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1991-12-26
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40KB
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729 lines
Peoria, Illinois
December 9, 1991
AirMail
(For PostCard V8.2)
(C) Philip G. Anthony and J. R. Landers - All Rights Reserved
--------------
*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***
--------------
Two important changes have been made to AirMail. First, it is no
longer a stand-alone program. Effective with Version 8.1, both PostCard and
AirMail were completely re-written into modules. This schema not only saved
47,000 bytes of code and gave them a smaller disk footprint, but also
resulted in a smoother, more seamless interface and made considerably more
memory available to AirMail for shelling out to the operating system. Third
party fossil communications drivers such as DSZ.COM will have more memory
to work with in this new configuration.
AirMail does not include a menu bar like the one added to PostCard.
The reason for this is solely to keep the size of PostCard as small as
possible. If you use AirMail and would like to see a menu bar
incorporated, please contact the author either via GENIE, Internet or mail.
mail.
Like PostCard, AirMail is a lot easier to use than it is to describe.
The following is an attempt to cut through the descriptive documentation
below and illustrate this point:
1. Make sure the first phone number in a record is a data number
2. Make sure the Note line contains valid communication parameters
including the baud rate, parity, duplex setting, and protocol
exactly as they appear in the data file COMM.PCD and adjusted,
of course, for the parameters you need. This is discussed in
more detail in 'Here's How It Works', below.
3. Copy QMXFER.COM to your PostCard directory
4 Optional: If you intend to use Quick 'B' on CompuServe, copy
TCQB.COM to your PostCard directory. If you intend to use Chuck
Forsberg's Zmodem, Ymodem Batch, or Ymodem-g, copy DSZ.COM to your
PostCard directory. DSZ is not distributed with AirMail and
requires registration (but it's worth it!).
5. V8.2 uses a different POST.PRM file and if you haven't copied the
new file into your PostCard directory, be sure to do this. If
POST.PRM doesn't include the proper parameters for your system,
modify it to suit your requirements using <Ctrl-O>.
6. When you press <Ctrl-A> and AirMail's communication screen comes
up, use <Alt-D> to dial the data number. If you're logging on to
GENIE, send it 'HHH' <Enter> to get the password request. If
you're logging on to CompuServe, give it a <Ctrl-C> to get the
password request. If you're logging on to a bulletin board, some
boards sense your baud rate and automatically ask for your name
and password, and some require you to hit <Enter> a few times
before they synchronize.
7. When a system tells you it's ready to download, press the <PgDn>
key. If you're uploading a file, press the <PgUp> key. What
happens after this depends on the protocol you're using. This is
discussed in more detail below, but is not difficult. It just
requires a small amount of understanding of the characteristics
of non-batch protocols like Xmodem, and batch protocols like
Zmodem and Ymodem-batch. If AirMail requires a file name, it
will AUTOMATICALLY ask you for it. If it doesn't, it will
AUTOMATICALLY go right into the download.
COMM.PCD has examples of how to set up the note line. It, alone, is
all you need to know about passing AirMail communication parameters. The
rest of this documentation discusses fine points. But the above steps
highlight all that is needed to set up for logging on and uploading or
downloading files, checking mail, capturing it in AirMail's log, etc.
-----------------
*** Getting With The Program ***
-----------------
AirMail is a terminal program that uses PostCard's records as a
dialing directory. It is small, efficient and capable but sacrifices
function for simplicity. It's author acknowledges the utility of large,
intricate programs; however, they usually have large, intricate manuals and
inevitably try to please a wide audience, which results in features many
people don't need and will never use.
AirMail's rationale is the same as PostCard's: Keep it small, simple,
fast and easy to use. You won't find many features in AirMail that you
won't use every session. Almost every feature it possesses is necessary to
initiate an on-line session. You will find several features missing. It
has no host, no script language, no color graphics capability and no
terminal emulations.
There is an up-side to all this paucity, however. It doesn't have
seven screens of parameters, cluttered help screens, or a manual two inches
thick. It was written to be used in conjunction with PostCard and if you
use PostCard extensively, there is no other program that will let you shift
from voice to data calls more quickly or conveniently. Obviously, when you
carry little baggage, you carry fewer tools. If AirMail includes most of
the tools you need, you're going to like it. If not, there are many capable
alternatives.
