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1992-12-07
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COM-AND: Quick Start Manual
------------------------------------
COM-AND: Communications for your PC
Quick-Start Manual by: E. McGinnis
------------------------------------
COM-AND version 2.9 is copyright 1992 by CABER Software. It is
distributed freely and may be copied by anyone for any number
of machines, for purposes of evaluation. The author offers
COM-AND and its accessory programs as a package, as "shareware".
If you USE COM-AND after evaluating it, you MUST pay for it.
The complete user license and registration information is to be
found in the file REGISTER.DOC. Limitations on redistribution
of COM-AND are set out in the file VENDOR.DOC. These two files
are included with the COM-AND program release.
CABER Software
R. and E. McGinnis
P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart
Chicago, IL 60654-0607
GEnie, Delphi: TARTAN
CIS .......... 73147,2665
Internet ..... 73147.2665@compuserve.com
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual
SUMMARY OF COMMANDS FOR VERSION 2.9
KEY STROKE MENU ITEM DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
F1 - Program - Accessory menu - setup and execute
F2 - Program - Script file directory and execution
F3 - Setup - Current subdirectory location
F4 - Setup - Download subdirectory
F5 - - ASCII upload (also a PgUp option)
F6 - - ASCII download (also a PgDn option)
F7 - Online - Turn off/on logging to disk
F8 - Online - Turn off/on keyboard display line
F9 - Online - Turn off/on pause for logging to disk
F10 - Program - COM-AND's help screen
Alt-A - Online - Turn off/on chat mode
Alt-B - - Display backscreens
Alt-C - Online - Clear the screen
Alt-D - Telephone - Dialing directory
Alt-E - Setup - Turn off/on ECHO
Alt-F - Misc. - File directory listing
Alt-G - Setup - Turn off/on blank lines
Alt-H - Telephone - Hang up or disconnect
Alt-I - Program - Program and author information screen
Alt-J - Setup - Change screen color
Alt-K - Setup - Set KERMIT parameter
Alt-L - Setup - Switch from 25 to 43 line screen display
Alt-M - Setup - Define macros
Alt-N - Misc. - Encrypt/decrypt functions
Alt-O - Setup - Options menu
Alt-P - Setup - communications parameters menu
Alt-Q - Misc. - Text editor
Alt-R - Telephone - Redial last number
Alt-S - Setup - Setup menu for initial program values
Alt-T - Misc. - Time(s) and alarms
Alt-U - Telephone - Annotate call log
Alt-V - Setup - Terminal emulation
Alt-W - Misc. - Playback
Alt-X - Program - Exit or terminate program
Alt-Y - - Error summary
Alt-Z - Setup - Switch from 7 or 8 bit mask
Alt-F10 - Program - Shell to DOS
Alt 0/9 - Online - Execute a macro
Alt - - Setup - (Alt-minus) - Turn off/on remote functions
Alt = - Setup - (Alt-equal) - Turn off/on menu mode
Crtl-PrtSc - Misc. - Turn off/on printer
Ctrl-END - Misc. - Send a break
PgUp - Online - Upload a file
PgDn - Online - Download a file
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual
COM-AND version 2.9 is copyright 1992 by CABER Software. All
rights are reserved world wide, excepting redistribution under the
shareware concept. COM-AND is distributed freely and may be copied
by anyone for any number of machines, for purposes of evaluation.
Restrictions on redistribution are set out in the document file
VENDOR.DOC. You may NOT distribute COM-AND or its documentation in
connection with ANY commercial venture, product, publication or
service without written approval from CABER Software.
COM-AND is distributed as shareware. You may try COM-AND without
charge, to evaluate its usefulness to you. You may evaluate COM-AND
for a period of up to 30 days. If you continue to use COM-AND after
30 days, then you must pay for it. Please read REGISTER.DOC for the
terms and conditions of the User License.
Additional benefits are available when you register COM-AND. These
values include:
. A free Compuserve intro-pack
. The Compuserve Automation script-set for COM-AND
. A tailored dialing directory for your area code
. Discounts on shareware magazines and books
These offers are discussed in detail in REGISTER.DOC. A simple
registration form is provided in the file REGISTER.FRM. Please
print this form (or use REGISTER.CMD to print it), and include the
form with your payment.
The author supports COM-AND through electronic mail on the various
on-line services. Several BBSes focused on COM-AND exist at this
time. Voice support for COM-AND is also available from Support
EtCetera in Long Beach, CA. Please read REGISTER.DOC for details
on support, and COM-AND BBSes.
CABER Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Profes-
sionals (ASP). The ASP offers an ombudsman service to help you
resolve shareware related disputes with ASP members. Please read
the file REGISTER.DOC for information on how to contact the ASP
Ombudsman.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual
Table of Contents
-----------------
About this document ........................................ page 1
Part I
Modem Basics ............................................... page 2
Software compression methods ............................... page 5
Part II
COM-AND - The complete package ............................. page 7
Program Requirements .................................... page 7
Installing COM-AND ......................................... page 8
Configuring COM-AND to work with your modem ................ page 9
Using the INSTALL Script ................................ page 10
Getting around in COM-AND .................................. page 12
Command Mode ............................................ page 13
Setting defaults ........................................... page 14
Using the configuration menus .............................. page 15
ALT-S: Setup Menu ...................................... page 15
ALT-O: Options Menu .................................... page 16
ALT-P - Parameters menu ................................. page 18
ALT-J - Color menu ...................................... page 18
A look at COM-AND's dialing directory ...................... page 19
The Dialing directory - Alt-D .............................. page 20
Dialing Directory Commands .............................. page 20
Practice Run - Adding a New Entry ....................... page 20
Other dialing commands ..................................... page 24
Uploading and Downloading Files ............................ page 25
Common problems and what to do about them .................. page 26
Part III
The online world ... and welcome to it! .................... page 29
Directory of services - Commercial online services ......... page 33
Directory of services - Bulletin board systems ............. page 34
Publications dedicated to the modem user ................... page 35
Magazines ............................................... page 35
Books ................................................... page 36
Disk Vendors ............................................ page 37
Part IV
Glossary of terms .......................................... page 38
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 1
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Welcome, and thank you for this opportunity to present COM-AND v2.9.
This document is intended as a quick-start tutorial and basic
reference guide to online systems. If you are familiar with the
installation and setup of software programs downloaded from online
systems, you may be more interested in reading COM-AND.DOC, which
discusses all COM-AND's features in greater detail.
This document is intended for someone new to communications. It is
divided into four separate parts:
Part 1: Modem basics and software compression
Part 2: Installation and set-up of COM-AND, including a
detailed description of the dialing directory.
Part 3: Discussion of online systems and how to reach them.
Part 4: A section on problem solving and a glossary of terms.
This document is produced using the IBM ASCII format. It does not
contain any illustrations or graphics (so at times it may get a bit
wordy). The pages are formatted as simply as possible. Printing on
almost any printer with a fixed font (using the DOS print command)
should not be a problem. Each page includes a header and page number
with a maximum of 55 lines of text per page.
To avoid any confusion (and because bolding, underlining or slanting
letters is impossible in ASCII text), commands and instructions use
the following conventions:
* The carriage control or enter key is presented as <enter>
* A key combination (like ALT-S) means you should hold down the
ALT key while you press the letter key. The same principal
applies if you use a CTRL or SHIFT key combination.
* The DOS prompt is indicated as "D>" for a harddisk system and
"A>" for a floppy disk system. Subdirectories are indicated as
"\d".
* Quotation marks (" ") are use to highlight words. Please do
not include them when typing commands.
* The term "online systems" refers to both commercial online
services and bulletin board systems.
* And finally, BTW means: by the way (a favorite phrase of mine)
We hope this document is useful. We have made every effort to
provide current and accurate information. However, the information
contained in this document is subject to change without notice. The
online community moves quickly - it's a full time job for many just
keep up!
