Columbia Kermit/kermit.zip/e/v12.1

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Info-Kermit Digest         Wed, 18 Jul 1990        Volume 12 : Number 1

Departments:

  ANNOUNCEMENTS -
        Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available
        New Release of Kermit for HP-3000
        Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit
        New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series
        New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2

  IBM MAINFRAME KERMIT -
        New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370
        Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA

  VAX/VMS KERMIT -
        VMS Kermit-32 Hints
        How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS?

  MISCELLANY -
        Kermit for Microsoft Windows
        External Kermit Driver
        Kermit for Atari Portfolio?

Digest submissions may be sent to [e-mail],
requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to
[e-mail] or to [e-mail].

Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order.  On the
Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280
running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2.  Login as user anonymous
(note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired
files.  The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c,
kermit/d, and kermit/e.  Test versions are in kermit/test.  Binaries are in
kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode).  You can also get Kermit files over the
BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV,
the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA.  For detailed instructions, read the
file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV).  To order by mail, request a
complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution,
Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street,
New York, NY 10025 USA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri Jul 13 18:16:23 1990
From: Christine M Gianone <[e-mail]>
Subject: Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02

Additions to Joe Doupnik's MSR302.UPD file since the previous announcement
in Info-Kermit V11 #8:

22. Add more character set corrections from Matthias Reichling.

23. Correct problem of placement of CR/LF in text screen dump (broken in
    recent v3.02 changes), from Brian Holley.

24. Make small change to Self Test code, DECTST, CSI 2 ; Ps y  (VT100) and
    CSI 4 ; Ps...; Ps y  (VT320). Do a terminal reset only if a Ps is 0 or 1.
    This is in the VT terminal emulator. Ps values greater than 1 are for
    testing the terminal serial port, printer, and repeating the tests; they
    are ignored here. All cases move the cursor back to the main display.

25. Minor change to ensure modem status is correct even if the port has not
    yet been used. File msxibm.asm.

26. Modify the way characters are placed on Tektronix graphics screens from
    starting them at intervals of 8 PC screen dots across the screen to
    placing the lower left at the current drawing position (1 dot resolution).
    Characters are 8x8 dots. The effect is better positioning accuracy along
    the x-axis; the y-axis already behaved the better way. File msgibm.asm.

27. Tiny tweak to Tek graphics code to overcome a deficiency in some Bios'
    on storing video mode values if the high bit is set (means do not clear
    the display buffer). Brian Holley found such a case and GRAPHICS.COM in
    DOS 4 became confused.  The Bios on most machines clears that bit.  msgibm.

28. Follow the lead of C-Kermit 5A and attempt simple correction of Parity
    on the communications line during packet transfers.  Parity will be
    shifted to EVEN, ODD, or MARK by the detector, in addition to the older
    warning about removing the high bit on characters.  The first two packet
    characters determine the parity, though the first four are examined for
    unexpected setting of the high bit.  msscom, mssset, mssrcv, msssen.

29. Adjust Tektronix emulator slightly so that SET TERM CLEAR-SCREEN does
    a screen clear using the existing character coloring to write all spaces,
    rather than doing a full reinitialization of the emulator. The text
    emulator is not affected. Since ESC [ 30's; 40's m screen coloring command
    sets the fore- and background color palette registers (7 and 0, resp) a
    screen clear manually or by receipt of ESC [ 2 J will use this palette.
    A terminal reset restores the built-in default palette.

    More changes are expected.

The files are in the Kermit test area, kermit/test/mstibm.boo and
kermit/bin/mstibm.exe on watsun, and T:MSTIBM.BOO on CUVMA.

------------------------------

Date: 15 June 1990
From: Tony Appelget, General Mills Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Subject: New Release of Kermit for HP-3000
Keywords: HP-3000 Kermit

The HP3000 SPL Kermit seems to be badly neglected.  The listing in "Kermit
News number 4" shows your most recent version to be v1.1 dated 85/06/24.  I am
enclosing what I am assuming to be a much more modern version.  It is the
product of a lot of hours put into the v1.0 version over the past five or six
years and works very well here.

All my changes  are listed in comments at the beginning of the program.  A few
of the big changes are:

- Added a HELP function.
- Implementated a very versatile command name abbreviation scheme.
- Implemented 3-byte checksums in addition to the old standard one-byte
  checksums.
- Implemented long packets with a maximum of 2000 bytes.  Decreasing packet
  size in response to packet errors is not implemented.
- This Kermit sets a JCW (program completion code).
- Cleaned up a plethora of small bugs.
- At the insistance of our security types, a file validation scheme was
  built into the program.  No one uses it.  Leaving it in place will cause
  no harm.  It should be removable without too much trouble.

