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1990-01-05
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«RM80»
AUTOLOG
Version 1.00 Manual
Copyright (c) 1990 by David A. Seidel
All rights reserved.
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AUTOLOG Page 1 Overview/Features
-----------------
AUTOLOG is a Telix utility program that builds SALT scripts for
automatic logging onto bulletin board and other on-line systems.
While there exist other similar programs for Telix, AUTOLOG goes
a bit further. Here are some of AUTOLOG's features:
∙ You can run AUTOLOG either with Alt-G or by linking it to a
directory entry.
∙ AUTOLOG takes the name of the logon script file it creates
directly from the name of the directory entry.
∙ You can take a "snap-shot" of any on-line prompt.
∙ You can record single-character responses (including Ctrl-C),
as well as longer responses, even ones that don't end by
pressing ENTER.
∙ Once you have finished recording prompts and responses, you
can make AUTOLOG suspend operation until you go off-line.
Then, AUTOLOG will automatically update the dialing direc-
tory, making the new logon script the linked script for the
entry. After that, AUTOLOG actually compiles the script.
You don't have to do any more--you're set up for automatic
logon next time you call the number.
∙ AUTOLOG keeps track of how much time elapses between prompts,
which means that an accurate logon script is created.
∙ If you have your sound turned off, logon scripts generated by
AUTOLOG display a "visual bell" on connection.
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AUTOLOG Page 2
Included Files
--------------
These are the files that are included in the AUTOLOG archive:
AUTOLOG.SLC The compiled AUTOLOG program.
AUTOLOG.DOC This file.
VBELL.SLT A utility that provides a visual "ring"
for phone connections, for those who like
to keep the sound off.
VBELL.SLC Compiled version of above.
Installation
------------
Just copy AUTOLOG.SLC, VBELL.SLC, and VBELL.SLT into your Telix
script directory. The Telix SALT compiler, CS.EXE, must be
either in the directory from which you run Telix, or (preferably)
in your PATH.
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AUTOLOG Page 3 Starting AUTOLOG -- Option 1
----------------------------
The first way to start AUTOLOG is to press Alt-G, type "autolog"
and press ENTER. After the opening message, you will be prompted
for the number of the directory entry to dial. Type the entry
number and press ENTER.
If you press ESC, press ENTER while the field is empty, or type
an invalid entry number, AUTOLOG will abort.
If the entry you want to dial has no name, you will be prompted
for the name to use for the new logon script. You can type up to
eight characters (no extension). You can use any legal DOS file
name. Press ENTER to continue.
See "Using AUTOLOG" for what to do next.
Starting AUTOLOG -- Option 2
----------------------------
The other way to start AUTOLOG is to link it to the directory
entry for which you want to generate a logon script. (Press Alt-
D, select the entry, press 'e' for (E)dit, press ENTER until you
get to the "Linked script" field, type "autolog", then press
ENTER until the editing window is gone.) Then (D)ial the number.
Once the connection has been made, AUTOLOG will proceed, unless
the entry has no name. In that case, you will be prompted for
the name to use for the new logon script. You can type up to
eight characters (no extension). You can use any legal DOS file
name. Press ENTER to continue.
See "Using AUTOLOG" for what to do next.
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AUTOLOG Page 4 Using AUTOLOG
-------------
AUTOLOG displays status messages on Telix's status line. Once
on-line, AUTOLOG essentially has four operating "states," each of
which has its own status message and its own special keys. The
message displayed always tells you what state AUTOLOG is in and
what special keys are valid at that moment. AUTOLOG makes a
noise whenever the state changes. These are the messages, with
explanations of what to do when you see them:
"Dispaying: press ESC to quit"
AUTOLOG is just displaying whatever is coming in over your
modem. It will do this until there is a pause, or until the
on-line program waits for input. If you press ESC, AUTOLOG
will suspend operation until you go off-line.
"Waiting: press INS, SPACE, or ESC"
The on-line program has either paused for ten seconds or
more, or is waiting for you to type something. You have
three choices here:
∙ If a response is expected, press INS to record the
prompt. This brings you to the "Recording prompt"
state, below.
∙ If the on-line program is just pausing, press SPACE to
display more. This brings you back to the "Displaying"
state. If the on-line program pauses a lot, you may have
to repeat this step a few times.
∙ If the on-line program is pausing, and you have already
recorded everything you need to log on, press ESC.
AUTOLOG will suspend operation until you go off-line.
