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RFC 1043:
Telnet Data Entry Terminal option: DODIIS implementation

 

Network Working Group                                          A. Yasuda
Request for Comments: 1043                                   T. Thompson
                                             Defense Intelligence Agency
Updates: RFC 732                                           February 1988


                   TELNET Data Entry Terminal Option
                         DODIIS Implementation

Status of this Memo

   This RFC suggests a proposed protocol on the TELNET Data Entry
   Terminal (DET) Option - DODIIS Implementation for the Internet
   community.  It is intended that this specification be compatible with
   the specification of DET Option in RFC-732.  Discussion and
   suggestions for improvements are encouraged.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Introduction

   In the early 1980s, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) undertook
   the tasks of developing a TELNET capability to access full screen
   applications across a packet switching network.  This effort was
   successful by implementing Data Entry Terminal (DET) options within
   the TELNET protocol based on RFC 732.  These DET options have been
   implemented on IAS, MVS, OS86 and UNIX operating systems.  DET
   options are being developed for VM and VMS operating systems.

   The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DODIIS) is
   a confederation of heterogeneous computer systems and remote
   terminals utilizing the Defense Data Network (DDN) as the
   communications backbone (namely the SCINET/DSNET-3).

   Although the reason for implementing a DET option specification was
   based upon data base application interfaces, the use of a full screen
   TELNET provides a method to achieve higher efficiency on the network.
   Most terminal to host applications on the ARPANET are character echo
   TELNETs.  This is both costly in time and network utilization, since
   one character pressed on the keyboard generates a datagram composed
   of TCP/IP headers plus the character sent to the host and the host
   echoes back a similar datagram.  In the DODIIS community, programmers
   are highly encouraged to implement full screen applications; line at
   a time is acceptable; and character remote echo mode is discouraged.

   This RFC in its final form will be implemented on SCINET.  During the
   interim period, the "DODIIS TELNET Network Virtual Data Entry
   Terminal (NVDET) Option Specification", DIA, April 1983, will be
   implemented.



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                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                Page No.
                                                                --------

   SECTION 1   COMMAND NAME AND OPTION CODE                          4

   SECTION 2   COMMAND MEANINGS                                      4
                 Facilities Subcommands                              4
                 Edit Subcommands                                    8
                 Transmit Subcommands                                8
                 Erase Subcommands                                  10
                 Format Subcommands                                 10
                 Miscellaneous Subcommands                          13

   SECTION 3   DEFAULT AND MINIMAL IMPLEMENTATION                   15

   SECTION 4   MOTIVATION FOR THE OPTION                            17

   SECTION 5   DESCRIPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION RULES                 17
                 The DODIIS DET Model                               17
                 Negotiating the DET Option                         18
                 DET Facilities Negotiation                         18
                 General DET Interaction                            19
                 Form Construction                                  20
                 Form response                                      21
                 Function Keys                                      22
                 Field Selection                                    22
                 Out-Of-Context Data                                23
                 Line Discipline                                    23
                 Standard TELNET Control Functions                  24
                 Other Implementation Notes                         24

   APPENDIX 1  DET OPCODES AND SUBCOMMAND SYNTAX                    25

   APPENDIX 2  DET ERROR CODES                                      26
















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   The convention in the documentation of the TELNET NVDET Protocol is
   to express numbers in decimal.  Data fields are described left to
   right, with the most significant octet on the left and the least
   significant octet on the right.

   The order of transmission of the data described in this document is
   resolved to the octet level.  Whenever a diagram shows a group of
   octets, the order of transmission of those octets is the normal order
   in which they are read in English.  For example, in the following
   diagram the octets are transmitted in the order they are numbered.

       0                   1                   2                   3
       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |       1       |       2       |       3       |       4       |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |       5       |       6       |       7       |       8       |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |       9       |      10       |      11       |      12       |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                        Transmission Order of Bytes

   Whenever an octet represents a numeric quantity, the left most bit in
   the diagram is the high order or most significant bit.  That is, the
   bit labeled 0 is the most significant bit.  For example, the
   following diagram represents the value 170 (decimal).

                              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
                             +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
                             |1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0|
                             +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

                           Significance of Bits

   Similarly, whenever a multi-octet field represents a numeric
   quantity, the left most bit of the whole field is the most
   significant bit.  When a multi-octet quantity is transmitted the most
   significant octet is transmitted first.












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   1. Command Name and Option Code

      DET         20

   2. Command Meanings

      IAC WILL DET

         The sender of this command REQUESTS permission to begin, or
         AGREES that it will begin, sending and receiving Data Entry
         Terminal (DET) subcommands to control session interactions.

      IAC WONT DET

         If the connection is already operating in DET mode, the sender
         of this command DEMANDS that the connection stop operating in
         DET mode and begin operating in TELNET NVT mode.  If the
         connection is not operating in DET mode, the sender REFUSES to
         begin operating in DET mode.  A connection is operating in
         TELNET NVT mode when both parties are interpreting data as
         described by the TELNET SPECIFICATION, MIL-STD-1782.

      IAC DO DET

         The sender of this command REQUESTS permission to begin, or
         AGREES that it will begin, sending and receiving Data Entry
         Terminal (DET) subcommands to control session interactions.

