COPING WITH COMPUSERVE CLASSIC ** CAUTION: I have not reviewed this in detail recently. Information on Compuserve Webmail, compuserve.com portal, and forums is probably out of date especially with the demise of Compuserve as an ISP/mail service and introduction of a new Webmail to provide continuity of email address. There is duplication herein. I plan to consolidate any remaining valid information with acmail.txt. Meanwhile I have added specifics to the section on pulling Classic Compuserve email using IMAP or POP3. NEW: - MIGRATION OF CLASSIC EMAIL (REVISED): The ISP function of Classic Compuserve DOES not exist any longer. A new webmail service was offered via http://member.compuserve.com/mailcenter (scroll down to see login for transfer) to provide continuity of email address, with setup instructions at the right of the mail login entry box in http://webmail.compuserve.com, for various situations. There was also a link to an FAQ, which included a situation affecting those who were getting Classic email forwarded to a CS2000 account. I don't think there was any connection to the old Compuserve Webmail. Be careful about screen name etc. settings. I doubt you can signup for that anymore, I don't see much on the http://webmail.compuserve.com page. It supports both webmail access and IMAP/POP3 pull into email software. Below I provide settings for webmail and IMAP/POP3 pull once you had set thatup. http://webmail.compuserve.com can be used to access your Classic mail directly. (The appropriate selection on http://member.compuserve.com/mailcenter will take you to the above page.) User name should be your full classic email address (including @compuserve.com), "screen name" might also work. (There may be some trickiness in which address you use, webmail may prefer your "alias" version of @compuserve.com rather than your numeric address (with period instead of comma).) The password will be what you set up for that webmail system. For pulling into email software like Outlook you'll need to use the same "name" for your email address and the same password as for webmail login. Other settings are: imap.csi.com, port 143, or with SSL encryption enabled port 993 pop.csi.com, port 110, or with SSL encryption enabled port 995 For "Your Name" in Outlook I use my old Classic Compuserve customer name. The password will be what you set up for the new webmail system I describe above. (If you have difficulty with the SSL port, I'd try unencrypted first then once successful try encryption. Make sure you have encryption checked or not to match the port number.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (The following is moot as the Classic Compuserve mail system, ISP, and OurWorld web site service no longer exists, I'll leave it here for now.) - does anyone understand causes of post-processing failures? With some nodes, I frequently get that failure. One factor may be busyness of the node, but I am sure there are other factors. (For example, one node usually works with POTS line but did not work via my cellular phone until I made changes I list in the DUN OVER CELLULAR section.) The node's modem responds, but it seems that UID & password are not recognized, perhaps not being transmitted by DUN. - remember that Compuserve Classic requires a script, usually filename cis.scp, usually available in Windows (XP's networking dialogue box finds scripts when Use Script is checked. Over some paths like cellular you may need a different script. - Compuserve's service does not list Classic access phone numbers that continue to work. They can be found by searching from the access numbers page on Compuserve's web site, which clearly distinguishes CS2000 from Classic. However if you then save that page as .mht, the result does not contain those numbers (it appears to contain CS2000 numbers, which don't seem to work for Classic even though you'd expect communication lines to be shared). Whee! - Classic software for Windows 31 and Windows NT is still available for download from Compuserve's site, though apparently only CS261 and CS4.0x respectively, nothing for Windows 98SE. (I'll check the download expanded, as the CS261 I have appears to be for both Windows 31 and 98SE.) Compuserve changed the format of forum message data such that they cannot be viewed with software that does not have a browser integrated, such as Compuserve sofware versions prior to CS 4 and popular off-line readers such as TAPCIS. (A regular web browser works as before, needing your Compuserve user name and password even if you are using Compuserve as ISP. I expect that Compuserve 4 would offer message management, including offline drafting, but I have not tried it.) Foregoing now moot as the service is gone except for new webmail to provide continuity of classic email address. Forums should be accessible through a web interface. Check into your favourite forums for details. My initial experience is that: - some forums allow read-only access using Compuserve/WinCIM261 software, which lets you download messages quickly. However, I am told that was temporary. - some forums display a notice that they have moved to web view - some forums will not be found using Compuserve/WinCIM261 software - the new format of the web view is very poor: notably cluttered and illogically laid out. The software people at Compuserve should be ashamed. (It will take multiples of your normal time to participate in forums.) - as expected, web view remains slow - good news is that you can print an entire thread. However you cannot use SaveAs .mht from your browser. If you have full Acrobat software you can print to .pdf (Distiller of PDF Writer should be in your printer pull-down list - you may need to make one the default printer during the session). Even online the print view of the thread is easier to read than the normal view! Rumour is that the old "HMI" format will continue to be used for email, for the forseeable future (which isn't a very long time for a company on shakey financial ground :-). But I suggest positionning yourself to have an email address independent of Compuserve/AOL et al - such as having your own domain name hosted by a mail-forwarding service. TABLE of CONTENTS BILLING BUGS CS2000 & CS7 DIALER SETUP DUN DETAILS DUN OVER CELLULAR