CONNECT TO LEXIS ON THE ROAD!
Spring 2000
For Lexis 7.1 and Windows 95/98
Written by Jim Hanson
The first part of this document describes how to connect to Lexis.
The second part tells you what to do to if you are having trouble connecting.
Note: You must have a legal access code to use Lexis.
Follow these 2 steps to setup a computer to use Lexis with a modem (like at a hotel or at your home, etc.)
INSIDE OF LEXIS, DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Get the Network and Phone Number
--GET THE PHONE NUMBER AND NETWORK; call Lexis at 1-800-346-9759
--GET THE DIAL OUT NUMBER; find out what number needs to be dialed to get out of the motel (e.g. 9)
2. Click File, Settings, Communication
--CHANGE THE SETTING TO "MODEM ATTACHED TO PC" (Click that option)
--PICK THE PORT AND SPEED YOU WANT
Don't know your port? Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel; Doubleclick Modem;
Click the Diagnositcs Tab; You will see the Port for your modem listed.
Speed Recommendation: 19200--any faster and you may not be able to connect
consistently
--CHANGE THE NETWORK; switch it to MEADNET, etc.
NOTE: for ATT and Lexis network options, choose MEADNET as your network
--TYPE IN THE DIALING PREFIX; type in the number you need to dial out of the motel; add 2 commas (eg 9,,)
--TYPE IN THE PHONE NUMBER (eg 2347780)
--CLICK OK; YOU'RE READY TO GO!
TROUBLESHOOTING CONNECTION PROBLEMS
Problem Go to
WINSOCK ERROR bad connection 1
FREEZE before connecting 2
FREEZE right after connecting 3
PHONE--no dial, no noise 4
PHONE--dials, nothing happens 5
PHONE--dial sound is odd, no connection 6
PHONE--dials, flashing dots, no connection 7
PHONE--dials, "You have the wrong number" 8
PHONE--dials, muted busy signal 9
DISCONNECTED--right before going into Lexis 10
MESSAGE--the modem is not responding 11
MESSAGE--a file or something is missing 12
MESSAGE--number not a valid I.D. number 13
IN LEXIS--Lexis Number is in use 14
IN LEXIS--Lexis Freezes 15
HOW TO TEST THE MODEM 16
LEXIS Customer Service Number: 1-800-346-9759
Normal Lexis Procedure
Click Sign On
Hear Dial Tone
Hear Phone Dialing to Lexis
Dialog Box indicating you are "Connecting to Lexis/Nexis Services"
5 seconds later--modem screeching sound
You See the Lexis screen
1. Winsock Error, Bad Connection Appears
SOLUTION 1: Change Winsock Connection Address setting.
Close and reopen Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Click the Setup button in the upper right
Type in lexis.meaddata.com
Click okay
Click okay
SOLUTION 2: You need to setup the computer to use the modem.
Follow the instructions for connecting at the beginning of this document.
2. Lexis freezes before connecting
Check to make sure you have the right Com Port.
Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel
Doubleclick Modem
Click the Diagnositcs Tab; You will see the Port for your modem listed. See if that matches up with what's in File, Settings, Communications
Change Com Port setting.
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Click the Port setting to Com1, Com2, Com3, Com4
Keep trying until Lexis does not freeze.
When Lexis freezes--press Ctrl, Alt and Del at the same time. Then click End Task.
Click Okay.
3. Lexis freezes--right after connecting to MeadNet
No solution. Call Lexis.
4. Phone--No Dial, No noise, and no connection to MeadNet
SOLUTION 1: Change Modem type.
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Choose a different kind of modem
Look at your modem if you can.
Hayes Generic is your best bet.
Click Okay.
SOLUTION 2: INSTALL LEXIS PROPERLY
Make sure you have installed Lexis with "setup" and not by copying files; otherwise, you are missing the lexis.ini file that goes into the Windows directory.
5. Phone--Dials and then nothing happens
Solution unknown. Check your modem--see number 16.
6. Phone--Dial sounds odd--no connection
Add a comma after the prefix number.
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications.
Type in a comma right after the prefix number, like 9, in the prefix line.
Click Okay.
7. Phone--Dials, Flashing dots, then nothing happens
SOLUTION 1: Plug phone line into the wall and the "phone" slot in the back of your computer.
SOLUTION 2. Change Prefix number:
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Type in the Dialing Prefix box the number to get out of the hotel/room you are at, followed by a comma (for example: 9,).
Click Okay.
SOLUTION 3. Change the Network setting:
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Type in the appropriate Network (eg SPRINTNET, TYMNET, etc.).
Click Okay.
8. Phone--Dials, followed by "You've dialed the wrong number"
Change the Phone Number
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, Communications
Type in the phone number that is correct for your area.
Call Lexis for phone numbers at 1-800-346-9759
(note--type the numbers right in a row with no dashes in between).
Click Okay.
9. Phone--Dials, followed by muted busy signal
The line is busy--dial again
10. Disconnected automatically--right before you go into Lexis
No solution--Lexis is closed OR Phone Line is bad.
Remember that Lexis is closed
10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday thru Friday
11:00 to 11:15 p.m. every night
11:00 p.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
All times are Pacific Time
Call Lexis customer service at 1-800-346-9759.
11. Message--the modem is not responding
SOLUTION 1: Change the Port or Modem.
See the suggested tips for problems 2 and 4.
SOLUTION 2: Turn the modem on.
With some modems, turn it on by flipping the on switch.
SOLUTION 3: Check the modem
See step 16
12. Message--a file or something is missing
Change Modem Speed.
Open Lexis.
Click File, Setup.
Type in Speed 19200 (or 9600 until it works)
Click Okay.
13. Message--"The number does not appear to be a valid personal I.D. number"
Change the ID Number in the File, Settings, General Dialogue Box. Ask your coach for the correct ID.
14. In Lexis--Your number is in use
Change Passwords because another person is using the password you are trying to use.
To get another password, ask your coach.
Open Lexis.
Click File, Settings, General.
Type in your ID Number into the "Use Default LEXIS-NEXIS Number" spot.
Click Okay.
15. In Lexis--Lexis Freezes
Press Ctrl, Alt and Delete at the same time.
Then Press Enter or Escape (read the screen).
16. HOW TO TEST THE MODEM
In Windows 95/98--Test the Modem
1. OPEN CONTROL PANEL--Click Start, Settings, Control Panel
2. OPEN THE MODEM PROGRAM--Doubleclick Modem, Click the Diagnostics Tab
3. TEST THE MODEM--Click the Com Port where the modem is (do not click the name of the modem, click the comm port), Click the More Info button
If you get mainly "okays" and no errors in the list it shows, the modem is working
If you get mainly "errors" in the list it shows, the modem is not working properly, and you need technical support—ask your coach, call Lexis at 1-800-346-9759 or your modem maker.