ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 Shareware Freeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)

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Text File | 1991-07-28 | 46.1 KB | 1,201 lines

---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: 07/28/91 *-*-*-* Silver Xpress Beta Document *-*-*-* *-*-*-* Controlled Beta Released To the Public *-*-*-* (c) copyright 1988-1991 by Santronics Software This document covers all the changes for all the XPRESS systems. This includes OPUS 1.03, OPUS 1.10, OPUS 1.70, RBBS 17.3, Maximus, PCBoard 14+, Remote Access, Quick BBS (and clones), and other non-direct Xpress systems like Fido BBS, TBBS, Tag (beta), Gap, Wildcat, SearchLight, Telegard who are using Xpress in some way kludged fashion. I HIGHLY recommend reading the whole thing. BETA DATE : 07/28/91 BETA FILE VERSIONS: OPUS 1.03 : 227F121B.ZIP OPUS 1.10 : 227F221B.ZIP OPUS 1.20 : 227F321B.ZIP <--- NEW! MAX 1.02 : 227M121B.ZIP <--- NEW! QBBS 2.62+ : 229Q121B.ZIP RBBS 17.3 : 227R121B.ZIP RA 0.4+ : 227A121B.ZIP PCB 14+ : 227P117B.ZIP 0) Version 21B for all models is a maintenance update to the wide beta release. IT IS STILL NOT THE OFFICIAL VERSION. 1) Installation/Upgrade - Read Install.doc 2) New Changes GENERIC o NOTE: Xpress will NO longer default to making the SYSOP a Xpress Sysop. You must use XPUSER to change the status. o Added Desqvu awareness to XPMAIL and XMT.EXE. Both will do shadow buffering now if the MT1 switch is used. If -MT1 is used, and Multitasking is detected, then shadow buffering and time splicing will be enabled. Previously Desqvu was automatically investigated, and enabled if found. This caused some havoc with some desqvu clones like OmniView. o supports 14400 baud rate. If this value is passed to XPMAIL, it will be supported. o Added Dnload/Upload Sysop Options o Fixed up the XPRESS ANSWER MACHINE service. Now users with reader 2.28 can create XAM recordings. To create a XAM recording, create a message with the header: TO: XPRESS MASTER SUBJECT: XAM o added a new variable to XPCFG called to the SERVICE_AREA. This is the message area where any SERVICE CALL will "CAN" create mail to. In the case of XAM, if the receiver of a XAM message selected to view the message later, than the XAM message will be put into the Service Area as a PRIVATE message to him. Create a new message area and call it "Xpress Service Area". It will come in handle now and in the future. Database reports, Fax receipts etc will go into this area for the user to pick up. Make sure the user can select this area. Make it a READ ONLY AREA. o Added double check for Clearing Area(s). o During autodnload, if mail was exceeded FLEX SELECT went into an infinite do-loop. Now Flex will be disabled allowing the user to change the mail bundle information. o Added to XPCFG an archiver Estimate Compression Ratio for each archiver. Also removed the "ZIP" word from the statement that was displayed. o Added Choice List to Protocol and Archiver info screens. HIT F2 in these fields and XPCFG will display a choice list to select an predefined statement. See the *.LIS files. o /UB %ub switches were removed from default XPCFG configuration and replaced with /B %ub. XMT was changed to accept the /B parameter to tell XMT what baudrate to used for calculating the efficiency of the transfer. Via XPCFG, you can pass: %b - pc connect rate %ub - user connect rate You don't need the /B parameter. In this case, XMT will detect the PC buad rate and use it for calculation the transfer efficiency. o Added/fixed Service options: - Added a field to process all areas YES/NO - fixed a bug convert to text - added a field to include header in text YES/NO o fixed bug in upload where it was not exiting after failed upload occurred. OPUS 1.70 o fixed error 100 where some utilities where createing ZERO-LENGTH lastread files for the sysop. o There was a confusion over how exactly creates the LASTUS##.DAT file. Sometimes it created LASTUS00.DAT and other times LASTUS01.DAT. This confusing caused a zero baud rate problem being passed to XPMAIL and thus causing the RUN TIME 200 critical error. If you ever see a RunTime Error of 200, it is because the BAUD RATE is zero. Previous, Xpress would set it to 9600 if it was zero and in LOCAL MODE. Now it will set it 9600 if it zero only. MAXIMUS o fixed error 201. Forgot to do a priv check for file requesting areas o fixed error 100 where some max utilities where createing ZERO-LENGTH lastread files for the sysop. RA/QBBS o removed check for "undefined area". Now he can moved into area. o fixed error 201 bug. It was trying to display a help line for the netmail options. OPUS/MAX o Allow for Adjusting of titles with a FK8 in area definitions KNOWN SITUATIONS WITH XPRESS THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED o Opus/Max systems have a Edit Priv value which is not