Copyright: helpC, (c) Copyright 1992, Loewy Ron.


OVERVIEW
Contents for NavCIS

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

Help is available on the following topics:

 Action Toolbar Button

 Adding a Group

 Address Book

 Auto Read Headers

 Auto Update Libraries

 Carbon Copy

 Catalog

 Compose a Message

 CompuServe User Phone Book

 Configure Hardware

 Create a Catalog

 Creating Groups

 Edit / Delete Outgoing Actions

 File Finder

 Forum Action

 Forum Description Line

 Forums

 Forum Icons

 Forum Section Configuration

 Forum Settings

 Forum Settings Toolbar Button

 Gateway

 Global Configuration

 Help Toolbar Button

 Importing Address Books

 Mail Forum

 Marking Headers

 Message Settings

 New Toolbar Button

 Ordering NavCIS Pro

 Printer Configuration Button

 Scan Announcements

 Stock Quotations

 Update Forum Info

 Upload a File

 Viewing Catalogs

 Weather Services


FORUM
Forum Settings Help

Click on this button to add, edit, or delete

forums from your screen. If you are using

the "drag 'n drop" icons on the right hand

side of the desktop, click on the icon and

drag it to the desktop surface.

BE AWARE that  forums have two "states" when

displayed on the desktop surface.  They are

either "active" or "inactive".  An active

forum's name is displayed in white (or

green in the Windows version) and the mail-

box looks normal.  An inactive forum's name

is displayed in black and the mailbox looks

"inset" or concave.

ACTIVE FORUMS

will fully interact with CompuServe

during sessions.  An inactive forum is

defined, but will not interact with

CompuServe during sessions.  To make an

active forum inactive, simply click on it

once.  The forum icon will change to a

"debossed" inset look and the forum title

will change to black.  To reactivate an

inactive forum, simply click on it once.


HELP
Help Toolbar Button

To use the context sensitive help system

built into NavCIS, use the "focus ring" to

highlight the item you want help on.  The

"focus ring" is a square of small black (or

sometimes white) dots that shows you

which button would be activated if you hit

<enter>.  To change the focus, use the <Tab>

key or your right-hand mouse button.

Once the focus is set, press <F1>; a context

sensitive window will appear.  Hyperlinks to

other related subject will appear in red.

Here's an example hyperlink: New.

Clicking on "New" will automatically bring

up help on the "New" session button.


NEW_ICON
New Toolbar button

Click on this button to initiate a "New" session.

A "New" will do the following:

  1. Check & read waiting mail in your mailbox.

  2. Read forum thread headers (titles) for

     active forums.

  3. Auto read thread titles for keywords

     (if you have configured forums for same)

     and download those threads.

  4. Scan active forums for waiting messages to

     you.

  5. Up or download waiting files.

  6. Update forum libs, forum index, and other

     necessary "maintenance" functions.

Once all the activity has been done, NavCIS

will automatically disconnect from CompuServe

and change the forum icons to reflect the

changed status of each active forum.

Once a "New" has been done, it is typically

followed by an Action session to take

care of items like replies, threads to read, and

other items you have specified.


MAIL
Mail Forum

The Mail forum is a bit different than other

forums.  To begin with, it does not have any

sections to configure like other forums do.

Also, it is where e-mail messages are held

for you.  In most cases, the Mail forum is

left active so you can receive mail that is

sent to you.

The Mail forum is animated to indicate

actions.  For instance, the mailbox has

envelopes sticking out of it to indicate

that there is new mail waiting to be read,

When a file exists to be uploaded, an

up/down arrow will appear in the upper-

left corner.

A "Messages" section for the Mail forum

exists and should be configured to meet your

particular needs.  To get to it, double

click on the Mail icon.  The Forum Action

box for Mail will appear, click on the

"Settings" button. The Configure Message

settings dialogue box will appear.

On the left side you can specify how to

handle downloading waiting messages. "Never"

means that your mailbox will NEVER be

queried for mail.  "During a New Only"

means that waiting mail will only be picked

up during a "New" session. This

is the default. "Always" means that

whenever mail is detected during any kind

of session, it will be grabbed.

