Virtual Access Read Me

Welcome to Virtual Access
Thank you for downloading Virtual Access the best integrated Offline Reader in the World from Atlantic Coast plc.  

Virtual Access will give you access to Internet Usenet Email and newsgroups as well as CompuServe’s Mail, Forums and News areas and CIX. Virtual Access is a dedicated Offline Reader (OLR).  What that means is Virtual Access connects, posts your mail and messages, collects waiting mail and messages from the areas that you are interested in, gets offline and lets you read and reply to the collected messages at your leisure. 

About Virtual Access.
There are two major versions of Virtual Access, they share many general features the interface between the two is almost identical.  Below we outline the major differences. 
Virtual Access Single User 
This is intended for the single user, this allows you to have up to two logons, only one of which can be using Virtual Access at a time.  These two logons are admin and default - if you don’t do anything then you will be using admin at all times.  
Virtual Access Multiple User 
This allows you to have almost any number of people use it concurrently (at the same time), from a small group (1-5) to a large group (> 250).  Virtual Access also has local mail, advanced user management and local conferencing and includes the PlusPack as standard.

The shareware/evaluation versions of Virtual Access are almost the same as the full versions, the only difference are as follows:
1)	They have a reminder message about registering Virtual Access at startup.  
2)	They will time out after 45 different days of use (if you don’t run Virtual Access on a day then it does not count against this limit).

Support
Support for Virtual Access is provided in newsgroups/forum/conference areas via the online systems that we are present on.
Internet
Email to support@atlantic-coast.com
CompuServe
We can be found in the VACCESS forum.  Section 1 is for installation issues, section 2 is for more general assistance, section 3 for comms related issues.
CIX
We can be found in the ASHMOUNT (or for registered users the REG_ASHMOUNT) conference.

Support by email and telephone is available at our discretion to those who have not purchased Virtual Access

Winsock Configuration, RAS and Similar Issues
Virtual Access can use Winsock/RAS/Dial Up Networking to connect to your various online services, and this is our recommended connection method.  
However it is up to you to configure your Winsock correctly, to respond to auto-dial etc. 
The golden rule to remember is that If VA makes the connection then VA will break the connection.  If you start the connection, then you have to break the connection.

Installation Issues for Previous Users of Virtual Access
Please refer to the file install.txt for details about these issues

Purchasing Virtual Access
You can order Virtual Access by a number of means.  Probably the easiest way is to do it via the secure web server
http://www.atlantic-coast.com/cgi-bin/sellonline/register.htm
We have also provided a Purchase Wizard that will ask for the relevant details and (optionally) encrypt them for greater security then send us an email containing that.  There is an icon for this in the Virtual Access group and you can also start it from the menus Help, Purchase this Copy (or by pressing Purchase on the nag dialog as you start Virtual Access).

Contact Details
Mail:	Atlantic Coast plc
	The Shareware Village
	Colyton
	Devon
	England EX13 6HA

Tel:	+44 (0)1297 552222

Fax:	+44 (0)1297 553366

Email:	sales@atlantic-coast.com

Web:	http://www.soft-shop.com