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File List | 1987-08-29 | 23KB | 459 lines

Bulletins --------- 8-29-87 ------- Release 1.6 of MLINK, the external MegaLink protocol driver, is being released today. It includes a bug fix to handle an error in the end-of-file procedure. 8-28-87 ------- Pre-release orders are now being accepted for GT 13.00. Please use the Q) order command from the main menu to place your order. We are planning to ship to our customers at least 4 weeks before the program will be released for BBS download. The beta test is now well underway. Please do not apply for a beta test position. I have all the testers I need. Thanks very much for your consideration. 8-21-87 ------- Tomorrow will begin the beta test of GT POWER 13.00. This version includes many advancements, including a brand new netmail system. If you are interested in beta testing GT, please leave a short note to the Sysop (must be a registered user to qualify). Since the release of 13.00 is expected soon, now that the beta test is starting, we are now accepting orders for the new version. Note: any order now entered will be held for the new release, which is expected to ship in about 1 months time. 8-19-87 ------- Well, GT NetMail is starting to come together. The 'alpha' testers are running a regular NetMail hour from 4:00 to 4:30 in the morning. We will soon be opening up for a beta test of the code. Hope everyone who was interested, still is. This is gonna be fun, but also be aware that it will cost LD expense to run NetMail. 8-13-87 ------- Testing of GT NetMail is beginning today. This means that this system may be temporarily unavailable at any given point in time to accomodate the testing. I hope this does not inconvience many people. Please have patience during this time of testing. Thanks. 8-10-87 ------- As many of you may know, Mr. Chuck Forsberg, the author of ZCOMM, Pro-YAM, Ymodem, Zmodem, and many other communications facilities, has been helping us with our efforts. I wish to thank him for this effort on our behalf. The result of this effort is a new and improved version of MegaLink. It is not yet ready for release in GT, but is ready in the form of version 1.4 of the external MegaLink driver. This new version is now ready and available on this system. The new version has improvements in at least three areas: (1) Files to be transmitted are now opened in the "shared" mode. (2) An improved version of CRC-32 is now incorporated. (3) An improved XON/XOFF handler is now included. 7-30-87 ------- We are back! Had a nice vacation and hope that not too many folks were caught in a bind by our rapid decision to depart for a trip thru the West. We will be spending the next few weeks catching up on business that was neglected during our absence. Many thanks go to James Davis for his filling in for me while I was gone. 7-04-87 ------- Version 1.2 of MLINK, the external protocol version of MegaLink is now available. It addresses two problems that have been reported: (1) the ERRORLEVEL is now set upon exit to a 1, if MLINK encountered any error condition. (2) an optional pathname parameter has been added to the 'receive' command. This allows files to be stored in proper directory when received. 6-25-87 ------- Well, the Programmer's Workshop has become DoubleDOS'ed. I don't know why we didn't do this before. It seems like I just got an extra computer for $25. Expect to see more DoubleDOS support from GT in the future. I am already considering a reduced memory config so that I can run DOORS with GT and DoubleDOS. To do that GT will have to give up some memory. Working on it. In the meantime, it is sooo easy to install. I didn't even read the manual or have to change anything in GT. Just load and go... Neat! 6-15-87 ------- The external protocol version of MegaLink is officially introduced today. It was released in version 1.0 several days ago, accidentally. Now version 1.1 is available, the first official release. The code has been cleaned up somewhat and the .COM is smaller than 1.0. Otherwise, you should notice no difference. Please let me know of any users of MLINK, we have placed it into the public domain to encourage its use. 6-12-87 ------- Please, if you want a response to your questions DO NOT leave your question in a M)essage to the Sysop. The M)essage to the Sysop from hence forward will treated as comments only. No response needed or possible. Use the E)nter message command instead, and make the message private for the Sysop. Will help the Sysop do his job better. 