Introduction
The following is a list of reported bugs and wish lists enhancements related to the RBBS 17.5 Beta. Wether these bugs exist in the other releases of RBBS, 17.4, Busimods, CDOOR varies for each version. Hopefully, with the acceptance of a "single official and best release" we can concentrate efforts on one set of source code in the future. Please contact Netmation with comments, additional bugs, wish list items, and most definitly code fixes.

17.5 Beta Bug List

Short File Description Word Wrap - MAJOR BUG!
With the addition of the number in front of the file name in the .DIR files the short file description is improperly word wrapping when infact the "File Name, Size, Date, Description Line" has plenty of room to complete a 42 character description. It is taking the excess and displaying it as an extended description.

Message Bases Greater than 999 - MAJOR BUG!
Message bases greater than 999 abort RBBS. Much of the code for large message bases already exists in 17.5 however it was not activated. Busimod's and CDOOR mods have this feature fully implemented. Reason this code was taken out was due to string problems within RBBS with this added functionality. A possible alternative would be to at least allow for RBBS to read these larger messages bases though only allow access to the last 999 messages, thus avoiding RBBS aborting and locking up when someone trys to access these larger message bases. Since many add on products support larger message bases such as MsgToss, RBBSMail, Mail Manager, etc., only RBBS inself can not read these larger files. In addition the size of a message was also increased in these mod packages and should be implemented if possible.

FILESEC Feature Not Working - MAJOR BUG!
FILESEC feature is not working properly. If someone requests to download a secured file and enters the password they are getting a security violation. This same FILESEC feature is working with RBBS 17.4 but does not work with the 17.5 Beta. Also if the user has a security level less that required by FILESEC it is still allowing the download. Submitted by Francois Massonneau

Time Remaining in Multi-Node Setup
Each time someone tries to log onto node 2, he is disconnected with a message, "mail maintenance event scheduled to start in -1 minute" There is no problem when someone calls node 1 or when I log onto the board using node 3 (local node). Not sure if problem is in my setup or the 17.5 code itself, like to hear from others. Submitted by Francois Massonneau

XMSG.HLP Not Available for Sysop
The XMSGxxx.HLP, where xxx is the security level to display does not appear for the sysop. No reason to have this logic in the code since if you don't want the sysop to have a XMSG viewed when logoff you can simply just not provide the file. Feature should not be deactivated for sysop security.

Batch Upload File Checking
RBBS aborts the batch upload process if one of the files is found on the system. For example if someone wants to upload 3 files (A, B and C) RBBS checks if those files are not already on the BBS. It checks first File A, then File B and then File C. If it finds an existing File C, it takes the user back to the FILE Menu instead of starting the uploads of Files A and B. This is not a good way to encourage the uploads. Submitted by Francois Massonneau

UPMSG.HLP Does Not Display for SYSOP
UPMSG.HLP Help Files do not display for the sysop. The DNMSG.HLP Help Files are displayed for the sysop thus the UPMSG.HLP should probably work the same. See no reason why they both should not display for sysops. The ambitious may want to make a configuration parameter stating the highest security level which displays these and possibly other HELP files.

Expired Security
If a user logs on with an expired registration date and uses the "!" character to logon stating they want to skip all the messages, they bypass the "registration has expired" screens. However, they do not bypass the message "telling sysop you are on". This really makes no sense to the user. Should probably not allow the "!" command to bypass the registration warning.

Extended Descriptions for File List
The submenu capabilities for bulletins does not work properly. As described in the documentation you are supposed to be able to set up submenus which support identical choices. The documentation describes a situation where you can have a main menu "BM" and a submenu "BMA.MNU" which contains several documents numbered 1, 2, and 3. Unfortuantly, when you try and access these as 1, 2, and 3 RBBS goes out and looks for your bulletin "prefix + number" as opposed to "prefix + submenu + number". In other words, RBBS is looking for BM1, BM2 and BM3 instead of BMA1, BMA2, and BMA3. Since you can obviously not have multiple files called BM1, BM2, BM3 (assuming your prefix is BM) supporting several submenus, this senario is unachievable. A work around is to name the documents A1, A2, A3, etc. in your menu though this is not as nice as the "identical named documents" in multiple submenus as described in Section 7.8 of the RBBS 17.4 documentation.

Macro Security in City/State Data Entry
If a user enters the name of a macro you have on your system in the CITY/STATE field it executes that macro. RBBS provides some good security for macros if you only want them to execute from a certain menu but for those who want to keep global functionality should still be protected from macros executing at obvious prompts such as CITY/STATE data entry.

SmartText {VY Spacing
The "{VY" smart text "Overlay" feature has a problem in that it considers the actual 3 characters of "{VY" as overlay characters. The overlay should actually turn on in the first character position following the "{VY" instead it turns on at the "{" thus 3 blank spaces are alway in those positions.

