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SCRIPT FILES
Telix has an incredibly powerful built-in 'script' or command
language, called SALT (Script Application Language for Telix).
In the simplest terms, a script file is a sequence of commands
for Telix to follow, written using a certain format. Script
files can do many useful things like automatically logging on
to a host, setting up special parameters, performing unna-
tended file transfers, and many other tasks. A script file can
be linked to a dialing directory entry so that it is run auto-
matically when that entry is connected to, and supplies the
needed logon information.
Before a SALT script can be used, it must be 'compiled'. The
CS.EXE program included with Telix takes the ASCII 'source'
scripts that the user writes, and compiles or converts them to
a form that is easier for Telix to process, usually takes less
space, and loads more quickly. SALT scripts may actually use
any name. However in standard practice the extension 'SLT' is
used for SALT source scripts, and the same name with the ex-
tension 'SLC' is used for the compiled version.
Like any real programming language, SALT has a large number of
features. Because of this, programming in SALT is not easy for
the beginner who has no knowledge of any programming concepts.
However SALT scripts can be used to different degrees. The ad-
vanced user can program complex applications, while even a
novice can modify the sample scripts include with Telix, and
run scripts supplied by others.
For advanced users, a separate 100+ page manual describes SALT
and its syntax. The rest of this section describes how to run
and compile SALT scripts.
If you have an already compiled SALT script (ending with the
extension 'SLC' (for example, the HOST.SLC Host Mode script
file), it is very easy to execute. While in terminal mode,
press Alt-G. Telix will ask for the name of the script file to
run. If you supply no extension, 'SLC' is assumed. If a spe-
cial directory where script files are to be found has been de-
fined, Telix will look there for script files, unless a path
is given. To define this script directory use the Telix Con-
figuration Menu. Telix will then load the script file and fol-
low its instructions. To abort a script while it is executing,
press the Esc key. Sometimes you may have to press Esc twice,
the first time to abort the current function, and the second
time to abort the script itself.
You may have used your text editor to modify one of the sample
scripts included with Telix (most simply require inserting
your name in a clearly marked location near the top). You now
need to compile the script file. To do this, the CS.EXE pro-
gram is used. While at the DOS prompt, type 'CS', followed by
a space and the name of the script file you want to compile
(the extension 'SLT' is assumed if none is given). CS will
scan through the source file and produce the compiled version,
using the same base name but the extension 'SLC'. If a syntax
error is discovered while compiling the script file, CS will
report it and abort. In that case the error should be fixed
and CS run again. From within Telix, you may quickly run CS
either by using the DOS Command function (Alt-V), or from the
DOS Shell (Alt-J).
Remember, every time you make a change to the source file, you
must re-compile it, otherwise Telix will still run the old
compiled version. This sounds tedious, but in practice once a
script is developed it doesn't change very often.
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