Columbia Kermit/kermit.zip/mskermit/msaaaa.txt

Text File | 2020-01-01 | 15KB | 324 lines

MSAAAA.HLP                    MS-DOS KERMIT                       January 1998

This file explains the organization and naming conventions used for the MS-DOS
Kermit files at Kermit Distribution, Columbia University, as they appear on
magnetic tapes and on the network.  The MS-DOS Kermit distribution diskette
uses simpler names, like KERMIT.EXE, KERMIT.HLP, etc.  This disk also contains
a READ.ME file, which is kept in Kermit Distribution as MSVIBM.DSK.  Be sure
to read it.

DOCUMENTATION

Please purchase it: funds from book sales are the main source of financial
support for the Kermit effort, and it should answer most of your questions.

  Christine M. Gianone, "Using MS-DOS Kermit", Second Edition, Digital Press /
  Butterworth-Heinemann, Woburn, MA, 1992, 345 pages, ISBN 1-55558-082-3.
  Packaged with version 3.14 of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC, PS/2, and
  compatibles on a 3.5-inch diskette.

  US single-copy price: $41.95; quantity discounts available.  Available in
  computer bookstores or directly from:

    Kermit Development and Distribution
    Columbia University Academic Information Systems
    612 West 115th Street
    New York, NY  10025  USA
    Telephone: (USA) 212 854-3703

  Domestic and overseas orders accepted.  Price: $41.95 (US, Canada, and
  Mexico), $52 elsewhere.  Orders may be paid by MasterCard or Visa, or
  prepaid by check in US dollars.  Add $35 bank fee for checks not drawn on a
  US bank.  Price includes shipping.  Do not include sales tax.

  You can also order by phone from the publisher, Digital Press /
  Butterworth-Heinemann, with MasterCard, Visa, or American Express:

    [phone]   (Woburn, MA office for USA & Canada,
               Toll-free M-F 8AM-6PM Eastern time)
    [phone]   (Newton, MA office for sales/marketing info)
    [phone]   (Oxford, England distribution centre for
               UK & Europe)
    [phone]   (Oxford, England, customer service/sales dept)
    [phone]  (Melbourne, Vic, office for Australia & NZ)
    [phone]      (Singapore office for Malaysia, Singapore,
               Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand)
    [phone]  (Durban office for South Africa)

  A German-language edition is also available:

    Christine M. Gianone, "MS-DOS Kermit, das universelle
    Kommunikationsprogramm", Verlag Heinz Heise, Hannover, Germany (1991),
    414 pages.  Packaged with version 3.12 of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC,
    PS/2, and compatibles on a 5.25-inch diskette, including German-language
    help files.  Deutsch von Gisbert W. Selke.  Price: DM 69,00.  ISBN
    3-88229-006-4.  Verlag Heinz Heise GmbH & Co. KG, Helstorfer Strasse 7,
    D-30625 Hannover.  Tel. [phone], Fax. [phone].

  And a French-language edition:

    Christine M. Gianone, "Kermit MS-DOS mode d'emploi", Heinz Schiefer & Cie.,
    Versailles (1993), 406 pages.  Packaged with version 3.11 of MS-DOS Kermit
    for the IBM PC, PS/2, and compatibles on a 5.25-inch diskette.  Adaption
    francaise: Jean Dutertre.  ISBN 2-901143-20-2.  Heinz Schiefer & Cie.,
    45 rue Henri de Regnier, F-78000 Versailles.  Tel. [phone],
    Fax. [phone].

  The French version is also available from Columbia University: $39.95.

  There is also a Japanese book about MS-DOS Kermit:

    Hirofumi Fujii and Fukuko Yuasa, "MS-Kermit Nyumon", Computer
    Today Library 6, Saiensu-Sha Co., Ltd., publishers (1993), 160 pages.
    Publisher's address: Abe-toku Building, 2-4 Kanda-suda cho, Chiyoda-ku,
    Tokyo 101, Japan.  Tel. [phone].  Price 1,800 Yen + tax.
    ISBN 4-7819-0669-9 C3355 P1854E.

