Refer to you modem to find out which it supports but the higher the baud
the faster so resort to the fastest possible (unless it's to fast for my
terminal to keep up which is by all means possible so if you are missing
characters choose a slower speed).
The QuicKey List
AGATE as limited macro capabilities. You can assign a up to 31 characters
to each letter in the alphabet. The characters can include any symbol, letter
or number inaddition to the return key and to the higher end of the IBM
character set (press SA-Key).
Pressing a letter will display the 31 character string assigned to that
letter. The up and down arrow keys can also be used to scroll through
the alphabet viewing the assignments. To edit a QuicKey display it's
letter and press return. Enter the keystrokes you wish to assign it and
end by pressing escape. Returns can also be included within QuicKeys.
The Terminal Mode
You will be in command mode when you first run AGATE. This mode is basic to
all modems, but some terminal programs sometimes shield the user from this
mode (because you don't need to use it). In command mode you are able to enter AT commands which tell the Modem what to do. For a list of these commands
refer to your modem manual as it should contain the full set of instructions
your modem accepts. An example AT commands would be 'ATD' followed by a
telephone number to dial.
Onces a number is dialed you will be in Terminal Mode where you are linked to
a remote device such as a BBS. From here you communicate with the remote
device and anything you type in will be sent along the telephone line.
You are able access a review buffer/scrollback by pressing OA-Up Arrow.
Several kilobytes have been devoted to preserve a copy of the text which
appears on the screen during a session. It will quickly scroll by but you can
hold down any key to pause it. Pressing ESC will abort the review and return
you to terminal mode.
Pressing a letter in conjuction with a letter will display and send the
appropriate QuicKey. You might have N be the QuicKey for your name and so
that anytime you wish to type in your name you can just press OA-N instead.
* Do not have any passwords as QuicKeys since someone would only have to look
at your QuicKey list to find out your password(s).
You may press Open-Apple-? for a brief help screen and pressing Open-Apple-3
will send you into the Option Screen.
* Do not change the Baud while on-line with a remote system.
The Font Editor!! New to Release 002 and a total of 8 Fonts new to Release 003
Now, I originally added the font editor after a noon's work and it is very basic. You will be able to edit any of the 8 Fonts but I refer to the First four as the System Fonts but allow you to edit them anyway. The fonts are as Follows:
#0 Normal Used normally as normal characters
#1 IBM Used normally as Higher Characters
#2 Tempo Incomplete Tempo Character set which you will never access on-line!
#3 Mouse Used in conjunction with Proterm Special Emulation (Mouse Text)
#4 Script Alternate Font #1 Used as ANSI Color
#5 Tech Alternate Font #2 Used as ANSI Color
#6 Small Alternate Font #3 Used as ANSI Color
#7 Copy Alternate Font #4 Used as ANSI Color. Copy of #0 Normal Font.
You may do what everyou wish with the fonts but I would advise you to modify only fonts 4, 5, 6, 7. Do NOT upload a copy of AGATE anywhere if you screw up the fonts...
Release 003 may surprise Release 002 users when they look at the new display. It is now a 27 row by 80 column display. I plan on adding the option to choose different drivers so that the display size may be user-selectible on which I've already begun work. You may someday have the option of a 40 column display or the use of text (gag...).
Special Notes on IIgs
In order to ensure speed and readability, AGATE constantly sets the system
speed to FAST and the colors to MONOCHROME. This is not done to the battery
backed RAM so that you will not have to change the control panel if you wish to
restore the options to previous values and any changes will only be in effect
until
a) the computer is turned off.
b) the control panel is accessed.
c) another program changes the options.
Quirks
Small yet fun quirks I've left in my program from debugging stages.
OA-Ctrl-@ - set font to Normal OA-Ctrl-H - set font to Bold Normal OA-Ctrl-A - set font to Script OA-Ctrl-I - set font to Bold Script
OA-Ctrl-B - set font to Tech OA-Ctrl-J - set font to Bold Tech
OA-Ctrl-C - set font to Small OA-Ctrl-K - set font to Bold Small
These have now been modified with the Release 003 and are different but still exist. You may try pressing OA-Key with or without the Control or SA keys to try different typefaces.
RELEASE 003
I've quickly gone over the Documentation to update users on Release 003. Although Release 003 has no radical improvements or additions, it contains several enhancements which users may or may not notice which will serve as stepping stones to further greater enhancements. I have allowed my self to work on several different parts of AGATE leaving them all unfinished so that I have unfortunately been unable to finish any single element. But, I've relocated and am now centered in Vancouver so that I have access to other users and to BBS's (especially now that I have bought a modem, I didn't have one for previous releases), so this will aid me in development. This release was slapped together to allow me to distrubute my program to a greater number of users as Release 002 was unavailible to me. So, you are probably a user who was only been introduced to AGATE with Release 003 -- don't worry you haven't missed much.
Future Plans
- Downloading will soon be availible to AGATE users. My current interface
supports only XModem and YModem but it fails to work with some BBS so I've
opted to not include it in the current release.
- Uploading may come sometime afterwards, except for ASCII Uploading which
should be expected with any Downloading.
- Supporting 4K-XModem and Streaming YModem (YModem-G).
- Printer support (Imagewriters only?) can also be expected.
- An on-line editor to compose those text messages and so forth. I don't know
if I would be able to create something which could potentially be very
complex to write and make.
- Expanded interface and modem support (as soon as they are requested and I
receive information concerting the particular item of hardware.)
- Addition terminals emulated and more complete emulation of DEC VT-100. (As
soon as their requested and I receive information concerning the emulation).
- Revamped Option Menu and revamped QuicKeys.
- Increased user friendliness.
- Tempo Emulation (if no one else supports it I will) (contact Jeff Tupper).
- Video Options to use different display types.
Those items above are those things which spring into mind when I foresee having
some free time to devote to AGATE. Some of the items are already next to
finished others (such as a Text Editor) may take some time.
Notes on Programmer
Tony Marques shall continue to work on this program.
He plans to release better and more improved versions and this is merely a
Prototype, but he needs your help. He needs information on Terminal emulators
such as DEC VT100 (ANSI), DEC VT52, TeleType, IBM 3101, or any of the many
others. He is also looking for information on download protocols such as
XModem, YModem, ZModem, XYModem, WModem, Sealink, Kermit, and their variations.
Those examples listed here are by no means all, if you have any information on
those mentioned or any others contact
Tony Marques
2602 Molitor Street
Terrace, British Columbia
Canada, V8G-3A2
(602) 635-2724
You may also contact him to for support, to gather information (on TEMPO
for instance) or if you have any suggestions, improvements, or modifications to
AGATE.
* AGATE is CURRENTLY FreeWare, but I severely HOPE that I may get contributions
from people who like, enjoy, or otherwise respect my program. A great deal
of effort and attention went into making AGATE.
Sincerely,
Tony Marques
Person Responsible
P.S. If you find any quirks or bugs let me know, and if you find any unclear
sections in this document relay them to me. All suggestions welcome.
