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1 .G.COVER.SCR;5.9";4.4";Capture COMMUNICATE! Communication Software for Searching On-Line Databases 2 COMMUNICATE! Version 3.31 Copyright 1989 By David L. Trafton & Allen R. MacDonald 3 CONTENTS page I. Introduction to COM 1. COM ....................................... 1 2. This Manual ............................... 3 II. Main Menu ........................................ 4 III. Directory ........................................ 9 IV. Calling ......................................... 13 V. On-Line ......................................... 15 1. Menu Bar ................................. 16 2. Moving Through the Incoming Data Buffer .. 19 3. Options Not Shown On the Menu Bar ........ 20 A. Help Screen .................... 20 a. Macros ............... 20 b. Highlighted Word ..... 21 c. Smooth Scrolling ..... 22 4. Next Document / Previous Document (APS)... 22 VI. Printing ........................................ 23 VII. Saving .......................................... 24 4 CONTENTS page VIII. APPENDIX A Directory Editing 1. Editing in General ....................... 25 2. Items in the Record ...................... 26 A. Serial Port & Pulse or Tone .... 26 B. Name of Data Service C. Phone Number of Service D. Bit-Word-Stop-Parity E. Echo F. Line edit Mode ................. 27 G. Logon Macro H. Logoff Macro ................... 29 I. User Programmed Macros 3. Current Record Settings .................. 30 IX. APPENDIX B Smooth Scrolling .................... 33 1. EGA or VGA 2. CGA or MCGA 3. Monochrome 4. Control Keys & Notes X. APPENDIX C Screen Colors 1. Color Card & Color Monitor ............... 35 2. Color Card & Monochrome Monitor .......... 36 XI. APPENDIX D Highlighting ........................ 37 1. APS 2. Other Databases XII. APPENDIX E Distribution Information ............ 38 5 I. Introduction to COM 1. COM COM is a communication program designed specifically for on-line database searching using an IBM compatible computer. All currently available commercial software includes one or two features which are useful in on-line searching. However, all commercial software is designed primarily for file transfer and any features which are useful in on-line searching were not intended for that purpose. COM, which was written by patent examiners for their own use, includes all of the useful features for on-line searching found in commercial software. In addition, COM includes features which can not be found in any commercial communications software. FEATURES - Less than 64k of code (the program size), this optimizes processing speed. - Automatically allocates all unused memory as a data storage buffer for all incoming data (usually more than 400k which translates into about 200 screens of text). 6 - Ease of use - Two keystrokes or less are needed to access any of up to 9 different on-line databases. - Pre-written logon procedures for APS, INPADOC, DIALOG, and ORBIT (only passwords, IDs, and Phone Numbers need to be added). - The last 80 data entries which were sent to the database can be automatically saved, retrieved, edited, and sent again. - Each saved entry must be longer than 5 characters and less than 256 characters. - Highlighting on APS (real highlighting, not star highlighting). - Selecting for highlighting on any database a string of up to 10 characters. - Smooth scrolling on EGA and VGA monitors. - Numerous other standard features. - Macros - Selectable colors - Printing - Saving to disk 7 2. This Manual Any characters that appear between < > stand for a single key on the keyboard of your computer, for example <Esc> or <Enter>. Note: <Esc> is used to escape from any lower level part of this software to a higher level. 8 II. Main Menu .G.C:\WORD5\FIG1.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 1. Main Menu Type COM and push <Enter>. Figure 1 shows the screen that appears first when COM is run. Each letter that is surrounded by parenthesis is the key to be pushed in order to select that option. The options will now be explained: T - This key will cause the program to enter the terminal mode and is used infrequently by the average user. These infrequent uses are explained in full in later sections. Push <T> to view the Terminal Mode. Now push <Esc> to return to the Main Menu. O - For expert users (included to standardize COM) A - For expert users (included to standardize COM) D - This key causes a listing of the database Directory Records to be placed on the screen. Push <D>. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG2.