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1995-03-19
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Introducing Whap!
Whap! is a fully automated navigation and data retrieval system designed for
the Amiga computer and the CompuServe Information System. Its functionality
is similar to other automated data retrieval systems for in use by other
computer types (IBM/clones - TAPCIS, ATO, Macintoch - Navigator).
Features in the Whap! system include:
Automated Message Retrieval
Automated Forum Cataloging
Automated Up and Downloading
Automated CompuServe Mail (Electronic Mail)
Interface with conventional terminal program of choice
Automated record keeping for billing information
MultiTasking capability
Easy user interface
Whap! allows even the novice CompuServe user to gain the most
benefit from the network at a fraction of the cost of conventional
operation.
Copyright and Distribution Notice
The demonstration version is available for the purpose of user
evaluation only. The programs, files and images contained in the
demonstration software package may be distributed freely in their
entirety, provided that ALL files contained within the package remain
intact and unchanged.
The code contained within this distribution is believed to be
complete and functional. If bugs are found, please report them to us so that
we may fix them as soon as possible.
On the contained within, no warranty is offered, and no fitness for any
particular purpose is claimed. We do hope you will find these things useful,
but due to the incredible mess lawyers, judges, and other parasites upon
society have made out of perfectly reasonable "claims", we can not make any.
Sorry about that. You do have our word that we have put much time, effort and
careful thought into the contents of this program.
Whap! is copyright 1988,1989 by ATI, Littleton, Colorado, USA.
All rights reserved.
System Requirements
The proper operation of this program requires the following
MINIMUM hardware:
Amiga Computer (any model)
1M Memory
2 floppy disk drives (or 1 floppy and hard disk)
Properly Interfaced modem
Whap! software package
Operation will be facilitated, and easier for the user, if the
following additional equipment is available:
hard disk storage
Additional memory
Autodial modem with 7 wire (used) connections
Using This Manual
The Whap! program is a complex program. Consequently, the manual to operate
the program is also somewhat complex.
This manual is organized into several sections, each dealing with some aspect
of the Whap! program. Several sections of the manual, which the user will
need immediately, are placed at the end of the manual because, once
accomplished, those functions will not need to be addressed again.
It is recommended that the user read through the manual once, leisurely,
before attempting to do anything. Then, keep the manual close at hand for
reference while going through the initial installation and setup procedures.
Once Whap! is fully operational, it is virtually self sustaining, and the
manual may be put in a safe place for occasional reference.
Should any problems be encountered while installing or using this program,
refer to the manual first. If the problem persists, or the manual is not
clear, contact ATI on the AmigaTech Forum of CompuServe or send CompuServe
Mail to ATI (72230,323) for online Support.
Using Whap!
Whap! is 2 separate executable programs plus several support files. The 2
programs, named as Whap! and View!, provide the functionality of the package.
The Whap! program handles all of the online features. It is the program that
will retrieve messages, message headers, build library catalogues, upload and
download files, and post messages for you. View! is the message reader and
editor.
Whap! operation is initiated by any of the familiar Amiga methods:
From CLI:
Run Whap!
Whap!
From WorkBench:
Double click the icon
CAUTION: Whap! has been designed to run from the standard AmigaDOS
system.
Problems may be encountered when attempting to operate the
program from alternate systems. Using alternate operating
systems or non-standard AmigaDOS commands may result in
improper program operation or GURU visitations.
Forum Preferences
While Whap! is operational after installation and initial setup described
elsewhere in this manual, it will not return from CompuServe laden with
messages and other goodies at this point. Each of us has differing needs
and interests, and, while we may frequent the same forums on CompuServe, we
may not wish to vacuum up every message on every topic within the forums.
Whap! must now be told of your individual preferences before it can become
a useful tool for you.
To do this, simply double click the left mouse button while the pointer is
over a specific forum name. Whap! will now display the same screen as when
you initially set up the forum, except that now the forum name is displayed
in the upper left hand corner box.
To define your interests, identify the small boxes appearing the left of each
section name. Select those sections which interest you, and click the left
mouse key while the pointer is over the small box to the left of the section
name. A checkmark will now appear in that box.
** You may select all of the sections in the forum by placing the pointer
over the ALL box and pressing the left mouse button.
Similarly, selecting the CLEAR box will remove all previously selected
sections in the forum.
** The RM box permits the user to explicitly recover messages addressed to
him. This option may be used in conjunction with the RTN (Read Thread, New
-- recovers all new messages in this forum for sections marked).
QSN (Quick Scan, New -- recovers only message headers) or ** NONE (recovers
nothing) options available in this section. If this box is not activated and
you should receive messages from forum sections to which you do not have
access, Whap! will not recover those messages. If this box is not activated,
and you are using the QSN option, Whap! will ignore marked messages from
sections to which you do not have access.
** The NONE box, when selected, is used in conjunction with the RM option to
permit Whap! to recover ONLY marked messages from the forum.
Whap! also permits you to decide whether you wish to read all of the messages
in the sections you selected, or just to read the subject line information.
If you wish to read all the messages in your sections, place the pointer over
the box marked RTN and click the left mouse button. If you only wish to scan
the subjects of the messages, place the pointer over the box marked QSN and
click the left mouse button. Whichever box you select will be highlighted
to confirm your choice.
You may also select whether you desire to retain the messages or subjects you
will be collecting or whether each new collection run will clear the old
messages. If you desire to retain the old messages, place the pointer over
the APPEND box and press the left mouse pointer. If you desire to allow Whap!
to clear the old traffic, place the pointer over the OVERWRITE box and press
the left mouse pointer. If you wish the newly collected messages to be
appended to the previous collection make sure you have ample disk storage
for these messages.
Carefully check your selections to insure that they accurately reflect your
real desires. If you have made an error, or change your mind, simply reselect
the sections as indicated above. (Clicking on the checked boxes will remove
the check mark.)
When you are satisfied, place the mouse pointer over the EXIT box and press
the left mouse button.
Whap! will now return you to the main screen, and your selections will be
stored for future reference.
Repeat this process with all of the forums you have defined.
Collecting Messages
Having gone through all the tedium of installing and setting up Whap!, you are
now ready to make the program work for you, saving money and increasing the
utility of CompuServe.
First, examine the main Whap! screen. You will notice that some, or all, of
the defined forum names are outlined in yellow. These are the forums upon
which Whap! will take action. A single click with the left mouse button while
the pointer is over the forum name will toggle that forum from active to
inactive status, or vice versa. Select those forums from which you wish to
collect messages by insuring those forums are so outlined. (You may not wish
to collect messages from all of the defined forums every time you visit
CompuServe.) Whap! remembers the current selections from session to session,
so you may quit the program and the program will be set up for next time you
wish to use it.
When all of the forums you wish to visit are highlighted, and the forums you
do not wish to visit are unhighlighted, place the pointer over the box in the
left hand corner marked "GET NEW MESSAGES." Press the left mouse pointer, and
Whap! will automatically dial, log on and visit each of the active forums,
collecting messages or subject lines along the way, and log off the network.
You can see the program going through this process in the lower window.
Upon finishing its collection run, Whap! will again display the main screen.
On Whap!'s main screen, the R gadget to the left of the forums names will be
highlighted for those forums which have new messages waiting for you to read.
Click upon the highlighted R gadget and View!, the message reader/editor will
be run. If the R is not highlighted, you may still click on it to activate
View! and messages from the previous run will be displayed (if they exist).
Marking Scanned Messages
If you have selected the QSN option in any of your defined forums, Whap! will
enter those forums and read the message headers. It will not recover the
message texts themselves. However, you have the option of reviewing the
message subject lines and marking those messages you wish to read for recovery
on the next online access.
Note that the M box will NOT be highlighted if there are scanned message headers
recovered in this version of Whap! This will be corrected in the later versions.
Selecting messages to recover from the headers supplied is accomplished by
placing the pointer over the M box on the main Whap! screen and depressing
the left mouse button. Whap! will then change to a different screen, where
the message headers are displayed in the main screen, and options are displayed
on the bottom of the screen.
If you wish to recover a message based on the information provided in the
viewing screen, place the mouse pointer over the box to the left of the
message header and press the left mouse button. A check mark will appear
in this box to confirm your selection. All displayed message headers may
be marked for recovery by clicking on the ** SELECT ALL box at the bottom of
the screen.
