    
HISTORY FILE (reverse chronology) 
=================================   

NOTE:  RMB is Right Mouse Button.

Changes included in v2.01
-------------------------

o   Simple quick fix to remove expiration code.  An oversight
    in v2.0.  Code previous to this will warn in February, 
    then simply cease to load in March of 2000.
    

Changes included in v2.0 (since v1.5) in Summary Form
-----------------------------------------------------
See the file PREHIST.TXT for a detailed log of changes made
through version 2.0 (this is the OLD "HISTORY.TXT" file).

o   Many, many bug fixes and smaller enhancements.

o   Speed improvements overall.  Massively faster index loads.
    Improvements center on file system and GUI operations.  Huge
    folders are now actually usable!  Also, some code to reduce
    the fragmenting of critical files, increasing performance 
    further.  More to come ...

o   Configurable columns.  Not only can you adjust the column widths
    displayed for each message index page, but you can rearrange
    the order and even hide columns.  More advanced options include
    adding spacers between columns and controling the line drawn
    to separate columns.

o   Y2K compliance.  MR/2's message indices now handle 4 digit years.
    Older formatted index files are converted automatically.

o   REGEX pattern matching can now be used in filters.

o   Messages may be marked as PERMANENT and MR/2-sourced delete 
    commands will skip these messages.  Of course, there's a way
    to unmark messages, too!

o   Mailto.exe revised.  There are now two new send-to-lists modes.
    Options to address each message INDIVIDUALLY to users, and another
    to keep the generic "To:" line but individualize each message
    with an "X-TO" header.
    
o   Remove from server now has an "after X days" option.  Only 
    available in UIDL mode.
    
o   Multiple work-in-progress messages will now all recover after
    a system failure.

o   Automatic trash emptying option.  Can purge trash a specified
    number of days after being deleted.
    
o   Fetch my UIDL mode added.  In addition to working a little better
    than the "last count" method, has the potential for futher
    feature delevopment.

o   Reading from PACKED FOLDERS should be quicker after the first
    message is accessed.  The zip directory is cached for the
    last-accessed archive.
    
o   Selected counts at the bottom of each message index.

o   MIME handling improvements.


Changes included in version 1.5 (since v1.4)
--------------------------------------------

o   Multiple selections now available when attaching a file.  Click
    on as many file names (from the same directory) as you wish
    and attach them all with a single action

o   URL Editor allows user "fixing" of URL's before accessing them.

o   Options->Settings->Advanced now allows editing of ATTACHED
    directory default.  No checking for validity is performed (yet).
    
o   "Detach to path" is now a menu item on both the message viewer's 
    MESSAGE menu and on the RMB menu for attachments.  Resulting
    form is much more simple than I originally intended.  Perhaps more
    to come later.  Up to 8 previously selected paths are remembered
    and the "default" button specifies and uses the default path.
    BETA.
    
o   Most pick lists are now font-drop sensitive and this information is
    saved and restored.  In addition, many pick lists now support 
    KEY jumping.  Press "P" and the first entry starting with P is selected
    and displayed.  Press "PE" and anything starting with PE is selected.
    Press SPACEBAR to clear the key-pick buffer.
    
o   New reply-time variable: @RUN:command@.  This lets you run an 
    external utility inline, as the reply file is being built.
    For example, comsider the following lines in a template:
   
       @Run:swapsig@
       $File:rotsig.txt
        
    When the @run@ command is "expanded", the command line is loaded to 
    run "swapsig", which should be a rexx command.  In this example, I 
    have assumed that swapsig.cmd REWRITES the file rotsig.txt every 
    time it is invoked.  

    I tested this this morning by having my rexx script write the 
    date/time to a file, then dumping the contents of my environment 
    ("set >filename") to the file.  The next line inserted this file 
    into the reply.

    YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SOURCE MESSAGE at this time, but I 
    probably should fix this for consistency.  You do have almost all of 
    the predefined environment variables set from source message.  Items 
    like MR2I.FROM and MR2I.TO and MR2I.NEWSGROUPS are all set for 
    easier parsing.

    Parameters can be passed after the command but before the closing @.

    Open for expansion of this idea.  Just a quicky, as it was about 20 
    minutes of code.

o   Enhanced RMB menus for the inbox, outbox and folder indices.  The new
    SELECT sub menu has some functions inherited from News with some slight
    tweaks.  By request.
    
o   All RMB Select menus now have an "Invert selections" option.
    By request.

o   A new MIME viewer specifier has been added.  Placing a "#" (without
    the "'s) as the viewer for a MIME associations will produce a
    "can't view directly" message if anyone tries to RMB->View 
    attachments of this type.  By request.
    
o   Message OPTIONS menu now has a "Show MIME parts" sub menu that allows
    you to collapse a MIME message to show only parts (text/plain is even
    shown as a detachable part), show ALL parts as text (possible that
    some intesting displays will result!) or to use the "default" mode
    as defined by user-configurable MIME associations.  By indirect
    request.
    
