What's new in RemoteAccess 1.10/1.11
------------------------------------
ENHANCEMENTS
* Implemented full multi-lingual support. The
RemoteAccess distribution archive contains a
language editor (in RACONFIG) and ENGLISH.RAL,
a "ready to go" .RAL language definition file.
Note that as of this release, there is NO hard-coded
text contained in the main program executables; every
one of the approximately 500 text prompts and their
colours may be sysop-defined with the language editor.
Before you attempt to modify or create a language it
is important that you read the relevant section in
the documentation first.
Support features include a language number field in
each user's record, a new menu command for the user
to select a new language (type 63), and support in
RAMENU to switch between different language menu
directories (ALT-N). The selected language is
displayed on the F5 status bar.
* Implemented full support for configurable date
formats. RemoteAccess now supports four user-selectable
date formats:
DD-MM-YY
MM-DD-YY
YY-MM-DD
DD-Mmm-YY
The sysop may choose to force a particular date format
or allow new users to select their preference. Additional
support features include a menutype for selecting a new
format (type 64), the DATEFMT.A?? textfile which is
displayed just before the user selects a new format, and
the ^F< textfile control code, to display the currently
selected date format.
* Implemented a "fast-index" system to the userfile.
Significant speed increases are achieved by maintaining
a small index file internally.
{+} Implemented configurable file description lines.
Build a template string in RACONFIG from the following
macro characters:
% - Full filename, uppercase
^ - Full filename, lowercase
& - Partial filename (no extension), uppercase
! - Partial filename (no extension), lowercase
@ - Date (in user's selected format)
# - File size (bytes)
$ - File size (k)
| - New line
` - '*' if new, space if not
~ - Description
To emulate the old hardcoded display use:
[0E% [0D# [0A@` [03~
* Added support for two new text files:
XFERPROT.A?? - displayed in place of the protocol list.
LANGUAGE.A?? - displayed in place of the language list.
* Added the ability to forward files with local
messages.
* RemoteAccess now supports these archive formats:
.ARC/PAK/PKA
.ZIP
.ZOO
.LZH/LZS
.DWC
.MD
.LBR
.ARJ
.HYP
{+} Added a keyboard password lock option to RACONFIG;
note that this is also required to use RACONFIG
itself; if you forget it then all you can do is
erase CONFIG.RA and create a new one. The -K
command-line parameter is no longer supported.
* Paging hours are now configurable on a per-day
basis.
* Added an option to RACONFIG to auto-capitalise the
location of new users.
* If you try to post a message to a non-existant
user in a local area, RA will accept it after
verification that the name is correct.
* A message addressed to "Sysop" using the /T=
parameter will now be redirected to the user defined
as the sysop in RACONFIG.
* RA will now default to local mode if the comport
specified is 0.
* Added an "auto chat capture" option to automatically
open the capture log whenever chat is started.
* BADPWD.ASC is displayed when a user enters
a "bad password" message to the sysop.
* Added a TIMEhh.A?? textfile, displayed after the
WELCOME1.A?? file when hh matches the current hour
number (24 hour format).
* Menu commands may now use <CR> as a hotkey,
enabling their use as a default selection.
* New textfile macros:
^K\ - Clear to end of line.
^K]nnn - Display language prompt number nnn;
must be zero-padded.
^K[cc - change colour (cc = colour, in hex, zero padded)
^F= - Auto message forwarding ON/OFF
^F> - Name (if any) of message forwardee
^F? - User's current file ratio (number)
^F@ - User's current file ratio (kb)
^F[ - KB download limit remaining today
^F\ - Name of selected language
^F] - User's comment field
* The character (wait for Enter key) is now
supported in menu display lines.
* Added support for local uploads and downloads.
* Added the current page status to the status bar; when
in paging hours [PAGE ON] is displayed. If normal
paging hours have been overridden with ALT-O, the
page symbol will flash.
{+} Added VIP.CTL support; if a user listed in VIP.CTL
logs on RA sounds a short paging bell and displays
the user's comment field if not empty. (Note that
the local bell may be disabled by activating the
scroll lock key). If present, the VIP.A?? textfile
will be displayed.
{+} The "Sysop next" function now exits with an errorlevel
of 2 after the logoff bell to enable your batchfile
to reload RA in local mode or take the system down.
{+} Added a toggle flags menu command (type 65). It
accepts the following parameters in the optional
data field:
<flagset><flagnum><action>
Action can be:
- : Turn flag OFF
+ : Turn flag ON
* : Toggle flag
For example, the optional data "A1+ A2- D8*" would
turn flag A1 on, A2 off, and toggle flag D8.
