Lora Bulletin Board System and Electronic Mail Interface Version 2.33-7 Copyright (c) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 by Marco Maccaferri All rights reserved How to upgrade ===================================================================== Here is the right procedure to upgrade Lora in your system: 1. Change to your system directory (normally called C:\LORA) and uncompress inside it the original archive, LOS233-7.ZIP. 2. Run LOS233-7.EXE The program will upgrade the files that are changed with this release. Note: the upgrade procedure will patch the original 2.33-6 executable files only. Changes made from version 2.33-6 ===================================================================== - Fixed a bug that hangs the machine when using the internal tic processor. - Fixed a bug with the file listing command. - Fixed a bug with the import empty message option. - Fixed a bug when tagging files during a file listing. - Fixed a little bug (debris on the line) with the ^OC embedded command, not working properly in certain situations. - Added the dialing directory to the terminal emulator. The structures are not available because they need to be expanded and defined a little more. - Fixed a bug that puts real big numbers inthe seen-by and path lines using the OS/2 version. - Now the serial routines under OS/2 initializes the SIO drivers for RTS/CTS handhsaking. - The date format field in the BBS / General options menu, now has effects on the date displayed during the file listings. Change it as you need. Changes made from version 2.33-5 ===================================================================== - Added support for new USRobotics V32terbo 21600 connect speed. - Added support for the V.FAST connect response at 28800 baud. - Fixed a bug in the passthrough areas: the AREA: line is now added correctly. - In the previous whatsnew.txt file it's incorrectly stated that the subscription days left are displayed with the ^F9 embedded command. The correct command is ^F1. - Fixed a problem with the verify of packet passwords when the passwords are less than 8 characters. - Added support for the CARRIER connect responses. That's the factory setting for some modems. - Fixed a bug updating the download counters with CD-ROM file areas. - Fixed a bug with the internal upload protocol handler that cannot updates the user's upload kbytes and number fields. - Now the answers from the message and file area managers (named Areafix and Raid) are originated by Lora-BBS vX.YY rather than Areafix and Raid. - Added the command NODELIST to build the nodelist indexes from a batch file. - Fixed a bug with modems that cannot report the connect flags in the form "CONNECT 9600/V32/V42B". Changes made from version 2.33-4 ===================================================================== - The language file has changed (4 lines added). - The subscription field of the users editor is now active and fully functional. There are two system files that can be displayed according with the subscription date: SUBDATE.* - Is displayed when a users calls your board after the subscription date has expired. SUBWARN.* - Is displayed when the number of days before the expiration date is less that 31 days. - Added the embedded command ^F9 that shows the number of days before the subscription expires. - The user editor is now built into LSETUP under the Manager menu. - Added the B???????.* system file. It is shown to the user with the BPS rate as specified behind the B. B2400.* would be shown to a 2400 BPS caller and B14400.* would be shown to a 14400 BPS caller. You can make a file for the following BPS rates: 300 1200 2400 4800 7200 9600 12000 14400 16800 19200 38400 - Added the FGOODBYE.* system file. It is displayed when the user decides to hangup after a file transfer. Do not use embedded commands that pauses the file otherwise the user can't use the automatic logoff. - Made a lot of fixups to both the serial port handling and video functions routines to prevents uncontrolled loops and speed bottlenecks even with windowed sessions. - Added the 'Quote header' parameter to the BBS / General options menu. The reply header is displayed at the top of a message that is quoted in a reply. The following macro characters may be used within this field: @ Expands into the person's name to which the original message was addressed. # Expands into the person's name who posted the original message (the one being replied to). ` Expands into the date that the original message (the one being replied to) was posted. ~ Expands to the time that the original message (the one being replied to) was posted. For example, if the following reply header was specified: In a message originally to @, # said: Would expand in a message to: In a message originally to All, Joe User said: - Added the 'Quote string' parameter to the BBS / General options menu. This allows you to select the string of characters which Lora will place before any message text that is quoted in a reply. This is useful for separating quoted message text from reply message text within a message. For example, a message quote string specified as the ">" character might look like this: 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � > I have been using Lora BBS for two � � > months now and love it! � � � � I have to agree with you there, John. