1 Setting the Parameters ---------------------- Menus ----- There are basically 4 menus available to you before a connection is made; 1) Communications Configuration Menu, 2) Communications Selection Menu, 3) Communications Parameters Menu, and 4) The Kermit Parameters Menu. The first menu lets you set information about your system and the modem. The second is a list of the phone numbers you have available, while the third is information about each of the phone number records in your database. The fourth is attached to each phone number record, and contains information about how the Kermit file transfer protocol will work with that record. Using BitCom menus is like filling in forms. You will be shown a group of "blanks" called fields. You would then select an option for a field, or type in a value. There are basically four types of fields in BitCom menus. They are: STRING In this field type, you may enter a string of characters. The right and left arrow keys move the cursor right and left. Also, the following keys will function in a string field. Turns ON/OFF the insert mode. Characters typed will be inserted at the current position when INSERT is turned on. <--- The backspace key will delete one character to the left of the cursor position, and shift the string one position to the left. Will delete the character at the cursor position, and shift the string one position to the left. Will move the cursor to the first position in the current field. Will move the cursor to one position past the last non-blank character position in the current field. SELECT In this field type, the only valid keys to press are the left and right arrow keys, which will select the previous or next field value. SELNUM This field type is similar to the SELECT field type, except the only valid keys to press are "1" to "9" and "0". 2 KEY Here you would press , and then press any function keys, or combination of Control or Alternate keys with number or letter keys. The field will be assigned the value of the key that is pressed. In other words, in this type of field, you can reassign the key functions. Communications Configuration Menu --------------------------------- The Communication Configuration Menu tells BitCom about your system, modem and information available to the entire program all the time, rather than specific information about a phone number or record. From the BitCom Main Menu, choose 3) Change Configuration. The BitCom Communications Configuration Menu will appear. Keys Available -------------- To change any of the parameters on this menu, you will use the following keys: Show This Help Page Return to Main Menu Up Arrow Move Cursor to Previous Field Down Arrow Move Cursor to Next Field Right Arrow Move Cursor Right, or Select Next Field Value Left Arrow Move Cursor Left, or Select Previous Field Value Note that these keys are shown on the screen in the key definition explanation in the lower left corner of the screen. Before you make any changes to the BitCom Communications Configuration Menu, we suggest that you read your modem manual to find out about various necessary commands and parameters which need to be set. If you are using a Hayes or compatible modem, the parameters on this screen will already be set for you. You should, however, check to be sure that the ports shown are the ones that you are using. In the BitCom Communications Configuration Menu, the following fields are shown. 3 MNP Dial Command ---------------- This is a STRING field type. This is the command sent to the modem, before dialing the phone number, that will enable the MNP protocol if it is available on your modem. Check your modem manual for details on this. The MNP Dial Command will be used instead of the Dial Prefix (explained below) if you have an MNP modem and the phone number is selected as MNP. Dial Prefix ----------- This is a STRING field type. This is the string which will be sent to the modem before the phone number. For example, ATDT is the dialing command that will instruct the modem to dial using touch tone commands. If your modem has the capability to adjust the speaker volume by use of software, you may want to enter: ATE1V1L3DT to turn the volume to maximum ATE1V1L0DT to turn off the volume To change from touch tone dialing to pulse (rotary) dialing, you would enter the string: ATE1V1L3DP or simply ATE1V1DP Note that E1 tells the modem to echo commands to the screen. The V1 tells the modem to display result codes in a verbal form. The default setting for BitCom is: ATE1V1X2DT Since not all modems support all commands, check your modem manual to see which commands are supported by the modem you are using. Make sure that these commands are given in upper case letters. If you enter an invalid prefix (one that your modem does not recognize), the modem will display "ERROR" on the screen when you try to dial. 4 Dial Suffix ----------- This field is also a STRING field type. You will enter a string here which will be sent to the modem after the phone number. Normally, you would want to send a Carriage Return code (hex 0D) to the modem after dialing the number. To enter a hex code, simply enter a dollar sign ($) followed by xx, where xx is a hex digit. For example, enter: $0D This is the default value, and is used with most modems. Answer String ------------- This is also a STRING field type. In this field, you enter the string to tell the modem to enables the auto answer feature. The default command