@database 00ca8dc0-0 @master Amiconnect.guide @$VER: 3.0 @author "Martin Carl Hunt" @(c) "MCHunt July 1995" @node "Main" "Amiconnect - Contents" @{b}@{fg shine}Amiconnect Version 3@{fg text} Copyright Martin Hunt 1985 This program is shareware, please register@{ub} @{"Introduction" link "Introduction" 0} What is Amiconnect @{"Installation" alink "Installation" 0} How To Install @{"Main Menu" link "Main Menu" 0} The Main Menu @{"Command Line Parameters" link "CLP" 0} Starting From CLI @{"Other Programs" link "Progs" 0} Other AmiTCP related programs @{"Registration" link "Registration" 0} How To Register @{"Problems" link "Problems" 0} How to yell at me! @{"NEW FOR VERSION 3" link new 0} Improvements And New Features FAQ's, COMMON PROBLEMS AND IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE POSTED TO MY WWW PAGES http://www.webzone1.co.uk/www/plymouthweb/ @endnode @node "Introduction" "Introduction" What is Amiconnect? After transfering from a service provider that provided a customised AmiTCP setup to my new supplier I found that setting up AmiTCP was actually quite a pain. I am quite a confident person when it comes to computers, so I thought that some sort of program was needed to make setting up easier. I had also had problems getting any sort of dialler working properly, and so decided to write a simple dialler program of my own, this I decided would be incorporated into my new configuration program. This new program must also be compatible with my Control Panel program, and in fact should complement it to allow even more accurate logging of calls. After several months of development AmiConnect was finished, but I had just found a new arexx library called Apig.library and had decided that I would use this library to make @{"Control Panel" link "Progs" 0} even better, as Rexxarplib.library and Apig.library weren't really compatible it meant completely rewriting AmiConnect. After all this AmiConnect now looks better and operates better, and in a more system friendly manner. AmiConnect is designed to replace startnet, any link script and also acts as a dialler. This version will now work with PPP, if you are using a dynamic node you must use PPP, dynamic slip connection are not supported and will not be supported in the future. This package and AmiTCP should be the only programs you need to connect to the net, send & receive mail and receive news. You will of course need a mail program and a newsreader, see @{"other programs" link "Progs" 0} for some recommendations. AmiConnect is not responsible for collecting and sending mail, so it will work with both POP3 and SMTP mail systems. If amitcp:bin/mailkick is present it will be started to facilitate sending of smtp mail, if it isn't available it won't/can't be started, you will have to manual start your mail grabbing program or pop3 client. If your provider can only handle POP3 mail, please make sure that amitcp:bin/mailkick doesn't exist by typing delete amitcp:bin/mailkick into a shell. This version of Amiconnect now has a more compact connection display, this is only a cosmetic improvement but does stop your desktop getting too cluttered. @endnode @node "Installation" "Installation" @{b}@{fg shine}Installation@{ub}@{fg text} Installation is via the standard Amiga installer program, the installer will ask you the following details @{b}Where Is AmiTCP Installed?@{ub} Choose the directory where you chose to install AmiTCP, if you have yet to install AmiTCP please abort the installation and install AmiTCP first. @{b}Where do you want Amiconnect to be installed?@{ub} Choose where you want the Amiconnect program and icon files to be stored, the recommended directory is amitcp:bin, but you may choose any directory you like, it is advisable that this directory is on a runnable path. @{b}Where do you want Amiconnects Doc File to be installed?@{ub} Select where you want to store this doc file, a doc file will also be installed to amitcp:docs as Amiconnect needs the file there for its help button to work. @{b}Copying News and Mail Stuff to AmiTCP:bin@{ub} This copies all the mail and news sending/reading programs to amitcp:bin, if you already have a working news/mail setup you may want to skip this part. @{b}Copying Mail Server to Amitcp:serv@{ub} This copies the incoming mail deamon in.smtpd to amitcp's server drawer, this file is essential if you want to receive mail. Your amitcp:db/inetd.conf file is also altered to use the mail server, if amitcp is currently running you will need to send a break_f to inetd or to reboot and restart amitcp before this server will become active. @{b}I now need to setup....