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ZTerm 0.9 FAQ 1.5.txt
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This is the ZTerm 0.9 FAQ, version 1.5, dated October 27, 1993.
The FAQ answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ZTerm, and
includes undocumented tips, ResEdit hacks, bug reports, and
bug fixes. Please read this FAQ before sending questions about
ZTerm to ZTerm author Dave Alverson or to comp.sys.mac.comm.
Changes since the last version:
o News: the $99 14400 bps LineLink modem
o News: new ZModem CTB tools available
o News: Crosstalk 2.0 for Macintosh
o News: Communicate Lite demo with the Apple Modem Tool 1.5
o Tip: adding a separator line to the Dial menu
o Tip: changing ZTerm's terminal font with ResEdit
o Q: how do I do ZModem uploads to Delphi?
o Q: Why is my transfer efficiency so low?
My Internet account will change soon. Please direct email to
lesliejonz@aol.com. --Leslie Jones
ZTerm 0.9 FAQ
by Leslie Jones
Version 1.5
updated October 27, 1993
For best results, display in 9 point Monaco
with rulers set to 7 inches.
ZTerm News
The TCI LineLink 144e: 14400 bps for $99?
The networks have been buzzing about the "$99 modem." For the first
time, Mac users can buy a 14400 bps Macintosh modem for under one
hundred dollars. Though unable to test the modem firsthand, I was
able to collect a great deal of information from the
comp.sys.mac.comm newsgroup, reports in the Info-Mac Digest, and
sales and technical support representatives from MacWAREHOUSE,
which is the sole distributor of the modem.
Details
An external modem, the TCI LineLink 144e costs $99.00 and includes
MacKNOWLEDGE data software, a hardware handshaking cable, and an
AppleTalk Remote Access script. The modem can send and receive
faxes and data at 14400 bps. CCITT protocols supported include
V.42, V.42bis, V.32, and V.32bis. Supports MNP levels 1-5. The
LineLink uses the Sierra chipset. Order part number BND0249 from
MacWAREHOUSE (1-800-255-6227).
What's missing
*Fax software. MacWAREHOUSE offers a MaxFax upgrade for $29.00. The
Mac Zone sells essentially the same modem under the Performantz
label for $144.98, which includes MaxFax, MacKNOWLEDGE, and a
cable, though a Mac Zone representative was unable to confirm
whether the cable was capable of hardware handshaking, or whether
an ARA script was included. Order part number 99322 from Mac Zone
(1-800-436-8000). Several people report successfully configuring
FAXstf to work with the LineLink. When configuring FAXstf, remember
that the LineLink uses the Sierra chipset.
*Decent data software. MacKNOWLEDGE users describe it as barely
serviceable. Most users will want to download Dave Alverson's
shareware ZTerm 0.9 or buy a commercial program.
*Decent documentation. The manual is a scant 28 pages and lacks
documentation for some of the AT commands and S-registers. Luckily,
a file exists which documents all of the LineLinkss S-registers.
Look for the file on America Online or at sumex-aim.
*Decent tech support. The sales reps and technical support people I
talked to had never heard of a hardware handshaking cable. The
response to most problems seems to be "Send the modem back and
we'll replace it."
*Separate incoming and outgoing LEDs. If you have an Apple Extended
Keyboard, there's a software solution for this shortcoming.
Download John Stephen's MacLights 1.02a control panel, which can
use the num lock, caps lock, and scroll lock LEDs to indicate
receive, send, carrier (GPI), handshaking in (CTS/DSR), and
handshaking out (RTS/DTR). MacLights can also report floppy disk,
hard disk, and SCSI port activity. Highly recommended for extended
keyboard owners.
PC compatibility
Like all external Hayes-compatible modems, the LineLink can be
outfitted with an adapter cable and used with an IBM-compatible PC.
The necessary cable is available from most mail order houses.
MacWAREHOUSE's PC sister company, MicroWarehouse (1-800-367-7080),
sells the LineLink modem with a PC cable and PC data software for
$99.95 as part number MM3270.
For use with a PC, set the modem to &R0. &R1 is the Mac setting.
Some Mac users have received modems set to the PC setting of &R0.
If you have any trouble with your modem, send it an AT&V command to
display all settings. If &R0 is set, change it to &R1.
Reliability
Judging from reports on the networks, LineLinks work fine for some
users and poorly for others. This is true for all modems, but the
LineLinks have more than their share of problems. A number of
people on Usenet have returned defective modems one or more times
before getting a reliable modem. Luckily, MacWAREHOUSE will replace
defective units at their expense, though the warranty is limited to
30 days.
Recommendation
For modem hobbyists on a budget, the LineLink is a great value,
with two caveats. First, expect to spend some time monkeying with
the AT settings. Second, test the modem thoroughly when it arrives.
In particular, make sure it can connect at speeds higher than 9600
bps; an inability to connect at 14400 bps seems to be the biggest
problem owners have. If you find any problems whatsoever, contact
MacWAREHOUSE immediately and order a replacement.
For business use, this modem is a gamble. It might work fine or it
might fail at the most inconvenient time. If your business depends
on its modem for email and faxes, consider investing in a more
reliable model.
CTB Zmodem Tools Arrive
As predicted in last month's ZTerm FAQ, several new ZModem tools
arrived this month. The first was the long-awaited tool from
SeaQuest.
The second was a shocker. DCA has released a Macintosh version of
Crosstalk, a communications package formerly available only for the
PC. According to MacWEEK (10.11.93), Crosstalk will use the
Communications Toolbox and will support XModem, YModem, ZModem,
Kermit, CompuServe QuickB, IND$FILE, and FTTERM. Terminal emulation
includes PC ANSI, VT320, ADDS Viewpoint+, HP 700/94, Wyse 50 and
Televideo 950. Apple's VT102 tool is presumably included as well,
though this is not confirmed. Owners of the PC version or of
competing Mac products can upgrade for $49. Contact Digital
Communications Associates at (404-442-4000).
Aladdin's SITcomm is still in beta, but will include XModem,
YModem, ZModem, and Kermit tools. SITcomm's most interesting
features are the ability to convert many file formats on the fly
during uploading and downloading, and the ability to use
AppleScript and Frontier to automate online sessions.
The next version of Communicate Lite will include a ZModem tool,
and will be a free upgrade for current users. The ZModem tool is
currently in beta.
Communicate Lite Demo Available
A demo version of Mark/Space Softworks' Communicate Lite is
available from America Online and via anonymous FTP from netcom.com
in the directory mspace/pub. The demo includes the just-released
Apple Modem Tool 1.5. For the time being, downloading the
Communicate Lite demo may be the easiest way to obtain the new
Apple Modem Tool.
One outstanding feature of Communicate Lite is the ability to open
multiple simultaneous communications sessions. Communicate Lite's
interface is extremely clean. The demo lacks the full version's
ability to open or save session settings, but is fully functional
otherwise. The full version of Communicate Lite is available for
$49.95 plus shipping and handling from Mark/Space Softworks
(408-982-9781). Internet: mspace@netcom.com; AppleLink, AOL:
markspace. Look for the demo on America Online, or FTP into
netcom.com and look in the directory mspace/pub.
Contents:
! = New section!
+ = Section updated since the last version of the FAQ
+ Distribution and Posting Information
+ Credits
Copyright Notice and Trademarks
Disclaimer
+ Contacting the Author
Other ZTerm Information and Software
[1] ZTerm's Version History
[1.1] What's the current version?
[1.2] What features will be in the next version?
[1.3] When will the next version be released?
[2] Registration and Support
[2.1] Why should I register (pay the shareware fee)?
[2.2] Will I get technical support if I register?
[2.3] If I registered an earlier version of ZTerm, do I have to
send in an upgrade fee?
[2.4] What is Dave's new Internet address?
