ST-Computer Leser-CD 1999 January/STC_CD_01_1999.iso/online/coma470/english/handbook/1paramet.txt

Text File | 2000-01-08 | 25KB | 685 lines

1.0 General


CoMa is short for Communication Manager and is a fax programme
with high speed which functions on all ATARI from ST260 up to
Falcon030.

Also, future planned video transmissions can not work
satisfactorily on slower computers either. Please check in the
shareversion if the performance of your computer is sufficient to
work with CoMa before buying the registration key.

The display of every incoming fax documents is made online, which
means every incoming line is displayed on the monitor immediately.

CoMa can load and send all files in IMG format. This poses no
problem for most programmes and every application can be elevated
to fax page supplier and the use of CoMa has no limitations
through missing page drivers.

CoMa also is able to convert the voice-file WAVE into
the data compressed files of the ZyXEL and Cybermod modem. This
enables you to create powerfull announcements for the answering
maschine by using one of the shareware sound-programmes.

A further advantage is the display the fax pages simultaneously in
preview-windows. A window is opened for every fax page. These
pages can be comfortably read on a large monitor before they leave
the computer as fax. Despite these functions installation and
usage of this programme is very simple. Your whole work consists
of having to edit the parameter dialogue boxes and that is it.

CoMa enables you to use 4 different header and footer logos and
combine them with the text of the inbuilt editor (you can also
import an unlimited amount of graphics from other programmes). You
may also turn your fax page with a click of the button into a
private or business document which is identical with your normal
letter heads.

Our communication software is especially useful for owners of
voice modems. CoMa includes the ability to be used as a digital
answering machine with a large range of answering texts selectable
by the user also with special event messages. CoMa has an
automatic inbuilt switch between voice and fax. Up to seven messages
can also be recorded for remote access via a PIN.

In addition to the previously described functions CoMa
professional also provides further technical functions, for
example you could have price lists and product information
available for callers via "fax-on-demand" using a digital
telephone system or fax machine. This will save costs involved for
advertising.

With the voice-on-demand system you can provide verbal information
or you could mix both ie after a spoken text have fax pages
transmitted if desired.  With the mini-mail-box system you can set
up various levels of access, controlled by passwords. Using this
system users may leave data which can be in the form of graphics
or messages directly into your system. You could also set up
private boxes for selected users via their own passwords. This has
obvious potential for business use.

The most important thing to get CoMa working is the correction of the serial
port of your ATARI. You need to install HSModem at first! How to do this is
explained in the next chapter!


  1.1 HSMODEM for correction of the serial interface.


The programme disc contains a auto-folder with a part of the
serial device driver HSMODA02 by Harun Scheutzow. We have
included only the necessary part of the very extensive programme
to avoid confusing the user who is not so interested in the
technic. The whole parcel contains more drivers for hardware
extensions, exact descriptions of the individual driver,
documentation for programmers and a setter-programme for the
configuration of the drivers. The parcel is available in every
good mailbox as HSMODAO2.LZH or directly from Harun Scheutzow.
Please send a formated 3.5" disc with stamped adressed envelope
or DM10.

Mousenet:Harun Scheutzow @Internet: [e-mail]
(Please do not send mails larger than 16KByte because of the
limitations of the mousenet) Adresse Harun Scheutzow Dresdener
Strasse 83, D-10179 Berlin, Deutschland.  This parcel contains
serial drivers. A separate driver exists for every interface
or every interface building block.

The user has got the labourous  choice of the matching drivers
but also the advantage that he only has to load the drivers he
needs.

It became necessary to use the serial device driver because of
the data transfer rate necessary for the voice-part > 19200 Baud.
The computer system has got no routines available for this
unfortunately. The Computer system routine in TOS 3.06 is still
plagued by errors, unfortunately!!
The programme DRVIN.PRG is the main component which should be
located in the auto-folder in every computer. The driver modul
has to be loaded for the used port depending on the existing
interface.

