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Text File | 1993-05-10 | 109KB | 1,992 lines

| A vertical bar denotes changes since the last posting of the file. | | Current Posting Dated: 05/10/93 The following is a BRIEF summary of the new features found in PCBoard v15.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - For the ultimate in configurability, v15.0 adds a built-in programming language called PPL, or PCBoard Programming Language. Any time PCBoard displays something to the caller, asks the caller for input, or executes a command that the caller issued, the a PPL program can kick in and perform just about any kind of processing you might imagine. Script Questionnaires can be rewritten to add processing, and more. - A new, optional, menuing system lets you create submenus for all of your menus (the main menu, doors, bulletins, scripts, even for new features that you create yourself using PPL). This is built right into PCBoard and, depending on how it is set up, can be user-selected (i.e. novices might be presented with submenus while experts see only command prompts). - PCBoard commands can be translated, changed, or supplemented quickly and without the use of DOOR applications. New (or changed) commands can stuff the keyboard with replacement commands, execute PPL programs or branch to a submenu system. - In addition to the multi-lingual capabilities of past releases, v15.0 adds full internationalization support. This includes: the ability to display dates and values in their proper formats, proper capitalization of words and names, proper font display (locally) of high ascii characters, translation of internal commands, etc. - RIPscrip Graphics support. Add a GUI interface to your BBS by setting up welcome files, menu files, prompts, etc, with RIPscrip codes in them. Now you can get graphics over the phone line and even make PCBoard selections with a mouse if the menus used are created to support it. - A new, fully interactive, inter-node chat capability combining the best features the sysop-chat and old-style node chat with added capabilities such as 255 different channels, chat handles, private and public chats, and more. - Message editing changes including: the ability to enter TO and SUBJECT lines that are longer than 25 characters, the ability to enter messages up to 400 lines in length, the ability to attach a file to a message, request a return receipt, enter a carbon list to send a single message to multiple users, enter routing info, set a packout date, upload message text using any protocol, upload .REP packets, and more. - Message display changes including: a new header display format that is switchable between a long (6-line) format and a shorter (4-line) format, long TO, FROM and SUBJECT lines, non-scrolling message headers, sysop- selectable colors for message headers. - Message reading changes including: the ability to read new mail immediately after login, the ability to force specific security levels to read new mail upon login, create .QWK packets, additional reading commands to read mail that is TO or FROM a specific user, read mail that is NEW after a specified date, read mail in conferences that have personal mail waiting, capture and download a single message, faster message scans and reading, flag or view file attachments or any other file while reading messages, and more. - Further support for CD-ROM drives, including the ability to copy files down to a local staging area prior to starting the file transfer. Also, files can be processed prior to starting the file transfer. - Integration of FILE_ID.DIZ detection allowing files to be uploaded with embedded descriptions while avoiding asking the caller for a description. - Conference changes include: INTRO screens to describe the conference, passwords for joining, ALLFILES.LST for scanning across all conferences before allowing uploads, conference-specific commands, auto-register flags, and more. - Additional settings, available on a per-conference basis, include: Force echo mail, allow Internet (long) TO: names, make conference read-only, disallow private messages, security level to enter a message, and more. - Uploading now scans for matching files regardless of extension prior to allowing a file to be uploaded. - Adding new conferences is easier by cloning and existing conference. Also, the message base can be created automatically. - Support for modems that provide Caller-ID and FAX capabilities. - New, on-the-fly, File and Byte Limits as well as File and Byte Ratios. - Aliases can now be used in specific conferences and by callers with specific security levels. The ability to change the alias, once selected, can be disabled. - Multiple simultaneous logins, for a users of a given security, are now possible. This could be used for a demo account, etc. - Increased user friendliness by interpretting previously invalid (but commonly used) commands. - Built-in support for multiple event handling. These include multiple events per day, node-specific events, events that should only be run on a specific date, or events that should be run on specified days of the week. - New, ONLINE, packing of the USERS file. It is no longer necessary to keep the BBS down while packing your users file. - Additional information can now recorded and tracked in the user records such as: full address, password monitoring, user verification information, caller statistics (# of and type of security violations, login speeds, etc), and up to 5 lines of notes about each user. - The password monitoring requires that passwords meet a sysop-selectable minimum length requirement, new passwords cannot duplicate any of the previous passwords on file for that user, new passwords cannot contain the user's name or user-id. - Added FOSSIL support for the /M (MultiPort) version. PCBoard/M will now work with an existing FOSSIL driver, or with the comm driver supplied with the software, or with the built-in asynch driver for standard comm ports. - Greater control over display macro substitution, including padding, centering, etc. - And many more changes. See below for details on all that's new in v15.0. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following information documents the PCBoard v15.0 changes in greater detail, mentions many of the features not listed up above, and provides information about how to use new features ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- added Internationalization support in the following areas: 1) Capitalization will adhere to the character set specified by the language the user has selected. For example, names which are entered from the keyboard and converted to upper case letters will now make use of the COUNTRY.SYS values provided by the operating system to properly convert accented characters. Other areas, where capitalization occurs, will operate in the same manner. In addition, the @first@ macro will properly convert the name back to lowercase keeping accented characters intact according to the tables found in COUNTRY.SYS. 2) Dates will be displayed on the screen in the proper format for the country based on information from COUNTRY.SYS and may also be entered, by the user, in the format used by that country. 3) Thousands separators will now use the proper character (comma or period) based on information from COUNTRY.SYS. 4) The PCBML.DAT file format has been modified so that you may now provide four additional pieces of information for each entry. These are a Country Code and a Code Page values, followed by Yes and No characters. Example: 1) English,,001,437,Y,N 2) French,.FRE,033,850,O,N 5) By making the above changes to PCBML.DAT PCBoard will automatically load the appropriate country settings whenever a caller changes languages. For this to work you must load COUNTRY.SYS in your config.sys file. Examples: DOS: COUNTRY=001,437 C:\DOS\COUNTRY.SYS OS/2: COUNTRY=001,E:\OS2\SYSTEM\COUNTRY.SYS Also, under DOS, your AUTOEXEC.BAT file must load NLSFUNC.EXE. Example: C:\DOS\NLSFUNC OS/2 does not require that NLSFUNC be loaded. 6) The Code Page information in PCBML.DAT allows PCBoard to change the font used by the display adapater whenever a caller changes languages. This allows the sysop to see, on the local screen, the appropriate characters for the language being used. NOTE: This only works on EGA/VGA systems. Several steps are necessary to enable this: Using DOS: Place in config.sys DEVICE=C:\DOS\DISPLAY.SYS CON=(EGA,437,2) Place in autoexec.bat MODE CON: CP PREPARE=((437 850) C:\DOS\EGA.CPI) Using OS/2: Place in config.sys CODEPAGE=437,850 The examples above load code pages 437 and 850 into memory with 437 being the default (the one used by the United States) and 850 (the international code page) loaded as an alternate. NOTE: OS/2 only allows 2 code pages to be loaded. DOS, however, will allow more to be loaded by increasing the last parameter of the DEVICE=C:\DOS\DISPLAY.SYS CON=(xx,xx,xx) line. NOTE: It is now possible to set up multiple languages having the same EXTENSION but with different properties, such as the Country Code, Code Page, and the Yes and No characters. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MULTITASKERS ======================================= The font support under DESQview is a bit unpredictable if you are running more than one node. The font changes from node 1 may show up in node 2's display instead of node 1's display. OS/2, on the other hand, can show both fonts simulataneously in two separate windows on the desktop. Windows, meanwhile, will not show ANY font changes inside of a window - only when full screen. 7) The PCBTEXT record #39 now contains the word "ALL" which is used when displaying messages addressed to ALL. This can now be translated to any other language. The actual string stored inside the message base will be the word ALL but when the message header is displayed to the user it will say ALL in the language he has chosen. If a message is entered by the user with the TO field equal to what is found in PCBTEXT #39 then the message will be written out using the word "ALL" but will be shown on screen using PCBTEXT #39. 8) The addition of the Yes and No characters in PCBML.DAT will allow the language to accept proper answers to yes/no questions. 