Libris Britannia 4/science library(b).zip/science library(b)/HAMRADIO/FLEXPAC4.ZIP/QUICKDOC.TXT

Text File | 1993-12-21 | 13KB | 390 lines

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This is the "quick" documentation for FlexPac, which is distributed
in the shareware version.  If you register, you will receive the
full 55+ page printed User's Guide.  This file is not intended as a
replacement for the documentation - it should be enough to install
and try FlexPac and perhaps to whet your appetite!

The version being distributed vis shareware does not contain the
full log function; all other features are in that package.

You may use this version as-is, and you may distribute to friends or
place on BBS's, as long as the entire package is distributed.  See
files README.1ST and ORDER.TXT for ordering information.

DISCLAIMER:  The FlexPac program and its ancillary support programs
can be freely distributed and used for any noncommercial purpose.
However, there are no warranties or guaranties of any kind implied
or expressed.  The user is responsible in full for all implications
of the usage and installation of the program.  The author and other
persons associated with the development of the program shall not be
liable for any damages directly or indirectly resulting from the
installation and/or use of these programs.

If you like and use the program, and wish to support the
development of good, inexpensive software, please send a small
registration fee of $40 plus $3 S&H to

        Rich Thorne WB5M
        133 Light Falls Drive
        Wake Forest, NC 27587

In return, you will receive the latest copy of the program on
diskette and full documentation.  You also will receive notice of
major fixes and enhancements.  Be sure to include your CALL and
whether you want 360K/5.25" or 720K/3.25" diskettes.

For the full log version, include $75 + $3 S&H.

If you are not a registered user of FlexPac, you may still use it
but you will occasionally get a small reminder written on your
screen reminding you about Shareware.  When you register, you will
be given a code based on your CALL; using the same procedure that is
used to change colors and the screen window arrangement, you can
then customize your version of FlexPac so that the reminder does
not appear.

Quick Installation - Since you are reading this file, you have
already done part of the installation.  If you downloaded FlexPac
from a BBS, or got it from a friend, you probably got it in PKZIP
format, and have already UNZIPped the .ZIP file.  If you received a
distribution diskette from the author, follow the instructions at
the end of the README.1ST file included in the package.

Simply, once you create a FLEXPAC subdirectory and copy (or UNZIP)
all the files to it, all you have to do to start is to type the
command FINSTALL.

Some of FlexPac's functions:
  - optomized to work with the PacketCluster (tm)
  - separate windows on the screen for output from the TNC, and your
    keyed input - output appears simultaneously, even as you are
    keying   - supports two simultaneous sessions (streams) in
    different windows
  - user defined scripts that can automatically process
    logon, logoff, and other complex functions;  this includes a
    WAIT function so that you can synchronize your script to the system
    you are connected to
  - pull down menus to easily select options
  - the ability to schedule an event at a future time
  - easy user function key definition
  - capture of received data to a disk file
  - optionally calls you by an alarm when someone connects to you
  - you can edit the line you type, before actually sending it to
    the TNC
  - power typing with word wrap (use when sending messages)
  - full log function with quick dupe (not in shareware version)
  - displays country, beam heading, and distance on DX spots

System Requirements:
  - IBM PC, PC Convertible, PS/2 or compatible.
  - PC DOS 2.1 or later (PC DOS 3.0 or later required for DOS subset
    feature)
  - 256K RAM
  - standard serial port (COM1 or COM2)
  - color graphics adapter (CGA, EGA, VGA, PC Jr, or PC Convertible
    are OK; IBM MDA (original Monochrome Display Adapter NOT
    usable).
  - color display (preferred; monochrome display on color adapter
    can be used)
  - TAPR-2 like TNC

Note: to use FlexPac you MUST set your TNC for 8 bits, no parity.

