PSILINK: Internet connection with just a PC and modem by Ernest Perez, Ph.D. INTRODUCTION The snide little dark angel at my left insists on whispering in my ear that writing to a professional librarian audience about the benefits of Internet access is the classic case of "preaching to the already converted." I guess I do have to admit this to myself. However, despite the recent popularity and increase of librarians using the Internet, there still exists a sizable network-disenfranchised professional community. These individuals consist of wannabe-user librarians faced with the lack of access to the Internet. These librarians simply can't get a computer logon -- they don't have convenient network access through a parent organization or community computer connection. The PSILink software and commercial online service described in this article offers a practical and effective alternative for the many public and special libraries who cannot easily get access to the Internet. Performance Systems International, Inc. (PSI), offers an economical subscription service allowing sophisticated Internet access to any PC/modem owner. This service uses the PSILink software interface for electronic mail services, and for delivery of USENET newsgroup and Bitnet "Listserv" (topical discussion groups) messages. The software also provides for "anonymous FTP" (File Transfer Protocol) downloads of text and binary or program files maintained at Internet file archives around the world. THE LURE OF THE INTERNET It's already a cliche that the Internet user community is already enormous, and growing fast. Some experts estimate there are already 30 million users; with approximately two million users accessing the Internet each day. Others have it that Internet traffic is growing at a _20% per month_ rate of increase. Commenting on this pyramid-scheme growth, in a humorous vein, _Boardwatch_ magazine observes, "As best we can calculate, this indicates it will encompass all life in the known Universe within another 40 months or so." (1) At its simplest, the network offers Email (electronic mail) messaging for individuals and organizations. It additionally provides for remote processing, high-speed data transfer, and information distribution services. "Bulletin boards," or topical discussion groups, are one such information service. These use the USENET newsgroup facility, or the Bitnet "list" (LISTSERV message distribution program). There is no centralized control over formation or regulation of such services. They are simply started up by interested persons, and may be for serious or trivial purposes. At present, there are nearly 4,000 newsgroups. Some groups have participation ranging into the thousands; predictably others are tiny groups, dedicated to limited interest or even bizarre topics. There are already approximately 80 lists or newsgroups on library-related issues, and the number is growing. They are all over the librarian professional interest spectrum. Samples include PACS-L (Public Access Computer Systems Forum); LAW-LIB (Law Librarians); DYNIX-L (Dynix Users); and LIBREF-L (Library Reference Issues). These lists also vary in size, depending upon the topic interest. PACS-L is one of the largest; A recent list operator notice reported that approximately 4500 Email addresses were currently on the distribution list. The best library-topic-list information source is the regularly updated list compiled by Charles Bailey, Jr., and distributed over the PACS-L list. PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL The Internet is technically a non-commercial network of online systems. Academic and research use is estimated at approximately 75% of the traffic, commercial use accounts for the remainder. As mentioned above, access is normally through organizations with a host computer interconnect to one of the Internet component research and academic networks. This host-connect requirement leaves many organizations and individuals out in the cold. Many librarians in the public, school, and special library community fall into this isolated-from-the-network group. PSI subscription service opens up an alternative commercial network which is also connected to the Internet. PSI offers free, local dialup to 9600 baud and lower speed modem ports in approximately 50 U.S. cities. It offers low-priced connect charge dialup lines in about 150 more. The connect charges are similar to Compuserve, running $2.50/hr for 2400-baud off-hour time. Different PSI services cover a wide range of capabilities and pricing. PSILink is the budget level, meant for individuals or organizations interested mainly in basic Email, newsgroup, and "FTP" file transfer ability. Other service levels offer higher capability for both individuals and organizational customers. Services range up to the level of direct interconnect of an organizational LAN into the Internet, and customized Internet addresses. But even these high-end services are priced in the range of hundreds of dollars per month, rather than the thousands normally associated with maintaining a direct Internet node connection. THE PSILINK APPROACH PSILink ties to the Internet with a totally automated batch connect transaction session. When ready to connect, you simply press (Carriage Return) twice from the main menu (selects default connect commands), and then go get a cup of coffee, do other work, go to lunch, etc. After disconnecting, the program will have completed all mail, newsgroup, and FTP file uploads and downloads per the user's selections. You then use the PSILink reader to read or handle mail. Within PSILink, the user can compose replies to received messages, write new messages, read or create newsgroup messages, request FTP file downloads, etc. These transactions will then all be completed or initiated during the next batch connect session. A simple session, such as sending and receiving a couple