from Off-Site Labs, Inc.
( December 10, 1999)
What you will find in this document
What is Connection Scheduler?
What's New?
Features
Command Line Parameters
Sub Directories
"File" Menu
"Applications" Menu
"Phone Book" Window Tab
"Options" Window Tab
"Status/Log" Window Tab
"Task List" Window Tab
Demo Version Information
Official Download Sites
Installation
Getting Started
Service And Support
Special Requirements
Reporting Problems
How To Register
License Agreement
Connection Scheduler is a modem dialer and a task scheduler.
This software has two main functions:
1. To connect your modem to the Internet by dialing your Internet Service Provider's
computer system
2. Once connected, run other software applications at scheduled times.
Applications can be run only after a connection to the Internet has been established with
your ISP.
Tasks / Applications
Connection Scheduler can be used to schedule and run any application software
package. It supports the use of parameters should they be required to manage the
operation of the software.
Connection Scheduler has been made to work with our Email Servant package (v2.05 and higher) for sending of email and Information Direct modules to retrieve and parse information from the Internet. For more information on Information Direct, visit the product's web page. We will be incorporating other vendor's products into the software as requested.
- Added feature to automatically turn on "Run
task(s) at connect time".
- Added Customer
Profiles to list of web site addresses on the Help menu.
- Fixed
bug that prevents scheduler to redial after
maximum attempts have been exceeded.
- Added feature to disconnect in specified number of
minutes. Features
- Bug fixes for launching applications manually.
- Added ability to automatically
detect presence of Email Servant and Information Direct software
modules.
- Uses your system's phonebook for dialing information.
- Can run the identified tasks upon establishing a connection.
- Each task can be configured separately from other tasks.
- Allows multiple retries to connect to host.
- Supports Windows 95/98/NT.
- Supports command line parameters to control operations.
- Supports command line parameters for 3rd party applications.
- Can disconnect when all tasks have been completed.
- Can dial, connect to the Internet, run identified tasks, and disconnect on a scheduled
basis.
- Connection logs can be saved to text files.
- Easily add new tasks/software and identify parameters, start/stop schedules.
- Add new entries to your system's phonebook.
- Run tasks/applications only after a connection has been made with your ISP.
- Certain applications have been integrated into Connection Scheduler for ease of use.
- Supports Email Servant (v2.05 and higher) software for sending email.
- Supports Information Direct software for
retrieving and parsing Internet information.
- Ability to disconnect in a specified number of minutes.
These parameters enable to you control the way the software loads and executes. The following parameters are supported:
/a - This parameter turns the scheduler on upon loading the software.
/d - This parameter will automatically go into dial mode upon startup. This parameter will not be used if the "/a" parameter is used.
/s - This parameter allows you to specify the server or phone book entry to use when connecting to the Internet.
/t - This parameter will run all tasks upon making a connection.
/x - This parameter will cause the application to close upon disconnect.
logs - This directory is created under the directory where the software has been installed. It is currently the default directory used when new log files are created. The location can be specified in the cs.ini file.
Exit: This option allows you to exit and close the application.
Browser: This text box contains the path to the Internet browser software application. Only Netscape and Microsoft browsers are supported with the automatic load of the HTML help file. Click on the 'Select' button to search your system for the path to the browser. If you have both Netscape and Microsoft products loaded, a window will appear allowing you to choose the one that should be used. If no browser is detected, you can type the path into the text box. Click on the 'Exit' button to exit and save your entry.
Email Servant: This software allows you to automate the sending of email. This product (version 2.05 and higher) has been integrated into Connection Scheduler for ease of use. Before selecting this option, you must select the Email Servant entry in the task list. Clicking on this option will load Email Servant's email account information window. This allows you to add/update your email account information. This software is a shareware product offered by Off-Site Labs, Inc. See the help file of this product for use, registration, and other information. You can also visit the product's web page.
