HomeWare 14/HOMEWARE14.bin/comms/icom0425.arj/README.1ST

Text File | 1994-04-25 | 25KB | 444 lines

WHAT IS INTELLICOMM?
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Thank you for obtaining Intellicomm v2.0!  Intellicomm is a communications
program for IBM PC's and compatibles that will carry out your BBS sessions
(and a whole lot more) unattended at lightening-fast speed, reducing your
long-distance charges, freeing up your telephone line during hours when
others may want to use the phone, and maximizing your limited BBS online
time per day allowing you to collect MORE files and information than you
can manually.  Intellicomm will free you up to spend time with the family,
or at least to do something more exciting than sitting in front of a
computer listening to busy signals or waiting for file transfers to
complete.  With Intellicomm you can concentrate on the programs and
information you collect from BBS's, rather than on the mundane task of
actually obtaining programs and information.

Complete with two interactive LEARN MODES for easy setup, you simply cannot
afford to be without this program if you call one or more bulletin board
services.  Be you a novice or expert BBS user, or even a BBS Sysop, whether
you currently use ProComm, Qmodem, Telix, Robocomm or another
communications package; even if you have 'scripts' to automate your common
BBS calls, you are making your life more difficult by using ANY other
communications package!

FEATURE SUMMARY
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
■ Unattended mail transfers, file uploads and downloads (in fast BATCH
  transfer mode!), new files list collection and management, time bank
  transactions and much more, on BBS types such as GAP, Maximus, Opus,
  PCBoard, ProLogon/ProDoor, RBBS, RemoteAccess, TriBBS, Spitfire and
  Wildcat!  *Twenty one* different mail systems are supported, from
  Qmail/TomCat QWK systems, to MegaMail.  And using Intellicomm's learn
  modes, setup for any of the above BBS types (or even BBS/message types
  NOT listed above) is simply a matter of following the bouncing ball: Icom
  guides you through the setup for automated logons, message transfers, new
  files list collection, downloads, and time bank transactions.  Give Icom
  a BBS Name and the telephone number(s) and you could be automating entire
  BBS sessions minutes later.

■ Browse BBS file lists OFFLINE using Intellicomm's File Tagger!  Eliminate
  duplicates, sort file lists in any of three ways, have files you're
  particularly interested in pointed out to you automatically, have files
  you DON'T have any interest in excluded automatically, and when you see a
  file you want: press a key or click your mouse and Intellicomm will auto-
  download the file(s) for you while you sleep, or otherwise do something
  more interesting.  Intellicomm even allows you to assign 'download
  priorities' so that when a file shows up on more than one BBS; Icom
  downloads the file from the BBS you have the most online time/download
  bytes at!

■ Intelligent error handling.  Just because Intellicomm automates calls to
  more BBS types than other systems do, it is no less reliable than BBS-
  specific systems.  In fact, no matter what you're using today to automate
  your calls, it's extremely unlikely that what you're using is capable of
  recovering from as many errors and unexpected problems as Intellicomm is.

  If the connection is lost during an automated session, even if Icom is in
  the middle of an automated batch download at the time, it calls the BBS
  back (checking for a user-configurable 'Minimum Connect Speed' when it
  connects and hanging up if a lower speed is detected) and picks up the
  download, using Zmodem crash recovery where possible to re-start the
  download exactly where it left off!  If you run Intellicomm from your
  AUTOEXEC.BAT file when you go on vacation or otherwise leave Icom
  unattended for some time, it will even be able to recover a BBS session
  right where it left off, after a power outage!  Your clock-radio may be
  blinking when you come home, but Intellicomm will have completed the
  tasks you assigned to it.

■ Intellicomm is flexible!  For those who worry about a lack of automated
  control, worry not.  If you want plug-and-play, Intellicomm can be that.
  But if you want control... control you have -- without the hassles of
  script writing and script debugging.  All error handling, such as Minimum
  Connect Speed, timeouts, maximum consecutive timeouts, maximum online
  time and so forth is user-configurable from BBS to BBS, as well as every
  BBS prompt and message Intellicomm watches for, every command it sends to
  the BBS, and so forth.  Intellicomm 'forces' very little on you, and you
  can completely change the way it operates if you like, just as you can
  with scripts -- but in a user-friendly environment, without script
  writing and editing.

