Notes on MacPPP 2.01cm4
Why Make Changes?
Changes In 2.01cm4
Some Notes About Dialing in the Background
Changes In 2.01cm3
Configuring Communications Under MacPPP 2.0.1cm4
Setting up the Connection Script
When Using MacPPPcm4
This is the initial release of MacPPP version 2.0.1cm4. Although I have
only tested it with my local service provider, many other people have had
a hand in testing it for me. To those people I would like to say
Thank-you. I would also like to thank all th ose that responded to version
2.01cm3 with suggestions and ideas they wanted to see. I tried to add as
many of these as I had time for; if your suggestion was one that I didn't
add, I'm sorry. Maybe it will make it into a future version.
The current release of MacPPP requires you to either connect manually
using the Terminal Window, or to store your userID and password into a
connection script (unless your service provider has Password
Authentification Protocols activated). Since this con nection script is
easily visible in MacPPP, anyone with access to your computer can see your
password and use it to gain access to your account. Obviously this poses
an unacceptable risk to users of MacPPP.
In addition, MacPPP 2.01 uses a modal dialog box when dialing. For users
who have a long wait trying to get through to their service provider, this
dialog box renders their Mac essentially useless while waiting for a
connection. For many people this wait is long and frustrating.
This version adds a number of requested features and removes all known bugs.
- The password dialog used to appear immediately before the PPP script
was run. It will now delay its appearance until execution of the first
occurrence in the script of $USERID$ or $PASSWORD$.
- The opening of the serial port was modified to provide proper support
for internal Supra Powerbook modems. These modems required a few
milliseconds in order to wake from sleep. The original version of MacPPP
tried to address this problem but didn't wor k in every case. These
modifications will hopefully work better.
- A small application called "DialPPP" has been included. All this
program does is open the MacTCP driver - causing MacPPP to dial. If you
use this program to initiate PPP connections, instead of the Config PPP
control panel, you avoid the problem where the Finder is unusable during
connection attempts.
- A bug in the original version of MacPPP was forced to the surface by my
previous changes. This bug would cause a crash during a second connection
attempt if MacPPP was sent into the background. This version of MacPPP
removes this bug.
- The status box is now placed in the proper alert position on the parent
monitor (the monitor containing the frontmost window at the time MacPPP
tries to dial).
- Some naming changes to windows and dialog boxes.
- An indicator was added that shows how many dial attempts have been
made.
- The text display in the terminal window has been enlarged and it can
now be moved around the screen. In addition, it is now possible to send
MacPPP into the background while the terminal window is displayed.
- The original version of MacPPP caused sound problems with modems that
used the Apple Express Modem software; this includes the Apple GeoPort
Telecom Adapter, and the Global Village Mercury internal Powerbook modem.
The problem manifested itself as a lo ss of the modem sounds during second
and subsequest connections. This version fixes this problem.
- Though I know this might annoy some people, I changed the icon again.
Adam Hinkley offered me an icon that was much better looking than the one
I had produced, so I included it. If you want to rebuild your desktop to
see the new icon, great. If not, d on't worry about it, everything else
will still work fine.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about just how MacPPP 2.01cm4 dials
in the background. Without going into a long explanation, it is important
to understand that the application that causes MacPPP to dial will be tied
up until the connection is compl ete. What this means is that the Finder
itself will be unusable during the connection if you started your
connection using the Config PPP control panel.
To prevent this from getting in your way I have a few suggestions:
- Make sure you have another application running in the background before
you start MacPPP dialing. You will then be able to click on this
application's windows to send MacPPP into the background.
- Use the small application "Open PPP" (included with this release) to
make MacPPP dial. This program will cause MacPPP to dial without using the
Finder. Note that this will not work after doing a "hard close."
- Use Mark Aldritt's MacPPP extensions for AppleScript. This way you can
create a tiny scripts that make MacPPP dial without tying up the Finder.
These extensions are available from
.
- Use Rob Friefeld's handy "PPPop". This little application will allow
you to open and close MacPPP without tying up the Finder. In addition, it
provides a connection timer and a few other handy features. It is
available at .