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� In this example, you can see that the message text that is being quoted begins with the defined Quote String. This makes the message easier to understand. Two macro characters are also supported within the quote string. They are: @ This macro character is expanded within message text into the upper-case initials of the person who is being quoted or replied to. # This macro is expanded into the lower-case initials of the person who is being quoted or replied to. ~ This macro is expanded into the initials of the person who is being quoted or replied to without changing the case. For example, if the quote string was specified as "@>", quoted message text might look something like this: 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � JP> I have been using Lora BBS for two � � JP> months now and love it! � � � � I have to agree with you there, John. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� This gives an even better idea of which message text is being quoted. - Added the flags definitions for both Areafix and Raid processors. Now you can define up to 32 flags for your downlinks like the flags you have with the users. - Increased the size of the netmail akas. Now you have 20 slots at your disposal. - The 'Translate to' field of the cost manager has been increased in width to allow telephone credit card numbers. - Added the 'packers engine'. Now the Manager/Packers menu allows you to define the packers/unpacker for both the QWK mail door and the Fidonet mail processor. You can define the pack/unpack commands and the identification bytes for each packer, this allows you to add packer without changing the executable files. The packers identification string is made by pairs of hexadecimal numbers representing the bytes that can be found at the byte position specifyed by the 'Offset' parameter. - Added the 'Netmail messages tracker', that checks every netmail message that your system imports for valid origin and destination nodes. You can enable or disable the message tracker with the Mailer / Miscellaneous / Track msgs. option. - Added the TIC file processor. Now each file area has a TIC tag field (like the echomail tag) and three forward lines. - Added the item 'Import TIC.CFG" to the File menu, that allows you to import your existing TIC configuration. This item imports only the file area names, paths and forward, due to the internal handling of the TIC processor, the passwords are defined in the Manager / Nodes menu and are unique for each node, you cannot define a different password for the same node in different areas. - Added the file area processor (named Raid) to allow your downlinks to add, remove and query their echo file areas status. The provided RAID_HLP.TXT shows you the commands available. - There is a new LMSG.EXE that should fix some problems. It has a new command line switch: -L that allows you to reply-link the messages by subject. It works for Squish and QuickBBS message bases only, it will completed in the next release. - For everyone has complained about the midnight trap that occurs with Lora/2: check your scheduler setup (Manager / Events menu) and be sure that your events covers the entire 24 hours range. That means that the last event must end at 24:00 and not at 23:59. Changes made from version 2.33-3 ===================================================================== - Improved the screen output routines. - This beta was recompiled using the Borland C/C++ 1.0 for OS/2. The previous release was compiled with an early beta of the Borland compiler. - The language files are changed (one line was added). Make sure to update your custom files. - LMSG -I over a Fido *.MSG area, causes the creation of the MSGTOIDX.DAT file. This file will be used by the personal mail scan to find out the messages in the Fido areas. - Improved the Squish message scan. Changes made from version 2.33-2 ===================================================================== - Several improvements are made to the outbound scanning routines. Note that a new file appears in the Lora's system directory: QUEUE.DAT. This file contain an index to the outbound packets and should be deleted only if you must completely rescan the outbound directories. - Fixed a bug with the download counters that weren't updated when using the file list parameter. - Added the check on the fidouser.lst file in the nodelist directory as an alternative to the names.cfg file. - Added the 'Carrier mask' parameter to the Modem/Hardware menu, that allows you to specify the bit mask with which the carrier must be detected (normally it's 128). - Added the 'DCD drop timeout' parameter to the Modem/Hardware menu, that allows you to specify a timeout in