FWKCS(TM) Contents_Signature System, Ver. 1.19, 1992 Nov 10. (C)Copyright Frederick W. Kantor 1989-1992. All rights reserved. Important: FWKCS(TM) is now provided on a two_step test_before_you_decide basis. See "Notes", below. New in FWKCS119.ZIP: Changes in FWKCS.EXE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. modified handling of part of contiguous lower memory. 2. added "preface option" xNNN, for exclusion of NNN K_bytes (NNN*1024 bytes) near top of contiguous lower memory; for special applications. 3. corrected a failure, under certain circumstances, to stimulate reloading of the transient portion of COMMAND.COM. 4. corrected a code error in FWKCS.EXE. 5. upgraded some internal coding in FWKCS.EXE. 6. changed FWKCS exit errorlevel used by Auxiliary Function 7.5a for reporting that replacement was not done because target file is newer than age_test file; now exits with errorlevel = 25; prior value was 1 (this does not affect .BAT programs which test for 1 and thus detect all values >= 1); added corresponding line to on_line list of exit errorlevels; see FWKCS /e . 7. introduced a new format for FWKUPLD.LOG, with a new data column containing (new files)/(total files) for each accepted upload; fixed_field format supports keyed sorting. 8. added new capabilities in Auxiliary Function group 7.9 (for registered FWKCS), to automatically interpret plain text line_by_ line, and plain text in a multi_line block terminated by an empty line (or appearing alone), along with the PCBoard text_directory format; for example, a FILE_ID.DIZ text description can be read and automatically interpreted in this way. 9. the work_list file (usually \CSA\BLOG ) used in the split_testing of uploads, is now processed as a dynamic first_in first_out queue; its filelength is now an approximate indicator of the number of entries in the queue; BLOG is deleted when empty. Changes in FWKDG.COM: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. added suboptions m1 and w1, like time_Mark m and When w, but using the slightly shorter date_time format now used in the new format for FWKUPLD.LOG. By using this same format to time_stamp lines created in different routines on a system, the resulting log files can all be combined and sorted. Provided that the various system clocks are sufficiently well synchronized, this can be useful in keeping track of what has happened to a file on a complex system. 2. added new suboption on help screen; revised header to indicate version 1.11 with new date. New .COM programs: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. added FWKCST(TM) Contents_Signature Test, written in assembly_ language; can be used to search the FWKCS master cs list (normally CSLIST.SRT) for examples of entries with different contents_ signatures but the same 32_bit CRC. This has been used to show experimentally that the 32_bit CRC does not provide sufficient statistical resolution for large electronic bulletin board systems. 2. added FWKCSS(TM) Contents_Signature Spectrum, written in assembly_ language, for use in obtaining spectrum of distribution of files on an FWKCS Contents_Signature System; used in evaluating statistical errorload carried by such systems; called by SPECTRUM.BAT (see below). New or Changed in .BAT and .BAS programs: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. corrected an error in the automatic installation procedure when used for installing, for the first time, on a drive other than C:. 2. replaced ^ with $ in .BAT temporary files, including those created by .BAS programs, for compatibility with "4DOS". 3. FWKDG111.BAT for use with FWKDG 1.11. 4. added SPECTRUM.BAT, to evaluate statistical errorload carried by an installed FWKCS Contents_Signature System. 5. added SPECTRUM.BAS, to calculate statistical errorload for SPECTRUM.BAT; creates Spectral.Erl and ErorLoad.Rpt. 6. added RATSPLIT.BAS, to partly reduce work in overseeing allocation of new files on basis of their text descriptions. For use only with registered FWKCS. 7. revised part of FWKTDR19.BAS to accomodate changes in header format of text directories which have occurred since it was first written years ago. 8. miscellaceous revisions for easier reading of on_line help. Notes: ~~~~~~ 1. FWKCS(TM) is now provided on a two step test_before_you_decide basis. You can test the first step for up to 30 days before you decide whether to register. The first step contains all the functions previously available in unregistered FWKCS (some have been enhanced), together with the sorting functions and some other new features. If you are pleased with what you have in step 1, then you should register as described in REGISTER.DOC, using the form REGISTER.FRM. The second step is available only for registered FWKCS, and uses a key. The second step contains procedures for interpreting file descriptions, so powerful that they warranted writing the assembly_language code for the FWKCS sorting functions. In the second step, test the additional features for up to 30 more days. If you are pleased with what you find in the second step, you should make the further registration specified (1/5 of the corresponding first step registration). In both steps, test before you make your decision. In both steps, the program is not free -- if you do not register, you should discontinue using that functionality. 2. The remote lookup functions are available in a relatively small kit, FWKLU119.ZIP, released 1992 Nov 10. If you run a BBS, you may wish to get the FWKLU119.ZIP kit for your users, especially if your BBS is a "feeder BBS" and many of your users are other BBS's. The kit comes with instructions, and contains a short bulletin, FWKLU119.BLT, suitable for posting.