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Ideal Terminal IT Version 3.15 28-Jan-91 Copyright 1991 Harbaugh This is shareware. I encourage you to share copies of this program freely so that you and other potential users can easily try it out. If you find IT fast, easy, and convenient to use, please register by sending the purchase price of $20. Registered users will receive one free program update (on 5 1/4 inch 360k disk) and technical support by phone or mail. You may use the next page as a registration form. Please indicate which version of IT you have, and where you got IT. Thank you. Donald G. Harbaugh Member, Association of Shareware Professionals 771 Blanchard Way Sunnyvale, CA 94087 408 737-9130 IDEAL TERMINAL Registration Form _______________________________________________ Name _______________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ I got IT (Version 3.15 28 Jan 91) from: Bulletin board _______________________________ Mail-Order Shareware distributor _______________________________ _ Friend |_| Other _______________________________ Please send $20 to: Donald G. Harbaugh 771 Blanchard Way Sunnyvale, CA 94087 USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 3 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 INSTALLATION 3.0 OPERATION 4.0 THE SET-UP FILE 5.0 TERMINAL EMULATION 6.0 THE STATUS LINE 7.0 IT COMMANDS USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION This is Ideal Terminal (IT for short), a VT-100 and VT-52 terminal emulator and communications program for the IBM PC, PC-XT, PC-AT, PS-2, and compatible computers. To use IT, your PC needs to be equipped with version 2.0 (or later) of DOS and an asynchronous communications adapter (COM1, 2, 3, or 4). IT works with both monochrome and color graphics display adapters. With IT, you can use your PC as a terminal connected directly to a main frame computer or other device, such as a prom programmer or an in-circuit emulator. IT can also communicate via modem with a dial-up host. IT auto-dials modems that are AT command compatible. IT is fast, suitable for screen editing at 9600 baud, even when run on a 4.77 mhz PC. And with more powerful PCs, you can operate at 19,200 and 38,400 baud, provided that the host supports those rates. IT.EXE is less than 50,000 bytes in length, and so it loads quickly when you run it. IT can do file transfers between the PC and the host using two popular error checking protocols (Xmodem and Kermit). IT can also send and receive files unchecked to and from hosts that have no Xmodem or Kermit services. Other features of IT: - Simple to install, only 4 files on distribution diskette, including this document - Simple to operate, with on-line help - Retains history of session for instant review and capture - Commands from session history may be edited and reissued - Dialing directory for use with AT command compatible modem - Macro keys may be used to automate key sequences or dial modems that are not AT command compatible - Set-up file may be used to set defaults, define macro keys - Logging (capture) to disk - Logging to printer - Wildcard file specifications may be used in Kermit transfers - Path search for set-up and dialing directory files allows running IT from any directory - Escape to DOS while IT stays resident, beeps to signal receipt of data from host - Screen blackout after 30 minutes of no activity to avoid phosphor etching USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 5 2.0 INSTALLATION IT consists of the following files: - IT.DOC This user's guide - IT.EXE The executable program - IT.SET Set-up file - IT.DIR Auto-dial phone numbers file Print a copy of this user's guide, if you like, for reference. Copy the other 3 files into a directory that is in your DOS PATH command --- you do NOT need a copy in every directory where you will use IT. IT works with asynchronous communications adapters COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. COM3 and COM4 were not included in the PC design, but de facto standards have evolved. For COM3, IT uses base I/O address 3E8 and interrupt IRQ4 (level 4 on the master interrupt controller). For COM4, IT uses 2E8 and IRQ3. For modem hookup, follow directions supplied with the modem. For a direct connection between the PC and a host (not a modem), you may need a null modem or a cable with TRANSMIT DATA and RECEIVE DATA cross-connected. Check your host's installation manual for terminal cabling. If you want to make an RS-232 cable, you should know that IT only needs TRANSMIT DATA, RECEIVE DATA, and SIGNAL GROUND. IT asserts REQUEST TO SEND and DATA TERMINAL READY always. IT ignores CLEAR TO SEND, DATA SET READY, and SIGNAL DETECT. IT does flow-control using XOFF/XON characters in the data, rather than using RS-232 signals. IT sends XOFF (ASCII 19) when there is a significant backlog in its receive buffer, and sends XON (ASCII 17) when the backlog is cleared. IT ignores XOFF and XON from the host, except when sending a file in the ASCII or script protocol. To run IT, simply type IT at the DOS prompt: C> it The screen will go blank except for IT version