BetterTelnet

BetterTelnet allows you to connect your Macintosh to the Wellesley College library server and other servers on campus and across the Internet. BetterTelnet performs the same functions as PacerLink; if you are currently using PacerLink we recommend that you upgrade to BetterTelnet, as PacerLink may cause conflicts with Netscape Navigator or Communicator.

Removing PacerLink

PacerLink may cause conflicts with BetterTelnet and should be removed before you attempt to install BetterTelnet. To uninstall PacerLink:

  1. Double-click on the Macintosh HD icon on your desktop
  2. Drag the PacerLink folder from the Macintosh HD window into the trash can.
  3. In the Macintosh HD window, double-click on the System Folder icon. Open the Apple Menu Items folder.
  4. Drag the following icons from the Apple Menu Items folder into the trash can: PacerLink 5.3a, Sallie (TCP/IP), Library (TCP/IP), and any other servers you may have. Note: Some of these icons may not appear in your Apple Menu Items folder.
  5. Close all open windows.
  6. Drag the following icons from the desktop into the trash can: PacerLink 5.3a, Sallie (TCP/IP), Library (TCP/IP), and any other servers you may have. Note: Some of these icons may not appear on your desktop.

You are now ready to install BetterTelnet.

 

Installing BetterTelnet

  1. Save any open files and quit all open applications.
  2. From the Apple menu, select Chooser.
  3. Click on the AppleShare icon, then on Science Center. In the box labeled "Select a file server:" click on NTM. Click OK.
  4. Select Guest, then click Connect.
  5. Select Community, then click OK.
  6. Close the Chooser window.
  7. An icon for the Community folder will now appear on your desktop. Double-click on Community, then open the Mac folder, then the Shareware and Public Domain folder.
  8. Drag the BetterTelnet 2.0b3c5 folder from the Mac window on top of the Macintosh HD icon on your desktop to copy BetterTelnet to your hard drive.
  9. Close all open windows.
  10. Drag the Community icon into the trash can to disconnect from NTM.

BetterTelnet is now installed on your Macintosh.

 

Creating Aliases for BetterTelnet

To make BetterTelnet easier to access, you should place aliases in your Apple menu for the application and, if you use it frequently, for the library catalog.

Before you begin:

  1. Double-click on the Macintosh HD icon.
  2. In the Macintosh HD window, open the BetterTelnet 2.0b3c5 folder.
  3. Open the System Folder.

To place an alias for BetterTelnet in your Apple menu:

  1. Click once on the BetterTelnet Fat icon inside the BetterTelnet 2.0b3c5 window to highlight it.
  2. From the File menu, select Make Alias. A new icon labeled BetterTelnet Fat alias will appear.
  3. Rename the BetterTelnet Fat alias icon BetterTelnet.
  4. Drag the new BetterTelnet icon into the Apple Menu Items folder inside the System Folder.

To place an alias for the library server in your Apple menu:

  1. Click once on the Library icon inside the BetterTelnet 2.0b3c5 window to highlight it.
  2. From the File menu, select Make Alias. A new icon labeled Library alias will appear.
  3. Rename the Library alias icon Library.
  4. Drag the new Library icon into the Apple Menu Items folder inside the System Folder.

When you have finished adding items to your Apple menu, close all open windows.

 

Configuring BetterTelnet

To make BetterTelnet easier to use, you should make the following alterations to its configuration:

  1. If BetterTelnet is not already open, select BetterTelnet from the Apple menu. The menu options at the top of your screen will change, but no new window will appear.
  2. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
  3. Uncheck the box labeled Windows don't go away.
  4. Check the box labeled "Open Connection" dialog on startup.
  5. Compare all other settings to match the preferences window shown below.
  6. Click OK.
  7. From the File menu, select Quit.
Screen shot of preferences window

 

Connecting to the library catalog

If you have an alias for the library catalog in the Apple menu:

  1. Select Library from the Apple menu.
  2. Enter your username and password as prompted.

If you do not have an alias for the library catalog in the Apple menu:

  1. From the Apple menu, select BetterTelnet.
  2. In the Host Name box, type library.
  3. Click Connect.
  4. Enter your username and password as prompted.

 

Connecting to another server

You may also use BetterTelnet to connect to other servers on campus and across the Internet. To connect to a server other than Sallie or the library catalog:

  1. From the Apple menu, select BetterTelnet.
  2. In the Host Name box, type the name of the server you wish to connect to. Click OK. Note: The names of all Wellesley College servers should be one word only (e.g., firstclass). Servers not belonging to Wellesley College should have longer names containing one or more periods (e.g., mail.university.edu).
  3. Click Connect.
  4. Log in according to the instructions on your screen.
Screen shot of open dialog window

 

Using the Favorites list

If you regularly connect to a server other than Sallie or the library catalog, you may wish to add the name of the server to the pulldown list which appears in the Open Connection dialog box:

  1. Make sure BetterTelnet is open.
  2. From the Favorites menu, choose Edit Favorites.
  3. Click New.
  4. Click the General tab.
  5. In the Alias box, type the name of the server. Note: The names of all Wellesley College servers should be one word only (e.g., firstclass). Servers not belonging to Wellesley College should have longer names containing one or more periods (e.g., mail.university.edu).
  6. In the Host Name box, type the name of the server again.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click OK again.
Screen shot of Add Favorites window

To connect to a server on your Favorites list:

  1. Open BetterTelnet. (If BetterTelnet is already open, choose Open Connection from the File menu).
  2. Click on the arrow to the right of the Host Name box to display your Favorites list.
  3. Select the server to which you wish to connect.
  4. Click Connect.

 

Disconnecting

  1. Log out of the server using the server's own logout command (e.g., logout on FirstClass).
  2. From the File menu, select Quit.

For more information on BetterTelnet, see the BetterTelnet website at http://www.cstone.net/~rbraun/mac/telnet.