One more thought about its rationale. The design of AirMail was
heavily influenced by the way its author works. While it has ASCII upload
capability, its author seldom uploads anything in ASCII form. If he wants
to send a message to someone on CompuServe or Genie, he types the message
with his word processor, archives it into a small binary file and uploads
the binary file with a protocol (Quick 'B' on CompuServe - Xmodem on Genie
- Ymodem-Batch or Zmodem on private hosts). And when he downloads
something ASCII, he simply turns on AirMail's log and captures the
downloaded text in the file AM.LOG. By working this way, he doesn't have
to worry about the host's line pacing, line length, prompts, carriage
return/line feed handling, character interpretation, etc.
AirMail has no capture buffer because the log file AM.LOG and the
ability to shell out to the operating system is a more efficient al-
ternative. If he wants to review the session, he turns on AM.LOG and uses
<Ctrl-L> to read AM.LOG into Vern Buerg's LIST.COM which has a blizzard of
features and gives AirMail a "capture buffer" many a larger comm program
would envy.
And, finally, when the author wants to upload or download files, he
uses state-of-the-art protocols. AirMail can handle Chuck Forsberg's
Zmodem, Ymodem Batch and Ymodem-g without complicated batch files or any-
thing else. All that's required is that DSZ.COM be in the default direc-
tory. The same is true of John Bridges' TCQB.COM for CompuServe's Quick
'B' or John Friel's QMXFER.COM for Xmodem CRC and 1k Xmodem. All three
programs have built in interfaces and have proved to be very efficient
performers for the given protocols they support. In addition, for more
advanced users, AirMail can handle any external protocol the user knows how
to set up from the command line by merely shelling out to the operating
system and invoking it.
AirMail has the ability to take a snapshot of the screen and re-
display it anytime during the session or after you have logged off. <Alt-
C> captures the current screen even when the host is inputting data through
the com port. It is a combination of assembler and C routines written by
Phil Anthony and linked into AirMail. This feature is handy if you are
doing a directory listing on a bulletin board and find a file you want to
download. You don't have to write its name down. Just hit <Alt-C>. When
the host asks you for the name of the file to download, if you don't
remember its exact spelling, hit <Alt-R> and - Zam - you'll have the
captured screen in front of you with the name of the file you want to down-
load. Hitting <Esc> will return you to the current screen to type in the
name and proceed with the download.
-------------------
*** Here's How It Works ***
-------------------
AirMail gives you terminal capability by setting four parameters on
PostCard's note line. If you want to make a data call rather than a voice
call, this is what you do:
1. Be sure you have changed the default parameters in POST.PRM to reflect
your system's requirements. The POST.PRM file distributed with V8.2 has
the following default parameters:
Com: 1
Dialing: Pulse
Default Data File: COMM.PCD
Modem Initiation String: ATV1.
If your parameters are different, you can change them in PostCard by using
<Ctrl-0>.
2. The data number must be the first telephone number of the record. The
second telephone number is reserved for voice calls. You can still use the
first number for voice calls within PostCard, but if you invoke AirMail, it
always interprets the first number of a PostCard record as a data number.
3. On the note line of the PostCard record, type the baud rate, parity,
echo and default protocol for the board you're calling EXACTLY like this:
Note: Baud=1200 Parity=N,8,1 Duplex=F Pro=C
OR
Note: Baud=2400 Parity=E,7,1 Duplex=H Pro=Q
IMPORTANT: THE NOTE LINE MUST BE TYPED USING THE FORMAT ABOVE. SPACES AND
CAPITAL LETTERS ARE SIGNIFICANT. No provision has been made for 300 baud
modems. If you want local echo (half duplex), type Duplex=H. If you want
host echo (full duplex), type Duplex=F.
The abbreviations for AirMail's protocols are:
K 1k Xmodem '(Pro=K) ] These three protocols are included
C Xmodem CRC '(Pro=C) | in QMXFER.COM which must be pre-
I Imodem '(Pro=I) ] sent in the default directory.
Q CIS Quick 'B' '(Pro=Q) This protocol is included in the
file TCQB.COM, which must be pre-
sent in the default directory be-
fore trying to upload or download
with Quick 'B' on CompuServe. IT IS
IMPORTANT to point out that this
program does not return control to
AirMail after an upload. Therefore,
THE USER HAS TO HIT THE <ESC> KEY
AFTER AN UPLOAD OR DOWNLOAD HAS
ENDED in order to return to AirMail
and continue with the session. And
some hosts require a carriage re-
turn after an upload or download is
finished.