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 2
MODEM BASICS
Being a computer owner, you probably have an idea of what a modem is
and how it's used. Simply stated, a modem is a piece of hardware
that attaches to your computer and phone line. With the aid of com-
munications software, a modem dials a phone number, makes connection
to another computer equipped with a modem, and transmits and receives
data.
Modems come in all shapes, sizes, prices, speeds and features. You
could drive yourself crazy comparing and contrasting all the modems
out there today, unless you start by figuring out what is important
to you.
Is speed important? A modem's speed, or transfer rate, is a measure
of how many bits of information is transmitted or received in one
second (this is called bits per second or bps). For general purpose
communications, modems come in three speeds; 1200, 2400, and 9600
bps. 9600 bps is considered "high speed," while 1200/2400 is "low
speed." (All the magazines are now talking about the new 14.4 bps
modems. If you are in need of a speed-demon modem, and are comfort-
able with new technology, it is worth your time to investigate these
new modems.)
Low speed modems have been around for a long time. There are well-
established standards set for them which means they can communicate
with each other without problems. In contrast, standards are just
being set for high speed modems. This means that two 9600 bps
modems, manufactured by different companies may have difficulty
communicating with each other.
High speed modems are ideal for large file transfers, PC-to-PC
communications and automated captures. Low speed modems are ideal
for regular online activity such as reading mail, posting messages,
doing data base searches, chatting, playing games or transferring
small to medium size files.
If this is your first modem purchase, select a low speed modem. They
are less expensive, easy to install and (for the most part) produce
hassle free communications.
Are features important? Modems, especially the high speed models,
now offer some very innovative features that are worth considering.
These new features include error correction, data compression and
send-fax capabilities.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 3
Error correction, listed as MNP 1-4, V.32 and V.32bis, guards your
file transfers from corruption by line noise, coming through the
telephone lines. Line noise may be caused by bad weather or other
electrical interference, and plays havoc on file transfers. With
error correction turned on (both the sending and receiving modems
must have this feature), the receiving modem detects errors and
instructs the sending modem to retransmit the data. If you need to
do a lot of large file transfers, this feature is wonderful.
Modems which offer data compression, listed as MNP 5 and V.42bis,
compress the data during transfer. This feature speeds up the
transfer of large text files. Binary files and compressed files
actually slow down during transfer when this feature is turned on.
Is price important? The price of modems has dropped drastically over
the past year. (It's still hard for me to believe how inexpensive
the high speed modems have gotten.) For the best price, check out the
discount mail order magazines (PC Shopper for example). But don't
base all your decisions on price. Make sure the modem you get is
Hayes-compatible, comes with at least a one-year warranty, and can be
returned if it doesn't meet your requirements.
A note on Hayes-compatible modems: The industry standard for modems
was set by the Hayes Smartmodem product line years ago. Most
communications programs (COM-AND included) assume that your modem
conforms to this standard. If your modem does not, be prepared to
configure your modem command set manually and have a few headaches
along the way. Make sure your modem is "Hayes-compatible."
Once you have settled on the price and features, consider whether you
want an internal or external model. An internal modem is a board
which plugs into one of the expansion slots inside your computer. An
external modem requires that you already have a serial port. If you
are comfortable taking your computer apart to install the board,
great! If not, get an external model. The external model is a small
box which sits beside your computer with a cable connecting it to one
of your computer's serial ports. Price-wise, internal modems are a
little less expensive, but can be a hassle fixing if you experience
problems. With an external modem, you can simply unplug it and take
it in for repairs.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 4
Next, consider your environment. Do you have a clean phone line or
do you hear crackling, humming sounds on it? A clean line is essen-
tial for modem use, otherwise you will experience line noise. Your
local phone company should be able to help you solve any "dirty" line
noise problems (you may have to insist!).
Is your telephone line close enough to your system or do you need to
add a jack or additional phone wire? A phone line that is too long
(more than 10 feet) may lead to line noise.
Will your modem have its own line? You can usually plug a phone into
the back of a modem (internal or external), and you can always split
the line with a y-connector (from somewhere like Radio Shack). Both
types of phone hookups have problems. Remember: if you are using the
modem and someone picks up a phone on the same line, your modem
connection will be broken.
In the same vein, if you have "call waiting" on the modem's telephone
line, that little "BEEP" that signals another call, breaks a modem
connection (the modem sees it as a LOT of line noise). Contact your
telephone company to find out how to suppress call-waiting for the
duration of a single call, if you have call waiting.
Modems are quickly becoming a standard piece of equipment on PCs.
Spend as much time and energy selecting your modem as you did your
computer. Selecting a modem that meets your needs will save you
time, aggravation and money, every time you make connection.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 5
SOFTWARE COMPRESSION METHODS
Online systems, especially bulletin boards, store software files in
compressed form. Compressed files save disk space and speed file
transfer. Before a compressed file can be used on your system, it
needs to be extracted (or de-compressed).
A file is compressed through the use of a software compression pro-
gram. These programs shrink the data into a smaller size, and can
store several files together in one compressed file. The same pro-
gram (or a companion program) is used to extract the data to its
original form. The data itself remains unaffected by all this
compressing and extracting; it's just an efficient way to store and
archive files.
There are a variety of compression programs to choose from, with the
most widely used being: ZIP, ARC, PAK, LHA, and ARJ. (In online
discussions, the term compression "method" is used instead of
compression program. The "method" refers to the algorithm used by
the program to compress data. If you are interested in the technical
aspects of compression, your best source of information is other
modem users. Just post a message, in one of the technical areas
online, and ask someone to explain software compression. You may be
surprised at the amount of information you receive.)
The best compression programs are marketed as shareware and may be
found on almost every online system. To locate one of these
programs, do a search on the program name (don't just search on the
word ZIP or ARC etc.). If you are not comfortable searching files on
your own, ask the system operator (sysop) for help.
As mentioned above, the same program that compresses a files is
needed to extract the file. If your favorite bulletin board uses ZIP
to compress files, you need to acquire a copy of ZIP to extract those
files. Same holds true for ARC, PAK, LHA, ARJ and so on. As you
might guess, not all online systems use the same program. Some use
PAK while others use ZIP. Luckily, most sysops choose one compres-
sion program for all their files. If you download files from a
variety of systems, its possible that you may need a copy of every
compression program out there.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 6
BTW: PAK is the only compression program that extracts multiple
compression methods. This shareware program extracts PAK, ARC and
ZIP files. A copy of PAK may be found on most online systems,
especially the large commercial services. There is one drawback,
though, to using this program. When ZIP or ARC are upgraded by their
authors, there is no way to upgrade those files inside the PAK
version. You need to wait until PAK releases a new version with
the associated upgrades. For best results, build yourself a library
of the various compression programs and update them individually.
How do you know which compression method is used on a file? Simple.
Just look at the file extension name. (Check your DOS manual if you
are not familiar with file extension names.) A compressed file has,
as its extension name, the 3 letter name of the program. For
example, a graphics file, containing pictures of balloons, using PAK,
might be named BALLOONS.PAK. Or an adventure game, using ARC might
be named ADVGAME.ARC. COM-AND is originally compressed using ZIP
(CA29-1.ZIP).
Software files compressed using one method (e.g. ZIP) may be
re-compressed using another method. Don't be surprised if you find
the same file with different extension names. Every sysop has their
own preference as to which compression method is best.
Compression programs are easy to use. Each one is fully documented
and vigorously supported by its author. If you run into problems or
need help, just post a message online and wait for a response.
People online love to share their experiences (and opinions), so
don't hesitate to ask.
One final word...don't let these programs go to waste - compress your
own files. You'll be amazed how much space is saved by compressing
seldom used files, especially if you start collecting graphics or
games (these files are huge).
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 7
COM-AND - THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
COM-AND is originally distributed as four separate ZIP files:
CA29-1.ZIP contains the program (executable file)
CA29-2.ZIP contains the documentation file (approx. 400 pages)
CA29-3.ZIP contains the script and associated documentation
CA29-4.ZIP contains the advanced script programming files
If you obtained COM-AND from a disk vendor, your copy should contain
the following files. The README.1ST file is a relatively small docu-
ment which contain important program information. Please read this
document before installing COM-AND.