identification at the top and a status line at the bottom. Note the baud rate USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 6 and comm adapter shown in the status line. Type ALT-B to change baud rate and ALT-C to change comm adapter until they are set properly. (ALT-B means hold down the ALT key and hit the B key, either upper or lower case). With IT there is no "connect" command, i.e. you are "connected" the moment you run IT. All keys you type are sent out the currently selected comm port, except for ALT keys and your responses to the prompts that result from ALT keys. Now Type a command to the host attached to the selected comm adapter, and see if you get the right response. If attached to an AT command compatible modem, type "ATH" <CR>. (Throughout this manual, <CR> means the carriage return, or enter key.) You should see "ATH" and then "OK". If you don't, type "ATE1" <CR>, and then "ATQ0" <CR>. If you get the right response, you can skip the rest of this section. If you see a garbled response, type ALT-V to select VT-52 mode (seen in the bottom line) and try again. If the response is still garbled, try selecting different combinations of parity and frame length (number of data and stop bits) by typing ALT-F and ALT-G. As you type those commands, the new frame length and parity will be shown in the bottom line. There are 12 combinations to try. If each character that you type appears twice or not at all, type ALT-O to change the full or half-duplex (echo) selection. If you still do not get the right response, you may have a comm adapter conflict, i.e. more than one comm adapter configured as (for example) COM1. Read the manuals for your system and add-on boards to identify all the comm adapters in your system. Make sure that the comm adapter you want to use is the only one configured to the COMx number that you want to use. You may need to change jumpers or switches on add-on boards, or even remove a board. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 7 3.0 OPERATION The complete DOS command-line format for IT is: C> it [setup_file] [ALT-key] where: "setup_file" is the set-up file name, and "ALT-key" is the alt key to be invoked initially (as if you had typed it immediately after running IT). More about alt keys in the next section. Both setup_file and ALT-key are optional, and may be used in any combination and order. Set-ups for IT can be selected in an ASCII file. The set-up file name is assumed to be IT.SET unless you use the setup_file parameter on the DOS command line. IT searches for the set-up file by looking first in the current directory and then through the directories given in the DOS "path" command. If the file is not found, IT uses the default set-ups shown in section 4. This gives you 2 convenient ways to set up for operation with different hosts: (1) Create a directory for each host, with a set-up file to match (named IT.SET) in each. Run IT from the directory of the current host, no command-line file name is needed. (2) Create set-up files (in any directory listed in your PATH) named for the host they are used with. Run IT from any directory and specify the set-up file on the command line. For example, you might have one set-up file named COMPU.SET, and another named VAX.SET. You run IT from any directory by typing: C> it compu (or) C> it vax EXAMPLES: C> it causes (by default) a search for a file named IT.SET. C> it compu causes a search for a file named COMPU.SET. Note that the file extension must be .SET and you don't need to type it on the USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 8 command line. C> it alt-7 executes it and executes the alt-7 key as if you had typed it. This option is useful when you invoke IT from a batch file such as AUTOEXEC.BAT. C> it alt-f10 compu combines the two options on one DOS command line, they may be in either order. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 9 4.0 THE SET-UP FILE The set-up file is an ASCII file that you can create and modify using an ASCII editor such as EDLIN. Here is the set-up file distributed with IT: ; IT.SET Set-ups for IT. ; Comments begin with ";" ; Case (UPPER and lower) is ignored. ; The active choice shown in this document is also the default, ; used if no choice is made, or if no set-up file is found. ;---------------------------------------------------------------- ; active available ; choice: choices: meaning: ; ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ com1 ; com1, com2, com3, comm adapter ; com4 1200 ; 9600, 150, 300, baud rate ; 1200, 2400, 4800 ; 19.2, 38.4 (kbaud) 8data ; 8data, 7data number of data bits 1stop ; 1stop, 2stop number of stop bits noparity ; noparity, parity selection ; oddparity, ; evenparity full ; full, half (duplex) echo selection 7bit ; 7bit, 8bit receive character masking vt52 ; vt52, vt100, tty terminal emulation mode del ; del, bs backspace character code number ; number, arrow keypad mode nowrap ; nowrap, linewrap screen wrap mode tone ; tone, pulse modem dialing mode kermit ; kermit, xmodem, file transfer protocol ; ascii, script ;---------------------------------------------------------------- ; Beep