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The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2
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The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO
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ADDENDUM.DOC
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1992-12-19
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{COMMO} 5.4 Addendum
____________________
This Addendum contains the major additions and/or changes to the
{COMMO} 5.3 documentation. Print out this file and keep it with
your printed manual. There is a complete list of changes (major
and minor) in the file HISTORY.
===============================
In the User Guide and Reference
===============================
Setup File changes/additions
----------------------------
______________________________________________________
{cdm=yes} Clear dialing marks at startup (yes/no)
______________________________________________________
If this is "yes", {COMMO} will clear all dialing marks in
the Dialing Directory when you start the program. Set it to
"no" if you want to retain dialing marks from the previous
session. Note that the marks are normally saved with the
Dialing Directory file whenever it is written to disk.
____________________________________________________
{avm=} Alternate video mode (mode,rows,cols)
____________________________________________________
You can toggle between two hardware video modes (text modes
only) if this item is defined. One important application
for this is the 132 column feature in VT102 emulation . It
can also be used to toggle between any two different video
modes using the VIDEo macro function.
The "normal" video mode is the mode that is in effect when
{COMMO} is started. That mode will always be restored
automatically when you exit the program (but not in the
Shell to DOS).
The mode field must be expressed as a hexadecimal number,
while the rows and columns are decimal numbers (minimum
dimensions are 25x80). As an example, suppose that your
video adapter uses mode 23h (hexadecimal) to support a
25x132 screen. Then you would write this item as:
{avm=23,25,132} Alternate video mode
Note that some "modes" are not hardware modes and cannot be
toggled using this feature. These include the 50 line mode
supported by VGA adapters or the 43 line mode supported by
EGA adapters. Consult your video adapter manual for a list
of hardware modes supported (or contact the manufacturer).
_____________________________________________________
{edi=yes} Startup editor in insert mode (yes/no)
_____________________________________________________
Set this to "yes" if you want insert mode turned on the
first time you start the Internal Editor. This also applies
to the input field editor.
__________________________________________________
{kts=07,17} Terminal Screen, Status Line colors
__________________________________________________
For the most accurate ANSI-BBS or VT102 terminal emulation,
the Terminal Screen colors should be set to 07. In many
cases, {COMMO} uses this color when clearing portions of the
screen or when a "reset attributes" sequence is received
from the host.
____________________________________________________
{kdd=1e,70,4f} Dialing Directory window colors
{kmf=1e,70,4f} Macro File window colors
{ksb=03,70,4f} Scrollback window colors
{khf=1e,70} Online Help file window colors
{kee=1e,70} Edit external file window colors
{kvs=1e,70} Variable Space window colors
____________________________________________________
These are the "file" window colors. The three parameters
are the text, titles and selector bar, respectively. Note
that some of the windows do not have a selector bar.
______________________________________________________
{kcf=70,17} Capture File Options window colors
{ksi=70,17} Screen Image file window colors
{kdw=03,47} Dialer window colors
{kau=70,17} ASCII Upload window colors
{kpw=70,17} Protocol window colors
{kid=70,17} Input data window colors
{kst=70,17} Set Toggles window colors
{ktp=70,17} Terminal Parameters window colors
{kep=70,17} Execute Preview window colors
{kmw=4f,6f} Message window colors
{set _mcolor,70,17} Macro Menu colors
______________________________________________________
These are the "pop-up" window colors. The two parameters
are the text and border, respectively. The "Macro Menu"
colors are the initial colors to be used on menus created
with the MENU macro function. These may be changed at any
time by redefining the variable "_mcolor".
Colors should be set so that the different parts of the
screen contrast with each other. For example the Status
Line should be easily discernable from the rest of the
Terminal Screen. And the borders and Selector Bar should
stand out against the text portion of the file windows.
Under "Uploading/Downloading"
-----------------------------
ASCII Upload/Download
=====================
Text files may be sent and received using the ASCII protocol.
This method performs no error checking or error correction and
should only be used when other protocols are not available.
It might be used, for example, to upload a prepared message to a
host that was waiting for you to type the message. Or it could
be used to receive a bulletin or other information that you would
normally read while on line.
To upload a text file, use the Alt-A key command. See "Alt-A
ASCII Upload."
