Our goal behind the creation of this new "alt" newsgroup was to provide an intimate forum for Macintosh users, specifically those requiring an introduction to Usenet services and the Internet world in general. We feel that Macintosh users need a distinctive place to convene, with the opportunity to ask questions of fellow Macintosh users and receive individualized help in acclimatizing to the world of on-line communications. This newsgroup will, hopefully, not only serve to assist newcomers to the Internet, but also exist as a pointer to other sources of help for a wide range of Macintosh user proficiencies. If you do not find alt.sys.mac.newuser-help on your Usenet list, please ask your Systems Administrator to add it; only through cooperation can our project succeed.
It should be stressed that alt.sys.mac.newuser-help is not the only place on the Internet for "newbies" operating a Macintosh to obtain help; there are a number of newsgroups that cater specifically to "newbies," and a plethora devoted to the Macintosh computing environment. Nevertheless, we are convinced (perhaps erroneously) that our group has a special value stemming from its friendly atmosphere. We have attracted a significant number of dedicated individuals who have proved very capable at providing assistance. To date, there have been thousands of posts to our newsgroup and every question has been answered. If you are experiencing difficulties, you will not be ignored in our little family. If, by some terrible chance, we are unable to help, there are alternatives. Recently, the comp.sys.mac.* hierarchy has undergone a major organizational overhaul and, hopefully, help in that area of USENET will be easier to obtain. As well, these are some of the existent Macintosh-oriented newsgroups:
Introductory information about the Internet is also available from Don Z'Boray's and Patrick Crispen's _NewbieNewz_ mailing list. For basic information write to:
nn-info@io.com (subject and message are ignored - can be left blank; case unimportant)
To subscribe to NewbieNewz, write to:
newbienewz-request@io.com (no subject, message = "subscribe newbienewz")
If you have any sort of signature in your e-mail, you must give the command word "end", by itself, on the second line, after "subscribe NewbieNewz" to insure that the majordomo mailing program processes your request properly. This mailing list has proven to be an international success and may prove to be a valuable addition to your Internet education.
We created the alt.sys.mac.newuser-help group because we witnessed a growing need to offer a forum for individualized help to Macintosh Internet users and to provide them with appropriate assistance in beginning their Internet experiences. The absence of a unique arena devoted to the Macintosh "newbie," especially in the alt.* hierarchy, where most new users head first, has created an unfortunate and chaotic situation: binary groups have merged with discussion forums and convenient, knowledgeable help is often difficult to track down. Hopefully, the creation of a dedicated Macintosh newsgroup for new users of the Internet will help bring about a bit of order and assist in spreading instructive commentary to a greater number of individuals.
The following summary of introductory Internet knowledge is not intended as a complete or infallible guide. If errors or omissions are noted, please do not hesitate to contact the SECTION ONE
The reason we created alt.sys.mac.newuser-help was, simply put, to assist and encourage Macintosh users to become productive, educated members of the Internet community. Our newsgroup is unmoderated, meaning that anyone and everyone is free to post at any time, to help or to ask for help. We would encourage competent Macintosh users to offer any help they can provide: three of us can't cover the planet! Unfortunately for some, we are quite conservative in our use of the Internet: spamming (cross-posting to irrelevant newsgroups) is not a hobby of ours, and we frown upon discussions posted in binary newsgroups. These are considered "poor nettiquette" and are known, along with immature provocation and irrelevant material, as "trolls," or invitations to be "flamed" by experienced users of the Internet who are too impatient to deal with one hundred "me too!" posts per newsgroup. Reserve your posts for pertinent issues and gracious contributions. People will thank you and your mailbox will not be inundated with hate-mail.
If you have a question about something you do not understand, scan the newsgroups for an appropriate venue for your question. Any questions you may have about your Macintosh computer and its abilities to deal with things you encounter on the Internet are appropriate for our newsgroup. Questions about where to find the latest recipes for fried squid tentacles are not, even if you use a Macintosh to archive your recipes. Due to some recent "troubles" we would like to clarify this point. The newsgroup is not meant as a personal soapbox; unsolicited advice on non-Macintosh issues is not invited.
Binary posts to the newsgroup are acceptable. Often, tracking down rare gems is difficult, especially if the software does not exist at one of the larger archives. However, there are a few limitations, primarily set to insure that the bandwidth of our group does not exceed an acceptable amount and Systems Administators do not get an itchy rmgroup (remove group) finger. We ask that you please adhere to the following criteria:
If you have a good reason for requesting or posting a large application (such as no a.b.p.u. on your newsfeed), please explain this along with your description to avoid hassles. I'm sure if we all adhere to these simple guidlines, everone will benefit. Remember, this is primarily an informative newsgroup, and the rules set out in this FAQ should be adhered to. (Grim warning: most Systems Administrators will not hesitate to pull the accounts of users who fail to adhere to FAQ rules; this is a serious breach of nettiquette) Most FAQs for Usenet groups can be found at the ftp site SECTION TWO
Obviously, if you know enough about your Macintosh to access Usenet and download this FAQ, you are at least vaguely familiar with the operations of your computer: how to turn it on and off, how to launch an application, how to dial a number with your communications software. However, using a Macintosh effectively goes much further than that-- despite what the proponents of DOS may claim. Questions that appear on the Internet about Macintoshes are varied: everything from "how do I make a startup screen?" to "my system has crashed and all I get is the unhappy Mac; what do I do?" Although we could answer these questions in this FAQ, the sheer number of possible questions would require us to write a book. Besides, that book has already been written, many times over. It has many names: _Macintosh User's Guide_, _Macs For Dummies_ and even _Macintosh System 7.5 Upgrade Guide_. In other words, there are many reference materials available to you, literally within reach. If you find that some of your icons have turned from nice custom designs back to a dull blue, please rebuild your desktop and/or zap your PRAM before you get terribly upset. Questions such as these ARE answered in the manuals, and we'd like to help with more pressing problems if possible. However, if you have difficulties with just such a problem as the one above and you haven't the foggiest clue how to "rebuild your desktop," feel VERY free to come to us if you are truly stuck. We don't want you grabbing a saw, hammer and nails and trying to create a new desk for your computer instead of pressing and holding opt-command at startup. We will not turn away any problem, no matter how insignificant it may seem to some experienced users; however, for our time, all we ask is that you make a concerted effort to educate yourself.