seconds for which the carrier must be down before hangup the line. This avoids some problems with extremely noise lines. - Now the input routines accepts the entire ASCII character set, except for the unprintable codes (below 0x20). With this "fix" it's now possible to use country-specific characters in messages and in every input request. I think that the Chinese character set may be used too. - Improved the speed of LMSG when packing Squish and QuickBBS message bases. - LMSG now correctly updates the QuickBBS LASTREAD pointers. - When a user uploads a file into a filebox, his/her name will always be put following the file's description, regardless of the setting made with LSETUP. This allows the filebox owner to know who has sent the files without guessing it. - If your menus are made by external ANSI/Avatar files, if the user presses an hotkey, the file's output is stopped immediately, and the key processed. - Fixed the file request loops, without using the index files. - Now the .ILO files works correctly when Lora rereads the outbound queue. - Fixed the strange reactions when creating new echomail areas (like strange areas.bbs and newareas.bbs popping-up everywhere). - Fixed a bug using the Areafix processor from a point. - Added the embedded command ^WkN that shows the rest of the line if the specified user's are zeroed. - Added the password protection feature to the file indexes for the file request. Just add the password after the file name, like the following: $C:\Lora\PROTECT.IDX !PWD - Added the parameter /P to instruct Lora not to interpret any embedded command when reading files with the menu types 5 and 97. - Fixed a bug when packing Squish messages using LMSG: the loss of the high water mark and lastread pointer. - Added the 'Internet mail' type-flag to the message areas setup. It's act like a normal netmail area, but the fidonet's to and address fields are automatically filled with the data found in the configuration file (see the 'Internet gateway' menu) and the system will ask you the destination internet address to send the message to. - Added the 'Internet gateway' menu to the lsetup's 'Global' menu. You can define the user's name and fidonet address of your zone's internet mail gateway. - Added the ASCII control file NAMES.CFG. In that file you can list the names and addresses of people you write most, in the following format: Marco Maccaferri, 2:332/402.1 Mario Battacchi, 2:332/403 Changes made from version 2.33-1 ===================================================================== - If you experience missed duplicate messages situations, try to delete the files DUPES.IDX and DUPES.DAT. I have changed the duplicate check method, something has gone wrong and the files aren't perfectly up-ward compatible. - Fixed the 'Limited hours' answer bug. - Bug del QWK che causava uno sharing violation se si faceva un download subito dopo aver mandato le repliche. - Fixed a bug with the duplicate uploads check. - Made some changes with the share file management, this may be improves the system security with the share loaded. - Added some embedded commands that where missing from the 'User display' menu parameter. Now the commands available are exactly the same as with the external file commands. - Added the file request file index. You can put a line in the OKFILE.LST file (or whatever you call it) like the following: $C:\Lora\FILES.IDX And Lora will look inside this file to search the files requested instead of looking inside every directory every time. This may speed up the scan process and considerably improve the overall performance with CD ROMs and other slow devices (like file areas on remote file servers under network). You can mix the old search method with the new as you wish, you can also adds multiple file indexes (if you limits the file requests on certain areas to certain nodes). - Added the external program FILEIDX that allows you to create the index files. The command syntax is very simple, if you start the program without parameters it shows the command summary. Following is an example on how the create a file index: FILEIDX C:\Lora\FILES.IDX AREA 1 5 7 RANGE 50-200 300-400 This line creates the file index C:\Lora\FILES.IDX and includes the files inside the areas 1, 5, 7, the areas from 50 to 200 and the areas from 300 to 400 (bounds included). - The external protocols support has been fixed and now is usable: with the download command you can specify the %1 paraneter that will be replaced by the file name to be downloaded (only if the control file isn't specifyed too). With the upload command you can specify the %1 (destination path without the trailing backslash) and %2 (file name to be received) parameters. With the control files and download / upload commands, you can specify every external program parameters (take a look at the description of the menu type 10 - External programs in the sysop's manual). - LMSG has finally been updated. This is a completely new version of the message maintenance utility, it still needs some changes and