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Microsoft OnLine User's Guide for IBM(R) Personal Computers and Compatibles Version 1.0 Microsoft Corporation Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The software and/or databases described in this document are furnished under a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software and/or databases may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms or the agreement. The purchaser may make one copy of the software for backup purposes. No part of this manual and/or databases may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information and retrieval systems, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use, without the written permission of Microsoft Corporation. (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1988. All rights reserved. Simultaneously published in the U.S. and Canada. Microsoft(R), the Microsoft logo, MS-DOS(R), QuickC(TM), and Xenix(R) are registered and unregistered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Apple(R) is a registered trademark of Apple Computers, Inc. CP/M(R) is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc. GEnie(TM), Mark III(TM), and Quick-Comm(TM) are trademarks of General Electric Company, U.S.A. Hayes(R) is a registered trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. IBM(R), XT(R), AT(R), and PS/2(R) are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Turbo Pascal(R) is a registered trademark of Borland International, Inc. Document No. 41087001-100-R00-0588 Part No. 02266 Table of Contents ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Chapter 1 Before You Begin Getting Information through Microsoft OnLine Operational Overview For More Information For Installation Problems For Account Information For Contacting the Bulletin Board Editor For Inquiring About Service Request Status About This Manual Symbols Used in This Manual Using the Microsoft OnLine Menus Displaying a Menu Choosing an Item on a Menu Moving Backwards through the Menus Removing a Menu Getting Help Displaying a Help Screen from the Menu Displaying a Help Screen from a Dialog Box Using the Keyboard with Microsoft OnLine Selecting Icons Using Dialog Boxes Deleting Characters Inserting Characters Removing a Dialog Box Reading Alerts Printing Alerts Saving Alerts to a Disk File Using the Shell to DOS Icon Chapter 2 Installing Microsoft OnLine Before You Begin Who to Contact for More Information System Requirements Hardware Software Setting Up Your Modem Setting Up Your Printer Installing the Microsoft OnLine Software Setting Up Microsoft OnLine Setting Up Communications Parameters Setting Up the Communications Profile Setting Up Display Options Setting Up the ONLINE.INI File Changing Your Installation Parameters Changing the Key to Display the Menus Changing Communications Parameters Changing Communications Profile Changing Display Options Changing Your Password Testing Your Installation Chapter 3 Starting and Quitting Microsoft OnLine Starting Microsoft OnLine Selecting an Icon Displaying a Menu Connecting to the Service Disconnecting from the Service Disconnecting by Selecting an Icon Quitting Microsoft OnLine Chapter 4 Finding Answers with Microsoft OnLine About the Information Sources The Membership Book The Software Library The KnowledgeBase Posting Your Information in the Membership Book Syntax Rules for Searching the Information Sources Using Logical Operators Using the AND Operator Using the OR Operator Using the NOT Operator Using Multiple Operators Getting a Bug or Documentation Error List Getting a Bug List Getting a Documentation Error List Using Other Operators Using Range Indicators Using the Suffix-Masking Operator Using the Segment Title Operator Using the Segment Date Operator Combining Search Words Excluding Press Releases Displaying a List of Topics Displaying Search Hints Searching the Information Sources Displaying Titles of Matching Items Opening an Item Downloading Items from the Information Sources Saving Text Items to Disk Printing Text Items Saving File Items to Disk Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket Creating a Message with Information from the KnowledgeBase Creating a Message Saving a Message Addressing and Sending a Message Chapter 5 Creating and Sending Service Requests Overview About ROP Files For Information about Your Service Request Status About Service Request Priorities Priority A - Critical Priority B - Urgent Priority C - Important Priority D - Needed Priority E - Interesting Priority F - No response is necessary About Service Responses Creating a Service Request Moving Around the Service Request Entry Form Creating a Service Request Header Creating a Description File Attaching a Description File Including an Attachment File Creating a Supplemental Service Request Updating a Service Request Header Editing a Description File Sending a Service Request Receiving a Service Response Viewing a Service Request or Response Viewing a Service Request Viewing a Service Response Printing a Service Request or Response Printing a Service Request Printing a Service Response Deleting a Service Request or Response Deleting a Service Request Deleting a Service Response About Service Request Statuses Changing Service Request Status Chapter 6 Using Electronic Mail For More Information about Microsoft OnLine Cutting Costs Using Microsoft OnLine About the Address Books About the Out Baskets About the In Baskets Using the Keyboard with Electronic Mail Moving the Highlight Deleting Characters Inserting Characters Starting a New Line Using Wordwrap Marking a Block Removing a Block Marker Copying a Block Deleting a Block Moving a Block Creating Your Local Address Book Importing an ASCII File Attaching a Comment Saving Your Local Address Book Printing Your Local Address Book Removing Your Local Address Book Creating an Electronic Mail Message Creating a Message Importing an ASCII File Cutting and Pasting Returning to Edit a Message Closing a Message Saving an Electronic Mail Message Editing an Electronic Mail Message Erasing an Electronic Mail Message Addressing an Electronic Mail Message Searching the Service Address Book for an Address Displaying the Find Service Address Dialog Box Searching the Service Address Book Copying Addresses from the Service Address Book Displaying the Contents of the Out Basket Sending an Electronic Mail Message Connecting to the Service Sending All Messages Sending Selected Messages Correcting an Address Removing an Item Removing a Message Removing a File Item Finding Out Who Has Read Your Message Uploading a File to Another Subscriber Forwarding an Electronic Mail Message Printing an Electronic Mail Message Working with Electronic Mail Messages from Others Reading a Message Reading Multiple Messages Printing a Message Saving File Items to Disk Saving Messages to Disk Responding to a Message Storing Items in Your Local In Basket Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet Creating a New List Copying Items to a List Moving Items Between Lists Deleting Items in a List Deleting a List Chapter 7 Using the Exchange Finding an Item in the Exchange Downloading Items Saving a File to Disk Saving a Text Item to Disk Printing a Text Item Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket Posting an Item on the Exchange Posting a Text Item Posting a File Removing Your Contribution Chapter 8 Microsoft OnLine Reference Displaying System Status Displaying Communications Line Status Displaying System Usage Information Printing System Usage Information Saving System Usage Information to Disk Menu Commands Non-Service Menus Service Menus Main Screen Menu (Non-Service) EDIT ONLINE-INFO ADDRESS-BOOKS SET-UP QUIT Local Filing Cabinet Menu (Non-Service) EDIT OUTPUT MOVE COPY ADD-LIST DELETE QUIT Local In Basket Editor Menu (Non-Service) PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK RESPOND TO-SKIP-REMAINING Local Out Basket List Menu (Non-Service) EDIT RE-ADDRESS MODIFY-MESSAGE CANCEL QUIT Local Out Basket Editor Menu (Non-Service) PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK TO-SKIP-REMAINING Editor Menu (Non-Service) RESUME CLOSE FILE SEND IMPORT PASTE Service Request Mgr Menu (Non-Service) RESPONSES CREATE STATUS DELETE PRINT UPDATE EDITOR Service Response Menu (Non-Service) REQUESTS DELETE PRINT Main Screen Menu (Service) EDIT OUTPUT CHANGE-PASSWORD STATUS ADDRESS-BOOKS QUIT Alert Menu (Service) PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK Exchange List Menu (Service) EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS REMOVE QUIT Exchange Editor Menu (Service) PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK ADD-TO-LOCAL TO-SKIP-REMAINING Service In Basket List Menu (Service) EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS RELEASE FORWARD WHO'S READ QUIT Service In Basket Editor Menu (Service) PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK RESPOND ADD-TO-LOCAL TO-SKIP-REMAINING Service Out Basket List Menu (Service) EDIT OUTPUT RE-ADDRESS MODIFY-MESSAGE SEND-OUTBASKET CANCEL QUIT Service Out Basket Editor Menu (Service) PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK TO-SKIP-REMAINING KnowledgeBase and Library Search Menus (Service) BEGIN-SEARCH DISPLAY-TITLES TOPICS SEARCH-HINTS KnowledgeBase and Library Title List Menus (Service) EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS RESPECIFY-SEARCH KnowledgeBase and Library Editor Menus (Service) PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK ADD-TO-LOCAL TO-SKIP-REMAINING Appendix A Microsoft OnLine Messages Message Codes 0 - 99 Message Codes 100 -199 Message Codes 200 - 299 Message Codes 300 - 399 Message Codes 400 - 499 Message Codes 500 - 599 Message Codes 600 - 699 Message Codes 700 - 799 Message Codes 900 - 999 Message Codes 4001 - 4999 Message Codes 5000 - 5999 Message Codes 6000 - 6999 Message Codes 9000 - 9999 Appendix B Terms Appendix C Customizing Microsoft OnLine Icon Picture Definition Icon Definition Records Icon Definition Fields Picture Tag Title When PCExit PCHandle Command HSExit HSString Sample BT50.ZIF Modification Icon Picture Definition Icon Definition Records Appendix D Creating Dialog Files Special Characters Rules for Creating Dialog Files Dialog File Commands BREAK CASE DROP n DUMP EOL \hexval\ | NONE GOTO <label> LABEL <label> MASK <pin> <switch> SEND 'data' SEND 'data[N]data' TIMEOUT <number> WAITFOR <time> WAITFOR <pin> WAITFOR 'text' [ELSE <label>] Contents of a Sample LOGON.DIA File Index Chapter 1. Before You Begin ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes: ■ Getting information from Microsoft OnLine. ■ An operational overview of Microsoft OnLine. ■ Who to call or send an Electronic Mail Message to for assistance or more information. ■ This manual's use of symbols. ■ Using the Microsoft OnLine Menus. ■ Displaying and removing Help screens. ■ Using the keyboard with Microsoft OnLine. ■ Reading, printing, and saving Alerts, which are important information posted on the System by the Microsoft System Administrator. ■ Using the Shell to DOS Icon. Microsoft OnLine is a technical support system designed for information center managers and software developers who use Microsoft software products. With Microsoft OnLine, you can access information on bulletin boards, search through libraries for specific answers, and submit Service Requests directly to Microsoft's Support Engineers. The key to your Microsoft OnLine System is the Microsoft OnLine microcomputer program, which you can use to prepare and send Service Requests, to receive a response to your Service Requests, to search the Information Sources, to send and receive Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Messages, and to send and receive information from other subscribers through the Exchange. You can also configure the Microsoft OnLine program to meet your specific needs. Telephone links established by dialing through the Microsoft OnLine System send your call to Microsoft or to another subscriber, as appropriate. At the Microsoft end, your Service Request is routed to the Support Engineer with the relevant product expertise to answer your questions. Behind the Microsoft OnLine System and the Support Engineers stand the Microsoft Support Management Team. This team is committed to giving the Support Engineers the necessary management backup to ensure that you get the information you need. Getting Information through Microsoft OnLine Microsoft OnLine offers many ways for you to get information. We recommend that you follow this sequence when requesting information in order to get the most from your Microsoft OnLine subscription. You can get information fastest from the Information Sources. Editors at Microsoft post information and resolutions to other subscribers' Service Requests in the Information Sources, which are text databases that you can search. The Information Sources are the KnowledgeBase, the Membership Book, and the Software Library. You'll get accurate and up-to-date product information, ranging from articles and announcements to detailed technical information. Enlist the experience and expertise of other Microsoft OnLine subscribers. You can use the Exchange to post your questions, ideas, tips, or answers for other Microsoft OnLine subscribers. And, since other subscribers also post this type of information, you may be able to find an answer to your specific question. Use Quik-Comm Electronic Mail to send and receive messages quickly. You can use Electronic Mail to send and receive messages and files. Send a Service Request if you can't find the answer to your question in the Information Sources. Use a Service Request to request specific, detailed answers to your questions. The answer to your Service Request, minus any confidential information, will also be posted in the KnowledgeBase for use by other subscribers. Operational Overview Microsoft OnLine has two general modes of operation: Disconnected from the Service and Connected to the Service. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Because you are billed for the time that you are connected to the Service, it is to your advantage to do as much of your work as possible while disconnected from the Service. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When your microcomputer is disconnected from the Service, use Microsoft OnLine to: ■ Create, edit, and address Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Messages. ■ Change your Local Address Book, which you use to address your Electronic Mail Messages. ■ Change your Setup Parameters, such as phone number or modem baud rate. ■ Create and edit Service Requests. ■ Manage items in your Local Filing Cabinet. When your microcomputer is connected to the Service, use Microsoft OnLine to: ■ Send and receive files and Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Messages. ■ Send Service Requests to Microsoft and receive Service Responses, which are responses to these requests. ■ Search the Information Sources for specific information and download that information to your computer. ■ Change your Password. For More Information If you need specific information that you can't find in the Information Sources, the Exchange, or this User's Guide, Microsoft OnLine has several Electronic Mail Aliases and two phone numbers you can use. One phone number is for installation problems and another phone number is for account or billing information. To use the aliases, you need to know how to use Microsoft OnLine Electronic Mail, which is described in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail." For Installation Problems If you're having installation or operation problems, call (206) 882-8089 for assistance. For example, call this number if you have all the information and tools you need, but the System isn't working properly or you get busy signals when you try to connect to the Service. For Account Information If you have questions about your account, you can call the (800-443-4672) for assistance. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Do not use this phone number to inquire about your Service Request status. Use the alias SR-STATUS to inquire about your Service Request status. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Call this number when you: ■ Need information or tools to get Microsoft OnLine working properly on your computer. For example, you've ordered the software, but it hasn't arrived yet or you don't know your Password. ■ Have a question about your subscription. For example, if you have questions about billing or renewing your subscription. If you need account information, you can send Electronic Mail to the alias ACCOUNT. Use this alias when you: ■ Need subscription renewal, options, or cost information. ■ Have questions about billing. ■ Want to change your address, phone number, or contact person. For Contacting the Bulletin Board Editor If you want to contact the Bulletin Board Editor, send Electronic Mail to the alias EDITOR. Use this alias when you: ■ Want to comment on the Microsoft OnLine Service as a whole. ■ Have general questions about the Service. ■ Need general help for operating Microsoft OnLine. ■ Want to submit a problem you are having with the Microsoft OnLine Service. ■ Want to make a suggestion about the Microsoft OnLine Service. You can also post suggestions publicly in the Exchange. The Editor will always respond to your input. For Inquiring About Service Request Status If you want to inquire about the status of your Service Request, send Electronic Mail to the alias SR-STATUS. You should inquire about the status of your Service Request only if you haven't received an acknowledgement to your request within 24 hours or if there has been a long period of time since the last response from Microsoft. Please include the Service Request Reference ID Number, the product name, and the priority of your request. The Editor will respond with the current status of your Service Request. About This Manual This manual describes how to use Microsoft OnLine to get information over the phone lines from Microsoft and other subscribers. This manual assumes you are familiar with operating a microcomputer, modem, and associated software (applications and operating systems). Symbols Used in This Manual The symbols used in this manual have the following meanings: ▄▄▄ This box indicates a procedure follows. 1. Numbered lists indicate sequential steps for completing a procedure. ■ A single square bullet indicates a one-step procedure. More than one square bullet indicates a list of items or topics. ALL CAPITALS indicate the names of programs and their files. When you type the names, you can use either uppercase or lowercase letters. ITALICS indicate words and characters you type on the keyboard or see on the screen or the name of documents. Italics are also used for emphasizing important words, such as the alias EDITOR. STANDOUT ALL CAPITALS indicate keynames, for example ENTER, SHIFT, UP, or DOWN. When you use commands that require pressing the CTRL key and another key, make certain that you press both keys simultaneously. In this manual, pressing the CTRL key and another key at the same time is denoted as CTRL+X. Using the Microsoft OnLine Menus Microsoft OnLine displays different menus at the top of your screen depending on which dialog box or screen is displayed. You can display or remove the menu whenever you want to. You display the menu by pressing a specific key, which you can define as a function, ALT, or CTRL key combination. Or you can press the default key F1 to display the menus. For information on how to redefine a key to display the menus, see Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine." Some dialog boxes also display a menu at the bottom. Usually these menus have two or three items, such as YES, NO, and HELP. You use the same keystrokes to choose items in these small menus that you use to choose items in the menus displayed at the top of the screen. Displaying a Menu ▄▄▄ To display a menu ■ Press the F1 key or the key that you defined to display the menus. This manual assumes you are using the F1 key. Choosing an Item on a Menu ▄▄▄ To choose an item on the menu 1. Once you've displayed the menu, press the SPACEBAR, BACKSPACE, or LEFT or RIGHT keys to move the highlight to select the item you want. 2. Press ENTER. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SHORTCUT When a menu is displayed, you can select a menu item by pressing the first letter of that item. For example, when a menu is displayed, you can press E to choose EDIT. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Moving Backwards through the Menus ▄▄▄ To move backwards in the menu tree ■ Press ESC. Removing a Menu ▄▄▄ To remove a menu ■ Press ESC. Getting Help Microsoft OnLine displays different Help screens depending on what dialog box or screen is displayed. You can display a Help screen from the menu that appears at the top of the display or from a dialog box. Displaying a Help Screen from the Menu ▄▄▄ To display a Help screen from the menu 1. Display the screen for which you want help. 2. Display the menu by pressing F1 or the key you defined to display the menus. 3. Choose HELP from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a Help screen for the current screen. ▄▄▄ To use menu help ■ Choose NEXT to display the next Help screen on the same topic. ■ Choose PREVIOUS to display the previous Help screen on the same topic. ▄▄▄ To remove a Help screen ■ Press ESC or choose RESUME from the menu on the Help screen. Microsoft OnLine returns to the screen displayed when you chose Help. Displaying a Help Screen from a Dialog Box ▄▄▄ To display a Help screen from a dialog box 1. Display the dialog box for which you want help. 2. Choose HELP from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a Help screen for the current dialog box. ▄▄▄ To use dialog box help ■ Choose NEXT to display the next Help screen on the same topic. ■ Choose PREVIOUS to display the previous Help screen on the same topic. ▄▄▄ To remove a Help screen ■ Press ESC or choose RESUME from the menu on the Help screen. Microsoft OnLine returns to the dialog box or screen displayed when you chose Help. Using the Keyboard with Microsoft OnLine Selecting Icons You select icons to accomplish a task (for example, connecting to the Service), to display information (for example, the contents of the In or Out Basket), and to gain access to the KnowledgeBase, the Exchange, and the Libraries. You can't select an empty box on the display. ▄▄▄ To select an icon ■ Use the direction keys to position the highlight on the icon and press ENTER. Using Dialog Boxes You use the dialog boxes to enter information like your System Access Number and Password. When OnLine displays a dialog box, the following keyboard functions are available. To Move the Highlight Press To the previous field UP or SHIFT+TAB on a dialog box To the next field on DOWN or TAB a dialog box Left one character LEFT Right one character RIGHT Deleting Characters To Delete Press The highlighted character DEL The character immediately BACKSPACE to the left of the highlight All the characters to the CTRL+D right of the cursor on the current line Inserting Characters ▄▄▄ To insert characters ■ Press the INSERT key. Microsoft OnLine toggles between Insert Mode and Overtype Mode when you press the INSERT key. The default setting is Overtype Mode. Removing a Dialog Box ▄▄▄ To remove a dialog box ■ Press ESC. Reading Alerts When you are connected to the Service and you see an Alert Icon on the Main Screen, open it immediately. The Alert Icon is reserved for important information or special announcements posted by the Microsoft System Administrator. You can read the alert, print it on your printer, or save it to a disk file. ▄▄▄ To read the Alert ■ Select the Alert Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Alert Text. ▄▄▄ To remove the Alert Text ■ Press ESC. Printing Alerts ▄▄▄ To print the Alert on your printer 1. After you've selected the Alert Icon, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose PRINT. Saving Alerts to a Disk File ▄▄▄ To save the Alert to a disk file 1. After you've selected the Alert Icon, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SAVE-ON-DISK. Microsoft OnLine displays a dialog box for you to fill in. 3. Type the name of the file in which you want to save the Alert. 4. Choose YES from the menu and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine copies the Alert to the file you specified on your disk. If you decide that you don't want to save the Alert, choose NO and press ENTER. Using the Shell to DOS Icon The Shell to DOS Icon allows you to run other programs and DOS commands without quitting Microsoft OnLine. If you change subdirectories, be sure to change back to the subdirectory where the Microsoft OnLine program files are located before typing exit. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT When you select the Shell to DOS Icon while you are connected to the Service, be sure to return to Microsoft OnLine within 7 or 8 minutes. If you are connected to the Service and there has been no transmission activity for 10 minutes, you will be disconnected from the Service without warning. If this happens, you may need to reboot your microcomputer to recover. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ▄▄▄ To use the Shell to DOS Icon 1. Select the Shell to DOS Icon and press ENTER. 2. Type the filename to start a program or type a DOS command. 3. When done, type exit at the DOS prompt to return to Microsoft OnLine. Chapter 2. Installing Microsoft OnLine ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes how to: ■ Determine if you have the proper hardware and software to run Microsoft OnLine. ■ Install Microsoft OnLine software. ■ Set up Microsoft OnLine. ■ Change Installation Parameters. Before you try to install Microsoft OnLine, check that you have your Microsoft OnLine enrollment information which came in a separate mailing from this manual Before You Begin Who to Contact for More Information If you have problems installing the software, if it doesn't work properly, or if you have questions about your account, you can call the phone numbers or send an Electronic Mail Message to the aliases listed in the section titled "For More Information" in Chapter 1, "Before You Begin." System Requirements You'll need the following hardware and software to install and run Microsoft OnLine: Hardware ■ An IBM XT, AT, or PS/2 or compatible with 500K free memory. ■ A hard disk. ■ A monochrome or color display with an appropriate adapter card. ■ A printer (optional). ■ A telephone line you can use with a modem. ■ An internal or external modem that is 100% Hayes-compatible and can run at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud. If the modem is external, you'll also need a serial or multifunction card with appropriate cables. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT You can find additional information about memory, installation, and configuration requirements in the README.DOC file on the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program 2 disk in 3.5-inch format. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Software ■ MS-DOS (Version 3.0 or later) or compatible. ■ Microsoft OnLine software, which consists of four 5.25-inch disks (two Program and two Utilities disks) or two 3.5-inch disks (two Program disks). ■ A FILES=20 statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. Depending on your system, you may want to set the maximum number of files as greater than 20. ■ DOS Path set to point to location of the COMMAND.COM file. ■ The text editor of your choice. Setting Up Your Modem Before you can install Microsoft OnLine, you need to set up your modem hardware. Follow the instructions in your modem manufacturer's documentation for installation. However, you don't need to use the DOS Mode command to configure the serial port connected to the modem because Microsoft OnLine configures the port automatically when you connect to the Service. Setting Up Your Printer You can print messages and other items from Microsoft OnLine on the printer attached to your computer. The default printer port is LPT1. You can redirect the output to the serial ports using the DOS Mode command. For more information, see your DOS manual. Installing the Microsoft OnLine Software Microsoft OnLine runs as an application under DOS. You can install and run Microsoft OnLine on your microcomputer hard disk. You can assign any name to the subdirectory where the Microsoft OnLine files reside; this manual uses the subdirectory name \online. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT You can find additional information about memory, installation, and configuration requirements in the README.DOC file on the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program 2 disk in 3.25-inch format. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ▄▄▄ To install Microsoft OnLine on a hard disk 1. Put the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program 2 disk in 3.5-inch format into your disk drive. 2. Type x: install z\nnnnnnnn and press ENTER. x is the drive designator for the drive that contains the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 or Program disk 2. z is the drive designator for the disk on which you want to install Microsoft OnLine. \nnnnnnnn is the subdirectory where you want to install Microsoft OnLine. 3. Follow the instructions on the screen. 4. Edit the ONLINE.INI file. See the section titled "Setting Up the ONLINE.INI File" in this chapter for information. 5. Put the statement FILES=20 in your CONFIG.SYS file. Depending on your system, you may want to set the maximum number of files as greater than 20. 6. Set your DOS Path to point to the subdirectory where COMMAND.COM is located. Setting Up Microsoft OnLine Once you've installed the software and the modem, you need to configure Microsoft OnLine for communication with the Service. Before you set up the software for communications, you'll need to know your: ■ System Access Number. ■ System Password. ■ Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Address. ■ Quik-Comm Password. ■ Telephone number used to establish communications with the Service. Your Microsoft System Administrator should provide this information for you. If you don't have all this information, see the section titled "For More Information" in Chapter 1, "Before You Begin." You can change the Configuration Parameters at any time either permanently or until you quit the program. If you choose to save the Configuration Parameters, these changes are written to the file BTCONFIG. If you choose to use the Configuration Parameters only until you quit the program, these changes will not be saved; and the next time you start the program, the Configuration Parameters in the file BTCONFIG will be used. To set Configuration Parameters for the first time, you'll set up: ■ Communications Parameters. ■ Communications Profile. ■ Display Options. Setting Up Communications Parameters ▄▄▄ To set Communications Parameters 1. Start Microsoft OnLine by typing online at the DOS prompt from the subdirectory containing the program files and press ENTER. If you're starting the program for the first time, Microsoft OnLine displays the Communications dialog box, where you enter information for establishing communications with the Service. 2. Type your System Access Number and press ENTER. 3. Type your System Password and press ENTER. For security reasons, Microsoft OnLine doesn't display the System Password when you type it. Instead, Microsoft OnLine displays an exclamation point (!) for each character you type. 4. Type your Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Address and press ENTER. 5. Type the telephone number that the modem will dial to connect to the Service and press ENTER. If you need to dial an outside line before dialing the phone number to access the Service, type the number to get an outside line followed by a comma (,). The comma inserts a half-second delay; you can also include more than one comma if you need more time. For example, if the number to get an outside line is 9, you need a one-second delay to connect to the outside line, and the number you want to dial is (206) 555-1111, you would type 9,,2065551111. 6. Select the communications port that the modem is connected to and press ENTER. The default communication port is COM1. 7. Select the baud rate for your modem and press ENTER. The default baud rate is 1200, but you can change it if your modem operates at a higher or lower baud rate. 8. Choose YES to save the data you entered in the configuration file BTCONFIG. If you choose NO during initial installation, you will be returned to DOS and none of the parameters you chose will be saved. Setting Up the Communications Profile If you're starting the program for the first time, you set up Communication Parameters and then Microsoft OnLine displays the Profile dialog box, which You fill in to choose how it works with your microcomputer. ▄▄▄ To set up the Communications Profile 1. On the first line, Data Location, type the disk drive letter and the subdirectory where you want Microsoft OnLine to store your Out Basket and any temporary files it creates. Then press ENTER. You should select the drive with the greatest amount of storage space available and the subdirectory you type should already exist. You can use the subdirectory that contains the program and Help files, or you can create a subdirectory under this subdirectory, to store the data files. If you create a subdirectory for data files that is different from the subdirectory for the program files, be sure that the file BT50.ZIF is in the subdirectory containing the data files. 2. Select Sound ON or OFF and press ENTER. If you select ON, Microsoft OnLine sounds tones when you open or close dialog boxes or icons, or mark items in a list. If you select OFF, Microsoft OnLine doesn't sound tones except for invalid keystrokes. 3. Select Debug ON or OFF and press ENTER. If you select ON, Microsoft OnLine generates a log file named between your computer and the Service. Typically, you would set Debug OFF, which is the default setting; set Debug ON if you need a diagnostic aid should a communication problem occur. You should leave Debug OFF unless you are asked to turn it ON by your Microsoft System Administrator. 4. Choose YES to save the data you entered in the configuration file BTCONFIG. If you choose NO during initial installation, you will be returned to DOS and none of the parameters you chose will be saved. Setting Up Display Options Display Options control how Microsoft OnLine displays lists of messages. In general, you can select FIFO (First In First Out) or LIFO (Last In First Out) for the lists that display unread messages, read messages, and messages you have sent. Select the Display Option you want for each of the lists. LIFO displays the newest messages at the top of the lists. FIFO displays the newest messages at the bottom of the lists. ▄▄▄ To set Display Options 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SET-UP. 3. Choose QUIK-COMM-OPTIONS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Display Options dialog box. 4. For the Unread Quik-Comms List, which contains messages sent to you that you haven't read yet, select LIFO or FIFO and press ENTER. 