                         WHAT'S NEW IN PCCLOCK?                 10/19/98


Version 4.6
-----------

 1.  Corrected problem with handling of four-character time zone 
     abbreviations (e.g. "CEST") in CompuServe time data.

 2.  Corrected problem whereby SETUP failed if target directory had a 
     "long" file name.

 3.  Added "NewCom 9600+" setting for "Modem Type".

 4.  Corrected problem whereby "ZyXEL 9600+" and "Custom" were omitted 
     from the "Modem Type" list.

 5.  Added "Year 2000 Compliance" section to user's guide.


Version 4.5
-----------

Corrected problems whereby:

 1.  SETUP sometimes failed to complete DOS and Windows 3.x 
     installations.

 2.  Windows 9x Start menu items sometimes failed to open Log, User's 
     Guide, and What's New files.


Version 4.4
-----------

 1.  Removed "Colorado Springs service may not yet be online" messages, 
     since USNO Colorado Springs clock now modem-accessible.

 2.  Added "U.S. Robotics-compatible 56k (x2)" setting for "Modem Type".

 3.  Added "TDK 9600+" setting for "Modem Type".

 4.  Fixed SETUP to work with root directory as target.

 5.  Retested for and confirmed Year 2000 compliance.


Version 4.3
-----------

 1.  Added options to call NIST at 300 to 9600 bps and CIS at 300 to 
     28800 bps.

 2.  Added header to log file showing outcome (success or failure and 
     reason for failure) of last call.

 3.  Changed log file to indicate locations called for USNO and NRC.

 4.  Changed to display call statistics when /A (AUTO) switch used.

 5.  Added "Motorola 9600+" setting for "Modem Type".

 6.  Changed "Init" string for U.S. Robotics modems to work with 56K 
     (x2) models.

 7.  Corrected problem whereby "Modem Type" setting sometimes lost when 
     upgrading to version supporting additional settings.

 8.  Corrected problem whereby clock display blanked if /A (AUTO) switch 
     used with polled I/O. 

 9.  Unblanked clock display during redial wait when polled I/O used.

10.  Removed unreliable test for IRQ in use and associated error 
     message.

11.  Removed /S (SPEED) switch.

12.  Added "Common Problems and Solutions" to user's guide.


Version 4.2
-----------

 1.  Enabled calls to CompuServe outside the predefined U.S. and 
     Canadian time zones, i.e., when "Time Service" is "CIS" and "Time 
     Zone" is "Universal".  For correct operation, the user must ensure 
     that the CIS node called is in the same time zone and observes the 
     same rules for daylight time as the caller.

 2.  Changed SETUP to work with:

     a.  Target directories other than C:\PCCLOCK.

     b.  Boot drives other than C:.

     c.  Windows directories other than \WINDOWS.

     d.  For Windows 95 and MS-DOS 7, directories with long filenames.

 3.  Added "Rockwell-based 9600+" setting for "Modem Type", and made it 
     the default.  This setting provides the correct commands for most 
     current modems based on the popular Rockwell chipsets.  For other 
     modems, such as U.S. Robotics, PCCLOCK continues to provide 
     specific "Modem Type" settings.

 4.  Added "Cardinal 9600+" setting for "Modem Type".

 5.  Changed "connect" timeout from 45 to 60 seconds, to allow more time 
     for pulse dialing.

 6.  Changed SETUP to add What's New file to Windows 95 Start menu and 
     Windows 3.1 program group.

 7.  Changed default display mode from time only to alternating date and 
     time.

 8.  Added alternative method for disabling the registration reminder 
     screen.  The original method is incompatible with some Hewlett-
     Packard PCs and with some memory-resident (TSR and device driver) 
     software.

 9.  Restored and modified "nag phrases" (including "DAY n OF 30-DAY 
     FREE TRIAL") based on first-run date, which were eliminated in 
     PCCLOCK version 4.1, in an attempt to encourage more registrations.  
     As always, PCCLOCK will continue to work correctly after the 30-day 
     trial period and the 30-day grace period, but it now makes a 
     somewhat stronger pitch for registration.

10.  Corrected problems whereby:

     a.  PCCLOCK locked up when midnight occurred while sending commands 
         to the modem.

     b.  A registered copy of PCCLOCK 4.x was marked unregistered when 
         run under Windows for Workgroups 3.11 then under another 
         operating system or vice versa.

     c.  A registered copy of PCCLOCK 4.1 incorrectly displayed an 
         "UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY" message when run with the /A 
         (AUTO) or /Q (QUICK) switch.


