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************    2496 FAX/DATA SOFTWARE 3.0 README     *************
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                          WORLDPORT 2496
                         FAX/DATA SOFTWARE
                           Version 3.0
                        Copyright 1989 - 1991
                US Robotics, Portable Products Division.


This READ.ME file contains information regarding installation
and use of the WORLDPORT 2496 FAX/DATA software version 3.0. 
The six sections contained in this documentation are:

          A.  Installation Notes

          B.  Enhancements

          C.  Common Questions and Answers

          D.  Registration and Technical Support



                 ****  A. INSTALLATION NOTES  ****

1. Users upgrading from earlier software versions

If you are upgrading software from earlier versions, make sure that
you have made a BACKUP copy of the existing files in your fax
subdirectory.  Then DELETE all the files in your fax subdirectory. You
may then follow the INSTALL procedure with the new software as
outlined in our Software Users Guide.


2. Floppy disk users

If you are using a floppy disk system and do not have a hard drive,
please be aware that standard received and sent faxes require up to
50K of disk space per page.  FINE mode faxes require up to  150K of
disk space per page.  Run CHKDSK to determine the available space on
your diskette before you SEND or RECEIVE faxes with your floppy disk.

The minimum that a working FAX floppy disk should contain is:

FAX.EXE     - the fax program
CONFIG.FAX  - the configuration file created by running CONFIG.EXE

The following files are not necessary if you are short on disk space, but
will disable some functions of the FAX program:

FAX.HLP     - the help files.  Without this file you will receive
              a warning message, when you run FAX, that all the help
              (F1) features are disabled.

WP.COM      - the express editor.  Without the WP.COM file you cannot use
              the EXPRESS function for SENDing faxes.

EXPRESS.LGO - the express form.  Without this file the express editor,
              if present, will not use the personalized express form.

PHONE.BK    - the phone book.  Without this file, all phone book features 
              are disabled.  Should you wish to create a new phone book, 
              use the ADD function in PHONE OPERATIONS.  The software will 
              create a new PHONE.BK file for you.

All other files provided by US Robotics are optional, and don't affect
basic operation.

Single Floppy Disk User Note:
 Once the FAX/DATA software has been started up, you can remove the FAX 
 disk and insert another floppy for sending and receiving.

Dual Floppy Disk User Note:
 It is possible to store converted and received files on one disk drive,
 and the FAX/DATA software on another.  To do so, set FAXDIR
 equal to the file (NOT the FAX/DATA) disk drive.  The file disk 
 should contain:
        CONFIG.FAX
        PHONE.BK (if used)
        FAX.HLP (if used)
 The AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the STARTUP (DOS) disk should contain this 
 command:
        SET FAXDIR={file disk drive:\path(if any)}

 Example:  Drive A contains the floppy with the 2496 FAX/DATA software.
           Drive B contains a files floppy with CONFIG.FAX and PHONE.BK.
           The command SET FAXDIR=B:\ has been issued from the 
           AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the startup disk.
           The fax software should be started up from drive A and the 
           2496 set up to RECEIVE an incoming fax.  When the fax call 
           comes, the received fax will be stored on drive B, under the
           appropriate filename, in the root directory of that floppy.
           Any ASCII files sent by this user would have the converted
           fax format files (".001") also stored and sent from the
           B drive.

Installation from B drive Note:
 To install the software from a B drive, you must enter the following
 DOS command from the B:> prompt:

    ASSIGN A=B <enter>

 When installation is complete, type ASSIGN <enter> to cancel the
 assignment. This resets all drive letters to their original
 assignments.  See your DOS manual for more details.


                    ****  B. ENHANCEMENTS  ****

Following is a list of enhancements added to the 2496 FAX/DATA
software in version 3.0.

1)  The ability to select DATA COMPRESSION or ERROR CORRECTION in the 
    DATA mode:

    For Originate Mode:
    Choose DATA from the FAX menu.  Choose ORIGINATE from the DATA menu.
    Enter a phone number or phone id. The data communications parameters
    menu appears with the Parameters OK? parameter highlighted. Choose
    Parameters OK? as NO. The data communicatons parameters menu reappears 
    with the Speed parameter highlighted. Press the SPACE BAR. Two new
    entries appear: 
	COMP - DATA COMPRESSION - BAUD 4800
	CORR - ERROR CORRECTION - BAUD 9600
    Change any other parameters needed. Set Parameters OK? as YES. Setting
    up WORLDPORT 2496 message appears. Terminal mode is entered.
    
    For Answer Mode:
    Choose DATA from the FAX menu.  Choose ANSWER from the DATA menu.
    The data communications parameters menu appears with the Parameters 
    OK? parameter highlighted. Choose Parameters OK? as NO. The data 
    communicatons parameters menu reappears with the Speed parameter 
    highlighted. Press the SPACE BAR. Two new entries appear: 
	COMP - DATA COMPRESSION - BAUD 4800
	CORR - ERROR CORRECTION - BAUD 9600
    Change any other parameters needed. Set Parameters OK? as YES. Setting
    up WORLDPORT 2496 message appears. Terminal mode is entered.