Should you decide that you do not wish to recover a message that you have
marked, place the pointer over the check mark and click the left mouse
button. The check mark will be removed from the entry. Similarly, clicking
on the ** CLEAR ALL box at the bottom of the screen will unselect all
displayed message headers.
If more message headers have been collected than will fit on the screen, a
box marked NEXT PAGE will become active. Whap! will continue displaying
headers on a new page when you click on this box. Simply continue marking
messages for recovery. Whap! will remember those marked on earlier pages.
Similarly, a box marked PREVIOUS PAGE will become active if you are currently
viewing a later page. This option works the same as the NEXT PAGE option.
Should you get distracted, or just decide you do not wish to recover messages
displayed, you may click on the CANCEL button to exit without marking messages
for recovery.
Once you have marked all the messages you desire to recover, click on the box
marked SAVE MARKED. This will allow Whap! to recover the messages.
Whap! will then revert to the main screen and, if you have marked messages
for retrieval, will now highlight the M box as confirmation. Whap! will
automatically recover those messages in the next online session.
NOTE: The messages headers for the messages to be downloaded during the
next online run of Whap! are kept in RAM: in the demo version.
The registered version will allow you to specific the device to
store all temporary files.
Making Catalogs
In addition to message recovery, Whap! is equipped to upload and download
information to and from the data libraries. The CompuServe B+ protocol
is used in this process. (NOTE: Demo version uses CompuServe QuickB
protocol; the resume feature of B+ is not available).
In order to download programs or other library files, you must know the exact
filenames of those files. Whap! is equipped to enter the data libraries and
create catalogs of the file entries for you, which you may review off line to
decide whether you wish to download.
To create a catalog of data libraries, place the pointer over the C box next
to the desired forum name on the main Whap! screen and press the left mouse
button. Whap! will then display a screen similar to the screen encountered
in the forum selection process.
Select the data libraries from this screen which you desire to catalog by
clicking in the empty box next to the library name so that a check mark
appears in the box. You may catalog as many of the libraries as desired at
any time. Selecting the ** ALL box at the bottom right of the screen will
cause Whap! to generate a catalog for all Libraries in the forum.
If you should make a mistake in selecting sections to be catalogued, you may
deselect all marked options by clicking on the ** CLEAR box in the lower
right side of the screen. This may sometimes be useful, although the
individual sections marked may also be deselected by placing the pointer
over the check mark of the section to be deselected and pressing the left
mouse button.
On the bottom of the screen, select the number of days previously you wish to
catalog. This is the number of calendar days prior to the current date
through the current date. The default is 14 days, or two weeks. You may
change the default period by either placing the pointer inside the box and
pressing the left mouse button; then, using the backspace, delete and keyboard
keys, entering the desired period; or by placing the pointer over the + or -
boxes next to the number of days and clicking the mouse button until the
number of days change to your desired number. Placing the pointer over the 0
box and pressing the left mouse button, or manually entering 0 in the number
box, will cause Whap! to recover the entire file catalog. (This may be a
rather large catalog, and care should be taken to ensure sufficient disk
space is available when recovering entire catalogs.)
If you know the name of a file, or the keywords of a file, and wish to
download it, manually enter them in the box provided on the lower right half
of the screen. You may place the pointer over the DOWNLOAD box and press the
left mouse button if you wish to download that particular file. Note that the
file you selected must fall within the selected time period, and that using
the download option excludes the normal cataloging function. More than one
file may be specified for downloading by clicking on the MORE box, but the
time parameters may not be changed individually for several files - they must
all fall within the last selected specified time period. When downloading
with the Catalog option, select only the directory in which the file is to be
found, or Whap! may simply download the first file encountered meeting the
time requirement if it cannot locate the specified file.
Similarly, you may specify the keywords of a file to catalog specifically for
all occurrences of that keyword within the data library. Keyword search is
governed by similar restrictions to the downloading option in this category.
Once you have selected the time frame desired, the libraries you wish to
catalog, and any keywords, etc., place the pointer over the OK box and press
the left mouse button. This will record these options and return you to the
Whap! main screen.
If you should choose not to use the catalog function, place the pointer over
the CANCEL box and press the left mouse button. Whap! will revert to the main
screen without further action.
If you have selected catalog items to be accomplished, Whap! will confirm your
selection by highlighting the C box on the main screen. Whap! will perform
these actions in the next online session.
Downloading
Normal downloading is accomplished by selecting files you desire to download
from a catalog of files. If you have cataloged a data library (or libraries),
you may place the pointer over the D box next to the forum name and depress
the left mouse button.
Whap! will enter a display screen and begin stepping through the files found
in the catalog. The boxes at the bottom of the screen display the options
available to you.
Clicking on the NEXT box will step the catalog forward without action.
Similarly, clicking on the PREVIOUS box will step the catalog backward without
action.
Clicking on the DOWNLOAD box will cause the message "MARKED FOR DOWNLOAD" to
appear within the catalog viewing screen, and record the filename, etc., for
Whap! to download on its next online session. Clicking on the UNMARK box
will remove the download marking from files erroneously selected.
Clicking on the PREV CAT box will change the listing of files to a previously
recovered catalog listing. Catalog listings are cumulative, and may require
some file management on your part to ensure sufficient disk storage space is
available for them.
Clicking on the NEXT CAT box will change the listing of files to a catalog
listing from a later session. This option is not available immediately, since
there can be no next listing from the current catalog, the default.
The LAST FILE and FIRST FILE boxes will move the screen directly to the last
or first files in the current catalog.
The OK box will cause the selections to be recorded, display a requester
informing you of the amount of disk space needed, and return you to the
main Whap! screen. If any actions have been selected, the D box will be
highlighted.
The CANCEL option exits this section without taking any action.
Uploading
Whap! will automatically upload files to CompuServe during its next online
session. File transfers will be by the CompuServe B+ protocol.
NOTE: The demo version used CompuServe QB protocol; the resume feature
is not activated.
To upload a file to CompuServe, place the pointer over the U box next
to the forum to which you desire to upload. Press the left mouse key, and
Whap! will change screen to an upload requester.
Select the file you wish to upload from the file requester and click on LOAD.
If you should change your mind about uploading, you may place the pointer over
CANCEL and click the left mouse button. Whap! will then exit from this
section to the main Whap! screen without further action.
Once you have selected the file to be uploaded, and clicked on the LOAD box,
Whap! will display another screen. You will notice that the filename you
have selected for upload is in the upper left hand corner of the screen with
the directory path appropriate to it. To the right of the filename, there
is an arrow designation and some letters. These letters are the filename
which CompuServe will recognize for your file. CompuServe has a filename
restriction which only permits a six character filename with a three character
file extender (eg. WHAP19.LZH). Filenames longer than this will be truncated
to meet the restriction.
NOTE: It is common practice to name files for upload to conform to this
restriction on your own disks, so that there will be no question of
conflicting filenames if questions arise about your file.
The Next line is marked KEYWORDS. Place the mouse pointer over the box and
press the left mouse button. A cursor will appear in the box, and you may
enter desired keywords describing your file from the keyboard.
The TITLE line is used for a one line description of your upload. Many forums
ask that you leave the title blank. The sysops will fill this field in after
they have downloaded and checked the file. If you wish, you may leave the
TITLE line blank.
The DESCRIPT box is activated similarly to the KEYWORDS and TITLES boxes.
Please activate on the top line. Enter the file description AS YOU WISH IT TO
APPEAR TO OTHERS in this box.
Once you have entered the description, you must select the data library within
the forum to which you will be uploading the file. Simply place the pointer
over the appropriate data library name and press the left mouse pointer.
Your selection will be highlighted to confirm it has been recorded.
The final step in the uploading process is to click on the OK box in the lower
right hand corner. Once this is done, the file is recorded for upload, and
will be uploaded during the next online session. Whap! will now exit to its
main screen.
Should you desire to abort the upload process while in this screen area,
simply click on the CANCEL box in the lower left hand corner, and Whap! will
exit to the main screen without further action.
Easyplex
Easyplex is CompuServe's electronic mail system. Each subscriber has
an Easyplex address, whether he chooses to use the system or not.
Whap! treats Easyplex as a "special purpose" forum area. Some functions
found in the normal forums are available, while others are not available or
are modified somewhat. The Easyplex box on the main screen must be
highlighted as an active forum or any pending Easyplex messages will be
ignored by Whap!