CLASSIC COMPUSERVE ACCESS REMOTE ACCESS LOCATIONS MULTIPLE MESSAGES OTHER MAILBOX PROBLEMS PALM RESOURCES SOFTWARE - Miscellaneous - CS261 - CS3.x/4.x - CS2000 & CS7 VIEWS VIRTUAL KEY Windows XP Windows Vista WEBMAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE ODD THINGS UPDATE ALTERNATIVES -------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION This is a ** LIVING DRAFT *** NOTE! Don't overlook that Compuserve is a source of help, including: - http://www.compuserve.com - forums on Compuserve (accessible through that URL, though you may have to register an Instant Messanger account to get access, it does not depend on your Classic Compuserve membership and is already possessed by AOL and perhaps CS2000 customers - see my file csmailac.txt for information on names & passwords) - Compuserve support phone lines (see the web site for them) Compuserve was a pioneer in online content and discussion forums, and still offers much especially for business, computer, technical and hobby needs. Its threaded discussion forums are good, and their software for it is much faster to use than web based access to their forums or others such as EGroups/Yahoo. Some of us stay with Compuserve and classic access/software for those reasons, and for continuity of email address. However, years of poor management reduced profitability and quality of work - leading to sale to AOL, who have not improved its quality. (To Compuserve's credit, they are trying to accomodate the Internet - which adds to the complexity of their network and the workload on their software developers.) Herein some tips on coping. (The substantial financial troubles at AOL-TimeWarner and the severe financial troubles at WorldComm are of concern. WorldCom's UUNet division handles much of the dialup access network of Compuserve Classic, and of AOL's service including CS2000. My limited understanding is that UUNet has substantial business and is not in itself severely challenged financially, thus is an attractive purchase candidate with a future. However, in the near term I expect worse service from the network and Compuserve. BILLING Always check what they did - errors are common, reaching them difficult. They do dumb things like cutting off access because they did not receive a reply to the debit re-authorization form they sent only by paper mail, having decided that year to ask for re-authorization whereas normally they do not. BUGS Paragraph break problem, forum messages composed in web view. There is a known glitch involving Macs and Netscape 4.7, which results in paragraph breaks being omitted when viewed in Classic Compuserve software. CS2000 Beware! This is really AOL software running on AOL's network, requiring a new account and email address. It has many good features but is immature and the latest release is so buggy it is causing computer problems at the user's end. (I saw a Royal Bank Canadian distribution of AOL labelled "improved version 7.0" so perhaps they've fixed some things.) I see no reason to move to it. If you want AOL you can sign up for AOL - and Compuserve offer a package deal for both AOL and Compserve Classic accounts. The only value I see in CS2000 is to AOL not customers - it transitions those who want easy access to Compuserve content onto AOL's communications network. (Some AOL-related features such as Instant Messaging are available separately. They may require an additonal account. If you set up the now-defunct Compuserve Webmail, original outsourced version, you probably had to setup the needed account - aka "screen name" before setting up Webmail. See my file csmailac.txt for info on names & PWs.) I see Compuserve 7 on a download page. I presume that is the latest version of CS2000. DIALER SETUP Different AOL and Compuserve access software may be setup differently on your computer. For example, CS261 (WinCIM) uses the DUN feature in Windows 9x whereas AOL software does not. Note that you actually connect to the Compuserve Classic network with DUN, you don't need software like CS261 to use it as an ISP. If installing CS261 under Win9x, make sure the winsock is the Windows one (about 42K) not the much larger CID one. (Watch options carefully during installation.) WINSOCK.DLL should be in \Windows, WSOCK32.DLL in \Windows\System and be same version. Also, check Use Winsock and enter your info on the first use even though you will not be using CID. (There is advice on setting CS261 up to handle long filenames.) The network login script needed for DUN is CIS.SCP, probably located in \ProgramFiles\Accessories (in \Windows\system32\ras for the NT family which includes Windows XP). (The one in Windows 2000 may need modifying to put the password in the script (not great for security? see my DUN OVER CELLULAR section for another script wrinkle). Also, the ID may need to be the version of your Classic numeric ID with a period not a comma. People tout their own versions of the script but I recommend being slow to adopt them - check other factors first. Apparently there is some variation among computer setups in how some things are handled (that's not news!). The IP address must be server assigned (dynamic), or 0.0.0.0 if the software does not have a selection for dynamic/server-assigned. Some people recommend server assigned DNS name server address, as specific info could change in the future. Others report more reliable connection with a fixed address - which last I heard is: Primary DNS 149.174.211.005 Secondary DNS 149.174.213.005 Primary WINS 0.0.0.0 Secondary WINS 0.0.0.0 On occasion I see a "Winsock not found" error from WinCIM. The last time that occurred the phone rang! While DUN thought there was a connection the telco did not and some automatic function rang me back. Wierd, but that is the story of software problems. (I've had that occur without WinCIM involved.) Remember to add the access number when dialling from other than a simple POTS line, such as 9 for standard switchboards. I also add a comma after the 9 in case response to 9 is delayed though I expect it is a rare switchboard today that is so slow you need the delay that provides. Common advice is to select the remember password box in DUN the first time you connect to a node, then uncheck if for subsequent sessions