================================================================= MEX-EASY.DOC 05/20/84 STEVE SANDERS ================================================================= So you got MEX10 and can't quite figure out what steps are necessary to input the phone numbers and such... Well, you are not alone! I have most of it figured out after a week of playing with it and will pass on what little I do know. ENTRY OF PHONE LIBRARY ====================== From the MEX prompt enter "PHONE id=number", like this: [MEX] A0>>phone a=1-555-111-1111 or [MEX] A0>>phone alan=997-0020 The "id" string may be up to twelve characters or as few as one. By entering "PHONE" now, the following will be displayed: [MEX] A0>>phone A = 1-555-111-1111 ALAN = 997-0020 The simplest way to enter a pre-done library is to make up a file to be "READ" in by MEX. Use Wordstar in non-doc mode and edit a file called PHONE.PHN, enter the following: PHONE A=1-555-111-1111 PHONE ALAN=997-0020 PHONE id=numbers PHONE etc... Fill in as many as you want up to a maximum of 30 numbers. Then bring up MEX and enter: [MEX] A0>>read phone.phn You will then see MEX "read" in each of the phone command lines until it reaches the end of the phone.phn file. You may now check the newly installed phone library by entering: [MEX] A0>>phone To make this new library a permanent part of your MEX, just use the CLONE command now to copy an image of MEX from memory with the library installed: [MEX] A0>>clone mex1.com You will now have a new file called MEX1.COM which will have the phone library already in it. WHAT IS INI.MEX ?? =================== When MEX is first brought up, it is pre-set to look for the file called INI.MEX. This file contains commands to be READ in to MEX when it is first initialized. This is very similar to the STARTUP command under ZCPR2 which also holds a multi-command statement to be executed after a cold boot. You may create INI.MEX with Wordstar in non-doc mode and include any "legal" MEX10 command line. Such as: GLOBAL T;ID "[ MY-MEX ] ";CAL A The form of the file is: command;command;command Each "legal" MEX command MUST BE seperated by semicolons. This would make the return to terminal (T) mode default after a file "R"eceive or "S"end operation; change the ID string to read "[ MY-MEX ]" rather than "[MEX]"; and automatically dial the number associated with the id "A". ... Or, you can forget INI.MEX altogether and just receive a "Can't find INI.MEX" error message on initialization. Which does not hurt anything, it just indicates that the file is not on the current drive/user if SEARCH = 0. INSTALLING "KEY" STRINGS ======================== Just as MDM7xx has a CTRL-L logon, you can set one up in MEX much the same way. Once in "T"erminal mode, the only escape back to command state is with a CTRL-J followed by an "E". A complete menu of escape "CTRL-J" functions is seen by entering a CTRL-J followed by a "?" from Terminal mode. Any other ASCII key character is a "legal" definable key that can be used in Terminal mode for special functions. To set up the "L" key the same as the logon key in MDM7xx, enter: [MEX] A0>>key l="firstname;lastname^M" NOTE: The carat "^" indicates a CTRL key and ^M is the same as a carriage return. It MUST be inside the quote marks that define the keystring entered. Now once you are connected with the remote system and wish to send your logon in, simply enter a CTRL-J followed by an "L". If you attempt to specify one of the characters that is already used as a Terminal mode command an error is returned. Also note that MEX will always prompt you with a "Syntax error" message if the command you are trying to enter is illegal. USING THE HELP COMMAND ====================== MEX has an extensive on-line HELP facility if the HELP.MEX is on the current drive/user along with your MEX.COM file. From the MEX prompt enter: [MEX] A0>>help ? The complete list of help files available is displayed. Then just enter HELP followed by the command name desired: [MEX] A0>>help call This would list the help info for the auto-dial command CAL USING THE SENDOUT COMMAND ========================= The SENDOUT command is used in .MEX files for automatic operation of MEX.COM with the remote host system. The SENDOUT command will send a string out the modem port (hence the name SENDOUT). You can specify a prefix and a suffix for all SENDOUT strings allowing real flexibility. Most commonly used would be a null string for the prefix and a "^M" (carriage return) as the suffix. The prefix and suffix can be set by INI.MEX at startup or defined by you after MEX is up and running. Type HELP PREFIX or HELP SUFFIX for full info on this. If you know the DIRectory of the system you are calling, you can build a file like this: SENDOUT "XMODEM S B5:SD-88.LBR^M";R SD-88.LBR SENDOUT "XMODEM S B1:MEXNEWS.0Q2^M";R MEXNEWS.0Q2 SENDOUT "XMODEM S A0:RCPM-049.LQT^M";R RCPM-049.LQT DSC;EXIT After connecting with the host system, signing in, and entering the CP/M system - use CTRL-J then E to get to command prompt. Let's say this file is called AUTO.MEX, use the following: [MEX] A0>>read auto.mex MEX will now send the commands to the host system to XMODEM the three files listed above in the SENDOUT commands and then initiates the "R"eceive mode and save all 3 files. When it's done, MEX will disconnect from the host (DSC), and exit MEX to your CP/M operating system. I think you can see the possibilities here are endless. The above sequence could have been performed UNATTENDED. This can save you a lot of $$$ on long distance charges if you know what files you want in advance. There are many more commands than the ones I have described here, but this should get you started in the right direction. Just remember that MEX can be as simple as as complicated as you desire. It is a great program and will get even better.