On the right side of the dialogue box you

define how to handle Outgoing messages. You

have three choices: "Do not save a copy" of

what you wrote, "Prompt before saving a

copy", and "Always save a copy" of what you

wrote. Saving a copy of what you wrote,

whether it was a  new message or a reply,

helps you remember what you said to whom.

The default is "Prompt before saving a

copy".

The last two options, "Days Before

Archiving" and "Max days to hold messages"

are both NavCIS Pro features.  Days

before archiving means that after 31 days

(the default), the message will be

compressed and appended to the archive

file. This feature allows you to keep all

your messages without consuming tons of

precious disk space. After 365 days (again,

the default), messages in the archive file

that are 366 days old (or 1+ the number you

have defined), are automatically erased.

This number may be set as high as 999 days.


ONLINE
Action Toolbar Button

Click on this button to do the following:

   1. Upload replies to CompuServe.

   2. Read thread headers that have

      been marked for download in

      active forums.

   3. Upload or download files.

Typically, an "Action" session is done after a

"New" session has occurred.  It is

the best way to send your responses back

to CompuServe.  A typical session using

NavCIS with CompuServe calls for a "New"

followed by an "Action" or two.


COMPOSE
Composing a Message

Use this feature to Compose a message to

someone.  If you are using the Toolbar

icon, simply click on it.  If you are using

the "drag 'n drop" icon, click on the

envelope, and drag it over to the forum you

wish to write the message in.  The editor

that is invoked is CUA compliant.  Composed

messages will be sent with the next New or

Action session.


HARDWARE
Configure Hardware

Select the correct comm port number that

your modem is using (1 through 4), then select

the baud rate of your modem.  Currently,

CompuServe does not support a baud rate

higher than 9600 baud, but that is likely to

change.  That's why higher baud settings are

allowed.

Next, enter in the phone number for your

local CompuServe connection. To call an

outside line, you may need to dial "9" (or

some other number), then dial CompuServe.

For instance:

              9,555-1234

If a longer pause is required, use two ",,"

commas.  Each comma will increase the

pause by approximately 1 second. To use

a calling card number, please read the

NavCIS manual (see Index under "Calling

card, using".)

You can change the Initialization string if

necessary, but it most likely will not be

required.  Consult your modem manual in

order to change this string.  The Dial

Prefix is set to Tone dialing.  If you need

to change it to Pulse, it should be changed

from "ATDT" to "ATDP".

For more information on modem configuration,

consult the NavCIS manual..


PRINTER
Printer Configuration Button

Printing and print configuration are not

enabled in the NavCIS SE version.  If you

wish to print, please upgrade to NavCIS

Pro.  To order, click on the "O"

for Order Pro icon on the toolbar.

After a few questions, an order will be

ready to go via e-mail directly to Dvorak

Development with your next "New" or "Action"

session.  We accept Visa, MasterCard,

American Express, Discover and COD orders.

Or you can call us at 303-494-0298.


GLOBAL
Global Configuration

Click on this button to set your CompuServe

sign-on information (your user ID and password),

as well as your name, address, and other pertinent

details.  This information MUST BE entered BEFORE

your first "New" session.

Capture System Information refers to the system

messages that CompuServe posts.  If this is "on",

NavCIS will capture these notices as standard

e-mail messages and place them into your Mail

forum for your later review.


SCAN
Auto Read Headers

NavCIS has the ability to check thread titles for

key words that you have defined.  If it finds a match,

it will automatically download the thread messages in

the matching header, thereby saving you from the

necessity of reading tens or even hundreds of thread

headers each day.

To configure the Auto Read feature for a particular

forum:  double click on the forum icon.  When the

Forum Actions box appears, click on the "Settings"

button.

Next, click on the "Sections" button.  You'll need to

turn "on" the sections in the forum that you are

interested in.  Do this by clicking in the appropriate

check box.

