home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
BBS Toolkit
/
BBS Toolkit.iso
/
windows
/
vm20.zip
/
VM.TXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-03-26
|
33KB
|
878 lines
Visual Modem 2.0
Mark J. Findlay
Copyright (c) 1992
All Rights Reserved
D I S C L A I M E R
The author makes no warranties expressed or implied
as to the quality or performance of this program.
The author will not be held liable for any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential damages
resulting from the use of this program.
Your use of this program constitutes your agreement
to this disclaimer and your release of the author
from any form of liability or litigation.
Table of Contents: i
I. Visual Modem: Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
B. User Preferences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1. Com Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Number of Seconds to Wait for Modem Response . . . 2
3. Display Modem Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
C. Using Visual Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
D. Saving Settings to File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
E. Ready to Go... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
II. Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A. File Menu Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1. New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4. Save As... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5. Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
B. Configure Menu Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. User Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
C. Modem Menu Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. Fetch Current Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Basic Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3. Extended Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4. S Register Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. S Registers 0 Thru 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. S Register 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
C. S Register 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
D. S Registers 19 Thru 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5. Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6. Build - A - Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7. Create Command File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8. Send Current String to Modem . . . . . . . . . . . 8
9. Write Settings to NRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
10. Fetch Factory Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ii
III. Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A. Save Current Modem Settings to Disk . . . . . . . . . . 9
B. Retrieve Previously Saved Modem Settings . . . . . . . 9
C. Fetch Current Modem Settings into Visual Modem . . . . 9
D. Send Customized Command String to Modem . . . . . . . . 10
E. Create Customized Modem Command File . . . . . . . . . 10
F. Send Current Settings to Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
G. Write Current VM Settings to Modem's NRAM . . . . . . . 11
H. Fetch Factory Settings into VM and Your Modem . . . . . 11
I. Define Visual Modem Startup Parameters . . . . . . . . 12
J. Inhibit Display Of Modem Responses in Visual Modem . . 12
K. Remove Registration Reminder Popups . . . . . . . . . . 12
L. Contacting Visual Modem Author . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
IV. Keyboard Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
V. Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
* * * * * * * * * *
I. Visual Modem: Overview Page 1
Visual Modem is a simple way to examine and alter the settings of
your USR HST Dual Standard 9600 Modem. While full functionality is
geared towards use with the USRHST, any modem can take advantage of
the custom modem command creation facility to create, save and send
modem commands especially tailored to a particular modem.
Instead of having to wade through the complex maze of cryptic modem
commands (i.e. ATB1&S0=0E1F0&F) etc., Visual Modem offers the user
a collection of screens which display all of the settings options
in text format, allowing the user to comfortably scroll through the
listing of available modem commands and change or reset any of the
modem's configuration settings.
Visual Modem also acts as a tutor, displaying the actual modem
commands for each setting sent to the modem and each response
received. (Just in case you find yourself without Visual Modem
someday...). Once the desired modem settings have been set, t
user can send the entire set of new configuration settings to the
modem with the selection of a single Visual Modem menu item. For
those occasions when you prefer to send individual modem commands
to the modem, Visual Modem also provides a Build-A-Command feature
which allows you to scroll through the entire library of commands
and select any combination, building the command string as you go.
Visual Modem also offers the user the ability to save to a file at
any time, the settings which the user has configured. This provides
an ideal way of quickly and easily setting your modem for any
number of different calling requirements. As the opening screen
says: "You don't have to be a modem "Einstein" anymore to get
maximum use and enjoyment out of your modem.
I.A Getting Started
When you first enter Visual Modem, you are given the Main Menu from
which you may either open a previously saved Visual Modem settings
configuration file, or simply configure a new settings file from
the default values provided at startup.
I.B User Preferences
This option allows you to set certain operation preferences which
will take effect each time you use Visual Modem. Before sending a
string to the modem or attempting to read from the modem, you
should enter the User Preferences area from the Configure menu and
confirm the options provided.
I.B.1 Com Port Page 2
Insure that the proper Com Port has been established. The default
value is Com 1.
I.B.2 Number of Seconds to Wait for Modem Response
This value represents the number of seconds Visual Modem should
wait before attempting to read the return value from any command
sent to the modem. It is important that you provide enough time for
the modem to absorb the sometimes lengthy command strings that
Visual Modem sometimes sends to the modem. If insufficient time is
allowed, it is possible that Visual Modem will not be able to
completely interpret the expected return values from the modem.
