The World of Computer Software

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The World of Computer Software / World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso / c / comv31.zip / INSTALL.EXE / INSTALL.TXT < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-03-13 | 36KB | 696 lines

C O M C A L L V E R 3 . 1 INSTALLATION/CONFIGURING CONTENTS INSTALLING CONFIGURING COMMANDS REMOTE ELECTRICAL DEVICE SWITCHING. ************************************************************************ 1. INSTALLATION. Prior to using COMCALL you must have a MODEM (Hayes Command Set) connected to COM port 1 or 2. The modem must be powered on prior to the invoking of COMCALL. COMCALL runs on XT/AT or better machines, preferably with a hard disk (a limited floppy only system can be set up). Note that the full functionality of COMCALL is only possible for systems that utilise a system (battery back up) clock. If your system does not have such a clock then the EXECITAT utility (See Utilities Section) will not perform in the required manner. All other functions would still work, but naturally the date and times of logging details would be written with timestamps that corresponded to the date and time that was entered at the time of the PC power-up. General guidance of how to install Comcall are outlined in the file 'README.1ST' which should be consulted prior to installation. To install Comcall for the first time, simply copy the files to a suitable directory, preferably on the boot drive, and enter the Command INSTALL. COMCALL should ideally be installed to its own unique directory (e.g. c:\comcall). ************************************************************************ 2. CONFIGURING COMCALL Once Comcall has been installed, you may configure its options by changing directory to the Comcall directory (e.g. cd c:\comcall) and enter the command COMCALL C. COMCALL C COMMAND - CONFIGURATION OPTIONS To configure the Comcall options - enter <Comcall c> at the dos prompt. You will then be presented with a number of options that may be modified. To modify one of the options, simply use the up and down arrow keys until that option is selected and then press the <ENTER> key. In the modify option you will see the original value and be prompted for a new value. You may exit from this by pressing the escape key or by pressing the enter key without having entered a value for the option. Entry of any new values should be followed by pressing the enter key. Note that any changes that may be made do not come into effect until after the save option has been selected from the main menu. Use of the escape key from the main menu will therefore result in the aborting of any modifications and the preservation of the previous values being maintained. The options that may be modified are:- 1. Modem Initialisation String. (Consult your modem manual). For Comcall to work correctly, your modem must be set to the correct switches. Some modems may incorporate logical switching, whilst others may require physical switches (DIP) to be set. Comcall requires the following settings in order to correctly Liaise with your modem:- Verbose Messaging (V1) Echo On (E1) On Hook (H0) Don't auto answer (S0=0) DTR (Data Terminal Ready) Active (&D3 or &D2) DCD/DSR On/Off From Line (&C1) (Commands in brackets are Hayes command references (see your modem manual). Therefore if your modem supports all of the above commands then you could use a modem initialisation string of :- ATV1E1H0S0=0&C1&D3 Note that the command sequence must be proceeded with the standard 'AT' Hayes command. In some cases you may find that such a command action will only work directly after having switched your PC on, but not later during the day when you might re-visit the Comcall package. If this is the case then it may be that another communications package is modifying the modem from its defaults. If so, then you might like to include the &F command as the first command in the initialisation string in order to restore the factory defaults prior to initialisation e.g. AT&FV1E1H0S0=0&C1&D3 By far the most commonest requests for help to us are due to modem configuration problems. Unfortunately modems are not fully standardised. So you may have to spend a little time between reading the Comcall manual, your modem manual and experimentation in order to get the correct liaison between Comcall and your modem. Please persevere if you have difficulties, in the end, when you discover the power of Comcall, you'll be pleased that you did so. Some of the above commands are not the standard default modem settings. e.g. many modems come with a factory default setting of Carrier Detect always on, whereas in the real world you would usually desire to have the carrier detected from the telephone line. This is one of the main reasons for requests for help that we receive. If your Comcall set up will perform all of the desired actions in order to make an advisory call, EXCEPT for actually dialling out, then the chances are