[3] Quick Fixes for Common Problems
[3.1] Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.
[3.2] Select a download folder to prevent -120 downloading error.
[3.3] Make sure ZTerm is sending data to the correct port.
[3.4] Make sure call waiting is disabled.
+ [3.5] Make sure you have a hardware handshaking cable.
[3.6] Install Apple's Hardware System Update 2.0.
[3.7] Quit other programs which use the modem.
[3.8] Turn the modem off, wait a few seconds, then turn it
back on.
[3.9] Quit ZTerm, then relaunch ZTerm.
[3.10] Restart the computer.
[3.11] Restart the computer with extensions off.
[3.12] Disable fax software and fax auto-answer.
[3.13] Move the ZPhoneList out of the ZTerm folder.
(But don't throw it away!)
[4] Known Bugs, ResEdit Fixes, and ResEdit Hacks
[4.1] Queue dialing
[4.2] File appends
[4.3] Missing download folder
[4.4] UNIX and Opus settings
[4.5] Sending returns in scripts
[4.6] Text pacing
[4.7] Unmarking all services
[4.8] Dialing with the scroll buffer scrolled back
! [4.9] Non-bugs
[4.10] Increasing the port buffer size with ResEdit
[5] Dialing
[5.1] Why is one service in the Dial menu and in the Dial
directory in outline?
[5.2] I started ZTerm and the only service listed is called
Local. Wa' hoppen?
[5.3] My ZPhoneList with a kajillion phone numbers and settings
got trashed. Am I screwed?
[5.4] Why won't ZTerm send my modem initialization string?
[5.5] Using multiple ZPhoneLists.
[5.6] Undocumented tip: changing the data rate.
[5.7] Undocumented tip: changing parity, data bits, and stop bits.
[5.8] Undocumented tip: dialing the current service.
! [5.9] Undocumented tip: adding a separator line to the Dial menu.
[6] Connecting
+ [6.1] When ZTerm dials, the dialing line has the A cut off the
dial string, like this: TDT 691-7094. Tell me, tell me!
Whatever could be wrong?
[6.2] Why is ZTerm so slow at sending passwords on some
services?
[6.3] Why isn't there a setting for 14400 bps?
[6.4] What data rate should I use with a 14400 bps modem?
[6.5] Why can't I connect at 14400 bps?
[6.6] How can I prevent my modem from constantly dropping carrier?
+ [6.7] Why won't my modem hangup?
[7] File Transfers
[7.1] This text, binary, MacBinary, and Smart MacBinary stuff
makes my head spin. Which should I use?
[7.2] When I download Mac files from a PC BBS, the files have
generic icons and are unusable. What went wrong?
[7.3] Which protocol should I use?
[7.4] Does ZTerm support batch ZModem downloads?
[7.5] Interrupting ZModem downloads is messy. What's a modem
freak to do?
[7.6] Can I use ZModem from my VAX account?
[7.7] How do I prevent massive CRC errors during ZModem
downloads from UNIX?
[7.8] I have other transfer problems with UNIX. What's Dave
been smokin'?
[7.9] I have an error-correcting modem. Which protocol should I
use?
! [7.10] Why can't I do ZModem uploads to Delphi?
[7.11] Where's YModem-G Send?
[7.12] Why does YModem work on some systems and not others?
[7.13] Using hardware compression makes my uploads and downloads
slower. Wie gehts?
+ [7.14] If I have the Kermit/VT102/etc. Tool, will ZTerm support
Kermit/VT102/etc.? Are any ZModem tools available?
[7.15] How can I resume downloads interrupted by a meddling
cat?
! [7.16] Hellfire tarnation and a monkey! Why's my transfer
efficiency so low?
[8] Sound, ANSI Graphics, and Color
[8.1] Why oh why won't the ZTerm sounds play?
[8.2] Can I use sounds other than the ones that come with ZTerm?
[8.3] Is there any limit on the length of the sounds?
[8.4] How do I turn my modem speaker down or off?
[8.5] Why can't women see what a great guy I am?
[8.6] How do I get ANSI graphics when connecting to a PC BBS?
[8.7] I did all of that and the ANSI graphics still look a
little funny. What gives?
[8.8] How can I add excitement to my dull and monotonous
existence?
[9] VT100 Emulation
[9.1] I'm wiggin' out, Leslie. Why don't the home, end, page
up, and page down keys on my extended keyboard work?
[9.2] Why don't the f1-f4 editing keys on my extended keyboard
work?
[9.3] How can I emulate a control key on a Mac Plus?
[9.4] How can I emulate an escape key on a Mac Plus?
[9.5] How can I emulate a numeric keypad on a PowerBook?
[9.6] Undocumented tip: positioning the cursor with the mouse.
[10] Text and Text Files
[10.1] Can I make the terminal font bigger?
[10.2] Why does onscreen text look so crummy in anything but 9 or
12 point?
[10.3] Will ZTerm save text files in something other than
TeachText?
[10.4] How can I increase the size of the scroll buffer?
[10.5] Why do some characters get corrupted when I copy text from
my word processor and paste it into ZTerm?
! [10.6] Undocumented tip: changing the terminal font with ResEdit.
[11] Macros and Scripting
[11.1] How do I know the script is running?
[11.2] How do I cancel a script?
[11.3] How do I send an escape/linefeed/etc. in a script?
[11.4] Does a ^M have to be in quotation marks?
[11.5] Do I have to use the Wait for "da da da" prompt syntax?
[11.6] Why is ZTerm sending only part of a line?
[11.7] How can I send quotation marks within a send statement?
[11.8] What does error -49 mean?
[11.9] I'm goin' nuts! Why won't my login script run?
[11.10]Login script example.
[11.11]Undocumented tip: sending a sig with a script and macro.
[11.12]Other uses of scripts and macros
An Easter Egg
Distribution and Posting Information
America Online
I always send the current version to America Online. Use File
Search keyword "zterm".
FTP
I will also send the current version to
macgifts@mac.archive.umich.edu, a mail exploder which delivers the
file to the sumex-aim and umich FTP sites, as well as other,
lesser-known FTP sites. The following list shows the location of
the FAQ at various FTP sites, along with the appropriate
directories. Sumex and umich are two primary FTP sites. The other
sites mirror the contents of either sumex or umich. The mirrors
are often easier to access, especially during business hours. Note
that the archie.au site is in Australia and that src.doc.ic.ac.uk
is in the United Kingdom. To conserve limited Internet resources,
use the site closest to home.
FTP site Directory
sumex-aim.stanford.edu
info-mac/comm/info
wuarchive.wustl.edu
mirrors/info-mac/comm/info
archie.au
micros/mac/info-mac/comm/info
mac.archive.umich.edu
mac/misc/documentation
wuarchive.wustl.edu
mirrors/archive.umich.edu/mac/misc/documentation
archie.au
micros/mac/umich/mac/misc/documentation
src.doc.ic.ac.uk
packages/mac/umich/mac/misc/documentation
Online services
The only commercial service I send the FAQ to is America Online .
If you belong to another online service, I would appreciate it if
you would upload the FAQ there. Note to Delphi users: if you have
trouble uploading using ZModem, try switching from rz to uz in
ZTerm's Zmodem Options.
Usenet
Each month I will post the current version of the FAQ to the
comp.sys.mac.* Usenet newsgroups, where * is apps, comm, hardware,
and portables.
Email
Harris Upham has generously volunteered to provide the FAQ via
email. He requests that you put "ZTerm" somewhere in the subject
line so he can easily identify FAQ requests. Harris is being very
generous with his time. Please mail him only if you can't get the
FAQ by other means. The address is hupham@fscvax.fsc.mass.edu.
