Setting Up Connect Actions

Your service profile can be set up to automatically start programs or install software on the user’s computer after the user establishes a connection. You can also specify when during the connection each program will run (either when a connection is established or after connecting).

The following options are available:

Automatically download phone book updates. Select this to set up your service profile so that users automatically receive any phone book updates. Connection Manager sends query variables to the server running Phone Book Service so that the server can compare the user's phone book version with the most recent files available and then download the appropriate phone book updates. Downloading occurs while the user is connected. The update is installed after the connection is closed. The next time Connection Manager is used, the updated access numbers and connection configurations are available.
Use subscribers’ existing log on information. Select this to set up your service profile to use MCIS Membership authentication. If this option is selected, the user name and password are automatically used at Web pages that require them. If this option is not selected, the user will be prompted to type a user name and password at Web pages that require them.
Custom connect actions. Lists the connect-action programs already set up. Following each program is the connect action type: (Connect) identifies a connect action run when connecting, and (Disconnect) identifies a connect action run after disconnecting.
Move Up. Click this to move a connect action up in the list. Programs start in the order listed.
Move Down. Click this to move a connect action down in the list.
Add. Click this to add a new connect action.
Edit. Click this to edit a selected connect action in the Custom connect actions list.
Delete. Click this to delete a selected connect action in the Custom connect actions list.

Adding or Editing Connect Actions

You can specify the connect-action program you want to run on the user’s computer and when it will run during the user’s connection to your service.

Note

When you set up connect actions, consider your users’ time and their computers’ performance. Set up connect actions that provide users with a smooth experience when they are using your service. Test your service profile prior to distribution.

The following options are available:

Program to run. Type or browse to the program file name you want to run.

Parameters. Type any command-line parameters you want executed with the program. The following special command-line parameter macros are supported:

Macro	Replaced with

%UserPrefix%	The realm user-name prefix you have specified
%UserSuffix%	The realm user-name suffix you have specified
%UserName%	The user name, without any realm user-name prefix or suffix specified
%Profile%	The location and file name of the active connection profile (.cmp) file

Connection type.
- Run when connecting. Select this to start the program on the user’s computer after a connection is established.
- Run when disconnecting. Select this to start the program on the user’s computer before the connection is ended.

Note

If you are setting up a service profile to use secure connection, connect actions that are specified as run when connecting execute after the secure connection has been established. Connect actions that are configured as run when disconnecting execute after disconnection.

Include the connect action program in this service profile. If the program you want to run is not part of the standard Windows operating system, you can include the program in your service profile. When the user installs the service profile, the profile’s Setup program checks the user’s available disk space before installing. The service profile installs the connect-action program in the service profile’s folder.

Tip

Consider the overall size of your service profile in relation to your distribution method. For example, if you are distributing by download, consider the additional download time for users.

Using a wizard dialog box that appears later, you can include additional optional files in your service profile. For more information, see “Adding Files to the Service Profile.”

Important

Specify only programs that are complete program files. You can include one program file per connect-action program. Do not specify a connect-action program that requires other files or is a self-extracting executable (.exe) file.