6-12-87 ------- Well here is a bug fix release for GT, version 12.21. It fixes several problems, most notably a bug in SeaLink and a variable init problem that had caused RunTime 02 errors, divide-by-zero error. Also at this time, we are introducing the FOSSIL version of GT. It is for use on non-compatible PC computers that have FOSSILs available. Such as the Tandy 2000, the DEC Rainbow and the Sanyo 550. There may be other computer that are equipped with FOSSILs, but have not come to our attention. For those who are wondering what a FOSSIL is, a FOSSIL is a standard inter- face layer that provides a common path to interface a communications prog to the various serial ports implemented by different manufacturers. It replaces the normal BIOS int 14h. It can also provide a standard interface for video and keyboard functions. The FOSSIL version of GT is being introduced both in normal and terminal only version. We have the FOSSIL available here for use on IBM compatible computers, for those who would like to try it out. For the non-compatibles, try the Tandy 2000 BBS here in Houston, or one of the Opus BBS's in your area. Opus is one of the first communications systems based on the FOSSIL, therefore they usually have them around. 5-29-87 ------- We are testing a version of GT PowerComm that uses a FOSSIL to interface with the serial port. The FOSSIL we are using is Ray Gwinn's X00.SYS. Thanks to Ray, we are using version 1_05e, the latest beta test version of this FOSSIL. When released, this will allow people on non-compatible MS-DOS computers to run GT PowerComm, providing they can find a FOSSIL for their equipement. There is a growing list of FOSSILized computers: IBM (of course), Tandy 2000, DEC Rainbow, Sanyo 550, and others. Many thanks to the FOSSIL writers! And special thanks to Ray Gwinn for his kind help in making it possible. Note: The FOSSIL uses Ctrl-S to pause the scroll, but unlike the standard, which restarts with any keystroke, it requires a Ctrl-Q to restart. 5-22-87 ------- GT PowerComm 12.20, a feature release is now ready. There was enough work done on this release to justify a jump to 13.xx, but on general principles, I have resisted this. I will probably choose to rename the product before going to this extreme, 12 is a big enough version number, isn't it? Here are the new features: 1. Addition of the SEAlink protocol. Very nice for use with the OPUS system. 2. Addition of the Ymodem Batch protocol. On some systems, this is the only batch protocol that is supported. 3. Introduction of another GT exclusive protocol - MegaLink. This is a full streaming protocol, ideal for use on 'packet switched' networks, such as PC Pursuit. Also ideal for use with MNP and high speed modems, 9600+ baud. 4. Full support for the new breed of 9600 baud modems, including the introduction of a new top baud rate: 19200! It is simply amazing how fast a file can be transfered at 9600 using MegaLink. We have done tests indicating that 440+ blocks per minute is the crusing speed of MegaLink at 9600 baud. Which is roughly 950 cps!! 150k files can be transferred in about 3 minutes flat! 5. When using the non-batch protocols, Xmodem, Ymodem, WXmodem, GT now scans the screen looking for the filename previously typed by the user to the host. GT will look for words that begin with a ";" or ":", ignoring blanks, and meet the normal DOS definition for a filename. Saves keystrokes! To use this feature, set the default transfer protocol in the phone directory to one of the protocols listed above. 6. The Capture Mode has been completely redone. Special attention has been given to the Alt-8, View Capture Buffer Command. This command has been redone so that it will scroll the screen exactly 1 line or 1 screen, and a locate command has been added so that you can scan the buffer for that piece of text you need. A Capture PATH has been added to the configuration, so that your captures will be organized in 1 location, and an Append option has been included so that multiple captures can be made to the same file without fear of losing the previous captures. 7. The Host Mode now supports separate WELCOME and BULLET files for each message base on the system. 8. The Whereis command has been added to the main menu of the Host Mode. This will enable users to quickly find the files they are searching for across all file areas they are authorized to access. 9. A Non-Stop option has been added to the Read Messages sub-menu. This allows callers to continuously read message, beginning with the last message read, pausing only if the user hits [Ctrl-S], while [Ctrl-K] will completely terminate the reading of messages. 10. A Questionaire has been added to the Host Mode. This will allow Sysops to obtain information about their callers. Up to 40 different questions may be included in the questionaire, which is totally flexible in its design. 11. DOORS have been added to the Host Mode. Any system may now have up to 99 different DOORS. The ARC View door is becoming one of the most popular, however many are putting adventure games in doors as well. 12. The Host Mode now offers optional ANSI graphics to callers. This allows Sysops to design two sets of menus and screens, one for regular text type displays and one for color graphics. Some very spectacular color screens have already been designed! 