Version 4.1
-----------

 1.  Added support for the new USNO atomic clock in Colorado Springs, 
     which was not yet modem-accessible.

 2.  Changed the default "Dial" string for the USNO Washington time 
     service to use the service's new phone number, 202-762-1594. 
     The old number, 202-653-0351, has been disconnected.

 3.  Eliminated "nag phrases" (including "DAY n OF 30-DAY FREE TRIAL") 
     based on first-run date, to avoid giving the false impression that 
     a shareware copy of PCCLOCK is time-limited, which it is not, has 
     never been, and never will be!

 4.  Reduced the possibility of timeout errors reported as "Serial I/O 
     error 0h" due to Windows or OS/2 multitasking when using polled 
     I/O, by increasing the time PCCLOCK will wait for the serial port 
     to become ready before outputting each character from two ticks to 
     one second.

 5.  Changed the default setting for the Chime option from On to Off.

 6.  Made several small improvements to the registration form and 
     procedure.


Version 4.02
------------

 1.  Changed the "Init" string for U.S. Robotics 9600+ modems to 
     recognize a "BUSY" response code, so that PCCLOCK will 
     automatically redial if a busy signal is encountered.

 2.  Changed the maximum number of redial attempts for the NIST, USNO, 
     and CIS time services from 15 to 14, in order to accurately comply 
     with FCC regulations.

 3.  Made several small improvements to the SETUP program.


Version 4.01
------------

 1.  Added "Contents" and "PCCLOCK Files" sections to user's guide, 
     which became too big to view with Windows Notepad.

 2.  Changed SETUP to create shortcuts to use Windows Write to view both 
     USRGUIDE and WHATSNEW files under both Windows 95 and Windows 3.x.


Version 4.0
-----------

PCCLOCK version 4.0 includes the following new features:
    
 1.  A SETUP program that installs PCCLOCK under DOS or under Windows 
     95, Windows 3.1, or OS/2 (as a DOS application).

 2.  The ability to call the NRC (National Research Council) atomic 
     clock in Ottawa or Toronto (in addition to the NIST and USNO atomic 
     clocks called by previous versions) for the exact time.

 3.  The ability (for CompuServe members) to call a CompuServe access 
     number (usually a local call vs. long-distance for the atomic 
     clocks) for the time to the nearest minute.

 4.  An option (/Q or QUICK) to set the clock without bringing up the 
     clock display or showing the modem dialog, enabling PCCLOCK to be 
     run from batch files without "taking over" the screen.

 5.  Built-in modem commands for many high-speed (9600-bps and faster) 
     modems, selectable by manufacturer's name.

 6.  Automatic redialing on busy signals and other connect failures.

 7.  A call status display showing current activity, redial count, and 
     watchdog timer.

 8.  A statistics display showing clock adjustments and measured 
     performance.

 9.  A log file that records calls and statistics.

10.  An optional ticking sound that makes it easier to synchronize a 
     watch or clock with PCCLOCK.

Other new features include:

 1.  Alternating time and date display option displays time for 3 
     seconds and date for 2 seconds rather than alternating every 
     second.

 2.  More accurate updating of time display.

 3.  Improved validation of incoming data.

 4.  Faster disconnects.

 5.  Compensation for average telephone-line delay (.05 seconds) when 
     calling the USNO and NRC time services.

 6.  Improved configuration parameter display and on-screen 
     instructions.

 7.  Improved configuration defaults, including specific rather than 
     random clock designs, time only rather than alternating time and 
     date display, and a default "Init" string that works with more 
     modems.

 8.  "COMn (addr, polled)" choices for "Serial Port" to replace /I and 
     /P command-line switches.

 9.  Standard "^x" notation (including "^M" for carriage return) for 
     control characters in modem commands.

10.  A command-line switch (/Fn) to force the number of function keys 
     used to 10 or 12 (needed for some portable computers).

11.  Immediate updating of PCCLOCK.DAT, to avoid loss of configuration 
     data when program not exited normally.

12.  Improved registration procedure and registration/order form.

13.  Personalization of registered copies with user's name.

PCCLOCK 4.0 also includes corrections to a number of problems, including 
some that prevented previous versions from working reliably with certain 
serial ports and modems.