that your Modems setting are for forced carrier detect (CD) over line controlled carrier detect. (See your modem manual, usually the &C command.) Some modems do not permit the above commands to be command line entered using the Hayes AT command set. Instead such modems have DIP switches for some of the parameters that must be set. The following is a list of settings for various modems that we believe will work with Comcall. If your modem is not listed then we advise that you consult your modem manual. Many modems do not have any DIP switches at all. If so then you only need concern yourself with the previously mentioned AT commands above. MODEM SWITCH # SETTING Amstrad MC2400 None Anchor Signalman Mark I None Anchor Signalman Mark XII None or VMS XII ASTEC 1200B 1,2,3,4,5,7 - ON BIZCOMP 1012 5,7,8,9 - ON (UP) 1,2,3,4,6 - OFF (DOWN) BT NS2232 None BT PC424X None BYTCOM 212AD SW6 2,9 - ON 1,3-8,10 - OFF SW7 2,3,5,9 - ON 1,4,6,7,8,10 - OFF Cermetek 1200, 1200SPC 1,7,8 - DOWN 2,3,4,5,6 - UP Compucom 1200B 1,2,3,4,5,7 - ON 6 - OFF Creative Digital None CTS 212AH 2,5,6,7 - UP 1,3,4,8 - DOWN CTS 212AHC 2,4,5,6 - UP 1,3,7,8 - DOWN Datec 212 1,5,6 - CLOSED 2,3,4,7,8 - OPEN Electronic Vault UPTA96 No switch settings (HA ON) Franklin Bright None Franklin FM-2400E 1,2,4,5,6,7 - UP 3,8 - DOWN Hayes Smartmodem 300 1,2,4,5,6,7 - UP 3,8 - DOWN Hayes Smartmodem 1200 1,2,4,5,6,7 - UP 3,8 - DOWN Incomm 212A RNG,BAL,DTR - UP 8HI - DOWN Interdial 2400 None Kyocera 1200S 1,2,3,4 - OFF (DOWN) Microlink 2400 1,2,4,6,7,10 - OFF 3,5,8,9 - ON Novation Smart-Cat 2,4,5,6 - ON (DOWN) 1,3 - OFF (UP) Prometheus 1200B 1,2,3,4,5,7 - ON 6 OFF Prometheus 1200B/2 (Switches dependant upon COM port in use - see modem manual). Prometheus ProModem 1200 1,2,3,6,9 - ON 4,5,7,8,10 - OFF Radical-Vadic VA212 None (Must be programmed by user to activate DCD from modem. Set option #1 to 2 then change option #16 to 2. Provided user does not change option #1 to 1 or 3 the DCD will remain correctly set - even after a power down). Radical-Vadic 3451 w AD None Rixon 212A None SmarTEAM 103/212A 1,2,4,5,6,7 - UP 3,8 - DOWN Telenetics ExpressData None UDS 103LP Direct Connect None UDS 212 A/D 1 - ON 2,3,4 - OFF US Robotics 212 All OFF US Robotics Courier 2400 1,2,4,6,7,10 - OFF 3,5,8,9 - ON Unfortunately this list is by no means complete. If you find that any of the above are incorrect, or you have a modem not listed above that you have working with Comcall, then we would appreciate it if you could drop us a line to advise of the settings that you use. Such details can then be included in later releases of the packages documentation for the benefit of other users. As a word of caution, if you desire to use Comcall as a front end to another Communications program, then be aware of the possible differences that may exist in the required modem settings between the two programs. If there are differences in the required settings, and your modems switches are not of the logical type (ie are DIP switch controlled rather than AT command line controlled) then this may restrict your ability to interface the two. We cannot stress enough that the major difficulty in establishing a fully functioning session with Comcall is due to the wide variances in modems and their implementation. If you do have problems in getting Comcall to perform in the correct manner then another option may be to try entering the Comcall Terminal session and issue the various AT commands one at a time in order to check that they are getting the OK response (the terminal screen is accessed by just entering the command 'Comcall' at the DOS prompt). At the terminal session, any of the above modem commands (or any other modem commands) may be individually entered using the AT command followed by the setting (e.g. ATV1 to check that the verbose setting is working). All such entries should respond with the modem returning 'OK'. If not then this may indicate that this is the Hayes command that is causing the difficulty. If when Comcall first enters the terminal screen the initialisation command is seen to be a blank value followed by an OK message then something may be wrong. The correct sequence of initialisation is that the terminal session should state that the modem is being initialised, and then you should see the line containing the modem initialisation string e.g. ATV1E1H0S0=0&D3&C1. This should then be followed with by the OK reply. If, on the other hand you do not even get as far as the terminal screen, and Comcall stays in the never ending loop of attempting to initialise the modem followed by further attempts to re-initialise, then check that your com port and modem are connected and switched on. If they are, then try setting the Comcall configurations - modem initialisation option (Comcall C) to just 'AT'. Thereafter, you can go into the main Comcall terminal in order to try each AT command individually and hopefully identify the modem command that might be causing the problem. Details of how to connect and start