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Text File | 1992-01-25 | 20KB | 487 lines

What's new in RemoteAccess 1.10/1.11 ------------------------------------ ENHANCEMENTS * Implemented full multi-lingual support. The RemoteAccess distribution archive contains a language editor (in RACONFIG) and ENGLISH.RAL, a "ready to go" .RAL language definition file. Note that as of this release, there is NO hard-coded text contained in the main program executables; every one of the approximately 500 text prompts and their colours may be sysop-defined with the language editor. Before you attempt to modify or create a language it is important that you read the relevant section in the documentation first. Support features include a language number field in each user's record, a new menu command for the user to select a new language (type 63), and support in RAMENU to switch between different language menu directories (ALT-N). The selected language is displayed on the F5 status bar. * Implemented full support for configurable date formats. RemoteAccess now supports four user-selectable date formats: DD-MM-YY MM-DD-YY YY-MM-DD DD-Mmm-YY The sysop may choose to force a particular date format or allow new users to select their preference. Additional support features include a menutype for selecting a new format (type 64), the DATEFMT.A?? textfile which is displayed just before the user selects a new format, and the ^F< textfile control code, to display the currently selected date format. * Implemented a "fast-index" system to the userfile. Significant speed increases are achieved by maintaining a small index file internally. {+} Implemented configurable file description lines. Build a template string in RACONFIG from the following macro characters: % - Full filename, uppercase ^ - Full filename, lowercase & - Partial filename (no extension), uppercase ! - Partial filename (no extension), lowercase @ - Date (in user's selected format) # - File size (bytes) $ - File size (k) | - New line ` - '*' if new, space if not ~ - Description To emulate the old hardcoded display use: [0E% [0D# [0A@`[03~ * Added support for two new text files: XFERPROT.A?? - displayed in place of the protocol list. LANGUAGE.A?? - displayed in place of the language list. * Added the ability to forward files with local messages. * RemoteAccess now supports these archive formats: .ARC/PAK/PKA .ZIP .ZOO .LZH/LZS .DWC .MD .LBR .ARJ .HYP {+} Added a keyboard password lock option to RACONFIG; note that this is also required to use RACONFIG itself; if you forget it then all you can do is erase CONFIG.RA and create a new one. The -K command-line parameter is no longer supported. * Paging hours are now configurable on a per-day basis. * Added an option to RACONFIG to auto-capitalise the location of new users. * If you try to post a message to a non-existant user in a local area, RA will accept it after verification that the name is correct. * A message addressed to "Sysop" using the /T= parameter will now be redirected to the user defined as the sysop in RACONFIG. * RA will now default to local mode if the comport specified is 0. * Added an "auto chat capture" option to automatically open the capture log whenever chat is started. * BADPWD.ASC is displayed when a user enters a "bad password" message to the sysop. * Added a TIMEhh.A?? textfile, displayed after the WELCOME1.A?? file when hh matches the current hour number (24 hour format). * Menu commands may now use <CR> as a hotkey, enabling their use as a default selection. * New textfile macros: ^K\ - Clear to end of line. ^K]nnn - Display language prompt number nnn; must be zero-padded. ^K[cc - change colour (cc = colour, in hex, zero padded) ^F= - Auto message forwarding ON/OFF ^F> - Name (if any) of message forwardee ^F? - User's current file ratio (number) ^F@ - User's current file ratio (kb) ^F[ - KB download limit remaining today ^F\ - Name of selected language ^F] - User's comment field * The character (wait for Enter key) is now supported in menu display lines. * Added support for local uploads and downloads. * Added the current page status to the status bar; when in paging hours [PAGE ON] is displayed. If normal paging hours have been overridden with ALT-O, the page symbol will flash. {+} Added VIP.CTL support; if a user listed in VIP.CTL logs on RA sounds a short paging bell and displays the user's comment field if not empty. (Note that the local bell may be disabled by activating the scroll lock key). If present, the VIP.A?? textfile will be displayed. {+} The "Sysop next" function now exits with an errorlevel of 2 after the logoff bell to enable your batchfile to reload RA in local mode or take the system down. {+} Added a toggle flags menu command (type 65). It accepts the following parameters in the optional data field: <flagset><flagnum><action> Action can be: - : Turn flag OFF + : Turn flag ON * : Toggle flag For example, the optional data "A1+ A2- D8*" would turn flag A1 on, A2 off, and toggle flag D8. * RACONFIG has been completely rewritten, and now incorporates RAMENU, USERED and RALANG into the one executable file. * RA now takes the modem