The Macintosh uses the RS-422 serial communications standard, while the Casio BOSS uses a TTL format. You can not directly connect the two without an intermediate circuit board.
A cable can be purchased as part of your registration. See the section on registration for further information. As an alternative, two MacPaint documents are included with this package: “RS-422 converter”, and “Serial Port Pinouts” that provide the information necessary to build an interface cable.
Plug the cable into the stereo miniplug socket on the Casio, and either the modem or printer port on the Macintosh. The PowerBook 100 only has the printer port available for use by CasioTalk.
Choose the Serial Port… item from the Configuration menu, and specify the desired settings. To change the settings on the Casio, refer to the Casio user manual. CasioTalk defaults to communications settings of 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, and even parity. Note that the modem port can not be selected on the PowerBook 100.
Ensure that when CasioTalk is the frontmost application, no other serial device is connected to the active serial port. CasioTalk receives automatically when information is sent through the serial line. Unpredictable results may occur if a modem or other device starts sending information to CasioTalk.
Transmitting Data to the Casio
With version 2.0, CasioTalk can transmit memos, addresses, business cards and schedules.
Before transmitting to the Casio, you must first choose the required mode. Click one of the five mode controls at the bottom left of the document window. The mode controls mirror the mode buttons found on the Casio itself. Remember to set the mode correctly, as text may be able to be received by the Casio in a number of modes.
You can transmit just the selected text, or the entire document if there is no selection.
Set up the Casio to receive as outlined in the Casio user manual. Click the transmit button (or type Command-T) on the Macintosh.
You can halt the transmission at any time by pressing the [Next] key on the Casio.
Receiving Data from the Casio
Set up the Casio to transmit the required data as outlined in the Casio user manual, and start the Casio transmitting. CasioTalk starts receiving the data automatically, and sets the mode appropriately.
You can halt the transmission at any time by pressing the [Next] key on the Casio.
Editing
CasioTalk has small but effective text editor built-in. You can use CasioTalk to open and edit text files, but you can not print. The editor has a limit of 30000 characters or 2700 lines.
Similarly, if you try to open a text file that is larger than 30000 characters, the program will only read the first 30000, and ignore the rest. If you need to send a very large amount of text to the Casio, you should break the file into a number of smaller text files using a word-processor.
The number of characters in the file is displayed at the bottom of the document. You can choose not to display this information by choosing the Preferences… item from the Configuration menu.
The arrow keys move the insertion point. Holding down the shift key extends the current selection in the appropriate direction. Holding down the option key moves the insertion point to the extremes of the document. The shift and option keys can work together in conjunction with the arrow keys.
The editor supports one level of undo and redo for all editing functions.
The Search menu allows you to find and select strings of characters in the document. Find… brings up a dialog box prompting for the string to find.
Find Again finds the next occurrence of the entered string. Find Selection finds the next occurrence of the current selection.
When editing with the Casio BOSS, some characters act as delimiters, signifying “End of item” or “End of entry”. CasioTalk mimics this functionality.
When typing an address, business card or schedule, first enter the name and then press option-return. This brings up a ¬ mark which signifies “end of item”. For the last item, press shift-option-return. This enters a ◊ mark, which signifies “end of entry”. A complete address entry might be:
John Smith¬
4723-444¬
12, Thomas St
Wellington◊
If you can not remember the keyboard equivalents, these characters are available in the Edit menu under Special Characters.
As a further alternative templates are available for addresses, business cards and schedules. Choose Insert Template from the Utilities menu.
To change the case of the current selection, choose Upper Case or Lower Case in the Utilities menu.
How to Register
CasioTalk is not free, it is shareware. If you wish to use it, you should send US$25 or equivalent to Glendower Software at the following address. By sending in the money you will encourage further improvements to the program. Future enhancements will include:
• read and write popular Macintosh-based scheduler file
formats
• high level event link with HyperCard
• further integration with Macintosh-based personal
information managers
Please send your registration to:
Glendower Software
12, Grosvenor Terrace
Wadestown
Wellington 1
New Zealand.
In return you will receive a registration number that will allow you to personalise your copy of CasioTalk. Until you personalise your copy of CasioTalk, each document is limited to 1000 characters.
If you would like an interface cable sent to you, please enclose a further US$20.
Warranty
Glendower Software makes no warranty as to the performance of CasioTalk. The user accepts the program as it stands. Glendower Software will make every effort to fix any bugs found in the software but is not obligated to do so. Glendower Software is not liable for any loss of data or profits associated with the use of CasioTalk. In no event will Glendower Software be liable for more than the price paid for CasioTalk.
The Casio Computer Co., Ltd. has had no involvement with this program, which is entirely the result of research and development by Glendower Software.
