The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his046/mt_100.lzh/MT_099.TXT

Text File | 1991-09-13 | 23KB | 830 lines

Preamble

Copyright 1991 Greylock Software, Inc.

   Greylock Software, Inc.
   POBox 730
   Gt Barrington MA 01230
   Data: 413-243-0034
   EMail: 1:321/202@fidonet


Intended Audience


Synopsis

   This is a brief description of MilqueToast, with both its
   similarities and differences from BinkleyTerm.

   This document is for the 0.86 version of MT.


Contents

Milque.Res


Milque.Lng

   Eventually, the language file will be totally eliminated from
   MilqueToast, in favor of resource file based solutions.  However,
   we wanted to extend some of the language file functionality for
   Bink proper, so the conversion would be consistent between the
   two versions.


MT.Exe


MT_086.Txt

   Yes, the last beta was 0.97.  What's it to you?


1  Features

1.1  BinkleyTerm With A Windows-Like Interface

1.1.1  Mouse Support


1.1.2  Where Simple, Extensions


1.2  Code More Or Less Concurrent With Bink 2.50

   At the present time, the code for Milque is virtually identical
   to the 2.49 beta.  The time release bug is fixed in Milque.


2  Differences From "Standard" Bink

2.1   .Res File Should Be In Directory MT Is Run From

   MilqueToast, like a Windows application, makes use of a Resource
   File for things like dialog boxes, text, and other things.  At
   the current time, the Resource File MUST be located in the run
   directory, although in theory, it can be located in the directory
   the program lives in.


2.2   ComboBox In Kill Traffic

   Yoy may note a combo in the Kill Traffic dialog.  Eventually,
   there will be combo boxes in all the dialog boxes, derived from
   FidoUser.Lst or the nodelist itself.


2.3   Environmental, Config Files Called Milque

   The environmental used to determine the config file path is
   MILQUE.

   The Config file is Milque.Cfg.  The event file is Milque.Evt.

   The language file is now called Milque.Lng, rather than
   MilqueL.Lng.  (Early development of Milque was medium model.  Now
   that Bink is large model, this is no longer necessary.)

   The semaphore and related files are prefixed Milq.


2.4   Gateway Mode Triggered By Alt-Minus, Not Alt-Equal

   This will be rectified when after I've talked to Magma about the
   problem.


2.5   Keyboard Remapping Does Not Function In Milque

   The keyboard remapping facility in the Bink language file is NOT
   USED by Milq.  The irony of this is we put that facility INTO
   Bink in the first place!  Filling out this table in the language
   file will merely consume memory needlessly.

   The reason for this is the way MEWEL/Windows processes events,
   menus, and accelerators.  In a MEWEL/Windows application, if you
   have an active menu and you press Alt and the first letter of one
   of those menu items, that menu will be pulled down.

   The "legal" way to subvert this is by the use of accelerators.
   Accelerators are generally stored in the resource file (which we
   are doing.)  Unfortunately, we have yet to resolve the legal
   issues involved in distributing the MEWEL side resource compiler,
   and know little or nothing about the legal status of Windows
   resource compilers.  (The MEWEL resource language format is close
   to identical to the Windows format.)

   We are considering making use of the keyboard remapping in the
   language file as an "on the fly" accelerator table.  Even in this
   case, it should be noted that MEWEL/Windows keystroke values are
   different than DOS keystroke values.


2.6   Overlaid With VROOMM

   Found the major oops that was causing us problems with the
   overlaid version.

   The current version is overlaid using BorlandC VROOMM.  This
   means if you are running the beast on a file server, you should
   be careful not to run it more than once from the same image at
   the same time.


2.7   Product Code Table Derived From Resource File, Not Language


2.8   Screen "Blanking" Quite A Bit Different

   Screen blanking involves "iconizing" the main window, and moving
   it around the screen at randomly.

   In addition, we have divorced the screen blank time from the
   modem init time in Milque.

   Finally, a new config verb, BlankWait [Seconds] has been added to
   the config file.  If it is not specified, 60 is used.


2.9   Terminal Mode Is Marginally Operational

   Terminal Mode is marginally (barely) operational.

   ANSI is internal to Milque.  The implementation is not complete.
   However, it has been generalized to the point that eventually, it
   can be used relatively easily in Bink proper.