There are a few subjects worth mentioning which you may not find in your
Macintosh manual. First, there is always the possibility, however remote
(and it is a *VERY* rare event), of your Mac getting infected with a
virus on the Internet. Always make sure that you have the latest version
of Disinfectant, from John Norstad of Northwestern University, for
scanning downloaded applications. You may install it as an INIT
(extension) to scan anything that comes near your computer. However,
most other anti-virus software can cause problems if installed in this
manner. Apple reccommends that you simply keep a copy of your virus
protection program on your desktop or in your Apple Menu for quick
access. If you suspect you have a virus, and disinfecting does not solve
the problem, shut your computer off immediately and call your authorized
Apple dealer for assistance. SLIP/PPP users would do well to remember
that their Macs are *directly* attached to the Internet and that their
machines are "open" to anyone else on the Internet that has the know-how
to access them. However, do not panic if all you have downloaded are
text files or graphics files. It is nearly impossible to pass off a
virus in one of these formats, and chances are someone will discover it
and warn everyone on the Usenet. Remember, the Internet is not a
commercial service and even though many software sites try their best to
scan for viruses to protect users, some might get through to your
machine. The Usenet binary groups are another place where one might pick
up viral infections after downloading. Always use protection
The other slight warning is about CDEVs and INITs, otherwise known as control panels and extensions. The system software that Apple sold you with your computer was designed to function interactively, as a unit. Many people, such as Blue Savannah!, scoop up as many cool tidbits from the Internet as they possibly can, thrilled with making their Mac utter great belching sounds or animate little creatures crawling across the desktop. Be careful when you do this. Some of us know, from experience, that not all extensions and control panels are compatible with one another, and that certain ones may conflict with the function of major applications, and even damage your Systems software. True, you can always reinstall your System, and fix glitches in your HD with Disk First Aid, but it's better to be safe. Install your CDEVs and INITs one or a few at a time, and monitor the behaviour of your computer for a few days before adding others, just to insure compatibility. Or, if you are lucky enough to have Conflict Catcher or a similar utility, use it. There is also a very useful little patch for your extension manager control panel that can be found on the Internet. It allows you to expand the options of the standard Apple CDEV. If you would like this patch, it can be found at:
ftp://mirror.apple.com/mirrors/info-mac/cfg/extension-mgr-30p-patch-20.hqx
If you find you are getting an inordinate number of system errors and odd behaviour from your computer or applications, there are a number of preliminary steps you can take before calling the MacHelpers:
A better way of rebuilding the desktop and zapping the PRAM is to use a utility called TechTool. It erases your desktop files instead of just overwriting them, and zaps the extra PRAM that the conventional way misses. This is a definite "must have" tool.
Registered users may contact Apple, directly, for problems relating to system software or hardware configuration: 1-800-263-3394.
Anyway, enough of the grim warnings. On with the fun!
Although it might seem pointless to detail the steps necessary to connect to the Internet in a document available only on the Internet, many users are familiar with one type of server and find themselves faced with the daunting task of learning another. Please save this document so that if you find yourself in this position, you will be able to return to on-line activity and our newsgroup as quickly as possible. Also feel free to distribute our FAQ to others having difficulty configuring their Macintosh for using the Internet.
We must stress that we are not a Unix newsgroup; there are a number of them on the Usenet with users much more qualified than we are to dole out advice on configuring .login files and info for creating .plan and .project files. That having been said, connecting your Macintosh to a Unix-based server is very simple. All you require is a communications application (see Section Four), a modem and an established account on the server you are trying to access. After connecting your modem and cable to your Macintosh's serial port (see instructions accompanying your modem), reset your modem and execute your communications application. You must then configure the application to enable communication with the server. To do this, you must know the baud rate of your modem, and whether or not the line you are connecting to on the other end for the dial-up has a standard 8 (bits) N (no parity) 1 (stop bit) configuration. More than likely, you must set the terminal emulator to vt100. With these parameters set, you are able to use your account. Dial the number and wait for your username and password prompts. Enter them appropriately.
Unfortunately, this type of Internet connection provides a text-only
interface. To access the on-line graphical interface, you must have a
SLIP/PPP account (see the next section) or use a wonderful pseudo-SLIP
emulator for Unix systems called (T)he (I)nternet (A)dapter.
Unfortunately, some institutions ban TIA from their servers, so check
before you install it. TIA is available from marketplace.com-- check
for your exact Unix OS before you download! Once you have the correct
application in your home directory, you must make sure it is accessible.
