Power Utilities/Power Utilities.iso/utility/pro140/ecmanual.txt

Text File | 1991-06-23 | 27.3 KB | 813 lines

INTRODUCTION
============

Welcome to Easy Comm (version 1.2).
Easy Comm is a general purpose communication program that allows you
to connect your PC to any remote system via a telephone line.
Your computer must be equipped with a modem if you want to use Easy Comm
for communication purposes.
Since Easy Comm is equipped with a text editor, you can use it for
editing text files for which a modem is not necessary.

EASY COMM FEATURES
==================

Easy Comm is an easy-to-use communication program with the following
features :

1) User interface :
 - mouse support
 - pull-down menus
 - on-line context sensitive help facility with a help index
 - multiple, overlapping, resizable, movable windows
 - dialog and message boxes
 - customizable options (colors and mouse parameters)

2) Built-in, fast and flexible text editor :
 - multiple windows and multiple files can be open at the same time
 - search and replace functions
 - text-block selection, copying, moving and deleting
 - since both file printing and file transfer take place in the
   background, you can simultaneously print one file, upload or
   download another file and continue editing still another file

3) Communication functions :
 - dial directory database
 - selectable communication parameters (e.g. baud rate)
 - auto-login procedure
 - filter option for filtering out characters in both directions
 - several file transfer protocols (4 types of XModem, YModem and YModemG)
 - transfer status window
 - file transfer occurs in the background, so you can edit a text file
   or do something else during the file transfer
 - customizable modem control strings
 - chat mode (separate windows for sent and received characters)
 - auto-redial function

4) Additional functions :
 - background file printing
 - ASCII table
 - calendar
 - calculator
 - memory information window
 - change directory function
 - DOS shell function
 - save and restore desktop functions

INSTALLATION
============

If you have the EASY COMM diskette:
- Insert a diskette into drive a: and type in A:INSTALL and press <Enter>.
- Easy Comm will be automatically installed in C:\ECOMM directory.

If you downloaded EASY COMM:
- Create a ECOMM directory (you can use a different name).
- Unzip ECOMM.ZIP in this directory.

To run Easy Comm you have to enter ECOMM directory (cd c:\ECOMM <Enter>)
and type in ECOMM followed by <Enter>.

If you have expanded memory and EMS driver is installed
Easy Comm will automatically use EMS for overlays.

MENUS AND DESKTOP
=================

The ≡ menu is accessed by pressing Alt-Space.  All the other menus are
accessed by pressing Alt-L, where L is the first letter of the menu.
For example, the "File" menu is pulled down by Alt-F.

The screen of Easy Comm is devided into 4 areas :
- Menu Bar (top line)
- Status Line (bottom line)
- Message Line (a line above the Status Line)
- Desktop (area between Menu Bar and Message Line)

After you start Easy Comm a Dial Directory dialog box is opened on
the desktop automatically, so that you can quickly select
a desired directory entry and make a call by pressing Alt-C or clicking
on the [Call] button.

MENU BAR
========

Menu Bar is the top line on the screen which displays menu choices.
Each menu choice contains a pull-down menu which can be displayed
by clicking on the menu item (e.g. File), or by pressing a short cut
key Alt-L where L is a highlighted letter of the menu item
(e.g. Alt-F for File menu). You can also get to the menu bar by pressing
F10 function key and then you can use arrow keys to move the cursor to
the desired menu choice and press <Enter> to open the pull-down menu.

PULL-DOWN MENUS
===============

Each Pull-down Menu contains a list of functions that can be selected
by moving the cursor with the arrow keys and pressing <Enter>, or
by clicking the mouse on the menu item, or by pressing a highlighted
letter (typically the first letter). If no letter is highlighted, it
means that the function is not active in the current context, for example
you cannot open a modem window before you activate a modem (Alt-C Call).

Some menu items have a short cut defined next to the function name
e.g. 'Close Alt-F3'. Such functions can be activated by pressing
a short cut key from any point in the program (if a function is active)
without having to open a pull-down menu.


