Getting started

Even if you hate reading manuals, at least read this chapter.

If you are a current user of BulkRate 1.x, you can skip to step 2 below.

1)  Log on to your FirstClass® BBS using FirstClass® Client.  When the Desktop window opens, choose "New folder" from the Conference menu. A new folder should appear on your (FirstClass®) Desktop.  Select the folder and choose "Get Info..." from the File menu.  In the Get Info dialog, change the folder's name to "BulkRateToRead" -- make sure there are NO spaces in this name.  If you want to use a different name, make sure it has no spaces in it, and be sure to enter this name under "Exchange settings" in BulkRate.

Now, go find the conferences you are interested in having BulkRate read for you.  Select them, then choose "Make alias" from the Conference menu. (These FirstClass® aliases have nothing to do with System 7 file aliases.) This will create aliases of the selected conferences on the FirstClass® Desktop. (You cannot and need not alias your Mailbox.) Once you have aliased all the desired conferences (make sure you get any wanted sub-conferences that reside inside other conferences), return to the FirstClass® Desktop.

To finish, drag all the aliased conferences into your new BulkRateToRead folder.  Make sure to scroll around the FirstClass® Desktop to be sure you have moved all the aliases.  You can then log off the BBS.

2)  Launch BulkRate by double-clicking on its icon.  After the splash screen goes away, you'll see a standard files dialog.  If you have used an older version of BulkRate, select a BulkRate 1.x settings file (now called a "Service file") via this dialog.  Otherwise, you may select a FirstClass® settings file.

BulkRate will convert the settings files to its own format.  You'll see a window that shows the name of the BBS, your UserID, your password (in bullets), and the phone number or numbers of the BBS.

When BulkRate converts a FirstClass® settings file, it converts only UserID, Password, and the phone number.  It does not convert any modem information  for two reasons: one, all the information is not stored in the settings file; and two, correct modem settings for FirstClass® Client are not necessarily the correct modem settings for BulkRate.

3)  Choose "Service setup..." from the Service menu.  A large dialog will open.  To start, you can probably leave everything in this dialog as is.  The "Services" chapter contains details on customizing this dialog.

4)  Click the "Modem settings"  icon.  You'll see a dialog that allows you to set up BulkRate to properly communicate with your modem.  Choose the port to which your modem is connected, dial type, and speed.  

Modem settings dialog

"Hayes-compatible modem" should almost always be checked; in fact, the only modem I am aware of that it needs to be unchecked is the old Apple 1200 modem.  

"Hardware handshaking" must be checked if you are planning on using speeds above 9600; however, in order to use hardware handshaking, your modem must support it and you must have the proper cable.  Most modems sold for use with a Macintosh that work at 14400 bps or above come with the correct cable. 
 
Check "Modem speaker on" if you wish to hear the modem speaker while it dials and negotiates a connection.  

"Adjust BPS after connect" is a bit more complicated.  If your computer-to-modem speed can be set to a different speed than the modem-to-modem speed, (generally true for 9600 bps and faster modems) you want to uncheck this option. Also, if you are using hardware handshaking, you probably want this option off.  For most 1200 and 2400 bps modems, you will want to check this option. See the "Modems" chapter for more detail.

The last option in the Modem settings dialog is a field for a "Modem initialization string."  This string is generally not the same as the setup or initialization string for FirstClass® Client. In most cases, the "default" or "recommended" Macintosh string (see your modem manual) is the appropriate string.  See the "Modems" chapter for more detail.

5)  Click "OK" in the Modem settings dialog.

6)  Choose "Save service as..." from the Service menu and give the file a name; perhaps the same as the BBS.

7)  Click the "Exchange mail now" icon.  BulkRate will log on to the BBS and retrieve all flagged messages from the conferences on the Desktop and in your BulkRateToRead folder.

8)  Click the "Incoming mail" icon to see a list of the mail BulkRate captured.

Reading your mail
Reading your mail is simple.  Click the "Incoming mail" icon in the Service window or choose "Incoming mail" from the View menu.  A window will open, listing all the messages in that mailbox.  Unread messages are flagged, just like in FirstClass® Client.  You may sort this list using the View menu.  Double-click on a message to open it for reading.

Once you've read a message, you have several options.  You may close it and choose another from the list.  You may choose "Next unread" or "Next in thread" from the Mail menu.  You may click any of several buttons on the Palette. (See the section on the Palette for a complete description of your options here.) Finally, you can simply advance to the next message by hitting the return key, the enter key, or the right arrow key.  

Replying to mail
If you'd like to reply to a message you're reading, choose "Reply" from the Mail menu, or click the "REPLY" button on the Palette.  A new outgoing message will be created, and the appropriate information will be entered for you.  If you select some text in the incoming message before replying, the selected text will be copied to the outgoing message and formatted as a quote, following the options you've set in Quoting Preferences.  (See the Preferences chapter for details.)

You may also choose to reply to all addressees, just the sender, or just the conference by using the Reply special item under the Mail menu.

Forwarding mail
You may also forward an incoming message to someone else by choosing "Forward" from the Mail menu or clicking the "FWD" button on the Palette.  The entire text of the message will be copied to a new outgoing message, ready for you to add new addressing information.

Creating a new outgoing message
You may create a new, blank outgoing message by choosing "Compose new" from the Mail menu or clicking the "NEW" button on the Palette.

If you want to launch BulkRate now, click the icon below.

                                                                        Launch BulkRate