is ATS0=1$0D. This will instruct the modem to answer the phone after one ring. You may want to change the 1 to a larger number so the phone will ring more than once before the modem answers the phone. Hangup String ------------- Once again, this is also a STRING field type. In this field, you enter the string that instructs the modem to disconnect the phone line, or hang up the phone. Hayes modems require that you put three plus signs (+++) followed by a time delay and the string ATZ to hang up the modem. The default setting for BitCom is: +++\250ATZ$0D\250$0D NOTE: You may specify special characters in the above strings using hexadecimal notation $xx (e.g., $0D for a carriage return), and specify time delays as \nnn where "nnn" is the number of hundredths of a second (e.g., \050 means to wait 1/2 second.) However, we strongly suggest that you do not change these fields unless you are familiar with AT commands, and have checked your modem manual to see which commands are supported by your modem. Busy String ----------- This is also a STRING field type. What is entered here is the string which the modem sends out to indicate that the number dialed is busy. The default string is BUSY. Not all modems support this feature. BitCom will match this string to see if redialing is needed. 5 Connect String -------------- This is also a STRING field type. The string entered in this field is the string the modem will send out to indicate that a connection has been established. The default string is CONNECT. You should not change this string, or the DISCONNECT string (below) unless your modem sends back a different string to indicate that a connection has been made. The connect string tells BitCom whether or not the modem has made a successful connection. The connect speed is added by the modem, and should not be included in the connect string field. This field cannot be left blank. If you are having trouble making BitCom recognize when a connection is made, you may want to put in two exclamation marks (!!) into this field. BitCom will monitor the carrier detect signal from the modem and make the connection automatically. DisConn String -------------- Once again, this is a STRING field type. This is the string which the modem sends out to indicate that the connection has been terminated. BitCom will disconnect the line when this string is received. The default string is NO CARRIER. If this string is left blank, BitCom will monitor the Carrier Detect Signal, and disconnect when the signal is off. Home Directory -------------- This is also a STRING field type. In this field, you may enter the name of a sub-directory or disk (if different from the current directory) which contains the BitCom files of *.HLP, COMM.DAT, *.EMU, and any Script or Action files. By using the DOS PATH command, you may locate the BITCOM.EXE file in a separate directory. If all BitCom files are located in the same sub-directory, the field should remain blank. Help ---- This is a KEY field type. This is the key which places you in the Help screens whenever you are in a BitCom menu (i.e., not during communications). The default key is . 6 Confirm ------- This is a KEY field type. This is the key which confirms that you are ready for the previously specified event (i.e., begin communications, file transfer, etc.). The default key is . Quit ---- This field is a KEY field type. The key you enter here is used to Quit the current level of BitCom and return to the previous level menu, or to exit to DOS if you are at the Main Menu. The default key is . Next Field ---------- This is also a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to move to the next field while in a menu. The default is the Down Arrow key. Prev Field ---------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to move to the previous field while in a menu. The default is the Up Arrow key. Next Sel -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to select the next value in a SELECT field, or to move the cursor one position to the right in a STRING field. The default is the Right Arrow key. Prev Sel -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to select the previous value in a SELECT field, or to move the cursor one position to the left in a STRING field. The default is the Left Arrow key. Add Record ---------- This is also a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to add a record to the phone number database from the Communications Selection Menu. The default is . Del Record ---------- This is also a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to delete a record from the phone number database when in the Communications Selection Menu. The default key is . 7 Sort Key -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is the one that will initiate the sorting of the database while in the Communications Selection Menu. The default is . Next Rec -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to display the next record in the Communications Parameters Menu, or to display the next page in the Help or Communications Selection Menu. The default is . Prev Rec -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to display the previous record in the Communications Parameters Menu, or to display the previous page in the Help or Communications Selection menus. The default is . Kerm Opt -------- This is a KEY field type. The key entered here is used to invoke the Kermit Parameters Menu which is used to change the Kermit parameters. The default key is . Comm ---- This is a SELECT field type. The value entered here will show the communications port that your modem is configured to. The default is set at COM2. If your modem or serial port is set to COM1, COM3, or COM4, you need to change this field to that port. Simply press the right or left arrow keys to display the correct port number. Make sure that your modem is the only device in your system with that designated COM port address. Printer ------- This is also a SELECT field type. The default is set at LPT1 (parallel port 1). If you have a serial printer, type in the following command (at the DOS prompt): MODE LPTx:=COMy where x = 1 or 2; and y = 1 or 2. 