Credits and Thanks
Many thanks to the folks who have contributed, knowingly or
unknowingly. While compiling this FAQ, I was often helped by the
net community, particularly readers of the Usenet newsgroup
comp.sys.mac.comm and the Info-Mac Digest. Thanks to all the
helpful people out there in netland! In rough chronological order:
Neil Schulman, Joe Dellwo, Adam Toner, Rick McCormack, Scott
Macrae, David Platt, Daniel Friedan, Drew Wade, Gregory Youngs, Roy
Wood, Gary Snow, Peter Middleton, Eric Hoffmann, Jay Bourland, Pete
Halverson, Henri Schueler, Miles Abernathy, Jeff Kwan, Kent
Ritchie, Davey Silon, David Ray, Walter Ian Kaye, Harris Upham,
Shigeru Yamamoto and Julian Vrieslander. Others have contributed
material which I may use in upcoming versions of the FAQ.
Special thanks to ZTerm author Dave Alverson for providing
information about the next release, and for releasing a great piece
of software as shareware.
Copyright Notice and Trademarks
This document is copyright 1993 by Leslie Jones. All rights
reserved. I ask for no money, but please give credit when quoting
information in this document. Crediting the FAQ will make others
aware of its existence. Unmodified copies of this document may be
freely copied and distributed electronically, and may be uploaded
to FTP sites which allow anonymous login, nonprofit BBSs, and
commercial online services which charge no more than a normal
connect fee for downloading files.
For-profit distribution on physical media, including but not
limited to paper, floppy disk, and CD-ROM, is prohibited without
written permission. Explicit permission is granted to the
moderators and archivists of the sumex-aim archives to include this
document on the info-mac CD-ROM. Explicit permission is also
granted to nonprofit user groups registered with Apple to
distribute this document on their disk of the month.
This document contains the names of trademarked products. The
trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and are
used here only in an editorial capacity.
Disclaimer
This document is a volunteer effort. Every attempt has been made
to provide accurate information, but the author and contributors
accept no responsibility for actions resulting from the use of this
free information. This document is provided as is with no warranty
of any kind.
Contacting the Author
In preparation for a change of Internet accounts, I'm changing my
preferred mail address. To make corrections and suggestions, send
Internet mail to lesliejonz@aol.com, or send America Online mail to
LeslieJonz. If mail to that address bounces, send Internet mail to
ljones@utkvx.utk.edu. UTK is the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, the land of the free and the home of the Vols.
Other ZTerm Information and Software
Information
This FAQ answers questions relating specifically to ZTerm 0.9.
There are other sources for information of interest to ZTerm users.
General communications
For answers to more general questions about Macintosh
telecommunications and networking, please read Eric Rosen's
excellent comp-sys-mac-comm FAQ, available for anonymous FTP from
sumex-aim.stanford.edu and mac.archive.umich.edu. Everyone who
uses a modem should keep Eric's FAQ on their hard drive.
File conversion
For answers to questions about file conversion ("I downloaded a
file that ends in cpt/sit/dd/arc/lzh/pit/etc. How do I open it?"),
get David Lemson's exhaustive report compression-util-table. The
ZTerm manual briefly describes the most common Macintosh
compression formats.
Modem configuration
For information about configuring your modem, consult your modem's
manual. I address specific problems in the FAQ, but there really
is no substitute for a working knowledge of the Hayes command
language. When your AT command reference is torn at the edges and
soiled with the dirt of your hands, it is then you will know you
have mastered the art of telecommunications.
Usenet
If you have Usenet access, questions about Macintosh-specific
telecommunication hardware and software should be directed to
comp.sys.mac.comm. Questions about modems and telecommunications
in general should be directed to comp.dcom.modems. I often read
c.s.m.comm and answer questions about ZTerm by searching for the
string "zt." If you post there, please spell ZTerm correctly. It
is NOT spelled Z-term. (Personal rant mode *off*.) Actually,
after reading this FAQ, you'll probably be answering ZTerm
questions, not asking them.
Software
ZTerm Phone Directory Listing
Denise McElroy (dmcelroy@bonnie.ics.uci.edu) released this
application, which reads your ZPhoneList file and produces a text
file containing the names and phone numbers of all services. If
your ZPhoneList ever gets erased or corrupted, you'll be glad you
used it. This application may be also able to extract the phone
numbers from a corrupted ZPhoneList.
ZTerm High Speed Patch
Jon Snell (jonsnell@aol.com) wrote a 16 color palette resource and
ResEdit instructions for installing the palette. By using the hack
and setting the monitor depth to 16 colors, ZTerm users will
experience faster screen redraws while still seeing the correct
colors. Users with 2400 bps modems will experience little or no
speed increase. In my experience, the patch makes ZTerm faster in
16 colors, but a little slower in 256 colors. Highly recommended
if you normally use 16 color video.
Star Trek sounds
Star Trek fans now have their own sounds for ZTerm! The sounds are
available on America Online as M's ZSounds, and at sumex-aim as
star-trek-comm-sounds in the info-mac/snd directory. These are the
coolest ZTerm sounds I've used. The sounds are as follows:
Connect: Worf saying "Link established. Receiving."
Filedone: Worf saying "Transfer of information complete."
Termbell: Enterprise computer beep.
[1] ZTerm's Version History
[1.1] What's the current version?
ZTerm 0.9 is the current version. It is dated February 8, 1992.
Before 0.9 was released, someone hacked 0.85 with ResEdit and
released it as 1.0. There is a more recent hack called 0.93 XK
(eXtra Keys), which was released by a user group. Anyone may
modify ZTerm with ResEdit for their personal use, but distributing
modified versions of copyrighted software is illegal. If you
discover an interesting ResEdit hack, send it to me and I'll
publish it in the FAQ.
Dave Alverson sends official releases to America Online,
CompuServe, and GEnie. You can also expect the newest version to
appear quickly on BBSs and FTP sites.
[1.2] What features will be in the next version?
Support for Kermit file transfers.
Implementation of 16 color ANSI graphics, instead of the current 8
colors.
Some additions to the scripting language.
A scripts folder, possibly.
Bug fixes.
[1.3] When will the next version be released?
The original goal was second quarter, 1993, conditional on Dave
finding enough spare time. That date has now passed. We all hope
the next version will appear Real Soon Now.
[2] Registration and Support
[2.1] Why should I register (pay the shareware fee)?
This is a tough question. There is no legal precedent to show that
people can be forced to pay for shareware, so one will come
knocking on your door in the middle of the night. On the other
hand, many of us in the computer community feel that you should pay
for shareware which you use often, just because it seems to us to
be the right thing to do. Shareware authors put a lot of work into
their software, and they deserve compensation. Shareware authors
also put a lot of faith in the computer community by releasing
their products as shareware. They trust that people will
voluntarily pay for a product they need and use. I for one don't
think we should take advantage of people's trust.
There are also practical reasons for registering. Registering
encourages the author to update his software. More importantly,
the author is more likely to continue to release his work as
shareware if people pay the registration fee.
The copy of ZTerm which ships with some Global Village modems has
been paid for by the nice people at Global Village, who know a good
piece of software when they see it.
[2.2] Will I get technical support if I register?
Yes. Dave supports ZTerm through paper mail, email, and in
conferences on America Online, CompuServe, and GEnie. The
locations of the conferences are listed in the Support dialog under
the Misc menu. Registered users receive his home phone number and
can call him for direct phone support. When was the last time you
called a Microsoft programmer at home?
If you send Dave a question, include the registration number you
received when you registered ZTerm, as Dave almost certainly gives
priority to registered users.
Global Village handles technical support for the Global Village
version of ZTerm.
[2.3] If I registered an earlier version of ZTerm, do I have to
send in an upgrade fee?
No. Dave Alverson, like most shareware authors, doesn't charge
upgrade fees. This is another advantage of shareware.
[2.4] What is Dave's new Internet address?
