|
|
|
To get started using FreePPP connection software and
Netscape Communicator for the first time, follow these steps: |
 |
Install the Internet Setup software suite from the Netscape
Communicator CD, if you haven't done so already. If you did an Easy Install of
Netscape Communicator, the suite is already installed. |
|
Install the Internet Setup software suite from the Netscape
Communicator CD, if you haven't done so already. If you did an Easy Install of
Netscape Communicator, the suite is already installed. |
|
Make sure that you have a modem and that it is connected properly
to your computer and to a phone line. Make sure the modem is turned
on. |
|
Run the Account Setup program, if you haven't done so already.
Account Setup helps you quickly configure FreePPP to access your Internet
account. To run Account Setup, double-click its icon in the Netscape
Communicator folder. If you were already using another version of FreePPP
before you installed Communicator, your new version of FreePPP imports all of
your preferences and dialing settings. |
|
When you have successfully completed Account Setup, launch
Communicator. FreePPP is set to automatically connect to your account. When
connecting, you can hear FreePPP dialing your modem with the number of your
provider. FreePPP also displays the Connection Status window to inform you of
the progress of the connection.
If Netscape Communicator doesn't
automatically launch FreePPP, or if you are having trouble connecting, turn to
the Troubleshooting section. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
With Netscape Communicator, you will be
connecting to the Internet using a phone line and modem--a very convenient,
practical, and economical way to get what the Internet has to offer.
The
essential parts of your connection to the Internet are: |
|
Your personal computer. Your personal computer is where the
Netscape Communicator and your connection software--FreePPP--are running.
FreePPP stores information about what number you dial to connect to the
Internet, as well as information about your modem. When you connect to the
Internet, your computer uses FreePPP and your modem to dial the phone number of
your Internet service provider's computer. FreePPP handles the connection and
lets you end the connection when you are ready. |
|
Your modem. Your modem is a critical part of your Internet
connection. Without it, you could not connect. A modem translates computer data
into a stream of sounds that travel along the phone line to your Internet
service provider. Your Internet service provider has another modem at its end
of the phone line that translates the stream of sounds back into computer
data. |
|
A telephone line. To use the Internet, your personal
computer needs a way to exchange data with your Internet service provider's
computer. In a dial-up connection, this is accomplished using a phone line. Any
ordinary phone line will do: you can use your home phone line, a hotel phone
line, or even, in some places, a pay phone line. |
|
Your Internet service provider. Your Internet service
provider is your gateway to the Internet. Your provider's computer answers the
phone call from your personal computer. When it answers the call, the two
computers can "talk" to one another over the phone line. Your Internet service
provider's computer takes care of passing information back and forth between
your computer and the Internet. |
|
The Internet. The Internet is a global network of computers
that cooperate to exchange information. Many of the computers on the Internet,
such as your Internet service provider's computer, are permanently connected
together with fiber-optic lines that can carry data at very high rates of
speed. Using the Internet, you can exchange information with any other user or
computer linked to the network. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
FreePPP features an easy-to-use, graphical interface
that lets you configure it to meet your needs. However, your version of
Netscape Communicator includes Account Setup, a program that handles
configuring FreePPP for you, based on information you provide to it. Although
you can configure FreePPP manually, you do not need to do so.
If you
want to configure FreePPP manually, instructions are provided in this Help
document. If you want to use Account Setup to configure FreePPP, simply launch
Account Setup by double-clicking its icon in the Netscape
Communicator. |
< Table of Contents > |
Netscape Communicator includes a
feature called multiple user profiles that lets several users share a single
copy of Communicator. Each user can create his or her own "profile", which is a
complete set of Communicator preferences, an email identity, a set of
bookmarks, a set of mail and news server addresses, and a set of email
mailboxes and messages. A profile also includes a user's subscribed newsgroups
and address book. By creating multiple profiles, each user can keep his or her
preferences, bookmarks, and email separate from those of other
users.
Netscape Communicator lets you associate dialing information in
FreePPP with specific profiles, and in FreePPP you can store information about
any number of Internet accounts and modems. This gives you many ways to use
profiles to make accessing the Internet more convenient.
For example,
you could create more than one profile for yourself, setting up one profile for
accessing your Internet account from work and another for accessing it from
home. Or, if you have more than one Internet account, you could create a
profile for each of your accounts, so that you would never need to reset your
email identity or mail and news server addresses or switch your dialer
configuration when connecting.
