|Dͻ
|D |5Blue Plate Special |D
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^C^1ProComm
^Cfrom
^CDatastorm Technologies, Inc.

   ProComm is a full-featured telecommunications program, supporting emulation 
of a number of popular terminals, file transfers through a variety of protocols,
a dialing directory storing up to 100 phone numbers, and an extremely powerful 
command script language.  This is not a crippled "demo" version; it is presented
in its entirety on ~3|9Big Blue Disk^0 under the "Shareware" concept.  If you like
it, and make regular use of it, you are requested to become a "registered user" 
by sending a small contribution to Datastorm Technologies.  (See the file 
^1READ.ME^0 on Disk 2 of this issue for more details on registration.  You can use
the ^1TYPE^0 command from the DOS prompt to read it.) 

   Why should you send more money for a program you already have?  Because you
not only get the additional support given registered users, but you are also
helping to support the "Shareware" concept.  Datastorm Technologies has granted 
us permission to publish their program at no cost to us, with the hope that our 
readers who use it will pay them.  They don't make any money from the sales of
~3|9Big Blue Disk^0, so if you want to encourage them and other shareware publishers
to continue to provide quality software at affordable prices, which you can try 
before you buy, you should comply with their registration policies.  If you try 
the program and decide you don't care for it, and use some other telecommuni-
cations program instead (or give up on telecommunicating altogether), then you 
don't have to send anybody anything; you're much better off than if you had 
purchased a commercial package for some triple-digit price tag and then found 
you hated it.  "Shareware" is good for everybody; help support it.

   In order to fully explain the many complex features of this program, a 
documentation file, which runs over 100 pages when printed out, normally 
accompanies ProComm when it is distributed.  However, there was not room on 
this issue for the file.  A brief explanation of ProComm follows here, which 
should be enough to get you started.  Much information can be gained from the 
various menus and help screens within the program.  However, the full document-
ation would be helpful if you would like to use the advanced features like 
the script language, or if you have special configuration needs for your modem.

   Subscribers to ~3|9Big Blue Disk^0 can obtain the documentation file on disk free
by writing to us and requesting it.  (Be sure to ask specifically for the 
ProComm documentation disk, so our circulation staff knows which disk to send.)
If you are not presently a subscriber, you can include your request for the 
free documentation disk with your subscription order.  If you do not wish to 
subscribe, but still want the documentation disk, we ask that you include $8 to 
cover our shipping, handling, and the cost of the disk. 

   A printed version of the manual is available as part of the registration 
deal at an added cost.  Consult the ^1READ.ME^0 file for details.


^CGetting Started

   Start ProComm by selecting "Run It" from the menu, or by typing ^1PROCOMM^0 from
the DOS prompt.

   WARNING:  ProComm uses an overlay structure, where not all of the program is 
loaded into memory at once.  Thus, it needs access to the disk from which you 
ran it at all times.  Hence, ^1DON'T^0 remove the ProComm disk from your drive 
while you are running it.  The best bet is to run ProComm from a hard disk; use 
the "Copy It" option to copy it where you want it.

   Since ProComm may need to access many files at once, it is a good idea to 
set the FILES parameter in your CONFIG.SYS file to at least 20.  Consult your 
DOS manual for more details.

   ProComm's default configuration is designed to work on a Hayes-compatible 
modem.  If your modem is not fully Hayes-compatible, consult the modem's user 
guide for help on changing the parameters.

   Once you start up, a copyright notice and some information about the program 
will display.  Press any key to continue.  Then, you will be placed in terminal 
mode.  A status line will show on the bottom of the screen, indicating how some 
of the parameters are set.

   From here, you can press ALT-F10 for a list of commands.  ALT-S gets you 
into a setup section allowing you to set configuration options, and select the 
type of terminal emulation (if any).  ALT-P lets you set the active line 
control settings, such as which port (COM1, COM2, etc.) your modem is connected 
to, and the baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity at which you are 
communicating.  From most of these sections, you can use ESC to get back into 
terminal mode.