■ High performance terminal with 16550 UART support, a scrollback buffer
  for manual calls, keystroke/command buffer, dialer with dialing queue,
  internal transfer protocols including Xmodem, Relaxed Xmodem, Xmodem-1K,
  Xmodem-1K-G, Ymodem, Ymodem-G and Zmodem (with Smart Crash Recovery),
  with support for up to eight external protocols including special support
  for the HS/Link bi-directional protocol (as documented in HSLINK.BAT)
  plus most all of the features you're used to in general communications
  packages.  Intellicomm has as many features for periodic manual BBS calls
  as it does for automated calls!

■ Although scripts are not used for most automated calls, for maximum
  flexibility Intellicomm has one of the most powerful and flexible script
  languages ever produced for a communications package, complete with a
  'script learn' mode.  From simple to advanced use, with over 200 script
  commands, very easy-to-use video and MENU handling functions, user-
  defined variables, over 100 System Variables, global array variables,
  loops, switch/case, file I/O, *database* I/O, access to all the main
  setup and BBS information, plus a Script Learn mode, integrated script
  debugger, and script tutorial to get you started!

■ Intellicomm is DESQview, OS/2 and Windows aware.  If idle, Intellicomm
  immediately gives it 'time slice' back to any of the above operating
  environments, allowing foreground applications to run much more smoothly.

■ Also included is a built in Text Editor, File Viewer, File Manager,
  Screen Blanker, plus support for any external mail reader, archive
  viewer, and virus checker.  Everything you need is right at your
  fingertips.

■ Intellicomm also comes with a BBS tutorial (BBSTUTOR.DOC) which includes
  general information on communications terms, file transfers, BBS message
  systems and networks, offline mail systems and so forth.  If you're new
  to BBSing, BBSTUTOR.DOC will quickly bring you up to speed on all major
  areas BBS use.  Please see the TABLE OF CONTENTS in BBSTUTOR.DOC for a
  complete summary.

■ Liberation Enterprises has over five years of experience in automating
  BBS calls for the general public.  A tremendous amount of user feedback
  has gone into the design of the product to make it easy to use, extremely
  flexible, and POWERFUL.  When you're ready for power, you'll find it (and
  find it, and find it, for weeks).  If you're not yet ready for power,
  Intellicomm's many features will not get in your way -- but no matter
  what your level of expertise, and no matter how large or small your needs
  are, Intellicomm will make your BBSing easier and much more pleasant!

An example Intellicomm session
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The following outlines a typical Intellicomm session:

Intellicomm calls your favorite BBS, takes 60 minutes and 1 megabyte of
download bytes out of the time bank, exits the Time Bank back to the BBS,
accesses the mail door, sends your message replies (and renumbers the reply
packet once uploaded successfully), downloads all the new mail (again
renumbering your existing mail packets if any), exits the mail system back
to the BBS ... uploads any files you previously Tagged for upload and
enters the file descriptions for you, downloads several files you
previously Tagged for download in Icom's File Tagger, then re-enters the
Time Bank and deposits your unused time/download bytes.  Then it calls
another BBS and does the same, and perhaps another and another ... on any
of the BBS types listed previously, all while you sleep.  No listening to
busy signals, and no twiddling your thumbs waiting for file transfers to
complete!

Once offline, Icom extracts the new files listing from the mail packet and
imports it into the File Tagger NEWFILES database (or a custom database
you've specified for a particular BBS) eliminating any duplicates that
exist in your database, excluding files you've already downloaded or have
listed on your 'Exclude' list, reformatting BBS file descriptions
(replacing occurrences of "Win31" with "Windows 3.1" for example).  It then
automatically 'Notes' the files you're particularly interested in (any file
with the word "Windows" or "WordPerfect" in its description for example),
virus checks any new downloads automatically, and even adds the cleaned-up
BBS file description to your 4DOS/NDOS DESCRIPT.ION files!

If you're a BBS Sysop, Intellicomm will also update your BBS file listing
with the new downloads, and/or move files downloaded from various
conferences on various BBS's to separate holding areas where you can then
(automatically via a .BAT file) copy the files to the appropriate
conference directories for your own BBS.  While Intellicomm was not
designed specifically for Sysops, some of the largest BBS's in the world
use Intellicomm for automated network mail transfers and file collection.
It's the ultimate tool for Sysops as *well* as for your BBS end users.

