Robochart/OL8.0, Robochart/XM2.0 Release Notes - May 1995
=========================================================

While the new version of Robochart looks and operates much like
the previous version, we have made extensive improvements to greatly
increase its flexibility. See the user manual for details on these
enhancements.
 
1. NEW FEATURES

* All object and arrow shapes are redefinable, in vector or bitmap
  form. Up to 256 different object shapes, and 30 arrow shapes, can 
  be used in a single diagram. Besides the configurable drag & drop 
  palette of shapes in the main window, a scrolling Shape Library
  window provides access to the complete set.

* Preset limits on the number of objects, flows, pages, and label 
  length have been removed.

* You can define Manual Links to jump from any object or flow to any 
  other point in a document with a single keypress.

* Color choices can be modified interactively (Properties/Color).

* Diagrams are stored in a documented ASCII format (man/filefmt.txt).

* Objects can be defined with three different flow attachment modes:
  automatic (nearest line to object center), bus (nearest object
  edge), or manual (nearest manual attach point). 

* Object and flow selection and overlap operations have been modified 
  to make it much easier to work with single-level "nested" diagrams.

* You can quickly set the shape of all selected objects by clicking
  Meta/SELECT on a shape icon in the palette or shape library.

* The Set Default window buttons have been removed; your configuration
  is updated automatically on exit (or with the Save Config menu 
  option).

* A setting on the Selection Properties window lets you choose whether
  or not to reset object sizes when changing selected object shapes.

* Repeating the Undo command will undo up to 100 previous edit 
  operations.

* Robochart can automatically save a periodic checkpoint copy of your
  diagram (rchart.cpt). It will also save a checkpoint and release
  licenses in the event of an abnormal exit.

* The Select All menu option now has a submenu of choices for selecting
  all objects, all flows, or all items of a specific type.

* Additional 3D shadowing options have been added to the Print window,
  including flow shadows.

* The Print window export filename and extension are updated 
  automatically based on the diagram name and output format.

* A header file for HPGL output can be specified using environment
  variable RC_HPGL_HDR.

* A batch-mode utility (rcprint) has been provided for printing 
  diagrams without starting the full Robochart application.

* The complete user manual is provided as an on-line hypertext
  document (man/manual.html).

* Object and flow labels can be offset from the default center 
  position by dragging the text with Meta/SELECT.
	
* Command-line options have been added for special startup handling.

1.1 OPEN LOOK:
	
* Function keys F2 through F10 can be mapped to selected Meta key 
  commands for easier access using the Rchart.FKeys resource.

* Almost all menus may be "pinned" up.

1.2 MOTIF:

* Additional action functions have been provided (redraw, justify, 
  delete-vertex) so that you can set key translations.
	
* The directory and filter pattern are preserved in the Open window 
  between invocations. You can preset the search pattern with a 
  resource, e.g. Rchart*XmFileSelectionBox.pattern: *.cht

2. COMPATIBILITY

* Diagram Files:

  A utility (rc_cvt) is included to convert Robochart diagrams from
  older versions to the current format. This program is invoked
  automatically by Robochart if you load an old-format document. New
  documents cannot be used by older versions of Robochart.
	
* Configuration Files:

  These are mostly upward-compatible. Obsolete commands are either
  ignored or reported with warning messages.

* Licenses:

  New license keys are required. The new floating license manager will
  work with previous versions of the Robochart application if given
  appropriate keys.