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15 ? ************ Topic 5 Tue Oct 15, 1991 C128-BILL [Bill] at 10:43 EDT Sub: Dialogue 128 Support Product Support area for Dialogue 128, by Gary Farmaner 170 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 1 Tue Oct 15, 1991 C128-BILL [Bill] at 10:45 EDT Attention Dialogue 128 users, and potential customers: Do NOT order Dialogue 128 from Voyager Mindtools Inc. Voyager Mindtools Inc. has apparently ceased operation, and is no longer handling Dialogue 128. I have taken over publishing of the program myself, since it is clear that this is the only way that I can insure that people will be able to get the product promptly, and receive responses to their inquiries. I'll be posting a message next week with full ordering information. In the meantime I would like to address those people who have ordered from Voyager Mindtools: (1) If you have received Dialogue 128, then please make a photocopy of the manual cover, and write your name, address, and serial number on it and send it to the address below. (2) If you have ordered Dialogue 128, but have NOT received your order, please stop payment immediately and await new ordering instructions. If it is too late, and the payment has been cashed and you haven't received your copy (after a reasonable amount of time) please photocopy the check (both sides) or obtain some proof of cashing from your bank or post office and send that along with your name and address to the address below. I'll honour the order. New source of Dialogue 128: Triple Point Software Box 369 253 College St. Toronto, ON M5T 1R5 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by GEnie Mail, or at the above address. Gary Farmaner Author: Dialogue 128 ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 2 Sat Oct 26, 1991 G.FARMANER at 01:15 EDT Here's the latest on ordering Dialogue 128: Dialogue is now available from Software Support International, and directly from me. Ordering info from Triple Point: New sales: $29.95 + $4 shipping (US funds) $34.95 + $4 shipping (In Canada) Upgrades (for registered v1.0 through v2.1 owners): $14.95 (New master disk and manual addendum) $19.95 (New disk and new manual) The upgrade prices INCLUDE SHIPPING CHARGES, and upgrades are ONLY available through Triple Point. Triple Point Software Box 369 253 College Street Toronto, ON, Canada M5T IR5 Gary Farmaner ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 3 Mon Mar 23, 1992 G.FARMANER at 03:22 EST Here's various answers and comments: M.MINNIG> I haven't seen that problem before (displaying directory of RAMLink partitions). When v2.2 was created, I did not have a RAMLink, so the compatibility Dialogue does exhibit is testament to the CMD design. I had the good sense of making sure I did normal KERNAL calls for slow drives (which is how the RAMLink or RAMDrive will appear to the Kernel). S.MAZZOTTA1> Sam, Even when you make a connection you don't get any change to the time after the C: on the status line? K.KERRUISH2> Thanks for the kind comments. There are always hundreds of possible improvements. However, one is always faced with the limits of the hardware, available RAM, and personal time. - I've had a couple of people request more flexible printing options. I'll certainly consider this in the future. - Multiple lines in conference mode isn't possible right now. - Resetting the connect clock is a good idea. I'll keep that in mind. - I'm not sure I understand your range function in editor problem. What happens when you set a range and then press CTRL-D? - The strings associated with the function keys will send a carriage return after the string. Is the Telenet initial sequence @D<cr> or just @D? If you don't want the carriage return, include the right arrow generated by CBM +. Gary Farmaner ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 4 Wed Mar 25, 1992 G.CORREA at 00:41 EST In a similar vein to resetting the Connect clock, would a more stop-watch - like function be possible? I mean, pausing the clock while I am out of chargeable areas and re-starting it again if I go back in? ...gads, do we need 3 running timers, one for real-time, one for connect-time, and one for chargeable time? Eeek. Gary, I am having a problem with a local BBS system and DIALOGUE. Basically just uploading & downloading files, everything else is fine. The board supports XMODEM and PUNTER (two variants, "Relaxed PUNTER" being what works...) and the problem exists on both protocols. Basically, one session XMODEM will work fine, and the next it won't but PUNTER will, and then PUNTER will work for a while and then not work at all. Seems kinda random to me. The sysop is in my local users group, and he suggested I try a different terminal program, so with great reluctance I dug out geoTerm again and tried it's PUNTER... and it has been working solidly for weeks; I tried XMODEM and it too worked fine. Unfortunately, I cannot say more than this. The sysop figures the BBS is expecting a specific "ready" signal that DIALOGUE is not sending, or something on that order, but I have also had downloads & uploads bomb partially completed. I am going to see if I can do some research on the problem with him to see if we can track down what's going on... ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 5 Fri Apr 03, 1992 W.BUSH2 at 21:48 EST Does anybody know how to contact Gary Farmaner? I tried leaving mail a few weeks ago but got no reply. I'm sure he's a busy guy, but I would like to ask him about his Ymodem protocol. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 6 Sat Apr 04, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 00:50 EST Gary checks in about once a week. The best thing to do is leave a message here and if someone else does not answer it he will. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 7 Wed Apr 08, 1992 S.MAZZOTTA1 [Sam] at 19:27 EDT Thanks to all who offered info or advice on my problem with the TOD clocks and the autodial feature in Dialogue. I replaced the fuses within my 128D, and know everything works perfectly. I'm REALLY happy I didn't have to replace the CIA chips, which are soldered in place. Sam ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 8 Fri Apr 10, 1992 S.MAZZOTTA1 [Sam] at 01:23 EDT Hey, Gary, how do I change the "Carrier Check" countdown timer to a number greater than 15? There is a locsl al BBS here that sometimes takes 20 seconds or more to answer. And I can't figure out how to change the timer. Sam ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 9 Fri Apr 10, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 08:13 EDT Sam, The └carrier check' option is located within the └host configuration' menu. So, from the └auto dial directory', cursor to the BBS entry you want to Edit, press Comkey E, and follow the prompts til you get to Host Configuration, where you can make the change. Hope this helps! Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 10 Sat Apr 11, 1992 S.MAZZOTTA1 [Sam] at 01:24 EDT Thanks for the info, Howie! ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 11 Sat Apr 11, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 02:32 EDT You're welcome! :) ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 12 Sat Apr 18, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 23:31 EDT We have to clean this topic (4 Dialouge 128 buffers!) of some text. I have SFXed the whole topic and uploaded it in two files to Library #1. Dialouge128a.sfx & Dialouge128b.sfx. I will be deleting the older messages and cleaning the topic. So don't worry, nothing has disappeared, it is in Lib#1. The SFX files are also 210 blks shorter than the captured text and should make a better reference than a extremely long topic. Especially at 300 or 1200 baud! ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 13 Tue Apr 21, 1992 H.HOMEIER1 [Harold] at 09:38 EDT How do you SFX?? (Big Question> ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 14 Tue Apr 21, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 20:04 EDT type set 3 (Software) and see the help topic for CS-DOS or drop by my room on Tuesdays. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 15 Tue Apr 28, 1992 MIKE.DUNCAN [ Mikey ] at 00:13 EDT Having a problem using RAM2 configuration, that goes like this: Tried to load a 252 block text file from floppy (1571), and it stops after 800 lines. "Loading ..." is still flashing, but the clock has stopped. It's locked up. (Tried two different copies) Same file from RAMLink (NATV) - there's about a 1/4 second pause after 800 lines, but then finishes loading to 1214 lines. No problem. Has this happened to anyone else? - Mikey ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 16 Sun May 03, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 05:23 EDT Undocumented Feature ==================== I found that in the buffer's Editor, in both single and split-screen modes, it is possible to drastically speed up normal scrolling. While pressing the appropriate cursor key, tap the Control key. Scroll appears to at least double in speed, and stuff flies by. Sort of handy to quickly bounce around big buffers, while still being able to see where you are. (I am pretty sure this is undocumented...) Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 17 Sun May 03, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 22:51 EDT Solution to Dialouge 128 buffer blues while on GEnie during a RTC. <Control>= <Control>C Turn local echo off! Turn on echo /echo for the RTC No more random or scrambled text. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 18 Tue May 05, 1992 G.CORREA at 00:09 EDT Thanks, JBEE; gotta try that one. Later today, I think...! :) ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 19 Tue May 05, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 14:45 EDT Be Seeing You ;) ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 20 Sun May 17, 1992 SKIZ at 07:28 EDT I've used this software for quite some time and love it! I have a question though maybe someone can answer. In the short DIALBOOT program, you can specify which 128 you are using, a standard C128 or a 128D or 128 with 64K VDC. I have 64K VDC but regardless of how I configure Dialogue, everything remains the same or so it seems. Is there a purpose for offering the choice? ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 21 Sun May 17, 1992 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 10:57 EDT Doesn't he use the extra VDC RAM for buffering or something when you have it installed? ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 22 Sun May 17, 1992 R.KNOP1 [Rob Knop] at 12:33 EDT I THINK (am not sure) that Dialogue uses the extra VDC RAM to save the screen when you are in the buffer editor. This would be a more serious consideration for a 50 line screen, when there is more data to save (although Dialogue doesn't use the "readable" interlace screen found in (for instance) ZED, or DesTerm (with the overlay 80x50.ovl), so I don't use the Dialogue 50 line screen much). Without the VDC upgrade, I think you lose the terminal screen when you go to the buffer editor. I could be wrong, though. What I'd really like to see in Dialogue128 is a GraphOn emulation - in other words, a separate switchable Tek4010 screen! (Kermit actually has a small Tek emulation within it.) To do this and preserve the text screen would require 64K of VDC RAM, since the graphics screen itself would take at least 16000 bytes. -Rob ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 23 Mon May 18, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 12:13 EDT Rob, You're the second person in as many weeks who has asked for (better) Tek4010 emulation. :) Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 24 Thu May 28, 1992 G.CORREA at 00:26 EDT Anyone had problems formatting a disk through DIALOGUE's DOS Commands...? Hitting the Commodore key and [>] and then typing diskname,id gets me a READ ERROR in track (18 or 40 depending on 1571/1581). I assume that the comma is causing two inputs instead of one and DIALOGUE is attempting a short NEW on the disk because the ID is never sent, right...? ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 25 Thu May 28, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 19:30 EDT I'm running with a 1/2 sys, so it is a bit time consuming fr me to verify, but I believe you should be entering: n0:newdisk,gc As I understand it the command channel accepts the standard calls. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 26 Thu May 28, 1992 G.FARMANER at 22:59 EDT Gil, WHen formatting a disk, you naturally need to enter the appropriate Dformatting command. You naturally need n0:name,id. There is a limitation caused by Dialogue's checking for device numbers. Either the ID can't start with a number (,number is interpretted to be an attempt to change device numbers). You can get around that by entering n0:name,id,device. Dialogue will strip the ,device. Gary ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 27 Tue Jun 09, 1992 G.CORREA at 00:29 EDT Aha! That explaines it. Most of my IDs tend to be numbers. Usually, Dialog is sending to the correct device number anyway so I never thought the device number might be checked for. If for example, 9> n0:disk,01 is sent, the command goes to unit 9 okay, but if I read the above correctly DIALOGUE strips (but does not get caught by an illegal device number?!?) the "01" id and sends only the n0:disk, which results in a short NEW to the right drive... on an unformatted disk... Makes sense. That's the problem with making programs too smart. I'll keep it in mind and use only letters for IDs now. Thanks, Gary. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 28 Thu Jun 11, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 22:53 EDT Hi, Some while back, I'd asked about Dialogue and my USRobotics HST 14.4 V.42bis modem, as to the thru-puts. I'm wondering if anything has been done (or anyone else that has some results as to how many characters per sec they achieve.) Before, I couldn't get my RAMLink Cart to work ( I only have the REU (1.5meg) as RAM, no onboard SIMMS) after connecting the C64 timing jumper it works. Anyway, before I could only get around 800 cps downloading into the REU w/RAMDOS installed, now with RAMLink I still only get 800 cps. It seems that I asked about the various modem.mods & had thought that I should be installing the MNP.MOD but it would- So I just went to the HAYES.MOD, w/ 38,000 and stream and then no flow-control. Thinking that this would be the fasted CONFIG. Also, I'm wondering, once I do get some SIMMS... will I be able to have HUGE buffer (RAM1,RAM2) Swiftlink in the PASS Thru port Someone mentioned that I possibly coud have an cart-slot multiplier (Aprospand) have SWIFTLINK and the REU in the PASS- THRU port. Would this work. Craik (hmm? I seem to be having some trouble with BREAK acknowledged's giving me these weird extra-lines ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 29 Fri Jun 12, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 01:50 EDT Steve, Noth'n too shabby about 800 cps! :) I suspect that the condition of the line connection has more to do with actual thru-put than anything else, since your modem and the host's are using that as a basis to determine how fast things get sent. With your present set-up, I'd suggest experimenting with the REU switched into DIRECT, and using Dialogue's big buffers for collecting input. This ought to assure the fastest operation on your side. It ought to be faster than RamDos. As to trying to use a REU in the cartridge thru-port, I have never heard of anyone doing this. I suspect that this would not work, at best, and it may not be too good for the REU, RL and computer. You ought to ask Doug about this in his support area here in the FlagShip first, before actually doing something like this. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 30 Sat Jun 13, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 15:33 EDT Hi, Not'n to shabby about 800cps Did I mention in the previous POST that I can with Desterm into the REU, can get 1350 cps with Xmodem-1k or Ymodem(batch) on text files about 1000 cps on Compressed TEXT (ZIPped, IBM). Sorry, about mentioning the OTHER TERM, GARY I suppose that I should be happy, but, just that I might be doing something WRONG. as I mentioned, before, I couldn't make a comparition since I couldn't get RAMLink to work. I did think that I should get something BETTER than what I could get d/loading to a 1581. I thought that there is something different. Example: Using Desterm calling a board with 14.4 but NO V.42bis the screen on Desterm would be OK! ..also no screen garbage 9600. BUT, w/14.4 & V.42bis the screen would get messed but the transfer rates CPS would be HIGH. Dialogue doesn't mess-up NO matter what speed or V.42bis but then the transfer rate cps doesn't increase. Hmm? Steve Craik ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 31 Sat Jun 13, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 23:13 EDT Gary, Since a picture is worth a thousand words... One of the servers I call using vt-100 likes to draw boxes for things. This is how it appears: hGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg i the letters are not the actual ones I get i i but this gives an idea of what I see. i i i jGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGk I suspect escape codes are trying to do something like: +--------------------------------------------+ ▄ something like this, but with solid lines ▄ ▄ not the broken ones here. ▄ ▄ ▄ +--------------------------------------------+ And then requestor text gets placed inside the box. This seems to be a lot like my printer's alternate IBM codes. Are there any tables that I could modify to accomodate this? Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 32 Sun Jun 14, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 00:47 EDT Steve, oh! I thought you were referring to streaming ascii text. 800 cps with download protocol is even better! :) I can only quess, but I would think you'd see a speed improvment writing to a REU thru RL, in comparison to a 1581. I'm set for 2400 baud, and there is a noticable difference. The transmission pause while the write to RL occurs is a fraction of one second. Not so with a 1581. Writing to a REU under RamDos, however, would be a lot slower, since RL access of the REU is much faster. (That's what CMD tells us!) :) I never tried using RamDos, so don't have a direct comparisons between the two. You might want to try setting up the REU's ram as a RL native mode partition and downloading to the RL drive. The pause for writes will be barely noticed. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 33 Tue Jun 16, 1992 AMFORD at 20:30 EDT IBM / ANSII emulation & background colors: An IBM bbs that I call does the dastardly deed of supposedly changing the background colors, however I have not figured out how to get Dialogue 128 to accept codes and change backgrounds. Will it change background colors according to some ANSII codes? This came up when the sysop changed one of his menus to a blue background and used black letters for the menu options (which never showed up on my black background). ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 34 Fri Jun 19, 1992 G.FARMANER at 00:56 EDT Let me try to answer several questions: Steve Craik: As Howard mentioned, RAMDOS is slow so you can't expect top performance using that. But, I'm pretty sure I get better than 800 cps with a RAMLink. I'll check that out. Howard: Are you saying the graphics are displayed as letter characters on this VT100 system? I take it you tried VT100 terminal mode. Did you try IBM mode? Gary ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 35 Fri Jun 19, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 03:06 EDT Hi, I'm looking for some help in creating AUTOEXEC scripts and AUTOLOGON Scripts. What I'm trying to do is have the AUTOEXEC wait for 11:00:00p (I got that work OK) but, then I've been trying to call on the phonebook to Multi-dial selected numbers and then let the AUTOLOGON of each indivial BBS take over. During this portion of my automatied proceedure I'd like it to download the boards prepared messages for download. Jump to another CONF then download those new message prepaired for DL, and so on till all is done. At this point, I want it to start to dial the rest of the boards that I call and do much the same for each board. Here is what I put in the AUTOEXEC: w 11:00:00p C=a:a ; I was hoping for it to call the phone book which it ; did however the ":a" wouldn't start exec'ing the ; selected numbers from the phonebook. Steve Craik ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 36 Fri Jun 19, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 05:50 EDT Steve, I'd suggest approaching it a bit differently. First, I'd have a seperate scriptthat would logon and handle each of the places that are called. Then I would have a short 'master' script, that called each of these individual ones, by means of the GS (gosub file) command. Set this one to begin at 11:00:00. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 37 Fri Jun 19, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 09:48 EDT Gary, I checked again, and in both the vt-100 and IBM modes, I see the same box (well actually a rectangle) made of letters. The actual letters are as follows, altho the proportion may be different: lqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqm x x x x x x mqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqj While in the IBM mode I buffered the incoming stream, including ESCapes. I'll send you an e-mail of this binary. The series of 'qqq' is near the end of the file. I may have included a prior screen in the file, but it will show what all was being sent. With the exception of this rectangle, the rest of the screen appears to be just fine, everything where it should be, and properly highlighted. I suspect the host was sending different codes for both modes. However, the screen I see appeared to be the same. Let me know if you would also like a capture of the vt-100 stream. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 38 Sun Jun 21, 1992 G.FARMANER at 01:56 EDT Scott: I was speaking to John Brown this evening, and something he said made me think about your download speed question. Have you turned off the transfer contents display? That is done by setting the "Screen output" setting in the configuration window to None (or Buffer). Gary ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 39 Sun Jun 21, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 04:56 EDT ;) ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 40 Sun Jul 05, 1992 D.WADLEIGH [Sadsac] at 22:38 EDT Gary - Could you please give me an example of the way the split screen in buffer