To configure FreePPP with information
about your Internet account--what number you dial to connect, your login and
password--you use Account Setup or configure FreePPP manually. To create and
manage profiles and associate them with account configurations in FreePPP, you
use the User Profile Manager, located in the Netscape Communicator folder. The
User Profile Manager lets you select which Internet account you want to connect
to when using a specific profile, and from what location you will
connect.
If you share your copy of Communicator with other users, or if
you have more than one Internet account, read the document entitled "Working
with Multiple User Profiles" in the Communicator's Reference Library,
accessible from the Netscape Communicator folder. That document provides full
instructions on how to create multiple user profiles and associate them with
specific Internet accounts.
What's next? Using
FreePPP
See also: Setting Up
Multiple User Profiles |
< Table of Contents > |
The following hardware and software are
necessary for FreePPP to function properly: |
|
14.4 kbps or faster modem |
|
Open Transport version 1.1.1 or later (1.1.2 recommended), or
MacTCP 2.0.6 or later. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
FreePPP is part of a suite of connection
software, consisting of the files listed below. Of these files, you will use
FreePPP Dialer most often.
The Connection Software suite installed with
Netscape Communicator includes: |
|
FreePPP Dialer (installed in your system's Control Panels
folder). |
|
FreePPP (installed in your system's Extensions
folder). |
|
FreePPP Config Plugin (installed in your system's Extensions
folder). |
|
MacTCP 2.0.6 (if you are not using Apple's Open Transport
networking software, MacTCP is installed in your system's Control Panels
folder.) |
|
< Table of Contents > |
When you want to use Netscape Communicator to explore
the Internet or send and receive email, you first need to establish a
connection with your Internet account over your phone line and modem. There are
two ways to establish this connection: |
|
Launch Netscape Communicator and link to a page on the web, check
your email, or read a newsgroup. When needed, Communicator automatically
initiates a connection to your account. |
|
Open FreePPP and initiate the connection manually |
|
Whether the connection is initiated by Communicator or by you,
the role of your connection software, FreePPP, is the same. Once it's told to
connect, it dials your modem, establishes data communication with your Internet
service provider's computer, and even passes along your account login and
password, if you wish.
To control the way that FreePPP connects and the
number it dials, you use a program called FreePPP Dialer, installed on your
Macintosh as a part of the Netscape Communicator package. FreePPP Dialer also
lets you store dialing information about multiple accounts that you want to
connect to and multiple locations that you connect from. This gives you quick,
automated access to the Internet from anywhere.
What's next?
Opening FreePPP
See also: Connecting to Your Account, Disconnecting from your Account |
< Table of Contents > |
When you want to manually initiate a connection to
your Internet account or work with the account, location, and modem information
stored in FreePPP, you must open the FreePPP Dialer program.
To open
FreePPP Dialer, launch the FreePPP Dialer application from your system's
Control Panels folder. The FreePPP Dialer window opens on your
screen.
Opening FreePPP is not the same as connecting to your Internet
account. For information on how to connect, see the next Help
topic.
What's next? Connecting to Your
Account |
< Table of Contents > |
With Netscape Communicator, you don't need to
manually launch the FreePPP Dialer program and connect to the Internet.
Instead, Communicator automatically initiates a connection to your Internet
account whenever you request a page from the web, check your email, or read
news. Communicator checks to see if you are connected to your account. If you
aren't, Communicator tells FreePPP to initiate the connection. This convenient
feature is called dial-on-demand. Most likely, you will use
dial-on-demand whenever you connect to the Internet.
However, if you
wish to manually initiate a connection to your Internet account using FreePPP
Dialer, you can easily do so.
To manually initiate a connection to your
Internet account, follow these steps: |
|
Launch the FreePPP Dialer program from your system's Control
Panels folder. |
|
From the pop-up menus in the FreePPP Dialer window, select the
Account you want to connect to, the Location you are connecting from, and the
Modem you are using. |
|
Click the Connect button. |
|
When FreePPP begins connecting to your account, it opens the
FreePPP Connection Status dialog, shown here, to inform you of its
progress. |
 |
FreePPP Connection Status dialog lets you observe as FreePPP
Setup initializes your modem, dials your account's access number, establishes
communication, and provides your account login name and password to your
provider's computer.