INSTALL.EXE installation program
README.1ST contains update and program information
The executable file, CA29-1.ZIP, contains the only files you need
to run the program. The other ZIPs can be extracted at a later date
when you want to use the more advanced features of the program or
view the documentation.
BTW: Most programs include a README file which contains important
information about the program such as updates and program fixes.
The file itself is usually a short ASCII text document which may be
printed using the DOS print command. Always read this file before
installing any new program. The information it contains will not be
found in the formal documentation.
============================
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Computer type - IBM PC or compatible.
Operating system - MS-DOS version 2.0 or later.
Memory - At least 384k of available RAM. 512k is
required to use COM-AND's accessory function.
Display/Graphics - Almost any monitor and adapter: CGA, EGA,
VGA, or Hercules.
Mouse - MicroSoft or compatible (optional)
Modem - Virtually any internal or external modem.
COM-AND defaults to simple Hayes compatibility.
Disk drive - At least one floppy drive or one floppy drive
and a hard disk.
Serial port - Required if you use an external modem.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 8
INSTALLING COM-AND
COM-AND is designed to be installed with or without an installation
program. If you downloaded your copy from an online system, you need
to extract the files before using them. If you obtained your copy
directly from us (CABER Software) or from a diskette vendor, just
follow the installation instructions that came with the disks.
It is strongly recommended that you install COM-AND in its own
directory or subdirectory, if you have a harddisk on your computer.
When loaded, COM-AND uses the current directory to access and store
files (unless you specify a different directory). By installing
COM-AND in its own directory, all COM-AND-related files are easy to
locate and access when needed.
EXTRACTING COM-AND FILES
COM-AND is originally released to online systems using the ZIP method
of compression. If you are unfamiliar with compressed files, please
refer to the above section entitled "Software Compression."
The following instructions are written for the ZIP compression
method. If your copy of COM-AND uses a different compression method,
just substitute the commands to match the compression method.
Extracting COM-AND files:
1. Start your computer and wait for the DOS prompt. If you have
created a new subdirectory for COM-AND, move to that directory.
2. If you have the ZIPs on a floppy disk, insert the floppy into
drive A and type: PKUNZIP A:CA29-1.ZIP <enter>. If COM-AND is
already on your harddrive just type PKUNZIP CA29-1.ZIP <enter>.
Once the first file is extracted, decompress the remaining ZIP
in the same manner.
3. After you have extracted the files, delete the ZIPs to free up
disk space. To delete all the files at once type: DEL *.ZIP
<enter>. (Make sure you keep a copy of the original ZIP files on
a floppy disk, just in case the program needs to be restored.)
4. To begin using the program, at the DOS prompt type: COM-AND <enter>
Low on space? Keep in mind that the only files you need to run
COM-AND are in CA29-1.ZIP. The other files contain documentation and
scripts. If you plan to extract all 4 files, you need a MINIMUM of
1.8 megabytes of storage (1,800,000 bytes).
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 9
CONFIGURING COM-AND TO WORK WITH YOUR MODEM
The very first time COM-AND is loaded, a special script is started.
This script is called INSTALL and its purpose it to help you properly
configure COM-AND to work with your modem (painlessly).
INSTALL prompts you for:
1. The COM port your modem uses
2. Your modem's maximum speed
3. Your modem's initialization string
If you prefer to configure COM-AND manually, just press the ESC key
at INSTALL's introductory screen. When the screen clears, type
ALT-S. This command opens the SETUP menu to begin the configuration
work.
BTW: We strongly recommend that you use the INSTALL script to verify
your modem's setting, even though COM-AND is preset to work with most
Hayes-compatible modems. It takes just a few minutes to complete and
may save you hours trying to track down a simple problem, (like a
wrong COM port setting).
One important note about the INSTALL script: Do not use the ESC key
to move to the next screen. The ESC key terminates the script with-
saving your changes. Use the SKIP option instead, to move to the
next screen when no changes are made.
If you happen to hit the ESC key by mistake, don't worry. INSTALL
may be reactivated anytime by pressing the F2 key (to open COM-AND's
script directory), selecting the file named INSTALL.CMD and pressing
<enter>. Use the INSTALL script anytime you want to change your
modem configuration or check your port locations.
BTW: You may want to explore all the various scripts included with
this version of COM-AND (you'll find them in the CA29-3.ZIP file).
Using these scripts will help you get the most from COM-AND. To
start a script, press the F2 key, cursor down to the appropriate name
and press <enter>. SCRIPT.DOC contains full details about each
script and how to use some of the more complicated scripts. The VERY
complicated scripts have their *own* documents!
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 10
USING THE INSTALL SCRIPT
The INSTALL script prompts you for answers to four questions:
1: Where is COM-AND installed?
COM-AND may be started from any directory by specifying its
location in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This is called "setting an
environment variable" (the command is: SET COM-AND=<directory or
subdirectory location>). If you are not familiar with this
command, please consult your DOS manual.
INSTALL looks for COM-AND's location and displays that location on
your screen. If the location is incorrect, change it. If it is
correct, press enter. INSTALL then modifies your AUTOEXEC.BAT to
include the SET command string.
If you do not want your AUTOEXEC.BAT modified, select the SKIP
option which takes you to the next screen.
2: What COM port are you using?
When you installed your modem, you had to select a communications
port (also known as a serial port) on your computer system. COM-
AND needs to know which COM port your modem uses.
INSTALL displays the default setting of the COM port. It will
also look and tell you what ports it recognizes, if you ask. If
the port displayed on your screen is incorrect, change it. If
it's correct, press <enter>. Select the SKIP option, to move to
the next screen, if you prefer to do nothing at this time.
3: What is the speed of your modem?
Most modems can transmit data at two or more speeds. Choose the
highest speed your modem is capable of using. COM-AND uses this
speed as the default setting in the dialing directory.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 11
4: What type of modem are you using?
COM-AND's default settings are for simple Hayes-compatible modems.
This last screen displays a list of modems which have been tested
and verified by experienced modem users. Select the modem which
matches or comes closest to your model.
If you do not have a Hayes-compatible modem, and your modem is not
listed (refer to your modem's user manual for verification), you
must enter the modem's command strings manually. To enter the
commands manually, select the SKIP option and press <enter>. When
the screen clears, type ALT-S. This command opens the SETUP menu
for manual modem configuration.
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 12
GETTING AROUND IN COM-AND
Once COM-AND is installed, it is ready to execute your commands. The
first screen you see is rather blank; no menu items, no prompts, no
clue as to what to do next. That's because COM-AND defaults to "com-
mand mode." If you are used to pull-down menus or program prompts,
this can be a very unsettling experience. Never fear! COM-AND
supports pull-down menus.
To turn menus on right now (for this one time use of COM-AND):
Press Alt = (Hold down the "Alt" key while you type "=").
To turn menus on permanently:
1. Type ALT-O. This opens the Options menu.
2. Using the cursor keys or mouse, move through the list until you
reach the menu item MENU MODE.
3. At MENU MODE, press <enter>. A second small window pops up.
4. Type ON and <enter>.
5. Now move through the list until you reach the menu item SAVE.
Press <enter>. This automatically saves the change permanently.
6. Exit the Options menu by pressing the ESC key. After pressing
ESC, you are returned to COM-AND's opening screen.
The pull-down menus are located at the top of the screen. Use the
left/right cursor keys to move back and forth; use the up/down cursor
keys to open the menus and make your selection. As you move through
the menus, the item you are currently on is highlighted. Use the
<enter> key to execute the command.
Using a mouse, the same principal applies. Move the mouse back and
forth to open the various windows. A double click on the left button
has the same effect as pressing the <enter> key. A double click on
the right side button ends or cancels the action (the same action as
pressing the ESC key).
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 13
COMMAND MODE
As mentioned earlier, COM-AND defaults to command mode. To enter a
command, press the function key or ALT-key combination which corres-
ponds to the appropriate action. Commands may be entered even if
MENU MODE is turned on. For quick reference, use the SUMMARY OF
COMMANDS, located at the beginning of this document or type F10
anywhere (anytime) in the program. F10 displays COM-AND's online
help screen.
