GEMini Atari/GEMini_Atari_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1993.iso/zip/portfoli/acom11.lzh/ACOM.DOC

Text File | 1991-08-21 | 13KB | 293 lines

                       ACOM DOCUMENTATION
                          Version 1.10


Changes in 1.10  Released January 14, 1991

     Pressing the ESCAPE key during file transfers or waiting for
     handshake will gracefully terminate the program.

     Better error checking and recovery.

     Capability to send files larger than 64k.

     Cosmetic changes.

     Output disk file buffer increased for more efficient file
     transfers.

     High speed file transfer increased to 38,400 baud even on
     the Portfolio

     F5 in terminal mode will allow line wrap

     ACOM will switch back to old parity even after xmodem abort
     in Terminal mode

Introduction

     ACOM is a communications program written for the Atari
Portfolio.  However, it will run on IBM PC compatibles as well.
Its purpose is to provide enhanced terminal emulation and file
transferring capabilities for the Portfolio.  It can copy the
conents of a 128k ramcard from the Portfolio to a PC in a minute
and a half.  This program is owned and copyrighted by Roudley
Associates, Inc.
     Due to the nature of the Portfolio, the program is somewhat
idiosyncratic--that is, it attempts to provide a goodly number of
functions but has to do so within the confines of the Portfolio
environment.  It does not use mice, icons, or the other beloved
features of the postliterate user interfaces.  It does use the
function keys and command line options.
     Should your computer hang up, as is possible with interrupt
driven programs, try to exit ACOM by pressing ESCAPE once.  If
that does not work, try to reboot by pressing CTL-ALT-DEL.  If
that does not work, cold boot.  Roudley Associates, Inc, cannot
be responsible for loss of data or other mishaps caused by
running ACOM.  ACOM has been in satisfactory daily use on a
number of computers.  Roudley Associates is committed to
providing and supporting quality software, and endeavors to find
and correct program flaws.
     ACOM requires approximately 32k of memory for all code and
buffers.


Features

     ACOM can be used as a terminal emulation program, as a file
transfer program, and as a host control program.  It is able to
determine whether it is running on a Portfolio or a PC, and setup
its interrupt handling accordingly.
     As a terminal emulation program, ACOM provides logging,
XMODEM CRC upload and download, 100 line scroll back with blank
line deletion, and movable screen window to view 80 column lines.
     Running on two MSDOS computers, or a Portfolio and an MSDOS
computer,  ACOM provides file transfer at speeds up to 19,200
baud and shelling to DOS.  That is, you can remotely execute
simple DOS commands and programs that do not write directly to
the screen or capture interrupts.  The Portfolio can control a PC
by shelling to COMMAND.COM.  You can transfer files either way.
     As a simple file transfer program, you can exchange files
from computer to computer at speeds as fast as 38,400 baud.
Quite often I must transfer one file from one computer to another
with incompatible disks, or to a network library.  ACOM will
start up and transfer the file before some large commercial
programs have even managed to initialize.  For transferring many
large files, you might consider using a program that can run at
115,200 baud.



Setup

     To use ACOM on the Portfolio you must connect the serial
interface.  Be sure you turn the Portfolio off before you
physically attach it.  You may then connect the interface to a
modem or a null modem cable.  The null modem cable is used to
connect two computers together directly.  The modem can be used
to communicate over a phone line to a remote computer.
     If you are going to use ACOM as a terminal emulator,
initialize your com port by using the Setup function on the
Portfolio, or the Mode command on the PC.

Running ACOM as a terminal emulator

   ACOM      -- Run as a terminal emulation program.
   ACOM T    -- Run as a terminal emulation program.
   ACOM T2   -- Run terminal emulation on com port 2, PC only


Running ACOM for file transfers

   ACOM R filename.ext    is entered on computer receiving file

   ACOM S filename.ext    is entered on computer sending file


Running ACOM as slave importing files

   ACOM I                 is entered on computer importing files

   ACOM E filemask.ext    is entered on computer exporting files




Running ACOM in master/slave configuration

   ACOM        is entered on both computers
               Each will display whatever is typed on the other
               Use the function keys to control both computers,
               e.g., pressing F9 will cause the other computer to
               invoke command.com and reroute the standard input
               and output to the remote (active) computer.


Running ACOM in high speed mode, direct connect only

  ACOM H I     Preceed the function command with an H

  ACOM H E     for importing and exporting files

  ACOM H T     To set ACOM up as a highspeed direct connect
  ACOM H T2    terminal--useful to transfer files and control the
               F9-Shell to DOS function