When your connection is in place, FreePPP closes
the FreePPP Connection Status dialog box, leaving only the FreePPP Dialer
window open, shown below. |
 |
FreePPP leaves the FreePPP Dialer window open while you are
connected for three reasons: |
|
To let you know if your connection fails for some reason while you
are using it. If this happens, reconnect by clicking the Connect
button. |
|
To remind you that you are still connected. All the while you are
connected, the globe icon in the FreePPP Dialer window spins and the text to
the right of the Connect button informs you that your connection is still in
place. |
|
To let you easily disconnect when you are ready to do so. To
disconnect, you must click the Disconnect button. |
|
What's next? Disconnecting
from Your Account |
< Table of Contents > |
When
you are finished using the Internet, you need to terminate the telephone
connection over which you connected to your Internet service
provider.
To disconnect from your Internet account and end the phone
call, follow these steps: |
|
Open FreePPP Dialer by double-clicking its icon in the Netscape
Communicator folder. |
|
Click the Disconnect button. |
|
Important: Simply quitting Netscape Communicator does
not end your connection to your Internet account. To end your connection, you
must use the Disconnect button in the FreePPP Dialer window. |
< Table of Contents > |
If you have more than one account or modem, or want
to access your account from more than one location, you can customize FreePPP
Dialer. You can store information about additional accounts, locations, and
modems in FreePPP Dialer, so that you can always connect quickly.
There
are two ways to add this information to FreePPP: |
|
Automatically, by using the Account Setup program (for account,
location, and modem information). If you simply want to change or upgrade the
modem you are using, you can use the Modem Setup program included with Netscape
Communicator. |
|
Manually, using the FreePPP Dialer program (account, location, and
modem information). |
|
To use Account Setup to add information about accounts,
locations, and modems, all you have to do is launch Account Setup from the
Netscape Communicator folder. The Account Setup screens guide you through the
process of adding the information. You can associate your new information with
any Communicator user profile.
Complete instructions for manually
entering information in FreePPP Dialer are provided in the Help topics that
follow. The topics cover many of the most common customization tasks that you
might want to undertake. For more information about FreePPP Dialer windows and
settings, refer to the FreePPP Menus and Windows Help section. |
< Table of Contents > |
Whenever you want to manually add,
edit, or delete information about accounts, dialing locations, or modems, you
must open the FreePPP Dialer program and expand its window. To do so, follow
these steps: |
|
Open the Netscape Communicator folder (the folder in which the
Netscape Communicator program resides). |
|
Double-click the FreePPP Dialer icon. When FreePPP launches, the
FreePPP Dialer window opens on your screen. |
|
Expand the FreePPP Dialer window by clicking the triangle icon in
the lower left corner of the FreePPP Dialer window. |
|
In lower half of the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, show
below, you see four "tabs" that divide the information stored in
FreePPP. |
 |
To view the contents of one of the tabs, click the tab label.
For more information about how to add, edit, or remove information in the tabs,
refer to the Help topics below. |
< Table of Contents > |
When connecting, FreePPP uses the
selections in the Connect To, From, and Using pop-up menus, shown below. If you
have information about more than one account, dialing location, or modem stored
in FreePPP, be sure the proper configurations are selected before
connecting. |
|
If you are using multiple Communicator user preferences,
FreePPP changes to the appropriate account, dialing location, and modem before
connecting, as defined in each user profile. |
< Table of Contents > |
When you tell FreePPP to connect to
your account, it calculates the number that it is supposed to dial by referring
to information you have entered in the Accounts and Locations tabs of the
FreePPP Dialer expanded window.
First, FreePPP determines whether to
dial the area code as part of the dial-up access number. It does this by
comparing the "Area Code" setting in the Account Configuration Dialog of the
Accounts tab--which represents where you are calling to-- with the "Area Code"
setting in the Locations tab--which represents where you are calling from. If
the two area codes match, FreePPP assumes that it is not necessary to dial the
area code when connecting. If the area codes do not match, FreePPP follows the
instructions you provide in the Location Configuration Dialog.
After
determining whether to dial the area code, FreePPP adds any special dialing
instructions to the number it will dial. These might include a dialing prefix,
for accessing an outside line or turning off Call Waiting, a telephone card or
credit card number, and a dialing suffix. These dialing instructions are found
in the Location Configuration Dialog of each dialing location.
