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QuickB DL 1.20.cpt
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About QuickB Download 1.20
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1988-06-16
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QuickB Download
------ --------
v.1.20 of June 16, 1988.
QuickB Download Desk Accessory was written by Raymond Lau.
Copyright 1988, Raymond Lau.
QuickB Download is shareware. Try it a few times. If you like it, find
it useful, or save some money off your CompuServe bills, please register
it by sending $15 to the author:
Raymond Lau
100-04 70 Ave.
Forest Hills, N. Y. 11375-5133
U. S. A.
Any correspondence, etc... can be electronically mailed to my CIS
account, 76174,2617.
Introduction
------------
QuickB Download is a desk accessory written for the CompuServe user who
downloads frequently. QuickB is a new protocol which allows for significant
speed gains and time savings when downloading from CompuServe. Currently,
there is only one communications program I know of which supports QuickB.
Many others support regular CIS B, but regular CIS B offers very little
in the way of increased throughput.
With QuickB Download DA, you can now utilize the CIS Quick B protocol from
within any communications program. It has been tested with Red Ryder,
MicroPhone and VersaTerm Pro and it has worked successfully.
Installation
------------
To install QuickB Download, you should be familar with the operation of
Apple's Font/DA Mover. If you are not, please consult the appropriate
documentation before continuing.
QuickB Download may be installed into the System file, where you can use
it in any communications program, if you use more than one. It may also
be installed directly into your communications program(s).
Operation
---------
Operation is very straight forward.
Initiate the QuickB download process on CompuServe.
(If you're browsing a file description, type "d /proto:qb". Of if you
know the name of the file and want to download from the main data library
menu, type "dow [filename]/proto:qb". For example, to download Stuffi.Bin
from the DL 8 of MacPro, type dow stuffi.bin/proto:qb")
CompuServe will prompt you for a file name. Type in the primary file name
for text files at this point. For binary files, enter any name.
(File naming will be explained later)
Now, go to the Apple menu and select QuickB Download.
You will be presented with the standard "save as" dialog box. Here, you
can select the destination folder to save the downloaded file. For the
file name, type in the last choice filename. (File naming will be
explained shortly!) Or just press return to use the default.
Press return or click save.
That's all there is to it! Now sit back and note the enhanced speed!
Count the dollars you'll be saving off file downloading!
[A small problem. CIS isn't always too responsive. If you see
that the download isn't beginning within a reasonable amount of
time, abort and try again. Sometimes CIS is so overloaded that it
gets confused and goes "out of sync" at the beginning.]
(NOTE: When using Red Ryder, you must uncheck the Enable CIS 'B' option.
If you don't, Red Ryder will take over and CompuServe will think that you
want to use regular B rather than the extended QuickB with QuickB
Download.)
File Naming
---- ------
QuickB Download uses the following procedure when naming files:
For MacBinary Files:
(including applications, DAs, FKEYs, MacWrite files, StuffIt archives,etc.)
• The original file name, the one the file was uploaded with, will be used
first.
• If a file already exists by that name, the last choice file name
will be used. This is the file name you typed into the dialog box
when you selected QuickB Download from the Apple menu.
(Since you selected this as the ultimate name, if a file already
exists, it will be deleted and replaced.)
[Note: Previously, I had erroneously documented that the name you
entered at the File Name: prompt will be used second. This false
assumption led to big problems. It appears that for binary files,
CIS sends gibberish...]
For TEXT and other non-MacBinary files:
• The file name you typed in at the "Filename:" prompt will be used.
This is why I referred to this as the primary text file name.
• If a file already exists by that name, the last choice file name
will be used. This is the file name you typed into the dialog box
when you selected QuickB Download from the Apple menu.
(Since you selected this as the ultimate name, if a file already
exists, it will be deleted and replaced.)
If this seems unneccessarily confusing, don't worry! You don't have to
memorize it per se... In most cases, this procedure would be what you
would want intuitively.
Aborting
--------
Hold down the command and period keys until you hear a beep to abort the
download process. This works MOST of the time. At times, CompuServe
may not recognize the abort sequence sent by QuickB Download. If you
think CompuServe is hanging on you after you issued an abort and QuickB
Download has closed itself, type in a sequence of four control-P's.
Wait 3-5 seconds. Repeat 2-4 times if needed. Usually, this "Panic
Abort" sequence is recognized if it is sent 3 times. (It SHOULD be
recognized the first time according to the CompuServe documentation, but
in practice, it usually takes 3 panic abort sequences.)
Tip
---
Use QuicKeys or FKeyMakerApp make a QuicKey or a FKEY, respectively,
to invoke QuickB Download from the keyboard. Hey, when you're paying for
time time you spend online, avoiding the mouse cuts down on that time!
Why No Background?
--- -- -----------
You may ask why not have QuickB Download work in the background? The
answer is simple. If I were to make it work in the background, it would
require you to quick from your communications program before you can run
QuickB Download... (Such as with BackDown) This would waste time.
Furthermore, background operation may be stalled while you're doing time
intensive operations in the foreground...wasting more time. Hey, you're
paying $12.50 an hour! Do you really want to waste time?
Other Products
----- --------
If you haven't tried StuffIt, my file compression/archival utility, yet,
give it a try! It will save you disk space, time, and ultimately money!
I am devoted to bringing time and/or money saving products to the public
as long as I can support my own development time... So, any suggestions
on other products will be appreciated.
QuickB Protocol
------ --------
(For the technical types and the curios. With editorial comments.)
CompuServe's QuickB protocol is an extension of their CIS B protocol.
The version QuickB Download implements is current as of Jan. '88.
It provides for a maximum packet size of 1024 bytes (1k) to reduce time
spent in error checking. It allows for a one packet send ahead facility.
(otherwise known as sliding window or windowed.) It uses XModem style
CRC (bits reversed from CRC-CCITT standard) for error checking and
correction.
It has the ability to fall back to smaller sized packets if the host
doesn't support 1k packets. It can also fall back to no send ahead and
checksum error checking. These capabilities are meant for communicating
with someone using older versions of CompuServe's Vidtex communications
software on other computers. There isn't a version for the Mac that I
know of.