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OS/2 Help File
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1993-10-20
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23KB
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460 lines
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About LiveWire Communications ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
LiveWire Communications
LiveWire Communications is the 32-bit, mult-threaded text-based
tele-communications program for OS/2 2.0 and later. Highly optimized,
packed full of features, and yet easy to use, LiveWire is an
excellent replacement for DOS communications packages which are
unable to take full advantage of OS/2.
Features
LiveWire's text-based interface is designed to be easy to use and
configure, especially for users familiar with other communications
software. LiveWire also has many features unavailable in other
communications programs. The following is a list of major features
incorporated in LiveWire 2.1.
o Full ANSI, AVATAR 0+, and VT-100 emulations
o REXX script language
o BPS rates up to 57,600 without loss of data
o High performance jump scroll text output windowed and full screen
o Unlimited scroll back buffer
o 80 preset modem configurations to choose from
o Internal public domain Zmodem-32
o Support for network modems via the named pipe mechanism
o Point and shoot dialing directory with superior editing facilities
o Macro commands control the actions of most function or alternate
keys, and all keys are re-definable
o The activation key for any function may be changed using two
keystrokes, and the new activation key is updated on the command
screen automatically
o Automatic detection and installation of external protocols such as
Puma, MPt, Lynx, Jmodem, Punter, Bimodem, Super Zmodem, Kermit, and
M2Zmodem
o External protocols to be installed automatically may also be
defined in a simple text file format. If external protocol vendors
begin including an auto-install file, installation of a new
external protocol could become a trivial task requiring little or
no documentation.
o Support for Procomm+, Qmodem, Boyan, Telix, and LiveWire keysets.
This feature is meant to decrease the time required to learn
LiveWire by providing familiar key-command definitions. LiveWire
does not attempt to emulate any of these alternate communications
programs.
o Dialing directory reads and writes Procomm, Qmodem, Boyan, and
Telix dialing directories automatically
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. What's new? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
What's new in this Beta-2
New features added in this Beta-2 include:
o New phone file format, with longer fields for long-distance
dialing. If you are using the old format, use the "coNvert" command
in the dialer to convert to the new format!
o New "Comment File" field in the dialing directory. This allows you
to add comments to any dialing directory entry. Scripts can also
access this file for external storage purposes.
o Named pipe support. To enable it, you must do two things. First,
set your Communications Port to "PIPE." (It is after COM8) Second,
supply a pipe name in the port configuration menu.
o REXX scripting support. The old scripting language LiveWire used
has been removed and replaced with support for OS/2's REXX
Procedures Language. LiveWire adds communications-related functions
and variables to the REXX environment.
o Complete VT-100 support. This implementation of VT-100 was written
with the DEC VT Programmer Reference manual as a guide and VTTEST
as a testing tool. VT-100 correctly emulates most of the DEC VT-100
features documented. Added in this release are VT-52 mode and
character sets. Inter-character VT-100 command pacing has been
added as an option.
o Optimized communications. Many hours have been spent optimizing
LiveWire's communications, display, and file transfer modules. All
meet or exceed the performance of LiveWire's OS/2-based
competitors.
o Options to bring the dialer up on startup, steal focus and pop up a
message on connect, ignore carrier detect, and disable or enable
sounds.
o Command screen has been changed from HOME to CTRL-HOME to prevent
conflicts with VT-100.
o Support for M2ZModem and CKermit as external protocols. LiveWire
will automatically install them if they are in the PATH.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Bugs! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Bug fixes in this version ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Bugs fixed in Beta-2:
o Upload access violations
o Dialer fields too small
o Downloads and Uploads take up too much CPU
o Work with M2ZMODEM and CKERMIT
o New VIO routines sometimes did not display text blocks
o Echo fixed
o Linefeeds fixed
o Exit and Save configuration fixed
o ANSI now saves to scroll-back
o Scroll back access violations
o Scroll back takes up less memory
o Memory usage decreased significantly
o Fixed file transfer CPS counters
o Removed auto-baud rate detection
o Blink and color problems
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Known bugs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Bugs or omitted features we know of and are working on:
o Uploads sometimes do not work correctly, depending upon the
configuration of the remote host. Older implementations of ZMODEM
seem to have a problem with LiveWire's implementation of Zmodem.