if you want that security. However I suggest if having trouble try it remembered. DUN DETAILS For Windows 98, omitting obvious things: First, you need three network configuration items installed in ControlPanel|Networking: - Client for Microsoft Networks with Enhanced mode; FilePrintSharing not needed; Logon & restore, not NT. - Dial-up Adapter (Microsoft) TCP/IP binding available, Point-Point IP & Header compression Yes, packet size Auto, log file is optional - TCP/IP protocol (Microsoft) set its properties in the DUN connection as below Windows Logon works. It is best to remove all other network items, but if you have other network connectivity such as DCC between two computers, you may have to finesse the combination of items. You do not need a network password or Windows password (blank field acts as no password). Leave WINS CONFIGURATION tab alone, remove anything in GATEWAY tab. BINDINGS check Client for Microsoft Networks. If you do not have it right you'll get a winsock error in CS261 if you have UseWinsock selected, and your browser will never find web sites. Without Winsock you can only access non-Internet Compuserve content. Enter the Dial Up Networking function of Windows (Start|Accesories| Communications), and make a new connection (name it, choose your modem and configure it if necessary). Enter the Compuserve phone number you use and uncheck "Use area code..." (If you must use an area code for a local call, include it with the local number instead of putting it in the area code box. Also include any outside-line codes, followed by a comma to delay further dialling by two seconds if your switchboard is slow.) Click on the new connectoid to highlight it, then either right click or select File and choose Properties to edit it further. Uncheck "Use area code....." unless you need to dial it. (Somewhere in the setup of DUN you can set prefixes such as 9 for outside line, or "9," if your switchboard is slow to provide an outside line. Under Server Types: Dial up server should be PPP. I run with Log on to network checked. Uncheck Enable software compression (historically not used by CS and has caused connection problems). Make sure only TCP/IP server type is checked. (Under Settings, use Server assigned address and preferably server assigned name server.) Under Scripting Browse and locate the CIS.SCP or CISCRIPT.SCP script, get it into the file name box, and ensure other two boxes are unchecked. Back in DUN main window, Connections|Settings, check "prompt for information before dialling". (I see that in Win98SE but not in Win98.) Activate the new DUN connectoid, which pops up the ID box. User Name is your numeric Compuserve classic ID with comma in it. (But some people have found it necessary to use a period in it.) Enter password and click Save Password if you want to save it during current boot of your computer (see below for saving it longer). Once a successful connection is made and exitted you can uncheck the "prompt for information before dialling" if you want DUN to remember your password (I suggest not doing that, for security if your computer is stolen). Note that DUN is called RAS in Windows NT, so even in XP you'll find the Compuserve script in a directory named \ras. Beware that in some areas of the world special scripts may be needed due to additional steps required to log into a local network that provides service to Compuserve, especially if that is a surcharge network. The normal status response sequence from Compuserve's communication chain and network that I observe includes: - post-processing through [script name & path] - verifying name and password - registering computer on network - authenticated - [connection name] connected It seems that failure to recognize name/password, or receipt of it, is a common occurence with some nodes. The question of when it needs to be told to dial 1 before the number may be answered in Control Panel|Modems|General|DiallingProperties. DUN is obscure in how to change connectoids for travelling if you don't have a connectoid pre-defined for the location and don't have info with you on how to create a new one(it seems to work if you just revise the number to be dialled - but afterward check that the number is correct for the original location of that connectoid, so it works when you return). I am unsure of settings in My Computer|Control Panel|Network| Properties. Note the default TCP/IP address is shown under Gateway, though I presume that is not relevant as Compuserve do not provide that info because they want to automatically assign it. Also note there is a DNS tab in Properties. While Compuserve user software does not use 8N1 format you should use that in DUN. (The script handles the difference for POTS login, switching between the two formats as needed. However for some unusual methods of connection, such as PDAs, you may have to jump between the Compuserve standard 7???? and 8N1 for login then the application's use of the connection.) If using CS261 access software you should read the CISDUN.TXT file from a Compuserve forum to know how to edit CIS.INI to handle long filenames. This method does not work for Compuserve 2000 which is really AOL functionality and network. CS3 or 4 access software may set the DUN up for you on installation. This method may work for connecting your computer to use a digital data capable cellular phone as a modem, over a suitable digital provider's service, however tweaking of the Properties may be needed to accomodate the air path and the frequently switched network inherent to cellular. OTOH, CS3.x sets up the dialer. (If you want to do it manually get file CSASISP.EXE.) References for DUN for Win98 - Note that DUN version 1.4, applicable to Win98SE and earlier, fixes some problems such as hanging of the connection/disconnection attempt. - File IEW98CIS.TXT in WINSUP to set up connectoids and scripting. CISASISP.EXE gives .HTM with same instructions? - File ??? to set up CS261 for long file names and MSIE. - Make sure winsock is Windows one (about 42K, much smaller than CS261/CID file about 130/140K (CID not used under Win9x). Hide any others. WINSOCK.DLL should be in Windows, WSOCK32.DLL in Windows/System folders, same versions. - in Windows 98 DUN can seem flakey if you try to