Time Display Wrong Format
If you use the smarttext variable "{TM" to display the time the proper hour is not displayed from Midnight to 1:00am. Will show "00" instead of "12" for the hour. (e.g. 00:30 AM, instead of 12:30 AM)

Last Time Read News
If a user logs on for a 2nd time in the day it will still display the news file when he or she has already seen it. Need to check last "TIME" on as well as last "DATE".

New Files Message in Subboards
When a user logons to the BBS it sends a message stating how many NEW files since last on. However, this feature is not working when you enter subboards (boards with a new xxxxC.DEF, xxxxM.DEF, and xxxxxU.DEF files). Submitted by Francois Massonneau

Modem Connection Rates
Appear to be missing several possible connection rates within RBBS. Need to add the 31200, 33600, 36000 and 38400 speeds. Submitted by Francois Massonneau

CONFIG Beta Bug List

Drive/Path on Network Drive
If you access your RBBS installation on a network drive the config program errors whenever the user enters a "drive and path" for a configuration parameter. You can enter "IGNORE" after the error but this can be annoying. The config program needs to be fixed to be able to verify networked drives and directories.

Batch File Compile Error
The Batch File included to compile CONFIG.EXE in RBBS 17.5 Beta links a file in the process called FOSCOM71.OBJ. However, this OBJ file is not distributed with RBBS. There is a file called FOSSCOMM.OBJ which I assume to be the required file, though not sure. Need to make a change in the BAT file which you use to compile CONFIG.EXE and replace FOSCOM71 with FOSSCOMM.

Merge Modifications to Implement

Support Overlays
Busimods provided capability to compile RBBS with Overlays. This was not included in the 17.5 Beta.

Removal of Obsolete Code
CDOOR mods removed old code which really isn't necessary any more such as: Library System, Auto Download, Multi Link Support and Voice Support. Apparently enhancements such as larger message base and future enhancements is severely limited unless older less used functions are removed. This effort would most likly be widly supported since the benefits would far out weight the disadvantages.

Internode Chat
This would be nice but the BASIC Code resources it would require may not make it practicle. CDOOR did manage to include this capability but if this would severly limit other features it may need to be made as a DOOR thus allowing for some future expansion of RBBS while allowing some ambitious individual to make a really neat CHAT DOOR.

Many Other Mod Features
Busimod and CDOOR mods both may of had several other features may not be included in the 17.5 Beta. Some of these are as follows: multiple WELCOME files displayed via a file list, multiple EPILOG (text, ascii, ansi), SYSOP pop-up help menu, ASCII readable callers log, download protocol menus, and display download time when listing files.

Non-Verified Bugs in 17.5 Beta

File Upload Prompt
Prompt prior to uploading a file appears to be very confusing to users. Need to make (A)ll as the default would solve some of the problems.

PRIV File with Extended Descriptions
If you have a file listing in the PRIV.DEF file for an INDIVIDUAL USER name and put an extended description on the file the extended description will show up for ANY USER who lists the Private File Directory. Try it and if it works for you please send me your PRIV.def file but I have tried several combo's. The First Line with file name, date and short desc. properly only shows for the USER name on the first line but the extended shows for everybody.

"{*F" Macro Command
If you use the "{*F" Macro Command in a macro to display a ASCII file greater than a page in length when the "[Y]es,N)o,A)bort" (ZMorePrompt$) line comes up the default shows YES but it actually executes ABORT as a default. Weird that this works all other places.

Security Violation Color Files
Color for SECVIO files (SECVIOC and SECVIOG) not recognized.

Users Joining New Conferences
When a user joins a new conference and a new user record is written in the new conference USER file many of the initial values should be written as 0 (i.e. download bytes...). Instead what happens is that the initial main conference settings are used which is not correct since the various user files keep no coordination after this initial setup. Thus since the info has no correlation it should not be initialized to existing values but rather 0's.

Logoff from Sub Menus
If you logoff from RBBS from a Sub Menu you still get the LogOff menu without a prompt. Obviously you need to show the prompt or don't show the logoff menu (the one with Bank Time, Leave Message, Abort).

Stacking Commands with PUI Menus
If using PUI menus they still flash up on the screen if you are stacking multiple commands. May be unreasonable to fix but it is a problem...

RBBS Wish List

MACRO Accessible from Logon Screen
The ability to allow a user to enter a MACRO in the first name logon screen would provide the ability to allow a file download without a user having to go through the registration process. Would be a great place for software authors to put there own programs for easy download, when they don't want to require people to register.

Config Program Start Up
Be able to start the CONFIG program in a variety of methods from a single input line. Allow user to enter a number for network node, a "S" for single user mode, or "blank return" to Exit. Gets rid of unnecessary questions. Also after one saves the config file return to this same initial screen instead of asking if "you want to edit another one".

Disable Auto Logoff by Security Level
Allow for a value of zero for Parameter 19 in the PASSWRDS file which will disable the Auto Logoff Feature for that Security Level.