README for PPPDIAL.CMD

     OS/2 WARP REXX script to redial a PPP provider when busy. 

      Written by: Don Russell (c) April 1995
      send email to drussell@direct.ca

Change log: (most recent first)
     15 April 1995: Fix processing of "hung connection"
                    (Dropped by V2.0 changes :-(  )
     14 April 1995: Recognize CARRIER ... response from some 28.8 modems
                    Support multiple phone numbers
                    Get userid/password from dialer
                    Get timing info from modem
                    Support response file after login
      8 April 1995: Original

A note about distribution.... This script may be distributed freely provided
I am given credit for it. Please do not alter my name or e-mail address
nor the manner in which they are displayed.

There is no charge for the use of this script, but if you decide you
like it and continue to use it, I'd appreciate hearing from you via e-mail...
just a brief note saying which site you got it from and where you are using it.
A sort of "electronic" postcard from your home town. :-)

If you encounter problems, please e-mail me at drussell@direct.ca and I'll
do my best to help you out. Please use a subject line of PPPDIAL.

NOTE: I've tested this as well as I can with a single provider. Given the many
providers and configurations, this may not work properly for you the first time.

Specific things to watch for are the EXACT prompts used when the host
system is asking for a userid and password. (see line 93/94 of pppdial.cmd)

To change the script after it's been installed, use the EPM or E editor.
      EPM d:\TCPIP\BIN\PPPDIAL.CMD
   or E d:\TCPIP\BIN\PPPDIAL.CMD


INSTALLATION
If you double-click the pppdial.cmd file it will install itself.

It will move itself to the \tcpip\bin directory and display further
help. After displaying help it will erase the original pppdial.cmd file.
NOTE: Any previous version is replaced, without being prompted, so you
may wish to back up any existing pppdial.cmd file yourself.

After the script has been placed in the correct directory...

       - start the "dial other internet provider"
       - use modify entry (or add entry)
       - in the 'Login sequence:' field enter
               pppdial.cmd <pause | *> <response file>
            where <pause> is the number of seconds to wait between dial
            attempts.
                  <response file> is referred to after a successful connection.
                   see below for file format
       - save the changes
       - installation complete

A NOTE TO USERS OF THE PREVIOUS/ORIGINAL VERSION:
In the original version of this script, the dial command, userid and password
were all passed as parameters or coded explicitly in the script.

I no longer support these parameters, instead getting information dynamically
from the dialer itself, where it's more intuitive. This also allows better
security of the password etc.

If you are using this script without the IBM "Dial Other Provider" please see the
commenst in the script. I have tried to maintain the past flexibilty while making
this easier to use for "most" people.

ADVANCED FEATURES:  (at least my wife didn't understand :-)

MULTIPLE PHONE NUMBERS
The "phone number" specified in the dialer field may be a list separated
by spaces. i.e 555-1212 800-123-4567, or it may be a file name which contains
a list of phone numbers, one on each line.

RESPONSE FILE
Format of the "response file":

The response file is useful for systems that present a menu or
require further interaction after entering a userid and password.

The first line of the response file is a "synchronization" keyword to
indicate whether we are to wait for a prompt, or do we need to start by
sending. The keyword must be either GO or WAIT

Lines in the file are used in pairs: assuming we wait for a prompt after
logging in, the first line will be WAIT, the second line is what we wait for,
the third line is what we send in response...

If WE must "start" the conversation after logging in, the first line in the
file will be GO and the second line will be sent right away. We will wait for the
system to reply with what we have in line 3 and so on.

FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

The only changes I have PLANNED are to be able to start other programs
by use of the "response file". I'm having problems with the SysStartObject
API when used within the dialer app for some reason, so I don't know when
I'll get to this.

Don Russell
*Team OS/2*
Vancouver British Columbia Canada