The address given in ZTerm 0.9 is out of date. Dave's new Internet
address is davea@xetron.com, and is his preferred mail address.
[3] Quick Fixes for Common Problems
[3.1] Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.
Keep your head tool cool. Read the manual, read this FAQ, and
remember that tens of thousands of people have used ZTerm
successfully.
Before you use ZTerm for the first time:
[3.2] Select a download folder to prevent -120 downloading error.
Before downloading files for the first time, you must select a
default download folder by selecting Receive Folder from the
Settings menu. If you can upload files but can't download them,
you probably haven't selected a receive folder. Remember to select
a new folder when moving to a new computer.
[3.3] Make sure ZTerm is sending data to the correct port.
An external modem can be connected to the modem or printer ports.
Find out which yours is attached to, select Modem Preferences from
the Settings menu, and select the port. Alternatively, you can
hold down the shift key while ZTerm loads to select the port. If
you have a PowerBook with an internal modem, open the PowerBook
control panel and select the option for an internal modem.
All things being equal, you should connect an external modem to the
modem port. The computer gives priority to the modem port so that
other printer port activities don't interfere with modem
activities. Also, all AppleTalk devices must be connected to the
printer port, which is the only AppleTalk-capable port.
[3.4] Make sure call waiting is disabled.
To disable call waiting on a touch tone phone, insert the string
"*70," before the phone number, like this:
ATDT *70,555-5555
The comma is a Hayes command which makes the modem wait for two
seconds. Someone has suggested using w instead of a comma. The w
tells the modem to wait for a dial tone. On a pulse dial phone,
use "1170," instead of "*70,". One reader reports that *67 enables
privacy (disables caller ID at the remote phone) for some telephone
companies.
[3.5] Make sure you have a hardware handshaking cable.
If you have hardware handshaking turned on in the Connection
dialog, consult your modem manual to make sure you have a hardware
handshaking cable. You can get away without one for awhile, but
they are ultimately necessary for high speed modems.
A diagram of a correctly-wired hardware handshaking cable is hidden
in the Apple Modem Tool 1.1. Open a copy in ResEdit and examine
PICT resource #20000. In the Apple Modem Tool 1.5, the PICT
resources are #20808 for DIN-8 to DIN-8 wiring, and #20825 fro
DIN-8 to DB-25 wiring. The new Apple Modem Tool 1.5 has a button
labelled Cabling, but it was grayed out on my machine. I suspect
the button would work with an Apple Express Modem. Any information
on the cabling button would be appreciated.
To find out more about hardware handshaking, read issues #179 and
#180 of TidBITS, Adam Engst's free electronic magazine, available
from FTP sites and online services.
[3.6] Install Apple's Hardware System Update 2.0.1.
The hardware update (AKA Hardware Enabler) corrects some problems
with high speed communications under System 7.1 on the following
machines: LC, LC II, IIsi, IIvx, IIvi, Classic II, Quadra 900, and
Quadra 950. The updater solves other problems on these and other
machines, so users of System 7.1 should probably have it anyway.
The updater should NOT be used on Performas.
I mention the hardware update out of a sense of duty to inform you
that it exists. No one has actually reported that it solved any of
their telecommunications problems. On the contrary, reports are
filtering in that the update causes some problems of its own. Use
your own judgement.
Day-to-day fixes:
[3.7] Quit other programs which use the modem.
Communications programs that access the modem are sometimes
reluctant to give up control of the port the modem is attached to.
Quit all other telecommunications software, as well as any phone
book programs that can dial phone numbers through the modem.
[3.8] Turn the modem off, wait a few seconds, then turn it
back on.
This technique solves numerous connection and downloading problems.
Among other things, it closes the communications port, which may
have been left open by another application.
[3.9] Quit ZTerm, then relaunch ZTerm.
Among other things, this forces ZTerm to resend the modem
initialization string.
[3.10] Restart the computer.
Restarting is a standard way of solving transient problems of any
kind.
[3.11] Restart the computer with extensions off.
Extensions (inits and cdevs under System 6) cause more than their
share of problems, and should always be suspect if the machine is
crashing or freezing. Under System 7, restart with the shift key
held down to prevent extensions from loading. Under System 6,
manually remove all inits and cdevs from the System Folder and
restart.
See also 3.12.
A few final possibilities:
[3.12] Disable fax software and fax auto-answer.
Fax software may prevent ZTerm from accessing the serial port to
which the modem is attached. Remove fax extensions, control panels
and Chooser devices from the System folder. Fax Chooser devices
are especially insidious. Chooser devices aren't disabled when you
restart with extensions off under System 7. If they were, print
drivers would be disabled, and you wouldn't be able to print.
Consult your fax modem manual to learn how to disable fax
auto-answer.
[3.13] Move the ZPhoneList out of the ZTerm folder.
(But don't throw it away!)
Besides storing phone numbers, the ZPhoneList contains all of
ZTerm's settings and preferences, which may have been misset or
corrupted. If you remove the file from the ZTerm folder, ZTerm
will create a new one using its default settings. You can also
restore the file from a backup disk. If that doesn't solve the
problem, put your old ZPhoneList back in the ZTerm folder so you
won't lose your phone numbers.
[4] Known Bugs, ResEdit Fixes, and ResEdit Hacks
[4.1] Queue dialing
When queue dialing, the dial window remains open after a connection
is made.
[4.2] File appends
Appended text is inserted at the beginning of the file, rather than
at the end.
[4.3] Missing download folder
If you attempt to download without selecting a default download
folder, ZTerm reports a -120 error instead of prompting you to
select a download folder.
[4.4] UNIX and Opus settings
The radio buttons may change when you open the ZModem Options
dialog, but the settings remain unchanged, so the bug is not
serious.
[4.5] Sending returns in scripts
When ZTerm sends a return by itself in a script, it usually sends a
space, then the return. To fix the problem, open a copy of ZTerm
in ResEdit. Open the CODE resource, then open CODE ID=2. At offset
52B4 find the string 671E 4A6E FFEE. Change 671E to 601E.
[4.6] Text pacing
If text pacing is set to wait for a line prompt, ZTerm will usually
wait for about 5 seconds even if it receives the prompt character.
To fix this bug, open a copy of ZTerm in ResEdit, open the CODE
resource, then open CODE ID=2. At offset 5082, find the string
3B40 CAC0. Change CAC0 to CABE.
[4.7] Unmarking all services
Holding down shift-option and selecting Dial Marked is supposed to
unmark all services, but doesn't.
[4.8] Dialing with the scroll buffer scrolled back
When dialing with the scroll buffer scrolled back, ZTerm crashes
when a connection is made. This bug does not occur on all systems,
but occurs reproducibly on some.
[4.9] Non-bugs
When the Dial directory is open, command-q invokes queue dialing,
rather than quitting ZTerm. According to the ZTerm docs, this is
exactly what's supposed to happen. Several other command key
shortcuts have different meanings when the Dial directory is open.
When ANSI graphics leave the main window and enter the scroll
buffer, they lose their special formatting and color and become
text. This is described in the ZTerm docs.
[4.10] Increasing the port buffer size with ResEdit
Open a copy of the ZPhoneList in ResEdit. Doubleclick the zSet
resource. The first two bytes are the port buffer size. X'1000 =
4K. X'2000 = 8K. X'3000 = 12K, etc. Settings higher than X'7
(28K) are reported to be unreliable.
See also 5.9 to learn how to change the terminal font with ResEdit.
[5] Dialing
[5.1] Why is one service in the Dial menu and in the Dial
directory in outline?
That's the default service. When you launch ZTerm, that service
will be the current service. To set the default service, open the
Dial directory, hold down the command key, and click on the service
you want to be the default. You can also hold down the command key
and select the service from the Dial menu.