Keys:
Enter      sends the current line you have typed
Esc        sends the character that causes the TNC to go from
           CONNECT mode to CMD mode - you should then see the CMD
           prompt on the screen.  The character sent is $03
           (hexadecimal 3). If you are in scroll back mode, Esc
           cancels this mode and returns you to normal control.
Home       moves the cursor to the beginning of the current input
           line
End        moves the cursor to the end of the current input line
Ctrl-PgUp  eliminates the current window from the screen.
Ctrl-PgDn  erases the current line you are typing in the key
           area, clears the line, and sets the cursor back to column
           one
Ctrl-Home  clears the active window
Ctrl-End   erases from the cursor to the end of the input line
Ins        has no effect - always in Insert mode
Del        deletes the character above the cursor
Backspace  deletes the character to the left of the cursor and
           moves the cursor to the left one character (rubout)
Alt-s      activates the scroll back buffer for the current window
Alt-d      activates the scroll back buffer for the DX window
Alt-m      brings up the pull down menu


FlexPac Commands:
@ALARM
@AL
   manually turns on or off the same alarm tone as used in the
   connect alarm or talk monitor; the alarm is also turned off by
   the next keystroke
        @ALARM | ON  |
        @AL    | OFF |

@AT
   specifies an event to be run in the future at the hour (hh) and
   minute (mm) you specify - the action can be any text,
   definition, or command; @AT OFF turns off any pending event
        @AT | hh:mm action |
            | OFF          |

@AUTOHELP
@AH
   specifies whether automatic help should be displayed when you enter
   the incorrect syntax for a command
        | @AUTOHELP |  | ON  |
        | @AH       |  | OFF |

@AUTOSPOT
@AH
   specifies whether an automatic DX spot should be generated as a result
   of adding a lot entry to the log database
        | @AUTOSPOT |  | ON  |
        | @AS       |  | OFF |

@BELLS
   allows or suppresses the Ctrl-G (bell sound) on incoming messages
        @BELLS | ON  |
               | OFF |

@BLIP
@BL
   send an automatic message every nnn seconds
        | @BLIP | | nnn message |
        | @BL   | | OFF         |

@CAPTURE
@CAP
   controls logging of all data written in a window to a disk file
        | @CAPTURE | | TO  | filename | |
        | @CAP     |       | PRINTER  |
                           | P        |
                   | OFF                |

@CLEARSCREEN
@CLS
   clears the current window
        | @CLEARSCREEN |
        | @CLS         |

@CLUSTERCALL
@CLCALL
   identifies the callsign of the PacketCluster node; if you DIGI
   through another station, use that station's callsign, not the
   cluster callsign
        | @CLUSTERCALL  |  call-sign
        | @CLCALL       |

@CMD
   tell the TNC to enter CMD mode
        @CMD

@COMSTAT
   displays COM port statistics
        @COMSTAT

@CONNECTALARM
@CA
   turns ON or OFF the Connect Alarm facility
        | @CONNECTALARM |  | ON  |
        | @CA           |  | OFF |

@CRWAIT
   used when BBS systems do not put carriage returns after each
   line; @CRWAIT specifies how long in seconds to wait for a
   carriage return; if not found, the pending line is written to
   the screen anyhow
        @CRWAIT seconds

@DEF
   allows you to define your own function key definitions
        @DEF |      | Fxx key-definition
             | CTRL |
             | C    |
             | ALT  |
             | A    |

@DELAY
   delay `tt' seconds during script execution
        @DELAY tt

@DO
   causes the run of the script labeled "name"; for more
   information on the proper format, see section "Testing
   and Controlling In The FLEXPAC.CTL File"
        @DO script-name | up to 9 tokens |

@DOS
@DOSNW
@DOSNOWAIT
   do a DOS command or enter DOS subset (DOS 3.0 or later
   required);  the NW or NOWAIT form does not wait for a keypress
   after the DOS command is executed; to enter DOS subset mode,
   just say @DOS
        | @DOS       |  <dos-command>
        | @DOSNW     |
        | @DOSNOWAIT |

