QuickBBS version 2.64 upgrade notes
February 12, 1990


This is the one all you multi-tasker types have been waiting for - an overlay
version is now available!  File names for this release are QEXE_264.ZIP for
the non overlay version and QOVL_264.ZIP for the overlay.

Many of you have noticed that the combined message base selections were not
always properly saved in 2.61.  The fix for this problem is in two parts, one
is internal to version 2.62 and later but the other requires a few moments of 
your time:


IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT
  NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE

        Before installing 2.62, 2.63 or 2.64 FOR THE FIRST TIME, delete your
        COMBINED.BBS file and run COMB-FIX which is included with this
        release.  Failure to do so will leave some invalid data hanging
        around which may cause undesirable results!  Upgrades from 2.62
        or 2.63 DO NOT require this.

IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT  IMPORTANT
  NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE     NOTICE


Changes from 2.61 to 2.62:

When a user was in chat longer than the time he had left on-line, any sysop 
key such as ALT-S would make him disappear, now he gets to stay around. 
(ALT-H still works as well as ever <grin>)

When a user tries to enter an alias of "Sysop" and Quick says "you can't do
that", now it means it!

The PAK file viewer now works correctly.

When a user who <used to> have privileges to read a message base, he no 
longer can still access it via the combined board.

The system usage graph can now be aborted with an S

Some fixes have been to the internal ANSI driver thanks to Chris Lamprecht,
it's still not perfect yet but it's getting better!  Let Chris know about any
problems you find there.

A date of 00-00-?? no longer causes strange results in the list users command

You can now <F>orward echo mail even if the user name is not found in your
user file.

Quick will now check for an upcoming event before letting the user on line.

The word MISSING in the file listing has been replaced by OFFLINE

When <X>porting a message, the message area and number now appear in the
output.  Also, if the file you are <X>porting to already exists, you will be
prompted whether you want to <A>ppend or <O>verwrite.

You are now prompted for confirmation before <D>eleting a message. 

A new option has been added to QCONFIG (page 4) so that you can decide whether
or not to allow users to <D>elete messages addressed to them.  Messages can
always be deleted by the author regardless of this setting. 

One of my favorites:  the user is now prompted for the reason he wants to
chat before he is allowed to page.

A warning has been added 30 seconds before a user is logged off for
inactivity at the keyboard.

When a file has been downloaded via the menu type 48, it is now indicated as
such in the log by appending the letter A (for Auto) to the protocol.

The Combined selection menu has been enhanced, it now looks a lot like the
one that used to be in an external program (hmmm, I can't even remember the
name of the program now... ;->)  Because of the new Combined menu, the menu
type 44 is no longer needed, and will no longer function.

Remote sysops can now <X>port messages - this capability is controlled by the
new sysop security level on page 3 of QCONFIG.  Only users who have sysop
access on a given message base AND have a security level equal to or greater
than this value are allowed access to the <X>port command.  More capabilities
may be tied to this value in future releases, so please excercise care in
how you set it.

The colors used for the menu borders and colored entry fields are now
configurable.  Please be sure to set up your preference on screen 3 of
QCONFIG otherwise you'll wind up with black.  For those of you who like it
the way it was in 2.61, use a value of 1.

A 2 second pause has been added after checking for new mail at logon
so that the message doesn't fly past before it can be read.

The (WANT-CHAT) message in the status window no longer goes away after
a type 15 exit.  Due to the nature of this bug, however, it will still
appear on any programs which require the use of FIX_15.

It used to be that hitting backspace right after the dash while entering
a phone number caused interesting results - it now works right.

Words greater than 72 characters no longer cause a line wrap problem in the
internal message editor.

Deleting the first and only line in a message in the internal editor no
longer puts you on line 0.

The time used field in USERS.BBS is now updated properly if the user drops
carrier.  Don't know how this got by the first beta cycle, but in earlier
versions a user could drop carrier for bonus time!

A bug in the critical error handling routine was found and corrected, now
the proper address will be written to ERRORS.LOG to aid in debugging these
things!

The origin line no longer contains a .0 - only actual points create a 
full four dimensional address there.