Reading Easyplex messages is done exactly the same as reading messages from
normal forums. There is no "SCA" option on Easyplex. All messages
encountered are read in full.
Downloading from the Easyplex area is dependent on having something
downloadable in your mailbox. Whap! recognizes downloadable messages (or
programs) and downloads them automatically to your specified download path.
In addition to the downloaded file, there will be a message activated in
the Read section informing you of a binary download.
Writing an Easyplex message is accomplished exactly the same as writing any
other message with Whap! The only difference between the two is in storing
the message. You do not specify a section in which the message is to be
stored, but you must specify an addressee.
Uploading a file to Easyplex! is slightly different than uploading to normal
forums. You see the upload file requester as in any other upload. You must
know the User ID number of the addressee.
NOTE: Options labeled with ** are not available in the demo program.
Billing Information
CompuServe bills to the nearest minute based on its published rates. Whap!
records the time spent online in a logging function. Using a rates table
included with the Whap! program, Whap! can estimate your monthly billing by
CompuServe.
In the upper left corner of the main screen, there is a box marked QUICK BILL.
Clicking on this box will cause the estimated charges from using Whap! to be
displayed directly to the right of the box.
Further down in the boxes, there is one box marked View Charges. This option
will allow you to modify the billing charges, should CompuServe change its
rates, and to profile your CompuServe usage. Selecting the appropriate
options from the menu displayed, you can project your CompuServe bill and
tell approximately how much of that bill can be attributed to which forums.
It will even let you call up a previous month's usage profile so that you can
compare your usage with it.
NOTE: These options only APPROXIMATE your CompuServe billing. They only
reflect the activity of Whap! and do not include any surcharges
incurred.
Interactive Terminals
Whap! normally collects messages, catalogs data libraries, downloads, uploads
and then logs off the system. There are times, however, when you may wish to
do all that and remain online. Whap! provides two methods of doing this.
Selecting the INTERACTIVE TERMINAL box in the upper left corner by placing the
pointer over the box and pressing the left mouse button, will cause Whap! to
initiate the log on procedure, halt, and load in the terminal program that you
have specified in the parameters file. Once the terminal program is loaded
into your Amiga, you may proceed manually around CompuServe as you normally
would with that terminal program.
Once you have finished your manual exploration of the network, log off and
select the QUIT option on the terminal program, and Whap! will once again
take control of the session. It is important to QUIT your terminal program
and return to Whap!'s main screen. If you do not, Whap! assumes you are
still online and continues to "keep the meter going" as for as the billing
option is concerned.
The other interactive terminal option is accomplished by placing the pointer
over the LOG OFF WHEN FINISHED box directly under the upper left hand window
on the main screen and pressing the left mouse button. When you do this,
Whap! will finish its actions, remain online in the last forum it is visiting,
and then load in the terminal program. Once the terminal program is loaded,
you are once again able to explore CompuServe manually. Quitting the terminal
program will once again cause Whap! to recover control and log off.
The advantage in using these options, as opposed to simply loading the
terminal program without Whap!, is that the billing logs within Whap! are
updated while the terminal program is in place. The usage breakdown by
forums may not be accurate, however.
The WHAP19.LZH file contains a very rudimentary terminal program named
WhapTerm. This is derived from Luciano Bertato's SimpleTerm. It is
supplied because it is very small. It has few features but will fit nicely
on a cramped boot disk. (NOTE: To exit WhapTerm, press the ESC key).
Any terminal program that will open in "shared" serial mode will work
with Whap!. Such programs as Access!, JRComm, Aterm 7.3, and Cocomm
will work with no programs. Diga! will not. Other programs have not
been tested with Whap!.
Other Main Screen Options
In the upper left corner, with the other long boxes, is one marked GET NEW
MESSAGES. This is the normal activation button for Whap! When you click this
box, Whap! will initiate an online session, collect messages from the
activated forums, collect Easyplex if needed, and perform any outstanding
actions noted by the highlighted boxes in the lower portion of the main screen.
Directly below the GET NEW MESSAGES box is a box marked PERFORM ACTIONS.
Activating this box will cause Whap! to initiate an online session ONLY to
perform those actions indicated by the highlighted boxes in the lower portion
of the main screen. When activated by this box, Whap! will not collect
messages.
The ABORT SESSION NOW box may be activated if the dialed CompuServe node does
not respond, or you can tell there is considerable noise on the telephone
line. It will cause Whap! to terminate the session immediately. On 7-wire
modems, it will also hang up the telephone line.
In the upper right hand window of the main screen, several boxes are used to
provide information to you. The Start Time box indicates the time the
telephone call was initiated. The Elapsed Time box show how much time has
been spent in the current session.
The DATA IN and DATA OUT boxes show the number of bytes received and sent by
Whap! during this session respectively.
The WAIT UNTIL box is a count down timer. If there is a slowdown on
CompuServe, this box will begin counting down from a preset number of seconds,
and will proceed to the next selected option if the counter should reach 0.
The PIT BULL box is another timer. This one is an incrementing timer that
monitors activity. If neither Whap! nor CompuServe have transferred any data,
this counter begins to count upwards. At a preset number, it will hang up
the telephone (7 wire modem) to save you CompuServe charges for inactivity.
Scripts for Alternative Access Networks
Some users may reside in areas for which CompuServe does not maintain an
access gateway. Use of alternative services, such as Tymnet or Telenet,
is required in these areas in order to access CompuServe.
Scripts for this access are created with a text processor, such as ED or EDIT
on the WorkBench diskette. The scripting language is ASCII, and the special
characters used are the same ones used in the Initialize string setup found
in the Program Setup section of this manual. These scripts must be saved to
the WHAP directory (or diskette) under the filename of SCRIPTx, where the x
is the number of the node listed in the Parameters section of the Whap!
program for which the script is to be activated. Thus, accessing telephone
number 1 on the parameters menu through Tymnet would require a script file
named SCRIPT1 in the WHAP directory. Script files are limited to 255
characters in length.
Since there are numerous alternative networks, and each requires its own
procedures for access, it is impractical to provide sample scripts in this
program. The user desiring to create such a script should log on to
CompuServe though his alternative network with a capture buffer open.
Analyzing the capture buffer off line should give the necessary prompts to
be scripted.
TYMNET USERS should note that Whap! and CompuServe make use of the Control-P
combination for some functions. Tymnet also uses the Control-P combination
for its own purposes, which are not compatible with CompuServe! To achieve
compatibility, Tymnet users should preface the telephone number of their
Tymnet node in the parameters screen with an '@' (eg. @555-1212). The @ sign
will insure that Whap! does not send the Control-P combination.
ISTEL USERS: By default, when Whap! connects to a CompuServe node, Whap!
sends a Control-C, then after it logs you online, it will send a Control-P.
This is incompatible for users of ISTEL in Europe. To suppress the sending
of the Control-C and the Control-P, preface the phone number from the
parameters screen with an ampersand (&) (eg. &555-1212).
Using View!
Reading messages with View! is straightforward. When called run from Whap!
the View! window will open. In the upper portion of its window (directly
below the window title area; this is called the Information Bar) you will see
numbers being printed rather quickly. This is View! examining the message
file for the forum you have selected to read. The numbers indicate the number
of messages in the file. When View! has completed building its list of
messages, the first message will be displayed in its window.
The first message that is displayed will be the News Flash bulletin for the
forum whose messages you are reading if the News Flash has been modified
since the last time you accessed that forum. If this is the case, View! will
automatically save the News Flash message in a file named <forumname>.FLASH.
(If the forum you are reading is AmigaTech forum, the News Flash is saved to
a file in WHAP: named AmigaTech.FLASH). Otherwise, the first message
displayed will be the first found in the message file for that forum.
On the Information Bar you will be presented with various informational
displays. When a message file has been loaded you will see (as an example)
"Message: 5 of: 312". This is telling you that there are 312 messages in the
current message file you are viewing the 5th message of that file.
View! Gadgets
At the bottom of View!'s window are 5 gadgets. They are KEEP, COMMENT, REPLY,
PREVIOUS, and NEXT (or MORE).
NEXT:
Clicking on the NEXT gadget will display the next message in the
message file, if there is one. If you have reached the last message
in the file, the NEXT button will change and the MORE button will
be displayed.
