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COM-AND Scripted HOST ----------------------------------------- COM-AND Scripted HOST Script based Host mode for the IBM PC ----------------------------------------- COM-AND is distributed freely and may be copied by anyone for any number of machines, for purposes of evaluation. The author offers COM-AND and its accessory programs as a package, as "shareware". If you USE the program a registration of $50.00 is required. The author may be reached: CABER Software R. (Scott) McGinnis P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart Chicago, IL 60654-0607 PLINK, GEnie id: TARTAN CIS is: 73147,2665 Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Table of Contents ----------------- I. Introduction .............................................. page 1 A. What is COM-AND? ........................................ page 1 B. The HOST ................................................ page 1 II. Installing the HOST ........................................ page 2 A. Load HOSETUP ............................................ page 2 B. Using HOSETUP ........................................... page 2 C. Exit HOSETUP and load HOST .............................. page 3 III. External programs .......................................... page 5 A. TREED ................................................... page 5 B. DOORWAY ................................................. page 5 IV. Program Requirements ....................................... page 6 V. Program and Author Information ............................ page 7 Appendices ---------- A. Modem configuration ........................................ page 8 1. DTR ..................................................... page 8 2. CD ...................................................... page 8 3. Modem ESCAPE ............................................ page 9 4. Hangup .................................................. page 9 5. Modem Init .............................................. page 9 B. HOSTART.CMD ................................................ page 10 Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 1 I. Introduction A. What is COM-AND? COM-AND for the IBM PC and compatibles is a communications program that may be used by itself, or with several integrated accessory programs (which themselves may be used independently of COM-AND). COM-AND provides standard comm program functions: a dialing dir- ectory, macros, disc logging, binary and ASCII file transfers, and a script language. B. The HOST This document details the HOST script provided with COM-AND. Two levels of hosting are provided. First, password protected logon and a limited set of functions are provided. The functions are: o C)hdir Change current directory o F)ilelist List files in current subdirectory o P)athlist Graphically list paths o U)pload Upload a file using WXMODEM, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM or KERMIT o D)ownload Download a file using WXMODEM, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM or KERMIT o E)xit Logoff Two additional functions are accessed with a second password (the commands 'x' and 'y' are NOT listed on the HOST menu): o X: DOS commands may be executed at this level. [NOTE: DOS commands supporting redirected I/O are only 'usable' here. DOS functions that prompt for keyboard input will 'hang' the HOST mode.] o Y: A drop-to-DOS is supported, using a doorway utility (such as Marshall Dudley's DOORWAY). COM-AND is terminated, and the doorway loaded, allowing full access to the machine. On termination of the doorway, COM-AND is reloaded, and the HOST script re-entered. The supplied HOST script works best if your modem is set to report the real state of Carrier Detect (CD). However, it has been used quite successfully with modems that report Carrier Detect always true (when disconnect occurs, Hayes compatible modems report the fact with 'NO CONNECT', and HOST is coded to look for it). Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 2 II. Installation Included with the HOST script is a utility script, HOSETUP. HOSETUP is used to configure the HOST if default values are not desired (and rarely are they!). A. Load HOSETUP Load COM-AND and invoke HOSETUP. For example, from the DOS prompt: "d>" COM-AND /fHOSETUP loads COM-AND and invokes the HOSETUP script. [This document assumes scripts are on the current subdirectory, or the subdir- ectory pointed by the COM-AND= environment variable.] If HOSETUP is used to change any default values, a file, HOSTDAT will be created for the HOST script. HOSTDAT is created on the subdirectory pointed by the COM-AND= environment variable. In the absence of that variable, HOSTDAT will be created on the current directory (in which case HOST MUST be executed from the same directory). B. Using HOSETUP From HOSETUP's main menu, select the items in numeric order. 1) Identify modem values a) Identify modem port; The default value is the default for COM-AND. You may wish to change this for the HOST. What- ever port you indicate here WILL be the HOST's comm port. b) Identify modem speed; The default value is the default for COM-AND. You may wish to change this for the HOST. This is the speed set by the HOST when waiting for a call. c) Identify modem control string; The default value for this is appropriate for most Hayes compatible modems. It may need modification for some modems; if so, refer to the documentation that came with the modem. Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 3 II. Installation (continued) B. Use HOSETUP (continued) 2) Identify passwords used by HOST; a) Identify the LOGON password. Callers may use ANY name, but MUST use this password. The default is "****". b) Identify the DOS password. Once connected, as described above, DOS functions are available. To access the DOS functions, the DOS password is required. The default is "xxxx". 