1. Connecting to The WELL via SSH
2. If your login was unsuccessful
3. Disconnecting from The WELL
4. Costs
5. More commands defined in the picohelp conference
6. Getting help

There are currently two ways to connect to conversations on The WELL.

The more modern method is to use your Web browser to go to The WELL homepage. Enter your username and password in the login box. Check out our quick guide to direct engagement using your browser for help with that method.

This PicoSpan guide describes the classic earlier method to get to the same forum content, via your "SSH." In addition to using your computer and Internet access, if you wish to connect to The WELL using the legacy PicoSpan command line system, you will need to run an SSH application. You may find SSH preinstalled on your computer, or you may need to locate and download an SSH application from an online software or app store.

1. Connect to the Internet.
2. Launch your SSH application.
3. Go to well.com with the SSH application by supplying the app with your lower-case login name @ well.com as specified by your app. (For example, if your login name was "puffball," you may be asked to enter puffball@well.com as your account on the destination site or possibly you will be asked to supply well.com and puffball separately. See the instructions for your SSH application.)

Logging in with SSH:

When you have connected with your login at well.com, you'll then see The WELL's password prompt.

1. Your password is case sensitive, so type it eXacTLy as you entered it during registration.
2. The WELL then displays a few messages, including how to get help, followed by the text banner of the first conference on your list, and then offers you the OK prompt. Press the Return key to reveal the Main Menu if it is not already revealed to you.

Note: If you do not see a full screen Menu when you press the Enter or Return key, you may turn menus on for multiple sessions, by entering: save menus. When the Menu is revealed, you will notice that it gives you a method to turn the menus off again on the lower right side of the Menu, or enter: save nomenus to remove them from future sessions.

MAIN MENU


 THE WELL: MAIN MENU                             .  Menu name : main
                                                 .  Conference: wellcome
                                                 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2  Conferencing basics...                      .
                                                 .  HELP and INFORMATION:
  3  Conferencing...                             . www.well.com/membersguide
                                                 .
  4  People online...                            .    
                                                 .     
                                                 .     
  6  Email...                                    .  
                                                 .                                                       
  7  Internet and Web publishing...              .    
                                                 .       
                                                 .
                                                 .  GETTING AROUND
  9  File management...                          .
 10  Settings...                                 .   66  Go back one menu
                                                 .   77  Go to the Main menu
 11  Accounting...                               .   88  Go to a menu by name
                                                 .   99  Turn off these menus
                                                 .
 PicoSpan Copyright 1985-2008, The WELL          .  100  Exit from the WELL
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OK (type a number or command):

For instructions about using the menus, see Menu basics. Note that to Enter a command, you type the command followed by the Return or Enter key.

If you have forgotten your password and the email address in your billing records is correct, you can go to The WELL's Password Change Page to change your password. If you've forgotten your login please call using the Helpdesk information in the footer of this page.

Always be sure to disconnect or log out from The WELL when you finish a PicoSpan session.

At the OK prompt, type either the number 100 or the word quit.

The WELL compiles your excess storage charges (if any -- overage is rare) and displays them for your information when you log out. You will see that information at the end of the logout message.

When you registered on The WELL, you became a WELL member, and a billing account was set up in your name.

Prices for your membership in The WELL may change from time to time. See Membership, pricing and billing.

A detailed method for finding older commands, some of which still work, is to check out the original documentation for each one in the read-only picohelp conference. Hundreds of files describing various commands have been read into conference topics there, just in case you want to do some digging to see how things used to be explained.

The WELL is dedicated to providing the best possible customer service and support. While we cannot offer unlimited support for every feature we offer, particularly the older or member-created features, we offer a broad spectrum of help services including:

• Support via email to The WELL Helpdesk. (Most popular)
• Voice phone support.
• Documentation in these web pages.
• Community and staff support in conferences such as welcome and welltech, dedicated to providing information and help for various WELL features.
• Deep dive documentation to peruse in the picohelp conference.

Please do not hesitate to email or call The WELL Help Desk. Use the contact information in the footer of this page. If you reach the voicemail message, please leave your name, your telephone number, and your username, and we'll call or email you back.

WELL policies and etiquette
Getting connected
Menu basics
Getting and sending email
Starting out in WELL conferences
Working with WELL conferences
People online
Publishing a Web page
The muse
Managing files on The WELL
Checking and changing settings
Accounting and billing
Troubleshooting
PicoSpan Command Summary

For instructions about using PicoSpan menus, see Menu basics. Note that to Enter a command, you type the command followed by the Return or Enter key.

Look for more documentation of legacy commands in the picohelp conference. For documentation of the newer web-based access to the same conference content, see the newer guide to direct engagement using your browser.