Current version : 2.63 Last updated : 7-March-1993 --NEW FEATURES-- Following is a list of new features added since the publication of the original spiral bound 2.0 manual: NOTE: References to manual PAGE NUMBERS in the early parts of this file are to the OLD spiral bound manual and will not apply to the revised binder edition. However, the new manual has been changed to reflect those new features. Changes beyond 2.20 will refer to page numbers in the NEW D-ring binder manual. --- version 2.08 12-Feb-1992 1. The main CNet program modules are now PURE. This means you can load them into memory in your startup-shell as: resident pure cnet:BBS cnet:BBS add resident pure pfiles:bbs/JOIN pfiles:bbs/JOIN add ...etc NOTE that in the case of the Join (conferencing system) command, the path is given twice. The first denotes the NAME of the resident list entry, the second tells resident where to find the file. This is necessary because CNet uses "run pfiles:cnet/join" when running Join, and not "run join." This procedure must be used for all resident pfiles. Depending on the number of lines that you run, this can save an awful lot of memory, and add to the efficiency of your system. There is a new file "xx" in CNET: which executes an XPR protocol transfer. This section of CNet could NOT be made PURE so had to be moved to an external program. For speed, CNet will recognize XX in RAM: before checking CNET:. 2. Referring to UPRATIOSET and UPCHARGESET on pages 69 and 70 of the CNet manual, CNet will now allow you to set these values INDEPENDENTLY for both file and byte credits. This allows even more flexibility with the credit system. 3. Referring to the bottom of page 83, CNet's MCI colors now follow the ANSI series of color numbers. These are as follows: 0-black, 1-red, 2-green, 3-yellow, 4-blue, 5-purple, 6-cyan, 7-white. 4. Referring to page 15, there are several new BBSEVENT commands. The MODEM command allows you to keep a CNet port RUNNING while releasing/reclaiming the use of the modem. The MODEM command takes an integer argument which may take the following values: MODEM 0 Close device. MODEM 1 Re-open device for normal operation. MODEM 2 Do not close the device, but inhibit ALL modem related I/O activity. The AVALID command allows you to select the use of different SYS.AVALID files (see page 13) based on the time of day. The argument to the AVALID command is used when attempting to open SYS.AVALID. For example, with: AVALID 2 CNet will attempt to use the file SYS.AVALID2 in place of SYS.AVALID. If the appropriate file is not found, CNet will always then attempt to use SYS.AVALID itself. The CALLBACK command is provided to control the AUTO CALL-BACK at LOGON feature (see page 34). The arguments are as follows: CALLBACK 0 ;disable completely CALLBACK 1 ;enable all phone numbers CALLBACK 2 ;enable, but with local phone numbers only (as determined by current SYS.AVALID file) 5. Port 0 no longer has a special significance. You may create a file BBSPORT0 to use as a modem configuration for port 0 just as you may for any port. Any loaded port WITHOUT a BBSPORTx file will be loaded as CONSOLE ONLY. This also means that MULTIPLE 'local ports' are now allowed! 6. CNet now allows you to run AmigaDOS programs as ONLINE PFILES. Also, more than one port may use an ONLINE SHELL at a time. DOS programs used as PFILES must use only the standard I/O, and must break when receiving a control-C. Each AmigaDOS interface must have a separate entry in your DEVS:mountlist-cnet file, and must also be mounted in your startup-cnet file. If you will be running DOS PFILES, it is wise to create as many DOS interface entries as you allow pfiles to be run at a time (as configured in BBSCONFIG), or as many as the number of ports you run (whichever is less). Here's a sample DEVS:MOUNTLIST-CNET entry: CNAUX00: Handler = L:CNetAux-Handler GlobVec = 1 Stacksize = 4000 Priority = 5 # For each entry, increment the 00 to 01, 02, etc, so your entries are CNAUX00:, CNAUX01:, CNAUX02:, etc. Now, in your startup-sequence, you should have lines like: mount CNAUX00: from devs:mountlist-cnet mount CNAUX01: from devs:mountlist-cnet ...etc. one for each DOS interface entry. When you add pfiles in the Pfiles, Gfiles, or News areas, CNet will now prompt you for whether or not the file is a CNet C file. If you respond No, CNet will then assume it is a DOS file. The MCI # command has been expanded to allow you to run DOS programs. The format is: \#0 AREXX \#2 C \#4 DOS As before, add '1' to the number for exclusive access to the pfile. 7. Each port's AREXX port is now open CONTINUOUSLY as the BBS operates. This opens a world of possibilities! To address a CNet port from an external AREXX script, the proper command is: Address CNETREXXp; Where you replace 'p' with the port number you are attempting to communicate with. In addition to the already available AREXX commands (see chapter 6.3), several new commands have been added to facilitiate the implementation of various "control" scripts. These are as follows: MODEM 0-2 Operates IDENTICALLY to the command added to the BBSEVENT scheduler (see previous entry). ADDKEYS {s} This command allows you to add a string of characters to the port's INPUT buffer. When a carriage return is desired, the ` key will be automatically translated. Prevously, CNet would attempt to run the AREXX interface automatically. Now, you must run AREXX yourself, perhaps in the startup-cnet file. The proper command to do this is REXXMAST. 8. At all input prompts, CNet now allows ANSI users to use the left and right arrow keys, delete, and insert-typing to more easily enter text. Several maintenance access prompts have been altered to take advantage of this new featue. 9. The gfiles/pfiles/news areas have received a slightly new look. The user is no longer shown the "disk title" of items; only the description. The description field size was greatly increased. If you did not make use of the descriptions in previous versions, you will find the need to use the ATx command on each item to add descriptions. Great flexibility has also been added, to allow you to set full path names for any item. If an item is specified as a DOS program, CNet will also prompt you for ARGUMENTS to the program. The Adopt command has been changed to AO (Adopt Orphans), and read files from any path. A new command Add has been added for times when you wish to manually enter all of an item's information. The X (alphabetize) command has been replaced by ML (move list). Just as in the subboards, ML may be used to exchange any two items on the list. 10. The visual editor has received a slight face lift in anticipation of major changes in that area. A title bar exists on the screen at all times, reminding users where they are and how to exit. 11. When specifying the arguments for a DOS pfile, you may insert AREXX 'getuser' type strings as arguments to the pfile. See page 77 for a list of GETUSER numbers. Use the character % followed by the GETUSER number. For example, with the arguments of %1 %40 the DOS pfile will be passed arguments consisting of the user's handle and ID number. You may need to use quotes to surround arguments which may contain spaces. 12. EVEN PARITY is now supported as an option for international BBS operators in countries where the "7E1" protocol is more popular than "8N1". This appears as an extra entry in the BBSPORT files. 13. A new configuration file "bbsproto" now gives the power to select WHICH xpr librares will be used with CNet, and explicitly gives the necessary ENV: variables for each protocol. Each protocol line must begin with a UNIQUE one-character identifier, followed by the name of the protocol as you want the users to see it, then a control number, then the library name, and finally the ENV: variable string. Notice how in the stock BBSPROTO file that the Ymodem library is actually used TWICE, once for standard Ymodem and once again for Ymodem-G. The CONTROL number should be set as follows: 1 a BATCH protocol 2 a RESUMABLE upload protocol 3 both a BATCH and UPLOAD RESUME protocol 0 none of the above Referring to page 6 in the manual, the ENV: variables are no longer necessary. 14. CNet now maintains a separate disk subdirectory for EACH user account. These subdirectories appear in the MAIL: area. In addition to holding mail, these subdirectoires will provide CNet with the ability to greatly increase user system-customization. By default, the name of the subdirectory appears as the user's ID number. In the future, the name of this subdirectory will be used to reflect the user's UUCP mailbox address. If you are using a version of 2.0 PRIOR to version 2.15, you MUST run the user update program "newusers2" which is located in the UPDATING directory of the CNet master disk. This program should be ran from the CLI. It will automatically create the default ID number directories in the MAIL: area. All "cm." and "cu." mail files will also be re-named into the appropriate directories. 15. CNet's list of COMPUTER TYPES is now easily user-modifyable. The list is maintained in the BBSMENU files, as menu # 30. Do not exceed 24 entries into this list. 16. CNet now fully supports EXTERNAL editors as well as editors for use in local mode only. For now, the standard CNet LINE and ANSI editors are INTERNAL to the main CNet module. To specify a LOCAL MODE editor, a line in BBSCONFIG is used. You should specify the PATH to the program only; CNet will provide the single argument of the filename. Use NO SPACES here. To add an external editor, there are two files which need modification. The list of EDITOR NAMES is stored in the BBSMENU files, as menu #29. The first two entries must NOT be removed or moved to any other line. The configuration file, specifying the PATHS to the editors is called "bbsed" in the CNET: area. This file should contain one line for each editor in use. Each line consists of a CONTROL number and a path (with optional arguments). The CONTROL number should be set to 1 if the file is a DOS program, or to 0 for a CNet C pfile. For DOS programs, the editor buffer filename which should be passed to the editor is "_edbuff"; CNet C pfiles should take NO arguments. The normal CNet C pfile call-back routine "LineEditor" has been split into three functions, PrepEditor(), CallEditor(), and SaveEditor(). Please consult the EMPTY.C file in the PROGRAMMING directory if you have used the CNet editor in your PFILES. Access to the port variables EdBase, EdBuffer, and CR are now INVALID. These are PRIVATE to the CNet editors. CNet now allocates memory for the editor only AS NEEDED--these variables are NOT INITIALIZED when the CNet editors are inoperative! Because of the dynamic memory allocation, the BBSCONFIG variable for "max editor lines" has been removed. Memory is allocated based on each user's individual "max editor lines" setting. 17. Previously, each message/file subboard and each p/g files subdirectory had a setting for "% download credits" which determined how many credits CNet took away from a user for downloading (ie, 100 = 1 file/byte credit per file/byte downloaded, 200 = 2 file/byte credits per file/byte downloaded, etc). This variable has been SPLIT into two--one for files and one for bytes. This allows you to have a subboard set up to for "free byte credit" downloads or "free file credit" downloads independently. The redundant "free download area" flag has been removed. If you want a totally free download area, set both percentages to 0, and also set the "Credit#" to 0 to disable the accounting system. Note that an item's "free item" status will still override all three download credit systems. To make everything complete, the download charge set numbers have also been split into separate numbers for files and bytes. NOTE that you will probably have to EL each of your subboards to insure everything is set, as several new variables may have an un-initialized value of '0'. 18. The new-user routines have been re-done almost completely. The following files are new; they describe prompts as they appear. sys.nu_ansi sys.nu_color sys.nu_comp sys.nu_baud sys.nu_country sys.nu_dob sys.nu_handle sys.nu_length sys.nu_lf sys.nu_more sys.nu_password sys.nu_phone sys.nu_tabs sys.nu_tz sys.nu_width The following files explain different parts of the new user process: sys.nu sys.nu2 sys.nu3 sys.nu4 The "miscellaneous questions" section is now completely different. The file "sys.nq" describes the miscellaneous questions in general. Then, each file sys.nq0, sys.nq1, etc., should contain the text of each question. There is no real limit to the number of questions possible. Each question may be answered with up to 10 lines. Each question is saved into a file "_plan" in the user's subdirectory, and may be viewed by ALL users. Additionally, "sysop questions" may also be entered. A file "sys.sq" describes these questions in general. Then, each file sys.sq0, sys.sq1, etc., should contain the text of each question. There is no limit to the number of questions. The "new user statement" has been removed, as the purpose of this file is now redundant after the addition of the fully configurable new user questions system. The new-user mail file is filled with the answers to all of the above questions. The first question that a new user is asked is his language preference, if that part of your system is enabled. 