Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/001a/digiterm.zip/OPTIONS.DOC

Text File | 1991-04-11 | 13KB | 208 lines

DigiTerm 3.5 Options :
----------------------

  For those of you familiar with telecommunications programs, DigiTerm should
be incredibly easy to learn, as it has many of the features found in the more
popular telecommunications programs.  For people who aren't familiar with modem
programs or telecommunications in general, some explanation is in order.

  First of all, telecommunication is merely communication by phone, often by
modem.  Using the computer and a modem, you can communicate with other people
who have a modem running at the same speed, even if the computers themselves
are different.  Modem speed is measured in bits/second, but often shortened to
BAUD.  A 2400 Baud modem can send 2400 bits in one second, or 240 ten bit
characters.

  A bulletin board system is not unlike a normal bulletin board, as you can
post messages to other people or receive messages from other people.  You can
also transmit or receive files via modem, so most bulletin board systems offer
a files section, where you can upload (send) or download (receive) filess using
a variety of methods, called PROTOCOLs.  For a file transfer to work correctly,
both the sender and receiver must be using the same PROTOCOL.  DigiTerm has 3
built in, XModem, XModem CRC, and ZModem, but can use up to six external
protocols, set up by you.

  Most terminal programs (software that allows your computer to use your modem)
offer you a wide range of options.  DigiTerm has lots of options, but most are
quite self-explanatory to the semi-confident user, and are very easy to learn
for the rest of us.  To activate DigiTerm from DOS, change to the directory
where DigiTerm resides (ex CD DIGITERM <enter>) and type DIGITERM <enter>.

  All of DigiTerms commands are activated by a "HotKey".  These keys are
activated by holding ALT and tapping the appropriate key.  To display the
help screen for DigiTerm, use the HotKey Z (hold ALT & press Z).  A window will
open, displaying all of DigiTerm's HotKeys.  An explanation of all of them &
what they do follows :

ALT L - Toggles Line Feeds.  Most bulletin board systems generate line feeds,
        that is, they move the cursor down every time they print a line.  If
        you encounter one that doesn't, or you are typing with a friend, you'll
        probably want this option on.  Line feeds will then be generated after
        every carriage return that is received.

ALT A - Toggles ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Graphics.  An
        American council decided that a standard should be introduced to allow
        communications software, or other programs change screen attributes,
        such as color, cursor position, etc.  The standard is called the ANSI
        graphics standard, and is used by many bulletin board systems to liven
        up the displays a bit.  The special ANSI codes are intercepted by the
        terminal program, and acted on.  These codes take a little longer to
        send than standard text, but are usually worth it.

ALT E - Toggles Local Echo.  If you are typing to a friend or bulletin board
        system that doesn't show you back your typing, you can turn on echo, so
        that the terminal program displays what you type.  Using this option
        with most bulliten boards will cause what you type to be printed twice.

ALT P - Displays the PhoneBook.  DigiTerm can hold a list of up to 256 phone
        numbers for you.  When you call a bulletin board system regularly, it's
        easier to have the program dial the number for you.  You can enter a
        number into the phone book by typing A for (A)dd.  You will be prompted
        for a name & number.  The name you enter will be displayed in the list,
        which is scrolled using the cursor keys or PGUP & PGDN.  Pressing the
        purple digit from 0-9 beside the name will dial the number you entered.
        Use D to (D)elete a number from the list.

ALT B - Select Baud Rate & COM Port.  This option allows you to choose the
        configuration that best suits your computer hardware.  If you have a
        2400 baud modem, and use COMmunications port #2, DigiTerm defaults to
        your setting, and you won't have to change it.  However, if you have a
        different speed modem, or use a different port, you'll have to change
        it, and then save it to disk so you won't have to do so the next time
        you use the program.  Pressing <enter> accepts the default settings,
        while pressing ESC aborts any changes.

ALT J - Enter the DOS Shell.  DigiTerm will drop you to DOS and continue to
        receive up to 10240 characters from the modem.  If you are sent more
        than this, the last 10240 will still be there when you get back.  To
        re-enter DigiTerm, type EXIT from the DOS prompt.

ALT D - Execute single DOS command.  If you only need to execute a single DOS
        command, you can do it faster with this option.  You'll be prompted for
        a command, which will be executed on-line.  All text will be displayed
        to the screen, so the current display will be altered, if not lost.
        If you accidently hit this key, you can abort by pressing <enter>.
        Note that using the DOS Shell restores your original screen.

ALT Y - Enter Chat Mode.  This mode is meant for communicating between two
        people, not for use with bulletin boards.  Local text (yours) appears
        on the bottom half of the screen, while remotely entered text (the
        other end of the phone) appears on the top half.  Both people can type
        without interrupting each other.  Press ESC to exit from chat mode.

ALT H - Hang up.  When connected, you will eventually want to hang up.  Press
        ALT H, and the computer sends the hangup command to the modem.

ALT I - Send Modem Initialization String.  When DigiTerm is first run, it sends
        a reset command, a speaker volume command, and a dialing speed command
        to the modem.  If you have to shut off your modem or reset it for any
        reason, these settings will be lost.  Press ALT I to re-invoke these
        settings.

