I-Comm(TM) FAQ Last Modified: July 15, 1995 Version 1.06 ================================================================== 1. What is I-Comm ? I-Comm is a full featured graphical WWW browser which does not require any kind of SLIP/PPP connection. If you have a PC with Windows, a modem and an Internet Shell, VAX, or Freenet account, then you are ready to surf the Internet using I-Comm. No fancy setup is needed. I-Comm has a "Mosaic look & feel" interface and can display pages while downloading images in the background. I-Comm also has a built-in full featured modem communication program which allows a user to switch between the communication program and the browser with just one button click. I-Comm is a shareware program. 2. What are I-Comm's minimum system requirements ? a. 386DX running MS-Windows (tm) 3.1 or above with 4MB Memory and 1MB Disk Space; b. 9.6 kbs or faster Modem; c. A UNIX shell, VAX, or Freenet account with Internet access; d. Z-Modem transfer program "sz" installed in your Internet account search path; e. "icomhost" program from Talent Communications, installed in your Internet account search path; OR Lynx browser installed in your Internet account search path; OR WWW browser installed in your Internet account search path. 3. I-Comm's key features: a. TWO IN ONE graphical WWW browser and modem communication program. b. Switching between Browser and Terminal windows with just one button click makes Internet surfing easier and more enjoyable. c. Does NOT require any kind of SLIP/PPP connection. d. Supports HTTP, FTP and Gopher protocols. e. Complete form support. f. Can save HTML pages to disk WITH INLINE IMAGES. g. Allows a user to edit the HTML file source. h. Supports an unlimited number of hot list files and allows a user to edit the hot lists. i. Supports batch HTTP, FTP, Gopher file downloading. j. Allows a user to view HTML pages while images are downloading in the background. k. Built-in full featured modem communication program. l. Phone book facility allows a user to save Internet dial-up numbers. 4. Can I use I-Comm with my VAX dial-up account ? Yes. 5. Can I use I-Comm with my Freenet menu-driven dial-up account ? Yes. If you are running a menu-driven Internet account, and don't have access to the shell environment, you can ask your Service Provider to install the "icommshell" program, and to add the "icommshell" program to your menu. After selecting "icommshell" from your menu you can switch to the I-Comm Browser by clicking on the "Browser" button. 6. Where can my Service Provider obtain the "icommshell" program ? "icommshell" and the source code are available at: ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/icomm-shell/ ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/icomm-shell/ 7. What is "icomhost" ? "icomhost" is an Internet World Wide Web client program for I-Comm. If you don't have Lynx or WWW installed, you must place it in your Internet Shell account search path, before you can use I-Comm to surf the Internet. 8. If I don't have "icomhost" installed in my shell account, can I still use I-Comm ? Yes. You can also use I-Comm with Lynx or WWW, if either of these programs is available in your shell account. * Note that you might want to use "icomhost" anyway, if your version of Lynx does not support forms. 9. Where can I obtain "icomhost" ? Currently, we have icomhost for Sun, HP, SGI, BSDI, Linux, SCO, Unix System V for IBM PC, IBM AIX RS6000, DEC OSF/1 and DEC Station ULTRIX V4.2A. If you are using another platform, please let us know, we will try to port it for you. The current version of icomhost is 1.00A. You can obtain it from the following ftp sites: Netcom ftp site: * Sun4: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/sun4/icomhost.gz"> * Sun Solaris2: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/sun4-sol2/icomhost.gz"> * HP: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/hp/icomhost.gz"> * SGI: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/sgi/"> * BSDI (Berkeley UNIX for IBM PC): <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/bsdi/icomhost.gz"> * Linux: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/linux/icomhost.gz"> * Novell UNIX System V Release 4.2 for PC: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/sysV/icomhost.gz"> * SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/sco/icomhost.gz"> * IBM AIX Version 3 for RISC System/6000: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/rs6000/icomhost.gz"> * DEC OSF/1 version 2.0: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/decOSF/icomhost.gz"> * DEC Station ULTRIX V4.2A(Mips): <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/decstation/icomhost.gz"> Best Internet ftp site: * Sun4: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/sun4/icomhost.gz"> * Sun Solaris2: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/sun4-sol2/icomhost.gz"> * HP: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/hp/icomhost.gz"> * SGI: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/sgi/"> * BSDI (Berkeley UNIX for IBM PC): <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/bsdi/icomhost.gz"> * Linux: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/linux/icomhost.gz"> * Novell UNIX System V Release 4.2 for PC: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/sysV/icomhost.gz"> * SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/sco/icomhost.gz"> * IBM AIX Version 3 for RISC System/6000: <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/rs6000/icomhost.gz"> * DEC OSF/1 version 2.0: <URL:"ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ic/icomm/decOSF/icomhost.gz"> * DEC Station ULTRIX V4.2A(Mips): <URL:"ftp://ftp.best.com/pub/icomm/decstation/icomhost.gz"> 10. How do I install "icomhost" ? a. Download "icomhost.gz" to your Internet shell account; b. Type "gzip -d icomhost.gz" in your Internet shell account; c. Use "chmod 700 icomhost" to make "icomhost" Executable; d. Place it in your shell account search path; e. Type "icomhost -t" at the command line. If you can download the "icomtest.htm" file properly, that means you have successfully installed the "icomhost" program. 