This may have something to do with flow control, so if you have
problems try a lower bps rate.
o Script upload/downloads probably don't work yet.
o Log still displays the wrong time.
o REXX scripting does not include a sub-command handler. Any unknown
commands are passed directly to OS/2. This may interfere with
LiveWire's display.
o There is currently no way to break out of a REXX script. If you get
caught in a REXX script that won't exit you must close the LiveWire
window.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. How to report a bug ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
How to report a bug
You may report a bug by postal mail, e-mail, or fax. We also hope to
have our bug database online at the DataMirage Support BBS, where you
can enter a bug directly.
Before sending off the bug make sure you :
1. Read the known bugs list
2. Make a detailed description of the bug
3. Make a detailed set of steps to reproduce the bug
4. If it is important, list hardware information or software setup
All bug reports will be read and logged. Depending upon the severity
and state of the bug the author may write you back directly.
Send bugs to:
Les Novell / 585 Hyde Park Drive / San Jose, CA 95136
lnovell@bonnie.ics.uci.edu (for internet)
FAX: 714-724-9342 / BBS: 714-856-2071
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Performance tests ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Performance testing
LiveWire has been performance tested against its direct competitors
in the OS/2 market. Its high-performance video routines can are up to
200% faster than standard full screen and windowed applications can
achieve.
In a test of raw display speed, LiveWire 2.1, TE/2 1.24, and CKermit
5A(189) were made to display a 64k text file at almost 4000cps using
VT-100 emulation. LiveWire accomplished this task in 18 seconds,
CKermit in 21 seconds, and TE/2 in 32 seconds.
Zmodem file transfer tests have shown that throughput in characters
per second under LiveWire matches that of M2Zmodem 2.12's. In
addition, downloads under LiveWire take significantly less CPU time.
The following pulse shows a side-by-side comparison of the CPU usage
created when downloading a 100K file at about 1000 characters per
second.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Using VT-100 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Using VT-100
To switch to VT-100 emulation, select this VT-100 in the Emulation
Configuration menu (ALT-E in the LiveWire keyset). To setup the
emulation, move the highlight bar (in the same configuration menu) to
"Setup Emulation..." and press ENTER.
To change any of the options, move the scroll bar to the option and
press ENTER. When you're done editing the setup, press ESC twice to
exit. The following is a description of the setup fields:
o <BackSpace=DEL> If YES, backspace will send a DELETE character
instead of the standard BS character. This is important for UNIX
and VAX systems, which by default must have this enabled.
o <Destructive BS> If YES, backspace will erase the character to its
left. Otherwise, the cursor is just positioned over the character
to the left.
o <Keypad> If Numeric, sends standard ASCII numbers as you type on
the keypad. If Application, sends VT-100 specific escape sequences
for each keypad key pressed.
o <CursorKeys> If Application, sends the standard VT-100 escape
sequences for the arrow keys. Application is the desired setting
for UNIX editors, command shells, and utilities. If Normal, sends
the cursor-positioning sequences that would normally be sent by a
host.
o <PFKeys> Sets which group of keys send PF escape sequences. This
can be switched between NORMAL, ALT, SHIFT, CTRL F1-F4 keys. You
may also turn PF keys off.
o <Scroll end of line> If this is Yes, LiveWire automatically
scrolls when it reaches the right edge of the screen. VT-100
applications normally assume this is not the case, so the default
is No.
o <Command Pacing> Sets the pacing (in miliseconds) between bytes of
an outgoing VT-100 escape sequence. If your host has trouble
interpreting your VT-100 keypad, PF-keys, or arrow keys, try
increasing this value. The default is a zero milisecond delay.
o <Tab setup...> Allows you to setup the VT-100 horizontal tabs.
Pressing ALT-S while in the tabs menu restores the standard tab
configuration.
o <Answerback Message> The message LiveWire should return when it
gets the ENQ character.
o <Answerback> If yes, answerback messages are sent.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Connecting to UNIX or VMS ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
UNIX or VMS
This section may be helpful for using LiveWire with UNIX or VMS.
In UNIX or VMS, use the VT-100 emulation. Select this from the
configuration menu, and make sure that your dialing entry for the
UNIX or VMS host is set to VT-100. VT-100 will not emulate a VT-102
terminal.