Next, look at the upper right-hand corner of the

Sections dialogue box.  Turn "on" the "Auto Read KEYED

Hdrs" selection.  Then go up to the top and type in

the key words you want to search for.  NavCIS's search

is case independent, so it does not matter if you type

in upper or lower case, NavCIS will find matches

regardless.  For instance, if you are checking the

Science Fiction forum, and want to scan headers for

the keywords "Heinlein" and "Haldeman", simply type in

HEINLEIN HALDEMAN. Make sure you separate them with a

space.  Word fragments will not be identified and Auto

read by NavCIS.  Therefore, "cat" will not download

threads with the word CATALOG or CATASTROPHE in them.

Up to 81 characters may be entered on the Key Word

line, make sure each is separated by a space. Phrases

cannot be searched for, only single words.


FORUM_ACTION
Forum Action

This dialogue box is used for a variety of

forum related functions.  To activate this

dialogue box, double-click on an active

forum icon.

NEW:

Click on this button to read any new

messages that have been downloaded.

HEADERS:

Click this button to review new thread

headers.

CURRENT:

Click on this button to access the messages

database. Starts at first message that is

30 days old or less.

SEARCH:

Click on this button to search for Old

messages... Search for messages based

on Who sent it, subject matter, message

number or search within the message text for

a match. This feature is not active in

NavCIS SE, only in NavCIS Pro.  To

order NavCIS Pro, click on the

Order Toolbar button.

CATALOG:

Click on this button to view a forum's

catalog.  Catalogs must first be created

(using the drag 'n drop Catalog + Lib icon).

Settings:

Click on this button to configure a forum's

sections, libraries, message handling, etc.

OUTGOING ACTIONS:

If you need to edit or delete an outgoing

action, it is initiated from this dialogue

box.  Double click on the item to be edited

or deleted.  Once an action has been sent up

to CompuServe, there is no way to edit it.


FORUM_SET
Forum Settings

To choose a new forum, click on the Browse button.  Browse

lists forums by description, along with their associated GO

name.  You may also type in the name of the GO command directly,

even if it is not really a forum (as long as it is a VALID GO

keyword).  NAVCIS is an example of this.

Gateway (Other than CIS):

This is an advanced feature for users who need to access forums

that are not really part of CompuServe. Please consult the

NavCIS Manual for more info about gateways.

Use an Alias:

Turn this on to use a forum specific "alias".  In the

Science Fiction forum you might be "Jubal Harshaw, 71555,0012",

but in the European Forum, you might go by "Msr. Jeemetiaye,

71555,0012". If you do not specify an alias, your Global

name will be used (defined in Global parameters).

Forum Active (On-screen):

If this is on, then the forum will appear on the desktop

surface.  When its on the surface, it can still be

activated and deactivated by clicking on it once.

Update Forum Information:

Turn this on to force a refresh on Section and Libraries.  It is

also necessary to turn this on if you have just changed your

Alias.

Scan Announcements:

If you want to capture and read Forum system messages, turn this on.


AUTO_LIB
Auto Update Libraries

Turning this feature on will cause NavCIS to

update your library listing once every X

days.  Only library sections that are marked

active will be scanned.  If no sections are marked,

no sections will be scanned.


GATEWAY
Gateways

Enter information in here for forums requiring gateway information.

Typically, only interactive forums require additional gateway information.

As such, most are unsuitable for a navigator such as NavCIS. If nothing is

entered, NavCIS assumes that CIS (CompuServe Information Services) is the

gateway.


FORUM_DESCR_LN
Forum Description Line

By clicking on a forum from the Browse Forum

dialogue box, this field will be

automatically filled in.  You may edit it to

suit your needs.  A "+" at the end of the

description means the forum is not part of

CompuServe's basic services package.  A "$"

means that the forum bears an additional

charge over and above CompuServe's standard

charge.  Typically, a "$" indicates a highly

interactive forum for specific information

searching.


UPDATE_FORUM
Update Forum Info

Turn this on to force NavCIS to

update a forum's information...