ST, STE, MegaST:            MFP.PRG

MegaSTE:                MFP.PRG + SCC.PRG

TT:                    MFP.PRG + SCC.PRG

Falcon:                    SCC.PRG


      Installation of HSMODEM in the auto-folder


Depending on the type of computer please choose the relevant
driver/s. Please pay special attention to the sequence  of the
programmes in the auto-folder.

The main programme DRVIN.PRG should be located at the far back
(but before the drivers) because of speed. On the other hand
DRVIN.PRG and the drivers have to be located before other
programmes possibly installed in the auto-folder. In the worst
case scenario error messages might appear or nice little bombs
might light up the monitor.

It is easy to discover the sequence in the auto-folder with a TOS
from version 2.0 or a relevant Shell by having the directory
"unsorted". The relevant entry is found in the pull-down-menu
"extras" of the Atari desktop.

For older TOS-versions  please copy all programmes from the auto-
folder into a different directory, which leaves the auto-folder
empty. Now you can copy  all programmes back  in the desired
sequence.

Operation diagramm for installation

This chapter shall describe the installation in TOS and MagiC!
Please look upon the following as a programme and work  with it
accordingly.

1. Should you have a programme in \AUTO\-folder that uses the
serial interface copy it out of \AUTO\.

1. Remove installed patchprogrammes for the serial interface like
RS232ENC, TURBOCTS, SERIALFX from \AUTO\.

3. Choose the drivers that you need from this parcel. Copy first
DRVIN.PRG into \AUTO\, then afterwards copy the chosen driver.
The sequence of the drivers is not important. The driver SCC for
the TT will lead to a boot error in the Atari ST, do not install at
all in the ST.

This finalises the installation. Please re-boot the computer and
call up the programme or accessory CoMa. The entry "HSModem
activ" has to appear in the parameterbox, this means the
installation was successful.

We would like to thank Harun here for the free use of HSMODEM.
The voice-modus of CoMa as well as the background operation
during fax would not have been possible with 8-MHz-computers
otherwise.


1.2 Hardware requirements


CoMa in its present format will also function on a 68000
processor, but before buying a registration key please test CoMa
on your own system to ensure correct performance. This is the
reason we provide CoMa as shareware free of charge.

As with all our software products the programme has been written
totally in C and adhers to the guidelines given by TOS and GEM.
CoMa will also work with MagiC and MagiCMac.

CoMa has been programmed independently of resolution and therefore
can be used for every resolution except the ATARI low resolution.
All types of graphic products on the market should also be usable.

All modems supporting standard 2 or 2.0 can be used for the fax or
mailbox service. For CoMa voice you will obviously need a voice
modem.

1.3 Connection between modem and computer


You will need a serial cable plug to go between modem and
computer. These are normally supplied with the modem.

If you work on a ATARI computer with MagiCMac there is a
difficulty in automatic reception due to the design of the
Macintosh computer, in this case a ringindicator lead. This would
normally be used to recognise a ring tone on a telephone line. Due
to Apple saving money in the design process it has made life more
difficult for us, however, all is not lost.


1.4 Shareware version of CoMa


It does not matter how you came by your shareware, you will always
find a folder containing all parts of the programme.

Shareware enables you to try out all features of the programme and
test the compatibility to your computer, without first buying the
product. Owners of the 68000-line should test the product very
carefully to ensure correct performance on their computer.

When using a shareware version there are certain inbuilt
limitations which you should be aware of. These are:
* fax transmission is limited to 500 lines (approx 1/5 A4 page)
* CoMa voice recording is limited to 7 seconds
* An irregular time-out box will appear which delays further use
for an irregular period. This will appear as "Shareware-Memorial- Seconds"

* Not all programme extensions of CoMa Professional are available

How to register is explained in the next chapter.


1.5 Safety copy and registration


With CoMa you will receive a disk and this handbook.
First of all make a back up copy of the disk and work in future
with the copy only. Copy the complete folder onto your harddisk.

***CoMa as ACC or APP?***

You can use our programme as APP or ACC.

CoMa ACC

With the ACC you can not use the Pull-Down-Menues (this is not
possible in ACC under normal TOS conditions). Everything that is
said in this handbook about the pull-down-menues is not for ACC
users. They find all needed function in the pop-up-menues offered
by a click with the right mouse button onto the window.

