DOCUMENTATION for Redial.100



Redial.100 -- either version -- is designed for calling a heavily-used computer
BBS.  It dials a telephone number and checks to see if a modem answers.  If one
does, REDIAL calls the Model 100 TERM program.  (Version .JD2 does so after it 
logs you onto the system.)  Otherwise it hangs up, waits about 30 seconds, and 
repeats the sequence -- until either it succeeds or you tell it to stop.

This program is one result of trying to rearrange the database on Lansing State
Journal -- ACCESS, of which I am a Sysop.  I'd grown weary of spending weekends
at the computer, telling TELCOM to keep trying.  Better to write a program, I 
decided, and let M100 do the work.



FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM:

**Automatic repeats until connection is made.

**Version .JD2 features an automatic logon feature.

**Simplified setting of modem protocol parameters.

**Both versions are SMALL.  The longer can be easily trimmed to less than 1000 
bytes.

**The display tells you the current status of the attempt.  Information is 
given about what the program is currently doing, what phone it is attempting to
reach, and how long it has been trying to get through.

**REDIAL beeps twice per cycle to remind you that it's still at work.

**Pressing <ENTER> at any prompt will return you to the M100 main menu.

**REDIAL gives an audible cue when it successfully reaches the other computer.

**Three escapes are provided from the redial cycle, via function keys.  [f1] 
("New#") prompts you for a new phone number.  [f4] ("Off") shuts the computer 
down; this is useful if you recieve an incoming call during the window between 
attempts.  [f8] ("Menu") calls the Model 100 main menu display.



USING REDIAL.JD1:

This version's for limited RAM.  If you've more than 8K, version .JD2 is almost
certainly preferable.

The program first asks you to choose between two common RS-232 parameter 
settings.  (These are the two in use around Lansing; I suppose there may be 
others.  Changing this option is relatively easy; if there are others you want,
just leave me a note.)

Then it asks for a phone number.

Then REDIAL dials the number.  It waits about 30 seconds for a modem to 
respond, then hangs up and waits about 30 seconds before trying again.  The 
whole cycle takes approximately 75 seconds.

If a modem answers, REDIAL whistles for you and calls the M100 TERM routine.

Automatic logon is possible with this version -- if you want to type in the 
appropriate string, and if you KNOW the other computer will answer on first
ring.  BE AWARE that the redial feature will be disabled, which sorta defeats
the program.  I don't recommend it.


USING REDIAL.JD2:

The program assumes you've got the number you want to call in your ADRS.DO 
file, and prompts for something to look for.  Since the program does not make 
case conversions, the search string must EXACTLY match that being sought.  (I 
use only lower case in my ADRS.DO file....)

REDIAL searches ADRS for the entry and, if it's there, dials the number.  The 
auto- repeat routine is like the other version's; 75 seconds or thereabouts, 
total.

The fun begins when a modem answers.  REDIAL hollers at you and logs you onto 
the system (assuming, of course, you've given it correct instructions in the 
proper format).

A note on "proper format":  REDIAL expects a slightly different format from 
TELCOM's.  An example format is:

LSJ-A:4828144<all the usual stuff>:(modem parameters) anything else you like --
up to 255 bytes, total....

Notice the (modem parameters) in parentheses, there.  For example:  "(M8N1E)" 
for my home board, LSJ-ACCESS; or "(7i1e)" for calling CIS.  (The M is 
optional.)

The following punctuation marks, used other than as expected by the program, 
may have unintended results -- ":", ">", "<", "(", and ")".  Using a different 
format in your ADRS entry may, also, have unexpected consequences; be really 
careful between the first colon and the closing parenthesis.

In the event this version finds an ADRS entry without logon information or with
modem parameters missing, it will assume parameters of M8N1E and dial the call,
but will not log you in.

Of course, it may be that you wish to call a number which is not in your ADRS 
file.  This can be accomplished by answering the "Search for:" prompt with "D" 
(<UPPERCASE><D>) and the number you wish to call.  For example, "D4828144" 
could be used to dial LSJA from a Lansing phone.  Parameters default to M8N1E 
and automatic logon is disabled.



TWO PERTINENT WARNINGS

The program occasionally "calls" one of Ma Bell's blasted recordings, which 
complains (unaccountably) that we've dialed a 1- before a local number.  I've 
been told that this results from an M100 hardware bug.  REDIAL just hangs up on
her, and tries again.


IMPORTANT CAUTION:  REDIAL cannot tell the difference between:
 1) no answer,
 2) busy signal, or
 3) answered by voice.

DO NOT use this program to dial your girlfriend.  It will hang up on her, then 
call her again, then hang up on her again.  She'll likely get annoyed.  (See 
REDIAL.MOD in M100SIG's DL1 for further discussion.)



