
   CIEX (c) 1993, 1994 - VERSION CHANGE DESCRIPTION
   September 1994, New Line Software, Inc.
   -----------------------------------------

   This file provides a complete history of major releases of the CIEX
   interpreter since the original release, CIEX Version 2.0 for DOS, in
   January 1993. Information contained herein is provided to assist users
   of previous CIEX versions in the upgrading of script files to run with
   this new version.  New CIEX users are referred to the README file,
   containing a detailed description of this CIEX release.

   SUMMARY OF CHANGES SINCE THE LAST RELEASE
   -----------------------------------------

   Version 2.3.5 is the first release of CIEX to be widely disseminated by
   BBS and online services. Significantly, it is the first release to
   introduce a notable grammatical change since CIEX Version 2.0. Due to
   many requests by users, the width and height arguments of the "box" and
   "screen -select" commands have been adjusted in Version 2.3.5 to
   represent the actual number of columns and lines used by box figures,
   instead of the number of lines and columns offset from the box origin.
   This means that pre-version 2.3.5 scripts which use the "box" command
   will draw slightly smaller boxes in this new release of CIEX.

   For compatibility with previous scripts, the CIEX Version 2.3.5
   interpreter includes the "select -boxspan" command, which accepts a
   single argument of either "offset" or "normal". Pre-version 2.3.5 script
   files should be modified to include the command "select -boxspan offset"
   at the beginning of scripts. The "select -boxspan" command will be
   maintained in future CIEX releases, however will not be documented
   outside of this file.

   Except for the above change, pre-version 2.3.5 scripts should operate
   with minor or no significant modifications necessary.

   DESCRIPTION OF ALL VERSIONS
   ----------------------------

   CIEX VERSION 2.3.5

      First release of CIEX to be widely distributed on BBS and online
      services. This version includes a major change to "width" and
      "height" specifications used in "box" and "screen -select" commands,
      so that these arguments reflect the actual number of lines and
      columns required by the box figure. For compatibility with earlier
      scripts, programmers may use the "sel -boxspan offset | normal"
      command at the start of pre-version 2.3.5 scripts. (This special
      statement is provided strictly as a compatibility aid, and should
      not be otherwise used.)

   CIEX VERSION 2.3.4

      This version provides cosmetic changes to a few error messages, and
      changes the CDEX optional debugger to allow special breakpoints to be
      retained until cleared with the "stop -clear" command. Also, this
      version allows multiple ASCII characters to be output using the
      "echo -ascii" command, and fixes a long standing problem with the
      "source -bind" command, which previously caused errors when a
      non-bound source file called a bound callpoint. Otherwise, this
      version has no significant compatibility problem with the previous
      version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.3.3

      (Not widely distributed.) This version reduces the about of memory
      required to run the program, and reduces the executable program size
      by approximately 5 K Bytes through modifications to the extensible
      user interface library. This version also supports more consistent
      messages with regard to "Unknown command option" messages, fixes a
      problem related to the CDEX program's inability to step over
      "if -cmd" and "while -cmd" statements, and modifies the way that
      command arguments (in particular variable views) are passed to source
      files. Otherwise, this version has no significant compatibility
      problem with the previous version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.3.2

      First release of CIEX to be distributed by ASP (Association of
      Shareware Professionals.) This version fixes several minor bugs in
      the text-graphic interface, related to the drawing of line elements
      and their intersections.  Also, this version is the first to document
      the usage of slice operations (i.e. line specifications) to the
      "set -file" and "for -file" commands, and includes cosmetic changes
      to several error messages to make them more consistent. Otherwise,
      this version has no significant compatibility problem with the
      previous version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.3.1

      Initial release of CIEX 2.3, incorporating mouse locator interface
      commands, the CDEX interactive debugger, and several new command
      options. This release includes many new run-time syntax checks, 
      including notification of changes to pathnames while the CIEX
      interpreter executes, and a major fix to the "if -cmd" and "while 
      -cmd" statements, which previously prevented their indiscriminate 
      usage. This release also adds several items to the "list -status" 
      listing, adds the "screen -ansi" list facility, incorporates the new 
      "call -class" command option, and adds the "is exec" property test.
      The interactive mode prompt for this release has been changed to 
      "ciex>", to enhance product identification. Otherwise, this version 
      has no significant compatibility problem with the previous version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.2

      (Not widely distributed.) This version supplies several obscure bug
      fixes, mainly related to interrupt and exception handling, and
      implements several features to optimize execution speed. This release
      also fixes several misspelled error messages, adds compression to
      screen dumps created with the "screen -list" command, and defines the
      new "echoblock -screen" command to places a block of text on the
      text-graphic display. Numerous other underlying changes, needed to
      support a debug interface, have also been added. Otherwise, this
      version has no significant compatibility problem with the previous
      version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.1

      This version provides several additions to error handling, including
      a device handler to intercept device errors related to disks and
      communication ports. Also, this version fixes one notable bug related
      to range checking of input arguments to text-graphic commands, which
      could garble a screen when negative lengths were specified as
      arguments.  This version also adds multiple changes to the extensible
      CIEX interface and Language Development Call Library, which has
      caused the extensibility feature of the program to diverge
      significantly from the original Unix source code port. Otherwise,
      this version has no significant compatibility problem with the
      previous version.

   CIEX VERSION 2.0, January 1993

      First CIEX distribution for DOS systems. Nationally advertised and
      test marketed, the release consists of a source code port from the
      original CIEX interpreter, executing on Unix platforms. All aspects
      of the ported program are identical to the previous program, with the
      following notable exceptions: many underlying changes have been
      necessary to port the program to a DOS file system; several changes
      have been made to text-graphic commands to effectively work with CGA,
      VGA and EGA terminal types; several changes have been made related to
      "list" options; the Unix "set -key" command has been renamed "read"
      to simplify grammar.

   CIEX VERSION 1.0, March, 1991

      First version of the CIEX Command Interface Executive program,
      supported on Alliant Concentrix, HP Apollo, DecStation, HP 3000,
      Harris Night Hawk, Sun-OS, Sun Solaris, and Ultrix environments.

   -----------------------------------------
   For more information, please call or write NLS, Inc.

   NLS, Inc. New Line Software
   P.O. Box 3433
   Englewood, CO 80155

   OFFICES AT:
   7348 S. Alton Way, Unit I
   Englewood, CO 80112

   PHONE:
   1-800-441-2931, FAX: 1-303-771-0836
   In Denver, and outside of USA: 1-303-741-6594
