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1993-02-28
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Changes in FBB from version 5.14 to 5.15.
=========================================
Bug-fixes:
----------
- Mini Editor crashed when last character was deleted.
- Double prompt when YD with a non existant file.
- Time was wrong when using DesqView.
- When screen was blanked, the system crashed when typing.
- In DOCS, a help command gave wrong path in the prompt and different other
bugs .
- Wrong count of private message when killed by the sender before reading it.
- Gave a warning message even if the route is in HROUTE database.
- Problems when uploading using YAPP from console-gateway.
- If MAIL.IN existed when starting the BBS, the status-line appeared at top
of screen, not at bottom.
- New EMS management allowing faster (and more secure) access to BID. BID and
messages are now in the same EMS handle.
- New backscroll system. Need more memory but should be more efficient.
When using EMS thousands of lines of backscroll is possible.
- Cursor sometimes wrong with VGA. Fixed.
- WFBID.SYS was not created when using EMS. Fixed.
- Message number left justified to avoid left spaces.
- BPQ beacon was sent on a wrong port. Fixed.
- PK232 had a wrong number of frames. Fixed.
- PK232 did not run in test mode. Fixed.
- When connected on console, "Fwd:callsign" with the console callsign in the
upper right corner of the screen. Fixed.
- The "Thank-you" line is sent when any Nx command is used. Text must be
changed as it is the same for every Nx command
- PK232 communication should be faster.
- When capture is already closed, a new "W" command gives an error message.
- MAIL and LOG files are appended even if the file ends with a CtrlZ. CtrlZ is
removed from the end of file.
- Answer to NH command checked for valid callsign.
- In EU command, callsign given in "Delete callsign (Y/N)" was the home BBS.
Fixed.
- Arrows did not undo backscroll. Fixed.
- L@ did not check BBS callsign, but route. Fixed.
- YAPP resume did not work in not-checksum mode. Fixed.
- LOCAL user on a BBS port did not work. Fixed.
- Number of new messages was lost when using NZ, NH, NQ, X commands. Fixed.
- Full screen and backscroll monitoring.
- LC filter was not used with LS list. Fixed.
- Newline after callsign when using .D in conference. Fixed.
- Number of new messages was lost when using NZ, NH, NQ, X commands.
- Unknown route message was not sent if a "G *" line exist. Fixed.
- FbbDos disks are checked and disk size is 0 if error detected.
- Problems with YAPP resume. Fixed.
- File not set to the user when received with Xmodem. Fixed.
- Only routes with hierarchical information are added to HROUTE.SYS
- In DOCS and TRAJECTOGRAPHY, the letter L (instead of ?) gives the list.
- In DOCS sysop command (L)abel is replaced by (D)escription.
- In NOMENCLATURE, fields Zip and HomeBbs are now displayed and editable.
- In DOCS, the sign | for path is changed to \.
- Messages that went directly to H(eld) did not have the BID registred.
- Nb of connected stations was not updated when exiting gateway.
- From: and To: was not inserted in message during compressed forward.
- In TRAJECTOGRAPHY the program could enter a loop when computing a satellite
that was never visible (always under the horizon).
- Went out of memory when importing from diskette.
- FC-command did not work with H-routes.
- Date was wrong with OLDMAIL from EPURMESS. This is fixed.
- f (lowercase) accepted to end QTH LOCATOR commands. Small bug fixed.
- Message held by M_FILTER was still forwarded. Fixed.
- Import of messages accepts spurious lines between /EX and next Sx line.
- Command NEW could generate two lists. Fixed.
- Sometimes a "BIN MESSAGE NOT FOUND" occurs when the bin files was deleted on
another channel. Fixed.
- MM and MN now give the BID.
- C(ontinue) and N(ext) work with the verbose read option.
- There was a bug that the BBS would hang if it was started with EMS
specified, but there was not enough EMS available. Now the BBS will
stop, and restart.
New feutures:
-------------
- Internal driver for communications no longer exists. ESS is mandatory for
direct TNC interface like TNC2/PK232
- FbbDos now supports up to eight virtual/physical disks. Disks are defined in
INIT.SRV file like this :
#
# User's Directories (A:, B:, C:, etc... Up to eight) *=disable
*,*,C:\USERS\,D:\USERS\,D:\TEST\
#
- EMS/XMS handler now supports separate Message cache, BID information,
Hierarchical routes, overlay cache, forward-file, reject-file and WP.
