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STARTING.DOC
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1993-06-01
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****************************************************************************
STARTING.DOC - Getting started with GEnie PC Aladdin
****************************************************************************
*****************************************************************
* If you haven't read !README!.1ST entirely first, *
* we must INSIST that you do so before proceeding any further. *
*****************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUICK-START INSTRUCTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those that just want to jump right in with the minimum amount of
instruction, and fend for themselves:
QUICK CONFIGURATION (F5): PHONE NUMBER: (local Genie number)
USER ID: (your I.D. number)
PASSWORD: (your password)
GE MAIL ADDRESS: (your GE Mail addr.)
COM: (com port being used)
SPEED: (correct baud rate)
RESET COMMAND: AT&C1&D2E1V1X1Q0
Use ESCape to save this configuration, quit and re-start PCAladdin.
Start PCAladdin with "ALADDIN /MR", if you have trouble.
BE SURE TO START ALADDIN WHILE IN THE DIRECTORY WHERE IT IS LOCATED (do
not put Aladdin in a directory included in your path statement).
***************************************************************
* REMEMBER, in Aladdin the F1 function key *
* ALWAYS brings up context-sensitive help. *
* If you're not sure about something, press the F1 key first! *
***************************************************************
More detailed start-up instructions follow.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 1 - THE ALADDIN CONFIGURATION MENU (F5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, make sure you are in the directory that Aladdin was installed in.
Start Aladdin by typing "ALADDIN" or "ALAD". Press F5 from the main menu
to bring up the Configuration menu. Here's where you enter the local
GEnie telephone number, your name, password, etc. Press F1 at each
"field" or entry area if you need guidelines as to what input is required.
Phone number: 555-1212 | Local GEnie telephone number.
User ID: XJM12345 | Your User I.D. number.
Password: KIRKSTUB | Your password.
GE Mail address: J.DOE | Your GE Mail Address
BBS Nickname: John Doe | Nickname of your choice.
Prompt character: "?" (63) |* DEFAULT, do not change
Break character: ^C (3) |* DEFAULT, do not change
COM: port (1 or 2): 1 | Com port your modem is attached to.
Speed: 1200 | Baud rate you are using.
Reset command: ATZ | Modem reset or initialization.
Dial command: ATDT | ATDP if your phone uses pulse dialing.
Command terminator: ^M |* DEFAULT, do not change
Connection message: CONNECT |* DEFAULT, do not change
* The use of Aladdin's automatic log-on procedure is very important. GEnie
recognizes when Aladdin has performed the log-on process, and adjusts
itself so that Aladdin can operate as expected. This is why it is
significant that you keep the default settings as shown above.
If you've previously used another communication program to access GEnie,
and you've set the break and/or prompt characters differently, you don't
have to change them back again, AS LONG AS ALADDIN DOES THE LOG ON
ROUTINE. Conversely, if you use Aladdin's terminal screen to log on
manually, you may find that some of Aladdin's automatic operations will
not work.
If you find that it is necessary to change these settings, it is possible,
but you must use the /NOOVER switch when loading Aladdin. Ask the SysOps
in the PC-Aladdin RoundTable for more information.
For a complete listing of the Aladdin start up switches, type "ALAD /?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 2 - SETTING UP YOUR MODEM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aladdin requires that your modem accurately reflects the true status of
your modem's DATA CARRIER DETECT (DCD) and DATA TERMINAL READY (DTR)
states; many communications programs aren't as particular, but Aladdin
cannot operate without these settings being correctly configured.
Additionally, Aladdin needs several commands set relating to Modem Result
Codes and Command Echo. In other words, your modem must be INITIALIZED
(set up) in order for Aladdin to work as intended. Requirements are as
follows:
(Hayes 1200 (Hayes 2400
only) & compat.)
DIP SWITCHES AT COMMANDS COMMENT
------------ ----------- ----------------------------------
Sw.1 up &D2 Allows modem to hang up when DTR
signal toggles low
Sw.2 up V1 Verbal Result Codes (not digits)
Sw.3 down Q0 Result Codes are Sent
Sw.4 up E1 Echoes characters in command state
Sw.6 up &C1 DCD follows Carrier Detect Status
Sw.8 down X1(2,3,4) Enables extended result code
(depends on modem; X1 is good
enough for Aladdin)
&F Sets modem to factory defaults
(used in case previous settings
have left modem in an "undesirable"
state)
If you are using the HAYES 1200 modem, all you need to do is set the
switches according to this table. For other modems, most of them can be
initialized with the Hayes AT commands above.