Rename the file to TIA by typing "mv
Next, read over the TIA documentation at Marketplace, and send an e-mail
to the appropriate single user license address. Once it arrives via
e-mail, "e"xport it to your home directory. Rename this file "mv
Take a deep breath and read on. To configure MacTCP you need two bits of information: your server's "gateway address" and your server's "nameserver" addresses, both in numerical form. Once you open the MacTCP control panel, you must choose the "local talk" icon, and click on "more." Choose "manually" in the upper left corner, enter your gateway address in the lower left, and insert the nameserver addresses in the lower right. The "domain name" is the last two parts of your e-mail address. If yours was me@sask.usask.ca, your domain is "usask.ca"-- enter your actual one. Set the "subnet mask" to 255.255.255.0 and the "class" to C. Click on OK and change the "IP address" from 192.0.0.0 to 192.0.2.1 - this is an unused IP address and can be used as a dummy. MacTCP is now configured properly.
InterSLIP is freeware, and is available at many ftp sites, including its home site, ftp.intercon.com in the InterCon/sales/InterSLIP directory. To install it, double click on the installer icon. After your computer has restarted, go to the Apple Menu and choose "InterSLIP Setup." Choose "new" from the file menu and type in the name of the server you contact (eg. U of S Dialup Facility). Double click on the highlighted server name. Set the first few options the same as you did on MacTCP (baud rate, 8N1). Leave the gateway and dial script areas ALONE. Set the MTU to 1500 and enter the same IP and nameserver addresses as you did for MacTCP. Unfortunately, TIA requires hardware handshaking, so insure you have a compatible modem and cable, and that your server supports HH. Enable this option. You are now finished configuring your Macintosh for TIA operation. To connect, logon to your Unix account, and run TIA by typing "tia" in your home directory. You should receive a prompt asking you to start your SLIP connection. Quit your communications program (making sure you have set it so that hardware hangup (DTR) is disabled) and go to InterSLIP in the Apple Menu. Click on the connect button and close InterSLIP. You are now ready to run any of the SLIP/PPP software discussed in the next few sections.
As well as TIA, there is another pseudo-SLIP emulator available for Macintosh users. MacSLIrP is an application which runs on your Macintosh instead of the Unix server and, supposedly, is much easier to configure and just as reliable. However, we have no experience with this utility. If you do, please write to us and let us know about your experiences. MacSLIrP can be found at the following locations:
http://blitzen.canberra.edu.au/~danjo
Before we begin, you'll need a Modem; preferably a 9600 (minimum) bps modem or higher. Actually, a 14.4K (14,400 bps) or 28.8K modem are *highly* recommended. MacTCP and the associated SLIP or PPP software take up a lot of overhead and you'll need all the speed you can get. You'll also need a special modem cable called a "hardware handshaking" cable. Most newer 14.4K and 28.8K modems are packaged with this type of cable. If you're unsure, call the manufacturer or retailer and ask: you'll need the proper type. Of course, you'll need to hook up your modem as well. Please read the manual that came with your modem for any installation procedure. Basically, all you will have to do is plug in your phone line into the back of the modem. Plug in the cable that attaches your modem to your Macintosh and plug in the modem (power cord) into a suitable outlet.
In order to effectively run much of the graphical software associated with SLIP connections, you really should have a color monitor (13inch RGB, 14inch Apple Color or larger) and a Mac with at least an 68020 processor. An LCII or faster is recommended. An 68040 or PowerMac is ideal but not necessarily needed. Mac IIci and other 68030 machines are still quite adequate for SLIP connections and running the associated graphical software. Please do not attempt to run a 14.4K SLIP connection on a Mac Plus. It just won't work. Instead, use a Unix dial-up with term software if the processor is a 68000.
You will also need, at a bare minimum, 4 Mb of free RAM available to make SLIP worthwhile. By "free RAM" we mean the RAM available *after* your System loads up at startup. Go to the "About this Macintosh" under the Apple Menu after startup to see the amount of available free RAM (largest unused block). Actually 6 Mb or more of free available RAM is *highly* recommended for SLIP/PPP connections. Ten Mb of free RAM is just about right for most SLIP needs. General Macintosh rule: you can NEVER have enough RAM. Don't even *think* of running a SLIP connection on a 2 meg Mac. System 7.1 or 7.5 is also HIGHLY recommended. If you're still running System 6 (and don't foresee yourself changing) then a Unix dial-up account is always available... *sigh*
A final hardware recommendation is that you have at least 10 Mb free on your hard-drive to be able to place various SLIP-associated software onto the drive without problems or having to toss out things at the last second to fit yet another cool graphical piece of Internet software. 20 - 25 Mb free of hard-drive space is even better. You really won't need more than 30 Mb free unless you become a "download" addict and go into frenzied bouts of download dizziness. Many first time users do go a little crazy when they see the wealth of software and files available to them through their new Internet connection and literally run out of room on their hard-drive trying to bring it all back to their Mac. If this is you, please see our upcoming Multimedia Tour for recommendations.
The following is a description of setting up SLIP connection software using MacTCP and InterSLIP software. This combination is recommended for basic users (MacPPP can be used to configure PPP connections - the installation procedures are conceptually similar to the SLIP-installing procedure that is coming up).
Before going further, make sure you are supplied with the following info from your service provider.
(You can write the script yourself, but try to convince your provider to send you a pre-configured text script. Pinochle wrote his with a little coaching from his provider, but this is not the recommended way to go. In a sense, the dial-in script is dialing up your access phone number and sending your password, address info, etc "behind the scenes" to your service provider's host machine. The script acts as a translator and query engine between the host machine and yours for dial-in access).
Before configuring anything else - TURN OFF YOUR MODEM!
Even if your server happens to support SLIP/PPP without installing a program such as TIA, you will also have to install the same two key pieces of software. Instructions on how to obtain and install both MacTCP and InterSLIP are detailed in the preceding section (just in case you skipped it). However, the configuration process for a SLIP/PPP connection is slightly more involved, and should be, if requested, available from your service provider.