Information Direct: This is the name given to a series of modules that will allow you download information from the Internet, repackage the information, and perform a specific function based upon that information. These modules can be used as a stand-a-lone product, or with Connection Scheduler. These products have all been integrated with Connection Scheduler for ease of use. Below you will find the current list of modules that are available. If you have modules that you would like to have developed, contact us at sales@offsitelabs.com.
- Stock Module: This module retrieves stock quote information from the Internet and sends the quote information to an email address. The Email Servant software must be installed on your system prior to adding this module to your task list. Before selecting this option, you must select the Stock Module entry in the task list. Clicking on this option will load the parameter window allowing you to enter your ID, data source, and overriding email address. This product works in conjunction with Email Servant. Stock module collects the information, reformats the information, and creates an email message. The message is then picked up and sent out via Email Servant. This option only appears if the software has been has been added to the task list. This module is a free product offered by Off-Site Labs, Inc. There is a fee to use the service. See the help file of this product for use, sign up, and other information. You can also visit the product's web page.
- Web Page Monitor: This module visits web pages. It will check to see if the address or URL responds. It checks to see how long the page takes to load. Alarms can be set on load time, page updates, and page size change in byte count. The results are sent to a specified email address. This product works in conjunction with Email Servant. The email information is picked up and sent out via Email Servant. This option only appears if the software has been has been added to the task list. This module is a free product offered by Off-Site Labs, Inc. There is a fee to use the service. See the help file of this product for use, sign up, and other information. You can also visit the product's web page.
Phone Book Entries: This frame contains a drop down list of all phone book entries that have been added to your system. These are the locations that are available for your system to dial-up and connect to for system access.
"Connect" Button: After selecting a phone book entry, select this option to dial the location.
"Disconnct" Button: This button will hang up your modem and disconnect you from the system for which you are connected.
"Cancel" Button: Click this button if you want to cancel your attempt to dial-up and connect to the selected phone book entry.
"Add/Modify Phone Book Entries" Button: This button causes the system application to load that will allow you to add new phone book entries.
Default Entry: This frame contains the phone book entry that will be used by default when loading Connection Scheduler.
"Select Default" Button: After selecting a phone book entry, click this button to select the ISP or phone book entry you want to use by default when the software is loaded.
Current: This label simply displays your selected default ISP or phone book entry.
Timeout (seconds): If a connection is not made in this amount of time, a redial occurs.
Retry Count: Use this field to supply the number of redials you want when dialing your ISP or phone book entry.
Run task(s) at connect time: This option specifies where or not the tasks will be run after a connection is made. This option does not work if the /a parameter has been specified. This option will be automatically turned on when the scheduler is turned on.
Start scheduler at connect time: Select this option if you turn on the scheduler when the connection has been made.
Disconnect after last task: Select this option if you want to run the tasks and then disconnect. The disconnect occurs after the last task has completed. Use this option in conjunction with the scheduler to disconnect between intervals.
Reconnect after line drop: Select this option if you want the software to automatically re-dial the selected ISP when a disconnect occurs.
Disconnect in ? minutes: Select this option when you want the software to automatically disconnect in a specified amount of minutes. This option only appears after a connection has been established.
"Run Tasks As Scheduled" Button: This button activates the scheduler. When connected, the scheduler checks each task to see whether or not it should be run. The designated times and frequency for each task is available under the "Task List" tab. Turning this option on automatically sets the "Disconnect after last task" checkbox. Selecting this button will automatically turn on the "Run task(s) at connect time".
"Cancel Task Scheduling" Button: This button de-activates the scheduler.
Log Content: This frame displays the status of each session. It displays connections, disconnections, time of connection, tasks that have been run, and other activity information.
Connect Time (this session): This lable displays the length of time for the current connection in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Save the log after each session: This option causes the contents of the log to be saved each time the application is closed. The default log file name is logs\last.log. The default directory is "logs" located as a sub-directory in the directory where Connection Scheduler was installed.
"Save The Log" Button: This button allows you to select the file name to save the log information. The information is saved in ASCII text format.