You can
change the number that FreePPP dials by editing the dialing information in an
account's Account Configuration Dialog or a dialing location's Location
Configuration Dialog. |
< Table of Contents > |
When you want to change information about your
Internet account's dial-up access number, edit an the account's Account
Configuration Dialog. To do so, follow these steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts
tab. |
|
In the Accounts tab, select the account you want to edit from the
list on the left. Then click Edit. |
|
In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Dialup
subtab. |
|
In the Dialup subtab, add, edit, or remove dialing information as
necessary. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
When you want to change information about the
location you are calling from or want to provide special dialing instructions,
edit a location's Location Configuration Dialog. To do so, follow these
steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Locations
tab. |
|
In the Locations tab, select the dialing location you want to edit
from the list on the left. Then click Edit. |
|
In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, add, edit, or
remove dialing information as necessary. |
|
See also: Expanding the
FreePPP Dialer window, Account Configuration
Dialog, Location Configuration Dialog,
Troubleshooting |
< Table of Contents > |
To change account login
and password information stored in FreePPP Dialer, follow these
steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts
tab. |
|
In the Accounts tab, select the account you want to edit from the
list on the left. Then click Edit. |
|
In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Account
subtab. |
|
In the Account subtab, edit your account login name in the User
Name text box. Edit your account password in the Password text box. For your
security, FreePPP displays your password as a set of dots, rather than as
alpha-numeric characters. To edit your password, you must reenter
it. |
|
See also: Expanding the
FreePPP Dialer window, Account Configuration
Dialog, Troubleshooting |
< Table of Contents > |
If you have more than
one dial-up account, you can set up FreePPP with information about each account
so that you can quickly switch between accounts. To do so, you use the Accounts
tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window to create new account
configurations.
To create a new account configuration, follow these
steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts
tab. |
|
In the Accounts tab, click New if you want to create an entirely
new configuration. If you want to create a new configuration based on an
existing configuration, select the configuration from the list on the left and
click Duplicate. |
|
In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in the
Account, Dialup, and Options subtabs. |
|
If you create more than one account configuration in FreePPP,
be sure that you use the Connect To pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window to
specify the account that you want to connect to.
See also:
Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window,
Account Configuration Dialog |
< Table of Contents > |
If you want to access your account from more than
one dialing location--from home, work, and while travelling--you can set up
FreePPP with information about each dialing location so that you can quickly
connect to your account. You can also include special dialing instructions that
let you bill your call to a telephone card or credit card, dial a prefix for an
outside line, and turn off call waiting, for example. To set up multiple
dialing locations in FreePPP, you use the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer
expanded window to create new dialing location configurations.
To create
a new dialing location configuration, follow these steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Locations
tab. |
|
In the Locations tab, click New if you want to create an entirely
new configuration. If you want to create a new configuration based on an
existing configuration, select the configuration from the list on the left and
click Duplicate. |
|
In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in or edit
the text boxes as necessary. |
|
If you create more than one dialing location configuration in
FreePPP, be sure that you use the From pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window
to specify where you are calling from.
See also:
Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window,
Location Configuration Dialog |
< Table of Contents > |
, FreePPP lets you store information about
multiple modems, so that you can easily control what modem FreePPP will use
when dialing to your account. When you add a new modem or upgrade your modem,
you use the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window to create new
dialing modem configurations. If you upgrade your modem to a faster model, you
must create a new modem configuration for it, otherwise FreePPP won't be able
to use the higher speeds your new modem offers.
To create a new modem
configuration in FreePPP, you use the Modem Setup program included with
Netscape Communicator. To use Modem Setup to createa new modem configuration,
follow these steps: |
|
Install the new modem according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Be sure that the modem is properly connected to your computer and
that it is turned on. |
|
In the Netscape Communicator folder, double-click the Modem Setup
icon. |
|
When the Modem Setup window opens, the program automatically
attempts to identify the modem installed on your computer. |
|
If Modem Setup identifies your modem correctly, click the Use This
Modem button. |
|
If Modem Setup incorrectly identifies your modem, click the Choose
From List button to specify your modem manually. Modem Setup presents you with
a list of modem manufacturers and a list of modem models and speeds. Select
your modem manufacturer and model from the lists and click Use This Modem. If
your modem manufacturer or model isn't displayed in the lists, select the
manufacturer "Generic" and the model that best approximates the speed of your
new modem. Click Use This Modem. |
|
After you finish using Modem Setup, delete any modem
configurations that you no longer need from FreePPP. To delete a modem
configuration, follow these steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Modems
tab. |
|
In the Modems tab, select the configuration you want to delete
from the list on the left and click Delete. |
|
If you want to make changes to a modem configuration already
in FreePPP, follow these steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Modems
tab. |
|
In the Modems tab, select the configuration you want to edit from
the list on the left and click Edit. |
|
In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in or edit
the text boxes as necessary. |
|
If you have more than one dialing location configuration
stored FreePPP, be sure that you use the Using pop-up menu in the FreePPP
Dialer window to specify the modem that is actually connected to your
computer.