5. For the Read Quik-Comms List, which contains messages sent to you that you have read, select LIFO or FIFO and press ENTER. 6. For the Sent Quik-Comms List, which contains messages you've sent to other subscribers, select LIFO or FIFO and press ENTER. 7. For Read Items using, choose LIST or SCAN. If you choose LIST, Microsoft OnLine will take messages out of your Service In Basket and put them in the Read Quik-Comm List in your Local In Basket after you have read the message. If you choose SCAN, Microsoft OnLine will not remove read messages from your Service In Basket; even though you have read a message, it will not be placed in your Local In Basket. 8. Choose YES to save this information in the configuration file BTCONFIG. Choose NO to use these options until you quit the program. Setting Up the ONLINE.INI File The file ONLINE.INI contains information that Microsoft OnLine needs to process your Service Requests. You open this file with your favorite editor or with the Microsoft OnLine editor, enter the information without embedding control or extended characters, and then save it as an ASCII (unformatted) file. The ONLINE.INI file should be in the same subdirectory as the Microsoft OnLine program files. Here's an example of the contents of the ONLINE.INI file: Editor:c:\word4\word.com ;DOS path/file limitation (include extension) Printer:PRN ;printer device RefCon:IBM PC with Mach 20 ;65-char max hardware configuration First Name:John ;15-char max Last Name:Doe ;20-char max Phone:(206) 555-4587 ;21-char max ▄▄▄ To set up the ONLINE.INI file 1. Open the file ONLINE.INI with your editor. 2. On the Editor line, type the drive designator, the full path name for your editor, and the .COM or .EXE file used to start the editor. You can type up to 63 characters including spaces. 3. On the Printer line, type the printer port your computer will be using. If you type PRN, you can redirect the output with DOS. You can also type LPT1: for a parallel printer. You can type up to 5 characters. 4. On the RefCon line, type the model of computer you are using. You can type up to 65 characters. Be sure to include any accelerator, expanded memory, or network cards. This information will assist Microsoft in providing a timely, accurate response to your Service Request. 5. On the Name lines, type your first and last names. You can type up to 15 characters including spaces for the first name and up to 20 characters for the last name. 6. On the Phone line, type your area code and phone number. You can type up to 21 characters including spaces. 7. Save the file as an ASCII (unformatted) file. Changing Your Installation Parameters After initial installation, you may want to change your Installation Parameters for a single communications session or permanently. When you change the parameters and choose NO at the bottom of the dialog boxes, Microsoft OnLine will use the parameters you selected only until you quit the program. When you change these parameters permanently by choosing YES at the bottom of the dialog boxes, Microsoft OnLine stores the information in the configuration file BTCONFIG. You can change the following Installation Parameters: ■ The key you press to display the menus (for all modules except the Service Request module). ■ Communications Parameters. ■ Communications Profile. ■ Display Options. ■ Your Password. Changing the Key to Display the Menus You can change the key you press to display the menus in all modules except for the Service Request Mgr Module. In the Service Request Mgr Module, you must press the F1 key to display the menu. ▄▄▄ To change the key used to display the menus 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 or the key you defined to display the menus. 2. Choose SET-UP from the menu. 3. Choose KEYS from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a dialog box where you can select the key or a combination of keys. 4. If you want to use a function key other than F1, just press that function key. If you want to use an ALT or CTRL key combination, press the ALT or CTRL key followed by the other key. In either case, Microsoft OnLine displays the keystroke you entered and bolds YES at the bottom of the dialog box. If you want to change the key again before choosing YES, press SHIFT+TAB to move the highlight up so you can select another key. You can't use the ENTER and direction keys, such as UP, DOWN, or END, to display the menu. In addition, don't use an alphanumeric key because you won't be able to use that key for text entry. 5. Choose YES at the bottom of the dialog box if you want to save the new key in the configuration file. Or choose NO if you want to use the new keystroke only until you quit the program. Changing Communications Parameters ▄▄▄ To change Communications Parameters 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SET-UP. 3. Choose COMMUNICATIONS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Communications dialog box. 4. Make any changes you need to the items on this dialog box. If you are not sure what each of these items does, see the section titled "Setting Up Communications Parameters" earlier in this chapter. Changing Communications Profile ▄▄▄ To change Communications Profile information 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SET-UP. 3. Choose PROFILE. Microsoft OnLine displays the Profile dialog box. 4. Make any changes you need to the items on this dialog box. If are you not sure what each of these items does, see the section titled "Setting Up Communications Profile" earlier in this chapter. Changing Display Options ▄▄▄ To change the Display Options 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SET-UP. 3. Choose QUIK-COMM OPTIONS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Display Options dialog box. 4. Make any changes you need to the items on this dialog box. If you are not sure what each of these items does, see the section titled "Setting Up Display Options" earlier in this chapter. Changing Your Password You can change the Password you enter for the Quik-Comm Password. Microsoft recommends that you change your initial password during your first session for security reasons. To change your Password, you must be connected to the Service. The new Password takes effect immediately. For security reasons, Microsoft OnLine doesn't display your Password when you enter it. Instead, Microsoft OnLine displays an exclamation point (!) for each character you type. ▄▄▄ To change your Password 1. Make sure you are connected to the Service. See the section titled "Connecting to the Service" in Chapter 3, "Starting and Quitting Microsoft OnLine," for information. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose CHANGE PASSWORD from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Change Password dialog box. 4. Type your old Quik-Comm Password on the first line. 5. Type your new Quik-Comm Password on the second line. 6. Type your new Quik-Comm Password again on the third line to verify your entry. 7. If you want to make the Password you just typed your new Password, choose YES from the menu at the bottom of the dialog box. Otherwise, choose NO from the menu. Testing Your Installation After you have installed the modem and the software, try to establish communications with the Service. For instructions see Chapter 3, "Starting and Quitting Microsoft OnLine." You may also want to follow some of the practice sessions in the Microsoft OnLine Tutorial, contained in a separate binder. This Tutorial contains some practice sessions for the first-time Microsoft OnLine subscriber who already knows how to use microcomputers. Chapter 3. Starting and Quitting Microsoft OnLine ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes how to: ■ Start Microsoft OnLine with a hard disk system. ■ Connect to the Service. ■ Disconnect from the Service when you're done with your session. ■ Quit the Microsoft OnLine program. If you haven't installed Microsoft OnLine on your personal computer and set up the modem connection, please go to Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," before proceeding. Once you install Microsoft OnLine, you can start it and have access to Microsoft's information base. After you are done using Microsoft OnLine, you disconnect from the Service first and then exit the program. Microsoft OnLine also allows you to disconnect from the Service when you quit the program. Starting Microsoft OnLine Microsoft OnLine runs as an application under DOS. Once you've installed the Microsoft OnLine files on your hard disk system, you start the program from the subdirectory where it is installed. This manual references the subdirectory \online, but you can assign any name to the subdirectory where the program files reside. See the section titled "Setting Up the Communications Profile" in Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," for more information. ▄▄▄ To start Microsoft OnLine with a hard disk system 1. Make sure the DOS prompt is showing on the screen. 2. At the DOS prompt, type cd \online and press ENTER. 3. When the DOS prompt reappears, type online and press ENTER to start the program and display the Main Screen. When you are not connected to the Service, the icons on the Main Screen are created based on the information in the BT50.ZIF file, which you can modify to display custom icons. For information, see Appendix C, "Customizing Microsoft OnLine." A Connect to Service Icon. Begins automatic procedure to connect to the Service. B In Basket Icon. Contains messages you receive from other subscribers and your Local Filing Cabinet. C Out Basket Icon. Contains messages you create until you send the messages. D Service Request Mgr Icon. Lets you create, change, print, view, or delete a Service Request. E Shell to DOS Icon. Runs other program and DOS commands without leaving Microsoft OnLine. Selecting an Icon ▄▄▄ To select an icon ■ Press the direction keys to position the highlight on the icon you want and press ENTER. You cannot select an empty box on the display. Displaying a Menu ▄▄▄ To display a menu ■ Press F1 or the key you defined to display the menu. Connecting to the Service Before you can send an Electronic Mail Message, a Service Request, or receive any kind of information from Microsoft OnLine, you need to connect to the Service. ▄▄▄ To connect to the Service 1. Start Microsoft OnLine. Microsoft OnLine displays the Main Screen. 2. At the main menu, use the direction keys to select the Connect to Service Icon. 3. Press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Connect to Service dialog box. 4. Type your Password in the Password field. Microsoft OnLine doesn't display the Password as you type; it displays only exclamation marks (!!!). 5. After you've typed your Password, press ENTER. 6. If you don't need to change any information on this dialog box, press the direction keys to select YES at the bottom on the dialog box and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine begins connecting to the Service. The logon procedure is automatic. You can follow this logon procedure on the Connect to Service screen by reading the messages for the nine-step sequence. The nine connection steps and the messages displayed are: 1. Initiating connection to Microsoft OnLine... 2. Verifying modem connection... 3. Dialing the access number... 4. Beginning connection to the System... 5. Sending account logon information... 6. Connection to Microsoft OnLine in progress... 7. Establishing error-free communication... 8. Checking available services... 9. Connection to Microsoft OnLine complete!!! 7. Microsoft OnLine displays the Main Screen again, but there are new icons on it. Some of these icons are created based on the information in the BT50.ZIF file and some are downloaded from the Service. You may see all of these icons, some of them, or some new icons when you connect to the Service. A Disconnect from Service Icon. Disconnects you from the Service. B In Basket Icon. Contains messages you receive from other subscribers and your Local Filing Cabinet. C Out Basket Icon. Contains messages you create until you send the messages. D Exchange Icon. Contains information posted by other subscribers and the Microsoft Editor in a two-way bulletin board. E KnowledgeBase Icon. Contains text information about Microsoft products. You use queries to search for specific information. F Software Library Icon. Contains text, binary files, and archived files. You use queries to search for specific information. G Service Request Mgr Icon. Lets you create, change, print, view, or delete a Service Request. H Service Request Xfer Icon. Transmits completed Service Requests to Microsoft and receives responses. I Shell to DOS Icon. Runs other program and DOS commands without leaving Microsoft OnLine. J Minutes Remaining. The number of minutes before an automatic disconnect. If you are downloading a file and your session time runs out, Microsoft OnLine will finish downloading the file before it disconnects. Disconnecting from the Service After you are done with your session, you should disconnect. You can disconnect from the Service either by selecting an icon or using the menu, which also quits Microsoft OnLine. Disconnecting by Selecting an Icon ▄▄▄ To disconnect from the Service using the icon ■ At the Main Screen, select the Disconnect from Service Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine disconnects you from the Service and returns you to the Main Screen. Quitting Microsoft OnLine ▄▄▄ To quit Microsoft OnLine 1. Display the menu by pressing the F1 key. 2. Press the direction keys to choose QUIT and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine disconnects you from the Service and returns you to the DOS prompt. Chapter 4. Finding Answers with Microsoft OnLine ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This section describes how to: ■ Search the Microsoft OnLine Information Sources for specific information. ■ Use the logical operators AND, NOT, OR, and other operators to define your search criteria. ■ Get a bug or documentation error list for a product. ■ Download files to your computer. ■ Add an item to your Local Filing Cabinet. ■ Create a message using information from the KnowledgeBase. The Information Sources have two parts: the KnowledgeBase and the Libraries. Both parts use a text-query method to search for specific information. Currently there are two Libraries: the Membership Book and the Software Library. Each of the Information Sources has its own icon on the Main Screen. If you enter a query and do not find the information you need, submit a Service Request so a Microsoft Support Engineer can respond directly. About the Information Sources The Information Sources contain two types of items: text and file items. Text items contain text and files contain binary or other data. Microsoft OnLine displays the type of each item when it displays a list of titles that matches your search criteria. The text and files are read-only and are posted by Microsoft. These items can come from Microsoft's staff or from solutions to subscribers' Service Requests. The Microsoft OnLine Information Sources contain a great deal of information. To assist you in finding the specific information you need, Microsoft OnLine uses a text-query method to search the text file databases. When you enter search words to indicate your area of interest, Microsoft OnLine scans every page and title of every item in the database to find a match for the search words. If you are searching for a file, Microsoft OnLine searches for the filename and any description information. After Microsoft OnLine has scanned all the items, it tells you how many items meet your search criteria. If Microsoft OnLine finds more than 256 matches, it displays the message "Too Many Matches -- Please refine the search." You may also see a Message Code #103 "A text database search found too many matches and overflowed the buffer" if Microsoft OnLine finds significantly more than 256 matches. Try narrowing your search criteria to reduce the number of matches. The Membership Book The Membership Book contains public information about other subscribers, including names, addresses, Electronic Mail Addresses, phone numbers, professional experience, and personal interests. You can download a membership form and fill it in to post your own information in the Membership Book. For more information, see the section titled "Posting Your Information in the Membership Book" in this chapter. The Software Library The Software Library contains files posted by Microsoft. These files might be device drivers, patches, software updates, or general tools and utilities. This library contains three types of files: ■ ASCII (TXT) files, which can be regular text files or batch files. ■ Binary (BIN) files, which can be executable, device driver, or other binary files. ■ Archived (ARC) files, which are compacted binary files. These archived files may contain more than one file. The file type is indicated in the title of the item. For example: S10052 Word 4.0 P5 Printer Driver [BIN] S20030 Turbo Pascal to QuickC Translator Utility [ARC] S30050 Windows 2.0 Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Spec. [TXT] When you choose a file to download, you will see additional information about the file. You will also receive an archive utility program on one of the Microsoft OnLine disks. Use this archive utility program to compress and combine files for transmission and to break up and extract the information from archived files you've received. For more information, see the files PKARC.DOC and PKXARC.DOC on the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program disk 2 in 3.5-inch format. The KnowledgeBase The KnowledgeBase contains the latest technical information about Microsoft products, general service information, and the latest Microsoft press releases. All the items in the KnowledgeBase are text. Much of the information in the KnowledgeBase comes from Service Requests submitted by developers such as yourself and from the Exchange. Posting Your Information in the Membership Book You can download a membership form from the Membership Book using the search words title(mbform). See the sections titled "Using Logical Operators" and "Using Other Operators" in this chapter for more information. When you download the form, fill it in with your name, address, services, phone number, professional experience, and personal interests. Then mail the completed form to the alias EDITOR. When your information has been entered, your listing is available to all Microsoft OnLine subscribers. Syntax Rules for Searching the Information Sources You can combine words, phrases (which are groups of words separated by spaces or grouped by parentheses), and operators freely, but keep these basic rules in mind when searching: ■ You can type upper- or lower-case letters to enter your search criteria. The search criteria are not case-sensitive. ■ You can link words together with parentheses to establish relationships between the words in your search criteria. When using parentheses, you must use both a left and right parenthesis. ■ Queries that contain operators must be valid binary expressions with two items. For example, not dot matrix printer is not a valid search criterion. However, laser printer not dot matrix printer is a valid search criteria. ■ A single query cannot have more than 25 AND, OR, and NOT operators. ■ A phrase cannot be longer than 30 words. ■ A query cannot be longer than 200 characters including spaces. ■ A query cannot have more than 50 total words, including operators. ■ A query cannot begin with the AND, OR, or NOT operators. Using Logical Operators You can use the logical operators, AND, OR, and NOT to combine search words and reduce the number of matches Microsoft OnLine finds for your search criteria. Using the AND Operator If you join words or phrases with AND, Microsoft OnLine looks for items that contain both words or phrases. The more words you join with AND, the fewer matches Microsoft OnLine will find. For example, you could type disk and problem and format and Microsoft OnLine will locate only items that contain all three of these words. Using the OR Operator If you join words or phrases with OR, Microsoft OnLine looks for items that contain either words or phrases. Using OR will generate a larger number of found items than if you use AND. For example, you could type dot matrix printer or laser printer and Microsoft OnLine will locate items that contain dot matrix printer or laser printer. Using the NOT Operator If you join words or phrases with NOT, Microsoft OnLine will exclude items that contain the word or phrase following NOT in the search. Use the word NOT to eliminate information or when you are uncertain of an exact search word. For example, you could type dot matrix printer not laser and Microsoft OnLine will locate all items that contain the words dot matrix printer, except those that contain the word laser. Using Multiple Operators You can also use multiple logical operators to narrow down your search. For example, windows and graphics not 80386 would find items related to Windows and graphics, but would exclude items that contain 80386. Getting a Bug or Documentation Error List Getting a Bug List Use the keyword buglist to retrieve a bug list for a product. You search for a bug list using the phrase product and buglistx.xx, where x.xx is the version number of the product. For example, if you wanted to find the bug list for Word version 3.x, you would enter the search criteria Word and buglist3. If you want a bug list for all versions of a product, type product and buglist. Getting a Documentation Error List Use the keyword docerr to retrieve a list of documentation errors for a product. You search for a documentation error list using the phrase docerr and product and x.xx, where x.xx is the version number of the product. For example, to retrieve a documentation error list for Word 4.0, you would type the search criteria docerr and Word and 4.0. Using Other Operators Microsoft OnLine also includes other operators for searching the Information Sources. These operators are a range indicator, a suffix-masking character, segment title, and segment date operators. You can also combine groups of search words with parentheses. You can use these operators in addition to the logical operators described above. Using Range Indicators You use the range indicators to specify the range of words in which search terms can appear. Microsoft OnLine has two types of range indicators: range and forward-range. Range indicates the number of words before or after a term in which another word must appear for a match. The default operator is R/. In the search phrase printer r/10 laser, the word laser must appear within 10 words before or after the word printer for a match. Forward-range indicates the maximum number of words after the first word in which the next word must appear for a match. The default operator is W/. For example, a simple phrase such as laser printer implies a forward range of one word because printer must appear within one word after laser to get a match. In the search phrase laser w/10 printer, the word printer must appear within 10 words after laser for a match. Using the Suffix-Masking Operator You use the suffix-masking operator * (asterisk) to search for items that begin with anything preceding the *. This * operates similarly to the DOS * wildcard character. For example, print* finds all items that contain the words print, printer, printers, printed, printing, printout, and so on. Using the Segment Title Operator You use the segment title operator to search only the title segment of the item. Currently, there are two segments you can search on: title and date. For example, title(windows) finds all items that have Windows in the title. You can use multiple segment names in a query as long as the segments do not overlap. For example, you can use title(windows) and title(dde), but you can't use title(windows) and title(windows and dde). Using the Segment Date Operator You use a segment date operator to search the date segment of an item's title. Currently, there are two segments you can search on: title and date. The format of the segment date operator is date(xYYMMDD -to- xYYMMDD). The x before each of the dates is always required and the -to- with the hyphens is required when you specify a range of dates. You can also search an item's date segment for a single date. For example, date(x871101 -to- x880101) will find items that were added to the Information Sources with a date segment between November 1, 1987 and January 1, 1988. The phrase date(x880101 -to- x999999) will find all items with a date segment between January 1, 1988 and the most current date. The phrase date(x880120) will find all items with the date January 20, 1988. For example, if you want to find new entries for the C Compiler since you last logged onto the Service, you would type C Compiler and date(xYYMMDD - to - x999999), where YYMMDD is the date you last checked the Information Sources for entries on this topic and 999999 is the most current date. You can use multiple segment names in a query as long as the segments do not overlap. For example, you can use date(x880101 -to- x880202) and date(x880306 -to- x880407), but you can't use date(x880101 -to- x880202) and date(x880101 -to- x880303). Combining Search Words You can group search words together with parentheses and you must use both right and left parentheses. For example, Fonts and (Printer or Laser Printer) will find items containing fonts and either the word printer or the words laser printer. The search words Printers and (Fonts not Roman) will provide all items about printer fonts, except for Roman fonts. You can also use the parentheses to indicate the order in which the operators should be evaluated. For example, (modal or modeless) and (dialog box not list box) will find all items that contain either modal or modeless dialog box items, but exclude items containing list box. Excluding Press Releases If you don't want to retrieve press releases for products when you search for information, include the phrase not title(PR) in your query. For example, if you're looking for information on Windows Excel and DDE, but you want exclude press releases, you can type (windows excel and dde) not title(PR). Displaying a List of Topics You can display information about general topics in the KnowledgeBase. ▄▄▄ To display a list of topics 1. Display the Search dialog box. 2. Choose TOPICS on the menu and press ENTER. To remove the list, press ESC. Displaying Search Hints You can display tips on how to find what you need in the Microsoft OnLine Information Sources. ▄▄▄ To display Search Hints 1. Display the Search dialog box. 2. Choose SEARCH-HINTS on the menu and press ENTER. To remove the Search Hints, press ESC. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── TIP When you display the Search Hints, you should download them to a file or print them on a printer. See the section titled "Downloading Items from the Information Sources" in this chapter for information. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Searching the Information Sources ▄▄▄ To begin searching for a topic 1. At the Main Screen, select the icon for the Information Source you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Search dialog box. 2. Type your search words and logical operators. See the section titled "Using Logical Operators" in this chapter for information. 3. Choose BEGIN-SEARCH from the menu. Microsoft OnLine begins searching for items that match your search criteria and then displays the number of items it found for that match. If there are more than 256 matches for your search criteria, Microsoft OnLine displays the message "Too Many Matches -- Please refine the search." You may also see a Message Code #103 "A text database search found too many matches and overflowed the buffer" if Microsoft OnLine finds significantly more than 256 matches. Narrow your search criteria and choose BEGIN-SEARCH again from the menu. Displaying Titles of Matching Items After you've established the search criteria and chosen BEGIN-SEARCH, you can display a list of the items that match your criteria. ▄▄▄ To display titles of items that match your criteria ■ Choose DISPLAY-TITLES from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of titles that match your search criteria. Opening an Item Once you've displayed a list of titles that match your search criteria, you can display the text item and read it. If the item you selected from the list is a file, Microsoft OnLine displays the Receive dialog box, which provides descriptive information. ▄▄▄ To open an item 1. Press a direction key to move the <- to the item you want to open and then press ENTER. If the item is a text item, Microsoft OnLine displays the text for the item you selected. If the item occupies more than one screen, wait until the entire item has been displayed on the screen before you press any keys. However, you can press ESC to stop the listing. If the item is a file, Microsoft OnLine displays the Receive dialog box, which gives you information about the file. 2. Once your text item is displayed, use the direction keys to scroll through the item. If you want to save the item to a disk file or print it on your printer, see the section that follows titled "Downloading Items from the Information Sources." 3. To close the item, press ESC. Downloading Items from the Information Sources Once you've entered your search criteria, displayed a list of items that match the criteria, and opened the item, you can download the item to your disk or print it on your printer. Saving Text Items to Disk There are two methods for saving text items to disk. Use Method 1 when the item is displayed. Use Method 2 when a list of items is displayed. ▄▄▄ To download a text item and save it to a disk file Method 1: when the item is displayed 1. Press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SAVE-ON-DISK from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save In dialog box. 3. Type the filename in which you want to save the text item and press ENTER. Method 2: from a list of items 1. For each item you want to retrieve, move the <- to the item and press the + key to mark the item. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose OUTPUT from the menu. 4. Choose RECEIVE-FILE. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save In dialog box. 5. Type the filename in which you want to save the file and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine will place all the marked items in the same receive file. Printing Text Items There are two methods for printing text items. Use Method 1 when the item is displayed. Use Method 2 when a list of items is displayed. ▄▄▄ To download a text item and print it Method 1: when the item is displayed 1. Press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose PRINT from the menu. Microsoft OnLine prints the item on your printer. Method 2: from a list of items 1. For each item you want to print, move the <- to the item and press the + key to mark the item. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose OUTPUT from the menu. 4. Choose PRINTER. Microsoft OnLine prints all the marked items on your printer. Saving File Items to Disk ▄▄▄ To download a file item and save it to disk 1. For each item you want to download, move the <- to the item and press the + key to mark the item. If you choose more than one item, all the items will be downloaded to the same file. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose OUTPUT from the menu. 4. Choose RECEIVE-FILE. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save In dialog box. 5. Type the filename in which you want to save the item(s). 6. Choose YES. Microsoft OnLine will place all the marked items in the same receive file. When the transfer is complete, the file is available for use from your disk with the name you specified. Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket Once you've found the information you want, you can add the information to your Local In Basket, which you can open both when not connected to the Service or when connected from the Service. Then the information will be available for messages and for storing in your Local Filing Cabinet. For information about storing the item in your Local Filing Cabinet, see the section titled "Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet" in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail." Use method 1 if you have only one item to add to your Local In Basket. Use method 2 if you have more than one item. ▄▄▄ To download items to your Local In Basket Method 1: for one item 1. Search the Information Sources to find the item you want. 2. Display the item by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose ADD-TO-LOCAL. Microsoft OnLine adds the item to your Local In Basket. Method 2: for more than one item 1. Search the Information Sources to find the list of items you want. 2. Select each item you want by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the item. If you want to receive all the items in the list, you don't need to mark them with the + key. If you accidentally mark an item you don't want to download, move the <- to that item and press the - key. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose GET-ITEMS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box. Use this dialog box to tell Microsoft OnLine what items and what type of items to get, and to select other options. 5. Select GET ALL or GET SELECTED. GET ALL retrieves all the items in the displayed list. GET SELECTED retrieves only the items that you've marked with the + key. 6. Select GET FILES, GET DOCUMENTS, or GET BOTH. GET FILES retrieves only file items. GET DOCUMENTS retrieves only text items. GET BOTH retrieves both file and text items. 7. Select STAY-CONNECTED or DISCONNECT either to stay connected to the Service or to disconnect from the Service after the items are retrieved. 8. Select SAVE-LOCALLY or DISPLAY-ONLY either to save the items in your Local In Basket or just to display the items. 9. Select PRINT YES or NO. YES prints the items as they are received. NO doesn't print the items. 10. Choose YES to retrieve the items. Choose NO to cancel retrieving the items. Creating a Message with Information from the KnowledgeBase If you are searching through the KnowledgeBase and you find something that you want to send to someone else in an Electronic Mail Message, you can create this message without leaving the KnowledgeBase. You can create messages only from text items. If you want to send a copy of a file on the Service to someone, you need to download the file to your microcomputer first, then upload it to the recipient. For information about downloading a file, see the section titled "Downloading Items from the Information Sources" in this chapter. For information about uploading a file to another subscriber, see the section titled "Uploading a File to Another Subscriber" in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail." Creating a Message ▄▄▄ To create a message with information from the KnowledgeBase 1. Display the text item from the KnowledgeBase from which you want to copy a block to paste into your message. 