G Ymodem-g '(Pro=G) ] These three protocols are included
Y Ymodem Batch '(Pro=Y) | in DSZ.COM. To use them, DSZ must
Z Zmodem '(Pro=Z) ] be in the PostCard directory. DSZ is
not distributed with PostCard but is
available on GENIE and CIS and many
private bulletin boards and requires
registration. Ymodem-g is not in-
cluded in the Shareware version
until the user registers it.
You call AirMail from PostCard with <Ctrl-A>, which will display
AirMail's comm screen. When the comm screen comes up, you are ready to
make your call.
There are fourteen hot keys in AirMail:
ESC TERMINATE A BUSY NUMBER OR ONE THAT ISN'T ANSWERING if
your modem is not set to or does not support extended
codes (X3 or X4 which return "BUSY"). ESC is also used
to return you to AirMail after an upload or download
using CIS Quick 'B' on CompuServe.
PgUp INITIATE AN UPLOAD after the host tells you its ready
PgDn INITIATE A DOWNLOAD after the host tells you its ready
Alt-A SEND MODEM AN AT COMMAND. This feature was added for
users who need to alter or check their modem's default
configuration. It is a useful feature, but should be
used judiciously.
Alt-C CAPTURE SCREEN that is currently displayed. A captured
screen can be re-displayed at any time on line or off
with <Alt-R>.
Alt-D DIAL THE FIRST NUMBER of PostCard's current record,
which PostCard passed to AirMail when you selected
<Ctrl-A>. <Alt-D> dials the number once the Comm
Screen appears. This is not done automatically in
order to give you a chance to turn on disk logging,
printer logging, check the help screen, change a
keyboard macro, alter the modem initiation string
with <Alt-A>, etc.
Alt-E EXIT TO THE OPERATING SYSTEM. Useful for checking dir-
ectories, invoking external protocols after setting up
a file transfer with the host, using programs like Vern
Buerg's LIST.COM to display AM.log, etc. This command
will work either on-line or off-line.
Alt-H Activate the HELP WINDOW. <Alt-H> is a summary of this
table. After being called, pressing any key will cause
the window to close.
Alt-L Activate or deactivate DISK LOGGING (a toggle). Using
<Alt-L> turns the log on and off. This permits you to
capture the entire session or any part of it to the
log file AM.log which can later be read with a file
lister like Vern Buerg's LIST.COM or read into a word
processor for modification.
Alt-M Keyboard MACROS WINDOW. Allows user to assign macros
up to fifteen characters long to function keys F1-F12.
<Alt-M> can speed up logging on and off of frequently
called boards, or to supply any string to the host for
input. You can assign strings longer than 15 characters
to two function keys. (See example below)
Alt-P Activate or deactivate PRINTER LOGGING (a toggle). Use
<Alt-P> to send what is going to or coming in the com
port to the printer.
Alt-R RE-DISPLAY a screen previously captured with <Alt-C>.
Alt-S SET ECHO. This feature can be used to change echo from
host to local (full to half) or vice versa should you
have the need. This is sometimes necessary in chat mode
when the host does not echo keystrokes back to the user.
Alt-X RETURN TO POSTCARD where you left it. Any captured screen
will be lost.
--------------
*** Using AirMail ***
--------------
1. Alter the PostCard note line to include the baud rate,
parity, duplex and protocol (as shown above) for the service
or bulletin board you are calling. Also make sure the FIRST
telephone number of the record is a data number.
2. Make sure QMXFER.COM, and TCQB.COM are in your PostCard
default directory. Also, Chuck Forsberg's DSZ.COM, if you
intend to use Zmodem, Ymodem-Batch or Ymodem-g.
3. Make sure your default parameters are correct with <Ctrl-
O>.
4. Select <Ctrl-A> and you're on your way.
After you have modified the record's note line, hitting <Ctrl-A> calls
AirMail. When AirMail's comm screen appears, you don't need to highlight
the data number before making the call as you do if you're making a voice
call within PostCard. You just select the appropriate record in PostCard,
modify the note line if it doesn't include the correct parameters, and hit
<Ctrl-A>. AirMail always uses the first telephone number of PostCard's
current record for a data call. Once the comm screen appears, hit <Alt-D>
(for dial) and AirMail will dial the number. As soon as the modems con-
nect, AirMail will post an ON-LINE status message in the lower left hand
corner of your screen telling you you're connected and that keyboard or
function key input can begin.
