====== Mystic BBS v1.10 - What's New ====== Every Mystic BBS archive contains a WHATSNEW.TXT file that tracks the development of Mystic BBS for the version related to that archive. This page contains notes from the author (g00r00) during the development of Mystic BBS v1.10 It outlines what is a new or changed feature, a bug fix, or something that has been removed. In order to interpret each entry below, the following key explains the nature of each change that has been noted in the WHATSNEW.TXT for this version of Mystic BBS. ! = Bug fix + = New or changed feature - = Removed Use the Table of Contents on the right hand side of this page to quickly jump between the notes that relate to each Alpha version of Mystic BBS during this development cycle. If you spot something you think looks amiss with these notes please contact us using the contact info found on this Wiki. \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ ===== 1.10 Alpha 1 - 21 ===== ! Mystic was not exiting with errorlevel 255 when quitting from the WFC screen as it did in previous versions. + Added an "Active" and "OSType" to the archive configuration. You will want to verify that these are set correctly for your OS when upgrading. + Added an "Active" and "OSType" to protocol configuration. You will want to verify that these are set correctly for your OS when upgrading. + Added Protocol configuration to MCFG + Added Archive configuration to MCFG ! The internal editors for message and file groups were not correctly displaying the group name during the group listing. + Pressing enter (entering nothing) during toggle of file and message base newscan settings will now exit instead of redisplaying the prompt again. + Did some minor optimization of the ANSI codes which Mystic generated when using pipe codes. ! Mystic wasn't correctly determining the free space on the disk when attempting to copy from a slow media device. This was only happening on Linux/OSX. ! The right arrow key was not working as PAGEDOWN in the fs editor quote window. + The HOME and END keys now work in the full screen editor quote window. + File and message groups can now be flagged as "Hidden" which means they will not show in the group listings. ! Fixed a bug with the HOME and END keys in the lightbar message reader which could cause a lock up. ! Fixed a bug when drawing percentage bars in the various places where it was possible for a divide by zero crash. ! When using the -X command line, Mystic was going to the local WFC screen if local mode was specified. The -X command line now forces an immediate local login as it was intended. This only happened in Windows. + Fixed RAR internal archive viewing. It broke when we switched compilers. Apparently it is still broken if there are comments embedded in the .RAR file. Hopefully I will get this cleared up soon too. + MPL has been completely overhauled and now follows very closely to real Pascal syntax. This will require lots of syntax changes, but the good news is that the syntax will likely not change again, since we are standardizing it. Most changes are in the following areas: - Pend, Wend, Fend all must be changed to END - If statements now require a THEN and also a BEGIN/END if it has more than one statement. EndIf is now just an End (if required), and ElseIf is now two separate statements (Else If) OLD: If Ch = 'A' ElseIf Ch = 'B' EndIf NEW: If Ch = 'A' Then WriteLn('A'); Else If Ch = 'B' Then WriteLn('B'); Else If Ch = 'C' Then Begin WriteLn('C'); WriteLn('Needs a begin and end because there are two statements'); End; - Variable declartions follow Pascal rules, so: OLD: Var ch char array(1..20) NEW: Var ch : Array[1..20] of Char; NEW: Var B1, B2, B3 : Byte; - Array elements are now specified with [ and ] instead of ( and ) - For and While statements now require "Do" and if there are more than one statement in the looped section, it must have open and close blocks (ie Begin End). Fend and Wend are changed to "End" now or removed depending on if there is more than one statement. OLD: For A := 1 to 10 WriteLn('Hello'); Fend NEW: For A := 1 to 10 Do WriteLn('Hello'); For A := 1 to 10 Do Begin WriteLn('This code'); WriteLn('Has more than one statement so it needs Begin/End'); End; - "#" style comments are not supported. Instead most standard language comments are supported... //, /* */ and (* *) comments are used. - Include files have been changed to {$include Myfile.mps} since # is not a part of MPL comment/directive system anymore. + New MIDE replaces old MIDE. This version does not yet have syntax highlighting, but has a nicer pulldown menu interface. Syntax highlighting may or may not be implemented in the future. This updated MPL has multiple syntax and block comments which makes it a much larger effort to support. The good news is, MPL (at least the Pascal syntax) is consistant with real Pascal compilers, so those editors will properly syntax highlight now! + New MPLC replaces old MPLC. + The "OneKey" function now has a boolean arguement which if true causes Mystic to echo the character to the user. So: Ch := OneKey('ABCDEFG', True); Would be the same as the old: Ch := OneKey('ABCDEFG'); Supplying FALSE it will not echo, which increases its usability. - Removed fOpen, fReadRec and fWriteRec functions. + Added new File type variable along with fAssign/fReset/fReWrite functions which work closer to how Pascal would work. It also makes managing files all together much easier and includes the ability to specify a "filemode" which in the example below 66 means "Read/Write" and "Deny None" access to a file. This would be the most commonly used filemode. OLD: fOpen (1, Text, Reset, 'myfile.txt'); NEW: Var MyFile : File; fAssign (MyFile, 'myfile.txt' 66); fReset (MyFile); FReadRec and FWriteRec can be replaced with FRead/FWrite. There are a few considerations. Previously they were designed to work with Pascal records now that limitation is removed, but a slight change is needed. Strings need to have one more added to their size when you FREAD/FWRITE, and other variable types used to not require a size, which they do now. OLD READING OF BBSLIST RECORD: fReadRec (1, bbs_cType) fReadRec (1, bbs_Phone, 15) fReadRec (1, bbs_Telnet, 40) fReadRec (1, bbs_Name, 30) fReadRec (1, bbs_Location, 25) fReadRec (1, bbs_Sysop, 30) fReadRec (1, bbs_Baud, 6) fReadRec (1, bbs_Software, 10) fReadRec (1, bbs_Deleted) fReadRec (1, bbs_AddedBy, 30) fReadRec (1, bbs_Verified) fReadRec (1, bbs_Extra1) fReadRec (1, bbs_Extra2) NEW READING OF BBSLIST RECORD: fRead (ListFile, bbs_cType, 1) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Phone, 16) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Telnet, 41) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Name, 31) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Location, 26) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Sysop, 31) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Baud, 7) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Software, 11) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Deleted, 1) fRead (ListFile, bbs_AddedBy, 31) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Verified, 4) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Extra1, 4) fRead (ListFile, bbs_Extra2, 2) Note the strings have one added to their size, and other variable types now also include their size: Byte, Char = 1 byte Integer, Word = 2 bytes LongInt = 4 bytes Strings = String size + 1 + MPL now does not trap File IO errors and stop execution of the MPL program. Instead, the result of the last call is now stored in the "IoResult" variable. Ex: fAssign (MyFile, 'myfile.txt' 66); fReset (MyFile); If IoResult <> 0 Then WriteLn('Unable to open file!'); + MPL now supports negative numbers. + MPL now supports the "Real" variable type which allows floating point calculations. + MPL now supports proper order of operations (PEMDAS) during mathmatical equations. It also now supports the ability to use paranthesis to override order. + The "MOD" operator has been changed to a % character. So: OLD: A := 10 MOD 8 NEW: A := 10 % 8; + MPL now supports a POWER operator in mathmatical equations: A := 2 ^ 3; + Support for line comments that begin with a # character has been removed and replaced with a more standard // comment. OLD: # My comment here NEW: // My comment here + MPL now supports block comments (* and *) similar to Pascal: (* This is a comment So is this *) + Strings can now be defined with an actual string length. Supplying no string length defaults to the maximum of 255 characters. Ex: Var MyString : String[10]; - Removed the GetCFG MPL command. The configuration variables now point directory to the configuration record stored in Mystic's memory, so this function is no longer needed - the variables are already populated. + MPL now allows variables to be declared in local blocks (ie anywhere) and can default them to a value. IE: Var Ch : Char = 'A'; + MPL now allows functions and procedures to defined inside of other functions and procedures. + MPL now allows procedures to be called recursively. + MPL now supports GOTO labels + Added new MPL variables for groups: FGROUPHIDDEN MGROUPHIDDEN + Added new DIRATTR attribute used with FindFirst/FindNext/FindClose in MPL. + Increased the maximum number of MPL variables from 500 to 2500 + MPL now allows multi-dimensional arrays up to 3 levels deep: Var MyArray : Array[1..10, 1..10, 1..10] of String[30]; + MPL now allows a second type of Syntax which is closer to C but modeled after Iniquity's programming language. This can be changed on the fly in your code using a compiler directive. See MPLTEST.MPS now included with the Mystic distribution for an example. + MPL now allows the memory location of a variable to be passed to functions and procedures using the VAR keyword. It works the same syntax as Pascal: Procedure myProc (Var Str: String) + MPL now handles variable memory differently, as well as does more file seeks vs sequential reads to move around the compiled MPL program. In some test cases this has increased execution speed by up to 400%, but this gain is not consistant. I hope in general it will be an increase. + MPL now supports CASE statements. This has actually been expanded on from the Pascal standard but still follows the same syntax. It has been expanded to allow CASE of more variable types, such as strings. See the included MPLTEST.MPS for examples. + Addressing an array element now uses the [ and ] characters instead of the ( and ) characters similar to real Pascal. + MPL now allows characters to be referenced by their ascii number. Ex: If Ch = #32 Then WriteLn('Ch was a space key!'); + MPL strings can now be accessed (in most places) as if they are an array of characters, as Pascal allows: Var S : String; S := 'Hello'; If S[1] = 'H' Then WriteLn('First letter is H!'); + MPL programs no longer require a "USES DIR" when doing directory stuff. + Renamed MPL function "fExist" to "FileExist" + Renamed MPL function fErase to FileErase. The reason I am renaming them is because the "f" prefix implies a File IO function, and these are not functions that deal with a "File" type variable. + Renamed MPL user variables USERLAST and USERFIRST to UserLastOn and UserFirstOn. LAST and FIRST didnt really make sense. + MPL now allows functions to be called without a variable being assigned. Ex: Function ReadKey normally returns a character, but it can be used without one now simply but calling "ReadKey" by itself. This opens up a lot of flexibility in the way MPL functions and procedures can work. Ex: Write ('Press a key: '); ReadKey; - Removed the "IsNoFile" function in MPL due to above change and because of below change: + The DispFile function now optionally returns TRUE or FALSE depending on if the file actually displayed. Keep in mind "IsNoFile" was TRUE if the file was missing, while this is TRUE if it displayed a file. + Renamed the file extension of compiled MPL programs to .MPX. This was because many operating systems think a MPE file is a video file, and also to signify the giant changes in MPL with this version. You can delete *.MPE from your scripts directory. + Renamed the "CLS" MPL function to ClrScr to match Pascal's CRT function. + Renamed the "fCopy" MPL function to "FileCopy" since the "f" implies a file-type variable function. + Changed "FB" variables to "FBASE". These are the variables that go along with USES FBASE. The prefix should match, as it does with the MBASE variables. So Ex: FBNAME is now FBASENAME + Updated BBSLIST.MPS for 1.10 and fixed some potential issues which would happen under Unix platforms. + The FindFirst/FindNext functions due to compiler/OS changes do not quite work the same as they once did in DOS. You should assume that you will get directories and files and use "DirExists" to determine the difference until a better system is in place. Optionally you can check the DIRATTR bit set to determine a directory vs a file. + MPL now supports /* and */ style block comments! /* This is a comment block! */ + New ACS code OM returns true if the user has Sysop access to the current message base OR is the owner of the current message (if reading messages). ! When moving a message, Mystic could crash after listing the message bases. If you did not list the message bases, it would work fine. ! Mystic was not properly redrawing the screen after moving a message in the lightbar message reader. + New MCI code MT returns the total messages in the current message base. + New MPL variable AllowArrow (boolean) is used to turn on arrow key processing in the readkey function. This is also used outside of MPL so change it with caution. + New MPL variable IgnoreGroups (boolean) is used to cause all group ACS evaluations to return true even if they are not in the group. This is also used outside of MPL so change it with caution. + New MPL variable pausepos (byte) gives access to Mystic's internal line counter used for screen pauses. + New MPL variable allowmci (boolean) toggles on/off MCI code parsing. This is used outside of MPL so adjust this with caution. + New MPL function WordCount returns the number of words in a string using the final parameter to define the character that determines what separates words. Ex: Str := 'Hello this is a test'; WriteLn ('Str has ' + Int2Str(WordCount(Str, ' ')) + ' words in it.'); + New MPL function WordGet returns the actual word at a specific word count. Ex: Str := 'Hello this is a test'; WriteLn('The second word was: ' + WordGet(2, Str, ' ')); + New MPL function WordPos returns the character position in the string where s specific word is located. Ex: Str := 'Hello this is a test'; WriteLn ('Second word is at: ' + Int2Str(WordPos(2, Str, ' '))); + New MPL function DayOfWeek returns a number between 0-6 depending on the day of the week: 0 = Sun, 1 = Mon, 2 = Tue, 3 = Wed, 4 = Thu, 5 = Fri, 6 = Sat + New MPL function DateJulian returns the longint Julian value of the current date. + New MPL function DaysAgo function takes a Julian date value and returns the number of days between the current date and the passed date. + New MPL function DateStrJulian works just like DateStr but accepts a Julian date. + DateStr no longer accepts 0 as the users current date format. Pass the user's actual date format to it if you want that. For example: Str := DateStr(MyDateTime, UserDateType); The other parameters (ie 1 = MM/DD/YY) work as they used to. + New MPL variable ProgName returns the path and filename of the current MPL program. + New MPL variable ProgParams returns any of the parameters passed to the MPL program as a single string. + New MPL function JustPath takes a string arguement and returns only the path (including the trailing backslash). Ex: WriteLn ('This MPX is located in ' + JustPath(ProgName)); + New MPL function JustFile takes a string arguement and returns only the filename: WriteLn ('This MPX filename is: ' + JustFile(ProgName)); + New MPL function JustFileName takes a string arguement and returns only the base filename (ie, not the extension so it basically just removes a file extension). This does not remove a path, JustFile does that. + New MPL funtion JustFileExt takes a string arguement and returns only the file extension. + New MPL function ReadEnv returns the value of an environment variable of the operating system. + New MPL function DirExist returns true or false if a directory exists. + New MPL function Replace replaces all occurances of a supplied text and returns a string. Ex: Var Str : String = 'Hello Hello Hello'; Str := Replace(Str, 'Hello', 'World'); // Str is now World World World + New MPL function strWrap takes two strings and wraps them after the word closest to the maximum supplied length. It optionally returns the actual position where it wrapped. Var Str : String = 'This will wrap'; Var Str2 : String = ''; Var Where : Byte; Where := strWrap(Str, Str2, 10); WriteLn ('It wrapped at ' + Int2Str(Where)); WriteLn ('First string: ' + Str); WriteLn ('Second string: ' + Str2); + New MPL function strComma accepts a longint and returns it as a string, with commas added where applicable: Ex: WriteLn (strComma(1000000)); // will print 1,000,000 + New MPL Cfg variable CfgTempPath returns the location of the current node temporary directory. + New MPL function TimerMin works just like Timer except returns minutes instead of seconds. + New MPL function Date2Dos takes a MM/DD/YY format date and converts it to DOS packed datetime format. + New MPL function Date2Julian takes a MM/DD/YY format date and converts it to a Julian date format. + New MPL function dateg2j takes a gregorian date format and converts it to a Julian format. + New MPL function datej2g takes a julian date format and converts it to a gregorian format. + New MPL function DateValid takes a MM/DD/YY date and returns true or false depending on if the date is valid (ie, month is 01-12, etc). + New MPL funtion WritePipe works just like Write but only parses Pipe color codes instead of all MCI codes. + New MPL function WritePipeLn is WritePipe with a CRLF at the end. + New MPL function WriteRaw works just like write except it does not parse any pipe color codes OR MCI codes. + New MPL function WriteRawLn works just like WriteRaw except with a CRLF added to the end. ! Mystic now properly buffers menu files when loading them. + New MPL fuction "MorePrompt" displays the system more prompt and returns a Char value of either Y N or C depending on what the user selected. + New MPL function "Pause" displays the system pause prompt, for those that don't like doing a "Write('|PA')". Keep in mind if you have a function called Pause in your MPL program, you will need to rename it to something else. + The %U code for running doors now replaces spaces in the username with an underscore (_). + New MPL function AddSlash(String) : String takes a directory and appends the appropriate ending backslash or forward slash depending on operating system. If the slash is already there, it does nothing. ! InputNY function now correctly returns TRUE if they user selected YES. It was reversing the result. InputYN worked fine, this one did not. MPL programs that used a work around for this, will need to change code. + Mystic now properly parses PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN keys sent by SyncTerm. This change is only for Windows as it has yet to be determined if making this change in OSX is going to conflict with the F9 and F10 keys. I may end up making this change on those sides too and forgetting to update the changes file. Be forwarned :) + Mystic now has an internal ANSI gallery. A new menu command, 2 new templates, a new percent bar configuration, and several new prompts come along with this. The new menu command is GA and takes a command line option that points to the root of where your ANSI files exist. This allows the user to move around through the directory structure starting at the root supplied in the command option data. The gallery allows for an unlimited "depth" in the directory structure with the only limitation being that each directory can have up to 1,000 files or folders in it. The gallery supports file downloads, first letter filename jumping, and full arrow/pageup/pagedown/home/end manuvering. The gallery will also attempt to import SAUCE tags on the fly while presenting the directory structure which will be sorted alphabetically on the fly. SAUCE data is available as Prompt Info codes in the prompts that go along with it. This stuff is CPU intensive and wasn't really viable "back in the day". A new percent bar configuration can be found in the language settings in MCFG for the Gallery Bar. This bar in the default template expects a bar length of 20. You will need to go set that up how you'd like it, and if you do not want to use it you can simply blank out the percent bar prompt. Two new templates go with this: ansigal.ans - Contains the main gallery screen. ScreenInfo codes !1 and !2 are used to define the top line and the bottom line in the file listing box. The actual content of the box is defined using prompts. ansigalh.ans- This is the help screen displayed when the user enters a ?. The following new prompts must be added to your language files, and your language files must be recompiled using MAKELANG or MCFG: ; ansi gallery: Ansi is required to use this prompt 466 |CRSorry, this gallery requires ANSI graphics|CR|CR|PA ; ansi gallery: Deselected file in list (bar OFF) ; &1=filename &2=filesize &3=filedate &4=sauce author &5=sauce title ; &6=sauce group &7=filetime 467 |[X02|07|16 |$R49|&1 |$R12|&6 |$R12|&4 |XX ; ansi gallery: Selected file in list (bar ON) ; &1=filename &2=filesize &3=filedate &4=sauce author &5=sauce title ; &6=sauce group &7=filetime 468 |[X02|15|17 |$R49|&1 |$R12|&6 |$R12|&4 |XX ; ansi gallery: Deselected DIRECTORY in list (bar OFF) ; &1=filename &2=filesize &3=filedate &4=sauce author &5=sauce title ; &6=sauce group &7=filetime 469 |[X02|07|16 |$R49|&1 |12|$D15 |XX ; ansi gallery: Selected DIRECTORY in list (bar ON) ; &1=filename &2=filesize &3=filedate &4=sauce author &5=sauce title ; &6=sauce group &7=filetime 470 |[X02|15|17 |$R49|&1 |12|$D15 |XX ; ansi gallery: Current path update prompt (when switching directories) ; set to blank to not display a path ; &1 = current path &2 = # of files in path 471 |[X08|[Y05|15|16|$R70|&1 ; ansi gallery: Percent bar update (when redrawing page) ; Set to blank to not display a bar. Bar config is in MCFG lang settings ; &1 = Percentage bar &2 = Percentage (0-100) 472 |[X52|[Y23|15|16|$L03|&2|07% |&1 ; ansi gallery: Default sauce values for no sauce record. 