[5.2] I started ZTerm and the only service listed is called
Local. Wa' hoppen?
ZTerm didn't find your ZPhoneList in the ZTerm folder, so it
created a new one with the default entry Local. Find your
ZPhoneList and place it in the root level of the ZTerm folder.
[5.3] My ZPhoneList with a kajillion phone numbers and settings
got trashed. Am I screwed?
You're screwed. Always back up your ZPhoneList when you perform
your routine backup. Or, to put it another way, whenever you think
"Man, I really oughta back up my files one of these days," instead
think "Man, I really oughta back up my files, including my
ZPhoneList, one of these days."
Several reports on comp.sys.mac.comm indicate that the ZPhoneList
can be corrupted when restarting a crashed Mac. Apparently this
only occurs if you crash after making changes to the ZPhoneList
settings without saving the changes. You can prevent this problem
by choosing Save Setup from the Dial menu whenever you change
ZTerm's settings.
If your ZPhoneList becomes corrupted, you might be able to extract
the service names and numbers using Denise McElroy's ZTerm Phone
Directory Listing, available from FTP sites and America Online.
[5.4] Why won't ZTerm send my modem initialization string?
ZTerm won't initialize the modem if the default service doesn't
have any characters in the Phone Number field. To fix the problem,
type some characters in the field. The characters don't have to be
a phone number. "I am the Lizard King" works just fine. So does a
couple of spaces.
[5.5] Using multiple ZPhoneLists.
When you launch ZTerm, it looks for a file called ZPhoneList in the
ZTerm folder. To force ZTerm to use a different ZPhoneList, quit
ZTerm and doubleclick on the other ZPhoneList, which does not have
to be in the ZTerm folder. If multiple ZPhoneLists are present in
the ZTerm folder, they must have different names.
To force ZTerm to create a new ZPhoneList, rename the old one, or
move it out of the ZTerm folder, and launch ZTerm.
[5.6] Undocumented tip: changing the data rate.
You can change the data rate without going to the connection
dialog. Click on the data rate string at the bottom of the window
to get a popup menu for changing the data rate.
[5.7] Undocumented tip: changing parity, data bits, and stop bits.
Likewise, clicking on the string to the right of the data rate
string produces a popup menu for selecting N-8-1, E-7-1, or O-7-1
settings.
[5.8] Undocumented tip: dialing the current service.
Command-shift-d normally dials marked services. If no services are
marked, command-shift-d dials the current service.
[5.9] Undocumented tip: adding a separator line to the Dial menu.
Create a new service. In the Service Name field, type one or more
"-" (hyphens). The Dial menu will now have a standard gray
separator line. To take advantage of the separator, some of your
service names must come alphabetically before the hyphen. The
easiest way to do this is to prefix some of the service names with
spaces, which forces them to the top of the Dial menu.
P.S. I have lost the name of the person who posted this tip to
comp.sys.mac.comm. If that person would be so kind as to send me
their name, I'll add it to the credits.
[6] Connecting
[6.1] When ZTerm dials, the dialing line has the A cut off the
dial string, like this: TDT 691-7094. Tell me, tell me!
Whatever could be wrong?
First, make sure your modem is turned on, that the modem cable is
properly connected to the computer and to the phone jack, and that
ZTerm is sending data to the correct port.
Assuming all is well with the modem connection, the consensus seems
to be that this behavior occurs because a previous comm program
left the communications port open. If you witness this behavior,
quit ZTerm, turn the modem off and then back on, and relaunch
ZTerm. One person reported that changing the data rate from 57600
to 38400 solved his problem. Another fixed the problem on his
PowerBook by adding a comma to the beginning of the predial
initialization string.
Thanks to everyone on comp.sys.mac.comm and comp.dcom.modems for
their valuable feedback on this problem!
[6.2] Why is ZTerm so slow at sending passwords on some
services?
You have "Wait for character echo" turned on in the Text Pacing
options, but the remote system isn't echoing the password
characters, so ZTerm waits 5 seconds, times out, and sends the next
character. Turn off the "Wait for character echo" option for that
service.
[6.3] Why isn't there a setting for 14400 bps?
The setting in the connection dialog controls the DTE speed (AKA
terminal speed, Mac-to-modem speed, serial port speed, or what
ZTerm calls the data rate), not the DCE speed (AKA connection
speed, modem-to-modem speed, or carrier speed). 14400 is a DCE
speed, not a DTE speed.
[6.4] What data rate should I use with a 14400 bps modem?
With a high speed modem, you want to set the serial port speed
higher than the carrier speed so that the modem won't get ahead of
the computer. Also, most v.32bis (14400 bps) modems feature
hardware compression methods such as v.42bis and MNP 5. To take
advantage of hardware compression, the serial port speed must be
higher than the carrier speed.
When using a 14400 bps modem to connect to another 14400 bps modem,
set the DTE speed in the Connection dialog to 19200. You can
experiment with higher values, but 19200 should work reliably.
Some users report that high DTE speeds are unreliable when
AppleTalk is enabled in the Chooser DA. Many people experience
problems with 57600 DTE speeds.
[6.5] Why can't I connect at 14400 bps?
Send the modem an AT&V command, which will display all settings. If
you see \J1, you've found the problem. \J1 enables port rate
adjust. (This setting may be something other than \J on some
modems. Check your manual.) This means that the DTE speed will
adjust to the DCE speed. But if you connect at 14400 bps, you're
in trouble, since ZTerm can't send data to the serial port at 14400
bps. To fix the problem, send AT\J0 (zero) to the modem. Better
yet, add \J0 to the modem initialization string in the Modem
Preferences dialog.
[6.6] How can I prevent my modem from constantly dropping carrier?
Tell the modem to ignore DTR. The appropriate string for most
modems is &D0. You cannot use hardware handshaking if &D0 is set.
Be sure to read the section 6.7 to avoid problems hanging up the
phone line.
See also 3.4 if you have call waiting.
See also 3.12 if you have a fax modem.
[6.7] Why won't my modem hangup?
The modem's &D setting and ZTerm's setting for hardware (DTR)
hangup are conflicting. The setting is in ZTerm's Modem
Preferences dialog. Send the command AT&V to your modem to find
your &D setting, and set the hardware hangup according to the
following table:
If your modem is Use this setting in ZTerm's
set to this: Modem Preferences:
&D0 Set Hardware Hangup (DTR) to off
&D1 Set Hardware Hangup (DTR) to off.
&D2 Set Hardware Hangup (DTR) to on.
&D3 Set Hardware Hangup (DTR) to on.
Note that I'm assuming you've set &D to the correct setting. If
not, all bets are off. Check the "Hardware Hangup (DTR)" box to
turn hardware hangup on. Uncheck the box to turn it off. If all
else fails, turn DTR hangup off. DTR hangup is faster, but
software hangup works almost every time.
[7] File Transfers
[7.1] This text, binary, MacBinary, and Smart MacBinary stuff
makes my head spin. Which should I use?
Unless you know better, use Smart MacBinary, which will
automatically select the correct transfer mode. The major
exception is if you are uploading non-text files, such as GIFs or
.zip files, which PC users will use. In that case, use binary to
prevent Finder information from being sent.
This reason this setting is so important is because of the Mac's
unique file format. Macintosh files have two forks, or parts --
the data fork and the resource fork. The data fork holds data,
i.e. text. The resource fork holds resources such as compiled
code, pictures, sounds, etc. Text files are usually all data.
Applications are mostly resources. This two part structure is
unique to the Mac. If you send Mac files to other types of
computers, the files will be damaged. Using MacBinary transfers
prevents this damage.
[7.2] When I download Mac files from a PC BBS, the files have
generic icons and are unusable. What went wrong?
You didn't use MacBinary or Smart MacBinary. See 7.1.
[7.3] Which transfer protocol should I use?
