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T E L I X ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Reference Manual Copyright (C) 1986-93 deltaComm Development ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. deltaComm Development P.O. Box 1185, Cary, NC 27512 USA (919)-460-4556 / (919)-460-4531 fax / (919)-481-9399 BBS Telix v3.21 COPYRIGHT ii Copyright Notice Telix is Copyright (c) 1986-1993 by deltaComm Development. SALT is Copyright (c) 1988-1993 by deltaComm Development. SIMPLE is Copyright (c) 1990-1993 by deltaComm Development. Host+ is Copyright (c) 1988-1993 by deltaComm Development. This document is Copyright (c) 1988-1993 by deltaComm Development. No parts of Telix or this document may be copied in part or in whole, except as provided in the License in the following pages. Disclaimer deltaComm Development makes no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software and accompanying documentation. IN NO EVENT SHALL DELTACOMM DEVELOPMENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM, EVEN IF DELTACOMM DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Trademarks Telix is a trademark of deltaComm Development. Many product names found throughout this manual are trademarks of various companies. Telix v3.21 License iii LICENSE Telix is Copyright (c) 1986-1993 by deltaComm Development. Telix is not, nor has ever been, public domain or free software. The commercial, registered version of Telix may not be duplicated other than for backup purposes. A registered copy of Telix must be treated like a book, in that the same registered copy of Telix may not be used in more than one computer at the same time, just as a book may not be read by more than one person at the same time (without making an illegal copy). Users are granted a limited license to use the User Supported, trial version of Telix for a limited evaluation period of up to 45 days, in order to determine if it suits their needs. Any other use of Telix or use past this period requires registration. All users are granted a limited license to copy the User Supported version of Telix only for the purpose of allowing others to try it, subject to the above restrictions as well as these: Telix must be distributed in absolutely unmodified form, including ALL program, documentation, and other files. Telix may not be included with any other product for any reason whatsoever without a license from deltaComm. No charge or payment may be levied or accepted for Telix. Bulletin Board system operators may post the unregistered, User Supported version of Telix on their BBS for downloading by their users without written permission only if the above conditions are met, and only if no special fee is necessary to access the Telix files (a general fee to access the BBS is ok). Distributors of User Supported and Public Domain software MUST obtain written permission from deltaComm Development before distributing Telix and must follow the above conditions, as well as other detailed at the time of request for a distributor's license. Liquidated damages assessed and collectible from distributors of User Supported and Public Domain software found to be distributing Telix without a current distributor's license in writing from deltaComm shall be $2 US (Two United States Dollars) *per unauthorized distributed copy*. Telix v3.21 License iv Telix Ordering/Registration Information Registering (buying) Telix allows you to use the product after the trial period. Registered Telix users get the current version of Telix on disk along with their own serial number, an optional printed manual, mailed notification of major Telix updates, and priority when calling the Telix Software support BBS (we guarantee no support to unregistered users). Most importantly, registered users know they are helping to make sure that high- quality software like Telix continues to be sold in this low-cost way. Telix registration costs $39 US / $47 CDN, and includes a 'registered' copy of Telix on disk. A printed manual is available for $12 US / $15 CDN. An evaluation disk with the current copy of Telix on it is also available for $10 US / $12 CDN. This is to be used to try out Telix, and does not include registration (the right to use Telix after the evaluation period). The fee covers the cost of diskette(s) and handling. Payment may be in the form of check, money order, or with a VISA or Mastercard. We also accept corporate purchase orders for amounts of $39 US and over. All US dollar checks must be drawn on a US bank, and all Canadian dollar checks must be drawn on a Canadian bank. Note that we quote equivalent prices in both $US and $CDN, but as we are a US company all credit card orders will be billed in $US, and your card statement will show any conversion between currencies. To place an order, please use the order form on the following page, or call us toll free from North America at (800) TLX-8000, or at (919)-460-4556 with your VISA or Mastercard ready. Previously registered owners of Telix may use the 3.21 evaluation release at no charge, or may obtain a new disk with registered version for $8 US $9 CDN (printed manuals are extra). Please specify your existing serial number (if one exists) when upgrading. Shipping is $2 per copy, to a maximum of $20 in North America, and $3 per copy to a maximum of $24 outside of North America. On orders with printed manuals add $3 per copy, $5 outside of North America, to a maximum of $30 and $50 respectively. Please call for shipping price on orders with more than 20 printed manuals. Telix v3.21 License v Quantity and Corporate Purchases The order form on the following may be used to purchase multiple copies of Telix, with discounts as follows: 1 - 10 copies no discount 11 - 20 copies 10% discount 21 - 50 copies 15% discount 51 - 100 copies 22% discount 101 - 200 copies 30% discount 201 - 999 copies 40% discount 1000 copies plus 50% discount Multiple copy purchases are simply bulk purchases and include that many copies of Telix on disk (with optional printed manuals), as with single registrations. We also have available site licenses (at a slight reduction in price), which are based on a fixed number of copies, but in which the site performs the diskette duplication from master disks and labels supplied by us. International Orders Telix is commercial software in Western Europe. Telix users Telix users in Western Europe wishing to register must obtain Telix from our European distributor, ELSA GmbH, Aachen, Germany. A German language version of Telix is available, and other languages are forthcoming. Please DO NOT send the order form in this document. Contact ELSA's agent: Connect GmbH, Alsterdorferstr. 201, 2000 Hamburg 60, Germany +49/0-(40)-511-7073 +49/0-(40)-511-7074 fax Telix users in the UK must register through ELSA's British agent, Speedmodem, Ltd, for 29 pounds. Credit cards accepted. Contact: Speedmodem Ltd., 136 Holland St., GLASGOW, Scotland, G2 4NB +44 (041) 204 4310 Telix users in Australia may register Telix locally through: My Computer Company, PO Box 99, Erskineville, NSW 2043 (02) 565-1991 (02) 550-4459 fax (02) 565-1044 BBS Note: All prices and discounts are subject to change without notice. Dis- counts apply only to separate orders, they are not cumulative. Telix v3.21 License vi Telix version 3.21 #930205-321 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Remit to: deltaComm Development, PO Box 1185, Cary, NC 27512 USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ Quan Item US/CDN Price ___ Telix Registration................ @ $39/$47 ea $________ (includes serial #, registration + program and manual on disk) ___ Telix evaluation disk............. @ $10/$12 ea $________ (includes program and manual on disk, but not registration) ___ Update from 3.15 or prior reg. ver. @ $8/ $9 ea $________ (includes new disk, S/N if needed) ___ Printed Manual @ $12/$15 ea $________ (includes Telix, Salt, Host+ docs) Disk media type: 5.25" [ ] 3.5" [ ] Low Density [ ] Volume Discount $(______) Shipping/Handling is: ------------------> Shipping $________ N. America: $2 per copy ($20 max) Overseas : $3 per copy ($24 max) With Manuals : $5 per copy ($10 overseas) Subtotal $________ N. Carolina residents please add State Sales Tax (6%) $________ TOTAL $________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Payment by: ( ) Check or MO ( ) VISA/MC ( ) PO # ____________ Name_______________________________________________________ Company_______________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Visa/MC orders will be charged in US currency The following information is needed for VISA/MC card payments Phone(______)________________ Other(______)________________ Card #_______________________________ Expiry date___________ Name of cardholder_____________________________________________ Signature______________________________________________________ (VISA/MC orders may also call voice: 800-TLX-8000 Telix v3.21 Contents vii C O N T E N T S 1. Introduction.....................................................1 1.1 Program Description.........................................1 1.2 The Telix Philosophy........................................1 1.3 Machine Requirements........................................2 1.4 Telix Files.................................................2 1.5 Start-Up Directory..........................................3 2. Getting Started..................................................5 2.1 Configuring Telix with MODEMCFG.EXE.........................5 2.2 Starting a Telix Session....................................6 2.3 Terminal Mode...............................................7 2.3.1 The Help/Status Screen................................7 2.3.2 The Status Line.......................................8 2.4 Communications Parameters...................................8 2.5 Using Telix Menus...........................................9 2.6 Entering and Editing Strings................................9 2.7 Output String Translation..................................10 2.8 Ending a Telix Session.....................................10 3. Program Features................................................11 3.1 Hang-Up....................................................11 3.2 Capture File...............................................11 3.3 Printer....................................................11 3.4 Usage Log..................................................11 3.5 Scroll-Back................................................13 3.6 Keyboard Definitions/Macros................................13 3.7 DOS Shell..................................................14 3.8 DOS Command................................................15 3.9 Editor.....................................................15 3.10 DOS and File Functions....................................15 3.11 Screen Image..............................................16 3.12 The Translate Table.......................................16 3.13 Chat Mode.................................................17 3.14 Clear Screen..............................................18 3.15 Local Echo................................................18 3.16 Add Line Feeds............................................18 3.17 Break Signal..............................................18 3.18 DOORWAY Mode..............................................18 3.19 Miscellaneous Functions...................................19 3.19.1 Sending Modem Strings...............................19 3.19.2 Setting the Screen Size.............................19 4. The Dialing Directory...........................................21 4.1 The Display................................................21 4.2 Editing an Entry...........................................23 4.3 Adding Entries.............................................23 4.4 Clearing Entries...........................................24 4.5 Finding an Entry...........................................24 4.6 Dialing....................................................24 Telix v3.21 Contents viii 4.7 Other Functions............................................25 4.7.1 Inserting Blank Entries..............................25 4.7.2 Deleting Entries.....................................26 4.7.3 Revising Long Distance Codes.........................26 4.7.4 Creating a Dialing Directory.........................26 4.7.5 Loading a Dialing directory..........................26 4.7.6 Printing the Dialing directory.......................26 4.8 Automatic Queue Redial.....................................27 4.9 The Quick Dial Bar.........................................28 5. File Transfers..................................................29 5.1 Downloading (Receiving) Files..............................29 5.2 Uploading (Sending) Files..................................30 5.3 File Transfer Protocols....................................32 5.4 Which One to Use...........................................33 6. Telix Configuration Menu........................................35 6.1 Screen and Color Settings..................................35 6.2 Terminal Options...........................................36 6.3 General Settings...........................................38 6.4 Modem and Dialing settings.................................40 6.5 Filenames and Path Settings................................43 6.6 ASCII Transfers............................................44 6.7 Protocol options...........................................45 6.8 Kermit Transfers...........................................48 6.9 Comm Port Setup............................................48 6.10 Saving Changes and Leaving................................49 7. Terminal Emulation..............................................51 7.1 TTY........................................................51 7.2 ANSI-BBS...................................................51 7.3 ANSI.......................................................51 7.4 VT102......................................................52 7.5 VT52.......................................................53 8. Using Script Files..............................................55 8.1 The Scripting Languages.....................................55 8.2 SALT........................................................55 8.3 SIMPLE......................................................56 8.4 Learning a Script...........................................56 9. Host Mode.......................................................59 10. Command Summary.................................................65 11. Troubleshooting.................................................67 12. Product Support.................................................79 13. External Protocols..............................................81 14. File FormatS....................................................83 15. Index...........................................................85 Telix v3.21 Introduction 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Program Description ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix is a full-featured communications program for PCs running the PC/MS-DOS operating system, that is able to meet the needs of almost any user. Telix features include: ■ An extensive range of built-in file transfer protocols, including Zmodem, Compuserve Quick B, Xmodem, Xmodem-1k, Xmodem-1k-g, Ymo- dem (TRUE), Ymodem-g, Kermit, SEAlink, Telink, Modem7, and ASCII. Telix allows up to five 'external' protocols to be defined and called from within Telix. In this way, almost any kind of file transfer is possible from within Telix. ■ Powerful multiple dialing directories, holding up to 1000 entries each. An entry contains many pieces of information required for communicating with remote services, such as the phone number and communications parameters. ■ Automatic queue redialing for hard-to-reach numbers. ■ Reliable DEC VT100/102 and VT52 terminal emulation. Keys may be redefined by the user. ■ Extensive SALT script language which allows Telix to perform au- tomated logons and many more complicated functions. As an example of the power of script files, the Telix Host Mode is written in the SALT script language. ■ Full access to DOS including a DOS shell, a DOS Command option, and full path support. ■ A very advanced Host mode which can be run as a standalone bulletin board system. ■ A Chat Mode, keyboard macros, a scroll-back buffer, session cap- ture, usage log, translate table, and a variety of other fea- tures, detailed in this manual. Above all however, Telix is FAST, and has a powerful, friendly, user interface. 1.2 The Telix Philosophy ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When Telix was written, a basic idea was kept in mind. It was felt that a powerful program could be simple to operate, with no loss of speed in order to achieve this ease of use. Telix v3.21 Introduction 2 1.3 Machine Requirements ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix will run on an IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, or true compatible with one hard drive and one floppy drive, or two floppy drives, and with at least 205k of free memory. This is memory available after DOS has been loaded. For a few functions, such as the DOS Shell, more memory is helpful. Telix will support up to 8 defined comm ports (COM1 through COM4 are predefined), any number of disk drives, and a printer con- nected to the parallel port. To get full use of Telix your modem must meet certain standards as well, especially for the Host Mode script. The Carrier Detect signal should not be forced high (on) by the modem, so that Telix can tell when you are online. This is usually controlled by the setting of a dip switch on the modem, or a modem command (often &C1). The DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signal should not be ignored by the modem (&D2 in many cases, or switch controlled). 1.4 Telix Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix comes with a number of files and creates more in its normal op- eration. Some files included in the Telix package are: TELIX.EXE The Telix program itself TELIX.DOC The Telix program reference manual MODEMCFG.EXE The Telix modem configuration program TELIX.MDM Data file for MODEMCFG CS.EXE The SALT script language compiler CSS.EXE The SIMPLE script language compiler SALT.DOC The SALT script language reference SIMPLE.DOC The SIMPLE script language reference QDHOST.SLT The QDHost Mode script file (source) QDHOST.SLC The QDHost Mode script file (compiled) QDCONFIG.SLT QDHost Mode configuration script (source) QDCONFIG.SLC QDHost Mode config. script (compiled) HOSTPLUS.DAT Compressed HOSTPLUS advanced BBS HOSTPLUS.DOC The HOSTPLUS program reference manual HINSTALL.EXE The HOSTPLUS installation program *.KEY The various key definition files for the ter- minals supported by Telix If your copy of Telix came in PKZip format then these files should be accompanied by a PKZip authenticity verification number of MUP129 bearing a deltaComm message. If your .ZIP files do not carry the PKZip authenticity stamp, you should question their integrity, or upgrade to PKZip 1.10 to insure that the AV stamps are there. PKZip 1.02 or earlier cannot display AV information. Files (optionally) created and used by Telix include: TELIX.FON The default dialing directory file Telix v3.21 Introduction 3 TELIX.LD The Long Distance Codes file TELIX.CAP The default session capture file TELIX.IMG The screen image save file TELIX.KEY The default user key macros definition file QDHOST.CNF The Host Mode configuration file Telix at one time or another can have a number of files open, espe- cially during Host Mode and a few other instances. If Telix tells you it is having problems opening files then it is probable that including the line: files=20 in your CONFIG.SYS file could clear up the problem. This allows DOS to open more files (the default is 'files=8'). For more information on the CONFIG.SYS file see your DOS manual. 1.5 Start-Up Directory ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When you run Telix it will remember the disk directory you ran it from. After this point, even if you have changed the current directory with the 'Change directory' command, Telix will know that it should look for its program files on the start-up directory. Some files will also be written on this directory unless you specify another. If you set the environment variable 'TELIX', Telix will have another (even better) way of knowing where to look for its files. The command form at the DOS prompt is: set TELIX=pathname where pathname is a the legal DOS pathname of the directory in which the Telix files are located. Do not leave any space between the '=' and the arguments. For example, if you used 'set TELIX=C:\TELIX\', Telix would know to look for its files in the Telix directory on drive C. This way, no matter where you run it from, Telix will always be able to find its files. To reset this environment variable to nothing the command is: set TELIX= For more information on environment variables see your PC/MS-DOS man- ual. Telix v3.21 Getting Started 5 2. GETTING STARTED 2.1 Configuring Telix with MODEMCFG.EXE ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix has a complete setup program that will create or modify your ex- isting configuration to work best with your modem, and will modify your modem settings to work best with Telix. To run the configuration program, from the DOS prompt type: MODEMCFG The files TELIX.MDM and MODEMCFG.EXE must be in the same subdirectory as TELIX.EXE for proper use. If INSTALL.EXE was used properly, or all .ZIP files were extracted into the same subdirectory, this will be the case. The TELIX.MDM modem information file will be updated on the Telix BBS regularly to handle changes in modem strings and to add new modems and models. Throughout the menus of MODEMCFG.EXE, you may use the arrow keys to move in a given direction, Tab and Shift-Tab to move right or left, Home, End, PgUp and PgDn to move up or down, or press the first letter of the menu item to move to the next item beginning with that letter. A menu will be shown from which you should select the manufacturer of your modem. If your modem manufacturer is not one of the options, se- lect generic, or contact deltaComm to have it added. Under each manufacturer is a list of their modems. Again pick the ap- propriate modem. You will be shown a list of the settings for the modem itself, includ- ing any switch settings if known. Please write down the switch set- tings as you will need them later. When asked if you wish to configure your modem, answer by pressing the 'Y' key. MODEMCFG will ask you for your comm port as well. Please refer to your modem manual for this in- formation. If all goes well a successful configuration message will be shown. If there is a problem, insure the proper comm port is specified and try again. If the problem persists, contact deltaComm. A similar setup procedure will take place for TELIX.CNF, the configu- ration file for Telix itself. MODEMCFG will only change the values pertinent to the performance of the modem in existing configurations. Any existing color values or preferences will be left intact. If TELIX.CNF does not exist, MODEMCFG will create it. Telix v3.21 Getting Started 6 The exit screen of MODEMCFG contains final instructions on how to make best use out of the setup that has been written for you. Please make a note of these for later referral. You are now ready for your first Telix session. 