See also: Expanding the
FreePPP Dialer window, Modem Configuration
Dialog |
< Table of Contents > |
If your Internet service provider requires
you to use a connection script when connecting to your account, you can specify
the script in the Account Configuration Dialog. Your provider must provide you
with the script to use. The instructions below cover only how you enter the
script into FreePPP.
To enter a connection script for an account, follow
these steps: |
|
In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts
tab. |
|
In the Accounts tab, select the appropriate account configuration
from the list on the left and click Edit. |
|
In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Account
subtab. |
|
From the Connect pop-up menu, select Using Connection Script. Then
click the Edit Connection Script button below the pop-up menu. |
|
In the dialog that opens, follow your provider's instructions for
entering the connection script. |
|
See also: Expanding the
FreePPP Dialer window, Edit Connection Script
Dialog |
< Table of Contents > |
In FreePPP, there are two ways that you can enter
TCP/IP information. |
|
You can select Open TCP/IP from the Stuff Menu in the FreePPP
Dialer window. When you do so, FreePPP launches either MacTCP or the TCP/IP
Control Panel used with Open Transport. |
|
You can define a domain name and DNS server addresses for a
specific account in the FreePPP Account Configuration Dialog, in the Options
subtab. If you use this method, your system uses this domain and DNS
information whenever you connect to the associated account. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
The Help topics in this section provide
illustrations of the various menus and windows found in FreePPP, and define the
settings, text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons found in each
window. |
< Table of Contents > |
The FreePPP Dialer window lets you control all aspects
of your connection. When you first open FreePPP Dialer, the window shown below
appears on your screen. |
|
|
Connect/Disconnect button - Use this button to manually
initiate a connection to your account and disconnect from your
account. |
|
Status icon and status text - Refer to the status icon and
status text to determine whether you are currently connected to your account.
When you are connected, the status icon, a globe, starts to spin. The status
text tells you that you are connected and how long the connection has been in
place. |
|
Connection preference menus - Use these three pop-up menus
to select what account you want to connect to, what location you are connecting
from, and what modem you want to use when connecting. The items in each of the
pop-up menus correspond to the account, dialing location, and modem
configurations stored in FreePPP. |
|
Triangle icon - Click the triangle icon to expand the
FreePPP Dialer window. |
|
Information icon - Click the information icon to see
details about your connection, such as your current IP address, the IP address
of the server you are connected to, and your connection's
throughput. |
|
Help icon - Clicking the Help icon launches Communicator
and opens this help file in a browser window. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
When you click the triangle icon in the
FreePPP Dialer window, the window expands to reveal the "tabs" where you can
add, edit, or delete information about account, dialing location, and modem
configurations. |
|
|
General Tab - The General tab lets you specify global
connection settings for FreePPP. |
|
Accounts Tab - The Accounts tab lets you edit information
about specific account configurations. |
|
Locations Tab - The Locations tab lets you edit information
about specific dialing location configurations. |
|
Modems Tab - The Modems tab lets you edit information about
specific modem configurations. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
The General tab lets you specify global connection
settings for FreePPP. Each is described below. |
|
|
Allow applications to open connection - Check this
setting's checkbox if you want to automatically connect to your Internet
account when you launch Netscape Navigator or another application. ("Checked"
recommended) |
|
Disconnect if idle for... - Use this pop-up menu to select
the amount of time that FreePPP allows your connection to remain open if you
are not using it. FreePPP monitors whether data is being sent back and forth
between your computer and the Internet and begins timing the "idle" time
whenever no data is being sent or received. If the idle time reaches the
interval you specify in the pop-up menu, FreePPP automatically disconnects.