9) Several new PCBTEXT records have been added allowing text within PCBoard to be translated. Also, some text records which formerly could not be turned into a file may now be. NOTE: PCBTEXT Records 72, 266 and 688 all indicate that dates should be entered in the form "mmddyy". When setting different country codes in your PCBML.DAT file you should ensure that the "mmddyy" in these records is changed, if necessary, to "ddmmyy" or "yymmdd" as appropriate for the style used by that country. NOTE: The dates and numbers on the PCBoard Status Line will remain in the system default format regardless of what language a remote caller chooses. The sysop, or another user, however, can log in locally and select a different language and the format changes will be reflected on the status line. PCBoard now uses the "PCBTEXT." (no extension) file whenever it writes to the callers log regardless of the language the caller has chosen. With this change you are free to customize the PCBTEXT.??? files and set up elaborate languages while keeping the text that is written to the caller logs intact and usable by those programs (generally Caller Log Statistics packages) that expect certain text to be in the logs. In order for this change to really be useful, PCBoard no longer requires that the FIRST entry in the PCBML.DAT file be a blank extension. In other words, if your Statistics Program expects english text in the callers log, but you live in France, it wouldn't make much sense to put ENGLISH at the top of the PCBML.DAT file and make ENGLISH the default for your french speaking callers. In other words, the PCBML.DAT file could now have "PCBTEXT.FRE" as the first entry and have "PCBTEXT." somewhere down from there as an alternate language. The Call Waiting Screen, the Status Lines, the Caller Logs, etc, will all be written using the "PCBTEXT." entries. When logging in, however, PCBoard will automatically switch to language #1 for displays of text on the screen (above the status line - what the caller sees). added New macros: BICPS RBYTES RCPS RFILES SBYTES SCPS SFILES CARRIER added @pos:##@ which can tell PCBoard to move the cursor over to a specific position on a line. If the cursor is already beyond that point, no action is taken. Otherwise, spaces are printed until the cursor reaches that position. added A @delay:##@ macro which allows a delay to be specified in tenths of a second (up to 25.5 seconds). NOTE: this macro is non-functional while reading messages. changed Macros can now contain a suffix ":###?" before the terminating @ code. In other words, @user@, @user:25@, @user:25R@ and @user:25C@ are all valid. If just a number is given then the macro is left justified and padded to fill the space designated. If the letter R is used, then the macro is right justified and padded on the left. If the letter C is used then the text is centered within the field. All text will be displayed regardless of the size of the field. Therefore, if a user name is 15 characters and @user:10@ is used, the entire 15 characters will be displayed and *no* padding will take place. changed Moved hardcoded text out to PCBTEXT, added new pcbtext records, modified some that were no longer being used. added A brand new chat module! The CHAT # and NODE # commands no longer work. The user must now go into CHAT G and from there use the CALL command to call a user into chat. The new chat module combines the best of two different types of chat. It allows callers to immediately see what another user is typing, similar to the Sysop Chat, while functioning similar to the older line oriented chat by not allowing two people to type at once disrupting the display. And yet, each user CAN type up to 1-line of text while waiting for the current user, having the focus, to finish typing. The new chat module is group oriented, rather than node oriented, and almost begs for more than two people to join into the chat session. However, with 255 different channels and the ability to change to different channels and/or make a channel private, it is easy for two people or a group to carry on a private conversation without involving other members of the board. Because of the interactive nature of the new chat module, the old style chat files are no longer used. However, if desired, the sysop can enable a capture facility which will record chat sessions to disk in a new format that allows the sysop to analyze exactly when the chat took place, on what node, in which channel, etc. changed PCBoard now remembers across sessions how your Chat Status is set. If you make yourself unavailable for chat and later logoff, on your next call you will be unavailable for chat. Likewise, making yourself available for chat will be remembered the next time you log in. added The (P)rotocol selection at the prompt that PCBoard issues just before a file transfer begins. This will let the caller easily change the protocol before beginning the file transfer. added Support for CD-ROM Drives (and jukeboxes) by providing a staging area. Files are copied off the CD ROM and into the staging area first and then the file transfer takes place from there. changed The Sysop Function 14 command now asks if it should log the user off NOW (to drop to DOS in a hurry) or if it should wait for the caller to logoff and then drop the node to DOS. changed The input routines will now accept an ESC (or CTRL-U) all by itself to indicate that the current input should be aborted and the question re-asked. So if you type a command at the main command prompt and then press ESC, the command will be discarded an the prompt will be redisplayed. changed The callers log entries which are taken from PCBTEXT will now be written in the DEFAULT LANGUAGE regardless of the language used by the caller. Callers log analyzers should load PCBTEXT (no extension) to determine what those entries will look like since the default may not be english. The only exception is the message that states which language is being used. That message will be pulled from the PCBTEXT file the caller has selected. added Immediate detection, after an upload, of the existence of a FILE_ID.DIZ file within a .ZIP or .EXE file. If a FILE_ID.DIZ file is found AND the sysop has configured the system to verify uploads, the user will *not* be asked for a description. | NOTE: This ability to skip asking for a description takes place only | AFTER an unannounced file is received. Normally PCBoard would prompt | for a description AFTER RECEIVING an unannounced file. But in the | case where a file description accompanied the unannounced file, this | step would be redudant so PCBoard skips asking the caller for a | description and immediately shells out to PCBTEST.BAT which then | extracts and incorporates the included (FILE_ID.DIZ) description. added If carrier is lost after an upload of one or more files is completed but before all files have been tested, it will now take the modem off hook in order to avoid problems with RNA-rebooters. added Sysop Function 15 and ALT-R. ALT-R will flag the current session to recycle thru DOS (re-run board.bat) when the caller logs off. Sysop Function 15 can be used to do the same thing to another node. When PCBoard drops out to perform the recycle it exits with an ERRORLEVEL of 6 which can then be used to perform special processing during the recycle. changed PCBMoni now allows you to hit the SPACE BAR to see more information about the current node record. It will show the date of last update, the operation text, any message text available, and the current status of the node. From that screen you can now change the node information as well. When finished, press the PGDN key to make the change, or press ESC to abort the change. added SET PCB=/BAUD:####. This allows you to override the modem speed defined in pcboard.dat. changed The upload process will now allow you to type H to hangup before the upload testing process begins. Also, any unannounced files that need to be described will be recognized immediately after the upload is finished and the user will be prompted to describe all of them before any testing begins. changed The Sysop Function 11 command so that it will now display additional information such as: name of the file being uploaded or downloaded, the size of the file and a time estimate for the transfer, the name of the person to whom a message is being addressed, and the number of a script if one is being answered. fixed If you set the keyboard timer to 1 minute, then every time you press a key the "60 seconds to go" beep would sound. This has been changed so that if you set the keyboard timer to 1 minute it will actually be set to 70 seconds. This means that the first warning beep is now 10 seconds away. added The message editor has long been able to capture a "lost carrier" and SAVE the message before logging the caller off. Now it will also detect keyboard timeout and SAVE the message before logging off. added The upload processing has long been able to continue its work even if carrier was lost - including automatically describing the file with a note about carrier having been lost. Now it will also detect keyboard timeout and write that to the file description before logging the caller off. disabledThe F6 function key during new user login UNTIL the new user has completed the newuser questions to finish the login. changed The "R U" command now works the same way the "R Y" command does in that it now ASSUMES that a read 1+ is going to occur unless you override it with another command line parameter. Previously the "R U" command would do nothing but return back to the prompt unless you included a "1+" or some other range with it. added A separate PCBTEXT entry for aborted uploads so that the text can be customized for each. changed The frequency at which the usernet file is scanned while sitting at the Call Waiting screen has long been 8 times the "Node Chat Frequency" as specified in PCBSetup. It has now been redudced to just 4 times the "Node Chat Frequency" for faster updates. changed When the F5 funciton key is pressed (to shell to DOS) it will now indicate in the usernet file that the caller is out to DOS. Upon returning from DOS the previous status will be reinstated. changed If you have flagged files for download and then issue the upload command, it will warn you that you have files flagged for download and ask if you want to continue the upload command. changed PCBoard can now display larger messages and will allow larger messages to be entered. The old maximum of 255-line messages has been replaced with a maximum of 400 lines. In addition, while it previously allowed up to 255 lines, it was difficult, when replying to a large message, to find that number of lines available since the memory might already be in use. Now it is much more likely that the entire 400 lines will be available regardless of the size of the message you reply to. changed Messages can now be uploaded into the message editor using any available protocol. ANSI files, with lines longer than 79 characters, may be uploaded into the message editor and saved - but cannot be edited online. changed PCBoard will now display "scanning for new bulletins" while it performs the scan. Previously people were left wondering what it was doing while it was displaying dots on the screen. changed The following SET PCB= switches have now been incorporated directly into PCBSetup and are no longer valid environment switches: /NOBLTSCAN has been incorporated in the switches section as "Scan for new bulletins". /MONITORMODEM has been incorporated under Modem Configuration : Switches as "Monitor missed connections". It writes information to the callers log to indicate when the phone rings but a session is not established. Additionally, if CallerID is in use on your system, PCBoard will attempt to capture the CallerID information and write it out to the callers log at the same time that it writes the entry for the missed connection. NOTE: You can tell PCBoard to record the TIME, in the log, of the missed connections by modifying the PCBTEXT records (34 and 215) adding the word @SYSTIME@ in front. A batch file to perform this process automatically would look like this: (the insertion needs to be performed only once) MKPCBTXT C:\PCB\GEN\PCBTEXT /I:34 "@SYSTIME@ NO CONNECT/@OPTEXT@" MKPCBTXT C:\PCB\GEN\PCBTEXT /I:215 "@SYSTIME@ Carrier Lost..." /RESET has been placed under Modem Configuration : Switches. It is used to tell PCBoard to reset the modem once every five minutes while it sits idle at the Call Waiting screen. /DONTMAKEMSGS has been incorporated under Configuration