Information that will be updated includes section and library

names and numbers, and the name you use in the forum.  If you

change your Alias, you must update the forum in order to

"set" your new alias name into the forum.  The forum update

marker will automatically disappear after the update has


SCAN_ANN
Scan Announcements

Turn this setting on if you want NavCIS to

capture forum system announcements as

messages.  This option lets you keep up with

special event announcements along with system

announcements regarding a forum


COMPOSE_MSG
Compose a Message

A message must have an addressee, so at the very

least, make sure you have a CompuServe ID# on the

"To:" line, ALL, SYSOP, or *SYSOP (send to

Sysop, private) if in a forum.  For the MAIL

forum, only a valid CompuServe ID number will

work.

If you already have a list of names and user IDs

you'd like to import into NavCIS,

NavCIS SE can import Tapcis, OzCIS, CIM, and

WinCIM ID lists.

To go to the subject field, press <TAB> or use

your mouse pointer. Enter a subject. Press <TAB>

again to go to the receipt box.  If you want a

receipt from CompuServe when the msg is read,

press <Enter>, if not, just press <TAB>.

The "Forum:" allows you to change the forum that

the msg is being sent to.  If its the MAIL forum,

then no Section Name or # is needed.

Once again, press <TAB> to get to the editing

area.  This editor follows standard CUA

conventions.  Messages on the MAIL forum may be

up to 10K long.  Messages on other forums should

be limited to 2K (until changed by CompuServe).


FORUM_MAN
Forum Help

On-screen marker:

In the DOS version, a red marker to the left

of the forum name indicates that it will be

displayed on the desktop.  In the Windows

version, this is indicated by a solid blue

highlight.

ADD a Forum:

To add a new forum definition, click here.

NavCIS SE is limited to three user defined

forum definitions.  For more than three

definitions, order NavCIS Pro.

REMOVE a Forum:

Click on this button to remove the currently

highlighted forum definition.  The

definition will be removed regardless of

whether the forum has an "on-screen" marker

or not.

FORUM Settings:

To change a forum's Section and Message

settings, click here.

DEFAULT Settings:

Press this button to change the default

settings for a newly created forum.


CATALOG
Create a Catalog

What is a catalog?  A catalog is a listing

of the files available in a library section.

Typically, each forum has many library

sections, and each can have hundreds of

files in it. A catalog gives you an easy

way to capture, and then browse off-line,

through a library's files. The Mail forum

does not have any library sections.

Drag this icon to the active forum icon you

wish to create a catalog search for.  Fill

out the resulting dialog box to create a

catalog of desired characterisitics.


CAT_HLP
Catalog Help

File Mask:

This defaults to "*.*", or all files in a

given library section.  You can change it to

any mask that follows standard 6.3

CompuServe file notation.  Example:

   *.TXT, *.ZIP, B*.ZIP, QUOTE.*

Key Words:

Only interested in files that have the word

NAVCIS in the key-word listing for each

file?  If you do not care about a keyword

search, leave this field blank.

Max Days Old:

If you are not interested in files older

than 60 days, enter 60.

Long Description check box:

As a default, NavCIS only downloads the file

name and the title line (approx. 50 chars

long).  However, if you click on this box,

NavCIS will also download each file's full

description, which may be as long as 549

characters per file.

Library section:

Double click on the library section names

you wish to create catalogs for.  If no

library section names are listed, it means

that you have just defined the Forum and

have not yet logged on to CompuServe. NavCIS

has not yet had a chance to query the new

forum for its sections and library names.

Section for Search:

Library sections that you have selected

to search appear in this window.  If you

change your mind and decide not to create a

catalog for a specific library, double click

on the library name and it will disappear.


UPLOAD
Upload File

To upload a file, click and drag

this icon over to the Mail forum. In SE, you

may only upload files through the Mail

forum. To upload files to other forums and

their libraries, you must use NavCIS Pro.

To learn more about ordering NavCIS

Pro, click on the order icon on the main

screen.


UP_FILE
Upload a File

To:

Like Compose, enter a valid CID # here.

Also, if you have defined a group, you may

upload a file to a group.  The Add button

allows you to add new users to the NavCIS

phone book.

