ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/BBS/CEL202R.ZIP/CEL202-3.ZIP/README.202

Text File | 1994-09-17 | 18KB | 292 lines

Celerity v2.02
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here begins work on v2.21, a maintenence and bug-fix version for release
version v2.01.  See bug report responses for details.  This file is from the
beta process, so it may not be easily readable.

v2.02

  04/13/94  Began work on version 2.02.  Redid the userlist conversion system
            to keep converting until the current version is met.

  04/14/94  Optimized the user lookup routine (used for system notes, inc.
            upload/download/validation messages) increasing speed by 30-50%
            for users near the middle or end of the user file, less for users
            closer to beginning of the file.  Optimized the other user lookup
            routine (used for sending mail, logging in, etc - accepts user
            number, "sysop", and real names as well as handles), increasing
            speed by 50-100%+ (with this release, type "+" from the misc menu
            to see a speed comparison on your system - operating system
            variations, caches, cluster size, networks, etc. will all affect
            how this turns out - my percentages were on my local drive with
            disk caching off and 8k clusters.  They were significantly less
            impressive on my network).  Fixed "Celerity load 0 1" command
            to work correctly (without giving an out of time message).

  04/18/94  Wrote a selection menu for F4 logins - to be included in the list,
            the user must have sysop flag 26 set.  The default will be the
            registered sysop name.  Only 9 users will be shown.

  04/20/94  Wrote a Celerity "speed test".  "Celerity SPEED" will give you a
            rough benchmark of a number of common operations.

  04/29/94  Worked on the newscan code a bit to get it to recognize when a
            user hit "Q" to quit from the scan.  Worked on the file newscan
            routines to display files better.  NOTE: Entry 3316 should use
            PARAM=1, not PARAM=3.  Worked on upload destination routine to
            try to fix problem of sysop uploader getting thrown into "create
            an area".

  05/01/94  Experimented with reducing a new routine to its older counter
            part to see if that fixes the userlist problem.  So far, so good.

  05/02/94  On Wacky's advice, fixed a possible problem with QWK packets
            being imported which quoted Fido messages.

  05/06/94  Wrote a CD-ROM importer for the NiteOwl CD-ROM format.  Fixed some
            problems dealing with read-only files on the network (ie: they
            would always have a size of 0 reported, even with a file verify).

  05/07/94  Made some changes to keep the file search from crashing the
            board with a 204 error if your file listing descriptions get
            scragged.

  05/09/94  Fixed a problem with the global newscan data never getting saved
            (appeared with 5/6/94 work).  Reversed order of scan for list
            message seeding (ie: will work quicker searching from beginning
            of list rather than quick from end of the list).  Added ability
            to abort master file list creation with "X".  Fixed up the add
            all command (Which was working partially) to automatically add
            a bunch of files from a directory (W - add resident files, A -
            Add all files) - function now imports descriptions.  Please watch
            various upload processing functions as some of this code was
            changed.

  05/11/94  Today I implemented something I have been planning on doing for
            quite some time - a system to allow sysops to customize which
            keys do what inside the system.  A new file is required, named
            SYSTEM.KBD.  See the enclosed SYSTEM.KBD for examples.  The new
            system should allow you to redefine your keyboard as well as run
            external programs and use keyboard macros.  The format is similar
            (but not quite the same) as EXTERN.DAT (which I will probably
            rename as EXTERN.KBD soon).  I plan on making another one (same
            format as SYSTEM.KBD) called WFC.KBD to allow redefinition of the
            WFC keys as well.  Note that in the new SYSTEM.KBD, some keyboard
            commands have changed slightly - you can change 'em back to the
            old defaults if you like.

  05/24/94  (forgot the stuff I've added over the last two weeks).  Fixed a
            problem with files not getting auto-validated correctly.  Fixed
            problem where user ratios of 0 (use setup default) would get set
            to system default permanently.  Added ability to K)ill a file
            in the file listing, file newscan.  Added ability to resume a
            file listing at an absolute number (don't ask for it in the new-
            scan - you can't have it there).  Changed system so carbon copies
            may be sent from mail replies.  Fixed timeout exclusion flag (7)
            so it should work now.  Added a term emulation check to the
            Celerity load command.  Fixed problem with sending node messages
            when in single-key input mode.  Fixed a problem with the newscan
            dropping out after a sub.

  05/31/94  Added the ability for a user to upload a FILES.BBS file containing
            file descriptions in a batch upload (FILES.BBS must contain the
            filename in the first 12 characters and description starting at
            column 34.  If the description is multiple lines, the lines
            subsequent to the first must have a space as the first character,
            and continue the description on column 34).  This feature can also
            be used if the sysop copies a FILES.BBS file into the xfer
            directory and then edits the file D)escription.  The files.bbs
            import will come prior to a file_id.diz importation.  The benefits
            of this feature are obvious.