off-hook when a call is terminated. * Textfile macro control codes may now be used in normal menu display lines. {+} Added a printer hardware option to RACONFIG. Valid printer types are LPT1, LPT2, and COM1 to COM3. * The update security msg reader function now only allows a user to update a user whose security level is less than his own. * Added a menu command (type 66) to change the availability of text file shells. The optional data line is either ON or OFF. * RA now supports optional highlighted input fields. Select RACONFIG.Options.Colours.Input (black on black disables this feature). {+} Added a group mailing facility. The following macros are valid in the "to" field of a message provided the user has a high enough security level: @[g] - send message to all users in group [g] @ALL - send message to all users =[s] - send to all users with security = [s] >[s] - send to all users with security > [s] <[s] - send to all users with security < [s] A separately addressed message is generated for each qualifying user, so large group mailings can take a little while to process. * Added a per-area option in RACONFIG to determine whether users are allowed to delete messages. * If a user enters an invalid "to" name when entering a message in a local area, he/she is given the option of doing a userlist command. {+} It is now possible to specify in RACONFIG a default subscription expiry date (in days) when a new user logs on. * Added a RACONFIG option to lock the modem at a fixed speed. * Added an "IEMSI Only" option which requires all logons to use IEMSI. * RA now gives the user the option to disconnect after downloading files attached to a message. * RA now has the ability to generate custom exitfiles similar to the DORINFO1.DEF (RBBS) and DOOR.SYS (DoorWay) files it supports internally. Create a template file with the extension .RAT in the system directory which contains any valid textfile macros. On the commandline for a type 7 shell, place the parameter: *Sfilename.ext Where 'filename' is the base filename of the .RAT template file. RA will process the file and create filename.ext where the EXITINFO.BBS file is stored. * MSGFWD.A?? will be displayed at logon if the user has auto message-forwarding enabled. * Added an option to swap to disk/EMS before an ALT-J command. * Unreceived messages addressed to you are now highlighted in the full-screen reader. * Added a second modem init string to RACONFIG. * Added support for the RAXITnnn.eee semaphore file. If RAXITnnn.eee is found at any time it will delete it and exit with errorlevel eee. (nnn is the node number). {+} While RA is waiting for a call it will create a semaphore file called RAREADY.nn (nn = node number), and when a user is online it will create a file called RABUSY.nn. * Added the user's AGE to the F2 status bar. * Added support for HANDLES.CTL, in which the sysop may specify a list of undesirable handle names. {+} If the 'sysop warnings' message area is set in RACONFIG (previously 'pwd failure' message area), the sysop will be notified of any duplicate/unacceptable phone numbers via a private message. * Added support for separate list, download and upload security settings for each file area. It's important that you walk through your files setup to ensure that all the security levels are still correct. * Added GOTO to the questionnaire command language. The syntax is GOTO <label>, where <label> is a 1 to 12 alphanumeric name. Each label is declared on a line by itself preceded by a colon. For example, this code loops continuously: :start goto start * Implemented support for the new USRobotics Courier HST V32BIS modem connect strings (7200, 12000 and 14400 bps). * Implemented an auto message-forwarding feature. If a user is going to be away for an extended period of time, he/she may specify the name of another user to whom all his/her mail is redirected. (Menu type 67). * Added a full screen chat module. Note that this only works if an interactive EMSI session has been established. Neither ANSI nor AVATAR support is required. To force the "normal" line-chat mode, press SHIFT together with ALT-C. {+} Activating the scroll-lock key disables the paging sound - note that this does not affect or disable paging hours in any way, it simply silences the speaker. * Added support to optionally set 43/50 line mode when RemoteAccess fires up. (RACONFIG.Other.Video) * It is now possible to include a /F anywhere on the optional data line of any of the 3 file search menu commands. This makes it possible for the sysop to limit a search to the current file template area only. * Cleaned up the memory-swap code and reduced the amount of resident code by about half while the shell is active. * Changed the behaviour of handle and alias message areas - if a user posts a message in a handles-only area and his/her handle is blank, then RA will automatically use the user's name for the "from" field. When a user posts in an alias area, RA inserts the user's handle (if any) at the prompt, which the user may then edit or press <CR> at. * ALT-J is now available from the "waiting for call" screen. * Added a hotkey on the "wait for call" screen