M600AB.THD --- Copyright 1987 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. This set of messages deals with using a sctipt file to automate downloads to the Tandy 600. It's also an example of "not taking no for an answer", with good results! General advice is given and the successful approach is described in detail. Message range: 148307 to 148765 Dates: 5/20/87 to 5/26/87 Fm: Susan Burleson 71615,647 To: all Does anyone know how to open & close the buffer to Session.txt (like using f3), only automatically with a Script file? I'm trying to automate something, and got stuck on this. Thanks much for help............Susan Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Susan Burleson 71615,647 Since it requires pressing a function key to open the SESSION.TXT buffer, it is not possible to do it in a script file. Fm: Susan Burleson 71615,647 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Ok, if I can't open & close the buffer via a script file, then what aabout using download, & finding out what CIS uses at the end of a listing to screen (eof marker?), & have script send that marker to the SIG, SIG bounces it back, Script receives it with "respond to:", then "respond with:off", or whatever. Does this make any sense??? The trouble I was having using download to receive a listing to screen was that when it got to "Function:", everything just stopped, and just sat there. IE, no more automatic. Have to then use the keyboard. There HAS to be a way to do this! (??) Tony, have mercy on the ignorant.......Susan Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Susan Burleson 71615,647 No, you can't do that, either. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Susan Burleson 71615,647 I found I was mistaken on the matter of opening and closing a buffer with your Tandy 600 logon script. You _can_ do it, and a file describing the technique, and it's ramifications will be uploaded soon, for the benefit of those who want/need automated download (or upload) of files. Here's a primer on how it's done... While making your script, you can insert a ransfer option, either to receive of send a specified file. You do that by selecting "T" when making your script, and at the next menu, select either Recieve or Send, and at the next menu specify a file name for download or upload. I would recommend receiving into a file different than SESSION, perhaps CAPTURE.TXT. Or, you could download into specific files with Xmodem, selectable on that last menu. Now, as to respond to and with prompts; on the Option menu (type OP and press ENTER at the main menu function prompt) you can set a special prompt character. Many of the "scripted" programs use ^B to be sent after a prompt. This can be used to maneuver through the necessary commands to get to where you want to go, by taking careful note of the normal chain you must go through, and the responses you must give. Then you can open your capture file, download everything into it (or upload from it), and at the next prompt, OFF will take you off the system. Your script might be long and complex, if you attempt to do more than one or two things, but it _can_ be done. And, if there were any changes in the normal conditions, you'd have to revise your script accordingly. I may be uploading a sample script that can emulate the EMAIL and AUTO-SIG type programs, along with instructions. But don't expect it in the next few days... will require some work. Fm: Susan Burleson 71615,647 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Tony - THANK YOU!! Will be eagerly watching the sig for info. Many times, because of my work hours, I don't have time to log on to the sig, so if I could automate it with using the wake command, it would be super. Again, thanx much..........Susan Fm: Susan Burleson 71615,647 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Tony - IT WORKS, IT WORKS!! Following is a Script file that worked all the way thru to logoff, opening & closing 2 different files. 2 things first - on CIS, I have the M100SIG set as Top menu, so it'll go there automatically; and - I have CIS set for xmodem (8N1E),and it seems that Script can't understand what the garbage means at logon (I get different garbage every time). So I have Script set the parameters at the start of logon to 7E1E, and set it back again after my user # has been logged in. In the User Options area of the SIG, I set the prompt character to ^B. So here goes - nobody type in the extra notes!, and I hope theres no line-hits while uploading this.....! Options: ;;;;;0;T;F;2;30;10 Note: I only use this to set the dialing speed to Fast. Modify: 300;1;7;E;X;F;V;N;L;F Note: So Script gets the right logon prompts instead of garbage. Connect: CIS;8835551;M Respond with: ^M Note: At the "Respond to:" part, just leave it empty by hitting the tab key to move over to the "with:" part. Respond to: Name: Respond with: CIS^M Respond to: ID: Respond with: 71615,647^M