everett@hpcvra.cv.hp.com. (Everett Kaser) (06/25/91)
I recently heard of a program called TAPCIS, for reading Compuserve stuff off-line, to cut phone costs. It's supposed to be pretty slick. Is this a shareware program? Commercial? Any pointers? Everett Kaser Hewlett-Packard Company ...hplabs!hp-pcd!everett work: (503) 750-3569 Corvallis, Oregon everett%hpcvra@hplabs.hp.com home: (503) 928-5259 Albany, Oregon
trljim@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (James Sonnenmeier) (06/25/91)
In article <40790011@hpcvra.cv.hp.com.>, everett@hpcvra.cv.hp.com. (Everett Kaser) writes... >I recently heard of a program called TAPCIS, for reading Compuserve stuff >off-line, to cut phone costs. It's supposed to be pretty slick. Is this >a shareware program? Commercial? Any pointers? > >Everett Kaser Hewlett-Packard Company >....hplabs!hp-pcd!everett work: (503) 750-3569 Corvallis, Oregon >everett%hpcvra@hplabs.hp.com home: (503) 928-5259 Albany, Oregon TAPCIS is a shareware (ie. pay and register to continue using after 20 days, in fact the unregistered program dies after that) The easiest place to get it is on CompuServe in the TAPCIS forum (GO TAPCIS) and download the version there (current version 5.3) then you can register the software online and they will send you the lastest version and a manual. It is able to retrieve email, do upload/downloads, faster than you can by hand. It uses CompuServe's own download protocol which is fastest there since it is tailored to their system. It lets you read the retrieved mail and reply offline. It works in CI$'s expert mode and streamlines online activity as much as possible. Its like $75 but well worth it considering the money you can save in the long run. (It works so well tho, that you spend even more time online! .. smile) _____ _____________________ | _ _ _ /__ __ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ ___ _ ___ __ ___ / _/ _/\_/\_ __/ /_/ _/\_/ _/\_/ _/_- _/\_/ _/\_/\_ _/_- _/ _/_- _/ ->_ <_________________/__________________________________________________________ =========================================================================== Jim Sonnenmeier ! TRLJIM@UBVMS.BITNET : BITNET ! :-) jrs@santa.eng.buffalo.edu : ! Internet ! [72361,2133] : CompuServe ! I like to think that time and space University at Buffalo ! are ours to use :) ... The sky is my Department of Mechanical/ ! joy, the wind is my lift. Aerospace Engineering ! ==========================================================================
peterson@choctaw.csc.ti.com (Bob Peterson) (06/25/91)
> I recently heard of a program called TAPCIS, for reading Compuserve stuff > off-line, to cut phone costs. It's supposed to be pretty slick. Is this > a shareware program? Commercial? Any pointers? > > Everett Kaser Hewlett-Packard Company Development of the TAPCIS shareware package began over five years ago. Yes, the program saves money by minimizing online time. It also tracks your online time and computes how much you spend on various activities. TAPCIS focuses on Forums, but also supports Compuserve's electronic mail system, conferencing, and other Compuserve services. A terminal emulator is available for real interactive use. TAPCIS implements Compuserve's proprietary file transfer protocol, and automates file transfers to/from Forum file libraries. TAPCIS runs on IBM PC-class machines only. OMNI Information Resources, Inc., publishes TAPCIS: OMNI Information Resources, Inc. P.O. Box 1996 Wilmington, DE 19899 OMNI accepts credit card orders at 800 USA GROUP or 301 387 4500. If you check online, e.g., "FIND TAPCIS", you'll find a forum dedicated to supporting TAPCIS. Or just "GO TAPCIS." You can download the shareware distribution (not crippled) from the TAPCIS Forum, as well as get expert assistance. If you use Compuserve from an MS-DOS/PC-DOS machine, I recommend you use TAPCIS. I do. (I have no affiliation with OMNI, the TAPCIS authors, or Compuserve. I did run a Compuserve Forum for several years, and beta tested one TAPCIS release.) Bob -- Bob Peterson Waffle BBS: peterson@zgnews.csc.ti.com P.O. Box 861686 Internet: peterson@csc.ti.com TelCo: 214/995-6080 days Plano, Tx USA 75086 24 hour BBS: 214/596-3720 @ 1200, 2400, 9600 (HST & V.32)
