Category : Communication (modem) tools and utilities
Archive   : TAPDO541.ZIP
Filename : TAPDOC.2

===========================================================================
2 - Introduction
===========================================================================

Introduction to CompuServe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
What is CompuServe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
What is a Forum? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Threads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Conferencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
CompuServe Electronic Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Other Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

The TAPCIS Difference ($) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

TAPCIS Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Message Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Forum Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Communications Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Other Important Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7


































TAPCIS(tm) Documentation Copyright (c) 1991, Support Group, Inc.
800-USA-GROUP, 301-387-4500

===========================================================================
Introduction to CompuServe
===========================================================================

****> If you are an experienced CompuServe user and already understand
how CompuServe Mail and forums are structured, you can skip this
section and turn to page 2-4.


------------------------------------
What is CompuServe?

The CompuServe Information Service is a communications system with a broad
range of offerings including travel, financial, and news services, research
databases, and more. You communicate with CompuServe through the phone line
using your computer's modem and special software.

CompuServe is organized in a hierarchial structure of "pages." A page can
be a menu, a program, or a gateway. Menus present you with a list of
numbered options. Programs include forums, CompuServe Mail, databases, etc.
Gateways let you go through CompuServe to communicate with third party
services like the Official Airline Guide (OAG), EAASY Sabre, PaperChase
Medical, NewsNet, IQuest, Shoppers Advantage, etc.

Each page has a name or number, and one can move from one part of
CompuServe to another with the "GO" command or by traversing the menus.
We'd like to show you the full diagram of CompuServe pages, but you
probably don't have a wall big enough for the poster. If you have the time
and money, you can explore all the reaches of CompuServe using TAPCIS in
the "interactive" mode. For this manual, we are going to concentrate on the
two that TAPCIS was designed to automate: the forums and electronic mail.


------------------------------------
What is a Forum?

A "forum" is a community that shares a common set of interests. Forums used
to be called "SIGs" for Special Interest Groups. For example, the TAPCIS
Forum is for those of us who use TAPCIS. The WordPerfect Forum is a forum
for people with an interest in WordPerfect brand products. The CONSULT
Forum is for those with an interest in computer consulting. The Aviation
Forum is a home for people who are flighty (pilots) or full of hot air
(balloonists).

A CompuServe forum and a local club have a lot in common. You can ask
questions and get a variety of answers and opinions in return. You can
debate, decide, depict, describe, design, detail, determine, develop,
devise, debrief, debunk, denounce, defend, deliberate, delight, decry,
delve, demand, deny, and demonstrate just to name a few.

The value of the forum comes from those who participate-from the sysops who
manage the forum to callers from around the world who join in the dialogue.

Messages

Participants in the forum can exchange messages publicly. If you ask a
question in the forum, hundreds or even thousands of people can read that


TAPCIS Introduction 2-1

question. Hopefully, at least one of them will have an answer. And when you
have something to share, you can be assured that at least one of the forum
members will benefit from your contribution to the exchange.

Messages are in a "memo" format with date, time, and subject along with the
sender's name and account number. A message can be addressed to an
individual, a sysop, or to All. Messages have a maximum length of around
350 words or 2200 characters each.

Sections

Each forum has a number of message sections (also called subtopics). Up to
18 sections (0 through 17) can be used, although not all forums use that
many. The TAPCIS Forum has 9 public sections where all users can leave
messages. It also has one section (S0/Forum Admin.) for TAPCIS forum sysops
and one private section (S9) for registered users. The other sections are
either undefined or used for special purposes like beta testing. See page
1-4 for a list of some of the TAPCIS Forum sections and their uses.

Threads

A message and its replies form a message thread. Threading makes it
possible for you to follow a conversation that is taking place in the midst
of many other conversations. The alternative is to read in numerical order,
but you can imagine how confusing it would be to read a message and have to
search through several hundred other messages to find its replies (if any).
TAPCIS takes full advantage of CompuServe's threading capability. It can
read all new messages in thread order or just the subjects and sections you
select.

Libraries

Utilities and files can also be shared through the forum libraries
(historically called "data libraries" or DL's). When you contribute a file,
it is called uploading. Taking a copy of a file from a library is called
downloading. Libraries are also broken into categories-just like the
message sections. For example, you can download the current version of
TAPCIS from the TAPCIS Forum Library 1. TAPCIS stores a list of section and
library names when you join a forum.

