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Canine Express (K9X) The New Generation Communications Package (C) Copyright 1985, 1988 by Crater Rim Software For the IBM Family of Personal Computers and Compatibles Supplemental Documentation December 20, 1988 Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 (C) Copyright 1985,1988 by Crater Rim Software K9X ShareWare Licensing Agreement --------------------------------- For the sake of clarity, all references and restrictions to the use of the K9X also apply to all of the associated support files INCLUDING the K9Xmodem, Super8K, SuperK and Jbatch protocols. K9X, its overlays and all of its associated support files are not public domain software, nor are they free software. K9X is copyright (C) 1985, 1988 - the K9Xmodem, Super8K, SuperK and JBatch protocols are copyright 1987, 1988 by Crater Rim. Non-registered users are granted a limited license to use K9X version SW80 on a trial basis for the purpose of determining whether these programs are suitable for their needs. The term of this limited license is 30 days. Use of K9X, except for this limited purpose, requires registration. Use of non-registered copies of K9X by any person, business, corporation, governmental agency or other entity institution is strictly forbidden. Registration permits you to use K9X on a regular basis on a single computer. A registered user may use the program on a different computer, but may not use the program on more than one computer at the same time. Registration also includes priority support on Underdog's MiniNet BBS. Users need register only one version of K9X. Registration includes licensed use of all upgrades. All corporate, business, government or other commercial uses of K9X must be registered. We offer quantity discounts and Corporate or site licensing is also available. No user may modify K9X in any way, including but not limited to decompiling, disassembling or otherwise reverse engineering the program. All users are granted a limited license to copy K9X version SW80 only for the trial use of others subject to the above limitations, and also the following: K9X version SW80 must be copied in unmodified form, complete with the file containing this license information. Any and all K9X documentation must be included with the copy. No fee, charge or other compensation may be accepted or requested by any licensee. K9X may not be distributed in conjunction with any other product without prior arrangements with Crater Rim Software. Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) may post K9X version SW80 for downloading by their users only as long as the above conditions are met. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 2 - Distributors of public domain or user supported software may distribute copies of K9X version SW80 subject to the above conditions only after obtaining written permission from Crater Rim Software. Such permission usually is granted. Please write or call for details. ShareWare Software Discalaimer and Warranty Crater Rim Software makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. Crater Rim Software shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. Crater Rim Software shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the program. IN NO EVENT WILL Crater Rim Software BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. See the Ordering section for more information on registration, corporate licensing and similar topics. WARNING: YOU MAY NOT USE EITHER VERSION OF K9X ON A REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT REGISTERING THE PACKAGE. K9X FEATURES ------------ * Combined VT100 and ANSI BBS Terminal Emulation Including full ANSI and VT100 Cursor Positioning, Color and Music Support utilizing a combination of internal ANSI processing and the DOS ANSI.SYS or equivilant * Ring buffered, interrupt driven, serial I/O. * 24 file transfer methods Single file transfer protocols Xmodem Checksum (via K9X or internal SuperK) Xmodem CRC (via K9X or internal SuperK) Ymodem (1K Xmodem) CRC (via K9X or internal SuperK) WXmodem (Windowed Xmodem) CRC (via built in SuperK protocol) Underdog's ***FAST*** K9Xmodem (via built in SuperK protocol) Underdog's ***FASTER*** Super8K (via built in SuperK protocol) Jmodem (via special Jmodem module) Qmxfer Ymodem-G for RBBS systems (via QMXFER or DSZ) Zmodem Single file mode (via DSZ external module) PC-Kermit (Standard and Sliding Window via external module) Ascii with XON/XOFF Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 3 - Batch mode file transfer protocols Modem7 (Batch) Checksum Modem7 (Batch) CRC Telink CRC Xmodem Checksum (via built in SuperK protocol) Xmodem CRC (via built in SuperK protocol) Ymodem (1K Xmodem) CRC (via built in SuperK protocol) WXmodem (Windowed Xmodem) CRC (via built in SuperK protocol) Underdog's ***FAST*** K9Xmodem (via built in SuperK protocol) Underdog's ***FASTER*** Super8K (via built in SuperK protocol) Jmodem (via built in Jbatch protocol) DSZ Ymodem-G (via DSZ external module) Zmodem (via DSZ external module) CIS/B (via CIS external module) Plus pre-programmed keys for Quick Download using any of the supported protocols Plus Totally Automated Downloading using special macro codes * Full Function telephone dialing directory which permits list, manual, name, entry # dialing along with FULL edit capabilities including parity, data and stop bits, individual macro linking, last date/time number was called, default protocol. Up to 9500 entries - user configurable, with full expansion/compression support * User configurable menu and text colors, modem setup and buffer sizes * User configurable overwrite of duplicate files during download * User configurable save aborted downloads * Up to 32K memory buffer for FAST files transfers * Pre-programmed command key for ASCII auto uploading of PreFabricated Messages * Pre-programmed command key