rclark@concour.cs.concordia.ca (CLARK richard) (06/26/91)
In article <40790011@hpcvra.cv.hp.com.> (Everett Kaser) writes: >I recently heard of a program called TAPCIS, for reading Compuserve stuff >off-line, to cut phone costs. It's supposed to be pretty slick. Is this >a shareware program? Commercial? Any pointers? I only recently downloaded it. The program and docs are about 320k, so downloading it from compuserve would be costly. The program is shareware, registration fee is (I recently read a posting from Keith Peterson which I believe said people shouldn't mention prices on the net) expensive, but you'll get printed documentation (the text file is 8000 lines long). Documentation says that you will easily recoup the registration fee in more productive time on compuserve. I haven't tried it yet, because I haven't printed the docs, but according to my compuserve magazine, its about the best reader. Call me a communist, but it would kill me to see you spend a lot of money (like I did) downloading it from compuserve. Contact me and I will get it to you somehow (email, upload to simtel, diskettes ...) I'm going to look through previous news messages to try to find out how to upload it to simtel (I know its been posted - I just don't know where I put it). I sent this message to news rather than email because I wanted to save people money. If people will be a little patient, I will eventually get this program uploaded to simtel. I will not be able to email this program to everyone who wants it. thank you rick clark (rclark@concour.cs.concordia.ca) -- rick clark (rclark@concour.cs.concordia.ca) | Membre du "Bloke Quebecois" Concordia University, Montreal. |
tbt@polari.UUCP (Tom Talbott) (06/26/91)
In article <40790011@hpcvra.cv.hp.com.> everett@hpcvra.cv.hp.com. (Everett Kaser) writes: >I recently heard of a program called TAPCIS, for reading Compuserve stuff >off-line, to cut phone costs. It's supposed to be pretty slick. Is this >a shareware program? Commercial? Any pointers? > TAPCIS is shareware program with a 20 day trial period. It registers for about $79. If you are a heavy Compuserve user, it will save you much more than that. The user interface isn't anything real special, but it provides a great service. I use it mainly to scan certain forums for headers. I through the headers after they have been downloaded and pick the ones that I want to read. It then downloads the items and I read them offline and reply offline. The replies will automatically be uploaded then next time I am on. It has a nice file search which will allow you to search by key word or filename. You can then mark the files that you wish to download. Basically, it allows you to do all of your reading, writing, decision making offline. This saves you a lot of money, especially if you have access to a 9600 baud modem. Even at 2400, it's great. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- reply to: Tom Talbott | uunet!seattle!tbt | tbt%seattle@sumax.seattleu.edu | 72310.2622@compuserve.com
ganzer@cod.NOSC.MIL (Mark T. Ganzer) (06/27/91)
Much of what is done by TAPCIS is also performed by AUTOSIG, a FREE program written by Vern Buerg an Don Watkins, and available in CompuServe's IBMCOM forum library 1, and is also available on SIMTEL in the CIS directory. I haven't really tried TAPCIS much, however from following the discussions on CIS comparingthe two programs, it appears that they comparable in handling forum messages, but that TAPCIS better integrates access to the file libraries. There are utilities available for AUTOSIG that do the same. TAPCIS also uses the B+ protocol for file downloads, which I understand is a little more robust that the Quick B protocol used in AUTOSIG. After looking at the pluses and minuses of both programs, I decided that for my own casual use of CompuServe, (why read CIS when there is USENET?) I couldn't justify the cost of TAPCIS and have stayed with AUTOSIG. -- Mark T. Ganzer Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego Internet: ganzer@nosc.mil Compu$erve: 73617,442