This simple control strip module is for use with Open Transport/PPP and allows one to change between OT/PPP configurations without going through the control panel. If you have more than one phone number for PPP access to the Internet with your Mac, you should make configurations for each method and switch between configurations instead of changing the setting in the default configuration. In order to use OT/PPP Configuration Changer (OT/PPP CC) to make changing configurations easy, first set up the configurations you would like to use through PPP. Use the Configurations option under the File menu in PPP to set up each configuration. This module will recognize them immediately. Choosing the control panel name in the menu will open the control panel. You can also connect and disconnect from the module. OT/PPP CC is not limited to PowerBooks with 7.6 - it can be used on all Macs that are running Open Transport/PPP.
Long Version
OT/PPP CC is a control strip module. To use control strip modules use one of the following: Apple's Control Strip (CS), Ammon Skidmore's Extension Strip (ES) or Westcode's OneClick (OC). Place OT/PPP CC in the Control Modules folder in the System Folder and, if using CS, reboot. Modules are automatically recognized with ES and OC. You should see an icon for OT/PPP CC in your strip that looks like the Earth and a telephone pole. The popup menu will contain the name of the configurations you have made with PPP, the name of the control panel, and the action that can be taken regarding connecting and disconnecting.
There are two boolean representations of actions that you can take. 0->I is boolean for false to true, indicating not connected to connected. I->0 is boolean for true to false, representing connected to not connected. This is discussed in more detail on the FAQ page.
To make a configuration in PPP, go to the File menu and choose Configurations. For each method of PPP connection make a configuration. You can do this by Duplicating the first configuration (which will be called Default the first time you run PPP). You will be given an opportunity to name the configuration at that time (alternatively you can choose Rename). For each configuration you will use, you need to make the configuration active and "configure" it for a method of connecting. Save each configuration and you should see them immediately in the OT/PPP CC popup menu. Do not change configurations with OT/PPP CC while the PPP Control Panel is open.
OT/PPP CC works for all for all Macs that have OT/PPP (not just PowerBooks running 7.6). There are versions available that have native documentation (ReadMe, Balloon Help, and FAQ web page) in languages other than English. Visit the web site (http://www.madison-web.com/tkelly) for more details.
Note:
The ability to open the control panel is disabled for non-paid version and so the control panel name will be grayed out in the menu. The ability to connect and disconnect is also disabled in the unpaid version and so will also be greyed out.To get a fully enabled version pay for OT/PPP CC and one will be sent to you by email(I’m doing this to encourage registration). Registered versions have a "p" in the name and in the version info.
People who pay for this version will not be expected to pay for subsequent versions. OT/PPP CC 1.2 is incompatible with ARA 3.0. It is has not been decided at this time if a new version will be released.
If you see an "X" through the module, turn on Balloon Help. The reason for the "X" will be given to you in the Balloon. The most common reason is OT/PPP not installed, and interruption of connecting due to user cancellation or not being able to make a connection. Make sure the scripting addition "PPP Commands" is in the Scripting Additions folder in the Extensions folder. This should come with the OT/PPP installer.
OT/PPP Configuration Changer is buckware. If you like the product, send me a buck. I think that there is room for a new form of software consisting of small utilities such as this that would go under the category "buckware". Pay a buck, add a nifty gadget that makes life a little easier. Also, there are some really great shareware products, like NetPresenz, and freeware products, like Frontier, that make it very difficult to justify a higher price when you look at the value of those products compared to this one. OT/PPP Configuration Changer is free to all alumni, students, faculty and staff at the University of South Carolina, and all users of the USC MacBBS (First Class 129.252.42.104). Microsoft and Intel employees may not use this product.
Do not think because I'm only charging one buck that it was easy to do. We must support developers for Macintosh if the platform is to continue to be successful. I am trying to start a small Macintosh programming company and look forward to providing many fine products for the non-Intel Macintosh community, but I can not do this if I do not receive financial compensation for my products.
Four people have made direct and indirect contributions that require special thanks:
Josef Wankerl helped me understand the new OT/PPP SDK and adding the timer to Modem CC and displaying the correct action to take in the OT/PPP CC menu.
John Stevenson did the icons for Modem CC 1.1. John does very professional graphics design work, both in media arts and web content. He also did the icons for TCP CC 1.1 and OT/PPP CC 1.1. He is available for design work and can be reached at jhs@well.com and samples of his work are available at http://www.well.com/~jhs. Please consider him if you are looking at establishing a web site.
Joe Zobkiw wrote A Fragment of Your Imagination, a very clear and detailed book on code fragments. Without this book I would not have been able to add the ability to open the control panel. I would like to very publicly thank Joe for answering so many of my questions (and there's more on the way ;-) ). A Fragment of Your Imagination is published by Addison Wesley and can be previewed at http://www.triplesoft.com/fragment. This is a must-have book for any Mac programmer.
Jason Haas, of Extensions Guide fame, has a Macintosh/Internet consulting business, Madison Web Works, and is providing the space for the official Tim Kelly software page. Jason wants to build a top-notch Macintosh interest web site and has good rates for shareware & freeware authors as well as Macintosh special interest groups.
I would like to thank my beta testers:
Grant Bayley, Jesse Brown, Brian Cruise, Linda Davis, Daly Jessup, Stephane Jose, Matthew Knowles, Edouard Lagache, Bill Leasure, Randy Pollock, Dan Richardson, John Stevenson, Josef Wankerl, Chris Wiggs, and everyone else that was involved but I've overlooked (let me know and I'll make addendums!).