2.2 Starting a Telix Session ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To start the Telix program type the following while at the DOS prompt: Telix [O][Q][B][D] [Sfilename] [Cfilename] [Ffilename] The letters in the square brackets are optional command line switches affecting what Telix will do upon start-up. The square brackets should not be entered. The order and case of the options does not matter but they must be separated by at least one blank. Specifying the 'O' option upon start-up tells Telix that you are al- ready online (connected to a host systems), and that it should not try to initialize the modem. The 'Q' option in the command line chooses quiet mode for the current session. When quiet mode is on Telix will not sound any alarms (e.g., when a file transfer is over), no matter what the default setting for alarms is. This is useful for those late night sessions. Any bell characters sent by the remote system are still sounded however. Specifying 'B' in the command line forces Telix to use the PC's BIOS for all screen write operations, whatever the default setting for screen writes might be. This is useful when you want to run Telix in a multi-tasking environment such as Topview or MS Windows for just one session. Note that Telix is DESQview aware, so you do not have to use this mode for DESQview. The 'D' option forces Telix to drop RTS during disk writes for those systems exhibiting frequent errors at rhythmic intervals while downloading. This is called slow handshaking. The 'S' option indicates that a script file (explained elsewhere) is to be run immediately upon start-up. The 'S' should be followed imme- diately (no blanks) by the name of the script file to execute. The 'C' option indicates that another Telix configuration file than the standard TELIX.CNF should be used. If it doesn't exist, it will be created. In this way, you may have multiple configurations for Telix. The name of the configuration file should immediately follow the 'C', and should include the extension. The 'F' option indicates that another dialing directory (FON) file than the default TELIX.FON should be loaded at start-up. The name should immediately follow the 'F'. Note that another dialing directory Telix v3.21 Getting Started 7 file may also be loaded from within Telix (in the dialing directory screen). Upon starting, Telix will display a title screen for a period of 25 seconds or until you press a key. Please read the message on the title screen carefully. After you are past the title screen, you will be in 'terminal mode' unless Telix can't find the configuration file (usually TELIX.CNF), in which case it will ask you a few questions about your machine and modem, and then will write a configuration file for you. 2.3 Terminal Mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Immediately after starting Telix, and for most of the time while using it, you will be in Telix's terminal mode. While in this mode any nor- mal (ASCII) characters you type will be sent to the modem port, and any incoming characters will be printed on the screen. It is from the terminal mode that most Telix commands are initiated. Most commands are selected by pressing two keys at the same time. For example, to access the dialing directory, you would press Alt-D. That is, while holding down the Alt key, you press the D key. 2.3.1 The Help/Status Screen While in terminal mode, pressing the Alt-Z sequence will switch you to a help screen showing you a summary of all the available commands. If the key for a command is pressed while the help screen is still on, the screen will be turned off and the command will be executed. On the bottom of the help/status screen is some information regarding some current settings and the status of the current connection, as follows (in slightly compressed form). ╒══════════════════════════════════════╤═════════════════════╕ │ Time..10:39:00 Online .... No │ Capture...Off │ │ Date..06-29-91 │ Printer...Off │ │ Baud..2400 Terminal .. VT102 │ Script....None │ │ Comm..N,8,1 Port ...... COM1 │ Reg. Key..TELIX.KEY │ │ Echo..Off Add LF .... Off │ Dial Dir..TELIX.FON │ ╘══════════════════════════════════════╧═════════════════════╛ Items included are: the current time and date, the connect status, the elapsed time for the call in progress, the current communications parameters, the state of the capture file and printer, the currently executing script file (if there is one), the current dialing direc- tory, the current keyboard macro definition file, and a few other items. Telix v3.21 Getting Started 8 2.3.2 The Status Line Telix has an optional status line which may be displayed at the bottom or top of the screen (it may be controlled via the Telix Configuration Menu, or toggled on/off by pressing Alt-8 in terminal Mode). The sta- tus line displays the current communications setting such as baud rate and parity, the state of the Capture file, whether or not the printer is on, the currently executing script file (scripts are explained elsewhere), and whether Telix is On-line or Off-line. The following is an example of a status line, and what each section can contain: ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ The Status Line example screen display can not be shown in the DOC │ │ file format Telix manual, due to width limitations. │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 2.4 Communications Parameters Pressing Alt-P allows you to change the Communications Parameters. This is the format in which Telix sends data over the modem, and ex- pects to receive it in. After pressing Alt-P a window is displayed with the current parameters at the top, and the options in the rest of the window. To change a value press the letter or number of the set- ting you want. ╒═╡ Comm Parameters ╞════════════════╕ │ │ │ Current: 2400,N,8,1,COM1 │ │ │ │ Speed Parity Data │ │ │ │ A: 300 J: None Q: 7 │ │ B: 1200 K: Even R: 8 │ │ C: 2400 L: Odd │ │ D: 4800 M: Mark Stop │ │ E: 9600 N: Space │ │ F: 19200 S: 1 │ │ F: 38400 T: 2 │ │ F: 57600 O: N-8-1 │ │ F: 115200 P: E-7-1 │ │ │ │ 1: COM1 3: COM3 5: COM5 7: COM7 │ │ 2: COM2 4: COM4 6: COM6 8: COM8 │ │ │ │ Choice, or <Enter> to exit? │ ╘════════════════════════════════════╛ There are a number of parameters that can be changed. The baud rate is the speed that you want to communicate at (it should really be called bps rate, which stands for bits per second). 1200 baud and 2400 baud are the two most common speeds in use, and represent about 120 and 240 Telix v3.21 Getting Started 9 characters per second, respectively. Baud rates all the way up to 115200 are supported by Telix, however a fast PC is needed for the higher rates (a stock 4.77 MHz XT can handle 9600 and possibly 19200 baud, higher rates need an AT class computer). Parity is a form of er- ror checking. Allowable parities are None, Even, and Odd. Data bits is the number of bits (a bit is a one or a zero in a computer) in each character. Allowable values are 7 and 8. Finally, the number of stop bits parameter can be set to either 1 or 2. The most common format for BBS use is a baud rate of 1200 or 2400, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit. On many large networks such as Compuserve, the data format used is E71. The communications parameters menu also allows you to select the com- munications port you want to use. Note that by default only the first four comm ports are defined (the last four are duplicates of COM1). Changing any parameters changes them only for the duration of the cur- rent communications session. If you want a set of parameters to be the default when you start Telix, use the Telix Configuration Menu, Alt-O. 2.5 Using Telix Menus ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Whenever Telix must ask you to select an item from a group of options, it uses the same basic type of menu. The options will be arranged ver- tically for a vertically oriented menu, and next to each other for a horizontally oriented menu. There are two ways to select the item that you want. Each menu option has one of its letters in bold text; press- ing that letter will select the corresponding option. As well, one op- tion in the menu is always highlighted in inverse video. The arrow keys on the PC's keypad will move the highlight up and down or left and right. When the highlight is over the option you want to select, press Carriage Return, or Enter. 2.6 Entering and Editing Strings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── While using Telix, you will often have to enter a string of charac- ters, for example a filename, or a list of numbers to dial. Telix gives you full editing powers when you enter a string. As you type characters, you may use the Backspace key to delete previously entered characters. The Left and Right arrow keys allow you to move back and forth in the string to edit what you have entered. By default, any characters you enter overwrite any that are already there. Pressing the Ins key will place Telix in insert mode, and any existing charac- ters are pushed ahead as you type. Pressing Ins once more places you back in overwrite mode. Home and End place the cursor at the beginning or end of the string, respectively. Finally, pressing the Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right arrow keys allows you to move back and forth in the string by increments of a word. Telix v3.21 Getting Started 10 2.7 Output String Translation ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── In quite a few instances while using Telix, the user must specify a string to be sent out over the modem port. Sometimes this string must contain characters which can not be printed on the screen, for exam- ple, control characters, and even pauses. There has to be a way of in- dicating these special characters, and it is done through the use of special characters called translation characters. When these transla- tion characters are encountered in an output string they are trans- lated into other characters. The default translation characters are: ^ when this character is encountered in an output string it will make the following character a control charac- ter. For example, ^A will send out the code for Con- trol-A. A few common control characters are ^M, which is the Carriage Return character, ^J, which is the Line Feed character, and ^[, which is the Esc character. To send out the ^ character itself, use two ^ characters, as explained above. ~ when this character is encountered it will make Telix pause for 1/2 a second. Note that the only way to send a ~ character out is to use the sequence ^~ using two ~ characters in a row will simply make Telix pause twice. There is one thing to keep in mind. These characters are only trans- lated on strings sent out to the modem, for example, the dialing pre- fix, the hang-up string, a keyboard macro, the modem initialization string, and a few other cases. 2.8 Ending a Telix Session ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To exit the Telix program, press Alt-X. Telix will ask you if you re- ally want to exit. Press 'Y' to confirm the exit, 'N' or Esc to return to Telix. If Telix detects that you are still on-line (connected to another com- puter), it will also present a third option, 'Hang-Up'. If this option is selected, Telix will make sure that the connection is broken before exiting. Telix v3.21 Program Features 11 3. PROGRAM FEATURES 3.1 Hang-Up ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-H will make Telix attempt to hang-up the modem. Unless this is disabled in the configuration Menu, Telix first attempts to hang up the modem by turning off a signal on the RS-232 port called the DTR line. This works with most modems. If this doesn't work, Telix then sends the hang-up string defined in the Configuration Menu to the modem. If this still doesn't work and Telix detects that you are still online, Telix will warn you. If Telix is consistently telling you that hang-ups fail even when they work, your modem is almost certainly overriding the Carrier Detect signal. See the appendix on common prob- lems for the solution to this. 3.2 Capture File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix allows you to capture (record) data coming in from the comm port and printed on the terminal screen, to a disk file. To open the cap- ture file, press Alt-L. You will be prompted for the filename to save the log to. Press Return to use the default filename. All data is added to the end of the file if it exists already. To turn off the log press Alt-L again and select the "Close" option. To temporarily pause capturing data to the file, press Alt-L and select the "Pause" option. While capturing is paused, any characters received are not saved to the file. To then un-pause capturing, press Alt-L and select the "Unpause" option. 3.3 Printer ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The printer may be toggled on and off by pressing Ctrl-@ to record in- formation coming in from the comm port and printed on the terminal screen. If Telix hangs when printer logging is turned on, the printer is turned off, and should be turned on to proceed. 3.4 Usage Log ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix allows a usage log to be opened, which keeps track of calls you make and file that you transfer. This is handy for keeping a record of your long distance calls, for example. The Usage Log is toggled on and off with the Alt-U key. If it is currently closed, you are prompted for the name to open it to (TELIX.USE is the default). If it is cur- rently opened, then it is closed. You may also set the Usage Log to be opened by default at Telix start-up (via the Configuration Menu). Telix v3.21 Program Features 12 Following is a sample portion of a log: 91-03-17 00:12:41 Telix Usage Log Created. 92-12-24 00:12:41 Telix Usage Log Opened. 92-12-24 00:13:06 Connected with : TBoard 92-12-24 00:13:06 ++ At phone # : 241-0241 92-12-24 00:13:06 ++ Settings : 2400,N,8,1 92-12-24 00:14:53 Hangup command selected. 92-12-24 00:16:25 Connected with : Telix Support BBS 92-12-24 00:16:25 ++ At phone # : 1-919-481-9399 92-12-24 00:16:25 ++ Settings : 2400,N,8,1 92-12-24 00:17:17 Download using Telink protocol. 92-12-24 00:17:19 ++ File : D:\DL\ZTC100.ZIP 92-12-24 00:41:09 ++ Chars per second : 165 92-12-24 00:41:11 ++ File : D:\DL\SRC100.ZIP 92-12-24 00:58:26 ++ Chars per second : 165 92-12-24 00:58:28 ++ File : D:\DL\OPT100.ZIP 92-12-24 01:22:54 ++ Chars per second : 165 92-12-24 01:23:11 Hangup command selected. 92-12-24 01:23:12 Exiting Telix. 92-12-24 01:23:12 Telix Usage Log Closed. The log is quite simple in form and easy to understand. Lines that start with '++' are a continuation of previous lines. Here is a listing of possible entries: Key Log Entry ---- ----------------------------------------------- Alt-U Telix Usage Log Created. Telix Usage Log Opened. Telix Usage Log Closed. Alt-D Connected with : (entry name) ++ At phone # : (phone number) ++ Settings : (comm settings) Alt-R Download using (name) protocol. ++ File : (pathname) ++ Chars per second : (CPS) ++ Transfer aborted. Alt-S Upload using (name) protocol. ++ File: (pathname) ++ Chars per second : (CPS) ++ Transfer aborted. Alt-H Hangup command selected. Alt-X Exiting Telix. The entries on the right are related to the commands shown on the left. Note that a script file has the ability to stamp text into the Usage Log, so other entries are possible. Telix v3.21 Program Features 13 3.5 Scroll-Back ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To review past screens of characters press Alt-B. You will be in the Scroll-Back display. You will be able to move through the last one thousand to 64 thousand characters received (depending on the setting in the Configuration Menu) by using the arrow keys to scroll line by line, the Home and End keys to go to the beginning and end of the buffer, and the PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll through the buffer a page at a time. To find a certain string in the buffer press 'F'. Telix will prompt for the string to search for. If the string is found the line contain- ing it will be placed at the top of the screen. To search for the same string as last time press Return when asked for the search string. To save the screen image to a file press 'I'. Telix will prompt you for the file to save the image to. If the file already exists, the screen image will be appended to it. To print out a screen image to your printer press Shift-PrtSc. 3.6 Keyboard Definitions/Macros ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix will let you assign text to a key so that it is sent to the comm port when that key is pressed. This is usually called a keyboard macro, and is useful in saving keystrokes (for example, you can assign your name to a key). Telix actually keeps two key definitions tables in memory at all times (each table holds the text assigned to each key), the user table and the terminal table. The terminal table is used for terminal emulation key assignments. When Telix is told to start emulating a certain terminal, it loads into this table defini- tions specific to that terminal. Therefore, for each terminal there is a key definition file which is loaded as needed. The user table on the other hand is relatively constant. You might want to assign your name to the Atl-1 key for example. This kind of definition would be put in the user table. When a key is pressed, Telix follows this procedure: If there is a definition for that key in the terminal key table, send that text; otherwise if there is a definition in the user table for that key, send the text; otherwise if the key represents an ASCII value, send that value; otherwise if the key is a Telix command (like Alt-D), per- form that command. The keyboard definition/macro editor is entered with the Alt-K key se- quence from terminal mode. Telix will ask you if you want to access the user or the terminal key definition table. Unless you wanted to modify the keys for a specific terminal, you would always select the user table. Telix will present the following menu: Load Save Clear Display displayKey Edit eXit Telix v3.21 Program Features 14 To load definitions from a previously saved key definition file into memory, select the 'Load' option. Telix will ask for the name of the key definition file (and use the extension '.KEY' if none is speci- fied). Current key assignments will be cleared. The standard key defi- nition file is "TELIX.KEY" and is loaded at start-up if it exists. To save the current key definitions to a disk file, select the 'Save' option. Telix will ask what file to save them to, and use the exten- sion '.KEY' if none is specified. Selecting 'Clear' will clear all the current key definitions in this table. Selecting 'Display' will show what text is assigned to each key. Selecting 'displayKey' will allow you to look at what is assigned to one specific key, by pressing it when prompted. To actually enter or edit the text assigned to a key, select 'Edit'. Telix will print the existing definition and allow you to edit it. En- ter the characters that you want the key to send when pressed. Control characters and pauses can be included in the definition in the manner described previously in the manual under Output String Translation. Remember that if you make any changes they will be lost when you exit Telix unless you use the 'Save' option as described above, to save them to disk. Telix also allows you to run a script file when a certain function key is pressed. If a function key definition has an '@' character as its first character Telix will assume the rest of the definition is the name of a script file, and will try to execute it. For example press- ing the function key whose definition is '@logon' would run the script file called LOGON.SLC. If you really want to send out an '@' character as the first character in the key definition, then use two of them in- stead. e.g., the definition '@@Hello' would send out '@Hello'. 