A <B>ack command has been added to the message reader, it will take you back
to the last message read.  This currently doesn't work right when reading
mail addressed to you right after logon, please don't waste any net bandwidth
reporting this bug!

The state of the full screen editor can now be displayed in an .A?? file by
using ^F1 (control F followed by a 1).

The system log now shows the reason that a user went off-line.

An additional parameter can now be used with a type 15 exit.  If you put
a menu name in the parameter field of a menu, that menu will be loaded
as soon as the user re-enters QuickBBS.  If this option is omitted from
a type 15, the first menu loaded will be TOP just as it always has been.
This should put an end to a lot of flag waving <grin>  As a consequence of
this change, some doors may not work quite right any more unless you use the
FIX_15 program provided with this release.  The external programs affected
by this are the ones that change user information on line, such as time banks
and callback verifiers.  If you experience a fatal error when Quick reloads
after a type 15, putting FIX_15 in your batch file after the external program
exits will most likely be the cure.  This will become necessary on fewer
doors as the third party authors release new versions of their software.

Menu type 46 has been added.  This will allow a user to read the header
of a GIF file and find out the resolution and number of colors in the
image.  The parameter field of the menu for this is the full path name
of where your GIF files are stored - the user is prompted for the file
name.

The tear line comment is now configurable for registered users only.  Set
the DOS environment variable TEARLINE to activate this feature.  For 
example SET TEARLINE=[REGISTERED] if you like it the way it was in 2.61.

Last but definitely not least, I introduced a rather unique little prompt
in one of the beta versions based on a thread in the QuickBBS echo.  When
I replaced it with a more professional looking prompt several of the beta
testers lamented it's loss.  Well, I brought it back as an option, if you
want it then set the environment variable GADS to anything, for example
SET GADS=YES!  For those of you who have never logged onto a beta system
and don't know what the devil I'm talking about, the prompt in question
is the one that comes up when you want to delete a message and it asks
if you're sure you want to delete it.

Changes from 2.62 to 2.63:

The scrambled local sysop screen is fixed.

An interim 'Foreign' Phone and town has been implemented.  Set the DOS 
DOS environment variable PHONE to any non-blank value, and the phone
format for new users will be 'free-style' to accomodate European, et al,
phone formats.  It will allow up to 13 digits of numbers and hyphens, free
form.  Future releases will allow a mask to be defined in the environment
variable.  If the PHONE variable is set, in addition to the free format
phone number, the 'City, State' prompt is changed to 'Town or province'.

It is no longer possible to login with a blank name if one word names are
permitted.  Login with a ';' as a name is also trapped.

Graphics on a re-login by a user who is using a slower modem than the
minimum for graphics will be suppressed.

Logoff text files should be transmitted completely before dropping carrier
as the buffer is forced to be flushed. However, some modems with large buffers
still drop carrier immediately with a drop of DTR.  QuickBBS has no way of
knowing if the modems internal buffers are empty before dropping DTR.

Names with apostrophies, eg,  O'Brien, ect will capitalize the 'B'.  
Names like McDonald will follow shortly.  They will still be lower case
in the user records if entered by a version prior to 2.63, but they
should work so no coversion should be required.  Some external editors
still do not support free form case, but output from these editors
should work within the QuickBBS environment until their authors have time
to change them.  SIDE EFFECT:  If you are a sysop REGISTERED with the
old format, if you edit your record in Qconfig, your key will need to be
re-genned.  We will do this for you on request.

City and State capitalize properly...no need for external cleanup routines
unless you want to standardize spellings, ect.

Changes for 2.64:

  2.64 has no new features, but is lacking a couple of the "features" 
  formerly included in 2.62 and 2.63.  Most notably, repeated use of the
  S key to abort a file listing will no longer cause undesired results.

  A blank line in PHONENUM.CTL no longer prohibits entry of all phone
  numbers.

  It is no longer possible to force QuickBBS to accept a phone number
  listed in PHONENUM.CTL by entering it enough times, former versions
  would give up after a while and let you enter the bad number anyhow!

  The extra ) in the origin line when using an AKA address no longer appears.

  Many thanks to all of you who are using our product, and you have my
  commitment to bring you the finest BBS software in the entire solar
  system.


                                        Enjoy!

                                        Steve & Richard