Using ACOM as a terminal emulator

     Starting ACOM by entering ACOM at the DOS prompt will cause
ACOM to default and run as a terminal emulator.  It will use the
current speed, parity, data bit and stop bit setup in the com
port.  To talk to Compuserve, for instance, you would set your
com port to 2400,e,7,1 or 1200,e,7,1 depending on the speed of
your modem.  On the Portfolio, use the setup function set and
initialize the ports.  On a PC, use the mode command, as in MODE
COM1:2400,e,7,1.  ACOM will display a warning that the com port
must be set up.  You may exit the program at this time by
pressing ESCAPE, or continue by pressing any other key.
     If you are using a modem, you can now dial another computer,
or online service such as Compuserve.  You can verify that the
modem is working by entering ATZ.  The modem should respond "OK".
Enter the appropriate modem dialing commands.  For most modems
this would be something like ATDT832-0160.  If you have call
waiting, you can disable call waiting for the duration of this
telephone call by preceeding the telephone number with *70.  For
instance, ATDT*70,,832-0160 will disable call waiting, wait two
seconds, and dial 832-0160.
     After this point, the commands used to communicate are
dependent on the host computer.  You may obtain help for using
ACOM by pressing F1.  You may scroll back messages by using the
UP, DOWN, PAGEUP, PAGEDOWN, HOME and END keys.  Pressing a Key
will exit the scroll mode.  Use the LEFT and RIGHT arrows to view
lines longer than 40 characters.  To receive a file using XMODEM
CRC issue the commands to the host computer do start the
transfer, then press F2.  To send a file using XMODEM CRC issue a
command to the host computer to receive a file, then press F3.
     Some have pointed out that it appears as though ACOM
switches the Portfolio display mode to 80 column non-tracked.  In
fact, this is not exactly the case.  While ACOM is reading
characters from the com port, and writing them to stdout (the
display screen), it is also building logical "lines" and storing
them in a lifo buffer.  Blank lines are discarded.  When you
enter scroll mode by pressing UP, DOWN, PAGEUP, or PAGEDOWN, ACOM
is moving a 40x8 window around the stored "lines". The entire
window can be moved from left to right and back by using the LEFT
and RIGHT arrow keys.  If you move the screen to the right, it
will stay at that offset until you move it back even though you
might move up and down through the buffer.  If you wish to wrap
the lines, press F5 to toggle wrap mode.
     You can send any text file, such as a logon sequence, by
pressing F4 and entering the file name.  You can log all messages
from the host computer by pressing F6.  F7, F8, and F9 only work
with another computer using ACOM.
     You can exit ACOM without disturbing the online condition of
the modem.  For instance, you could be logged on to Compuserve,
then press the F10 to exit ACOM, rename a file, and start up ACOM
again in terminal mode.  You will still be logged on to
Compuserve.  I found this handy when I forgot to issue mode for
e,7,1.


Using ACOM to send and receive a file

     You can initiate a receive of a file using XModem CRC by
entering ACOM R filename.ext on the receiving computer and then
entering ACOM S filename.exe on the sending computer.  The speed
will default to 9600 baud.  This feature is useful for
transfering a file with a minimu of fuss.  Both programs will
terminate when the transfer is complete.


Using ACOM to send and receive one or many files

     To establish one computer as the receiver, or importer, of
files enter ACOM I.  To set the import speed to 38400 baud
instead of the default 9600 baud, enter ACOM H I.  The program
will run in the import mode waiting for more files to be exported
from the other computer until you press a key.  Note that this
feature is for local connect only.
     To export a file from the second computer, enter ACOM E
filemask.ext or ACOM H E filemask.ext where filemask.ext
represents a valid MSDOS file specification optionally including
wildcards.  To send the contents of the default directory, enter
ACOM E *.* or ACOM H E *.*.  This is particularly useful in
backing up an Atari Portfolio memory card to the host, since it
can do so at 19200 baud.


Using ACOM in Master/Slave mode

     Running ACOM in a terminal mode on two directly connected
computers, or two computers connected by modem with one modem set
to answer a call, permits file transfers and basic remote
control.  Pressing F9 on one computer will cause the other to
shell to DOS with the standard input and output redirected to the
remote computer.  The remote operator can perform all the DOS
commands, and run programs that perform all console io to stdin
and stdout.  Programs that use graphics or write directly to the
screen WILL NOT SEND INFORMATION TO THE REMOTE.  Nevertheless,
the ability to display a directory, rename, delete or copy files,
change directories, and so on is a powerful function.  You
terminate the remote DOS execution in the normal way by entering
EXIT.
     When in simple terminal mode, you may send a file or files
to the remote computer by pressing F7, or receive a file or files
by pressing F8.  Enter the file name or file specification with
wildcards.  Files will be sent, and the program will return to
terminal mode.  You may press F1 for help.
     This feature enables the Portfolio to control a PC.  It is
convenient for moving files from computer to computer and
generally handling maintenance from one keyboard. For those of us
with tendencies toward whimsy, it does provide some simple
amusement to control a 386 with the little Portfolio.


About the Program

     The program was written using Borland's Turbo Pascal, and
compressed with LZEXE to bring its size down from about 15k to
less than 10k.  Curiously, the Turbo Pascal Code was smaller than
the Turbo C++ code for some equivalent functions, so I used
Pascal.  All functions to control the Portfolio and the PC
including interrupt handling were written in Pascal and are
integral to the program.  No other libraries were used .  If you
are interested in the Portfolio functions to use with Pascal, I
recommend B. J. Gleason's excellent Portfolio TPU available in
the programming section of the Atari Portfolio Forum on
Compuserve. Information on XMODEM CRC was gathered  from a number
of places.  If anyone knows of the location or source for the
formal specification for XMODEM CRC I would be pleased have it.
The program has been used to download files from Compuserve
successfully, as well as interact with ProComm and other
communications packages.  Information on the Portfolio's
communications handling was gleaned by disassembling various
utilities and testing hypotheses developed from this dissection.
   Regarding the speed of the Portfolio com port, it seems that
38400 baud may be the highest feasible transfer speed.  This is
about the point that other factors influence the transfer rate
more than the raw communications port speed.  This speed also
works satisfactorily on most other PC's I have tested.
     A fair amount of time and money has been spent developing
this program.  If ACOM proves useful, your comments and bug
reports will be appreciated.  Should you wish to compensate the
author, get on our mailing list, and receive the latest copy of
ACOM, please specify your disk size and send $25 to


     Roudley Associates, Inc.
     PO Box 608
     Owings Mills, MD    21117


If you use the program, and do not wish to compensate the author,
please be generous to those in need and increase your donation to
your favorite charity or church.

Charles Cook

71370,1025


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