of short messages, may take as little as 40-60 seconds, and is completed totally unattended. Connect times obviously take longer if a session involves long or numerous Email messages, large numbers of newsgroup or list files, or sizable FTP downloads. However, even these more complex sessions are entirely self-executing. The automated connect sessions involve no user interaction. They totally insulate a user from needing to know any Internet or Unix mail or other commands. The PSILink program is shareware, and is available for FTP on Internet at ftp.psi.com., in the /psilink directory, under the filename PSILINK.ZIP. It also accompanies EXPLORER.ZIP, my own "guide to the Internet" hypertext compilation. Both files are available in the library-topical FTP archive maintained by Gordon Nickerson of the University of Western Ontario library school. You can get the two files by anonymous ftp at hydra.uwo.ca, in the /libsoft directory. PSILINK Email FACILITY PSILink delivers sophisticated Email capabilities, with a simple, prompted, menu-driven, approach. You can use either a mouse or command- and hot-keys. You can easily read, write, forward, or reply to mail, send carbon copy mail, save it to named folders or diskfiles, or export it to regular ASCII files. When you start a new message, the program prompts you for entry of an Internet Email address, in standard "mailbox@hostname" format. It also allows you to create "aliases," or short nicknames for addresses. For example, you can enter "joe" as addressee, and get automatic entry of the full address, such as "joe_smith@permb.cs2.edu". PSILink automatically maintains a system of "file folders," to organize outgoing, incoming, and stored mail. Automatic folders include an inbox, outbox, wire (for outgoing newsgroup messages), plus named folders automatically created to file messages from any selected newsgroups. A user can also manually create other folders. The "Read Mail/News" menu includes all functions mentioned above. The "Writing Mail" window opens a simple, full screen text editor. It uses a simple editor, with intuitive commands and an informative F1 online help screen. Although it's a respectable little editor, it lacks a few basic word-processing niceties that many users will miss. For instance, it does not offer word-at-a-time cursor move or delete. It also lacks automatic or command reformatting of a paragraph, when you do extensive text editing. You are thus forced to do lots of carriage return deletes and insertions to reform a clean 80-column paragraph. These are small, but annoying omissions in an otherwise excellent program. When writing new mail messages, you can import ASCII file text, and can also "attach" text files or program/binary files to accompany an Email message. Using this feature, it's easy to use Internet for quick and accurate transfer of binary or formatted data files to distant colleagues. A past reviewer bemoaned the inability to re-edit a previously stored outgoing message. (2) PSI Tech Support explained to me that the ability was actually there, as a non-documented feature. To re-edit, you callup the original message text in the reader, and select "Forward" from the menu. This opens a new copy of the message for editing. The copy includes the original address header and message text, prefaced and followed by added "Forwarded Message" lines. You are prompted to enter a new addressee and subject text. To re-edit the "original" message, all you need do is reenter the original addressee, and press (RETURN) to accept the original (default) message subject heading. Then, you use the CTRL-K command to line delete the "message forwarded" flags and textual copy of the original address header. After that, you're back to editing the original message. When you're done, be sure to delete the old version, so you won't send both messages from the outbox. It's a simple and obvious approach; unfortunately, there just isn't a hint of it in either printed or online documentation. ANONYMOUS FTP TRANSFER FEATURES FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the standard Internet utility for error-free transfer of files from one network computer to another. Using FTP, you can accurately move all types of files across the network, including ASCII text, program and binary data, documentation, and graphics. Many host computers across the Internet maintain "ftp directories" of public domain or files otherwise available for free distribution. This is generally called "anonymous ftp." The nickname refers to the fact that a network computer will allow login under the user name of "anonymous," with user privilege limited to copying files from an ftp-authorized directory. (There is still adequate security protection. An anonymous user can do nothing except view the file contents directory list, and request FTP transfer of selected files to his or her own computer.) In the PSILink FTP request module, the program prompts you for entry of host computer, directory, and filename. A blank entry for filename means that you want a directory listing. At the next online connect, the program uploads the request, which will be executed during off-hours. Your next PSILink connect session after the off-hour delay will result in the requested file(s) or directory list being transferred to your PC disk. USENET/NEWS FEATURES PSILink can read and post messages to USENET/News, the largest distributed BBS service in existence. At writing of this review, the selection list automatically downloaded from the PSI computer included over 3700 newsgroups. You select USENET newsgroups or Bitnet List groups from the newsgroup list maintained within the PSILink system. A simple spacebar keypress alongside of a newsgroup directory name toggles subscription service on or off. This contrasts with the need for carefully worded messages to a newsgroup-host computer, required when doing this