respected. o A change in the XPCFG logic to better handle multi-node setups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: 07/14/91 *-*-*-* Silver Xpress Beta Document *-*-*-* *-*-*-* Controlled Beta Released To the Public *-*-*-* (c) copyright 1988-1991 by Santronics Software This document covers all the changes for all the XPRESS systems. This includes OPUS 1.03, OPUS 1.10, OPUS 1.70, RBBS 17.3, Maximus, PCBoard 14+, Remote Access, Quick BBS (and clones), and other non-direct Xpress systems like Fido BBS, TBBS, Tag (beta), Gap, Wildcat, SearchLight, Telegard who are using Xpress in some way kludged fashion. I HIGHLY recommend reading the whole thing. BETA DATE : 07/14/91 BETA FILE VERSIONS: OPUS 1.03 : 227F117B.ZIP OPUS 1.10 : 227F217B.ZIP OPUS 1.20 : 227F317B.ZIP <--- NEW! MAX 1.02 : 227M117B.ZIP <--- NEW! QBBS 2.62+ : 229Q117B.ZIP RBBS 17.3 : 227R117B.ZIP RA 0.4+ : 227A117B.ZIP PCB 14+ : 227P117B.ZIP -2) SYSOP! Hi, thanks for supporting Xpress. You and your users have made what it is today! There are many new features in Xpress that will take your BBS into the 21th century. The list is LONG but the power is there. We're talking videotext readiness, document storage and retrieval, fascimile, order entry, data entry, questionaires, database services, etc. I have prepared Xpress to allow you whether a hobby, subscription, or commercial remote service to integrate today's communication technology into your system. And guess what? Xpress still works if you don't need these new technologies. These are options. Oh, thats only the new technology. There is a long list of improvements to the Xpress system, new config options, more flex select commands. As for the registration information, although this package was designed as "upgrade", you don't need anything else to install Xpress. If you wish to register Xpress then pick up an official copy of Xpress and fill out the order form. For more information you can call 412-864-2060 and ask for me. -1) You can quarantee this is the LAST Release of any beta version unless there is a critical problem found. The only reason this was made open is to get all the last minute bugs out of the way (if any <snicker>). 0) Some of the new technology described in this document cannot be used with the old reader. The new reader is still on the lab table, but there are some features you can immediately take advantage of and is independent of the reader, like FaX Xpress, File Attachments, etc. 1) Installation FOR PEOPLE WITH THE VERY LAST BETA VERSIONS DATED 07/07/91, SIMPLE REPLACE THE EXE. HOWEVER, SEE THE XPUTIL.ZIP FILE BELOW. NEW or UPGRADE -------------- I must apologize, but ALL files in this system has changed except for the xpress user database format. Please read changes prior to going thru this installation. Sorry for the headache, but I didn't write a converter yet. 0) Removing prior Setup. Delete XP*.EXE Keep XPUSER.DAT and XPDUPES.DAT, and AREAS.DEF if it applies to your Xpress setup. Make a BULLETIN directory and copy your READER bulletins there. Delete the files in the MISC directory. (UPGRADE ONLY) Renamed the USERSTAT directory to EXTRA or simply delete it. (UPGRADE ONLY) 1) UnZip the Beta File in the \XPRESS directory. BETA.DOC SWAP.DOC SWITCHES.DOC XPEXE.ZIP XPMISC.ZIP XPBULL.ZIP XPUTIL.ZIP XPREN121.ZIP (ONLY F1,F3,M1,R1,P1 - SEE NOTES ON XPREN) Unzip XPEXE The following directories extending from the current directory are: MISC\ unzip XPMISC.ZIP there BULLETIN\ unzip XPBULL there if you don't have bulletins UTIL\ unzip XPUTIL here EXTRA\ create this if you don't have it. 2) RUN XPCFG.EXE 2) Changes/Fixes Since 07-07-1991 XPRENUM.EXE o Xpress Renumber was designed mainly for the Xpress systems which lack a true lastread pointer system from the BBS. More specifically Opus 1.03, PCboard and RBBS when used under a fido *.msg format. Previous Xpress versions scanned fido mail by using dates. This proved unreliable. So Xpress was redesigned to use it's own lastread pointer system (only for the above systems). Thus XPRENUM was developed as a replacement for your current RENUMBERING utility so that Xpress lastread pointers can be maintained while cleaning up your mail areas. If you are using OPUS 1.03, PCBOARD or RBBS with Fido areas, then you MUST use XPRENUM.EXE QBBS, RA, OPUS 1.1x, OPUS 1.70, Maximus, PCBOARD or RBBS without FIDO areas do not need XPRENUM.EXE However, not only did the lastread pointer system work for Xpress and XPRENUM renumbered fido areas correctly, it did it at lightning Speed! So people were telling me they were using XPRENUM even though they didn't need it for their setup. It was faster than anything out there, so they say. I took it a step further, XPRENUM will now support OPUS 1.70, and Maximus 1.02 lastread pointer system. Even the TAG (beta) method of maintaining lastread pointers in a LASTREAD file, traditionally a sysop only