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USE_ALAD.DOC
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===========================================================================
USE_ALAD.DOC
===========================================================================
------------- There are so many ways to implement Aladdin that it can seem
INTRODUCTION overwhelming at first. Since the manual covers complete
usage quite thoroughly, this exercise attempts to give a new
user the "down and dirty" operation of Aladdin for Roundtable
(RT) messages and Software Library (SL) files.
It is assumed that you've already configured Aladdin, and
successfully logged on already (and maybe even have read the
manual <g>). If you've done all that and still are perplexed
by Aladdin usage, this file is for you! Read on.
------------- The 3/92 revision of the PCAladdin manual can be found in the
BEFORE WE PCAladdin Software Library (as noted in STARTING.DOC), or can
GET INTO IT be ordered directly from GEnie in hardcopy.
Especially useful in configuring and using Aladdin, is the
F1-HELP key. When in doubt, press F1 at any location within
Aladdin for topical assistance.
You may find that reading this AFTER you've investigated the
various menus in PCAladdin will help make more sense of this
walk-through.
===========================================================================
SET UP A ROUNDTABLE CONFIGURATION.
===========================================================================
------------- Skip to "FOR THIS PRACTICE SESSION" below if you already have
PREPARATION a Roundtable configured that you wish to use.
From the main menu, press F6,A to add a RT.
Press F6,E to edit or check a current RT configuration.
When done, use ESC to save configuration entries.
------------- Aladdin will only work successfully with RT sections on GEnie.
SELECTING Sections such as the Mall should be accessed with the Index
CORRECT PAGE and manually interacted with.
NUMBERS
WHEN SEARCHING FOR ROUNDTABLE PAGE NUMBERS in the Product
Index, make sure that you are actually choosing a RoundTable;
if it doesn't say RT or RoundTable specifically, you probably
will have trouble (beware of plurals - RTs & RoundTables).
^ ^
------------- Enter the number of the RT you wish to add. Aladdin will
PAGE NUMBER automatically enter the RT name in the next field, assuming
FIELD it's in the GENIE.LST file that came with Aladdin. All the RT
pages are listed in GENIE.LST, and can be referenced with
Aladdin [use F3,I from main menu].
------------- If this doesn't appear automatically, you have either entered
ROUNDTABLE the wrong number in the above field, or it is not listed. If
NAME FIELD the RT is not listed in the index, but you know it DOES
exist, you should update the index (F3, I, U)
------------- Make sure you have your RT configured for "CD" in this field.
AUTO PASS 1 This means that every time you choose AUTO PASS 1 from the
OPTIONS FIELD MAIN or ROUNDTABLE menu, Aladdin will go online and check for
new messages and files since you were last online.
(Later on, if you wish to avoid the charges assumed with
accessing GEnie Software Libraries, you can omit the "D"
from this field)
------------- For the sake of this walk-through, make sure that the days on
AUTO PASS 1 the RT you wish to do the walk-through with is set for every
DAYS FIELD day "SuMTuWThFSa".
------------- If the RoundTable name is filled in, then when you enter this
RT WORK field, there will be a work file name already entered for you.
FILE FIELD There won't be a file name extension assigned, as Aladdin
does this itself for the different types of work files used.
------------- If you have other RTs already set up, for the moment change
FOR THIS the AUTO PASS 1 DAYS field for the other RTs so that they
PRACTICE will not include today's day. This is most easily done by
SESSION pressing the space bar while in this field. We just want to
ONLY do this walk-through with ONE RT (for simplicity).
===========================================================================
STEP I - GETTING NEW MESSAGES AND FILE DESCRIPTIONS
===========================================================================
------------- Make sure you are at the main menu (pressing ESC several times
GO ONLINE will get you there from anywhere in Aladdin).
WITH
AUTO PASS 1 Now press the number 1. Aladdin will log on, get you to your
RT, and a listing of categories & topics will scroll by,
followed by a listing of files in the library. When Aladdin
is done, you'll be logged off and returned to the main menu.
------------- In general, chevrons will mark RT operations or actions that
AUTO PASS 1 are pending. The >> chevron indicates that you have some
COMPLETED operations to take care of from the Pass 1. The << chevron
will appear if there's something waiting to go out. A <->
mark will appear if you have both incoming and outgoing
operations pending.
------------- Press the letter of the RT that has the >> chevron to get to
CHOOSING the RT BBS menu. On this screen, the M-MARK TOPICS FOUND WITH
MESSAGES TO C option should have a chevron, indicating that you have to
RETRIEVE choose to ignore or read some messages. Press M to see the
list of new messages.
An explanation of the options on the bottom of the screen can
be obtained with the F1 Help key. So, you press K to Keep a
message (don't do anything), I to ignore, N to read new
messages, etc.
As you enter each letter choice, the cursor will jump to the
next topic until you reach the end (Notice the MSGS column,
which tell you how many messages are new to that topic). For
this example, mark at least one topic to read <N>ew messages
or to read the <L>ast message.
