ThreeCIS Version 2.3.1 [Dennis Lefebvre 71660,1273] INTRODUCTION This is a script to automate CompuServe navigation from the Psion Series 3a computer. The script is optimized for use while traveling, and is not designed to be one's primary CIS access tool. This is a script, not a program, and requires more user intervention than the typical CIS access package. ThreeCIS is shareware, and can be registered online, see details below. The trial version is fully functional, but runs only at 1200bps. SCRIPT FEATURES Offline operation: 1) Configures the 3 Link serial port. 2) Allows user to control modem settings for travel: dial tone recognition, tone or pulse dialing, dialout code, and speaker status, without editing initialization string. 3) Allows user to choose from 5 stored phone numbers or enter manual number. 4) Templates for preparing CIS:MAIL text and fax messages. Automatic online operation: 5) Dials and logs on through a direct CIS node, or through the Falnet, Fenics or Infonet supplementary networks. 6) Downloads waiting CIS:MAIL, deletes retrieved messages, but leaves binary mail in online mailbox. 7) Uploads outgoing CIS:MAIL, maximum 5 text messages per session, including faxes, plus 1 binary mail file. 8) Visits three forums, retrieving waiting messages, or all new messages in selected sections. This script cannot send forum messages. 9) Collects Associated Press Latest News summaries, Online Today stories, financial quotations and weather information. 10) Navigates to a user selected online area, configures CIS for interactive use, or logs off. Most of the features of the script are turned "Off" by default. Please carefully read this entire file, even if you have used an earlier version, because there have been fundamental changes in logic. Pay particular attention to MODIFYING NAMES, CUSTOMIZING SCRIPT, and FILE MANAGEMENT sections, because they are the keys to making the script do exactly what you want. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS To use this script you must have: 1) Psion Series 3a Computer; 2) Psion 3 Link RS 232 Interface; 3) Psion Modem Adapter Cable, -OR- Psion Serial Cable plus Null Modem Adapter and Gender Changer; 4) Hayes compatible Modem. This script has not been tested with Psion's 3Fax modem, but should work with it. It is strongly recommended that you have at least one SSD. Forum message files can be quite large, and the internal disk may provide inadequate storage. Also, an improperly configured modem can cause a serial overflow, which may lock the computer and require a reset. Files stored on the internal disk could be lost. If you must use the internal disk, please backup your files before each online session, and close other applications to make the internal disk as large as possible. FILE INSTALLATION Copy the files in this archive to the 3a in the specified directories. Note that the .WRT template files should be installed on your Default Disk. If you are not certain which is your Default Disk, press from the system screen. Files marked with an asterisk * are optional. [Default disk] \WDR\ Cismail.wrt Cismail text message template Fax.wrt* Cismail fax message template [Any disk] \APP\ Threecis.grp Script "group" icon \APP\CIS\ Ciswitch.als Switch editor & icon Cismail.als Cismail editor & icon Cisforum.als Forum reader & icon \SCO\ 3cis.sco The script Cisnames.nam Names file; stores user variables Message files and option switches will be stored on the Default Disk in three directories: [Default disk] \CIS\ Cismail messages \CIS\FORUMS\ Forum messages, News, Quotes and Weather \CIS\SWITCH\ Switches These directories will be created as needed. A flash SSD should not be used as your default disk when running this script, unless you plan to reformat often, because the message files will quickly consume storage space. Use to set the default disk to a RAM SSD or the Internal Disk. Finish script installation by pressing from the system screen and choosing "Threecis.grp". If that choice does not appear, change the "Disk" setting in the "Install" dialogue to match the disk where that file was copied. A group icon, depicting two PCs with telephone poles surrounded by a frame, will appear. To open the group, place the cursor beneath the icon and press . On the group screen there are four icons, from the left: 1) "Ciswitch", finger pressing a key; controls script options. 2) "Comms", 3a connected to a PC; where the script is run. 3) "Cismail", typewriter; CIS:MAIL messages written and read. 4) "Cisforum", conference table; forum messages, news, financial and weather reports read. INITIAL SETUP Before the script will run, information must be added to the Names file. To access the file follow these steps: 1) Attach the 3 Link to the Series 3a. 2) Open the Threecis Group. 