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 2. List of Directory Records Once the list of Directory Records is shown the number of the Directory Record to be 9 selected is pushed to view the contents of that Record. Push <1> and the first Record will appear. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG4.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 3. The APS Record See sections III and VIII for a full explanation of the Directory Records. Push <Esc> to return to the Main Menu. Note that the highlighted Directory Name on the Main Menu is now APS. By going to the APS Record and back to the Main Menu, the APS Record replaced the Standard Record as the current active Record. 10 C - This is the key that is used most frequently. Push <C> and a listing of the currently available databases is shown on the screen. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG5.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 4. Calling Selection List DO NOT SELECT ANY OF THESE NUMBERS!! Before any calls can be made your logon ID, password, and phone number most be added to the Records (See section III). Push <Esc> to return to the Main Menu. R - This key is used when you wish to call using the currently active Directory Record (the one highlighted on the Main Menu). Q - Quits the program and erases all the incoming data currently in the data buffer. 11 Note that the last three lines of the main Menu show: 1) The current active Directory Record; 2) The communication settings; and 3) The size of the data buffer in which incoming data can be stored (divide this number by 2 to determine how many screens of text can be buffered). 12 III. Directory We are at the Main Menu (if not push <esc> until it appears). Now push <D> to get the Directory Record listing. Now push <0> (zero). Figure 5 should be seen. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG3.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 5. Record No. 0 This screen contains two types of information. The first two lines (Serial Port & Pulse or Tone) are used as settings for all of the Records. The remaining lines are the values to be used by Record No. 0 when it is used to enter the terminal mode. Record No. 0 is used when one wishes to manually dial a database or to manually access the modem. Now change the serial port. Push the Backspace key. The number 1 should be erased. Type 2 in its 13 place. Now push the left arrow key to move the cursor under the 2. Push the <Del> key. This is the second way to edit an entry. Push <1>. Push the left arrow again. Now push <2>. Notice that it has no effect. This is because all of the highlighted spaces (one) are already full and there is no place to put the 2. Push <Enter>. This will highlight the second item. Now push the up arrow, and then push the down arrow. These keys are used to move up and down in the Record. To exit an item without saving changes to the item push <Esc> while the item is still highlighted. To exit the Record and SAVE all changes in the Record. Either, 1) move to the last item in the Record by using the down arrow or the <Enter> key, then push <Enter>; or 2) push the down arrow or <Enter> once, then push <Esc>. The changes in the Record will then be saved. Push <Esc>. Push <D>. Push the number of the Record for any database that you use. The screen should now resemble the following screen. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG4.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 6. The APS Record Notice that the Serial Port and (Pulse or Tone) items are not accessible. These items can only be changed on the Standard Record (Record No. 0) and it in turn sets these two items in all the other Records. A 14 detailed explanation of each item can be found in Appendix A. Push <enter> until the Phone Number is Highlighted. Backspace over the current number and then enter the correct Phone Number. NOTE THAT THE AUTOMATIC LOGON MACROS INCLUDED IN THE RECORDS ARE MEANT FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING: APS - Patent & Trademark Employees only. INPADOC - TYMNET connection. DIALOG - DIALNET connection. ORBIT - TYMNET connection. THE AUTOMATIC LOGON MUST BE MODIFIED IF YOU WISH TO USE A DIFFERENT CONNECTION SERVICE. See Section VIII. Now push <Enter> until the Logon line is highlighted. Push the left arrow until the cursor is under the first capital X in the Logon macro. Delete each of the capital X's using the <Del> key (be careful not to delete the enter symbol at the end of the X's). Now type in your Logon ID. Move the cursor to the first capital Y. Delete the Y's. Insert your password. Now push <Enter> until the Record is saved. 