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The World of Computer Software
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World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso
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README.1ST
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1993-03-13
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WELCOME TO COMCALL
******************
COMCALL is a multi-purpose suite of programs combined into a single
package that is provided under the SHAREWARE distribution methods.
The Shareware principles requires that you register the package with
the programs author or one of his assigned agents if you decide to
continue to use the programs beyond a trial period. Failure to do
so may be detrimental to the further development of the Comcall package.
In good faith, Comcall is provided as a fully operational version,
without any disablements or annoying messages that are found in some
other Shareware packages.
COMCALL is supplied in a single self extracting file for ease of
transportation.
To use COMCALL you will require a Modem (Hayes command set) and a PC with
at least 512K of RAM (lower rated RAM systems with above 250K should work
reasonably well, however, we cannot guarantee that these will do for all
situations). When initially loaded, Comcall will take around 130K of
memory. Although primarily intended for use on Hard disk systems,
Comcall can be made to operate on a floppy only system.
What does COMCALL do ?
************************
COMCALL is a package that has many potential functions. It can help you
transform your base PC system from a purely static, visual device into a
powerful tool that aids in performing physical actions such as
controlling mains powered electrical devices (locally and remotely),
advising you at any other directly dialled phone (or radio pager) of
calls left on your answerphone, or to set up your base system so that you
can share a single telephone line between voice, answerphone and data
modes. The latest addition to the Comcall package now incorporates an
option that will permit you to turn your PC and/or modem both ON and OFF
from a remote location, an option that is, as far as we are aware,
unrivalled by any other Shareware package. Its potential practical
usages are enormous. It is described within the Comcall manual of how you
may even be able to control a remote control device, such as your VCR
controller, from a remote location. Just think of the possibilities!
Comcall is not designed to be glamorous is its appearance, so don't
expect to see wonderfully artistic screens. It has been designed so as
to be as practical and flexibile as possible in order that the single
version might be used interactively under DOS, automatically from within
batch files or in a foreground/background mode under Windows. The
package should be considered as a tool that may be used in a multitude of
ways in order to add the required additional functionallity to your base
PC system. Don't expect Comcall to be have an individualistic approach
as to its application towards a given requirement. I repeat, Comcall is
flexible, so in many cases it may be possible to achieve a sollution to a
particular task in a number of different ways.
Comcall is under constant development. It is hoped to bring further
functionality and options to the package within future releases. The
latest addition as mentioned above, will enable you to physically turn
your base PC and modem (or any other similar mains voltage electrical
device) both on and off from a remote location using a unique interface
method that does not require any telecommunications licensing agreements.
Other such options are intended to be added within future releases.
Registered users are kept advised of all such development as and when
they occur.
Comcall and all of its associated programs/options are designed to be
network independant, so as to work on all telephone and mains voltage
networks without the need of specific network connection licencing.
Thereby ensuring that no matter where you might live or travel, Comcall
can continue to be of personal benefit to you.
Under the current version, the functions that can be performed using the
Comcall package/options may be summarised as:-
Switch your PC and/Or Modem both ON and OFF from a remote location.
Monitor your phone line for incoming calls to your telephone.
Trigger commands or actions according to a definable number (or range)
of RINGS that result from an incoming call to your telephone.
Log details of incoming calls to a file for later inspection as
desired, thereby providing a call logging system.
Make automated calls according to trigger conditions arising from a
recently received call, so, as an example, you could set COMCALL to call
you at another phone or radio pager so as to advise you of any calls
that may have resulted in a message on your home answering machine.
Perform commands or actions as a result of a ring trigger action.
Share your phone line between data (modem) and voice (and
optionally answerphone) so as to have a set up whereby you can both
receive data and voice calls over the same single telephone line.
Further details of such a set up are contained within the main Comcall
manual.
Switch electrical devices such as lights, TV, your Modem and PC (in
fact anything electrical) remotely. Useful for when your away on your
annual vacation (some additional hardware is required for this option).
Control electrical mains and low voltage devices under the control of
simple commands issued from your PC (again both locally and remotely).
COMCALL contains a number of other small programs to assist you in
setting up the configuration that will suite your needs. Such as
EXECITAT.EXE that is a TSR that will perform an action at a specified
time NO MATTER WHAT other application may be running. This differs from
most other similar TSR's that will not execute if you are not at the DOS
prompt (e.g. within another application).
Due to the possible wide usages of Comcall, there are a wide range of
variations of possible set ups. You are advised to carefully read
through the sections of the manual that apply to your needs. COMCALLS
documentation is 'online' for ease of reference. The
documentation is provided in pure ASCII format so that you can easily
print this off to your local printer if required.
In conjunction with your registration of the COMCALL package, you will
be provided with details of how and where to obtain additional hardware
that can be used in conjunction with COMCALL to add even further
functionality to the package.
COMCALL is under continuous further development. The author has,
and continues to, spent considerable time, effort and money in ensuring
that the package works to its best. However, until such times that
the COMCALL package can provide sufficient income to enable him to
work full time upon the package and not have to earn his daily bread
elsewhere, the time constraints of working part time and in isolation on
COMCALL could result in the odd occasional 'bug' slipping through
the net. Barring this, the author has, in good faith, provided
COMCALL as a fully working version, without any crippling, disablement
or any of those annoying messages that can be found in some other
Shareware programs. Started in 1989 the package has grown
considerably in sophistication. Comments, remarks and suggestions
regarding the package are always welcomed and should be addressed to the
author.
Where do you go now ? -
*********************
Assuming (as your reading this document) you have already extracted the
files to a suitable single directory, you should execute the command
INSTALL. Install.exe is another self extracting file that contains all
of the Comcall programs and manual. Once this has finished extracting
the files enter the command:-
COMCALL C
from the DOS prompt. When the program starts you can then access
the interactive Comcall documentation (Manual) by selecting the
appropriate option (<ALT-L> key combination). The Comcalls manual is
contained within a number of pure text files (.TXT), so as to aid in hard
copy production if required (you'll have to install Comcall first though
so as to have these extracted from the compressed, transportation file).
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for looking at the
Comcall package. We hope you find it useful and enjoy using the package
as much as I have enjoyed developing it.