What is the NautilusCD Communications Link? How does it work?
The NautilusCD Link is an evolving communications facility created so you can communicate directly with the NautilusCD Team via modem.
Here's the idea:
As you browse through the NautilusCD Magazine, you'll probably come up with some great ideas, comments, suggestions --whatever. We would really like you to share those thoughts with us. Using the "Memo" option from the NautilusCD Tools Palette, you can jot down as many thoughts as you'd like. Then, you can easily send all your wonderful ideas to us using the Link. In short, the NautilusCD Link is the best way for you to send us messages of any variety.
(Note that if you are seeking immediate technical support, we recommend you call NautilusCD Technical Support between the hours of 8:30 am and 8:30 pm Eastern, Monday through Friday, at 614/766-3150.)
How It Works:
From your end, there are basically three parts to the NautilusCD Link:
- Set up
- Composing messages
- Linking/sending your messages to us
Try creating a new message by clicking the "Memo" option from the NautilusCD Tools Palette or the "Memo" option from the Tools menu (above) and typing in your comments. When you're done, click the "OutBox" button to save it in your OutBox. Then open Link by choosing it from the Open Link Window from the NautilusCD Link menu.
Before you Link the first time you'll need to set up Link, entering your contact information, modem configuration and local access number.
Then click the "Link" button. The NautilusCD Link will automatically send your messages to us AND put any reply messages from the NautilusCD Team into your InBox.
Set Up
You'll be set up in no time. Just follow these easy steps:
1. Select "Open Link" from the "Tools" pull down menu or "Link" from the Tools Palette, and click the "Setup" button. We need your name, address, etc., as well as your Subscriber Identification (SI) number.* NOTE YOU DO NOT have to enter an SI number to send a message to us, but we cannot reply to you via Link without one.
2. Click the "Comm Setup" button. This is where you'll select a phone number, modem and comm parameters to be used by Link. You will need to verify the country, state, and city fields where applicable. If you need to adjust one of them, simply use the appropriate drop-down list. If you can not locate your city in the drop-down list, you will need to select the closest available city. If multiple phone numbers are found, you'll be given a drop-down list to select a phone number. After selecting a phone number, check the dial prefix, area code, and suffix fields to make sure that the information is correct, and if necessary, add an out-dial code if your phone is on a PBX. You will need to mark the appropriate box to indicate if the call will be local for you, if you need to dial 1 before the phone number, or if the area code must be used.
You should then verify the Communications Settings area. Select the Comm Port appropriate to your system, the dialing mode (Pulse or Tone), and the Baud Rate. These fields can be changed using the drop-down menu in each box. The selected phone number will generate the available baud rates. However, you need to adjust the baud rate to reflect your modem. If the selected phone number does not give a baud rate appropriate for your modem, you will need to select another phone number from the drop-down list. If your modem uses data compression, we suggest you select the baud rate with data compression. Next, set up your modem by clicking the Modem button. The next page describes the Modem Setup process.
3. Finally, set up your modem. Start by selecting your modem type. If your modem is not listed, select the default, Hayes Compatible. After you select a modem, make changes to the Initialization String, if necessary. At this time you may also select whether to have your modem speaker on or off and whether to use security options. That's it! You are now ready to Link.
Composing Messages:
It couldn't be simpler! Select the "Memo" option from the Tools menu, or click "Memo" from the Tools Palette. This opens a window where you can enter your message: first, give the message a name (e.g., "My multimedia comments"). This name can be up to 26 characters long. Then, simply press the Tab key, Return key, or click in the Message text field. Type away!
To save the message for Linking, click the "OutBox" button. The OutBox is where you store all your messages before Linking them to us. You can view the contents of the OutBox and edit the messages you've written from the Link window (explained later).
Linking:
The Link window enables you to manage (view, delete) the contents of your OutBox and InBox, set up the NautilusCD Link for communication (User Info and Comm Setup), and actually send a Link.
The OutBox:
All messages to be Linked to the NautilusCD Team are stored in the OutBox. Click the "OutBox" button (from either "Memo" or "Open Link Window") to view its contents; if you've created any messages, they'll be displayed here. You can view or edit them by double-clicking any message listed. You can delete a message by selecting it (click once) and clicking the "Delete" button. After a successful Link, all messages in your OutBox are deleted.
The InBox:
All messages we send to you will be retrieved and stored in your InBox, which works in the same way as the OutBox mentioned above. To view messages from the NautilusCD Team, first choose "Open Link Window," then click the InBox button to display the InBox contents. Any messages received will be displayed here. To view a message, double-click on its name. Messages can be deleted or saved and viewed later.
Please note that only those who have a Subscriber ID (Subscribers only) can receive specific messages from the NautilusCD Team, but anyone can send messages to us.
Link!
This is it! When you're ready to send your messages, click "Link." The NautilusCD Link will gather up the Links in your OutBox and send them to the NautilusCD Team, then check for any messages to deliver to your InBox. When the Link is complete, you'll see a banner message in the status message box. Click "Close" to return to the Link window itself where you can browse your InBox for replies.
(NOTE: The computer that receives your messages is designed to serve as a transaction processor. It is not an interactive service or a bulletin board. It can respond only to transactions from the Linker. Commercial packages like ProComm cannot be used to access this host computer.)
That's all there is to it! Take advantage of the NautilusCD Link, have fun -- and be sure to let us know what you think.
--The NautilusCD Team
*If you have misplaced your SI, or you're new to NautilusCD and have not yet been issued one, please contact NautilusCD Customer Service (800/637-3472; International callers use 614/766-3165). Because your SI is confidential, we cannot give your number to you over the phone, but we will mail it to you. For more information about your SI, see the SI Numbers file.