"Recording prompt"
AUTOLOG is recording the on-line program's prompt. This is
pretty fast, so the message will only appear briefly. This
brings you to the next state, below.
"Recording you: press END when done"
The on-line program expects you to type something and you
have just recorded the prompt. Just type whatever you have
to type, including ENTER, if necessary. If the on-line
program wants a single character, an ESC or a Ctrl-C, that's
OK too.
**IMPORTANT** -- When you have typed your complete response,
press END. Your response will not be sent to the on-line
program until you do so. Afterward, AUTOLOG will return to
the "Displaying" state.
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AUTOLOG Page 5 Using AUTOLOG (cont'd)
----------------------
So, this is the basic sequence once you're on-line:
1) Let the program display, pressing SPACE if necessary,
until you see a prompt that you have to respond to. If
you've finished recording everything you need to log on,
press ESC.
2) Press INS to record the prompt.
3) Type your response and press END.
4) Repeat from step 1.
That's it!
When you go off-line, this is what AUTOLOG does:
1) A backup copy is made of the phone directory (i.e.,
TELIX.FON is copied to TELIX.BAK).
2) The phone directory entry for the number you called is
modified so that the logon script that AUTOLOG wrote is
linked to that entry.
3) The phone directory is reloaded.
4) The new logon script is compiled.
AUTOLOG prints messages on the screen to confirm the success or
failure of each of these steps. Error messages always start with
"***".
Things To Know
--------------
∙ When AUTOLOG is in the "Displaying" state, things are dis-
played on the screen slower than they would otherwise. This
should not cause any problems, except possibly when display-
ing very complex full-screen ANSI pictures at 2400 baud, in
which case these may be too much input for AUTOLOG to handle.
If this occurs, try logging in at a slower baud rate with
AUTOLOG. I use AUTOLOG at 2400, and I have rarely have any
problems. However, I can't guarantee that AUTOLOG will work
properly at speeds above 2400 baud. In any case, once you
suspend AUTOLOG by pressing ESC, Telix takes over the screen
display again, and everything comes back up to speed.
∙ If you don't like the sound that AUTOLOG makes when it
changes states, just use the Alt-O menu to turn sound off in
Telix.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOLOG Page 6 AUTOLOG Logon Scripts
---------------------
A few notes about the scripts generated by AUTOLOG:
∙ When AUTOLOG creates a logon script, it uses the first word
in the name of the entry being called (if there is a name
there); if the word is longer than 8 characters, only the
first 8 are used. If that first word is an article (a, an,
the, etc.) or if it is only one or two characters long, you
might want to change the name before running AUTOLOG to get a
more descriptive name for the logon script. For example, you
could change the first space to an underscore (_). Alter-
nately, you could let AUTOLOG run, and change the file name
later, but then you have update the dialing directory too.
∙ You may find it necessary under some circumstances to edit
and recompile a generated logon file. For example, you might
mess up your on-line responses. In this case, AUTOLOG will
faithfully record whatever happens, so you would probably
want to go in and delete any mistakes.
∙ AUTOLOG keeps track, while on-line, of the elapsed time
between responses, and uses that information to generate
accurate waitfor() statements in the logon file. These
timings may not be optimal, especially if the on-line program
paused a lot, so adjust them if necessary.
∙ If you don't like the visual bell, delete the lines that say:
if (!_sound_on)
call("vbell");
Or, change VBELL.SLT to do something else.
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AUTOLOG Page 7 Registration
------------
I know, I know, you're saying "Why should I bother registering?"
Well, there are several good reasons:
∙ AUTOLOG is a good program. It will save you a lot of time
and make your life easier.
∙ You'll feel much better if you do.
∙ You can get source code, updates, and maybe other stuff too
(see below).
To register, just mail me with a check for $8.00, along with your
address, phone number and E-mail address, and what kind of disk
you want (5.25 or 3.5). If you register, I will send you a ver-
sion of AUTOLOG that doesn't have the repeating message at the
end, with complete SALT source code. This version will also
incorporate any changes and/or improvements that I've since made
in the program. The disk may also contain new Telix (or related)
stuff that I've written in the meantime. For example, I'm now
working on a program to capture ANSI graphics screens with all
escape codes and save them to disk. Also, if I update AUTOLOG
after you register, I'll send you the update free.
In any case, I hope you enjoy the program and get some use out of
it. I welcome all comments and suggestions.
Dave Seidel
9 Glenwood Blvd.
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 828-8456
Compuserve: 71511,2217
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AUTOLOG Page 8