The next possibillity to get the functions is the button "Menue
for ACC" in the main window.

CoMa as APP

Who works under multitask condition like MagiC should use the APP.
Please install COMA.APP in AUTO\APPS\.

CoMa works as background programme and you habdle the programme as
any other application with the pull-down-menue!

To receive your registration key life could not be easier. Once
you are confident that the system works for you open the
registration dialogue box and click on the registration button.

The text editor will open with an order form. Please complete this
fully as requested as all information is required for the key,
then send it by mail or e-mail to the given address. Payment
method should be enclosed and please indicate the version
required. Could this be more simple?

Once you receive your key enter the registration dialogue box and
enter the key in the correct field. You should also enter the data
in the name and fax number box. Once you are happy exit this field
via the "make licence" button.

Now your name should appear in the first line of the  main
dialogue box. A word of warning, please ensure that you enter data
correctly or the key will not work.

Every fax sends the name of the licencee as a stampline. This
stampline can not be de-activated. Again, you can edit all other
parts of the stampline but not your name.

For this reason may we remind you that when you order a key be
certain of your desired name, especially if you intend to use this
for business use.

Please be aware that you only purchase the right to use the
software, but the programme remains the property of Softbear Gbr!

Your registration key enables you to  update  CoMa to newer
versions for 6 months. After this time to use newer versions you
will have to pay  english pounds 15,-, irrespective of which version
you are registered for, ie Voice, Professional or CoMa.

Any version registered in this six month period will remain in
full use. Should you have bought CoMa from a shop please send us
the included form by mail or fax. You will receive your
registration key immediately. If you are in a hurry you can
receive the key by telephone as well, this takes less than a
minute and you can start to fax with CoMa immediately.

Updates

CoMa, in the past, has been a constantly developing programme. We
see no reason why this should not be true in the future. With
other programmes this can lead to expensive updates for you to
remain on the leading edge. As we explained previously, your key
will allow you to update free of charge for six months, and the
charge after this six months is quite small. This we feel is not
unreasonable, we got to eat sometime!

If you receive a new CoMa version just exchange the old against
the new programme for installation and you will be able to use all
the new functions.

Always make a safety copy of CoMa before you copy the new version
onto the harddisk.Once your registration key has run out you will
only have one CoMa Demo and not be able to freely decide if you
want to buy the update or not.

Update registration

Open the ATARI menu and click on the entry "CoMa"

You can choose the marketing mode in the dialogue box. The text
editor opens now with a matching order form. Please enter in NAME1
the name appearing in your stampline of the fax. We will use the
same mode of writing for your new registration key.

The registration is successful only if you copy the name
identically. CoMa does not tolerate mistakes.


1.6 Adjustments of parameter for CoMa


It should not be necessary to adjust any of the settings in the
various parameter boxes for most class 2 and 2.0 modems.

In some rare cases it will be necessary, however, in the following
chapters we will explain how and where to do this if it is
necessary.

Call up the CoMa programme and from the menu bar select
"parameter" and here you will find access to all the dialogue
boxes needed for any adjustements.


*General

*Voice

*Fax

*MSNs/Messages

*Mailbox

*Macros

*Fax

*Images

*Print


1.7 Parameter "General"



This dialogue box contains the adjustments for all important parts
of the CoMa programme.

You can adjust the path for the systems folder here. The Systems
folder contains all data for the fax number administration
"Faxnumbers" and the protocol file "Modem protocol".

If you want to start CoMa from the hard disk you might have to do
some alterations. You can save this procedure if you copy the
complete content of the folder onto the hard disk.

You only have to make changes if you want to distribute the folder
onto various drives. Act as follows then:

Click on the line and you receive a file select box. You can enter
the path easily by clicking on the folder.

CoMa memorises all other paths (Load IMG, Load Text and Load Fax)
if you select save Parameter.

    Modemtyp

CoMa is compatible to 7 different types of modem. Depending on the
modem you can choose the chip set. This menu point is important
especially for voice! To find out more about the specialities (and
problems) of a voice modem click on a button

If you choose modemtyp class 2/2.0 the Voice features are not
available. CoMa works only in fax- and data-mode !