      IAC DONT DET

         If the connection is already operating in DET mode, the sender
         of this command DEMANDS that the connection stop operating in
         DET mode and begin operating in TELNET NVT mode.  If the
         connection is not operating in DET mode, the sender REFUSES  to
         begin  operating in DET mode.    A connection is operating in
         TELNET NVT mode when both parties are interpreting data as
         described by the TELNET SPECIFICATION, MIL-STD-1782.

      DODIIS implementations of the DET option use the subcommands
      described in the remainder of Section 2.  A description of the
      DODIIS DET model and DET subcommand usage is contained in Section
      5.

   FACILITIES SUBCOMMANDS.  Facilities subcommands are used to negotiate
   DET facilities (subcommands and attributes).  The facility
   subcommands indicate the DET facilities the sender supports.
   Facility negotiation may be viewed as the terminal indicating the
   facilities it provides and the application indicating the facilities



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   it desires.  The bits of the facility maps are numbered from the
   right starting at zero.  Thus, if bit 2 is set, the field will have a
   decimal value of 4.

      IAC SB DET EDIT-FACILITIES <facility map> IAC SE

         subcommand code:  1

         This subcommand indicates the edit facilities the sender
         supports.  The <facility map> parameter is one eight bit byte
         containing the following flags:

             Bits 5-7        Reserved
             Bit  4          Read Cursor
             Bits 0-3        Reserved

         where:

             If the Read-Cursor bit is set, the sender supports the
             READ-CURSOR and CURSOR-POSITION subcommands.

             Reserved bits represent edit facilities that are not
             defined for DODIIS implementations;  therefore, no
             descriptions are provided.  Reserved bits must be zeroed
             to indicate non support of the associated edit facilities.

      IAC SB DET ERASE-FACILITIES <facility map> IAC SE

         subcommand code:  2

         This subcommand indicates the erase facilities the sender
         supports.  The <facility map> parameter is one eight bit
         byte containing flags.  Since no erase facilities are
         defined for DODIIS implementations, no descriptions are
         provided.  The ERASE-FACILITIES subcommand is part of the
         minimal DET implementation and is included for that reason.
         DODISI implementors must declare non support of erase
         facilities by sending this subcommand with a zeroed facility
         map.

      IAC SB DET TRANSMIT-FACILITIES <facility map> IAC SE

         subcommand code:  3

         This subcommand indicates the transmit facilities the sender
         supports.  The <facility map> parameter is one eight bit byte
         containing the following flags:




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             Bits 6-7        Reserved
             Bit  5          Data Transmit
             Bits 0-4        Reserved

         where:

             If the Data-Transmit bit is set, the sender supports the
             DATA-TRANSMIT subcommand.

             Reserved bits represent transmit facilities that are not
             defined for DODIIS implementations; therefore, no
             descriptions are provided.  Reserved bits must be zeroed
             to indicate non support of the associated transmit
             facilities.

      IAC SB DET FORMAT-FACILITIES <facility map> IAC SE

         subcommand code:  4

         This subcommand indicates the format facilities the sender
         supports.  The <facility map> parameter is two eight bit bytes
         containing the following:

             Byte 0
                Bit  7       Function Key
                Bit  6       Modified
                Bit  5       Field Selection
                Bit  4       Repeat
                Bit  3       Blinking
                Bit  2       Reverse Video
                Bit  1       Right Justification
                Bit  0       Reserved

             Byte 1
                Bit  7       Reserved for color
                Bit  6       Reserved
                Bit  5       Protection
                Bit  4       Alphabetic-Only
                Bit  3       Numeric-Only
                Bits 0-2     Intensity

             where:

                If the Function-Key bit is set, the sender supports the
                FUNCTION-KEY and ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEY subcommands.

                If the Modified bit is set, the sender supports the
                FORMAT-DATA subcommand's Modified attribute and the



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                TRANSMIT-MODIFIED subcommand.

                If the Field-Selection bit is set, the sender supports
                the FORMAT-DATA subcommand's Selectable attribute and
                the SELECTED-FIELD subcommand.

                If the Repeat bit is set the sender supports the REPEAT
                subcommand.

                If the Blinking bit is set, the sender requests or
                provides the ability to emphasize a string of characters
                by causing them to blink when displayed.  (See the
                FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                If the Reverse-Video bit is set, the sender requests or
                provides the ability to emphasize a string of characters
                by "reversing their video image".  If characters are
                normally displayed as dark characters on a light
                background, they are reversed and displayed as light
                characters on a dark background, or
                vice versa.  (See the FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                If the Right-Justification bit is set, the sender
                requests or provides the ability to cause data entered
                in a field to be right justified within the field.  (See
                the FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                If the Protection bit is set, the sender requests or
                provides the ability to protect certain fields displayed
                on the DET screen from being altered by the user and
                supports the ERASE-UNPROTECTED, FIELD-SEPARATOR, and
                TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED subcommands.  (See the FORMAT-DATA
                subcommand.)

                If the Alphabetic-Only bit is set, the sender requests
                or provides the ability to constrain the user of the DET
                such that only alphabetic data may be entered into
                certain fields.  (See the FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                If the Numeric-Only bit is set, the sender requests or
                provides the ability to constrain the user of the DET
                such that only numeric data may be entered into certain
                fields.  (See the FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                The Intensity parameter is three bits wide and is
                interpreted as a positive binary integer indicating the
                number of visible levels of intensity that the sender
                requests or provides for displaying data.  (See the



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                FORMAT-DATA subcommand.)