"Clear The Log" Button: This button allows you to clear the log buffer.
Task / Applications To Run: This area displays the list of applications that have been added to the task list.
Order: These two buttons allow you to reoder the tasks in the list. To change the order, click on the task to move. Then click on the UP or DOWN arrow to move the task up or down (respectively) in the list. The first task to run will be the one located at the top of the list.
Application: Upon selecting the task from the list, this field will display the selected task.
Parameters: This field allows you to store command line parameters. These parameters help control the way the task operates when it runs. Other software that have been made to work with Connection Scheduler may or may not allow parameters to be modified. If you use Email Servant and Information Direct modules, you will not be able to make parameter changes. Parameters are set for each individual task.
Start Time: This field stores the beginning time in which the scheduler should start looking to process the selected task each day.
Stop Time: This field stores the last time in which the scheduler should process the selected task each day.
Interval: This field allows you to select the frequency of the task to be run. For example, if you want the task to run every two hours, select "2 hours".
This task is active: By default, the task is inactive when added to the list. If the task is not active, it will not be run by the scheduler. If you enable the the task but do not set the start time, stop time, or interval, the task will be ignored.
"Add" Button: This button allows you to select a software application and add it to the task list.
"Save" Button: This button allows you to save the task list configurations.
Delete: This button allows you to delete the task and related information after selecting the task from the list.
Reload: This button causes the saved information for the task to be restored on the window.
Run Now: After selecting the desired task, this button allows to immediately run the task.
In demo mode, you are allowed three tasks. The application also allows the use of the software for 30 days. Registering the product will remove these limitations.
The official download site is Off-Site Labs, Inc. at http://www.offsitelabs.com. This location always contains the most current version.
Connection Scheduler Installation
* NOTE: If you are using Connection Scheduler as part of the Information Direct product suite, see the "Information Direct Installation" instructions below.
The download packages contain everything you need except the Visual Basic runtime library (see Special Requirements)
To install, complete the following:
See "Special Requirements" section for further information on required files.
Information Direct Installation
The software is packaged separately. This allows you
to download and install the components that you need. The following are the
files you need to download and install for the "Information Direct" suite of
products.
In order for the system to work as planned, you will need to download and
install the following:
1. Connection Scheduler (v1.20 or higher) Modules (download as needed): Download
and Install Connection Scheduler Download
and Install Email Servant Download
and Install Stock Quote Module Download
and Install Web Page Monitor Module
2. Email Servant (v2.20 or
higher)
1. Stock Quote Module
2. Web Page Monitor
Module
Use the following to give you a quick start on using Connection Scheduler:
1. Download the compressed file from the Internet.
2. Uncompress the file into a temporary directory. You can use WinZip,
PKUnzip, or other compatible software.
3. Run setup.exe to start the install.
4. Start Connection Scheduler.
5. The "Phone Book" tab should appear. Select a phone book entry
from the dropdown list. If you have not connected to the Internet before, you will
have to do this by visiting "My Computer\Dial-up Networking" to install the
components needted to dial-up and connect to the Internet.
6. You can add new connections by selecting the "Add / Modify Phone Book
Entries" in Connection Scheduler.
7. Once you have selected the phone book entry, click the "Connect"
button. This will start dialing the phone book number.
8. If it takes longer than 60 seconds to connect, click on the "Options"
tab and change the "Timeout" option to a higher number of seconds. Then
retry your connection.
9. After a connection has been made, click on the "Status/Log" tab to view
the log content. This is where connect and disconnect activity will be stored.
10. Click the "Disconnect" button on the "Phone Book" tab when
you are ready to disconnect from the Internet.
11. You can now try your hand at adding applications/tasks to be run when a
connection is made. You can do this by selecting the "Task List" tab.
See "Task List" Window Tab for more information.
12. After you have added some tasks (and enabled them), click on the
"Options" tab and select the "Run task(s) at connect time". This
causes the tasks to start after a connection has been made.
13. Now your ready to start over by clicking the "Connect" button as in
step #7.
