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1990-09-28
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Section 9 -- Other TAPCIS Features
Time/Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Multiple Parameter Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Script Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Login Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Weather Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Upload Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
TAPCIS(tm) Documentation Copyright (c) 1990, Support Group, Inc.
800-USA-GROUP, 301-387-4500
========================================================================
Time/Charges
========================================================================
The external accounting module can generate the usage statistics provided you
have selected to Log Times on the <P>arameters screen. Press <$> from the main
menu to start the time/charges function. You're first asked whether you want
to change the rates. The default rates are those for use with a CompuServe
network phone number. Rates are subject to change. Use <I>nteractive and GO
RATES to obtain the current schedule.
If you are using an alternative connection or pay metered local service,
change the rates to reflect those charges. Prime time is the day time rate.
Standard time is evening and weekend. CompuServe keeps its own time record
which you can access with the command GO BILLING. It is not detailed by forum
as are the TAPCIS statistics.
Output appears only on the screen. You can use <PrtSc> to print each screen.
You can run the STATS.EXE program from DOS if you do not have sufficient
memory to run it from within TAPCIS. You should run it from the same directory
that store your parameter file (PARAMS.CIS) and time log files (LOGmm-yy.CIS,
where mm is the month and yy is the year).
STATS will estimate what your bill will be at the end of the month. Do not put
too much stock in this since your usage will probably vary over the rest of
the month-higher or lower. Also, TAPCIS does not know about surcharged
services like Official Airline Guide, Executive News Service, or IQuest. Those
charges will be in addition to the charges recorded by TAPCIS.
There are two categories that TAPCIS uses to record charges for
"miscellaneous" usage. The OVERHEAD charge is for the time it takes to
navigate from forum to forum and to login and logout. It also includes the
"rounding" expense since CompuServe charges to the nearest minute.
TERMINAL charges are for all time spent interactive regardless of where that
time is spent. Once you are interactive, you can freely navigate from place to
place. TAPCIS logs all that time as a TERMINAL expense in the accounting.
TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-1
========================================================================
Multiple Parameter Files
========================================================================
TAPCIS supports multiple PARAMS files. You use the <Alt-F> command from the
main menu or forums selection screen. TAPCIS will show you information about
your current PARAMS file and let you switch files or create a clone of the
current one by pressing X. The name of the new file can be 1-3 letters or
numbers.
Each PARAMS.* file contains not only the list of forums but also your user ID,
password, and all other settings from the P>arameters screen. Be sure to set
up the main PARAMS.CIS file with your registration number, user id, and
password and then use <Alt-F> and the <X> copy option to create new ones.
You can use an alternate PARAMS file to change forum sets, support more than
20 selected forums, or switch COM ports and modem for laptop use. For example,
I have a PARAMS.WP that has the two WPSG forums selected and that uses a
different storage and download path than my "normal" PARAMS.CIS (the default
name).
You can select the PARAMS file directly from the command line by enclosing it
in parentheses. If you use any other command line options, separate those from
the PARAMS extension with a space:
TAPCIS (WP) GNX
The above would start TAPCIS using the PARAMS.WP file, globally capture
everything that happens online to the file ONLINE.LOG, execute the <N>ew
command as soon as TAPCIS is loaded, and exit TAPCIS as soon as <N>ew
completes.
9-2 Other TAPCIS Features TAPCIS
========================================================================
Script Language
========================================================================
The script language has three primary uses in TAPCIS: customizing login
scripts for access through non-CompuServe networks (e.g., Sprintnet, Tymnet,
LATA networks, foreign networks), creating a FRONTEND.SCR to capture
information like weather and the daily news to the CompuServe Mail message
file, and simplifying the repetitive entry of commands in non-forum online
services (e.g., stock portfolio analysis, weather radar map downloading, stock
quotes).
The script commands are as follows. Each is a single capital letter or
semicolon for comments. Most commands are followed by a space which delimits
the commands from the parameter.
; Comment lines begin with a semi-colon and can
appear anywhere in the script.
B Send a break signal. Used in login scripts where
a <break> is needed to get the network's
attention.
C d:\path\filename.ext Capture output and append it to "filename.ext"
on drive "d:" in directory "path." Includes an
explicit C Y (see below).
C Y Start (or restart) the capturing to the file
specified with the last C filename script
command or to the MAIL.MSG if in FRONTEND.SCR.
C N Stop capturing output to the file.
E Comment lines that display on the user's screen
as the script executes. They are not sent to
CompuServe or saved to any of the files.
I Input from the keyboard until the user presses
<F7>. This script command is useful in login
scripts to allow the user to manually get
connected to CompuServe. In interactive scripts
it can be used to allow the user to select a
particular menu choice after the script
automatically navigates to the menu. Output is
saved to the ONLINE.LOG if the G command line
option is used or to the capture file if one is
active. Note that TAPCIS will not time out and
logoff during the I script command.
K d:\path\filename.ext Kill (delete) the file "d:\path\filename.ext".
If you have a script that uses the capture
command, and want to remove the old capture if
one exists, use the K command before the C
script command.
TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-3
N Sends your name from the parameters screen. Used
in the <Alt-P> script.
P nn Pause for "nn" seconds
S text Send "text" of any length. Most commands on most