2. Mark the block of text you want to copy by pressing the + key both at the beginning and the end of the block of text you want to copy. 3. Press ESC to exit the item. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose EDIT. 6. Choose NEW. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen. 7. Press F1 to display the menu. 8. Choose PASTE. Microsoft OnLine pastes the information you selected into your new item. Saving a Message ▄▄▄ To save your message to disk 1. Press ESC. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save As dialog box. 2. Type the filename. 3. Choose SAVE. Addressing and Sending a Message After you have copied the item into your message and edited it as necessary, you can address the message and send it. You must have the message displayed to send it. To display the message, choose EDIT from the menu and then choose OPEN to open an existing message. Then follow this procedure to send the message. ▄▄▄ To address and send the message 1. Press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SEND. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box. 3. If you don't remember the address(es), put a ? in the Send TO or CC line, then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. Mark the address(es) you want to copy by pressing the + key on the numeric keypad for each address you want to copy to the Address dialog box. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine pastes these addresses to your Address dialog box. If the address(es) is in the Host Address Book, you can copy it from there to your Local Address Book. See the section titled "Searching the Service Address Book for an Address" in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail," for more information. 4. If you want to copy the message to other people in addition the recipient(s) listed at the beginning, press the UP or DOWN key to select the CC line and enter the address for the recipient(s). 5. After you've addressed your message, press the DOWN key to move the highlight to the Subject line. 6. Type the subject for your message on the Subject line and press ENTER. 7. If you want to drop the message in the Out Basket, select DROP-IN- OUTBASKET from the menu. You can then transmit the message with other messages as a group. Microsoft OnLine displays a message telling you that it is placing your message in the Out Basket and then displays your message text again. 8. To close your message, choose CLOSE from the menu. Chapter 5. Creating and Sending Service Requests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes how to: ■ Prioritize your Service Requests. ■ Create a Service Request and send it to Microsoft. ■ Receive a Service Response. ■ Send a supplemental Service Request. ■ Print, view, and delete a Service Request. Although the information in the Microsoft KnowledgeBase and Libraries is up-to-date and extensive, you may need to request specific information. To request more specific information, you use Microsoft OnLine to create and then send a Service Request to Microsoft. Microsoft will respond to your Service Request with a Service Response that you receive via Microsoft OnLine. After you've received the Service Response, you can view it, print it, or save it to a disk file. Overview You must be disconnected from the Service to create a Service Request. Creating a Service Requests consists of filling in a Service Request Entry Form, writing a Description file, and including an Attachment file that must be archived. The Service Request Entry Form contains background information about you, your equipment, the product you are inquiring about, and the type and priority of your request. The required Description file describes the subject of your Service Request in detail. You can use your favorite text editor or the Microsoft OnLine editor to create your Description file. You can start your editor from DOS, from the Shell to DOS Icon, from the Service Request Mgr menu, or from a customized icon on the Main Screen. Which method you use to start your editor depends on available memory and personal preference. The Attachment file must be archived. Or, if you want to attach more than one file, you must also archive these files. You might include the Attachment file if, for example, you wanted to send source codes files with your Service Request about a compiler. Once you've created the Service Request, you connect to the Service, select the Service Request Xfer Icon on the Main Screen, and Microsoft OnLine automatically transmits all unsent requests to Microsoft. Microsoft OnLine will notify you with a message in your In Basket when you have Service Responses queued to be downloaded to your microcomputer. To receive the Service Responses, you connect to the Service, select the Service Request Xfer Icon, and Microsoft OnLine automatically downloads the responses. You can then print, view, or delete the Service Response or save it to disk. About ROP Files Before you can create a Service Request, you must have the ROP (Reference Operating System Product) files ROP.DAT, ROP.IDX, and ROP.FIL on your hard disk in the same subdirectory as the Microsoft OnLine program files. The ROP files contain lists of Microsoft products and version numbers organized by product families. These files are used when you create a Service Request Header to fill in product information. If you see the message "ROP file missing: Please invoke Service Request Xfer Icon" when you select the Service Request Manager Icon, connect to the Service, select the Service Request Xfer Icon, and the Service will automatically download the appropriate ROP files. For Information about Your Service Request Status If you want to inquire about the status of your Service Request, send Electronic Mail to the alias SR-STATUS. You should inquire about the status of your Service Request only if you haven't received an acknowledgement to your request within 24 hours or if there has been a long period of time since the last response from Microsoft. About Service Request Priorities The priority you enter on the Service Request Header determines what type of response Microsoft will give your Service Request. The priorities range from A, which represents a critical need, to F, which means no response is necessary. Don't make all your Service Requests Priority A because the System will become overloaded with critical requests. Review the priorities below and select the one that best matches your situation. Priority A - Critical Priority A means that your work has come to a complete stop or a delivery date is severely impacted. You need technical assistance immediately in order to continue your work. Microsoft will respond to Priority A Service Requests with a priority call back within one business day unless an answer can be provided within that time. Priority B - Urgent Priority B means that your work has slowed down because you need technical assistance. For example, you might have found a temporary solution, but you need assistance to find a permanent solution. Priority C - Important Priority C means that your work has not stopped or slowed down, but may do so soon without Microsoft support. Priority D - Needed Priority D is similar to Priority C, except that when you choose Priority D the Service Request will be responded to less quickly. For example, you might anticipate a need for technical assistance for a future project and give it Priority D. Priority E - Interesting Use Priority E for questions or issues that you want to pass on to Microsoft as a point of interest and for which you want a response. Priority F - No response is necessary Use Priority F for any Service Request that requires no response from Microsoft. For example, use Priority F for product suggestions. About Service Responses When you send a Service Request, you will receive an acknowledgement that Microsoft has received your Service Request. You will also receive a Service Response that answers your request for information. Creating a Service Request The Service Request contains a header, an attached Description file, and an optional Attachment file that you must archive. The Service Request Header contains background information about you, your equipment, the product you are inquiring about, the type of request, and the priority of your request. The Description file is a required file and describes the subject of your Service Request in detail. You use your editor to create a Description file, then enter the name of the Description file on the Service Request Entry Form, and Microsoft OnLine automatically sends this file with the Service Request Header when you send the Service Request to Microsoft. You can use your favorite editor or the Microsoft OnLine editor to create the Description file. You can start the editor you use to create the Description file from DOS, from the Shell to DOS Icon, from within the Service Request Mgr Icon, or from a customized icon on the Microsoft OnLine Main Screen. Which method you use to start your editor depends on available memory and personal preference. If you want to start your editor from within the Service Request Mgr Icon by selecting an item from the menu, you must include the full DOS path to your editor in the ONLINE.INI file. See Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," for information. If you are connected to the Service and have selected the Service Request Mgr Icon, start your editor from the menu, and then are disconnected from the Service, it's because you don't have enough memory in your microcomputer. If you want to start your editor from an icon on the Main Screen, you can customize the BT50.ZIF file. Note that you must have enough available memory to run both Microsoft OnLine and your editor simultaneously if you choose to run the editor as a spawned application. However, if you choose to run your editor as a chained application, you do not need as much memory, but performance will be decreased. You can set up your editor to run as a spawned or chained application by customizing the BT50.ZIF file. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT You can also run the Service Request Manager as a spawned or chained application. If you run the Service Request Manager as a spawned application you can be connected to the Service and create your Service Request. However, if there has been no transmission activity for ten minutes, Microsoft OnLine will automatically disconnect you. In contrast, if you run the Service Request Manager as a chained application, you will be automatically disconnected from the Service when you select the Service Request Mgr Icon. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For more information on customizing the BT50.ZIF file, see Appendix C, "Customizing Microsoft OnLine." The optional Attachment file must be archived. If you want to include more than one Attachment file to your Service Request, you must archive the files because you can transmit only one Attachment file with your Service Request. Moving Around the Service Request Entry Form You use the direction keys to move around on the Service Request Entry Form. Press LEFT or RIGHT to move the cursor left or right on a line. Press DOWN or TAB to move the highlight to the next line. Press UP or SHIFT+TAB to move the highlight to the previous line. Creating a Service Request Header ▄▄▄ To create a Service Request Header 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. If you are connected to the Service, you will be disconnected. Because you are billed for all time you are connected to the Service, disconnecting from the Service automatically can lower your costs. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose CREATE on the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. The First Name, Last Name, Phone, and RefCon (Reference Configuration) lines are filled in based on the information you placed in the ONLINE.INI file. You can also edit these fields when the Service Request Entry Form is displayed. ■ The First Name line can have a maximum of 15 characters (including spaces). ■ The Last Name line can have a maximum of 20 characters (including spaces). ■ The Phone line can have a maximum of 21 characters (including spaces). ■ The Ref Con line can have a maximum of 65 characters (including spaces). When you position the highlight on the Product Family, Operating System, Product, Type of Request, or Priority lines, Microsoft OnLine displays a list of selections for that topic. If Microsoft OnLine doesn't display a list for these lines, press F2 to display the list. Once the list is displayed, use the UP and DOWN keys to select the item you want, then press ENTER. You can also press the first letter of the item in the list you want. If the list has more than one item that begins with the same letter and you press that letter, you will select the first item in the list that starts with that letter. 4. Move the highlight with the direction keys to the Product Family line. If the line is blank, Microsoft OnLine displays a list of product families. Otherwise, press F2 to see a list of available product families. Select the Product Family you want and press ENTER. 5. Press the direction keys to move to the Operating System line. Press F2 to see a list of operating systems. Select the operating system and press ENTER. 6. Press the direction keys to move to the Operating System Version line. Type up to 5 characters for the Operating System Version Number and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine will use this Operating System Version Number for all subsequent Service Requests that reference the same operating system. 7. Press the direction keys to move to the Product line and press F2 to see a list of products in the product family you chose. Select the product you want and press ENTER. 8. Press the direction keys to move to the Prod Version line, type the product version you have, and press ENTER. 9. Press the direction keys to move to the Type of Request line and press F2 to see a list of types of requests. Select the type of request you have and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine abbreviates the type of request on the dialog box: DO for documentation, IN for information, OT for other, PR for problem report, and SU for suggestion. 10. Press the direction keys to move to the Priority line and press F2 to see a list of priorities. Select the priority of your Service Request and press ENTER. For information about the priorities, see the section titled "About Service Request Priorities" near the beginning of this chapter. 11. Type a subject for your Service Request and press ENTER. You can type up to 65 characters (including spaces). 12. Type the path (optional) and filename for your Description file on the Description Filename line and press ENTER. You can type up to 63 characters (including spaces). If Microsoft OnLine can't find the file, it displays "File name does not exist. Press any key to continue." Press any key to remove this message and then correct the filename. 13. Type the full path and filename for the Attachment Filename line for your file and press ENTER. You can type up to 63 characters (including spaces). 14. Choose YES at the bottom of the Service Request Entry Form to save your Service Request. Choose NO to not save your Service Request. Creating a Description File You can start your editor from within the Service Request Mgr module or, if you've customized the BT50.ZIF file, from an icon on the Main Screen. In either case, be sure that you or your editor ends each line at 78 characters with the CR LF (Carriage Return, Line Feed) pair. Otherwise, when Microsoft OnLine transmits the message, it will transmit paragraphs as single long lines that are truncated at 80 characters. In addition, don't embed control or extended characters in the Description file. When you save the file with your editor's Save command, be sure you save the file as unformatted (ASCII). You can, however, use the Tab and Form Feed characters when creating your Description file. In order to start your editor from within the Service Request Mgr module, you must enter the full path name and other information for your editor in the ONLINE.INI file. See Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," for information. For information about modifying the BT50.ZIF file, see Appendix C, "Customizing Microsoft OnLine." This procedure assumes that you will start the editor from within the Service Request Mgr module and that the ONLINE.INI file contains the information needed to start your editor. ▄▄▄ To create a Description file 1. Select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose EDITOR from the menu. 4. Use your usual commands to enter and edit text. Don't embed any control or extended characters in the file. 5. When you are done entering and editing the description, save the file as an unformatted (ASCII) file with the editor's Save command. Then exit the editor. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request List again. 6. If the menu isn't displayed, press F1 to display it. 7. If you're creating a new Service Request, choose CREATE from the menu. If you're editing an existing service request, move the <- to the Service Request you want and choose UPDATE from the menu. In either case, Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. 8. Type the filename for your Description file on the Description Filename line and press ENTER. See the following section titled "Attaching a Description File" for more information. Attaching a Description File ▄▄▄ To attach a Description file to your Service Request 1. Select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. If you're creating a new Service Request, choose CREATE from the menu. If you're editing an existing Service Request, move the <- to the Service Request you want and choose UPDATE from the menu. In either case, Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. 4. Type the filename for your Description file on the Description Filename line and press ENTER. If the file is in a subdirectory other than the one where the Microsoft OnLine files reside, you also need to include the full path name on the Description Filename line. If Microsoft OnLine can't find the file, it displays "Filename does not exist. Press any key to continue." Press any key to remove this message and then correct the filename. Including an Attachment File ▄▄▄ To include an Attachment file to your Service Request (optional) 1. Select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. If you're creating a new Service Request, choose CREATE from the menu. If you're editing an existing service request, move the <- to the Service Request you want and choose UPDATE from the menu. In either case, Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. 4. Use the direction keys to move the highlight to the Attachment Filename line on the Service Request Entry Form. 5. Type the filename for your file on the Attachment Filename line and press ENTER. If the file is in a subdirectory other than the one where the Microsoft OnLine files reside, you also need to include the full path name on the Attachment Filename line. Creating a Supplemental Service Request When you receive a response to a Service Request, you may need to send more information to Microsoft. To do this, you create a supplemental Service Request that references the Service Request Reference ID Number received on the initial response to your Service Request. You can see this number on either the Service Response List, which you display by choosing RESPONSES from the menu, or on the Service Request List. This number is 15-characters long and has the form SRXYYMMDD(nnnnnnn). SR Indicates a Service Request. X Is a letter that must be capitalized on the Supplemental Service Request Header. YYMMDD Is the date. nnnnnnn Is a Sequence Number. ▄▄▄ To create a Supplemental Service Request 1. Select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose CREATE from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. 4. Type the Service Request Reference ID Number from the response on the Service Request ID line. You can also press F2 to display a list of numbers. When this list is displayed, press the UP or DOWN keys to select the number you want and press ENTER. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Make certain that you capitalize the third character in the Service Request Reference ID Number when you type this number for a Supplemental Service Request. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5. Fill in the rest of the Service Request Entry Form as appropriate. For instructions on filling in this form, see the section titled "Creating a Service Request Header" in this chapter. 6. Choose YES or NO at the bottom of the Service Request Entry Form. YES saves your Service Request; NO does not save your Service Request. 7. Send the supplemental Service Request to Microsoft by connecting to the Service and selecting the Service Request Xfer Icon. Updating a Service Request Header Once you've created your Service Request Header, you can update it. However, you can update only Service Requests with the status Unsent or Held. ▄▄▄ To update a Service Request Header 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of Service Requests. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose UPDATE from the menu. 4. Choose the Service Request you want to update by pointing the <- to the request and pressing ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form. 5. Make any changes you want to your Service Request Header. For information about what you enter for each line, see the section titled "Creating a Service Request Header" in this chapter. Editing a Description File ▄▄▄ To edit a Description file 1. Open the Description file with your editor. 2. Make changes to the Description file. 3. Save the description with the editor's Save command. Then exit the editor. Sending a Service Request Once you've filled out the Service Request Header and included a Description file and an optional Attachment file that is archived, you can send the Service Request to Microsoft. When you select the Service Request Xfer Icon, Microsoft OnLine automatically sends all Service Requests that have the status Unsent to Microsoft. If you don't want to send a Service Request that has the status Unsent, you can change the status to Held. See the section titled "About Service Request Statuses" in this chapter for information. ▄▄▄ To send all Service Requests with the status Unsent 1. Make certain you are connected to the Service. 2. Select the Service Request Xfer Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine will transmit all Unsent Service Requests to Microsoft. Receiving a Service Response Once you've sent in a Service Request, Microsoft will send a response to you. This response contains the Service Request Reference ID Number, which you use for any Supplemental Service Requests or correspondence. When there is response waiting for you, this message will appear in your In Basket: "Response for Service Request #nnn has been queued for you to receive." If there is an attached file included with your Service Response, you also see the message, "Attachment File is included (approx. nnnnn bytes)." ▄▄▄ To receive a Service Response 1. Make certain you are connected to the Service. 2. Select the Service Request Xfer Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine will download all responses waiting for you. Now you can view the Service Response. See the following section titled "Viewing a Service Request or Response." Viewing a Service Request or Response After you've created your Service Request, you can look at it before you send it. In addition, after you've sent your Service Request to Microsoft, you can view the response to your request. To view the Service Request or response, you must be disconnected from the Service. Viewing a Service Request ▄▄▄ To view a Service Request 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose UPDATE. 3. Mark the Service Request you want to view by moving the <- to the right of the Service Request and pressing ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Request Entry Form for the Service Request you chose. Viewing a Service Response Once you've received a response to your Service Request, you can view it. Although you need to be connected to the Service to receive a response, you must be disconnected from the Service to view the response. For information about receiving a response, see the section titled "Receiving a Service Response" in this chapter. The Service Response you receive from Microsoft includes a Service Request Reference ID Number. Use this number if you send a Supplemental Service Request to Microsoft. For more information, see the section titled "Creating a Supplemental Service Request" in this chapter. ▄▄▄ To view a Service Response 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose RESPONSES from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of responses you've received from the Service. This list includes the Response filename, the Service Request Reference ID Number, the date, and the Attachment file filename. 4. Select the Service Response you want by moving the <- to the right of the response and pressing ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Service Response you chose. Printing a Service Request or Response You can print a Service Request on your printer or to a file by editing the ONLINE.INI File. Printing a Service Request ▄▄▄ To print a Service Request 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Mark the Service Request(s) that you want to print by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the Service Request(s). If you accidentally press the + key for the wrong Service Request, press the - key to remove the highlight. You can also press the INSERT key to select all unselected Service Requests and deselect all selected Service Requests. All selected Service Requests print when you choose PRINT from the menu. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose PRINT from the menu. Printing a Service Response You can print a Service Response on your printer or to a file by editing the ONLINE.INI File. ▄▄▄ To print a Service Response 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose RESPONSES from the menu. 4. Mark the Service Response(s) that you want to print by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the responses. If you accidentally press the + key for the wrong response, press the - key to remove the highlight. You can also press the INSERT key to select all unselected Service Responses and deselect all selected Service Response. All selected Service Responses will print when you choose PRINT from the menu. 5. Press F1 to display the menu. 6. Choose PRINT from the menu. Deleting a Service Request or Response Deleting a Service Request You can delete a Service Request at any time; however, if you delete a request before you send it, you can't send it. You can, however, delete a Service Request after you have sent it to Microsoft and you will still receive a Service Response for that deleted request. To delete a Service Request, you must be disconnected from the Service. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Deleting a Service request also deletes the Description file referenced on the Service Request Entry Form. However, Microsoft OnLine does not delete the Attachment file when you delete a Service Request. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ▄▄▄ To delete a Service Request 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Mark the Service Request(s) that you want to delete by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the Service Request(s). If you accidentally press the + key for the wrong Service Request, press the - key to remove the highlight. You can also press the INSERT key to select all unselected Service Requests and deselect all selected Service Requests. All selected Service Requests are deleted when you choose DELETE from the menu. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose DELETE from the menu. Deleting a Service Response ▄▄▄ To delete a Service Response 1. At the Main Screen, select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose RESPONSES from the menu. 4. Mark the Service Response(s) that you want to delete by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the response(s). If you accidentally press the + key for the wrong response, press the - key to remove the highlight. You can also press the INSERT key to select all unselected Service Responses and deselect all selected Service Response. All selected Service Responses are deleted when you choose DELETE from the menu. 5. Press F1 to display the menu. 6. Choose DELETE from the menu. About Service Request Statuses Each Service Request can have one of three statuses: Unsent, Held, or Sent. You can also change the status of a Service Request from Unsent to Held. When you change the status to Held, that Service Request won't be transmitted to Microsoft when you select the Service Request Xfer Icon. Status Meaning Unsent You have created the Service Request, but you haven't sent it to Microsoft yet Held You have created the Service Request and it hasn't been sent to Microsoft yet, but you changed the status to Held so it wouldn't be sent to Microsoft when you connect to the Service Sent You have sent the completed Service Request to Microsoft Changing Service Request Status ▄▄▄ To change the status of a Service Request 1. Select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press ENTER. 2. Mark the Service Request(s) for which you want to change the status by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the Service Request(s). If you accidentally press the + key for the wrong Service Request, press the - key to remove the highlight. You can also press the INSERT key to select all unselected Service Requests and deselect all selected Service Requests. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose STATUS from the menu. Microsoft OnLine toggles the status of all marked Service Requests from Unsent to Held or Held to Unsent. Chapter 6. Using Electronic Mail ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes how to: ■ Cut costs when using Microsoft OnLine. ■ Create and address Electronic Mail Messages. ■ Send a file addressed as a message. ■ Send and receive Electronic Mail Messages. ■ Print an Electronic Mail Message on your printer. ■ Save an Electronic Mail Message in a file. ■ Create and work with your Local Address Book. ■ Manage items in your Local Filing Cabinet. For More Information about Microsoft OnLine If you need specific information that you can't find in the Information Sources, the Exchange, or this User's Guide, Microsoft OnLine has several Electronic Mail Aliases and two phone numbers you can use. These aliases and phone numbers are described in Chapter 1, "Before You Begin," in the section titled "For More Information." Cutting Costs Using Microsoft OnLine Because you are billed for the time you are connected to the Service, you should do as much work as possible while disconnected from the Service. You should create, edit, and address your Electronic Mail Messages when you are disconnected and then connect to the Service only when you're ready to send the messages. About the Address Books Because you might send messages to the same addresses frequently, Microsoft OnLine includes a Local Address Book that you can set up to include your most frequently used addresses. Microsoft OnLine has two address books: the Local Address Book and the Service Address Book. The Local Address Book is your personal address book that stores addresses you use frequently. You use the Service Address Book when you are connected to the Service to find the address of another subscriber. About the Out Baskets Microsoft OnLine has an Out Basket to store messages you create until you are ready to connect to the Service and transmit your messages. Microsoft OnLine displays three upward pointing arrows in the Out Basket Icon on the Main Screen when messages are queued to be sent. You have two Out Baskets: a Local Out Basket, which you access when disconnected from the Service; and a Service Out Basket, which you access when connected to the Service. The Local Out Basket contains messages you've put there to transmit to other subscribers. The Service Out Basket likewise contains messages you've put there to transmit to other subscribers. In addition, it maintains a list of Quik-Comm Messages Already Sent; this list contains copies of the messages you've already transmitted. About the In Baskets Microsoft OnLine stores messages you receive from other subscribers in the In Basket. Microsoft OnLine displays three downward pointing arrows in the In Basket Icon on the Main Screen when there are messages waiting for you to read. You have two In Baskets: a Local In Basket, which you access when disconnected from the Service; and a Service In Basket, which you access when connected to the Service. When you are connected to the Service, the Local In Basket becomes a list in the Service In Basket labeled the Local Filing Cabinet. The Local In Basket contains messages you've received from other subscribers and the Local Filing Cabinet. The Service In Basket also contains messages you've received from other subscribers as well as several lists: a Quik-Comm Already Read List, which contains messages you've already read; a Local Mail Already Read List, which also contains messages you've already read; and the Local Filing Cabinet. Both the Service and Local In Baskets contain a list titled Local Filing Cabinet.You use the Local Filing Cabinet to store items in a hierarchy that you create. For example, you might create a list to store all items related to your current project, a list for future projects, and a list for miscellaneous messages. For information about managing the information in your Local Filing Cabinet, see the section at the end of this chapter titled "Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet." Using the Keyboard with Electronic Mail Both the Local Address Book and Electronic Mail have some word processing features to assist you in creating your addresses and messages. You use the direction keys to move the highlight when creating or editing a message or your Local Address Book. You move the highlight with the following keys: Moving the Highlight To Move the Highlight Press To the beginning of the current line HOME To the end of the current line END To the first character in the document CTRL+HOME To the last character in the document CTRL+END One tab setting to the right TAB One tab setting to the left SHIFT+TAB Up one line UP Down one line DOWN Left one character LEFT Right one character RIGHT Up one page PAGE UP Down one page PAGE DOWN Deleting Characters To Delete this Character Press The character at the highlight DEL The character immediately to the left BACKSPACE of the highlight To delete to the end of a line CTRL+D Inserting Characters ▄▄▄ To insert characters ■ Press the INSERT key. To switch between insert and overtype, press the INSERT key. When using insert, Microsoft OnLine inserts the characters you type to the left of the current highlight position. When using overtype, characters you type overwrite those on the screen. The Microsoft OnLine editor defaults to overtype mode. Starting a New Line ▄▄▄ To start a new line ■ Press ENTER. Using Wordwrap ▄▄▄ To turn wordwrap either on and off ■ Press CTRL+W. Wordwrap starts a new line automatically when the highlight reaches the end of the line. However, Microsoft OnLine will not break a word so that part of the word is on one line and the other part is on the following line. Marking a Block Before you can copy, erase, or move a block of text, you need to mark it. ▄▄▄ To mark a block 1. Position the highlight at the beginning of the block. 