15 IV. Calling Assuming that you have successfully entered your ID and password, that the serial port in Record No. 0 is correct, and that your modem is properly connected, then you are ready to call the Database. Push <C> and the screen shown in Figure 4 should appear. Now push the number of the Record into which you have inserted your ID and password. A screen similar to the screen shown in Figure 7 will appear. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG6.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 7. Dialing This Figure appears because COM has loaded the selected Record, has entered the terminal mode, and has started to call the selected database. STEP 1: If the second line is shown on the screen do not touch any key until the database is fully logged on and its prompt appears. If you have touched a key, then do step 3 below or continue to the logon manually if you know how. If you have successfully logged on go to step 8. STEP 2: If the second line does not appear then COM is not properly accessing the modem (the modem places this line on the screen). 16 STEP 3: Push <F9> to hang-up. Wait 5 seconds. Push <Esc> and push <R> to redial. If you successfully logon go to step 8. STEP 4: If this does not work and you have an external modem, then turn the modem off, then on. Now redial. If you successfully logon go to step 8. STEP 5: If you are still not on-line, then you may be using the wrong serial port. Push <Esc>, then <D>, then <0> (zero). Change 1 to 2. Push <Enter> until the Record is SAVED. Push <C> and select the database again. If you successfully logon go to step 8. STEP 6: If you are still not calling the database repeat steps 3 and 4 above. STEP 7: If you are still not getting through, first read section VIII. Then recheck the Record to see if everything is correctly set. STEP 8: If you are on-line and ready to search see Section V. 17 V. On-Line Note: If you accidentally exit the terminal mode and end up at the Main Menu, as long as the active database highlighted on the Main Menu is one which you are using, push <T> to return to the on-line terminal. Should the active database highlighted on the Main Menu be incorrect, push <C> and then push the database's number on the call list. COM will reset to the correct settings for the selected database and will try to call the database. However, since you are already connected to the database, it will get the dialing instructions meant for the modem. This is usually harmless and the database merely responds that it does not understand the instruction and gives you a new prompt. 18 1. The Menu Bar Now that you are on-line, you need to know how to use the Menu Bar shown on the bottom of the screen. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG7.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 8. The Menu Bar <F2> Echo Toggles the echo on and off. Echo means that the computer shows each keystroke that you type on the screen. This toggle is useful because some databases send back each keystroke they receive and some databases do not. If you see two of each keystroke appearing on the screen, then turn off the Echo. If you do not see any of the keystrokes, then turn on the Echo. 19 <F3> Mark Marks sections of the text in the data buffer for printing or saving to disk. Simply follow the instructions that appear on the Menu Bar after <F3> is pushed. <F5> PrtOFF Toggles the printer on and off. Incoming data is sent directly to the printer. <F6> No Save Toggles the disk on and off. Incoming data is sent directly to the disk to be saved. The software places the data in a file called TMP1.$$$ or in a file whose number is the next in order after the highest TMP.$$$ file on the disk. <F7> Line Toggles between the Line and Key modes. A. Line Mode This mode means that any entry (everything shown on the screen prior to the enter key being pushed) that is longer than 5 characters will be saved when the enter key is pushed. Nothing in the entry is sent to the database until the enter key is pushed. Therefor, the entry may be freely edited prior to being sent. Any of the last 80 20 prior entries can be recalled by pushing <Ins>, and then using the up and down arrows to cycle back and forth through the prior entries. The prior entry which is shown on the screen can be edited and entered (sent and saved) again. B. Key Mode In the Key mode nothing is saved and each keystroke is sent to the database as soon as the key is pressed. <F8> Logoff Sends whatever Logoff routine you have programmed on the Directory Record for the active database. Nothing will be sent if nothing was programmed. <F9> Hang-up This is self-explanatory. <F10> Break Tells the database to stop whatever it is doing. Some databases respond very quickly to this instruction. However, others such as ORBIT are very slow to respond. 