3 words separated ; by semi-colons: Title;Author;Group IE: Unknown;Unknown;Unknown 473 Unknown;Unknown;Unknown ; ansi gallery: Command prompt for ! (only download for now) 474 |CR|12Download |&1? |XX Enjoy! + MPL FOR/WHILE/REPEAT loop statements now have CONTINUE and BREAK commands availble to manipulate the loop. + When MIS creates a new telnet node in Windows, the specific node will have its screen updates disabled by default. This will speed up output a bit. Switching to the window and pressing ALT-V will toggle the local display on and off so you can still "snoop" the user. A message is printed in the Window with instructions when the screen is disabled. + Reworked Mystic's socket buffering in Windows. This combined with the above change should give an output speed up in the Windows version when not connected locally. Initial feedback from alphas say that these changes have GREATLY improved speed in Windows. Linux and OSX will not notice much of a difference because those versions had better buffering to begin with. + Increased OSX and Linux output buffer to 4KB up from 1KB. I am not sure this will make much of a difference, but it is now the same as the new Windows buffer. I think the "sweet spot" is around 2K actually. + New MCI code |DI## where ## is a number between 0 and 99. This MCI code only works in display files and is used to set a character display rate. The ## defines the number of characters displayed between delay, so 00 is no delay, 01 is the slowest, 99 is the fastest. This can be useful when trying to emulate certain baud rates, or if you have ANSImation and want callers to actually see it! :) This code can be used multiple times in a single display file to change speeds throughout. + Mystic no longer sends multiple warnings to a user when their time is running out. It now only sends them one warning when they have 5 minutes left. + Rewrote some of the input functions to be more efficient, mostly on the Windows platform. Input should be a bit more responsive now on all platforms though. Generally, when combined with the other Windows changes, overall feel should be "snappier" than in the past. + The ANSI gallery menu command now accepts a second parameter to define the display speed of the files in the gallery. The format for the optional data is now: ; c:\mystic\mygallery;0 Zero will disable any speed reduction. 1 is the slowest and you can go up to 255 for the fastest delay with the speed option. + Mystic now updates the Window title with the current logged in user and their node "action" in each node's window. (Windows only) ie: "Mystic Node 1 - g00r00 - Reading messages" + New MPL command SetPromptInfo. This allows you to set Mystic's internal "changing" PromptInfo MCI codes (the |&X codes). For example: SetPromptInfo(1, 'Hello!'); WriteLn ('This MCI code would like to say: |&1'); As a side note, there is NOT a GetPromptInfo because you can simply use MCI2STR: WriteLn('This MCI code would like to say: ' + Mci2Str('&1')); + New MPL command GetScreenInfo. This allows you to read Mystic's internal ScreenInfo codes, used in Templates - so your MPLs can easily have templates just like Mystic! These are the |!X codes. Var X, Y, Attr : Byte; Begin GetScreenInfo(1, X, Y, Attr); WriteLn('The value of the !1 MCI code was:'); WriteLn(' X: ' + Int2Str(X)); WriteLn(' Y: ' + Int2Str(Y)); WriteLn('Attr: ' + Int2Str(Attr)); End; + New MPL command "BufFlush". This causes Mystic to immediately send whatever is in the output buffer to the client. In almost all cases you will never need to use this, as Mystic knows most of the time when it needs to do that. It is more of a precautionary function. ! This isn't really a bug, more of an oversight. When Mystic is saving previously entered text, it would also save password input. Input history is accessible by pressing the up/down arrows on field input. You did know about that, right? Figures! :) + New MPL function "StripL" strips the left side of a string of any specified leading characters. Var S : String = ' Hello'; S := StripL(S, ' '); + New MPL function "StripR" strips the right side of a string of any specifcied trailing character: Var S : String = 'Hello '; S := StripR(S, ' '); + New MPL function "StripB" strips both sides of the string if a specific character. Var S : String = ' Hello '; S := StripB(S, ' '); + New MPL function "StripLow" strips all chracters from a string that are less than ascii code #32. Var S : String = #12#12#12#12 + 'Hello'; S := StripLow(S); + New MPL function "MCILength" works just like "Length" except it tries to ignore MCI codes. It doesn't check for actual validity of MCI codes. Var B : Byte; B := MCILength('|15Hello|UH'); WriteLn ('Length should be 5: ' + Int2Str(B)); + New MPL function "Initials" takes a user name and attempts to return one or two character initials. S := Initials('Jack Phlash'); // should return "JP" + New MPL function "StripPipe" takes a string and strips only pipe color codes from it. S := StripPipe('|15Hello there, |UH'); //returns "Hello There, |UH" + New MPL function "StrMci" takes an entire string and attempts to translate any MCI codes found in it, returning the entire result. S := StrMci('Hello |UH'); + New MPL function "BitCheck" accepts a bit position and checks it against an integer, returning true or false if the bit is on. So for example in the Records, the third bit in UserFlags is UserDeleted: GetThisUser If BitCheck(3, UserFlags) Then WriteLn('User is marked deleted'); Note that this was implemented before actual bitwise math, which also made it into this version. Keep reading! :) + New MPL function "BitToggle" accepts a bit position and an integer and toggles the bit. GetThisUser BitToggle(3, UserFlags); // undeletes if they are deleted or deletes if // they are not deleted. + New MPL function "BitSet" accepts a bit position and an integer and sets the bit ON/OFF based on a boolean: GetThisUser BitSet(3, UserFlags, True); // user is marked as deleted + MPL now allows hexidecimal values to be used in numeric variable assignment numerical evaluation, and in numeric constant variables. A hex value must begin with a $ character. Some examples: Const MyHexValue = $1F; Value := $10; If Value = $10 Then WriteLn('Value is 16 '); + MPL now fully supports bitwise math and operators! The following are implemented: AND - Bitwise AND OR - Bitwise OR XOR - Bitwise exclusive OR SHL - Bitwise shift left SHR - Bitwise shift right Example: Const UserDeleted = $04; // established bit for userdeleted from records.pas // note: this value has changed check records.pas! Begin GetThisUser If UserFlags AND UserDeleted <> 0 Then WriteLn('User is deleted'); End; + Mystic now keeps a "virtual terminal" of what the users terminal SHOULD look like. This opens up the ability to have "remote" screen saves and restores since Mystic thinks it knows what their screen looks like. :) + New MPL function "GetCharXY" returns the character located on the user's screen at the XY location. Var Ch : Char; Ch := GetCharXY(1, 1); WriteLn('The user has the following character at 1,1: ' + Ch); This kind of stuff could allow you to create MPL-based custom screen effects like TheDraw used to have, except for on-the-fly with whatever is on the user's screen. + New MPL function "GetAttrXY" returns the attribute of the character at position XY on the user's screen: Var Attr : Byte; Attr := GetAttrXY(1, 1); WriteLn ('The attribure of the character at 1,1 is: ' + strI2S(Attr)); + New MPL variable "CfgSeeInvis" gives you access to the "See Invisible" ACS value from Mystic's configuration. + New MPL variable "CfgMaxNode" gives you access to the "Max Nodes" setting from Mystic's configuration. -- LATER REPLACED IN SAME ALPHA KEEP READING + Completely reworked the System Configuration data file (MYSTIC.DAT). Some variable names were changed for clarity. This also makes room for some new features that are on the drawing board. Record formats will probably not change again for quite some time. Configuration editors still need to be reworked to better support the new format - big changes incoming on that front. Ideally, writing a utility for 1.10 will work for many versions to come - just as long as I didn't overlook something serious. + The Allow Multiple login feature is now an ACS setting instead of a simple Yes or No. Find in in the configuration somewhere! :) - Removed the "Archiver" directory as it was meaningless. Put the path in your archive configurations if you need to, otherwise they are probably already in your 'path' to begin with and likely do not need one to begin with. + Added a "Semaphore" directory. This is where the *.now files are now created for new network-based message events. Previously they were created in the DATA directory and could not be changed. + ACS strings in the System Configuration now have a maximum of 30 characters up from 20. + System directories have been expanded to 80 characters, up from 40. + All menu names in the System Configuration now have a maximum filename of 20 characters, up from 8. You still can't create "omgthisismymenunowlolsitsawesome.mnu" but you CAN create "messagemenu.mnu" - Removed the unused "ScreenBlank" setting from Mystic. Screensaver does not matter outside of a DOS OS, and DOS is gone, thankfully. + Increased the maximum number of "EchoMail" networks from 20 to 30. - Removed Node settings and NODEx.DAT files. You can delete node*.dat from your data directory. Since Mystic no longer internally supports modems, this configuration is not needed. Any MCI codes for doors and related that normally put a baud rate or comport will now default to 38400 baud and COM1 unless it is a local login. - Prompt #315 is no longer used. I can't remember why. :) + Removed MPL Cfg Variable "CfgMaxNodes" and replaced it with "CfgTNNodes" variable, which now contains the number of telnet nodes to allow. These are basically interchangable in your MPL code but it is changing to more accurately reflect what Mystic is doing. + Removed the "Max Nodes" from the System Configuration. This is now longer needed. The number of telnet connections determines your max nodes, since there are not telnet and dialup nodes now. Dialup can still be supported using gating software that accepts a dialup connection, and creates a telnet connection to Mystic. This may become internal at some point, but I do not know of a single dialup Mystic BBS (and there is 3rd party software to do this) so it is low in priority. + Added new "Max Telnet Nodes" in MCFG's Internet