Date: Wed, 17 Jan 90 12:51:45 WET DST
From: John Horne, Polytechnic South West <C20211 @ UK.AC.PSW.PA>
Via: Steve Jenkins, The National PD Software Archive, Lancaster University
 <pdsoft%pd-software.lancaster.ac.uk@NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK>
Subject: PRIME Kermit Version 8.00, for PRIMOS revisions 21 and 22.

This new version of PRIME Kermit (8.00) replaces the previous version (7.57)
of May 1986, which was contributed by The Source Telecomputing, recently gone
out of business.

Initially I was asked to investigate some problems our users were having with
large (>100k) files.  However, the code seemed to be getting a bit old and
messy.  So it seemed somewhat easier to look at all of the code.  This version
should work exactly as the old version, but there is more functionality in it
and the use of packets should be more efficient.  The error handling has been
much improved, and I think that this will cure most problems that users used
to have.  All the previous known bugs have been sorted out in the code.  Where
possible version 6 of the Kermit Protocol Manual has been followed.  The new
version has been tested at PRIMOS revisions 21.0.5q and 22.0.1a.  Here is a
brief summary of the changes:

 - Support for 8-bit no-parity file transfers.
 - Better error handling and messages.
 - Full support for pathnames within commands.
 - Improved logging.
 - More command line options available (use -HELP to show them).
 - SET INCOMPLETE command.
 - Pound sign conversion option (US/UK).
 - CONVERT command to convert files to PRIME format.
 - Support for file size and  date attributes, user settable.
 - Support for nested TAKE files.
 - Local file management commands added including SPACE, RENAME, COPY, PUSH.
 - Better use of timeouts.
 - Filename collision detection and avoidance, user settable.
 - Many internal cleanups.

[Ed. - Many thanks to John for this new version, and to Steve for sending it
to us!  The new files are installed in the Kermit Distribution D area as
PRIME8.*.  PRIME8.UPD includes a detailed list of changes since version 7.57.
PRIME8.SRC includes the build procedure, four insert files, and 39 source
files written in PLP, PRIME's version of PL/1.  Within PRIME8.SRC, each of
these files is separated by a line of -----'s and can be separated using a
text editor.  Warning, PRIME.SRC contains some rather long lines (some of them
up to 144 characters in length), which will no doubt cause problems for BITNET
transfers.  We are trying to find out if there is a way to legally break these
long lines.  Meanwhile, the old PRIME Kermit files for version 7.57 will
remain available in the D area as PRIME.*.  It is not known whether Version 8
will run under older versions of PRIMOS, such as R19, which 7.57 was written
for.  Reports welcome!]