<cdh@CompleteIS.com>This document is a Frequently Asked Questions List for the Internetprogram Minuet. The most current version is available via thefollowing methods:
WWW:http://www.CompleteIS.com/~cdh/minuet.html
FTP:ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/minuet-faq
cdh@CompleteIS.com with the words send minuet in the Subject field.USENET News:The Minuet FAQ is posted monthly on the 10th of the month to the following newsgroups:comp.os.msdos.mail-news comp.infosystems.gopher comp.answers news.answers
This document is originally written in HTML, and is fully indexed in the original HTML form. For quick access, it is recommended to read the version available on the WWW.
minuet@boombox.micro.umn.edufor more information.This document is broken up in two sections. The first section dealswith general question about Minuet. The second section is specificquestions regarding the different modules included in Minuet. If youhave any questions or comments regarding the FAQ, please send email tocdh@CompleteIS.com.If you have questions regarding Minuet, please send mail tominuet@boombox.micro.umn.edu.
Thanks go to all who have sent in question/changes/etc.,especially (in no particular order):
Philip H. Kachelmyer <phk@boombox.micro.umn.edu>This document is Copyright © 1994, 1995 Chris D. Halverson andno part may be reprinted without written consent of the author.
George Gonzalez <grg@boombox.micro.umn.edu>
Douglas E. Gogerty <deg@boombox.micro.umn.edu>
Neil Parks <nparks@torah.org>
Fred H. Olson <fholson@uci.com>
Ilya <ilya@glas.apc.org>
mudhoney.micro.umn.edu or news.tc.umn.edu for News?news.tc.umn.edu 119 can't talk to you.'' What's wrong?Minuet stands for Minnesota Internet Users Essential Tool. It isan integrated package that includes modules for E-mail (using thePOP protocol), Gopher, telnet, Usenet News, FTP and now the World WideWeb). It provides aneasy-to-use, mouse-driven graphical user interface via theTurboVision libraries. It is a TCP/IP client that runs over anytype of TCP/IP network including ethernet and SLIP. It will workwith either static or dynamic IP numbers (bootp).
Contents of this sectionCREN has bought the rights to distribute the most current versionof Minuet. For more information see http://www.cren.net/.www/pp.htmlTherefore, the most current version is not available via FTP. TheUofMN is distributing the second most current version via ftpfrom:
ftp://minuet.micro.umn.edu/pub/minuet/
This is the top level minuet directory.
Contents of this sectionCREN has bought the rights to distribute the current version ofMinuet, therefore the current version available via FTP is notnecessarily the most current version. From an email from GeorgeGonzales (when asked when the new version is coming out):
It's getting a bit complicated. BITNET has bought the rights to distribute the "latest" version, so it looks like we cant put up the latest version for anon FTP.
Therefore, the most current, publically available version is:
1.0_Beta_18A 437485 May 12 17:55 minuarc.exeContents of this section
Most importantly you need an Internet provider and an account. Ifyou have this you can run Minuet on a LAN using your network cardand a TCP/IP packet driver for your card. If you do not have onealready you can ftp one from:
ftp://boombox.micro.umn.edu/pub/pc/packet-drivers/drivers/
You can also use Minuet over a SLIP connection. We provide a SLIPdriver and dialer via anonymous ftp:
ftp://boombox.micro.umn.edu/pub/pc/slip/sliparc.exe
Minuet will run on (virtually) any IBM compatible machine. It fitsin 640K memory and can run in CGA mode, and can run on an 8088 classmachine. It is now also capable to run in graphics mode.
Contents of this sectionEvidently you are not loading a mouse driver. Windows has a driverbuilt into the system, so it always works. If you bought a mouse, youshould have received a driver with it. Otherwise one comes withWindows, usually it is in the windows directory asmouse.com or mouse.sys. Just run this fromyour autoexec.bat or after it has completed to get mouseaccess from within Minuet. See your DOS or mouse manual for moreinstructions.
