If you are using a 386 PC running under Windows (3.0) then, provided you have configured your Windows session to be running in enhanced mode (not standard mode), you can opt to run Comcall in a background fashion during your normal Window session provided you have sufficient memory (RAM). This will enable you to continue to work on other Window applications (or at the DOS prompt invoked from Windows) whilst Comcall continues to monitor your phone line from within a minimised window. Taking the stipulated actions at the receipt of the trigger conditions (rings). Running Comcall in this manner is not full supported by Comcall due to the wide variations of Window programs, memory requirements and our personal experiences of Windows in general (we have found that Window can crash when memory/printer contentions arise). Support may be offered at a later date when Windows is found to be more stable in these areas. Note that Windows and some TSR's appear to conflict. This may restrict your ability to use such utilities as Execitat, Comboot and Stopboot within a DOS shell prom the Windows environment (DOS Prompt Icon). The process to prepare Windows for such background execution of Comcall is now described:- Ensure your Windows session is running in enhanced mode (386 required) (Control Panel - 386 enhanced). Memory requirements in order to run Comcall in a Window background vary according to what other Window applications you might wish to run whilst Comcall is in a background Window. Generally as a guideline you may expect to need around a total of 4 Mbytes of RAM. For the purpose of this example we are now going to make few assumptions. If your set up varies from these then it should not be too difficult to take these into consideration when setting up your own individual system. The first assumption is that your Comcall files are in a directory called COMCALL that resides under your C drive eg C:\Comcall and that your C drive is your boot drive. Next we are going to assume that you have set up and saved your required parameters for Comcall using the command from the DOS prompt. Another assumption that we are going to make is that you are relatively familiar with using Windows e.g. you know what an Icon is and that you are aware that 'double click' means pressing your (usually) left mouse button in quick succession to select an item), and you are familiar with navigating your way around your Windows environment. Finally we will also assume that you have tried, tested and are satisfied with Comcalls trigger actions for your requirements whilst using Comcall from under DOS. These assumptions are necessary as we may then only concern ourselves with the actual Window installation process for Comcall without the need to consider possible installation problems arising out of incorrect installation/set up of the Comcall package. Preparing Windows (Note Select in the following context means pointing to (using the mouse) and clicking on that option (one click)). Invoke Windows (e.g. using the command WIN at the DOS prompt). Select 'PROGRAM MANAGER' Select FILE Select NEW Select PROGRAM ITEM. Select OK. Enter a description of COMCALL Enter a command line of C:\COMCALL\COMCALL.EXE Press the key to file the above. You have now created a new Icon called COMCALL which will invoke Comcall.exe in the c:\comcall directory when selected. Now we need to set up the values that are to be used when this Icon is selected. This is achieved using the PIF EDITOR. Select PIF EDITOR by locating and double clicking on that icon. For the Program Filename enter COMCALL.EXE For the Window Title enter a value of COMCALL Leave the optional parameters blank Enter a Start Up Directory value of C:\COMCALL Click on the DISPLAY USAGE item WINDOW option so that Comcall will run in a Window. Click on the BACKGROUND option for EXECUTION (We want Comcall to run in the background). Click on the Close Window on Exit option until no X shows (we want Comcall keep the Window open on exit). Now click on the Advanced option. At the Advanced Window set the Multi-Tasking Option to something around - Background Priority 50, Foreground Priority 100. For Memory Options we will assume that you are able to use High Memory Area, so select that option (X shows against this when selected). For the Display Option select Video Memory of TEXT. For the Monitor Ports, select the highest option applicable to your display (monitor) e.g. for VGA select High Graphics. Next select the Emulate Text Mode (again an X will be seen against this when it is selected). For the Other Options, set these as desired (take the defaults). Now click on the OK option from the advanced Window. Next select the MODE option from below the Windows title bar to ensure that 386 Enhanced is selected. Next select the FILE option followed by the SAVE AS option. Enter a file name of COMCALL.PIF for the Pif file name to be saved as. Click on the OK to confirm the save. Select the File option and Exit option to quit from the PIF editor (e.g. return to Program Manager). You are now ready to invoke your Windows version of Comcall. Starting/Using Comcall From Windows Having performed the above installation, you may now invoke Comcall at any time when you are using Windows directly. Comcall will be started and may be left running in a background (minimised Window) fashion whilst you use other Window applications. Double Click on the Comcall icon to invoke Comcall. Set the desired trigger actions for the Comcall session as per normal DOS working (You'll have to use the keyboard for this). Once the options have been set and the Comcall terminal session entered into, select the down arrow symbol (upside down triangle) at the top right hand side of the Comcall Window (using the mouse) in order to minimise that window. Comcall is now running in the background. Normal Window activities may now be performed (including the request for the DOS prompt). If a call comes in, then the trigger action will be performed in the normal fashion. In order to view the Comcall session, or immediately prior to exiting Windows, you may re-enter the Comcall session simply by minimising all current Windows (again using the top right hand down-arrow symbol) in turn, until the Comcall Icon is seen (you want the active Comcall Icon here, not the select Icon that was created above). Once the Comcall Icon is located, simply double click on that Icon to re-view the current Comcall session. You may then view or modify that session as required using the normal Comcall keys. Windows will not allow you to exit until such times that all outstanding activities (such as Comcall) have been closed. Closing the Comcall Window therefore requires you to select the active window as described in the previous paragraph, and then end that session using the normal Comcalls exit command of . Thereafter that Window will then become inactive and you can remove it by double clicking on the top left hand '-' sign. Windows can then be exited in the normal way. Currently Comcall does not support the usage of the mouse within the Comcall Window. Later versions of Comcall may, however, include such additional functionality.