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T E L I X Release Version 2.12 Program Reference Manual by PTel 276 Guildwood Parkway Toronto, Ont M1E 1P9 COPYRIGHT (C) 1986,1987 PTel All Rights Reserved. Telix v2.12 COPYRIGHT ii LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE Telix is Copyright (C) 1986,1987 by PTel and Colin Sampaleanu. Telix is distributed under the User Supported software con- cept. Non-registered users of Telix are granted a limited li- cense to use Telix for a trial period, in order to determine its suitability for their purposes. Any other use of Telix re- quires registration. Any use of non-registered copies of Telix by a business, organization, or any kind of institution is forbidden. Registering a copy of Telix allows a user to make as many copies of Telix as he/she wishes, and use it on various ma- chines, but the software must be treated like a book. This means that the same registered copy of Telix may not be in use on more than one machine at the same time. All users are granted a license to copy Telix for the trial use of others subject to the above restrictions, and also the following: Telix must be copied in absolutely unmodified form, in- cluding all program files and complete documentation. Telix may not be included with any other product for any reason whatsoever. No licensee may accept or request a charge or other payment for Telix. Any distributor of User Supported or public domain software wishing to distribute Telix MUST contact PTel for written per- mission to do so and must follow the above restrictions. Per- mission is usually granted unless there is a good reason against it. All non-profit organizations or groups wishing to distribute Telix are exempt from this restriction. In any case no charge may be levied for a disk containing Telix except for a disk handling charge of up to $8. Telix v2.12 Contents iii C O N T E N T S User Supported Software....................................v Registration and Ordering Info............................vi Corporate and Quantity Purchases........................viii Introduction...............................................1 Program Description......................................1 The Telix Philosophy.....................................1 Machine Requirements.....................................1 Telix Files..............................................2 Start-Up Directory.......................................2 Getting Started............................................4 Starting a Telix Session.................................4 Terminal Mode............................................4 The Help/Status Screen.................................5 Communications Parameters................................6 Using Telix Menus........................................6 Entering and Editing Strings.............................7 Output String Translation................................7 The Telix Configuration Menu...............................9 Screen and Colour Settings...............................9 Modem and Dialing settings..............................10 Filenames and Path Settings.............................12 General Settings........................................13 Kermit Transfers........................................14 ASCII Transfers.........................................14 Host Mode Settings......................................15 Saving Changes and Leaving..............................16 Telix v2.12 Contents iv C O N T E N T S (cont.) Program Features..........................................17 Hang-Up.................................................17 Session Logging.........................................17 Chat Mode...............................................17 Keyboard Macros.........................................18 DOS Shell...............................................18 DOS Command.............................................19 Editor..................................................19 DOS and File Functions..................................19 Screen Image............................................20 Scroll-Back.............................................21 Clear Screen............................................21 ANSI Graphics...........................................21 Local Echo..............................................21 Add Line Feeds..........................................22 Break Signal............................................22 The Dialing Directory.....................................23 Editing an Entry........................................23 Clearing Entries........................................24 Inserting Entries.......................................24 Deleting Entries........................................24 Revising Long Distance Codes............................24 Finding an Entry........................................24 Dialing.................................................25 Directory Options.......................................25 Automatic Redial........................................26 The Quick Dial Window...................................26 File Transfers............................................28 Downloading Files.......................................28 Uploading Files.........................................29 File Transfer Protocols.................................29 Using Script Files........................................31 Host Mode.................................................32 Appendix A - Telix Command Summary........................36 Appendix B - TELIX.CNF, the Configuration File............37 Appendix C - Writing Script Files.........................43 Appendix D - Common Problems and Their Solutions..........51 Appendix E - TELIX.FON File Format........................54 Appendix F - Product Support..............................55 Index.....................................................56 Telix v2.12 User Supported Software v User Supported Software ----------------------- User Supported software is a way of delivering quality software to the user at a reasonable cost, while allowing the user to make sure the software meets his/her needs. This con- cept is based on several ideals: There should be a way of delivering low-cost, high- quality software to the consumer. The user must be able to try out the software before he/she pays for it. There is no reason users should have to buy software that does not meet their requirements or does not live up to their expectations. Copying of programs should be encouraged, not discouraged. This is the strength of User Supported soft- ware, and allows it to spread far more readily than soft- ware distributed by regular means. Under the User Supported software concept, anyone may re- quest a copy of a User Supported program by sending a blank diskette and a self addressed, postage paid mailer to the manufacture of the program. A copy of the program will be sent to the user, including documentation on disk. Included with the program will be a notice asking for registration if the software meets the needs of the user. If you are going to use the software, you should register, as it is the only way of supporting the author's work. User Supported software is often misunderstood. It is al- most never Public Domain software, since it carries a copy- right notice. It is also not free software. The user is simply given a license to try the program for a period of time. The author hopes that by cutting out the overhead which makes an expensive package so expensive, the same program can be sold for a much lower price. Please think about it. If you regularly use Telix or an- other User Supported program, and have not registered with the author, please do so now. Without the support of the users, there is absolutely no incentive for the author of the program to continue selling it using this method. As an experiment, User Supported software seems to be failing. The sad and shocking truth is that at most only about 1% of the users of a product of this type are registering. Please, show that you care about User Supported software, and tell us that it can work! Telix v2.12 Registration and Ordering Info vi Registration and Ordering Info ------------------------------ Telix is not in any way free software. If you have tried Telix and have decided that it suits your purposes and wish to continue using it, please register. If you continue to use Telix without registering, besides being dishonest, you are endangering the chances that quality software will continue to be marketed in this low-cost way, and are ultimately hurting yourself. Telix is a great product and is constantly getting better, but we do need your support to continue improving it. Registered users of Telix will receive mailers and no- tices of major new versions of Telix as well as any new prod- ucts written by PTel. As well, registered users receive pref- erential treatment when obtaining support. Telix registration costs $25 US/$34 Canadian. This as- sumes that you already have Telix from another source, PTel provides no disk. This registration fee allows you to use the program. For $35 US/$48 Canadian, you may buy a Registra- tion/Disk combo, which includes the current version of Telix on disk, as well as registration. A Telix evaluation disk with the current version of Telix on it is also available for $10 US/$13 Canadian. This does not include registration, and should be used only to try out Telix. The fee covers the cost of postage, diskette, and handling. You may also send a formatted disk and a self-ad- dressed postage paid disk mailer to receive a copy. To place an order, please use the order form on the fol- lowing page. CORPORATIONS and INSTITUTIONS: Please see the section entitled 'Corporate and Quantity Purchases' for information on using multiple copies of Telix. Under no circumstances may an unreg- istered copy of Telix be used within an institution. Telix v2.12 Order Form vii Telix version 2.12 Invoice #022487-212 -------------------------------------------------------------- Remit to: PTel, 276 Guildwood Parkway, Toronto, Ont. M1E 1P9 -------------------------------------------------------------- Quan Item US/Cnd Price ___ Telix Registration..................$25/$34 ea $________ (does not include disk) ___ Telix Disk (current version) .......$10/$13 ea $________ (includes program and manual on disk, but not registration) ___ Telix Registration/Disk Combo.......$35/$48 ea $________ (includes program and manual on disk, plus registration) Subtotal $________ - Discount $(______) Ontario residents please add 7% PST. Tax $________ Total $________ Checks or money orders accepted! -------------------------------------------------------------- Register: Name________________________________________________ Company________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Phone____________________ Bus.______________________ Where did you obtain Telix? ________________________________________________ Comments________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------ Telix v2.12 Corporate and Quantity Purchases viii Corporate and Quantity Purchases -------------------------------- Any commercial (ie. business, corporate, government, or other institutional) use of Telix must be registered. PTel of- fers volume discounts and site licensing. The order form on the preceding page may be used to buy multiple copies of the Registration/Disk combo. Duplication of multiple copies of Telix is not allowed without a site licens- ing agreement. This agreement will allow duplication and dis- tribution of a specific number of copies within the licensed institution or organization. Please write or call for details. The quantity purchase discounts are as follows: 1 - 10 copies no discount 11 - 20 copies 10% discount 21 - 50 copies 15% discount 51 - 100 copies 20% discount 101 - 200 copies 30% discount 200+ copies 40% discount All prices and discounts are subject to change without notice. Discounts apply only to single orders of like products, they are not cumulative. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY AN UNREGISTERED COPY OF TELIX BE USED IN AN INSTITUTION OR ORGANIZATION. Telix v2.12 Introduction 1 Introduction ------------ Program Description ------------------- Telix is a general purpose communications program for the PC/MS-DOS family of computers that should be able to meet the needs of almost anyone. Telix features include: - powerful multiple dialing directories, each capable of holding 150 entries. An entry contains a remote sys- tem's name, phone number, and other info. - a host of file transfer protocols including Xmodem, Kermit, SEAlink, Telink, Modem7, Ymodem, Ymodem Batch, and ASCII. - extensive script files to control log-ons and unat- tended operation. - automatic queue redialing for hard-to-reach numbers. - full access to DOS including a DOS shell, a DOS Command option, and full path support. - A Host Mode with file transfers, operator paging, a Re- mote DOS shell, and two access levels. - A Chat Mode, keyboard macros, a scroll-back buffer, session logs, and a variety of other features, detailed in this manual. Above all however, Telix is FAST. The Telix Philosophy -------------------- When Telix was written, a basic idea was kept in mind. It was felt that a powerful program could be simple to operate, with no loss of speed in order to achieve this ease of use. Machine Requirements -------------------- Telix will run on an IBM PC, XT, AT, or true compatible with at least 128k of free memory. This is memory available after DOS has been loaded. For a few functions, such as the DOS Shell, more memory is helpful. Telix will support Com port Telix v2.12 Introduction 2 1 or 2, any number of disk drives, and a printer connected to the parallel port. To get full use of Telix your modem must meet certain standards as well, especially for Host Mode. The Carrier De- tect signal should not be forced high (on) by the modem, so that Telix can tell when you are online. This is usually con- trolled by the setting of a dip switch on the modem. The DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signal should not be ignored by the modem. Telix Files ----------- Telix comes with a number of files and creates more in its normal operation. They include: TELIX.EXE - the main program TELIX.OVL - the overlay file TELIX.DOC - the program reference manual CONVERTF.EXE - converts phone directories to Telix format TELIX.FON - the phone directory file TELIX.LD - the long distance codes file TELIX.LOG - the default session log file TELIX.KEY - the default keyboard macro definition file TELIX.HST - the Host Mode audit file A file called TELIX.MSG may also be created by the user for use with Host Mode. Telix at one time or another can have a number of files open, especially during Host Mode and a few other instances. If Telix tells you it is having problems opening files then it is possible that including the line: 'files=20' in your config.sys file could clear up the problem. This al- lows DOS to open more files (the default is 'files=8'). For more information on the config.sys file see your DOS manual. Start-Up Directory ------------------ When you run Telix it will remember the disk directory you ran it from. After this point, even if you have changed the current directory with the 'Change directory' command, Telix will know that it should look for its program files on the start-up directory. Some files will also be written on this directory unless you specify another. Telix v2.12 Introduction 3 If you set the environment variable 'TELIX', Telix will have another (even better) way of knowing where to look for its files. The command form at the DOS prompt is: set TELIX=pathname where pathname is a the legal DOS pathname of the directory in which the Telix files are located. Do not leave any space be- tween the '=' and the arguments. For example, if you used 'set TELIX=C:\TELIX\', Telix would know to look for its files in the Telix directory on drive C. This way, no matter where you run it from, Telix will always be able to find its files. To reset this environment variable to nothing the command is: set TELIX= For more information on environment variables see your PC/MS-DOS manual. Telix v2.12 Getting Started 4 Getting Started --------------- Starting a Telix Session ------------------------ To start the Telix program type the following while at the DOS prompt: Telix [O] [Q] [B] [Sfilename] The letters in the square brackets are optional command line switches affecting what Telix will do upon startup. The square brackets should not be entered. The order and case of the options does not matter but they MUST be separated by at least one blank. Specifying the 'O' option upon startup tells Telix that you are already online (connected to a host systems), and that it should not try to initialize the modem. The 'Q' option in the command line chooses quiet mode for the current session. When quiet mode is on Telix will not sound any alarms (e.g., when a file transfer is over), no matter what the default setting for alarms is. This is useful for those late night sessions. Any bell characters sent by the remote system are still sounded however. Specifying 'B' in the command line forces Telix to use the PC's BIOS for all screen write operations, whatever the default setting for screen writes might be. This is useful when you want to run Telix in a multitasking environment such as Desqview, Topview, or MS Windows for just one session. The 'S' option indicates that a script file (explained elsewhere) is to be run immediately upon startup. The 'S' should be followed immediately (no blanks) by the name of the script file to execute. Upon starting, Telix will display a title screen for a period of 25 seconds or until you press a key. Please read the message on the title screen carefully. After you are past the title screen, you will be in terminal mode unless Telix can't find the configuration file TELIX.CNF, in which case it will ask you a few questions about your machine and modem, and then will write a configuration file for you. Terminal Mode ------------- Immediately after starting Telix, and for most of the time while using it, you will be in Telix's terminal mode. While in this mode any normal (ASCII) characters you type will Telix v2.12 Getting Started 5 be sent to the modem port, and any incoming characters will be printed on the screen. It is from the terminal mode that most Telix commands are initiated. Most commands are selected by pressing one or two special keys. For example, to access the dialing directory, you would press Alt-D. That is, while holding down the Alt key, you press the D key. Other commands need only one keypress, such as the PgDn key to download (receive) files. The Help/Status Screen While in terminal mode, pressing the Home key will switch you to a help screen showing you a summary of all the available commands. If the key for a command is pressed while the help screen is still on, the screen will be turned off and the command will be executed. On the right side of the help/status screen is some in- formation regarding the status of the current connection and call. +-------| Status |--------+ | | | Time Date | | 11:54:28 01-29-87 | | | | Connect status: Offline | | Elapsed time: 00:05:34 | | | | Baud : 1200 Data: 8 | | Parity: None Stop: 1 | | Port : Com1 | | | | Local echo: Off | | Add LF's : Off | | | | Log: Telix.log | | Printer: Off | | | | Script: None | | Phone : Telix.fon | | Macro : Telix.key | | | +-------------------------+ Items included are: the current time and date, the connect status, the elapsed time for the call in progress, the current communications parameters, the state of the session log(s), the currently executing script file (if there is one), the current dialing directory, the current keyboard macro definition file, and a few other items. Telix v2.12 Getting Started 6 Communications Parameters ------------------------- Pressing Alt-P allows you to change the Communications Parameters. This is the format in which Telix sends data over the modem, and expects to receive it in. After pressing Alt-P a window is displayed with the current parameters at the top, and the options in the rest of the window. To change a value press the letter of the setting you want. +-| Change com parameters |---------+ | | | Current: 1200,8,N,1,Echo Off,Com1 | | | | BAUD Parity | | A: 300 G:None H:Odd I:Even | | B: 1200 | | C: 2400 J:Toggle Data (7/8) | | D: 4800 K:Toggle Stop | | E: 9600 L:Toggle Echo (On/Off) | | F:19200 M:Toggle com port (1/2) | | | | Choice (CR = none) : | +-----------------------------------+ There are a number of parameters that can be changed. The baud rate is the speed that you want to communicate at. 1200 baud and 2400 baud are the two most common speeds in use, and represent about 120 and 240 characters per second, respec- tively. Data bits refers to the number of bits in each char- acter. Allowable values are 7 and 8. Parity is a form of error checking. Allowable parities are None, Even, and Odd. Finally, the number of stop bits parameter can be set to either 1 or 2. The most common format for BBS use is a baud rate of 1200 or 2400, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit. On many large networks such as GEnie, the data format used is E71. The communications parameters menu also allows you to se- lect the communications port you want to use, and whether or not characters should be echoed locally when you type. Changing any parameters changes them only for the dura- tion of the current communications session. If you want a set of parameters to be the default when you start Telix, use the Telix Configuration Menu. Using Telix Menus ----------------- Whenever Telix must ask you to select an item from a group of options, it uses the same basic type of menu. The op- tions will be arranged vertically for a vertically oriented menu, and next to each other for a horizontally oriented menu. There are two ways to select the item that you want. Each menu option has one of its letters in bold text; pressing that letter will select the corresponding option. As well, one Telix v2.12 Getting Started 7 option in the menu is always highlighted in inverse video. The arrow keys on the PC's keypad will move the highlight up and down or left and right. When the highlight is over the option you want to select, press Carriage Return. Entering and Editing Strings ---------------------------- While using Telix, you will often have to enter a string of characters, for example a filename, or a list of numbers to dial. Telix gives you full editing powers when you enter a string. As you type characters, you may use the Backspace key to delete previously entered characters. The Left and Right arrow keys allow you to move back and forth in the string to edit what you have entered. By default, any characters you en- ter overwrite any that are already there. Pressing the Ins key will place Telix in insert mode, and any existing characters are pushed ahead as you type. Pressing Ins once more places you back in overwrite mode. Finally, pressing the Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right arrow keys allows you to move back and forth in the string by increments of a word. Output String Translation ------------------------- In quite a few instances while using Telix, the user must specify a string to be sent out over the modem port. Sometimes this string must contain characters which can not be printed on the screen, for example, control characters, and even pauses. There has to be a way of indicating these special characters, and it is done through the use of special charac- ters called translation characters. When these translation characters are encountered in an output string they are trans- lated into other characters. The default translation charac- ters are: | - when this is encountered in an output string a carriage return is sent out to the modem port in- stead. To really send the | character just use two of them, e.g., || would send one | character. ^ - when this character is encountered in an output string it will make the following character a con- trol character. e.g., ^A will send out the code for Control-A. To send out the ^ character itself, use two ^'s, as explained above. ~ - when this character is encountered it will make Telix pause for 1/2 a second. There is no way to send the actual ~ character out. Two in a row will be converted to two pauses. These are the defaults, they can be changed to other characters in the Telix Configuration Menu. There are a few things to keep in mind. These characters are only translated Telix v2.12 Getting Started 8 on strings sent out to the modem, for example, the dialing prefix, the hang-up string, a keyboard macro, the modem ini- tialization string, and a few other cases. To send out two carriage returns you can not use two | characters in a row, as that would just send out the | character itself. You must use another method, such as the sequence ^M^M, since Control-M is the same as a carriage return. To send out the code for Escape, use ^[. Ending a Telix Session ---------------------- To exit the Telix program, press Alt-X. Telix will ask you if you really want to exit. Press 'Y' to confirm the exit, 'N' or Esc to return to Telix. When Telix ends a session and returns to DOS, it checks the state of the connection. If Telix sees that you are con- nected to a host system, it will not drop (turn off) a special signal on the RS-232 port, called the DTR line. This will allow you to stay connected. If Telix sees that you aren't connected, it will drop this signal. Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 9 The Telix Configuration Menu ---------------------------- Telix has many customizable features. These include things like the screen setup, the communications parameters, and many other items. The default values for these parameters are stored in a file called TELIX.CNF, the configuration file. Telix will automatically read this file upon starting up. The first time you use Telix, this file is created for you with some standard default values. Pressing Alt-O while in terminal mode brings up the Telix Configuration Menu, which allows you to change all these default settings. +-| Configure Telix |------------+ | | | Change which default settings? | | | | Screen and colour | | Modem and dialing | | Filenames and paths | | General settings | | Kermit transfers | | ASCII transfers | | Host Mode settings | | Write changes to disk | | Exit | | | +--------------------------------+ The first seven options are parameter areas, the last two deal with leaving the Configuration Menu. Screen and Colour Settings The fist item of the Configuration Menu allows you to set the screen and colour default settings. After picking this option you will be shown a menu listing the various parts of the screen displays (e.g., menu foreground colour). If you pick one of these items you will be allowed to scroll through the possible colours for it by using the arrow keys. When you have selected the right colour, press Return. If you want to leave the colours menu without selecting one press Esc. Another setting on the 'Screen and colour' menu is the 'Screen write mode'. If you pick this option you will be asked in which way you want Telix to write to the screen. This depends on the video adapter present in your system. The first option is a direct screen write. This is the fastest mode, and should be used if you have a monochrome adapter, an EGA adapter, or another video adapter that never Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 10 gets snow. The second option is a direct screen write with port checks. This method is slightly slower. You should use this method if you screen gets snow on it or it flickers while executing the DOS 'dir' command. One card with which you should use this is the color/graphics adapter. The final method is a screen write with BIOS calls. You should use this method with applications like Topview, Desqview, or DoubleDOS. Finally, one last option in this menu is the Help screen mode'. The help screen is usually put on text page 2 so that it can be displayed instantly. This is not possible with monochrome adapters, so Telix stores the help screen somewhere else if a mono adapter is present. However, even with a color/graphics or EGA adapter, using page 2 might be a problem if you want to use Topview,MS Windows, DesqView, or a similar operating environment . The help screen mode option allows you to control the use of page 2. To stop Telix from ever using page 2, select the first option. To let Telix decide whether or not to use page 2, select the second. And to make Telix always use page 2 for the help screen, select the third. When you have finished picking the colours, select the 'Keep colours and exit' option if you want to keep the colour changes you have made, or the 'exit' option if you want to discard them. Modem and Dialing settings Selecting the second option of the Configuration Menu shows a screenfull of default settings that Telix uses to control the modem and its output. To select a default value to change type its number and press Return. You will then be allowed to change it, using the string editing commands de- scribed previously. Illegal values will be ignored. The de- fault configuration that Telix comes with is set up for Hayes compatible modems. These modems use the 'AT' command set. By changing these settings Telix can work with almost any modem. The parameters are: 1: The default communications parameters. These include baud, data bits, parity, and stop bits. 2: The default communications port. This can be either Com1 or Com2. 