Configuration. This needs to be set to the maximum number of nodes you wish to allow/listen for under all platforms. This replaces the old "Max Nodes" setting. + Mystic now saves information in the configuration of when it was last upgraded. If the data file formats are outdated, Mystic will refuse to run and exit with an error. MIS, MBBSUTIL, MCFG, MYSTPACK also check to ensure data files are current before executing. If you want to add something similar into your utilities (that include records.pas), here is an example: {$I records.pas} Var ConfigFile : File of RecConfig; Config : RecConfig; Assign (ConfigFile, 'mystic.dat'); {$I-} Reset (ConfigFile, Config); {$I+} If IoResult <> 0 Then Begin WriteLn('Cannot read mystic.dat. Run from root Mystic dir!'); Halt(1); End; Read (ConfigFile, Config); Close (ConfigFile); If Config.DataChanged <> mysDataChanged Then Begin WriteLn('Your data files are not compatible with this version'); Halt(1); End; // Everything is good and now you have Mystic's configuration loaded // in memory for your utility. Now granted, this checks ONLY the base Mystic configuration file, but the upgrade utility for each release should update this base, AND everything else too. So the assumption is if the base configuration is not up to par, then nothing else is either. - The "Wait for call" screen has been removed from the Mystic process executable. Instead, a Mystic -L just logs you directly into the BBS as it would in Linux. Executing Mystic -CFG will take you to the configuration that would normally be accessible from the "WFC" screen. You can delete "wfcscrn.ans" from your DATA directory. - Removed -CID command line which was identical to the -TID command line option since modems had been removed. + If MYSTIC.EXE is ran without any parameters, it will default to node 1 local mode and start the login process in Windows. This change was made because that is how the Linux and OSX versions work. Previously you would get an error saying you needed to use -L for local mode, which was kind of redundant. ! Mystic was only drawing 79 characters on the status bar during a Windows login before the user logged in. Fixed. - Removed 2-line status bar option in the Windows version. I couldn't find anyone that uses it, it complicates codes, and interferes with ANSIs that are assumed to support 24-lines by pretty much all terminals. + When exiting Sysop chat mode on Windows, Mystic now remotely restores the user's screen to what it was before chat was started. Small entry to the whatsnew, but pretty awesome in what its really doing. + Mystic now has the option to define the maximum number of password attempts. It used to be hard-coded to 3. + Mystic now has the option to define the maximum number of login attempts when a user is first prompted for their user name before the connection is terminated. This was previously hard coded to 3. + Mystic now allows the number of minutes given to an unknown user to be defined in the configuration. This is the amount of time they have to either login or create a new account. ! Mystic was not properly sending the 'hackwarn.txt' e-mail to a user when their password was incorrectly entered via the Matrix login. + Mystic now allows the option for users to send a "password inquiry" email to the user defined in the configuration as the "Feedback To" user. This option is available when a user fails to enter a valid password from either the Matrix login or the standard login. A new prompt goes along with this: ; Password inquiry prompt 475 |CR|12Send a password inquiry message to the SysOp? |XX This feature can be turned off or on in the login configuration. ! Fixed a bug in split screen chat text wrapping that as introduced in the previous version. ! Split screen chat now filters out the linefeed character. Some terminals that send CRLF when ENTER is pressed were causing some display issues in split chat. + Added account expiration system into Mystic. User accounts now have a Expires date (mm/dd/yy) and Expires To (security level) field on each record. Accounts set to expire to level 0 will be marked as deleted. Two new MCI codes go along with this: XD - Displays the number of days until expiration (or 0 if none) XS - Displays the security level user will expire to. Two new prompts go along with this: ; Displayed when account expired down to a security level > 0 476 |CR|14Your account has expired. Downgrading security to |XS. ; Displayed when account expired down to level 0 (delete) 477 |CR|12Your account has expired and is now marked for deletion. + Mystic can now force the user to change their password after a certain number of days. This option is found in the system configuration login settings. In addition, users can be individually flagged so that they are never required to change their password. If the configuration value is set to 0, it will disable this feature. A new MCI code goes along with this PW - Returns the value for password reset days in configuration A new prompt goes along with this: ; User required password change 478 |CR|14This BBS requires a password change every |PW days. For now the password change uses the same prompts as the new user configuration. That can be separated in the future if it is needed, but for now it is the same. - Removed MCFG from Mystic BBS. It is being replaced with an new internal configuration. Read on! + Mystic now has a complete ANSI-based menu UI system for configuration editors and possibly more in the future. + Executing mystic -cfg now takes you directly to the configuration editors. When quitting the editor, Mystic will exit back to the operating system. If you are used to using MCFG you can create a MCFG.BAT or MCFG.SH which just executes "mystic -cfg" to get a similar effect. The new internal editor uses the new ANSI menu interface which allows both hotkey and arrow keys, listboxes, etc. This is also now accessible using the *S Sysop menu command, meaning it usable over your telnet connection or locally. A new ANSI file "cfgroot.ans" needs to be placed into the DATA directory. This serves as a "wallpaper" for the System Configuration. + Replaced old, outdated Archive editor with a new "popup" lightbar Archive editor, using the new ANSI UI system. + Replaced old, outdated Protocol editor with a new "popup" lightbar Protocol editor, using the new ANSI UI system. ! Fixed a bug in file search "description" highlighting. Not sure if this was in previous versions or introduced in the latest alphas but it should be fixed up now. - Removed the ALT+J shell to DOS function from the Windows version. There is no reason to have this built into the node process since DOS is no longer supported. + Mystic now accepts a -IP command line which passes the IP. The old -UID should pass the hostname. + Mystic now accepts a -HOST command line which passes the HOST. The UID command line is the same as -HOST and remains only for backwards compatibility. It might be removed in the future, so if you use the UID command line, its best to switch to HOST. + New MCI code UY returns the IP address (UX returns host) + %4 when executing doors, now returns the IP address (%5 is host) + When executing protocols, %4 now returns IP address (%5 is host) + Mystic now replaces logging of the baud rate in the Sysop log with the IP and hostname of the connection. + MIS now passes both the IP and HOST command lines when creating a telnet session. ! Mystic should now properly copy Welcome, News, and Goodbye files if they exist into QWK packets. + Mystic now strips out pipe color codes from the headers of the allfiles or newfiles exports in the file bases and in QWK packets. + FTP Server now has minimum and maximum port values for passive and extended passive data ports. Defaults should be 60000, and 65535 + FTP Server now has a configurable "per connection" timeout. Recommended value is at least 300 seconds. + FTP server now has a configurable "max connections with same IP" value. This should be set to at least 2, for incoming data connections with the same IP. + Added configurable POP3 server options for connection Timeout and for Delete Mail on Retrieve. + TAB key now works in the full screen editor. Tab stop is 5 spaces. + CTRL-D now functions the same as the right arrow in the full screen editor. + CTRL-E now functions the same as the up arrow in the full screen editor. + CTRL-F now moves the beginning of the current line in the full screen editor. + CTRL-G now moves to the end of the current line (same as end key) + CTRL-J now erases the current line in the full screen editor. It does not completely remove the line as CTRL-Y does, it just erases. + CTRL-N now does a page down in the full screen editor. + CTRL-O now displays the full screen editor help screen in the full screen editor. + CTRL-P now does a page up in the full screen editor. + CTRL-T now moves one word to the left in the full screen editor. + CTRL-R now moves one word to the right in the full screen editor. + CTRL-X now moves down one line the same as the down arrow key in the full screen editor. + CTRL-W now deletes the word to the left of the cursor in the full screen editor. ! SysOp Chat Page in Windows now properly updates the user's terminal during the page. + Sysop Chat Page in Windows now plays the "default beep" sound as configured in Windows. + MBBSUTIL has a new function -FUPLOAD. This goes through every file base and looks for new files. If a new file is found it will be added into Mystic's file base listing as a new file. FILE_ID.DIZ will be imported as well. **This was later moved to MUTIL** ! Mystic will no longer shell to the console and get "stuck" when trying to execute an archive that has a blank command line in the configuration ! MBBSUTIL was sorting BBS Lists and File Lists in reverse alphabetical order. This is now fixed to sort as most people would expect. + The HOME key now functions in the lightbar file listings to move to the beginning of the list. + The END key now functions in the lightbar file listing. It is kind of a half-assed implementation though, since doing it "the right way" will involve some extra coding in the future. + File Base settings for all ACS strings has been increased from 20 to 30 characters. + File base "lightbar" list templates are now defined per file base in the file base editor. The upgrade utility will set existing bases to 'ansiflst' but any newly created bases will need to have this value set per base now. + Updated file base record structures and added options for the possible future "Comment and Rating" system for file bases. In addition, some boolean data has been changed into a bitmapped flag variable. + Added new ANSI file base editor into the System Configuration. + Added Copy/Paste functions into all new ANSI internal editors. + Added new ANSI message group and file group editors. - Removed Password protected file and message bases. This is a barely used feature and it doesn't integrate well when the bases are available via FTP and NTTP, etc. Security around bases needs to be