edit would be used? When I press CBM-M I get the split screen - but what can I do with it? Can I use the read back buffer to read messages from GEnie and compose a reply in the bottom part of the screen? Thanks - Sadsac ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 41 Sun Jul 05, 1992 D.WADLEIGH [Sadsac] at 22:40 EDT Gary - I have an Aprotec Minimodem C-24. This modem needs an -AT&D2- command in order for the CBM-H (hook command) to work. How would I send these AT commands in an initialization string? ATZ AT&D2 ATs7=50 I know that I leave off the AT's but it seems if I send the Z first, the rest does not get sent. If I start with - &d2s7=50 it goes OK. Can delays or CR's be included in the initialization string? Also, after hitting return at the end of the string, Dialogue seems to be asking for a 2nd string (ie. I have to hit return again to get back to the config menu. Why is this? Thanks - Sadsac ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 42 Mon Jul 06, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 00:15 EDT I frequently use Dialogue 128 online in "rtc" mode because I like the split screen. When a message has scrolled past the current viewing window you can use the scroll back buffer to capture it to your regular buffer for editing by C= (up arrow key) scrolling to the text you want to capture run/stop C= (G) The C=/G key combo will copy the text you are currently viewing into the buffer. From there you can edit it further (if you want to do it offline perhaps) or you can compose a reply in the four line buffer (RTC mode). ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 43 Thu Jul 23, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 23:19 EDT Hi ALL, I have a question fer Ya's. Remember when (Howie?) mentioned the UN-documented TIP about scrolling in the EDITOR. (Using a quick press of the CONTROL KEY to speed up the scrolling). Well, I've mentioned that I wanted my downloads to be a little faster (w/protocols, and uploads for that matter). I, in passing, mentioned that I get about 830 CPS at 14.4k (YMODEM or XMODEM-1K). Anyway, I noticed in that TIP (for scrolling) that the LINE counter gets TURNED OFF. Thus enabling the NEW increased speed in scrolling while in the EDITOR. Now, I'm wondering if because DIALOGUE is keeping track of alot of things during TRANSFERS. Could some of those things be turned off thus (perhaps) increasing my THRU-PUTS. I've noticed that it keeps track of the TIME in the TRANSFER WINDOW and also on the STATUS LINE, flips back and forth telling you that your recieving or writing. (Hmm? seems like something else also) But, could the KEEPING of the TIME on the STATUS LINE be ONLY updated after using being in the TRANSFER INDOW... rather than the constant updating of both. Maybe, just a DISPLAY that we are downloading or uploading rather that indicating the READING/WRITING? Hmm? I figure I should get something near 1350 cps but as mentioned ONLY 830 cps. Perhaps, SAVING some of those CLOCK CYCLES can improve the THRU-PUT, sorta as the speed of the scroll is increased by turning off the LINE COUNTER when in the EDITOR. Any IDEA's? Is there already something that can do as I mention? Secondary TOPIC.. Has there been mention of SMARTWATCH in conjunction with DIALOGUE. It seems that I remember about DIALOGUE and CMD's Clocks (either CMD-HD's or RAMLink's RAMCard II Clock) Just can't remember about SMARTWATCH ( version E, or info on BOTH "B" & "E") Thank for ALL INFO! Steve Craik 128 Commodore Tele-MuTAtInG at 14.4 (using Dialogue & Swiftlink) ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 44 Fri Jul 24, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 02:05 EDT There is a Smart Watch patch for verision "E"? in the Flagship library. From what people tell me it doesn't work with version "B". ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 45 Fri Jul 24, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 18:51 EDT Steve, LOL! I've been "fooling" with the set-time routines and RAMLink's RTC. They work fine, except if it happens to be between 12 midnite and 1 AM, when they set the clock. During this time the clock is set 12 hours out of skew. Has something to do with the 128's (and presumably the 64's) CIA chips. Anyway, not to make a long story of this, I think I got it solved and hope to upload the routine as soon as I can confirm it works okey. As for the throughput speed, a couple new things I fund out recently. First, any baud higher than the base speed of the modem gets done thru compression/decompression done by the two modems. Files