ZyXEL 1496

ZyXEL Elite 2864 (I)D

Dr. Neuhaus (Smarty/Cybermod)

Creatix

ELSA MicroLink TQV/TKR

ELSA MicroLink ISDN/TKR ISDN

USR Sportster VI


    Port

Because ATARI contain various serial ports you chose the required
port in a pop-up-menu.

    DTE-Speed

You can adjust the speed of transmission between computer and
modem in this pop-up-menu. The value can be between 19200 bps and
230400 bps. To achieve a realistic quality of recorded voice
messages 38400 bps is the minimum selection.



    Ask S1 Register

This Pop-up-menu was included for a special bug in the firmware of
USR Modem. Owners of a USR have to select the point "count rings"
because the register S1 does not include the actual number of the
ring tones. Naturally, CoMa will only count the ring tones itself
after computer startup.

    Save rings in list

If you activate this button every recognized ring by the modem is
writen into the calls-list, even if no connection has been
astablished. So you can see that somebody had tryed to get you.
Handicap: the calls-list is getting very long!

    max. X dial, repeats after XX sec.

Enter the number of dials the programme should make if the
connection is engaged, and in the next field enter the delay time
between attempts at connection. This function only works properly
if the modem evaluates the engaged tone correctly (busy-detect).

Next to this you can type in the time interval for redialing.

    scan jobs all xx seconds

CoMa has to scan the folder OUTGOING at certain time intervals if
you have created fax jobs. You can enter the time interval here. A
value between 60 to 300 seconds makes sense.

    Modem-protocol

This field should only be selected if you are experiencing
problems with transmission or reception. If selected the full
protocol of the modem will be stored in a file for each
transmit/receive. You will therefore note that you can quickly use
up a lot of memory continously recording the same data. If you
have experienced problems select this field and we will be happy
to receive the printed results. From this we should be able to
give you a solution to your problem.

The file name is "modem-protocol" and it is located in the
system-folder of CoMa!

Our help and support can only be fast, if this file is sent to us
completly together with the error-report!

    Expert Modus

If you activate this button, CoMa offers more parameters in some
preferences dialogboxes. If you do so you realy should know what you
do! In normal cases it is not necessary to make any change here. If
You want to know more about the expert modus, click on the button.

Dial (Puls or Tonedialing)

With this pop-up-menü you choose if your telephone-line uses the
puls-dialing (very old method) or the fast and sheded tone-dialing. If
you are in doubt, try at first the tone-dialing. If it does not work
you have to change to puls-dialing.


1.8 Parameter  "Fax"


All pre-settings necessary for the fax service can be edited in
this dialogue box.

    Fax-Speed

At this field select the highest transmission speed available to
your modem. Once connection has taken place the programme allows
connection between machines at an agreed speed. The highest speed
will obviously be restricted to what your modems will support.
Normally you will have to work down when connecting to pure fax.
But this works automaticaly in CoMa!

    Zoom 50%

You select the zoom factor with which a fax page is displayed
after loading. You can change display with the keys "+" and "-" of
the number block at any time.

    ID (send identification)

Enter your telephone number in this field.  Every fax will carry
this number in the stampline (first line of a fax page) next to
your name

    Path for the fax folder OUTGOING and INCOMING

The fax programme uses two folders in the standard version, the
INCOMING folder in which all incoming fax are stored and the
OUTGOING folder.

The structure of the path only needs to be changed if you want to
adjust the structure of the folder on the disk. With a click on
the relevant line you call up the file selection box and a new
path can be entered

    Path for a polling folder "send Poll"

This function works only in CoMa professional!

Modems can answer a poll request from modem standard class 2.0
(not to be confused with class 2) and send fax pages to the
caller. The calling modems sends a certain tone for this which can
only be understood from modem class 2.0 onwards.

You can store fax pages for transmission in Hufman format in a
folder for this.

The command "send at poll request" below this path activates and
de-activates this function. This button must be activated to allow
polling to take place.