frequency, use "beep x", where x is 10 to 64000: ; beep 200 ; produces a high-pitched beep ; beep 50000 ; produces a low-pitched beep beep 32000 ; default ;---------------------------------------------------------------- ; Screen color definition, use "x on y", where x and y are: ; 0 for black 4 for red ; 1 for blue 5 for magenta ; 2 for green 6 for brown USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 10 ; 3 for cyan 7 for white ; Default is 7 on 0 (white on black) ; For high-intensity foreground, add 8 to x. For example, ; 15 on 1 ; high-intensity white on blue 7 on 1 ; white on blue ;---------------------------------------------------------------- ; Alt key assignments to IT commands. ; Alt keys are used to issue IT commands. For example, alt-H ; (meaning hold down the Alt key while you type the H key) is the ; alt key assigned to the HELP command. When you type alt-H, IT ; displays on-line help on your screen. This help includes a list ; of the IT commands and for each command, the assigned alt key(s) ; and a brief description. There are 48 alt keys and 24 IT commands. ; The 48 alt keys are: ; alt-= ; alt-- ; alt-A thru alt-Z ; alt-0 thru alt-9 ; alt-F1 thru alt-F10 ; Each IT command is assigned to one alt key by default (within IT). ; By changing this file you can add, delete, or change alt key ; assignments. You can assign none, one, or more than one alt key to ; each command. The only restrictions are: ; 1. You cannot change alt-H, it is always assigned to HELP. ; 2. You cannot change alt-X, it is always assigned to QUIT. ; The format of an alt key assignment is (two examples): ; alt-Q QUIT ; this assigns QUIT to alt-Q in addition ; ; to alt-X ; alt-C ; this gives alt-C no assignment, prevents ; ; you from accidentally changing comm ports ; If no assignment is present in this file for a given alt key, the ; default assignment remains in effect for that key. ; Here are the default alt key assignments: alt-W wrap ; change line wrap mode alt-E dos ; enter dos temporarily alt-R recv ; receive file alt-Y hist ; view scroll history alt-O echo ; change echo mode alt-P logp ; change printer logging alt-S send ; send file alt-D dial ; auto-dial a modem alt-F fram ; change character frame alt-G par ; change character parity alt-H help ; display IT help alt-K xfer ; change file xfer mode alt-L logf ; change file logging USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 11 alt-X quit ; quit IT alt-C comm ; change comm port alt-V term ; change terminal emulation mode alt-B baud ; change baud rate alt-N mask ; change input char mask alt-1 get1 ; view screen 1 alt-2 get2 ; view screen 2 alt-3 get3 ; view screen 3 alt-F1 put1 ; save screen 1 alt-F2 put2 ; save screen 2 alt-F3 put3 ; save screen 3 ;---------------------------------------------------------------- ; Macro key definitions. ; Alt keys can also be used as macro keys. A macro key consists of a ; string (up to 246 characters long) that is sent, as if typed, when the ; assigned alt key is typed. In other words, you can type a single ; alt key, and IT will "type" a string of characters for you. Up to 48 ; macro keys can be defined. Note that if the same alt key is used in ; more than one definition (IT command or macro key), the last ; definition in the file is used, all others are ignored. ; The macro string can also contain certain groups of characters ; beginning with backslash (\) for these special actions: ; \Axxx. to "type" another alt key, e.g. \Af1. for alt-F1 ; Note the period, required to mark the end of the group. ; \B for comm line break ; \D for 1 sec delay ; \E for the escape character ; \N for carriage return ; \R also for carriage return ; \Sxxxx. to choose a set-up, e.g. \Svt100. for vt100 ; Note the period, required to mark the end of the group. ; \nnn for any ascii char, nnn = character code in octal ; To send the backslash itself, use \\. ; The format of a macro key definition is: ; alt-XXX "macro string" ; Note the double-quotes around the string, they are required. ; It is ok to use double-quotes within the string. The entire ; definition must be on one line. Here are the macro key definitions: ; The following defines alt-F6 to be a macro that sets the terminal ; emulation mode to vt-100, sets the baud rate to 1200, sets the ; modem's "wait for carrier" register to 15 seconds, waits 2 seconds, ; and then types alt-d to bring up the dialing directory. alt-f6 "\svt100.\s1200.ats7=15\n\d\d\ad." ;---------------------------------------------------------------- USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 12 5.0 TERMINAL EMULATION IT emulates a VT-100 terminal. The VT-100 is a CRT terminal made by Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC). The VT-100 has a mode of operation in which it emulates the VT-52, another DEC terminal. IT supports both the VT-100 and VT-52 modes. IT emulates most, but not all, features of the VT-100. IT can also be used as a "glass TTY", i.e. an ASCII terminal that ignores escape sequences and processes only the basic control characters such as carriage return and line feed. See section 7.10 for more about TTY operation. 