ReadCIX Version 2.00 An Offline message reader for CIX for the Psion Series 3 Pocket computer. Sales. ###### This product is Shareware. If you find this product useful please register it. Registration will remove the Nag screen and provide the latest version, plus automatic upgrades. There is a 20 day evaluation period, after which the program will only display the Nag screen. To Register send a cheque for œ10.00 to D.Keppler 1 Field Close Beyton Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 9AB Introduction. ############# It is important to remember the concept behind ReadCIX, it was never meant to be a full OLR such as Matrix or Telepathy,the size limits imposed by the small memory would make this impossible. Not from any limitations of OPL or the Series 3 itself, more the problems of fitting a large message base into 2Mb of RAM. ReadCIX was created to cater for the times when you have not had time to read all the messages downloaded onto a desktop PC or while you are away and would like to keep up to date with messages and Mail. There is no clever or complicated thread handling in ReadCIX, all it tries to do is either take a previously downloaded scratchpad or, a scratchpad downloaded to the Series3 automatically, and present the messages in a orderly fashion. History. ######## Version 1 ReadCIX v1 was written without the use of a Series 3 or any prior knowledge of OPL, the PC Emulator provided by Psion was used in conjunction with a OPL guide book. It was really a test version to see if the concept was viable and the fact that the program actually worked is a tribute to Psion's foresight in releasing the Emulator and the ease of programming in OPL. Version 1.5 A much improved version, Mail was handled in a consistent way, the presentation of the message was tidied up and the code was much more robust. There was also a new configuration menu to specify directories for scratchpads and message files so Drives A and B and the REMote drives could be used. Version 2 This makes thing much easier as it allows the automated downloading of messages via the serial link and a modem. It also supports printing to serial or parallel printers Version 3 Still in the planning stage, will allow replies to messages and Uploading to CIX. Installation. ############# You must create a directory off the root directory on the internal M drive called \cix. There are four files included in the Zip file: ReadCIX.opa : The program itself, copy to any APP Directory. ReadCIX.fon : The message header font, copy to the directory \cix on the M drive. ReadCIX.pic : The ICON file, copy to the \cix directory on the M drive. ReadCIX.txt : This text file. Readall.scr : The script for downloading all mail and messages Copy to a \scr directory Readmal.scr : The script for downloading mail only. Copy to a \scr directory. Psion-I will then install the program as described in the manual. Operation. ########## General. ReadCIX allows you to browse a set of messages downloaded from CIX, either by ReadCIX itself or transferred from another computer. It will arrange your messages into conferences, and you can pick which conferences to read. While viewing a message you may print the text or jot down notes such as a reply. First set up the options in the configure and printer options under the special menu. If you intend using the built in Comms functions then the correct connections to a modem must be made and the names file and scripts set up as described below. Once a scratchpad has been downloaded use the post option to create the individual message files for reading. If space is limited on the Series 3 the scratchpad can be posted from a remote drive using the serial link. Here is a description of the menu options. Message Files. ============== Choose. Select a conference to read. Whilst reading the following keys are in effect. Esc- Return to Menu Help- Basic help text Enter- Show next page of message Up Arrow- Previous message Down Arrow- Next message Shift P- Print message See also Configure Shift W- Write note See below Delete. Deletes all the message files. Comms. ====== There are two options Script 1 and Script2. These options will run a user defined script of the name and location defind in the configure option. ReadCIX uses the standard Series3 Comms application to connect to CIX, therefore there are a few things to setup outside ReadCIX before it can be used. The Comms and Script application must be installed and the serial link connected to a modem with the correct cables. You must have followed the instructions in the serial link manual for connecting to CIX including creating a Names file with the names cixuser,cixpassword and cixnumber names if you intend to use the supplied scripts. Finally, a script needs to be created and translated. This can be as simple as the one supplied with the serial link or can be much more complicated. There are two scripts supplied, one to download all mail and messages and one to download just mail. The supplied scripts will need to be modified before use to match your own modem and should only be used as a guide. When a script is selected from the menu, ReadCIX passes control to the Comms application while the script is running. This allows you to monitor the progress of the script and reply to any prompts. When the script has finished, control returns to ReadCIX. Posting. ======== Post Scratchpad. This option will read through a downloaded scratchpad and post the messages to the relevant file. ReadCIX uses the first eight characters of the conference name as a file name. It will create a file for each new conference. If ReadCIX finds a conference exist already, IT WILL DELETE THE FILE before writing the new messages. This has been done to minimise the amount of storage used. Therefore it is essential to make sure all messages have been read before posting a new scratchpad. For the same reason a conference cannot exist twice in the same scratchpad, this will not cause an error, but the first set of messages will be overwritten by the second. Delete Scratchpad. Delete the downloaded scratchpad. Special. ======== Configure. This allows you to define the following. Path for Message files Path and name for scratchpad Path and name for user defined script files 1 and 2 Printer. The printer setup menu allows you to specify a parallel or serial printer, and if serial the settings for the serial port. Register. ReadCIX is shareware, you have a 20 day evaluation period. After this time the program will not go beyond the initial screen. Obtain your registration number and enter it here along with your name. Once registered this option will not show. About. Displays brief details of ReadCIX. Exit. Return to the system screen. Writing notes. ============== Whilst reading messages, Shift-W will switch to the word processor application of the Series 3 to allow the writing of notes. These notes can then be read later when replying to messages or creating new messages. You will be asked if you require a new file or wish to use a existing one. Any problems or request can be referred to my CIX ID salex or my CIS ID 100034,2641.