Send at poll request

The command "send at poll request" below this path activates and
de-activates this function. This button must be activated to allow
polling to take place.

    Receive max. A4 page

This function tells the modem that a page of only 29,5 cm should
be received. Unfortunately fax machines do not comply with this
request.

    online screen redraw

If you activate this button the fax page will be displayed
immediately it is received, in a window. This means you will not
have to leave the programme to read the fax. The displayed fax can
be moved to enable you to read the whole page via the mouse.

    last line for error line

Quite often during transmission, and particularly reception from
older fax machines, a lot of erroneous data is imported. This
tends to make the readability worse and also uses up a lot of
memory on reception. By activating this box the fax can be cleaned
up by ignoring these errors. It is not a perfect system and you
should use trial and error to see which suits you best. Once you
have made your adjustments in this sector do not forget to save
them by activating the button "save parameter" otherwise all
changes will be lost.


1.9 Parameter "Images"


A substantial function of our fax software is the possibility to
include a footer or/and header graphic created from a text editor
or from CoMa½s own editor, which will then give a professional
look to your documents. If you have your own letterheads these can
be scanned into the programme and used. This will create a great
impression on those receiving your mail.


We have included 4 header and footer logos which you can mix and
match at your will, or as said before create your own. A point of
interest is that your signature can be a footer logo by using a
scanner. All adjustments, (paths and offsets), are made in the
dialogue box CoMa/Images, this will avoid text being mixed with
the header or footer.

Offsets are given in Pixel which makes placing the graphics more
exact than lines because the width of the line differs from font
to font.

    Adjusting the Header and Footer

To adjust the header and/or footer logo which you want to use
proceed as follows:

    At first set the path for the graphics.

For this explanation we will assume that you have prepared a text
using the text editor, now proceed as follows: Leave via the
"enter key" from the number block. The text will be displayed in a
fax window still without the graphics. Open the pull-down-menu
"Fax Image" and select with a single click of the mouse button the
header and footer that you require. These will be displayed in
future as the default until such time as you change them. Once you
have selected the header and footer and made any adjustments to
the margins you may require you must select "save parameter". You
can now leave via the ok button.

    Now a few tips to create these graphics:

CoMa can only use graphics in IMG format.

You have to make sure that the graphics are created with 200 dpi
resolution. If you use 300 dpi CoMa scales the graphic down to 200
dpi. If the grapic has 72 dpi, CoMa leaves it as it is! So one
pixel of the graphic is exactly one pixel of the faxpage. The
grapic is getting smaler!



1.10 Adjusting the zone and telephone company

CoMa gives you the possiblitity to adjust for 16 zones up to 8 low-priced
companies in 7 timeslots

You find the dialoque-box under "Preferences/Zone".

If you have more then 16 prefix in one zone you can set this zone as often as
necessary! For example install the zone RegioCall twice.

   Use Zone & Time dependent Phone-Companies

This button activates this function.

   Edit companies

Maybe you want to use special telephone companies for long distance calls.  You
have 8 different prefix for 8 companies.

   Pop-Up-Menue "Zone"

Adjust at first the zone witch you want to make company and time dependent.

   Prefix

Enter in these 16 places the prefix' you want to use in this zone. If you have
more then 16, use another zone.

For example if you have to enter the prefix' 0330 until 0339 you only have to
enter one time the 033. CoMa takes in all 10 cases this adjustment.

   Period and Company

After selecting the zone and entering the prefix you can now use 8 different
telephone-companies on 7 different timeslots.

With the Entry "Never" you switch this timeslot off!


  1.11 Changing monitor display


You already know that you can display every fax page in a window
and change the resolution with the keys "+" and "-" of the number
block. When the pages are greatly reduced the writing is condensed
and can hardly be read.

To eliminate this effect and to increas the readability we have
included a function with which you can "thinn out" the display of
the lines. You can switch with the star key from the number block
between normal, thick display and the thin display of the lines.
You will recognise the advantage of this function quickly and not
want to be without it again.

You have to decide which version you prefer. This is especially
useful for small monitors if you work with a small zoom grade
(25%)