Thank you for downloading EZ Dialup v1.83. You will find a complete user's manual in EZDIALUP.HLP and EZDIALUP.WRI. Both the server and client software can be tested immediately. See the Server Installation page of the Help file for step-by-step instructions. DELPHI Programmers: look for EZDELPHI.ZIP in CompuServe's DELPHI forum for example source code. This is a complete working version, but dialup clients will receive a nag message until the server is registered. Changes in v1.83: - New variables support in script commands - Multiple passwords per COMMPASS file supported - Automatic port rate step-down attempted when initial syncronization fails NON-PROGRAMMERS Installation of an EZ Dialup system is geared toward anyone who can install a modem and use a text editor. Programming experience is not necessary to create and maintain a dialup system using EZ Dialup's original Script Mode (Mode A). And day-to-day use of EZ Dialup is geared toward anyone who can start a Windows program! Please see SCRIPT-BASED EZ DIALUP below for a non-techical expanation of the EZ Dialup system. DEVELOPERS EZ Dialup lets you write programs that access both EZ Dialup Servers AND most other dialup hosts, like BBS's, etc. You can integrate the software seamlessly into your program, which appears to be doing all the work! EZ Dialup handles everything - it opens the comm port, inits the modem and makes sure it's responding, dials the number, then lets your program know when it's connected and ready, or if a busy signal or some other problem occurred. Once your program connects to an EZ Dialup server, it can direct it to transfer, zip, unzip or delete files, run programs or perform other functions - every option available in Script-Mode. When your program connects to a BBS, API routines let it: -access all incoming characters -send individual characters or entire strings -request automatic Xmodem, XModem 1K and Ymodem file transfers -setup automatic reponses to expected input ("Login: ", etc.) -also setup notification to your program when these input strings occur A test program (TESTBED.EXE) and its Pascal source code demonstrate the use of the extended API. A Visual Basic interface example is also included. The files are located in the EZ4VB.ZIP (included). Use of the toolkit (when registered) is royalty-free. Visual Basic and Pascal interface source code examples are included, but any development language that can call DLL routines and react to Windows messages (some development platforms call these TRIGGERS) can use the API. Please see the EZDIALUP.HLP or EZDIALUP.WRI for addtional details. ______________________ SCRIPT-BASED EZ DIALUP Here's the idea: you dedicate a Windows-running PC as a server to handle repetitive file transfers, both to and from the server. Each server PC can handle up to four modems, and each modem is controlled by the EZDIALUP.EXE program running in server mode. Remote users (clients) just launch an icon to dial in, so the program is very easy for clients to use. Each icon they can run requests that a unique script be executed - scripts that have been pre-programmed and are stored on the server. These scripts contain simple but powerful commands to move files back and forth, zip and unzip files, run simple programs, etc. Script access is password protected, but the clients do not need to enter their passwords to use the program. When all the commands in the script have been executed, the connection is automatically terminated, the client side shuts down, and the server side resets for the next call. Ad-hoc download requests and file directory requests are intentionally not supported by Script-Mode EZ Dialup, so security is automatically tight. Only the file-transfer scripts found on the server side can be executed. If a remote user loses security rights (leaves company, etc.) you just remove or change their password file, or the scripts, or even the user's network directory, making their client EZ Dialup software useless. The only piece of information that changes with any frequency for a roaming remote user (especially a laptop user) is the phone number dialing sequence, which might, for example, need a prefix of "8," when dialing from a hotel, or "9," when dialing from an office with a typical PBX, or "*70," when calling from a call-waiting-equipped phone at home, etc. For the convenience of the user a "Change Phone Number" button lets the user take a short cut to changing the dialing sequence. ____________ REGISTRATION A 31-day evaluation period is enforced. The server will not operate beyond this period unless it is registered. The registration fee allows a complete site license, covering one or more servers at one site, and all the clients that access the server(s). This shareware version can do everything the registered version can, but a registration reminder pops up on the client side each time the program ends. Registration is $75 when you register via CompuServe's Shareware Registration Service (GO SWREG - #7676), or $65 if you send a check or money order to: EZ Software P.O. Box 181302 Fairfield, OH 45018 If you choose SWREG, CompuServe can bill your account and notify us immediately that you are registered, at which point we can immediately e-mail to you the registration codes. Purchasing EZDialup with a credit card -------------------------------------- You can purchase EZDialup by dialing a toll-free number (in the U.S.) and using a credit card to make payment. You will get the necessary registration codes from NorthStar Solutions while you are on the phone! NorthStar provides ONLY registration services and cannot answer ANY technical questions! Send all questions about the programs to EZ Software (ezsoft@compuserve.com) To order with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover card, call 1-800-699-6395 between the hours of 10am and 8pm EST, Monday through Saturday. Callers outside the U.S. can call 1-803-699-6395 during the same hours. The product number for EZDialup is 1234. The price is $65 (USD). You can also order online at NorthStar's Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/starmail/557.htm You can also send a fax to NorthStar: 1-803-699-5465 If you choose the online or fax order method, NorthStar will notify EZ Software about your order, and EZ Software will then e-mail registration codes to you. Please provide (or be prepared to provide) the following information when ordering: * The program you are registering (please include the product number) * Your mailing address * Your Visa, MasterCard or Discover # and its expiration date * Your e-mail address Thanks again for trying EZ Dialup! ________________________________________________ Our new internet address: ezsoft@compuserve.com Our new URL: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ezsoft Other products by EZ Software: Courier Plus(New)...use WinCIM to autorespond to e-mail, including SWREG ($49) EZ Saver ...create professional-quality screen savers ($22, $125, $225) EZ SlideShow ...control the presentation of .BMP images, .WAV files ($15) EZ Animator ...playback lists of .BMP images in continuous loops ($13) Talking Keyboard ...teach the keyboard's letters, numbers, symbols ($13) Football 2000 ...play Americam football (game and screen saver) ($13) EZ Dialup and EZ Saver have already earned FOUR STARS from PC Magazine Online (www.pcmag.com). Contact us, via reply to this message, for additional information on specific products - or, download the evaluation files from CompuServe's WINSHARE forum: EZSAVER.ZIP, EZSLIDE.ZIP, EZANIM.ZIP, TALKKEY.ZIP AND FB2000.ZIP. Please visit our new Web site at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ezsoft