a modem for the first time is beyond the realms of this manual and you should check your modem and PC manuals for such set-ups. One additional change that you may wish to make to the modem initialisation string is to set your ATX option to the highest value that your modem supports (Consult your modem manual) e.g. you may change the initialisation string to ATE1V1X4H0S0=0D3&C1 if your modem supports a X level of up to 4. You should only have to make this change if your Comcall installation does not appear to be responding to the various actions (such as RING, BUSY etc). For more information regarding the Hayes AT command set consult your Modem manual. For those of you who might have mislaid their modem manuals, a basic standard AT command set description is contained within the Comcall package (see AT_SET.TXT). For those of you that simply used the recommended modem initialisation string of ATE1V1H0S0=0&C1&D3 and found that this worked, we apologise for the length of the modem initialisation description. It is lengthy so as to provide some indication as to the best approach when experiencing difficulty in getting started. For those of you who may have experienced difficulty, we hope that you might share your experiences with us so that we may pass useful tips on to other users who might be using the same modem as yourself. 2. Delay Time This is the delay time (in seconds) between a ring range trigger condition being met and the time that the associated action specified executes. For telecommunications (T) actions it is recommended that this figure be set high enough to allow for any time that another person may be using your phone locally in order to complete an incoming call. The minimum delay period is 5 seconds, maximum = 999999. Any values entered outside of this range will have a default of 180 seconds applied. You will notice that delays are incorporated into a number of the functions of COMCALL. This is the delay as defined here. Such delays are present to ensure that sufficient delay periods exists when modem functions are performed. For example the delay count prior to initiating the execution or advisory message is in place so as to ensure that any incoming messages should have completed (e.g. an answer phone) prior to COMCALL making the outgoing advisory call (after all you would be sharing the same telephone line). For testing purposes, you may find it best to set this to the minimum value of 5 seconds. 3. Delay tone. Prior to Comcall starting an action following a trigger condition, the delay period (as of 2 above) may or may not have a warning tone sound. This is useful if you wish to advise local personnel of such an impending action so that it may be aborted if required. 4. Colour/Black White. If you have a black and white monitor then you should set this option to 'B'. Otherwise set it to 'C' for colour. 5. Tone/Pulse Dialling. If your local telephone exchange and your modem can issue MF tone dialling then set this option to 'T' (tone). Otherwise set it to 'P' (Pulse). If you are not sure as to which type of dialling is in use at your local telephone exchange, then it is recommended that the 'P' option is used as this usually works on both. (One way to see if your on an MF exchange is to pick up your telephones receiver and press and hold down one the digit keys, if you hear a tone, then the likelihood is that your on an MF service). 6. Com Port You should enter the number (1-2) of the com port that your modem is connect to. COMCALL communicates directly with your UART. It expects to see a standard set up for this. Some hardware manufacturers may however implement different versions from the expected standard. If this is the case then you may have to swap the COM Port numbers in order to get your version of COMCALL to work. e.g. if your modem is connected to com port 2 and you enter this value in the Comcall configuration for the comport number, only to find that Comcall does not appear to be communicating with your modem, then try entering the number '1' for the com port in the configuration. 7. Busy Tone Retries. COMCALL will re-issue a call if the BUSY tone is detected upon executing an advisory call trigger action. Define the number of re-tries here for such Busy Tone re-tries (maximum 10). Note that some modems come with a 'Blacklist' test for where a number may be dialled unsuccessfully on multiple occurrences. If you have such a modem, then the number of actual retries performed will be the lower of the value set for busy re-tries in this option and the modems blacklist limit (if any). 