for linking to external CIS/B terminal emulator with CIS/B transfer protocol * Pre-programmed command key for linking to external IXEC PC-Pursuit Interface * User-configureable baud rate locking for high speed modem connects * Special dialing directory prefixes for specifying special pre-dial commands and settings to high speed modems. * Macro script language for automated logon supporting universal "look for/send" Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 4 - special "what if" look for/send auto link to CIS/B external module auto link to ICEX External PC-Pursuit Interface ability to specify multiple execution of macro lines ability to use/send special control characters for carriage return, delay, etc. ability to load pre-fabricated filelists for automated download processing * Pre-programmed command key to disable universal macro "look for/send" * Pre-programmed command key to disable logon macro * Session logging/capture to printer and/or disk. * Full Novice Command Gateway Menu System or Expert Alt-Key command set support * Menu-driven commands * Full display of all K9X flag settings * Macro-key definition for constructing and holding often-used text sequences. * Full Access DOS Shell without loss of carrier * Default DOS Shell Command link to another application * Full file finding capabilites * Full file and directory display with transfer times * Screen dumps to a file or printer * Customizable modem support at 300/1200/2400/4800/9600/19200 bps for both COMM 1 and COMM 2 * Automatic change of baud rate with smart modems. * User configureable baud locking for high speed modems * Dialing session and total session elapsed time counters. * Call Log including number dialed, session start, session end, elapsed session time, total long distance elapsed times, total downloads - both files and total bytes * Upto 800 line internal capture buffer which may be viewed at any time. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 5 - * Define up to 20 dialing directory entries for queue dialing upon startup with optional automatic session logging. * Linking with K9XEVENT for automated execution at specified times * Cut and Paste feature to save selected text to file * Mark and Save upto 24 filenames for automatic downloading with full editing, addition, deletetion, loading of pre-fabricated lists, saving of marked filenames to file * Mark and Save upto 24 filenames for automatic uploading with full editing, addition, deletetion, loading of pre-fabricated lists, saving of marked filenames to file * User defined default download path * User defined default upload path * Automatic upload file finding using internal system drive configuraion table which accepts upto 99 fully configureable drive:\paths * User defined Multitasking Hook for Time Slicing while operating in a multitasking environment under TaskView, DesqView or TopView multitasking/windowing systems. The multitasking time slicing feature allows you to run K9X within a partition with a minimum of system slowdown. K9X monitors both the the comm port and local keyboard for input. If no input is present, K9X will relinquish the remainder of the cpu time slice back to the the multitasker. Note that this feature is only active during normal user and/or local keyboard input. It is NOT active during files transfers. * Compartmentalized setup to keep directory clutter to a minimum * Built in BBS type Macro/Message Editor * Memory requirements: a minimum of approximately 160K K9X FILES --------- K9X.COM Main program K9X.000 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.001 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.002 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.003 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.004 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.005 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.006 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.007 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.008 Overlay file required by K9X.COM Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 6 - K9X.009 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.010 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.011 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9X.012 Overlay file required by K9X.COM K9XCNF.COM K9X Configuration Utility K9XCNF.000 Overlay file required by K9XCNF.COM KTREE.COM K9X Drive Configuration Utility JBA.COM Custom Jmodem Protocol driver DSZ.COM Zmodem Protocol - Older version supports Ymodem-G PC-KERMIT.EXE Optional Kermit Protocol KERMIT.BAT Required for use of PC-KERMIT.EXE B&W.CNF Premade K9X Configuration file for Black & White COLOR.CNF Premade K9X Configuration file for Color MININET.K9X Sample Logon Macro for Underdog's MiniNet BBS RBBS.K9X Sample Logon Macro for RBBS PCBOARD.K9X Sample Logon Macro for PCBoard PCP.K9X Sample Logon Macro for PC-Pursuit AUTONET.K9X Sample Automated Macro for Underdog's MiniNet BBS AUTODOWN.K9X Sample AUTODOWN files list K9XSUPP.DOC This File LICENSE.K9X Seperate License and Ordering Information MAILER.K9X Easy printout order form Files K9X/K9XCNF/KTREE will create (if not found): K9XDRIVE.TBL Drive Configuration Table K9X.CNF Standard System Configuration File K9X.P Phone Directory K9X.PRE Phone Prefix Definitions File CALL.LOG Log file for all numbers dialed K9X.KEY Function Key Macro File - this file will be created if any Macros are defined. If it exists when K9X is started, it will be read into memory. K9X Environment --------------- When K9X starts up it looks for its overlay and support files in the current directory. However, you may want to invoke K9X from other directories as well. In that case you can set the DOS environment variable K9X to the name of the directory containing the K9X overlays, and use the DOS PATH statement to ensure that the selected directory is searched when you invoke K9X by name. You've named your K9X directory "K9X", located on drive C Add these statements to your AUTOEXEC.BAT PATH C:\K9X SET K9X=C:\K9X K9X Menu Systems ---------------- Menu selections may be made in either of 2 ways: 1. Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice - then hit [ENTER] Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 7 - In cases where a Yes or No response is required, K9X will default to [ENTER] being the same as answering Yes. If you are not sure your natural choice should ALWAYS be NO! In all other cases, the highlighted selection is the current default setting and should not be changed unless you know for sure it needs to be changed. Simply hit [ENTER] for the highlighted, default setting. 2. Type the first letter of your choice Special Control Characters -------------------------- When a modem string containing control characters is written to a file, all the embedded control characters are converted to the marker character format. On the other side of the coin, when a modem string containing control characters is read from a file, the characters are converted back to control characters. In any case, check your modem manual for the correct modem settings when defining any and all of the modem interface values. There are special control characters available to aid in the creation of your default modem strings: vertical bar | (not a colon) will send a carriage return. tilde ~ (not a double quote) will pause about 30 seconds plus the built-in 30 second delay for a total of about one second. There is a built in delay between characters (about 30 seconds). Under normal circumstances, you should not have to use the tilde delay character in your strings. caret ^ (shift 6) will send the Ctrl equivilant of the character immediately following it. example: entering '^G' in a string results in a single character (the control-G bell character) being entered in the string. \ Entering a single backslash will default your input to a null (empty) string. The character difinitions for each of the editing control characters are held in K9X.CNF under the titles: FC= vertical bar (|) character FD= tilde (~) character FM= caret (^) Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 8 - In an effort to clean up the K9X directory, I have assigned several subdirectories to hold the various K9X support files. All of the modules are set up to look for the support files (and place any work files) into their assigned subdirectory. Additionally, you do not have to specify the path of a filename if that filename is in its assigned subdirectory.... As is the case with most filename prompts, you may over-ride the K9X internal file finding capabilities by including the full drive:\path\ with the filename. As stated in the K9X docs, K9X looks for a colon as the second character of your input string. If a colon is present, K9X assumes you have specified a full drive:\path\filename instead of just a filename and will not use its own file finding. Here's the K9X directory set up and file placement: Directory of C:\K9X SUPP <DIR>---------- Directory of C:\K9X\SUPP LOGS <DIR>----+ MACROS K9X (all macros/.MES) K9X COM | K9X CNF K9X 000 | K9XDRIVE TBL K9X 001 | K9X P K9X 002 | K9X PRE K9X 003 | K9X KEY K9X 004 | K9X 005 | K9X 006 +---- Directory of C:\K9X\LOGS K9X 007 0724 88 (session logs) K9X 008 CALL LOG K9X 009 COLLECT TXT K9X 010 K9XNOTES K9XCNF COM Any "read in" files for K9X K9XCNF 000 quick down/cut and paste JBA COM KTREE COM DSZ COM KERMIT EXE QMXFER COM CIS EXE ICEX EXE Step 1 - Create a K9X directory on your hard drive by issuing the DOS commands: CD\ MD K9X Step 2 - Set the K9X Environmental Varable by issuing the DOS command: SET K9X=C:\K9X Step 3 - If you already have a DOS Path Environmental Statement, add C:\K9X to it... If not, issue the DOS command: PATH=C:\K9X Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 9 - Note: You should include items 2 and 3 above in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that these variables are automatically set each time you boot up your system. You will have to add the line DEVICE=ANSI.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS file also. Step 4 - Log into your new K9X directory and make two new subdirectories within the K9X directory. Issue the DOS commands: MD SUPP MD LOGS Step 5 - Copy all of the K9X files into it. Step 6 - I have included two K9X configuration files for your convenience. You may however, start up K9XCNF at the DOS prompt and create a totally new K9X configuration file. If this is done, K9XCNF will automatically place the new K9X.CNF in the SUPP subdircetory. If you are running an RGB/CGA system issue the DOS commands: REN COLOR.CNF K9X.CNF DEL B&W.CNF If you are running a Mono system issue the DOS commands: REN B&W.CNF K9X.CNF DEL COLOR.CNF Now issue the DOS commands: COPY K9X.CNF SUPP COPY *.K9X SUPP COPY K9X.PRE SUPP DEL K9X.CNF DEL *.K9X DEL K9X.PRE Step 7 - Run KTREE so that the Drive Configuration Table for your system can be created. Step 8 - Run K9XCNF and check all of the settings so that they conform with your particular setup. If you do not know what a setting should be for your particular setup, just leave the default setting intact. In most cases, the defaults will work just fine! In any case, the following is a list of the default settings as contained in both COLOR.K9X and B&W.K9X. In all cases, the B&W.CNF default colors are all lightgray on black (b&w). K9XCNF will automatically update the K9X.CNF when you exit that utility back to DOS. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 10 - Parameters ---------- K9XCNF.COM allows you to set/reset the K9X default parameters. The default parameters are saved in the file K9X.CNF. In all cases, the default value will be displayed to you either by the way of a highlighted (inverse video) menu selection or a bracketed value ([200]). You can either enter one of the letters to select a new setting, or use the arrow keys to move the highlighted cursor to a new setting and then hit the enter key. CTS and DTR Monitoring ---------------------- All questions requiring a Yes or No response default to... ENTER=Yes. This means that hitting your RETURN or ENTER key is the same as if you hit the Y key. This is especially important during setup as there are two questions asked which, by answering Y or ENTER, may very well render your present configuration of K9X in-operable! The first question concerns the monitoring of the CTS line. If you are not sure if your system/modem is capable of supporting the CTS line, be SURE to hit N. The same holds true for the monitoring of the DSR line. Again, if you are not sure, hit N. This will practically guarantee that K9X will at least get you to a menu! Once you have reached the menu you may then go in and try setting first the CTS line montioring and then the DSR line monitoring. Be sure to test the first setting before activating the other. If you find that activation of one or the other causes K9X to freeze up on you, you can load K9X.CNF into your text editor and modify the appropriate entry or delete the K9X.CNF file and start up K9XCNF again. By having these lines monitored, your dial/redial cycle time will be cut drastically. If you find that your system can handle the monitoring of the CTS line but balks at monitoring the DSR line, the elimination of the modem hangup string (MH= below) will deliver the same results. K9X.CNF Format -------------- The format of the file K9X.CNF is as follows: In columns 1-2 of each record is a code to identify a parameter. After the parameter is an "=" sign. Following the "=" the value of the parameter appears. All flag settings are set to a number variable representing the logical 1=yes (set) and 0=no (not set). Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 11 - Notes on Some of the Configuration Paramters -------------------------------------------- Modem Initialization String ATE0Q0X1V1S7=60S0=0| K9X must have word responses sent to the console in order to know what is going on with the modem. The default modem strings are defined for Hayes and Hayes compatible (USR, CTS, etc) modems. If you have a 2400baud modem, you will want to change the values for the M and X settings to M3 and X6 in order to take advantage of K9X's advanced dial progress capabilities. The default modem init settings are: E0 - Echo Off Q0 - Send Modem Result Messages V1 - Word Messages Mode X1 - Advanced Result Codes (CONNECT, CONNECT 1200) M0 - Speaker Off S7=60 - Wait 60 seconds for carrier detection S0=0 - Do not autoanswer Modem Dial String ATDT This is the modem attention string K9X uses when dialing a number. K9X attaches the phone number to the end of this string when performing a dial. Function Key Carriage Return Character This parameter holds the character K9X is to interpret as a carriage return within the Function Key Macros, Modem Strings and Dialing Directory Macros. The default is the vertical bar (NOT the colon). When K9X encounters this character in any of the command strings, it automatically sends out a carriage return in place of this character. Function Key Delay Character This character works identically to the vertical bar except that it is interpreted by K9X as a delay. When K9X encounters this character in any of the command strings, it will pause approximately 30 seconds before sending the remainder of the command string. The default is the tilde (not a double quote). Function Key Wait For String Character The single quote ` is another special control character used specifically in the dialing directory macros ("Send" field). It is used before and after a string of charcaters that K9X is to wait to receive before it continues sending the next portion of the command string. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 12 - Function Key Escape Character Marker The Escape Character Marker is used to signal K9X that the next character in the command string is to be converted into a control character. For instance, the presence of a ^G in a command string will be interpreted and converted to ASCII code 007 (bell character). When K9X reads in the command strings from its support files (K9X.CNF, K9X.KEY, K9X.P, etc.), it converts all ^ characters to their actual ASCII code equivilants. When K9X writes out the command strings to its support files (K9X.CNF, K9X.KEY, K9X.P, etc.), it converts all control characters to the equivilant ^ character. In the ^G case above, when writing to file, K9X will write ^G when reading from file, K9X converts the ^G to 007. Default Transfer Protocol Although you may change the default protocol during your session... and the changed protocol becomes your new default... unless you re-write a new K9X.CNF file, the value held by this parameter will remain the default each time K9X is started. Use Auto Filefinding K9X has the capability of automatically locating files you select for uploading. If this option is Enabled, K9X will first search your current logged drive:\directory for the file you requested. If it is not present there, K9X will then check the default upload path, if one has been configured within K9X.CNF, and lastly, K9X will use the directory names held in K9XDRIVE.TBL to locate the file. K9X will use either a full drive table search or the modified, categorized search as defined in K9X.CNF (and described in K9X.DOC) If this option is disabled and ... a drive:\directory is specified with the filename: K9X will only look for the file in the specified drive:\directory no drive:\directory is specified with the filename: K9X will search the current logged drive:\directory if a default upload path has been configured into K9X.CNF, K9X will search the default upload path for the file. Text Mode When K9X starts up, it will automatically determine what type