Use the /p option. This specifies the directory to store theconfiguration, mail, ftp, news and gopher documents. For example,if your system has a network drive k: that holds networkedapplications, then you could create a batch file that is in thepath before Minuet that calls:
K:\minuet\minuet /p=c:\mail %1 %2 %3 %4 %5
This will save the users configuration on the local c: drive inthe mail directory on drive C:.
You can also get instructions on how to setup differentconfigurations for a network, slip, and Windows from
ftp://boombox.micro.umn.edu/pub/pc/minuet/admin/
There are a number of files in there that explain how to setupmultiple user Minuet.
Contents of this sectionYou will need to load the packet driver (either umslip or anetwork card driver) with the ``-w'' option before you startWindows. You can also load winpkt right after you load yourdriver. This is actually the preferred way, but you will have toobtain winpkt separately (it comes with the winsockdistribution). You can also get it as part of the Crynwrcollection of packet drivers from:
ftp://boombox.micro.umn.edu/pub/pc/packet-drivers/drivers/pktd11.zip
Yes, they will show up under the ``Window'' menu. You need to editthe file CUSTOM.TXT. You can get online help on this by choosing theLUMINA option from the Window menu and then clicking on Help(Alt-F1).
The example looks like this (more or less):Library|telnet|pubinfo.ais.umn.edu|23|MENU|63|erm:|1|election:|MNCATThis is how it works, each section is separated by a ``|'':
The first string is the title to show in the menu
Then comes the program to execute
The host to connect to
Port number
String to look for
String to send in response
Repeat above two steps as necessary
You can use this to automate telnet sessions by havingMinuet automatically put in your username and password. Bear in mind thatthe information is stored in plain text format, so use caution putting passwords or other sensitive information in the file.
A manual will be available when Minuet gets out of beta testing.There is also on-line help available by hitting SHIFT-F1 for thehelp index, or just F1 for context sensitive help, almostanywhere in Minuet.
There are also two mailing lists set up: minuet-news is anunmoderated mailing list for general discussion of Minuet, andminuet-announce is a moderated list to which new versionannouncements and other administrivia will be to. To subscribe toeither list, send mail tolistname-request@boombox.micro.umn.edu. For example, to subscribe to minuet-news, send mail to
minuet-news-request@boombox.micro.umn.edu
with the word ``subscribe'' somewhere in the body.
The book, ``PC Internet Tour Guide'', by Michael Fraase, isbasically a book about Minuet. It includes a very old version(Beta_4) with it, but is a fairly complete guide to thatversion. A lot of information will still be relevant to thecurrent version.
If you have questions or problems with minuet, the developmentteam has a mailing list set up where we will try to address yourproblems. Send mail to minuet@boombox.micro.umn.edu. If youdo not send the mail with Minuet, please include the version ofMinuet that you are using.
That depends. If you are a University of Minnesota student, staffor faculty member then you may use Minuet free. If you are notaffiliated with the University of Minnesota, you will have to paya $&50 shareware fee for individuals. To register Minuet, sendpayment to:
Distributed Computing Services Attn: Minuet Shareware 190 Shepherd Labs University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455
There are also site licenses available. For information contact
software@boombox.micro.umn.edu
Sort of. You may use the command line option /only along with aservice name, as in ``minuet /gopher /only''. This will start upgopher right away, and when gopher ends, it will terminate theprogram. However, this does not prevent users from accessing theWindow menu to select other services.
Contents of this sectionNo, at this time there is not.
Contents of this sectionYes. If you are on a network, you shouldn't have to change anything toget Minuet to run. If you are dialing in on a modem, you will have tochange a couple of settings for your DOS session. To do this, go tothe Command Shells folder. Click on the ``DOS Window'' icon with theright mouse button. Choose Open->Settings. Then click on the secondtab (DOS Settings). You need to change the ``COM_Hold'' and``COM_DIRECT_ACCESS'' from OFF to ON. Do this for the ``DOS FullScreen'' icon also. This will let OS/2 keep the serial connectionopen.