BTW: The best way to get to know a software program, any program,
is to "play" with it. In COM-AND, the ESC key terminates any func-
tion you are using and takes you back to the previous screen. You
can't break the program...so go ahead, play with it, explore all its
features, then go crazy calling online systems!
Version 2.9: 921207
COM-AND: Quick Start Manual Page 14
SETTING DEFAULTS
For a communications program to be useful, it needs to accommodate
a large variety of modem users. In COM-AND, this is accomplished
through program configuration menus. Uses these menus to tailor
COM-AND to meet your own special needs.
There are four different program configuration menus in COM-AND:
ALT-S Set-up menu is used to change modem configuration
settings and set certain program values.
ALT-O Options menu is used to turn OFF or ON certain
program features.
ALT-P Parameters menu is used to change communication
parameters, modem speed and COM port.
ALT-J Colors menu is used to paint your screen different
colors.
Only a few of the program configuration items are discussed here.
For a full explanation of these functions, please read COM-AND.DOC.
Using the SAVE function in any of the configuration menus:
Any change made in the configuration menus may be saved on a
permanent basis or used on a one-time-only basis. To make a
change permanent, select the menu item "SAVE THESE VALUES" and
press <enter>. If you do not save the change, the change is in
effect during the current session only. Next time COM-AND is
loaded, the original setting will be used.
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USING THE CONFIGURATION MENUS
ALT-S: SET-UP MENU
ALT-S is used to set certain parameters within the program. These
parameters include: modem settings, file names, buffer size, delays,
tones etc. The only parameters we will look at are modem settings...
Modem settings:
You need to have your modem's user manual handy if you plan to make
changes to the modem settings. If you do not have a manual, check
with your local computer user's group for help or call the manufac-
turer. Do not rely on documentation from another type of modem. One
wrong character in a modem command can prevent your modem from making
connection.
When entering modem commands, do not add any spaces between the
characters.
Modem initialization string:
The initialization string is a series of commands sent to your
modem every time you start the program. This string of characters
prepares the modem to work a certain way. COM-AND defaults to:
ATE0V1X1&C1S=S7=25S11=55!
Modem dialing prefix:
The dialing prefix instructs the modem to begin a dialing
sequence. COM-AND defaults to: ATDT.
Modem dialing suffix:
The dialing suffix tells your modem to begin executing a dialing
command. COM-AND defaults to: ! (this is a carriage return)
Hangup string:
The hangup string tells your modem to hang up or disconnect the
line. COM-AND defaults to: ATH0!
Escape string:
The escape string is sent to your modem before it hangs up, dials,
redials or is initialized. In essence, it wakes up the modem.
COM-AND defaults to: ~~~+++~~~ (3 tildes, 3 plus signs, 3 tildes;
the tildes are 1/2 second delays)
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Connect string:
The connect string is a message issued by your modem to indicate
that connection has been made. This message is displayed on your
screen. COM-AND defaults to: CONNECT
ALT-O: OPTIONS MENU
ALT-O is used to turn OFF and ON certain program options. Use the
cursor keys or mouse to move through the list. Press <enter> at the
menu item you wish to change (and remember to SAVE the change). Here
are just a few options you may want to look at before going online:
Initial Advertisement
The initial advertisement is the screen you see after the initial-
ization screen. You may terminate this display by selecting OFF
at this menu item.
Many shareware authors do not give you this option until you have
registered the program. The author of COM-AND feels that to
continually display this screen is an intrusion on your communi-
cation time and allows you to turn it off at your own discretion.
Software flowcontrol (XON/XOFF)
Flow control paces the transfer of data between two computers to
prevent characters from being lost. (An example would be if one
computer can't save to disk as fast as the other computer is
sending.) It is recommended that you retain COM-AND's default
setting to ON.
If your modem supports hardware flow control (XON/OFF), we
recommend that you turn it OFF in your modem, through the
initialization string. You don't want COM-AND sending flow
control characters and your modem eating them.
Bidirectional flowcontrol
The newer, high speed modems require a hardware flow control
method called RTS/CTS or "bidirectional flow control." If you have
trouble with your modem (i.e., characters lost, etc.), turn this
function ON.
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Call-logging
To keep track of all your online sessions, COM-AND provide "call
logging." This feature builds a file, named COM-AND.LOG which
contains the time, date and file transfer activity for every
session. If you are a consultant or use your computer to work at
home, this is an ideal way to keep track of your online
activities. Unfortunately, there is one drawback to using this
function; it eats disk space.
With call logging turned ON, COM-AND starts to log your activity
as soon as the phone number is dialed. If you use your modem
frequently, this file will grow very large, very fast. You need
to backup (or save) and purge this file periodically to keep it to
a manageable size.
Set auto ZMODEM download
ZMODEM is a very popular file transfer protocol used on many
systems to transfer multiple files consecutively. A "protocol" is
convention (a set of rules) that allows transfer of data without
errors. The protocol you choose is dependent on the system you
are calling and the communications software you use. COM-AND
supports all the popular protocols used today.
If you plan to use systems that support the ZMODEM protocol, turn
this setting ON.
Allow ZMODEM recovery
ZMODEM allows you to transfer multiple files consecutively. It
will also try to recover a file that may have been only partially
received. With this setting turned ON, ZMODEM will automatically
try to recover the damaged file on your next download attempt.
Allow CISB+ recovery
This setting is similar to the ZMODEM recovery function. Turn
this ON if you use the CISB+ protocol and you wish to recover
aborted downloads.
It is important that partially downloaded files are not modified
in ANY way if you plan to try to recover them. In addition, check
to make sure that you recover the same version of the file as you
downloaded originally. The version number is usually included in
the file name (e.g., CA29-1.ZIP is COM-AND's version 2.9).
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Menu mode
Please refer to the "Menu mode" section for information about
using MENU MODE. Turn this setting ON to use COM-AND's pull-down
menus.
ALT-P - Parameters menu
Use ALT-P to change communications parameters such as speed and
COM port. Submenus pop up and list all available options. Use
the save function to make your changes permanent.
ALT-J - Color menu
Use ALT-J to change COM-AND's screen colors. Not much more needs
to be said about that! Of course, if you don't have a color
monitor, this menu is of intellectual interest to you.
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A LOOK AT COM-AND'S DIALING DIRECTORY
(which looks better on your screen than in ASCII text)
-- COM-AND Dialing Directory ---------------------------------------
: Name Number Rate P-D-S-E Script :
:------------------------------------------------------------------:
: 1: CIS 2400 (Chicago) 1-312-263-5636 2400-E-7-1-N CIS :
: 2: CIS 1200 (Chicago 1-312-443-1250 1200-E-7-1-N CIS :
: 3: Genie 727-0350 2400-E-7-1-N CIS :
: 4: Telenet (2400) 938-8725 2400-E-7-1-N Telenet :
: 5: Crazy Horse BBS 477-3694 1200-N-8-1-N PCBBS :
: 6: 1200-E-7-1-N :
: 7: 1200-E-7-1-N :
: 8: 1200-E-7-1-N :
: 9: 1200-E-7-1-N :
: 10: 1200-E-7-1-N :
:------------------------------------------------------------------:
: Area code (strip): 312 Redial delay time: 60 sec :
: All calls prefix: 9,,,, :
: Dialing directory: COM-AND.DIR :
: Enter the command, or enter # (and LD prefix) to dial: 1 :
:------------------------------------------------------------------:
: R)evise/add M)anual F)ile to load T)ime delay :
: L)ong distance D)elete entry P)rint to PRN C)opy entry :
: PgDn/PgUp page Up/Dn arrow S)trip a/code A)ll calls pfx :
------------------------ Press ESC to exit -------------------------
============================
VITAL STATISTICS:
The dialing directory displays 10 entries per screen.
There is a maximum of 100 entries per directory.
The number of individual dialing directories is unlimited.
