Category : Communication (modem) tools and utilities
Archive   : TAPDO541.ZIP
Filename : TAPDOC.9

===========================================================================
9 - Other TAPCIS Features
===========================================================================

Time/Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Multiple Parameter Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2

Script Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Login Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Weather Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Upload Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5

Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7











































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

===========================================================================
Time/Charges
===========================================================================

The external accounting module can generate the usage statistics provided
you have selected to Log Times on the

arameters screen. Press <$> from
the main menu to start the time/charges function. You're first asked
whether you want to change the rates. The default rates are those for use
with a CompuServe network phone number. Rates are subject to change. Use
nteractive and GO RATES to obtain the current schedule.

If you are using an alternative connection or pay metered local service,
change the rates to reflect those charges. Prime time is the day time rate.
Standard time is evening and weekend. CompuServe keeps its own time record
which you can access with the command GO BILLING. It is not detailed by
forum as are the TAPCIS statistics.

Output appears only on the screen. You can use to print each
screen.

You can run the STATS.EXE program from DOS if you do not have sufficient
memory to run it from within TAPCIS. You should run it from the same
directory that contains your parameter file (PARAMS.CIS) and time log files
(LOGmm-yy.CIS, where mm is the month and yy is the year).

STATS will estimate what your bill will be at the end of the month. Do not
put too much stock in this since your usage will probably vary over the
rest of the month-higher or lower. Also, TAPCIS does not know about
surcharged services like Official Airline Guide, Executive News Service, or
IQuest. Those charges will be in addition to the charges recorded by
TAPCIS.

There are two categories that TAPCIS uses to record charges for
"miscellaneous" usage. The OVERHEAD charge is for the time it takes to
navigate from forum to forum and to login and logout. It also includes the
"rounding" expense since CompuServe charges to the nearest minute.

TERMINAL charges are for all time spent interactive regardless of where
that time is spent. Once you are interactive, you can freely navigate from
place to place. TAPCIS logs all that time as a TERMINAL expense in the
accounting.


















TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-1

===========================================================================
Multiple Parameter Files
===========================================================================

TAPCIS supports up to 21 different PARAMS files. You use the
command from the main menu or forums selection screen. TAPCIS will show you
information about your current PARAMS file and let you switch files or
create a clone of the current one by pressing X. The name of the new file
can be 1-3 letters or numbers.

Each PARAMS.* file contains not only the list of forums but also your user
ID, password, and all other settings from the P>arameters screen. Be sure
to set up the main PARAMS.CIS file with your registration number, user id,
and password and then use and the copy option to create new
ones.

You can use an alternate PARAMS file to change forum sets, support more
than 20 selected forums, or switch COM ports and modem for laptop use. For
example, I have a PARAMS.NOV that has the Novell forums selected and that
uses a different storage and download path than my "normal" PARAMS.CIS (the
default name).

You can select the PARAMS file directly from the command line by using the
/PARAMS= parameter:

TAPCIS /PARAMS=NOV

The above would start TAPCIS using the PARAMS.NOV file.































9-2 Other TAPCIS Features TAPCIS

===========================================================================
Script Language
===========================================================================

The script language has three primary uses in TAPCIS: customizing login
scripts for access through non-CompuServe networks (e.g., Sprintnet,
Tymnet, LATA networks, foreign networks), creating a FRONTEND.SCR to
capture information like weather and the daily news to the CompuServe Mail
message file, and simplifying the repetitive entry of commands in non-forum
online services (e.g., stock portfolio analysis, weather radar map
downloading, stock quotes).

The script commands are as follows. Each is a single capital letter or
semicolon for comments. Most commands are followed by a space which
delimits the commands from the parameter.

; Comment lines begin with a semi-colon and can appear
anywhere in the script.

B Send a break signal. Used in login scripts where a
is needed to get the network's attention.

C d:\path\filename.ext
Capture output and append it to "filename.ext" on drive "d:"
in directory "path." Includes an explicit C Y (see below).

C Y Start (or restart) the capturing to the file specified with
the last C filename script command or to the MAIL.MSG if in
FRONTEND.SCR.

C N Stop capturing output to the file.

E Comment lines that display on the user's screen as the
script executes. They are not sent to CompuServe or saved to
any of the files.

I Input from the keyboard until the user presses . This
script command is useful in login scripts to allow the user
to manually get connected to CompuServe. In interactive
scripts it can be used to allow the user to select a
particular menu choice after the script automatically
navigates to the menu. Output is saved to the ONLINE.LOG if
the G command line option is used or to the capture file if
one is active. Note that TAPCIS will not time out and logoff
during the I script command.

K d:\path\filename.ext
Kill (delete) the file "d:\path\filename.ext". If you have a
script that uses the capture command, and want to remove the
old capture if one exists, use the K command before the C
script command.

N Sends your name from the parameters screen. Used in the
script.

P nn Pause for "nn" seconds



TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-3

S text Send "text" of any length. Most commands on most services
must be followed by an . In these cases end the "S
" command with caret-M <^> . The caret key can be com-
bined with any alphabetic key to duplicate a control
code. For example, ^C is ctrl-C. Control codes must be in
uppercase! This command waits for an echo of what is sent
before continuing.

U text This command also sends "text" of any length. However, it
does not wait for an echo of the characters sent before
continuing. This is useful for login scripts to networks
where the first few characters sent may not echo or echo
correctly.

