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┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Give It A Try! │
│ │
│ Telix v 3.21 Telecommunications Program │
│ │
│ Shareware Program Review │
│ & Mini-Quick Start Manual │
│ │
│ by Keith Rauch │
│ Jefferson City, Tennessee │
│ (c) 1993, Keith Rauch. All rights reserved. │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Here's an overview of Telix, version 3.21, a classic shareware
telecommunications program that has been recently updated. If
you're like me, and hate to read the User's Manual, this article
was written especially for you. It will walk you through the
installation, configuration and basic operation of Telix.
Truly a benchmark program, Telix has long been the standard by
which other telecommunication programs are measured. This
latest version has some interesting new features, so come on and
give it a try!
INTRODUCTION
Before we get started, let me explain my prejudices about how
any program should treat me, a new user. I'll admit it -- I'm
lazy and impatient. I HATE to have to pull out the user manual
to install, configure or run a program. I demand a clean,
intuitive, menu-driven interface and context-sensitive on-line
help.
I don't mind a little trial and error as I explore a new program
and it's features. What I don't like is that "left out of the
loop" feeling that a program can give you if it relies on
cryptic keyboard commands that are explained only in the manual.
If I can't master the basic features of a program fairly quickly
from the menus and with on-line help from the program itself,
I'll move on to a competing program that treats me like the
valuable customer that I am.
Also (for what it's worth) I don't like icons and I don't like
to use a mouse. I like to keep both hands on the keyboard when I
type, so for me a mouse is a distraction. When I'm writing (my
main use for the computer) I want to think about my words, not
how to make the computer work. Yes, I have Windows (not by
choice, it came installed on my new 486SX) and I use it some
(best solitaire game I've seen). But, to me, Windows is little
more than a cute clown suit for DOS.
Now, to the business at hand.
OVERVIEW
Telix allows your modem-equipped computer to communicate with
other computers through the telephone system. Business and
personal users alike commonly transfer electronic mail, data and
program files in this fashion. The most common connection made
by home computer users is with computer-based bulletin board
systems (BBS for short).
Telix has been around since the days of 300 baud modems and dual
360K floppy disk drives -- maybe even longer. I have used
version 3.12 for several years and while it has served me well,
I've always wished for a more user-friendly interface. Version
3.21 is the first major update since Telix became the property
of deltaComm Development. I was anxious to see if the new owners
had made any significant changes.
I was hoping that deltaComm had redesigned the Telix user
interface. No such luck. I'd like to see a future version come
equipped with a menu bar, pull-down menus, pop-up windows,
dialog boxes -- all the stuff that makes a good program (like
Odyssey, a competing telecommunications program) fun and easy to
use. Here's how a future Telix menu system might look:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Dialing On-Line Configure Shell Misc Toggles│
└┬──────────┬───────────┬─────────────┬──────────┬──────────┬────────┤
│Directory │ Send Files│ Terminal │ DOS Comm │ Clear │ Status │
│Redial │ Rec Files │ Comm Param │ DOS Shell│ Image │ Doorway│
│Run Script│ Capture │ Screen │ Editor │ Translate│ Printer│
└──────────┤ Hang-Up │ General ├──────────┤ Keys │ Add LF │
│ Local Echo│ Modem │ │ Macros │ Log │
│ Send Break│ Dialing │ └──────────┤ Chat │
└───────────┤ Files/Paths │ └────────┘
│ ASCII Trans │
│ Kermit Trans│
│ Protocols │
│ Save │
└─────────────┘
I ran out of space here, but I would also put a "Help" selection
on the menu bar and designate [F1] as the "Help" key, where
on-line, context-sensitive instructions are just a keystroke
away. Anyway, enough with the pipe dreams. Let's take a test
drive and see how the new Telix handles.
INSTALLATION/CONFIGURATION
There is no installation procedure to speak of. Simply copy all
the program files into the subdirectory of your choice.
Telix has a setup program that will configure the program to
optimize its performance with your modem. To run the
configuration program, from the DOS prompt type:
"MODEMCFG" then press [ENTER]
You will be shown a list of the settings for the modem itself,
including any switch settings if known. When asked if you wish
to configure your modem, answer by pressing the 'Y' key.
MODEMCFG will ask you for your COMM port as well. This is
usually set to COMM 1, but if that doesn't work, you'll have to
experiment by rerunning the program and trying the other COMM
ports listed on the screen.
If all goes well a successful configuration message will be
shown. If there is a problem, insure the proper comm port is
specified and try again. If the problem persists, contact
deltaComm.
At first I did not configure Telix to match my modem and I
didn't have any problems operating the program. Later, I ran
MODEMCFG.EXE and, to tell you the truth, I didn't see a
significant improvement in Telix's performance. My advice to a
new user: try Telix before running the modem configuration
program. If it works satisfactorily with your modem, skip the
modem configuration until you're ready to register and become a
full-time Telix user.
