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- 5th August 1992
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- Support Group Application Note
- Number: 047
- Issue: 2
- Author: D J Bell
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-
- TERMINAL Application Note
-
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- Applicable Hardware: BBC Master 128
-
- Related Application Notes:
-
-
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- Copyright (C) Acorn Computers Limited 1992
-
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this leaflet is
- true and correct at the time of printing. However, the products described in
- this leaflet are subject to continuous development and improvements and
- Acorn Computers Limited reserves the right to change its specifications at
- any time. Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept liability for any loss or
- damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this
- leaflet. ACORN, ECONET and ARCHIMEDES are trademarks of Acorn Computers
- Limited.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Support Group
- Acorn Computers Limited
- Acorn House
- Vision Park
- Histon
- Cambridge CB4 4AE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- The TERMINAL software in the Master 128 machine is a "Language" ROM. It
- does not attempt to emulate any specific terminal as such, but provides the
- low level code necessary to enable the machine to respond to extended code
- sequences sent by a host computer. the ISO 2022-1982 international standard
- discusses the use of these techniques. Terminal Emulations such as the "VT
- 100" use these techniques and employ a range of "Escape sequences" discussed
- in ANSI X3.64. The TERMINAL implements most of the more useful "Escape
- sequences" so that the hardware controlled by TERMINAL can behave as an
- "ANSI" terminal in a similar way to a VT100 terminal etc.
-
- TERMINAL has a Command mode and a Communications mode. In the Command mode,
- specific TERMINAL commands are accepted in addition to operating system Star
- commands. In Communications mode, information is exchanged between the Host
- computer and the Master 128.
-
-
- Sending Text
-
- One typical use of TERMINAL is to send text messages to a remote computer.
- Either the View wordprocessor, or the Edit text editor can be used to create
- these messages:
-
- VIEW: Text created in View must be SPOOL'd to a filing system prior to
- being sent via TERMINAL. It is important that the fist line of text is
- blank ie it effectively just generates a "Return" character. When the text
- is in RAM, a file is opened using the *SPOOL filename command. The View
- "SCREEN" command is then used to display the text. Whilst being displayed
- on the screen, it is also SPOOL'd to the file previously opened. When the
- complete file has been displayed, the file can be closed using the *SPOOL
- command without a filename. The TERMINAL language is now entered using
- *TERMINAL or suitable abbreviation. When the "=" prompt is displayed in
- command mode, the *EXEC filename command is issued. The redundant embedded
- commands in the SPOOL'd file will at first be displayed in command mode and
- will be ignored. When the first blank line ie a Return character is
- encountered, the TERMINAL will be switched into Communications mode and the
- text file will be sent to the host computer. When complete, CTRL + f1 will
- return the TERMINAL to command mode if required.
-
- NB. You can demonstrate the sending of text without a host being present by
- switching TERMINAL into Local mode prior to sending the file. this is
- carried out by pressing CTRL +f8.
-
- EDIT: There is no need to carry out the SPOOLing operation with EDIT, as
- the text file will automatically be in a suitable ASCII form. After
- ensuring that the text begins with a blank line to generate the Return
- character, an EDIT file is SAVE'd using f3 whilst in EDIT. When in
- TERMINAL, the file is *EXEC'd as for View.
-
-