@{ub} Amiconnect needs to know where your main system directories are, the default directories are made by the installer if not available. @{b}Where is your uunews: directory@{ub} Uunews is where all your news articles are unbatched to. I would advise that you either have a separate partition for news or invest in a new, more stable file system, as news puts a lot of wear on the hard drive and a crash during a news write operation may cause invalidation of your hard drive partition. @{b}Where is your uumail: directory@{ub} This is the directory where all your incoming mail is stored, if your mail address is Another@any.old.node your mail will be stored in a file called another. @{b}Where is you uulib: directory@{ub} This directory is where several import files are kept, such as Newsgroups - The file with the names of all the newsgroups you want to subscribe to. Another.signature - Your signature, another being your user name Config - Some old programs require a uulib:config file, an example file is given. Aliases - A file with mail aliases in, this allows you to store peoples mail addresses and also allows you to redirect incoming mail. Seq - A file containing a number used to generate message numbers for your outgoing mail. @{b}Where is your uuspool: directory@{ub} This is a directory where all your incoming mail and news is wrote to, it is also where all your outgoing mail is stored prior to being sent. This directory usually also contains some logfiles. @{b}Starting Amiconnect Configuration Program@{ub} Amiconnect is now started so that you can configure it, see @{"main menu" link "Main Menu" 0} for more details. @endnode @node "Main Menu" "Main Menu" @{b}@{fg shine}Main Menu@{ub}@{fg text} The menu that you get when you initially start Amiconnect, unless you use the command line options. @{b}@{bg shine}Amiconnect Configuration@{ub}@{bg back} @{"User Details " link "UserDetails" 0} @{"Provider Details" link "ProviderDetails" 0} @{"Modem Details " link "ModemDetails" 0} @{"Logon Details" link "LogonDetails" 0} @{" HELP" link "HELP" 0} @{"Start Amitcp " link "START " 0} @{"Stop Amitcp " link "STOP" 0} @{" Connect" link "UP" 0} @{"Disconnect" link "DOWN" 0} @{"Load " link "Load" 0} @{"Save As " link "SaveAs" 0} @{"Use " link "Use" 0} @{"Save " link "Save" 0} @{"Cancel" link "Cancel" 0} @endnode @node "CLP" "Command Line Parameters" @{b}@{fg shine}Command Line Parameters@{ub}@{fg text} Amiconnect may be started from the command line and takes the following parameters. @{"LOAD" link "Load" 0} - Allows you to load a config file, saved using save as option. NEWS - Collects news when connect NONEWS - Do not collect news when connected @{"CONFIG" link "Main Menu" 0} - Displays Main Menu @{"START" link "START " 0} - Starts AmiTCP @{"STOP" link "STOP" 0} - Stops AmiTCP @{"UP" link "UP" 0} - Attemps to connect you to the net @{"DOWN" link "DOWN" 0} - Disconnects you from the net RETRY - The number of times to retry the pops phonenumber @endnode @node "Progs" "Other Programs" @{b}Mail Programs@{ub} Admail An AmiTCP Mail Program ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/mail/admail.lha GDMail V1.2 A Gadtools Based Mail Program ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/mail/GDMail_1.2.lha Amiga Elm V4 A good complex mail reader ftp//src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/mail/AmigaElm-v4.lha @{b}News Programs@{ub} Grn V2.1 Recommended GUI News Reader ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/news/GRn-2.1.lha Tin V1.2 News Reader ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/news/tin122.lha @{b}Other Programs@{ub} Archie132 Archie Client ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/archie132.lha GuiFTP A graphical FTP client ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/Gui-FTP.lha Gopher An Amiga Gopher Client ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/gopher.lha Grapevine A very good graphical IRC client ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/grapevine-1_33.lha Artser An improved serial.device ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/misc/ArtSer37_6.lha Pbill3.2 Phonebill prediction program, requires Amitcp software which generates logfile e.g. plink, Control Panel ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/misc/pbill32.lha @{b}Other Programs By Me@{ub} Control Panel 5 A Graphical Interface For AmiTCP, works with Amiconnect to generate accurate connection logs. Also includes Gui frontends for Telnet,Finger and ping and allows multiple users to use the same setup. Now supports public screens. ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/CP5.lha Arfir & Newsed 3 Arfir is a graphical front end for archie which allows you to easily search for files using archie and the download them. Newsed3 is a graphical editor for your uulib:newsgroup files, it has many features such as ability to selectively import groups from an active newsroup file, also allows unique signatures for newsgroups when used in conjunction with Grn. ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/aminet/comm/tcp/NewsedArfir.lha @endnode @node "Registration" "Registration" @{b}Registration@{ub} This package is shareware, this means that if you carry on using the program that you send me the suggested fee. The prices for registration is as follows UK Pounds US Dollars Amiconnect £10 $20 Any other of my programs can then be ordered for 50% of their price e.g. CP5 and Amiconnect will cost £15 instead of £20. Payment must be in UK cheques/postal order, cash (notes only in strong envelope, not airmail envelopes), or International Money Order. Cash and UK Cheques are the preferred methods of payment. Your registered keyfile will be sent by uuencoded e-mail, you will also be entitled to 10k of free web space on my web site. You should send your registration fee and the following details Machine Memory HD Modem type AmiTCP Version WB Version E-Mail Address Whether you want Cp5 or Newsed/Arfir if you are ordering the £15/$30 package. To. Martin Hunt 27 Furzehill Road Mutley Plymouth PL4 4JZ England If you need any help with any of my packages please e-mail me at Martin@mchunt.zynet.co.uk and I will do my best to help, obviously registered users will get priority service but I will give help to those who have yet to register. @endnode @node "Problems" "Problems" Please contact me and I will help as quickly as I can; E-Mail: @{"MARTIN@mchunt.zynet.co.uk." rx "amitcp:bin/emailmch"} Or check my homepages for any known bugs http://www.webzone1.oc.uk/www/plymouthweb/ @endnode @node "Load" "LOAD" @{b}@{fg shine}Load@{ub}@{fg text} This button or parameter allows you to load a set of parameters which you have saved using the @{"save as" link "SaveAs" 0} facility, this is useful if you have more than one provider as you can have a separate config file for each provider. @endnode @node "START " "START AMITCP" @{b}@{fg shine}Start AmiTCP@{ub}@{fg text} This button or option starts AmiTCP using the information which you have entered into AmiConnect, it does not connect you to the net, to do that use the @{"connect" link "UP" 0} button or the @{"up" link "UP" 0} option. @endnode @node "STOP" "STOP AMITCP" @{b}@{fg shine}Stop Amitcp@{ub}@{fg text} This stops AmiTCP, maybe necessary if you are short on memory and using non AmiTCP applications. @endnode @node "UP" "Connecting To The Net" @{b}@{fg shine}Connect@{ub}@{fg text} This attempts to connect you to the net. A status display will appear, that will show all the message sent to and received from your modem and the computer you log on to. This display will also show you any error messages. If the phone number of the 1st pop is busy, Amiconnect will try the 2nd number, it will repeat this 2 times or as many times as specified by the retry parameter. Some settings are your modem will be altered temporariliy, but may be reset by switching your modem on or off. @endnode @node "DOWN" "Disconnecting From The Net" @{b}@{fg shine}Disconnect@{ub}@{fg text} Disconnects you from the net and takes your modem offline. @endnode @node "SaveAs" "Save As" @endnode @node "Save" "Save" @{b}@{fg shine}Save@{ub}@{fg text} Saves the current settings to envarc: @endnode @node "UserDetails" "User Details" @{b}@{fg shine}User Details@{ub}@{fg text} This is where you enter the details of the main user of your system. E-Mail Address - Enter your e-mail address here Real Name - Enter your realname Organization - Enter an organizat ion string Home Directory - Your home directory This information will be used to set various environment variables . @endnode @node "ModemDetails" "Modem Details" @{b}@{fg