change something in a connectoid, including not working or multiplying the change across other connectoids. Some people recommend creating a new connectoid rather than modifying one. DUN OVER CELLULAR I have successfully connected to Compuserve as ISP using Bluetooth to a RAZR V3c cellular phone (CDMA cellular service). To achieve that I: - used the non-Compuserve script CISXP.SCP from a Compuserve forum (which doesn't explicitly set to 7-Even for making the connection, uses period instead of comma in user name, looks for "e:" instead of "Host Name:" as prompt for sending "CIS" as host name, and handles name+connectcommand+password in one line; the script may have originated in the UK, I tried it on Vancouver Island in B.C. Canada.) - embedded my UID and PW in the script - made the connection from the Bluetooth phone setup in My Bluetooth Places rather than normal Network Connections (which sometimes doesn't recognize Bluetooth as a modem). The script change is essential. I have not yet found references on how the scripts work to determine which differences are essential. From the status progress I suspect the UID+PW are not passed on at all by the normal networking interface. I tried modifying the standard script to embed my user name and password, with and without the $, then also without the , and raw, both with comma and period in user name, but always get a syntax error message. To test further I would try putting three items in one line as in the UK script. Bluetooth requires a pairing excercise, which can be obscure on the phone side, and may have to be partly redone if you turn Bluetooth off to save battery power. However, you could use a cable connection to the phone, perhaps needing software such as Phone Tools to command the phone from the computer. CLASSIC COMPUSERVE ACCESS Many people stick with WinCIM, a few with DOSCIM (which fits on a single floppy disk thus is portable). WinCIM/CS261 runs fine in Win9x but you have to be careful setting up the DUN to get the right settings, get a script in place (the one in Win98SE works fine as-is), avoid over-writing the Win9x winsock file with the CID dialer one, and avoid invoking the CID dialer. Information is available in Compuserve forums - the MSIE instructions in the MSIE forum are the best I've seen even if you don't use MSIE. (Some sysops have a briefer version they use as a canned reply message.) Also, you'll need to enter your account data in CS261 (it must be commanded to log on separately after you establish the DUN connection). Do not use MSIE500 with CS261 - upgrade to MSIE501. CS3 and 4 are different animals than WinCIM - I have not used them. Make sure you have the latest version as early releases had defects. While CS 261 is old software, note there are three versions for different Windows families: Win31, 9x/ME, and NT/2000/XP. Most Compuserve software CDs include the classic access software such as WinCIM and CS4x. WinCIM will be in a sub-directory (on the CS2000 CD I have it is under Clients|Classic - it appears to be the versions for Win31 and Win9x in the same directory, no indication that it includes the 32-bit version for NT/XP). Watch out for AutoRun on the CD, which will try to install the latest software rather than what you want. (Under Win9x hold the SHIFT key down until the CD stops spinning.) CS261 is also available online for download, in the SOFTSUP forum. Use the latest version as it functions better including better winsock for Win31 and cleaner separation of the browser so you can decline it and use your own browser. The CS2000 CD also has a JFAX viewer and the Virtual Key software. (The latest versions of CS access software should install VK automatically, but do check what they did and note it probably does not work with Windows XP.) Compuserve classic software after WinCIM 1.4 will run over another ISP. (I do not know if DOSCIM 2.x is "after" or not,' but suspect it is not.) Establish the ISP connection then command the Compuserve software to get something from Compuserve - it should just jump on the Internet and find Compuserve. For CS261 over cable you may need to set SPECIAL | SESSION SETTINGS | NETWORK [Internet] DIAL TYPE [Direct]. Also note the Use Winsock option must be checked in CS261. Compuserve forum libraries provide utilites to migrate your address books and message files to other software, and to convert them to plain text files. Windows 31 users will run into a browser problem. Netscape 3x runs well under Win31 but has problems with many fancy web sites. (Watch out for getting dialogue boxes stuck under current visible windows. You might learn Windows shortcut keys, especially F4 to close the active window - that is a quick way to get rid of those sleazy ad boxes that hide the Close icon off screen.) MSIE3x does not match NS3x for accessing password protected web sites. The 16 bit version of MSIE501 runs slow but OK - however it is hard to find (downloads from Microsoft and TuCows may not work on some computer setups). Do not use use "reformattable" message format with CS261. That will cause line wrap problems with some receiving software (insertion of the equals character is an indication at receiving end. Instead use "as-is" and limit length of each line. For your Compuserve homepages web site, I suggest simply using Compuserve's "Home Page Publishing Wizard". It and a web page designer are installed by executing the file hpwiz.exe. Using it you'll have to cope with it expecting 8.3 filenames, but I'd keep the web site simple anyway. Beware that some versions of Microsoft web publishing software do not work with Compuserve hompages web site hosting software. REMOTE ACCESS My file on retrieving email, CSMAILAC.TXT, includes leads to running Compuserve access software over another ISP. As well, web access is available to most forums. (But access to your billing information or normal access to email requires the Virtual Key security feature in CS software (email can be accessed other ways). Beware that Compuserve Webmail is very slow. If you try to access it via a slow ISP, like AOL/Compuserve 2000, your browser may time out. Also beware that Compuserve Webmail has serious problems. It is being phased out in favor of a service that Compuserve can have more control