Options : Messages as "Create MSGS if Missing". This is normally set to YES but may be disabled on large systems where PCBPACK is run with the /FORCE option to avoid the possibility of creating a new MSGS file while the original is being packed by PCBPack. /NO16550 has been placed under Modem Information : Switches. This switch is used to force PCBoard to see disable the 16550 FIFOs. This may be needed when a buggy 16550 UART is in use. /FORCE16550A has been placed under Modem Information : Switches. This switch is used to force PCBoard to behave as though a 16550 UART is in use in spite of not being able to detect one. This might be used under Windows or OS/2 where the comm driver virtualizes the uart and hides the fact that a 16550 is in use. Better comm drivers is the best solution. But this option can help make the system run better when you *know* you have a 16550 even though the OS doesn't let the software know it. /PROMOTEBATCH has been placed under Configuration Options : File Transfers. This switch allows the D and U commands to be automatically promoted to DB and UB commands when the caller has specified a batch protocol as the default. /NOBATCHUPLOADS has been placed under Configuration Options : File Transfers. This switch forces the caller to perform single-file uploads only. This is especially important in a macintosh environment where it needs to force PCBoard to use the filename typed by the caller rather than use the filename that comes out of the protocol header - a name which would be invalid on a DOS system. /UPCRED has been placed under Configuration Options : File Transfers. This switch sets the amount of time to be given back to the caller on uploads. The default is 1 - giving time back on a 1:1 ratio. /BYTECRED has been placed under Configuration Options : File Transfers. This switch sets the number of bytes that are to be credited towards the caller's daily download limit. The default is 0 - giving no byte credits on uploads. /NOREG has been placed under Configuration Options : Switches as "Auto Reg in Public Conference". When set to YES PCBoard automatically registers new users in all public conferences. This can cause a tremendous delay when new users log into a system with thousands of conferences. When set to NO the caller can *still* access the public conferences, it simply doesn't set the RXS flags at login time. /FORCEMAIN has been placed under Configuration Options : Messages. It forces comments to the sysop to be stored in the main board. /ENCRYPT has been placed under Configuration Options : Switches. This switch allows the users file to be encrypted using ENCRYPT.EXE so that people having access to view the contents of the users file from DOS cannot obtain passwords from the file. /FLOAT has been placed under Node Information. This switch allows PCBoard to pick a "free node number" based on the contents of the usernet file so that users on a network do not have to go to a specific node subdirectory to run PCBoard. /SWAP has been placed under Configuration Options : Switches. The path to the swap file in File Locations : System Files. NOTE: PCBoard now properly inserts its own environment variables (such as PCBDIR, PCBNODE, PCBDAT, etc) even when set to SWAP! Also, while swapping, you can now specify the size of the environment to be used in the Configuration Options : Limits section. changed PCBSetup handles the CNAMES and CNAMES.@@@ files diferently now. There is no longer a /QUICK command line parameter because PCBSetup always works the way /QUICK used to make it work. That is, PCBSetup now IGNORES the CNAMES file and uses only the CNAMES.@@@ file when it loads up. When you exit and save PCBSetup will copy the contents of CNAMES.@@@ out to CNAMES but it does NOT read CNAMES back into CNAMES.@@@ at any time. The plus side is that those who have huge systems (thousands of conferences) will benefit from faster loading times by default. The down side is that you can no longer make changes with a text editor and expect PCBSetup to read those changes back into memory and copy them into CNAMES.@@@. PCBSetup will now shrink the CNAMES.@@@ file (as well as CNAMES.ADD) whenever you exit (and save) with a configuration of FEWER conferences than were found in the CNAMES.@@@ file (and CNAMES.ADD). changed PCBSetup used to allow you to type PCBSETUP PCBOARD.DAT, whereby you could specify the pcboard.dat filename and path without any further syntax. This syntax has been changed. The now supported method is: PCBSETUP /FILE:pcboard.dat This is exactly the same way PCBoard allows you to pass the name of the pcboard.dat file. changed In PCBSetup, Sysop Information, there is a new setting that allows you to require the Local Password when hitting ESC to drop the system to DOS. This should prevent accidentally dropping the system to DOS *if* you have a password set in the Sysop Information screen. added Support for a new programming language, called the PCBoard Programming Language (or PPL), has been added to PCBoard. All versions of PCBoard will support the ability to EXECUTE compiled PPL files (which are .PPE files). However, the compiler and documentation for the PCBoard Programming Language is extra. Developers, who have purchased the PPL Compiler and Documentation, can write anything from simple to very complex add-ons for PCBoard using the PPL facility and can distribute their products to all PCBoard version 15.0 customers. All Sysops who are interested in obtaining the PPL Compiler may purchase the PPL Compiler, however, as a language it does require *some* programming skills to utilize it. The PPL syntax is very similar to BASIC and PPL executables (.PPE files) are run without unloading PCBoard giving them direct access to the online caller without the delays associated with running, and returning from, DOOR applications. The .PPE files have a maximum size (once loaded into memory) of 32K. Because the .PPE files are tokenized, and because it is possible to 'chain' from one .PPE module to another, this will allow for a fairly large application. However, more demanding applications will still require the use of external DOOR software to implement them. changed Script questionnaires can be set to use the older standard format, using a simple text file to ask questions, or it can now be set to use PPL Executables instead. When a PPL file is executed it can write to the answer file that is defined for script questionnaire answers. A program, called SCRCNVT.EXE, is provided, to the purchasers of the PPL Compiler, which can easily convert existing Script Questionnaires to the PPL Source file (.PPS) which can then be edited and compiled. Using the SCRCNVT program, even a non-experienced programmer can customize existing Script Questionnaires adding simple logic in them to branch around questions or ask other questions. changed Display files can now execute PPL programs by using !FILESPEC.PPE to specify a .PPE file, similar to the way %FILESPEC displays a file. In other words, if an exclamation point (!) is found inside of a display file, in column 1, followed by a valid .PPE file, PCBoard will execute the .PPE file. Additionally, on that same line (where the !FILESPEC.PPE is found) you may pass any number of parameters to the .PPE file up to a maximum line length of 2048 bytes. A space must separate the filename from the first parameter. Every parameter can be separated by either a space or a semi-colon. Example: !TESTME.PPE 1 2 3 changed PCBTEXT records can now execute PPL programs by using !FILESPEC.PPE to specify a .PPE file, similar to the way %FILESPEC displays a file. In other words, if an exclamation point (!) is found inside of a PCBTEXT record, in column 1, followed by a valid .PPE file, PCBoard will execute the .PPE file. Additionally, you may pass any number of parameters to the .PPE file up to a maximum line length of 2048 bytes. A space must separate the filename from the first parameter. Every parameter can be separated by either a space or a semi-colon. changed Shifted-Function keys may now run PPL programs. Similar to using %FILESPEC to have a function key import a file, you now use !FILESPEC to execute the .PPE file. This is also similar to the way PCBTEXT records can use the %FILESPEC and !FILESPEC to include a file or execute a .PPE file. added A Logon Script Questionnaire is now available which can be run after the caller has answered the login questions (name/password) but before it scans for mail or shows the news, etc. Both the Logon and Logoff Script Questionnaires can be set to run a PPL Executable (.PPE file). added The ability to OVERRIDE or ADD TO the commands that PCBoard supports. This is done by using PCBSetup to edit the CMDS.LST file. There is a default CMD.LST file found in File Locations : Configuration Files. You can also have a conference-specific CMD.LST which will override the CMD.LST file if one is specified. The CMD.LST file has four basic capabilities: 1) Stuff the keyboard buffer with up to 30+ characters. 2) Stuff the keyboard buffer with a file (no limit on size) 3) Execute a .MNU file - giving PCBoard the ability to present totally customized and configurable menus. 4) Execute a .PPE file - giving PCBoard the ability to run programs written in PPL as if they are a built-in feature of the system. Those that have used shelled doors and PCBSTUFF.KBD will appreciate the first and second. The other two are totally new capabilities. NOTE: All versions of PCBoard will support the execution of the .PPE files. However, in order for a programmer to create these, a PPL Compiler must be purchased. added Also, at all menu file displays you can now run a .MNU or .PPE file instead of displaying the menu file. This works off of the 'root filename' for the menu. Example: if your main board menu is called BRDM and you have a BRDM.MNU file, then PCBoard will run the BRDM.MNU file instead of displaying the BRDM file. Likewise, if a BRDM.PPE files then it will be run instead of displaying BRDM. Download and read the documentation in MKPCBMNU.ZIP for further information on setting up and using the new MENU system. added The ability to immediately read your mail whenever there is new mail waiting for you. This is set by answering YES to "Prompt to Read Mail when Mail Waiting" in Configuration Options : Messages. PCBoard will prompt the caller like this: New messages found in conference XYZ... Read your personal mail now: (Y)es, (N)o, (A)ll new mail If you answer Y or A, PCBoard will scan all conferences that have the "Mail waiting flag" turned on. These conferences NEED NOT BE selected - as in the R A S command. If you select Y then PCBoard will display new messages, which are addressed to you, in each of the conferences that were listed as having new personal mail. NOTE: Last Message Read pointers will NOT be updated. If you select A then ALL new messages, your personal mail or not, in each of the conferences that were listed as having new personal mail, will be displayed. PCBoard will keep track of and update your Last Message Read pointers while reading the mail. Answering Y is equivalent to the "R O Y U WAIT" command. Answering A is equivalent to the "R WAIT" command. The 'U' command in the R O Y U WAIT indicates that PCBoard should read only personal mail that has NOT already been read - regardless of the Last Message Read pointers. This helps avoid seeing the same message twice even though the LMR