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-
- To: All KaGOLD and PkGOLD users
- From: InterFlex Systems Design Corporation
- Date: March, 1994
- Subject: Version 9 News
- ------------------------------------------------
-
- All versions of KaGOLD, PkGOLD, dspGOLD, PkGOLD/900, PkGOLD DualTNC,
- and KaGOLD for the Data Engine, are now version 9, with a comparable
- set of new capabilities for ALL GOLD versions.
-
- The new features are not just improvements of existing features, they
- are a brand new set of capabilities that exceed what is available in
- any other software package. In addition, the common user interface
- makes it easy for users to switch from one version to another, which is
- very helpful for emergency communications facilities, government
- service, amateur RACES and ARES groups, and others looking for advanced
- software, that runs in HOST mode (the only way to go) and that is easy
- to learn and use, but VERY powerful.
-
- Here is a listing of feature additions that came with each new version
- of GOLD software. For some people, a look at this revision history will
- give some insight into the many capabilities of our latest
- versions of Performance Software from InterFlex Systems.
-
-
- March 1994 Version 9 New Features
-
- o Callbook Support -- local and remote access, provide "Callbook Server"
- support to other users if desired. AMSOFT, BuckMaster, QRZ, SAM
- In Packet, Pactor, G-TOR, callsign data is pulled in automatically.
- Even the greeting text (Alt-0 or Connect.BRG) is updated before
- being sent, to greet new users with their name, if desired.
-
- o Advanced ANSI Graphic support -- Not just one screen like other programs
- but ANSI graphics on ALL screens, all at the same time if desired. No
- other program has Multiple ANSI interpreters all running simultaneously.
- ANSI support also includes an Auto-Capture capability, so you can collect
- ANSI pictures effortlessly.
-
- o Conference Server mode -- Remote users can Create, Join, Switch
- conferences easily. Used with new CMD file system, your station can
- be a general purpose Server
-
- o Command Files -- New CMD files provided by InterFlex, or created by
- you, to add help system for remote users, file server, Picture server,
- information source, callbook server, and more.
-
- o Restartable File Transfers, including YAPP-C, fully automatic. Now
- you can stop a transfer, and resume later.
-
- o Faster ARQ support, put callsign in banner, hit [F7] when YOU are
- ready to connect. It pulls the call from the banner if the CMD line
- is blank.
-
- o Much larger logbook capacity, using a new B-tree index to make the
- addition, editing, deleting, and alteration of logged contacts
- faster and simpler. The logbook used to allow about 1,500 entries
- before becoming slow. The new logbook will store up to 500,000
- entries easily, and has a capacity for many years of logging.
-
- o Texnet added to Nodes supported in Quick Connects
-
- o G-TOR support for Kantronics new Mode, 4 times faster than Pactor.
-
- o Gateway support for AEA new ROM, and all other new AEA commands.
-
- o New Pseudo TNC Commands, including SENDCALL, SENDDIR, SENDYAPP,
- SENDGOLD, SENDBIN, SENDTEXT, RECVYAPP, SENDWHO, SETALT, and others
- that can be used in the CMD files, or from the keyboard. These
- commands can be issued by typing them, and hitting [F10], or by
- putting them into CMD files.
-
-
- January 1993 version 8 new features
-
- Many new features have been added to PkGOLD Enhanced Version 8
-
- o You can now select ANY active session to show ABOVE the banner,
- including the Network View (the default). Shift-F4 is used to "Push"
- the current active session above the banner. To restore Network View
- above the banner, use Shift-F4 while on the [F2] Network View
- screen. A great way to monitor a Packet Cluster or a BBS while on
- other session screens.
-
- o Direct Terminal mode can be entered from the DOS prompt. Use PkGOLD/S,
- then select "Direct Terminal." Baud rates and Port selection are set
- from Setup menu. Allows "debugging" TNC problems, or use with other
- serial devices and/or TNCs.
-
- o Printer support now includes "Both" printer and file. Use [Alt-P].
- M.A.R.S. operators should keep both "Hard" copy and "File Copy"
- in new PKGOLD\PRINT subdirectory.
-
- o 43 line mode supported on VGA monitors. A new Alt-Z selection.
-
- o Scroll-back is now "sticky" meaning you can scroll back, send text
- such as a "R 45" (sample command) to a BBS and the screen will remain
- scrolled back. Earlier versions would jump to the bottom of the session
- screen. You now go to the end of the session screen with Control-PgDn
- or use [F4].
