Stars of Shareware: DFÜ und Kommunikation

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COM-AND: Quick Start Manual ------------------------------------ COM-AND: Communications for your PC Quick-Start Manual by: E. McGinnis ------------------------------------ COM-AND version 2.9 is copyright 1992 by CABER Software. It is distributed freely and may be copied by anyone for any number of machines, for purposes of evaluation. The author offers COM-AND and its accessory programs as a package, as "shareware". If you USE COM-AND after evaluating it, you MUST pay for it. The complete user license and registration information is to be found in the file REGISTER.DOC. Limitations on redistribution of COM-AND are set out in the file VENDOR.DOC. These two files are included with the COM-AND program release. CABER Software R. and E. McGinnis P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart Chicago, IL 60654-0607 GEnie, Delphi: TARTAN CIS .......... 73147,2665 Internet ..... 73147.2665@compuserve.com Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual SUMMARY OF COMMANDS FOR VERSION 2.9 KEY STROKE MENU ITEM DESCRIPTION -------------------------------------------------------------------- F1 - Program - Accessory menu - setup and execute F2 - Program - Script file directory and execution F3 - Setup - Current subdirectory location F4 - Setup - Download subdirectory F5 - - ASCII upload (also a PgUp option) F6 - - ASCII download (also a PgDn option) F7 - Online - Turn off/on logging to disk F8 - Online - Turn off/on keyboard display line F9 - Online - Turn off/on pause for logging to disk F10 - Program - COM-AND's help screen Alt-A - Online - Turn off/on chat mode Alt-B - - Display backscreens Alt-C - Online - Clear the screen Alt-D - Telephone - Dialing directory Alt-E - Setup - Turn off/on ECHO Alt-F - Misc. - File directory listing Alt-G - Setup - Turn off/on blank lines Alt-H - Telephone - Hang up or disconnect Alt-I - Program - Program and author information screen Alt-J - Setup - Change screen color Alt-K - Setup - Set KERMIT parameter Alt-L - Setup - Switch from 25 to 43 line screen display Alt-M - Setup - Define macros Alt-N - Misc. - Encrypt/decrypt functions Alt-O - Setup - Options menu Alt-P - Setup - communications parameters menu Alt-Q - Misc. - Text editor Alt-R - Telephone - Redial last number Alt-S - Setup - Setup menu for initial program values Alt-T - Misc. - Time(s) and alarms Alt-U - Telephone - Annotate call log Alt-V - Setup - Terminal emulation Alt-W - Misc. - Playback Alt-X - Program - Exit or terminate program Alt-Y - - Error summary Alt-Z - Setup - Switch from 7 or 8 bit mask Alt-F10 - Program - Shell to DOS Alt 0/9 - Online - Execute a macro Alt - - Setup - (Alt-minus) - Turn off/on remote functions Alt = - Setup - (Alt-equal) - Turn off/on menu mode Crtl-PrtSc - Misc. - Turn off/on printer Ctrl-END - Misc. - Send a break PgUp - Online - Upload a file PgDn - Online - Download a file Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual COM-AND version 2.9 is copyright 1992 by CABER Software. All rights are reserved world wide, excepting redistribution under the shareware concept. COM-AND is distributed freely and may be copied by anyone for any number of machines, for purposes of evaluation. Restrictions on redistribution are set out in the document file VENDOR.DOC. You may NOT distribute COM-AND or its documentation in connection with ANY commercial venture, product, publication or service without written approval from CABER Software. COM-AND is distributed as shareware. You may try COM-AND without charge, to evaluate its usefulness to you. You may evaluate COM-AND for a period of up to 30 days. If you continue to use COM-AND after 30 days, then you must pay for it. Please read REGISTER.DOC for the terms and conditions of the User License. Additional benefits are available when you register COM-AND. These values include: . A free Compuserve intro-pack . The Compuserve Automation script-set for COM-AND . A tailored dialing directory for your area code . Discounts on shareware magazines and books These offers are discussed in detail in REGISTER.DOC. A simple registration form is provided in the file REGISTER.FRM. Please print this form (or use REGISTER.CMD to print it), and include the form with your payment. The author supports COM-AND through electronic mail on the various on-line services. Several BBSes focused on COM-AND exist at this time. Voice support for COM-AND is also available from Support EtCetera in Long Beach, CA. Please read REGISTER.DOC for details on support, and COM-AND BBSes. CABER Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Profes- sionals (ASP). The ASP offers an ombudsman service to help you resolve shareware related disputes with ASP members. Please read the file REGISTER.DOC for information on how to contact the ASP Ombudsman. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Table of Contents ----------------- About this document ........................................ page 1 Part I Modem Basics ............................................... page 2 Software compression methods ............................... page 5 Part II COM-AND - The complete package ............................. page 7 Program Requirements .................................... page 7 Installing COM-AND ......................................... page 8 Configuring COM-AND to work with your modem ................ page 9 Using the INSTALL Script ................................ page 10 Getting around in COM-AND .................................. page 12 Command Mode ............................................ page 13 Setting defaults ........................................... page 14 Using the configuration menus .............................. page 15 ALT-S: Setup Menu ...................................... page 15 ALT-O: Options Menu .................................... page 16 ALT-P - Parameters menu ................................. page 18 ALT-J - Color menu ...................................... page 18 A look at COM-AND's dialing directory ...................... page 19 The Dialing directory - Alt-D .............................. page 20 Dialing Directory Commands .............................. page 20 Practice Run - Adding a New Entry ....................... page 20 Other dialing commands ..................................... page 24 Uploading and Downloading Files ............................ page 25 Common problems and what to do about them .................. page 26 Part III The online world ... and welcome to it! .................... page 29 Directory of services - Commercial online services ......... page 33 Directory of services - Bulletin board systems ............. page 34 Publications dedicated to the modem user ................... page 35 Magazines ............................................... page 35 Books ................................................... page 36 Disk Vendors ............................................ page 37 Part IV Glossary of terms .......................................... page 38 Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 1 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT Welcome, and thank you for this opportunity to present COM-AND v2.9. This document is intended as a quick-start tutorial and basic reference guide to online systems. If you are familiar with the installation and setup of software programs downloaded from online systems, you may be more interested in reading COM-AND.DOC, which discusses all COM-AND's features in greater detail. This document is intended for someone new to communications. It is divided into four separate parts: Part 1: Modem basics and software compression Part 2: Installation and set-up of COM-AND, including a detailed description of the dialing directory. Part 3: Discussion of online systems and how to reach them. Part 4: A section on problem solving and a glossary of terms. This document is produced using the IBM ASCII format. It does not contain any illustrations or graphics (so at times it may get a bit wordy). The pages are formatted as simply as possible. Printing on almost any printer with a fixed font (using the DOS print command) should not be a problem. Each page includes a header and page number with a maximum of 55 lines of text per page. To avoid any confusion (and because bolding, underlining or slanting letters is impossible in ASCII text), commands and instructions use the following conventions: * The carriage control or enter key is presented as <enter> * A key combination (like ALT-S) means you should hold down the ALT key while you press the letter key. The same principal applies if you use a CTRL or SHIFT key combination. * The DOS prompt is indicated as "D>" for a harddisk system and "A>" for a floppy disk system. Subdirectories are indicated as "\d". * Quotation marks (" ") are use to highlight words. Please do not include them when typing commands. * The term "online systems" refers to both commercial online services and bulletin board systems. * And finally, BTW means: by the way (a favorite phrase of mine) We hope this document is useful. We have made every effort to provide current and accurate information. However, the information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. The online community moves quickly - it's a full time job for many just keep up! Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 2 MODEM BASICS Being a computer owner, you probably have an idea of what a modem is and how it's used. Simply stated, a modem is a piece of hardware that attaches to your computer and phone line. With the aid of com- munications software, a modem dials a phone number, makes connection to another computer equipped with a modem, and transmits and receives data. Modems come in all shapes, sizes, prices, speeds and features. You could drive yourself crazy comparing and contrasting all the modems out there today, unless you start by figuring out what is important to you. Is speed important? A modem's speed, or transfer rate, is a measure of how many bits of information is transmitted or received in one second (this is called bits per second or bps). For general purpose communications, modems come in three speeds; 1200, 2400, and 9600 bps. 9600 bps is considered "high speed," while 1200/2400 is "low speed." (All the magazines are now talking about the new 14.4 bps modems. If you are in need of a speed-demon modem, and are comfort- able with new technology, it is worth your time to investigate these new modems.) Low speed modems have been around for a long time. There are well- established standards set for them which means they can communicate with each other without problems. In contrast, standards are just being set for high speed modems. This means that two 9600 bps modems, manufactured by different companies may have difficulty communicating with each other. High speed modems are ideal for large file transfers, PC-to-PC communications and automated captures. Low speed modems are ideal for regular online activity such as reading mail, posting messages, doing data base searches, chatting, playing games or transferring small to medium size files. If this is your first modem purchase, select a low speed modem. They are less expensive, easy to install and (for the most part) produce hassle free communications. Are features important? Modems, especially the high speed models, now offer some very innovative features that are worth considering. These new features include error correction, data compression and send-fax capabilities. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 3 Error correction, listed as MNP 1-4, V.32 and V.32bis, guards your file transfers from corruption by line noise, coming through the telephone lines. Line noise may be caused by bad weather or other electrical interference, and plays havoc on file transfers. With error correction turned on (both the sending and receiving modems must have this feature), the receiving modem detects errors and instructs the sending modem to retransmit the data. If you need to do a lot of large file transfers, this feature is wonderful. Modems which offer data compression, listed as MNP 5 and V.42bis, compress the data during transfer. This feature speeds up the transfer of large text files. Binary files and compressed files actually slow down during transfer when this feature is turned on. Is price important? The price of modems has dropped drastically over the past year. (It's still hard for me to believe how inexpensive the high speed modems have gotten.) For the best price, check out the discount mail order magazines (PC Shopper for example). But don't base all your decisions on price. Make sure the modem you get is Hayes-compatible, comes with at least a one-year warranty, and can be returned if it doesn't meet your requirements. A note on Hayes-compatible modems: The industry standard for modems was set by the Hayes Smartmodem product line years ago. Most communications programs (COM-AND included) assume that your modem conforms to this standard. If your modem does not, be prepared to configure your modem command set manually and have a few headaches along the way. Make sure your modem is "Hayes-compatible." Once you have settled on the price and features, consider whether you want an internal or external model. An internal modem is a board which plugs into one of the expansion slots inside your computer. An external modem requires that you already have a serial port. If you are comfortable taking your computer apart to install the board, great! If not, get an external model. The external model is a small box which sits beside your computer with a cable connecting it to one of your computer's serial ports. Price-wise, internal modems are a little less expensive, but can be a hassle fixing if you experience problems. With an external modem, you can simply unplug it and take it in for repairs. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 4 Next, consider your environment. Do you have a clean phone line or do you hear crackling, humming sounds on it? A clean line is essen- tial for modem use, otherwise you will experience line noise. Your local phone company should be able to help you solve any "dirty" line noise problems (you may have to insist!). Is your telephone line close enough to your system or do you need to add a jack or additional phone wire? A phone line that is too long (more than 10 feet) may lead to line noise. Will your modem have its own line? You can usually plug a phone into the back of a modem (internal or external), and you can always split the line with a y-connector (from somewhere like Radio Shack). Both types of phone hookups have problems. Remember: if you are using the modem and someone picks up a phone on the same line, your modem connection will be broken. In the same vein, if you have "call waiting" on the modem's telephone line, that little "BEEP" that signals another call, breaks a modem connection (the modem sees it as a LOT of line noise). Contact your telephone company to find out how to suppress call-waiting for the duration of a single call, if you have call waiting. Modems are quickly becoming a standard piece of equipment on PCs. Spend as much time and energy selecting your modem as you did your computer. Selecting a modem that meets your needs will save you time, aggravation and money, every time you make connection. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 5 SOFTWARE COMPRESSION METHODS Online systems, especially bulletin boards, store software files in compressed form. Compressed files save disk space and speed file transfer. Before a compressed file can be used on your system, it needs to be extracted (or de-compressed). A file is compressed through the use of a software compression pro- gram. These programs shrink the data into a smaller size, and can store several files together in one compressed file. The same pro- gram (or a companion program) is used to extract the data to its original form. The data itself remains unaffected by all this compressing and extracting; it's just an efficient way to store and archive files. There are a variety of compression programs to choose from, with the most widely used being: ZIP, ARC, PAK, LHA, and ARJ. (In online discussions, the term compression "method" is used instead of compression program. The "method" refers to the algorithm used by the program to compress data. If you are interested in the technical aspects of compression, your best source of information is other modem users. Just post a message, in one of the technical areas online, and ask someone to explain software compression. You may be surprised at the amount of information you receive.) The best compression programs are marketed as shareware and may be found on almost every online system. To locate one of these programs, do a search on the program name (don't just search on the word ZIP or ARC etc.). If you are not comfortable searching files on your own, ask the system operator (sysop) for help. As mentioned above, the same program that compresses a files is needed to extract the file. If your favorite bulletin board uses ZIP to compress files, you need to acquire a copy of ZIP to extract those files. Same holds true for ARC, PAK, LHA, ARJ and so on. As you might guess, not all online systems use the same program. Some use PAK while others use ZIP. Luckily, most sysops choose one compres- sion program for all their files. If you download files from a variety of systems, its possible that you may need a copy of every compression program out there. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 6 BTW: PAK is the only compression program that extracts multiple compression methods. This shareware program extracts PAK, ARC and ZIP files. A copy of PAK may be found on most online systems, especially the large commercial services. There is one drawback, though, to using this program. When ZIP or ARC are upgraded by their authors, there is no way to upgrade those files inside the PAK version. You need to wait until PAK releases a new version with the associated upgrades. For best results, build yourself a library of the various compression programs and update them individually. How do you know which compression method is used on a file? Simple. Just look at the file extension name. (Check your DOS manual if you are not familiar with file extension names.) A compressed file has, as its extension name, the 3 letter name of the program. For example, a graphics file, containing pictures of balloons, using PAK, might be named BALLOONS.PAK. Or an adventure game, using ARC might be named ADVGAME.ARC. COM-AND is originally compressed using ZIP (CA29-1.ZIP). Software files compressed using one method (e.g. ZIP) may be re-compressed using another method. Don't be surprised if you find the same file with different extension names. Every sysop has their own preference as to which compression method is best. Compression programs are easy to use. Each one is fully documented and vigorously supported by its author. If you run into problems or need help, just post a message online and wait for a response. People online love to share their experiences (and opinions), so don't hesitate to ask. One final word...don't let these programs go to waste - compress your own files. You'll be amazed how much space is saved by compressing seldom used files, especially if you start collecting graphics or games (these files are huge). Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 7 COM-AND - THE COMPLETE PACKAGE COM-AND is originally distributed as four separate ZIP files: CA29-1.ZIP contains the program (executable file) CA29-2.ZIP contains the documentation file (approx. 400 pages) CA29-3.ZIP contains the script and associated documentation CA29-4.ZIP contains the advanced script programming files If you obtained COM-AND from a disk vendor, your copy should contain the following files. The README.1ST file is a relatively small docu- ment which contain important program information. Please read this document before installing COM-AND. INSTALL.EXE installation program README.1ST contains update and program information The executable file, CA29-1.ZIP, contains the only files you need to run the program. The other ZIPs can be extracted at a later date when you want to use the more advanced features of the program or view the documentation. BTW: Most programs include a README file which contains important information about the program such as updates and program fixes. The file itself is usually a short ASCII text document which may be printed using the DOS print command. Always read this file before installing any new program. The information it contains will not be found in the formal documentation. ============================ PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Computer type - IBM PC or compatible. Operating system - MS-DOS version 2.0 or later. Memory - At least 384k of available RAM. 512k is required to use COM-AND's accessory function. Display/Graphics - Almost any monitor and adapter: CGA, EGA, VGA, or Hercules. Mouse - MicroSoft or compatible (optional) Modem - Virtually any internal or external modem. COM-AND defaults to simple Hayes compatibility. Disk drive - At least one floppy drive or one floppy drive and a hard disk. Serial port - Required if you use an external modem. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 8 INSTALLING COM-AND COM-AND is designed to be installed with or without an installation program. If you downloaded your copy from an online system, you need to extract the files before using them. If you obtained your copy directly from us (CABER Software) or from a diskette vendor, just follow the installation instructions that came with the disks. It is strongly recommended that you install COM-AND in its own directory or subdirectory, if you have a harddisk on your computer. When loaded, COM-AND uses the current directory to access and store files (unless you specify a different directory). By installing COM-AND in its own directory, all COM-AND-related files are easy to locate and access when needed. EXTRACTING COM-AND FILES COM-AND is originally released to online systems using the ZIP method of compression. If you are unfamiliar with compressed files, please refer to the above section entitled "Software Compression." The following instructions are written for the ZIP compression method. If your copy of COM-AND uses a different compression method, just substitute the commands to match the compression method. Extracting COM-AND files: 1. Start your computer and wait for the DOS prompt. If you have created a new subdirectory for COM-AND, move to that directory. 2. If you have the ZIPs on a floppy disk, insert the floppy into drive A and type: PKUNZIP A:CA29-1.ZIP <enter>. If COM-AND is already on your harddrive just type PKUNZIP CA29-1.ZIP <enter>. Once the first file is extracted, decompress the remaining ZIP in the same manner. 3. After you have extracted the files, delete the ZIPs to free up disk space. To delete all the files at once type: DEL *.ZIP <enter>. (Make sure you keep a copy of the original ZIP files on a floppy disk, just in case the program needs to be restored.) 4. To begin using the program, at the DOS prompt type: COM-AND <enter> Low on space? Keep in mind that the only files you need to run COM-AND are in CA29-1.ZIP. The other files contain documentation and scripts. If you plan to extract all 4 files, you need a MINIMUM of 1.8 megabytes of storage (1,800,000 bytes). Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 9 CONFIGURING COM-AND TO WORK WITH YOUR MODEM The very first time COM-AND is loaded, a special script is started. This script is called INSTALL and its purpose it to help you properly configure COM-AND to work with your modem (painlessly). INSTALL prompts you for: 1. The COM port your modem uses 2. Your modem's maximum speed 3. Your modem's initialization string If you prefer to configure COM-AND manually, just press the ESC key at INSTALL's introductory screen. When the screen clears, type ALT-S. This command opens the SETUP menu to begin the configuration work. BTW: We strongly recommend that you use the INSTALL script to verify your modem's setting, even though COM-AND is preset to work with most Hayes-compatible modems. It takes just a few minutes to complete and may save you hours trying to track down a simple problem, (like a wrong COM port setting). One important note about the INSTALL script: Do not use the ESC key to move to the next screen. The ESC key terminates the script with- saving your changes. Use the SKIP option instead, to move to the next screen when no changes are made. If you happen to hit the ESC key by mistake, don't worry. INSTALL may be reactivated anytime by pressing the F2 key (to open COM-AND's script directory), selecting the file named INSTALL.CMD and pressing <enter>. Use the INSTALL script anytime you want to change your modem configuration or check your port locations. BTW: You may want to explore all the various scripts included with this version of COM-AND (you'll find them in the CA29-3.ZIP file). Using these scripts will help you get the most from COM-AND. To start a script, press the F2 key, cursor down to the appropriate name and press <enter>. SCRIPT.DOC contains full details about each script and how to use some of the more complicated scripts. The VERY complicated scripts have their *own* documents! Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 10 USING THE INSTALL SCRIPT The INSTALL script prompts you for answers to four questions: 1: Where is COM-AND installed? COM-AND may be started from any directory by specifying its location in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This is called "setting an environment variable" (the command is: SET COM-AND=<directory or subdirectory location>). If you are not familiar with this command, please consult your DOS manual. INSTALL looks for COM-AND's location and displays that location on your screen. If the location is incorrect, change it. If it is correct, press enter. INSTALL then modifies your AUTOEXEC.BAT to include the SET command string. If you do not want your AUTOEXEC.BAT modified, select the SKIP option which takes you to the next screen. 2: What COM port are you using? When you installed your modem, you had to select a communications port (also known as a serial port) on your computer system. COM- AND needs to know which COM port your modem uses. INSTALL displays the default setting of the COM port. It will also look and tell you what ports it recognizes, if you ask. If the port displayed on your screen is incorrect, change it. If it's correct, press <enter>. Select the SKIP option, to move to the next screen, if you prefer to do nothing at this time. 3: What is the speed of your modem? Most modems can transmit data at two or more speeds. Choose the highest speed your modem is capable of using. COM-AND uses this speed as the default setting in the dialing directory. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 11 4: What type of modem are you using? COM-AND's default settings are for simple Hayes-compatible modems. This last screen displays a list of modems which have been tested and verified by experienced modem users. Select the modem which matches or comes closest to your model. If you do not have a Hayes-compatible modem, and your modem is not listed (refer to your modem's user manual for verification), you must enter the modem's command strings manually. To enter the commands manually, select the SKIP option and press <enter>. When the screen clears, type ALT-S. This command opens the SETUP menu for manual modem configuration. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 12 GETTING AROUND IN COM-AND Once COM-AND is installed, it is ready to execute your commands. The first screen you see is rather blank; no menu items, no prompts, no clue as to what to do next. That's because COM-AND defaults to "com- mand mode." If you are used to pull-down menus or program prompts, this can be a very unsettling experience. Never fear! COM-AND supports pull-down menus. To turn menus on right now (for this one time use of COM-AND): Press Alt = (Hold down the "Alt" key while you type "="). To turn menus on permanently: 1. Type ALT-O. This opens the Options menu. 2. Using the cursor keys or mouse, move through the list until you reach the menu item MENU MODE. 3. At MENU MODE, press <enter>. A second small window pops up. 4. Type ON and <enter>. 5. Now move through the list until you reach the menu item SAVE. Press <enter>. This automatically saves the change permanently. 6. Exit the Options menu by pressing the ESC key. After pressing ESC, you are returned to COM-AND's opening screen. The pull-down menus are located at the top of the screen. Use the left/right cursor keys to move back and forth; use the up/down cursor keys to open the menus and make your selection. As you move through the menus, the item you are currently on is highlighted. Use the <enter> key to execute the command. Using a mouse, the same principal applies. Move the mouse back and forth to open the various windows. A double click on the left button has the same effect as pressing the <enter> key. A double click on the right side button ends or cancels the action (the same action as pressing the ESC key). Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 13 COMMAND MODE As mentioned earlier, COM-AND defaults to command mode. To enter a command, press the function key or ALT-key combination which corres- ponds to the appropriate action. Commands may be entered even if MENU MODE is turned on. For quick reference, use the SUMMARY OF COMMANDS, located at the beginning of this document or type F10 anywhere (anytime) in the program. F10 displays COM-AND's online help screen. BTW: The best way to get to know a software program, any program, is to "play" with it. In COM-AND, the ESC key terminates any func- tion you are using and takes you back to the previous screen. You can't break the program...so go ahead, play with it, explore all its features, then go crazy calling online systems! Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 14 SETTING DEFAULTS For a communications program to be useful, it needs to accommodate a large variety of modem users. In COM-AND, this is accomplished through program configuration menus. Uses these menus to tailor COM-AND to meet your own special needs. There are four different program configuration menus in COM-AND: ALT-S Set-up menu is used to change modem configuration settings and set certain program values. ALT-O Options menu is used to turn OFF or ON certain program features. ALT-P Parameters menu is used to change communication parameters, modem speed and COM port. ALT-J Colors menu is used to paint your screen different colors. Only a few of the program configuration items are discussed here. For a full explanation of these functions, please read COM-AND.DOC. Using the SAVE function in any of the configuration menus: Any change made in the configuration menus may be saved on a permanent basis or used on a one-time-only basis. To make a change permanent, select the menu item "SAVE THESE VALUES" and press <enter>. If you do not save the change, the change is in effect during the current session only. Next time COM-AND is loaded, the original setting will be used. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 15 USING THE CONFIGURATION MENUS ALT-S: SET-UP MENU ALT-S is used to set certain parameters within the program. These parameters include: modem settings, file names, buffer size, delays, tones etc. The only parameters we will look at are modem settings... Modem settings: You need to have your modem's user manual handy if you plan to make changes to the modem settings. If you do not have a manual, check with your local computer user's group for help or call the manufac- turer. Do not rely on documentation from another type of modem. One wrong character in a modem command can prevent your modem from making connection. When entering modem commands, do not add any spaces between the characters. Modem initialization string: The initialization string is a series of commands sent to your modem every time you start the program. This string of characters prepares the modem to work a certain way. COM-AND defaults to: ATE0V1X1&C1S=S7=25S11=55! Modem dialing prefix: The dialing prefix instructs the modem to begin a dialing sequence. COM-AND defaults to: ATDT. Modem dialing suffix: The dialing suffix tells your modem to begin executing a dialing command. COM-AND defaults to: ! (this is a carriage return) Hangup string: The hangup string tells your modem to hang up or disconnect the line. COM-AND defaults to: ATH0! Escape string: The escape string is sent to your modem before it hangs up, dials, redials or is initialized. In essence, it wakes up the modem. COM-AND defaults to: ~~~+++~~~ (3 tildes, 3 plus signs, 3 tildes; the tildes are 1/2 second delays) Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 16 Connect string: The connect string is a message issued by your modem to indicate that connection has been made. This message is displayed on your screen. COM-AND defaults to: CONNECT ALT-O: OPTIONS MENU ALT-O is used to turn OFF and ON certain program options. Use the cursor keys or mouse to move through the list. Press <enter> at the menu item you wish to change (and remember to SAVE the change). Here are just a few options you may want to look at before going online: Initial Advertisement The initial advertisement is the screen you see after the initial- ization screen. You may terminate this display by selecting OFF at this menu item. Many shareware authors do not give you this option until you have registered the program. The author of COM-AND feels that to continually display this screen is an intrusion on your communi- cation time and allows you to turn it off at your own discretion. Software flowcontrol (XON/XOFF) Flow control paces the transfer of data between two computers to prevent characters from being lost. (An example would be if one computer can't save to disk as fast as the other computer is sending.) It is recommended that you retain COM-AND's default setting to ON. If your modem supports hardware flow control (XON/OFF), we recommend that you turn it OFF in your modem, through the initialization string. You don't want COM-AND sending flow control characters and your modem eating them. Bidirectional flowcontrol The newer, high speed modems require a hardware flow control method called RTS/CTS or "bidirectional flow control." If you have trouble with your modem (i.e., characters lost, etc.), turn this function ON. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 17 Call-logging To keep track of all your online sessions, COM-AND provide "call logging." This feature builds a file, named COM-AND.LOG which contains the time, date and file transfer activity for every session. If you are a consultant or use your computer to work at home, this is an ideal way to keep track of your online activities. Unfortunately, there is one drawback to using this function; it eats disk space. With call logging turned ON, COM-AND starts to log your activity as soon as the phone number is dialed. If you use your modem frequently, this file will grow very large, very fast. You need to backup (or save) and purge this file periodically to keep it to a manageable size. Set auto ZMODEM download ZMODEM is a very popular file transfer protocol used on many systems to transfer multiple files consecutively. A "protocol" is convention (a set of rules) that allows transfer of data without errors. The protocol you choose is dependent on the system you are calling and the communications software you use. COM-AND supports all the popular protocols used today. If you plan to use systems that support the ZMODEM protocol, turn this setting ON. Allow ZMODEM recovery ZMODEM allows you to transfer multiple files consecutively. It will also try to recover a file that may have been only partially received. With this setting turned ON, ZMODEM will automatically try to recover the damaged file on your next download attempt. Allow CISB+ recovery This setting is similar to the ZMODEM recovery function. Turn this ON if you use the CISB+ protocol and you wish to recover aborted downloads. It is important that partially downloaded files are not modified in ANY way if you plan to try to recover them. In addition, check to make sure that you recover the same version of the file as you downloaded originally. The version number is usually included in the file name (e.g., CA29-1.ZIP is COM-AND's version 2.9). Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 18 Menu mode Please refer to the "Menu mode" section for information about using MENU MODE. Turn this setting ON to use COM-AND's pull-down menus. ALT-P - Parameters menu Use ALT-P to change communications parameters such as speed and COM port. Submenus pop up and list all available options. Use the save function to make your changes permanent. ALT-J - Color menu Use ALT-J to change COM-AND's screen colors. Not much more needs to be said about that! Of course, if you don't have a color monitor, this menu is of intellectual interest to you. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 19 A LOOK AT COM-AND'S DIALING DIRECTORY (which looks better on your screen than in ASCII text) -- COM-AND Dialing Directory --------------------------------------- : Name Number Rate P-D-S-E Script : :------------------------------------------------------------------: : 1: CIS 2400 (Chicago) 1-312-263-5636 2400-E-7-1-N CIS : : 2: CIS 1200 (Chicago 1-312-443-1250 1200-E-7-1-N CIS : : 3: Genie 727-0350 2400-E-7-1-N CIS : : 4: Telenet (2400) 938-8725 2400-E-7-1-N Telenet : : 5: Crazy Horse BBS 477-3694 1200-N-8-1-N PCBBS : : 6: 1200-E-7-1-N : : 7: 1200-E-7-1-N : : 8: 1200-E-7-1-N : : 9: 1200-E-7-1-N : : 10: 1200-E-7-1-N : :------------------------------------------------------------------: : Area code (strip): 312 Redial delay time: 60 sec : : All calls prefix: 9,,,, : : Dialing directory: COM-AND.DIR : : Enter the command, or enter # (and LD prefix) to dial: 1 : :------------------------------------------------------------------: : R)evise/add M)anual F)ile to load T)ime delay : : L)ong distance D)elete entry P)rint to PRN C)opy entry : : PgDn/PgUp page Up/Dn arrow S)trip a/code A)ll calls pfx : ------------------------ Press ESC to exit ------------------------- ============================ VITAL STATISTICS: The dialing directory displays 10 entries per screen. There is a maximum of 100 entries per directory. The number of individual dialing directories is unlimited. The maximum length for an entry name or description is 24 The maximum length for a phone number is 14 The maximum length for