REQUIREMENTS
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
An IBM PC (XT/AT/286/386/486, etc) or compatible, with at least 350K of
free memory, and 1 megabyte of free disk space.  You will also need an
internal or external modem that has been properly installed and connected
to the telephone line.

Intellicomm v2.01 has been tested by many people and is known to operate
well in the following environments:

MS-DOS v3.2 - v6.2         (Intellicomm v2 should run fine under MS-DOS
                           versions 3.0, 3.1 as well, but we have not
                           tested those DOS versions specifically).

4DOS / NDOS                Intellicomm has also been tested under 4DOS and
                           NDOS and also has special support for 4/NDOS in
                           that the descriptions of auto-downloaded files
                           can be automatically added to your directory
                           DESCRIPT.ION files!

DESQview v2.4              MAKE SURE YOU USE IN-PIF.DVP (a pre-configured
                           DESQview PIF) included with Intellicomm.

OS/2 v2.1                  (Using either the standard IBM communications
                           driver or Ray Gwinn's enhanced communications
                           driver.  Other communications drivers may work
                           as well, but testing was only done with the
                           above two.)

Microsoft Windows v3.1     (We have not run tests under Windows v3.0, as
                           Windows v3.1 has much better communications
                           support.)  The standard Windows communications
                           driver, and the TurboCom and Cherry Hill
                           communications drivers have also been tested.
                           MAKE SURE YOU USE ICOM.PIF (a pre-configured
                           Windows PIF) included with Intellicomm.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you use DESQview, OS/2, or Windows, make sure you see
the help topic 'Multitasking Intellicomm' once Intellicomm is installed.
Important setup information and tips are included for all three of these
multitasking environments.

DISTRIBUTION
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Intellicomm is a copyrighted work, and is not free software.  It is simply
marketed under an alternative marketing concept known as the user-supported
or "shareware" marketing concept.  This means you can evaluate the product
fully BEFORE you buy it (the ultimate money back guarantee!) and it also
means that you're free to upload COMPLETE and UNMODIFIED copies of the
Intellicomm archives (ZIP files) to other online services/BBS's, and you
can give copies to your friends and associates, etc., with our thanks!

FLOPPY DISK INSTALLATION
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Intellicomm requires a hard drive to be of any real use in calling online
services.  While it 'can' be executed from a high density floppy,
performance will be poor and there will be very little room left to
transfer information from a BBS to your computer.  It is recommended that
Intellicomm be installed to a hard disk.

HARD DISK INSTALLATION (New users AND upgraders)
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The first step is to uncompress the archives into an EMPTY temporary
directory on the hard drive you wish to install Intellicomm on:

C:              (Change to the desired drive)
MD \TEMP        (Create a temporary directory if necessary)

Why use a temporary directory?  Icom's installation routines will MOVE the
necessary files from one directory to another (from \TEMP to \ICOM),
leaving any unnecessary files such as this README.1ST and the FILE_ID.DIZ
files behind.  Further, if you are upgrading from a previous release of
Intellicomm, some files (such as POST*.BAT) will NOT be overwritten if they
already exist.  Once the installation is complete you can then DEL
\TEMP\*.* to be rid of the unnecessary files.  Uncompressing into a
temporary directory is particularly important if you're upgrading from a
previous release of Intellicomm.

To uncompress the archives:

CD \TEMP
PKUNZIP -o D:\ARCHIVES\ICOM*.ZIP

[Where D:\ARCHIVES\ is the location of the Icom distribution archives.]
The -o (overwrite) switch will prevent PKUNZIP from asking you whether to
overwrite the FILE_ID.DIZ files, which exist in all the distribution
archives, and which are only of use to online services and disk vendors.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Next you should execute a DIR /p (directory with pause) command in your
\TEMP directory to ensure that all the essential files are present.  All
files should have a date of 04-25-94 and a time of 2:01am:

ICOM.EXE     The executable.
ICOM.HLP     Main online help file/introduction/tutorials, etc.
SCRIPT.HLP   Script language online help.
ADDON.HLP    Multitasker setup help (Win/OS2/DESQview); + useful add-ons
BBSTYPES.DAT Absolutely essential for Icom's learn mode.
HELP.BBS     Online help for Intellicomm's Host Mode.
*.KWD        2 .KWD files; keyword files for BBS file list imports.
*.BAT        POST*.BAT 3 files, DSZ-?.BAT 2 files, HSLINK.BAT: 6 total.
*.BIF        16 BIF files; BBS Information Files.
*.MTF        21 MTF files; Message Template Files.
*.BTF        8 BTF files; Bank Template Files.
*.DOC        8 DOC files; Documentation in text file format.
*.SCR        9 SCR files; Script files.

