This is the initial release of MacPPP version 2.0.1cm4. Although I have only tested it with my local service provider, many other people have had a hand in testing it for me. To those people I would like to say Thank-you. I would also like to thank all those that responded to version 2.01cm3 with suggestions and ideas they wanted to see. I tried to add as many of these as I had time for; if your suggestion was one that I didn't add, I'm sorry. Maybe it will make it into a future version.
Why Make Changes?
The current release of MacPPP requires you to either connect manually using the Terminal Window, or to store your userID and password into a connection script (unless your service provider has Password Authentification Protocols activated). Since this connection script is easily visible in MacPPP, anyone with access to your computer can see your password and use it to gain access to your account. Obviously this poses an unacceptable risk to users of MacPPP.
In addition, MacPPP 2.01 uses a modal dialog box when dialing. For users who have a long wait trying to get through to their service provider, this dialog box renders their Mac essentially useless while waiting for a connection. For many people this wait is long and frustrating.
Changes In 2.01cm4
This version adds a number of requested features and removes all known bugs.
1) The password dialog used to appear immediately before the PPP script was run. It will now delay its appearance until execution of the first occurrence in the script of $USERID$ or $PASSWORD$.
2) The opening of the serial port was modified to provide proper support for internal Supra Powerbook modems. These modems required a few milliseconds in order to wake from sleep. The original version of MacPPP tried to address this problem but didn't work in every case. These modifications will hopefully work better.
3) A small application called "DialPPP" has been included. All this program does is open the MacTCP driver - causing MacPPP to dial. If you use this program to initiate PPP connections, instead of the Config PPP control panel, you avoid the problem where the Finder is unusable during connection attempts.
4) A bug in the original version of MacPPP was forced to the surface by my previous changes. This bug would cause a crash during a second connection attempt if MacPPP was sent into the background. This version of MacPPP removes this bug.
5) The status box is now placed in the proper alert position on the parent monitor (the monitor containing the frontmost window at the time MacPPP tries to dial).
6) Some naming changes to windows and dialog boxes.
7) An indicator was added that shows how many dial attempts have been made.
8) The text display in the terminal window has been enlarged and it can now be moved around the screen. In addition, it is now possible to send MacPPP into the background while the terminal window is displayed.
9) The original version of MacPPP caused sound problems with modems that used the Apple Express Modem software; this includes the Apple GeoPort Telecom Adapter, and the Global Village Mercury internal Powerbook modem. The problem manifested itself as a loss of the modem sounds during second and subsequest connections. This version fixes this problem.
10) Though I know this might annoy some people, I changed the icon again. Adam Hinkley offered me an icon that was much better looking than the one I had produced, so I included it. If you want to rebuild your desktop to see the new icon, great. If not, don't worry about it, everything else will still work fine.
Some Notes About Dialing in the Background
There seems to be a lot of confusion about just how MacPPP 2.01cm4 dials in the background. Without going into a long explanation, it is important to understand that the application that causes MacPPP to dial will be tied up until the connection is complete. What this means is that the Finder itself will be unusable during the connection if you started your connection using the Config PPP control panel.
To prevent this from getting in your way I have a few suggestions:
1) Make sure you have another application running in the background before you start MacPPP dialing. You will then be able to click on this application's windows to send MacPPP into the background.
2) Use the small application "Open PPP" (included with this release) to make MacPPP dial. This program will cause MacPPP to dial without using the Finder. Note that this will not work after doing a "hard close."
3) Use Mark Aldritt's MacPPP extensions for AppleScript. This way you can create a tiny scripts that make MacPPP dial without tying up the Finder. These extensions are available from
4) Use Rob Friefeld's handy "PPPop". This little application will allow you to open and close MacPPP without tying up the Finder. In addition, it provides a connection timer and a few other handy features. It is available at <ftp://ftp.ucs.ubc.ca//pub/mac/info-mac/comm/tcp/pppop-11.hqx>.
Changes In 2.01cm3
This version has modified a few key behaviours of MacPPP 2.0.1 in order to add better security and ease of use. The major changes are:
1) The scripting system has been modified to support two reserved words "$USERID$" and "$PASSWORD$". If you use either of these words in your connect script, MacPPP will display a dialog prompting you to enter your UserID and Password whenever it makes a connection. The information you enter into this dialog will be substituted in place of the appropriate reserved words in the script. This prevents your from having to store your ID and password in plain view inside a connection script.