The version number, 2.7, that I have stuck on the program is totally arbitrary
as far as I am concerned.  If my enclosed Kermit meets your standards for
distibution, it would be a feather in my cap for you to do so.

(signed)
Tony Appelget
K0DCF/AFA3AO/AFF3MN

[Ed. - Thanks, Tony, it does, apply feather to cap!  It looks like Kermit News
#4 is shaking a lot of Kermit updates out of the woodwork.  This one replaces
the old 1.1 version from 1985 in the Kermit "D" area as hp3000.*.]

------------------------------

Date: Fri Jul 13 13:53:17 1990
From: Christine M. Gianone <[e-mail]>
Subject: Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit
Keywords: NCR 9800 Kermit

This is to announce a Kermit program for the NCR 9800-4 computer, contributed
by Paul E. Gladden of NCR Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA, for the NCR VE4.0
operating system.  There are separate variations for the IVS and MCS
environments.

Both products are written in the C language, based on C-Kermit 4E with
features added or deleted depending on VRX system capabilities, and NCR
selected product content.  Module names reflect the same usage as in C-Kermit
4E.  New modules have a short explanation.

IVS-Kermit and MCS-Kermit share common source code. MCS-Kermit has two
additional files to interface to the MCS telecommunications facility.  MCS
modules are labeled MCS ONLY.

A large number of files are included.  These have been installed in the "D"
area of Kermit Distribution as ncrker.*.  The file ncrker.doc contains user
documentation and installation instructions.  The file ncrker.jar is a "join"
text archive of the numerous source files, which contains instructions at the
top on how to break it apart.

Many thanks to Paul for submitting this new Kermit implementation.

------------------------------

Date: 22 June 1990
From: Dave Squire, University of California at Davis
Subject: New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series
Keywords: UNISYS A-Series, Burroughs A-Series

Enclosed is the 1.040 release of our version of Kermit for Unisys A-Series
systems.  This is an upgrade of "B78" Kermit 1.019 from 1986.  The important
new features of this release are: long packets, alternate block-checks, and
a "take" command.  The program has also been modified to use the A-Series
hardware more efficiently.

This release contains the Kermit symbol (written in Algol) and a documentation
file.  We will continue to distribute Kermit directly to A-Series sites who
contact us.  We will also consult with new Kermit users to help them get
started.  There is no fee for either service.  You may refer any Unisys
A-Series users to us.  Also, please feel free to contact me if I can help with
any A-Series questions.

Dave Squire
Computing Services
University of California
Davis, CA  95616-8563  USA
Phone [phone]

[Ed. - Thanks to Dave and to Larry Johnson and Katie Stevens at UC Davis for
their work on this program and for sending in this new version!  It's in the
Kermit Distribution "D" area as uasker.*.  The previous release has been kept
as b78ker.*, in case the new release does not run on the B7800 or on older
Burroughs A-Series machines or operating system releases.  If it is not
necessary to keep the old version, please let us know: does this new version
run on the B7800?  Also, does anybody know the name of the operating system
for these machines?]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 8 Jul 90 0:30:08 MET
Subject: New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2
From: Bo Kullmar <[e-mail]>
Keywords: Luxor, ABC-80/800

I am sending you updates for the ABC80 and the ABC800 Kermit. Two members of
the ABC-Klubben have done the work.

Joergen Westman has fixed the repeat prefix handling in the ABC80 Kermit.  It
did not work against Kermit programs that could not do run-length encoding.
(Jorgen with dots over the o.)

Mikael Johansson has updated the ABC800/ABC802/ABC806 Kermit to version 4.11
and included support for FACIT DTC and FACIT DTC2. FACIT DTC/DTC2 is a ABC800
clone.

--Bo Kullmar

[Ed. - Thanks, Bo!  The lux*.* files in the Kermit "C" area have been updated
to the new versions.]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26   16:58 EDT
From: "John F. Chandler"   <[e-mail]>
Subject: New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, REMOTE PRINT Command, IBM 370 Kermit

I noticed from reading Info-Kermit V11 #8 that MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 has a REMOTE
PRINT command.  For those not familiar with the guts of Kermit protocol, I'd
like to remark that this command is essentially a slight modification of the
MAIL command (you can see traces of that history on the screen when you issue
the command), and support exists for the mainframe ends of both in release
4.2.0 of Kermit-370.  A slight modification of the KERMAIL command, renamed
KERMPRT, will do the job (see IKxKER.DOC or IKxKER.PS for descriptions), as I
have already demonstrated on my CMS system.  If there is sufficient interest,
I could add samples of these mainframe commands to the Kermit-370 area, but
the implementations will likely vary widely from site to site.

