New NazCron, V1.1 A new version of NazCron is now available. This version incorporates several new features and improvements and is now accompanied by a new program: the NazCron Event Manager, Naz'EM. Naz'EM is an Intuitionized NazCron front end. NOTE - although NazCron features an extensive ARexx interface, you still do NOT need ARexx to use NazCron. NazCron Version 1.1 improvements. o The command portion of the NazCron event is no longer converted to uppercase in memory. Previous versions of NazCron converted the entire event to upper case to facilitate quick command searching using the fast, AmigaDOS EXEC functions. Now, only the event name is converted to UC; the command portion will remain exactly as supplied by the user. This was a bothersome restriction to about 20% of registered users and turned out to be easily remedied. o Event parsing has been re-designed. Parsing is now much quicker and uses about 500 fewer bytes of memory. A beneficial side effect of this re-design is that there is now no arbitrary limit to the size of a NazCron event or the individual elements that make up that event. Remember, though, that the AmigaDOS command limit is 255 characters. o All time values are now range checked. The ranges are: Minutes 0-59 Hours 0-23 Days 1-31 Months 1-12 Day of Wk 0-6 Yes, it is still possible to specify Feb 30 or November 31. o NazCron 1.1 now does event error reporting. While you will not be told details of the error, NazCron will display an error window apprising you of the fact that an error was encountered in your CronTab file at the time NazCron attempts to load the file. As in previous versions of NazCron, the entire CronTab file is purged from the active list when one error is encountered. On an error encountered in an ARexx introduced event, NazCron will return the error code "RC_ERROR" (return code 10) to ARexx and will not display the error window. o The status command now returns the NazCron version number in addition to the processing state, event file lock status and CronTab file name. With this version, of course, the version returned will be "1.1". The version number will appear as ASCII characters following the CronTab file name, separated from it by a tab character. o NazCron 1.1 implements a direct ARexx interface. If a CLI command begins with the characters "rx ", NazCron will attempt to send the remaining characters (starting with the next non white-space character) directly to the ARexx asynchronous command port (ARexx v1.1 only). This will assure a much quicker "launch", one not tying up a CLI for each script. If ARexx is not available, or if the user is running an earlier version of ARexx (e.g. v1.06), the entire command line, including "rx ", will be launched as a CLI command in the normal manner. Naz'EM Version 1.0 This release of NazCron contains a new program, the NazCron Event Manager, Naz'EM. Naz'EM is an Intuition based NazCron front end which makes realtime NazCron control possible for those who don't own ARexx and easier for those who do. In addition Naz'EM has two built-in editors. o One editor handles active events, those which NazCron is currently processing. It allows you to add, delete or change an event in realtime, without affecting any other events currently being processed. o The second editor provides a more reliable method of building and maintaining CronTab files. While a CronTab may be built easily with any text editor, Naz'EM is specialized to do value and range checking on the time values you use in your event, as well as to make sure that the event is constructed properly, in the right order, with no missing pieces. The built-in parsing function can help save you much debugging time when entering new events. o With Naz'EM you can use menu selections to SUSPEND or RESUME NazCron, LOCK or UNLOCK events, close the current event file or start processing from a new file, start or stop NazCron and more. o Click on a button to display NazCron status as well as a list of all currently active named events. Double click on one of the event names and the full event detail will be made available to examine or edit. There are ADD, UPDATE and DELETE buttons to allow you to add, update or delete active events online. In addition, the edit menu gives you these plus COPY and PASTE functions, all with keyboard shortcuts. o Move to the file editor to edit a CronTab file. The screen display shows you all of the events in the file. You may perform similar editing functions on the events in the file without affecting active events. All editing is done in memory, leaving your file as it was until you save it. When done making your changes, click on the SAVE button or select the SAVE menu item to update the file. o Deleting or copying an event, whether from the active events list or from a file, places the entire event into a paste buffer. The contents of the paste buffer may then be PASTEd in either the Active or File editor. So, you can clip events out of one or more files and make them active by ADDing them to the active list. You could also test an active event until you are sure it is working, COPY it and PASTE it into a CronTab file, making it permanent. o Both editing screens have HELP and SHRINK buttons and date and time fields. o HELP displays detailed information on all of the features. o SHRINK will close the current window and place a tiny window on your Workbench screen with a single EXPAND button. You can move this shrunken window to some unobtrusive spot on your Workbench and Naz'EM will remember the spot the next time you select SHRINK. Click on the EXPAND button when you are ready use Naz'EM again. o The date and time fields provide a helpful reference when building or changing events or testing the "launch" of a new or modified event. And now for something completely different. NazCron 1.1 and Naz'EM are now commercial products. They are NOT shareware as previous versions of NazCron were. NazCron and Naz'EM are now only available from Black Belt Systems as part of the "C Toolshed" package for only $19.95*. WAIT! As they say on late night TV. There's more! NazCron and Naz'EM are only 2 of the many useful things you will find in the "C Toolshed". The Toolshed also contains the following: o AutoDoc generator - creates index, table of contents, and document body, o Encrypt tool - unbreakable data security - not even the NSA can beat this utility, o PrettyPrinter - makes C source readable, no matter how badly written, o Document statistics tool for analyzing reports, meeting space restrictions, o Executable priority controller - Intuitionized process- only, it's very useful for testing applications, o MS-Dos to AmigaDOS file conversion tool, o C Comment stripper - start all over with PD code, create meaningful, structured, "autodocable" comments, o User documentation reader with italics, boldface, underline and colors. Make your on-disk docs shine! Worth far more than the original $10 NazCron registration fee, right? Well there's still more. The C Toolshed also contains boilerplate "C" source code for generating your own applications in "C". This is not a run time library or even a linkable function library but actual "C" source code that you may do with as you wish. All routines may be utilized without charge or royalty in your programs whether they be public domain, shareware or commercial applications. No longer do you have to struggle to get started. You will have at your fingertips: o Unified CLI and WorkBench argument parsing - just add table entries, o Complete CLI help generation - automatically; just add table entries, o ARexx Host interface: recursion, prioritized interpretation, argument passing, o Working Window, Menu, Intuitext, Timer and Serial port example source, o Programmed flow-thru error propagation - extensible by simple table entry, o PowerWindows use demo - how to best identify and process gadgets and menus, o Superb linkable file requester, simple to interface, extremely powerful, o Source code is fully documented in AutoDoc format - indexed, table of contents. All source code and tools are documented on the disk, and technical support is available at Black Belt Systems' Tech Support number. To obtain your copy of the "C Toolshed" with NazCron 1.1 and Naz'EM 1.0, see your Amiga software dealer or send a check for $19.95 to: Black Belt Systems 398 Johnson Road RR-1, Box 4272 Glasgow, MT 59230 or call US Sales: (800) TK-AMIGA International Sales: (406) 367-5513 Tech Support - (406) 367-5509 FAX: (406) 367-AFAX * Registered NazCron users are in for a very pleasant surprise. If you are a registered user and have not yet been contacted, please call Black Belt Systems and have your registration number handy. And thanks to you all for your support... - Don Nafis