2) The dialing window is non-modal. MacPPP can now be sent into the background while it is dialing, and it will continue to work properly. If it takes a number of attempts to get through to your service provider, being able to send MacPPP into the background could save you a great deal of time.
3) If MacPPP is in the background and requries your attention – usually because the terminal window, or some type of dialog box has appeared – and System 7 or greater is being used an alert will appear indicating that MacPPP needs some help. This alert will also inform you about which program you should switch to in order to locate the MacPPP windows. If you are using a system eariler than System 7, this feature will not work.
4) Nifty colour Icons have been added!
Installation
You must already have MacPPP 2.01 installed on your system to use this modification. If you do not have MacPPP 2.01 yet, it can be freely FTP'd from almost every major Macintosh site, and BBS around. Once you have MacPPP 2.01 installed properly, continue with the next steps.
If you have System 7 or greater
1) Drag the file "PPP" onto your System folder. The system will offer to place this file into the extensions folder - press the OK button. You will probably see an alert telling you that a file with the name "PPP" already exists in this location, and you will be asked if you want to replace it – press the OK button.
2) Reboot.
If you still have System 6.07 or 6.08
1) Copy the file "PPP" into your System folder. If you see an alert telling you that a file with the name "PPP" already exists in this location, and asking you if you want to replace it, press the OK button.
2) Reboot.
Important Notes About MacPPP
To ensure that you have the proper version of MacPPP, click once on the "PPP" file in your Extensions folder file and choose "Get Info" from the Finder's FILE menu. The window that appears should indicate that the file's version is 2.0.1cm4. If this version number is different, you must acquire the correct version before proceeding.
DO NOT RENAME THE "PPP" FILE. The filename "PPP" is what MacPPP will look for. If you rename this file, MacPPP will not work properly.
Configuring Communications Under MacPPP 2.0.1cm4
You configure the communications portion in this version of MacPPP the exact same way as the regular version. Consult your system Administrator if you need help setting up MacTCP or MacPPP's main configurations.
Setting up the Connection Script
From the configuration screen click the "Connect Script..." button to be presented with the standard MacPPP scripting window. This version of MacPPP contains two special strings for use in the scripting window. The strings are as follows:
$PASSWORD$ Whenever MacPPP sees this string it will substitute the password you
entered at connection time.
$USERID$ Whenever MacPPP sees this string it will substitute the username you
entered at connection time.
Here's a sample script I use for connecting with my local Annex™ server:
This works as follows. While MacPPP is processing the connection script it looks for the strings $USERID$ or $PASSWORD$. If either of these are found, MacPPP will display a dialog box requesting you to enter your UserID and Password. Once you have entered this information (your password is blanked out using • characters) click the OK button or press return. MacPPP will then continue to process the connection script.
Wherever MacPPP encounters the string $USERID$ it will substite the Username you entered in the previous dialog box. Wherever MacPPP encounters the string $PASSWORD$ it will substitute the password you have typed. This enables MacPPP to provide automatic connections without the need for permanently storing your password on disk.
If you have a connection script that already works with a previous version of MacPPP, you can continue to use it with only minor changes. In place of your actual userID in the working script, place the string "$USERID$", and in place of your actual password in the working script, enter the string "$PASSWORD$" (MacPPP is case sensative). Now when MacPPP connects it will prompt you for your userID and password, and then substitute the information you typed in place of the strings $USERID$ and $PASSWORD$ in your connection script.
If you are interested in this code, or have any questions about these modifications, feel free to contact me via Email at cmccollu@sol.uvic.ca. These changes are distributed free of charge. However, if you do find them useful I'd love to hear about it.
THIS SOFTWARE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER ATTACHED TO IT. NO GUARANTEE IS MADE TO ITS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. BY USING THIS SOFTWARE YOU TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOST DATA, TIME, OR MONEY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CAUSED BY MACPPP, AND YOU AGREE TO HOLD CLIFF MCCOLLUM OR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FREE FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LOSSES.