Subject:

Enter a valid subject.  If you also enter in

the entire filename being uploaded on the

subject line, that will be the filename that

NavCIS sends to the receiver. Example:

  New program file: PROGMAN.EXE

Otherwise, NavCIS will create a self-defined

filename something like this:  MAIL0000.001

File Name:

Enter in the full path and filename for your

computer, example:

C:\TOOLS\PROGMAN.EXE

Or, use the Browse button to find the file

and click on it.  If you see ".." in the

file browse window, that means move up the

tree to the parent directory of the current

directory you are in.


VIEW_CAT
Viewing Catalogs

Click on "Download" to mark this file for

downloading.  NavCIS will download it on the

next New or Online session.  Notice the

information listed about the file: its bytes

size, its count (that is, the number of

times it has been downloaded by other

CompuServe users), the date it was posted to

the library, its title, and finally, the

keywords as defined by the person who

uploaded the file.


HEADERS
Marking Headers

To mark a header for download, click on the

left-hand side.  To remove a mark, simply

click on it again (or press <Enter>).  The

first number you see listed is the message

number.  The next number (if there is one)

in brackets "[3]" indicates the number of

replies to the message that will be included

in the download.  Next comes the subject of

the message thread, followed by the section

number and the name of the section.  Headers

that have already been read will be grayed

and will display a small "READ" flag.


ORDER
Ordering NavCIS Pro

To order NavCIS Pro via e-mail, click on the

"O" for order Pro icon on the toolbar.  A

brief description screen will appear,

followed by the order entry screen.  Verify

the address information, enter the billing

information, and select the method of

shipment.  A total will be presented. If

everything is correct, press the "E-Mail"

button, and the order will be sent directly

to Dvorak Development & Publishing Corp. via

e-mail.  A confirmation of receipt of order

will be sent back you via e-mail.


STOCKS
Stock Quotations

Press on this icon to setup a stock quote

query.  The actual query will occur with the

next New or Action session.

This feature is not available in NavCIS SE,

but comes in the Pro version.  To upgrade,

press the "O" for order icon.


WEATHER
Weather Services

Press this icon to setup a weather query.

The actual query will occur with your next

New or Action session.

This feature does not work in SE, but is

available in NavCIS Pro.  To upgrade, click

on the "O" for order icon.


FF
File Finder

Click on this icon to configure a search of

CompuServe for a specific file or key.  This

powerful utility will help you find files

located anywhere on CompuServe.

This feature is not active in SE, but is

available in NavCIS Pro.  To upgrade, click

on the "O" for order toolbar icon.


DEL_OUT
Edit / Delete Outgoing Actions

You can either edit your action definition

or delete it entirely.  If you delete it,

the action will NOT be created with your

next online session.  If you edit your

definition, and press OK, the creation will

take place with your next online session and

it will follow your updated changes.


ADD_BOOK
Address Book

To import a list of CompuServe users, go to

the Configuration menu and click on Import

Address Book.  NavCIS can import CIM and

WinCIM, Tapcis, and OzCIS CompuServe user

lists.

ADD:

Press this button to add a new user to your

list.

EDIT:

This button allows you to edit the currently

highlighted entry.

REMOVE:

This button will remove the currently

highlighted user from the phone book.

GROUPS:

Click on this button to create a group.  A

group allows you to send the same message to

a pre-defined group of users easily. Groups

begin with an asterisk and are placed at the

top of the Phone book.  Example: *The Boys

For more help on Groups,

click here.

OK:

Press this button when you are finished

making changes to the address book.

HELP:

Call this help window.


GROUPS
Creating Groups

To Create a pre-defined group, you must first enter the user

names into the address book. Either import names using the

Import function in the Configuration menu, or type them

in manually using the Add button.

ADD a Group:

From this menu, press the Add button.  More help is

available from the Help button in the Adding a Group dialogue box.

EDIT a Group:

Use this button to edit a pre-existing group.  The

currently highlighted group will be the edited group. Use the

<Tab> key to change the focus.

REMOVE a Group:

Press here to remove the currently highlighted group.

OK:

Click here when finished.

HELP:

Invoke this help window.