                Reserved bits represent format facilities that are not
                defined for DODIIS implementations; therefore, no
                descriptions are provided.   Reserved bits must be
                zeroed to indicate non support of the associated format
                facilities.

   EDIT SUBCOMMANDS.  Edit subcommands are sent by the application to
   position the cursor on the DET screen.

      IAC SB DET MOVE-CURSOR <x><y> IAC SE

         subcommand code:  5

         This subcommand positions the DET cursor at screen location
         (x,y).  the <x> and <y> parameters are positive eight bit
         binary integers representing the character and line positions,
         respectively, of a DET screen location.  Values of x range
         from zero (0) through M-1, where M is the DET screen width in
         characters.  Values of y range from zero (0) through N-1,
         where N is the DET screen length in lines.

      IAC SB DET HOME-CURSOR IAC SE

         subcommand code: 12

         This subcommand positions the cursor at DET screen address
         (0,0).  It is equivalent to the MOVE-CURSOR subcommand, where
         x=0 and y=0.

   TRANSMIT SUBCOMMANDS.  Transmit subcommands are sent by the
   application to request data from the DET or by the terminal to
   identify data returned from the DET.

      IAC SB DET READ-CURSOR IAC SE

         subcommand code: 17

         This subcommand requests return of the DET cursor position.
         Use of this subcommand requires facility negotiation; see the
         EDITFACILITIES subcommand, Read-Cursor bit.

      IAC SB DET CURSOR-POSITION <x><y> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 18

         This subcommand returns cursor position in response to a



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         READCURSOR subcommand.  The <x> and <y> parameters are
         eight bit binary integers representing the cursor's position.
         The <x> and <y> parameters are positive eight bit binary
         integers representing the character and line positions,
         respectively, of a DET screen location.  Values of x range
         from zero (0) through M-1, where M is the DET screen width in
         characters.  Values of y range from zero (0) through N-1,
         where N is the DET screen length in lines.  Use of this
         subcommand requires facility negotiation; see the
         EDIT-FACILITIES subcommand, Read-Cursor bit.

      IAC SB DET TRANSMIT-SCREEN IAC SE

         subcommand code: 20

         This subcommand requests return of all characters on the DET
         screen beginning at cursor position (0,0).  M x N characters,
         where M is the DET screen width in characters and where N is
         the DET screen length in lines, are returned with a SPACE
         character returned for each character in the unwritten areas
         (the areas between defined fields).  FIELD-SEPARATOR and
         DATA-TRANSMIT subcommands are not required to delimit or
         identify fields.

      IAC SB DET TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED IAC SE

         subcommand code: 21

         This subcommand requests return of all characters in
         unprotected fields.  Use of this subcommand requires facility
         negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand, Protection
         bit.

      IAC SB DET TRANSMIT-MODIFIED IAC SE

         subcommand code: 27

         This subcommand requests return of all characters in modified
         fields.  Modified fields are fields that have the Modified
         attribute set (see FORMAT-DATA subcommand) as well as fields
         actually modified by the user.  Use of this subcommand
         requires facility negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES
         subcommand, Modified bit.

      IAC SB DET DATA-TRANSMIT <x><y> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 28




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         This subcommand identifies a field returned in response to
         a TRANSMIT-MODIFIED subcommand.  The <x> and <y> parameters
         are positive eight bit binary integers indicating the cursor
         position of the field that follows the DATA-TRANSMIT
         subcommand.  This subcommand may precede the first field of
         a transmission with subsequent fields separated by the
         FIELD-SEPARATOR subcommand or it may precede each field.
         Use of this subcommand requires facility negotiation; see
         the TRANSMIT-FACILITIES subcommand, Data-Transmit bit.

   ERASE SUBCOMMANDS.  Erase subcommands are used by the application to
   erase the DET screen or selected DET screen areas.  In performing
   erase operations, the erased characters are replaced with SPACE
   characters.

      IAC SB DET ERASE-SCREEN IAC SE

         subcommand code: 29

         This subcommand erases all characters from the DET screen.
         All fields regardless of their attributes are deleted.  The
         cursor position after the operation is at (0,0).  If the
         protection attribute has been negotiated, the erased screen
         contains protected SPACE characters.

      IAC SB DET ERASE-UNPROTECTED IAC SE

         subcommand code: 35

         This subcommand erases all characters in the unprotected fields
         of the DET screen.  This subcommand replaces field contents
         with SPACE characters; field attributes and sizes are not
         changed.  The cursor position after the operation is at the
         beginning of the first unprotected field or, if there is no
         unprotected field, at (0,0).  Use of this subcommand requires
         facility negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand,
         Protection bit.

   FORMAT SUBCOMMANDS.  The format subcommands are used by the
   application to define the fields of a form and by the terminal to
   delimit fields sent from the DET.

