Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/007a/autodl20.zip/AUTODIAL.DOC

Text File | 1992-01-20 | 10KB | 166 lines

                        A U T O D I A L E R   2 . 0

                           By Josh Warner-Burke

                               Documentation


  Overview
Auto Dialer is well, basically, a really simple program to have your modem
dial up to 21 commonly used phone numbers for you.  If you're on the computer
a lot, and make many phone calls, this can prove extremely useful.  I've
added a lot of features and a pleasant (probably familiar) interface.  It
uses a common theme, text windows, shadowing, and a menu bar.  The default
colors should seem familiar also, white on blue.  I turned an exceptionally
simple program into a rather large one.  The actual dialing only takes up one
line, but as of now, the program takes up 575 lines (not too much for you pros)
in Turbo Basic source code.  Anyway, I hope someone will get some use out of
this program, if not, it was interesting to make.

  Rights and stuff
I suppose I should put this in.  This product is what I call Recessionware,
purely free.  I hold no copyrights to this program so you are free to modify
it in any way.  However, I would appreciate people treating this program as
if they had spent so much time on it (ie: don't try to take credit for it or
sell it, modifying for your own use is fine).  I'd also prefer you didn't
change the files that came with the program when distributing it.  I know how
sometimes authors include unnecessary, useless junk with the program, but I
didn't.

  Requirements
To run Auto Dialer, you must have CGA graphics and a modem.

  Installation
For easiest use, you should put the files in a directory called "C:\AUTODIAL".
That's how I have the configuration set up.  If you don't want to put it there,
edit the 'AUTODIAL.CFG' file so that it says the name of the directory you want
it in on the line that says "C:\AUTODIAL".  Do not put a backslash ("\") after
the path name.  It will mess up the loading processes.

  Program execution
To run the program change to the directory you have stored it in, and type:
                             AUTODIAL <enter>
This should bring you to the intro screen where you'll see the title and logo
and all that.  Either wait two seconds or press a key to continue.  After
that, you will see the main screen.

  Main Screen
The main screen is where it all happens.  You will see a bar at the top of
the screen that has headings of File and Menu.  The next line says Name and
Number.  Below that are all of the names and numbers stored in the default
dial directory (the file that contains names and numbers that Auto Dialer
starts up in).  If you haven't changed the default dialing directory (later
explained) it will look in 'AUTODIAL.DIR'.  All dialing directories will have
the extension '.DIR' for clarity and ease of use.  As long as there are some
entries to choose from, you'll be able to use the up and down arrow keys to
select the entry to dial.  If you're on the top line and press the up arrow
key, the last line will then be highlighted.  If you're on the bottom line
and press the down arrow key, the top line will be highlighted.  To dial the
entry you have highlighted (by using the up and down arrow keys) just press
enter.  There will be a flashing text window open for a while displaying the
obvious message "Pick up the phone".  You should pick up the phone (next to
the computer probably).  After a second or two the modem will hang up the
phone.  You can then talk on the phone and/or play around with the program.
If at any time you want the modem to hang up the phone, press "H" and the
modem hangup string will be sent to your modem (you may have to change the
modem hangup string, later explained).  if you want to edit the current list,
press F5 to access Edit mode (later explained).  Press "Alt-Q" to quit or
select it from the menu.  To access the menu, press "Alt-F" for the file
menu, or "Alt-O" for the options menu.  This takes us to the next section:

  Using the Menus
Using the menus is pretty simple.  To access them, you would press Alt and
F at the same time for the file menu, and Alt and O at the same time for the
options menu.  While in the menu, you press one of the letters indicated on
the menu by bright white.  If you want to exit the menu, just press escape.

  File Menu
I.   Save Setup File
Merely saves the colors, the default directory (where it looks for .DIR
files), and the default dialing directory (where it first looks for names and
numbers).
II.  Print Directory
Tries to print to LPT1 the names and numbers of the current dialing
directory.
III. Load Directory
Prompts for a file name, and if it is valid, it loads from that file into
memory the names and numbers in it.  They will be displayed immediately.
Remember that you shouldn't attach an extension when entering the file name,
".DIR" will be automatically attached.  If you enter an invalid file name,
that will be displayed with a beep and you should press a key.
IV.  Save Directory
Prompts for a file name and tries to save the current directory to that file
name.  It has no regard for whether there already is a file with that name,
so watch out you don't save over anything you want to keep.
V.   New Directory
Merely erases names and numbers of the current directory, so that you can
start from scratch.  You'll probably want to do this when you first run the
program, so that you can put in the numbers you'll be dialing.  It doesn't
delete or erase the file you were working on.  It's purely a memory thing.
VI.  Quit
Amazingly, this option quits the program and brings you to your operating
system command prompt.

  Option Menu
I.   Default Dir
Prompts for a path name to look for all the .DIR files.  AUTODIAL.CFG has to
be in the current directory and AUTODIAL.EXE has to be in the current
directory or a directory in your path statement.
II.  Colors...
Brings up a window with three forms of text, Normal text (for names and
numbers), Selected text (for the highlighted name and number), and Title text
(for where is says Name and Number), and an example of the color scheme of
each.  Use up and down to change the background color for Normal text, and
left and right to change the foreground color.  When you're done with normal
text, press enter and you'll move down to Selected text.  Use the same
controls as with Normal.  Press enter when you're done and you'll move down
to Title text.  Use the same controls as with the two before.  When you press
enter, you'll be back at the main screen with your new color scheme.  Presto!
II.  Phone List
This option prompts you for a file name that it will load when you start the
program.  Usually you would want to put in the one you use the most.
IV.  Modem Strings
Brings up a window asking for a dialing string and a hang up string.  The
default are what work on my modem, pretty standard, Hayes compatible 2400
baud.  I'm not sure if those will work on everyone's so I included an option
that will allow you to change them, because, after all, dialing numbers is
the whole program.  I'm not totally sure where you can figure out what the
strings are for your modem, I suppose the manual might have them.  You're on
your own for that.

  Edit Mode
Pressing F5 from the main screen will take you to edit mode where you can
add, delete, insert, or edit individual entries.  All of the names and
numbers will be displayed and a prompt of "Press 'A' to add, 'D' to delete,
'I' to insert, or 'E' to edit".  You can also exit to the main screen by
hitting escape.  That won't abort any changes made.  The changes you make
won't be permanent unless you save the file (see File Menu).

  Notes on Source Code
I did all this stuff in QBasic, and I compiled it in Turbo Basic.  It was such
a revelation when I realized how you dial numbers with the modem.  I thought it
was so complicated but when I looked at a similiar program, I realized how
simple it was.  You merely write to the file "AUX", the dialing string and then
the number.  You can even do it from DOS by making a file with the dialing
string and a phone number in it, and then copy that file to AUX.  Or type 'copy
con aux' and it will let you enter a file, and then when you end it (Control-Z)
it'll dial the number.  By the way, if anyone knows how to use the mouse in
Basic, please write me.  I suppose I could include it in this program.  One last
thing: To convert to QBasic source code, change all 'DELAY' statements into
'SLEEP'.

  Future Features
Expanded set of numbers (more than 21)
Easier to use edit mode

  Your Comments
If you have any comments or suggestions or criticisms (or donations), please
write me at:
                             Josh Warner-Burke
                              6274 Gay Topaz
                            Columbia, MD, 21045
If I get a couple letters I'll probably make a newer version.  Also: Any
feedback I can get would be appreciated on The Programmer's Corner (596-1180,
Baltimore MD).  I know there are plenty of annoying bugs and I want to fix them.