5.1 DISPLAY EMULATION The VT-100 display has 24 lines of 80 or 132 characters. The PC display has only 80 columns, and so it's not possible to show 132 columns on one line. Instead, IT "wraps" to the next line when necessary in the 132-column mode. The VT-100 has programmable tab stops, but IT only emulates the 8-column tabs. The VT-100 has double size characters not possible on the IBM PC. These are displayed in normal size and with normal spacing. The VT-100 has special graphics characters that are emulated by IT, as nearly as the IBM PC display font permits. However, six of these graphic characters have no equal in the IBM PC font, namely the 2-letter characters: HT, FF, CR, LF, NL, and VT. IT displays a blank for each of these. Line noise or baud rate mismatch may accidentally cause IT to go into the graphics mode (just as an actual VT-100 terminal would). When this happens you see graphic symbols in place of lower-case alphabetic characters. To correct this problem, select vt-52 emulation mode and then vt-100 mode again. The IBM PC has one more display line than the VT-100, and IT uses that line (the bottom line of the screen) to display status. The VT-100 can display characters in high intensity, blinking, reverse background, and underlined. IT emulates all of these features on a USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 13 monochrome display, and all but the underline feature, which is not possible, on a color display. The slow-scroll and inverse video features are not emulated. The VT-100 terminal reset is emulated by simply exiting and re- executing IT. After 30 minutes of inactivity, IT blacks-out the screen to prevent phosphor etching. Type any character key to restore the screen, that keystroke is ignored except to restore the screen. 5.2 KEYBOARD EMULATION IT uses the PC function keys F1 through F4 to emulate the VT-100 programmable function keys PF1 through PF4. The VT-100 arrow keys are emulated as follows: F5 and F6 (both) for the up-arrow, F7 for the left-arrow, F8 for the right-arrow, and F9 and F10 (both) for the down-arrow. The PC numeric keypad is used for the VT-100 keypad. The PC keypad asterisk (*) is used for keypad comma (,) and keypad plus (+) is used for ENTER. The VT-100 has two keypad modes, called NORMAL and ALTERNATE. The terminal is initially in the NORMAL mode, but some host programs command the terminal to go to ALTERNATE and then back to NORMAL during the course of program operation. The terminal sends different character codes for the keypad keys, depending on which of the modes is currently active. When in the NORMAL keypad mode, you can use the PC keypad in either of the PC keypad modes: NUMERIC, or ARROW, as controlled by the NUM LOCK key. However, when in the ALTERNATE keypad mode, the PC keypad must be in NUMERIC so that keypad 5 will be usable. Therefore, IT automatically selects NUMERIC when the host commands ALTERNATE keypad mode, and restores the original state when the host commands NORMAL. Later versions of the VAX VMS operating system allow command line editing, where previously typed commands can be recalled, edited, and reissued. Using the ARROW mode, you can do VMS command line editing using the PC keypad "naturally", i.e. in the way the keys are marked. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 14 That is, the 4 keypad keys marked with arrows produce the same codes as the VT-100 arrow keys. The Home key produces ^H (<CONTROL>-H), the End key produces ^E, the Ins key produces ^A, and the Del key produces the right-arrow code followed by the delete code. The VT-100 terminal has both a backspace key (ascii 8) and a "del" key (ascii 127), but the PC has only a backspace key. You can select which of these 2 character codes you want the backspace key to send. See section 4, set-up file. Typing <CONTROL>-H (hold down the control key while you type the H key) can always be used to send the backspace character code. The VT-100 BREAK key is emulated by the <CONTROL>-BREAK key. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 15 6.0 THE STATUS LINE IT uses the bottom line of the display to show status, prompt for input, and display messages. 6.1 STATUS FIELDS The status line shows the fields described below, left to right. "ALT-H for help" is displayed to show you how to call up the help display. At certain times, IT shows "<ESC> to cancel" here to tell you that the Esc key may be used to cancel the current operation. IT shows the keyboard caps-lock status, either "CAP" or blank. IT displays NUM LOCK status (NUMERIC or ARROW) by showing an "N" or an up-arrow. The currently selected file transfer protocol (Kermit, Xmodem, ASCII, or script) is displayed. If ASCII, a digit (7 or 8) is appended to show the character masking choice from the set-up file. If 7 bit character masking is selected, and if there are 8 data bits per character, IT discards the most significant bit of each character received. This selection has no effect on characters transmitted, nor any effect during Kermit and Xmodem transfers. IT shows the currently selected communications