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< T.A.G. Version 2.6d New Features Documentation >
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/ T.A.G. Bulletin Board System \
< Copyright (C) 1986-1993 >
\ The T.A.G. Team /
\============================/
/===============================================\
< T.A.G. Version 2.6d New Features Documentation >
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Batch file parameters added:
The connect rate (actual rate from modem to modem) is now passed as
parameter #8 (%8) where generic parameters are used.
The node number is now passed as parameter #9 (%9) where generic
parameters are used.
Autoexec command for menu:
Auto executing commands are now available on menus. The command must be
the first command on the menu (even before the "#" command on message
menus). The command key must be "AUTOEXEC". You are allowed to link
other commands to it (via standard command linking) to do more than one
thing. The command(s) are executed whenever the menu is loaded into
memory. Auto executing commands are not displayed on the menu.
Search for messages:
New main system Pkey/Pdata combination - Pkey="K" Pdata="B". Will
search the current message area for all messages to/from current user.
All to/from searches on normal message sections (not section zero) now
search both user name and real name.
Message deletion:
After replying to netmail, the system will now ask if you wish to keep
the original message as in private mail.
Change board:
T.A.G. now jumps to the first accessible section whenever the
file/message group is changed. Jump to first section commands in these
cases should be removed from menus otherwise it will be done twice
(slows things down)
Quote files:
Random quote files are now searched for in the following directories (in
this order):
- AFILES
- DFILES
- MFILES (if multi-user)
Auto create directories:
Directories can be auto-created in the file board editor.
Pause:
Pauses (Control-P on a blank line) are now supported in quote files, and
in the automessage.
Welcome.Bat:
A non-zero return code from welcome.bat will now disconnect the user.
Allows kicking off local logons mainly.
Interior list:
Interior list no longer defaults to "ZIP"
Files newscan:
The new scan speed has been significantly increased in some cases.
New programmable strings:
Over 180 new programmable strings added. Hopefully, their purpose is
self-documenting by the name, since they aren't documented elsewhere.
Code size reduction:
By using Borland Pascal 7.0, and moving additional strings to the
programmable string file, the code for 2.6d has been reduced.
Compiled string file:
There is now only one compiled string file. See the update docs for
files which can be removed. The new file is called TAGSTR.DAT. Improved
T.A.G.'s overall handling of strings in the string file.
New SDR Codes:
Added/changed a few system (Control-S) SDR codes:
F : Current file board name
J : Current file board number (dynamic if active)
K : Current file board <No Charge>
M : Current message board name <-- This was dictionary path.
O : Current message board number (dynamic is active)
R : Current message board number of active messages
Logon/copyright changes:
Changed the flow of the logon/copyright a bit (ANSI is checked before
the copyright now). Copyright changed to "The T.A.G. Team".
Message board configuration:
Added a flag for message board configuration, private messages. This now
allows "Private" echos, supporting the "Private" flag. Netmail, in
general, should be forced private.
4. PrivateMsgs
Unrestricted - No checking
Restricted - Msgs with "private" flag only visible if to user
Forced - All messages only visible if to user
Message flags:
All flags for Fido and RA/Hudson bases can be set or changed, whether
they make sense or not. "/CH" command in message editor allows setting
any Fido or RA/Hudson flag.
Netmail:
RA/Hudson net mail is now supported.
Net Address Change:
Zones are now a "word" and are supported up to 65535 (most front end
mailers and nodelist processors probably only can handle 32767 however).
Multinode Chat Door:
The multinode chat door now creates DORINFO and DOOR.SYS files. In
addition, it can use either the older USERON.BBS format file (for
version 3.60 of Saberchat) or the newer RA 1.1+ version (supporting the
user handle). This is a flag under optionally flagged functions).
Multi-Zone/Point support:
T.A.G. zone problems have been fixed. ^aINTL kludge line is now
supported in netmail areas. Point support (FMPT, TOPT) lines are
added/supported in messages. NLINDEX supports multiple zones, and
multiple nodelists. See the NLINDEX documentation for the NLINDEX.CFG
file format.
Error logging:
The TAGERROR.LOG was moved to the directory which contains the
STATUS.DAT file
Overlay file location:
TAG.OVR file is now opened in the same directory as the TAG.EXE file.
This should allow putting TAG in a path directory to be accessed by all
nodes. (Meaning only on copy of TAG.EXE/OVR for multinode systems).
Failed logon message:
Failed logons (can) allow a message to the sysop. See the optional
flagged functions, the @ command.