STATUS LINE
===========

The Status Line (the bottom line of the screen) contains a list of most
often used functions which can be activated by pressing a short cut key
shown left to the function name or by clicking the mouse on the function
name.

If a function is active in the current context, its short cut is
highlighted.


MESSAGE LINE
============

Message Line is used to display information about communication related
activities e.g. 'Modem Connected.'.


DESKTOP
=======

Desktop is your work area between the Menu Bar and the Message Line.
You can open various windows, dialog boxes and entry forms on the Desktop.


HELP SYSTEM
===========

Help Window can be displayed from any point of the program by pressing
F1 function key, by selecting Help from the pull-down menu, or by
pressing right mouse button.

Help system is context sensitive so information displayed in the help
window depends on the current context e.g. if you are editing a text file
in the edit window pressing F1 will result in displaying help information
related to the text editor.

By double-clicking with a mouse on highlighted words in a help window
you can quickly access information regarding those words
(cross reference).

Help|Help Index command (Ctrl-F1) displays a list of topics which are
explained by the Help system.
You can get to the topic explanation by double-clicking
on the topic.


GADGETS
=======

1)Calculator :

The calculator is equipped with most common math functions.
To operate the calculator you can either use the keyboard or press the
buttons on the calculator with the mouse.

Calculator Functions :

You can select a function by either clicking on a function button with
the mouse or by pressing a highlighted letter-key.

  Calculator functions :
  ======================

 [BIN] BINary mode
 [HEX] HEXadecimal mode
 [DEC] DECimal mode
 [ C ] Cancel last operation
 [CA ] Clear All
 [ + ] addition
 [ - ] subtraction
 [ * ] multiplication
 [ / ] division
 [ = ] display result
 [NEG] NEGation
 [°F ] switch to Fahrenheit mode
 [°C ] switch to Celsius mode
 [Mwr] WRite to Memory
 [Mrd] ReaD from Memory
 [ ( ] open bracket
 [ ) ] close bracket
 [TAN] TANgens
 [SIN] SINe
 [COS] COSine
 [ % ] percent
 [LOG] decimal LOGarithm
 [LNx] Natural Logarithm
 [e^x] e to the power of x
 [ π ] pi
 [1/x] 1 divided by
 [ x²] square
 [√x ] square root
 [ !x] factorial
 [x^y] x to the power of y

2) Calendar :

The calendar displays the current month, highlighting today's date. The
next and previous months can be viewed using the '+' or '-' keys
respectivly.  The mouse can also be used to change the month by clicking on
the  or  icons.

3) ASCII Table :

The ASCII table displays the entire IBM PC character set.  The current
character is marked by a blinking block cursor, and the hexadecimal and
decimal ASCII values of the character are displayed below the chart. A
new character is selected by pressing it on the keyboard, by clicking
the mouse on it in the chart, or by moving the cursor using the cursor
keys.

Ascii Table can be useful when you want to filter out certain characters
sent or received by the modem. In order to do it you have to specify
Ascii codes of characters in the filter set field of the
Dial Directory Entry Form.

4) ≡|About Command :

When you choose the About command from the ≡ (System) menu, a
dialog box appears, showing copyright and program version information.

To close the box, press Esc, Space, or Enter, or click the OK
button.

5) Time Window :

When you choose ≡|Time command a time window is opened on the desktop.
It displays the current time, time on-line (activated automatically
when connection is established) and the alarm time.

First line displays the current system time.

The second line displays the time on-line. The timer is started
automatically after a connection is established.

The third line displays the alarm clock.
The alarm time can be set and reset by clicking on the Set / Reset
buttons in the time window. When current time reaches alarm time
a message box is displayed and an audio signal is generated.

Time window can be opened by pressing a short cut Alt-T (or from
≡ menu) and closed like all windows by pressing Alt-F3.