8 Timing Nulls ------------ This is a SELNUM field type. The contents of this field indicate the number of null characters to be written to the printer after each line. The number will usually be zero unless you have a serial printer. If you have a serial printer, check your printer manual for the number of null characters to be written to the printer after each line. The default is set at zero. Saving Your Configuration ------------------------- After you have set the above parameters to the specifications required, you need to return to the Main Menu. Type to Quit. This will save the changes you have made, if any, and return you to the BitCom Main Menu. Communications Selection Menu ----------------------------- The next menu you will want to look at is the Communications Selection Menu. This screen lists the contents of the phone number database. From the Main Menu, choose 1) Select/Edit Phone Numbers. The Communications Selection Menu will then appear on your screen. Keys Available -------------- In this menu, you may use the following keys: D Dial - Instruct the modem to dial the number. A Answer - Instruct the modem to answer the phone when it rings. C Connect - Establish an immediate connection (i.e., if there is no modem and you are directly connected to the host computer), or issue commands directly to the modem. S Show More - Review/change phone number, description or other communications parameters such as baud rate. Dial, answer or connect depending upon current mode setting for that phone number record. Show the next page of phone numbers. Show the previous page of phone numbers. Sort the phone number database. Delete a record from the database. Add a record to the phone number database. Note, once again, that these key definitions are shown in the lower left corner of the screen. 9 You may also use the arrow keys, and the and keys as shown earlier in this chapter. The Phone Number Database ------------------------- In the Communications Selection Menu you are actually seeing a high level view of a database of communications information. Each line in the display represents one record of the database. You may have up to 32,000 records in the database, although this would not be practical for many reasons. However, a database of several hundred numbers is perfectly reasonable if you have a need for that many. Each record in the database has a Rec ID (Record Identifier), which may be a maximum of 8 characters in length. The Rec ID is used when writing "script" files. It should not contain spaces. Each record also has a Description field in which a longer description of the record may be placed. And each record may have a phone number which is used when you are ready to dial a number. The Communications Selection Menu also displays the Rec Num (Record Number) so you know where you are in the Communications Selection Menu. The telephone database is stored in a file called COMM.DAT. The following functions can be used while in the Communications Selection Menu. Adding Records to the Phone Number Database ------------------------------------------- To add a record to the database, press from the Communications Selection Menu. You will be shown the Communications Parameters Menu, which is a detailed display of your new record in the database. It will be filled in with the default values taken from record 0 of the database. From this menu, you can fill in the Rec ID, Description, and Phone Number fields, as well as change any other fields as needed. Note that the filling in of some of these fields is optional, and is done so that you can more easily find and use the information again later. Deleting Records From the Phone Number Database ----------------------------------------------- To delete a record from the database, position the pointer next to the record you want to delete, and press . You will then see a message that asks you if you really want to delete the record. If you press Y, the record will be deleted. If you press N, the database will remain unchanged. 