file you could move these .Err files to a directory for
re-processing under supervision.
If a nested archive was corrupt and file renaming was set to No,
Pkinsert wouldn't clean up it's work directories.
After extracting nested archives, Pkinsert wouldn't kill them as it
was supposed to.
Version 6.2
Released August 10, 1991
Reason for Upgrade
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew Cooley reported an incompatibility problem with the new
PCBoard V14.5a (Beta) features.
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 7 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
New Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~
/D Command line option. Path to Pcb upload description file.
/TEST Command line option.
Zero byte file errorlevel code 112.
Standard tagline signature developed. In HEX: FF 08 xx FF <tagline>.
Bugs Squashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a virus was found and rename was disabled, Pkinsert would not clean
it's work directories.
Version 6.1
Released August 2, 1991
Split code from 3 to 5 modules.
Pkinsert will display any size status file. V6.0 was limited to 6k.
If Pass/Fail extended logs exist, Pkinsert will delete them before
creating a new one. This saves 2 lines in the Pcbtest.Bat file.
Process error codes from Add and Delete functions. They are the ones
which can report if archive is read-only.
Clean-up work directories before Add and Delete functions. This gives
Pkzip a bit more room to create it's work file.
Check files for unique 4 byte Zip signature. This is more reliable
than using file name extensions. No matter what name an archive
carries, Pkinsert will test it.
New Errorlevel code 111 for illegal archive compression used.
Pkinsert code stands at 2,461 lines in five Quick Basic V4.5 modules
and 108,814 bytes compiled.
Version 6.0
Released July 25, 1991
There's been so many features added, I can't remember them all. The
following where the major ones.
Total revamp of the configuration module.
Pkinsert will process `nested' archives.
Verbose log files based on results.
Configurable disk swapping.
Exit with Dos error levels.
etc.
The current code stands at 2,260 lines in Quick Basic V4.5.
Special thanks to Steve Greenspon, aka Doodle Bug, for his
PKInsert Version History in Reverse Order Page 8 of 8
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
suggestions, testing, and listening to me rant and rave about the
latest sub or function. (grin)
Version 5.1
Released April 27, 1991
Fixed an incompatibility problem with COUNTRY.SYS. Thanks to Yan Wolf
from Top 50 BBS in Paris, France for his help in tracking down this
problem.
Version 5.0
Released March 13, 1991
10k Smaller and much faster! New features include ...
- Random work directory names.
- 0 byte files are no longer processed.
- Complete activity logging to disk.
- All options can be toggled on or off.
- Configuration path may be entered by environment variable or command
line.
- Various configuration file names may be used.
- PKinsert will change drives and directories as it handles archives
for shorter DOS commands.
- PKinsert may add the virus scanner version to the archive comment.
- Compatible with Digital Research DOS 5.0 (actually, this is what
prompted this new release).
Version 4.02
Fixed the colours in PKinserts logo. Also fixed a variable I had
forgotten about. PKinsert will now process numerous file specs again!
<Grin>. PKTMP environment variable is now external.
Version 4.00
PKinsert now works with DOS4! ;-) Corrupted archives are caught and
renamed. Virus checking is also possible using McAfee Associates'
SCAN.EXE program. Work drive can be selected for quicker processing
on a RAM Drive. Configuration is now internal. No more messin'
around with a word processor. And last but not least PKinsert goes
COLOUR!
Version 3.20
Added support for DOSv4.0. Uses prodoor's TAGLINE environment
variable. Will now skip the archive test if set to [N]o.
Version 3.1
Got rid of a few bugs. The timer feature in v3.0 wasn't working and I
got rid of it. Also shortened much of PKinsert's output. Error
trapping is also much improved! Let's hope it won't need it. <Ugg>