6) Memory Information window :

≡│Memory Info displays a Memory Information Window
containing the following :
  - Total DOS memory : the amount of RAM memory in KB
    (up to 640KB)
  - Program size : the size (in bytes) of the part of the
    program which stays in memory all the time (not overlayed)
  - Editor buffer : the amount of memory in bytes allocated to the
    text editor
  - Overlays buffer : the amount of memory in bytes allocated to
    overlays (parts of the program that are loaded to memory from
    a hard disk when needed)
  - Remaining free memory : the amount of free memory in bytes
    used for dynamic allocation (heap) e.g. for windows;


THE EASY COMM TEXT EDITOR
=========================

Edit Windows are where you type in and edit your text files.

You can open as many Edit windows as you want (as long
as there is enough memory).

- Using Edit Windows :

A window is a bordered screen area that you can move, resize, zoom,
rearrange, close, and open.

1) Window|Size/Move command (Ctrl-F5) :

Choose this command to change the size or position of the active
window.

- Size :

If you press Shift while you use the arrow keys, you can change
the size of the active window. Once you've adjusted its size or
position, press Enter.

If a window has a Resize corner, you can drag that corner to
resize the window.

- Move :

When you choose Window|Size/Move, the active window moves in
response to the arrow keys. Once you've moved the window to where
you want it, press Enter.

You can also move a window by dragging its title bar with the
mouse.

2) Window|Zoom command (F5) :

Choose Zoom to resize the active window to the maximum size. If
the window is already zoomed, you can choose this command to
restore it to its previous size.

You can also double-click anywhere on the window's title bar
(except where an icon appears) to zoom or unzoom the window.

3) Window|Tile command :

Choose Window|Tile to tile all windows on the desktop.

4) Window|Cascade command :

Choose Window|Cascade to stack all windows on the desktop.

5) Window|Next command (F6) :

Choose Next to cycle forwards through the windows on the desktop.

6) Window|Previous command (Shift-F6) :

Choose Window|Previous to cycle backwards through the windows on the desktop.

7) Window|Close command (Alt-F3) :

Choose  Window|Close to close the active window.

You can also click the Close box in the upper left corner to
close a window.

8) File|Open (F3) and File|New commands :

To open an Edit window, choose File|Open. You can open the same file
in more than one window. You can also open a new window by choosing
File|New.


You can have any number of windows open on the desktop (as long as there
is enough memory), but only one window can be active at any time. The
active window is the one that you're currently working in.
It always has a double-lined border around it, and it always has these
elements:
 - Close box
 - Zoom box
 - Title bar
 - Horizontal and vertical scroll bars

Generally, any command you choose or text you type applies only to the
active window. (But if you have the same file open in several windows,
the action applies to the file in each of those windows.)

If your windows overlap, the active window is always the topmost one
(the one on top of all the others).

To make a window active (topmost), click on the window area (if part
of it is visible), use Window|Next command or press F6 until you get to
the desired window.

Edit windows also show the cursor's position (the current line and column
number) as YY:XX in the bottom of the Edit window frame, where YY is the
line number and XX is the column number.

There are two ways to get into an open Edit window (make it active):

 1)  Click on it.
 2)  Press (or click) F6 to cycle through the
     open windows (or choose Window|Next).

To close the active Edit window, choose Window|Close, click on a close box
or press Alt-F3.
Once in the Edit window, you enter text just as if you were using
a typewriter.

 - When you want to end a line, press Enter.
 - To exit the editor, press F10 (it will get you to the menu bar).

The maximum line width in an Edit window is 249 characters; you'll get
a beep if you try to type past that.

 Clipboard :
 -----------
Clipboard is a special window to/from which you can copy/paste/cut blocks
of text to/from other edit windows.

See also Block Commands.