10 Sorting Records in the Phone Number Database -------------------------------------------- You may sort records in the database by the Rec ID, the Description, or the Phone Number. To sort the records, press . A message will appear asking if you want to sort by RecID (enter "I"), Description (enter "D"), or Phone Number (enter "P"). After you have chosen how the records are to be sorted, a message will ask if you want to sort the records in (A)scending or (D)escending order. Press the appropriate key, and the sort will begin. If your database is very large, this could take several minutes. Also, you must have enough space on your current disk for two copies of the database, since the sort creates a new version of the database in a temporary file, and then deletes the old one. The new database (the sorted version) is then renamed to COMM.DAT. This is much safer in case you have a machine failure during the sort. Dialing Numbers --------------- To dial a number, position the pointer next to the record you want to use, and press "D". This will set the communications parameters as given in that record, present you with a communications screen, and dial the number. You should only use the "D" command if you are using a modem. If you are using a direct connection to the host computer, you should use Direct Connect as shown below. Answering --------- If you want your modem to answer a call from another computer, you first have to add a record (if you don't already have it in the phone book) that has the communications parameters set (usually 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity). From the Phone Number Selection Menu, press the down arrow key to position the cursor next to that record. Press "A". You will then be presented with a communications screen showing the answer string contained in your Communication Configuration Menu. The string "OK" will be on the next line. If the phone rings while this screen is displayed, the modem will answer the phone, using the settings contained in the record used. 11 Direct Connect -------------- If you are directly connected to another computer (i.e., not through a modem), position the pointer next to a record that has the proper communications parameters and press "C". You will be presented with a communications screen and connected to the host computer. The clock should be running in the lower right corner. You can then communicate with the other computer. You can also use this command to issue AT commands directly to the modem. Follow the procedure as shown above. When the clock begins running, you can issue the AT commands directly to the modem. Show More/Editing ----------------- If you merely wish to "See More" information in a record, or to change information in the record, position the pointer next to the desired record and press "S". This will present you with the Communications Parameters Menu for that record. To return to the Communications Selection Menu from this screen, press . Editing the Default Record -------------------------- You may see/change the default communications parameters by placing the pointer at the desired record and pressing "S". The defaults are contained in record number 0. These defaults are used whenever you add a new record with . Before going any further, you should check these defaults, and make any changes as necessary. Changing the default record only affects future records that will be added. It will not change any parameters on existing records. This record cannot be used to dial, connect or answer. It can never be deleted. Setting Up Communications Parameters ------------------------------------ The instructions for this section explain how to set up the Communications Parameters Menu. When adding a record, you may also make appropriate changes in the same manner. From the Communications Selection Menu, place the pointer at the desired record number. Then press "S" to Show More/Edit. Or, if you are adding a new record, press . You will be taken to the Communications Parameters Menu which will be filled in with the parameters in your default record. 12 Keys Available -------------- Function keys which are available for use in this menu are: Show this help page. Return to the Communications Selection Menu. Kermit Parameters Begin communications using the values shown. (Cannot use this key when the Initial Communication Settings record is selected). Show the next record. Show the previous record. Move cursor to the previous field. Move cursor to the next field. Move cursor one position to the right, or select the next field value. Move cursor one position to the left, or select the previous field value. Note that the definitions for these keys are shown in the lower left corner of the screen. In the section that follows, you will be shown how these keys can be changed. In this screen you will set the communications parameters that must be defined to match the wide variety of our complicated communications systems in the world today. As shown above, the up and down arrow keys allow you to move from field to field. The left and right arrow keys function differently depending upon the type of field you are in (STRING, SELECT, SELNUM, or KEY). These have the same definitions as shown for the Communications Configuration Menu. The various fields, along with their field type and definitions, are explained below. Kermit Parameters ----------------- By pressing the key from the Communications Parameters Menu, you will be taken to the Kermit Parameters Menu. This menu has a number of protocol controls and options which determine how Kermit file transfers will work for this phone number record. We recommend that you leave these set to their default settings unless you are specifically instructed to change them to match the settings on your host. One exception to this is the "File Type" in the 'Options' section. If you will be transferring any type of files other than ASCII (text) you need to change this option to "Binary." 