
                          HISTORY FILE FOR WCL
                          --------------------


Version 7.70 (November 1994)
-----------------------------
This is a very substantial and major upgrade. The changes are divided
into 3 parts in this file;
      [a] new or updated features
      [b] new commands
      [c] new entries in WCL.INI


NEW or UPDATED FEATURES
-----------------------
**: Note that from now on, BIGWCL.EXE is a necessary part of the WCL
    program. Even if you only use the "small" version, you still need
    BIGWCL.EXE for several commands. The library file WCLDLL.EXE has
    been merged with BIGWCL.EXE. Please note this.

1. With the small WCL; if a command is not found, you now only get a
   beep; no more dialog boxes saying "this command cannot be found".

2. "/date=" parameter added to the 'DEL' command for deleting files by
   reference to their dates.

3. "/A" parameter added to the DIR command - to align filenames like
    under DOS  (no dots, etc).

4. "EXECWAIT" can now be used with the "COPY" command in small WCL, and
    with the RUNDOS and SPAWN commands in both versions.

5.  "EXITRUN" and "CLOSE-ALL-AND-EXITRUN" can now be used to run
    DOS batch files.

6. TYPE-WRITE can now take 2 optional parameters;
      [a] a number, representing the number of characters for LEFT margin
      [b] "/FF" - meaning send a form feed after printing the last line.

7. Limited support for GOTO (with labels) in WCL batch files
    once you use a label; the GOTO command for changing directories
    is not valid anymore - just use "CD"

8. RESERVED words introduced - which get expanded into their full WCL
   significance, viz;
       WCLDIR - expands to the WCL directory
       WINDIR - expands to the Windows directory
       SYSDIR - expands to the Windows SYSTEM directory
       THISEXE - expands to the full pathname of the WCL executable
       ;       - is used as a separator for multiple commands

9. Multiple commands can now be used in .CBF batch files (i.e.,
    you can transmit more than 1 command on each line of a batch
    file, each one terminating with a semi-colon). The restriction
    is that this MUST NOT be used (i.e., there should be no semi-colon
    at all) on an "IF" line

10. Improved SCRIPTING, with new "IF" conditions (for use in batch files
    and scripts), viz;

      "ISDIRECTORY"  or "ISDIR"  (is this a valid directory?)
      "GETSTRING"    or "GETS"   (get a string from the user)
      "GETFILE"      or "GETF"   (let the user select a file)
      "ISWINDOW"     or "ISWIN"  (is this a valid window?)
      "BIGVERSION"               (are we running the "BIG" version of WCL?)
      "SMALLVERSION"             (are we running the "small" version of WCL?)

11. For improved scripting, branching with $ELSE" added for use with
    the "IF" conditions, to signify an alternative course of action.

12. You can now use "IF" to check for command line parameters in
    batch files (e.g., IF %1 == "xxx" dothis $ELSE dothat)

*** See the file SETUPWCL.CBF for an example of a very complex script
    written for WCL. This just shows an example of the things that can
    now be done in WCL.

13. Long descriptions can now be attached to filenames, for use with
    the DIR command.

14. User defined menus (up to 20) can now be used; the titles can be up
    to 15 characters in length the commands attached to the menus can be
    up to 79 characters (use the "USERMENU" or "MENU" command).

15. The FOREACH command is now available in "small" WCL as well

16. WCL can now be setup up so that EXECWAIT will always be true
    (see below).

17. Most configuration changes made in WCL.INI now take effect immediately
    (i.e., if the changes were made by running "CFG" from the WCL
    prompt).

18. The TIMED-RUN command (to schedule commands to run at a particular
    time) now has an alternative (and more intuitive) name:  SCHEDULE.

19. Command Aliases created with the NEWCOMMAND command will no longer
    be automatically converted into uppercase characters.

20. The TEXT-WALLPAPER setting in WCL.INI has been removed since it is now
    redundant.


NEW COMMANDS
------------
1. "SYSINFO" - show some system information
2. "MEM"     - show details about memory and resources
3. "CHILDWINS" or "CW" - to list childwindows
4. "WMCLOSEWINDOWS" - quit Windows without warning
5 . "WCLFORMAT" - to format floppy disks
6.  "SENDKEYS" - to send key strokes to any window
7.  "RETURN" - for use in WCL batch files.
    If this command is encountered, WCL stops the execution of the
    batch file, and returns to the prompt - good for use with LABELS.