If you were calling CompuServe, for example, when you see the ON-LINE
message in the lower left hand corner of your screen, you should send CIS a
<Ctrl-C> to tell it to give you the User I.D. prompt. If you are calling
Genie even parity, seven data bits, one stop bit, you'd want to send Genie
an 'HHH' to have it return the User I.D/Password prompt.
If you experience problems with AirMail, see the section below
entitled "Technical Considerations and Information". However, if PostCard
works with your modem, there is a very good chance AirMail will too.
If the data number is busy, the busy result code will flash in the
bottom left-hand corner of your screen - if your modem defaults to, or if
you have set your modem to support, extended result codes. If there is no
answer, a message will appear to that effect indicating the call timed out
(after six rings on my Hayes 2400B and three rings on my Hayes 2400V.42
external). Hitting <Alt-D> will dial the number again. Hitting <Alt-X>
will return you to PostCard where you left it. AirMail doesn't have
circular or repeat dialing, but this sequence can be carried out very
quickly.
If you don't know how to set your modem to return extended result
codes or it doesn't have that capability, AirMail allows you to recover
from busy numbers or numbers that aren't answering by pressing the <ESC>
key just like you can in PostCard. This will terminate a busy signal or a
number that isn't answering. At that point, you can hit <Alt-D> and dial
again, or <Alt-X> and return to PostCard at the point and record where you
left it. People who haven't used PostCard probably cannot appreciate or
visualize how fast this cycle can be carried out.
-----------------------
Uploading & Downloading
-----------------------
Uploads and Downloads using the protocols described above are handled
with the <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys. These keys are always used to initiate
your upload or download after the host has told you it's ready. The
procedure for supplying the host with the name of the file you want to
upload or download will vary, depending upon which protocol you're using
and which system you're on. Also, the need to supply AirMail with the file
name will depend on whether you're using a batch protocol or one of the
older non-batch protocols. If you want to use an external protocol other
than the protocols written into AirMail, don't use the <PgUp> and <PgDn>
keys: Just select <Alt-E> and shell out to the operating system. Once
there you can run your external protocol with the appropriate command line
latches.
Other than for setting up their modem, this is the only subject area
of AirMail that might confuse beginners. In practice, it isn't nearly as
difficult to do as it is to describe. Experienced communicators will have
no trouble with it. For the benefit of beginners, however, we'll cover the
protocols separately. JUST REMEMBER, IF YOU NEED TO SUPPLY A FILE NAME,
AirMail WILL ASK YOU FOR IT BEFORE THE UPLOAD OR DOWNLOAD BEGINS BY
POSITIONING THE CURSOR ON THE LINE FOR INPUTTING A FILE NAME.
-------------------
Protocols
-------------------
QMXFER.COM Non-batch (Xmodem CRC & 1k Xmodem) - Play it again, Sam!
Older, non-batch protocols like the ones you'll find in QMXFER.COM do
not have the ability to transfer file name, size or date of creation.
Therefore, after you have told the host the name of the file you want to
download and the host has told you to begin your download procedure, you
would hit the <PgDn> key and AirMail will highlight the protocol indicated
on PostCard's Note line, assuming that it is the protocol you want to use.
If it is, hit enter and AirMail with then ask you for the name of the file
you want to download...AGAIN. In other words, you have to supply the file
name TWICE: Once for the host and once for AirMail so it can tell
QMXFER.COM the name of the file and where to put it on your hard drive if
the current directory isn't where you want to store it.
When you supply the file name to AirMail, you can also supply a path
to the sub-directory where you want the file stored on your hard drive.
So, if your current directory is \Util, and you want to store the file
you're downloading in \Temp, you would supply \Temp\filename.ext to Airmail
and that's where AirMail will tell QMXFER.COM to put the file.
You would use essentially the same procedure for uploads with
protocols included in QMXFER.COM, except that when the host tells you to
begin your upload procedure, you would hit the <PgUp> key. The cursor will
be positioned on the name of the protocol you set up on the PostCard note
line. If that's the protocol you told the host you'ld be using, all you
have to do is hit the <Enter> key and AirMail will then ask you for the
file name and the download or upload will begin. If you told the host you
were going to use a protocol different from the default protocol on
PostCard's note line, then, of course, you would have to select the proper
protocol with the <up arrow> or the <down arrow> key before supplying the
file name.
