08-18-93  What's NEW with MT-Matrix (v1.13)
-------------------------------------------

- A new command <QUIT> has been added to any additional matrix modules.
  For example drive d: module will now have a QUIT command.  So does the
  sysop maintenance module.   I found this command to be necessary if
  you are running mt-matrix as a menu system instead of the dos dir simulated
  directory/menu.   The problem arrised when any module drives <ie. D:>
  was for say called MORE, if this module was called MORE then the matrix
  C: command to access it would of course be MORE <insted of D:>.  The
  problem arrised when no other alternatives would be offered to return
  to the intial drive module <or menu> such as drive c: unless you used
  the dos simulated command of c: <which doesn't make much sense in a
  menu system>  So now with the QUIT command, sysops which run the matrix
  as a menu system, may make drive D: say a submenu and then just add the
  QUIT command to drive's d: menu.  The QUIT command will return the caller
  back to drive C: <or whatever you call it>   Confusing??? :)   Try it from
  drive d: <or whatever you call it in case  it's a submenu name>  You will
  see it's purpose...

- NEW <to /Standard version> PROMPTS.CNF File which controls most prompts
  and messages which MT-Matrix display to a caller.  <To be exact there are
  a total of 92 prompts and msgs which you may modify to your liking.  SEE
  The FILE PROMPTS.CNF file for More Info.

- NEW (MATRIX.CNF) option config (LINE #23)  Matrix User Name - Min Lenght
  A User name can vary in lenghts.   For example on most boards callers
  would have both a first and a last name.  MT-Matrix previously expected
  callers to log on with a name with 4 letters or more <ie. JOE DOE> however
  some sysops allow 3 letter only names, if this is the case then this
  configuration  switch is now included in MT-Matrix for that purpose.
  See LINE 23 Of MATRIX.CNF FILE to configure your desired value to this
  option. <ie.  3 = Name must be a minimum of 3 letters in order to allow
  the caller access to matrix Feedback, Post, Check, Apply etc...

- NEW (MATRIX.CNF) options config (LINE 24) = Save Feedback as either
  PCBOARD / or  MATRIX.   Feedback left at the matrix may now be instead
  be saved as a PCBOARD COMMENT "PRIVATE COMMENT" TO "SYSOP".   Previously
  any feedback entered at the matrix was saved in the matrix own Email
  facility <saved to the the file SYSOP.MSG file>.   Now in addition to
  allowing the old method of saving feedback, you may choose to have
  matrix feedback to be saved as a PCBOARD Comment to Sysop Message instead.
  To do do fill line 24 of the MATRIX.CNF file with the  words PCBOARD
  <ALL CAPS> pcboard - will not work! it must read PCBOARD.  If this toggle
  switch option is enabled/configured as PCBOARD then MT-Matrix will save
  feedback at Matrix into a PCBOARD Main Board COMMENT to the SYSOP, this
  method is recommended if you do not login to the BBS via the matrix, but
  rather login using the PCBoard Call waiting screen options "Sysop - Busy"
  or "Sysop - Not Busy".  Loggin into the system in the manner also skips
  the matrix and any feedback mail which you might've had waiting, therefore
  if you prefer to use the above method of loggin into the system then
  the setting PCBOARD is recommended since feedback mail will be saved
  as PCBoard comments.  NOTE that you should still log into the matrix
  occasionally and check the PUBLIC msgs etc...  Those cannot <nor any
  intentions are being made> be saved as pcboard email posts.

- MT-Matrix will now properly read the SYSOP PAGE START TIME and END TIME
  from  PCBoard.  This option was ignored in the previous releases.  You
  may set your Page Start time (Allow to page start time) and Page End time
  from with PCBsetup!   To set the start/end paging hours load PCBSETUP
  and choose option;  G  Configuration Options,  then choose option; F  Limits
  from within this setup option you can set the Allow Sysop Page Start Time,
  and the Allow Sysop Page Stop Time to your preferences.  NOTE that the
  matrix page may also be completely disabled,  just edit the COMMANDS.CNF
  file and change the  PAGE and CHAT  option lines to page and chat <lower
  case> and that will disable the matrix page commands (You may also place
  a 0 in the place of the commands to disable them).