  06/03/94  Worked on the WFC date checking - HOPEFULLY the system will not
            double up dates on a multinode system where the times are not
            synchronized.

  06/06/94  Added some extra code to check sysop "by time" availability
            checking.  Added a base newscan option to scan only for messages
            to/from you in a newscan (this is rough, we'll improve it).
            Fixed a problem with file_id.clr, file_id.diz, desc.sdi descripts
            not getting imported.

  06/27/94  Dumped the "disk numbers" field for files.  Added a toggle in
            the file list configuration to skip offline files (in listings).
            Added some "node notices" which will tell users if they get mail
            or when a user logs on or off the board.

  06/29/94  Worked on the custom key input routine a little so it shouldn't
            trap a keystroke on a single-key thing or insert a space in text
            a user is typing.  Produced UpSpool v1.4 and tested it.

  07/03/94  Added some "system notice" code to tell people when someone logs
            on, logs off, sends mail, etc.

  07/10/94  Been working on some "secret stuff" for the last week.  Don't
            ask.  :)

  07/11/94  Went through some bug reports (BUGS0711.RES).  Made news pause
            automatically - turn OFF the news pause in your login sequence.
            Made the connect header definable via language files.  Fixed
            a problem with files with no description showing up in a search.
            Added more code to check for x aborts in a file search.  Fixed
            a problem with the last area in a file section being displayed
            as all selections for an upload destination.  Added a language
            entry when you quit from the conference menu.  Fixed a problem
            with the automatic add in the multiple file add (%;W in the
            xfer section).  Fixed a problem where your account would get
            docked if you deleted someone else's upload.  Worked with the
            access templates a bit (no, they aren't in yet).

  07/13/94  Modified the message base editing to allow you to specify a full
            path for the index and data files.  Same thing with the conference
            data files - let me know if you find problems.  BTW - /SETUP
            from the prompt will load in your setup values again, this was
            added to the /HELP at JF's prompting.  Fixed a problem with a
            new user applying with a local lockout set when the userfile is
            empty.

  07/18/94  Added provisions for echoing logs to the printer.  Set the
            log type in celsetup / system options.  Off is no printer logging,
            brief tells basic stuff (log in, log out, etc.), normal gives
            more information, but skips log groups 3-4, 6-11, 13-14, and
            20-24.  Verbose echoes all log data to the printer.

  07/19/94  Fixed multinode chat to accept the "max users in chat" setup
            option.  Setting this to 0 will disable multinode chat.  Worked
            on implementing the "secure console" feature, which disables all
            WFC keys (other than F10, Alt-H, Alt-A), disables password
            display screen when user logs in, and disables all in-system
            keyboard commands.  This option basically allows the bbs to be
            run in an environment which is not necessarily secure.  Note that
            this does _not_ prevent a user from ctrl-breaking when Celerity
            drops to DOS for the main.bat.  Worked on system help.

  07/20/94  Fixed a problem with file searches where a search would stop
            being effective if you aborted a prior search.

  07/28/94  Worked on the problem with users getting hung up for idle during
            sysop chat or shell to dos etc.  Added message search (by name or
            text) to message menu (S command).

  08/01/94  Made the FSE recognize ANSI arrow keys (ESC-A..D) for cursor
            movement.  Made "U" start a batch upload from the xfer menu.
            "D" will do a batch download if files are tagged for batch d/l,
            otherwise it'll do a single-file download.  The batch menu still
            exists for listing, clearing, etc. and for backward compatibility.
            Added a default area to dump an upload to (last one user
            selected).  Reworked the global quickscan - it now functions as
            both the quickscan AND offline message stuff, and will allow you
            to update pointers (when I finish it).  See the following entries
            for details (oh - you can store up to 10 seperately configured
            newscans, AND you will HAVE to delete ALL *.QS? files.. sorry).
            For those who didn't figure it out, entry 5330 (about 20 lines
            below this) specifies a NEW MENU whihc needs to be created.

  08/03/94  Fixed message searching problems.  Fixed problems with a newly
            created sub not working (bug with one of the previous betas).
            Did a LOT of internal structuring (moved xfer menus, newscan
            menus, etc. into COMMANDS.TPU).  Added a K)ill user command to
            the user custodian.