of display card is being used. If you are using a MonoChrome card and monitor, K9X will set this parameter to M. If K9X finds a CGA or EGA card installed, it will set this parameter to C. Due to the extensive windowing and screen overlaying in K9X, monochrome system users may find that the window Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 13 - borders will appear momentarily in the upper right side of their screen but the menu items will appear in the upper left side of the screen. Be aware that K9X still functions normally, it's just that the window displays are not positioned properly. I am presently working on a CGA emulator for monochrome system users which will correct this problem. Text Background = Black This value is quasi-hardcoded to the black background setting as there isn't any way to change the setting from within K9X. You may however, use a text editor to change the setting in K9X.CNF. If you do change it in this manner, the background may not be reset after receiving ANSI color escape sequences from the host computer. The default menu frame background color is hard coded to black. Modem Carrier High Flag This flag is used in the dialing section to determine the presence of a carrier. If this flag is set to No, then K9X will not check for the presence of a carrier. If it is set to Yes, K9X will make the determination after actually checking for the existance of a carrier. It should be noted that this flag is defaulted to No only to insure your being able to check out your other default settings after initially configuring K9X. Once it has been established that everthing else seems to be working properly, you should set the flag to Yes and attempt a dial out. If K9X is able to perform the dial, then enter the utilities section and select the Write .CNF file option in order to save the new flag setting. The same is true of the other flag settings (those defaults that require a Yes or No response). You should set and test each flag so that you can determine the best settings for your particular setup. Direct Screen Write Flag K9X has the ability to write directly to the system screen buffer. Direct screen writes most assuredly speed up the screen updates... however, you may find that you will have to specify NO here if you use K9X in a multitasking environment. With a little bit of practice, you will be able to set this paramter to YES and use K9X in a multitasking environment. I have been operating in a multitasking environment ever since I started working on a PC and my K9X.CNF is set to do direct screen writes. In the cases where I am online to another system, most if not all of my attention is focused on the session. I use K9X in my primary partition and switch to a background partition to do other 'jobs' while online. On rare occasions, K9X will restore a saved screen when I am working in the background - thus replacing that application's screen with the restored screen! When this does happen, it's usually a simple process of typing a character in the other application to have that application restore its screen. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 14 - Conversely, simply hitting [ENTER] in the K9X partition usually triggers the host to send a prompt line, thus restoring my 'place' in the session. Check CTS Flag When using Zmodem, Zmodem Batch or Zmodem's Ymodem-G... the DSZ "handshake both" parameter is added to the command line ONLY IF you have set the Check Clear to Send parameter in your K9X.CNF. Be sure to set the Check Clear to Send to ON... Startup K9XCNF, select the M)iscellaneous option, then Check Clear to Send, and finally, back your way out to DOS by hitting the Enter key. On the other hand, if your system requires the "handshake slow" parameter, set the Check Clear to Send to OFF, rename DSZ.COM to ZMODEM.COM, and create DSZ.BAT as: echo off zmodem %1 %2 %3 %4 hanshake slow %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 ^Z If you are not sure if your modem supports CTS monitoring, be sure to enter N to the K9X prompt. Check DSR Flag (not set) If you are not sure if your modem supports DTR monitoring, be sure to enter N to the K9X prompt. Default DOS Command Along with the Alt-J DOS shell command, K9X has a default DOS Command which is executed via the ^Home key combination. This parameter holds the command string you want K9X to execute when the ^Home key combination is pressed. The format for entering this paramter is outlined under the ^Home definition. If no command string is specified here, the ^Home key combination will work identically to the Alt-J DOS Shell command. DOS Command Format and Control Character ---------------------------------------- There is a special character that you may use within this command.. It is the vertical bar | (not a colon : ) and it signals K9X that you wish to add additional information to the default DOS command before the default DOS command is executed... It goes something like this: You set you default DOS command to PKXARC| When you activate the default DOS Command via [^Home], K9X will prompt you for the remainder of the command. You may then enter /V or /T or whatever other command you wish to pass to PKXARC. You set you default DOS command to ED | (PC-Write) Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 15 - When you activate the default DOS Command via [^Home], K9X will prompt you for the filename to be edited. Your input would be: abc.doc UNDERSTAND that K9X deletes the vertical bar and replaces it with the remainder of the command. So, if the initial command requires a space between it and the program name, and you haven't provided for it in your default DOS command, be sure to enter it. If you do not need to add to the default DOS command, do not include the vertical bar. If you have added the | to your default DOS command but do not require an additional input 'this time', just hit [ENTER]. Note: The program you call via this command does not have to reside in the same area (diskette or directory) as K9X Just be sure it is in the DOS path. Note that you save alot of the 65 character limit by placing the secondary program in the DOS path! This DOS command option is in ADDITION to, and completly independant of, the optional DOS command you may enter when activating the Jump to DOS (Alt-J) feature. When using the DOS Shell and DOS Command options... Be sure you have enough memory to start up another application. The easiest way to do this is to start up K9X, issue the Drop to DOS command either through the Command Gateway Menu of the Expert Alt-J key combination, then run the DOS utility ChkDsk. It will report the amount of memory you have available to run other programs from within the DOS shell. If you do a direct exit to DOS via the DOS shell, be sure to type the word EXIT to get back to K9X. Default Download Path If the download path is blank, K9X will write downloaded files to the current logged drive and directory. If a download path is specified, K9X will prefix the download filename with the download path Download path conventions: Be sure to include all the normal DOS punctuation conventions (including the last backslash) in the form: C:\MININET\K9X\DOWNLOADS\FOO\BAR\YOU\ME\TODAY\NOW\ If you don't use directories/subdirectories, you may either enter a single backslash, which will disable the download path completely, or you may enter a single drive letter in the form B:\ which will direct all downloads to in this case, drive B Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 16 - Number of dialing directory pages The K9X.P dialing directory is a varaible length random access file which has a maximum size of 2 to 500 pages with each page containing 19 entries. Initially, K9X creates a 2 page (38 entry) dialing directory which contains the numbers of the Dog's MiniNet nodes and the remaining entries are blank. Each consecutive time K9X is started up, it will use the value held here and make sure the dialing directory holds at least this number of pages. If the size of K9X.P is smaller than this parameter value, K9X will expand K9X.P to the proper number of entries... K9X will ONLY RECOGNIZE the number of pages indicated by the value of this parameter. A full 9500 entry directory is about 1.5 megabytes in size so BE SURE to read the information in the Dialing Directory Section BEFORE changing this value! Border Color If you are using K9X on a color system, the border color will be black upon starting K9X and as long as there is no carrier detected. The border will change to the color you specify here as soon as carrier is present and will remain set until carrier is lost. If you are using Mono, both the no carrier and carrier border colors will be black. I added this option so that you will have a 'quick glance' way of verifying that you have connected (or are still connected). If you start up a program, via the DOS shell, which resets the border color, K9X will set it back to the defined color upon re- entering K9X. Session Log upon startup (not set) You may specify whether or not you want K9X to activate the automatic session logging upon startup... and save the setting to K9X.CNF via K9XCNF.COM. The old command line L parameter now serves the function of overriding the setting read in from K9X.CNF If the K9X.CNF setting is to activate session logging, an L on the DOS command line will de-activate session logging.. conversely, if the K9X.CNF setting is to NOT activate session logging, an L on the DOS command line will activate session logging. The L command line switch may be included at any time. K9X will accept the L switch and a full 10 dialing directory entries in any order on the command line. Upon opening a session log file... K9X writes a space character to the file, closes the file and then reopens it. Additionally, K9X will close, flush and reopen a session log after each session dis- connect. In the past, K9X did not flush the capture buffer until you exited the program to DOS. This is fine during "normal" sessions but if you had to exit the program abnormally (via "Red Switch" reboot or otherwise), all previously captured data would be lost. This new feature assures that a minimum of data is lost under adverse conditions. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 17 - Reset modem to follow connect baud K9X now supports 19200bps and allows you to "lock" the baud rate to the default startup rate (19200 for HST). There are two new prefix codes available, both deal with the sending of modem reset codes prior to dialing, so that you can mix and match 9600, 19200, 2400 and below, MNP and non-MNP systems. The \ and / codes are now valid prefixe codes. They only work in conjunction with the sending of modem commands just prior to dialing so that you can selectively call various systems using different modem settings. In prior versions of K9X, the only way to use a prefix (or postfix) was to enter the dialing directory and specify the prefix/postfix along with the dialing directory entry. With this version, K9X will allow you to include any of the prefixes and/or postfixes directly in the Dialing directory entry phone number OR specify them along with the dialing dircetory entry number on the DOS prompt, in the list dialer, or within the dialing directory itself. For the 9600 numbers, it is easiest to simply include the prefix code with the phone number... Additionally, there are two special codes... the 0 and 1 which dictate the toggling of the auto-reset baud rate to follow the called system. The easiest way to explain all of this is to run you through the new setup. 1) Run K9XCNF from the DOS prompt and reset your baud rate to 19200 2) Go into the Misc section and set the Reset Baud toggle to (N) Check also that the Check Clear to Send and Check Data Set Ready are Set to (N) 3) Go into the modem init section of K9XCNF and set your modem init string to ATZ| 4) Exit K9XCNF (which will update K9X.CNF automatically). 