An Offline message reader for CIX for the Psion Series 3a Pocket computer.
Sales.
######
This product is Shareware.
If you find this product useful please register it. Registration will remove the Nag screen and provide the latest version, plus automatic upgrades. There is a 20 day evaluation period, after which the program will only display the Nag screen.
To register send a cheque for UKP12.00 to
D.Keppler
1 Field Close
Beyton
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP30 9AB
Or register on Compuserve under SWREG Number 4515 for $25
Upgrading
##########
For versions before 4.2 please remove all ReadCIX files and install this version in the new directories. Users of 4.2 and above must delete the configuration file and install the new programs and scripts over the older versions.
Introduction.
#############
It is important to remember the concept behind ReadCIX, it was never meant to be a full OLR such as Matrix or Telepathy or Ameol,the size limits imposed by the small memory would make this impossible. Not from any limitations of OPL or the Series 3a itself, more the problems of fitting a large message base into 2Mb of RAM. ReadCIX was created to cater for the times when you have not had time to read all the messages downloaded onto a desktop PC or while you are away and would like to keep up to date with messages and Mail.
There is no clever or complicated thread handling in ReadCIX, all it tries to do is either take a previously downloaded scratchpad or, a scratchpad downloaded to the Series 3a automatically, and present the messages in an orderly fashion and enable you to create new messages and replies.
Installation.
#############
You can install ReadCIX.opa into any \app directory. The remaining files must go in a \app\readcix directory on any drive.
There are 17 Files included in the Zip file:
\app Directory
ReadCIX.opa : The program itself,
\app\readcix Directory
ReadMen.opa : A further program module
Rhscms.dyl : Comms DYL
Readall.man :
Upload.man : The main ReadCIX scripts
Terminal.man :
CixMail.sco : Additional scripts
Resume.sco :
Basket.sco :
Flist.sco :
Billing.sco
News.sco :
Finish,Mail,Welcome.wve : Optional Sound files.
Files not to be installed.
ReadCIX.TXT : This file
Scripts.zip : Source for the supplied scripts
****Notes
The Zip file of Scriipt source is included to enable advanced users to customize the scripts. Unless you are VERY sure if what you are doing, do not overwrite the supplied ones.
Psion-I will then install the program as described in the Psion manual.
Operation.
##########
General.
ReadCIX allows you to browse a set of messages downloaded from CIX, either by ReadCIX itself or transferred from another computer. It will arrange your messages into conferences, and you can pick which conferences to read. While viewing a message you may print the text or jot down notes or save a message. You can also reply to a message or create new mail and messages.
On first running the program you will be prompted for your CIX user name and password, this is used by ReadCIX to notify you of any replies to messages created by ReadCIX and for logging on to CIX. Once the program has started,first set up the options in the Configure ReadCIX, Configure Comms and printer options under the special menu. The path names all need a trailing \ ie b:\cix\ . If you intend using the built in Comms functions then the correct connections to a modem must be made. Once a scratchpad has been downloaded use the post option to create the individual message files for reading.
If space is limited on the Series 3a the scratchpad can be posted from a remote drive using the serial link.
Here is a description of the menu options.
Files.
==============
Read Messages
-------------------------.
Select a conference to read.
Delete Messages
--------------------------
Deletes one or all the message files. It is best to use this option for deleting message files rather than the system screen as the message pointers are reset.
Display Text File
-------------------------
Select and display a text file from within ReadCIX, this could be a previously saved message or downloaded information such as billing details.
Delete Text File
-----------------------
Deletes one or all of the text files stored in the directory \cix\text
Exit.
---------
Return to the system screen.
Connect
======
Full connect
-----------------
This will run the supplied script Readall. This will upload any replies and download any new messages.
Just upload replies
-----------------------------
This will run the supplied script Upload which will just upload any replies.
Run Script
----------------
This will run a user supplied script. ReadCIX will look in the directory defined in the setting in the Configure option for additional scripts. The following are supplied.
CixMail: Just uploads any replies stored and downloads any waiting Mail
Resume: Will prompt for a user name and logon and retrive the resume
Baskets: Downloads a listing of the contents of you In/Out Baskets
Flist: Downloads a listing of a topics file list
Billing: Prompts for Year and Month and retreivs billing details
News: Downloads any new messages from Newsnet newsgroups you are
joined to
Terminal
-------------
Allows you to start up the built in Comms app, with optionaly logging on to CIX and staying online.
**** Notes.
Read CIX uses the Standard Series 3a Comms application to connect to CIX, therefore there are a few things to setup outside ReadCIX before it can be used. The Comms application must be installed and the serial link connected to a modem with the correct cables.
When a script is selected from the menu, ReadCIX passes control to the Comms application while the script is running. This allows you to monitor the progress of the script and reply to
any prompts. When the script has finished, control returns to ReadCIX.
Posting.
========
Post Scratchpad.
-------------------------
After prompting for a file name this option will read through the downloaded scratchpad and post the messages to the relevant file. ReadCIX uses the first eight characters of the conference name as a file name. It will create a file for each new conference. If ReadCIX finds a conference exists already, the messages will be added to the end of file. ReadCIX maintains a pointer to the last read message for each conference and will position you at the last read message upon entering a conference file. After posting the scratchpad will be renamed to Scratchp.sc(x) where x is an number from 1-5 This will allow the scratchpad to be saved for later importing into a desktop system. For example the scratchpads could be saved whilst away and the imported into AMEOL via the Import CIX scratchpad option.
Import scratchpad
---------------------------
After prompting for a file name this option will read through a scratchpad in the same manner as above. the only difference is that this option looks for a scratchpad which has been created with the COMPACT HEADER YES option set on CIX. This option is used in OLR's such as AMEOL .
Post Newsgroups
--------------------------
After prompting for a file name this option will read through a scratchpad downloaded with the News script and post the messages to a message file called News. All Newsgroups will be posted to the News file, must as topics are posted to on conference file.
