8bitfiles.net/archives

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ 8bitfiles.net/archives / archives.tar / archives / genie-commodore-file-library / Information / SURVIVALKIT1.SFX / help.downloads < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-06-30 | 21.3 KB | 492 lines

Date: 930625 File: How to Download Files RoundTable Software Library --------------------------- Downloading from the Libraries The Commodore Software Library contains many Public Domain programs and files, most of which were contributed by the members of the RoundTable. They are available to everyone for the regular GEnie connect time charges. To download these files into your own computer, you must use a Terminal Program which works with the 'X-MODEM' File-transfer protocol. You must either buy a commercially available Terminal Program, or obtain one of the many Public Domain Terminal Programs which includes X-MODEM ability. Besides the popular X-MODEM, GEnie offers several other protocol choices for downloading. X-MODEM 1K (which is more efficient than regular X-Modem), Y-MODEM (which will automagically write the filename to your disk, along with using 1K disk blocks), and Z-MODEM (there are currently no C64 or C-128 programs that support this streaming protocol). If you have trouble finding a Terminal Program that supports one of these transfer protocols, send GEmail to COMMODORE$, and we will mail you a WIZARD disk for a small fee. NOTE: PUNTER and KERMIT are not supported as Protocols on GEnie! X-Modem, X-Modem 1K, Y-Modem, and Z-Modem are supported on GEnie. Now, let's start Downloading!! ------------------------------ From the Main Commodore RoundTable menu, select #3 Software Libraries: M625 1. CBM RoundTable Bulletin Board 2. Commodore Real-Time Conference 3. Commodore Software Libraries <-- Software Library (downloads) 4. About the RoundTable 5. RoundTable News Enter #, <P>revious, or <H>elp?3 This will take you to the Commodore Software Library. The programs and files are sub-divided into several different categories or Libraries. For example, all Games may be grouped into Library numbers 11, 12, 13 and 14, depending on the type of game. Music files are divided into easy to locate libraries number 15 through 19. You will be given the choice of seeing ALL of the Libraries, and thus ALL of the files available, or of choosing ONE specific Library to work in. If you were only interested in BBS programs, you could choose ONLY the BBS library, called "BBS Resource Center", number 7, and ignore everything else. Choosing to see only one Library is done with the SET LIBRARY option on the menu. ALL Libraries will be open to you when you first join the RoundTable except the private libraries for vendor support and the Staff libraries. There are several choices available to you on the Software Library menu: Library: ALL Libraries <--Now set to see ALL types of files 1. Description of this Library <--Describes types of files 2. Directory of files <--Lists files available 3. Search File Directory <--Searches for specific files 4. Browse through files <--Look at and download new files 5. Upload a new file <--Send files to GEnie 6. Download a file <--Receive files from GEnie to you 7. Delete a file you own <--Remove your file from the Libraries 8. Set Software Library <--Choose one specific Library 9. Save Current Software Library <--Save Library choice 10. Instructions for Software Exchange <--More information 11. Directory of New Files <--New Files since Last On 12. Join/Ignore Library Category <--Removes selected Libraries Enter #, <P>revious, or <H>elp? 1: 'Description of this Library' gives brief information about the types of files contained in each of the individual Libraries. 2: 'Directory of files' will give you a list of the programs in the Library you have selected, or of all programs if you are set to ALL Libraries. Library menu option 2 (Directory) and 4 (Browse) prompts for file number to start listing from, or <RETURN> for All. This new feature increases your on-line Library flexibility! 3: 'Search File Directory' allows you to search through the Libraries for a particular word or words. For example, you could search for all files with the word 'Terminal' in their descriptions. You may also search by UPLOADER GEmail address, or Number of Days Back (such as 30 for 1 month). This is a very handy way to find files relating to your requests. Remember that UPLOADER and DAYS back are a sub-set of the Search Function. The manner in which keywords are searched has improved. The routine will no longer search for any matching portion of a string in all keywords; it will only find keywords or filenames which BEGIN with the string you specify - i.e. if you specify GEOS, it will find GEOS-BB, but not BB-GEOS. Keep this in mind when constructing search strategies, and when making up keywords to go with your uploads. The other change affects the ability to search for all files specifying ONLY a date, or with no search specs. You can no longer use the command this way. However, you can easily find the new files since your last logon, by using the #2 DIRECTORY choice instead of the SEARCH by date or better yet, Directory of New Files. The #2 DIRECTORY, and #11 Directory of New Files is in reverse upload order with the newest file first. Watch the dates as they go by, and when you have scanned back as far as you want to go, hit your BREAK character to abort the listing. 