over. LOCATIONS A key benefit of Compuserve is widespread access. Not only does it have local dial-up numbers in many locations around the world, in some countries it has an 800 number (surcharged). Be advised however that some locations have a surcharge, and that 56K speed is not as widespread as you'd like. If you find yourself using the 800 number often, you might check its rates against those of a calling card to the nearest local number. The dial-up nodes and communications network beyond them on the way to Compuserve have suffered from problems over the years, including: - connection problems resulting from a bad modem in the modem pool at the node, undetected at their end, with their distribution software involved in some way (when demand is high the bad modem will be assigned to you on repeated calls because it is the only one not occupied with a customer call at that moment). - node responds with a UUNet customer loging prompt instead of switching you to Compuserve's network. - node starts checking your UID and password but eventually says it cannot log you in. That correlates to busy times of day. The error message may come from a timeout in Windows DUN, as the cases I've seen occurred after an unusually long wait while the checking UID and password status is given. MULTIPLE MESSAGES Normally you'd set software like WinCIM/CS2.x to delete messages from the server once downloaded to your computer. However, it the connection is interrupted for any reason other than your command, including by timeout, you'll probably see the messages you last down- loaded in your mail again. That's the way it is. OTHER MAILBOX PROBLEMS Rebuilding your file cabinet can help. Doesn't hurt. In CS261 go to Special|Rebuild. Time taken will depend on CPU and disk access speeds. Some people find that using Telnet access can facilitate clearing phantom email messages. (I've not had that but did have a few weeks where POP3 access did not delete - I cleared that by accessing through WinCIM but it took three tries.) See my other article on accessing your email for leads to Telnet access. Also, using a different Compuserve access software may work to allow reading or deletion of the offending messages - e.g. DOSCIM instead of CS261. RESOURCES Compuserve's SOFTSUP and EMAILCOM forums provide advice on use of Compuserve software and general matters. (Those are the GO words.) A listing of GO words is available as file CISIDX.TXT in the PCHW forum and by other names in other forums. (Compuserve's Find function does not list many forums - the web view's Find feature may be more complete. A version listing forums available in web view may be available at http://go.compuserve.com/TAPCIS as forums.htm. http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=ws-cssoftware provides Classic SW support The "Official UK Compuserve Forum" has good information. SOFTWARE Miscellaneous New software/features will be buggy. During times of change problems will be encountered (you won't necessarily know when that is, as behind the scenes work always goes on - as I write this they are making major server moves which is showing up as very slow login and odd malfunctions). Note that Classic Compuserve is fixed to the "quoted printable" option for handling special characters. You may see odd things in a few messages, such as the = sign where line length does not match between sending and receiving software. CTRL-T or printing the message may help line wrap if the line extends beyond your viewing window. Note that attachments may not be handled reliably, especially with older software. Awareness of decoding and file name sleuthing is useful for any software and ISP, to cope with the Internet. (Compuserve Webmail's POP3 access to Classic Compuserve email handles message format and attachment file names much better than CS261.) CS261/WinCIM To copy your settings, addresses and messages to a new computer, first install CS261 on the new computer and back up your files off the old computer. Then copy CIS.INI, WINCIM.INI, FORUMS.DB, FAVORITE.DAT, MARKED.SES and ADDRBOOK.DAT files to the same directories on the new computer. Then either: - use the FCCopy utility from Compuserve to copy the contents of the filing cabinet. (It may be under FCOPY.EXE or FCCOPY.EXE depending on whether or not it is in Zipped state.) I suggest only copying a few messages, because a large cabinet is much more prone to the corruption that plagues CS261 and earlier Compuserve software using that cabinet design.) - copy the entire \FCABINET directory, then open the \FCABINET\CABINET directory on the target computer and delete all the IDX files (7) and the AKEYS.DAT file BUT don't delete the CABINET.DAT file. (If you do delete it most of the folder names will be lost and you'll have to figure them out using a text editor to look into messages and rename them in WinCIM. Start CompuServe on that computer; it will rebuild the file cabinet indexes. Note if copying from CD backup you need to remove the ReadOnly file status that CD recording defaults to. I recommend putting a dummy address as the first entry in your address book, because I suspect the software sometimes includes the first entry in your list of addressees for a message. AA AA, aa@aabbcc.com for example. (Don't use aa.com as that is an airline.) I've seen changed settings and an empty Filing Cabinet on new boot of computer and startup of CS261. Before panicking (well, too much anyway :-0, I shut down and rebooted - everything was there. (One factor may be the presence of a .TXT file in the WinCim directory, which I gave a full name to before shutting down - normally one cannot create such a file, but apparently it can happen due to an interrupted SaveAsText operation from CS261.) But while we are talking of the FC, note it is not robust - periodic use of Special|Rebuild may be needed, or more severe recovery action detailed in a Compuserve forum. It seems that CS261 cannot download messages larger than roughly 64KB. Newsletters sent in HTML format can easily be larger. Note that CS261 is the last version of the "WinCIM" family of software. CS25x is quite similar but some versions have a poor dialer and CS261 has clearer differentiation from the browser during the install process. (The