Direct your questions, problem, or comments to us at the following:
Off-Site Labs, Inc.
P.O. Box 536
Barker, TX 77413
email: support@offsitelabs.com
www: http://www.offsitelabs.com
FAX: 281-599-1552
The Connection Scheduler software is distributed with the Visual Basic runtime library. This file is also referenced on the download page at our WEB site. These files are commonly found in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory for Windows 95/98 systems and WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 for Windows NT.
The library file required for 32 bit systems (Windows 95/98/NT) is MSVBVM60.DLL.
The run time libraries are included if you download the entire package.
Additionally, mfc42.dll, msvcrt.dll, and msvcirt.dll are also required for this application. If you do not have them you will be notified upon installation. Contact us for additional information about the placement of these files on the Internet.
Please send any bug reports to support@offsitelabs.com.
The prices and payment methods are subject to change at anytime. For up to date information you should visit our WEB site at http://www.offsitelabs.com.
Connection Scheduler is shareware, not freeware. The software is licensed for evaluation purposes only. After 30 days, we ask that you register the software or discontinue its use.
IMPORTANT: If you order our software and do not hear from us within 48 hours, contact us and inquire about your order.
Prices are in US currency and are effective as of December 10, 1999.
Connection Scheduler Purchase Price: $15.00 (Windows 95/98/NT)
Prices are subject to change without notice. Contact Off-Site Labs, Inc. for the current price by email at sales@offsitelabs.com. Applicable sales taxes will be added to your order.
After payment is received, you will receive a registration code by e-mail or postal mail.
ON-LINE Registration With A Credit Card At
RegSoft.Com
If you have a credit card and would like to
register Connection Scheduler on-line, you can visit our WEB site and select the
"On-Line Registration" link. This link takes you to a form for credit card and
other ordering information.
Credit Card Orders By eMail, Postal, FAX to Off-Site Labs
Include the following:
- Name to Register
- Full address
- Software name and version
- Credit Card number and expiration date
- Email address
to send registration
Send postal orders to: Off-Site Labs, Inc. , P.O. Box 536,
Barker, TX 77413
Send email orders to sales@offsitelabs.com
Send FAX orders to 281-599-1552
This license agreement permits an evaluation period not to exceed 30 calendar days. After such time, registration is requested.
Disclaimer
Off-Site Labs, Inc. reserves the right to make modifications at any time to the software and/or the documentation without approval or notification. The software described in this document is provided under the software license and may be used in accordance with such license. By using the software you agree to the conditions and rules stated in the License agreement.
Except as expressly provided, Off-Site Labs, Inc., makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to the software to provide a particular function. The software is licensed solely on an "AS IS" basis. In no event shall Off-Site Labs, Inc. be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of the software.
License Agreement:
The term "REGISTERED version" identifies all versions of the software defined in this document. The software defined in this document is being distributed as a SHAREWARE version. The term "SHAREWARE version" means that the defined software may be freely uploaded to FTP sites, Usenet newsgroups, bulletin board systems, and other such sites for distribution providing its users download the software for trial purposes.
SHAREWARE versions of the software defined in this document shall not be distributed in CD-ROM disks or any other media without the express authorization of the author. CD-ROM distribution is granted to any institution or organization where the SHAREWARE version is uploaded by the authorizing agent, Off-Site Labs, Inc.
Single User Licensee: Off-Site Labs, Inc. grants you a single user, registered license for use on a single computer which is not used as a server. Installation of the software on a network is prohibited for this type of license.
Site license: This license is granted for a limited number of copies to an institution or organization. Contact Off-Site Labs, Inc. for more information.
The software product and the documentation are supplied as copyrighted material and contain proprietary information. All rights are reserved. The software and documentation is protected under Copyright Law of the United States of America.
Windows, Windows 95,Windows 98,Windows NT, Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape, Netsite and Mozilla are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. All other products, brand, or trade names used in this documentation are the trademarks of their respective trademark owners.