There are numerous utility programs for inspecting and checking various hardware peripherals for the Macintosh. Such software examines and optimizes hard disks, color monitors, scanners, printers, mice, and such. Modem Shop is a utility that lets you examine and optimize the use of your Hayes-compatible modem.
Modem Shop can:
• Display clearly, through a graphical interface, the factory default settings the modem manufacturer has installed;
• Display clearly, through a graphical interface, the user settings that always load each time you turn on your modem;
• Allow you to modify, store and save setting files for use with various telecommunications software such as First Class, NovaTerm, and Telefinder that are optimized for your particular brand of modem;
• Automatically create settings with the use of various telecommunications software such as First Class, NovaTerm, and Telefinder that are optimized for your particular brand of modem.
PREREQUISITES:
In order to run Modem Shop you need:
• Macintosh Plus or better;
• System 7.0 or higher;
• Hayes-compatible modem.
Some manufacturers such as Telebit and USR Robotics use modem commands that deviate from the standard Hayes command set. In this version of Modem Shop, brands of modems that do not support the standard Hayes command set or which significantly deviate from it, will produce incorrect results. Future versions may support these specialized brands.
INSTRUCTIONS:
When you launch Modem Shop for the first time, all menu options are dimmed except the Preferences… (-P) option under the File menu. Modem Shop needs to know to which port your modem is connected. Select Preferences… from the File menu to choose the appropriate port. The Modem Shop Preferences Dialog will show you the configuration of the port you select. The common communications standard is:
• 8 Data Bits;
• No Parity;
• 1 Stop Bit.
You can change these settings, however, most modems and telecommunications software will produce errors with any other settings. The port speed reflects the highest speed that particular port can handle. You can set a lower value, however, higher speeds are not selectable. Choose the proper port from the list and hit the Set Port button or just press the <Return> or <Enter> key.
Once your port is properly configured and selected, the Modem menu becomes active. The Modem menu displays the various default settings installed in your modem. If there are no items available under the Modem menu, check to make sure that your modem is turned on and properly connected. If your modem is connected to the printer port, make sure Appletalk is not active.
You can view and inspect any factory default setting through a graphical interface to determine which setting is best suited for your environment. The last item under the Modem menu allows you to display the user options stored in your modem. This setting is installed each time you turn your modem on, overriding all factory default settings.
If you are familiar with the options your modem offers, you can change the settings by selecting the appropriate check boxes, radio buttons and popup menu choices to set your modem to your liking. When you are through, you have four options:
• Cancel ( – period)
If you hit the Cancel button, the <Command – Period> keys or the <Escape> key, nothing will change and the dialog box will be dismissed.
• Store (-S)
If you hit the Store button, the <Return> or <Enter> keys or select Store from the File menu, the settings will be stored in your modem. These settings will automatically load each time your modem is turned on, overriding all factory default settings.
• Export (-E)
If you choose Export from the File menu while a Modem Settings Dialog Box is active, you can save those settings to the any telecommunications application that is currently installed on your Macintosh, and, which Modem Shop supports. Select an application from the popup menu, give the file a name if you want, and choose export. Modem Shop will display the appropriate directory in which the setting files should be saved based on the application you choose from the popup menu. When the save is complete, Modem Shop will either instruct you what to do next, or inform you if any errors occurred.
• Cut (-X), Copy (-C), or Paste (-V)
When you select Cut or Copy from the Edit menu while a Modem Settings Dialog Box is active, an optimized modem settings file will be placed on the clipboard. If you have telecommunications software not supported by this version of Modem Shop, you can launch your telecommunication program and paste the settings Modem Shop generates into the appropriate place. To discover where these settings should be pasted, check the documentation that came with your telecommunications software.
You can also Cut or Copy a modem initialization string from a telecommunications program or from Modem Shop itself and Paste it into a Modem Settings Dialog Box. If the string is compatible with the Hayes AT command set, the Dialog Box will reflect the values of the initialization string.
If you have no telecommunications software that is compatible with Modem Shop’s export options, the Export Panel will be displayed allowing you to export these custom settings to the Macintosh clipboard. The clipboard allows you to paste the string into any telecommunications software.
If you are not familiar with modem settings and modem initialization strings, Modem Shop can recommend and automatically create standard default files for many of the various telecommunications software. These settings are optimized for your particular brand of modem. Select the Export option from the File menu. This brings up Modem Shop’s Export Panel. If you have any telecommunications software installed on your Macintosh that Modem Shop can create settings files for, their icons will appear in this Panel. These icons act as buttons that you click with your mouse. After you click the button for which you want settings files, a file is generated. If all goes well, Modem Shop notifies you what to do next.
If you have no telecommunications software that is compatible with Modem Shop’s export options, you will see a single, lone option to export an optimized modem initialization string to the clipboard. This option allows you to paste the string into any telecommunications software.
Currently, Modem Shop directly supports the following telecommunications software:
• First Class;
• Telefinder/User;
• Telefinder Pro;
• NovaTerm
You can expect future versions of Modem Shop to support other software not listed above.
Please send questions, comments, bug reports, or any other suggestions to:
