Magnum One/Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso/d7/jlblink.arc/JLQUIK.TXT

Text File | 1990-10-18 | 10.3 KB | 241 lines

  How To Enter JLBlink and Execute A Command

  JLBlink is executed by typing "blink<Enter>" (do not include the quotes)
  at the DOS prompt.  To execute a command, press the keystrokes associated
  with the command or invoke the Menu System by pressing <Escape> and select
  a command.

  JLBlink commands can also be executed automatically by including the
  command names(s) on the DOS command line.  A complete list of the valid
  command names that can be executed will be displayed if you type "blink -"
  (do not include the quotes) on the DOS command line.  For example, typing
  "blink logonauto<Enter>" (do not include the quotes) will load JLBlink and
  then execute the LogOn Auto <Alt-L><A> command.

  You can include as many JLBlink command names on the DOS command line as
  you like.  The commands will be executed in the same order that they are
  placed on the DOS command line.



  How To Use the Menu System and Get Help

  The Menu System is invoked by pressing <Escape>.  The cursor will move to
  the top of the screen.  Use the Left/Right Arrow keys to move the cursor
  between the command groups on the Main Menu.  Place the cursor on the
  command group name and then press <Enter> to open a Secondary Menu.  Use
  the Up/Down Arrow keys to move between commands on the Secondary Menu and
  then press <Enter> to execute the command.

  When you invoke the Menu System, an on-line Help System is automatically
  turned on.  As you move the cursor between selections, the bottom of the
  screen will display a short description of the command.  Pressing <Alt-H>
  will display a brief key chart of keystrokes not available from the Menu
  System.  General help files are also available by executing the Read
  General Help <Alt-R><H> command.





  How To Log On BIX

  The LogOn <Alt-L> commands are used to activate your modem and to connect
  you with the Communication Link to log on BIX.

  If you want to have JLBlink do all the work for you, use the Blink
  <Alt-L><B> command.  This will log you on BIX, download all new messages
  and mail, upload any messages and memos you have composed, and then log
  you off BIX.  All the commands are executed automatically via Command
  Script files with no required intervention from you.

  If you want to log on BIX and do other things, such as CBIX, use the Auto
  <Alt-L><A> command.  The Auto command will log you on BIX and place you at
  BIX's Main System Prompt (:).  If you want JLBlink to download or upload
  messages and memos for you, use the Communication Link commands.  These
  commands can be executed at any time during your session.




  How To Log On BIX (Continued)

  The Manual <Alt-L><M> command does nothing more than initialize your
  communication port.  It will not execute the LogOn.Bmc Command Script used
  to log on BIX.  If you use the Manual command, it will be necessary for
  you to type all the modem instructions necessary to log on BIX.

  Once you are on-line with BIX, BIX's Menu System can be used as long as it
  is turned off before executing any Communication Link command.  Refer to
  the Communication Link Command Summary for a full list of the commands.

  NOTE:  JLBlink requires some BIX Options to be set to a specific value in
  order to upload and download messages and mail.  When you use the Auto or
  Blink command to log on BIX, those Options are automatically set at the
  beginning of each session.  If you have your current Profile set to
  automatically place you somewhere other than BIX's Main System Prompt,
  JLBlink will not work and you will need to change your Profile before
  using JLBlink.


  What To Do If The LogOn Script Does Not Work

  If JLBlink should hang at any point during the log on process, you should
  first try pressing <^C> and <C>ontinue.  If it still does not work, make a
  note of exactly where the script stopped and then press <^C> and <A>bort.
  You should then edit the script at the position where the problem is, such
  as misspelled user id or password.  To edit the Logon Script, use the File
  Edit File <Alt-F><E> command, and then select the Logon.Bmc <N> file.  If
  the script hangs after the "Last On:" message, you should check your BIX
  Profile and make sure you have it set to place you at BIX's Main System
  Prompt (:) and not at the Mail or Read prompts.

  If you should need any assistance in editing the script or determining
  what the problem is, log on BIX using the LogOn Manual <Alt-L><M> command
  or your current method and leave a message in the "jlblink" conference.
  Please supply as much information as possible; at a minimum, the point
  where the script hangs.



  How To Interface With BIX Manually

  The Communication Link commands are used to interface with BIX manually.
  All Communication Link commands are executed by pressing the keystrokes
  associated with the command or selecting it from the Menu System.  The
  Menu System is invoked by pressing <Escape>.

  The Blink <Alt-B> commands of the Communication Link are used to
  automatically upload and download messages and memos.  The File <Alt-F>
  commands are used to edit and transfer files, and to log off BIX.

  If you want to prepare a message or memo while on-line with BIX, JLBlink's
  Editor can be used inside of BIX's editor.  Follow the normal BIX
  procedures for posting a message or memo until you reach BIX's editor.  At
  this point, press <Alt-F><E> to invoke JLBlink's Editor.  When you have
  finished composing your message, press <Alt-O> to save it, and then press
  <Alt-F><T> to transmit the message to BIX's editor.  You will then be
  placed at one of BIX's action prompts and you should proceed as usual.


  How To Log Off BIX

  If you log on BIX using the LogOn Blink <Alt-L><B> command, you will be
  automatically logged off BIX with no required intervention.

  If you log on BIX using the LogOn Auto <Alt-L><A> command, use the
  Communication Link command File Exit <Alt-F><X> when you are ready to quit
  BIX.  When you execute the command, you will be prompted if you want to
  exit the Communication Link.  Answer yes and the Logoff.Bmc file will be
  executed to properly log you off BIX, and Tymnet if applicable.

  NOTE:  The <Alt-X> key can also be used to exit the Communication Link.








  Automatic Parsing

  Parsing is the command that is used to clean and sort the data you have
  gathered while on BIX, and it is automatically executed after you log off
  BIX.  Parse also builds your BIX Data Base where your messages and memos
  are stored, and an index of all unread messages called the New Message
  Log.  You will be prompted each time you leave the Read New Messages
  System as to whether the Log should be updated.  If you answer yes, any
  remaining unread messages will stay in the log, and all read messages will
  be removed from the log.  If you answer no, all messages will stay in the
  log and reflect their current status.

  If you need to access the data before it has been cleaned, the untouched
  files are kept in the \JLBLINK\BLOLD directory.  Each time you log on BIX
  the files will be overwritten with your current session data.





  How To Read New Memos and Messages

  From the main screen of JLBlink, pressing  <Enter> or <Down Arrow> will
  activate the Read New Messages System and display the first unread message
  on the screen.  The conference order the new messages are placed in is the
  same order that you have your Conference List on BIX Ordered.  The JLBlink
  Utilities Setup <Alt-U><S> command is used to select whether the messages
  are downloaded in forward or reference order.

  If you want to begin reading with a specific conference, topic, or
  message, use the Read New Messages <Alt-R><N> command.  This command can
  be executed as often as you like to change the conference or topic that
  you are reading.  You will also find the Read Keys to be useful in quickly
  locating a previous comment or different thread.






  How To Compose Messages and Memos To UpLoad To BIX

  JLBlink supplies a versatile screen oriented editor for you to compose
  your messages and memos to send to BIX.  The Editor is automatically
  invoked when you execute the Post Comment <Alt-P><C>, Say <Alt-P><S> or
  Mail To <Alt-P><T> command.

  Before the Editor is opened, the Post command automatically extracts, from
  the message or memo displayed on the screen, the information needed to
  generate the proper UpBlink Script.  This information is merged with the
  memo or message you have written when it is saved.

  When you execute the Post command, the Editor Window will open for you to
  compose your message.  Refer to the Editor command summary in the manual
  for a list of the Editor commands.  When you finish composing your message
  or memo, press <Alt-O>.  This will save the message or memo, and then
  merge it in the proper UpBlink Script.  The Post command can be aborted
  while in the Editor by pressing <Escape>.


  How To Edit A Message or Memo Before UpLoading To BIX

  The File Edit File <Alt-F><E> command is used to edit your messages and
  memos after you have already composed them.  To edit your messages, select
  the ToConf.Upb <C> file.  To edit you mail memos, select the
  ToMail.Upb <M> file.  This command loads the selected file into the
  Editor.  Make any changes or corrections, and then save the file by
  pressing <Alt-O>.

  If you just want to read a message or memo before sending it to BIX, use
  the File Display File <Alt-F><D> command.  This command will display the
  selected file on the screen.

  NOTE:  If you want to post a message to a conference/topic you have not
  downloaded messages from yet, just post the message to any conference
  topic and then edit the script and replace the wrong conference/topic name
  with the correct one.



  How To Exit JLBlink

  The File Exit <Alt-F><X> command is used to quit JLBlink.

  When you exit JLBlink from a Read System, you will be prompted as to
  whether the Log should be updated.  If you answer yes, any remaining
  unread messages will stay in the log, and all read messages will be
  removed from the log.  If you answer no, all messages will stay in the log
  and reflect their current status.

  NOTE:  The <Alt-X> key can also be used to exit JLBlink.