To upgrade from ReadCIS 1.5.0 to version 1.6.1...
A) Delete all files in the \APP\READCIS\ subdirectory. (If reformatting your SSD at the same time, be careful to keep the "Readcis.reg" file, located in the \CIS\CONFIG\ directory.)
B) Copy all the files in this archive, except the two .TXT files, into your \APP\READCIS\ directory.
C) Remove the icon from your System screen with and reinstall it with . (These are the hotkeys for an English language Series 3a, they may be different if you have a Dutch, French or German model.) Remember, the standard Install routine cannot find "Readcis.opa" because it is in the \APP\READCIS\ subdirectory; you must press , navigate to the \APP\READCIS\ directory, and choose the file "Readcis.opa".
To upgrade from ReadCIS 1.6.0 to version 1.6.1 follow steps (A) and (B) only.
REVISED FEATURES:
1) .OPA consolidation. "Readcis.opa" incorporates and replaces the four .OPA files used previously (Readcis.opa, Readset.opa, Readfor.opa, Readarc.opa.)
2) Elimination of text editor. All messages are now composed in the word processor with word wrap and saved in Word format. The files are converted to text when you use any command from the ReadCIS Online menu. This means...
- No special procedures are required to save messages, just press when finished composing.
- The command is removed from the Special menu
- The WORD.ON switch performs no function; if you have one, remove it.
- Out Basket files will have end-of-line carriage returns added when they are converted to text, making them awkward to edit after sending. If you sometimes edit and resend the same message you may wish to make a copy before sending. Lines are approximately 75 characters in length when transmitted.
- Running the ThreeCIS script separately from ReadCIS will fail if there are unconverted files in the Mail or Forum Out Baskets. This affects the ability to use a macro, such as Mark Esposito's RUN3CIS, to run the script at a predetermined time. A new version of the macro will be required.
3) Mail messages are padded with space characters before sending to prevent the last data block being under 129 bytes, which causes the Xmodem protocol to fail.
4) Select Text Reader setting is now used for all areas: Mail, Services, Forums, Archives, and JBCIS is now one of the viewer options. JBCIS is a free ReadCIS message viewer with integrated editor that is available in CIS:PALMTOP library 18 as JBCIS.ZIP. You are strongly encouraged to try it. To use JBCIS permanently, create a JBCIS.ON switch.
5) The Configure Names | User dialog has been redesigned. Some users have reported that this dialog is password protected on initial installation, but it should not be locked until the user has had an opportunity to store his or her Name, User ID and CIS Password. In version 1.5 the dialog did not display an error message if it was locked or an improper password was entered, so the user sometimes did not recognize the problem until the logon failed. The dialog now beeps and displays "Access denied".
6) The Configure Names dialog has been renamed "Auxillary Names" to prevent confusion with "User Configuration".
7) "Delete Switch" command revised to include an option to remove _All_ switches.
8) QUOTES feature redesigned to use the CompuServe "Global Quotes" area. This allows retrieval of prices from European exchanges, (e.g. Psion's shares, traded at London, are listed as PON.L) as well as US exchanges. There is no change in the use of this feature, but the output is different and should be viewed with an small monospaced font. (If viewing with JBCIS use Tabular Display.)
9) FORECAST.ON and WEATHER1.ON made faster and more reliable by changing the area from which they are retrieved, and sending a carriage return after closing the Receive box to verify that the script is at a prompt before issuing the command to go to the next area.
10) GETFILE function retrieves forum library files with Ymodem-G protocol, which my tests indicate is about 20% faster than Ymodem-1k. This protocol _requires_ an error corrected (MNP or V.42) connection. If the XONXOFF.ON switch is set, as it would be with a non-error correcting modem, the script reverts to Ymodem-1k.
11) SOUND.ON switch replaces ALARM.ON. In addition to the end of script beep, there is now also a "Welcome to ReadCIS" .WVE that will play each time the program is started, and a "You have Mail" .WVE that will play if the MAIL!.CIS file exists. If you don't intend to use 'em you can omit the .WVE files and save disk space.
12) Logon procedures simplified to eliminate need to use NETWORK.ON switch with GNS, Mercury and Transpac supplementary networks. Users in the UK, France (and Italy) can now switch between direct CompuServe nodes and supplementary national networks without toggling switches - ReadCIS automatically recognizes which network has been called. Israel's Israkav network access number and logon procedure have also been updated. This revision is untested, I cannot access Israkav from the United States.
13) Access network support expanded to include...
CompuServe Argentina: use NETWORK.ON + ARGENT.ON
CSIR (South Africa): use NETWORK.ON + AFRICA.ON + EIGHTBIT.ON
Seva (Italy): None
TTN (Taiwan): use NETWORK.ON + TAIWAN.ON
...CompuServe Argentina requires a local account number and password.
14) Dialing Directory expanded to include Australia, New Zealand and an (unpublished) node in Pretoria, South Africa. To our knowledge the Dialing Directory now includes all direct CompuServe nodes located outside the United States.
NEW FEATURES
15) "Browse CompuServe" option added to Online Menu, sets all three toggles [Off], and bypasses ThreeCIS menu for convenient interactive use.
16) SCANMAIL.ON switch added to retrieve CompuServe Mail headers. Operation is exactly the same as retrieving Mail, but the MAIL! file will contain only a list of messages, not the message text, and (of course) messages will not be deleted from online mailbox after scanning.
17) SNAPSHOT.ON switch to retrieve a statistical financial market summary. Best viewed with a small monospaced font. (If viewing in JBCIS, use Tabular Display.)
18) FORTUNE.ON switch to retrieve a narrative daily financial market summary published by "Fortune" magazine.
19) YMODEM1K.ON switch added to force use of Ymodem-1k protocol for retrieving forum library files and also for sending new forum messages. Use if you experience problems sending new forum messages (e.g. "Too many retries") or with the Ymodem-G protocol downloads.
20) TIMELOG.ON switch to record the time of each online session. The log is stored as "Timelog.cis" in the \CIS\ARCHIVE\ directory on the default disk, and is automatically updated if you logon with or . ReadCIS does not measure connect time directly, it interrogates CIS before disconnecting. Therefore, if you use , or to Remain Online you must follow these steps when you are ready to disconnect, or the session will not be recorded in the log...
-Press to Execute script
-Choose "Bye" (it should appear by default), press
The log can be viewed directly with the ReadCIS command, but it's more useful to use Wolfgang Schirmer's "WOSTime" untility, available in CIS:PALMTOP library 18 as WOSTIME.ZIP. This utility displays summary statistics. It can be run from the RunOPL icon, or from within JBCIS. Remember, you must have a TIMELOG.ON switch to create the log, WOSTime only aids in viewing the statistics.
21) HANGUP.ON switch added for use with modems that do not go on hook when ReadCIS closes the Comms.app. Do not use with 3Fax modem.
REMOVED FEATURES
21) NOBLANK.ON and MACBEAT.ON switches removed, CompuServe no longer offers these services.
22) French Transpac, German Datex-J and Swiss Telepac access numbers removed from Dialing Directory. ReadCIS can still logon via these networks, but the numbers are not built into the program, due to space constraints. We hope to restore them in a future release.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
23) The ReadCIS file has not been updated from version 1.4.