PC-Online 1998 February

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ PC-Online 1998 February / PCOnline_02_1998.iso / filesbbs / win3x / ripterm.arj / RTD21100.EXE / TESTDRIV.EXE / RIPTERM.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1995-09-08 | 360KB | 7,478 lines

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │░ │ ──────────────────────────────────────── │░ │ │░ │ RIPterm v2.11 Professional │░ │ │░ │ ──────────────────────────────────────── │░ │ │░ │ │░ │ September 7, 1995 │░ │ │░ │ │░ │ Copyright (c) 1992-95, TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. │░ │ All Rights Reserved │░ │ │░ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ RIPterm Documentation Quick Reference ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ For Information On: Section ----------------------------------------------------- ------- Installation Instructions 2.0 Mouse Configuration Problems and Performance Issues 2.0.1 Using RIPterm Without A Mouse 2.0.2 Uploading or Downloading Files 3.2 Menus 3.0 Setup Screens 4.0 The Main RIPterm Features 5.0 Troubleshooting / Common Configuration Problems Appx A Contacting TeleGrafix Technical Support Appx C ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ Table of Contents ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ This documentation is organized into five major sections, plus an appendix. The five major sections are Introduction, Installation, Pull-Down Menu Reference, RIPterm Setup Options, and RIPterm Features. The Appendix contains troubleshooting information, answers to common questions, a keyboard reference of menu shortcuts, and how to contact Technical Support. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Preface ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm Documentation Quick Reference Table of Contents ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Section 1 ■ Introduction ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 1.0 ■ Introduction 1.1 ■ Distribution Information 1.2 ■ Limited Warranty / Licensing Agreement 1.3 ■ Trademarks 1.4 ■ Program Requirements 1.5 ■ Glossary of Terms ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Section 2 ■ Installation ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 2.0 ■ Installation 2.0.1 ■ Important Information - Mouse Config and Performance 2.0.2 ■ Using RIPterm Without a Mouse 2.1 ■ Starting Up RIPterm 2.1.1 ■ Video/Mouse Setup 2.1.2 ■ Welcome to RIPterm Setup Screen 2.1.3 ■ Audio Setup Screen 2.1.4 ■ Move Files To Their Correct Directories 2.1.5 ■ Convert RIPscrip v1.x Icons to v2.x Icons 2.2 ■ Getting On-line Help 2.2.1 ■ Help on the Menus 2.3 ■ RIPterm Command Line Options ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Section 3 ■ Pull-Down Menu Reference ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 3.0 ■ Pull-Down Menus 3.1 ■ The System Menu 3.2 ■ The File Menu (Alt-F) 3.3 ■ The Connect Menu (Alt-C) 3.4 ■ The Options Menu (Alt-O) 3.5 ■ The Setup Menu (Alt-S) 3.6 ■ The Debug Menu (Alt-U) ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Section 4 ■ RIPterm Setup Options ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 4.0 ■ RIPterm Setup 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? 4.1 ■ General Setup 4.2 ■ Video/Mouse Setup 4.3 ■ Audio Setup 4.4 ■ System Font Setup 4.5 ■ Translation Tables 4.6 ■ Modem Setup 4.6.1 ■ Modem Command Strings 4.6.2 ■ Modem Port Settings 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings 4.7 ■ Modem Dialing Prefixes 4.8 ■ Modem Hardware Setup 4.9 ■ File Transfer Setup 4.9.1 ■ Protocol Transfer Settings 4.9.2 ■ ASCII Upload Settings 4.9.3 ■ Capture Log Settings ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Section 5 ■ RIPterm Features ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ 5.0 ■ RIPterm Features 5.1 ■ The Status Bar 5.2 ■ The Dialing Directory 5.2.1 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries 5.2.2 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries Custom Port Settings 5.2.3 ■ Dialing Directory Conversion Utility (DIALCONV.EXE) 5.2.4 ■ Dialing Directory File Format 5.2.5 ■ The Dialing Window 5.3 ■ Keystroke Macro Editor 5.3.1 ■ Control Characters in Keystroke Macros 5.4 ■ View Scrollback Buffer 5.5 ■ External Applications 5.5.1 ■ The Application Editor 5.5.2 ■ Application Text Variables 5.6 ■ Chat Mode 5.7 ■ Text Variables 5.7.1 ■ User-Defined Text Variables 5.7.2 ■ User-Defined Text Variable Data Security ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ Appendices ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Appx A ■ Troubleshooting/Problems A.1 ■ Mouse Doesn't Work A.1.1 ■ "Bus" Mouse Doesn't Work A.1.2 ■ "Serial" Mouse Doesn't Work A.2 ■ Modem Isn't Responding A.3 ■ Noisy Telephone Connections A.4 ■ Performance Issues A.4.0 ■ Symptoms of a Performance Problem A.4.1 ■ Solutions to Data Receive Performance Issues A.4.2 ■ Solutions to Sound Playback Performance Issues A.4.2 ■ Solutions to Video Display Performance Issues A.5 ■ Common Configuration Problems A.5.1 ■ I Can't See What I Type A.5.2 ■ Every Line of Text Lays on Top of the Last A.5.3 ■ My File Transfers Fail Immediately A.5.4 ■ My Modem is Always On-Line (Resuming Previous On-line Session) A.5.5 ■ RIPterm always says "Hang up failed" when I try to hang up. A.5.6 ■ I get the message "CTS is not enabled. Disabling RTS/CTS". A.5.7 ■ I can connect with some BBS's but not others. A.5.8 ■ RIPterm locks up when I start up or seems to be stuck in a loop. Appx B ■ Menu Keyboard Shortcuts Reference Appx C ■ TeleGrafix Technical Support ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ 1.0 ■ Introduction ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Thank you for using RIPterm! RIPscrip graphics are a revolutionary new way of graphically interacting with on-line hosts. Use of RIPterm is defined in the Licensing Agreement. You should be familiar with the terms of the licensing agreement. Please read this section carefully. RIPterm Professional version 2.0 comes with 30 days unlimited technical support from your date of purchase. After this time has expired, you will fall under our new paid Technical Support plan. There will be options for paying as you go, 900 number technical support access, and yearly support contracts that can optionally include software updates. Contact TeleGrafix for more information on this program. We expect it will be in place in March 1995. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 1.1 ■ Distribution Information ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm Professional is NOT a freeware or shareware product that can be freely distributed. It is commercial software sold by TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. If you do not have a valid license for RIPterm, please contact TeleGrafix Communications to purchase the software. We need your support to continue to make high quality communications products. Thank you for your continued support. TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. 16458 Bolsa Chica, #15 Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Tech Support: (714) 379-2130 Voice: (714) 379-2131 Fax: (714) 379-2132 Sales: (714) 379-2141 BBS: (714) 379-2133 (accepts orders 24 hours a day) Internet: sales@telegrafix.com ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 1.2 ■ Licensing Agreement ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm Professional Version 2.0 Software Licensing Agreement DISCLAIMER YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE INSTALLING OR USING THIS DISKETTE. INSTALLING OR USING THIS DISKETTE INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM, YOU SHOULD RETURN THIS DISKETTE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE, AND THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT WILL BE REFUNDED TO YOU. DEFINITIONS "You" and "Your" shall be taken as referring to the person or business entity who purchased this License to use this Software or for whom such License was purchased. "Software" shall be taken as referring to the files supplied on the diskette(s) inside the package, and to any and all copies, updates, modifications, functionally-equivalent derivatives, or any parts or portions thereof. LICENSE You may: 1. Install and use one copy of this Software on a single Computer. 2. Copy this Software into machine-readable or printed form, for backup or archival purposes in support of your use of this Software. 3. Transfer this Software and license to another party if the other party agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If the enclosed Software is an update, any transfer must include the updated and all prior versions. If you transfer the Software, you must at the same time either transfer all copies, whether in machine-readable or printed form, to the same party, or destroy any copies not transferred. If this Software package contains both 3.5 and 5.25 disks, only a single Software License is created hereby. All enclosed diskettes are covered under, and restricted by, the terms of this single Software License Agreement. YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, MODIFY, OR TRANSFER THIS SOFTWARE, OR ANY COPY, MODIFICATION, OR MERGED PORTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS LICENSE, OR IN AMENDMENTS SIGNED BY AN OFFICER OF TELEGRAFIX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ("TeleGrafix"). IF YOU TRANSFER POSSESSION OF ANY COPY OF THIS SOFTWARE, OR ANY FUNCTIONALLY-EQUIVALENT DERIVATIVE, OR ANY PORTION OR MODIFICATION THEREOF, TO ANOTHER PARTY, YOUR LICENSE IS AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATED. TERM This license is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any time by destroying all copies of the Software covered by this Agreement. It will also terminate upon conditions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement or if you fail to comply with any term or condition of this Agreement. You agree upon such termination to destroy this Software, including all copies, functionally- equivalent derivatives, and all portions and modifications thereof in any form. LIMITED WARRANTY THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO , THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (NOT TELEGRAFIX) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. TeleGrafix does not warrant that the functions contained in this software will meet your requirements or that the operation of this Software will be uninterrupted or error-free. However, TeleGrafix does warrant the diskette on which the Software is furnished to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery to you. LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES TeleGrafix entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be:. A) The replacement of any diskette not meeting TeleGrafix "Limited Warranty" and which is returned to TeleGrafix , or B) If TeleGrafix is unable to deliver a replacement diskette which is free of defects in materials or workmanship, you may terminate this Agreement by returning this Software and your money will be refunded. IN NO EVENT WILL TELEGRAFIX BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE EVEN IF TELEGRAFIX OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. GENERAL You may not sublicense, assign or otherwise transfer this License or Software except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Any attempt to otherwise sublicense, assign, or transfer any of the rights, duties or obligations hereunder is expressly prohibited and will terminate this Agreement. All Agreements covering this Software (including but not limited to any and all updates, upgrades, and enhancements to this Software or any portion thereof, bearing the same registration number) shall be deemed to be counterparts of one and the same License Agreement instrument. BY INSTALLING OR USING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, WHICH SUPERSEDES ANY PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN US RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 1.3 ■ Trademarks ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm, the RIPterm logo, RIPscrip, RIPaint, TeleGrafix Communications, and the TeleGrafix Communications logo are all trademarks of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective holders. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 1.4 ■ Program Requirements ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm requires that you be using an 80386 or higher IBM-PC compatible computer system running MS-DOS version 3.0 or higher. You must have at least 2Mb of memory in the system configured as XMS memory (EMS memory is not recognized). A hard disk also required. You must have an EGA or greater video adapter and a modem connected to serial port COM1 through COM4. A mouse and a color monitor are not required, but are strongly recommended. This software is a 32-bit protected mode application that takes advantage of the 80386 microprocessor's features and capabilities. It requires and makes use of extended memory. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 1.5 ■ Glossary of Terms ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ active - The configuration that is currently in use by RIPterm. This setup includes modem, hardware, file transfer, audio, and emulation settings. For a complete list of everything included in the active setup, see Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup File. baud - The name used for the speed at which a modem communicates, which is measured in Bits Per Second (BPS). Baud has a more technical definition which is different than BPS, but common usage of baud and BPS has made the terms interchangeable. True bithead computer geeks will use the term BPS instead of baud to be technically accurate. bitmap - Generally refers to the method of storing each individual dot (pixel) in a picture shown on your computer screen in a file on your disk. Photographs that have been scanned in are stored at bitmaps. Another type of graphic file format is a vector graphic file. BPS - Short for Bits Per Second. See definition for BAUD. data - Data compression is a way of squeezing the information being sent compres- out over the modem, to achieve faster transmission of data. sion The common compression protocols are MNP5 and v.42bis. default - The setting to use unless another setting is specified to override the default. For example, RIPterm gets installed into the default C:\RIPTERM directory, unless you have Install put in different directory. dialog - A dialog box is a window appearing on the screen that contains box information, is requesting some input, or is for setting configuration options. A dialog box always has CANCEL and HELP buttons at the bottom, and will usually have some other buttons such as OK. A button hotkey in a dialog box uses Alt + the highlighted letter to select that option, or you can use Tab or Shift-Tab to go forwards/backwards through each dialog item. error - Error correction's job is to make sure that the data transmitted correction by the remote modem is receive perfectly by your modem. Common error correction protocols are MNP2 through MNP4 and v.42. host - refers to any system you are connected to. This can be a BBS, a mainframe, a network application, or whatever. The term "host" is used generically to mean any one of these different types of systems you can dial into. hotkey - a keyboard equivalent for a menu option, keystroke macro, or a button. A menu option will use a combination of the Alt key with a letter (except where noted). A button hotkey in a dialog box uses Alt + the highlighted letter. icon - an icon is a bitmap of varying size. Icon files may end in .BMP, .BMM (mask files), or .BMH (hot icons - used with buttons) JPEG - A compressed graphic file format. JPEG is short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, which is the association that created the JPEG file format. lossy - A type of compression used on bitmap graphic files. JPEG uses a technique of subtly (or drastically) changing the colors in an image to better compress it. The level of compression can be changed to get a good balance between image quality and file size. Lossy is based on the word "loss", because the image loses quality when compressed in this manner. The opposite would be "loss-less" compression, in which nothing is changed. Lossy compression is much more effective than loss-less. The loss in quality can go anywhere from un-noticeable to horrible. pixel - Short for PIcture ELement, it is simply one dot on the screen. A bitmap image is made up of a whole bunch of pixels. RIPscrip - A graphical and interactive multimedia language created by TeleGrafix for efficiently transmitting graphics via any kind of communications link, on any type of computing platform. RIPscrip is short for Remote Imaging Protocol script language. session - This is the main RIPterm screen where all communications with screen whatever you're connected to is displayed, such as RIPscrip graphics and text. It is the screen where you can access the menus, interact with the host, and usually has the Status Bar displayed at the bottom. shrubbery- A small bush, usually decorative; best arranged next to a path. string - a string is a group of characters, a mix of letters, numbers, and/or punctuation characters. UART - The serial port controller microchip in your computer. UART is an acronym for Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter. vector - The method of storing the instructions to draw a picture, rather than each pixel in the image. For example, if you had a line drawn on your screen, the vector information would be the beginning and ending points of the line, and its color and pattern, rather than each pixel in the image. Vector data is much smaller than pixel data. ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ 2.0 ■ Installation ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ RIPterm Professional must be installed via the installation program provided. It will not run if it is just copied off the floppy. Insert the disk into drive A: or drive B:, and then switch to that drive by typing A: or B:, and pressing ENTER. Then type INSTALL and press ENTER. You will be prompted to enter your Serial Number. The Serial Number can be found on the of Disk 1 of 2, on your registration card, or on the Licensing Envelope that contained the disks. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.0.1 ■ Important Information - Mouse Config and Performance ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The right mouse button brings up the menu bar in RIPterm. You can use the keyboard too, but using the right mouse button is far easier. Complications may arise currently if you have a SERIAL mouse installed. If you get garbage on the screen when you move the mouse, then there is a conflict with the MODEM port and the MOUSE port. Try deleting the file RIPTERM.CNF (RIPterm's configuration file) and restarting RIPterm. Once inside RIPterm, select Modem Setup from the Setup menu and verify that your settings are correct for your PC's configuration. See Appendix A ■ Section A.1 ■ Mouse Doesn't Work for more information and solutions on this issue. RIPterm version 2 implements cutting-edge technology, and sometimes may push your system to try to do more than it can. If you are having problems playing sounds or with losing characters, see Appendix A ■ Section A.4 ■ Performance Issues for more information and troubleshooting hints. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.0.2 ■ Using RIPterm Without a Mouse ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Using the menus: You can navigate through RIPterm without the use of a mouse. Each menu and dialog box item has an associated hotkey. The character for selecting that item is highlighted in yellow. To bring up just the menu bar, type Alt-1 (hold down the Alt key and press the 1 key). Using dialog boxes: While in a dialog box, you can use Alt + the highlighted letter to select that option, or you can use Tab and Shift-Tab to go forwards/backwards through each dialog item. Using the Session Screen: RIPterm also supports the use of the TAB and SHIFT-TAB keys to jump from mouse field to mouse field. When you are on the Mouse Field you wish to select, press ENTER to select it. Press ESC to get out of Mouse Field Select mode. The use of TAB and SHIFT-TAB can be disabled by de-selecting Mouse Field Select from the Options menu, or by pressing Ctrl-Alt-O. Many of the clickable buttons on a RIPscrip screen use hot keys, meaning that by pressing just one key on the keyboard, it behaves EXACTLY the same as if you had clicked on that button with a mouse. A hotkey will have one character underlined, or in a different color, or both! Press that character to activate that button. See Section 3.4 ■ Options Menu for more information on the Button Hotkeys and Mouse Field Select options. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1 ■ Starting Up RIPterm ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Switch to the RIPTERM directory by typing at the DOS prompt: cd \RIPTERM followed by pressing ENTER Then start up the RIPterm software by typing at the DOS prompt: RIPTERM followed by pressing ENTER There are a number of command line options that may be specified for RIPterm. See Section 2.3 ■ RIPterm Command Line Options for details. When starting up RIPterm, you are presented with three to five dialog boxes requesting configuration information. Sections 2.1.1 through 2.1.5 document these dialog boxes. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1.1 ■ Video/Mouse Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm version 2.0 supports 117 different video cards and video modes. If yours is not listed, chances are that your video card supports one or more of the VESA video modes, which were created as a standard way of addressing video hardware from software. Check your video card documentation to see what modes it supports. VESA mode on some video cards may be slower than the native mode -- so if a native mode is available, use it! On some video cards, a memory resident driver (TSR) needs to be loaded for VESA support to work for that video card. The fastest resolution to run at is 640 x 480, because less memory is being addressed. Scrolling especially is affected by the resolution. Most video cards also run faster in 256 color mode than in 16 color mode, usually because of their hardware design. See Appendix A.4.3 ■ Solutions to Video Display Performance Issues for more information. If you have a mouse connected to your computer, you must load the mouse driver before running RIPterm to be able to use the mouse. The mouse driver is usually a file called MOUSE.SYS that is loaded in your CONFIG.SYS, or a file called MOUSE.COM that is loaded in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you're not loading a mouse driver, you can't use the mouse. NOTE: RIPterm doesn't use the center button on three-button mouses for any functions. Refer to Section 4.2 ■ Video / Mouse Setup for a list of video cards supported, and a diagram of the Video/Mouse Setup screen. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1.2 ■ Welcome to RIPterm Setup Screen ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Welcome to RIPterm Setup ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││Welcome to RIPterm setup. In order to get you up and running as quickly ││ ││as possible, we need to ask a few questions about your computer's ││ ││configuration. If you have any doubts about the following questions, ││ ││select the HELP option. It will assist you in answering these questions ││ ││painlessly so you can get online as quickly as possible. ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ ┌─────────────┬─┐ ││ ││ Modem COM Port │COM1 ││ ││ ││ └─────────────┴─┘ ││ ││ ┌─────────────┬─┐ ││ ││ Modem Baud Rate │19,200 ││ ││ ││ └─────────────┴─┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ [X] Port Lock ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ ││ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ After configuring your video and mouse settings, the next thing RIPterm needs to know about is the configuration for your modem. These options on the let you set up your modem connection. The most common settings for high speed modems (modems faster than 2400 baud) are Modem Baud Rate set to 19,200 and Port Lock enabled. Modem COM Port tells the computer which communications port the modem is connected to. The valid options are COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. If your COM port does not use the standard interrupt (IRQ) and base address settings, you can configure these later by selecting Modem Hardware Setup from the Setup menu. See Section 3.5 ■ The Setup Menu for more info. Modem Baud Rate sets the connection speed between your computer and modem. The valid baud rate settings are 300; 1200; 2400; 4800; 9600; 38,400; 57,600; and 155,200. If you select a baud rate above 2400, RIPterm will automatically enable Port Lock. These are the most common settings for high speed modems. Port Lock keeps the speed at which your modem and computer talk to each other at a fixed speed, and lets your modem worry about what speed to is talking to another modem at. This is recommended for high speed modems. For a discussion of the Port Lock feature, refer to Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Setup. ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ Clicking OK locks in your settings and continues to the next configuration screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Clicking Cancel exits RIPterm. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ Clicking Help will create a request for a government study into the effects of bovine methane emissions on software performance. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1.3 ■ Audio Setup Screen ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ A new feature in RIPterm is the support for digitized sound, in the form of .WAV files. The Audio Board Configuration is for configuring RIPterm for your audio hardware. The easiest way to do this is by using Auto-Sense. See Section 4.3 ■ Audio Setup for details on custom configuration. There are some performance issues in doing sound and communications at the same time. RIPterm version 2 implements cutting-edge technology, and sometimes may push your system to try to do more than it can. If you are having problems playing sounds or with losing characters, see Appendix A ■ Section A.4 ■ Performance Issues for more information. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1.4 ■ Move Files To Their Correct Directories ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Move Files To Their Correct Directories ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ RIPterm needs files to be in certain directories to be able to use them.││ ││ Files in the selected categories were found in the wrong directory. ││ ││ If a category is grayed-out, no files in that category were found. ││ ││ ││ ││ To move all files, click MOVE ALL FILES. SKIP ALL FILES moves nothing. ││ ││ To move just selected files, click the MOVE SELECTED FILES button below.││ ││ To skip moving a category of file, uncheck the box by that category. ││ ││ ││ ││ These files need to be moved into the ICONS directory. ││ ││ ││ ││ [ ] Icon Files (BMP, ICN, etc.) [ ] Sound Files (WAV) ││ ││ [ ] Image Files (JPG) [ ] RIPscrip Files (RIP) ││ ││ ││ ││ These files need to be moved into the FONTS directory. ││ ││ ││ ││ [ ] Font Files (CHR, FF1, FNT) ││ ││ ││ ││ To prompt for each file individually, click on PROMPT FOR EACH FILE. ││ ││ ││ ││ [ ] Prompt for each file in the selected categories individually ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ ││ ││ │ Move All Files │ │ Move Selected Files │ ││ ││ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ ││ ││ │ Skip All Files │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm is accompanied by a number of icon files. They must be located in the ICONS\ directory under the RIPterm directory (for example: C:\RIPTERM\ICONS) for RIPterm (and the remote host system) to be able to use them. When you install RIPterm, a ICONS\ sub-directory is created under the RIPTERM directory. RIPterm will try to sense if the icons are easily locatable, and if so, prompt you to move them to the correct location when you run RIPterm. There are other categories of files that must also be in the ICONS sub-directory for RIPterm to be able to use them: File Category File Extension ------------------------------ ---------------- RIPscrip v1.x Icon Files .ICN .MSK .HOT RIPscrip v2.x Icon Files .BMP .BMM .BMH Image Files .JPG Sound Files .WAV RIPscrip Files .RIP There are also font files that are included with RIPterm. Like icons, they too need to be located in their own sub-directory. All font files end in a .CHR, .FNT, or .FF1 file extension, and should be located in the FONTS sub-directory (for example: C:\RIPTERM\FONTS). If you run RIPterm with fonts or icons in the RIPterm directory, you are prompted to have RIPterm move them to the proper directory. If you instruct RIPterm not to move the files, you will receive the message about files being in the wrong place every time you start-up RIPterm until the problem is taken care of. You have a number of options for moving just certain categories of files, to be prompted for each file before moving it, or to not have any files moved at all. NOTE: A host system can have its own ICONS directory containing any of the file type listed as valid for an ICONS directory. See Section 5.2 ■ The Dialing Directory for details on how to set this up. All font files must be in the FONTS directory. RIPterm does NOT scan the host system directories for font files, and ask to move them. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Move All Files │ └─────────────────────┘ Clicking on MOVE ALL FILES does as it says -- it moves all files into the correct directory. If PROMPT FOR EACH FILE is checked, then you will be asked for each file if you want to have it moved. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Skip All Files │ └─────────────────────┘ Clicking on SKIP ALL FILES does nothing to the files. But remember, you will be nagged every time you start-up RIPterm to move the files -- until you do something about it. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Move Selected Files │ └─────────────────────┘ If a file category is grayed out, then no files of that type were found to be moved. You may select or de-select any of the active categories by clicking on the check mark in front of the category. Clicking on the MOVE SELECTED FILES button will move just the files in the categories selected. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Help │ └─────────────────────┘ Clicking the HELP button will give you useless and meaningless information on the courtship rituals of the lemurs in Madagascar. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.1.5 ■ Convert RIPscrip v1.x Icons to v2.x Icons ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Convert icon <path/filename> to 2.0 BMP format? ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ You have some obsolete RIPscrip 1.x icons installed. These files ││ ││ can be converted to the newer 2.0 format automatically. ││ ││ To convert this icon file, click "OK". ││ ││ If you don't want to convert this icon, click "Cancel". ││ ││ To convert all icon files at once, click "Auto". ││ ││ To Exit to DOS, click "Exit". ││ ││ If you do not wish to convert any files, click "Skip". ││ ││ For more assistance, choose "Help". ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Auto │ │ Skip │ │ Exit │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm v2.0 needs to convert older RIPscrip version 1.x icons to be able to use them. A list of the file types converted are listed below. File Description Icon Mask Hot ------------------------------ ---- ---- ---- RIPscrip v1.x Icon Files .ICN .MSK .HOT RIPscrip v2.x Icon Files .BMP .BMM .BMH The original icon file is deleted after the conversion to the new icon, and the file extension is changed as shown in the table above. The file date and time is preserved from the original file, so that icon update queries will work without a problem. File queries received by RIPterm version 2 with the older icon file extensions are converted on-the-fly by RIPterm to the new extensions. This was necessary for backwards compatibility on file queries. When the conversion process is complete, a count of the number of files converted is displayed. Click OK to continue. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.2 ■ Getting Online Help ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The help system of RIPterm is easy to use. Press Alt-Z from the session screen for the help system Table of Contents. To return to the Table of Contents at any time, click on the "Contents" button at the bottom of the help screen. Many of the dialog boxes in RIPterm have help buttons that take you directly to help on that particular subject. If you have navigated through various help screens, you can back-up to a previous screen by clicking on the "Back" button. Any words or phrases highlighted in light blue are "keywords" which you can select to jump to that help topic. The currently selected keyword is yellow on dark gray. You may use the UP, DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate through the help screen's keywords. Press <ENTER> selects the current keyword, and takes you to that help screen. RIPterm uses TAB and SHIFT tab to jump from button to button at the bottom of the help screen display. When you are on the button you want to select, press the SPACE bar. Pressing ENTER selects the currently highlighted keyword, not the button you are on. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.2.1 ■ Help on the Menus ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Selecting the "Help on Menus" option from the System menu allows you to view help information on a specific menu option. A window will appear instructing you to select a pull-down menu option for help. Simply click on the right mouse button and pull down the desired menu. Select an option, and a Help Screen will appear on that item. When finished, press the <ESC> key to exit "Help on Menus" mode. You may also select menu options via the keyboard by using the Alt key combinations to activate the menu system. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 2.3 ■ RIPterm Command Line Options ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are a number of options that you may choose from when starting up RIPterm. These options are specified as "parameters" on the DOS command line. Each option is preceded with either a hyphen (-) or a forward slash (/). Each option is described below: -A ■ Disable digitized audio sounds -B ■ Show start-up checkpoint messages (debug mode) -I ■ Disable auto-icon conversion checking at start-up -M ■ Disable mouse operations -N ■ Disable logo screen -O ■ Do not initialize modem - indicate you're already online -T ■ <DEBUG> Disable 8259 Interrupt Priority rescheduling -Z ■ Disable zooming windows -D<entry#> ■ Dial <entry#> upon start up (from 1-100) -P<file> ■ Use an alternate phone directory file -Rfile ■ Execute the RIPscrip file <file> upon start-up -S<file> ■ Use an alternate setup file Command line options are not case sensitive. You may specify these options together (for single character options), or as separate parameters on the command line. For example, to suppress the intro screen, disable zooming windows and indicate that you are already online, you could execute the following DOS command: RIPTERM -noz Each of these options are described more fully in the following sub-sections: ▒▒▒ -A ■ Disable digitized audio sounds ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option causes RIPterm to act as if there were no audio board config- uration. This is useful if you are having problems with RIPterm and sound. ▒▒▒ -B ■ Show start-up checkpoint messages (debug mode) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This mode if EXTERMELY useful for when you are having problems with RIPterm locking up while it is starting-up. Show start-up checkpoint messages displays a LOT of message during the start-up of RIPterm so that you know EXACTLY what caused RIPterm to lock up. This option is for troubleshooting any video or configuration problems. ▒▒▒ -D<entry#> ■ Dial <entry#> upon start up (from 1-100) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option instructs RIPterm to dial a particular entry in the Dialing Directory immediately after it starts-up and initializes the Modem (if necessary). Whether or not the connection can be established or not is unimportant, RIPterm will remain running regardless. Use this option from within a batch file if you frequently start up RIPterm and need to dial a particular number. You may specify a dialing directory entry from 1-100. An example of using this option is as follows: RIPTERM -D15 The above example starts up RIPterm and places a call to Dialing Directory entry #15 just as if you had selected it manually. ▒▒▒ -I ■ Disable auto-icon conversion checking at start-up ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ RIPterm checks through all the icon files at start-up to see if there are any that need to be converted to RIPscrip v2.0's new icon format: BMP. Using -I disables the check for icons to convert. ▒▒▒ -M ■ Disable mouse operations ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This options makes RIPterm think there is no mouse attached (even of there is). This is for debugging mouse lock-up problems. ▒▒▒ -N ■ Disable logo screen ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ When you choose this option, the start up logo screen is disabled. You will be placed directly into RIPterm's session screen providing there are no configuration problems, or other questions that RIPterm must ask you in order to run properly. ▒▒▒ -O ■ Do not initialize modem - indicate you're already online ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ When you choose this option, RIPterm will not initialize the modem for you. If you are in this state, RIPterm starts up and ask your for an System Dir to use for icons, etc. NOTE: RIPterm auto-senses if you are already online, and will not try to initialize your modem if it detects you're online. ▒▒▒ -P<file> ■ Use an alternate phone directory file ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option instructs RIPterm to load a dialing directory file other than RIPTERM.PHO upon start up. This option is useful if you frequently use a special dialing directory file for certain applications. This option can be used with the command line option to automatically dial a directory entry upon start up. In other words, you can combine the -P and -D parameters together on the same command as in the following example: RIPTERM -Pmyfile.pho -D3 The above example would load RIPterm, load the directory file called MYFILE.PHO, initialize the modem, then automatically dial entry number 3 in the MYFILE.PHO dialing directory file. ▒▒▒ -R<file> ■ Execute the RIPscrip file <file> upon start-up ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option allows you to execute a local .RIP file upon initial start up of RIPterm. This allows you to draw some graphics, or even set up a screen with modem configuration mouse buttons. This allows for a great deal of flexibility. This option also serves as a good mechanism to test RIPscrip graphics for the RIPaint/RIPdraw artist. The RIP file must be in your ICONS directory. ▒▒▒ -S<file> ■ Use an alternate setup file ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option allows you to specify an alternate RIPterm setup file upon start up. By default, RIPterm will load RIPTERM.CNF (or create one if necessary). Use this option if you frequently start up in a particular configuration (e.g., using a COM port other than the standard default port that is recorded in RIPTERM.CNF). This option may be combined with any other command line parameter for RIPterm as in the following example: RIPTERM -nz -Pmyfile.pho -Smysetup.cnf -D10 The above example suppresses the intro logo screen, instructs RIPterm not to use zooming windows, loads the dialing directory file MYFILE.PHO, loads configuration file MYSETUP.CNF and automatically dials directory entry #10 upon start up. This is as complex of a start-up example as you can get. ▒▒▒ -T ■ <DEBUG> Disable 8259 Interrupt Priority rescheduling ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ RIPterm re-arranges the priority of interrupts when it is running to achieve the best performance possible. The -T option disables the re-arrangement of interrupt priorities. ▒▒▒ -Z ■ Disable Zooming Windows ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option will disable the zooming windows feature of RIPterm for the duration of the current RIPterm session. This mode overrides the setup option for zooming windows. If you select Save Setup from the Modem menu, this override will become permanent (until changed and saved). Some people find the zooming windows feature annoying in that it slows down operation of opening and closing windows a little bit. For these power users, you may use this option, or simply disable the Zooming Windows option in your setup and save it. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.0 ■ Pull-Down Menus ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───┬──────┬─────────┬─────────┬───────┬───────┬────────────────────┐ │ ≡ │ File │ Connect │ Options │ Setup │ Debug │ │ └───┴──────┴─────────┴─────────┴───────┴───────┴────────────────────┘ To activate the pull-down menus, press and hold down the right mouse button. The menu bar appears at the top of the screen. Move the mouse pointer to any of these items and a list of menu options will appear below the menu bar. At this point, move the mouse down into this list of items and as you move over different items, they will be selected. To select any given item, release the right mouse button while the desired option is highlighted. You can also click the right mouse button just to bring up the menu bar, and then use either mouse button or the arrow keys to select the menu you want and the options in it. You may access the pull-down menus without the mouse by pressing Alt-1 (hold down the Alt key and press the 1 key). You can also access specific menus by pressing the Alt key + the first letter of the menu name (except the Debug menu, which is Alt-U). When a menu is selected, the menu bar will appear with the first item in that menu selected. Use the RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys to move from menu to menu, and use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to select from the options in that menu. The HOME and END keys work as you would expect them to, moving to the top and bottom of the menu. In the menus, one letter is highlighted in yellow. You can press this letter to jump to that menu option and select it -- all in one step. Pressing ESC with a menu displayed will remove the list of menu options, and return you to the menu bar only. Pressing ESC again will exit the menu bar and return you to your RIPterm session. You can also click the right mouse button anywhere NOT on the menu to exit the menu bar. See Section 2.0.2 ■ Using RIPterm Without a Mouse for additional info. Most menu options have hotkeys. Hotkeys are keyboard short cuts for menu options, so that you do not have to use the menus. Menu hotkeys are shown in the menu, to the right of the menu option it corresponds to. For example, in the System menu shown below, the menu hotkey for System Information is Ctrl-Alt-I (hold down the Control & Alt keys, and press I). Some menu options are "toggle" items. If an option is toggled ON, then you will see a check-mark beside the option indicating that it is active. Select these options to toggle the state ON or OFF. The remaining portion of this section describes each menu, and how each option functions. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.1 ■ The System Menu ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───┐ │ ≡ │ ├───┴─────────────────────────────────┐ │ About RIPterm │ ├─────────────────────────────────────┤ │ License Information │ │ System Information Ctrl-Alt-I │ ├─────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Help Table of Contents Alt-Z │ │ Help on Menus Ctrl-Alt-H │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ The System Menu is shown in the menu bar as red, green, and blue wavy lines, as seen in the TeleGrafix Communications logo. This menu contains many general RIPterm functions: ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ About RIPterm │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ This option displays a dialog displaying the version, date, and copyright information for RIPterm, as well as the address and phone number of TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ License Information │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ This option displays RIPterm's serial number and the name of the user to whom it is registered. ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ System Information Ctrl-Alt-I │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ This option will display the amount of available memory as well as the amount of disk space free on the hard disk RIPterm is installed on. ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Help Table of Contents Alt-Z │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ This option will display the help system's Table of Contents. From here you can get help on all the different parts of RIPterm. ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Help on Menus Ctrl-Alt-H │ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ This option will allow you to view help information on the menus. A window will appear instructing you to select a menu option. Depress the right mouse button and pull down the desired menu. Select an option, and a help screen will appear for that item. When finished, press <ESC> to exit "Menu Help" mode. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.2 ■ The File Menu (Alt-F) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────┐ │ File │ ├──────┴─────────────────────────────────┐ │ Download (Receive) a File PgDn │ │ Upload (Send) a File PgUp │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Show Local RIPscrip Query Ctrl-Alt-Q │ │ Show Local RIPscrip File Ctrl-Alt-R │ │ Show Local Image File Ctrl-Alt-B │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Edit External Applications │ │ Run External Application Ctrl-Alt-X │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Log Text to File Alt-L │ │ Log Text to Printer Alt-P │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Printer Setup Ctrl-Alt-P │ │ Print Screen Shift-Ctrl-P │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Jump to DOS Alt-J │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Exit to DOS Alt-X │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Download (Receive) a File PgDn │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This command downloads (receives) a file from the host to your system. This is done by using what's called a "file transfer protocol". A protocol is like a language. There are a number of languages like French, English, and Italian. If two people are speaking in different languages, the result is that no communication occurs. The same goes for file transfer protocols. Both the host and the terminal (RIPterm) must use the same protocol if they are to communicate properly. To download a file, instruct the host which file you want to transfer. Select a protocol from the menu of available protocols. When the host says "Ready to download..." or "Ready to send...", choose the download option of RIPterm and SELECT THE SAME PROTOCOL that you chose on the host. Some protocols will prompt you to enter the filename to save to your local hard disk, others know the filename used on the host, and will use it automatically. The file transfer will now commence. When the transfer is complete, you will be returned to the session screen. The file will be in your Download Directory, or in your RIPterm directory if a Download Directory has not been specified. If an error occurred during the transfer, the file will be incomplete or missing entirely. See Section 4.9.1 ■ Protocol Transfer Settings for information on setting your Download Directory. The currently supported protocols are: ┌──────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────┐│ ││ Download Protocols ││ │├────────────────────┤│ ││ ASCII Text ││ ││ CompuServe QuickB+ ││ ││ Kermit ││ ││ Xmodem ││ ││ Xmodem CRC ││ ││ Xmodem-1K ││ ││ Xmodem-1K (G) ││ ││ Ymodem (Batch) ││ ││ Ymodem (G) ││ ││ Zmodem ││ ││ Exit... ││ │└────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Upload (Send) a File PgUp │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This command uploads (sends) a file to the host from your system. This is done by using what's called a "file transfer protocol". A protocol is like a language. There are a number of languages like French, English, and Italian. If two people are speaking in different languages, the result is that no communication occurs. The same goes for file transfer protocols. Both the host and the terminal (RIPterm) must use the same protocol if they are to communicate properly. To upload a file, instruct the host to upload (receive) a file, and give the host a filename and whatever other information it may request (file description, keywords, etc.). Select a protocol from the menu of available protocols. When the host says "Ready to upload..." or "Ready to receive...", choose the upload option of RIPterm and SELECT THE SAME PROTOCOL that you chose on the host. Enter the name of the file to send and the file transfer will begin. You can include a full path to the file is not in your Upload Directory (or in your RIPterm directory if an Upload Directory has not been specified). When the transfer is done, you will be returned to the session screen and if there were no errors in transmission, the file will exist on the host. See Section 4.9.1 ■ Protocol Transfer Settings for information on setting your Upload Directory. The currently supported protocols are: ┌──────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────┐│ ││ Upload Protocols ││ │├────────────────────┤│ ││ ASCII Text ││ ││ CompuServe QuickB+ ││ ││ Kermit ││ ││ Xmodem ││ ││ Xmodem CRC ││ ││ Xmodem-1K ││ ││ Xmodem-1K (G) ││ ││ Ymodem (Batch) ││ ││ Ymodem (G) ││ ││ Zmodem ││ ││ Exit... ││ │└────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Show Local RIPscrip Query Ctrl-Alt-Q │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ A RIPscrip query is a way of requesting information from RIPterm be displayed, or to have RIPterm perform an action. There are a number of built-in text variables in RIPterm, as well as the ability to define more text variables to store text data. For example, to have RIPterm display the date and time, the query to enter would be: $DATE$ $TIME$ RIPterm would display in the text window: 01/16/95 02:13:30 For information on creating or displaying the built-in and user defined text variables, see Section 3.4 ■ Options Menu. For descriptions of the built-in text variables, refer to the RIPscrip Language Specification. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Show Local RIPscrip File Ctrl-Alt-R │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPscrip files can be transmitted from the host, or they can be stored on your local hard disk for the host to call up when they need it. The advantage of storing the RIP file locally is that it only takes one very short command to display the file, rather than streaming the data to RIPterm every time it needs to be displayed. This option lets you view a RIPscrip file stored locally on your hard disk. Just type in the name of the RIP file, and RIPterm displays it for you. If you forget to type .RIP at the end, RIPterm will automatically add it on for you. If you just type in the name of a RIP file, RIPterm looks in the ICONS directory for the file. Full path/filenames can be entered for files residing elsewhere on your system. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Show Local Image File Ctrl-Alt-B │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This option is for loading a JPG or BMP file from your local hard disk, and displaying it to the screen. The image takes up the entire screen, unless a RIP_IMAGE_STYLE sets up the boundary to fit the image into. Refer to the RIPscrip v2.0 Language Specification for details on the RIP_IMAGE_STYLE command. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Edit External Applications │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This option allows you to edit up to ten (10) different configurable application programs. The External Applications feature allows you to "plug-in" programs into RIPterm to do various things. From this menu option, you can edit the configurations of all ten slots. You may custom tailor how the programs are run, what slot they are associated with, whether they should be run 'on' particular files that you download, and various other settings that may pertain to running external programs. Refer to Section 5.5 ■ External Applications for more information. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Run External Application Ctrl-Alt-X │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This option allows you to select an external application to run. When chosen, the "command line" for the program is processed and if any text variables are present it will process them to construct a complete DOS command line. When all processing on the command line is complete, RIPterm will "shell-to-DOS" and run the specified program. Refer to Section 5.5 ■ External Applications for more information. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Log Text to File Alt-L │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ A log file captures text transmitted from the host into a text file. This command can be very powerful on hosts where you want to save data coming across the modem to a file that you can read offline, at your leisure. A log file can be as big as you want, subject to the amount of disk space available. To open a log file, select "Log Text to File" from the menu. You will be prompted for a filename. When a log file is open, the menu option "Open Log File" changes to "Pause/Close Log" and the Status Bar will show the log file name in the third spot from the left, where the terminal emulation is normally displayed. If a log file is currently open, selecting "Pause/Close Log" from the menu will give you the option to either pause the log, or to close the file. Pausing "suspends" logging to disk temporarily so that you can do things without saving them to the log file. If you are currently paused, selecting "Pause/Close Log" again will prompt you to either resume or close the log. ANSI color codes, RIPscrip commands, and Doorway Emulation commands are filtered out for your convenience, but you can capture them by enabling their respective options in File Transfer Setup under the Setup menu. See Section 4.9.3 ■ Capture Log Settings for details on these options. If a log file is open, and you choose Exit RIPterm, it will be closed automatically. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Log Text to Printer Alt-P │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ By toggling this option ON, your current online session will be echoed to your local printer. Any ANSI/ASCII text that is displayed on your screen will also be sent to your local printer on whatever Printer Port (LPT) you have configured RIPterm to use. If RIPterm has not been configured for a printer, then this option will not operate (it will refuse to print). When this mode is active, you will see a message on the Status Bar saying "--LPT1--" or whatever port you have configured for your printer. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Printer Setup Ctrl-Alt-P │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Printer Setup system allows you to configure RIPterm to work with your printer (if you have one). RIPterm supports hundreds of different types of printers for your convenience. There are two basic areas of printer configuration - basic setup and advanced printer setup. BASIC SETUP - Basic printer setup involves setting what kind of printer you have and what port it is connected to. This method of setup allows you to print normal text via the "Log Text to Printer" option available from the File Menu. This will permit you to show text from your current online session, print your dialing directory and your scrollback buffer. In addition, this will typically allow you to perform normal graphics screen printing. ADVANCED SETUP - Advanced printer setup allows you to "fine tune" your printer's graphics printing capabilities. It also let's you specify exactly what method your computer will communicate with your printer. These options are generally used during "experimentation" to get your printer settings "just right". For detailed information about Printer Settings, refer to the settings below: ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Printer Settings ║ ╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢ ║ ┌─┤Printer Drivers├─────────────┬─┐ ┌──────────┬─┐ ║ ║ │ NO PRINTER ││ Printer port │ LPT1 ││ ║ ║ │ AEG Olympia 24-pin Models B/W ├─┤ └──────────┴─┘ ║ ║ │ AEG Olympia 8-pin Models B/W │█│ ┌─┤Serial Port Options├────┐ ║ ║ │ AEG Olympia Laserstar 6 │ │ │ ┌──────────┬─┐ │ ║ ║ │ ATT 495 Laser Printer │ │ │ Baud rate │ 9600 ││ │ ║ ║ │ Acer IIIG Grayscale │ │ │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ ║ ║ │ Acer LP-76 │ │ │ Data bits │ 8 ││ │ ║ ║ │ Alps 24-pin Models B/W │ │ │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ ║ ║ │ Alps 24-pin Models (Color) │ │ │ Parity │ None ││ │ ║ ║ │ Alps 8-pin Models B/W │ │ │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ ║ ║ │ Apple LaserWriter Series ├─┤ │ Stop bits │ 1 ││ │ ║ ║ │ Bezier BP404 ││ │ └──────────┴─┘ │ ║ ║ └───────────────────────────────┴─┘ └──────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ┌─┤Advanced Options├────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ ┌───────────┬─┐ ┌────────┬─┐ │ ║ ║ │ Dithering │ Dispersed ││ Resolution │ Medium ││ │ ║ ║ │ ├───────────┼─┤ ├────────┼─┤ │ ║ ║ │ Brightness (%) │ 100 ││ Communications │ BIOS ││ │ ║ ║ │ ├───────────┼─┤ └────────┴─┘ │ ║ ║ │ Image Size (%) │ 100 ││ │ ║ ║ │ └───────────┴─┘ │ ║ ║ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ║ ║ │ Ok │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Test │ │ Help │ ║ ║ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ┌─────────────────┐ │ Printer Drivers │ └─────────────────┘ This software supports over 142 ┌─┤Printer Drivers├─────────────┬─┐ different types of printer. Each │ NO PRINTER ││ of these is supported via a │ AEG Olympia 24-pin Models B/W ├─┤ different "driver" which defines │ AEG Olympia 8-pin Models B/W │█│ how to print to that printer. │ AEG Olympia Laserstar 6 │ │ │ ATT 495 Laser Printer │ │ Many of the drivers listed can │ Acer IIIG Grayscale │ │ work with multiple printers. For │ Acer LP-76 │ │ example, the driver named "Epson │ Alps 24-pin Models B/W │ │ FX Series" covers all Epson FX │ Alps 24-pin Models (Color) │ │ model printers - which there are │ Alps 8-pin Models B/W │ │ quite a few of. In addition, many │ Apple LaserWriter Series ├─┤ printers are compatible with other │ Bezier BP404 ││ printers (Epson being a common └───────────────────────────────┴─┘ common one). If you do not see your specific printer listed among the available printer drivers, check your printer's documentation to see if it is compatible with another printer that is in the listing. There are three printers which are often comaptibile with other printers. These are Epson, HP LaserJet (PCL), and Postscript. Among the Epson style, your printer could be compatible with Epson FX, LX, etc. Choose the Epson driver that is most appropriate if your printer is Epson compatibile. If your printer is HP LaserJet compatible, it supports the HP-PCL printer language and is most likely compatible with "HP LaserJet Series III" printers. Postscript compatible printer support the Postscript language. Choose "Postscript (B/W)" for black and white Postscript, or choose "Postscript (Color)" if for color Postscript. ┌───────────────┐ │ Printer Ports │ └───────────────┘ ┌──────────┬─┐ Printer port │ LPT1 ││ ╞══════════╧═╡ │ LPT1 │ In order for the software to communicate with your │ LPT2 │ printer, you need to specify which "port" your │ LPT3 │ printer is attached to. Typically, your printer │ COM1 │ will be connected to the parallel port LPT1 on the │ COM2 │ back of your computer. The available ports are │ COM3 │ LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1, COM2, COM3 or COM4. The │ COM4 │ LPT ports are parallel ports and the COM ports are └────────────┘ serial ports (see below). RIPterm can communicate with your printer through one of two kinds of ports, a parallel port or a serial port. A parallel port is usually only used for printers. Serial ports are communications ports like what your modem uses; some printers can be connected to a serial port. If you do not know what type of port your printer is connected, consult your printer's manual - it will probably be able to assist you in determining the proper configuration in RIPterm. If your printer is connected to a serial port, you will need to configure the baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits for the printer for printing to work successfully. For more information about this kind of configuration, see the section entitled "Serial Printer Options". ╔═════════════════════╗ ║ Serial Port Options ║ ╚═════════════════════╝ Serial printers communicate in much the ┌─┤Serial Port Options├────┐ same fashion as a modem does. You need │ ┌──────────┬─┐ │ to specify the serial port baud rate, │ Baud rate │ 9600 ││ │ data bits, parity and stop bits required │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ by the printer. Usually, the default │ Data bits │ 8 ││ │ options of 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ parity and 1 stop bit will be sufficient │ Parity │ None ││ │ as this is the most common setting for │ ├──────────┼─┤ │ serial printers. Some older serial │ Stop bits │ 1 ││ │ printers might require a other settings │ └──────────┴─┘ │ for things to work properly. └──────────────────────────┘ When dealing with serial printers, consult your printer's manual for information about what kind of settings are required. A printer that requires a serial port connection typically has detailed information about what kind of settings are required for the printer to operate. ┌───────────┐ │ Baud Rate │ └───────────┘ The baud for serial printers is "how fast" ┌──────────┬─┐ the computer communicates with the printer Baud rate │ 9600 ││ through the serial port. The higher the ╞══════════╧═╡ baud rate, the faster the printer can accept │ 1200 │ data from the computer. When printing │ 2400 │ graphics, this can make a big difference │ 9600 │ between very slow printing and relatively └────────────┘ quick printing. The available baud rate settings are 1200, 2400 and 9600 baud. Most printers require a setting of 9600 baud, but not all. You should consult your printer's manual to determine what baud rate your printer requires. In addition to the serial port's baud rate, you will also need to set the data bits, parity and stop bit settings for things to work properly. For more information about serial port options, consult the section entitled "Serial Printer Options". If you are using the printer "log" feature, your printer's baud rate must be at least as high as the modem's baud rate, otherwise the printer will not be able to keep up with the modem. ┌───────────┐ │ Data Bits │ └───────────┘ The data bits option is a setting for ┌──────────┬─┐ serial ports that determines how much Data bits │ 8 ││ data is sent to the printer for every ╞══════════╧═╡ single character transmitted. There are │ 7 │ two settings, 8 bits and 7 bits. Nearly │ 8 │ every serial printer requires a setting └────────────┘ of 8 bits. If printing does not operate properly, consult your printer's manual to determine the correct data bit settings. In addition to the serial port's baud rate, you will also need to set the data bits, parity and stop bit settings for things to work properly. For more information about serial port options, consult the section entitled "Serial Printer Options". ┌────────┐ │ Parity │ └────────┘ The parity setting for serial printers is a ┌──────────┬─┐ form of "error detection". It is used to Parity │ None ││ help the printer determine if an error ╞══════════╧═╡ occurred when data is transmitted to it. │ None │ There are three possible settings for the │ Even │ parity option: None, even and odd. The │ Odd │ vast majority of serial printers require the └────────────┘ setting of "None". A few printers utilize the "Even" setting but this is only seen in older printers. In the very rare case, a setting of "odd" might be required. Consult your printer's manual for more detailed information about the required parity setting for your serial printer. In addition to the serial port's baud rate, you will also need to set the data bits, parity and stop bit settings for things to work properly. For more information about serial port options, consult the section entitled "Serial Printer Options". ┌───────────┐ │ Stop Bits │ └───────────┘ Stop bits are used with serial printers ┌──────────┬─┐ to tell the printer when a character Stop bits │ 1 ││ transmitted to the printer is complete. ╞══════════╧═╡ The possible settings for stop bits is 1 │ 1 │ and 2. Nearly every serial printer │ 2 │ available uses a stop bit of 1. Consult └────────────┘ your printer's manual to determine the proper stop bit setting. In addition to the serial port's baud rate, you will also need to set the data bits, parity and stop bit settings for things to work properly. For more information about serial port options, consult the section entitled "Serial Printer Options". ╔══════════════════╗ ║ Advanced Options ║ ╚══════════════════╝ ┌─┤Advanced Options├────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────┬─┐ ┌────────┬─┐ │ │ Dithering │ Dispersed ││ Resolution │ Medium ││ │ │ ├───────────┼─┤ ├────────┼─┤ │ │ Brightness (%) │ 100 ││ Communications │ BIOS ││ │ │ ├───────────┼─┤ └────────┴─┘ │ │ Image Size (%) │ 100 ││ │ │ └───────────┴─┘ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Advanced printer options are for "fine tuning" your printer and how it operates. Most of the advanced options are used for altering the way that the printer displays graphics (i.e., print screen). The "Communications" option is an option used to control how the computer communicates with the printer - typically this doesn't need to be changed. Among the options available for graphics control, are options to control how color/gray-scale is rendered on the printer (Dithering), how bright the image should be (Brightness), how large the image should be on the printed page (Image Size), and the resolution that the printer should be in when printing graphics (Resolution). Each of these topics are covered in-depth in their own sections of the help system (click on one of the options above for more detailed information). In general, the advanced printer options are only necessary when you want to custom tailor the printer's graphics output. For simple text printing (i.e., a printer log), you don't need to worry about these settings. ┌───────────┐ │ Dithering │ └───────────┘ ┌─────────────┬─┐ Dithering │ Dispersed ││ ╞═════════════╧═╡ │ Log-8 │ Dithering is a way of representing color on a │ Log-12 │ device that has fewer colors than the image that's │ Linear-16 │ being displayed. Color printers for example, │ Linear-25 │ typically can only display about 8-16 distinctly │ Dispersed │ different solid colors. To get any other shades │ Dot Cluster │ of colors, you have to use combinations of colors └───────────────┘ in small patterns to "fool" the human eye into seeing more colors than the printer can actually accomodate. That's what dithering is, different pattern schemes to represent colors. An example of dithering is seen all the time in newspapers when they print black and white photographs. If you look very closely at the image, you will notice that the different shades of gray in the photo are generated with very tiny dots of black at different sizes. Using these dots, they achieve what appears to be a black and white photo with varying shades of gray. Black and white printers don't have any kind of colors other than black and white, so to represent an arbitrary color, they have to use combinations of patterns to achieve varying levels of "gray". Each of the dithering methods supported by RIPterm produce a specific result and as such, are designed for different situations. Each dithering method is described individually below: LOG-8 - This dithering pattern uses a pattern of eight different levels to achieve its result. It makes dark colors brighter and leaves light colors relatively unmodified. Use this when images are coming out "way too dark". LOG-12 - This is like the Log-8, except that 12 levels of patterns are used to achieve the results producing a wider range of shades. LINEAR-16 - This uses 16 different levels of patterns to get its effects. It does not brighten dark colors like the Log style dithering methods do. Use this when your printer displays color or gray scales "evenly", producing good results most of the time. LINEAR-25 - This is much like Linear-16 except that it uses 25 levels of patterns, and produces a wider range of shades. DISPERSED - This produces a "finer grained" result than do the Log or Linear style dithering methods. It is most useful for photographs and other graphics where a wide range of colors is used. Dispersed patterns typically need to have the Brightness level adjusted so that things don't come out too dark (because of the fine patterns used). DOT CLUSTER - The dot cluster method is similar to the dithering used by most Postscript printers. It uses fine patterns of dots. ┌────────────┐ │ Brightness │ └────────────┘ ┌──────┬─┐ The brightness option is used to control how Brightness (%) │ 100 ││ "bright" the printed image is to be. This is └──────┴─┘ useful when images are coming out too dark and adjusting the various dithering methods doesn't achieve the results you want. Getting the brightness "just right" varies from one type of printer to the next. Experimentation is usually the best way of determining the optimal brightness factor for your printer. A brightness factor of 100% indicates that no brightness adjusting should be performed. This prints the image using the exact same colors as you see on the screen - it's up to the printer and the dithering system to make the image come out properly. Some printers like ink jet printers and black and white printers have a tendency to make dark colors appear very dark (due to bleeding in the paper and other such things). In these cases, the brightness option is exactly what you need. Brightness settings below 100% effectively darken the image. Values above 100% brighten the image. Typical brightness settings are 100%, 125%, 150%, 175% and 200% depending on the quality of output on your printer. Again, experimentation is usually the best way of getting your brightness set correctly. Altering the dithering method will often adjust the brightness factor appropriately, as some dithering methods offer better results when the brightness is adjusted. It should be noted that when images are brightened, the dark colors are brightened more than lighter colors. This is due to the way most printers work and the way that the human eye perceives brightness. Valid ranges for brightness are from 1 to 1000 percent. ┌────────────┐ │ Image Size │ └────────────┘ ┌──────┬─┐ The image size option controls how large the Image size (%) │ 100 ││ final image will be on the printed page. By └──────┴─┘ default, the image is set to be full sized. This means that the image will be as wide as it can be to fit on the page fully. The image is kept so that the overall size of the image is the same dimensions as the image on your monitor. When set to full size (i.e., 100%), the printed image will extend to the very right edge of the printed paper and as far down as necessary to make the image appear the same dimensions as the computer monitor. You may reduce the size of the image if you would like the image to be smaller. A value of 50% will make the image 1/2 the width of the page. Smaller images take less time to print. For example, a image size of 50% will be 4 times faster than an image at 100%. An image at 25% will be 16 times faster than an image at 100%. Another way to speed up the printing process would be to switch to a lower resolution for the printer (if your printer supports multiple resolutions). Lower resolution printed images take much less time than higher resolution ones. It should be noted that RIPterm takes the "aspect ratios" of both the screen and the printer into consideration when printing images. This should make it so that the final printed image is proportionally the same size as your computer's monitor. ┌────────────┐ │ Resolution │ └────────────┘ ┌────────┬─┐ The resolution option controls how "fine" Resolution │ Medium ││ printed images are to be on the printer. A low ╞════════╧═╡ resolution will produce very course looking │ Low │ printouts of your screen, whereas a high │ Medium │ resolution will produce extremely fine printouts. │ High │ Exactly which resolution you set your printer for └──────────┘ should be based on several factors: Performance and quality. To obtain fast printouts, you could use a low resolution printer mode, however the quality of graphics printouts will be very low. This let's you get a quick idea of what the printout might look like. A high resolution printout will take the most time, but will provide the highest quality possible. Medium resolution is chosen by default for most printers (e.g., dot matrix, ink jet, etc.), whereas high resolution is chosen for printers that can produce truly excellent results (e.g., Postscript printers or Laser type printers). Serial printers should probably use medium or low resolution except when truly necessary. The reason for this is that serial printers are generally much slower than parallel printers, and as such medium resolution should provide adequate performance/quality except when high quality is absolutely necessary. ┌────────────────┐ │ Communications │ └────────────────┘ ┌──────────┬─┐ Communications │ BIOS ││ The communications option controls how the ╞══════════╧═╡ computer communicates with the printer. │ Hardware │ Communications with the printer is crucial │ BIOS │ in getting reliable printer operation. │ Network │ Usually this option never needs to be └────────────┘ changed. You might need to change it if you have problems. BIOS - This default option provides the highest degree of compatility with your printer. It uses the computer's internal printer services to send data to the printer and receive status reports on printer operations. It makes sure that you don't send data to your printer too fast, senses if the paper has run out and many other possible situations. HARDWARE - Allows RIPterm to communicate directly with your printer hardware, bypassing the operating system and other such sub- systems that could cause problems. This option works for printers that are connected directly to the printer. Like the BIOS mode, it obtains full status information from the printer and makes sure that data isn't sent too fast to the printer. This option is intended only for the most reliable environments. NETWORK - This is intended for use with printers that are connected to a network that your computer is using. It is not for printers attached directly to your computer. This option provides very little printer control or status report ability, but lets you use a network printer when BIOS and Hardware modes don't work. Use this option only as a last resort. Most network printers fully support the BIOS mode and some even support the Hardware mode! ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ The OK option accepts the current printer settings and activates them in your current RIPterm environment. The settings are not saved to the permanent setup of the software. The Printer Settings dialog is closed once the printer settings are activated. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ The CANCEL option abandons any modifications you have made to the printer configuration and returns to normal software operation. The Printer Settings dialog is closed and any changes you made to the printer's configuration will be completely ignored. ┌──────┐ │ Save │ └──────┘ The SAVE option takes your changes to the printer's configuration and saves them to the permanent RIPterm setup configuration. In addition, the settings are activated for the remainder of the current session of the software. The Printer Settings dialog is closed and you are returned to normal software operations. ┌──────┐ │ Test │ └──────┘ The TEST option will perform a sample test printout. The Printer Settings dialog box is closed (temporarily) while the printer attempts to print your normal RIPterm screen currently active. While the printing is active, a progress window will appear showing you the current status of the printing progress. As soon as the printout is complete (or if an error occurs), you will be returned to the Printer Settings dialog. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Print Screen PrintScreen │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ Print Screen dumps the entire contents of the screen to the printer. You must have selected either the Epson, HP LaserJet, or Postscript printer option. Print Screen does not work with Plain Text printer mode. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Jump to DOS Alt-J │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ The "Jump to DOS" feature allows you to shell out to an MS-DOS command line while remaining in RIPterm. You would use this if you wanted to obtain a DOS directory, or to run an editor, or use DOS in general. To return to RIPterm from the DOS command line, type "EXIT". RIPterm will display a special DOS prompt indicating that are currently running RIPterm, but executing a DOS shell. You may use any disk drive you want, or change directories. When you type "EXIT", RIPterm will return to your default RIPterm directory so that it can re-load files for you. When you return to your RIPterm session, the current session screen is restored as well as any mouse fields, or other parameters. See Section 5.5 ■ External Applications for more details about the DOS Shell feature. ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Exit to DOS Alt-X │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ This exits RIPterm and returns you to DOS. If your modem configuration is set to "modem dialing", and you are currently online, a dialog box will appear asking if you wish to hang-up before exiting. If you choose NO at this prompt, you will remain online even after you have exited to DOS. Use this option with caution, since if you forget that you are online, you could charge up a huge phone bill. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.3 ■ The Connect Menu (Alt-C) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────┐ │ Connect │ ├─────────┴─────────────────────┐ │ Dialing Directory Alt-D │ ├───────────────────────────────┤ │ Manual Connect Alt-M │ │ Disconnect (Hang Up) Alt-H │ ├───────────────────────────────┤ │ Initialize Modem Alt-I │ │ Modem Auto-Answer Alt-A │ ├───────────────────────────────┤ │ Send Break Ctrl-END │ └───────────────────────────────┘ The Connect Menu contains the options that handle all the connections the the outside world. From this menu you can make the modem dial-out to other systems, disconnect, and otherwise control your online sessions. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Dialing Directory Alt-D │ └───────────────────────────────┘ This option displays the current dialing directory on your screen. From this dialog box, you may dial, edit or otherwise manipulate any of the dialing directory entries in any way you wish. To dial a system, click on it's name in the list, and click the Dial button at the bottom of the dialog box. To learn how to edit or add entries, or for info on any of the other options available, refer to Section 5.2 ■ The Dialing Directory. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Manual Connect Alt-M │ └───────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Manual Connect ││ │├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Phone Number │ │ ││ ││ └────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ System Dir │ │ ││ ││ └────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ This command is for accessing a system without the need to add it to your Dialing Directory. This is useful for a system that you are going to call just once, or a system you don't know if you will ever want to call again. You are prompted you to enter the Phone Number to dial, and the name of the System Directory to use for icons and any other files the host needs while you're connected (if any). You may enter any digits from 0-9 for the Phone Number. Hyphens, slashes, and parenthesis are ignored. If you need to obtain a delay in dialing the phone number, you can use a comma (,) for a 2 second pause (depending on your modem), or you can use a tilde (~) to tell RIPterm to insert a 1/2 second delay. For the icon directory, enter the name of the directory that contains the icons this system may need, or a directory that you use for temporary files. If you never call this system again, you won't want to keep its icons hanging around on your hard disk taking up space. ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ After entering the phone number and clicking OK, the Dialing Window will appear showing you the progress of RIPterm as it dials the modem. See Section 5.2.5 ■ The Dialing Window for details on this operation. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Click Cancel to abort connection to the remote system. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ Help is no help whatsoever. Just kidding. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Disconnect (Hang Up) Alt-H │ └───────────────────────────────┘ This option will attempt to disconnect the modem, thus logging you off of whatever host you are connected to. If for some reason, RIPterm was unable to successfully disconnect the modem, the message "Hang-up Failed" will be displayed and your system will beep to indicate a problem has occurred. There are two methods RIPterm can use to disconnect the modem. The fastest and most reliable method is to use one of the connections between your computer and modem called DTR (Data Terminal Ready). RIPterm will toggle DTR to off, and the modem knows to hang up when this happens -- usually. Some modems have to be reconfigured to do this, some modems (old ones) can't do it, and sometimes the cable connecting your computer and modem doesn't have DTR connected (get a new cable). DTR Hangup can be turned on in Modem Setup in the Setup menu. If DTR Hangup is disabled, then RIPterm will use the Modem Hangup string in the Modem Setup dialog box. This is a slower, and not as reliable method of hanging up the modem. It sends a modem command mode break-in sequence (usually +++), followed by the rest of the hang-up string. See Section 4.6 ■ Modem Setup for more details on these settings. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Initialize Modem Alt-I │ └───────────────────────────────┘ Choosing this option resets the modem by sending the Modem Initialization string to the modem. This will effectively reset the modem to the configured default settings. Note: THIS ONLY WORKS IF THE MODEM IS OFFLINE. If you are connected to a host system, you must first disconnect before initializing the modem. Otherwise, your Modem Init string gets transmitted to the remote system. The commands sent to the modem can be altered by changing the Modem Init string in Modem Setup, located in the Setup menu. See Section 4.6 ■ Modem Setup for more details on these settings. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Modem Auto-Answer Alt-A │ └───────────────────────────────┘ This command transmits the Auto-Answer command string to the modem. This command instructs the modem to answer the phone after a certain number of rings (one ring by default). Note: THIS ONLY WORKS IF THE MODEM IS OFFLINE. If you are connected to a host system, you must first disconnect before setting the modem to Auto-Answer. Otherwise, your Auto-Answer string gets transmitted to the remote system. The command sent to the modem can be altered by selecting Modem Setup from the Setup menu. See Section 4.6 ■ Modem Setup for details. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ Send Break Ctrl-END │ └───────────────────────────────┘ A Break is a special signal that can be sent from your system to the host. Most hosts simply ignore them, but some use them for aborting operations, or for various purposes. RIPterm will send a break of 250 milliseconds by default. A millisecond is 1/1000 of a second, so 250 milliseconds is one quarter of a second. The Break Duration can be set in the General Setup. See Section 4.1 ■ General Setup to change the Break Duration. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.4 ■ The Options Menu (Alt-O) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────┐ │ Options │ ├─────────┴──────────────────────────────┐ │ View Scrollback Buffer Alt-B │ │ Keystroke Macro Editor Alt-K │ │ Chat Mode Alt-Y │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ √ Status Bar Alt-SPACE │ │ √ Button Hotkeys ScrollLock │ │ √ Mouse Field Select Ctrl-Alt-O │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ √ ANSI Emulation Ctrl-Alt-A │ │ √ RIPscrip Emulation Ctrl-Alt-Z │ │ Doorway Emulation Alt-= │ │ VT-102 Emulation │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Clear the Graphics Window Alt-G │ │ Clear the Text Window Alt-T │ │ Reset All Windows Alt-R │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Create Variable │ │ Show Built-In Variables │ │ Show Database Variables │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Redraw System Menu Ctrl-HOME │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ View Scrollback Buffer Alt-B │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This option will activate the Scrollback Buffer system. This allows you to view previously displayed text information that has come across the modem. You may set the scrollback buffer size from 0k to 9999k of memory. If there is not enough memory available to hold the entire scrollback buffer, it will automatically use your hard disk to store the oldest info. Within scrollback, you may choose from the following options: OK - Exit Scrollback to session screen Search - looks for a particular word or phrase Again - looks for the next occurrence of the same word or phrase Write - option for saving the screen or the entire buffer Print - prints the content of the Scrollback Buffer Clear - erases the entire Scrollback Buffer Help - this information here At the bottom of the scrollback screen are buttons for the above commands. In addition, there is a scroll bar for scrolling up and down, paging up and down, or moving to the beginning or end of the buffer. NOTE: The scrollback buffer filters out ANSI color codes and RIPscrip commands for an uncluttered text display. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Keystroke Macro Editor Alt-K │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ Macros are designed to save you typing. You can define a macro to type your entire company name followed by ENTER, for example. By pressing just one key, you can make RIPterm type out whatever the macro contains just as if you had typed it yourself. This allows you to perform short-cut operations on the host. RIPterm's macro system is easy to use, and very powerful. You can save your macro keys to the default macro file (RIPTERM.KEY), or if you need to have multiple macro configurations, you can save macros to different files. There are also macro files for VT-102 emulation, and you can have RIPterm load a macro file for a particular host (System Macros). Refer to Section 5.3 ■ Keystroke Macro Editor for more information. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Chat Mode Alt-Y │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ Chat Mode is designed for when two terminal users connect with each other directly. There are several configuration problems that come up in this situation, and Chat Mode solves these problems. Typing by each user goes into separate windows, and the Modem Setup for Local Echo and Add CR/LF are temporarily enabled so that you can converse conveniently and easily with the remote user. Refer to Section 5.6 ■ Chat Mode for more information. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Status Bar Alt-SPACE │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ The Status Bar will be displayed at the bottom of your RIPterm screen by default. When this option is not checked, the Status Bar will not be displayed and your default (full-screen) text window will be one line taller. The Status Bar is used to display the current status of various aspects of the RIPterm operation. You may toggle the Status Bar ON and OFF quickly by pressing ALT-SPACE. The host might turn the Status Bar ON or OFF for you, using RIPscrip commands. If it mysteriously vanishes for some reason, keep in mind that the host you are connected to probably did it because it needs the extra line for text or graphics! The Status Bar has a number of different "fields", displaying information about RIPterm current configuration and status. The fields are: ┌──────────────┬──────────────┬──────────┬─────────────────┬ │ Alt-Z = Help │ Alt-! = Menu │ ANSI/RIP │ 38400 ■ N81 FDX │ └──────────────┴──────────────┴──────────┴─────────────────┴ (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) ┬──────┬──────────────────┬─────────┐ │ COM1 │ RIPterm v2.00.00 │ Offline │ ┴──────┴──────────────────┴─────────┘ (7) (8) (9) (1) How to get the Help System Table of Contents (2) How to use the keyboard only to bring up the menu bar (3) What terminal emulation is in use, or the name of the log file if one has been opened, or the LPT port that it being printed to. (4) The BPS (bits per second) rate. Sometimes called the baud rate. (5) The parity setting, data bits, and stop bits. (6) Full-duplex (FDX) or half-duplex (HDX) settings (7) The COM port that is currently in use (8) The current version number of RIPterm (9) Whether you are "offline", or how long you have been on-line Refer to Section 5.1 ■ The Status Bar for more information. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Button Hotkeys ScrollLock │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ Button Hotkeys are a substitute for clicking on a button with the mouse. If a button has a hotkey, then by typing the hotkey letter for that button (usually indicated by a different color letter, or an underlined letter, or maybe both), the button behaves EXACTLY the same as if it had been clicked with the mouse. In other words, if there is a button on the session screen like this: ┌────────────────┐ │ │ │ (E)nter name │ │ │ └────────────────┘ ...where the hotkey for the button is "E", simply pressing the "E" key on your keyboard would activate this button. This may not be desirable if you're trying to type a message containing the letter "E". However, there are times when you need to be able to type without having buttons clicked for you. Button Hotkeys are linked to the ScrollLock key on your keyboard. If ScrollLock is lit, then hotkeys are processed. If ScrollLock is not lit, then the character will be sent to the host directly, bypassing any button hotkeys. Button Hotkeys can also be enabled/disabled by selecting Button Hotkeys from the Options menu. NOTE: This is only for buttons on the session screen. Buttons in dialog boxes always have their hotkeys enabled, and can be select by pressing the ALT key + the letter highlighted in yellow. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Mouse Field Select Ctrl-Alt-O │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm also supports the use of the TAB and SHIFT-TAB keys to jump from mouse field to mouse field. When you are on the Mouse Field you wish to select, press ENTER to select it. Press ESC to get out of Mouse Field Select mode. The use of TAB and SHIFT-TAB can be disabled by de-selecting Mouse Field Select from the Options menu, or by pressing Ctrl-Alt-O. Also, many of the clickable buttons on a RIPscrip screen use hot keys, meaning the by pressing just one key on the keyboard, it behaves EXACTLY the same as if you had clicked on that button with a mouse. A hotkey will have one character underlined, or in a different color, or both! Press that character to activate that button. See Section 3.4 ■ Options Menu for more information on the Button Hotkeys and Mouse Field Select options. If Mouse Field Select is disabled, the TAB character (Control-I) is transmitted to the host. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ANSI Emulation Ctrl-Alt-A │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ The ANSI text commands can be used to change the foreground and background color of the text displayed, place the cursor at certain coordinates, and clear the screen (among other things). To make RIPterm ignore any ANSI commands, you can de-select ANSI Emulation. Any ANSI commands received will appear in the text window. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ RIPscrip Emulation Ctrl-Alt-Z │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPscrip Emulation processes all RIPscrip commands received. Deselecting this option causes RIPterm to ignore any RIPscrip commands it receives, and display them in the text window. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Doorway Emulation Alt-= │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This mode is used on a number of hosts that take advantage of "Doors". When in Doorway Emulation, any keystroke that you enter on your keyboard is transmitted to the host regardless of the fact that the keystroke might be a menu shortcut, or something that RIPterm would normally process locally. This allows you to use special keystrokes (like INSERT, DELETE, PGUP, Function Keys, etc.) on a host program that can take advantage of it. The most popular program that takes advantage of this mode is DOORWAY (tm) by Marshall Dudley of TriMark Engineering, Inc. RIPterm's support for Doorway operation is a complete implementation of the Doorway interface. It fully supports the Printer Re-direction feature as well as Special Character Overriding for non-printable ASCII characters (control characters). RIPterm is one of the first terminals to be released to the general "market" with complete Doorway support. PROGRAMMER'S NOTE ----------------- For the technically minded who want to know how this works, this is what's going on: ■ The keystroke is recorded using BIOS interrupt 0x16, sub-function 0x00 for non-101-key keyboards, or sub-function 0x10 for 101-key keyboards. ■ If register AL contains a value (the ASCII character), and AH is equal to 0, then it is sent to the host by transmitting the character directly over the comm port (e.g., 'A', 'z', '3', etc). ■ If AH is not 0, then transmit the contents of AH instead to the host by transmitting a null (0), then the contents of AH. If AL == E0, and AH != 0, then it is an enhanced 101-key scancode and should be sent to the host as a null (0), followed by an 0xE0, then followed by the raw scan code (AH). ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ VT-102 Emulation │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ VT-102 emulation is for use with a host application that requires that the keyboard be configured as a VT-102 terminal. See Section 5.3 ■ Keystroke Macro Editor for specifics on VT-102 keyboard configuration, or look at the file VT102.MAC in the RIPterm directory. It's a text file easily viewable using a text viewer. In addition, many ANSI escape sequences function slightly differently than in normal ANSI mode. TeleGrafix worked closely with Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) to develop and test RIPterm's VT-102 emulation. It adheres to the true VT-102 specification. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Clear the Graphics Window Alt-G │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm uses two types of windows in RIPscrip graphics mode, a graphics window and a text window. The text window is where all plain text transmitted from the host is displayed. The graphics window is where all graphical RIPscrip commands are displayed. Choose this option to clear the graphics window only. If the graphics window overlaps the text window, then some of the text may be erased in the process. The window is cleared to the current background color, which by default is BLACK. The background color can be set using RIPscrip commands only -- there is no option in RIPterm to select a background color. NOTE: The graphics window, by default, is full screen. This may be changed by using RIPscrip commands. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Clear the Text Window Alt-T │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm uses two types of windows in RIPscrip graphics mode, a graphics window and a text window. The graphics window is where all graphical RIPscrip commands are displayed. The text window is where text received from the host is displayed. RIPscrip allows for up to 36 text windows. When clearing the text window, it will clear whichever is the currently active text window. Choose this option to clear the text window only. If the text window overlaps the graphics window, then some of the graphics may be erased in the process. The window is cleared to BLACK and the cursor moved to the upper left corner of the window. NOTE: The text window, by default, is full screen. This may be changed by using RIPscrip commands. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Reset All Windows Alt-R │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This command will reset the text and graphics windows to full screen. In addition, the screen is cleared and the text cursor moved to the upper left hand corner of the screen. This is equivalent to a clear screen command in other software packages. The color palette is reset to the default color set, the font is reset to the system default you have selected and any mouse fields/buttons are deleted from the screen. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Create Variable │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This option enters information into the RIPterm database. Each piece of information is associated with a "label" (also called the variable name). Information entered can be from 1-60 characters in length. The label can be from 3-12 characters in length, with these restrictions: no spaces are allowed, the first character must be a letter or an underscore, the rest of the label may consist of letters, number, and underscores. An example of this might be: Variable Information Stored in variable -------------- ------------------------------ FIRST_NAME John LAST_NAME Doe ADDRESS 123 Anywhere Street PHONE_NUMBER 555-1212 You may choose to save a variable either to internal memory, or to the permanent database. This database is "indexed" for high speed access of information. If the index becomes corrupted due to a power failure or some other problem, it is automatically re-indexed for you. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Show Built-In Variables │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This displays the contents of all text variables that are built into RIPterm. Some variables are built-in in the sense that RIPterm doesn't need you to provide it with information. Among the various built-in variables are things like $DATE$, $TIME$, and other such variables that change frequently. Some variables do not contain valid text data due to their nature. These might include variables like $SBARON$, or $SBAROFF$ which display or hide the Status Bar. When listing these variables, the contents are listed as blank. NOTE: The variables are appended to the scrollback buffer. You can view them by selecting text scrollback from the Options menu, or by pressing ALT-B. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Show Database Variables │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ This option displays all text variables that have been stored in the local RIPTERM.DB database file. All variables are listed to the current text window, but are not sent to the host. This allows you to see what is currently in your database. NOTE: The variables are appended to the scrollback buffer. You can view them by selecting View Scrollback from the Options menu, or by pressing ALT-B. ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Redraw System Menu Ctrl-HOME │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ Redraw System Menu is a new feature of RIPscrip that allows the host to define what key sequence is needed to redraw the screen. If no sequence is defined, this option is ghosted (not selectable). Many systems just need a Carriage Return (ENTER, or Control-M) to redraw the current screen, but hosts vary. This allows them to define the correct re-draw sequence, but all you have to know is how to press Ctrl-HOME. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.5 ■ The Setup Menu (Alt-S) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────┐ │ Setup │ ├───────┴────────────────────────────┐ │ General Setup Ctrl-Alt-G │ │ Video/Mouse Setup Ctrl-Alt-V │ │ Audio Setup Ctrl-Alt-U │ │ System Font Setup Ctrl-Alt-F │ ├────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Modem Setup Ctrl-Alt-M │ │ Modem Dialing Prefixes Ctrl-Alt-D │ │ Modem Hardware Setup Ctrl-Alt-W │ ├────────────────────────────────────┤ │ File Transfer Setup Ctrl-Alt-T │ ├────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Save Setup Ctrl-Alt-S │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ The Setup Menu provides you with a centralized place to alter RIPterm's overall configuration. You may modify the modem's configuration, various general settings and also the way in which telephone numbers are dialed. The following sections describe the various options in detail. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ General Setup Ctrl-Alt-G │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ The General Setup dialog box controls various miscellaneous settings for the RIPterm environment. The various settings in this dialog box are: Data Security ..... This mode prevents the host from querying info from your terminal database without you being given the opportunity to approve the information transfer first. Alarm Sounds ...... Errors, download completions, and connecting make various sounds. For quiet mode, turn this off. Enable Beeps ...... Any CTRL-G (bel) character that is received will "beep" your local console. 101-key keyboard .. If enabled, this option will provide 101-key support for Keystroke Macros and Doorway Mode. Zooming Windows ... If checked, all dialog boxes will "zoom in/out" by showing what looks like an exploding rectangle before displaying the dialog box. Force DTR on Exit . This option allows you to control whether the modem signal DTR is left ON or OFF when exiting RIPterm. Some modems act differently depending on the setting of DTR. Refer to your modem guide for more details on its DTR support. Scrollback Size ... Sets the size of the Scrollback Buffer. You can set the size from 0K (disabled) to 9,999K. Set Break Duration. This option sets the length of the special break signal that can be sent. The default is 250ms. See Section 4.1 ■ General Setup for in-depth explanations of each option. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Video/Mouse Setup Ctrl-Alt-V │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm version 2.0 supports 117 different video cards and video modes. If yours is not listed, chances are that your video card supports one or more of the VESA video modes, which were created as a standard way of addressing video hardware from software. Check your video card documentation to see what modes it supports. VESA mode on some video cards may be slower than the native mode -- so if a native mode is available, use it! On some video cards, a memory resident driver (TSR) needs to be loaded for VESA support to work for that video card. The fastest resolution to run at is 640 x 480, because less memory is being addressed. Scrolling especially is affected by the resolution. Most video cards also run faster in 256 color mode than in 16 color mode, usually because of their hardware design. See Appendix A.4.3 ■ Solutions to Video Display Performance Issues for more information. If you have a mouse connected to your computer, you must load the mouse driver before running RIPterm to be able to use the mouse. The mouse driver is usually a file called MOUSE.SYS that is loaded in your CONFIG.SYS, or a file called MOUSE.COM that is loaded in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you're not loading a mouse driver, you can't use the mouse. NOTE: RIPterm doesn't use the center button on three-button mouses for any functions. Refer to Section 4.2 ■ Video / Mouse Setup for a list of video cards supported, and a diagram of the Video/Mouse Setup screen. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Audio Setup Ctrl-Alt-U │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ A new feature in RIPterm is the support for digitized sound, in the form of .WAV files. The Audio Board Configuration is for configuring RIPterm for your audio hardware. The easiest way to do this is by using Auto-Sense. See Section 4.3 ■ Audio Setup for details on custom configuration. There are some performance issues in doing sound and communications at the same time. RIPterm version 2.x implements cutting edge technology, and sometimes may push your system to try to do more than it can. If you are having problems playing sounds or with losing characters, see Appendix A ■ Section A.4 ■ Performance Issues for more information. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ System Font Setup Ctrl-Alt-F │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ The System Font allows you to select the font that is used in the ASCII text/ANSI mode. It does not have any effect on the graphics shown. Any subsequent text/ANSI displayed on the screen will appear in the chosen system font unless the host explicitly tells RIPterm to use another font for the text window. This mode allows you to specify how "large" text is when you are in full-screen text mode. You have five separate System Fonts to choose from. They are: 80x25 - default - normal DOS screen size 80x43 - 43 lines by 80 columns 40x25 - low-resolution font 91x43 - get more columns of text at once 91x25 - get more columns of text at once See Section 4.4 ■ System Font Setup for a diagram of the dialog box. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Modem Setup Ctrl-Alt-M │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ The dialog box is organized into three separate areas: Modem Command Strings Modem Port Settings Modem General Settings Modem Command Strings is the upper half of the dialog containing Modem Init, Auto Answer, Modem Reset, Modem Hangup, Redial Time, Max Attempts, and Redial Pause. Modem Port Settings is the lower-left part of the dialog containing COM Port, Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits. Modem General Settings is the lower-right part of the dialog containing Connected To, Flow Control, Port Lock, DTR Hangup, Local Echo, Add CR/LF, Destruct BS, and BS Sends DEL. These settings are part of the setup, so once you alter them, you should click on Save Setup to make them permanent. See Section 4.6 ■ Modem Setup for details on each of these settings. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Modem Dialing Prefixes Ctrl-Alt-D │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ This option allows you to alter your dialing Prefix and Suffix settings. These settings are used for every system you try to dial to begin the dialing operation (prefix), and to finish the dialing process (suffix). You have three prefix you can configure, and three suffixes, and any one of those three entries can be set to be the "Default" prefix/suffix. Refer to Section 4.7 ■ Modem Dialing Prefixes for more details. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Modem Hardware Setup Ctrl-Alt-W │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ Interrupt Setup allows you to customize the interrupt (IRQ) settings for each of your four COM ports. Normally this isn't necessary. However, some PC's have special configurations that require the terminal's setup to be altered if the serial ports are to function properly. There are fourteen different interrupts that can be selected for each COM port -- IRQ2 to IRQ15. If two serial ports in the computer use the same interrupt (i.e., an interrupt conflict), then problems arise. See Section 4.8 ■ Modem Hardware Setup for more details on settings each of these options. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ File Transfer Setup Ctrl-Alt-T │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ There are four areas to the File Transfer Setup dialog box. They are Protocol Transfer Settings, ASCII Upload Settings, and Capture Log Settings. The Protocol Transfer Settings are in the upper half of the dialog box, covering Zmodem Crash Recovery, CompuServe QuickB+ Transfers, Auto Zmodem Download, Download Dir, and Upload Dir settings. The ASCII Upload Settings are in the lower left of the dialog box, and cover the Line Pacing, Character Pacing, and Line Expansion settings. The Capture Log Settings are in the lower right of the dialog box, and cover the Capture ANSI, Capture RIPscrip, and Capture Doorway settings. See Section 4.9 ■ File Transfer Setup for details on settings each of these options. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Save Setup Ctrl-Alt-S │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ This option will save a number of configuration parameters for RIPterm. For a complete list of everything included in the RIPterm Setup File, refer to Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved?. When you run RIPterm, the setup file is loaded and used for the current session. Setup information is contained in a file called RIPTERM.CNF by default. This can be altered by using the -S parameter when starting up RIPterm. This option instructs RIPterm to use an alternate setup file (e.g., RIPTERM -Smysetup.cnf). See Section 2.3 ■ RIPterm Command Line Options for a complete list of command line option and more information. NOTE: If the Status Bar, Button Hotkeys, or Mouse Field Select is turned off by the host, and you select Save Setup, the active settings for these items are saved to your setup file. It is recommended that you save your setup only when you are offline to avoid this. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 3.6 ■ The Debug Menu (Alt-U) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────┐ │ Debug │ ├───────┴──────────────────────┐ │ Debug Info: General │ │ Debug Info: Comm Port │ ├──────────────────────────────┤ │ Debug Info: Text Window │ │ Debug Info: Drawing Port │ │ Debug Info: Graphics Style │ │ Debug Info: Button Style │ │ Debug Info: Color Palette │ │ Debug Info: Mouse Field │ │ Debug Info: Environment │ │ Debug Info: Graphics Screen │ │ Debug Info: Templates │ ├──────────────────────────────┤ │ Full Debug Info │ └──────────────────────────────┘ The Debug menus are for TeleGrafix to assist you in determining problems with RIPterm. They are not documented here, as if TeleGrafix Tech Support need you to look up certain information, they will provide you with instructions. When any of the options is selected, the data generated is placed in your Scrollback Buffer for viewing. You are automatically placed in the View Scrollback Buffer mode to review the information. The Full Debug Info option performs every single option in the menus, and save it to the file RIPTERM.DBG in your RIPTERM directory. Do not confuse this with your RIPTERM.DB file, which is your text variable database file. You may be requested to upload this file to TeleGrafix for technical support reasons. ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ 4.0 ■ RIPterm Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ In the following sections are the features of RIPterm which control the setup and configuration of RIPterm. Since this is a communications program, you may notice that there are a large number of configuration options to choose from. This section is designed to answer the most frequently asked questions about what a particular option does so that you can make the right choices for your configuration. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ■ General Setup ■ Modem Setup ■ Serial Port IRQ Interrupt settings (for all four ports) ■ Serial Port I/O Address settings (for all four ports) ■ Modem Prefix/Suffix Setup ■ File Transfer Setup ■ System Font setting ■ Printer Setup ■ Graphics mode ID value ■ Audio Configuration ■ Dialing Directory "toggle" mode ■ Status Bar On/Off ■ Terminal Emulation settings from Options Menu ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.1 ■ General Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm has a number of configurable settings for you to choose from to alter the way in which the software runs on a normal basis. The General Setup dialog box looks like this: ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ General Setup ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ [X] Data Security Scrollback Size (K) ││ ││ ┌────┬─┐ ││ ││ [X] Alarm Sounds │16 ││ ││ ││ └────┴─┘ ││ ││ [X] Enable Beeps ││ ││ Break Duration ││ ││ [X] 101-Key Keyboard (in 1/1000 seconds) ││ ││ ┌────┬─┐ ││ ││ [X] Zooming Windows │250 ││ ││ ││ └────┴─┘ ││ ││ [X] Force DTR on Exit ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Icon path │ │ ││ ││ └─────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────────────┐ │ Data Security │ └───────────────┘ This option gives you control over host data queries to your system. This option defaults to ON, giving you the ability to scrutinize any queries by the host to ask your system database for information. This does not apply to built-in text variables, just variables that contain data that you've entered. How does this apply to you? RIPscrip has the ability to ask you for information, and depending on the query from the host, this information might be stored to your local RIPterm database for future use (by the same host, or potentially another), or be stored in memory until you disconnect from the host. This option exists so that if a host asks your terminal for a piece of information, you have the ability to intervene (i.e., prevent the information from being sent). This override feature is for security purposes in the event that your database contains sensitive information that you do not want to be given out without your explicit consent. See Section 5.7.2 ■ Data Security for more detailed information. ┌──────────────┐ │ Alarm Sounds │ └──────────────┘ When this option is chosen, RIPterm will make various musical sounds when things happen like successful downloads, establishing a connection to a host, when you make a mistake, etc. If you also set Enable Beeps to OFF and set the Audio Board Sound Volume to 0% (see Section 4.3), RIPterm will make NO sounds at all. ┌──────────────┐ │ Enable Beeps │ └──────────────┘ This will enable the Beep character (ASCII character 7, BEL) to make an beeping sound on your PC speaker when received from the host. Only BEEP characters from the host are enabled or disabled with this option. Alarm Sounds (see above) and digitized sounds (see Section 4.3) are not affected by this setting. ┌──────────────────┐ │ 101-Key Keyboard │ └──────────────────┘ This mode is used by Keystroke Macros and Doorway Emulation. This mode is only available on computers with a 101-key enhanced keyboard. If this option locks up your system, disable it. It allows you to use more keys on your enhanced keyboard for macros, and to send extended keyboard codes to the Doorway system running on the host. This value is part of the RIPterm setup, saved in RIPTERM.CNF. If you set this option ON, and it locks your system, and your system locks whenever you start-up RIPterm, then the option has been saved to your setup. You should run RIPterm with the -E option, like this: RIPTERM -E The first thing you should do is disable the 101-key keyboard option and save your setup. The -E option disables 101-key keyboard support for the duration of the current RIPterm session. ┌─────────────────┐ │ Zooming Windows │ └─────────────────┘ Whenever a window or dialog box pops up on the screen in RIPterm, it will "zoom in" and "zoom out" giving a visual feeling of the window opening or closing. This slows down the display of the window or dialog somewhat. So for optimal performance of RIPterm (or if you find it annoying), toggle zoom windows off. However, some like the visual impression of windows opening or closing, and think it is cool. ┌───────────────────┐ │ Force DTR on Exit │ └───────────────────┘ This option gives RIPterm your permission to go throwing its weight around, forcing DTR's on innocent young Exits. Sorry, I'll start again. The DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signal from the computer to the modem tells the modem if it can connect to a host (DTR ON or DTR HIGH), or not (DTR OFF or DTR LOW). This is the same as DTR Hangup, detailed in Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Setup. Force DTR on Exit defaults to ON. When selected, RIPterm keeps the DTR signal ON after exiting RIPterm. This is mainly useful for cases where the modem still needs to be able to answer a call on its own, even if there is no terminal program running. For example, when you are using a network modem pool, or a fax modem that needs to answer the phone to receive a fax. For another example, the author uses this with auto-answer enabled on his modem so that if someone calls on his modem line, all they get is an annoying screech, even when RIPterm isn't running. Useful if the phone number used to belong to someone else, and you are sick of telling people "wrong number". Now my secret is out... When not selected, when you exit RIPterm, DTR is lowered and kept low. Some modems, even if you instruct them to pick up the phone on the first ring, will not answer the phone if DTR is low. This is because the modem assumes that if DTR is low, there is no software running to receive the call -- so why should it answer the phone? Not all modems work this way, but most do. This also comes into play on direct serial connections. Most direct connects assume that someone is connected whenever DTR is high. If you leave DTR high when you exit, it might think there is a connection, even if there isn't. So you would disable Force DTR on Exit. NOTE: If you exit RIPterm while still online, and say NOT to hangup, then RIPterm will keep DTR enabled regardless of the setting of Force DTR on Exit, so that the modem doesn't disconnect you. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Scrollback Size (K) │ └─────────────────────┘ This option sets how much memory RIPterm uses for the Scrollback Buffer. The valid settings are from 0K (disabled) to 9,999K of memory. If you computer does not have enough RAM to hold all this data, it will put the overflow on disk. When the Scrollback Buffer fills up, it starts purging the oldest data from the top. We recommend that you set it to 64k unless you know that you need to keep more history than that. See Section 5.4 ■ View Scrollback Buffer for all the options available. ┌────────────────────┐ │ Set Break Duration │ └────────────────────┘ A Break is a special signal that can be sent from your system to the host. Most hosts simply ignore them, but some use them for aborting operations, or for various purposes. RIPterm will send a break of 250 milliseconds by default. A millisecond is 1/1000 of a second, so 250 milliseconds is one quarter of a second. ┌───────────┐ │ Icon Path │ └───────────┘ The icon path option allows RIPterm to search additional directories for various files (e.g., icons, sound, photos and RIPscrip scenes). RIPterm always searches for files in the ICONS\ directory, so you never need to add this one. Also, if you have a "host directory" setup in your dialing directory entries, you don't need to add that one either. This option is useful when you have other directories that contain icons, sounds or other files that RIPterm can use. You may specify more than one directory if you wish, simply by separating them with semicolons (;). Here are some examples: C:\WINDOWS;D:\;ICONS\MY_ICONS Files are first checked for in RIPTERM\ICONS, and also in RIPTERM\host-directory. If a requested file cannot be found, then RIPterm will search for files in the special locations C:\WINDOWS, on disk drive D:\, and if a file isn't found in either of those locations, then look for files in ICONS\MY_ICONS (underneath the RIPTERM directory - e.g., CAPNAME\ICONS\MY_ICONS D:\ Search for files on drive D:\ (hard disk, CD-ROM, etc) This option is very useful if you use online services that provide a CD-ROM for accessing system resources. If you are using such a service, enter the drive letter for the CD-ROM included with your system here (or follow the manufacturer's instructions). ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ When chosen, OK will takes all the General Setup and makes them active. The changes are not saved to the RIPterm configuration file - you must click SAVE to do that. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ CANCEL throws out any changes made in the General Setup dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored, and you are returned to the session screen. ┌──────┐ │ Save │ └──────┘ This option closes the dialog box and saves the current selections to the RIPterm configuration file. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ Clicking Help sends out a sub-space distress signal. See the Setup menu to select which human or alien subspace channel the signal is sent out on. Please note that you must have your sub-space array patched into your computer via an AST-5250 interface adapter. TeleGrafix does not provide technical support for the 5250 card, however, we do have some knowledge of sub-space transmitters. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.2 ■ Video / Mouse Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Video and Mouse Setup ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││Before RIPterm can operate, we need to know some info about your computer││ ││and the mode you want RIPterm to run under. Use the TAB and SHIFT-TAB ││ ││keys to move around this dialog box. Up and Down arrows allow you to ││ ││change settings (as will Page Up and Page Down). When you are all done, ││ ││tap <ENTER> or choose "Ok". If you wish to exit to DOS, tap the <ESC> ││ ││key or choose "Cancel". For assistance, RIPterm has an extensive help ││ ││system (just choose "Help"). If you don't know which video mode to pick,││ ││"Standard IBM EGA" will work. If you have a VGA, use "Standard IBM VGA".││ ││ ││ ││ Video mode Resolution Colors ││ ││┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┐││ │││ Standard IBM EGA 640x350 16 ││││ │││ Standard IBM VGA 640x350 16 ├─┤││ │││ Standard IBM VGA 640x480 16 │█│││ │││ VESA Super VGA 800x600 16 │ │││ │││ VESA Super VGA 1024x768 16 │ │││ │││ VESA Super VGA 640x480 256 │ │││ │││ VESA Super VGA 800x600 256 ├─┤││ │││ VESA Super VGA 1024x768 256 ││││ ││└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─┘││ ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ (■) Microsoft compatible Mouse Driver ││ ││ ( ) No Mouse Installed ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm version 2.0 supports 117 different video cards and video modes. If yours is not listed, chances are that your video card supports one or more of the VESA video modes, which were created as a standard way of addressing video hardware from software. Check your video card documentation to see what modes it supports. VESA mode on some video cards may be slower than the native mode -- so if a native mode is available, use it! On some video cards, a memory resident driver (TSR) needs to be loaded for VESA support to work for that video card. The fastest resolution to run at is 640 x 480, because less memory is being addressed. Scrolling especially is affected by the resolution. Most video cards also run faster in 256 color mode than in 16 color mode, usually because of their hardware design. See Appendix A.4.3 ■ Solutions to Video Display Performance Issues for more information. The video cards supported are: Standard IBM EGA 640 x 350 x 16 Colors Standard IBM VGA 640 x 350 x 16 Colors Standard IBM VGA 640 x 480 x 16 Colors VESA Super VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors VESA Super VGA 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors VESA Super VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors VESA Super VGA 800 x 600 x 256 Colors VESA Super VGA 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors 8514A (interlaced) 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors 8514A (non-interlaced) 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors ATI, VGA Wonder 800 x 600 x 16 Colors ATI, VGA Wonder+ 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors ATI, VGA Wonder 640 x 480 x 256 Colors ATI, VGA Wonder XL 800 x 600 x 256 Colors ATI, VGA Wonder XL 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors ATI, Graphics Ultra Pro 640 x 480 x 256 Colors ATI, Graphics Ultra Pro 800 x 600 x 256 Colors ATI, Graphics Ultra Pro 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors CHIPS 82C45x 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors CHIPS 82C45x 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Compaq Advanced VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Compaq Advanced VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Diamond Speedstar 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Diamond Speedstar 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Diamond Speedstar 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Diamond Speedstar 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Diamond Speedstar 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Diamond Speedstar 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Diamond Stealth (S3) 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Diamond Stealth (S3) 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Diamond Stealth (S3) 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Everex, EVGA EV-673 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperEGA 4880 640 x 480 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperEGA 4880 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 5/6000 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 5000 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 5000 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 5000 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 6000 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Genoa, SuperVGA 6000 640 x 480 x 256 Colors HP Ultra VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors HP Ultra VGA 800 x 600 x 256 Colors HP Ultra VGA 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors NSI, Smart EGA/Plus 800 x 600 x 16 Colors OAK VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors OAK VGA 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors OAK VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Orchid, Designer VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Orchid, Designer VGA 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Orchid, Designer VGA 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Orchid, Designer VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Orchid, ProDesigner II 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Paradise Autoswitch EGA/480 640 x 480 x 16 Colors Paradise, VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Paradise, VGA 1024 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Paradise, VGA 1024 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Quadram, VGA Spectra 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Quadram, VGA Spectra 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Quadram, VGA Spectra 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Quadram, VGA Spectra 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Radius Multiview 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Radius Multiview 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Radius Multiview 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Radius Multiview 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Radius Multiview 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors S3 Incorporated 640 x 480 x 256 Colors S3 Incorporated 800 x 600 x 256 Colors S3 Incorporated 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors STB, VGA Extra/EM 800 x 600 x 16 Colors STB, VGA Extra/EM 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors STB, VGA Extra/EM 640 x 350 x 256 Colors STB, VGA Extra/EM 640 x 480 x 256 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 800 x 600 x 16 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 640 x 350 x 256 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 640 x 480 x 256 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 800 x 600 x 256 Colors STB VGA EM-16 Plus 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Tecmar, VGA/AD 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Tecmar, VGA/AD 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Tecmar, VGA/AD 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Tecmar, VGA/AD 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Trident Impact 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Trident Impact 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Trident Impact 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Trident Impact 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Trident Impact 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors Tseng Labs, EVA-480 640 x 480 x 16 Colors Tseng 4000 800 x 600 x 16 Colors Tseng 4000 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors Tseng 4000 640 x 350 x 256 Colors Tseng 4000 640 x 480 x 256 Colors Tseng 4000 800 x 600 x 256 Colors Tseng 4000 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors V7, VEGA VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors V7, FastWrite VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors V7, FastWrite VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors V7, FastWrite VGA 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors V7, VRAM VGA 800 x 600 x 16 Colors V7, VRAM VGA 640 x 480 x 256 Colors V7, VRAM VGA 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors V7, VGA 1024i 800 x 600 x 16 Colors V7, VGA 1024i 640 x 480 x 256 Colors V7, VGA 1024i 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors V7, VRAM II 640 x 480 x 256 Colors V7, VRAM II 800 x 600 x 16 Colors V7, VRAM II 800 x 600 x 256 Colors V7, VRAM II 1024 x 768 x 16 Colors V7, VRAM II 1024 x 768 x 256 Colors If you have a mouse connected to your computer, you must load the mouse driver before running RIPterm to be able to use the mouse. The mouse driver is usually a file called MOUSE.SYS that is loaded in your CONFIG.SYS, or a file called MOUSE.COM that is loaded in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you're not loading a mouse driver, you can't use the mouse. NOTE: RIPterm doesn't use the center button on three-button mouses for any functions. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.3 ■ Audio Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ A new feature in RIPterm is the support for digitized sound, in the form of .WAV files. The Audio Board Configuration is for configuring RIPterm for your audio hardware. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Audio Board Configuration ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││For sound to work properly with your audio board, you must configure it. ││ ││Select the board that is installed in your computer and its hardware ││ ││settings. If you are unsure, select the Auto-Sense option to detect what││ ││kind of board you have. Consult Help for more detailed information about││ ││audio configuration for RIPterm. ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┐ ││ ││ Audio Boards │ Creative Labs - Sound Blaster ││ ││ ││ └────────────────────────────────────────────┴─┘ ││ ││ ┌──────────┬─┐ ││ ││ (■) Mono Interrupt (IRQ) │IRQ 7 ││ ││ ││ ( ) Stereo ┌────┬─┐ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ │100 ││ Volume(%) DMA Channel │DMA 0 ││ ││ ││ (■) 8 Bit └────┴─┘ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ ( ) 16 Bit I/O Port Address │Port 220h ││ ││ ││ └──────────┴─┘ ││ ││ ┌───────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌┤ Buffering ├───┬────┤ Custom Buffering/Timing ├────────────────────┐ ││ ││ │└───────────┘ │ └─────────────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ ( ) Light │ ┌────┬─┐ ┌────┬─┐ │ ││ ││ │ (■) Medium │ │4 ││ Buffers │8 ││ DMA Size (in K) │ ││ ││ │ ( ) Heavy │ ├────┼─┤ ├────┼─┤ │ ││ ││ │ ( ) Custom │ │4 ││ Buffer Size │40 ││ Timer Counts/Sec │ ││ ││ │ │ └────┴─┘ └────┴─┘ │ ││ ││ └────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │Auto-Sense│ │ Help │ ││ ││ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────────┐ │Auto-Sense│ └──────────┘ The easiest way to configure your sound settings is to use Auto-Sense. This is an accurate way to quickly establish the correct sound board and its hardware settings. Under some circumstances auto-sensing may not work properly (e.g., network boards installed, unusual hardware, or TSR's, etc). It is possible that Auto-Sense might lock-up your computer. If it does, no damage will be done to your system; just re-run the software and configure the audio board manually. While the auto-sensing is going on, try not to move the mouse around (even though you won't be able to see it). The reason for this is it can interfere with sensing and can make the auto-senser obtain incorrect hardware settings. RIPterm supports these sound boards: Creative Labs - Sound Blaster Creative Labs - Sound Blaster Pro Creative Labs - Sound Blaster 16-bit Creative Labs - Sound Blaster Pro 16 Creative Labs - Sound Blaster ASP16 Creative Labs - Sound Blaster AWE32 Covox - Sound Master II MediaVision - Pro Audio Spectrum MediaVision - Pro Audio Spectrum Plus MediaVision - Pro Audio Spectrum 16 MediaVision - Thunderboard Adlib MultiMedia - Adlib Gold Cardinal Technologies - Cardinal Sound Studio Microsoft - Microsoft Sound System ESS Technologies - ESS 488/688 Audiodrive Ensoniq - Soundscape Roland - Roland RAP-10 Advanced Gravis - Gravis UltraSound Advanced Gravis - Gravis UltraMax The MONO and STEREO settings are for configuring your card to play sounds in Mono or Stereo. TeleGrafix recommends that you only use the Mono setting, as selecting Stereo, even for Mono sounds, causes twice as much data to be moved to the sound card, and can cause performance problems. Most sounds used with RIPterm are likely to be mono (for smaller size), so you won't be losing anything by selecting mono over stereo. The 8 Bit and 16 Bit settings configure the resolution of the sounds sent to the sound board. Like Mono and Stereo, selecting 16 Bit sends twice as much data to the sound card as 8 Bit does, even when the original sound was 8 bit. The combination of 16 Bit and Stereo is especially lethal in terms of how much data is moved around -- four times as much as 8 Bit and Mono. See Appendix A.4 ■ Performance Issues for more information and troubleshooting options. The Volume control sets the output level via the sound card. If you don't have volume control on your speakers, you can use this to select the output level. If you have volume control on your speakers, you will probably want to set the Volume to 100% and use your speaker's volume control. The Interrupt (IRQ), DMA Channel, and I/O Port Address settings tell RIPterm how to speak directly to the sound board hardware. Refer to your sound board's documentation for information on these settings. The Buffering option controls RIPterm's access to the sound file on disk. By storing the sound in memory before passing it to the sound card, RIPterm is able to prevent interruptions in the sound playback. If you are experiencing interruptions in the sound, or if you are dropping characters when the sound is enabled, you can increase the buffering to try to resolve these problems. See Appendix A.4 ■ Performance Issues for more information and troubleshooting options. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.4 ■ System Font Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ System Text Font Setup ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ ┌───────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││ ││ │ ( ) 80x43 font │ │ Select the font you │ ││ ││ │ │ │ want normally. It │ ││ ││ │ ( ) 91x43 font │ │ will be used when │ ││ ││ │ │ │ no BBS graphics are │ ││ ││ │ (■) 80x25 font │ │ on the screen, or │ ││ ││ │ │ │ whenever the screen │ ││ ││ │ ( ) 91x25 font │ │ is cleared. 80x25 │ ││ ││ │ │ │ is the most popular │ ││ ││ │ ( ) 40x25 font │ │ font. │ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││ ││ └───────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ ││ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The System Font allows you to select the font that is used in the ASCII text/ANSI mode. It does not have any effect on the graphics shown. Any subsequent text/ANSI displayed on the screen will appear in the chosen system font unless the host explicitly tells RIPterm to use another font for the text window. This mode allows you to specify how "large" text is when you are in full-screen text mode. You have five separate System Fonts to choose from. They are: 80x25 - default - normal DOS screen size 80x43 - 43 lines by 80 columns 40x25 - low-resolution font 91x43 - get more columns of text at once 91x25 - get more columns of text at once ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ When chosen, OK makes the selected System Font the active text window font. The change is not saved to the RIPterm configuration file - you must click SAVE to do that. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Cancel throws out any change made in the Text Font Setup dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored, and you are returned to the session screen. ┌──────┐ │ Save │ └──────┘ This option closes the dialog box and saves the current selection to the RIPterm configuration file. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ Selecting Help throws you into an alternate space/time continuum. Use a tachyon emission from your main deflector dish to return to your reality. Or click Cancel in the Help Screen dialog... ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.5 ■ Translation Tables ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Translation tables are used for international character set support. TeleGrafix is developing the capabilities for foreign character set support. We want to know about any special characters or needs you may have. You can contact TeleGrafix at the address listed in Appendix C. Currently, RIPterm does not support Translation Tables. We are currently soliciting input from our users. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.6 ■ Modem Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Modem Setup tells RIPterm the where and how of accessing your modem. The standard settings for most hosts are 8 data bits, NO parity and 1 stop bit (8N1). These settings can be saved to RIPterm's configuration file, so once you alter them, you should click the SAVE button to make them permanent. To alter the serial port IRQ and base address settings, choose Modem Hardware Setup from the Setup menu. This dialog box appears to edit the modem's configuration: ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Modem Setup ││ │├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Modem Init │AT &C1 &D2 E1 V1 X4^M │ ││ ││ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ ││ ││ Auto Answer │AT S0=1^M │ ││ ││ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ ││ ││ Modem Reset │AT Z^M │ ││ ││ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ ││ ││ Modem Hangup │~~~+++~~~AT H0^M │ ││ ││ ├────┬─┬────────────────┬────┬─┬─────────────────┬────┬─┤ ││ ││ Redial Time │45 ││ Max Attempts │99 ││ Redial Pause │5 ││ ││ ││ └────┴─┘ └────┴─┘ └────┴─┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌──────────┬─┐ ││ ││ ┌─ Connected To: ───────┐ [X] Port Lock COM Port │COM1 ││ ││ ││ │(■) Modem │ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ │( ) Another Computer │ [X] DTR Hangup Baud Rate │19,200 ││ ││ ││ └───────────────────────┘ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ [ ] Local Echo Data Bits │8 Bits ││ ││ ││ ┌─ Flow Control ────────┐ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ │(■) RTS/CTS (Hardware)│ [ ] Add CR/LF Parity │No Parity ││ ││ ││ │( ) XON/XOFF (Software)│ ├──────────┼─┤ ││ ││ │( ) No Flow Control │ [X] Destruct BS Stop Bits │1 Stop Bit││ ││ ││ └───────────────────────┘ └──────────┴─┘ ││ ││ [ ] BS Sends DEL ││ ││ ││ ││ [ ] Use 16550 UARTs ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The dialog box is organized into three separate areas: Modem Command Strings Modem Port Settings Modem General Settings Modem Command Strings is the upper half of the dialog containing Modem Init, Auto Answer, Modem Reset, Modem Hangup, Redial Time, Max Attempts, and Redial Pause. Modem Port Settings is the lower-left part of the dialog containing COM Port, Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits. Modem General Settings is the lower-right part of the dialog containing Connected To, Flow Control, Port Lock, DTR Hangup, Local Echo, Add CR/LF, Destruct BS, and BS Sends DEL. The "Use 16550 UARTs" option is used to control whether a 16550 UART is used in RIPTerm. Normally, RIPterm will auto-detect a 16550 and use it if it finds it. If you want to disable this normal behaviour though, you may turn "Use 16550 UARTs" off in the modem settings dialog to disable this functionality. ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ OK takes all of the selected modem options and make them the active settings. It will re-initialize the serial port if necessary and make any of the changes active. The changes are not saved to the permanent RIPterm setup file - you must do that by clicking the Save button, or by selecting Save Setup from the Setup menu. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Cancel discards any changes made in the Modem Options dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored. You will be sent immediately to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Save │ └────────┘ This option will close the dialog box and save the selected settings to the permanent RIPterm setup file. See Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? for details on everything saved to the RIPterm setup file. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Click Help to learn the secret handshake of the bean curd farmers in Kitchitikipi, Michigan (means The Big Spring in Chippewa Indian). ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.6.1 ■ Modem Command Strings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Modem command strings are how you configure RIPterm to work with the wide variety of modems available. All modem commands begin with an "AT", short for 'ATtention'. The "AT" must be at the beginning of the line to work. You may specify control characters in a modem command string by preceding the character with a caret (^). For example, a CTRL-C would be ^C and carriage return (CTRL-M) would be ^M. The letter after the caret is not case sensitive, so ^M works exactly the same as ^m. Modem commands are not case sensitive either. Traditionally, upper case characters are used, because in the beginning days of modems, some computers (and most modems) did not support lower case characters. Each modem command string should end with a ^M (carriage return), as shown in the Modem Options dialog box above. If you wish to pause in a command, insert a comma (,) at the point where you want to pause. The pause length is controlled by the modem's S8 register. Most modems pause for two or three seconds for each comma. RIPterm also lets you use the tilde (~) to insert a 1/2 second pause in your modem command strings. For more information on modem commands, consult your modem's manual. ┌────────────┐ │ Modem Init │ └────────────┘ The Modem Initialization string is the modem command sent to the modem when RIPterm starts up, or when Initialize Modem is selected from the Connect menu. The default Modem Init string contains several modem commands: AT &C1 &D2 E1 V1 X4^M The AT is the beginning of every modem command. The &C1 tells the modem to turn the Carrier Detect (CD) signal on when you're connected, off when you're not. The &D2 tells the modem to use RTS/CTS (Hardware) Flow Control. This is the most reliable means of controlling data flow. See RTS/CTS below. The E1 tells the modem to echo commands back to RIPterm. The V1 tells the modem to display verbal results, rather than numbers. The X4 options sets the modem's ability to recognize different line conditions, such as NO DIAL TONE, BUSY, VOICE, and the CONNECT speed. X4 tells the modem to recognize as many different conditions as it can. ┌─────────────┐ │ Auto Answer │ └─────────────┘ This modem command is what would be sent to the modem to set it for "auto-answer" mode. Auto-Answer means that the modem will answer the phone automatically when it rings. The default auto-answer string which should work on nearly any modem is "AT S0=1^m" where the "1" indicates that the modem should pick up the phone on the 1st ring. ┌─────────────┐ │ Modem Reset │ └─────────────┘ This is the modem command string that is sent when the modem needs to be reset. This may be necessary if you "hang-up" the modem, abort a dial attempt, or exit RIPterm. For most modems, this command is Z, which would be entered as "ATZ^m". ┌──────────────┐ │ Modem Hangup │ └──────────────┘ This is the command string for the modem to use if DTR Hangup is disabled or fails. The modem needs to be put back into its command mode, where it accepts modem commands from RIPterm. For most modems this is done by typing in three consecutive plus signs (+++), with a short pause added before and after the pluses. Then the command for hanging up the modem must be sent. For most modems, this command is H0. The entire command would be entered as "~~~+++~~~ATH0^m". ┌─────────────┐ │ Redial Time │ └─────────────┘ Redial Time specifies how many seconds RIPterm should wait before assuming that the dialed system isn't answering. This value defaults to 45 seconds. You may need to extend this to a higher value if you're calling through an elaborate telephone system, or dialing internationally. Shortening the duration may be desirable if you are dialing a number where the Host connects quickly and you don't need the extended redial times. The Redial Time setting affects ALL connections, so you should set it to the longest time you need to connect to ANY of the systems you call. ┌──────────────┐ │ Max Attempts │ └──────────────┘ Max Attempts controls how many times connecting to a host is attempted before RIPterm gives up trying. If you have multiple phone numbers in your Dialing Directory entry, each number attempted counts as one attempt. ┌──────────────┐ │ Redial Pause │ └──────────────┘ The Redial Pause is the number of seconds RIPterm pauses between the dialing attempts. If you are not able to connect to a system (busy, no answer, whatever), RIPterm pauses before trying the next number selected. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.6.2 ■ Modem Port Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Modem Port Settings is the lower-left part of the dialog containing COM Port, Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits. In this sub-section, you'll see settings for data bits, parity, and stop bits. In nearly all situations, there are only two combinations of these three values that are commonly used. They are: Combo #1 Combo #2 ----------- ----------- 8 Data Bits 7 Data Bits No Parity Even Parity 1 Stop Bit 1 Stop Bit Combo #1 Abbreviation Combo #2 Abbreviation ---------------------- ---------------------- 8-N-1 7-E-1 Combo #1 Pronunciation Combo #2 Pronunciation ---------------------- ---------------------- Eight-None-One Seven-Even-One Combo #1 (8-N-1) is typically used with BBS's. Combo #2 (7-E-1) is common on CompuServe, TymNet, TeleNet, or any of the other X.25 packet-switched networks. Many Unix systems use Combo #2 as well. ┌──────────┐ │ COM Port │ └──────────┘ This option allows you to specify which communications port will be used to dial the modem. Valid ports are COM1 through COM4. Of course, your system must have the given port in order to be able to dial out on it. RIPterm will normally initialize the modem upon initial start-up providing the "Use Modem" option is selected. ┌───────────┐ │ Baud Rate │ └───────────┘ This option allows you to specify the default baud rate in which RIPterm should operate. Valid baud rates are 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 baud. If you use a baud rate of 9600 or faster, it is highly recommended that RTS/CTS Flow Control and Port Lock be used for the best reliability. ┌───────────┐ │ Data Bits │ └───────────┘ This option allows you to alter the number of data bits that will be used for a given communications link. Valid settings are 7 Data Bits, or 8 Data Bits. You will find that most hosts use 8 Data Bits. 7 Data Bits are commonly used when calling mainframe computers, or large hosts like TymNet, TeleNet, GEnie, CompuServe, or other nationwide network services that use the X.25 network protocol. When in doubt, try 8 Data Bits. If you get garbled information, try 7 Data Bits. ┌────────┐ │ Parity │ └────────┘ This option allows you to alter the parity setting that will be used for a given communications link. Valid settings are Even, Odd or No Parity. The vast majority of hosts in the world use a setting of No Parity. Situations where you will choose something other than No Parity would be if you were calling a mainframe computer, or dialing up via a nationwide network like TymNet, TeleNet, GEnie, CompuServe, or other such X.25-based hosts. If in doubt, try No Parity. ┌───────────┐ │ Stop Bits │ └───────────┘ This option allows you to alter the number of Stop Bits that are used for the communications link. Valid settings are 1 Stop Bit, or 2 Stop Bits. Typically, 1 Stop Bit will be used for the vast majority of hosts. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Modem General Settings is the lower-right part of the dialog containing Connected To, Flow Control, Port Lock, DTR Hangup, Local Echo, Add CR/LF, Destruct BS, and BS Sends DEL. ┌──────────────┐ │ Connected To │ └──────────────┘ There are two selections available: Modem or Another Computer. If Modem is selected, RIPterm knows that it is connected to a modem. This is the normal, default situation. RIPterm send the "Modem Init" command string to the modem when it starts up. If you are using RIPterm to connect directly to another computer via a serial link (for example, by using a null modem cable), then you would want to select Another Computer. ┌──────────────┐ │ Flow Control │ └──────────────┘ This option determines whether any flow control should be used between your computer and your modem. With RIPterm, flow control is very important at high baud rates. It is critically important with high speed file transfers with protocols like Zmodem or Ymodem. Without flow control, the host might be sending data faster than the terminal can take it in and process it. When viewing RIPscrip graphics at high baud rates (9600 baud and higher), this form of flow control is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Without it you could easily have garbled graphics. The reason for this is when you're working in a graphical environment, you are doing a lot of stuff "behind the scenes" to show even so much as a single line on the screen. Since graphics mode can be so CPU intensive, sometimes it is necessary to tell the host to "hold on" while the terminal "catches up" with the host. That is what flow control is for, and why RIPterm needs this mode active. RTS/CTS (Ready To Send/Clear To Send) is a form of hardware flow control. The serial connection between the computer and modem has two signals used for flow control -- RTS and CTS. The modem uses RTS to tell the computer when it is Ready To Send, and the computer uses CTS to tell the modem when it is Clear To Send. What this means is that the modem and computer know how to tell each other "I'm ready for more data now, continue...". Some modems have to be configured to enable hardware flow control. Most modems use the &R2 command to enable RTS/CTS flow control. In order to take advantage of this mode of operation you need to make sure you have a "hardware handshaking" serial cable. 99% of all serial cables you can purchase are these types of cables. If RTS/CTS flow control is not usable on your particular PC, RIPterm will issue the error message: "CTS is inactive; RTS/CTS handshaking disabled" What this means is that RIPterm sensed that RTS/CTS was not available and it will automatically shut off that mode for you so that RIPterm will function properly. NOTE: This error message can also occur if you start up RIPterm with your modem turned off! XON/XOFF flow control uses Control-Q (XON) and Control-S (XOFF) to stop data flow into the computer. This is also known as Software Flow Control. It is less reliable than RTS/CTS, but is better than no flow control. Some modems have to be configured to enable software flow control. Most modems use the &I1 command to enable software flow control. ┌───────────┐ │ Port Lock │ └───────────┘ Port Lock is used with high speed modems. Port Lock keeps the speed between the computer and the modem at the same rate. This is sometimes referred to as Fixed DTE Rate in some modem's documentation. Your modem may connect at 2400, but your computer still talks to the modem at 19,200. If Port Lock is not selected, RIPterm is in Auto-Baud Detect mode, where it automatically sets RIPterm's speed to match the modem's connect speed. Before explaining why you need Port Lock, let's discuss how a regular modem works with baud rates. Normally, a modem must be set for the exact same baud rate as the connection. For example, if the modem says: CONNECT 2400 ...then RIPterm must be set for 2400 baud if it is to talk to the remote host. RIPterm will automatically see this CONNECT 2400 message and automatically switch baud rates for you (Auto-Baud Detect mode). Now with High Speed modems the situation is a bit different. Most high speed modems achieve higher baud rates by compressing data, transmitting it, and letting the modem on the other end of the connection de-compress the data. Now, imagine a connection like this: ┌──────┐ ─╫─ ─╫─ ┌──────┐ │ │ /─╫─\_____/─╫─\ │ │ │ Your │ / ║ \_____/ ║ \ │Remote│ │ │ 9600 / ║ ║ \ 9600 │ │ ┌─┴──────┴─┐ baud ┌─────┐ ║ ║ ┌─────┐ baud ┌─┴──────┴─┐ │ Computer │════│Modem│ ║ ║ │Modem│════│ Computer │ └──────────┘ └─────┘ Telephone └─────┘ └──────────┘ Connection 9600 Baud Notice that the links between each computer and their respective modems are set for 9600 baud. Also, the telephone connection itself is also at 9600 baud. Now, lets say the remote computer sends a 10K packet of data to its modem. The modem compresses that data into a smaller packet, say 5K for this discussion. The data was compressed to half its size, so it takes half as long to transmit. The modem on the other end of the connection decompresses the packet back to its original 10K size, and it sends it out to the computer. Now if another 5K compressed packet is coming over the phone line immediately after the first one, the modem has to decompress that packet and send it to the computer as well. If the link between the computer and the modem is THE SAME SPEED as the telephone link (modem-to-modem) then the act of decompressing data packets creates more data than the computer can accept at the given baud rate. The best case situation is that the data sent will just back up, and your trans- missions aren't as efficient as they could be. The worst case situation (and it happens!) is that you will LOSE data because of serial port speeds. The solution is to set RIPterm's baud rate to a value higher than the highest connection speed (see table below), and enable Port Lock. For example, if you have a 14,400 baud modem, you might be inclined to set your baud rate in RIPterm to 19,200 baud (the next highest setting). In practice though, modems can compress data better than that. The next highest setting is 38,400 baud -- which is a very good choice. This insures that even if the modem decompressed a packet that was compressed down to 25% of its original size, the computer could receive the data at full speed from the modem. However, typical compression levels are about 50% in real world usage, so you should set RIPterm's speed to about twice as fast (or faster) than your modem can communicate at. Now, back to Port Lock. Port Lock is used for high speed modems to tell RIPterm NOT to perform Auto-Baud Detection when connecting to other systems. What this means is that the baud rate set in RIPterm will not change even if the two modems sync-up at a lower baud rate. This way, the speed between the computer and the modem are at a fixed rate always and the baud rate between the two modems can vary. When Port Lock is enabled, RIPterm will let the modems worry about getting their speeds "just right". Even if your high speed modem connects at 300 baud, RIPterm could still talk to the modem at 57,600 baud. The modem would handle all of the details about "flow control" between the computer/modem to make sure that data doesn't get stuffed into the modem faster than the telephone connection can handle. Some of the newest modems have the ability to communicate at very high speeds -- up to 28,800 -- and there is talk of even faster modems to come. Many computer's serial port controller circuitry (a 16450 UART) can only handle speeds up to 19,200 reliably. This can be fixed by adding a 16550 UART chip. Most can directly replace a 16450 UART. Some computers either have the serial controller chip integrated with other controller chips into one multipurpose chip, or it is soldered onto the main circuit board. In these cases, you can buy a replacement serial board for your computer for less than $40 with two 16550 UARTs. Then you will have the most reliable serial hardware available. See Appendix A.4 for more on 16550 chips and performance issues, and how to tell if you have a 16550. This is a table of recommended settings for RIPterm, based on the maximum speed of your modem. It is also noted if you should be using a 16550 serial controller chip. Modem Speed Recommended RIPterm Baud Rate 16550 necessary? ----------- ---------------------------------- ---------------- 300 300 (time to upgrade!) no 2400 2400 (modems with no compression) no 2400 9600 (modems with compression) no 9600 19200 (v.32 with v.42) if possible 14400 38400 (v.32bis with v.42) recommended 21800 54600 (v.32bis/terbo with v.42) required 28800 115200 (v.FAST or v.FC or v.34) imperative ┌────────────┐ │ DTR Hangup │ └────────────┘ The DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signal from the computer to the modem tells the modem if it can connect to a host (DTR enabled or DTR high), or not (DTR disabled or DTR low). DTR hangup is often referred to as "quick hangup". When activated, RIPterm lowers the DTR signal to the modem for 1 second to tell the modem to disconnect. Most modems respond to this command. Some modems need to be configured to enable support for DTR Hangup. Most modems use the &D2 command to tell the modem to disconnect if DTR is lowered. You can add the &D2 command to your modem's initialization command string. If for some obscure reason DTR doesn't hangup the modem, RIPterm will attempt to hangup the modem by issuing the typical hangup command: +++ATH0^m If after trying both methods the modem still hasn't hung-up, RIPterm will say "Hangup Failed" and beep your PC Speaker. See Section 4.6.1 ■ Modem Command Strings for information on how to set the Modem Initialization string and the Modem Hangup string. ┌────────────┐ │ Local Echo │ └────────────┘ Local Echo toggles whether RIPterm should echo keystrokes to the terminal screen locally, or let the host perform the echoing. Normally, the host will do this for you, so echo is OFF by default. In some situations though, you may wish to toggle ECHO ON. One such situation is if you are directly connected to another person's computer via modem and are typing to them in a "chat-like" manner. If your can't see what you're typing, try turning on Local Echo. If Local Echo is enabled, then the phrase "HDX" is displayed which means "Half Duplex". If this is disabled (no echo), then the phrase "FDX" is displayed indicating "Full Duplex" mode is in effect. ┌───────────┐ │ Add CR/LF │ └───────────┘ This option adds a carriage return (CR or Control-M) and a Line Feed (LF or Control-J) to the end of every line of text received. Normally, this is not necessary. Some hosts however, require that CR/LF's be ON for you to see text properly. Normally, this option is OFF. If text coming across the modem does not move to the next line, then you need to turn Add CR/LF ON. If every line of text is separated by a blank line, then you need to turn Add CR/LF OFF. ┌─────────────┐ │ Destruct BS │ └─────────────┘ A Destructive Backspace means that when you press the Backspace key on your keyboard, it ERASES the character immediately to the left of the cursor. If Destructive Backspace is disabled, then the cursor simply moves one character cell to the left. Destructive Backspace defaults to ON. ┌──────────────┐ │ BS Sends DEL │ └──────────────┘ Some hosts don't recognize the Backspace key. They use the Delete key instead. For your convenience, you can tell RIPterm to act like the Delete key was pressed when Backspace the key actually used, by enabling BS Sends DEL. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.7 ■ Dialing Prefixes and Suffixes ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Modem Dialing Prefixes and Suffixes let you set different ways for your modem to dial telephone numbers. You can dial some numbers a certain way and other numbers in a totally different manner. For your modem to dial a number, it must be issued a command. Usually this command is the same for every number you dial in your Dialing Directory. This can change if you have different types of systems you call, or if you use RIPterm on a notebook computer, and need to dialing out different from various locations. The first thing transmitted is the Prefix, followed by the phone number, then the Suffix. To better illustrate how Prefixes and Suffixes are related to dialing, refer to the following: Prefix Phone Number Suffix ------ ------------ ------ ATDT 555-1212 ^M The normal prefix is ATDT. It stands for ATtention Dial Touch-tone. If you were dialing out on a rotary phone line, that would be Pulse dialing (i.e., "ATDP"). This would be a typical use for a dialing prefix. A normal suffix is a Return character (Control-M). This is entered as ^m in the suffix string field. For example, on some hosts you might have to disable error correction on your modem to connect. You wouldn't want to put the modem commands to disable error correction into your telephone number to accomplish this because it won't work -- the command appears in the wrong place in the dialing string. To disable error correction, you would add the disable commands before the DT. For example, some modems use the &M0 command to disable error correction. So your prefix would be: AT&M0DT Another example is that you are using a notebook computer. If you dial from home, you just dial the number direct. If you're calling from the office, you have to dial a 9 before the number. A different prefix could be used in these situations, and you just set the number up in the Dialing Directory to use the default prefix. Another use for Dialing Prefixes are for phone number passwords. If you work for a company that requires you to enter a password in order to dial-out, you could accomplish this as follows, "ATDT 1234567~". The 1234567 is your password and the tilde (~) is used for a 1/2 second pause. After the pause the remainder of the phone number in the dialing directory will be dialed followed by the Dialing Suffix. The Modem Prefix/Suffix Editor dialog box looks like this: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Modem Prefix/Suffix Editor ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌─┤ Prefix Settings ├─┐ ┌─┤ Suffix Settings ├─┐ ││ ││ │ └─────────────────────────────┘ │ │ └─────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ ┌─────────────────────────┐│ │ ┌─────────────┐│ ││ ││ │ 1 (■)│ATDT ││ │ A (■)│^M ││ ││ ││ │ └─────────────────────────┘│ │ └─────────────┘│ ││ ││ │ ┌─────────────────────────┐│ │ ┌─────────────┐│ ││ ││ │ 2 ( )│ATDP ││ │ B ( )│^M ││ ││ ││ │ └─────────────────────────┘│ │ └─────────────┘│ ││ ││ │ ┌─────────────────────────┐│ │ ┌─────────────┐│ ││ ││ │ 3 ( )│ATDT9, ││ │ C ( )│^M ││ ││ ││ │ └─────────────────────────┘│ │ └─────────────┘│ ││ ││ └─────────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ NOTE: Radio button indicates DEFAULT Prefix or Suffix. ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Notice that in the Modem Prefix section of the dialog box that there are three different settings labeled 1, 2 and 3. Just to the right of each of these labels is a radio button. Only one of them can be selected at any one time. Whichever one is selected is the default Prefix. You may set your Dialing Directory entries to use the "default prefix". Then if you need to change all your directory entries to use a different dialing method quickly, simply change which prefix is the default and you're done. Similar to the Prefix section of the dialog box, the Suffix section also has the ability to set a "default suffix". The method is the exact same as that for prefixes except that each suffix is labeled A, B and C. If you choose a Prefix or Suffix setting of "Default", then whichever of the three Prefix or Suffix definitions you have tagged as "Default" will be used. You may also explicitly set a Prefix of 1, 2, or 3 in the Dialing Directory to select a particular Prefix, and likewise you can select explicitly set a Suffix of A, B, or C to select a particular Suffix. The idea behind the Default option is evident if you have your entire directory set to "default", then you take your computer somewhere where you need to dial say, "9" to get an outside line and you need to change your entire configuration quickly. The length limit for each Prefix and Suffix is 60 characters. ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ OK takes all of the Prefix and Suffix settings and make them the active settings. The changes are not saved to the permanent RIPterm setup file - you must do that by clicking the Save button, or by selecting Save Setup from the Setup menu. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Cancel discards any changes made in the Modem Prefix/Suffix Editor dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored. You are returned immediately to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Save │ └────────┘ This option will close the dialog box and save the selected settings to the permanent RIPterm setup file. See Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? for details on everything saved to the RIPterm setup file. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Congratulations! You may have already won a famous sweepstakes prize. Click Help to see if you're the next winner. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.8 ■ Modem Hardware Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Modem Serial Port Hardware Setup ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ ┌────┬─┐ ││ ││ COM Port │COM1││ ││ ││ └────┴─┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌─┤ Interrupt Setup ├─┐ ┌─┤ Port Address Setup ├─┐ ││ ││ │ └────────────────────┘ │ │ └────────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ ┌────┬─┐ │ │ ┌───┐ │ ││ ││ │ Interrupt │IRQ4││ │ │ Port Address │3F8│ │ ││ ││ │ └────┴─┘ │ │ └───┘ │ ││ ││ │ ┌───────────────────┐ │ │ ┌───────────────────┐ │ ││ ││ │ │ Use Default Value │ │ │ │ Use Default Value │ │ ││ ││ │ └───────────────────┘ │ │ └───────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ └────────────────────────┘ └────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ ││ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ THIS IS AN ADVANCED OPTION AND SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IBM-PC INTERRUPTS, SOFTWARE ADDRESSES, AND HARDWARE SETUP! Interrupt Setup allows you to customize the interrupt (IRQ) settings for each of your four COM ports. Normally this isn't necessary. However, some PC's have special configurations that require the terminal's setup to be altered if the serial ports are to function properly. There are fourteen different interrupts that can be selected for each COM port -- IRQ2 to IRQ15. If two serial ports in the computer use the same interrupt (i.e., an interrupt conflict), then problems arise. Port Address Setup allows you to customize the base I/O address of the four COM ports that RIPterm can utilize. Normally, you will not need to alter these settings. If you have a serial port configuration that doesn't comply with the COM1-COM4 standards, you may need to alter your addresses for these ports to make RIPterm function properly. The standard addresses for COM1-4 are as follows on an AT compatible computer: Normal PC Compatible IBM Micro Channel (ISA/EISA) (PS/2) PORT ADDRESS IRQ PORT ADDRESS IRQ ---------------------- ---------------------- COM1 3F8 4 COM1 3F8 4 COM2 2F8 3 COM2 2F8 3 COM3 3E8 4 COM3 3220 3 COM4 2E8 3 COM4 3228 3 NOTE: The first time you install RIPterm, it will auto-sense if you are on a Micro Channel machine. If you are, it will customize the addresses and IRQ's for COM3 and COM4. ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ OK takes all of the port options and make them the active settings. It will re-initialize the serial port if necessary and make any of the changes active. The changes are not saved to the permanent RIPterm setup file - you must do that by clicking the Save button, or by selecting Save Setup from the Setup menu. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Cancel discards any changes made in the Hardware Setup dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored. You will be sent immediately to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Save │ └────────┘ This option will close the dialog box and save the selected settings to the permanent RIPterm setup file. See Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? for details on everything saved to the RIPterm setup file. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Clicking Help causes you to revert to an Homo Australipithicus. In the Help dialog, click the Back button to become a Homo Sapiens again. NOTE: This is assuming that RIPterm is being used by humans. Our marmoset users are not affected, and there is no cure for lycanthropy here. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.9 ■ File Transfer Setup ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are four areas to the File Transfer Setup dialog box. They are Protocol Transfer Settings, ASCII Upload Settings, and Capture Log Settings. The Protocol Transfer Settings are in the upper half of the dialog box, covering Zmodem Crash Recovery, CompuServe QuickB+ Transfers, Auto Zmodem Download, Download Dir, and Upload Dir settings. The ASCII Upload Settings are in the lower left of the dialog box, and cover the Line Pacing, Character Pacing, and Line Expansion settings. The Capture Log Settings are in the lower right of the dialog box, and cover the Capture ANSI, Capture RIPscrip, and Capture Doorway settings. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ File Transfer Settings ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ [X] Zmodem Crash Recovery [X] CompuServe QuickB+ Transfers ││ ││ ││ ││ [X] Auto Zmodem Download ││ ││ ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐││ ││ Download Dir │.\ │││ ││ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤││ ││ Upload Dir │.\ │││ ││ └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌───────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌─┤ ASCII Upload Settings ├─┐ ┌─┤ Capture Log Settings ├─┐ ││ ││ │ └───────────────────────┘ │ │ └───────────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ ┌────┬─┐ │ │ │ ││ ││ │ Line Pacing │ 7 ││ │ │ [ ] Capture ANSI │ ││ ││ │ ├────┼─┤ │ │ │ ││ ││ │ Character Pacing │ 0 ││ │ │ [ ] Capture RIPscrip │ ││ ││ │ └────┴─┘ │ │ │ ││ ││ │ [X] Line Expansion │ │ [ ] Capture Doorway │ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││ ││ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Save │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ OK takes all of the Transfer Settings and makes them the active settings. The changes are not saved to the permanent RIPterm setup file - you must do that by clicking the Save button, or by selecting Save Setup from the Setup menu. After choosing this item, the dialog box will close and you will be returned to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ Cancel discards any changes made in the File Transfer Settings dialog box. Whatever settings were active before entering this dialog box will be restored. You will be sent immediately to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Save │ └────────┘ This option will close the dialog box and save the selected settings to the permanent RIPterm setup file. See Section 4.0.1 ■ RIPterm Setup - What Is Saved? for details on everything saved to the RIPterm setup file. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ This displays a help screen of the air speed velocities of various species of swallows. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.9.1 ■ Protocol Transfer Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Protocol Transfer Settings are in the upper half of the dialog box, covering the Zmodem Crash Recovery, CompuServe QuickB+ Transfers, Auto Zmodem Download, Download Dir, and Upload Dir settings. ┌───────────────────────┐ │ Zmodem Crash Recovery │ └───────────────────────┘ This option controls whether Zmodem should attempt to recover from a failed transmission. In the event that a file transfer was aborted for whatever reason, Zmodem can pick up where it left off, if possible, and continue retrieving the file. This can save a lot of time, especially if you are transferring large files on unstable line conditions. If this option is selected, then Zmodem automatically tries to resume where it left off. This is the default selection. If this mode is not enabled, then Zmodem will re-transmit the entire file over again from the beginning, erasing the previous aborted attempt. ┌──────────────────────────────┐ │ CompuServe QuickB+ Transfers │ └──────────────────────────────┘ If you are connected to CompuServe, or any system that uses a 7 Bit connection, QuickB+ is optimized for these connections. Normally, you would leave this option selected, unless you needed to prevent a host from using it for some reason. ┌──────────────────────┐ │ Auto Zmodem Download │ └──────────────────────┘ Zmodem downloads can be begun automatically the moment the host starts the transfer. A Zmodem download can easily be spotted if you see the sequence "**" on your screen. If RIPterm sees this sequence, and the Auto Zmodem Download option is enabled, it will automatically begin the Zmodem transfer without you having to intervene - making the process simpler. This option is selected by default. If for some reason this operation is not desirable, this option is provided so that you can disable this. When disabled, you will need to initiate the Zmodem download (receive) on your own. ┌──────────────┐ │ Download Dir │ └──────────────┘ The download directory setting allows you to determine where files that are downloaded (received) from a host will be stored on your hard disk. By default, RIPterm will place files that are downloaded into the current RIPterm directory (for example, C:\RIPTERM\). You can plug in your own directory name in this field if you wish to place files into another location. This option is most often used to prevent files in your RIPterm runtime directory from being overwritten, or from cluttering up your RIPterm directory with a lot of files. NOTE: Your file transfer will FAIL if the directory specified does not exist! TeleGrafix Tech Support gets this question all the time! See Appendix A.5.3 ■ My File Transfers Fail Immediately for other possible causes and solutions. ┌────────────┐ │ Upload Dir │ └────────────┘ The upload directory setting allows you to instruct RIPterm where files that you will upload (send) to a host are located. By default, files are assumed to be in the local RIPterm directory. Any directory specified must correspond to an existing DOS directory. You are not restricted to uploading files from this directory only. If you wish to upload a file from some other directory, you do not have to alter this setting if you don't want to. When prompted to enter a filename to upload, simply type the path to the file directly. RIPterm is smart enough to recognize that you gave it an full path and filename, and will temporarily override the upload directory setting. You can use the standard DOS * and ? wildcards to specify a number of files if desired. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.9.2 ■ ASCII Upload Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The ASCII Upload Settings are in the lower left of the dialog box, and cover the Line Pacing, Character Pacing, and Line Expansion settings. A useful aspect of ASCII uploads is that it can make a host behave EXACTLY as if you had typed in a series of commands on the keyboard. So if you have an intricate series of commands that you always have to enter, you can use a Keystroke Macro, or you can use a text file containing the commands, and ASCII Upload it to the host. You may have to tweak your ASCII Upload Settings to get it to work right, but it is VERY useful. This option modifies the default settings for ASCII (text) uploads. Some hosts are picky about how fast they can take text data being uploaded to them. With this in mind, you can set a short delay in between each line of text sent to the host, and/or you can set a delay in between each character sent to the host. Fine tuning this can make ASCII text uploads fast and the most optimized they can be for the host you call. ┌─────────────┐ │ Line Pacing │ └─────────────┘ Sometimes when uploading ASCII files to a host, it is necessary to pause in between each line so that the host can process the data. If you find that data is becoming lost, or garbled by the host when you perform an ASCII upload, you may need to increase the Line Pacing option for ASCII uploads. You specify a time value in 1/10ths of a second. Therefore, if you specify a value of 11, it would be a 1.1 second pause in between lines. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Character Pacing │ └──────────────────┘ Under some circumstances, when performing an ASCII upload to a host, it is necessary to insert pauses in between each character that is sent to the host. This may be necessary in situations where the host must process each character as it is sent, rather than every line of text sent. You specify a time value in 1/10ths of a second. Therefore, if you specify a value of 11, it would be a 1.1 second pause in between lines. ┌────────────────┐ │ Line Expansion │ └────────────────┘ When this option is chosen, RIPterm will expand blank lines that are uploaded in ASCII mode to a space character followed by a carriage return. This tricks the host into thinking that you typed something on every line, but the lines still show up as a blank. Turn this option off if you do not want blank line expansion to be enabled. This is often the case with some e-mail editors. For example, if you upload a text file into an e-mail message on a host and the file has blank lines in it, when that blank line is uploaded to the system it might (depending on the host package) show a command prompt instead of accepting the blank line as "raw text". RIPterm allows you to "transform" blank lines into a single space character followed by a carriage return. This in effect, tricks the host into thinking you typed something in, but at the same time makes it look like a real blank line in your message. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 4.9.3 ■ Capture Log Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Capture Log Settings are in the lower right of the dialog box, and cover the Capture ANSI, Capture RIPscrip, and Capture Doorway settings. When you turn on the Log Text to File option in the File menu, these settings control what is captured, and what is ignored. For more information on ANSI, RIPscrip, and Doorway, refer to the Emulation options shown in Section 3.4 ■ The Options Menu. ┌──────────────┐ │ Capture ANSI │ └──────────────┘ Captures the ANSI text color and positioning commands. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Capture RIPscrip │ └──────────────────┘ Captures all RIPscrip commands received. ┌─────────────────┐ │ Capture Doorway │ └─────────────────┘ Captures any Doorway commands sent from the host. ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ 5.0 ■ RIPterm Features ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ RIPterm has a great many features to make your online access quicker and easier. Some features are advanced and some are simple. The following section documents the various features of RIPterm to help make your adventure in the online world as simple as possible. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.1 ■ The Status Bar ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Status Bar will be displayed at the bottom of your RIPterm screen by default. When this option is not checked, the Status Bar will not be displayed and your default (full-screen) text window will be one line taller. The Status Bar is used to display the current status of various aspects of the RIPterm operation. You may toggle the Status Bar ON and OFF quickly by pressing ALT-SPACE. The host might turn the Status Bar ON or OFF for you, using RIPscrip commands. If it mysteriously vanishes for some reason, keep in mind that the host you are connected to probably did it because it needs the extra line for text or graphics! The Status Bar has a number of different "fields", displaying information about RIPterm's current configuration and status. The fields are: ┌──────────────┬──────────────┬──────────┬─────────────────┬ │ Alt-Z = Help │ Alt-! = Menu │ ANSI/RIP │ 38400 ■ N81 FDX │ └──────────────┴──────────────┴──────────┴─────────────────┴ (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) ┬──────┬──────────────────┬─────────┐ │ COM1 │ RIPterm v2.00.00 │ Offline │ ┴──────┴──────────────────┴─────────┘ (7) (8) (9) (1) How to get the Help System Table of Contents (2) How to use the keyboard only to bring up the menu bar (3) What terminal emulation is in use, or the name of the log file if one has been opened, or the LPT port that it being printed to. (4) The BPS (bits per second) rate. Sometimes called the baud rate. (5) The parity setting, data bits, and stop bits. (6) Full-duplex (FDX) or half-duplex (HDX) settings (7) The COM port that is currently in use (8) The current version number of RIPterm (9) Whether you are "offline", or how long you have been on-line Each of the various fields are described below: ┌──────────────────┐ │ (1) Alt-Z = Help │ └──────────────────┘ This option tells you how to display the Help Table of Contents. From there, you can access any area in the Help System quickly and easily. ┌──────────────────┐ │ (2) Alt-! = Menu │ └──────────────────┘ This option tells you how to access the menu bar via the keyboard. The menu bar at the top of the screen is highlighted for you. You may use the keyboard or the mouse to navigate through the menus and select options. Remember that you can click the right mouse button to bring up the menu bar also. ┌─────────────────┐ │ (3) Misc. Field │ └─────────────────┘ This field serves three purposes. If you are logging your session to a "log file", the filename (without extension) of the log file will be displayed in here. If you are not logging your session at all, then this field will display the phrase "ANSI/RIP", indicating that you are using a RIPscrip compatible terminal program. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ (4) Baud Rate (5) Port Config (6) Duplex │ └────────────────────────────────────────────┘ These fields indicate what the current communications parameters are. The baud rate (300-115,200 baud) is displayed as well as the data bits (7 or 8), parity (N = none, E = even, and O = odd), and the stop bits (1 or 2). If Local Echo is enabled, then the phrase "HDX" is displayed which means "Half Duplex". If this is disabled (no echo), then the phrase "FDX" is displayed indicating "Full Duplex" mode is in effect. ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ (7) Communications Port │ └─────────────────────────┘ This field displays what communications port you are using. The valid ports are COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ (8) RIPterm Information │ └─────────────────────────┘ This field displays the RIPterm version number. ┌──────────────────────────────┐ │ (9) Online/Offline Indicator │ └──────────────────────────────┘ This field displays whether you are online or offline. When RIPterm is starting up, you might see the phrase "Loading..." in this field; this is just a status indicator telling you RIPterm is doing something. The purpose of this field is for you to be able to, at a glance, determine if you are still connected to a host or not. If you are online, this field shows how long you have been connected to the host. See Section A.5.4 ■ My Modem is Always On-Line (Resuming Previous On-line Session)to fix this problem. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2 ■ The Dialing Directory ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Displayed at the top of the Dialing Directory dialog box is the name of the directory file in use (the default is RIPTERM.PHO). Whenever you change Dialing Directory files, this will change to reflect the current file in use. The middle area of the dialog box lists the host systems that have been entered for you to call. Seventeen hosts are displayed at once, and each directory can contain up to 1,000 entries. You can scroll through the available hosts by using the scroll bar at the right side of the screen. The UP ARROW, DOWN ARROW, PGUP, PGDN, HOME, and END keys work intuitively. To select an item, you can just type it's number. The Mark Entries dialog pops up to allow you to select items. See the description of the Mark button below for more details. The default display shows System Name, Phone Number, and Directory. See the Toggle button below for all the available displays. This is what the Dialing Directory dialog box looks like: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Dialing Directory:RIPTERM.PHO ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┐││ │││ 1: The Vector Sector ││││ │││ 2: <blank> ├─┤││ │││ 3: <blank> │█│││ │││ 4: <blank> │ │││ │││ 5: <blank> │ │││ │││ 6: <blank> │ │││ │││ 7: <blank> │ │││ │││ 8: <blank> │ │││ │││ 9: <blank> │ │││ │││ 10: <blank> │ │││ │││ 11: <blank> │ │││ │││ 12: <blank> │ │││ │││ 13: <blank> │ │││ │││ 14: <blank> │ │││ │││ 15: <blank> │ │││ │││ 16: <blank> ├─┤││ │││ 17: <blank> ││││ ││└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─┘││ ││┌────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┐││ │││ Edit │ Mark │ Unmark │ SaveAs │ Load │ Find │ Create │ Swap │││ ││├────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┤││ │││ Dial │ Cancel │ Kill │ Print │ Toggle │ Add │ Help │ Sort │││ ││└────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┘││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are sixteen buttons at the bottom of the dialog box to choose from. They function as follows: ┌────────┐ │ Edit │ └────────┘ Clicking this button edits the currently selected entries. An editing dialog box will appear for each host selected allowing you to edit each host's characteristics. See Section 5.2.1 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries for details on editing entries. ┌────────┐ │ Mark │ └────────┘ This option will mark (select) one or more Dialing Directory entries. When selected, a dialog box will appear prompting you to enter which entries to select. In this dialog box, you can enter one or more numbers indicating which directory entry(s) to select. There are a number of options you may choose from for selecting entries. Some examples are: Examples: --------- 1 ... Selects entry 1 1, 2, 3 ... Selects entries 1, 2 and 3 1 2 3 ... Selects entries 1, 2 and 3 1;2;3 ... Selects entries 1, 2 and 3 1-10 ... Selects entries 1 through 10 15- ... Selects entries 15 to the end (100) -5 ... Selects from Start (1) to entry 5 - ... Selects ALL entries 1-5, 10, 95- ... Selects 1-5, 10 and 95-100 In addition, you can also specify a "Mark Merge". This mode allows you to combine your Marked entries with any entries that are already marked. To use Mark Merge mode, enter a plus sign (+) as the first character. For example, if entries 3 and 5 are selected, and you mark "+ 10-15", then entries 3, 5, and 10-15 will be selected. One final option is the Mark Exclude mode. This mode is similar to Mark Merge, except that all entries EXCEPT those selected are marked. In other words, anything that you would think would be selected, would not be, and anything that shouldn't be selected, will be! This odd way of doing things can become very handy when combined with some of the other options in the Dialing Directory. To choose Mark Exclude mode, specify an exclamation mark (!) as the first character. You can combine Mark Merge, and Mark Exclude modes together. To do this, enter the sequence "+!" as the first two characters in the dialog box. Mark Mode will be automatically chosen if you begin typing something that appears to be a mark sequence. In other words, you do not have to select Mark mode in order to Mark entries. For example, from the Dialing Directory dialog box, simply typing "1" will bring up the Mark dialog and place "1" in the editing field automatically and allow you to continue typing in your Mark expression. ┌────────┐ │ Unmark │ └────────┘ This will de-select any previously selected directory entries. ┌────────┐ │ SaveAs │ └────────┘ This option will save either the entire Dialing Directory (or just the selected entries) to another directory file. This allows you to create new directory files quickly and easily for specific purposes. If one or more entries are selected, only those entries are copied to the new file. If no entries are selected, then the entire Dialing Directory file is copied. You will be prompted to enter the destination filename. If the destination file exists, it is checked to see if it is a RIPterm Dialing Directory file. If it is, you will be prompted to either merge the selected entries into the destination file, or to overwrite the file with just the selected entries. In the event that the destination file becomes full, a message to the effect will be displayed informing you how many entries couldn't be copied. This "directory merge" feature is unique to RIPterm. NOTE: Modifications to the Dialing Directory are automatically saved to the current directory file. You do not need to choose SAVE AS every time you add or edit an entry. ┌────────┐ │ Load │ └────────┘ This option allows you to load up another Dialing Directory file. The current directory file will be closed and the specified file will be loaded in its place. All entries are de-selected, and the window will automatically display the newly loaded entries. ┌────────┐ │ Find │ └────────┘ This option will select one or more entries that contain the specified search text. Once you choose this option, a dialog box will appear prompting you to enter a string to search for throughout the Dialing Directory. Any entries that contain the chosen text will be automatically selected. Search is not case sensitive. The System Name, all three Phone Numbers, the User-ID, Password, System ID, and Notes fields are searched for the string. Text can appear anywhere in any of these eight fields and will still be found. You may choose Find Merge mode or Find Exclude mode (or both) exactly the same way as you can with the Mark mode. The command characters (+ and !) are not added to the search string, and must be the first characters specified in the search string. Merge mode can be quite useful if you wish to select all entries in a specific area code, or that contain a common theme (like "business" or "daily"). ┌────────┐ │ Create │ └────────┘ This option creates a new Dialing Directory file. You are prompted for the number of entries the new file is to contain, and the name of the new Dialing Directory file. You are then asked to confirm that you really want to create the new file. If you click OK without a filename, nothing is done. ┌────────┐ │ Swap │ └────────┘ This option will let you swap two directory entries that are currently highlighted. This permits you to move one entry into the place of another and vice versa. Use this option to re-organize the way that your directory entries are layed out. ┌────────┐ │ Dial │ └────────┘ Selecting Dial calls one or more selected directory entries. If more than one entry is selected, they will be dialed in numerical order. If a connection is established to any host, it will be de-selected in the Dialing Directory so that later re-entry into the directory will allow you to dial the remaining hosts. This option is automatically selected if you press ENTER if at least one directory entry is selected. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ This will exit the Dialing Directory dialog box, and return you the to session screen. Any previously selected entries will remain selected next time you enter the directory. ┌────────┐ │ Kill │ └────────┘ This option will delete all selected directory entries. You are prompted with Erase Only, or Remove Entirely (Pack)? Erase Only just clears the entries selected to <blank>. Remove Entirely move the other entries in the Dialing Directory up to fill in the gaps. You will be prompted to make absolutely sure that you truly wish to erase the entries. All calling statistics for those entries will be erased as well. Once an option is killed, it is permanently deleted. If no entries are selected, this option has no effect. ┌────────┐ │ Print │ └────────┘ This prints just the Dialing Directory entries selected, or the entire directory if no entries are selected. The output can be directed to a printer or a file. Choosing the disk option will prompt you for a filename, and if you wish to append to the file, or overwrite any file by that name. Before printing or saving occurs, you will be asked what type of output you wish. You have two choices: Detailed Listing, or Tabular Listing. Specifying Detailed Listing will output a multi-line record for each entry. The format of detailed breakdown mode is as follows: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENTRY #: 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: The Vector Sector Phone-2: 714/379-2134 Phone-1: 714/379-2133 Phone-3: 714/379-3135 SystemID: TELEGRFX User-ID: SysopJim Connects: 0 Password: Last Date: --/--/---- VT-102: NO Prefix: Default COM Port: Default Suffix: Default Baud Rate: Default BS Destr.: NO Data Bits: Default BS Delete: NO Parity: Default Local echo: NO Stop Bits: Default Use modem: Default Flow Control: None Baud Lock: NO Add CR/LF: NO Notes: Home of RIPscrip graphics Tabular Listing will print one entry per line, formatted for an 80-column display: Baud COM Last Mod Host Name Host Phone Number Rate Val # Calls Call ? Direc. =============================================================================== The Vector Sector 714/379-2133 ------ --- - 0 --/--/-- - TELEGRFX 714/379-2134 714/379-3135 ┌────────┐ │ Toggle │ └────────┘ Toggle alters what information is displayed in the Dialing Directory window. By default, the following information is displayed on each line in the window: ─#─ ──────System Name─────── ──────Phone Number───── ─Directory── Entry # Host System Name Phone Number System ID (Directory) There are six different toggle settings available, displaying all the various information that can be set in the Entry Editor. The alternate toggles are: ─#─ ──────System Name───── Port ─Baud─ D P S CT L ──Flow── Entry # Host System Name COM Port Baud Rate ┐ Data Bits │ Parity │ Stop Bits ├ Show dashes if no Custom Port Config Connection (MoDem or SeRial)│ Port Lock │ Flow Control ┘ ─#─ ──────System Name─────── ────────────────Notes─────────────── Entry # Host System Name Notes ─#─ ──────System Name─────── LastCall Total# Emulat E C BD BK P S Entry # Host System Name Date of Last Call Total Number of Calls Terminal Emulation (ANSI or VT-102) Local Echo Add CR/LF Destructive Backspace Backspace Sends DEL (BS or DL) Prefix Suffix ─#─ ────System Name──── ───Phone 1─── ───Phone 2─── ───Phone 3─── Entry # Host System Name Phone Number 1 Phone Number 2 Phone Number 3 ─#─ ──────System Name─────── ───────User-ID────── ───Password──── Entry # Host System Name User-ID Password This is a simple toggle. Each time you choose this option, the information displayed will change to the next mode. Your favorite toggle setting can be saved to your permanent RIPterm setup. To do this, choose the toggle mode you like the best, exit the Dialing Directory, then choose Save Setup from the Setup Menu. ┌────────┐ │ Add │ └────────┘ Add the selected number of entries to the end of the current Dialing Directory file. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ This option displays who really killed JFK. ┌────────┐ │ Sort │ └────────┘ When you dialing directory becomes rather large because you call a lot of systems, it sometimes becomes necessary to organize your dialing directory. This is made easier by having the ability to sort your dialing directory. When you sort a directory, you organize your entries based on some piece of information - the name of each system, their phone numbers, etc. The diagram below shows the dialing directory sort dialog box, giving you five separate ways of sorting and also giving you the ability to sort in ascending or descending order: ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Sort the Dialing Directory ║ ╟────────────────────────────────────────────────╢ ║ ║ ║ ┌─ Sort By ───────────────┐ ┌─ Sort Order ───┐ ║ ║ │ (■) System name │ │ (■) Ascending │ ║ ║ │ ( ) System phone number │ │ ( ) Descending │ ║ ║ │ ( ) Notes │ └────────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ( ) Last call date │ ║ ║ │ ( ) Total calls │ ║ ║ └─────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ║ ║ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ║ ║ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Each of the options in this dialog box are described as follows: ╔═════════╗ ║ Sort By ║ ╚═════════╝ The "Sort By" group of options controls what ┌─ Sort By ───────────────┐ information in each directory entry is used │ (■) System name │ for the sorting process. For example, if │ ( ) System phone number │ choose the "System Name" option, then all │ ( ) Notes │ entries will be sorted into alphabetical │ ( ) Last call date │ order. The five options are described more │ ( ) Total calls │ fully below: └─────────────────────────┘ 1. System Name - Sort the entries alphabetically by the name of each system. 2. System Phone Number - Sort the entries alphabetically by their phone numbers. Since RIPterm can have up to three phone numbers for each directory entry, it is possible for the second or third number to be used in the sorting process - but only if two entries in the directory have the exact same main telephone number. 3. Notes - This sorts all entries based on the notes field of the directory entries. All entries with notes are placed at the top of the list and any with no note entries are placed at the bottom of the directory. 4. Last Call Date - The last call date is the last date that a successful connection was made to a service. Sorting by this option allows you to find out what systems you haven't called in ages, or which ones you called most recently. 5. Total Calls - This option sorts your directory based on the total number of completed calls to each service. With this you can determine which systems are the most frequently called, and which ones you hardly ever call. It should be noted that any directory entry which is not in use will always be put at the very bottom of the dialing directory, regardless of the way you try to sort your entries. ╔════════════╗ ║ Sort Order ║ ╚════════════╝ ┌─ Sort Order ───┐ The Sort Order option lets you control whether your │ (■) Ascending │ directory entries should be sorted "up" or "down". │ ( ) Descending │ ascending order means that you are sorting "up", and └────────────────┘ descending order means that you are sorting "down". Here are some examples in each of the five categories: SYSTEM NAME ─────────── Ascending Descending ══════════════════════════════════ Name Name ────────────────────────────────── ArenaBBS TeleGrafix BBS Bob's BBS CompuServe CompuServe Bob's BBS TeleGrafix BBS ArenaBBS SYSTEM PHONE NUMBER ─────────────────── Ascending Descending ══════════════════════════════════ Phone Number Phone Number ────────────────────────────────── 1-213-555-1212 1-805-999-5555 1-714-999-8888 1-805-888-7777 1-805-888-7777 1-714-999-8888 1-805-999-5555 1-213-555-1212 SYSTEM NOTES ──────────── Ascending Descending ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Name Notes Name Notes ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── BBS 1 - My favorite BBS 3 - Tech Support BBS BBS 2 - Nobody's favorite BBS 2 - Nobody's favorite BBS 3 - Tech Support BBS BBS 1 - My favorite BBS 4 BBS 4 BBS 5 BBS 5 LAST CALL DATE ────────────── Ascending Descending ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Name Date Name Date ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── CompuServe 02/03/92 TeleGrafix BBS 05/17/95 Bob's BBS 11/27/93 GEnie 06-22/94 ArenaBBS 11/28/93 ArenaBBS 11/28/93 GEnie 06-22/94 Bob's BBS 11/27/93 TeleGrafix BBS 05/17/95 CompuServe 02/03/92 TOTAL CALLS TO DATE ─────────────────── Ascending Descending ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Name Calls Name Calls ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── CompuServe 0 TeleGrafix BBS 92 Bob's BBS 5 GEnie 23 ArenaBBS 23 ArenaBBS 23 GEnie 23 Bob's BBS 5 TeleGrafix BBS 92 CompuServe 0 ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ Choosing the OK option will close the sorting dialog box and prompt you if you are sure that you want to actually sort your dialing directory. Choosing the yes option from this dialog will actually start the sorting procedure. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ The cancel option hides the sort dialog and aborts any sort operation. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Clicking the help option shows the solution to the Grand Unified Theory. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2.1 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ When you choose to edit Dialing Directory entries, a dialog box like this appears on your screen to let you edit the various entries: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Edit Directory Entry #1 ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────┬─┐ ││ ││ System Name │The Vector Sector │ Prefix # │ Default ││ ││ ││ ├─────────────────────────┤ ├───────────┼─┤ ││ ││ Phone Number 1 │714/379-2133 │ Suffix # │ Default ││ ││ ││ ├─────────────────────────┤ ├───────────┴─┤ ││ ││ Phone Number 2 │714/379-2134 │ System Dir │ │ ││ ││ ├─────────────────────────┤ ├─────────────┤ ││ ││ Phone Number 3 │714/379-2135 │ User-ID │ │ ││ ││ ├─────────────────────────┤ ├─────────────┤ ││ ││ Notes │Home of RIPscrip graphics│ Password │ │ ││ ││ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────┘ ││ ││ VT-102 [ ] Local Echo [ ] Destruct. BS [XI Hide UserID & P/W [ ] ││ ││ CustomPort [ ] Add CR/LF [ ] BS Sends DEL [ ] Restricted Access [ ] ││ │├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌────────────┬─┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ││ ││ COM Port │ COM1 ││ BIOS COM Port [ ] │ Default Settings │ ││ ││ ├────────────┼─┤ └──────────────────┘ ││ ││ Baud Rate │ 19,200 ││ Port Lock [X] ┌──────────────────┐ ││ ││ ├────────────┼─┤ │ Active Settings │ ││ ││ Data Bits │ 8 Bits ││ Modem Connection [X] └──────────────────┘ ││ ││ ├────────────┼─┤ ┌──────────────────┐ ││ ││ Parity │ No Parity ││ RTS/CTS (■) │ Set 8-N-1 │ ││ ││ ├────────────┼─┤ └──────────────────┘ ││ ││ Stop Bits │ 1 Stop Bit ││ XON/XOFF ( ) ┌──────────────────┐ ││ ││ └────────────┴─┘ │ Set 7-E-1 │ ││ ││ └──────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The significance of each of these fields are described below. The top half of the dialog box deals with settings needed for each entry. The bottom half of the dialog box deals with the Custom Port settings, and is normally ghosted (grayed-out or non-selectable) unless the CustomPort check box is selected. ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ This will accept any changes you have made and return you to the Dialing Directory dialog box. Any changes you made in the editor will be reflected in the directory window. If you have selected multiple entries to edit, then the remaining entries (if any) that haven't been edited will be edited before you are returned to the directory screen. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ This will cancel any modifications you have made in the directory editor. You will be returned to the Dialing Directory automatically. If you have chosen to edit multiple directory entries (by selecting more than one), and there are entries that haven't been edited yet, they will be edited before you are eventually returned to the Dialing Directory dialog box. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Click Help. Perspiring minds want to know. ▒▒▒ System Name ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ The System Name field is the name of the host that appears in the Dialing Directory dialog. This is the name that will be displayed to you whenever you dial the host, and is used in general to describe the host. You are allowed 24 characters for the host name. ▒▒▒ Phone Number 1 ■ Phone Number 2 ■ Phone Number 3 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ These are the telephone numbers used to dial the host. The number should be entered EXACTLY as you would dial it yourself if you were to use a phone. You are allowed up to 24 characters in each number. Valid characters are digits 0-9, hyphens, slashes, and parenthesis (if your modem allows them). You may use a comma (,) for a two or three second pause (depending on your modem) Check your modem's documentation to determine the delay value. If you wish for RIPterm to perform a half-second pause instead of the modem, use a tilde (~). NOTE: If Use Modem is NOT selected, the Phone Number 1 field is transmitted without prefix or suffix as the activation string for the direct connection to the host. Some systems require just a CR (Control-M or ^m) as the activation string. ▒▒▒ Notes ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This is a field where you may enter some comments or notes. It is strictly for your convenience. ▒▒▒ Prefix # ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option lets you select the Dialing Prefix to use. Usually, the best choice is Default, unless you have a need for a particular prefix. See Section 4.7 ■ Modem Dialing Prefixes for full details on prefixes. ▒▒▒ Suffix # ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option lets you select the Dialing Suffix to use. Usually, the best choice is Default, unless you have a need for a particular suffix. See Section 4.7 ■ Modem Dialing Prefixes for full details on suffixes. ▒▒▒ System Dir ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Each entry in the directory can have a sub-directory associated with it. This directory is used when RIPscrip graphics are being viewed on the host. Any icon, RIPscrip, sound, or image files that are sent by the host are automatically placed in the System Dir. This in effect, helps keep your icons separated from each other. If you omit a directory name in this field, and you dial into a RIPscrip host that requires icons or RIPscrip files, RIPterm will look for them automatically in the ICONS\ sub-directory. It is recommended that you keep host specific files in their proper sub-directories so as to keep files with the same name from overwriting each other. You do not need to create the sub-directory yourself. RIPterm will create it for you automatically. If the System Dir field is not blank, RIPterm checks in that directory FIRST for any necessary files. If the files are not found in that sub-directory, RIPterm will check the ICONS\ sub-directory afterward to see if it is there. This facilitates the concept of "file override". This "file override" is best explained by an example. Let's say you call several different RIPscrip hosts. Each of them have numerous icons that they use for their host. Now as you are probably aware, the sysop of each host thinks of his host as the only host in the world. With that in mind, they do not give a great amount of thought to the names that they give their icon or RIPscrip files (i.e., not considering that other hosts might have files with the same names). Files like EMAIL.BMP or FILES.BMP would be used on nearly any host! If all these files were located in the same directory, only the very latest files would be used when you call a host! In other words, when you call host XYZ, you might see host ABC's EMAIL icon! This is obviously not how it should work. With this in mind, keeping files in separate sub-directories resolves this problem quite nicely. Even if a sysop chooses to use the standard RIPterm EMAIL icon, he can do that too. All he has to do is NOT provide you with his own EMAIL icon. RIPterm would first check host XYZ's directory, and after finding that the file is not there, would check the ICONS\ directory and find it there. This way, the sysop has the ability to override standard icons with his own without affecting the standard icons. Keep in mind, that if you dial a host by type modem commands directly (not using the Dialing Directory), then the correct directory may not be used since RIPterm has no way of knowing which Dialing Directory entry you are calling. In other words, you should use the Dialing Directory to call ALL RIPscrip hosts! You can use the Manual Connect option to dial a host and set the correct System Dir. NOTE: RIPterm supports an automatic file transfer mode. This mode allows hosts to send files to your computer for subsequent use. Any files received in this mode are automatically placed in the proper System Dir. If no System Dir is defined, then the ICONS\ sub-directory is used as the destination sub-directory. The Download Directory as set in the File Transfer Settings dialog box is not used in this situation as the destination directory. ▒▒▒ User-ID ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ The User-ID field is simply a comment field for you to keep track of your account for this system. RIPterm makes no use of this information, and the host can not get at this information in any way. ▒▒▒ Password ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ The Password field is simply a comment field for you to keep track of your password for this system. RIPterm makes no use of this information, and the host can not get at this information in any way. ▒▒▒ VT-102 ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This enables VT-102 terminal emulation automatically when you connect to this system, if selected. See Section 3.4 ■ The Options Menu (Alt-O) for details on VT-102 emulation. ▒▒▒ Local Echo ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Local Echo sends every character you type directly to the screen. If you are seeing every character twice, then you need to turn this option OFF. See Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings for more details on Local Echo. ▒▒▒ Destruct. BS ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ A Destructive Backspace means that when you press the Backspace key on your keyboard, it ERASES the character immediately to the left of the cursor. If Destructive Backspace is disabled, then the cursor simply moves one character cell to the left. Destructive Backspace defaults to ON. ▒▒▒ Hide UserID & P/W ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option is ghosted, and does nothing in this release of RIPterm. In the future, this option will be used to keep your User-ID and Password fields secret. ▒▒▒ CustomPort ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Selecting the Custom Port option enables the bottom half of the dialog, and allows you to use the settings at the bottom of the screen. These settings now override the settings in your Modem Setup and Dialing Prefixes Setup. See Section 5.2.2 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries Custom Port Settings below for details on setting all these options. ▒▒▒ Add CR/LF ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option adds a carriage return (CR or Control-M) and a Line Feed (LF or Control-J) to the end of every line of text received. Normally, this is not necessary. Some hosts however, require that CR/LF's be ON for you to see text properly. Normally, this option is OFF. If text coming across the modem does not move to the next line, then you need to turn Add CR/LF ON. If every line of text is separated by a blank line, then you need to turn Add CR/LF OFF. ▒▒▒ BS Sends DEL ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Some hosts don't recognize the Backspace key. They use the Delete key instead. For your convenience, you can enable BS Sends DEL to tell RIPterm make Backspace act just like Delete was pressed when Backspace the key actually used. ▒▒▒ Restricted Access ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option is ghosted, and does nothing in this release of RIPterm. It is included for future expansion. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2.2 ■ Editing Dialing Directory Entries Custom Port Settings ▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The entire bottom half of the Edit Dialing Directory Entries dialog is devoted to custom settings for an entry. Selecting the Custom Port option enables the bottom half of the dialog, and these settings now override your default settings. ▒▒▒ COM Port, Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ See Section 4.6.2 ■ Modem Port Settings for information on these options. ▒▒▒ BIOS COM Port ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option is not available in the current release of RIPterm. ▒▒▒ Port Lock ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ This option keeps the computer to modem speed constant. See Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings for information on this option. ▒▒▒ Modem Connection ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ If Modem Connection is selected, RIPterm knows that it is connected to a modem. This is the normal, default situation. RIPterm send the "Modem Init" command string to the modem when it starts up. If you are using RIPterm to connect directly to another computer via a serial link (for example, by using a null modem cable), then you would want to select Another Computer. ▒▒▒ RTS/CTS and XON/XOFF ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ These options are for received data Flow Control. See Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings for information on this option. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Default Settings │ └──────────────────┘ This button takes the active settings from the Modem Setup dialog and enters them into the fields for you. This is a handy way to get back to your starting point. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Active Settings │ └──────────────────┘ This button takes whatever settings may have been changed by connecting to a particular host. In most cases, this button will behave exactly the same as the Default Settings button. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Set 8-N-1 │ └──────────────────┘ This button sets the Data Bits to 8, Parity to None, and Stop Bits to 1. This is the most common settings for connecting to a remote system. ┌──────────────────┐ │ Set 7-E-1 │ └──────────────────┘ This button sets the Data Bits to 7, Parity to Even, and Stop Bits to 1. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2.3 ■ Dialing Directory Conversion Utility (DIALCONV.EXE) ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ For your convenience, a utility program has been included with RIPterm to convert Dialing Directory files from other popular terminal programs to RIPterm v1.54 format. This program currently supports the conversion of Telix and TeleMate directory files to RIPterm format. Conversion is "one way". In other words, you cannot convert a RIPterm directory file to Telix format, but you can convert Telix to RIPterm v1.54 format. NOTE: There is a separate utility included to convert RIPterm v1.54 directories to RIPterm v2.0 directories. If you are converting a Telix or TeleMate directory to RIPterm v2.0 format, you must do it in two steps. Use of DIALCONV is quite simple. The program will auto-detect what type of Dialing Directory file is to be processed and will automatically use the appropriate conversion method necessary for the given file. To convert a directory file, enter a command similar to: DIALCONV TELIX.FON RIPTERM.PHO In the preceding example, DIALCONV would convert the Telix directory file TELIX.FON to a RIPterm directory file called RIPTERM.PHO. RIPterm uses the extension of .PHO to designate Dialing Directories. All "statistical" data in the source directory file are converted into the new RIPterm file. For example, the last date a host was called, and total number of calls you have made to that host are converted as well and are made part of the RIPterm directory file. In addition, COM port, baud rate and other settings are converted as well for your convenience. If you wish to simply view the contents of a Telix or TeleMate directory file without conversion (to make sure that conversion would take place properly), you can choose an optional "view" option for DIALCONV by specifying the "-v" switch on the command line. For example, to list out all the valid entries in a Telix directory file called TELIX.FON to the screen, enter the following command: DIALCONV -v TELIX.FON All entries will be displayed to the screen for you. Output can be captured to a text file if you wish by using the MS-DOS redirection feature. Using the preceding example, let's say you wanted to print all entries in the Telix directory file to the text file TELIX.LST, enter the following command: DIALCONV -v TELIX.FON >TELIX.LST Note the use of the redirection symbol ">" followed by the filename to redirect output to. You could just have easily directed the programs output to the Printer with the following command: DIALCONV -v TELIX.FON >PRN ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2.4 ■ Dialing Directory File Format ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ For the technically minded, this section contains the C header file containing all the correct values for working with the RIPterm Dialing Directory file. This is provided for programmers who wish to create maintenance utilities. //======================================================================== // A phone book contains the necessary information to dial one or more // host systems. Each host system may have up to three phone numbers // attached to it (for multi-line systems without a "real" rotary. The // entire phone book file may be password restricted, making it so that // you have to enter a password to gain access to the entire phone book. // Alternatively, you may protect certain entries in the phone book with // the master phone book password so that only authorized dialouts can // occur on particular numbers, but leaving other numbers open for regular // use (useful in a family situation). // // If the entire phone book is password protected, then all system names, // telephone numbers, login user-id's and login passwords are encrypted to // prevent unscrupulous users from trying to hack the raw binary phone // book file. If only particular entries are protected (i.e., the whole // phone book file isn't password protected), then only the phone numbers, // login user-id's and login passwords are encrypted. The system names // are left unencrypted so that they can show up in the Dialing Directory // dialog box (you just can't access them without the phone book password) //======================================================================== //------------------------------------------------------------------------ // These definitions specify the structure of a phone book's header data // block. At the very beginning of the file is a text message that // identifies the file as a RIPterm directory file, followed by the ASCII // character CTRL-Z (end of file). If a user types out this file, they // will only see the title and nothing more. This keeps out only the most // casual of hacker. Binary file viewing utilities will bypass this // counter-measure. Immediately after the file header will be zero or // more phone entry records. The exact number of records that should be // in the file is stored in the phdTotalEntries member of this structure. // The maximum number of phone directory entries is 1024 //------------------------------------------------------------------------ typedef unsigned short WORD; typedef signed short SWORD; typedef unsigned long DWORD; typedef signed long SDWORD; typedef unsigned char BYTE; #define PHONE_TITLE " RIPterm Dialing Directory File \n\r" #define PHONE_TITLE_SIZE 37 #define PHONE_MAX_ENTRIES 1000U #define PHONE_MIN_ENTRIES 20 #define DIAL_DIR_FILENAME "RIPTERM.PHO" #define MAX_NUMS 3 /* Max phone #'s per entry */ #define PHONE_PWORD_LEN 25 /* Length of password field */ // // Finds the offset of a particular record in the Dialing Directory file. // #define PHONE_DIR_OFFSET( which ) \ ( ( SDWORD ) sizeof( phoneHeader ) + \ ( SDWORD ) sizeof( phoneEntry ) * ( SDWORD ) ( which ) ) typedef enum _phoneHeaderFlags { phdPasswordRestricted = 0x0001, // Password phone book access? phdPasswordProtectedEntries = 0x0002 // P/W protects some entries } phoneHeaderFlags; typedef struct _phoneHeader *phoneHeaderPtr; typedef struct _phoneHeader { char phdTitle[ PHONE_TITLE_SIZE ]; // Title of phone book file char phdEofChar; // EOF char ASCII 26 (Ctrl-Z) WORD phdTotalEntries; // Total phone book entries WORD phdFlags; // Various phone book flags WORD phdTotalProtectedEntries; // Total # protected entries char phdPassword[ PHONE_PWORD_LEN ]; // Phone Book Access Password char phdSpareSpace[ 81 ]; // SIZEOF: 150 bytes } phoneHeader; //---------------------------------------------------------------------- // The following definitions are used for the phone book records. // These record entries define a particular host system. There are zero // or more of these records immediately following the phone book header // data block. The total number of phone record entries is defined as // header->phdTotalEntries //---------------------------------------------------------------------- typedef enum _phoneFlags { phoBspaceDestructive = 0x0001, // Non destructive backspace phoBspaceSendDelete = 0x0002, // BS key sends DEL (not BS) phoHideUserIdAndPassword = 0x0004, // Password is hidden phoProtectedEntry = 0x0008, // Entry access by book p/w phoCustomPortConfig = 0x0010 // Use setup port config? } phoneFlags; #define PHONE_UID_LEN 30 // Length of userid field #define PHONE_NAME_LEN 25 // Length of system name #define PHONE_NUM_LEN 25 // Length of phone number #define PHONE_ID_LEN 13 // Length of system ID field #define PHONE_NOTE_LEN 51 // Length of user note field typedef struct _phoneEntry *phoneEntryPtr; typedef struct _phoneEntry { char phoName[ PHONE_NAME_LEN ]; // Name of System char phoNumber[ MAX_NUMS ] [ PHONE_NUM_LEN ]; // Phone #(s) of System // ---------------------- portSetup phoPortConfig; // COM port for entry // ---------------------- char phoSystemID[ PHONE_ID_LEN ]; // System-ID (filename) // ---------------------- SDWORD phoTotalConnects; // Total # of connections SWORD phoLastDate; // Last Date connected // ---------------------- BYTE phoPrefixUsed; // Prefix (0=def, 1-3) BYTE phoSuffixUsed; // Suffix (0=def, 1-3) // ---------------------- char phoSystemUserID[ PHONE_UID_LEN ]; // UserID used on system char phoSystemPassword[ PHONE_PWORD_LEN ]; // P/W used on system // ---------------------- char phoNotes[ PHONE_NOTE_LEN ]; // Misc user notes // ---------------------- WORD phoFlags; // Various phone flags // ---------------------- WORD phoTermEmulation; // Default emulation // ---------------------- char phoSpareSpace[5]; // Spare space } phoneEntry; // SIZEOF: 250 Bytes //------------------------------------------------------------------------ // This following structure defines a serial-port configuration. There // are technically two pertinent serial port configuration blocks that are // used at any one time, the "current port config", and the "default setup // config" block. The "current" config is the one that is // driving the serial port, which can vary from one Dialing Directory // entry to another. The default serial port setup stored in the setup // file merely defines the standard default serial configuration. When a // Dialing Directory entry is dialed, this can modify the current port // configuration, but leaves the default setup configuration untouched. //------------------------------------------------------------------------ typedef enum _comPorts { portNone = -1, // Com port (none) portCOM1 = 0, // Com port COM1 portCOM2 = 1, // Com port COM2 portCOM3 = 2, // Com port COM3 portCOM4 = 3, // Com port COM4 } comPorts; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _baudRates { baud300 = 0, // Baud rate 300 bps baud1200 = 1, // Baud rate 1200 bps baud2400 = 2, // Baud rate 2400 bps baud4800 = 3, // Baud rate 4800 bps baud9600 = 4, // Baud rate 9600 bps baud19200 = 5, // Baud rate 19200 bps baud38400 = 6, // Baud rate 38400 bps baud57600 = 7, // Baud rate 57600 bps baud115200 = 8, // Baud rate 115200 bps } baudRates; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _dataBits { dataBits8 = 0, // 8 data bits (full binary) dataBits7 = 1, // 7 data bits } dataBits; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _parity { parityNone = 0, // No parity parityEven = 1, // Even parity parityOdd = 2, // Odd parity } parity; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _stopBits { stopBits1 = 0, // 1 stop bit stopBits2 = 1, // 2 stop bits } stopBits; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _flowControl { flowRtsCts = 0x0001, // RTS/CTS flow control flowXonXoff = 0x0002, // XON/XOFF flow control } flowControl; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef enum _comFlags { portUseModem = 0x0001, // Use modem protocols portLockBaudRate = 0x0002, // No auto-baud detection portBios = 0x0004, // Use BIOS INT14 interface portHalfDuplex = 0x0008, // Local echo - full duplex portCrLf = 0x0010, // Use CR/LF for CR's or LF's portDtrHangup = 0x0020, // Drop DTR to hangup? portBsDestructive = 0x0040, // Destructive backspace portBsSendsDel = 0x0080, // BS key sends DEL key } comFlags; // SIZEOF: 2 bytes typedef struct _portSetup { SWORD portComPort; // COM port # (1 - 4) WORD portBaudRate; // Baud Rate (300-115,200) WORD portDataBits; // Data Bits (7 or 8) WORD portParity; // Parity setting (N, E or O) WORD portStopBits; // Stop Bits (1 or 2) WORD portFlowControl; // Flow Control (RTS or XOFF) WORD portFlags; // Port config flags } portSetup; // SIZEOF: 14 bytes //======================================================================== // // NOTE: If the header says that the FILE is password protected // (phoneHeader.phdFlags & phdPasswordRestricted), then the password field // (phoneHeader.phdPassword) in the header is encrypted // // If the header says that certain ENTRIES are password protected // (phoneHeader.phdFlags & phdPasswordProtectedEntries), then some or all // entries in the file are encrypted. To tell if an entry is password // protected, phoneEntry.phoFlags & phoProtectedEntry will be non-zero. // // The fields encrypted are the system name, phone number, user-id, user // password, notes, and system ID (directory) are encrypted as well. // // No matter which flag is set, the password to gain access is encrypted in // the header. // // TeleGrafix is NOT publishing the encryption algorithm used. // // A directory entry is considered blank if the system name field // (phoneEntry.phoName) is blank. // //======================================================================== ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.2.5 ■ The Dialing Window ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Dialing Window appears when RIPterm is dialing the modem. This window displays the number of seconds elapsed, the time the first dialing started, the time of the current dialing started, the telephone number, the time remaining until this dialing is aborted, and the status of the current dialing attempt. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Dialing Host System ││ │├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ System Name │ The Vector Sector │ ││ ││ └───────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Phone Number │ 714/379-2133 │ ││ ││ └───────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────┐ ││ ││ Start Time │ hh:mm:ss │ Attempt # │ 1 │ ││ ││ └──────────┘ └──────┘ ││ ││ ┌──────────┐ ┌────┬─┐ ││ ││ Current Time │ hh:mm:ss │ Time Remaining │ 42 ││ ││ ││ └──────────┘ └────┴─┘ ││ ││ ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Status │ Dialing... │ ││ ││ └───────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK ││ Cancel ││ Cycle ││ Remove ││ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘ ││ │└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Each field is described more fully in the following sections: ┌─────────────┐ │ System Name │ └─────────────┘ This field displays the name of the host that is being dialed. This field may be blank if you choose to dial via Manual Connect. ┌──────────────┐ │ Phone Number │ └──────────────┘ This displays the telephone number that is being used when dialing the designated host. It is shown in this field exactly as it is transmitted to the modem. ┌────────────┐ │ Start Time │ └────────────┘ This field shows the time that the modem began trying to dial out. As the modem cycles through the various attempts to connect, this time does not change. The format of this field is HH:MM:SS (hours, minutes, seconds). ┌──────────────┐ │ Current Time │ └──────────────┘ This field displays the current time. This field will constantly change as the dialing progresses. It is intended to give you a visual reference to the time, compared to the start time. ┌───────────┐ │ Attempt # │ └───────────┘ This shows how many tries have been made thus far for all phone numbers selected. If the host is busy, then it will try again after a brief pause. The maximum number of attempts is set in the Modem Setup dialog. ┌────────────────┐ │ Time Remaining │ └────────────────┘ This message displays how many seconds remain before the current dialing attempt will terminate. By default, redial time is set to 45 seconds, but this can be changed from within the Modem Setup dialog box. High speed modems, or long distance calls frequently need more than 45 seconds to complete an outgoing call. To the right of this field are two small arrows, an UP arrow, and a DOWN arrow. These are for temporarily increasing or decreasing the redial time for the rest of these dialing attempts. ┌────────┐ │ Status │ └────────┘ Periodically through the dialing process, various status messages may need to be displayed to give you more information on what is going on. Of the various messages, you might see things like, "Host is Busy. Redialing...", or "Time elapsed without connection". This is used to tell you what is going on. ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ This returns you to the session screen. It does NOT abort the current dialing attempt. This is handy if the connection is beginning, and you need to access another feature in RIPterm. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ This option will stop dialing. You will be returned to the session screen. Any systems that you were trying to dial will remain selected the next time you enter the Dialing Directory. ┌────────┐ │ Cycle │ └────────┘ This is used when you have selected some entries to dial. By clicking on Cycle, it will stop calling whichever host is currently being dialed, and will go to the next host selected in your dialing list and begin to dial that number. If you are only dialing one host, this will stop the current dialing attempt and re-dial the same number again. ┌────────┐ │ Remove │ └────────┘ This option will remove an entry from your dial list. What this means is that whatever host is currently being dialed will have its dialing attempt stopped, and then it will be de-selected in the Dialing Directory, then RIPterm will attempt to dial the next selected number (if any). If no more entries are available in the dialing list, RIPterm will abort all dialing and return to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ The 5,023,109th time you click this button, it will do exactly the same thing it did in all the previous attempts. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.3 ■ Keystroke Macro Editor ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Keystroke Macros are your own keyboard shortcuts. For example, you can instruct RIPterm to make the F5 key type your user-id and press <ENTER> for you. This would allow you to log-on quickly by simply pressing a single key. RIPterm's macro system is easy to use, and very powerful! You can save your macro keys to the default macro file (RIPTERM.MAC), or if you need to have multiple macro configurations, you can save macros to different files. When you choose the macro editor option, a dialog box similar to the following will be displayed: ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Keystroke Macro Editor ││ │├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ││ ││ Common Macros (■) ││ ││ System Macros ( ) ││ ││ Terminal Emulation Macros ( ) ││ ││ ││ │├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ Keystroke ... Macro Replacement Text ││ ││┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┐││ │││ Control-Shift-S ... Sample Macro^m ││││ │││ ├─┤││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ │ │││ │││ ├─┤││ │││ ││││ ││└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─┘││ ││ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌──────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Edit │ │ Add │ │Delete│ │ Save │ │ Load │ │Clear│ │ Help │ ││ ││ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └─────┘ └──────┘ ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ When selecting macros to edit/delete, you may click on an existing macro, then click EDIT or DELETE. To select multiple macros to edit or delete, click on each macro while holding down the SHIFT key. RIPterm uses several different macro files. Common Macros are stored in RIPTERM.MAC. System Macros are macros for a particular host, and are named using the System Dir field. The Terminal Emulation files included with RIPterm are VT102.MAC and ANSI.MAC. You may store multiple macros into Macro .MAC Files for future use. You may have as many macro files as you wish limited only by the amount of available disk space. System Macros have the highest precedence, then Common Macros, and finally Terminal Emulation. For example, if you have a System Macro that uses the SAME KEYSTROKE as a Common Macro, it OVERRIDES the Common Macro. SYSTEM MACROS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THIS RELEASE OF RIPTERM!!! NOTE: RIPterm uses most all of the Alt and Ctrl-Alt combinations for its menus. If you create a macro using these key combinations, they will NOT work, because they are overridden by the menus. RIPterm specifically does NOT make use of any of the function keys, so you have them all to yourself for keystroke macros. ┌───────────────┐ │ Common Macros │ └───────────────┘ Common macros are available at all times at the session screen in RIPterm. ┌───────────────┐ │ System Macros │ └───────────────┘ SYSTEM MACROS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THIS RELEASE OF RIPTERM!!! System Macros are macros for a particular host, and are stored in the RIPterm directory. The name of the macro file is the same as the System Dir with .MAC on the end. For example, if you have VECTSECT in your System Dir field in the Dialing Directory, then the System Macro file would be VECTSECT.MAC. NOTE: The System Macros are loaded automatically when you dial that host. If you don't have a System Dir entered for the current host, the System Macros will not be loaded. ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ Terminal Emulation Macros │ └───────────────────────────┘ RIPterm supports two Terminal Emulation Macro sets: VT-102 and ANSI. These are loaded automatically, depending on the Terminal Emulation setting in either Modem Setup or the current Dialing Directory entry being dialed. ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ OK exits the Keystroke Macro Editor and returns to the session screen. ┌──────┐ │ Edit │ └──────┘ Edits any selected macros. If no macros are selected, you are prompted to select some first. ┌─────┐ │ Add │ └─────┘ This option is for adding more macros to the currently selected macro type. When you click Add, you are first prompted for the keystroke to assign the macro to. For example, if you wanted to record a macro for the F5 key, simply press the F5 key. You may specify a combination of CTRL, ALT or SHIFT keys as well. RIPterm's macro editor allows you to define literally hundreds of macros using nearly as complex a keystroke as you want. WARNING: You would never want to create macros using just a single letter, or using control characters [such as CTRL-M (return) or CTRL-H (backspace)]. If you did, you would not be able to type without these macros being triggered. This would make it difficult to use RIPterm with the keyboard. NOTE: RIPterm uses most all of the Alt and Ctrl-Alt combinations for its menus. If you create a macro using these key combinations, they will NOT work, because they are overridden by the menus. RIPterm specifically does NOT make use of any of the function keys, so you have them all to yourself for keystroke macros. After entering the keystroke, enter the text that should be sent to the host (or the modem) if this macro is entered. In other words, enter the text that you want to be associated with this macro. For example, if you wanted to send the text "Hello World" to the host when you press F5, simply type in "Hello World". You may enter control characters into your macros by using a caret (^), followed by the letter of the control key you want to send. For example, a CTRL-C would be represented as ^C. A carriage return (<ENTER>) is specified as ^M. Also, an ESCAPE is generated by the sequence ^[ ... There are a number of different combinations of CONTROL CHARACTERS that you may choose from (see Section 5.3.1 for more details). In addition to control characters, you can also insert TEXT VARIABLES or POPUP PICKLISTS into your macros. Refer to the RIPscrip Language specification for details on these features. To exit the ADD mode, simply press the <SPACE> key. ┌────────┐ │ Delete │ └────────┘ This will delete the currently selected macros. You are asked if you are really sure you want to delete them. ┌──────┐ │ Save │ └──────┘ Enter the filename that you want to save your defined macros to. The default for Common Macros is RIPTERM.MAC. If you do not wish to store your existing macros in the default macro file, you can save them to a different file. ┌──────┐ │ Load │ └──────┘ Enter the filename of the macro .MAC file you wish to load. Macro files are contained in the current RIPTERM directory unless you have some saved elsewhere. The default file is RIPTERM.MAC, or you can specify your own macro file. ┌───────┐ │ Clear │ └───────┘ This option removes ALL macros in the currently selected macro type (System, Common, or Terminal Emulation). You are asked if you are really sure you want to delete them. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ Clicking Help will probably bring up a blank screen. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.3.1 ■ Control Characters in Keystroke Macros ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Not all hosts will allow you to use control characters. Regardless of that, the capability to send any control character exists in the Keystroke Macro Editor. The most commonly used control characters are: INDIVIDUAL CONTROL CHARACTERS VALUE --------------------------------------------------------- ^@ ... NUL ... Null byte 0 ^A ... SOH ... Ctrl-A (start of block) 1 ^B ... STX ... Ctrl-B (aux. start of block) 2 ^C ... ETX ... Ctrl-C (user break) 3 ^D ... EOT ... Ctrl-D (end of transfer) 4 ^E ... ENQ ... Ctrl-E (enquire) 5 ^F ... ACK ... Ctrl-F (Acknowledgment) 6 ^G ... BEL ... Ctrl-G (bell/beep) 7 ^H ... BS ... Ctrl-H (backspace) 8 ^I ... HT ... Ctrl-I (horizontal tab) 9 ^J ... LF ... Ctrl-J (line feed) 10 ^K ... VT ... Ctrl-K (vertical tab) 11 ^L ... FF ... Ctrl-L (top of form/clear screen) 12 ^M ... CR ... Ctrl-M (carriage return) 13 ^N ... SO ... Ctrl-N (shift out) 14 ^O ... SI ... Ctrl-O (shift in) 15 ^P ... DLE ... Ctrl-P 16 ^Q ... DC1 ... Ctrl-Q (resume data transmission/XON) 17 ^R ... DC2 ... Ctrl-R 18 ^S ... DC3 ... Ctrl-S (pause data transmission/XOFF) 19 ^T ... DC4 ... Ctrl-T 20 ^U ... NAK ... Ctrl-U (no acknowledgment/NAK) 21 ^V ... SYN ... Ctrl-V (synchronize byte) 22 ^W ... ETB ... Ctrl-W 23 ^X ... CAN ... Ctrl-X (cancel/CAN) 24 ^Y ... EM ... Ctrl-Y 25 ^Z ... SUB ... Ctrl-Z (end of file) 26 ^[ ... ESC ... Escape character (ESC) 27 ^\ ... FS ... 28 ^] ... GS ... 29 ^_ ... US ... 31 SPECIAL KEYSTROKES ---------------------- ^[[A ... Up arrow ^[[B ... Down arrow ^[[C ... Right arrow ^[[D ... Left arrow ^[[H ... Home key ^[[K ... End key ^[[L ... Control-Home ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.4 ■ View Scrollback Buffer ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Scrollback mode allows you to review previously displayed text information that has come across the modem. You may set the scrollback buffer size to 0k - 9999k. Within scrollback, you may choose from the following options: ■ SAVE current page to a text file ■ SAVE entire buffer to a text file ■ PRINT the current buffer page, or the entire buffer ■ SEARCH for a particular piece of text ■ SEARCH again for a previously searched for text string At the top of the scrollback screen are a number of icons for the above commands. In addition, there are icons for scrolling up, down, paging up and down or moving to the beginning or end of the buffer. NOTE: The scrollback buffer filters out ANSI color codes and RIPscrip graphics for an uncluttered text display. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Scrollback Buffer ││ │├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┤│ ││ │││ ││ ├─┤│ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ │ ││ ││ATZ │ ││ ││OK │ ││ ││AT&F │ ││ ││OK │ ││ ││AT&C1&D2 │ ││ ││OK │█││ ││AT&W ├─┤│ ││OK │││ │└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─┘│ │ ┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐┌────────┐ │ │ │ OK ││ Search ││ Again ││ Write ││ Print ││ Clear ││ Help │ │ │ └────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘└────────┘ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────┐ │ OK │ └────────┘ Clicking OK returns you to the session screen. ┌────────┐ │ Search │ └────────┘ Search looks through the entire Scrollback Buffer for a certain word or phrase, starting at the beginning of the buffer. The search string is highlighted in yellow when it is found. To find the next occurrence of the word or phrase, click Again. The search is NOT case sensitive. ┌────────┐ │ Again │ └────────┘ Again finds the next occurrence of the word or phrase specified in Find. It will continue to the end of the buffer, and then say "No more matches found". ┌────────┐ │ Write │ └────────┘ Write allows you to save the contents of the Scrollback Buffer. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Write Scrollback to What File? ││ │├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Filename │ │ ││ ││ └───────────────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌─┤ File Control ├──┐ ┌─┤ Save What? ├──┐ ││ ││ │ └────────────────┘ │ │ └────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││ ││ │ (■) Append to File │ │ (■) Current Page │ ││ ││ │ ( ) Overwrite File │ │ ( ) Entire Buffer │ ││ ││ │ │ │ │ ││ ││ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Filename field is the name of the file to save the buffer to. You can enter full path and filename information here. If you do NOT specify a path, the file is saved into the RIPterm directory. The File Control option lets you tell RIPterm what to do if a file by the same name already exists. If you select Append, RIPterm will add on to the end of the file if it already exists, or create a new file if it doesn't exist. If you select Overwrite File, RIPterm will erase any existing file before writing the new data to the file. The Save What? options lets you tell RIPterm how much of the buffer you wish to save. You can save just the Current Page (as shown in the Scrollback Buffer screen), or the Entire Buffer. OK, Cancel, and Help function as expected. ┌────────┐ │ Print │ └────────┘ The print option has three options: Current Page, Entire Buffer, and Page Eject. The Current Page and Entire Buffer options let you tell RIPterm how much of the buffer you wish to print. You can print just the Current Page (as shown in the Scrollback Buffer screen), or the Entire Buffer. The Page Eject option is for ASCII, Epson, and HP LaserJet printers. It sends the correct command to eject the page from the printer. Postscript printers are not affected by this setting. ┌────────┐ │ Clear │ └────────┘ This option lets you clear the entire contents of the Scrollback Buffer. You are prompted to be sure you want to clear the buffer. ┌────────┐ │ Help │ └────────┘ Clicking Help reveals the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.5 ■ External Applications ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ RIPterm has a powerful feature which allows it to link-in external MS-DOS programs into RIPterm to do things quickly and easily from within the software. You are allowed up to ten different applications to be programmed into RIPterm. At the touch of a key you can fire off one of your application programs to do things like run Microsoft Windows (tm), run text editors, offline mail readers or view graphics files. What makes RIPterm's application system even more powerful is that you can link application programs to particular file extensions. The significance of this may not be readily apparent until you think about what happens when you download files off of a host with the same extension as that of another application program. For example, let's say that application #5 is defined as being your PCX file viewer program. If you link that application to files with a .PCX extension, then whenever you download a PCX file your viewer will be run immediately instructing it to view the file you just downloaded! To make situations even nicer, RIPterm will return to MS-DOS (text mode) and swap as much of RIPterm's data out of your 640k conventional memory as possible before running your application. When running applications, RIPterm frees all but about 40k that must remain to reload RIPterm when your application is finished. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.5.1 ■ The Application Editor ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ To configure External Applications, select Edit External Application from the File menu. You will see this dialog box: ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ Edit External Applications ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌────────────────────────────────────┬─┐ ││ ││ Current App │1. <blank> ││ ││ ││ └────────────────────────────────────┴─┘ ││ │├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││ ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Description │Edit a text file │ ││ ││ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ ││ ││ Command Line │EDIT.COM $FILENAME$ │ ││ ││ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ││ ││ ┌────────────────────┐ ││ ││ ┌─┤ Auto Execution ├─┐ ││ ││ [ ] Auto Execute │ └────────────────────┘ │ ││ ││ │ │ ││ ││ [ ] Pause After │ ┌────┐ │ ││ ││ │ File Extension │ │ │ ││ ││ │ └────┘ │ ││ ││ │ │ ││ ││ │ ┌──────┬─┐ │ ││ ││ │ Action │Never ││ │ ││ ││ │ └──────┴─┘ │ ││ ││ │ │ ││ ││ │ │ ││ ││ └────────────────────────┘ ││ ││ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ││ ││ │ OK │ │ Cancel │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Current App field lists the name of the application you are currently editing. Application numbers go from 1 to 10. We recommend that application #1 be used for an external text editor. This way, if a host instructs your terminal to edit a text file by running application #1, RIPterm can handle it. For more information on how a host can run application programs on your local terminal, see the following sections. ┌─────────────┐ │ Description │ └─────────────┘ The Description field is where you enter the name of the Current App. This is the name that appears after the number in the Current App field. ┌──────────────┐ │ Command Line │ └──────────────┘ This is how you define what program to run and how to run it. Type the name of the program (or a batch file) in this field along with any command line parameters you wish to pass along to the application. If the program is not accessible in your MS-DOS PATH= statement, you may give the full path and program name in this field. Refer to your DOS manual for more details about the PATH setting. In addition to being able to specify which program to run, you can also utilize one of RIPterm's most advanced features to customize it to your needs. This is the ability to pass along the filename just downloaded to an external application. For example, if you were going to edit a text file, you need to tell your editor what file you wish to edit. In the screen displayed above showing the Application Editor, you will notice the Command Line of "EDIT.COM $FILENAME$". Notice the $FILENAME$ portion of the command line. When you try to run this particular application, the phrase $FILENAME$ will be replaced with a filename of your choice. This is a simplistic way of looking at it. $FILENAME$ is a RIPterm text variable (refer to the RIPscrip Language Specification for info on Text Variables). Text variables are like Keystroke Macros - they get replaced with another string. Depending on the variable, it might be replaced with some information that RIPterm knows (like the date), or it might insert a string that you type in. In the case of $FILENAME$, RIPterm will pop-up a dialog box on your screen allowing you to enter the filename to edit. The $FILENAME$ text variable has a special property in RIPterm. In the External Application system, if you set an application to trigger to a downloaded file extension, this text variable is automatically filled in with the name of the file you just downloaded, thus saving you from having to type in the filename at all. You are not only limited to just simple text variables. You can also use "Pick-List" definitions (refer to the RIPscrip Language Specification for more details). This allows you to pop-up a listing of available choices. You might conceivably use this to specify different command-line switches to modify the behavior of a particular program - something that may be different each time you run the program. You do not need to place a ^M at the end of your command line. A carriage return will be added automatically when the program is run. NOTE: Leaving the command line blank will result in a Jump to DOS, just as if you had selected it from the Files menu. ┌───────────────────────┐ │ Auto Execute Checkbox │ └───────────────────────┘ If Auto Execute is selected, in enables the Auto Execution options in the lower left corner of the dialog box. Refer to that section below. ┌──────────────────────┐ │ Pause After Checkbox │ └──────────────────────┘ When the application is finished, and is ready to go back to RIPterm, you have the option of inserting a pause before RIPterm resumes running. This is helpful if you are using a program that does not pause when it is done. A good example is the TYPE program in DOS. If you use TYPE do display a text file, it will splat it to the screen, and then return you to RIPterm so fast you wouldn't be able to read the information at all. By selecting Pause After, you will have to press a key before RIPterm resumes. ┌────────────────┐ │ Auto Execution │ └────────────────┘ As stated previously, you have the ability to link particular application programs to files with certain extensions. For example, if you wanted to link a PCX image viewer to files with .PCX extensions, simply enter "PCX" in this field. Then whenever you download a file with a .PCX extension, the given application will run and the $FILENAME$ text variable will be replaced with the filename of the file you just downloaded! Neat, huh? There are three ways that applications can link to downloaded files. They can be run NEVER, ALWAYS, or RIPterm can ASK you if you want to run the application. ┌────────────────┐ │ Action - Never │ └────────────────┘ When this option is chosen, the Extension field of the application will be ignored. In other words, the application you are editing will never be automatically executed for particular files that you download. Use this option to completely disable auto-download application execution for a given application. ┌──────────────┐ │ Action - Ask │ └──────────────┘ When this option is selected and the File Extension field contains a DOS Extension, RIPterm will check every file that you download to see if it has the same extension and if so, it will pop-up a window on your screen asking if you wish to run the given application on the file you just downloaded. This is the most "secure" way of using application mode. This gives you complete control over what applications get run. ┌─────────────────┐ │ Action - Always │ └─────────────────┘ This option, when combined with the Extension field, will automatically run the configured application every time a file with the configured extension is downloaded. You will not be prompted if you want to run the application on the file -- it will be done for you immediately when the download is complete. ┌────┐ │ OK │ └────┘ Clicking OK approves any modifications you might have made in the Application Editor and saves them to RIPTERM.APP for future use in RIPterm. ┌────────┐ │ Cancel │ └────────┘ This option abandons all modifications in the Application Editor, restoring the application to the state it was in previous to entering the Application Editor. ┌──────┐ │ Help │ └──────┘ This option displays a help screen to assist you in editing applications. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.5.2 ■ Application Text Variables ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ You can run applications directly from your keystroke macros if you wish. This makes your application programs accessible at the touch of a key. This means that you don't have to pull down the EXTERNAL menu and select "Run Application" every time you wish to run your favorite programs. Similar in concept to the $FILENAME$ text variable described above, you can also insert application text variables directly into your keyboard macros in RIPterm. When executed the macro will automatically run the designated application. Application Text Variables are $APP0$ (Current App #1) through $APP9$ (Current App #10). If a Current App slot is blank, RIPterm will simply execute a DOS Shell. Unlike the $FILENAME$ text variable though, $APP0$ through $APP9$ do not get replaced with any piece of text. For example, if you had the following macro set up: F5: HELLO $APP0$ WORLD Then whenever you press the F5 key in RIPterm, your macro would send the sequence "HELLO " to the host, then run application #0 (presumably your text editor), then after that is complete, transmit " WORLD" to the host as the final part of your macro. Note that we did not use the $FILENAME$ variable inside the macro itself - that is specified in the command line portion of the application editor. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.6 ■ Chat Mode ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ User-to-User Chat ││ │├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤│ ││┌──────────────────┐ ││ │││ Remote User │ ││ ││└──────────────────┘ ││ ││┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ ││└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘││ ││┌──────────────────┐ ││ │││ Local User (You) │ ││ ││└──────────────────┘ ││ ││┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ │││ ││└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘││ ││ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ││ ││ │ Cancel │ │ Erase │ │Scrollback│ │ Log File │ │ Help │ ││ ││ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └────────────┘ └──────────┘ ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Chat Mode is designed for when two RIPterm users connect with each other directly. If Chat is not used for typing messages to each other, by default you can not see your own typing, only what the other user types. If you turn on Local Echo in Modem Setup to see your own typing, and you both type at the same time, your typing will be mixed with the other user, and will be unreadable. Another problem is that when you press enter to begin a new line, the cursor, by default, moves back to the beginning OF THE SAME LINE as you were just typing on. Rather than text scrolling down the screen, you just keep overwriting the same line. You can turn on Add CR/LF in Modem Setup to fix this problem. The reason for these differences is that RIPterm is usually set up to connect to a host system, rather than another terminal program. Since these require different settings, it is inconvenient (when connecting to another user) to have to change the Modem Setup. And you still have the problem of typing at the same time mixing in with the other user's typing. Chat solves the configuration problems of connecting directly with another terminal user. Typing by each user goes into separate windows, and the modem settings for Local Echo and Add CF/LF are temporarily enabled so that you can converse conveniently and easily with the remote user. ┌──────────┐ │ Cancel │ └──────────┘ The CANCEL button exits Chat. ┌──────────┐ │ Erase │ └──────────┘ The ERASE button clears both windows. Handy for keeping conversations private if someone walks up while you are chatting. ┌──────────┐ │Scrollback│ └──────────┘ The SCROLLBACK button takes you into the history of what you have both been typing. See Section 5.4 for detailed information on the Scrollback Buffer. ┌────────────┐ │ Log File │ └────────────┘ The LOG FILE button allows you to capture your conversation to a file on the disk for later review. If you missed logging part of the conversation, you can also go into the Scrollback Buffer to save the conversation to disk. ┌──────────┐ │ Help │ └──────────┘ The HELP button causes a team of TeleGrafix engineers to be beamed directly to your location - NOT! ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.7 ■ Text Variables ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ One of the special features of RIPterm is working with text variables. A text variable is a string of text that RIPterm knows represents some information, or can perform an action. For example, the text variable $DATE$ represents the current date on your system. The host may ask your system the values of one or more of these variables, and if your terminal knows that particular text variable, it will send that information to the host. There are two types of text variables. There are built-in text variables that RIPterm will ALWAYS know about. They are part of RIPterm, and a host can always query them. These types of variables are defined to provide the host with information about your terminal software and its configuration, not something about you. In other words, built-in text variables can be used to send a piece of information to the host saying "what time is it", or "what is the date where you are", or "where is the mouse located?". They function exactly like any other text variable except that RIPterm knows they exist even if you haven't created them. By nature, the values that these variables return to the host are rarely the same. They change depending on the nature of each variable. For a list of built-in text variables, refer the "RIPscrip Language Specification". There are also user-defined text variables that can contain a variety of information depending on what was entered at the time the variable was created. For example, the host might ask you what the contents of the $FULL_NAME$ variable is, and if RIPterm doesn't know, it pop-ups a dialog box on the screen and asks you about it. RIPterm will remember that information for the next time it is needed by a host. You may use either the built-in text variables or the user-defined text variables at any place that allows text variables. The valid places are in Keystroke Macros, External Applications, Pop-Up Pick-Lists, and button return strings. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.7.1 ■ User-Defined Text Variables ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ User-defined text variables are text variables that you create. A host might tell you, "Create this text variable for me", or you might create one yourself by selecting Create Variable from the Options menu. The difference is negligible, but a brief explanation of their purpose might prove insightful. User-defined text variables can store information permanently or temporarily. This information can then be re-used without you having to type it in again. The time-saving aspect of this feature is only one small benefit of its ability. Having the capability to store information over potentially long periods of time is VERY useful! There are three types of user-defined text variables: 1. Permanent (database) variables 2. Temporary (memory resident) variables 3. Volatile (discardable) variables The significance of each type of variable is described below: ┌────────────────────────────────┐ │ Permanent (Database) Variables │ └────────────────────────────────┘ Permanent text variables are saved in a local RIPterm database file called RIPTERM.DB. This file is automatically indexed for high-speed retrieval of information. This file is located the RIPterm directory. Any permanent text variable that is created is stored in this file. A permanent text variable can be created by yourself manually by choosing option Create Variable from the Options menu, or interactively by a host via special RIPscrip commands (RIP_DEFINE and RIP_QUERY). Once a variable is created, they are stored forever (unless you delete the database file). These variables may be accessed by yourself, or a host (if you permit it). This can be quite useful in preventing you from having to type the same information in over and over again in future online sessions. This can be used to sign-up on a host without having to type a single character. Sound too good to be true? With text variables, it can be done! ┌───────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Temporary (Memory Resident) Variables │ └───────────────────────────────────────┘ Temporary (memory resident) text variables are accessed like permanent text variables, except that they are not stored in the database file. They are stored in your computer's memory. They remain until you disconnect from the host. Other than that, they are identical in nature to permanent text variables. Until you exit RIPterm, they will exist and will be accessible to you (via macros), or to a host. NOTE: If your modem does not support Carrier Detect, then memory resident text variables will not be erased until you exit RIPterm! Since queries of memory resident text variables do not have Data Security applied to them, it is possible that one host could get another host's variables. Solution: Make sure Carrier Detect (CD) works on your modem! See Section A.5.4 ■ My Modem is Always On-Line (Resuming Previous On-line Session) for details. ┌──────────────────────────────────┐ │ Volatile (Discardable) Variables │ └──────────────────────────────────┘ A volatile (discardable) text variable is somewhat different than the previously described text variables. They are not stored in memory or in the database file at all. They are used solely to ask you a simple question, transmit the information to the host, then the contents of the variable are erased. Why would you (or a host) want something like this? This question is answered differently for YOU or for a host. A volatile text variable for you can be useful during keystroke macros. Let's say you have a very complex macro that you've devised for doing something in a game (for example) to another user on the host. Should you have to edit the macro each time you want to use it for someone different? Of course not! Simply place a reference to an "undefined" text variable in your macro. When you execute the macro, RIPterm will look through its list of database and memory-resident text variables, and if it doesn't find the variable, RIPterm pops up a dialog box asking you to enter data for that variable. Whatever you type into that dialog box for the variable is replaced in your macro right then and there, and is immediately discarded after the macro is finished. For example, let's say you have the following macro set up to attack another player in a game on some host you call: F2: ATTACK $USERNAME$ FIERCELY^m When you execute macro F2, RIPterm will look in through its text variables for $USERNAME$. If it doesn't find it, it pops up a window asking you to enter the following: ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Please enter "USERNAME" ║ ║ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ █ │ ║ ║ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Simply type in the name of the user you wish to attack, and the result is plugged into the rest of the string, and sent to the host in place of the variable name $USERNAME$. After that, the remainder of the macro will be transmitted to the host (i.e., "ATTACK BEASTHEAD FIERCELY") followed by a carriage return (^M is the carriage return). Once the macro is complete, the contents of USERNAME are erased (unless it was a previously defined permanent (database) or a temporary (memory resident) text variable). A host can also ask you to enter something for a volatile text variable. Why would a host want to do this, and not save the response somewhere? What if you asked a host to download a file. You could be presented with a menu like this: ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ File Download ║ ║ ┌─────────────┐ ┌────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ Protocols │ │ Enter Filename │ ║ ║ ├─────────────┤ └────────────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ( ) X-Modem │ ╔════════════════════╗ ║ ║ │ ( ) Y-Modem │ ║ Begin Download ║ ║ ║ │ (■) Z-Modem │ ╚════════════════════╝ ║ ║ │ ( ) Kermit │ ┌────────────────────┐ ║ ║ └─────────────┘ │ Cancel Download! │ ║ ║ └────────────────────┘ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝ The options on the left allow you to specify the file transfer protocol that you wish to use for the transfer. Enter Filename is the button we're interested in. When you click this button, you would think that RIPterm would pop up a dialog box on your screen, asking you for the filename to download, right? Do you think the filename should be saved in RIPterm's permanent database? Of course not. It is kept temporarily, until you click either "Begin Download" or "Cancel Download!". Its value is used specifically when you click on "Begin Download" whereby RIPterm looks at all of the buttons on the screen and instructs the host to begin the download in a certain way (e.g., using Z-Modem protocol to download file XYZ.EXE for example). As you can clearly see, you would not want the filename field to be part of your permanent RIPterm configuration. In this manner, volatile text variables can be extremely useful! ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ 5.7.2 ■ Data Security ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ All this discussion about user-defined text variables, and hosts asking your terminal for information, you might be concerned about calling some host you've never called before and letting it ask your terminal questions about itself (and YOU)! We don't blame you for thinking this. That is why we've put a security precaution into RIPterm. It is called Data Security. This option (available from General Setup in the Setup menu) allows you to preview any permanent (database) text variable query to determine if you really want to send that information to the host. This allows you to edit a text variable that will be sent to the host so that you are in control at all times of what information is sent to the host. Any variable that is queried by the host will be prompted on your screen allowing you to edit the response. In the event that you do not wish to divulge the information to the host, simply backspace over your text and send a "blank" response. In the event that the host won't permit a blank response, enter something like "NONE" or "N/A". Data Security does not apply to memory resident text variables. These are assumed to belong to the host you are currently connected to. NOTE: If your modem does not support Carrier Detect, then memory resident text variables will not be erased until you exit RIPterm! Since queries of memory resident text variables do not have Data Security applied to them, it is possible that one host could get another host's variables. Solution: Make sure Carrier Detect (CD) works on your modem! See Section A.5.4 ■ My Modem is Always On-Line (Resuming Previous On-line Session) for details. If Data Security is disabled, you may still be prompted to edit your variable, if the host asks for an "interactive query". The host can ask for a non-interactive text variable query, which means that the host will ask your terminal for the contents of a permanent (database) text variable. If the permanent (database) variable exists, it will send the contents to the host without you even knowing that it was sent! In some ways, it is up to the honor of the sysop of the host to set all variable queries as interactive by default. But considering the fact that this is not an entirely "equal" world, having the ability to override variable queries with the Data Security option is quite important. This option defaults to "ON" when RIPterm is installed, and all data queries are secure by default. It is up to you to disable this security measure. Use this option with caution if you're not sure about trusting the hosts you call. As a note worth mentioning, a RIPscrip command to query the contents of your terminal's text variables may be possible if you read an electronic mail message from an ingenious user who knows the RIPscrip language. In situations like this, you would definitely want to use data security mode to prevent unauthorized information transmittal to other people (e.g., credit card numbers, or other information). ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ Appendix A ■ Troubleshooting/Problems ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Modem communications is not a simple thing. There are many different technical factors that can affect RIPterm, making it work erratically, or unreliably. This section is intended to try to help you figure out what's wrong and get yourself up and running as quickly as possible. Check through the remainder of this section to see if the particular problem you're having is addressed. If you are having some sort of difficulty not covered below (or the instructions that follow do not resolve the problem), contact the TeleGrafix Technical Support department as noted in Appendix C. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.0 ■ RIPtech - COM/Mouse Diagnostic ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There is a utility program included with RIPterm called RIPTECH.EXE. This program finds your mouse and modem, and gives you all the configuration parameters you need. It also helps you to diagnose many of the common problems associated with getting a modem up and running. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.1 ■ Mouse Doesn't Work ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are a number of potential conflicts that can cause the mouse to not work correctly. The most common ones are listed here. ▒▒▒ A.1.1 ■ "Bus" Mouse Doesn't Work ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Make sure your mouse driver is loaded before you run RIPterm. Without a mouse driver loaded, RIPterm will not be able to use your mouse. Refer to the manual that came with your mouse under the section "Installation" or "Software Installation". Most mouse drivers come in two flavors, a .SYS file, or a TSR program ending in a .COM file extension. A .SYS file must be loaded into your C:\CONFIG.SYS file as any other device driver. An example of loading your MOUSE.SYS driver would be as follows: CONFIG.SYS file: FILES=40 BUFFERS=40 DEVICE=C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.SYS If your mouse came only with a MOUSE.COM driver, then you must edit your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file and add a line calling mouse driver so that it can be loaded into memory each time your system boots up. Add a line similar to the one that follows: AUTOEXEC.BAT file: PATH=C:\;C:\DOS;C:\MOUSE PROMPT $P$G MOUSE Configurations vary - refer to the manual that came with your mouse. ▒▒▒ A.1.2 ■ "Serial" Mouse Doesn't Work ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ If you are using a serial mouse, and it is not responding, you might be experiencing a "conflict" between your modem serial port, and your mouse serial port. Under most circumstances, a conflict like this will NOT arise in normal applications programs that don't use both a mouse and a modem simultaneously. Below you should find a list of correct and conflicting modem/mouse configurations. CORRECT COMBINATIONS CONFLICTING COMBINATIONS ----------------------- ------------------------ Modem=COM1 / Mouse=COM2 Modem=COM1 / Mouse=COM3 Modem=COM1 / Mouse=COM4 Modem=COM2 / Mouse=COM4 Modem=COM2 / Mouse=COM1 Modem=COM3 / Mouse=COM1 Modem=COM2 / Mouse=COM3 Modem=COM4 / Mouse=COM2 Modem=COM3 / Mouse=COM2 Modem=COM3 / Mouse=COM4 Rule of Thumb: If the mouse and modem ports Modem=COM4 / Mouse=COM1 are both odd or both even, you are Modem=COM4 / Mouse=COM3 likely to have a conflicting combo. If you are knowledgeable about IBM-PC hardware, and how to install add-on cards, you may be able to circumvent the above recommended port combinations. To do this will require removing the PC cover and changing the interrupt (IRQ) setting of either the modem serial port, or the mouse serial port (if possible). In order to get both the mouse and the modem operating properly, the two serial ports must use different IRQ settings! If none of this makes sense to you, we would recommend sticking to the above recommended layouts. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.2 ■ Modem Isn't Responding ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you have a serial mouse, you may be experiencing a conflict between your mouse and your modem. A serial mouse can be identified if it plugs into one of your IBM-PC communications ports COM1 through COM4. Not all systems have 4 COM ports, so your system may be somewhat different. A serial mouse typically has a 25-pin connector shaped like an elongated "D". Another type of serial mouse has a 9-pin connector also shaped like a "D". Check to make sure your modem is plugged in and turned on (if it is an external modem). Make sure that the serial cable connecting the modem to your computer is securely fastened to the proper COM port. Check your modem settings to make sure they are set correctly. You may edit these settings by selecting Modem Setup from the Setup menu. Things you should check for: 1. Make sure it is set for the correct port (COM1 - COM4) 2. Make sure the baud rate is set to a speed your modem can support (or lower). Settings for this would be 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, 19,200 baud. 3. If the IRQ and Base Port Address of you modem are non-standard, you can change them via Modem Hardware Setup in the Setup Menu. The standard settings are: Port IRQ Addr. ---- --- ----- COM1 4 3F8 COM2 3 2F8 COM3 4 3E8 COM4 3 2E8 Refer to Section A.1.2 ■ Serial Mouse Doesn't Work to determine if you are using an incorrect COM port configuration for your serial mouse and modem. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.3 ■ Noisy Telephone Connections ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you get a noisy telephone connection, the graphics that you see might become garbled in some fashion, and/or text appearing in the Text Window may have garbage characters in it. Since RIPterm does more than simply display pictures on the screen, this can disturb underlying (invisible) operations as well. Solutions: Hang-up and try calling again. Often times, this can resolve the problem. Make sure your phone lines are not running near a device that generates an electrical field, such as a monitor, TV, radio, flourescent lights, incandescent lights, computer power supply, or electro-hydraulic bucking bronco. The field diminishes exponentially with distance. For example, a microwave oven generates a magnetic and electrical field of 750 to 2000 milliGauss (mG) at 1.2 inches, 40 to 80 mG at 12 inches, and 3 to 8 mG at 39 inches (source: Southern California Edison). For those familiar with the Richter Scale, used for measuring earthquakes, the strength of the earthquake goes down exponentially with the distance from the epicenter. If you are experiencing adverse weather conditions (high winds, rain, hurricanes, being sucked into a black hole), or there is such a problem in between where you are and where you're calling (you're in Louisiana, and you're calling New Mexico, and there is a black hole, er, hurricane over Texas) it will often affect line quality. Long distance connections are typically the noisiest connections, especially internationally. Sometimes changing long distance carriers will clear up the problem. You can manually select a different long distance carrier by dialing the prefix for that carrier. For example, to get AT&T service, you would dial 10288# before dialing the phone number. Usually your local phone company will just bill this carrier on your monthly phone bill without any special arrangements. Use of an error-correcting modem, such as those supporting MNP2-4 or better yet v.42 (provided the host you are calling support it), will get rid of the SYMPTOMS of the problem, but you will still experience slower transmissions because the modems are having to resend data because of errors. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.4 ■ Performance Issues ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are some performance issues in doing sound and communications at the same time. The capacity of your computer to move data around internally is pushed to its limit. The most reliable setup is to have a 16550 serial controller chip in your computer. To see if your system has a 16550 chip, select Debug Info: Comm Port from the Debug menu. In the third line listed in the middle is the phrase "Is16550:" followed by either a "Y" if you have a 16550, or a "N" if you have a 16450 or 8250 serial chip. ▒▒▒ A.4.0 ■ Symptoms of a Performance Problem: ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ If you are having any of the following problems, it could be a symptom of a performance problem: ■ Dropped characters - text received is missing letters. ■ Visual graphics screwups - you can see something is not right. Lines shooting off to weird locations on the screen, RIPscrip commands appearing in the text windows (things like: !|1K|*|w13441232). ■ Interruptions in sound playback - it sounds like a CD player skipping or pausing briefly during playback. ■ Video display is not very fast, or scrolling is slow. ▒▒▒ A.4.1 ■ Solutions to Data Receive Performance Issues: ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ If you are using a modem faster than 2400 baud, you should make sure that RTS/CTS Flow Control is enabled, and Pork Lock is turned on. You may have to reconfigure your modem to work with RTS/CTS and Port Lock, but most come preconfigured for this setup. For info on RTS/CTS and Pork Lock, see Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings. The best solution to dropped characters and visual graphics screwups (different manifestations of the same problem) is to get a 16550 serial card. It is by far the most reliable and effective solution to the problem. Unfortunately, many computer manufacturers are too cheap to put them in the stock system. Another solution is to reduce your baud rate. Usually, dropped characters only appear when your baud rate is set to 38,400 or higher, but this will vary depending on the speed of your computer. ▒▒▒ A.4.2 ■ Solutions to Sound Playback Performance Issues: ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ If you are experiencing interruptions in sound playback, for example, it sounds like a CD player skipping or pausing briefly during playback, there are several things you can try: ■ Use Mono, not Stereo. Most sounds transmitted and played back while on-line are likely to be Mono anyways, because they are half the size of Stereo files. ■ Use the 8-Bit setting, not 16-Bit. Again, most sounds you are likely to encounter are going to be 8-Bit because they are half the size of 16-Bit files. RIPterm will automatically take a 16-Bit sound and play it at 8-Bit if necessary. ■ Increase the number and size of buffers, especially on a slow CPU or hard disk (local or network). To do this, you can select Medium or Heavy Buffering. If these are not enough, you can select Custom Buffering, where you can control the number of size of the sound buffers. The first thing to try is increasing the number of buffers. If you get up more than 10 buffers and you are still having problem, reduce the number of buffers slightly, and try increasing the size. Only as a last resort should you try to change the timer counts. Increasing the number of timer counts can adversely affect data transmission over the modem. ▒▒▒ A.4.3 ■ Solutions to Video Display Performance Issues: ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ VESA mode on some video cards may be slower than the native mode -- so if a native mode is available, use it! On some video cards, a memory resident driver (TSR) needs to be loaded for VESA support to work for that video card. The fastest resolution to run at is 640 x 480, because less memory is being addressed. Scrolling especially is affected by the resolution. Most video cards also run faster in 256 color mode than in 16 color mode, usually because of the hardware design. Accelerated graphics cards, such as those with the S3 chip, are recommended. They will dramatically speed up the display of the graphics. Also, system with local bus video can make a big difference in display speed. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5 ■ Common Configuration Problems ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ These common problems are easily resolved, and frequently baffle RIPterm users. This is a compilation from our technical support staff on questions they frequently get. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.1 ■ I Can't See What I Type ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you are NOT connected: ■ You may be configured for the wrong COM port -- see Appendix A.2. ■ You might have a Serial Port interrupt conflict -- see Appendix A.2. If you are connected: ■ If you can see text from the other system, you may need to enable Local Echo in your Modem Setup dialog. See Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings. ■ If you see nothing after connecting, this is the classic symptom of an interrupt conflict -- see Appendix A.2. ■ You may be configured for the wrong baud rate. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.2 ■ Every Line of Text Lays on Top of the Last ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If every line of text received from the host lays on top of the previous line of text transmitted, you need to enable Add CR/LF in your Modem Setup dialog. See Section 4.6.3 ■ Modem General Settings. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.3 ■ My File Transfers Fail Immediately ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ There are two possible solutions: ■ The usual source of this problem is an invalid download directory. Usually, the directory does not exist, or it was misspelled. Try removing the download directory you have entered, and leave the field blank. Try your download again. If it works, you found the problem. ■ You are out of disk space. Select System Information from the System Menu, or type Ctrl-Alt-I to see how much disk space you have available. NOTE: This shows the space available on the disk RIPterm is running on. If your download directory is on another disk, you must Jump to DOS to see how much space is available on that disk. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.4 ■ My Modem is Always On-Line (Resuming Previous On-line Session) │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Your modem and your modem cable must support the Carrier Detect (CD) signal. This is how RIPterm determines if you are online or offline. The modem can be configured for CD ON with connection, CD OFF when offline by sending these commands to the modem. From the session screen in RIPterm, type: ATZ and press ENTER. Wait for the "OK". AT&C1 and press ENTER. Wait for the "OK". AT&W and press ENTER. Wait for the "OK". If you don't get an OK after a step, STOP. Check your modem's documentation to see if it supports Carrier Detect and if &C1 is the correct command for your modem. It is standard for most modems. If your modem does not have a permanent configuration area (CMOS), then &W will give you an error. If this is the case, then you will have to put the &C1 in your Modem Init String in the Modem Setup dialog. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.5 ■ RIPterm always says "Hang up failed" when I try to hang up. ▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Make sure your modem is set up for DTR Hangup. From the Session screen, when only the Status Bar is visible, type AT &D2 <ENTER>. Now try hanging up. If your hang up didn't fail, type AT &D2 &W <ENTER>. If the modem returns OK, it saved it to it's memory. If the modem returns ERROR, go to the Modem Setup and make sure &D2 is in your Modem Init String, and save the setup. If your modem does not support DTR hangup, make sure that in Modem Setup the box by DTR hangup is not checked, and save setup. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.6 ■ I get the message "CTS is not enabled. Disabling RTS/CTS". ▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Make sure your modem is hooked up. Make sure your modem is set up to support RTS/CTS flow control. From the Session screen, when only the Status Bar is visible, type AT &R2 <ENTER>. If the modem returns OK, type AT &R2 &W. If the modem now returns OK it is saved in it's memory. If it returns ERROR, go into Modem Setup and make sure &R2 is in your Modem Init String, and save the setup. If your modem returned ERROR when you typed AT &R2 the first time, then go to Modem Setup and make sure the box by RTS/CTS flow control is not checked. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.7 ■ I can connect with some BBS's but not others. ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ You need to turn off error correction for some older modems. To do this, select the Setup menu and select Modem Prefixes/Suffixes. Make one prefix "AT &M0 DT" this is for connecting with old modems without error correction. Make another prefix "AT &M1 DT", this one is for calling modems with error correction. Now go through your Dialing Directory and set the proper prefix for each BBS you call, and save the setup. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │▒▒▒ A.5.8 ■ RIPterm locks up when I start up or seems to be stuck in a loop│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Delete RIPTERM.CNF file located in the same directory as RIPterm. Most likely the setup information is wrong. Deleting this file makes RIPterm ask you for new setup information. ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ Appendix B ■ Menu Keyboard Shortcuts Reference ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ┌────────────────┐ │ NO MENU KEY │ └────────────────┘ System Menu System Menu: About RIPterm Professional System Menu: License Information System Menu: Debug Menu File Menu: Edit External Applications Options Menu: VT-102 Emulation Options Menu: Create Variable Options Menu: Show Variables Options Menu: Built-In Variables ┌────────────────┐ │ SINGLE KEY │ └────────────────┘ PgDn File Menu: Download a File PgUp File Menu: Upload a File PrintScreen File Menu: Print Screen ScrollLock Options Menu: Button Hotkeys ┌────────────────┐ │ ALT │ └────────────────┘ Alt-SPACE Options Menu: Status Bar Alt-= Options Menu: Doorway Emulation Alt-A Connect Menu: Modem Auto-Answer Alt-B Options Menu: View Scrollback Alt-C Connect Menu Alt-D Connect Menu: Dialing Directory Alt-F File Menu Alt-G Options Menu: Clear the Graphics Window Alt-H Connect Menu: Disconnect (Hang Up) Alt-I Connect Menu: Initialize Modem Alt-J File Menu: Jump to DOS Alt-K Options Menu: Keystroke Macro Editor Alt-L File Menu: Log Text to File Alt-M Connect Menu: Manual Connect Alt-O Options Menu Alt-P File Menu: Log Text to Printer Alt-R Options Menu: Reset All Windows Alt-S Setup Menu Alt-T Options Menu: Clear the Text Window Alt-U Debug Menu Alt-X File Menu: Exit to DOS Alt-Y Options Menu: Chat Mode Alt-Z System Menu: Help Table of Contents ┌────────────────┐ │ CTRL │ └────────────────┘ Ctrl-S XOFF Ctrl-Q XON Ctrl-END Options Menu: Send Break Ctrl-HOME Options Menu: Redraw System Menu ┌────────────────┐ │ CTRL-ALT │ └────────────────┘ Ctrl-Alt-A Options Menu: ANSI Emulation Ctrl-Alt-B File Menu: Show Local Image File Ctrl-Alt-D Setup Menu: Modem Dialing Prefixes Ctrl-Alt-F Setup Menu: System Font Setup Ctrl-Alt-G Setup Menu: General Setup Ctrl-Alt-H System Menu: Help on Menus Ctrl-Alt-I System Menu: System Information Ctrl-Alt-M Setup Menu: Modem Setup Ctrl-Alt-O Options Menu: Mouse Field Select Ctrl-Alt-P File Menu: Printer Setup Ctrl-Alt-Q File Menu: Show Local RIP Query Ctrl-Alt-R File Menu: Show Local RIP File Ctrl-Alt-S Setup Menu: Save Setup Ctrl-Alt-T Setup Menu: File Transfer Setup Ctrl-Alt-U Setup Menu: Audio Setup Ctrl-Alt-V Setup Menu: Video/Mouse Setup Ctrl-Alt-W Setup Menu: Modem Hardware Setup Ctrl-Alt-X File Menu: Run External Application Ctrl-Alt-Z Options Menu: RIPscrip Emulation ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║▒▒▒ Appendix C ■ TeleGrafix Technical Support ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ TeleGrafix has a new phone number just for Technical Support. This will help those who need assistance from getting mixed in with the calls for the business office. Before contacting Technical Support, please use the Troubleshooting Guide in Appendix A to see if your question is discussed. TeleGrafix has found that most of the tech support questions are on the same issues, and we have documented them here for your convenience and to save you (and us) time. You can also download the latest technical bulletins from TeleGrafix's BBS (The Vector Sector) at the number listed below. RIPterm version 2.0 comes with 30 days unlimited technical support from your date of purchase. After this time has expired, you will fall under our new paid Technical Support plan. There will be options for paying as you go, 900 number technical support access, and yearly support contracts that can optionally include software updates. Contact TeleGrafix for more information on this program. We expect it will be in place in March 1995. This program is thoroughly tested by a large team of beta-testers, and is as bug-free as possible. However, there are most likely some bugs that have not been discovered. If you find any, please report them to TeleGrafix right away at the following address: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. │ │ 16458 Bolsa Chica #15 │ │ Huntington Beach, CA 92649 │ │ │ │ Sales / Orders ..... (714) 379-2141 │ │ Technical Support .. (714) 379-2130 │ │ Main Office ........ (714) 379-2131 │ │ Fax (Office/Tech) .. (714) 379-2132 │ │ TeleGrafix BBS ..... (714) 379-2133 │ │ │ │ Internet Address: │ │ rip.support@telegrafix.com │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ┌┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┴┐ │ │ │ Authors of RIPterm: │ │ │ │ Jeff Reeder Mark Hayton Jim Bergman │ │ │ │ ───────────────────────────────────── │ │ │ │ RIPterm docs by Jim Bergman and Jeff Reeder │ │ RIPterm docs edited by Jim Bergman │ │ │ │ ───────────────────────────────────── │ │ │ │ The authors wish to thank │ │ these people their contributions: │ │ │ │ Pat Clawson │ │ Wendy Erdtsieck │ │ Craig Erdtsieck │ │ Chuck Schroeder │ │ │ │ ... and the many others that have │ │ worked with us (and for us) over │ │ the last two years. Its been a │ │ long journey, and we hope that │ │ you will enjoy all the new features │ │ their contributions have made possible. │ │ │ │ TeleGrafix would also like to thank │ │ their families and friends │ │ for their support and encouragement │ │ (and for putting up with us!) │ │ during this effort. │ │ │ │ We couldn't have crawled across │ │ the finish line without you! │ │ │ └┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┬┘ └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ # # # ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════