=====Your BASIC 1200/2400 BAUD HAYES COMPATIBLE=====
To use the AT commands, enter the following in the RESET COMMAND field of
Aladdin's main configuration menu (F5):
AT&F&C1&D2E1V1X1Q0
If you have a non-standard modem, or one that is not Hayes compatible,
consult your modem manual to compare the HAYES AT commands (in the chart
above) to the equivalent commands for your modem.
(Step 2 Settin Up your Modem - cont.)
=====HAYES PERSONAL MODEM 1200 AND 2400=====
This type of modem does not retain the configuration after it is turned
off, and normally has it's own configuration set, which makes Aladdin
think that it is on-line already. Aladdin can force the modem to configure
itself correctly by using a command line option. In your RESET STRING
field in the F5 configuration screen, enter the following characters:
AT&C1&D2E1X1V1
Now, every time you invoke Aladdin at your DOS prompt, you must use the
/MR (Modem Reset) command line argument, like this:
ALADDIN /MR ...or... ALAD /MR
=====MODEMS WITH NON-VOLATILE MEMORY=====
There are modems that have the internal memory to store one or
more "initialization" configurations.
You can enter the initialization string into the modem's
memory (from the terminal screen) by entering:
AT&F&C1&D2E1V1X1Q0&W
Then, all you need to enter into the RESET COMMAND field on
the F5 configuration screen is:
ATZ
This will call upon the stored initialization for you each
time you have Aladdin sign on. If your modem has two memory
settings, use &W0 to store one configuration, and ATZ0 to
recall it -OR- use &W1 to store the string in the second
memory area, and recall it with the ATZ1 command.
=====MNP MODEMS=====
GEnie only supports MNP Level 4, which is Error Correction
only. Many MNP modems default at MNP Level 5 (Data
Compression & Error Correction).
In order to use MNP 4 with GEnie, you'll have to disable MNP
5 on your modem. This normally is done with an AT command
(commonly %C0, and sometimes in conjunction with a &F1
command), but you'll have to consult your modem's manual for
the correct command to be used.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 3 - SET UP ROUNDTABLE(S)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You already have two Roundtables (RT) entered in Aladdin - the Aladdin
Roundtable and the IBMPC Roundtable. You can use these to get started
right away.
More information for the set-up of Roundtables are contained in the
USE_ALAD.DOC, and the manual. Basically, you determine which page number
is correct for the RoundTable you wish to access
Use F6,A from the main Aladdin menu, and enter that page number in the
first entry field. Fill out the rest of the fields, using F1 to guide
you through each entry required.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 4 - GO TO IT! LOG ON.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We suggest that you attempt to use Aladdin's menu options one at a time,
initially, rather than the Auto Pass 1 option. At least, until you
understand the programs features.
From the main menu, choose the letter of the RoundTable that you'd like to
visit. You'll be placed in the Bulletin Board Section menu (in Aladdin)
for that RT.
Pick the letter "C" to immediately log on and find out which messages are
waiting for you to read. Once Aladdin has retrieved the list of new
messages, it will log off. You will see that the M option (Mark Topics
Found by C) is marked with a Chevron. Press M to see this list. Each
topic will indicate how many messages are waiting for you to read.
Your basic choices for each are:
retrieve <A>ll the messages
retrieve the <L>ast message only
<K>eep the messages (don't read them just yet)
Once you've finished marking the topics, using ESC will save your choices
and return you to the Bulletin Board Section menu. Use the letter "O" to
log on and automatically perform the pending <O>perations you've just
made.
NOTE: On your first visit to a RoundTable Bulletin Board, you'll only
see the messages in the first Topic of the first Category. Later
visits to the RT BBs will pick up the listings for new messages
that were posted in any topic since your initial visit.
To get to the Software Library Section menu for the same RT, use your PgDn
(page-down) key.
For a walk-though of Aladdin Auto Pass usage, see the USE_ALAD.DOC file
included with this distribution. Also, of course, read your Aladdin
manual, refer to the bottom of each Aladdin menu, and use your F1 key
generously!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP - 5 GET THE MANUAL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This actually should be Step 1, but most folks don't open a manual unless
as a last resort, no less download one. Once you've used Aladdin a little
bit, you will probably desire to have the manual in order to fully
appreciate all of its features.
These are the current files in the library for two different versions of
the GEnie PC Aladdin User's Manual:
# NAME Date Size
---------------------------------------------------
329 PCALADOC.EXE 920313 63104
Desc: PCAladdin Manual (ASCII text ver.)
328 PCALADWP.EXE 920313 68096
Desc: PCAladdin Manual (Word Perfect ver.)
-OR-
You can order a printed version of the manual direct from GEnie for $8.95.