4: 'Browse through files' lets you look at the descriptions of the files in reverse order (starting with the newest, and working back through the older ones), and download the files if you wish. This is the best way to see what's new in the Libraries since your last time on-line. Library menu option 2 (Directory) and 4 (Browse) prompts for file number to start listing from, or <RETURN> for All. This new feature increases your on-line Library flexibility! 5: 'Upload a new file' is how you can send a program to GEnie to share with the other Roundtable members. 6: 'Download a file' will let you receive a specific program. You must know the Name or Number of the file, from either the Directory or a Search. 7: 'Delete a file you own' allows you to remove a program you have previously uploaded, from the Library. 8: 'Set Software Library' lets you choose one specific Library to look at. 9: 'Save Current Software Library' will make your choice of a specific Software Library permanent, until you decide to change it again. Each time you enter the Software Library, you will ONLY see that library. To change this back to the default of ALL Libraries, set to ALL libraries using the SET Library menu option, and choose ALL Libraries, at the end of the names of the other libraries. Then be sure to SAVE your new library setting again. It will wipe out the first one and restore you so that you may locate files outside of the library you set to last time. 10:'Instructions for Software Exchange' prints out more information about using the Software Library. You may wish to capture and print out this information for future reference. 11:'Directory of New Files' will give you a listing of all of the New Files since the last time you have selected this menu option. Remember, you trigger the 'pointer' by selecting this. If you have never selected this menu option, then you will see ALL of the files. Just hit CONTROL C to 'break' out of the listing. THIS OPTION IS NOT FOOLPROOF, but it works well when your Sysops release the new files in order. 12:'Join/Ignore Library Category' will allow you to select which libraries you will be seeing in either your BROwse command or a directory, and have this stored permanently for all your visits. To use the new menu item, you just choose it on the menu, it will then ask you which library number you want to change. Pressing <D> and return here will display the status of each individual library to you. You can then enter a library number. One of two things will happen: If you are already 'JOINED' to view that library, it will deselect it, and the library will be invisible to you until you specifically join it again. If you have ignored it, then it will be toggled on to be visible to you again. Let's 'Pull' a Directory for our Capture buffer: GEnie Libraries Commodore Software Library: ALL Libraries <--Set to look at ALL files 1. Description of this Library 2. Directory of files <--Choose Directory to view files 3. Search File Directory 4. Browse through files 5. Upload a new file 6. Download a file 7. Delete a file you own 8. Set Software Library 9. Save Current Software Library 10. Instructions for Software Exchange 11. Directory of New Files 12. Join/Ignore Library Category Enter #, <P>revious, or <H>elp?2 ALL Libraries No. File Name Type Address YYMMDD Bytes Access Lib ----- ------------------------ - ------------ ------ ------- ------ --- 4400 JONES.NUDE X GRAFIX.M 870628 20160 5 37 Desc: 2 views of a gal named Jones. 4399 FASCINATION.128 X M.KREKLOW 870628 2520 5 8 Desc: Fascination for C128. 4398 REM REV128 X RWO 870628 2520 3 9 Desc: Highlight BASIC 7.0 REM Statements 4397 WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.SAL X TIGLON.G 870627 5040 14 17 Desc: U2 On SIDPlayer!! 4386 PRINTILITY-2.SDA X CHUCK.WAGON 870625 35280 25 9 Desc: Convertor/Stripper/File Note: Press your BREAK key combination to escape from a directory listing. See the First Hints text for information on how to SET your BREAK. This is usually a CTRL C or a true break. Browse, Download and Download from a Browse (Examples) The second way to download is to choose #4 Browse from the menu. This will let you read through the descriptions of the files available, backwards from a particular file number, and download any that seem of interest. If you want to look at the newest files in the Library, just press RETURN when it asks you which file to start Browsing from. When you select #6, Download a file, the description of the file will be printed out, then you will be given the choice of Skipping the file, Downloading the file, Listing the file, or just Quitting back to the main menu. If you are Browsing, you will see this choice of options after each file description is printed out. If this is not the program you want, just press RETURN to skip it. To tell GEnie you want to Download the file, type D and RETURN. If