based on the ACS system to avoid issues in those situations. Prompts 66, and 67 are no longer used. Prompts 103 and 104 are no longer used. + Ansi message reader template is now configured on a per-base level just as the standard reader template is. + Ansi message reader message index is now configured on a per-base level just like the ansi reader template. + Message base ACS length has been extended to 30 characters. + Message base standard reader header filename has been expanded to 20 characters. + Message base path expanded to 80 characters from 40. + Added new ANSI message base editor. + Added new ANSI security level editor. + SMTP server now has a configurable timeout value per session (in seconds) + SMTP server now has a configurable number of simultaneous connections from the same IP address. + CTRL-K now cuts a line of text in the full screen editor. If you continue to cut more than one time, the text is appended to the cut buffer and will contiue to do so until it is pasted. Any cut after a paste resets the cut data. This is inspired by the Nano/Pico editors on Unix platforms which work the same way (with the same keys!). The cut buffer currently allows up to 100 lines to be cut and pasted at once. + CTRL-U now Uncuts all text that is currently in the cut buffer within the full screen editor. You can uncut (paste) as many times as you like with the current buffer. + Mystic now has support for configuring Echomail domains for 5D addresses. + Mystic now has support to configure an uplink address for each echomail address. + Default language filename can now be up to a 20 character filename + Default start menu can now be up to a 20 character filename + All ACS settings in the System configuration have been expanded from 20 characters to 30 characters max. + All paths in the System configuration have been expanded to 80 characters max. + MBBSUTIL now has an -AREASOUT option which will export a list of all bases flagged as Echomail in the AREAS.BBS format. + Added a new program called MUTIL. This will eventually become the replacement for MBBSUTIL and MYSTPACK. In addition, it will have a ton of new features that MBBSUTIL did not have. MUTIL and MUTIL.CFG contain more details. + MUTIL now has the ability to import FIDONET.NA style files into Mystic's message bases. + MUTIL now has the ability to perform an offline "Mass upload" into file bases. It will also import File_ID.DIZ (optionally) based on the archive configuration. + "Languages" have been renamed to Themes. LANGUAGE.DAT has been renamed to THEME.DAT in the data directory. A ton of new features await with this new system. It of course is still possible to use the Theme system to create support for different languages as well. Additionally, compiled prompt files that used to have the .LNG file extension have been renamed to .THM extension. The upgrade utility should take care of all this renaming for you. - MAKELANG has been removed from Mystic BBS distribution. + MakeTHEME has been added to the Mystic BBS distribution. This utility works much like MAKELANG did but it has a few new options: 1) The ability to decompile prompt files. Keep in mind, comments are not added into compiled prompt files, so when you decompile one you will lose that information. 2) MakeTheme will now check for the existance of a "mysticbbs" environment variable. If it finds this variable, it will look in that location for MYSTIC.DAT, allowing MakeTheme to no longer be required to be in the root Mystic BBS directory. 3) Prompts within a prompt file no longer has to be in numerical order. More to come on why this change is being made, but generally this allows you to categorize prompts. + Mystic now saves the last known IP and hostname from each user. + Revamped last caller information. It now saves the IP, Hostname, Gender, and if the user was a new user or not. In addition, it will now save all 10 custom user questions (not implemented yet). + MUTIL can now import FILEBONE.NA format files, creating both file bases and their directories (if they do not already exist). See MUTIL.CFG for more information. ! The MCI parser for |!x MCI codes now checks for validity of the number or otherwise does not parse the code. + MUTIL can now generate top 1-99 callers, posters, downloaders, uploaders and post/call ratio all configurable by templates. + MUTIL now has a -NOSCREEN option which disables the screen output when executing. When suppling this on the command line, a .cfg file must be supplied as well. IE: mutil mutil.cfg -noscreen This is useful for Linux/OSX people that may want to execute MUTIL during a login or something but do not want their users to see the MUTIL screen. + Mystic now has 10 colors definable per theme, with 10 new MCI codes |T0 to |T9 to display them. + Mystic's internal Language editor has now been replaced with a theme editor. This editor is full ANSI lightbar-capable like other newer configurations. It can also edit all prompts and compile prompt files all internally. It support at least the features of the old MCFG editor including prompt text search, jumping, copy/paste, undo, etc. + Mystic now checks for messages between nodes every 3 seconds while waiting for input. Previously Mystic would check based on situation (ie, before menu prompt, in between messages, etc) but never while idle waiting on input as it does now. ! Mystic was not allowing node messages within MPL programs. It is not clear if this was introduced in the 1.10 alphas or if the problem existed in the past. + Mystic now saves and restores the user's screen before and after showing a node message. You can now place a clear screen comfortably in those prompts to make a really clean look when users are interrupted with node messages. + MIS Linux can now accept telnet connections and properly redirect STDIO while spawning Mystic. This means it can entirely replace a Linux telnet daemon if desired such as ddTelnet or xinetd, etc. + Prompt 000 now has new MCI prompt info codes: &1 = Login attempt number &2 = Max login attempts &3 = Attempts remaining + The scrollback buffer in node chat has been expanded to the same size as the maximum message size (1000 lines up from 200). Its possible this will change in the future again. + MUTIL now has the option to reverse sorting of top lists, meaning you can create the "bottom 99" for each of the types of bulletins. + New formatting MCI code $X##C This works similar to the $D MCI code except that the D version will duplicate a character ## amount of times. The X version will only duplicate the character until the cursor reaches column ##. So for example: |CLThis is a line of text|$X79! The above example will print the ! character until the 79th column: This is a line of text!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! + Mystic now has user to user (node to node) private chat and paging system so that users can page each other and chat. Linux and OSX sysops can use this to chat with their users if needed. Any user with the Sysop ACS level will have the option to force the user into chat and any users in a forced chat session cannot leave. A new menu command of NP will now allow a node to page another node for a private chat session. The following new prompts go along with this: ; User2User chat page which node? 479 |CR|09Enter node to chat with |01[|10?|01/|10List|01]|09: |XX ; User2User node/user is unavailable 480 |CR|15That user is marked unavailable.|CR|CR|PA ; User2User force user into chat? 481 |CR|12Force user into chat? |XX ; User2User sending chat request &1=User &2=Node 482 |CR|15Sending chat request to |&1...|DE|DE|CR ; User2User chat mode starting 483 |CL|09|17 ° |15Chat mode engaged.|$X70 ESC/Quit |16|CR ; User2User chat mode ended 484 |CL|09|17 ° |15Chat mode end.|$X79 |16|DE|DE ; User2User accept chat page request? &1=user &2=Node 485 |CL|15|&1 is requesting private user chat. Accept? |11 + Mystic now has a new User Editor redesigned with the ANSI menu interface. + The ALT-U local Sysop command has been removed (moved to user editor). Alt-E now opens a local user editor for the user which also contains the Upgrade option. + Added CARDINAL (Unsigned 32-bit Integer) type to MPL + MPLC and MIDE now calculate the error position in the file (line and column) after the error has occured. This takes a little bit of time but it ensures that the column/line error position is accurate. + The Node message send menu command (NS) no longer sends the message to the current node when it is doing a broadcast to all nodes. + Mystic now allows arrays of records in MPL. + Reduced the FTP server directory caching buffer to 4k, but expanded the file send buffer from 4K to 32KB. After doing some local network FTP transfers of giant files, it seemed like the 4K transfer was pretty harsh on disk usage. + Mystic now allows base record variable types to be assigned to other base record variable types. + When prompted to save an edited message, Mystic now defaults to YES. + Added SizeOf function to MPL which returns the size of a variable or record type. + Added fWriteRec and fReadRec that can be used to write an entire record or array of records to an opened file in MPL Specific elements can be addressed with fWrite/fRead if desired. + Fixed a screen bleed bug under UNIX platforms. + Added some more CHATX.DAT checks in UNIX versions, although I am not sure it will make any noticable difference in ghost nodes. + MIS in Linux now has the ability to Snoop telnet nodes if you use the MIS console as a telnet server. + NNTP server is now somewhat functional but does need quite a bit more work to make it good. It is now possible to enable it, but it has only been briefly tested with XNEWS and does not follow RFC stadards yet. + New MPL function FillChar similar to Pascal. IE: type myuserrecord = record username : string[30]; somevalue : array[1..5] of byte; end; var u : myuserrecord; begin fillchar(u, sizeof(u), #0); end. + Mystic Internet Server (MIS) can now be started in daemon mode by executing MIS with the -d command line option for Unix platforms. + Added new Message Base "QuickScan" menu command (MQ). This command does a scan of message bases and shows you the number of new messages, new messages to you, total messages, etc. This is modeled after PCBoard scans and only scans bases in the bases flagged for scanning by the user. For example: Starting QuickScan Base: General Messages Total: 1,000 New: 24 Yours: 3 Base: Test Message Base Total: 1,000 New: 24 Yours: 3 Quick Scan Complete By default the QuickScan will do a global scan of all message bases in all groups. However there are many optional data options: /CURRENT = scan only current message base /GROUP = scan only current group's bases /NOSCAN = do not show "scanning" prompt /NOFOOT = do not show "end of scan" prompt /NOHEAD = do not show "starting quickscan" prompt This can be combined with the MN menu command to prompt the user what to do next. You could even get creative with the & MCI codes and MPL to make logical decisions for the user based