Type "*ORDER" at any GEnie prompt, select menu item #2, and pick the
Aladdin manual. That's all there is to it (you will be billed
automatically, of course).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL MODEM/CONNECTION PROBLEMS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are most frequently caused by incorrect Aladdin configuration
entries, and affect whether Aladdin can have your modem dial at all,
to whether or not you can successfully connect with GEnie.
------------- Double/triple check all the entries in your configuration
CHECK MAIN again. Check that the CONNECTION message in all capital
CONFIGURATION letters (CONNECT is the suggested default for all modems).
Check your password and I.D. # entry, making sure that zeros
are not substituted for "oh's" (0/O), and visa versa. For all
entries, make sure there are no leading or trailing blank
spaces.
------------- Also, you may have to check your modem DIP switches (a little
CHECK MODEM bank of small switches inside your modem, or on the Internal
SETTINGS Modem card). One of them may be set incorrectly, overriding
the condition(s) that your AT commands are supposed to set.
Again, consult your modem manual, referring to the Hayes AT
commands listing in STEP 2 above.
------------- If Aladdin is displaying an "On" status indicator on the lower
MODEM STILL left of your screen when it is first loaded, it's indicating
WILL NOT DIAL that it thinks that your modem is on-line and that it is
currently connected to a remote computer. This can be caused
by several reasons:
Some modems will not recognize the &C1 and &D2 commands; in
this case the S register command S21=48 may be used in place
of &C1&D2, and it normally will allow the OFF/ON status to be
properly set.
(use AT S21=48 E1 V1 X1 Q0 in your RESET COMMAND field of
Aladdin's configuration)
------------- Some modem cables (particularly the ones supplied with modems)
MODEM CABLE may not be wired fully, or correctly. In this case, they may
not transmit the Data Carrier Detect signal. See if you can
get your hands on another modem cable (a spare or borrowed
one, or buy a new one) in order to test if this is the
problem.
FIRST, though, double check that the modem cable is securely
connected on both ends.
------------- A less common (but possible) problem would be due to a serial
INTERNAL port card. Some of these have a jumper that would cause the
SERIAL PORT Data Carrier Detect to be ON at all times, irregardless of the
CARD actual status. Consult the documentation for your card to
determine if, and how, you can change this jumper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL NOTES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------- While Aladdin use w/o a hard drive is not officially
ALADDIN supported, many people do enjoy Aladdin used on systems that
WITHOUT A only have floppy drives. You'll have to look for topics on
HARD DRIVE? the PC Aladdin Support RT where "floppy only" users have
shared their experiences, tips, and tricks to manage Aladdin
successfully. TOPIC SEARCH KEYWORDS: flopp, laptop
------------- If you are using a multi-tasking environment like DESQview,
WINDOWS 3.1 increase FILES= to 80; for Windows, use FILES=80.
DESQVIEW
GEOWORKS We do not recommend using Aladdin under these DOS control
OS/2 programs, but other users have been known to run Aladdin
etc. successfully under them. Please look for topics in the PC
Aladdin RoundTable BB for shared experiences, if interested.
TOPIC SEARCH KEYWORDS: win, 386, desq, dv, geo, OS/2
------------- FAQS.DOC, also distributed with this program, contains answers
DO YOU NEED to <F>requently <A>sked <Q>uestion<S>.
MORE ANSWERS?
Pressing F1 to display the help screen while in Aladdin's
main menu will also show you an option for frequently asked
questions (with the answers, of course).
The PCAladdin Bulletin Board contains many topics, arranged
under categories covering the various functions of Aladdin,
where users and the support team have exchanged questions and
answers, ideas, and enhancement suggestions.
It's strongly recommended that you search the topics for your
particular interest, using Aladdin's or GEnie's keyword search
ability. Messages in Category 1, Topic 1 of the BB covers how
to get started in navigating the BB.
There's a particular Category in the BB called the REFERENCE
CATEGORY (original, nu?). This is where we've placed
particularly important information, or answers to commonly
asked questions. We recommend that everyone browse through
the topic messages posted there (category #16).
As well, Category 1 has many closed topics that hold very
useful information. Closed topics won't allow new messages
to be posted in them, but you can still read messages that
are there.
------------- If you need help, we'll be waiting in the Bulletin Board to
PC Aladdin assist you as best we can.
RoundTable
Support Team D.Kozinn [David]
J.Jimenez [Juan]
Alad.Gabe [Gabe]
Jim.Lubin [AladScripter]
NBUG [Neil]
Nadine.K [Aladdin Lass]
Bob.Tullis [...Bob]