21 2. Moving Through the Incoming Data Buffer The following keys are used to look at data that has already been placed in the data buffer. <PgUp> <PgDn> <Home> <End> <up arrow> (scrolls up one line) <down arrow> (scrolls down one line) The data already in the data buffer may be printed out (see Section VI) or may be saved to disk (see Section VII). 22 3. Options Not Shown On the Menu Bar A. Help Screen Push <F1> to display the Help screen. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG8.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 9. The Help Screen a. Macros This screen shows the macros that are available in the active database. The macros cannot be edited from this screen. A macro can be sent simply by pushing the key combination assigned to the macro. For example, push <Alt> and <F1> at the same time. The macros can be sent either while you are looking at the Help screen (pushing the key combination exits the Help screen and sends the macro) or while you are at the database prompt. 23 b. Highlighted Word (text and/or character string) Push <Alt> and <A> at the same time. This will open a 10 character long buffer (10 bytes) in which you can store any string of up to 10 characters. The program will look at the data as it comes into the data buffer and every time it finds a matching string of characters in the incoming data, that matching string will be highlighted. The matching is not case sensitive. Therefore, if you want the word computer to be highlighted, then the program will highlight such words as computer, computers, Computer, COMPUTERIZED, microcomputer, and CoMpUtEr. WARNING: THIS FEATURE SHOULD NOT BE USED WITH THE AUTOMATED PATENT SYSTEM (APS) AS IT CAN CONFLICT WITH THE HIGHLIGHTING THAT APS ALREADY PROVIDES. <Alt> <Z> is used to clear the character string from the 10 byte storage buffer. See Appendix D for more on highlighting. 24 c. Smooth Scrolling On EGA and VGA This is merely a reminder list showing the available commands for using smooth scrolling. See Appendix B for a detailed description of Smooth Scrolling. 4. Next Document / Previous Document (APS only) <F4> Next Document <Shift> <F4> Previous Document Before this feature can be used APS must first be sent a display command, for example: d L9 cit,ab,kwic 23 COM is able to recognize the "d " at the beginning and saves this command. When <F4> is pushed COM will tell APS to stop sending document number 23 and to start sending document 24. In order for COM to recognize and use the display command, the command must start with "d " and end with either a single number (which is used as the starting number) or no number (in this case "1" is used as the starting number). Plural numbers or a range of numbers are treated as no number, i.e. these commands are run correctly by APS but Next/Previous document will not work. 25 VI. Printing 1. Directly From the Incoming Stream of Data <F5> PrtOFF/Prt ON This key toggles the printer on and off. Any incoming data is sent to both the printer and the data buffer. 2. From the Data Buffer <F3> Mark By following the instructions that appear on the Menu Bar after <F3> has been pushed the user can mark any portion of the data buffer to be printed. 26 VI. Saving to Disk PLEASE NOTE: MANY DATABASES REQUIRE SPECIAL PERMISSION BEFORE A USER CAN SAVE ANY INFORMATION FROM THE DATABASE IN A MACHINE READABLE FORM (e.g. on a computer disk). BEFORE USING THE SAVE FEATURE CHECK THE RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PARTICULAR DATABASE WHICH YOU ARE USING. 1. Directly From the Incoming Stream of Data <F6> Save/No Save This key toggles the save to disk on and off. Any incoming data is sent to both the disk and the data buffer. Note that both the printer and the disk can be active at the same time The name of file into which information is saved begins with TMP, ends with a $$$ extension, and has a number in the middle. Once a file is opened this same file will be used to save information each time <F6> is toggled (until returning to the Main Menu at which time the file is closed). 