dialler is used under Windows 3.1 whereas Windows' DUN function is used under Windows 9x and later versions. Refer to later sections for tweaking to run under Windows 9x and later, especially Windows XP.) CS3x/4x May be available from http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/tech/forums.jsp Some download pages do not list CS3 or 4, only 261. That software includes a Filing Cabinet Utility to convert the old filing cabinet to the new CS3/4 format. (The old FC file form is detailed in the file FFROMS.TXT, available in forums.) The file CONVERT.EXE from Compuserve forums can be used to convert the FC back to the old format. CSRescue.zip from Compuserve forums can be used to rescue your email and forum messages from a corrupted CS304 FC. Address Book can be copied by copying ADDRBOOK.DAT into the corresponding \SUPPORT directory. CS4x may trip over a Microsoft defect and give an error message about not enough memory to reindex the file cabinet. You'll need to empty Windows Temp and Internet Temp folders. CS4.02 is available for download as CS495BN.exe or CS4NT4N.EXE which does not include MSIE, as newer versions come with Windows or on CD from Microsoft. It should also be on recent CS2000 CDs, but is not on recent AOL CDs (those contain several versions of AOL software and of COMIT terminal software). CS4.02 has more features than 4.01, including a spell checker. CS3.x is no longer available from Compuserve. (Hang onto those old Compuserve/CS2000 CDs. :-) Running CS4.02/NT under Windows 2000 before SP3 may trip over a password handling defect. Try to avoid SavePassword. Files W2KDial.PDF and/or DUN2000.htm provide other information. The file CIS-FAV.DAT provides an updated Favorite Places menu for DOSCIM and early versions of WINCIM. CS4xx may default to a web-like view. It can be set to a more classic view. The file 402inXP.txt provides help to use version 4.02 under Windows XP. CAUTION: CS2000 software is a different account from Classic Compuserve mail. If you install CS2000 software your Classic account may be closed. CS2000 has some nice features, many bugs, and some omissions (no longer supports Palm PDAs, for example). Essentially it is AOL software, AOL email account but a new Compuserve address, and Compuserve online content. I see Compuserve 7 on a download page. I presume that is the latest version of CS2000. Other Utilities are available in Compuserve forums to export your Address Book and messages to other mail software like Eudora. Another is CS2AddressBook from http://www.cs2exchange.com/. Yet another is at http://www.interguru.com. And furthermore, look at CIMSORTH.EXE which can export to a sorted list, CSV format for import into other software, NETSCAPE HTML format, or DOSCIM1.0 for small computers. Address Book Exporter converts to CSV format which should be importable into other email software or data base programs. ADDBKA11.ZIP. No instructions (create a directory C:\ADDBKEXP, unzip and install from it, point the setup program to it; place copy of your Address Book in it then execute). Address books can be merged using Address Book Manager, file ABM_INST.EXE from a Compuserve forum (perhaps the UK Help forum). That utlity can also print your address book, copy/cut and paste between address books, and import or export. Note the suggested utilities may be shareware - reward the author with the requested fee. Find them in Compuserve forums except as noted. Apparently you can have difficulty deleting messages from your Classic mailbox if there are more than 180. The limit is 250, but above 180 you may have to delete only a few at at a time until you get below 180. PALM It is possible to get Compuserve Classic mail into a Palm, but setup is tricky especially with o/s3.3 or later. On Compuserve, GO PALM to get advice - noting the file CISPALM5.txt and by web view http://go.compuserve.com/Palmtop?SEC=8&FID=692. In general, from my limited understanding, I suggest you go for POP3 mail over another ISP. See info elsewhere herein or in CSMAILAC.TXT. As well, I am advised that it may take several tries to connect directly. VIEWS The CS4.x software has a choice of web view and classic view (as provided by CS3 and earlier software). Make sure external browser is not selected under Access|Preferences|General then GO VIEWCHOICE. Re-enable external browser if desired. VIRTUAL KEY The following tips have been offered by users of VK to help fix access problems: - delete all Compuserve.com cookies, probably found in \Windows\cookies, including any logon [i] for Compuserve.com where i is an integer (apparently trying public access gives your computer a cookie that turns VK off) - delete the account info stored in VK for the particular service (normally Compuserve; there is a file rpaedit.exe in \Windows\Syste, RPA a general term for what VK does). - reinstall VK, ensuring use of the latest version - there may be confusion between when the "screen name" associated with Instant Messenger is needed (you get that name when signing up for Compuserve WebMail) and when your Classic numeric ID is needed (with the corresponding passwords). - the 4-step menu at GO POPMAIL is out of date (!?) - apparently Norton anti-virus does not work if you are using VK to access your mail (it won't keep your addresses selected). - there is contradictory information about as to whether or not VK will work in Windows XP (perhaps differing between SP2 and the original issue of XP). WINDOWS XP COMPATIBILITY Note that XP often uses software intended for Windows NT/2000 rather than the 9x/ME family. That is the case with Compuserve's mail software such as CS261, CS304 and CS402 which came in an NT version. GO SOFTSUP for advice, including file DUN2000.HTM, DUNXP.HTM, CISXP.SCP, XPSCRIPT.HTM, and a special installer file (the one on the Compuserve CDROM will not work) or special versions of CS3 and CS4 for XP. Note that once you get a connection to Compuserve's network, you can download from http://go.compuserve.com/softwaresupport so don't need the CS software on CD. You will need DUNXP.HTM instructions, and the Compuserve script which should already be on the computer, to make a DUN connection to Compuserve. I have one report that NavCIS works fine under XP. And I recall hearing that DOSCIM