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╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ProtoMan 1.0ß External Documentation ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Program : ProtoMan
By : John M. Setzler, Jr.
Release Date : September 1st, 1990
Version : 1.0ß
Status : Shareware
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
ProtoMan is an external protocol shell utility designed for
use with Procomm, Procomm Plus, Qmodem, Telix, and other communications
software. ProtoMan allows the user to have easy access to the DSZ
protocol set (Zmodem,etc.) as well as several other external protocols
such as Puma, Lynx, etc.
DISCLAIMER:
ProtoMan has been researched and developed with extensive
precaution and testing. At the time of release, there are no known
existing bugs in the program but unforseen problems may arise with
non-standard hardware and software configurations. The author of this
program will accept no responsibility for damage or data loss incurred
by use of this program (although there should be none). In order to
prevent unforseen problems from arising, you should read this
documentation completely.
LICENSE AGREEMENT:
ProtoMan 1.0ß and all future releases are to be distributed under
the concept of SHAREWARE. This program is not free! You are hereby
licensed to use this program for a trial period of 30 days free of
charge. If, after 30 days, you decide that you would like to continue
using ProtoMan, you must complete the registration form and return it
to the author with the required registration fee enclosed. Please feel
free to distribute ProtoMan to your friends and local BBSes as long as
all of the files in this archive are included and unmodified.
LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTORS:
Shareware distributors may distribute this program as seen fit as
long as the author has been notified prior to ANY distribution. The
"per disk" charge may not exceed $10 and the shareware distributor
charge will not change the above license agreement for the end user of
ProtoMan. End users are not exempt from the ProtoMan registration fee.
NOTE FOR SYSOPS:
If you are a sysop and would like to become a registered
distribution site for ProtoMan, you should complete the Sysop's
Registration Form included in this archive and return it to the author.
As a registered distribution site for ProtoMan, you will receive a free
registration of ProtoMan and the author will automatically upload new
releases to your BBS. Your BBS name and number will appear in the
documentation of future releases of ProtoMan and be listed as a "pick
up" site for ProtoMan. In return for the free registration of ProtoMan,
the author asks that you post a public message to all of your users
announcing each new release of ProtoMan. The author of ProtoMan reserves
the right to refuse any BBS as a distribution site.
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
INSTALLING PROTOMAN:
Place the ProtoMan distribution files in your communications
software subdirectory and follow these instructions for installation:
Before using ProtoMan with your communications software, you will
need to run the INSTALL.EXE program so that ProtoMan can record some
important information about your hardware. If you are installing this
program for the first time you will need to run INSTALL and select
option 1 for initial installation. You will be prompted for the
following information:
Your Name
1. Baud Rate
2. Com Port
3. UL Directory
4. DL Directory
When you are prompted for your name, you will need to enter it in a way
that you will be able to remember because the registration number will
be partially based on what you enter here!
The acceptible responses for "Baud Rate" are: 300,1200,2400,4800,9600,
19200, or 38400. Documentation for each of the individual protocol
packages will give you complete descriptions of supported baud rates.
The acceptable responses for "Com Port" are: 1,2,3, or 4. Supported com
ports will also be documented by each individual protocol package. Some
non-standard com ports may not be supported.
The "UL Directory" will represent the default path for uploaded files.
This is the path which ProtoMan will look for files that you wish to
upload. A trailing "\" will be required on your path. Example:
C:\UPLOAD\
The "DL Directory" will represent the default path for downloaded files.
This is the path in which ProtoMan will place downloaded files. A
trailing "\" will be required on this path also. Example:
C:\DOWNLOAD\
After this information has been recorded, you will be prompted to enter
the IRQ that you wish to use. If you do not know what IRQ you will be
using, I have provided a standard IRQ and you should select the standard
if you are unsure of this. The IRQ information is only good for the
Zmodem file transfers...
After you have properly entered the above information, the INSTALL
program will create two new files on your disk. The first file
(PROTOMAN.CFG) will contain several pieces of information that MUST NOT
be tampered with!! The serial number for your individual copy and the
space for the matching registration number will reside in this file.