2. From the Data Buffer <F3> Mark By following the instructions that appear on the Menu Bar after <F3> has been pushed the user can mark any portion of the data buffer to be saved to disk. 27 VIII. Appendix A Directory Editing 1. Editing in General From the Main Menu push <D>. This will bring up the list of Database Directory Records. Select one of the Records and push it number. The following keys are used in the editing of entries in the Record: <up arrow> moves up to the next editable item. <down arrow> moves down to the next editable item. If the Last item on the Record is the currently highlighted item, then the down arrow will cause an exit from the Record to the Main Menu without saving any changes to the Record. <Enter> is the same as the down arrow, except that if the Last item is highlighted, then <Enter> causes an exit with all of the changes to the Record being SAVED. <Esc> exits the Record and saves all changes made prior to the last pressing of <Enter>. <Backspace> moves the cursor back one space and erases the character currently at that location. 28 <left arrow> moves the cursor back one space but does not erase the character currently at that location. <right arrow> Same as the left arrow but in the opposite direction. <Del> Deletes the character at the current cursor location 2. Items In the Record A. Serial Port & Pulse or Tone (can be set in the Record No. 0 only). B. Name of the service. This can be used to place a call directly from the DOS command line by typing COM, the a space, and then the service name, for example COM APS. C. Phone number of the service. D. The next four items (Bit-Word-Stop-Parity) are all standard communication control items. The current settings are correct for most databases. E. Echo (Y/N) Specifies what setting to use at startup. Echo means that each keystroke that you enter will be shown on the screen by your computer. Some databases do this for you. Whether you 29 need this or not can be seen once you logon and type in a few keystrokes. F. Line edit Mode (Y/N) Specifies what setting to use at startup. YES = Line edit Mode. This mode means that any entry (everything shown on the screen prior to the enter key being pushed) that is longer than 5 characters will be saved when the enter key is pushed. Nothing in the entry is sent to the database until the enter key is pushed. Therefor, the entry may be freely edited prior to being sent. Any of the last 80 prior entries can be recalled by pushing <Ins>, and then using the up and down arrows to cycle back and forth through the prior entries. The prior entry which is shown on the screen can be edited and entered (sent and saved) again. NO = Key Mode. In the Key mode nothing is saved and each keystroke is sent to the database as soon as the key is pressed. 30 G. Logon Macro This item is the automatic logon macro for the currently shown record. The macro is in several sections each separated by a semi- colon, and each section has two parts separated by a comma. The first part in each section is an information request that the database sends to you (or is a comment sent to you by your modem) and the second part after the comma is what you are sending to the database as a response. There are a number of information request-response pairs separated by semi-colons in each logon macro. The following are control symbols in the logon macro: , the comma separates request from response; ; the semi-colon separates response- request pairs; ^ sends a break to the database telling it to stop sending data and give a prompt; ~ puts a one second delay into the macro (some databases use special modems that require a 4 second delay before they can receive data 31 from a regular modem, see the DIALOG Record for example); and | tells the database that the <Enter> key was pushed. & sends AND. ` the accent grave sends a <Ctrl> <H> (Backspace), this is used by some special modems as a recognition signal at logon. MOST OF THE LOGONS ARE COMPLETE AND MERELY NEED YOUR ID AND PASSWORD IN PLACE OF THE X's AND Y's. H. Logoff Macro Put in whatever is appropriate for the database that you are using. Do not forget to put in the <Enter> symbol, |, at the end. I. Ten User Programmed Macros Whatever you wish to program up to 80 characters long can be placed in each of these macros. The control symbols ^ ~ & ` and | can be used, see the APS Record for examples. Note that the macros can also be used as a place to put non-executable help information which can be viewed when you push <F1>, see the last two macros in the DIALOG Record for examples. 32 3. Current Record Settings A. APS .G.C:\WORD5\FIGA1.