- The SYSOP maintenance module received a few a changes with this release,
  many have been cosmetic (for example); many of you seemed to have
  problems reading the features in the Menu,  to avoid that the menu
  has been redesigned and also the features NO LONGER have the same Menu
  options Numbers!   All the  commands are still in there, but they
  just have re-reorganized differently by matter of priority on what you
  might do at the matrix, <ie View Matrix Call logs> is now option
  1 because it's considered more important then reading for public mail
  etc..   Also in the previous release the SINGLE NODE SYSTEM  VIEW/DELETE
  Matrix CALL Logs didn't work properly, this version should fix that as
  well as some other minor problems which single node systems were
  experiencing.

- Many other minor improvements and fixes, specially cosmetically.


08-05-93  What's NEW with MT-Matrix (v1.12)
-------------------------------------------
- Starting with this version <v1.12> detailed description of product
  development/addition/fixes etc... will instead be documented in the
  file WHATSNEW.DOC --> [This File]

- The DEDUCT TIME at Matrix end <PCBoard Start> feature, was causing a
  problem for new callers.  I'll explain, MT-Matrix allows via the
  MATRIX.CNF to add time at matrix login "recommended so the caller does
  not see the WARNING automatic disconnect in 3 mins" message.  Whatever
  time is ADDED at Matrix login is also deducted at Matrix logoff, which
  is fine, but for new callers it might <or might not> cause a problem,
  a situation that this could cause be a problem is when for example the
  caller browses around the system and say reads the NEWS, INFO, HELP
  etc.. files, now the caller uses apply, if the caller is found in the
  VIP file or has the correct Sign on Key ID Password then MT-Matrix will
  allow the caller into PCBoard as new user, well at this time the matrix
  will also deduct any time which was issued to the caller at matrix login
  and say if you had awarded 10 mins to the caller at login, and the caller
  spend 10 mins online + an extra 3 mins <which is automatically given to
  each and every caller upon matrix login> then at the end of the apply
  feature they would be logged off, and pcboard would return the message
  "Time Limit exceeded".  To avoid this mt-matrix will no longer deduct
  time at matrix end when using the apply command *ONLY*.  Note that this
  is the only command which time will now NOT be deducted at logoff, this
  is to avoid any problems with new callers being logged off after providing
  correct info the apply command.


08-02-93  What's NEW with MT-Matrix (v1.10) (SEE ALSO HISTORY.DOC)
------------------------------------------------------------------

- Many additions have been made to this version.  There is now much better
  sysop features/support as well.  A whole new sysop maintenance module is
  included  USE the command SYSOP at the matrix prompt to load the module.
  From within this module you may check you current Matrix configuration,
  View or Delete the Matrix Call log files, View or Delete the Public and
  Sysop feedback Msg files, Check the Sysop Feedback or Public Msg files
  for new mail, and more, all without dropping to dos.

- MT-Matrix now allows even more adaptability by the sysop.  New with this
  version is a PPE Laucher, which allows any PPE program to become a matrix
  command.  This allows the sysop to configure or make the matrix anything
  or any way they like.  An example is if you are satisfied with a particular
  default matrix command, then you can make your own, and simply add the
  external ppe as a matrix command.  SEE THE FILE PPE.CNF for more info.

- MT-Matrix now properly creates CALL LOG FILES (NODE1.LOG, NODE2.LOG etc.)
  Everything which happens in the matrix is now recorded to the NODE? Log
  files.  Matrix CALL Log files can be Viewed / Deleted right from the
  matrix (LOAD SYSOP MAINTENANCE MODULE) from within this module you may
  also Read/Delete Feedback Msgs,  Read/Delete Public Msgs,  View/Delete
  Call Log files.  Also you may view ALL matrix Passwords which are
  currently configured, as well as ALL other configuration options, without
  even exiting to dos.