file, is supported. Opus 1.1x people can NOT use this. It will not adjust user pointers stored in the USER database file. QBBS 2.75 Sysops o Silver Xpress for QBBS 2.75 still requires the old CONFIG.BBS format. I just recieved the structures to the new version and an update will be provided for direct interfacing. OPUS 1.70 (or is it 1.20 <smile>) o Opus 1.70 is now supported. Xpress behaves just like all others Xpress system the same exact way. However, Xpress also takes into account some of the new variables in Opus 1.70. Lets see if I remember them all: o Messages Sent and Message Read are updated o Private Access requirement to read private mail. What is not supported in this release is any of the SESSIONS stuff. That is coming but if you think about it, isn't that what Xpress offers already? The ability for a user to select areas for scanning mail!? Other than that, it's all the same but with the GREAT NEW TECHNOLOGY in Silver Xpress that you can read for yourself as you go thru this document. I want to give special thanks to Doug Boone for his help and participation in helping me complete Opus 1.70 Xpress. Thanks Doug. Any reference below made to OPUS 1.20 should be viewed as OPUS 1.70 MAXIMUS o Maximus 1.02 is now supported. This initial release basically gives the basic Xpress features. There is no need for LASTCONV.EXE Only 255 messages areas are supported. Area names between 00 - 99 correspond to the Xpress area number. Anything with special names is ordered sequentially within Xpress. ie, if your 101th area is called A1, Xpress users view this as the 101th area. I already have the logic for allow users to use letters as well as numbers so a new release will follow that naming logic. Xpress is also being prepared for 4096 message area support. However, I didn't want to tear up the code that much this late in the game. Most of the change is from dynamic memory method XPCFG is using to a more virtual system (logic all worked out, just a matter of doing it). Besides the above two items, you get all the other great features in Silver Xpress including all the NEW and GREAT technology and experience and support you get from Santronics Software. GENERIC o XPCFG now defaults to using the new XMT.EXE program for file transfers protocols. See XMT.EXE. Type XMT for help. XMT.EXE should not be distributed without Silver Xpress. XMT is designed to pass special result codes to XPMAIL to better control the result of file transfers. o Doug Boone found a bug where if a direct/keyword flex command was given, it generated a zero sum total for mail but it proceed to try to bundle mail. it would abort with code = 200. Fixed. o Added GROUP check for bulletins. If GROUP is defined for bulletin then it will be sent to user in the group. See XPCFG reader bulletin session. Use the new XPUSER program to define a group for users. Note: Under RA, if a group is defined in the RA user database, it will override the Xpress user group name. o Changed ToWhom Macros to accept macros with ! as well as @ keys. This would make XPREAD 2.28 compatible. This @ with the reader was issuing a list function for the field. o Added new mail tossing logic to take Xpress further into the 21th century. !*.* XpRead messages have a DEC extension to the file name, Standard Xpress reader Format. Only 256 areas supported. $*.* XpRead messages have a HEX extension to the file name. Upto 4096 message areas Supported Intended for future readers to create. %*.* Xpread messages have a HEX extension to the file name. Upto 4096 message areas Supported Intended for future readers to create. &*.* Xpread messages have a HEX extension for area name. Upto 4096 message areas Supported Intended for future readers to create. N*.* Novell MHS (TEXT) Messages have a HEX extension for area name. Novell is a special commercial format. Only 1.5 spec supported. T*.* Pure TEXT Messages have a HEX extension for area name. Implemented, but turned off. Mail with this file spec will be ignored and deleted. Must have the following file text context: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: PRIVATE: (text) Message Area attribute will follow those specified by area configuration. X*.* Xpread messages have a HEX extension for area name. Intented for Service Calls to create this message. These are the LAST files checked. Service calls can now create these files as a respond to a previously tossed and serviced !*.*, $*.*, &*.*, or %*.* file. OPUS, MAX, RBBS, PCBOARD o changed the method how LASTREAD was written. Random data could of been written to it accidently. NOTE: TAG (Beta) works very well with RBBS Xpress in the fido format. TAG (BETA) uses the traditional sysop only Fido file LASTREAD for users as well. The -LRF switch can be used for SYSOPS if sysops want the LASTREAD updated. If a user record number is passed as -LRFxxxx then Xpress will use that record number for the user. Again, this only pertains to TAG (BETA) systems using Xpress. RBBS TAB (BETA) does not UPPER CASE the user's name in DORINFO1.DEF. This version forces the UPPERCASE when this file is read. This should fix personal mail usage and sysop registration problems for TAB BETA Xpress members. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: 07/07/91 *-*-*-* Silver Xpress Beta Document *-*-*-* *-*-*-* Confidential! Do not release! *-*-*-* (c) copyright 1988-1991 by Santronics Software This document covers all the changes for all the XPRESS systems. This includes OPUS 1.03, OPUS 1.10, OPUS 1.20, RBBS 17.3, PCBoard 14+, Remote Access, Quick BBS (and clones), and other non-direct Xpress systems like TBBS, Tag, Gap, Maximus, Wildcat, SearchLight, Telegard who are using Xpress in some way kludged fashion. BETA DATE : 07/07/91 BETA FILE VERSIONS: OPUS 1.03 : 227F111B.ZIP OPUS 1.10 : 227F211B.ZIP OPUS 1.20 : 227F302B.ZIP <--- NEW! QBBS 2.62+ : 229Q111B.ZIP RBBS 17.3 : 227R111B.ZIP RA 0.4+ : 227A116B.ZIP PCB 14+ : 227P116B.ZIP 1) Installation I must apologize again, but ALL files in this system has changed except for the xpress user database. Please read changes prior to going thru this installation. This include upgrading from the previous beta set. I'm really sorry about this. 0) Removing prior Setup. Delete XP*.EXE Keep XPUSER.DAT and XPDUPES.DAT, and AREAS.DEF if it applies to your Xpress setup. Make a BULLETIN directory and copy your READER bulletins there. Delete the files in the MISC directory. Renamed the USERSTAT directory to EXTRA or simply delete it. 1) UnZip the Beta File in the \XPRESS directory. BETA.DOC SWAP.DOC SWITCHES.DOC XPEXE.ZIP XPMISC.ZIP XPBULL.ZIP Unzip XPEXE The following directories extending from the current directory are: MISC\ unzip XPMISC.ZIP there BULLETIN\ unzip XPBULL there if you don't have bulletins 2) RUN XPCFG.EXE 2) Changes/Fixes Since 06-30-1991 GENERIC o Accidently messed up the local console status line by removing caller information line. o For local mode sysop menu shell to dos, it will do a Jump2Dos. Jump 2Dos will now reset the user input response timer. o Changed Main menu option STATISTICS to say "Personal Log" (option L) o Erase Mail Recording Option delete message added. o Added the following to XPCFG Keep Personal Logs for Users: YES/no Local Console Sound Delay : number Local Console Sound Hertz : number o DesqView was not activated with communication I/O library. Under DV, time splicing is performed if the -MT1 switch is used. o added a small 2 second delay before hangup. o renamed USERSTAT directory to EXTRA. This is where all the extra user stuff will be stored. o added a BULLETIN directory to store all reader bulletins. Not Local bulletins but for Reader Bulletins. XPMAIL will search the given reader bulletin file spec first, then the bulletin directory. There is a reason for this. New utilties will be created in the future to maintain the reader bulletins. o fixed log of upld REP file showing 00/00/80 time stamp in user's log o enhanced the half life time response bells. doesn't issue so many bells and stops at 0 haltlife. o Added local console sound configuration in door. Now you can control the sound and pitch level of sound on the host side. o new users last usage date stamp is now set at to the current time. o Added a new local display of LRF switch and record status o Added a local halt message if the user was an abuser. o cleaned up the help logic. Config menu had two H hotkeys. When in expert or GX mode, the ? will display the detail novice menu. Another ? will display the help file for the given section. o Updated the miscellaneous help and display files. o Added a new display file that is showned to unregister users. o Added crlf in various places for clarification of displays. o XPSTATS.DAT is now optional. If not defined, it will be ignored. It is moved to the NODAL information screen. o removed the netmail access information from the XPCFG board information screen and moved it to the Mail Area Defination section. For OPUS/RBBS/PCBOARD, it was definabled in two places. o Fixed a bug in flex select where the Hold files were deleted but the internal file counters was not set to 0. o If a user downloaded mail, and during the same session a another scan was started but he aborted before it was completed, the lastread pointers were reset. Now a prompt will be issued. o Added a new option the the xpmail config menu, "RESET LAST READ POINTERS". A prompt is issued for comfirmation. RA/QBBS o RA/QBBS now has a Mail Area Definition Screen like the other Xpress Configuration programs. RA/QBBS sysops can now define the long title and use the override access variable. RBBS/PCBOARD o XPCFG was looking for XPMAIL.DEF. Made it AREAS.DEF only now. AREAS.DEF is always used to OVERRIDE ctl area information. OPUS 1.20 o added msg counter update