At this point you are ready to run the Telix program. Type
"TELIX" then press [ENTER]
You will be greeted by a largely blank screen with a few cryptic
characters on the bottom line. You are now in the Terminal Mode.
The next step -- configure the program to suit your system and
your tastes. To view the main menu, press [Alt]+[Z]. Next,
highlight "cOnfigure Telix" or press [Alt]+[O].
Telix has many features which can be customized. This includes
screen colors, communications parameters, filenames, paths and
many other items. Telix stores the default values for these
parameters in a file called TELIX.CNF, the configuration file.
It automatically reads this file on starting up. The first time
you use Telix, this file is created for you with some standard
default values.
The Telix Configuration Menu (press [Alt]+[O]) allows you to
change the default settings. Here's what it looks like:
╒═╡ Configure Telix ╞════════════╕
│ │
│ Change which default settings? │
│ │
│ Screen and color │
│ Terminal Options │
│ General settings │
│ Modem and dialing │
│ Filenames and paths │
│ ASCII transfers │
│ Protocol options │
│ Kermit transfers │
│ Comm port setup │
│ Write changes to disk │
│ Exit │
│ │
╘════════════════════════════════╛
Go through each selection on the menu and make the necessary
changes. Anything you're not sure about probably doesn't need to
be changed. When finished, select "Write changes to disk." This
modifies the TELIX.CNF file. Let's look at some of the major
configuration options.
Screen color configuration is a trial and error operation with
most programs, including Telix. All you can do is make the
changes that you think you want, then exit the configuration
menu and see how the screen looks. Your first few changes will
probably make it look worse, not better, so go back to the
configuration menu and repeat the process until you get
something that you like.
Most bulletin boards work well with the ANSI terminal option. I
suggest you start with that setting. If you log on to a
commercial system like Compuserve, or if you have occasion to
connect with a mainframe system, the ANSI option may produce
garbage all over the screen. If this happens, go back to the
Terminal Options menu and try another setting.
The Filename and Paths option tells Telix to store the files
that you will download and where it will find the files that you
want to upload when you contact another computer. Generally, it
is a good idea to keep the Telix program files in a subdirectory
separated from your data files. The program will run faster and
it will eliminate the risk of accidentally deleting one or more
of the program files. Here's how I store my data and program
files:
┌───────┐
┌─┤PROGRAM│ Program files stored here
┌──────┐ │ └───────┘
┌─ │TELIX ├────┤
│ └──────┘ │ ┌───────┐
│ Main └─┤FILES │ Data files stored here
└─ Subdirectory └───────┘
With this set up both the upload and the download paths will be
the same:
C:\TELIX\FILES\
PROTOCOL
Data transmission protocol is one of the veiled mysteries of
telecommunications. Luckily, you don't need to understand it to
use it. Think of protocol as a language that computers use to
exchange data and check for transmission errors. Both computers
must use the same protocol during a data transmission.
You can use any of the choices listed on the menu, as long as
the computer you connect with on the phone line is using the
same protocol. My understanding is that Zmodem, while not the
fastest data transmission protocol, is the most reliable for
detecting and correcting transmission errors. I have used Zmodem
to transmit and receive millions of error-free data bytes, so I
can recommend it on the basis of my own experience.
I have come across only one or two bulletin boards in the past
year that don't support Zmodem. If this happens to you, Ymodem
is a good second choice. Xmodem is not considered to be as
reliable as Zmodem or Ymodem at detecting errors.
To transmit a straight ASCII character file (e.g., an
uncompressed text file), you must use the ASCII transfer
protocol. This is the slowest and least reliable data
transmission method. If you plan to upload a lot of data to
another computer, you should look into PKZip, LHarc or other
common data compression program. But then, that is a subject for
whole 'nother article.
You can change Telix's configuration at any time and the new
settings become effective immediately. This is a significant
convenience, because with some programs it is necessary to exit
and then reload the program before the new configuration
becomes effective.
DIALING
Now you are ready to dial the modem (assuming that you've
connected the modem to your phone line) and place a call to
another computer. The easiest way to call other computers is to
start building a dialing directory. This directory is stored in
a file named TELIX.FON and is accessed by pressing [Alt]+[D].
When the dialing directory appears, press [E] for edit. A window
will appear where you can enter all the data for a particular
BBS (or other modem-equipped computer).
For the purpose of illustration, let's start building your
dialing directory with everybody's favorite bulletin board,
Dataworld BBS, in Knoxville, Tennessee []. First press
[Alt]+[D] to bring up the dialing directory. A small window
appears, asking you to key in entry to dial, or to press Return
to see the dialing directory. For now just press [ENTER]. The
first window is a quick way to dial your most commonly called
numbers. Once you have pressed [ENTER] the dialing directory
will appear.
