CONNECT.TXT - A short documentation on the demo version of CoNnect ------------------------------------------------------------------ ///////// THIS IS A TRY OF SOMEONE (ME) WHO ISN'T AWARE ////////// ///////// OF NEITHER ENGLISH NOR GOOD GERMAN TO DO A ////////// ///////// TRANSLATION. BE VERY PATIENT ,-) Wolfgang ////////// Last update: Version 1.60i (15.7.1992) Still incomplete . . . ;-( I want to stress that this file can only give a little view over the capabilities of CoNnect and if you want to use this program with all its featueres you'll have to register and receive the detailled handbook. This is especially valid for the description of CoNnect's script language. Though this files containes a very short description of this script's features you will probably not be able to use all its features unless you have some experience in programming unix-like shells. An additional reason for paying the shareware fee could bee that you feel annoyed by CoNnect's messages about the fact that it likes paying users much more ;-) INTRO ===== About CoNnect ------------- CoNnect is a terminal program for the ATARI ST/STE/TT series, which will run under (nearly) any resolution and operating system similar to the ATARI TOS. It allows a very good emulation of VT52, VT100, VT102/ANSI and VT220 Terminals. You can use this emulations on all serial and midi ports of your system and - if you want - even in parallel. CoNnect was testet on lots of graphics hardware and it seems to run well with all of them. Beeing in VT100, Vt102 or VT220 Mode you can configure CoNnect to allow TEK 4014 graphics emulation. In addition to its terminal features you can use CoNnect under MiNT/MultiTOS to run shells and processes in CoNnects windows. I tried hard to develop CoNnect without bugs and a large number of beta testers helped me with that task. Nevertheless CoNnect certainly contains some bugs and I refuse any responsibility on damage which is caused by the usage or non-usage of CoNnect. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conversion to English: First rename the File CONNECT.RSC, e.g. to CONNECT.RSX, so that you won't lose the original resource file. Then change the filename CONNENG.RSC to CONNECT.RSC. Bewerking voor Nederlands: Eerst moet U CONNECT.RSC omnoemen naar CONNECT.RSX of zo (daarme U die origineel niet zullen verliezen), dan CONNNED.RSC naar CONNECT.RSC. Als U findt fouten of verbeteringen van die termen, schrijf aan mij a.U.b., mijne adressen (EMail en brief) zijn verder beneden - Philipp Oelwein.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Files --------- In the archive CONN110i.LZH you should have found at least the following files: CONNECT.PRG The progran CONNECT.RSC The German resource file CONNENG.RSC The English resource file CONNECT.ASC The text resource-File CONNECT.CHR The vector font for TEK display CONNECT.OPT The options file, that, if existing, is loaded at CoNnect's start. CONNECT.CTL The telephone book with (german) numbers of the so called MausNet. CONNECT.SCR A default script which is run after the first window of CoNnect has opened. CONNECT.NUM A file which containes information on telephone fees for dialed numbers. The calculations done with this file are so far only valid for Germany. COSHY.RC A startup file for CoNnect's intern command shell named coshy. CoNnect is SHAREWARE! --------------------- CoNnect runs in shareware status. That means, that you can test this terminal and copy it without fees but you'll have to pay for CoNnect if you use it regularly. If you copy CoNnect be sure to only copy the original .LZH file containing all the files belonging to this software package. After one month of testing CoNnect behaves less user friendly because it believes that one month of testing is more than enough to find a decision for or against CoNnect. If you pay for CoNnect, you'll receive a registration key which will make a full version out of your demo. And read this urgent warning: -------------------------------------------------------------------- ! CoNnect will try to avoid being patched and people having done ! ! this though this warning felt save a few days only. CoNnect will ! ! strike back! I will not be liable for any damage resulting from ! ! CoNnects attack after having been patched. ! -------------------------------------------------------------------- After testing this software for one month you have to decide whether you want continue using CoNnect or not. In the latter case, you have to do nothing or if you want you may remove CoNnect from your system. If you like using CoNnect you have to pay a registration fee of DM 60,- (Sfr 60,- / ™S 500,- / hFl 80,- / Lit. 55000,- / $ 50,-/ Yen 6000,-/ Brit. Pfund 25,- / FF 210,- / ECU 30,- / 5.381 g Gold) Remember that I really want to receive this money and keep in mind that any institution which will do the transaction can keep a certain amount for its own benefit. Together with this money make sure that I'll receive your full address, your name and user-id which you have entered to the registration menue. Send this information to me: Wolfgang Wander Rudolf-Breitscheidstr. 