11. How do I install I-Comm from the I-Comm ZIP file? a. Create a TEMP directory on your hard disk, unzip (pkunzip) the I-Comm ZIP file in that directory; b. Start MS-Windows; c. Click on the File menu of your Windows Program Manager; d. Select Run, then type C:\TEMP\SETUP (or D:\TEMP\SETUP) and press OK. 12. How do I run I-Comm ? a. Click on the File menu of your Windows Program Manager; b. Select Run, then type C:\I-COMM\BIN\I-COMM and press OK. * You also can create an icon for I-Comm by clicking on the File menu of your Windows Program Manager, and selecting New. 13. After I have started I-Comm, how do I connect to the Internet ? STOP! Before you can use I-Comm to connect to the Internet, you must ensure that you have access to the Z-modem program "sz", and one of the following programs: icomhost, lynx or www . a. Click on the I-Comm Communication menu; Select Com Port Setup, select the correct modem port and its setup; b. Click on the I-Comm Communication menu again; Select Phone Book or Manual Dial, connect to your Internet Provider, and use the Terminal window in I-Comm to login to your account; c. After login, click on the "Browser" button to bring the HTML window to the front; (Note: you cannot close the Terminal window, but you can iconise it) d. Click on the Communication menu, select Internet Host Program; Choose the host program (icomhost, lynx or www) which is available in your shell account. You only need to do this once, ignore this step if you have already set it up. e. Now you are ready to do Internet Surfing by clicking on the highlighted text. 14. Can I use I-Comm with a direct serial line connection ? Yes. Select the "Communication --> Com Port Setup" menu, setup the com port (at the same time, the program will also open the port for you), then you are ready to surf the net. If you need to send a command through the serial line, you can switch to the I-Comm Terminal Window and type the command directly. 15. How do I setup my external viewer programs for GIF, MOV, etc ? Selecting the "File --> Edit Configure File" menu allows you to use Windows Notepad to change the I-Comm configuration file. A sample configuration file (i-comm.ini) is included with this distribution. 16. How do I setup I-Comm to download all the files to a "tmp" directory in my shell account ? This can be done in two ways: a. change to the "tmp" directory before switching to the I-Comm Browser. b. enter "cd tmp" in the "Command Prefix" field under "Communication --> Host Program Setup". This will setup I-Comm to issue the "cd tmp" command each time before it starts to download a file from the Internet. * It is a good idea to setup I-Comm to download all the files to a "tmp" directory in your shell account. This makes the file cleanup easier if something goes wrong. 17. How do I setup I-Comm to keep all the files downloaded to my shell account ? Enter "ls" in the "File Remove Command" field under "Communication --> Host Program Setup". This will setup I-Comm to keep all the files in your shell account. * Don't do this unless you really have a LOT of disk space in your shell account! 18. How do I setup I-Comm to set the "rm" alias back after each file download ? Enter "alias rm 'rm -i'" in the "Command Suffix" field under "Communication --> Host Program Setup". This will setup I-Comm to issue the "alias rm 'rm -i'" command each time after it finishes downloading a file from the Internet. * Don't worry about this setting if you did not setup a "rm" alias in your shell account. 19. How do I use I-Comm with "lynx" or "www" instead of "icomhost" as my Internet Host Program ? Select the "Communication --> Internet Host Program --> Use Lynx" or "Communication --> Internet Host Program --> Use www" to setup I-Comm to work with "lynx" or "www". 20. How can I switch to the I-Comm Terminal window from the Browser Window ? Or switch to the Browser window from the Terminal Window ? When you are in the I-Comm Browser window, click on the "Terminal" button to switch to the Terminal window. When you are in I-Comm Terminal window, click on the "Browser" button to switch to the Browser window. 21. How can I STOP a file transfer process ? While I-Comm is downloading a file from the Internet, you can click on the "STOP" button to cancel the "remaining file" transfer, and click on the "CANCEL" button of the file transfer dialog to stop the current file transfer. 22. Does I-Comm save visited Web pages on my local disk, so I can look at them again later on ? Yes. I-Comm saves all the downloaded pages in the Cache directory. Turn on the "Use Local Cache File" flag, click on the links which you have already downloaded, and I-Comm will automatically load the page from your local disk. If you want to update the current page, just click on the "Reload" button, and I-Comm will retrieve that page for you from the Internet. If you want to delete some or all of the cache files, you can select the "Options --> Clean Local Cache Files" menu. There is also a file named "index" in the Cache directory which contains the HTTP address and local file name mapping. You also can save Web pages with images to other places on your hard disk. For details, see question #21. 