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1989-06-20
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S T A R P O R T
Version 1.4
(c) Copyright 1989
by Ted Freeman
MicroNet PCBoard
Starlink Port # 9165
Node 1: 405-528-3175
Node 2: 405-528-8610
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
-------------------------------------
┌─────────┐
┌─────┴───┐ │ (tm)
──│ │o │──────────────────
│ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of
│ │ │─┘ Shareware
└───│ o │ Professionals
──────│ ║ │────────────────────
└────╨────┘ MEMBER
ASP INFO
--------
The author, Ted Freeman, is a Member of The Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP has established stringent standards for its
members and wants to make sure the Shareware principle works for you.
If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP
member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help.
The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members'
products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at:
Address: P.O. Box 5786 Compuserve: ASP Ombudsman
Bellevue, WA 98006. 70475,1071
WHAT IS STARPORT?
-----------------
Starport is a utility program designed to make navigating Starlink (R) as easy
and as painless as possible. If you are currently using script files with your
communications program, you will appreciate Starport's superior features.
Starport is much, much faster than script files. Data entry of new outdial
port numbers and BBS numbers is very simple via Starport's Maintenance
Facility. Outdial cities and BBSes are selected via menu so even the most
inexperienced user will have no trouble operating Starport.
Starport is designed to run from a communications program, such as Datastorm's
Procomm Plus. You may use either the Hotkey option or as an external protocol.
I prefer to use the external protocol method because the Hotkey option prompts
you to "Hit any key to continue..." when Starport terminates, whereas the
external method does not. Starport was not designed to be a terminal program.
It's sole purpose is to log-on to Starlink and get you to the City/BBS of your
choice. Your communications program then takes over once again. Starport is
known to work correctly with Boyan, GT Powercom, Qmodem, Procomm Plus and
Telix. It should work with most terminals that support either external
protocols or shelling to another program via Hotkeys.
STARPORT FILES
--------------
STAR14.EXE - The main executable file.
STARLINK.MNU - Starlink's Menu Service listing (ASCII format).
STARPORT.ASP - Procomm Plus script file for logging on to Starlink.
STARPORT.CFG - Config. utility runs automatically if not present (or wrong).
STARPORT.DAT - Starport's database. Holds all outdials and BBS numbers.
STARPORT.DOC - This documentation file.
STARPORT.MNU - Menu file. MUST be present in the current directory!
STAR.BAT - Batch file for starting Starport.
NOTE: All files except STARPORT.DOC must be in the directory StarPort runs from.
INSTALLING STARPORT
-------------------
STARPORT.CFG - The lines marked with * MUST be populated in this file.
* Line 1 = COM port to use. (COM1: or COM2:)
* Line 2 = Baud rate to use. (1200, 2400, etc.)
* Line 3 = Your Starlink USERNAME.
* Line 4 = Your Starlink PASSWORD.
* Line 5 = X - Use Control-X & Control-R (enables XON/XOFF)
V - Use Control-V (opens the bandwidth)
I - Use Control-I (for faster network response)
IV - Use both Control-I and Control-V (not recommended)
N - Do not use control codes.
Line 6 = Your GALAXY handle (may be left blank).
Line 7 = Your GALAXY password (may be left blank).
Line 8 = Your Registration number (if registered).
Note: The configuration utility runs automatically if this file is missing
or incorrect. STARPORT.CFG is an ASCII file and may be edited with
your word processor.
STAR.BAT - This example is for Procomm Plus but the procedure should be
similar for other communications programs.
Hotkey option
-------------
Using either Procomm's setup program or ALT-S from within
Procomm, select FILE/PATH OPTIONS. Now select either F or G
(User hotkey option) and type STAR and hit ENTER. Now
hit ESC and S to save it. That's it!
External protocol option
------------------------
Again, using either the setup program or ALT-S, select PROTOCOL
OPTIONS. I suggest using a download protocol letter so type
either B, D, or F and enter STAR. Now hit ENTER then ESC
and finally S to save.
STARPORT.ASP - Now type ALT-D for the dialing directory and select the entry
for Starlink (you do have one don't you?). Type R to revise the
entry. Hit ENTER until you come to the SCRIPT entry. Type in
STARPORT. Your parameters should be set to E-7-1 for log-on
to Starlink. STARPORT.ASP will switch you to N-8-1 later so you
do not have to do it 'on-the-fly'.
NOTE: If you are not using Procomm Plus, you will have to convert STARPORT.ASP
to your program's script language.
Starport is now installed!
STARPORT ONLINE
---------------
Start your communications program and dial into Starlink as you normally
would. When the screen clears and the log-on script terminates, you then
invoke Starport. Registered users may mark up to 20 BBSes for dialing.
Unregistered users are limited to two. The BBS lists may be sorted in 3
different ways: Alphabetically, by Port number or by City.
When you are through marking, hit the END key to highlight 'BEGIN DIALING'
and hit ENTER. StarPort will dial each BBS in turn until a connection is made
or you abort the dialing sequence. You are reminded that Starlink charges
you a minimum of 80 seconds for each connection to an Outdial. To make
maximum use of each connection, you should select multiple BBSes for an
Outdial. If you select just one BBS and it is busy, you are still charged
80 seconds even though the connection may have lasted only 10-20 seconds.