the file is printed Text, you can choose to List it, and use your Terminal Program to Capture the text. Note that Listing a Program file will result in nothing but 'Garbage' on your screen, as most programs are NOT directly readable. To List a file, type L and RETURN. You may also download an ASCII Text File, just like a program file, then read it with your Word Processor. You can Quit back to the Software Library menu by typing Q and RETURN. Once you choose D for Download, GEnie will ask what Protocol you wish to use: Select Download Protocol 1. X-MODEM 2. X-MODEM (W/1K blocks) 3. Y-MODEM 4 Z-MODEM Which item, or <RETURN> to skip? GEnie then tells you how many XMODEM blocks are in the file, and then after a short pause, will say: 'File is ready. Start your X-Modem receive file'. (Note: It is VERY important to wait for this message. Otherwise problems may result) When you see that message, and NOT before, go into your Terminal Program and set it up to receive the file (See the instructions which came with your Terminal Program for the correct procedure to use). GEnie will wait for you while you are doing this. If you decide that you don't want to download the program after all, you have one last chance to cancel the download by typing a CONTROL X (hold down the Control key, and press X at the same time). Once you have set up and started the download process, GEnie will begin sending the program file to your computer in 'Blocks' of 128 bytes (for X-MODEM) or 1024 bytes for X-MODEM 1K or Y-MODEM. The XMODEM file-transfer protocol means that after each of these 'blocks' is transmitted, a 'checksum' byte is also transmitted and compared against a 'checksum' that your computer has calculated, based on the 128 bytes it received. If the two checksums match, you can be virtually certain that the data received was correct, and your computer will automatically signal GEnie to send the next block. If the checksums do NOT match, GEnie will re-send the block to try again. (The most common cause of re-transmitted blocks is a 'noisy' telephone line. If you get a large number of re-sent blocks, it might be a good idea to Quit, and log-off of GEnie, then call back again in hopes of getting a better telephone connection.) When the download is complete, GEnie will print a summary of how the transfer went, then ask you to press RETURN. After that, you will either be asked if you want to download another file, or if you want to continue Browsing. Here is what a typical download session looks like: GEnie Libraries Commodore Software Library Library: ALL Libraries 1. Description of this Library 2. Directory of files 3. Search File Directory 4. Browse through files 5. Upload a new file 6. Download a file <-- Choose Download 7. Delete a file you own 8. Set Software Library 9. Save Current Software Library 10. Instructions for Software Exchange 11. Directory of New Files 12 Join/Ignore Library Category Enter #, <P>revious, or <H>elp?6 -------------------- Enter number, or name of file?3489 <--Number from the Directory list above ************************************* Number: 3489 Name: BULLETIN BOARD STARTER Address: DEB Date: 870331 Approximate # of Bytes: 10080 <--See NOTE about file sizes Number of Accesses: 40 Library: 1 ************************************* Description: How to get started with the *FlagShip* Bulletin Board! Don't miss the hints, tips, reviews, news and rumors as it happens! Good tutorial file for your introduction to this electronic gathering place! Keywords: HELP,BULLETIN,BOARD,BB,BBOARD,MESSAGES,HLP,FLAGSHIP,HINTS,TIPS ------------------------------------- File: BULLETIN BOARD STARTER is an XMODEM File. Press <RETURN> to skip, <D>ownload, <L>ist, or <Q>uit. ?D <--Enter D to Download Select Download Protocol 1. XMODEM 2. XMODEM (w/1K blocks) 3. YMODEM 4. ZMODEM Which item, or <RETURN> to skip?1 <--Enter 1 for X-Modem 137 XMODEM Blocks in file. File is ready. Start your XMODEM receive file. <--WAIT for this message! XMODEM: NORMAL TERMINATION <--Download is finished 137 FRAMES PROCESSED 0 FRAMES RETRANSMITTED 0 TIMEOUTS Press <RETURN>? <-- Press RETURN or ENTER Download Complete. Download another file (Y/N)?n <-- enter Y to download another file NOTE on file sizes: The SIZE of files on GEnie is reported in APPROXIMATE figures, based on the blocks of memory used to actually store the files in the system. Thus the ACTUAL number of bytes a program takes up on YOUR disk at home will normally be somewhat smaller than the 'Approximate # of Bytes' figure given on GEnie... THIS IS NORMAL and does NOT indicate that you got a bad download if the figures don't match! Troubleshooting Download Problems --------------------------------- Possible problems which may occur during downloading are generally related to conditions on your telephone line. If you have been seeing a lot of 'garbage' on your screen (xD ` }x) while reading messages, you will probably have problems downloading. If you see this, or have a lot of blocks being re-transmitted while downloading, it is always a good idea to log-off of GEnie, and call back to try to get a better telephone line. Bad telephone connections can waste