Lookup node number:
Pkey/Pdata to support node number lookup. Pkey "P", Pdata "I". This is
allowed on the MAIN MENU, and the READ MESSAGE menu.
User Info (% Command):
Rewrote % command in the user editor. (Minor) Changes to the sysop log.
Should be faster, and more reliable. Also, fixed the problem with using
the command remotely giving only blank lines.
Wait screen mail waiting:
Disable/or set other user for wait screen mail waiting message count.
See optional flagged functions, the # command.
Configurable Baud rates for the user prompt.
SYSTEM string added, SYSTEM_ALLOWED_BAUD_RATES. This should be ONE line,
with the allowed baud rates separated by commas. T.A.G. parses this
line to determine valid baud rates for user logon, and for the user
editor.
USER string added, USER_MAXIMUM_BAUD_BAD. This is the string displayed
during user logon if the baud rate they have entered is bad (i.e. not
listed in SYSTEM_ALLOWED_BAUD_RATES).
OS/2:
OS/2 detection added. We now give up the rest of the time slice under
OS/2 running in DOS compatibility mode.
Batch upload:
Fixed some confusion in the Batch upload description. Batch uploads
would always say "Files will be uploaded into the current section:".
Now, if the Upload/Download paths are different, it informs the user:
"Files will be uploaded into a separate upload area."
Messages to printer:
Write Message To file now accepts "LPT1" through "LPT4" as valid names.
But ONLY for Local logons.
ANSI detect:
Auto-detect of ANSI can now be disabled. See the optionally flagged
functions.
TAGline support:
The message editor supports /TAGLINE command, to append a tagline and
save the message. Format of the TAGLINES.* file is the same as for quote
files.
Menu (most accessible command):
The menu system will now search for the most accessible command matching
the command key entered .. It will choose the first if more than one is
found with full access ..
Sample use - 2 commands with same command key:
First command Second command
------------- --------------
Validated user access New user access
Hidden Not Hidden
Validated user operation New user operation
Here new users will see the second command, and be able to execute it ..
The first command is not available .. Validated users will "see" the
second command also, but upon choosing the command key, they will
execute the hidden first command instead ..
Message editing:
Color is now kept on word wrap when entering messages (input now looks
more like how the message will read).
/=========\
< BUG FIXES >
\=========/
There have been *pages* of minor bugs fixed. Listing them all would even
make the most courageous documentation writer wince. However, some of the
highlights:
Batch upload file names are now formatted correctly in the file listing.
They would (sometimes) not get formatted to 8.3 format. Mike Normand
found this one (Thanks Mike!)
Bad Hudson/RA bases should not lock the system any more (unless it is
*really* trashed). Slight speed increases.
Invalid birthdays are no longer "fixed" to a good date.
Message editor entry color problems (different when message relisted).
Moving a file to a full drive would runtime error. Moving a file to a
section that it already exists in would sometimes delete the file.
Trash in sysop log when midnight log roll-over cleaned up.
The "TAB" SDR code now goes to the correct column when line contains
ANSI move left/right commands. ANSI display code cleaned up for ANSI's
with long line lengths.
Time back withdraw problems fixed.
Message section names are truncated to maximum available length when
listing areas (fixes messy looking displays).
The wait screen problem where aborting the modem init would sometimes
cause an annoying init/answer/init/answer/etc loop has been fixed.
Keyboard upload with different ul/dl paths will now work
Expiration date is checked prior to scanning events.
A problem with one of the libraries packages we use was discovered. It
may account for any weird memory problems/lockups.
Fixed run-time error sorting large sections in the file area.
No more "Unable to initialize communication port" errors under certain
conditions.
Having the same RA/Hudson board numbers is now allowed if the boards are
in different directories.
In CD-ROM areas, uploads now go to correct (upload) directory.
User expiration will now correctly validate users and not disable
validation key flag.
Costs generated by nlindex are now correct.
"<" and ">" in user editor now save the user if changes were made.
4 digit file numbers are now allowed when downloading in (B)rowse.
Forward Netmail - Now displays correct name.
Minor word wrap problem in the file area listing fixed.
Uploading of Read-Only files fixed.
Stack overflow on wait screen fixed.
Normal users can't reply to unvalidated messages.
Multi-Node messages cleaned up.
Mini-Dos now works in the root directory.
File section "@" command now works for root directories.
** That's All Folks (But we've probably missed something!) **
** Happy BBS'ing to all **
The T.A.G. Team