BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/qbbs/ovr275g1.zip/GAMMA1.DOC

Text File | 1990-12-12 | 18KB | 404 lines

GAMMA.DOC            Tuesday, December 11, 1990 11:57 pm             Page 1


                         GAMMA-1 Release Notes



First, a reminder:  This is a GAMMA version.  It is based upon Beta-5.
The only differances between this version and beta-5 is that a reported bug
in the beta echo has been fixed.  Beta 5 was very stable and is the basis
for this GAMMA release.

A GAMMA version, by its nature is likely to have bugs that haven't been
discovered by the beta team, or by the programmers.  Timely reports
about problems will be appreciated.  We are NOT requesting, nor will we
respond to enhancement suggestions.  That is not the purpose of a GAMMA.
The purpose is to gain additional exposure to the product by a larger
population, and to uncover hidden bugs, NOT to solicit enhancement
ideas.

In the event you find a bug, we request that you report it in NETMAIL,
giving us the circumstances of the error, an exerpt of your system log
file, and any error log information it provided.  Reports of problems in
the QUICKBBS echo will NOT be responded to, nor will it really help find
or cure the bug.  NETMAIL is the proper vehicle.  If, however, you feel
that your problem may be setup related then the QUICKBBS echo is an
appropriate place to seek help.


There are several enhancements that have been made to QuickBBS for this
release.  They are outlined in the following pre-release notes.



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IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE

You *must* run ALIASFIX.EXE even if you don't plan on using the alias
support.  Failure to do so will guarantee a whole bunch of
fatal system errors!!!!  See ALIASFIX.DOC for details...

IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE  IMPORTANT NOTICE


QuickBBS is now multi-node!    If you're going to run multi-node either
with two phone lines, or just a local node for your own echo reading pleasure,
make absolutely sure to load SHARE and to keep all other programs from
accessing the message base when one or more nodes are active.  The
configuration file is going to have to be changed to properly support
multi-node, for right now you need a copy of CONFIG.BBS in each of your node
directories.

This will happen as soon as we get the new Qconfig done.  To set
up multi-node, create a directory for each node other than the first and copy
your CONFIG.BBS to it.  Make changes as you feel appropriate in each config,
particularly (of course) the comm port.  Set an environment variable QUICK to
point to your main QuickBBS directory - e.g. SET QUICK=C:\QUICKBBS and run
each node from it's own directory, using the -N parameter to set the line
number.  Avoid using the same line number on different nodes, this can have
"interesting" results ;-)

Several commands have been added for multi-node, they are:
52 Show list of users currently on line
53 Toggle "do not disturb" flag
54 Send online message to other node


Auto-ANSI detect has been added.  If the user is using a supported terminal
program (Telix, Qmodem, Telemate, and Front Door are several that are known
to work with this feature) then they will be able to use their ANSI color and
graphic capabilities as soon as they connect to your BBS!  As a result of
this, text files such as LOGO.ASC which previously didn't have a .ANS
counterpart now do - you will probably want to whip out The Draw and create
a couple more of those ANSI files ;-)  Also, users who have ANSI capabilities
but choose to turn their graphics mode off for whatever reason will now be
able to use the full screen editor and split screen chat, as long as the
auto-detect is activated.

Press ALT-C for a neat little surprise, there is now an internal split-screen
chat.



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An internal callback verifier has been added, the verifier configuration
will be part of the new QCONFIG.  In the meantime, use the configuration
program that comes with S-VER092 which you probably already have.  If you
don't have it, you can get it here.  The S-VER092.ZIP also contains a full
set of ANSI and ASCII text files which you can place in your text files
directory and modify to change the look of the verifier, if you don't use
these files or make your own then Quick provides default messages.  Menu
TYPE 60 to activate this feature.

Internal file ratio support has been added, and the format of the LIMITS.CTL
file changed slightly to accomodate this - but it's backwards compatible so
don't worry about it if you don't want to use this feature.

S T 300 1200 2400 4800 9600 # K

is the new format of the file, where everything after the T is optional.  If
you don't specify a download K limit for all speeds, the highest one you
specify will apply to all higher speeds.

S = security level
T = time
300,1200,2400,4800,9600 = download K limits for various speeds
# = download ratio
K = download K ratio

The status bar has been enhanced, and now includes 4 screens.  Press F9 for
help, or F1-F4 to select which one you want to see.  The status bar will now
continue to be updated even when a user is transferring a file, and may also
be changed via the F-keys while a file transfer is going on.  Response in this
case may be a bit sluggish as it only happens between blocks, but it's better
than nothing ;-)

The format of the nodelist files has changed completely, We liked the RA format
better so ... <grin>  The new version of QNODE will create two files called
NODEINC.DAT and NODEIDX.DAT, they must be in the same directory as your raw
nodelist.  And, so Quick can find them, you need to set an environment variable
of either DB or FD (convenient, eh? ;) to wherever they are.  For those of you
who don't keep your nodelist files in your mailer's main directory use the
opposite mailer's environment variable (e.g. SET FD=C:\DB\NODELIST) to keep
your mailer from getting upset.