19. Users may read any other user's "_plan" or "finger" file. The command to do this is FINGER at any prompt (UI has been retained as an alias for compatibilty). A user may EDIT his own _plan file by using the EF command at any prompt. 20. The MV (mail verify) command is now available to ALL users. A user without system operator access may only view the files which were entered by him. 21. A new BBSEVENT option flag is provided to go along with 'o' (make sure user is offline). The new flag 'h', if present, will hold an event until any user online has logged off. The 'h' flag MUST be used with a RANGE event so that CNet knows when the event is valid and when it expires. For example, ALL 500 ALL 800 -h RUNC pfiles:bbs/xfido will run pfiles:bbs/xfido ONCE during the hours of 5 am until 8 am each day, at the first "idle" opportunity during that time period. To better let you know what CNet is doing concerning the event scheduler, the status window now contains the time remaining until the next event. The value is shown in the bottom right corner of the window. If no event is scheduled, "no event" will be shown. If the time of a scheduled event has passed that has used the "h" option, a "!" will show next to the time in the window. 22. The previously removed Alphabetize (X) command has been re-added to the g/p/files prompt due to popular opinion. 23. A file "bbscolors" now exists to allow you to customize CNet's default display colors. As ports are loaded, CNet will first search for BBSCOLORSx, where x is a port number, to allow you to have different colors for different ports. The file first lists the colors to 2 color mode, then 4, then 8, and finally 16. Each color number has a nybble each for Red, Green, and Blue intensity, in that order. These files are OPTIONAL. If not found, CNet has a built-in default. 24. IMPORTANT! A new conversion program is necessary. User directories are now stored in MAIL:USERS/ instead of in MAIL: directly. If you run a version prior to version 2.15, the program NEWUSERS2 has been updated to take care of this change. If you run version 2.15 or 2.16 (any letter after the numbers) then you MUST run NEWUSERS3 which automatically creates and renames the appropriate directories. 25. Users are now allowed to use "filename" characters in their handles. These were previously restricted. These characters include = " : ; / and *. Also, users are allowed to force any character they wish as uppercase; CNet still requires the first letter of each new word to be capitalized. 26. The XPR ASCII protocol should work fully now ... it may have been the source of some "hang" problems in the recent past. 27. A second "user-questionnaire" file is kept now to hold the responses to the sysop-only questions. The file appears when a sysop uses the FINGER command. The EF command has been changed to allow a user to edit one or the other file, and also gives the option to use the editor, or have the questions asked to him one by one. 28. The final two user system-preference options are completed ... UUCP ID and signatures. Users are given the ability to change their UUCP ID to any legal UUCP formatted name. UUCP will be better (fully) supported in a version of CNet to appear in the near future. User signatures consist of 10 lines of text which are automatically appended to the end of messages as they are saved. Separate signatures exist for mail, fido messages, UUCP messages, and other message base messages. 29. A new "getuser" number 39 has been installed to allow you to get the name of the current user's UUCP directory. Although the port's CURRENT DIRECTORY is set to the user's private directory while he is logged on, you may still require this at some point. 30. The SELECT list and UPLOAD lists are now SEPARATE! This means an upload will no longer destroy the select list. Also, as an added bonus, a user's select list is RETAINED between calls. 31. Bugs dealing with "hanging" during modem resetting may have found and removed. Also, minor bugs dealing with memory usage in the Join command may have been removed. Thanks everyone for your troubleshooting! --- version 2.18 4-May-1992 32. Built-in archive integrity checking. This feature allows CNet to monitor the integrity of files, withhold credits for bad uploads, and to prevent users from downloading files which may not work. A very BIG thank-you to Shawn McNeece for his help in getting this feature of CNet off of the ground! Without his examples and ingenious ideas, such a big feature would be MONTHS away. The file BBSARC has changed format to allow a way to tell CNet how to test for a file's integrity. Please make sure you are using this new format before re-booting. Each BBSARC entry consists of the archive's SUFFIX (with a leading "."). Following this is the EXAMINE/VIEW CONTENTS string. On the next line must be found the archive TEST format string. The last line of an archive entry must contain two numbers, followed by a word (no spaces). These numbers and word tell CNet what to look at in an archive test's output in order to determine whether or not the archive "passed" its test. The first number tells CNet which line of the output to look at, counting backwards from the END of the output. The only valid numbes here are 0, 1, and 2, where 0 is the LAST line, 1 is the 2nd to last line, and 2 is the 3rd to last line. The second number tells CNet which character position to look at in the selected line. The word is what CNet must find at that position in order to call the archive "passed." Note that there are still a maximum of 20 BBSARC entries possible. Using a "-" for the TEST or EXAMINE format string tells CNet that the operation is unavailable. Note that ALL of the elements of an entry are still required in these cases! In the event that both the examine AND test strings are "-", the entry still serves useful for the "allowable uploads" feature as found on the subboard's "EL" screen. Note that the stock BBSARC file is designed to work with the following archive programs (versions of these programs other than as noted may or may not work): Warpck......WarpCheck v1.4 by © Mike Thomas. HSCHK.......High Speed DMS check V4.19 © By Vince Zoom........v5.3 © MXM - Olaf 'Olsen' Barthel LhA.........LhA V1.20 - Copyright 1991,92 Stefan Boberg. Pkax........v1.0 © PKWARE To quickly test/extract ARC files. Zoo.........AmigaZoo V2.1 beta © 1991 Rahul Dhesi & J. Brian Waters unzip.......v4.1 of 5-13-91 © 1989 Samuel H. Smith Unarj.......V0.5 - Copyright © 1991 Peer Hasselmeyer Zip.........V 0.92 - AMIGA version by Ross Martin & Steve Lewis Many (or all) of these are found on the CNet master disk in the workbench/c directory. NOTE that some of these fine utilities may not be "public domain" and if you USE them the authors may require that you send them a nominal licensing fee. In some cases the author will then send you a more powerful "registered" version. CNet will automatically test previously un-tested files during auto-maintenance. If you would like the files tested immediately after a user uploads them (or the sysop adopts them), set the new flag from the subboard's "EL" screen. To manually test or re-test any item, use the new sysop command "TEST" from the subboard prompt. CNet uses the "PIPE:" pseudo-device to accomplish the magic seen with this command. Make sure that you MOUNT PIPE: in your startup- sequence somewhere. If you are using a semi-stock AmigaDOS 2.x startup-sequence, it should be mounted for you already. NOTE that the current version of this and the next feature do NOT operate on DIRECT access subboards. If there is strong desire for this, I may allow this in the future. ALSO NOTE that many of the archive programs do NOT like SPACES in directory names. If you have udbase directories with spaces, please remove them by deleting the subboard(s) (without deleting the files!) and then re-adding them after renaming the drawers on disk. 33. Built-in file transformation utility. This is a rather powerful feature, allowing you to automatically "change" archive formats of new uploads, and/or to modify their contents. Again, thank-you Shawn McNeece for your input, conceptual layout and insight! I hope you enjoy this implementation of your idea. When a user uploads, you have the ability to have CNet "run a script" to make changes to the new file(s). Sysops might find it handy to have these scripts automatically remove other systems' "readme" files and "ZZZ" files from archives, and then to add their own "bbs advertisement." Also, the scripts may even, for example, change all ".ZIP" ".ZOO" ".ARC" files to ".LHA" format for best disk space efficiency. A script's name must be the letter 'x' followed by the three letters of the archive which the script is to act upon. For example, "xzip" or "xarc". When CNet attempts to open a script, the subboard's DATA directory will be searched, and then the "S:" directory. This allows you to have custom scripts for different subboards, and/or one "global" script for each archive type. NOTE: in order to use a script, an archive type must have an entry in BBSARC. There are several EXAMPLE script files in the directory "xscripts" in the CNET directory of the master disk. The files which end with a '2' are examples of scripts which change an archive's format to the 'lha' format. NOTE that if you use these, you must rename them without the '2'. In these example scripts, you will see that a file "S:Z_MC.displayme" is usually added to the archive. You should change this to whatever path/file you wish to add. NOTE that examples were written for use with the archive programs and versions as noted in the archive-testing item. If you write your own scripts, you should know that when CNet executes the script, there are three arguments that are passed to it as follows: execute xext path:file.lha path:file.ext file Where "ext" is the file's extension, ".lha" is your "preferred" format that the script may use to make the change, and "file" is the filename without the path or extension. CNet knows your "preferred" archive format by the BBSTEXT line number 1908. If you would like anything other than .LHA format, you must change this line. Also, as a script is executed, the "current directory" is set to the subboard's DATA directory. This allows you to have custom advertisements for each subboard if you desire to program your script that way. CNet will automatically transform previously un-transformed files during auto-maintenance. If you would like the files transformed immediately after a user uploads them (or the sysop adopts them), set the new flag from the subboard's "EL" screen. To manually transform or re-transform any item, use the new sysop command "TRANSFORM" from the subboard prompt. As an added bonus, the upload-duplicate protection routine has received a modification which prevents a user from uploading a file with ANY three letter suffix once the "preferred" format (line 1908 of BBSTEXT) of that file has been uploaded. Once you have installed this version, you may wish to get your system "up to speed" by manually using the TEST and TRANSFORM commands, (ie, TEST ALL from each subboard) so that amaint will not be bogged down when it runs. Or, simply run amaint from the MAIN prompt. 34. Automatic file adoption from auto-maintenance. To enable this feature, you must set the flag from the subboard's "EL" screen. Files on the drive, but not listed will be added to the list of items. CNet will use the sysop's name as the "uploader's" name. Auto-adopted files will be noted in the amaint log (LA command). 35. New system maintenance utility entitled "missing." This program searches your subboards for posts and files which are listed, but are not on the drive. CNet will notify you of this condition in the amaint log (read using the LA command). In addition, when scanning items, CNet will print a ! before the item's title if there is a problem with the item. --- version 2.18a 5-May-1992 36. This version features the ability to allow a user to select and download 1 file BEYOND the amount of time he actually has available. CNet will, however, cut the user off during a download when his time expires. This allows users to download files which are too long to download in one call, provided they are using a resume-able protocol such as Zmodem. The appropriate warning messages are displayed at the appropriate places. 