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Text File | 1989-10-19 | 79KB | 365 lines

Returns you to the Online screen, in direct connection with the serial port. The right mouse button will accomplish the same thing from the GEM menu screen. This is how you got here! You can also hit the HELP key while you are Online to view a help screen about command keys available to you while online. If Shadow is active and presenting a status, the HELP key will call up Shadow for a status check, to abort a transfer, or save the buffer. Displays approximately how much free memory (RAM) is left in your ST. May also be invoked with Alternate-R from the Online mode and the GEM menu. If this number is less than 50,000 at any time, you're operating on luck! Try removing some unneeded desk accessories or ramdisks. If you're using Shadow and have the SHADOW.ACC installed, REMOVE IT! You don't need it and you're wasting over 50K! Also activated by holding the Control key and pressing the ClrHome key while in the Online screen. This will drop the RS232 signal DTR (pin 20) for about 3 seconds and cause most modems to hang up, if they are configured to 'follow DTR' or 'Initialize on loss of DTR'. If your modem does behave this way, and you're using Shadow and intend to press the reset button during a transfer, then you'd better disable the feature or the RESET will hang up the modem as well! If it's a Hayes compatible, type the command AT&D0 to your modem before starting a Shadow file transfer. If you have dip switches, set the appropriate switch to 'Set DTR high' or 'Force DTR' to prevent hangups during system reset. Toggles the ST's Key Click sound on and off. If it is on when you select this, it will be turned off and vice versa. The menu will show a check mark next to 'Key Click' if it is on. May also be toggled from the Online mode by pressing Alternate-C. Displays the Baud Rate selection screen from which you may select a desired baud rate. You MUST select one of the choices and it will be set as soon as you do. You will remain at that speed until you either select a new baud rate or select an Autodial entry. May also be called from the Online mode by pressing Alternate-B. (Also see Dial Number and Auto Baud Rate help). Allows you to change the RS232 port settings for Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits and Linefeeds. Most of the time you will never need to turn Linefeeds on, however some systems will require it. If you're on a BBS or host that is displaying one line on top of the other, then turn this on. As for the other setting, most systems use 8 Data Bits, Parity None, and one Stop Bit, however some may require other settings. You may exit from this selection without making any changes. Any changes made and set will remain in effect until changed again, or until you exit VanTerm. The default is always 8/None/1/Linefeeds off. NOTES: To use PC-Pursuit to Upload Files, set to 8/None/2. Sets VanTerm for Full Duplex communications. This means the host system (BBS etc) will echo back each character you send to it. May also be set by pressing Alternate-F while in the Online mode. Most BBS's and host systems use Full Duplex. (See Half Duplex). Sets VanTerm for Half Duplex communications. This means the host system (BBS etc) does NOT echo back each character you send to it therefore VanTerm will display each character you send. May also be set by pressing Alternate-H while in the Online mode. If you're connected to someone else's modem and they are in VanTerm or some other terminal program, then you'll want to turn this on so you can see what you're typing to them! Very few host systems use this. GEnie is one that does use Half Duplex by default, but even it can be changed to Full Duplex. Permits you change the ST date and time. Once changed the ST will maintain the new time and date in both the system and IKBD clocks until you change it again or turn your ST power off. May also be called from the Online mode by pressing Alternate-T. This function executes DCOPY*.PRG... DCOPY is an excellent utility permitting many disk, file, formatting, and ARC functions. It is MUCH faster than ARC, compresses better and therefore creates smaller archives than ARC, saving disk space and transfer time! Do NOT use ANY version of DCOPY other than the one supplied with VanTerm!! If a new GOOD version of DCOPY comes out, it will be available on my BBS seperately and in future version of VanTerm. You can also invoke DCOPY from the online screen with Alternate-O. Chains to another program. This is the same as leaving VanTerm, going back to the Desktop, and then executing (double clicking) some other program. If you know you're going to execute some other program after VanTerm, this will save you some time and motion! If the new program requires parameters, such as a .TTP type editor, you can enter the pathname as well! Use the GEM file selector to find the desired program, select it, and optionally pass parameters to it (if needed - otherwise just press the Return key. Suspends VanTerm and executes ANY another program (at your own risk!). Use the GEM file selector to find the desired program, select it, and