pointers do not point beyond a message that is addressed to you which you have already read. Additionally, in PCBSetup : File Locations : Configuration Files : PWRD File, you can specify that callers of a specific security level be FORCED TO READ their new mail immediately. This is equivalent to forcing an "R O Y WAIT" command on login. One more thing: the mail waiting flags have been made much more reliable! It is still possible for the flags to NOT be set, due to the message having been posted by software that does not support the mail waiting flags. But you should now NEVER see a pop-up "You have mail waiting in conference XYZ" message *except* when you really DO have mail waiting for you there. PCBoard also no longer clears the flags just because you were reading mail (on the assumption that you *might* have read the new mail) since it can now verify whether or not new mail actually exists. added Support for Double-Byte Character Sets - such as those used in Taiwan and China. This is set in Configuration Options : Messages and has the effect of using a 0Dh character instead of E3h character as line delimiters in the message base. added NEW INDEX FILES for PCBoard's message base. They now include all of the information that is normally used by PCBoard to locate messages prior to letting people read them. Such as when issuing an R Y command, etc. By storing the most commonly accessed data in the index, message scans are now much faster. Some differences in the handling of the new index files are: - They are self-updating. If PCBoard discovers a bad index it will replace the index with a new one. If PCBoard discovers an index which does not include all messages found in the message base, such as when a mail door posts new messages, it will update the index adding the new messages. - There is no longer a "fixed block size". You cannot run out of room in the index file thus abolishing the 32,000 per conference limit. The number of index entries is always equal to the number of the high message number minus the low message number. PERFORMANCE TIP: Because the index files are no longer fixed in size, it is possible, through the addition of new messages, for DOS to fragment the files. This can have a serious impact on the performance of the index files. It is therefore recommended that the hard drive be optimized (defragmented) from time to time. - The records are MUCH LARGER, but the file size *might* in fact be smaller. This is because the size is no longer fixed. In the past someone might set up 16 blocks to cover a range of up to 16,000 messages when, in reality, the range might only have been 1,000. In this example, the actual file sizes would be equal since the record size of the new indexes is 16 times that of the old structure. - PCBoard will maintain the old MSGS.NDX file *only* if you set it to in PCBSetup on a conference per conference basis. This can be done to maintain compatibility with older software which may rely on the index being up to date. | - Changing the PCB= environment setting, adding /OLDINDEX to it, | will instruct PCBoard to maintain old MSGS.NDX files across ALL of | your conferences regardless of the individual conference settings. | | - PCBPACK will maintain old indexes by typing /OLDINDEX on the | command line with the rest of your commands. For example, you | might use the command: PCBPACK /AREA:ALL /DAYS:30 /OLDINDEX | | WARNING! If you are using a Mail Door or any netmail software which | accesses your message bases using the old index files, then you MUST | configure your system to maintain the old index files. It is | recommended that you use SET PCB=/OLDINDEX and that you add /OLDINDEX | on your PCBPACK command line in your event batch files. | | NOTE: When running old mail doors or netmail software, it may be | desireable to immediately update the NEW index files after having | imported mail. This can be done by using a new /UPDATE parameter. | For example: | | PCBPACK /AREA:ALL /UPDATE | | The above would update all of the .IDX files but ONLY if they need | to be updated. This will fairly quickly scan through all conferences | to find which .IDX files need updating and, at least on smaller | systems (less than 1000 conferences), could possibly be implemented | in your import batch file. added New message base commands: TO read messages addressed TO a specific user FROM read messages FROM a specific user N read messages NEW since a specific date WAIT documented above - read all conferences where the mail waiting flags are set. LONG view long message headers SHORT view short message headers FLAG flag a file for download while reading messages V view a file while reading messages QWK creates a QWK packet (can be combined with any other valid read commands .. i.e. R 1+ QWK, or R A QWK, or R A Y QWK or TS blah QWK, etc). C,D,Z These commands can now be used while reading messages to capture and download the current message. added The message base has new capabilities including: - Longer TO, FROM and SUBJECT fields. The longer TO and FROM fields are only available if enabled on a per conference basis. They are primarily used for Internet addressing. The limit of the TO and FROM fields is 120 characters. If more characters are used than will fit on a single line then PCBoard will wrap down to the next line. - File attachments (1 per message). | File attachments are added to a message by typing "SA" to Save with | Attachment instead of typing "S" to save. | | To enable File Attachments you must set the Location for File | Attachments in the conference setup screen. You must also answer | 'Y' to the "Allow File Attachments" question. Press PGDN while | editing the conference to see the conference switches screen. | | NOTE: This should NOT be the same subdirectory as your public | upload directory or any other directory normally used for | downloads. The names of the files saved, when saving an attachment, | will not directly correspond with the files that are upload. See | the flag/view attachment information for further details. - Carbon List messages (with the limit on the number of users that can be carboned specified in PCBSetup : Configuration Options : Messages). Also, who can or cannot enter a Carbon List message can be controlled by security level in each conference. | Carbon List messages are entered by addressing the message to @LIST@ | and then providing the names of the users in the carbon list when | prompted to do so. - PCBoard can store an ORIGIN header in the message based on the information in Configuration Options : Messages. This feature is enabled individually in each conference. - A Return Receipt message can be requested when writing a private message in a conference where Return Receipts are enabled. - The main board area can now be echoed if desired. Return Receipts are visible only to the user who requested them and, optionally, anyone (presumably a sysop) who has a security level high enough to see them. The sysop can, therefore, avoid seeing the return receipts by setting the security level for that feature to something higher than his or her security level. PCBSetup allows you to determine which users, by security, can request return receipts on a conference-by-conference basis. | NOTE: After successfully uploading a File Attachment, PCBoard will | execute your PCBTEST.BAT file to verify the upload. You can modify | your PCBTEST.BAT processing to jump around certain functions (or | even just drop out completely) of PCBTEST.BAT processing by testing | the %2 parameter for a value of ATTACH. Example: | | if '%2 == 'ATTACH goto end changed All users may now use the Read-(O)nly message command now regardless of their security level. The "R O" command has been change so that all it does is avoid setting the Last Message Read pointers. The sysop may still assign a security level to that command. The question in PCBSetup now asks: "Level Needed to NOT Update Msg Read Status (R O cmd)". If a user has that level or greater than the "R O" command not only avoids setting Last Message Read pointers, but it also avoids updating the "Message Read Status" when reading personal mail. added Conference INTRO Files. These are like WELCOME screens but are used on a conference-by-conference basis. They are shown each and every time a caller joins a conference. The only way to avoid seeing the INTRO files is to type J x Q (where 'Q' stands for Quick) or when logging in typing "Y Q NS" where the NS command forces a non-stop login. Optionally, the INTRO files can even be displayed in the process of performing an R A command as PCBoard jumps from one conference to the next. added Private Conferences may now have a PASSWORD attached to them. If one is found, then a caller not having access to the conference will be asked for the password when attempting to join it. This allows the sysop to set up a special conference and then simply leave a message to a caller that would like to join it. NOTE: After successfully joining the conference, the caller then becomes registered in that conference so that future attempts at joining the conference will no longer require that a password be given. added New message headers. These headers include several modifications: - The TO, FROM and SUBJECT fields have all been lengthed to take up an entire line if necessary. - There are now two ways of viewing the message headers - either in LONG format, or SHORT format. See the "R LONG" and "R SHORT" commands. Also, (W)rite User Info can store your preference for long or short headers. - The message headers can now remain 'fixed' at the top of the screen while reading a long message. This is done by using the (W)rite User Info command and setting "Clear screen between each message" to YES and setting "Scroll messages" to NO. | NOTE: Callers who do not have ANSI support will not be able to | lock the message headers because ANSI is required to move the | cursor around on the screen. | | This means that callers must either answer 'Y' when asked if they | want graphics, or if they answer 'N' then their COMM program must | be capable of responding to the ansi detection sequence that | PCBoard issues to determine if the caller has ANSI support. - The text of the message headers is now more flexible. Previous versions of PCBoard required that the text be a specific length. It may now be longer or shorter and PCBoard will attempt, on its own, to keep the colons (in the lines of the long header) lined up appropriately. - The colors of the message headers can be customized via PCBSetup. Speaking of colors... you can even set the default color in a more "complete" fashion now in that it is now possible to specify a BACKGROUND color in addition to the foreground color. Try a setting such as 1F sometime and see. :-) |added An ALLFILES.LST file which will let you scan for prior existence of | the file IN ALL CONFERENCES before allowing the caller to upload the | file. | | ALLFILES.LST is nothing more than a DLPATH.LST ... but it is COMMON | to ALL areas of the BBS if it is specified. | | In other words, usage of ALLFILES.LST is identical to DLPATH.LST. You | put the same kinds of paths and/or index files in it. The only | difference is that, if ALLFILES.LST is specified, PCBoard will use IT | instead of the DLPATH.LST file when determining if a file (to be | uploaded) already exists on the system. added The ability to check for FILENAME.