QUICK START FOR INTERNET USERS

You may pick up the entire MS-DOS Kermit distribution diskette in the form of
a binary .ZIP file, which you can unpack with the PKUNZIP program (if you have
it), using "-d" switch to preserve the subdirectory structure.  But don't
unzip it over your previous Kermit directory without first making safe copies
of your MSCUSTOM.INI and DIALUPS.TXT files.

To get the ZIP file over the Internet, use binary-mode anonymous FTP, and GET
the file kermit/bin/msvibm.zip.

The ZIP file is also available in two textual encodings, for transfer in
text mode or by e-mail:

  kermit/a/msvibmzip.boo - "BOO" format (see below)
  kermit/a/msvibmzip.uue - UUENCODE format

It is highly recommended that you work from the ZIP file.  It contains over
120 interdependent files, carefully in a directory structure.

After unzipping the ZIP file, read the top-level READ.ME file for installation
structures.  Consult "Using MS-DOS Kermit" and the supplemental KERMIT.UPD
and KERMIT.BWR files for complete information.

TCP/IP FILES

Basic instructions for setting up and using MS-DOS Kermit's built-in TCP/IP
support can be found in "Using MS-DOS Kermit", with supplemental material in
NETWORKS\SETUP.DOC on the distribution diskette.

MS-DOS Kermit's built-in TCP/IP support works only with packet drivers or ODI
drivers, and not with board-specific device drivers.  An informative article
about packet drivers by Joe Doupnik can be found in the Info-Kermit Digest,
Volume 14 Number 5, 16 September 1991, available online as file IMAIL.91B.
Columbia University also keeps a copy of the Crynwr packet driver collection
in the packet-drivers/xxx/ directories, where xxx is src (source code), bin
(binaries), doc (documentation), zip (binary ZIP files, as distributed by
Crynwr), and new (items not included in the Crynwr collection).

A frequent question is how to convert a Novell network (client workstations
and servers) to use packet drivers so that Novell software can coexist with
Kermit or other network applications.  This is done using a package from
Brigham Young University (BYU).  An explanation is given in the file
packet-drivers/new/msabyu.hlp.

OTHER MS-DOS KERMIT FILES

MS-DOS Kermit is also available for a wide variety of non-IBM compatible
PCs, and source code is available for all versions.

MS-DOS Kermit Distribution file names are all in the following form:

    MScxxx.typ

The file name should be no longer than six characters, the file type is 3 or
less.  MS is the common prefix for all the file names.

"c" is a single-letter code that categorizes the file:

  A - General information, "read me" files, etc. (like this file)
  B - Files related to Bootstrapping, .BOO file creation and decoding
  D - Demo files
  E - Terminal-related utilities
  F - File-related utilities
  G - Source code for Graphics terminal emulation
  I - Initialization, command, or script files to be read by MS-DOS Kermit
  K - General program documentation (Kermit User Guide chapter, etc)
  M - Modem-dialing scripts to be executed by MS-DOS Kermit's DIAL macro
  N - Network (TCP/IP) related source files
  O - Like V, but for an Old version
  P - Printer-related files and utilities
  R - Release notes
  S - System-independent Source code (.ASM, .H)
  T - Like V, but for a Test version
  U - System-dependent keyboard handling code, utilities, documentation
  V - Binaries, .BOO files, documentation, etc, for a particular Version
  X - System-dependent source code & related documentation
  Y - System-dependent terminal emulation code
  Z - More system-dependent terminal emulation code (if MSYxxx too big)

"xxx" is a 3 letter code to designate which system an MSG, MSU, MSV, MSX, MSY,
or MSZ file applies to:

  AAA - An information file
  AP3 - NEC APC-3
  APC - NEC APC
  APR - ACT Apricot
  DM2 - DECmate II or III with MS-DOS Option
  GEN - "Generic" MS-DOS (DOS calls only)
  GRI - Grid Compass II
  HP1 - HP-150
  HPX - HP-110 and HP Portable Plus
  IBM - IBM PC and PS/2 families
  MBC - Sanyo MBC-550
  P98 - NEC PC 9801 (Japanese Kana/Kanji version)
  RB1 - DEC Rainbow-100 series
  RB2 - DEC Rainbow-100 series (special VT220 emulating version)
  RMX - Intel 300 Series with iRMX-86
  SEE - Seequa Chameleon
  TIP - Texas Instruments Professional
  V90 - Victor 9000 (Sirius 1)
  V9T - Victor 9000 (Sirius 1) with Tektronix emulation
  WNG - Wang PC
  Z10 - Heath/Zenith 100
(Others may be added as time goes on.)

"typ" is the file type, e.g.

  ASM - Assembler source (for Microsoft or IBM Assembler)
  H   - An assembler header file (included at assembly time)
  C   - A C language source file (e.g. Microsoft C)
  BAS - A Basic language source (e.g. Microsoft Basic)
  BOO - An .EXE file encoded into printable characters for bootstrapping
  BWR - A "beware" file - list of known bugs or limitations
  HLP - A help file
  DOC - A longer documentation file
  ED  - A program edit history file (detailed)
  PS  - Documentation in Postscript format, for laser printer
  MSS - Scribe text formatter source for a HLP or DOC file
  INI - An initialization or command file to be read by Kermit
  SCR - An MS-DOS Kermit script command file
  BAT - An MS-DOS Batch file (e.g. for building MS-DOS Kermit from source)
  MAK - A "makefile" for Microsoft or other MAKE program
  LNK - An MS-DOS Linker command file
  UPD - A program update history file
  TAK - An MS-DOS Kermit command file
  TRM - A UNIX termcap entry to match the program's terminal emulator
  PIF - MS-Windows PIF-file construction instructions
  DSK - A listing of the files on a particular MS-Kermit distribution disk

PATCHES

Bugs in MS-DOS Kermit are sometimes correctable by runtime patches supplied
in the form of a text file containing changes to be applied to Kermit's program
image by Kermit itself after it starts.  The current patch file for the IBM PC
version of MS-DOS Kermit is MSRxxx.PCH, where xxx is the version number, like
MSR313.PCH.  See MSKERM.HLP for further information.

SOURCE CODE

The source files have names beginning with MSS and MSN.  They are written in
MASM and Microsoft C.  MASM and C 7.00 are required.  Other releases might not
work.  Borland TASM won't work.  MSVIBM.MAK is the makefile.  MSSAAA.HLP lists
the source files for the IBM PC version.

The system-independent source file names all start with MSS --

 MSSCMD.ASM  Command parser
 MSSCOM.ASM  Communications (system-independent)
 MSSDEF.H    Symbol definitions for all modules
 MSSFIL.ASM  File i/o
 MSSKER.ASM  Main program
 MSSRCV.ASM  Receive module
 MSSSCP.ASM  Script module
 MSSSEN.ASM  Send module
 MSSSER.ASM  Server module
 MSSSET.ASM  Set command module
 MSSSHO.ASM  Show command module
 MSSTER.ASM  Terminal emulation (system-independent)

The program also needs an MSU and an MSX module for the desired system, plus an
MSY module for the same system (if the system has terminal emulation code), and
possibly an MSZ module too, if the MSY module gets too large (as it has for the
IBM PC family), and finally an MSG module if graphics terminal emulation is
also included.  Assembling and linking procedures are described in MSSAAA.HLP.
The MSX, MSY, and other system-dependent files may come with associated HLP or
BWR files.  For the IBM version only, the TCP/IP networking source files are
in MSN*.*.

BOOTSTRAPPING

Getting MS-DOS Kermit onto an MS-DOS system initially when you don't have a
diskette to read it from, but you do have it on line on another computer...  is
called "bootstrapping."  The method used with MS-DOS Kermit is to download
(somehow) a version of the appropriate .EXE (executable binary) file that has
been encoded in all printable characters by the MSBMKB program into a ".BOO
file" (short for bootstrap).  The BOO file is then decoded on the PC using a
short Basic (or C, or Pascal, or other) program.