# Defined in INIT.SRV :
#
# Extra memory usage (None=0 EMS=1 XMS=2)
# Can be used in high memory: MSG BID HIE OVR SCR REJ FWD WP
1 BID MSG HIE OVR SCR REJ FWD WP
#
- EMS/XMS informations in % command.
- Variable $u gives the current disk name (A..H) in FbbDos
- NEWDOC server creates directories and updates existing files.
- N [callsign] in nomenclature (SYSOP only).
- Disk P: is private directory.
- OM unables/disables the "New Messages" list when connection is issued.
Value 1024 validating OM in first connection mask.
- Letter R in EDIT USER can be used for turning OR on/off.
- OM enables/disables the "New Messages" list when connection is issued.
Value 1024 validating OM in first connection mask.
- REQCFG build-in server. Must be declared in INIT.SRV
- New versions of REQDIR and REQFIL able to manage multi-disk pathes.
- Full screen and backscroll monitoring.
- Command LC ? or LC ; gives the list of themes.
- With SYS command, accept full password preceeded by a "!".
- Offset when downloading with XGET like :
XGET FILE.EXT 120000
File will be sent from offset 120000. (Use with CUT program for resume).
This was available in 5.14 version but not validated.
- REQDIR 1.3 checks the asked volume and gives the list of available volumes.
- Satellite can now be deleted with the Satellite/Modification command.
- New MAINTINF with parameter /A for automatic execution.
- Minute/period for forward to file can be parametred seperately in PORT.SYS
so it can be possible to forward to file more often than every 15. min.
This is done by declaring a virtual TNC 0, like this:
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00/01 ------ FILE-FWD
1 7 8 1 230 4 1 10 30/60 UQYW 433.650
- HOLD-commands (only for SYSOP), like this:
H nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn
H> call
H< call
H@ route
- REview command (only for sysop) to read/un-hold/kill messages with H-status.
- Because of this new use of H-command, it will no longer be possible to
use H for Help together with other letters. Now we must use
? command instead of the normal H command.
H alone will still work as before.
- To leave Gateway, the command has been changed from B to Q.
- "From:/To:" is inserted into a message only if the message has no
R:-lines.
- In REJET.SYS there is now a letter in front of every line. The letter
is R for Reject (like before) or H for Hold. In this way sysop can choose
what kind of messages that will be automatically Held.
- The old REJET.SYS must be updated with the program MAINTREJ.
- After M/MV etc the size of the copied message is shown.
- "Read-only-mode" for telephone-connects. Now non-amateurs can be allowed
to telephone an FBB-BBS in read-only-mode.
- PG-programs are now checked before a command, so that any name can be used
for a PG-program, also the same name as FBB-commands. If this happens, only
the PG-program will be executed, not the FBB-command.
- New variable $r will be the letter L for messages entered locally,
otherwise space.
- F or Q can now be used to exit from a question of QTH-locator. Earlier
the user HAD to give a correct QTH-locator to be allowed to continue. This
is in the QTH-locator server.
- New SYSOP-commands:
On keyboard:
ALT-B : Blank screen.
ALT-R : Refresh screen.
ALT-S : Show last DOS-screen.
ALT-X : Terminate FBB (like ALT-F10).
Also remote:
FI (bid) : Give information on a BID.
FI (bid) + : Add a BID to the list.
FI (bid) - : Delete a BID from the list.
FH (rout) : Show H-route to a BBS.
FP < call : Show how from-call is swapped (SWAPP.SYS).
FP > call : Show how to-call is swapped (SWAPP.SYS).
FP @ route : Show how routing is swapped (SWAPP.SYS).
- When reading several messages (with paging), f.ex. R 123 234 345,
you can skip the rest of a message and continue with the next one with
command N. With command C you can read the rest of the messages without
paging.
- Command NL now is for giving QTH-locator.
Command NQ is now changed to Qth.
- Mini-editor now uses base-number.
- The ZIP-code of the BBS is now defined in INIT.SRV.
- Variable $z is the ZIP-code of the BBS.
- Number of last listed message updated only if the disconnection is made with
the 'B' command. This to avoid to loose the last-listed number if a
disconnect should occur.