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Prompts with a default value now have a slightly different look, examples are
ALT-S, ALT-T (modify user's time left), and the new user screen length thing.
You'll see - I think it's pretty neat.  Press ^X to erase the default if you
want to enter something else.

QuickBBS now reloads the EXITINFO on a type 7, you should no longer have any
need for a type 15 except that keeping the type 15 exits allows you to be
lazy and delay changing your 'runbbs.bat'!

Quick now swaps itself out to disk or EMS on type 7 shells, ALT-J, and for
the full screen editor.

The swap to disk for a type 7 or the external editor is configurable.  Putting a
*M somewhere in the optional data will cause the swap to take place,
otherwise the shell will execute faster but have less memory available.

You may notice delays if you do not have EMS, and you elect to swap to disk.
It MAY be faster to continue to use the type 15 exit on slower machines.
Type 7 shells release almost as much memory now as do the type 15 exits,
but must save itself somewhere.  EMS is almost intant, but if you don't have
EMS, it will use your disk drive, thus the slight delays.

Regarding 'FIX-15':  If your doors used to need FIX-15 when using a type
15 exit, it will need it now when using a type 7 as type 7 shells now
read the EXITINFO information back in upon return.  If the old style
doors modify this file, and you do not run FIX-15, unspecified errors
will occur.

There is now a feature that allows you to perform shell commands from a text
file.  Beware of utilities that could potentially allow users to change any
of your text files, as there is not any configuration option to turn this
feature off (yet).  Same caution regarding the EXITINFO.

Quick now supports -B38400 on the command line.  Several people have asked
about this and we *still* don't understand why it is necessary, but now it's
there...

Templates have been added in this version!  Messages only (so far), but the
file menu templates should be here soon.  Heres the scoop:

On a menu type 1 or 2 you can use /M=<number> to set the current message area.
You can also use /M=- and /M=+ to increment or decrement the area.



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On types 23, 24, 25, and 27 you can use *M instead of an area number to
indicate that the current message area is to be used.  *M also will work on a
type 47 or in menu text - in these places the name of the current message
area will be substituted.

The symbol *1 used on a type 7 will be substituted with the number of the
current message area.

Menu type 49 allows the user to pick the message area they want, from a menu
similiar to the type 28

Several new control codes have been added to the text files:
^F2 will display the current setting of the "do not disturb" flag
^F3 will display the user's download ratio
^F4 will display the user's download K ratio
^F5 for the user's alias name.
^KY Name of currently selected message area
^K0 Number of messages in currently selected message area
^K1 Number of currently selected message area
^KW will display the node number, as determined by the -N parameter when
    you fire up Quick as a multi-node system


Point support has been added in the netmail section.

You can display a different message at logon for each node in a
multi-node system by making a NODExx.A?? file.  It will be automatically
displayed right after SECxxxxx.A??

Alias support has been added in this version.  The new menu type 42 allows
your users to pick one "registered" alias each.  Once a user picks an alias in
this way, nobody else on the system is allowed to use it until it's owner
decides to start using a different one.  Any mail addressed to an alias will
be picked up on a new mail scan in addition to mail addressed to the user's
real name.  In addition, the alias may be used to log onto the system instead
of the user's real name. When a user logs on in this way, everything will
be exactly as if he had used his real name with the exception that both names
will appear in the log. Once a user has an alias, all the commands which allow
other users to see his or her name will display the alias instead.




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The status line seen by the sysop will continue to show the user's real
name, optionally the F5 key may be used to see the alias.  The message
base alias selection now has a third option which is not supported by
the older versions of QCONFIG.  Until v2.75 of QCONFIG is ready, you can
use the ALIASCFG.EXE program to set up the alias capabilities of each
of your message areas.  Use of ALIASCFG is necessary only if you want
to use the third option, the other 2 are fully backward compatible.

The three options available are:
NO  - works just like earlier versions, aliases not allowed.
ASK - works like YES used to in earlier versions, with the exception that
      the system will fill in the user's preferred alias for him when it
      presents the prompt, this may be either accepted by the user or
      cleared with a control-X in the usual way.
YES - this is the new one, and is the only one that can't be set up using the
      current version of QCONFIG.  If the user has selected an alias using a
      menu type 42, then it will be used for all messages entered in that
      area, no questions asked.  If the user does not have an alias, his or
      her real name will be used for all messages entered in that area, again
      no questions asked.  This allows the use of aliases to be completely
      transparent!

When replying to a message, you are no longer asked whether you want to quote
the original text.  If you don't want to, simply don't use the quote feature
of the editor.  Internal editor does not support quotes yet.

The capability to change the destination or subject of a message has been
completely revamped.

