Note a new 'whatsnew' format:
! bug fixed
+ new feature added
- old feature removed

* * *

Version 3.60a:
+ Two new markers: grave and cactus.
+ Marker text starting with ` does not show up on the screen.

Version 3.60b:
! Crush-on-message-parsing bug is squished, null pointers are evil }3F~

Version 3.60c:
+ Marker text alignment is persistent now.

Version 3.60d:
+ Introducing marker filters: you can assign every marker type/color pair
  to some group (1, 2, A, etc., case insensitive), make some masks for
  those groups (12, 4AZ, etc., use * for all) and rotate masks with Alt-A.
  Note, Shift-A works as ususal and the default behavior of filters is as
  in pre-3.60d.

Version 3.60e:
! Unload in space bug.
+ Faster map scrolling.

Version 3.60f:
! PVCR call works again. Download PVCR 3.3e(2) first [http://phost.org].
+ SVGA support is added, use /S start switch. VPA will start in 640x480x256
  mode, so you get the same display size etc., but using VESA modes allows
  to set higher refresh rate. Use utils packaged with your video card or
  universal utils like unirefresh [http://unirefresh.demonews.com]. Note,
  default mode is old VGA 640x480x16. Note(2), this mode needs a lot of
  testing, please, send us your comments!

Version 3.61:
+ UTIL.DAT reading significantly improved. VPA now reads mine fields, dark
  sense, super spy, and several exploration records.
+ Show gravity wells in high zoom levels. Shift-G toggles this feature.
+ Improved tax predictions; ShowFinalHappy.
+ Show hull functions for scanned ships.
+ Minefield information improved.
+ More PConfig keys supported (MaxShipsHissing, CPEnableGive,
  CPEnableRemote, NativeTaxRate, ColonistTaxRate)
+ SHIPXY parser workaround for Winplan unpacker bug. When you unpack with
  a recent Winplan version, some "ghosting" ships would show up near (0,0)
  sometimes.
+ Added experimental command message processing (from PCC). You can give
  remote control (Shift-C) and give (V) commands for ships. These will be

  stored in a file CMDx.TXT. To have them sent to the host, you must use
  VPA's built-in Maketurn (or PCC's, of course :-)  Comments highly
  appreciated.

Version 3.61a
! Marker filters made more robust. In addition, the first marker filter
  now always is `*'.
! Command processing made more robust.
! Fixed garbled display of equipment of foreign ships.
! UTIL.DAT parser fixed. It would have applied the "owner" from a sensor
  sweep record to all following "bioscan" records, and probably other
  oddnesses. Bug found by Heiko Schlenker.
+ Message templates can generate variable-sized circles. Just make a
  standard `Message Marker' template with `Radius' placeholder and
  `Keep Circle COLOR'.
! when a ship is under remote control, use correct "mission 9"
! report generator handles extended missions better
+ Shift-B to compute ship costs
+ Shift-U in build screen toggles upgrade cost display

Version 3.61b
+ Instant battle result for PHost (using util.dat)
+ N in construction yard give prediction of next turn available resources
! Improved fuel burn prediction
! Cloak fuel now handled correctly for all PHost extmissions

Version 3.61c
! Fixed crash when trying to unload to planet about which nothing is known
! Improved fuel burn prediction
! Use correct UnitsPerTorpRate when predicting minelay
! Mineral extraction should now be exact for THost
! RamScoopFuelPerLY option corrected
! VPA/MM: mouse pointer fixed
+ Reply also works when message is not English
+ Pillaging will update database with natives information
+ Warning when vpa.msg is in Unix format
+ Recognize remote-controlled hissers

