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Magnum One
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Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso
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d8
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pcbver10.arc
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PCBHLP10.ARC
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Text File
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1989-12-29
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11KB
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225 lines
===== Function Help - [D]ownload a File =============================
This board's software permits you to move files between your
computer and this one. "Downloading" refers to moving files from
this system to your's.
The transfer of data can either be done in ASCII or by using either
Xmodem, CRC Xmodem or Ymodem protocols. The Xmodem and Ymodem
protocols provide a means of checking the data transmitted for
integrity - whereas the ASCII method does not.
To transfer files using Xmodem, you must be using a program that
supports that protocol. This includes QMODEM and PC-TALK. If you
are using SCOM, you must have version 2.0 to support XMODEM. If
you are using XTALK, you must have version 3.4 or later.
To transfer files using CRC Xmodem, you must be using QMODEM or
a similar program that supports CRC Xmodem trasnfers.
To transfer files using Ymodem CRC, you must be using the program
PibTerm v3.0 or later.
To list the names of the files that are available on this system
for downloading to your system, the [F]ile command should be
entered at the main menu. This will present a directory listing of
the file groups available on the board. To see what files are in a
specific group, enter an "F", followed by a ";", followed by the
directory number to view. For instance, to view all the files
available in directory #1, the command would be "F;1".
File directory lists can be stacked to reduce your responses.
(i.e. "F;4;9;3" will list all files available in directories 4,
9 and 3.
Some files are conference protected. That is, they cannot be down-
loaded except while you are actively inside a conference. Even if
you are a registered conference user and are not in the conference,
the program will not let you download the file.
After requesting a download, you can enter the name of file you wish
to receive. At this point, you should enter the name of the file as
it appears in one of the board's directories. The format must be as
a normal DOS file name. You can not specify a drive location in your
file name. The board here handles where to look for the file. You
do need to specify where you want the file to go on your end - but
that is handled through your software command - not the one you issue
to the board. After entering a proper filename, the board will search
for the file you have requested. If it finds it and it is not pro-
tected, it will display the time it will take for the transfer, the
file size in blocks and bytes, the total amount of bytes you have
downloaded that session, and what the total will be if you continue.
This is to provide information for floppy disk users as to how full
their download disk is getting - assuming they started with an empty
disk formatted using a version of DOS 2.X or 3.X.
You can stack your download requests using the format...
D;<filename>;<type>
For example, to download the file AMBER.COM using Xmodem, the command
would be...
D;AMBER.COM;X
To request the same file using CRC Xmodem protocol, the command would
be ...
D;AMBER.COM;C
After all file name verifications are complete, you will be asked
whether the transfer should occur using Ascii, Xmodem, or CRC Xmodem
protocl. If possible, you should ALWAYS use Xmodem or Ymodem. This
is to insure what I send is what you get. Again, make sure your software
supports X/Ymodem before requesting that form of transfer. If you request an
Ascii transfer on a binary file (.BAS, .EXE, .COM, etc.), the board will
tell you the transfer is not possible. You must use Xmodem or Ymodem
for any of these files.
ASCII File Download
The transfer of files in ASCII mode can be done if your system
is capable of data capture. To download a file using the ASCII
method, follow the sequence of steps listed below.
1. When the board asks for the filename you wish to select,
input the exact filename including a period between the
filename and extension.
2. When the board asks for the type of download you want, input
[A] for [A]scii method.
3. When the program tells you to open your capture file and
enter a carriage return to start the download, you
should do so. After setting up your system to
receive the file on your end, you have to send the board
one carriage return so that it knows you are ready to
start.
4. The file will be sent a line at a time until the
entire file is sent. You will see the lines of ASCII
code (readable text and numbers) on your screen as they
flow to your system. If you wish to suspend the
transmission temporarily, your system should send
the program a Ctrl-S [XOFF]. A Ctrl-Q [XON] will restart
the temporarily halted transfer. A Ctrl-X [ASCII CAN]
can be sent anytime to abort the transmission of the
data. However, because of the output buffering performed
automatically by the board, there may be up to 128
characters transmitted before the output stops.