First, click once on the InterSLIP icon located in the main window of your MacTCP control panel. It should now be the selected item, and appear grey. Do not select Local Talk. Second, click on the "More" button located at the bottom of the MacTCP control panel window. A new window/dialog box will open and reveal the "heart" of Mac TCP for configuration. Third, enter the info your service provider gave to you (or should have at any rate; if not, give them a call and demand the information: you're the one paying, after all). You will need to enter (you'll know when you are over a text entry box because the arrow cursor will change to a text "I-beam" cursor-- click once) the following information:
On the left side of the window,
On the right side of the window,
In the "Domain and IP Address" configuration area,
When everything is filled in correctly, click on "OK" and you will return to the MacTCP opening window. Before clicking on the close box, you *MUST* enter *YOUR* IP address (which is different from the one you entered in the "More" window. This IP address in the main window is your *personal* IP address: if you fail to fill this in, your machine cannot be located on the Internet. Remember, a SLIP/PPP account puts your computer on the Internet just like a connected node. Before going any further, make a back-up copy of your newly configured MacTCP control panel. OK-- deep breath-- you're not there yet, but we'll be done soon. We still have to configure InterSLIP!
First, install the InterSLIP software, if you haven't already, in the same manner you did for the TIA connection. InterSLIP is an installer, so you need not worry about where the pieces end up-- they will end up in the right places! For your information, the software comes in three parts. A control panel named "InterSLIP Control," an extension named "InterSLIP" and the InterSLIP configurer and dialer named "InterSLIP Setup," which will be found in your Apple Menu after installation. The installer also creates an InterSLIP Folder, which is located in your Preferences folder. Inside the InterSLIP Folder are two other folders called "Gateway" and "Dialing Scripts." This is where you will place your scripts.
It's time to find the application called "InterSLIP Setup," in your Apple Menu items. Drag the Apple Menu down and find the InterSLIP Setup icon and highlight it and release the mouse button to launch it; either a small, thin window or an extended window will open. In either case, **DO NOT PRESS THE CONNECT OR DISCONNECT BUTTONS YET** We still need to further configure the InterSLIP software.
If, after launching the InterSLIP setup, a small, thin window appears,
you will notice just above the word/button "Connect" a little arrow.
Click once on this little triangular arrow and the window will open and
"drop down" to its full size. You can play with this awhile
On the left side of the window:
Serial Port: modem port
Baud Rate : 19200 (or the highest speed your modem can support)
Data Bits : 8
Stop Bits : 1
Parity : none
Place a check in the "Hardware Handshaking" box (for 14.4K connections and faster). You can either check or not check the "Speaker on while dialing" option: it's up to you (we keep our connections quiet, but you might like to hear the modem dial and give that electro-gnashing sound).
Dial Script : Hayes Compatible Modem
Dial : Tone (unless, of course, your phone is pulse)
Phone number: Type in the dial up access phone number
Modem Init : at&d2 (this dial init string should suffice)
*NOTE* If you have call waiting, etc., you will have to add suitable init strings to defeat them while online (usually *70).
On the right side of the window:
Gateway : select your script name (the one in your preferences folder)
Username: enter your username (the part of your address BEFORE the @ sign)
*DO NOT CHECK THE BOX* "Prompt for password at connect time"; this is automated.
Password : enter your password exactly as discussed with your service provider.
IP Address: enter your *personal* IP address
Nameserver: enter the IP address of your provider's nameserver
Check the box "RFC 1144 TCP Header Compression"
MTU Size : Type in 1006 (this is a good general setting)
Next, click on "OK" and "shrink" the window; everything will be hidden except for the Connect and Disconnect buttons. Quit using the File Menu or the window close box. As you did with MacTCP, insure that you make a backup of each of the files and folders associated with InterSLIP; this will save you from hassles in the future.
Restart your computer and, while you're at it, rebuild your desktop file by holding down both the COMMAND and OPTION keys. After you hear the restart chime, keep holding the two buttons down until you see a dialog box stating "Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop file?" Click on "OK" and your desktop will be rebuilt. No matter what anyone says, SLIP connections are really part voodoo, and this rebuild process is our "digital, lucky incantation" before the initial big connection event. Besides, rebuilding your desktop file is a good idea anyway-- rebuild your desktop file at least a few times during the course of a year.
To connect to your server via an InterSLIP connection:
Turn on your modem (and your computer as well
If everything goes well you will see a running progress dialog in the top right of the little window:
...
Once connected, quit the InterSLIP Setup application. It has done its job by dialing you in and connecting you. Now it's time to use some SLIP software, like Eudora, Blue Skies, Netscape, Turbogopher and many others. You can now use your Mac as you normally would. The SLIP connection is practically invisible, but wait until you see what you can do with it!
The following MacPPP configuration guide was graciously donated by a fellow Macintosh user. I think I remember his name, and would definitely remember it if I saw it, but I don't want to risk giving credit where it is not due. Please, if you are the one who sent me this section, please identify yourslef so I can give you the credit which is rightfully yours.
That said, if you are trying to configure MacPPP to enable your internet access, place the PPP extension in the Extensions folder, the ConfigPPP control panel in the Control Panels folder (alternately you can drag both onto the System Folder and have the System auto-place them in the correct locations) and restart your computer. Please note that these instructions were written for MacPPP 2.1 and do not include the added features of the newly released MacPPP 2.2.