adapter, COM1, COM2 COM3, or COM4. The currently selected baud rate (150, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19.2, or 38.4) is displayed next. 19.2 means 19,200 and 38.4 means 38,400 bits per second. Next is the currently selected character frame, in the format DPPS (for example 8NO1). The first character is the number of Data bits (8 or 7), the next 2 characters indicate Parity (NOne, ODd, or EVen), and the last character is the number of Stop bits (1 or 2). IT shows the currently selected terminal emulation mode: "VT-52", "VT-100", or "TTY". "W" is shown when in the line wrap (132 column) mode. "O" is shown when local echo (half-duplex) is on. In this mode, USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 16 keys typed are displayed on the screen in addition to being sent to the host. If the host echoes characters received back to the terminal, then the terminal should be in full duplex mode (no local echo) to avoid duplicating each character typed. "LOG" is shown when logging to disk. "PRT" is displayed when logging to printer. The current date and time are also shown. When RECEIVING a file using Kermit or Xmodem protocol, IT shows the number of bytes received so far, as "nnnnn bytes". When SENDING a file using Kermit or Xmodem protocol, IT shows the number of bytes sent so far followed by percent complete, as "nn%". 6.2 STATUS LINE PROMPTING Some of the IT commands need additional information (such as file name), and in those cases IT prompts for the added info in the status line. You will see the cursor to the right of the prompt, where you must type the needed info. In some cases, a default type-in is provided for you, and to accept it you just type <CR>. If you want to discard the default, you can use the DELETE key to erase it one character at a time, or you can discard the whole default with the ESCAPE key <ESC>. When you have typed the response to the prompt, type <CR> and IT will do the requested function and restore the status line to normal. Any time before typing <CR>, you can edit your response using the arrow keys, Home, End, Del, backspace, tab, shift-tab, and <ESC>. The insert mode is active at the start of each prompt. In insert mode, characters under and to the right of the cursor are pushed right to make room for each new character typed. Use the Ins key to toggle between insert and overwrite mode. In overwrite mode, each character typed replaces the one under the cursor. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 17 6.3 STATUS LINE MESSAGES IT displays messages in the status line in the same way as prompts. Each message is announced with a beep, and is followed by the prompt: "hit <CR> to continue". Here are the messages: can't find IT.DIR You issued the DIAL command, but IT could not find the file named IT.DIR. Check path. can't open IT.DIR A disk error was found opening IT.DIR. can't find: xxxxxxxxxxxxx The wildcard file spec given for a Kermit send does not match any file. Check device, path, and file name. can't open: xxxxxxxx.xxx The file name given for disk logging, sending, or receiving could not be opened. Check device, path, and file name. error logging to disk Error writing to the disk log file. May mean that the disk is full. error receiving xxxxxxxx.xxx error sending xxxxxxxx.xxx Kermit file transfer has failed. May mean that the host Kermit has timed-out because you were too slow starting the transfer on the PC end. Try again. error writing: xxxxxxxx.xxx Error writing the file being received. May mean that the disk is full. host error: xxxxx Kermit file transfer has been aborted by the host for the reason xxxxx. no scroll history There is not enough free memory to keep scroll history. not enough memory for help There is not enough free memory to build the help display. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 18 7.0 IT COMMANDS ALT keys are used to issue commands to IT. For example, ALT-H calls up the IT help display. ALT-H means hold down the ALT key and hit the H key (upper or lower case). There are 24 IT commands, assigned to alt keys in the set-up file. See 4.0 for a complete list of commands and how to assign alt-keys to them. You can also see the list of commands and current alt key assignments by typing ALT-H. Some of the commands need explanation, and these are described here. The commands are described by name, e.g. DIAL, DOS, LOGF, etc. A command is invoked by typing the alt-key that is assigned to it. You never type the command name. 7.1 DIAL: AUTO-DIAL A MODEM If your PC has a modem that is AT command compatible, IT will dial for you. You first use an editor to make a file named IT.DIR containing phone numbers you want to dial. The file can be up to 23 lines long, and each line can have one phone number. Blanks are ignored and you can put comments beginning with a semicolon after each phone number. When you type the DIAL alt key, IT searches through the list of directories given in the DOS "path" command for the file IT.DIR. IT displays the first 23 lines of IT.DIR, putting the line number (1 to 23) at the left for identification. IT then prompts