5. When the file transfer is finished, the board will
send you an End Of File Marker [Ctrl-Z] followed by 3
bells. You should close your capture file [PC-TALK
Alt-R] as soon as you hear the bells or you will get the main
menu tacked on to the end of the file. If you go away for a
cup of coffee and end up getting this board's main menu
attached to the bottom of the capture file, you can
delete it from the file later using a text editor.
6. After the file transfer is complete you will be
returned to the File Menu. You should look at the
capture file at this point to be sure you got it ok.
(Use the PC-TALK Alt-V command to do this.) Do not list
the entire file unless it is short; the board will give
you 3 minutes to remain off-line before it assumes you
have left for the day and recycles, dropping you off
line.
Xmodem or CRC Xmodem File Download
In order to transfer files using Xmodem, you must have the proper
communications software to do so. This includes Cross Talk Ver. 2.0
or later, Smartcomm II version 2.0 or later, QMODEM, or PC-TALK.
If you are not using one of these programs, you may NOT be able to
transfer binary files using the Xmodem protocol.
In order to transfer files using CRC Xmodem, you must be using the
public domain software program QMODEM.
The difference between regular Xmodem and CRC Xmodem is the method
of block checking done by the respective protocol. Using regular
Xmodem, file transfer accuracy is in the range of 99.6%. When using
CRC Xmodem, the perentage increases to 99.9%.
If you have XMODEM transfer capability on your system, files with
EXE, OBJ, COM, BAS, ARC, and LBR or LQR filename extensions can be
moved to your machine.
Xmodem offers the advantage of a block check to assure that the data
this board sends contains no errors. It does this by adding a
checksum or CRC byte to the end of each block of data; the receiver
calculates its own checksum or CRC and compares it to the one received.
If an error is detected in the transmission, Xmodem will request
that the board re-transmit the block of data.
To perform an Xmodem file download, follow the instructions shown
below.
1. When the board asks for the filename you wish to select,
input the exact filename including a period between the
filename and extension.
2. When the board asks for the type of download you want, input
[X] for regular Xmodem or [C] for CRC Xmodem protocol.
3. The board will then check the file requested, and if found,
will display the message...
"Ready to send using CRC Xmodem. [Ctrl-X] to Abort."
4. At this time you should initiate the file transfer request at
your end using the proper command. If you enter the proper
request, the two computers will begin "talking" to each other
and the file transfer will begin automatically.
5. The file will be transferred using the protocol selected
until the entire file has been transferred. You may
abnormally abort the transfer by sending the board an
ASCII CAN code [Ctrl-X]. PC-TALK.III will do this for
you if you enter an [Alt-R] during the file transfer.
6. When the file transfer is finished, Xmodem automatically
closes your capture file for you. Xmodem also ensures
that no garbage gets into your file because of the error
checking protocl built into the transfer protocl.
error free transmission. Wordstar files should transfer
7. Xmodem transferred files usually can't be listed on your
monitor unless they are actually ASCII files. Binary
files will appear as symbols rather than human readable
text. You will have to test these files after you exit
your communications program.
Note: In case you request one form of Xmodem protocol from the board
and accidentally initiate the opposite one at your end, the
board will attempt to automatically switch to the proper
download protocol match your request.
The most common commands to issue your software to start the XMODEM
transfer once the board has given you the message...
"Ready to send using <CRC> Xmodem. [Ctrl-X] to Abort."
are as follows;
For CrossTalk - RX <filename> (make sure PM mode is set to "1")
For PC-TALK - [Alt-R] then <filename>+"=x"
For SmartComII- Use menu selection (make sure protocol is correct)
For QMODEM - Use [PgDn] key and follow menu selections
For PibTerm - Enter [Alt-R] and follow instructions
In order to transfer files using Ymodem, you must be using PibTerm
version 3.0 or later. Ymodem transfers are done in the same manner
as Xmodem's - with the exception that instead of transferring data
in blocks of 128 characters, the blocks are 1024 bytes in length.
This means that less time is spent checking each block, and as a
result, file transfers occur faster than either regular Xmodem or
CRC Xmodem. Since blocks are sent in packets of 1024 bytes each,
it appears that transfers using Ymodem are slower than Xmodem. This
is not the case. In reality, there is about a 10-15% decrease in the
time it takes to transfer larger files using the Ymodem protocol.