If the service you're calling supports ZModem, use it, because:
1. ZModem is very fast.
2. ZModem is a batch protocol, meaning you can place more than one
file into a batch for uploading or downloading. Most protocols
make you request files one at a time.
3. ZModem has crash recovery. If a 3 hour download is interrupted
1 minute before it finishes, you can redial the service, start the
download again, and finish where you left off.
4. ZModem receives begin automatically. To start a ZModem
download, simply tell the other computer to begin the transfer.
Your computer will detect a ZModem transfer and automatically enter
receive mode. This autoreceive feature necessitates the default
download folder, which ZTerm also uses with other transfer
protocols.
5. ZModem handles XON/XOFF software flow control better than other
protocols.
6. ZModem detects the presence of hardware error correction, such
as MNP 4 and v.42, and turns off its own error detection. The
result is faster throughput when using error-correcting modems.
[7.4] Does ZTerm support batch ZModem downloads?
Yes. ZModem is by definition a batch protocol. To download
multiple files from UNIX using ZModem, use the command
sz -w 2048 file1.txt file2.hqx etc.
[7.5] Interrupting ZModem downloads is messy. What's a modem
freak to do?
Send an ASCII abort or interrupt character. The abort character
varies from host to host, but should be either control-x or
control-k. Control-c is the ASCII interrupt character. Whichever
character you send, type it repeatedly.
[7.6] Can I use ZModem from my VAX or UNIX account?
Yes. The necessary source code for VAX is available via anonymous
FTP from ee.utah.edu in the directory /Comm/Rzsz. You will need
everything but the .tar file. The source code is too large to fit
into my account, so I am currently trying to obtain the executable
binary.
The source code for UNIX is available via anonymous FTP from
sumex-aim.stanford.edu in the directory info-mac.comm. The four
files are in UNIX shar format. I am told that they are not in ANSI
C format. My informant says that UNIX users can use the K & R
compiler and use the command -cckr.
[7.7] How do I prevent massive CRC errors during ZModem
downloads from UNIX?
Try the following suggestions from Fernmail author Dave Platt:
"The commonest reason for this sort of failure-to-resynchronize is,
in my experience, excessive data buffering between the sending "sz"
process and the receiving program. The ZMODEM protocol can become
badly confused if you're connected to your host via a TCP-based
terminal server or some similar serial data switch. If the
terminal server and the network software provides a substantial
amount of data buffering (as it probably does), then the two ZMODEM
processes will each see a _long_ delay between the time that they
send a message to their peer, and the time that the response to
this message makes it through the network to them. This delay will
interfere with the protocol's error-recovery timeouts, and can lead
to an endless stream of recovery attempts.
"I strongly suggest using the poorly-documented "-w" option when
downloading files from a mainframe or workstation, unless you're
_sure_ that all of the data communication links between you and the
host are running at the same speed and don't do data buffering.
The "-w" option enables a four-packet sliding-window mode, which
will guarantee that sz will never "get ahead" of your Mac by more
than the window-size that you specify. As long as the window size
is no more than (e.g.) 10 seconds worth of data, there won't be a
problem with the retry timers expiring before the window is
emptied.
"I usually use "sz -w 2048 filename" when downloading. In fact, I
have "sz" aliased to "sz -w 2048" to ensure that I don't forget to
use windowed mode."
[7.8] I have other transfer problems with UNIX. What's Dave
been smokin'?
If you have trouble with UNIX when you use the telnet command, try
the rlogin command, and vice versa. This tip has solved many
problems for UNIX users.
[7.9] I have an error-correcting modem. Which protocol should I
use?
You should probably still use ZModem, but you might also consider
YModem-G. Other protocols have software error correction which is
redundant and time consuming if your modem has hardware error
checking. (Note that ZModem has error detection, but turns off its
own error correction if it senses a reliable connection between two
error-correcting modems.) Be sure that hardware error correction
is enabled on both modems. Consult your modem manual for
instructions. The downside to YModem-G is that there is no error
recovery, so the transfer terminates if an error is detected. For
this reason, you shouldn't use YModem-G if you have noisy phone
lines or are transferring large files.
[7.10] Why can't I do ZModem uploads to Delphi?
One person reports that changing the ZModem options from rz to uz
fixed his uploading problems.
[7.11] Where's YModem-G Send?
According to ZTerm's excellent Balloon Help, YModem1K send is the
same as YModem-G send.
[7.12] Why does YModem work on some systems and not others?
What some BBSs call YModem is actually XModem-1K. If the BBS
offers YModem and YModem Batch, use YModem Batch, which is the true
YModem ZTerm expects. Otherwise, if YModem transfers aren't
working, tell the BBS to send YModem, and tell ZTerm to receive
XModem-1K. Frankly, this is just one more reason to use ZModem.
[7.13] Using hardware compression makes my uploads and downloads
slower. Was ist los?
Most online files are compressed with software utilities such as
Stuffit and Compact Pro and can't be compressed much more, if at
all. Therefore, the time the modem spends trying to compress and
decompress the files can actually slow down the transfers. V.42bis
is supposed to detect compressed files and turn off its own
compression, but it doesn't always work If hardware compression
causes problems, consult your modem manual to learn how to turn it
off.
[7.14] If I have the Kermit/VT102/etc. Tool, will ZTerm support
Kermit/VT102/etc.? Are any ZModem tools available?
No. ZTerm doesn't use the Communications Toolbox for terminal
emulation, connection, or file transfer, so it can't use
Communications Toolbox tools. The freeware Termy, by Tim Endres of
Ice Engineering, can. I've used Termy and Kermit Tool GH with
great success. Kermit Tool GH also works very well with
Communicate Lite.
There are no freeware or shareware ZModem tools available at this
time. Payware ZModem tool currently available include Pacer
Software's PacerTerm (see MacWEEK (08.09.93) and Seaquest's tools
pack. When released, Aladdin System's SITcomm will includ a ZModem
tool. The next version of Communications Lite from Mark/Space
Softworks will also include a ZModem tool, and will be a free
upgrade for registered users. A demo version of Communicate Lite
is available from America Online and via anonymous FTP from
netcom.com in the directory mspace/pub.
By the time you read this, Crosstalk for Macintosh 2.0 by Digital
Communications Associates, Inc. should be available. According to
MacWEEK (10.11.93), Crosstalk will support XModem, YModem, ZModem,
Kermit, CompuServe QuickB, IND$FILE, and FTTERM. Terminal emulation
includes PC ANSI, VT320, ADDS Viewpoint+, HP 700/94, Wyse 50 and
Televideo 950. Owners of the PC version or of competing Mac
programs can upgrade for $49. Contact Digital Communications
Associates at (404-442-4000).
Look for reviews of SITcomm and Communicate Lite in an upcoming
FAQ.
[7.15] How can I resume downloads interrupted by a meddling
cat?
If an animal, two legged or four legged, presses the 9 key during a
download, ZTerm will display
zrdata: cnt = 1024
zrdat32: cnt = 1024
et cetera ad nauseam. To fix the problem, press the 0 (zero) key.
My friend Neil Schulman discovered this. Dave Alverson tells him
this behavior is actually a debugger built into ZTerm. More
details as they become available, modem fans.
[7.16] Hellfire tarnation and a monkey! Why's my transfer
efficiency so low?
It may not be low at all. Ignore the percent efficiency figure.
The characters per second (cps) rate is a better indicator of
efficiency. On the Mac, one character is eight bits. Sending that
characer over a phone line requires the addition of a start bit and
a stop bit. To convert cps to bits per second (bps), multiply cps
by ten. The maximum theoretical efficiency without hardware
compression or error correction would be 240 cps for 2400 bps
modems, 960 for 9600, and 1440 for 14400. The efficiency won't be
that high, because of line noise and the overhead inherent in any
file transfer protocol. Hardware error correction such as MNP 4
and V.42 can increase throughput by as much as eight percent.