This feature can help you save money by minimizing the amount of time your
phone line is being used. |
|
Check line state when connected - Check this setting's
checkbox if you want FreePPP to check the status of your connection every two
minutes. When this checkbox is checked, if FreePPP finds that your connection
unexpectedly closed, it will try to reconnect automatically.("Checked"
recommended) |
|
Show alerts during connect and disconnect - Check this
setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to display alerts that inform you of the
status of your connection and confirm your actions in FreePPP. |
|
On connect, open FreePPP Dialer application - Check this
setting's checkbox if you want the FreePPP Dialer window to open whenever a
connection is established. ("Checked" recommended) |
|
On connect, open "Netscape Communicator" - Check this
setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP Dialer to open Communicator whenever it
establishes a connection to your Internet account. |
|
Open TCP/IP... - Click this button if you want tos open the
Open Transport TCP/IP Control Panel to work with your TCP/IP
configuratons. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
The Accounts tab lets you edit information about specific
account configurations. To add, edit, or delete information about a specific
account, select the account from the list on the left of the tab and click the
appropriate button on the right. The tab is shown below. |
 |
|
Accounts List - Select a configuration from the list. All
of the account configurations currently stored in FreePPP are displayed in this
list. |
|
Edit - Click Edit to open the selected configuration's
Account Configuration Dialog. |
|
New - Click New to open a blank Account Configuration
Dialog. |
|
Duplicate - Click Duplicate to open a copy of the selected
configuration's Account Configuration Dialog. |
|
Delete - Click Delete to delete the selected
configuration. |
|
< Table of Contents > |
The Account Configuration Dialog
displays all information stored in FreePPP about a specific account
configuration. The dialog is composed of three subtabs: Account, Dialup, and
Options. |
< Table of Contents > |
|
 |
|
Account Name - In the text box, enter a name for the
account you are creating. If you are editing an existing account, you can use
this box to change the account's name, if you wish. The name you choose appears
as a list item in the Connect To pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer
window. |
|
Connect: Directly - Choose this menu item if you want
FreePPP to automatically log you in to your account when it connects, using
your account login name and password. |
|
Connect: Using Connection Script - Choose this menu item if
you want to connect to your account using a connection script. To create or
edit your connection script, click the "Edit connection script" button. If you
aren't sure how to create or edit your connection script for an account,
contact your Internet service provider. |
|
Connect: Using Terminal Window - Choose this menu item if
you want to connect to your account using a terminal-emulation window. This
allows you to manually log in to your account when connecting. |
|
Connect: Manually - Choose this menu item if you want to
connect to your account by dialing and logging in manually. |
|
Edit connection script - Click this button to open a dialog
box where you can create or edit a connection script. Not enabled unless you
select Connection Script from the Connect pop-up menu, above. |
|
User name and Password - In these text boxes, enter your
user name (login name) and password for your account. Be sure to type
carefully, using uppercase and lowercase letters as necessary, and make sure
Caps Lock is off. If you leave this text box empty, FreePPP asks you to supply
this information when connecting to your account. |
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Reconnect automatically if connection drops - Check this
checkbox if you want FreePPP Dialer to attempt to automatically reconnect to
your account if the connection you are using is suddenly lost, or "dropped".
Such sudden disconnections can happen because of noise on phone lines, problems
on your provider's server, interruptions by services such as Call Waiting (if
you have Call Waiting), or other causes. |
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< Table of Contents > |
The
dialup subtab lets you enter up to three dialing configurations for an account.
FreePPP Dialer always dials the Main Number configuration first. If that number
is busy, it dials the Alernate Number 1 configuration, followed by the
Alternate Number 2 configuration.
The fields in each configuration are
described below. |
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Area code - In the text box, enter the area code of the
dial-up access number for the account you selected. Do not include prefixes,
dialing codes, or any special characters. This field is for the area code
only. |
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Phone number - In the text box, enter the phone number that
you dial to connect with the account (its dial-up access number).Do not include
the area code, prefixes, or dialing codes in this field. It is for the phone
number only. |
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Dial area code - Check this setting's checkbox if you want
FreePPP to dial the area code no matter what, even if is the same area code as
the Location from which you are dialing. |
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Dial as long distance - Check this setting's checkbox if
you want FreePPP to dial a long distance prefix, such as "1", before dialing
the area code and number of your account.
To define the prefix, go to
the Locations tab and select the Location you want to use, then click the edit
button. Enter the prefix in the text box labeled "Long distance
prefix. |
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< Table of Contents > |
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Domain name - In the text box, enter the domain name of
your provider's domain name server (for example, dns.providername.com). If you
aren't sure about the domain name, call your provider. You must have this
information to use the Internet. |
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Primary and Secondary DNS - In the text boxes, enter the
addresses of your provider's primary and secondary (optional) DNS servers. If
you aren't sure about the DNS server addresses, call your provider. You must
have this information to use the Internet. |
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Configure OT TCP/IP for this Account - Check this checkbox
if your system is using Apple's Open Transport networking software and you want
FreePPP Dialer to automatically set up a TCP/IP configuration in Open Transport
for this account.
