Note: This file is arranged from the latest release back to version 2.00 of Stereo Shell. It is intended as a reference for updating users to notify them of the changes made to the program. It is suggested reading for all users however... *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 4.02 to 4.10 ** Added 4DOS(tm) ON-LINE file description display. If enabled in the setup, StS will now display the 40 character file description on the title/copyright line of the main screen. The display allows one to see the file and directory descriptions as the cursor is moved from entry to entry. ** Added password security to some important setup options. This will allow business users to limit access to hidden files, external program definitions, and the DOS prompt. ** Made changes in the default commands for use with the new PKZIP. ** Fixed various minor bugs and gltches with the most notable being the extra form feeds encountered when printing on network printers. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 4.01 to 4.02 ** Fixed timing bug causing divide overflow 66Mhz 80486 machines. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 4.00 to 4.01 ** Added the ability to direct printing from the viewer to LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3. ** Added a setup option to allow the user to control the sub-directory memory. With the memory turned on, when the user goes back toward the root directory, the cursor is placed on the sub-directory that was used to decend on the branch. With the memory off (default) the cursor always returns to the top (.. directory). ** Fixed bug in the USER program sub-menu that appears for merked file operations. The bug limited the program to 8 USER programs on this menu instead of 10. ** Fixed a couple of minor bugs and typos. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.21 to 4.00 ** Removed the setup program from the main code and made it an integrated external program. This prevents the wasting of valuable memory space while the main program is executing. The setup program is loaded only when and while needed. The setup program MUST reside somewhere in the PATH= definition so that it can be found by STS.EXE. ** Added selective marking capability. If the F2 marked file menu is invoked with no files marked, the marking menu will appear allowing the user to define a marking criteria. ** Added directory tree generation/display capability that includes a file preview window. Pressing the [Ins] key, the space bar, or both mouse buttons while the cursor is in the center window will allow the user to view a tree of the drive and all files in each sub-directory. ** Added automatic recognition and support for international date formats. This seems to be the leading request from the Canadian, European, and Japanese registering users. ** Added string search capability to the StS internal viewer. This is a case-insensitive forward search that works in both the hex and ASCII modes. The Boyer-Moore search technique is used and provides StS with one of the fastest searches in the business. ** Added support for up to 8 file compression programs. This represents an increase from 4 in previous versions. At release, version 4.00 includes built in default commands for; PKZIP, PKPAK, LHA, PAK, and ARJ. Three "spare" slots are also available. ** Added support for up to 8 external programs which allow the user to enhance the file compression programs. Each compression type may now have an additional external program defined for it. ** Added support for up to 10 USER defined external programs. This is an increase from the previous 8. ** Added support for 10 LAUNCHABLE application programs. A new feature of StS which allows the user to execute a program based on the filename extension of the highlited file. A logical progression from the basic idea StS has always used to make life simpler. One may now run any external application based on the filename extension of one of its data files. ** Added the "pass filename 1st" option on external program definitions which will allow programs that require the filename preceed the paremeters to be executed. LIST.COM is a notable program in this catagory. ** Added "executable file filter". At the press of a key, only executable files will be displayed in a window. This allows the user to quickly eliminate the "trash" and see what there is to run. Pressing the back- space or asterisk key will filter the executables. ** Added the ability to disable duplicate filename checking when copying and moving files. When the first duplicate is found, the user may bypass all future checking by selecting the ll option. ** Added 4DOS (tm) compatible file comment system. StS will now automatic- ally move, copy, rename, and delete 4DOS file comments when manipulating files on the disk. File comments may also be created, edited, and deleted, with StS. Press the key pair to view/edit a file comment. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.20 to 3.21 ** Removed keyboard buffer clearing on all but the [ALT][F10] file erase. command. Buffer clearing was installed in 3.20 to prevent keyboard run-on but several users who like to feed StS fast keystrokes, complained about the buffer clearing. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.12 to 3.20 ** Added a new medium resolution video mode supported on VGA equipped machines. This mode provides a nice 28 line mode or 33 line mode when using V33. V33 is another M.R.E. product available as freeware from us. ** Changed internal file data structure in preparation for future 4.00 version. This change allows StS to keep more information in less memory and provides the enhanced time display mentioned later. ** Changed ALT-T time command so that it toggles the entire file window into time/date mode. The user may save the window settings for this display type in a manner identical to how the sort type is saved. ** Changed the screen display so that the file size, time, date, and attributes, can always be seen for the highlighted file. This change also allows display of the sub-directory creation dates, times, etc. ** Fixed a couple of minor bugs. (1.) Screen glitch when marking files bigger than 10 megabytes. (2.) I/O redirection option error when creating a compressed file from files located on a disk root directory. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.10 to 3.11 & 3.12 ** Fixed a couple more minor bugs and added the ability to "see" hidden sub-directories when the hidden files switch is on. ** Fixed bug in new extended ZIP menu that would cause erratic operation when using page up / page down keys inside large .ZIP files. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 3.00 to 3.10 ** Added Extended Zip menu. The "EZ" menu allows the user to mark files within a .ZIP file for extraction/deletion/viewing. This eliminates the need for extracting all the files in a .ZIP or trying to remember the filenames. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.2x to 3.00 ** The DOS gateway command () has been improved in two ways. First, the gateway path is now derived from the hooked window instead of always gating to the left window path. Second, the user may now execute a DOS command directly from Stereo without completely shelling out to DOS. This eliminates the need to type EXIT and go through that whole nine yards every time one wishes to issue a single DOS command. The gateway is still available and is entered by NOT issuing any command when prompted after an . Pressing just plain will cause StS to gateway to DOS. ** Files can now be moved between drives. This has to be the number one request I have received from users of older versions and it is now a reality. Logic has been incorporated within StS to do an automatic copy/delete sequence simulating a file move between different logical disk drives. ** DOS commands now work directly from StS. Call it a bug, an error or whatever, earlier versions of StS had problems running the DOS utility programs like CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, FORMAT, etc. The problem was that the parameters could not be passed properly. The real problem was that this programmer did not realize that Microsoft was still using a PC-DOS 1.00 method to pass these parameters and had not incorporated it in Stereo's routine that executes external programs. After some research, the oversight has been corrected and the author has re-learned a valuable lesson: Old programs never die, they just get "enhanced". ** All windowed menus now support the use of letter key command entry in addition to the use of function keys and point-n-shoot. This was done in response to some of you who can type. The letter that applies to each command appears to the left of the command and is in the window border color. The menus have also been enhanced in that they scroll down and lock at the command selected when a letter or function key is used to make the selection. ** An "EXIT" prompt similar to ProComm's (tm) DOS gateway exit prompt has been added to Stereo. This serves to remind the user that he is shelled to DOS and is not running the base copy of the command processor. ** Stereo's internal video routines have been completely re-written. This was done in an attempt to make the program as fast and as compatible as possible with the 14,283.5 different video display cards that are on the market today. Some users reported minor problems running in high resolution modes with garden variety EGA cards in older versions. The new routines follow all the guidelines this programmer can find in an attempt to eliminate the quirks. ** The program's "beep" sound has been changed to a shorter less irritating tone. This is in keeping with President Bush's "kinder, gentler" America theme. ** Internal logic that locates system disk drives has been improved. Users of network systems that have disk drive letters not assigned in sequence will find that this version of StS will not report drives that are not there. If you have a "G" and an "I" drive but no "H" drive, StS 3.00 will not bother you by displaying the letter H in the drive selection list. A C D E F G I J K ... would be a typical display. ** Exit stage right? OK. The program now allows the user to exit to the left window path, the right window path, or back to the sub-directory from which it was invoked. ** EXIT right now! A new command will dump you immediately back to the operating system in the original load directory. ** File window wrap around re-engineered. Mouse users can now quit cussing because StS will no longer wrap around sideways when the mouse is used to direct the cursor. The keyboard will still allow horizontal wrap/re-hook but the mouse hits the wall. This feature really improves control with the mouse. ** Vertical wrap around in file windows now an option. If enabled, the file windows will wrap from top to bottom - bottom to top when the first/last file is moved past. The program "beeps" to inform the user that it has wrapped around. Set this option from the Set-up Menu. ** BBS sysops and user's involved with network mail arriving in compressed formats with extensions like .A14 or .Z02 have asked that the program be able to recognize these extensions as compressed files. This version incorporates internal logic to accomplish this task. Any file with an extension matching the 1st letter of a compressed file extension followed by either the correct remaining letters or a numeric digit will be processed as a compressed file by StS. examples: .Z04, .LZ6, and .A2C would be assumed to be ZIP, LZH, and ARC files. This change does not apply to any other file types. ** The tab key is now active. The Tab key will now move the cursor between windows. ** File date and time now changeable with Stereo. The file attribute editor has been enhanced and will now allow the user to change the file date and time as well as its attributes. ** File times may now be displayed with StS. A new command allows the user to see the creation date/time of the hi-lighted file. ** Marked file options