The second file will be called PROTOMAN.000 and this file will contain a
collection of command line parameters to be used with the various
protocols that ProtoMan will provide. DO NOT attempt to edit these
files manually!! I have included an "Edit Configuration" option in the
INSTALL program that will allow you to change any necessary options and
it will also allow you to install your registration number in the
future.
****************************************************************************
Files you will need
****************************************************************************
You will need the following files to go with your ProtoMan Package:
DSZ.COM - Zmodem protocol engine
PUMA.EXE - Puma protocol engine
JMODEM.EXE - Jmodem protocol engine
LYNX.EXE - Lynx protocol engine
MLINK16.COM - MegaLink protocol engine
If you do not have these files, you will need to obtain copies of them
from your local BBS. All of these files are always available on my BBS.
The Momentary Lapse of Reason BBS : (704) 327-6361 : 300-38400 Baud
After you have the above files, just place them in the directory where
your ProtoMan files reside and you are ready to go!!!
** ProtoMan DOES NOT override any capabilities of the protocols that it
supports! You need to read the documentation for each individual
protocol to gain understanding about it's capabilities. ProtoMan is
merely a gateway to these protocols!!
RUNNING PROTOMAN:
The first choice you will need to make is how you wish to
execute the ProtoMan program once you are online with your favorite BBS.
Most communications packages have a set of hot key utilities that are
good for running this type of program. If you do not wish to use a hot
key to activate ProtoMan, you can simply shell to DOS from your terminal
program and execute ProtoMan.
*** Please check your communications software manuals for instructions
on using hot keys. Future releases of ProtoMan will include
tips for installation with different packages.
THE MENU SYSTEM:
When ProtoMan is executed, the main menu will be displayed. The
first option in the main menu is:
RE-CONFIGURE PROTOMAN
This option will allow you to edit your registration number, baud rate,
com port, and default directories in case you should ever make a
hardware change on your system. This is also the option you should
select when you get your registration number.
************
WARNING!!!!!
************
Do NOT run the initial installation procedure more than once! When you
send in your registration form, you will be asked to include your serial
number. If the serial number that you send me does not match your
actual serial number, your registration code will not work!! A new
serial number is created each time you choose "Initial Installation."
MAKE BACKUPS!!!!
The second option is:
UPLOAD A FILE
This option brings up the protocol selection menu and allows you to
select the appropriate transfer protocol. After you have selected the
protocol that you wish to use, you will be prompted to enter the file
name to be uploaded. This file MUST reside in the default upload
directory that you specified during the installation process.
The third option is:
DOWNLOAD A FILE
This option is the same as the above but in the other direction!
The fourth option is:
SHELL TO DOS
This option allows the user to temporarily suspend the ProtoMan
operations and execute DOS commands. EXIT will return the user to
ProtoMan.
The fifth option is:
QUIT
This should be self explanatory.
**********************************************************************
Registering your Copy:
**********************************************************************
To make your copy of ProtoMan run in the registered mode, you will need
to choose "Re-Configure" from the ProtoMan main menu screen and change
the registration number to the number that I give you on your
registration form.
**********************************************************************
Using Zmodem
**********************************************************************
You will need to refer to the Zmodem documentation files for
information about unregistered copies of DSZ.COM. DSZ will ignore any
specified default UL/DL directories unless the software is registered.
*********************************************************************
Installing ProtoMan with Procomm Plus
*********************************************************************
For those of you who are using ProtoMan with Procomm Plus communications
software, you need to follow these simple instructions:
1. Place the ProtoMan files and the external protocol engines in
your Procomm subdirectory.
2. Start the Procomm Plus software and choose the ALT-S setup option
3. Highlight and press ENTER on the FILE/PATH OPTIONS selection.
4. Set option "E" or option "F" to say PROTOMAN.
5. Call your favorite BBS and start your file transfer. Now, press
ALT-J or ALT-U (depending on which choice you selected in the
FILE/PATH OPTIONS setup and ProtoMan will execute!!