that are ARC's, ZIP's, *AND* most other compressed files do not lend themselves to further compression by the modem's firmware. Having the auto-adjust baud feature enabled while transferring these compressed files will actually slow the transfer, because the modems are wasting time trying to learn that they cannot do any compression. So, with these type of transfers, this feature should be disabled. The type of file that compresses best are ordinary text. Obviously uncompressed ones. Transferring these types, with speed adjust enabled ought to give the highest throughtput posssible. BTW, a lot of file types get included in the "already compressed" category, including GIF's. I suppose once we see MNP5 and v.42bis modems in popular use, there won't be much need any longer for compressing files, at least for transferring them in the shortest possible time. To summarize, I'd suggest trying any throughput test on plain ole ordinary text, since this should give a best result. And, to speed up the transfer of already compressed files, disable the modem's auto speed adjust. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 46 Fri Jul 24, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 20:18 EDT Steve, Seeing Ed's post about Ymodem-G, reminded me of another thing that you could do to increase your over-all throughput: disable your modem's error corrrection. When transferring with Ymodem, the 128 is doing the error correcting. Allowing the modem to also error correct is an unnecessary time consuming redundancy. Enabling the modem's error correcting for streaming text (a dump, with no Term protocol), however, will assure that what gets received is what got sent. So the new summary to try the fastest throughput test: (1) transfer a plain text file, (2) enable auto compression, (3) disable error correction. It seems the *best* modem settings will depend upon the on-line activity planned, and if the files being transferred have already been compressed. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 47 Sun Aug 16, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 19:16 EDT HI ..Howie, Earlier, you were mentioning you were experimenting with RAMLink's RTC .. I'm wondering what you've done about that? I've since gotten RAMCard II w/RTC and I'm hoping to include the CLOCK in ALL my programs that make use of it. Dialogue beening one of those. (along with CS-DOS and GEOS.. geos I have). BTW.. I've had experiances were I've locked up while online and the CARRIER was still present. There are some TERMs that you can RESET (reset button) and reload and still get back online. I can't seem to do this with DIALOGUE SL. Hmm? Something I'm doing, have set in the CONFIGURE (say an ATZ in the init. string) ..or did I miss something ..and there is a command that well re-establish the connect without dropping the carrier??? Steve Craik ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 48 Mon Aug 17, 1992 C128.JBEE [* Sysop *] at 15:00 EDT There are already utilities in the Flagship libraries to add the date to CS-DOS using the HD and RL time clocks. Check out Library #2, #8, and #22. ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 49 Tue Aug 18, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 04:11 EDT Steve, Sending an ATZ while on-line won't cause a modem to disconnect. Most of the Terms I use will do this, and I am always swapping them while connected. However, I am swapping thru software, and not re-setting. The reset may be what is causing the disconnect. I am not sure about this though. The solution is to look for is what is causing a lock-up, and avoid it. The only thing in Dialogue that I know of that will do this is switching buffer types _while_ they still are full. So, I only do this after first clearing them out. When have you had a lock-up occur? As to the RTC, I seem to have gotten side-tracked (so what else is new?), but did manage to get time and/or date setting working with: Dialogue, Big Blue Reader, CS/DOS, memo pad, and custom menus. There are still more things to set up. I hope to get some files uploaded soon (I did put up one sub-routine for the menus). All the others are on my "to-do" list. The routines are very short, and easy to implement. I have to find the time to write some accompanying instructions. For Dialogue, it is as easy as incorporating *some* of the set-clock routine into the Basic Dialogue. In case you decide to go ahead before I have the chance to get these files uploaded, be sure to change one line: if t(4)=12 and t(7)=0 then t(4)=0 :rem original line if t(4)=18 