8.  "CHGSTR" - for use in WCL batch files, with the "IF"
     conditions.
     * if typed from the command line it does nothing
     * If the "IF" condition is satisfied, it replaces all the
       occurences of the "$Variable" with what returned by the IF
       condition (it does this in memory - so the contents of the
       batch file are unaltered)
9.  "SETFOCUS" - to change the input focus
      * if no parameter, gives WCL the input focus
      * parameters can be a window ID, or the window's title
       (in quotes)
10. "DESCRIBE" - to create a long description for a file, and write it
     into FILES.WCL
11. "USERMENU" or "MENU" - to create/delete/change a user defined menu
     item
12. "PASTE" - to paste from the clipboard to the WCL window
13. "$DEFINE" (or "#DEFINE") - to define a global constant in a WCL
     batch file; all matches (partial or full) will be replaced with
     the value assigned to the constant.
14. $CONST"   (or "#CONST")  - to define a global constant in a WCL
     batch file; only full matches (whole words) will be replaced.
15. "$INCLUDE" (or "#INCLUDE") - to include another WCL batch file
     (i.e., read its contents into memory as part of the current
     batch file).


NEW ENTRIES IN WCL.INI
----------------------
1.  ALWAYS-EXECWAIT.SMALL - turns on permanent EXECWAIT feature

2.  ALWAYS-EXECWAIT.BIG - turns on permanent EXECWAIT feature
       * scheduled programs will not run while ExecWAITing

3.  DESKTOP-TIMER-ALWAYS-VISIBLE
       * effective only when the timer is on the desktop
       * if ON the ticking clock will always be on top (will not be
         obscured by maximised windows, etc).
       * do not place the WCL Window over the timer - it leaves "droppings"
         behind on the title bar.

4.  SAVE-WINDOW-PARMS - determines whether to save the WCL window
    co-ordinates upon exit.

5.  DESKTOP-TIMER.TOP  - {Y location of desktop timer}

6.  DESKTOP-TIMER.LEFT - {X location of desktop timer}
       * only if the timer is on the desktop.

7.  EXPAND-PATHS - to expand the RESERVED WORDS automatically whenever
    they are encountered at the command line, or in a WCL batch file;
       WCLDIR - expands to the WCL directory
       WINDIR - expands to the Windows directory
       SYSDIR - expands to the Windows SYSTEM directory
       THISEXE - expands to the full pathname of the WCL executable

8.  FILE-DESCRIPTIONS - to enable support for file descriptions in
    FILES.WCL

9.  DIR-WINDOW.LENGTH - for the width of the DIR window, if file
    descriptions enabled

10. USER-MENUS.SMALL - enables support for user defined menus

11. USER-MENUS.BIG   -           ditto

12. BATCH-FILE.MAX-LINES - determines the number of lines in a WCL
    batch file (any number between 1 and 600)

All these new entries can be set from the configuration program, if you
type "CFG" at the WCL command prompt.





Version 7.63 (September 1994)
-----------------------------
This version involves a new MAP.WXX dll file - which introduces 2
new commands (the main .EXEs have not been changed);
1. WCLFORMAT - WCL's own FLOPPY disk format command
2. SENDKEYS  - this is part of the new improved scripting which will
   feature in later WCL versions. This command allows users to send
   keystrokes to other applications for the purpose of controlling
   those applications. The other applications can be identified by
   their window IDs, or by the titles of their windows.

These two commands are well documented in the new help file. But
typing any of these commands without parameters will show the
syntax.

Version 7.62 (August 1994)
--------------------------
1. New switch "/DATE=" added to the DEL command. This serves to limit
   the files which should be deleted to those which match the specified
   date. This switch *MUST* be the LAST parameter passed to the DEL
   command. This switch has the same syntax as that for the COPY command
   (see information below on v7.60, and the on-line help information on
   the COPY command).
2. A new version of WCLCFG.EXE is introduced. It has one extra setting.
3. Bug in the "DRIVEINFO" command which caused some drives to be identified
   wrongly has been fixed.


Version 7.61 (August 1994)
--------------------------
1. New command "RUN-MIN"  - to run a program in a minimized state.
2. New command "NEWLOGO"  - to change the Windows startup logo.
3. New command "WCLLOGIN" - to login to Novell Netware servers (note
   that this command does not always work).
4. New command "WCLLOGOUT" - to logout from Novell Netware servers.
5. The "clear" command can now take an optional parameter - the number of
   the item in the command history list to be cleared. If no parameter is
   supplied, the whole history list will be cleared.
6. The bug in the on-screen clock which caused it to stop ticking each time
   WCL lost the input focus has been fixed.


Version 7.60a (July 1994)
-----------------------
This is a maintenance release.


Version 7.60 (July 1994)
-----------------------
1. New commands "TOPMOST" and "NOTOPMOST". TOPMOST makes the WCL window
   always on top. NOTOPMOST returns it to a normal window.

2. New command "DRIVEINFO" - gives some information about your hard disk
   drives. Some types of drive may be identified wrongly.