The dialing directory is a large window showing the first 15 of
1000 possible entries. On the bottom of the screen is a menu of
options:
Dial List Toggle Find Manual
Redial Add Edit Clear Unmark Other
At this point the directory is probably empty and the cursor is
on line one. Next press [E], which lets us edit line one. A
window appears, where we can enter data about Dataworld BBS. The
items that appear in the Edit window are listed below.
Name -- Enter "Dataworld BBS." Of course you can enter the name
of any remote service, such as Compuserve, GEnie, Telix Software
Support BBS, etc.
Number -- the phone number for Dataworld is 615-675-3282.
Line Format -- The communication parameters (such as baud rate,
parity, etc.) needed to talk to the computer at this phone number.
Script -- A script file may be linked to each entry in the
dialing directory. When Telix connects to a BBS, the script file
listed in this column is automatically run. It may, for example,
automatically log-on to the system, entering your name and
password as needed. Using script files ensures convenience,
speed and accuracy. Writing one, however, is a rather involved
process. For further details refer to the file SALT.DOC,
included with the Telix program files.
LastCall -- Shows the date of the last successful call you made
to this phone number.
Total -- Shows the total number of successful calls you've made
to this number.
Terminal -- Enter the type of terminal that Telix should start
emulating when a connection has been made to this number.
Protocol -- Enter the first letter of the protocol which should
be set as the default if a connection is made to this number.
Echo -- Indicate whether local echo should be on or off when a
connection is reached with this number. In most cases this
should be left off.
Add Line Feeds -- This controls whether the Add Line Feeds
setting should be on or off when a connection is made with
this number. In most cases this should be left off.
Strip High Bit -- Indicate whether Telix should strip the high
(most significant) bit of incoming characters in terminal mode.
In most cases this, too, should be left off.
Backspace Destructive (BD) -- Indicates whether tapping the
backspace key should erase the character backspaced over). In
most cases this should be left on.
Backspace Key Value (BK) -- Determines what value the Backspace
key sends, either Backspace, or Delete. In most cases this
should be set to "Backspace."
Dialing Prefix Number (DP) -- This advanced setting is used to
tell Telix what Dialing Prefix to use when dialing this entry.
One use for it is to turn on or off MNP (error correcting)
support in modems, to avoid delays when the number called does
not support it anyway.
Password -- This field holds a password for the remote service
represented by this entry. The password may then be used by a
script file to automatically perform a log-on operation. Please
note that this field is not encrypted, so if security is a
problem, do not store your passwords in the dialing directory!
WHAT'S NEW
I have used Telix v 3.21 for about two weeks, which amounts to
about ten sessions with my favorite local BBS. These sessions
have included file transfers (both uploads and downloads), mail
packet transfers and on-line chats with the sysop (system
operator).
After using v 3.21, I've come to the conclusion that there have
that there have been only a few noticeable changes made since v
3.12 (circa 1989). The main improvements I can see are in the
file transfer area:
1. A handy bar graph has been added that indicates visually
how close a file transfer is to completion.
2. File uploads can be selected from a directory listing,
rather than typed in manually.
SPECIAL FEATURES
CAPTURE FILE
At any time during an on-line session with a BBS or other remote
service, you can "capture" every character that appears on the
screen by pressing [ALT]+[L]. This creates an ASCII file called
"TELIX.CAP" unless you specify another name. This creates a
record of your on-line session that you can review at your
leisure.
I have used the capture file feature to "download" data that is
not normally available for download. Here's what I mean: I
subscribe to National Videotext, a commercial service similar to
Compuserve. There, I can view the American On-Line Encyclopedia,
which has the same basic information as any encyclopedia, but
without illustrations.
Unfortunately, this service offers no means of downloading data
files excerpted from the encyclopedia. With Telix's [ALT]+[L]
feature, this is but a minor problem. I can capture every
article that I scan on-line, then load them into my word
processor for editing.
To test this feature, I scanned and captured a number of
encyclopedia entries on the subject of world agriculture. Then
I loaded the resulting TELIX.CAP file into my word processor.
After about an hour of editing I was able to create a concise
3,000 word report on world agriculture, complete with
bibliography. Of course, I would never advocate this method as a
short cut for producing a really slick high school term paper,
but maybe in a pinch ...
EASE OF USE
Telix is not flashy. It does everything a telecommunications
program should, and it works flawlessly, but without a lot of
bells and whistles. Unfortunately, it's almost blank work screen
can leave a new user confused and not knowing how to proceed.
It does, however, provide the one clue that you'll need to get
started -- [Alt]+[Z].