37. The current version of UNZIP does not print the word "OK" at a consistent character position during an archive test. I have changed the routine to recognize NEGATIVE values for the archive test "character-position" (see previous discussion) -- when a negative number is given, CNet will count back from the end of the line. Note the change in BBSARC for this version. --- version 2.18c 6-May-1992 38. Further testing of the new Test and Transform features showed them to cause problems when the file under scrutiny does not exist (that is, it is "offline"). This is now accounted for. In addition, a check is in place to make sure a transform isn't attempted when the ".LHA" file (or whichever you prefer) already exists. This feature should work for everyone now! 39. Often times, users change their City/State/Country just so that other users using the WHO command will see an ad for their BBS or something. As a sysop, I'd prefer they not do that. Instead of slapping my users on the hand, I have added a new feature which ALLOWS them to have text at the WHO display. This text is called the user's "banner" and is editable from the EP command. Simple, but I think a very needed feature! --- version 2.18g 11-May-1992 40. The VOTE pfile has been changed slightly to allow users with VOTE-ADD access to add their own choices when prompted for a choice for a topic. Also, the name of the contributor of the item is displayed as the item is read and voted upon. 41. CNet now defaults to self-muffling. This means users will not see their own text in the conference, and must use the MUFFLE command if they wish to reverse this. 42. Several smalls "anomalies" were removed, such as MCI commands in a quoted message, the "transform" command failing on directory names longer than 13 characters, new user questions being aborted with too many backspaces, and signature files being used for aliased messages. --- version 2.19 8-June-1992 43. This version features a TOTALLY reformated messaging system. This new system provides optimal combinations of ITEM and MESSAGE separation. Each message is its own file, which makes editing, killing, and searching for individual messages much simpler than the old format. With this new architecture, users are able to not only look for ITEMS written and addressed by them, but also MESSAGES as well! The SCAN and READ commands allow this type of search by use of the "MESS" modifier. SCAN TOME ; list all ITEMS to me SCAN MESS TOME ; list all MESSAGES to me and so on. Other modifiers are new as well, such as "BYME" "UNTIL" and "PREVIEW." PREVIEW controls whether or not during a read NEW if one OLD message is also read. NOTE that BBSMENU aliases RN to contain the PREVIEW modifier. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new set of commands available from the "respond or pass" prompt as well. The only way to Edit and Kill responses is now from THIS PROMPT. Users can choose to have CNet pause between messages or not using the reformatted EP setting. CNet can maintain a large number of items in one subboard by use of a buffering system. The size of this buffer is set in BBSCONFIG. If you preferred the older "all in memory" method, just set this buffer size high enough to cover the maximum number of items you have in any one subboard. The headers have received a "new look" to go along with the new storage method. In addition, longer "short" descriptions are allowed for files. 44. A conversion program is necessary to update the old message format to the new. The program necessary is "NEWBASE" found in the UPDATING directory of the disk 2. This program has been extensively testing, so it should not involve a "trial run" ... but if you are sceptical, the option is there to keep the old files on the drives. 45. YANK is now completely automated, and operates in the BACKGROUND as a separate task. The file "cnet:yy" controls this. Yank as a command is designed to Yank "NEW" messages. See BBSCONFIG for several new variables to control this operation. 46. ANSI users can enjoy a 10 command buffer by using the cursor up and down keys. 47. Subboards and pfiles/gfiles areas can have TIMELOCKS -- a minimum amount of time for a user to be online before being allowed to enter an area. A user privilege flag is provided to override this. 48. You may select a number of lines each user may use in his SIGNATURE files through a variable in the user accounts/access groups. Also, there are a number of different signature file possibilities for real name/handle subboards. 49. Subboards have received several new features. These are enabled using the EL screen's Flags option. Old responses to active items can be deleted at amaint. You can control the use of signature files in a subboard. You may select a subboard to allow Aliases. CNet will allow the use of any handle NOT already in use on the system. System operators, however, do have this option. CNet will remember the last alias that a user used so that it can be brought up again. Sysops/subops can INVITE users to or UNINVITE users from a subboard using the INVITE command. Whether the area is by default invited or not is controlled by a flag. --- version 2.19e 29-June-1992 50. This version corrects ALL reported 2.19 bugs. Thanks everyone for your help! This version also returns to "the old way" of keeping all item headers in memory while using a subboard. This makes commands like Order possible again. Be sure to change your number of items per subboard if necessary in your BBSCONFIG to a value large enough to cover the maximum you have in any subboard. 51. Several cosmetic enhancements were made. Two extra menus exist in terminal mode to allow you to change screen colors, etc. Also, support for MFR and other file requestors has been addressed. The main CNet screens use the DOS 2.0 format structures. Also, the Control Panel now uses a sizing gadget instead of the menu to select size. During inter-user chat, the sysop receives a THIRD color, different from the other two users in chat mode. --- version 2.19j 3-July-1992 52. When editing signature files, users have one extra choice--a "default" file. This allows users to have one signature for EVERYTHING, and then customize individual files as necessary. 53. CNet now keeps separate user VOICE and COMPUTER phone numbers in the user structures. The user status window was re-structured to include this on-line. 54. The privilege flag which controlled the "EU" command has been separated into several flags, allowing you to individually control whethers users may change their Handle, Real name/sex/birthday, voice #, computer #, and address. If you are UPDATING from an earlier version, you should initialize these NEW flag values by editing your access groups and then TRANSPOSE them using the "pfiles:maintenance/transpose" program. 55. The EP option for "private info" has been removed. Instead, users can select whether or not to keep individual variables private by using the EU command. Variables separated are Name, street address, voice #, computer #, and birthdate. The user's city/state/country is not considered confidential, and is shown to all users at the "WHO" command. If there are specific complaints about that policy, I am listening (although, it's been that way forever). NOTE the program "newusers4" (a CLI program) has been provided to automatically set these new variables, as well as the user's VOICE phone number (will be copied from the data phone number). 56. Although primarily written for use by 80 column computers, some work was done to CNet to make things easier on the 40 column dinosaurs. The menus now use the auto-indentation, as do the message headers. The WHO display was given a 40 column alternative. --- version 2.19k 7-July-1992 57. The commands DS, SS, and *C are now available at all command prompts. --- version 2.19m 9-July-1992 58. Two VERY powerful commands were added on this version, available from the Main prompt. TERM Allow a remote user with the proper privilege flag to enter terminal mode on ANOTHER free port. These routines appear to be working 100% ... I even tried file transfers at 2400 baud. They SHOULD work fine at higher speeds. Currently, the only way to EXIT the TermLink mode is to HANG UP. I didn't want to insert any command sequences and take the chance of file transfers, etc. not working. IMPORTANT: the files "BBSPORT" have changed to allow an extra line of initialization for the TermLink mode. MONITOR Allow a remote user with the proper privilege flag to monitor another port. The option will be given whether or not to allow input into the port as well. To exit the monitoring mode, use control-Z, twice. IMPORTANT: the flags which control access to these commands must be edited to allow their use. --- version 2.20 15-July-1992 After successfully beta testing 2.19m, which was not a PUBLIC release, but a test version, 2.20 is being released into the retail store distribution network. Many thanks to the core of die hard CNet fans who have helped spread the word about the BBS to make this exciting move possible. This version also marks the repackaging of CNet AMIGA into the new blue binder, and the publication of the new instruction manual, featuring explanations of the new system features up through version 2.19, and the addition of a Glossary chapter to aid new system users. During the conversion from direct mail sales to store sales, mail order customers may continue to receive 2.20+ with the original spiral bound manual for a short time while we use up our stock on hand. --- version 2.20a 22-July-1992 59. In the past, when you adopted a file already HAVING a short description, the description prompt would be skipped. Now, you are able to edit the existing description before continuing. 60. When using the D command to download from Mail, Gfiles, or the UD/Base, the select list is left un-disturbed, allowing you to download individual files without downloading your entire selected list. 61. During "broadcast to all" olms ( OLM *, or CC *, or INVITE * in Join ), CNet now skips ports from which you are hiding. 62. CNet will test to see if a file exists before it is SELECTED or DOWNLOADED. The user is told the file is OFFLINE if it does not exist. 63. During a batch upload, CNet now checks file sizes to prevent filling a device. In the past, CNet only checked at the BEGINNING of a batch upload. 64. For global commands, such as RA, BA, etc., CNet now completely skips empty subboards, and subboards with no new items. In addition, the command "banner" may be added to such a command to show the entry/exit files for subboards that are entered. If you wish this to be the default, simply edit BBSMENU to include BANNER on the RA/SA/BA lines as follows: RA ~ RG NEW PREVIEW BANNER 65. During a Yank, the resultant file is directly added to a user's select list. This allows the user to see the file using SS without first doing DS. 66. The PortMonitor feature was modified to so that the text sent to the monitoring port is "generic." Previously, an ASCII user monitoring a CBM user would see garbled characters. Note that ANSI will only be sent to the monitoring port if it is also sent to the monitored port. 67. New GETUSERS are: 8 Sysop comment 9 VOICE phone number 10 DATA phone number 38 User's WHO banner --- version 2.20c 27-July-1992 68. This version corrects a couple of minor 2.20 bugs, leaving it in a VERY stable state. This will be the last 2.20 release before work continues on major new features for 2.21 and beyond. 69. At the prompt between subboards during a Global command, you are able to Drop to current subboard. 70. During a Browse command, you are able to Select, Read or Download a RANGE of items. 71. The YANK program now recognizes two new SYSTEXT files, "YANKSTART" and "YANKEND". These files are appended to the beginning and end of a user's YANK file. Also, the Yank bug of allowing a user to enter subboards he does not have access to has been removed! 72. Using a subboard flag (from the EL command), you can select whether or not subboards are by default Joined or Dropped for new users. 73. The .M command in the editor has been changed considerably. When writing Mail, Posting, or Responding, .M will show the file AS IT WILL APPEAR, complete with header, signature, and indentation. 74. The More? prompt has been changed to Y/N/C instead of Y/N/=. For users using multiple BBSTEXT's, the C is taken from line 7 of BBSTEXT. Also, if the current text is non-abortable, a separate line of BBSTEXT is used for the prompt, to leave out the "n" as an option. 75. When listing signature files from the EP command, an asterisk (*) marks files which currently exist. 76. The files BBS and CONTROL contain "$VER:" strings so that the CLI program VERSION can be used to quickly determine the version number of these files. 77. MVERIFY has changed to allow users to EDIT and KILL messages that they have sent. MV may change again to allow MV ? to list who has mail. --- version 2.20e 29-July-1992 78. Bugs with invitation subboards letting anyone in and false flags in mail headers fixed. 79. MV ? will display to the system operator a list of WHO HAS mail. 80. The BBSLIST contains two new commands, allowing users to DOWNLOAD or SELECT the bbslist, in either TEXT or LHARC format. ALSO! IMPORTANT! The BBSLIST files must be moved into a SUBDIRECTORY entitled "BBSLIST" within SYSDATA:. Rename files as follows: SYSDATA:BBSLIST.INDEX to SYSDATA:BBSLIST/INDEX SYSDATA:LIST.#? to SYSDATA:BBSLIST/#? (that is, remove the "bbslist" and "list" prefixes) (#? represents whatever follows the "list.") 81. The VOTE system has received considerable attention. 1st, all vote topics will be lost. The new format offers considerable more flexibility. You may DELETE VOTE:#? on your old vote area. 2nd, there is no longer a need for the VOTE: assignment. CNet will look for vote files within the subdirectory SYSDATA:VOTE. You will want to create this directory there. 3rd, a new privilege flag was added to separate "topic-adding" and "choice-adding" accesses. You will want to examine your access group settings and modify them if necessary. 4th, a new TYPE of voting was added, called "floats." Instead of just picking one option or the other, users are given 100 "floats" which they may distribute across the choices as they desire. This gives "weighting" to the voting. 5th, if PFILES:BBS/VOTE is ran from the SYS.WELCOME file, CNet will prompt the user with un-voted vote items. This has already been done in the SYSTEXT/SYS.WELCOME file on the CNet master disk. 6th, vote topic names may contain any characters necessary. 