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The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2
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The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO
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comm
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ozcis3.zip
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OZCIS.REQ
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1991-12-13
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7KB
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139 lines
System requirements to use OzCIS
--------------------------------
The OzCIS distribution files are compressed using the LHA program, version
2.13 - you will need that version or later of LHA to decompress the
distribution files.
OzCIS is distributed as 2 files: OZCIS1.LZH and OZCIS2.LZH. You *must* have
both files in order for OzCIS to function. The contents of the distribution
files:
OZCIS1.LZH:
OZCIS.EXE - The main program executable
OZCIS.OV1 - The primary overlay
README.1ST - General info, PLEASE READ BEFORE USING! Includes "Quick
Start" info.
OZCIS.REQ - This file; details requirements for using the program.
OZCIS2.LZH:
OZCIS.OV2 - The secondary overlay
OZCIS.HLP - Help text database
HOSTS.DB - Intro hosts database
FORUMS.DB - Intro forums database
CVTADDR.EXE - Converts TAPCIS address book file to OzCIS format
SORTADDR.EXE - Sorts OzCIS address book alphabetically
OZLOG.EXE - Simple log stats display program
OZCIS.ICO - Windows 3.x Icon for OzCIS
The following are minimum hardware and software requirements in order to
run and use the OzCIS Navigator:
* A IBM AT-compatible computer (80286 processor, 10MHz or faster, or a
80386sx, 80386 or 80486 system) or IBM PS/2 MicroChannel(tm) computer
with a 286 or better processor, and at least 1Mb of memory. A minimum
of 485K of free memory must be available when OzCIS loads; 550K or more
is strongly recommended. While the program will run on XT-class
machines, use on XTs is not recommended and will not be supported.
* A hard disk with at least 1.5Mb free. This is a bare minimum; if you
maintain a large number of forums you will need more. Sorry, floppy
disk systems are *not* supported.
* If a mouse is used, the driver must be of recent enough vintage to
support the "Save State" and "Restore State" services. MS v. 6.0 or
later, Logitech 4.01 or later, etc.
* A serial port and modem. Ports 1 thru 4 are supported for AT-style
machines, and ports 1 thru 8 on PS/2s. The modem must be a fully Hayes
compatible model, including most high-speed modems such as US Robotics
HST/V.32/Dual Standard models or the Microcom MNP-series models. A
"direct-connect" option is available for those connecting thru modem
servers or pools, but no support for network comm servers is provided.
An error-correcting modem (MNP or V.42) is *strongly* recommended.
* A method of connecting to CompuServe that provides a full 8-bit data
path. OzCIS uses only 8/None/1 port parameters; the network you use to
connect to CompuServe must be capable of making such a connection.
The following points are recommended capabilities in order to use OzCIS to
its best abilities:
* A mouse is not required, but using one makes several things a bit
easier.
* You can use OzCIS under DesqView or Windows. In either case, you need
to define a PIF file for the program. In either environment, it is better
to run full-screen rather than in a window, though the program will work
fine when run in a window where enough processor power is available (in
other words, running the program in a window is not recommended on a
386sx-based machine or slow 386dx.)
* While DOS 3.1 or later will work, DOS 5.0 is highly recommended since it
gives you a good bit more memory to work in. The program has not been
thoroughly tested under alternative OS shells such as 4DOS, but
preliminary testing shows no conflicts.
* While any PC color video system will work for text or graphics in the
program, to take full advantage of the program's graphics capabilities a
SuperVGA system is recommended. If your SVGA card has an available VESA
driver, use it. OzCIS does not at this time support Herc Graphics
Workstation or other TIGA or Targa type cards other than in SVGA
emulation mode. The program supports UltraVision, and all high-res text
modes such as 132-column and/or 43/50-line modes.
* While not required, an error-correcting modem is highly recommended.
Line noise is the dread enemy of automated online processing; an error-
correcting modem eliminates most all potential problems in this respect.
Most CompuServe nodes support MNP level 4, while only some suplimental
carrier (TYMNET, TeleNet, etc.) nodes provide MNP. In order to use a
9600bps node your modem should be V.42bis compliant or MNP 4 compliant.
Caveats, warnings and known problem areas:
* Some laptops and recent desktop machines use special ASIC (Application-
Specific Integrated Circuit) chips for the serial port hardware rather
than the traditional NS8250-style UART chip. These ASICs have varying
levels of compatibility with the NS8250-style chips; some are known to
be real problem children, especially the ones used in the new Toshiba
"SXe" series machines (I've talked to several people who can't get *any*
of their comm software to work on these machines.) Great pains have
been taken to assure OzCIS works with as broad a range of hardware as
possible, however, I cannot promise it will function correctly when used
on this kind of hardware.
* "Pocket" modems, such as the Migent and PPI mini modems for laptops, use
the DTR line in the serial port as an "on/off" switch. These modems
frequently need some delay between initializing the port and actually
sending commands to the modem. OzCIS provides a configuration option
for this purpose.
* Some EMS managers tend to keep interrupts turned off for too long a
time while performing internal work, causing characters to be dropped at
the serial port and creating "Port overrun" errors. The faster your
port speed, the more likely this problem is to occur. While recent
changes to OzCIS have pretty much eliminated this problem, the chance
exists that it can still occur with old or brain-damaged EMS managers,
especially when such drivers are used with some disk caching software. If
you get port overrun errors, especially at 9600bps or above, try
uninstalling your EMS driver and repeating the test; if this cures the
problem you have one of these slow drivers and/or disk caches.
* While OzCIS supports DesqView 386 fully, DesqView for 286-based machines
can *only* be used with OzCIS running full-screen, or else "bleed thru"
will result. This is because of limitations in DV286's ability to
manage memory and processes on the lesser 286 processor. When
configuring you DV "PIF" file, make sure to set OzCIS' "Keyboard
conflict" setting to 4 or higher, otherwise bizzare keyboard behavior
will result.
Steve Sneed
TurboPower Software
CIS ID# 70007,3574