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- ================================================================
- Updates To AceComm & Utilities (Tm)
- Top down to version 1.55
- ================================================================
- =============================================================
- 1/16/94 * Release version 1.81
- =============================================================
- - Point mail functions using BOSS info were needlesly aborting
- when NODELIST or NLIST.IDX files were not available.
- - Auto Logon was scanning the first 10 fields anf ignoring the last
- six.
- =============================================================
- 12/26/93 * Release version 1.8
- =============================================================
-
- Update made for 1.8 include:
-
- AceComm is written in 100% assembly language. This is how the EXE file
- remains so small. The movement for menu data to a separate binary file is in
- the workings, this will allow for memory savings, multiple language support,
- and to a limited degree, user customizing. AceComm for MS-Windows is coming
- along nicely, and like the DOS version, written in assembly language. The
- GUI version featuring RIPscrip video will be available to registered users
- by March of 94. Those wishing to see pre-release copies can get them.
- Int 14h and FOSSIL support will be seen in a 1.86 release very soon. I have
- them implemented, haven't enabled them yet. I may tie an interrupt handler
- to buffer int 14h, as it's dog gone slow using BIOS the way they are.
-
- - Fixed dialer timeout to recycle where values 60 seconds and greater would not
- timeout, but require a modem response in order to recycle.
-
- - Zmodem receiver file management functions in a more expected manor. User
- aborts would end with the file time not being updated to the file time sent by
- the remote. This caused a later resume to be renamed instead. ACE.DOC
- covers the logic behind file management used with Acecomm's internal zmodem.
-
- - Script/macro processor gets attention every release, this area is very robust
- now. The scrip language continues to inch along, what is here is very solid.
-
- - AutoScrGen does a better overall job and can handle systems using HOT keys.
-
- - Macro language evolves with each release. The macro language and scripts
- capability will see the most attention from version to version.
-
- - Terminal emulations saw some minor additions. These always get added to and
- tweaked every version.
-
- - Event schedules are more on line aware, and there is an enable flag where the
- schedules can be turned off completely.
-
- - ACTL (assemble CTL) and PRM2CTL (dis-assemble PRM) utilities are more data
- aware. The PRM file can be almost 100% cloned across versions.
-
- - LISTFILE prompting for batch uploads will now search the directory for all
- LISTFILES and prompt the user "Send from this file Y/n)" before defaulting to
- the menu. This allows multiple LISTFILES be ready to go, and used on the
- fly, greatly improving the fast up load selection process.
-
- - Point mail services saw a lot of work and those using pre-release versions
- are getting good results with the scheduler and <PollBoss> macros.
-
- - MDMI.EXE is included for the first time with this release. MoDeM Install
- will read from an ascii format file of modem definitions. The file can grow,
- MDMI.EXE will be able to use it as it grows.
-
- - Mouse handler was re-written. Mouse support is much more flexible. Double
- click in terminal mode brings up the TopBar menu.
-
- - KTS key definitions somehow got behind KBD definitions. KTS are back to
- getting first crack at a key press.
-
- - Xmodem was not opening file for 1.75, but dumping to the screen. 1.76 fixed
- this.
- Both Xmodem and Ymodem (G) saw a lot of attention. Mostly YmodemG. This
- protocol is not using file management that the Zmodem uses.
-
- - Fixed a problem where writing the AceComm prompt to the DOS prompt when
- shelling to command processor, AceComm would overwrite any environment
- variables that were defined after the prompt. This will be a noticeable fix
- for many. This caused AceComm to lose it's ability to run programs if any
- PATH statement followed the prompt string.
-
- - A trend for menus to become user definable is in the works. It just seems
- to evolve this way since I wanted to move all the text out to an edit able
- area anyway.
-
- =============================================================
- 11/01/93 * Release version 1.75
- =============================================================
- Updates made for 1.75 include
- - Re-written dialer
- - Re-written script processor, the script language inches along,
- whats there is very solid
- - Re-written log file formatter, nice new packed log file
- - Part re-write for Dir Lister function, "Drives" detect works
- better, "NewDir" operates easier
- format also tracks on line time
- - Intelligent File Rename (internal zmodem)
- - Introduce "Mondo Menus" (Tm)
- - New on-line help topics menu, supports scroll able view, and
- printing
- - Changed TopBar 1 line menu for mouse to pull down menu type
- for most frequently used commands. Hot key displayed at left
- Also displays current event schedule (if any) at right
- - Changed status bar displays "key-def" hot key & "help" menu
- hot keys at right
- - Changed xstatus line display when creating or running scripts
- to display more clearly what key press options are allowed
- - New Event scheduler for "Host", and "Mail" events
- - New Intelligent Auto Answer (process macro stack associated
- with connect string), allows drop to BBS, FAX, etc. based on
- modem Answer/Connect string
- - Re-written Point Mail
- - New *.FLO file support (mailer) can look into MAIL_OUT
- directory and provide automated mail poll, send, attach, file
- request etc. if the current event schedule allows. Manual
- mail functions still inside "Protocols" menus
- - New Fon List menu item "Mass Change" any record item, updates
- all records with just the 1 item.
- - A few new macros, [DATA_ARGS]
- - DPRM175.EXE can clone the ACE.PRM file to ACE.CTL, your next
- upgrade will be painless
- =============================================================
- 09/05/93 * Release version 1.7
- =============================================================
- Updates made for 1.7 include
- - Introduces "Intelligent Auto Log On Technology"(Tm)
- - Labels, Gotos, Ifs, and data areas are documented in example
- script file, and introduction of SCRIPT.DOC.
- - Sorting FON files by system name, total calls, last date called
- and phone number.