3) Start the Comms application by selecting "Comms [C]" from the list of scripts under the Comms icon. If you see a "File or device in use" message, press ,, turn Remote Link off, and try again. 4) Press to load names; choose the file called "Cisnames" (change the disk, if necessary to find it), and press . 5) Press to modify names. The first Name should be "Audible". If not, you are using the wrong file. 6) Type the value for each Name as explained in MODIFY NAMES below. Press after each entry. 7) After supplying all values press . 8) Press to save the changes you have made to the Names file. If you do not save your changes, they will be lost when you exit Comms. 9) Press to exit Comms. MODIFY NAMES Provide a value for each variable in the file Cisnames.nam. Names are stored alphabetically, but are grouped here by function. Jump directly to a Name by pressing the first letter; each starts with a unique character. Modem Parameters Initialize: String used to initialize modem. I have set this to &F, to use the modem's factory defaults, but you may leave it blank or use a string that works with another CIS access program. Do not include the AT prefix, nor an ^M suffix, these functions are performed by the script. Do not include the M or X options in this string, they are stored separately. Be certain to include the command to use "hardware" handshaking, also called "RTS/CTS". This command may be &K3, \Q3, or something else, depending on your modem's command set. If you have an error correcting modem include the command to activate it, such as &K5 or \N2. Extended: The X value used in modem initialization. I have set it to X4, which recognizes US dial tone & busy signal, and provides extended connect messages (e.g. CONNECT 2400, rather than simply CONNECT). You may need to change this value to X3 or X1 when calling from another country, with a US modem, due to the different dial tone and busy signal. Audible: The M value used in modem initialization. I have set it to M0 for silent operation, but you may change to M1 to hear the modem dial and handshake. Phone Parameters Tone: Selects Tone or Pulse dialing. I have set it to T for Tone, use P if you require Pulse. Dialout: Code required to access an outside telephone line. I have left it blank, but you may need to enter 8, or 9, when calling from a hotel or office. Node1: "Hotel" phone number on the Dialing Menu. I have set it to the CIS USA toll free 2400bps node. There is a surcharge for using it, but it is often cheaper than paying .50 or .75 to make a local call from a hotel. Node2: "Home" phone number on the Dialing Menu. I have left it blank, because I do not know where you live. Node3: "Work" phone number on the Dialing Menu. Node4: "Abroad" phone number on the Dialing Menu. Node5: "Other" phone number on the Dialing Menu. CIS Logon/Logoff Parameters Userid: Your CIS user ID number. Password: Your CIS password. Do not confuse it with the password you may assign to protect the "Cisnames.nam" file. Center: The script has the ability to logon via the Infonet supplementary network, used for CIS access in parts of Europe, Latin America and Asia. As part of the Infonet logon procedure the script must provide a "Center" ID which is CPS, CSF, or CSI depending on location. GO LOGON to determine the correct value for your location. Zed: Command sent to CIS at the end of the script. I have set it to TOP to stay online for interactive work, but you can set it to any other valid CIS command such as GO BASIC or OFF. CIS:MAIL Parameters Mail: Command sent to CIS after retrieving waiting mail. I have set it to DELETE which removes the messages you have retrieved. You may use the command SAVE which will leave the messages in your online mailbox, but the script will retrieve the same messages again each time it is run, until you delete them. Forum Parameters: Forum1 - Forum3: The GO "NAME" used to navigate to a forum. I have set Forum1 to CIS:PALMTOP. Set Forum2 and 3 as you prefer, including the CIS: or ZNT: prefix. Sections1 - Sections3: The sections you want to read in each forum. I have set Sections1 to "7", Psion's section in CIS:PALMTOP. You may add other sections, separated by commas or hypens (e.g. 1,7,13-15 will read sections 1,7,13,14,15). Choose sections carefully, the script will read all new messages in each section. Make sure the sections you choose correspond to the forum (e.g. the sections for Forum1 are listed in Sections1, Forum2 in Sections2 and Forum3 in Sections3). Optional Parameters: Quotes: You can set the script to retrieve financial quotations (stocks, bonds, exchange rates, etc). GO LOOKUP to find ticker symbols which you may list in this name, separated