

                                   WINHQ

                           Dial-up Scripting Page

                       Last updated September 1, 1995



In order to automate the repetitive manual steps that must be completed to
log into many ISPs around the world, more and more users are looking to
scripts as a way to facilitate their login process. This section of the
WINHQ discusses how to create scripts and how to use the Windows 95
built-in scripting tool to attach a script to a Windows 95 dial-up session.
In addition, I have posted example scripts that work with real-world
connections. If you have a script that works for a specific ISP, college,
or online service, please email it to me in text form (in the body of the
email) so that others may use it as well. Click here to jump directly to
the example scripts now.

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Step 1: Create a Dial-up Connection



Before writing your script, make sure that you have a working dial-up
connection to your Internet provider. If you do not, use the information on
the WINHQ TCP/IP Internet Connection Page to help you set one up. Once you
have a working connection, proceed to step 2.

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Step 2: Create a Login Script



Using a text editor (Notepad will work fine), create a script that will
issue the commands necessary to log you into your Internet provider. If you
have a PPP connection, many providers do not require manual log in steps -
your username and password in the Connect To dialog box will be sufficient,
and you won't need dial-up scripting at all. However, all SLIP/CSLIP
connections, some PPP connections, and any other connection that requires
menu selections, advanced input, or that does not strip information from
the initial dialog box will require a script.

If you have a PPP connection that you think requires a script, try putting
ppp:your_username in the username text area in the Connect To dialog box.
Some providers will accept this to initiate a PPP connection. If that
doesn't work, try a script. In most cases, you will most probably be able
to modify an existing script to connect successfully with your provider.
Sample scripts are available here.

All scripts must begin with the following line:

proc main

and end with:

endproc

These are the commands to tell Windows 95 to start and stop the script. Use
the waitfor and transmit commands to wait for certain information from your
provider (such as a login: prompt or a password: prompt) and to transmit
your username, password, and any other necessary information. The variables
$USERNAME and $PASSWORD will send the username and password entered in the
Connect To dialog box at the beginning of the dial-up session. To send a
carriage return to you provider, use a ^M. To wait for any amount of time,
use delay followed by the number of seconds. You can put comment lines in
your scripts by beginning the line with a semicolon (;). For example: a
simple script that starts, waits for a login: prompt, sends your username,
hits ENTER, waits for a password prompt, sends your password, hits ENTER
then ends, would look like this:

;This will begin the script

        proc main

;Enable the following to delay for 3 seconds first to
;allow host time to send initial characters (not needed by many ISPs).

        delay 3

;Sometimes, ISP's need a carriage return to initiate the login process.
;If your ISP requires this, uncomment the following line:

        ;transmit "^M"

;Wait for the login prompt before entering the user ID and carriage return
;(I left off the first letter since login is case-sensitive)
;The $USERID variable is taken from the dial-up connection dialog box

        waitfor "ogin:"
        transmit $USERID
        transmit "^M"

;Enter your password (I left off the first letter since login is case-sensitive)
;and send a carriage return

        waitfor "assword:"
        transmit $PASSWORD
        transmit "^M"

;Finish the script!
        endproc

In fact, the above is the exact script I use to connect to my provider! If
your login requires more advanced input, download SCRIPT.TXT to learn more.

Once you're finished with your script, save it in the \Program
Files\Accessories\ folder, with a file extension of scp (i.e. ppp.scp).

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Step 3: Verify that the Dial-up Scripting Tool is Installed



Press the   button, select Programs, then Accessories. If the Dial-Up
Scripting Tool shows up, you're ready to proceed to step 4.

If it is not there, and you have the Windows 95 CD, press the
button, select Settings..., then Control Panel. Double-click the Add/Remove
Programs icon. Select the Windows Setup tab, then click on the Have Disk..
option. Assuming your CD-ROM drive is E:, enter the path of
e:\Admin\Apptools\Dscript. Press OK and the SLIP/CSLIP drivers and Dial-up
Scripting Tool will be installed.

If you have Windows 95 on floppies, you can click here to download Dial-up
Scripting Tool and SLIP drivers directly from Microsoft (be aware, however,
that their server is VERY busy). Then install the Dial-up Scripting Tool as
shown in the above paragraph.

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Step 4: Attach Your Script to a Dial-up Profile



Press the   button, select Programs, Accessories, then Dial-Up
Scripting Tool. You'll see the utility's dialog box, which looks like this.

