Note: read this file with SimpleText rather than TeachText, as it contains style information. In TeachText, it doesn't look very nice, but all the info is there.
CHARON 0.9.9b7 UPDATE
-- This text contains no more than a description of changes --
-- since the previous 0.985 release. --
First of all, I (Peter Kocourek) have now taken over development of Charon from Oscar; he's simply too busy nowadays to do much programming anymore. He can still be reached at oscar@cnh.wlink.nl. I can be reached at qsi@cnh.wlink.nl, but I'll be emailing Charon from the address chewest@hacktic.nl. Please don't send any replies to that address; it's not a disaster if you do, but it could take much longer to reach me.
I have revised the version numbering a bit, to make it slightly more Mac-like. Once this version is released, it will be 0.9.9; the b7 in the current version means "beta 7".
Important: This version of Charon will give you an error if you try to use your old config-files. This is due to the change in the format for storing information about which serial ports to use. The old version was not flexible enough. Anyway, all you have to do, is to use the "Edit Boss Config" option to read in the old config file, and then save it again. Most of the information will be read in and remain unchanged; the only setting you'll have to pay attention to, is the serial ports pop-up. You should now be able to use all the serial ports on your Mac, instead of just the Modem and Printer ports.
If you use Obolus too, please read the file "Important for Obolus users".
Other Changes:
1. Unattended mode.
Charon now offers a fully automated polling procedure. Check the 'Set Unattended Mode' item in the 'Special' menu. Next time you run Charon, polling wil start automatically and Charon will quit after the poll has ended (successfully or otherwise).
Unattended polling can be aborted either by hitting Command-. or by depressing the Option key when Charon is started. To switch off the unattended mode permanently, uncheck the menu item.
Notes:
• You should switch off the 'Ask before decompression' option in your config files.
• Double-click on a config file, not on the Charon program itself to start unattended polling (obvious, but anyway).
• Just as a precaution: In NO WAY do I guarantee proper functioning of Charon. If you elect to use unattended mode in an unattended kind of way (like starting Charon automatically every day whilst you are on a two-week holiday), you run the risk of huge phone bills because Charon forgot to hang up the phone! (Actually, Charon isn't supposed to forget to hang up the phone, but its attempt to hang up may fail. There is not much that can be done about it.)
2. New config files.
Charon now allows you to give a config file any name you want. You're no longer forced to enter some fido address as the filename. Old configs can simply be updated using the 'Edit Config File' menu item.
• BTW, Balloon help has been available in the config dialogs since v.0.985. Now fixed so that it also appears in the Point Config dialog.
3. CTB Support.
As mentioned above, Charon now supports in a rudimentary way, the CTB. This means you can use all of the serial ports connected to your Mac.
4. CPS counter.
When receiving files, Charon will now show the cps-rate for the transfer. This can help you optimize your modem settings for instance, if you're conversant with Hayes AT-speak.
5. Full EMSI parsing with Obolus.
If you use Obolus and EMSI transfers, Charon will now parse the EMSI AKA-string the other system sends. Charon will then send files for all the relevant addresses from that string. For further information on this, please read the file "Important for Obolus users".
I am looking into how to support something similar in cooperation with Alice.
6. Various Bugfixes:
• Time-out on slow connects. A number of people had problems with Charon giving a premature time-out on dialing attempts. This has now been fixed, I hope.
• Many built-in timers in Charon were broken; these have now been fixed. Specifically, you will notice a delay when canceling. Charon used to fall through the modem disconnect code too quickly; because of the delays, Charon now gives additional feedback about the disconnect sequence.
7. Known bugs:
• Hanging up the phone works, but Charon doesn't check if it really did disconnect.
• If you use EMSI, Charon will say incorrectly at the start of the poll, that there are no outbound files; in fact, the outbound files will be found during the EMSI handshake, when Charon "knows" what addresses it needs to process.
8. Future developments:
One feature that will be added very soon, is better handling of the paths (for inbound and outbound folders) that Charon stores. Currently, if you mount your disks in a different order than when the config file was saved, Charon can't find the folders. I'll add 'alis' resources to the config file, containing alias records with the info. Since this only works for System 7, the current scheme will remain in place also, but only if the alias records are not present, or can't be used (System 6).
Furthermore, I am slowly moving Charon towards minimal AppleScript support. At the very least, Charon will be remote-controllable through AppleEvents.
Much further in the future is nodelist support. I have no idea when this will be.
Administrativia:
Please send your bug reports and suggestions to me, preferably via Internet. My address is qsi@cnh.wlink.nl.
