Maximus 3.01 README =================== Introduction ------------ Maximus 3.01 is a flexible bulletin board package for the DOS and OS/2 operating systems. Version 3 is a major upgrade from previous versions of Maximus. Among other features, it includes: * MEX, an advanced extension language including many advanced language features, such as dynamic strings, structures, functions, pass-by-reference arguments, and more. * Support for multi-level, hierarchical message and file areas. Maximus supports an unlimited number of message and file areas. * A message tracking system that allows organizations to effectively track problem reports and ensure that problems get answered on a timely basis. * Internal support for RIP graphics, including a ready-made set of RIP graphics icons and screens. * Native support for DOS and OS/2. Many more options and features are included: - For information on features new to version 3, please see WHATSNEW.300. - For general information about Maximus, please see the program documentation in MAX.DOC. - For information on upgrading from Maximus 2.x or 3.x, please see the appropriate section below. Obtaining the DOS and OS/2 versions of Maximus ---------------------------------------------- The DOS and OS/2 versions of Maximus can be found in the following files: max301p.zip - OS/2 executables max301r.zip - DOS executables max301c.zip - common executables (required for both DOS and OS/2) These files are available from the support BBS on +1-613-389-8315. The latest version of Maximus can also be found on the SimTel and Hobbes archive sites. At the time of writing, these sites are: ftp://oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/msdos/bbs/max301* and ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2/comm/max301* Documentation offer for noncommercial users ------------------------------------------- Lanius sells an official printed and bound copy of the Maximus manual. This is normally only sold with a licensed copy of the program, but we are now allowing noncommercial users to order a copy of the manual separately. The printed manual is 466 pages long, perfect-bound (glued back binding), dimensions 7" by 9", with a glossy black and red cover. To order a copy of the manual, please see ORDER.FRM file (included in the distribution package) and select the "MAXDOC" product. Maximus in commercial environments ---------------------------------- Maximus may be used free of charge by noncommercial users (with no strings attached). However, you must purchase a license before using Maximus in a commercial environment. To determine whether or not you are a commercial user, please see LICENSE.DOC. Ordering a copy of Maximus -------------------------- For information on ordering a copy of Maximus for commercial use, please see ORDER.FRM for our Canadian Dollar pricing. We also have order forms with U.S. Dollar and Deutsche Mark pricing (USA.FRM and DEUTSCH.FRM, respectively). We accept VISA and American Express payments for overseas users only. If you live outside the U.S. and Canada and wish to pay by credit card, please see ORDER.FRM. Beta Win32 version of Maximus ----------------------------- We have now made available a public beta of the Win32 version of Maximus for Windows NT and Windows 95. This beta is contained in the max301n.zip archive. You can obtain this archive from the support BBS on +1-613-389-8315. We will also try to make this file available on the SimTel Windows NT archive site on the Internet. However, since the Win32 version is in beta, we make no guarantees regarding its reliability or performance. We also do not necessarily guarantee that it will become an officially-supported product. Documentation errata -------------------- - Section 6.5 - External Program Translation Characters When using the "%L" parameter, the resulting "-pX" text is actually one less than the port number. For example, 0=COM1, 1=COM2, and so on. - Section 8.13 - Session Monitor The SM program accepts an optional parameter giving the name of the pipe on the server machine. To run SM from a workstation, you must specify the full MCP pipe name, such as: SM \\server\pipe\maximus\mcp - Section 15.3 - input_ch() function When using the CINPUT_SCAN flag, the extended keystrokes will actually be returned in a single call to input_ch(). When an extended key is entered by the user, the lower 8 bits of the return coded will be 0, and the upper 8 bits will be the scan code of the key. - Section 15.3 - readln() function In fact, readln() returns -1 (not 0) when end-of-file is encountered. A return code of -1 means that either an error occurred or end-of-file was reached. - Appendix G: SCANBLD commands in batch file The commands given in the sample batch file to run SCANBLD are incorrect. To correct the examples, simply remove the "user.bbs area.dat" portion of command. For example, the "scan" portion of the WFC batch file should look like this: :scan rem * This command should invoke your scanner. For example: squish out squash -fEchoToss.Log scanbld user.bbs area.dat local matrix @echotoss.log goto loop Upgrading from Maximus version 3.00 ----------------------------------- Simply run the installation program and select the "upgrade" option. The installation program will scan your Maximus directory, and if it detects a MAX.EXE or MAXP.EXE that matches the release version of Maximus 3.00, it will assume that you are upgrading from 3.00 and perform the upgrade accordingly. The 3.00 to 3.01 upgrade should be painless. The installation program will not modify anything except the executables in your \MAX directory. Maximus 3.01 is only a maintenance upgrade, so no new features were added between 3.00 and 3.01. However, the 3.01 upgrade fixes most of the common problems encountered in the 3.00 release. Upgrading from Maximus version 2.x ---------------------------------- To upgrade an existing Maximus 2.x installation, you must follow the steps given below. (To install a new version of Maximus, please see section 3 of the program documentation.) 1. Back up your existing system. 2. For DOS only, ensure that you have at least 560k of free conventional memory. Maximus itself requires much less than this amount to operate normally, but the install program needs at least 560k to compile some of the system files. 3. Run the install program and select "upgrade". Specify the path to your existing Maximus installation. The install program will install the new executables, upgrade your control files, and modify your configuration to make it compatible with Maximus 3.0. 4. After the installation program has converted your system, look through the control files (particularly msgarea.ctl and filearea.ctl) to see if the conversion program has flagged any problems. 5. Change to your \max\olr\dats directory and run "del *.*". This will cause a one-time loss of the users' off-line reader area mappings. Users who upload packets which are replies to messages created by Max 2.x will be prompted to enter a new area when uploading those packets. 6. Change to your \max directory and run "cvtusr -p". 7. Change to your \max directory and run "fb -a". 8. If you are running Maximus on a network, ensure that the "SET MAXIMUS=C:\MAX\MAX.PRM" statement exists in the AUTOEXEC.BAT (or CONFIG.SYS for OS/2) on all machines that run Maximus nodes. The install program will automatically add this statement when you run the upgrade, but if you want to run Maximus on other machines on a network that have separate CONFIG.SYS/AUTOEXEC.BAT files, you must insert this keyword manually. This completes the automatic upgrade procedure. For information on manually upgrading an existing copy of Maximus, please see UPGRADE.TXT. Maximus 2.x to 3.x upgrade notes -------------------------------- 1. Maximus 3.0 is not compatible with language files from Maximus 2.0. The install program will automatically comment out all of your 2.0 language files and install the new English language from the 3.0 distribution. 2. Maximus 3.0 enables password encryption by default. To turn off password encryption, please add the "No Password Encryption" keyword to the System section of MAX.CTL before any users log on to the new 3.0 system. 3. Maximus no longer supports the "-z" command-line parameter. The OS/2 PMSnoop utility has been replaced by SM. OS/2 users must modify their .cmd files to remove all references to the "-z" parameter and PMSnoop before completing the upgrade. 4. The command-line parameters for SCANBLD, MR and FBP have changed. Please read the documentation and update your BAT/CMD files to use the new format. Maximus 2.x compatibility notes ------------------------------- 1. MaxiBank version 2 is not compatible with Maximus 3.0. Tests have shown that MaxiBank does not correctly handle the new user file. In particular, it randomly grants SysOp access to users who access the time bank. We strongly suggest that you disable MaxiBank before upgrading to Maximus 3.0. (The MexBank MEX program, included in the Maximus distribution, can be used to add a "time bank" feature to Maximus 3.0.) 2. The new version of MAXPIPE cannot spawn .cmd files directly or execute internal OS/2 shell commands. If you need to do this, simply add a "cmd /c" before the name of the program to execute. For example, given the following line in MENUS.CTL: Xtern_Dos maxpipe.exe_%P_test.cmd Normal "Run Test" You must change it to this to make it work correctly with the new MaxPipe: Xtern_Dos maxpipe.exe_%P_cmd_/c_test.cmd Normal "Run Test" Using Maximus with LANtastic for OS/2 ------------------------------------- The OS/2 version of LANtastic has known problems with named pipes. If you run Maximus-OS/2 on a LANtastic network and see "SYSxxxx: DosTransactNPipe" messages in the log, please contact Artisoft to obtain the named pipe patches. File format information ----------------------- The STRUCTS.ZIP file (as created by the install program in \MAX) contains the C-based structure definitions for a number of Maximus-specific files. Contact information ------------------- For more information on Maximus, please contact: email: sales@lanius.com (sales inquiries) tech@lanius.com (problem reports and technical support) CompuServe: >INTERNET:sales@lanius.com (sales inquiries) >INTERNET:tech@lanius.com (problem reports and technical support) BBS: +1-613-389-8315 FAX: +1-613-634-3058 Post: Lanius Corporation 777 Downing St. Kingston, Ont. CANADA K7M 5N3 ###