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AlphaQBBS Version 8.0 (Gamma 8.01) Changes Document
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At the end of ver 7.0's changes documents, I stated that  program 
development would probably end. Oh well, the ranting of a  sleepy 
mind!

Version  8.0  of AlphaQBBS is a features  update  release.  Since 
there  weren't  any  reported  "undocumented  features"  or  bugs 
reported  in version 7.0, no repairs had to be made. A number  of 
nice  features  have been added to help you automate  your  BBS's 
file maintenance and monitor its operation from remote.

Version 8.0 is backwardly compatible with version 5.0' (&  above) 
control file.

* File Totals are now reported automatically.

  Using  the AREA list method of files listing (-3  command  line 
  option), the number of files in each area are documented in the 
  output  listing.  At  the end of the files  listing  the  total 
  number of files in all areas are reported.
      
  When  an overall files listing is produced (command line  para-
  meters 1 & 2), the total number of system files is reported  at 
  the top of the listing.

  Important  to note: Files that are missing ARE included in  the 
  file  count.  The file count is actually the number  of  listed 
  files  (and  descriptions) in the file list. If  you  wish  the 
  missing files to be excluded from this count, the "-E"  command 
  line parameter must be used. Please refer to the section of the 
  manual dealing with command line parameters.


* AREA listing method now default

  Command  line parameter "-3" is now the default.  If  AlphaQBBS 
  8.0 is ran without any command line parameters, a files list is 
  produced,  sorted  by file area. For more information  on  this 
  method,  see  "-3" in the section of the  manual  dealing  with 
  command line parameters.
       
* Minor "feature" correction

  When  the  AREA  listing  method  was  selected  (option   -3), 
  AlphHDR.OVL's  existence was not required. For program  consis-
  tency,  and other reasons, it now is. Remember, AlphHdr.OVL  is 
  only  a  text file describing your system. This  text  file  is 
  added to the beginning of the files listing. Another  textfile, 
  with  a different name, can still be substituted using  the  "-
  Hfilename.ext"  command  line parameter. Please  refer  to  the 
  section of the manual dealing with command line parameters.







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AlphaQBBS Version 8.0 (Gamma 8.01) Changes Document ...continued
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* An excellent command line parameter has been added to allow for 
  the removal of missing files from each FILES.BBS listing!  This 
  is  very useful when you use a utility (e.g., PCTOOLS) to  trim 
  out  old files from given file areas. Now you will never  again 
  have to edit each files.bbs to also remove those files from the 
  listing. Just run AlphaQBBS and it will do the editing for you!

  -R is the command parameter used to invoke this option.

* For you people that are totally paranoid about disk space,  the  
  -D  command line parameter has been added. Using -D will  cause 
  ALL  the backup FILES.BBS files to be erased. Why you  ask?  To 
  save disk space....I guess?!

  Actually,  this was in the last version (7.0) of  AlphaQBBS.  I 
  just forgot to document it.

* AlphaQBBS can now access your QuickBBS system log (or create it 
  for  that  matter) to report on its activities!  Using  the  -L 
  command  line parameter will allow this. This is  probably  the 
  single  most exciting new addition. This makes  for  monitoring 
  AlphaQBBS's  nightly  activities even more  easy.  Viewing  the 
  SYSTEM.LOG  from your SYSOP access menu is a great way to  keep 
  in touch with your BBS's functions.

  -L  command  line parameter forces AlphaQBBS to report  to  the 
  SYSTEM.LOG file.

  AlphaQBBS  conforms to the QuickBBS style of  SYSTEM.LOG.  Date 
  and  time and given program activities are recorded in a  manor 
  as QuickBBS would do.

* Errors  in command line parameters combinations area  now  more 
  closely watched by AlphaQBBS. Even so, please try AlphaQBBS out 
  and decide on the command line parameters that meet your system 
  requirements BEFORE using it in your batch files.

* Some  additional  error recognition has been added  along  with    
  error reports in the system log (-L option enabled).

I think that these are some really nice changes. The new features 
once  again make your files maintenance life easier and keep  you 
better informed and in "tune" with your system.


Please direct and questions or comments to:

     David Kuhn
     The Basselope BBS [513] 779-1041
     Fido Net Number 1:108/145