 Cursor Movement Commands :
 --------------------------

----------------------------------------
 Character left  | Ctrl-S or Left arrow
 Character right | Ctrl-D or Right arrow
 Word left       | Ctrl-A or Ctrl-Left arrow
 Word right      | Ctrl-F or Ctrl-Right arrow
 Line up         | Ctrl-E or Up arrow
 Line down       | Ctrl-X or Down arrow
 Page up         | Ctrl-R or PgUp
 Page down       | Ctrl-C or PgDn
 Begining of text| Ctrl-PgUp
 End of text     | Ctrl-PgDn

 Insert & Delete Commands :
 --------------------------

---------------------------------------------
 Insert mode on/off   | Ctrl-V or Ins
 Delete line          | Ctrl-Y
 Delete to end of line| Ctrl-Q Y
 Delete character left| Ctrl-H or Backspace
 Delete character     | Ctrl-G or Del
 Delete word right    | Ctrl-T

 Block Commands :
 ----------------

--------------------------------------------
 Mark block begin    | Ctrl-K B or Shift-arrow
 Delete block        | Ctrl-K Y or Ctrl-Del
 Hide/display block  | Ctrl-K H
 Paste from Clipboard| Ctrl-K C or Shift-Ins
 Cut to Clipboard    | Ctrl-K C or Shift-Del
 Copy to Clipboard   | Ctrl-K K or Ctrl-Ins

 Miscellaneous Commands :
 ------------------------
---------------------------------------------
 Menu bar             | F10
 Save and edit        | F2
 New file             | F3
 Close active window  | Alt-F3
                      |
 Tab                  | Ctrl-I or Tab
                      |
 Find                 | Ctrl-Q F
 Find & replace       | Ctrl-Q A
 Repeat last find     | Ctrl-L
 Abort operation      | Esc


TRANSFER FILE PROTOCOLS
=======================

File|Protocol command brings up the Protocol Select dialog box, in which
you can select one of several file transfer protocols and the direction
of transfer (send/receive).

The Protocol Select dialog box contains two sets of radio buttons :
Protocol and Direction.
In each set you can select only one item.

You can select one of the following file transfer protocols :
- XModem with Check Sum
- XModem with CRC-16
- XModem-1k with Check Sum
- XModem-1k with CRC-16
- YModem
- YModemG

You can choose one of two transfer directions :
- Receive
- Send


File|Transfer File command activates a file transfer protocol selected
by the File|Protocol command.

First a File Name dialog box is displayed. You have to enter the name of
the file that you want to receive or send. You can enter full name with
a path. If you do not specify a path, a current directory is assumed.
If you are using YModem or YModemG file transfer protocol, you can specify
more than one file at once (using '*' characters).

The File Name dialog box also contains two standard buttons [OK] and
[CANCEL].

After you press [OK] button the file transfer begins and a File Transfer
Status window is displayed.

- File Transfer Status Window :

File Transfer Status window displays information about a progress of a file
transfer. The window is opened automatically after a file transfer protocol
is activated.

It contains :
 - File Name
 - Transfer Protocol name
 - Error Detection scheme (2-byte CRC, or 1-byte Check Sum)
 - Block Size in bytes
 - File Size in bytes
 - Number of Bytes transfered

If File Size cannot be determined it says "unknown".

If File Size can be determined a graphical indicator is displayed
showing the percentage already transferred.

Status window also contains [Cancel] button, by clicking on which
you can cancel a transfer of the file. You can also press <Esc> to do it.


MODEM MENU FUNCTIONS
====================

Modem|Modem Settings command displays the Modem Control Strings dialog box.
For a typical modem you do not have to modify default strings.

If your modem does not want to hang up you can try to increase the modem
Guard Time. On the other hand you might try to decrease the Guard Time in
order to speed up the calling procedure.

If you have any other problems with with the modem consult your modem
manual and modify control strings accordingly.

Modem control strings are stored automatically to the file 'MODEM.DAT' when
you exit from Easy Comm. They are loaded automatically when you start Easy
Comm from the file 'MODEM.DAT' if it exists, otherwise are set to default
values.

Modem|Display Dial Directory command opens (or brings on top of the desktop)
the Dial Directory dialog box from which you can select a record (containing
a phone number and various parameters) and initiate a phone call by
pressing Alt-C or clicking on the [Call] button.

Modem|Change Dial Directory command displays the 'Open Dial Directory'
dialog box. In this dialog box you select the name of the file(dial
directory) you want to load to memory. If you enter the name of the file
which does not exist, a new file will be created.