3: Modem initialization string. This string will be sent to the modem when Telix first starts. Different modems might need different strings. The default string is set up for Hayes compatible modems. It is: 'ATZ|~~AT S11=55 S7=45 S0=0 V1 X1|' where: AT is the modem attention code. Z resets the modem to default state Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 11 | sends the terminating Return char to the modem. ~~ pauses to give the modem time AT is the modem attention code. S11=55 is the dialing speed (touch tone, fast). S7=45 makes the modem wait 45 seconds for a connection. S0=0 turns off auto answer. V1 makes the modem respond with words. X1 makes the modem give extended results codes. | sends the terminating Return char to the modem. 4: Dialing prefix. This is the string Telix should send before the number when attempting to dial. e.g., 'ATDT' for Hayes compatible modems. 5: Dialing postfix. This is the string Telix should send after the number when dialing. On Hayes compatible modems this is just a Carriage Return, '|'. 6: Connect string. This is the string which the modem sends upon getting a connection. e.g., 'CONNECT' 7: Busy strings. These are up to four strings which the modem sends when it has failed to connect. e.g., 'NO CARRIER', 'BUSY', etc. 8: Hang-up string. This is the string Telix should send to the modem to make it hang up. The default string works for Hayes compatible modems and is: '~~~+++~~~ATH0|' where ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. +++ escapes the modem into command mode. ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. AT is the modem attention code. H0 tells the modem to hang up. | sends the terminating Return char to the modem. Before sending this string to the modem Telix always tries to hang-up the modem by a faster way that works with MOST modems. This is done by dropping (turning off) a special signal called the DTR (Data Terminal Ready) line on the RS-232 port. If dropping the DTR makes the modem hang-up then the hang-up string is not sent to the modem. Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 12 9: Dial cancel string. This is the string Telix should send to the modem to cancel the current dialing at- tempt. On most modems all that is necessary is a Return character, '|'. 10: Dial time. This is the amount of time Telix should wait for a connection while dialing. This should usually be set to be greater than the amount of time the modem waits for the connection. 11: Redial pause. This is the number of seconds Telix should wait between attempts while redialing. 12: Local echo. This controls whether or not Telix should echo on the screen any characters you type while in Terminal mode. This should usually be off for bbs use. 13: XON/XOFF handshaking. This controls whether or not Telix should use the XON/XOFF handshaking protocol while in terminal mode and during ASCII file transfers. 14: Add line feeds. This controls whether or not Telix should add line feeds to incoming Carriage Returns characters while in terminal mode. If you are connected to a remote system and lines are overwriting each other, this should be on, otherwise it should be off. 15: Carrier Detect mask. To know whether it is connected to a remote system or not, Telix looks at the carrier detect signal on the RS-232 port. This CD mask tells it on which pin to look. The number should be one of 128, 16, or 32. The default value is 128. This is by far the most common value and will apply to almost all (99.9%) computers. The two other values might possibly work better on MS-DOS machines which are not very 'IBM Compatible'. If you have that type of system, and the hang-up command tells you that the hang-up failed when it in fact has not, or if the Connect status on the Help/Status screen is wrong, then you should try the two other values. Filenames and Path Settings The third option of the Configuration Menu allows you to change several filename and pathname defaults. They are: 1: Download directory. This is the disk directory in which Telix should save files which are downloaded. The user can override this by giving a full pathname when prompted. 2: Upload directory. This is the disk directory where Telix should look for files to be uploaded. The user Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 13 can override this by giving a full filename when prompted. 3: Script directory. This is the directory in which Telix should look for script files when trying to execute them. The user can override this by using a full pathname in front of the filename when specifying it. 4: Default log file. This is the name of the default log file Telix should use when saving a session log. The user can override this. 5: Directory program. This is the name of the disk di- rectory program the Telix should run when you select the 'Files directory' command. If you do not specify a program here Telix will use an internal routine that also displays the amount of time it will take to trans- fer each file in the directory. An example of a program you could specify here is 'dir/p', which would use the DOS dir command with pauses at each page full, to dis- play the directory. 6: Screen Image file. This is the file that Telix should save screen images (generated with the Alt-I command) to. the default name is TELIX.MSG. 7: Editor name. This should be the full pathname of your editor, including the extension of the name (EXE or COM). You need to set this parameter only if you want to run your editor using the Run Editor command. e.g., 'c:\editor.com'. General Settings The fourth option of the Configuration Menu allows you to change some general default settings. They are: 1: ANSI graphics status. If this is on, ANSI graphics will be on and recognized when you first run Telix. 2: Sound. If this is off Telix will not make ANY sounds. 3: Alarm sound. If this is off Telix will not make ANY alarm sounds, but will still beep when it receives the bell code from the remote host, unless the sound option is also off. 4: Keep aborted downloads. If this is on, Telix will keep files which were aborted during a download. Otherwise Telix will delete these files. 5: Default file transfer protocol. This is the protocol Telix should have the menu bar on upon starting. As soon as any other protocol is selected while using Telix, that will become the default. Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 14 6: Show free space for downloads. This setting controls whether or not Telix will display the free space on the disk when you start a download. The option to turn it off is provided because the free space display takes a few seconds for large hard disks. 7: Use of Quick Dial window. When you press Alt-D to access the dialing directory, Telix normally displays the Quick Dial window first, which lets you dial entries without having to view the dialing directory. If you would rather go directly to the dialing directory when you press Alt-D, set this option to Off. 8: Pause character. This is the character which when encountered in an output string makes Telix pause for 1/2 second. 9: Carriage Return character. This is the character which when encountered in an output string makes Telix send the code for Carriage Return. 10: Control code character. This is the character which when encountered in an output string makes Telix inter- pret the next character as a control character. Kermit Transfers The fifth option of the Configuration Menu allows you to configure Telix's implementation of the Kermit protocol to your needs. The options will not be described here, due to the fact that the Kermit protocol is relatively compli- cated, and if you must change one of these parameters, you should already know what it means. ASCII Transfers The sixth option of the Configuration Menu allows you to customize Telix ASCII file transfers to your needs, so that Telix may work with almost any system. The options are: 1: Local echo. If this is on, Telix will echo characters locally while uploading. This should normally be off. 2: Expand blank lines. If this is on, when Telix is sending a file and it encounters a blank line, it will add a space to that line. This is very useful for systems that assume a blank line means "end of file", or for uploading a message on most bulletin boards. 3: Pace character. This is the ASCII value of the char- acter that Telix should wait for before sending each line. If this value is 0, Telix will not wait for any character. Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 15 4: Line Pacing. This is the amount of time (in 1/10 sec- onds), that Telix should wait before sending each line. This delay is often not necessary, but for some bbs's for example, it's vital. 5: Upload CR translation. This is what Telix should do with Carriage Return chars when uploading ASCII files. The three options are to do nothing, to strip them, or to add a Line Feed character afterwards. 6: Upload LF translation. This is what Telix should do with Line Feed characters when uploading ASCII files. The three options are to do nothing, to strip them, or to add a Carriage Return before each. 7: Download CR translation. This is exactly the same as setting 5 (above), but applies when downloading ASCII files. 8: Download LF translation. This is exactly the same as setting 6 (above), but applies when downloading ASCII files. Host Mode Settings The seventh option of the Configuration Menu deals with configuring Telix's Host Mode. The Host Mode is explained fully elsewhere in this manual. The settings are: 1: Host Mode init string. This is the string that Telix should send to the modem upon entering Host Mode. This string should allow the modem to automatically pick up the phone when it rings, and initialize it in any other ways that might be necessary. 2: Host welcome string. This is the message that callers are immediately greeted with. 3: Level One access password. This is the password that callers must successfully enter to be admitted to the Host Mode and have Level One access. 4: Level two access password. This is the password that callers must successfully enter to be admitted to the Host Mode and have Level Two access. 5: DOS shell password. This is the password that users of the Host Mode have to enter to use the Remote DOS Shell option. 