@DX
   controls routing of DX spot information to the screen and/or
   printer, and also controls whether there is a DX window on the
   screen
        @DX | ON  |  | SCREEN or S  |
            | OFF |  | PRINTER or P |
                     | WINDOW or W  |
            | IDENTIFY | | ON  |
            | ID       | | ONF |

@ERROR
   sends an error message to the current window - the message is in
   the error color, and the alarm tone also sounds
        @ERROR message

@EXIT
   stops the program immediately; the SHUTDOWN script is NOT run
        @EXIT

@GMT
   adjusts the FlexPac clock for GMT time; set @GMT to the amount to be
   added or subtracted from the computer clock time to equal GMT time.
        @GMT + or - difference in hours

@HALT
   stops TNC communication; also see @RESUME
        @HALT

@HELP
   give you help on the various FlexPac commands
        @HELP which-command

@KEYS
   specifies the text that appears on the bottom line of the display
        @KEYS |      | bottom-line-text
              | CTRL |
              | C    |
              | ALT  |
              | A    |

@LATLONG
@LL
   specifies your QTH location latitude and longtide; the format must
   be as shown; decimals should not be used; xx and yy are whole
   degrees
        | @LATLONG | | xxNyyE |
        | @LL      | | xxSyyE |
                     | xxNyyW |
                     | xxSyyW |

@LOG
   starts up the logging window and log function
        @LOG <log-file>

@MENU
   display the pull down menu run
        @MENU

@MONITOR
@MON
   causes a short beep on each output line
        @MONITOR | ON  |
                 | OFF |

@MYCALL
@MYC
   identifies your callsign to the system
        | @MYCALL | callsign
        | @MYC    |

@MYNAME
@MYN
   identifies your name to the system; the name can be one or more
   words, but I recommend using only your first name.
        | @MYNAME | your-name
        | @MYN    |

@NEED
   allows you to specify prefixes you need; when a DX spot appears
   with the any prefix of the country you specify, the alarm sounds
        @NEED | PREFIX prefix |
              | RESET         |

@RESUME
   resumes TNC communication; also see @HALT
        @RESUME

@SAY
   send a line to the current window
        @SAY message

@SEND
   causes the characters in the specified file to be transmitted
        @SEND filename

@SHUTDOWN
@SHUTD
   causes running of the SHUTDOWN script, which should end with
   @EXIT
        | @SHUTDOWN |
        | @SHUTD    |

@TALKMONITOR
@TM
   turns ON or OFF the Talk Monitor facility
        | @TALKMONITOR |  | ON  |
        | @TM          |  | OFF |

@TRACE
   when you enter a FlexPac command, it is normally written to the
   output screen; when you are writing a script, you may want to
   suppress these; @TRACE ON turns them on, @TRACE OFF turns them off
        @TRACE | ON  |
               | OFF |

@WAIT
   suspends running of the script until the specified text appears
   in the TNC output, at which time running will resume; pressing
   Esc on the keyboard aborts the WAIT, and the script will then
   continue; the text can appear anywhere within the received line
   to be detected properly; see also @WAITNOTFOUND and @WAITTIME
        @WAIT text-to-wait-for

@WAITNOTFOUND
@WNF
   identifies the script that should be run when an @WAIT fails
   (i.e. the text is not found within the default time or the time
   specified by @WAITTIME
        | @WAITNOTFOUND | script-name
        | @WNF          |

@WAITTIME
@WT
   overrides the default time (in seconds) of how long to wait for
   the text in an @WAIT command to appear
        | @WAITTIME | seconds
        | @WT       |

@WORDWRAP
@WW
   enables or disables power typing and word wrap
        | @WORDWRAP |  | ON  |
        | @WW       |  | OFF |


Scripts:

You can create scripts of commands.  Each script begins with :label,
and ends with a :.  Execute the script using the @DO command.  All
scripts must be in the FLEXPAC.CTL file - see this file for
examples.