8. Reverse Dialling Command. To enable some form of indication at the recipient end of the named telephone number for an advisory call trigger action, this program issues a reverse ring back command signal to your modem when making the advisory call. If you are unsure about reverse dialling, do not worry too much, it basically means that the person answering the advisory call will hear DATA TONES. Thus implying that an advisory call is in progress. Without the reverse dialling mode, the person answering the call would hear nothing and may assume that a telecommunications error had occurred. Not all modems may support the ring back option, but the ones that do usually have a command sequence of R to invoke this option (consult your modem manual for further reference as in some cases this reverse ring back string is a '/R' e.g. with a forward slash). The reverse dialling command option should be set to your own modems ringback command (consult your modem manual). If your modem does not support reverse ringback then you should set this option empty (space character). However, in such cases, bear in mind that if you use Comcall to make an advisory call, then no tones may be heard at the recipient end. To set the ring back option to an empty value, simply select the option and enter one or more space characters. Note that you should also set this option to empty if you intend to use Comcall to make advice trigger call actions to one of the service lines such as the Pager Bureau. WARNING. In some cases the reverse ring-back can result in a sudden burst of tones to the recipients end (data tones) of an advisory call. Use this option at you own discretion and only on lines that you are prepared to accept responsibility for answering of any such advisory calls. The tones are similar to that heard had you called a fax phone line using your voice telephone line (which you may have experienced in the past) and can be uncomfortable for the recipient. There tends to be a delay between the time a recipient receives the advise call and the time that the tone signal starts that may catch the unwary out unexpectedly. Don't say we didn't warn you! ************************************************************************ 3. COMMANDS In addition to the COMCALL C command detailed above there are a number of other commands that are associated with the Comcall package. These are outlined below. More detailed descriptions of some of the commands are contained within the 'Using' and 'Additionals/Utilities' sections of this manual. :- COMCALL B COMMAND - BROWSE LOG FILE. This is a command that may be issued from the DOS prompt in order to browse the Comcall log file CALLRING.DTL. Callring.dtl is a text file that may also be browsed using other text editors or by using the DOS type command. In the browse log mode you can use the up and down arrow keys to move about the display. To exit the browse mode simply press the <ESC> key. Note that should the log file get too big (700 odd lines), then this option will cease to work. You should therefore occasionally delete or rename this file (it will be re-created automatically the next time Comcall is run). COMCALL M COMMAND - BROWSE MANUAL FILE. *** NOW VOID *** ******************************************** AS OF RELEASE 3.1 USE THE ALT-L KEY SEQUENCE FROM WITHIN COMCALL. ******************************************** THIS OPTION HAS BEEN REMOVED AS OF COMCALL VER 3.1 - The Comcall manual is now available on line by use of the <ALT L> (Look at Manual) key sequence from within COMCALL. Once your into the manual then select the appropriate option number to take you to the desired textual area. At the textual screens you may use the page/arrow up/down keys in order to browse through the text. To exit from the textual area use the Escape key to take you back to the main manual entry screen and select the option number to QUIT (or esc key). Whilst in the browse option, you can use the quick jump HOME key (TOP of document) or END key (BOTTOM of document). Note that the manual text is contained in flat DOS textual files (suffix of .TXT). These may be printed as required using the DOS 'PRINT' command. Being textual, this is also convenient if you want to make your own notes within the manual using a text editor. (Do not however liberally add you own comments as, if the file gets too large, the browse option may cease to work). COMBOOT x COMMAND - REBOOT As some applications of Comcall can result in memory contention (e.g. where Comcall is used to invoke other packages) it is sometimes desirable to have an automated re-boot option so that Comcall may be re-initialised via your autoexec.bat file. Comcall now provides such an option by use of the COMBOOT x option that may be executed from the DOS prompt or from within bat files. x is a value between 0 and 59 (minutes). Issuing such a command will result in a cold re-boot of your system after the time period of x minutes has elapsed. e.g. comboot 2 would result in a system reboot in 2 minutes from the time of entering the command. In the mean time, any other commands or actions could be performed without affecting this request (unless you execute a STOPBOOT request that is (see below)). Comboot 0 results in an immediate re-boot. The Comboot option results in a Terminate Stay Resident (TSR) being installed. Under some circumstances, other applications may conflict with this TSR. Always