      IAC SB DET FORMAT-DATA <format map><count> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 36

         This subcommand defines the attributes and size of a DET field.
         The <format map> parameter defines the field attributes and the



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         <count> parameter defines the field size.  The field starts at
         the position of the cursor when the subcommand is acted upon.
         The next <count> data characters in the data stream fill the
         field.

         The <format map> parameter is two eight bit bytes and contains
         the following:

             Byte 0
                Bit  7             Blinking
                Bit  6             Reverse Video
                Bit  5             Right Justification
                Bits 3-4           Protection
                Bits 0-2           Intensity

             Byte 1
                Bits 5-7           Reserved
                Bits 2-4           Reserved for color
                Bit  1             Modified
                Bit  0             Selectable

             where:

                If the Blinking bit is set, the following field of
                 <count> characters should have the Blinking attribute
                applied to it by the receiver.

                If the Reverse Video bit is set, the following field of
                <count> characters should be displayed by the receiver
                with video reversed.

                If the Right Justification bit is set, characters
                entered into the field by the user should be right
                justified.

                The Protection attribute is two bits wide and may take
                on the following values:

                  0  No protection.  Any valid DET data character may
                     be entered in the field.

                  1  Protected.  No data may be entered in the field.

                  2  Alphabetic-only.  Only the alphabetic characters
                     (A-Z and a-z) or the space character may be
                     entered in the field.

                  3  Numeric-only.  Only the numeric characters (0-9),



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                     the plus sign (+), the minus sign (-), the decimal
                     point (.) or the space character may be entered in
                     the field.

                The Intensity attribute is three bits wide and indicates
                the brightness to be used when displaying the characters
                in or entered into the field <count> characters wide.
                The available number of visible intensity levels should
                have been negotiated using the FORMAT-FACILITY
                subcommand. A value of zero (0) indicates that
                brightness should be OFF; that is, characters in or
                entered into the field should not be displayed.  The
                values 1-7 indicate relative brightness; the exact
                algorithm for mapping these values to the available
                levels of intensity is left to the implementors.

                If the Modified bit is set, the field is considered to
                have been modified and will be returned, along with any
                user modified fields.

                If the Selectable bit is set, the field is a candidate
                for field selection using the DET field selection
                device.

      The <count> parameter is two bytes and should be interpreted as a
      positive 16-bit binary integer that defines the field size.  The
      high order bit is transmitted first.  Data, not in the scope of
      the count of a FORMAT-DATA subcommand, should be displayed with
      the default field attributes (no blinking, no reverse video, no
      justification, no protection, not modified, not selectable, and a
      visible intensity).  Minimum field size is one (1) character.
      Maximum field size is determined by a field's starting location
      and the end of the screen or the start of the next field.

      Use of field attributes requires facility negotiation; see the
      FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand.

   IAC SB DET REPEAT <count><char> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 37

         This subcommand permits compression of DET data by encoding
         strings of identical characters as the character and a repeat
         count.  The <count> parameter is a positive 8-bit binary
         integer.  The <char> parameter is a valid DET data character.
         Use of this subcommand requires facility negotiation; see
         the FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand, Repeat bit.




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      IAC SB DET FIELD-SEPARATOR IAC SE

         subcommand code: 39

         This subcommand separates fields returned by the DET in
         response to TRANSMIT-MODIFIED or TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED
         subcommands.  Use of this subcommand requires facility
         negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand,
         Protection bit.

MISCELLANEOUS SUBCOMMANDS

      IAC SB DET FUNCTION-KEY <code> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 40

         This subcommand transmits a user entered function key code.
         The <code> parameter is one byte that identifies the virtual
         function key entered.  Function key <code> values range from
         0 to 255.  This subcommand is used in conjunction with the
         ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEY subcommand.  Use of this subcommand
         requires facility negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES
         subcommand, Function-Key bit.

      IAC SB DET ERROR <cmd><error code> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 41

         This subcommand allows a DET option implementation to report
         errors it detects to the corresponding TELNET process.  The
         <cmd> parameter is one byte containing the subcommand code
         of the subcommand causing the error.  The <error code>
         parameter is one byte containing a DET error code.  (See
         Appendix 2 for DET error codes.)

         Errors should be reported when detected.  However, the
         implementation should attempt to carry out the intent of
         the subcommand or data in error.

      IAC SB DET START-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA IAC SE

         subcommand code: 42

         This subcommand precedes out-of-context data.  The data
         following this subcommand and prior to the
         END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA subcommand is NOT part of the current
         form.  The out-out-of-context data should be interpreted as
         NVT mode data (i.e., it may contain carriage return and line



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         feed characters) and should be displayed in a timely and
         non-destructive fashion.

      IAC SB DET END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA IAC SE

         subcommand code: 43

         This subcommand indicates the end of the out-of-context data.

      IAC SB DET ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEYS <key-map>IAC SE

         subcommand code: 44

         This subcommand enables (or disables) virtual function keys and
         indicates the application's data requirements on function key
         selection.  The <key-map> parameter is a variable length byte
         string.  Each byte contains four bit-pairs and each bit-pair
         represents a single function key.  The first byte represents
         function keys zero (0) through three (3); the second byte,
         function keys four (4) through seven (7); and so on.  Bit-pair
         values and there meanings are as follows:

             0  The virtual function key is disabled (i.e., locked).

             1  The virtual function key is enabled.  Only the FUNCTION-
                KEY subcommand is returned on function key selection.