The maximum length for an entry name or description is 24
The maximum length for a phone number is 14
The maximum length for a phone number + long distance is 23
The maximum length for a script name is 8
The maximum number of long distance prefixes/suffixes is 4
The maximum number of "All calls" prefix per directory is 1
The maximum number of "Area code (strip)" per directory is 1
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THE DIALING DIRECTORY - ALT-D
To open the dialing directory type ALT-D, or use the pull-down menu
"PHONE."
The top area is the phone directory with 10 entries displayed. There
are a total of 100 entries available to each phone directory. You
move through the directory list by using the PgUp/PgDn/Up/Down cursor
keys.
Each entry is numbered, followed by a name or description field. The
description field may be up to 24 characters (letters or numbers).
After the description comes the phone number (maximum 14 characters),
the modem rate, communications parameters and a script name. (Leave
the script name blank if no script is to be used with this entry.)
COM-AND uses the modem rate set by the INSTALL script and defaults
to 7-E-1-N for the communications parameters.
BTW: Most commercial online systems use the communications
parameters: 7-E-1-N, while BBS's use: 8-N-1-N.
Right below the phone directory is the command area. Any command
that you type will be displayed here.
For quick reference, all the commands and functions associated with
the dialing directory are displayed below the command area.
DIALING DIRECTORY COMMANDS:
To enter a command in the dialing directory, type the first letter of
the command and press <enter>. COM-AND prompts you for additional
information it needs to complete the command.
(R)evise/add a directory entry
Use this command to add a new directory entry or change an
existing entry.
When prompted, enter the description name, phone number, modem
rate, communications parameters and script name.
COM-AND displays the current values at each prompt. Press <enter>
if no change needs to be made at the current prompt.
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(D)elete a directory entry
Use this command to delete an entry. COM-AND prompts you for the
entry number, then deletes that entry from your directory.
(L)ong distance
COM-AND allows a total of 14 digits for any telephone number.
There may be times when you need to issue more than 14 characters
to make connection. For example, some host systems need a couple
of extra seconds to wake up and recognize your presence. The long
distance function allows you to insert special characters into the
phone number string to make the modem pause until the host system
answers. (With most modems, the comma is used to indicate a
pause. Check your modem reference guide for instructions on
special characters before using this function.)
To use the long distance feature, type the letter L followed by
the carriage return. (i.e., L <enter>). A window pops up to
display the long distance directory list. This directory holds a
maximum of 4 long distance extension numbers.
Instead of numbers, the entries use symbols. Select one of the
four symbols (+ - # @) and type in the special characters you wish
to add to the phone number string. Do not include the phone
number.
Any long distance entry may be used as a prefix or a suffix to any
dialing directory entry. To use the entry as a prefix, place the
symbol BEFORE the dialing directory number and press <enter>
(i.e., #10, @3, -99, +50).
To use the entry as a suffix, place the symbol AFTER the dialing
directory number (i.e., 10#, 3@, 99-, 50+).
(This function is easier to use than explain in words.)
(P)rint directory
Use this command to print a hard copy of your phone directory.
Make sure your printer is turned on and ready to print. The
directory is 2 pages in length, each containing 50 lines plus
headings.
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(M)anual dialing
Not every number you dial needs to be in the permanent phone
directory. Use this command to make a one-time only call.
COM-AND prompts you for the phone number and uses the speed and
parameters currently in effect (the ALT-P menu).
(T)ime delay
Use this command to reset the amount of time between redials.
Local calls can be set for a shorter duration than long distance
calls. 30 to 45 seconds is usually enough time between redials;
anything less may be too short to make connection.
Load (F)ile
Use this command to load a new dialing directory. Please refer to
COM-AND.DOC for additional information.
(C)opy Entry
Use this command when you want to clone an entry.
(S)trip a/code
Use this command to strip a particular area code when an entry is
dialed. This command is useful if you include area codes in your
dialing directory.
(A)ll calls pfx
Use this feature instead of a long distance entry if every number
in the dialing directory needs a special string sent before the
phone number is dialed. This feature is used primarily for a
business with a PBX system or for international calls to one
country.
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PRACTICE RUN - ADDING A NEW ENTRY INTO THE DIALING DIRECTORY
Follow these steps to enter your first dialing directory number.
1. Type ALT-D <enter>. The dialing directory appears.
2. Type the letter R <enter>.
3. A window pops up and request an entry number. Type the
number 1.
4. When prompted, enter the description name, telephone number,
modem rate, communications parameters and script name (if any).
At each prompt, COM-AND will display the current default settings.
If no change needs to be made, just press <enter>.
Make sure the telephone number you use connects to another modem.
You really don't want some poor unsuspecting person to pick up the
phone and get a modem whistle blown in their ear because you
dialed wrong.
5. After all the information is entered, COM-AND prompts you to save
the entry to disk. Type YES. You are now ready to make a call.
6. To dial the number, just type the entry number (in this case, the
number 1 <enter>). No command, other than the entry number is
needed.
That's all there is to it. Just repeat the same steps until your
directory is complete.
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OTHER DIALING COMMANDS
Alt-R Redial: Redial the last number dialed
Use this command to redial the last entry you dialed in Alt-D
continuously until connection is made. The phone number may have
been entered manually or selected from the directory.
The length of time between redials is set in the Alt-S menu and
again in the dialing directory menu with the "T" command. You may
force a new attempt by pressing the space-bar or change the delay
interval by pressing the END key.
BTW: Some smaller bulletin boards have only one or two lines
connected to their computer which means you may get a busy signal
every time you call. Use the redial function to set COM-AND to
continually redial the number until connection is made. For best
results, try calling the BBS during off hours: very early morning
or very late at night, when everyone else is sleeping or watching
a late night movie.
Alt-H Hangup: Hangup the phone.
Not much needs to be said about this command. Type Alt-H and you
are disconnected! If you are using a bulletin board system or a
commercial online network service, it is always courteous (and
safest) to "logoff" or "exit" the service before hanging up. This
ensures a clean break 99% of the time. Disconnecting too abruptly
can, at times, cause an incomplete hangup.
If you are inadvertently knocked off a system for any reason, try
to reconnect to make sure you were properly disconnected. It's
possible that your line will remain connected and "live" even it
looks disconnected. On systems that charge by the minute, this
could cost you a lot of money.
What if you can't reconnect to the system? First, determine if
the line is still connected. Unplug the phone line connected to
your modem and attach it to a hand set. If there is a lot of
static sound (instead of a dial tone) it means you're still
connected. Press the hangup button (also called the "hook") a
number of times until you disconnect. If this does not work, try
placing a voice call to the system, with another phone, and ask
them to disconnect you from their end.
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UPLOADING AND DOWNLOADING FILES
Sooner or later, you will want to start downloading files. The
process is not difficult but it varies from system to system.
On most bulletin boards, a bulletin will be available to describe the
file transfer procedure and which protocols are supported. (COM-AND
supports all the popular protocols.) Commercial services include this
same information in their user manual. Read the instructions
carefully before attempting to do a file transfer. If you run into
problems, ask the system operator for help.
In COM-AND the "PgUp" key is used to upload a file while the "PgDn"
key is used to download files. Once the file transfer screen pops
up, select a protocol from the list and follow the prompts.
During the transfer, COM-AND displays an information screen which
lists the file name, size, protocol used, estimated transfer time and
so on. When the transfer is complete, COM-AND issues an alarm which
continues to sound for 10 seconds or until you press <enter>.
BTW: It is always a good idea to wait until the system you are on
begins transferring a file before telling COM-AND to start (pressing
the PgDn or PgUp key). Certain tasks need to be performed by the
host system before the actual transfer takes place. Starting COM-AND
too soon may cause problems.
Don't be shy about transferring files. It only takes one or two file
transfers to become an expert! For best results, practice somewhere
where it is free or almost free.
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COMMON PROBLEMS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
The following are some of the more common problems you may experience
during your communications sessions.