Downloading or uploading requires the use of a protocol to insure that the
transmission between your computer and the CompuServe computer is without
error. The protocol that works best is the CompuServe "B+" protocol which
is the one supported by TAPCIS. B+ can achieve file transfer speeds at
close to 100% efficiency compared to much less efficient throughput for
XMODEM.

Conferencing

An online conference or CO allows members of the forum to interact
directly, in real-time. In a CO someone "speaks," and their words are
"heard" by all the others in the conference. A conference may be held to
allow members to ask questions of a guest speaker, or it can be a
spontaneous chat between a group of online friends. You may choose to
conference often or never.




2-2 Introduction TAPCIS

------------------------------------
CompuServe Electronic Mail

CompuServe Mail is an electronic mail service. Through Mail you may send
messages to any other CompuServe subscriber, and you can even upload and
download binary (8-bit) files such as formatted word processing documents.
Mail permits longer messages than the forums (50,000 vs. 2200 characters
for ASCII text messages or up to half a megabyte for binary files).

All CompuServe mail is confidential. You may also request a return receipt
or send the same message to multiple addresses, with no fixed limit. See
Mailing Lists beginning on page 5-7.

Some forums (such as the TAPCIS Forum) do not allow private messages, so
Mail is the only way to reply to a message privately. If TAPCIS detects
that a forum does not allow private messages, it will automatically send
your confidential message via CompuServe Mail.

TAPCIS makes CompuServe Mail appear as a forum even though Mail's native
commands are entirely different from forum commands. TAPCIS reformats
messages so that you may read and reply to them just as you would a public
forum message. As in the forums, you may also write your messages offline
using the TAPCIS editor and automatically upload them to Mail.


------------------------------------
Other Services

You can use TAPCIS scripts to save you time and money for other CompuServe
Services, too. For example, you can have TAPCIS capture the current weather
forecast, a series of stock quotes, and the latest computer industry news
while it is getting your new mail. Not all CompuServe services can be
automated, but TAPCIS can help you grab the information quickly online and
then read it after disconnecting from CompuServe. See Scripts beginning on
page 9-3 for more details.
























TAPCIS Introduction 2-3

===========================================================================
The TAPCIS Difference ($)
===========================================================================

****> Why use TAPCIS? How can it save you money? If you don't know the
answers, read this section.

CompuServe is designed to be an interactive communications service. In
other words, you type something, and CompuServe responds. Then you type
another command, read the response, and so on.

Using a terminal, a caller manually enters the user id and password. From
that moment on, the CompuServe clock is running at $6.00 to $12.50 an hour
or more (plus communications surcharges from $0.30 to $9 an hour). If you
read and reply while that meter is running, you are paying CompuServe based
on your reading and typing speed (which is far slower than the maximum
speed of your modem-360 wpm at 300 bps and 11520 wpm at 9600 bps!).

TAPCIS automates the use of CompuServe and, in the process, reduces connect
time to a minimum. The time consuming tasks of reading or replying are done
using the facilities of your own computer where the computer time is
"free."

This efficiency can save you a great deal of money. Let's say it takes you
10 minutes to compose a message online; it might cost you $2 or more.
Prepared offline and sent with TAPCIS, the cost might be as low as 22 cents
for the same message. Multiply this by 100 messages over the course of a
year (or even a month) and you start to get a feel for the savings the
automated TAPCIS system offers you. Without TAPCIS, CompuServe can be
expensive. A 5000 character message would take you about 20 minutes if you
type 50 wpm, or over $4 to send one message. TAPCIS makes it possible for
you to actively participate in the forum without busting your budget.

Will TAPCIS lower your CompuServe bill? Probably not. TAPCIS can do the
same work a lot faster and cheaper than you can do by hand. The significant
savings are often offset by higher but much more productive usage. Our tens
of thousands of users have found that they use CompuServe more with TAPCIS
than they did before without it. They get more for their money; CompuServe
becomes a better value.

Best of all, TAPCIS saves you time. While TAPCIS is grabbing your
CompuServe mail and messages, you don't have to do a thing (unlike some
other programs that force you to issue commands while online). We call that
the TAPCIS "autopilot." And once the autopilot has done its work, you can
read the messages as your schedule and interruptions permit.














2-4 Introduction TAPCIS

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TAPCIS Features
===========================================================================

TAPCIS is a program rich in features. It has grown considerably since its
early days in 1986, and work is always continuing to add more features that
our users want. Here are some of the general features that have made TAPCIS
so popular with CompuServe users.


------------------------------------
Message Features

* Split-screen text editor for preparing messages offline with
WordPerfect-like cursor and editing commands and word wrap. Many
WordStar editing commands are included for those used to that
interface.

