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Introduction
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If you've got a tip or a trick that you think would benefit other Open Mike readers, please share it with us. Readers whose tip or trick we use will receive a free issue of Open Mike. Such a deal!
Offline Composition
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To save online connect charges, compose all of your messages offline, when you are not connected. You can use MicroEditor, which is built-in to MicroPhone (when you are in MicroPhone, it's either in the Apple menu or the Window menu). Alternately, you can use most any word processor, such as Microsoft Word. Make sure that you save your document as Text Only, as you will not be able to send a formatted word processing document.
Connect to your account and get into your mail program. When the mail program is ready for you to type your message, go to the Transfer menu in MicroPhone and choose Send. Then, select ASCII from the protocol options. After it's finished, send whatever command is necessary to complete the letter.
- J. Young
Troy, NY
Sending Files Back and Forth
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When two users of MicroPhone want to send files to each other, you should develop some sort of signalling system so you can tell each other what is going on and problems won't occur. For example, one side might want to chat, while the other side gets ready to send a file, which obviously, will cause problems. State your intentions so each side knows what is going on.
When you first establish a connection to another user, the caller should type a message like, "Looks good, can you read this?", followed by two carriage returns. Two carriage returns is a good way of telling the other side that you're done. When you want to send a file, type something like, "I want to send a file. Are you ready?" By using messages like this, you have a better chance of the session going well.
- K. Parrish
Lynnwood, WA
Downloading Files
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Have you ever downloaded a file and wondered where it went? Usually, unless you've told MicroPhone otherwise, all downloaded files will go to the same location as the settings document. To prevent this from occuring, choose a different location for downloaded files by selecting "Select Receive Folder" from the Transfer menu. It's best to choose a folder that will only contain newly downloaded files. Create one if necessary. That way, you'll know where your files are, and you'll be able to tell at a glance if you've gotten all the files you want.
