STARTUP.DOC

**************************************************************************
*                                                                        *
*                            AUTOSIG                                     *
*                                                                        *
*                          STARTUP.DOC                                   *
*                                                                        *
*                     Ray Bowler, 72733,1531                             *
*                          June 15, 1994                                 *
*                                                                        *
**************************************************************************

Please read this document through entirely before starting the
procedure.  That way there will be fewer surprises along the way.

This startup document is for those who desire to get started using AUTOSIG
as rapidly as possible.  It will lead you through making your initial
settings, making your CompuServe settings work with AUTOSIG, setting up a
forum, doing what is required for automatic retrieval of message headers
and messages.

After using this guide, you still need to read the manual for the details
and for some of the options (PC Options for instance) which make this
package more usable to you.  There are many refinements which are not in
this guide so you need to study the manual to get the most out of this
software.  You will also need to read it to understand the terminology.

For this setup to work correctly you must have in your current directory
the following three files:

       AUTOSIG.EXE  The AUTO program
       AUTOSIG.HLP  The help file
       CSETUP.SCR   This will automate a number of details of the
                    initial setup of CIS to work with AUTO

The following steps should be taken in order.  It shouldn't hurt to go
through them several times if something goes wrong.  Help is generally
available by pressing F1.  If these instructions don't work, please post
questions in PCCOM sect. 1 (AUTOSIG).  Comments and suggestions for
improvement will be appreciated.  Post them to Sysop in PCCOM section
1 (AUTOSIG).

--Start the program by typing AUTOSIG.
***********************************************************************
*         Enter name on initial execution                             *
***********************************************************************

--On the first execution only you will be asked for the name
which you wish to use joining forums.  Type in the name you will
be using in the forums.

--The main menu screen will appear.
***********************************************************************
*     Select the host for your modem speed and set the phone, password*
*     and other information for use with that setting                 *
*     Be sure to check which Host you are using when you go online    *
*     If you press the Up/Down arrows, you will change hosts.  If you *
*     can't log in, this is one of the first things to check          *
***********************************************************************
--The Host Selection on the left depends on the speed of your
     modem.  Select the correct one (for instance, CIS2400) using the
     up/down arrows on your keyboard.
     Press F4--Edit Host Options

Page 2

--Move between items using the tab keys or the arrow keys
     Enter the phone number you will be dialing
     Enter your userid (79999,999)
     Enter your password
     Change the Com port if you are not using COM1.  If you have odd COM
     ports, check the ATO manual for settings
     Enter a bulletin file name--like AUTOSIG.BUL (In your ATO directory)
     Enter a path to a subdirectory where you wish downloaded
     files to be placed(C:\DOWNLOAD\ for instance. Note second \).
     If you know that your modem needs certain commands, enter
     them under Modem dial commands
     PRESS F10 when finished.

************************************************************************
*   Use the following procedure to add forums where you are already a  *
*   member or which you know you will want to use.                     *
*   Repeat for each forum being added.                                 *
*                                                                      *
*   This has already been done for the forums which are on your initial*
*   menu.                                                              *
************************************************************************

--Press F5 to add a forum.
     The AUTO forum name should be a seven letter name for the forum,
            Geneol for instance
     The GO word/page is the CIS go word
            For the Geneology Forum for instance, it is Roots
     F10 to exit
************************************************************************
*   Make adjustments to CIS and mail so that AUTO will work in the best*
*   manner.                                                            *
*   Be sure you have CSETUP.SCR in your directory .                    *
*   In this and all other online procedures, if the instructions call  *
*   for "Ctrl-D to Exit, Alt-A for Help" and it is not the display     *
*   when AUTO pauses, press ESC twice to get the correct display       *
************************************************************************

--Select the Practice forum by pressing the letter beside "Practice"
     From the Practice Message Processing Menu type "G".
     You will be prompted "Do you want to auto-logon? Y/N"
     Type "Y".

     AUTO will start the automatic login, call CIS and go to the Practice
     Forum.  If you fail to log on to CIS check your Host settings, speed,
     com port, phone number, Userid and Password to be sure that they are
     correct.  When you get to the Practice forum, one of three things
     should happen--You should have:

 1.  "Ctrl-D to Exit, Alt-A for Help" after joining the forum if you were
     never a member.  ("Joining the forum" will be a series of scrolling
     screens, so wait until they stop)
 2.  "Forum !" after joining the forum if you are a member but in Menu mode
 3.  "Ctrl-D to Exit, Alt-A for Help" without joining the forum if you are
     a member.

    ** If it stops without a prompt, press ESC twice. **
     Type Alt-T(the alt key and the letter T) at either prompt
     You will see "Enter script file name [.SCR] "
     Enter CSETUP --- This should take less than three minutes

Page 3

     After some scrolling, you will be asked for your name.  Enter your
     name then press enter.  This name  will be in your Mail address
     book.
     **Even if the script looks like it is stopped or
     in a loop** wait for a minute or two (by the clock)
     before pressing ESC to abort.
     The script will adjust some settings for you.
     You will exit the program and stop at a prompt "Press Enter to
     Continue"
     Press enter and you return to the Message Processing Menu and
     are disconnected from CIS.
     Press "C" to return to the forum/host menu.