to OPUS 1.20. Xpress will now update the number of messages read and sent. o Implemented Opus 1.20 version 7 of the Nodelist. o Private Priverledge and lock are used now for reading private mail. QBBS/RA o net mail credit was never being updated in EXITINFO.BBS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: 06/25/91 *-*-*-* Silver Xpress Beta Document *-*-*-* *-*-*-* Confidential! Do not release! *-*-*-* (c) copyright 1988-1991 by Santronics Software This document covers all the changes for all the XPRESS systems. This includes OPUS 1.03, OPUS 1.10, RBBS 17.3, PCBoard 14+, Remote Access, Quick BBS (and clones), and other non-direct Xpress systems like Maximus, Wildcat, SearchLight, Telegard who are using Xpress in some way kludged fashion. BETA DATE : 06/25/91 BETA FILE VERSIONS: RBBS 17.3 : 227R110B.ZIP OPUS 1.03 : 227F110B.ZIP OPUS 1.10 : 227F210B.ZIP QBBS 2.62+ : 229Q110B.ZIP RA 0.4+ : 227A115B.ZIP PCB 14+ : 227P115B.ZIP 1) Installation I must apologize, but ALL files in this system has changed except for the xpress user database. Please read changes prior to going thru this installation. 0) Remove prior Setup But keep XPUSER.DAT and XPDUPES.DAT 1) UnZip the Beta File. BETA.DOC SWAP.DOC SWITCHES.DOC XPMISC.ZIP XPEXE.ZIP 2) make a MISC directory extended off the XPRESS directory. Xpress will keep all display/help files in this directory. 3) UnZip XPMISC.ZIP into the MISC directory. 4) Unzip XPEXE.ZIP and run RUN XPCFG.EXE 2) Changes/Fixes Since 01-08-1991 GENERIC o fixed bug with XPA G goodbye option. o Added File Request PostPone option. A user stat file is created and during his mail download, the file will be copied to be packed. o Added File Attachment to user via XPFILE.UPL file. @username File checksum.FAT will be created on hold for user. o Rick reported that changing pointers for RBBS was not permanently save. Realized this is the case for all systems. o remove XPSUB.EXE (SUB PROCESSING FEATURE). Will start to use EXEC SWAPPING. o A MAJOR rewrite of code for Exec Swapping. Two new control variables in XPCFG.EXE Use Swap : YES/NO Swap Path : directory where to store swap file. The new switch -ES can be used to enable Exec Swapping. See SWAP.DOC o Multiple REP files are accepted now. During UPLOAD Xpress, will search for *.R?? files. o color bug in menus was fixed. o change expert mode of menu system to show valid keys above the "[time left] firstname, Enter Command: " prompt. This way the prompt can stay the same at all times. o added to XPRES USER DATABASE options dnload_allowed - allow reader dnload functions Upload_allowed - allow reader upload functions o XPDUPES.DAT, XPUSER.DAT now use BIOS file Share logic for multinode operations. o Xpress now returns time slices to DESQVU to allow other applications in other windows to run faster. o Added -MT# switch for selecting multitasker. 1 - desqview o Added new user configuration switch. A sysop can define a keyboard macro for new user configuration starting at the configuration menu. The macro can be defined on the command line as follows: -NCM<macro string> For example: XPMAIL ...... -NCMTZAZ will automatically issue TZAZ which is Transfer protocol Zmodem Archiver protocol Zip By using the new -NCM macro switch, you can run anything under Xpress for new users. Even Setup areas for him. o New ansi driver for local console display. See new XPCFG option to turn this on. Default is TRUE. o New switch -NLW for NO Local Ansi Window. o improved communications. Xpress will not repeat colors. o Implemented new GX command mode prompts. SX_MAIN SX_CFG SX_AREA SX_XFER SX_ARCH SX_FLEX SX_SYS SX_LOG A third menu level was added. GX command prompts streamline Xpress and makes it ready for Gold Xpress videotext system. o made -UB a generic switch. Was PCBOARD and RBBS only. The -UB switch sysop t set the user connect baud rate. Normally, Xpress will get this info directly from the BBS exit file (exitinfo.bbs etc). This switch allows for a override. o implemented MISC directory. Defined in XPCFG, all display file including help files are kept here. HELP files are only text files. o added new environment XPS variable to set swap directory. This will override the setting in XPCFG. o added the following new flex commands: #H - hold messages in area #. This is similar to the '-' command but Xpress will not set the lastread pointer and keep it at it's current value. FILE - show file(s) attached DFILE - Delete files attached MAIL - List Messages totals which will be bundled SIZE - Same as MAIL but will display compression information. TABle - Redisplay Scan Table o Added XAM "Xpress Answering Service" XAM is a nice feature which will allow users to setup mail recordings. When someone sends a message to this user, the mail recording will be displayed immediately. o Enhanced the sysop local console of Xpress. F1 - Display HELP screen F9 - Added F9 Exec Window