Setting Up COM-AND:
* COM-AND locks up when it is first loaded
* This may occur when there is a conflict in the communications
port (COM port) setting. If this happens, reboot your machine
(Ctrl-Alt-Del) and wait for the DOS prompt. At the DOS prompt,
change to COM-AND's directory and type: COM-AND /I <enter>
Once COM-AND is loaded, type ALT-P. This command opens the
Parameters Option menu to change the port setting.
This problem may also happen if you have two ports both strapped
to the same IRQ. Unlike some comm programs which take over all
likely IRQs for a given port, COM-AND uses only one IRQ for a
given port.
Mike Todd, President of Support EtCetera, Inc., reports that he
advises any customer with difficulties with an internal modem to
remove the internal modem, load COM-AND again, and then use the
INSTALL script to find out which ports aren't used. Overlapping
ports or IRQs may cause serious problems.
* Your modem doesn't dial
* Make sure the COM port you assigned to COM-AND is correct and
the cable and modem are functioning properly. To test the modem,
be at COM-AND's opening screen and type AT <enter>. If you
receive a response (usually the word "OK"), your modem is working.
If there is no problem with the COM port, cable or modem, verify
that the modem dialing command and dialing command suffix are
correct for your modem. Consult your modem's user manual for
command strings.
If everything looks OK and you are still having problems, check
the phone number itself to make sure there are no typographical
errors involved.
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* Your high speed modem doesn't work
* If you have one of the newer high speed modems (9600 or above),
make sure that bidirectional flow/control in the ALT-S menu is set
to ON and the setting is saved.
* Using DOS 3.2
* Running at higher speed (above 19.2k) under DOS 3.2 irregular
character dropouts have been seen. A 16550AFN UART will correct
this problem. You may need to go to a computer store to find out
what this is...hint...it's more hardware! ugh
* Using DOS 5.0
* When DOS 5.0 is loaded high (DOS=HIGH,UMB), the "Suspend comm
during disk" setting (PCJr mode) is absolutely necessary. A
16550AFN UART will also help solve this problem.
Connected to a host system:
* The characters displayed on your screen appear twice (ttwwiiccee)
* Turn echo off with ALT-E.
* The characters displayed on your screen are garbled.
* This may be due to one of several reasons:
1. Incompatible parity. Mask the parity with ALT-Z...
2. Line noise. If the noise is really bad, hang-up and try
connecting at a later time. Do not attempt to do a file
transfer if you see alot of line noise. It's slooooow!
* The lines you type get mixed in with what others are typing
* To avoid mixing lines of text, use ALT-E to turn echo OFF.
Unfortunately, when you turn echo off you can't see what you are
typing. Instead, use COM-AND's CHAT MODE feature (ALT-A). This
feature splits your screen in half: the top half displays the
ongoing conversation while the bottom half displays your text.
If you only type short lines, (up to 65 characters), use COM-AND's
keyboard buffer (F8). Instead of splitting the screen, the status
line (located at the bottom of the screen) is used to display what
you are typing.
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* Excessive errors during uploads
* Some systems cannot accept data that is transferred too quickly.
If you are receiving excessive errors during an upload, it may be
that COM-AND is too fast for the systems. If this happens, use
the ALT-O menu to set SLOW XFER to ON and save the setting.
For high speed modem users: COM-AND's interrupt driven send can
pose a problem when the speed exceeds 19.2k. Set SLOW XFER ON (in
ALT-O) if many errors are noticed in file transfers.
* Your modem does not hangup (or disconnect)
* Verify that the hangup command in your modem configuration file
(ALT-S) is properly set to work with your modem. COM-AND can send
a hangup request to your modem but if your modem doesn't recognize
that request, it ignores it.
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THE ONLINE WORLD ... AND WELCOME TO IT!
Let's assume you have your modem installed and COM-AND up and
running. Now what? Who do you call?
The world of online services is big and the choices are almost
unlimited. For instance, I have a database of over 16,000 bulletin
boards and 50 or more commercial services from the U.S. and Canada
(a few more than most people have) which should give you an idea of
what's out there.
So how do you choose? Simple. You experiment. Start with a local
bulletin board or two and move onto the commercial systems. Take
advantage of any free connect time offers and read all you can about
the services. (See the next sections for listings of books,
magazines, commercial services and bulletin boards.)
Experimenting with online services is fun and rather exciting because
no two are alike. Some are very friendly while others more business-
like. Some systems are dedicated to one subject (i.e., aeronautics)
and others have a little bit of everything.
Here's what to expect from the various types of services. Let's
start with a very small bulletin board and work up to the commercial
services.
Small bulletin boards have only one or two phone lines for access.
If the board is popular, it may take hours for a line to free up.
These boards are usually run by one person and may carry very
interesting files and messages. In many cases, small boards are
dedicated to one subject, often product support, a hobby or a social
issue.
The first time you visit, you are required to give your name, address
and possibly other information. Once that is complete, information
about board, it's rules and regulations, will be displayed. Some-
times the sysop allows a new user to begin using the system immedi-
ately, other times you may have to wait until the sysop verifies your
existence. (To verify your information, the sysop (or his BBS!) will
call you back.)
Small boards are usually free or impose a file transfer ratio that
must be met if you want to spend time on the board. A file transfer
ratio means you must upload as many files as you download. With this
kind of "payment," a sysop is sure of having new files all the time,
without incurring additional cost.
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Online activities are usually limited to file transfers and posting
messages. Most sysops keep the files very current and the message
board clean ("clean" in this instance means getting rid of old
messages, not "dirty" ones!) If you have any problems or need help
locating a file, ask the sysop. They are very responsive to their
subscriber base and dedicated to their board.
The larger bulletin boards have multiple line access (5 or more
lines) and gigabytes of storage space. In effect, some of these
larger boards look just like a commercial system. Online activities
may include, interactive game playing, chatting, sports and news
reports, electronic mail and of course, file transfer and message
boards.
As with the smaller boards, you are required to give personal
information the first time you call. Most of the time, the sysop
allows a new user to "look" around but not be active (i.e., do a file
transfer or post a message). Full access to such a board usually
requires a payment of an annual subscription fee of anywhere from
$20-$75, with a time limit set of 45-60 minutes per session. Boards
that promote chatting and interactive games are beginning to charge
an annual fee plus a per minute charge. Paying a per minute charge
means that no time limit is set (except what your credit card can
handle!)
Bulletin boards, whether they are large or small, connect through the
local telephone lines. If you call one outside your local calling
area, you pay long distance charges. To combat long distance phone
bills, heavy bulletin board users (30 hours or more per month) sub-
scribe to a service from SprintNet (1-800-736-1130) that will reduce
the per hour cost to something more manageable.
SprintNet is a packet network service that commercial online systems
use for access. A packet network is a system of digital lines
instead of voice lines. The network is international, but you call a
local number for access (thereby avoiding long distance charges). If
you plan to call a lot of bulletin boards outside your area code, you
may want to give SprintNet a call and ask them about their PC PURSUIT
service.
As mentioned above, commercial systems use packet networks. This
allows them to accommodate hundred of subscribers, from across the
nation and around the world, online at one time. These systems are
huge with a multitudinous array on online activities to choose from.
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Before connecting to a commercial system you must go through a formal
signup procedure. Most systems give you a choice of either calling
their customer service to sign up or calling a modem number. Have
your credit card ready because you will be paying a signup fee, AND
some form of connect time fee.
Once you and your card have been verified, you will receive a user
id, password and user manual. Most of the time, the sign up fee is
waved, but if it is not, expect to pay anywhere from $15-$50. (Some
systems, like CompuServe and Prodigy prefer that you buy a signup kit
at your local computer store instead of calling their customer
service department.)
Commercial services offer opportunities to chat, shop, make travel
arrangements, search data bases, play games, file transfer, send
electronic mail, do your banking or read the message boards. Some
systems offer gateways into other services for more specific activi-
ties (financial reports, news and sports, government information and
so on).
