Section 2 -- Introduction Introduction to CompuServe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 What is CompuServe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 What is a Forum? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 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) 1990 Support Group, Inc. Phone 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 Support Group 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. TAPCIS Introduction 2-1 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 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. In the WPSGA Forum, one can find WordPerfect printer drivers in Library 2. 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. In 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 recipients (maximum 10). 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 the section on Scripts 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 $50 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 2880 wpm at 2400 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 ======================================================================== 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 and true 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. * 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 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: Read all new threads (R) Quick scan subjects for thread selection offline (Q) Read messages to me only (M) TAPCIS Introduction 2-5 * 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 PC MagNet and PC Week. * 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 * 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. We've used the log many times 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 COM4: are supported. * Baud rates of 300, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800 and 9600 are supported. * 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 . 2-6 Introduction TAPCIS * 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 help by pressing . * Universal shelling to DOS using and DOS command execution using . * Full path support for MSDOS 3.n 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