on the results of the scan! Four new prompts go along with this: ; MsgBase quickscan header prompt 486 |CR|12Starting Quick Scan|CR ; MsgBase quickscan Scanning prompt ; &1=basename &2=current base# &3=total bases# 487 Scanning |&1 [|&2 of |&3]... ; MsgBase quickscan base list prompt ; &4=msgs in base &5=new messages &6=your messages &7=global total msg ; &8=global new msgs &9=global your msgs 488 |03Base: |14|$R40|&1 |03Total: |09|$L04|&4|03 New: |11|$L04|&5 |03Yours: |12|$L03|&6 ; MsgBase quickscan footer prompt ; &7=global total msg &8=global new msgs &9=global your msgs 489 |CRQuick Scan complete. |CR|CR|PA + The Full screen editor now does a full redraw of the editor screen and text after uploading a .txt file into the editor. + New MPL procedure "hangup" does exactly what you think it does to the caller! :) + Mystic now allows users to login by the permanent index number as well as their user name. Private e-mails and other areas of the BBS also allow for usage of the permanent index now as well. + Mystic now allows for the new user application process to be completely replaced by an MPL program. You must at a very minimum set either the user real name or handle fields, as well as the password value. If the newuserapp.mpx exists in the scripts directory, it will be executed instead of the normal application process. + New MPL function IsUser takes a string value which can contain either a user realname, handle, or user perm index number. If the user exists, it will return a TRUE result or FALSE if the user does not exist. + Enhanced standard menus to allow for HOME/END/PAGEUP/PAGEDOWN hotkeys which execute menu commands when those keys are pressed. So the total list of special hotkeys are: ESCAPE ENTER TAB HOME UP PAGEUP LEFT RIGHT END DOWN PAGEDOWN In addition these are still functional as auto-exec commands: FIRSTCMD - Execute only once when the menu is first loaded EVERY - Execute each time a menu is display, before it is displayed AFTER - Execute after the menu is displayed but before the prompt And hopefully soon I can get in the TIMER auto-exec from Mystic 2 which is by far the most badass of all of them! :) + Added new prompt #490 to the themes. This prompt defines the message base header flags which were previously hard coded. Each flag is one word separated by a space: ; Msg header flags text one word each separated by a space ; 1=Local 2=Echo 3=Private 4=Sent 5=Delete 490 Local Echo Private Sent Deleted + Mystic will now abbreviate GIGABYTE size files in the file listings. In the past it would only do megabytes and kilobytes. Still, the record limitation is 4 gigs for the max filesize in the filebases. This needs to be changed at some point, but it requires data format change. + Added new prompt #491 to the themes. This prompt defines the file size and flags within the file listings. ; File base filesize flags one word separated by a space ; 1=offline 2=failed 3=unvalidated 4=GB 5=MB 6=KB 7=B 491 OFFLINE FAILED UNVALID GB MB KB B + Menu access ACS and each menu command ACS has been expanded to 30 characters. ! Fixed a bug in the Unix ANSI detection routines which caused an unwanted extra pause in detection (thanks to Kevin Lamonte) ! Fixed a bug which could cause Mystic to sometimes crash when saving a message reply if the message content was large (100+ lines or so) + While reading messages, it is now possible to Forward the message to a different messsage base by using the F hotkey. This only works if you are a SysOp or message owner. A new prompt goes along with this: ; Forward msg: which base 492 |CR|09Forward message to which base (?/List): |XX + The Sysop Password prompt has been added to the theme prompt files. A new prompt goes with this: ; Sysop password prompt 493 |CR|09Sysop Password: |XX + MPL identifiers now have a maximum size of 30 characters, up from 20. ! Mystic was not properly stripping the path of exported text files when doing an export. Functionally it worked fine, but it was printing the directory of the node's temp directory to the user. + New "user flag" in the user editor: No CallStats. If this is set to YES the user's calls will not be added to the last caller information, and they will also not have their call counted in the BBS history database. + New "user flag" in the user editor: No PWChange. If this is set to YES the user will be exempt from the forced password change after the configured time interval (if its enabled). + New "user flag" in the user editor: No History. If this is set to YES the user will be exempt from BBS history tracking. This includes Emails, Message posts, download stats, upload stats, new user counts, and call counts. NoCallStats simply ignores the lastcaller display, and the system caller count numbers. This flag ignores ALL history of the user. + MakeTheme now only looks at the "mysticbbs" environment variable if mystic.dat is not found in the same directory. + The "Transfer of XXX" file prompt has been enhanced to attempt to always strip the filepath from the file, in case of a strange situation where it somehow gets into the prompt info code. + Display files that are not found in a theme directory now have the option to "fallback" to the default display file directory, if Theme fallback is enabled for the theme. + Added new ANSI menu editor to replace the old outdated crap. The new editor has references to all of the menu commands as well as the special functional hotkeys. It still maintains the ability to "simulate" menus as well. + Revamped the entire menu system. Menu files must be converted if you are any version pre 1.10 alpha 15 using the CvtMenus program. Simply copy this into your folder with all of the *.mnu files are run it one time ONLY After you are done you will want to review your system because the new system is not a direct convertion of file format. The method that Mystic links menu commands has changed. The conversion program does its best to analyze your menu files and create a menu that functions the same, but there may be issues - particularly in lightbar grid menus I would guess since they can be quite complex. For those of you alpha testing, if you do find a menu that does not convert correctly, please send the .mnu file to me so that I can see if I can improve the conversion process before 1.10 official release. + Each menu option on a menu now as its own "execution list" of menu commands. This basically replaces the old "kludge" stacking of commands to execute back to back with a single hotkey. It is a much more clean approach this way, and it allows for more options! + Each menu command now has the option to redraw the menu or not after its command list executes. This defaults to on to mimic previous menu system however for some advanced stuff, like TIMER, you may will to turn them off. + Menus can now be internally generated from 1 to 4 columns (up from 3) + Menus now contain a description configurable within the menu flags. A new MCI code |MD goes along with it, and will display the description of the current menu. + Menus now have an optional "user status" field in the menu flags. If this is set to a non-blank value, the user's action in node listings will be updated to this value. If the value is left blank, Mystic will use the default "Browsing menus" prompt from the theme prompts. + Menus now have a "theme fallback" option similar to the recent change to the display file system. If a menu is not found in its theme menu directory, then if the option is enabled, Mystic will look for it in the default menu directory configured in the System Configuration. When combined with the similar display changes, it makes it very easy to build additional themes off of the default. In your new themes, the stuff that you haven't themed can simply fall back to your default theme now. + Merged the "Hot Key" and "Long Key" options from the old menu system into one single hotkey field. + Added an "Input char" option to menu flags that defines how the user's input is echoed back to them at a menu prompt. Valid options are Uppercase, Lowercase, and hidden. + Lightbar menus now allow extended input while the lightbar continues to function! This works for both standard lightbar and lightbar grid menus. For example, you can set the hotkey to "OWNAGE" and have full lightbar menu. Mystic will still recognize and execute the commands linked to OWNAGE if the user types it. In addition, it has a smart input so that it only allows valid characters to be entered. Mystic will use the X/Y location of the cursor after the menu prompt is displayed, so it is best to set where you might want to see the user's input (if its not hidden) using the menu footer/prompt. + Lightbar grid menus now allow the following events to be handled in addition to arrow keys: Page Up Page Down Escape Tab Home End + In a lightbar grid menu, each menu command now has the ability to execute on a grid-specific event. The following are available options: Selected Up Down Left Right Tab Escape PgUp PgDn Home End + All displayed menu items now have an option for display type. If it set to Access it will only be displayed if the user has access. If it is set to Always, it will always been displayed. If its set to Never, it will never be displayed. + Lightbar and Lightbar/Grid menus now display menu header and prompts if they are not set to a blank value. They were ignored in the past, but this provides some better flexibility. If you have lightbar menus you may need to validate that the header/footers in your menu flags are blank if you do not want this feature. + New auto-exec hotkey for menu commands: TIMER. An item with the hotkey of TIMER will automatically execute every X amount of seconds, which is defined per menu command. This combined with all of the other new features makes for an amazingly powerful new menu system! + Increased the menu reading buffer to 4k, up from 2k + Added new menu command -I which sets the menu timer counter to the value in the optional data field. The menu timer is an internal incrementing counter used to fire off TIMER commands. It represents the number of seconds that have passed since the menu was loaded. + TIMER commands also have 3 types, configurable per each menu option: Interval - Always execute at the configured timed interval OnlyOnce - Execute at interval ONLY ONCE per menu being loaded PerRedraw - Execute after each menu redraw as per timer interval + When using hotkey-style menu input, extended hotkeys are no longer required to have a / first. You can make a hotkey command named QUIT for example, and it will execute immediately when QUIT is entered. Keep in mind it is still a hot-key styled input. So you cannot have one hotkey named QUIT and one named QUITNOW. The QUIT command will always get the hotkey. If you need functionality like that, hotkeys can be disabled on the menu. + Similar to the display file and menu systems, the MPL scripts directory will now also fallback from the theme scripts path to the default scripts directory if the feature is enabled in the selected