2. Press the + key on the numeric keypad to mark the beginning of the block. 3. Move the highlight to the end of the block. 4. Press the + key on the numeric keypad to mark the end of the block. Removing a Block Marker ▄▄▄ To remove a block marker 1. Make certain that the block has been marked. 2. Press the - key on the numeric keypad. Copying a Block Once you've marked a block, you can copy it to another location in your message. You can also copy a block from your message to your Local Address Book or to another message. ▄▄▄ To copy a block to another location in the same message 1. Mark the block. 2. Move the highlight to where you want to copy the block. 3. Press CTRL+C. You can also use the following method to copy a block from your message to your Local Address Book or to another message. ▄▄▄ To copy a block to another message 1. Mark the block. 2. Press ESC to close the message. 3. Open the message into which you want to copy the bock or open the Local Address Book. 4. Move the highlight to the insertion point. 5. Press F1 to display the menu. 6. Choose PASTE. 7. Press F1 to display the menu. 8. Choose SAVE. 9. Type the filename and press ENTER. Deleting a Block Once you've marked a block, you can delete it. ▄▄▄ To delete a block 1. Mark the block. 2. Press CTRL+D. Moving a Block Once you've marked a block, you can move it to another location in the Local Address Book or in your message. ▄▄▄ To move a block 1. Mark the block. 2. Move the highlight to where you want to move the block. 3. Press CTRL+M. Creating Your Local Address Book ▄▄▄ To create an address in your Local Address Book 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose ADDRESS-BOOKS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Local Address Book dialog box. 3. Type the subscriber's Quik-Comm Address. After you've entered the subscriber's Quik-Comm Address, you can also attach a comment to the address for some specific information about the subscriber, as described in the section titled "Attaching a Comment" in this chapter. Importing an ASCII File If you created an ASCII file containing addresses that you want to put in your Local Address Book, you can import this file so you don't have to type the addresses again. ▄▄▄ To import a file into your Local Address Book 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose ADDRESS-BOOKS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Local Address Book. 3. Move the highlight to the insertion point. 4. At the Local Address Book, press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose IMPORT. 6. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager dialog box. 7. Type either the name of the file you want, or, if you can't remember the whole filename, type part of the filename and use the DOS wildcard characters ? and *. If you want to display the directory of another subdirectory, enter that path name on the Directory Manager dialog box. If you press ENTER without specifying either the wildcard characters, filename, or DOS path name, Microsoft OnLine displays a directory of the current subdirectory. 8. Press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of files that match the selection criteria you typed. 9. Press the direction keys to move the <- on the right of the list to the file you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine imports the file into your Local Address Book. Attaching a Comment Your comment can contain the person's name, place of employment, or projects worked on. Comments must be enclosed in double quotation marks (") and can be up to 67 characters long. In general, make your comments as descriptive as you can. ▄▄▄ To attach a comment to an address 1. After you've entered the subscriber's Quik-Comm Address, press the SPACEBAR, type double quotation marks ("), and then type a comment for the address. 2. End your comment by typing double quotation marks (") and then press ENTER to start the next address. Saving Your Local Address Book Once you've entered the addresses for your Local Address Book, you need to save them for future use. ▄▄▄ To save your Local Address Book 1. When the Local Address Book is displayed, press the F1 key to display the menu. 2. Choose SAVE-ADDRESSES. Microsoft OnLine saves the Local Address Book. If you have unsaved changes and you press ESC, Microsoft OnLine prompts you either to save the changes or discard them. Printing Your Local Address Book You can print your Local Address Book on the printer attached to your computer. Before you print, make certain that your ONLINE.INI file is set up for your printer. See Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," for information. ▄▄▄ To print your Local Address Book 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose ADDRESS-BOOKS. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose PRINT. Microsoft OnLine prints your Local Address Book on the printer. Removing Your Local Address Book When you're done entering information into your Local Address Book, you can remove the book by pressing ESC. If you've made changes since you opened the Local Address Book, Microsoft OnLine displays a menu and asks you if you want to save the changes or discard them. Choose SAVE-ADDRESSES or DISCARD. If you want to do neither, press ESC, and Microsoft OnLine displays the Local Address Book again. Creating an Electronic Mail Message Before you connect to the Service to send your Electronic Mail Message, you need to create the message and save it to disk as a file. You use the same editing keystrokes and commands to create a message as you used to create your Local Address Book. To review these commands and keystrokes, see the section titled "Using the Keyboard with Electronic Mail" earlier in this chapter. You can also import a file from your disk into your message, and you can mark a passage in your message to paste into another message. If you modify the BT50.ZIF file, you can start your editor from the Main Screen to create either Electronic Mail Messages or Service Request Descriptions. For information, see Appendix C, "Customizing Microsoft OnLine." If you use your editor to create Electronic Mail Messages, be sure that you or your editor ends each line at 78 characters with the CR LF (Carriage Return, Line Feed) pair. Otherwise, when Microsoft OnLine transmits the message, it will send paragraphs as single long lines and then truncate these lines at 80 characters. Don't embed control or extended characters in the file. In addition, when you save your message with your editor's save command, be sure you save the file as unformatted (ASCII). Creating a Message ▄▄▄ To create an Electronic Mail Message 1. From the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose EDIT. 3. Choose NEW. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank window on the screen for you to enter your message. 4. Type your message. 5. When you're done typing your message, make any corrections you need to make. Importing an ASCII File ▄▄▄ To import an ASCII disk file into your message 1. Make certain that your message is displayed and move the highlight to the insertion point. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose IMPORT. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager. 4. Type the filename or use a combination of characters and DOS wildcard characters and press ENTER. If you want to display the directory of another subdirectory, type that path name on the Directory Manager dialog box. If you press ENTER without specifying the wildcard characters, filename, or DOS path name, Microsoft OnLine displays a directory of the current subdirectory. 5. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of files on your disk that match the criteria you selected. 6. Move the <- on the right of the list to the file you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine imports the entire file into your message. Cutting and Pasting ▄▄▄ To paste part of your message into a new message 1. Display the message that contains the information you want to copy and paste. 2. Mark the block of text you want to paste by pressing the + key at the beginning and again at the end of the block of text. 3. Press ESC. Microsoft OnLine removes the message from the display. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose EDIT. 6. Choose NEW. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen. 7. Press F1 to display the menu. 8. Choose PASTE to paste the text you marked into the new message. Returning to Edit a Message ▄▄▄ To resume editing the message 1. If the menu isn't displayed, press F1 to display it. 2. Choose RESUME. Closing a Message ▄▄▄ To close a message when you're done editing 1. If the menu isn't displayed, press F1 to display it. 2. Choose CLOSE. You can also press ESC to close a message. If you've made changes since the last time you saved the message, Microsoft OnLine displays a menu for you to choose to save the changes or not. To save the changes, choose SAVE-CHANGES from the menu. To discard the changes, choose DISCARD. Saving an Electronic Mail Message Once you're done entering and changing your message, you need to save it. ▄▄▄ To save your message 1. While your message is displayed, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose FILE. 3. Choose SAVE-ON-DISK. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save-As dialog box, where you enter the file name. 4. Enter the filename for your message and press ENTER. 5. Choose YES from the menu. Microsoft OnLine saves the file to the name you specified and leaves the message on the screen. Editing an Electronic Mail Message After you've created your message and saved it to disk, you can open the message again and make changes if necessary. ▄▄▄ To edit your message 1. Press F1 when Microsoft OnLine displays the Main Screen. 2. Choose EDIT. 3. Choose OPEN. Microsoft OnLine displays a dialog box for you to select your file. 4. Enter the filename or use the DOS wildcard characters. If you want to display the directory of another subdirectory, type that path name on the Directory Manager dialog box. If you press ENTER without specifying either the wildcard characters, filename, or DOS path name, Microsoft OnLine displays a directory of the current subdirectory. 5. Press the direction keys to move the <- on the right side of the listing to the file you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays your message for you to edit. Erasing an Electronic Mail Message If you no longer need a message or file on your disk, you can erase it. ▄▄▄ To erase a message 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose EDIT. 3. Choose ERASE. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager dialog box. 4. Type either the filename or, if you can't remember the whole filename, type part of the filename and use the DOS wildcard characters ? and *. If you want to display the directory of another subdirectory, type that path name on the Directory Manager dialog box. If you press ENTER without specifying either the wildcard characters, filename, or DOS path name, Microsoft OnLine displays a directory of the current subdirectory. 5. Press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of file(s) that match the selection criteria you typed. 6. Press the + key to mark the file(s) you want to erase. Press the - key to remove the highlight if you mark a file you don't want to erase. Microsoft OnLine displays the Erase Confirmation dialog box. 7. Choose YES to delete all the marked files. If you don't want to delete the files, choose NO. Addressing an Electronic Mail Message Once you're done creating or editing your message, you need to address it before you send it. ▄▄▄ To address your message 1. Display the message you want to address. (If you're not sure how to display the message, see the section titled "Editing an Electronic Mail Message" in this chapter.) 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose SEND. 4. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box. 5. Type the address(es) for the recipient(s) of your message. If you don't remember the address(es), put a ? in the Send TO or CC line. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. Mark the address(es) you want to copy by pressing the + key on the numeric keypad for each address you want to copy to the Address dialog box. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine pastes these address(es) to your Address dialog box. If the address(es) is in the Service Address Book, you can copy it from there to your Local Address Book dialog box. See the following section titled "Searching the Service Address Book for an Address" for more information. 6. If you want to copy the message to people other than the recipient(s), press the UP or DOWN key to select the CC line and type the address for the recipient(s) for the copy. 7. If you want to clear the Address and CC lines, choose CLEAR-ADDRESSES from the menu. Then type your addresses again. 8. After you've addressed your message, press the DOWN key to move the highlight to the Subject line. 9. Type the subject for your message and press ENTER. 10. If you want to place the message in the Out Basket, choose DROP-IN- OUTBASKET from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a message telling you that it is placing your message in the Out Basket and then displays your message text again. 11. To close your message, choose CLOSE from the menu. Searching the Service Address Book for an Address You display the address books to choose an address for your Electronic Mail Messages. You can either select an address from your Local Address Book or you can search for an address in the Service Address Book if you don't know the recipient's address. If you need to find an address in the Service Address Book, you can search for the address or for an address description. Once you've found the address(es) in the Service Address Book, you can copy the most frequently used addresses into your Local Address Book. Displaying the Find Service Address Dialog Box ▄▄▄ To display the Find Service Address dialog box 1. Connect to the Service. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose ADDRESS-BOOKS. 4. Choose SEARCH. Microsoft OnLine displays the Find Service Address dialog box. Searching the Service Address Book Once you've displayed the Find Service Address dialog box, you can search for the address of a subscriber. ▄▄▄ To search the Service Address Book 1. Type the information for the address search. You can type upper- or lower-case letters. For example, if you're looking for an address for Jack Smith, type smith on the search line. 2. Choose one of the following on the menu: FIND ANY When you choose FIND-ANY, Microsoft OnLine displays any addresses or address descriptions that contain the word smith. MATCH-ADDRESS When you choose MATCH-ADDRESS, Microsoft OnLine searches the addresses for the word smith, but doesn't search the address descriptions. EXACT When you choose EXACT, Microsoft OnLine displays only addresses that match the word smith exactly. 3. When you've found the address you want, mark it by pressing the + key when the highlight is on the first and last character of the address you want. You can choose more than one address by pressing the + key again when the highlight is on the first and last character of the addresses you want. You can mark a series of addresses in the list as long as they are consecutive. For example, if the addresses in the list were numbered 1 through 10, you could mark the first letter of address 4 and the last letter of address 7 by pressing the + key when the highlight is in these character positions. However, you cannot mark addresses 1, 3, 5, and 9 as a group. Because they are not consecutive addresses, you will need to copy them one at a time to your Local Address Book. You can then copy the address(es) to your Local Address Book. Copying Addresses from the Service Address Book You don't have to search the Service Address Book each time you need to send a message. You can copy the address(es) you marked in the Service Address Book to your Local Address Book. This procedure assumes that you have already searched for a Service Address and that you have marked the address in the Service Address Book you want to copy. ▄▄▄ To copy a Service Address to your Local Address Book 1. Press ESC until you see LOCAL SEARCH HELP on the menu. 2. Choose LOCAL from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Move the highlight to the insertion point. 5. Choose PASTE to enter the address into your Local Address Book. 6. Press ESC to exit the address book. 7. Choose SAVE CHANGES on the menu. Displaying the Contents of the Out Basket After you've placed messages in the Out Basket, you can view the messages stored there. If there are messages waiting to be sent in the Out Basket, Microsoft OnLine displays three upward pointing arrows in the Out Basket Icon. ▄▄▄ To display the contents of the Out Basket 1. From the Main Screen, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the type of message, the type of item (file or text) the subject, the recipient's address, and the date. The Out Basket displays text items, which are messages waiting to be sent, and lists, which are lists that contain other items. For example, the Already Sent List contains a list of messages that you've already sent to other subscribers. To select an item in the Out Basket, move the <- to the right of the item you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays either the item or another list. 2. To close the item, press ESC. 3. To close the Out Basket List, press ESC. Sending an Electronic Mail Message Before you can send messages, you need to create and address them and drop them in the Out Basket. After you've placed your messages in the Out Basket, you need to connect to the Service. Then you're ready to send your messages. Microsoft OnLine must be installed and the Configuration Parameters set before you can connect to the Service. If you haven't installed Microsoft OnLine or haven't set up your Configuration Parameters, see Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine," for more information. Connecting to the Service ▄▄▄ To connect to the Service 1. At the Main Screen, select the Connect to Service Icon and press ENTER. 2. When Microsoft OnLine displays the Connect to Service dialog box, type your Password and choose YES from the menu. 3. Microsoft OnLine displays a Connect to Service screen indicating the steps it takes to connect to the Service. When you are connected, Microsoft OnLine displays the Main Screen again, but with several additional icons. Sending All Messages ▄▄▄ To send all messages in the Out Basket 1. At the Main Screen, select the Connect to Service Icon and press ENTER. 2. After the connection is complete, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose SEND-OUT-BASKET. 5. Choose ALL. 6. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send screen, which lists the number of characters in your message and the estimated transmission time. 7. Choose STAY-CONNECTED to stay connected to the Service after transmission. Choose DISCONNECT to disconnect from the Service after transmission. 8. If you have addressed a message incorrectly, Microsoft OnLine will display a message and give you the opportunity to correct it. For information, see the section titled "Correcting an Address" in this chapter. 9. When Microsoft OnLine begins the message transfer process, it displays the Transfer screen. You will see a Transfer screen for each message you are sending. 10. After Microsoft OnLine completes the message transfer process, you see the Send Status screen, which tells you if your messages have been sent successfully. 11. Press ENTER. Sending Selected Messages ▄▄▄ To select the message(s) to send 1. At the Main Screen, select the Connect to Host Icon and press ENTER. 2. After the connection is complete, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of the messages waiting in the Out Basket. 3. Use the direction keys to move the <- to the first message you want to send. 4. Press + Microsoft OnLine selects the message. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each message you want to send. 6. Press F1 to display the menu. 7. Choose SEND-OUT-BASKET. 8. Choose SELECTED. 9. Choose STAY-CONNECTED to stay connected to the Service after transmission. Choose DISCONNECT to disconnect from the Service after transmission. 10. After all the messages have been sent, press ENTER. 11. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send screen, which lists the number of characters in your message and the estimated transmission time. If you have addressed a message incorrectly, Microsoft OnLine will display a message and give you the opportunity to correct it. For information, see the following section titled "Correcting an Address." 12. When Microsoft OnLine begins the message transfer process, it displays the Transfer screen. You will see a Transfer screen for each message you are sending. 13. After Microsoft OnLine completes the message transfer process, you see the Send Status screen, which tells you if your messages have been sent successfully. 14. Press ENTER to close the Status screen. Correcting an Address You may accidentally address your message incorrectly. If Microsoft OnLine can't find the address for your message, it displays a message telling you so. ▄▄▄ To correct an address 1. Choose RE-ADDRESS from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Address dialog box. 2. Fill in the correct address. If you don't remember the address(es), put a ? in the Send TO or CC line. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. Mark the address(es) you want to copy by pressing the + key on the numeric keypad for each address you want to copy to the Address dialog box. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine pastes these addresses to your Address dialog box. 3. If you want to copy the message to people other than the recipient(s), press the UP or DOWN key to select the CC line and type the address(es) for the copy recipient(s). 4. After you've addressed your message, press the DOWN key to move the highlight to the Subject line. 5. Type the subject for your message on the Subject line and press ENTER. 6. If you want to clear the Address and CC lines, select CLEAR-ADDRESSES from the menu. Then enter your addresses again. 7. If you want to drop the message in the Out Basket, select DROP-IN- OUTBASKET from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a message telling you that it is placing your message in the Out Basket and then displays your message text again. If you want to send your message immediately, choose SEND-NOW. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send screen. 8. To remove your message, select CLOSE from the menu. Removing an Item You can remove a file or text item you placed on the system if the information is incorrect or out of date. When you remove an item, you can remove your copy or any copy of the item that hasn't been read or downloaded on the System, including copies in the recipients' In Baskets. However, once someone has read the message or downloaded the file to a disk, you can't delete his copy of the item. To remove your copy only, you can be disconnected from the Service. To remove all the copies on the System including your own copy, you must be connected to the Service. If the item you want to remove is a file, and you follow this procedure, you will remove the file listing from your Out Basket, but the file will still be on your disk. See the section titled "Removing a File Item" in this chapter for instructions. Removing a Message ▄▄▄ To remove a message 1. At the Main Screen, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. 2. Choose a list or item and press ENTER. 3. Press the direction keys to move the <- to the first message you want to remove. 4. Press + Microsoft OnLine selects the message. To remove the highlight from a message, move the <- to the message you want and press the - key. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each message you want to remove. 6. Press F1 to display the menu. 7. Choose CANCEL and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a menu with the options ALL and YOUR-COPY. ALL cancels all copies of this message, including recipients' copies and your copy of the message in your Quik-Comm Already Sent List. YOUR-COPY cancels only the copy of the message in your Quik-Comm Already Sent List. You will not be able to open your message if you choose YOUR-COPY. 8. Choose ALL or YOUR-COPY. Microsoft OnLine displays a message telling you that it is cancelling your message. Removing a File Item ▄▄▄ To remove a file item 1. At the Main Screen, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. 2. Press the direction keys to move the <- to the first file you want to remove. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose EDIT. 5. Choose ERASE. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager dialog box. 6. Type the name of the file you want to delete and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Erase Confirmation dialog box. 7. Choose YES or NO on the dialog box. Finding Out Who Has Read Your Message After you've sent a message, you can find out who has read it. ▄▄▄ To find out who has read your message 1. Make certain that you are connected to the Service. 2. At the Main Screen, select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. 3. Choose the Quik-Comm Already Sent List and press ENTER. 4. Press the direction keys to move the <- to the first message for which you want to know who has read it. 5. Press F1 to display the menu. 6. Choose WHO'S READ from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Who's Read screen, which lists the time and date that the recipient read the message. It also indicates if there are any recipients who have not read the message. Microsoft OnLine also lists the reader's address and any description you may have attached to it when you created your Local Address Book. 7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each message. Uploading a File to Another Subscriber You can upload a file that contains text and graphics to another subscriber. ▄▄▄ To upload a file 1. At the Main Screen, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose EDIT. 3. Choose UPLOAD. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager dialog box. 4. Type either the name of the file you want or, if you can't remember the whole filename, type part of the filename and use the DOS wildcard characters ? and *. If you want to display the directory of another subdirectory, type that path name on the Directory Manager dialog box. If you press ENTER without specifying the wildcard characters, filename, or DOS path name, Microsoft OnLine displays the directory of the current subdirectory. 5. Press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of file(s) that match the selection criteria you typed. 6. Press the direction keys to move the <- to the right of the file you want and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Upload dialog box. 7. Fill in the Application line so that the recipient knows what application to use to access the file. 8. Choose what type of device will be receiving this file: MY-DEVICE indicates that the receiving machine is an IBM-compatible personal computer that runs MS-DOS or its equivalent. ANY-DEVICE indicates that the receiving machine is any other type of machine that can access this file. Examples might include machines that run Xenix, CP/M, or Apple operating systems. 9. Fill in the Comments lines to add comments that describes the file you are sending. For example, you might include a description of the file and how it might be used . Also include the operating system for the file. 10. Choose YES at the bottom of the dialog box to proceed. Or choose NO or HELP. If you choose NO, Microsoft OnLine returns you to the Main Screen. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box. 11. Type the address(es) for the recipient(s) of your file. If you don't remember the address(es), put a ? in the Send TO or CC line. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays your Local Address Book. Mark the address(es) you want to copy to the Address dialog box by pressing the + key on the numeric keypad for each address you want to copy to the Address dialog box. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine pastes these address to your Address dialog box. 12. If you want to copy the file to people other than the recipient(s), press the UP or DOWN key to highlight the CC line and ENTER the address(es) for the copy recipient(s). 13. After you've addressed your file, press the DOWN key to move the highlight to the Subject line. 14. Type the subject for your message on the Subject line and press ENTER. 15. If you want to drop the message in the Out Basket, select DROP-IN- OUTBASKET from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays a message telling you that it is placing your message in the Out Basket. If you want to send the message immediately, choose SEND-NOW. Microsoft OnLine displays the Transfer screen and then the Main Screen. Forwarding an Electronic Mail Message If you send an Electronic Mail Message and then discover that you did not send it to everyone who needed it, you can forward it to other subscribers. You can't forward a message to someone on the original distribution list or to yourself, and you can forward only text items. ▄▄▄ To forward an Electronic Mail Message 1. Select the Out Basket Icon and press ENTER. 2. Open your Already Sent List by moving the <- to this list and pressing ENTER. 3. Select the message you want to forward by positioning the <- to its right. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose FORWARD. Microsoft OnLine displays the Forward dialog box. 6. Type the addresses to which you want to forward the message. You can type up to 50 names. 7. Choose FORWARD-NOW and press ENTER. If you choose CLEAR-ADDRESSES, Microsoft OnLine clears the addresses on the dialog box so you can enter them again. 8. Microsoft OnLine forwards your message to addresses you entered on the Forward dialog box. Printing an Electronic Mail Message After you've created a message, you can print it on your printer. There are two methods you can use to print a message you created. Use method 1 if you haven't sent the message yet. Use method 2 if you have sent the message. ▄▄▄ To print a message you created Method 1: if you haven't sent the message 1. Open the Out Basket by selecting the icon and then pressing ENTER. 2. Open the message you want to print by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose PRINT. Method 2: if you have sent the message 1. Open the Out Basket by selecting the icon and pressing ENTER. 2. Select the Quik-Comm Already Sent List by pressing the direction keys to position the <- to the right of the list. 3. Select the individual message by positioning the <- to the right of the item you want. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose OUTPUT from the menu. 6. Choose PRINT. Working with Electronic Mail Messages from Others When the In Basket Icon has three arrows pointing down, you have messages waiting there to be opened and read. These messages stay in the In Basket until you delete them. You can read, print, or save these messages to a file on your disk. You can also add these messages to your Local Filing Cabinet and respond quickly to a message. Reading a Message ▄▄▄ To read a message 1. Select the In Basket Icon and press ENTER. You may see several items: ■ An Already Read List of messages that you've already read. ■ TEXT is a new message. ■ FILE is a new file. 2. If want to read just one message, select the message you want by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the message. Then press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the message. Reading Multiple Messages ▄▄▄ To read multiple messages 1. If you want to read multiple messages, move the <- to the right of the first message and press the + key on the numeric keypad to mark the message. Microsoft OnLine selects the message. Mark each message that you want to read. 2. When you're done marking each message you want to read, press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the first message. 3. After you're done reading the first message, press ESC. Microsoft OnLine closes the message and displays the next one in the list. Printing a Message You can print an Electronic Mail Message using one of two methods. Use method 1 if the message is displayed. Use method 2 if you have a list of items from which to choose. ▄▄▄ To print an Electronic Mail Message Method 1: from a displayed message 1. Select the In Basket Icon and press ENTER. 2. Open the message you want to print by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose PRINT. Method 2: from a message list 1. Select the In Basket Icon and press ENTER. 2. Select the list of items you want by positioning the <- to the right of the list. 3. Select the individual message by positioning the <- to the right of the item you want and pressing the + key on the numeric keypad. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose OUTPUT from the menu. 6. Choose PRINT. Saving File Items to Disk If someone sends you a file, you can save it to disk. ▄▄▄ To save a file item to disk 1. If you select a file item and press ENTER, Microsoft OnLine displays the Receive screen. 2. Choose YES at the bottom of the screen. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save-As dialog box 3. Type the filename in which you want to save the item on your disk. Microsoft OnLine then displays the Transfer screen. When the transfer is complete, the file is available on your disk with the name you specified. Saving Messages to Disk ▄▄▄ To save an Electronic Mail Message to disk 1. Open a message as described in the section titled "Reading a Message" in this chapter. 2. When the message is on the display, press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose SAVE-TO-DISK. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save In dialog box for you to name the file where you want the item stored. 4. Type the filename and choose SAVE from the menu. Responding to a Message If you want to reply to a message that someone sent you, you can do it quickly. When you respond to a message, Microsoft OnLine labels the message as a response so the recipient will know that it's a response to his message. In addition, Microsoft OnLine automatically addresses the response message for you. ▄▄▄ To respond to a message 1. Open a message as described in the section titled "Reading a Message" in this chapter. 