I.B.3 Display Modem Responses
This switch enables you to turn off the display of modem commands
sent and received from the modem. Although it is quite informative
to be able to see exactly what is transpiring between you and your
modem, turning this option off does make interaction much faster.
I.C Using Visual Modem
Now that you have the basics, it is time to begin using Visual
Modem!
From the Main Window, Choose, the Modem menu selection and choose
the "Fetch Current Settings" option. This will load into the
computer's memory, your modem's current settings. Now you can enter
into any of the other Modem menu items and see exactly how you
modem is currently configured.
For example, choose the "Basic Settings" menu option and browse
the current settings for such modem configuration options as Local
Echo and Modem Speaker. At this point, you could browse other menu
items or, if you would like to change any of the basic settings,
simply click on the list box for that item to scroll to the option
choice you would like to invoke.
When you have changed the options you wish to change, you can send
the new settings to the modem using the Send Current String to
Modem command. (Sure beats thumbing through the manuals doesn't
it!?)
I.D Saving Settings to File
Visual Modem allows you to store any combination of settings in a
file which you can at a later date reload into Visual Modem and
immediately recreate the exact settings you had at the time the
file was saved. Simply use the File menu items Save As... and/or
Save to store all modem settings. This allows you to create
multiple settings for use in various situations.
I.E Ready to Go...
That should be all you need to get started with Visual Modem. If
you find yourself wondering what's going on at any point in the
program, simply click on the Help button provided, or press F1 to
return to help.
II. Commands
From the Main Window, there are 3 primary menu options:
File Menu Commands
Configure Menu Commands
Modem Menu Commands
II.A File Menu Commands
Visual Modem allows you to save any settings configuration to a
file for future reloading and use. In this way, you can save many
different configurations for any set of circumstances. You need
only to reload the particular settings configuration file (using
the Open file menu command), and send the settings to the modem.
Any number of files can be saved and subsequently used. All
settings configuration files are identified by their file extension
of ".VM".
The available File Menu Commands are:
New
Open
Save
Save As...
Exit
II.A.1 New Page 3
The New file command immediately resets all current settings to
their default values. It also indicates that you wish Visual Modem
to forget about the existence of any configuration file you may
have been building at the time. Therefore, in order to save current
settings, you will need to use the Save As... menu option to
establish a new file name. Thereafter, you need only use the Save
menu option to save any updates. Any subsequent use of the New
file menu option will once again reset all current settings.
Note: The resetting of default values that occurs when the New
file menu option is selected, occurs only in the computer's memory.
No settings are altered in the modem's memory or NRAM.
II.A.2 Open
This option allows you to select any existing Visual Modem
configuration files which you may have created and saved
previously. Opening a file does not send the configuration
settings contained in that file to the modem. It only loads those
values into the computer's memory. In order to actually set the
values contained in the opened file to the modem, you need to use
the Send Current String to Modem or Write Settings to NRAM option
from the Modem file menu. In this way, you can browse the existing
settings for any Visual Modem saved settings file without altering
your modem's current settings.
II.A.3 Save
This option will save the current settings in the file designated
at the time the Save As... file menu option was selected. This
option is only available once the file has already been saved at
least once during the current Visual Modem session.
II.A.4 Save As...
This option allows you to save all of the current Visual Modem
settings in a file which you can then reload into Visual Modem at a
later date using the Open file menu command. You are given a
dialog box in which to specify the name of the file you wish to
save.
Note: Regardless of the file extension you specify, Visual
Modem will use the extension of ".VM" when saving the settings
configuration file.
II.A.5 Exit
This option will terminate your current Visual Modem program.
II.B Configure Menu Commands Page 4
There is currently just 1 item under the Configure Menu
option:
User Preferences
II.B.1 User Preferences
(see User Preferences in the Visual Modem Overview...)
II.C Modem Menu Commands
This is where you will find the bulk of Visual Modem's
functionality:
Fetch Current Settings
Basic Settings
Extended Settings
S Register Settings
S Registers 0 Thru 12
S Register 13
S Register 15
S Registers 19 Thru 38
Phone Numbers
Build - A - Command
Create Command File
Send Current String to Modem
Write Settings to NRAM
Fetch Factory Defaults
II.C.1 Fetch Current Settings
To retrieve the settings currently contained in your modem and
place them into Visual Modem for inspection and subsequent
alteration:
1. Select Modem from the Main Window Menu.
2. From the Modem Menu, select Fetch Current Settings.
II.C.2 Basic Settings Page 5
This option provides a simple and accurate means of altering your
modem's current basic settings. By scrolling through the various
list boxes, you can alter the current basic subsequent write to
your modem, or a file, or you may cancel any changes made during
the dialog. You may also set the values to those of the factory
default.