             2  The  virtual  function  key  is  enabled.  All requested
                screen data and/or cursor position, as well as, the
                FUNCTION-KEY subcommand are returned on function key
                selection.

             3  Undefined.

         Function keys not explicitly represented in the bitmap are
         disabled (i.e., they are assumed to have a bit-pair value of
         zero (0)).

         Use of this subcommand requires facility negotiation; see the
         FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand; Function-Key bit.

      IAC SB DET SELECTED-FIELD <x><y> IAC SE

         subcommand code: 45

         This subcommand identifies a user selected field.  The <x> and
         <y> parameters are the cursor position of the character
         selected from within a selectable field (see the FORMAT-DATA



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         subcommand, Selectable attribute.)  Use of this subcommand
         requires negotiation; see the FORMAT-FACILITIES subcommand,
         Field-Selection bit.

3. Default and Minimal Implementation


      Default.

         WONT DET -- DONT DET

         If the DET option cannot be negotiated, the connection is
         not operated in DET mode.

      Minimal DET Implementation.

         The minimal DET implementation consists of all DET subcommands
         that may be used without prior negotiation.  These subcommands
         are as follows:

             EDIT-FACILITIES
             ERASE-FACILITIES
             TRANSMIT-FACILITIES
             FORMAT-FACILITIES
             MOVE-CURSOR
             HOME-CURSOR
             ERASE-SCREEN
             TRANSMIT-SCREEN
             FORMAT-DATA
             ERROR
             START-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA
             END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA

      DODIIS DET implementation requirements.

         The minimal DET implementation set of subcommands is not broad
         enough to support forms interactions between DODIIS terminals
         and DODIIS applications.  Therefore, DODIIS implementations of
         the DET option must support additional DET subcommands.

         DODIIS terminal (User Host) implementations must implement and
         support all of the DET subcommands contained in Section 2, as
         well as those DET attributes supported by the terminal hardware
         and any DET attributes easily emulated in software.  DODIIS
         application (Server Host) implementations must implement and
         support those DET subcommands and attributes required by its
         applications.




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         DODIIS implementation recommendations are contained in the
         table that follows.  DODIIS implementors are cautioned that
         failure to provide recommended support may limit
         interoperability.

         Recommended DET support levels for DODIIS implementations

                                      USER HOST           SERVER HOST
      DET SUBCOMMANDS                 SUPPORT LEVEL       SUPPORT LEVEL
      ---------------                 -------------       -------------
      EDIT-FACILITIES                 send & receive      send & receive
      ERASE-FACILITIES                send & receive      send & receive
      TRANSMIT-FACILITIES             send & receive      send & receive
      FORMAT-FACILITIES               send & receive      send & receive
      REPEAT                          send & receive      send & receive
      ERROR                           send & receive      send & receive
      MOVE-CURSOR                     receive only        send only
      HOME-CURSOR                     receive only        send only
      READ-CURSOR                     receive only        send only
      TRANSMIT-SCREEN                 receive only        send only
      TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED            receive only        send only
      TRANSMIT-MODIFIED               receive only        send only
      ERASE-SCREEN                    receive only        send only
      ERASE-UNPROTECTED               receive only        send only
      FORMAT-DATA                     receive only        send only
      START-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA       receive only        send only
      END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA         receive only        send only
      ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEYS            receive only        send only
      CURSOR-POSITION                 send only           receive only
      DATA-TRANSMIT                   send only           receive only
      FIELD-SEPARATOR                 send only           receive only
      FUNCTION-KEY                    send only           receive only
      SELECTED-FIELD                  send only           receive only

      DET ATTRIBUTES
      --------------
      Blinking                        (1)                 (2)
      Reverse video                   (1)                 (2)
      Right justification             (1)                 (2)
      Protection                      required            (2)
      Alphabetic-only protection      (1)                 (2)
      Numeric-only protection         (1)                 (2)
      Intensity level > 1             (1)                 (2)

      OTHER
      -----
      Page size (lines)               24-48
      Line size (characters)          80



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      Function keys (number)          64


         (1)   Implement if supported by terminal hardware.
         (2)   Implement if required by the application.

4.  Motivation for the option

   In 1981, the TELNET DET option (RFC 732) was selected as the protocol
   to support interactions between DODIIS forms applications and DODIIS
   forms terminals.  The intent was to foster a high degree of
   interoperability between DODIIS hosts with forms applications and
   terminals.  Since that time, the DET option has been and is being
   implemented by several independent organizations within the DODIIS
   community.

   Motivated by concern that the independently developed implementations
   of the DET option may not interoperate with one another, DODIIS
   implementors met to identify DODIIS implementation requirements and
   to resolve implementation issues that affect interoperability.

   This document attempts to present the agreements and recommendations
   of the DODIIS implementors.

5.  Description and Implementation Rules

   The DODIIS DET model.

   The conceptual model of the DODIIS DET is that of a half-duplex,
   forms oriented device with the following:

      a.  A rectangular screen for displaying protected and unprotected
         data (a form) and optional capability to support blinking,
         reverse video, and up to seven display intensity levels.

      b.  A keyboard and onboard mechanisms for editing unprotected
         fields of a form and returning the modified fields.

      c.  Function keys that may be enabled and disabled on a key-by-key
         basis by the application.

      d.  A field selection device, similar to a light pen, that permits
         user selection of characters within appropriately identified
         "selectable" fields.