2. When the message is displayed, press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose RESPOND. 4. Type your response on the blank screen that appears and then choose SEND from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Address dialog box including the address of the person who sent the message. If the original memo contained a list of people to receive copies (cc:), these individuals are also included automatically. The Subject line contains the subject of the original memo. 5. Choose DROP-IN-BASKET to drop the message into your Out Basket to be sent the next time you send messages If you want to send your response immediately, choose SEND-NOW to transmit the message immediately. In either case, when the recipient looks at his In Basket, he or she will see the subject of the original message to which you are responding preceded by a Re:. For example, if the subject of the message you're responding to is Project XYZ, your response message's subject will be Re: Project XYZ. Storing Items in Your Local In Basket Once you've received a file or message, you have two different ways to add the information to your Local In Basket, which you can access when not connected to the Service. Then the information will be available for creating messages and for storing in your Local Filing Cabinet. Use method 1 if you have only one item to add to your Local In Basket. Use method 2 if you have more than one item. ▄▄▄ To store items in your Local In Basket Method 1: for one item 1. Find the message you want to store in your Local In Basket. 2. Display the item by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose ADD-TO-LOCAL. Microsoft OnLine adds the item to your Local Mail List. For information about storing the item in your Local Filing Cabinet, see the section titled "Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet" at the end of this chapter. Method 2: for a list of items 1. Display the list of items you want. 2. Select each item you want by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the item. If you want to receive all the items in the list, you don't need to mark them. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose GET-ITEMS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box. You use this dialog box to tell Microsoft OnLine what items and what type of items to get and to select other options. 5. Select GET ALL or GET SELECTED. GET ALL retrieves all the items in the displayed list. GET SELECTED retrieves only the items that you've marked with the + key. 6. Select GET FILES, GET DOCUMENTS, or GET BOTH. GET FILES retrieves only file items. GET DOCUMENTS retrieves only text items. GET BOTH retrieves both files and text items. 7. Select STAY-CONNECTED or DISCONNECT either to stay connected to the Service or to disconnect from the Service after Microsoft OnLine gets the items. 8. Select SAVE-LOCALLY or DISPLAY-ONLY either to save the items to your Local In Basket or just to display the items. 9. Select PRINT YES or NO. YES prints the items as they are received. NO doesn't print the items. 10. Choose YES to retrieve the items. Choose NO to cancel retrieving the items. Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet You can organize the information you get from Microsoft OnLine in a Local Filing Cabinet. This Local Filing Cabinet can store three types of items: lists, text, and files. Lists contain information related to the name of the list. Text items can be text items you downloaded from the Exchange or the Information Sources or Electronic Mail Messages. Files are files that you retrieved and saved locally. You can open your Local Filing Cabinet either when you are connected to or disconnected from the Service. The lists in the Local Filing Cabinet work similarly to lists in the Exchange. In both cases, the lists are analogous to folders that can contain other lists or items. In the Local Filing Cabinet, you can create and add lists and move or copy items into those lists. You can have a maximum of 95 lists with 9,999 items in each list; these numbers may vary with the storage capacity of your computer's disk. This section discusses creating and managing the items in your lists and assumes that the items are already in your Local In Basket. For information about placing items in your Local In Basket, see the section titled "Storing Items in Your Local In Basket" in this chapter. For information about adding items to your Local In Basket from the Exchange, see the section titled "Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket" in Chapter 7, "Using The Exchange." For information about adding items to your Local In Basket from the Information Sources, see the section titled "Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket" in Chapter 4, "Finding Answers with Microsoft OnLine." For information about adding messages or files you've received from other subscribers to your Local In Basket, see the section titled "Storing Items in Your Local In Basket" in this chapter. Creating a New List ▄▄▄ To create a new list 1. Open the In Basket Icon. 2. Move the <- to select the Local Filing Cabinet list and press ENTER. 3. Open the list under which you want to create your new list. If you want to create a list at the top level of the Local Filing Cabinet, don't open another list. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose ADD-LIST. Microsoft OnLine displays the List Name dialog box. 6. Type the name of the new list (up to 21 characters) and press ENTER. 7. Type the path of the subdirectory where you want the data stored. The default subdirectory is the one you indicated when you set up your Communications Profile. If the path doesn't already exist, Microsoft OnLine displays the Invalid Path dialog box. Choose TRY-AGAIN, CREATE, or SKIP. TRY-AGAIN tells Microsoft OnLine to look for the directory again. CREATE creates the directory you entered. SKIP returns you to the List Name dialog box. 8. Choose PROCEED to create the new list. If you don't want to create the list, choose SKIP. 9. Microsoft OnLine displays an updated set of lists with your new list included. Copying Items to a List Once a text item or file is in your Local In Basket or Local Filing Cabinet, you can copy the item from list to list. However, you can't copy lists to other lists. ▄▄▄ To copy items to a list 1. Open the In Basket Icon. 2. Find the item(s) you want to copy by moving down through the lists. 3. Mark the item(s) by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing the + key. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose COPY. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of lists. 6. Move the <- to the right of the destination list and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine copies the items to the destination list. Moving Items Between Lists Once a text item or file is in your Local In Basket or Local Filing Cabinet, you can move the item from list to list. However, you can't move lists to other lists. ▄▄▄ To move items from one list to another 1. Open the In Basket Icon. 2. Find the item(s) you want to move by moving down through the lists. 3. Mark the item(s) by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing the + key. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose MOVE. Microsoft OnLine displays a list of lists. 6. Move the <- to the right of the destination list and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine moves the items to the destination list. Deleting Items in a List ▄▄▄ To delete items in a list 1. Open the In Basket Icon. 2. Open the list that contains the items you want to delete. 3. Mark each item in the list by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the item. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose DELETE. Microsoft OnLine deletes the marked items. Deleting a List Before you can delete a list, you need to delete all the items in that list. If you have several lists underneath a list and you want to delete the top-level list, you need to delete all the items in the lower-level lists, delete the lower-level lists, and then delete the top-level list. ▄▄▄ To delete a list 1. Open the In Basket Icon. 2. Open the list you want to delete. 3. Mark each item in the list by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the item. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose DELETE. Microsoft OnLine deletes the marked items. 6. Press ENTER. 7. Move the <- to the list you want to delete. 8. Press F1 to display the menu. 9. Choose DELETE. Microsoft OnLine deletes the list and then displays an updated list. Chapter 7. Using the Exchange ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter describes how to: ■ Use the Exchange to find specific information. ■ Download items to your computer. ■ Post items on the Exchange. The Microsoft OnLine Exchange contains text and files that are posted by the Microsoft System Administrator and other subscribers. The main difference between the Information Sources and the Exchange is that you can post items in the Exchange to share information with other subscribers. For example, you may want to upload utilities for Windows applications that you've modified so other developers can use them. The topics if the Exchange are set up by the Microsoft System Administrator. You must be connected to the Service to use the Exchange. The Exchange contains a wide range of information. To assist you in finding the specific information you need, the data in the Exchange is organized in a tree structure as shown in this illustration. When you first open the Exchange Icon, you see a list of general topics: List Title Contents New Information Most rercent entries in the Exchange; items are kept here for one week Bulletins Latest bulletins from Microsoft General Comments and Opinions Your opinions about Microsoft or another other topic Product Support Services Microsoft Support Services information, including support for Microsoft OnLine, GEnie, and Telemarketing Support Customer Service Information about product updates and orders Microsoft University and Current information about Microsoft Training List courses and services International Issues Issues of interest to subscribers outside of the United States. Beyond these topics, the Exchange is divided by product families (Operating Environment, Languages, Utilities, Hardware, Applications, and Educational/Recreational). For each product family, there's a section for each supported product. Each product section also has an associated Software Exchange category, which is where you should upload and download files. The Exchange offers three general types of items: lists, text, and files. Lists contain text, file, or additional list entries. Files contain either binary or ASCII files. Text contains literal text files you can read on your screen. Both text and files can be downloaded to your computer for storing in a disk file or printing on your printer. As you work through lists and downwards through the tree structure, Microsoft OnLine displays the titles of the items you opened so you can trace upwards through the tree. Finding an Item in the Exchange ▄▄▄ To find an item 1. Make certain that you're connected to the Service. 2. At the Main Screen, select the Exchange Icon and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the top level of lists. You can tell the item type by looking at the left-hand column of the display. 3. Press the direction keys to move the <- to the item you want and press ENTER. If the item you selected is a list, Microsoft OnLine displays either the items in that list or another series of lists. You can then continue down through a series of lists until you find what you need. If the item you selected is text, Microsoft OnLine displays the text of the item. 4. Continue searching through the items until you find the item you want. When you find the item you want, you can download it to a disk file or print it on your printer. Downloading Items Once you've found the item you want, you can download it to your disk or print it on your printer. Saving a File to Disk ▄▄▄ To download a file and save it to disk 1. If the item you selected is a file, Microsoft OnLine displays the Receive dialog box. 2. Choose YES to receive the file. 3. Type the name of the file in which you want to store the file. Microsoft OnLine displays the Transfer dialog box. After the transfer is complete, you can access the file on your disk with the filename you specified. Saving a Text Item to Disk ▄▄▄ To download a text item and save it to disk 1. Press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SAVE-TO-DISK from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save As dialog box so you can specify a filename for that item. 3. Fill in the filename and press ENTER. Microsoft OnLine displays the Transfer screen. When the transfer is complete, the file is available for your use on your disk with the name you specified. Printing a Text Item ▄▄▄ To download a text item and print it on your printer 1. Press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose PRINT from the menu. Microsoft OnLine prints the item on your printer. Downloading Items to Your Local In Basket Once you've found the information you want, you have two ways to add the information to your Local In Basket, which you can access both when not connected to or connected to the Service. Then the information will be available for creating messages and for storing in your Local Filing Cabinet. There are two methods for downloading items to your Local In Basket. Use method 1 if you have only one item to add to your Local In Basket. Use method 2 if you have more than one item. ▄▄▄ To download items to your Local In Basket Method 1: for one item 1. Find the item you want. 2. Display the item by positioning the <- to the right of the item and pressing ENTER. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose ADD-TO-LOCAL. Microsoft OnLine adds the item to your Local In Basket. For Information about storing the item in your Local Filing Cabinet, see the section titled "Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet" in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail." Method 2: for a list of items 1. Find the list of items you want. 2. Select each item you want by pressing the + key when the <- is to the right of the item. If you want to receive all the items in the list, you don't need to make any of them. 3. Press F1 to display the menu. 4. Choose GET-ITEMS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box. You use this dialog box to tell Microsft OnLine what items and what type of items to get, and to select other options. 5. Select GET ALL or GET SELECTED. GET ALL retrieves all the items in the displayed list. GET SELECTED retrieves only the items that you've marked with the + key. 6. Select GET FILES, GET DOCUMENTS, or GET BOTH. GET FILES retrieves only file items. GET DOCUMENTS retrieves only text items. GET BOTH retrieves both file and text items. 7. Select STAY-CONNECTED or DISCONNECT either to stay connected to the Service or to disconnect from the Service after Microsoft OnLine retrieves the items. 8. Select SAVE-LOCALLY or DISPLAY-ONLY either to save the items to your Local In Basket or just to display the items. 9. Select PRINT YES or NO. YES prints the items as they are received. NO doesn't print the items. 10. Choose YES to retrieve the items. Choose NO to cancel retrieving the items. Microsoft OnLine adds the item to you Local In Basket. For information about storing the item in your Local Filing Cabinet, see the section titled "Managing Your Local Filing Cabinet" in Chapter 6, "Using Electronic Mail." Posting an Item on the Exchange You can post either a text item or a file on the Exchange. When you post an item, you enter the subject or title for the item; make the title as descriptive as you can. In addition, be sure to specify the product name, the operating system, and the product and operating system version numbers. In order to see your item posted on the Exchange, you need to exit the Exchange after you transmit the item and then open the Exchange again. Although you can post text items anywhere on the Exchange, post them at the lowest appropriate level of the hierarchy. The Microsoft System Administrator will move items posted in inappropriate locations. If you have problems that are not likely to be resolved by a Service Request or are related to the operation of Microsoft OnLine, send an Electronic Mail Message to the Microsoft OnLine Editor using the alias EDITOR. For more information see the section titled "For More Information" in Chapter 1, "Before you Begin." Posting a Text Item ▄▄▄ To post a text item in the Exchange 1. At the Main Screen, select the Exchange Icon and press ENTER. 2. Work you way down through the topics until you find the list under which you want to post your text item. Post your item at the lowest level in the hierarchy. 3. Open the list in which you want to post your item. To open the list, move the <- to the right of the list you want and press ENTER. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose EDIT. 6. Choose NEW. 7. Compose your contribution to the Exchange. 8. When you are done composing your contribution, press F1 to display the menu again. 9. Choose SEND. 10. Choose BULLETIN-BOARD. Microsoft OnLine displays the Subject dialog box. 11. Type a subject of your contribution and choose PROCEED from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the Transfer screen. 12. After the transfer is complete, press ESC twice to return to the Exchange topic list. Posting a File When you post a file on the Exchange, post it in the Software Exchange for the appropriate operating environment and product. For example, if you want to post a Windows utility, you would post it in the Software Exchange for the appropriate Windows product. ▄▄▄ To post a file on the Exchange 1. At the Main Screen press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose EDIT. 3. Choose UPLOAD. 4. Choose BULLETIN-BOARD. Microsoft OnLine displays the Directory Manager dialog box. 5. Select the file you want to upload by moving the <- to the file and pressing ENTER. 6. Fill in the Application line on the Transfer dialog box by typing the name of the application used to open the file. 7. Choose the type of device that can access the file. 8. Type the operating system and any other useful information about the file. 9. Choose YES. Microsoft OnLine displays a dialog box where you specify the title or subject for the file you are posting. 10. Type the subject or title for the file and press ENTER. Microsft OnLine displays the Transfer screen. Removing Your Contribution You can remove only items that you posted on the Exchange. For example, you might want to remove an item because the information is no longer timely or accurate. You can remove your items one at a time; you can't remove more than one item at a time or items others have posted. ▄▄▄ To remove your contribution to the Exchange 1. Open the Exchange Icon. 2. Look through the lists until you find the item you want to remove. 3. Move the <- to the right of the item. 4. Press F1 to display the menu. 5. Choose REMOVE. Microsoft OnLine removes the item and then displays an updated list of topics. Chapter 8. Microsoft OnLine Reference ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This chapter contains reference information about: ■ Displaying System status. ■ Menu commands. Displaying System Status You can display the current status of the Communications line and information about your System usage for this month and the previous month. Before displaying status, you need to be connected to the Service. If you are having communications problems, review the Network/ Communications Status screen. If you can provide the terminal ID, the last error code, and line error number, it will be easier for support personnel to diagnose the problem. Displaying Communications Line Status ▄▄▄ To display Communications line status 1. Make certain you are connected to the Service. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose STATUS. 4. Choose COMMUNICATIONS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Network/Communications Status screen, which lists your terminal ID, the last error code, and the number of the line errors that occurred. 5. Make a note of this information. 6. Choose OK from the menu at the bottom of the screen to return to the Main Screen. Displaying System Usage Information ▄▄▄ To display System usage information 1. Make certain you are connected to the Service. 2. Press F1 to display the menu. 3. Choose COMMUNICATIONS from the menu. 4. Choose SYSTEM USAGE from the menu. Microsoft OnLine displays the System Usage screen, which shows your system usage for this month and the previous month in hours and minutes. 5. Press ESC to close the System Usage screen. Printing System Usage Information ▄▄▄ To print System usage information 1. When the System Usage screen is displayed, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose PRINT. Assuming that your printer has power and paper and is configured correctly, Microsoft OnLine prints the System usage information on the printer attached to your computer. For more information about setting up your printer, see Chapter 2, "Installing Microsoft OnLine." Saving System Usage Information to Disk ▄▄▄ To save System usage information to a disk file 1. When the System Usage screen is displayed, press F1 to display the menu. 2. Choose SAVE-ON-DISK. Microsoft OnLine displays the Save As dialog box. 3. Type the filename to save the file on your disk. Menu Commands This section describes each Microsoft OnLine menu command. This section is divided into two general sections: ■ Non-Service menus (those you display when disconnected from the Service) ■ Service menus (those you display when connected to the Service) Within each section, the menus are organized by the software module you use when you display the menu. For example, the Exchange has a different set of menus than the In Basket. Within each module, the menu items appear in the same order as in the displayed menus. In all cases, choosing HELP displays a Help screen for the displayed screen or dialog box. In this section, HELP is not included in discussions of menu items. The description of each command includes: ■ The command's purpose. ■ The menu or fields that appear when you choose the command. The order of the menus in this section is: Non-Service Menus ■ Main Screen Menu. ■ Local Filing Cabinet Menu. ■ Local In Basket Editor Menu. ■ Local Out Basket List Menu. ■ Local Out Basket Editor Menu. ■ Editor Menu. ■ Service Request Mgr Menu. ■ Service Response Menu. Service Menus ■ Main Screen Menu ■ Alert Menu. ■ Exchange Menu. ■ Exchange Editor Menu. ■ Service In Basket List Menu. ■ Service In Basket Editor Menu. ■ Service Out Basket List Menu. ■ Service Out Basket Editor Menu. ■ KnowledgeBase and Library Search Menus. ■ KnowledgeBase and Library Title List Menus. ■ KnowledgeBase and Library Editor Menus. Main Screen Menu (Non-Service) If you press F1 when the Main Screen is displayed and you are disconnected from the Service, you see this menu: EDIT BUSINESSTALK-INFO ADDRESS-BOOKS SET-UP HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document in the Microsoft OnLine editor, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see this menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document for editing. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. ONLINE-INFO DOCUMENT CLIENT-SERVICES SYSTEM-REQUIREMENTS THE-AUTHORS Key information about support and what info you need to help them Display information about Microsoft OnLine, including System requirements and where to call for Client Services Information. When you choose OnLine- INFO, you see this menu. Documents Display information about the Microsoft OnLine package and the conventions used in Help screens. Client-Services Display information about where to go for technical support and what information you should provide for technical support to solve your problem. System-Requirements Display what you need to run Microsoft OnLine. Other-Info Display a list of people who have authored Microsoft OnLine. ADDRESS-BOOKS PRINT SAVE-ADDRESSES IMPORT PASTE RESUME HELP Print the current document on the printer Display the Local Address Book, where you store a list of your most frequently used addresses. Press F1 when the Local Address Book is displayed to display this menu. Print Print the Local Address Book on your printer. The selection for the printer is made in the ONLINE.INI file. Save-Addresses Save your Local Address Book to disk. Import Import a text file from your disk to your Local Address Book. Microsoft OnLine asks you to select the file and then reads it into the book. Paste Paste marked addresses from the Service Address Book into your Local Address Book. Resume Resume entering or editing text in your Local Address Book. SET-UP COMMUNICATIONS PROFILE QUICK-COMM-OPTIONS KEYS HELP Change access control information such as comm port, speed and address Set up Microsoft OnLine or change host communications, profile, and display options. You can also change the key used to display the menu. When you choose SET-UP, you see this menu. Communications Display the Communications Data dialog box, which you fill in to set System Access Number, System Password, Quick-Comm Address, the telephone number you dial to gain access to the Service, and the modem's communication port specification and baud rate. Profiles Display the Profile dialog box, where you select the disk and subdirectory for storing data files stored, the Sound ON/OFF toggle, and the Debug Trace ON/OFF toggle. Quik-Comm-Options Display the Display Options dialog box, where you select in what order the messages should be displayed. You can select LIFO (Last In First Out), where the last message is displayed at the top of the list. Or, you can select FIFO (First In First Out), where the messages are listed in chronological order. You can select either LIFO or FIFO for unread, read, or sent message lists. Keys Display the Command Key dialog box, where you choose which keystroke you want to display the menus. You can choose an ALT or CTRL key combination or a function key. You can't use ESC, ENTER, or an alphanumeric key to display the menus. QUIT Quit Microsoft OnLine and return to DOS. Local Filing Cabinet Menu (Non-Service) When you disconnect from the Service, open the In Basket Icon, and press F1, you see this menu. EDIT OUTPUT MOVE COPY ADD-LIST DELETE HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document for editing, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see another menu. EDIT OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Print or place in a file items that you receive from Microsoft OnLine. When you select OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled decuments will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer connection ON or OFF. If you switch the printer ON, it will print items as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive-File Switch the Receive file ON or OFF. If you switch the receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, additional items are appended to the end of the file. MOVE Move items from one list to another. COPY Copy items from one list to another. ADD-LIST Add another list to your Local Filing Cabinet. DELETE Delete a list. QUIT Quit Microsoft OnLine and return to DOS. Local In Basket Editor Menu (Non-Service) If you selected an item in the In Basket list and then press ENTER to open the item, Microsoft OnLine displays the text of the item. If you press F1 and the item you opened is a message, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK RESPOND HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer If the item you opened is from the Exchange, the Libraries, or the KnowledgeBase, RESPOND is not on the menu. PRINT Print the message on the printer attached to your computer. SAVE-ON-DISK Save the message to a disk file. RESPOND Respond to a message that someone else sent you. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you open the In Basket, mark more than one item, and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING will cancel the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. Local Out Basket List Menu (Non-Service) When you are not connected to the Service, you see this menu if you open the Out Basket Icon and press F1. Use this menu only when the list of items in the Out Basket is displayed. EDIT RE-ADDRESS MODIFY-MESSAGE CANCEL HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document to be edited, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see this menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Opens a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. RE-ADDRESS After you mark a message, you can re-address it by choosing RE-ADDRESS. Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box, where you enter or change the address. MODIFY-MESSAGE After you mark a message, you can edit it by choosing MODIFY-MESSAGE. Microsoft OnLine displays the text of the message for you to edit. If you press F1 when the message is displayed, you see this menu. PRINT BACK-IN-OUTBASKET RESUME HELP Print the current document on the printer Print Print the message on the printer attached to your computer. Back-In-Outbasket Place the edited message back into the Out Basket. You don't need to address the message again. Resume Return to the message for additional editing. CANCEL Delete a marked message or messages from the Out Basket. QUIT Quit Microsoft OnLine and return to DOS. Local Out Basket Editor Menu (Non-Service) If you select an item in the Out Basket list and press ENTER to open the item, Microsoft OnLine displays the text of the item. Then, if you press F1, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer PRINT Prints the message on the printer attached to your computer. SAVE-ON-DISK Saves the message to a disk file. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you open the Out Basket, mark more than one item, and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING will cancel the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. Editor Menu (Non-Service) When you open a message and press F1, you see this menu. RESUME CLOSE FILE SEND IMPORT PASTE HELP Resume editing the current document RESUME Return to the message for additional editing. CLOSE Close the message you're editing. If you haven't saved your changes, Microsoft OnLine asks whether you want to save them before closing the message. FILE When you choose FILE, Microsoft OnLine displays this menu: PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK HELP Print the current document on the printer Print Print the displayed message on the printer attached to your computer. Save-On-Disk Save the displayed message to a disk file. SEND Display the Send dialog box in order to address your message. When Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box, you see this menu. DROP-IN-OUTBASKET CLEAR-ADDRESSES HELP Put this addressed message in Out Basket Drop-In-Outbasket Places your addressed message in the Out Basket for transmission next time you connect to the Service. Clear-Addresses Clears all addresses on the Send dialog box. IMPORT Import a file from your disk into your document. Microsoft OnLine prompts you for the name of the file. PASTE Paste marked text from another message into the current message. Service Request Mgr Menu (Non-Service) When you select the Service Request Mgr Icon and press F1, you see this menu. RESPONSES CREATE STATUS DELETE PRINT UPDATE EDITOR View Service Responses RESPONSES Display a list of Service Responses received from Microsoft. CREATE Create a new Service Request. STATUS Toggle the status (Unsent or Held) for all marked Service Requests. DELETE Delete all marked Service Requests. PRINT Print all marked Service Requests. UPDATE Edit the marked Service Request. EDITOR Starts the editor you specified in the ONLINE.INI file. Service Response Menu (Non-Service) When you select the Service Request Mgr Icon, press F1, and then choose RESPONSES from the menu, you see this menu. REQUESTS DELETE PRINT View Service Requests REQUESTS Display the list of Service Requests you have created. DELETE Delete all marked Service Responses. PRINT Print all marked Service Responses. Main Screen Menu (Service) If you are connected to the Service and press F1 from the Main Screen, you see this menu. EDIT OUTPUT CHANGE-PASSWORD STATUS ADDRESS-BOOKS HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document for the editor, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see another menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Print or place in a file items that you receive from Microsoft OnLine. When you select OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled documents will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer connection ON or OFF. If you switch the printer ON, it will print items as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive-File Switch the Receive file ON or OFF. If you switch the receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, additional items are appended to the end of the file. CHANGE-PASSWORD Display the Change Password dialog box, where you change your Quik-Comm Password. STATUS Display System communication status and information about your usage of the System. When you choose STATUS, you see this menu. COMMUNICATIONS USAGE HELP Display the current satus of the communications line Communications Display the last error code reported, the terminal ID number, and the number of line errors that occurred. Usage Display how much time you have spent connected to the Service. When you press F1, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK HELP Print the current document on the printer Print Print the System usage information on the printer connected to your computer. Save-On-Disk Save the System usage information in the file you specify on your disk. ADDRESS-BOOKS Display another menu, where you select whether you want to work with the Local Address Book, search the Service Address Book for an address, or display a Help screen. Local Displays your local address book. When the Local Address Book is displayed and you press F1, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ADDRESSES PASTE RESUME HELP Print the current document on the printer Print Print the Local Address Book on the printer attached to your computer. Save-Addresses Save changes you made to the Local Address Book. Paste Paste marked addresses from the Service Address Book into your Local Address Book. Resume Continue working with your Local Address Book. Search Displays the Search dialog box used to search for a subscriber's address in the Service Address Book. You can enter your addresses in either upper- or lower-case letters. Search Type: FIND-ANY MATCH-ADDRESSES EXACT HELP Search for match in address or description Find-Any Search for any subscriber addresses that match any part of the name you entered. Microsoft Online also searches the address comments. Match-Addresses Search for any subscriber addresses that matches the one you entered. When you choose MATCH-ADDRESSES, Microsoft OnLine searches only the subscribers' addresses; it does not search the address comments. Exact Search for the addresses and address comments that match the name you entered exactly. QUIT Quit Microsoft OnLine and return to DOS. Alert Menu (Service) When you open the Alert Icon and press F1, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK HELP Print the current document on the printer PRINT Print the Alert Text on the printer connected to your computer. SAVE-ON-DISK Save the Alert Text to a file on your disk. Exchange List Menu (Service) When you open the Exchange Icon, Microsoft OnLine displays a list of items in the Exchange. When you press F1, you see this menu. If the <- points to a list item when you press F1, you see a subset of this menu. EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS REMOVE HELP QUIT Get desired items in the list EDIT Start a new document for the editor, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see another menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document in the Microsoft OnLine editor. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Use to indicate whether items will be printed or saved to a disk file when received. When you choose OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled documents will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer ON or OFF. If you turn the printer ON, it will print items as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive-File Switch the receive file ON or OFF. If you turn the receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, the items are appended to the end of the file. GET-ITEMS Select options for receiving items. You can select which items to display, whether you want to receive files or documents or both, whether or not you want to stay connected to the Service after Microsoft OnLine retrieves the items, and other options. When you choose GET-ITEMS, Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box: GET: ALL SELECTED Get all items in this list. GET: FILES DOCUMENTS BOTH Retrieve files and documents After items have been retrieved: STAY-CONNECTED DISCONNECT do not disconnect from host when done Should we save all retrieved items locally? SAVE-LOCALLY DISPLAY-ONLY Save all items in a local list PRINT ITEMS AS RECEIVED: YES NO Do not print received items YES NO HELP Continue? Continue with retrieval Get All Retrieve all the items in the list. Get Selected Retrieve only those items in the list that you have marked with the + key on the numeric keypad. Get Files Retrieve only file items. When you select this option, Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Files dialog box after you finish selecting options on the Get Items dialog box. From the Get Files dialog box you choose an appropriate action if you download a file item that has the same name as a file on your disk. This dialog box has this menu: OVERWRITE RENAME ASK Overwrite the local file Overwrite Overwrite the file on the disk with the downloaded file. Rename Microsoft OnLine automatically generates a unique name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Ask Microsoft OnLine prompts you for a name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Get Documents Retrieve only text items. Get Both Retrieve both text and file items. See Get Files above for information about receiving file items. Stay-Connected Stay connected to the Service after retrieving the items. Disconnect Disconnect from the Service after retrieving the items. Save-Locally Save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Display-Only Display retrieved items on your screen. If you choose Display-Only, you can't save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Print Yes Print each item on the printer connected to your computer as the item is received. Print No Do not print each item on the printer. REMOVE Remove an item that you posted on the Exchange. You can't remove items that other subscribers post. Before you choose REMOVE, however, make certain you have marked the item you want to remove in the list. You can remove only one item at a time. QUIT Disconnect from the Service and return to DOS. Exchange Editor Menu (Service) When you open the Exchange Icon, Microsoft OnLine displays a list of items in the Exchange. When you move the <- to the right of the item you want and press ENTER, Microsoft OnLine displays the item or another list. Once you have a text item open, press F1 to see this menu. PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK ADD-TO-LOCAL HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer PRINT Print the item on your printer. SAVE-TO-DISK Save the item to a file on your disk. ADD-TO-LOCAL Add the text item on the display to your Local In Basket. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you open the Exchange, mark more than one item, and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING will cancel the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. Service In Basket List Menu (Service) When you are connected to the Service, you see this menu when you open the In Basket Icon, open a text item, and press F1. If you open the In Basket Icon and press F1 without opening a text item, you see a subset of this menu. EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS RELEASE FORWARD WHO'S-READ HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document to be edited, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see another menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Use to indicate whether items will be printed or saved to a disk file when received. When you choose OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled documents will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer connection ON or OFF. If you turn the printer ON, it will print items as received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive File Switch the Receive file ON or OFF. If you turn the Receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, additional items are appended to the end of the file. GET-ITEMS Select options for receiving items. You can select which items to display, whether you want to receive files or documents or both, whether or not you want to stay connected to the Service after Microsoft OnLine retrieves the items, and other options. When you choose GET-ITEMS, Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box: GET: ALL SELECTED Get all items in this list. GET: FILES DOCUMENTS BOTH Retrieve files and documents After items have been retrieved: STAY-CONNECTED DISCONNECT do not disconnect from host when done Should we save all retrieved items locally? SAVE-LOCALLY DISPLAY-ONLY Save all items in a local list PRINT ITEMS AS RECEIVED: YES NO Do not print received items YES NO HELP Continue? Continue with retrieval Get All Retrieve all the items in the incoming Quik-Comm list. Get Selected Retrieve only those items in the list that you have marked with the + key on the numeric keypad. Get Files Retrieve only file items. When you select this option, Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Files dialog box after you finish selecting options on the Get Items dialog box. From the Get Files dialog box you choose an appropriate action if you download a file item that has the same name as a file on your disk. This dialog box has this menu: OVERWRITE RENAME ASK Overwrite the local file Overwrite Overwrite the file on the disk with the downloaded file. Rename Microsoft OnLine automatically generates a unique name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Ask Microsoft OnLine prompts you for a name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Get Documents Retrieve only text items. Get Both Retrieve both text and file items. See Get Files above for information about receiving file items. Stay-Connected Stay connected to the Service after retrieving the items. Disconnect Disconnect from the Service after retrieving the items. Save-Locally Save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Display-Only Display retrieved items on your screen. If you choose Display-Only, you can't save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Print Yes Print each item on the printer connected to your computer as the item is received. Print No Do not print each item on the printer. RELEASE Delete a message from your In Basket list. If you've already read, printed, or saved a message to a file, you might want to delete it by choosing RELEASE. Once you've released the message, you can't recover it. FORWARD Use to forward a message you wrote to other users. When you choose FORWARD, Microsoft OnLine automatically displays the Forward dialog box, which contains this menu. FORWARD-NOW CLEAR-ADDRESSES HELP Forward this addressed message now Forward-Now After you've entered the names of users to whom you want to forward your message, choose FORWARD-NOW to send the message. Clear-Addresses Clear the address(es) on the Forward dialog box. WHO'S READ Display a list of who has read the message you sent. QUIT Quit Microsoft OnLine and return to DOS. Service In Basket Editor Menu (Service) When you are connected to the Service, you see this menu after you open the In Basket Icon, move the <- to open a message, and press ENTER. Then when you press F1, you see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK RESPOND HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer PRINT Print the item on your printer. SAVE-TO-DISK Save the item to a file on your disk. RESPOND Respond quickly to a message. When you choose RESPOND, Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your response. When you choose SEND, Microsoft OnLine displays the Send dialog box with the Subject and the To lines already filled in. ADD-TO-LOCAL Add the text item on the display to your Local In Basket. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you open the In Basket, mark more than one item, and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING cancels the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. Service Out Basket List Menu (Service) When you are connected to the Service, open the Out Basket Icon, and press F1, you see this menu. EDIT OUTPUT RE-ADDRESS MODIFY-MESSAGE SEND-OUTBASKET CANCEL HELP QUIT New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document to be edited, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see this menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Use to indicate whether items will be printed or saved to a disk file when received. When you choose OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled documents will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer ON or OFF. If you turn the printer ON, it will print items as received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive-File Switch the Receive file ON or OFF. If you turn the receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, additional items are appended to the end of the file. RE-ADDRESS Display the Send dialog box for the selected message so you can change the address. MODIFY-MESSAGE Display the text of the message for you to edit. SEND-OUTBASKET Transmit the contents of the Out Basket. When you choose SEND-OUTBASKET, you see this menu. ALL SELECTED HELP Send all Quik-Comms waiting to be sent in the outbasket All Transmit all the messages in the Out Basket. Selected Transmits only those messages you selected. After you choose ALL or SELECTED, Microsoft OnLine displays a dialog box with these options. Send Options: STAY-CONNECTED DISCONNECT HELP do not disconnect from host when done Stay-Connected Stay connected to the Service after transmitting the messages in the Out Basket. Disconnect Disconnect from the Service after transmitting the messages in the Out Basket. CANCEL Delete a message. Move the <- to the right of the message you want to delete and choose CANCEL. QUIT Disconnect from the Service and return to DOS. Service Out Basket Editor Menu (Service) When you are connected to the Service, open the Out Basket Icon, move the <- to choose a message, press ENTER, and then press F1 to see this menu. PRINT SAVE-ON-DISK HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer PRINT Print the item on your printer. SAVE-TO-DISK Save the item to a file on your disk. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you open the Out Basket, mark more than one item, and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING cancels the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. KnowledgeBase and Library Search Menus (Service) When you select the KnowledgeBase or Library Icons, Microsoft OnLine automatically displays the Search dialog box, which has the following menu items. BEGIN-SEARCH DISPLAY-TITLES TOPICS SEARCH-HINTS HELP Search the library with the criteria specified BEGIN-SEARCH Start the search based on the search criteria you entered. DISPLAY-TITLES Display a list of titles that match your search criteria. You must first search for the items with BEGIN-SEARCH and wait for Microsoft OnLine to display the number of matching items before choosing DISPLAY-TITLES. TOPICS Display general topics contained in the KnowledgeBase or Libraries. SEARCH-HINTS Display specific hints on optimizing your searches. KnowledgeBase and Library Title List Menus (Service) After you've entered your search criteria, begun the search, and chosen DISPLAY-TITLES, Microsoft OnLine displays a list of titles that match your criteria. Once this list is displayed, press F1 to see this menu. EDIT OUTPUT GET-ITEMS HELP RESPECIFY-SEARCH New, Open, Upload, Erase, Help EDIT Start a new document to be edited, revise an existing document, upload a file from the disk to another subscriber, and erase a file on the disk. When you choose EDIT, you see this menu. NEW OPEN UPLOAD ERASE HELP Open a new document for the editor New Start a new document to be edited. Microsoft OnLine displays a blank screen for you to compose your message. Open Open a document that you've previously created. Upload Select a disk file and address it to send as a message. Erase Select a disk file and erase it from the disk. OUTPUT Use to indicate whether received items will be printed or saved to a disk file. When you choose OUTPUT, you see this menu. PRINTER RECEIVE-FILE HELP Turn the printer on, pulled documents will be printed as received Printer Switch the printer ON or OFF. If you turn the printer ON, it will print items as received from Microsoft OnLine. Receive-File Switch the Receive file ON or OFF. If you turn the receive file ON, items are placed in that file as they are received from Microsoft OnLine. If more than one item is received, the items are appended to the end of the file. GET-ITEMS Select options for receiving items. You can select which items to display, whether you want to receive files or documents or both, whether you want to stay connected to the Service after Microsoft OnLine retrieves the items, and other options. When you choose GET-ITEMS, Microsoft OnLine displays the Get Items dialog box: GET: ALL SELECTED Get all items in this list. GET: FILES DOCUMENTS BOTH Retrieve files and documents After items have been retrieved: STAY-CONNECTED DISCONNECT do not disconnect from host when done Should we save all retrieved items locally? SAVE-LOCALLY DISPLAY-ONLY Save all items in a local list PRINT ITEMS AS RECEIVED: YES NO Do not print received items YES NO HELP Continue? Continue with retrieval Get All Retrieve all the items in the incoming Quik-Comm List. Get Selected Retrieve only those items in the list that you have marked with the + key on the numeric keypad. Get Files OnLine displays the Get Files dialog box after you finish selecting options on the Get Items dialog box. From the Get Files dialog box you choose an appropriate action if you download a file item that has the same name as a file on your disk. This dialog box has this menu: OVERWRITE RENAME ASK Overwrite the local file Overwrite Overwrite the file on the disk with the downloaded file. Rename Microsoft OnLine automatically generates a unique name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Ask Microsoft OnLine prompts you to type a name for the downloaded file if it has the same name as a file on your disk. Get Documents Retrieve only text items. Get Both Retrieve both text and file items. See Get Files above for important information about receiving file items. Stay-Connected Stay connected to the Service, after retrieving the items. Disconnect Disconnect from the Service after retrieving the items. Save-Locally Save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Display-Only Display retrieved items on your screen. If you choose Display-Only, you can't save the retrieved items in your Local Filing Cabinet. Print Yes Print each item on the printer connected to your computer as the item is received. Print No Do not print each item on the printer. RESPECIFY-SEARCH Display the Search dialog box again so you can enter your search criteria again. KnowledgeBase and Library Editor Menus (Service) Once you've selected an item from the KnowledgeBase or Library lists by moving the <- to the right of the item you want and pressing ENTER, Microsoft OnLine displays the item or another list. After you open a text item, press F1 to see this menu. PRINT SAVE-TO-DISK ADD-TO-LOCAL HELP TO-SKIP-REMAINING Print the current document on the printer PRINT Print the item on your printer. SAVE-TO-DISK Save the item to a file on your disk. Microsoft OnLine prompts you for a filename. ADD-TO-LOCAL Add the displayed text item to your Local In Basket. TO-SKIP-REMAINING If you mark more than one item and then select any command on this menu, such as SAVE-ON-DISK, you can cancel the rest of command action by choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING. Choosing TO-SKIP-REMAINING will cancel the requested action, for example saving on disk or printing. Appendix A. Microsoft OnLine Messages ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Message codes range from 1 - 9399 and are divided into the following general categories: Message Codes Category 0 - 99 General recoverable errors 100 - 199 Database recoverable errors 200 - 299 Bulletin board recoverable errors 300 - 399 Electronic Mail recoverable errors 400 - 412 ELU (Enhanced Logon Utility) processing errors 500 - 520 Transport Layer Protocol errors 600 - 611 Errors while processing logon dialog 700 - 899 Application level software errors 4001 - 4113 B-Tree file access errors 5000 - 5999 GELIB communications subroutines errors 6000 - 6999 GELIB file system subroutines errors 9000 - 9399 Fatal Errors The terms B-TREE and GELIB are used in many of the messages. B-TREE is a database manager used in the microcomputer version of the System. GELIB is a Fortran subroutine Library developed by General Electric Information Services Company. If Microsoft OnLine displays an error message that you do not understand or if the message is a fatal error (9000 - 9399), record the message, error code number, and the task you were trying to complete. Then give this information to your Microsoft System Administrator for assistance. Microsoft OnLine has unique messages for most conditions. However, it is possible that an unknown error may occur. In this case, Microsoft OnLine will display a default message, shown below, that reports the error code. Please record the message, code number, and the task you were trying to complete. Then take this information to your Microsoft System Administrator for assistance. The default error message is: AN ERROR HAS OCCURRED Error code NNNN No information on this error is available in the database In this section the message code number is in bold face type, the message is in italic type, and the description and possible solution(s) are in normal type. Message Codes 0 - 99 0 There is insufficient memory to run one of the Service Request Modules. 2 Your new Password contains invalid characters or is the wrong length. The new Password you entered on the Change Password dialog box is not valid. 3 Your old Password is not a valid one. The old Password on the Change Password dialog box is not valid. 4 The News file cannot be found. The server could not open the file that contains the Alert message. 5 You cannot change your Password at this time. Please try later. The Microsoft OnLine system is too busy to process a Password change request. 6 Your abort has been acknowledged. You interrupted a transaction or file transfer by pressing the ESC key. 8 There is insufficient memory to run one of the Service Request Modules. (46,0) There is insufficient memory to run one of the Service Request Modules. Message Codes 100 -199 101 The search criteria is not valid. You entered text on a search dialog box that was too vague for a search. Enter more specific criteria. 102 No database is open. Indicates a serious problem with a Library because the Library closed abnormally while in use. 103 A text database search found too many matches and overflowed the buffer. 105 The spool ended unexpectedly. The system cannot find the titles of all documents it found during the search. 106 You do not have access to this database. You selected a Library icon, but the Microsoft System Administrator has not allowed you to have access to this Library. 107 The database cannot be opened because of security problems. The database does not have the correct access or you have the wrong access permissions. 108 The attached disk file cannot be opened. A file in the Library could not be opened. 125 An invalid HSSTRING command in the BT50.ZIF file resulted in an attempt to invoke a non-existent Service process. Message Codes 200 - 299 201 A System error prevented the recognition of the bulletin board ID. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #201. The bulletin board files could not be opened, or you do not have the necessary permissions. 202 A System error prevented the recognition of the bulletin board ID. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #202. During a bulletin board POST operation, the bulletin board ID supplied by the microcomputer was invalid or you do not have the necessary permissions. 203 No more notices can be posted to this bulletin board. The bulletin board is full. 204 A notice can be deleted only by its owner. You tried to remove a notice that someone else posted. 205 You cannot post to a NEW information folder. You tried to post something to the new information list for the current bulletin board. 207 You cannot delete a list. You tried to remove an item from a bulletin board which represents a list of other items on the bulletin board. 209 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #209. The server could not post the item you sent or could not remove the item you requested. 210 The notice you want to post is empty. You tried to post an empty document to the bulletin board. Message Codes 300 - 399 301 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #301. A problem occurred with Electronic Mail while sending a message. This problem occurred after the address check. 302 Your message was not sent to all TO and/or CC's addresses. Forward or send failed due to a combination of errors. 304 The attached disk file was not received by the Service. The server couldn't attach the binary file to the Electronic Mail Message. 305 Not all messages were canceled or released. The Electronic Mail Message cancel failed because of a System error. 306 The message is busy. Please try this transaction again in a while. You tried to view a message currently being read by another subscriber. 308 There is no room to post any more messages to this user. You tried to send a message to a subscriber whose message list is full. 309 A message can be sent to no more than 50 addresses or groups with an upper limit of 600 addresses. You tried to send a message to some combination of individual and/or group addresses that represent more than 600 individual addresses. 310 A message line cannot have more than 158 characters. Your message had at least one line containing more than 158 characters. Your data was probably corrupted during transmission. 312 Your message is missing text lines or addresses. Your message was received by the Service, but the message was missing required addresses or text. This message represents a serious communications or System error. 313 The host's workload has prevented your message being sent to all addresses. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #313. The network load interfered with sending a message. Try again at another time, but be sure to tell the Microsoft System Administrator about this error message. 314 The listed item status has not been updated. This item will appear as unread the next time you use the In Basket. A System error prevented normal updating of a message status. 315 The listed item status has not been updated. This item will appear as unread the next time you use the In Basket. A System error prevented normal updating of a message hold status. 316 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #316. The format of your message was bad and your message was probably garbled during transmission. Try again. 317 You did not send this message. Microsoft OnLine cannot let you cancel it. You tried to cancel a message that you did not originally send. 318 The host's workload prevented your message being sent to all addresses. The message was not forwarded because the system was too busy. Try again later. Message Codes 400 - 499 400 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #400. Internal error in ELU file. Try again. 401 or The ESC or CTRL+BREAK you entered has interrupted 402 the logon procedure. You interrupted the logon procedure by pressing CTRL+C, CTRL+BREAK, or ESC. 404 There is a syntax error in your dialog file. Check the file "errfile'"on your current drive for more information about this error. The LOGON.DIA or LOGOFF.DIA files used by the program contain invalid enhanced logon utility commands. 405 During dialog processing an expected response from the Service was not received. Try to make this connection again, or please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #405. Data received from the Service during connection or disconnection did not match a value specified in an ELU dialog WAITFOR statement. 406 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #406. The port number supplied by the program to ELU routines was not valid on your machine. Either you selected an incorrect serial port option, or a serious internal error on your microcomputer has occurred. 407 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #407. Missing Value expected by ELU was not supplied by the microcomputer program. Either you have incorrectly constructed a dialog file or a serious internal error on your microcomputer has occurred. 408 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #408. Missing Value string supplied to the ELU routine by the microcomputer program was too long. This error probably indicates a serious internal data error on your microcomputer. 409 The dialog file was not found. Please be sure that the file LOGON.DIA is on the same drive and in the same subdirectory that contains the program files to run Microsoft OnLine. When you tried to connect to the Service, neither the file LOGON.DIA or LOGON.DIX could be found. 410 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #410. There are more than 128 lines of data in the dialog files LOGON.DIA if you were connecting to the Service, or LOGOFF.DIA if you were disconnecting from the Service. 411 The executable form of your dialog file is not a valid one. Try erasing the file LOGON.DIX or LOGOFF.DIX. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #411. The compiled dialog file has been corrupted. The file is LOGON.DIX if you were connecting to the Service, or LOGOFF.DIX if you were disconnecting from the Service. 412 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #412. Microsoft OnLine encountered an unknown error while processing the ELU dialog file (LOGON.DIA/DIX or LOGOFF.DIA/DIX). Message Codes 500 - 599 501 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #501. Invalid Class byte in TLP packet. There is probably an internal error in your microcomputer. 502 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #502. The microcomputer program in a call to the TLP SYSNSET routine found an invalid value. This message indicates the presence of an invalid value in the LOGON or LOGOFF dialog files. 504 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #504. Non-empty DEM buffer, which is a serious internal error on the microcomputer that ends the program. You must restart Microsoft OnLine. 505 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #505. Unable to receive data packet in TLP (SYNGET), which is a serious internal error that ends the program. This is a communications protocol failure that is possible due to excessive line noise. You must restart Microsoft OnLine. 506 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. Unable to send regular data packet, which ends the microcomputer program. You must restart Microsoft OnLine. 507 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. Unable to send DEM command, which ends the microcomputer program. You must restart Microsoft OnLine. 508 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. Failed to receive data in DEM mode, which ends the microcomputer program. You must restart Microsoft OnLine. 510 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. Unable to transmit data in buffered mode. 511 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. Communications failure waiting for DEM command. 512 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #512. Invalid data passed to TLP routines by microcomputer program, which is a serious internal data error that ends the program. 513 A communications line-drop has disrupted and canceled your on-line session. An error occurred that broke the communications line to the Service. 514 The CTRL+BREAK you entered will end your connection to the System. You interrupted the communication session by typing CTRL+BREAK and Microsoft OnLine will disconnect you from the Service. 515 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #515. The data packet received from the Service was too long. There was an internal error in the server or microcomputer, which ends the program. 516 Error-free protocol timed out in attempting to send or receive data. The attempt to send a line break failed. 517 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #517. Unable to receive DEM data packet, which ends the program. Message Codes 600 - 699 600 A System error occurred while connecting your modem. The program could not initialize the selected communications port on your computer (COM1: or COM2:). 601 The U#= prompt was not received from the Mark III. The LOGON dialog timed out waiting for U#= from the Mark III Service. 602 The System is not available at this time. Please make sure your System Access Number is correct and try again. The LOGON dialog received System Unavailable instead of the P= prompt from the server. 603 Your System Access Number or Password may be incorrect. Please check both of these and try again. The LOGON dialog received Validation Fault instead of the P= prompt from the server. 604 The Quik-Comm System is not hooked up correctly. Please check your connection parameters and try again. The LOGON dialog received Quik-Comm Unavailable after sending the server connection information. 605 You are using an old version of software. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #605. The LOGON dialog received Bad Version after sending Quik-Comm Address and Password and the microcomputer program version to the server. 606 The Quik-Comm Address you entered is already being used by someone else. The LOGON dialog received In Use after sending the Quik-Comm Address. 607 The Quik-Comm Address or Password entered may be incorrect. Please check both of these and try again. The LOGON dialog received Invalid Quik-Comm ID after sending the Quik-Comm ID. 608 The International System is not hooked up correctly. Please check your connection parameters and try again. The LOGON dialog received International System Unavailable after sending the connection information to the server. 609 The Quik-Comm Address you entered is out of time. Please check your Communication Parameters and try again. The LOGON dialog received Out of Time after sending the Quik-Comm address, program, and microcomputer program version to the server. 610 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #610. The LOGON dialog received Fatal Error Preparing System after sending the Quik-Comm Address, program, and microcomputer program version to the server. 611 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #611. The LOGON dialog timed out waiting for System Ready from the server. Message Codes 700 - 799 701 The current document is empty, so there is nothing to print or file. You chose FILE from the EDIT menu when there is nothing in the document. 703 No document has been marked, so there is nothing to paste. You choose PASTE from the EDIT menu without previously marking a portion of another document to paste. 704 Only text file can be edited. The file you tried to edit has an extension that is one of the following: .OBJ .LIB .EXE .COM. You tried to open a non-text file for editing. 705 The document you requested is not available. The server couldn't find a document on the Service that appeared in a list displayed on your computer. 708 There is no room left to store the incoming list of document. The system memory area used for lists is full. 709 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your OnLine representative and report this as #709. There was an error accessing the configuration file BTCONFIG. 710 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #710. Did not receive valid STATS transaction after starting server and protocol. 711 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #711. Valid COUNT transaction was not received while waiting. 712 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #712. The number of available services defined by the Service exceeds the capacity of you computer (greater than 50 services). 713 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #713. Error writing to communications trace file. 714 The configuration file (BTCONFIG) is causing a System error. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #714. A CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) on the configuration file failed. The file is corrupted and must be reinstalled. 715 All of the file will not fit in the edit buffer. The disk file you want to open or import is too large to fit in the editor's workspace. 716 Before you can save this file you need to give it a name. You have not entered a filename on the Save As dialog box. 717 There is not enough space on your disk. You can swap in another disk that has more free space, or delete unneeded files from this disk. The disk on which you are trying to save your document is full. 718 All of the marked lines will not fit into the edit buffer. The block of text you are trying to PASTE into the current document will cause the editor's buffer to overfill. 719 There is no document to file. You have tried to file the contents of the editor's workspace when it is empty. 720 The Address Book will not fit in the edit buffer. The Local Address Book has become too large to fit into the editor's workspace. 724 Only ten levels of bulletin boards are allowed. You can get documents from an existing bulletin board list, but you cannot open the next list. The bulletin board hierarchy contains more levels than are supported by the microcomputer. 725 The Service cannot complete the transaction. In XACTION, the translation of Get All to Get This failed, which caused an internal system data error. 726 The transaction from the Service cannot be read. The value of the starting position for parsing a transaction from the packet buffer exceeds the pack length, which caused an internal data error. 727 The transaction from the Service is not recognized. An unexpected transaction code was received from the Service. 728 The Service cannot recognize the transaction. The microcomputer sent an invalid transaction code to the server. 729 The transaction was not completed. There was a general error in XACTION and the processing of the current transaction failed. 730 This transaction cannot be sent to the Service. The transaction requested by the caller is not the XACTION table of valid transactions, which caused an internal system data error. 731 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #731. The maximum number of items that can be contained in the LIST storage area has been exceeded. 732 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #732. The area of memory for storing lists is full. 733 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #733. The item number of data in the LIST data store is invalid, which caused an internal system data error. 734 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #734. The size of the file description record for the directory manager is invalid, which caused an internal system data error. 735 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #735. The conversion of file size from string to integer for the Directory Manager failed, which caused an internal system data error. 743 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #743. You tried to save an empty address book. 744 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #744. There was an error writing a marked block to the editor's scratch file. 745 The editor buffer is now full. The editor's workspace is full. You cannot enter any more text without deleting some first. 746 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #746. An error occurred while uploading the disk file header to the Service Bulletin Board. 747 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #747. An error occurred while uploading a binary file to the Service Bulletin Board. 748 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #748. An error occurred while preparing to send a binary file header to the Quik-Comm System. 749 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #749. An error occurred while uploading a binary file header to the Quik-Comm System. 750 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #750. An error occurred while uploading a binary file header to the Quik-Comm System. 751 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #751. An error occurred while uploading a binary file to the Quik-Comm System. 755 Only the owner of the item can remove it from the bulletin board, and you are not the owner. You tried to remove an item from the Exchange that you didn't post. 756 You are not listed as having any services. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #756. The list of available services sent by the Service during the LOGON dialog was empty. 757 A record that was transmitted had to be shortened to fit in available memory. Please consult your Microsoft Online representative and report this as #757. A data record passed to XMITBUF routine exceeds the maximum size allowed, which caused an internal system data error. 758 You pressed the ESC key. Are you sure you want to abort the current file transfer? You pressed ESC during a file transfer. 759 Your old Password was not recognized. Please try again. The current Quik-Comm Password you entered when you tried to change your Password was not correct. 760 The two entries of the new Password do not agree. The two New Password entries you entered to change your Password are not the same. 762 Your computer is not of the type designated to receive this file. You selected a file from a list, but the source of the file is not another microcomputer. 763 Help cannot be provided because no information is available yet in the Help file (BT.HLP). Report this as #763. You requested help, but Microsoft OnLine couldn't find the Help file. 764 Help cannot be provided because no information is available yet in the Help file (BT.HLP). Report this as #764. There is a missing Help screen in the Help file. The database is probably loaded incorrectly. Consult your Microsoft OnLine representative. 765 Help cannot be provided because something is wrong with the Help file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #765. There was a DOS file error accessing the Help file. 795 The message file on disk for the Out Basket message was not found. Report this as #795. You selected an item from the list of Quik-Comm Messages waiting to be sent, but the corresponding message file could not be found. 801 The address file on disk for the Out Basket message was not found. Report this as #801. The address file for the Quik-Comm Message waiting to be sent could not be found. 849 The address file is missing. (It may be on a different disk.) The address file for a Quik-Comm Message waiting to be sent could not be found after you chose RE-ADDRESS. 850 You must supply an address, or the operation cannot be completed. You did not enter any address when you tried to FORWARD a message. 853 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #853. There was an error reading the address file for the message after you chose RE-ADDRESS. 855 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #855. A record size error occurred while reading an Out Basket list from the disk. 857 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #857. An error occurred while reading data from the configuration file. 860 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #860. An error occurred while accessing the Out Basket list to update the list after you chose RE-ADDRESS or MODIFY-MESSAGE. 862 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #862. An internal System data error occurred while processing an icon pointer for the Main Screen. 863 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #863. An internal System data error occurred while processing an invalid menu option selection on the Main Screen. 864 A System error prevented the display of this form. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #864. An error occurred while retrieving a dialog box definition from the database. 865 A System error prevented the display of this menu. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #865. An error occurred while trying to find the menu definition in the database. 866 A System error prevented the display of this menu. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #866. The menu record from the database is too large to fit into allocated memory. 867 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #867. You failed to enter at least one address on the Address dialog box when sending a Quik-Comm Message. 868 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #868. You tried to post an empty message to the Exchange. 869 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #869. You tried to post an item to the New Information list or another invalid Exchange location. 870 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #870. The start-of-text record for a binary file header was not found when trying to download the file. 871 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #871. An error occurred while writing to the Out Basket list file. 872 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #872. An internal System memory or database error occurred because the maximum number of strings allowed in the system static string pool has been exceeded. 873 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #873. An internal System memory or database error occurred because the maximum number of characters allocated for the system static string pool has been exceeded. 874 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #874. An internal System data error occurred while retrieving the requested string from the system static string pool. 875 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #875. The maximum number of Out Basket items waiting to be sent has been exceeded. You need to SEND or CANCEL messages; otherwise, an internal System data error will occur. 876 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #876. The window buffer has become full. 877 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #877. An internal system data error occurred because too many windows have been opened. 878 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #878. An internal System data error occurred when you tried to close a window when there weren't any windows open. 879 You have entered the maximum number of addresses for this list. You tried to enter more than 50 addresses on either the TO or CC lines in the Address dialog box. 880 There is not enough room in the current address list to include all the addresses you have selected. You have selected more addresses from the Local Address Book than will fit in the remaining space in the TO or CC lines on the Address dialog box. 881 If you respond YES to SAVE, then you must specify a filename in which to save the data. You didn't enter a filename on the Save-As dialog box. 882 All of the fields marked REQUIRED are essential for connecting to the Service, and must be filled in before attempting to save the data and leave the form. You didn't enter data into a required field on the Communications dialog box. 883 The Data Location is REQUIRED to know where to put the Address Book and mail. Once defined, great care should be taken in changing the value, since the program can become confused as to where to find your data. You didn't enter data into a required field on the Profile dialog box. 884 You cannot perform this action on the Quick-Comm Already Read List. You made a selection from the In Basket menu while pointing at the Quik-Comm Already Read List. 885 You must specify your Quik-Comm Password if you wish to connect to the Service. You didn't enter your Quik-Comm Password on the Connect to Service dialog box. Message Codes 900 - 999 900 This file is already open as the receive file. 901 Too many icon records in database to fit in the program's array (routine BLDICON). 902 A Service-defined form is trying to be processed, but the form number is less than the minimum 10000. 910 The Service was unable to start the application you requested. Either the program did not exist, or it was impossible to access it or the user number. 911 The microcomputer program to execute, as specified by the Service, could not be found. 912 The file necessary to restart Microsoft OnLine from your last session could not be found. 913 The file necessary to restart Microsoft OnLine from your last session could not be opened. 914 The file necessary to restart Microsoft OnLine from your last session could not be read. 915 A failure occurred trying to chain to your other microcomputer program. 916 An icon definition in your .ZIF file tried to access a non- existent picture. 917 There is an icon definition with a bad format in your .ZIF file. Message Codes 4001 - 4999 4001 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4001. An internal System error occurred when trying to open one of the three B-TREE files: BT.DBF, BT.HLP, or OBLIST.LST. 4020 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4020. An internal System error occurred when an item required by the program could not be located in its B-TREE file. Possibly the database is corrupted. 4021 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4021. An internal System error occurred in the Out Basket list file (OBLIST.LST) when the program tried to create a new B-TREE record that has the same key as an existing one. 4022 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4022. An internal System error occurred when the program found the end of the database file when trying to retrieve an item. Possibly the database is corrupted. 4082 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4082. An internal System error occurred when the program tried to retrieve an item from a B-TREE file that is not open. 4102 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4102. An internal System error occurred when the program specified an invalid unit when accessing a B-TREE file. 4104 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4104. An internal System error occurred because there wasn't buffer space available for a B-TREE file operation. 4105 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4105. An internal System error occurred because the program tried a B-TREE operation on a non-B-TREE file. 4106 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4106. An error occurred when the program tried to open a B-TREE file that couldn't be found. Possibly the software is not installed correctly on your computer. 4107 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4107. An error occurred when the program tried to create a B-TREE file with the same name as an existing one. Possibly the Out Basket list is corrupted, the software is not installed correctly on your computer, or you changed the Data Location field on the Profile dialog box. 4108 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4108. An internal System error occurred when there was an invalid record length for a B-TREE file. Possibly the B-TREE data base is corrupted or obsolete. 4110 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4110. An internal System error occurred during record retrieval when the physical record size did not match the value expected by the program. Possibly an invalid B-TREE file. 4112 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4112. An internal System error occurred when the program tried to access a B-TREE file, but the length of the file is not valid. 4113 A System error prevented the completion of this activity. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #4113. An internal System error occurred when the program tried to reallocate B-TREE buffers. Message Codes 5000 - 5999 5010 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5010. GELIB: Invalid communications port. 5020 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5020. GELIB: Time out on write to communications line. 5030 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5030. GELIB: Time out on read from communications line. 5040 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5040. GELIB: Time out, outgoing data under flow control. 5050 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5050. GELIB: Modem error on write to communications line. 5060 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5060. GELIB: Modem error on read from communications line. 5070 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5070. GELIB: Invalid queue size on COPEN. 5080 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5080. GELIB: Flow control ON error. 5090 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5090. GELIB: Communications line queue overflow. 5100 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5100. GELIB: Port not open. 5110 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5110. GELIB: Port already open. 5120 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5120. GELIB: Invalid RS-232C card. 5130 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5130. GELIB: Illegal baud rate. 5140 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5140. GELIB: Illegal parity code. 5150 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5150. GELIB: Illegal stop code. 5160 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5160. GELIB: Comm IRQ Server error. 5170 A communications error has occurred. If the problem persists, please report this error to your Microsoft OnLine representative. Report this as #5170. GELIB: Invalid value number in CCHG call. 5560 The time limit for a LOGON or LOGOFF dialog file set with the TIMEOUT command expired before the modem responded. Message Codes 6000 - 6999 6010 The filename is ambiguous. Report this as #6010. GELIB: The filename has ? or * in a condition and neither is allowed. 6020 The filename is invalid. Report this as #6020. GELIB: Illegal filename. 6030 The specified drive is invalid. Report this as #6030. GELIB: Drive specified in the filename is not present on your computer. 6040 A System error prevented access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6040. GELIB: File not open. 6050 A System error prevented access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6050. GELIB: File already open. 6060 A System error prevented access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6060. GELIB: Too many files open. 6070 The directory is full. Report this as #6070. GELIB: Directory full. 6080 The disk was changed during the write. Report this as #6080. GELIB: The disk was changed during a write. 6090 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6090. GELIB: Error reading file. 6110 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6110. GELIB: Abnormal end of file encountered. 6120 File permissions do not allow this operation. Report this as #6120. GELIB: File read/write permissions violated. 6130 The file was not found. Report this as #6130. GELIB: Call to FDESC failed because specified file is not present. 6140 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6140. GELIB: Rename file. 6150 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6150. GELIB: Parameter in GELIB file system call was too long. 6160 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6160. GELIB: Parameter in GELIB file system call was too long. 6170 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6170. GELIB: Invalid EXE file in call to CHAIN. 6180 There is no room to load the program. Report this as #6180. GELIB: Not enough memory to load program. 6190 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6190. GELIB: Unexpected or unknown error in GELIB file system call. 6200 The disk is full. Report this as #6200. GELIB: No more room on the current disk. 6210 A System error prevented access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6210. GELIB: Undiagnosed disk write error. 6220 A System error prevented access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6220. GELIB: Illegal page count in UREAD/UWRITE call. 6230 No drives are attached. Report this as #6230. GELIB: No disk drives are present on your computer. 6240 The drive code is invalid. Report this as #6240. GELIB: Invalid drive code specified in file name on GELIB call. 6300 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6300. GELIB: String parameter in GELIB call is too short to receive returned data. 6301 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6301. GELIB: Invalid option in call to XOPEN. 6302 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6302. GELIB: Key not found in environment area. 6303 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6303. GELIB: Specified subdirectory in file access is not valid on your computer. 6305 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6305. GELIB: File permission violation. 6307 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6307. GELIB: Memory control blocks destroyed. 6308 Your memory is insufficient. Report this as #6308. GELIB: Not enough memory to run load loader for CHAIN or RUNPGM. 6309 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6309. GELIB: Invalid memory block address. 6310 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6310. GELIB: Invalid environment. 6315 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6315. GELIB: Empty string passed to GETENV as search key. 6316 You cannot remove the current directory. Report this as #6316. GELIB: Attempted to remove current directory. 6317 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6317. GELIB: Different drives specified in two filenames. 6350 A System error prevented the access to a disk file. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #6350. GELIB: RUNPGM could not find end of current program. Message Codes 9000 - 9999 9401 An error occurred when trying to run your program on the Service. (FCMSPAWN failed.) Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #9401. 9402 An error occurred when trying to read from your program on the Service. (FCMREAD failed.) Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #9402. 9403 An error occurred when trying to write to your program on the Service. (FCMWRITE failed.) Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #9403. 9404 An error occurred when trying to terminate your program on the Service. (FCMCLOSE failed.) Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #9404. 9405 The channel between Microsoft OnLine and your Service application was disconnected unexpectedly. Please consult your Microsoft OnLine representative and report this as #9405. 9601 The Service was unable to start the application you requested. This appendix lists messages that Microsoft OnLine displays and provides a brief description of each message. If you can't solve the error condition, consult your Microsoft OnLine System Administrator for assistance. Appendix B. Terms ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alert The Alert Icon is reserved for important information or special announcements posted by the Microsoft System Administrator. When you are connected to the Service and you see the Alert Icon on the Main Screen, open the icon immediately. Attachment File The Attachment file is included with the Service Request and must be archived. If you want to transmit more than one file with your Service Request, you must also archive the files because you can send only one file with your Service Request in addition to the Description file. For example, if your Service Request's subject is a compiler question, you may want to archive and attach several source code files. Description File The Description file is required and describes the subject, content, and questions in your Service Request in detail. You can create the Description file with the Microsoft OnLine editor or with your favorite text editor. You can start your editor from DOS, from the Shell to DOS Icon, from the Service Request Mgr Menu, or from an icon you customize that appears on the Main Screen. Exchange The Exchange is a two-way bulletin board that you can use to find information posted by other Microsoft OnLine subscribers or to post information that you think might be useful to other subscribers. In Baskets The In Baskets store messages you've received from other users. You can open the Local In Basket when you are disconnected from the Service, and you can open the Service In Basket when you are connected to the Service. Messages are sent to your In Basket whether you are connected to the Service or not. Information Sources The Information Sources have two parts: The Microsoft KnowledgeBase and the Libraries. Both parts use text queries to search for specific information. Currently, there are two Libraries: the Membership Book Library and the Software Library. KnowledgeBase The KnowledgeBase is a text file database that you can query using words, phrases, and operators. The KnowledgeBase contains the latest technical information about Microsoft products, general Service information, and the latest Microsoft press releases. Libraries The Libraries are text file databases that you can query using words, phrases, and operators. There are currently two Libraries: the Membership Book Library and the Software Library. Local Address Book The Local Address Book contains your most frequently used addresses so you can easily copy them to the Send dialog box. In addition, you can copy addresses from the Service Address Book into your Local Address Book. Local Filing Cabinet The Local Filing Cabinet allows you to organize information in your In Basket into a hierarchy so you can find a specific piece of information easily. Membership Book The Membership Book contains public information about Microsoft OnLine users, including names, addresses, phone numbers, professional experience, and personal interests. ONLINE.INI This text file contains the information that Microsoft OnLine needs when you create a Service Request. Included in this file is the full path name and filename required to start your editor and your name and phone number, the type of computer you are using, and the port on your computer to which the printer is connected. Out Basket The Out Basket holds messages you've created until you are ready to send them. Quik-Comm The Electronic Mail System created by General Electric Information Services that is used in Microsoft OnLine. ROP Files These Reference Operating System Product files (ROP.IDX, ROP.DAT, ROP.FIL) contain information about Microsoft products, their version numbers, and operating systems. These files must reside in the same subdirectory as the Microsoft OnLine program files in order for you to create a Service Request Header. Service Address Book The Service Address Book contains the addresses for other Microsoft OnLine subscribers. You can search the Service Address Book for a subscriber's address and then copy it to your Local Address Book. Service Request Send a Service Request to Microsoft to get specific technical questions answered. You can attach a description file that you create with your editor of choice, and you can also attach an archived file to transmit with the request. Service Response The response that Microsoft sends you to answer the questions posed in your Service Request. The Service Response also contains a Service Request Reference Number ID you need to include on a Supplemental Service Request to Microsoft should you send one. Service Request Header The Service Request Header contains your name, phone number, the type of computer you have, the type of request, and the request's priority. In addition, the Header contains information about the product you are asking about to ensure that the request is routed automatically to the appropriate Microsoft Support Engineer. Software Library The Microsoft Software Library contains files posted by Microsoft for use with Microsoft products. This Library contains ASCII, binary, and archived files, which are compacted binary files. Appendix C. Customizing Microsoft OnLine ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This appendix describes: ■ Customizing Microsoft OnLine. You can modify the file BT50.ZIF with any standard editor to customize Microsoft OnLine. You can create and customize icons, which depend on the definitions in BT50.ZIF for display and functionality. These icons created with the BT50.ZIF file are called "local icons" and can be displayed either when you are disconnected from or connected to the Service or both. One useful modification is to add an icon for your editor so you can use it to compose Electronic Mail Messages and Service Request Descriptions. An example of this modification appears at the end of this appendix and is titled "Sample BT50.ZIF Modification." BT50.ZIF is divided into two sections. The first section, which is optional, consists of icon picture definitions. The second section contains icon definition records, which determine when an icon is displayed and what happens when you select it. These icon definition records are comprised of icon definition fields. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Before you modify the BT50.ZIF file, be sure to make a backup copy of this file. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Icon Picture Definition Microsoft OnLine has eleven predefined icon pictures stored in the main program. You can use any of these eleven pictures or you can design your own. Microsoft OnLine stores the pictures that are to be displayed as icons in the computer's memory. Any pictures defined in the BT50.ZIF file will be read into this internal store. The pictures defined in this file should be ASCII characters in a 9 x 4 array. The picture character array must be exactly 4 lines of exactly 9 characters each; if needed, you can pad the lines with spaces to fill the 9 characters. Each picture definition is delimited by the string "PICTURE TAG" followed by an equal sign and the two-letter picture tag. This tag is used in icon functionality definitions to specify which picture should be shown for each icon. These picture definitions can also be used to replace the icon pictures that Microsoft OnLine generates internally. The actual icon picture is drawn nine characters wide on the four lines following the picture tag line. Each icon picture definition is ended by the line "END PICTURE." The two-letter Picture Tag must be in upper-case letters. For example, to replace the current Out Basket picture with a new one, you would enter the following in the picture definition section of BT50.ZIF: PICTURE TAG=EM ┌┐ ┌┐ || || |└-----┘| └-------┘ END PICTURE You can also use any of the 11 Microsoft OnLine internal pictures as the picture which is to appear for an icon. This can be done by referencing any of the 11 internal picture tags in the icon definition record. Icon Definition Records To display local icons, you need to enter icon definition records into the file BT50.ZIF. For each local icon you want to display, there must be one icon definition record in the BT50.ZIF file. The fields in the icon definition records can be entered in upper- or lower-case letters. The icons you customize will appear in the area now used for host-defined services. Because you can have more than six icons and use the direction keys to display them, these icons are called "scrollable icons." The number of scrollable icons on the microcomputer is limited to 50, so if you define 25 local icons to appear when connected to the Service, the Service can download only 25 icons. These icon definition records have the fields in the following table. Each of these fields is described in detail in following sections. Field Function BEGIN ICON Begin Icon definition. PICTURE TAG=TT Two-character tag that identifies picture to be shown TITLE=TEXT Title shown under icon on screen (20 characters maximum) WHEN=ONLINE,OFFLINE,BOTH When to display the icon: connected to the Service or disconnected from the Service or both PCEXIT=0-4 An integer that specifies type of concurrent exit on microcomputer PCHANDLE=PATH/PRGNAME Path and program name of application to run on the microcomputer COMMAND=TEXT Chained or spawned process arguments (optional) HSEXIT=0-3 An integer that specifies what type of concurrent exit the Service performs HSSTRING=FILE+ARGS Filename of program to be run on Service END ICON End Icon definition Icon Definition Fields Picture Tag A picture tag is a two-letter field (EM, BB, MM) that references an icon picture. You can define this picture or you can use one of the internal pictures defined in BT50.ZIF. Microsoft OnLine has these internally defined picture tags: ■ In Basket = EM ■ Out Basket = OB ■ Bulletin Board = BB ■ Exchange (2-Way Bulletin Board) = B2 ■ Information Sources (Databases) = DB ■ Service Request Xfer (Concurrent Exit) = CE ■ Connect to Service = CH ■ Disconnect from Service = DH ■ Service Request Manager (Host Forms) = HF ■ Pass Through = PT ■ News = NW ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT If you use one of the internal icon pictures to create a new icon and then select that new icon, the icon's functionality will be as defined in the icon definition record. The new icon will not have the same functionality as the one from which you chose the picture unless you set up the new icon's definition record to have the same functionality. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Title This field contains the title that appears below the icon picture when displayed on the screen. The title can be up to 20 characters. When This field specifies when the icon is to be shown: Entry in When Field Definition Offline Show icon only when disconnected from the Service Online Show icon only when connected to the Service Both Show icon both when disconnected from the Service and connected to the Service PCExit This field specifies what type of concurrent exit should be performed on the microcomputer when you select the icon. The choices are: 0 Terminate Microsoft OnLine on the microcomputer and chain to the specified application, but do not return to OnLine at the conclusion of the other program. This might be useful for running another program after you are finished with Microsoft OnLine. 1 Terminate Microsoft OnLine on the microcomputer and chain to the specified application; then restart Microsoft OnLine at the conclusion of the other program. Use 1 to run a program that requires more memory than what remains after Microsoft OnLine is loaded - for example, a program that doesn't have enough memory to run spawned from Microsoft OnLine using PCExit=4 (see below). 4 Run Microsoft OnLine memory resident and run another program in the excess memory available above Microsoft OnLine. If the microcomputer is connected to the Service when you select the icon, the Error-Free Protocol will close down before the spawned process is started up, but the Communications line will be left open. The Error-Free Protocol will then be restarted when control returns from the spawned process. If you chose this PCExit and set HSExit=0, you will be disconnected by the host after ten minutes. PCHandle The application handle is the full path and filename of the program you want to run. You can enter only the program name in this field if the program to be run is in the current subdirectory or in the DOS path. Microsoft OnLine will not change the current subdirectory to the one specified in this field. The program executed by OnLine can change subdirectories, but it must change back to the directory it started from (the Microsoft OnLine directory) before it terminates. Command If the microcomputer application you want to run when you select an icon requires a command line, you use this field to state the command line information. There are several ways of specifying command line processing in the BT50.ZIF file. First, you can enter a literal command line; this is a line of text with no embedded quotation marks (either single or double) and with no embedded percent sign (%). The literal command line is appended to the program name when placed in the batch file or passed to the program on startup, exactly as if it had been typed at the DOS level. If you enter the percent sign (%) in the Command field, it indicates that a form is to be opened on the microcomputer screen and that you will be prompted to enter the data for the Command field. If you enter only the percent sign (%) in the Command field, the prompt "Please enter the missing data" will be displayed. If you place a string enclosed in either single or double quotation marks in the Command field, then that string will be displayed without the quotation marks. If you press ESC when you are prompted to enter the missing data, you can cancel the operation and close the form. If you press ENTER, you accept the data entered in the Command field prompt and chain to the specified program. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── TIP The % can be present, with or without a specified prompt string or with or without other literal data. It can be directly written as an argument to the program to which it is chained. The presence of a quoted string without a matching occurrence of the substitution % is not permitted. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── In summary, some of the possible formats for the command line in the BT50.ZIF file are: ■ nothing. ■ literal string not in quotation marks. ■ % ■ % ["display prompt"]. ■ [literal string] [%] [`display prompt'] [literal string]. HSExit This field specifies what type of concurrent exit the Service should perform when you select the icon. The choices are: 0 Do nothing. The server remains resident and idle and timeouts are still active. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT If you use this exit while connected to the Service, the Service will drop the connection after ten minutes. Because the microcomputer program still thinks it's connected after the Service drops the line, you may have to reboot your microcomputer to recover. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1 Terminate the connection to the Service as if you selected the Disconnect from Service Icon. 3 When connected to the Service, have Microsoft OnLine call the System to execute the specified program. The Service will close down the Error-Free Protocol but will leave the Communications line open. The program started from Microsoft OnLine can then communicate with the microcomputer over a TTY link. When Microsoft OnLine resumes, it will restart the Error-Free Protocol. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT Do not use 3 for HSEXIT for any icon except Service Request Xfer. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── HSString This field specifies which program is to be run on the Service if Exit Type 3 is entered in the HSExit field. This program name can be followed by an optional start-up argument. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IMPORTANT This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. DO NOT alter the Service Request Xfer Icon functional definition. You will not need to use HSSTRING in your own icon definitions. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Sample BT50.ZIF Modification This section contains a sample BT50.ZIF that defines four icon pictures and contains the icon definition records, which define the icon's functionality for those pictures. Note that there are two different icon definitions for starting the Service Request Mgr. The first starts Service Request Mgr as a chained process. The second starts it as a spawned process. In general, spawning is faster than chaining, but it requires more free memory. In addition, this sample file listing contains an icon picture and definition record to start Microsoft Word from an icon on the Main Screen. Icon Picture Definition PICTURE TAG=PT ╓═-═-═-═- ╚-═-═-═-╗ ┌═-═-═-═╛ ╚-═-CHAIN END PICTURE PICTURE TAG=HF ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ▒ ▒ ░ ░ ░ SPAWN END PICTURE PICTURE TAG=MW ╔═════╕ ║Word │ ║ Word│ ╙-----┘ END PICTURE PICTURE TAG=CO Shell to DOS: C:\> Start END PICTURE Icon Definition Records begin icon picture tag=pt title= Service Request MGR when=both pcexit=1 pchandle=sr_mgr.exe hsexit=1 end icon begin icon picture tag=ce title=Service Request Xfer when=online pcexit=4 pchandle=sr_xfer.exe hsexit=3 hsstring=online end icon begin icon picture tag=hf title= Service Request MGR when=both pcexit=4 pchandle=sr_mgr.exe hsexit=0 end icon begin icon picture tag=mw title= Microsoft Word 4.0 when=both pcexit=4 pchandle=c:\word\word.com command=%"Enter the name of the document to edit:" hsexit=0 end icon begin icon picture tag=co title= COMMAND.COM when=both pcexit=4 pchandle=c:\command.com hsexit=0 end icon Appendix D. Creating Dialog Files ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This appendix describes how to create dialog files, which establish communication and control data exchange with the Service. The ELU (Enhanced Logon Utility) dialog files allow you to create or modify the sequence of steps to establish communications between your microcomputer running Microsoft OnLine and the Service. In addition, these files also direct the exchange of data between the microcomputer and the Service. These ELU files are LOGON.DIA, LOGON.DIX, LOGOFF.DIA, and LOGOFF.DIX. When you begin connecting to the Service, Microsoft OnLine searches for the file LOGON.DIX, which is a compiled version of the file LOGON.DIA. If the program finds the .DIX file, it processes the dialog commands to connect to the network. If the program doesn't find the .DIX file, it calls a subroutine that compiles the .DIA file into a .DIX file. Similarly, when you disconnect from the Service, the program looks for the LOGOFF.DIX file; if it can't find the .DIX file, it compiles the .DIA file. Because the program looks for the .DIX file first, be sure to delete the .DIX files when you create a new .DIA file. Then, when you connect or disconnect from the Service, Microsoft OnLine will compile the new .DIA file. There are several sets of LOGON and LOGOFF files on the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program 2 disk in 3.5-inch format. Because ELU timing is all code loop based, you enter your microcomputer's processor speed when you install Microsoft OnLine and it copies the appropriate dialog files to your disk. You can modify or create the .DIA file with any standard text editor that produces ASCII (unformatted) files. Be sure to make copies of the files before editing them and be sure to delete the existing .DIX files before you try to connect to the Service or disconnect from the Service. If you use the Microsoft OnLine Editor to create or change the .DIA file, quit the program and erase the .DIX file. You must quit Microsoft OnLine to erase the .DIX file if you use the Microsoft OnLine editor; you can't erase this file using the Shell to DOS Icon or the menus because the program will not operate correctly. Dialog processing ends when the last record in the file is processed or when the status code becomes non-zero. The status code remains zero until the program encounters an error, or you press CTRL+C (BREAK) or ESC, or the STATUS command changes the value. Lines in the dialog files reference the term "mval," which means Missing Values. The missing values are supplied by Microsoft OnLine from the data you entered on the Communications Parameters dialog box. These items include System Access Number, Password, and your Electronic Mail Password. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── NOTE For more information, see the README.DOC file on the Microsoft OnLine Utilities disk 1 in 5.25-inch format or the Program 2 disk in 3.5-inch format. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Special Characters Some commands require Hex values for special characters. These characters are listed in the following table. Character Value Carriage Return 0D Line Feed 0A Horizontal Tab 09 Backslash \ 5C Single Quotation Mark ' 27 Double Quotation Mark " 22 Left Bracket [ 5B Right Bracket ] 5D Tilde 7E Rub Out 7F Rules for Creating Dialog Files ■ The dialog file can't be longer than 128 lines, including comment and blank lines. ■ The system recognizes the keywords by their first three characters. ■ You can type the commands in upper- or lower-case letters. ■ When a parameter must be set off in quotation marks, you can use either single or double quotation marks. ■ Do not change any of the CALLUSER lines. These lines correspond to the numbered boxes on the Connect to Service screen. The statements that must be completed before the next step or box should be in the file before the CALLUSER statement for that step. ■ Do not use the MESSAGE command. Do not add any messages and do not delete existing messages. The MESSAGE command is not documented in this appendix. ■ Do not use the STATUS command to change the status code. If you change the status code, the System will generate a message stating that an unknown error has occurred. The STATUS command is not documented in this appendix. Dialog File Commands BREAK Transmit a break. This command sends a break signal to the host computer. The default is 250 milliseconds of break (null character plus framing error). CASE Delay for specific matching text. The syntax of this command is: CASE <case cond> [;<case cond>...;<case cond>] [ELSE <label>] Each <case cond> is made up of text that indicates the incoming data required to proceed with the dialog and an optional target label. You can include a maximum of four CASE conditions. The text can be ASCII Characters, hex string, or missing values (mval); spaces count as characters in the mask. To match a control character, include the hex value. A <case cond> is satisfied when data matching the text is received and control passes to the target label. If the label is not present, then control passes to the next line in the dialog. The program reads incoming data until it finds a match for the <case cond> or a timeout occurs. On a timeout, control passes to the ELSE <label> if one is present; otherwise, the program stops trying to connect or disconnect. A <case cond> has the form: 'string' [:<label>] DROP n Issue a Line Drop n is an integer value in milliseconds that indicates when to issue a line drop to end the connection to the Service. DUMP Discard all queued RS-232 data. Incoming data can become queued during processing because ELU uses interrupt-driven I/O. Use this command to empty the buffers of queued data. EOL \hexval\ | NONE Change the End of Line character to the hex value \hexval\, which specifies the hex digits for this character. The End of Line character terminates each line of text transmitted to the host by the SEND statement. Use NONE instead of \hexval\ to specify no End of Line character. For example, to specify the End of Line character as a Line Feed, you would type the command EOL \0A\; the default End of Line character is the Carriage Return (0D). GOTO <label> Control flow within the dialog, where <label> represents the name specified with the LABEL statement. GOTO performs an unconditional and immediate branch to the specified <label>. For example, to branch to the label DONE, you would enter the statement GOTO DONE. LABEL <label> Control the flow within the dialog. The LABEL statement specifies the target of a GOTO, CASE, or ELSE command. Only the first 14 characters of the label are significant and the <label> contains only alphanumeric characters. A dialog file can contain up to 32 labels. MASK <pin> <switch> Mask status pin. <pin> indicates which RS-232C pin to mask: Pin Signal Masked CD Carrier Detect DSR Data Set Ready CTS Clear to Send <switch> indicates if the specified RS-232C pin should be checked prior to reading or writing data to the communications port: Switch Function ON Check the specified pin OFF Turn off masking for the specified pin SEND 'data' Send data to the Service. 'data' is the string to be sent to the communications port. The data can be delimited by single or double quotation marks and can contain ASCII characters, hex strings, or missing value arguments. You represent hex values by a pair of hex digits enclosed in backslashes; you can also include multiple hex values by enclosing the values in a single pair of backslashes, for example, \4259450D\. You can also specify a half-second delay before a characters is transmitted by inserting a tilde (), for example, 'HHH'. Microsoft OnLine automatically appends an End of Line character to the end of the outgoing data. The default End of Line character is the Carriage Return (0D), but you can change this character with the EOL command. SEND 'data[N]data' Send data to the Service. N is an integer from 1 to [number of values in mval]. Transmitted data records can optionally include a dialog argument for a missing value (mval), which is an integer label enclosed in the square brackets. The label indicates which value from mval should be inserted into an outgoing data stream. For example, if the dialog file contains SEND 'ATTD[1]' and the mval is 9,8365060;AXY99123, then the complete outgoing data stream is SEND 'ATTD9,8365060. TIMEOUT <number> Set the timeout for incoming data, where <number> is an integer value that represents the length of the timeout in seconds. If no data has been received by the timeout period specified in <number>, then Microsoft OnLine assumes that the communication has failed. The default value is 30 seconds. WAITFOR <time> Delay the dialog processing, where <time> is an integer value that represents the delay in milliseconds. WAITFOR <pin> Delay processing the dialog for signal detection. The syntax is WAITFOR <pin> [<pin>...<pin>] [ELSE <label>] This command allows you to delay dialog processing until a signal is detected on the specified RS-232C status pin(s) or until the timeout specified by the TIMEOUT command has expired. If the timeout is exceeded, the program branches to the ELSE <label> if such a label exists. If the label doesn't exist, the dialog will end. The default timeout is 30 seconds unless you alter it with the TIMEOUT command. See the MASK command for descriptions of the <pin> values. WAITFOR 'text' [ELSE <label>] Delay processing until a specific text string is received. The 'text' string can contain ASCII characters, hex strings, or missing values. Spaces are significant in the mask. To enter a control character in the mask, type the appropriate hex code. Microsoft OnLine will read the incoming data until data matching 'text' is received or until a timeout occurs. If the timeout is exceeded, the program branches to the ELSE <label> if such a label exists. If the label doesn't exist, the dialog will end. The default timeout is 30 seconds unless you alter it with the TIMEOUT command. Contents of a Sample LOGON.DIA File comment **************************************************** comment * The following dialog logs on to Microsoft OnLine comment * via a Hayes-compatible modem. comment * Required mval parameter is comment * 'phone;usernumber;password;acommaddress;qcomm comment * password,version' comment **************************************************** comment * send step 2 message - checking modem calluser 2 0 mask cd off send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' send 'ATHE1V1' waitfor '0K\0D\' else COMERR comment * send step 3 message - dialing the phone calluser 3 0 send 'ATTD[1]' waitfor 'CONNECT' else COMERR goto LOGON label COMERR send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 100 label LOGON comment * send step 4 message - telling the host that I'm here calluser 4 0 waitfor 150 send '\7F7F7F\H\7F7F7F\H\7F7F7F\H' waitfor 'U#=' else ERR1 goto CONT1 label ERR1 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 101 label CONT1 comment * send step 5 message - sending account and password calluser 5 0 send '[2], [3]' case 'p=':BTLOG;'UNAVAILABLE':ERR2;'FAULT':ERR3;'REENTER'CONT1 else ERR1 comment * that system is unavailable label ERR 2 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 102 comment * Validation fault, reenter U# label ERR3 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 103 label BTLOG comment * send step 6 message - connecting to Microsoft OnLine calluser 6 0 send '[4],[5];[6];2' case 'QUIKCOMM':ERR4;'BAD':ERR5;'IN':CONT2;' ':CONT3 else ERR11 comment * Quik-Comm unavailable label ERR4 waitfor 'UNAVAILABE' else ERR11 send '+++ATZ' wait for '0K\0D\' status 104 comment * Bad version label ERR5 waitfor 'VERSION' else ERR11 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 105 comment * Invalid Quik-Comm ID or In use or International System Unavailable label CONT2 case 'USE':ERR6;'VALID QUIKCOMM ID':ERR7;'INTERNATIONAL':ERR8 else ERR11 comment * In use label ERR6 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 106 comment * Invalid Quik-Comm ID label ERR7 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 107 comment * International System Unavailable label ERR8 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 108 label CONT3 case 'OF TIME':ERR9;'READY':DONE;'ERROR PREPARING SYSTEM':ERR10 else ERR11 comment * Out of time label ERR9 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 109 comment * Fatal error preparing System label ERR10 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 110 comment * Unrecognized response from host label ERR11 send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' status 111 comment * Logon successful label DONE send '+++ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D\' Contents of a Sample LOGOFF.DIA File comment********************************************************** comment * The following dialog file logs off Microsoft OnLine via a comment * Hayes-compatible modem. comment********************************************************** dump timeout 3 eol NONE send '+++' eol \0D\ waitfor 3000 send 'ATZ' waitfor '0K\0D' timeout 30 Index ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ADD-LIST Defined ADD-TO-LOCAL Defined Address Books Defined Local Adding Comments Creating Importing File Printing Removing Saving ADDRESS-BOOKS Defined Address Correcting Addressing Copying Service Address Electronic Mail Message Searching for an Address Alert Defined Menu Commands Printing Reading Removing Saving to Disk File Alias Bulletin Board Editor SR-Status ALL Defined AND Logical Operator Application Starting from Microsoft OnLine ARC File Type Defined Archive Utiltity Archived File Defined ASK Defined Attached File Creating B ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── BACK-IN-OUTBASKET Defined Baud Rate Default Selecting BEGIN-SEARCH Defined BIN File Type Defined Block Copying Deleting Marking in Messages and Address Books Moving Removing Marker BT50.ZIF File Command Field Defined Function HSExit Field Defined HSString Field Defined Icon Definition Fields Icon Definition Record Fields Icon Definition Records Location PCExit Field Defined PCHandle Field Defined Picture Tag Field Defined Sample File Starting Editor from Main Screen Structure Title Field Defined When Field Defined BTCONFIG File Location BTTRACE.LOG Bug List Retrieveing Bulletin Board Editor How to Contact C ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── CANCEL Defined CHANGE-PASSWORD Defined Changing Communications Parameters Communications Profile Display Options Installation Parameters Key to Display Menus Password Service Request Service Request Description File Status of Service Request Choosing Items on Menus CLEAR-ADDRESSES Defined CLIENT-SERVICES Defined Closing Electronic Mail Message COM1 Port Command Field Defined Command Line Processing Icon Creation COMMAND.COM File Location for Microsoft OnLine Commands Reference Communications Line Status Displaying Communications Parameters Changing Setting Communications Port Default Communications Profile Changing Setting COMMUNICATIONS Defined CONFIG.SYS File FILES Statement Configuration File Configuration Parameters When You Can Change Configuration Requirements Configuring Modem Serial Port Connect to Service Icon Connecting to Service COPY Defined Copying Address on Service Block Items to a List Local Filing Cabinet Correcting Address Electronic Mail Message CREATE CREATE Defined Creating BT50.ZIF Sample File Comments in Local Address Book Electronic Mail Message Icons Local Address Book New List in Local Filing Cabinet Service Request Header Customer Service List Exchange Customizing Icons Displayed Sample BT50.ZIF File Cutting and Pasting Electronic Mail Message D ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Data Files Location Debug Default Printer Port Default Baud Rate Communications Port Defining Icon Pictures DELETE Defined Deleting Block Characters in Dialog Box Characters in Messages and Address Books Items in a List in Local Filing Cabinet List in Local Filing Cabinet Service Request To End of Line Description File Attaching to Service Request Creating Defined DIA Files Commands Defined Rules for Creating Dialog Box Deleting Characters In How to Choose Items Moving Highlight Removing Using the Keyboard with Dialog Files Commands Rules for Creating Disconnect from Service Icon DISCONNECT Defined Disconnecting from the Service Display Options Changing Setting DISPLAY-ONLY Defined DISPLAY-TITLES Defined Displaying Communications Line Status Contents of Out Basket Help Screens List of Titles in the Information Sources List of Topics Information Sources Menus Search Hints Service Address Book System Status System Usage Information DIX Files Commands Defined Rules for Creating Documentation Error List Retrieveing DOS Mode Command Using for Modem DOS Path DOS Version Downloading File in Exchange to Disk File Item Item from Exchange to Local In Basket Item to Local In Basket Text Item Text Item for Printing Text Item from Exchange to Disk Text Item from Exchange to Print DROP-IN-OUTBASKET Defined E ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── EDIT EDIT Defined Editing Electronic Mail Message Service Request Editor Alias When to Use Editor Menu Commands EDITOR Defined Editor Line End Character for Service Requests Starting from Microsoft OnLine Electronic Mail Message Address Books Addressing Closing Copying Service Address Correcting an Address Creating Cutting and Pasting Editing Erasing Finding Out Who's Read Forwarding Importing File In Basket Out Basket Printing Reading Multiple Reading One Removing Responding to Resume Editing Saving Saving File to Disk Saving to Disk Searching for Address Sending Sending All Sending File As Sending Selected Storing in Local Filing Cabinet Storing in Local In Basket Using the Keyboard Eletronic Mail Message Creating Email see Electronic Mail see Electronic Mail Message END PICTURE Defined ERASE Defined Erasing Electronic Mail Message Error List for Documentation Retrieveing EXACT Defined Exchange Icon Exchange List Menu Commands Exchange Contents Defined Differences from Information Sources Downlading a File to Disk Downloading a Text Item to Disk Downloading a Text Item to Print Downloading Items to Local In Basket Editor Menu Commands Finding an Item List of Topics Organization Posting Files Posting Text Item Removing Items F ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── F1 Key Function F2 Key Function FIFO File Attaching a Service Request Description Attaching to Service Request Creating a Service Request Description Downloading from Exchange to Disk from Information Sources Editing a Service Request Description Importing into Electronic Mail Message Importing into Local Address Book Location of Program and Data Removing from Exchange Sending as Electronic Mail Message Storing in Local Filing Cabinet Uploading as Electronic Mail Message to Exchange FILES Statement in CONFIG.SYS File FIND-ANY Defined Finding Item in Exchange FORWARD-NOW Defined FORWARD Defined Forwarding Electronic Mail Message Functions Connected to Service Disconnected from Service G ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── General Comments and Opinions List Exchange GET ALL Defined GET BOTH Defined GET DOCUMENTS Defined GET SELECTED Defined GET-ITEMS Defined H ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hardware Requirements Held Status for Service Requests Help Screen Displaying Removing HELP Defined Highlight Moving in Dialog Box Moving in Messages and Address Books HSExit Field Defined HSString Field Defined I ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Icon Alert Disconnect to Service Exchange In Basket KnowledgeBase Membership Book Out Basket Selecting with Keyboard Service Request Mgr Service Request Xfer Shell to DOS Software Library Icons BT50.ZIF File Create Command Field Defined Creating/Customizing Definition Fields Definition Record Fields Definition Records Example of New HSExit Field Defined HSString Field Defined Internal Picture Tags Maximum Number of PCExit Field Defined PCHandle Field Defined Picture Definitions Picture Tag Field Defined Sample BT50.ZIF File Scrollable Defined Title Field Defined When Field Defined IMPORT Defined Importing File into Electronic Mail Message Importing File into Local Address Book In Basket Icon In Basket Defined Downloading Item to Editor Menu Commands Local Menu Commands Read Quik-Comm List Storing Items in Local Unread Quik-Comm List Information Sources Content Defined Displaying a List of Titles Displaying a List of Topics Displaying Search Hints Downloading a File Item Downloading a Text Item Downloading a Text Item for Printing Downloading Item to Local In Basket Editor Menu Commands How Microsoft OnLine Searches How Text-Query Works List Menu Commands Logical Operators Opening an Item Search Rules and Syntax Searching for a Topic Topic List Menu Commands Inserting Characters in Messages and Address Books Installation Parameters Changing Installation Problems Who to Contact Installing Modem ONLINE.INI File Software Item Downloading from Exchange to Disk Downloading from Exchange to Local In Basket Downloading from Exchange to Print Finding in Exchange Removing from Exchange Uploading to Exchange K ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Keyboard Using to Fill in Service Request Entry Form Using to Select Icons Using with Dialog Boxes Using with Messages and Address Books KEYS Defined Keyword Buglist Docerr KnowledgeBase Icon KnowledgeBase Content Defined Displaying a List of Titles Displaying a List of Topics Displaying Search Hints Downloading a File Item Downloading a Text Item Downloading a Text Item for Printing Downloading Item to Local In Basket Editor Menu Commands How Microsoft OnLine Searches List Menu Commands Logical Operators Opening an Item Search Rules and Syntax Searching for a Topic Topic List Menu Commands L ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Libraries Defined Library Editor Menu Commands List Menu Commands Topic List Menu Commands LIFO Lists Exchange Topics In and Out Basket Defined Local Filing Cabinet Capacity Local Filing Cabinet Copying Items to Creating Deleting Deleting Items In Moving Items to Local Address Book Local Address Book Adding Comments Creating Defined Importing File Printing Removing Saving Local Filing Cabinet Contents Copying Items to a List Creating a New List Defined Deleting a List Deleting Items in a List Menu Commands Moving Items to a List Storage Capacity Storing Items in Local In Basket Downloading Item from Exchange Downloading Item to Editor Menu Commands Storing Items in Local Out Basket Editor Menu Commands Menu Commands Log File Logical Operator AND Information Sources NOT OR Logical Operators Multiple LOGOFF.DIA & .DIX Files Defined LOGOFF.DIA File Location LOGOFF.DIX File Location LOGON.DIA & .DIX Files Commands Defined Rules for Creating LOGON.DIA File Location LOGON.DIX & .DIA Files How to Create LOGON.DIX File Location LPT1 Default Printer Port M ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Main Screen Menu Commands Marking Block MATCH-ADDRESSES Defined Membership Book Defined Displaying a List of Titles Displaying a List of Topics Displaying Search Hints Downloading a File Item Downloading a Text Item Downloading a Text Item for Printing Downloading Item to Local In Basket How Microsoft OnLine Searches Logical Operators Opening an Item Posting Your Information In Search Rules and Syntax Searching for a Topic Membership Form Where to Mail Memory Requirements Menus Alert Commands Changing Key to Display Command Reference Commands Displaying Editor Commands Exchange Editor Commands Exchange List Commands In Basket Commands In Basket Editor Commands Information Sources Editor Commands Information Sources List Menu Commands Information Sources Topic List Menu Commands KnowledgeBase Editor Menu Commands KnowledgeBase List Menu Commands KnowledgeBase Topic List Menu Commands Library Editor Commands Library List Menu Commands Library Topic List Menu Commands Local Filing Cabinet Commands Local In Basket Editor Commands Local Out Basket Commands Local Out Basket Editor Commands Main Screen Commands Non-Service Out Basket Editor Commands Out Basket List Commands Reference Removing Service Request Mgr Commands Service Response Commands Message ROP File Missing Microsoft University and Training List Exchange Microsoft Word Starting from Microsoft OnLine Minutes Remaining Defined Modem Configuring Serial Port Installing MODIFY-MESSAGE Defined MOVE Defined Moving Block Highlight in Dialog Box Highlight in Messages and Address Books Items to a List Local Filing Cabinet Multiple Logical Operators mval Defined N ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── New Information List Exchange New Line Starting NEW Defined Non-Service Menus Commands Reference Reference NOT Logical Operator O ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ONLINE.INI File ASCII Format Defined Editing Field Lengths Location OPEN Defined Opening Item in the Information Sources Operator Excluding Press Releases Parentheses Range Indicator Operators see also Logical Operators Suffix-Masking Character OR Logical Operator Out Basket Icon Out Basket Defined Displaying Contents Editor Menu Commands List Menu Commands Sending All Messages Sending Selected Messages Sent Quik-Comm List OUTPUT Defined Overview of Microsoft OnLine System OVERWRITE Defined P ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Parentheses Combining Search Words Password Changing PASTE Defined Path, DOS, Location of COMMAND.COM PCExit Field Defined PCHandle Field Defined Picture Tag Field Defined PICTURE TAG Defined Port Default Printer Posting Files in Exchange Text Item in Exchange Press Releases Excluding from Search PRINT NO Defined PRINT YES Defined PRINT Defined Printer Default Printer Port PRINTER Defined Printer Using with Microsoft OnLine Printing Alert Electronic Mail Message Local Address Book Service Request System Usage Information Text Item Downloaded from Information Sources Text Item from Exchange Priorities Service Requests, Described Product Support Services List Exchange Product Support Services Telemarketing Number PROFILES Defined Program Files Location Q ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Quik-Comm Electronic Mail Address Quik-Comm Password QUIK-COMM-OPTIONS Defined Quik-Comm Defined see Electronic Mail Message QUIT Defined Quitting Microsoft OnLine R ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Range Indicator Operator RE-ADDRESS Defined Read Quik-Comm List Defined Reading Alert Multiple Electronic Mail Messages One Electronic Mail Message README.DOC File RECEIVE-FILE Defined Receiving Service Response RELEASE Defined REMOVE Defined Removing Alert Block Marker Dialog Box Electronic Mail Message File You Posted Help Screens Items in Exchange Local Address Book Menus RENAME Defined REQUESTS Defined Requirements DOS Version Hardware Memory Software System RESPECIFY-SEARCH Defined RESPOND Defined Responding to Electronic Mail Message Response Receiving for Service Request RESPONSES Defined Responses Service Requests RESUME Defined ROP File Missing Message ROP Files Defined Function S ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SAVE-ADDRESSES Defined SAVE-LOCALLY Defined SAVE-ON-DISK Defined SAVE-TO-DISK Defined Saving Alert to Disk File Electronic Mail File To Disk Electronic Mail Message Local Address Book System Usage Information Search Hints for Information Sources Displaying Search Rules and Syntax for Information Sources SEARCH-HINTS Defined Searching the Information Sources Searching Address on Service SELECTED Defined Selecting Baud Rate Electronic Mail Messages to Send Icon Sending All Electronic Mail Messages Electronic Mail Message Selected Electronic Mail Messages Service Requests Sent Quik-Comm List Defined Serial Port for Modem Configuring Service Address Book Copying to Local Defined Displaying Searching Service In Basket Defined Service Menus Reference Service Out Basket Defined Service Request Header Defined Service Request Mgr Icon Service Request Mgr Menu Commands Service Request Xfer Icon Service Request Defined Service Requests Attaching a Description File Attaching an Archieved File Changing Status Contents Creating Creating a Description File Creating a Header Deleting Editing Description File Entry Form, Using Keyboard with Held Status Inquiring About Status ONLINE.INI File Required Header, Defined ID Number Line End Character for Description File ONLINE.INI File Overview Printing Priorities Receiving a Response Response ROP Files Sending Supplemental Updating Viewing Viewing Response Unsent Status Service Response Defined Menu Commands Service Connecting to Disconnecting from SET-UP Defined Setting Communications Parameters Communications Profile Display Options Shell to DOS Icon Defined SKIP Software Library Content Defined Displaying a List of Titles Displaying a List of Topics Displaying Search Hints Downloading a File Item Downloading a Text Item Downloading a Text Item for Printing Downloading Item to Local In Basket How Microsoft OnLine Searches Icon Logical Operators Opening an Item Search Rules and Syntax Searching for a Topic Software Installing Requirements Sound SR-Status Alias When to Use Starting Microsoft OnLine Status Changing Service Request Defined Displaying Communications Line Displaying System Held for Service Requests Unsent for Service Requests STAY-CONNECTED Defined Storing Items in Local Filing Cabinet Items in Local In Basket Subdirectory Data Files Program Files Starting Microsoft OnLine Suffix-Masking Operator Suggestions List Exchange Supplemental Service Request Creating System Access Number System Administrator System Password System Requirements System Status Displaying System Usage Information Displaying Printing Saving to Disk T ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telephone Number to Connect with Service Telephone Number Outside Line Text Item Downloading from Exchange to Disk Downloading from Exchange to Local In Basket Downloading from Exchange to Print Uploading to Exchange Text-Query Method THE-AUTHORS Defined Title Field Defined TO-SKIP-REMAINING Defined TOPICS Defined Topics Exchange TRY-AGAIN TXT File Type Defined U ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Unread Quik-Comm List Defined Unsent Status for Service Requests UPDATE Defined UPLOAD Defined Uploading File Files to Exchange Text Item to Exchange Usage Displaying System Printing System Saving System V ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Viewing Service Request W ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When Field Defined WHO'S READ Defined Wordwrap Enabling/Disabling Writing Electronic Mail Message