Power-Programmierung/CD1.mdf/magazine/pcpursui/grabpc/grabpcp.doc

Text File | 1988-12-28 | 17KB | 427 lines

                             Grab PcP v1.10
                            ================

                             Copyright 1988


              A utility for use with communications software.


                             Greg Paul

               care of:    Aragorn Business Systems
                           20833 Southfield Rd, Ste. 240
                           Southfield, Michigan  48075





1.0   What is Grab PcP?

      Grab PcP is a TSR (terminate and stay resident) utility for the
  IBM PC and close compatibles.  It is designed to be used in conjunction
  with your favorite communications package such as Procomm+, Telix,
  QModem-SST, or GT Powercomm, though it can be used with just about
  any program you can run on your computer.

      Grab PcP is basically a "number grabber and checker".  You load the
  program once and then are able to call it up while using any other
  application on your computer (or even while sitting in DOS).  Grab PcP
  will scan your screen for telephone numbers, display whether or not they
  are reachable through PcPursuit, display the city mnemonic needed with
  PcPursuit, and allow you to store telephone numbers in a standard text
  file which can then be accessed by numerous programs.

      Note:  This program is designed for use with Telenet's PcPursuit
  service, however PcP is not required.  If you wish to use this program
  without the mnemonic information for PcPursuit I suggest you find a
  copy of the versions called "Grab" (no extension) or "Grab313" (a special
  version designed for the 313 area code--contains information on local
  calls also) both of which are smaller and don't include the PcPursuit
  exchange information.  The latest revisions can be found on any of the
  BBS's listed later in this file.



1.1   Why use Grab PcP?

      With Grab Pcp you'll never need to write down another phone number
  again.  With the touch of as few as two or three keys, Grab PcP can
  insure you'll never misplace another 'new BBS number'.
      You'll also never need to look up area codes, coverage lists, or
  any of the other details needed for PcPursuit.  The program will
  determine if a particular phone number can be reached through PcPursuit
  (using PcP's released list of supported exchanges), and will also tell
  you if any special dialing commands are needed to reach it (i.e. dialing
  "1-815" first to reach the 815 area code from Chicago).



1.2   Additions to Grab PcP v1.10

       - Supports default area code which is used both to determine if a
          number is reachable through PcPursuit and also to aid in saving
          numbers.

       - Text file now contains PcP mnemonic codes.

       - Default area code switchable online.

       - Cursor mode changes for better exiting.

       - Program now skips to next number on screen after saving (if it
          exists, otherwise the program exits).

       - Increased number format checking.

       - Only 1k total change in memory usage.



1.3   Features of Grab PcP v1.00

       - Fully resident program.  Allows you to run alongside any other
          applications.

       - Uses only 27k of standard memory.

       - Specified target file.  Write numbers to a text file located in
          any path.

       - Full command-line initialization, so you can invoke Grab PcP from
          a batch file while booting your system or even loading your term
          program.

       - Recognizes over a dozen telephone number formats.

       - Contains the complete PcPursuit coverage area codes and prefixes.
          Including the most recent addition, Sacramento, CA.

       - Notifies you if a phone number is in an area code other than the
          main one supported in each PcPursuit city.

       - Recognizes 7 digit phone numbers and requests an area code if
          you wish to save them.

       - Allows you to enter your own text description for a phone number,
          or can grab information off the screen when writing to a file.

       - Can be removed from memory with one simple command.



1.4   Files of Grab PcP (contained in the archive GRABPCP.ARC)

       - GRABPCP.EXE      <-- Main Grab PcP program.
       - GRABPCP.DAT      <-- PcPursuit coverage data for Grab PcP
       - GRABPCP.DOC      <-- This file.
       - UPDATE.TXT       <-- List of changes to Grab PcP v1.10



1.4   Distribution

      Grab PcP is intended to be distributed in it's archived form ONLY.
  It may not be distributed as part of any other software or hardware
  package unless specific permission has been granted by the author,
  Greg Paul.



2.0   ShareWare

      Grab PcP is distributed under the ShareWare concept and is
  copyrighted to protect the many hours of work the author has put into
  it.  As ShareWare you are allowed to freely distribute it under the
  following conditions:

       - It must be distributed in the archived form and cannot be arced
          with any other software.

       - No renumeration may be accepted for it beyond the cost of a
          maximum $1.00 "copying fee."



