home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Datafile PD-CD 5
/
DATAFILE_PDCD5.iso
/
utilities
/
t
/
tnc_arc
/
!Tnc
/
!Help
/
ReadMe
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-12-13
|
14KB
|
292 lines
Help file for !tnc Version 2.10 © Garry Orford, G4FRO
===============================
Getting started
---------------
Make sure you have your tnc set at the same baud rate and word length as
required by !tnc. The program default is 2400 baud, 8n1 but this will be
over-ridden by the parameters that you save from the SETUP dialogue box.
Make sure you have wired the Arc/tnc correctly, including the curious Acorn
hardware handshake arrangement.
This software is supplied on the understanding that you are a Radio Amateur
interested in experimentation. The most sophisticated professional
programs have bugs (99% OK is considered adequate) - what chance do we have !
You MUST solve problems to give Radio Hams a bit of cred.
It is very difficult to start with both a new tnc and new software. If you
do so, well good luck but you WILL have problems. Bear in mind, you will
have to wire the Arc/tnc together correctly, learn to drive the tnc and work
this software. Speak nicely to a local !
This software has been extensively tested on various Arc/tnc combinations
and has proved popular as it offers DeskTop facilities. Eat your heart out
PCs, Amigas and Ataris !
More details
------------
(1) Click SELECT on iconbar, opens the main window.
(2) Click MENU on iconbar, brings up menu.
(3) Click ADJUST on iconbar, brings up WimpKeys window.
(1) Main window
Received text will be displayed in the upper part of the window. Holding
down SHIFT/CTRL or <Scroll Lock> will pause the display.
Click SELECT in TX window, puts caret on line in TX window (and highlights
the task if not already active). This can be done at any time, allowing
input line to be re-sent. Normal editting works, ie CTRL/U (delete line),
left/right/up/down arrows etc. Note line is not sent to tnc until <Return>
is typed. Typed lines are limited to 80 characters as the receiving
computer may get upset with a greater number. Setting WRAP will cause a
<cr> to be sent after a maximum of 77 characters, breaking your typed line
intelligently. Control codes are sent by enclosing the ASCII value
in square brackets; example, [03] represents CTRL/C or ASCII 3; widely
used to enter command mode. Typing CTRL/V or CTRL/Z will
automatically append a <Return> to the control code. Note, this
works in fkey/wkey definitions also.
Hitting <Esc> will force a disconnect on the current stream. If KAM is set,
this will be achieved by sending a 50 mS BREAK level (for command mode), then
d[13]. If KAM is not set, [03]d[13] will be sent. The reason for this
difference is owing to the fact that some KAM Ver 5.0n users, experience KAM
crashes with the latter method.
The following commands may be used in the TX window, fkeys or WimpKeys
with the exception of {peckoff} which MUST be used from a WimpKey or
fkey. Note the use of curly brackets. Commands should be entirely in
upper case or entirely in lower case.
{time} Sends the current time in the format defined in SETUP.
{date} Sends the current date in the format defined in SETUP.
{upload}<file> Sends the file !tnc.Uploadfile.<file>
{peckon} Causes typed characters to be immediately sent to the serial port
{peckoff} Reverses the effect of {peckon}
{break} Sends a 50 mS BREAK level
{peckon} and {peckoff} are intended for use by non-KAM tncs on non-packet
modes; example, for use by the PK232 on AMTOR.
Packets will be received by the Arc from the tnc whenever !tnc is running,
whether or not the main window is open. Also, packets can be SPOOLed in
this state. You may review up to 1000 lines by the standard Wimp controls.
HOME toggles between the TX lines out/in sight, provided no other window
hold the caret; PageUp/Down work in the usual way.
Drag a file to window and UPLOAD window appears. You may then SEND file or
ABORT. You can abort at any time but note part of file will have already been
sent to the tnc for tx'ing. Files can be dragged from a Filer window or,
if less than 1024 bytes, direct from another !Application. Function key f11
may optionally be sent after the file.
A nice feature is that hitting PRINT will bring up a standard save box
which can be used to save the entire current RX window. This is
handy if you forget to SPOOL or notice something interesting going by.
(2) Menu
INFO shows the version and date of this copy of !tnc.
SETUP brings up a dialogue box for customising !tnc to your own use.
TNC BAUD and WORD FORMat alter the serial link parameters between the Arc and
the tnc. By clicking on the appropriate up/down arrows, the baud rate and
word format of !tnc can be adjusted to various values that should cover most
tncs. The parameters are immediately used following a Save, so ensure that
your tnc is set correctly. Abort will abandon the serial link parameters
adjustment and continue as before.
SPOOL and GRAB are the default names for SPOOL (to disc) and GRAB (from RX
window) files respectively.
BEEPS disables received beeps (typed CTRL/Gs will still be heard) but you may
send [07].
WRAP enables the wrap feature on packet.
KAM permits or otherwise the selection of KAM on the MENU.
CARET. Selection of CARET will, against Acorn advice (they call it esoteric !), forces the caret to be red on a non-white background. This works fine
for certain combinations of MEMC and mode. However, other combinations
are slightly uncomfortable. It also slows !tnc down. Non-selection of
CARET will restore the Acorn acceptable green on grey and not cause MEMC
problems. You may then use !Palette to choose the caret colour of your
choice.
DATE and TIME formats set the style of {date} and {time} when typed or added
to WimpKeys or function keys. You have to read your User Guide for the
full range of options.
ABORT abandons your changes and resets parameters to the previously selected.
USE makes immediate use of your changes without saving to disc.
SAVE makes immediate use of your changes and saves to disc
CTEXTS provides intelligent CTEXTs. To enable this feature, click SELECT on
the MENU item Ctexts, so that CTEXTS becomes ticked. To set the ctexts,
follow the right arrow on the MENU item Ctexts and click SELECT on Open.
This will open a dialogue box showing callsigns and associated ctext. You
may set the last callsign to OTHER, which will send the associated ctext to
any station whose callsign is not specifically listed. If you have set your
tnc to send its own ctext, this will continue to work as normal. After
writing to the ctext window, use MENU on the window to UPDATE or SAVE.
{commands} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. Following
typing in the TX window or using an Fkey or WimpKey, the CTEXT feature will
be disabled for 30 seconds. This has two purposes; one, to avoid sending the
CTEXT to a station in which you initiate a connect and two, to avoid sending
a 'Sorry, I'm not here Fred' style of message to a station who plainly can
see you are !
FKEYS allows the opening of any of the four function key set; fkeys alone,
SHIFT/fkey, CTRL/fkey and SHIFT/CTRL/fkey. After writing to the fkey
window, use MENU on the window to UPDATE or SAVE. {commands} and [control
codes] may be used in the definitions.
<Print> saves the RX window as a file (see above).
f12 is not programmable as it is used by RISC OS.
WKEYS (WimpKeys) are the RISC OS version of function keys. The WimpKey
definitions are set in directory !tnc.WimpKeys. You may have as many sets
of definitions as you like; they should be numbered 1 upwards. Click SELECT
on the number at the left side of the WimpKey window to advance to the next
WimpKeys, ADJUST to revert to the previous set. WimpKey definitions are in
line pairs. The first line is definition itself; the second line is WimpKey
text. You may have up to eight definitions (16 lines) per set of WimpKeys.
{time}, {date} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. You may
also use {upload}<filename> to send !tnc.UploadFile.<filename> when clicking
on the WimpKey. Using SELECT on the WimpKey sends the text; ADJUST sends
the text and closes the WimpKey window; MENU