82. Several files were re-named to better describe their purpose: XX is now XPR-TASK YY is now YANK-TASK xprZmodem*.library is now xprZmodemCNet.library --- version 2.21 7-August-1992 83. This version contains a MAJOR enhancement to an old part of the program. The CNet Visual Data Editor allows system operators full screen editing of user information (EA), access group defaults (EG), and subboard configuration data (EL). The new files "*.vde" in the systext: area contain information concerning the formatting and editing of these structures. From remote, the VDE will be operational for ANSI users only. You will find it almost mandatory to use a high speed modem when using the VDE from remote! When in the VDE, you are free to use the cursor keys to move the lightbar, and then RETURN to select or edit an item. The VDE features a smart save/abort option when you are finished editing. The VDE may be used in the future to edit other structures. Also, the VDE is being considered for a mouse-visual menu system. Support is given to C pfile programmers in the form of a C callback routine (see EMPTY.C) and an example .VDE file creator (see VDE.C). A small amount of security was added simultaneously, prohibiting a user to edit a system operator's account from remote. Also, it is not possible to set the SystemMaintenance privilege flag, or view the password of any user from remote. 84. A new file BBSLOG controls the way that CNet writes to the CallLog. Using the Log_Flags, you are able to monitor certain activities for certain people/access groups. Also, you are able create custom log files for any activity. 85. There are several new privilege flags and user variables. These are: Log Verbosity Flags. Used in conjuction with BBSLOG, these flags determine WHICH user activities are logged to LOG.CALLS and which are not. Daily Pfile Minutes. This controls the number of minutes per 24 hour day that the user may spend executing pfiles. NOTE that each pfile in the PFILES area now has a flag in its configuration controlling whether or not its time CONTRIBUTES to the user's pfile usage time, so you may have to use the AT command to set this on certain pfiles. Set this number to 999 for unlimited pfile usage. Send log to user. Given an account number, this feature will automatically place a copy of the user's call log activity in the account number's mailbox. Excellent for monitoring the activity of only certain users! Alarm sysop at logon. This option causes a SOUND file to be played when the user logs on. The SOUND file is playing via a BBSTEXT line, and may be changed to any other IFF sound file you wish. Open screen at logon. When the user logs on, the port's screen will automatically open. When he logs off, the port's screen will then close. NOTE that if you close/open the screen manually once CNet has already opened it, the screen will not close when the user logs off. Four user privileges have received "tri-state" logic. The flags "use alias", "delete own items", "write anonymously", and "use private messages" for the subboards now have THREE possible values: always NO, always YES, and FOLLOW SUBBOARD DEFAULT. Where necessary, flags were added to the subboard configuration screens to set the defaults. NOTE, because of these changes, you will likely want to use the EG command to update your access group configurations, then the TRANSPOSE pfile to make the changes to your user accounts. 86. The TERMLINK feature now has an exit method. While at the IDLE mode of the remote modem, ^Z^Z should return you to the Main prompt. --- version 2.25 13-August-1992 87. This version features a major enhancement to the base/udbase areas of the system. All subdirectory information for ALL subboards is now stored IN MEMORY instead of several small "dir." files. This makes entering and traversing the base/udbase areas MUCH faster. "Numbering" the subboards was a necessary step toward QWK mail reading and other similar features. If you run a multi-line system, the subboard data is SHARED between the ports. On the average multi-line system, this will save considerable memory. The update program UP225 will create the new "sysdata:subboards" file for you. This update program must be ran from the CLI while CNet is NOT running! In addition, all of a user's BaseUser structures are kept in memory during his call, and re-saved all at once when he logs on. Together with the resident subboard structures, these two changes will save many THOUSANDS of disk I/O calls in the average day for the average BBS! The price to pay is that the users' existing base-user structures are LOST. When he logs onto the 2.25 system for the first time, all "new" items will be forgotten. Several "side-effect" features resulted from this work. For instance, when performing a List, the "+" and "-" notation for Joined and Dropped subboards are there ALL OF THE TIME, not just after the sub was entered. Also, when the sub contatins new messages, the "+" changes to a "*". Another example, when you MOVE an item, it's now possible to move between the BASE and UDBASE. Also, it's now possible to DROP direct-exchange subboards. 88. The "scan for new" routines at logon have been changed drastically. The system now VERY QUICKLY is able to determine WHERE and WHAT files are new, and is able to "browse" them in the standard CNet way, allowing downloading, selection, etc. Following the new files scan, CNet prompts the user with the number of subboards containing new messages, and offers to lauch the Yank task at that point. This procedure is repeatable from the Main prompt with the use of the NS command. 89. When a user "addresses" a message in a public subboard, a copy of that message is automatically sent to the addressee's mailbox, with a note attached stating which subboard the original appears in. In addition, when a reply is made, the option is given to place the reply in the public base as a response to the original item. This is the first step in the "all-user-mail-in-one-place" format. Next ... netmail! --- version 2.25c 17-August-1992 90. The new-scan at logon was expanded to allow the user to Scan the bases with new items, Browse them, Read them, or launch the Yank process. NOTE: As part of the conversion to 2.25c (even if you already run 2.25a) you should run AMAINT to correctly set the subboard-new dates. 91. New subboard flags were added to (1) allow you to disable the "carbon copy" of addressed messages to user mail boxes (2) force all messages and uploads to be private for moderated subboards, and (3) set which BBSARC types will be transformed. If you already run 2.25a, you will want to EL subboards as necessary to set these new flags. 92. Handles and address information is once again forced into an upper/lower case format. If a user needs special attention, the sysop is able to use the EA command to set these data to use any characters necessary. --- version 2.26 18-August-1992 93. NOTE: Although a user may not have access to a SUBDIRECTORY of subboards, it is still necessary to set the access group and flag settings within the subboards themselves to prevent access during global commands such as the Scan for New at logon. 94. This version has received considerable attention to the VISUAL EDITOR. It is now possible to do all popular line-editor commands DIRECTLY from the visual editor without ever leaving it! This includes Quoting, Preview (MCI READ), Search, Abort, Save, Help, New, etc. IN ADDITION, the editor features cut & paste abilities. --- version 2.27 25-August-1992 95. This version has received a complete re-do of the control panel intuition. Gadgets have been re-drawn and added. Two new windows are available from the control panel. After highlighting a port with a user on-line, the USERINFO gadget will display a window of user stats. The SYSINFO gadget will display the activity graph, SAM variables, and other system variables. Resetting the graph and period is now done directly from this new window's menu. It is now possible to send OLM's directly from the control panel. Highlight a port to send only to a specific port. The close-window gadget now attempts to QUIT CNet (with a requestor) instead of iconifying. NOTE: because of new stored variables, you must delete BBSCONTROL before running this version. 96. Because all of the useful information like SAM and system activity are available right from the control panel, the waiting for call screen was changed to display the TIME in 125 point TIMES. For everyone who REMEMBERS the 64 and 128 versions ... THAT'S RIGHT! The "big clock" is BACK! 97. When a port's screen is open, you will notice two new menu items. Just below the Printer option is Capture, which allows you to directly save all screen output to a temp file, which may then be Printed, or Saved, or Appended to another file. You must have DOS 2.0 to use the CAPTURE option. The Capture is automatically CLOSED when a user logs off. On the SCREEN menu, a new option "workbench" appears. This allows you to toggle back and forth between a custom screen and a console device window on the workbench screen. When you "save config" from the control panel, the positions, sizes, and zoom sizes of all windows are remembered. 98. If you run FIDO, you must delete the "max items" lines from your BBSFIDO files (if you run the 2.27 versions of the FIDO programs!) --- version 2.27a 27-August-1992 99. Mainly bug fixes. Control panel accounts for default screen font. Adding a subboard once again takes an argument (optionally). --- version 2.27c 28-August-1992 100. The USER LIST program now uses a two-line output to provide more information. User's data AND voice phone numbers, and City/State are printable/searchable. 101. The VOTE program has been ONCE AGAIN changed. When the FLOAT votes were originally added, some inefficiency was also added for "regular" votes. This version fixes that program, making the talley once again very quick for "regular" votes. Float votes will still take a few seconds to compute the talley. It is now possible to have 50 vote topics, each with 26 choices. NOTE: It is necessary to re-start voting topics to run this version. DELETE SYSDATA:VOTE/#? ALL --- version 2.27e 29-August-1992 102. VERY MINOR cosmetic changes made. This will be the publically released version. --- version 2.28 1-September-1992 103. An internal change was made to the "SelectType" structure, which requires that users' "select lists" be re-started. When they log on to 2.28, they will have no files from 2.27 in their select buffers. 104. This version has received changes to the JoinLink system. The new system allows you to view who's on ALL linked nodes and in which rooms by using the /L command. The WHISPER and NOISE functions have been made more intelligent in that they will recognize ambiguous names. It is only necessary to enter enough characters in a person's name to uniquely identify them. JoinLink will find a match from ANY node, and will properly handle WHISPERS and NOISES to users on ANY of the nodes. To review the operation of JoinLink... Each of the nodes (CNet systems) that decide to form a JoinLink network must use one port to "link" to the other systems. Linear and star networks will work, but a RING network (loop) may confuse the system, and should not be attempted. For star networks, one port must be used for EACH network link made from your system. BEFORE CONNECTING, each node must choose a LINKID, different from the others in the network. The number may be from 1-99. This limits the number of nodes in the network to 99. Then, each system operator should create a PERMANENT conference room (use /PER command and then possibly /SAVE), then use the /XR command to set the LINKID to the one he has chosen. The "channel" settings in the conference rooms allow you to share more than one conference room on the network. For networks sharing just ONE conference room, the channel should be 0. Valid channel numbers are 0-23. NOW, the system operators CONNECT the network by entering terminal mode. For each link, one sysop calls the other. When both are connected, each uses the pull-down menu option JoinLink. Once all links are established, the network is in place. When any link is broken, JoinLink will automatically ROSTER the entire remaining network to determine who's remaining, to attempt to keep the /L command accurate. IN CASE a system operator feels the /L command to be inaccurate, a new command /VERIFY has been added to cause the network to perform the ROSTER function. NOTE: the reason it is possible to enter different LINKID's in the /XR command than are used in JOIN-LINK is because it is POSSIBLE to have conference rooms on your system from DIFFERENT networks! This MAY be pushing the architecture of the network, so you are advised to proceed with caution if attempting this. LINKID's must NOT be repeated, even between separate networks. NOTE: BBSCONFIG must hold the MAXIMUM LINKID used on the ENTIRE NETWORK. This allocates memory for the network roster. 