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Text File | 1993-09-15 | 25KB | 462 lines

QMGATE v1.51 operational guidelines: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The section in the QmodemPro manual that explains QMGATE operation is correct for MCI Mail and for CompuServe Email. However, with the addition of support for CompuServe (CIS) forum messages there have been a number of changes. Beginning with QMGATE v1.51 you can download and read messages from CIS forums, including the ability to read forward and backward in message threads if you use v1.51 of QmodemPro's mail reader, OLX. Forum messages are downloaded into a special .QWK packet called CISFORUM.QWK which continues to grow as additional messages are added. You can place limits on how large your forum message packet gets by limiting the messages kept for each forum you visit. This pruning takes place automatically. Please review the new features of OLX v1.51 contained in the README.QMP file that comes with QmodemPro. CIS Setup ~~~~~~~~~ The first step is to establish your CIS account and know which number to call to access CompuServe. This information is a part of your CIS Introductory information. Create a dialing directory entry in QmodemPro that is properly set up to access CompuServe, paying attention to the connection parameters required by your host. Many CIS access locations require you to call in at a specified baud rate and to use 7 databits, Even parity and one stop bit. Once you have created or modified a dialing directory entry to properly connect to CompuServe and you have tested it by logging on manually (without using a script file), you are ready to configure your settings on CompuServe to be used with the QMGATE program. This process sets your CIS user default parameters to conform to what is expected by QMGATE. It is an automatic process that is performed by a QmodemPro script file as follows: 1. Log on to CompuServe manually and enter you PIN and password. When you get to a CIS command prompt (!) you are ready to begin the CIS setup process. 2. At the ! prompt press Alt-F (or pull down the Scripts/Execute menu item) to display the dialog box for your script files. Select the script CISSETUP.SCR and execute it. The script will run for a minute or two and configure your default settings for use with QMGATE. At the end it will log you off CompuServe and return to QmodemPro terminal mode. You CIS parameters are now set properly. Starting QMGATE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The QMGATE program can only be run from the phonebook/dialing directory inside of QmodemPro. Activate QMGATE from within the dialing directory by clicking on the QMGATE selection or press Alt-T to activate the program. When QMGATE appears on screen, it displays a blank screen with three pull down menu selections: Files CompuServe Help ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ The menu items can be selected with the mouse or by pressing the highlighted Alt-key combination. Files This menu choice contains two selections. Files/Packers and Files/Exit. Files/Packers This first menu choice can also be selected by pressing Alt-P from the main program screen. The Files/Packers menu choice is used to configure the compression method or packer used to compress messages. The default is to use the internal packer which uses the technology of PKZIP v1.x. The advantage of selecting the Internal packer is that there is no need to obtain any additional programs. However, faster compression can be obtained by using an external packer program such as the newer proprietary PKZIP v2.x technology. The choice is up to the user. If an external packer is selected, it is the responsibility of the user to obtain and configure the packer program properly. Files/Exit The second choice is Files/Exit which exits the QMGATE program. It can also be invoked by pressing Alt-X from the main program screen. CompuServe The second pull-down menu choice is CompuServe. It has only one choice, Setup Forums, which can also be invoked from the main program screen by pressing Alt-S. This menu option is the heart of the QMGATE program operation as it controls which CIS forum messages are downloaded. Help The final pull-down menu item is the help system. Setup Forums ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next step is to identify which forums you will be accessing for messages. To configure your forum selections, select the CompuServe/Setup Forums choice (Alt-S) to display the following dialog: ╔═[■]═════════════════ CompuServe Forum Setup ═════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Selected Forums ║ ║ Add ▄ ║ ║ ▓ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ║ ▓ ║ ║ ▓ Delete ▄ ║ ║ ▓ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ║ ▓ ║ ║ ▓ Edit ▄ ║ ║ ▓ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ║ ▓ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ Rescan ║ ║ [ ] Rescan Master Forum List OK ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ This blank screen indicates that you have not yet selected any forums to scan for messages. QMGATE is supplied with a CompuServe forum master list that contains most of the public forums that are available. An updated list can be obtained at any time by clicking on the box labeled Rescan Master Forum List (Alt-R). When Alt-R is selected, the next time QMGATE contacts CompuServe it will download an updated forum list. To add a forum, click on the Add button or press Alt-A. The Forum list dialog is displayed similar to the following: ╔═[■]═════════════ CompuServe Forum Select ══════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Available Forums ║ ║ <<Custom Forum Setup>> <<GOCMD>> ║ ║ ABC Worldwide Hotel Guide + ABC ■ ║ ║ ACI US Forum + ACIUS ▒ ║ ║ AI EXPERT Forum + AIEXPERT ▒ ║ ║ ANZ Company Library + ANZCOLIB ▒ ║ ║ AP Sports($) SPORTS ▒ ║ ║ APPC Info Exchange Forum + APPCFORUM ▒ ║ ║ ASP/Shareware Forum + ASPFORUM ▒ ║ ║ Academic American Encycl. ENCYCLOPEDIA ▒ ║ ║ Access Phone Numbers(FREE) PHONE ▒ ║ ║ Adobe Forum + ADOBE ▒ ║ ║ Adventures In Food(FREE) AIF ▒ ║ ║ Adventures in Travel + AIT ║ ║ ║ ║ OK ▄ Cancel ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ The first choice <<Custom Forum Setup>> is used to add a forum that may not be on the public list or to add a private forum. Select the forum desired and press ENTER (or double-click) to display the Forum Edit dialog: ╔═[■]══════════ CompuServe Forum Edit ══════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Forum Title PC VENDOR A FORUM + ║ ║ ║ ║ GO Command PCVENA Prefix CIS ║ ║ ║ ║ Your Name Rick Heming - MSI ║ ║ ║ ║ Days to Keep 60 ▐▌ ║ ║ ║ ║ New High Msg Currently 186451 ║ ║ ║ ║ Personal [ ] Receive personal mail only ║ ║ ║ ║ Section Edit ▄ OK ▄ Cancel ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ For each forum you can configure the Title, Go Command, Prefix, Your personal name, the number of days to keep messages, and the forum sections you will scan for messages. Forum title: This field is simply a name that is used for the title for the forum, and usually does not need to be changed. In the event it is very long you may want to shorten it to display better in the mail reader window. GO Command: This field is the CIS keyword that is used by QMGATE to access the forum. It is important that this field be entered properly! The values for pre-defined forums are correct and should not be altered in most cases. Prefix: This field specifies the "service" name to be used to access a particular forum. CompuServe is not just one service, but rather a collection of services accessible through the general CIS network. CompuServe Information Service (CIS) is the one with which most people are familiar; others include CompuServe Business Services and ZiffNet (operated in conjunction with Ziff-Davis Publishing, publishers of PC MAGAZINE, COMPUTER SHOPPER, and several other publications.) When you join CompuServe you do so via one of these services, which is then your "home" service. If you joined CIS through the usual channels (sign-up kit purchased at a software store, membership arranged by calling CIS directly, and so on), CIS is your "home." If you joined by using the information provided in one of the Ziff publications, ZiffNet is your "home." Most of these services are interconnected via CompuServe's network, so you can call one local number for access no matter which service is "home." A few are "private" - specialty services operated under contract between CompuServe and other corporations, and not accessible to the general member population. Your "home" is the only place to go for certain CompuServe services. For example, each service has its own private mail area, and you can get access to it only via your home service; a user whose "home" is CIS cannot use the private mail facility of ZiffNet. No matter what service you are using at a given moment, a "GO MAIL" command will always take you to your home service. (But most other ZiffNet areas are accessible by CIS members and vice versa.) In some cases, the services have