





                             New Features in Maximus 3.0
                             ===========================

            *  Added MEX, the Maximus Extension Language. MEX is a true
               programming language that includes features from the
               BASIC, C and Pascal languages. MEX is easy to use, but it
               also supports many advanced language constructs,
               including function calls, block scoping, dynamic strings,
               arrays, structures, pass-by-reference arguments, and
               more.

               MEX is a complement to MECCA, the original Maximus
               scripting language. While MECCA is still fully supported,
               many tasks can be simplified by using MEX scripts. MEX
               programs can access many internal Maximus features and
               functions, including the fields in the user record, the
               message and file area data files, the file tag queue, and
               much more. MEX supports over 100 internal functions that
               allow user-developed programs to interface with an on-
               line user.

               As a testament to the power of MEX, Maximus 3.0 will ship
               with a number of MEX system utilities and applications.
               The release will include the sources for MEXBank, a MEX-
               based time bank, and MEXChat, a split-screen chat
               application. In addition, numerous parts of Maximus
               itself have been converted to MEX, such as many of the
               menu headers and display options.

            *  Hierarchical message and file area support. Both message
               and file areas can be grouped into logical subsections.
               Internal commands for area selection now automatically
               recognize these subsections and allow users to move
               easily through the hierarchy.

            *  Extensive support for RIP graphics. Maximus 3.0 will:
               automatically detect RIP support, automatically size menu
               output based on the RIP window size, display most
               internal prompts using RIP graphics, allow the SysOp to
               add both RIP and non-RIP strings to the system language
               file, select special .RIP files for display instead of
               .BBS files, and automatically send/display RIP scene and
               icon files to the user.

               Other points of interest related to RIP: the RIP
               sequences are automatically filtered from the local SysOp
               console. Both MECCA and MEX support an interface to the
               RIP file-sending mechanism. The system also comes with a
               complete set of RIP support files.

            *  Support for SysOp-defined privilege levels. The old
               system of 12 user privilege levels has been expanded to
               include a flexible set of user "classes" that can be used
               to define the attributes of an arbitrary privilege level.






               Numeric privilege levels are associated with each class,
               so a purely-numeric privilege level system can be used if
               desired. However, the SysOp can also assign synonyms to
               each class (such as "Limited" or "Normal") for backwards
               compatibility.

            *  Access Control Strings (ACS) have now replaced privilege
               levels qualifiers. Menu commands can be restricted to
               users with an arbitrary set of privilege levels, keys, or
               other attributes. This differs from the previous "all
               users of level X or greater" method of access control
               used in Maximus 2.x.

            *  Support for local file attaches in Squish message areas.
               This allows users to enter messages and upload files to
               be sent to the addressee. Features such as file
               compression and storage can be controlled by the SysOp.

            *  Added a "Reply in other area" menu option that allows
               users to reply to a message in a location other than the
               current area.

            *  Maximus-OS/2 now uses the Master Control Program (MCP)
               for handling inter-process communications. MCP is a
               multithreaded, 32-bit detached process that handles all
               communications needs for Maximus nodes.

            *  Maximus-OS/2 supports "Session Monitor" (SM), a 32-bit
               Presentation Manager LAN administration tool. SM allows
               the SysOp to view, start, and stop remote Maximus tasks
               that are running on a LAN.  SM can also be used on a
               local machine to view multiple Maximus sessions on the
               desktop.

            *  Maximus-OS/2 supports a new REXX API for accessing the
               Maximus user file.

            *  A message-tracking system for use in technical support
               environments. Maximus can keep an audit trail of all
               messages in certain areas, assign "ownership" of messages
               to individuals, and produce detailed reports regarding
               the status of various messages.

            *  Full support for CD-ROMs and other slow filesystems.
               Maximus will copy files to a staging area before a
               transfer and it will only access the drive when
               absolutely necessary. Areas can also be specifically
               excluded from new files searches.

            *  The internal user editor has been redesigned. The screen
               layout is much more user-friendly, and all of the new
               fields can be edited with only a few keystrokes.






            *  Support for nested menus. The Link_Menu and Return menu
               commands can be used to create a multilevel menu
               hierarchy, rather than the flat menu structure of Maximus
               2.x.

            *  Optional support for user password encryption. This
               feature uses the RSA Data Security "MD5" algorithm as a
               one-way hash for storing passwords in the user file.

            *  A new menu option allows users to limit QWK message
               downloads by message date.

            *  Added SoundBlaster support for Maximus-OS/2. Maximus can
               now play your TUNES.BBS tunes on any SoundBlaster-
               compatible card.

            *  A new "UMSGID" option that ensures that messages within
               Squish-format areas always maintain the same message
               numbers over the area's lifetime.

            *  Support for an unlimited number of tagged message areas.

            *  Menu commands can now be assigned to function keys and
               cursor keys. Users must run a terminal program that
               supports "DoorWay mode" to use this feature.

            *  Browse now supports wildcard and group-based area
               selection.

            *  Added the following fields to the user file: number of
               files downloaded (total), number of files downloaded
               (today), number of files uploaded, number of messages
               read, number of messages posted, date of first call, date
               of last newfiles scan, date of last password change, date
               of birth, and more.

            *  Maximus now supports file descriptions up to 1024 bytes
               in size.

            *  Automatic/manual file date support is now configurable
               for each individual file area. FB will now automatically
               parse dates and sizes that are embedded directly in the
               file listing. Also added limited support for PCBoard-
               style "line continuation characters" in file listings.

            *  Remote users can now optionally use the "local" external
               message editor.

            *  Users can now tag message areas directly from the "More"
               prompt within the message tag command.
