Release Notes for GEnie Front End for Windows

Version 1.1, May 25, 1994

Contents

	System requirements
	Setup instructions
	"Join GEnie" instructions
	Files
	Notable changes

Thanks to the Beta testers for their many hours of testing,
helpful comments and suggestions for improvements. Some of 
the suggestions have been incorporated in this version and
all of them will be reviewed for future versions.

------------------------- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

GEnie Front End requires 2,000,000 bytes of space on the 
installation drive and (depending on whether Microsoft's
"MFC" and "ODBC" components already happen to be installed
on your computer) up to 2,000,000 bytes in the Windows and 
Windows\System directories.

Before running GEnie Front End, you must have installed 
Windows 3.1.  GEnie Front End also requires a 386-or-later 
processor and a Hayes-compatible, MNP-capable modem. The
recommended minimum memory is 4 megabytes. A VGA or better
monitor is also recommended.

If you downloaded the abbreviated (update) form of GEnie 
Front End, version 1.00 Beta or later must be installed and 
operable on your computer.


------------------------ SETUP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Disable any anti-virus software that might foil GEnie Setup.
You may re-enable the anti-virus software after installation.

2. Make sure you have at least 200,000 bytes free on the disk
that contains the Windows directory.  You may need up to 
4,000,000 bytes there (see above).

3. Run  A:\SETUP.  (Substitute B: or C:\DL\ or whatever is
appropriate for Windows to locate GEnie's SETUP.EXE program.)

4. Setup displays:
   -- Choose OK to accept the default GEnie location,
      or enter a new path below.

Name a directory that GEnie Front End can have all to itself.
If a version of GEnie Front End is already installed, Setup 
recommends its directory.

5. If Setup detects a prior version of the GEnie Front End on
your computer, you may continue using your old Filing Cabinet,
To-Do list, and Address Book, or have Setup install new, empty
files.  Setup offers two choices:
   ( ) Transfer your current working files
   ( ) Install new (empty) data files

If you choose "Transfer", Setup copies your old files into the
new GEnie Front End directory.  If you're updating in-place, 
Setup doesn't copy the files, since they're already there.

6. Setup may display:
   -- GEnie requires a directory for temporary files.
      May Setup add a line to AUTOEXEC.BAT to define a 'TEMP' 
      directory?

GEnie Front End and many other applications use a directory 
specified in your AUTOEXEC.BAT for temporary files.  If Setup 
does not detect a "TEMP" directory, it offers to create one 
and to add a "SET TEMP=..." line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT.

   ** The TEMP directory is very important for GEnie Front End.
      Answer 'yes' unless you are an expert and will take
      other appropriate measures.

   ** Do not use a RAM disk for temporary files.
      The GEnie Front End sometimes requires several million
      bytes of temporary space.

   ** Use a subdirectory for temporary files, not a top-level
      location like "C:\" or "D:\".

7. Setup may display:
   -- Should Setup create a "GEnie" program item?

You may start the GEnie Front End by double-clicking its icon
in Program Manager (or on the Norton Desktop) if you answer
Yes.  (Or, you may create the program item yourself later.)

8. Restart Windows or reboot, as recommended by Setup, before
running the GEnie Front End.

9. If Setup updated an existing FE.INI file, it left your
mail and software-library download-directory settings alone.
If you installed the update in a new directory, and want mail 
and software-library downloads to go to the Front End 
directory, you may wish to revisit those settings.

10. Setup creates a cumulative log file (GENIEINS.LOG) in your 
Windows directory.  If you have trouble installing GEnie Front
End, you might submit your log for scrutiny.


------------------------- "JOIN GENIE" INSTRUCTIONS

Double-click the GEnie program item in Program Manager 
to start the GEnie Front End.  (Or, you may double-click 
FE.EXE in the File Manager.)

If the login window shows the user ID "JoinGEnie",
you have the "Join GEnie" edition of GEnie Front End.
Press Enter to display the Connection Settings.
Verify the telephone number and select a port (probably COM1 
or COM2).  When you choose OK, GEnie Front End dials and logs
on.

   The Canadian telephone number is 1-800-387-8330.

Once you have your own GEnie User ID and password, choose
Settings/Connection from the File menu.  Erase the "Join
GEnie" user ID and password.  You may type your personal
User ID and password here for added convenience, but you
may wish to leave the password field blank for security.
(The password is saved in plain text in FE.INI.)

While you're on-line, obtain the GEnie telephone number
for subscribers.  From the File menu, choose Settings, then
Connection, and replace the "Join GEnie" phone number with
the subscriber phone number.



------------------------- FILES

If you choose to rearrange the files or directories on your 
disk, it may help you to know the whereabouts of the Front
End files.

. Files Setup puts in the Front End directory.

. Files from Microsoft that Setup installs in the Windows
or Windows\System directory if you don't already have them
or Setup has a newer version than you do.  These may 
be used by several applications, not just the GEnie Front 
End:

CTL3DV2  DLL     21648
MFC250   DLL    298240
MFCD250  DLL     50736
MSJETDSP DLL     85792
ODBC     DLL     53200
ODBCCURS DLL     85488
ODBCINST DLL     83312
RED110   DLL    238416
SHELL    DLL     41600
SIMADMIN DLL    160080
SIMBA    DLL    469904

. Initialization files (in your Windows directory). 
ODBC.INI tells the Front End where to find the filing cabinet 
(GENIEDB.MDB and .LDB), so if you move the filing cabinet or 
rename a directory that contains it, correct its name in 
ODBC.INI (use Notepad). If you move the address book 
(ADDRBOOK.) or to-do (TDMO.PER) file, update the filename on 
the appropriate File|Settings dialog within the Front End.

FE       INI   <-- Setup creates this.

ODBC     INI   <-- Microsoft's ODBC Installer DLL
ODBCINST INI       creates or updates the ODBC
ODBCISAM INI       initialization files.



------------------------ NOTABLE CHANGES

. Better response and fewer temporary files for the 
Filing Cabinet.

. More detailed messages instead of many "Internal Application
Errors".

. Distinction between open and closed BB topics on main BB 
window.

. Alert when opening an empty (new) folder for libraries.


--- IN PROGRESS

. Save checked to filing cabinet will give "Now or Later" 
choice.

. Save checked will alert on completion.


--- HOST-RELATED BUGS

. Logoff from Mail doesn't always logoff.

. Forward does not work with Attached Files.