Modem|Open Modem Window command opens (or brings on top of the desktop)
a modem window. It is active only after you initialize a phone call.
The modem window displays characters that are send and received by your
modem.

Modem|Close Modem Window closes the modem window if it was open.

Modem|Transfer Status command opens (or brings on top of the desktop)
a File Transfer Status window. It is active only after you initialize
a file transfer.

Modem|Hide Transfer Status closes the File Transfer Status window
if it was open.

Modem|Start Chat Mode command (active only after a connection has been
established) opens two windows.
All data that is sent out by your modem is displayed in the 'My Window'.
All data that is received by your modem is displayed in the 'Responder
Window'.

Modem|End Chat Mode command closes chat windows if they are open.

MODEM WINDOW :
==============

A modem window is opened automatically after a phone
call is initialized. After your modem is connected to
a remote system all input and output is sent to a
modem window.

A modem window can be resized, moved, closed and selected
like other windows. When you close a modem window you can
open it again using {Modem│Open Modem Window:MOpenWindow}
command.

A modem window can be switched between normal mode and
full-screen mode by pressing F4 function key.


DIAL DIRECTORY DATABASE
=======================

1) Dial Directory dialog box :

Dial Directory dialog box contains a list of record descriptions
(or names) from your dial directory database. It also contains
several buttons : [Edit], [New], [Delete], [Save], and [Call].
Dial Directory dialog box is displayed automatically after you start
Easy Comm.

You can make a phone call immediately by positioning the cursor
on a desired record and clicking on the [Call] button or pressing
Alt-C. This will initialize a phone call with parameters defined in
a dial directory database.

You can add a new record to your database by clicking on the
[New] button or by selecting it using <TAB> key and pressing
<Enter>.

You can delete a record from your database by using [Delete]
button.

You can display and/or edit a database record by using [Edit]
button.

When you use the [New] or [Edit] button the {entry form:EntryForm}
is displayed on the screen. You can display several entry
forms at the same time.

If you modified any record you can save the changes to a
disk file by clicking on the [Save] button.

Easy Comm uses 'ECOMM.DIR' as a default file for dial directory.
You can create new dial directories by using a command
Modem|Change Dial Directory.

2) Dial Directory Entry Form :

Dial Directory Entry Form allows you to add or modify records in your
dial directory database.

It contains following fields:

 - Description - contains a description or a name of a record
 - Name - user id or name used during auto-login procedure
 - Password - user's password used during auto-login procedure
   (password is hidden - stars are displayed)
 - Phone - phone number
 - Retries - number of automatic retries in case of a timeout (40 sec.)
   during a phone call
 - Echo On/Off check box - if checked a local echo is turned on
 - Auto Login On/Off check box - if checked the auto-login procedure
   is activated after a connection is established
 - Login File - name of the file to be used by the auto-login procedure
   if Auto Login box is checked
 - Add LF On/Off check box - if checked LF characters are added automatically
   after every sent or received CR character.
 - Capture On/Off check box - if checked the session will be captured to the
   file
 - Capture File - name of the file to be used to record a session if
   Capture box is checked
 - Filter Set - contains a filter expression which defines which characters
   will be filtered out

 - COM Port and Modem radio buttons :
   * Parity :
     - Odd
     - None
     - Even
   * Dial Type :
     - Tone
     - Pulse
     - Manual
     - Answer
   * Word Length :
     - 7 bits
     - 8 bits
   * Stop Bits :
     - 1 bit
     - 2 bits
   * Baud Rate :
     - 300
     - 1200
     - 2400
     - 4800
     - 9600
   * Comm Port
     - COM1
     - COM2
     - COM3
     - COM4


- Filter Expression :

Filter Expression contains a list of characters that will be filtered out.
For example if a system to which you are connected sends you strange
characters that clobber your screen (what happens especially with mainframes)
you can specify which characters should not be displayed.

Filter also works in the other direction so you might disable some characters
generated by your keyboard (e.g. control characters).

