DosLynx version 0.33b features perfected support for the ISO-8859-1 (8-bit) character set, finally. ISO-8859-1 adds 96 displayable characters to the ASCII (7-bit) set and is said to be the base or default character set for HTML. The perfected ISO-8859-1 support now in DosLynx includes recognition of the standard "Entity Names" for all of those added characters.
In order for you to be able to see all of the ISO-8859-1 characters properly, your DOS system will have to be using display Code Page 850. Unfortunately, for users in most english speaking countries, your DOS default or hardware display Code Page probably will be 437. You can check your system by entering a CHCP command. If Code Page 850 isn't the default for your system, you will need to install the support for it included in DOS. Fortunately, in that case, Code Page 850 will be the "alternate" Code Page for your system's country or language. That means you may install it, for your display and/or printer, without changing or adding anything to your system's other country or language settings. Rest assured that the rendering won't be any worse than it has been, if you choose not to install Code Page 850 support on your system.
To install display Code Page 850, you will need an EGA, Hercules Plus, or better display adapter, and the DOS files DISPLAY.SYS and EGA.CPI. (I don't know of any way to provide Code Page 850 support with MDA, Hercules, nor CGA display adapters.) For the rest of the instructions, see: Code Page 850 Cook Book in the DosLynx v0.33b README.HTM file. (I know. That's an extra plug for the README, this time.)
DosLynx v0.33b also brings a new configuration item for its e-mail client. fromname= configuration provides for you to have "your name in real life" on the From: line of e-mail that you send.
Limited support for several more HTML tags also has been added. <BGSOUND . . . and <EMBED . . . tags will now be handled as additional synonyms for <IMG . . . That means a link will be provided to the resource that those tags advertise. The place holders for these links will be [BGSOUND] and [EMBED], when showmetas=NO is configured. And, [urlfilename], otherwise. Also, <IFRAME . . ., <ILAYER . . ., and <LAYER . . . tags will now be handled, the way <FRAME . . . tags have long been handled. You'll see a Frame: or Layer: label followed by a link to the tag's src= specified URL.
Finally, three Short-Cut keys have been added, to fill the gaps in the File and Navigate menus.
Of course, this release also includes several bug fixes. These fixes and other improvements again make DosLynx v0.33b the strongest running version(s) of DosLynx, ever!
The traditional DosLynx v0.33b package contains DOSLYNX.EXE and all of its supporting files. This is the Real Mode version, recommended for all users. The DosLynx v0.33b Protected Mode add-on contains DOSLYNXP.EXE, a sample DOSLYNXP.BA_ file, and an updated DPMIREVU.HTM document. It is recommended for users with systems that can provide DPMI service. Both of these .ZIP files may be un-zipped into the same directory, without conflict.
There are a couple other readme files for DosLynx. One is the again updated README.HTM which still tells about the original features, command line parameters, and other important stuff. There is also a history file which describes the major changes I've made in bringing DosLynx from v0.32b to v0.33b. The history file also contains known bugs or missing features. If you find one that isn't there, please e-mail me at the address in this graphic. As I don't have a '286 based PC, presently, I am especially interested in hearing from anyone who is able to try the DosLynx Protected Mode version on such a system. Finally, Wayne S. Buttles has provided a little cheat sheet listing the key commands to run DosLynx from the keyboard. It includes ones he added. I've brought it up to date again and added a second page listing the "DosLynx Control, Movement, and Navigation Keys".
Remember that you can navigate with your numeric key pad by putting Num Lock ON.
DosLynx no longer contains a built-in graphics viewer. That has been replaced with a swap out and call to DLXVIEW with a parameter naming the .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .PCX, or .TIF file to be viewed. You may edit DLXVIEW.BAT to invoke your favorite viewer. The DosLynx v0.33b package contains a sample DLXVIEW.BAT which invokes LXPIC (requires CGA+).
As Wayne said: "I have enhanced DosLynx for my own personal enjoyment. . . . I am just releasing my changes to the general public in hopes that it will help some other DOS User. I have made every attempt to keep it compatible with the lowest IBM-Compatible computer so that the greatest number of people can benefit and I will continue to do so as long as I play with the code."
Good luck, and happy browsing.
Fred C. Macall
24 October 2006