CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/cpm/modems/modem2/ukm7.doc

Text File | 1994-07-13 | 9KB | 197 lines

                                  UKM7

             A SOFTWARE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM FOR CP/M-80.

UKM7 has been adapted from MODEM7 for use in the UK. MODEM7 was original-
ly written in 1977 by Ward Christensen, principally for the American PMMI
modem and although it generally works,  many bugs and problem areas  were
in  evidence.  Being very modem dependent (PMMI modems must be as rare as
hen's teeth in the UK), David Back has removed all of the modem dependent
features and at the same time,  cleaned up a great many bugs, mainly from
the Terminal mode.  Further,  tidying up the file and combining  Terminal
and  Echo  modes,  so that you may now echo whilst retaining all  of  the
Terminal mode facilities.  In spite of the appearance of the Menu,  which
is more complete than that of MODEM7,  no functions useful in the UK have
been omitted, indeed, many of MODEM7's functions have been improved.

1)   You  may  use  UKM7  direct from a CP/M  command  line  without  any
     restrictions.

2)   All  terminal  file writing and closing  has  been  made  completely
     automatic so that it is now impossible to forget to write and  close
     the file.

3)   You  may return from Terminal mode to the main menu and perform  any
     allowable   option,  including  Send  and/or  Receive  files  whilst
     retaining an open terminal file.

4)   You may return to the same terminal file from menu level  simply  by
     entering  T,  both ECHO and FILESAVE will be ON or OFF as  you  left
     them.

5)   You may start a new terminal file by exiting to MENU level and  then
     re-entering terminal mode with another, or even the same, filename.

6)   An automatic LOG ON/answerback feature has been added,  activated by
     receipt of a ^E, from the menu level.

7)   Automatic terminal filesave  has been added.  If a terminal file  is
     open and terminal file save is off then it can be remotely turned on
     by receipt of ^R and off by receipt of ^T.

8)   Echo on/off may be toggled whilst in terminal mode. (Control-C)

9)   Printer On/Off toggle via control-P

As  UKM7 may be assembled with either ASM or MAC,  there is no  point  in
retaining  the elaborate patching facilities of the MODEM7  series.  They
are  still  there in a modified form but a UKM7.SET file is not provided.
There are no modem dependent features in UKM7 and all system dependencies
are  gathered together at the beginning of the program.  The program  has
been  patched  with 820 port addresses and initialisation.  Other  simple
patches are possible, they are commented on in the source file and may be
altered to taste.

The  file sending and receiving protocols of UKM7 are exactly as those in
MODEM765.  They are compatible with all of the MODEMX program series back
to at least as far as MODEM4.  The protocols work well,  being relatively
bug free and are widely used, but does have some snags which will show up
sometimes on a bad line.  These are documented by David Back in the  form
of flow charts,  but they are too complex to present here. UKM7 will work
equally well with CP/M 1.4 or CP/M 2.2.

Hopefully,  the  command syntax is self evident from the built in  menus.
Type  M  followed by a carriage return to get the menu display  when  the
program begins in expert mode.

Although  the non-batch mode of file transfer is redundant,  it has  been
retained  for  compatibility  with other MODEM programs and  because  the
protocol  is simpler and more suitable than batch mode  for  transmitting
files  over  a non-duplex link such as a radio channel.  Note that  batch
mode  is now the norm and you have to include secondary option N  to  get
non-batch operation.

The quiet mode is retained as original.  This is intended for  situations
where  UKM7  is  running on a remote CP/M system.  (Suppress  all  system
messages (don't display the screen).

In order to upload or download files from a remote system using UKM7 S or
R modes,  it is first necessary to contact and sign on with the remote in
the normal way using the Terminal mode.  Assuming that the remote station
has UKM7 available, it can then be given the command:

            UKM7 SQ afn list          or           UKM7 RQ

Having done this, the local must then use ^E to return to main menu level
and give the RT or ST command as appropriate. File transfer will commence
and, when complete, the local station will finish up in Terminal mode and
the remote will be in UKM7 at main menu level.  Thus,  further  transfers
may be initiated, or the CPM command may be given to return the remote to
CP/M command level.