- Wildcard & checks for a . or the end of the string. Used for hierarchical
indication in FORWARD.SYS
Ex:
*.FRA&
will match for
xxxxx.FRA and xxxxx.FRA.xxxxx (xxxx = does not matter)
but will not match for
xxxxx.FRANCA or xxxxx.FRANCA.xxxxxx
- Line "T" in FORWARD.SYS file now indicates forwarding strategy, private only
and maximum size.
Ex:
T P S 20
means only personal mail (P), smallest first (S), 20KB maximum (20)
T S
means smallest first. Always private first, bulletins follow.
- Line "L" in FORWARD.SYS allows to program TNC before or after a block, i.e.
at the beginning and at the end of the forward cycle (to disable incoming
connections for instance). This line must be preceeded with a P line to
specify the port to be programmed (as for the "D" or "X" command out of a
block).
- "IF MAN" test in FORWARD.SYS file means that test will be true only if the
forward is manually reverse forced (That is with a + in F4 window, or FR
remote command).
- FWD and REJ can now be put in EMS
- Variable $b gives the Zip code of the user.
- New set of variables. The first character is "%" instead of "$". Variables
%i %J %j %K %y are identical to $i, $J, $j, $K and $y, but give the original
date of message instead of the final date of a message.
- Epurmess is changed to allow the new "original date" field in DIRMES.SYS
- Routing bulletins on destination is possible with a F line in FORWARD file
like :
A F6FBB
G EU
F AMSAT
.... Will route @EU and >AMSAT bulletins to F6FBB.
- Headers of the original message are compressed in lines when using SC
command or in CP SYSOP messages.
- HROUTE system disabled when WP validated.
- PR[V] #msg #msg : prints (or prints verbose) #msg on printer.
- PR> [File] : redirects the printer to the named file. If file is "-", then
the printer is no longer redirected. Printer is validated. If file is not
specified, gives the file where the printer is redirected.
- Default MID generated with original MessageNumber/BBS.
- Number of back lines and delay when using unproto lists defined in INIT.SRV
(for use with terminal-programs like TPK, that will ask for new unproto
message-lists).
- BBS-UP and BBS-DW batches or programs defined in INIT.SRV. Programs that
will be run when starting and stopping the BBS. Can be a great help for
blind sysops, or other purposes.
- AT or @ are equivalent in the command line SP DESTI AT BBS
- Return to convers mode after an ascii upload from the console.
- Alt D command allows to save the current screen buffer to file.
- M(A) # command starts copying from the first line of text (headers and
from-to lines are discarded).
- When halting the software, the "immediate" message is sent only if needed.
- INSTAFBB.COM now gives more warnings and informations.
- Up to 4 "S lines" can be defined in a forward block.
- Unwanted forward TO my BBS: This is difficult to avoid, but this will
be considered later..
- User MUST give his informations (QTH, Name, Zip, HomeBBS) before the BBS
goes on. (option in INIT.SRV)
- Command SR allows +filename (authorized sysops only).
Format : SR [#number] [+Filename] [Subject]
- Variables %A %G %M %n %P identical to the $A $G $M $n $P, but without
trailing spaces.
- New command DU in FBBDOS shows Disk Usage.
- New message format in ERROR.SYS, should be easier to understand..
- YAPP and XMODEM uploads are now buffered.
- Length and path in CD-command is now checked.
White Pages (WP).
-----------------
- WP implementation. Needs to create the WP subdirectory under SYSTEM.
The HR2WP program must be run under SYSTEM directory and will create a
MAIL.WP file. This file will be renamed (or appended to) MAIL.IN and
then allows the WP database to be updated with the information from
HROUTE.SYS and INF.SYS (this takes some time !). The WP needs hight
memory, and will be validated with the EMS/XMS WP usage.
- EPURWP program updates records in the WP database. Will be run each night
during housekeeping (if WP validated).
- New Commands (If WP validated) :
I Callsign : Looks for WP information (Wildcards allowed).
I@ BBS : Looks for users of BBS (Wildcards allowed).
IH Zone : Looks for users within HROUTE Zone (EU, FRA, etc...)
IZ Zip : Looks for users matching the Zip code (Wildcards allowed).
IL Callsign : Gives full information on callsign, including primary and
secondary records.