In a Filter Expression you specify ASCII codes of characters separated by
commas. You can also specify ranges of characters.

Example of a valid Filter Expression :
 1..30,128,129,140..255

You can easily find character codes by displaying the ASCII table.


AUTO-LOGIN PROCEDURE :
======================

If the Auto-login box on the Dial Directory Entry Form is checked the auto
login procedure is activated after a modem gets connected to a remote system.

Auto-login procedure works according to the actions specified in the Login
File. The name of the file is contained in the Login File field of the Dial
Directory Entry Form.

Login File is the Ascii text file which describes the actions for the auto-
login procedure using the following syntax:

 - |WAIT|abcd - Easy Comm will wait for the abcd string in the incomming
   characters
 - |TIME|2 - Easy Comm will wait for 2 seconds before proceeding to the
   next step of the auto-login procedure
 - |SEND|abcd - Easy Comm will send the abcd string to the modem
 - |SEND|<CR> - Easy Comm will send the code of the Enter key
 - |SEND|<NAME><CR> - Easy Comm will send Name field (or user id) from
   the Dial Directory Entry Form, followed by the carriage return
 - |SEND|<PASSW><CR> - Easy Comm will send Password field (or user id)
   from the Dial Directory Entry Form, followed by the carriage return


OPTIONS
=======

The Options|Mouse command brings up the Mouse Options dialog box, where
you can set the following options that control how your mouse works :

 - how fast a double-click is
 - which mouse button (right or left) is active

The Options|Colors item brings up the Colors dialog box, where you can
customize the colors of the display.

Options|Save Desktop command saves the state of all open windows to a file
call ECOMM.DSK. This file can be reloaded by selecting Options|Restore
Desktop command.

Options|Restore Desktop command restores a previously-saved state of all open
windows from a file called ECOMM.DSK. This file is saved via the
Options|Save Desktop command.

Options|Clear Desktop clears desktop by closing all open windows and dialog
boxes.

Options|Load Options command loads color palettes and mouse options from
ECOMM.OPT file if the file exists. The ECOMM.OPT file is created by
Options|Save Options command.

Options|Save Options command saves color palettes and mouse options to
ECOMM.OPT file. If the file exists it will be erased.
The options from the ECOMM.OPT file are loaded using Options|Load Options
command.


FILE PRINTING
=============

Print|Print Options command displays a Print Options
dialog box which allows setting the following parameters:
 - Eject a page Before printing (Yes/No)
 - Eject a page After printing (Yes/No)
 - DOS LPT # : LPT1,...,LPT4
 - Number of Lines per Page
 - Left Margin

Print|Print File command displays a Select File to Print
dialog box which allows you to select a file that you want to print.
The file must exist on your disk, so if you are editing a new file
you have to save it before you can start printing.
After you select a file to print, printing starts and a
Print Status window is displayed.
You can cancel printing at any time by pressing Alt-F10 function key
or by clicking with the mouse on Stop Print label on the status line.
Since printing is done in "background" you can continue using other
functions of EASY COMM during printing.

Print|Display Status command displays a Print Status window if it has not
been already open. You can close it at any time using menu command
Print|Close Status.

Print|Close Status command closes a Print Status window if it has been
open. You can reopen it later (during printing) using menu command
Print|Open Status.

Print Status Window :
Print Status Window displays the following (with respect to the currently
printed file):
 - current character number
 - current line number (on the current page)
 - current page number
 - file name
 - Graphical Indicator showing the percentage already printed

Print|Stop Printing command terminates printing procedure but the printer
will still print for some time depending on the size of its
internal print buffer.
You can select this command from the Print Menu or by pressing
Alt-F10 function key.


OTHER FUNCTIONS :
=================
File|Change Dir brings up the Change Directory dialog box, in which you
can change the current directory.

With the File|DOS Shell command, you can leave the program temporarily
to perform a DOS command or run another program.
To return to Easy Comm, type EXIT at the DOS prompt.

The File|Exit command (Alt-X) terminates Easy Comm.