Mesa 2 (tm) Spreadsheet for OS/2 from Sundial Systems
Release Notes (README.TXT) for Version 2.3
May 2000


Thank you for trying Version 2.3 of Mesa 2 for OS/2.  This file contains
information which became available after the printed materials went to
press as well as other key information to help you get started.


What is Version 2.3?

Version 2.3 represents another step in the refinement of Mesa 2.  It features
major enhancements to the real-time feed system as well as a host of other
new features and improvements.

The details can be found in the "What's New In Version 2.3" section of the
on-line documentation.

To make full use of Mesa 2, you need a valid license number and access code
(otherwise Mesa 2 will run in demonstration mode).  License numbers issued
for Version 2.2 and higher will work with Version 2.3; license numbers for
earlier versions will not.


Installation

To install Mesa 2, just run the Install program provided with the package
and follow the instructions.

If you received the package electronically, and need to install from
diskettes, you can use the MAKEDSKS command file (included in the package)
to create the diskettes.  (Two formatted disks are required.)

You may install this version in its own directory or over any earlier 
Mesa 2 version.  

The installation process will not ask for a Mesa 2 license number.
However, each time you run Mesa 2, you will be given a chance to enter
your license number and access code unless you have already done so.

If you need to uninstall Mesa 2 at some later time, use the Uninstall
program in the Mesa 2 folder.  Alternatively, you can also uninstall 
from your distribution media by opening a command window, changing to 
the directory containing the original installation files, and typing:

    uinstall

(That's not a typographical error, it is "uinstall", not "uninstall".)


OS/2, Presentation Manager, and Workplace Shell Compatibility:

Mesa 2 is designed specifically for use with OS/2 Warp and the Workplace
Shell.  This includes all of the following releases:

    OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business
        "General Availability" release
    OS/2 Warp 4
        "General Availability" release
    OS/2 Warp Server
        "General Availability" release
    OS/2 Warp Connect
        "Red Box" (for use with Windows) release
        "Blue Box" (with Win-OS2) release
    OS/2 Warp (OS/2 Version 3)
        "Red Box" (for use with Windows) release
        "Full Pack" (with Win-OS2) release

Most "FixPak" levels of OS/2 Warp, Warp Connect, and Warp Server have
also been tested.

Mesa 2 should also continue to work with OS/2 2.1 (subject to some 
limitations) but this is no longer officially supported.


Documentation Notes

Version 2.3 comes with both on-line and printed documentation.  The printed
documentation consists of the Mesa 2 Version 2 User's Guide plus the User's
Guide Supplement for Version 2.3.    

While the Supplement covers most features which have been added or changed
since the User's Guide was printed, please be aware that some things in
the User's Guide may no longer apply.   In particular, also note:

* All references to Athena Design, the original designers of Mesa 2, should
be ignored.   All support and continued development of Mesa 2 is provided by
Sundial Systems.

* Most screen shots no longer reflect the exact look of the product.

* Most toolbar icons have changed and many other toolbar options have been
added.  The exact form of the toolbars on your system may vary since they
can be extensively customized.

* Some menu options may have changed names (or, in a small number of cases,
been eliminated).  Also note that since Mesa 2 menus can be customized, 
the exact form of the menus on your system may be different than shown.

* Some shortcut keys may reflect alternative options from those which
appear in the current Mesa 2 menus.  In general, these are cases where
Mesa 2 supports multiple shortcuts for the same function (or situations
where the shortcuts have been customized).

In general, you should consult the on-line documentation for the most 
complete and current coverage of all of Mesa 2's features and functions.


Limitations

Listed below are some known limitations which may impact your use of the
current version of Mesa 2.

* In rare circumstances, when you reinstall the product the icons may be
  temporarily missing from some or all of the Palette objects in the Mesa 2
  folder.  They will generally reappear once you shutdown and reboot your
  system.  If the problem  persists, reinstall the product again and choose
  the Force Object (Re-)creation option in the installation program.

* Under some circumstances, certain operations (including copying data to
  the clipboard and customizing the toolbars) will stop working after
  frequent, repeated use.  This is due to a problem in the graphics
  processing at some earlier FixPak levels of Warp 3 and Warp 4.

  The problem is known to be present in Warp 3 FixPaks 17 through 30 as
  well as in Warp 4 GA (no FixPak) and Warp 4 FixPak 1.

  When and if the problem appears, exiting and restarting Mesa 2 will
  temporarily resolve it.  However, the problem will now reappear sooner
  than it did the last time.  Repeating this process enough times
  eventually requires the system to be rebooted.