2.1   Registration

      You are not required to register your copy of Grab PcP although I
  do encourage you to.  I have distributed this program as ShareWare
  because I believe, like many, that "a program worth using is a program
  worth paying for."  You are free to use the program to any extent you
  so desire, subject only to the distribution regulations.
      If you find the program worthwhile, I request that you send a
  donation of $10 to

               Greg Paul

   care of:    Aragorn Business Systems
               20833 Southfield Rd, Ste. 240
               Southfield, Michigan  48075

      The money will go to help a working college student who has another
  year remaining.  It will also help to insure that I can continue to
  provide updates with the changing PcPursuit coverage.



2.2   Revisions and Updates

      Regular updates will be made to this program as the PcPursuit service
  changes.  Any users making a donation of $15 or more will be mailed a
  free update with the next major revision/addition of PcPursuit.

      Writing a TSR program requires a delicate balance of features since
  the entire program is stored in memory.  I had ideas for several
  different options that I decided to leave out in the final version to
  keep the amount of memory used to a minimum.  If there's something you'd
  like to see in later versions of Grab PcP feel free to contact me at any
  of the locations listed later in the file.  All suggestions or comments
  will be responded to.  I will also respond to any letter sent to my
  mailing address which include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

      If at some point in the future there is still demand for the program
  and I am no longer able to devote the time to produce updates, fully
  documented copies of the source code will be turned over to the two or
  three highest donating users to be disposed of as they wish.



2.3   Notes on PcPable Determinations

      All of the information that Grab PcP uses to determine if a number
  can be reached through PcP has come straight from Telenet's PcPursuit
  documentation.  Any errors in Telenet's files will of course be present
  in this program.

      If you find any inconsistencies between this program and your
  experience with PcPursuit, I request that you notify me at any of the
  locations listed in the next section so I can see that it is corrected.

      Note:  Recently Telenet has been installing "call blocking" software
  in many of the PcPursuit cities.  It is possible that there will be
  numbers you can still reach through PcPursuit that are not officially
  supported or have somehow been missed when call-blocking software was
  installed.  It is also possible that there are cities which have not
  yet had the software installed and will receive it in the near future.



2.4   Availability

      If you have any questions, comments, problems, or suggestions relating
  to Grab PcP I can be reached at the following locations:

      @ PURSUIT   (I try to call frequently)

      Sietch Tabr          [phone]   (@ MIDET)   (my system)
      Downriver Download   [phone]   (@ MIDET)
      Sunset Limited BBS   [phone]   (@ TXHOU)
      Ariel Rose           [phone]



3.0   Running Grab PcP

      I suggest you either run Grab PcP from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or
  from a batch file calling up whatever communications program you use.
  To invoke Grab PcP, you must have GRABPCP.DAT located in the same
  directory you call GRABPCP.EXE from.

      Run GRABPCP.EXE using the following format:

   GRABPCP  filename  [Area Code]   or

   GRABPCP  drive:\path\filename  [Area Code]

      I suggest you use the second format, defining a full path for the
  file to be written to.  This path may be up to 60 character long.  If
  you specify only a filename, Grab PcP will write that file in whatever
  is the current DOS directory WHEN THE PROGRAM IS ACTIVATED FROM MEMORY.
  Meaning if you change directories after you invoke the program it will
  write a new text file in the directory you change to.

      The [Area Code] entry is a default setting.  When you come across
  a 7 digit phone number using GrabPcP, it will use this area code to
  determine if the number is Pursuitable.  If you save the number you will
  have the choice of using the default or entering a different area code.
  The default area code setting can be changed while the program is running
  with the command F1.

      This is the command line I use to run Grab PcP on my own system:

   GRABPCP  d:\qmodem\numbers  313



3.1   Using Grab PcP

      Once you have Grab PcP loaded you can "call it up" in the middle of
  just about any program.  To do so hold down the Control Key and Left Shift
  Key at the same time and press the A key (Cntrl-LeftShift-A).  The status
  bar for the program will come on at the bottom of the screen and the first
  telephone number located on the screen will be highlighted in white and
  red (if you have a color monitor, otherwise it will be in inverse).  If
  there are no numbers on the screen the program will inform you so and will
  wait for you to press a key to continue (there's a reason for this noted
  later).  If for some reason your computer is executing a process that it
  won't allow Grab PcP to interrupt (disk access for the most part) the
  program will beep once.

      If there is more than one number on the screen you can use your
  keypad to move from number to number.  The program will only detect one
  number per line on the screen due to the detection methods used.

      The PcPursuitability of a number will be displayed in the left end
  of the status bar on the bottom of the screen.  If a number is PcPable
  the mnemonic will be displayed in green along with any other notes.  A
  "NoPcP" message will be given in red if you cannot use PcPursuit to reach
  it.  The message "-----" in red means that the number on the screen does
  not have an area code and you have not set the default area code so the
  program cannot determine if it is Pursuitable.  Hitting <return> and
  entering an area code will cause this to change.  Hitting F1 and entering
  or editing the default area code will also cause this to change.