check your set ups thoroughly before relying upon them. Comboot is further discussed within the 'additionals' section of the manual. EXECITAT hh:mm <t> COMMAND - EXECUTE A COMMAND/ACTION AT. This command is similar to that of the COMBOOT command described above. EXECITAT enables you to perform an action at a specified time, no matter what other application may be running at that time. EXECITAT is described in greater detail in the 'Additionals/Utilities' section of this manual. CHKBOOT COMMAND. This command is used in conjunction with the EXECITAT command. Again it is described in detail in the 'Additionals/Utilities' STOPBOOT COMMAND - STOP REBOOT REQUEST. If a delayed reboot request using the COMBOOT command and/or EXECITAT command is invoked, either in a bat file or from the DOS prompt, and you wish to abort this auto reboot, then use the STOPBOOT command, again from the dos prompt or within a bat file. This is useful where Comcall may be driven by a .bat file that invokes a Communications program that awaits for your return call in data mode. If a reboot request were contained within this bat file in order to reset your system if you did not recall within a time period of x minutes, then if you did call back in data mode, you would execute this STOPBOOT command upon establishing your data link to stop such a reboot. If a return data call did not occur within the time period of x minutes, then your PC would reboot itself and, provided your autoexec was correctly set, Comcall would be re-invoked so as to await for another trigger call. NOTE: Stopboot only disables the reboot request. The actual memory space used by the reboot request will remain resident in memory. Consequently, if you intend to use a multiple loop of COMBOOT (or EXECITAT) and STOPBOOT, then you should attempt to ensure that an occasional reboot does occur so as to physically clear memory. COMCALL COMMAND - EXECUTE COMCALL By entering <comcall> alone at the dos prompt, you will be automatically taken into the main Comcall process. Initially you will see a time delayed introductory screen. Thereafter, you will be presented with the session configuration screen. Each time that you modify and save any of the session configuration options, then they will be, by default, applied to all future Comcall sessions until such times that they may be modified again. This session configuration screen has a auto-entry delay count of 10 seconds. Pressing the <esc> key will by-pass this delay. If no other keys are pressed within this time then the main Comcall terminal session will be entered. This delayed auto entry enables Comcall to be used in batch file processing (e.g. .BAT files) where it is known that the default session options have already been set to suitable values. For each Comcall session, two trigger options are available. You may therefore define separate actions to be taken for each of two separate trigger conditions (ring ranges). The options that may be modified are detailed in the USING COMCALL section of this manual. ************************************************************************ 4. REMOTE ELECTRICAL DEVICE SWITCHING The COMCALL package now offers the ability for you to be able to switch almost any electrical device such as lights, TV, Radio etc, both on and off remotely. This offer is, as far as we are aware, unrivalled by any other Shareware package that is currently available (unless you might know differently). Additional hardware is naturally required in order to perform this option, details of which (availability etc) are provided with all registrations to the COMCALL package. Devices are supplied on a zero profit basis, thereby making the offers extremely competitive. We regret that we can only supply such devices to registered users of the current Comcall package. P-Switch. This devices simply plugs into the Parallel port of your PC and enables you to control up to eight low voltage DC devices either locally (using simple commands) and/or remotely (using your PC and a Modem link). For mains voltage switching control, an optional mains controller unit can be utilised on the P-Switches outputs. We have personally been successful in using the P-Switch device output lines, arranged as a four by four matrix, in order to control an adapted remote control device so that we could remotely control, via a dial up link, a VCR. We are investigating the possibility of making such an option a generally available addition to the Comcall package. However, due to the variety and differences in remote controllers, we have not YET managed to realise a suitable option. We will keep you advised of our progress on this front in future releases of Comcall. In the meantime we believe that the P-Switcher as it stands in controlling electrical devices via your PC offers a unique opportunity for PC users to enter a the world of physical device control at an extremely low cost. Numerous possibilities of its potential use come to mind. C-Switch. Another additional