* RACONFIG has been completely rewritten, and now
incorporates RAMENU, USERED and RALANG into the one
executable file.
* RA now takes the modem off-hook when a call is
terminated.
* Textfile macro control codes may now be used in
normal menu display lines.
{+} Added a printer hardware option to RACONFIG.
Valid printer types are LPT1, LPT2, and COM1
to COM3.
* The update security msg reader function now only
allows a user to update a user whose security
level is less than his own.
* Added a menu command (type 66) to change the
availability of text file shells. The optional
data line is either ON or OFF.
* RA now supports optional highlighted input fields.
Select RACONFIG.Options.Colours.Input (black on
black disables this feature).
{+} Added a group mailing facility. The following
macros are valid in the "to" field of a message
provided the user has a high enough security
level:
@[g] - send message to all users in group [g]
@ALL - send message to all users
=[s] - send to all users with security = [s]
>[s] - send to all users with security > [s]
<[s] - send to all users with security < [s]
A separately addressed message is generated for
each qualifying user, so large group mailings
can take a little while to process.
* Added a per-area option in RACONFIG to determine
whether users are allowed to delete messages.
* If a user enters an invalid "to" name when entering
a message in a local area, he/she is given the
option of doing a userlist command.
{+} It is now possible to specify in RACONFIG a default
subscription expiry date (in days) when a new user
logs on.
* Added a RACONFIG option to lock the modem at a fixed
speed.
* Added an "IEMSI Only" option which requires all logons
to use IEMSI.
* RA now gives the user the option to disconnect after
downloading files attached to a message.
* RA now has the ability to generate custom exitfiles
similar to the DORINFO1.DEF (RBBS) and DOOR.SYS (DoorWay)
files it supports internally. Create a template file
with the extension .RAT in the system directory which
contains any valid textfile macros. On the commandline
for a type 7 shell, place the parameter:
*Sfilename.ext
Where 'filename' is the base filename of the .RAT template
file. RA will process the file and create filename.ext
where the EXITINFO.BBS file is stored.
* MSGFWD.A?? will be displayed at logon if the user
has auto message-forwarding enabled.
* Added an option to swap to disk/EMS before an
ALT-J command.
* Unreceived messages addressed to you are now
highlighted in the full-screen reader.
* Added a second modem init string to RACONFIG.
* Added support for the RAXITnnn.eee semaphore file. If
RAXITnnn.eee is found at any time it will delete it and
exit with errorlevel eee. (nnn is the node number).
{+} While RA is waiting for a call it will create
a semaphore file called RAREADY.nn (nn = node
number), and when a user is online it will
create a file called RABUSY.nn.
* Added the user's AGE to the F2 status bar.
* Added support for HANDLES.CTL, in which the sysop may
specify a list of undesirable handle names.
{+} If the 'sysop warnings' message area is set in RACONFIG
(previously 'pwd failure' message area), the sysop will
be notified of any duplicate/unacceptable phone numbers
via a private message.
* Added support for separate list, download and upload
security settings for each file area. It's important
that you walk through your files setup to ensure that
all the security levels are still correct.
* Added GOTO to the questionnaire command language. The
syntax is GOTO <label>, where <label> is a 1 to 12
alphanumeric name. Each label is declared on a line
by itself preceded by a colon. For example, this code
loops continuously:
:start
goto start
* Implemented support for the new USRobotics Courier
HST V32BIS modem connect strings (7200, 12000 and
14400 bps).
* Implemented an auto message-forwarding feature. If
a user is going to be away for an extended period
of time, he/she may specify the name of another
user to whom all his/her mail is redirected.
(Menu type 67).
* Added a full screen chat module. Note that this only
works if an interactive EMSI session has been established.
Neither ANSI nor AVATAR support is required. To force
the "normal" line-chat mode, press SHIFT together with
ALT-C.
{+} Activating the scroll-lock key disables the paging sound
- note that this does not affect or disable paging hours
in any way, it simply silences the speaker.
* Added support to optionally set 43/50 line mode when
RemoteAccess fires up. (RACONFIG.Other.Video)
* It is now possible to include a /F anywhere on the
optional data line of any of the 3 file search menu
commands. This makes it possible for the sysop to limit
a search to the current file template area only.
* Cleaned up the memory-swap code and reduced the amount
of resident code by about half while the shell is
active.
* Changed the behaviour of handle and alias message areas
- if a user posts a message in a handles-only area and
his/her handle is blank, then RA will automatically use
the user's name for the "from" field. When a user posts
in an alias area, RA inserts the user's handle (if any)
at the prompt, which the user may then edit or press
<CR> at.