Minuet appears to run from within OS/2 Warp, however you cannotshare the TCP/IP stack with any other applications.
Contents of this sectionThere are no immediate plans for a Windows version of Minuet, althoughMinuet will run in a DOS window. See Question .
Contents of this sectionNo. Minuet cannot spawn external programs of any kind, even if runnigfrom within Windows. However, the upcoming "Beta 18" will have full graphics support for GIF and JPEG files if running in Graphics mode.
Contents of this sectionYes. This happens most when connecting to a library, where theinformation on the screen is spread across a number of screens.Instead of doing Print Screens all the time to save the information,you can use Control-F2. This will create a file called DUMPA.PAS inyour subdirectory for mail. You can do this numerous time, theresulting files will be called DUMPB.PAS, DUMPC.PAS, etc. This will bea screen dump, including the ANSI characters that make up the screen.You can also use any other screen dump programs.
Contents of this sectionAmong the bugs in Minuet 18A:
Although Minuet is specifically a SLIP client and not a PPP client, there are ways, none completely satisfactory, to use it with a PPP provider. The easiest way is to use it with the PPP driver and "kernel" of PC/TCP for DOS, by FTP Software. The main disadvantage is the cost of buying that package. On the plus side, PC/TCP transparently takes care of dynamic IP assignments. And its own command-line POP, smtp, and ftp clients do a nice job of automating mail and file transfers.
There is a freeware PPP driver/dialer by Merit Network, available from ftp.merit.eduin the directory internet.tools.
It comes in at least three flavors. Inside the ETHERPPP archive is a PPP.EXE which reports to the screen as "PPP 1.9.37 beta". Outside the archive is another PPP.EXE which reports in as "PPP 1.9.3". I have no idea which of the two is newer. I found both to be very buggy andcrash-prone.
A third version, "1.9.49 beta", is not currently available via ftp. You can get it by gopher. Point your gopher client togopher.merit.eduand select Merit Software, MS-DOS Archive (Merit USA), communications, ncsa. Fetch the ETHERPPP-NEW.ZIP file.
Note: you must use the "MS-DOS Archive (Merit USA)" entry near the top ofthe listing under Merit Software. The "mirror" entry near the bottom won'twork.
Then ftp to merit.edu (notice: notftp.merit.edu) and from the /pub/ppp/dos directory, fetchetherppp.commands. (The etherppp-new executable will seem to bethere also, but you'll find you can't download it.)
The documentation file in the archive with the executable was written for a much older version of the software, and is obsolete in several respects. The /k parameter apparently is no longer needed in 1.9.49 beta. And although you can use the supplied version of TERMIN to unload the driver from memory, it is no longer necessary. PPP has a /u switch which will do the same thing.
On the plus side, the dialer works nicely. When the driver is unloaded from memory, it will automatically hang up the modem. On the minus side, in addition to random exception errors and lockups, the thing is a memory hog. PPP 1.9.49 takes up over 120,000 bytes of memory. That doesn't leave Minuet's graphical web browser enough room to function properly. (Runtime error #204 will commonly appear.)
1.9.49 does not seem to like being loaded in the lowest memory segment. If you have 576K (589824 bytes) or more free at the DOS prompt, use LOADFIX.
You will probably need to experiment with the configuration. On some computers, the default (or "quick") configuration may be satisfactory. On others, you might get better results by changing one or more settings. For example, one computer I use seems to prefer a CONFIG.PPP that changes the "local compress" entry:ppp ipcp local compress allowppp lcp local accm 0ppp lcp local acfc onppp lcp local pfc onppp lcp local magic onppp ipcp openppp lcp open
There is a freeware program called PPPPKT06 by Frank Molzahn,available from oak.oakland.edu orftp.coast.net in one of the "SimTel"directories where packet drivers are found. It has some interestingpossibilities.