Using arrow keys in EMACS or VI is possible. Set your VT-100
emulation Cursor Keys option to "Application."
If your UNIX or VMS host seems unable to interpret escape sequences
you send, try increasing command pacing, found in the VT-100
emulation setup.
Uploads and downloads are problematic sometimes. Make sure that you
have a simple binary connection (ie, nobody is filtering out control
characters), that you have correct flow control enabled, and that
there are no filename problems.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Rexx ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Rexx scripting
REXX scripting has been introduced in this Beta-2. All REXX scripts
written under LiveWire 2.1 Beta-2 have access to any REXX external or
internal function. In addition, LiveWire adds its own functions, a
subset of which appear in Beta-2. When LiveWire 2.1 is released, a
listing of all LiveWire REXX script functions will be documented.
Script learning has been modified to write a REXX automated logon. To
learn a script, enter a new script name into the Script field in the
dialing directory. When you dial this entry it will automatically
begin learning your logon procedure. To stop the learn function, read
the status line which will contain information on which key to press.
Under the LiveWire keyset, the key to stop learn is ALT-L.
Anyone with an interest in writing more complex scripts (and
therefore needing a complete list of commands) for LiveWire should
contact the author via internet email or DataMirage BBS.
Note that old LiveWire scripts will no longer execute under LiveWire
2.1 Beta-2.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Using external protocols ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
External protcols
There are two OS/2-based external protocols which LiveWire supports.
M2Zmodem, by Michael Walgren, is an excellent shareware Zmodem
implementation which supports Zmodem Resume. CKermit is also an
excellent Kermit transfer protocol and terminal program.
Installing these protocols to work with LiveWire is trivial. First,
you must correctly install M2Zmodem or CKermit. This includes setting
a PATH _AND_ DPATH to the directories in which they reside. If the
PATH and DPATH are not set correctly, these programs will fail to
work. Luckily, the install functions they come with should do this
for you. Don't forget to reboot after installing them.
Next, go into LiveWire's configuration menu and select the "Files"
menu. Now select "Transfer Protocols..." A list of protocols should
appear, along with an option to "auto-find protocols." Press ENTER
while the highlight bar is over that option and LiveWire will find
and install M2Zmodem and/or CKermit automatically.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. How to order LiveWire ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
How to order LiveWire 2.1
LiveWire 2.1 ShareWare license agreement
This agreement replaces all previous versions of LiveWire
Communications license agreements.
LiveWire is NOT free software! LiveWire is marketed under the
shareware marketing concept. You may use LiveWire for 30 days, after
which you are obligated to either register this software or
discountinue use of the software. The fee for registration is nominal
and brings a lot of benefits. If you register once, you will never
have to buy another version of LiveWire. All future versions of
LiveWire marketed under the shareware concept can be registered with
your serial number -- even if the registration prices go up. You also
get free (except for long distance or toll charges) support through
the home of LiveWire -- DataMirage Bulletin Board System.
By using this software you are agreeing to the above terms.
Basic registration is $30
That includes:
- Your registration number
- Support through mail and the DataMirage BBS
Extended registration is $40
That includes:
- Your registration number
- A registered copy of the latest version of LiveWire
- Support through mail and the DataMirage BBS
Complete registration is $60
That includes:
- Your registration number
- A registered copy of the latest version of LiveWire Support
through mail and DataMirage BBS
- A laser printed manual, identical to the one provided
with the 2.1 release
to register, mail the registration blank on the following page
to:
Les Novell
585 Hyde Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95136
I'd also like any comments or suggestions on my program you
have. Either write me at the address above or at
internet address lnovell@bonnie.ics.uci.edu.
Registration blank
Filling out your name, address, and phone number is a
requirement. Your name will be used to personalize your serial
number.
Name _________________________________
Address
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Phone # (_____)_________-________________
QUANTITY
( ) $30 Basic Registration = registration #
( ) $40 Extended Registration = registration # + newest version
( ) $60 Complete Registration = registration # + newest version
+ printed manual
SUB TOTAL ________
$5 shipping ________ (USA addresses excluded)
+ TAX (8.75%) ________ (California residents only!)
TOTAL COST ________
I only accept US currency, checks, or US moneyorders.
If you send a purchase order, please make it clear where
the invoice should be mailed. Please do not send a credit
card number.
Any comments?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________