Version 2.0b15 ============== October 17, 1994. New User Document ----------------- There is a new comprehensive user guide and reference manual for NewsWatcher. It is available at: ftp://ftp.acns.nwu.edu/pub/newswatcher/user-doc.postcard.sea.hqx ftp://ftp.acns.nwu.edu/pub/newswatcher/user-doc.msword.sea.hqx These are the same document, in two different formats (postcard and MS Word). You only need to get one of them. The new document combines and replaces the old separate 2.0d17 and 2.0bxx user documents. The new document has screen shots, a new intoductory chapter titled "Usenet Organization and Etiquette", a much improved "Getting Started" chapter, a new "Frequently Asked Questions" appendix, and many other new chapters, sections, and appendices. It should be much easier to use, especially for new users. Version 2.0 final of NewsWatcher will also include balloon help and a System 7.5 Apple guide. This online documentation is not yet available. Improved Configuration for Shared and Lab Macs ---------------------------------------------- It is possible to use NewsWatcher on a shared Mac or in a Mac lab. The new version automates and simplifies the configuration tasks for these kinds of Macs. The first time you run NewsWatcher, it presents a new initial dialog asking how you plan to use the program - on a private Mac, a shared Mac, or in a Mac lab. For private Macs, the program works the way it does now - the NewsWatcher Prefs file is stored in the Preferences folder inside the System Folder. For shared Macs, the program asks you to create your personal NewsWatcher folder on your hard drive, stores its prefs file in the folder, and presets the default folder for saving user group lists to your personal folder. For lab Macs, the program asks you to insert a floppy disk to use as your personal NewsWatcher floppy, stores its prefs file on the floppy, and presets the default folder for saving user group lists to the floppy. With the new version, to install and configure NewsWatcher, all you have to do is copy the program to any convenient location on your hard drive and run it. It is no longer necessary to distribute extra specially prepared files for shared Mac users or lab users. Owners of shared Macs can disable the "Private" option. Lab managers can disable both the "Private" and the "Shared" options. We think this will simplify the distribution, installation, and configuration of NewsWatcher here at NU. We hope other sites will also find it useful. See the "Getting Started" chapter and the section titled "The NewsWatcher Prefs File" in the new user doc for more details. New "Start at beginning" Option for the "Find" Command ------------------------------------------------------ The dialog for the "Find" command has a new checkbox option named "Start at beginning". When this option is on, the "Find" command searches the entire contents of the window, starting at the beginning. If you turn the option off, the "Find" command starts searching at the current position in the list or text. This option is persistent. When you do another "Find" command, the option is set to the same value it had the last time you used the command. This option only affects the "Find" command. The "Find Again" command always resumes a search starting at the current location in the list or text. New "Saved User Group Lists" Preferences Topic ---------------------------------------------- This new prefs topics contains an option to set a default folder for saving user group lists. If you set a default folder, it is used to preset the standard file dialogs for the "Save" and "Save As" commands for user group list windows, and for the "Open" command. In previous versions, the default folder for saving messages was used to preset the standard file dialogs for saving user group lists and for the "Open" command. If you want the same behavior in the new version, make your saved user group list default folder the same as your saved messages default folder. The old "Auto save on quit" option has been moved from the "Miscellaneous Options" topic to this new topic. Other Changes ------------- Unfortunately, MacTCP domain name lookups cannot be canceled. NewsWatcher can't do anything about this problem. You have to wait for them to time out, which can take a minute or two. In the new version, if you cancel while MacTCP is doing a domain name lookup, NewsWatcher presents a dialog that tells you what's happening and asks you to be patient. There's a new customization option. Site administrators can add an STR# id=200 resource to the NewsWatcher program file to define a list of initially subscribed groups for new users. We use this option at NU to automatically subscribe to our local group "nwu.comp.announce" for new users. See Appendix E of the new user doc for details. Errors Fixed ------------ The Control-L shortcut for "Insert Spoiler Character" now works on Dvorak keyboards. The command key equivalent for the "Search" command has been changed from Command-` to Command-/. It was not possible to type Command-` on Azerty keyboards. If you quit NewsWatcher and cancel the dialog asking if you want to save changes to a window, an extra bogus dialog was presented telling you that an error had occurred during the attempt to quit. Fixed. The Cut and Copy commands are now disabled in dialog password fields. This was a security problem. The Find command now properly locates substrings of group names which contain a period and don't start at the beginning of the group name. E.g., searching for "sys.mac" now works in the full group list window. NewsWatcher sometimes made articles windows too short when zooming them, especially with larger font sizes and narrower monitors. Fixed.