which will temporarily disable incoming calls. * Added support to attempt to detect whether the user's terminal supports ANSI automatically at logon, by sending a code to request the remote's cursor position. If ANSI is detected, RA will display LOGO.ANS instead of LOGO.ASC. * The change password menu command prompts the user for his/her old password before continuing. * Changed the behaviour of a fast logon. If <CR> is pressed at the password prompt on a blank entry, RA will prompt for a full user name. * RACONFIG now accepts full 8 bit ASCII characters at all input prompts. * Fixed the handling of the newmail prompting so that it recycles unless the user selects kill, mark received, or read. * Added a new user Yes/No/Ask option in RACONFIG for the full screen message editor. Note that the requirement for the user to have ANSI enabled to use the external editor has been removed. * The character echoed back to the user during the input of a password-type prompt is now definable. If the option field in RACONFIG is left blank, then nothing is echoed when a key is pressed. * Added handle support to the user list, today's callers and who else online menu commands. Handles will be displayed instead of real names if a /H is found on the optional data line of any of these three menu types. * Implemented support for the SoftCR character ($8D) as a regular printable character, in both the internal message editor and message reader. * Added separate per-file area options to exclude individual areas from a new files scan and upload duplicate checking. * Added the GROUPnnn.A?? textfile, displayed after the SECnnn.A?? textfile, if present, to all users of the specified group number. * Changed the quoting style slightly so that original blank message lines are represented by a blank line without the quote header. RemoteAccess also attempts to 'clean up' multilevel quotes. * A '#' in the message quote field in RACONFIG is now converted to the original poster's initials forced into lowercase. * The current file and message template areas are now saved permanently in each user's record. {+} Added an option in RACONFIG to define an optional external chat utility. If this field is non-blank and the sysop initiates chat mode at any time, the defined command-line will be executed. All normal shell control characters are available. * RA now supports the TASK environment variable used by FrontDoor and some other applications. Note that the -N command-line parameter overrides the value held in TASK. BUG FIXES * RA would allow uploading in local mode, which had one or two undesirable side effects. Fixed. * When doing a combined read, sometimes pressing 'N' would cause RA to drop out of the full screen message reader. Fixed. * A menu selection which had one of the menu macro characters as it's hotkey would display the expanded macro when selected, instead of the actual character. Fixed. * If a user asked to attach files to a message but then didn't actually send any, RA would leave an empty 'orphaned' directory. Fixed. * Fixed a small problem in the internal ANSI/AVT driver which was causing 'bleeding' of the background colour when the screen scrolled up. * Corrected a small problem contained in the original IEMSI specs, which defined the user's birthdate as a hexadecimal representation of the date in unix format. Since a unix time is the number of seconds since midnight on January the 1st 1970, it meant that nobody could be born before that date. The date is now sent as a string of the form YYYYMMDD. * If the sysop set the "ask for voice/data number" to "yes", and a user logged on using IEMSI with a blank number, RA would not prompt the user for a valid number. Fixed. * Fixed a problem that would cause RA to set the user's # of files download counter to 65535 under certain conditions when a file was skipped during a zmodem download session. * If a download file was skipped, the file list window on the local console would get screwed up. Fixed. * Fixed a problem which was causing RA to not correctly recognise a users download limits when logged on at 4800 bps. * ASCII character #255 is now filtered out at all alphanumeric input prompts. * RA no longer immediately displays BADFILES.CTL when a YModem upload is selected by the user. * RA no longer requires that DESQview's Printer Contention handling be disabled for multi-line operation. * RA will not display the "send files?" prompt if the user is entering a password warning message to the sysop. * IEMSI handshakes would not work if the user had pressed a key during RA's load. This has been fixed. * In message read w/pausing, more prompting is now only active for the current message. * Fixed the upload credit logic. * RA would not process external file transfers properly if it's protocol control file was deleted during the transfer. * The new file scan start date is now correctly parsed. * Previously RA would not append the filename to the upload path when activating an external protocol that does not support batch transfers. This has been fixed. * If a conference is marked as read-only, users may now reply to messages via netmail, if available.