   However, few of the function keys have been implemented, none
   fully.  Alt-D, Alt-M and Alt-Y should work.


2.10  Version 7 NodeList Is The Default!


2.11  Windows Are Sizeable, Moveable, And Storable

   Windows are sizeable and moveable, and should still work as you
   would expect.  If you resize the recent activity window by
   shrinking the number of columns, and increase the number of lines
   in the Pending window, all the lines in the pending window should
   be used (if needed.)

   The "focus" of Mailer mode can be changed by clicking on the
   window you wish to have focus, or by tabbing from Window to
   Window.  You can change the position by grabbing the caption bar,
   or from the move option of the system menu for that window.  The
   system menu is accessed by clicking on the system menu box for
   that window, or by pressing alt-space.  The size of the window
   can be changed by grabbing the lower right hand corner of the
   window, or via the size option of the system menu.

   The state of the windows is stored in a file called Milque.Scr.
   This is written to by the Save Layout command in the File menu.
   The original layout can be loaded from the Original Layout
   command from the file menu.


3  Differences From Earlier Betas

3.1  Milque.Scr Format Has Changed!

   With 0.83, the Milque.Scr file has a version number, and should
   not act as brain damaged as it has in the past.


4  Current Status

4.1  Operating Full Time On JonesNose For 40+ Days

   We've been running MilqueToast for approximately 10 days on
   JonesNose, full time.


4.2  Release Features

4.2.1  Vrsn 0.99 (910914)

4.2.1.1  Scheduler Improvements

   The Schedule list has been enhanced both with regard to the
   amount of schedule information displayed, along with allowing you
   to actually manipulate the information.

   The Write button takes the changes you have made and commits them
   to memory, and, when you leave Milq, saving them in the .Scd
   file.  It does NOT affect the .Evt (text format) file.  This is
   accomplished by using the Export function.  In other words, the
   changes you make will "stick" when you use the write button until
   you update the .Evt file or erase the .Scd file.

   Currently, the Export button generates a file called Event.New.
   This is basically done out of cowardice on my part.  It appears
   to be a functioning event file, but since I don't have a very
   complex event file, I'm not sure this is true.


4.2.1.2  Graphics Support

   Graphics Mode has been enabled, although all the ramifications
   have yet to be ironed out.

   To enable graphics mode at program start, in Milque.Ini, set
   GraphicsMode=16 (or whatever mode is best for your system.)  It
   is recommended you NOT use EGA=1 in this case.

   All this stuff will be cleaned up in the 1.10 release.


4.2.2  Vrsn 0.71

4.2.2.1  Merge To 2.49n Level Source


4.2.2.2  Terminal Side Resource File Fixes


4.2.3  Vrsn 0.86 (910901)

4.2.3.1  Code Merge

   Milque code is now virtually identical to Bink code, at least in
   those modules that are common between the two.

   This was the result of a lot of effort on Vince's part.  Thanks,
   Vince!


4.2.3.2  Nav Keys Hosed

   The Pending Window Navigation Keys are somewhat problematic.

   In order to provide access to their functionality while we work
   these kinks out, we set up the following accelerators (case
   independent):

     D - Down a Line
     E - End
     H - Home
     N - Next Screenful
     P - Previous Screenful
     U - Up a Line


4.2.4  Vrsn 0.85 (910831)

4.2.4.1  Attempted Cleanup of "modal" modeless window problems

   A number of bugs were found in the code that sets the "mode" of
   the Status and Pending windows.  These have been eliminated, we
   hope.


4.2.4.2  Event List Dialog Box Added

   An Event List dialog has been added.  It's a hint of things to
   come more than anything at the current time.


4.2.4.3  Merging To k Level Source (2.49-7+)/Code Cleanup

   This was not fun.

   No, that's being nice.

   This was downright painful.  It was also profound in the number
   of areas it touched.  Please test EVERYTHING.

   Much of the Windows specific code has been removed from Bink
   proper, in favor of macro changes, explained in detail in the
   0.84 notes.


4.2.4.4  NewNodeList BugFix

   NewNodeList was broken in 0.84.  It's fixed now.

   The default remains Version 7, but specifying NewNodeList will
   work now.


4.2.4.5  Path Send Problems

   Milque is experimenting with handling paths during WaZOO based
   sessions.  Essentially, we plan on a mechanism that will allow
   systems to transfer files between ACTUAL PATHS, bypassing the
   inbound directories, under controlled conditions.