your time by causing a lot of re-transmitted blocks, and can even cause the system to 'lock-up' and stop sending blocks. If this happens, you will have to hang up on your end and call back anyway. Another problem can occur if you don't wait long enough before starting your program downloading. GEnie isn't ready to send a file until you see the 'File is ready. Start your receive file' message. If you start BEFORE seeing this message, things may never get going properly. Always make sure that you have selected the proper Download Protocol that your Terminal Program supports. CBTERM will not perform Y-Modem, (nor will Bob's Term Pro) for example. Remember, at this time, Z-Modem is not supported by any Commodore 8-bit terminal program. Your Terminal program also has a number of settings which must be set properly for downloading to work. Fortunately, most terminal programs come pre-set to these 'default' settings, so you won't have to worry about them in most cases. If you DO encounter problems downloading, check to make sure your terminal program is set like this: 8 Data bits, NO Parity, 1 Stop bit Also, be certain that your MODEM is set for FULL DUPLEX. To be able to see what you are typing on GEnie, your TERMINAL PROGRAM must normally be set to HALF DUPLEX, but do not change the setting of your modem! One other area of concern is that IF your terminal program downloads a file to your disk, but you later find that it has been saved as a sequential file. Some Terminal Programs DEFAULT to sequential file downloads. You may find that adding a ',p,w' to the filename (when you are asked to type it in by your terminal program) will properly write the file as a program file (PRG). Example: "WIZARD128.SFX,p,w" You may also convert the already saved SEQ file to PRG by using several of the programs designed to do this very thing. If you are using 1200 or 2400 baud, you will want to check and make sure that the special 1200/2400 baud timing is working correctly for your system. See the Survival Kit instruction text about "How to set 1200/2400 Baud Rate Factor". If you downloaded a file which requires de-compressing with the ARC utility or the Library utility, it will NOT run as it is. Please see the Survival Kit item about ARC. Common downloads which require additional action include: Files ending in: .ARC <-- See Survival Kit file about ARC .LBR <-- See Survival Kit file about ARC (COLOR64 Only) .MUS <-- SIDplayer files- see "Where to look for..." on Survival Kit .SDA <-- Self Dissovling Archive .SFX <-- Self dissolving Archive (use either 64 or 128 mode) .CVT <-- GEOS files that need CONVERT .TXT <-- ASCII Text Files (written documents) .COM <-- CP/M Files that are not compressed .ARK <-- CP/M Files that are compressed Files beginning in: DD <-- Doodle pictures, see "Where to look for..." on Survival Kit BASIC 8.0 <C128 graphics package from Lou Wallace> requires BASIC 8 to run. GEOS graphics, tools and applications require GEOS to run. If you have problems downloading, be sure to get your PORT number so it can be reported to GEnie. Just type PORT at a menu prompt or Click on Wizard's PORT ICON, and write down the entire long number that is returned. This will enable the GEnie service people to track down the exact parts of the system you were using when the problem occurred. Send mail to the Commodore Sysops (COMMODORE$), and try to be as exact in your description of the problems as possible. Indicate which files you were downloading, the time of day, the PORT number, the Terminal Program you were using, hardware configuration, and as detailed a description of what happened as you can give. This will enable us to help you as quickly and easily as we can, and get you back to downloading! Downloading Summary for Library Files ------------------------------------- 1. Find a file you want to download by listing the DIRECTORY (#2 on Menu) 2. Select Download from the Software Library menu (#6). 3. Read the description. If you want to download this file, enter D. To skip this file, just press RETURN. 4. Select the transfer protocol you wish to use. If in doubt, use XMODEM. 5. WAIT for GEnie to say "File is ready. Start your receive file." 6. Set up your Terminal program for the same protocol you have selected and initiate the transfer. 7. Wait until the file is transferred to your disk. OR -- 1. Select Browse from the Software Library menu (#4). 2. Enter the number of the file you want to Browse backwards from, or Just press RETURN to start at the newest files. 3. Read the description of the files. If you want to download a file, enter D. To skip to the next file, press RETURN. 4. Select the Transfer protocol you wish to use. (#1 to #4). 5. Wait for GEnie to say "File is ready. Start your receive file". 6. Set up your Terminal program for the same protocol that you have selected and initiate your transfer. 7. Wait until the file is transferred to your disk. 8. Press RETURN when indicated, then choose Browse to read the description for the next file. Repeat steps 3-7 for all the files you want to download. ############################### Back To Survival Kit Menu! ###############################