manually. The newsgroup reader is the same as the Email reader, and affords the same abilities as for Email messages. In addition, the user may select "Reply", for reply to the individual who posted the message, or "Reply all", to send the message for posting to all members of the newsgroup. Additional PSILink software message-handling features include: "Carbon Copy," for automatic sending of duplicates of all received messages to another Internet address; and "Forward," for forwarding messages to another address, without leaving a copy in your PSILink mailbox. The program can also maintain different named configurations for Email and other settings and service toggles, for use for different purposes or by different individuals, on the same account. PSILINK NEGATIVES Predictably, the news ain't all good. There are at least two obvious negatives or limits to PSILink capabilities. First, although it's incredibly easy to use, you simply don't get the immediate feedback of online, interactive, Internet access. Approaching network use using an offline, batch, approach is a blind process. This especially denies you the immediacy and feedback of direct FTP exploration, of online inspection of the contents of remote file directories, and interactive file transfer commands. Instead, you handle FTP transactions with a batch mentality. You make a request during one session, and receive requested files after-hours or next day (PSI takes advantage of off-hours processing of FTP requests). This means delayed gratification, and the frustration of the directory specification and file naming errors that will inevitably result from "working blind." For example, if you're not sure of a correct file or computer directory name, or you get an initial error response, you must do a step-at-a-time recovery process. This will go something like: ** Requesting a file directory (to check accuracy) during connect session 1; ** Downloading the directory during connect session 2; ** Guessing at file selection from abbreviated, often cryptic file names, and uploading the request during connect session 3; ** Receiving desired file during connect session 4; ** Etc. You'll need more iterations if you have to check for correct directory spelling, or to retrieve "What's in this file archive" kinds of text files, or do other unplanned operations. The batch requirement is a definite hindrance to exploring the FTP resources of the Internet. In all fairness, if you have correct directory and file name information, you'll just need two sessions: make request in session 1, and successfully download during session 2. It's _so easy_ with PSILink. You don't need to learn all that computer command stuff! The second definite drawback is that PSILink doesn't include Telnet capability. Telnet is the Internet program which allows you to log on as a remote terminal for use of programs on remote computers. You'll need Telnet to use remote OPACs, or to run database and information system programs. PSI offers the separate "GDS" (Global Dialup Service) Telnet-capable service for those who want this ability, at $39 per month for 2400 baud. But it isn't bundled as a PSILink option. EASE OF LEARNING PSILink is easy to learn. Menu structure and hierarchy effectively introduces you to full utilization of system capabilities. The documentation is well-written and well-designed to comprehensively accompany the menu arrangement. My copy of the installation utility did not operate properly. This was easily solved by simply unzipping (decompressing) PSILink into a new \psilink hard disk directory, and running the INSTALL program for initial system configuration. Configuration is similarly easy. Many configuration choices, such as direct connect phone numbers, choice of newsgroups, are made from supplied lists. Selection of active connect features (Email, Newsgroup downloads, FTP transfer) is made from tables with On/Off toggle settings. The user manual is clear and understandable, covering a total of 68 pages. It has a detailed Table of Contents, but no index. The F1 key calls up context-sensitive online help, and contains much of the printed documentation text. EASE OF USE PSILink operations are unbelievably simple. The program gets you up to Internet competence speed in a flash, with absolutely no pain. It's like using an air-conditioned luxury sedan, with automatic transmission and cruise-control, compared to a crank-start, non-synchromesh manual transmission junker jalopy. It's nice to be able to control all selections, message actions, replies, FTP requests, newsgroup toggles, etc., in the offline mode, with lots of time for reflection. PSILink puts an easy interface on top of a complicated network reality. PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS PSILink runs on any IBM-compatible microcomputer, running MS-DOS 2.x or higher, and requires 512K of memory. It works with Hayes-compatible modems, running at 1200, 2400, or 9600 baud. The modem can be attached to any of the COM1 through COM4 ports. A Macintosh version, not reviewed, is available (see vendor box). PRICE As mentioned, PSILink is shareware, although you can only use it with the subscription service. Prospective users can try out a simple demo connect using username "guest" and password "guest" (lowercase for both). Subscription startup fee is $19, the customer will receive a 3.5 inch diskette with the most current software release. PSILink Lite costs $19 per month, for 1200-2400 baud; $29 per month for 9600 baud. Lite includes only the Email service. PSILink Basic is a higher level of service, and includes USENET newsgroups and FTP file transfer. The Basic service is $29 per month, for 1200-2400 baud; $39 per month for 9600 baud. The PSILink Basic price includes a maximum of 50 megabytes each of FTP and USENET file transfer per month. Additional transfers are billed at the rate of $1/megabyte. Credit