One of these days, I'll see about implementing a REMOTE PRINT subcommand in
Kermit-370 so a mainframe user connected with a PC as a terminal can make hard
copies on an attached desktop laser printer.  Right now, though, I'm
concentrating on implementing Kermit support for the transparency mode in the
new B2 microcode for the IBM 3174 (about which, more later).
                                    John

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26   17:34 EDT
From: "John F. Chandler"   <[e-mail]>
Subject: Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA
Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, IBM 3174 AEA

I now have word from IBM that the new release of 3174 microcode is out.  It
is called B2 (that is, Level 2 of Configuration B) and is supposedly
available to all customers with the "B" configuration of the 3174.  As I
understand it, "B" costs extra and requires a bit more hardware (minimum
requirement is model 11L or equivalent), while "A" comes with the box.
Apparently, there are no plans for upgrading "A".  If you have "B"
configuration installed, though, this upgrade should finally make it possible
to run Kermit through the 3174.  I have some documentation about the new
"ASCII Graphics Mode", and I think the necessary Kermit code is pretty
simple.  Indeed, I have already made a stab at it (pending the answers to a
few questions).  I'm looking for volunteers to try out the new feature and
troubleshoot the code.  If you think you want to try it, the first thing to
do is make sure that you (1) have the "B" configuration and (2) have received
and installed the "B2" update from IBM.  I have no idea what the shipping
schedule is like for things like that.  I can send you the Kermit update as
soon as I check on a few details or even sooner if you're really eager.
Meanwhile, let me know if you're interested.
                                  John

------------------------------

Date: Fri Jul 13 19:13:27 1990
From: Christine M. Gianone <[e-mail]>
Subject: VMS Kermit-32 Hints
Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit

Several people have complained that Kermit-32 has been sending files
incorrectly when the file type is set to binary.  This can happen when the VMS
file has a carriage control attribute; for example, VMS Lotus files are
created this way.  The recent release of Kermit-32 has a new command SET FILE
TYPE BLOCK which seems to get around this difficulty.

Also, judging from many messages received in the past month, many people who
have complained that Kermit-32 did not pick up their terminal name correctly
("No default terminal line for transfers") have not obtained version 3.3.126,
announced in Info-Kermit V11 #8, which fixes that problem, as well as
problems related to spawning and batch operation.

------------------------------

Date: 22 Jun 90 13:33:16 GMT
From: [e-mail] (R.E. Sonneveld, [phone], PTT Research)
Subject: How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS?
Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit, X.25 Network

Wanted: Kermit communication over X.25 (with for example EuroKom) with my
'own' VMS system as my home base.  In other words: is it possible to start
Kermit on the VAX, then SET HOST/X29 to e.g. EuroKom, then start Kermit at the
remote side and establish the connection?

We have tried the following:

 1) loopback one DECserver port-X to port-Y
 2) define the DECserver ports to be 'transparent'
 3) define DECserver port-Y to autoconnect
 4) with LCP, create LTA port pointing to the DECserver port-X
 5) define default port for Kermit (KER$COMM), pointing to the LTA device

Starting Kermit and using the default port will result in a connect via the
DECserver loopback to the original VMS-system, thus creating the possibility
of establishing a X.25 connection.  This works great! The major problem and
the reason why we won't release this 'facility' is SECURITY: whenever a
connection is established by one person and this connection aborts
unexpectedly, than the next user who tries to make a connection using this
default port gets the session of the first user!

Any help greatly appreciated!

Rolf Sonneveld        E-mail: [e-mail]

PTT Research          *      Tele phone : [phone]
Neher Laboratories,   *      Tele  fax  : [phone]
The Netherlands       *      Tele   x   : 31236 prnl nl

[Ed. - This is a common question from Europe.  As yet, neither C-Kermit/VMS
nor VMS Kermit-32 contain any explicit support for VAX/PSI or X.25 in any of
its forms.  We are hoping that someone with an X.25-connected VAX/VMS system
will add this support.  Volunteers?]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 90 05:27:31 EDT
From: Erez Zadok <[e-mail]>
Subject: Kermit for Microsoft Windows
Keywords: Microsoft Windows Kermit

I'm running now WIN100 V2.0 and it's a definite advantage over older
versions.  I have a few comments and questions.