To disconnect, reopen the Config PPP control panel and hit the 'Soft Close' or 'Hard Close' button. the icon at the upper-left of the dialog box will tell you if you're connected at any given time. Closing your connection (rather than just turning off your modem) will ensure that both your Mac and your ISP know that you're no longer connected (and no longer being charged).
Before you close (or after you reopen), you'll probably want to set up your mail and news readers with their configuration info - see their documentation for that.
If you use different service providers, or if you have more than one number to call, or if you just want to try different settings, go back to the Config PPP control panel, hit 'New...' and enter the different settings. You then select which group of settings to use from the 'PPP Server:' list.
Due to the fact that all software used on a Unix system must be installed on the server, no Macintosh MacTCP-dependent applications can be run with a Unix-only account.
Once again, this is only a small sampling of available Internet software for SLIP/PPP connected Mac users. They are the *best* in their class and were chosen for their ease of use and powerful functions. There are many more pieces of software that will be discussed in future editions/versions of this FAQ. However, with the above tools and applications you will be able to do 90% of things that basic users need to do.
Ancillary applications and "helpers" (various needed utilities) can
either work alone or in unison with several of the aforementioned
Internet applications. Netscape and VA-NewsWatcher need these "helpers"
to run at peak effectiveness. These helpers, when used in conjunction
with other programs that support them, make downloading and uploading a
background task that has the end user swearing that "magic" is occurring
There are many more applications and utilities you will need as your experiences become more varied and your travels become more extensive. Files that are encoded or compressed with suffixes like .arc, .shar, LHarc, .tar, and others will crop up. We will do our best to help new users locate such tools if they become necessary. In time, we will add them to the FAQ and make multiple inquiries unnecessary.
Poor souls who are stuck in a text-based version of cyberspace, like Blue Savannah!, are the only ones who need pay attention to the next little section; little, because it will be just so. To beat a dead horse, we're not here to provide Unix help (although that is starting to appear doubtful), but will do what we can. However, this section also provides SLIP/PPP users with a little information about what is going on when they use their applications. Each SLIP/PPP application is a version (port) of a Unix counterpart and works along the same lines.
The two most popular Unix e-mail systems are Elm and Pine, quite similar in their usage, and not worth explaining in too much detail. It will suffice to say that to compose a message:
That covers the basics of e-mail. The commands may be slightly altered depending upon the system you use, but you can always use the help command. For Pine, just press "?", or, at your main prompt, you can type "man pine" (or whatever e-mail program you happen to have available). "Man" is short for "manual."
Signatures can be added in pico, vi or emacs, simply by creating a file named ".signature" and storing it in your home directory.
Ftp access in Unix is very simple. Once the address for the intended site is known, type, at your main prompt, "ftp whatever.the.name.is"-- obviously, that won't be the name. You must be careful about your typing, though. Many sites include "ftp" in their name, and require it to work. For example, "ftp ftp.hawaii.edu" is a valid command, but "ftp hawaii.edu" is not. However, "ftp sumex-aim.stanford.edu" is valid, while "ftp ftp.sumex-aim.stanford.edu" is not. If you find that you receive a prompt that looks like "ftp>" instead of going anywhere, type "open whatever.the.name.is"-- this should work. You will be greeted by a request for some information; enter it as follows:
Username [emr990]: anonymous (you would type in the "anonymous" part)
Password: emr990@your.address.here (type in your e-mail address)
For security, you will not see your address being typed. Continue anyways. You're in, if the server isn't overloaded. Alternately, you can use ncftp (if it is supported at your site) to bypass the username and password requirements; they would be entered automatically for you. The following are the only commands you will use from now on:
Mr. FTP Explains How To Get A File:
"So, to get a copy of UUCD 2.4, I would go to my home directory, type in 'ftp ftp.hawaii.edu' and hit return. I would wait, and then enter 'anonymous' and my e-mail address. I would then type in 'cd mirrors/info-mac/cmp' (I happen to know that the link 'mirrors' is in the first folder which you could see by typing 'dir' and that the next one is info-mac, and that inside that is cmp - the '/'s are a shortcut) and then 'dir' to list the files in the 'cmp' directory. I would locate a file named 'uucd-24.hqx' and type in 'get uucd-24.hqx'-- it would now be in my home directory once I type in 'quit.' That's it for ftp."
The only Unix newsreader we are familiar with is Tin. Luckily, it is very popular and will be similar to most of those encountered by Unix users. To access Tin from your home directory, you simply type "Tin" (or whatever browser you are using). The default settings for Usenet are usually "subscribed to all groups" or "subscribed to no groups." You certainly do not want to have to deal with 5000 newsgroups every day, so decide upon the ones you certainly will not read, and "U"nsubscribe from them. This may take a while, depending upon the number of newsgroups your server has chosen to access. If you are not subscribed to any, you can "y"ank in all the newsgroups and "s"ubscribe to ones you think you might like ("yank" also lets you see groups you may have unsubscribed to previously).
Navigating in Tin is based loosely on a concept called hypertext (words which act as "buttons" for connecting to other menus), which you will also encounter on the WWW. One newsgroup will be highlighted when you start. It is up to you whether or not you read the articles in that particular newsgroup, or scroll to a more interesting one, using the up and down arrows. When you have decided upon a newsgroup, such as alt.sys.mac.newuser-help, press the right arrow key, and you will be given a list of article subjects and their respective posters. Any time you want to backtrack to the previous level (from article -> list of article -> list of newsgroups -> home directory) use the left arrow. To choose to read an article, scroll to your chosen one, and press the right arrow. Read it from top to bottom, using the up and down arrows to uncover more text. To read the next unread article, you can press the right arrow, or press the left arrow to return to the list of articles. It is that simple. The only other organization on the Usenet is the use of "threads." Each article posted will have a number beside it (ones without are single posts). This number indicates how many replies to that article there have been, each accessible from the primary article by pressing the down arrow when you receive the prompt "next response."