- - FON file import/convert functions will now allow file merging.
- US BBS list is a stable format, I'm converting that now.
- - Internal protocols code to detect receive buffer near full was
- commented out, I un-commented it, slower computers running
- AceComm as a back ground in Windows etc don't see a crc error
- every 'buffer_size' bytes.
- - Ansi ESC[6n is responded to with ESC[row;col R
- - Extended AVATAR scroll up/scroll down functions
- - File requests using FBL's nodelist extract files (.NOD) where
- the dir lister got involved, caused AceComm to create ACE.BCH
- instead of NETNODE.REQ, this problem didn't exist for users
- using the NODELIST.
- - A memory management system has been implemented. Memory for
- internal functions can be swapped to XMS memory during other
- memory hungary tasks. At this point AceComm uses 64k XMS for
- swapping the scroll back buffer. Future releases will see
- EMS support, and much more high memory used for the scroll
- back buffer and reading very large FON files. 64k isn't
- much, it allows an extra 48k/250 FON record buffer for very
- large FON files. Or With smaller FON files, AceComm can run
- in up to 64k less conventional memory than before.
- AceComm uses EMS/XMS/DISK for SWAP when using <CommandShell_>
- and <RunProgram> macros.
- - Options menus have been re-arranged grouping like options into
- sub menus.
- - LISTFILE names have been changed from ACE.BCH and temporary
- filenames of the 'ABCDEFG' order to 'UPLDS.LST' and
- 'UPLDS.LS(n)'.
- - Time slices for DV have been added. Time slices for Windows
- are more selective. By default time slices are not given up
- while using any of Acecomm's internal protocols. Options for
- giving up time slices during internal protocols are provided
- in the new "Internal Protocols Options" menu.
- - 9.6k memory has been freed due to changes in the help system
- and on line order form.
-
- =============================================================
- 08/15/93 * Release version 1.65
- =============================================================
-
-
- 08/05/93 ADD
- Screens / Colors / Menus menu has a new menu for selecting
- detect, 25 rows, 28 rows, 43 rows, or 50 rows during AceComm
- sessions. The screen mode is restored at program exit.
-
-
- 08/04/93 CHANGE
- Internal File Lister screen is re written making it more user
- friendly.
-
- 08/03/93 FIX
- ANSI video code / Video display code, a write buffer was getting
- over written causing lock ups, crashes. The video library code
- now does consistent bounds checking.
-
- 08/01/93 FIX
- IEMSI session code is re written. Display is cleaned up.
- IEMSI setup menus are given more detailed information.
-
- 07/28/93 FIX
- Scroll back buffer would skip a line coming back down.
- Screen blanker and pop up key ref, when occur during Scroll
- back buffer caused screens to not presented properly.
-
- =============================================================
- 07/25/93 * Release version 1.60
- =============================================================
-
- 07/18/93 CHANGE
- FON files 250 record limit is replaced with 5000 record limit.
- 5000 is arbitrary, each 250 records require 48k memory. Probably
- never get to 5000 records.
-
- 07/16/93 FIX
- *** 70 character buffer used with DOS exec function 04bh was
- not enough of a buffer for filename to execute. DOS kept clobbering
- a few bytes past it. 80 character length solved this problem.
- This in addition to the 128 byte param buffer.
-
- 07/05/93 ADD
- Added mouse support for both on line terminal area and menu system.
-
- - Replace delay timer in dialer with Stopwatch so seconds are
- still seconds under DV and other task switchers
- - New flags in controls menus for more bells and whistles
- - More Data & functional MACROS
- - Script language gets conditionals, lables, data area more
- Not documented in this 1.60 release, will be next release
- complete with numerous examples and a separate SCRIP.DOC
- <SendDelay> is removed from scrip generation, will re appear
- as option inside options menu (good when debugging scripts)
-
- =============================================================
- 06/27/93 * Release version 1.55
- <ASP> acceptance came in same day so I stopped distribution
- =============================================================
-
- 06/06/93 ADD
- Import FON files function is added to Telephone directory area
-
- - Added context on line help
- - Added Point Mail Setup menu
- - did away with ACE.CFG (now in Point Mail Menu)
- - Added 10 auto log on Trigger sequence/ MACRO stack
- strings for dialing area.
- - Improved menus where multiple selector lines now display
- all at once.
- - Zmodem resume after keyboard interrupt was not re initializing
- position in write buffer. This caused bad offsets be generated
- when resuming a file immediately after a keyboard abort.
- Replaced near 8k protocol buffer with allocated buffer.
- - Stopwatch function now rolls over at midnight.
- - MACRO data args are completely stackable. (see MACRO.DOC)
- - Import function inside phone directory
- - DV detection and video buffer usage
-
- 06/03/93 CHANGE
- Done away with "More" option in menus that used it to toggle
- between SELECTOR BARS.
- Menus that used "More" option to toggle SELECTOR BARS are now
- displaying two or more SELECTOR BARS.
-
- 05/27/93 ADD
- Enabled modification times for internal ymodem, zmodem protocol.
-
- 05/26/93 CHANGE
- Local 8k protocol buffer is now a FAR buffer allocated at time
- protocol is used. This saves 8k of memory from program usage
- while internal protocols aren't in use.
-
- 05/22/93 FIX
- Internal File Lister function now allows PgUp/PgDn selection
- inside "New Directory" menu.
-
- 05/22/93 ADD
- Added code to recognize the gray arrow keys when using enhanced
- BIOS keyboard functions. Also added a flag in "General Controls"
- which allows or dis-allows using enhanced BIOS functions when
- detected.
-
- 05/18/93 FIX
- AVATAR video was missing the color BLUE
- Now supports VY repeat mode.
-