13 Record ID --------- This is a STRING field type. The record identifier is to be used when writing "script" files. The maximum length for this field is 8 characters. These 8 characters should be unique for all records in the database. Only 8 characters are allowed in order to minimize processing time when running a "script" file. The record ID should not include any spaces. You also need a Record ID in order to run BitCom directly from DOS and bypass the BitCom menus. Description ----------- This is a STRING field type. This is where you can put in a longer description than the Record ID to describe the contents of the record. Anything input into this field will appear in the Communications Selection Menu. Phone Number ------------ This is a STRING field type that shows the phone number to be dialed. It cannot be completed on the Initial Communication Setting screen, but should be completed for every record you create where the 'Mode' field is set to "Call." Up to 40 characters may be input, so you have room for long distance prefixes, area codes and numbers. Note that when the number is dialed, the "Dial Prefix" and "Dial Suffix" commands which were set in the Communications Configuration Menu will be sent before and after the actual phone number. A phone number may consist of numeric digits, spaces, commas, asterisks, pound signs or hyphens. To delay dialing the next digit, insert a comma for each two second delay. (Each comma will delay an amount of time specified by the Hayes command when using a Hayes or compatible modem. See your modem manual for details.) For example, the number 9,,,408-555-1212 will instruct the modem to dial the number 9, wait 6 seconds, and then dial the phone number 4085551212. The hyphens are ignored. 14 Note that most Hayes and compatible modems only accept commands up to 40 characters. Some of the newer modems have a limitation of 120 characters. The character limitation includes the contents of the Phone Number field, plus the Dialing Prefix and Dialing Suffix fields from the Communication Configuration Menu. If you have a total of more characters in these blocks than the character limitation of your modem, the modem will display the message "ERROR". Also, if you have any characters that the modem will not accept, you will get the "ERROR" message displayed. Last Connect Date and Time -------------------------- These are not input fields, but information fields. The date and time shown here will tell you when you last made a successful connection to the currently shown number. MNP --- This is a SELECT field type with options of "Yes" or "No." If "Yes" is chosen, an asterisk will appear next to the phone number on the Communications Selection Menu. Instead of using the Dial Prefix, BitCom will use the MNP Dial Command to enable MNP when that number is dialed. If "No" is chosen, BitCom will use the Dialing Prefix, and ignore the MNP Dial Command. Baud ---- This is a SELECT type field. Normally, the baud rate will be 300, 1200, or 2400 baud. The default is set at 2400. Your choices are 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 and 19,200 baud. NOTE: You must find out the BAUD RATE, PARITY, STOP BIT and DATA BIT settings of the computer that you are dialing in to and match those settings here. Otherwise, a successful connection will not be made. Parity ------ This is a SELECT field. The possible values that you may choose are None, Even, Odd, Mark, or Space. The default value is None. Data ---- This is a SELECT field. The number shown will indicate the number of data bits. The values that may be used are 7 or 8. Note that if you are using any form of the XMODEM protocol for sending/receiving files, 8 must be used. 15 Stop ---- This is also a SELECT field. It will indicate the number of Stop Bits to use. The only valid numbers are 1 or 2. Note: The sum of parity, data bits and stop bits must be equal to or greater than nine if you are using a Hayes compatible modem, and communicating at a speed of 1200 baud or greater. Parity set at anything other than "None" counts as 1. If parity is set to "None", it counts as zero. Echo ---- This is also a SELECT field type. Yes or No are the only values which may be shown in this field. If "Yes" is shown, your modem will echo each character that you type. If "No" is shown, you have to depend on the computer you are connected to do the echo (i.e. the host computer would have to send back each character as it receives it). If you see double the character that you are typing (when you are connected), the computer you are connected to is echoing back the characters, and you should change your setting to "No". If you cannot see the characters that you are typing, change the setting to "Yes." This option is also known as "FULL/HALF DUPLEX." Full duplex would be echo set to No, and half duplex would be echo set to Yes. This option may be changed while you are connected to the host computer. Mode ---- This is also a SELECT field type. The choices for this field are: "Call", "Ansr" or "Drct". If "Call" is chosen, the number in the Phone Number field will be dialed when you press . If "Ansr" is chosen, a phone number is not dialed, but the modem "Answer String" is sent. If "Drct" is chosen, a direct connection to the host computer is assumed and nothing is sent. When you press the CONFIRM key while at the Communication Parameters or Communications Selection menus, BitCom will dial, answer or connect according to the mode that is set for the current record. 