 {COMMO} (tm) Help  (C)Copyright 1989-1997 Fred P. Brucker  All Rights Reserved

[00.10] *****  {COMMO} Key Commands

 The Alt keys shown in the Key Command descriptions are the built-in default
 key assignments for the various {COMMO} commands.  Once you are familiar with
 these commands you may use macros to reassign any of the keys (see "Keyboard
 Macros: Customizing Key Commands").

 Note that certain program features are available only in macros.  Refer to
 macro function descriptions for details.


[00.20] ****  Alt+A  ASCII Upload


[00.30] ***  Keys in ASCII Upload Window

   Enter    Send the indicated ASCII file.
   Alt+L    Change the current Line Pacing character.
   PgUp     Look behind the window.


[00.40] ***  Description of ASCII Upload

 This command is used to send ASCII text files, such as prepared messages, to
 the remote system.  Use it in situations where the remote is expecting typed
 input or when you want to display text at the remote.  File to file transfers
 should be performed with error checking protocols (e.g., Zmodem, see
 "Uploading / Downloading").

 In the ASCII Upload window you will be prompted to enter a path\filename.  You
 can also change the Pacing Character.  To select a file using the picklist,
 press PgUp instead of Alt+A, then "A".  The current Pacing Character will be
 used.

 Several parameters are used to control an ASCII Upload:


[00.50] ***  Line Pacing   ("pac" in COMMO.SET)

 IMPORTANT!  Line Pacing is normally used when the remote is sending a prompt
 for each line of typed input, such as "nn:" or "nn?", where "nn" is a line
 number and ":" or "?" is the prompt or "Pacing Character."

 {COMMO} will send each line when the Pacing Character is received (or after
 waiting 5 seconds).  If there is a 5 second delay between the sending of each
 line, then either you have the wrong Pacing Character or you don't need Line
 Pacing (e.g., you don't need it when using a full-screen editor).

 At any time, the Spacebar may be pressed to force transmission of the next
 line.  This is useful when you've chosen the wrong Pacing Character or if you
 want to send each line manually.  In the latter case, use any invalid Pacing
 Character.

 TIPS on using Line Pacing:

  >   The initial Pacing Character is configurable.  See "ASCII Upload Pacing
      Character."

  >   The Pacing Character may be any character including control characters,
      e.g. "^m" or "|" for carriage return.  See "ASCII Character
      Representation" for details on how to represent special characters.

  >   The receive Translate Table can affect the Pacing Character if receive
      translation is ON.


[00.60] ***  Character Pacing

 You may insert a delay between each character using the Inter-Character Delay
 feature.  This should be used only when the remote system is so slow that it
 drops characters.  See "Set Terminal Parameters."


[00.70] ***  Stripping Linefeeds   ("slf" in COMMO.SET)

 Strip linefeeds from your outgoing text in situations where you would normally
 be typing the information (e.g., into a message editor).  If all of your data
 displays on the same line at the remote, then you need to send the linefeeds.


[00.80] ***  Expanding Blank Lines   ("ebl" in COMMO.SET)

 You may configure {COMMO} to send a space character whenever a blank line is
 encountered in the text file you are sending.  This will prevent your message
 from terminating prematurely (message editors often end the message on an
 empty line).  Blank line expansion is not normally required when sending to a
 "full screen" BBS editor.


[00.90] ****  Alt+B  Send Break Signal

 A one second Break Signal will be sent.  This signal is used by some online
 systems to interrupt certain operations.  Use it only when the remote system
 directs you to do so.

 NOTE: The duration of the Break Signal may be varied using the BREAk macro
 function.


[01.00] ****  Alt+C  Clear Screen

 The Terminal Screen will be cleared and the current colors will be set to the
 Setup File defaults.


[01.10] ****  Alt+D  Dialing Directory


[01.20] ***  Keys in Dialing Directory Window

   Down     Selector Bar down one line.
   Up       Selector Bar up one line.
   Right    Scroll screen right.
   Left     Scroll screen left.

   PgDn     Scroll screen down one page.
   PgUp     Scroll screen up one page.
   End      Selector Bar to bottom of screen.
   Home     Selector Bar to top of screen.

   Ctrl+PgDn    Go to end of file.
   Ctrl+PgUp    Go to beginning of file.

   E        Edit the Dialing Directory.
   Alt+E    Edit with external editor.
   L        Load a new Dialing Directory file.

