On the Windows95/98/NT platform... I have used Macro-Express-2000 to do auto-dial-connect at preset times. It works fantastic and you can get one free for 30 days at http://www.macros.com/ Not only that but I use it to grab and download data in .DBF and .XLS formats and translate those into flat-files (tab-delimited) and then REBOL takes over from there. Works fantastic and ... so far I have not found anything I can not grab from anywhere on the Internet using the 2-punch combo of macro-Xpress and REBOL. It is sort of duct-tape and paper-clip method of doing things but it works great for me....
