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Q119355: PC Gen: Answer Procedure Played Approximately Once Per Second

Article: Q119355
Product(s): Microsoft Mail For PC Networks
Version(s): WINDOWS:2.1,3.0,3.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 08-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 2.1, 3.0, 3.2 
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SUMMARY
=======

Microsoft Mail for PC Networks uses script files to specify a variety of serial
devices, communications (COM) ports, and baud rates. Within a script file are
script procedures that are run by Mail programs to accomplish certain tasks.

One of these tasks is monitoring the COM port for incoming calls. This is
accomplished by running the ANSWER procedure within a script file. When idle,
the External Mail program (EXTERNAL.EXE) and the Listen program (LISTEN.EXE) run
the ANSWER procedure about once per second or a little more than 50 times per
minute. LISTEN is the MS-DOS Remote terminate-and- stay-resident (TSR) program
that is run to monitor the COM port for incoming calls.

The ANSWER procedure looks for the number 2 coming from the COM port. The number
2 is the numeric form of a ringing phone; RING is the text form. For null-modem
connections, the ANSWER procedure looks for the number 9 from the COM port. Once
an incoming call is detected, the ANSWER procedure issues an ATA to answer the
phone, or responds with the number 8 for the null-modem script. At this point,
the modems negotiate a rate at which to exchange data and this information is
passed to EXTERNAL.EXE or LISTEN.EXE in the form of a numeric result code.

NOTE: In general, Microsoft Mail script files initialize modems to use numeric
result codes; however, you can also initializing modems to use text.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Including the ANSWER procedure, a script file has five reserved procedures/label
names:

- INITIALIZE

- CALL

- ANSWER

- DISCONNECT

- RESET

Not all of these script procedures must appear in a script file. If a script
procedure does not exist, the Mail program does not perform the function. For
example if there is no ANSWER section, the External Mail program does not answer
the phone.

The following is more information about each section and which Mail programs use
it.

INITIALIZE
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The External Mail program, Mail Remote for MS-DOS, and Mail Remote for Windows
all run this section. This section configures the serial port and the device
attached to it. It starts the communication session to ensure the device is
available and responding and is run once and only once during a session.
TRANSMIT.EXE is the MS-DOS Remote program that is used to transmit mail to the
postoffice. It is called automatically when you run MAIL.EXE and you choose to
dial the postoffice.

CALL
----

The External Mail program, Mail Remote for MS-DOS, and Mail Remote for Windows
all run this section. This section initializes a connection between two devices.
It is run when there is mail queued for another postoffice, an MS-DOS Remote
user, or when a Windows Remote user has mail to send. It can also be run by the
Microsoft Mail Gateway to MCI.

ANSWER
------

The External Mail program and Mail Remote for MS-DOS both run this section. Note
that Windows Remote does not support answering the phone for incoming calls,
hence it does not run the ANSWER section.

DISCONNECT
----------

The External Mail program, Mail Remote for MS-DOS, and Mail Remote for Windows
all run this section. This section is run after all communications for incoming
and outgoing calls are complete.

RESET
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The External Mail program, Mail Remote for MS-DOS, and Mail Remote for Windows
all run this section. This section is run after every disconnection, after the
DISCONNECT section has been run.

Additional query words: 2.10 3.00 3.10

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMailSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailPCN320 kbMailPCN300 kbMailPCN210
Version           : WINDOWS:2.1,3.0,3.2

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