shell F10 - Added F10 Jump to Dos shell o Added new SERVICE system to Xpress. See XPCFG.EXE Xpress Services is a great new enhancement for Xpress and should give Xpress a leg into the 21th century. Xpress Services allow sysops, 3rd party developers and integrators to add integrated Xpress solutions. If a Xpress service is defined for a particular message area, Xpress will run that application for each uploaded message into the area. A perfect example is FaX Xpress. o added SEMAPHORE option in XPCFG to created the following: upon GOODBYE >> $GOODBYE.SEM upon NORMAL EXIT >> $EXIT.SEM upon NETMAIL >> $NET.SEM upon ECHO MAIL >> $ECHO.SEM upon LOCAL >> $LOCAL.SEM upon NET+ECHO >> $ECHONET.SEM semaphore switch in XPCFG will turn this off. These are useful to setup post processing after Xpress is run but not immediately after the XPMAIL command. o Added Idiot proof 3rd party utility program call logic. No need to full qualify a path. Xpress will find it or will give you a error. - Added new ToField Macros @ALL@ Personalize Message to Xpress User @USER@ Same as ALL @GRP #@ Personalize Message to person in GROUP Group Establishment is as follows: Under RA, it will use the GROUP # in the RA user record. Under all other systems, it will use the GROUP #/name as defined in the Xpress user record. @access@ Personalize message to person with same access or better. Note: This messages are NOT understood by the BBS accept PCBOARD which only understands @USER@ and @ACCESS@. They are mainly designed for sysop usage. Xpress will temporary make them private during a Xpress scan to make sure the user does not get the message not intended for him. However, if you allow the user to read mail via the BBS, he will be able to see this message. Therefore, an extra precaution is to make all macro messages private. Here are some sample usages: In your LOCAL private only area, you can send a message to @ALL@ and the reader will pick up the message as a private/direct message to the user who scans the area. If you are using RA, you can now use the RA user GROUP field to send message only to individuals in a certain group with the @GRP #@ macro. I'm going to use this for my priority service members who are GROUP 1 and 2 on my system. There will always get a "personalized" messages. RBBS VERSION o RBBS version was made more generic for fido usage by ignoring the MAIN MESSAGE FILE. By not reading the main message file, the user's baud rate and BBS_SYSOP flag are not set. If the MAIN_MESSAGE_FILE is left blank, then the baud rate can be set by use the new switch -UB%1 where %1 is the baud rate passed. By default it will assume the modem rate is the user's baud rate or connect rate. RBBS PCB OPUS o fixed bug where abort download was not resetting fido areas. RA o Still had FLSEARCH.RA instead of FILES.RA. RA Xpress now looks for FILES.RA for file requesting. o fix bug with lastread value set to high when scan produced no mail. o Implemented RA 1.01 file sharing logic. o Fixed RA bug where usr xpress was set at integer and area access or user security in RA structures are WORD size. What happen was XPMAIL was not allowing users to select areas when area access was set over 32K. RA QBBS o Update_TossLog had a minus one to the file. o Implemented HIGHMSG counter again for RA/QBBS o Convert from HMS to QBBS msg attribute was bugged. This fixes the erroneous netmail/mail attribute behavior. o Xpress now updates the users # of message posted. o The -M switch is NO MORE. If EXITINFO is not found, then the -J must be used! The -J switch can now take a NAME. -J### or -J"First_Name Last_name" o Usrpriv was NEVER defined for Quick or RA!!! This should fix should netmail options, that appeared to be buggy at random to the beta testers. o The -J switch CANNOT be used under TYPE 7 because exitinfo information is not read and updated and RA log off the user on this. The -J switch should only be used OUTSIDE of RA and during local mode WHEN no EXITINFO exist. ie, vacation saver, sysop local mode. If -J is used and EXITINFO does exist, Xpress will ignore the -J switch. This is so that no confusion takes place. ie., two different users (-J user record not matching the exitinfo user name) I am not sure if the -J can be used with QBBS. My recommendation is too stay away from it accept at local mode outside of RA/QBBS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: 12/03/90 *-*-*-* Silver Xpress Beta Document *-*-*-* *-*-*-* Confidential! Do not release! *-*-*-* (c) copyright 1990 by Santronics Software This document covers all the changes for all the XPRESS systems. This includes OPUS 1.03, OPUS 1.10, RBBS 17.3, PCBoard 14+, Remote Access, Quick BBS (and clones), and other non-direct Xpress systems like Maximus, Wildcat, SearchLight, Telegard who are using Xpress in some way kludged fashion. BETA DATE : 12/03/90 BETA FILE VERSIONS: RBBS 17.3 : 227R107B.ZIP OPUS 1.03 : 227F107B.ZIP OPUS 1.10 : 227F207B.ZIP QBBS 2.62+ : 229Q107B.ZIP RA 0.4+ : 227A107B.ZIP PCB 14+ : 227P111B.ZIP 1) Installation o If you are using CURRENT versions of Xpress, then just replace the exe files with new versions. If you are not, then you must delete the XPMAIL.CTL file, and recompile. o delete the following: areas.hlp <<<----- replaced with select. xpmail.hlp <<<----- replaced with main. doornews. <<<----- replaced with news. flex.hlp <<<----- replaced with flex. config.hlp <<<----- replaced with config. 