To post, choose "w" and type in your message. Control-x will activate a sequence of questions which will let you post your message. To respond to another person's post, type "f"ollow-up and continue as above. To cross-post to multiple newsgroups (to which your post is relevant), simply type the additional groups after the primary group, seperating each with a comma.
Now that you know how to navigate the Usenet, the next question is clear: "How do I download the files I see?" The absolute flood of posts on the Usenet is easily avoidable. Type "man tin" at your main prompt to access a Tin manual for in-depth instructions. However, downloading instructions are quite simple, and easy to explain. If you want a single file (one post), highlight that post at the article level, and type "s"ave. You will be asked for the type of save ("a"rticle), a name for saving it under in your home directory, and a type of decompression, if necessary. For text, choose "n"one. For a picture file or sound file, choose "u"udecode. For a multi-part picture file, you will need to "t"ag each article (IN ORDER!) in the series before typing "s"ave. You would choose to save the "t"agged articles, and you would "u"udecode them. That simple bit of information is what all the clamorous posts about decoding instructions are seeking to reveal (unless of course you can't use an automatic uudecoder like Tin). Once you leave Tin, all your saved files will be waiting for you on your account, either in your home directory or in a specifically assigned subdirectory like "News" or "Files," which you can specify in the file named "tinrc." To edit tinrc, type "pico tinrc" and change the download folder to suit you.
*Sometimes it is desirable to delete a message you have recently posted; especially for new users who may have inadvertantly posted an embarassing question or posted a "f"ollowup to another post, not realizing that it was being "cross-posted" to many other newsgroups (to which the post was irrelevant). Although it is undocumented, Tin will allow you to do this, if your article is still available on your news server. If you go to the newsgroup in which you posted your message, and "r" (toggle) to yank in the older messages, you can do an "a"uthor search for your own name (or e-mail address). If you access the wrong article, search again. Once you have located the correct article, "d"elete it and confirm your delete. Tin will systematically find every occurrence of your post and delete it from the Usenet. This can be useful in avoiding flames or mailbombs (huge amounts of mail arriving in your inbox and disabling your account). Be careful about posting.
(*Hint contributed by Don Z'Boray)
Unix "talk" (sometimes referred to as chat) is exceptionally easy, and, for some reason, not too well known. Say you want to talk to a friend who uses the same ISP (Internet Service Provider). All you would need to do would be to type in "talk their-username" to "call" the other person. They would reply with "talk your-username" and you would carry on real-time conversations. Control-c ends them. To talk to someone from anywhere else in the world, you would type "talk their-username@their-address" and they would answer likewise. Another talk service, not as common, is "ytalk"-- multi-line "talk" that works exactly like talk, except that you command must include the "y" and so must the other person's. The neat thing is that you can call up a menu by pressing "esc" and invite other users from around the world to join in your conversation. Ask your Systems Administrator if you find that this function is not available on your server.
Sometimes, information is available to the users of another server that is not available to you on yours. Sounds hopeless? Not at all. For this type of access, we use "telnet"-- a means of accessing another computer, with or without an account there. Of course, this does not mean that if you have an account on a server without alt. groups, you can telnet to mine and access them. Telnetting is set up for specific purposes. A few are:
Telnet access is performed much like ftp access. You require an address to "dial" and must insure your server supports telnet. After that, you type:
telnet address.of.the.site (in name or number format)
For example, you might try "telnet 127.0.0.1" just for fun and practice. It returns you to your own account, and puts you through the login process. However, if you think about it, this means that you now have two accounts running: the one you telnetted from, and the one you are currently in. To return to your main account, type "logout" (or whatever your normal signoff phrase is). That is the whole idea behind telnet: allowing access of one account from another.
The first of the Archie Comics characters we meet is Archie. In cyberspace, he is a powerful search tool for finding files in ftp sites. Some servers support an Archie of their own, and you can just enter "archie -s filename" at your main prompt, where "-s" set the search to a subset instead of exact, and "filename" is the name of the file you are looking for. If Archie is not locally supported, there are a number of ways to access it. You can telnet to a whole host (pardon the pun) of servers and utilize their resources. Current Archie servers, as of December 8, 1994, include:*
(*Some information from Bruce Grubb's Mac-FTP-List, with permission)
(Updated version available from any Archie site. Type "servers" after login)
For example, one could "telnet archie.mcgill.ca" and wait. Logon as "archie" (same for all Archie servers), and *immediately* type in "set search sub" (to broaden the search to include all hits that match the typed string). To search, type in "prog searchstring." Wait for Archie to work its magic (sometimes a while) and it will spit out a list of ftp sites and directories where you can obtain your requested file. Copy down the URL and follow the instructions in the FTP section, above. Archie is also accessible by e-mail, but this takes up to a day for a response, and may not be worth the effort.
