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& Introduction to Unicom 3.1
UNICOM is a complete and easy to use data communications
package especially designed for users of the Microsoft
Windows 3.1 operating environment.
Many common communication tasks can be fully automated
such as dialing the host computer, uploading and downloading
multiple files. An advanced script language is provided to
allow automation of your own specialized communication tasks.
In addition, all program features have been designed for
background operation. That is, you can instruct Unicom to
perform a task then switch to another application while Unicom
does it's job.
Built-in are many advanced features only found in software
costing hundreds of dollars more.
Some of the many features include in Unicom are:
MANY POPULAR FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOLS:
X-Y-ZModem , Ymodem Batch, Ymodem-G, ZModem Resume, Kermit,
CompuServe B, QuickB and ASCII. Of these, CompuServe and
Zmodem protocols have been implemented for
automatic uploading and automatic downloading. Zmodem will
now automatically resume an aborted transfer on the next
attempt. External protocols are now supported.
16 COLOR TERMINAL EMULATION WITH SPECIAL ATTRIBUTE SUPPORT.
Emulations include: DEC VT102 (ANSI), DEC VT52, ANSI-BBS and
TTY. Screen fonts, colors and attributes are user
selectable. All your installed Windows fonts are readily
available for use.
AUTO-SENSE 256 COLOR GIF GRAPHICS VIEWER:
GIF graphic images are displayed automatically during
downloading. Images containing up to 256 simultaneous
colors can be viewed (if your video hardware & driver are
capable). Support is provided for receiving CompuServe
interactive GIF images like weather maps and satellite
pictures. On CompuServe, type GO MAPS .
BATCH DIALING DIRECTORY will hold an unlimited number
of entries, maintain statistics, program settings and a
dialing string for each entry. A directory editor is
provided for maintaining the directory. Other than disk
space, there is no limit to the size of your directory
or the number of directories you may have.
HOST MODE allows remote users access to your computer
similar to that of a computer bulletin board. Each user
is assigned an ID and Password. A remote user may upload
and download files, examine directories, change directories,
type files, page the sysop, read messages, write messages,
view the user list or shell to DOS. These capabilities
are enabled or disabled for each user by the host sysop.
The sysop may monitor interaction, log events, operate in
dial-back mode and chat with a remote user.
MODEM DISPLAY LIGHTS have been integrated in to the top
of the Unicom display. These are the same lights built-in
to the more advanced external modems. These indicators
give you a visual clue to the physical state of your
communications link.
A SCROLLBACK BUFFER that can hold up to 1500 lines of
information is provided. The user may examine the
contents of this buffer with the use of the built-in
horizontal and vertical scroll bars.
The scrollback buffer can be integrated into the window
display or remain hidden until it is needed.
WINSCRIPT WINDOWS SCRIPT LANGUAGE.
Programmers may customize Unicom and automate many
communication tasks. WinScript is 'C - like' in design
and provides over 200 statementsand commands including
support for conditional program control. Many functions
that take advantage of the Windows environment are provided.
SCRIPT RECORDING CAPABILITY can be used to create command
files automatically as you interact with a remote host
computer.
SCRIPT SCHEDULING allows up to eight WinScript command
files to be executed at specific days and times.
Programming the scheduler is just like programming your VCR.
DDE SERVER CAPABILITY
Other Windows applications that support DDE may exchange
information with Unicom using a DDE link. Unicom can
receive and execute commands from DDE client applications.
A client application may instruct Unicom to execute a
specific WinScript file, WinScript command line, hot
key, macro or external application. A client application
can retrieve the contents of script variables or be advised
when they change.
DOWNLOAD FILE PROCESSOR
Unicom can be setup to watch for incoming files with a
specific extension then invoke a utility to process the
file after it is received. For example, all .ZIP files
can be unzipped by Unicom after downloading. Each file
type may be processed automatically or interactively via
a queue control. Any DOS or Windows utility can be setup
to process specific incoming file types.