3.7 DOS Shell ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-J will let you jump to a DOS shell. You will see the DOS prompt and will be able execute any DOS command, for example 'dir'. If there is enough memory left, you can even run programs. There is an option described later in the configuration section that allows you to free up most of the computer's memory when shelling to DOS. To exit the DOS shell type 'exit' and press Return. You will be back in Telix with the screen undisturbed from before your jump to the shell. In order to run the DOS shell, there must be enough memory left, and Telix must be able to find the file called COMMAND.COM. If either of these requirements is not met, Telix will tell you so. (The file COMMAND.COM is the DOS command interpreter. It is usually pointed to by the DOS environment variable COMSPEC. See your DOS manual for more information). If you run a serial port related program in the shell, there is a good chance that it will re-initialize the com port and Telix v3.21 Program Features 15 another piece of information called the com interrupt vector. If this happens, Telix will notice and re-initialize the port to the old values when you return from the shell. 3.8 DOS Command ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-V allows you to enter one DOS command or filename to run. This command is then executed and control is returned to Telix. As can be seen this is similar to the DOS shell, but is useful when you have only one command to enter. There are many uses for this command. For example, if your file viewing utility is called 'List', you could press Alt-V and then enter 'List TELIX.DOC'. This would load your file view utility and let you look at the TELIX.DOC file. After you termi- nated this program you would be back in Telix. Any DOS command is le- gal, for example 'copy a:*.ZIP c:', or 'ren data dat1'. If for some reason you might want Telix to pause after the command is finished, add a ';' character to the end of the command string, for example 'type TELIX.DOC;'. This stops the last screen-full typed from scrolling by too quickly when control returns to Telix. 3.9 Editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-A will allow you to run your favorite editor from within Telix. In order to do this you must go to the Configuration Menu and supply the full name and path of your editor in the 'Filenames and paths' area. As well, there must be enough memory left, and if you specified a batch file to be run, Telix must be able to find the DOS command processor COMMAND.COM. 3.10 DOS and File Functions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-F will display a menu of some common DOS operations. For convenience, a few commands available elsewhere have been included. ╒═╡ DOS Functions ╞══════╕ │ │ │ Jump to DOS shell │ │ Files directory │ │ Change drive/directory │ │ Delete file │ │ DOS command │ │ Run editor │ │ Exit │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════╛ Telix v3.21 Program Features 16 Jump to DOS Shell This performs the same function as the Alt-J command. Files Directory Telix will prompt you for the optional filespec, for example, *.DOC. If you want to list all the files in the current directory then just press Return. Telix will then do one of two things. If you have defined a directory program to use (in the Configuration Menu), Telix will run it. Otherwise Telix will use its own inter- nal directory program, which is similar to the DOS 'dir' command but also displays the time it would take to transfer each file shown. The time is correct for the current default upload file transfer protocol. Change Drive/Directory The current directory is displayed and you are asked to enter a new one. You can enter a new drive, a new directory, or both. This will become the current directory. Note that this is slightly different from the DOS 'chdir' command. Delete File You are asked to enter the filename of the file to delete. DOS Command This performs the same function as the Alt-V command. Run Editor This performs the same function as the Alt-A command. 3.11 Screen Image ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-I saves an image of the screen to the Telix Screen Image file. This file is usually called TELIX.IMG, but can be renamed in the Configuration Menu. If the file exists, the image is added to the end of it. 3.12 The Translate Table ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Sometimes it is necessary for certain incoming or outgoing characters to be changed to another value or stripped altogether. For this pur- pose, Telix keeps in memory an incoming and an outgoing character 'translate table'. For every character in the ASCII set, the table de- fines what it should be changed to. By default, no character transla- Telix v3.21 Program Features 17 tion is performed, as for each character, the new value is defined to be the same as the old one. The translate table facility is entered by pressing Alt-W while in terminal mode. Telix will ask whether you want to work with the incoming or outgoing table, and then display the translate table screen with the following menu at the bottom: Load Clear Save Edit Other eXit Most of the screen is used to display translation values. Each column holds on the left the original character (ASCII value), and on the right the new character. Only half the ASCII set can be displayed on one screen. Select the 'Other' option to toggle the display to show the other half of the character set. The 'Load' option is used to load a previously saved translate table definition file. Telix will ask for the filename, including extension. The 'Clear' option is used to reset all values in the translate table in memory, so that no translation is performed. The 'Save' option is used to save the current translate table defini- tion to a disk file. Telix will ask for the file name to save the table to. You must include the extension if needed (a common extension for this purpose is '.XLT"). The 'Edit' option is used to actually edit the translate table. Telix will ask for the old ASCII value, and the new one. If the new value of a character is defined as 0, that character is completely striped. It is sometimes useful to have an incoming and/or outgoing translate table load automatically when Telix is run. If the file TELIXIN.XLT exists at Telix start-up, it is assumed to be a default incoming char- acter translate table, and is loaded into that slot. Similarly, if the file TELIXOUT.XLT exists at start-up, it is assumed to be the default outgoing translate table, and loaded. 3.13 Chat Mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Normally while using Telix with a remote host, your characters are not echoed by Telix. When you type a character, it is sent to the remote host, which checks it and then sends it back to you, and only then is it printed on your screen. However if two users want to chat with each other this becomes a problem, because each user's software expects the other side to echo the characters back, and since it doesn't, nothing is printed. Telix has a special Chat Mode to deal with this. When you press Alt-Y Telix enters Chat Mode. Any characters you type are printed on your screen immediately, without having to be echoed by the other side. As well, it takes only a Carriage Return to advance to a new line, a Line Feed character is not needed immediately af- terwards. Telix also splits the streams of text. Any characters you type are displayed on the bottom half of the screen, while the char- Telix v3.21 Program Features 18 acters coming from the remote side are displayed on the top half of the screen. When you wish to exit Chat Mode, press the Esc key. 3.14 Clear Screen ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To clear the screen press Alt-C. The screen will be cleared to the de- fault colors, and the cursor will be placed in the upper left-hand corner. 3.15 Local Echo ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-E will toggle local echo on and off. If local echo is on, characters you type are printed on the screen. If local echo is off characters you type are not printed on the screen, they must be sent back to you by the remote host to be printed by the screen. Most hosts are set up so that local echo should be off; they will do the echoing. This is called a full duplex host. Often however when talking to an- other user, or when talking to a half duplex host, local echo must be turned on to see the characters you type. 3.16 Add Line Feeds ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When a line of characters is received from a remote system, it is usu- ally terminated by a Carriage Return followed by a Line Feed charac- ter. If the Line Feed character is missing lines will overwrite each other. If this seems to be happening when you are connected to a re- mote host then you must make Telix add Line Feeds to each incoming Carriage Return. Pressing Shift-Tab will toggle the adding of Line- Feed characters. If this option is on, every time a Carriage Return is received, a Line Feed is added immediately after it. 3.17 Break Signal ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Some hosts require the use of a special modem signal called a Break signal, to do certain tasks like end transmissions. To make Telix send a Break signal to the remote host press Ctrl-End. 3.18 DOORWAY Mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-= while in Terminal Mode will toggle DOORWAY mode on/off. DOORWAY mode is used by the DOORWAY utility by Dudley Marshall, and several other applications. While in DOORWAY mode, when a key is pressed Telix simply sends its raw scan code out the serial port, as returned by the PC's BIOS keyboard function. Note that since for any Telix v3.21 Program Features 19 key except Alt-=, Telix just sends the value to the serial port, you must first switch out of DOORWAY mode to perform any Telix function. 3.19 Miscellaneous Functions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pressing Alt-M while in Terminal Mode will cause Telix to display the Misc. Functions menu ╒═╡ Misc. Functions ╞═════╕ │ │ │ Send Modem Init string │ │ Send Auto-Answer string │ │ 80x25 screen │ │ 80x43 screen │ │ 80x50 screen │ │ eXit │ │ │ ╘═════════════════════════╛ 3.19.1 Sending Modem Strings To re-send the Modem Init string defined in the Modem and dialing page of the configuration Menu, select the first option of the Misc. Func- tions Menu. To send the Modem Auto-Answer string defined in the Modem and dialing page of the configuration Menu, select the second option of the Misc. Functions Menu. If this string is properly defined, the modem will be placed in auto-answer mode. 3.19.2 Setting the Screen Size The third through fifth options of the Misc. Functions Menu deal with setting the screen size (height). These options are valid only on EGA and/or VGA systems. Note that a standard EGA system can switch only between 25 and 43 lines, and can not handle 50. Note that some VGA cards can switch only between 25 and 50 lines, and can not handle 43. Trying to use one of these options on a system not equipped with an EGA or VGA video card is not allowed. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 21 4. THE DIALING DIRECTORY Telix allows you to keep telephone numbers in files called dialing di- rectories. A dialing directory is variable sized and can hold from 1 to 1000 entries. Besides the number, many other fields of information are stored, such as the communications parameters needed to talk to the service. All the fields are described below. The default dialing directory file is called TELIX.FON, but you can have as many di- rectories as you want and load them as needed. To access the dialing directory press Alt-D while in terminal mode. A small window will appear, asking you to enter the entries to dial or to press Return to see the dialing directory. For the moment just press Return. This first window is simply a very quick way to dial your most commonly called numbers. Once you have pressed Return the dialing directory will appear. 4.1 The Display ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Most of the screen is taken up by a window showing 15 (or more, de- pending on the screen mode) of the possible 1000 entries in the dial- ing directory. On the bottom of the screen is a menu of options, shown here: Dial List Toggle Find Manual Redial Add Edit Clear Unmark Other This menu works in a similar manner to the other menus found in Telix, as described in the section 'Using Telix Menus'. In addition, since dialing is such a common function, if any numeric key is pressed, it is assumed that the 'List' function is wanted and this number is car- ried over as the first digit entered for that function. At the same time you may view the dialing directory. To scroll through the direc- tory one entry at a time, use the Up and Down arrow keys. Use PgUp to go back one page, and PgDn to go forward one page. Press Home to go to the beginning of the directory, and End to go to the end of the di- rectory. It should be emphasized that whenever the line 'Scroll with Up, Down, Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn' is displayed, you may scroll through the directory. For each entry, many items are stored. All the fields can not be dis- played at the same time; you may toggle which fields are shown on the screen by selecting the Toggle command. Each entry contains informa- tion under the following headers: Name The name of the remote service (i.e., Compuserve, Genie, Telix Software Support BBS, etc.). Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 22 Number The phone number which Telix should dial to reach the remote ser- vice. Line Format The communication parameters (such as baud rate, parity, etc.) needed to talk to this service. Script A script file may be linked to each entry in the dialing direc- tory. When Telix connects to this service, that script file is then run, and may for example automatically log-on, entering your name and password as needed, for greater convenience and speed. LastCall The date of the last successful call you made to this remote ser- vice. Total The total number of successful calls you've made to this number. Terminal The terminal Telix should start emulating when a connection has been reached to this number. P (Protocol) The first letter of the protocol which should be set as the de- fault if a connection is reached to this number. E (Echo) Whether local echo should be on or off when a connection is reached with this number. L (Add Line Feeds) This controls whether the Add Line Feeds setting should be on or off when a connection is reached with this number. H (Strip High Bit) Whether Telix will strip the high (most significant) bit of in- coming characters in terminal mode. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 23 BD (Backspace Destructive) Whether a received backspace sequence is destructive (that is, if the character backspaced over should also be erased). BK (Backspace Key Value) What value the Backspace key sends, either Backspace, or Del. DP (Dialing Prefix Number) This (advanced) setting is used to tell Telix what Dialing Prefix to use when dialing this entry. One use for it is to turn on or off MNP (error correcting) support in modems, to avoid delays when the number called does not support it anyway. Password This field may hold a password for the remote service represented by this entry. The password may be used by a script file to auto- matically perform a log-on operation. Please note that this field is not encrypted, so if security is a problem, do not store your passwords in the dialing directory! 4.2 Editing an Entry ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To edit the currently highlighted dialing directory entry select Edit from the dialing directory menu. A window will appear with the old contents of the entry. You may edit each field, starting with the first (name). To leave the contents of a filed as-is, press Enter. You may move up and down in the list of fields by using the Tab and Shift- Tab keys. Pressing Esc one or more times will get you out of the edit window without any changes being made. Once all the fields have been edited, Telix will ask you if the Last Call and Total Calls fields should be cleared. Answer Yes or No as needed. Telix will then ask for confirmation before writing any changes to disk. 4.3 Adding Entries ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To add a blank entry to the end of the dialing directory, select 'Add from the dialing directory menu. A dialing directory may hold up to 1000 entries. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 24 4.4 Clearing Entries ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To clear an entry or a range of entries select Clear from the dialing directory menu. Telix will ask you to select the range of entries to clear, by moving the highlight bar and pressing Enter. After confirm- ing your choice, Telix will clear the selected entries back to empty entries. 4.5 Finding an Entry ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To search for a particular entry in the dialing directory select Find from the dialing directory menu. You will be asked to give the string to search for. If Telix finds the entry with that string in it, that entry will be highlighted. If while searching for the string Telix reaches the end of the directory, it will wrap around to the beginning and continue the search. If the string still can not be found Telix will say 'Sorry, string not found'. If you want to search for the same string as last time, just press Return when asked for the search string. 4.6 Dialing ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix allows you to dial a group of dialing directory entries repeat- edly until a connection is established, or you abort the attempt. Se- lecting the Dial function from the dialing directory menu will make Telix commence dialing in sequence all the currently marked entries. You may also dial a user-entered list of entries, by selecting the List function from the dialing directory menu. Telix will ask you to enter up to 10 entries to dial in sequence (to make List dialing even more convenient, you may also select the List function by pressing a numeric key while in the dialing directory menu; this number is then carried over and entered as the first digit in the string you are asked to enter). While you are entering the list of entries to dial you may also scroll through the directory as described above. If you specify more than one entry to dial, each should be separated by a space. Sometimes you may want to dial a number that is not in the dialing di- rectory. To do this select the Manual option of the dialing directory menu, which stands for 'manual dial'. You will be asked to enter a number to be sent to the modem. Whatever you supply will be sent out exactly as is, except for Long Distance codes (see below), which are still valid. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 25 4.6.1 Long Distance Codes A Long Distance code is an advanced dialing option which adds some flexibility. There are four Long Distance code characters: !, @, $, and +, which when encountered while dialing expand to user-defined strings (see section below on revising Long distance codes). If Telix is dialing a number from a dialing directory entry, and one of the Long Distance code characters is encountered in the number, Telix will instead send whatever string has been assigned to that code. For example, a dialing directory entry could contain the phone number '!967-1111'. If the string '9,,' was assigned to the ! LD code character, Telix when dialing this entry would first send the 9 fol- lowed by the commas, and then send the rest of the digits. LD codes may also be used with the List dial function. When you place one of them in front of or behind an entry number to dial, it will be expanded to a string. For example you could have the exclamation sign '!', be expanded to '9,', or any string you specify. You may place up to 3 Long Distances codes in front and one Long Distance code after each entry number. For example, specifying the entry '+21!' would send the string for the '+' Long Distance code, followed by the number from entry 21, followed by the string for Long Distance code '!'. The string 10 +15 20! entered at the prompt would dial entry 10, then entry 15 with a Long Distance code in front of it, and finally entry number 20, with a Long Distance code after it. These numbers are redialed repeatedly until a connection is reached. To learn about the redial window see the Redial function below. 4.7 Other Functions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Selecting Other from the dialing directory menu will present a menu of secondary functions, dealing with the deletion or insertion of entries in the dialing directory, with revising Long Distance Codes, and with the handling of dialing directories (Telix allows you to have as many dialing directories as needed and switch among them at will). 4.7.1 Inserting Blank Entries To insert blank entries in the dialing directory, select Insert from the dialing directory Other menu. Entries will be inserted at the cur- rent position of the highlight bar. Telix will ask how many entries to insert and will ask for confirmation before proceeding. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 26 4.7.2 Deleting Entries To delete an entry or a range of entries in the dialing directory se- lect the Delete option from the dialing directory Other menu. The range to delete is selected by moving the highlight bar. After con- firming your choice, the entries will be deleted and any following en- tries will move up to where the deleted entries were. 4.7.3 Revising Long Distance Codes To revise the Long Distance codes, select the option called Edit_LD from the dialing directory Other menu. There are four Long Distance code characters: ! @ - +. As described in the section on dialing, when you place one of them in front of or behind a number to dial, it will be expanded to a string. After selecting this option you will be shown a menu of the available long distance codes. Selecting an LD Code will let you modify the text currently assigned to it. After you have made your changes, you must save them to disk with the Save Changes option, if you want to use them every time you run Telix. 