Hi -

We've been fiddling around with 24x7 for a few weeks, and cannot get it to dial a BBS and issue commands. Seems like it should be able to. We have a few critical daily tasks being performed manually that are perfect for JAL, but we can't seem to get the scripts right.

Does anyone have an example JAL script that dials, issues commands (including sending and receiving files), and terminates the connection?

Maybe a better question would be, "Is this the most appropriate way to get this done?".

Thanks in advance...
- Rick Ireland

How do you dial? Is it a RAS or dial-up connection or just a direct modem connection dialing some phone number?
What are BBS commands in general? How do you issue them?

: Hi -

: We've been fiddling around with 24x7 for a few weeks, and cannot get it to
: dial a BBS and issue commands. Seems like it should be able to. We have a
: few critical daily tasks being performed manually that are perfect for
: JAL, but we can't seem to get the scripts right.

: Does anyone have an example JAL script that dials, issues commands (including
: sending and receiving files), and terminates the connection?

: Maybe a better question would be, "Is this the most appropriate way to
: get this done?".

: Thanks in advance...
: - Rick Ireland

We currently use HyperTerm. Once connected, the BBS prompts for userid and password; commands are single characters (D for download, etc). The pattern is very predictable, in that we don't have to wait to read the prompt to know what is being called for...

: How do you dial? Is it a RAS or dial-up connection or just a direct modem
: connection dialing some phone number?
: What are BBS commands in general? How do you issue them?

In HyperTerminal you can create a "connection" file with .HT extension that will describe the connection parameters, such as phone number, etc.

You can schedule that .HT file to run using 24x7. In order to send "commands" you could manipulate the HyperTerminal by sending to it some keystrokes.
You can implement this as a "program type" job with permanent keystroke specified as the job parameter or in case if you need to implement some logic for dynamic keystrokes you can use a "script type" job that will call "RunWithInput" or just call "Run", then "Wait" and one or more "SendKeys"

: We currently use HyperTerm. Once connected, the BBS prompts for userid and
: password; commands are single characters (D for download, etc). The
: pattern is very predictable, in that we don't have to wait to read the
: prompt to know what is being called for...