    This mode is persistent PER SESSION but is not saved to INI. I'm
    still debating whether or not to reset this for each message.  The
    current setup will work while this is debated.

o   The NAVIGATE menu has some additions.  It is now possible to move 
    forwards and backwards to the "next" message with the same subject.
    These functions have also been mapped to the normal keyboard keys
    F for forward, B for backwards (active in the viewer only, the 
    editor considers these typing keys :).
    
o   The functions Next and Previous Index Search Match (see the 
    Navigate menu) have been assigned single key accelerators.  You
    may use I to move forwards, J to move backwards.
   
o   MR/2 now times-out more reliable.  Default is 90 seconds.

o   SMTP continuation line processing improved.

o   A new command line parameter (perhaps temporary) can control the
    tcp/ip READ timout.  Since the last version made MR/2 very
    sensitive to timeouts, users have reported that the default 90
    seconds is sometimes (rarely) not enough.  Use /Kseconds to 
    override this.  For example:
    
        MR2I /K120
        
    Starts MR/2 with a 120 second (2 minute) timeout.  /K0 will 
    turn timeout checking OFF and will cause MR/2 to work the "old"
    way.
    
o   {Z} Freeform filter specifier enhanced.  Previously, this was only
    good for testing the SIZE of the current message/article.  You may now
    add a header tag specifier.  Example:
    
        {Z:X-Spam-Factor}100
        
    equates to TRUE if the current header has a tag "X-Spam-Filter", and
    then if the data that immediately follows this tag can be evaluated
    as a number greater than or equal to 100.  By request.
    
o   Ooops.  Found another way that folder sort specifications could
    be lost.  Fixed.  Trash folder sort is now saved correctly.
    
o   Resending previously sent mail multiple times now works correctly.

o   Issues with initial focus and pre-selected items in list being
    in view have been addressed.
    
o   Beep is generated when text search is done and nothing is found.

o   Minor filtering inconsistencies fixed.  Obscure bug, low impact.

o   Mailto.exe now accepts an optional fourth parameter: return path:

        mailto filename toaddress smtpserver returnpath
    
    Where toaddress can be simply an "." which tells mailto to send 
    to the TO address in the message.

    Same with the smtp serverparameter; if a "." is specified, the 
    default is used (from the environment variable SMTP_HOST).

o   Memory leak fixed when linking to REXX.  A rather significant (3-6k)
    block of memory was allocated and never free'd each time REXX was 
    called as a filter test, filter action or CTRL-Fkey invocation.
    Fixed.
    
o   "Mailto:" tags are removed from email addresses when tabbing out of
    fields.
    
o   Using +/- keys and all derivations now prevent recursion.  This was
    causing a crash when paging through packed folders.  The system will
    beep at you when a key is ignored, signifying it is "busy".
    
o   Formatted printing DATE in footer is now printed correctly.

o   Threw in a new @VARIABLE@ for replies and other templates.  Similar
    to @Headerinfo:Tag@, you may now use @DomainInfo:Tag@.  The header
    information matching TAG is extracted, and then the DOMAIN for that
    data is located and pulled out.  If no tag exists, an empty string
    results.  If no "@" is in the raw header data, the entire string
    results.  So, using one of my messages as a source when replying,
    the template variable @DomainInfo:From@ will result in "secant.com".



Changes included in version 1.2 (since v1.1)
--------------------------------------------

Please note that many of these features have been publicly available
for quite some time via "minor" maintenance release, they are listed
here for the benefit of those preferring to upgrade only for major 
releases.

For a more detailed discussion of changes, see the file "history.txt"
in the distribution zip, and also available online via the MR/2 ICE
home page at http://nick.secant.com/mr2ice.htm.

o   POP3 manual mode can be specified.  In this mode, headers are
    fetched from the POP3 server but no bodies.  Index entries are
    inserted with a new icon.  The user can then pick and choose
    which full messages are fetched and when, if at all.
    
    This has been labeled "remote control" or "preview mode" in
    other mailers.
    
    A header-only entry in the index will show as a round "dot" icon.
    You can open this header for inspection, if desired, but the more
    common action would be to select one or more index "header only"
    entries and "fetch" again.  Marked entries will be retrieved in
    full.
    
o   PreFetch filters.  Filters that control the automated fetching
    of messages from the POP3 server.  Criteria can be defined based
    on a messages header.  If the criteria is matched, the user can
    specify to have MR/2 fetch the full message, just the header, or
    to skip the message entirely.
      