The cost varies from system to system. Some charge on a per minute
basis, while others offer a flat rate plus per minute charge. Long
distance charges are not an issue when calling a commercial system
(unless you live in some very remote area). Packet networks make it
a local call. (Your signup kit will include a list of phone numbers
for your area). Instead of paying long distance charges, as you
would for a bulletin board, you pay a connect time fee on a
commercial system. It's all a balancing act....
Price wars and competition have led to overall reductions in rates on
the commercial systems. Anymore, it is quite affordable to visit
them on a regular basis. But, even though they are more affordable,
they are still costly. Make sure you understand the rates before you
sign up. If you choose a flat monthly fee (of any kind), remember:
the system continues to charge you that fee every month whether or
not you use the service (until your credit card expires).
With every system being unique, it is difficult to describe what you
might experience once you connect. Things are always changing in the
online world. The very first systems like The Source (now closed)
and CompuServe were plain text screens with clunky menu systems.
Today there is Prodigy and Online America with fancy graphics and
mouse control. Even bulletin boards offer graphics and pull down
menus. The services are so much easier to use now and so much less
expensive than they were.
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But one thing has remained constant through all this change: the
people. That's the real attraction to online services. All that
hardware and all those phone lines are there to bring people
together. It's a unique form of communications and sharing that
exists nowhere else in the world. Any time day or night, you may
dial up a system and find someone to talk to or answer your
questions. Online, everyone is equal; from corporate presidents to
home makers to computer columnists. You'll be amazed at the number
of "celebrities" and industry experts that use the online services.
They bring with them all the latest gossip and late breaking news.
You'll find something new every time you logon...so enjoy, and I'll
see you online.
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DIRECTORY OF SERVICES: COMMERCIAL ONLINE SERVICES
Here are some of the more popular commercial online systems (in
alphabetical order, not author's preference). Graphical systems,
such as Prodigy and Online America provide their own communications
software and are not listed here (obviously).
Byte Information Exchange (BIX) - 800-227-2983 (voice line)
BYTE magazine's online service for computer professionals.
CompuServe - 800-848-8199 (voice line)
Largest and most popular service for consumer and business use.
BRS:After Dark - 800-995-0906 (voice line)
Database system for business, medical, scientific and technical
information. Used primarily for research.
Dataquest - 408-437-8000 (voice line)
Research database system for high-tech and market information.
Delphi - 800-544-4005 (voice line)
General purpose system with world wide connections.
Dialog - 800-334-2564 (voice line)
The largest research database system with over 390 databases.
Dow Jones News/Retrieval - 800-522-3567 (voice line)
One of the largest news retrieval networks in the world.
Genie - 800-638-9636 (voice line)
General purpose online service with a friendly atmosphere.
Information America - 800-235-4008 (voice line)
Database network for government and legal documents.
Ocean Connect, Inc. - 207-781-0950 (voice line)
A network service for marine and boating enthusiasts.
Portal Online - 408-973-9111 (voice line)
A general purpose system. Great for meeting new friends.
USA Today Sports Center - 800-826-9688 (voice line)
Great service for sports enthusiasts.
Westlaw - 800-WESTLAW (voice line)
Database service for lawyers and legal professionals.
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DIRECTORY OF SERVICES - BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS
Bulletin boards are setup and maintained by people like you and me.
When online, be courteous and polite. Don't post anything you
don't want your mother to read (who knows - she might!) Whenever
possible, share (upload) any new public domain or shareware files
that you may find elsewhere. Sysops appreciate the help.
One word of caution: bulletin boards come and go all the time.
Don't be surprised if your favorite board disappears without notice.
The following numbers are accurate as of 11/92. Use this material at
your own risk. The phone numbers are for modem connection only;
Set your communications parameters to: 8-N-1-N at 2400 baud to start.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
COM-AND's Registered User's Support BBS
Long Beach CA 301-439-7714 Support & Updates
Newington VA 703-690-6192 Support & Updates
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Advanced Data Frederick MD 301-695-9116 PC files
WeatherBank Salt Lake City 800-827-2727 Weather
WordPerfect BBS Orem, UT 801-225-4444 WP Support
Aquila BBS Aurora IL 708-820-8344 PC files
Neuropsychology Rocky River OH 216-356-1431 Disabled
Invention Factory New York NY 212-431-1194 PC files
Windsor Manor Windsor CT 203-688-4973 Adventure games
Channel 1 Cambridge MA 617-354-8873 PC files
Hayes-Product Georgia 800-874-2937 Modem support
Exec PC Elm Grove WI 414-789-4210 PC files
Micro Message Raleigh NC 919-779-6674 Files + news
Ronin BBS Red Oak TX 214-938-2840 Files
Movie BBS New York NY 718-939-5462 Movie info
McAfee Associates Santa Clara CA 408-988-4004 Virus info
Nat'l Genealogical Arlington VA 703-528-2612 Genealogy
Superdemocracy Davie FL 305-370-9376 Political issues
PC-Ohio Cleveland OH 216-381-3320 PC files
Zen Den System Madera CA 209-675-8436 Environmental
Olde West Bedford TX 817-572-4867 Old West theme
Comm Post Denver CO 303-534-4501 Astronomy/Stars
Radio Daze Mishawaka IN 219-256-2255 Ham radio
Locker Room Santa Ana CA 714-542-5917 Sports - Fantasy BB
Cajun Clickers Baton Rouge LA 504-756-9658 PC files
Round Table Wyomissing PA 215-678-0818 Engineering - CAD
Canada Remote Mississauga 416-798-4713 Ontario CN
Trinity 1 BBS Exeter Devon 44392410210 United Kingdom
South Australian Pooraka 61082606222 Australia
Sistema Profesional Mexico City 525-590-5988 Mexico
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PUBLICATIONS DEDICATED TO THE MODEM USER
MAGAZINES
ONLINE ACCESS MAGAZINE - (Quarterly) - 312-573-1700
This is a great magazine for information about commercial online
services. Articles cover all aspects of online activities such as
searching a database, making travel arrangements, accessing
international systems, banking and so on.
Every issue includes a directory of online systems, a schedule of
online activities and a listing of vendors associated with the
online world.
BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE - (Monthly) - 800-933-6038
An easy reading magazine for people who want to explore the world
of bulletin boards. Subjects include various boards around the
country, how to operate a profitable BBS, the latest in modem
technology and rumors floating around the boards.
Every issue includes at least one long list of bulletin board
phone numbers. This magazine is not only a great place to pick up
new bulletin board numbers, but its fun to read.
SHAREWARE MAGAZINE - (Bimonthly) - 800-245-6717
Not exactly ABOUT online systems, this magazine covers new
shareware products available ON the systems. Articles include
reviews on new software and comparisons on like-software products.
Also includes some discussion about hardware products.
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BOOKS
BOOKS - by Michael Banks
These books are found in most book stores, computer stores and
sometimes at the local library.
DELPHI: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE
2nd edition; published by General Videotext Corporation
THE MODEM REFERENCE
2nd edition; published by Brady Books
POURNELLE'S PC COMMUNICATIONS BIBLE
co-authored with Jerry Pournelle; published by MicroSoft Press
PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS
published by Brady Books
PORTABLE POWER
published by Brady Books
THE JOY OF TELECOMPUTING (Book) - by Patrick Chen
An easy to read and understand 200 page book discussing high speed
modems, online services and choosing a long distance carrier.
Great reference guide for modem users.
Excerpts from his book can be downloaded from the major online
services and bulletin boards. The author can be contacted
directly on CompuServe (PPN: 70754,3162), Genie (ID: p.chen2) or
Online America (ID:Pat Chen).
DVORAK'S GUIDE TO PC TELECOMMUNICATIONS - by John C. Dvorak
and Nick Anis (2nd Edition)
This guide is a (huge!) comprehensive guide to the telecommunica-
tions field. It will answer most any question you might raise
about BBSes, online services, and modems.
THE PC SURVIVAL GUIDE - by Aspinwall, Burke and Todd
An excellent overall guide to the care and feeding of your PC.
This book includes hints and troubleshooting guides for modems and
all the rest of your machine.
