Smartcom™ is a genuinely simple-to-use telecommunications application for Apple Macintosh computers. With Smartcom, you can:
• Call information services, such as CompuServe®, and receive on-line stock quotes, make travel reservations and even participate in conferences with other callers.
• Connect with a VAX minicomputer system while emulating a VT-102™ terminal, use applications and electronic mail.
• Download files from local Bulletin Board Systems.
• Transfer data to other systems, PCs and mainframes, even if they aren't using a Smartcom product.
• Set your Macintosh up to answer calls from other systems.
• Switch from voice to data, without dropping the line.
Smartcom is derived from our more sophisticated Smartcom II for the Macintosh software and adheres to the Macintosh interface, so even the seemingly complex world of telecommunications can be made easier for you. For most situations, all you need supply is the telephone number — Smartcom will do the rest.
Why is this Document So Small?
An important part of any software package is the documentation. A well–written and detailed manual is important, but an extensive and context sensitive help system integrated into the program is even better. Smartcom has such a system. You can instantly get precise information about any screen, what commands are available and how they work, just by clicking once on the help icon. We are confident the help system will answer your questions, so we intentionally devoted this guide to basic operations and left the details to the help system.
This guide is divided into three chapters: "Getting Started" will show you how to get on-line quickly and easily. "More About Smartcom" outlines common features of Smartcom and "Other Features" describes even more goodies.
Remember: If you have a question, just click the help icon.
Chapter 1: Getting Started
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The easiest way to learn how to use Smartcom is to actually get on-line with a host system, such as our toll-free Online With Hayes system. Stick with us for the next few screens and we'll show you how easy it can be.
Get Ready....
Before actually installing and using Smartcom, you will need to connect a modem to your Macintosh; just remember which port (printer or modem) is used. Macintosh II system users may also use Smartcom with a Hayes Smartmodem 2400M™. Refer to the modem's specific manual for more details on properly connecting the modem to your Macintosh.
Smartcom will work on any Macintosh furnished with an 800K disk drive and at least 512K of memory. Your startup disk must have System 3.2 and Finder 4.1 or newer. (Users who require hardware handshaking must have System 6.0 or higher.)
If you have a hard disk, create a new folder (you might want to call it "Smartcom," but don't feel obligated) for the Smartcom files. Floppy disk users will need a blank 800K disk.
Insert the Smartcom master disk; select all the files and drag them to your new folder (hard disk users) or floppy disk. Users with single floppy disk systems will need to eject the Smartcom physical disk, leaving its "shadow" on the Desktop, so files may be copied onto a blank floppy disk. Be sure to put the master diskette away in a safe place before continuing.
Get Set...
Launch Smartcom by double clicking on the program icon. Like many other Macintosh applications, Smartcom starts with an "Untitled" document and has the familiar Menu Bar across the top.
Notice the special Icon Bar, where more frequently used features can be accessed with a single click. (Details on these icons are discussed later in this guide.)
Before actually dialing, you will need to make sure a few items are set properly. Pull down the Connection menu and select the Choose Port... option.
This is where you tell Smartcom where the modem is connected to the Macintosh by clicking on the correct port icon; click OK when ready.
Go On-line!
Click once on the phone icon and the Phone Number dialog box will appear:
Type or click the digits necessary to dial the host system you wish to call. The telephone number for our free Online with Hayes system is 1-800-874-2937 (or 1-404-446-6336). Click OK when ready, and Smartcom will command your modem to dial. If your modem is equipped with a speaker, you should hear the actual dialing tones or pulses.
During the dialing process, a status box is shown:
Notice in our example, a "9," was included in the telephone number to access an outside line and pause for 2 seconds before dialing the remaining digits.
Most Hayes modems (including the Personal Modem series) are intelligent enough to tell Smartcom if there is a busy signal, no answer, or other problem. These conditions are reported via this status box. Click the Retry button to try dialing again if you were unable to get a connection the first time.
If you get the "No dial tone" response, make sure a valid telephone line is properly connected to your modem and check the dialing sequence before trying again.
