HISTORY.DOC

10.6 KB 81c63cde694331e7…
                             THD ProScan History
                             -------------------

Aug 20, 1992 - Ver 1.00 - First official release
                 - a command.com compatible counterpart to
                   the THDscan series of upload testers.

Sept 28, 1992 - Ver 2.00 -
        
        Bugfix - Insert current directory for some "found" utilities 
                 during install.
        Bugfix - Fixed error when extensions not supplied during 
                 installation.
        Bugfix - Added conditional delay to the program, to allow the
                 ansi screen to complete on fast systems.
        Bugfix - Stopped upper imbedded indicator from flashing during 
                 the entire embedded archive testing process.
        Bugfix - Fixed some errors in the "move" routines which could
                 cause runtime errors.
        Bugfix - Redirected Scan.exe's output as it seems to find gateway   
                 if it is installed.
        Bugfix - The tester now requires a drive and path before it will 
                 begin operation.
        Added  - Errorlevel 5 to retain compatibility with BBS programs which
                 use this as an indicator that a file is to be resumed.
        Added  - Support for NON-ansi users.
        Added  - Removed any attempt to send user output when a fossil is 
                 not found.
        Added  - Internal archive identification by ID codes rather than 
                 the previous use of extension . (also allows testing of 
                 self-extracting archives)
        Added  - The ability to preserve the AV in protected ZIP files.
        Added  - The ability to fail files based on date.
        Added  - Reporting of the BBS-name through the user-side ansi.

Oct 27, 1992 - Ver 3.0 -No additions (Streamlined code and bugfixes)
        
        Bugfix - Internal archives which were not configured for, caused
                 the system to choke with a runtime error. Fixed.
        Bugfix - A runtime error #6 was reported by a limited number of
                 systems (using Share.exe). Repaired.
        Bugfix - A file failing the scan operation was still being
                 reported as having failed scanning by "VER 1" (whoops).
        Bugfix - Some optimizing of code resulting in a smaller exe file.

Nov 15, 1992 - Ver 4.0 - Emergency release to fix a problem with Scan

        Bugfix - The redirection of SCAN.EXE's output introduced in Version 
                 2 was removed due to problems with detection errorlevels
                 not being returned to the tester correctly under MS-DOS's
                 command.com.

        Bugfix - The ansi screen now correctly identifies the version.
                 Version 3 reported version 2 on the ansi screen.

Feb 1, 1993 - Ver 5.0 - Standard update

        Added  - Installation can now read settings from the previous
                 version of THDPRO.EXE and incorporate them into the present
                 version. (only version 4 is supported for this feature)

        Added  - Support for the new PKZIP 204e self extracting files.
                 As a result Version 5 absolutely requires PKZIP version
                 204e for the testing of "ZIP" archives.

        Added  - A hack list can now be used (such as the "HACK REPORT")
                 to avoid testing files with filenames that you do not want
                 sent to your system. (files will fail but be saved)

        Added  - The ability to supply a comport from the command line to
                 override the default when being used on a multi-node system.

        Added  - The use of comport "0" to suppress remote output.

        Added  - THD ProScan now displays the name of the file being tested
                 before testing begins as well as informing the sysop when
                 testing has been completed.

        Bugfix - Internal delays were lengthened for those systems with fast
                 computers and slow communications.

        Bugfix - Previous versions would choke on illegal filenames (fixed).

Feb 12, 1993 - Ver 5.1 - Upgrade

               - Issued an upgrade which repaired an incorrect version
                 number for version 5 as well as restoring the "syntax
                 report".

               - Included THD ProScan's Terminal Assistant Version 2.
                 Upgraded to avoid choking on directories and read only
                 files.

May 2, 1993 - Ver 6.0 - Standard update

        Bugfix - An old problem for RA sysops has been found and removed.
                 In some very odd circumstances, RA users had a problem with
                 THD ProScan deleting the wrong directory. Due to the rarity
                 of the occurrence and the inability to reproduce the
                 effect, it was assumed to be a strange conflict between the
                 tester and RA. I did however manage to find a way to
                 duplicate the occurance and have removed the problem code.

        Bugfix - A change was made to allow simultaneous operation on two
                 or more nodes. Previously this would cause problems with 
                 the testing and the logs.