  The only way to completely avoid the problem is to move to a later
  FixPak level (at least FixPak 31 for Warp 3 or FixPak 2 for Warp 4) in
  which IBM has corrected the problem.

* In some cases, if you run Mesa 2 from the command line and then exit 
  from the program, you may find that your command line window will no
  longer accept keystrokes.  It may also occur in an ordinary command
  line window when you run Mesa 2 from the desktop if that command line
  window happens to be immediately "under" Mesa (without any other windows
  in between) when you exit from the program.

  This problem is known to occur on some systems with Warp 4 GA (no FixPak)
  installed.  It may also exist with some other FixPak levels of Warp 3
  or Warp 4.  More recent FixPak levels (such as FixPak 5 or higher for
  Warp 4) have solved the problem.

  If the problem occurs, you should close the command window.

* There is a known problem with OS/2 Warp 3 FixPak 17 and Mesa 2 such that
  when Mesa 2 is open, windows won't come to the front when activated.
  This is corrected in later FixPaks.

* There have been reports of SYS0147 problems when exiting from Mesa 2
  on OS/2 Warp 3 with FixPak 17 installed.  If this happens, do not
  attempt to restart Mesa 2 without shutting down the system.

* If you have multiple versions of Mesa 2 installed on your system, you may
  see a SYS2070 error when you try to run one version or the other.  Similar
  problems may also occur if an older version was not completely removed
  from your system.

  While newer versions of Mesa 2 have been designed to avoid this problem,
  the conflict cannot always be automatically avoided when an older
  version (typically, 2.0.4 or earlier) is involved.  Almost always, this
  is caused by a LIBPATH conflict between the different directories
  involved.

  The general solution is to be sure the LIBPATH statement in your
  CONFIG.SYS file contains ".;" before any "\MESA;", "\MESA\DLL;"
  "\MESA2;", "\MESA2\DLL", or similar entries related to previous Mesa 2
  installations.  This resolves most such conflicts.

  If this solution does not work or doesn't apply to your situation,
  please contact technical support for further assistance.  Be sure to
  include information on the versions involved, and be prepared to supply
  a copy of your LIBPATH information.

* Some OS/2 enhancement utilities reserve (or remap) particular key
  combinations for their own use no matter what program is running.
  For instance, Process Commander "remaps" the traditional Ctrl+Alt+Del
  system reboot sequence for its use and then assigns Ctrl+Alt+Esc to the
  system reboot sequence.

  You should not try to assign these "enhanced" system-wide key combinations
  to command or script shortcuts in Mesa 2.  Otherwise, unpredictable
  results are likely to occur.

* Due to changes over time in the way OS/2 treats the numeric keypad on 
  various keyboard designs, not all shortcut key combinations involving
  keys on the numeric keypad may work on all versions of OS/2.   For 
  instance, while Shift+Ins is defined as a shortcut for Paste, it may
  work when using the ordinary Ins key but not work using the Ins key
  on the numeric keypad in some circumstances.   Turning on NumLock may
  help with some keyboards.   Similarly, you may find it necessary on
  some keyboards with some OS/2 FixPak levels to turn on NumLock to be
  able to enter numeric data using the numeric keypad (rather than trying
  to use the Shift key).


The Legal Fine Print

Mesa is a trademark of Athena Design, Inc., and is used by Sundial Systems
Corporation under license.

Other phrases used herein may be brand names, trademarks, or registered
trademarks of Athena Design, Inc., Corel Corporation, Lotus Development
Corporation, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Sundial Systems
Corporation, or others.  All such names and trademarks remain the property
of their respective companies.


Technical Support

We at Sundial Systems are committed to supporting you, our customer.

If you have a License Number for the product, you are entitled to full
technical support by any of the means listed below (or in the on-line
documentation).  If you are using the product as a Working Model or
demonstration without a License Number, we will be happy to try to answer
your questions on a limited basis.

If you have questions or suggestions, the most effective way to contact us
is by email to mesa@sundialsystems.com.

You can also visit us on the web at www.sundialsystems.com where you will
find information about Mesa as well as other members of the Sundial
Systems family of OS/2 products.  That's also the best place to find out 
about updates and other enhancements as they become available.

You can also call us at (562) 596-5121 between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM Pacific
time, Monday through Friday.  We can't guarantee the immediate availability
of support personnel at all times, but all calls are handled as quickly as
possible.  You can also FAX your questions and comments to us at (562)
596-7825 at any time.

We track all questions, comments, "bug reports", and other feedback
concerning our products and use this information in planning future
releases.  If there are features you particularly like or things you think
should be added to our products, please let us know.

Thanks in advance,
Sundial Systems Support Services


