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Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso
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jlblink.arc
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JLQUIK.TXT
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How To Enter JLBlink and Execute A Command
JLBlink is executed by typing "blink<Enter>" (do not include the quotes)
at the DOS prompt. To execute a command, press the keystrokes associated
with the command or invoke the Menu System by pressing <Escape> and select
a command.
JLBlink commands can also be executed automatically by including the
command names(s) on the DOS command line. A complete list of the valid
command names that can be executed will be displayed if you type "blink -"
(do not include the quotes) on the DOS command line. For example, typing
"blink logonauto<Enter>" (do not include the quotes) will load JLBlink and
then execute the LogOn Auto <Alt-L><A> command.
You can include as many JLBlink command names on the DOS command line as
you like. The commands will be executed in the same order that they are
placed on the DOS command line.
How To Use the Menu System and Get Help
The Menu System is invoked by pressing <Escape>. The cursor will move to
the top of the screen. Use the Left/Right Arrow keys to move the cursor
between the command groups on the Main Menu. Place the cursor on the
command group name and then press <Enter> to open a Secondary Menu. Use
the Up/Down Arrow keys to move between commands on the Secondary Menu and
then press <Enter> to execute the command.
When you invoke the Menu System, an on-line Help System is automatically
turned on. As you move the cursor between selections, the bottom of the
screen will display a short description of the command. Pressing <Alt-H>
will display a brief key chart of keystrokes not available from the Menu
System. General help files are also available by executing the Read
General Help <Alt-R><H> command.
How To Log On BIX
The LogOn <Alt-L> commands are used to activate your modem and to connect
you with the Communication Link to log on BIX.
If you want to have JLBlink do all the work for you, use the Blink
<Alt-L><B> command. This will log you on BIX, download all new messages
and mail, upload any messages and memos you have composed, and then log
you off BIX. All the commands are executed automatically via Command
Script files with no required intervention from you.
If you want to log on BIX and do other things, such as CBIX, use the Auto
<Alt-L><A> command. The Auto command will log you on BIX and place you at
BIX's Main System Prompt (:). If you want JLBlink to download or upload
messages and memos for you, use the Communication Link commands. These
commands can be executed at any time during your session.
How To Log On BIX (Continued)
The Manual <Alt-L><M> command does nothing more than initialize your
communication port. It will not execute the LogOn.Bmc Command Script used
to log on BIX. If you use the Manual command, it will be necessary for
you to type all the modem instructions necessary to log on BIX.
Once you are on-line with BIX, BIX's Menu System can be used as long as it
is turned off before executing any Communication Link command. Refer to
the Communication Link Command Summary for a full list of the commands.
NOTE: JLBlink requires some BIX Options to be set to a specific value in
order to upload and download messages and mail. When you use the Auto or
Blink command to log on BIX, those Options are automatically set at the
beginning of each session. If you have your current Profile set to
automatically place you somewhere other than BIX's Main System Prompt,
JLBlink will not work and you will need to change your Profile before
using JLBlink.
What To Do If The LogOn Script Does Not Work
If JLBlink should hang at any point during the log on process, you should
first try pressing <^C> and <C>ontinue. If it still does not work, make a
note of exactly where the script stopped and then press <^C> and <A>bort.
You should then edit the script at the position where the problem is, such
as misspelled user id or password. To edit the Logon Script, use the File
Edit File <Alt-F><E> command, and then select the Logon.Bmc <N> file. If
the script hangs after the "Last On:" message, you should check your BIX
Profile and make sure you have it set to place you at BIX's Main System
Prompt (:) and not at the Mail or Read prompts.
If you should need any assistance in editing the script or determining
what the problem is, log on BIX using the LogOn Manual <Alt-L><M> command
or your current method and leave a message in the "jlblink" conference.
Please supply as much information as possible; at a minimum, the point
where the script hangs.
How To Interface With BIX Manually
The Communication Link commands are used to interface with BIX manually.
All Communication Link commands are executed by pressing the keystrokes
associated with the command or selecting it from the Menu System. The
Menu System is invoked by pressing <Escape>.
The Blink <Alt-B> commands of the Communication Link are used to
automatically upload and download messages and memos. The File <Alt-F>
commands are used to edit and transfer files, and to log off BIX.