2)  The ability for the UTILITIES VIEW and PRINT to default to all files
    whose extension begins with 0 in a default directory. When the F2 -
    display directory is chosen the default directory is the FAXDIR
    variable set in the autoexec.bat file. If no FAXDIR variable exists,
    then the current directory is used. The default files are *.0??, all
    of the files that begin with a 0.
    
3)  The ability to change the CSI/TSI message from the UTILITIES menu.
    Select UTILITIES from the main menu. Select CHANGE CSI/TSI from
    the utilities menu. Enter the new CSI/TSI identification. A message
    will appear stating if the CSI/TSI message has been changed.
    Press any key to return to the UTILITIES menu. This option works
    only with the 2496/V product.

4)  The ability to update the QUEUE screen while in the FAX software
    after BFAX has sent a fax.  If BFAX is running and the user is
    viewing the QUEUE, when BFAX is done sending the QUEUE screen is
    inaccurate. In order to update the screen, press the ENTER key.

5)  Perhaps the biggest and most requested customer upgrade is that the
    size of BFAX has been reduced in size by almost two-thirds! Bfax
    currently occupies just under 47k.


            ****  C. COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS  ****

QUESTION: Can I use my WORLDPORT 2496 with other data communication
programs?
ANSWER: Yes, the WORLDPORT 2496 is a Hayes (tm) compatible
2400 bps data modem.

QUESTION: Whenever I send a document created in my word processor, it
comes out with funny characters and is not legible. Why?
ANSWER: Make sure you are saving the document in an "unformatted"
manner. This is usually a different procedure than normal saving.
Terms like "ASCII only" or "TEXT" might describe this. Please refer
to your word processor manual for the correct procedure.

QUESTION: When I select Word Processor from the UTILITIES menu, I get
the message "You have not set the environment for your word
processor." What do I do?
ANSWER: In order to call your word processor from the Fax program, you
must specify an environment variable. This is done by adding the
line:

         SET FAXWP=drive:\subdirectory\program name

to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (see Setting your Word Processor Directory
on page 2-4).


QUESTION: Can I mix text with graphics in the same document?
ANSWER: Yes, by joining filenames with a comma (,) in the filename
field.

QUESTION: Can I send a fax by pressing the Print Screen key?
ANSWER: No. We do, however, provide print capture with BFAX.EXE.

QUESTION: My modem dials at home, but not at work.  How come?
ANSWER: Like most modems, the WORLDPORT 2496 is designed to work with
a direct connection to the phone line. Business phone systems vary
greatly and many do not meet standard "ma bell" phone specifications
within the system. Before using the 2496 with a business phone system
we advise strongly that you check with your phone system manufacturer
to make sure there are no harmful power levels present, or damage may
occur to the 2496 when it is connected. If in doubt, you can use
acoustic couplers.

QUESTION: My modem dials through my office phone, but it will not
answer.  Why?
ANSWER: Business phone systems may differ with regards to their ring
voltages. US Robotics offers a unique feature for answering in these
instances, activated by setting NUMBER OF RINGS to 255 in the AUTOMATIC
ANSWER section of the CONFIG program. This command instructs the modem
to answer on slight voltage changes to work with PBX's that have
different ring voltages. You may also set the modem for this feature in
data TERMINAL mode, or within other communication programs by typing:
        ATS0=255 <ENTER>.

QUESTION: When I try to dial out in the TERMINAL mode, I hear the
modem dial out in a continuous stream of numbers.
ANSWER: The maximum number of characters you can have in a dialing
string is 37. This includes any dial modifiers, etc. Should you
exceed this number in one dialing string, the modem's dialing string
buffer will overflow and the warning beep will be issued. Simply hit
the space bar and either dial manually or, if possible, separate the
string into two parts.


           ****  D. REGISTRATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT  ****


1. Registration

Please send in your registration cards so that we can send you
information regarding new versions, updates, and features. We
automatically notify registered users of new versions. If you do not
return the registration card you will not be eligible for future
upgrades.


2. Technical Support

As a WORLDPORT 2496 owner, you may call for technical support. The
numbers for US Robotics Technical Support are:

        United States:  800-982-5151
        International:  708-982-5010
        Fax:            708-982-0823
        BBS:            708-982-5092

When calling with a technical problem, please have your modem and
computer set up as you are using it, and have the following
information available:

            Name
            Phone number
            Computer type
            Modem serial number and software version number
            Disk Operating System version


Thank you for choosing WorldPort.

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************    2496 FAX/DATA SOFTWARE 3.0 README     *************
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