* on upload requests to prevent uploads of FILENAME.ARJ, for example, if FILENAME.ZIP already exists. added A specific security setting are now available for what are normally (but not always) sysop related commands allowing the sysop to set the security levels on each to allow specific users to make use of specific functions without giving them full sysop capabilities. These are: - using the BROADCAST command - viewing the private upload directory - enter generic messages (to @user@ or @##@) - edit message headers - protect / unprotect messages - overwriting files on uploads - move or copy messages to another conference added The ability to FLAG or (V)iew a file while reading messages. This can be a file attachment that is being flagged or viewed, or it can be any file found in the current conference download path. | NOTE: To flag or view a file attachment, you MUST use the message | base subsystem. In other words, you must first READ the message | that has the attachment and then use the Flag or View subcommands | provided. You CANNOT use the normal file subsystem "F V" and "FLAG" | commands to flag or view a file attachment from outside of the | message base. | | This also means that only those who have access to a message, either | by having the message addressed to them, or by having a sysop level | for reading all mail, or by the message being public, will be able | to flag or view the attachment. Those who cannot read the message, | also cannot access the attachment. | | NOTE: The NAME of the file, on a file attachment, is CHANGED in order | to allow multiple messages to have indentically named attachments. | For example, in a Tech Support environment you might expect many | people to upload AUTOEXEC.BAT. That would not work out very well if | the "stored name" of the attachment was AUTOEXEC.BAT because then only | the FIRST ATTACHMENT would be successful. Every attempt to attach | AUTOEXEC.BAT thereafter would have to fail. | | PCBoard purposely AVOIDS that problem. | | The attachment lands in a special attachment directory (NOT your | upload directory). And it is RENAMED to avoid collisions with | existing files. | | The first upload of AUTOEXEC.BAT will be found in your attachment | directory as AUTOEXEC.000. The second attachment of AUTOEXEC.BAT will | be in the same directory as AUTOEXEC.001. | | The message itself contains the translation information necessary to | receive the proper attachment. added Support for slow drives - such as network servers, cd roms or, worse, multi-disk cd roms. To enable this support, go into Configuration Options : File Transfers and specify a list of slow drive letters. For example: "XYZ" could be entered to indicate that files found on drive X:, Y: or Z: should be copied down to the 'work directory' on a local hard drive or ram disk prior to performing the file transfer. In addition, a batch file can be run after the copy operation has been performed. The actual function of the batch file is totally up to the sysop, however, the most often cited use for this batch file has been to stamp the file (perhaps in the ZIP Comment Field) with the name of the BBS from which the file is being downloaded. This lets a system stamp even files found on a CD-ROM drive by copying them first to a local work area (off the CD-ROM) and then modifying the local copy. changed The Supported Baud Rates defined in PCBSetup : Modem Information : Allowed Access Speeds has been enhanced to allow for a security level override. If the override is zero it is disabled. Slower than desired connections are dropped IMMEDIATELY after connecting. If the override is non-zero, then PCBoard will wait for the caller to log in to find out the caller's security level. Then it will compare it against the override level. If the caller has sufficient security he may remain online. Otherwise PCBoard will hang up on the caller at that point. changed PCBSetup now allows you to CLONE a conference when setting up a new conference. That is, you can specify a conference other than the main board which most closely resembles the new conference you are setting up. This can save a lot of time when configuring new conferences. changed PCBSetup will now create a MSGS file if one does not exist when performing a full save operation. changed The Batch Limit in the PWRD file now allows up to three digits to be entered - allowing up to 999 files in a batch. changed At an input prompt you can now press ESC to abort what you have typed so far and re-enter the information. added Built-in support for QWK packets. That is, the ability to create a QWK packet and send it to the caller, plus the ability to receive a reply packet and integrate the messages. New commands are as follows: QWK D (p) (bye) QWK U (p) (bye) After either of the two QWK commands you can optionally stack the letter of the protocol to use and/or the word BYE to logoff when done. While the QWK D command is simplistic, performing nothing more than an R;A;S command (scan all conference for new mail) and turning it into a QWK packet, the full power of PCBoard's message reading capabilities can still be used in an alternate form. Like this: R (...) QWK where (...) is any valid Read Command Example: R A TO JANE DOE FROM JOHN DOE TS THIS | THAT 1+ QWK To enable the QWK capability, you must create a batch file, either in your PCB directory or somewhere in your path, called PCBQWK.BAT. A sample of what this would look like is as follows: if %1==COMPRESS pkzip -ex -m %2 %3MESSAGES.DAT %3CONTROL.DAT %3*.NDX if %1==EXTRACT pkunzip -o %2 %3 The %3 value, when executed, will be your "Work Directory". You must ensure that this directory is a valid directory and that it is NOT your current directory. Example: PCBSetup : File Locations : System Files and Directories Location of Temporary Work Files : WORK\ This will require that you exit PCBSetup answering 'Y' to save the change AND create the new subdirectory. The WORK\ directory will be a subdirectory off from the 'current directory', whatever that may be. You must therefore ensure that ALL NODES have the work directory created. You can do this by running PCBSetup for each node, or by manually making the directories. The name of the QWK packet can be defined in PCBSetup. It can be the same name as the capture file name (on Read Captures) or you can configure the name to be different. NOTE: None of the more advance features of QWK-mail doors will be implemented here. This feature is simply an "easy to use" method of obtaining QWK packets which can be performed on any v15.0 BBS. added Support for modems that say CONNECT 14.400 instead of CONNECT 14400. added Built-in support for CallerID. PCBoard will now write the CallerID information into the callers log right after the modem connect string. To enable this feature, you must do two things in PCBSetup: 1) Modem Information : Switches Change "Number of Rings Required" to 2 or more 2) Configuration Options : Logging Options Answer 'Y' to "Log Connect String to Disk" Additionally, support for accessing the CallerID string is available inside PCBoard through PPL so that the information can be accessed programatically while the caller is online. NOTE: CallerID is only supported if your MODEM directly supports it. That is, your modem must be able to pass the CallerID information to PCBoard in between RING messages. changed For systems that don't have error correcting modems (modems with MNP or v.42bis), PCBoard will now wait four seconds after a connection is established before leaving the call waiting screen. This is done to avoid having a caller, whose modem *does* have error correction, lose the first prompt due to his modem's error correction handshaking sequence "eating" the first four seconds of data. added File and Byte Ratios as well as File and K-Byte Download Limits. These are specified in the PWRD file on a security level basis. Setting any one of them to 0 disables that particular limit. When set to a non-zero value, PCBoard will check first to see if a file is 'FREE' or 'NOTIME' and, if not, it will then compare the caller's current statistics to see if downloading the file would exceed the limits you have established. NOTE: These new ratios work WITHOUT having to change the callers security level. The caller remains fixed at the current level and PCBoard simply decides, at the time of the download request, whether or not the request should be granted based on the current ratio. The Upload Credits that have been given in the past will still apply ONLY to the "Daily Download Byte Limit". They do not apply to the "File Limit" nor the "KByte Limit". In other words, if you have "Upload Credit for Bytes" set to a non-zero value in PCBSetup : Configuration Options : File Transfers, then when a caller uploads it will credit the upload against the "Daily Download KByte Limit". Meanwhile, the "KByte Limit" remains intact. Given the number of possible ways of limiting the caller's download privileges, it may be wise (for sanity's sake) to pick a single one and use only it. For example, you might want to set the File Ratio to a non-zero value, leaving all of the other new fields at zero AND setting the "Daily Download KByte Limit" to 32767 to disable it as well. However, in reality any combination of settings may be used. PCBoard will enforce all of them if you choose to enact them all on any given security level in the PWRD file. NOTE: Two additional fields in the PWRD file can affect the use of file and byte ratios. They are File and K-Byte Credits. This allows you to start a caller out with a positive credit and avoids a problem that is most noticeable in Byte Ratios. Example: If you set the Byte Ratio to 4.0:1 and a new caller comes in who has never uploaded or download anything. His ratio is 1:1 and that is good. But he cannot download anything greater than 4 bytes in size without immediately exceeding his ratio! Not good. To allow the caller to download something, you can credit his byte ratio with, perhaps, 50K to start. Then he can download up to 200K before exceeding his 4.0:1 byte ratio. The (V)iew Settings command will show the user the current File or Byte Ratios. But only if ratio checking has been enabled. added The PWRD file now has a setting that controls, on a security level basis, whether or not the time limit specified should be seen as a Daily Time Limit or as a Session Time Limit. Answering YES to "Enforce Time Limit" means that the time limit should be enforced across calls - making it a limit for the entire day. Answering NO makes it a session limit. You can now disable the time limit enforcement for EVERYONE (via Configuration Options : System Control) or you can do it on a security level basis (in the PWRD file). Disabling the "Enforce Time Limit" does not mean the caller can spend all the time he wants on the system. It means that the time limit specified in the PWRD file is turned into a SESSION time limit instead of a DAILY time limit. That is, if you set it to 30 minutes, the caller can use 30 minutes, hang up, call back and get 30 more minutes. But never more than 30 minutes at a time. added The PWRD file now has a setting that controls, on a security level basis, whether or not an account can be used by multiple callers simultaneiously on a multi-node system. Answering YES to "Multiple Logins" means that more than one caller can be online using the same user-id without getting the "Name already in use on another node" message. This setting allows you to establish one or more accounts that can be used as DEMO accounts. That is, accounts where you can hand out the user-id and password and allow more than one user to be online at the same time utilizing that user-id. It is recommended that you also set the "Enforce Time Limit" flag to NO when utilizing the "Multiple Logins" setting. This will avoid running up the "minutes used" total which might prevent further logins under that account. Three additional changes in system behavior occur due to the Multiple Logins setting: 1) The Daily Download Bytes counter will automatically be reset whenever a user logs in. This is to avoid having previous callers run the daily limit out. Effectively, the Daily Download Byte Limit becomes a Session Download Byte Limit. 