BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/qbbs/xfd_v301.zip/XFD.NEW

Text File | 1992-05-31 | 15KB | 363 lines

 ┌───────┬────────────────────────────┐
 │ 3.01  │ Major release              │
 └───────┴────────────────────────────┘
 I have split the 'what's new' information into 3 parts, the fixed  bug,
 any removed options and added (and enhanced) options.


 Bug fixes:
 ───────────────────────────
 ■ Fixed a problem  where filename in FILES.BBS  in mixed case were  not
   updated and counted;

 ■ Fixed  the major  part of  all swapping  and shell  routines. On some
   machines they would hang;

 ■ The complete  RATIO-system is revamped.  It worked rather  at random.
   Some  users  could  use  it,  others  didn't.  With the revamping all
   critical errors are removed;

 ■ Fixed  a problem  with the  %X macro  in the  logging-layout. When is
   wasn't needed, it wasn't replaced by a null-string. Now it is;

 ■ FileDoor  would  not  work  ok  with  some  combinations of the  DISP
   compatible  +-comment-lines  in  FILES.BBS.  This  part has also been
   rewritten;

 ■ When using Quickmatch, it was still possible to enter the file  masks
   *.* and/or ????????.???.  This would cause  all files to  be selected
   (up to the  users limit). Though  it is a  user-error, the masks  are
   denied when QuickMatch is on;

 ■ FileDoor would  show the N/A-text  on locations where  there actually
   was a description. This is fixed;

 ■ Bimodem uploads  for filename.ext would  also cause a  schedule for a
   download for filename.ext. This would  fail but the error in  Bimodem
   was not nice. Fixed;

 ■ All  kind  of  strange  things  would  happen if the user passed  the
   available time  (uploads). In  these cases  the user  was not able to
   enter  file-comments  and  some  files  were  left  in  the temporary
   directory. This if fixed;

 ■ Removed a number of invalid error-messages;

 ■ Removed a number of spelling errors;

 ■ Removed a (big) number of cosmetic errors;

 ■ Removed some  beeps and bells  that would drive  the user crazy.  The
   warnings and information from FileDoor  to the user is now  much more
   relaxed;

 ■ Trash  could  be  entered  in  all  log-files  and FILES.BBS. Even  a
   truncate to 64K or less was possible. This has been fixed;

 ■ Some  protocol calls  would crash  if there  were no extra parameters
   given. Also some protocols could  not be found in these  cases. These
   routines are rewritten;

 ■ FileDoor would  feel very happy  when trash was  on the command-line.
   Now all command-line  options are tested  and the SysOp  is mutilated
   if there is a wrong command-line option;

 ■ Comments  in the  info-file would  show the  download-counters. These
   are now removed (the counters, and only in the information-files);

 ■ You  won't  believe  it  but  there  have been a lot of reports  from
   Sysops who complained that user  would enter 'Y' on the  warning 'ARE
   YOU THERE'  (caused by  a time-out  from the  user). This would cause
   the next file to be selected. This has both been fixed.  The  message
   is  more  clear  AND  the  keyboard/modembuffer is flushed before the
   user can go on;

 ■ Changed a lot of misleading and incorrect text into better verbs;

 ■ Upload descriptions  could include spaces  at the end,  causing users
   to enter 'Shit                        ' and FileDoor to validate  the
   text. Now FileDoor  will truncate (trim)  all spaces (front  and end)
   before counting the  length of the  comment (it is  still possible to
   enter 'Shit.......................');

 ■ After  FileDoor did  write inside  a FILES.BBS,  that FILES.BBS would
   have a new date and time. This is now fixed, the original date,  time
   and attributes will be the same;

 ■ If a user entered a description before the actual upload while  using
   Bimodem AND a comment was  also send thru Bimodem itself,  the latter
   would prefer. This has been reversed;

 ■ A problem with uploads at midnight is fixed;

 ■ Fixed  a problem  with the  AlternateFILESpath. It  always pointed to
   the SYSTEM directory, whatever you supplied. Fixed;

 ■ Fixed  a  problem  where  only  normal files (not READ-ONLY or  other
   attributes)  could  be  selected.  CD-ROM  files  are read-only, thus
   fixed;

 ■ When  using  [V]iew  on  a  non-archive  file would report a  strange
   error. This has been fixed;

 ■ The pause (5 seconds) between  the termination of a transfer and  the
   continuation  of  FIleDoor  is  not  engaged  when  the  carrier  has
   dropped;

 ■ Fixed  a  security  leak.  Though  ..\USERS.BBS  could be given  when
   selecting downloads,  it was  impossible to  download the  file.  The
   new ExternalView  option made  it possible  to VIEW  the file, so the
   leak is closed;


 Replaced features:
 ───────────────────────────

 ■ The -DB  command-line parameter is  removed. Please remove  the menus
   that use  this parameter  and convert  the Bimodem  entries ('B')  to
   either Upload ('U'), Download ('D') or both ('D' and 'U');

 ■ The  HB  and  MB  parameters  for  ANSASC are now obsolete or have  a
   different meaning (see ANSASC option);