6: Shut down Host Mode password. This is the password that callers must enter to shut down the Host Mode, when they press Ctrl-Z. Telix v2.12 Telix Configuration Menu 16 7: Connection type. This can be either 'Modem' or 'Direct'. Use 'Modem' if your host system is being ac- cessed through a modem, or 'Direct' if two computers are hard-wired. This stops Telix from trying to ini- tialize a non-existent modem. or trying to determine the caller's baud. 8: Case checking. If this option is on the case of pass- words are checked, otherwise it doesn't matter if passwords are lowercase or uppercase. Saving Changes and Leaving Once you have picked your default options you can save them to the configuration file by selecting the option 'Write setup to disk'. If you want to keep any changes just for the current session, then exit the Configuration Menu using the option 'Exit'. Telix v2.12 Program Features 17 Program Features ---------------- Hang-Up ------- Pressing Alt-H will make Telix attempt to hang-up the modem. Telix first attempts to hang up the modem by turning off a signal on the RS-232 port called the DTR line. This works with most modems. If this doesn't work, Telix then sends the hang-up string defined in the Configuration Menu to the modem. If this still doesn't work and Telix detects that you are still online, Telix will warn you. Session Logging --------------- Telix allows you to keep a full record of all activity over the modem, to either a log file or to the printer. The log records every character that comes in, except for those that are erased by backspaces (up to the beginning of a line). To turn the printer log on and off use the Ctrl-PrtSc key combination. Pressing these keys while the printer log is off will turn it on. Pressing them while the printer log is on will turn it off. If the printer is not ready to receive characters, Telix will tell you. To start a session log to a disk file press Alt-L. You will be prompted for the filename to save the log to. Press Return to use the default filename. All data is added to the end of the file if it exists already. To turn off the log press Alt-L again. Pressing Ctrl-@ will temporarily put the log on hold until you press Ctrl-@ again or turn off the log. While the log is on hold any characters received are not saved to the file. Chat Mode --------- Normally while using Telix with a remote host, your char- acters are not echoed by Telix. When you type a character, it is sent to the remote host, which checks it and then sends it back to you, and only then is it printed on your screen. How- ever if two users want to chat with each other this becomes a problem, because each user's software expects the other side to echo the characters back, and since it doesn't, nothing is printed. Telix has a special Chat Mode to deal with this. When you press Alt-Y Telix enters Chat Mode. Any char- acters you type are printed on your screen immediately, Telix v2.12 Program Features 18 without having to be echoed by the other side. As well, it takes only a Carriage Return to advance to a new line, a Line Feed character is not needed immediately afterwards. Telix also splits the streams of text. Any characters you type are displayed on the bottom half of the screen, while the char- acters coming from the remote side are displayed on the top half of the screen. When you wish to exit Chat Mode, press the Esc key. Keyboard Macros --------------- Keyboard macros are special key definitions that can make often repeated actions like typing your name a lot easier. Any of the function keys, as well as their Shifted, Control, and Alt versions can be set up to send a string to the remote system when pressed. An example of a function key use would be to assign the string 'John Doe' to the function key F1. Thereafter, whenever you pressed F1, the string 'John Doe' would be sent out over the modem port. To change the current function key definitions, press Alt-M. A window will be displayed asking you which set of keys to change or which macro file to load. To load a new keyboard macro file select that option and supply the name of the macro file. If no extension is given, 'key' is assumed. The default keyboard macro file is TELIX.KEY, and it is loaded automatically at startup if it exists. To change a function key definition, first select the group of keys it is in (Regular, Shifted, Control, and Alt), then select the individual key, F1 through F10. When prompted, edit the definition. Control characters, pauses, and Returns can be included in the definition in the manner described pre- viously in the manual under Output String Translation. If you have made any changes, you will be prompted if you want to save them to disk when you leave the Change Keyboard Macro function. Telix also allows you to run a script file when a certain function key is pressed. If a function key definition has an '@' character as its first character Telix will assume the rest of the definition is the name of a script file, and will try to execute it. For example pressing the function key whose definition is '@logon' would run the script file called 'logon.scr'. If you really want to send out an '@' character as the first character in the key definition, then use two of them instead. e.g., the definition '@@Hello' would send out '@Hello'. DOS Shell --------- Pressing Alt-J will let you jump to a DOS shell. You will see the DOS prompt and will be able execute any DOS command, for example 'dir'. If there is enough memory left, you can Telix v2.12 Program Features 19 even run programs. To exit the DOS shell type 'exit' and press Return. You will be back in Telix with the screen undisturbed from before your jump to the shell. In order to run the DOS shell, there must be enough memory left, and Telix must be able to find the file called COMMAND.COM. If either of these requirements is not met, Telix will tell you so. (The file COMMAND.COM is the DOS command interpreter. It is usually pointed to by the DOS environment variable COMSPEC. See your DOS manual for more information). If you run a serial port related program in the shell, there is a good chance that it will re-initialize the com port and another piece of information called the com interrupt vector. If this happens, Telix will ntice and re-initialize the port to the old values when you return from the shell. DOS Command ----------- Pressing Alt-V allows you to enter one DOS command or filename to run. This command is then executed and control is returned to Telix. As can be seen this is similar to the DOS shell, but is useful when you have only one command to enter. There are many uses for this command. For example, if your file viewing utility is called 'List', you could press Alt-V and then enter 'List Telix.doc'. This would load your file view utility and let you look at the TELIX.DOC file. After you terminated this program you would be back in Telix. Any DOS command is legal, for example 'copy a:*.arc c:', or 'ren data dat1'. If for some reason you might want Telix to pause after the command is finished, add a ';' character to the end of the command string, for example 'type TELIX.DOC;'. This stops the last screenfull typed from scrolling by too quickly when con- trol returns to Telix. Editor ------ Pressing Alt-A will allow you to run your favorite editor from within Telix. In order to do this you must go to the Configuration Menu and supply the full name and path of your editor in the 'General settings' area. As well, there must be enough memory left in the computer, and Telix must be able to find the DOS command processor COMMAND.COM. DOS and File Functions ---------------------- Pressing Alt-F will display a menu of some common DOS operations. For convenience, a few commands available else- where have been included. Telix v2.12 Program Features 20 +-| DOS Functions |------+ | | | Jump to DOS shell | | Files directory | | Change drive/directory | | Delete file | | DOS command | | Run editor | | Exit | | | +------------------------+ 1: Jump to DOS Shell. This performs the same function as the Alt-J command. 2: Files directory. Telix will prompt you for the optional filespec, for example '*.doc'. If you want to list all the files in the current directory then just press Re- turn. Telix will then do one of two things. If you have defined a directory program to use (in the Configuration Menu), Telix will run it. Otherwise Telix will use its own internal directory program, which is similar to the DOS 'dir' command but also displays the time it would take to transfer each file shown. The time is correct for the current default upload file transfer protocol. 3: Change drive/directory. The current directory is dis- played and you are asked to enter a new one. You can en- ter a new drive, a new directory, or both. This will be- come the current directory. Note that this is slightly different from the DOS 'chdir' command. 4: Delete file. You are asked to enter the filename of the file to delete. 5: DOS command. This performs the same function as the Alt-V command. 6: Run editor. This performs the same function as the Alt-A command. Screen Image ------------ Pressing Alt-I saves an image of the screen to the Telix Screen Image file. This file is usually called TELIX.IMG, but can be renamed in the Configuration Menu. If the file exists, the image is added to the end of it. Telix v2.12 Program Features 21 Scroll-Back ----------- To review the past several screens of characters press Alt-B. You will be in the Scroll-Back display. You will be able to move through the last six thousand characters received by using the arrow keys to scroll line by line, the Home and End keys to go to the beginning and end of the buffer, and the PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll through the buffer a page at a time. To find a certain string in the buffer press 'F'. Telix will prompt for the string to search for. If the string is found the line containing it will be placed at the top of the screen. To search for the same string as last time press Re- turn when asked for the search string. To save the screen image to a file press 'I'. Telix will prompt you for the file to save the image to. If the file al- ready exists, the screen image will be appended to it. To print out a screen image to your printer press Shift-PrtSc. Clear Screen ------------ To clear the screen press Alt-C. The screen will be cleared to the default colours, and the cursor will be placed in the upper left-hand corner. ANSI Graphics ------------- ANSI graphics are special codes sent by remote systems to control your screen. They can be used to display colourful text pictures as well as for controlling the cursor. Telix has built-in support of ANSI graphics, there is NO need to run the DOS device driver called ANSI.SYS. Pressing Alt-G will toggle Telix's recognition of ANSI graphics codes on and off. If ANSI graphics codes are received by Telix and you have the option turned off then these characters will look like garbage. Local Echo ---------- Pressing Alt-E will toggle local echo on and off. If lo- cal echo is on characters you type are printed on the screen. If local echo is off characters you type are not printed on the screen, they must be sent back to you by the remote host to be printed by the screen. Most hosts are set up so that local echo should be off; they will do the echoing. This is called a full duplex host. Often however when talking to Telix v2.12 Program Features 22 another user, or when talking to a half duplex host, local echo must be turned on to see the characters you type. Add Line Feeds -------------- When a line of characters is received from a remote system, it is usually terminated by a Carriage Return followed by a Line Feed character. If the Line feed character is missing lines will overwrite each other. If this seems to be happening when you are connected to a remote host then you must make Telix add Line Feeds to each incoming Carriage Re- turn. Pressing Shift-Tab will toggle the adding of Line-Feed characters. If this option is on, every time a Carriage Return is received, a Line Feed is added immediately after it. Break Signal ------------ Some hosts require the use of a special modem signal called a Break signal, to do certain tasks like end trans- missions. To make Telix send a Break signal to the remote host press Ctrl-End. Telix v2.12 The Dialing Directory 23 The Dialing Directory --------------------- Telix allows you to keep telephone numbers in files called dialing directories. 150 numbers can fit in each di- aling directory. Besides the number, the remote location's name is stored, along with the communications setup or pa- rameters needed to talk to it. As well, a script file can be linked to a dialing entry so that if you successfully connect to that number the script file can automatically log-on for you and perhaps even retrieve mail. The default dialing directory is called TELIX.FON, but you can have as many di- rectories as you want and call them whatever you like. To access the dialing directory press Alt-D while in terminal mode. A small window will appear, asking you to enter the entries to dial or to press Return to see the dialing di- rectory. For the moment just press Return. This first window is just a very quick way to dial your most commonly called numbers. Once you have pressed Return the dialing directory will appear. Most of the screen is taken up by a window show- ing 15 of the 150 entries in the dialing directory. On the bottom of the screen is a menu of options, here shown on two lines so that it will fit: Dial Search Manual Redial Edit Clear Insert deleTe LD-Codes dirOpts eXit This menu works in a similar manner to the other menus found in Telix, as described in the section 'Using Telix Menus'. In addition, since dialing is such a common function, if any nu- meric key is pressed, it is assumed that the dial function is wanted and this number is carried over as the first digit en- tered for that function. At the same time you may view the di- aling directory. To scroll through the directory use PgUp to go back 15 entries at a time, PgDn to go forward 15 entries, Home to go to the beginning of the directory, and End to go to the end of the directory. It should be emphasized that whenever the words 'Move through the directory with the Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys' are visible you may scroll through the directory. Editing an Entry To edit a directory entry select 'Edit' from the dialing directory menu. You will be asked for the entry to edit. Once you select it a window will appear with the old version of the entry. You will be asked for a new name. It can be a maximum length of 29 characters. You will then be asked for the new phone number. Just enter the number itself, it will be automatically shifted to the right. Telix will then ask you Telix v2.12 The Dialing Directory 24 for the new communications parameters, including baud, parity, data bits, and stop bits. Finally you will be asked what script file you want to link to this entry. If you do not want to link any, press Return. Pressing Esc while in any part of this process will get you out without any changes being made. Clearing Entries To clear an entry or a range of entries select 'Clear' from the dialing directory menu. You will be asked the range of entries that you want to clear. You will also be asked to confirm your choice. If you agree to it, the selected entries will be cleared back to empty entries. Inserting Entries To insert blank entries in the dialing directory, select 'Insert' from the dialing directory menu. Telix will ask you where the blank entries are to be inserted and how many entries are to be inserted. Finally Telix will ask you to confirm this choice. Deleting Entries To