-
- o Faster Startup, faster restart if user changes baud rates -- avoids
- resetting the TNC to change baud rates.
-
- o Enhanced support of Serial Port Hardware including report of serial
- port errors when shutting down. Good way to keep track of potential
- serial port hardware problems.
-
- o New Clipboard menu selection: Delete File -- Allows deleting file
- by name, or using the Pick List (point and shoot).
-
- o Many internal functions improved -- on slower systems, increased
- speed of program operations is very noticeable, on faster systems
- in time shared environments (Windows for example) program accomplishes
- more during its time slice.
-
- o TNC Memory can be displayed "real time" to give indication of how
- the TNC is handling traffic (data) (Kantronics TNCs only)
-
-
- July, 1992 Version 7 new enhancements
-
- o New Status function, [Alt-O] for "Other" status, shows all connected
- packet stations. On Kantronics units, also shows PBBS and KANODE status
-
- o Alt-N key strings can now be shown on screen with a single keystroke.
- These macro strings can be shown (10 for Packet, 10 for Non-Packet)
- using the [Alt] and [Dash] key combination.
-
- o Editors Enhanced with Block Import/Export/Move: Allows you to merge files,
- import parts of files, piece together messages from several sources.
- A great improvement over our earlier Clipboard and File editors or
- creating merged files/messages.
-
- o Added Macros: ?QSO and ?BANDQSO and a new "pseudo" command QSO.
- These are counters for keeping track of QSOs, for contests or other uses.
- More about using these items in the Help System.
-
- o Wordout/Lineout "indicator" shows clearly when you are in, if in
- Word Out mode, a small "cursor box" replaces the space that last
- forced a "word out" to the TNC. You cannot backspace over this small
- cursor box. It moves along the line as you type.
-
- o Word-In mode makes copying CW (Morse) cleaner and more readable. Also
- improves reception of packet, AMTOR, and RTTY (Baudot) by automatically
- handling incoming word-wrap function. (Also in KaGOLD).
-
- o New Automatic Packet Conference Bridge mode added to [Alt-Z] menu.
- Stations connecting while in this mode are automatically added to
- conference #1. Use [Alt-Z] A [Enter]. Manual Conferences still
- allowed while in Auto mode.
-
- o Multi-Level Conference Support for "conferencing a conference" to allow
- station to merge multiple conferences. Create your own Announcement
- system for DX, emergencies, nets.
-
- o Improved Name, QTH, and QSL Exchange for more efficient transfer of
- station information. The Automatic exchange is now "smarter" and
- "knows" when to exchange. Speeds up both HF and VHF connect handshaking
- exchange.
-
- o Enhanced Text File Transmission now in both PkGOLD and KaGOLD, to
- recognize files with non-standard ASCII file layouts. These include
- ROSE switch .LOD files, files generates specifically for M.A.R.S.
- operation (with multiple LFs, CR CRLF format, etc). For ROSE switch
- operators, you can now use PkGOLD or KaGOLD to program and maintain
- your ROSE switch.
-
- o KaNODE Node Hopping Support now allows building "Quick Connects" through
- KaNODES, much like the existing support for NET/ROM nodes allowing
- multi-KaNode connects, X-connects (cross-band connects) and mixing
- NET/ROM and KaNODES in "Quick Connects" path.
-
- o Compatibility with KaGOLD for file transfers, multi-level conferences,
- automatic recognition and exchange of names and QTHs.
-
- o Search for TNC setting (Communications setting) improved on both
- programs.
-
- o PkGOLD.EXE shortened by approximately 100K-bytes. Program (excluding
- help system) again fits on a 360K disk.
-
- o Alt-Z menu changes are now saved between program sessions with the
- exception of the following:
-
- CQBELL off
- Auto Conference off
- Zoomed state off (split screen)
-
- All other settings are saved between sessions.
-
- o Moved several setup options from the "other" to "Screen Settings"
- where they are more appropriate.
-
- o PkGOLD and KaGOLD are now very similar, they recognize each other,
- operate the same way in terms of keystrokes, screens, menus, help
- system. If you have friends with Kantronics TNCs, encourage them to
- check out the many advanced features of KaGOLD.
-
- The following are Kantronics Specific:
-
- o Kantronics DISC command support: DISC MYPBBS and DISC MYNODE x allowed
-
- o Kantronics CWSpeed, CWTone, CWBand shown on banner. CW Unlock
- when entering or re-entering CW mode with [Alt-F10] or CW [F10].