optionally pass parameters to it (if needed - otherwise just press Return). Once you exit the program you've selected, you'll return to VanTerm. May also be called by pressing Alternate-E from the Online mode. For some reason, the GFA Basic EXEC function occasionally messes up the RS232 port so you may need to select the Baud Rate option (unless you select an Autodial entry, in which case the baud rate will be automatically set unless you have Auto Baud Rate turned off. See Auto Baud Rate help). Obviously this exits VanTerm and returns to the calling program, GEM Desktop, COMMAND shell, depending on from where VanTerm was executed. Displays your Autodial directory and selects a number to be dialed. Click on the desired entry to start dialing or press the RIGHT button to exit. If you inserted a Username and Password for the entry selected, use the left and right arrow keys (respectively) to send the strings at any time! Install Chain Dialing by holding SHIFT key while selecting. Select again while holding SHIFT to clear that Chain. Click on any 'Chain' item to begin Chain Dialing (or any unmarked item to dial as above). Chain Dialing causes VanTerm to cycle through each selected number until connected, upon which that entry is cleared and all other Chains remain. Press ClrHome to clear all Chains. Selecting only one item to CHAIN causes VanTerm to infinitely redial that number, like Repeat Dialing does if enabled. Also invoked from the online screen with the left mouse button. Turns Repeat Dialing on or off. If on a check mark will appear next to this item. When on and an Autodial entry is selected, VanTerm will keep dialing the number every few seconds until it either gets a CONNECT message, or until you press the UNDO key, upon which it will stop dialing. If the modem returns one of the 'Fail Strings' (as set up in Edit Dial), VanTerm will retry the number. Once you are connected or you cancel Repeat Dialing with the UNDO key, Repeat Dial will be turned off. If you wish to Repeat Dial another number you must again select this item to turn it on. Another way to invoke repeat dialing is to select only one number for 'Chain Dialing', and VanTerm will keep Chaining to that same number until it gets a 'CONNECT' message. If on (check mark displayed) VanTerm will reset the RS232 port baud rate according to the Baud Rate entered into the Autodial entry. If it is off VanTerm will leave the baud rate alone even if an Autodial entry is selected. The default is ON, and in most cases you would want it on. One exception is using VanTerm's Autodial entries to communicate with PC-Pursuit to dial various numbers once connected to the network. This option allows you to keep a copy of everything that transpired during an online session by making a copy of it to a buffer storage area in memory. Can also be toggled open/close with the INSERT key while online. If the buffer fills the maximum lines as set, it will automatically close and give you a warning. You can choose not to record your online session or to terminate recording at any time. Default is with the Buffer closed (not recording). Can also be toggled open/close with the INSERT key while online. You may choose at any time to erase the contents of the buffer storage area containing the recording you are making of you online session. The buffer may also be erased from the Online mode by pressing Alternate-Z. With this option you may choose to load any text file from disk into the buffer storage area. You can write the entire contents of the buffer storage area to a disk file at any time with this option. You may make a printed copy of the contents of the buffer storage area by using this option. In order to support as many printers as possible, no page breaks are sent at this time. Use this option to page through the buffer storage area to find a message you wish to reply to or a listing of a program you wish to download. You can also invoke this by pressing Alternate-D while in the Online mode. Once in this function, you can use the arrow keys to move around the buffer, the INSERT key to jump to a selected page (screen), and the UNDO key to exit the function. Note that INSERT and Down Arrow (last page) will not be enabled until you've been to the end of the buffer. This is because of the method I use to display, which does not permit me to calculate, or know, where the end of the buffer actually is in relation to the number of lines displayed on each screen. As an alternative to sending an ASCII file using another option, you can send the contents of the buffer storage area, loading it first with a file from disk, or you may have 'captured' an interesting message you wish to pass on to another BBS. This menu button gives you the option of setting the size of the buffer storage to any number of lines desired, up to 32767. Actual memory is not taken until needed, and then for only as many bytes as required. This keeps VanTerm from 'grabbing' all available RAM. Each line accepts up to 32767 characters, and uses up one line for each Carriage Return received. NOTE: A common size is 1000-2000 lines. Function keys may be used to send any string of characters, up to 32766 