63A D-2000 Wedel (After July 1st 1993: D-22880 Wedel) wwc@dxhra1.desy.de (Internet) Wolfgang Wander @ LU (MausNet) KtoNr 1373482932 Sparkasse Hamburg BLZ 20050550 The first start of CoNnect -------------------------- OK, I know you already started it: --------------------------------------------------------- Congratulations! You have purchased an extremely fine device that would give you thousands of years of trouble-free service, except that you undoubtably will destroy it via some typical bonehead consumer maneuver. Which is why we ask you to PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU UNPACK THE DEVICE. YOU ALREADY UNPACKED IT, DIDN'T YOU? YOU UNPACKED IT AND PLUGGED IT IN AND TURNED IT ON AND FIDDLED WITH THE KNOBS, AND NOW YOUR CHILD, THE SAME CHILD WHO ONCE SHOVED A POLISH SAUSAGE INTO YOUR VIDEOCASSETTE RECORDER AND SET IT ON "FAST FORWARD", THIS CHILD ALSO IS FIDDLING WITH THE KNOBS, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE JUST NOW STARTING TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, RIGHT??? WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST BREAK THESE DEVICES RIGHT AT THE FACTORY BEFORE WE SHIP THEM OUT, YOU KNOW THAT? -- Dave Barry, "Read This First!" --------------------------------------------------------- Start CoNnect by e.g. double-clicking it's icon on the desktop. CoNnect will ask you for the file CONNECT.OPT which you certainly haven't received so just klick the 'cancel' button. Open a window by selecting the menu item `WINDOW - Open Window'. Than, surprisingly, a window opens and a cursor is blinking in the left upper corner. You can start typing nasty words in the window and in the case you have connected your modem to the computer these words will be displayed on screen. Now - you obviously want to dial your favorite BBS. There are many ways to do this. At the moment you just can type atd bbs-number and if successful you'll get a CoNnect to this system and can operate there in the way you probably already know. If not - no this is not a manual for telecomm in general, only a manual for CoNnect. But a very long manual ... Don't give up reading... THE MENU BAR ============ In this chapter all the items of the main menu bar (mmb) at top of your screen will be discussed. In contrast to the mmb there exists a lot of wmb's (window menu bars) which can be found at the top of most windows. The menu titles: CoNnect ------- ... about CoNnect will display a little info box containing information about this great program the authors and the principle of shareware. File ---- Load Options... loads saved option files which can only be saved by using... Save Options... Saves the informations you entered to the still following items of the mmb and about open window positions and their setups. Quit Could be kind of buggy. Some users have reported that this function leaves CoNnect and returns to the desktop. I will try to fix this problem ;-) Window ------ Using this title you can handle a varity of CoNnects windows. You can open as many windows as your system allows you and are able to work on different ports in different terminal windows. For each terminal window a lot of setup data can be installed but this will be discussed in a seperate chapter. Open Opens a terminal window. What else? Close Closes the actual topped window, if and only if this window belongs to CoNnect. You also can close your windows by clicking the close button of this window. Cycle Tops another window of CoNnect. This can either be a terminal window or a window dialogue. Below all opened windows are listed and can be topped by selecting one of the entries. The actual window is checked. Options ------- Some general and global Options can be entered using the options menu. Registration You have to enter your name and CoNnect will answer this name with your personal user id. These two informations are needed to calculate your key which is valid only for your TOS version. If you change your operating system you will have to ask for another key. You can enter up to 6 different keys if you are one of these guys who runs 6 different OS-versions on one machine. Misc A lot of different settings can be installed here. They belong to the behaviour of the CoSHy-Shell, the handling of the Clipbord, the way the wmb (window menu bar) can be accessed and the look and feel of window dialogues. Fee Statistics This Item is only useful for a few countrys including Germany and Austria. It can be used to evaluate the telephone fees created by the use of CoNnect. A international way to handle this statistic is in preparation. Paula This is the interface to PAULA, a shareware .MOD-file player. For certain system events (like login or logout) .MOD-files can be selected which will be played if this event occures. You have got to install Paula as PAULA.ACC to use this feature. PROGRAM ------- Start a Shell If you have installed a shell in your system, you will be able to run this shell either in the MW-window or on the TOS-Screen. Shells can be installed using the _shell_p system variable or $SHELL. Start a Program Extern Programs can by launched using this item. At the moment, no extra parameters can be given to them... Start CoSHy. Starts the built-in shell CoSHy on the TOS-Screen. This item is not available unter a multitasking OS. CoSHy can either be used as a unix-like shell or as the script interpreter for a lot of CoNnect commands. Scripts can also be learned by CoSHy using the wmb-item Learn a Script (described below) Terminal Windows ================ Handling -------- The terminal window is devided in 2 or 3 parts. At top there is the window menu bar (wmb) containing some information about the online time the money the call wasted so far and the VT100 keyboard leds. Below this wmb there can be the optional status line containing informations for you from the host or several user selectable online informations. And below this you can find the real terminal. Normally 24 x 80 chars displayed in several user definable fonts, with oder without scrollbars and with or without history buffer. The way, you can enter and read text shall be discussed below. -------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry - thats all folks. I'm going to continue this stuff. Be patient. --------------------------------------------------------------