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Text File | 1996-01-28 | 18.5 KB | 523 lines

Release Notes for FaxIt 1.4 =========================== 1. INSTALLATION 1.1 File Contents 1.2 Installing with McLink 1.3 Installing with RCOM 1.4 Installing Manually 1.5 Completing the Installation 1.6 Upgrading from Previous Versions 2. CONFIGURATION 2.1 Setting up the Printer Driver 2.2 Cabling 2.3 Fax Modems 2.4 Troubleshooting Modems 2.5 FaxIt Settings 3. USING FAXIT 3.1 How to Fax a Document 3.2 The FaxIt Main Screen 3.3 The Fax Details Window 3.4 The Diamond Menu 4. SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS 4.1 Disk Space 4.2 System Performance 5. LEGAL DEPARTMENT 5.1 Shareware 5.2 Terms and Conditions 5.3 Acknowledgements 6. SUPPORT 6.1 Support 6.2 History 6.3 Future Development ================================================== 1. INSTALLATION 1.1 File Contents ----------------- The file FAXIT14.ZIP should contain the following files: FAXIT.OPA FAXIT.BIN FAXIT.HLP C2.DRV P_FAXIT.WDR SYS$HELP.OPO INSTFAX.MCL (McLink installation script) INSTFAX.BAT (RCom installation script) FAXIT.TXT (this file) Refer to one of the following 3 sections depending on how you will be copying the files to your Psion. Once the files have been copied across, continue with section 1.5, Completing the Installation. 1.2 Installing with McLink -------------------------- The file INSTFAX.MCL is an MCLINK script. As supplied, it will install FaxIt to drive M:. It also installs the Help files. Modify the script as you wish. To run it, establish communications with the Psion, then from MCLINK, type: @INSTFAX.MCL 1.3 Installing with RCOM ------------------------ The batch file INSTFAX.BAT is an RCOM script. Establish the link to the Psion, then run the batch file giving the Psion drive to install to: e.g. INSTFAX I: Remember that RCOM uses I: to mean the Internal drive, L: to mean the Left SSD drive and R: for the right SSD drive. The FaxIt files will be installed as requested, however the Help overlay (SYS$HELP.OPO) and the printer driver (P_FAXIT.WDR) will be installed to the internal drive (I: or M:). Modify the script if you wish otherwise. 1.4 Installing Manually ----------------------- Copy FAXIT.OPA to the \APP directory on any drive. (Internal/A/B) Create a directory \APP\FAXIT on the same drive Copy C2.DRV and FAXIT.BIN into \APP\FAXIT Copy P_FAXIT.WDR to the \WDR directory on the Internal drive If you wish to install the Help files, copy SYS$HELP.OPO to the \OPO directory on any drive. Copy FAXIT.HLP to the \APP\FAXIT directory where you installed FAXIT.OPA. The help files are entirely optional, and the system will function perfectly well without them if you are short of disk space. You may install them now, then remove them later when you become more familiar with FaxIt. The above files are the program files and must all reside on the same drive. The actual data files will be created by FaxIt and they may or may not be on the same drive as the programs. 1.5 Completing the Installation ------------------------------- Install FAXIT.OPA with the standard Psion-I. The first time you run FaxIt, you will be prompted for the drive on which to install data files. A directory call \FAXIT will be created on this drive. Due to the volatile nature of the fax queue, it is preferable that this not be a Flash SSD. 1.6 Upgrading from Previous Versions of FaxIt --------------------------------------------- If you are upgrading from FaxIt 1.1 or 1.2 you should delete the file FAX.WDR from the \WDR directory on the default drive. The Psion attaches some significance to printer drivers that start with "FAX....." and prevents the Printer device from being changed in the Printer Configuration dialog once this driver has been selected. From FaxIt 1.3, this file has been replaced by an (almost) identical one called P_FAXIT.WDR which does not seem to cause this problem. Upgraders should also note that there is no longer a C2DEBUG.DRV file. The Trace facility is now selected from within the program (Psion-T). 