delete an entry or a range of entries in the dialing directory select the 'deleTe' option. Telix will ask you for the range to delete and then ask you to confirm this. The entries will then be deleted and the following entries will move up to where the deleted entries were. Revising Long Distance Codes To revise the Long Distance codes, select the option called 'LD-Codes' from the dialing directory menu. There are four Long Distance code characters: ! @ - +. When you place one of them in front of a number to dial, it will be expanded to a string. For example you could have the plus sign '+', be expanded to the digits '99-', or any string you specify. After selecting this option you will be shown a menu of the available long distance codes. Selecting a character to modify will place the cursor on it and let you modify it. After you have made your changes, you must save them to disk if you want to use them every time you run Telix. To save them to disk se- lect the 'Save changes' option. Finding an Entry To search for a particular entry in the dialing directory select 'Find' from the dialing directory menu. You will be asked to give the string to search for. If Telix finds the en- try with that string in it, that entry will be highlighted. If while searching for the string Telix reaches the end of the directory, it will wrap around to the beginning and continue the search. If the string still can not be found Telix will say 'Sorry, string not found'. If you want to search for the Telix v2.12 The Dialing Directory 25 same string as last time, just press Return when asked for the search string. Dialing Telix allows you to dial from one to ten numbers re- peatedly until a connection is reached or you abort the at- tempt. To start a dial attempt select 'Dial' from the dialing directory menu. To make dialing very convenient, you may also select the 'Dial' function by pressing a numeric key while in the menu. This number will then be carried over and entered as the first digit in the string you are asked to enter. You will then be asked to enter up to ten directory entries to dial. While you are entering this information you can also scroll through the directory as described above. If you specify more than one entry to dial, each should be separated by a space. You may also place up to 3 Long Distances codes in front and one Long Distance code after each entry number. For example, specifying the entry '+21!' would send the string for the '+' Long Distance code, followed by the number from entry 21, fol- lowed by the string for Long Distance code '!'. The string '10 +15 20!' entered at the prompt would dial entry 10, then entry 15 with a Long Distance code in front of it, and finally entry number 20, with a Long Distance code after it. These numbers are re- dialed repeatedly until a connection is reached. To learn about the redial window see the Redial function below. Sometimes you may want to dial a number that is not in the dialing directory. To do this select the 'Manual' option of the dialing directory menu, which stands for 'manual dial'. You will be asked to enter a number to be sent to the modem. Whatever you supply will be sent out exactly as is, except for Long Distance codes, which are still valid. Directory Options Telix allows you to have multiple dialing directories. The 'dirOpts' item of the dialing directory menu allows you to manipulate these directories. To create a blank directory (which can later be modi- fied), from the 'DirOpts' menu select the option called 'Create a blank directory on disk'. Telix will ask you for the the name it should use. Any legal DOS filename is suitable, and there is no default extension. Telix will then create the blank directory on disk. The current directory will not be affected and will stay in memory. To load another directory select the 'Load another directory from disk' option of the 'dirOpts' menu. Telix will ask you for the name of the new directory and then load it into memory. Telix does not assume any default extension, so if the directory you want to load has one, include it. e.g., TELIX.FON. This new directory will become the default Telix v2.12 The Dialing Directory 26 directory for the rest of the session or until you load another one. Selecting 'Print current directory' from the 'DirOpts' menu allows you to print out the current dialing directory, to the printer, the serial port, or any device or disk file. Telix will ask you for the device or file to print to. Enter the name or press Return to use the 'PRN' device (printer). Since these are DOS devices, Telix has no way of knowing, for example, things such as whether or not your printer is online. So if Telix seems to lock-up here, make sure your printer is on and it is set to online. Automatic Redial ---------------- When Telix has one or more numbers to dial, it redials repeatedly until a connection is made. To keep you informed of the status of the redial Telix displays a status window, and alerts you when a connection is established. The status window is similar to the figure below. +-| Redial |-----------------------------------------------+ | | | Redial started at 20:15:33 Press: T to change dial time | | Attempt #10 20:19:27 D to delete from list | | | | This attempt: Dialing My Favorite BBS ... 22 | | Last Attempt: Busy | | | | Press Space to cycle to next number, Esc to exit. | +----------------------------------------------------------+ Information included in the status window is the time redial was started, the time the current attempt was started, the status of the last attempt, the status of the current attempt, and a countdown timer for the current attempt. Pressing Alt-R while in the terminal mode or selecting 'Redial last' from the dialing directory menu will allow you to redial one or more numbers that you entered previously, so that you do not have to re-enter them. You will be shown the list and asked to edit it until you are satisfied, and then to press Return. When a connection is established while redialing, the number reached is taken out of the list of numbers to dial. If later you type Alt-R to redial the previous list, that number will no longer be dialed. As well, while redialing, you have the option of changing the time that Telix waits for a connec- tion, and also the option of deleting a number from the list to dial, by pressing 'T' and 'D' respectively. The Quick Dial Window ------------------------ Telix v2.12 The Dialing Directory 27 You may have noticed that after you press Alt-D a window pops up asking you to enter the numbers to dial or to press Return to see the Dialing Directory. Up to now, you have just pressed Return to go on to the Dialing Directory, but this pop-up window is a quick way to dial commonly called directory entries that you have memorized. You may enter a list of en- tries to dial just as if you had used the 'Dial' command of the dialing directory menu. This saves the dialing directory from having to be displayed on the screen if you already know the entry or entries you want to dial. The Quick Dial window can also be used to dial a number manually. To do this just preface the number with an 'm'. For example, 'm967-1111' would dial 967-1111, just as if you had used the 'Manual' dial op- tion of the Dialing Directory. Either lowercase or uppercase 'm' is accepted. Telix v2.12 File Transfers 28 File Transfers -------------- Sending files from one computer to another is one of the most useful things you can do with your modem. Telix supports a full assortment of the most popular file transfer protocols, including Xmodem, Kermit, SEAlink, Telink, Modem7, ASCII, Ymo- dem, and Ymodem Batch. Telix's file transfers are very fast, surpassing most programs' by a respectable margin. Telix also has very low overhead time, so as the speed of a file transfer increases, Telix's time compared to other programs is even better. All file transfers use a 10 Kbyte buffer, and full error detection is standard. Downloading Files To start downloading (receiving) a file from a remote host, you must usually inform the remote host of the files that you want it to send to you. You must then start the down- load on the Telix side. Pressing the PgDn key will display a menu asking which file transfer protocol you would like to use: +-| Download file |-+ | | | Which Protocol? | | | | ASCII | | Kermit | | Modem7 | | SEAlink | | Telink | | Xmodem | | Relaxed Xmodem | | Ymodem | | Batch Ymodem | | Exit | | | +-------------------+ If you have selected Xmodem, ASCII, or Ymodem as the protocol, Telix will ask you for the filename to save the file to. Telix always watches what you type while online, and will often know the name of the file you want to transfer, in which case this name will be displayed and all you have to do to accept it is press Return. Any legal DOS filename is valid, including a path. If the filename you supply already exists, Telix will ask you to confirm your choice or give another filename. If you select SEAlink, Kermit, Telink, Modem7, or Ymodem Batch, the remote host will supply the name to save the file to. If Telix v2.12 File Transfers 29 you have supplied a download directory name in the Configura- tion Menu, Telix will automatically save download files there if you don't specify another path. Telix has automatic incom- ing file protection. If the name is supplied by the host and exists already the file is renamed with a '$' character in the first column. If this file exists as well a '$' is tried in the second column, and so on. If no unused name can be found Telix will abort the transfer. During the transfer, a full status window is displayed showing the elapsed time as well as the number of bytes re- ceived. For ASCII transfers, a status window is not displayed, only a single status line at the top of the screen. To abort a file transfer at any time press the Escape key. Uploading Files To start uploading (sending) a file to a remote host you must also usually inform the host of the file you will be sending it. To start the upload on the Telix end press the PgUp key. This will display a menu asking you which file transfer protocol you want to use to send the file. After you have selected the protocol, you will be asked for the file(s) to send. You may use the wildcard characters ? and * (see your DOS manual, for more information about wildcard characters). During the file transfer, a full status window is displayed, unless you are using ASCII protocol, in which case only a sta- tus line is displayed. Information shown is the expected time the transfer will take, the time remaining, the number of bytes to send, and the number of bytes left. To abort a trans- fer at any time press the Escape key. File Transfer Protocols Xmodem - This is by far the most popular protocol in use today, but it is slowly being replaced by more sophis- ticated protocols. Xmodem sends files in blocks of 128 characters at a time. When the receiving computer is satisfied that the block has arrived intact, it signals so and waits for the next block. Error checking is a checksum or a more sophisticated Cyclic Redundancy Check. Telix supports both and will automatically use the right one. During a download, Telix will attempt to use the CRC, but will switch to checksum if it seems the host does not support CRC. The Xmodem protocol also needs a setup of no parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. If your communications parameters are different from these when you start an Xmodem transfer, Telix will switch to the re- quired setup for the transfer, and back to the original setup after it is finished. SEAlink - SEAlink is a quite advanced version of Xmodem developed by System Enhancement Associates. It is a sliding window protocol, which basically means that unless an error happens, data is constantly being sent, with no pauses. Because of this, SEAlink is very fast, 15 to 25 percent faster than regular Xmodem. As well, it works much better on packet Telix v2.12 File Transfers 30 switched networks and satellite link-ups. SEAlink passes a file's name, size, and date when transferring it, and can be used to send more than one file at a time. ASCII - in an ASCII transfer, it is as if the sender is actually typing the characters and the receiver is just recording them. There is no form of error detection used. Usually only ASCII files can be sent in this way, as binary files contain characters which would foul-up the screen. Ymodem - The Ymodem protocol is exactly the same as the Xmodem protocol except that block sizes of 1024 characters as opposed to 128 characters are supported. Ymodem Batch - This protocol is the same as Ymodem, except that it sends an extra block ahead of the file with the file's name, size, and date. This protocol allows more than one file to be sent at a time. Telink - This protocol is mainly found on Fido bbs systems. It is basically the Xmodem protocol using CRC checking with an extra block sent ahead of the file telling its name, size, and date. This protocol allows more than one file to be sent at a time. Modem7 - Modem7 is a close cousin to Xmodem that passes the filename before starting the transfer, thus taking away some of the user's work. It is common on CP/M systems. This protocol allows more than one file to be sent at a time. Relaxed Xmodem - Certain hosts cannot maintain the strict timing required to transfer a file using the Xmodem protocol. Relaxed Xmodem is exactly the same as Xmodem except that all the timing is multiplied by a factor of ten. Where Xmodem might wait 2 seconds for a character, Relaxed Xmodem will wait 20 seconds. Kermit - The Kermit protocol is in a class of its own. It uses packets of up to 94 characters to send the file. It was developed to make it easier for computers of different types to send files to each other. Almost any computer using Kermit can be set up to send files to another computer using Kermit. The Kermit protocol implemented in