History                                      UFO 96 - Universal File Operator


   THE PRESS ABOUT UFO

    "UFO is an excellent choice" 4 (out of 5) stars
                                                 Ziff Davis Shareware Library

    "With these prices and programs one could easily
      become a DOS-purist"
      (translated from German)
                        Chief editor B. Bechtel-Krueger in DOS-Trend 11-12/95


    "If you do not want to go without an efficient DOS file manager
      [...] UFO is the perfect partner."
      (translated from German)
                                                       DOS International 1/96

    "Rating: Very Good"  (translated from German)
                                                                  PC go! 7/96


   UFO 96.2E  Juli 6, 1996

        Thanks go to all the UFO users whose wishes and proposals were
                          realized in this version.

    Latest UFO 96 infos and hints and other recent projects of
     Deus Ex Machina Communications in the Web at:
     http://www.demcom.com
    Deus Ex Machina Communications is now a member of the Association
     of Shareware Professionals <ASP>.

   * From now on UFO 96 entirely supports the long Windows 95 long filenames.
     Files with long names are not only displayed; they can be copied, moved,
     deleted and more. Please notice that Windows 95 must be active to
     profit from these functions. The new "Windows 95 mode" (Menu "Right"
     or "Left") is made for the display of long file names.
   * Even the Windows 95 start menu is directly accessible from UFO 96:
     Press Ctrl-TAB and see! You have access to the programs which have
     been entered into the start menu. The documents that have been
     opened lately are displayed. If you like you can activate the system
     control panel by the start menu.
   * UFO 96 is able to encode and decode files by the UU-standard.
     This is used to transfer files through the Internet by E-mail.
     (Menu option "Tools|UU-encode file").
   * What do you do if you want to erase classified data? Use UFO 96!
     If you activate the "irrevocable delete" function files are not just
     deleted. They will be overwritten multiple times and their position
     on the data carrier will be cleaned. So no one will be able to
     undelete these files. (Menu "Options|Safety & Security")
   * A new archive support allows display of archives without an archiver
     program. In this version the processing of archives is much faster 
     and more stable than in all previous versions. However, you have to go
     without support of self-extracting-archives (SFX).
   * New memory management allows starting UFO with less free conventional
     memory. By using an overlay and reloading functions which are used
     less frequently UFO is even faster now. Existing expansion memory (EMS)
     can be used but is not necessary.
   * UFO 96 displays the title of HTML documents in the mini-status. The
     length, depth, sample rate and number of tracks of wave files is also
     displayed.
   * UFO 96 does no longer forget file selections after a program call.
     Because UFO has to write the names of the files on a disk this function 
     may cause delays on slow PCs. Therefor you may deactivate it.
     ("Options|Configuration...|Remember selected files")
   * UFO 96 has the AIM-Technology version 1.0 (copyright (C) 1996 by
     Fabian Hansmann). This is a self test procedure which finds out if
     UFO has been modified (by a virus).
   + It is now possible to (de)select files with more than one wildcard
     specification at once. The different wildcards are separated by 
     blanc characters.
   + For a clearer arrangement UFO can turn directories to green. In
     addition to that you can have the command line in a discreet grey.
   + The display of free conventional memory in the info windows is new.
   + By pressing Ctrl-Shift-Return you can copy the long version of the
     current filename to the command line. Quotation marks will be added
     as Windows 95 demands.
   + UFO asks the user if he wants to restart UFO from UFO if he enters
     "ufo" in UFO by accident.
   + If you use another resolution than 25 or 50 lines it will be used
     in UFO also.
   + When you ask UFO for creating an archive (F11) and all files in the 
     current directory are selected UFO suggests the name of the directory
     as the name for the archive.
   + The quick search (Alt key) finds the next match when pressing 
     Ctrl-Return.
   + The file viewer has been optimized for speed. In addition to that it
     displays the process of viewing in percentage.
   + Because of randomly occuring negative reports the UFO-TSRWatch (see
     documentation) can be deactivated and is deactivated as a default
     ("Options|Configuration...|Use UFO-TSRWatch").
   + Ctrl-J copies the path and file name of the current file to the command
     line.
   + The file search (Alt-F7) saves its configuration. 
   + The installation program can copy the configuration of an installed
     UFO 1.45 to UFO 96.
   + Every time you start UFO a small system status is written to the log 
     file. (current operating system, free memory, etc.)
   + A lot more small improvements wished by UFO users.
   - "Compare directories" did not work if at least one window displayed an
     archive. Bug fixed.
   - The Windows-rescource-saver no longer exists. The result of additional
     system capacity on modern PC is too small.
   - Sometimes error 204 occured with IBM-DOS or IBM Aptive-Systems
     while deleteing files. UFO had to be restarted. Bug fixed.
   - After creating of archives (by F11) hidden files have not been marked
     as such (by the -symbol). Bug fixed.
   - A lot more bugs have been caught (setting attributes, archive support)