2. CONFIGURATION 2.1 Setting up the Printer Driver --------------------------------- FaxIt works by periodically looking for a print file called FAX.LIS in the \FAXIT data directory. It then renames it out of the way while it is being processed. The easiest way to make this happen is to configure the printer destination. From the System screen, select Psion-Y. Change the printer device to <File>, the File Name to \FAXIT\FAX.LIS. Change the File Disk to the drive where you created the \FAXIT data directory. This changes the default printer destination for all applications. Even if you change it back to <Serial> or <Parallel>, it will still remember the Disk and File Name should you change it back to <File> again later. You will probably print more than you fax, so it makes sense to leave the default printer as Serial or Parallel. You can then change the printer destination temporarily from the Printer Setup of each application (Psion-Y) each time you want to send a fax. This sounds more complicated than it really is. 2.2 Cabling ----------- To connect a fax modem to the Psion, you will need the Psion 3-Link cable and a modem adaptor cable. The modem adaptor cable is normally available from stockists of 3-Link. Alternatively, you can make a simple converter to change the signals from the 3-Link serial cable to those required for your modem. The following cable works in most cases, although you should check your modem manual if you are in any doubt. 3-Link Modem ====== ===== 2 ---------- 3 3 ---------- 2 4 ---------- 5 5 ---------- 4 7 ---------- 7 6 ---------- 20 20 ---------- 6 2.3 Fax Modems -------------- The software has been found to work with the following Class 2/2.0 faxmodems. Please let me know if it works with yours. More importantly, let me know if it doesn't and I'll see what I can do (providing your modem does claim to be Class 2 or 2.0 compatible that is). AIWA WorldComm PV-PFV144 (portable) Andest Roadrunner 14.4 (portable) ASCOM AM2496F Dynalink 1414VQP Express 14.4e GVC 28800 External GVC 24/96 Pocket (portable) Pace Linnet 34fx Pace Microlin FX32+ (portable) Practical Peripherals 14.4 Racal ALM3226 (portable) Repko SL-144.1F SupraFAXModem 14.4 Trust 28800/14400 Data/Fax US Robotics Courier V.32bis Terbo US Robotics Courier Dual Standard V34 US Robotics Sportster 28800 US Robotics Dual Standard Cellular Zoom FaxModem V.34XE 28.8 An up to date list of working (and non-working) modems can be found at the FaxIt Web site. See "Support" below for details. 2.4 Troubleshooting Modems -------------------------- There are two things you can do if you are having problems with your fax modem. Firstly, run "Query Modem" (Psion-Y). This opens the serial port, initialises the fax modem, then tests it for Class 2/2.0 compatibility. If this works you should be able to fax successfully with this modem. For more detailed diagnostics, select "Trace On" (Psion-T), then attempt to send a fax. This creates a file "FAXDUMP" in the \FAXIT data directory which will contain a trace of the conversation between FaxIt and the modem. This file should be plain text, and can be viewed or printed. If you cannot persuade your modem to work, e-mail me this file and I will try to find out why FaxIt is having a problem. The FAXDUMP file is cleared with each fax attempt so it will only ever contain a trace of the last attempt (or the last Query Modem attempt). Psion-T will toggle the Trace setting to "Off". This setting is not saved when you exit FaxIt so Trace will always be set to "Off" when you start up FaxIt. 2.5 FaxIt Settings ------------------ Preferences: Next ID - The next ID number in sequence. Modem initially - <Enabled> or <Disabled>. Set the default state of the modem when you start FaxIt. Automatic F/g - Set to <Yes> to jump to foreground when a fax print file is found Delete Completed- Set to <Yes> to automatically delete Faxes after they have been sent successfully. Set to <No> to leave them on the queue with a time of "Defer". Maintain Log If set to <Yes> FaxIt will maintain a list of completed faxes (successes and failures) in the file "Faxlog" in the \FAXIT directory. At present this is a plain text file which you can edit, print or delete at will. Modem Settings: CUI - Your fax number. This is sent to the receiving fax machine for identification and also appears in the header line of outgoing faxes. Modem Port - Indicates the TTY: device. Set to "A" on a Psion 3a. Modem Init String The initialisation string to send to your fax modem before each fax call. FaxIt sets any modem settings which are important so normally you will not need to put anything special in here. It is best left as "ATZ" which just resets the modem. Dial Prefix - The part of the dial string which must immediately follow the "ATD" command. Use "T" or "D" to force Tone or Pulse dialling. You may also place an outside line prefix such as "9" here if you dial out of a PABX frequently. Max Line Errors - This is the limit of *Error* attempts that FaxIt is allowed before giving up. When exceeded, a fax stays on the queue with a send time of <Defer> until the problem is fixed or the fax is deleted. Note that an *Error* is defined as a communications error such as being cut off, the call is answered but not by a fax machine, or no answer at all. Line engaged is *Not* an Error. Retry Period - The number of minutes that FaxIt should wait before retrying a fax transmission. 