Telix, like several other shareware telecommunications programs
that I have tried, is not intuitively easy to use. That's why I
propose a future version adopt menus and on-line help. It takes
a while to become familiar with the menu choices that pop-up
with [Alt]+[Z]. When you're racing the clock to save usage fees
or long distance phone charges, reconfiguring even the simplest
setting can be nerve wracking.
TIPS
Here are a few things I have found that may make your life
on-line a little easier.
DISABLE CALL-WAITING
If you have teenagers in your household, you probably have
call-waiting installed on your phone line. If you haven't
figured out how to disable it when you go on-line then you know
what kind of havoc it plays with your modem connection. With
Telix there is a fairly simple solution:
1. Press [ALT]+[D] to enter the dialing directory.
2. Select "Other" from the menu choices that appear.
3. Select "Edit_LD" from the sub-menu that appears. "LD" is
the abbreviation for "Long Distance" code.
4. Select "Revise LD Code." A list of undefined codes will
appear. The first code is "!"
5. Highlight the "!" then define that code to disable
call-waiting. In my case this is "*70,".
On the South Central Bell system "*70" is the code to disable
call-waiting. The comma (",") at the end tells Telix to pause
one second before proceeding to dial the phone number. *70 will
probably work on most Bell systems. If it doesn't, you'll have
to call your phone company and get the code.
Now that you've defined "!" as the LD code to disable call
waiting, go back and edit each phone number in your dialing
directory. By putting "!" in front of each phone number (for
example, !615-675-3282) call waiting will be disabled every time
you dial Dataworld BBS.
PASSWORDS
If you've been on-line for a while, you probably have your own
password preferences and you can skip this. But, if you are
venturing out for the first time, let me offer you some hints.
* Use a password that you will always remember. I use my
dog's name. Your wedding day (for example, 31MAY75) might
be another good one.
* Don't use a password that a clever intruder might figure
out easily. Don't use your name, for gawd's sake. Or your
Social Security Number, for that matter. If you are
logging on at work, use a password that won't appear in
your personnel file.
* Use the same password for all your remote services. I
might get an argument from some quarters on this, but
what's the sense in having to keep a list of passwords
hidden in your desk for someone to find? If you suspect
someone has your password, call each service and change
them all to something else.
SCRIPT FILES
This is neither the time or place to discuss script files in
detail (besides, I know almost nothing about them). Let's just
say that script files use a fairly simple programming language
called SALT to create macros. These macros are primarily used to
automate the BBS log-on procedure.
It may be possible, however, to use script files to your
advantage without getting involved in SALT programming. The
Telix program package contains sample script files (*.SLT) for
several common BBS systems -- PCBoard, TBBS, Telix Host,
QuickBBS and Opus.
To use them all you have to do is load the *.SLT file into your
word processor, fill in some blanks (name, choice of graphics,
etc.) then save the *.SLT file (as a straight ASCII file). Give
it a new name with the .SLT suffix so you don't destroy the
sample file. Next you have to compile it and create a *.SLC
file. Do this by running the program named CS.EXE. Finally, go
back and edit the dialing directory and enter the name of the
.SLC file in the appropriate blank.
If this isn't enough to get you going, refer to the SALT.DOC
file for more information. Or you may just want to forget the
whole thing.
WHERE TO GET IT
You can order a registered copy of Telix from:
deltaComm Development
P.O. Box 1185
Cary, NC 27512 USA
Send US$41.00 ($39 + $2 shipping) or CDN$49.00 ($47 + $2
shipping) check or money order. Your order will undoubtedly be
processed faster if you send a money order. deltaComm will
ship you the latest version of Telix. You can also order by
phone using your Visa or MasterCard. Call:
1-800-TLX-8000
If you want to give Telix v 3.21 a try before you buy, I suggest
you download the evaluation program from your local bulletin
board, or Compuserve, Prodigy, etc. Alternately, you can order
the evaluation program (includes program and manual on disk, but
not registration) directly from deltaComm. Send US$12.00 ($10 +
$2 shipping) or CDN$14.00 ($12 + $2 shipping) check or money
order.
If you prefer, you can order the same evaluation program by
sending check or money order (preferred) to:
Freelance Associates
P.O. Box 452
New Market, TN 37820
Send US$8.00/CDN$10.00 for the PKZip compressed version (ask for
program # TC004Z) or US$16.00/CDN$19.00 for the uncompressed
version (ask for program # TC004). Prices include shipping and
handling. Please specify whether you want 5.25"DD (360K) or
5.25"HD (1.2 M) diskettes.
REFERENCES
Much of the information that appears in this article was
distilled from the Telix Reference Manual, a text file named
TELIX.DOC, that is included in the Telix program package.