Programmer 7500

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Programmer 7500 / MAX_PROGRAMMERS.iso / PROGRAMS / UTILS / COMMUNIC / EZCOM.ZIP / EZCOMM.DOC next >

Wrap

Text File | 1990-03-03 | 19.7 KB | 768 lines

Page 1 EZCOMM Telecommunications Program Manual Version 1.0 By: Mitch Howard Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ================================================= CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PROGRAM OVERVIEW CHAPTER 2: STARTING EZCOMM CHAPTER 3: EZCOMM DIRECTORIES Main Menu .................................. 5 Dialing Directory .......................... 6 Telephone Number Directory ................. 6 Protocol Directory ......................... 6 Emulation Directory ........................ 6 File Maintenence Directory ................. 6 Capture Directory .......................... 7 Online Communications Directory ............ 7 File Transfer Directory .................... 8 CHAPTER 4: EZCOMM SCRIPTS Overview of Scripts ........................ 9 Creating Scripts ........................... 9 Script Commands & Usage .................... 9 Script Examples ............................ 9 Sample Script .............................. 10 CHAPTER 5: EZCOMM USAGE Keyboard Commands & Features ............... 11 CHAPTER 6: EZCOMM PROGRAM REGISTRATION Page 3 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION & PROGRAM OVERVIEW ==================================================== EZCOMM is a menu driven telecommunications program which runs in medium or high resolution on the ATARI ST. This program has the power of many commercial programs of this type, yet is very easy to use. The program can run on the 520ST, 1040ST or MEGA ST series. EZCOMM is copyrighted and may not be altered or changed in any manner or form without express written consent from the author. EZCOMM can be registered which will help support future releases and cover the time involved creating this program. Registration information can be found at the end of this manual. Regardless whether the program is registered, the author welcomes any comments or suggestions regarding this program. EZCOMM Author: Mitch Howard EZCOMM Version: 1.0 EZCOMM Release Date: 03/01/90 EZCOMM Program Status: Shareware EZCOMM Program & Documentation - Copyright 1990 by Mitch Howard ATARI and MEGA are trademarks of Atari Corp. VT52 is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. Page 4 CHAPTER 2 STARTING EZCOMM ============================================== Use the normal procedure to run a program on your ST. From the DESKTOP, you would double click on EZCOMM.PRG. EZCOMM will look in the current directory for 2 files, EZCOMM.PHN & EZCOMM.SYS. EZCOMM.PHN is the main telephone number database. If this file isn't found in the same directory, EZCOMM will create an EMPTY database. EZCOMM.SYS is the file which holds the configuration information. This file can be created after entering the desired settings from the MAIN MENU. The following information is saved: - Keyclick on/off - Key repeat on/off - Timeout feature on/off - Connect alarm on/off - Exploding menus on/off - # of redial attempts - # of seconds between attempts - Dialing string for modem - Function keys 1-5 After the above files are loaded, hitting any key will bring up EZCOMM's Main Menu. Page 5 CHAPTER 3 EZCOMM DIRECTORIES ============================================ MAIN MENU The main menu is the starting point for all activities. The other menus can be shown by choosing them from here. By hitting <Esc>, at the MAIN MENU, you may quit the program after confirming your choice. The menu selections can be chosen in 2 ways. The first way is to use the up and down cursor keys to move the highlight bar onto the desired choice, then hitting <Return>. The other way is to hit the key which corresponds to the 1st letter or number of the menu choice. When nested several levels deep into the menus, hitting <Esc> will travel 1 menu out. One important choice is to 'Resume Communications'. This allows one to enter commands directly to the modem. This can be used to dial a number not desired in the database or to set registers or configure the modem itself. The most important use for this program is to enter BACK into an active session which was exited with the 'Leave Session' command. This allows other features within EZCOMM to be performed without hassle. In the menu item 'EZCOMM OPTIONS', there are a couple choices which can be made to configure EZCOMM to your wishes. The item 'ATARI ST OPTIONS' has a few configuration options for the ST. One of the choices is to activate a 'Timeout Feature'. What this feature does is to sit in the background and activate every 20 seconds. When activated it will send a space followed by a backspace. The purpose of this is to keep from timing-out while connected to another system. Many Bulletin Boards will log a person off if there is no activity within 1 minute. This feature will keep you active and never allow the system to log you off. This feature only functions while you are online and is deactivated during file transfers. This feature will stay activated while shelled out into another program though. The default setting for the Timer is OFF after loading EZCOMM. Also in this section is the connect alarm. This alarm can be used to signal a connection made with another system. This alarm also defaults to OFF after loading EZCOMM. Page 6 DIALING DIRECTORY This directory is the place to dial frequently used numbers. The database holds 20 numbers and you may keep several different databases on disk. To load a different database, use the 'Load different Database' option, which is described in the next section. In this Dialing Directory, you may dial any of the 20 numbers stored in the database. The settings associated with each number will be used for the number chosen. (Refer to protocol & emulation). You may also mark and dial several in succession. Once a connection is established, the ssequence will be ended. To set the number of dialing attempts for the calls, adjust the figure from the main menu under 'Setup EZCOMM'. The search mode can be used to dial several numbers in a sequence. The author of EZCOMM is not responsible for any damage or trouble resulting from the use of this feature. Use it at your own discretion. Choosing 'Auto Answer' will set the modem to wait for an incoming call. Clicking the LEFT mouse button will abort this mode. TELEPHONE NUMBER DIRECTORY This directory is where all changes and additions to the database are made. The prompts are all straight forward and should not present any problems. One option on this menu is to load another database. This is where you can load other databases stored on disk. There is also a tracking report which will record the number of calls and minutes spent at each number. This report can be viewed on the screen or printed out on paper. PROTOCOL DIRECTORY This menu is used to change any parameters needed to ensure correct communications protocol. The protocol associated with each number in the database will automatically be set before dialing. This option should be used when bypassing the dialing menus or to make a change to an incorrect protocol. EMULATION DIRECTORY This menu is used to set the computer to emulate another computer or terminal. This feature is useful to communicate with other computers which use different codes to control screen output. Communications with mainframes and mini-computers require different emulations unless they support VT52. VT52 support is provided by the ATARI ST operating system automatically. The emulation chosen for each number in the database will also be stored. FILE MAINTENENCE DIRECTORY The functions on this menu provide support for file maintenence and related activities. These activities are explained in detail below: Directory listing - Used to view or print the the directory contents. Files within subdirectories can also be seen. Search patterns can be used to avoid showing all files on a disk. To choose an existing sub- directory, click the LEFT mouse button directly on the subdirectory name. The subdirectory chosen will now be shown. This process can continue many folders deep. When the desired path search path is found, click the RIGHT mouse button and the directory search will begin. Page 7 Copy a file - Copies a file anywhere. If the destination file exists, an alert box will appear and confirm the overwrite of the file. Move a file - Copies a file anywhere and upon successful completion, deletes the source file permanently. Rename a file - Gives an existing file a different name. Erase a file - Permanently deletes the file chosen in the fileselector box until the "Cancel" option is chosen. Folder creation - Creates a new folder to hold other files. Space on disk - Shows the remaining free bytes on the drive selected. CAPTURE DIRECTORY This menu gives access to a capture buffer which holds the text transfered between the systems. The capture buffer can also be used to create and send your lines of text. Any ASCII text file can be loaded into the buffer and can be editted or sent directly to the other system. Any file which is saved will be added to the end of an EXISTING file This way, an entire online session can be saved and reviewed later. Remember when editting a file to save it under a new name or it will be added to the end of the old file. Anytime the buffer is active and becomes full, the file will be saved and the buffer cleared for more data. The commands for the capture editor are shown when one enters the screen. Most of the commands are self-explanitory. When you delete an entire line in the buffer, hitting <Undo> will restore that line back where the cursor resides. The ONLY way into this menu is thru an Online Session. Hitting <F10> will bring up this menu. Hitting <Esc> will jump back into the current session. ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORY This menu can only be invoked while in an online session. This is the way to the File Transfer Directory which is described in the next section. Also the current emulation and protocols can be changed here if they are incorrect. Function keys 1-5 can each be programmed with up to 30 characters. The <Undo> key can be used to send a break signal to the receiving system. This signal sometimes is needed to communicate with older system. Some different operating systems use the break signal to break a process which is running. One important feature on this menu is the ability to call other programs and then return to EZCOMM. Any programs can be called as long as memory for the new program permits. EZCOMM will check to see how much initial memory the program needs to load. If enough memory is available, the program will be executed. There may be problems with programs which have enough memory to load but need to allocate additional memory later. If a program is called which has a .TTP extension, EZCOMM will ask for any parameters which can be passed to the program for execution. Using this feature, all types of programs can be called from EZCOMM. Page 8 The 2 options to leave the session are important. The 1st option only leaves until the 'Resume Session' option is chosen again. The 2nd option will try to hang up the modem before leaving the session. Use the 1st option along with the 'Resume' option on the main menu to jump into and out of EZCOMM without losing carrier with the receiving end. While in a session, there are 4 special keys. 1) <F1> thru <F5> - executes a preprogrammed function key. 2) <F10> - brings up the Capture Directory. 3) <F8> - brings up the Online Communications menu. 4) <F6> - executes a script, if any, associated with the dialed number. Refer to Script section for more information. FILE TRANSFER DIRECTORY This menu is called to transfer files to a destination system. Both systems must agree on a transfer protocol. The most common protocol is XMODEM. EZCOMM can receive and transfer files using XMODEM. To use other protocols, there is a choice on the menu to shell out to another program. The new program will then handle the transfer using its protocol. Great flexibilty is gained from using this method. You can use faster protocols as they are developed or just use your favorites. The Timeout feature is deactivated during any file transfers to ensure accurate transmissions. It will be reactivated after the transfer is completed. Page 9 CHAPTER 4 EZCOMM SCRIPTS ======================================== OVERVIEW OF SCRIPTS Scripts are used within EZCOMM to automate repetitive tasks. When telephone numbers are added or modified, the user will be prompted for a script to be associated with the number. If a script is chosen for the number, it can be executed after making a connection by hitting <F6>. Otherwise, a fileselector box will appear asking for a SCRIPT to execute. CREATING SCRIPTS Scripts can be created with the capture buffer or with any text editor or word processor which creates straight ASCII text without control characters. Script extensions by default end with '.SCR'. SCRIPT COMMANDS & USAGE There are only 6 commands used in scripts. They are: PAUSE x SEND+ xxxxxx SEND- xxxxxx WAITI x WAITC x WAITW xxxxx The 'x' indicates a variable desired. Examples below will explain. These commands must be entered in uppercase and should be the first word on a line. There should be only 1 command per line. A script which is being executed can be aborted by pressing both <Shift> keys together. This avoids hanging up the computer while waiting for input or when testing a new script. SCRIPT EXAMPLES ----------------------------------------------- ex) PAUSE 100 This command waits for x/50 seconds. The above example waits 2 seconds. ----------------------------------------------- ex) SEND+ 123456789 This command sends the text "123456789" followed by a <Return>. ----------------------------------------------- ex) SEND- AT This command send the text "AT" WITHOUT a carriage return. ----------------------------------------------- ex) WAITI 3 This command waits until the remote system stops sending data for 3 seconds, then continues with the script. This command is used to wait for a remote system to request input before continuing. ----------------------------------------------- ex) WAITC ? This command waits for the remote system to issue the character '?' before continuing. ----------------------------------------------- ex) WAITW Logon ? This command waits for the words 'Logon ?' to appear before continuing. ----------------------------------------------- Page 10 SAMPLE SCRIPT Comments are shown between the '/' characters. This SCRIPT is used to logon to a remote BBS and look for new files. SEND+ / empty line will send only <Return> / WAITI 2 / waits for remote to stop for 2 secs / SEND+ WAITI 2 SEND+ 12345 / enter my user number + <Return> / WAITI 4 / gives remote system a few extra seconds to / / find my user # and then prompt for my password / SEND+ SECRET / my password = 'SECRET' + <Return> / WAITI 2 SEND- F / command to get to 'F'ile Section - No <RETURN> / WAITI 5 / give enough time to enter file section / SEND- S / give command to 'S'earch new files / WAITI 1 / wait for next prompt or 1 second / SEND- N / tell BBS to show only 'N'ew files / / End of SCRIPT - EZ, Huh ??? / Page 11 CHAPTER 6 KEYBOARD COMMANDS & FEATURES ================================================= EZCOMM doesn't require you to memorize a lot of commands to learn to use it. The keyboard commands that it uses are listed below along with the functions they perform. <Esc> - Steps backwards in the menus or exits the program if at the MAIN MENU. <F1> thru <F5> - Used while in a session. Sends the Function-Key 1-5 which was programmed by the user. <F6> - Used while in a session. Sends the script associated with the number or allows execution of a SCRIPT on disk. <F8> - Brings up the Online Communications Directory. <F10> - Brings up the Capture Directory while in a session. <Undo> - Sends a break signal to the receiving system. Sometimes needed with mainframes, minicomputers and older systems. The following keys are used by the Capture buffer editor. <Esc> - exits the Capture editor. <Control>+<Delete> - deletes the line in which the cursor resides. This line can be restored with <Undo>. Note that this function will scroll the remaining lines up 1. <Control>+<Ins> - inserts a line where the cursor is. If this function will lose a line at the end of the buffer, an alert box will warn you. <Control>+<Clr> - clears the line in which the cursor resides. <Cursor Keys> - The cursor keys move as shown below. <Up> - moves the cursor up 1 line. <Down> - moves the cursor down 1 line. <Right> - moves the cursor right 1 character. Stops at the end of the line. <Left> - moves the cursor left 1 character. Stops at the beginning of the line. <Control>+<Up> - Pages up. <Control>+<Down> - Pages down. <Control>+<Right> - Cursor jumps to end of line. <Control>+<Left> - Cursor jumps to line start. <Control>+<T> - Tags or untags a line at a time. This is used to highlight certain lines within the buffer. After tagging lines, the lines may be printed, or sent to the remote system. Page 12 EZCOMM REGISTRATION =========================================== Please check any option(s) below and mail this sheet to the address listed. ( ) Register me as a user and accept this check for $14.00. ( ) I like the program but didn't feel like registering. ( ) Inform me of any updates to this program. ( ) Inform me of any future products. ( ) I didn't like the program (Use comments). Comments: ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Send this sheet to: Mitch Howard 1302 Oak Hill Dr #110 Escondido, CA 92027