EXPLANATION OF COMMAND SYNTAX AT MENU LEVEL

The  menu  indicates  a  general command  syntax  which  applies  to  all
commands,  but as syntax varies somewhat from one command to another, the
explanation  below may be useful.  Note that entry of ^X at either end of
the communication link will abort the file transfer in progress - one way
or another.  (This feature has been left exactly as it was found and does
not work entirely satisfactorily.  An abort protocol needs to be invented
and the author may work on this for a later issue if nobody else comes up
with any ideas.)

SEND FILES IN BATCH MODE, primaryoption S

Either  single  or multiple files may be sent with one command by use  of
this option.

The Sending command is:         S[Q][S|R|V][T] [drive:]afn [ [drive:]afn]

i.e. you may use a list of ambiguous filenames separated by spaces. Files
with the $SYS attribute set,  i.e.  system files,  cannot be sent. If the
receiving  station is not using UKM7 you must tell it that you are  going
to use the Batch Mode.

RECEIVE FILES IN BATCH MODE, primaryoption R

Filenames are transmitted along with the file and used to make new  files
at  the receiving station.  If a file of the same name already exists the
existing file will be renamed .BAK

The Receiving command is:                         R[Q][S|R|V][T] [drive:]

If  the drive is not specified then files will be directed to the default
drive.

TERMINAL MODE, primaryoption T

To enter Terminal mode:                   T [drive:][unambiguousfilename]

In  order  to start a terminal file,  a filename must be  specified  when
entering terminal mode.
Exit  from  terminal  mode to Menu level (using ^E) does  not   close  an
existing terminal file.

If  a  terminal  file is open then re-entry to terminal  mode  without  a
filename will allow its continued use.

Entry  to terminal mode with a filename specified will close the  current
terminal file, if one existed, then open a file with the specified name.

When  return is made to the CP/M command level by using the  CPM  primary
option,  the current terminal file will be closed. Do not exit to CP/M by
re-booting or else an open terminal file will not be closed and data will
be lost.

The terminal menu may be displayed after entry to terminal mode by typing
^D. When a terminal file is open, its name will be displayed in the menu.
No name means no file and data cannot then be saved.

The Computer mode may be entered by typing ^C. Only one end of a communi-
cation  link  may be in the Computer mode at any one  time.  In  Computer
mode, characters received via the Modem are echoed back to the originator
and  characters  sent are echoed to the local  console.  Line  feeds  are
automatically  appended to carriage returns.  Both terminal file save and
file  transfer  with the ^T option work in Computer mode as  they  do  in
Terminal mode.

Remaining features of the terminal menu are self evident.

DIRECT ENTRY FROM CP/M COMMAND LEVEL

Any  of  the  above commands may be given to UKM7 direct  from  the  CP/M
command level. For example:

A>UKM7 ST B:*.COM IQ*.ASM

will transmit all .COM files from drive B: and all .ASM files which begin
with  IQ from drive A:  and finish up in Terminal mode.  There will be no
terminal file.

A>UKM7 T B:TFILE

will open terminal file B:TFILE and enter terminal mode.

Both M and X commands may be executed direct from the CP/M command level.

NON BATCH MODE, secondaryoption N

This  mode  has been retained for compatibility with  older  versions  of
MODEMX.  One  unambiguous filename is required for both Send and Receive,
i.e. only one file may be transferred at a time.

Send a file, non batch mode:                 SN[Q][S|R|V][T] [drive:]unfn

Receive a file, non batch mode:              RN[Q][S|R|V][T] [drive:]unfn

PRACTICAL POINTS

The  author  has tried unsuccessfully to provided control such  that  the
modem  has  always  been  automatically  connected  and  disconnected  at
appropriate  times.  A manually operated switch on the modem  is  better.
A manual switch is also preffered for selecting Call or Answer modes  for
local attended operation. Smartmodems of the Hayes variety have yet to be
commercially available at reasonable prices in the UK.  This program will
therefore be of special interest to those users without "smart"
features.