may need tweaking to work under XP. Fortunately networking support is simpler in XP than 98SE. WINDOWS VISTA COMPATIBILITY From Compuserve forums in June of 2007: "Compuserve have announced that their software does not work with Windows Vista. They advise people running Vista to switch to AOL." As Compuserve as ISP no longer exists, that info for XP, Vista, or any compatibility mode in Windows 7 is no longer of use. WEBMAIL NOTE: consider the orginal Compuserve WebMail to be defunct. A new webmail service is in use to provide continuity of Classic email addresses. The following is for the old webmail service. Compuserve WebMail has serious problems. The current one of not showing any mail on commanding check mail may or may not be mitigated by: (check http://emailcom.forumscentral.com/cswebmail/ for info as of April 2002) - waiting 40 seconds (down from 10 minutes!) after logging on before doing anything. (Sure, while the meter ticks at Kinkos?) - logging in, commanding CheckMail, logging out, logging in again - logging in, logging out, then logging in again, then creating new external mail definitions, logging off, then logging on again - using other formats for the POP3 address (the UserName field, which normally uses x,y for Classic Compuserve). - putting quotation marks around the POP3 address - enable automatic Refresh of Inbox (in Preferences) - Refresh the page in your browser - have only one external mail account set up in Preferences - make sure you log out when finished Beware that the user interface does not necessarily do what you think it does. Apparently CheckMail only refreshes the view of the mailbox, which is automatically filled in the background after you log on. No, I don't guarantee that - apparently the software is being changed on the fly. I used to be able to get external mail through my Compuserve WebMail account by making a second or third GetMail request. It was variable - 95 % of the time two requests will produce the mail. But on occasion mail will show immediately without request (perhaps perhaps the Webmail server has messages requested in a prior session but delayed then), on occasion it takes a third request to see External mail (perhaps the first request displays webmail when there is some waiting in the background), and on occasion I don't get the messages. It appears as though in the cases where new mail is waiting at login that it comes from an earlier unanswered request or a host action, and that a new request, repeated, may produce additional new mail. Sometimes opening a new browser window (File|New|Window in MSIE) results in new mail showing after a Get Mail request was made in the first window, where the new mail does not show. Interesting, hopefully a clue for software developers. (In MSIE, opening a new window clones the old one.) Hmm - I should try Refreshing the browswer page. (Note the mail in question is External mail, thus the user must make a request to get it, through WebMail. Any mail sent directly to the address for the WebMail account should show up on login.) One thing I did was delete my External mail connection and re-entered it as new, though I had done that weeks ago without effect. (Earlier I had to call Compuserve to get the mail box account fixed as I could not get into it - I have no idea what was wrong, but I do know the provider corrupted some database records earlier.) On one occasion my POP3 access went bad as seen by Compuserve WebMail after I tried to get into Compuserve's web site using my Instant Messenger account (the one created to get WebMail) several times without hitting the correct ID and password. It worked later after I went into POP setup at GO NPX-92 and confirmed to keep using the existing POP password. Also beware that the combination of NetScape 4.2 and some networks/ISPs does not work well with Compuserve's home page. So the only advice I have is to try deleting and re-entering your External mail setup in WebMail, make sure you have the correct user ID and password for the specific External mail source, and request twice in succession. And other good news is that the Get Only New Mail selection is now working. However, the Forwarding includes all mail - that is, it includes mail pulled in from External accounts. (I have not noticed that previously.) So you need to be cautious about forwarding strategy - your messages may multiply if you forward WebMail messages to your regular account and then use WebMail External to access its mail. Note the Leave Mail On Server option, which defaults to NOT. (I.E. to deleting the mail in your normal (POP3) mailbox of your regular service. If you want to later file those messages in your normally used software you want to set it to leave mail on the server.) (And recently I've seen a problem of duplication of messages, probably because the get-mail function is not reliably flagging that each message has been retrieved by POP3 or WebMail (I do not know if the flag is set on Compuserve or just in WebMail). If you find an External mail definition reset to Disabled you may have entered an unrecognized UID or password (you may receive email saying it is Disabled). This appears to be a recent enhancement - previously you just didn't get mail. Also, it appears that you may need to CheckMail to be sure you see inbox contents for WebMail even if you are already in the Inbox view - it displays its new mail at login but does not automaticaly refresh the view after that (it may retrieve the mail in the background but not refresh the view - how helpful?!). However, I also suspect that on occasion WebMail gets hung up on a specific message and will keep getting it but not get any newer ones. Apparently Compuserve is not signing up any new users of Webmail, instead offering them Netscape mail of some flavor. Webmail was provided by an outside service who are not performing well. They have made errors and may not have good software development practices, but may have now fixed some problems they introduced and improved the user interface function behind the visual pages. (It seems the providers are changing things on the fly without adequate testing - a recipe for unreliability.) Refer to the file csmailac.txt on this web site for information on passwords. At one