OS/2 Spezial/SPEZIAL2_97.zip/SPEZIAL2_97.iso/ANWEND/ONLINE/LOOK100/LOOKOUT.ZIP/lookout.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1997-07-31 | 237KB | 514 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Welcome to Lookout for OS/2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. What is it? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Lookout for OS/2 is an internet notifier.  It will watch Web, FTP and Gopher
sites, and tell you if anything has changed.  You can tell Lookout how often
you want it to check a particular site, how you want it to notify you when
something at the site changes, and things that Lookout can ignore when it
checks a site.

Throughout this documentation, the "agents" or "bots" that track individual
sites are referred to as "Lookouts".


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Copyright Notice & Software License ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

-----------------------------------------------------------------

DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it.
If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to
register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration
while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With
registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the
software to an updated program with printed manual.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the
copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated
below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial
authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are
good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of
distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute
the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example,
some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may
copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find
software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or
Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you
can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also.
Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the
product, you don't pay for it.

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of Lookout for OS/2 must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "Lookout for
OS/2 is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and
of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct
or conse- quential, which may result from the use of Lookout for OS/2."

Lookout for OS/2 is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the
user for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do
not give it away altered or as part of another system.  The essence of
"user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality
software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
continue to develop new products.  If you find this program useful and find
that you are using Lookout for OS/2 and continue to use Lookout for OS/2 after
a reasonable trial period, you must make a reg- istration payment of US$15 to
Frugal Software, Inc..  The US$15 registration fee will license one copy for
use on any one computer at any one time.  You must treat this software just
like a book.  An example is that this software may be used by any number of
people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long
as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being
used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the
same time.

Commercial users of Lookout for OS/2 must register and pay for their copies of
Lookout for OS/2 within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn.
Site-License arrangements may be made by con- tacting Frugal Software, Inc..

Anyone distributing Lookout for OS/2 for any kind of remuneration must first
contact Frugal Software, Inc. at the address below for authorization. This
authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the
Frugal Software, Inc. as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors,
and such distributors may begin offering Lookout for OS/2 immediately (However
Frugal Software, Inc. must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept
up-to-date with the latest version of Lookout for OS/2.).

You are encouraged to pass a copy of Lookout for OS/2 along to your friends for
evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that
they can use it.  All registered users will receive a copy of the latest
version of the Lookout for OS/2 system.

This document is a legal agreement between you and Frugal Software, Inc.  Use
of the accompanying software ("SOFTWARE") indicates your acceptance of these
terms.

LICENSE GRANT.

This SOFTWARE as well as any accompanying documents are proprietary products of
Frugal Software, Inc. and are protected under international copyright laws.
This SOFTWARE as well as any accompanying documents remain the property of
Frugal Software Incorporated.  This SOFTWARE is provided to you AS IS and
Frugal Software, Inc. makes no warranties.

Without the express permission of Frugal Software, Inc. you may not

1. Install or use this SOFTWARE for multiple user, networks or multiple
computer applications in absence of individual licenses from Frugal Software,
Inc.

2. Translate, emulate, reverse program, disassemble, decompile, reduce, or
otherwise reverse engineer the SOFTWARE.

3. Use, copy, modify, alter, transfer, electronically or otherwise, the
SOFTWARE or documentation except as expressly allowed in this agreement.

4. Sublicense or lease this SOFTWARE or its documentation.

TERMINATION

This license is effective from your date of purchase and shall remain in force
until terminated.  You may terminate this license and this agreement at any
time by destroying the SOFTWARE and its documenation, together with all copies
in any form. Frugal Software, Inc. may terminate the license should you fail to
comply with this agreement.  In such case, you shall destroy the SOFTWARE and
its documentation, together with all copies in any form.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Using Lookout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Using Lookout for OS/2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. The Main Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The main window in Lookout consists of a list of sites and information about
them, a menu bar and a status bar. When Lookout starts, it will display the
message "Initializing..." in the status bar.  Once all of the Lookouts have
been created, the "Initializing..." message will be erased.