MORE:
When this gadgets appears, clicking on it will bring up a file
requester. From here you may chose to read messages from other
forums (if they exist) without being forced to return to Whap!.
PREVIOUS:
Clicking on the PREVIOUS gadget will display the PREVIOUS message in
the message file, if there is one.
REPLY:
Clicking on REPLY will allow you to reply to the currently displayed
message. A bar will appear dividing the View! window into 2
distinct areas. The upper area will contain the text of the message
being replied to and the lower area is left blank except for a cursor.
Simply write your reply. When in the REPLY mode of View!, the gadgets
at the bottom will have changed to CANCEL, ORIGINATE, and SAVE.
The word "Replied" will be displayed on the Information Bar.
When REPLY is in effect a new set of menu items are presented. See
below under "Reply Message Mode".
* NOTE: When Whap! sends your replies, your reply will be part of
the thread in which you are replying. If for some reason
the message to which you are replying is no longer in the
message base, your message will be left as an original
message and will be the parent message of a new thread.
SAVE:
Clinking on SAVE will write your message to a file for Whap! to
access the next time you go online. The name of the file created
is <forumname>.SND. (If you are replying to a message in AmigaTech
forum, the file your reply is written to is AmigaTech.SND). The
bar will now disappear and the text of the message to which you
replied will again fill the View! window.
* NOTE: The dividing bar may be dragged to increase the number of
lines displayed in the message area.
CANCEL:
Clicking on CANCEL will unconditionally throw away any text you may
have written as a reply, remove the bar, and fully display the
current message.
ORIGINATE:
Clicking on ORIGINATE will cause the Address Book to be displayed.
(More information on the Address Book will be presented later).
This feature allows for the your reply to be left as an original
message, not part of the current message thread. It will also allow
you to address it to someone other than the sender of the message to
which you replied, and even put it in a different message section
than the one to which you replied.
COMMENT:
COMMENT is very much like the REPLY feature except your reply will be
addressed to the person in the TO: field of the message rather than
to the person in the FROM: field.
KEEP:
Clicking on KEEP will copy the message to a file with the extension of
.KPT. If you are reading messages from AmigaTech, clicking on KEEP will
append the currently displayed message to a file named AmigaTech.KPT.
The word "Kept" will be displayed on the Information Bar.
The actions for the gadgets described above are also available from View!'s
menus. They also have keyboard shortcuts.
View! Menus
View! has 4 basic operational modes. Depending on how View! is called from
Whap! (by clicking on R, W, or EasyPlex R or W) View! will come up in a
specific mode. The following are the menu and submenu descriptions for each
of those 4 modes.
MESSAGE READ MODE (clicking on the R next to a forum name in Whap!)
SYSTEM menu:
SubItems:
About ...
This menu item simply brings up a requester that gives version number
and copyright information for View!.
Quit (Right-Amiga-Q)
This does what it says, it will exit the program and return you to
the main screen of Whap!.
FILES menu:
SubItems:
More Messages (Right-Amiga-M)
Selecting this menuitem will bring up a file requester. From the
file requester you may select messages from a another forum to be
loaded into View!.
Load .KPT File (Right-Amiga-L)
Selecting this menuitem will bring up a file requester. From the
file requester you may select .KPT files to be loaded into View!.
These files are created when you utilize the KEEP function while
reading messages. You may reply (or comment) to any message in
a .KPT file and they will be treated as a normal reply (or comment).
Read News Flash (Right-Amiga-F)
This will display the last received News Flash for the forum being
read. If there is a .FLASH file for the forum you are currently
reading it will be displayed as a message. The REPLY, COMMENT, and
KEEP gadgets will be removed. To continue reading messages, click
on the NEXT or PREVIOUS gadgets.
MESSAGES menu:
SubItems:
Next (Right-Amiga-N)
Same as the NEXT gadget described above.
Previous (Right-Amiga-P)
Same as the PREVIOUS gadget described above.
Reply (Right-Amiga-R)
Same as the REPLY gadget described above.
Comment (Right-Amiga-C)
Same as the COMMENT gadget described above.
Delete (Right-Amiga-D)
If a message is written by you or is addressed to you, this function
will create a delete transaction to be written to the actions file
for this forum. The next time you have Whap! enter this forum it
will issue the command to delete this message from the message base.
Delete works like a toggle. If you accidentally select this menu item,
selecting it again will remove the delete flag. The delete actions
are written to disk when you exit View!. At any time before exiting
the program you may change your mind and 'undelete' the message.
When you select a message to be deleted the word DELETED will be
displayed on the Information Bar in View! (directly below the window
title area). You may delete a message, continue reading messages,
change your mind about the delete, return to the message in question.
You will see the DELETED on the Information Bar. Simply select
Delete from the menu and the delete transaction will be killed
(and the DELETED on the Information Bar will disappear).
Skip Thread (Right-Amiga-S)
While reading messages you may come across a particular thread for
which you have no interest. The Skip Thread function will remove
from the message list all messages with the particular title you wish
to skip. These messages will not be displayed to you in the current
View! session. The messages are not deleted from the message file.
Should you wish to see the messages you have skipped you must reload
the current message file by using the More Messages function or
exiting and rerunning View!.
Jump to ... (Right-Amiga-J)
Selecting this item will present you with a string gadget. Enter
the relative message number you wish to go to immediately, hit
return, and the current message will become the message you want
to jump to. "Relative message number" means the message number
from the first message in the current message file, not the
CompuServe assigned message number. For instance, if you want to
go directly to the 21st message in the file, you would enter 21 into
the string gadget. Searching for a specific message, whether by its
CompuServe assigned number, the name of its originator or recipient,
or by subject matter, will be discussed under the SEARCH menu item.
Add to Book ... (Right-Amiga-A)
View! contains an Address Book feature. This is used for those
people you correspond with frequently. By selecting this menu item
the name and User ID of the person in the FROM: field of the
currently displayed message will be added to your Address Book. You
will then be presented with a string requester asking for you to
enter a comment for the Address Book entry. This comment can be up
to 80 characters long. When selecting the Add to Book menu item, if
the message is an Internet message, you will be prompted for the name
of the sender. The Internet address will automatically become the
comment. The Address Book will be described in greater detail later
in this document.
SEARCH menu:
SubItems:
Search FROM: Name ... (Right-Amiga-4)
When selected, a string gadget will be presented. Enter the name
of the person you wish search for (the name of the person in the
FROM: field). The search is automatically wildcarded, meaning,
if you enter "John B" it will match John Baskin, John B. Orville,
john boy, etc.
Search TO: Name ... (Right-Amiga-5)
Same as above but will search the TO: field.
Search FROM: User ID: ... (Right-Amiga-6)
Same as above but will search for the User ID in the FROM: field.
Search TO: User ID ... (Right-Amiga-7)
Same as above but will search for the User ID in the TO: field.
Search SUBJECT ... (Right-Amiga-8)
Same as above but will search the message subject field.
Search Message Number ... (Right-Amiga-9)
Same as above but will search for the CompuServe assigned message
number.
NOTE: When in SEARCH mode, only those messages that meet the search
criteria will be found. If applicable, the NEXT and PREVIOUS
functions are enabled as well as REPLY, COMMENT, and KEEP.
To exit SEARCH mode, click on the word "SEARCH" that is
displayed in the Information Bar.
SAVE menu:
SubItems:
Keep Message (Right-Amiga-K)
Same as the KEEP gadget described above.
Keep Individual ... (Right-Amiga-I)
Selecting this item will bring up the file requester. This allows
you to save the currently displayed message to any device/path/file
rather than appending it to that forum's .KPT file.
PRINT menu:
SubItems:
Print Message (Right-Amiga-?)
This item will cause the currently displayed message to be printed.
Form Feed (Right-Amiga-.)
This item will cause a form feed to be sent to your printer.
CONFIGURATION menu:
SubItems:
Set Colors ... (Right-Amiga-*)
This item will bring up a color requester. This item will not be
available if you have chosen to run View! as a workbench window.
In this case, you should change the colors via preferences.
Screen - 1 Plane (Right-Amiga-1)
Selecting this item will re-configure View! to be displayed in
a 1 bit plane custom screen.
Screen - 2 Plane (Right-Amiga-2)
Selecting this item will re-configure View! to be displayed in
a 2 bit plane custom screen.
