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1995-01-31
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Domain DataLink (c) Copyright 1995 Domain Entertainment
User Documentation
General Information (IMPORTANT!)
================================
Before attempting to use the Domain DataLink, you should read through
this documentation and familiarize yourself with the information in it. It
is also best if you are familiar with the following information:
o Your current DTE baud rate (also called 'Locked Baud Rate' or 'COM Rate')
(e.g. 19200, 38400, 57600, etc).
Note: This is not the same as your DCE, or CONNECT rate (e.g. 14400).
o The COM port your modem is connected to (usually COM 1 or COM 2).
o If your modem is on a non-standard COM port (ie: other than COM 1 or
COM 2), you should determine the IRQ and I/O address of the port
your modem is connected to.
o How to EXIT (not shell from) your communications program WITHOUT having
your modem hang up.
p
As a general rule of thumb, when attempting to perform operations through
the Domain DataLink, it is best if the users which are planning to connect
to each other have connected to the BBS at the same connect (DCE) bit rate
(e.g. 2400bps, 14400bps, 16800bps, 19200bps, 28800bps, etc). If the users are
connected at different bit rates, some operations will work, others may not.
For example, a user connected at 2400bps links with a user connected at
14,400bps. If the user connected at 2400bps sends a file to the 14,400bps user
through the DataLink, the transfer will be successful. If the 14,400bps user
sends a file to the 2400bps user, it may or may not work properly depending on
the protocol being used.
The DTE (baud) rates of the users' computers has no relevance (i.e. a user
at a 38400 DTE rate will communicate fine with another user at a 57600 DTE
rate).
Domain DataLink Command Summary
===============================
The following is an explanation of the commands available within Domain
DataLink.
V - View users on the BBS (Synchronet BBS's Only!). This option will display
a list of all users currently connected to the BBS.
p
S - Send a message to the BBS (Synchronet BBS's Only!). This option will allow
you to send a message to users on the BBS. You will automatically receive
any messages sent to you from the BBS while you are at the DataLink main
menu.
L - List users in the DataLink. When you select this option you will be shown
a list of other users who are within the Domain DataLink program and what
they are currently doing.
C - Connect to another user in the DataLink. This is the option which allows
you to DataLink to another user on the BBS.
H - Help using Domain DataLink. Selecting this will display a help file to
get you started using the DataLink. You may wish to 'capture' this
information to a text file so that you may review it more thoroughly.
Q - Quit Domain DataLink. This option will return you to the BBS.
p
How to DataLink
===============
The procedure for linking to another user is fairly simple. Both users
should be in the DataLink program before attempting to link. Once at the
DataLink main menu, select the 'C'onnect option. After selecting this, you
will be brought to another prompt:
Connect to which node (ENTER=List, Q=Quit):
Selecting ENTER here will display the same information as if you had hit
'L' at the DataLink main menu. Selecting 'Q' will return you to the DataLink
main menu.
Enter the node number of the node you wish to connect with (remember, that
node must already be within the DataLink program). After doing so, you should
receive a message looking something like this:
Waiting for node x to enter link...[ESC] to abort.
Once the other user enters the link, you will be shown another message
which will look something like this:
p
You have xx minutes left in the link.
The node you are connected to has xx minutes left in the link.
This is VERY IMPORTANT information, because as soon as your time runs out,
you will be immediately dumped from the DataLink back to the BBS.
Once you have DataLink'd to the other user, you will be able to type
messages to the other user, but you will not be able to see what you are
typing. This can be useful for sending short messages such as "OK, let's go
run DOOM ][!", or "I'm about to send you a file, get ready to download using
ZMODEM".
You can get out of the link and return back to the DataLink main menu by
pressing 'ESC' three times. There must be a short pause between each time you
press the 'ESC' key or it will not quit out.
That's about it for connecting. The rest of the documentation will give
you hints on how to transfer files through the link, as well as how to play
modem games through the link.
p
Transferring Files
==================
Domain DataLink allows you to transfer files DIRECTLY to another user on
the BBS. Just DataLink to another user, and then select the upload option in
your communications program (the person you are connected to should select the
download option in their communications program) and send the file (be sure
that both of you are using the same protocol!).