-
- o KaGOLD LOCK command in CW mode locks receive rate, and shows on screen.
-
- o New Immediate unkey when changing modes or re-entering mode in
- non-Packet modes on KAM.
-
- o New Merged Monitor mode now shows Ports in different colors for easy
- identification. Merged Monitor toggle added to [Alt-Z] menu
-
- o New Monitor Other Port mode toggle added to [Alt-Z] menu, allows
- monitoring other Packet mode port, or monitoring HF non-packet
- while on VHF packet screen, and vice versa.
-
- o Support for new ROM 5.0 chips with 8-digit "id" numbers.
-
- o Improved memory management of TNC memory for more reliable
- operation.
-
-
- April 1992 new features:
-
- o PkGOLD and KaGOLD support several file transfer methods, some are
- protocol oriented, some Raw send and receive. These methods include
- YAPP, RAW SEND, RAW RECEIVE, GOLD PROTOCOL, TEXT SEND, PRINT CAPTURE,
- CUT/PASTE/FILE. More text and file handling capabilities than ANY other
- program. Use the SHELL [Alt-F4] for even more power to run your
- favorite Editor, or Navigation program (e.g. Norton Commander).
-
- o Users may select Merged Monitors or Separate Monitors for DualPort
- units. Separate Monitors is useful when operating ports at different
- speeds to avoid having one port dominate the monitored frames screen.
- Many users requested the Merged Monitors feature and it is now the
- default.
-
- o PkGOLD Testdrive for Enhanced Edition. Earlier Testdrive was for
- Multimode only. Enhanced has all the Multimode features plus much more.
-
- o [Alt-L] function on Network View screen works differently. It shows
- all packets TO/FROM the callsigns entered. Entering BLANK callsigns
- restores all monitored packets.
-
- o Binary Filter: ON or ACTIVE is now removed from the banners. Also
- it is now referred to as the "Junk Filter" rather than "Binary filter"
-
- March 1992 changes:
-
- o Name change from PktGOLD to PkGOLD, latest version is Multimode 5.5
- and Enhanced 6.25. Also, introduced KaGOLD DualPort for Kantronics
- KAM and other Kantronics TNCs.
-
- o All users, read through this file as all enhancements to PkGOLD
- pertain to KaGOLD as well.
-
-
- December 1991 changes:
-
- o Version Numbers have been revised to the "GOLD STANDARD" to better
- reflect the true nature of our enhancement record.
-
- o Added support for M.A.R.S. operation. CRADD ON also affects blank line
- treatment. When CRADD is ON, blank lines produce <LF> only, and
- all other lines end with <CR><CR><LF> per commercial standards.
-
- o Incoming lines in any format, <CR> or <LF> or <CR><LF> etc. are
- all handled transparently, and proper line spacing is preserved.
-
- o AMTOR SELCALs produced automatically in PktGOLD Enhanced. A program
- setting indicates whether to use 4-letter or 7-letter SELCALs as the
- default (per CCITT 476 and CCITT 625). The user enters an amateur
- callsign, requests an ARQ session, and PktGOLD produces the "correct"
- SELCAL (the recommended one) and displays it for the user while ARQing.
-
-
- August 1991 revisions:
-
- o PktGOLD Multimode (v 1.26) modified for AEA 1991 ROM
-
- o PktGOLD Enhanced added to the product line. This program is the
- same as our Multimode version, with the following additions:
-
- 1. YAPP binary file transfer added to packet operation.
- 2. Automatic CQ with Number of CQs, Listen time interval
- Uses files ending with .CQ (non-packet mode only)
- 3. Watchdog timer (to keep transmitter from being keyed down with
- no purpose or text going out). This timer is set in in the
- Setup area under "other" settings. (non packet mode)
- 4. QTH added. Use [Alt-Q] to add QTH when callsign is showing
- on status screen. (all modes)
- 5. Automatic recognition of PktGOLD Enhanced user. (packet mode)
- 6. Enhanced Logging into Quoted, Comma Delimited format. (all modes)
- 7. Access to the maildrop even if connected to another user, if
- using 1991 AEA ROMS and PktGOLD Enhanced. (Packet & Amtor modes)
- 8. Save by callsign in ALL modes using [Alt-Y] (like in Packet).