ICOM.PIF     Windows v3 PIF must be used to run Intellicomm under Windows.
IN-DVP.PIF   DESQview PIF must be used to run Intellicomm under DESQview.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NOTE: As a low priced user-supported software package, Intellicomm's future
success, and indeed its very future existence, relies upon distribution
help from you the users.  Thus, it would be greatly appreciated if you
could now set the ORIGINAL distribution archives (.ZIP files) aside for
later upload to other online services/BBS's.  If you're forced to delete
the original archives due to lack of disk space, please copy them to floppy
disks first.  If you delete the original archives and don't keep a backup
handy for re-distribution, PLEASE do not re-distribute Intellicomm to
anyone else!  It must only be re-distributed in its complete and original
(uninstalled) state.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Next, make sure that you aren't using someone else's setup for Intellicomm.
If the file ICOM.INI (the main setup file, which varies from user to user,
installation to installation) exists, delete it:

DEL ICOM.INI

Please also check to see whether you obtained Icom from someone who's
inadvertently or intentionally trying to destroy Intellicomm.  The file
ICOM.REG is commercial, and distribution is forbidden since the only
difference between a registered (paid for) and unregistered copy of
Intellicomm is the ICOM.REG key file.  If the file ICOM.REG exists, please:

TYPE ICOM.REG

to take a look at the serial number in it.  You can feel free to use this
file (a free registered copy) with our thanks, as long as you're kind
enough to let us know both where you obtained the file from, and the
registration number in the ICOM.REG file.

Now, just type:

INSTALL

from the DOS prompt and press [Enter], and follow the bouncing ball.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL INTELLICOMM MANUALLY.  INSTALL.EXE won't
touch your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file, nor create hidden files or do
anything subversive.  But it *will* ensure that everything goes where it's
supposed to go, that no viruses or other problems exist in ICOM.EXE, and it
will also check and update your existing Icom setup (if applicable)
properly.  If you do not use INSTALL.EXE Intellicomm will almost surely
malfunction on you either immediately or at some point in the future!

If you're not interested in the installation details, enter the INSTALL
command now and follow the on-screen instructions.  If you want to know
more, read on.

During the installation the following will be done (note that you can abort
the installation before any files are installed by pressing the [Esc] key):

■ You will be asked for a directory to install the program into (\ICOM by
  default).  If upgrading, you should enter the same directory that your
  previous release of Intellicomm resides in.  Just press [Enter] if not
  upgrading.

■ The following subdirectories will then be created (if necessary) in the
  directory you enter above:

  BIF   BBS Information Files and templates (.BIF, .MTF or Message Template
        Files, .BTF or Bank Template Files go here).
  CAP   Capture files, Usage Log (this directory will be empty after the
        installation.  No .CAP or .USE files are included).
  DBF   Databases (File Tagger catalogs) of BBS online files: no databases
        are included and this directory will be empty until you have Icom
        pick up some BBS new files listings for you.
  GET   Default download directory (empty).
  LST   Temporary storage of BBS new files listings (text format).  Again
        this directory will be empty on after the installation.
  SCR   Script directory; some scripts are included and will be installed
        here.
  SND   Default upload directory (send directory).  Empty after install.

■ The necessary files are then copied (if installing from one drive to
  another) or MOVED (if installing from a temporary directory on the SAME
  drive to the \ICOM directory) into the \ICOM directory, and
  subdirectories.

  UPGRADERS:  If you are upgrading, note that PRE*.BAT and POST*.BAT,
  HSLINK.BAT and DSZ-?.BAT are *not* installed.  Some of the BIF templates
  have changed from v1 to v2, and thus your existing BIF templates are
  first renamed to *.OLD if found, and the new templates (BIF/MTF/BTF) are
  then installed.