Modify: 300;1;8;N;X;F;V;N;L;F Note: Changed back to what Xmodem requires. Respond to: Password: Note: This comes across in English. Respond with: ********* whatever your password is. Respond to: ^B Respond with: qs^M Note: Quick Scan of message board. Respond to: ^B Respond with: new^M Note: or whatever start # you want. Receive: qsm24.txt Note: Whatever filename you want to capture to. Respond to: ^B Respond with: off^M Receive: off.txt Note: to capture the connect time, etc. Respond to: Name: Note: no "^B" - a brand new logon. Disconnect: Now, I can use the "Wake" command from the main system menu to run Telcom with this (or another) Script at 4 AM and have all the info to browse thru later - neat, neat!!! The ultimate in laziness! We could add a couple more lines when first entering the SIG for RM - Read Messages and occasionally add lines to go to DL1 to see whats new in the download area. Tony, thanks for all your help. And I hope this helps others - maybe our M600's aren't so obsolete after all! Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Susan Burleson 71615,647 Your script technique is exactly the sort of script that I tried. And your feedback also provides the additional information that you can change your TELCOM parameters while online. Didn't know that was possible before! On your Quick Scan command, you can combine that: Respond with: QSN^M. There's one other thing you need to be aware of, if you have messages waiting, and you do an RM, then the system will hang at the end of each one, unless you preset your option list to never stop. That can be done in your script before using an RM command as in: Respond to: ^B with: OP;SM N T;S^M Respond to: ^B with: RM^M Respond to: ^B with: OFF^M (or whatever) Note that the space before and after the N are significant. For those who do not have M100SIG set as the first service, they can key off CompuServe's opening banner with: Respond to: C with: ^OGO M100SI^M I see that you've also found that you can set up the script to wait for a specific letter, OR an entire word. Advise care if you ever use the word "Function", since it can be fouled up with some of the system responses that aren't really the function prompt. The ^B is the best method. You can also use the technique to access and download specific files from the data library, if you're interested in that, but you'd have to modify the script each time you wanted to use it. May be more trouble than it's worth. I have not yet tested whether a similar script can be made to go to EasyPlex and query for, and retrieve messages. That may be more difficult, since there doesn't seem to be a way to deal with EasyPlex options depending on how many messages are there. For example, if there is more than one message, and you issue a "Read" command, you get a prompt for "Which one, or all?". The script approach may not work there. And I'm not yet sure whether EasyPlex has a settable prompt character. But, an interesting pursuit. Did you find a way to close a capture file? or did you get the "Off" data in both files? Fm: Susan Burleson 71615,647 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Greetings - will have to experiment with Easyplex - but, with an initial "LOGON.TXT" file open in Script, you can capture the message that you have mail waiting. When you open a new file tthe system seems to close the previous one first, and "LOGOFF.TXT" will capture all that info, too. Still need to play around with this - thanks lots for the added info - will let you know if I find anymore goodies! I'm liking this computer more & and more! (Pardon the garbage in the last line - hit the label key by mistake)............Susan #: 22570 S11/Tandy 600 25-Feb-90 20:42:53 Sb: Telcom Script Tips Fm: Steve Ringley 73727,1202 Here is some additional information to append to M600AB.THD if you would. In that thread, a bunch of uneccessary effort is expended in capturing the results of ones scripted logons. To wit, one will only need to leave the normal SESSION.TXT capture text buffer [F3] or print text [F4] on during a previous use of Telcom. Telcom saves its workfile, and no matter which method you use to access it (Normal, script, wake-up, answer), Telcom will turn back on whatever was left on during the previous session. The only drawback to this is that the capture text buffer is limited to 64K, so if you anticipate an unattended session that will draw more than 64K, you need to figure some ingenious way to get the 600 switch files once every so often. One other point: When a script finishes without executing a disconnect, control passes to the keyboard. In simple terms this means that you can automate your logons with a script. To start off you off, use the script in this thread (M600AB) to the point where it ^O's the What's New junk. If you have set your first service, etc. in Profile, simply running the script will take you to your first prompt. Have Fun!