In addition, I found two utilities especially helpful in development:
Ammon Skidmore's Extension Strip prevented me from having to reboot each time I made a change (ES supports dynamic loading of CSM's).
Nobu Toge's Flash-It provided the screen shots I use in the ReadMe's. This was good because Apple's screen shot method doesn't work when the mouse is down.
Known "bugs":
1) The way a connection is opened is the way it will be disconnected (the default is with the modal dialog box), and the module overrides the control panel setting for flashing the menu bar (it won't flash). Both of these appear to be bugs in the OT/PPP SDK, but Apple is not supporting this API so I am unable to get questions about it answered. When an ansychronous disconnect is made the module will show an "X" in it - this is normal and a warning not to use the module while the disconnect is taking place. It will remove the "X" when the disconnect is finished. This occurs after a connection is made with the control panel or through Eudora 3.1 (for example).
2) When using the paid version of OT/PPP CC and a PowerMac with 7.5.5, make sure you have run Finder Heap Fix to increase the partition size of Finder by the recommended 23k. Failure to do so may lead to crashes as Finder is unable to load a library due to lack of memory.
3) It appears some slight incompatibilities with Extension Strip have crept back in. This appears to manifest after repeated removal and replacement of the module. I have been unable to determine the exact cause.
4) It's not really a bug with OT/PPP CC, but users should be aware of this: with some 68k Macs, opening the TCP/IP control panel, quitting, and then immediately opening the PPP contro panel through either the module or the AppleMenu can lead to a bus error. This situation does not appear to be repeatable with other control panel combinations and only occurs if PPP is opened by an AppleEvent sent to Finder ('sope', which both my module and AppleMenu do). Apple is tracking this as a bug.
If you have a problem with OT/PPP CC, and can't find the answer on the FAQ page (http://www.madison-web.com/tkelly/faq.html), send one buck (registration) to the address below and include an email address with the problem. If I can't fix the problem I'll refund the buck. If you have already paid your buck and have a problem then tech support is free (I keep records of people who have paid me and add them to my mailing list to receive future versions and announcements of new software).
My apologies but I must ask that I get compensation for tech support (tech support for only a buck - can't beat it).
So, for one dollar you get:
a nifty gadget that makes life easier,
free tech support,
a fully enable version,
URLs to new versions sent to your email address,
information about new releases sent to your email address,
URLs to a page documenting hidden features in OT/PPP CC
Can't beat it!
There has never been consideration of a Windoze or Intel based version and there never will be! MacOS only! Stop the hegemony! Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to <evangelist@macway.com>. Support the PowerPC chip, not Intel! Support MacOS, not Windows running on Macs!
There are two ways to register:
If you have a credit card, you may register at:
http://order.kagi.com/?H9
There are English and Kanji registration forms for both the unsecure and secure server. Due to processing costs passed on to me by Kagi and MasterCard/Visa/American Express, the online registration costs slightly more ($1.40).
If you do not have a credit card, you may send registration by mail until August 1, 1997 to:
Tim Kelly
5860 Ellisor Rd.
Columbia SC 29212-2112
Please include your email address so I can add you to my mailing list and send you URLs to the paid versions. I only keep your name and email address and the mailing list is for you to receive information from me only.
Distribution restrictions:
The paid version may not be posted to any software repository, BBS forum, or any other form of electronic distribution, including, but not limited to, CD's and floppies without express consent of the author. Posting of the paid version without express consent is agreement to render payment for all subsequent downloads of the posted product. The unpaid version may be posted freely to all of the previously mentioned mediums but the ReadMe must be included. Site licenses are available - payment for one module does not constitute a site license for a business location. Payment for the module entitles the user to place copies on each Mac at home.
If you have questions (and have sent in the registration fee), I can be reached at tkelly@madison-web.com. The official Software by Tim Kelly and Friends pages are at http://www.madison-web.com/tkelly. At these pages you can find the most recent news about version changes and new releases, as well as plans for future releases. In addition, I have several Mac interest web pages beginning at http://www.cosm.sc.edu/~kelly. If you are a Macintosh programmer and have a web page and would like to be linked on my programmers' page, please send me the URL and I'll be glad to link it.
Version info:
1.2 Released June 23, 1997
Added correct showing of connect and disconnect status
Fixed foreground window issue (many thanks to Josef Wankerl for the help with the OT/PPP SDK!)
1.1.1 Released Nov. 17, 1996
Fixed incorrect drawing of icons when Open Transport not present (thanks to Earl Curley for not just throwing out the modules)
Closed preferences file before making a connection
Changed menu choice algorithm
Increased memory checking calls
1.1 Released Oct 27, 1996
General distribution
1.0 Released Oct 20, 1996
Accidentally released to AOL, had old icon, only available for 36 hours
.9b Limited distribution
Beta release
Other software available from Tim Kelly:
For Open Transport/PPP
Modem CC (change Modem settings like speaker on/off by making a different configuration for each setting) - pictured with the handset and modem under the earth in the screen shot
For Open Transport
FruitSpeak CC (change which AppleTalk configuration is active) - pictured with the earth and a bunch of fruit over the arrows
TCP CC (change which TCP/IP configuration is active) - pictured with the earth and arrows in the screen shot
Other
App Switcher (freeware extension available at my web site that switches between open applications with a keystroke)
Development on CC Sets has been temporarily halted while I work on interfacing a 5.5m radio telescope to a 7200/120.
MacWay CC didn't turn out too well and was never released.