105. This version features updates to the ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. The format of BBSCHARGES has been completely altered. If you use the accounting system, you need to make copies and modify the NEW BBSCHARGES as necessary. It is now possible to charge for time at specific SUBBOARD prompts, as well as specific GFILE/PFILE prompts. A new setting from the EL screen was added to set the BBSCHARGES rate used. As with other "rate" settings, a value of 0 means the area is FREE. The GFILES/PFILES areas use the existing settings from the EL GFILES/PFILES EL screens. When a user's balance runs out, it is possible to select a "new" access group for the user. This is done using the second line in a BBSCHARGES file. 106. DIRECT EXCHANGE subboards have received some attention. A new command "CD" was added to view/change the working directory. If the directory to which the exchange is assigned has subdirectories, users will be able to enter them at will. It is NEVER possible to "CD /" higher up into the directory structure. In addition, a new menu "sys.menu.direct" is offered to show users only those commands which are available in a direct exchange environment. --- version 2.30 12-September-1992 107. QWK off-line reader support. The YANK command will give the option of using either QWK or standard ASCII format. QWK is an off-line reader format supported by several programs such as A-Read, Q-Blue, and others. Off-line readers allow you to easily read and reply to messages OFFLINE. A new "user preference" was added to the EP command to select the compression program used for message bundling (yank command). Also, specification of the end-of-line sequence is offered here. For QWK reply packets, you should set up a subboard with an appropriate title such as "UPLOAD QWK REPLIES HERE." This sub should be made a direct exchange subboard, and have the new EL flag "QWK reply subboard" set. CNet automatically intercepts files uploaded to such a subboard, unpacks them, and posts the users' messages. When replying, CNet will recognize the "private" flag as being set if the user has access to leave private messages in the subboard. Also, if the user changes his name to "anonymous" when replying, CNet will recognize this. Alias handles are currently NOT supported. A new file "BBSQWK" contains information what you need to edit. Its format is: Future World! <-- Your system's name Canton, MI <-- location 313-981-1524 <-- phone number Ken Pletzer, Sysop <-- Sysop's name 1,BBSID <-- CNet Serial number and 1-8 character system identifier 108. FIDO NetMail BUILT-IN and available directly from the MAIL command. When sending mail using the "MAIL" or "MS" commands, CNet will recognize the special character "@". This symbol separates the recipient's name from the destination system address. A valid FIDONET address is given by the format: ZONE:NET/NODE.POINT Entering the ZONE and POINT values are OPTIONAL. The ZONE is assumed to be equal to YOUR OWN zone, and the POINT is assumed to be equal to 0 unless otherwise specified. If the address is missing, or of a wrong format, CNet will prompt for the address. Two levels of NETMAIL access are possible. The 1st level allows the user to USE NETMAIL, provided a destination system is chosen from a sysop-supplied LIST of systems. This list is stored in the new file SYSTEXT:SYS.FIDOSITES. You may edit this, following the given format. The 2nd level lifts this restriction, allowing the user to enter ANY netmail address. Further expansion for multi- nets and traplist.library support is forthcoming. One additional user-privilege flag was added to allow the use of FILE REQUESTS (FREQ) and FILE SENDS. If the user does NOT specify a recipient for his mail, CNet will append to the outbound .FLO or .REQ file. If the user DOES specify a recipient for his mail, CNet will prompt to set the FIDONET file send or file request flags. As with echomail, NETMAIL is actually exported when the XFIDO program is executed. With this feature, the "NMAIL" program has been rendered obsolete, and will no longer be supported. --- version 2.31 26-September-1992 109. The BBSLIST program was updated to include SEARCH ability. Users can select up to 5 keywords to search for in systems' names, nations, locations or descriptions. CNet will find a match if any one of the keywords match for each search item for which keywords were entered. 110. The AREXX interface received many new commands. Following is a run-down: CALLEDITOR {s} This invokes the user's default editor. The current contents of the editor's buffer are loaded, and the results are re-saved. "1" is returned if the temp buffer is not empty ("0" otherwise). CHANGEWHAT {s} Set the user's COMMAND field in WHO displays and the control panel. This feature may not yet be implemented. The command is added for upward compatibility. CHANGEWHERE {s} Set the user's ACTION field in WHO displays and the control panel. RESULT will be set to the OLD value of the field. CLEAREDITOR Clears the contents of the editor temp file. Use this before STARTEDITOR if you do not use LOADEDITOR. CLOSEDISPLAY Close the port screen or workbench window. FEEDBACK This performs the standard FEEDBACK command, allowing the user to leave a message to the sysops. FINDACCOUNT {s} This function accepts either an account number of a handle. It performs the familiar handle-search if necessary. The account number is returned if there is no problem. 0 is returned otherwise. GETSCRATCH {s} Operates like GETUSER, but reads user data from the internal "scratch" account structure. With LOADSCRATCH, this is useful for examining user's accounts other than the current user's. LOADEDITOR {s} This will read the filename given by {s} into the editor temp buffer. LOADSCRATCH {s} This command should be performed before GETSCRATCH's. The argument must be a valid account number. RESULT will carry a "1" if everything was loaded OK, "0" otherwise. OPENDISPLAY Attempt to open the port's screen or workbench window. It may take a few seconds for the display to open. SAVEEDITOR {s} Write the contents of the editor temp buffer to the file specified by {s}. If the file {s} already exists, it will be overwritten. RESULT will carry a "1" if everything was written OK, "0" otherwise. SETMAILSUBJ {s} This command should be performed before EACH WRITEMAIL in order to set the SUBJECT of the mail about to be sent. SETMINFREE {s} This command tells CNet when to STOP an upload-in-progress due to critical disk space. {s} should be the lowest free- BYTES on the hard drive. SETPROTOCOL {s} This command should be used before an XUP or XDN. {s} should be a SINGLE character, matching a character in BBSPROTO to designate a specific protocol. If you wish to allow the user to choose his own protocol, send {s} as a NULL string. XDN {s} This command has been CHANGED so that it now performs an XPR file download of the specified file {s}. The command SETPROTOCOL must be used first. XUP {s} This command has also changed with XDOWN in the same way. If the transfer is a batch protocol, it is OK to simply pass the PATH here. WRITEMAIL {s} Write the contents of the editor temp buffer to the user's mailbox specified by {s}. {s} must be a valid account number. RESULT will carry a "1" if everything was sent OK, "0" otherwise. 111. The C program interface received XPR upload/download function callbacks, operating identically to the AREXX counterparts. Please consult the PROGRAMMING directory on disk 2 for details. 112. Several new BBSEVENT commands were added. They are as follows: command arguments description ------- --------- ----------- SYSOPIN 0 or 1 This command, together with the next three, control the pull-down menu settings available from the CONTROL panel. This one controls whether or not the system operator is avaiable for chat (C). NONEW 0 or 1 Whether or not to accept new users (NEW). NOUD 0 or 1 Whether or not to allow users into the upload/download base (U). NOPFILES 0 or 1 Whether or not to allow users into the pfiles base (P). RUND {path} To complete the set of RUN commands, RUND is added to the existing RUNA and RUNC. RUND will execute a DOS program, channeling I/O to the current port. It is OK to include arguments for the file following the filename. 113. If a user was reading his mail, and the system went down unexpectedly, previous versions of CNet would LOSE the entire mail file being read. This version will first check to see if a mail-read temp file exists before reading from the regular mail file. 114. The NewScan at logon has been changed to more fully separate searches for new files versus messages. The browse for new files will still quickly locate all files uploaded SINCE YOUR LAST CALL. The read/yank/browse/scan for new messages will find all new POSTS and RESPONSES (including responses to files) since last SUBBOARD VISIT. This scan will NO LONGER locate "new files." This prevents the duplication of files problem, and will make it easier for sysops to maintain more separate FILES versus MESSAGE areas. As a bonus, if you are using a QWK mail reader, CNet WILL assemble the list of new uploads into the QWK file "newfiles.dat" which some readers will allow you to read. The standard YANK and YG commands (from subboard prompts) will still pull files as well as messages. 115. For QWK bundling, CNet will recognize two new files, SYSTEXT:qwkstart and SYSTEXT:qwkend, which will be bundled with a QWK packet to be read to the user as the HELLO and GOODBYE files. --- version 2.35 3 October 1992 116. Paragon door support. If you have any C "doors" from these programs, CNet is now able to interpret them. When adding a pfile to a Pfiles list, select X as its type. 117. The Z and ZG search commands have been moved to an external program (actually, they now use YANK-TASK). This removes the long delays the user once had to endure while waiting for the system to search possibly thousands of messages. Just as when yanking messages, the system will OLM the user when the search is complete. Yank-task will "mark" matching messages. A new command "RM" was added to allow users to read their marked messages. In addition to "keywords" for a search, users may specify "filters." Filters are words/phrases that PREVENT a message from being marked. The Z command remains at the "respond or pass" prompt, working just as it had before. This allows users to quickly search THAT ONE POST using the old method. 118. CNet now maintains a new format for the old "bbs.alpha" (alpha ordering of users by handle). Now, this primary key information is actually sotred in MEMORY (as it should be), and handle searches are now BLITZ fast. No more waiting several seconds on large systems just to have the system tell you an account you are mailing is not there. You must set the maximum number of user accounts possible from the BBSCONFIG file. In the past, CNet was internally limited to 2000 accounts. This limit has been lifted, and now CNet allows more than 32000 accounts. Use the new "pointers" C pfile to create the new file "bbs.ukeys." You may then delete bbs.alpha, as it will no longer be used. Plans exist for adding other keys to this file ... possibly real name, and data phone number. This would allow FAST ifido operation, and FAST checks for use of duplicate phone numbers. 119. The "Set keywords/filters/subboards?" prompt from the NewScan at logon's Yank option is now complete! After you select Yank from the NewScan prompt, answering YES to the above question will take you to ANOTHER prompt, allowing you to set keywords/filters (which operate the SAME as when doing a global search), to set which subboards these keywords/filters will be used on, and to set which subboards will actually be yanked. A menu "sys.menu.yank" exists for this prompt, and there are additions to BBSMENU. 120. Additional AREXX commands, to conform to ABBEREXX standard. BBSIDENTIFY {arg} {arg} returns ABBEREXX : "1.0" BBS : "2.35" or current CNet version EMULATION : "ASCII" or "ANSI" NAME : Your BBS's name (bbstext line 9) SYSOP : Sysop's name (bbstext line 10) TERM : USER : "" "" is returned as GUEST for new users, MEMBER for other users, SYSOP for account #1, CO-SYSOP for any other account with maintenance access. CHECKABORT Returns 1 if user has pressed Control-C or SPACEBAR, 0 otherwise. You should call this AFTER a line of output has occurred. Each time something is printed, this is reset. CLS Sends the screen-clear code. GETCHAR Already supported by CNet. HANGUP Same as CNet's DROPCARRIER IREADY Same as CNet's CHECKIO. MAYGETCHAR Returns the waiting-input character, or "NOCHAR" if the input buffer is empty. NEWLINE Sends the newline code. PRINT {arg} Same as CNet's TRANSMIT. PROMPT {arg} '""' is the maximum number of characters to input. {arg} is one of: NORMAL HIDE : password input YESNO : Yes/No, Yes is default NOYES : Yes/No, No is default must be surrounded by double quotes, and then single quotes, so that AREXX will actually send the quotes to CNet. SEND {arg} Sends the given string without translation of any kind. (no MCI, etc). SENDFILE {arg} Same as CNet's SENDFILE. SETNODELOCATION {arg} Same as CNet's NEW command CHANGEWHERE. SYSOPLOG {arg} Samge as CNet's LOGENTRY. The ABBEREXX standard supports three variables, TIMEONLINE, CARRIER, and TIMELEFT. At this time, I have not located the correct procedure for adding external variables to an AREXX command file. 121. When adding a subboard (AL), an option is given to copy the defaults from any other physical subboard number. To aid this, physical subboard numbers are displayed during EL. 122. FidoNet I/O may be directed to any logical device now (was hard-wired to MAIL: in the past). The "net path" is editable from the EL display. Examples are MAIL: /* the default */ MAIL:FIDO/ /* for more organization */ RAM: /* if you have the ram */ If you use RAM:, you should MAKEDIR the appropriate directories somewhere in your cnet-startup file. --- version 2.36 7-October-1992 123. Commenting the BADNAMES and BADNUMBERS files is now allowed. Begin any line with a semicolon (;). 