   As a precursor to this, we set Milq to ALWAYS send the full
   path.  This has caused problems at least with dBridge systems.
   The problem is one of compliance with the ZModem spec, which
   specifies that paths are allowed.

   The short term solution to this will be to send path names ONLY
   to other Milqs (and Binks).  This is not a great solution (one we
   will NOT extend on a case by case basis).  However, we cannot see
   the point in adding a bit to the WaZOO handshake for a capability
   we should already be able to legally support with the information
   already being transferred.  Nor will we make Milq aware on a
   mailer by mailer basis who is and is not capable of handing
   this.  Both these solutions are "proving the negative".

   Milq will ONLY send paths if SendPaths=1 exists in Milque.Ini.
   This verb may be moved to Milque.Cfg before the formal release.

   The real solution, in short, is compliance.


4.2.4.6  Pending Window Keys Different From Binkley

   Due to the limitations of accelerator keys (described elsewhere),
   we have been forced to change the keys used to manipulate the
   pending outbound window.  In Milque, the keystrokes must be Alt'd
   - for instance, Down becomes Alt-Down.


4.2.5  Vrsn 0.84 (910828)

4.2.5.1   Distributed Screen Layout Peek-A-Boo

   The resource file default layout is such that not all the
   information that can be displayed in a given window is exposed.
   You should try stretching some of the windows to see what's
   there.


4.2.5.2   FreeSpace Added to Settings


4.2.5.3   Macro Changes To Reduce Redundant Code

4.2.5.3.1  General

   Here's what we're doing internally to clean up some of the
   conditional code.  The main changes relate to sb_* flavored
   macros.  MANY of them are simply macro'd to nothingness on the
   Milq side.

   We treat sb_puts(w,s) as a macro on the Milq side, which is
   resolves as follows:

     SendMessage( w, WM_SETTEXT, 0, (long)(char far *)s )

   In other words, on the Milq side, sb_puts is talking to a formal
   Window handle.

   On the Bink side, sb_puts still talks to a Bink window pointer (a
   REGIONP).

   We have far more Windows (essentially, every item displayed on
   the screen has its unique Window.)

   Where old Bink code would look like:

     sb_puts( historywin, str );

   Now it looks like:

     sb_puts( history_hWnd, str );

   With macros on the Bink side resolving it to:

     sb_puts( historywin, str );

   and on the Milq side to:

     SendMessage( historywin->hWnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, (long)str );

   However, in most cases, the destination of the sb_puts() will NOT
   be a *_hWnd flavored macro.  Each display location has a specific
   window handle on the Milq side:

     sb_puts( history_BBS, str );

   On the Milq side, this will resolve to:

     SendMessage( history_BBS, WM_SETTEXT, 0, (long)str );

   And on the Bink side:

     sb_puts( historywin, str );


4.2.5.3.2  Milque Side Detail

4.2.5.3.2.1  *_hWnd

4.2.5.3.2.1.1  call_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.1.2  file_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.1.3  history_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.1.4  hold_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.1.5  node_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.1.6  settings_hWnd


4.2.5.3.2.2  sb_*

4.2.5.3.2.2.1  sb_fill*


4.2.5.3.2.2.2  sb_move

   sb_move() is history on the Milq side.  It is meaningless.


4.2.5.3.2.2.3  sb_puts

   This has been macro'd as follows:

     #define sb_puts(w,s)
              SendMessage(w,WM_SETTEXT,0,(long)(char *)s)

   This requires some macro changes on the Bink side.  Where
   sb_puts() wants to talk to a REGIONP, we now want it to talk to
   an hWnd.  Since we have more hWnds than Bink has REGIONP, this
   seemed the only possible approach.  So we refer to callwin->hWnd
   as call_hWnd, and carry this approach through the five remaining
   windows: File,  History, Hold, Node, and Settings.

   The Bink code is being changed such that sb_moves() talk to
   *_hWnd flavor'd names.


4.2.5.3.2.2.4  sb_w*


4.2.5.3.3  Bink Side Detail

4.2.5.3.3.1  SendMessage

   SendMessage() is reduced to nothing on the Bink side.