16550 UART FIFO TRIGGER CONTROL & I/O PRIORITY CONTROL
Unicom allows 16550 users to select the FIFO trigger level.
An I/O priority control allows the user to control the amount
of processing time Unicom receives during file transfers.
A Convenient SCREEN TOOLBAR provides 3-d icon pushbuttons
that give you quick access to many of UNICOM's menu selected
features.
A CUSTOM ICON BAR allows you to add your own icons to the
Unicom display screen. These icons may be setup to activate
other applications, run scripts, execute macros, hot keys or
external protocols.
EASY SCREEN EDITING. Highlight text on the screen using the
mouse. You may then copy this selected text to the clipboard,
erase it, mark as a file or send it back to the host. A file marker
feature is built-in to let you highlight filenames off the
screen then transmit them to the host when you are prompted.
EXTERNAL PROTOCOL SUPPORT
Unicom is now compatible with most all external protocols.
Unicom can be configured to detect specific upload
and/or download signatures then invoke the protocol.
Any number of external file transfer protocols may be added.
INT 14 AND EXTERNAL I/O DRIVER SUPPORT
Unicom can be adapted to special I/O hardware. A user may
develop a special Windows DLL driver to allow Unicom to
communicate with any special device. An INT 14 driver is
included with Unicom. This INT-14 driver allows Unicom to
be used on many networks.
& What's New In Unicom 3.1
DDE SERVER SUPPORT:
Unicom can now exchange data with other
Windows applications that support Dynamic Data
Exchange (DDE). Unicom operates as a server and can
receive commands to provide data, run scripts, execute
specific WinScript commands at the request of another
application supporting DDE.
MODEM INDICATOR LIGHTS
Eleven modem indicator lights and 2 program
indicator lights are integrated into the display.
Internal modem users now have a visual reference
as to the state of the modem. Common modem indicators
are displayed which include: Receive Data (RD),
Send Data (SD), Carrier Detect(CD), Off Hook (OH),
Auto Answer (AA), Terminal Ready (TR), Modem Ready (MR),
Request to Send (RS), Clear to Send (CS), High Speed (HS)
and Ring Indicator (RI).
The two program indicator lights include DDE and FIFO.
The DDE light is active when Unicom is providing
services to another Windows application via a
DDE link. If Unicom detects a 16550 uart as your active
computer port, the FIFO indicator will light if the port is set
for buffered operations.
AUTOMATIC 256 COLOR GIF GRAPHICS VIEWER
Unicom will automatically display GIF files
during downloading using X-Y-Z or CompuServe
protocols. Images up to 256 colors are supported if your
video driver and hardware are capable. This feature is
invoked automatically as Unicom will sense the GIF file
extension. Also, this feature is activated for on-
line viewing when Unicom receives a CompuServe
interactive terminal command.
The graphic image is displayed in a pop up - sizable
window containing horizontal and vertical scroll bars. You
may adjust the size of the window and scroll any part of the
incoming image into view.
CompuServe color weather maps can now be easily viewed
interactively. At the CompuServe prompt type: GO MAPS.
USERS MAY CUSTOMIZE UNICOM WITH THEIR OWN ICONS
Users may add their own custom icons to a scrollable icon
bar. These icons may be defined to activate programs, hot
keys, scripts, external protocols, or keyboard macros.
There is no limit to the number of icons a user can define.
If all the icons cannot be displayed, a mini scroll bar
appears to allow the user to scroll through to find the
desired icon. This feature is in addition to Unicoms
predefined icon toolbar built-in to the top of the screen.
INT 14 SUPPORT VIA DLL DRIVER
Unicom comes equipped with a driver that will support
INT-14 networks (including modem sharing). This driver
supports baud rates up to 9600.
EXTERNAL PROTOCOL SUPPORT
You can add any number of external protocols to Unicom
via a simple setup screen. Automatic uploading and
downloading are supported. Just enter the specific upload
and/or download signature sequence. Unicom will
automatically sense any signature and then initiate the
external protocol automatically. This will support most all
external protocols including HSLINK.