The product is not a complete packet driver by itself. It requires some additional files that are actually part of Novell's commercial networking products. Fortunately, Novell makes them available for free download via anonymous ftp, if you know where to look. Molzahn provides complete and detailed instructions for finding and installing them.
PPPPKT does not have any kind of dialer. You have to dial the old-fashioned way--use a plain term pgm that will establish the connection and then get out of the way without hanging up the phone line. (Telix, for example, does this very nicely.)
Performance is a mixed bag. News (with 17A) and Gopher are very fast. Mail is so slow that "time out" errors occur frequently. Increasing the "I/O timeout" and "retransmit timeout" numbers in Minuet's Setup/Network screen increases the chances the mail might go through eventually--but not always. Telnet is so slow that it appears to lock up. ftp performance is odd: Logon negotiations and directory listings are slow, but once you start to fetch a file it will come roaring in faster than with any other packet driver I've tried. PPPPKT takes up less memory than Merit PPP, so your chances of successfully browsing a graphical web page are better.
Contents of this sectionIf your Internet Service Provider uses dynamic IP assignments, you need a way to let Minuet know what your IP number is for a particular session.
If you are using PC/TCP for DOS by FTP Software, all IP negotiation is done automatically and transparently. In the PCTCP.INI file, use 0.0.0.0 wherever a local IP address is required.
If you are using another packet driver, then the method will vary.One that will always work is to open the Setup/Network screen andwrite in the local IP address. Another is to leave the field blank,and set the environment variable MYIP. For example: setMYIP=192.0.2.1
If your ISP uses a method called "BOOTP" to assign IP numbers, thenMinuet may be able to find it automatically. If the ISP uses someother method such as "DHCP", then you have to take extra steps.
If you are using Minnesota's own UMSLIP and PHONE combination, thenyou may be able to make use of a "Grab" command in your logon script."Grab" will try to find your IP assignment and create a batch filethat will set the MYIP variable. The dynamically created file iscalled PHONEENV.BAT, which you would then run before launchingMinuet.
Horst Schaeffer has written a collection of freeware batchenhancers, one of which is NSET. This program can set environmentvariables based on output piped from other programs.
If you are using Merit PPP 1.9.49 beta, run the following after logging on to your ISP and before starting Minuet:
ppp /i | nset /L13 MYIP=$4
If you use PPPPKT, then run this as the last command in yourstartup batch before launching Minuet:
ppppkt /s | nset MYIP=%1Contents of this section
Use the right mouse button and click on the object. If the objectis listed with parens, ``(''and ``)'', around the descriptor, as in(FILE), you will get the Gopher+ information associated with theitem. If it has angle brackets around it, as in <FILE>, youwill get the selector string for the item.
Contents of this sectionTo go back up a level, you just click on whatever level you wantto go to from within the upper part of the Gopher window. There isno ``Go Back'' button like there was in PC Gopher III.
If you don't have a mouse, just hit the TAB key twice (orSHIFT-TAB once) to get to the top part of the window and use thearrow keys to move around.
Contents of this sectionAll you need to do is hold down the shift key while clicking on'New Gopher'. This also pops up a history list like the ones forTelnet and FTP. You can also leave the Gopher server inSetup->Servers blank and Minuet will always pop up a dialog boxprompting for a server name.
Contents of this sectionNot at this time. It is planned for future revisions.
Contents of this sectionYes. If you are dialing in with a modem, instead of doing a ``slipminuet'', just type ``minuet''. You will not be able to do anythingother than compose mail and read old mail, but you can compose asmany messages that you want (as long as you have space on yourhard drive) and Minuet will save them automatically.
Contents of this sectionYes. Just hold down the SHIFT key and click on ``Send'' or do aSHIFT-F4.
Contents of this sectionMinuet does not yet support Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions(MIME). This may be implemented in a future version. Work in underwayto implement at least basic MIME handling.