shine}Modem Details@{ub}@{fg text} Amiconnect needs to know quite a bit about your modem to work properly, most of the defaults should work fine, you may need to consult your modems handbooks for more information on the settings. Serial Device - What serial device your are using to connect to the net Device Number - The device number of the serial device Baud Rate - The DTE rate, this needs to be higher than your modems baud rate to ensure fastest transfer, 38400 or 57600 are probably the best values. Sana2/TCPIP Dev. - Are you using Cslip,slip or PPP. Init. Modem - Command used to initialis e modem Dial Command - Command used to dial your pop (may be ATDT or ATDP usually) DTR Overide On - The command used to turn the Data Terminal Ready overide on DTR Overide Off - The command to turn it off Modem Hang - Than command to tell the modem to hang up Command Mode - The string needed to tell the modem to enter command mode Set Data Rate - Command needed to fix the DTE rate at the current Baud Rate OK Message - How the modem responds if a command is successfu l @endnode @node "ProviderDetails" "Provider Details" @{b}@{fg shine}Provide Details@{ub}@{fg text} Information about your service provider, needed to dial out and connect. Your IP No. - Enter your internet protocol number, if you are using PPP with a dynamic node this number must be 0.0.0.0 Gateways IP No. - The internet protocol number of the machine you connect to. Mail Server - The address of the machine where you collect your mail (usually start off with post,gpo or something mail related followed by the domain name i.e. gpo.zynet.co.uk post.demon.co.uk) News Server - The address of the machine where you collect news (usually news followed by domain name, i.e.news.zynet.co.uk news.demon.co.uk) HTTP Proxy - If your provider has a http proxy server, you may specify FTP Proxy - the values here and WWW access will be speeded up. Gopher Proxy- The address is usually http://www.service.provider:portno/ WAIS Proxy - e.g. http://www.zynet.co.uk:8000/ http://www.demon.co.uk:8080/ Pop1 Name - The name of the pop you want to connect to Pop1 Phone Numbeer - This pops phone number Pop2 Name - The pop to try if the 1st pop is busy, if your provider has only 1 pop enter the same as pop 1 Pop2 Phone - The phone number for the 2nd pop @endnode @node "LogonDetails" "Logon Details" @{b}@{fg shine}Logon Details@{ub}@{fg text} Information about the logon sequence of your provider, your user name is taken from your e-mail address. It is usually best to only include the latter part of the prompts. Login Prompt: The prompt requesting you to enter your user name Response: What you enter in response to the login prompt, quite commonly your node name i.e. mchunt but maybe your user name. Protocol Prompt: The prompt requesting you to select what protocol you are using, if n/a leave blank. Password Prompt: The prompt asking you to enter your password Password: Your password, which you type in response to the above @endnode @node "HELP" "Help" @{b}@{fg shine}Help@{ub}@{fg text} Youre Reading It! @endnode @node "Use" "Use " @{b}@{fg shine}Use@{ub}@{fg text} Save the current settings to Env:, will not be there when you reset. @endnode @node "Cancel" "Cancel" @{b}@{fg shine}Cancel@{ub}@{fg text} Cancels any changes made to the settings. @endnode @node "New" "New Features For Version 3" @{b}@{fg shine}New Features@{ub}@{fg text} Amiconnect 3 has a new connect interface which is more compact and in my opinion better looking. This interface will now abort at all stages (please email me if it doesn't), in version 2 the abort function would not work for some of the modem initialisation sequence. The main change however is the ability to use a custom login script, this is for people who's login procedure is vastly different to that which Amiconnect was initially written to deal with. To use this facility you will need to create a file called amitcp:db/aclogonscript, which should be in the following format received prompt1 response to prompt1 received prompt2 response to prompt2 ..... received prompt# response to prompt# this file may be as long as you like but must have an even number of lines, i.e. every received prompt must have a corresponsing response. The standard login procedure would look like this ogin: nodename assword: yourpassword rotocol: slip There are no other new features, only a couple of small bugfixes and tweaks. @endnode