2) Changes/Fixes GENERIC TO ALL! o renamed the -RP (Sneak Preview) switch to -SP SP is easier to remember. o The Door program will now stamp the post time of a new messages with the BBS current system time. Normally, the reader does this when the user creates the message. However, some users do not have CLOCKS on their system and the message times get out of whack. There is a program from Italy that did this work for the door when the user uploaded his messages. This program is no longer required if you use it. o Cleaned up Display File Logic WELCOME(G)(X)(A) Welcome Screen NEWS(G)(X)(A) News Files NEWUSER(G)(X)(A) First Time User EXIT(G)(X)(A) Exit File From Xpress GOODBYE(G)(X)(A) Hangup from Xpress G is ansi version X is special Gold Xpress version (TBD - To be determined) A is avatar file Xpress will default to text version if G,X, or A file is not found. DO NOT PUT EXTENSION ON HIS FILES! o Door Area Selection Session new features. Changing Last read pointers and area selection. * toggle all areas. (flip selection) -* deselect all areas. +* select all areas. c * change last read pointers for each areas selected. o Aborted downloads will now give the user a another chance, or change the protocol and try again. o Added bundling percent completion display grid o Added new XPMAIL switch -G. -G enables a GOODBYE/HANGUP option. If enabled, the user will get a) hangup option off the main menu, b) timed prompt to abort the hangup and go back to the bbs, c) download and hangup option off any download process. o Added new option called XPRESS ACCESS LINE. It's a environmental string that XPMAIL.EXE will read if provided. SET XPA=command command: D - download mail U - upload mail G - hangup F cmd - Flex command. Must be last command after D command. examples: SET XPA=D U G F P* 0 Xpmail -p1 .... SET XPA= This means upload mail, download mail using flex cmd *P 0 and hangup. How will OPUS/RBBS/QBBS/RA/MAX set this command is not clear, but under PCB, a user can start a door and also pass parameters. During automatic download/upload process, if brand new user Xpress will reset the automatic hangup to false. o removed registration requirement for multi-line. o Added -NS switch. No Share.Com. Good for Novell systems. o New Flex Commands! S - redisplay the message SCAN result table. <area#>L<amt> - Grab last amt of message from area # <area#>F<amt> - Grab first amt of message from area # With the last two, users can download any amount of mail they want using the "First Amount" and the "Last Amount" options. Example commands: *F20 - Grab first 20 messages in all selected areas *L30 - Grab last 30 messages in all selected areas 33F10 - Grab first 10 messages in area 33 12L15 - Grab last 15 messages in area 12 o Some how the origin line stuff was getting all messed up when RA Xpress was developed. The origin line problem should be fixed. Not sure if current systems were affected. Please Test. o Forwarding/Read Only bug was found. Not every sysop what their users to be forwarding mail. It was typically a SYSOP only function. Depending on what XPRESS BBS the user user was using, he did or did not have forwarding capabilities. This was mostly true on all Xpress systems accept OPUS 1.03 types or those systems who has low security values across the board. Since Xpress was original written for OPUS 1.03, the reader knew of only one value - the OPUS 1.03 sysop value. The OPUS 1.03 sysop value were still being compared to user's access value which could be HIGHER depending on the BBS system he is on. The door now sets the user's ACCESS value to 0 thus the READER will never give the user forwarding options. Instead, the NEW reader recognizes a different forwaring flag whicn you can set on an user per user basis. This user forward flag can be set by new XPUSER.EXE provided. However, only readers beyond 2.28 will recognize this flag. o We found that the order of parameters in DSZ can hang up other nodes in multi-line setups. Put PORT %3 before anything else. o The DOOR is now ready to accept user FILE UPLOADS. The reader is not ready, however, to create the process. But, frontend systems for the reader is a very good way to get files uploaded to the door. There is 2 new options in XPCFG (Xpress Miscellaneous Information): FILE_UPLOAD_LIMIT 0 to 255 (0-disabled this option) FILE_UPLOAD_PATH o