The Online World resources handbook

Automatic communication http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/16.html
Off Line Xpress, an offline mail reader for QWK (Qwikmail) packets,
does not contain a communications module. It just does pre and
postprocessing of mail packets.
You can use the Off Line Xpress as one element in a larger
automated system. For example, a system for access to PCBoard bulletin
boards may consist of Off Line Xpress software, PKZIP and PKUNZIP
(popular shareware programs to compress/decompress mail packets), the
QMODEM communications program, and a script to navigate to/from the
QWK packet send and receive area on the BBS.
1stReader contains a powerful script based communications module.
It let you compose replies, set search commands, subscriptions to services,
add and drop conferences, and enter download commands offline.
Automatic automation
We have explained how to write scripts with Procomm. However, there are simpler and
quicker ways. Many communications programs can make scripts automatically using a
learning function. It goes like this:
Start the learning function before calling the online service. Then log on, navigate
to the desired services, do what you want to automate, and disconnect.
The learning feature analyzes the received data and builds a script file for
automatic communication.
If you call again with the new script, it will "drive the same route one more time."
ZCOMM and ProYam have a learning feature. This is how I made a script for
accessing Semaforum BBS using ZCOMM:
ZCOMM asked for a phone number. I entered +47 370 11710. It asked for
speed, and I entered 14400 bps. Next, I had to choose one of the following:
(1) System uses IBM PC (ANSI) line drawing
(2) 7 bits even parity
(3) 8 bits no parity
My choice was 1.
ZCOMM dialed the number. When the connection was set up, I
entered my name and password, navigated to the message section, read
new messages, browsed new files in the library, and entered G for
Goodbye. This was the "tour" that I wanted to automate.
When disconnected, I pressed the F1 key. This prompted the learning
process based on a record of the online tour. The log described everything
that had happened in detail, including my pauses to think. Now I was
prompted by the following question:
'newscr.t' exists. Append/replace/quit?
I selected append. Then:
Do you want this script file as a new entry in your
telephone directory (y/n)?
I entered "y," and named it "semaforum." After a few seconds, my new script
was ready:
Your new script is in the file 'newscr.t' !! You can append the file
to your current script file (for example PHODIR.T) or have the
commands executed by entering:
call semaforum.newscr.t
It was time to test the new wonder. I entered
call semaforum.newscr.t
at the ZCOMM command line, hit the ENTER key, and off it went.
ZCOMM called the BBS and repeated everything at far higher speed
than I had done it manually. It went on hook as planned when done.
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