124. Amaint now SUMMARIZES subboard message kills. This should shorten logs for people with a lot of activity. IFIDO/XFIDO now summarize THEIR activity, which is placed in LOG.MAINT, no longer a separate file. 125. When using the MOVE command in a subboard, option is now given to NOT remove the original (in effect, a COPY option to go along with MOVE). 126. Using a BBSMENU entry "NSAL," the "scan for new" at logon is now performed AFTER the user's normal logon-macro. 127. BBSCONFIG has been changed CONSIDERABLY to offer consolidation of many files. The files BBSQWK and BBSFIDO no longer exist. All of the necessary information is right in BBSCONFIG. Also, each subboard's EL screen allows selection of a network from the BBSCONFIG file. --- version 2.37 10-October-1992 128. When using the DS command, it is possible to remove RANGES of files. Also, files removed here will "re-appear" after the download is complete. This allows downloading PORTIONS of the select buffer at a time! 129. The EA command allows editing of several more user preferences. 130. The Z and ZG commands allow you to mark messages, ADDING to your PREVIOUS marked list. NOTE: Previous versions may have left a file "_marked0" in users' directories, causing problem with RM. This file be deleted after the first use of RM. 131. It is possible to insert MCI into GFILES/PFILES descriptions. This should add to their flexibility! --- version 2.38 10-October-1992 132. Line 9 of BBSTEXT contains the default logon-MACRO for new users. By default, this will contain the NSAL (new scan at logon) command. This now allows users to select whether or not they even WANT the NSAL as part of their logon procedure, and if they do, whether to do it BEFORE or AFTER other macro commands. You may wish to leave NEWS for existing users stating that if they'd still like the automatic NSAL, they need to add this to their logon macros. 133. The L! command in the pfiles/gfiles has been modified to display ALL known information about the list. 134. This version features better organization of its text files. Within the SYSTEXT: directory, there are now HELP, MENU, NEW, and VDE subdirectories. SYSDATA: must contain one new subdirectory entitled LOG. Also, several files within SYSTEXT: have been renamed as follows (note that "passwords" has moved to sysdata:): Old name New name ----------------------- ----------------- systext:sys.conf.noises systext:noises systext:sys.passwords sysdata:passwords systext:sys.new user systext:sys.nuser 135. Better organization is in place for systems using multiple BBSTEXT/BBSMENU files. When CNet attempts to display a file from the SYSTEXT: directory, the following search chain is followed until a file is found: ex#1: systext:menu/main ex#2: systext:sys.start ------------------------ ------------------------ systext:x1/menu/tt4.main systext:x1/tt4.start systext:x1/menu/main systext:x1/sys.start systext:menu/tt4.main systext:tt4.start systext:menu/main systext:sys.start There are three things to know: 1. CNet checks subdirectories "systext:xX" where X is the BBSMENU/BBSTEXT number. If the appropriate file is not found, systext: is checked as normal. You may copy NONE, ANY, or ALL of the systext: directory into an xX subdirectory. If a file is not found, CNet will search the standard systext: directory. 2. As with all previous versions, CNet will search for the "ttX." prefix in place of the "sys." prefix for alternate terminal types (ANSI, IBM, etc). If the file doesn't HAVE "sys." as part of its title, CNet will still search for the "ttX." prefix file (tt4.menu and menu above). 3. It is possible to have alternate text files in other parts of the system, such as entry/exit files, or pfiles. Given a filename, CNet will search for an "xX" directory before searching for the actual filename. ex#3: base0:games/data/sys.entry --------------------------------- base0:games/data/x1/tt4.entry base0:games/data/x1/sys.entry base0:games/data/tt4.entry base0:games/data/sys.entry 136. More good news for systems running multiple BBSMENU/BBSTEXT files. CNet now loads all BBEMENU/BBSTEXT files at load-time. If you have more ports that you do text sets, this will save you a considerable amount of RAM. When a user logs on, or switches text sets, there is no longer a pause as a new bbstext/bbsmenu is read from disk. 137. More organization is in place for the pfiles/gfiles/news areas. Each of these areas, and each of the subdirectories you have in these areas must now contain a new subdirectory entitled "DATA". Into these new directories, you must rename the files _Items2, sys.entry, sys.exit, and _dirinfo (if they exist). Old name New name ---------------- ------------------ pfiles:_Items2 pfiles:data/_Items2 pfiles:_dirinfo pfiles:data/_dirinfo pfiles:_sys.exit pfiles:data/sys.exit pfiles:_sys.start pfiles:data/sys.start pfiles:maintenance/_Items2 pfiles:maintenance/data/_Items2 ...repeat for gfiles:, news: ...their subdirectories also 138. For BASE and UDBASE areas, "subdirectories" and "direct exhange" subboards now must their own subdirectory in the appropriate BASE0: or UDBASE0: partition. Previously, ony "real" subboards needed to have unique directories. Within these new directories will be placed the entry and exit files. For example, if you have a subdirectory called "Amiga subboards" (which might contain several subboards), and you have given it the unique dirname of "amiga" ... Old name New name --------------------- ------------------ base0:sys.exit.amiga base0:amiga/sys.exit base0:sys.entry.amiga base0:amiga/sys.entry This also applies to the BASE and UDBASE subdirectories themselves.. Their unique dirname is always "main"... base0:sys.exit.main base0:main/sys.exit base0:sys.entry.main base0:main/sys.entry Because in previous versions, direct exchange subboards did not HAVE unique-dirnames set when they were created, you should use the EL command to give all direct exchange subboards a name. --- version 2.40 25-October-1992 139. System configuration is now performed by a new executable entitled "CONFIG". The following files are now obsolete, and should be deleted: BBSED, BBSPROTO, BBSCONFIG, BBSARC. The following files have changed format, and should be deleted: BBSPORT#?, BBSEVENT#?. For convenience in re-configuration, it might be wise to print these first. The file "bbsconfig3" is a default configuration in the new format. After copying this file to your CNET: area, you may then use CONFIG to make changes. When editing/adding archivers, you should leave lines BLANK if they are not used. Do not use "-". 140. This version REQUIRES DOS 2.04 (V37) or higher to operate properly. Many changes will be made to CNet in the near future to take advantage of more of the V37 power. --- version 2.40e 30-October-1992 141. This version AGAIN has changes to the BBSCONFIG files. The file BBSCONFIG3 should be deleted, and re-copied and re-configured from the master. The following files are obsolete, and may be deleted: bbscolors, bbslog. The following files have changed format, and should be deleted before running CONFIG: bbscharges#? You may wish to PRINT these files first! The CONFIG program takes care of even MORE configuration. 142. CNet's screens are now PUBLIC screens, with names CNETSCREENx, where x is the port number. CNet is now compiled with the version 37.xx headers and amiga.lib. 143. Once again, the CLOSE gadget on the CONTROL panel is for iconifying the window. The CLOSE gadget on the ICON is still for QUIT requesting. --- version 2.41 8-November-1992 This version is being released publically to replace version 2.40e, as there were a couple of minor bugs in 2.40e. After this version, all versions until 2.50 are BETA TEST ONLY. Do not download or run such intermediate versions, as you may experience unexpected results. Several NEW features DID make there may into this version, however: 144. Two new AREXX commands are available ... PUTSCRATCH and SAVESCRATCH. This brings the ability for AREXX program to modify user data full circle. LOADSCRATCH and GETSCRATCH were previously supported (see above). The new commands PUTSCRATCH and SAVESCRATCH actually allow modification and saving of altered user data. PUTSCRATCH takes an argument of the same form as GETSCRATCH (note, however, that you should not use the 7 digit format with put/get scratch, only the numbers 1-41. SAVESCRATCH takes the same type of argument as LOADSCRATCH, that is, an account number. 145. The "sysdata:passwords" file has changed format, and should be deleted. The 2.41 version of "setpass" should then be used to create a new passwords file. All passwords here are now optional. Simply press RETURN to specicy NO password is required. All keywords are now optional. Simply press RETURN if you do not wish a password to be encoded with a keyword. Two NEW passwords are possible ... FULL REMOTE MAINTENANCE, which allows editing of other users' passwords from remote, and NEW USER PASSWORD, which can limit new users on your system to only those that know this password(/keyword). 146. Popular demand has called for a change to the format of BBSEVENT files so that changes may be made from the CLI. I have complied with these requests. The BBSEVENTx files have ONCE AGAIN CHANGED FORMAT and should be DELETED. The new format will resemble the old from the CLI (like v2.30), except the command NAME must instead be a number. For the complete list of command numbers, use CONFIG's "EVENTS..." editor. --- version 2.42 20-November-1992 Well, I lied. This version too will likely be released publically to correct bugs with 2.41. This version also contains several NEW features: 147. CNet screens are opened as the default system screen size. This allows use of productivity mode, PAL interlace, and others. CNet will allow full use of the screen in the vertical direction. The visual editor now allows the use of ANY height screen. The only PROBLEM with this is that an accurate display on the console will not be possible unless the user is using the same screen height as the console. CNet now defaults to a "local mode" screen configuration. This allows you to use ANY screen size in local mode, and still benefit from the MORE command and VISUAL EDITOR. The "screen height" setting in EP is overridden in local mode. This version does not take full advantage of any extra horizontal space. I could not decide whether or not it would be wise to allow "82 column" editor mode and the like. 148. The CONTROL program will not run if the current stack size is less than 40000. This should save some headaches in the future! 149. A new VOTE command "NEW" has been added to allow users to vote on all NEW vote topics at once. This command is automatically executed when the user enters VOTE from the sys.welcome file. 150. The transformation script system has changed dramatically. Virtually ANYTHING is possible now! The correct format for a script file title is now "xold2new" where "old" is the old suffix, and "new" is the desired suffix. EACH SUBBOARD now has a "preferred" archive type selected from the EL screen. You will want to set this now in the subboards you currently transform files in. This allows you to have subboards catering to different user needs. In addition to the "preferred" archive type, CNet will also check for "special" transformation scripts if the "preferred" ones are not found. After searching for 4 "xold" scripts, CNet will then check the same places for an "xany" script. If the file doesn't HAVE a 2-5 character suffix, CNet will skip immediately to the "xany" scripts. Following is the complete search sequence: udbase0:subname/data/xold2new s:xold2new s:xold2old udbase0:subname/data/xold2#? udbase0:subname/data/xany2new s:xany2new s:xany2old udbase0:subname/data/xany2#? The #? pattern search allows you to transform ANY format to any OTHER format in ANY particular subboard. If you have just 1 subboard which requires transformation of all ".GIF" files to ".IFF" ... this is now possible, while retaining the transformation of other file types to the "preferred" format. Note the "xold2old" format which allows scripts to simply add/ remove banner files, etc. --- version 2.42a 24-November-1992 151. New GETUSERS are: 13 # of mail items waiting 14 # of new mail items waiting 29 Default protocol (for user online) 30 Total uploaded kbytes (for user online) 31 Total uploaded files (" for all following) 32 Total downloaded kbytes 33 Total downloaded files 34 File credits 35 Byte credits 36 Total public messages 37 Total private messages 42 Bytes uploaded today 43 Bytes downloaded today 44 Files uploaded today 45 Files downloaded today 152. The AREXX command "ADDTIME" now affects not only the time for the current call, but time for the entire day. For example, if a user is configured for 120 minutes per day, and ADDTIME -10 is executed to his account, not only does he receive 10 less minutes for the current call, but the total maximum time for the day is lowered to 110 minutes. 