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.
Jun 12, 1993 - Patch to version 7.1
Released both an upgrade (patch) and a full release.
Bugfix - Version 7 deleted all "GIF" and "TD0" files. fixed.
Bugfix - Previous version would not run if they were made
"readonly". Fixed.
Jul 1, 1993 - Ver 8.0 - standard update
Bugfix - The ability to remove files from a "list" was rendered
inoperable for "ZIP" and "ARJ" files. Fixed.
Bugfix - Version 7 could leave orphaned log entries under some
normal circumstances. This has been repaired.
Bugfix - Some of the newer ARJ SFX files were not properly
recognized. Fixed.
Bugfix - Version 7 could, under some circumstances, become unable
to remove it's temporary directory. Fixed.
Bugfix - The add option of SQZ was including the paths to the added
file. Fixed. SQZ files are now "updated" rather than
"added" to avoid duplicates. Also the SQZ comment is now
stripped before processing.
Added - Version 8.0 now supports the HACKLIST "IDX" files directly
as a list to be used for "hack checking". The "COL" file is
still supported, as is the method described in the
"THDPRO.DOC".
Added - THD ProScan now supports the self extracting form of "HYP"
files. Previously all Self extract data starting codes were
hard coded into the EXE file. I have since found out how to
read the executeable header and now get the appropriate
address from there.
Change - TBSCAN command line parameters needed to be changed again
to remain compatible with TBSCAN version 6.03. See details
in NEWINV8.TXT.
Change - The ARJ strip comment line was modified for compatibility
with ARJ241.
Change - The PKZIP "add" line has been modified to use maximum
compression when adding loaders to archives.
Change - Testing of SQZ archives will now be done on the same drive
as the original archive whenever possible, due to SQZ.EXE
experiencing difficulty when running across drives.
Change - Memory swapping has been fully optimized. THD ProScan
Version 8 leaves barely over 2k in memory when performing
external tasks.