Version 3.61d
! Fixed overflow in mineral extraction
! VPA/MM: fixed bitmap display problems
+ display build queue positions in PHost games: '@3' on the base screen
  means that this base is on position 3 of the queue.
+ give 'v' now also works on planets
+ added message filter (ported from PCC). When reading a message, you can
  hit 'k' to "kill" this message and all messages of a similar type. For
  example, when you kill a "mine-lay" message, all other mine-lay messages
  will be hidden as well. In the future, these messages will be skipped when
  browsing with the Left/Right arrow keys. To view such a message again,
  use Shift+Left/Shift+Right; you can then "unkill" a message with 'u'.
  The settings will be stored in a file "msgX.cc" which is also used for
  the same purpose by PCC 1.1.5.
+ added PBP utility. Hit Ctrl-P to pop up a list of planets with 'PBx'
  friendly codes. Hit Enter on an occupied slot to go to that planet, hit
  Enter on a free slot to change the friendly code of the current planet
  to 'PBx'.
+ new VPA.INI keyword: "Font=file" in the [System] section can be used to
  override the font VPA uses for messages. It has no effect when you use
  standard VPA in 16 colors, though. The VPA support files, version 2,
  contain one such font. Some more are available on the VPA website.
+ added sorting of ship list. Shift-z changes sort key : ship id,
  battle order, ship hull id, tow groups. Same extra information is
  displayed left to ship name.
+ extended minefield simulator Alt-F9. For given radius number
  of torpedos and other minefield information are displayed.
! improved ship external mission interface.
! improved minefield information, 'r' key helps in laying/scooping planning.
! Mouse and video reset is now Shift-v

Version 3.61e
! Fixed: 3.61d would often lose command messages
+ mineral prediction includes cloning

Version 3.61f
! Rounding errors in VPAMM are now gone. VPAMM now always yields the
  same results as VPA
! Mine laying and Cobol rules improved
! Support for unpacking Host999 RST was missing. We also generate the
  correct checksums now so that Winplan's Maketurn can be used
+ added support for PHost 4 experience. Experience levels are now read
  from util.dat, stored in the database, and displayed on the ship/planet
  screen. For example, a level-3 ship will report as "Ship 156 (L3)".

Version 3.61g
! Fixed display error for L0 experience :)
! VPA can now correctly launch PVCR 4.0
! Left/right keys could get stuck on a planet if something was known about
  it but not its coordinates (happens in ExplMap games)
+ When displaying a minefield, use 't' to cycle through beam types for
  sweep prediction (from Brian Graversen)
+ Mining predictions now consider over-mining. In case of over-mining,
  the respective field of the info pane turns yellow.
+ Added 'actual list' (todo list). Toggle an object's status using '/',
  and cycle through still-marked objects using '.' and ','. See FAQ for
  details (by Andrew Andrienko).

Version 3.62
+ Planet economy simulator - F6 in planet context
+ Minerals prediction in next turn - Shift-F1
+ Ships prediction in next turn - Shift-F2 - can be used with Shift-z to 
  see battle order next turn.
+ VPA can find some common mistakes - Shift-F11
+ New function to select nearest ship/planet. Key O iterates through
  planets or ships, and sets 'skip' mark, Shift-O sets 'done' mark
  (actual list); both of which cause this function to skip the respective
  object next time. Ctrl-O clears all 'skip' marks.
+ VPA now derives the score from the actual game data if a score blanker
  is used. Idea: James Heinrich
! Movement prediction should now match Host 3.22.026 and later, i.e. if
  VPA says you need one turn, you should *really* need one turn.
! Fuel usage computation handles 'mdX' fcodes

Version 3.62a
! Fixed crashes in prediction functions
+ Added a boatload of new features which were previously known as 'CGExt'.
  'extfeat.txt' has a detailed description.
  - Quality Assurance: '#' brings up visual interface to actual list
  - Borgculator: taxation/economy simulator (ctrl-b)
  - Object Notes: attach free-text notes to your units (ctrl-n), with
    history of old notes
  - Resource Statistics: displays useful stuff (ctrl-f10)
  - Fleet Report: A structured overview of your ships (ctrl-f11)
  - Inter-Planetary Connections: Constellations of the Echocluster
    (shift-l, ctrl-l)
  - Ion Storm Waypoint Prediction: Navigate in class 4 and 5 storms
    (alt-i in distance mode compensates storm drag)
  - Population Growth Prediction: Display it on the planet info screen.
    (shift-j)
  - Map Border: Disable it if it annoys you.
  - Data Exchange Subscription: Automate sending of planet data.
  - Score Prediction: What your ships are worth in AutoScore or PTScore.
  - Territory Overview: Your area of influence at a glance (experimental).
    (ctrl-e)
! Fixed Bug 917480 marker to base now possible
+ Show engine number of ships in Phost-Games for AlternativeTow
! Fixed part of bug 906502 - no scroll when pressing o any more
+ Make ShowMaxPop configurable in vpa.ini. New key: ShowMaxPop=On|Off