AUTOMATIC ZMODEM UPLOADING VIA DRAG & DROP
Drag files from the Windows 3.1 file manager and
drop them on Unicom. A window appears containing a list
of files waiting to be uploaded. When you have finished
dropping files onto Unicom, instruct your host computer to
receive a Zmodem batch upload. Unicom will
automatically sense when the remote host is ready to
receive the files and begins transmission on its own.
DOWNLOAD FILE PROCESSOR
This feature allows you to automatically post
process files that have been received. For example, you
can instruct Unicom to automatically unzip each file
downloaded with a .ZIP extension after it is received.
Two processing methods are supported: Via interactive
queue control or automatic execution after each file is
received.
ADVANCED SETUP: 16550 TRIGGER CONTROL & I/O
PRIORITY CONTROL.
The Windows 3.1 comm driver supports the 16550
uart device but provides no control of the size of the fifo
trigger. Microsoft sets the trigger at 14 which can be too
small at the higher baud rates to prevent data overflow.
Unicom allows you to set the size of this trigger to all
possible settings.
The I/O priority control allows you to tune
Unicom to obtain the fastest possible file transfer
performance from your computer.
NEW SCRIPT COMMANDS
These predefined variables allow a script writer to access
the directory fields of the last directory entry dialed.
DIRNAME, DIRPHONE, DIRDIALSTRING, DIRBAUD,
DIRSCRIPT, DIRPASSWORD, DIRTERMINAL,
DIRSESSIONS & DIRLASTONDATE
AUTOMATIC ZMODEM RESUME FEATURE
Zmodem Resume (also called Zmodem crash recovery) was
a manual operation in previous Unicom releases. Now,
Unicom will automatically compare the file date and size
of an existing file to that of the sender. If the host file is
larger and of the same date, Unicom will start the transfer
at the point where the previous attempt left off.
FILE MARKER SEND ALL FEATURE
The ALL feature transmits all filenames from the file
marker list box (space delimited) then sends a CR. This
makes it easy to specify all your selected files to a remote
host that prompts you for multiple files.
EXTERNAL I/O DRIVER SUPPORT COMPATIBLE
WITH PROCOMM DLC DRIVERS
Unicom can be adapted to support special I/O hardware.
By developing a Windows DLL according to Procomms
DLC specification, Unicom can be adapted to any special
devices. The INT-14 driver provided with Unicom
illustrates this capability.
POWER SCROLL FEATURE
Unicom can now scroll over 10 times faster than earlier
releases. Thanks to a new power scroll feature, Unicom
can display incoming text to the screen at any baud rate
without concern as to the performance of your video
hardware.
PREDEFINED MODEM SETUP STRINGS
Unicom now provides custom modem setup strings for over
100 different modems from various manufacturers. A
manual modem setup screen is provided for modems we do
not specifically support.
RUNNING ON-LINE $ CONNECTION CHARGE METER
Unicom will automatically calculate and display your
hourly connection charges while on-line to pay services
every 2 seconds. Hourly rate information is stored
in Unicoms dialing directory for each system you define.
PUSH-BUTTON PHONE DIALER
A new gee whiz push-button telephone dialer has
been added. You can just dial the phone with your mouse
or, if you prefer, manually enter the numbers from the
keypad.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
User Selectable Comm Port Receive and Transmit Buffer
Sizes. You may now specify the size of the interrupt
receive and transmit queues utilized by the Windows
communications driver. Unicoms comm port setup
window provides selectable buffer sizes as follows:
Unicom previously used a predefined buffer size -
overriding any system.ini setting.
Receive Buffer 4k, 8k, 16k, 24k
Transmit Buffer 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k
New ^ Character Prefix
You may directly specify all 256 ASCII characters by using
the ^ prefix character followed by the decimal number.
For example to specify a DEL character (255) in the
keyboard macro editor, just enter ^255 in the description
field for the key being defined.