 ■ The  [direction] 'B'  in the  PROTOCOL option  is now  obsolete. Look
   into the previous lines for conversion suggestions;

 New/enhanced features:
 ───────────────────────────

 ■ Added the %B and %K macros for the log-layout, to be replaced by  the
   number of bytes or KBytes of the specific file;

 ■ Added  the ^M  macro for  the log-layout,  to be  replaced by a CR+LF
   sequence;

 ■ Added support for QuickBBS 2.75 (FILECFG.DAT);

 ■ Added ALT-key support for  FileDoor (local side), see the  chapter on
   local keyboard interfaces;

 ■ Added option (LockPassword) to be able to lock the local keyboard;

 ■ The  info-file (when  selected at  startup) is  now added by FileDoor
   even if the user did not supply /INFO. Only when there is still  room
   left for a fill to add (batch-protocols);

 ■ Added the SelMax option for small-housed (memory) computers;

 ■ Added  the UserPath  option for  Sysop-to-user files.  Also added the
   FileUSER and FileMAIN programs to make it all work;

 ■ Just before the  start of the protocol,  the user will now  see which
   files are added by FileDoor (info-files, added by sysop);

 ■ Tags in the UserMacro options are now enhanced to 8 positions;

 ■ Files in the UserMacro options can now be outside the BBS-areas.   In
   this  case  you  must  supply  a  drive  and directory along with the
   filename;

 ■ Added a new log-file (for  private uploads). Can be set with  the new
   PVTUploadLog option in FILEDOOR.CFG;

 ■ Added the  USAGE option that  works in combination  with the PROTOCOL
   option(s);

 ■ Added support  for BADFILES.CTL and  FILES.CTL. Use the  FILEDOOR.CFG
   options BADFILESName and FILESCTLName;

 ■ Expanded the TimeOut option with the HANG parameter;

 ■ FileDoor will now expand  all filenames and directories when  needed.
   You can now supply paths without drives, relative directories and  so
   on (only for those options that explicitly need full path);

 ■ You  can now  return from  the 'start  protocol' menu  to the 'select
   file menu' when needed;

 ■ Added  line-tags in  FILEDOOR.CFG. You  can now  use ONE FILEDOOR.CFG
   with all information for all the different BBS-lines;

 ■ FileDoor  will now  format and  display all  +-comment lines when you
   ask [I]nfo for a specific file;

 ■ Added option (ExternalChat) to trigger an external chat-program  with
   ALT-C;

 ■ Added option (AddFile) to add files to the selected files  (download)
   from the Sysop side. This can be commercials and such;

 ■ Added option (UploadName)  to add the name  of the user in  FILES.BBS
   for every uploaded file. This has been implemented in several ways;

 ■ Added option (DelOldFiles) to delete uploaded files with a date  that
   is lower than the supplied  limit (FileDoor will look INSIDE  archive
   files);

 ■ Support is  added to update  the USERON.BBS (under  RA, see also  the
   UserOnPath option);

 ■ Support  is added  for LiveSystems  USERON.EXE program  (see also the
   LiveSystemsPath option);

 ■ Added  a  status-bar  on  the  local  side  (extended and in  RA/QBBS
   format). Also added the new StatusLine option in FILEDOOR.CFG;

 ■ Added a huge number of  new ANS/ASC files (see included examples  and
   the description of the ANSASC option);

 ■ The can now be up to 5 DefaultExtension options;

 ■ Added  routines to  set the  DSZLOG environment  variable from within
   FileDoor itself. Can be shut off with the new NoOwnDSZLog option;

 ■ Enhanced  the ULMultiply  option so  FileDoor can  now CREDIT  upload
   time (finally);

 ■ Added  a windowed  shell to  the protocol.  This will  mean that  the
   status-bar  can  be  protected  (not  updated)  by FileDoor while the
   protocol is running;

 ■ For some  operations FileDoor would  report 'Testing ....'.  This has
   been enhanced with  a status-bar, so  the user can  see the progress.
   These can be  toggled with the  NoDupeStat and NoFindStat  options in
   FILEDOOR.CFG;

 ■ Because FileDoor is unable to interpret the one-zillion of  different
   extended-ANSI codes (used by the  BBS to be replaced by  fancy things
   as names, times and such),  the GOODBYE screen could be  displayed as
   trash. You can now overrule the name of this screen to one that  does
   not contain these codes;

 ■ When  only  one  protocol  is  available, FileDoor will not show  the
   protocol menu  unless a  special option  is set  in FILEDOOR.CFG (the
   new option MenuIfOnlyOne);

 ■ Added support  (finally) to make  it possible to  download a specific
   file with  FileDoor. Also  the default  protocol can  be set  in this
   case, though I advise  you to let the  user make a choice.  With this
   option (-F and  -X command-line parameters)  you can now  make one or
   more specific menu entries  to download the allfiles,  the BBS-manual
   and such.  It is  also possible  to download  a whole  range of Sysop
   pre-selected files when you include wildcards;