This may be difficult to visualize from a description, but when you
use AirMail, it will be crystal clear. And so will the reason for doing it
this way.
With AirMail, you can change protocols on the fly and are not tied to
the default protocol you stipulated on PostCard's note line. If you are
calling a board that gives you the option of what protocol to use just
before a download or an upload is initiated, you can change protocols
anytime you want. Some boards, however, don't give you the option of
changing protocols before an upload or download begins, so you have to use
the default protocol, or change your board parameters. But being able to
change protocols quickly and easily on the fly is a nice feature to have in
a small, uncomplicated, not-very-capable Comm program.
DSZ.COM (Zmodem, Ymodem Batch & Ymodem-g) - If 16 bits are good, 32 are
better
Batch protocols simplify downloading and uploading. Not only do they
pass more information such as file name, size and date of creation, they
understand wildcards, so it is possible, depending on the system you are
on, to set up multiple file uploads and downloads by using wildcards.
These two protocols further simplify downloading, because you need to
supply the name of the file only once for downloads. After you tell the
host what file you want to download and the host tells you to begin your
download procedure, all you have to do is hit the <PgDn> key and <Enter>
when the protocol options are displayed and the download begins. The batch
protocol is sending your copy of DSZ.COM the name of the file in the file
header, so you don't need to supply it again.
Zmodem and Ymodem Batch, however, still require you to supply the file
name to both the host and to AirMail when you are uploading, so AirMail can
pass it to DSZ.COM. After you have supplied the host with the name of the
file you are uploading and the host tells you to begin your upload
procedure, when you hit <PgUp> AirMail will highlight the default protocol
and if that is the protocol you told the bulletin board you were going to
use, you would press <Enter> . After you press <Enter>, AirMail will again
ask you for the path/filename so it can pass it to DSZ.COM. If you changed
protocols on the host from what you designated on PostCard's note line, you
can use the <down arrow> or the <up arrow> key to select the protocol you
told the host you were going to use before inputting the file name. But,
again, this process is much easier to visualize when you're using AirMail
than it is to describe before you have used it.
Ymodem-g is an interesting variant of Ymodem. It sends 1k blocks of
data without software acknowledgement and is intended for use with error-
correcting modems. Until recently, the author didn't have an error-
correcting modem and could not test Ymodem-g. Shortly after purchasing one,
the author found that John Friel's version of Ymodem-g (included in
QMXFER.COM) did not work when calling certain hosts and changed to Chuck
Forsberg's Ymodem-g (included in DSZ.COM) and had no problems. So AirMail
was modified to use DSZ.COM when Ymodem-g is chosen.
Ymodem-g is a tad faster than Zmodem, but experience with it to date
suggests it is not as reliable or robust as Zmodem on "dirty" telephone
lines. Zmodem is several times more bullet proof than any other protocol
the author has used and can somehow survive line hits that will destroy
other protocols.
It should be pointed out that certain features of DSZ.COM are only
available to registered users and Ymodem-g is one of them. When you
register your copy, Chuck Forsberg will send you a key program that unlocks
the ability to use Ymodem-g, wildcarding and certain other features the
program possesses. DSZ.COM is a real piece of work, and the registration
fee is modest compared to the quality of the protocols it contains.
With these batch protocols, if your copy of DSZ.COM has been
registered with Omen Technology Inc and they have sent you a "live",
registered version, you can also simply type \directory name\*.* and send
all the files in that directory one after another until they have all been
uploaded. If you're a hobbyist, there probably aren't too many times when
you need this capability, but when you do, it's a real time saver.
DSZ.COM also allows you to designate a default download directory
where all of your downloaded files will be stored, thereby eliminating the
need to use path information for downloads. You do this by adding one line
to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory of your hard drive. The
command you put in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file is: SET DIRRX=C:/sub-directory
name/. Note that you are using slashes "/" here, not a backslash "\".
TCQB.COM (CIS Quick 'B') - A protocol that passes itself coming & going
A very nice feature of CompuServe's Quick 'B' is that you need only
supply the file name once whether you're downloading or uploading, and you
don't have to bother with AUTOEXEC.BAT files to tell the program where to
store your downloads. When CIS asks you for the name of the file to down-
load or upload, you can give if full path information. For example, if you
are downloading a file called PCUT2.ZIP and you want to store it in a sub-
directory called \Temp on your hard drive, you would tell CompuServe to
send you \Temp\PCUT2.ZIP and after you type in the file name, just hit the
<PgDn> key and that's exactly where the host will put it on your hard
drive.