   Version 96 and Version 96.1  July 22nd, 1996

   Never released in English.

   Version 1.45E  December 1st, 1995

   * UFO received a complete service and became more compact and obviously
     faster. Reading directories is now up to 500% faster - especially
     in huge directories.
   * If you are using Windows 95, UFO displays the long filename of the
     current file in the status line.
   * UFO activates the UFO-Rescource-Saver as a screen saver. It reduces
     the need of processing time for UFO to a minimum. That means:
     Full throttle for your Windows applications.
     Check it out by the Windows 95 program "System monitor".
   * By pressing Shift-F11 you can extract the hole contents of the currently
     displayed archive into the directory of the opposite window.
   * By pressing Ctrl-dash you can display the directory of the current
     window in the currently inactive window.
   * The user menu now can have 30 menu levels, not only two (as it was 
     before).
   + By pressing Alt-F3 or Alt-F4 you can activate the internal viewer or
     editor even if there is an extension link to the current file.
   + The default wildcard in the dialogue window "Select group" can be
     configured know. (Last input or always "*.*"). (Options-menu, 
     at "Configuration").
   + 4DOS user may execute their 4DOS specified BTM-batch-files.
   + RAR multivolume archive files with the R00, R01, etc. extension are
     sorted into the file list like any other archive files.
   + If UFO or the installation program is called under Windows 95 the
     automatic creation of the extension file does not enter Windows
     programs with the suffix "WIN".
   + The hotkeys Ctrl-X and Ctrl-E are added for navigating in the
     command history. The hotkey for the energy saving mode is now Ctrl-G. 
   + The internal file viewer is used automatically with located files
     in the file search (Alt-F7).
   + More small improvements
   - PCE sometimes provided false information about COM ports, bug is fixed.
   - Sometimes file attributes have not been transfered to a copied file.
     This bug is history.
   - Some programs could be executed from the usermenu. This is no longer
     a problem.
   - If UFO is installed from a hard disk the installation program entered
     the UFO editor in the source directory in the extension file. This
     bug is fixed. 
   - Bug at calculation of compression grade of archived files in percent
     is fixed.
     (at the ministatus display)
   - The directory of the other window has not been refreshed after pressing
     NumBlock-Plus or -Minus in the directory-tree. This bug is fixed.
   - If there was not enough memory to display the whole directory UFO
     displayed the error 203. The error is fixed.
   - Seldom occuring problem with archives including subdirectories
     solved.
   - Display bug at FileFind corrected.
   - Other minor bugs were killed.


   Version 1.4D  September 29th, 1995

    UFO-SUPPORT Frankfurt is renamed to DEUS EX MACHINA COMMUNICATIONS.
     Changing the name was neccessary because of other projects not being
     related to UFO.
    It's a matter of course that the UFO-Support-Team is still at your
     disposal for any problems or suggestions (see SUPPORT.TXT).
    We have a new support BBS in Hannover, Germany (see SUPPORT.TXT)!

