Communications

TSCOPE AUTODIALER

Automatic log-on program

by CHARLES JACKSON, Antic Program Editor

A short, automatic log-on program for TSCOPE, the popular public domain telecommunications program. It will run on any Atari computer with a disk drive. Works with any TSCOPE compatible modem, including the Atari 1030 & 835.

TSCOPE, by Joe Miller, is a well-known public domain program. It enables owners of the Atari 1030 or 835 modem-or most modems that work with the Atari 850 interface- to upload and download either binary or ASCII files on the CompuServe SIG Atari.
   (TSCOPE is available on the Antic 1030/835 Telecommunications Disk, PD025 in the Antic Catalog
-ANTIC ED)
   TSCOPE Autodialer is a fast and foolproof way to log onto CompuServe automatically. You just boot your TSCOPE disk and sit back while TSCOPE Autodialer types in your CompuServe phone number, your User ID and your password.
   When TSCOPE starts, it looks for a file named AUTODIAL.SYS which contains a simple set of log-on instructions. AUTODLAL.SYS is optional and doesn't come included with most versions of the TSCOPE program. You must create your own.

GETTING STARTED
TSCOPE Autodialer will create an AUTODLAL.SYS file for you. Type in Listing 1, checking it with TYPO II, and SAVE a copy to disk.
   When you RUN the program, it will ask you for the phone number to dial, your access number (User ID), and your password. When you've entered this information, place your TSCOPE disk into the drive and press [START] to write the file. If you haven't already renamed your TSCOPE.OBJ file AUTORUN.SYS, the program will remind you to do so.
   TSCOPE Autodialer creates an AUTODLAL.SYS file which might look something like:
   555-1234
   ^C]:98765.4321
   ]:SECRET.PASSWORD
   The first line contains the phone number to be dialed. Hyphens, parentheses and blank spaces are ignored by TSCOPE.
   The second line begins with ^C- the code for [CONTROL] [C]. The right-bracket symbol "]" after the "C" stands for "wait". This tells the autodialer to wait for a prompt before continuing.
   With our sample AUTODLAL.SYS file, TSCOPE would dial 555-1234 (ignoring the hyphen) and wait for a connection. Then your autodialer would issue a [CONTROL] [C] code and wait for the colon [:] at the end of the User ID: prompt. When the autodialer receives this colon, it enters your access number.
   The colon on the last line of the AUTODIAL.SYS file tells the autodialer to wait for the next colon-the one at the end of the Password: prompt. It then enters your password.

MAKING CHANGES
There are many ways to modify your autodialer. If you wanted to automatically visit the ANTIC ONLINE service, for instance, you would add this line to your AUTODLALSYS file:

^]!GO ANTIC

This instruction tells the autodialer to wait for an exclamation point prompt, then type the GO ANTIC command.

PASSWORD PROTECTION
Though TSCOPE Autodialer is the quickest way to log-on to CompuServe, it lacks some security. Anyone who can load a disk and turn on a modem could gain access to your CompuServe account. So always keep your autodialing TSCOPE disk in a safe place.

Listing 1 AUTODIAL.BAS Download

In April, type GO ANTIC as soon as you log onto CompuServe. You'll be able to read Antic's immediate on-the-spot coverage of Atari news from the 1985 West Coast Computer Faire, which took place from March 30 to April 2.
   ANTIC ONLINE will also give you a full preview of the stories and programs in the next Antic Magazine-the June Computer Arts issue.
   You'll even see a major excerpt from the upcoming issue's featured article. This time it's a look at two breakthrough music products-an Atari MIDI controller that emulates a 16-track digital recording studio, and a real-time music generator that lets you improvise four-part compositions at the Atari keyboard.
   Each month ANTIC ONLINE brings you the very latest Atari information long before it can appear in any magazine. From most areas there are no long distance charges for this service, so it does not cost you anything more than the standard CompuServe online time charge.
   The ANTIC ONLlNE special bulletins may be downloaded for reprinting in newsletters of users groups affiliated with the Antic Worldwide Users Network. Officers of Atari users groups may write to Antic for details about WUN affiliation.