2) The Last Message Read pointers as well as Conference Selections will automatically be reset whenever a user logs in. This avoids having previous callers read mail and set the pointer to the end of the message base causing subsequent callers to not see the mail. Also, any given user must select, while online, which conferences he or she may be interested in. A previous caller cannot set the preferences for a future caller. 3) Users of such accounts will be unable to use the (W)rite User Info command. This avoids the possibility that someone might, either accidently or maliciously, change the password on the account thus stopping anyone else from using the multiple user account. It also prevents the user from changing the city/state information which might, again either accidently or maliciously, be changed to something that is not desired by the sysop for that account. changed PCBoard used to issue an error message whenever someone tried to flag, download or upload a filename that included a drive and/or path specification. In other words, typing "D C:\FILENAME" would result in a message indicating that "C:\FILENAME" was an invalid name. Now PCBoard will simply remove the drive and path specifiers and then attempt to fulfill the request. changed Increased the timeout when starting a file transfer from 60 seconds to 90 seconds. Should give those slow modem users a little more time to get the ball rolling before the system calls it quits. changed If the file transfer aborts and the caller asked for auto-logoff, it will now extend the timeout (before automatic logoff) from 10 seconds to 45 seconds to give the caller more time to find out about the aborted file transfer. changed (L)ocate command has been enhanced so that if the user types a multi- word search criteria PCBoard will split it up and put ampersands (&) in between each word. Since a command such as "L RECOVER DATA" is invalid, we might as well do what we can to help the caller find what he's looking for. In v14.5a PCBoard turned "L RECOVER DATA" into "Z RECOVER DATA". For v15.0 we'll take it a step further and turn it into "Z RECOVER & DATA". changed The behavior of the "Make All Uploads Private" switch. It continues to force uploads to go into the private upload directory. But it no longer tells the caller the "All uploads are private" when the caller tries to view the public upload directory. If the Public Upload Directory is defined (non-blank) the caller can now view it! However, by making the Public Upload Directory blank, PCBoard will revert back to the message "all uploads are private" and not allow the caller to view uploads. This takes care of the problem where some systems have defined area #99 (or some other number) as the Upload Directory, thereby disabling the use of commands such as "F U", "N U S" or any other command that would access the (U)pload directory. This was forced on sysops because of the "all uploads are private" status. But no longer. Now all uploads can be forced into the private directory while allowing the sysop to move the uploads into the public directory after they have been previewed or scanned. Further information for clarification of the above: OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS ----------------------- - Force all uploads private - Sysop scans uploads before posting - Sysop moves those files deemed appropriate to directory #13 (or whatever directory you might have chosen) - Sysop tells callers to scan directory #13 to find new uploads AND has to explain to everyone why the F;U command does not work, also the N;U;S command, also the L;U command, also the Z;U command, etc. What a hassle! NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS ----------------------- - Force all uploads private - Sysop scans uploads before posting - Sysop moves those files deemed appropriate to directory #13 (or whatever directory you might have chosen) - Now, because directory #13 is seen as the UPLOAD directory, the callers can now use the F;U, N;U;S, L;U and Z;U commands. What this change has done is allowed you to set up a directory which PCBoard can see as the "U" directory. A directory that your callers can reliably use to find new files no matter what number the directory is because they can now type "U" instead of "13" (or whatever the directory number is on your system) You, the sysop, are now free to insert new directories ahead of the upload directory, perhaps making the upload directory #14 now, without causing a problem for your users because they can go right on typing N;U;S to get a list of new files in the upload directory. PCBoard automatically knows which directory is the 'Upload Directory' now even though you are forcing all uploads to be private. added Support for Multiple Events. Multiple events can be set to run as Expedited (non-sliding) or Sliding and can be set to run only on specific nodes or on all nodes. They can be set to run on specific dates, or on specific days of the week. They can be set to run only within a specified period (to avoid having a sliding mailrun occur outside of evening long distance rates). And more. Here is a sample of what the PCBSetup EVENT.DAT Editor screen might look like: Batch Begin End Last Days Act Mod File Time Time Date Date SMTWTFS ═══ ═══ ════════ ═════ ═════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ 1 Y E MAIN 02:00 02:15 YYYYYYY 2 Y S SLIDE 06:00 07:45 NYYYYYN 3 Y S SLIDE 14:00 16:00 YYYYYYY 4 Y E XMAS 00:15 00:30 12-25-00 YYYYYYY 5 Y E MONTHLY 00:15 00:30 00-01-00 NNNNNNN 6 Y E WEEKLY 00:15 00:30 NYNNNNN An explanation for each field follows: Act = Active Y/N Mod = Mode (Expedite, Sliding) Batch File = Name of the batch file to use for the event Begin Time = When the event should run End Time = Latest time when event should be allowed to run Date = A specific date on which to run the event Last Date = For record keeping purposes only - when last event ran Days = Sunday through Saturday, which days to run the event The Begin Time and End Times create a "window" in which the event should be run. PCBoard will do its best to run the event right at the Begin Time. However, should the BBS be busy handling a file transfer, running a door, or simply out to DOS, it will still run the event if control is returned to PCBoard before the End Time is reached. In example #1 above, an EXPEDITED event should run at 2:00am. It will force callers off and deny access to the board trying to ensure that the event will run at that time. If it doesn't, it is permitted to run as late as 2:15am. Otherwise the system will skip the event. In examples #2 and #3, a SLIDING event should run at 6:00am and 2:00pm. This might be a mail run. We don't want to kick callers off, we just need to ensure that it gets run. But we don't want to call long distance after 8:00 otherwise we pay a higher long distance fee. So the event is allowed to run any time from 6:00 until 7:45. Further, in this example, it has been set to run only on Monday through Friday, it will not run on Saturday or Sunday. The second of the two events named SLIDE will run between the hours of 2:00pm and 4:00pm. This might be a second mail run if you call locally to get your mail. In example #4, an EXPEDITED event will run at 12:15am on Christmas morning, possibly running a program to insert a news item wishing callers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Setting the year to 00 in the date of this event is like using a wildcard, telling PCBoard that any year matches this date. In example #5, an EXPEDITED event will run at 12:15am on the first day of every month. This will allow you to do any monthly processing that you may wish to do, generating monthly statistics, purging month-old callers logs, or packing user information. In example #6, an EXPEDITED event will run at 12:15 am on every Monday morning. This will allow you to set up an event that will do any weekly processing that you may wish to have done. The Last Date field is used by PCBoard to record when the event was last run. This field is maintained on a PER NODE basis. That means that if you run PCBSetup on two different nodes you would be looking at two different fields in the EVENT.DAT file. The Last Date field is used to ensure that the event has not yet been run, and to avoid running the event if it has ALREADY been run that day. Therefore, if you are wanting to test the EVENT handling, you will need to either move the DATE on your system forward after each test or else run PCBSetup and delete (Ctrl-End) or replace (type over) the date in the Last Date Field. If you want a specific node to run an event that is different from the others then the name of the event file should be modified to include the node number. For example: Batch Begin End Last Days Act Mod File Time Time Date Date SMTWTFS ═══ ═══ ════════ ═════ ═════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ 1 Y E MAIN 02:00 02:15 YYYYYYY If you want node 1 to run the main part of the event, while all the rest of the nodes run something else (perhaps remaining idle) you would create two separate files like this: MAIN <--- the default, for all nodes MAIN.001 <--- used by node 1 (because of the .001) If you set up an event that you want only ONE node (or a subset of nodes) to run, then simply do not create the root filename (no extension) making, instead, only the node-specific copies of the event (e.g. MAIN.004, MAIN.008, etc). changed The callers log handling of events now indicates the NAME and NUMBER of the event when it is run. When returning from the event, PCBoard now writes a line to the log to indicate that the event is finished. Further, while the event is running, the USERNET file will be updated to indicate that the node is running the event as well as showing the name and number of the event it is running. changed Enhanced MKPCBTXT so that those who wish to customize PCBTEXT files can do so in a more automated fashion now. You can now use a /I:### parameter to insert text into the file at the record number specified. For example a batch file such as the following could be used: UPDATE.BAT ---------- @echo off if *%1 == * goto explain MKPCBTXT %1 /I:150 "This is a test" MKPCBTXT %1 /I:200 "%%2FILE1" MKPCBTXT %1 /I:210 "%%2FILE2" MKPCBTXT %1 /I:300 "This is in record #300 of PCBTEXT" goto done :explain echo Usage: UPDATE pcbtext file-directory echo . echo Exampe: UPDATE C:\PCB\GEN\PCBTEXT C:\PCB\GEN\ :end The example above illustrates who even the location of %FILESPEC files, used in the PCBTEXT file, could be customized by the sysop at the time of installation. added A Trashcan for uploads. This is a file that holds