If you see the "The modem is not responding." alert box, go back to the Connection menu and make sure the Choose Port is set properly. You should check to make sure the modem is plugged in and turned on. When ready to try again, double–click on the phone icon.
When the host system answers, you will hear the high–pitched tone (carrier signal) a modem uses to get properly connected.
I'm On-line! Now What?
Once connected to a host system, you will likely need to go through some sort of logon or security access process. This is typically a brief question and answer session started by the host system once a connection is made. Other systems may require you to make the first move, such as pressing the return key a few times. For Online with Hayes, you need only wait a few seconds.
Information from the host system will scroll through the active window. You can use the standard Macintosh scroll bar to review any text that has "disappeared" off of the top of the window. This is called a peruse buffer (it holds about 10 to 12 screens of the most recently received data) and you may select and print or save to a disk file any information that is visible in this window.
When first connected with Online With Hayes, the host system will prompt you for information concerning how you want the host to interact with Smartcom. Some default values will be suggested and these will work just fine with Smartcom.
You will also be asked if you wish to register with Online With Hayes. If so, you will need to supply some general information and enter a password that will be used to get you into the system the next time you call. Don't worry if you enter incorrect information or make a mistake; the software used with Online With Hayes is quite "bulletproof"; you can't hurt it or your Macintosh.
If you are calling a system other than Online With Hayes, be prepared to answer some questions about how you want the host to work with Smartcom.
Printing
Just click the printer icon once and from that point on, all characters displayed in the window will be sent to your printer. Click the printer icon a second time to stop printing. If you have some text selected, clicking the printer icon will cause the selection to be printed. The standard Page Setup and Print File dialogs are available from the File menu.
Saving Text to a File
Saving on-screen text to a file is known as capturing. Capturing can best be compared to printing, except your data is sent to a file instead of the printer. When the capture icon is clicked once, Smartcom will ask you to name a file and location to save the data. Like printing, the capture feature will continue to save data until you click it a second time. If you already have text selected, clicking the capture icon will save the text to a file and location you determine. Double-clicking on the icon will automatically add the selected text to the end of the last file used.
You may specify what application will recognize the saved text file from the Preferences... option of the Settings menu.
You may also use the Copy command from the Edit menu to copy any selected text to the Clipboard.
Sending Text to the Host
The easiest way to send text to the host system is to simply copy the text from your word processor or other application, then use Smartcom's Paste function (from the Edit menu) to transmit the text to the host.
This may not be best, however, if you have a lengthy text file. Suppose you have a 50 page report created in MacWrite® and want to send it to an electronic mail system. Smartcom's Autotype feature is appropriate for this purpose.
First, make sure the file is saved (using a different name) as "text only." This will ensure you transfer only text characters and no formatting codes or other non-text information that the host may not understand or accept. Most word processors (including MacWrite) have an option to save files in a text–only format.
Second, be sure the host system is ready to accept the information. Typically, the host should have some sort of capture feature active. You may be at a prompt such as "Enter your message" or "Type the text file now." Then click once on the autotype icon and Smartcom will ask you to select the file to "type" to the host system. Remember, Smartcom's dialog box will display text-only or ASCII files. Click the Type button when ready. If the host system has problems accepting the file, you may need to fine tune the autotyping feature from the Autotype Protocol... option on the Settings menu. Don't forget to click the help icon for details.
File Transfers
File transfers use a special set of rules called an error-correcting protocol to make sure an exact copy of the file is created on the receiving system. Error correction is necessary for file transfers, due to fluctuations in line quality and noise levels. Smartcom uses an industry standard protocol called XMODEM. Before you can transfer a file to or from a host system, you will need to make sure the host is using the XMODEM protocol. Most host systems will offer you a choice of protocols when you attempt a file transfer. Smartcom supports standard XMODEM, XMODEM-CRC and XMODEM 1K blocks. Check with your host system to see which is best, and make your selection from the File Transfer Protocol... dialog on the Settings menu.