W x Wait for a single character "x" before continuing.

W xxxx Wait for a four character sequence "xxxx" before
continuing. Use a full four characters. Using 2-3 may
cause the script to fail.

X Same as C N. You should start using C N instead of X.


------------------------------------
Login Scripts

You can have a user defined login script by putting an underscore < _ >
after the phone number on the

arameters screen. An underscore alone
tells TAPCIS to use the script in TAPCIS.SCR. You can put the script
filename (without the extension) after the underscore to use a specific
script (i.e., 555-1212_MYSCRIPT). If you are going to write your own
scripts, you should look at supplied scripts as an example of how to put
one together. Scripts must be in ASCII format. Here is a simple script for
login through a CompuServe node.

; CIS.SCR -- Login using for Picky PADs that don't like
; ^C's.
; 5.4 version 10/20/91 -rpw
E TAPCIS LOGIN SCRIPT
E Login Through CompuServe Node where ^C is not being recognized
P 3
U ^M
W ame:
S CIS^M

A script for a standard LATA Network (usually run by your local phone
company) has been provided in the file LATANET.SCR. You select this script
by placing a colon <:> after the phone number. One problem: LATA Networks
are not standard! If you are going to use a LATA network, you may have to
modify the supplied script to work with the connect sequence required by
your LATANet.

Many non-CompuServe networks require that you start TAPCIS with the P
command line option. When in doubt, you can use the P option with any
network without causing any problems.




9-4 Other TAPCIS Features TAPCIS

------------------------------------
Weather Script

Here is a script that will capture today's weather in the file TODAY.WEA.
It deletes the old copy of the file before capturing the new information:


; WEA.SCR - Capture today's weather to TODAY.WEA
;
; To invoke the script, go online to CIS , make sure
; you're on a
; CompuServe prompt (like in the forums, or at a CIS menu). If in
; doubt,
; type GO CIS, then press then type WEA and press return
;
; Send the WEAther command.
; If you want the weather at a different city that has weather
; reporting,
; type the full city and state after WEA
S WEA Columbus, OH^M
; Kill the old weather report
K TODAY.WEA
; Open the capture file
C TODAY.WEA
; Wait for the next prompt
W !
; Close the capture file
C N
; Send carriage return to get back to prompt
S ^M


------------------------------------
Upload Script

Here is a simple script which uploads a file to a LIB. You should use
caution when writing and testing such scripts! As you can see the upload
script is really just a sequence of send a command and wait for the next
prompt. You can invoke such a script from within a forum by pressing
followed by the name of the file. Your script file must have a file
extension .SCR.

; UPL.SCR -- Upload a file to a forum library. Version 5.4 10/20/91 RPW
;
; Instructions for use:
; Change the forum name, library number, file name in the UPL
; command, filename on your computer, the file description (keep
; it fewer than 549 characters), and the keywords.
; Forum to receive the file (change!):
S G forum_name_here^M
; Wait for Forum ! prompt
W um !
;
; Library to receive the file (change!):
S LIB library_number_here^M
W !
;


TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-5

; Filename to use on CompuServe (change!)
; and file type (ASC or BIN -- change!):
S UPL filename_here/PRO:B/TYP:asc_or_bin_here^M
W ter:
;
; Filename on your computer including path if necessary (change!)
S filename_on_your_computer_here^M
; Upload takes place here. Then wait for 'finished:'
W hed:
;
; File description (change!). Be sure to keep the ^M's at the end
; of lines!
S In a circular sort of way, this is a file that was uploaded^M
S using itself. UPL.SCR will permit you to upload any file^M
S anywhere on CompuServe. Edit it so that the Lib and Forums^M
S are correct and then go online nteractive selecting no^M
S Forum. At the first prompt, hit and then enter UPL.^M
S Two rules -- 549 char max and no blank lines in this DES^M
S area.^M
;
; Exit the description
S /EXIT^M
; Wait for "P ):" in "Enter Keywords ( or type "?" for HELP ):"
W rds:
;
; Keywords for the file (change!)
S keywords_go_here^M
; Wait for "ed):" in "Enter Title (up to 49 chars, when
; finished):"
W tle:
S title_goes_here^M
; next line is N)? in 'Is this okay (Y or N)?'
W N)?
S Y^M
W !
; Logoff
S OFF^M






















9-6 Other TAPCIS Features TAPCIS

===========================================================================
Macros
===========================================================================

TAPCIS supports 40 macros, 20 when online interactive and 20 when editing
in the message editor. You can define the macros by pressing from
the main menu and selecting either ditor or nline macros.

Next press the letter you want to assign to your macros (A through T only)
and enter the text for the macro. Use the vertical bar (|) for carriage
returns. No other special control codes are supported (e.g., no tabs).

Then when in the editor or online, press . A list of the macros will
appear. Press the corresponding letter and your macro will be passed to the
editor or CompuServe.

Note that when online, two macros have been programmed specifically to help
you use CompuServe interactively. sets CompuServe to verbose
menu mode with a screen size of 23 lines. sets an individual
forum to menu mode and pausing after each message. Both these macros affect
only the current session. Macros are not available offline except in the
editor.

You can use macros for your standard closing for a message in the editor,
or for conference or CompuServe commands when in interactive mode. In
Conference Mode you can have a macro that would get a list of participants
by defining it as: "/UST|".
































TAPCIS Other TAPCIS Features 9-7