This version has modified a few key behaviours of MacPPP 2.0.1 in order to
add better security and ease of use. The major changes are:
- The scripting system has been modified to support two reserved words
"$USERID$" and "$PASSWORD$". If you use either of these words in your
connect script, MacPPP will display a dialog prompting you to enter your
UserID and Password whenever it makes a connection. The information you
enter into this dialog will be substituted in place of the appropriate
reserved words in the script. This prevents your from having to store your
ID and password in plain view inside a connection script.
- The dialing window is non-modal. MacPPP can now be sent into the
background while it is dialing, and it will continue to work properly. If
it takes a number of attempts to get through to your service provider,
being able to send MacPPP into the background could save you a great deal
of time.
- If MacPPP is in the background and requries your attention Ð usually
because the terminal window, or some type of dialog box has appeared Ð and
System 7 or greater is being used an alert will appear indicating that
MacPPP needs some help. This alert wi ll also inform you about which
program you should switch to in order to locate the MacPPP windows. If you
are using a system eariler than System 7, this feature will not work.
- Nifty colour Icons have been added!
DO NOT RENAME THE "PPP" FILE. The filename "PPP" is what MacPPP will look
for. If you rename this file, MacPPP will not work properly.
You configure the communications portion in this version of MacPPP the
exact same way as the regular version. Consult your system Administrator
if you need help setting up MacTCP or MacPPP's main configurations.
From the configuration screen click the "Connect Script..." button to be
presented with the standard MacPPP scripting window. This version of
MacPPP contains two special strings for use in the scripting window. The
strings are as follows:
- $PASSWORD$
- Whenever MacPPP sees this string it will
substitute the password you entered at
connection time.
- $USERID$
- Whenever MacPPP sees this string it will
substitute the username you entered at
connection time.
Here's a sample script I use for connecting with my local Annex© server:
| OUT | WAIT | STRING
| CR |
|---|
|
| X | username: | | |
| X | $USERID$ | X |
| X | password: | |
| X | | $PASSWORD$ | X |
| X | annex: | |
| X | | PPP | X |
This works as follows. While MacPPP is processing the connection script it
looks for the strings $USERID$ or $PASSWORD$. If either of these are
found, MacPPP will display a dialog box requesting you to enter your
UserID and Password. Once you have entered this information (your password
is blanked out using ¥ characters) click the OK button or press return.
MacPPP will then continue to process the connection script.
Wherever MacPPP encounters the string $USERID$ it will substite the
Username you entered in the previous dialog box. Wherever MacPPP
encounters the string $PASSWORD$ it will substitute the password you have
typed. This enables MacPPP to provide automatic connections without the
need for permanently storing your password on disk.
If you have a connection script that already works with a previous version
of MacPPP, you can continue to use it with only minor changes. In place of
your actual userID in the working script, place the string "$USERID$", and
in place of your actual passwo rd in the working script, enter the string
"$PASSWORD$" (MacPPP is case sensative). Now when MacPPP connects it will
prompt you for your userID and password, and then substitute the
information you typed in place of the strings $USERID$ and $PASSWORD$ in
your connection script.
This version of MacPPP was created by Cliff McCollum. It is a modified
version of the standard MacPPP 2.01 which is copyrighted by the University
of Michigan. Their copyright still applies; however, all changes and
additions to their code are copyright © 1994-1995 by Cliff McCollum.
If you are interested in this code, or have any questions about these
modifications, feel free to contact me via Email at cmccollu@sol.uvic.ca.
These changes are distributed free of charge. However, if you do find them
useful I'd love to hear about it.
THIS SOFTWARE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER ATTACHED TO IT. NO
GUARANTEE IS MADE TO ITS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. BY USING THIS
SOFTWARE YOU TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOST DATA, TIME, OR MONEY
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CAUSED BY MACPPP, AND YOU AGREE TO HOLD CLIFF
MCCOLLUM OR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FREE FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR
SUCH LOSSES.