- MT-Matrix now allows Drive C: / D: / E: specifications to be defined by
  the sysop!  In other words if you chose to call drive C:, D: instead
  then using dir D: or cd d: would work as well.  The CD D: is supported
  because if you named your additional drives a directory instead of a
  drive then all commands are interactive to support your configuration,
  in other words if you decided to name a drive something other then
  drive c: for example \BBS\UTIL then using the commands cd \bbs\util
  would take you to that module, same thing with other matrix commands
  such as DIR \BBS\UTIL would also work, and so would DIR C:\BBS\UTIL
  etc..  JUST remember that if you name your drives something else then
  you should also adjust that drive's module prompt to match whatever
  you are calling the extra drives, or directory.

- A slight problem existed with the previous ADD Time to Matrix Login.  The
  problem really was that if a caller entered the matrix any more then one
  time during a session, the online time would of course <each time the
  matrix was loaded> be incremented by whatever you decided in the Matrix.CNF
  to reward the caller.  To accomodate these situations MT-Matrix will now
  DEDUCT whatever time it was ADDED to the caller upon PCBoard Start <Matrix
  END>.  So now it does not matter on how much time you reward callers at
  matrix login since that time is taken back when they exit the matrix!
  NOTE!  It is recommended that you add some time at login, this is so that
  callers upon loading on to your system (matrix) will not be bogged with the;
  "Warning automatic disconnect in (3) minutes"  messages which pcboard will
  display to the caller.

  NOTE! the ADD Time to Callers which use either FEEDBACK or POST a public
  Msg  CNF options are not discounted for at matrix END!   The reasons for
  that is because there is no easy way for MT-Matrix to know which callers
  used the POST or FEEDBACK commands and which ones didn't.  So if you ADD
  time to callers for using these 2 functions remember that UNLIKE the ADD
  time at Matrix Login, these will not be Discounted at Logoff.

- Number of MAX lines allowed for MSG Entry in both the POST Public Msg and
  SEND FEEDBACK to Sysops are configurable/definable via this setup option.
  In other words a value here of 99 equals a total max of 99 lines allowed
  for public msg entry or feedback to sysops msg entry.  Some sysops find it
  that allowing too many lines in the Msg Editors will encourage callers to
  leave HUGE messages at the matrix without being necessary <Some sysops DO
  NOT feel this way however> in either case this setting can now be used so
  you specify the MAX number of allowed lines in the MSG editors per your
  preference.  NOTE!  A value higher of 99 lines is not recommended, if you
  load the message editor you will notice that the value set here is displayed
  to the caller when using the Editors,  a 3 or 4 digits value number in this
  field will work fine, but however it will not look <cosmetically> as good.
  Also I don't think you would ever want to allow a caller at matrix to enter
  a 1000 line message neither :)

- APLLY.VIP file added.  This file can be anywhere or named anything you would
  like, just as long as the correct locations and names are specified in this
  line.  The APPLY VIP file holds information on Names with Apply VIP access.
  In other words Matrix will check this file each time a NEW Caller applies, if
  the callers name matches any entry within this file then NEW USER PASSWORD
  <if enabled> will be skipped and the file NEWVIP (for MONO)  / NEWVIPG (for
  ANSI) / NEWVIPR (for RIP) will be displayed to the caller, following the
  display of the above file the caller will be shown the Matrix NEWUSER file,
  then taken to the PCBoard sign on screen (Enter Your First Name).  NOTE that
  the name the caller uses at Matrix Apply will automatically be inserted in
  the PCBoard sign in prompt <Enter your first name>!

  The VIP file has few rules however NOTE THE FOLLOWING; The first entry of the
  file should be a number which equals the total users/names in the listing.
  <ie if you have 5 names in the list then the first line of this file should
  read a numeral 5>  Each time you add a new name to the VIP List you MUST
  increase this number so the matrix can appropriately find their Names in the
  VIP <if they are indeed listed in the APPLY VIP file>.