Workbench Screen (Right-Amiga-3)
Selecting this will re-configure View! to be displayed as a
workbench window.
Interlace On/Off (Right-Amiga--(minus))
This menu item is only available if you are boot in 640x200
resolution AND you have chosen to run View! in a custom screen.
If this is the case, Interlace On/Off will toggle View! from
a (*nominal) 640x200 custom screen to a (*nominal) 640x400 custom
screen.
* NOTE: View respects overscan.
Full/Halve (Right-Amiga-H)
If you boot your system in hires/interlace mode, this menu item
will size the View! window to half the screen vertical height.
If you do not boot your system in hires/interlace mode, this item
is only available if you are running the program in a custom screen
and the Interlace On selection is set.
Fonts ... (Right-Amiga-!)
This menu item will bring up the file requester (defaulted to
FONTS:). Click on a font directory then on the font size.
View! will re-configure using your selected font.
* NOTE: Proportional fonts are not supported. If a proportional font
is selected the program will default to Topaz 8.
EASYPLEX READ MODE (click on R next to EasyPlex on Whap! main screen)
SYSTEM menu:
SubItems:
About ...
Same as above.
Quit (Right-Amiga-Q)
Same as above.
FILES menu:
SubItems:
More Messages (Right-Amiga-M)
Selecting this menuitem will bring up a file requester. From the
file requester you may select messages from a another forum to be
loaded into View!.
Load .KPT File (Right-Amiga-L)
Selecting this menuitem will bring up a file requester. From the
file requester you may select .KPT files to be loaded into View!.
These files are created when you utilize the KEEP function while
reading messages. You may reply (or comment) to any message in
a .KPT file and they will be treated as a normal reply (or comment).
MESSAGES menu:
SubItems:
Next (Right-Amiga-N)
Same as the NEXT gadget described above.
Previous (Right-Amiga-P)
Same as the PREVIOUS gadget described above.
Reply (Right-Amiga-R)
Same as the REPLY gadget described above.
Comment (Right-Amiga-C)
Same as the COMMENT gadget described above.
Skip Thread (Right-Amiga-S)
While reading messages you may come across a particular thread for
which you have no interest. The Skip Thread function will remove
from the message list all messages with the particular title you wish
to skip. These messages will not be displayed to you in the current
View! session. The messages are not deleted from the message file.
Should you wish to see the messages you have skipped you must reload
the current message file by using the More Messages function or
exiting and rerunning View!.
Jump to ... (Right-Amiga-J)
Selecting this item will present you with a string gadget. Enter
the relative message number you wish to go to immediately, hit
return, and the current message will become the message you want
to jump to. "Relative message number" means the message number
from the first message in the current message file, not the
CompuServe assigned message number. For instance, if you want to
go directly to the 21st message in the file, you would enter 21 into
the string gadget. Searching for a specific message, whether by its
CompuServe assigned number, the name of its originator or recipient,
or by subject matter, will be discussed under the SEARCH menu item.
Add to Book ... (Right-Amiga-A)
View! contains an Address Book feature. This is used for those
people you correspond with frequently. By selecting this menu item
the name and User ID of the person in the FROM: field of the
currently displayed message will be added to your Address Book.
You will then be presented with a string requester asking for you to
enter a comment for the Address Book entry. This comment can be up
to 80 characters long. The Address Book will be described in greater
detail later in this document.
SEARCH menu:
SubItems:
Search FROM: Name ... (Right-Amiga-4)
When selected, a string gadget will be presented. Enter the name
of the person you wish search for (the name of the person in the
FROM: field). The search is automatically wildcarded, meaning,
if you enter "John B" it will match John Baskin, John B. Orville,
john boy, etc.
Search TO: Name ... (Right-Amiga-5)
Same as above but will search the TO: field.
Search FROM: User ID: ... (Right-Amiga-6)
Same as above but will search for the User ID in the FROM: field.
Search TO: User ID ... (Right-Amiga-7)
Same as above but will search for the User ID in the TO: field.
Search SUBJECT ... (Right-Amiga-8)
Same as above but will search the message subject field.
Search Message Number ... (Right-Amiga-9)
Same as above but will search for the CompuServe assigned message
number.
NOTE: When in SEARCH mode, only those messages that meet the search
criteria will be found. If applicable, the NEXT and PREVIOUS
functions are enabled as well as REPLY, COMMENT, and KEEP.
To exit SEARCH mode, click on the word "SEARCH" that is
displayed in the Information Bar.
SAVE menu:
SubItems:
Keep Message (Right-Amiga-K)
Same as the KEEP gadget described above.
Keep Individual ... (Right-Amiga-I)
Selecting this item will bring up the file requester. This allows
you to save the currently displayed message to any device/path/file
rather than appending it to that forum's .KPT file.
PRINT menu:
SubItems:
Print Message (Right-Amiga-?)
This item will cause the currently displayed message to be printed.
Form Feed (Right-Amiga-.)
This item will cause a form feed to be sent to your printer.
CONFIGURATION menu:
SubItems:
Set Colors ... (Right-Amiga-*)
Same as above.
Screen - 1 Plane (Right-Amiga-1)
Same as above.
Screen - 2 Plane (Right-Amiga-2)
Same as above.
Workbench Screen (Right-Amiga-3)
Same as above.
Interlace On/Off (Right-Amiga--(minus))
Same as above.
Full/Halve (Right-Amiga-H)
Same as above.
Fonts ... (Right-Amiga-!)
Same as above.
REPLY MESSAGE MODE
SYSTEM menu:
SubItems:
About...
Same as above.
Quit (Right-Amiga-Q)
Same as above.
MESSAGES menu:
SubItems:
Save Reply (Right-Amiga-S)
Selecting SAVE will write your message to a file for Whap! to
access the next time you go online. The name of the file created
is <forumname>.SND. (If you are replying to a message in AmigaTech
forum, the file your reply is written to is AmigaTech.SND). The
bar will now disappear and the text of the message to which you
replied will again fill the View! window.
Save as Mail (Right-Amiga-E)
Same as above with the exception that the message is written to
the file EasyPlex.SND. This message will be sent as a CompuServe Mail
and not as a forum message.
Save as Mail - RR (Right-Amiga-%)
Same as above except it will be send with Receipt Requested.
Originate Message (Right-Amiga-O)
Selecting ORIGINATE will cause the Address Book to be displayed.
(More information on the Address Book will be presented later).
This feature allows for the your reply to be left as an original
message, not part of the current message thread. It will also allow
you to address it to someone other than the sender of the message to
which you replied, and even put it in a different message section than
the one to which you replied.
Cancel Reply (Right-Amiga-C)
Selecting CANCEL will unconditionally throw away any text you may
have written as a reply, remove the bar, and fully display the
current message.
Import Text ... (Right-Amiga-I)
This item will bring up a file requester. From the file requester you
may choose a text file to include into your message at the cursor
position.
PRINT menu:
SubItems:
Print Message (Right-Amiga-?)
This item will send to your printer the message text you have entered
up to this point.
Print Message and Reply (Right-Amiga-&)
This item will send to your printer the currently displayed message
to which you are replying and the text of your reply.
Form Feed (Right-Amiga-.)
This item will cause a form feed to be sent to your printer.
CONFIGURATION menu:
SubItems:
Set Colors ... (Right-Amiga-*)
Same as above.
Screen - 1 Plane (Right-Amiga-1)
Same as above.
Screen - 2 Plane (Right-Amiga-2)
Same as above.
Workbench Screen (Right-Amiga-3)
Same as above.
Interlace On/Off (Right-Amiga--(minus))
Same as above.
Full/Halve (Right-Amiga-H)
Same as above.
Fonts ... (Right-Amiga-!)
Same as above.
ORIGINATE MESSAGE MODE (clicking on the W next to a forum name in Whap!)
SYSTEM menu:
SubItems:
About ...
Same as above.
Quit (Right-Amiga-Q)
Same as above.
MESSAGES menu:
SubItems:
Save Message (Right-Amiga-S or SAVE Gadget)
Clinking on SAVE will write your message to a file for Whap! to
access the next time you go online. The name of the file created
is <forumname>.SND. (If you are replying to a message in AmigaTech
forum, the file your reply is written to is AmigaTech.SND). The
bar will now disappear and the text of the message to which you
replied will again fill the View! window.