Telix can be tai- lored to the user's needs in the Configuration Menu, option 'Kermit transfers'. Telix v2.12 Using Script Files 31 Using Script Files ------------------ Script files are ASCII files containing sequences of commands for Telix to follow. They can do many useful things like automatically logging on to a host, setting up special parameters, performing unnatended file transfers, and many other tasks. They can be linked to a dialing entry so that they are run automatically upon a connection. To execute a script file press Alt-S. You will be prompted for the name of the file. Any legal DOS name is al- lowed, including a path. If no extension is given, 'scr' is assumed. If a special directory where script files are to be found has been defined, Telix will look there for script files, unless a path is given. To define this script directory use the Telix Configuration Menu. To see how to write your own script files, refer to the appendix describing their struc- ture. A Telix script does not lock you in to a course of ac- tion. If a Telix script file is waiting for the string 'Password?', for example, you may override the script. You may type characters to the remote system, press Home to see the Help/Status screen, initiate a file transfer, or initiate any other command that is available while in Terminal Mode. In short you have the complete power of Telix at your disposal while a script is executing, instead of having to wait while the script file does what it wants, and possibly goes astray. To abort a script file while it is executing, press the Esc key. You will often have to press this key twice, once to abort the current function, and a second time to abort the script. You will be asked to confirm this action. Telix v2.12 Host Mode 32 Host Mode --------- Telix allows you to set up your computer as a remote host, so that others may call your system and perform op- erations like transferring files and chatting. In short it is like having a small bbs on your system, without all the setup work (however if your security needs are complicated you might consider using a real bbs program). There are a few require- ments to running Host Mode. Your modem must be able to pick up the phone when it rings. The CD (Carrier Detect) Mask must be properly defined in the Configuration Menu, so that Telix can tell when it is connected to a caller. Telix must also be able to hang up the modem by dropping (turning off) the DTR line on the RS-232 port. If one of these these requirements is not met you probably can not run Telix Host Mode on your system. To run the Host Mode, you must also define eight settings in the 'Host Mode' section of the Configuration Menu. The first is the Host Mode init string. This string is sent to the modem when Telix enters Host Mode, and should make the modem able to pick up the phone when it rings. The default string is set up for Hayes compatible modems. It is: '~~~+++~~~AT X1 S0=1|' where ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. +++ tells the modem to accept commands. ~~~ pauses Telix for 1 1/2 secs. AT is the modem attention code. X1 tells the modem to reply with extended re- sult codes. This means the modem indicates the caller's baud rate. S0=1 tells the modem to answer after one ring. | sends the terminating Return char. Another string to define is the Host welcome string. This is sent to callers immediately when they call. You must also define the passwords callers must enter to log onto the sys- tem, the password callers should enter to use the remote DOS Shell, and the password callers must enter if they want to shut down the Host Mode. The Connection type parameter tells Telix whether your host mode will be accessed through the use of a modem, or by hard-wiring two computers together. This stops Telix from trying to initialize a non-existent modem, or trying to determine the caller's baud. Finally, you should in- dicate whether or not case should be checked when entering passwords. Telix v2.12 Host Mode 33 Pressing Alt-Q makes Telix enter Host Mode. Telix will make a note in the Host Mode audit file TELIX.HST and then will immediately send the Host Mode init string to the modem. Telix then waits for a caller. While in Host Mode, on the local side, the user can always press Esc to exit Host Mode, or End to terminate the current caller. He can also enter commands for the remote caller, so that a novice caller can be helped along by the host operator. Also, at any time, the current caller will be automatically terminated if there is inactivity for five minutes, or the connection is lost. This is all noted in the host audit file. If the caller has only access level one references to other disk directories are ignored, and all operations take place in the current direc- tory. As well, Telix protects your files from being acciden- tally overwritten by the caller When the Carrier Detect signal turns on Telix knows a caller is online. At this point Telix will try to determine the caller's baud rate. Most Hayes compatible modems can be initialized to send the string 'CONNECT baud' where baud is the baud rate of the caller, when they sense a connection. If Telix sees this string it will switch to the appropriate baud. If this string is not received within 2.5 seconds, Telix will try to use another method to determine the caller's baud. This method requires the caller to press Carriage Return or the Space Bar a few times (for 2400 baud callers, only the Space bar will work). This method will only work for baud rates of 300, 1200 or 2400. If this method still doesn't work within 10 seconds, Telix will leave the baud rate at whatever it was. Also, it should be mentioned that Telix can not determine the caller's other settings like parity, data bits, and stop bits. These must already be matching Telix's settings. At this point Telix will send the Host welcome string to the caller, and then ask him for his/her name. The name is only used when indicating the caller in the Host Mode audit file. If a password has been defined Telix will ask the caller for it. The caller has three tries to complete the password. All password attempts, successful or failed, are written to the Host audit file. If the caller enters the Level One access password, he may manipulate only the current disk directory. Any other directories can not be accessed. If he enters the Level Two access password, the caller may use full pathnames in all file specifications. If there is a welcome file called TELIX.MSG on the disk, it is then shown to the caller. After each 23 lines the caller is prompted to press any key to continue. As well, the caller may press Ctrl-S to pause at any time, and Ctrl-C or Ctrl-K to abort the listing. After the TELIX.MSG file is displayed the caller is presented with a menu of options: Files Type Upload Download Shell Chat Goodbye ? The action to be taken is selected by entering its first let- ter. Case does not matter. As mentioned already, the host op- erator is free to enter any keystrokes for the caller. Telix v2.12 Host Mode 34 The 'Files' option allows the caller to list the files in the current disk directory. The caller must press a key after each screenfull. The output is not echoed on the local screen. If the caller has access level two s/he is prompted for a filespec, which may include the * and ? wildcard characters (see your DOS manual), so that the contents of other directories may be listed. The 'Type' option allows the caller to view any ASCII file in the current directory, or in any directory for access level two callers. The same format and commands are available during this command as for the displaying of the optional mes- sage file TELIX.MSG. The 'Upload' option allows the caller to send a file to the host. The caller is shown the menu: X)modem S)EAlink T)elink B)atch Ymodem K)ermit M)odem7 Which protocol? and should select the appropriate protocol by its first let- ter. If appropriate the caller is also asked for the filename. The transfer is then initiated. The 'Download' command allows a caller to receive a file from the host. The caller must select the protocol as de- scribed above, and then must tell Telix the file(s) to send. The transfer is then initiated. The 'Shell' command is a very powerful but also very dangerous command. It allows the caller to run a DOS shell on your system, except that the caller receives the output, and the caller enters the keystrokes. This command is basically similar to entering 'CTTY COMx' at the DOS prompt. The remote side has complete control of your system. This is obviously very dangerous, as the caller can format disks, delete files, or perform any other operation. To provide security, a password must be entered to use the remote DOS shell. Be very careful of whom you give this password to, as they can do anything they want with your system. As well, don't leave it at the default that Telix comes with. There are a few limitations in the remote DOS shell. The caller will see program output only if the programs use standard DOS output. Programs that write directly to the video screen will work, but will not be seen by the remote caller. As well, programs that use non-DOS methods of getting keystrokes will not re- ceive the callers keystrokes. There is nothing that can be done about these limitations. The 'Chat' command allows the caller to chat with the host operator. When the caller presses 'C' the host operator is paged for 30 seconds. Press the Space bar to chat with the caller, or any other key not to. Accepting the chat will place you in Chat Mode, exactly as if you had used the Alt-Y command. The caller's keystrokes are echoed back to him/her however, so that he/she can see them. Finally, the 'Goodbye' command allows the caller to log off the host. An entry noting the time and date is made in the host audit file, and Telix then waits for a new caller. Telix v2.12 Host Mode 35 The caller may also use one other command that is not displayed in the menu. This is to shut down the Host Mode. If the caller presses Ctrl-Z and successfully enters the shut down Host password defined in the Configuration Menu, the Telix Host Mode is shut down and Telix returns to whatever it was doing before Host Mode was initiated. Telix v2.12 Appendix A 36 Appendix A - Telix Command Summary Major Commands -------------- Alt-B Scroll Back Alt-D Dialing directory Alt-F DOS and File functions Alt-J Jump to DOS shell Alt-M Keyboard Macros Alt-O Show Configuration Menu Alt-P Comm Parameters Alt-Q Host Mode Alt-R Redial last # Alt-S Script files Alt-X Exit Telix Alt-Y Chat Mode PgUp Upload (send) files PgDn Download (receive) files Secondary Functions ------------------- Alt-A Run editor Alt-C Clear screen Alt-E Local echo On/Off Alt-G ANSI Graphics On/Off Alt-H Hang-up modem Alt-I Screen Image Alt-L Session Log Alt-V DOS command Ctrl-@ Log hold On/Off Ctrl-End Send break signal Ctrl-PrtSc Printer log on/off Shift-Tab Add line-feeds on/off All of these commands should be entered while in terminal mode. Many will prompt you for further courses of action. Telix v2.12 Appendix B 37 Appendix B - TELIX.CNF, the Configuration File The file TELIX.CNF consists of a series of default pa- rameters which are used to customize Telix to your own needs. This file is automatically read in by Telix upon start-up. Us- ing the Telix Configuration Menu allows you to change the de- fault parameters and then write out the TELIX.CNF file, using the new parameters. The TELIX.CNF file is a regular ASCII file. One parameter is allowed per line. Lines longer than 80 characters will be cut off at that point. Lines should end in line-feeds or CR/LF. Comments should start with '.', ';', or '/'. Be warned however, that comments will be overwritten the next time you update the file with the 'Write setup to disk' option of the Configuration Menu. Each setting takes the form 'parameter=setting'. The pa- rameter to be changed is given, followed by an equal sign, followed by the new setting. Illegal values will be ignored. A few example are: baud=1200 addlf=off dpref="ATDT" busy1="NO CARRIER" The case of the commands does not matter. The only arguments which do not have to be enclosed in quote characters are numeric values and the arguments 'On' and 'Off'. Both the double (") and single (') quote characters are accepted, but you must use the same quote character at the end of an argu- ment as at the beginning. If you want to use a quote character in a quoted string repeat the quote, e.g., 'can''t'. If you are unclear about the syntax of any of these settings take a look at the actual configuration file. Finally, there is really no reason you should know all of these parameters, because the configuration program will save the file. However these parameters are also used with the Set command in Telix script files. Legal Parameters - numbers in brackets are valid ranges ---------------- Communication parameters: baud - the speed Telix should use. Valid speeds are: 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 19200. parity - the type of parity Telix should use. = N: none Telix v2.12 Appendix B 38 = E: even = O: odd data - the number of data bits Telix should use (7 or 8) stop - the number of stop bits Telix should use (1 or 2) port - the communications port Telix should use (1 or 2) Screen settings: swmode - the screen write mode Telix should use. = 1: Use direct screen writes with no port checks, = 2: Use direct screen writes with port checks (for screens that get snow). = 3: Use BIOS calls (for applications like Top- View). helpmode - the help screen mode Telix should use. = 1: Never use display page 2 for the help screen. = 2: Use display page 2 for the help screen if Telix thinks it's okay to do so. = 3: Always use page 2 for the help screen. back - screen background colour (0 - 7) fore - screen foreground colour (0 - 15) bord - screen border colour (0 -15) mbord - menu border colour (0 - 15) mbback - menu border background colour (0 - 7) mfore - menu foreground colour (0 - 15) mbold - menu bold item colour (0 - 15) mback - menu background colour (0 - 7) mbar - menu bar colour (0 - 7) msel - menu item selected under bar colour (0 -15) Modem and dialing settings: minit - the modem initialization string. dpref - the string sent before the number when dialing. dpost - the string sent after the number when dialing Telix v2.12 Appendix B 39 connect - the string sent by the modem when it has connected busy1 - string sent by modem if the line is busy (#1) busy2 - " " " " " " " " " (#2) busy3 - " " " " " " " " " (#3) busy4 - " " " " " " " " " (#4) mhang - the string to send to the modem to hang it up dcancel - string to send to cancel current attempt while di- aling dtime - number of seconds to wait for connection while di- aling (1 - 999) ptime - number of seconds to pause between attempts while dialing (1 - 999) cdmask - the modem Carrier Detect mask Telix should use to see if there is a connection. This number should be a power of 2. echo - local echo. = On: local echo on = Off: local echo off xonxoff - use of XON/XOFF handshaking = On: use XON/XOFF = Off: do not use XON/XOFF addlf - add line-feeds to incoming carriage returns = On: add line-feeds = Off: do not add line-feeds Output string characters: pausechar - the character which Telix should interpret to mean a 1/2 second pause in output strings. The value should be in readable form. e.g., 'pausechar = ~'. retchar - the character which Telix should interpret as a Carriage Return. ctrlchar - the character which should mean that the next char. is a control char. Filenames and paths: downdir - the directory where downloaded files should be saved Telix v2.12 Appendix B 40 updir - the directory where Telix should look when up- loading files. scriptdir - directory where Telix should look for Script files logfile - the default log file filename dirprog - the directory program Telix should use (e.g., 'dir'), or none for Telix's own internal dir. editor - full pathname of editor including extension (com or exe) image - the screen image file filename General settings: ansi - On or Off. Whether or not Telix should understand ANSI Graphics. sound - On or Off. Controls whether or not Telix makes ANY sound. alarm - On or Off. Controls whether or not alarm sounds are heard. keepaborted - aborted download file status. = On: Telix keeps aborted download files. = Off: Telix deletes aborted download files. protocol - the default file transfer protocol upon startup. This is a 2 letter code. = "AS": ASCII = "KE": Kermit = "M7": Modem7 = "SE": SEAlink = "TE": Telink = "XM": Xmodem = "XR": Relaxed Xmodem = "YM": Ymodem = "YB": Ymodem Batch showfree - On or Off. Controls whether or not Telix shows the free space on the disk when starting a download. qdwind - On or Off. If Off Telix will not display the Quick Dial window first when you press Alt-D. Kermit settings: knumpad - the number of padding chars to send kpad - ASCII value of the padding char to use Telix v2.12 Appendix B 41 kquote - ASCII value of the char to quote Control chars with ksop - ASCII value of the char to use and expect at the start of packets keol - ASCII value of the char to send at the end of lines kmaxpack - the maximum allowed packet size kftype - the type of file being transferred = 1: Binary = 2: Text ASCII transfer settings: apacechr - ASCII value of the pace character alpacing - the time (in 1/10 seconds) to wait between lines aecho - if On echo characters locally while sending aexpand - if On expand blank lines to a space aucrtrans - ASCII upload Carriage Return translation = 1: None = 2: Strip = 3: Add Line Feed after it aulftrans - ASCII upload Line Feed translation = 1: None = 2: Strip = 3: Add Carriage Return before it adcrtrans - ASCII download Carriage Return translation. = 1: None = 2: Strip = 3: Add Line Feed after it adlftrans - ASCII download Line Feed translation. = 1: None = 2: Strip = 3: Add Carriage Return before it Host Mode settings: hostwlcm - the Host welcome string hostinit - string sent to the modem to initialize it for host mode hpass - the password needed to enter the Host Mode with level one access Telix v2.12 Appendix B 42 hpass2 - the password needed to enter the Host Mode with level two access shellpass - the password to enter the Remote DOS shell shutpass - the password needed to shut down the Host Mode hcontype - the type of connection between the two computers = 1: Modem = 2: Direct hcasechk - On or Off. If On then the case of passwords is checked when they are being entered. Telix v2.12 Appendix C 43 Appendix C - Writing Script Files Script files are ASCII text files containing commands for Telix to follow in succession. Script files can do many useful things, for example automatically dialing a bbs system, getting any mail, transferring files, and then logging off the system, all without any human intervention. There is a script command equivalent to almost any option available while in the terminal mode, and there are many others as well. Script files can be run in one of two ways while using Telix: they can be linked to a dialing directory entry and au- tomatically run when you connect to that system, or by using the Run Script file (ALt-S) command. Also, buy using the 'S' command line option (see the 'Getting Started' section), a script file can be run upon program startup. Script files usually have the ending '.scr', but this is optional, any legal DOS filename is allowed. When running a script, the extension 'scr' is assumed unless another ex- tension is given or just a period is given as the extension, e.g., 'script.'. A Telix script does not lock you in to a course of ac- tion. If a Telix script file is waiting for the string 'Password?', for example, you may override the script. You may type characters to the remote system, press Home to see the Help/Status screen, initiate a file transfer, or initiate any other command that is available while in Terminal Mode. In short you have the complete power of Telix at your disposal while a script is executing, instead of having to wait while the script file does what it wants, and possibly goes astray. To abort script execution, press the Esc key. You will often have to press it twice, once to abort the current func- tion, and the second to abort the script file. You will be asked to confirm this action. Telix v2.12 Appendix C 44 Script File Rules: - A script file is a normal ASCII text file (readable by any text editor). It can be edited with a word processor as well, but if your word processor normally makes use of special or extended ASCII characters, make sure it is in a "non-document" or "ASCII" mode. Each line should end with a Carriage Return followed by a Line Feed. - Only one command per line is allowed, but there may be a label and a command on one line. The case of a command does not matter. Therefore 'HangUp', 'HANGUP', and 'hangup' are all treated as being the same command. - If there is a label in a line it must precede the command (if there is a command), and must end in a colon (':') character, e.g., 'mylabel:'. A label is a way of naming a certain position in a script file so that it can be jumped to later. - Lines longer than 80 characters will be truncated at that position. - Argument strings must be in quotes unless otherwise indi- cated. Either quotes ("), or right ticks ('), are al- lowed. If you use quotes around a string but want to use quotes in the string, use two quotes instead of one, e.g., 'can''t'. - Strings can not extend past the end of the line and can not be longer than 64 characters. - Comments start off with a '.', ';', or a '/'. A blank line is considered a comment. Any text after a comment character will be ignored. Script File Memory Use: - For greater speed and memory considerations a Telix script file is automatically compiled when you specify that it should be executed. - Telix script files can be of any length as long as when the file is compiled by Telix it is less than 10240 char- acters in length. Since each command is converted to a one byte token when compiled, and labels are converted to addresses, Telix script files can be very large, and exe- cute quite quickly. - There is no limit on the size of a label in a script file (except that it can not be larger than a line). However, a maximum of 256 labels are allowed in a script file, and all of the labels must not add up to more than 4096 char- acters. Telix v2.12 Appendix C 45 Script Commands: (arguments in brackets are optional) ---------------- Alarm [seconds] This will make Telix sound an alarm for the specified number of seconds. If no time is specified the alarm (three tones) is sounded just once Break This will send a sustained break signal over the modem port, like the Ctrl-End command. Clear This command will clear the screen, like the ALT-C command. Delay nnn This will make Telix wait for the specified number of tenths of seconds (1 - 30000). While Telix is waiting the user can of course use any Telix command. Dial ["dir. number(s)"] The indicated dialing directory numbers are dialed. If none are specified, then the dialing menu is presented, as with the Alt-D command. DOS ["command"] The DOS command is executed. If no command is given Telix will drop into a DOS shell like the Alt-J command. Also, make sure if you run a program that expects input that you are on hand to give it. DOSFunction This command will make Telix go to the DOS Function menu, like the Alt-F command. Download [type ["filename"]] The specified file will be downloaded using 'type' protocol. Type can be: AS - ASCII KE - Kermit M7 - Modem7 SE - SEAlink TE - Telink XM - Xmodem Telix v2.12 Appendix C 46 XR - Xmodem Relaxed YM - Ymodem YB - Ymodem Batch If the filename is missing the user will be prompted for it. If Both the transfer type and the filename are missing, the user will be prompted for them. This command is similar to the PgDn command. ExitTelix [returncode] This command will exit the Telix program as if the user had pressed Alt-X, except that there is no prompting to confirm the exit. If the optional number 'returncode' is included Telix will return that number to DOS. This return code can be read by batch files using the 'errorlevel' batch file command. This makes it possible for a batch file to run Telix and find out what happened, when control returns to it. If no 'returncode' is specified Telix assumes 0. FlushBuf This command flushes (throws away) any characters that may be waiting in Telix's remote input buffer. This command can be used to get rid of unwanted line noise. Goto label When this command is encountered, execution of the script file will continue at the given label. HangUp This will hang up the modem, exactly like the Alt-H command. Host This will make Telix enter Host Mode, as if the user had pressed Alt-Q. IfNQuery label "question" A pop-up window appears asking "question". If the user presses 'N' execution continues at the given label. If the User presses 'Y', nothing happens. IfOffline label If no carrier signal is detected script file execution will continue at the given label. IfOnline label If a carrier signal is detected script file execution will continue at the given label. Telix v2.12 Appendix C 47 IfYQuery label "question" A pop-up window appears asking "question". If the user presses 'Y' execution continues at the given label. If the User presses 'N', nothing happens. KeyMac ["filename"] This command will load the indicated keyboard macro definition file. If no filename is give the Keyboard macro command (Alt- M) will be run. KeySend keynum This will send the definition for the given function key (1- 40) to the modem port. Key numbers 1-10 represent the regular function keys, 11-20 the Shifted function keys, 21-30 the Con- trol function keys, and 31-40 the Alt function keys. LoadFon ["directory"] This command will load the specified dialing directory into Telix. If the filename has an extension (e.g., 'fon'), it must be included. If there is no directory name given, the user will be prompted. Locate X Y This command will place the cursor at the given x and y co- ordinates. The range of values allowed is 1-80 for x, and 1-25 for y. LHoldOff This command will turn the log hold off, like the Ctrl-@ com- mand. LHoldOn This command will put the session log on hold, like the Ctrl-@ command. Message "string" This will print the string on the user's screen. A Carriage Return and Line Feed is automatically appended to the string. NewDir "directory" This command will change the current disk directory to the given one. A drive, directory, or both can be specified, e.g., NewDir "c:\comm\files". Telix v2.12 Appendix C 48 OffLog This will turn off the session log and update it, just like pressing Alt-L when the log is on. OnLog ["filename"] This will open a session log to the given filename. If no filename is given the user will be prompted, like the Alt-L command. OffPLog This will turn off the log to the printer, if it currently on. OnPLog This will turn on the log to the printer. Run mode "filename and path" This command is quite similar to the 'DOS' command, but files are executed slightly faster. However, no internal DOS commands (such as 'dir') are allowed. The arguement may be a full pathname, however it MUST include the extension of the file (exe or com), e.g., "a:\chkdsk.com a:". The mode option can be one of 'normal', 'noclr', or 'wait'. If mode is 'normal', the screen is cleared, the program is run, the screen is restored, and then Telix resumes control. If mode is 'noclr' the screen is never cleared. If mode is 'wait' Telix will wait for a keypress before resuming control. ReDial ["dir. number(s)"] The indicated dialing directory numbers are redialed. If none are specified, then the last number(s) specified are shown to the user to edit, like the Alt-R command. Configure This command will present the user with the Telix Configura- tion