time you could use any of three user names: - Classic numeric with period - Classic numeric with comma but enclosed in quotes - The Classic personal name, aka alias CUSTOMER SERVICE Beware that Compuserve customer service may tell you something does not exist or cannot be done, incorrectly from their ignorance of Classic services and software. (I've had several reports of that, including my own experience in which a one-year employee told me it was not possible to get Classic email through Compuserve WebMail. At least he believed me the second time I told him I had been doing it for a year or more, and tried to help get WebMail working.) Also beware that they may try to blame their node and network problems on your software, because you tell them the error message that Windows DUN is giving you. Be aware that their billing operations can be slow, bureaucratic and uncommunicative - so plan ahead, keep copies and double-check. ODD THINGS If you need to use POP3 access to the pilot capability that used the @csi.com address, the settings may be (from CSDATA.TXT in NSUSERS forum): Incoming (POP3): pop.site1.csi.com SMTP: smtp.site1.csi.com However, you should move to the main Classic service which now supports POP3, as Compuserve will discontinue the pilot capability (the last date they gave for doing so has passed). (Note that pilot capability address format is @csi.com, not @cs.com which is the different actually-AOL service called Compuserve 2000.) CS/WinCIM261 will not display hidden directories to SaveAs in them, even when Win98 Explorer is set to display them. CS/WinCIM cannot handle long filenames. While often it truncates them, per MS DOS/Win31's handling of them, I've encountered problems with Forum Library files - if you can truncate the file name online, in the Save box you may get, you can probably download it. Also, on some Windows installations it has difficulty accessing libraries with dates after 1999. The fix is to remove the century from the date field in the dialogue box. That is, where it fills in 2000 you change it to 00. Beware that your classic mail may be rejected by a recipient's computer, with or without notifying you, because of the combination of: - a legacy aspect of AOL and Compuserve mail that causes the sender's name to be "unkown" - re-direction near the recipient's end that changes the sending server ID (perhaps resulting from switch of host server for the recipient's domain name) Security software sees a message from an anonymous sender using a server that does not match those known as used by the sending domain name as suspect. There are incompatibilities and options in Internet email that may occur less or more frequently with specific services, like CS Classic, and specific software. Your software manual may have a good description of how certain things are handled - for example, Eudora Mail Pro 3's manual covers the Quoted Printable option that helps handle accented characters but adds the =20 to lines of mismatched length. Attachments are a larger mess, but Compuserve's EMail & Communications Forum has good guides. In general, CS Classic does not handle HTML, stationary and other fancy features as the sender intended. But senders should not be using them if their goal is communication (longer rant in http://www.keithsketchley.com/emailbeh.txt). UPDATE Check Compuserve forums for latest information. ALTERNATIVES One of Compuserve's strengths is its widespread dial-up network, though technical support is no longer acceptable. AOL, Earthlink and MSN may have wide networks, but I would avoid AOL as it owns Compuserve so is not a risk reduction alternative for Compuserve members. Earthlink is now part of SPRINT the phone company, MSN is still Microsoft AFAIK. Having your own domain name gives the flexibility of an address not dependent on an ISP, as you choose where to host the domain name. Some hosts offer email only service, such as MyHosting.com (who charge U$2.95/month to host your domain name, with five email accounts and 50MB of storage) and WeDoHosting.com who now have such services including simple forwarding to another address - and can register your domain name through a reputable registrar (without the games some services play). Some hosts provide both specific email accounts, often as POP3 accounts, and allow many aliases directed to those accounts or a catchall bin such as "postmaster @yourdomain". For example, the owner of the domain www.abcd.com could set up an address of "info@abcd.com" and direct that mail to a real mail account "joe@abcd.com". If the owner did not set that up, mail to "info@abcd.com" would just go to "postmaster@abcd.com" if the hosting service provided catchall service and it was turned on and forwarding setup (the owner may choose a "delete regardless" option if spam to the domain is a big problem). However, web hosting services do not necessarily offer full email service, as their focus is on web site hosting. (For example, WDH did not want to support POP3 retrieval from your classic Compuserve account but they eventually improved.) There are utilities to export CS/winCIM address books, and to some extent messages, for import into other software. A simple message export capability is in WinCIM/CS2.x - the SaveAs function saves the message content as a text file with terse header, and can Append if you specify the SaveAs file name as an existing one. PS: Compuserve deserves credit for its personal pages service, OurWorld. One must use their upload software, or an old version of Microsoft software, and an unwieldly URL based on one's NewMail email address, but it works well for modest sites. (It is limited to 5MB of material so not suitable for large family photo albums, and it has little support for fancy features. CS2000 may have a newer OurWorld with more space and features, but it is a different beast not compatible with Classic Compuserve - requiring a new email address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright Keith Sketchley 2011.09.06 Legalities detailed on http://www.keithsketchley.com/ apply. Use of advice and information contained in this file is at your risk. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BACK in your browser should return you to the page you came here from.