- 9. The following macros are recognized in .BRG files, .CQ files,
- and all [Alt-n] messages (edited in the setup area under Alt-N msgs).
-
- ?DATE -- Current Date
- ?TIME -- Time using offset and format selected by user in setup
-
- The following can be edited in the Setup area under Station Info:
-
- ?MYCALL -- Your Callsign used to find the following:
- ?SELCAL -- Your SELCAL
- ?MYQTH -- Your QTH
- ?MYNAME -- Your Name
-
- ?CALL -- Remote operator's call as shown in banner (entered
- automatically or with [Alt-C]
- ?NAME -- Remote operator name (found using prior station info
- or entered with [Alt-N]
- ?QTH -- Remote operator QTH (found using prior station info
- or entered with [Alt-Q]
-
- March 1991 modifications, changes:
-
- o Printing from Session, Network View, and Previous Sessions screens
- improved. [Alt-P].
- o [F5] editor now stores files with .BRG and .TNC in the Packet
- directory, not in the DOWNLOAD directory.
- o TNC file for PK-88, VHF packet now uses the TONE 3 command rather
- than VHF ON.
-
-
- February, 1991 additions:
-
- o Online help for all parameters and operating modes.
- o Ability to set unkey time in character lengths for BAUDOT, FEC,
- and other non-packet modes.
- o ENTRYNODE parameter added.
- o TNC changes using [F10] key are echoed to the screen.
-
-
- January, 1991 modifications:
-
- o Split screen in non-packet modes. Text sent to the TNC is displayed
- in the top split, text sent to the remote station is "echoed as sent"
- in the qso area of the screen.
- o AMTOR has been revised to show all AMTOR "states." [Alt-F7] key
- has Force Changeover option, as well as disconnect request.
- o In AMTOR, to leave (disconnect) immediately use "R" [F10], to send
- the "receive" command to the TNC. You may also use [Alt-F7] to
- initiate a "disconnect" sequence.
- o The installer now works on machines with only 400K free, and can
- install on to floppy disks.
- o TNC file editor creates the TNC extension automatically.
- o All files for reading, sending, etc., can be specified using
- wildcards (e.g. *.* or *.TXT). If wildcards are used, program displays
- a "pick list" of files matching the specified mask.
-
-
- New Features for version 1.2, released November 1, 1990:
-
- o Conference Mode added, use [Alt-F1] in packet mode.
- o Optional treatments of control-g (bell), and of TABS. You can specify
- how to handle special characters in the SETUP menu.
- o Alt-0 message can be setup to be a connect text message. You can
- use macro substitution, such as:
- "Hello ?name be with you in a minute if I'm here"
- o You can issue the DISPLAY command now, with a parameter. Type
- DISPLAY [F10] or DISPLAY MONI [F10].
- o EXECDOS command added to run a DOS program.
- o Selective saving to disk in Packet Mode Using the [Alt-Y] command.
- o Printing to Disk or a printer using [Alt-P].
-
-
- New Features 1.1:
-
- o Adjustable Split screen with Zoom function
- o Function keys indicated on bottom line.
- - By themselves or with [Alt] or [Ctrl] key held down.
- - With [Ctrl] key, in Packet, shows stations connected, in non-packet
- shows other modes.
- o Binary filter, [Alt-B] added.
- o Effective Baud rate info during file transfer,
- o Brag file support.
- o Maildrop support Built-in.
- o Abort startup with [F10].
- o Added PK-232 Multimode support functions
- - Signal Analysis key SIAM (Signal Analysis Mode)
- - On screen indication of Baud rate, Normal/inverted, Wide/Narrow
- - Baud up/down key, Wide/Narrow shift key
- - Receive Normal/Inverted key
-
-
- August 1, 1990
-
- o [ALT-L] Toggle: Removes your lines from a connect screen. Similar
- to Half/Full duplex, but this one saves all lines.
- o [ALT-0 through ALT-9] Macro Keys: Use the Alt-S (or PKTGOLD/S)
- function to enter the Setup menu.
- o There are 5 macros you can put into your BRG files and Alt-N messages.
-
- To: ?name, ?call
- From: ?mycall
- Date: ?date ?time
-
- message text.
-
- ?call de ?mycall
-
- kkk
-
- Pre-August, 1990:
-
- Revision history unavailable prior to August 1, 1990.
-
-
- See ORDER.DOC for pricing and availability information for the latest
- version of GOLD for your TNC(s).
-
- << END OF FILE >>