5) Start up K9X and if you are not already using it, get into Expert mode by typing T, X at the K9X Command Gateway menu. 6) Type ATI5 and hit Enter. Verify your HST Nram settings to the following USRobotics Courier 9600 HST NRAM Settings.... DIAL=HUNT M=0 X=4 F=1 B=0 BAUD=19200 PARITY=N WORDLEN=8 Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 18 - &A1 &B1 &G0 &H3 &I0 &K0 &M4 &N0 &P0 &R2 &S1 &Y1 S02=043 S03=013 S04=010 S05=008 S06=002 S07=030 S08=002 S09=006 S10=007 S11=070 S12=050 S13=000 S15=000 S19=000 S21=010 S22=017 S23=019 7) Type ATI4 and hit Enter. Verify your HST Current settings to the following USRobotics Courier 9600 HST Settings.... C=1 E=1 F=1 M=0 Q=0 V=1 X=4 B=0 BAUD=19200 PARITY=N WORDLEN=8 DIAL=HUNT ON HOOK TIMER &A1 &B1 &G0 &H3 &I0 &K0 &M4 &N0 &P0 &R2 &S1 &Y1 S00=000 S01=000 S02=043 S03=013 S04=010 S05=008 S06=002 S07=030 S08=002 S09=006 S10=007 S11=070 S12=050 S13=000 S14=000 S15=000 S16=000 S17=000 S18=000 S19=000 S20=000 S21=010 S22=017 S23=019 8) The two new prefixes may be set up to include any standard Modem commands. As I stated earlier, there are two codes which can be used at the start of the prefix string which signals K9X as to the status of the Reset Baud Flag status. Starting the prefix with a one, set the Reset Baud to true, thus enabling K9X to adjust its baud rate with that of the system it is calling. Starting the prefix with a 0 (zero) set the Reset Baud Flag to false, thus instructing K9X to leave the baud rate set to whatever the DEFAULT baud rate was upon initial startup (19200). Here is a sample of my prefix string for the backslash \ 1AT&M&A&H&B&R1 As you can see, the 1 at the start of the prefix string enables K9X' Reset Baud Flag and the remainder of the string resets the modem to the proper settings to connect with a non MNP, non HST system. The last step in the process, is the go into your K9X dialing directory and edit each non-HST/non-19200/non-MNP entry phone number to include a backslash as a prefix. For instance, your entry for calling my system would have the phone number as: \1-206-725-9233 Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 19 - When K9X prepares a number to be dialed, it looks for the two special prefix codes. If one is present, K9X sends the secondary modem init string, and then dials the number. Upon completing the call, and preparing the next number to dial, K9X once again looks for one of the special prefix codes. If one is present, it sends that string to the modem... If the new (second) number to dial does not have a special prefix code, K9X automatically resets the modem to the default startup settings... In other words, you do not need a separate modem init prefix to reset your modem after you have connected with a non HST system. K9X handles that automatically. Lastly, you may gang the prfixes with any of the standard prefix codes just as long as the special modem string prefix code is the first one to be encountered.... The only restriction here is the 15 character limit of the dialing directory entry which can be overcome be simply removing one (of all of the spaces/hyphens) from the phone number. Example... Let's say you already use the + prefix to dail my system. You can gang your present phone number prefix with the \ or / by simply including the \ or / as the first character... +1-206-725-9233 becomes \+1206-725-9233 Use QMXFER Ymodem-G I have modified K9X to use the external QMXFER.COM module (the one used on RBBS systems) for the use of the Qmodem type Ymodem-G. You may specify (via K9XCNF) which Ymodem-G you wish to use. Your choices are either DSZ's Qmodem type Ymodem-G or QMXFER. The default is QMXFER as I have found DSZ to be a little less compatible when talking to the QMXFER module used by RBBS and others. Note that the DSZ Qmodem type Ymodem-G is not to be confused with DSZ Ymodem-G. These are two different animals... and this option only effects the Qmodem Ymodem-G (Q) protocol. Multitasking Hook The Alt_H command key (and its equivilent in the Command Gateway Menu system) have been assigned as a toggle to Hook into multitasking If Alt_H is set, K9X will release the clock ticks if no activity is found at either the comm port or the local keyboard. If Alt_H is not set, K9X will operate single application mode, not acknowledging any multitasking. You may operate K9X in a mutiltasking environment regardless of the status of the Alt_H toggle. I have included this toggle to eliminate some of the sluggishness in K9X when it is run in a multitasking environment where another application is accessing another comm port. If you are running a BBS in the background, try it... you'll like it! This toggle status is also saved in your K9X.CNF file. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 20 - Use SuperK protocols Facility has also been made to allow you to sepcify if K9X should use the internal Xmodem Checksum, Xmodem CRC and Ymodem (1K Xmodem) protocols or those supported in SuperK. The Alt_3 expert command key (and its equivilent in the Command Gateway Menu System) will toggle this option. The setting of this toggle is also stored in K9X.CNF so you can "set and forget it"! The Jmodem Batch and SuperK protocols are handled in the same manner as described in then Zmodem Batch section above. All 14 of the SuperK and JBatch protocols have been written directly into K9X. You will no longer need SuperK.COM or JBatch.COM... The JBA.COM module is still required! The impact of this change is the substantial decrease in the overall memory requirements of K9X by eliminating the JBatch 105K DOS Shell requirement! With the inclusion of the SuperK protocols, K9X.CNF now includes the default colors for each of the ex-external protocols, the transfer results logfile name, "Save