The procedure is the same for uploads, except you would hit the <PgUp>
key. The path command \Temp\PUT2.ZIP would be telling the host where the
file you're uploading can be found on your hard drive. When CIS is through
handshaking, and this can take about a minute at times, it will tell your
copy of TCQB.COM where to find the file on your hard drive and begin the
upload. Pretty spiffy for a communications service that can hardly talk
standard Xmodem! And don't worry about the long handshake costing you
money: Once Quick 'B' torques up, it's FAST!
Quick 'B' DOES NOT RETURN CONTROL TO AirMail AFTER A DOWNLOAD OR AN
UPLOAD IS OVER. THEREFORE, THE USER HAS TO HIT THE <ESC> KEY AFTER AN
UPLOAD OR A DOWNLOAD IN ORDER TO RETURN CONTROL TO AirMail. TCQB.COM does
have limited terminal capability and can accept keyboard input and echo it
to the host. If you plan to upload or download more than one file, the
author suggests that you leave TCQB.COM in control until your last file has
been processed. However, if you are only uploading or downloading one file
during the current session, it is better to hit the <ESC> key just after
you have been notified that the upload or download is complete. You may
also have to hit the <Enter> key to send CIS a carriage return, since it is
usually expecting one before it will proceed with the session.
----------------
*** Features ***
----------------
AirMail offers the ability to shell to the operating system with <Alt-
E>. The shell not only gives users access to directory listings or file
listers while on-line, but can also be used to invoke any external protocol
that can be called from the command line. The user would have to pass the
external protocol the proper command line (set-up parameters, etc.), but
this is a very powerful feature for those who want to use all of the
command latches included in programs like DSZ, PSKermit, Wxmodem, HyperP,
etc. After the external protocol has made the transfer, type 'Exit' to
return to the Comm Screen, at which time dialogue between the user and the
host resumes. Typing 'Exit' would not be required if you are using the
built in interfaces for QMXFER.COM, TCQB.COM or DSZ.COM, but would be
required if you run these programs by shelling out to the operating system
to invoke them. And if none of this makes sense to you, don't worry about
it. AirMail's protocols are very good.
AirMail also has its own version of keyboard macros. Namely, the user
can assign strings up to 15 characters long to the function keys F1 through
F12. Hitting <Alt-M> will open a window for inputting or viewing the
macros that have been assigned. After the window has been opened, just
type the number of the function key you want to assign a string to, and the
cursor will be placed on that line ready for your input. Hitting enter
stores that string in a file called Macro.prm between sessions.
If you have a user I.D/password sequence that requires more than 15
characters, the sequence can be assigned to two keys. Logging onto Genie,
for example, would require the first three keys below:
F1. HHH
F2. XMGxxxxx,
F3. PASSWORD,616
F4. JRLANDERS
F5. James
F6. Landers
F7. PASSWORD2
F8. 77777,777
F9. PASSWORD:THREE
F10. GO IBMSYS
F11. M616;3
F12. BYE
Admittedly, this isn't as handy as a script. And if you call many
boards, it won't fill all your log on needs. But if you only call a
handful of boards, it's adequate and quite fast. You would still have to
enter <Ctrl-C> manually when first logging on to CompuServe (wait until
AirMail tells you it's ON-LINE in the bottom left hand corner of the
screen) to display their password request, and you would still have to
supply carriage returns after each macro.
The author has only tested AirMail using N,8,1 and E,7,1 parity
because they will cover 100% of the requirements of people who typically
call bulletin boards and a good deal of the requirements of people who
typically call Genie, CompuServe or similar services.
AirMail's disk log, AM.LOG, is opened for APPEND. This has good
points and bad ones, depending upon how you look at it. If the log already
exists, AirMail will go to the end of the file and add the new session to
it, so you'll never destroy the last session unless you intend to. If you
do a lot of calling, however, it doesn't take long for this log file to
"grow like Topsey". AirMail also date stamps your log for both the date
and time it was opened and the date and time it was closed.
AirMail comes with no guarantees of functionality or suitability and
you use if at your own risk. It was written to work only with PostCard and
is not a stand-alone program.