Telnet can also be used for another exciting, though much more trivial, occupation. IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a multi-user "party-line" system used to converse with other users around the globe to chat and play games. Some servers have what are called IRC clients built in to their system software. If this is the case, you can simply type "IRC" at your main prompt and you will just need to follow the instructions given. If this option is not available to you, you have two choices. You may either compile an IRC client on your account, by ftp-ing one from ftp://ftp.undernet.org:/irc/clients/compiled (be certain this is allowed on your account), or, of course, telnetting! There are a number of IRC telnet addresses which are easy to obtain (and so, we will reproduce them here), but they must be used with respect. Some kind individual has given over his/her computer to supply you with this service. If at all possible, set up your account with a server who supports or allows IRC clients. If you are completely stuck, telnet to any of the following addresses:
telnet telnetX.us.undernet.org 6677 (where "X" is any number from 1-9)
You will be prompted for information from menus that are self explanatory. Like ftp, there are a few commands that you need to know to successfully navigate and enjoy IRC. They are:
Individual games will have their own commands, generally interpreted by "bots" (dummy users that keep channels alive or moderate games). Ask other users for help, and they will be more than willing.
Gopher for Unix is used much like the Usenet. Once you type "gopher" at your main prompt, you get a main menu from which to choose different options. Gophers are localized, so none will have exactly the same options available. However, they all work in the same "hypertext" mode that Usenet does, and that we will see the WWW take to extremes in it's SLIP/PPP form. Gopher is an informational resource finder, a tunnel linking sites all around the world. There are many built in searching mechanisms to choose from, or you can search the world with Veronica (told you we'd return to Archie Comics!). Here is a sample of the gopher server at our university:
Internet Gopher Information Client v2.0.16
World Wide Information
--> 1. The University of Minnesota's Gopher (the original)/
2. Canadian Gophers/
3. Some Interesting Gophers/
4. Gopher Information by Subject Area/
...
10. FTP to a given host (given hostname or host:/path)
11. Search Other Institutions using Jughead/
12. Search Gopher Menu Titles World-Wide Using Veronica/
This last option proves very useful. By typing in a word, a portion of a word, or a combination of words, linked by "and," Veronica will tour the world for you looking up information on the words you have selected. Very similar to Archie: they are both search engines. Gopher has one added bonus that Archie does not: once it has located a file using Veronica, you can simply download it to your home directory without having to visit an ftp site and find it. Needless to say, Gopher is even more enjoyable using the SLIP/PPP aplication, Turbogopher.
Unfortunately for Unix users, this section will be extremely short. Without a GUI, the massively expanding and wonderfully cool WWW is, for all intents and purposes, inaccessible. Some servers have a program named "Lynx" which is supposed to be a text version of the real WWW; it fails miserably, and is often is not worth using at all, even though there are many wonderful things to be missed. Luckily, the "wave of the future" is to go SLIP/PPP, and that can only mean a more colorful and pleasant world for fans of the WWW. The search mechanisms on Lynx are so unstable and convoluted, that it would take a book to begin to outline them. We will only say these two things:
If you are tremendously interested in the WWW (which you should be!), try to convince your ISP to set up a SLIP/PPP account, or look around for a competitive company that already offers one. It's worth it.
If you have a WWW site that you are just DYING to go to, regardless of the miserable experience you will have, type "lynx" at your main prompt, "g"oto at the main screen, and enter the URL of the WWW site in this format:
http://www.address.here/~the/rest/here
Once connected, the hypertext format (which should be familiar to you by now) is quite simple to navigate with, but will inevitably prove fruitless in the graphically-based universe that the World Wide Web is becoming. Some considerate HTML programmers maintain text-based versions of their sites, but, with increasing advances in HTML technology, this is becoming very infrequent.
All of the above activities are, of course, available to SLIP/PPP users as well. And, needless to say, they are much more enjoyable and easy to navigate. However, a detailed explanation of how to use the software listed above would be pointless: there is nothing we can tell you that you can't read for yourself in the applications' corresponding ReadMe or Info files. Please read this documentation first. If you have trouble deciphering the instructions, feel free to ask your questions; however, we ask you not to indiscriminately flood the group with queries that could easily be answered with a little simple reading. We don't mean to sound harsh at all: most authors go through the process of writing a comprehensive manual to accompany their programs. Try to use it. If it seems confusing, come to us. We're more than happy to help.
This FAQ will not cover all the questions you may have about the Internet or your Macintosh. If it did, there would be no point to the newsgroup. This document is meant as an introduction to the Internet world, a starting point for accessing a whole new type of education. Because the Internet is growing larger every day, this means that each day new users are stumbling on from new accounts without a good sense of where to start. Please start with us. We are not computer geniuses, nor do we pretend to be, but we have more than a basic understanding of the Internet community and can help steer you in the right directions. Do not expect immediate solutions to all your problems or other users to act as providers of files (we are a newsgroup, not an ftp site). Moreover, use common sense and courtesy in asking questions and helping others with what you learn on the Internet. If you hate people that post "me too!" messages, or "send it to me!," then teach them how to do it for themselves. Not everyone is born with a mouse in their hand, and sometime you might find yourself needing some help too.
Some important repositories of Macintosh software available on the Internet:
Instead of Stanford's main archive site, they ask that you use one of their mirror sites to reduce traffic and increase availability:
A recent development has required the maintainers of the info-mac archive to relocate from Stanford to MIT. Needless to say, the addresses for info-mac could soon change to reflect this move. The new site is reputed to be info-mac.org, but nothing concrete has been changed to this point. Any changes to these URLs will be reflected in future versions of the FAQ.
If you are lucky enough to have access to a SLIP/PPP connection, try the WWW site:
http://rever.nmsu.edu/~elharo/faq/Macintosh.html
For those of you who live to travel from one Internet site to another, we have a treat for you. In a short time, we will be posting a small application which will act as a fingertip guide to hundreds of Macintosh-related sites. Please watch for this post in our newsgroup and feel free to e-mail us with any additions you wish to make.