■ If TAGGER.EXE or SETUP.EXE are found (v1.00 upgraders only) in the
  installation directory, they are deleted.  ICOM.EXE now contains both the
  File Tagger and the main setup program.  If you have any .BAT files or
  menu options that used to run TAGGER.EXE, you can accomplish the same
  thing with the command: ICOM /Cat:CATNAME /Area:Tagger (where CATNAME is
  the catalog to view).  If a .BAT used to enter the command "TAGGER
  FILELIST", the equivalent v2 command would be "ICOM /Cat:FILELIST
  /Area:Tagger".  If you omit the /Cat: switch when specifying
  /Area:Tagger, the NEWFILES catalog is assumed.  Note that the /Cat:
  switch must come FIRST to take effect.

■ The script directory is then checked for existing script files (*.SCR).
  If any out-dated scripts are found (upgraders only) you are asked whether
  you want to convert the older scripts to Intellicomm v2 format.  If you
  answer [Y]es, then ICOM.EXE will convert the out-dated scripts the first
  time you start it.  The differences between Icom v1 and Icom v2 scripts
  are subtle, and it isn't possible for the conversion routines to
  distinguish between a v1 and v2 script in many cases (the file DATE of
  the script is the main criteria used).  The original (v1) scripts that
  are converted are renamed to *.OLD after conversion.  Comparing the .OLD
  (v1) to the converted .SCR (v2) file will allow you to quickly see what
  differences there are between Icom v1 and Icom v2 scripts.

  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

■ INSTALL.EXE then ends, leaving you in the directory you installed to,
  instructing you to enter the command "ICOM" (start the main Intellicomm
  program) to continue.

■ The first time you start ICOM.EXE, if ICOM.INI (the main setup file) is
  found in the installation directory, it and all other .INI files are then
  converted to Icom v2 format.  TAGGER.INI is no longer used, so the
  settings are taken from it and placed in the main *.INI files, then
  TAGGER.INI is deleted.  Further, if Icom v1 BBS Information Files (*.BIF)
  are found in the BIF Directory, they are also converted to Icom v2 format
  (basically the same except for a new header [IBIF2 instead of IBIF1] and
  spaces for a few new settings discussed in UPGRADE.DOC).

  If ICOM.INI is NOT found in the installation directory, it is assumed you
  are a new user and you will be asked the following questions:

  1. The type of video display you have, either Monochrome or Color.  This
     determines only the COLORS Intellicomm will use by default.  If your
     monitor cannot display color, select Monochrome.

  2. The name you normally use to logon BBS's [Firstname Lastname].  This
     will be used by Intellicomm as a default whenever it asks you for a
     logon name on a new BBS setup.

  3. The COM port your modem uses.

  4. The baud rate your modem documentation recommends you set your
     communications program (or "terminal") at.  If you enter a baud rate
     higher than 2400, CTS/RTS Hardware Flow Control is set to ON, and Auto
     Baud Detect is set to OFF.  This is how most all high speed modems
     require communications programs to be set up.  If you enter a baud
     rate of 2400 or lower, XON/XOFF flow control is set to ON, and Auto
     Baud Detect is set to ON.  This is how most low speed modems require
     communications programs to be set up.  Later, you can change either of
     these settings by selecting "Intellicomm Setup" from the Main Menu,
     then selecting "Terminal Settings".

  5. The type of telephone service you use, either touch tone, pulse, with
     or without call waiting.  This adjusts the "Dialing Prefix" settings
     in the Icom main setup, used by the dialer.

  6. Your primary unpacker command: will remain at PKUNZIP.EXE usually, but
     if you renamed PKUNZIP.EXE to UNZIP.EXE, or if the program is not on
     your PATH, you'll have to change the default (C:\UTIL\PKUNZIP.EXE,
     etc).

     And your secondary unpacker command (defaults to PKUNPAK.EXE).  These
     commands are used to extract new files lists from archived mail
     packets (Qmail, Tomcat, etc) and also to unpack ICOMAUTO.ZIP; a
     special file that, if posted on the BBS you call, will set Icom up for
     instant automation of that BBS.

You'll then enter the online help system where the introductory information
and welcome is displayed.  Even if you're familiar with Intellicomm you
should skim through these screens, right to the bottom.  At the bottom of
each introductory screen you'll find a "help link" pointing you to the
appropriate topics to read, be you new user or upgrader.

Enjoy Intellicomm v2.0!