forums or other areas that are named the same. The PREFIX field tells the network on which service the forum or other area you want resides. This eliminates ambiguities and facilitates switching from one service to another. The majority of users will have CIS as their home service and therefore the prefix field defaults to "CIS". If the forum you are configuring is on a different service, make sure you provide the correct prefix. For ZiffNet, use "ZNT." To get the right initials for other services, consult your CIS sign-up agreement. Your Name: This field is used to specify the name you want to use in the forum when messages are sent. It may be your real name or perhaps some variation or handle. Some forums require real names and it is up the individual to determine what is appropriate for this field. If in doubt, use your real name. This field is NOT used to trap for forum messages to be places in your OLX INBOX since your PIN number is your main ID. Days to Keep: This field is used to automatically prune the number of messages retained in the forum .QWK packet. You can keep messages for any desired number of days, after which they will be purged. If 0 is entered here, all existing messages are deleted as soon as new messages are added. Depending on the volume of messages in a forum, you may want to retain messages for 15, 30, 60, or even 90 days or longer. High Message: This field is used to reset your high message pointer in a forum. When you access a forum for the first time QMGATE sets your high message pointer to the highest message number in the forum. From that point onward your high message number is tracked for reference only. CIS tracks the number as well, and QMGATE uses the CIS command READ NEW to get only new messages. If you want to change your high message pointer at other times you can enter any number desired and QMGATE will reset your high message pointer in CIS, allowing you to backtrack and receive older messages. If you want to set your message pointer to the last message in the forum, enter the word HIGH in this field. This field should be blank unless you are requesting a reset of your message pointer on the next call! Personal: If the box in this field is checked, QMGATE will not scan for new messages in the forum sections, but instead will issue a READ PERSONAL command. This command requests all messages that are addressed to your PIN in all forum sections. These messages are them placed in your InBox in OLX. If this box is not checked, QMGATE will read all new messages in selected forum sections. Selection edit: This item is used to configure which message sections within a forum will be scanned. Selecting this item displays the following dialog: ╔═[■]════════════════════ Section Edit: ═════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Rescan ║ ║ [X] Rescan Section Titles ║ ║ ║ ║ Selected [0..9] Selected [10..19] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] ║ ║ ║ ║ OK ▄ Cancel ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ The Section Edit screen is blank when first selected since QMGATE doesn't know the names of the available forum sections. Note also that the Rescan Section Titles box is checked, indicating that QMGATE should access the forum automatically on the next call and get a list of the available sections. The final step in setting up your forums is to have QMGATE call in and get the lists of forum sections. To do so, exit QMGATE (after making all the forum selections desired), and return to the QmodemPro dialing directory. Edit the dialing entry for your CIS account and make sure you have set it up properly: ╔═[■]═══════════════════════ Revise Entry : 13 ════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ System CIS Mail User-ID 12345,6789 ║<- ║ Pri.#1 324-0971 ▐▌ Password Sample^Password║<- ║ Alt.#2 Memo ║ ║ Alt.#3 Key ║ ║ Alt.#4 Retries Script CIS ║<- ║ Alt.