BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/rbbs_pc/rbbs174.zip/174-NEW.DOC

Text File | 1992-06-23 | 19KB | 485 lines

Highlights of Changes in RBBS-PC 17.4
by Ken Goosens, 6-23-92

Contents

    Introduction
    Major Enhancements
    Minor Enhancements
    Major Bug Fixes
    Minor Bug Fixes
    Upgrading from 17.3/A/B/C
    Incompatibilities and Operational Differences
    Implementing New Features


                      Introduction

RBBS 17.4 is a major enhancement to 17.3C, with some bug fixes
as well.   This file only highlights the changes.   Details are found in

174MSG.DOC         Changes to the message file
BANKTIME.DOC       Banking time
CC.DOC             Carbon copy, or distribution lists, with msgs/uploads
DOWNLOAD.DOC       Downloading
LINKMSG.DOC        Linked message bases (global reading)
MARKFILE.DOC       Marking files
PASSWRDS.DOC       Changes to the PASSWRDS file
PUI-174.DOC        Programmable user interface
STACK.DOC          Command stacking

No coding details on the specific changes are included, because the changes
from 17.3C are too numerous, including many cosmetic changes, and because
17.4 went through multiple bases during code development.

The area of greatest enhancement is the messaging system.  The new
changes allow the BBS to be used much more effectively for

   o  group mail.  The same message can be sent to multiple people, and
      only one copy is kept.   Supports distribution lists.

   o  exchange of personal files as well as mail.   Uploads can be
      addressed privately to people, with descriptions viewable only
      by them, notification of new uploads on logon, supports distribution
      lists.

   o  large conferencing.   Message read operations can operate globally
      over linked message bases, with default linking on logon of all
      conferences in which the person belongs that have any new mail.


                 Major Enhancements

1.  The same message can be sent to up to 255 individuals, either
    by name or distribution list.  Only one copy of the message is
    kept!

2.  Messages based can be linked together so that message read
    commands operate globally across linked conferences.   Conferences
    can be linked individually, or based on new mail, or new personal
    mail.

3.  The utilities B)aud change has been replaced by
    B)ank time.   This lets the caller deposit time into
    a bank, to withdraw on later callers to increase session
    time.

4.  The SysOp can view the caller's file for any node.

5.  Personal files can be uploaded to an individual, multiple
    individuals, or to a distribution list.   Caller with personal
    upload is notified on logon of files waiting.

6.  The fast file search supports over 36,000 downloadable
    files rather than only 16,000.

7.  Any FMS directory can be made to limit downloads to only those listed
    in the directory, can be exempted from ratios (free), and give
    extra time for downloading, or be made a personal directory where
    the file is directed to any individual.

8.  The file search, new, and list commands all work for the personal
    directory.

9.  Files can be Marked for later downloading and viewing as a group.

10. Messages can be Marked for later reading and killing as a group.

11. The config functions to check personal and FMS directories have
    been enhanced to detect more problems, including messed up file
    names and trash at the end of the file.   These checks can also
    be run on a NetBios network without bringing down the BBS nodes
    running.

12. The SysOp can change the # of minutes the caller has used.  By
    changing it to a negative #, the caller is given bonus minutes
    over and above the normal session time, until the bonus is
    finally used up.

13. Download time estimates are now correct even when modems report
    the modem-to-pc speed in the CONNECT message.   The carrier,
    to modem-to-modem speed, is detected and can be passed from
    a front end.

14. The caller and SysOp can now change the city/state.


                  Lesser Enhancements

1.  Logging out for keyboard inactivity now counts down the last
    30 seconds.

2.  The SysOp can suppress or shorten the display of the copyright
    when RBBS-PC first comes up.   Config parm 96 lets you set the
    time for the screen to be displayed.   Set it to 0 to supress
    the screen entirely.

3.  The entry of integers - including lines to edit/delete/insert,
    message margin, lines per page, etc. - now includes in the
    prompt any range contraints, reminds the caller of a range
    constraint when the entry is not within bounds, and consistently
    displays to old value if one is to be changed.

4.  Entrances and exits from a conference are now time stamped in the
    caller's file.

5.  The autologoff option "/g" on the end of any command now
    gives the caller 30 seconds to cancel the logoff.

6.  The config option to pack users will not omit any user who was
    last on more than 59 months ago.   Figures that clock was wrong.

7.  The config option to pack users lets the months since last called
    be set up to 59 months rather than 12.

8.  SysOp can edit the time remaining for any user.

9.  Support for J)ump search in the display of recent callers.

10. Local sessions not a SysOp are now logged to the caller's file.

11. Personal directories can have extended descriptions.

12. When there is insufficient time to download all the files requested,
    caller gets an opportunity to edit the list of files rather than
    to have to retype the names of the files desired.

13. Confirmation to continue is asked when a search goes
    100 messages without a hit.

14. Config parameter 173 can be used to limit the types of messages
    security a caller can use for any message base.  Can pick any
    combination of public, private, and password, as long as pick at
    least one.