ALT C - Clear the Screen.  When using the modem, you'll occasionally want to
        start with a clean slate.  Whatever you reason, pressing ALT C will
        do the deed for you.

ALT R - Reset Colors.  On some bulletin boards, a lot of blinking characters or
        otherwise annoying color schemes are used.  Press ALT R to reset the
        current colors to DOS's standard grey on black.

ALT V - View the Text Buffer.  DigiTerm remembers as far back as 256 lines of
        text.  This text is stored in one big loop of memory that just keeps
        rolling around like a barrel, recording the lines from the modem as
        they appear.  Most ANSI custom graphics screens are ignored, as they
        are usually unimportant, and online DOS commands are not recorded
        either.  Pressing ALT V will put you in view mode, so you can review
        the text in this buffer.  Use the cursor keys, or PGUP & PGDN to move
        around, and press ESC to exit.

ALT K - Kapture to a Text File.  Sometimes, just be able to go back a few lines
        isn't enough.  You may wish to save your session to a file for later
        printing or reading.  The file capture does this for you.  I also know
        capture is spelled with a c, but it's easier to remember this way.  If
        the filename you give the Kapture command is already in existance, the
        new data will be appended to the old file.  Press ALT K again to close
        the file when done.  Pressing <enter> at the filename prompt aborts the
        initial opening, and pressing any key but C will abort the file close.

ALT T - Transmit a TextFile.  This is like the opposite of Kapture, as it takes
        a standard textfile from disk, and types it for you at full speed.
        This is great for typing messages in advance, to save long distance
        charges, or for making really big macro sequences.  Pressing <enter> at
        the filename prompt aborts.

ALT M - Setup User Macros.  This is to define the function keys F1 to F10.
        These keys don't do anything else, so put them to work!  If you store
        your name and password, with the appropriate <enter> characters, you
        can avoif typing your name & password every time you log on to a
        bulletin board system.  Press the key, and DigiTerm types out whatever
        you typed in.  When recording your macro, special keys like <enter>,
        or other control characters appear as a ^ (carrot) and a capital letter
        shown in red.  Use CTRL Z to end the macro recording.  Key definitions
        can be deleted or added at any time.

ALT G - Grab Filnames.  This option is for all you extreme downloaders out
        there.  When getting a files list from a BBS, press ALT G and the
        screen will freeze.  You'll be given a cursor which you can move around
        the screen with the cursor keys.  Filenames will light up as you move.
        Pressing the spacebar will add these filenames to the filename
        clipboard, where they can be recalled later.  Blank filenames, or files
        already in the list are not added.

ALT O - Output Grabbed Filenames.  This option is used to recall the filenames
        grabbed with ALT G.  You are asked to hit the key which represents how
        you wish the filenames entered.  Hitting SPACE causes the files to be
        entered all in one line, separated by spaces.  This type of filename
        list is used by MAXIMUS type boards.  Other boards, like SpitFire,
        require that the filenames be entered individually, one to a line,
        separated by ENTER.  Note that when the filenames are sent, the list is
        is erased.  If you hit the ALT O accidentally, press ESC to abort.

PGUP - Upload a File.  This option tells DigiTerm you want to transmit a
       program or other file to the other computer.  Different protocols give
       different results, with different reliability.  ZModem is the fastest,
       and most reliable, followed by XModem CRC, and XModem.  The two XModem
       protocols were included because they are used almost universally, while
       ZModem may not be available on some systems.  The user can also enter in
       up to six external (stand alone) protocols.  The XModem protocols can
       transfer only one file at a time, while ZModem can transfer multiple
       files or use filename masks like *.EXE, GAME??.TXT, etc.

PGDN - Download a File.  This option is the opposite of the above.  When you
       want to receive a file from someone, use PGDN, and select your protocol.
       The two XModem protocols will require you to enter the name of the file
       to be received, while ZModem and any external protocols will transmit
       the filename during the actual transfer.

  This version of DigiTerm keeps a log of any files you upload or download in
the current session.  This feature is only implemented with the internal file
protocols, as it is difficult to keep track of the external protocols activity.
The files are erased every time you run the program, so if you want to keep
them, make sure you copy, or rename them before running it again.

ALT S - Setup External Protocols.  This option allows the user to install any
        external protocols he/she may wish to use.  External protocols are set
        up by entering in the name of the protocol, the key used to activate
        it, the command DigiTerm must send DOS to Upload a file, and then the
        command to Download a file.  Note that DigiTerm follows your command
        line with the filename(s) entered, and does not check to see if your
        key overrides one used by DigiTerm.  This allows the use of a better
        ZModem, if you find one, as DigiTerm checks the user protocols first.

ALT X - Exit from DigiTerm.  You are asked to confirm this, as exiting from
        DigiTerm will hang up the modem, and accidentally hitting this key
        would really bother someone if it didn't.  Press X to confirm the exit
        or any other key to abort it.


  Well, my fingers are sore, so that means I must've covered just about
everything.  Enjoy the program, and if you encounter any bugs, let me know.
My address and phone number are in the file called DIGITERM.DOC, which contains
general information about the program and updates.  My address & number are
also on the titlescreen of the unregistered version.

                                            Enjoy the Program!
                                        Jason Dorie of DigiMation.