Your current dial-up profile(s) will be listed in the text area on the left
(as shown in the picture). Select the profile for which you wrote the
script, and then press the Browse button. If you saved your script in the
Accessories folder, it should appear in the dialog box. Select it and press
Open.

If you'd like to troubleshoot your script (recommended for the first time
through), select the Step through script option. Upon connection, this will
allow you to "step through" each line of your script and see the result in
a terminal screen. When your script is working properly, select the Start
terminal screen minimized option to keep the script window minimized when
you connect.

Press the Apply button (it's best to keep the Dial-up Scripting Tool dialog
box open until you finish troubleshooting your script) and get ready to try
your script! When you are certain it works, you can press OK to close the
Dial-up Scripting Tool. It does not have to be open when you connect for
the script to work.

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Step 5: Connect and Troubleshoot your Script



IMPORTANT! Before you connect and use your script, go to My Computer,
double-click Dial-up Networking, select your dial-up profile, click the
right mouse button, and select Properties. Underneath your modem (in the
Connect using section), press the Configure button. Select the Options tab
and make sure that in the Connection Control area, NEITHER OPTION IS
SELECTED. Even though you probably had the Bring up terminal window after
dialing option selected previously, the Dial-up Scripting Tool opens a
terminal window anyway. Leaving this option checked will cause your script
to fail.

Using Dial-up Networking, connect to your Internet service provider. Make
sure your username and password are entered into the dialog box, since your
script will need these variables to connect. If you chose to step through
the script, a terminal window will appear upon connect and let you step
through your script by pressing F7. Watch the result closely to track down
errors in your script. You can press F3 during this process to cancel at
any time.

Once your script connects reliably, turn off the Step through script option
in the Dial-up Scripting Tool dialog box. You can also close the Dial-up
Scripting Tool. It does not need to be open for the script to run. It will
run automatically with your dial-up connection as long as it is attached
properly.

If you feel that others could benefit from your script, please send it to
me in text form, in the body of an email message (no attached files,
please). I will post it on this page for others to use!

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Example Dial-up Scripts



The following are example dial-up scripts for use with the Windows 95
Dial-up Scripting Tool. Any of them could be easily modified to work with
your specific host. Some were created by me, some were included with the
Dial-Up Scripting Tool, and some were sent in by brave scripting pioneers
around the world. I cannot support them, nor can I be responsible for their
results. You are free to use them at your own risk.

  SCRIPT NAME    CREATED BY                   DESCRIPTION
                              Establishes a regular PPP connection with a
                              UNIX host. Works for static or dynamic IP
 PPP.SCP       Steve Jenkins  addressing. Made specifically for
                              connection to MidWest Communications, Inc.
                              and Utah Wired.

 PPPMENU.SCP     Microsoft    Establishes a PPP connection with a host
                              that uses a menu system.
                              Establishes a regular SLIP connection with
 SLIP.SCP        Microsoft    a UNIX host. Designed for use with a static
                              IP address.

 SLIPMENU.SCP    Microsoft    Establishes a SLIP connection with a host
                              that uses a menu system.
                              Establishes a PPP connection with
 CIS.SCP         Microsoft    Compuserve, which requires changing the
                              port settings to log in.
                              Establishes a regular PPP connection with a
                              UNIX host. Works for static or dynamic IP
 BYUPPP.SCP    Steve Jenkins  addressing. Made specifically for
                              connection to Brigham Young University's
                              CougarNet account.
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
 PIPEX.SCP      Richard Gate  that requires sending the protocol type
                              after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to PIPEX (UK).
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
 NSTN.SCP        Alex Burke   after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to NSTN
                              (Canada).
                              Establishes a SLIP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
 UMINN.SCP        Richard     after the username and password. Designed
                Wattenbarger  for use with a static IP address. Made
                              specifically for connection to the
                              University of Minnesota.
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
 UMD.SCP           Ghost      after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to the
                              University of Maryland, College Park.
                              Establishes a SLIP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
                              after the username and password. Made
 UTAH.SCP        Len Bowes    specifically for connection to the
                              University of Utah (even though BYU will
                              kill them at this year's football
                              game....).
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
 INFINET.SCP   Michael Cooper that requires sending the protocol type
                              after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to Infi-Net.
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
 INTELENT.SCP   Bob De Long   after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to Intelenet,
                              Salt Lake City, Utah.
                              Establishes a PPP connection with a host
                              that requires sending the protocol type
 DEC.SCP        Terry Lemons  after the username and password. Made
                              specifically for connection to a Digital
                              Equipment Corporation DECserver.

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1995 Steve Jenkins of WebSavvy
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