If you want to prepare a message or memo while on-line with BIX, JLBlink's
Editor can be used inside of BIX's editor. Follow the normal BIX
procedures for posting a message or memo until you reach BIX's editor. At
this point, press <Alt-F><E> to invoke JLBlink's Editor. When you have
finished composing your message, press <Alt-O> to save it, and then press
<Alt-F><T> to transmit the message to BIX's editor. You will then be
placed at one of BIX's action prompts and you should proceed as usual.
How To Log Off BIX
If you log on BIX using the LogOn Blink <Alt-L><B> command, you will be
automatically logged off BIX with no required intervention.
If you log on BIX using the LogOn Auto <Alt-L><A> command, use the
Communication Link command File Exit <Alt-F><X> when you are ready to quit
BIX. When you execute the command, you will be prompted if you want to
exit the Communication Link. Answer yes and the Logoff.Bmc file will be
executed to properly log you off BIX, and Tymnet if applicable.
NOTE: The <Alt-X> key can also be used to exit the Communication Link.
Automatic Parsing
Parsing is the command that is used to clean and sort the data you have
gathered while on BIX, and it is automatically executed after you log off
BIX. Parse also builds your BIX Data Base where your messages and memos
are stored, and an index of all unread messages called the New Message
Log. You will be prompted each time you leave the Read New Messages
System as to whether the Log should be updated. If you answer yes, any
remaining unread messages will stay in the log, and all read messages will
be removed from the log. If you answer no, all messages will stay in the
log and reflect their current status.
If you need to access the data before it has been cleaned, the untouched
files are kept in the \JLBLINK\BLOLD directory. Each time you log on BIX
the files will be overwritten with your current session data.
How To Read New Memos and Messages
From the main screen of JLBlink, pressing <Enter> or <Down Arrow> will
activate the Read New Messages System and display the first unread message
on the screen. The conference order the new messages are placed in is the
same order that you have your Conference List on BIX Ordered. The JLBlink
Utilities Setup <Alt-U><S> command is used to select whether the messages
are downloaded in forward or reference order.
If you want to begin reading with a specific conference, topic, or
message, use the Read New Messages <Alt-R><N> command. This command can
be executed as often as you like to change the conference or topic that
you are reading. You will also find the Read Keys to be useful in quickly
locating a previous comment or different thread.
How To Compose Messages and Memos To UpLoad To BIX
JLBlink supplies a versatile screen oriented editor for you to compose
your messages and memos to send to BIX. The Editor is automatically
invoked when you execute the Post Comment <Alt-P><C>, Say <Alt-P><S> or
Mail To <Alt-P><T> command.
Before the Editor is opened, the Post command automatically extracts, from
the message or memo displayed on the screen, the information needed to
generate the proper UpBlink Script. This information is merged with the
memo or message you have written when it is saved.
When you execute the Post command, the Editor Window will open for you to
compose your message. Refer to the Editor command summary in the manual
for a list of the Editor commands. When you finish composing your message
or memo, press <Alt-O>. This will save the message or memo, and then
merge it in the proper UpBlink Script. The Post command can be aborted
while in the Editor by pressing <Escape>.
How To Edit A Message or Memo Before UpLoading To BIX
The File Edit File <Alt-F><E> command is used to edit your messages and
memos after you have already composed them. To edit your messages, select
the ToConf.Upb <C> file. To edit you mail memos, select the
ToMail.Upb <M> file. This command loads the selected file into the
Editor. Make any changes or corrections, and then save the file by
pressing <Alt-O>.
If you just want to read a message or memo before sending it to BIX, use
the File Display File <Alt-F><D> command. This command will display the
selected file on the screen.
NOTE: If you want to post a message to a conference/topic you have not
downloaded messages from yet, just post the message to any conference
topic and then edit the script and replace the wrong conference/topic name
with the correct one.
How To Exit JLBlink
The File Exit <Alt-F><X> command is used to quit JLBlink.
When you exit JLBlink from a Read System, you will be prompted as to
whether the Log should be updated. If you answer yes, any remaining
unread messages will stay in the log, and all read messages will be
removed from the log. If you answer no, all messages will stay in the log
and reflect their current status.
NOTE: The <Alt-X> key can also be used to exit JLBlink.