*********************************************************************
Installing ProtoMan with Qmodem
*********************************************************************
For those of you who are using ProtoMan with the Qmodem communications
software, there are two methods of installing the ProtoMan software.
One is as a File Transfer Protocol, set up using the ALT-N/P menu
with ProtoMan installed as a Pgup/Pgdn selected option.
The second method is by installing the ProtoMan program as a shell,
using the ALT-J setup option, and then attaching the program to the
desired "Hot Key". The Hot Key method will save keystrokes.
Depending on the option you choose, you need to follow these simple
instructions:
1. For either installation, place the ProtoMan files and the external
protocol engines in your Qmodem subdirectory.
To install under the Pgup/Pgdn setup:
2. Start the Qmodem software and choose the ALT-N/P setup option.
3. Highlight and press ENTER on an available lettered space.
4. Set options as desired, but install the Upload/Download batch
files as Protoman.exe. Both uploads and downloads will be handled
from this command file. Save your setup options as normal.
5. Call your favorite BBS and start your file transfer. Now, press
Pgup/Pgdn and ProtoMan will execute!!
To install as a "Hot Key" operated shell:
2. Start the Qmodem software and choose the ALT-J setup option.
3. Choose the desired Hot Key catagory from the list of available
options.
4. Assign a definition for the desired Function Key.
Use one of the following syntax's:
@SHELLX path\protoman.exe
This will operate the ProtoMan.exe file, and return you to the
Qmodem/online state immediately upon completion of the file transfer.
or
@SHELL path\protoman.exe
This will operate the ProtoMan.exe file, and then wait for your
keystroke input before returning to the online state.
5. Call your favorite BBS and start your file transfer. Now, press
the "Hot Key", and ProtoMan will execute!!
*********************************************************************
Installing ProtoMan with Telix
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
Installing ProtoMan with Boyan
*********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Special thanks to the following people
**********************************************************************
** Willie Robinson **
2613 Louis Blvd.
Hephzibah, Georgia 30815
Willie Robinson provided me with a registered copy of his ANSI
screen editor "Screen Debut" to use to create all the color screens that
are used in ProtoMan. Screen Debut is shareware and is available on the
following BBSes:
The Momentary Lapse of Reason BBS
Hickory, North Carolina
(704) 327-6361 : 300-38400 Baud
Jack's Board
Augusta, Georgia
(404) 798-4006
Screen Debut is an ANSI screen editor that will allow you to
create screens and save them in ANSI, ASCII, Pascal, C, Basic, and other
formats. This program saved me a lot of coding time!!
** Kurt Schmidt **
Special thanks is in order for Kurt for his long hours of Beta
testing with ProtoMan.
**********************************************************************
Getting Help or New Releases
**********************************************************************
ProtoMan is always available for download on The Momentary Lapse
of Reason BBS : (704) 327-6361 : 300-38,400 Baud. The sysop (author of
ProtoMan) will always try to answer any questions that you may have
about the program.
**********************************************************************
ProtoMan Distribution Sites
**********************************************************************
The latest releases of ProtoMan will always be available on the
following BBSes as soon as they are released:
1. The Momentary Lapse of Reason BBS : (704) 327-6361
Hickory, NC
300-38,400 Baud
Sysop - John Setzler
* ProtoMan Author *
2. The PowerLine BBS : (315) 865-4070
Marcy, NY
300-2400 Baud
Sysop - Joe Mezzanini
3. The Software Exchange : (717) 243-9620
Carlisle, PA
300-2400 Baud
Sysop - Bob St. Cyr
**********************************************************************
Program History
**********************************************************************
06/15/90
ProtoMan Development began
08/16/90
ProtoMan 1.0 Beta Released to the public.
08/18/90
ProtoMan bugs fixed - Problem with HyperProtocol downloading and
problem with 38,400 baud configurations.