4.7.4 Creating a Dialing Directory To create a blank dialing directory (which can later be modified), se- lect the option called Create from the dialing directory screen's Other menu. Telix will ask you for the name the new directory should use. Any legal DOS filename is suitable, and there is no default ex- tension. Telix will then create the blank directory on disk. The cur- rent dialing directory is not be affected and will stay in memory. 4.7.5 Loading a Dialing directory To load another dialing directory select the Load option form the di- aling directory screen's Other menu. Telix will ask for the name of the new directory and then load it into memory. Telix assumes a de- fault extension of .FON, so if the directory you want to load does not have one, include a period at the end (e.g., TELIX.) The new directory becomes the default directory for the rest of the session or until you load another one. 4.7.6 Printing the Dialing directory Selecting the Print option from the dialing directory screen's Other menu allows you to print out the current dialing directory, to the printer, the serial port, or any device or disk file. Telix will ask you for the device or file to print to. Enter the name or press Return to use the PRN device (printer). Since these are DOS devices, Telix has no way of knowing, for example, things such as whether or not your printer is online. So if Telix seems to lock-up here, make sure your printer is on and it is set to online. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 27 4.8 Automatic Queue Redial ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When Telix has one or more numbers to dial, it redials repeatedly un- til a connection is made. To keep you informed of the status of the redial Telix displays a status window, and alerts you when a connec- tion is established. The status window is similar to the figure below. ╒═╡ Redial ╞═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ Redial started at 20:15:33 Press: T to change dial time │ │ Attempt #10 20:19:27 D to delete from list │ │ │ │ This attempt: Dialing My Favorite BBS ... 22 │ │ number: 967-1111 │ │ Last Attempt: Busy │ │ │ │ Press Space to cycle to next number, Esc to exit. │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ Information included in the status window is the time redial was started, the time the current attempt was started, the status of the last attempt, the status of the current attempt, and a countdown timer for the current attempt. If you are dialing all the marked entries with the dialing directory Dial command, when a connection is reached, the mark is taken off the entry connected to, so that when you later select the Dial function again, only the remaining entries are dialed. If you are dialing a list of entries selected with the List dialing directory command, when a connection is established the entry connected to is taken out of the list, so that when you later select the Redial command from the dial- ing directory or the Alt-Q command from terminal mode, only the re- maining entries will be shown. While redialing, you have the option of changing the time that Telix waits for a connection, and also the option of deleting a number from the list to dial, by pressing 'T' and 'D' respectively. Normally, when a connection has been reached, Telix sounds an alarm to alert you of this. If a script file is linked to the entry however, the alarm is skipped so that the script may immediately proceed. It is thus the responsibility of the linked script to alert the user of the fact that a connection has been reached. Pressing Alt-Q while in the terminal mode or selecting 'Redial last' from the dialing directory menu will allow you to redial one or more numbers that you entered previously using the 'List' command, so that you do not have to re-enter them. You will be shown the list and asked to edit it until you are satisfied, and then to press Return. Telix v3.21 The Dialing Directory 28 4.9 The Quick Dial Bar ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may have noticed that after you press Alt-D an inverse bar is dis- played on the bottom of the screen, asking you to select the entries to dial or press Return to see the Dialing directory. Up to now, you have just pressed Return to go on to the Dialing Directory, but this bar is a quick way to dial commonly called directory entries whose numbers you have memorized. You may enter a list of entries to dial just as if you had used the List command of the dialing directory menu. This saves the dialing directory from having to be displayed on the screen if you already know the entry or entries you want to dial. The Quick Dial Bar can also be used to dial a number manually. To do this just preface the number with an 'm'. For example, 'm967-1111' would dial 967-1111, just as if you had used the Manual dial option of the Dialing Directory. Either lowercase or uppercase 'm' is accepted. The use of the Quick Dial Bar may be disabled via the Configuration Menu. Telix v3.21 File Transfers 29 5. FILE TRANSFERS Sending files from one computer to another is one of the most useful things you can do with your modem. Telix supports a full assortment of the most popular file transfer protocols, including Xmodem, Xmodem-1k, Xmodem-1k-g, Zmodem, Compuserve Quick B, Kermit, Ymodem, Ymodem-g, SEAlink, Telink, Modem7, and ASCII. Telix's file transfers are very fast, surpassing most programs in speed by a respectable margin. All file transfers use a 10 Kbyte buffer, and full error detection is standard. Telix allows you to define up to five external protocols, which are completely integrated into the file transfer menus. When you select one of these protocols, Telix executes a DOS batch file or Telix script file, which must then call the appropriate external driver for the protocol. In this way, you may add virtually any file transfer protocol to Telix. Adding external protocols is defined in the section on the Configuration Menu. 5.1 Downloading (Receiving) Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To start downloading (receiving) a file from a remote host, you must usually inform the remote host of the files that you want it to send to you before starting the transfer on the Telix side. You must then start the download on the Telix side. Pressing the Alt-R key will dis- play a menu asking which file transfer protocol you would like to use: ╒═╡ Download file ╞═╕ │ │ │ Which Protocol? │ │ │ │ ASCII │ │ CIS Quick B │ │ Kermit │ │ Modem7 │ │ SEAlink │ │ Telink │ │ Xmodem │ │ 1k-Xmodem │ │ G-1k-Xmodem │ │ Ymodem (Batch) │ │ YmodEm-g │ │ Zmodem │ │ Quit │ │ │ ╘═══════════════════╛ If any external protocols are defined, they are also shown as part of the menu. Telix v3.21 File Transfers 30 If you have selected Xmodem, Xmodem-1k, Xmodem-1k-g, or ASCII, as the protocol, Telix will ask you for the filename to save the file to. Telix always watches what you type while online, and will often know the name of the file you want to transfer, in which case this name will be displayed and all you have to do to accept it is press Return. Any legal DOS filename is valid, including a path. If the filename you supply already exists, Telix will ask you to confirm your choice or give another filename. If you select any other protocol, the remote sender of the file will supply the name to save the file to. If you have entered a download directory name in the Configuration Menu, Telix will automatically save download files there if you don't spec- ify another path. Telix has automatic incoming file protection. If the name is supplied by the host and exists already the file is renamed by using numerals in the extension, as needed. During the transfer, a full status window is displayed showing the elapsed time, the number of bytes received, and an approximate Charac- ter Per Second rating, which can give an idea of the effective speed of the transfer. Batch protocols will also display the expected file size and file transfer time. For ASCII transfers, a status window is not displayed, only a single status line at the top of the screen. To abort a file transfer at any time press the Escape key. 5.2 Uploading (Sending) Files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To start uploading (sending) a file to a remote host you must also usually inform the host of the file you will be sending it before starting the upload on the Telix end. To start the upload on the Telix end press the Alt-S key. This will display a menu asking you which file transfer protocol you want to use to send the file. After you have selected the protocol, you will be asked for the file(s) to send by a dialog box: ╒═╡ Upload Files ╞══════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ ╒═╡ Path/Directory ╞══════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ D:\TELIX\ │ │ │ ╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ │ │ │ │ ╒═╡ Filelist ╞══╕ ╒═╡ Tagged Files ╞═════════╕ ╒═╡ Drives ╞═╕ │ │ │ ..\ │ │ │ │ C: │ │ │ │ DOWN\ │ │ │ │ D: │ │ │ │ SALT\ │ │ │ │ X: │ │ │ │ 1.FON │ │ │ │ Y: │ │ │ │ ANSI.KEY │ │ │ │ Z: │ │ │ │ TELIX.CNF │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ TELIX.EXE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ TELIX.FON │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ TELIX.KEY │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╘═══════════════╛ ╘══════════════════════════╛ ╘════════════╛ │ │ │ ╘═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ Telix v3.21 File Transfers 31 This is a complex dialog, and deserves more detailed attention. Once mastered, this dialog will greatly streamline the uploading process. There are four separate windows in the dialog. The selected dialog will have a bar at the top, highlighting the name of the window. You may move from one window to the next using Tab and Shift-Tab to move forward or backward, respectively. In any window, pressing Up-Arrow or Down-Arrow move the highlight bar in that direction if possible. Pressing F10 closes the dialog and uploads the files selected. Tagged Files: This window contains a list of all of the files Telix is to upload. It will be blank when the dialog first appears. You may select files to be included in this list as described below. Files already listed may be removed from this window by highlighting the file and pressing Enter or Space. Path/Dir: This window is where the currently displayed upload path will be displayed. You may add files to the Tagged Files List from this window by typing in the exact name of the file. You may use the wildcard characters ? and * (see your DOS manual, for more information about wildcard characters). You may change the currently displayed upload path by entering a new path here. Filelist: This window contains the files in the currently displayed upload path. This window may contain a maximum of approximately 700 files. Files listed in this window may be added to the Tagged Files List by highlighting the file and pressing Enter or Space. If you wish to add or remove all files in this window (both those on and off the screen) to or from the Tagged File List, you may do so with F3 and F4 respectively. Drives This window contains a list of all available disks in your system, except for floppy drives. Users of removable disks such as Bernoulli boxes may have to load a cartridge to upload a file. You may change the drive on which the Filelist is read from by selecting a new drive from this window. During the file transfer, a full status window is displayed, unless you are using ASCII protocol, in which case only a status line is dis- played. Information shown is the expected time the transfer will take, the time remaining, the number of bytes to send, the number of bytes left, and an approximate Character Per Second rating, which can give an idea of the effective speed of the transfer. To abort a transfer at any time press the Escape key. Telix v3.21 File Transfers 32 5.3 File Transfer Protocols ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Xmodem - Xmodem is often called the "lowest common denominator" protocol, and is the father protocol of many others. Xmodem sends files in blocks of 128 characters at a time. When the receiving com- puter is satisfied that the block has arrived intact, it signals so and waits for the next block. Error checking is a checksum or a more sophisticated Cyclic Redundancy Check. Telix supports both and will automatically use the right one. During a download, Telix will attempt to use the CRC, but will switch to checksum if it seems the host does not support CRC. The Xmodem protocol also needs a setup of no parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. If your communications parameters are different from these when you start an Xmodem transfer, Telix will switch to the required setup for the transfer, and back to the origi- nal setup after it is finished. In the Configuration Menu, you may en- abled Relaxed Xmodem timing. This is for use with remote services that can not tolerate strict timing during Xmodem transfers. Xmodem-1k - This is a small variation of the above that uses blocks that are 1 Kilobyte (1024 bytes) in size. This protocol is still mis- takenly called 'Ymodem' by many programs, but people are gradually moving over to the proper name. Xmodem-1k-g - This is a variation of the above that is meant for er- ror-free channels such as error correcting modems or null modem cable links between two computers. It achieves great speed by sending blocks one after another without waiting for acknowledgment from the re- ceiver. Because of this however, it can not re-send blocks in case of errors (and thus the need for an error-free link). If an error is de- tected by the receiver, the transfer is aborted. This protocol is still mistakenly called 'Ymodem-g' by many programs, but people are gradually moving over to the proper name. Compuserve Quick B - This protocol is used only on the Compuserve Information Service. It is quite fast and specially suited for the networks used in accessing CIS, which have large turnaround delays. This is a windowed protocol, which basically means that unless errors are detected, data is being sent at all times. A CIS Quick B transfer is totally controlled by Compuserve. After telling CIS what file(s) to send, the user does nothing. Telix, in terminal mode, then detects the command from CIS which tells it to start the transfer (note that CIS Quick B transfer must be enabled in the Configuration Menu, or they will not work). Zmodem - This advanced protocol is very fast and very reliable, and offers many features. It can arguably called the most popular protocol in use today. Zmodem can transfer a group of files in one batch, and keeps the exact file sizes and dates. Zmodem can detect and recover from errors quickly, and can resume an interrupted transfer at a later time (this feature, called Crash Recovery, may be toggled in the 'Protocol options' page of the Configuration Menu). Zmodem is also very well suited for satellite links and packet switched networks. Telix v3.21 File Transfers 33 SEAlink - SEAlink is an advanced version of Xmodem developed by Sys- tem Enhancement Associates. It is a sliding window protocol SEAlink is 15 to 25 percent faster than regular Xmodem. SEAlink passes a file's name, size, and date when transferring it, and can be used to send more than one file at a time. ASCII - in an ASCII transfer, it is as if the sender is actually typing the characters and the receiver is just recording them. There is no form of error detection used. Usually only ASCII files can be sent in this way, as binary files contain characters which would foul- up the screen. Ymodem - This protocol is a variation on Xmodem, which allows for multiple files to be sent per transfer. While transferring files, it keeps the correct name, size, and date, and may use 128 or 1024 byte block sizes. Ymodem-g - This protocol is a variation on the above, which achieves very high transfer rates by sending blocks one after another without waiting for acknowledgment. This however means than an error-free link such as an error-correcting modem or null modem cable between two com- puters is needed. If an error is detected by the receiver, the trans- fer is aborted. Telink - This protocol is mainly found on Fido BBS systems. It is basically the Xmodem protocol using CRC checking with an extra block sent ahead of the file telling its name, size, and date. This protocol allows more than one file to be sent at a time. Modem7 - Modem7 is a close cousin to Xmodem that passes the filename before starting the transfer, thus taking away some of the user's work. It is common on CP/M systems. This protocol allows more than one file to be sent at a time. Kermit - The Kermit protocol was developed to make it easier for computers of different types to send files to each other. Almost any computer using Kermit can be set up to send files to another computer using Kermit (the same can be said of Zmodem however). Various options in the Kermit protocol implemented in Telix can be tailored to the user's needs in the Configuration Menu, option 'Kermit transfers'. This implementation of Kermit does not include a Kermit "server" func- tion, and cannot use "SEND", "GET", or other server commands. 5.4 Which One to Use ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix supports a large number of built in file transfer protocols. To this can be added external protocols. It can get confusing to decide which one to use. When both sides of the connection only support one protocol, then obviously that is the one to use, no matter what its deficiencies. Otherwise some protocols are a better choice than oth- ers. On Compuserve, CIS Quick B should be used. For most purposes, Zmodem is the best all around protocol. It is very fast and very reli- able. Ymodem-g and Xmodem-1k-g are slightly faster. However these two Telix v3.21 File Transfers 34 protocols need an error-free link. After that, Ymodem, SEAlink, and Xmodem-1k are quite fast and pretty reliable. The last choice would be Xmodem and its close cousins Telink and Modem7. ASCII transfers are suitable only for text files and do not perform any error detection or correction, so they are to be avoided if possible. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 35 6. TELIX CONFIGURATION MENU Telix has many features which can be customized. These include things like the screen setup, the communications parameters, filenames and paths, and many other items. The default values for these parameters are stored in a file called TELIX.CNF, the configuration file. Telix will automatically read this file upon starting up. The first time you use Telix, this file is created for you with some standard default values. Pressing Alt-O while in terminal mode brings up the Telix Con- figuration Menu, which allows you to change all these default set- tings. ╒═╡ Configure Telix ╞════════════╕ │ │ │ Change which default settings? │ │ │ │ Screen and color │ │ Terminal Options │ │ General settings │ │ Modem and dialing │ │ Filenames and paths │ │ ASCII transfers │ │ Protocol options │ │ Kermit transfers │ │ Comm port setup │ │ Write changes to disk │ │ Exit │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════╛ The first seven options are parameter screens, the last two deal with leaving the Configuration Menu. 6.1 Screen and Color Settings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to set various video related options. You will be shown a menu listing the various parts of the screen displays (such as menu foreground colors). If you pick one of these items you will be allowed to scroll through the possible colors for it by using the ar- row keys. When you have selected the right colors, press Enter. If you want to leave the colors menu without selecting one press Esc. Another setting on the Screen and Colors menu is the 'Screen write mode'. If you pick this option you will be asked in which way you want Telix to write to the screen. This depends on the video adapter pre- sent in your system. The first option is a direct screen write. This is the fastest mode, and should be used if you have a monochrome adapter, an EGA adapter, or another video adapter that never gets snow. The second option is a direct screen write with port checks. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 36 This method is slightly slower. You should use this method if you screen gets snow on it or it flickers while executing the DOS 'dir' command. One card with which you should use this is the color/graphics adapter. Don't use this option if your video card doesn't need it, as it may interfere with communications. The final method is a screen write with BIOS calls. You should use this method with applications like Topview or DoubleDOS. This method is quite slow however. Note that you do not need this mode to run Telix under DESQview, since Telix is DV aware. Another setting on this menu is 'Default screen size'. This allows you to pick an alternate default screen size of 80x43 or 80x50. Note that these modes require an EGA or VGA card. Note also that many EGA cards can not do 80x50, and some VGA cards can not do 80x43. When you have finished picking the colors, select the 'Keep changes & exit' option if you want to keep the color changes you have made, or the 'exit' option if you want to discard them. 6.2 Terminal Options ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen contains settings related to Telix operation while in terminal mode (with some extending to other areas of Telix). To select a setting to change type the letter beside it. Telix will then allow you to change the old setting. Press Esc at this point to exit without changing anything. Options include: A Default Communications Parameters These include comm port, bps (baud) rate, data bits, parity, and stop bits. Note that the current settings will not change, only the defaults for the next time you load Telix. Alt-P changes the current settings. B Emulate Before Translation Some European systems override characters used by many terminal emulations to signal color changes and other items that don't show up on the screen as characters. Normally a received character is passed through the translation tables before being examined to see if it is such a character. This option allows the emulation to occur first, and then only translates those characters not seen as emulation commands. C Default Terminal Type Allowable terminals are "TTY", "ANSI-BBS", "VT102", "VT52", "ANSI", and "AVATAR". Note that the current terminal will not be changed, only the terminal used the next time you run Telix. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 37 D Status Line Telix allows a status line to be displayed at the top or bottom of the screen. The status line shows some useful information. Valid options are Top, Bottom or None. While in Terminal Mode the status line may also easily be toggled on or off by pressing Alt-8. E Default Local Echo This controls whether or not Telix should echo on the screen any characters you type while in Terminal mode. This is usually off for BBS use. Local echo on is often also called Half Duplex, while local echo off is called Full Duplex. F Add Line Feeds This controls whether or not Telix should add line feeds to incoming Carriage Returns characters while in terminal mode. If you are connected to a remote system and lines are overwriting each other, this should be on, otherwise it should be off. G Strip High Bit Telix can strip the high (most significant) bit from incoming data bytes while in terminal mode. This is sometimes useful be- cause it allows the high/parity bit of incoming text to be ig- nored. H Received Backspace Destructive This setting controls how Telix treats incoming backspace charac- ters. If backspace characters are destructive, Telix backs up over the previous character and erases it, otherwise the existing character is not erased. I Backspace Key Character Normally, Telix sends Backspace when the Backspace key is pressed, and DEL when Ctrl-Backspace is pressed. This option al- lows these settings to be swapped. J XON/XOFF Software Flow Control This controls whether or not Telix should use the XON/XOFF soft- ware handshaking protocol while in terminal mode and during ASCII file transfers. This should usually be on. K CTS/RTS Hardware Handshaking Hardware handshaking is used with high speed modems and null mo- dem cable links to regulate the flow of data. If the modem sup- ports Hardware handshaking this should be on. If a null modem ca- Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 38 ble is being used and these signals are valid over the cable, this should be on. L DSR/DTR Hardware Handshaking Hardware handshaking is used with high speed null modem cable links to regulate the flow of data. If a null modem cable is be- ing used and these signals are valid over the cable, this should be on. Often a null modem cable will allow one type of hardware handshaking to be used, but not the other. M Compuserve Quick B Transfers Compuserve Quick B file transfers are initiated by Compuserve, which sends a few special characters (Ctrl-E and Ctrl-P). Telix, upon detecting these characters while in terminal mode, starts the transfer. If another Host is sending these characters and causing problems, this option allows CIS Quick B recognition to be turned off. N Zmodem Auto-Downloads Telix, while in Terminal Mode, can detect the packet from another computer sending files using the Zmodem protocol, and automati- cally begin a Zmodem download on the local end. This option al- lows this feature to be disabled. O Answerback string Some systems require that the terminal program send an identifi- cation string when an ENQ (Ctrl-E) character is received. You may define such an 'answerback' string here. If this string is empty, nothing is sent. As well, note that the answerback string is not sent if Compuserve Quick B transfers are enabled (above), as Ctrl-E is used as part of that protocol. 6.3 General Settings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to change some general default settings, in- cluding: A Sound If this is off Telix will not make ANY sounds. B Alarm Sound If this is off Telix will not make ANY alarm sounds, but will still beep when it receives the bell code from the remote host, unless the sound option is also off. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 39 C Keep Aborted Downloads If this is on, Telix will keep files which were aborted during a download. Otherwise Telix will delete these files. D Show Free Space for Downloads This setting controls whether or not Telix will display the free space on the disk when you start a download. The option to turn it off is provided because the free space display takes a few seconds for large hard disks. E Quick Dial Bar When you press Alt-D to access the dialing directory, Telix nor- mally first displays the Quick Dial Bar at the bottom of the screen, which allows you dial entries without having to view the dialing directory. If you would rather go directly to the dialing directory when you press Alt-D, set this option to Off. F Confirm Hang-Up Setting this option to on will make Telix ask for confirmation before hanging up, when Alt-H is pressed. G Default Usage Log Setting If this option is set to on, Telix will open the default Usage Log (as specified on the Filenames and Paths screen) at program start up. Otherwise the usage log must be manually turned on if needed. H Scroll-Back Buffer Size This setting controls the size of the Telix Scroll-Back buffer (in kilobytes). For changes to this setting to take effect you must save the changes to disk and restart Telix. I Capture File Buffer Size This is the size of the disk buffer that Telix should use for the Capture file when it is opened. Values from 0 to 4 Kilobytes are allowed. A larger buffer size means the disk is accessed less of- ten. J Date Format This is the format that Telix should use when displaying dates. Allowed formats are MMDDYY, DDMMYY, and YYMMDD. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 40 K Date Separator Character This is the character that Telix will print between parts of the date when displaying a date. The default character is the hyphen (-). L Time Format This is the format that Telix should use when displaying times. Allowed formats are 12-hour and 24-hour. M Time Separator Character This is the character that Telix will print between parts of the time when displaying a time. The default character is the colon (:). N Enhanced Keyboard Support This option allows you to turn off Telix's support for the en- hanced (101) keyboard. This should normally be left on, unless there seems to be a keyboard problem. O Shell: 16550 Buffer This option allows you to specify whether the buffer on the 16550a comm chip should be left on or off during a DOS shell. If it is installed in your PC, Telix normally recognizes and enables the buffer on this chip at all times, for greater efficiency, but there are still a few comm application that users might want to run from the shell which can not handle the chip with the buffer turned on. P Shell: Swap to EMS/XMS/Disk This option allows you to specify whether Telix will attempt to remove most of itself from memory when executing DOS function calls. The default is off for backwards compatibility, but most users should be able to turn this on without problems. 6.4 Modem and Dialing settings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen contains settings that Telix uses to control the modem and its output. The default configuration that Telix comes with is set up for Hayes compatible modems. These modems use the 'AT' command set. By changing these settings Telix can work with almost any modem. The pa- rameters are: Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 41 A Modem Initialization String This string will be sent to the modem when Telix first starts. Different modems might need different strings. The default string is set up for Hayes compatible modems. It is: ATZ^M~~~AT S7=45 S0=0 V1 X4^M where: AT is the modem attention code Z resets the modem to default state ^M sends the terminating Carriage Return character to the modem. ~~~ pauses to give the modem time AT is the modem attention code. S7=45 makes the modem wait 45 seconds for a connection. S0=0 turns off auto answer. V1 makes the modem respond with words. X4 makes the modem give extended result codes. ^M sends the terminating Carriage Return character to the modem. B Dialing Prefix 1 A Dialing prefix is what Telix sends to the modem when dialing, before the number, for example, 'ATDT' for Hayes compatible modems. There are three dialing prefixes allowed, and in the di- aling directory you may chose which one to use for each entry. One use for this is if your modem support MNP, to define two pre- fixes which turn MNP support on and off, thus avoiding the delay when you call a system that doesn't support MNP. C Dialing prefix 2 D Dialing prefix 3 E Dialing Postfix The string Telix should send after the number when dialing. On Hayes compatible modems this is just a Carriage Return character, '^M'. F Connect String The string which the modem sends upon establishing a connection. e.g., 'CONNECT' G No connect strings Up to four strings which the modem sends when it has failed to make a connection while dialing, for example 'NO CARRIER', 'BUSY', etc. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 42 H Hang-up string This is the string Telix should send to the modem to make it hang up. The default string works for Hayes compatible modems and is: ~~~+++~~~ATH0^M where ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. +++ escapes the modem into command mode. ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. AT is the modem attention code. H0 tells the modem to hang up. ^M sends the terminating Carriage Return character to the modem. Before sending this string to the modem Telix always tries to hang-up the modem by a faster way that works with MOST modems. This is done by dropping (turning off) a special signal called the DTR (Data Terminal Ready) line on the RS-232 port. If drop- ping the DTR makes the modem hang-up then the hang-up string is not sent to the modem. I Auto Answer String This is the string that Telix should send to the modem upon entering Host Mode. This string should allow the modem to automatically pick up the phone when it rings, and initialize it in any other ways that might be necessary. J Dial Cancel String The string Telix should send to the modem to cancel the current dialing attempt. On most modems all that is necessary is a Car- riage Return character, "^M". K Dial Time The amount of time Telix should wait for a connection while di- aling. This should usually be set to be greater than the amount of time the modem waits for the connection. L Redial Pause The number of seconds Telix should wait between attempts while redialing. M Auto Baud Detect If this option is on and Telix dials a number, it will check the modem connect message for a baud rate indication. If the baud is different than was specified for the entry being dialed, Telix Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 43 switches to the new baud rate. This option only works with Hayes compatible modems. This option must not be enabled when you have told the modem to maintain a constant or locked baud rate between the computer and the modem, as is often done with high-speed, er- ror correcting modems, or modems supporting MNP (e.g. USR HST, Hayes V-Series, etc.). 6.5 Filenames and Path Settings ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to change several filename and pathname de- faults, including: A Download Directory The disk directory in which Telix should save files which are downloaded (received). The user can override this by giving a full pathname when prompted. B Upload Directory The disk directory where Telix should look for files to be up- loaded. The user can override this by giving a full filename when prompted. C Script Directory The directory in which Telix should look for script files when trying to execute them. The user can override this by using a full pathname in front of the filename when specifying it. D Default Capture File The default name Telix should use when opening the capture file. The user can override this. E Default Usage Log The default name Telix should use when opening the Usage Log. The user can override this. F Directory Program The name of the disk directory program the Telix should run when you select the 'Files directory' command. If you do not specify a program here Telix will use an internal routine that also dis- plays the amount of time it will take to transfer each file in the directory. An example of a program you could specify here is 'dir/p', which would use the DOS dir command with pauses at each page full, to display the directory. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 44 G Screen Image File The file that Telix should save screen images (generated with the Alt-I command) to. the default name is TELIX.MSG. H Editor Pathname The name of your editor, including the extension of the name (EXE, COM, or .BAT for batch files), for example, C:\EDITOR.COM. The indicated file must either be in the current directory, in a directory included in the DOS Path, or the name must include the full path. You need to set this parameter only if you want to run your editor using the Alt-A, Run Editor command. 6.6 ASCII Transfers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to customize Telix ASCII file transfers to your needs, so that Telix may work with almost any system. Available set- tings are: A Strip High Bit If this parameter is on, the high (most significant) bit of each character sent for uploads, or received for downloads, is stripped. This can be used to ignore parity. On the other hand, the upper 128 characters in the IBM extended ASCII character set are then converted to the lower value. B Remote Abort Character This is the character which when received during an ASCII upload or download, is taken to mean that the remote end wants to abort the transfer. One possible value might be 24 (Ctrl-X). C Local Echo If this is on, Telix will echo characters locally while upload- ing. This should normally be off. D Expand Blank Lines If this is on, when Telix is sending a file and it encounters a blank line, it will add a space to that line. This is very useful for systems that assume a blank line means "end of file", or for uploading a message on most bulletin boards. E Pace Character This is the ASCII value of the character that Telix should wait for before sending each line. If this value is 0, Telix will not wait for any character. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 45 F Line Pacing This is the amount of time (in 1/10 seconds), that Telix should wait before sending each line. This delay is often not necessary, but for some bbs's for example, it's vital. G Character Pacing This is the time delay (in milliseconds) that Telix should wait between each character. As the PC's hardware clock does not have enough resolution, this is a software loop based delay. There- fore, a value of 1 here will delay a 4.77 MHz XT approximately 1 millisecond, and faster PCs for a proportionally smaller time pe- riod. H Upload CR Translation This is what Telix should do with Carriage Return chars when up- loading ASCII files. The three options are to do nothing, to strip them, or to add a Line Feed character afterwards. I Upload LF Translation This is what Telix should do with Line Feed characters when up- loading ASCII files. The three options are to do nothing, to strip them, or to add a Carriage Return before each. J Download CR Translation This is exactly the same as setting E (above), but applies when downloading ASCII files. K Download LF Translation This is exactly the same as setting F (above), but applies when downloading ASCII files. 6.7 Protocol options ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to configure external protocols, as well as a few other settings. An external protocol is simply a file transfer protocol that is imple- mented outside of Telix. You specify the name of the protocol, the key used to select it on the file transfer menu, and define how it is to be called. You may optionally define a string which will trigger an automatic download much like the auto zmodem transfer capability built into Telix. Items 'A' through 'E' are the definitions for the five external protocols allowed. When you select a definition to edit, Telix will ask a series of questions: Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 46 Key The key that should be pressed to select this protocol when the file transfer menu is displayed. Protocol Name The name Telix will display on the file transfer menu for this protocol. Upload Filename This is the name of the DOS batch file or Telix script file to call when the user selects an upload using this protocol. If this filename begins with an "@" symbol, Telix will create an ASCII text file "FILELIST" containing the list of specified or tagged files, one file per line. Many external protocols can accept such a file as a parameter, and thus limits on the number of files that can be passed on a DOS command line may be circumvented. Download filename This is the name of the DOS batch file or Telix script file to call when the user selects a download using this protocol. BAT or Script This controls whether the above two filenames are DOS batch files or Telix script files. DL Name This option controls whether or not Telix should ask for the name of the file when performing a download using this protocol. In many protocols, the sender passes the name of the file(s) to the receiver, so Telix shouldn't ask for the download name. Trigger String This option is a place to enter a string which when received is indicative of a file being received by the protocol. Telix can thus automatically detect an incoming file and move to download it without need of your intervention. This string must be consistent, unique, and positively identify the occurance of an incoming file. Check your external protocol documentation to determine if the protocol supports a trigger string. This option should be left blank if there is no trigger available for the protocol. See the Appendix titled External Protocols for information about what information is passed to the batch or script files when an external transfer is selected. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 47 Other settings on this page are: F File Transfer Disk Buffer Size This allows you to set the size of the disk buffer used by Telix during file transfers from 1k to 10k (kilobytes) in size. A larger value is more efficient with floppy disk systems, while a smaller value can get around problems with disk controllers or Extended memory use on some hard-disk systems. G Relaxed Xmodem Timing This option controls whether or not Telix should use relaxed tim- ing when performing an Xmodem transfer. When calling some ser- vices, this option must be turned on because they can not toler- ate strict timing. H Filename Guessing This option controls Telix's use of filename guessing. When you selected a file transfer to be performed, telix can often guess the name of the file to be transferred, based on your past keystrokes. This option may be turned off here. As well, you may specify that Telix gives only guesses which it is almost certain are filenames, or gives its 'Best try', which may include guesses with extra characters which are not necessarily part of the file- name. I Zmodem Receive Crash Recovery When an aborted Zmodem transfer must be resumed, this option should be turned on. While this option is on, if a file being downloaded using Zmodem already exists on the disk (and is shorter than the file the sender has), Telix will tell the sender to send only the bytes needed to complete the file. This option should be used with care. The possibility exists that a file with the same name but different contents exists on each system, in which case you do not want only some of the data transferred. J Zmodem Send Crash Recovery When this option is on, during a Zmodem upload of files, Telix will try to tell the sender to resume aborted transfers. This op- tion should be used with care, as some systems do not support crash recovery, and will behave unpredictably. K Allow Zmodem 32 bit CRCs Real speed freaks may turn off the use of 32 bit CRC error check- ing (still quite reliable 16 bit CRCs are used instead), to get on the order of a quarter to a half of a percent speed increase in Zmodem transfers. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 48 L Zmodem Window Size Zmodem normally sends data in streaming mode, never pausing un- less the other side requests a re-send due to an error being de- tected. In some environments, a pause for acknowledgments can be more efficient. The window size (in kilobytes) is the maximum amount of data the protocol should seed before waiting for a re- ply. A value of 0 indicates streaming mode should be used. M Zmodem File Type This option allows you to specify whether the file being trans- ferred with the Zmodem protocol is Binary, ASCII, or Either. Bi- nary means that Telix will make sure no end-of-line conversion is done on files received or sent. ASCII means that on a download, as long as the other side doesn't override this, Telix will as- sume the file being received is a text file and will make sure the end of each line has a Carriage Return followed by a Line Feed, by adding the CR if the file has only LFs at the end of each line. An ASCII setting when sending will make Telix tell the other system to do end-of-line conversion, although the other system may override this. Finally, a setting of Either (the de- fault), will make Telix assume the file is binary, unless the other system indicates otherwise. DO NOT use a setting of 'ASCII' for file that are not ASCII text files, as binary files will be corrupted by this option. 6.8 Kermit Transfers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to configure Telix's implementation of the Ker- mit protocol to your needs. The options will not be described here, due to the fact that the Kermit protocol is relatively complicated, and if you must change one of these parameters, you should generally already know what it means. 6.9 Comm Port Setup ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This screen allows you to configure/define the communications ports. Telix supports definitions for 8 comm ports. By default, the first four comm ports are defined to the standards for COM1 through COM4. The last four comm ports are by default duplicates of COM1. For each port you may define the base address (in hexadecimal) of that port, as well as the interrupt request number (irq) to use. Unless you are ab- solutely sure about your information, do not modify these values! Wrong values could cause unexpected and possibly disruptive results. Telix v3.21 Telix Configuration Menu 49 6.10 Saving Changes and Leaving ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Any modified settings can be saved to the configuration file (so that they will be remembered when you next use Telix) by selecting the Write Setup to Disk option. If you want to keep any changes just for the current session, then exit the Configuration Menu using the Exit option. Telix v3.21 Terminal Emulation 51 7. TERMINAL EMULATION A video display terminal is basically a relatively dumb computer which is linked up to another computer (over a cable or modem link) and dis- plays what that computer sends to it. A mainframe or mini computer has a large amount of processing power and can drive a number of terminals at the same time. There are many different terminal types. Each one follows its own codes for controlling how information is displayed on the screen. For example, there are sequences to clear the screen, move the cursor, scroll the display, and so on. Most terminals also have special keys which send special sequences back to the main computer. Telix can emulate several terminals. While in terminal mode, you may change the terminal type Telix is currently emulating by pressing Alt- T. The default terminal can also be set in the 'Terminal settings' page of the Configuration Menu. Following are the choices Telix of- fers: 7.1 TTY ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A TTY (Teletype) terminal is very stupid. It basically displays all the values it receives, except for about 5 or 6 Control codes (such as Carriage Return), which move the cursor and ring the bell. Telix does not have any special key definitions for this terminal type. 7.2 ANSI-BBS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This is a subset of the real ANSI terminal type defined by the Ameri- can National Standards Institute. Many BBS programs, when told to do so, can send sequences supported by this terminal to make screen dis- play more interesting and colorful. This emulation supports some known bugs in the DOS ANSI.SYS driver that are not part of the ANSI standard per se. The ANSI.KEY file contains definitions for the arrow keys, and is au- tomatically read when this terminal is selected. These definitions are supported by some full screen editors, for example. 7.3 ANSI ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This is the real ANSI terminal type defined by the American National Standards Institute. Many BBS programs, when told to do so, can send sequences supported by this terminal to make screen display more in- Telix v3.21 Terminal Emulation 52 teresting and colorful. This conforms to the ANSI committee defini- tions of ANSI. 7.4 VT102 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The DEC VT102 terminal is one of the most popular (and most emulated) terminals in existence. It was developed by Digital Equipment Corpora- tion. The VT102 terminal has a large number of functions. Telix sup- ports all of these except for 132 column mode and double height mode. As well, Telix only emulates double width mode, by adding a space af- ter every character. Telix fully supports both normal and application cursor mode in VT em- ulation. The VT102 keyboard layout used by Telix is stored in the VT102.KEY file, which is automatically read by Telix when VT102 termi- nal emulation is selected. Once Telix has loaded this into memory, the definitions can be edited through the use of the Alt-K (Keyboard/macros) function. The default keyboard layout is best suited for the (newer) 101-key style keyboards with separate arrow and numeric keypads, and functions keys across the top. In this layout, press F1 to F4 to simulate the VT's PF1 to PF4. With the NumLock key down, the PC's numeric keypad will simulate the VT's numeric keypad, while the arrow keys on the PC's numeric keypad (with the NumLock up) or the separate arrow keypad (at all times) will simulate the VT's arrow keys. Note that Telix will only recognize the separate arrow keypad if you turn on the 'Enhanced Keyboard' setting on the General Options screen of the Configuration Menu. Another keyboard layout is available that is possibly better suited to older style keyboards with function keys on on the left side and no separate arrow keypad and numeric keypad. To make use of this alter- nate layout, while at the DOS prompt type: ren VT102.KEY VT102101.KEY ren VT102OLD.KEY VT102.KEY This layout is similar to one used by many comm programs, in which the normal function keys (F1-F10) represent the left side of the VT's nu- meric keypad, while the shifted function keys (Shift-F1 - Shift-F10) represent the right side, as follows: Telix v3.21 Terminal Emulation 53 Telix function Keys DEC VT102 Keypad F1 - F10 SF1 - SF10 ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │PF1 │ │PF2 │ │PF3 │ │PF4 │ │PF1 │ │PF2 │ │PF3 │ │PF4 │ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │ 7 │ │ 8 │ │ 9 │ │ - │ │ 7 │ │ 8 │ │ 9 │ │ - │ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │ 4 │ │ 5 │ │ 6 │ │ , │ │ 4 │ │ 5 │ │ 6 │ │ , │ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ ┌────┐ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │ 3 │ │ E │ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │ 3 │ │ E │ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ │ N │ └────┘ └────┘ └────┘ │ N │ ┌───────────┐ ┌────┐ │ T │ ┌───────────┐ ┌────┐ │ T │ │ 0 │ │ . │ │ R │ │ 0 │ │ . │ │ R │ └───────────┘ └────┘ └────┘ └───────────┘ └────┘ └────┘ The arrow keys are also defined to send the proper sequences. 7.5 VT52 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The DEC VT52 is another relatively common terminal type, that is con- siderably simple than the VT102. Telix's key definitions for the VT52 are stored in the VT52.KEY file. Telix v3.21 Using Script Files 55 8. USING SCRIPT FILES 8.1 The Scripting Languages ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Telix has an incredibly powerful built-in 'script' or command lan- guage, called SALT (Script Application Language for Telix). In the simplest terms, a script file is a sequence of commands for Telix to follow, written using a certain format. Script files can do many use- ful things like automatically logging on to a host, setting up special parameters, performing unattended file transfers, and many other tasks. A script file can be linked to a dialing directory entry so that it is run automatically when that entry is connected to, and sup- plies the needed logon information. Like any real programming language, SALT has a large number of fea- tures. Because of this, programming in SALT is not easy for the begin- ner who has no knowledge of any programming concepts. However SALT scripts can be used to different degrees. The advanced user can pro- gram complex applications, while even a novice can modify the sample scripts include with Telix, and run scripts supplied by others. For advanced users, a separate 100+ page manual describes SALT and its syntax. The rest of this section describes how to create, run and compile the various forms of scripts. All forms of scripts must be compiled by one of the two compilers (CS.EXE or CSS.EXE) and all scripts are executed with the ALT-G command. 8.2 SALT ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Before a SALT script can be used, it must be 'compiled'. The CS.EXE program included with Telix takes the ASCII 'source' scripts that the user writes, and compiles or converts them to a form that is easier for Telix to process, usually takes less space, and loads more quickly. SALT scripts may actually use any name. However in standard practice the extension 'SLT' is used for SALT source scripts, and the same name with the extension 'SLC' is used for the compiled version. If you have an already compiled SALT script (ending with the extension 'SLC' (for example, the QDHOST.SLC Host Mode script file), it is very easy to execute. While in terminal mode, press Alt-G. Telix will ask for the name of the script file to run. If you supply no extension, 'SLC' is assumed. If a special directory where script files are to be found has been defined, Telix will look there for script files, unless a path is given. To define this script directory use the Telix Con- figuration Menu. Telix will then load the script file and follow its instructions. To abort a script while it is executing, press the Esc key. Sometimes you may have to press Esc twice, the first time to abort the current function, and the second time to abort the script itself. Telix v3.21 Using Script Files 56 You may have used your text editor to modify one of the sample scripts included with Telix (most simply require inserting your name in a clearly marked location near the top). You now need to compile the script file. To do this, the CS.EXE program is used. While at the DOS prompt, type 'CS', followed by a space and the name of the script file you want to compile (the extension 'SLT' is assumed if none is given). CS will scan through the source file and produce the compiled version, using the same base name but the extension 'SLC'. If a syntax error is discovered while compiling the script file, CS will report it and abort. In that case the error should be fixed and CS run again. From within Telix, you may quickly run CS either by using the DOS Command function (Alt-V), or from the DOS Shell (Alt-J). Remember, every time you make a change to the source file, you must re-compile it, otherwise Telix will still run the old compiled ver- sion. This sounds tedious, but in practice once a script is developed it doesn't change very often. 8.3 SIMPLE ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For those users not comfortable in a structured programming environment, Telix provides a Salt IMPLEmentation, or SIMPLE scripting language. SIMPLE is a non-structured language that is converted to the more complex SALT for the user prior to actually compiling it. SIMPLE scripts need to be compiled with the CSS.EXE program. While at the DOS prompt, type 'CSS', followed by a space and the name of the SIMPLE script file you want to compile. The extension .SIM is assumed if none is given. CSS will scan through the source file and produce a compiled .SLC file. If a syntax error is discovered while compiling the script, CSS will report it and abort. Simple requires that the CS.EXE SALT compiler reside in the DOS path. A complete listing of all SIMPLE scripting commands and structures is available in SIMPLE.DOC or in the printed manual. 8.4 Learning a Script ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Some operations you will perform in Telix are highly repetitive, such as logging onto an online service. The user name, password, and other information is always entered in the same order, the same way, every time you call. You can use the Script Learn function to create an automatic log-on script to do this for you each call. To learn a sequence of responses to prompts, toggle the learn mode on from telix Terminal mode by pressing ALT-9. Enter the name of the script to learn when prompted. .SLT is assumed to be the filename extension if one is not given. Telix will record your responses to the various prompts of the online service until learning mode is turned off with ALT-9 again. When turned off, Telix saves the learned script. Remember, the learned script must be compiled prior to use. Telix v3.21 Using Script Files 57 It is important while learning a script to remember to wait for the complete prompt to be displayed before responding. Unpredictable results can be exhibited if a fast typist or a user familiar with a service types ahead of the prompts. Learned scripts, while useful, are not always completely accurate, and may not work without editing. If the prompt being responded to contains information that can vary (such as the number of minutes left online), then the .SLT file may need to be edited prior to being compiled. An example is the prompt on the Telix support BBS, which usually reads much like the following: (4 used, 86 left) Main Board Command? If there are not exactly 86 minutes remaining on your next call, a learned script containing this prompt will not function properly. The line in the learned script: waitfor("(4 used, 86 left) Main Board Command", 30); should thus be edited to read: waitfor("Main Board Command", 30) for proper operation of the learned script. Script learning is only available in registered versions of Telix. Telix v3.21 Host Mode 59 9. HOST MODE Telix allows you to set up your computer as a remote host, so that others may call your system and perform operations like transferring files and chatting. In short it is like having a small BBS on your system, without all the setup work. Telix provides two such host modes, both implemented in Telix's powerful SALT script language. QDHOST is a 'Quick and Dirty' host mode containing the basic features of a remote host, including password security and remote shells to DOS. A more powerful host, HOSTPLUS, is also provided, offering the functionality of a full-featured BBS with multiple message bases and file areas, multiple security levels and individual password security and user levels. The operation of HOSTPLUS is described in HOSTPLUS.DOC, or in a separate section of the printed documentation. There are a few requirements to running Host Mode. Your modem must be able to pick up the phone when it rings. Your modem must not be set to override (always keep on) the Carrier Detect signal it supplies, so that Telix can tell when it is connected to a caller. Telix must also be able to hang up the modem by dropping (turning off) the DTR line on the RS-232 port. If one of these requirements is not met you probably cannot run QDHost. To run the QDHOST script, press Alt-G while in Terminal mode, and then enter 'QDHOST' as the script file name. The script 'QDHOST' will then be run. Several Host Mode configuration settings are kept in a file called 'QDHOST.CNF'. The first time you run the Host Mode script, it will not find this file, and automatically run the host Mode configu- ration script 'QDCONFIG', which will created the needed file and allow you to change the default values. At any time in the future, you should run QDCONFIG when you need to configure the Host Mode. QDCONFIG will present you with the following parameters: A Level One Access Password The password that callers must successfully enter to be admitted to the Host Mode and have Level One access. Level one access allows only files contained in the specified QDCONFIG download directory to be downloaded. B Level Two Access Password This is the password that callers must successfully enter to be admitted to QDHOST and have Level Two (Sysop) access. Level two access allows the caller to download any file on the system by giving the path. C DOS Shell Password This is the password that users of QDHOST have to enter to use the Remote DOS Shell option. Telix v3.21 Host Mode 60 D Shut Down Host Mode Password This is the password that callers must enter to shut down QDHOST, when they press Ctrl-Z. E Host Download Directory Level 1 access callers will only be able to download (have Telix send them) files that are in this directory. As well, the 'F'iles command will show them only the contents of this directory. Do not under any circumstances define this directory to the same name as the directory you run Telix in. If you did that, callers could download the QDHOST configuration file, which is stored there, and see your passwords. Level 2 access callers may specify any download path, but this is the default. F Host Upload Directory Level 1 access callers will only be able to upload (send to Telix) files into this directory. Level 2 access callers can specify any path, but files will go here by default. G Connection Type This can be either 'Modem' or 'Direct'. Use 'Modem' if your host system is being accessed through a modem, or 'Direct' if two computers are hard-wired. This stops Telix from trying to ini- tialize a non-existent modem. or trying to determine the caller's baud. H Locked Modem Rate For error correcting modems, QDHOST needs to know if the DTE rate (the speed Telix communicates with your modem) is constant from call to call, no matter what speed the user calls in at. Set this value to the fixed DTE rate (usually 9600 for 2400MNP modems, and 19,200 or 38,400 for 9600+ baud modems). If your modem is not er- ror correcting or you are unsure what the value should be, set this value to zero. There is one other important parameter which must be properly set for QDHOST operation. This is the Auto Answer string, which is defined in the 'Modem and dialing' page of the Configuration Menu. This string is sent to the modem when Telix enters QDHOST, and should make the modem able to pick up the phone when it rings. The default string is set up for Hayes compatible modems. It is: AT X1 S0=1^M where AT is the modem attention code. Telix v3.21 Host Mode 61 X1 tells the modem to reply with extended result codes. This means the modem indicates the caller's baud rate. S0=1 tells the modem to answer after one ring. ^M sends the terminating Carriage Return character. There are two optional text files which are displayed to callers if they exist, called LOGO.MSG, and WELCOME.MSG. They are described be- low. Once QDHOST has been configured, it can actually be run. Telix will make a note in the QDHOST audit file QDHOST.LOG and then will imme- diately send the Host Mode init string to the modem. Telix then waits for a caller. While in QDHOST on the local side, the user can always press Esc to exit Host Mode, or End to terminate the current caller. He can also enter commands for the remote caller, so that a novice caller can be helped along by the host operator. Also, at any time, the current caller will be automatically terminated if there is inac- tivity for five minutes, or the connection is lost. This is all noted in the host audit file. If the caller has only access level one, ref- erences to other disk directories than the ones defined in QDCONFIG are ignored, and all operations take place in those directories. As well, Telix protects your files from being accidentally overwritten by the caller. When the Carrier Detect signal turns on Telix knows a caller is on- line. At this point Telix will try to determine the caller's baud rate. Most Hayes compatible modems can be initialized to send the string 'CONNECT baud' where baud is the baud rate of the caller, when they sense a connection. If Telix sees this string it will switch to the appropriate baud. If this string is not received within a few sec- onds of the connection, Telix will leave the baud rate at whatever it was. Also, it should be mentioned that Telix can not determine the caller's other settings like parity, data bits, and stop bits. These must already be matching Telix's settings. At this point, if the file LOGO.MSG exists in the Telix directory, it is displayed to the caller. It should basically identify the system. Then Telix will ask the caller for his/her name. The name must be at least five letters long and is only used when indicating the caller in the Host Mode audit file. If a password has been defined Telix will ask the caller for it. The caller has three tries to complete the password. All password attempts, successful or failed, are written to the Host audit file. If the caller enters the Level One access pass- word, he may manipulate only the disk directories defined in QDCONFIG. Any other directories can not be accessed. If he enters the Level Two access password, the caller may use full pathnames in all file speci- fications. The level 2 password should only be kept for yourself or those you completely trust, as a Level 2 caller can access any files on your system. If there is a file called WELCOME.MSG in the Telix directory, it is then shown to the