Host Mode Improvements
Access levels (1-3) have been replaced by privileges you
specify in the host user setup screen. In this screen you
establish privileges for each user by selecting
the appropriate checkbox for the following operations:
Upload File, Download File, Change Directories, Type
Files, List Directories, Shell to DOS, Page Sysop, Read
Messages, Write Messages, Examine the User List
ist. On-line time limits and Dial back operation settings
are now part of each user setup.
Host mode will now detect a loss of modem carrier and
terminate any active modem session.
Screen Editing Time Saver
You can highlight a block of text on the screen as always
then copy or paste it. Now you may click the mouse on a
word - Unicom will highlight the entire word.
You may paste or send the highlighted text by clicking the
right mouse button. A carriage return will be automatically
appended to the transmitted text.
MISC FEATURES AND CHANGES
~ characters may be embedded in the modem init string
to add a .5 second delay.
Host mode should detect DTR drop at any time during a
session and then wait for another login.
The Elapsed timer now keys on DTR when the port is set
to a modem connection.
& Packing List
UNICOM 3.1 is distributed in 2 ways.
Public distribution via zip files or
on disk in a compressed file. Both
are identical in content.
Public Distribution via Electronic Services:
UC31-1.zip Complete distribution w/o help
UC31-2.zip UNICOM Help (UNICOM.HLP)
On Disk from Data Graphics:
UC31.EXE Self Extracting Archive
of the Complete Distribution
READ.ME Instructions for Extraction
When you unpack these files,
it should contain the same files as below:
-------- On disk from Data Graphics ------
UNICOM.EXE - UNICOM executable program
UNICOM.FON - fonts for vt100 and BBS
UNICOM.SND - user changable music file
UNICOM.KEY - example keyboard macro file
UNICOM.CFG - example program configuration
UNICOM.DIR - example dialing directory
UNICOM.XLT - example translation table
UNICOM.HLP - UNICOM Windows Help
UNICOM.MNU - example Utility menu
UC31ORDR.WRI - order form in write format
UC31ORDR.TXT - order from in text format
UC31READ.ME - UNICOM 3.1 release notes
PLAYNOTE.SCR - Example Script Files
BITBLT.SCR ""
GDI.SCR ""
LINES.SCR ""
SETPIXEL.SCR ""
MODEMREG.SCR ""
COMPUSRV.SCR ""
PCMAGNET.SCR ""
MCI.SCR ""
UNICOM.MNU ""
ELLIPSE.SCR ""
RBBS.SCR ""
OPUS.SCR ""
PCBOARD.SCR ""
WILDCAT.SCR ""
SRCHLITE.SCR ""
REMOTACC.SCR ""
UCINT14.DLC - Int 14 Support DLL
UCVIEWER.EXE - Unicom 3.1 GIF Viewer
MODEMS.DAT - Predefined Modem Setup File
PRO2UNI.EXE - Procom 1.0 to Unicom directory
converter utility.
& HOW TO ORDER UNICOM
TO REGISTER QUICKLY: order by phone!
To get registered immediately, just
call (206)432-1201 anytime between 9am and
5pm Pacific time weekdays.
Have your VISA or MasterCard Ready.
You will be issued a temporary registration
number over the phone.
BY FAX: send your completed order form to
Data Graphics fax at (206)432-8673 (24hrs)
BY MAIL: Enclose payment and mail to:
Data Graphics
P.O. Box 58517
Renton,WA 98058
U.S.A.
European Distribution:
You may also order the
latest registered Unicom
version from:
CDV Software
Ettlinger Strasse 5
7500 Karlsruhe 1
Germany
(0721)/2 22 95 voice
(0712)/2 23 14 fax
& Unicom Tech Support Hotline
Technical support is available for registered users
only. Please call our voice support hotline from 9am-4pm
weekdays Pacific time. Have your license key
(found in your manual) ready when you call.