To transfer a file to the host system (called uploading), you must first issue the proper command(s) to the host to tell it to begin receiving a file. The host will typically respond with some sort of message like "Ready to receive using XMODEM. Press Ctrl-X to cancel." When the host is ready to receive, click the send file icon and Smartcom will prompt you to select a file to send.
To receive a file from the host system (called downloading), you must first issue the proper command(s) to the host to tell it to begin sending a file.
The host will typically respond with some sort of message like "Ready to transmit filename using XMODEM. Press Ctrl-X to cancel." When the host is ready to send the file, click the receive file icon and Smartcom will prompt you to select a location on your disk to save the file.
During the file transfer, Smartcom will display a file transfer progress box. When you are sending (uploading) a file from your system, Smartcom can compute how long it will take, since the file size is known. XMODEM doesn't always tell receiving systems how big a file is, so you may not get a completion time estimate when receiving (downloading) a file.
Okay, I'll Call Back Later. Let's Hang Up Now.
When ready to disconnect from the host, you should first type any necessary log off commands to the host. Most host systems will then automatically disconnect and you should see the phone icon change from black to white, indicating there is no connection. If this doesn't happen, or if your host expects you to disconnect, click the phone icon once and Smartcom will hang up.
You may wish to Save these settings and call the host system later (see the File menu).
Chapter 2: More About Smartcom
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This chapter outlines the Smartcom interface and how to make it work best for you. If you are even briefly familiar with Macintosh applications, you should feel at ease right away.
Smartcom Documents
Smartcom uses documents the same way as other Macintosh applications. You can configure individual documents with preferences for separate host systems, then save those documents for later use. Double–clicking on any Smartcom document will launch Smartcom and load the settings contained in the document, such as the telephone number and other options.
You can customize the default settings Smartcom uses by simply making your choices, then saving the document as "Smartcom Preferences" to your Smartcom or System Folder. The settings in this document will be used anytime Smartcom is launched directly or when a new document is created.
Change the Way Things Look
From the main window, all the standard Macintosh features are available, including the scroll bars, zoom, size and close boxes. Smartcom's window adds a feature called the re-zoom box:
Click this box to restore the saved (or default) size of a window whenever you have changed the window size with the zoom or size box.
For users with color systems, the Preferences dialog box from the Settings menu offers a choice of foreground and background colors.
The Icon Bar can be quickly hidden or shown by pressing Command-I. You can even flip the Icon Bar upright from a choice on the Special menu.
Should the default 9–point text appear too small on the screen, you can select Magnify from the Special menu to enlarge to 12–point type. You may need to adjust the window size to properly display characters.
Terminal Emulation or "Let's Pretend"
Years ago, the only way you could talk with a big host system was through a data terminal. With the introduction of personal computers and communications software, a terminal is no longer needed, but the software must frequently be able to emulate a particular type of data terminal to satisfy the host's requirements. Smartcom offers three terminal emulators: TTY (teletype), VT-52™ and VT-102. For most hosts, the default setting of TTY should work fine, but you may wish to enable Smartcom's VT–52 or VT-102 terminal emulation mode if necessary. Options used to enhance these terminal emulators are located under the Settings menu in the Terminal... selection.
The host system may expect you to respond with certain keys found on a real terminal. For example, you may be running an application on a host system that thinks you are a VT-102 terminal, and the host system might respond, "Press PF1 for help." Although a Macintosh doesn't have a PF1 key, Smartcom typically duplicates the function of a PF1 key when you press the Clear key located just above the numeric keypad on most Macintosh keyboards (the location of the PF1 key on a real VT102 terminal). If your keyboard doesn't have a Clear key, you can use Option-1 instead. This function of the terminal emulator is known as keyboard mapping. Click the help icon and scroll to the section called Emulation Key Table for the specific key assignments.
If the host system requires you to send a "break" signal, press Command-, (comma), or select Send Break from the Special menu.
Occasionally, even a real VT series terminal can get "lost" (or data may be corrupted) and the terminal may not process incoming control characters or sequences properly. This may cause an erratic display of data. To "clear" this, select the Reset Emulator option from the Special menu.