 ■ Added  support  to  overrule  the  log-file name and location with  a
   command-line parameter (-L);

 ■ Added  new  option  (ForceEdit)  to  force  the  user  to  check  the
   previously entered comment again after the upload;

 ■ Added a  new macro to  the protocol statement  ($!) to stop  the time
   while the protocol is shelled;

 ■ If the user inputs filenames  for uploads, they are also recorded  in
   the local BIMODEM.PTH file;

 ■ Added  new option  (BBSMAFormat, same  format as  BBSUPFORMAT). It is
   used by  FILEUSER.EXE and  FILEMAIN.EXE (not  by FILEDOOR.EXE).  Only
   the %R, %T and ^M macros will work with this option;

 ■ The NewFilesMacro has two new  options. The first will deside if  the
   tag will be displayed at startup. The second will deside if the  user
   is  able  to  search  only  certain  areas for new-files (it will ask
   questions for each area);

 ■ Added  new  option  (NoShowInternalMacros)  which  can  be used in  a
   combination with the  UserMacro and NewFilesMacro  to show all,  some
   or none of the available macros;

 ■ Added new  option (Verify) which  can be used  to trigger the  verify
   files option in Bimodem;

 ■ CheckDupes is now enhanced. You can supply a security level at  which
   (or above) the user  will not get a  dupe-check on a file  (CoSysops,
   special users);

 ■ Added  a  special  protocol  type  for HSLink-alike protocols. It  is
   called BiDSZ  and can  be used  in combination  with a PROTOCOL/USAGE
   option;

 ■ A  message  (please  wait)  befor  the  call  to the protocol is  now
   displayed;

 ■ The  /NEW macro  is enhanced  and will  now ask  if the user wants to
   search from the last time on or from a different date;

 ■ Duplicate Unwanted file-masks are now removed. Also when an  unwanted
   file in BADFILES.CTL or FILES.CTL diplicates, these are also  removed
   from the list (only one is shown);

 ■ Descriptions of the UserMacro option can now be 50 bytes long;

 ■ Added support for GIF, GIFLite and JPEG files;

 ■ After  the protocol  has finished,  FileDoor will  not check the time
   anymore unless a new transfer is engaged. This will make it  possible
   to handle  all actions  in a  normal way,  even if  there is  no time
   left;

 ■ Added new option (Delete0byteFiles) to remove any uploaded file of  0
   bytes (optional);

 ■ Added  a new  macro ($N)  to the  ExitAfterUploadx options.  If it is
   present in  the command-line,  FileDoor will  ONLY call  the exit  if
   there really are uploaded files;

 ■ Added new parameters (RA11 and QNEW) to the SYSTEM option. RA11  must
   be used for Remote Access 1.1x and QNEW for QuickBBS 2.75+;

 ■ Added  new  option  (NoLogoff).  Can  be  used  in  combination  with
   NoLastChance  and  AskAnother.  If  set,  there  is now way to logoff
   (normally) from FileDoor;

 ■ Added  new option  (ExternalView) with  support for  an external view
   program (MTS 7.59 and up);

 ■ Added  new  option  (DelAfterDL)  to  delete certain files after  the
   actual download. Can be used for temporary files like the files  from
   offline mail-readers and the DOWNLOAx.xxx files from MTS;

 ■ Enhanced the [I]nfo option with various download times and speed  for
   different modem speeds and protocols;

 ■ Added new option  (ExitMasks) to make it  possible to call the  exits
   after the uploads ONLY when specific files were received;

 ■ Added support for external  conversion programs that change the  name
   of the uploaded file(s) (like DISP's MTA.EXE);

 ■ Added support  for external conversion  programs to extract  comments
   from archives (like FILE_ID.DIZ) and  to pass them to FileDoor  (like
   DISP's MTA.EXE);

 ■ Added  new option  (InternalOverUser) to  overrule comments  from the
   user by comments from the archive;

 ■ Added  support  for   DISP-compatible  wildcards  (=SCAN)  and    for
   4DOS-compatible wildcards (*SCAN*.*);

 ■ Added  new option  (ExcludeFile) to  exclude local  and global  files
   (like FILES.BBS and others) from the file-selection;

 ■ Added an  overlayed version of  FileDoor which consumes  100K less of
   conventional memory;

 ■ Enhanced  the HideFiles  option to  allow users  to select files that
   are not in FILES.BBS if they supply the EXACT name;

 ■ Enhanced the DownloadHours option  with an optional baudrate for  the
   lowest allowed connect;

 ■ Added  new  option  (UploadHours).  Is  used  as DownloadHours  (also
   possible with baudrates) but now for uploads;

 ■ Added a lot of new internal coding, changes in layouts, fixes for the
   highest  possible  speeds  and so on. It is well possible that I even
   forgot to include  some  comments  on new/changed features but I have
   tried to include as much as possible;

 ■ Did a (almost) complete rewrite of the documentation;

 ■ Synchronized all ANS/ASC files and menus to the example  FILEDOOR.CFG
   and FILEDOOR.MUL files;