Contents of this sectionChoose the ``Text'' conversion option when enclosing. That willappend the text file to the end of your message and won't requirethe user to use binhex or uudecode to translate the message.``Text'' is available from the dialog box where you choose the fileyou want to enclose.
Contents of this sectionmudhoney.micro.umn.edu or news.tc.umn.edu for News? These news servers are for University of Minnesota usersonly. You will need to find a local news server in order to usethe News facility.
Contents of this sectionBy default (by not selecting the position), you should bepositioned at the first available message when you fetch. Theavailable message numbers in a newsgroup may not start with 1,they may range from, say 348 to 650. When you choose Positionfrom the News menu, you can enter a msg number and click on OK.Then you can choose Get New News from the News menu to get allavailable articles starting with the number you entered.
Contents of this sectionNo, Minuet cannot decode multi-part messages. You will have toget a standalone uudecoder and then save all the messages intoone big file, edit out the mail headers, and then run the filethrough the uudecode program. The built in uudecoding isbasically meant for single part files since they would beattachments to a message.
Contents of this sectionMinuet assumes the list of newsgroups is sorted. Many newsservers have it unsorted. Until this is fixed in Minuet, askyour news server admins to sort the newsgroup file.
Contents of this sectionnews.tc.umn.edu 119 can't talk to you.'' What's wrong? On campus (U of M TC only):
You need to have your machine's IP address registered with NetworkingServices. This will give your machine a department domain name (i.e.,cs.umn.edu). By default, all machines with a domain name at theUniversity are given read access (each department's domain name isregistered separately on the news server, so if there is a new domainname, it needs to be be registered with the news admin). To getposting access, your department's domain needs to be given postingaccess by the news admin (it may be already - if it isn't, contact thenews admin); this also holds for restricted news groups, like theClarinet groups.
Networking Services: 625-8888 News server admin: news@news.tc.umn.edu Off campus (non-U of M): See QuestionContents of this section
At this time you can only do one telnet session at a time.
Contents of this sectionYes. Before you want to start capturing, go to the File menu andchoose ``Save As''. Minuet will then ask you for a file name.Provide a file name and choose OK. From that point on, Minuetwill save your session to a file.
Contents of this sectionIn Beta_16 and above you can just add ``del'' after the computername when running Telnet. For example:
boombox.micro.umn.edu delContents of this section
Yes, you can use other char sets with Minuet. Here are theoptions:
iso -- ISO Latin 8bit -- 8 bit chars
Use these in the same way as the ``del'' option. SeeQuestion
Contents of this sectionYes. Just go to Window->FTP and enter the site name. When itconnects, just double-click on the site name at the top. Forexample, if you were to connect to boombox.micro.umn.eduyou would get something similar to:
boombox.micro.umn.edu | |-pub... |-etc
To specify a full path or drive to go to, for example /pub/pc/minuet/beta16, you would just double-click onthe boombox.micro.umn.edu part. A dialog box will pop up and askfor a drive or device; just enter the path that you want toaccess in that box.
There are literally hundreds of FTP servers. Minuet does itsbest to be usable with most of them. Enhancements in new versionsinclude the ability to connect with different types of FTPservers. If you run into a problem with a certain FTP server,send us the specifics of the server (OS, server version, sitename so we can test) and we will try to make Minuet compatible.
Contents of this sectionThere is not a generally available public Webster server. Contactyour local network guru for more information. There is no Websterserver at the University of Minnesota.
Contents of this sectionYes. These sites as stored in a file called minhist.txt. As thename implies, this is just a plain text file. Edit it and youwill see a list that looks like the following:
2 foo.bar.com 3 boombox.micro.umn.edu 2 bar.baz.edu 9 minuet 9 cheesecake
You can edit out (or even put in) sites by deleting the line inthe file that corresponds to the sites. The different numberssignify:
2 -- Telnet site 3 -- FTP site 9 -- Gopher search itemContents of this section