Configure Communications...
Opens a dialog box allowing you to select communications/networking options.
WinVN is a Winsock based TCP/IP application. You must have networking software loaded on your PC and a Winsock compliant Dynamic Link Library (DLL) in your Windows or Windows System directory. WinVN makes all calls to Winsock through its internal or external generic network interface DLL called GWINSOCK.DLL. See Installing WinVN.
NNTP (News) Server
Fill in the Internet address of a news server. Obtain this information from your system administrator.
TCP port
Fill in the TCP port designation of the news server program. Typically this is "nntp". In the case of some misconfigured TCP/IP software, you may need to type in the value 119, which is almost always the port number used by news servers. Other values can be used only if your local news server is so configured.
Connect at startup
When selected, WinVN will connect to your news server as soon as WinVN starts, When deselected, WinVN will not connect at startup, and you will need to manually connect.
News Transport
Modern news servers use the XOVER protocol. XHDR is available for backwards compatibility. This setting should usually be left at Auto Select or XOVER
Retrieval Timeout
Used when downloading or decoding more than one article. Useful for
unattended operation.
While downloading, if no data is received within the specified time
in seconds, WinVN will terminated the connection, attempt to
reconnect and restart the retrieval process. 0=disabled default=120 (seconds)
Username & Password
Some NNTP news servers require you to provide an authorizing username and password before they will allow you full access to some or all newsgroups. If you plan on connecting with such a server, you should fill in the appropriate username and password for the server you have selected. WinVN stores your password in encrypted form in winvn.ini. However, be aware that the NNTP AUTHINFO protocol used to authenticate you to the server is quite insecure, so your use of this option may be hazardous. You should leave the name and password blank if the news server does not require authentication - if you have specify a name and password, and the server does not require it, your connection will most likely be refused.
Save Password
When selected, the password entered will be saved (encrypted) in the WinVN configuration file. If deselected, WinVN will not save your password.
SMTP (Mail) Server
Fill in the Internet address of an SMTP mail server if you plan on using TCP/IP mail from within WinVN.
Time Zone
If you are running Windows 3.x, the time zone must be set for your messages to be time stamped correctly. See Setting the TZ Environment Variable for proper syntax in this field.
Mail Transport
Select one of 4 options used to determine how WinVN will send mail. The options are:
Disabled Do not allow outbound mail.
Use SMTP Send mail via the Internet Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) interface. WinVN provides the ability to compose mail using the same composition window as used when creating news postings.
Use MAPI Send mail via Microsoft's Mail Applications Protocol Interface (MAPI). Use this option if you are using Microsoft Mail at your site. But other Mailers which support MAPI (Qualcomm's EUDORA or Microsoft EXCHANGE) should work too.
Auto Select WinVN will attempt to locate MAPI and use it if available, If MAPI is not available, it will default to SMTP.
MAPI Demand Logon
If you have the Demand Logon option selected, WinVN will force a MAPI login "upon demand" (when mail is sent) instead of requiring a login instantly when WinVN is started.
See Saving Configuration Information and Authorizing Yourself to the News Server.