23. Can I edit the current HTML file in I-Comm ? Yes. Select the "File --> Edit HTML Source" menu, and I-Comm will load Windows Notepad to edit the current HTML file. After editing, you can click on the "Reload" button to see what it looks like. 24. How do I setup my own home page ? Select the "File --> Setup Homepage" menu. In the file dialog, select the HTML file you want to use as your home page. 25. Can I have more than one hot list file in I-Comm ? Yes. You can have an unlimited number of hot list files in I-Comm. Use the "File --> Setup Hot List File" menu to select the hot list file you want to use. It is a good idea to have different hot list files for information belonging to different categories. 26. How do I edit the current hot list file ? Use the "File --> Edit Hot List File" menu. I-Comm will load Windows Notepad to edit the current hot list file. Please keep at least two words per line while you are editing the file. 27. How do I save a HTML page to disk WITH IMAGES in I-Comm, and view it later using I-Comm or another browser ? Use the "File --> Save As HTML" menu, it is as easy as saving a file. 28. How do I save a HTML page as a plain text file in I-Comm ? Use the "File --> Save As ASCII" menu. 29. Can I use I-Comm to download a list of files in batch mode ? Yes. Select the "File --> Batch Download" menu. I-Comm will pop-up a batch download dialog box. You can use the "Right" mouse button to click on the hyper-link to add that link to the batch download list. 30. What should I do if I-Comm cannot retrieve inline images ? ("Bad CRC" error) This is because the sz program is having a problem with downloading binary files. Try using "sz -be" in the "Communication --> Host Program Setup Z-Modem Download Cmd." field. This will setup I-Comm to use "sz -be" to download files. You can also use other "sz" options here. It is a good idea to ask your SysAdmin what "sz" options are needed for Z-modem file downloading. 31. What should I do if the dial dialog continuously shows the "dialing" message, and does not connect ? This is because I-Comm did not catch the "CONNECT" string. Select the "Communication --> Dial Setup" menu. In the "Connect String" field, enter "C" (or "c"), or change it to the connect string specified in your modem manual. If this still does not work, try the following: . Select "Communication --> Com Port Setup" to open the port; . Click on the "Terminal" button to switch to the Terminal window; . Type "atdt <phone number>" in the Terminal to dial out. 32. What should I do if I-Comm cannot retrieve anything from the Internet, and only shows the "waiting response from http server" message ? Check the selection under the "Communication --> Internet Host Program" menu, and make sure you have selected the right Internet host program. For example, if you have lynx installed in your shell account, you should select "Use Lynx". 33. What should I do if I-Comm cannot retrieve anything at all from the Internet ? Firstly, in your shell account, you MUST have one of the following programs: . icomhost from Talent Communications, Inc. . OR lynx . OR www Then you test this program by downloading the page at: http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm * If you have icomhost, the command you need to type in your shell account is: icomhost -a http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm -f icomm.htm * If you have lynx, the command you need to type in your shell account is: lynx http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm -source -dump > icomm.htm (For VAX: lynx http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm -source -dump) * If you have www, the command you need to type in your shell account is: www http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm -dump > icomm.htm (For VAX: www http://www.best.com/~icomm/icomm.htm -o icomm.htm) Make sure the program can download the "icomm.htm" file. In addition to the program mentioned above, you also need access to the Z-modem file transfer program "sz". To check the "sz" program, type "sz icomm.htm" in I-Comm Terminal, then click on the "Download" button in I-Comm to download the icomm.htm file. Make sure I-Comm Terminal can receive the file. 34. Why should I register I-Comm ? a. You get the FULL FEATURED "registered" version of the software in which the "registration" dialog will not pop up every time you start and exit the program. b. You will get free upgrades until I-Comm version 1.99. c. Priority for adding new features to I-Comm. d. It will support us continuously improving I-Comm. We plan to support HTML3 and Netscape tags before version 1.99. e. You will receive discounts on our other Internet-related products. (We have an off-line mail reader and a HTML editor coming up). 35. How do I register I-Comm ? Please fill out following registration form. You can register I-Comm either by FAX or by MAIL. Cost: * US $39.95 for commercial users * US $29.95 for non-commercial users * Special: $10 discount for full-time college students. Please send US $19.95 and a photo copy of both sides of your current student ID along with the registration form. * California Residents Adds 7.5% Sales Tax. * Site license and education discount are also available, for detail information, send your inquiry to: icomm@talentcom.com 1. To Register By Mail: Send check or money order with registration form to: Talent Communications, Inc. P.O.Box 611476 San Jose, CA 95161-1476 U.S.A. * California Residents Adds 7.5% Sales Tax. * Make check or money order payable to Talent Communications, Inc. in US dollars. 