16 Ignore ------ This is also a SELECT field type. This indicates the communications signals that you wish to ignore. The choices are: DSR, CTS, None or Both. DSR tells your computer if the data set is ready. CTS tells your computer that it is clear to send. If you are directly connected to a host computer, your host computer may not provide DSR, CTS or both. In this case, you need to ignore both signals in order for BitCom to work properly. A CTS signal (Clear To Send) is used as a stop/start handshake by some MNP modems. If you have an MNP modem, set Ignore to DSR. Unless your modem specifically provides these signals, you should set "Ignore" to "Both". This field should also be set to "DSR" if you are using an external modem. Help ---- This is a KEY field type. The key you select here is what you would press to access the Help Screens. The key you choose need not necessarily be the same as the usual help key of . If you are using terminal emulation such as VT100A, you should change this to another key, such as Alt-F1. Escape ------ This is also a KEY field type. The key you select here is what you would press to access the options menu, where you can initiate sending and receiving files, change the communications parameters, issue DOS commands, and hang up the phone while communicating. The default key is . If you are using terminal emulation such as VT100A, you should change this to another key, such as Alt-F2. Show F-Keys ----------- This is a KEY field type. The key that you choose here will show any keys that are defined in autolog or emulation files, when you are connected to a host computer. If you are using terminal emulation such as VT100A, you should change this to another key, such as Alt-F3. 17 Print ----- Also a KEY field type. The key that you choose here will toggle on/off the sending of all data which goes to the screen to the printer. The default key is . If you are using terminal emulation such as VT100A, you should change this to another key, such as Alt-F4. Snapshot -------- Once again, this is a KEY field type. The key chosen here, when pressed, will send a copy of the screen (80 columns by 25 lines) to a file or to the printer. When you press this key in BitCom, you will first be prompted for a filename. Thereafter, whenever it is pressed, you will again be prompted for a filename, but you can simply press or the key that you define for this function to save the screen to the same device or filename. In all cases the screen will be appended to the filename you specify. If you are using terminal emulation such as VT100A, you should change this to another key, such as Alt-F5. Break ----- This is also a KEY field type. The key that is chosen here, when pressed, will send a "Break" signal to the computer that you are connected to. BitCom, unlike most other communications software packages, allows you to define the real "Break" key (Ctrl-Scroll Lock) for this function. Trace ----- This is a SELECT field type. The choices for this field can be "None", "Ascii", "Hex", "Sys", "Modem", or "Esc". If "Ascii", the control codes received are echoed as an @ (the at sign) followed by the name of the code (e.g. @Ctl- B). If "Hex" is chosen, control codes less than Hex 1F are echoed as a $ (dollar sign) followed by the hexadecimal version of that key (e.g. $1B). If "Esc" is chosen, escape sequences will be shown in hexadecimal code. 18 If "Sys" is chosen, all incoming characters are written to a text file called BITCOM.TRA before filtering or terminal emulation takes place. This is useful in troubleshooting when you need to determine exactly what the incoming data is composed of. If "None" is chosen, no tracing to a file will take place. "None" is the default value. If "Modem" is chosen, hardware signals will be shown in the lower left corner of the screen. it will show CD (Carrier Detect), DSR (Data Set Ready), and CTS (Clear to Send). If an asterisk is shown next to the abbreviation, the signal is high. If a question mark is shown next to the abbreviation, the signal is low. This is helpful in determining modem settings and correcting connection problems. Output ------ This is a SELECT field type with choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", line feed characters are not sent while sending a file in ASCII mode. If "No", they are sent while sending a file in ASCII mode. If ANSI emulation is being used, this field should be set to "No". Input ----- This is also a SELECT field type with choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", input from the other computer will be "cleaned up" before being displayed on your screen. Special control codes are stripped, and the high bit is also removed. This is known as "stripping characters". This option has no effect on XMODEM file transfers. If you see graphics characters appearing on your screen that you do not want, you may want to set this field to "Yes" in order to strip out the high order bit. (Your host computer may be using 7 bit data). If your host computer is using lines and boxes, and you are getting strange graphics characters, change this field to NO. If ANSI emulation is being used, this field should be set to "No". 