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Text File | 1990-11-25 | 13.0 KB | 321 lines

------------------------------------------------------------------- FIVE STEPS TO CONFIGURE AND USE GENIE PC ALADDIN v1.40 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************** * REMEMBER, in Aladdin the F1 function key ALWAYS brings up * * context-sensitive help. If you're not sure about something * * press the F1 key first! * ************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------- MINIMUM REQURIEMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- The minimum CONFIG.SYS parameter for use of Aladdin is, FILES=30 If you are using a multitasking environment like DesqView or Windows, increase the number from 30 to 50. Additionally, if you want a little better performance from the program, put this line into the file as well, BUFFERS=20 Minimum required memory is about 500k free. You can verify the amount of memory available with your computer with the CHKDSK or MEM command (the latter only if you have DOS 4.x). A hard disk is VERY STRONGLY recommended. Aladdin is VERY disk intensive and doesn't enjoy working on floppies only. Other than this, all you need a modem (obviously), and a GEnie account. Also, the cable that connects your computer to your external modem must support the DCD (carrier detect) and DTR (terminal ready) signal lines. Most modem cable comply with these requirements, so don't worry too much about this unless you have problems getting started and nothing else seems to work. ------------------------------------------------------------------- STEP 1 - CONFIGURING ALADDIN ------------------------------------------------------------------- Start Aladdin by typing "ALADDIN" or "ALAD". Press F5 from the main menu to bring up the configuration menu. Here's where you enter the local GEnie telephone number, your name, password, etc. Press F1 at each "field" or entry area if you need guidelines as to what info is required. Phone number: 555-1212 | User ID: XJM12345 | These are some of the fields (and Password: KIRKSTUB | default entries) in the configuration GE Mail address: J.DOE | menu. BBS Nickname: John Doe | Double-check these items first if you Prompt character: "?" (63) *| experience any trouble logging on. Break character: ^C (3) *| COM: port (1 or 2): 1 | Entries marked with asterisks (*) Speed: 1200 | should remain as indicated. Reset command: AT Z | Dial command: AT DT | Make sure you do not enter any spaces Command terminator: ^M *| at the end of your entries in these Connection message: CONNECT *| fields. GEnie has configured the login for Aladdin 1.40 users to auto- matically select "?" as your GEnie prompt character, and Ctrl-C (^C) for your GEnie break character for each Aladdin session. Thus, you should leave these settings at "?" (63) and ^C (3) on the F5 configuration screen. However, if for some reason, you absolutely cannot live with these defaults for Aladdin use, you can select non-standard prompt and break characters on the configuration screen, and use Aladdin with the /NOOVER command line argument. To reiterate: if your prompt and/or break character are not "?" and Ctrl-C and you do not use the /NOOVER command line argument, Aladdin will not work properly with GEnie. ------------------------------------------------------------------- STEP 2 - SETTING UP YOUR MODEM ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aladdin makes intelligent use of the modem interface lines and requires that the DCD, DTR, CTS and DSR interface signals reflect the true status of the modem and/or cause the modem to take specific actions. Many communications programs do not care about the status of these lines, but Aladdin cannot operatate without these lines being correctly configured. You may need to reset some of the defaults in your modem to get Aladdin to work. Additionally, Aladdin needs several default settings relating to result codes and command echo. For Hayes 1200 (uses switches) and Hayes 2400 (uses commands only) modems, these requirements are as follows: Hayes 1200 Hayes 2400 Comment ---------- ---------- ---------------------------------- S1 up &D2 Allows modem to hangup when DTR signal toggles low S2 up V1 Verbal Result Codes (not digits) S3 down Q0 Result Codes are Sent S4 up E1 Echos characters in command state S6 up &C1 DCD follows Carrier Detect Status S8 down X1 (2,3,4) Enables extended result codes (depends on modem; X1 is good enough for Aladdin) If your modem uses switches for configuration, all you need to do is set the switches correctly according to this table. If your modem uses AT commands for configuration, you have two choices. First, if your modem has NON-VOLATILE memory, you can enter the initialization string into the modem's memory (from the terminal screen) by entering: AT &C1 &D2 E1 V1 X1 Q0 &W Then, all you need to enter into the RESET COMMAND field on the F5 configuration screen is: AT Z Second, if your modem cannot store a default configuration in memory, or if you have trouble using terminal mode to program the modem defaults, you can enter the following string in the RESET COMMAND field, and Aladdin will reset the configuration, each time it dials the modem: AT &C1 &D2 E1 V1 X1 Q0 If an ERROR response is returned by your modem, then you'll have to experiment by removing individual commands (E1, V1, X1, Q0) until the ERROR disappears (in case one of these commands is not recognized by your modem). If you have a non-standard or Non-Hayes compatible modem, consult your modem manual, and see the "PROBLEMS ?" section below. HAYES PERSONAL MODEM 1200 AND 2400 USERS This type of modem does not retain the configuration after it is turned off. However, Aladdin can force the modem to configure itself correctly by using a command line option. In your RESET STRING field in the F5 configuration screen, enter the following characters: AT&C1&D2E1X1V1 Now, every time you invoke Aladdin, you must use the /MR (Modem Reset) command line argument, like this: ALADDIN /MR ...or... ALAD /MR This will force a reset of the modem and allow it to work properly. MOST COMMON PROBLEM If Aladdin will not dial the modem, and displays an "On" status indicator on the leftmost field of the bottom line of your display, indicating that it thinks that your modem is on-line and that it is currently connected to a remote computer, it is a sure sign that your modem lines are set wrong and you need to reset the DCD status or get a new modem cable. ------------------------------------------------------------------- STEP 3 - SET UP ROUNDTABLE(S) ------------------------------------------------------------------- You already have two Roundtables entered in Aladdin - the Aladdin Roundtable and the IBMPC Roundtable. You can use these to get started right away. When you want to add more, use the F1 key at each entry field for guidance. Page numbers of Roundtables can be found by typing F3,I. ------------------------------------------------------------------- STEP 4 - GO TO IT! LOG ON. ------------------------------------------------------------------- SUGGESTION - on your first session with a new Roundtable, the amount of messages designated as NEW could be overwhelming. The IBMPC Roundtable is a typical example. To avoid a lengthy and costly first session with such a Roundtable, here's a tip from GNOVOSIELSKI [GaryN]: For brand-new RTs, the best semi-automatic method I've found is to: 0. Set up the new RT on the F6 screen. Don't worry much about the Pass1 options yet, and don't actually do a Pass1 either, until after step 4 below. 1. Do a <C>heck new messages for the new RT. This also sets up the topic file, making a topic <U>pdate unnecessary. (2 birds, 1 logon.) 2. In the "M" screen, <M>ark the topics you want to read, using ALL, LAST or DATe, or whatever (commands) you like. Mark the ones you don't want with IGNore (if you want to see future activity) or with PERM (if you don't.) Don't leave any KEEPS unless you really aren't sure, and want to defer the decision till later. They'll keep haunting you as "new" till you either read or ignore them. 3. Do a Pass<2> to get the messages. <R>ead them at your leisure. 4. Now you can set up the Pass<1> options the way you want them for the future, which will probably depend on what you learned from your initial exposure to the RT. For a more in-depth discussion of using Aladdin, see the USE_ALAD.DOC file included with this distribution. Also, of course, see the manual! ------------------------------------------------------------------- STEP - 5 GET THE MANUAL ------------------------------------------------------------------- This actually should be Step 1, but most folks don't open a manual unless as a last resort, no less download one. Once you've used Aladdin a little bit, you will probably desire to have the manual in order to fully appreciate all of Aladdin's features. These are the current files in the library for two different versions of the GEnie PC Aladdin v1.40 Manual. # NAME Uploader Date Size --------------------------------------------------------- 77 ALADDOC.EXE X J.JIMENEZ 900816 143640 Desc: GEnie PC Aladdin Docs (ASCII) 76 ALADWP.EXE X J.JIMENEZ 900816 151200 Desc: GEnie PC Aladdin Docs (W.Perf.) -OR- You can now order a printed version of the manual direct from GEnie for $8.95. Type "ORDER", select menu item #2, and pick the Aladdin manual. That's all there is to it. ------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEMS ? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Some random notes: The status indicator on the lower left hand screen of Aladdin is supposed to read OFF when offline, and ON when it connects with GEnie. If this is not what your indicator is doing, check: 1. Initialization string 2. Modem cable (Some cables wire the carrier detect signal permanently high; Aladdin will never think that the modem is off-line) 3. If using a serial port CARD, or an internal modem, check the jumpers on card. There are modems out there that are non-standard or just plain different for one reason or other, and several Aladdin users have posted their initialization strings and modem configurations to share with others. We've collected all we could, and put them into a file called MODEMS.TXT. You can find this file in the Aladdin library by searching for the keyword "modemset". As we get more user input on non-standard modems, we will be appending this information to the file. Aladdin will issue the initialization string to your modem each time you attempt to log on. If you find it necessary, you have the option of starting Aladdin by typing "ALADDIN /MR". Aladdin will send the initialization string ONLY once, as the program is loading. For a list of other available startup switches, type "ALAD /?" or "ALAD /HELP". Disk caches, certain TSR's, and LIMulators (programs that simulate expanded memory by using extended memory) are known to cause problems with Aladdin. If you experience any unusual problems, try running Aladdin from a plain vanilla configuration (no TSRs, and nothing exotic loaded from the CONFIG.SYS file). ------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL HELP ------------------------------------------------------------------- For answers to specific questions or problems, refer to previous messages posted in the various Categories and Topics in the Aladdin Roundtable. CLOSED topics cannot have new messages posted to them; they have been preserved as references to frequently asked questions. If all this isn't help enough, we'll be waiting at the Roundtable to assist you. ALADDIN ROUNDTABLE SYSOPS: D.Kozinn [David] J.Jimenez [Juan] GNOVOSIELSKI [GaryN] Bob.Tullis [...Bob]