   S        Search for text from top of file.
   D        Search from current top of page.
   A        Search again, same text.

   Enter    Dial number at Selector Bar.
   Alt+N    Dial all marked numbers.  If a macro exists at the label "aln",
            {COMMO} will execute the macro instead.  The built-in variable
            "_pfw" will be set to "1".
   M        Manual dial, enter number at prompt.

   Space    Mark/unmark a number for dialing.
   Alt+T    Mark all numbers.
   Y        Unmark all numbers.
   T        Mark a number, don't move selector.
   R        Unmark a number, don't move selector.

   Alt+K    Jump to Scrollback.
   Alt+M    Jump to Macro Processor.
   Alt+X    Terminate {COMMO}.  If a macro exists at the label "alx", {COMMO}
            will execute the macro instead.  The built-in variable "_pfw" will
            be set to "1".


[01.30] ***  How to Dial

 To dial a SINGLE number, move the Selector Bar to the desired system entry,
 then press Enter.

 In the Dialing Window you may press:

   Space    to hang up and redial.
   T        to reset the dialing or delay timer.
   Esc      to cancel dialing.

 To dial MULTIPLE numbers in sequence, use Space to mark the desired numbers,
 then press Alt+N.  The location of the Selector Bar will be used to begin the
 dialing sequence.  Note that if a macro exists at the label :aln it will be
 executed instead.

 In the Dialing Window you may press:

   Space    to skip to the next number.
   R        to remove the current number from the queue.
   T        to reset the dialing or delay timer.
   Esc      to cancel dialing.


[01.40] ***  Description of Dialing Directory

 The Dialing Directory is your database of telephone numbers.  From the
 directory window you can select numbers to dial.  You can also update the
 directory using the Internal Editor, dial a number manually or load a new
 directory.

 NOTE: Directory entries may be added easily without editing by using the "D"
 selection on the Utility Menu (press Alt+U from the Terminal Screen).

 TIPS on creating Dialing Directory entries:

  >   All items for each directory entry must be on a single line.  Lines may
      be up to 255 characters in length.  {COMMO}'s Internal Editor will scroll
      horizontally to follow the cursor.

  >   Do not use extra spaces within the curly braces (except in the phone
      number field).

  >   Items in curly braces are positional and must be present if any
      subsequent items are present on the same line.  Items which are not used
      may have a null string {} as a placeholder (null strings at the end of
      the line may be omitted).

  >   Any number of string variable items may be added following the Terminal
      Parameters item.

  >   Comments may be placed anywhere outside the curly braces or on separate
      lines.


[01.50] ***  Dialing Directory Entry Example

   File City BBS  {555-1234}  {pword}  {fcbbs}  {}  12/01/95

 where:

    File City BBS   =   System Name
    {555-1234}      =   Telephone Number
    {pword}         =   System Password
    {fcbbs}         =   Linked Macro
    {}              =   Terminal Parameters
    12/01/95        =   Date Last Called


[01.60] **  System Name     File City BBS

 Up to 40 characters in length,  it must NOT be enclosed in curly braces.  The
 System Name will be displayed on the Status Line after connection (if the
 Signal Lights option is not selected).  It will also be part of a Usage Log
 entry if the log is enabled.


[01.70] **  Telephone Number     {1-707-555-1234}

 The Dialing Prefix, Telephone Number and Dialing Suffix are strung together to
 form a dialing command (may be up to 128 characters total).  Spaces and
 hyphens are ignored by most modems (your modem manual has more detailed
 information on dialing commands).

 Normally the default Dialing Prefix (usually "ATDT") and the default Dialing
 Suffix (usually "|") will be used.  These are specified in the Setup File.
 You may also have any number of alternate prefixes and suffixes by defining
 them with SET items in the Setup File.

 For example, you might need to turn off modem error-correction when calling a
 non-error-correcting modem.  The commands to control this vary from modem to
 modem, but let's assume that the command is "\N0" to turn it off and "\N3" to
 turn it on.  Then the Dialing Prefix you would use for the entries where you
 want it off should be "AT \N0 DT" (spaces optional).  To define this prefix,
 you could have this item in your Setup File:

      {set no_ec,AT \N0 DT}    Prefix to turn off EC

 The directory entry to use it would be as follows:

      File City  {%no_ec%555-1234} {pword} {city} {}

 The default prefix would contain the command to turn error-correction back on:

      {set _dialpf,AT \N3 DT}    Default Dialing Prefix

 The prefix "no_ec" will override the default prefix if it is at the very
 beginning of the telephone number field (immediately following the left curly
 brace).  Similarly, an override suffix may be specified if it is at the very
 end of the field (immediately preceding the right curly brace).