Hardware compression such as MNP 5 and V.42bis can increase
throughput dramatically, assuming the files aren't already
compressed with Stuffit, Compact Pro, etc.
The reason you should ignore the percent efficiency is that ZTerm
normally calculates percent transfer efficiency by dividing the
actual throughput by the DTE speed (what ZTerm calls the data
rate). Assuming your modem is transferring data at exactly 14400,
ZTerm will report the efficiency to be 14400/19200 = 75% at 19200,
14400/38400 = 38% at 38400, and 14400/57600 = 25% at 57600. Yet in
each case the actual transfer efficiency is the same.
Having said all of that, you can use the percent effiency figure if
your modem supports the ATW2 command. When the modem is set to W2,
ZTerm reports the connect speed as the DCE speed rather than the
DTE speed, and calculates percent efficiency based on the DCE
speed. So if your modem is transferring data at exactly 14400,
ZTerm will report the efficiency to be 14400/14400 = 100%.
[8] Sound, ANSI Graphics, and Color
[8.1] Why oh why won't the ZTerm sounds play?
The sounds must be stored in the System file (AKA System suitcase).
See 8.2.
[8.2] Can I use sounds other than the ones that come with ZTerm?
Absolutely. You can rename any system-compatible sound to
"Connect", "Filedone" or "Termbell" and install the sound in the
System file. Under System 7, quit all applications and desk
accessories and drag the sounds to the icon of the closed System
Folder. When asked if you want the sounds installed in the system
file, click OK.
System 6 users can install sounds into the System file using the
shareware SoundMover (shareware by Riccardo Etore) or Apple's
ResEdit. You can also use a resource manager, such as Fifth
Generation System's SuitCase or Alsoft's MasterJuggler, to open the
sounds with ZTerm.
[8.3] Is there any limit on the length of the sounds?
ZTerm doesn't limit the length of the sounds, but ZTerm can't send
or receive data while the sounds are playing. Therefore, a long
connect sound may cause connection problems.
[8.4] How do I turn my modem speaker down or off?
This one is near and dear to my heart, as I used to have the 2400
bps Modem for the Deaf(TM). ZTerm offers three ways to turn the
modem speaker off (AT M0), or to turn the speaker down (AT L0) if
it's on. (All 0's are zeroes, as they always are in the Hayes
language. The only exception is The ATOn command, which is used to
return the modem to online mode. In that case, "O" is an "oh". The
n is a placeholder for an integer number.) M1 turns the speaker
back on. L1 turns the volume back up.
1. You can manually do the deed by typing AT M0 or AT L0 before you
make a connection. This method is best if you only want to silence
the modem for some sessions.
2. To automatically change the volume when dialing a particualr
service, enter AT M0 or AT L0 in the "Pre-dial init" field in that
service's Connection dialog. This method is best if you want the
speaker on for some services and off for others.
3. To automatically control the volume for all services, select
Modem Preferences. Click in the "Initialize" field and use the
cursor keys to move to the far right. Move the cursor just to the
left of ^M and type M0 or L0. This method is best if you want the
speaker off for every service, every time.
These three techniques work for any initialization string,
incidentally.
[8.5] Why can't women see what a great guy I am?
Man! I've been trying to figure out the same thing for years. You
tell me.
[8.6] How do I get ANSI graphics when connecting to a PC BBS?
1. Select Terminal Settings for that service and choose the PC ANSI
BBS radio button.
2. Also in the Terminal Settings dialog, uncheck the "No Extended
Characters (Strip hi bit)" box if it's checked.
3. In the Color Preferences dialog, check the Use Color box.
4. In the Terminal Preferences dialog, set the font size to 9 or 12
point. Other sizes will not work with ANSI graphics. See 10.2.
5. In the Monitors control panel, set the monitor depth to 256
colors or higher. 16 colors will do in a pinch. If your Mac is
limited to 16 colors, I recommend using Jon Snell's ZTerm High
Speed Patch, which installs a 16 color palette into ZTerm.
[8.7] I did all of that and the ANSI graphics still look a
little funny. What gives?
ZTerm 0.9 uses 8 colors for ANSI emulation, while some ANSI
graphics use 16 colors. The next version will support 16 color
ANSI emulation.
[8.8] How can I add excitement to my dull and monotonous life?
Select Color Preferences and choose colored text on a darker
background. I use yellow text on a black background. Use whatever
colors you want. It's your life.
[9] VT100 Emulation
[9.1] I'm wiggin' out, Leslie. Why don't the home, end, page
up, and page down keys on my extended keyboard work?
During VT100 emulation, those keys are assigned to VT100
operations. To make them work like normal Macintosh application
keys, hold down the shift key and then press them.
[9.2] Why don't the f1-f4 editing keys on my extended keyboard
work?
During VT100 emulation, all of the function keys are assigned to
VT100 operations. Use the command key shortcuts or the edit menu.
[9.3] How can I emulate a control key on a Mac Plus?
If you are using System 7 on a U.S. system, install the ZTerm
Keyboard layout. To do this, drag the keyboard layout to the icon
of the closed system folder. When asked if you want to install the
keyboard layout, click OK. The option key will now emulate the
control key.
If you are using a non-U.S. system, or a system earlier than 7.0,
select Terminal Settings from the Settings menu. Assign the
control key function to the command key.
[9.4] How can I emulate an escape key on a Mac Plus?
When Option for Control is checked in Terminal Preferences, the
accent/grave key in the upper left hand corner of the keyboard
emulates the escape key.
[9.5] How can I emulate a VT100 numeric keypad on a PowerBook?
Use NumericKeypad (AKA U.S. Keypad), a ResEdit resource and keypad
written by Mel Park, of the University of Tennessee, Memphis.
NumericKeypad maps the numeric keypad to the regular keyboard when
the caps lock key is engaged.
[9.6] Undocumented tip: positioning the cursor with the mouse.
Not only can you use the mouse to select text, you can also use it
to position the cursor when in editing mode. Hold down the option
key. The pointer will become diamond shaped and will move the
cursor, somewhat slowly, to wherever you click.
[10] Text and Text Files
[10.1] Can I make the terminal font bigger?
Yes. Select Terminal Preferences from the Settings menu and enter
a larger size.
[10.2] Why does onscreen text look so crummy in anything but 9 or
12 point?
ZTerm uses its own terminal font for 9 and 12 point, but uses
Monaco for other sizes. If you want to see ANSI graphics, it is
essential that you select 9 or 12 point. Monaco doesn't contain
the special characters needed for ANSI emulation.
A font-morphing wiz could help Dave Alverson and ZTerm users by
creating, say, 10 and 11 point sizes of the ZTerm font. Contact
Dave Alverson if you're interested.
[10.3] Will ZTerm save text files in something other than
TeachText?
Yes. To change the application ZTerm saves text files in, choose
General Preferences from the Settings menu and choose a new file
creator. TeachText can't open files larger than 32K, so this
feature is especially useful if you save large text files.
[10.4] How can I increase the size of the scroll buffer?
ZTerm stores the contents of the scroll buffer in memory. To
increase the memory partition, increase the current size in ZTerm's
Get Info window. One user has reported that setting the memory
size above 1000K disables scrolling, but I was unable to duplicate
that problem. If you experience trouble with large memory
settings, reduce the setting below 1000K.
[10.5] Why do some characters get corrupted when I copy text from
my word processor and paste it into ZTerm?
The characters you've pasted are illegal on the system you're
logged in to. A lengthy explanation follows.