theme. + Enhanced the ANSI listbox functions for some better efficiency. + ANSI listbox now searches for an entire search string, rather than jumping to first characters. For example, in the User Editor when you are at the list of user names, you can simply start typing the user name of the person you are looking for, and you will get there. Anytime you do anything that isn't typing a character, the search string will be "reset" allow you to continue searching for something else. ! Setting inactivity to 0 (to globally disable it) wasn't working. I don't know if this was a fault in 1.10 alphas or also in 1.09, so I am mentioning it just in case. + New MPL function: GetMBaseStats. This can be used as a function or a procedure (returning true if successful). It takes 6 parameters. #1: Message base number #2: Exclude messages FROM the current user in stats #3: Exclude messages TO the current user that have already been read #4: Total messages (this is a VAR parameter) #5: New messages (this is a VAR parameter) #6: New messages to you (this is a VAR parameter) Example: uses mbase; var count, total, new, yours : longint; begin count := 1; //start @1 to skip email base while getmbase(count) do begin getmbstats(count, true, true, total, new, yours); writeln('base : ' + mbasename); writeln('total msgs : ' + int2str(total)); writeln('new msgs : ' + int2str(new)); writeln('your msgs : ' + int2str(yours)); writeln(''); count := count + 1 end; end. + New MPL procedure: WriteXY. This procedure writes a string of text at the defined X/Y location with a specific text attribute. This of course requires the user has ANSI to function properly. WriteXY (1, 10, 8, 'Prints at X:1 Y:10 with dark grey text'); + New MPL procedure WriteXYpipe. This procedure writes a string of text at the defined location, similar to WriteXY *except* it parses pipe color codes *and* requires a "maximum field size" of which it will always extend or restrict the length of the text within that field. WriteXYPipe (1, 10, 8, 50, 'This pads to 50 chars at location 1,10'); + Added new user flag "UserNoTimeout" which makes a single user immune to inactivity timeout check. + Enhanced the ANSI listbox search capabilities. Most listboxes will now allow you to type a search string in which it will use to attempt to select an item that matches the search string. While you are typing you can use CTRL-A to search "again" with the current string, or CTRL-Y to delete the current string. Moving the lightbar selector will also reset the current search string. The search string is case insensitive. Since the space key may need to be used in a search string, the hotkey used to mark items in a listbox has changed from the SPACE key to the TAB key. + If Message base list columns is set to 1, the toggle newscan and qwkscan message base lists will also now be 1 column. + If file base list columns is set to 1, the toggle new scan list will now also be shown in a single list. ! Mystic was not checking the "Download ACS" for each file base when files were added to the batch queue within a file listing. Instead it was relying on the List ACS. This is now fixed. + Mystic now allows users to select a default file transfer protocol. If a protocol has been selected by a user they will not be asked to select a protocol when transfering files. A new addition to the GE menu command (optional data 32) will allow the user to select their default protocol. + Restructured some class code to reduce executable sizes in the Mystic binary. The result is about 120kb smaller executable size in Windows for Mystic.exe. The other versions should see similar results. ! Mystic was not properly parsing long filenames with spaces in them during external file transfer. ! Mystic was not properly setting the "Transfering files" node status when executing transfer protocols. + Mystic now has internal Zmodem protocol. To enable it, just use the @ZMODEM text for the send/receive commands in the Protocol editor, and Mystic will do the rest. The Zmodem has been tested extensively with the following clients. The current status is as follows: mTelnet Windows Downloads and Uploads successful SEXYZ Windows Downloads and uploads successful NetRunner Windows/Linux Downloads and uploads successful ZOC Windows Downloads and uploads successful SyncTerm Windows/Linux Downloads ok, uploads fail Qodem Linux Downloads ok, Upload Qodem segfault HyperTerminal Windows Nothing works (ever) with this terminal + The file directory editor is now available in the standard file listing. In the past it only worked in the lightbar file listing. Whoops. The hotkey is E if you have SysOp access. ! File list downloader was not properly allowing a download after the list was created. + File list compiler now only adds the filebase header/footer to the list if the filebase has files listed. + File list compiler now uses megabytes instead of kilobytes in the file base summary footer. + MIS and MYSTIC now switch ownership to the group/user who owns each binary upon startup on Unix-based systems. MIS waits until after it binds the ports, so if it is SUDO started, it can listen on ports less than 1024 while not running as a root application/daemon. + Display files can now be aborted with the SPACE bar during transmission. I may remove this feature if people do not like it. + New MCI code AO turns off display file aborting within the current display file. ! The date shown in the message base header while reading messages should now properly display in the user's configured date format. In the past it was always MM/DD/YY format. ! Mystic was converting the passed hostname to all upper case. This is no longer the case. ! Mystic was converting the passed MPL program (from command line) to all upper case. This caused the Unix versions to fail to execute the MPL program and exit. + MIDE now has a mide.ini configuration file. This file is in the .INI file format and allows various things such as auto indent, tab space, screen mode (25 or 50 line) and others to be defined. + MIDE now has a "Run" option which will compile and execute the current MPL program without logging into Mystic itself. You will need to set up the options with mide.ini in order for this to work. See the default mide.ini for more information. ! Posts made via QWK were not being counted in the BBS history. + Mystic now supports QWK control posts. This means that with modern QWK readers you can add/drop message bases that are included in your packet from within the offline reader. If the reader does not support that feature, you can post a message in your reader to "MYSTICQWK" with the subject of either "ADD" or "DROP" in the message base in which you want to add or drop from your QWK packets. Tested with MultiMail + Mystic now supports the QWKE extension for offline mail. What does this mean? Well it means first off that the 12 character message base name limitation is completely gone. Mystic will now generate the full base name with MCI codes stripped in QWKE packets. It also means that the 25 character limitation on From, To, and Subject fields is gone. In addition, it opens up room for future enhancements such as offline file requests, and the ability to maintain master file lists / new file lists, as well as setting lastread pointers from within the offline reader. And file attachments, and and... A new menu command (OE) has been added to download a QWKE packet. When uploading a .REP packet, Mystic can determine if the REP is QWK or QWKE so there is no need for a new upload menu command. + Given the new changes, Mystic now includes ALL message bases in QWK packets regardless of if it is in the QWK scan settings. Mystic will NOT send any messages if you are not subscribed to the message base, but it should still appear in the offline reader. This is changed so that users can add/drop message bases. - Menu passwords have been removed from the menu flags. If you want to password protect your menus you can do the same thing by using the -P and FIRSTCMD options on your menus. + Mystic should now be able to recognize FILE_ID.DIZ on Unix platforms regardless of the casing, just as long as the archive program is able to extract it. MUTIL mass upload should also work like this now. + Mystic should now be able to recognize TODOOR.EXT files from QWKE packets regardless of their file casing, just as long as the archive utility is able to extract it. + Added syntax highlighting back into MIDE, however it does not and probably will not support block comment highlighting. Just use the single line // comments if you like syntax highlighting. The highlighting can be turned on/off via mide.ini by adding this option under "[General]": ; do syntax highlighting (note does not support block comments) ; and is substancially slower in screen updates syntax_highlight = true In addition, colors can be configured for the source code editor text: [Colors] ; syntax highlighting colors (text attributes 0-255) ; attribute = foreground_color + background_color * 16 ; foreground is 0-15 and background is 0-7 syn_normal = 30 syn_keyword = 31 syn_string = 27 syn_number = 19 syn_comment = 23 syn_hex = 28 syn_charnum = 27 ! Fixed a bug that could cause viewing files from within an archive to fail. + MUTIL now has the ability to import FILES.BBS files automatically. In addition, if MUTIL detects that a file already exists, but has a different file size, it will update the existing record and description. This is for people who are using it for networked file bases and TIC. See MUTIL.CFG file for more information. + When importing FILE_ID.DIZ, Mystic will attempt to use its internal archive viewing capabilities to find the "casing" of the FILE_ID.DIZ file. If it finds one it will pass the exact casing to the configured archive. ! Fixed a bug where Mystic would not detect and use its internal archive viewing for LZH files with a different file extension (ie .LHA files from an Amiga, for example). Mystic will now properly internally view LHA extensions, as well as properly look for LHA in the archive configuration. ! Fixed a bug when viewing an archive that could cause the lightbar file list display to not get redrawn after. ! Duplicate IP check in MIS was not working properly. It is now. + MIS telnet in Windows now has an option to hide node windows. + Added a new utility called NodeSpy. This utility will allow you to monitor active nodes, snoop, kick, chat with users, etc. ! Mystic was not properly creating BBS history database if it did not already exist. + MIDE now uses CTRL+K and CTRL+U to cut and paste text, similar to Pico/Nano-like Unix text editors. + Mystic now tracks calls by the hour in its BBS history database. + Added USAGE.MPS to the default installation. This currently shows a weekly and monthly usage graph calculated based on the number of calls. ! Fixed a bug which could sometimes cause a node to get disconnected just after MIS answered the all in Windows. + If the user has zero downloads and uploads, Mystic will now allow them to transfer one