II.C.3 Extended Settings
This option provides a simple and accurate means of altering your
modem's current extended settings. By scrolling through the
various list boxes, you can alter the current extended settings
options in any combination. You may either save the settings for
subsequent write to your modem, or a file, or you may cancel any
changes made during the dialog. You may also set the values to
those of the factory default.
II.C.4 S Register Settings
The S Registers are a set of memory areas in your modem which
contain values which tell the modem how to operate under certain
conditions. Most of the registers contain values ranging from 0 to
255. A few of the registers are bitmapped; that is, their values
are set by combining several values together resulting in a single
value.
The S Register settings are spread across several screens. Each
screen is accessible from the other. The following S Register
screens are provided:
S Registers 0 Thru 12
S Register 13
S Register 15
S Registers 19 Thru 38
II.C.4.A S Registers 0 Thru 12
This screen displays the modem's S Registers 0 thru 12. From this
screen you can alter the current S register values, set the values
to their factory defaults, or access other S Register screens.
Alteration of the S Register values does not take effect until you
Send Current String to Modem or Write Settings to NRAM.
II.C.4.B S Register 13 Page 6
This screen displays the modem's S Registers 13. From this screen
you can alter the current S register values, set the values to
their factory defaults, or access other S Register screens.
Alteration of the S Register values does not take effect until you
Send Current String to Modem or Write Settings to NRAM.
II.C.4.C S Register 15
This screen displays the modem's S Registers 15. From this screen
you can alter the current S register values, set the values to
their factory defaults, or access other S Register screens.
Alteration of the S Register values does not take effect until you
Send Current String to Modem or Write Settings to NRAM.
II.C.4.D S Registers 19 Thru 38
This screen displays the modem's S Registers 19 thru 38. From this
screen you can alter the current S register values, set the values
to their factory defaults, or access other S Register screens.
Alteration of the S Register values does not take effect until you
Send Current String to Modem or Write Settings to NRAM.
II.C.5 Phone Numbers
Your modem has the ability to store up to 4 phone numbers in its
NRAM. With this screen, you can browse the numbers currently
stored, and change any or all of the numbers.
II.C.6 Build - A - Command
The Build - A - Command Dialog allows you to send any combination
of commands to the modem. This feature can be especially helpful
for trouble shooting, and for those with non-standard of non-USRHST
modems.
Building a Command.
To build a command, double-click on the list box selection of the
command you wish to send to the modem. The list box contains all
of the allowable commands. Any item you double-click will be
automatically appended to the starting command string of "AT".
Page 7
Since the USR HST maximum length allowable for a command line is 40
characters (including the AT prefix), Visual Modem will
automatically detect and inform you when that limit has been
reached. Visual Modem will also detect and inform you of any
attempt to add a command which is already a part of the existing
command string.
A special feature of Visual Modem is the ability to retrieve custom
built modem commands that have been saved to disk with the Create
Command File function, and display those custom commands for use
in the Build-A-Command dialog. If you have not created a customized
modem command file, you may do so by invoking the Create Command
File option from this dialog.
Sending the Command to the Modem.
The command string that you build is not sent to the modem until
you select the "Send Command to Modem" button located at the bottom
left of the dialog box. When you select this option, the entire
command string that you have built is sent to the modem and the
modem response is displayed for you. The command line is left
intact after being sent to the modem.
Resetting the Command Line.
You may reset the command line at any time to its original value of
"AT" by selecting the "Reset Command Line" button at the bottom
middle of the dialog box. This will reset the command line WITHOUT
sending the existing command line to the modem.
Fetch Custom Command File.
If you have created a file with customized modem commands via the
Create Command File function, you can retrieve the commands
contained in the file and display them for use by the
Build-A-Command dialog.
II.C.7 Create Custom Command File
If you have a need to create additional modem commands not
contained in the Build-A-Command list, you can use the Create
Command File option to create and store the commands to disk.
This feature is particularly useful for those with non-USRHST
modems which may not recognize the modem commands contained in
Visual Modem.
II.C.8 Send Current String to Modem Page 8
When you wish to send the whole of the various configuration
options to the modem (Basic Settings, Extended Settings , etc.),
select this option to send each of the commands to the modem, thus
updating the modem's current setting memory with the new values.
Remember: The modem's current settings memory is lost when the
modem is turned off. In order to save the current settings from
power-off to power-on, you must use the Write Settings to NRAM
option.
II.C.9 Write Settings to NRAM
This option writes the current Visual Modem settings to your
modem's NRAM memory. This allows you to save the modem's settings
even after the modem is turned off.
II.C.10 Fetch Factory Defaults
You can fetch the factory defaults into your modem (and into Visual
Modem as well) at any time using the following:
1. Select Modem from the Main Window Menu.
2. From the Modem menu, select Fetch Factory Defaults.
* * * * * * * * * *
III. Procedures
The following will explain how to carry out various procedures
using Visual Modem.
Save Current Modem Settings to Disk
Retrieve Previously Saved Modem Settings
Fetch Current Modem Settings into Visual Modem
Send Customized Command String to Modem
Create Customized Modem Command File
Send Current Settings to Modem
Write Current VM Settings to Modem's NRAM
Fetch Factory Settings into VM and Your Modem
Define Visual Modem Startup Parameters
Inhibit Display Of Modem Responses in Visual Modem
Remove Registration Reminder Popups
Contacting Visual Modem Author
III.A Save Current Modem Settings to Disk Page 9
You may save the modem settings that you create and alter in Visual
Modem by storing them in a file.
To save the settings to disk:
1. Select File from the Main Window Menu.
2. From the File Menu, select Save or Save As...
3. Specify the filename you wish to save the
current settings under.
If you are saving the file for the first time, select the Save
As... menu option from the File Menu. Otherwise, you need only
select the Save option.
Note: Regardless of the file extension you provide to the Save
dialog, Visual Modem will always use an extension of ".VM".
III.B Retrieve Previously Saved Modem Settings
Once you have saved settings to disk, you may retrieve those
settings back into Visual Modem and subsequently send the settings
to your modem.
To retrieve a settings file from disk:
1. Select File from the Main Window Menu.
2. From the File menu, select Open.
3. Specify the file you wish to retrieve into Visual
Modem.
III.C Fetch Current Modem Settings into Visual Modem
This option loads into Visual Modem, the current settings of your
modem. The current settings area of your modem's memory does NOT
get saved each time the modem is turned off. In order to save the
settings of your modem between power-off and power-on, you must
write the settings to your modem's NRAM.
Fortunately, Visual Modem allows you to store several different
settings configurations in the form of a file which can be
subsequently reloaded at a later date and sent to the modem. In
this way you can quickly, easily and accurately configure your
modem to fit individual calling needs.
III.D Send Customized Command String to Modem Page 10
Visual Modem provides you with the ability to create a custom
string to send to the modem. You are presented with a list box of
all available commands. You simply click on the commands you wish
to send to the modem and the appropriate command string is built.
To build and send your own command strings:
1. Select Modem from the Main Window Menu
2. From the Modem Menu, select Build-A-Command.
III.E Create Customized Modem Command File
The Create Command File option allows you to create and maintain
your own set of custom modem commands. This feature is
particularly useful for those with other modems other than USR HST
type modems.
With this ability, the user can still invoke the Build-A-Command
dialog to send individual commands to the modem. Create Command
File allows you to build any number of modem commands, save the
commands to disk, retrieve a previously created custom command
file, and delete existing commands from an existing command file.
The functions available from this dialog are:
Add
Use this command to add the custom command you have just built to
the command listing. Visual Modem will check to insure that you
have made a valid entry in the command field, and that the command
is not already in the command listing.
Delete
Use this command to delete any selected item from the custom
command listing. When you have selected the items you wish to
delete, click on the delete button to remove those items.
Note: The items deleted will not actually be deleted from the
custom command file until you save the new listing with the Save
File option.
Get File
Use this option to retrieve a previously saved Custom Command File.
Custom command files are denoted with the extension of ".VMC".
Once you have selected the file and it has been read into the
Create Command File dialog, the filename which you selected is
displayed in the upper left corner of the screen.
Save File Page 11
This option allows you to save to disk, the custom commands you
have entered or changed.
Note: Regardless of the extension you assign to the filename to
save, Visual Modem will always assign an extension of ".VMC" to all
Custom Command Files.
Clear Current Commands
This option allows you to immediately erase the custom commands
listed in the display area.
Note: The commands erased in the display area are not erased from
any existing disk file. In order to delete a Custom Command File,
you must use the DOS delete command.
Build-A-Command
This option will take you directly to the Build-A-Command dialog,
from which you may either build commands based on the USR HST
commands contained in the Build-A-Command listbox, or retrieve any
of the custom command files you build in the Create Command File
function.