and t(7)=0 then t(4)=146 :rem the fixed line This is no big deal, except for folks like me who boot up things between the hours of 12 Midnight and 1 am. :) Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 50 Wed Aug 19, 1992 M.DULSKI1 [Mark @WIZARD] at 07:52 EDT Howie, Looking in my modem's manual it says ATZ *will* terminate the call and put the modem on hook. I just tried it and yep, it sure does. :> Don't have Dialogue so I'm lost with the rest of this message thread, just thought I'ld throw this atcha ;) ▐▐Mark▐▐ ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 52 Thu Aug 20, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 02:30 EDT Mark, Hmmm.... This sent me back to my manuals, and I still cannot find the answer. When my modem is off hook, and connected to GEnie, sending it an ATZ does nothing, as it should, but does get a reply from GEnie asking me if I know what I am doing... In order to have the modem recognize the ATZ, once off hook, I have to first send it the Escape sequence, +++, *then* ATZ will put the modem on hook. When the modem is on hook there is no need for the escape sequence before the ATZ, so most Terms don't use it. So the worst case scenario when swapping Terms while connected should send the ATZ to GEnie, or host. Now, if a +++ also happens to be in an initialize string then this would make swapping problematical. Howie ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 53 Thu Aug 20, 1992 M.DULSKI1 [Mark @WIZARD] at 08:17 EDT Ahhh, I see what you mean now Howie ;) Online and sending ATZ without the escape sequence just causes GEnie to reply "Say what?" You're right. Without the escape sequence (+++) ATZ *shouldn't* cut you off. ▐▐Mark▐▐ ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 54 Sun Aug 23, 1992 B.VRIELING1 at 18:24 EDT Re: Modem dropping carrier There are 2 ways to make a modem hang up: 1) send the +++, then ATZ (like mentioned previsouly) and 2) drop DTR. Most of the newer modems have software settings (which you can store in the modem's EPROM) to allow you some control over how your computer affects the DTR of the modem. I use AT&D1 which means if the computer drops DTR, your modem shuts down. Its a good way to hang up on a caller, and many terminal programs and BBS's drop DTR as a quick way to boot the user off. However, if you send an AT&D0, your modem will ignore the DTR line from your computer. You can reset your computer, and the modem won't hang up (note that this works with modems with external power supplies - killing the power to a modem (like a CBM modem plugged into your now shut off C64) is ALWAYS a good way of hanging up ;D). In a nutshell, if you want to scoot to another terminal (and you're not sure what your AT&D setting is at) type +++ to go to command mode, then AT&D0, then ATO to put you back in connection. Now, reset your machine and the modem should stay connected. Good luck! ...Bruce GEnie: B.VRIELING1 Internet: bvrieling@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu P.S. I just tried this, and it works. Just make sure your terminal doesn't send a +++ and ATZ upon bootup if it detects a carrier! ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 55 Wed Aug 26, 1992 S.CRAIK [Steve] at 01:01 EDT Hi Bruce, Thats what did do it.. the AT&Dx x=0,1,2 on my USRobotics HST 14.4 v.42bis modem. I took a look at the NRAM and I see that I have it set to AT&D2 DTE controls DTR. thanks I'll try and see if that is what is locking me up when (rather loosing carrier) after I lock up and then trying to reboot Dialogue. Someone was asking me what I was doing when it locked up.. I was using a QWK type maildoor (CAM-MAIL) trying to UPLOAD at 14.4 for some reason timing is mismatched with how CAM-MAIL and Dialogue talking to each other (so the SysOp says, J.HART Diamond Bar BBS). The deal is that transmit errors occur first thing once enough happen Dialogue goes to TERM ...the mail door thinks I'm still going to send keeps echoing commands back to itself while I see the maildoor MENU screens. These echoings end up on the command line. If one happens to be a logoff ..it does or what ever else one could think of. but, oce back online again and trying to upload again I'll usually get the lock-up and no combo of run/stop, C=/run/stop Alt/run/stop ESC anything... nothing.. so I reboot But loose the carrier at that moment. press RESET to reboot Steve Craik ------------ Category 15, Topic 5 Message 56 Wed Aug 26, 1992 HOWIE-CBM at 02:08 EDT Bruce, Thanks for the helpful info! I had completely forgotten about the AT&D setting. Howie ------------