4.2.5.3.3.2  call_*

4.2.5.3.3.2.1  call_hWnd


4.2.5.3.3.3  hold_*

4.2.5.3.3.3.1  hold_hWnd


4.2.5.3.3.4  node_*

4.2.5.3.3.4.1  node_hWnd


4.2.5.4   Merging to j level source

   We believe we are concurrent with the j level Bink sources.  This
   is roughly equivalent to Bink Beta 2.49-7.


4.2.5.5   Node Window Behaviour Changes

   The Node Window behaviour has been refined.  What is displayed
   depends on what window has the focus, and what we are doing.  If
   the Pending window has the focus, the detail information for the
   top line of the window will be displayed.  If you are dialing or
   in a session, the current node information is displayed.
   Otherwise, the last node called info is displayed.

   There are some flaws in the way this works at the current time.


4.2.5.6   On Disk Structures Have Changed!

4.2.5.6.1  Milque.Scd

   Some elapsed time information, and a more rational way of storing
   last and next address information have resulted in changes to the
   Scd file.  Also, in an earlier release, a change was made to the
   .Scd structure, but the internal version was not incremented.
   This caused problems for some testers.

   Not sure how this will be resolved with Bink.


4.2.5.6.2  Milque.Scr

   Changes were made to Milque.Scr to allow storage of more
   information about the state of the screen (although those
   features are not being utilized in this version.)


4.2.5.7   Resource File Humour

   The resource file has some elements of humour.  Hope y'all see it
   the same way.


4.2.5.8   Spawn Configuration From MEWEL.Ini

   Spawn information is drawn from MEWEL.Ini, which is MEWEL's
   equivalent of Win.Ini.

   To use EMS in swapping, you need to have a mewel.ini containing
   the following:

     [MEWEL.SWAPEXEC]
     UseEMS=1

   The file should be either in the run directory, or in the program
   directory MT lives in.


4.2.5.9   UseWinColors added to Milque.Ini

   Added a switch to allow use of the Windows default color scheme.


4.2.5.10  Version7 Nodelist Is The Default

   This change was made in 0.83, actually.

   The default nodelist in Milq is V7.  V6 is currently supported,
   but as soon as V7 support is more widely available, Milq will
   support only that format.

   To use V6, you MUST specify the NEWNODELIST verb in Milque.Cfg.


4.2.5.11  Windows Menu Item Added


4.2.6  Vrsn 0.83

4.2.6.1   Call Window Improved

   The call history window has been improved.  It should retain its
   contents and scroll properly now.


4.2.6.2   Initial State Info To Milque.Ini

   The current graphics mode is stored in Milque.Ini.  This is a
   Win.Ini flavored file.  A sample is included in the archive.


4.2.6.3   Language File Elements Moved To Resource File

   Milque eventually will completely abandandon the language file.
   The Resource File is the "Windowish" way of approaching this.

   At this time, all the data in the language file is contained in
   the resource file as well.  We have drastically cut the product
   code strings contained in the Milque langauge file, as MT is
   using the resource file for this.

   Keyboard translation is currently an amalgam of Accelerators and
   the translation feature added to the language file.  Eventually,
   this will be exclusively a resource file operation.


4.2.6.4   Major Window Selection Bug Fixed From Terminal Mode


4.2.6.5   Menus Now Accessable Via Keyboard

   We are much closer to Windows-style keyboard handling than in
   earlier versions.  While some work remains, the underlying code
   now reflects the proper path.

   You should be able to access the menus via the keyboard, as well
   as have the alt-key functionality you've gotten used to in Bink.


4.2.6.6   Node Detail Information

4.2.6.6.1  PWD in Milque.Ini


4.2.6.7   Pending Window Operation Vastly Improved

   The Pending Window flashing has been eliminated.

   We've made some changes to the Pending display.  These are
   tentative changes, subject to reversal.  In essence, the address
   field is now right justified, and if you shrink the window
   horizontally, the leading part of the address will be lost rather
   than the information about it.


4.2.6.8   Resource File Open Continuously

   The resource file (Milque.Res) is now open all the time.  It can
   be in the directory the main program is located in, or the run
   directory.


4.2.6.9   sb_put* Functions Improved


4.2.6.10  Screen Size Specific Resource Files

   I don't like this solution, but it works.