   To exit ProComm, press ALT-X.


^CMaking a connection

   Assuming the configuration matches your modem, you can now place outgoing 
calls.  Use ALT-D to activate the dialing directory.  This is where you store 
phone numbers.  There are two numbers there to begin with:  DataStorm's BBS; 
and Soft Fido, our BBS.  Add new entries of your own using the "R" (Revise) 
command.  Note that each entry stores the parameters (baud, parity, etc.) 
associated with it; if your modem is "slower" than the indicated baud rate for 
a system (2400 for DataStorm, 1200 for Soft Fido), then use the "R" command to 
lower the baud rate to that supported by your modem. 

   Type the number of the directory entry you wish to call; the call will be 
placed, and if everything goes well, you'll be connected.  To call a number not 
in the directory, use the "M" command to manually enter a number to dial.

   If you use a long distance service which requires dialing additional digits 
before or after a number, use the "P" command to set up one or more long-
distance codes.  A long-distance code is associated with one of several symbols 
such as "#" which have been allocated for this purpose; you enter a string of 
digits, or commas to represent a pause, as its value.  Then, when dialing a 
call, you can include the symbol before or after the number of the directory 
entry to dial, and the appropriate codes will be dialed. 

   Once a call is connected, you will be placed in terminal mode to begin 
communications.  If a call fails (due to a busy signal, no answer, etc.), you 
will also be placed in terminal mode, but with no connection.  In this case, 
you can use ALT-R to re-dial until a connection is made.  When prompted for 
which numbers to redial, you can press ENTER to repeat the last call, or type a 
list of numbers of dialing directory entries separated by spaces (like "1 2 3" 
to select entries 1, 2, and 3).  If more than one number is selected, they will 
all be dialed in sequence until a connection to one is achieved.  Then, once 
you have completed your call, if you re-select "Redial" and press ENTER, 
ProComm will proceed to re-dial all numbers other than the one you have already 
reached.  This is known as a cyclic redial queue, and it is very useful for 
reaching hard-to-get systems, like popular BBS's. 


^CFile Transfers

   One important feature is file transfers.  An "Upload" is a file transfer 
from your system to the remote system.  Conversely, a "Download" is a transfer 
from the remote system to you.  You use the PgUp and PgDn keys respectively to 
initiate an upload or download while you are connected to a service; then 
select the protocol from the menu that is given.  Naturally, you must first set 
up the transfer on the other end by issuing appropriate commands to the system 
you are logged in to remotely.  The protocols used should match; if you request 
the remote system to send data by XMODEM, you shouldn't select COMPUSERVE B 
protocol on your end. 

   A brief introduction to some of the protocols:

   ASCII simply sends or receives the file as raw text data with no error 
checking.  It works for normal text, but is not good for binary files such as 
programs and graphics. 

   XMODEM is an error-checking protocol which is commonly used on bulletin 
board systems and online services.  It can send any sort of file, but can only 
do one file at a time, and does not preserve the DOS date and time stamp.

   TELINK is an enhanced version of XMODEM that supports multiple file 
transfers with wildcards, and preserves DOS datestamps.  It is supported by 
some IBM PC-specific bulletin board systems, like Fido and Opus.

   KERMIT is commonly used at universities, and has been implemented for just 
about every computer known to man, from cheap home computers up to giant 
mainframes.  It may be the best way to send files to and from non-compatible 
systems.  For more information, write to Kermit Distribution, Columbia
University Center for Computing Activites, 7th Floor, Watson Laboratories, 612 
W. 115th Street, New York, NY 10025.  The Protocol and User Manual for Kermit 
are available from this address at $5 each. 

   COMPUSERVE B is a protocol used primarily on the CompuServe system, and 
seldom encountered elsewhere.  It is recommended for CompuServe transfers since 
XMODEM does not work very well there due to timing problems.

^COther Features

   ProComm has many other features; too many to list here, let alone fully 
explain.  It is strongly recommended that you get the full documentation 
referred to above.

   Well, we hope this is enough information to get you started.  Hope to see 
you online!