    There are two modes available.  When used in normal "non manual" 
    mode, PreFetch filters can be used to specify message for which 
    only the HEADERS are desired.  For example, messages from a 
    certain user or over a specified size can be fetched in 
    header-only mode, letting the user decide if/when to get the 
    entire message.

o   User programmable Custom Mail Drivers.  Third parties can now 
    create drivers that allow MR/2 ICE to read/send with non-POP/SMTP
    mail systems.  For example, a UUCP/UUPC driver set has already been 
    created and made available to the public.
    
o   UUPC/UUCP interface via the custom driver interface mentioned
    above.  Available as a ftp'able add on, see the MR/2 ICE home
    page for a direct ftp link (see MR/2 ICE's HELP menu).
    
o   Fax-by-email support!!  MR/2 ICE now supports the transport of faxes 
    and other FaxWork Pro and PMFax-related documents via email, with 
    the potential to save fortunes in long distance phone calls!  This 
    feature will cooperate with release v3.0++ of FaxWorks Pro.

o   MR/2 ICE Ask-The-Experts(tm) Web Page!  Yet another way to get 
    user-based help for what's already the best-supported OS/2 email 
    available!  Simple web interface accepts and email address and 
    question(s) from the user.  This is then emailed to a panel of MR/2 
    ICE veteran users that have volunteered to share their knowledge.
                    
o   MR/2 HELP menus now have links to various MR/2 web pages, including 
    the home page, the FAQ and the Ask-The-Experts(tm) page.  An online 
    web-based manual with SEARCH capabilites should be available soon 
    
o   The MIME subsystem now calls upon WPS Associations when viewing an
    attachment.  If a viewer is not defined within MR/2 ICE, the 
    attachment is treated as an "object" and opened via WPS calls.
    
    This feature is implemented via a new DLL.  So as not to leave the
    existing OS/2 v2.x user base without updates, a special DLL is 
    provided that allows use under v2.x, less the WPS integration.
    
o   Demand filters added.  Filters meant to be called manually by 
    the user against selected messages.
    
o   Messages may be "redirected" to other users without notably marking 
    the message as a forward.  (AKA "bouncing").

o   Improvements to the split-screen editor and copying/quoting
    between windows.  Pasting w/quote can be performed with a single
    click or keystroke.
    
o   Performance of Copying/Moving to folders vastly improved.

o   More documentation!  Install.txt, keys.txt and readme.1st.  The 
    Readme.1st file describes all documentation files.  The file 
    INSTALL.TXT is loaded into the E editor for reference on the very 
    first invocation of MR/2.

o   Overall performance increases:  SMTP interface, Unique file generator,
    Reindexing of an index,

o   Improved subsystems:  Forwarding, MIME, Multiple account logins.

o   Some minor attempts to improve workings on DBCS systems.

o   Much more in the way of fixes and improvements.


What's New in Version 1.1 (since v1.0)
--------------------------------------

o   MIME support.  Both incoming and outgoing attachments including 
    support for configurable MIME associations, allowing you to control 
    each MIME type.  Declare a MIME part as "visible text" or define an 
    external viewer for it.
                
o   Improved attachment processor.  Attachments are handled faster and 
    with much more flexibility.  Files can be dropped on the message 
    editor to add them as an attachment.  RMB over an attachment allows 
    it to be individually detached and/or "viewed".
                    
o   Support for ISO-8859-10 and KOI8-R Russian character sets.  Previous 
    releases already included support for ISO-8859-1 through ISO-8859-9 
    and US-ASCII.  MR/2 ICE now supports 47 code pages / character sets.
            
o   Improved hooks for PGP and other external utilities.  MR/2 ICE can 
    now be made fully PGP capable with the help of some wonderful third 
    party tools.  These tools include a PM based PGP front end and/or 
    several REXX scripts ... mix and match, providing the most flexible 
    solution possible.  See the MR/2 ICE home page for more information 
    about the third-party PGP tools.
                    
o   Many more configuration options for MIME character sets.  See 
    Options->Settings->Advanced.
        
o   Improved spelling checker and thesaurus.

o   MR/2 ICE "server" options have been added that allow MR/2 to be 
    controlled from other programs.  For example, use MR/2 ICE as your 
    SMTP interface for SLNR.  Add message files to MR/2 ICE's outbox 
    from any application.  Invoke a "new message" from any application. 
    Works with a running copy of MR/2 or a freshly loaded copy.
                        
o   Third party tool support - MR/2 ICE is the default external mailer 
    for the new Black Book v1.0.  See the MR/2 ICE web page for links.
            
o   Improved POP3 server message reporting.

o   Improved REXX interfaces, both "on demand" and filter interaction. 
    Have the REXX session loaded in the background, or in the foreground 
    allowing user interaction.  PreSend filters added that allow 
    modification to any message just before it is sent.
                    
o   Any external modifications to a message cause the message index to 
    be updated to reflect these changes.  In other words, editing a 
    message's SUBJECT data using Tools->Edit Externally or the REXX 
    interface will force the index to be updated, as well.
                
o   Outbound Filters enabled and enhanced.

o   Multiple copies of external editors and other utilities no 
    longer causes problems.
        
o   Dozens of smaller bug fixes and enhancements.  More detail?  See 
    the file "history.txt" in the distribution ZIP file.
    