To download text information to a file, use {COMMO}'s Capture
File feature. Use the Alt-1 key command to set the filename and
Capture Mode. Open the Capture File just prior to receiving the
information. Then close it after all data has been received.
Note that the file may require some editing. See "Alt-1 Capture
File Options."
==============================
In the Macro Programming Guide
==============================
------------------------------------
New or changed function descriptions
------------------------------------
_____
BREAk
_____
Default key: Alt-B
Description: Send a break.
Switches:
Tn Set break duration in system clock
ticks. "n" may range from 1 to 999.
There are 18.2 clock ticks per second.
T0 or T Set break duration to 18 clock ticks
(default).
Examples:
{break} One second break.
{break-t9} One-half second break.
{break-t55} Three second break.
________
KEYStuff
________
Default key: none
Description: Put key codes into the keyboard buffer.
Examples:
{keys 1c0d} Put a carriage return into the keyboard
buffer.
{keys 1e41,6c00} Put an "A" in the keyboard buffer
followed by Alt-F5.
This function is usually used prior to EXECuting programs, batch
files or DOS commands that require keys to be pressed. It allows
complete automation without operator intervention.
TIPS on using KEYStuff:
> The key codes are given in hexadecimal (scan code/character
code as received from the BIOS). Press Alt-K in the
Internal Editor to view any key code.
> One or more codes may be listed. Do not insert extra
spaces.
> Usually, when specifying an ASCII character, only the
character code need be listed. Thus the second example
above could be written: {keys 41,6c00}.
_______
LOOKfor
_______
Default key: none
Description: Look for strings in the modem input stream.
LOOKfor is used in conjunction with SSLOok, CALOok and GOLOok to
scan for as many as 16 strings at the same time. When SSLOok,
CALOok and GOLOok set up additional strings to look for, the
actual "looking" does not take place until the LOOKfor executes.
Parameters controlling LOOKfor are set with the SETLook function
and may be changed at any time with another SETLook. See the
description of the SETLook function for details.
Examples using LOOKfor only:
{lookfor first name?} Look for the string "first name?"
{look ^(COMMO^)} Look for the string "{COMMO}".
When the string comes in, control will pass to the next
function.
Example construct using SSLOok/CALOok/GOLOok/LOOKfor:
{setlook 60,hng,3,n|}
{setv ss_r,|}
...
{:start}
{golook label-a,target1}
{calook start,label-b,target2}
{sslook ss_r,target3}
{golook ,target4}
{lookfor target5} {send answer5} {goto label-c}
{:label-a} {hangup y} {goto cancel}
{:label-b} {send answer2} {call subr} {return}
{:label-c} ...
In this example {COMMO} will look for five target strings.
When a target specified in any of the CALOok, GOLOok or
LOOKfor functions is received, the LOOKfor is cancelled. It
may be set up again by going to "start".
When the target specified in the SSLOok is received, the
string in the variable will be transmitted to the serial
port. The LOOKfor will continue to look for the same
targets.
The GOLOok function for target1 will GOTO "label-a" when the
string comes in. In the example control will pass to
"cancel" (macro not shown).
If target2 comes in, the CALOok function will set "start" as
the return point and then CALL "label-b". When this routine
RETUrns, control returns to "start" and the five string
LOOKfor will be set up again.
If target3 is received, the string in the variable "ss_r"
will be sent (in this case, a carriage return) and looking
will continue.
The GOLOok for target4 has a null label and control will
pass to the function following the LOOKfor if that string
comes in. The "," must be present.
If target5 comes in, control will pass to the function
following the LOOKfor.
TIPS on creating LOOKfor strings:
> There should be just one space following the LOOKfor
function name. Any spaces beyond this point are part of the
string. The string ends at the right curly brace.
> SSLOok/CALOok/GOLOok/Auto Receive strings begin immediately
after the comma. There should be no spaces unless they are
part of the string.
> Strings may be up to 32 characters in length (control
characters like "^M" count as one). Upper/lower case is
ignored.
> ANSI control sequences are filtered if ANSI or VT102
emulation is enabled.
> Remember that short strings may not be unique enough, long
strings may not match due to line noise.
> Rules for representing special characters in
SSLOok/CALOok/GOLOok/LOOKfor/Auto Receive strings are given
in Appendix D in the User Guide and Reference.