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DISK VENDORS
PUBLIC BRAND SOFTWARE (Catalog) - 800-426-3475
Shareware may be obtained through bulletin board systems, online
services, directly from the author or through software diskette
vendors. Public Brand Software is one such software diskette
vendor.
Their catalog lists all the shareware software carried by PBS.
There are thousands of titles to choose from; each neatly
categorized and described.
CWI INFORMATION SERVICES - 800-777-5636
This is another software diskette vendor that carries over a
thousand shareware software programs and applications for IBM PCs
and compatibles.
===========================
Something to be aware of when ordering from a diskette vendor:
When you order shareware from a diskette vendor, or when you
purchase a shareware diskette at your local computer store for a
nominal fee, you are paying ONLY for the convenience of obtaining
software already on diskette. Shareware authors do not share in
that fee. If you use a shareware product past the evaluation
period, you must pay for it. Shareware authors count on YOU to
support their efforts in continuing to maintain their product.
If you do not support shareware authors, the practice of free to
evaluate software will eventually disappear.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
To succeed in the communications world, you need to learn its lan-
guage. The exact meaning of a word is not as important as under-
standing the concept behind the word (of course, there are people
online who will dispute that).
This glossary is intended to give you an overview of the more common
terms and expressions used in communications. It is by no means a
technical reference guide. Consult your modem or DOS user manuals
for the techies' version of these words.
ANALOG/DIGITAL TRANSMISSION - Analog describes "voice" transmission
while digital describes "data" transmission. Telephones use voice;
packet networks (such as SprintNet or Tymnet) use data. When some
one talks about a digital line, they are referring to telephone
networks that accept computer data only. An analog line may be used
for both voice or data.
ASCII - is a standard numeric code used by most U.S. computers to
represent letters, digits, punctuation and certain control functions.
In communications, uploading an ASCII file means your are sending a
"text" file (i.e., documentation). If you use a word processor to
create the file, you must convert it to ASCII text before you trans-
mit it to a host computer.
ASYNCHRONOUS/SYNCHRONOUS - Data may be transmitted between two points
with or without timing signals that control how the data is to be
interpreted. Synchronous transmission includes a timing signal from
the sender; asynchronous transmission does not have a timing signal
but rather sends a special pulse to indicate the start of each
character (start bit) and another special pulse to indicate the end
of the character (stop bit(s)). COM-AND is intended for asynchronous
communications.
AUTOEXEC.BAT - A DOS batch file residing on the root subdirectory of
the disk used to boot the computer. This file contains functions to
be performed immediately after DOS starts up. We strongly recommend
the following line be present (or be added) to your AUTOEXEC.BAT:
SET COM-AND=<drive:subdirectory for COM-AND>
BINARY FILE - A data file as opposed to a text file, intended to be
used with a software program: software programs, spreadsheets, word
processing files etc..
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BITS AND BYTES - A bit is the smallest unit used to store information
in memory. It is represented as 1s and 0s (off and on switches). A
byte is 8 bits and represented as a string of 1s and 0s (11000101).
BITS PER SECOND (bps) - A measure of the rate of data transmission
expressed as the number of data bits sent in one second. This is
today's "politically correct" term for baud rate.
BLOCK - A group of characters or bytes sent as a single unit. A file
being sent or received is broken down into blocks of data. These
blocks are sent one at a time until the whole file is sent. The size
of block sent is dependent on the file transfer protocol used.
During a file transfer, COM-AND displays the file's total block size
and the current number of blocks transmitted.
BUFFER - A section of a computer's memory reserved to temporarily
store data or commands. A "buffer size" refers to how much memory
you wish to reserve to capture data for later viewing.
CAPTURE (also referred to as transcription) - A capture is text and
other information saved to disk or diskette, while it is being
displayed on your screen. COM-AND uses the F8 key to start and stop
captures. Capture files reflect, for the most part, only the text
you saw and not the colors of the display.
CHARACTER - Information that can be stored in one byte, such as a
letter, number, space, punctuation mark or symbol.
CHARACTERS PER SECOND (cps) - A measurement of the number of
characters transmitted each second, based on the bits per second rate
and the length of the characters being sent.
CONFIGURATION - How your hardware and software are set up to work
together. Configuration would include the number of serial ports,
the number of parallel ports, the disk drives (and the nitty gritty
stuff these devices use like interrupts and ports) as well as the
software you use (including device drivers, TSRs and DOS itself).
DEFAULT - A value, setting or instruction used by a program if no
value is entered by the user. COM-AND is designed for general
purpose communications therefore all its functions are set to default
for this type of communication. It is up to you to change the
defaults to match your own communications needs. For example,
COM-AND defaults are set for Hayes-compatible modems. If your modem
is not Hayes-compatible, you need to change COM-AND's default
settings to match your modem's requirements.
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DOWNLOAD - To receive data from another computer or host system. It
is referred to as "downloading a file." A download may be done with a
protocol which ensures that what was received is identical to what
was transmitted.
ECHO - To repeat or redisplay characters. If you have echo ON, what
you type is displayed on your screen as well as being sent out the
port. Some connections automatically turn around and send back to
you what you type, others do not. Use ALT-E to turn echo OFF and ON
as needed.
FILE TRANSFERS - Sending or receiving data from another computer or
host systems. A file is uploaded TO another computer, or downloaded
FROM another computer. A protocol is usually used to ensure that
what was is received is identical to what was sent.
FLOW CONTROL - A signal to you or from you to pause during a
transmission. Software flow control uses certain characters, usually
XON/OFF, as the signal. Hardware flow control uses certain wires to
signal start and stop. We recommend software flow control to ON
(ALT-O) and if your modem requires it, set bidirectional (RTS/CTS)
hardware flow control ON (ALT-O).
IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) - Interrupts are signals inside the computer
used to suspend current activities so that a special action, such as
reading a character of data, may be taken. Devices use interrupts to
signal that they are ready for some kind of service from the
software. On the IBM PC, you must be sure that two devices that you
intend to use at the same time do NOT use the same interrupt.
LINE NOISE - Some electrical disturbance in the phone line. If,
during an online session, you start noticing strange characters or
loss of characters, chances are you are experiencing line noise.
This happens frequently during bad weather but it may be due to many
different reasons. Line noise slows a file transfer, so wait until
the line clears (or reconnect) before attempting transfers.
MODEM INITIALIZATION - A string of characters that tells the modem
how it is to work. The first thing COM-AND does, every time you run
it, is initialize your modem (this is the first window that pops up
and displays the word "Initialization"). This ensures that your
modem is always ready to make a phone call. You may set COM-AND to
reinitialize the modem after every hangup (ALT-O).
PARITY - Even, Odd and None - A error-checking method used on each
character of data transmitted. When parity is set to NONE, the extra
bit can be used for data.
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PROTOCOL - A mutually agreed upon set of rules used by two computers
to transfer data back and forth. Protocols refer to file transfer
methods such as ZMODEM, YMODEM, CISB+ etc. The host system must be
able to accommodate the protocol you choose to use (or choose a
protocol that the host system can accommodate).
In selecting a protocol, ask the system operator for the preferred
protocol for that particular system. The most widely used protocol
today for BBSes is ZMODEM.
REDIALING - Continually dialing the same number until connection is
made.
RTS/CTS - are two wires or lines from the port on the back used for
hardware flow control. COM-AND calls this "bidirectional" flow
control. If your modem requires it, turn RTS/CTS "ON" in ALT-O.
TOGGLE - Use the same key to turn a function ON or OFF. When the
function is OFF toggling turns it ON. When the function is ON, the
function turns it OFF.
UART - Is the electronic circuit that turns a serial stream of
electrical signals into 7 or 8 bits of a character, and vice versa.
There are several kinds of UARTs used on the IBM PC. The most modern
UART is called 16550A. If you plan to use your PC for communications
at or above 9600 baud this modern UART is almost necessary.
UPLOAD - Send a file TO another computer or host system. Referred to
as "uploading a file."
XON/XOFF - Software flowcontrol discussed under flowcontrol.
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