A few words about PC MagNet and our Utilities Database

PC MagNet is hosted by the CompuServe Information Service (CIS).  It is
on their computers that PC MagNet resides.  The PC MagNet Forums are
organized just the same as all the other Forums on CIS.  We have a
message base, conference rooms, announcements and Forum Libraries.  Our
Forum Libraries store files for download, like other Forum Libraries.
Searching for a file in the Forum Libraries can, however, be quite
frustrating.  One can search in only one Library at a time, for a file
by name and by extension (using wildcards as in DOS), by a fixed number
of key words that were defined at upload, by the UserID of the uploader,
as well as the date of the upload.  A more robust search can be
performed using the PC MagNet File Finder, which can be located using the
menu system on PC MagNet.  (Or by typing GO PCM:PFF). The File Finder allows
you to use the same search methods just outlined, and searches all of
our Forum Libraries at the same time.  If a search is successful File
Finder will report the name of the Forum and the Library (i.e.,
Editorial Forum, Library 0/New Uploads) where the file resides.

While File Finder is easier than mucking about in each Forum Library it
still does not afford the flexibility  our users demand.
Our Utilities Database, on the other hand, is a true database that
indexes all the files stored therein by the parameters used in the Forum
Libraries as well as those that make sense in the context of PC
Magazine.  You can search by name, extension, file type, author's name,
section of the magazine, cover date, and more.

The way you search for a file in our Utilities Database is by using
a menu system that looks much like the menus on the rest of CIS.  In
reality, though, the menu system is more like a menu system you might
create using your favorite database manger on your own PC.  Why does it
matter that it LOOKS like CIS, but isn't REALLY like CIS?  Because
normally CIS places control characters behind the prompts you see on the
screen.  For example, if you have your CIS settings at their defaults,
every time CIS puts it's "!" prompt on your computer screen it also
sends a CTRL-H.  You don't see it, but a comm program can detect it, and
will know that CIS is waiting for your input.  In the Utilities
Database there are none of these hidden control codes.  What you see is
what you get.

The problem encountered when writing the script programs to
navigate the Utilities Database was that without the hidden control
codes error detection, and thus error recovery, was difficult, and in
cases impossible.  If a script is waiting for a CTRL-H, then no matter
what is sent while it waits, once it gets the CTRL-H, it may proceed on
its way.  If a script is waiting for a specific character string, as
these scripts do, then any line noise (which you may see on your screen
as "{{{" or some other clearly out of context character), if inserted in
the text the script waits for, will disrupt the progress, and cause the
script to hang. That is why running these scripts unattended is not
recommended. If the script hangs, you pay the price.  Please, be
diligent.

There are some things a user can do to minimize line noise.  Use a
modem capable of error correction, such as a modem capable of MNP-4,
have error correction enabled, and call only CIS nodes that understand
MNP-4.  If you do not have a modem capable of error correction, either
MNP or V.42, then consider upgrading to one that does.  If you live in
an area with noisy phone lines check to see if there is another access
node in your vicinity.  If the node you access is often noisy contact
CIS Customer Support and complain.

A few words about security

All of the scripts require a user to enter a PC MagNet userID and
password if access is to be completely automated.  In the case of XTalk
Mk4 and XTalk for Windows, once the scripts are compiled you may then
make copies of the scripts on a floppy disk, for archive purposes, and
erase the text files from your hard disk.  Once that is done you
may consider your password relatively secure, as this PC business goes.
Even in this best case, though, anyone who has access to your computer
can run the communications program, AND the scripts with your userID and
password, to access your account.

In the case of XTalk XVI, Procomm and Procomm+ the scripts are stored
and accessed as text files so anyone with access to your computer will
have access to all the information you put in those files.

In many cases users routinely store information like this on their
computers.  Some users feel confident that the computers themselves are
secure, and they are the only people to use them.  Your concerns about
the security of the script files should match your level of concern for
your entire computer system.