153. The Hide/Muffle commands have been reconsidered. Previously, Hidden users were still able to send and receive OLM's. To completely stop inter-user communication they had to Muffle as well. Now, when a user is hidden, they are COMPLETELY invisible to the other port(s). Muffling remains as a quick way to shut someone up while remaining visible to that person. The WHO command now displays the hidden/muffled status so that users better know what's going on when the system refuses an OLM, muffle, or hide command. The JOIN conference now strictly conforms to the following: When a user enters a room, he becomes visible to all of its occupants. That is, any "hidden" status is temporarily gone. The exceptions are conference-controllers, who may move between rooms and monitor un-detected, and room owners, who may hide from other users IN HIS OWN ROOM only. The /LIST command tells of hidden/muffled satus. Users may muffle other users, except conference-controllers and room owners. 154. The SINCE and UNTIL commands when used with the READ command now take arguments of NEGATIVE OFFSETS as well. READ SINCE 20 ; read all items posted since 20th of this month READ SINCE -2 ; read all items posted since 2 days ago 155. GET and PUT commands are available from the visual editor ... control-X G and control-X P. --- version 2.51 4-January-1993 156. Maintenance commands "DD" and "*D" are available to download or select, respectively, from any path/filename on the system. From remote, users must be validated to have "full" maintenance access, if such a password was made necessary. 157. A new menu systext:menu/browse is available from the Browse prompt 158. The "old" Z/ZG text search commands are back! An option is given to "mark messages using a background task" ... if the user selects YES to this question, yank-task is used, and RM is used to read marked messages. 159. When entering a short description for an upload, the user is given an input space which reflects the way the output will look when it is displayed during the SCAN command. This allows users to "align" text in a WhatYouSeeIsWhatYouGet manner. There is one way to "fool" this system, and that is to word wrap, and then to shorten the word that was just wrapped. In actual output, the shorter word will appear on the previous line. 160. "Extended" (8th bit and international) characters are available for use in the editor (as was before), but now also for titles, OLM's, and short descriptions. If a sysop sees need to insert these characters into users' handles/names/etc, this can now be done with the Visual Data Editor (EA/EG/EL commands). 161. The message base storage system has COMPLETELY CHANGED. All item text for a subboard is stored in ONE file, "_Text". Other files (_Message3, _Items3, _Headers3, _Free, _Killed) are used to index into the text file. This method conserves disk space and backup-time. A conversion program UP250 has been provided to convert a version 2.25-2.42 system to the new 2.50 format. The conversion program has been tested, so if you are short on hard disk space, it should be SAFE to select the option to "kill old files" as you go. The conversion program should also be used to delete obsolete user data files: _buser, _select. The conversion program may safely be re-run if the conversion does not operate correctly, as all data files between versions have different names. A feature of this new system is the acknowledgement of "received" messages in the message base. When the "addressee" of a message has read that message, the word "received" will appear alongside his name when the message is read any time after that. 162. Two new "limits" are available from the CONFIG program's LIMIT screen. The first allows a maximum number of logon attempts to be specified. Previously, the "built-in" value was 6. The second allows a maximum logon time to be specified (time which a user has to successfully logon before being logged off). Previously, the built-in value was 20 (this value is given in TENTHS of minutes). If you use an old BBSCONFIG3 configuration, you may see "0" for these values. In such a case, CNet will default to the values given above. 163. The "autocallback@logon" variable is now tri-state. You can set this to No, Yes, or Opt. In the "opt" setting, the user will be prompted with an optional call-back. All accounts for which this feature was previously used should now be re-edited or transposed. 164. The MCI (Message Command Interpreter) system has been completely re-worked. There are many, MANY new features and commands. For a complete list of the NEW system, type HELP MCI at the MAIN prompt. The OFFICIAL MCI character is now CONTROL-Q. When this character is used in the editor, it appears as a {. To terminate an MCI command, the } is used. As a holdover, the CONTROL-Y can be used to generate a \ to make old-fashioned 3 character MCI commands. Although control characters seem at first clumsy, there are MANY advantages to this, only one of them being that ALL of the keys on the keyboard are now available to actually be USED in messages! Another DRAMATIC change comes from the fact that the V and T commands no longer use their own cryptic numbers ... they use the same GETUSER numbers that are used by AREXX and other parts of the system. Test command ... old=new ======================== 0=70 1=71 2=72 3=73 4=74 5=15 6=17 7=28 8=27 9=55 a=23 w=53 x=54 y=51 z=52 The new MCI system has numerous numeric and string manipulation commands. I will be entertaining suggestions for enhancement to this system before the release of 3.0. The UP250 program is able to change MCI to the new format in any text file or drawer of text files. It should be safe to run your AREXX pfiles through this system. UP250 is able to take care of all user signatures, macros, subboard exit/entry files, etc. 165. With this version, C pfiles must be re-compiled. With a run- restriction, hopefully this will remove problems experienced with previous versions and running "old" pfiles. This will be the ONLY time that this happens before and during the release of 3.0. I am SORRY for any inconvenience this causes, and I know it might. Also, if you have written pfiles to use the _EDBUFF temp buffer, you should know that these temp files are no longer stored in user directories. Consult the file "empty.c" for new examples. --- version 2.59 18-January-1993 166. The user-data key files have once again been updated. Once you have 2.59 running, you should RUN POINTERS to create the new files. These new files allow users' REAL NAMES to be used when addressing mail, messages, or searching (provided the user has specified his real name as not PRIVATE). You should notice an immediate speed increase in the IFIDO system as a direct result of this. Another index is in place to order the users' PHONE NUMBERS. In addition to the current use in the USER LIST program as a sort method, this index will be used in conjunction with the CALLER ID feature, once I have that fully implemented. 167. The "use real names" flag in the subboard EL screen may now take on several variables. You can configure the subboard to show handles only, real names only, or both handles and real names (in either order). There are actually TWO ways to show handles with real names. One way will ALWAYS show both names (Handles + Names). The other way will only show both names if the user has not said that his real name is PRIVATE (Handles (Names)). Using the new user-data real-name index file, it is possible to address a message to a user exactly as his name appears in a message, regardless of whether it's a real name, a handle, or a real name that is PRIVATE in OTHER parts of the system. This is to say, if a user is a member of a real-name-showing subboard, users can address messages to him by his real-name, regardless of whether that user has selected his real-name as PRIVATE or not. 168. By sacrificing one of the user-macros (control-G), a new field has been added to the user data. The field will hold an optional "Organization" that the user wishes to be associated with. This information will be placed in message headers in the message base if the user is not hiding his real name, or if the subboard is configured to always show real names. 169. A new command "FIND" is available at all command prompts. FIND provides a very quick way of determining if a particular file is on the system in ANY subboard. The FIND command allows use of the Amiga wildcards (#, ?, etc) as well as the IBM-stand-by (*). Users may use the FIND command to easily display ALL of the files they have access to, arranged alphabetically. The index file "allfiles" in SYSDATA: contains 48 bytes per file that is indexed. To provide speed of searching, filenotes displayed by the FIND commands are limited to the 80 characters maintained by AmigaDOS. A file "newfiles" will appear as files are uploaded. When AMAINT is run, it will automatically insert "newfiles" into "allfiles." To create "allfiles" for the first time, or to RE-create it in the event that it becomes corrupt, use the maintenance program "make_allfiles" in the pfiles:maintenance directory. 170. The file short-description field has increased in width to 44 characters. Using the CONFIG program, it is possible to set the maximum LENGTH of short-descriptions from 2 to 8 lines. The editor system is now used to enter short descriptions, allowing a better what-you-see-is-what-you-get environment. The subboard Write command, in addition to describing new uploads, can now also be used by the uploader to RE-edit short descriptions. 171. The Vote system has received a considerable efficiency-boost. You will notice an enormous speed improvement, especially on systems with many users. Unfortunately, all vote files previous to v2.59 must be deleted. DELETE SYSDATA:VOTE/#? ALL 172. The ED command is now available directly from the subboard prompt-- it allows users with the appropriate access to re-edit the text, addressee, private/anonymous flags, date, and alias (author name) of any message. ED is still available from the Respond or Pass prompt. 173. The NS (new-scan) command is now available at any command prompt, except the Browse and Respond or Pass prompts. 174. The ML (move-list) command from a subboard prompt no longer "exchanges" subboards on the list. Instead, the 1st argument specifies the subboard you'd like to move; the 2nd argument specifies the location to which you would like to move it. Other subboards are moved out of the way as necessary to complete the maneuver. This change effects BOTH the base/udbase and the news/gfiles/pfiles areas. 175. The Grab and Examine commands are available from the Browse prompt. 176. Work has begun on CALLER-ID support. For this version, the caller-id phone number is placed in the call log, together with a list of all matching accounts. If you have suggestions for future features based on caller-id, please bring them to my attention. In order for CNet to see the caller-id number, you must lengthen the time between "ring" and "answer" ... this is done using CONFIG. Select the "modems..." screen, then a port, then edit the "answer pause" variable. 3-4 seconds (15-20 units) ADDITIONAL time SHOULD be sufficient. 177. Each subboard may have its OWN voting booth now. The command is VOTE from the subboard prompt. If you plan to use this feature, it helps speed things up to run VOTE as RESIDENT if you do not already do so. Further, individual items can be "linked" to voting topics by using the item AT command. You must know the vote topic's serial number (displayed when the vote topic is read). When an item is linked, the user may use the VOTE command at a "respond or pass" prompt to immediately access the linked vote topic. A subboard flag (from EL) has been added to control the addition of vote topics in a subboard by NON-sysops. These users must still have the appropriate vote flags in their accounts. 