- WP server.
This server is built-in. Only need to declare an entry in INIT.SRV (like
REQCFG) . It answers to request messages like :
SP WP @ F6FBB
Wp Query <- Any title
F6FBB ? <- Ask F6FBB information
LA6CU ? <- Ask LA6CU information
CTRL-Z
- Zip code of the BBS defined in INIT.SRV. Variable $z now is the ZIP code
of the BBS.
- WP messages (updates between BBSs) are hidden for users.
- No R: line added in WP update messages. This to avoid to have more headers
than information !
- WP-updates are sent from WP to WP. INIT.SRV holds the routing for the
messages, ex WPUPD, the updates are then sent SB WP @ WPUPD < WP.
Or it may be a BBS-callsign. In that case teh updates are sent as SP.
There can also be a combination of both SB and SP.
The title of the message tells which BBS sent the update.
- Routing and route extension taken from WP information.
- New command IE allows to edit a WP record.
- Some comments on White Pages:
White Pages is a kind of database-server, that contains the most important
information on each user. This data-base is automatically updated from
incomming messages, and the BBSs also send updates between themselves.
For those of you that know RLI, most of this will be well-known.
All WP-updates can go to one central data-base, or to all adjecent BBSs.
All BBSes en route will pick up any info in any updates, even if the message
is just "passing through" to another BBS. So every BBS can be a full WP-
server.
Each BBS will normally send its updates as soon as it has enough updates to
fill a message at about 4kb. Still, it will never take more than 24 hours
before an update-message is sent. This MAY cause much traffic on bad
HF-links, but this can be controlled by the way the messages are sent, and
by the forward-file.
Other comments.
---------------
For BPQ together with FBB, there are only 4 parametres that can be set in
INITTNCx.SYS and MAINTx.SYS. Those 4 parametres are mentioned in the
example in the doc-file.
At the end of PORT.SYS you can put a different callsign for some channels,
for example for forward. This is ONLY true for DED-host ! Not for BPQ or
PK-232 with original prom, etc.
Be careful with the OR and LC commands. Use OR when you cannot list/read
all personal messages (if BBS allows this in INIT.SRV) and want to do so.
Use LC when you cannot list all the bulletins you want. LC * allows
listing all bulletins.
Yes, there WILL sometimes be some mistakes in some of the language-files.
I can only make SOME of the languages. The rest of the languages I
cannot update (too much work, and I do not know all those languages). I
think every country should have 1 sysop that updates all the texts-files for
his language. If you see something wrong in YOUR language, try to switch to
english and see if there is a difference.
Some people complain that with FBB 5.14 and BPQ they cannot change from BBS-
callsign to console-callsign when using gateway. This will be fixed by
command
Unable_Linked=A
in the BPQ-config.
TPK 1.81 is a terminal-program specially adapted to FBB. It generates
its own mail-list from unproto beacons seen from the BBS, and uses
compressed read of messages from FBB. TPK 1.81 will normally be
distributed together with FBB 5.15.
I have had some questions about how to use shared IRQ on different COM-
ports. This CAN be done, if you make a small change to the COM-cards,
and use the ESS-driver (which supports shared IRQs). Here is what you
must do:
Remove the IRQ-jumpers on the com-card. Or if there are switches, leave
them in the "open" position.
Select the IRQ you want to use, and place a diode where you normally
would insert a jumper. Only that you now can use the SAME IRQ for 2 or
more COM-ports. The diodes must be placed with the cathode to the IRQ-
line from the PC. In addition, a resistor of 1 kohm should be inserted
from the cathode to ground. In some cases this resistor must have a
value of 470 ohms. You must try this..
An even better alternative is to build a port multiplexer. Then you do
not need to modify in your PC. Schematics for the MUX is available from
me.
I am at the moment testing FBB together with DX-cluster and BPQ under
DesqView. It now works very nicely..
About the WP.... We are afraid that the WP may generate a LOT of traffic of
update-messages. Luckily the sysops can control the sending of these
updates, either as bulletins or private messages. And the routing of the
bulletins will be important. Anyway, in the start, there will be lots of
updates, to generate a database in each BBS. But the update-traffic will
probably decrease after a while..
It will probably NOT be a good idea to start full forward of WP-updates on
bad HF-links !