If you have more than one Internet account, this
feature enables you to automatically switch the active OT TCP/IP configuration
when you switch accounts, so you don't need to open the TCP/IP Control Panel to
do so. |
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IP address - Many providers assign IP addresses dynamically
as users connect. If your provider assigns IP addresses in this way, select the
"Assigned by PPP server" radio button.
If your provider already assigned
you a permanent, unique IP address, (for example 123.45.123.45), select the
lower radio button and enter your IP address into the text box.
If you
aren't sure about which radio button to select, choose "Assigned by PPP server"
or contact your provider. |
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< Table of Contents > |
Use the connection script dialog to
enter a connection script that you want FreePPP to use when connecting to the
related account. |
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Do - Use the Do pop-up menu items to select the action
associated with the Text textboxes on the right of the Do menu. Choices are
Send and Wait For. |
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Text - Use the Text textboxes to specify the alpha-numeric
characters subject to the action defined in the Do menu to the left of each
textbox. |
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Return - Check a Return checkbox to add a return character
at the end of the line of text specified in Text. |
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Wait Timeout - Set the Wait Timeout to the desired number
of seconds. |
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< Table of Contents > |
The Locations tab lets you edit information about
specific dialing location configurations.
To add, edit, or delete
information about a specific dialing location, select the location from the
list on the left of the tab and click the appropriate button on the right. The
tab is shown below. |
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Locations List - Select a configuration from the list. All
of the dialing location configurations currently stored in FreePPP are
displayed in this list. |
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Edit - Click Edit to open the selected configuration's
Location Configuration Dialog. |
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New - Click New to open a blank Location Configuration
Dialog. |
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Duplicate - Click Duplicate to open a copy of the selected
configuration's Location Configuration Dialog. |
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Delete - Click Delete to delete the selected
configuration. |
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< Table of Contents > |
The Location Configuration
Dialog displays all information stored in FreePPP about a specific dialing
location configuration. |
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Location name - In the text box, enter a name for the
location you are creating. If you are editing an existing location, use this
box to change the name of the location, if you wish. The name you choose
appears as a list item in the From pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer
window. |
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Area code - In the text box, enter the area code of the
location that you are dialing from or creating. Do not include prefixes,
dialing codes, or any special characters. This field is for the area code
only. |
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Long distance prefix - In the text box, enter the prefix
that you want FreePPP to dial, such as "1", if the account you are connecting
to is long distance. Do not include other prefixes or numbers in this text box.
It is for the long distance prefix only.
When you tell FreePPP to
connect to your account, it first determines whether to dial the area code as
part of the dial-up access number. It does this by comparing the "Area code"
setting in the Accounts tab--which represents where you are calling-- with the
"Area code" setting in the Locations tab--which represents where you are
calling from. If the two area codes match, FreePPP assumes that it is not
necessary to dial the area code when connecting.
This pop-up menu lets
you control what action FreePPP takes if the two area codes do not
match.
Normally, the "Dial long distance prefix before account area
code" menu item would be selected. However, depending on your location, you
might want to select one of the other menu items. |
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Dial prefix - In this text box, enter any numbers that
FreePPP is to dial before dialing the account phone number, when connecting
from this Location. Examples of such a prefixes are a number for accessing an
outside line and turning off Call Waiting. |
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Long distance access code - In this text box, enter any
number that you want FreePPP to dial between the dial prefix and the account
phone number. This box can be used to enter the access number of your long
distance carrier, for example. If you wish the modem to pause, enter a comma in
the number string where you want the modem to pause. |
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Dial suffix - In this text box, enter any numbers that you
want FreePPP to dial after dialing your account dial-up access number. If you
use a numerical code or authentication PIN for your long distance calls, this
is where you could enter that information. |
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< Table of Contents > |
The Modems tab lets you edit information about specific
dialing location configurations. To add, edit, or delete information about a
specific modem, select the modem from the list on the left of the tab and click
the appropriate button on the right. The tab is shown below. |
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Modem Configurations List - Select a configuration from the
list. All of the dialing location configurations currently stored in FreePPP
are displayed in this list. |
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