************************************************************************
*  These next steps join the actual forums which are set up in the     *
*  forum list, make some adjustments in the forum and collect message  *
*  sections and libraries.                                             *
*                                                                      *
*                    ***** WARNINGS*****                               *
*                                                                      *
*          1.  Always let AUTO return you to the AUTO Message          *
*              Processing Menu at the end of each "Join".  Do not      *
*              use a "GO" command in CIS to go to the next forum.  AUTO*
*              will get confused.                                      *
*                                                                      *
*          2.  ****  Do this even for forums where you are already a   *
*                    member.  If you don't do this. AUTO will not work *
*                    correctly.  ****                                  *
*                                                                      *
*          3.  Skip the "Mail" forum.  It is not really a forum        *
************************************************************************

--Select the first forum on your list.
     Again type "G" in the forum Message Processing Menu
     At the prompt "Do you want to auto-logon? Y/N" answer "Y"
     The program will log you on and enter the forum which you have
     selected.
     If you are not a member of the forum or if the options are
     set to "Menu" mode, AUTO will automatically join and go to
     the prompt at the end of the procedure, that is -- "Ctrl-D" or "Forum !"
     The next instructions are for forums which you have joined and
     are set for "Command" mode.  Otherwise go to the NEXT in the margin

     First you see "Enter Ctrl-D to exit, Alt-A for Help"
     If the program stops processing without this appearing, then
     *** press ESC twice *** then "Enter Ctrl-D" should appear
     Press Alt-J --This will join the forum (even if you are a member),
     make adjustments to the forum options and gather message sections
     and library names.
     At this point the forum prompt "Forum !" appears
NEXT
     Press Ctrl-D
     Enter "Y" to the question "Stay connected? (Y/n)"
     The prompt is "Have you left the **** forum" -- answer "N"
     *****Remember that you are still online and in the forum which you just
          left--If this is a pay forum, it is costing you to stay on line --
          so proceed with the next steps******
     You are returned to the Message Processing Menu

Page 4

     Page Down to the next forum and press "G"
     Repeat until all forums have been joined.**Remember to skip Mail**
     On the last forum answer "N" to the "Stay connected?" question.
     Look in the upper right hand corner and be sure that it says
     "Offline".  If it doesn't, press "Z"
     Press Enter at the "Press Enter to continue" prompt

***************************************************************************
*   Select message sections to be downloaded                              *
*   Select the Quick headers in the AUTO List                             *
*   Do a AUTOPASS 1 to down load headers                                  *
***************************************************************************

---Use pageup/dwn to move to the first forum
     Press F3
     Move the cursor to "Sections"
     Press Alt-N
     A list of message sections will appear
     Enter the number of the sections you wish to use (or ALL for all)
     Pgdn to next forum and repeat until all forums have been modified
     Press F10
     Press F7 to modify the AUTO List
     Place an "F" after mail
     Place a "Q" after all of the forums which you wish to access
     If you do not want to access a forum, leave the list entry blank--
     Press F10
     At the main menu press F1 to gather all the thread headers from the
     sections which you have marked.  This is AUTOPASS 1.  Waiting messages
     addressed to you will be downloaded.

*************************************************************************
*        Read waiting messages, reply if desired, Preview before sending*
*************************************************************************

--Go to each forum in turn.
     If "R" is highlighted you have messages.  Press "R" to read
     the messages.  Enter will move to the next screen of the message
     or to the next message.  Pageup/dn move to the previous
     and next messages.
     If you want to reply, press "R" and you are in the editor and can
     write a reply which is addressed to the person who sent the message
     in the thread which the message is in.
     Press F10 to leave the editor and "S" to save the message for
     posting.  Press "Q" when you have read all messages.  "P" is
     highlighted if you have written messages so pressing "P" allows you
     preview replies and modify or cancel them.
     If you wish to compose a message press "W", enter the name and ID
     of the person to whom the message is directed(to make it easy see
     the address book in the manual), the subject, and the forum
     then F10, compose the message and press F10 when done.  This can
     also be previewed

**************************************************************************
*    Select threads to be downloaded and do AUTOPASS 2                   *
**************************************************************************

--"M" is highlighted and cursor is over an "M"
     Press the ENTER key
     There will be a list of message thread subjects and the number of
     messages.

Page 5

     Move the cursor up and down (remember to go to the second page if
     necessary)
     Place an "M" beside the threads which you wish to download

--When you are done with the last forum press a 2 or F2.  This is AUTOPASS 2
     You will log on to each forum and Mail, the messages which you have
     written will be sent, the threads and waiting messages will be downloaded.
     At the "ENTER to continue" press ENTER
     You are returned to the last forum
     If "R" is highlighted you have messages to be read in this forum
     Read and reply as you did above
     Save messages by pressing "S" while reading the message
     If your printer is on, a "P" will print the message
     Write new messages as above
     If you wait until you have processed messages from all forums, F2
     will do an AUTOPASS 2 and post all messages which you have written
     If you have composed messages, "S" should be highlighted for send
     so pressing ENTER will go online and post the messages
     if you wish to do so right now and not wait for an AUTOPASS.
     When you have read all messages, if you wish to clear the file,
     press "K" and "M".  Otherwise they are in the file until you do so
     Move between forums using the Pageup/dwn keys and repeat this

Now read the manual to learn the finer details.

--Ray B.