Notes to beta testers of version 1.0:

This is the seventh build of GW beta which I am releasing, and
is contained in the archive "GW10F.ZIP".  The sixth build had the
same name, minus the letter designation.  Sorry for any confusion between
these and any previous archives (named GWRITER.ZIP or GWRITERx.ZIP).


*** IMPORTANT NOTICE!! ***

Because of a misunderstanding on my part of Gregg Hommel's
intentions, I announced (in the last revision) that Ghost Writer 1.0
would no longer be developed.  This will not be the case.

As it turns out, Gregg will be continuing to develop Ghost in both
its 3.1 and 3.2 versions, and I will also be putting the finishing
touches on Ghost Writer 1.0, and (good Lord willing) will begin
development of GW 2.0 (for use under PCP/W 2 and Ghost 3.2) soon.

Ghost Writer 2.0 (if and when it comes out) will be a FREE registration
to those who pay to register Ghost Writer 1.0.  There will be no upgrade
cost involved (you will have already forked over a lot of money for upgrades
by that time!).  If you don't register GW 1.0, you will have to pay for
GW 2.0.  I hope that has been made clear enough!

Notes:

I have added a new feature or two (see GW_HIST.TXT), and in the process
have needed to pare down some of the "extraneous" code from previous
builds.  The main differences you will notice will be that some of the
dialog boxes are different (eg. creating a new DNL or NWS file & header),
and a few are gone altogether, replaced by status messages.  So if you find
the script "grinding" away, and see nothing in the terminal window, look
at the status bar for some indication of what may be going on.

See "README.TXT" for installation instructions.

(PMT_ACT.WAX, the Ghost BBS prompt editing utility, is usable only by
registered Ghost Writer users.  This utility runs separately from
Ghost Writer, and edits Ghost BBS prompts.  To install it, copy the
PMT_ACT.WAX file to your ASPECT script subdirectory.)

WHEN ENTERING FILE DESCRIPTIONS FOR USE IN THE DNLs OR TEXT FOR
NWS FILES, PLEASE HIT THE "ENTER" KEY WHEN THE EDIT WINDOW BEGINS
TO SCROLL -- GW NEEDS A CARRIAGE RETURN AT LEAST EVERY 255 CHARACTERS,
AND HAVING THEM MORE OFTEN IS QUITE ACCEPTABLE.  GW WILL REMOVE THE
CARRIAGE RETURNS WHEN IT CONVERTS YOUR TEXT TO PUT IT INTO THE DNL OR
NWS FILE, BUT COUNTS ON THEM BEING THERE.

Please let me know if you have any problems with the "FILE_ID.DIZ"
feature, as I have only tested it on my machine...report any problems
to me or Gregg as soon as you can, because the sooner I hear of
a problem, the sooner I can get working on it.  If you have problems,
you can always disable that feature until I come out with a fix.
The reason I am concerned is that it's a little bit tricky to run
an external utility such as PKUNZIP under WASP.  I'm hoping there
won't be any trouble, but....

The help file can be accessed from GW by pressing the "F1" key -
providing you copy the NEW help file provided in this archive to
your default PCP/Win directory.  Please note that the help file
is not near its finished state, and there may therefore be some
gaps in its coverage (and also, my apologies to those of you who
are viewing the help file at 640 x 480!  I hope to have smaller
graphics in the final version).  Please bear with me, as working
on help files is almost more exasperating than coding the
program (g)!

Make sure to copy the "socsof1.nil" icon file to your default
PCP/Win subdirectory as well, to take advantage of the "moving
eyeballs" feature.

The "update" button will not be disabled when you have DNL or NWS
as the file mask.  Pressing it without a file selected will do
nothing.  This is a known "bug," and while it's harmless, I thought I
would mention it so you won't need to report it.  While I'm on the
subject, I should mention that there are a few little "details" that
I have not been able to get to, but which I someday intend to get to
(for example, "prettying up" some of the dialog boxes), so please bear
with me.  I wanted to get another beta release out there because it's
been quite a while, and I've added some major new features & would like
to test them out a bit.  Also, I don't think it serves much purpose to
have beta testers using a beta release that has little resemblance to the
code that I'm working on (enough speechmaking!).

Ghost Writer creates and maintains DNL and NWS files which can be
set to any width between 50 and 79 characters.

Also note that you will need to be alert when changing ANSI colours,
particularly with respect to the "intense" feature, which seems to
want to sometimes default to something other than that which it is
supposed to.  Note that this only occurs when you check or select new
colour schemes, but once a scheme has been saved and is left alone
in the "GWriter.ini" file, it will remain constant.

There is not much room (none, actually) for any new features in Ghost
Writer 1.0, because of the compiler memory limitations.  I am literally
on the edge of the "wall", and can only make changes which do not add 
any significant amounts of code -- i.e., I can make changes to program
flow, and the general look of dialog boxes, and I welcome any input 
with respect to your concepts of how Ghost Writer should run (eg. if 
one thing happens when it seems to you that something else should happen).
Any general comments pertaining to Ghost Writer are also welcome.

N.B.: See GW_HIST.TXT, included in distribution archive, for revision history.

You are, of course, welcome to register Ghost Writer at any time!

I can be reached electronically at:

Public messages:  Fidonet Windows Echo

e-mail:

Fidonet: 1:140/38

Carl Mellesmoen