Menu, as if he had pressed Alt-O. ScrollBack This command will call up the Scroll-Back function, like the Alt-B command. Send "string" The given string is sent over the modem port. All output string characters are supported. Telix v2.12 Appendix C 49 Set param=setting This a very powerful command. It is used to change any of the configuration settings. Using this command you can change the settings of all the Telix parameters, EXACTLY like the cnf file, and using the same format. For example, to change the baud to 1200, you would use: set baud=1200 Any of the parameters that can be put in the TELIX.CNF (configuration) file can be changed with the set command. To learn about the configuration file see Appendix B. A few other examples are: set protocol="SE" . default protocol is SEAlink set ansi=On . turn on ANSI graphics alarm=Off . turn off Telix alarms Stop This command will make the execution of this script file stop, as if the end of it had been reached. Timeout [time [label] There are a few script commands that wait for a string or character from the remote or (other) end of the connection. Usually, these commands will wait indefinitely, but using the Timeout command you can make Telix do something else if the string or character doesn't appear in time. The time argument says how long these commands should wait for (1 - 30000 sec- onds), and the label says where to jump to if this time has elapsed. When the script first starts executing, timeout is off, it will be turned on if both a time and a label are given. After that if only the time is given in a subsequent Timeout command, Telix will still go to the old label if the time is up. Using the timeout command with no arguments will turn off the timeout function, and commands will wait forever again for remote input. Upload [type ["filename"]] The specified file will be uploaded using 'type' protocol. Type can be: AS - ASCII KE - Kermit M7 - Modem7 SE - SEAlink TE - Telink XM - Xmodem XR - Xmodem Relaxed YM - Ymodem YB - Ymodem Batch Telix v2.12 Appendix C 50 If the filename is missing the user will be prompted for it. If both the transfer type and the filename are missing, the user will be prompted for them. This command is like the PgUp command. WaitAny This command will pause Telix until any character is received from the remote connection. If timeout is on and time runs out Telix will jump to the label given in the timeout command. WaitFor "string" This command will wait until the given string is received from the remote connection. If timeout is on and time runs out Telix will jump to the label given in the Timeout command. The case of the string DOS NOT matter. While Telix is waiting the user can of course use any Telix command. WaitTill "hh:mm:ss" This command will make Telix wait until the specified time be- fore proceeding. The time must be entered using the 24 hour system. While Telix is waiting, the user can of course use any Telix commands. Telix v2.12 Appendix D 51 Appendix D - Common Problems and Their Solutions Problem: When trying to use a multitasking system like Topview, Desqview, or DoubleDOS, with Telix in the background, window displays bleed through to the active partition. Solution: In the Telix Configuration Menu, select the 'Screen and colour settings' option, then select as the Screen Write Mode, 'BIOS calls used for writes'. Screen updating will be slower but will not bleed through. Problem: When redialing Telix does not seem to know when a connection has been reached. Solution: Telix knows when a connection has been reached in one of two ways: when it receives a Connect string from your modem, or when the Carrier Detect signal turns on (if it was off). Make sure that the Connect string is properly defined in the Con- figuration Menu, or that your modem does turn on the Carrier Detect signal regardless of whether or not there is a connec- tion. Problem: Telix doesn't work with a certain modem. Solution: Telix is set by default to use the Hayes 'AT' modem command standard. There are modems that are not Hayes compatible how- ever, and use other commands to dial, hang up, and perform other tasks. Make sure that if your modem is not Hayes compat- ible Telix has been properly configured to its commands. Problem: Sometimes when trying to run a script file Telix says that a script is already active, or when dialing and a connection is reached, Telix does not run the script linked to the dialing entry. Telix v2.12 Appendix D 52 Solution: Telix only allows one script file to be executing at once. It is possible that a script file which was used previously is still executing for some reason, for example because it is still waiting for a string. Then, when you try to run a script file or dial a number with a script linked to it, Telix will not run that script. The solution is to turn off the current script by pressing Esc and answering 'Y' to the question. Problem: When trying to use the DOS Shell, or another function that uses DOS, Telix warns that it can not find a file called COM- MAND.COM, and aborts the function. Solution: The file COMMAND.COM is the DOS command interpreter. Telix must be able to find it to use many DOS functions. The loca- tion of COMMAND.COM is stored in an environment variable (explained in your DOS manual) called COMSPEC. COMSPEC is set at boot-up, but if you boot of a floppy and then change to an- other floppy or a hard disk, it will not point to the right place anymore. In short, make sure that COMSPEC always points to the location of COMMAND.COM, or that COMMAND.COM is in the current directory. Problem: When trying to use Long Distance codes in a number, Telix seems to just send them out to the modem along with the num- ber. Solution: Long Distance codes must not be included with the number in the dialing directory entry, but must be specified when making the call, by placing them in front or behind the entry number to dial. For example, entering '!10' at the 'Dial' prompt would dial entry number 10, preceded by the Long distance code '!'. Problem: When calling some systems, especially large ones such as Com- puserve or the Source, all incoming characters look like garbage. Solution: The communications parameters are probably wrong. Most of these systems need a setting of Even parity, 7 data bits, and 1 stop bit. This is different from the normal standard of N81 used for most bulletin boards. Telix v2.12 Appendix D 53 Problem: When Host Mode is run Telix always thinks that a caller is on- line and immediately asks for the caller's name. Solution: Your modem should properly set the state of the Carrier Detect signal. When a caller is online, it should be high (true), otherwise it should be low (false). As well, make sure that the CD Mask value you have defined in the 'Modem and dialing' page of the Configuration Menu is set properly. The default value of 128 works for almost all (99.9%) computers, but you might try the other two values if you have problems. Telix v2.12 Appendix E 54 Appendix E - TELIX.FON File Format The phone directory file TELIX.FON is a regular ASCII text file that can be 'type'd from the DOS prompt or edited by many editors. It is made up of 150 lines each ending in CR/LF. If the file is to be used by Telix this format must be followed exactly. Each line is 68 characters long including the CR/LF, for a total length of 10200 bytes. All the parameters are in string form, and can be seen if the file is typed. Following is an example entry and the offsets of the various fields. As can be seen, there are spaces between some, but not all fields. Sample entry: "My Favourite BBS 1-416-967-1111 1200N81 | |MYSCRIPT.SCR\r\n" The | means the line has been broken there so it would fit in this documentation file. '\r' means Carriage Return, '\n' means line-feed. Field Offset Length name 0 29 number 30 14 baud 45 5 parity 50 1 data bits 51 1 stop bits 52 1 script 54 12 The phone number may be anywhere in its field. Telix will print it as far right as possible. The baud should be placed as far right as possible in its field. Telix v2.12 Appendix F 55 Appendix F - Product Support ---------------------------- Telix is a relatively large and complicated program. In order to support Telix and to provide a means of distribution, a Telix support area has been set up on several BBSes. If you have any questions or comments about Telix, call one of these BBSes and leave a note in the Telix message area provided. If you're calling about a problem, try to be as specific as possible when describing the problem. Include any relevant de- tails, such as your machine's configuration, Telix version number, resident software installed, steps taken before the problem happens, and any other things you feel are important. Also, We will try to answer all questions, but registered users will get priority treatment and we don't guarantee to provide support of any kind to non-registered users. The latest version of Telix can always be found in the Telix file area on these BBSes. You may send Fido or OPus mail to the ASCII Exchange. The BBSes are: The ASCII Exchange - (416)-622-8254 - Opus 148/1. Sysop Rob Benner. SEAdog requests accepted. The PC Pub BBS - (416)-487-2889 and (416)-487-4134. Sysop Andrew Jones. There is also a Telix file section on the WestPenn bbs in Pittsburgh, phone number (412)-367-2505, where the latest version of Telix can always be found. This system is run by Steven A. Mills. Note however that there is no Telix message area on this bbs. Finally, Telix is also available on many other systems across the United States and Canada, but each new version does take time to spread. Telix v2.12 Index 56 Index Checksum 29 Clear 24 +++ 11, 32 Clear Screen 21 ^ 7 Comm Parameters 6 Aborted downloads 13 Command line switches 4 Add line feeds 12, 22 COMMAND.COM 19 Alarm sound 13 COMSPEC 19 Alt-A 19 Config.sys 2 Alt-B 21 Configuring Telix 9 Alt-C 21 CONNECT 11 Alt-D 5, 23 Connect status 5, 12 Alt-E 21 Connect string 11 Alt-F 19 Connection 12 Alt-G 21 Connection type 16 Alt-H 17 Control code character 14 Alt-I 13, 20 Corporate Use of Telix viii Alt-J 18 CR translation 15 Alt-L 17 CR translation char 7, 14 Alt-M 18 CR/LF 22 Alt-Q 33 CRC 29 Alt-R 26 Creating a directory 25 Alt-S 31 Ctrl translation char 7, 14 Alt-V 19 Ctrl-@ 17 Alt-X 8 Ctrl-C 33 Alt-Y 17, 34 Ctrl-End 22 ANSI graphics 13, 21 Ctrl-K 33 ANSI.SYS 21 Ctrl-PrtSc 17 ASCII 4, 29 Ctrl-S 33 ASCII Transfer Setup 14 CTTY COMx 34 ASCII transfers 30 Data bits 6, 10, 24 AT 10, 11, 32 Data Terminal Ready 11 ATDT 11 Default Com port 10 Audit file 2, 33 Default d/l path 12 Auto answer 11 Default log file 13 Auto baud detect 33 Default Script dir. 13 Automatic log-on 23, 31 Default transfer protocol Automatic Redial 26 13 Backspace 17 Default u/l directory 12 Batch Ymodem 30 Delete file 20 Baud rate 6, 10, 24, 32, 33 Deleting entries 24 BIOS 4 Desqview 10 BIOS calls 10 Dial cancel string 12 Blank lines 14 Dial time 12 Break Signal 22 Dialing directory 23 BUSY 11 Clearing 24 Busy strings 11 Deleting 24 Carriage Return character Dialing 25 14 Directory Options 25 Carrier Detect 32 Editing 23 Carrier Detect mask 12 Finding an Entry 24 Case checking 16 Inserting 24 CD 32 LD Codes 24 CD Mask 12 Dialing postfix 11 Chat Mode 17, 34 Dialing prefix 11 Chdir 20 Direct screen write 9 Telix v2.12 Index 57 Directory program 13, 20 LF 12, 22 DOS and File Functions 19 LF translation 15 DOS Command 19 Line feed 12 DOS Shell 1, 18, 34 Line Pacing 15 DOS shell password 15 Linked scripts 24, 31 DoubleDOS 10 Loading a directory 25 Download directory 12 Local echo 12, 14, 21 Downloading Files 28 Log 17 Drive/directory 20 Log Hold 17 DTR 2, 8, 11, 17, 32 Long distance Codes 24 Duplex 21 Machine Requirements 1 Echo 14 Modem init string 10 Echo locally 12, 21 Modem Setup 10 Edit 23 Modem7 protocol 30 Editor 19 MS Windows 10 Editor name 13 Multiple directories 25 Elapsed time 5 NO CARRIER 11 Ending a Telix Session 8 No connect strings 11 Entering and Editing Strings Non-registered users 55 7 Online 4 Environment variable 3, 19 Output String Translation 7 Esc translation 8 Pace character 14 Exiting Telix 8 Pacing 14, 15 Expand blank lines 14 Parity 10 File logging 13, 17 Partial files 13 File transfer buffer 28 Pause character 14 File Transfer Protocols 29 Pause translation char 7, File Transfers 28 14 Files directory 20 PgDn 5, 21, 23, 28 Files= 2 PgUp 21, 23, 29 Find 24 Printer log 17 Flow control 12 Printing a directory 26 Free space 14 PRN 26 Handshaking 12 Quantity Purchases viii Hang-up string 11, 17 Quick Dial window 14 Hanging-up 17 Quick Dialing 26 Hardware 1 Quiet 4 Help screen mode 10 RAM requirements 1 Help/Status Screen 5 Receive Files 28 Home 21 Redial 26 Home key 5 Redial pause 12 Host init string 15 Redial time 12 Host Mode 32 Relaxed Xmodem 30 Host shell password 15 Remote DOS shell 34 Host welcome string 15 Screen dump 20 Insert 24 Screen dump file 13 Inserting entries 24 Screen Image 20, 21 Keep aborted 13 Screen Image file 13, 21 Kermit protocol 30 Script directory 13 Kermit Transfers 14 Script files 31, 43 Key files 18 Memory Use 44 Keyboard macros 18 Rules 44 LD-Codes 24 Scroll-Back 21 Level One access 15, 33 SEAlink protocol 29 Level two access 15, 33 Send Files 29 Telix v2.12 Index 58 Session log 13 Session Logging 17 Shift-Tab 22 Show free space 14 Shut down Host 15 Site licenses viii Snow 10 Sound 13 Split screen 17 Stop bits 10 String translation 7 Strings, editing 7 Telink protocol 30 Telix Configuration Menu 9 Telix files 2 TELIX.FON 2 TELIX.HST 2 TELIX.KEY 2 TELIX.LD 2 TELIX.LOG 2 TELIX.MSG 2 TELIX.CNF 4, 9 TELIX.FON 23 TELIX.HST 33 TELIX.IMG 20 TELIX.KEY 18 TELIX.MSG 13, 33 TELIX= 3 Topview 10 Transfer buffer 28 Translate CR char 7 Translate Ctrl char 7 Translate pause char 7 Translating Esc 8 Upload directory 12 Uploading Files 29 Use of Quick Dial window 14 Using Telix Menus 6 Xmodem protocol 29 Xmodem Relaxed 30 XON/XOFF 12 Ymodem Batch protocol 30 Ymodem protocol 30 | 7 ~ 7 ~~~ 11, 32