2. To Register By Fax: Fill out and sign following form and send it with the registration form to: (408)437-0738 via FAX. Method of Payment: ()MasterCard ()Visa ()Am. Express Amount : ()US$39.95 ()US$29.95 ()US$19.95 California Residents Adds 7.5% Sales Tax : __________ Total Amount: US$_________________________________ Card # : ____________________________________________ Exp. Date : _________________________________________ Your Name : _________________________________________ Your Signature : ____________________________________ Date : ______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- I-Comm Registration Form =================================================================== Name: Date: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Company Name (if any): ------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail Address (required): ------------------------------------------------------------------- Street Address: ------------------------------------------------------------------- City: State: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zip: Country: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Phone Number (including Country Code): ------------------------------------------------------------------- Fax Number (including Country Code): ------------------------------------------------------------------- Where did you hear about I-Comm: 1. Internet newsgroup, please specify:____________________________________ 2. CompuServe 3. AOL 4. Other online service provider, please specify: ____________________________ 5. I-Comm advertising flyers 6. Newspapers, magazines please specify:____________________________________ 7. From a friend 8. Others, please specify: ____________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Where did you obtain I-Comm software: 1. I-Comm ftp sites (from best.com or netcom.com) 2. SimTel 3. CICA 4. CompuServe 5. AOL 6. Other ftp site, please specify: ____________________ 7. From a friend 8. Others, please specify: ____________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- What kind of Internet account do you have: 1. SLIP/PPP 2. Unix shell account 3. VAX account 4. Freenet account ------------------------------------------------------------------- Upon receiving this form and payment, Talent Communications, Inc. will send you an I-Comm license file via E-Mail. Please double check you E-Mail address. Thank you for registering I-Comm. =================================================================== 36. How do I reach I-Comm's support staff ? =================================================================== For Questions, send E-Mail to: icomm@talentcom.com OR browse our home page at: http://www.best.com/~icomm/ or http://www.talentcom.com/ For discussions on I-Comm, post to newsgroup: comp.infosystems.www.browsers.ms-windows =================================================================== Legal Disclaimer =================================================================== I-Comm(TM) is Copyright 1995 by Talent Communications, Inc. It may not be distributed, licensed, resold, or transferred for any commercial purpose. The software is provided to the user "as is". Talent Communications, Inc. DOES NOT make any warranties with respect to the I-Comm software and/or any associated material provided with it. Talent Communications, Inc. shall NOT be liable for any claims or damages whatsoever caused, whether from the use of this software or any files created with it. =================================================================== From I-Comm Users: =================================================================== From: Gerry Hecht >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > I was having all kinds of > problems getting sz to work on my shell account at school which uses a > SPARC with Solaris 2.3. I finally hacked up the C code for Unix 5 > version 4 to get it to compile on Solaris. Finally, and you might want > to pass this on to other Solaris sz users, I had to use the following > switches in the communications--> setup host menu: "sz -beZl 512 L > 512" with these settings and using the SIO comm drivers under OS/2, > everything works GREAT!!!!!! > > A further refinement for people who's shell accounts are on SPARCs > running Solaris 2.3 Use the following sz switches for best > performance: > sz beZl 1024 L 1024 its faster than the last switches I told you > about... and is the absolute fastest that my SPARC can be pushed > without giving bad CRC and garbage count messages. =================================================================== From: Timothy Francis Mcdonough >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > IT'S WORKING! By using the following download command > string the Bad CRC problem has been solved: "sz -bZl 1024 L 1024" =================================================================== From: HUY VIET LE >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > This message is to add to your FAQ, Sometime when you DL a batch > of files, you get an error after the first file send, one > possibility is the way that speed and data are sent between your > UNIX server, your DialUp Server and Your PC. One solution is to > reduce the block size. > Something Like: > sz -bl 512 'your file' > should reduce the problem. > Another problem, some UNIX commands wait for a character to > complete the task and return to the prompt, a solution is to add > a return character ^M in the Prefix Command DialogBox. =================================================================== From: John Holman >------------------------------------------------------------------ > Using a "tmp" working directory with icomhost. > Your UNIX search path probably only includes the directories having > executable files, plus "." (the current directory). Using lynx or www > there is no problem, but if you install icomhost yourself and use a "tmp" > directory you will probably have to install icomhost in that directory > so that I-Comm can execute the program. > If you "cancel" during file transfers, I-Comm will not be able to "rm" > the incomplete files and they will build up in your working directory. > You may be tempted to use "rm *" to clean the directory. *Be careful!* ==========================================================================