the filenames (which can optionally use wildcards) of those files that you want to prevent from being uploaded. This can be used in place of creating 0-byte files to stop uploads. added A new "Security" flag for messages. When entering the security type you can now type the letter 'D' to set the DATE on which the message should be packed out of the message base. As long as the message is not killed first, the message will then remain active until the date specified is reached. The actual 'protection' on the message is 'N' (for PUBLIC). However, once the message has been saved, you can use the (P)rotect or (U)nprotect commands or even use the (E)dit Header command to change the pack-out (D)ate. Only those who have security clearance to "Set the Pack-Out Date" (see PCBSetup : Security Levels : Sysop Commands) may enter messages of this type. Further, users (or sysops) having that level will be shown the pack-out date at the bottom of the message whenever the message is read. Meanwhile, regular users never see or know about the date. added Support for handling an incoming FAX *if* the modem is capable of letting PCBoard issue the ATA command (to connect) *and* the modem answers with a "CONNECT FAX" message. PCBoard then exits to DOS with an errorlevel of 7 at which point BOARD.BAT can be set up to load the FAX software. Modems which require TSR software to be loaded ahead of PCBoard, and which do not let PCBoard control the answering of the call, are a risk to PCBoard's security and are not supported. Modems which do not issue a CONNECT FAX message are not currently supported. If anyone knows of modems with a differing connect message that is still unique enough to identify the incoming fax, please let us know. NOTE: Due to the way DOS handles ERRORLEVELS you should check for higher numbered errorlevels first before checking lower errorlevels. PCBoard may exit with an errorlevel HIGHER than 7, yet DOS will treat an IF ERRORLEVEL == 7 as being true. Therefore, if you will be using FAX software you should probably write your batch file like this: pcboard if errorlevel == 8 board <-- test for all higher levels if errorlevel == 7 fax <-- if 7 is still found, run fax ... etc changed The $$LOGON.BAT and $$LOGOFF.BAT processing can now, optionally, be set to swap out to increase available memory. Also, the comm port is now closed and re-opened when processing is finished. This will allow software which accesses the comm port to be run in these batch files. Additionally, PCBoard can now be set to create a USERS.SYS file prior to running $$LOGON.BAT and it will read in and process the USERS.SYS file when done. changed It is now possible to set the default for the "Do you want graphics" question to YES. While this is not recommended, it has been a highly requested feature so those who want to do it may. | This is done by answering 'Y' to the "Default to Graphics at Login" | question in the PCBSetup : Configuration Options : Switches screen. | | NOTE: If you make this change, you must also edit your PCBTEXT file | to change record #149 so that it will properly reflect the default | you have selected. added A new ONLINE PACK capability. You can now pack your users file without taking the system offline - similar to packing message bases without taking the system down. Online packing of the users file is many times more complicated than the online-pack of MSGS, which simply waits until the MSGS file is not in use and then forces people to stay out until the packing process terminates. The users file, however, is constantly in use by callers who are already online as well as existing and new callers who were not connected at the time the pack processed started but may be online before the process ends. The online pack can be started either interactively via a separate menu option ("pack" versus "pack while online"). Or it can be started using a new command line option: /PURGE The /PURGE command is identical in syntax to the /PACK command with the same subcommands, etc. added PCBoard Supported Allocations (PSAs). These are similar to the Third Party Allocations (TPAs) which are data areas reserved inside the USERS.INF file for Third Party Applications to use. The PSAs are directly supported by PCBoard in PCBSM. More so than are TPAs which are simply allocations. A PSA is different in that not only is the space allocated, but PCBoard and PCBSM actually use the space. The allocations implemented in version 15.0 are the following: Alias Support Full Address Support Password Changing Support Verification Support Caller Statistics Support Installation of a PSA is similar to installing a TPA. From the Users Info File Maintenance menu option of PCBSM, you select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations" and then pick which one you want to install. You can install any or all of them, or none of them. If a PSA is installed, then PCBSM will show it when editing the Users File. To get to the PSA screen simply press the F2 function key to rotate views (Short Form, Long Form, Conference Form, then the PSA Forms, one for each PSA installed). For example, if you install the Alias Support, then after getting to the Conference Flags screen in PCBSM's Users File Editor, one more press of the F2 function key will take you to the Alias Support Form. If you have also installed Caller Statistics (but NO others), then the next F2 keypress will take you to the Caller Statistics Form. After installing Alias Support, PCBoard then allows the caller to select an Alias using the (W)rite User Info command. Similarly, with Caller Statistics Support installed, PCBoard will gather statistics about the callers to the system while they are online. The same idea holds true for the rest of the TPAs. If you decide to install them, then they become functional in both PCBoard and PCBSM. If you system has no need for them, then you need not install them, nor 'waste' the disk space that they would otherwise use. added Alias Support on a per-conference basis in PCBoard. Allowing callers to use an alias requires two steps: 1) You must first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Alias Support". This step adds a PSA (similar to a TPA) into the users.inf file. The only major difference is that the PSA is directly supported by both PCBoard and PCBSM. That is, callers can use PCBoard to set their Alias when logging in for the first time or by using the (W)rite User Info command, or the sysop can use PCBSM to edit the alias (via the Users File Editor). 2) Then you must inform PCBoard which conferences allow aliases to be used. Do this by going into PCBSetup, then go to the Conference configuration screen, then press PGDN to go to the switches screen. Answer 'Y' where it asks "Allow aliases to be used". | 3) Then you must select which security levels will be allowed to use | an alias by editing your PWRD file. Press the F2 key, once inside | the PWRD file editor, and answer 'Y' in the Alias column for each | security level that should be allowed to use an alias. Once the Alias Support PSA is installed the 'feature' becomes active and not before. For instance, after having installed the Alias Support the F2 function key inside the PCBSM Users File Editor will now take you to a 4th screen allowing you to see/edit the Alias Name the caller has chosen. Without installing the Alias Support PSA, however, that screen is not available and the Allow Aliases to be used setting, in PCBSetup, is completely ignored by PCBoard. When a user selects an alias, the alias chosen cannot duplicate the name of another user on the system, nor can it duplicate the alias of another user. Aliases must be unique. The User Index Files hold both user names and aliases to accomodate easy locations of either the user-id or the alias. If PCBSetup : Configuration Options : System Control : Disallow Alias Change is set to YES then once the Alias has been chosen it cannot be changed except by leaving a comment to the sysop and asking the sysop to change the alias. A caller who has chosen an alias may log onto the BBS using either his real user-id or by using the alias. The password remains the same in either case and PCBoard will properly pick up the record that belongs to the caller. However, the alias itself will not be used unless and until the caller joins a conference that has aliases enabled. The alias is not actually used until the caller joins a conference that is flagged for "Allow Aliases to be used = YES". When joined, the caller is shown a message stating "Hiding identity, please wait...". The user can disable the alias and return back to using his regular user-id at any time by typing "ALIAS OFF". Or by typing "ALIAS ON" it can be re-enabled. Simply typing "ALIAS" without the words ON or OFF will toggle the current setting. If PCBSetup : Node Configuration : Show Alias Name in WHO Display is set to YES then, as a caller moves into an Alias-Allowed Conference, the USERNET file will be updated to show the caller's alias, and when the caller moves out of an Alias-Allowed Conference it will revert back to the caller's real name. NOTE: PCBoard delays this update with a blank "Logging into system" status to hide the identity change. After approximately 1 minute, the WHO display will then reflect the change in the caller's name (or alias). NOTE: Sysops, or those who have access to Sysop Function 11, can still see the name of the user when Sysop Function 11 is utilized. Whenever the caller's online name is changed (whether changing to the alias or changing back to the user-id) the change is written to the callers log. Also, any changes (in the alias) are written to the callers log as well as any attempted changes. An attempted change is one where the caller tries to use a name which already exists. While inside a conference where aliases are allowed, the security level requirement for the USERS command is changed to become equal to that which is required to use Sysop Function 7. This allows the sysop to continue to use the USERS command while making it impossible for callers to use it. This is to avoid the possibility of having a user compare logon dates/times or name ordering in the USERS list seen outside of the conference with a USERS list that might be seen inside. In addition, the City/State information normally shown in a WHO display is blank when a user changes to his alias (by joining an alias conference). This, again, is to hide the information so that callers who are online do not simply compare the city/state information to determine who another caller is. Messages addressed to the Aliased Name function identically, when notifying a caller of new mail, as messages addressed to the actual user-id. When viewing a user's record online via Sysop Function 7, the Alias will be shown if the caller has chosen one. added Full Address Support in both PCBoard and PCBSM. This is another PSA (see above) and requires that you first install it via PCBSM. Installation requires that you first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Full Address Support". Once installed, new users will be asked to enter their full address information. The actual questions asked, like any other PCBoard prompt, may be changed using MKPCBTXT to edit the PCBTEXT file. The default questions are: Street (1 of 2) Street (2 of 2) City State Zip Code Country If any question (in PCBTEXT) is blank it won't be asked. The answers can be