Use the following hints for more reliable file transfers:
If both users are connected to the BBS at the SAME baud rate most any
protocol can be used, but ZMODEM is recommended because of it's various
abilities.
If a user at a LOWER connect (DCE) rate is sending a file to a user at a
HIGHER connect rate, follow the above information about users connected at the
SAME rate.
If a user at a HIGHER connect rate is sending a file to a user at a LOWER
rate, you should select a protocol that waits for an acknowledgement between
each block, such as XMODEM or YMODEM.
YMODEM-G is NOT recommended for any transfers through the DataLink.
p
Step-by-Step Instructions for transferring files
------------------------------------------------
1. Call your favorite BBS which supports Domain DataLink using a terminal
program which supports file transfers such as Qmodem, Telix, or RIPTerm.
2. Run Domain DataLink and Link to another user.
3. When you are ready to transfer the file and have decided on a protocol to
use, hit PAGE UP to upload (or PAGE DOWN to download) in Qmodem, Telix, or
RIPTerm and send (or receive) the file.
4. That's it, the file should transfer directly and you'll be ready to send
another or play a game!
p
Running DOOM ][ (or DOOM)
=========================
First, determine the COM port that your modem is connected to (usually
1 or 2), or if it is connected to a NON-STANDARD port, determine the IRQ
and I/O address that it is using.
Next, determine the DTE rate that is being used by your communications
program (this is also known as the 'COM Rate' or 'Locked Rate'). If your
modem does not have hardware error correction, this number will be the same as
your connect rate (e.g. 2400). If your modem has hardware error correction
(some 2400 and almost all 9600 and faster modems do), this number is usually
19200, 38400, or 57600.
Armed with this information, you are ready to call your favorite BBS
that is using Domain DataLink. Once connected, go and run the Domain
DataLink door.
From the Domain DataLink menu, select a node to DataLink with. Once
you have DataLink'd with someone, you will need to EXIT (not shell) your
terminal program WITHOUT HANGING UP! Most terminal programs have the option
to exit without hanging up, if yours does not you will need to get one that
does.
p
Now go into your DOOM ][ (or DOOM) directory, and type the following
command:
SERSETUP -COMx -<PORT SPEED>
Where x is the number of the com port your modem is connected to, and
<PORT SPEED> is the DTE rate that your port is communicating with your modem
at (usually 19200, 38400, or 57600 for high speed modems).
Example: SERSETUP -COM2 -19200
If you are connected to a NON-STANDARD (meaning anything other than COM1 or
COM2 OR a non-standard COM1 or COM2) serial port, you will probably need to
specify the IRQ and I/O address on the SERSETUP command line using the
following command (you may also consult the DOOM ][ documentation):
SERSETUP -IRQ <IRQ> -PORT <I/O Address> -<PORT SPEED>
Voila! You are now playing DOOM ][ (or DOOM) through your favorite BBS
using the Domain DataLink.
IMPORTANT: This will work the BEST if both players are connected to the BBS at
the same connect rate (ie: both at 14,400 or at 28,800, etc.).
If the players are connected to the BBS at different rates
(e.g. one person at 9600 and one person at 2400), the game may be
sluggish and unreliable.
Also note that if you exit DOOM or SERSETUP carrier will be lost and you
will need to call the BBS back in order to get back online.
p
Step-by-Step Instructions for running DOOM
------------------------------------------
1. Call your favorite BBS which supports Domain DataLink using a terminal
program which will allow you to EXIT TO DOS while staying connected
(leaving DTR up) such as Qmodem, Telix, or RIPTerm.
2. Run Domain DataLink and Link to another user.
3. When you are both ready to DOOM it, EXIT TO DOS from your terminal program
but STAY CONNECTED (ALT-X from Qmodem, Telix, or RIPTerm).
4. Change to your DOOM or DOOM ][ directory (ie: CD \DOOM or CD \DOOM2).
5. Run the SERSETUP program with the correct options
(ie: SERSETUP -COM1 -38400).