characters long. Take care to follow the instructions on the edit page and use <shift-2> instead of commas and '&' for carriage returns (use ` for real '&' characters!). This might be used to send a long string of instructions to a BBS, instructions that you do not wish to retype each time you need them. To totally erase a function key, simply press the Delete key until all characters are removed. Totally empty keys will display a message that they are empty and will be ignored if you press them while online. Inserting the character '~' will cause VanTerm to pause for 1/2 second each time it sees such a character, so you could use USERNAME&~~~~PASSWORD& to send your username, wait 2 seconds, then send the password and a carriage return. Vanterm includes an Autodialer which will set your modem speed, dial a telephone number, verify a modem connection, and install a Name and Password into the left and right arrow keys (respectively). This functions allows you to enter, delete, and edit up to 30 telephone numbers and useful information for each. If your modem is not a 'Hayes compatible' or if you have it programmed for numeric result codes, then you must press the INSERT key from this screen and change the modem strings to work with YOUR modem. Then be sure to save the new configuration! NOTE: Most problems with Vanterm can be traced directly to using codes which do not work with YOUR modem. It may be necessary to read the documentation which came with your modem to find the right codes (examples are included which work with Hayes-compatible modems). This option allows you to configure Shadow's completion bell (sounds on completion of a Shadow transfer) and whether or not Shadow will display block numbers during file transfer. If on, the block number will be displayed in any screen, in any program! The settings are saved with the configuration. Vanterm allows you to keep as many different Dialer and Function key configuration files on disk as you like and load them as needed. These are files that end in '.CFG' and you may name them anything you like. For instance, you might have one .CFG file for local BBS's, one file for PC-Pursuit and one file for business use. After editing your configuration file, you'll need to save it for your next use. You will also be asked if you want your directory sorted by the Name field. If you answer yes, they will most certainly be rearranged alphabetically! So, if you have a 'special' layout in your directory, you may not want to sort it! Sorting is completely optional. This option will 'pretty print' the currently loaded configuration. It is useful for creating hard copies of your configuration files, so they may be reconstructed in event something happens to your disk, or in case you accidentally delete one! This function replaces the old VTCFGPRT.PRG utility program. This option will give you a blank '.CFG' file to edit, name and save for later use. If you've never used VanTerm before, and/or therefore have no configuration file to be loaded, VanTerm will initialize all function keys and Dial Directory entries automatically, and display a warning. You can now edit them and save a configuration. If you HAVE already loaded a configuration and you select this, the function keys and dial directory will be totally cleared! You default path settings and buffer size will remain intact, however. This routine permits you to adjust all four colors on a color monitor, or swap black and white on a monochrome monitor. You can also select what I consider to be optimum colors, or revert to your original desktop colors (the colors in effect when you executed VanTerm). If you get the colors so screwed up that you can't even SEE what you're doing (very possible!), you can hit the UNDO key and that will return you to your original settings as well, to recover your display. Once you get the settings you desire, you can then save your configuration, and the color settings will be saved as well, so the next time you load that configuration, your colors will return. You may want the WXYModem Transfer Utility (WXYTR.TTP), downloaded files, and files for uploading to reside on various disks and/or folders other than your default (VANTERM.PRG) directory. This function allows you to tell VanTerm where to find the utilities and files for uploading and where to send any downloaded files. Be sure to find and CLICK ON WXYTR.TTP when asked! If this item is check-marked, VanTerm will use Shadow for all file transfers automatically. If not check-marked, VanTerm will use WXYTR as it always has. The current setting is saved with the configuration. You may also toggle Shadow on or off from the OnLine screen by pressing Alternate-W. This option allows you to upload (sent to a remote Computer) any ASCII (text) file in normal ASCII mode (or to use Shadow as a capture buffer in Receive mode!). Make sure the receiving Computer knows that you are sending the file in this mode. If Shadow is active, then Shadow will take care of the ASCII file transfer. NOTE: Shadow will also handle ASCII *RECEIVE* if it is enabled, which is just like using your capture buffer, but faster! This gives you the entire Shadow buffer