 MSBAAA.HLP   A brief explanation of the bootstrapping files and procedures
 MSBMKB.C     The "BOO File Maker" (runs on MS-DOS Systems with Lattice C)
 MSBMKB.BOO   BOO file based on MSBMKB.EXE generated from MSBMKB.C
 MSBMKB.*     There are also versions of MSBMKB in assembler, Fortran, etc.
 MSBPCT.BAS   Like MSBPCB.BAS, but assumes the BOO file is already downloaded
 MSBPCT.C     Like MSBPCT.BAS, but written in C for speed
 MSBPCT.BOO   BOO file formed from MSBPCT.EXE based on MSBPCT.C
 MSBPCT.*     There are also versions of MSBPCT in assembler, Fortran, etc.
 MSBRB1.BAS   Like MSBPCB.BAS, but runs under Rainbow CP/M-86 Basic
 MSBRCV.BAS   A short Microsoft BASIC Kermit program, receive-only
 MSV*.BOO     The BOO files for each version of MS-DOS Kermit, e.g. MSVIBM.BOO
 MST*.BOO     The BOO files for a Test (prerelease) version of MS-DOS Kermit
 MSO*.BOO     The BOO files from an Old release of MS-DOS Kermit

ONLINE USER DOCUMENTATION

 MSKERM.UPD     Updates since "Using MS-DOS Kermit" was published.
 MSKERM.HLP     Help file, summary of MS-Kermit commands and features.
 MSKERM.BWR     List of restrictions and known bugs.
 MSRxxx.UPD     Release notes for Version xxx, e.g. MSR300.UPD.
 MSVIBM.VT      VT terminal emulator technical summary for IBM version.
 MSVIBM.TEK     Graphics terminal emulator technical summary for IBM version.
 MSVIBM.NET     Network setup instructions for IBM PC
 MSVIBM.HBR     Instructions for Hebrew terminal emulation
 MSVIBM.CYR     Instructions for Cyrillic terminal emulation
 MSGTIF.DOC     Aldus/Microsoft Memo describing TIFF graphics file format.
 MSABYU.HLP     Instructions for installing Packet Drivers on Novell networks.

INITIALIZATION OR COMMAND FILES

MS-DOS Kermit always reads the file MSKERMIT.INI upon startup and executes
the Kermit commands that are in it.  There is also a TAKE command that allows
the user to explicitly direct Kermit to execute commands from a specified
file.  Several sample files are provided (there may also be others, see any
MS*.INI file):

 MSKERMIT.INI   Sample MSKERMIT.INI file
 MSKERMIT.PCH   Runtime patches to fix bugs in current IBM version
 MSRxxx.PCH     Runtime patches to fix bugs in a particular release
 MSIEM*.INI     Key mappings for use with EMACS
 MSIRB1.INI     Puts some of the DEC Rainbow's keys in more normal positions.
 MSIVT*.INI     Various key mappings for VT200/300 keyboard emulation.
 MSIWP3.INI     Key mappings for use with mainframe WordPerfect.
 MSI123.INI     Key mappings for use with mainframe Lotus 1-2-3.
 MSIMSW.INI     Key mappings for use with mainframe Microsoft Word.

PRINTER PROGRAMS

A variety of printer drivers and printer-related programs are available as
MSP*.*.  See MSPAAA.HLP for details.

Of special interest are a UNIX shell script and a VAX/VMS command procudure
to do "PC printing" -- i.e. to send a file to the PC's printer.  These are
in MSPUPC.* (UNIX) and MSPVPC.* (VMS).

UTILITY PROGRAMS

MSIXSE.* = "XSEND", a program that constructs a command file to send an
entire directory tree from one DOS system to another, using Kermit to create
directories on the fly, etc.

MSUCHK.* = "SCANCHEK", a program to tell you the keyboard scan codes of the
IBM PC.

MSULK2.* - A driver for the DEC LK250 keyboard, which can be plugged into
a PC/AT or compatible.

(End of MSAAAA.HLP)