caller. This file can contain further identification Telix v3.21 Host Mode 62 or news, that you only want valid callers to see. After each 23 lines the caller is prompted to press any key to continue. As well, the caller may press Ctrl-S to pause at any time, and Ctrl-C or Ctrl-K to abort the listing. After the WELCOME.MSG file is displayed the caller is presented with a menu of options: Files Type Upload Download Shell Chat Goodbye ? The action to be taken is selected by entering its first letter. Case does not matter. As mentioned already, the host operator is free to enter any keystrokes for the caller. The Files option allows the caller to list the files in the current disk directory. The caller must press a key after each screen. The output is not echoed on the local screen. If the caller has access level two s/he is prompted for a filespec, which may include the * and ? wildcard characters (see your DOS manual), so that the contents of other directories than the 'Host download dir' may be listed. The Type option allows the caller to view any ASCII file in the Host Download Directory, or in any directory for access Level 2 callers. The same format and commands are available during this command as for the displaying of the optional message file WELCOME.MSG. The Upload option allows the caller to send a file to the host. The caller is shown the following menu (here slightly compressed so it could fit): Modem7 SEAlink Xmodem 1k-Xmodem G-1k-Xmodem Ymodem Ymodem-g Which protocol? and should select the appropriate protocol by its first letter (or 'E' for Ymodem-g). If appropriate the caller is also asked for the file- name. The transfer is then initiated. Level 1 callers may only upload files into the 'Host Upload Directory' defined with QDCONFIG. The Download command allows a caller to receive a file from the host. The caller must select the protocol as described above, and then must tell Telix the file(s) to send. The transfer is then initiated. Level 1 access callers may only download files from the 'Host Download Di- rectory' defined with QDCONFIG. The Shell command is a very powerful but also very dangerous command. It allows the caller to run a DOS shell on your system, except that the caller receives the output, and the caller enters the keystrokes. This command is basically similar to entering 'CTTY COMx' at the DOS prompt. The remote side has complete control of your system. This is obviously very dangerous, as the caller can format disks, delete files, or perform any other operation. To provide security, a password must be entered to use the remote DOS shell. Be very careful of whom you give this password to, as they can do anything they want with your system. As well, don't leave it at the default that Telix comes with. There are a few limitations in the remote DOS shell. The caller will see program output only if the programs use standard DOS output. Pro- Telix v3.21 Host Mode 63 grams that write directly to the video screen will work, but will not be seen by the remote caller. As well, programs that use non-DOS meth- ods of getting keystrokes will not receive the callers keystrokes. Fi- nally, under some systems, if the caller presses Backspace at the DOS prompt when the current line is empty, DOS will hang on the Host ma- chine. As these are functions of DOS, there is nothing that can be done about these limitations. A potentially powerful feature of the shell function is the ability to override the use of CTTY and use your own redirector, such as Dudley Marshall's DOORWAY.EXE. Do not confuse DOORWAY.EXE with Telix's DOORWAY mode. If the file RSHELL.BAT exists in the same as QDHOST.SLC, QDHost will run that batch file instead of using CTTY, and return to QDHOST when it is complete. DOORWAY.EXE is an excellent alternative to CTTY when both users need to see the screen, or when programs that write directly to the screen (such as Word Perfect) must be run from remote. The following is a sample RSHELL.BAT for use with the Doorway program: DOORWAY com1 /M:100 /O: /V:D^U /C:DOS Note that the com port must specified by number in the batch file. However, CTTY only supports COM1 and COM2, while Doorway can support up to COM4. If you receive the message that you cannot shell due to DOS limitations, DOORWAY.EXE can be used as an alternative. The latest version of DOORWAY including complete DOORWAY.EXE documentation is available on the Telix support BBS. The Chat command allows the caller to chat with the host operator. When the caller presses 'C' the host operator is paged for 20 seconds. Press the Space bar to chat with the caller, or any other key not to. Accepting the chat will place you in Chat Mode, exactly as if you had used the Alt-Y command. The caller's keystrokes are echoed back to him/her however, so that he/she can see them. Finally, the Goodbye command allows the caller to log off the host. An entry noting the time and date is made in the host audit file, and Telix then waits for a new caller. The caller may also use one other command that is not displayed in the menu. This is to shut down QDHost Mode. If the caller presses Ctrl-Z and successfully enters the shut down Host password defined in the Configuration Menu, the QDHost Mode is shut down and Telix returns to whatever it was doing before QDHost was initiated. Telix v3.21 Command Summary 65 10. COMMAND SUMMARY ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Major Functions │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Alt-B Scroll Back │ │ Alt-D Dialing Directory │ │ Alt-F DOS and File Functions │ │ Alt-G Run Script File (Go) │ │ Alt-J Jump to DOS Shell │ │ Alt-K Keyboard Definitions │ │ Alt-L Capture File │ │ Alt-M Misc. Functions │ │ Alt-O Configuration Menu │ │ Alt-P Comm Parameters │ │ Alt-Q Queue Redial Last Numbers │ │ All-R Download (receive) Files │ │ Alt-S Upload (Send) Files │ │ Alt-T Terminal Emulation │ │ Alt-U Usage Log │ │ Alt-W Translate Table │ │ Alt-X Exit Telix │ │ Alt-9 Learn a Script │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Secondary Functions │ │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Alt-A Run Editor │ │ │ Alt-C Clear Screen │ │ │ Alt-E Local Echo on/off │ │ │ Alt-H Hang-up Modem │ │ │ Alt-I Screen Image │ │ │ Alt-T Translate Table │ │ │ Alt-V DOS Command │ │ │ Alt-Y Chat Mode │ │ │ Alt-8 Toggle Status Line on/off │ │ │ Alt-= Toggle DOORWAY Mode on/off │ │ │ Ctrl-@ Printer Log on/off │ │ │ Ctrl-End Send Break Signal │ │ │ Shift-Tab Add Line-feeds on/off │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ All of these commands should be entered while in terminal mode. Many will prompt you for further courses of action. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 67 11. TROUBLESHOOTING Problem: Telix and the modem do not seem to be able to detect busy signals. Solution: Some modems (especially older 1200 bps units) do not have the capabil- ity to detect busy signals. Assuming yours does, you'll still probably have to edit the default modem Init String. The X1 that Telix uses in the string to be compatible with all modems does not enable busy de- tection in most modems. Try a value like X3, X4, or higher. Problem: When the QDHost Mode script is run Telix always thinks that a caller is online and immediately asks for the caller's name or Telix always says that a Hang-up operation failed even when it did in fact success- fully hang-up the modem. Solution: Your modem is almost certainly overriding the true state of the Car- rier Detect signal. This is the factory default on most modems, but should be disabled. For proper operation, Telix needs to see this sig- nal on when connected to another computer, and off when not. If your modem has dip switches, as do most 1200 bps units and all US Robotics external Couriers, switch number 6 usually controls this and must be in the up position. If your modem does not seem to have any dip switches (look carefully, sometimes the front needs to be popped off), it is probably controlled solely by software commands, as are most 2400 bps units. Just a few examples of these are the Hayes 2400, ATI 2400etc., GVC 2400, and many others. For these modems, adding &C1 in the modem Init String (before the final ^M (Carriage Return is a good spot)) will configure the modem properly. Problem: When trying to use a multi-tasking system like MS Windows, Topview, or DoubleDOS, with Telix in the background, window displays bleed through to the active partition. Solution: In the Telix Configuration Menu, select the 'Screen and colors set- tings' option, then select as the Screen Write Mode, 'BIOS calls used for writes'. Screen updating will be slower but will not bleed through. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 68 Problem: When redialing Telix does not seem to know when a connection has been reached. Solution: Telix knows when a connection has been reached in one of two ways: when it receives a Connect string from your modem, or when the Carrier Detect signal turns on (if it was off). Make sure that the Connect string is properly defined in the Configuration Menu, or that your mo- dem does turn on the Carrier Detect signal regardless of whether or not there is a connection. Problem: Telix doesn't work with a certain modem. Solution: Telix is set by default to use the Hayes 'AT' modem command standard. There are modems that are not Hayes compatible however, and use other commands to dial, hang up, and perform other tasks. Make sure that if your modem is not Hayes compatible Telix has been properly configured to its commands. Problem: When trying to use the DOS Shell, or another function that uses DOS, Telix warns that it can not find a file called COMMAND.COM, and aborts the function. Solution: The file COMMAND.COM is the DOS command interpreter. Telix must be able to find it to use many DOS functions. The location of COMMAND.COM is stored in an environment variable (explained in your DOS manual) called COMSPEC. COMSPEC is set at boot-up, but if you boot of a floppy and then change to another floppy or a hard disk, it will not point to the right place anymore. In short, make sure that COMSPEC always points to the location of COMMAND.COM, or that COMMAND.COM is in the current directory. Problem: When calling some systems, especially large ones such as Compuserve or the Source, all incoming characters look like garbage. Solution: The communications parameters are probably wrong. Most of these sys- tems need a setting of Even parity, 7 data bits, and 1 stop bit. This is different from the normal standard of N81 used for most bulletin boards. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 69 Problem: When running Telix, it reaches the "initializing modem" screen but won't go any further. Solution: Unfortunately, the solution here is not simple, and requires some knowledge of hardware. If you are not comfortable with configuring or jumpering your hardware, please contact a qualified computer consul- tant or service shop. The problem is likely that two devices in the computer wish to use the same part of the computer at the same time (called using the same interrupt). This will be the case with internal modems on COM3 or COM4, when you have other serial devices (mice, Sound Blaster cards, network interface cards, or other interrupt driven devices). By default, COM1 shares an interrupt with COM3, and COM2 shares with COM4. Only one device may use an interrupt at a time. You should try to place your internal modem on an unused interrupt (IRQ 5 is free in most AT or 386 class systems), and then tell Telix under the Configuration menu that COM3 or COM4 now uses IRQ5. Problem: During transfers with a high speed modem, many CRC and/or timeout er- rors occur. Solution: First ensure that CTS/RTS hardware flow control is enabled and that DSR/DTR hardware flow control is disabled both in Telix under the Con- figuration menus in the Terminal Options section and in your modem (refer to your modem manual for instructions on setting up your modem properly, or use the MODEMCFG.EXE program). If this fails, it may sim- ply be hardware limitations. Sometimes such hardware limitations can be circumvented by running Telix with the /D parameter. Many high-speed modems, especially in a multitasking (Windows, DESQview, TopView, etc.) environment or on XT or slower AT-class ma- chines are simply too fast for the hardware, and may need some help to prevent lost characters. A UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver- Transmitter) is a chip found on every serial card or internal modems. Most serial cards or internal modems come stock with 8250 or 16450 chips that are not rated for high speed modems. A replacement chip called the NS16550AN will likely eliminate such problems. Problem: When I run Telix from my menu program it tells me "Unable to find/open ANSI.KEY" and goes back to the menu program. Solution: ANSI.KEY is a file required for Telix operation, but due to the menu not changing to the Telix directory, Telix cannot find this file. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 70 Telix expects to find all of it's system files in the current directory or in the directory pointed to by the TELIX environment variable. An environment variable is a setting that DOS can look at (or other programs, like Telix) to find out certain information it needs. By placing the command: SET TELIX=C:\TELIX in your AUTOEXEC.BAT (modified for your own Telix path, of course) Telix will then know to look there for all of it's files if they are not in the current directory. There should be no spaces in the command as above, other than between SET and TELIX. Problem: I have call waiting on my phone line and whenever someone calls me while I'm online, I get disconnected. Solution: Call waiting is usually disableable on outgoing calls only. Contact your operator or phone company to determine if it can be disabled, and if so, what the codes are in your area. In many areas, it is *70, so we will use that as an example. First, check your modem manual to insure that the modem is capable of dialing all the necessary characters like * or #. If not, you will have to do this by hand on your phone before each call, or ask the operator if there are alternatives (often 1170 will work, but it takes longer). If your modem CAN dial the needed characters, or you are told of a suitable substitute, edit the dialing prefixes under Telix's Config: ALT-O - Modem and Dialing - Options B,C,D Insert after each "DT" (or DP if on pulse dialing) the appropriate call waiting cancel string. Note that often a comma is necessary as a pause to get a second dial tone. Once this is saved permanently to your Telix config ("W"rite setup to disk), you're set. Most often these will be: ATDT*70, Problem: I have a new 14,400 bps modem, but Telix doesn't support 14,400 as a speed option. Solution: Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 71 This is one of the great misconceptions about high speed modems, so you're not along in wondering this. Let me try to detail why it doesn't matter, and at the same time give you a bit of an idea what's going on behind the scenes when you call another modem... The link to get from your computer to the other computer looks much like this: Telix <--> Your modem <--> Their modem <--> Their computer DTE rate DCE rate DTE rate 38,400 14,400 57,600 As you can see, it is really a series of three links; one between your computer and your modem, one between the two modems, and one between their modem and their computer. What might surprise you is that each of these three rates can be, and often are, completely different, as above. So you know, DCE stands for Data Communications Equipment (i.e. a modem to modem link) and DTE is Data Terminal Equipment (i.e. terminal to modem link). You are not concerned with the final link, the remote DTE rate. That is up to the remote site, and does not matter at all to you. Once the data leaves your modem, and is received by theirs, it is out of your hands. Your modem likely has either MNP-5 or v.42bis data compression built in. For transferring non-.ZIP files, these modems can be extremely efficient in compressing the data before sending it -- sometimes as much as 4 times compression (25% of the original size). If the modems can take 1000 characters from Telix, and then turn it into perhaps as little as 250 characters with compression, your modem still transmits at 14,400 and would need 1000 characters from the comm program to transmit a mere 250 characters. In order to keep the DCE link flowing with data non-stop, Telix has to send data to your modem at 4 times the speed the modem is talking to the other modem (in the best case, which almost never happens). Thus, the DTE (Telix to modem rate) must be higher than the DCE (modem to modem rate) by a good margin, or the modems will sit idle frequently, waiting for the comm program to supply it with enough data. Since you have no way of knowing how much the data will be compressed, or at what speeds the two modems will actually connect up at, you should ALWAYS leave the DTE rate on your end (the link between Telix and your modem as specified in the Telix configuration) locked in, or fixed, at that high rate that can accommodate the most efficient case, since that most efficient case can occur at any time. That's why you're always advised by MODEMCFG.EXE to set the comm program's speed, as well as all dialing directory entries (no matter how fast the board actually is), to a speed higher than the 9,600 or 14,400 you really have. Typically, you'll be told to use 19,200 or 38,400 (nowadays, typically 38,400, and even some will say 57,600). But the important thing is, that speed is constant. Your DTE (program to modem rate) always stays the same, so that when that most efficient case comes along, you're ready. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 72 Problem: When trying to transfer a file, telix just sits there saying "Waiting to send." or "Waiting to receive" but nothing ever happens. Solution: When a user is downloading, the other system is by definition uploading to him. BOTH systems must know exactly what is happening at every given moment, and this is especially true at the beginning of the transfer. First the downloader must tell the remote system (the one to be downloaded FROM) that s/he requests a download. On most systems, this is accomplished with the "D"ownload command. The sending system will then ask the downloader to choose a protocol. You may choose any one that Telix supports, but we recommend Zmodem if it is available, and 1K-Xmodem (sometimes labeled Ymodem) if Zmodem is not available. In any case, the important thing to remember is that BOTH the sender and the receiver must be using the same protocol, and it must be agreed upon in advance. Perhaps before choosing a protocol, you will be asked what files you wish to download. Then the system may tell you that it is ready to send the files. If you have selected Zmodem, and have Zmodem auto- downloads on in Telix (the default) you should not have to do anything more. Telix will sense the Zmodem transfer coming and go into ZModem receive mode. Sometimes this will appear as "garbage" like an up arrow, a bunch of asterisks, and numbers like 0's and 8's. This is a signal to start! The most important thing to remember when downloading is that first you have to tell the other system what to send and how to send it, and let it get started. As soon as the other system starts, you generally have about 30 to 60 seconds to start your receive with the SAME protocol. It is crucial that both sides know that a transfer is taking place. You cannot start yours early, or the other side will never send the file. Thus, don't hit Alt-R (or PgDn) until you are *sure* the other side is ready to send, and ready for you to tell it that you are ready to receive (ALT-R does this automatically). Problem: When trying to compile a script I get the message "Unable to open file" even though I know the script is present. Solution: Some OEM versions of DOS 2.11 (notably, the Tandy DOS burned into the 1000 HX) are incompatible with the compiler used in these cases. This does not apply to Telix itself. Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 73 It is highly recommended that you upgrade your DOS if possible. For users with the DOS burned into the ROM of the machine, you may boot from a system floppy of a higher DOS system to compile scripts. Problem: When I start a download, the transfer window disappears very fast, with a message that looks like "Unable to open file", and no transfer takes place. Solution: Telix expects to be able to open a new file in the subdirectory you have defined for the Download Directory under ALT-O/Filenames and Paths. If this subdirectory does not exist, that will cause this message to appear: "Unable to open file!" This is a sure sign that you need to check your configuration in this area, and either create the defined subdirectory from the DOS prompt with the MKDIR command, or to change the configuration under ALT-O/F to reflect the location of an existing path. Problem: When I transfer a file, sometimes letters flash in the lower right corner of the transfer window. Solution: This is completely normal, and signifies a "flow" control, or a signal to Telix or the modem to slow down or stop momentarily. It signifies that things are in good working order. Problem: How do I telix to operate reliably under Microsoft Windows? Solution: TELIX.PIF included with Telix is a Program Information File for Windows that should allow best operation of Telix under Microsoft Windows. Windows doesn't offer the best of communications handlers, though, and for best communications results under Windows, we recommend a Windows-based program. deltaComm is currently programming a Windows comm program expected to be released in the first half of 1993. Problem: My modem requires compatible software to use the MNP features of my modem, or it says it needs RPI compatible software. Is Telix compatible in this way? Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 74 Solution: No, it is not, and there is little likelihood that we will support RPI or software MNP in the near or distant future. RPI is an attempt by Rockwell and the modem manufacturers to create a cheaper modem (by about $5) by pushing off some of the hardware implementation into software. We disagree with this for the sole reason that software cannot be as efficient as hardware (esp. when coprocessed), and that these functions truly belong on the hardware for efficiency and speed. Most comm developers we know feel the same way and without our support the manufacturers will have to go back to putting these functions on the hardware -- where they belong. Our recommendation is to take the modem back to the place of purchase, and don't leave until you get a REAL MNP/v.42bis modem at exactly the same price, because what you bought was not what you thought you did, and the only way the industry will stop these shenanigans is for the ones being taken advantage of to stand up for themselves and do something about it. Problem: We have our modems on a network and we need a network version of Telix in order to access them. Does Telix have network support built in? Solution: Networking a comm program, or using a modem across the network as a resource requires two things. 1) The network must be NETBIOS compliant. 2) The comm program must use the BIOS (Int-14) for comm routines. Telix normally bypasses the slower BIOS and writes directly to the comm port for speed considerations, making it incompatible with networks. However, we have developed a version of Telix which uses the Int-14 calls, and it is now available as a separate product. please call our sales staff for more information about Telix for Networks. Problem: When I run QDHost it says "Either the upload or download directory as defined in the Host config does not exist" and then aborts. What now? Solution: If you receive this message when running the QDHost mode then you need to do the following: Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 75 From Telix Terminal mode (the blank screen that you are at after the opening screen goes away), press ALT-G, and type "QDCONFIG". The QDCONFIG.SLC script must exist in the same directory as QDHOST (i.e. in the script directory as defined under ALT-O/Filenames). You will then see a menu that pops up something like this: A: Level 1 password : pass1 B: Level 2 password : pass2 C: Remote Shell password : shell D: Shut down host pass : shut E: Host download directory: C:\TELIX\HSTFILES\ <------ F: Host upload directory : C:\TELIX\HSTFILES\ <------ G: Connection type : Modem H: Modem locked at >= 9600: No I: Exit without saving changes. J: Exit and save changes to disk. The indicated lines are the ones that need to be changed. You can either Exit without saving and then do MKDIR with the above paths: MKDIR C:\TELIX\HSTFILES or, better, is to change options E and F above to paths that you know already exist (NEVER set these equal to your Telix subdirectory!), and then "Exit and Save Changes to Disk". For more information concerning DOS paths, please consult your DOS manual. Problem: When calling from our office we have to use a credit card number, but the whole number won't fit in the dialing directory. How can telephone credit cards be used with Telix? Solution: The MODEM is going to be your bottleneck here. Most modems cannot take as many characters at once as a comm program can send out. The vast majority of modems have a 40 character command string limit, which must include the <ENTER> at the end, and the ATDT (or ATDP) at the beginning. Spaces, dashes, and any directives for MNP and such in the dialing prefixes also count. Telix can, with the use of long distance codes, send much more than this, but the modem will not likely respond to this, since anything past 40 characters is simply ignored (and this includes your <ENTER> at the end). Many long distance companies have gone to 13 character card codes to protect you against fraud, and this is a good idea. However, it does limit you via your modem (again, Telix is not the limitation here). Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 76 In the number you wish to dial, rather than making the number in the directory read: "1-919-481-9399" Save space (it's STILL tight) and make it read: "1-919-481-9399!" The exclamation point tells Telix to append the contents of that code, and the code can be edited to include any sequence you wish, under Alt-D/Other/Edit LD codes. Problem: Telix seems to be grossly optimistic when estimating the length of time it will take to transfer a file. Its usually about four times slower than Telix thinks it will be. Why is this? Solution: Previous versions of Telix merely estimated transfers based on the speed that Telix dialed at (the DTE), even though this could be up to four times greater than the actual connect speed. Telix 3.21 now makes its best attempt to read the actual connect speed (DCE), but needs a little cooperation from the modem. Telix cannot determine the DCE on its own -- it must rely on the modem to report it. Telix must accept the rate that the modem offers -- it has no way to "validate" it. The best way to demonstrate this is to dial a number without using the dialing directory. Type ATDT and the number, and press Enter. Watch for the first string that displays. It will be something like: CONNECT 14400/ARQ/V42BIS/LAP-M If you have a vanilla 2400: CONNECT 2400 If the dialing directory had been used, Telix would have read the connect rate as 14400 in the first case and 2400 in the second. (Telix reads the connect rate as the first number to follow the connect string on the same line as the connect string). Some modems, however, (notably newer v.32bis modems) can be configured to return very detailed information like this: CARRIER 14400 PROTOCOL: LAP-M CONNECT 57600/V32BIS/V42BIS Now, if your connect string was "CONNECT", the value is not the 14400 you wanted, but the 57600 you didn't want. In this case, you need to find the command in the modem manual that disables extended result Telix v3.21 Questions and Answers 77 codes (often the S95 or S44 registers) and reverts to the simple CONNECT 14400/ARQ/V42BIS string as above -- then Telix will get the connect string you wanted. Another option above (but not for all such modems) is to change the connect string to match the word right before the number. Above, you'd change the connect string to CARRIER. This one won't always work, and it is best to disable extended result codes if you want correct estimates. Some modems do not return a correct response string at all, such as the older US Robotics HST Dual Standard 1441 (v.32/ 9600) modems. They return 9600 even if the connect was at 14400, and your estimates in such cases will err by the difference. Telix v3.21 Product Support 79 12. PRODUCT SUPPORT Telix is a relatively large and complicated program. In order to sup- port Telix and to provide a means of distribution, a BBS (Bulletin Board System) for Telix support has been set up. The Telix Software Support BBS is available 24 hours a day at 919-481- 9399. The Support BBS accepts calls from 300 baud to 9600 baud and be- yond, including v.32/v.32bis calls, and HST calls at 14,400 baud. If you have a Telix question or problem, or have found a bug in Telix, give the support BBS a call. The latest version of Telix may also be found on the support BBS. If you're calling about a problem, try to be as specific as possible when describing the problem. Include any relevant details, such as your machine's configuration, Telix version number, resident software installed, steps taken before the problem happens, and any other things you feel are important. It is very hard to answer vague ques- tions such as, "Telix doesn't work on my PC. Do you know why?". At the current time, the support BBS is open to all callers. Since it is extremely busy, it is almost certain that in the future it will be restricted to registered users of Telix. Registered users will also receive mailed notices of major updates to the program. Telix v3.21 External Protocols 81 13. EXTERNAL PROTOCOLS While Telix supports a very large number of protocols internally, it also allows users to define up to 5 external protocol implementations, for the utmost in flexibility. External protocols are defined in the 'Protocol options' page of the Configuration Menu. Basically, based on this configuration, when the user selects a transfer with this protocol, Telix will either run a specified DOS Batch file, or a TELIX SALT script file. 13.1 Batch File Method ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── If a Batch file has been configured to be executed when the external protocol is selected, TELIX will execute it and pass to it 3 parame- ters (with the third sometimes being blank). The first parameter is the baud rate. This is accessed within the DOS batch file as %1. The second parameter is the comm port number. This is accessed as %2. The third parameter is the reply the user gave when asked what file(s) to transfer. If this is a download and this protocol has been defined to not need a download name, this parameter will be blank. If this is an upload via an external protocol defined as an "@" protocol (see Configuration, Protocols), this parameter will be "FILELIST", otherwise, will be the list of files to send. This parameter is referred to as %3 in the Batch file. It is now the responsibility of the Batch file to call a driver pro- gram for the protocol, using the supplied info. For example, assuming Telix didn't have built-in Zmodem support, a batch file called SZB.BAT could be defined to perform Zmodem uploads using the commonly avail- able DSZ program with the following command in it. DSZ port %2 speed %1 sz %3 This would tell DSZ what files to transfer, and also would specify the proper baud rate and comm port. If DSZ were an "@" protocol, the command would be: DSZ port %2 speed %1 sz @%3 13.2 Script File Method ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Alternately Telix can run a SALT script file when the user selects an external protocol. The script should be compiled ahead of time (as ex- plained elsewhere in this manual). The user's reply to the question of what files to transfer is stored in the system variable _ext_filespec. Telix v3.21 External Protocols 82 The script file is free to implement the protocol in whatever way it wants to, such as calling an external driver program using the 'RUN' function, or by actually performing the transfer itself. Telix v3.21 File Formats 83 14. FILE FORMATS For programmers who wish to write dialing directory handling utili- ties, a text file describing the dialing directory format used by Telix is available on the Telix Software Support BBS as T3FONFIL.DOC. Telix v3.21 Index 85 Auto baud detect........42, 61 Auto-downloads..............38 15. INDEX AUTOEXEC.BAT................70 Automatic log-on....21, 55, 56 +++.........................42 Automatic Queue Redial......27 ^...........................10 Backspace...................37 ~...........................10 Backspace Key Character.....37 ~~~.........................42 Batch Ymodem................33 14,400......................70 Baud detect.................42 16550a chip.............40, 69 Baud rate............8, 36, 61 Aborted downloads...........39 BIOS.........................6 Add.........................23 BIOS calls..................36 Add Line Feeds..........18, 37 Blank Lines.................44 Alarm Sound.................38 Bleedthrough, screen........67 Alt-=.......................18 Break Signal................18 Alt-8........................8 Buffer size.................47 ALT-9.......................56 BUSY........................41 Alt-A.......................15 Busy signal detection.......67 Alt-B.......................13 Busy strings................41 Alt-C.......................18 Call waiting................70 Alt-D....................7, 21 Capture.....................11 Alt-E.......................18 Capture file................43 Alt-F.......................15 Capture File Buffer Size....39 Alt-G.......................55 Carrier Detect...............2 Alt-H.......................11 Character Pacing............45 Alt-I...................16, 44 Character translation.......16 Alt-J.......................14 Chat Mode...............17, 63 Alt-K.......................13 Chdir.......................16 Alt-L.......................11 Checksum....................32 Alt-M.......................19 CIS Quick B.................38 Alt-O.......................35 Clear.......................24 Alt-P........................8 Clear Screen................18 Alt-Q.......................27 Comm parameters..............8 Alt-R.......................29 Comm port setup.............48 Alt-S.......................30 Command line switches........6 Alt-T.......................51 COMMAND.COM.............14, 68 Alt-U.......................11 Compuserve Quick B..........38 Alt-V.......................15 Compuserve Quick B protocol.32 Alt-W.......................17 COMSPEC.....................14 Alt-X.......................10 CONFIG.SYS...................3 Alt-Y...................17, 63 Configuring Telix...........35 Alt-Z........................7 CONNECT.....................41 ANSI........................51 Connect status...............7 ANSI-BBS....................51 Connect String..............41 ANSI.KEY....................69 Connection..................42 Answerback string...........38 Connection detection........68 ASCII....................7, 30 Connection Type.............60 ASCII Transfer Setup........44 CR Translation..............45 ASCII transfers.............33 CR/LF.......................18 AT..............40, 41, 42, 60 Crash recovery..............47 ATDT........................41 CRC.........................32 Audit file..................61 CRC Error...................69 Auto answer.................41 Create (dialing directory)..26 Auto Answer string..........42 Credit card number..........75 Telix v3.21 Index 86 Ctrl translation char.......10 Duplex..................18, 37 Ctrl-C......................62 Echo........................44 Ctrl-End....................18 Echo, local.................37 Ctrl-K......................62 Echo locally................18 Ctrl-S......................62 Edit........................23 CTS/RTS handshaking.........37 Edit_LD.....................26 CTTY COMx...................62 Editor......................15 Data bits................9, 36 Editor Pathname.............44 Data Terminal Ready.........42 Elapsed time.................7 Date Format.................39 Emulation vs. Translation...36 Date Separator Character....40 Ending a Telix Session......10 Default Capture File........43 Enhanced Keyboard Support...40 Default d/l path............43 Environment variable.....3, 14 Default Local Echo..........37 Exiting Telix...............10 Default screen size.........36 Expand blank lines..........44 Default Script dir..........43 External protocols..29, 45, 81 Default terminal............36 File transfer buffer........29 Default u/l directory.......43 File Transfer Disk Buffer Default Usage Log...........43 Size....................47 Delete......................26 File Transfer Protocols.....32 Delete File.................16 File Transfers..............29 DESQview....................36 Filename Guessing...........47 Destructive backspace.......37 Files Directory.............16 Dial Cancel String..........42 Files=.......................3 Dial Time...................42 Find........................24 Dialing directory...........21 Flow control............37, 73 Adding....................23 Free space..................39 Clearing..................24 Function keys...............13 Deleting..................26 Garbage characters..........68 Dialing...................24 Handshaking.................37 Editing...................23 Hang-up.....................39 Finding an Entry..........24 Hang-up string..........11, 42 Inserting.................25 Hanging-up..................11 LD Codes..................26 Hardware.....................2 Long Distance Codes.......24 Help/Status Screen...........7 Other Functions...........25 High bit................37, 44 The Display...............21 Home........................13 Dialing Postfix.............41 Host Download Directory.....60 Dialing Prefix..............41 Host Mode................2, 59 Direct screen write.........35 Host problems...........67, 74 Directory program.......16, 43 Host shell password.........59 Disk buffer size............47 Host Upload Directory.......60 DOORWAY Mode................18 Insert......................25 DOS 2.11....................72 Inserting entries...........25 DOS and File Functions......15 Int-14......................74 DOS Command.................15 Keep Aborted................39 DOS Shell............2, 14, 62 Kermit protocol.............33 DOS Shell Password..........59 Kermit Transfers............48 DoubleDOS...................36 Keyboard definitions........13 Download Directory..........43 Keyboard macros.............13 Downloading Files...........29 LD Codes....................26 Drive/Directory.............16 Learning a Script...........56 DSR/DTR handshaking.........38 Level One Access........59, 61 DTR..............2, 11, 42, 59 Level Two Access........59, 61 Telix v3.21 Index 87 LF......................18, 37 Screen dump file............44 LF Translation..............45 Screen Image............13, 16 Line Feed...............18, 37 Screen image file.......13, 44 Line Pacing.................45 Screen size.................19 Linked scripts..............55 Screen write mode...........35 Load (dialing directory)....26 Script Directory............43 Local echo..............18, 44 Script files.............6, 55 Locked Modem Rate...........60 Scripting...................55 Lockups, causes.....11, 63, 69 Scroll-Back.................13 Long distance Codes.........26 Scroll-Back size............39 Machine Requirements.....2, 72 SEAlink protocol............33 Menus, using.................9 Send Files..................30 Microsoft Windows...........73 Sending modem strings.......19 Misc. Functions.............19 Session Capture.............11 MNP.........................73 Settings, comm...............8 Modem init string...........41 Shift-Tab...................18 Modem Setup.................40 Show Free Space.............39 Modem7 protocol.............33 Shut Down Host..............60 MODEMCFG.EXE.................5 SIMPLE......................56 Network support.............74 Slow handshaking.............6 NO CARRIER..................41 Snow........................36 No connect strings..........41 Sound.......................38 Online.......................6 Split screen................17 Output String Translation...10 Status Line..............8, 37 Pace Character..............44 Stop bits................9, 36 Pacing..................44, 45 String editing...............9 Parameters, comm.............8 String entering..............9 Parity...................9, 36 String translation..........10 Partial files...............39 Strip High Bit..........37, 44 Pause capture...............11 Swapping....................40 Pause translation char......10 Telink protocol.............33 PgDn........................13 TELIX.......................70 PgUp........................13 Telix Configuration Menu....35 Printer.....................11 Telix files..................2 Printing (dialing directory)26 TELIX.CAP..................3 PRN.........................26 TELIX.FON..................2 Protocol options............45 TELIX.KEY..................3 QDCONFIG....................59 TELIX.LD...................3 QDHOST.LOG..................61 Telix Software Support BBS..79 Queue Redial................27 TELIX.CNF................6, 35 Quick B.....................38 TELIX.FON................6, 21 Quick Dial Bar..........28, 39 TELIX.IMG...................16 Quiet........................6 TELIX.MSG...................44 RAM requirements.............2 TELIX=.......................3 Receive Files...............29 Terminal....................51 Redial......................27 Terminal, default...........36 Redial Pause................42 Terminal emulation..........51 Redial time.................42 Terminal options............36 Relaxed Xmodem..............47 Time Format.................40 Remote DOS shell............62 Time Separator Character....40 RPI.........................73 Timeout error...............69 RSHELL.BAT..................63 Topview.....................36 SALT........................55 Transfer buffer.............29 Screen dump.................16 Transfer problems...69, 72, 73 Telix v3.21 Index 88 Translate Ctrl char.........10 Translate pause char........10 Translate table.............16 Trigger String..............46 TTY.........................51 Unable to open file.........73 Upload Directory............43 Uploading Files.............30 Usage Log...........11, 39, 43 VT102.......................52 VT52........................53 WELCOME.MSG.................61 Windows.....................73 Xmodem protocol.............32 Xmodem-1k protocol..........32 Xmodem-1k-g protocol........32 XON/XOFF handshaking........37 Ymodem protocol.............33 Ymodem-g protocol...........33 Zmodem 32 bit CRC...........47 Zmodem auto-downloads.......38 Zmodem File Type............48 Zmodem protocol.............32 Zmodem Receive Crash Recovery 47 Zmodem Send Crash Recovery..47 Zmodem Window Size..........48