abound. Several marked file options have been added in response to user requests. The changes are too numerous to go into here and are generally self explanatory anyway. Open the marked file menu and try them out. ** Stereo's internal file viewer will now allow selected printing from the displayed file. This feature will allow the user to print anything from a few lines to a complete file. The feature is also supported in HEX mode and will do a hard copy HEX dump. ** Compressed file I/O may now be re-directed. This feature allows the user much easier control over the file compression system. Files may be extracted, freshened, updated, or created from, any sub-directory on the system. The ability to work between windows without the need to type in a complete path is the main advantage of this new feature. ** Floppy drive drag cut to a minimum. Older versions of StS constantly re-read a floppy disk drive when a window was pointed at one. This version incorporates several improvements in the way that the disk sub-directory information is stored internally and thus reduces the need to constantly read the floppy drive to retrieve that information. Users should note that using the right window to point at floppies will produce the least number of re-reads, however the overall system performance when either window is used has been greatly improved. ** Arrrggggh! I got dots on the screen!! Relax, the little dot that appears right after the file size is indicating the file "archive" bit is set. This new feature was included for users who have disk backup systems that are capable of backing up only files that have been changed since the last backup was made. The archive bit is set whenever you edit or otherwise change a file. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.1x to 2.20 ** ZDIR will hereafter be called the "working directory" since the name and path is no longer hard coded into the program. A new setup option will allow the user to rename/relocate the working directory. See the File/path options in setup mode. ** StS now has the ability to auto-load a HELP file. We have included a prepared help file named HLP.TXT with this package. This is a standard ASCII text file that may be edited/appended by the user. The default path for the help file is C:\STEREO but it may be changed by the user. See the File/path options in setup mode. Press for help! ** An instant DOS gateway key is now supported. Press to gateway to DOS instantly...type EXIT to return to StS. ** A new screen saver feature has been added. Under the Screen/mouse options in setup mode you may activate this feature. This is a three mode feature which may be either OFF, ON, or MSG. The ON mode simply clears the screen to black, whereas the MSG mode will "bounce" a message at random around the screen. This is a simple CLS saver with a 10 minute delay. It is only active when StS is running and will not effect any external program you have executed from StS. ** StS will now allow the renaming of directories via function key . DOS version 3.00 or above is required to use this feature. If you are not using a supporting DOS version, StS will respond to the command with a beep. ** The StS viewer high resolution HEX mode now displays more rows of data. A couple of minor bugs in the viewer were also killed. ** Window capacity increased from 500 to 600 files per screen side. 600 files and 200 sub-directories/side = 1600 total entries! ** The program now accepts lower-case letters when prompting for parameters for running external programs. This fixes a previous oversight on our part. ** Fixed a bug that caused sub-directories that were created from the right side while it was pointed at the root directory to be placed incorrectly. ** Implemented a better drive detection routine so that StS will report the correct number of disk drives available. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= CHANGES/ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS from versions 2.0x to 2.10 ** The name designation has been changed from "Registered" to "Professional" in the version supplied to registered users. ** The environment string "SET" string has been changed to STS_CFG and the default name for the config file is STSCFG.CFG. I hope to standardize on these names. The .CFG file is NOT compatible with the 2.0x version .CFG file. Refer to the .DOC file for information about how to use the environment SET string. ** The program now supports 8 user defined utilities instead of 4. ** This version supports an optional external LIST or VIEW utility. If the user desires to use a utility such as LIST64A.COM instead of the built-in viewer, all that need be done is define this utility in SETUP mode. If the viewer is not defined, StS will default to its internal routine. ** StS version 2.10 now supports "hot" parameter passing to the editor, viewer and user defined utilities. In SETUP mode, if the user defines the parameters to pass as a simple question mark (?), that user program will prompt for input when it is executed. Defining any other parameter string or nothing at all will skip the prompting and send any defined parameters to the utility. This new feature is useful for programs such as file finders that require a different filename when executed or in cases where the user wants to use different parameters for programs when the programs are used in different situations. ** Horizontal mouse movement has been "dampened" to allow the user a more comfortable level of control with the mouse. The overall mouse sensitivity range has also been increased by a factor of 100. This change should allow StS to be used with a wider variety of mice species. ** A compatibility problem with Desqview (tm) was fixed. ** A bug involving spaces in the volume label was fixed. StS will now display the complete volume label including imbedded spaces. ** A bug involving using StS with the new PAK2x file compression program was fixed. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= I welcome user input! Emery Wooten