3) Identify the doorway command; The doorway command carries both the file name of the doorway utility, and any parameters required. For example: c:\doorway\doorway com4 /S:* /G:ON /V:B^U /M:1000 /C:DOS /V:D The command, exactly as typed will be executed by DOS when a drop-to-DOS is executed. If this command is left null (its default), the drop-to-DOS function is inhibited. C. Exit HOSETUP and load HOST ESC or successive carriage returns will exit HOSETUP. Back in COM-AND, invoke HOST through the F2 key. In the script prompt window, for example, type: \HOST\HOST Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 4 II. Installation (continued) C. Exit HOSETUP and load HOST (continued) Two HOST script files are included in each release. The script HOST.SRC is commented source for the HOST. The file HOST.CMD is a stripped script; it contains no comments and is not very readable. HOST.CMD is the script that should be executed (stripped, it exe- cutes faster than HOST.SRC). HOST.SRC is provided for the intre- pid who wish to modify the HOST. [COM-AND will not recognize HOST.SRC as a script unless the ".SRC" is stated explicitly when the script is invoked.] Having loaded HOST, it is suggested you then call in from another PC and test the setup. Should the use of HOST become a habit (ugh!), a simple batch file may be used to invoke it from the DOS prompt: COM-AND /fHOST Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 5 III. External programs The HOST uses two external programs to fufill its function (besides COM-AND, of course). These are the p/d utility TREED and the share- ware utility DOORWAY (or its equivalent). A) TREED The p/d utility TREED lists the tree of subdirectories on the current drive in an easily readable graphical form. It uses the 8-bit characters in the PC ASCII character set to draw lines and connections. The HOST script's use of this utility is coded into the PATHLIST command. It is easily changed to another utility. B) DOORWAY The shareware utility DOORWAY, by Marshall Dudley, makes a program or the DOS prompt available from a remote site using a previously opened communications port. Its only limitation is that it DOES not support true graphics mode. The HOST script's use of this utility is established through the HOSETUP script. Whatever equivalent utility is available may be used for the drop-to-DOS function. Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 6 IV. Program requirements This program can only function on an IBM PC or DOS compatible machine. COM-AND does direct to screen buffer fetches and stores (unless BIOS screen updates are directed using the /C switch or the Alt-O options menu). COM-AND is TopView aware even without the /C switch or Alt-O option. COM-AND supports MDA, CGA, EGA and Hercules. COM-AND uses a Micro- soft Mouse if one is available... COM-AND disk I/O is done through the 'Handle' oriented I/O routines added to DOS 2.0. Therefore DOS 2.0 is a minimum requirement. COM-AND (Version 2.8) requires 256K for itself. You need 384K to take advantage of the DOS Gateway and to load accessories. This script requires a 300, 1200 or 2400 baud modem. [Others could be supported with modification to the script.] This script is most reliable if the modem is set to report true CD. Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 7 V. Author information COM-AND was written using Microsoft Macro-Assembler. The author likes assembler. Assembly language is an entirely appropriate vehicle for some of the program, and a not-inappropriate vehicle for the rest of it. Everything, in moderation... The author of this program is R. Scott McGinnis of Chicago, IL. His PLINK and GEnie ID is: TARTAN. Comment and suggestions (and criticism in moderation) are welcomed: CABER Software R. (Scott) McGinnis P.O. Box 3607 Mdse Mart Chicago, IL 60654-0607 I wish to say that my wife, Elizabeth, is the best reason I've ever known for continuing to live. Without her beside me (propping me up alot of the time), I wouldn't be. This script (Version 1.1) may be distributed freely (but it isn't a whole lot of use without COM-AND). Any improvements that are returned to the author will get attention... errors reported to the author will be corrected. COM-AND is shareware. If COM-AND is USED after a reasonable period of evaluation, a registration of $50.00 is required. Version 1.1: 910711 COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 8 A. Modem Configuration COM-AND default values do not require your modem to be configured in any particular manner. However, certain features cannot be used unless you configure your modem before you use COM-AND. 1. DTR (Data Terminal Ready) COM-AND, by default, hangs up using the command sequences defined through the Alt-S setup (hangup and modem escape). However, you may alternately select 'Drop DTR to hangup' through the Alt-O options. Dropping DTR is the only way to hangup certain modems, and is generally much faster than the command sequences. Most Hayes compatible modems allow configuration of the DTR sense through a switch-block. If you wish to use DTR to hangup, be sure that your modem follows the DTR signal. Refer to the documenta- tion provided with your modem to be sure that option switches are set appropriately. 2. CD (Carrier Detect) COM-AND (presently) uses the CD sense line for several purposes. The 'CONNECTED' test supported in the script language, test for carrier detect upon exit, and the file transfer protocols all require that the modem report carrier detect. True carrier detect is the only way to determine if you are 'on-line' or 'off-line'. Many Hayes compatible modems are sold with a carrier detect override (in other words the modem reports carrier detect all the time). When carrier detect is overridden, COM-AND cannot detect when carrier is lost during a file transfer or whether to ask if you want to hangup when you exit. Be sure that the modem is reporting true CD (instead of it just saying 'yes'). Most Hayes compatible modems allow configuration of the CD sense through a switch-block. Refer to the documenta- tion provided with your modem to be sure that option switches are set appropriately. Version 1.1: 910711 Appendices COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 9 A. Modem Configuration (continued) 3. Modem Escape COM-AND issues the "Modem escape" defined through the Alt-S setup, prior to modem initialization and hangup. Be sure this value is set correctly in Alt-S (or see below). 4. Hangup COM-AND hangs up using the command sequences defined through the Alt-S setup (hangup and modem escape) and the drop DTR setting as discussed above. be sure these values are set correctly (or see below). 5. Modem Init COM-AND transmits the modem initialization sequence defined by Alt-S setup to configure the modem. HOST re-issues this initial- ization when HOST is exited. If HOST is used, it is suggested that autoanswer be turned OFF in the Alt-S modem init string. Version 1.1: 910711 Appendices COM-AND Scripted HOST Page 10 B. HOSTART.CMD script The HOSTART.CMD script, included with HOST.CMD and HOST.SRC is the means of return from DOORWAY. HOST version 1.1 looks at its invoca- tion before it resets the modem. If HOST was FCALLed, then HOST issues the main menu and waits for command (up to the timeout). If HOST was NOT FCALLed, HOST resets the modem and waits for connect. In order to make as much of the HOST machine as possible available through the DOORWAY, when DOORWAY is invoked, COM-AND itself is terminated (without dropping carrier). DOORWAY is loaded, and when DOORWAY is exited (by the caller), COM-AND is reloaded with an invocation of HOSTART. HOSTART simply FCALLs HOST, and HOST picks up again at the main menu. In case you were wondering... Version 1.1: 910711 Appendices