The list of Lookouts contains three columns:

 Column           Description

 -Site-           Description of the Lookout

 -Status-         The current status of the Lookout

 -Last Checked-   The date and time that the Lookout last checked it's site.

 The very first time you start the program, the only Lookout listed will be one
 that watches the "Lookout for OS/2 Home Page".  This Lookout is set up to
 check the web site once a day.

 The -Status- column can have several values:

     No change - The Lookout did not detect any changes the last time it
      checked the site.

     Changed! - Something has changed at the site.

     Checking... - The Lookout is currently checking the site...

     Host unavailable - The host is not responding to requests.  You may check
      the site again after a little while, to see if the host is responding.

     Please reset connection - This is more serious.  This can be caused by
      either:  The host name you entered when you created the Lookout is
      invalid, or your Domain Name Server cannot resolve the host name you
      entered.  When you see a Lookout with this status, first try to reset it
      by selecting "Reset Host" from the popup menu.  If this works, the
      Lookout's status will be reset to "No change".  If this doesn't work, you
      will hear a low-pitched beep, and the status will remain "Please reset
      host".  At this point, you need to edit the Lookout, and correct the host
      name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Creating Lookouts ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you want Lookout for OS/2 to tell you when a site has changed, you need to
create a Lookout to watch that particular site. Lookouts can watch Web, FTP or
Gopher sites.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.1. Creating a Web Lookout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To create a Web Lookout, select "Lookout | New | Web... " from the pulldown
menu, or use the shortcut key, Ctrl-W.  This will display the "Web Lookout
Settings" dialog:

     Description - This will be displayed in the -Description- field in the
      main list.

     URL - The address of the page to watch, something like
      "http://www.polyex.com" ( without the quotes ).

     Check every - How often you want this Lookout to check the site.  The
      first field is the number, the second is the units.  So, if you want the
      site checked once a day, you would enter "1" in the first field, then
      select the pulldown list and choose "Day(s)".

     Watch this site - Specifies if you want this site to be watched.  If
      turned off, the site will not be checked until you edit it and set Watch
      this site to on.

     Notification - How you want to be notified when this site changes.  You
      have the following options:

        -  Message box - A message box with the description of this site will
           be displayed when this site changes.

        -  Play tone - Two tones will be played through the PC speaker when
           this site changes.

        -  Play sound file - A "wave" file will be played whenever this site
           changes.  You can specify the "wave" file to play by entering the
           file name ( including path ) in the entry field below this check
           box, or you can select the "..." button to browse for a sound file.

     More... - Displays the "More Web Settings" dialog box:

     Ignore tokens with these characters - Select this check box if you want
      this Lookout to ignore certain HTML tags and tokens on this site.  You
      can enter the tokens you want ignored, one on each line, in the field
      below this check box.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.2. Creating an FTP Lookout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To create an FTP Lookout, select "Lookout | New | FTP..." from the pulldown
menu, or use the shortcut key, Ctrl-F.  This will display the "FTP Lookout
Settings" dialog:

     Description - This will be displayed in the -Description- field in the
      main list.

     Host - The name of the FTP server, like "ftp.cdrom.com", without the
      quotes.

     Port - The port that the server is watching for FTP connections.
      Defaults to 21, and you shouldn't have to change it.

     Username - The name you use to log in to the server.  For anonymous FTP
      connections, use "anonymous", without the quotes. To change the default
      user name and password for FTP Lookouts, go to the Settings notebook.

     Password - The password you use to log in.  For anonymous FTP
      connections, use your e-mail address.

     Directory - The directory on the server that you want this Lookout to
      watch.  Defaults to the root directory, or "/".

     Check every - How often you want this Lookout to check the site.  The
      first field is the number, the second is the units.  So, if you want the
      site checked once a day, you would enter "1" in the first field, then
      select the pulldown list and choose "Day(s)".