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 10. The APS Record The last two characters in the APS logon macro, the comma and the break symbol, cause the APS logon message to be bypassed. If you wish to see this message, the move the cursor under the comma and delete these two characters. Now push <Enter> until the Record is saved. 33 B. INPADOC .G.C:\WORD5\FIGA2.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 11. The INPADOC Record C. DIALOG .G.C:\WORD5\FIGA3.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 12. The DIALOG Record 34 D. ORBIT .G.C:\WORD5\FIGA4.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 13. The ORBIT Record 35 IX. Appendix B Smooth Scrolling 1. EGA and VGA Fully available. 2. CGA and MCGA Not available. However, give it a try, on some machines there is the same scrolling effect as if the down arrow were being held down. This is not smooth scrolling but it may be of some help to the user. 3. Monochrome Not Available. 4. Control Keys & Notes <Ctrl> <PgDn> starts smooth scrolling. <1> regular speed. <2> double speed. <Spacebar> pause/end pause. <Esc> Exit smooth scrolling. NOTE 1: As the smooth scrolling mode is entered the system will pause for 3 seconds or until 6 lines of text are buffered. NOTE 2: If the number of lines left to be scrolled in the buffer is less than or equal to 10, then the system will pause for .35 seconds between each line in order to allow the buffer to fill and to avoid catching up to the incoming data. If this effect is an annoyance, then pause the scrolling for a few seconds to allow the buffer to fill. 36 NOTE 3: For a smoother start to smooth scrolling push the up arrow two or three times before pushing <Ctrl> <PgDn>. NOTE 4: Any glitches in the smoothness of the scrolling are due to hardware problems rather than software problems. This is because perfectly smooth scrolling requires hardware settings that disable the communications hardware. Therefore, a slightly degraded smooth scrolling is the best that can be achieved in a communications program. 37 X. Appendix C Screen Colors 1. Color Card & Color Monitor If the user has a color graphics card and a color monitor, then there is a large palette of text and background color combinations from which the user can choose. First, go to the Main Menu (this can be done at any time even while on-line), then push <F1> and the following menu will appear. .G.C:\WORD5\FIG9.SCR;4";3";Capture Figure 14. The Color Selection Menu Push <F1>, push <F3>, push <F5>. <F1>, <F3>, and <F5> move you up through the color combinations. <F2>, <F4>, and <F6> move you down through the color combinations. <F7> resets the text colors to the default values. <F8> resets the highlight colors to the default values. <F9> resets the Menu Bar colors to the default values <Esc> exits the color selection menu and permanently saves your choices. 2. Color Card & Monochrome Monitor Read section 1 immediately above, select <F10> on the color selection menu, and push <Esc>. 38 XI. Appendix D Highlighting 1. APS Highlighting of search terms is automatic. 2. Other Databases Once on-line push <F1>, then push <Alt> and <A>. Type in the sequence that you wish to be highlighted. Push <Enter>. Now whenever this sequence is found it will be highlighted. LIMITS: The sequence to be highlighted cannot begin with either a space or a * , and it cannot end with a * . 39 XII. Appendix E Distribution Information 1. Cost A. SOFTWARE $5 per diskette (the user may purchase a single diskette and make multiple copies as long as a use license is purchased for each copy) B. USE LICENCE (required) FREE to individual PTO employees (See Authors for details). 1-10 copies: $35 per copy. 11-50 copies: $30 per copy. 51-99 copies: $25 per copy. 100+ copies: $20 per copy. C. REGISTRATION USER SUPPORT & UPDATES (optional) $20 per copy & all copies owned by the user must be registered if any are registered. D. MANUALS (optional) $20 per manual. E. OTHER Virginia Residents must add 5% sales tax. Shipping & Handling: INCLUDE IN PRICE. 40 2. Where to Order Allen R. MacDonald 2301 S. Jeff Davis Hwy #1105 Arlington, VA 22202 OR David L. Trafton 6309 Stoneham Rd. Bethesda, MD 20817 3. David Trafton may be contacted by electronic mail by posting a message to him on Chevy Chase Board BBS, Alexandria, VA, (703) 549-5574. A routed message may be left for David Trafton on any BBs which is a member of the RelayNet (tm) network, by posting a message in the RelayNet COMMON conference, addressed to David Trafton, with the first line as follows: ->CHEVY There must NOT be a space between the arrow formed by -> and the Network ID, CHEVY.