  08/05/94  Added a message to be displayed when a user hits [Enter] in a sub
            with no new messages (see 4705 below).  Added three new command
            directives to the CelerityText system: @NEWMESSAGES@ displays the
            number of new messages since last call, @NEWUPLOADS@ displays the
            number of new uploads since last call, and @EXEC=@ will execute
            a program or batch file from WITHIN the language file - example:

            For the multiline status, say you want to include Sicko's "peek
            at nodes" door.  In entry #2577 (t_NodeActTrailer), you could
            include "@EXEC=c:\celutils\peeker@ @DISP=c:\celutils\peek.txt@",
            or whatever the text is (I realize Sicko's door actually displays
            directly to the modem rather than writing a text file, so this
            won't be a real accurate example).  At any rate, this will allow
            you to run a door then display the output in a simple language
            entry.

            I also fixed the @SHOWFILE=@ directive to work with full filenames
            (ie: @SHOWFILE=f:\celerity\shows\file1.ANS@ will now work).  Added
            local backscroll capability (system.kbd commands: 42 (scroll back),
            43 (scroll forward), 44 (quit scroll)) - The scroll back buffer
            is UNLIMITED in size, and is buffered for performance, so you can
            scroll through your whole session.  It is saved as "SCROLL.n" in
            the multinode directory, where n is the node number.  It is a
            normal 8-bit ASCII file.  Limitations: The scroll back is plain
            ASCII - there is no support for color, and no support for cursor
            positioning, so displays which make a box then position the
            cursor to fill in data will show the box with the data listed
            below.  The buffer may be used SIMULTANEOUSLY with user activity
            within Celerity (but will abort if the user begins a transfer or
            opens a door), and will be continually updated (ie: you will be
            able to start the scrollback, and scroll down to the new data the
            user is viewing).

  08/06/94  Fixed a problem with old file_id's being imported for a file.

  08/08/94  Hopefully fixed a problem with the default upload area not working
            correctly.  Added a "compress files" option to the xfer sysop
            menu ("Y" from the sysop menu, or "Y" from the global operations
            menu for global usage) - this will, for example, compress all
            .TXT files with ZIP, or convert all .ARJ or .LZH files to ZIP.
            See the following language entries.  Updated the MENUINI.DOC for
            the 2.02 lang kit.

  08/09/94  Reduced the Celerity overhead when shelling to DOS from about 96k
            to 7k - result: more memory available to dos shells.  I also
            created a set of 2.02 menus (see 202MENU.ZIP).  Added a "G)et"
            command to the transfer menu (for single-file uploads).  Removed
            the "Of What" option from the user file editor and added the
            E)xtended Description command in its place.

  08/22/94  Redid the global newscan configuration a bit.  Make sure you add
            the language entries for it.  Moved the editor help files to
            language entries (see below).  Final release date has been set
            for August 31st.

  08/23/94  Put the access templates in.  Test them, see if you can find any
            problems.  There are a couple of messages which will be printed
            during login when the templates are accessed.  Please note that
            if the user has a PCR, UDR, GenR set, that value will be used
            instead of the access template default.  Same for a specifically
            set daily download limit or time per day.  Also made a new RESET
            which can be used to reset all those PCR, UDR, GenR, Daily
            download limits, daily time limits so that the templates are
            actually useful.  Note that you should create a template for
            every access range which you have users on the board for, or you
            may end up with people who can't download and have no time online.
            There is no checking in the setup for overlapping ranges - so
            if you overlap, you risk unpredictable results.

  08/25/94  Implemented Quick Validation Templates.  Command #45 (as defined
            in system.kbd) will provide a list of templates and allow the
            console user to select one for the currently online user.  You may
            define a template as "New User Voting" which will be loaded when
            a user is validated via the new user voting system.  When a user
            is validated with the template, the access template for that user
            will be checked - if one exists, it will immediately load that set
            of ratios/daily time/download limits.  The quick validate may also
            be accessed from the Scan User menu (replaces the old V)alidate
            command), and from the User Custodian (new V command).
            Also worked on the batch upload description losing problem, and
            changed how it is handled.  Newly entered descriptions are now
            placed in a file called $$UPLOAD.DES in your data directory, and
            copied to the regular areas when the file is processed.  Feel
            free to delete it from time to time when nobody is uploading, as
            it will eventually grow large.

  08/29/94  Fixed the QWK upload menu.  Fixed a problem with "there have been
            changes to the lang file" showing up every call.

  09/09/94  Fixed a couple of bugs from the bug reports.

  09/11/94  Added the update newscan pointers command.  Added variable support
            to set to BBS node (@Ix=NODE@), to set to a random value
            (@Ix=RANDOM(y)@), and a command directive to display the date of
            user account expiration (@EXPIREDDATE@).

  09/14/94  Went through some bug reports, began finalizing release.

  09/17/94  Cleaned up the scrollback a bit.  Readied final release.