* ALT-J is now available from the "waiting for call"
screen.
* Added a hotkey on the "wait for call" screen
which will temporarily disable incoming calls.
* Added support to attempt to detect whether the user's
terminal supports ANSI automatically at logon, by
sending a code to request the remote's cursor position.
If ANSI is detected, RA will display LOGO.ANS instead
of LOGO.ASC.
* The change password menu command prompts the user for
his/her old password before continuing.
* Changed the behaviour of a fast logon. If <CR> is pressed
at the password prompt on a blank entry, RA will prompt
for a full user name.
* RACONFIG now accepts full 8 bit ASCII characters
at all input prompts.
* Fixed the handling of the newmail prompting so that
it recycles unless the user selects kill, mark received,
or read.
* Added a new user Yes/No/Ask option in RACONFIG for
the full screen message editor. Note that the
requirement for the user to have ANSI enabled to use
the external editor has been removed.
* The character echoed back to the user during the
input of a password-type prompt is now definable.
If the option field in RACONFIG is left blank, then
nothing is echoed when a key is pressed.
* Added handle support to the user list, today's callers
and who else online menu commands. Handles will be
displayed instead of real names if a /H is found on
the optional data line of any of these three menu
types.
* Implemented support for the SoftCR character ($8D) as
a regular printable character, in both the internal
message editor and message reader.
* Added separate per-file area options to exclude
individual areas from a new files scan and upload
duplicate checking.
* Added the GROUPnnn.A?? textfile, displayed after the
SECnnn.A?? textfile, if present, to all users of the
specified group number.
* Changed the quoting style slightly so that original
blank message lines are represented by a blank line
without the quote header. RemoteAccess also attempts
to 'clean up' multilevel quotes.
* A '#' in the message quote field in RACONFIG is now
converted to the original poster's initials forced
into lowercase.
* The current file and message template areas are
now saved permanently in each user's record.
{+} Added an option in RACONFIG to define an optional
external chat utility. If this field is non-blank
and the sysop initiates chat mode at any time, the
defined command-line will be executed. All normal
shell control characters are available.
* RA now supports the TASK environment variable used
by FrontDoor and some other applications. Note that
the -N command-line parameter overrides the value
held in TASK.
BUG FIXES
* RA would allow uploading in local mode, which had
one or two undesirable side effects. Fixed.
* When doing a combined read, sometimes pressing 'N'
would cause RA to drop out of the full screen
message reader. Fixed.
* A menu selection which had one of the menu macro
characters as it's hotkey would display the expanded
macro when selected, instead of the actual character.
Fixed.
* If a user asked to attach files to a message but then
didn't actually send any, RA would leave an empty
'orphaned' directory. Fixed.
* Fixed a small problem in the internal ANSI/AVT driver
which was causing 'bleeding' of the background colour
when the screen scrolled up.
* Corrected a small problem contained in the original
IEMSI specs, which defined the user's birthdate as a
hexadecimal representation of the date in unix format.
Since a unix time is the number of seconds since midnight
on January the 1st 1970, it meant that nobody could be
born before that date. The date is now sent as a string
of the form YYYYMMDD.
* If the sysop set the "ask for voice/data number" to
"yes", and a user logged on using IEMSI with a blank
number, RA would not prompt the user for a valid number.
Fixed.
* Fixed a problem that would cause RA to set the user's
# of files download counter to 65535 under certain
conditions when a file was skipped during a zmodem
download session.
* If a download file was skipped, the file list window
on the local console would get screwed up. Fixed.
* Fixed a problem which was causing RA to not correctly
recognise a users download limits when logged on at
4800 bps.
* ASCII character #255 is now filtered out at all
alphanumeric input prompts.
* RA no longer immediately displays BADFILES.CTL when a
YModem upload is selected by the user.
* RA no longer requires that DESQview's Printer Contention
handling be disabled for multi-line operation.
* RA will not display the "send files?" prompt if the
user is entering a password warning message to the
sysop.
* IEMSI handshakes would not work if the user had pressed
a key during RA's load. This has been fixed.
* In message read w/pausing, more prompting is now only
active for the current message.
* Fixed the upload credit logic.
* RA would not process external file transfers properly
if it's protocol control file was deleted during the
transfer.
* The new file scan start date is now correctly parsed.
* Previously RA would not append the filename to the upload
path when activating an external protocol that does not
support batch transfers. This has been fixed.
* If a conference is marked as read-only, users may now
reply to messages via netmail, if available.