     Watch this site - Specifies if you want this site to be watched.  If
      turned off, the site will not be checked until you edit it and set Watch
      this site to on.

     Notification - How you want to be notified when this site changes.  You
      have the following options:

        -  Message box - A message box with the description of this site will
           be displayed when this site changes.

        -  Play tone - Two tones will be played through the PC speaker when
           this site changes.

        -  Play sound file - A "wave" file will be played whenever this site
           changes.  You can specify the "wave" file to play by entering the
           file name ( including path ) in the entry field below this check
           box, or you can select the "..." button to browse for a sound file.

     More... - Displays the "More FTP Settings" dialog box:

     Look for file - Select this check box if you want this Lookout to watch
      for a certain file.  Enter the file name in the field to the right of
      this check box.

     Ignore these files - Select this check box if you want this Lookout to
      ignore certain files when determining if the site has changed.  Enter the
      file names, or parts of file names, on separate lines in the multi-line
      field below this check box.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.3. Creating a Gopher Lookout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To create a Gopher Lookout, select "Lookout | New | Gopher..." from the
pulldown menu, or use the shortcut key, Ctrl-G.  This will display the "Gopher
Lookout Settings" dialog:

     Description - This will be displayed in the -Description- field in the
      main list.

     Host - The name of the Gopher server, like "gopher.micro.umn.edu",
      without the quotes.

     Port - The port that the server is watching for Gopher connections.
      Defaults to 70, and you shouldn't have to change it.

     Selection string - The string that denotes what directory or document you
      want watched.  Defaults to a line feed / carriage return.

     Check every - How often you want this Lookout to check the site.  The
      first field is the number, the second is the units.  So, if you want the
      site checked once a day, you would enter "1" in the first field, then
      select the pulldown list and choose "Day(s)".

     Watch this site - Specifies if you want this site to be watched.  If
      turned off, the site will not be checked until you edit it and set Watch
      this site to on.

     Notification - How you want to be notified when this site changes.  You
      have the following options:

        -  Message box - A message box with the description of this site will
           be displayed when this site changes.

        -  Play tone - Two tones will be played through the PC speaker when
           this site changes.

        -  Play sound file - A "wave" file will be played whenever this site
           changes.  You can specify the "wave" file to play by entering the
           file name ( including path ) in the entry field below this check
           box, or you can select the "..." button to browse for a sound file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Checking sites ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Lookouts will check their sites automatically at the intervals you specify.  If
you want to check a site yourself, you have a few options.

First, you can highlight the Lookout's line in the list, then select "Lookout |
Check" from the pulldown menu.

Or, you can right-click on the Lookout's line and select "Check" from the popup
menu.

You can use the shortcut key, Ctrl-C, to check the currently highlighted
Lookout.

Or, if you want to check all of the Lookouts at once, you can select "Actions |
Check All" from the pulldown menu.

You can use the shortcut key, Ctrl-Shift-C, to check all of the Lookouts.

While the Lookout is checking the site, the status of that site in the list of
Lookouts is "Checking...".

If the site has not changed, the status of that site in the list of Lookouts
will be set to "No change".

If the site changes, the status of that site in the list of Lookouts will be
set to "Changed!".

If, for some reason, the site cannot be reached, the status of that site in the
list will be set to "Host Unavailable".


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. The Settings Notebook ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following pages are available on the Settings notebook:

     FTP Settings - Global FTP Lookout settings.

     Web Settings - Global Web Lookout settings.

     Gopher Settings - Global Gopher Lookout settings.

     Global Overrides - Global notification overrides.

     Preferences - Preferences.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1. Global FTP Lookout settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

     FTP Client - The program to use to view FTP sites.  If the program is not
      in a directory in your PATH, then you need to enter the full path in the
      FTP Client field.  Defaults to FTPPM.EXE

     Browse - Pushing this button displays the file open dialog box, which you
      can use to locate the program to view FTP sites with.

