USING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS STARTER DISK INTRODUCTION This is a short tutorial on using the telecommunications starter disk developed by the Boston Computer Society's Visually Impaired and Blind User Group. The following key concepts will be summarized: installation, loading the Commo software, dialing an online system, logging on, registering, navigating, downloading files, capturing screens, and leaving messages. INSTALLATION Insert the telecommunications starter disk into your computer, for example, into drive B. Then type the following two commands from the DOS prompt (pressing Enter after each) to get installation instructions. b: readme The installation process will copy the Commo telecommunications software and some configuration files onto the drive you specify--usually drive C, which will be assumed in this tutorial. LOADING THE COMMO SOFTWARE The Commo software may be loaded by changing to the directory where it is stored, and then entering its name as a program to be run. From the DOS prompt, you might enter the following three commands: c: cd \commo commo A screen will be displayed reminding you that this copy of Commo is "shareware," which means you may try it before you buy it. If you find a regular use for it, you should pay for it like any other product--and thereby obtain a copy without the "nag" screen! After the opening screen, you will be in "terminal mode." This is like the "main menu" of the software, from which you may initiate various operations and submenus. Some current configuration settings are summarized on the "status line," at the bottom (25th) line of the screen. At almost any point in Commo, you can display a list of available commands by pressing the F1 help key. Most commands from terminal mode are invoked by pressing the Alt key in combination with a letter or number (the same way you use the Shift key). For example, to exit Commo and return to DOS, press Alt-X. DIALING AN ONLINE SYSTEM The "dialing directory" is a list of phone numbers and connection settings of electronic bulletin boards and other online systems. The one supplied with the starter disk already contains the numbers of several disability-related systems. From terminal mode, press Alt-D to enter the dialing directory. Each directory entry appears on a separate line. To dial an entry, move the highlight bar to it and press Enter. For example, to dial the MATP BBS (also called the Assistive Technology Network), press the Down Arrow key to highlight this entry, and then press Enter to dial it. You should hear your modem dialing the number. You will then hear a high pitched sound as your local modem and the remote modem synchronize their speed and other connection settings. If the connection is successful, information from the BBS will start to display on your screen. You are online! LOGGING ON Most online systems first display a "greeting screen" in which they identify their name, purpose, and some rules of usage. After this, you are asked to enter your name and password--a procedure called "logging on." You may be asked for your full name at once, or for your first and last names separately. A password is a secret word you tell the system so it truly knows when you are calling, rather than someone else using the same name. REGISTERING If the system does not recognize the name and password given, it will usually ask you whether you would like to register as a new user. Questions will then follow in which you provide such information as your name, address, phone number, and type of computer you are using. You will probably be asked for your password a second time to ensure you entered what you intended. Some other questions might be asked to configure the system to suit your operating preferences, including whether to use "hot keys" (explained below), color, and graphics. If unsure about the answer to a question, it is usually best to press Enter to accept the default choice. The first time you register on a system, you may not have full privileges for reading messages or downloading files. The system operator (called "sysop" for short) will usually approve your registration and give you access privileges within a couple of days. He or she will keep any personal registration information confidential. When you call a system after being registered, it will recognize your name and password when you log on. Feel free to explore the system and experiment--you won't break it! As long as you don't intentionally abuse the system or its users, you will probably continue to be a welcome guest. NAVIGATING After logging on, you will eventually be brought to the main menu of the system. On most systems, the command "H" or "?" will display help information about the current menu of options. The commands to perform tasks differ from system to system. However, some common conventions are as follows. B = Go to bulletins menu, for reading information about the system prepared by the sysop. F = Go to files menu, for searching, downloading, and uploading files. M = Go to messages menu, for searching, reading, and leaving messages. G = Goodbye, that is, log off the system. Select a command by pressing its first letter. Usually, you must then press Enter to confirm this selection. Sometimes, the system responds right away without pressing Enter--a feature called "hot keys." If you are unsure, wait a couple of seconds before pressing Enter to see whether the system responds. If not, then you know to follow each command with a press of the Enter key. (Even if hot keys are enabled, commands that require more than one letter, or a variable number of letters, will need to be followed by Enter so that the system knows the command is complete.) DOWNLOADING FILES To search for a file, you usually go to the files menu and then invoke a search command, such as "L" for locate. You may first need to select which file area to search, since files are generally grouped by category. Depending on the search command you chose, you will be asked for the name of a file (possibly including DOS "wildcard" characters) or a phrase in the description of a file. In either case, the system will then display a list of the available files that matched your search criteria. For each file, the name, size, date, and description will be displayed. Make note of the names of any files you wish to transfer to your computer--a process called "downloading." Then select the download command from the files menu. Besides the file name to send, the system will probably ask for the "transfer protocol" to use. This is a precise agreement by which the system and your computer monitor and correct any transmission errors as a file is being sent. Transfer protocols are abbreviated with a single letter or number--the most common ones being X, Y, and Z. The best one to use, if the system supports it, is Z-modem. An advantage of this protocol is that when you tell the remote system to use it, your local computer will automatically know to use it when the transfer begins. With other protocols, you have to inform your computer of the protocol choice after telling the system. (You would do this in Commo by pressing Page Down and then the protocol letter, such as Y.) With Z-modem or Y-modem, you can usually enter more than one file to download at a time. Depending on the system, you enter the file names either at a single prompt or at separate, consecutive ones. You may be given the option to automatically log off after the transfer is complete. Since transfers may take several minutes (depending on the file size and connection speed), Commo will make a sound to indicate completion of the transfer (thereby allowing you to attend to other things while waiting). Files you download will be stored in a subdirectory of Commo called DOWN. For example, if you downloaded a file called MATP.TXT, then its full specification would be C:\COMMO\DOWN\MATP.TXT. CAPTURING SCREENS When online, you can capture screen information to a file on disk. Press Alt-1 when you wish to start capturing information. Commo will ask for the file name. Press Enter to accept the default of COMMO.CAP, or overwrite this with another name. As information is displayed on the screen during your online session, it will also be captured to the file. Press Alt-1 again when you wish to stop the capturing process. LEAVING MESSAGES To read or leave messages, you usually go to a messages menu and select the appropriate command. You may first need to select which message area to join, since messages are generally grouped by category. Each message has a date, sender, receiver, topic, and body. Various commands allow you to search for messages based on any of these fields of information. When you enter a message, the date and sender fields are automatically filled by the system with today's date and your name. You enter a one line topic and then the body of the message. Usually, the cursor will automatically "word wrap" to the next line when the current line is full. Pressing Enter twice in a row will usually bring you to an editing menu from which you can save, edit, or abort the message. FOR MORE INFORMATION Complete documentation on the Commo software is located in the DOCS subdirectory of Commo. For example, the main documentation file is C:\COMMO\DOCS\COMMO.DOC. More information and programs useful for telecommunications may be found in the MOREINFO subdirectory of the starter disk. ADDENDUM Two disability-related online systems to add to your dialing directory are ABLEDATA at 301-589-3563, and DIMENET at 800-464-5412.