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PCKERMIT.DOC
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PCKERMIT.DOC August 21, 1987
MS-DOS Kermit with Sliding Windows Version 2.1
----------------------------------
PCKERMIT.EXE USER GUIDE
=======================
Introduction
------------
PCKERMIT version 2.1 is an implementation of the "Sliding Window
Extension" to Kermit (the extension is popularly called SuperKermit).
This extension allows data packets to be sent continuously under most
conditions, unlike "Kermit Classic" or XMODEM, both of which must wait
for the other side to return an acknowledgement after each data packet
has been sent.
This continuous transmission of data is especially helpful when
there are delays in the communications path, such as via satellite
transmission or over the public data networks (Telenet, Uninet, Tymnet,
etc).
NOT A TERMINAL PROGRAM
----------------------
PCKERMIT.EXE is not a terminal program. It simply implements the
Kermit protocol, including the sliding window extension. It will work
with older "Kermit Classic" implementations as well, via automatic
negotiation between the two Kermit programs.
PCKERMIT.EXE runs as a "one-shot" execution then returns to the
caller. A single file or multiple files (wildcard filename) are
transferred until execution is completed or the transfer is abnormally
aborted. If execution is performed by the user from the DOS command
line, termination of PCKERMIT returns control to MS-DOS.
USE OF PCKERMIT.EXE
-------------------
PCKERMIT does not establish a carrier with a remote system. The
connection must be established using a separate terminal program, and
the remote Kermit selected using the separate terminal program. Then
you return to the MS-DOS prompt and start PCKERMIT for the actual file
transfer.
The command syntax of the stand-alone Kermit program is shown in
Figure 1. Here are examples of execution from the DOS command line:
PCKERMIT
or
PCKERMIT -H Help: Will give you the screen of figure 1 below
PCKERMIT -R Receive: Will receive a file using the PCKERMIT
defaults of 1200 baud, parity none, on COM1.
PCKERMIT -S filename.ext Send: Will send a file using the PCKERMIT
defaults of 1200 baud, parity none, on COM1.
PCKERMIT -R -P M Receive: Will receive a file using Parity Mark
PCKERMIT -L COM2 -B 2400 -P M -R
This will use serial line COM2 at 2400 baud and
parity of mark to receive a file.
Upper or lower case does not matter; neither does the order of the
options (i.e., PCKERMIT -R -P M will do the same as PCKERMIT -P M -R).
Start of Figure 1
Figure 1. PCKERMIT command syntax.
PCKERMIT version 2.1, August 21, 1987, by Jan A. van der Eijk
Kermit Receive and Send protocol module for MS-DOS operating systems.
Usage: PCKERMIT [-x arg [-x arg]...[-yyy]..]]
x is an option that requires an argument, y an option with no argument:
-s file(s) send
-r receive
-a name alternate name, used with -s, -r
-h help - print this message
settings -- default
-l line communication line device ( COM1, COM2 ) [COM1]
-b baud line speed, e.g. 1200 [1200]
-p x parity, x is one of e,o,m,s,n [N]
-m size maximum window size to use ( <= 31 ) [16]
-n non binary file transfer, affect CR/LF
-t line turnaround handshake = xon, half duplex
-w write over preexisting files
-q be quiet during file transfer
-c carrier detect signal required to be present
Note 1: If -t is used, -m should not be used.
Note 2: The usage of -w is reversed from standard Columbia CKERMIT.
End of Figure 1
USE OF BATCH FILES
------------------
Two small batch files can greatly simplify use of PCKERMIT:
SEND.BAT would look like this using Mark parity at 1200 baud on
COM1:
PCKERMIT -P M -S %1
REC.BAT would look like this using Mark parity at 1200 baud on
COM1:
PCKERMIT -P M -R
This makes it easy to send a file by just typing
SEND filename.ext
and receive a file by typing
REC
at the MS-DOS prompt. Change the PCKERMIT command line to reflect your
communications setup (add -B 300 for 300 baud, etc.).
You could include the name of your terminal software at the end of
the batch file so you went directly back to your terminal software when
finished with the transfer.
CHARACTERS DISPLAYED DURING TRANSFER
------------------------------------
During operation of the standalone PCKERMIT it may display the
following:
% Resend of last packet
. Is printed every FOURTH data packet
A Attributes packet (file length and creation date)
B End of transmission packet
F File Header
N NAK packet
Q Bad checksum or other packet error
S Send-Init packet
T Timeout
Z End of file packet
KEYBOARD INTERRUPTS
-------------------
During a file transfer PCKERMIT responds (sometimes slowly) to the
following keystrokes:
CTRL-F to cancel File, CTRL-R to Resend current packet.
CTRL-B to cancel Batch, CTRL-K to abort Kermit and exit.
CTRL-A for status report:
These functions are available even at the start of PCKERMIT before
it tells you they are available. In particular, Control-K can be used
if the "Send-Init" exchange does not seem to be working.
Please note that PCKERMIT checks the keyboard infrequently under
some conditions. WAIT at least 20 - 30 seconds before repeating a
keystroke in order to avoid stacking up repeated commands. This is
particularly true of CTRL-F (cancel file) where you might cancel more
than one file.
Also, the Control-F and Control-B (cancel file and cancel batch)
functions sometimes require a NAK and a resend or a timeout before they
actually work. This is not a protocol problem, but is due to the way
PCKERMIT flushes it buffer before sending the abort packet. In some
cases, the flushing of the buffer truncates a packet and the following
abort packet is not seen as a separate packet.
Here is a more detailed explanation of the functions:
CTRL-F will cancel an individual file in a wildcard transaction,
but then continue with the next file in the batch.
CTRL-B will cancel the entire batch of files, according to
protocol, and then return you to the DOS prompt.
CTRL-K will abort the file transfer and return you to the DOS
prompt. PCKERMIT sends an Error packet indicating it is
aborting, but otherwise does not worry about protocol.
CTRL-R will resend the current packet; this can be used as a
manual timeout. With windowing is in effect, this feature should be
tried only as a last resort as it has not been fully tested.
CTRL-A will give you a status report on the screen. The items
covered are:
CONTROL-A STATUS REPORT
-----------------------
COMMENTS
^A Status report:
file type: binary Details unknown
file number: 1 Indicates which file of a multiple file
wildcard batch transfer
characters : 1291 On SEND: indicates number of characters
output to the buffer, but not necessarily
yet sent out the modem.
On RECEIVE: indicates characters actually
written to disk so far; others may already
have been received to memory.
window size: 31 The window size agreed upon after negotiation
with the other Kermit. By definition, 0 means