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Agent 8.0 Release Notes

Compatibility

Important: Agent 8.0 is NOT compatible with previous versions of Agent. Please make sure that you back up your data before proceeding. See Upgrading to Agent 8.0 for details.

If you're upgrading from a version earlier than Agent 7.0 you've got some catching up to do. You may want to visit our Agent Release Notes page to review what you've missed in prior releases.

MegaJoin + RAR/Split/PAR Automation

Prior to Agent 8.0 getting binary data was a tedious, multi-step process. Agent 8.0 with MegaJoin streamlines getting binary data into a simple, two-step process. Watch this brief YouTube video to see Agent 8.0 in action:

Comparison of Agent 7 and Agent 8

Agent 7.0

Agent 8.0 + MegaJoin

Get headers in a group. Agent, as described above, would join sections to provide individual RAR, Split and PAR files in the Message List pane:

Get headers in a group. Agent 8.0 automatically finds and MegaJoins all the related RAR/PAR or Spilt/PAR headers into a single header in the Message List pane:

MegaJoined headers are managed in the Message pane:

Select the related RAR, Split and PAR messages manually. There could be dozens, even hundreds of messages. And they could be intermixed with other messages.

No action required

Retrieve bodies for these messages and save them to disk as individual files.

No action required

Estimate how many PAR files are required to repair any damaged RAR or Split files, then download these files and use a 3rd-party program (QuickPar) to do the repairs.

No action required

Launch the initial RAR file, opening the content in WinRAR. (Or join the Split files using HJSplit or other program.)

No action required

Extract the binary content and either save it to disk or open it directly.

Double-click on the single header (above, in the Message List pane) and Agent will get bodies for this posting, then extract the file into your archive folder in Windows.

Need repairs? Agent figures out how many PAR files are required, gets them and does the repair automatically. Here's how the Message pane will end up:

Powerful New Features

Collapse binary archives together into a single header

  • No more hunting around for all the pieces. One header contains your RAR/PAR/Split files.
  • Navigation is easy. One entry for one binary file let's you focus on the end result, not all the pieces.
  • Keep up to a hundred times more messages in your group folder. A single header may have hundreds of elements, but the entire archive only counts as one entry.

Repair damaged files

  • Agent computes how many PAR files are required to repair an archive, then downloads and uses only those files.
  • Files are fixed automatically. No unnecessary commands or downloads, no third-party software, no trouble.

Preview a binary file

  • Before you download all the elements make sure this is the archive you want.
  • Previews start at the beginning of the binary file and last as long as you want.

Identify and view poster-created sample files

If an archive has a sample included then Agent puts all the sample files into their own MegaJoined header. This is another way to make sure this is the archive you want.

Handle password-protected archives

  • Agent checks at the beginning of the download to see if a password is required, allowing you to avoid downloading files you can't open.
  • When the download is complete Agent asks for the password, then saves or launches the file.

Start where you left off

Need to interrupt your download? Agent restarts where you left off, saving time and disk space.

Use NZB files anytime

  • MegaJoining works seamlessly with NZB files. Just import the NZB file. Agent does the rest.
  • All the features described above work with NZB files also.

User Interface Changes

  • The command Preview Archives has been added to the File menu and to the right-click context menu in the Message List and Message panes.
  • The command Delete Archive Sources in Folder has been added to the File menu.
  • There is a new folder property, Usenet Archives, which allows you to customize how MegaJoin works.
  • The Message List pane will be much less cluttered, as large multi-part postings (which could be hundreds of lines long and scattered among other postings) now show up as a single line.
  • The Message pane shows what pieces have been joined and displays details on the success or failure of the joining process.
  • Within the Message pane you can retrieve individual files, useful for browsing or using small files like NFOs and SFVs.
  • The Message Index (CTRL+I) shows all details of the series, all the way down to each individual section, where you can download specific elements or sections.
  • Agent creates a separate sub-folder for each archive downloaded. You can track the progress of the download and see if Agent needs to make any PAR repairs.
  • Previously when a header was marked incomplete you could only get the body by treating it like a marked message. Now just double-click the header and Agent will get all the pieces that are available.

Other Features and Fixes

Single-Click Links

Prior to Agent 8.0 a double-click was the default to launch any URL. With Agent 8.0, single click is the default for new users. Existing users will remain unchanged. You can configure Agent to allow single-click links in the URLs panel on the Options Dialog.

Attachment Subfolders

Prior to Agent 8.0, attachment subfolders were disabled by default. With Agent 8.0, attachment subfolders are enabled by default for new users. The setting for existing users remains unchanged. You can configure Agent to enable attachment subfolders in the Attachment Folders panel of the Default Folder Properties dialog.

Connection Testing

We have added a Test Connection button to all server configuration panels, allowing you to make sure your connection details are correct. This will save you a great deal of time and possible frustration when trying to create or update your login credentials for news and email servers.

Tutorials & FAQs

We've provided in-depth video tutorials for both Agent Newsreader and Agent Usenet.
We've also updated the FAQs for bothAgent Newsreader and Agent Usenet.

Learn More

Go here for All Release Notes.