for receiving! Alternate-A will also invoke this function from the OnLine screen. This is an intelligent XModem send facility provided by the excellent WXYTR utility. It will send the file in XModem/CRC mode if the receiving Computer supports that mode and sends XModem/checksum if it does not. This sends the normal 128 byte packet. This option is the same as XModem/CRC except the Packet size is 1024 bytes (1K). On the receiving end, BBS's sometimes call this option Ymodem, but that is incorrect! This is XModem-1K! YModem is XModem-1K with Batch (multiple file transfer) ability. Alternate-K will also invoke this from the OnLine screen. This Menu Button receives a file sent to you in XModem/CRC, XModem/checksum or XModem-1K. It can sense the mode of the sending unit and adjust to those parameters. Alternate-X will also invoke this from the OnLine screen. This option prepares a batch of files for YModem (Batch) SEND and MUST be executed before the SEND option is permitted. Simply select each file you desire to send in Batch mode by either double clicking each file, or clicking once on each file to highlight it, then clicking on OK or pressing the RETURN key. Select OK or press Return WITHOUT selecting a file will save the selected filenames and exit the function. Selecting CANCEL will abort the procedure without saving any filenames. This function may be executed from the online mode by pressing Alternate-U. This option instructs VanTerm to SEND all selected files in YModem (Batch) mode! At this writing, few BBS's support this, but you can at least send groups of files to other VanTerm owners! In order to select this function, you must have first selected YModem (Batch) SETUP and selected at least 1 file for Batch transfer. If you have not done this, you'll get an alert telling you so. Otherwise, this function will display all files selected and their statistics, give you a last chance to send or abort, prompt you for the CRC/Checksum mode, and begin the transfer. This function may be executed from the online mode by pressing Alternate-G. This Option allows Vanterm to receive files sent in YModem (batch) mode. The sending BBS must support this mode of file transfer and be ready to send before you select it. NOTE: Do not try to name the files that are being sent to you, as Vanterm will automatically get the names during file transfer. All you need to select is the FOLDER to receive the files. If the default folder is acceptable, just click on OK to start. This option allows you to send a file using CompuServe B protocol, IF and ONLY if you have Shadow. CompuServe itself and a very few BBS's support this protocol. This option allows you to receive a file using CompuServe B protocol, IF and ONLY if you hae Shadow. CompuServe itself and a very few BBS's support this protocol. This button, when selected, will allow you to set the DEFAULT disk. That is the disk Vanterm will use for most of the other DISK options unless you have set up various disks and/or folders for specialized uses using the PATH options. Click on [Exit] or hit the Return key to exit this function. You may select a drive and view the amount of unused space that is left on that drive. Click on [Exit] or hit the Return key to exit this function. This Menu button will show you a directory of the DEFAULT drive. You may see a directory of another drive by typing the drive and path in the top line, then clicking on the shaded bar at the top of the GEM directory window. This Menu Button allows you to make a new folder on the DEFAULT drive. You may change the disk/path to make the folder on using the SET DRIVE Menu Button or by typing the drive and path on the top line of the GEM box then clicking on the shaded bar at the top of the GEM directory window. This Menu button allows you to delete any Folder and ALL files within that folder, so be CAREFUL!!!. (See Make Folder) With this option you may page through any ASCII (text) file on disk. Select any file you wish to delete. Repeat to delete more files. Select CANCEL when finished. Entering '*.*' will delete ALL files, just as entering '*.TXT" will delete all files ending in .TXT, and so on according to standard TOS filemask conventions, so be CAREFUL!!! You may choose to change the name of any file with this option. You can also create filenames with special characters, and you can also change the path of the file (like moving it)! Read the displayed instructions when you invoke this function. Simply follow the instructions to copy any file from any disk to any other. You may change the name of the file while copying by using a new name for the destination file. You will also be asked to choose the date and time of the new (copy) file, that is, whether you want the current date/time the file was copied/created, or if you'd like the copy to retain the date/time of the original. This option gives you statistics about a disk file, including total bytes (characters) in the file, XModem 128 byte and 1024 byte blocks, and the approximate time required to transfer the file at the baud rates supported by VanTerm. Just follow the instructions! Alternate-I will invoke this function while in the online screen.