3. New messages added to the list of messages that can be sent to an
   active window with the SENDMESSAGE command.
      TOPMOST    : makes that window the topmost window
      NOTOPMOST  : restores the window to normal
      NOTITLE    : tries to remove the title bar (may result in a
                   "funny" window - use at your own risk)
      RETITLE    : tries to restore the window (may result in a "funny"
                   window - use at your own risk)

4. New feature in the SENDMESSAGE command. Instead of suppyling the
   numeric ID of the window that you want to send the message to, you
   can now use its title instead. In this case, the title should be
   enclosed in quotation marks (note: this is NOT case sensitive).

     e.g., SENDMESSAGE "PROGRAM MANAGER" HIDE

  This feature is primarily for those who wish to send messages via
  WCL batch files (in which case it will not be possible to know the
  numeric IDs of active applications in advance).

5. You can now associate the extension "ZIP" with WCL. You can then
   unzip a ZIP archive through WCL by just clicking on the file (in
   File Manager) or by just typing its name at the WCL prompt.

6. New switch "/DATE=" added to the COPY command. This serves to limit
   the files which should be copied to those which match the specified
   date. This switch *MUST* be the LAST parameter passed to the COPY
   command.

   The "+" or "-" sign can be used to specify files AFTER or BEFORE the
   specified date. If neither is used, then only files created ON the
   specified date will be copied. For files created on the CURRENT day
   you can use "TODAY" instead of a numeric date.

   NOTE: if you have turned on the US date format setting, then the
   dates must be expressed in mm-dd-yyyy format, else, it should be
   in dd-mm-yyyy format.

    examples;
      COPY *.DOC C:\DOCS /DATE=TODAY         (today's files)
      COPY *.DOC C:\DOCS /DATE=+28-04-1992   (files AFTER 28 April '92)
      COPY *.DOC C:\DOCS /DATE=-22-10-1994   (files BEFORE 22 Oct. '94)
      COPY *.DOC C:\DOCS /DATE=-TODAY        (files BEFORE today)

7. For networked users, more than one copy of WCLCFG can now be run.

8. New limited support for the "IF" command. The only permutations
   supported at this stage are;
      IF EXIST <filename> <command>
      IF NOT EXIST <filename> <command>
      IF CONFIRM "question" <command>

   These can be used from the command line or from within a .CBF batch
   file.

9. New command "TIMED-RUN"; for timed execution (scheduling) of
   commands. You can schedule a maximum of 20 commands. As each one is
   executed, it is taken out of the list, and the count reduces. If
   the maximum is reached, any attempt to schedule another command will
   replace the last one on the list (you can see the list by just typing
   "TIMED-RUN" with no parameters).

   When WCL loses the input focus, the scheduler may sometimes become
   inactive. I am looking into this. Presently, the only work-around is
   to pass the mouse cursor over the WCL window at least once when WCL
   loses the input focus.

   Also, this feature will not work if WCL is in the background when
   running under OS/2. The only way to fix this is to stop the yielding
   of the WCL counter under OS/2 (see [10] and [11] below).

10. New command "OS2-YIELD-TIMER [OFF]" for those running WCL under OS/2.
    By itself, it makes the system timer counter yield under OS/2
    when WCL is in the background. If the "OFF" switch is used,
    it stops the timer from yielding - which is necessary for command
    scheduled with "TIMED-RUN" (they would not be able to run otherwise)
    - but it is bad for OS/2 multi-tasking when WCL is in the background,
    since WCL's counter will be eating CPU cycles..

11. New entry in wcl.ini "YIELD-TIMER-IN-OS2" - to control the WCL timer
    count under OS/2. Turn this setting OFF to stop yielding under OS/2.
    Unless the setting is turned OFF manually, WCL will always default to
    yielding under OS/2 (see also, [10] above).

12. New entry in wcl.ini "SHOW-RESOURCES" - this is only valid for the
    "small" version of WCL. If turned OFF, then the normal display of
    the system resources and free memory will be turned off.

13. New command "CLOSE-ALL-AND-EXITRUN". This does the same thing as the
    EXITRUN command, but is different in that it will close ALL active
    Windows sessions, close down Windows itself, run the specified DOS
    program, and restart Windows again. You will receive NO WARNING
    before all these take place. Therefore, this command should be used
    with GREAT care. I will not be responsible for the loss of any
    unsaved work when you run this command. In fact, I am only providing
    this command (against my better judgment) because some users demanded
    it. This is why I have made the name of the command as long as
    possible, both to discourage use of it, and to prevent accidental use.

    NOTE: you should close DOS sessions manually before running this
    command. Although the command will attempt to close DOS sessions as
    well as Windows sessions, you will get unpredictable results if you
    use it to close DOS sessions.

14. Some bugs in the "TYPE" command fixed.

15. The "big" WCL window now has a maximise button.



[Details of early versions have been chopped out of here, because this
file was getting too big.]


(c) 1994, Dr. A. Olowofoyeku
    268 Horwood,
    Newcastle,
    Staffs ST5 5BQ
    ENGLAND.

    E-mail: 
      laa12@keele.ac.uk
      chief@mep.com