   * The directory tree was implemented. 3,000 directories per drive can be
     processed. Therefor the maximum of files per directory was decreased
     to 3.000, but even this should be enough.
   * From now on, each file type (DOC-,B;P-,VOC-files, etc.) can have its 
     own viewer and editor. There are two new extension files: VIEWERS.EXT
     and EDITORS.EXT. They work the same way as UFO.EXT. 
   * UFO supports the creation of EXE-archives (SFX) . The option can
     be accessed by the "Create Archive"-dialogue (F11).
   * The UFO file viewer can display Unix/Amiga and Macintosh/OS-9 formatted
     texts. The recognition happens automatically.
   * The new keyword "{Currentfile}" in the usermenu is replaced by the 
     current file name in the file window.
   * Havily improved stability compared to the previous version.
   + PC Equipment was slightly improved and is more stabe now.
   + UFO needs even less space to run in the background.
   + The function "Compare directories" checks out if filenames occur in
     both directiories and marks only the file with the latest change.
   + Now you can access every option from the pull-down-menus by hotkeys.
   + Files may be copied or moved into "*". E.G. the source file "UFO.DOC"
     becomes "UFO" - the extension is deleted.
   + The program's names in the extension files are no longer converted into
     capital letters to allow giving parameters in small letters to the 
     applications.
   + If you press Ctrl-<NumBlock Plus> or Ctrl-<NumBlock Minus> UFO
     offers you the last input from the "Select/deselect group"-dialoge,
     not always "*.*". <NumBlock Plus> and <NumBlock Minus> work as before.
   + After copying or moving of files into different filenames the new
     name is used for positioning the file cursor.
   + Improvement of the function to create archives with sub-directories.
   - Complete directories in the root could not be copied to other 
     directories in the root. This bug is fixed.
   - The internal file viewer could not search for mutated vowels in
     Windows-ANSI-files. This bug is fixed.
   - Under some circumstances a disc wasn't reread after pressing Ctrl-R.
     This bug is fixed.
   - When searching for text in files sometimes files were found which did
     not actually contain the search text (mostly smaller ones). Bug fixed!
   - If there was few conventional memory - e.g. at Novell Netware - UFO
     quited while copying files with error 203. This error is fixed.
   - Other bugfixes.


   Version 1.3E  August 16th, 1995

    Now you can register UFO via CompuServe: GO SWREG (keyword: UFO)
    ...or you order UFO per phone (by C.O.D):
     Call us: +49-69-761807 or +49-69-7074392
   * The system-information and diagnosis program "PC Equipment" is now
     part of the UFO program package. It provides useful information about
     all interresting components of your PC! The shareware version has, 
     like all UFO tools, not reductions at its functionality.
   * Complete support of the very efficient archiver of RAR.
     Requirement: You must have the RAR version 1.50 or higher.
   * Greatly improved and extended recognition of archives, complete
     support of self-extracting archives (EXE-archives/SFX).
   * Improved processing of archives which are very big or damaged.
   * While displaying an archive directory, you can see the rate of
     compression of the current file down in the file window.
   * UFO is now able to search for archivers and to configure them in
     UFO - just like the installation program.
   * The file search (Alt-F7) was greatly improved: It is now possible to
     search only the current directory and in all its subdirectories.
     It is also possible to let UFO create a list file of all files
     found. You even can add commands in front of and behind the listed
     files.
   * AutoInstall helps you to install new software. Installation programs
     are searched and executed as desired.
   * UFO is now able to display up to 5,000 files per window (if there is
     enough conventional memory).
   + UFO needs about 93% less system resources at OS/2 (Source: WatchCat 2.1).
   + In the "Create archive"-dialogue (F11) you can choose if the source 
     files are to be deleted after creation.
   + Now you can choose "Fast mouse reset" at "Options|Configuration" for
     a very much faster return from programs to UFO.
   + Recognition and support of Windows 95 (windows programs are no longer
     executed with "win" in front of it).
   + At leaving UFO the current command line is copied into the DOS prompt.
   + DirectDir now works with the "brief display", too.
   + New and adapted hotkeys in the file viewer and editor.
   + Some internal optimizations and small gugfixes.
   - At some DOS versions the installation program only left the backup
     of the AUTOEXEC.BAT, the original became a 0-byte file. This bug
     is fixed now.
   - UFO did not work properly in certain networks (UP--DIR was missing),
     now it works perfectly.
   - Under rare conditions UFO crashed in the file viewer, this bug is fixed.
   - Archives with abnormal extensions (so not .ARJ, .ZIP or .LZH) sometimes
     caused error in processing. This bug is fixed.
   - On PCs configured with the 12 hours time system sometimes an error
     occured at the display of "am" or "pm" in the file windows.
   - Some minor bugs at the window display are fixed

