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- WHAT IS AUTOSIG?
-
- WHAT CAN IT DO FOR ME?
-
- CAN I USE IT?
-
- WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
-
- HOW DO I INSTALL IT?
-
- WHO DEVELOPED IT?
-
-
- ----------------
- WHAT IS AUTOSIG?
- ----------------
-
- AUTOSIG is a free communications program which was specifically
- designed to make it easy for you to use CompuServe, and particularly
- its forums and your CompuServe Mail. Forums are electronic
- gatherings where people of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) can
- exchange information, ideas, and files of programs and data.
-
-
- ----------------------
- WHAT CAN IT DO FOR ME?
- ----------------------
-
- AUTOSIG (sometimes known as ATO for short) provides you with an
- automatic way of processing forum and mail messages that is very
- quick and extremely economical. You can use AUTOSIG to upload
- and download program and data files to CompuServe, and as a terminal
- emulator for CompuServe's other services.
-
- The key to the speed is AUTOSIG's "grouping" (or batching) of
- messages in all of your forums (and your replies to them) for
- transmission to and from CompuServe. You spend all the time you
- want thinking about what people have said to you, and about what
- you want to say back. When you are finished, AUTOSIG does the
- rest quickly and efficiently!
-
- The key to the economy is AUTOSIG's frugal use of online connection
- time. We've fine-tuned this science/art to the point where your
- connection time to CompuServe will be the absolute minimum necessary
- to get the job done. You may find your bills drop by ten times what
- you pay if you use the system through the manual menus. (Or you may
- find that your bills don't drop at all, and that you get ten times
- the productivity out of CompuServe!)
-
-
- -------------
- CAN I USE IT?
- -------------
-
- AUTOSIG has certain hardware, software, and network requirements.
- These are outlined in detail in the file ATO63A.REQ, but here's a
- summary of them.
-
- HARDWARE
-
- o an IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 (not the 50Z) or close compatible.
- o at least 256K and more often 320K of available memory.
- o a hard disk is recommended for speed, but is not required.
- - a minimum of 250K of disk space is needed
- o a Hayes command set compatible modem
- - autodial-capable
- o optional mouse (MS and Logitech compatible are supported)
- o display adapter and monitor
- - graphics are not required or used
-
- SOFTWARE
-
- o DOS 3.0 or later is recommended. DOS 2.x will work
- but may cause problems.
- o DESQview and Double DOS environments are supported.
-
- NETWORK ACCESS
-
- o CompuServe direct access, Telenet or Tymnet (built in)
- or o you write your own script for all others. Full script
- language is supported.
-
- --------------------
- WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
- --------------------
-
- All AUTOSIG files are located in AutoSig Library (Lib 1) of the IBM
- Communications forum (GO IBMCOM at any ! prompt). Here's what you'll
- need:
-
- ----------------
- BEFORE YOU START
- ----------------
-
- ATO68B.REQ - A complete description of the hardware and software
- requirements. Download and read this before going
- further. (An ASCII file.)
-
- ----------------
- GETTING STARTED
- ----------------
-
- ATO68B.EXE - The executable program itself and a script (an
- automation tool) for setting your forum parameters
- to get started. (A self-extracting archive.)
-
- ATODOC.EXE - The user's manual. Everything you want to know
- about the program. (A self-extracting archive.)
-
- ----------------
- ADVANCED USES
- ----------------
-
- ACL313.EXE - A program which allows you to find out how much
- you are spending while you are using AUTOSIG.
-
- ATOBRO.EXE - A program which allows you to create scripts for
- downloading files from the Libraries (Libs).
- (A Self extracting archive).
-
-
- ATOADV.EXE - A manual which documents AUTOSIG's advanced functions.
- (A self-extracting archive.)
-
- DLSCAN.ARC - A program which builds a catalog of files in the
- CompuServe Libraries of your choice, and
- automatically downloads the ones you pick (through Autosig)
-
-
- --------------------
- HOW DO I INSTALL IT?
- --------------------
-
- AUTOSIG is simple to install. Follow these steps:
-
- o Download files ATO68B.EXE and ATODOC.EXE. A separate
- subdirectory is strongly recommended.
-
- o At the DOS prompt in the subdirectory you've chosen,
- type ATO68 to extract the program.
-
- o Back at the DOS prompt again, type ATODOC to extract
- the users manual.
-
- o Read the first portion of the users manual (you'll
- find it in file AUTOSIG.DOC from the extraction),
- follow the steps outlined there and your on your way!
-
-
- -----------------
- WHO DEVELOPED IT?
- -----------------
-
- AUTOSIG was developed by a project group consisting of the following
- people, all of whom are Sysops in the IBMCOM forum:
-
- Vernon Buerg [70007,1212]
- Jim McKeown [76702,1102]
- Don Watkins [76703,750]
-
- AUTOSIG is also improved through YOUR support with your questions,
- comments, and suggestions which you are encouraged to leave us in
- Section 1 of the IBMCOM forum, and through its loyal, eager, and
- hardy team of beta testers.
-
-
-
-
- ------------------------------------------
- WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AS AN ATO USER SOON !!!
- ------------------------------------------
-