by commas. I have used F (Ford Motor) and XRBP (Exchange Rate US Dollar/UK Pound) as examples. Weather: You can set the script to retrieve weather reports for many cities. If you leave this name blank it will get the information for the city where you have logged on, unless you are using the US 800 number. Alternately, you can specify a single city. I have set it to Miami, Florida, USA as an example. ONLINE SETUP The script requires the user to adjust a only a few online settings. This can be done with the Series 3a, but may be easier with a PC. Compuserve Mail has three operating modes: Menu, Prompt and Command. The script will instruct Compuserve to use Command mode if it detects either of the others, but it will run faster if you make the setting permanent. To change mail setting GO ASCIIMAIL, type SET, press , and this menu appears: CompuServe Mail Options Menu [ ] Represents Current Setting (yes/no options toggle) 1 EDITOR uses line numbers [NO] 2 MODE of operation is [COMMAND] (MENU, PROMPT, COMMAND) 3 Output is PAGED [NO] 5 RECEIVE postage-due messages [YES] 6 SHOW Recipients [NO] Make certain item 2 is set as shown; others may be as you prefer. Press and answer Y>es when asked whether to make the change permanent. You must also verify that your name and postal address is stored in your online mailbox. This is necessary to send mail messages without embedding a From: line in the text. At the Mail! prompt type ADD NAM, press , and follow the online prompts. To adjust other online settings GO TERMINAL, and choose option 2, CHANGE PERMANENT SETTINGS from the menu. These are all my settings, with the ones that might affect the script operation marked with an asterisk. LOGON/SERVICE OPTIONS *1 First service at logon [COMMAND] *2 CompuServe Mail waiting [NOTIFY ONLY] 3 Personal menu established [YES] (Select this to create or change a personal menu.) 4 TOP goes to [MENU] 5 Online editor [EDIT] 6 Forum presentation mode [MENU] 7 Basic Service Alerts [NO] PERM DISPLAY OPTIONS 1 PAGED display [YES] *2 BRIEF prompts [YES] 3 CLEAR screen between pages [YES] 4 BLANK lines sent [YES] 5 Line feeds sent [YES] 6 Language Preference [ENGLISH] 7 Character Set [ASCII] TERMINAL TYPE/PARAMETERS 1 TERMINAL type [OTHER] 2 Screen WIDTH [80] 3 LINES per page [24] 4 Form FEEDS [SIMULATED] 5 Horizontal TABS [SIMULATED] 6 Chars. received (CASE) [U/L] 7 Chars. sent in CAPS [NO] 8 PARITY [NONE] 9 Output DELAYS [1] 10 ERASE when backspacing [YES] 11 Micro inquiry sequence at logon [NO] FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL 1 PROTOCOL preference [SHOW MENU] GRAPHICS SUPPORT 2 GIF SUPPORT [NO] 3 NAPLPS SUPPORT [NO] 4 RLE SUPPORT [NO] RUNNING THE SCRIPT 1) Attach 3 Link and Modem to Series 3a; 2) Start the script by selecting 3cis from the list under the Comms icon. 3) The ThreeCIS menu shows five options. To select an option, cursor to it, and press . -Select Node & Logon: Use after setting the toggles below for this online session. -Bypass Logon & Run: Use to run script when you are already online. This allows you to logon manually, or with another script, if you are confronted with a network the script does not recognize, and still use the script to send mail and retrieve information. It also allows you to run it more than once if you have multiple User IDs. -Modify Parameters: Use this option to edit values in the Cisnames file, as explained in MODIFY NAMES. Do this before making other choices, because the toggles will be reset when you restart the script. -Cismail Toggle: Use this to toggle Compuserve Mail [On] or [Off]. If it is [Off], Cismail will be bypassed and no mail will be sent or retrieved. -Forum Toggle: Use this to toggle all Forums [On] or [Off]. If it is [On] the Mode toggle will appear; if it is [Off] all forums will bypassed, and no forum messages will be retrieved. -Mode Toggle: Appears only when the Forum Toggle is [On]. Default is [Read Waiting] in which only unread messages addressed to you in the three selected forums will be captured. You may toggle it to [Read Sections] so that all new messages in the selected sections of all three forums will be retrieved. 4) The script will initialize your modem and display the Dialing Menu. Choose the node you wish to call, press , and the script will dial, logon and execute other operations, without further intervention. "Manual" permits you to directly enter a number without needing to store it in the Names file. Also use this option, omitting the number, when using a phone that requires you to dial from it's own keypad or through an operator. You can stop the script at any time by pressing . 