3. USING FAXIT 3.1 How to Fax a Document ------------------------- To fax a document from say, the Word application, it is best to select fax output before you start typing, as this sets up the fonts you can use in the document. If you want to fax an existing file, setting the printer destination to FaxIt will convert your existing fonts to their nearest equivalents. To select FaxIt as the destination printer: Select Printer Configuration (Psion-Y) Press <tab> on Printer model and set it to "FaxIt 1.4" Press <tab> on Printer device and change Printer device to "File" Set File: Name to "\FAXIT\FAX.LIS" and Disk to point to whatever you set your FaxIt data drive to be (Internal/A/B) (This is the bit you don't have to do every time if you have set it up in the System screen (above) ). Once you have selected FaxIt as the destination printer, the following fonts are available within your document: Times (9 & 13 point), Helvetica (9 & 13 point) and Courier 7 point The text can be made Bold, Underlined or Italic (Italic is faxed as reversed text,ie white on black, not sloping text). Because FaxIt uses a printer model, *any* 3a application should be able to send faxes, as well as being able to use the standard Print Preview facility. FaxIt only moves the FAX.LIS file out of the way once you have entered a fax number for it. It makes sense to do this immediately after printing to avoid the print file being overwritten. You can set FaxIt to automatically jump to the foreground and prompt for a number as soon as it finds a print file. This is the default behaviour. Once you have entered the fax number (and any other details) the file is saved and queued for transmission. It is then safe to print anything else to the fax print file. FaxIt can be interrupted at most stages during call placement. Press "Esc" and FaxIt will cancel its present activity and return control to the user at the next convenient stage. 3.2 The FaxIt Main Screen ------------------------- The FaxIt screen looks largely like a spreadsheet screen. Each row is a queued fax which may or may not be eligible to be sent now. Up, Down, PgUp and PgDn move the selection box a single item or a page at a time. Home and End go to the top or bottom of the queue respectively. When a fax is highlighted, the following actions may be performed: Del - Delete this item. You will be asked for confirmation. Psion-N - Send Now, regardless of the time it is queued for Psion-D - Defer. This fax will remain on the queue but will not be sent until specifically changed. Useful for queuing up faxes when you don't have access to the modem or a phone line for example. Psion-C - Change the settings using the Fax Details window described above. The Columns of the screen should be largely self explanatory. The Status column is the status of the *last* transmission attempt. If blank, no attempt has been made yet. The T/E column refers to Tries/Errors. Tries is the number of attempts made to send it, Errors is the number of communication failures. This increases until the limit set in Preferences is reached. An engaged number increments the Tries count but not the Error count. 3.3 The Fax Details Window -------------------------- This screen will be presented whenever FaxIt has found a print file to be faxed, or when you change the details of a fax (see below). Fax Number - The fax number! Reference - A reference for you to recognise this fax on the Queue Attention Of - ! This field doesn't do anything yet ! Send When - Set to <Now>, <Defer> (never, unless changed) or <Specify> to set an actual Date/Time 3.4 The Diamond Menu -------------------- Psion-plus enables the fax modem and Psion-minus disables it. Alternatively the Diamond Key toggles between enabled and disabled. The modem will not try to send faxes until it is enabled. This facility can be useful to batch up several faxes. 4. SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS 4.1 Disk Space -------------- The application itself is not very large. Queued faxes are small too, so queuing up a batch of faxes does not take up an undue amount of space. Conversion of the queued fax into a format for transmission can be quite disk hungry however, and can be anything from 10k to 30k per page depending on content. Be aware of this when faxing large documents. 4.2 System Performance ---------------------- Sending a fax to a Group 3 fax machine involves blasting the data down the serial port to your fax modem at 19,200 baud. The fax protocol does not allow for interrupts in transmission, meaning that if ever the modem runs out of data (perhaps because the Psion is doing something else) the fax call will drop and will have to be started over. Task switching while a fax is being transmitted, lowers FaxIt's priority to below the task you switched to. The call will *probably* drop although this does depend on what you switched to, and how much buffer memory your fax modem has. To be absolutely safe, do not task switch while a fax is being sent. 5. LEGAL DEPARTMENT 5.1 Shareware ------------- FaxIt is Shareware. An unregistered version is fully functional, except that it is limited to sending one page. This restriction can be lifted by sending 14UKP (US$20) to the address below, or on Compuserve, GO SWREG to access the Shareware Registration service. FaxIt's Registration ID is 8639. You will then be sent a registration code. You may use the software for 30 days for evaluation purposes after which you must either register it, or remove it from your machine. 5.2 Terms and Conditions ------------------------ FaxIt may be distributed freely providing that a) it is not modified in any way, and b) that this notice forms part of the distribution. Reverse engineering of any component of FaxIt is expressly forbidden. The author and distributors of this software can not be held liable for any damage or loss of data either directly or indirectly, arising from the use of FaxIt. No warranty is either expressed or implied. 5.3 Acknowledgements -------------------- Recognition and gratitude should go to Tom Dolbilin for his OPL Help Subsystem which has contributed to FaxIt looking that little bit more like a professional application. 6. SUPPORT 6.1 Support ----------- A Web page has been created to provide up to the minute information about FaxIt. A list of compatible modems is maintained, as well as facts and fixes for support issues. News about upgrades and up and coming features and a few screen shots are also maintained here too. Alternatively, I can be contacted by e-mail or letter post at the addresses given below. The Web page URL is given at the bottom of this document. Please let me know if you find things in FaxIt that don't work as advertised. That way the software gets fixed sooner. I am also keen to receive feedback about modems which work, and those which don't. 6.2 History ----------- 1.1 First Release 1.2 Fix multi-page problem 1.3 Introduced modem test facility (Psion-Y) Longer timeouts allowed during initialisation phase Copes with modems that supply remote CSI without quotes Trace facility (Psion-T). Internal event handling rewritten 1.4 Fixes another multi-page problem Fixes bug which (very rarely) misses a line from the fax Handles non Class 2 modems Quits tidily if page is wider than faxpaper size 6.3 Future Development ---------------------- This is Version 1.4 of FaxIt. Enhancements are already planned for the future, some of which are described below. Feedback as to how the software might develop is always very welcome. Several short term enhancements will be made to improve the integration with regard to fax numbers. Features such as Data file lookup, Bring and dialling facilities like World should be implemented. Some type of coversheet facility will be created, as well as the ability to call Word directly from within FaxIt. A more user-friendly method of looking at the Log file will also be introduced. Longer term, support will be provided to include .PIC graphics in faxes, and if there is demand, a cleaner range of fonts will be introduced (FaxIt currently uses system fonts in the 3a ROM which were not designed for faxing). Finally, I will be experimenting with receiving faxes. I am not yet convinced that a 3a has the processing power to deal with this however. Walter Wright 1 Deanery Cottage, High Street Sonning, Berkshire RG4 6UP UK Compuserve: 101367,2040 E-mail: 101367.2040@compuserve.com Web Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/WalterWright