        Bugfix - A problem with previous versions, whereby certain directory
                 structures could cause a runtime error 5 while testing
                 archives has been repaired.

        Bugfix - A user reported a Runtime error 103 when running THDPRO.EXE
                 It was found that this error was caused by his deleting
                 the directory in which THD expected to create his log
                 files. When THD could not find the directory, it choked. It
                 now tests for this condition and exits if unable to
                 initialize the log file.

        Bugfix - Reportedly, Version 5 failed "Gif-lited" files during the
                 GIFTEST run. Unconfirmed, but version 6 properly recognizes
                 an errorlevel 10 exit from Giftest.

        Bugfix - Previous versions would fail valid archives if they did not
                 have a proper file extension. Fixed.

        Added  - Memory swapping while running the more "intense" tasks.
                 Memory overhead will be reduced by about 48k during SQZ
                 functions and SCAN functions. Memory reductions are
                 compliments of TurboPower Software's EXECSWAP program.

        Added  - Improved internal error checking to detect changes from
                 original configuration.

        Added  - Heuristic testing for viruses through the use of TBSCAN.EXE
                 or F-PROT.EXE.

        Added  - Installation can read settings from the previous
                 version of THDPRO.EXE and incorporate them into the present
                 version. (only versions 4 and 5 are supported for this
                 feature). All future versions will support this feature for
                 the two versions prior to itself.

        Added  - Support for the new PKZIP 204g self extracting files.
                 As a result Version 6 absolutely requires PKZIP version
                 204g for the testing of "ZIP" archives. (All versions
                 between 1.10 and 2.04g are supported)

        Added  - Support for the SQZ archive type.

        Added  - "Move/Rename" suppression for those BBS programs that
                 choke when files are renamed or moved.

        Added  - The ability to substitute a non-zero comport for the local 
                 comport. Sysops who use a local logon to test files can now
                 do so by telling THDPRO.EXE to substitute "0" when testing 
                 on a different comport, thereby avoiding remote output during 
                 logons to a specific node.
        
        Upgrade- Major code optimization and the introduction of encryption
                 into the tester code resulting in a significantly smaller
                 executable file.
        
        Change - The method used to identify the archives has been improved
                 to increase the speed.

        Change - Previously, it was recommended to compress the executable 
                 file after installation. Due to the introduction of 
                 encrytion into this release, that recommendation no longer 
                 holds. The tester will not work if the file is changed.

        Change - Included THD ProScan's Terminal Assistant Version 3
                 in the archive. Contains a fix for a problem when source
                 and destination directories were the same as well as the
                 ability to test directories other than the source
                 configured internally. See THDTERM.DOC for details.

May 9, 1993 - Ver 6.1 (Patch)

        Bugfix - The release of TBSCAN version 6 meant that the parameters
                 needed to interact with it would need to be revised. This
                 upgrade changed the parameters so that TBSCAN would not
                 exit with an error on every run.

Jun 9, 1993  - Ver 7.0 - Standard Update

        Bugfix - "GIF" and "TD0" files found internally to a valid archive type
                 could cause version 6 to run forever. (fixed)
        
        Bugfix - PkZip 204 "AV" codes are now properly recognized.

        Bugfix - In some odd circumstances, version 6 could inadvertantly
                 remove the "current" directory instead of the temporary
                 directory. (fixed)

        Change - PkZip's "AV" protection is no longer optional.

        Change - The parameters for TBSCAN version 6+ have been optimized.
                 Support for earlier versions is no longer available.

        Added  - The ability to supply a "list" of files to be removed from
                 the archives.

        Added  - Preservation of the Archive's original date and time.

        Change - MAJOR coding changes have resulted in reduced memory usage,
                 increased speed, and the ability to search much farther
                 than previous versions.

        Change - The order of drives selected for use can now be reversed
                 or "rotated". (During the installation)

        Change - A change in the way TurboSoft's EXECSWAP program was
                 utilized has resulted in the release of all but about 5 k
                 of THDPRO.EXE's memory when running external tasks. All
                 calls to external programs are now done through EXECSWAP.
                 The Program itself uses about 75k of memory.