[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

status report



Hi Folks,

We have three different machines building 1.99p6, so within a few
hours we should have the first 1.99p6 binaries built.  However, 1.99p6
will require a new System file and a new Browser, so putting together
the actual 1.99p6 releases will still take a bunch of time, and then
they have to be minimally tested, so I don't think you'll see 1.99p6
before late tonight, but you'll probably see it by tomorrow morning
(U.S. times).

In the meantime, I'm trying to get caught up on my e-mail.  I don't
necessarily answer my e-mail in the order in which it's received, but
I do try to answer everything that requires an answer, so don't be
upset if you see me answer someone else's question before I get to
yours.

Here are the changes that 1.99p6 has that I can think of off the top
of my head or can find in one of our log files:

	Executor/NEXTSTEP/Motorola support

	Browser changes:

		zoom boxes

		when you open a folder that's already open it doesn't
		create a new window unless you have the Control key down

		If you have the option key down when you open a folder,
		the parent is closed

		Delete will now delete the file or folder that is
		currently selected

		The "Are you sure you want to ..." Alert no longer beeps
		when it comes up

		two column listing mode was broken, so it was removed

		duplicates are no longer allowed in the hot band

		get info on a volume tells how big the volume is and how
		much free space is left

		If you move/copy a file in listing mode it no longer creates
		an icon in a field of listings

		Cmd-Shift-2 does the equivalent of a check for disks after
		the disk is mounted

		Z cursor is turned on when a folder is being opened

		"Check for disks" and "Format Disk" are no longer adjacent

		When you try to format a floppy that isn't already in Mac
		format you no longer get a confused volume name on the
		screen (e.g. "Do you really want to format dfdaaaaazz")

		The about box menu item is now "About Browser" instead of
		"About Go"
	
	makehfv properly recognizes when it is unable to create an HFV
	due to I/O errors or running out of space

	A few bug fixes that affect PageMaker 4.2 (and maybe 5.0):

		hiliting large text no longer confused

		cruft no longer left on screen after dismissing pop-up box

		(hmmm... I think there was another, but I can't remember it)
	
	E/L/ELF uses a memory layout that no longer upsets with
	Spaceward Ho

	Some keyboard characters that were wrong in DOS and Linux have
	been fixed

	Executor won't crash if you let it sit for 10 minutes at the
	splash screen

	"-photo" has been replaced with four new checkboxes:
		pretend help
		pretend alias
		pretend edition
and		pretend script
	These things are remembered in configuration files, so you aren't
	stuck in a particular mode like you used to be with "-photo" (i.e.
	if you used "-photo", Photoshop would try to work, but Word would
	fail).  This allows us to supply configuration files for Photoshop
	and GIFconverter (more too, later)

	Double-clicking on Stuffit documents should automatically have them
	opened up when Stuffit starts.  Quark XPress, too

	Desktop Textures III works

	Desktop textures doesn't crash when run in black and white mode

	RAM check no longer crashes when you pull down a menu

	We no longer use the PostScript Level 2 "rectclip" operator, so
	the PostScript that Executor generates should print on more printers
	and filters (ZScript, for instance)

	The bug that prevented black and white icons from being drawn in
	dialog boxes has been fixed

	Unexpected ROMlib_error is no longer generated when you try to
	save a file directly to your DOS drive (although you still need
	to be aware of 8.3 limitations)

	disabled default buttons no longer have black frames

	CyberGif has the right colors

	"-nodrivesearch" under Linux will bypass the standard examination
	of /dev/fd0 and /dev/cdrom

One area that I had hoped to make more progress on was Photoshop 3.  I
was naively hoping that one particular fix would cure many problems,
but it turned out that although the fix was needed, it didn't help
Photoshop 3 much at all.  We'll try to look at it after 1.99p6 is out.

BTW, we recently purchased a 4 gig disk so we'll be able to test
Executor under Windows NT (thanks to Chris Hedberg) and have room make
our CD-ROM master and have more room for an expanded testing library.
We still have to purchase our CD-R (CD-ROM Recorder) though.

--Cliff
ctm@ardi.com