The Door now has a new main menu option - [S] User Statistics Statistics allow users to have a "LOG" of their personal Xpress activity. It will basically summary upload, downloads, file transfers, net mail information etc. The user CAN ONLY view his own stats. There is new option in XPCFG (Xpress Miscellaneous Information) that defines where the user stat file will be: USER_STAT_PATH o The door was made ready for some distributing processing work. OPUS MAX PCB RBBS o Fixed a bug with the -LRF switch. The -LRF switch allowed OPUS sysops to use the LASTREAD files as their last read pointers. Now RBBS and PCB sysops who have Fido Areas can use the switch as well. The -LRF switch is only active for TRUE sysops of the system and if you have FIDO Xpress areas. It does not apply to normal users. Oh, the bug. :-) This was never working for myself and no one ever complained so I never did anything about it. Now that I have incorporated it for RBBS and PCB, when I wrote the XPRENUM.EXE renum program, I found that XPMAIL was never writing the last read value back to LASTREAD file in each area because it was a READ-ONLY file. How did it become a read-only file? RENUM.EXE by Bob Hartman! I use it on my system. I guess others don't so there was never a problem. OPUS 1.03 PCB RBBS o Xpmail FIDO AREA scanning is purely based on a new XPRESS "LAST READ" pointer system. Xpmail Creates a XPLREAD.IDX file in each FIDO area used by XPRESS as users use the system. This file is read by xpmail, and it MUST be maintained by the NEW program XPRENUM.EXE during your maintenance hours. Run XPRENUM.EXE to see help. DO NOT RUN ANY OTHER PACKER/RENUM PROGRAM OTHERWISE POINTERS WILL BE TOTALLY LOST. XPRENUM is VERY FAST and if it doesn't do what your other renumbering program did, just like me know and I'll incorporate it quickly. With the new last read pointer system, XPMAIL is no longer dependent on the "Arrival Date" of messages (except for the Change Last Usage Date Pointer option where users can change the last read pointers based on a date given). With this new ability it opens the door for Xpress new Flex Select commands described below. This new pointer system is incorporated in XPRESS for OPUS 1.03, RBBS, and PCBoard. All the others already had a pointer system for their areas. AGAIN, this pointer system is strickly for FIDO areas (*.MSG areas). NOT areas that are in RBBS or PCB format. O There were TWO bug-date issues under OPUS, PCB and RBBS. 1) - scanning for new mail. Bug dates causes messages to be lost or re-packed. 2) - The reader displaying BUG-DATES. The reader displayed the OPUS style date written field for the post time and date of the message. If the field had ZERO, then the reader displayed BUG-DATE. The new last read pointer system resolved issue # 1. For issue #2, there is a NEW SWITCH -FBD "Fix Bug Date" that can be used with the door to have the door restamp the message with the official FIDO post time and date. This should resolved all reader bug-date issues. RBBS PCB o Sometimes a message or users record will have ASTRONOMICAL numbers in certain fields. When these numbers where out of whack, XPRESS aborted during a download. Xpress now fixes this problem by making sure the numbers are within normal double precision range. o The configuration program has been improved (XPCFG.EXE). It will allow you to interactively edit/maintain your areas. It still uses the AREAS.DEF file. If the file is present, it will read it. If the file is not present, it will assume a new areas.def will be created. Option C is the area definition screen. When you select this option, a GRID will be displayed. Selected Areas (areas available as selectable by users) are highlighted. Use the space bar to toggle the selection. Use your arrow keys to move around the grid. To edit or define an area, hit the return key and a data entry form will be displayed. You can page down and up to move between areas while in the data entry form. When you compile the system, XPCFG will CREATE the areas.def for you. All comments in the original areas.def will be lost. There is one extra AREA keyword in the AREAS.DEF: ACTIVE TRUE/FALSE - area available as selectable by users You can still manually edit the areas.def file, but like before you still need to compile it with XPCFG. Just make sure you add the new ACTIVE keyword for each area, otherwise Xpress will assume the area is not available to the xpress user. RA QBBS o RA and QBBS Xpress now uses the LASTREAD.BBS file for last read pointers. This removes the HIGHMSGREAD prompt during configuration. PCB o Sometimes in PCB, the user's pointers would get reset to 0 when he deselected the area and exited back to the BBS. Xpress now READS all his POINTERS regardless if he is a member of that conference or not. Before it only read the ones he was a member of. All the others was set at zero. This was fixed.