COMMENTS:

(1) Good job!  I like it in the GUI environment.  I actually downloaded
files while playing Solitaire.  Multitasking on my desk.  I liked the fact
that there was a running number of packets on the minimized kermit icon so I
can always keep a watch over the file transfer.  I liked the beep at the end
of the transfer and the Alert that popped up for me at the end.

(2) This is definitely the wave of the future.  I think windows kermit
*will* be a major communication package to use on ms-dos platforms and will
bite a large chunk of the regular ms-kermit.  But there's a lot to be done.
With Windows 3.0 out now, you have all the reasons in the world to make this
package at the same level of MS-Kermit 3.02.

(3) The first things that struck me as in need of improvement were (and bear
in mind that I know MS-Kermit 3.02 *very* well):

- Not enough variety of fonts to choose.  My VGA does not fit 80
  columns with this font (courier) and the other font (preview) is
  way too small.  Maybe the fonts are windows dependent and not
  depend on kermit?
- No apparent way to map the keyboard,  Esp. swapping ` and ESC, and
  mapping CAPSLOCK to CTRL.
- No dialup scripts to use.
- Not enough colors to choose from (esp. the high intensity ones.)
- Win100 does not use the new builtin help feature in Windows 3.0.

(4) Then, upon closer look, I found that the next few items should be
improved (lower priority in my opinion):

- Support for long packets.
- When changing a font or its size, I would like not to have to
  restart kermit.
- I would like to see a way to set the number of lines as an input
  from the keyboard and not only by resizing the window.
- I would like to cut from the kermit screen by using the mouse only
  and marking and cutting.  The current way is not as clean.
- Screen refreshes are not as fast (maybe that's due to my
  hardware configuration and lack of memory.)

(5) The vt100 emulator works well with all kind of applications including
EMACS and curses-based applications.

(6) Possible serious bug:  At one point I got an alert "out of token memory"
error or something, and kermit aborted.  My line was not disconnected.  I am
running Windows 3.0 in real mode (no extended or expanded memory yet on my
286) and it seems that kermit ran out of memory of some sort.  In either
case it should not have aborted but only gave an alert.  Maybe this error is
unrecoverable...

[Ed. - This is one of several messages about Bill Hall's new VT100-emulating
Kermit for Microsoft Windows.  All of them contained similar questions and
favorable comments.  Bill replies as follows:

Most of the suggestions are on my worklist to do - someday!.  Life if pretty
busy since I work a regular job and also write the Windows column for PC
Magazine.  But, I do want to improve the version I have put up as a beta.

Please be patient.  There is no help because it is a 2.0 application.  The
font is terrible, but don't blame me for this.  I would have to design a
complete series of fonts for a range of displays if I could not use the ones
supplied by Windows.  Maybe some kind soul will eventually help me with this
really non-trivial effort.

The screen update is slow.  As you know, everything in Windows is done in
software so this is a problem.  However, I'm sure I can do something to
improve it a bit, and I'll give it a try.

The implementation of the Kermit part is confined at the present to the
standard stuff.  It may be archaic, but it takes a lot of time to get all the
new features working.  Also, making Kermit work smoothly in Windows is quite a
chore.  It is so hard that I'm doing an article on it using the level I have
developed up to now as the example.  When the article is done, I will then
take up the task of upgrading the program.]

[Ed. again - By the way, Bill has sent in a slightly updated version of the
program, and some preliminary documentation: win100.msp (to be viewed in
Microsoft Paint) and win100.wri (for Microsoft Write).  They document just the
emulator part of the program, not the file transfer part.]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Jun 90 23:43:20 CST
From: BOB SHERMAN <[e-mail]>
Subject: External Kermit Driver
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0

Greetings:
  I am running a BBS on an IBM PC.  Do you have any suggestions
  for a external kermit driver?  Thanks for any help.

                                         Bob Sherman

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 90 11:33:39 CDT
From: [e-mail] (J. Philip Miller)
Subject: Kermit for Atari Portfolio?
Keywords: Atari Portfolio Kermit

In a review of the Atari Portfolio - a pocket size, almost DOS PC - there was
mention of a modified version of Kermit that would work on the Portfolio.
Could some point me to where it is available?

This machine runs the DIP Operating System, which is very close to DOS 2.11.
I understand it is a small patch to the regular PC version.

-phil

J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067
Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110
[e-mail] - Internet  [phone]
uunet!wuarchive!wubios!phil - UUCP [phone](FAX)  C90562JM@WUVMD - bitnet

[Ed. - Yes, and please point us at it too!]

------------------------------

End of Info-Kermit Digest
*************************