Because of the great number of written inquiries
we receive, we ask that you call when you need
prompt support. If this is not possible, you may
obtain support via email as shown below:
Foreign customers may obtain support via
CompuServe by sending Email to:
71631,464. Internet users may contact us
at 71631.464@CompuServe.com
BEFORE CALLING:
1) Please check the question and answer section
of the online help (and in your manual) for
answers to commonly asked questions.
2) So that we may help you more efficiently,
please have the answers to the following
questionaire ready when you call:
TECH SUPPORT QUESTIONAIRE:
What version of Unicom are you using? ____________ (examples:3.0h, 3.0c, 3.1?)
(The file About Box indicates your version of Unicom)
What problem or difficulty are you having with the software?
Have you checked your computer for an IRQ conflict?(Y/N) ___________
Can you reproduce the problem?____________
If so, what steps did you perform?
Please provide a description of your computer hardware:
CPU (286,386SX,386DX,486) _________
CPU Clock Speed (MHZ) _________ MHZ
Installed Memory(MB) _________ MB
Video Adapter Brand Name _________
Video Resolution (640x480, 800x600...) _________ pixels
Was your video driver provided by Microsoft? ______________
Number of comm ports in your computer __________
(Even if the port exists but is not attached to anything
it can interfere with an internal modem or another comm port.
Please check your computer to be sure)
Are you using an Internal Modem? __________
& Where to Find the latest UNICOM
UNICOM may be found on CompuServe in the
following forums: ZENITH, WINADV, IBMCOM, MSOPSYS
Browse the forum shareware or new uploads library
using the keyword "UNICOM".
If you do not have access to this service,
Unicom may be found on the following BBS:
Pacific NW IBM PC Users Group (206)728-7085
If this BBS is not in operation, please
contact Data Graphics
European customers: please contact CDV Software
for further information at (0721)/2 22 95
& Why Register Unicom ?
Unicom blows the commerical comm packages away
when it comes to price, performance and features.
This product would not have been possible were it
not for the many thousands who registered previous
versions of Unicom.
By registering, you get the latest version of Unicom on disk,
a 150+ page owners manual, unlimited phone tech support,
free maintenance updates (posted on CompuServe)
and special pricing on future releases of our software.
As a customer, you have a direct role in the development of
this software. If there is a feature you don't see in Unicom,
you can reach me by phone and give me your suggestion
directly. If the suggestion sounds like a winner , there is
an excellent chance your idea will be implemented.
Try doing that with the developers of a commercial software.
Your support is greatly appreciated and I will continue to
do my best to deliver top-notch communication software for
Windows.
Thank You.
David Gan / Unicom Author
(206)432-1201
& Updating From An Earier Release?
Updating to Unicom 3.1 requires that
you copy the following new files
over the old installed files of the same
name:
UNICOM.EXE
UNICOM.HLP
UNICOM.CFG
Update Procedure:
1) Make a backup copy of your dialing directories.
2) Copy the above files off the distribution disk
into the directory containing your previous
Unicom software.
3) Copy the following new files into your Unicom
directory:
UCINT14.DLC
UCVIEWER.EXE
MODEMS.DAT
Copy any .SCR script file you would like.
NOTE: Make sure not to start Unicom 3.1 with any
UNICOM.CFG file created by any previous
Unicom version.
Installation of this update will require
that you re-configure all your program
settings. Re-check (and if necessary -
re-configure) each Unicom setup
screen listed in the setup menu.
& Release Notes
1) The manual does not describe the Attribute
Override option in the terminal setup
window.
When you activate the Attribute Override
button from the terminal setup window,
three checkboxes will be displayed with
the following options.
Display Bold As Normal:
If checked, Unicom disables display
of bold characters. Bold does not
look crisp on many displays.
Display Italics as Normal:
Unicom translates blinking into Italics
since blinking is not supported.
If checked, Italics will not be displayed.
Dim Background Colors
If checked, the background colors will
always be dimmer that the foreground
colors. If unchecked, Unicom will
display the background using the same
colors as used for the foreground
characters.