ADD_GROUP
Adding a Group

Type in the name of the new group. DO NOT

put an asterisk before the name -- NavCIS

will do that for you.  Press <enter>. Notice

how the window title, "Address Book" changed

to white.  Now either double-click, or use

the arrow keys and <enter>, to select the

group members.  As you double-click on

them, their names and IDs will appear in the

right-hand window, "Group Members".  To

delete a user from the "Group Members"

window, either double-click on their name,

or use the <Tab> key to change windows and

then the arrow and <enter> keys.


CC
Carbon Copy

Click on the name from the user entries in the

phone book that you want to receive a carbon copy

of the message. If the name is not already in

your user list, go to the Add line and type it

in.  It will be displayed in the "Carbon Copies

To" window when you press <enter>. However, it

will NOT be added to your general user list.  Do

this through the Phone book ADD button.

If you are using a keyboard, use the <Tab> key to

change windows, and the up & down arrow and

<enter> key to choose the CC names.

To delete someone from the "Carbon Copies To"

window, either double-click on their name, or use

the <tab> key to change to the window, and then

the arrow key to highlight their name, and press

<enter>.  The undesired name will disappear.


PH_BOOK
CompuServe User Phone Book

Click on this icon for quick access to your

list of CompuServe users and their IDs.  You

can add, edit, and delete users.  You can

also create Groups of users.

GROUPS:

A group is a list of related users.  Once a

group is defined, the Group name will appear

in the pull-down pick lists.  Groups always

appear (in alphabetical order) at the top of

the list.  Groups are easy to identify since

they have an asterisk in front of the Group

name, and the name is capitalized, i.e.,

  *GOLF BUDDIES

NavCIS also has the capability to import

user ID lists from other navigation

products.  This feature is found in the

Configuration Menu, Import Address Book.


MSG_SET
Message Settings

Download waiting messages: Never means

that it will never download a message

specifically addressed and sent to

you.  During a NEW only means that

waiting messages will be picked up during a

New session only. Always means that

waiting msgs will be read during any type

of session: New, Action, or Interactive.

Auto Scan headers means that NavCIS

will pick up new header (thread)

titles during each New session.

Days before archiving and Max days to Hold

are both NavCIS Pro features and refer to

the length of time old messages will be

retained for search functions.

With Outgoing messages you have 3 choices: Do not save

a copy of your messages, prompt at the time you send it,

and always save a copy of your message for your later

review.


IMPORT_IDS
Import Address Books

To import a list of CompuServe users, go to

the Configuration menu and click on Import

Address Book.  NavCIS can import CIM and

WinCIM, Tapcis, and OzCIS CompuServe user

lists.


Forums

Forums have three distinct states: Defined,

Active, and Inactive.  A forum must first be

defined before it can be displayed on the

desktop.  To define a forum, click on the

Forum icon and select Add.

An Active forum is a forum that is on the

desktop and is functional.  Its title

appears in green text and the icon appears

"embossed", that is, it sticks out a bit

in a 3-D fashion.

An Inactive forum is on the desktop, but

will not be functional during New or Action

sessions.  Its forum title is black and the

mailbox looks inset, or recessed.  Also,

inactive forums do not show any pending

activity such as waiting mail or threads to

download.  If these states existed when they

were de-activated, they will resume when

they are re-activated.

To de-activate an active icon, click on it

once.  To re-activate it, click on it

again.

FORUM ACTIONS:

To read new messages or mark headers or look

at a catalog, simply double click on an

active forum. The Forum Actions dialogue box

will appear.

Animation and what it means:

 Envelopes sticking out - new mail waiting.

 Flag up - mail to send to CompuServe.

 Clipboard - headers to check.

 Clipboard with check - header msgs to read.

 Up/down arrow - file upload or download, or

 new catalog to review.

End of Forum help.


FORUM_SECTION
Forum Section Configuration

  This allows you to configure the message and library sections

for a given forum.

  A forum can be configured so that message headers of interest are

Auto Downloaded.  Library sections can also be configured to

Auto Download Files that conform to configured parameters.