The file names which are displayed if a user tries to exceed his download ratio
are RATIO.A?? for the count ratio, and RATIOK.A?? for the K ratio.

The local screen is now saved when you ALT-J, and restored when you return.
Also, when you ALT-J, the prompt now reminds you that you are in a QuickBBS
shell.

When you initiate capture mode from the split screen chat everything currently
onscreen is written to the file.  This is great for when you decide "after the
fact" that you really wanted to save the conversation you were having.

Entering a null password to get back to the user name prompt now works only
in local mode.

USER Passwords are now case insensitive.




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Two new menu types have been added.  57 (change home/voice telephone number)
and 58 (change business/data telephone number).  It is recommended that
access to these commands be permitted only to users who haven't been verified
yet or force re-verification.

By popular demand, we now have an ALT-G key.  If you don't know what it does,
try it and see ;-)

Long lines in FILES.BBS are now displayed with proper wrap.



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The following is a summary of the currently implemented menu types:

;  Menu Options for QuickBBS v2.75 Gamma-1

0 .... Text Line (Not Considered a Command) .. None
1 .... Goto New Menu ......................... <Menu Name> <Password>
2 .... Gosub New Menu ........................ <Menu Name> <Password>
3 .... Return from Previous Gosub ............ None
4 .... Clear Gosub Stack and Goto New Menu ... <Menu Name>
5 .... Display .ASC/.ANS File ................ <1-8 Character Name>
6 .... Selection Menu  ....................... <1-7 Character Prefix>
7 .... Shell Under Board and Run Program ..... Command Line
8 .... Version Information ................... None
9 .... Logoff the System ..................... None
10 ... Display System Usage Graph ............ None
11 ... Page the Sysop for Chat ............... Page Prompt
12 ... Execute Questionnaire File ......... <1-8 Character Q-A Name>
13 ... List/Search User List ................. None
14 ... Time Statistics ....................... None
15 ... Exit to DOS ........................... <DOS ERRORLEVEL>
16 ... Change City and State ................. None
17 ... Change Password ....................... None
18 ... Change Length of Screen ............... None
19 ... Toggle Screen Clearing ................ None
20 ... Toggle Page Pausing ................... None
21 ... Toggle Graphics Mode .................. None
22 ... Check for Personal Mail ............... None
23 ... Read Messages ......................... <Board #>
24 ... Scan Messages ......................... <Board #>
25 ... Quick-Scan Messages ................... <Board #>
26 ... Delete Selected Messages .............. <Board #>
27 ... Post a New Message ......... <Board #> [/L] [/T=<Name>] [/A]
28 ... Select Combined Boards ................ None
29 ... Move A File ........................... <Full Path>
30 ... MS-DOS Directory ...................... <Full Path>
31 ... List FILES.BBS ........................ <Full Path>
32 ... Download a File from Sub-Dir .......... <Full Path> <Password>
33 ... Upload a File to Sub-Dir .............. <Full Path>
34 ... List Archive in Sub-Dir ............... <Full Path>
35 ... Search for File by Keyword ............ None
36 ... Search for File by FileName ........... None
37 ... List New Files on System .............. None
38 ... View a Text file ...................... <Full Path and Name>
39 ... Display a Direct Text File ............ <Full Path and Name>
40 ... Display .ASC/.ANS File -w- Hot Keys ... <1-8 Character Name>
41 ... Toggle Full Screen Editor ............. None
42 ... Change Alias .......................... None
43 ... [Not defined]
44 ... [Not defined]
45 ... Type ASC/ANS File and Pause at End .... <1-8 Character Name>
46 ... Display a .GIF file header ............ <Full Path>
47 ... Create a System Log Entry ............. <Text>



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48 ... Download a Specific File .............. <Full Path and Name>
49 ... Select Message Area ................... Selection Prompt
50 ... [Not defined]
51 ... [Not defined]
52 ... Show Users Currently On-Line .......... None
53 ... Toggle "Do Not Disturb" Flag .......... None
54 ... Send an On-Line Message ............... None
55 ... [Not defined]
56 ... [Not defined]
57 ... Change Voice Phone .................... None
58 ... Change Data Phone ..................... None
59 ... [Not defined]
60 ... Callback Verify ....................... None



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Summary of new text file commands in 2.75 GAMMA-1:

^F2 will display the current setting of the "do not disturb" flag
^F3 will display the user's download ratio
^F4 will display the user's download K ratio
^F5 for the user's alias name.
^KY Name of currently selected message area
^K0 Number of messages in currently selected message area
^K1 Number of currently selected message area
^KW will display the node number, as determined by the -N parameter when
    you fire up Quick as a multi-node system
^X  will cause an external program to be run from a text file, everything
    between the ^X and the | is interpreted as the command to run.  All
    the * character stuff available in a type 7 may also be used here.

And, of course, all the 2.66 text file codes are also available...

                Enjoy!
                Steve and Richard