hardware option it that of the C-Switch (Call-Switch). This is a free standing, totally disconnected from your PC and modem unit that enables you to physically switch a mains (or low voltage) device(s) such as your PC and Modem, both on and off from a remote location. The device switching is intended to be secure in that you will have to enter a valid code combination prior to any device controlling being accepted (codes may be set to one of a wide range of variations). Remote switching is achieved via a standard non-connect (ring only) voice call that effectively enables such switching control to be performed from practically anywhere in the world at a zero cost. One area that may considerably benefit from such a device is for users of one of the many PC remote control programs that allows you to take total control over your PC remotely, as though you were there beside the PC using it locally. All of these remote control programs currently require that the target PC is up and running and waiting for a remote call to come in. Fine if you are in a position to leave a PC in such a state of being permanently left on. But what if you aren't! This is where C-Switch could provide enormous flexibility and benefit. Use it to turn that PC and associated modem on and, providing the autoexec.bat file was set up correctly, you could gain control over a PC (or an entire network) in circumstances where others could not. Away on business! need to access your PC but your home base PC and modem aren't on - again C-Switch could come to the rescue. Through an ingenious interface method the C-Switch does not require licensing for connection to the telephone network. (C-Switch is not directly connected to the telephone network and therefore requires no telecommunications licence violation consideration.) S-Switch This device enables your to directly control mains electrical (or low voltage) devices directly from your PC. The S-Switch plugs into your PC's RS232 (Com) serial port. This device is similar to the P-Switch with the exception that it is specifically designed to control up to eight mains voltage devices (240V/8A/2kW) directly (P-Switch more appropriate for low voltage device control). The S-Switch is powered by its own power-supply (as are the P and C switches) and has high input/output voltage isolation in order to protect your PC from any potential damaging voltage levels. Again, the device may be controlled either locally or remotely using a modem link (2 com ports would be required if remote operation were required, one for the modem and one for the S-Switch). The device enables you to perform such control as switching lights on an off at set times under control of your PC, or to perform switching of general household electrical devices (heating timers, microwave ovens, TV's etc) using simple commands. A real opportunity to enter the world of physical device control at a highly competitive entry cost. Further details of all hardware devices available from the Comcall author are supplied to registered users. As a guide, the current prices (correct as of December 1992) for the various hardware devices listed above, start at around 29 UK Pounds/45 US Dollars for the P and C switches (each) and 39 UK pounds/59 US Dollars for the S-Switch. Prices are subject to change and the latest prices should be confirmed at order time. UNDER EVALUATION/DESIGN We are currently looking into adding even further additional hardware options to the Comcall package. Such as a T-Switch that will enable electrical devices to be directly controlled from a remote location using just your answerphone and MF tones. Up to eight electrical devices will be individually switchable. Access will be restricted via the use of code checking. We are also investigating the supply of a modified, ready made programmable remote controller that includes a PC interface. Such a device will enable us to provide a plug in and go option to users who might like to be able to, both locally and remotely (from practically anywhere in the world), control their Video Cassette Recorders, TV, curtains etc using a modem link. For this option, we are seeking a suitable supplier who is in a position to provide a suitable remote controller device directly to us. If anyone personally knows of a potential supplier, then we would be interested (contact the Comcall author). With wider usages of portable PC's, we believe that the addition of such an option offers interesting possibilities. Although we have already managed to personally achieve a direct control of a remote controller using the P-Switch as detailed above, regrettably the remote controller utilised is not directly compatible with all equipment and is therefore not eligible for general supply. Naturally, upon finding a suitable candidate, some suitable software would be provided to aid in the controlling of the device. Registered users of the Comcall package will be kept advised of all such developments within this area in future releases.