The important keys here are:
ESC - Terminate StarPort and return to your communications program.
F1 - If the BBS is busy, you may abort the dialing sequence with F1, which
will bring you back to StarPort's menu.
STARPORT MAINTENANCE FACILITY
-----------------------------
To invoke the Starport Maintenance Facility, run STARPORT without any command
line parameters. This portion of Starport looks just like the online portion
except for two additional options.
To enter new BBS numbers, simply highlight 'ADD A NEW BBS' and follow the
prompts. If you make a mistake entering the information, simply highlight the
BBS in question and re-enter the data. The BBS menu is sorted automatically
after each entry.
You may make changes to STARPORT.CFG by selecting 'CONFIGURATION'. Any info
already in the file will be displayed. Standard editing keys are available
in each field. If info in a field does not need to be changed, just hit
ENTER for that entry.
REVISION HISTORY
----------------
1.0 - Initial release.
1.0b - Rewrite of 1.0. Got rid of the Outdial Menu. Now only have the one
BBS menu to deal with.
1.1 - Added ability to use Control codes which are used to improve network
response time and file transfers. StarPort now sends 'BPS 1200' when
logged on at 1200 BAUD. Added ability to abort back to StarPort's menu
when a BBS is busy (F1). Added option to tag up to 10 numbers for
dialing.
1.2 - StarPort can now handle the Starlink Menu Service. Whenever a new
service is added to the Menu, just load STARLINK.MNU into your word
processor and add it to the list. If you are connecting to Galaxy,
StarPort will terminate automatically when it receives the "HOST IS
ON LINE" prompt.
1.3 - Added the Configuration utility which runs automatically if the
STARPORT.CFG is missing or incorrect. If you need to make changes
use the 'CONFIGURATION' option provided in the Maintenance Facility.
Added complete log-on capability for Galaxy. If you have entered
your Galaxy handle and password in STARPORT.CFG, StarPort will log
on and terminate at Galaxy's Top Menu. If you leave the Handle and
Password fields blank, StarPort terminates at the 'HOST IS ONLINE'
message.
StarPort now terminates automatically when it receives the Connect
message from Starlink.
Added Sort option. While online you may sort the BBS list by Port
number, City or Alphabetically.
Expanded the BBS menu to include the Port number and City.
Registered users may now mark up to 20 BBS numbers to dial and
non-registered users may mark 2 numbers.
1.4 - Finally got this sucker to work with Qmodem!! Added some additional
network error trapping, such as the 'Host not available' message
when calling into Galaxy. StarPort now returns you to the BBS menu.
DISTRIBUTION
------------
STARPORT is COPYRIGHTED by Ted Freeman, with all rights reserved.
This program is being distributed via the SHAREWARE concept and as
such, may be copied freely with the following restrictions:
* The program must be supplied in it's original
unmodified form, including documentation.
* STARPORT may not be distributed as part of any
commercial application or service without the
express, written consent of the author.
* Vendors of Shareware/Public Domain software may
not distribute this program without the express,
written consent of the author, unless said Vendor
has been approved by the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).
REGISTRATION
------------
STARPORT represents many hours of programming and the author
deserves just compensation for his time, efforts and expertise.
If you find this program to be of some value and you continue
to use it on your system, you must return the registration form
provided along with the registration fee. The registered version
of StarPort will allow you to tag up to 20 BBS numbers EVEN IF
THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT CITIES! Registration entitles you to free
upgrades via modem from MicroNet's StarPort Conference for a period
of one year. Additional upgrades/support are available at $5.00 per
year. Payments should be made in the form of a check or money order
(do NOT send cash!). Foreign orders must be in U.S. funds drawn on
a U.S. bank.
Suggestions and/or comments may be sent to the address below or
via electronic mail:
Ted Freeman
MicroNet PCBoard Compuserve GEnie
(405) 528-3175 71446,206 THFBOX
(405) 528-8610
----------------------
Starport was created in part with ProWindows *PLUS* - The Professional Software
Development System. For more information on the ProWindows family of products,
write to: Daniel P. Stasinski
Systems Management Consultant
30 North Street
Willits, CA 95490
S T A R P O R T R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M
TO: Ted Freeman Date___/___/___
P.O. Box 83401
Oklahoma City, OK 73148
(Please use capitalization and punctuation where necessary.)
FROM: Name: _____________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City: ______________________ State: __________ ZIP: _______
Phone - Day: ( ) __________ Evening: ( ) __________
SOFTWARE VERSION PRICE
-------- ------- -----
StarPort .......................... 1.4 ................. $19.75
(OK residents add 6% tax) _____
(Foreign orders add $10.00 for shipping) _____
Total $______
F E E D B A C K
---------------
I acquired STARPORT from:
[ ] - A Friend [ ] - Computer Club
[ ] - BBS [ ] - Compuserve
[ ] - GEnie [ ] - Galaxy
[ ] - BIX [ ] - Other
COMMENTS: _____________________________________________________
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