In the event it doesn't work with your modem, I would like to apolo-
gize in advance. But the only guarantee I can give you is that it works on
an IBM-AT equipped with a Hayes 2400B internal modem and my Hayes 2400V
external modem and works well. It has also been tested on many other types
of modems and AT clones by a host of users. In short, it has worked on
everything it has been tried on so far and if PostCard works on your
system, there is a good chance AirMail will.
Technical Considerations and Information
AirMail should work on most users hardware. It has been written to
take advantage of the Hayes extended command set, and if you have a newer
modem, it can take advantage of that fact; although, your modem may or may
not be set up to do so. PostCard contains the <Ctrl-O> command to supply
your modem with an initiation string. This string is stored in POST.PRM and
when AirMail is run is sent to your modem.
The default modem initiation string is ATV1. The author chose this
because ANY modem that says it's Hayes compatible HAS TO support this
string. It causes your modem to return verbal result codes like "NO
CARRIER" or "CONNECT". However, newer Hayes modems support ampersand (&)
commands and have four extended command sets. The one AirMail is most
interested in is extended command set X3, which returns the verbal result
codes "CONNECT", CONNECT 1200", "CONNECT 2400", and "BUSY".
If you have such a modem, the initiation string 'ATV1X3' should be all
you need to make it work properly with AirMail. Note that all alpha
letters are capitalized. Be aware many modems require commands to be typed
in capital letters and do not recognize lowercase letters. If you have a
newer modem, you can also use the command &W to set your modem's default
configuration.
The command <Alt-A> can be used to send long initiation strings to
your modem or to check its active and stored profiles if your modem
includes the command '&V' (check your manual). Simply select <Alt-A>, and
when you're asked to supply a modem string, type: AT&V and hit the <Enter>
key. The <ESC> key will return you to AirMail after you are through.
My Hayes is set so that after about six rings, the call times out.
AirMail is written to return "NO ANSWER" when this happens. The <ESC> key
will terminate a call that is not answering and return the message "CALL
ABORTED", but not all bulletin boards answer on the first or even the sec-
ond ring (even though most of them do). My experience suggests that you
should let the number ring at least five or six times before you can assume
the board isn't answering. But, AirMail has the <ESC> key if you don't
want to wait that long.
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PostScript
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I would like to thank John Friel III, the author of Qmodem, for per-
mitting me to use QMXFER.COM in AirMail. I've spent many hours testing it
for reliability and have found it to be a very good performer. Not only
are John's protocols robust, they "talk" well with the systems I have
called and they are efficient. At 2400 baud, QMXFER.COM's Xmodem CRC
transmits approximately 172 to 195 characters per second (71.7% - 80.5%
efficient), depending upon the host and the time you call. 1k Y/Xmodem,
(not batch) transmits approximately 217 to 227 characters per second,
depending on the board (90.6% to 94.6% efficient) and receives at about 230
cps (95.9% efficient). Imodem has not been tested. (Xmodem CRC is not
efficient on either GENIE or CompuServe).
The status windows give the user a continuous readout of the effective
characters per second and efficiency, as well as block count, time to
transmit, a backward countdown of time remaining (rather than elapsed
time), and several categories of communication errors such as short & long
blocks, framing and parity errors, etc.
I would also like to thank John Bridges for putting TCQB.COM into the
public domain. It makes downloads and uploads on CompuServe a genuine
pleasure. I never thought I'd say that - until, that is, I downloaded
TCQB.COM and gave it a try. The results were very impressive.
Notes:
Version 1.3 of QMXFER.COM is copyrighted by The Forbin Project and John
Friel III. QMXFER.COM is distributed with AirMail and does not require
registration.
LIST.COM is copyrighted by Vern Buerg and is not distributed with, nor is
it a part of, either PostCard or AirMail. If you use LIST.COM, you should
register it with Vern. It is the best file lister I have seen or used and
is well worth the $15 registration fee (at the time of this writing).
DSZ.COM is copyrighted by Omen Technology Inc. It is not distributed with
AirMail and requires registration. If you use DSZ.COM, you should register
it with Chuck Forsberg and Omen Technology Inc. AirMail will send DSZ.COM
the proper setup strings if DSZ.COM is present in PostCard's directory.
AirMail will not allow you to invoke all of DSZ's latches, and if you want
to take advantage of all of DSZ's power, you would have to shell out to the
operating system with <Alt-E> and type in the command line required. DSZ
can do everything but bake bread, but using its command line switches prop-
erly can require a fair amount of reading.
TCQB.COM was written by John Bridges for the public domain.
-Jim Landers-