      After you save a number, Grab PcP will jump to the next number on the
  screen, or exit if there are no more numbers.



3.2   Saving Numbers to a Data File

      When you have a highlighted number on the screen you can use two
  different commands to store it--either <return> or F10:

  <return> -  This will prompt you for a maximum 59 character line of
     text that will be stored in the textfile whose name you specified
     when you first ran GRABPCP.EXE.  If the number has no area code you
     will be prompted to add one.  The only additional commands you may
     want to use while editing a text description are: 1) Control-Z, which
     deletes all the text to the right of the cursor, and 2) Control-X,
     which deletes the entire entry field and puts you at the begining to
     start again.


  F10 -  This is quicker than using <return> but you can't always use it.
     What it does is capture the whole line of text that the number is on,
     remove the number, delete any spaces to the left and right, then store
     it as the text description for the telephone number.  For example
     using F10 on:


"   313 - 837 - 3464       Sietch Tabr  1200/2400                         "

     would produce the following in your text file:

"313-837-3464 MIDET  Sietch Tabr  1200/2400"

     (which works really nice.  However:)

"Hey Everyone! call:    Sietch Tabr  313/837-3464                         "

     would produce:

"313-837-3464 MIDET  Hey Everyone! call:    Sietch Tabr"


      So you can see there are times you'll be able to use it and times when
  it's best to just enter your own comment line.  This routine will also
  prompt you for an area code if the number doesn't already have one.

      If a number is in an area code other than the main one in a particular
  PcP city then the PcP mnemonic will have a '*' appended to the end.  For
  example, area code 815 in ILCHI would get a ILCHI* in the text file.



3.3   Default Area Code setting

  F1  -  This command will change the default area code setting.  It can
     be used to set the initial default, although I recommend using the
     command line method to set this originally.  (see section 3.0 for the
     full command line parameters)

     If you are on PcPursuit, you may of course wish to change the default
  when you call a different area code.



3.4   Removing Grab PcP from Memory

      To remove Grab PcP from memory, simply hit Alternate-X (Alt-X) while
  the program is invoked.  WARNING:  If you have loaded other TSR programs
  AFTER Grab PcP you must remove them first before you can remove Grab PcP,
  otherwise your system will crash or do all sorts of unpredictable things.
  Also, you must be at the same level of DOS that you were at when you
  first loaded it.  For example, if you loaded Grab PcP and then ran your
  term program, you must first exit the term program (Not call up a DOS
  command line) and then remove Grab PcP from memory.  This is standard
  procedure for all TSR programs.

      Note: you can use the Alternate-X command while the "No numbers on
  screen" message is being displayed.



4.0   Running Grab PcP with other TSR programs

      I have yet to find another TSR program that won't work with Grab PcP,
  although you do have to be careful if you are running more than one.  If
  you want to be able to use Grab PcP while in other TSR programs you must
  load Grab PcP BEFORE the other TSR program.



4.1   SideKick (by Borland)

      I frequently run Grab PcP alongside SideKick and I thought I would
  mention the one odd difficulty with SideKick.  I always load Grab PcP
  before SideKick so I can use it to scan numbers in the notepad, but
  apparently SideKick uses a non-standard method to generate its cursor.
  The end result is that when you exit Grab PcP back down to SideKick the
  cursor will frequently be placed in the wrong location.  Hitting any key
  however will return it to its proper position in the SideKick notepad.
      At some point in the future I'll probably take the time to look into
  how SideKick stores its cursor location.  If anyone has any information
  on it I'd truly appreciate your forwarding it to me.



4.2   Disclaimer

      If something goes wrong with your hardware or software while using
  this program, I hereby free myself from any liability with this
  disclaimer.  As far as I know, this program is free of error.  Because
  of the nature of all TSR programs however, I cannot guarantee that this
  program will work with your software, or even your hardware if you should
  happen to have one of the less compatible machines.  If something does
  go wrong, please contact me anyway so I may attempt to fix the program or
  include unresolvable incompatibilities in the documentation for the next
  version.



5.0   Revision History

      1.00   -  Original release.

      1.01   -  Limited release.  Minor text file format changes.

      1.10   -  Text file format changes.  Default code added.  Cosmetic
                 changes.  Multiple numbers handled differently.  Increased
                 format checking.



6.0   Credits

      Grab PcP and Grab are copyrighted by Greg Paul, PC Pursuit and Telenet
  are registered trademarks of the Telenet Communications Corporation
  (a US Sprint Company), SideKick is a registered trademark of Borland
  International, and IBM is a registered trademark of International Business
  Machines Corp.