modified by 1) the user, using the (W)rite User Info command, or 2) by the sysop, using PCBSM's Users File Editor. A Login-PPL could be written and used to ask existing callers, those who registered before the Full Address Support was added into the system, to enter their address information. When viewing a user's record online via Sysop Function 7, the Full Address information will be shown if the caller entered it. added Password-Changing Support in both PCBoard and PCBSM. This is another PSA (see above) and requires that you first install it via PCBSM. Installation requires that you first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Password-Changing Support". Once installed, PCBoard will keep track of when your callers change their password (the last date changed), the number of times they have changed it, and the last three passwords used. It will prevent them from selecting any of the previously used passwords. You can view this information from PCBSM's Users File Editor. An additional field in the Password Support is an expiration date. You can set this date to force a caller to change the password as of that date. | New callers to the system will have their expiration date set to the | specified number of days after their first login. Existing users | will have their expiration date set to the specified number of days | after their first login with the Password PSA installed. In addition, a setting is provided in PCBSetup : Configuration Options : Limits for the number of days between FORCED password changes. If this setting is non-zero then PCBoard will require the caller to change the password when logging in after the expiration date of the password. New callers to the system, after the PSA is installed, will have the Login Date in the "Last Change Date" field. And if a "forced change" period is specified in PCBSetup then the expiration date will be that many days from the caller's first logon date. You can warn the caller of the up coming need to change the password by setting the number of warning days to some value larger than zero. PCBoard will then display a PCBTEXT record informing the caller of the need to change the password. This PCBTEXT record, like most PCBTEXT records, could be modified to run a PPL program. This PPL program could be written to verify if the caller is "live" or "automated" and, if making an automated mail run, the program could write the user a message that might then be included in the packet the caller is about to download. (NOTE: A sample PPL is posted as PWRDWARN.ZIP) Setting the callers expiration date to a date prior to the current date effectively forces the caller to choose a new password on the next call. Setting the expiration date to a date far into the future effectively disables the expiration feature. NOTE: Callers who call in using automated systems MAY NOT BE AWARE of this change and may waste several calls before noticing that the reason they cannot get their mail is because they need to update their password. You may want to use this feature sparingly. (set the Number of DAYS to Forced Password Change to either 0 or to a high number, and perhaps set the number of warning days high just to give the caller a chance to see the warning in a "live" call sometime prior to the password's expiration date). added Verification Support in both PCBoard and PCBSM. This is another PSA (see above) and requires that you first install it via PCBSM. Installation requires that you first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Verification Support". Verification Support is intended to help you, the sysop, ensure that callers are not sharing accounts and that the caller is legitimate. The default text for the question asked is set to ask for the maiden name of the caller's mother. This could be set to ask for birthdate instead, if desired. A login-PPL could be written/used which could later ask the caller for the information provided during login. added Caller Statistics Support in both PCBoard and PCBSM. This is another PSA (see above) and requires that you first install it via PCBSM. Installation requires that you first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Caller Statistics Support". Once installed, PCBoard will track such items as: the first date on, the number of times the caller has paged the sysop, used the group chat facility, left comments to the sysop, violated security, attempted to join conferences for which the caller does not have access, password failures, the speed of the caller, and more. This information is only viewable from PCBSM's Users File Editor. added Caller Notes Support in both PCBoard and PCBSM. This is another PSA (see above) and requires that you first install it via PCBSM. Installation requires that you first run PCBSM, select "User Info File Maintenance", then select "Add PCBoard Supported Allocations", then select "Add Caller Notes Support". Once installed, PCBSM will let you enter up to 5 lines of up to 60 characters each of information about the caller. This information cannot be seen or changed by the caller. PCBoard will display the information to the sysop when using Sysop Function 7, however, it can only be updated using PCBSM's Users File Editor. changed With the addition of PSAs into the system, PCBSM's ALT-S Searching capability (inside the Users File Editor) has now been extended into the PSAs that are installed. For example, you can now hit ALT-S and tell it to search for a street address and it will search the Full Address PSA. NOTE: This requires that not only the USERS file be searched, but that the USERS.INF file be searched as well. This is a tremendous performance hit. With that in mind, PCBSM will ask you whether or not you want to search through PSAs. If you know that the data you are looking for is perhaps a name or a city or phone number (information that is in the main user record) then answer NO to the question. If there is a good chance that the information *is* in the PSA then answer yes and then take a break. : info The disk space required for each installed PSA is outlined below: PSA Static Allocations ---------- ------------------ Alias 25 Address 160 Password 42 Verify 25 Statistics 30 Notes 300 For example, the Alias PSA requires 25 characters per user record. So if youhave 1000 users in your users file it will take up 25,000 bytes in your users.inf file. None of the PSAs use dynamic (per conference) allocations, so it doesn't matter how many conferences you have. added The ability to exclude local logins from PCBoard's statistics. When setting "Exclude Locals from Stats" (in PCBSetup : Configuration Options : Switches) to 'Y' PCBoard will not record the caller number in the callers log, it will not count the number of logins (either the system count or the call waiting statistics count), it will not count messages entered, nor files upload or downloaded (on the call waiting screen). However, the callers log will still show that a local login was made. This remains necessary for security issues. added FOSSIL Support in the PCBoard/M software. This allows PCBoard/M customers to use hardware that is not yet supported by COMM-DRV *if* a FOSSIL driver for that hardware happens to be available. We still recommend COMM-DRV as a faster and more reliable interface. But if COMM-DRV doesn't support the card you have, now you have an alternative that you can try. PCBSetup has been modified adding a new field in the Modem Information screen where you specify A, C or F as the type of driver to be used. A = ASYNC <-- the only choice when using regular PCBoard C = COMM-DRV F = FOSSIL changed The USERS.SYS file that PCBoard creates for DOORS is now larger than it was when v14.5 and v14.5a created the file. The file specification specifically allows for this to happen, however, some DOOR applications were not properly written to take into account the dynamic sizing nature of the USERS.SYS file. To allow for compatibility with DOORS written for v14.5 or v14.5a, the DOORS.LST file now allows Y, N or O to be entered in the USERS.SYS column. Choosing the letter O indicates that the USERS.SYS file should be created in the v14.5 format, without the extra information that is new for v15.0. changed Modified the SELECT command so that if you select (or deselect) a conference that is not currently on the screen, PCBoard will attempt to put that conference on the screen upon completion of the command. changed Given the following information in PCBSetup : Subscription screen: Enable Subscription Mode : Y Default Subscription Length in Days : 0 <---- set to ZERO Default `Expired' Security Level : 9 Warning Days Prior to Expiration : 30 PCBoard will now allow subscription mode to be enabled while DEFAULTING NEW USERS to 00-00-00. Setting the subscription length to anything other than zero will result in the normal addition of days to the new user's logon date when setting the subscription period. changed Sysop Functions 3 and 8, which pack the message bases and users file, respectively, have been modified to take more of a backseat to their offline counterparts: PCBPACK and PCBSM. In actuality, both Sysop Functions 3 and 8 call PCBPACK and PCBSM to do their work. However, they no longer provide feedback (while processing) to the user if the user is online from REMOTE. It is highly recommended that sysops uses the EVENT system to pack their message bases and users file. Meanwhile, Sysop Functions 3 and 8 remain in v15.0 to allow for those quick and dirty times when you need to quickly pack a single message base or pack the users file. Both of these options may now be used WITHOUT having to having to take the system down. Sysop Function 8 still requires that only the SYSOP (record #1 in the users file) use it, but it is now okay to pack the users file without taking all of the nodes down prior to performing the pack. added PCBoard will now auto-detect Netware systems which means that the SET PCB=/NMT switch is no longer necessary. added RIPscrip support. RIPscrip is a standard similar to ANSI except that it runs in graphics mode on the caller's side. If you answer with the letter 'R' at the "Do you want graphics" prompt PCBoard will now look for _____R files similar to the way answering 'Y' causes PCBoard to look for ______G files. For example, you can create a WELCOMER file and it will be displayed instead of your WELCOMEG or WELCOME files if the caller is in RIPscrip mode. PCBoard has been set up to look first for the 'R' files, then if an 'R' version is not found it will look for a 'G' file and display it. Of course, if no 'G' version exists then it will display the non-graphics version. The (M)ode command has a new sub-command "RIP". You can type "M RIP" to turn RIPscrip mode on at any time. NOTE: The callers log and status lines will now show 'R' for RIPscrip mode. Also, the pcboard.sys file now has the letter 'R' when in RIPscrip mode. changed Increased the speed at which PCBoard locates display files. info The following are the current ERRORLEVELS supported and returned by PCBoard: 0 = normal exit at sysop request 1 = exit to dos for the event 2 = exit to dos for a door 3 = exit to dos for remote dos operation 4 = exit to dos to run pcbpack 5 = exit to dos caused by caller saying goodbye 6 = exit to dos to recycle through board.bat 7 = exit to dos to handle incoming FAX 99 = an error occured which dropped it to dos, board.bat will recycle the system