Cancel Message (Right-Amiga-C or CANCEL Gadget)
This will cancel the reply and exit back to Whap!. If any text were
entered before Cancel was used that text will be lost. In this mode
it also acts as if you have QUIT. The Whap! main screen will be
displayed.
Import Text ... (Right-Amiga-I)
This item will bring up a file requester. From the file requester you
may choose a text file to include into your message at the cursor
position.
PRINT menu:
SubItems:
Print Message (Right-Amiga-?)
This item will send to your printer the message text you have entered
up to this point.
Form Feed (Right-Amiga-.)
This item will cause a form feed to be sent to your printer.
CONFIGURATION menu:
SubItems:
Set Colors ... (Right-Amiga-*)
Same as above.
Screen - 1 Plane (Right-Amiga-1)
Same as above.
Screen - 2 Plane (Right-Amiga-2)
Same as above.
Workbench Screen (Right-Amiga-3)
Same as above.
Interlace On/Off (Right-Amiga--(minus))
Same as above.
Full/Halve (Right-Amiga-H)
Same as above.
Fonts ... (Right-Amiga-!)
Same as above.
EASYPLEX ORIGINATE MODE (click on W in Whap! to the right of EasyPlex)
SYSTEM menu:
SubItems:
About ...
Same as above.
Quit (Right-Amiga-Q)
Same as above.
MAIL menu:
SubItems:
Save Mail (Right-Amiga-S or SAVE Gadget)
Clinking on SAVE will write your message to a file for Whap! to
access the next time you go online. The name of the file created
is <forumname>.SND. (If you are replying to a message in AmigaTech
forum, the file your reply is written to is AmigaTech.SND). The
bar will now disappear and the text of the message to which you
replied will again fill the View! window.
Save Mail - RR (Right-Amiga-$)
Same as above except it will be sent with Receipt Requested.
Cancel Mail (Right-Amiga-C or CANCEL Gadget)
This will cancel the reply and exit back to Whap!. If any text were
entered before Cancel was used that text will be lost. In this mode
it also acts as if you have QUIT. The Whap! main screen will be
displayed.
Import Text ... (Right-Amiga-I)
This item will bring up a file requester. From the file requester you
may choose a text file to include into your message at the cursor
position.
PRINT menu:
SubItems:
Print Message (Right-Amiga-?)
This item will send to your printer the message text you have entered
up to this point.
Form Feed (Right-Amiga-.)
This item will cause a form feed to be sent to your printer.
CONFIGURATION menu:
SubItems:
Set Colors ... (Right-Amiga-*)
Same as above.
Screen - 1 Plane (Right-Amiga-1)
Same as above.
Screen - 2 Plane (Right-Amiga-2)
Same as above.
Workbench Screen (Right-Amiga-3)
Same as above.
Interlace On/Off (Right-Amiga--(minus))
Same as above.
Full/Halve (Right-Amiga-H)
Same as above.
Fonts ... (Right-Amiga-!)
Same as above.
If you have composed any original messages or replied to messages, when you
return to Whap!'s main screen, the W gadget to the right of the forums names
for which you've composed messages will be highlighted. This is to inform that
there are pending actions to be taken the next time you have Whap! log onto
CompuServe.
The Address Book
The Address Book is what is displayed when you enter View!'s originate mode.
The Address Book contains 3 primary string gadgets. These are for entering
the name, User ID, and subject of original (ie, non-reply) messages and emails.
The Address Book also has numerous 'slots' which contain names and User IDs of
people you have entered into the Address Book via the "Add to Book" menu item.
Immediately to the right of these Address Book entries are comment fields.
These are just a scratch pad area for you to make notes about the people
you have added to your Address Book. The number of visible 'slots' in your
Address Book will vary, from 5 to 22, depending upon the resolution you run in.
The actual number of entries allowed in the Address Book is limited only by the
amount of memory in your computer.
Using the Address Book
As View! has 4 distinct modes of operation, the Address Book has 2 distinct
modes of operation.
Originating Forum Messages
You enter the Address Book when you have written an original message. This is
where you specify to whom the message will be sent, the recipient's User ID,
the subject of the message, and to which forum message section the message is
to be stored.
When you have started View! from Whap! by clicking on the W gadget next to a
forum, View! knows nothing about your intended recipient. When you enter
the Address Book you must specify everything (who, id, subject,and section).
If you enter the Address Book by clicking on the Originate gadget (when
replying to messages) the Name and User ID string gadgets will be defaulted
to the author of the message to which you were replying. In most cases this
is a good guess. If that is not the addressee you want, simply clear the
string gadget(s) and enter the information.
You may also click on the wanted name in the Address Book entry list. By
doing so the name and User ID will automatically be copied to the name and
User ID string gadgets. Remember to click upon the name of the section
to which the message should be stored.
The comment fields are string gadgets. When you select the "Add to Book"
menu item you are automatically prompted to enter a comment for that person.
Should you wish to change the comment, enter the Address Book, find the
person's name from the list, click on the comment field immediately to its
right, and enter the new information. Any changes to the list will be saved
when you exit the Address Book.
Originating CompuServe Mail Messages
The Address Book, when opened in the originate email mode is mostly the same
as previously described, with 3 changes. There are no message section names,
and there are 2 new gadgets, FAX and INTERNET.
With the FAX gadget selected, you may click on an Address Book entry and have
the name copied to the NAME: string gadget as before. If the comment begins
with >FAX: the comment field will be copied to the User ID string gadget.
If it does not begin with >FAX: an error message and screen flash will be
displayed.
With the INTERNET gadget selected, you may click on an Address Book entry and
have the name copied to the NAME: string gadget as before. If the comment
begins with >INTERNET: the comment field will be copied to the User ID string
gadget. If it does not begin with >INTERNET: an error message and screen
flash will be displayed.
The only way (at this time) to add a FAX number to your Address Book is to
manually edit the file. The file is named BOOK and is located in Whap:.
The format for this file is:
Name (up to 24 characters terminated with a carriage return)
User ID (up to 11 characters, terminated with a carriage return)
Comment (up to 80 characters, terminated with a carriage return)
To delete an entry from the Address Book, make sure none of the string
gadgets are activated (if any are, click outside of any string gadgets),
press and hold down the ESC key and click on the entry you wish to delete.
Signature Files
View! allows for 2 'signature' files. A signature contains text which is
is automatically added to every message and to every email written.
There are 2 files for which View! looks, signature and e.signature. Both
of these, if they exist, should be located in Whap:.
When saving a forum message, the message text is written to disk, then
the file, signature, is opened and its text is appended to the message
(on disk). If the signature file does not exist a requester is displayed
informing you that it does not exist. If you do not want to use a
signature file and do not want the requester popping up every time you
save a message, create an empty file with the name signature (ie, use a
text editor and save a file named "signature" that contains no text).
Email messages have their own signature file. It is called "e.signature"
and should be located in Whap:. It functions the same as the previous.
Signature files can be up to 2 lines of 80 characters, each line terminated
with a carriage return.
F-Keys
F1-F10 may have files associated with them. These files, located in Whap: and
named F1, F2, ...F10, can be up to 2 lines of 80 characters, each terminated
with a carriage return. When such a file exists and its corresponding F key
it pressed, the text of the F-Key file will be inserted at the cursor position.
Editing Keys
While reading messages or email in View!, the right arrow key performs the
same function as the Next Gadget, the left arrow key as the Previous Gadget.
The up and down arrow keys will scroll the currently displayed message by
one line (if the message is larger than the display area).
While composing messages or email in View!, the arrow keys will move the
cursor as will clicking with the mouse. Shift-Right-Arrow will move the
cursor to the end of the current line; Shift-Left-Arrow will move the
cursor to the beginning of the line. The Keypad-Minus key will delete the
line the current line. Keypad-Enter will insert a line directly above the
current cursor position.
.STS Files
While reading messages in View! you may exit the program before reaching
the last message. This will cause a <forumname>.STS file to be written to
your messages path (if you are reading AmigaTech and exit before reading the
last message, the file AmigaTech.STS will be written to the directory that
contains your .MSG files). The R highlight for the forum will not be turned
off in Whap!. You may, at some later time, click on the R again. The message
file will be scanned and a requester will ask if you would like to continue
reading from the last read message in the file. The .STS file contains the
number of the last read message and also information about all previous
messages in the file (ie, whether they have been replied to, deleted, or kept).