III.F Send Current Settings to Modem
When you are satisfied with the settings within Visual
Modem, you can send the entire settings string to the
modem with the following:
1. Select Modem from the Main Window Menu
2. From the Modem Menu, select Send Current String
to Modem.
Note: This option sends the current settings to your modem's
memory, not to your modem's NRAM To send the settings to your
modem's NRAM, use the Write Settings to NRAM option from the Modem
Menu..
III.G Write Current VM Settings to Modem's NRAM
When you are satisfied with the settings within Visual Modem, you
can send the entire settings string to your modem's NRAM with the
following:
1. Select Modem from the Main Window Menu.
2. From the Modem Menu, select Write Settings to
NRAM.
III.H Fetch Factory Settings into VM and Your Modem
This option allows you to recall the factory default configuration
settings into your modem's current setting memory. It does NOT
fetch the settings into your modem's NRAM. Therefore, the factory
settings are lost when you turn your modem off unless you Write
Settings to NRAM after loading the factory defaults.
III.I Define Visual Modem Startup Parameters Page 12
Define Visual Modem Startup Parameters You can define and alter the
startup parameters that Visual Modem will use each time the program
is invoked. Such items as Com Port, and display options are
configurable by you.
To define Visual Modem startup parameters:
1. Select Configure from the Main Window Menu.
2. Select User Preferences from the Configure Menu.
Note: Visual Modem stores your startup parameters in a file called
"VM.PRF".
III.J Inhibit Display Of Modem Responses in Visual Modem
Inhibit Display of Modem Response in VM To increase performance and
reduce distraction, you can turn off the modem responses received
by Visual Modem and displayed on the screen.
To inhibit display of modem responses:
1. Select Configure from the Main Window Menu.
At that point, you will be presented with the User Preferences
Screen.
III.K Remove Registration Reminder Popups
The registration reminder popups are there to help encourage
registration of your copy of Visual Modem. When you register, you
will be given the Registration ID needed to complete the
registration contained in the registration dialog. Once you have
completed the registration, the registration reminder popups no
longer appear.
III.L Contacting Visual Modem Author
If you have questions concerning the program, registration
requirements, program enhancement requests, or other issues, you
can contact the author through the following channels:
- PRODIGY User ID: DDJJ90A
(the above ID contains numeric zero, not alpha O)
Leave messages in the Computer Club under the Communications
topic
- KCSS BBS in Seattle WA (206) 296-0691 Sysop: Bob Neddo
(Use the TELECOMM Conference)
Note: The KCSS BBS is one of many bulletin boards which comprise
the MetroLink International Network. Leaving a message in the
TELECOMM Conference of any participating network BBS should be
sufficient to route the message.
- By mail to the registration address.
IV. Keyboard Hot Keys Page 13
There are a number of Hotkeys which can be invoked to go directly
to the screen or function you wish. Each Hotkey is invoked by
holding down the CONTROL key while simultaneously pressing the
appropriate corresponding keyboard letter. The following Hotkeys
are available:
^N New File
^O Open File
^V Save File
^S Save As...
^X Exit Program.
^U User Preferences.
^F Fetch Current Settings
^B Basic Settings
^E Extended Settings
^P Phone Numbers
^C Build - A - Command
^T Create Command File
^M Send Current String to Modem
^W Write Settings to NRAM
^D Defaults
^A About Visual Modem
^I Visual Modem Registration Information
^R Register Visual Modem
F1 can be pressed at any time to obtain HELP
V. Register Visual Modem Page 14
Visual Modem is a shareware program. This does NOT mean the program
is free. It simply means you are given a trial period in which to
determine if the program meets your needs. If the program is of
use, you are required to register the program. The following
details the registration requirements:
Single Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39.95 per copy.
2 - 10 Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34.95 per copy.
11 or more Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.95 per copy.
Registration of 2 or more copies must be purchased together with
single purchase order. Send check or money order to:
Mark Findlay
8717 31st Ave N.W.
Seattle, WA 98117.
After registering, you will receive a registration packet in the
mail which will consist of the Registration ID you will need when
you invoke the registration dialog from within Visual Modem.
The registration dialog allows you to register your copy of Visual
Modem.
You can only use this dialog once you have registered the program
and have received the registration ID.
Once you have received the registration ID:
1. Select Registration from the Main Window Menu.
2. Select Register VM from the Registration Menu.
3. Type in the NAME and ID exactly as they appear in
the registration packet you receive once you have
registered.
Note: Type carefully as you are given 2 chances to enter
the proper NAME and ID.
* * * * * * *