 Notice that these are variable names and must be bracketed between "%"
 characters.  Variables may be placed anywhere else within the number field as
 well, but they will not override the default prefix or suffix unless they are
 at the very beginning or very end, respectively (insert a space between the
 variable and the curly brace if you want the default AND the variable).

 You may use variables defined with SET items in the Setup File or variables
 set within macros.

 IMPORTANT!  The tilde (~) will not work as a delay in the dialing command.
 This is because the modem does not start dialing until it receives a carriage
 return (the Default Suffix).  Therefore you must use the modem's own delay
 character, which is usually a comma (,).  For example, use the following
 prefix to disable Call Waiting (with most tone systems):

      {set _dialpf,ATDT *70,}    Default Dialing Prefix

 This will cause the modem to dial "*70" and then delay two seconds before
 sending the telephone number.

 NOTE: If you dial an entry in the directory and the telephone number field is
 NULL (no characters between the left and right curly braces), then {COMMO}
 will act exactly as if a connection had been made -- WITHOUT actually dialing.
 The password and any variables will be defined and the Linked Macro will be
 started.  This is useful when you want to "call" a host that is on a "direct
 connection."


[01.80] **  System Password     {pword}

 A different Password String may be defined for each system that you call.
 Passwords may be up to 64 characters in length.

 The Password String may be sent by pressing Alt+W or by using the variable
 "_pas" in a macro.

 Passwords are invisible in the Dialing Directory window, but appear when you
 enter Edit mode.

 Characters in password strings follow the rules in "ASCII Character
 Representation."


[01.90] **  Linked Macro     {fcbbs}

 The general form for this item is:

      {label,filename}

           label
                A macro label where execution is to start (optional).  The
                label may be located in the resident Macro File or in the
                current auxiliary file.

           filename
                The filename of a Macro File (optional).  If the file is not
                already in memory (resident or auxiliary), it will be loaded as
                the auxiliary prior to searching for the label.  Do NOT specify
                a path; the {COMMO} home directory will be used.

 Examples:

      {fcbbs}
           Start at the label "fcbbs".

      {mailrun,fcbbs.mac}
           Start at the label "mailrun" after loading the auxiliary Macro File
           "fcbbs.mac".

      {,fcbbs.mac}
           Load the auxiliary Macro File "fcbbs.mac" and enter manual mode (no
           label given).

 If a valid label is specified, the Linked Macro will be started when a
 connection is established with the remote system.  If no macro is specified
 (or the macro label is not found), {COMMO} will enter the Terminal Screen in
 manual mode.

 Additional options are available when using the DIAL macro function.  See DIAL
 function for details.


[02.00] **  Terminal Parameters     {}

 This item allows you to override any or all of the default Terminal Parameters
 for the current call.

 The default Terminal Parameters are initialized with the first five items in
 the Setup File and may be changed during a session with the Alt+P key command
 or with the DPARms macro function.

 Prior to dialing each number, {COMMO} will change the current parameter
 settings to the default Terminal Parameters.  Then it will set any overrides
 specified in this item.

 The general form for this item is:

      {speed,format,comport,terminal-type,delay}

 For example, you might have:

      {,7,,V}

 which would set the Data Format to "7e1" and the Terminal-type to VT102, but
 would use the defaults for the other parameters.

 See "Alt+P  Set Terminal Parameters" for a complete description of each field.


[02.10] **  Last Called     12/01/95

 If this item is present, {COMMO} will replace it with the current date
 whenever a connection is made with the system.  It may appear anywhere on the
 entry line (do not enclose it in curly braces).  Place "00/00/00" to start it.


[02.20] **  Variable Items     {name,string}

 Any number of Variable Items may be included in a directory entry and will be
 set just prior to dialing.  The "string" may not contain any variables.  The
 first Variable Item must follow the Terminal Parameters item (all other items
 must be present as placeholders even if some are null).  Example (must be on a
 single line):

   File City  07/24/96  {555-1234} {pword} {mac} {} {bbsid,filecity} ...

 See also "Alt+N  Multi Number Dialing."