a phone number + long distance is 23 The maximum length for a script name is 8 The maximum number of long distance prefixes/suffixes is 4 The maximum number of "All calls" prefix per directory is 1 The maximum number of "Area code (strip)" per directory is 1 Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 20 THE DIALING DIRECTORY - ALT-D To open the dialing directory type ALT-D, or use the pull-down menu "PHONE." The top area is the phone directory with 10 entries displayed. There are a total of 100 entries available to each phone directory. You move through the directory list by using the PgUp/PgDn/Up/Down cursor keys. Each entry is numbered, followed by a name or description field. The description field may be up to 24 characters (letters or numbers). After the description comes the phone number (maximum 14 characters), the modem rate, communications parameters and a script name. (Leave the script name blank if no script is to be used with this entry.) COM-AND uses the modem rate set by the INSTALL script and defaults to 7-E-1-N for the communications parameters. BTW: Most commercial online systems use the communications parameters: 7-E-1-N, while BBS's use: 8-N-1-N. Right below the phone directory is the command area. Any command that you type will be displayed here. For quick reference, all the commands and functions associated with the dialing directory are displayed below the command area. DIALING DIRECTORY COMMANDS: To enter a command in the dialing directory, type the first letter of the command and press <enter>. COM-AND prompts you for additional information it needs to complete the command. (R)evise/add a directory entry Use this command to add a new directory entry or change an existing entry. When prompted, enter the description name, phone number, modem rate, communications parameters and script name. COM-AND displays the current values at each prompt. Press <enter> if no change needs to be made at the current prompt. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 21 (D)elete a directory entry Use this command to delete an entry. COM-AND prompts you for the entry number, then deletes that entry from your directory. (L)ong distance COM-AND allows a total of 14 digits for any telephone number. There may be times when you need to issue more than 14 characters to make connection. For example, some host systems need a couple of extra seconds to wake up and recognize your presence. The long distance function allows you to insert special characters into the phone number string to make the modem pause until the host system answers. (With most modems, the comma is used to indicate a pause. Check your modem reference guide for instructions on special characters before using this function.) To use the long distance feature, type the letter L followed by the carriage return. (i.e., L <enter>). A window pops up to display the long distance directory list. This directory holds a maximum of 4 long distance extension numbers. Instead of numbers, the entries use symbols. Select one of the four symbols (+ - # @) and type in the special characters you wish to add to the phone number string. Do not include the phone number. Any long distance entry may be used as a prefix or a suffix to any dialing directory entry. To use the entry as a prefix, place the symbol BEFORE the dialing directory number and press <enter> (i.e., #10, @3, -99, +50). To use the entry as a suffix, place the symbol AFTER the dialing directory number (i.e., 10#, 3@, 99-, 50+). (This function is easier to use than explain in words.) (P)rint directory Use this command to print a hard copy of your phone directory. Make sure your printer is turned on and ready to print. The directory is 2 pages in length, each containing 50 lines plus headings. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 22 (M)anual dialing Not every number you dial needs to be in the permanent phone directory. Use this command to make a one-time only call. COM-AND prompts you for the phone number and uses the speed and parameters currently in effect (the ALT-P menu). (T)ime delay Use this command to reset the amount of time between redials. Local calls can be set for a shorter duration than long distance calls. 30 to 45 seconds is usually enough time between redials; anything less may be too short to make connection. Load (F)ile Use this command to load a new dialing directory. Please refer to COM-AND.DOC for additional information. (C)opy Entry Use this command when you want to clone an entry. (S)trip a/code Use this command to strip a particular area code when an entry is dialed. This command is useful if you include area codes in your dialing directory. (A)ll calls pfx Use this feature instead of a long distance entry if every number in the dialing directory needs a special string sent before the phone number is dialed. This feature is used primarily for a business with a PBX system or for international calls to one country. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 23 PRACTICE RUN - ADDING A NEW ENTRY INTO THE DIALING DIRECTORY Follow these steps to enter your first dialing directory number. 1. Type ALT-D <enter>. The dialing directory appears. 2. Type the letter R <enter>. 3. A window pops up and request an entry number. Type the number 1. 4. When prompted, enter the description name, telephone number, modem rate, communications parameters and script name (if any). At each prompt, COM-AND will display the current default settings. If no change needs to be made, just press <enter>. Make sure the telephone number you use connects to another modem. You really don't want some poor unsuspecting person to pick up the phone and get a modem whistle blown in their ear because you dialed wrong. 5. After all the information is entered, COM-AND prompts you to save the entry to disk. Type YES. You are now ready to make a call. 6. To dial the number, just type the entry number (in this case, the number 1 <enter>). No command, other than the entry number is needed. That's all there is to it. Just repeat the same steps until your directory is complete. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 24 OTHER DIALING COMMANDS Alt-R Redial: Redial the last number dialed Use this command to redial the last entry you dialed in Alt-D continuously until connection is made. The phone number may have been entered manually or selected from the directory. The length of time between redials is set in the Alt-S menu and again in the dialing directory menu with the "T" command. You may force a new attempt by pressing the space-bar or change the delay interval by pressing the END key. BTW: Some smaller bulletin boards have only one or two lines connected to their computer which means you may get a busy signal every time you call. Use the redial function to set COM-AND to continually redial the number until connection is made. For best results, try calling the BBS during off hours: very early morning or very late at night, when everyone else is sleeping or watching a late night movie. Alt-H Hangup: Hangup the phone. Not much needs to be said about this command. Type Alt-H and you are disconnected! If you are using a bulletin board system or a commercial online network service, it is always courteous (and safest) to "logoff" or "exit" the service before hanging up. This ensures a clean break 99% of the time. Disconnecting too abruptly can, at times, cause an incomplete hangup. If you are inadvertently knocked off a system for any reason, try to reconnect to make sure you were properly disconnected. It's possible that your line will remain connected and "live" even it looks disconnected. On systems that charge by the minute, this could cost you a lot of money. What if you can't reconnect to the system? First, determine if the line is still connected. Unplug the phone line connected to your modem and attach it to a hand set. If there is a lot of static sound (instead of a dial tone) it means you're still connected. Press the hangup button (also called the "hook") a number of times until you disconnect. If this does not work, try placing a voice call to the system, with another phone, and ask them to disconnect you from their end. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 25 UPLOADING AND DOWNLOADING FILES Sooner or later, you will want to start downloading files. The process is not difficult but it varies from system to system. On most bulletin boards, a bulletin will be available to describe the file transfer procedure and which protocols are supported. (COM-AND supports all the popular protocols.) Commercial services include this same information in their user manual. Read the instructions carefully before attempting to do a file transfer. If you run into problems, ask the system operator for help. In COM-AND the "PgUp" key is used to upload a file while the "PgDn" key is used to download files. Once the file transfer screen pops up, select a protocol from the list and follow the prompts. During the transfer, COM-AND displays an information screen which lists the file name, size, protocol used, estimated transfer time and so on. When the transfer is complete, COM-AND issues an alarm which continues to sound for 10 seconds or until you press <enter>. BTW: It is always a good idea to wait until the system you are on begins transferring a file before telling COM-AND to start (pressing the PgDn or PgUp key). Certain tasks need to be performed by the host system before the actual transfer takes place. Starting COM-AND too soon may cause problems. Don't be shy about transferring files. It only takes one or two file transfers to become an expert! For best results, practice somewhere where it is free or almost free. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 26 COMMON PROBLEMS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM The following are some of the more common problems you may experience during your communications sessions. Setting Up COM-AND: * COM-AND locks up when it is first loaded * This may occur when there is a conflict in the communications port (COM port) setting. If this happens, reboot your machine (Ctrl-Alt-Del) and wait for the DOS prompt. At the DOS prompt, change to COM-AND's directory and type: COM-AND /I <enter> Once COM-AND is loaded, type ALT-P. This command opens the Parameters Option menu to change the port setting. This problem may also happen if you have two ports both strapped to the same IRQ. Unlike some comm programs which take over all likely IRQs for a given port, COM-AND uses only one IRQ for a given port. Mike Todd, President of Support EtCetera, Inc., reports that he advises any customer with difficulties with an internal modem to remove the internal modem, load COM-AND again, and then use the INSTALL script to find out which ports aren't used. Overlapping ports or IRQs may cause serious problems. * Your modem doesn't dial * Make sure the COM port you assigned to COM-AND is correct and the cable and modem are functioning properly. To test the modem, be at COM-AND's opening screen and type AT <enter>. If you receive a response (usually the word "OK"), your modem is working. If there is no problem with the COM port, cable or modem, verify that the modem dialing command and dialing command suffix are correct for your modem. Consult your modem's user manual for command strings. If everything looks OK and you are still having problems, check the phone number itself to make sure there are no typographical errors involved. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 27 * Your high speed modem doesn't work * If you have one of the newer high speed modems (9600 or above), make sure that bidirectional flow/control in the ALT-S menu is set to ON and the setting is saved. * Using DOS 3.2 * Running at higher speed (above 19.2k) under DOS 3.2 irregular character dropouts have been seen. A 16550AFN UART will correct this problem. You may need to go to a computer store to find out what this is...hint...it's more hardware! ugh * Using DOS 5.0 * When DOS 5.0 is loaded high (DOS=HIGH,UMB), the "Suspend comm during disk" setting (PCJr mode) is absolutely necessary. A 16550AFN UART will also help solve this problem. Connected to a host system: * The characters displayed on your screen appear twice (ttwwiiccee) * Turn echo off with ALT-E. * The characters displayed on your screen are garbled. * This may be due to one of several reasons: 1. Incompatible parity. Mask the parity with ALT-Z... 2. Line noise. If the noise is really bad, hang-up and try connecting at a later time. Do not attempt to do a file transfer if you see alot of line noise. It's slooooow! * The lines you type get mixed in with what others are typing * To avoid mixing lines of text, use ALT-E to turn echo OFF. Unfortunately, when you turn echo off you can't see what you are typing. Instead, use COM-AND's CHAT MODE feature (ALT-A). This feature splits your screen in half: the top half displays the ongoing conversation while the bottom half displays your text. If you only type short lines, (up to 65 characters), use COM-AND's keyboard buffer (F8). Instead of splitting the screen, the status line (located at the bottom of the screen) is used to display what you are typing. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 28 * Excessive errors during uploads * Some systems cannot accept data that is transferred too quickly. If you are receiving excessive errors during an upload, it may be that COM-AND is too fast for the systems. If this happens, use the ALT-O menu to set SLOW XFER to ON and save the setting. For high speed modem users: COM-AND's interrupt driven send can pose a problem when the speed exceeds 19.2k. Set SLOW XFER ON (in ALT-O) if many errors are noticed in file transfers. * Your modem does not hangup (or disconnect) * Verify that the hangup command in your modem configuration file (ALT-S) is properly set to work with your modem. COM-AND can send a hangup request to your modem but if your modem doesn't recognize that request, it ignores it. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 29 THE ONLINE WORLD ... AND WELCOME TO IT! Let's assume you have your modem installed and COM-AND up and running. Now what? Who do you call? The world of online services is big and the choices are almost unlimited. For instance, I have a database of over 16,000 bulletin boards and 50 or more commercial services from the U.S. and Canada (a few more than most people have) which should give you an idea of what's out there. So how do you choose? Simple. You experiment. Start with a local bulletin board or two and move onto the commercial systems. Take advantage of any free connect time offers and read all you can about the services. (See the next sections for listings of books, magazines, commercial services and bulletin boards.) Experimenting with online services is fun and rather exciting because no two are alike. Some are very friendly while others more business- like. Some systems are dedicated to one subject (i.e., aeronautics) and others have a little bit of everything. Here's what to expect from the various types of services. Let's start with a very small bulletin board and work up to the commercial services. Small bulletin boards have only one or two phone lines for access. If the board is popular, it may take hours for a line to free up. These boards are usually run by one person and may carry very interesting files and messages. In many cases, small boards are dedicated to one subject, often product support, a hobby or a social issue. The first time you visit, you are required to give your name, address and possibly other information. Once that is complete, information about board, it's rules and regulations, will be displayed. Some- times the sysop allows a new user to begin using the system immedi- ately, other times you may have to wait until the sysop verifies your existence. (To verify your information, the sysop (or his BBS!) will call you back.) Small boards are usually free or impose a file transfer ratio that must be met if you want to spend time on the board. A file transfer ratio means you must upload as many files as you download. With this kind of "payment," a sysop is sure of having new files all the time, without incurring additional cost. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 30 Online activities are usually limited to file transfers and posting messages. Most sysops keep the files very current and the message board clean ("clean" in this instance means getting rid of old messages, not "dirty" ones!) If you have any problems or need help locating a file, ask the sysop. They are very responsive to their subscriber base and dedicated to their board. The larger bulletin boards have multiple line access (5 or more lines) and gigabytes of storage space. In effect, some of these larger boards look just like a commercial system. Online activities may include, interactive game playing, chatting, sports and news reports, electronic mail and of course, file transfer and message boards. As with the smaller boards, you are required to give personal information the first time you call. Most of the time, the sysop allows a new user to "look" around but not be active (i.e., do a file transfer or post a message). Full access to such a board usually requires a payment of an annual subscription fee of anywhere from $20-$75, with a time limit set of 45-60 minutes per session. Boards that promote chatting and interactive games are beginning to charge an annual fee plus a per minute charge. Paying a per minute charge means that no time limit is set (except what your credit card can handle!) Bulletin boards, whether they are large or small, connect through the local telephone lines. If you call one outside your local calling area, you pay long distance charges. To combat long distance phone bills, heavy bulletin board users (30 hours or more per month) sub- scribe to a service from SprintNet (1-800-736-1130) that will reduce the per hour cost to something more manageable. SprintNet is a packet network service that commercial online systems use for access. A packet network is a system of digital lines instead of voice lines. The network is international, but you call a local number for access (thereby avoiding long distance charges). If you plan to call a lot of bulletin boards outside your area code, you may want to give SprintNet a call and ask them about their PC PURSUIT service. As mentioned above, commercial systems use packet networks. This allows them to accommodate hundred of subscribers, from across the nation and around the world, online at one time. These systems are huge with a multitudinous array on online activities to choose from. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 31 Before connecting to a commercial system you must go through a formal signup procedure. Most systems give you a choice of either calling their customer service to sign up or calling a modem number. Have your credit card ready because you will be paying a signup fee, AND some form of connect time fee. Once you and your card have been verified, you will receive a user id, password and user manual. Most of the time, the sign up fee is waved, but if it is not, expect to pay anywhere from $15-$50. (Some systems, like CompuServe and Prodigy prefer that you buy a signup kit at your local computer store instead of calling their customer service department.) Commercial services offer opportunities to chat, shop, make travel arrangements, search data bases, play games, file transfer, send electronic mail, do your banking or read the message boards. Some systems offer gateways into other services for more specific activi- ties (financial reports, news and sports, government information and so on). The cost varies from system to system. Some charge on a per minute basis, while others offer a flat rate plus per minute charge. Long distance charges are not an issue when calling a commercial system (unless you live in some very remote area). Packet networks make it a local call. (Your signup kit will include a list of phone numbers for your area). Instead of paying long distance charges, as you would for a bulletin board, you pay a connect time fee on a commercial system. It's all a balancing act.... Price wars and competition have led to overall reductions in rates on the commercial systems. Anymore, it is quite affordable to visit them on a regular basis. But, even though they are more affordable, they are still costly. Make sure you understand the rates before you sign up. If you choose a flat monthly fee (of any kind), remember: the system continues to charge you that fee every month whether or not you use the service (until your credit card expires). With every system being unique, it is difficult to describe what you might experience once you connect. Things are always changing in the online world. The very first systems like The Source (now closed) and CompuServe were plain text screens with clunky menu systems. Today there is Prodigy and Online America with fancy graphics and mouse control. Even bulletin boards offer graphics and pull down menus. The services are so much easier to use now and so much less expensive than they were. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 32 But one thing has remained constant through all this change: the people. That's the real attraction to online services. All that hardware and all those phone lines are there to bring people together. It's a unique form of communications and sharing that exists nowhere else in the world. Any time day or night, you may dial up a system and find someone to talk to or answer your questions. Online, everyone is equal; from corporate presidents to home makers to computer columnists. You'll be amazed at the number of "celebrities" and industry experts that use the online services. They bring with them all the latest gossip and late breaking news. You'll find something new every time you logon...so enjoy, and I'll see you online. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 33 DIRECTORY OF SERVICES: COMMERCIAL ONLINE SERVICES Here are some of the more popular commercial online systems (in alphabetical order, not author's preference). Graphical systems, such as Prodigy and Online America provide their own communications software and are not listed here (obviously). Byte Information Exchange (BIX) - 800-227-2983 (voice line) BYTE magazine's online service for computer professionals. CompuServe - 800-848-8199 (voice line) Largest and most popular service for consumer and business use. BRS:After Dark - 800-995-0906 (voice line) Database system for business, medical, scientific and technical information. Used primarily for research. Dataquest - 408-437-8000 (voice line) Research database system for high-tech and market information. Delphi - 800-544-4005 (voice line) General purpose system with world wide connections. Dialog - 800-334-2564 (voice line) The largest research database system with over 390 databases. Dow Jones News/Retrieval - 800-522-3567 (voice line) One of the largest news retrieval networks in the world. Genie - 800-638-9636 (voice line) General purpose online service with a friendly atmosphere. Information America - 800-235-4008 (voice line) Database network for government and legal documents. Ocean Connect, Inc. - 207-781-0950 (voice line) A network service for marine and boating enthusiasts. Portal Online - 408-973-9111 (voice line) A general purpose system. Great for meeting new friends. USA Today Sports Center - 800-826-9688 (voice line) Great service for sports enthusiasts. Westlaw - 800-WESTLAW (voice line) Database service for lawyers and legal professionals. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 34 DIRECTORY OF SERVICES - BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS Bulletin boards are setup and maintained by people like you and me. When online, be courteous and polite. Don't post anything you don't want your mother to read (who knows - she might!) Whenever possible, share (upload) any new public domain or shareware files that you may find elsewhere. Sysops appreciate the help. One word of caution: bulletin boards come and go all the time. Don't be surprised if your favorite board disappears without notice. The following numbers are accurate as of 11/92. Use this material at your own risk. The phone numbers are for modem connection only; Set your communications parameters to: 8-N-1-N at 2400 baud to start. -------------------------------------------------------------------- COM-AND's Registered User's Support BBS Long Beach CA 301-439-7714 Support & Updates Newington VA 703-690-6192 Support & Updates -------------------------------------------------------------------- Advanced Data Frederick MD 301-695-9116 PC files WeatherBank Salt Lake City 800-827-2727 Weather WordPerfect BBS Orem, UT 801-225-4444 WP Support Aquila BBS Aurora IL 708-820-8344 PC files Neuropsychology Rocky River OH 216-356-1431 Disabled Invention Factory New York NY 212-431-1194 PC files Windsor Manor Windsor CT 203-688-4973 Adventure games Channel 1 Cambridge MA 617-354-8873 PC files Hayes-Product Georgia 800-874-2937 Modem support Exec PC Elm Grove WI 414-789-4210 PC files Micro Message Raleigh NC 919-779-6674 Files + news Ronin BBS Red Oak TX 214-938-2840 Files Movie BBS New York NY 718-939-5462 Movie info McAfee Associates Santa Clara CA 408-988-4004 Virus info Nat'l Genealogical Arlington VA 703-528-2612 Genealogy Superdemocracy Davie FL 305-370-9376 Political issues PC-Ohio Cleveland OH 216-381-3320 PC files Zen Den System Madera CA 209-675-8436 Environmental Olde West Bedford TX 817-572-4867 Old West theme Comm Post Denver CO 303-534-4501 Astronomy/Stars Radio Daze Mishawaka IN 219-256-2255 Ham radio Locker Room Santa Ana CA 714-542-5917 Sports - Fantasy BB Cajun Clickers Baton Rouge LA 504-756-9658 PC files Round Table Wyomissing PA 215-678-0818 Engineering - CAD Canada Remote Mississauga 416-798-4713 Ontario CN Trinity 1 BBS Exeter Devon 44392410210 United Kingdom South Australian Pooraka 61082606222 Australia Sistema Profesional Mexico City 525-590-5988 Mexico Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 35 PUBLICATIONS DEDICATED TO THE MODEM USER MAGAZINES ONLINE ACCESS MAGAZINE - (Quarterly) - 312-573-1700 This is a great magazine for information about commercial online services. Articles cover all aspects of online activities such as searching a database, making travel arrangements, accessing international systems, banking and so on. Every issue includes a directory of online systems, a schedule of online activities and a listing of vendors associated with the online world. BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE - (Monthly) - 800-933-6038 An easy reading magazine for people who want to explore the world of bulletin boards. Subjects include various boards around the country, how to operate a profitable BBS, the latest in modem technology and rumors floating around the boards. Every issue includes at least one long list of bulletin board phone numbers. This magazine is not only a great place to pick up new bulletin board numbers, but its fun to read. SHAREWARE MAGAZINE - (Bimonthly) - 800-245-6717 Not exactly ABOUT online systems, this magazine covers new shareware products available ON the systems. Articles include reviews on new software and comparisons on like-software products. Also includes some discussion about hardware products. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 36 BOOKS BOOKS - by Michael Banks These books are found in most book stores, computer stores and sometimes at the local library. DELPHI: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE 2nd edition; published by General Videotext Corporation THE MODEM REFERENCE 2nd edition; published by Brady Books POURNELLE'S PC COMMUNICATIONS BIBLE co-authored with Jerry Pournelle; published by MicroSoft Press PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS published by Brady Books PORTABLE POWER published by Brady Books THE JOY OF TELECOMPUTING (Book) - by Patrick Chen An easy to read and understand 200 page book discussing high speed modems, online services and choosing a long distance carrier. Great reference guide for modem users. Excerpts from his book can be downloaded from the major online services and bulletin boards. The author can be contacted directly on CompuServe (PPN: 70754,3162), Genie (ID: p.chen2) or Online America (ID:Pat Chen). DVORAK'S GUIDE TO PC TELECOMMUNICATIONS - by John C. Dvorak and Nick Anis (2nd Edition) This guide is a (huge!) comprehensive guide to the telecommunica- tions field. It will answer most any question you might raise about BBSes, online services, and modems. THE PC SURVIVAL GUIDE - by Aspinwall, Burke and Todd An excellent overall guide to the care and feeding of your PC. This book includes hints and troubleshooting guides for modems and all the rest of your machine. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 37 DISK VENDORS PUBLIC BRAND SOFTWARE (Catalog) - 800-426-3475 Shareware may be obtained through bulletin board systems, online services, directly from the author or through software diskette vendors. Public Brand Software is one such software diskette vendor. Their catalog lists all the shareware software carried by PBS. There are thousands of titles to choose from; each neatly categorized and described. CWI INFORMATION SERVICES - 800-777-5636 This is another software diskette vendor that carries over a thousand shareware software programs and applications for IBM PCs and compatibles. =========================== Something to be aware of when ordering from a diskette vendor: When you order shareware from a diskette vendor, or when you purchase a shareware diskette at your local computer store for a nominal fee, you are paying ONLY for the convenience of obtaining software already on diskette. Shareware authors do not share in that fee. If you use a shareware product past the evaluation period, you must pay for it. Shareware authors count on YOU to support their efforts in continuing to maintain their product. If you do not support shareware authors, the practice of free to evaluate software will eventually disappear. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 38 GLOSSARY OF TERMS To succeed in the communications world, you need to learn its lan- guage. The exact meaning of a word is not as important as under- standing the concept behind the word (of course, there are people online who will dispute that). This glossary is intended to give you an overview of the more common terms and expressions used in communications. It is by no means a technical reference guide. Consult your modem or DOS user manuals for the techies' version of these words. ANALOG/DIGITAL TRANSMISSION - Analog describes "voice" transmission while digital describes "data" transmission. Telephones use voice; packet networks (such as SprintNet or Tymnet) use data. When some one talks about a digital line, they are referring to telephone networks that accept computer data only. An analog line may be used for both voice or data. ASCII - is a standard numeric code used by most U.S. computers to represent letters, digits, punctuation and certain control functions. In communications, uploading an ASCII file means your are sending a "text" file (i.e., documentation). If you use a word processor to create the file, you must convert it to ASCII text before you trans- mit it to a host computer. ASYNCHRONOUS/SYNCHRONOUS - Data may be transmitted between two points with or without timing signals that control how the data is to be interpreted. Synchronous transmission includes a timing signal from the sender; asynchronous transmission does not have a timing signal but rather sends a special pulse to indicate the start of each character (start bit) and another special pulse to indicate the end of the character (stop bit(s)). COM-AND is intended for asynchronous communications. AUTOEXEC.BAT - A DOS batch file residing on the root subdirectory of the disk used to boot the computer. This file contains functions to be performed immediately after DOS starts up. We strongly recommend the following line be present (or be added) to your AUTOEXEC.BAT: SET COM-AND=<drive:subdirectory for COM-AND> BINARY FILE - A data file as opposed to a text file, intended to be used with a software program: software programs, spreadsheets, word processing files etc.. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 39 BITS AND BYTES - A bit is the smallest unit used to store information in memory. It is represented as 1s and 0s (off and on switches). A byte is 8 bits and represented as a string of 1s and 0s (11000101). BITS PER SECOND (bps) - A measure of the rate of data transmission expressed as the number of data bits sent in one second. This is today's "politically correct" term for baud rate. BLOCK - A group of characters or bytes sent as a single unit. A file being sent or received is broken down into blocks of data. These blocks are sent one at a time until the whole file is sent. The size of block sent is dependent on the file transfer protocol used. During a file transfer, COM-AND displays the file's total block size and the current number of blocks transmitted. BUFFER - A section of a computer's memory reserved to temporarily store data or commands. A "buffer size" refers to how much memory you wish to reserve to capture data for later viewing. CAPTURE (also referred to as transcription) - A capture is text and other information saved to disk or diskette, while it is being displayed on your screen. COM-AND uses the F8 key to start and stop captures. Capture files reflect, for the most part, only the text you saw and not the colors of the display. CHARACTER - Information that can be stored in one byte, such as a letter, number, space, punctuation mark or symbol. CHARACTERS PER SECOND (cps) - A measurement of the number of characters transmitted each second, based on the bits per second rate and the length of the characters being sent. CONFIGURATION - How your hardware and software are set up to work together. Configuration would include the number of serial ports, the number of parallel ports, the disk drives (and the nitty gritty stuff these devices use like interrupts and ports) as well as the software you use (including device drivers, TSRs and DOS itself). DEFAULT - A value, setting or instruction used by a program if no value is entered by the user. COM-AND is designed for general purpose communications therefore all its functions are set to default for this type of communication. It is up to you to change the defaults to match your own communications needs. For example, COM-AND defaults are set for Hayes-compatible modems. If your modem is not Hayes-compatible, you need to change COM-AND's default settings to match your modem's requirements. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 40 DOWNLOAD - To receive data from another computer or host system. It is referred to as "downloading a file." A download may be done with a protocol which ensures that what was received is identical to what was transmitted. ECHO - To repeat or redisplay characters. If you have echo ON, what you type is displayed on your screen as well as being sent out the port. Some connections automatically turn around and send back to you what you type, others do not. Use ALT-E to turn echo OFF and ON as needed. FILE TRANSFERS - Sending or receiving data from another computer or host systems. A file is uploaded TO another computer, or downloaded FROM another computer. A protocol is usually used to ensure that what was is received is identical to what was sent. FLOW CONTROL - A signal to you or from you to pause during a transmission. Software flow control uses certain characters, usually XON/OFF, as the signal. Hardware flow control uses certain wires to signal start and stop. We recommend software flow control to ON (ALT-O) and if your modem requires it, set bidirectional (RTS/CTS) hardware flow control ON (ALT-O). IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) - Interrupts are signals inside the computer used to suspend current activities so that a special action, such as reading a character of data, may be taken. Devices use interrupts to signal that they are ready for some kind of service from the software. On the IBM PC, you must be sure that two devices that you intend to use at the same time do NOT use the same interrupt. LINE NOISE - Some electrical disturbance in the phone line. If, during an online session, you start noticing strange characters or loss of characters, chances are you are experiencing line noise. This happens frequently during bad weather but it may be due to many different reasons. Line noise slows a file transfer, so wait until the line clears (or reconnect) before attempting transfers. MODEM INITIALIZATION - A string of characters that tells the modem how it is to work. The first thing COM-AND does, every time you run it, is initialize your modem (this is the first window that pops up and displays the word "Initialization"). This ensures that your modem is always ready to make a phone call. You may set COM-AND to reinitialize the modem after every hangup (ALT-O). PARITY - Even, Odd and None - A error-checking method used on each character of data transmitted. When parity is set to NONE, the extra bit can be used for data. Version 2.9: 921207 COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 41 PROTOCOL - A mutually agreed upon set of rules used by two computers to transfer data back and forth. Protocols refer to file transfer methods such as ZMODEM, YMODEM, CISB+ etc. The host system must be able to accommodate the protocol you choose to use (or choose a protocol that the host system can accommodate). In selecting a protocol, ask the system operator for the preferred protocol for that particular system. The most widely used protocol today for BBSes is ZMODEM. REDIALING - Continually dialing the same number until connection is made. RTS/CTS - are two wires or lines from the port on the back used for hardware flow control. COM-AND calls this "bidirectional" flow control. If your modem requires it, turn RTS/CTS "ON" in ALT-O. TOGGLE - Use the same key to turn a function ON or OFF. When the function is OFF toggling turns it ON. When the function is ON, the function turns it OFF. UART - Is the electronic circuit that turns a serial stream of electrical signals into 7 or 8 bits of a character, and vice versa. There are several kinds of UARTs used on the IBM PC. The most modern UART is called 16550A. If you plan to use your PC for communications at or above 9600 baud this modern UART is almost necessary. UPLOAD - Send a file TO another computer or host system. Referred to as "uploading a file." XON/XOFF - Software flowcontrol discussed under flowcontrol. Version 2.9: 921207