13. The Sysop may perform a local shell while the Host Mode is in operation, by pressing Alt-1 while the Host Mode is at the main menu. Very handy to be able to move files about while the caller is still waiting online. 14. DoubleDOS awareness has been added, so that GT will automatically give up time, while in wait loops, when DoubleDOS is active. Helps the other partition run more efficiently. 15. The log may now be printed, as well as recorded on disk. The command line option "/p" will enable this, so that everything logged will also be sent to the system printer. 16. Support for DSZ has been altered, so that it is now activated via batch files: ZMTX.BAT to transmit and ZMRX.BAT to receive. This was done to offset the effect of DSZ's rapidly changing syntax and to make a hook available so that other protocol drivers could be used by modification of these batch files. 17. The CALL command of the script language has been removed. To be replaced with the CHAIN command. This has become necessary due to the problems surrounding the recursion used with CALL. CHAIN will cause a branch to be made, like CALL, but the return is no longer automatic. 18. The LOG command has been added to the script language. It will enable users to make manual entries in the log file from a script. 19. A new command line option, "/k", will turn on capture mode from the very start of the program. 20. Multiple keyboard macro files are now supported. They can be exchanged as easy as phone directories! 21. The base address for each serial port is now configurable via a command line switch. This allows use of GT with many non-standard serial port cards and internal modems. An example: GT1220 /3 $458 Would change the base address of COM3 to hex 458. The address must be given in hex with a leading $ sign. 22. A new command has been added to the terminal mode, Alt-5, which will allow the user to force GT to use Xmodem Checksum when performing downloads. This is very useful when trying to download from non- standard systems that have the regular Xmodem protocol available, but do not support an IBM version of CRC. 23. The Split Screen mode has been cleaned up and a command key is now used to invoke it, instead of the old configuration parameter (which has been removed). The Alt-7 command key will now invoke Split Screen mode. 24. The security system used in Host Mode has been completely upgraded. All access levels are now user configurable. This allows almost unlimited flexibility. *** GT PowerComm 12.20 IS A FANTASTIC COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM!!! *** 5-06-87 The menu prompt for the main menu has been changed! It no longer contains a list of letters. The reason for the change is several fold, but mainly due to the fact that nearly all of the letters were being listed, hence the meaningfulness of the display had been drawn into question. And was in fact beginning to confuse some callers to systems where not all commands are listed on the main menu by the sysop. 5-05-87 Finally, we have a DOOR on the Programmer's Workshop. It is an ARC VIEW door. You can ask to see the table of contents of any of the ARC files, prior to D/L. Soon we will have another door, so that text files withing ARC's can be read while on-line. 5-03-87 Well, I give up! We are no longer going to 'squash' the GT archive files. We have been getting many calls from folks unable to unpack this particular type of compressed format. The GT archives in the General file section have been converted to a standard 'crunched' format. They are bigger, but the normal unARC programs should be able to get the job done. 4-23-87 This note appeared on "the Tool Shop BBS" in Phoenix. It should help PC Pursuit users of Zmodem and NOW MEGAlink will require the same setting as Zmodem. A NOTE FOR PC-PURSUIT USERS: THE 'ZMODEM' PROTOCOL REQUIRES NETWORK FLOW CONTROL WHEN USED WITH PC-PURSUIT. BEFORE USING THIS PROTOCOL, ENTER THE FOLLOWING COMMANDS: <CR> @ <CR> SET 5:1 RST? 5:1 CONT --S.H.SMITH, 19-APR-87 4-21-87 Well, more protocols are being added to GT. Ymodem Batch is making a reapearance and a protocol of our own design is being added - MEGAlink. MEGAlink will be put into the Public Domain, in the hopes that others will choose to implement it. To this end, you will find the MEGAlink specifications in the TOOLS area. 4-08-87 The test version of GT here on the Programmer's Workshop has now added a questionaire. To help us test the program please answer the questionaire. All information will be kept in strict confidence. Thanks! 