Version 3.62b
! Maketurn now filters out dull transfers generated by planets.exe
! Solved integer overflow problem in score calculation (bug#928225).
+ Ships and planets that have a note attached to them are now marked with
  an icon on their info screen and on the QA overview list.
! Changes to the item note (ctrl-n) interface that should make it easier to
  handle. Edit/clear doesn't need to be confirmed anymore.
+ If ConfirmNotes=On is set in VPA.INI VPA will ask twice before modifying or
  clearing an item note.
! Big improvements on population prediction.
! Fuel computations for HOST should now be exact. Since the compiler used
  to compile HOST generates bogus computations (for example, you are billed
  only 2 ly movement for moving 3 ly north), VPA uses a table with all
  relevant distance values. This table is stored in file 'disttabl.dat';
  without that table, VPA will not run in HOST mode.
+ Planets with defenses (or SB defenses) now show battle values (battlemass,
  beams x beamtype and fighters : fighterbays). Configurable in vpa.ini:
  new key: ShowCombatStrength. Can be toggled by shift-d.
+ Added the running-out-of-fuel formular to the movement fuel-calculations so
  you can use significantly less fuel and still arrive at the desired wp.
! Connection lines between planets (shift-l, ctrl-l) are now calculated more
  precisely. Warp-wells are taken into acount automatically. If the distance
  specified is less than 10 it will be interpreted as warp speed instead of
  lightyears. If it is given as warp speed VPA will determine the distance
  using movement simulation for borderline cases.
+ Enemy ships show mass changes
+ CTRL-T now sets the maximum tax for max-grow when Ntax<1. This way, you
  can see right away how many colonists you need to collect all the taxes.
! Menues are improved so empty lines get skipped, SHIFT+letter jumps to
  the first item (not the last as usual) and you can enter more letters to
  specify the line you're searching for ... an O,u,t would find an Outrider
  Scout in a hulls list.
! Combat simulator improved by menues for engines,beam,torps and race (use
  Enter)
! Enemy ships with warp 0 enter distance-mode with warp>0 to predict fuel.
+ Added 1 message type (HConfig4) and 9 new fields to vpa.msg, so be sure to
  use the new vpa.msg or change your current one correspondingly.

Version 3.62c
+ many feature requests satisfied (clock: shift-C, reset waypoints of ships
  in warp-wells: ctrl-Z, new mistake warnings, warp-circles: shift-W)
! bogus-score-in-turn-one problems should be fixed
+ minfield handling improved
+ config dialog (ctrl-o)
+ Added command line switch /BGI to support third party BGI drivers. Syntax is
  /BGI:drivername,driverdir,bgimode. E.g., if you copy your BGI driver named
  svga.bgi to your VPA directory and you intend to use it's mode number 5
  say: /BGI:svga,,5

Version 3.63
+ worst-case finder in simulator: 'w' to find worst case for left side, 'W'
  for right side
+ support PHost 4.x new functions:
  - hull functions: assigned to ships, new functions, per-race functions
  - StarbaseCost, BaseFighterCost, FreeFighterCost, MaximumFightersOnBase,
    MaximumDefenseOnBase
  - new mining formula
  - recognize ChunnelSelf,ChunnelOthers,ChunnelTarget abilities for chunnel
    prediction. Note that ChunnelOthers ships will draw a Chunnel line, but
    not move themselves, so be careful.
+ reads TARGETx.EXT if exists, deletes it on unpack. This allows VPA to
  be used together with VPUNPACK / VPUTIL.
! some PList 3 ships did not show costs in build screen
! fixed crash in experience games
! do no longer accept mission arguments above 10000 (not allowed with any
  host)
+ added Range function (Shift-R) that draws circles for the distances that
  a ship can travel in the next 6 turns
+ added OptimizeFuel and AutoAdjustWarp options
+ a few bugs fixed (bioscan messages would erase the owner info, ships with 
  an advanced cloaking device would still be predicted to burn fuel for 
  cloaking, planet simulation had a few glitches, crash in notepad editor)