card billing through MasterCard or Visa is the only acceptable payment method. The "WorldLink" Macintosh version is available at comparable prices. (See vendor box) THE LIBRARY ADVANTAGE PSILink delivers automated Internet communications management to libraries, especially those without an existing Internet access point. It gives super-efficient access to the growing professional librarian network community. It affords cheap access to current technology discussions, reference resource information, OPAC user groups, specialized library topical information, etc. It's a wonderfully easy interface to use. It lets you completely dispense with learning the details of Unix, FTP, and Internet commands. This means a super-low learning curve, and minimum user training requirements. The automated batch operation performs multiple tasks in a single connect session; it's an automatic transmission which lets you master the Internet. You can set up separate, named, connect service configurations, with easy menu selection. This is quite handy, for example, you can set up separate configurations for Email and newsgroup operations. This means you won't need to take time to download bulky newsgroup transfers when you only want a quick Email connect. (Download of a great deal of traffic from multiple newsgroups can tie up a PC for long period.) For a library account, you could use differently named connect configurations for individuals with different newsgroup interests, ftp preferences, etc. PSILink provides effective information file management, with topical mail folders, file import/export, and easy transfer of program and binary files to others. The easy file folder management features will make it easy when multiple users have to agree upon a disk management approach, file retention policies, number of newsgroups, etc. Multiple users may have to avoid choking a single machine with multi-megabytes of downloaded files. (Remember, though, each newsgroup will automatically file into an appropriately named folder.) You might even choose to use different connect configurations on different PCs, assigning monitoring of specific newsgroups or lists to specific machines. (There's no software license violation here; remember that PSILink is shareware.) There's a 24-hour toll-call technical support line. Tech Support response is quick and thorough. You can almost entirely avoid toll-call expense, and still get quick response and detailed help, by using PSILink Email communication. My Email queries were usually answered by the next time I connected, in two or three hours. The HELP desk "alias" address is even pre-installed, so you can send messages by just addressing them to "help". PERSONAL CONCLUSION: ADDICTION TO "CONVENIENCE Email" While using my reviewer demo account, I quickly became addicted to the ease of writing and answering Email, and to the delight of handling all my pending Internet transactions with a single, completely unattended, call. I confess that I used PSILink quite a bit more than my university computer services Internet account, during the trial period. I even transferred this article to the editor using PSILink. I've used the Internet for about three years, on two different university Internet nodes. I've gotten pretty adroit at those arcane network and Unix commands. But, I'm really tempted to give up the university account. PSILink Email management and address directory features make it easy for use with even campus Email traffic. It may not be long before I switch over to the more expensive, but automated ease of the PSILink service. -30- 1) "Internet News: (column) Access to the Internet - Performance Systems International." Boardwatch Magazine: Guide to the World of Online Services. November, 1991, pp. 17-20. 2) Wolfe, Andrew. "Internet on the Cheap, new PSILink service makes Unix e-mail available to the DOS masses [Product Review column], " UnixWorld. June, 1992, 9:6, p. 89. Ernest Perez, Ph.D., is a Senior Consultant for Access Information Associates of Houston and Dallas, Texas. He is a professional librarian, with an extensive background in newspaper information systems, text database management, data translation, and information system planning. He was Library Director for both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Houston Chronicle. He has written extensively for professional publications and the popular microcomputer press, specializing in text database, hypertext, and software application topics. Perez can be reached at eperez@utdallas.edu ================== PSILink/WorldLink vendor info box=============== PSILink (for MS-DOS), from Performance Systems International, Inc., 165 Jordan Road, Troy NY 12180, phone 1-800-82PSI82 or 1-518-283-8860, fax 1-518-283-8904. WorldLink (for Macintosh), from InterCon Systems Corporation, 950 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon VA 22070, tel. 1-703-709-9890, fax 1-703-709-9896. ===================================================================== =====captions follow========screen hardcopy in the mail========= PSILink mail folder, showing directory of individual messages downloaded from the LIBREF-L (Library Reference Discussion) list. A carriage-return will display the highlighted message. PSILink connect session status display. This screen shows there were no outgoing messages, 3 of 3 incoming messages have been downloaded, no FTP files were pending, no outgoing newsgroup messages, and that 2 of 7 messages from the "alt.hypertext" newsgroup have been received. The hyphen at bottom right corner is part of a small "spinning pinwheel" display that indicates the program is working. PSILink mail/news reader display, shows the "Item" dropdown menu, with choices for handling the displayed message. Top line gives short explanation of the highlighted menu command function. You can also use hotkeys and function keys while viewing message text.