4-05-87 James said we had to give more to the Terminal users, so we are. Once again we are adding protocols to GT. The newest addition is SEAlink. It is not in release yet, but it is in action, here and now, alpha testing. Also, look for Ymodem Batch to reappear in the next few days. 4-02-87 Well, it must be clear to everyone, that when you call the home BBS of PowerComm, that you will always be seeing the next version of GT in action. So, all of my callers are helping me to test the program. One of the newer items that needs to tested is the recognition of Ctrl-S by GT. When output is being sent to the remote caller, if GT receives a Ctrl-S from the caller, the output will stop until the caller presses another key (not Ctrl-S). Or until approximately 30 seconds have elapsed. This gives the screen output a small pause. The output has always been controlable via the Ctrl-K, which will cause the current display to be terminated entirely. Thanks for helping with the test! 3-20-87 Today is release day for GT 12.10. One of the major new items is the inclusion of a terminal only version, GTO, for floppy based users. This will save 40k of disk space, compared to the full GT version. Also, the host mode has had major improvements made, notably the addition of multiple message bases and personalized passwords. Major, long-time, bugs have also been fixed in this release. Among the dead bugs is the infamous "Modem Init Freeze" and the "Disappearing VT-100 cursor". James Davis has made significant enhancements to his GTCTL, Sysop utility, including the ability to fully edit the user file. Enjoy! 3-07-87 We are trying a new system for passwords. You were asked for your personal password when you logged onto the system and you will be required to give it each time you call from now on. The older system passwords, TEST for example, will only be good the first time you call. The system password is used only to gain access on that first call. 3-03-87 Here is Turbo CALC 8.10. It contains a bug fix: there had been a print format problem when using very wide page widths, it now works for pages up to 255 columns in width. And a new feature: import of files containing data in fixed length fields. 2-25-87 Well, they fixed it. The hard disk is back and both our XT's are hard at work. The BBS will now go back into high gear. Many thanks to all of you for your understanding while we were up & down & around. 2-22-87 The hard disk on our development machine died this morning. So the BBS will be up/down at various and irregular intervals until it can be fixed. The BBS machine is needed to get our mailing and administrative chores done. Thanks for your patience in this time of stress. 2-21-87 Well, somehow we made it. GT 12.00 is ready for release. This release has something for everyone. It includes new protocols: Zmodem and Ymodem Batch. A new message service for host mode users. A complete rewrite of the script parser for the programmers out there, makes things go alot quicker. And a brand new look, the program has under gone a face lift. Now accepting VISA and MC orders. The bank finally saw things our way and gave us our Merchant Account. (You gotta have one of them to accept VISA and MC orders.) 2-08-87 A small feature release for Turbo CALC - version 8.01 is now ready. It includes a new function to locate cells by content and a option to specify the key column when sorting. It has become quite a spreadsheet program, even if I do say so myself! 1-30-87 Several people have been using the Telink and Kermit protocols to download several related files, 1 at a time. This is quite unnecessary, because both Telink protocols and the Kermit protocol are batch protocols. When using these protocols, you may enter the filename to transmit with wildcard characters, i.e. *.PAS to get all files with the .PAS extent. To get all the GT 11.20 files, just enter GT11*.* when asked for the filename. Of course, this won't work with the other protocols, just the Telink and Kermit. 1-29-87 24 Hours! the Programmer's Workshop has gone 24 Hours!! We just installed our 2nd phone line, which will become our voice line. It is (713) 778-9471. So now you guys can get in here most any time. And Mom will be able to call on the other line! 1-24-87 As several people have noticed, we are running an experimental version of GT PowerComm. It contains major improvements to the host mode. Mainly, a "message base" has been added. This will now replace our old Fido. Fido was a good system while it lasted but did not support the new file transfer protocols, like Ymodem, Wxmodem or Sliding Windows Kermit. 1-15-87 GT PowerComm 11.20 is now available! It is in the MISC directory. Why not give it a try? 1-07-87 GT 11.20 is now in test. We are expecting it to be ready for release around the 15th of January. It will include several new features, such as a constant onscreen display of the time connected to a BBS, and many bug fixes will also be included, such as a much needed fix to the "color graphics" support code. 12-01-86 GT PowerComm 11.00 is now ready for release. You can find it in the MISC directory. We are now in alpha test of the next version of GT. 11-18-86 GT PowerComm 11.00 is now in test. There are many new options to be found in the new version, including 2 new file transfer protocols, Wxmodem and 1k Telink. 1k Telink is a GT exclusive, a protocol based on the old Telink protocol, but using 1k packet size. Very efficient.