• This file tells which bugs have been fixed since Alice 2.1.4E, how to setup and use the old XRS/QWK-files and, last but not least, how to use the new features…
FIVE MINUTES WHICH COULD SAVE YOU HOURS!!
• STATE OF DOCUMENT AND APPLICATION
This Document is not a Alice-manual (the last manual was bundled with Alice 2.1.4E), it only describes some changes. Alice 2.2b E is a _beta_ Version, which could have some bugs. So it's a good idea to rename Your old Alice and leave it on Your HD…
To report Your bugs, please allways name Your System (Hardware and Systemversion)! Also say _which_ kind of BBS You use (XRS/QWK). THANKS!
Michael
•• (a partitial list of) BUGFIXES:
- Alice 2.2b1 is now System 7.1 savy
- "pseudo"-Packing used "Long"-dirIDs (for non-programmers: it should make the output-file, regardless of its destination…)
- The Default-Subject (which You get if You "Reply" to a Message) is shorten to it's maximum Length in case of an added "RE:"
- If a "To"/"Subj" or "Origin"-Line is too long, You get instead of the omnius "To"-Dialog a more meaningful Alert
- XRS: the originlength is now calculated correctly
- the window-state (zoomed/user-state) doesn't change if You resize a window only by a few pixel
•• INSTALLING ALICE 2.2
Just move the "READMAPS.DAT" and "WRITMAPS.DAT" into You "Preferences" (System 7) or "Systemfolder" (System 6). Then place the Alice-Application where Your old Alice is. Follow also the next two Paragraphs!
•• CHANGES WITHIN ALICE 2.2
• Change of Global Setup-Format
Well, the global setup-format has changed. THIS MEANS TO YOU, YOU ARE GOING SAVE IF YOU DROP YOUR "Alice Preferences"-FILE INTO THE TRASH (or rename it to something like ("Alice Preferences Old")! You find it inside the "Systemfolder" (System 6) or inside the "Preferences Folder" (System 7). Then, after You've launched new Alice, you must add all BBSes again. Also check if the Quote-Parameters are your favorites ones…
• Change of XRS-Messageindex-File
Because of technical reasons, Alice now uses an other format for it's XRS-Indexes. IF YOU ARE USING A XRS-BBS, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
- First, read all messages in Your current paket
- Upload Your replies (and get a new paket)
- Trash the "Message Index" and "Areaindex"-files. You'll find them inside Your folder, in which all files for the XRS-BBS are located.
- If a "Upload Index"-file exist, trash it! (same folder)
- Launch Alice and Open Your XRS-BBS. Alice will (re)build the new index-files.
- Use the "Open"-Command and then delete Your outgoing messages
• Change of the way of "detecting"-Keys
After You entered Your Key a Box-Typ isn't registered until You open such a Box! To make it more clear: enter Your Key, open Your XRS- or QWK-Box (if You have none, make one!), quit Alice. When You'll start Alice next time, no "About"-Dialog should appear.
Choose "Keys" from the Popup-Menu within the "About Alice"-Dialog to see which Box-Types You've already registred.
• What the heck is "T2"?
Coming soon (onto this Mac ;-) - T2! A little Application which helps Alice to act as (with "Formula One"-Mailer, Shareware by Massimo Senna) a "real" Point-System. You could use the beloved interface of Alice and the speed of F1 - what a perfect pair!
T2-registration is included with the 15$-Shareware-fee. A F1-Demo is available on many BBS and on CIS.
• Natascha?
This is a Mailer for the "ZERBERUS"-Network, which is has its own protocoll and files. Most BBS of this Network are (here) in Germany.
•• THE NEW FEATURES
• New "Get Folder"-Filedialog (only System 7)
According to the "Human Interface Guidelines" from Apple, this new Dialog has a seperate "Select"-Button which is more intuitiv. You will select the folder which is named in the "Select"-Button.
• Adressbook
Choose "Adressbook" from the "Windows"-Menu (You could access this command from every window). If You write/reply a Message, the adressbook also appears if You click the "To:"-Button.
- FIRST/SURNAME/NOTE: click on the text to sort the entries. The actual sorting-order is underlined.
- USE: click this button (or double-click an entry) to take the selected entry into the "To"&"Adress"-field. This would only be possible if the "next" window (e.g. the window which was last active before the adressbook came in front) is a "Write"-Window, else the Button is disabled.
- DELETE: use this button to delete an entry from the adressbook. WARNING! There's no Undo possible!
- NEW/CHANGE: add or change an entry. You will see a dialog:
Well, there is an easy & intuitiv way to add new adresses: just select the name&adress inside the messagehead of a read-window, and choose "Copy" from the "Edit"-menu. If the current clipboard-entry is a (such copied) adress, the "New"-Dialog will show it as its Default.
• NEW QUOTE-ALGORITHM
Quoting is a real problem for both, the use (who mostly takes too much quoted text into his messages), and the programmer (because of the need of an "intellegent" quoting). The new Alogrithm tries to concat the lines (of a same author) and then quote them. An example:
To use the new algorithm, check "Quote as Floatingtext".
However, in some cases You want to use the old quoting-style - just hold the "shift"-Key (which toogles the current settings) while Your choose the command from the menu or type its Shortcut.
• EMPTY MESSAGE-HEADS
Another feature on users demand: You could get "clear" Messagehead in Your "Write"-window after You choose "Enter New Message". Holding the "Option"-Key toogles the setting on-the-fly.
PLEASE NOTE: the described behavior is only valid for the "Enter New Message"-Command. For "Answer" see below.
• MULTIPLE REPLIES
When You choose "Answer" and You already had an answer written, You always got this answer opened. To write a second answer, just hold down the "Option"-Key while You choose the command. Of course, this answer wouldn't be a "real"-reply, and so it wouldn't be linked into the reply-chain.
The "To"-field of the "Write"-Window is always empty given to You, because You should use this feature to write the reply to another person than the original one.
There is no ability to make the "Option"-Key behavior the default.
• NEW FILES / SUMMARY*.XRS
Inside QWK/XRS choose it from the "Windows"-Menu to view the file You got from Your BBS (command enabled, if the file exists). Your font/size-changes will be saved.