Windows95.com Dial-up Scripting Page

In order to automate the repetitive manual steps that must be completed to log into many ISPs around the world, more and more users are looking to scripts as a way to facilitate their login process. This section of Windows95.com discusses how to create scripts and how to use the Windows 95 built-in scripting tool to attach a script to a Windows 95 dial-up session. In addition, I have also created a page with example scripts that work with real-world connections. Click here to jump directly to the example scripts page now.

Note about the Microsoft Scripting Tool

Many scripting users have been having trouble getting some of the Microsoft scripting commands to work. This is because there are two versions of the scripting tool available. The basic scripting tool (which ships on the Windows 95 CD-ROM and is available for download on this page) supports simple scripts only, like the sample script provided in this tutorial. The default scripting tool should be sufficient for the majority of script users.

Using the more advanced scripting commands requires the scripting tool available in Microsoft PLUS!, which is available at your local software retailer. Any script that uses the integer command requires the Microsoft PLUS! version of the scripting tool.

Step 1: Create a Dial-up Connection

Before writing your script, make sure that you have a working dial-up connection to your Internet provider. If you do not, use the information on the Windows95.com TCP/IP Setup Page to help you set one up. Once you have a working connection, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Create a Login Script

Using a text editor (Notepad will work fine), create a script that will issue the commands necessary to log you into your Internet provider. If you have a PPP connection, many providers do not require manual log in steps - your username and password in the Connect To dialog box will be sufficient, and you won't need dial-up scripting at all. However, all SLIP/CSLIP connections, some PPP connections, and any other connection that requires menu selections, advanced input, or that does not strip information from the initial dialog box will require a script.

If you have a PPP connection that you think requires a script, try putting ppp:your_username in the username text area in the Connect To dialog box. Some providers will accept this to initiate a PPP connection. If that doesn't work, try a script. In most cases, you will most probably be able to modify an existing script to connect successfully with your provider. Sample scripts are available here.

All scripts must begin with the following line:

proc main

and end with:

endproc

These are the commands to tell Windows 95 to start and stop the script. Use the waitfor and transmit commands to wait for certain information from your provider (such as a login: prompt or a password: prompt) and to transmit your username, password, and any other necessary information. The variables $USERID and $PASSWORD will send the username and password entered in the Connect To dialog box at the beginning of the dial-up session. To send a carriage return to you provider, use a ^M. To wait for any amount of time, use delay followed by the number of seconds. You can put comment lines in your scripts by beginning the line with a semicolon (;). For example: a simple script that starts, waits for a login: prompt, sends your username, hits ENTER, waits for a password prompt, sends your password, hits ENTER then ends, would look like this:


;This will begin the script

	proc main

;Enable the following to delay for 3 seconds first to
;allow host time to send initial characters (not needed by many ISPs).

	delay 3

;Sometimes, ISP's need a carriage return to initiate the login process.
;If your ISP requires this, uncomment the following line:

	;transmit "^M"

;Wait for the login prompt before entering the user ID and carriage return
;(I left off the first letter since login is case-sensitive)
;The $USERID variable is taken from the dial-up connection dialog box

	waitfor "ogin:"
	transmit $USERID
	transmit "^M"

;Enter your password (I left off the first letter since login is case-sensitive)
;and send a carriage return

	waitfor "assword:"
	transmit $PASSWORD
	transmit "^M"

;Finish the script!
	endproc

In fact, the above is the exact script I use to connect to my provider! If your login requires more advanced input, click here for an online version of the scripting language text file included with the Dial-up Scripting files from Microsoft. If you use the integer command in your script, you will need the version of the Dial-up Scripting Tool available in Microsoft PLUS!.

If your provider requires PPP callback, try inserting these lines into your script:

delay 1
transmit "++++"
delay 1
transmit "at&c0q0o^M"

Once you're finished with your script, save it in the \Program Files\Accessories\ folder, with a file extension of scp (i.e. ppp.scp).

Step 3: Verify that the Dial-up Scripting Tool is Installed

Press the button, select Programs, then Accessories. If the Dial-Up Scripting Tool shows up, you're ready to proceed to step 4.

If it is not there, and you have the Windows 95 CD, press the button, select Settings..., then Control Panel. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. Select the Windows Setup tab, then click on the Have Disk.. option. Assuming your CD-ROM drive is E:, enter the path of e:\Admin\Apptools\Dscript. Press OK and the SLIP/CSLIP drivers and Dial-up Scripting Tool will be installed.

If you have Windows 95 on floppies, you can click here to download the Dial-up Scripting Tool and SLIP drivers directly from Microsoft (be aware, however, that their server is VERY busy). Then install the Dial-up Scripting Tool as shown in the above paragraph.

Step 4: Attach Your Script to a Dial-up Profile

Press the button, select Programs, Accessories, then Dial-Up Scripting Tool. You'll see the utility's dialog box, which looks like this.

Your current dial-up profile(s) will be listed in the text area on the left (as shown in the picture). Select the profile for which you wrote the script, and then press the Browse button. If you saved your script in the Accessories folder, it should appear in the dialog box. Select it and press Open.

If you'd like to troubleshoot your script (recommended for the first time through), select the Step through script option. Upon connection, this will allow you to "step through" each line of your script and see the result in a terminal screen. When your script is working properly, select the Start terminal screen minimized option to keep the script window minimized when you connect.

Press the Apply button (it's best to keep the Dial-up Scripting Tool dialog box open until you finish troubleshooting your script) and get ready to try your script! When you are certain it works, you can press OK to close the Dial-up Scripting Tool. It does not have to be open when you connect for the script to work.

Step 5: Connect and Troubleshoot your Script

IMPORTANT! Before you connect and use your script, go to My Computer, double-click Dial-up Networking, select your dial-up profile, click the right mouse button, and select Properties. Underneath your modem (in the Connect using section), press the Configure button. Select the Options tab and make sure that in the Connection Control area, NEITHER OPTION IS SELECTED. Even though you probably had the Bring up terminal window after dialing option selected previously, the Dial-up Scripting Tool opens a terminal window anyway. Leaving this option checked will cause your script to fail.

Using Dial-up Networking, connect to your Internet service provider. Make sure your username and password are entered into the dialog box, since your script will need these variables to connect. If you chose to step through the script, a terminal window will appear upon connect and let you step through your script by pressing F7. Watch the result closely to track down errors in your script. You can press F3 during this process to cancel at any time.

Once your script connects reliably, turn off the Step through script option in the Dial-up Scripting Tool dialog box. You can also close the Dial-up Scripting Tool. It does not need to be open for the script to run. It will run automatically with your dial-up connection as long as it is attached properly.

Example Scripts

I have put together a collection of sample scripts that work with Internet Service Providers around the world. You can find them in my Sample Scripts page. All of them are easily modifiable to work with your particular provider.

©1995 Steve Jenkins
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