CUSTOMIZING REDIAL

I regularly get inquiries about modifying REDIAL.  Here follow changes people 
have made to fit it better to their needs or preferences:

Many people feel the timer loops are too long, and ask about modifying them.  
There are two loops:

The first, in line 8 of REDIAL.JD2 (line 5 in .JD1), contains the routine that 
samples the phone line to see if a connection has been made.  I've set it 
rather long to match the recycle sequence on LSJA, but it can be easily 
shortened.  Just change BOTH 2500s to some smaller number; 800 is about 10 
seconds.

The second timer loop is empty, and lives in line 9 (or 6).  It's the FOR... 
NEXT loop in exponential notation (this to save bytes), each 1500 (15E2) takes 
about a second.  Changing the 3E4 to 0 should make this loop take about 10 
seconds....

Some folks want the screen to display a count of the attempts made to get 
through.  I find this inexplicable, but here's the solution:  Add ":C=0" at the
end of line 6 (line 3 if .JD1).  Add "C=C+1:" at the start of the next line.  
In the same line (either 7 or 4, presumably) replace the "TAB(160)" with 
"TAB(80)".  IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS insert "TAB(104)"Attempts:"C" (sorry about 
the nested quote marks) so the sequence now reads:

 ...TIME$,5)")"TAB(104)"Attempts:"CTAB(80)"New#"...

Users with an IPL password program will probably wish to modify the POWEROFF 
option to read RUN"PASS (or whatever you call the program).  Line 11 or 8, 
depending.

Similarly, some users may wish to modify the MENU calls in lines 2 and 10 (or 
2, 3 and 7) to RUN"PROGRM -- for instance, I use a manager program that 
effectively isolates me from the main menu in normal operations.  Notice that 
if you change the function key call from MENU, you may want also to change the 
key's label (in line 7 or 4, depending on version.  Just after the TAB(35)).

All the function keys may, of course, be reassigned or rearranged (I've got 
"Off" and "New#" switched, for instance).  The call is the ONKEYGOSUB in line 0
(both versions, though the calls are different) and the labels are the last 
line of TABs in line 7 (4).  (If you add another key here, TAB isn't the best 
way to define this line, by the way.)

The prompt strings can, of course, be modified to suit your tastes.  Just find 
'em in the program, and make changes to fit.  You may have to study how I've 
used TAB to make things work, though, since the manual doesn't properly 
describe how they behave.

Version .JD2's manual dial cue requires a search prompt response beginning with
"D".  This can easily be amended to, say, <GRAPH><p> (a telephone) by replacing
the "D" in line 2 with the appropriate character.

Perhaps you'd prefer that REDIAL.JD2 default to some RS-232 parameter other 
than M8N1E.  Just replace the "8n1e" in line 5 with your choice.

And a security note:  Your ADRS.DO file may well contain passwords to one or 
more systems.  These can be hidden.  As a first step, you can make the ADRS 
file invisible with any of a number of utilities available on M100SIG.  Still 
better, change its name first, and modify REDIAL.JD2's line 2 to look for the 
renamed file (change "adrs" to whatever in the OPEN statement).



NOTES & DEBTS

This program incorporates the Dick Cassidy/ larry gensch/ Jerry Kohl DIALER.100
routine almost intact, as a PRETTY'd listing will clearly reveal.    Technical 
questions about their portions of the program should be directed to one of 
them; I only analyzed their program to the extent that I needed for revisions.
(larry's CARDET.TXT in M100SIG's DL4 is interesting reading....)

My revisions are of three sorts:

First, I did a fairly careful crunch of the program.  In the process, I changed
or shortened all variable names.  I also collapsed the logic of the routine, to
save bytes.  And I deleted their extensive -- and very helpful -- remarks.

Second, I made a minor, but significant, change in their routine.  What I 
wanted was an endless repeat; their program prompts after each attempt.  So I 
deleted the prompt, replaced it with a GOTO, and added what they call "a 
suitable delay."

Finally, I built a shell around the program to give the user more control.  
Features of the shell include modem parameter selection, the revised display, 
the function keys, and .JD2's logon routine.


The auto- logon routine is based on Rick Perry's LOGON.100.


Suggestions, advice, and other comments are welcome and encouraged.  (If these 
instructions need repairs, tell me that, too.)  My thanks to Dick & larry & 
Jerry for making their program available.  Also to Rick Perry for locating the 
logon routine.  And to my friends on CompuNet (LSJA'S predecessor) for their 
advice while I was testing the program.


Joel Dinda
 [75725,1134]
 Lansing State Journal -- ACCESS
 (517)482-8144

24aug85