15. A separate fallback security level can be specified for each
    security level, when the subscription expires.

16. Can back out of a message save and resume editing.

17. When in local mode and shell to a door, can join subboard without
    getting an untrapped error.

18. No longer can circumvent ratios by canceling a download after
    last block is received.

19. SmartText has a new variable "CN" for name of the current
    conference.

20. RBBS has ability to detect whether remote caller can support
    ANSI, before getting the name.   Allows graphics prelogs.

21. Assistant SysOps given access to SysOp function 2 for viewing
    the caller's log can now see all information except for what
    might reveal the remote sysop name, rather than just the
    one-line listing who called when.

22. Config lets the personal directory be put anywhere rather than
    just where the personal downloads go.

23. Macros can be restricted to a PUI by using the first letter of
    the PUI name as a "section" in the macro restraint.

24. Baud rates of 7200, 12000, 14400, and 16800 are now logged as such
    in the caller's file.

25. Subject of password protected message is now revealed after the
    correct password is given.

26. V)iew is now an option when reach end of a directory listing.

27. Support added for "14.4" as meaning "14400" in modem speed.

                    Major Bug Fixes

1.  Timeout due to inactivity when entering a message now results
    in a 30 second warning before logoff, rather than have no warning
    at all.

2.  Caller's are no longer let stay on longer than a scheduled
    event.

3.  Was possible, when quoting a message, to get in a endless
    loop where BBS appeared to "hang".

4.  When carrier is dropped in a door, the expired time is now properly
    reset and any requests of the door to RBBS via DOUTn.DEF will still
    be processed, and a door shelled to can update the caller's file
    and user's file without these changes being lost.

5.  Subscriptions now work properly in subboards, so that subscriptions
    can be granted in them, and not just on the main logon.  In effect,
    subscriptions can be sold to subboards, rather like pay channels on
    cable TV.

6.  No longer will file displays in a macro cause untrapped errors in
    later processing.

7.  No longer will updating a user record sometimes freeze the BBS
    on a multi-node system.

8.  When carrier is dropped in a door, no longer is the # of times
    called reset to 0.

9.  When dooring to external protocols from a subboard, the upload
    description goes into the subboard upload directory rather than
    the upload directory of the main bbs.

10. Message file no longer left locked for long periods after a caller
    selects to change city/state.

11. Message and file displays now interrupt quickly in response to
    control-K and control-X.

                    Minor Bug Fixes

1.   The epilog now allows the SysOp to see it on logoff.   The
     config parm on min security to be exempt from viewing the
     epilog now exclusively controls its display.

2.   Uploaded files now always go into the upload directory.  Uploads
     were going into the default rather than upload directory when
     a macro was executed thru the file index lookup.

3.   The first name of the secret remote logon name of the SysOp
     is now longer revealed.   Now, SysOp is referred to as "SysOp"
     rather than using the first name, e.g. when report sorry, no
     new mail.

4.   The copyright notice is no longer displayed on node 1 when returning
     from a door.

5.   RBBS no longer under-reports the # of bulletins when it asks if
     the caller wants to skip bulletins.

6.   Stacked command to read continuously is no longer ignored.

7.   A new conference created in config could be unjoinable until set
     the min security to join down in config - now always makes
     joinable initially.

8.   Macros can no longer be invoked in a search and replace prompt.

9.   Stacking a download command now works.

10.  Can now turn extended display off for non-FMS directories.

11.  No longer get msg that conference does not exist when try to join
     the conference you are in.

12.  No longer sometimes end up in turbokey mode at a prompt requiring
     more than one character as a response.

13.  RBBS recovers from errors where it used to get untrapped errors,
     including device timeout when wiping aways a line and rewriting
     over it, illegal function call when FMS directory lines does not
     have any spaces.

14.  Message from global SysOp to SysOp in a subboard was never marked
     as received.

15.  It was possible for a file to be wrongly interpreted as a subboard
     configuration def file when it was not, with unpredictable results.

16.  Message to SysOp that FMS directory has wrong format was sometimes
     getting quickly overwritten.

17.  Sometimes was not showing conference news file to new users in
     the conference, and was reshowing old bulletins as new when went
     back to main.

18.  G)oodbye was not being shown in main command line even though
     it is in the menu and works.

19.  Restricting users by subscription date in a subboard now works.

20.  Having more than 3 new bulletins no longer interfers with joining
     a subboard on the command line.

21.  Changing security on a message no longer blows away the stack
     of messages to read.

22. A separate PROTO.DEF can be set up for subboards.   And,
    RBBS can be configured to preserve the PROTO.DEF of the
    logon DEF in subboards.