     FTP Client Parameters - The command-line parameters you want passed to
      the FTP Client.  Lookout can pass the following, using this format:

        -  %host - The FTP host.

        -  %user - The user name.

        -  %password - The password.

        -  %dir - The directory to view.

        -  %port - The port that the FTP host is listening on.

     Reset - Resets the FTP Client and FTP Client Parameters fields to the
      values they contained when the dialog was displayed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.2. Global Web Lookout settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

     Web Client - The program to use to view Web sites.  If the program is not
      in a directory in your PATH, then you need to enter the full path in the
      Web Client field.  Defaults to NETSCAPE.EXE

     Browse - Pushing this button displays the file open dialog box, which you
      can use to locate the program to view Web sites with.

     Web Client Parameters - The command-line parameters you want passed to
      the Web Client.  Lookout can pass the following, using this format:

        -  %URL - The Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the site and page you
           want watched.

     Reset - Resets the Web Client and Web Client Parameters fields to the
      values they contained when the dialog was displayed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.3. Global Gopher Lookout settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

     Gopher Client - The program to use to view Gopher sites.  If the program
      is not in a directory in your PATH, then you need to enter the full path
      in the Gopher Client field.  Defaults to GOPHER.EXE

     Browse - Pushing this button displays the file open dialog box, which you
      can use to locate the program to view Gopher sites with.

     Gopher Client Parameters - The command-line parameters you want passed to
      the Gopher Client.  Lookout can pass the following, using this format:

        -  %host - The Gopher host.

        -  %port - The port that the Gopher host is listening on.

        -  %selector - The selector string of the directory or file you want
           watched.

     Reset - Resets the Gopher Client and Gopher Client Parameters fields to
      the values they contained when the dialog was displayed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.4. Global Overrides ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

     Message Box Overrides - Spin button to override notifications by message
      box.  Values are "Don't override message boxes", "Show message boxes for
      all Lookouts", and "Don't show message boxes for any Lookouts".  The
      first option doesn't change anything, the second will display a message
      box whenever any Lookout changes, and the third will not display message
      boxes for any Lookouts when they change.

     Tones Overrides - Spin button to override notifications by playing tones.
      Values are "Don't override tones", "Play tones for all Lookouts", and
      "Don't play tones for any Lookouts".  The first option doesn't change
      anything, the second will play tones whenever any Lookout changes, and
      the third will not play tones for any Lookouts when they change.

     Sound File Overrides - Spin button to override notifications by playing
      sound files.   Values are "Don't override sound files", "Play sound file
      for all Lookouts", and "Don't play sound files for any Lookouts".  The
      first option doesn't change anything, the second will play a specified
      sound file whenever any Lookout changes, and the third will not play
      sound files for any Lookouts when they change.

     Sound File - Entry field for the sound file to play as part of the
      override.  Enter the full path and name of the sound file, or use the
      "Browse" button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.5. Preferences ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

     Check all Lookouts on program startup - Check this box if you want all
      Lookouts checked every time you start the program.

     Default FTP User Name - This user name will be filled in on the "FTP
      Settings" dialog box when you create a new FTP Lookout.

     Default FTP Password - This password will be filled in on the "FTP
      Settings" dialog box when you create a new FTP Lookout.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Problems & Suggestions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please send any bug reports or suggestions for improvements to:

Chris Kennedy
[e-mail]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Registering ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For more information, see the file "register.txt" included with this
distribution.

If you find Lookout for OS/2 useful, we would appreciate it if you registered.

Registration costs US$15.

Registration entitles you to free updates through version 1.99999...

You can register through:

BMT Micro
http://www.bmtmicro.com
Orders: [phone]
[e-mail]

When you register, you will be given a user name and a registration key.  When
running Lookout, select "Help | Register...".

The Registration dialog is displayed.  Enter the user name and key you received
EXACTLY the way you received it.  If you used the right key, the start-up nag
screen will no longer display.