   The DODIIS DET screen has default sizes of 80 characters and 24
   lines.  These defaults may be changed through negotiation using the
   Output Line Width and the Output Page Size options.  When the parties



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   cannot agree on screen size through negotiation, the default values
   will be used.  By agreement, DODIIS terminal (User Host)
   implementations of DET will support page sizes of 24 to 48 lines.

   The next writing position (x,y) on the DET screen is indicated by a
   special display character called the cursor, where x is the position
   of a character on a line and y is the line position on the DET
   screen.  Values of x range from 0 (the left most character position
   on the line) to M-1, where M is the line length.  Values of y range
   from 0 (the top most line on the screen) to N-1, where N is the page
   length.  The cursor may be moved to any position on the DET screen
   without disturbing the characters already displayed.

   Valid field data for DET forms are the displayable ASCII character
   codes in the range 32 through 126 decimal and character 7 "BELL".

   Negotiating the DET option

      The DET option is negotiated when either party REQUESTS use of the
      DET option and the other party AGREES to its use.  The DET option
      is requested by sending a DO DET and WILL DET and is accepted by
      sending a WILL DET and DO DET.  (In the spirit of TELNET
      negotiation, the DET option must be negotiated for both directions
      on the connection.)

      Several TELNET options conflict with the DET option.  Therefore,
      when the DET option is negotiated, the following TELNET options
      should be refused (or explicitly terminated):  Echo, Suppress Go-
      Ahead, and Binary.  (The Suppress Go-Ahead is the default state of
      DODIIS TELNET connections when they are first established.)

   DET facilities negotiation

      All implementations of the DET option are required to support the
      minimal DET implementation described in Section 3.  In addition,
      DODIIS implementations are required to support subcommands and
      attributes that are consistent with DODIIS implementation
      requirements.  Before any of these additional DET facilities may
      be used, an implementation must negotiate with its correspondent
      for permission to use them.

      The four facility subcommands (EDIT-FACILITIES, ERASE-FACILITIES,
      TRANSMIT-FACILITIES, and FORMAT-FACILITIES) are used to negotiate
      DET subcommands and attributes.  This negotiation consists of an
      exchange of facility subcommands and may be viewed as the terminal
      (User Host) indicating the facilities it provides and the
      application program (Server Host) indicating the facilities it
      desires.  The facilities that are jointly supported (and may be



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      used) are arrived at by forming the logical intersection of the
      facility map that was sent with the facility map that was
      received.  (For the intensity attribute, the lesser of the number
      of intensity levels sent and the number of intensity levels
      received will be used.)  An implementation must record the
      currently agreed upon set of subcommands and attributes.  Only
      subcommands and attributes reflected in that set may be used
      without further exchange of facility subcommands.

      Either party or both parties may initiate facilities negotiation
      without confusion as long as care is taken to avoid non-
      terminating negotiation loops.  In particular, if you initiate
      negotiation by sending a facility subcommand, you must remember
      that you did initiate the negotiation.  On receipt of a facility
      subcommand; if you initiated the negotiation, no response is
      required and the negotiation is complete; if you did not initiate
      the negotiation, you must respond by sending the appropriate
      facility subcommand to the requester.  (Note that there is no
      requirement to negotiate facilities one class at a time and that
      the awareness of who initiated the negotiation must be maintained
      for each of the facility subcommands.)

      A TELNET implementation responding to a facility subcommand is not
      required to compute the logical intersection of the maps before
      responding.  It should respond as quickly as possible with a
      facility map indicating all facilities of that class that it
      supports.  There is no confusion since both parties compute the
      set of supported subcommands and attributes in the same fashion.
      Note that while both parties must agree to the use of the optional
      subcommands and attributes, either party may disable use at any
      time by merely sending the appropriate facility subcommand.
      Further, there are no restrictions on when facilities may be sent.

                                   CAUTION:

                 All facilities maps contain reserved bits.
                 These reserved bits must be zeroed when
                 facility maps are sent to indicate non
                 support and/or ignorance of the associated
                 facility.  The reserved bits may be defined
                 in the future.

   General DET Interaction

      In the general interaction, the application implementation
      constructs a form, negotiates the desired options, indicates the
      required responses, and sends the TELNET GO-AHEAD.  The GO-AHEAD
      signals that the form construction is complete and that the DET



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      keyboard may be unlocked to permit a user response.

      The user normally responds by editing the unprotected areas of the
      form and signaling "form-complete", entering a function key,
      electing a field, or performing a combination of the preceding.
      In each case, the terminal implementation sends the DET
      subcommands indicating the user's response and returns the GO-
      AHEAD.  The GO-AHEAD signals the end of the user response.

      The form, as edited by the user, remains on the virtual screen so
      the application may continue the interaction by altering the form.

   Form construction

      The application implementation constructs a form on an erased
      screen by defining each of the fields in the form.  The DET fields
      are defined by their starting cursor position, size, attributes,
      and contents (data).