5) If the script displays "No Dial tone", "Busy" or "No Carrier" alerts, press and the script will automatically redial. All other alerts terminate the script. If a failure occurs online the alert will offer a brief explanation of the problem. Please record information displayed before pressing . READING CIS:MAIL MESSAGES All CIS:MAIL retrieved in an online session is stored in "\CIS\Cismail.cis" on your default disk. This file will appear on your system screen, beneath the Cismail icon. To read your mail, simply select that file and press . You can use this file like any Psion Word document. CREATING CIS:MAIL MESSAGES To create a CIS:MAIL message: 1) Place the cursor under the Cismail Icon, press to create a new file, use the name "Mail1", on your default disk, and press . 2) The file will be created using a template with two lines: To: | Subj: with the cursor after the colon on the first line. Type the name (optional) and CIS address (required) on the first line, for example: To: Dennis Lefebvre 71660,1273 use the down arrow key to move to the subject line, and type in a subject (required), for example: Subj: Test Message press to move to the next line and compose your message just like any other Word document, but do not use emphases (e.g. bold, underline, italic) or non-ASCII characters, because the file must be saved as text. The script does not work with Latin-1 extended characters, including British pounds œ. Send a test message to yourself to see how it is formatted. 3) When you have completed the message press to save the file, and complete the dialogue: Use File name: Mail1 Set Use new file: Yes Set File type: Text 4) To exit, press , or to compose another message, press , type the file name, and use the Cismail.wrt template: File: Name Mail2 Disk [Default] Use Template Yes Template:Name Cismail.wrt Disk [Default] The first message must be named Mail1, the second Mail2, and so forth through Mail5. The files must be in the \CIS\ directory on your default disk. Each must have a .cis extension, which will be automatically added. The series of file names must be unbroken; if there is no Mail1 file, the script will not look for Mail2, etc. 5) To edit a message you have already saved, be sure to use to "Save as text", completing the dialogue exactly as for a new file. If you do not explicitly "Save as Text", and set "Use new file" to "Yes", you will end up with a .wrd format file, and the recipient will have difficulty reading it. CREATING CIS FAX MESSAGES Fax messages are created just like other CIS:MAIL messages, but use the Fax.wrt template: To: | >FAX: Subj: On the first line, the cursor is positioned for you to insert the recipient's name after the colon, but before ">FAX:". Put the fax number, including the national dialing prefix, after ">FAX:". For example: TO: Dennis Lefebvre >FAX:1-305-688-7661 You must include a name in the space indicated, or the script will fail. Fax messages are saved with a name Mail1 - Mail5, just like any other CIS:MAIL message. CREATING CIS BINARY MAIL Binary Mail allows the transfer of any file via CIS:MAIL. The script will send one binary file per session. Copy the file to the \CIS\ directory on your default disk and name it Binary.cis. If the script detects a file named "\CIS\Binary.cis" a Binary Mail query will appear when you choose "Select Node & Dial" from the ThreeCIS Menu. Supply the address and subject for the file, using the arrow keys to navigate; press only when done. If is pressed the script is exited. READING FORUM MESSAGES All forum messages retrieved in an online session are stored in "\CIS\FORUMS\Forum#.sig" on your default disk, where # corresponds to the forum number, 1 - 3. These files will appear on your system screen, beneath the Cisforum icon. To read messages, simply select a file and press . You can then use this file like any Psion Word document. Word can only open files up to about 40k, or 1700 carriage returns. If you are following active forums this limit may be surpassed, and you will be unable to read the messages. The best way to overcome this limit is to obtain READER.ZIP from library 7 of CIS:PALMTOP. This utility will allow you to read text files, including CIS messages, of unlimited length. If you wish, you may install Reader in the ThreeCIS group, instead of the Cisforum icon. Please contact me for instructions and a replacement .als file. FILE MANAGEMENT Psion's script language includes few file management tools. It can create new files, and check for the existence of specific files, but it cannot move, rename, or delete files, nor use wildcards. The user must manually dispose of files. The script uses the ability to check for the existence of files as a way of controlling activity during each online session. If the script finds that a message file already exists, it will bypass the CompuServe area where that file is created. For example, if "\CIS\Cismail.cis" already exists, it will not attempt to retrieve additional Mail. Likewise, if "\CIS\FORUMS\Forum1.sig" exists it will bypass that forum completely, regardless of the state of the menu toggles. This protects files against accidental overwrite, and also give you a way to bypass a particular area temporarily, or to send mail without retrieving any. After sending CIS:MAIL you must delete, rename or move the "\CIS\Mail1.cis - Mail5.cis" files, else they will be sent again. Consider a series of subdirectories under \CIS\ for each correspondent. CUSTOMIZING THREECIS There are several switches that can be set to change the script's operation. Each switch is set by creating a file in the \CIS\SWITCH\ directory of your Default Disk. They must be on the Default Disk. The files are created by positioning the cursor under the Ciswitch icon, pressing , using the name of the switch as the name of the file, and pressing to exit the file. These are empty text files; it's only their existence that matters to the script. The files are automatically given the extension ".on". To disable the switch delete it, or rename it with another extension, such as ".off". By examining the list of files visible under the Ciswitch icon, you can easily see which features are switched "on". "9600.ON" By default the script operates the serial port at 2400 bps. Use this switch to set the speed to 9600bps. (This feature is disable in the unregistered version.) "XONXOFF.ON" By default the script uses RTS/CTS hardware handshaking. If your modem requires XON/XOFF software handshaking, use this switch. "NETWORK.ON" By default the script attempts to logon by sending a ^C, which is the fastest, most reliable method when calling a direct Compuserve node. If the NETWORK.ON switch is set it will use an alternate method, sending Carriage Returns, and determining what network you have called based on the response. The supported networks are Falnet, in the South Pacific; Fenics, in Japan; and Infonet in Europe, Latin America and Asia; as well as CIS's own nodes. If you use this switch to logon to a direct CIS node, please note that the OFF command will bring you to another login prompt, it will not disconnect. (Registered users may request additional networks, please contact me, but don't wait until the day before your trip .) "NEWS.ON" the script can retrieve the Associated Press Latest News Summary. You must set this switch to use this feature. Stories will be stored in "\CIS\FORUMS\News.sig" similar to forum messages. The script will not retrieve additional stories until you delete, move or rename "\CIS\FORUMS\News.sig". Stories are updated on the hour, so the same stories will be retrieved if you check more often. "OLT.ON" the script can retrieve Online Today Monitor News stories. You must set this switch to use this feature. Stories will be stored in "\CIS\FORUMS\Olt.sig" similar to forum messages. Additional stories will not be retrieved until you delete, move or rename "\CIS\FORUMS\Olt.sig". Stories are updated daily, so many of the same stories will be retrieved if you check more often. "QUOTES.ON" the script can retrieve financial quotations after completing the CIS:MAIL and FORUM work. You must set this switch, as well as enter ticker symbols in Cisnames, to use this feature. The data will be stored in the file "\CIS\FORUMS\Quotes.sig" similar to forum messages. The script will not update the data until you delete, move or rename the "\CIS\FORUMS\Quotes.sig" file. The information will appear poorly formatted unless you view it with a monospaced font. "WEATHER.ON" the script can retrieve weather reports after completing the CIS:MAIL and FORUMS work. You must set this switch to use this feature. The data will be stored in the file "\CIS\FORUMS\Weather.sig" just like forum messages. The script will not update the data until you delete, move or rename the Weather file. The information will appear poorly formatted, because it is . DISCLAIMERS This script works reliably on my computer, with my modem, but I cannot assume any liability for lost data, telephone cost, or CIS charges if it doesn't work properly for you. Use at your own risk. REGISTRATION The script is shareware. You may use it for a free trial period of 14 days, and I will provide assistance to get it to work with your modem during that period, but further support, customization for individual requirements, and 2400bps or faster operation are available only to registered users. To register, GO SWREG on CompuServe. The cost is $15.00. Upon receipt of your registration I will CIS:MAIL you the current version of 3cis.sco, which can be copied over this trial version. No other changes are required.