For most people, the easiest way to start Comet up will be to launch one of the preconfigured document files. If you double-click the application, you will be presented with a configuration dialog. Double-clicking one of the preconfigured files will bypass this dialog.
The configuration files are in three folders. Which folder you'll use depends on the type of connection you have.
Campus Internet
Campus Sytek Network
Modem
If your Macintosh is on a LAN (local area network) that connects to the campus internet via a gateway, and so uses Telnet or TN3270 to communicate with other systems, you should launch Comet with the documents in the "Campus Internet" folder. To use Comet from a LAN connection, you need to be running MacTCP on your system. MacTCP is included in a separate folder here, with some installation instructions. You should configure MacTCP under the guidance of your network adminstrator.
The Campus Internet folder contains files that will directly connect you to the commonly used campus systems: CornellA, CornellC, CornellF, CUINFO, VAX5, CRUX1, NeXT lab. To access other systems, you will have to create new configuration files with IP addresses or domain names.
The other two folders are for people with serial connections, either a direct Sytek line or a modem. "Campus Sytek Network" and "Modem" each contain two configuration files: "IBM (CornellA,C,F)" will set the proper emulation and keyboard mapping for communicating with IBM mainframe systems; "Other systems" is configured for the VT100 or Heath19 emulation that can be used for non-IBM hosts.
Both of these files assume that your modem or Sytek line is connected to the Macintosh's Modem (Phone) port. If you are using the Printer port instead, choose "Reconfigure session…" from the Window menu after launching the configuration file. You will be presented with a dialog box that has a button for switching to the Printer port. Use the File menu's "Save Configuration…" to permanently save this change in the configuration file.
The two files in the "Modem" folder are set for 2400 baud, the most common speed for modems. If your modem runs at a different baud rate, select the proper speed from the Serial menu. "Save Configuration…" can be used to save the new baud rate to the configuration file.
Comet's scripting language allows you to completely automate connecting to various hosts and services. The "Sample Scripts" folder includes examples for dialing into the Cornell modem banks, entering the Sytek commands for the various campus hosts, accessing the Library's online catalog, and even going directly to a specific entry in CUINFO.
Comet has an extensive online help system that can be accessed via Help buttons in the dialog boxes or by choosing items listed under the Info menu. "About Comet..." under the Apple menu includes some important information about known bugs and restrictions. At the bottom of the Info menu are commands for dumping the online documentation into Comet's .edit window. In the .edit window, you can scroll through the online info, search for keywords, or send it all off to a printer. Note that the .edit window cannot hold both halves of the documentation (Overview and Menu Info) at the same time.