      A field's starting cursor position is the cursor position of the
      first character in the field.  The cursor may be positioned
      explicitly by the MOVE-CURSOR subcommand or it may be positioned
      implicitly by field data or other DET subcommands (e.g.,
      ERASESCREEN and ERASE-UNPROTECTED).

      Field size, attributes, and contents may be defined using the
      FORMAT-DATA subcommand followed by field data.  Alternatively, a
      field with default attributes may be defined using only the field
      data.  In this case, field size is the data string length.  The
      data string is terminated by the GO-AHEAD or any DET subcommand,
      except the REPEAT subcommand.

      There are no restrictions on attribute combinations that might be
      applied to a field even though some combinations may not be
      supported by terminal hardware.  The terminal implementation
      should display the field with a "reasonable" combination of
      attributes.  There is an error code that might be returned when an
      "unsupported combination of format attributes" is detected.  It is
      not clear what the application should do about the error.  In any
      event, this condition should not provoke session termination.

      Field contents (data) are restricted to printable ASCII characters
      and "BELL" (codes 32 through 126 and 7 decimal).  It is the
      responsibility of the application implementation to properly
      translate carriage returns, line feeds, tabs, etc.  to the
      appropriate DET subcommands.

      The maximum number of fields a screen might contain is the screen



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      size in characters (the product of characters per line and lines
      per screen).

      Fields may not overlap.  That is, a new field may not start or end
      within a previously defined field.  However, overwriting of a
      field to change its attributes or contents is permitted.

      There are no restrictions on the order in which a form is built
      (e.g., left-to-right and top-to-bottom); the terminal
      implementation must be prepared to handle any order.  Terminal
      implementations are encouraged to display data as it arrives to
      accommodate applications that persist in displaying status updates
      on the task(s) they are performing.

      If an application elects to modify a user edited form, it must
      properly position the cursor making no assumptions about where the
      user might have left the cursor.  Further it must exactly
      overwrite the existing fields.

      When form construction is complete, the application indicates its
      response requirements by sending the appropriate transmit
      subcommand.  It may send TRANSMIT-SCREEN, TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED, or
      TRANSMIT-MODIFIED to request data and/or it may send READ-CURSOR
      to request cursor position.  TRANSMIT-MODIFIED should be used
      whenever possible to minimize the volume of data transmitted
      between user and server hosts.

   Form response

      A form response is generated by the terminal implementation when
      the user signals "form-complete" or enters an enabled function
      key.  The data returned are determined by the application through
      the transmit subcommands.  If no transmit subcommand was sent the
      Modified and Protection attributes are used to determine an
      implied transmit subcommand.  If the Modified attribute has been
      negotiated, assume TRANSMIT-MODIFIED.  If the Protection attribute
      has been negotiated but the Modified has not, assume
      TRANSMITUNPROTECTED.  If neither has been negotiated, assume
      TRANSMITSCREEN.  (The intent is to achieve transmission efficiency
      by returning the smallest amount of data permitted by the in-force
      DET attributes.)

                                   CAUTION:

              With TRANSMIT-MODIFIED the terminal implementation
              must return all fields marked with the Modified
              attribute in addition to fields actually modified by
              the terminal user.



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      Returned fields are identified and delimited using the
      DATATRANSMIT and/or FIELD-SEPARATOR subcommands.  The DATA-
      TRANSMIT subcommand indicates the cursor address of the field that
      follows it and there are no restrictions on the order in which
      fields are returned.  The FIELD-SEPARATOR subcommand conveys
      left-to-right and top-to-bottom field ordering.  Data not preceded
      by one of these subcommands is assumed to be the first unprotected
      field in the form.  A FIELD-SEPARATOR followed by FIELD-SEPARATOR
      indicates a field was unchanged and not returned.

      Unless otherwise restricted by Numeric-only or Alphabetic-only
      attributes, data entered into unprotected fields is restricted to
      the printable ASCII characters and "BELL" (codes 32 through 126
      and 7 decimal); no other characters are permitted.

   Function keys

      By general agreement, DODIIS terminal implementations will support
      64 function keys (key values 0 through 63).  Information on
      mapping function keys to application functions is the
      responsibility of the application and should be provided to the
      terminal user in the form of user documentation.

      The application enables and disables the function keys and
      indicates its form response requirements by sending the
      ENABLEFUNCTION-KEY subcommand.  The terminal implementation
      validates function key selections based on information received in
      the ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEY bitmap.  When an enabled function key is
      entered, the terminal returns a form response (if indicated in the
      bitmap), a FUNCTION-KEY subcommand, and the GO-AHEAD.

      Virtual function keys are part of the DET's virtual keyboard and
      are "locked" when the application has the GO-AHEAD.  Since the
      terminal sends the GO-AHEAD when a function key is entered,
      entering a function key "re-locks" all function keys until the
      GO-AHEAD is returned.

   Field selection

      Any character within a field having the Selectable attribute is a
      candidate for selection.  When selection is made, the terminal
      returns a SELECTED-FIELD subcommand identifying the character
      position selected.  Multiple selections are permitted; however,
      the ordering of the selections need not be preserved.  Field
      selection does not cause the GO-AHEAD to be sent.  The GO-AHEAD
      must be sent as a result of another user action such as a function
      key entry or "form-complete" indication.  Field selection is
      disabled when the application has the GO-AHEAD.