23. A No to the More prompt in messages returns to the msg prompt
    rather than back to the main menu.

24. SmartText now properly displays negative security levels.

25. A)bort in the news display now terminates a stacked list of
    bulletins to display.

26. Word wrap in entry of extended descriptions will no longer
    generate an untrapped error.

27. An input in a macro will now not carry over after the macro
    is aborted.

28. No longer can people sometimes leave messages when msg base
    is full.

29. No longer will a one-letter macro interfere with the prompt in
    the user log display.

30. PUI now shifts immediately to proper graphics version when
    graphics preference is changed inside the PUI.

31. When drive/path on PASSWRDS file is set to one that does not
    exist, no longer generates an untrapped error.

32. Return from a door now returns to the PUI you were in just before
    you doored.

33. CONFIG now lets you select the city/state field (start column
    63, length 24) as an individuating field.

34. Password only is hidden on stacked logon after backspace over the
    password entered.

35. Questionnaire now rights out name of person answering it when
    the questionnaire is answered twice in a row.

36. Multi-word responses can now be used for individuating fields.

37. Large negative security values are now properly displayed in
    user edit.

38. Count of message records written during config processing now
    shown properly.

39. L)ist option at end of a file n)ew search now works with
    chained directories.

40. Personal message scan is now identifying messages to the public
    name of the SysOp, when SysOp logged on using the secret name.

41. Sometimes options user lacks security to use were left on the
    menu rather than being removed.

42. Was possible for RBBS never to recycle after getting xoff and
    then carrier is dropped.

43. Was possible for a subboard to be unjoinable when file index
    name has 8 characters in the prefix.

44. Directory sub-menus were never displaying colorized version.

45. Time limit in door control file DOORS.DEF is now correctly
    applied.

46. No longer is it possible to invoke a macro when entering a
    password.

                Upgrading from 17.3-17.3C

Do not upgrade without saving your old files, just in case you
run into new problems with the new version and need to drop back.

1.   Replace the RBBS-PC.EXE and CONFIG.EXE

2.   Run config to set parm 292 if you want people to have any
     time to be able to bank.

3.   Add two new parameters to PASSWRDS.

     SysOps Warning:  There are TWO (2) changes to the PASSWRDS file!!

     (a)  a new parameter on the end:  max time to bank

     (b)  a new parameter in the 6th position:  expired security level

     There are now 13 parameters (12 commas).  You must add the
     parameters for the PASSWRDS file to work.   It is recommended
     that you add ",60" to the end of each line in PASSWRDS.   For
     the expired security level to work the same, you must insert
     what was in config parm 49 to position 6.  E.g. if parm 49 had
     value 5, then change would be

     (before)
     ,8,70,70,365,,,,-1,,
     (after)
     ,8,70,70,365,5,,,,-1,,,60

4.   Replace MENU4, MENU4G, MENU4C, UB.HLP, MR.HLP, FL.HLP.

5.   Run the config option to set new parameters.


           Incompatibilities and Operational Differences

The format of the message file has changed, allowing (but not requiring)
support for multiple headers in a message, corresponding to allowing
the message to be addressed to more than one person.   This "carbon
copy" or "distribution list" feature may not be supported by external
message base utilities and may work improperly with messages that
have more than one header record.

A new field has been added to the user's file, for number of minutes
of banked time.   External user file utilities may fail to support
this field and work improperly with the new user file format.

The first command in a quit in a PUI is now the default when Enter
is pressed.   Before, there was no default.

There are some operational changes in RBBS that may at first confuse
experienced callers, including

1.   No longer can a 300 baud caller change to 450.

2.   When in TurboKey mode, the caller can no longer just type in
     the file names for implied downloading at a prompt in a directory
     listing.  Must now issue the D)ownload command first (e.g. "D",
     then "file1 file2 ..." rather than directly "file1 file2 ...".
     Even though the prompt no longer has the option "or files to
     download" lists of files for downloading will be processed as
     before when not in TurboKey mode or if TurboKey is suspended
     ("/ file1 file2 ...").

3.   When uploading, the caller will be asked a new question of who
     the upload is for.  Indicating a)ll operates as before.  Otherwise
     the file will be added as a personal upload to the persons
     indicated, and NOT be added to the upload directory, but rather
     the personal directory.

4.   "J MAIN" will not longer work (though "J M" will) unless your main
     message base is named "MAINU.DEF".

5.   Subscription management now works in Subboards.   This means that
     a subscription can independently expire in a subboard.  Previously,
     subscription management worked only on the main logon board.
     To get RBBS to work equivalently, you must configure the subboard
     to turn OFF subscription management.   Let me main board manage
     subscriptions and set the security level, and have it follow into
     conferences.   However, now you can set up subscriptions to
     subboards.

                Implementing New Features

If you want people to be able to do personal uploads, you must set
configuration parameter 159.   This lets people exchange private
files as well as mail.

If you want to enable carbon copy, you must set configuration parameter
160.   This lets the same message be addressed to multiple people and]
makes "group" mail be feasible.

If you want to provide distribution lists, you must set configuration
parameters 171 and 172.   See CC.DOC for more details.

To limit the max time people extra people can have for personal downloads
to something other than 60 minutes, put the TIMEEXTRA parameter in a
header record (see DOWNLOAD.DOC).

To limit the bankable time, use parameter 292 in config and the last
parameter of PASSWRDS.   You can control the bankable time by security
level if desired.

To make multiple caller's files viewable set config parameter 95 and
use an editor to create that file (see VIEWCALL.DOC).

To set a security level when a subscription expires, put the value
in the 6th position of the PASSWRDS file.