GH 900 (backport from D2)
update changelog
Merge branch 'pr/906' into devel

Fixes Issue #906
be more specific if directory can't be written to or doesn't exist

Fixes #897
Merge branch 'dancer-script' into devel
skip tests of deprecated features except when release testing
Merge branch 'pr/skip_tests_deprecated' into devel
preps for the release
Merge branch 'devel'
preps for the release
GH# 907 mention in CHANGES
Merge branch 'devel'