Caldera WebSpyder 32 Beta 1 Release Notes ========================================= These release notes contain important information about configuring and using Caldera WebSpyder 32. Please take a few moments to read them. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 GETTING STARTED 2.1 USING A PACKET DRIVER WITH CALDERA WEBSPYDER 32 3.0 USING CALDERA WEBSPYDER 32 4.0 FEATURES, LIMITATIONS AND WORK IN PROGRESS 4.1 FEATURES 4.2 LIMITATIONS 4.3 WORK IN PROGRESS 5.0 PROBLEM REPORTING PROCEDURES 6.0 TECHNICAL SUPPORT --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.0 INTRODUCTION Caldera WebSpyder 32 is a 32-bit protected-mode DOS Web browser. It supports HTML 3.2 features such tables, forms, animated GIFs, JPEGs, client/server image maps and image scaling. It allows the use of DOS-based PC's as Internet or intranet terminals (Network Computers) or can be integrated into OEM type applications such as Internet kiosks, set-top boxes, Internet phones, etc. Being DOS based the system requirements are minimal and when combined with Caldera OpenDOS in a desktop or embedded environment it provides an excellent thin-client Web solution. 2.0 GETTING STARTED This beta release requires a 486 or better with at least 8Mb RAM. It will work with most graphics cards with at least 256 colors in resolutions up to 1024x768. You will need about 10Mb of free disk space to install the product and for the cache. Future versions will run in less memory. Before you can connect to the Internet or your intranet you must: 1. Have an ISP account or a LAN connection to an intranet. 2. Download the self-extracting zip file, web32.exe. 3. Type "web32" to extract the files, then 4. Run the Wizard style Install program, INSTALL.EXE, in the same directory 5. During the installation process you will be asked questions about your ISP account or Intranet connection. You will need to know your IP number if your ISP does not assign one automatically for you and other IP numbers such as Domain Name Server and Gateway. 6. When installation is complete, re-boot your computer and then enter the following, assuming you installed into the default directory, c:\webspy c:\webspy\webspydr 7. The first time you run WebSpyder 32 you will be prompted to select your video configuration. In most cases it is best to choose the default settings, so simply click on the OK button. Note that the "true color" graphics modes, i.e. 15, 16, 24 or 32 bit, require more memory than the default 8 bit mode. You should only choose one of these modes if you have more than 8 Mb RAM in your system. See also section 4.3.1 for graphics mode problems. 8. The Welcome screen is displayed. From here you can connect to the Internet, view and change your settings or look through the on-line help. To get back to the Welcome screen at any time, press the F10 key. 9. When you connect to the Internet for the first time you will be taken to the WebSpyder home page, http://www.caldera.com/dos/browser Here you will find information about WebSpyder, such as Features, release dates and a Frequently Asked Questions list which we will update on a regular basis during the beta period. WebSpyder 32 uses Novell's ODI protocol stack. If you already load this protocol stack as part of your normal intranet configuration, INSTALL will merge the WebSpyder 32 protocol stack into your existing STARTNET.BAT and NET.CFG files. Backup copies of the original files are made. Caldera WebSpyder 32 ships with driver support for many popular Ethernet cards as well as Hayes compatible modem drivers. An OEM Driver option allows you to insert an ODI driver disk to install a driver not supplied with the distribution. Almost all network cards provide ODI drivers. A driver INS file will be provided with the driver disk. 2.1 USING A PACKET DRIVER WITH CALDERA WEBSPYDER 32 Although Caldera WebSpyder 32 includes Novell's ODI protocol stack, it is possible to use packet drivers instead of the ODI stack if that is your preferred configuration. You will have to edit STARTNET.BAT and remove the lines that load the ODI protocol stack. These include: lsl ne2000 ncomx nwremote pkt2odi Load your Packet driver and associated dialer software then run STARTNET.BAT to load the stack. 3.0 USING CALDERA WEBSPYDER 32 Help is available on-line by clicking the Help button from the browser navigation bar. 4.0 FEATURES, LIMITATIONS, PROBLEMS 4.1 FEATURES Caldera WebSpyder 32 has the following features: - Supports HTML 3.2 features, including image maps, forms, CGI - Customizable user interface - Easy Install/setup procedure - Favorite sites (Hot List) button - On-line help - Easy to use - no PC knowledge required - Email capability (available Beta 2) - On-screen Keyboard for pointer only and touch screen use - Full-screen "chromeless" mode. Useful for setup screens, tutorials, demos, Information Kiosks, etc. - Integrated dialer 4.2 LIMITATIONS This beta release of Caldera WebSpyder 32 does not support the following features. They will be implemented in future releases. - SMTP and POP3 email - HTML frames 4.3 WORK IN PROGRESS We are aware of the following problems and are working to correct them as soon as possible. 4.3.1 SETTING UP THE GRAPHICS MODE Occasionally the graphics mode setup will fail to auto-detect your card correctly. Type websypdr -setup to force the video configuration screen to be displayed again and select VESA 1.X. Click OK to save the configuration. 4.3.2 WEB PAGE IS BLANK Some Web pages display as a blank screen. This is especially true if it contains JavaScript tags. 4.3.3 DELETING ITEMS FROM THE HOTLIST There is no function in the browser to delete an item from the Hotlist, or to edit it in any other way. However, since it is held as an HTML file, HOTLIST.HTM, in the \WEBSPY directory, you may edit it directly using an HTML or text editor. 5.0 PROBLEM REPORTING PROCEDURES Please email reports to webspyder@calderauk.com, giving as much information as possible. At least tell us: - Is the problem repeatable or was it a one off? - What you did to get the problem - Any error messages displayed - If it is a problem with a particular page, the exact URL - Were you connected via a modem or LAN? - Amount of RAM and free disk space - Type of video hardware - Version of DOS used Ideally we would also like to have a copy of the following files: - config.sys - autoexec.bat - startnet.bat - net.cfg - web32.cfg If the problem results in a protection fault and a stack trace is displayed, we supply a utility called SYMIFY which will give more details. To run it, change to the directory you installed WebSpyder 32 into and type: symify core.exe The results of this trace are invaluable to us. Finally, please do not email support@caldera.com with problem reports since these will not be checked by the Caldera WebSpyder development team. 6.0 TECHNICAL SUPPORT Technical support is not provided with this Beta release. However we are interested in your feed back so please send us your comments in accordance with the problem reporting procedures above.