This feature is helpful if you have replied to some messages but do not have
the time to read them all. When exiting back to Whap! the R gadget and
the W gadget for that forum will be highlighted (the W gadget only if you
have replied or commented to some messages). You can then click on
Perform Actions, have your replies sent, then later, continue reading from the
point you left off.
.STS files are written if you have not reached the last message. You will be
prompted to continue from the last message read only if the date stamp on
the .STS file is later than the date stamp on the .MSG file.
Demo vs Registered
The demo version of Whap! is fully functional. It is made available for your
use to determine if the program will meet your needs. If it does, you are
highly encouraged to register the program by mailing a personal check or
money order for $39.95US to:
ATI
P.O. Box 621592
Littleton, CO 80127
US and Canadian users: Payment should be in US funds.
UK users: Payment may be made by personal cheque or money order
for 25 pounds sterling.
The demo version of Whap has many non-essential features that are not available
for use. It also has a very annoying "guilt" screen that comes up every time
you move from one section of Whap! to another. This "guilt" screen is displayed
for 7 seconds. Usage of Whap! is greatly enhanced when the program is registered.
All of the features are enabled and the "guilt" screens are removed.
Registration Process
After your registration has been received a 128 byte binary email will be sent
to your User ID. When this email is received by Whap! your copy of the
program will automatically be transformed into the registered version. After
the registration process is complete make a backup copy of all Whap! related
files. This method of registration has proved reliable and eliminates the
need for mailing disks thus cutting down on the turn around time for receiving
the program. Should you feel the need to have a registered, physical disk
mailed to you, include an additional $10US (or 10 pounds sterling) with your
registration. This may seem an unreasonably costly surcharge. It is meant
to be so as to discourage the mailing of disks.
If, for any reason, you are not successful in setting up Whap! and have it
function properly for you, DO NOT REGISTER the program. Hundreds of users
will testify that the demo version is fully functional; it does work. If it
does not work for you there is no reasonable expectation that the registered
version will work for you either. As explained above, for all practical
purposes, the demo version is the registered version just waiting for a 128
byte binary email to activate the registered features.
Whap! is registered to a User ID. That is, when the registration email is
received, the User ID is embedded into the registered program.
What Happens The First Time I Use Whap! ?
Once you've properly configured Whap! and go online for the first time,
Whap will do several things. It will go into the CompuServe DEFAULT area
and set up your CompuServe parameters for what it expects to see. Since
there are many variations possible it is impossible for Whap! to take them
all into account, it must set up its own environment. Essentially, Whap!
sets the environment to be in Command mode rather than Menu mode. Whap!
will then go to EasyPlex and set your EasyPlex name to whatever you have
entered in the Name string in the Parameters screen. After this is done
Whap! will perform any actions you have specified it should do. After
logging off, it will write a file to Whap:. This file is will be named
Tnnn where nnnn is the baud rate you are using. This file contains no
useful information. Its existence tells Whap that is does not have to go
through the "definition" run again the next time it logs on. CompuServe
keeps different sets of parameters for you at different baud rates. If the
first time you log on at 2400 baud, the file written will be T2400. If you
log on with Whap! at 1200 baud, it will again go through the definition run
and set up the parameters then write a file named T1200. Any time you
delete the Tnnnn files it will force Whap! to again go through the definition
run on it's next logon at that baud rate.
What? Whap! Sends Emails By Itself?
Upon the first successful online run of Whap!, Whap! will automatically
send and email to ATI at 72230,323. The text of this email is:
Date: 03-Aug-89 14:08 MDT
From: Johann Smith [77777,1111]
Subj: Whap Registration
I am running Whap 1.9D for the first time.
After 50 online sessions with Whap!, an email will be sent that says:
Date: 03-Aug-89 14:08 MDT
From: Johann Smith [77777,1111]
Subj: Whap Registration
I have used Whap 1.9D 50 times.
When the registration email has been successfully received and email will
be sent. The text is:
Date: 03-Aug-89 14:08 MDT
From: Johann Smith [77777,1111]
Subj: Whap Registration
Registration confirmed for 77777,1111 using the 1.9 version.
Any time Whap! goes through it's definition run the "first time" email is
sent.
Installing Whap!
Whap! may be installed on your system in many different configurations,
depending on your system hardware and personal preferences. This section will
discuss only a few of the possible configurations, and you may use them as
guidelines for your own, customized installation.
This is actually the minimum configuration needed to properly operate
Whap! to its capabilities, and one of the easiest of the configurations to
install.
1. Place your boot disk into drive DF0: and the disk containing the
WHAP19.LZH file into drive DF1:
2. Boot up your computer as usual (power on or Control-Amiga-Amiga)
3. Enter CLI
4. Type COPY DF1:WHAP19.LZH RAM: on the CLI command line.
5. Remove the diskette from drive DF1: after the red disk activity
light is extinguished.
6. Insert a disk containing LHARC into drive DF1:
7. Type COPY DF1:LHARC RAM: on the CLI command line.
8. Remove the diskette from drive DF1: after the red disk activity
light is extinguished.
9. Insert a newly formatted diskette into drive DF1:
10. Type CD DF1: on the CLI command line.
11. Type RAM:LHARC E RAM:WHAP19.LZH on the CLI command line.
12. Type COPY KD_FREQ.LIBRARY LIBS:
13. Type DELETE KD_FREQ.LIBRARY
14. Type RELABEL DF1:WHAP on the CLI command line.
15. Type DELETE RAM:WHAP19.LZH RAM:LHARC on the CLI command line.
16. Type COPY DF0:C/COPY RAM: on the CLI command line
17. Type COPY DF0:C/DIR RAM: on the CLI command line
18. Type CD RAM: on the CLI command line
19. Remove the diskette from drive DF0:
20. Insert a diskette containing your favorite conventional terminal
program into drive DF0:
21. Type COPY DF0:<terminal program name> DF1: on the CLI command line.
22. Repeat step 19 for all the necessary support files for your
terminal program.
23. Remove the diskette from drive DF0:
24. Insert the system (workbench) diskette into drive DF0:
25: Type CD DF0: on the CLI command line
26. Type ENDCLI on the CLI command line.
27. Whap! is now installed.
Hard Drive Systems
The hard drive system is even easier to install than the two drive system.
Owners of hard drive systems will be assumed to have some knowledge of
AmigaDOS and the necessary tools to deARC resident on their systems.
1. UnLHArc the WHAP19.LZH file into whatever drawer you keep your
terminal programs.
2. Copy KD_FREQ.LIBRARY to LIBS: then delete KD_FREQ.LIBRARY from
the directory Whap! is in.
2. Insert the line ASSIGN WHAP: TERMINALS (or name of terminals drawer)
into your Startup-Sequence.
3. Whap! is now installed on your hard drive.
If you are running Whap! from floppy disk, and would like to create a bootable
Whap! disk, the following files/directories are the minimum required:
c (dir)
CD Copy
Delete Dir
echo EndCLI
Install
List NewCLI
Rename Run
stack
l (dir)
Disk-Validator Port-Handler
Ram-Handler
devs (dir)
printers (dir)
generic
serial.device system-configuration
s (dir)
startup-sequence
t (dir)
fonts (dir)
libs (dir)
diskfont.library icon.library
info.library kd_freq.library
.info AmigaArts.SEC
AmigaTech.SEC AmigaVend.SEC
Book params.whap (create by Whap!)
rates siginfo (created by Whap!)
View! v.cfg
Whap! Whap!.info
<conventional term program>
Running Whap!
Whap! requires a STACK of 20000 or greater. Enter the command STACK
20000 on the CLI command line, or embed the command in your STARTUP-SEQUENCE
before running this program.
Whap! operation is initiated by any of the familiar Amiga methods:
From CLI:
Run Whap!
Whap!
From WorkBench:
Double click the icon
CAUTION: Whap! has been designed to run from the standard AmigaDOS
system. Problems may be encountered when attempting to
operate the program from alternate systems, such as the ARP.
Using alternate operating systems or non-standard AmigaDOS
commands may result in improper program operation or GURU
visitations.
Program Setup
Before going on-line the first time, the user must preset some parameters.
