NavCIS was CompuServe Information Service's offline client program designed to minimize connection time by downloading email and forum messages for offline reading and replying. Originally named ForCIS, NavCIS featured early WYSIWYG editing and ran with a graphical user interface on both MS-DOS and Windows. It also supported file transfers and session scripting. While popular for offline use, NavCIS was eventually surpassed by the online CompuServe Information Manager that offered chat and games. NavCIS ceased functioning after CompuServe's original interface was discontinued around 2001.
Description
The NavCIS system was based around its session files, which described the actions to be carried out during a single connection. These files contained the basic connection information for the modem and the phone number to call, as well as a series of commands that visited different areas in CIS. The script files were created by clicking on a number of buttons in a settings window, allowing the user to navigate a map of the CIS system, grouped into subject areas. For instance, one could give instructions to retrieve new email from the email button. By clicking on the buttons and selecting various actions, the user builds a script of what actions will be carried out as part of this session. Once the session file is set up and saved, the user has the software connect. It then runs through the commands in the session file one by one, completing the tasks and moving any resulting data to the local machine. Once complete, the interface offers access to that data through commands in the menu bar.
In contrast to systems used with bulletin board systems, NavCIS provided access to much of the CIS environment. There were commands to update the forums list, for instance, so the list of available message areas in the client was always up to date. Likewise, the system could be instructed to download a list of new files in a selected library, and then allow the user to select files of interest for download on the next connection. The system also included a command to pause the script and open a terminal window, allowing direct interaction with CIS until the window was closed and the script continued.5
Other clients
References
"CompuServe users can work off-line, save money". InforWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. 21 February 1994. p. 22. ISSN 0199-6649. https://books.google.com/books?id=BzsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 ↩
"CompuServe navigator updated, NavCIS displays thread views". InfoWorld. 30 May 1994. p. 26. ISSN 0199-6649. https://books.google.com/books?id=hTgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 ↩
Ziff Davis, Inc. (14 May 1996). PC Mag, Making the Most of Online Time. Ziff Davis, Inc. pp. 73–. ISSN 0888-8507. https://books.google.com/books?id=NGNpFuAXu70C&pg=PA73 ↩
Rubin, Scott; Cohen, Raines (1993). Hayden's PowerBook Power Book (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Hayden Books. ISBN 1-56830-057-3. 1-56830-057-3 ↩
Denise Jesus, "CompuServe Navigator", Known Users, March 1994 http://www.savetz.com/ku/ku/jesus_compuserve_navigator_march_1994.html ↩