* Address book, which you can compile as you read messages, that allows
you to send messages to other users based on their names without
having to remember user IDs.

* Distribution lists to allow you to send the same message or file to
many individuals at once.

* Print messages, save messages to a master file or an individual DOS
file, retrieve a file into the message you're writing, and search for
text in other files.

* Reply to a message, forward the message to other users via CompuServe
Mail, start a new thread with a message to the sender or recipient of
the current message, or change the reply to a different forum or Mail.

* Skip forward/backward by message or thread, jump to a message, read
messages that contain a search string, skip through the messages by
thread, section, or online session, or view messages previously saved.

* Messages that are private, to your user ID, or from your user ID have
highlighted headers to bring them to your attention during reading.

* You can press rite to write a new message in the current forum
while reading messages. When you finish composing and sending the
message, you are returned to the message you were reading.


------------------------------------
Forum Support

* Fully supports the new CompuServe forum software.

* Available forum section numbers and names are presented in a pop-up
window when required for message writing or section selection.

* Forums can be defined for one of three different types of online
action:




TAPCIS Introduction 2-5

Read all new threads (R)
Quick scan subjects for thread selection offline (Q)
Read messages to me only (M)

* Up to 20 forums can be defined per PARAMS file with up to 15 "active"
at any one time.

* Supports gateways for services such as ZiffNet (ZNT:) and Electronic
Engineering Times (EET:).

* Multiple Parameter files supported. Use the command to switch
between them.

* Forum message sections to read or scan can be selected during forum
definition.

* Up to 40 macros can be defined (twenty each for online and editing).


------------------------------------
Libraries

* Fully supports the new CompuServe Library software including across
library searching.

* Includes a Library management system that lets you do keyword searches
of the files in a forum's libraries, browse them offline, and
subsequently do batch, unattended B+ protocol downloads online.

* A transfer log is kept on disk to allow tracking of download times and
performance. The XFER.LOG file will build until it is deleted. The log
can be used to figure out, "Where did that file come from?"


------------------------------------
Communications Features

* CompuServe's B+ protocol is fully supported for downloading and
uploading of binary or text files. B+ achieves error free transfers at
speeds far faster than previous CIS protocols giving the TAPCIS user
the best efficiency and lowest cost. B+ offers the ability to restart
a download that was interrupted mid-way.

* You can adjust the packet size with a command line option. Normally,
the default sizes of 1024 bytes at 2400 bps, 512 bytes at 1200 bps,
and 256 at 300 bps are optimal. However, on very noisy lines, a
smaller packet size can give better throughput. A command line option
of "-4" causes 512 byte packets to be used. "-2" uses 256 byte
packets.

* Offers both automated and manual access to CompuServe with automatic
logon through CompuServe, Sprintnet, Tymnet, and LATA networks (user
logon scripts are also supported for foreign networks like DataPac and
Infonet).

* Serial ports COM1: through COM8: are supported.



2-6 Introduction TAPCIS

* Baud rates up to 38,400 are supported.

* Supports FIFO serial ports (16550A UART chips).

* Fully IRQ and Base Address configurable for non-standard serial port
addresses.

* Auto or manual dialing from a selection of six phone numbers.

* Local mode for communicating with the modem and setting its
parameters.

* Automatic setup of CompuServe default parameters with a single menu
command .

* Joining of forums handled automatically after a single menu command
.


------------------------------------
Other Important Features

* Integral time and charges log and recap to help you keep track of
expenses. Month-to-date charges are listed by forum. Cumulative
charges, a projection for the month, and a daily usage graph are
included.

* Easy sending of FAX through CompuServe Mail. FAX numbers can be kept
in the TAPCIS address book.

* Postal delivery of a letter through CompuServe Mail.

* Universal, context sensitive, multi-page help by pressing .

* Universal shelling to DOS using and DOS command
execution using .

* Full path support for MSDOS versions 3.n and 5.0, and Desqview/Windows
compatibility.

* Support is available through CompuServe on the TAPCIS Forum.

* Optional capture of online log (either the entire session or last 350
lines) to the file ONLINE.LOG.

* Review of up to the last 350 lines when online interactive using the
command.

* User scripts including comments and text capture for simplifying
access to other parts of the CompuServe service.

* Completely protect your password by having TAPCIS prompt for it each
time you start the program without storing it on disk.

* Front-end script to capture stock quotes, news, weather, and other
user-selected information for reading offline as a CompuServe mail
"message."


TAPCIS Introduction 2-7