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   Out-of-context data

      The out-of-context-data subcommands identify data that is clearly
      not in the context of the form interaction.  It is a convenient
      not in the mechanism for sending ARE-YOU-THERE responses or host
      advisory messages to the user without disturbing the DET's virtual
      screen or altering the context of the form interaction.

      The application may send out-of-context data at anytime.  The data
      must be preceded by the START-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA subcommand and
      followed immediately by the END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA subcommand.
      The out-of-context data should contain carriage returns and line
      feeds to facilitate formatting.  The sender should limit the
      amount of data sent, since most terminal implementations must
      buffer the data prior to displaying it.  The terminal
      implementation should display the data to the user in a timely
      fashion.  The data is for display only, no user response is
      required, and there is no mechanism for user response.

   Line Discipline

      The subject of DET and line discipline (controlling the connection
      using the GO-AHEAD) causes a bit of confusion.  The following
      rules apply to GO-AHEAD and the DET option:

         When DET is negotiated, the application assumes the GO-AHEAD.
         GO-AHEAD is never passed implicitly; it is always passed
         explicitly.

         When the application has the GO-AHEAD, the terminal
         implementation may send TELNET commands (INTERRUPT-PROCESS,
         ABORT-OUTPUT, BREAK, and ARE-YOU-THERE).  Nothing else is
         valid.

         When the terminal has the GO-AHEAD, the application may send
         out-of-context data or MOVE-CURSOR and FORMAT-DATA subcommands
         to update protected fields.  Nothing else is valid.  (The
         terminal implementation must display the out-of-context data
         and the field updates as soon as convenient.)

         The terminal implementation sends the GO-AHEAD, without further
         action on the part of the terminal user, when an enabled
         function key or a "form-complete" is entered.

      Since the terminal user must take explicit action to return the
      GO-AHEAD to the application, instances will occur when the user
      has the GO-AHEAD but the application needs it to display a new
      form.  (This is most likely to occur when the user enters an



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RFC 1043              Data Entry Terminal - DODIIS         February 1988


      INTERRUPT PROCESS.)  When it does occur, the application should
      send an out-of-context-context message requesting the user to
      enter a "form-complete".  If the user cooperates, the application
      can ignore any associated form response and regain control of the
      connection to display its form.

      The line discipline described here is more rigorous than that
      described for NVT in MIL-STD-1782.  These rules apply only when
      operating in DET mode.  At other times, the descriptions contained
      in MIL-STD-1782 apply.  This distinction is necessary to ensure
      interoperability with non-DET implementations of TELNET.

   Standard TELNET control functions

      The TELNET control functions, ERASE CHARACTER and ERASE LINE, are
      NOT required and should not be sent in DET mode.

   Other implementation notes

      a. The DODIIS DET conceptual model does not support character
         editors or basic scrolling applications.

      b. Implementors are cautioned that DET subcommand parameters
         (e.g., facilities maps) may take on the value of the IAC
         character and must be replicated if they are to be properly
         interpreted.

      c. Principle of Robustness:  "Be conservative in what you send; be
         liberal in what you accept from others."






















Yasuda & Thompson                                              [Page 24]

RFC 1043              Data Entry Terminal - DODIIS         February 1988


APPENDIX 1 - DET OPCODES AND SUBCOMMAND SYNTAX.

             OPCODE    SUBCOMMAND SYNTAX
             ------    -----------------

              1     EDIT-FACILITIES <facility map>
              2     ERASE-FACILITIES <facility map>
              3     TRANSMIT-FACILITIES <facility map>
              4     FORMAT-FACILITIES <facility map 1><facility map 2>
              5     MOVE-CURSOR <x><y>
             12     HOME-CURSOR
             17     READ-CURSOR
             18     CURSOR-POSITION <x><y>
             20     TRANSMIT-SCREEN
             21     TRANSMIT-UNPROTECTED
             27     TRANSMIT-MODIFIED
             28     DATA-TRANSMIT <x><y>
             29     ERASE-SCREEN
             35     ERASE-UNPROTECTED
             36     FORMAT-DATA <format map><count>
             37     REPEAT <count><character>
             39     FIELD-SEPARATOR
             40     FUNCTION-KEY <code>
             41     ERROR <cmd><error code>
             42     START-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA
             43     END-OUT-OF-CONTEXT-DATA
             44     ENABLE-FUNCTION-KEYS <key-map>
             45     SELECTED-FIELD <x><y>























Yasuda & Thompson                                              [Page 25]

RFC 1043              Data Entry Terminal - DODIIS         February 1988


APPENDIX 2 - DET ERROR CODES

              1        Facility not previously negotiated.

              2        Illegal subcommand code.

              3        Cursor Address Out of Bounds.

              4        Undefined FUNCTION-KEY value.

              5        Can't negotiate acceptable line width.

              6        Can't negotiate acceptable page length.

              7        Illegal parameter in subcommand.

              8        Syntax error in parsing subcommand.

              9        Too many parameters in subcommand.

             10        Too few parameters in subcommand.

             11        Undefined parameter value.

             12        Unsupported combination of Format Attributes.

             13        Invalid field - overlap detected.
























Yasuda & Thompson                                              [Page 26]

 

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