6. That's it, DOOM will begin, and you'll be up and playing!
p
Running Heretic
===============
Follow the instructions for running DOOM except you will be changing into
the HERETIC directory when required.
p
Running Falcon 3
================
Falcon 3 has a few requirements that MUST be met before you should even
consider attempting to link through the DataLink. First, your modem MUST be
connected to either standard COM1 or standard COM2. Next, if using an error
correcting modem, your DTE rate cannot be higher than 57600. Finally, you must
insure that you have an adequate amount of free base memory for the program to
run (602k).
Once you are sure you've met all of the necessary requirements to run
Falcon 3, you are ready to call your favorite BBS that is using Domain
DataLink. Once connected, go and run the Domain DataLink door.
From the Domain DataLink menu, select a node to DataLink with. Once
you have DataLink'd with someone, you will need to EXIT (not shell) your
terminal program WITHOUT HANGING UP! Most terminal programs have the option
to exit without hanging up, if yours does not you will need to get one that
does.
Now go into your Falcon 3 directory, and run the program (FALCON3.EXE).
Select a squadron and theater as required and then select COMMS. You will be
brought to another menu where you will select COMMS again. You will now be
brought to the Falcon 3.0 Communications Setup screen.
p
From this screen you will need to specify some settings, be sure not to
miss any! Under MODE select either SEND or RECEIVE, under PORT select either
COM1 or COM2, LINE TYPE doesn't matter, TELEPHONE (number) doesn't matter,
under CONNECTION select MODEM, under GAME TYPE select Two Player Campaign or
Two Player Duel, under BAUD RATE select your appropriate port rate. Now select
ACCEPT and you will be prompted with 'Use Modem Defaults YES/NO', select NO
and you will be prompted with 'Command to Send to Modem'. Blank out the
command shown (backspace over it until it is blank) and press ENTER. The game
will now wait to connect to the other player! All done!
IMPORTANT: This will work the BEST if both players are connected to the BBS at
the same connect rate (ie: both at 14,400 or at 28,800, etc.).
If the players are connected to the BBS at different rates
(e.g. one person at 9600 and one person at 2400), the game may be
sluggish and unreliable.
Also note that if you exit DOOM or SERSETUP carrier will be lost and you
will need to call the BBS back in order to get back online.
p
Step-by-Step Instructions for running Falcon 3
----------------------------------------------
1. Call your favorite BBS which supports Domain DataLink using a terminal
program which will allow you to EXIT TO DOS while staying connected
(leaving DTR up) such as Qmodem, Telix, or RIPTerm.
2. Run Domain DataLink and Link to another user.
3. When you are both ready to play Falcon 3 and have decided who will be
SENDing and who will be RECEIVING, EXIT TO DOS from your terminal program
but STAY CONNECTED (ALT-X from Qmodem, Telix, or RIPTerm).
4. Change to your Falcon 3 directory (ie: CD \FALCON3).
5. Run the FALCON3.EXE program.
6. Select a Squadron.
7. Select COMMS.
8. Select COMMS again from the next screen.
p
9. Under MODE select either SEND or RECV.
10. Under PORT select your current port, either COM1 or COM2.
11. Under CONNECTION select MODEM.
12. Under GAME TYPE select Two Player Campaign or Two Player Deul.
13. Under BAUD RATE select your current COM rate.
14. Make sure there is no telephone number shown and select ACCEPT.
15. When prompted with 'Use Modem Defaults' select NO.
16. When prompted with 'Command to Send to Modem' clear the command shown and
press ENTER.
17. That's it, the connection will begin and you'll be playing Falcon 3!
p
Running Modem Capable Games
===========================
There are several games besides DOOM ][ that allow play through the modem
(eg: Falcon). Follow the initial steps shown in the 'Running DOOM ][' section
of this documentation, up to the point of running SERSETUP. At this point,
rather than running SERSETUP, you will need to run the game you wish to play.
Make sure that the game settings are correct for your modem and COM port, and
also make sure that the game you plan to run will work if the modems are
already connected.
p