NEWSFLASH!!! BIGSURF has been posted to a.s.m.n-h and a.b.p.u; if you missed out on it, please request a re-post. It will probably be the most valuable Internet phone book you ever run across.
NEW NEWSFLASH!!! BIGSURF is now available at all info-mac mirrors and has proven to be a very popular information source. It has gained worldwide-spread recognition and is gaining in size every day. It will soon be transformed into a WWW site, so stay tuned! =)
Some archive methods and Macintosh utilities to encode/decode them:*
.sit | .hqx | --> Stuffit Expander & Drop Stuff with Expander Enhancer .bin | .cpt | --> Compact Pro .uu --> UUCD .zip --> UnZip (or SE & DSw/EE) & Zipit with Zipit Drop Box .gz --> MacGzip .lzh --> MacLHA (decode only) .tar --> SunTar .txt --> no utility needed-- ascii text file .sea --> no utility needed-- self-extracting-archive (double click) .dd --> DiskDoubler or DD Expand (decode only) .image --> DiskCopy or ShrinkWrap
(*Some information from Bruce Grubb's Mac-FTP-List, with permission)
Sometimes it is easier to start your Internet experience by accessing a BBS to familiarize yourself with online navigation, using a Macintosh interface, without installing MacTCP or InterSLIP. If you find the Internet incredibly confusing and would like to start at a more basic level, there are options for you. All major cities have local Bulletin Board Services, or dial-up mini-versions of the Internet. Although we cannot recommend local BBSs to every user, there is one official Apple user group which provides almost all of the freeware/shareware applications necessary for getting started on the Internet. Although you must pay a $30 membership fee, you can subsequently download as much software as you want, paying only the cost of the phone call. The Saskatoon Macintosh User's Group (SMUG) is run for and by its members as a cooperative, and can be reached at 1-306-244-7060. The login process is very simple: follow the instructions to download the Telefinder User 3.2.6 and redial for a free trial run: you are able to write messages asking for help or inquiring about services on your first call, and can browse the library to examine their collection. Although this is not a substitute for the Internet experience, it is a wonderful support service for new users. As a final note, if this long-distance call is too expensive, please contact your local Macintosh Users Group for information on their services.
Decoding Binaries From The Usenet:
Although we have briefly discussed methods for decoding files from the Usenet using Tin and VA-Newswatcher, there are a huge number of people who will be inquiring about "how to see the pictures (or hear the sounds) on the newsgroups." This small bit of information is INCREDIBLY simple, and many new users are under the false impression that they will be able to see the pictures just by looking through the posts. The picture files on the Usenet are similar to applications: you cannot use them until you download them home to your computer. The first thing you should know about them is that they are "uuencoded": changed from a "binary" file to a text file so they can be posted as a message. So, you need to revert them back to binary. How? With a "uudecoder." There are many for Macintosh, the best two being UUCD and UULite. Once you have a copy of this program at home (decompress it with Stuffit Expander if the file has a .sit or .hqx suffix), you are set. If you want to look at a one piece picture (eg. "Banana.jpg [1/1]"), download that message and drag-n-drop it on the UUCD or UULite icon. THAT IS IT! All you need is one of the MANY graphics viewers for Macintosh (GraphicConverter, JPEGView, GIFConverter, etc.) to "open" the picture. If it is a multi-part picure, you need to insure that you download all the parts (eg. [1/2] & [2/2]) and "concatenate" them by choosing "merge" from the uudecoder menu. Decode the same as before and "open" them in a viewer. Not as difficult as many people fear. Sound files work in the same manner, except you need a program like SoundApp or Brian's Sound Tools to listen to them. Although this should be clear, we realize there are many levels of "newbie"-- if you still don't understand decoding, post a question explaining your problem, and we will be happy to help. =) Here is a short step-by-step list of activities to try before you get frustrated with decoding:
All three files should now be usable to help you decode binaries.
That's it. Have fun and keep in touch if you have problems or feel you can help others "learn the ropes."
MacPGP 2.6.2:
Due to the recent controvery in the United States over Internet censorship, the advent of the Clipper Chip and a number of bills in the process of being passed (noooooooo!!!!!), more and more users are becoming concerned about the privacy of their communication. Phil Zimmerman has created the most incredible tool to combat this sense of uneasiness. MacPGP 2.6.2 is an encryption utility unlike any other. It does not rely on any popular file-locking methods; rather, it password protects files with a 500 character "key" which has proven, so far, impossible to break. Although we certainly do not publicly endorse the use of this tool for committing illegal acts, we do support the rights of Internet users to privacy and protection from government intervention. Anyone who would like more information about how to aquire MacPGP 2.6.2 is welcome to inquire in our group, or in alt.security.pgp.
HyperMac Mentors:
While the newsgroup is a great place to discuss common problems, newusers may sometimes feel intimidated by the fact that, potentially, thousands of people will read their pleas for help. If this is the case with you, and you desperately need help, the HyperMac Mentors are availble to deal with you one-on-one via personal e-mail. Visit their site in the most recent version of BIGSURF Netguide.
If you are interested in having your name included on the HyperMac Mentor list, please send e-mail directly to me at:
stating you name (or pseudonym), e-mail address and primary intersts. I will include your name on the list and alert you when and where it is posted. Please consider allowing your name to be added. Chances are you will not be too inconvenienced and you retain the right to have your name removed at any time.
Thanks to all who volunteer.
*Disclaimer: This document is copywritten (1995) by the authors and is not to be reproduced, altered or quoted from in any form whatsoever, electronically or otherwise, without prior written consent from either Pinochle or Blue Savannah!