file for "free" (either a download or an upload) before the ratio tracking comes into play. ! Sysop chat hours now function as expected. This was broken somewhere around the 1.09 era. ! Fixed bugs with MIS calculating the wrong node number if a user was logged in locally in Windows. + Mystic in non-Unix will now assign an available node number automatically similar to how it works in a Unix environment. This will help prevent a person from accidentally logging into a node that is being used during a local login. + Mystic now sends IAC_DO_BINARY as part of the starting telnet negotiations done by MIS. This will help fix some weird issues with Linux/OSX default telnet command line client. + In MPL including a file has been changed to its own keyword as opposed to mimicing a compile directive. All MPL programs for 1.10 must be updated if INCLUDE files are used: Old: {$include myfile.mps} New: include myfile.mps + Added an hourly usage graph to usage.mps. ! MUTIL FILEBONE import was not adding the trailing slash when generating a file path. + MUTIL now has an option to generate an allfiles list which contains a listing of all files from each filebase in one text file. The functionality if there, but its not very configurable yet. If anyone has suggestions please let me know. + Added 3 new MPL functions: MsgEditor, MsgEditSet, MsgEditGet. These allow access to the internal Mystic msg editor (line and/or full) from within MPL. It even allows you to define wrap position and template to completely make it look like its not the Mystic editor! As a little hint the MsgEditSet and MsgEditGet stuff could be used to post process message text on posts. Like say for example you wanted to write a MPL that allows users to add Tag lines, you could do that by replacing the "Saving message..." prompt and using those two in order to modify the text before it is saved by Mystic! Rather than trying to explain it all, here is an example of all 3: Var Lines : Integer = 0; WrapPos : Integer = 79; MaxLines : Integer = 200; Forced : Boolean = False; Template : String = 'ansiedit'; Subject : String = 'My subject'; Count : Integer; Begin MsgEditSet (1, 'this is line 1'); MsgEditSet (2, 'this is line 2!'); Lines := 2; SetPromptInfo(1, 'MsgTo'); // if template uses &1 for "To:" display If MsgEditor(0, Lines, WrapPos, MaxLines, Forced, Template, Subject) Then Begin WriteLn('User selected to save.'); WriteLn('There are ' + Int2Str(Lines) + ' of text in buffer:'); For Count := 1 to Lines Do WriteLn(MsgEditGet(Count)); Pause; End Else Begin WriteLn('User aborted the edit.'); Pause; End End ! Fixed a bug in the internal LHA archive viewing that could cause the last file in the archive to get corrupted during the view, if the file had comments (and was created on an Amiga?) + CTRL-Z and [ESCAPE] now both bring up the full screen editor prompt to save, etc. I did a lot of research with old softwares and editors, and found this approach to be the common ground between everything ever. :) + Revampped message quoting a little bit. Quoted text will now be auto reformatted if adding the initials would cut off text in the original message EXCEPT when quoting quoted text. Quote initials will always be 2 characters now. In an effort to better "standardize" quoting: If the User handle has a single word handle, Mystic will now use the first two letters of their name instead of one. ! Fixed a bug that could corrupt a message and/or crash when editing a message with a lot of lines. + New option: "Ask Theme" in the General Settings. If this is set to true Mystic will prompt the user to select a theme after the graphics are detected upon each connection. + Added new MPL function: Real2Str this takes a string and decimal place value. Example: Var R : Real; Begin R := 1234.1234; WriteLn (Real2Str(R, 2)); // Will print 1234.12 End + The GE menu command (edit user settings) option 14 (select theme) can now have an option which specifies the base filename of a theme. For example if the theme filename is "english" you can do: Menu command: GE Data: 14 english This will cause the theme to be selected automatically, without prompting the user for anything. If a second parameter is not supplied, the user will be prompted to select a theme as usual. + Copy/Paste is now added/fixed for menu commands and menu execution lists in the new menu editor. + NodeSpy in Windows now uses OS named pipes instead of Disk I/O. + NodeSpy in Unix now uses OS named pipes instead of Disk I/O. + NodeSpy now has a full blown telnet client, which replaces the "local login" feature. Instead, the default the phone book will contain an entry for "local login" which telnets to localhost. + NodeSpy now defaults "Auto Snoop" to OFF. Auto Snoop will automatically start snooping a node upon connection if it is the only active connection. To enable this, create an nodespy.ini file in the same directory as the NodeSpy and add this content: [General] autosnoop=1 + Renamed the default mutil.cfg to mutil.ini since it is indeed an INI format file. This is just in case someone has .ini files associated with an editor on their OS. EXISTING USERS WILL NEED TO RENAME MUTIL.CFG TO MUTIL.INI unless you are supplying the filename on the command line. + Added logging into MUTIL. Add the following crap below into the [GENERAL] section of your configutation files if you want to use it. If you would like some things logged that are not please let me know, and vice versa. Anyway, from the new default mutil.ini: ; Logging option. If no directory is specified in the logfile ; name, mUtil will attempt to use the configured LOGS directory from ; in Mystic's configuration. To disable logging, leave the logfile ; option commented out or set to a blank value. logfile=mutil.log ; Level 1 = basic process logging ; Level 2 = verbose loglevel=1 An example of loglevel=1 logging for mUtil configured for a single process (mass upload) follows. I haven't tested the logging with all processes to get them where I want them, so please give feedback if you have something to suggest! :) + 09/24/12 23:11 Startup using mutil.ini + 09/24/12 23:11 Process: Mass Upload Files + 09/24/12 23:11 Add: mbbs_104.zip To: New File Base + 09/24/12 23:11 Add: SPOT1_3B.LHA To: New File Base + 09/24/12 23:11 Result: Uploaded 2 file(s) + 09/24/12 23:11 Shutdown + MUTIL now has a message purge function. This function will go through all of the messages in all message bases and delete any messages that do not meet the "Age" or "Max Messages" settings for each message base. To use this function simply add the following into your [GENERAL] header of your mUtil .INI configuration file(s): PurgeMessageBases = true ! MBBSUTIL -UKILL was not working properly. ! MBBSUTIL BBS list packer was not working properly when checking verification days. + MUTIL now has a message posting function. This function can post any number of text files to a message base, including echomail and netmail bases. It will also split large posts into multple messages - allowing up to 10,000 line text files to be posted. To enable, add this to your [GENERAL] section of your mUtil .INI configuration files: PostTextFiles = true Then add the [PostTextFiles] section from the default mutil.ini from a new install. + The Toggle New Scan and Toggle QWK Scan menu commands now allow an optional /ALLGROUP in the optional data. If this is supplied it will show all bases in all groups. By default it only shows current group only. - Removed MYSTPACK from Mystic BBS distribution. Do not use this anymore. + Added a message base packer and renumber option to mUtil. This replaces MYSTPACK with the bonus that it also works with Squish (and appears to not be as buggy as MYSTPACK). I would suggest doing a backup of your message bases as a precaution before running this for the first time, just in case there are problems. + Added Global Message Base editor into the Message base editor. Use the TAB key when in the Message base list to tag areas that you'd like to set global values for. Then use /G to open the editor. Set the options you'd like to change to "Yes" and then set the value for that option. Press CTRL-U when ready to update all tagged bases with the selected values. + When scanning results of a "DSZ-logged" file transfer, Mystic will now ignore filename casing in Unix environments. I believe this might help reduce problems with QWK .REP uploading. ===== 1.10 Alpha 22 ===== + Added Message base sorting. Use TAB to select a range of bases to sort and then use Sort from the command menu. Ranges of bases can be sorted by base Name, FileName, or Network that they belong to. ! Fixed a bug where /ADDR: option was not properly being parsed when supplied as optional data MP menu command. ! The Copy/Paste in the message base editor was not properly generating a permanent index for the pasted message base. ! Fixed a problem with MIS and Windows that caused port scanners to create a ghost node. ! I accidentally overwrote my HISTORY file while preparing the Alpha 22 release, so I am missing some stuff here. + I will now track changes per-alpha in the history file. Each version of Mystic will now come with a HISTORY.TXT which contains the history of Mystic changes for all previous releases. WHATSNEW.TXT will contain only the latest release changes for that version with a marking to denote when a new alpha was released. + The installation program will now have the option to view the history of changes with Mystic BBS, or just the WHATSNEW for the latest major version release. + The installation program will now highlight major and alpha releases in a different color while viewing the history or the whatsnew. ===== 1.10 Alpha 23 ===== + Added the network that a message base belongs to into the list of message bases in the configuration editor. ! Fixed an issue with inserting records in the message base editor where it would copy the record before it, instead of creating a fresh entry. ! Fixed an issue with inserting records in the file base editor where it would copy the record before it, instead of creating a fresh entry. + NodeSpy now has a 1000 line scrollback when connecting via telnet using it's terminal mode. Press Alt-B when connected and you will get a nice status line/scrollback of up to 1000 lines! + Prompt editor now has a prompt simulator if you press ENTER while editing a prompt. + NodeSpy's phone book now allows directory searching similar to other Mystic editors. Just type away and it will search on the fly. ! Fixed a bug during list box searches that would cause the search string to not get updated. + Mystic will now set the window title to "Mystic Configuration" when started in configuration mode (-cfg) + New MPL fuction: Function ABS (Num: LongInt) : LongInt; This value takes a signed integer and returns the absolute value. All MPL programs must be recompiled. + New menu command: GV. This uses an ANSI full screen file viewer which is capable of extracting SAUCE info and also parsing ANSI/pipe display files. The format of the optional data is as follows: