MIM 08 will be released soon, and since 1.6.2009 feature freeze for stable 08 branch was declared. Unfortunately some of often requested features weren’t implemented. Here are some features, which, in my opinion, should be definitely addressed during 09 development:

• unicode in paths for file transfers
• unicode in profile path and filename
• unicode in contact search dialogs
• unicode in authorization requests
• unicode in status messages
• all types of authorization events in API (like auth grant, auth deny, auth request etc.) and appropriate sound events
• status change API should be able to set status message together with status change in one event
• in-core  support of metacontacts (actually any way of joining of some contacts)
• current folder structure should be revised, because right now I see rather strange set of  predefined subfolders that does not fit to my logical approach.

Any comments? Suggestions? Or, maybe, you think I forgot something, or there are more important things to implement?

%miranda_path%              – path to root miranda folder.
%miranda_profile%          – path to current miranda profile.
%miranda_profilename% – name of current miranda profile (filename, without extension).

%miranda_avatarcache%  – will return parsed string %miranda_profile%\Profiles\%miranda_profilename%\AvatarCache
%miranda_logpath%          – will return parsed string %miranda_profile%\Profiles\%miranda_profilename%\Logs
%miranda_userdata%        – will return parsed string %miranda_profile%\Profiles\%miranda_profilename%

%appdata%             – same as environment variable %APPDATA% for currently logged-on Windows user, but got directly from Windows (that should exclude possibility of hacking it).
%username%          – username for currently logged-on Windows user. Same as Environment variable %USERNAME% (see %appdata% above)
%mydocuments%   – “My Documents” folder for currently logged-on Windows user.
%desktop%             – “Desktop” folder for currently logged-on Windows user.

%xxxxxxx%           - all Environment variables that are defined in current Windows session (like %path%, %systemroot%, %allusersprofile%) etc.

All these variables existed in latest SVN when i wrote it, Rev.9314

1. we have to start Miranda from batch file, because proxy settings are read only at Miranda start, and if we change proxy settings after all protos are started, then we have to restart Miranda anyway. In this batch file we check where we are – at work or at home. I did it checking hostname of computer. And depending on my defined location I copied appropriate *.ini file to Autoexec*.ini in Miranda folder. Here is an example of my batch file:
   
if %COMPUTERNAME% == IGOR-XP goto Home
if %COMPUTERNAME% == W-4000-012 goto Work
echo Unknown PC. Trying to start without proxy
pause
goto Home

   :Work
   rem work proxy settings
   copy work.ini autoexec_proxy.ini
   start miranda32.exe
   goto End

   :Home
   rem No proxy settings
   copy home.ini autoexec_proxy.ini
   start miranda32.exe
   goto End

   :End

   I hope everything is clear here, so I explain the content of *.ini files.

2. in my Work.ini file I enable proxy settings for all my protocols, and do some additional tweaks, like disabling all sounds, popups, disabling direct filetransfers for Jabber, set clist to show only one icon in tray, etc.
   
   SETTINGS:

   [Netlib]
   NLEnableUPnP=b0
   NLUseProxy=b1[ICQ]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [ICQP2P]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [ICQJ]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [ICQJP2P]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [JABBER]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0
   BsDirect=b0
   Resource=uWork
   ManualConnect=b1

   [MSN]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   UseGateway=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [MSN_HTTPS]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [MSN2]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   UseGateway=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [MSN2_HTTPS]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [IRC]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [IRC DCC]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [IRC_Freenode]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [IRC_Freenode DCC]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [IRC2]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [IRC2 DCC]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [MRA]
   NLUseProxy=b1
   NLEnableUPnP=b0

   [MRA Avatars]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [Updater]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [UpdateNotify]
   NLUseProxy=b1

   [PopUp]
   ModuleIsEnabled=b0

   [Skin]
   UseSound=b0

   [CList]
TrayIcon=b1


   For Home.ini I do it in reverse way (here I give just small part of it because settings are very similar):
   
SETTINGS:

   [Netlib]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   NLEnableUPnP=b1

   [ICQ]
   NLUseProxy=b0

   [ICQP2P]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   NLEnableUPnP=b1

   [ICQJ]
   NLUseProxy=b0

   [ICQJP2P]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   NLEnableUPnP=b1

   [JABBER]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   NLEnableUPnP=b1
   BsDirect=b1
   Resource=uHome
   ManualConnect=b0

   [MSN]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   NLEnableUPnP=b1
   UseGateway=b0

   [MSN_HTTPS]
   NLUseProxy=b0
   ……………

3. to make all this possible we need to modify our MirandaBoot.ini file. I will describe necessary changes and comment some of them.
   
   [Database]
   ProfileDir=.
   ;This setting allows us to use profile file in our Miranda folder and not in windows user profile folder.

   [AutoExec]
   Use=yes
   Glob=autoexec_*.ini
   Safe=CLC Icons CLUI CList SkinSounds
   Unsafe=AIM ICQ MSN Jabber
   OverrideSecurityFilename=autoexec_proxy.ini
   ;This line gives us possibility NOT to be warned when file with given name is imported, but warning will still be given for all other autoexec_*.ini files - it is kinda security for us
   Warn=onlyunsafe
   OnCompletion=recycle
   RenamePrefix=done_

4. after all preparations we need to set proper proxy settings for every protocol in Miranda options, and that’s it.

This example (actually, these are my current settings) describes how to automatically handle presence of proxy at work and direct connect at home. If you have more than 2 PCs with different proxy settings, then you need to:

• extend your batch file to recognize 3rd PC and copy appropriate *.ini file;
• create 3rd *.ini file for 3rd PC
• extend all ini files with proxy settings. Here are all relevant proxy settings for each protocol (values given just for example):
  
NLUseProxy=b0
NLProxyType=b4
NLProxyPort=w3128
NLUseProxyAuth=b0
NLProxyAuthUser=s
NLProxyAuthPassword=s
NLUseProxyAuthNtlm=b0
NLDnsThroughProxy=b0
NLSpecifyOutgoingPorts=b0
NLSpecifyIncomingPorts=b0
NLIncomingPorts=s2000-2010
NLProxyServer=s192.168.150.2
NLOutgoingPorts=s2000-2010
NLEnableUPnP=b1

Sure this thing will get complex. But you need just set it once and forget about it after – it will silently do its job and free you from routine to change all proxy settings every time.

I hope this short manual helps you to achieve easy using of Miranda on USB stick – even with different proxy setting on different PCs.

It requires TabSRMM 2.2.1.6 + (for now you can get it with MIM nightlies).
Get new UseActions, as always, HERE .

• TopToolBar and Clist_modern toolbar buttons
• Menu items (MainMenu, ContactMenu and TrayMeny currently implemented, with naming logic and show/hide logic through variables, root popups in testing phase)
• Core hotkeys

ToolBar buttons and Menuitems get icons, that you can change in icolib (one icon per action). Additional icons for root popups are also configurable in icolib. 

 Actual version of ActMan you always can get here http://awkward.mirandaim.ru/
Latest version of UseActions plugin I normally upload here http://vasilich.org/mim/UseActions.rar
It should work for MIM 0.7+.
UseActions plugin can also be compiled in ANSI version, but since ActMan is Unicode only, I didn’t even try to build ANSI configuration of my plugin.
Please, test it and leave your comments.

this time – for privates. Some people have troubles to query with other persons which nick started with cyrillic “C”.

Also bugfixes for topmost “Add server” window and Cancel button on channel manager.

and + one feature – now IRC logs all bytes to NetLog – even if connected via SSL.

Link – as always.

Another bug – IRC doesn’t recognize server status answers for IRCOps as they have  ‘*’ sign right behind the nick.

So – bugfixed version:

• fixed bug with status discovery for contacts in CList when contact uses different lettercase for nick that we saved it last time we have seen him. Moreover, new nick (reported by server as online) will be written in DB immediately;
• fixed bug with status discovery for contacts in CList when they are IRCOps (i.e. ignore last nick sign if it is  ’*').

Special thanks goes to jcc as reporter and analyzer of these bugs.

Please, test it and write comments on it.

http://vasilich.org/mim/IRC.rar

• + new menu items for Slap, Nickserv info and kill ghost for participants in userlist;
• + new menu items for Nickserv commands in chat log menu;
• + auto request for client version when adding it to clist or when opening private message window for already added contact (set byte “MirVerAutoRequest” in protocol settings in DB to 0 to disable);
• + save client version as MirVer to DB on any version answer from client (useful for FingerPrint plugin);
• + changed “WHOIS” request to get also client’s logon time, and show it in WhoIs window;
• + added 3 numerics recognition for secure connection and codepage (depends on server); shows in field “Other” of WhoIs window;
• * CTCP events are now shown in Server Window;
• * close all dialog windows on Esc;
• * clean shutdown (destroy all created functions and free hooks on shutdown);
• + changed QuickConnect window to enable manual input of server parameters without creating list entry first;

After some testing I found the bug – 2 new UserList menu items for NickServ are disabled.  So here is corrected version. after additional testing it will be sent for commiting.
http://vasilich.org/mim/IRC.rar

So, new features for now:

1. added contact login time (see WhoIs window)
2. added some info about codepage and SSL connect to whois info (field “other”, server dependant)
3. added “Slap” menuitem to user menu in userlist (”/slap” alias is called, so if you don’t like slap message – just change that alias in IRC settings)
4. from now all CTCP answers should go to network log window instead of current opened window
5. when someone joins channel, CTCP VERSION request happens for him. If answer received – then it will be written in DB (and FingerPrint can use it)

Test version is here: http://vasilich.org/mim/IRC.rar