4.2.6.11  Scrolling Problem in Active Window Fixed


4.2.6.12  Shift-Space Access To System Menu


4.2.6.13  Tab/Shift-Tab Mailer Mode Window Navigation


4.2.6.14  Terminal Mode Colors Somewhat Improved


4.2.6.15  VROOMM Buffer Size Reduced


4.2.6.16  VROOMM Now Uses EMM/Extended Memory


4.3  Known Limitations/Problems

4.3.1  General (Possibly MEWEL Internal)

4.3.1.1  ComboBoxes Not Coming Down Via Alt-Down


4.3.1.2  Compiled Using BorlandC

   Since it's not overlaid, this is currently not a problem.
   However, once we get back into VROOMM, there could be some
   problems with fileservers.


4.3.1.3  Input Problems

4.3.1.3.1  Desqview "mouse" keyboard not effective


4.3.1.3.2  Hosing of Fabian's Mouse


4.3.1.3.3  Keyboard buffer spooky (Focus Problem)


4.3.1.3.4  Keypad Enter Not Always Effective


4.3.1.3.5  Keypad Enter Not Always Kosher In Size, Move


4.3.1.4  Return From Spawn Hi Res Problems


4.3.1.5  Spawn Configuration From MEWEL.Ini

   Spawn information is drawn from MEWEL.Ini, which is MEWEL's
   equivalent of Win.Ini.

   To use EMS in swapping, you need to have a mewel.ini containing
   the following:

     [MEWEL.SWAPEXEC]
     UseEMS=1

   The file should be either in the run directory, or in the program
   directory MT lives in.


4.3.1.6  SwapDir Config File Verb Not Respected

   The SwapDir config file verb is not respected by Milq.  Instead,
   it uses the TEMP environmental.

   This is an artifact of MEWEL/Windows.  We are not sure how we
   will resolve it, since doing so would involve mucking with MEWEL
   internals.


4.3.2  Mailer Mode

4.3.2.1  Baud Display In Node Detail Not Nearly Right


4.3.2.2  Blank Screen

   Sometimes, upon return from "screenblank", the mailer screen is
   hosed.  The Activity window, and sometimes others are either not
   displayed, or are displayed in a fragmentary manner.  Milque will
   respond to keyboard (and mouse) commands in this state.

   This is a long lived bug.  We continue to improve it, but fail to
   kill it entirely.


4.3.2.3  Node

4.3.2.3.1  Unknown nodes incorrectly identified


4.3.2.4  Pending

4.3.2.4.1  Hilight when calling


4.3.2.4.2  Last Line Not Properly Erased


4.3.2.4.3  PageDown/Up Not By Length of Screen, but 4


4.3.2.5  Polling Transition From Nothing In Outbound


4.3.2.6  Transfer Status Problems

4.3.2.6.1  Janus Time/Position Updating

   While dramatically improved, there are still problems with Janus
   transfer updates.

   Further, the adaptations we've had to make to accomodate Janus
   affect the appearance of uni-directional transfer status.


4.3.2.6.2  Terminal Mode


4.3.2.6.3  ZModem Update

   There have been times when updating in ZModem has stopped
   appearing on the screen.  I have yet to identify the conditions
   under which this occurs.  It does NOT interfere with transfers.

   If someone can pin this down, it would be appreciated.


4.3.3  Terminal Mode

4.3.3.1  ANSI Problems


4.3.3.2  Avatar Not Even Implemented


4.3.3.3  External Protocols Not Yet Supported


4.3.3.4  Gateway Mode Nowhere Near Real

   First off, we don't have access to Alt-= under Windows/MEWEL.

   We have yet to make the internal changes to the message
   processors to properly handle it.


4.3.3.5  Minimize Should Be Disallowed


4.3.3.6  Redial Nearly Working

   We have totally revamped the redial system.

   Of course, it doesn't work, but you'll get the idea.


4.3.3.7  Transfer Status Problems

4.3.3.7.1  Terminal Mode


4.3.3.7.2  ZModem Update

   There have been times when updating in ZModem has stopped
   appearing on the screen.  I have yet to identify the conditions
   under which this occurs.  It does NOT interfere with transfers.

   If someone can pin this down, it would be appreciated.


5  Testing Desired

5.1  Full Time Node Testing

   Those of you brought in specifically to test Milque are requested
   to run the beast full time on your nodes.

   Beyond that, anyone is welcome to test in whatever capacity they
   wish.


5.2  Response Via BinkBeta