19 Auto LF ------- This is also a SELECT field type with possible choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", a line feed (LF) will be written to the display when a carriage return (CR) is received from the host. Alternatively, when a line feed is received, a carriage return will be written to the display. If you press the key while communicating with your host computer, and the cursor moves to column 1, but does not advance a line, set this field to YES. If your text is displayed as double spaced, set the field to NO. Exp Tab ------- This is also a SELECT field type with possible choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", tab characters will be expanded to the appropriate number of blank spaces when sending a file in the ASCII mode. Tab characters are used by some word processors and text editors to represent multiple spaces. If set to "No", then it will be sent as is (hex value of "09"). Up Case ------- Once again, this is a SELECT field type with possible choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", all characters sent to the host computer will be converted to upper case. If set to "No", no conversion will take place. BlankLn ------- This is again a SELECT field type with possible choices of "Yes" or "No". If "Yes", lines consisting of nothing but blanks will be sent as a single blank character when sending a file in the ASCII mode. This option is provided since some systems treat a totally blank line as an end-of-file command. If "No", all blank lines will be sent as they exist in the file. Csend ----- This is a SELNUM or SELECT field type. It indicates the type of delay that will take place after sending each character while in the ASCII file transfer mode. "None" means no delay, and "Echo" means wait for the host to send a character back before sending the next. You may also enter a number which will specify the hundredths of a second to wait after each character. 20 Lsend ----- Also a SELNUM and SELECT field type. This will indicate the type of delay to take place after sending each line while in the ASCII file transfer mode. "None" means no delay, and "Echo" means to wait for the host to send a line feed (LF) character, "Manual" means wait until you press a key. "Char" means that the system will wait until the character defined in "LChar" is received. Lchar ----- This is a SELNUM field type. Here you would define an arbitrary character, shown in the decimal form of its ASCII code, to wait for from the host before sending each line, during an ASCII file transfer. This is helpful if you must wait for a prompt while communicating with a mainframe computer. This can only be defined if you have defined the Lsend field to be "Char". For example, you would enter '001' if you want to wait for a A code from the host before sending each line. BreakT ------ This is a STRING field type. It will specify the length of the break signal to be sent, shown in hundredths of a second. Usually 40/100 of a second is sufficient. For example, to specify a break time of 200 milliseconds, you would show 20 (200 ms = 20/100 seconds). ReDial ------ This is also a STRING field type. What is input here will indicate the number of seconds the modem will wait before re-dialing the current number. If the number is 0, no re- dial will occur. BitCom will re-dial after the indicated number of seconds if a connection has not been made. Make sure that you give the modem enough time to make a connection (at least 40 seconds) before redialing. Capture File ------------ This is a STRING field type, where you would enter the name of the DOS file to which you want to capture the communications session after you have established communications. The filename may include drive and/or path names. This field can be up to 40 characters in length. Chapter 4 contains further information on Capture Files. 21 For example, you can capture a file to Drive C, the directory of \telex, under the name of msg, by specifying the following: C:\TELEX\MSG The file specified will be created by BitCom when the specified record is used. Capturing is not the same as receiving a file. For more information on both of these functions, please refer to the File Transfer Section in Chapter Three. Capture Mode ------------ This is a SELECT field type which will specify the method of the capture file. 'Append' means that each time you begin communications, the file will be appended to. 'Replace' means that the file will be erased and re-created each time you begin communications using the specified record. Autolog File ------------ This is a STRING field type where you would enter the name of a file containing startup commands. The filename extension of .ACT should not be included. This file will usually contain function key definitions, and the sign-on sequence for the current record. The file is invoked immediately after a connection is established. This field may contain a drive letter and path name, as well as the file name. For example, the file C:\TELEX\EASYLINK may contain an action file (automatic logon commands) for Easylink. Emulation --------- This is a SELECT field type where you would choose the type of terminal emulation to be performed, if any. If 'None', no terminal emulation will be performed. Otherwise, it must be the name of a file with a .EMU extension which contains a list of terminal characteristics. The filename extension of .EMU should not be shown, only the file name. For example, the emulation filenames on the program diskette are VT100A, VT100B, 3101, ANSI, WYSE50, WYSE60, TVI920 and TVI9XX. 22 Compression ----------- This option is only available in BitCom Deluxe. It is not enabled in this version of BitCom. No matter this is set, it will be no effect. Notes ----- This is a STRING field type where you may enter up to two lines of any text you wish pertaining to this record.