When finished, press ESC to return to the RT BBS menu. If
you've chosen any option other than KEEP while viewing the new
topic headers, a chevron will be next to O-PERFORM PENDING
OPERATIONS. A diamond will indicate the type of pending
operation below this heading in the menu - in this case it's
DOWNLOAD MARKED TOPICS.
------------- When at the RT BBS menu press the down arrow key to get to
CHECKING ON the Software Library menu (SL). If there is no chevron marking
FILES IN M-CHOOSE FILES TO DOWNLOAD OR BROWSE, then simply there were
LIBRARY no new files to capture for our list - then press J-CHOOSE
FROM MAIN FILE LIST. If a chevron is there, however, press M
to display the new file list.
Working with this list is similar to the way you mark messages
to be read. The most common options used here (again, further
explained with F1-Help) are Browsing a long description,
Downloading, or doing nothing (KEEP). For our example, you
are asked to choose Browse for one file.
Press ESC when done. You are now returned to the SL menu.
Notice now that there is another diamond under the O-PERFORM
PENDING OPERATIONS heading, next to DOWNLOAD/BROWSE MARKED
FILES.
===========================================================================
STEP II - PERFORM PENDING ACTIONS.
===========================================================================
------------- Notice at the main menu that the RT has an chevron indicating
GO ONLINE an outgoing pending operation << .
WITH
AUTO PASS 2 Press "2" to perform an Auto Pass 2. Aladdin will go online,
get the new messages marked, browse that file you marked, and
go offline leaving you at the main menu again.
------------- You will see a chevron >> at the RT indicating that something
READING needs to be tended to. Press the letter of that RT. If you're
RETRIEVED left at the SL menu, press the up arrow to get back to the
MESSAGES BB Section menu.
First, check the new messages captured by pressing R in the
BBS menu. Use the right/left arrow keys to page through the
messages. If a message is longer than the screen, the
up/down arrow keys will scroll the message so you can read all
of it.
------------- If you decide to reply to a message displayed, simply press R.
REPLYING TO You'll be put into the message reply editing screen. The top
RETRIEVED of the screen will display the first few lines of the message
MESSAGES you are replying to, and a box in the center of the screen is
your editing screen. You can refer to the original message by
scrolling it up/down with the F5/F6 keys respectively. F1
will bring up an Editor Help Screen if you need.
Type in your reply. When done, ESC will save your message and
you can continue reading the rest of the messages downloaded.
When finished reading these messages, ESC will put you back in
the RT BBS menu.
------------- Press the down arrow to get to the SL. The
CHECKING THE M-DOWNLOAD/BROWSE MARKED FILES will be marked with the
LONG FILE chevron. Press M, and you'll be shown the long description of
DESCRIPTION the file you marked previously.
From here, you can decide to download it, save the description
for future reference, or just do nothing. AGAIN, F1 Help will
give further assistance.
------------- From here press ESC until you are back at the main menu. If
UPLOAD REPLY you have pending operations to take care of (did you reply to
AND / OR a message or choose to download that file?), press "2" to go
DOWNLOAD FILE back online and Aladdin will do it all for you. When Aladdin
is finished, it will sign off for you as usual. If you've
taken care of all pending operations, no chevrons will appear
at the main menu. You are all done!
===========================================================================
CLOSING.
===========================================================================
------------- Still here? Great! This is a typical session for one
AUTO PASS Roundtable. It takes three separate logons for GEnie to
SESSION complete.
COMPLETED
This may seem tedious, but it is really quite simple and it
can even save you money! All the time you've spent marking,
reading, and replying has been while you've been offline, free
of GEnie and telephone charges.
Additionally, this method makes participation in several
RoundTables possible in one Aladdin session.
------------- PCAladdin can access RoundTable areas that you're interested
CONSULT THE in in other varying ways, but I hope this has helped to
MANUAL introduce you to the ease of using the Auto Pass Options.
------------- If you changed the AUTO PASS 1 DAYS configuration in any RTs
REMINDERS for this walk-through, change them back now.
"D" in an AUTO PASS 1 OPTION field of a RT setup will
automatically check for new files upon any AUTO PASS 1 you
perform - FYI.
You can get further assistance from the PCAladdin Support
RoundTable BB, on p.110 (type M110;1 if manually navigating
GEnie)
------------- Me: BOB.TULLIS [...Bob]
CREDITS Inspiration: R.GROSS6 [Bob2]
Nudge to complete this: D.KOZINN [David]
Machete Guidance: J.JIMENEZ [Juan]
Next Editor: HOMCHICK [Paul]
Latest Revision: NADINE.K [Aladdin Lass]
Thanks to: Aladdin$, Aladdin beta testers,
PC Aladdin, RTC Help team, and
Aladdin Users-all. Oh yes - GEnie!
Sat. May 29, 1993