From the Whap! screen, click the gadget bar labelled "Edit Parameters."
A utility screen will now appear from which you may set the parameters
required by your own system. A brief explanation of each element found on
the screen displayed follows.
If you do not have a local CompuServe gateway, and must access the network
through an alternative service like TYMNET or TELENET, Whap! provides a
limited scripting capability to facilitate access.
A. Initialize Modem. This is a string sent to the modem to reset the
modem and to initiate the dialing process. The default string
supplied should normally work with Hayes command compatible
modems. Your own modem may require different settings.
A few special control characters are used in this string. Should
you need to know them, the list is:
: Carriage Return
~ .5 second delay before proceeding with the string
^ Next character encountered is sent as a Control character
? Will cause the terminal to wait for the following character
before proceeding (eg., ?K would cause the terminal to wait
for a K before going forward)
NOTE: These are also the commands used should you need to create
a script.
B. Connect String. The terminal will wait until receiving this
string, and will assume it is connected with CompuServe upon
receiving it.
C. No Connect String. Should Whap! receive this string, it will
assume the connection attempt has failed and redial.
D. Reset String. Should Whap! receive this string, it will redial.
E. Busy String. Should Whap! receive this string, it will assume the
connection telephone line is busy and redial.
F. Telephone <1> <2> <3>. This option consists of three groups of
option gadgets to define the telephone number and baud rate you
will be using to connect with CompuServe.
The first gadget is a box, which when clicked, will fill with a
checkmark to indicate an active phone number. Whap! will
use checked entries to make its connections to CompuServe.
Check only those numbers you wish to use. Whap! will dial
each number checked consecutively until connection with
CompuServe is established.
The second gadget is a box in which the telephone number of your
local CompuServe node is placed.
The third through fifth gadgets are "click to set" boxes to
select the baud rate to be used with the number in that
line. If you need to have several baud rates for each
number, you will need a whole new line for each baud rate.
G. Your Name. Enter your name here. This name will be automatically
entered in CompuServe's Easyplex setting, and in all the forums
you join or are currently have membership.
H. User ID. This is your CompuServe User Identification number, also
known as PPN.
I. Password. Place the screen pointer over this box and press the
left mouse button. A hidden box will appear. Enter your unique
password in this gadget. This will be sent to CompuServe
automatically on login.
NOTE: The file on your disk named PARAMS.WHAP contains this
password. Do not distribute this file!
J. Messages. Whap! expects to find and store all messages, library
catalogs, etc., in one place. You must specify that location in
this gadget. This must be an existing location.
K. Uploads. Whap! expects to find all files for uploading in a
specific location. You must specify that location in this
gadget. This may be the same location as for your messages and
downloads, if desired. The entry you make here will be the one
you will see as the default in the uploads requester. You may
select a different upload directory at the time of upload though
use of that requester.
L. Downloads. Whap! will automatically download all files, including
binary Easyplex, to a specific location. You must specify that
location in this gadget.
M. Terminal. Whap! will look in a specific place to find your
favorite terminal program for either interactive use or to remain
connected to CompuServe after retrieving messages. Specify the
location of the terminal program in this box. If your terminal
program does not exist in the place specified, Whap! will
generate error messages but will operate in automatic mode
without the program.
N. Type of Cable. Whap! allows use of either 3 or 7 wire modem
cables, but the type must be specified. The seven wire cable is
preferable. If you do not know what type of cable your modem
uses, try the seven wire option first. If that fails, use the
three wire option. (Ed note. It will not LOOK like a 3 or 7
wire cable, the terminology refers to the number of active wires
within the modem cable.)
O. Type of Modem. Most modems currently in use on Amiga systems are
Autodial, however, a few manually operated modems are still
around. Select the type of modem you are using in this gadget.
P. Dial Suffix. This is the termination your modem expects on
receiving commands. The preset is for a carriage return and
linefeed. Should your modem require a different termination,
change this box accordingly.
Q. Exiting Parameters. You may choose to either SAVE the selection
you made here permanently to disk, or to USE the options for one
session without permanently changing them. It is suggested that
you exit by SAVE option in most cases.
R. View! The View! program may be placed in a directory other than
the WHAP directory.
NOTE: For Demo version, View! MUST be in the same directory as
Whap!.
S. TempFiles. Whap! creates some special purpose temporary files to
facilitate such things as uploading, downloading, message subject
line scanning, etc. These files are not necessary to the normal
operation of Whap!, and may be stored in some location other than
the WHAP directory. Indicate the location of these files in this
box so that Whap! can find them.
NOTE: For Demo version, TempFiles go to RAM:.
T. Backup. If you should desire to retain messages from the previous
on line session, click in this box.
Selecting Forums
Whap! comes supplied with default definitions to the three Amiga forums on
CompuServe. Most users will desire to operate on other forums as well as
these. To select other forums, click one of the blank forum gadgets on the
Whap! main screen.
A forum screen will now appear. In the upper left corner, there is a box in
which you may enter the forum name. Use the name that you would use normally
in a GO command on CompuServe.
Select the option of QSN or RTN, depending on whether you desire to read all
the messages in the forum or simply to scan the message headers for later
selection off line.
Click on the EXIT box.
Additional forums are added in the same manner, up to a total of ten.
Definition Run
Whap! is now sufficiently defined to go online. In its first run on
CompuServe, it will not retrieve messages, but simply set the necessary
CompuServe parameters and retrieve the message section and library names of
the forums you have selected. Simply click on the GET NEW MESSAGES bar to
initiate this definition run. (Note: If you have a manual modem, you must
manually dial the CompuServe node number, click on the PERFORM ACTIONS bar,
and switch the modem switch to DATA in lieu of the above procedure.)
At the end of this online session, Whap! will automatically enter EasyPlex
and send a message to ATI indicating that you have used Whap!. If this
message is sent and received by ATI, it serves as diagnostic tool indicating
that your Whap! installation is probably correct. (If you should encounter
problems using Whap!, and this message has been sent, the most likely area
to find the problem is in an OPTIONS definition in an individual forum,
or forums.)
Once the definition run is completed, Whap! is fully operational.
Miscellaneous
Do NOT save Messages or Catalogs to a ram based device!!!
If Whap! goes into a forum and appears to "hang" at a "Messages !" prompt
it is because Whap! expects a "Forum !" prompt. "Forum !" is the default
setting for all forums. Should you get the "Messages !" prompt it is
because somewhere along the line you have used the Options feature of the
CompuServe forum software and manually changed the prompt to "Messages !".
Go online with a conventional terminal program and change the prompt back
to "Forum !".
After Whap! has made it's definition run and set up your CompuServe
parameters the way it wants them, do NOT change them back. If you do,
Whap! will no longer run properly.
Credits
Whap! was written by Jim Nangano [76703,4254]
View! was written by Steve Ahlstrom [76703,2006]
A special thanks to all beta testers, including but not limited to, Vic Wagner,
Betty Clay, David Art, Clint Woeltjen, Ken Spoor, and Edwin Wiles.
Whap! Quick Reference
Main Screen
Gadget Activate Function
QuickBill Click Shows approximate monthlybilling.
Get New Messages Click Initiates on line session and
performs all current outstanding
actions, collects messages.
Perform Actions Click Initiates on line session but
performs outstanding actions ONLY.
InterActive Terminal Click Loads conventional terminal for
manual session. Logs on line.
View Charges Click Shows approximate billing and/or
usage profile.
Edit Parameters Click Edit telecommunications parameters.
Quit Click Exit Whap!
(ForumNames) Click Activates/deactivates forum for on
line session. (Toggle On/off)
(ForumNames) DoubleClick Redefine Forum preferences.
R Click Read messages
W Click Write messages
M Click Mark message headers for retrieval.
C Click Create library catalogs.
D Click Download files fromcatalog.
U Click Upload to Forum.
Hang Up Click (When visible) Hang up modem and
abort on line session.
Log Off When Done Click (When visible) Stays on line after
Whap! session and loads user defined
terminal program.
Abort Click (When visible) Aborts session.
WHAP! REGISTRATION FORM
NAME:_____________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________________
CITY:_____________________________ STATE:____________
ZIP:_________
CIS USERID:_______________________
AMIGA MODEL:_________________ RAM:_________ # OF 3.5 INCH
DRIVES:_____
HARD DISK ?:_____
COMMENTS:_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________