Additional TIPS:
> SSLOok, CALOok and GOLOok functions should immediately
precede a LOOKfor (no string compares actually occur until
the LOOKfor executes). Up to 15 SSLOok/CALOok/GOLOok
strings may be used in addition to the LOOKfor (up to 16
strings total).
> FILTER Capture Mode should be used to determine the exact
prompt to look for. The LOOKfor sees the incoming data
exactly as it is captured when FILTER mode is set.
> If two or more strings cause a match at the same time, the
LAST such string listed is the one acted upon (for example,
if "abcdef" and "def" are listed and the string "abcdef"
comes in).
See also: SSLOok, CALOok, GOLOok, SETLook.
____
MENU
____
Default key: none
Description: Create a pop-up macro menu.
General form:
{MENU height,width,string}
height Total number of rows from top to bottom
of pop-up window, including borders.
Minimum is 5.
width Total number of columns from left side
to right side, including borders.
Minimum is 23.
string Title string that will appear in the top
border.
Example:
{setv _menu1, F1 Call computer at work}
{setv _menu3, F2 Call E-mail service}
{setv _menu5, F3 Run offline mail reader}
{setv _mlabel,work,mail,reader}
{setv _mcolor,17,30}
{menu 9,32,Daily Activity Menu} {}
The MENU function can be used to select macros for execution from
a pop-up window. Parameters are defined using reserved variables
and the arguments shown in the general form above.
Variables are used to define a string for each displayable line
in the interior of the window. "_menu1" is the first line,
"_menu2" is the second, and so on (total number of definable
lines is "height" less 4). Lines in the window for which no
variable has been defined will be left blank.
The variable "_mlabel" is used to define a list of macro labels.
{COMMO} will GOTO a label if the respective function key, number
key or letter key is pressed. For example, the macro at the
third label in the list will execute if F3, 3 or C is pressed.
Keys supported are: F1 to F12 (first 12 labels), A to Z (first 26
labels) and 1 to 9 (first 9 labels).
The variable "_mcolor" is used to define the text and border
colors of the pop-up window. The attributes are specified in the
same manner as the colors in the Setup File (press F7 in the
Internal Editor to display the Color Chart).
TIPS on using MENU:
> The dimensions of the window are limited by the current size
of the Terminal Screen.
> All variables used to create the menu are automatically
deleted from Variable Space after the menu is displayed.
> The last colors used to display a menu will persist until
they are changed by setting the "_mcolor" variable.
> If Esc is pressed to exit the menu, macro processing
continues in sequence following the MENU function.
See also MACRo.
______
OFFLog
______
Default key: none
Description: Make an {Off} entry in the Usage Log.
Example:
{offlog} No arguments.
This function is useful on systems that do not support the
carrier detect signal.
______
SSLOok
______
Default key: none
Description: Set up an additional string to look for during a
subsequent LOOKfor function.
General form:
{SSLOok name,target}
name The name of a string variable (MUST be a
variable).
target The ASCII string to look for. The string
begins following the "," and is terminated by
the "}".
Example:
{setv ss_r,|} {setv ss_nr,n|}
...
{sslo ss_r,Press enter to continue}
{sslo ss_nr,Do you want to log off?}
{look command?} ...
SSLOok is used in conjunction with LOOKfor. When the target
string appears, the string in the variable is sent to the serial
port. The LOOKfor continues to look for all specified strings.
See LOOKfor for details, examples and tips on using SSLOok.
See also: CALOok, GOLOok, SETLook.
_____
VIDEo
_____
Default key: none
Description: Change to an alternate hardware video mode.
Switches:
M1 or M Change to the alternate display mode.
M0 Change back to the normal display mode.
Examples:
{video-m1} Change to the alternate mode.
{video-m0} Change back to the normal mode.
The "alternate" mode is defined by Setup File item {avm=}. The
"normal" mode is the mode in effect when you start {COMMO}.
New variables
-------------
_menux Menu display string, x = 1, 2, 3, etc.
_mlabel List of macro labels for pop-up menu
_mcolor Colors used with pop-up menus: text, border
_dfc Disk full on capture: 0=no, 1=yes; reset when
Capture File is opened, set when disk is full
_pad Current serial port address: 03F8, 02E8, etc.
_irq Current IRQ number: 4, 3, etc.
_fmt Current data format: 8n1, 7e1, etc.
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