On the Macintosh, all eight bits of a byte are used for
characters, producing 256 possible characters (two to the eighth
power is 256), though some of these are dead keys, command keys,
etc. Mainframes use only seven bits for text, producing only 128
possible characters (two to the seventh power is 128). This seven
bit text is the ASCII standard (American Standard for Information
Interchange, pronounced "asskey"). If you use any characters which
use the eighth bit, the mainframe ignores the last bit and uses the
first seven bits to determine which character to display.
To avoid illegal characters when composing text for a mainframe,
never use any characters which require pressing the option key.
Also, in your word processor, turn off smart (curly) quotes , which
use the eighth bit. When smart quotes are turned on, the word
"don't" usually becomes "donUt" when pasted to a mainframe. And
I'll bet dollars to donUts you donUt want that to happen.
If you need to upload or paste text files containing illegal eighth
bit characters, process the file with the Zap Gremlins command in
BBEdit Lite 2.3 (freeware by Richard Siegel).
[10.6] Undocumented tip: changing the terminal font with ResEdit.
Shigeru Yamamoto asked Dave how to use ZTerm with a Japanese font.
Dave's instructions follow:
"If you want to try a Japanese font, here's what to do: open the
ZPhoneList file with ResEdit and open the zSet resource. (Leave
the one in the program file alone, it's only used as defaults when
the ZPhoneList is created.) At offset 80 hex in this resource is
the font name used when emulation is set to VT100. At 90 hex is
the font for PC-ANSI. They are pascal strings, so the first byte
is the number of characters in the name. They are fixed fields of
16 bytes, so the longest name that will work is 15 bytes. Make
sure you don't change the size of the field, because everything
after it is position dependent."
[11] Macros and Scripting
See also 4.5 for an explanation of a scripting bug and an easy fix.
[11.1] How do I know the script is running?
You will see a letter or two in the lower right hand corner of the
terminal window. These letters are abbreviations for the command
the script is preparing to execute. By noting which commands have
executed, you can debug scripts more easily.
These are the abbreviations and their meanings, as provided by Dave
Alverson:
b : beep
s : send
w : wait
wp: wait prompt
wq: wait for quiet
[11.2] How do I cancel a script?
Hold down the command key and type a period. Command-period, AKA
the Universal Mac Distress Code, also cancels printing and pastes,
in ZTerm or most other applications, and is the keyboard shortcut
for the cancel button in most dialog boxes.
[11.3] How do I send an escape/linefeed/etc. in a script?
To send an escape, use the line:
send "^["
where "[" is the lowercase left hand bracket, and "^" is the
shift-6 control character. Substitute "^j" for linefeeds.
Basically, you can send any ASCII character using a script. All
you need is a table of ASCII characters and their meaning.
[11.4] Do I have to use the Wait for "da da da" prompt syntax?
No.
Wait prompt "da da da"
works just fine.
[11.5] Why is ZTerm sending only part of a line?
When a line begins with the "send" command, ZTerm sends everything
between the first set of quotes and the second set of quotes. If
the string looks like this:
send " "It is not I who am crazy ... It is I who am MAD!!!" ^M"
ZTerm will send a space, since that's what is between the first and
second set of quotes.
[11.6] How can I send quotation marks within a send statement?
I used to say it couldn't be done, but I found a way.
ZTerm recognizes four varieties of quotation marks: single quote,
double quote, smart single quote, and smart double quote. If you
begin a send statement with one type, ZTerm won't stop sending
until it reaches another quote of the same type. (It doesn't,
however, care which way the smart quotes face.) For instance, if
the send line looks like this:
send ' "It is not I who am crazy ... It is I who am MAD!!!" ^M'
ZTerm will send everything within the single quote marks
(apostrophes).
If your send string contains double and single quotes, enclose the
string within smart quotes. KeyCaps DA will show you the correct
keys for producing smart quotes in your word processor or text
editor. As a rule of thumb, don't enclose smart quotes within the
send string. See 10.5.
[11.7] What does error -49 mean?
It means that the script ZTerm tried to use is open in another
application, such as your word processor. Close the file and try
again.
[11.8] I'm goin' nuts! Why won't my login script run?
There could be a number of reasons.
1. The file may not be in the right place. Login scripts must be
stored in the root level of the ZTerm folder. That is, you should
be able to see the ZTerm application and the script in the same
Finder window using an icon view.
2. The file may not have the correct name. Login scripts should
have the same name as the service, with the ".zts" extension on the
end. If the service is called " MacClique" (note the space), the
script should be called " MacClique.zts", with a space.
3. The script may not be in text only format. ZTerm can only read
text only files (files of type code text), such as TeachText files.
If you write the script with your word processor, be sure to use
the Save As command and select a text only format. If TeachText
can't open the file, it is not in text only format. One exception:
TeachText can't open any file larger than 32K. Or had I mentioned
that already? If you have a working, useful script larger than
32K, I'd like to shake your hand.
4. The script may be an alias. ZTerm doesn't recognize aliased
scripts.
5. There may be something wrong with your login script. To test
your script, connect to the service, select the Run Script command,
and tell ZTerm to use the login script. If the script doesn't work
when run manually, the script is faulty. Check spelling and
syntax.
[11.9]Login script example
The login script for my university's timesharing network follows:
wait prompt "ENTER HOST NAME OR HELP >"
send "vax^M"
wait prompt "Username:"
send $account "^M"
wait prompt "Password:"
send $password "^M"
Note that $account and $password are NOT inside quotation marks.
For this script to work, the values for $account and $password must
be entered into the Connection dialog.
[11.10]Undocumented tip: sending a sig with a script and macro.
UNIX users often include a signature at the end of their messages.
The signature, or sig, often includes the person's name, email
address, affiliation, etc. Sigs are automated in UNIX. ZTerm
users can easily include a sig with their email by creating a sig
script.
Launch your favorite text editor or word processor, set the font to
Monaco, and write the sig as you want it to appear. Then enclose
each line of text in quotation marks, type "send" without the
quotes in front of each line, and include a ^M before the second
set of quotation marks. To send a blank line, send a ^M by itself.
Save the script in the ZTerm folder and name it sig. If you use a
word processor, be sure to use Save As and save in a text only
format.
Example:
send
"************************************************************^M"
send "Leslie Jones ljones@utkvx.utk.edu AOL:
LeslieJonz^M"
send "^M"
send "Made from only the freshest electrons and 100% pure ASCII
to^M"
send " insure that you have the best possible email experience.^M"
send
"************************************************************^M"
Now launch ZTerm and choose Edit Macros from the Macro menu. Name
the new macro sig, and type "(option-r)sig" in the Macro String
field. Now your sig is only a macro away. You could also use the
Run Script command under the Macro menu, but it wouldn't be as
convenient. Enjoy!
[11.11]Other uses of scripts and macros
Scripts and macros can eliminate a lot of needless typing. The
following is a script I concocted to speed up Kermit transfers on
the VAX. (I'm really looking forward to Kermit support in the next
version of ZTerm!)
Example:
wait "kermit>" prompt
send "SET BLOCK_CHECK_TYPE THREE_CHARACTER_CRC_CCITT^M"
wait "kermit>" prompt
send "SET SEND PACKET_LENGTH 1000^M"
wait "kermit>" prompt
send "SET RECEIVE PACKET_LENGTH 1000^M"
I use the following script to log on to the sumex-aim FTP site.
send "FTP sumex-aim.stanford.edu^M"
wait prompt "Username:"
send "anonymous^M"
wait prompt "Password:"
send "ljones@utkvx.utk.edu^M"
wait prompt "FTP>"
send "cd info-mac^M"
As in the example in 11.10, I could trigger these scripts with a
macro or with the "run script" command.
And finally, an Easter Egg. Open a copy of ZTerm in ResEdit.
Doubleclick on the STR resource, then doubleclick on the ID=0
resource. Inside you'll see a line from Monty Python. Enjoy!
Send in those corrections and tips! And send Dave your shareware
fee!