   Version 1.2E   June 28th, 1995

    From now on UFO is also available IN ENGLISH. Please pay attention to
    the letter behind the version number (D for German, E for English)

   THIS WAS THE FIRST OFFICIALLY OBTAINABLE ENGLISH VERSION

   * The mode of "Brief display" has been implemented. If it is active
     UFO displays three columns of file names per file window.
   * The size of file windows is now variable.
   * Files can be edited in archives.
   * Predefined groups can be entered as file filters - e.g. graphics,
     text files, etc.
   * The file viewer is very much faster now. Moreover you can move
     to the right and to the left in the file.
     Text files created under Windows can be displayed (ANSI)
   * Completly new in this version: The drive overlapping search for
     files (with specified contents, too).
   * The file windows can be switched off separately (Ctrl-F1 or Ctrl-F2).
   * You can choose from three different color sets.
   * The menu line can be permanently displayed.
   * The menubar is now possible to be displayed permanently by Ctrl-M.
   * The function and status line at the bottom of the screen can be hidden
     (Ctrl-B).
   * The two file windows can be exchanged by Ctrl-U.
   * By pressing Ctrl-P you can switch off the currently inactive file
     window.
   + 4DOS or NDOS is recognized and supported. Please make sure the
     COMSPEC environment variable is set properly.
   + If RETURN is pressed on a file which is not linked in the extension
     file, it is checked out if it is an archive. If it is really an
     archive it will be entered. So the extension has not to be
     ARJ, ZIP or LZH.
   + The function "Change attributes" was greatly improved - especially
     at the treatment of more than one file.
   + CD-ROMs are left out at application scanning.
   + By now you can use batch files in the user menu.
   + Selections of files are saved even at changing of sort methods.
   + Recognition of ZIP-archives was improved.
   + The user menu which adapts to the size of its contents allows to enter
     comments started by a colon (;).
   + UFO saves the dos screen even while changing the text mode
     (25/50 lines)
   + '*' can be added to the extension file - this is a link to all
     files except executables.
   + If you copy files from a CD-ROM-drive (and only from a CD-ROM-drive)
     those disturbing read-only-attributes are being left out.
   + DirectDir has been improved.
   + Many small improvement, speed optimizations and internal changings
     that make UFO more save.
   - Error at window display in TempTerminator at multi tasking operating
     systems is repaired (TempTerminator's version is now 1.02D).
   - UFO did not exactly right if executed from a root directory. Now it
     works faultless.
   - Display error at the function "Key after DOS-command" repaired.
   - If you called the viewers' function "Search string" some times UFO
     displayed "Not enough memory". Fixed.
   - In certain Shareware-Versions AnimByte caused the error "Fehler in
     .EXE-Datei". It does not occur any longer.
   - Error in the "Compare directories"-function has been fixed.

   Version 1.13D   March 16th, 1995

   + Directories are scanned about 100% faster.
   - Multifile Editor works now.

   Version 1.12D   March 15th, 1995

   * In the editor more than one file can be opened and edited now.
   + UFO works perfectly and at full service of functions under OS/2
     (under Warp, too).
   - When the mouse was deactivated or not present, UFO has called the
     screen saver accidently; this failure is wiped out.
   - Some errors at displaying windows are corrected.

   Version 1.11D   March 13th, 1995

   FIRST OFFICIALLY OBTAINABLE GERMAN VERSION