#5 0 ▐▌ Packet CISMAIL ║<- ║ Icons ║ ║ Device ANYMODEM ▐▌ ║ ║ Emulate ANSI ▐▌ Last-Date 09-07-93 ║ ║ Transfer B:CIS B+ ▐▌ Last-Time 2:06p ║ ║ Connects 23 ║ ║ Duplex (X) Full ( ) Half ║ ║ Fax [ ] Fax Device Only Clear Call Info ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ║ OK ▄ Cancel ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ The important items are the ones indicated by the <- arrows on the right border. The Script must be the CIS script supplied with the QmodemPro program (it calls QMGATE) and the Packet name must be CISMAIL. Call CompuServe using the dialing directory entry and you should see an automated connection to CompuServe using QMGATE. If your system fails to connect to CIS (the modem never gets a carrier with your remote number) check the phone number and troubleshoot the problem by dialing manually until you get a connection. If your modem gets connected but QMGATE doesn't execute, check your script files. They must be located as designated in your QmodemPro configuration for scripts (press Alt-Z,C,F,P S). If CIS.SCR is in that directory, make certain that the QMGATE.EXE program is located in your QmodemPro main directory. Finally, check the contents of your CIS.SCR file by entering the dialing directory and highlighting the CIS entry and pressing E (edit) followed by S (script file). the script should contain the two lines as follows: DOS "QMGATE CIS" EXIT Additional comment lines beginning with a semicolon are also allowed, but not required. During a successful connection you will see QMGATE access each forum that you have selected. It requests a list of sections and sets up your account, if needed. After the automated QMGATE logon is completed it will return you to QmodemPro in terminal mode. It is now time to complete your QMGATE forum setup by returning to QMGATE. Access the dialing directory with Alt-D and enter QMGATE by clicking on the button or pressing Alt-T. Return to the Forum setup by pressing Alt-S (or using the pull-down menus) and use the Edit button to display the edit window again. Press Alt-S or click on Section Edit to display the newly downloaded forum sections available and make your selections. Now that the sections have been obtained you can select which forum sections you want to scan for messages. The following dialog shows a Section Edit screen with one section selected: ╔═[■]════════════════════ Section Edit: ═════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Rescan ║ ║ [ ] Rescan Section Titles ║ ║ ║ ║ Selected [0..9] Selected [10..19] ║ ║ [ ] [ ] Northgate ║ ║ [ ] ButtonWare [ ] Quercus Systems ║ ║ [ ] Mansfield Software [ ] Ctrlalt Associates ║ ║ [ ] Enable Software [ ] Foresight Corp. ║ ║ [ ] [ ] PC-Kwik Corp. ║ ║ [ ] [ ] DeScribe ║ ║ [ ] Magee Enterprises [ ] ║ ║ [ ] Custom Technologies [ ] ║ ║ [ ] Qualitas [ ] ║ ║ [X] Mustang Software [ ] ║ ║ ║ ║ OK ▄ Cancel ▄ ║ ║ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ This screen shows the PC Vendors A Forum with Mustang Software's support section selected (GO PCVENA SS9). The next time you call CIS, QMGATE will scan for new messages in each selected section of each forum. You can request an update of the available sections in a forum at any time by selecting Rescan Section Titles. Operational Notes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ■ The command line option /NOTERM can be used to eliminate the display of text in the Terminal View window. This may be desired in some situations where the program is running in an open environment. Keep in mind that the command line is passed as an argument to QMGATE, and therefore needs to be added to your script: DOS "QMGATE CIS /NOTERM" EXIT ■ When you Delete a forum from your master list, a flag is set to tell QMGATE to go out and "prune" the CISFORUM.QWK packet to remove ALL messages associated with the deleted conference(s). This pruning is not done until you close the Setup dialog. Once it is pruned, the messages are physically deleted. If you want to stop receiving messages from a forum but do not want to delete all forum messages from CISFORUM.QWK you should simply turn off all forum sections but do not remove the forum from your QMGATE selection. ■ QMGATE tosses forum messages into the QWK packet, but sometimes can't do so without truncating the name fields (because of the size of the QWK spec). In these cases it preserves the CIS ID located at the end of the name field and removes characters in the middle rather than losing part of the ID. This may result in not being able to view the entire name in a message header, but having the entire PIN. ■ CIS Forum mail TO you (by CIS ID) is placed in your InBox, however it is not captured by user name since each forum varies. ■ CIS Forum mail fully supports sending Private replies back. In the event a particular forum or section does not allow private messages, QMGATE will return your message with an error header via Email (CISMAIL.IN file). ■ When configuring a Forum on the first pass, QMGATE sets the message pointers to HIGH, or the last message in the Forum. Subsequent runs will then grab new mail past this point. If you have accessed the forum previously, the high message counter is not affected.