enhancements, but now it's usable. - Added the switch /L= to every GOTO or GOSUB menu types (including the line-editor and mail reader one) to check for the menu name inside the file .MNU instead of inside the language's default menu file. *IMPORTANT* Do not include the file extension, Lora automatically adds the .MNU extension. Changes made from version 2.32a ===================================================================== - Startig with the current beta, there is a new registration key code that overrides the previous numeric code. Every registered user as of 07-03-93 will be automatically upgraded to the new registration code, at no extra charge, by simply upgrade the software. Make sure that the code is installed properly by looking at the General / Registration menu of LSETUP: the new key code is an alphanumeric string up to 24 characters. If the field doesn't show anything, please contact the author immedialy to obtain an usable key. If the key is installed properly you can see the new serial number at the rightmost top corner of Lora's mailer screen. It shows something like this: "Lora-DOS v2.33.1/00023". Don't worry if it's different from the old serial number: it's because the new key code has also a new serial number generator. - An OS/2 version of LoraBBS is now available, write to the author for more information on how to request the files. - Fixed a bug with the 'Aftercaller exit' and 'Aftermail exit' parameters, that won't works at all. - Now the commands issued after a %FROM command in a message to areafix assumes that the simulated node has an access level equal to the originating node. - Added the 'Import empty msgs.' parameter to the Mailer / Mail processing menu. This option allows you to choose if import empty (without a line of human readable text) messages or not. - Added the 'Tear line' field to the Mailer / Mail processing menu. This allows you to define a custom tear line to put instead of the built in one. This option is available only to registered users. - Added the 'Show missing files' option to the BBS / General options menu. This option allows you to show the missing files using the file list and locate files commands. - The language file has been expanded to allow a complete customization of the file listings row. - Added the menu commands '57 - Read parent message' and '58 - Read child message' to read messages following the reply links. For the Squish messages only the first reply is handled. - Added two embedded commands that works only inside a menu display string: ^KC - Displays the number of the reply to this message. ^KP - Displays the number of the message that this message is a reply to. - Added the 'Random redial time' option to the Mailer / Miscellaneous menu. If this option is set to yes, means that the redial time specified in the current event will be treated as an average time between each call. So if you set the redial time to 20 seconds, the true redial time will be between 10 and 30 seconds randomly. - The 'lastpwdchange' field of the user record now will be updated correctly. - Added the external protocol engine. The BBS menu has now a new item: 'Ext. protocols'. From this item you can set up every external protocol you need. Following is a list of the parameters required for each protocol: Active - Select if the protocol can be used by the users. Name - Name that appears in the protocol selection list. Hotkey - Key to select this protocol from the selection list. Download command - DOS command that invokes the protocol to send one or more files to the user. You must include the name of ther control file (below). The normal file names translation characters can be used (see the full documentation for more details). Upload command - Same as the above but the protocol is invoked to receive one or more file from the user. Log file name - Name of the log file that the protocol generates. You must be sure that the downloads and the uploads are logged into this file. Control file - Name of the file that contains the names of the files to be downloaded by the user. Download string - String that must be put on the control file to inform the protocol that it's a download request. The %1 symbol will be replaced by the complete file name to be sent. Upload string - Not used at this time. Download keyword - Keyword that identifies a successful download in the log file. Upload keyword - Keyword that identifies a successful upload in the log file. Filename word - Word position of the file name in the upload/download log row. Size word - Size of the file word position in the log row. CPS word - CPS made word position in the log row. I know that isn't much, but an example on how to enable external protocols will follow as soon as possible. - Added the flags to disable the internal protocols (if for any reason you use only external protocols) to the BBS / General options menu. WARNING: BY DEFAULT THIS FLAGS ARE SET TO NO, SO THE INTERNAL PROTOCOLS ARE DISABLED, REMEMBER TO SET IT TO YES AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE.