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< < < < M U L T I C O M > > > > Communication Program for the IBM PC & PCJr with external modem 192k Minimum Memory Required IBM Graphics Printer or Equivalent For Printing Directories 80-Column Color or Monochrome Monitor Version 2.1 February 25,1986 < < < USER'S GUIDE > > > TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Subject Page ------- ---- Disclaimer: ........................................... 1 Overview: ............................................. 2 Files used by MULTICOM: ............................... 4 Using MULTICOM: ....................................... 6 Getting Started: ...................................... 10 Using the File Copy Function .......................... 12 MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 1 ------------------------- DISCLAIMER ---------- MULTICOM and its utilities are provided on an as-is basis. No guarantees, expressed or implied, are given as to its usability or functions. The authors assume no responsiblity for its use or for any damage to data that may occur as a result of its use. Nor are any guarantees given as to its maintenance or addition of features by the authors. MULTICOM is offered on a no-charge basis. It may be copied and circulated freely, but not for a fee, except for media and mailing costs, if any. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 2 ------------------------- OVERVIEW: --------- MULTICOM is intended primarily for the average user who does not need functions such as host connectability, pacing parameter settings, color graphics, music, or 3101 emulation, but who has a large number of board numbers and wants the capability of number manipulation - moving entries, copying entries between directories, automatically saving and/or searching for discarded numbers. It offers many other benefits, such as cyclic dialing by sequential list or individual entry list, formatted Dialing Directory printing, and a limited file copy function. Non-destructive windows are used for most functions, leaving screen information intact when the function is finished. Minimum System Requirements: IBM PCJr, PC, or PC/XT, 192k, one diskette drive, a Hayes-compatible modem and DOS 2.1 or later. A color monitor and IBM-compatible Graphics Printer are optional. If you have been using PC-TALK, the program DIRCONV.BAS, included in this package, will automatically convert your PC-TALK directory to a MULTICOM Dialing Directory. Your original PC-TALK directory will remain intact. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 3 ------------------------- OVERVIEW (Cont'd): ------------------ MULTICOM has been tested on a 512k IBM PC/XT with a Hayes modem and an IBM Graphics Printer. It has also been tested on a 512k PC Jr with two disk drives and a Prometheus 1200 baud modem. MULTICOM was written in BASIC and Assembler, and compiled with the IBM Version 1.0 BASIC Compiler. It supports ASCII and XMODEM Checksum transmission. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 4 ------------------------- FILES USED BY MULTICOM: ----------------------- MULTICOM uses five files - 2 Dialing Directory phone number files, a Discarded Number file, Function Key file, and Default Parameter file. These files are generated by MULTICOM with default parameters. 1. DIALING DIRECTORY FILES: MULTICOM has two 200-entry Dialing Directories, each 9776k in size. These are named DIR1.FIL and DIR2.FIL. Each Dialing Directory has 10 pages, with 20 entries on the screen at a time. A total of six long distance prefix numbers can be assigned, and are automatically written to or deleted from both directories any time they are added, cleared, or modified. The same is true for the modem dialing command. If not needed, the second Directory and Discarded number file options can be disabled via a parameter in the Default File. 2. DISCARDED NUMBER FILE: Whenever an entry from the Dialing Directory is discarded, its telephone number and name may be saved in a Discard file. This file, named DISCARD.FIL, is created by MULTICOM the first time a number is discarded, and automatically added to thereafter. The file can also be used from the Dialing Directory Menu for searching out discarded names and phone numbers. This feature might be used when an entry is about to be made in the Dialing Directory, but you want to first check to see if it already exists or has been discarded. 3. FUNCTION KEY FILE: 40 function keys can be defined in this file, named KEY.FIL, using a combination of Ctl, Alt, Shift, and Fn. The Function Key file is used from outside the Dialing Directory and accessed by ALT-K. Commonly used modem commands and other information, such as sign-on info can be stored here. This file is similar to the function key file in PC-TALK, but entries or changes are made in place. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 5 ------------------------- FILES USED BY MULTICOM - Cont'd ------------------------------- 4. DEFAULT PARAMETER FILE: This file contains the basic parameters required by MULTICOM, such as baud rate, parity, stop bits, margins, echo, logged drive, auxiliary drive, modem initialization command, printer parameters, and whether or not both Directories and Discard File are wanted, or just one directory. It is named DEFAULT.FIL and its contents and use are discussed below in the "GETTING STARTED" section. The Default file is used from outside the Dialing Directory. Again, it is similar in use and appearance to the Default File in PC-TALK. 5. OPTIONAL FILES - DIRCONV.BAS and DISCARD.BAS If you have a PC-TALK directory, you can make a copy of it that will be compatible with MULTICOM by using DIRCONV.BAS. It will guide you through the copy procedure. Do this before bringing up MULTICOM. Likewise, since the Discard File does not check to see if it already contains a particular number before writing it, you will want to periodically run DISCARD.BAS to rid the file of duplicate numbers and minimize the file size. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 6 ------------------------- USING MULTICOM -------------- The majority of functions are performed from a Dialing Directory menu located to the right of the Dialing Directory. These come up automatically when the program is invoked. The following is a list of functions that are performed from this menu: 1. ADD/REVISE an Entry - Press 'a' and then follow the prompts to add/revise a Dialing Directory Entry, modem command or the Long Distance Prefix - total of 6 allowed - specified by (+,-,@,#,%,*) to be entered or revised. For an Entry you enter the name, LD Prefix symbol, area code and number. Insert the spaces for the prefix, area code and number according to the format shown. You are then prompted as to whether or not you want the telephone number searched for in the Directories and Discard files, to see if the number already exists. If it does, you will be given the Directory Entry locations or the name in the Discard file. The Baud rate, Parity and Stop Bits are then entered. These parameters do not require pressing RETURN as they are entered. 2. ENTRY DIALING - Press 'e' and the Entry Number. The program will exit the Dialing Directory and dial the number. To abort the dialing, press RETURN. To abort and return to the Dialing Directory, press Alt-H. This procedure is the same for all dialing functions. 3. MANUAL DIALING - Press 'd', the Long Distance prefix symbol, if needed, and the area code/phone number. 4. RELOCATE an Entry - press 'r', the Entry Number to be moved, and the Entry Number to move it to. If a number already exists at the new entry, you are advised and asked if you want 5. CLEAR an Entry - Press 'c' and the Entry Number(s) to be cleared. The names and numbers will be stored in the Discard File, and the Entry cleared. If you want to clear the Entry but you don't want the information stored, then use the ADD/REVISE function and put a "-" in the first position of the Name Field. The program will ask you if you want the entry cleared, and will do so without saving any information. 6. INTRA DIRECTORY COPY - to copy an Entry from one Dialing Directory to the other Dialing Directory, press 'i'. The program will prompt you for the Directory to copy from, the Entry Number to be copied, and the Entry Number in the other Directory to copy to. If the Entry is in use, the program will advise you and let you continue or quit. NOTE: If you have configured your Default File for only one directory, this function is disabled and the program will beep. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 7 ------------------------- USING MULTICOM - Cont'd ----------------------- 7. MULTI-DIAL - Press 'm' and you will then be prompted for one of three choices - Create a list of entries to be dialed, use an existing list, or create a sequential entry list. The uses are as follows: 1. Create a list: You can enter up to 20 entry numbers in no particular order. The program will dial each until a connection is made, or repeat the list and try each number again until you terminate the function. If a connection is made, then that entry number is dropped from the list. The next time you invoke the multi-dial function, if you specify 2: Use an Existing List then the program will again use the list you created, but will skip the number you had connected to. This list will stay in effect as long as the program is up, or until you create a new list. 2. Use an Existing List: explained above - only pertains to the list created in option 1. 3. Create a Sequential List: You are promptred for the starting and ending entry numbers, which are then dialed in sequence until a connection is made. This list is not kept by the program. After the above selection is made, the program exits the Dialing Directory and dials each entry in the list. If a "NO CARRIER" or "BUSY" response is received, the program goes to the next entry in the list. When a connection is made, the program signals with a tone and the message "REMOTE COMPUTER ON LINE - PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE". You are then in connect mode, and line 25 will indicate who you are connected to at all times during the session. (This latter is the case for any of the dialing functions). You can interrupt the multi-dial function at any time by pressing a key. You will be prompted as to whether you want to terminate dialing or continue. If you elect to continue, the program will pick up with the next number in the list, otherwise it will terminate and you can press Alt-D to return to the Dialing Directory, or select another function. 8. PAGING through a Directory - Press 'f' or 'b' to go one page forwards or backward, or press the page number - 1 to 0 (10) to go to. 9. SEARCH for a telephone number - press 's'. You will be prompted for the last 7 digits of the number. The system will search the Discard File and both Directories. If found in the Discard file you will be given the name that goes with it. If found in the Directories, you will be given the Entry Numbers that hold it. NOTE: This function is disabled if you are using only one Directory. 10. EXIT the Directory - Press 'x'. The screen will clear and a 'Ready' message will appear. You can then select other program functions. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 8 ------------------------- USING MULTICOM - Cont'd ----------------------- The following functions are invoked from outside the Dialing Directory: 1. RE-DIAL (ALT-Q) - re-dials a number until a connection is made or a key is hit to stop the re-dial function. Alerts you with a tone and a message when a connection is made. A re-dial interval time can be selected from the Default file for this function. 2. QUICK DIAL (ALT-Z) - by entry or phone number. The long distance prefix is automatically included if an entry from the Dialing Directory contains one. Terminate with RETURN, Alt-H to go to the Dialing Directory, or Alt-Z to re-enter to Quick Dial mode. 3. HELP LIST (Fn-Home) - displays a summary of commands in a non destructive window. Pressing Fn-Home again clears the window and restores whatever was on that part of the screen. 4. LOGGED DRIVE (ALT-L) - designates the drive to be used for upload/downloading of files. The Logged Drive is permanently defined in the DEFAULT File, but temporarily changed with ALT-L. Any time the DEFAULT File is brought up, the LOGGED Drive will revert back to the permanent specification. This function is in a non-destructive window. 5. AUXILIARY DRIVE (ALT-J) - designates the drive to contain the Directories and Discard File. As with the LOGGED DRIVE, it is defined permanently in the Default File, and temporarily with ALT-J. Non-destructive window. 6. VIEW A FILE (ALT-V) - lets you page through a file on any disk. 7. DELETE A FILE (ALT-Y) - shows the first 10 lines of a file and then asks you whether or not it should be deleted. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 9 ------------------------- USING MULTICOM - Cont'd ----------------------- 8. ELAPSED TIME (ALT-U) - shows the elapsed time while on-line with another system. 9. DIALING DIRECTORY (ALT-D) - takes you to the same Directory and page number you were at when you exited the Directory. You can enter the Dialing Directory while on line. When you exit th program will still show to whom you are connected. NOTE: When disconnecting, use Alt-H (Hang Up), to disable the "CONNECTED TO" message. 10. PRINT DIRECTORIES (ALT-A) - prints either or both Dialing Directories in condensed print, so as to fit an entire directory on two pages of two columns each, with a comment section next to each entry for miscellaneous information you might want to write in. 11. HANG-UP (ALT-H) - ends a connection and returns automatically to the Dialing Directory. 12. SCREEN-DUMP (ALT-S) - writes the current screen contents to the Logged Drive. 13. CLEAR SCREEN (ALT-C) - blanks the screen. 14. ECHO or MESSAGE ON/OFF Toggling (ALT-E or ALT-M) 15. TRANSMIT or RECEIVE FILES - (ALT-T and ALT-R). NOTE: For XMODEM mode do not add =x' after the file name. For ASCII mode, add an ';a' (semi-colon immediately followed by the letter 'a') to the file name. A non-destructive window will appear on the lower right of the screen, indicating block, error, and total error count for XMODEM mode. Line 25 will show the mode, file name and receive start time. If the file is succesfully received, a "Receive completed at (time)" message will appear. Line 25 will then revert back to the "CONNECTED WITH" message. 16. FILE COPY (ALT-B) - allows you to copy files between disks without exiting the program. NOTE: see explanation of this function under MISCELLANY section below. 17. FUNCTION KEY DIRECTORY (ALT-F) - alllows you to set or modify 40 function keys. Prompts take you through this option. Non - destructive window. 18. EXIT MULTICOM (ALT-X) - ends the program and returns to DOS. 19. HELP SCREEN (Fn Home) - displays a list of all commands. Non Destructive window. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 10 ------------------------- GETTING STARTED --------------- Call up the program by keying MULTICOM from DOS. A brief Logo will appear on the right of the screen, The Dialing Directory # 1, Page # 1, will appear on the left, and then the Dialing Directory Menu will replace the Logo on the right of the screen. If you have made a copy of your PC-TALK directory then it will appear as Directory # 1. If you have not, then an empty Directory will appear. Use the ADD/REVISE option ( press 'a') to set up your Modem Dialing Command, long distance numbers, and names/telephone numbers. At this point you should exit the Dialing Directory (press 'x'). A blank screen with a "READY" message will appear. You will now want to set your parameters in the Default File. Press ALT-F, and a list of the preset parameters will appear. Change any pertinent entries by moving down the list of entries by pressing the RETURN key. Enter any new values next to the old ones, and press RETURN until finished with the list, or press ESCAPE to finish. All entries can be in lower case. Most of the parameters are self-explanatory. Check your modem manual for the modem initialization command. For the Aux and Logged Drive parameters, these will specify drives for your Directories and Discard File, and the up/download drive, respectively. Both entries can be the same. Enter the drive letter in lower case without the colon. The "Scrn Dump File" parameter assigns a name to the file created when Screen Dump (Alt-S) is invoked. "Redial Delay" sets the time in seconds to attempt a redial when a busy signal is given. The "Add'l Files" parameter is for whether or not you want two Dialing Directories and a Discard File. Setting this to 'n' will give you one Dialing Directory only. The "Window Background" parameter specifies a background color for the various windows. The other color parameters relate to the remaining program function, except that the High Intensity color will also be the color of the window "frames". Experiment with color combinations, as the various combinations may look fine for the main program but not with the window background. Whenever you are finished with the entries (you need not go through the entire list but can press escape at any time) you will then be prompted as to whether or not the entries are okay. Answering "no" will abort the changes and clear the screen. Answering "yes" will then prompt for whether or not you want the changes filed (made permanent until the next time you change them and file them. A 'no answer" will keep them will keep them in effect only for the current session. You can temporarily override some of the parameters via Alt-P, Alt-L or Alt-J. ALT-P lets you override the communication parameters - baud rate, parity, stop bits - that were set in the Default File. As with the Logged and Auxiliary Drive temporary settings (ALT-L and ALT-I), the communication parameters will revert to the original settings if you bring up the Default File and save it, or when you next run MULTICOM. NOTE: If you alter the parameters with Alt-P or bring up the Default File (Alt-F) while online, you will lose your connection. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 11 ------------------------- GETTING STARTED - Cont'd ------------------------ Having set your parameters, you can now return to the Dialing Directory by pressing ALT-D. The Directory and page that you previously exited from will appear, with the Function Menu on the right. Select a function by keying the appropriate letter or number. An incorrect entry, such as a letter not on the menu, or a page number or entry number outside the allowable range, will cause a beep and you will have to re-enter a correct entry. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 12 ------------------------- USING THE FILE COPY FUNCTION -------------------------------- The reasoning behind having both a Logged and Auxiliary drive, even though they can both be designated as the same drive, was to be able to place the Directories and Discard Files on a RAM Disk for fast access (the Auxiliary Drive) and to keep up/downloads on a separate disk (the Logged Drive). This may have value to those with no hard disk. On the File Copy (ALT-B) function, it was included mainly for those using a RAM disk for downloading and who have limited RAM and online storage. In order to be able to get the downloaded files off of the RAM disk, so as to make room for more files, and not have to bring down the program to do so, this 'copy function was included. But since BASIC must know the number of records in a file in order to copy it, some record must be kept by the user. This can be either a handwritten record, or an inclusion in the file name. To explain, when a file is to be downloaded, the sending system tells the number of blocks in the file. Either rite this down, or make it part of the name when you receive the file. For example if you are going to download 'anyfile.com', which is 50 blocks, call your file 'anyfl50.com', for instance. MULTICOM USER'S GUIDE Page 13 USING THE FILE COPY FUNCTION - Cont'd ------------------------------------- To copy the file from the RAM disk, press ALT-B. You will be shown the remaining space and the file names on that drive (The program assumes the Logged drive). You will be prompted for the name of the file to be copied. At this point, using our example, you would enter 'anyfl50.com'. The next prompt would be for the number of blocks to be copied and you would enter 50. You would then be asked for the new drive and file specification. You would then enter, for example, b:anyfile.com, to give it its' original name, or which ever name you choose. Note - if you just enter a drive name (a:, for instance) the program will create the file using the existing name. The program will then show you the space available on the drive and advise if there is insufficient space to do the copy. If there is space, the copy will take place and you will then be asked if you want to delete the file on the Logged drive, and if you want to do another copy function. The method works properly for downloaded files, since XMODEM sends them in blocks of 128 bytes, which is what the program assumes. But copying a file TO your RAM disk in order to upload it may create problems. <<< END OF MULTICOM USERS GUIDE >>>