Aborts" and "Overwrite" flag settings. These options are accessed via K9XCNF and are stored within K9X.CNF The new K9X.CNF paramters are: SuperK Xmodem Colors SuperK K9Xmodem Colors SuperK Ymodem Colors SuperK SuperK Colors SuperK Universal Colors SuperK/Jbatch overwrite flag SuperK/Jbatch save aborts flag SuperK/Jbatch logfile (saved in SUPP subdirectory) As is the case with all K9XCNF string inputs, the transfer results file name may be nulled out by inputting a backslash for its name. Without a logfile name, K9X will not write any results to a logfile. In addition, the K9XDRIVE.TBL file holds: Default Upload Path 29 characters maximum length Use Auto File Find flag Colors for file finding display Display transfer times flag Display 1200 baud transfer times flag Display 2400 baud transfer times flag Display 9600 baud transfer times flag Display times on all files or just .ARC files flag Do a full drive list or modified search flag Total number of paths (99 maximum) 99 Path Name Strings each path name 29 characters maximum length Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 21 - Writing a NEW K9X.CNF --------------------- The K9X.CNF configuration file is written each time you exit K9XCNF. If you have accessed K9XCNF via the Alt_P command (or the Command Gateway Menu System equivilant) K9X will re-read and reset all paramters except the Comm Port. If you have changed the Comm Port, you will have to exit and restart K9X in order to access a different port. If you are currently running an earlier registered version of K9X, be sure to run K9XCNF at the DOS prompt so that the new K9X.CNF paramters will be written to your current K9X.CNF Step 10 - Issue the DOS command: K9X and Enjoy! Using K9X Command Gateway ------------------------- After initialization is complete, K9X enters Command Gateway Menu System. You will not be able to exit the menu system (and enter terminal mode) until a carrier is detected (or you select the Toggles option and toggle the Expert mode to On). The highlighted menu default choice while offline is Dial a Number as this is the normal course of events. K9X will automatically switch to terminal mode as soon as communications is established with another system. While online to another system, the [Home] key will give you access to the menu system. Your highlighted default will have switched to Download a File as that too, is the normal course of events! K9X Expert System ----------------- Along with the 'Command GateWay' menu system, K9X also allows the experienced user to toggle an expert mode in which all commands are entered via special command key sequences. When in expert mode, the [Home] key will display a command summary screen. All of your local commands are presented via windows which overlay whatever text is already on the screen. When you exit a window, the underlying text will re-appear without modification. I've positioned all/most of the windows in the upper right corner and have also tried to keep them as small as possible - first for conformity and second to allow you to see as much of the underlying data as possible when you are working within a window. Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 22 - Transferring Files ------------------ When uploading and downloading, you do not have to input a protocol prior to starting the transfer. K9X will use the default transfer protocol as set via the dialing directory entry. If you are dialing manually, K9X will use the default from the previous call. Use Alt_W if you want to change your protocol from the defaulted value. If you change your protocol, the new setting will remain in effect until you dial another number or change it again manually. In ALL cases, you may preceed your input with a full drive and path. Supplying a drive and path along with the filename will override the K9X filefinding capabilities if they are active. Zmodem ------ Note that registration of K9X (or any other communications program) does not automatically give you registered rights to Zmodem! As is the case with K9X, if you are using the Zmodem protocol on a regular basis, you MUST register your copy with the author! Note that K9X passes all of the required parameters to DSZ. Please refer to the Zmodem Documentation for further information on the Zmodem DSZ features. PCKermit -------- PCKermit is another external protocol module. Although there are a number of BBS systems which support this protocol (MiniNet included), I've included the Kermit protocol for those users who communicate with mainframe and mini computers. I strongly urge you to use a protocol other than Kermit if the system you are dialing supports them. Timing tests have shown that transfers using Kermit may consume upto twice as much time as other protocols supported by K9X. Although there are later versions of PCKermit available, my tests have revealed that the version I have included with the K9X package seems to be the most reliable. The PCKermit module supports both standard and windowed Kermit transfers. Note that the batch file, KERMIT.BAT is required when using PCKermit as KERMIT.BAT passes the filename and other parameters to PCKERMIT. KERMIT.BAT ---------- echo off if %1 == R pckermit -l com%2 -b %3 -m 31 -p n -r -a %4 -c if not %1 == R pckermit -l com%2 -b %3 -m 31 -p n -w -s %4 -c Canine Express (K9X) v8.00 Page - 23 - Acknowledgements ---------------- Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International Inc. IBM, PC-DOS, PC, XT, AT and PCjr are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. MS-DOS is a trademark of MicroSoft Corp. Hayes is a trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. USR is a tradmark of U.S. Robotics Inc. CTS is a tradmark of CTS Fabri-Tek/DataComm Products Inc. TaskView is copyright Sunny Hill Software DesqView is copyright QuarterDeck Office Systems TopView is copyright International Business Machines Corp.