Boy, It Sure Would Be Nice If I Didn't Have to Type All That In Every Time...
Although Smartcom does not incorporate the extensive scripting language of Smartcom II, you can save keystrokes while on-line by using the user-definable buttons.
Buttons provide a way for you to automate frequently–typed text. As an example, suppose each time you log on to a service, you have to type a lengthy UserID number. You could assign a button to automatically type the text for you. This button could be called "UserID."
Defining Buttons
To define a button, first save your Untitled document. Select Show Buttons from the Special menu. A default group of 12 undefined buttons will appear on top of the icon bar.
Click on any blank button to bring up the edit button dialog box. You will be prompted to enter a title for the button. Press Tab to move between the Autotype text and Button title boxes.
Enter the text, such as your UserID, and be sure to press Return to include a carriage return as part of the string of characters to be sent. This tells the button to type the characters, then press Return automatically.
From then on, any time you click once on the button, the defined text will be sent to the host system. To edit a defined button, Option-click on the button or choose Edit Buttons from the Special menu.
Button Management
The button window can be re-sized and moved like any other Macintosh window. As you expand or contract the button window, blank buttons will become visible. Blank buttons can be hidden or displayed by clicking on the small – or + symbol on the right side of the button window. You can even scroll through buttons if necessary. Buttons may be moved (and swapped) by dragging them to another area of the button window. The button window can be quickly hidden or shown by pressing Command-B.
Chapter 3: Other Features
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Surprisingly, Smartcom has even more features; read on and find out the details about on-line graphics, direct connections, voice/data switching, and an index of command key shortcuts.
Let Me Draw It For You
One of the more interesting features of Smartcom is the Interative Graphics option. When two Macintosh systems using Smartcom or Smartcom II for the Macintosh are connected to each other, users on each end can click the drawing tools icon and work on a bit -mapped graphic, using standard Macintosh paint tools.
Canvas users take turns accessing the drawing tools. You may control the tools when the Put Back button is highlighted. The tools are being used by the other person when the Pick Up button is gray. To "ask" the other person to take control of the tools, click once on the Request button. Smartcom will always indicate who is currently using the tools.
If you aren't connected to another Macintosh using Smartcom or Smartcom II, you can still use the graphics tools to create or edit an image. Of course, the standard Copy, Cut and Paste options can be used to manipulate the image to and from the Clipboard.
I Don't Have a Modem; How do I Talk to a Local System?
Suppose you need to transfer files between your Macintosh and another local system, such as a PC. The Direct Connect option (from the Connection menu) lets you communicate directly (and at very high speed) with another computer, without modems. Connect a special null-modem cable between your Macintosh modem port and an equivalent serial port on the other computer. Set the transmission speed (see the Speed & Format... dialog from the Settings menu) to the fastest both systems can use.
If you are direct connecting two Macintosh systems with either Smartcom or Smartcom II for the Macintosh, the Local character echo box (Terminal... option, Settings menu) will need to be on for both systems. This permits both users to see characters as they are typed.
How Can I Issue AT Commands To My Modem?
There may be a time when you need to issue commands directly to the modem. To do this, select the Direct Connect option from the Connection menu and make sure the Speed (Speed & Format… dialog from the menu) is set to the fastest speed your modem can use. Type +++ to put your Hayes modem into the command state (you will see the OK result code). Your modem is now ready to accept AT commands.
Answering Calls
Just select Answer from the Connection menu and click the phone icon. You can have Smartcom optionally reply to callers with a specific message by entering it in the Answer Message dialog from the Settings menu.
Note that Smartcom cannot perform file transfers while unattended. Someone must be present at the answering system to click the send or receive file icon before the calling system can begin receiving or sending a file.
Voice / Data Switching
If your modem and telephone share the same line, Smartcom can toggle between voice and data connections without dropping the line. To go from voice to data, first tell the person on the other end to prepare to switch to data when they hear the modem tone. Then select Switch to Data from the Special menu.