178. NEW VDE (visual data editor) screens have been completed for the item AT command, the news/gfile/pfile AT command, and the news/gfile/ pfile EL command. Additionally, when you add a new subboard or subdirectory, the VDE is immediately brought up to provide quick editing! The news/gfile/pfile AT command breaks up the cryptic "MCI environment" setting into several questions ... "disable word-wrapping?" etc. Also, option is given to DELETE a file when it is purgred. The news/gfile/pfile EL command contains one NEW variable for controlling the computer types which will be allowed into an area. If you have used the EL command for an area in the past, you may need to use it now to set the computer types to "0-23" as it may read now. 179. Several new item variables are available from the item AT command in a subboard: Purge date: Specify precisely the date a-maint will kill a file. Delete when purged: When a-maint removes a file, will it also be DELETED? Download before/after: Specify the date/time range during which users can download the file. Charge$ to ULer: What the uploader paid (actually, if negative, RECEIVED) to upload this file, if you run the accounting system. Units are $0.0001. Credits to ULer: Total credits the user has received since he uploaded this file. These numbers include the immediate file/byte credits, as well as the "rewarded" credits, received when users download his file. These numbers are ZERO if the file was not completely uploaded. Payback to ULer: These credits will be given to the uploader EACH TIME someone downloads his file. These are adopted from the subboard defaults, and not used themselves unless the "these vals override" flag is set to Yes. Cost to DLer: These credits will be charged the downloader when he downloads this file. This should always be higher than the payback values! Like paybacks, these values are inherited from the subboard defaults, and not actually themselves used unless the "these vals override" flag is set to Yes. Purge after download: Ask a-maint to kill the file after it is downloaded. May also be set to "query" to ASK the user for perimission first. Purge at next amaint: "Marked" for removal at next amaint. THIS FLAG OVERRIDES the "disable amaint purge" flag. Set this ONLY if want the item removed! Notify uploader at DL: The uploader will receive a "blank" message from the downloader, with the simple title of DOWNLOADED: ASCII Grab when read: The file will be "read" when the item is read using the Read command. Vote-link: To enable the VOTE command at the respond or pass prompt (see #177). New variables for default "paybacks" and "costs" appear in the subboard EL screens, under "other flags." These values will be used for downloads in the subboard unless the item itself has the override flag set to Yes. For new uploads, you can choose how the override flag will be set by setting the "def. item overrides" flag. 180. The SS (scan selected) command now displays the file short descriptions (the 1st 79 characters from DOS), and the total credit information (files, bytes, charges). --- version 2.59e 28-January-1993 181. New base/udbase command RR (Repair & Reorganize) runs the program pfiles:maintenance/repair_sub. The program will re-create all data files for the current subboard. This program will be useful in the event that the subboard's _Text or _Free file(s) become corrupted (message have blank headers, or responses are skipped as you are reading an item). It may be wise to use this program occasionally in heavy-use subboards to minimize _Text data file fragmentation. Other users will not be able to enter a subboard while it is being reorganized. The repair_sub program has a dual purpose. If you execute it from the Main or Pfiles prompts, it will examine the integrity of your sysdata:subboards file, marking unused subboards as "killed." 182. The transformation "any" scripts now handle ANY suffix not handled by another script. Previously, the "any" option only worked for files WITHOUT extensions. Changes were made to item #150 above. 183. DOS (CLI) p-files may now support RAWCON mode. More control of the DOS interface is given ... use the AT command to edit DOS pfile configuration. You may need to do this for any DOS pfiles you are currently running--set ECHO and CR-->LF translation to ON. --- version 2.60/R2 10-February-1993 184. Release version. All reported bugs removed. --- version 2.61 19-February-1993 185. Editor "zip" upload ability added to the Visual Editor. Available from the control-X menu. 186. When a bbsevent will limit a user's time to less than 10 minutes, CNet will now give the user the option of logging on anyway. If the time is less than 1 minute, CNet will always disconnect. 187. Users may now select files to fill their select buffers whether they actually have the time/credits to actually download the files. The D/DS commands will re-arrange files in the select buffer as necessary to transfer as many as possible in a batch transfer, given the user's credit restraints. The transfer will only be aborted (or not started) if NONE of the files at all can be transfered. 188. The REPAIR_SUB program now optionally takes ARGUMENTS so that it may be ran from BBSEVENTs to repair/reorganize problem or high- volume subboards on a regular basis. The proper format is PFILES:MAINTENANCE/REPAIR_SUB n [RAM] where 'n' is any valid RANGE of PHYSICAL subboard numbers (obtained from subboard EL screens). If the word RAM appears as the next argument, reorganization will take place in RAM. The range can be a single number, or a phrase such as "2-4,10" CNet C pfiles may now (in general) take arguments. This will open up opportunites for more control of a-maint and other pfiles--not previously possible. 189. The "notify uploader at download" feature may now be defaulted to "on" for all new uploads. This new flag is found on the subboard EL screen. Also, the "mail" that uploaders receive will now contain the number of file/byte credits that were rewarded. 190. Better support for CD ROM drives has begun. From the CONFIG program, you may specify a temporary directory to use for CD-ROM downloads. From each subboard's EL screen, you may toggle a flag to specify whether or not CNet will copy files to this temp directory as they are downloaded. This allows better multi-user use of multi-disk CD-ROM drives. 191. New MCI 'getuser' variables are used when displaying the message headers and scans in a subboard. The following variables are now defined as follows: 75 From (Primary name) (header only) 76 From (Secondary name) (header only) 77 To (Primary name) (header only) 78 To (Secondary name) (header only) 79 Date (header only) 80 Organization (header only) 81 Current Item # (header, scan) 82 Current response # (header only) 83 Total # of responses (header, scan) 84 Item size in bytes (header, scan) 85 Total downloads (header, scan) 86 Best CPS (header, scan) 87 Item title (header, scan) 88 Size in K/Meg (scan only) 89 +/-/!/v/p flag (scan only) 90 * flag (scan only) 91 Root filename (scan only) 92 Filename suffix (scan only) 93 Short date (scan only) 94 Download time (header only) 192. The CR command now displays the file and byte ratios for the CURRENT subboard as well as the "defaults". 193. The SS (scan selected) command now tabulates credits more clearly. To promote system efficiency, descriptions of CD-ROM files are no longer displayed here. 194. The CONFIG program has gone two steps further in user-friendliness. All screens with "new" "add" and "remove" gadget buttons now manage these buttons so that they are ghosted when their use is inappropriate. This helps to guide the user through the procedure of adding an entry to a list. In these same screens, the RETURN key may now be used instead of TAB to move from one string input box to the next. --- version 2.62 7-March-1993 195. The MCI xm, xl, and xr commands have been modified. They operate as before, excect the part of the string "chopped off" will be placed in MCI string register 1 (getuser #71). This makes operations like printing the time remaining easier (time remaining and other times are stored internally in TENTHS of minutes): {L70 7}{XR 1}{V71}.{V70} 196. CD-ROM support continues. CNet will now copy all CD-ROM files to the temporary download directory all at once, at the beginning of the transfer. Provided users to not often abort transfers, this method is more efficient then copying them one at a time during the transfer. 197. Several "convenience" changes were made. When a user chooses to read mail, the prompt defaults to begin at new messages if there are any. When killing items, the "remove credits factor" question is asked just once--a real help if you are deleting multiple files. OLM's are now printed in the user's text translation--in previous versions, the "OLM from..." text was actually saved to the OLM file--adopting the sender's text translation. OLMs from Mail, UM, Yank, and Control now appear as "*** System Message" to prevent the user from confusing them with OLM's sent by other users. 198. When in the visual editor, the addressee and the subject of the message will be displayed at the top of the display. 199. Reading and responding to OLM's has just become incredibly easy. There is a new prompt (and bbsmenu menu) introduced between each OLM. From this prompt, the user can Again, Over, Reply, Save to mail, or perform any system command (who, time, etc). For extra flexibility, the system commands HIde, MUffle, Mail, CC, FInger, OLm, and UM will default to the user who sent the OLM being read-- this default can be overridden by specifying any other port/user. 200. The NSAL command (New Scan At Logon) remains, but two others were added (NF and NM) which perform the functions of scan for New Files and scan for New Messages independandly. 201. When Scanning responses (S) from the Respond or Pass prompt, "*R*" is displayed after the date if the message has been received. 202. When Killing items, you are given separate options to remove the post and to kill the file. This gives you the flexibility to keep the description and responses that were made to a file while still deleting the file. --- version 2.63 1-April-1993 203. CNet is now compiled using SAS/C version 6.2. Previously, version 5.10b was used. 204. Changes were made to the /, <, and > commands in the subboards: / If used in a subboard, this command will "exit" the subboard, returning to the subdirectory prompt. If used at a subdirectory prompt, the command will operate as it has before, returning to the parent directory. <,> These commands now "search" for the next subboard, entering and exiting subdirectories as needed. From the Upload base> or Message base> prompt, a user can now traverse all of your subboards by using only the > command. 205. The CONFIG options have changed concerning user YANK files: Max # Yanks/User. A user may now have as many YANKS in his select buffer as you specify. Make sure you run CONFIG to set this--it may be defaulted to 0--meaning NO yanks! Max size of yank file (K). Instead of the previous # of messages, CNet now limits yanks by the SIZE of the yank or QWK text file (uncompressed). CNet will now notify the user by OLM and in the message file itself if his Yank is aborted for this reason. Yank files now have file-notes containing the date and the number of messages they contian. 206. The download, extract, select, grab, and read commands from the Browse prompt now prompt for an item number if the user does not specifiy one. 207. A new option was added to EP's "message reading" feature. Due to popular demand, it's now possible to read a message using "ANSI screen scrolling" ... the message header stays at the top of the screen while the cursor continuously jumps from the bottom of the screen to the top of the screen to delete lines and print new ones. 208. "WHO" is now a valid command from the "Port#, Handle.." prompts given before the OLM, CC, HI, MU commands. 209. The commands Download, Extract, Grab, and * (select) are now available from the Respond/Pass prompt when reading marked messages (RM) or when reading messages using the "mess" option. 210. During global commands (read, scan, search), CNet will display the entire subboard PATH (all subdirectories) when moving between subboards. If the screen is cleared during message reads, this path will appear at the top of the screen for the first post only. 211. During a file transfer, a user's "banner" in the WHO display will change to a display of the current CPS and estimate of the time until completion. 212. Two new MCI command sequences have been added. \q2 will remember the current ANSI/MCI state. \q3 will RECALL this state. This was added so that the More? command may have its own ANSI colors without disturbing the colors of the text being read. 213. The Mail-Read function has been upgraded considerably. The biggest change is that there is now only ONE mail-read prompt. Previously, there were two, one with the options "Quit, All, New, Old." The new system is considerably more powerful. Messages are ALWAYS displayed in date-order. Also, new mail messages are now defined as ones that haven't been read yet, regardless of their posting date. One side effect to be aware of is that feedback and new-user mail read by one co-sysop may not appear "new" to another. By using the Scan command, a user can quickly see which messages are new (marked N), which he's replied to or forwarded (marked R), and which are of the types Bulk (marked B), Party (marked P), Carbon/copy (marked C), or File mail (marked F). In addition, the "current" message is marked with a >. The Kill command now TOGGLES the killed flag--messages may now be un-killed. All of the mail commands now accept RANGES of message numbers. However, the REPLY command may only accept a single message number. At the end of mail-read, CNet will only prompt the user to kill the messages he's JUST READ during the mail-read session, and only if the Kill command was not used during the session. 214. Several new AREXX commands were added: getwhere {port} Tell what user on port {port} is doing getportid {port} Give account # for user on port {port} -1 means NO user is on that port selectfile {path} Add the file given by {path} to the user's select-list New GETUSERS are: 56 User's country 57 User's logon time 58 User's birth date 59 User's organization 95 Total system calls ( myp->Nums [3] ) 96 Total uploads ( myp->SAM[3] [8] ) 97 Total upload K ( myp->SAM[3] [9] ) 98 Total downloads ( myp->SAM[3][10] ) 99 Total download K ( myp->SAM[3][11] ) 215. Download and (new) select commands in the gfiles/news now support ranges of items. A better separate between DOWNLOAD and DS is made in this version. Using a "download" command from any prompt in the system which supports it now places the "select-list" on "hold." The files downloaded using "download" are NEVER "left" on the select-list. During DS (download select), users are told that files unselected at this point are TEMPORARILY unselected, and will re-appear after the download is complete. NOTE: 2.63 IS THE LAST RELEASE VERSION BEFORE 3.0. ALL VERSION NUMBERS AFTER THIS ARE **BETA 3.0** TEST VERSIONS, AND MUST *NOT* BE DISTRIBUTED.