Smartcom won't dial, but will try to establish a connection with the modem on the other end of the line. To get back to voice, select Switch to Voice from the Special menu and follow the prompts.
Command Key Shortcuts
Smartcom supports most of the standard Macintosh command key functions, such as Command-N to open a new file. Here are the rest:
Problems and Solutions
The modem is not responding. Make sure the modem is turned on and check the setting of Choose Port... from the Connection menu.
The modem dials the phone but there is no connection. You may need to use pulse dialing. Bring up the Phone Number dialog box from the Connection menu and insert a P as the first character in the telephone number. Also verify the number is for another modem, and not a facsimile or voice number.
Characters on the screen are garbled or non-alphabetic. This is likely due to a mismatched character format. A character format consists of three elements: bits per character, parity and stop bits. These must match the host system; the most common one is 8 bits per character, no parity and 1 stop bit (8-none-1). See the Speed & Format... dialog from the Settings menu. You may also wish to try Reset Emulator from the Special menu.
The connection is lost after I've left the system idle for a few minutes. The Hayes Personal Modem has a default inactivity timeout setting of 10 minutes. Many host systems have this feature as well, to prevent charging you for unintentional time on their systems.
Notice: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to the software described in this document at any time and without notice.
Hayes, the Hayes Logos and Smartcom II are registered trademarks, and Smartmodem 2400M and Smartcom are trademarks, of Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.
Apple, Macintosh and Mac are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
VT is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corp.
CompuServe is a registered service mark of H&R Block, Inc.
MacWrite is a registered trademark of Claris Corporation.
This document is copyrighted. All rights are reserved. This document may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, or reduced to any machine-readable form without prior consent, in writing, from Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.
The Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. ("Hayes") program that you have purchased is copyrighted by Hayes and your rights of ownership and use are subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by the copyright laws and international treaty provisions outlined below.
It is against the law to copy, reproduce or transmit (including without limitation, electronic transmission over any network) any part of the program except as provided by the Copyright Act of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) (the "Laws"). However, you are permitted by Hayes to write the contents of the program into the machine memory of your computer so that the program may be executed by a single user. You are also permitted by Hayes to make a back-up copy of the program subject to the following restrictions:
(l) Each back-up copy must be treated in the same way as the original copy purchased from Hayes;
(2) if you ever sell or give away the original copy of the program, all back-up copies must also be sold or given to the same person, or destroyed; and
(3) no copy (original or back-up) may be used while any other copy (original or back-up) is in use.
If you make a back-up copy of the program you should place the copyright notice that is on the original copy of the program on every back-up copy of the program. If you ever make any modification to the program, no copy of the modified version of the program may be transferred under any circumstances without the written permission of Hayes (See Section 117 of the Copyright Act).
The above is not an inclusive statement of the restrictions imposed on you under the Laws. For a complete statement of the restrictions imposed on you under the Laws, see Title 17, United States Code. If you are in any doubt as to whether your proposed use of the program is prohibited, you should seek appropriate professional advice.
Certain programs sold by Hayes are copy-protected (in addition to copyright protected) - that is, the diskette on which the program is recorded is physically designed so that the program cannot be copied or reproduced. If the program you have purchased is copy protected and a back-up copy of the program has been provided to you by Hayes, your rights in the back-up copy are also subject to the restrictions under the Laws referred to above.
Apple Computer, Inc. ("Apple") makes no warranties, express or implied, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, regarding the Apple software. Apple does not warrant, guarantee or make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of the Apple software in terms of its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currentness or otherwise. The entire risk as to the results and performance of the Apple software is assummed by you. The exclusion of implied warranties is not permitted by some States. The above exclusion may not apply to you.
In no event will Apple, its directors, officers, employees or agents be liable to you for any consequential, incidental or indirect damages (Iincluding damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use the Apple software even if Apple has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some States do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitations may not apply to you.
Apple's liability to you for actual damages from any cause whatsoever, and regardless of the form of the action (whether in contract, tort (including negligence), product liability or otherwise), will be limited to $50).