with: "dial number:" Enter the number (1 though 23) and <CR>. IT will then command the modem with "ATDT" (or "ATDP") followed by the number on the line you have selected. ATDT is the smartmodem command to dial a number using touch-tones, ATDP, using pulses. You can choose tone or pulse dialing in the set-up file. You will hear the dial tone, the touch-tones (or pulses), and the ring tone (or a busy signal). If the line is not busy, and if a modem answers, you will hear the carrier tones briefly and see "CONNECT". After CONNECT, the device at the other end of the telephone line is the host, rather than the modem. This means that you can no longer USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 19 control the modem by typing smartmodem commands --- everything you type is passed through to the remote host. Everything except for the escape code, 3 plus signs typed quickly. If you type 3 plus signs, you will see "OK", the smartmodem prompt. You can now type any of the smartmodem commands. The command that you need most often is "ATH <CR>" to hang up. If the modem does not CONNECT within a certain time, IT will hang up and re-dial the same number. IT will continue re-dialing until CONNECT or until you cancel by typing <ESC>. If IT CONNECTS after re-dialing, IT will beep the PC's speaker every 2 seconds until you hit a key. This lets you go about other business within earshot while IT repeatedly re-dials a busy number. 7.2 DOS: ENTER DOS TEMPORARILY If you want to execute a DOS command without missing any data from the host, use the DOS command. The screen will go blank and you will see the DOS version identification. You may now type DOS commands, as before you ran IT. IT remains in memory and beeps if any data is received from the host. Type EXIT at the DOS prompt to return to IT. IT will restore the screen and display any new data received while running DOS. Before IT restores the screen, it saves the DOS screen image in buffer 1 (as if you had typed the command PUT1). So if the screen contained something useful (such as a directory listing) you can review it using GET1. In order for the DOS command to work, the DOS file COMMAND.COM must be present in one of the directories listed in the currently active PATH definition. 7.3 GET AND PUT SCREEN IMAGES If you want to save a copy of the screen for review later, use PUT1, PUT2, or PUT3. These commands each save an image of the current screen for you to review later, using GET1, GET2, or GET3 respectively. When you type a GET command, the first 12 lines of the saved screen image will appear in a window at the top of the screen. Then you can scroll through the image to view the rest of it. See 7.9, the HIST command, for information on other functions you USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 20 can perform while viewing a screen image. 7.4 LOGF: LOG TO A FILE The LOGF command starts or stops logging to a file. While logging to a file, all characters seen on the screen are also written to a file. When you command LOGF, IT will prompt you with: "log file: xxxxxxxx.xxx" where xxxxxxxx.xxx = the name of the last log file used. Hit <CR> to accept the file name in the prompt, or hit ESCAPE to clear the default, and then type a file name and <CR>. If the file name you enter already exists, IT will append new data to it. This allows you to turn logging on and off repeatedly to accumulate only what you want into a single file. 7.5 LOGP: LOG TO THE PRINTER The LOGP command starts or stops logging to the printer. While logging to the printer, all characters seen on the screen are also printed. 7.6 XFER: CHANGE FILE TRANSFER MODE The XFER command changes the currently selected file transfer mode. There are 4 modes: Kermit, Xmodem, ASCII, and script. This command does not start a transfer, it only selects the mode to be used when the SEND and RECV commands are typed. See the SEND and RECV commands for more. 7.7 RECV: RECEIVE FILE(S) 7.7.1 ASCII RECEIVE ASCII receive is the same as logging to disk except that, rather than appending new data to an existing file, a new file is created each time an ASCII receive is started. If a file of the same name already exists, IT prompts: "xxxxxxxx exists, overwrite it ?" USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 21 7.7.2 SCRIPT RECEIVE No such operation. If you command RECV while in the "script" transfer mode, nothing happens. 7.7.3 XMODEM AND KERMIT FILE TRANSFERS To transfer files using the Xmodem and Kermit modes, IT needs the cooperation of a host program. Kermit and Xmodem servers are available on many hosts. Some host Xmodem and Kermit programs give you several choices of error detection method, IT uses only the 8-bit checksum method. Remember two things about starting a file transfer in either of these modes: 1. Always start the host transfer program first, then command IT to send or receive last. 2. Command the host and IT to do complementary operations, i.e. if the host is sending, then the PC must receive and vice versa. After each file is transferred, IT displays the file name, number of bytes, elapsed time, and effective transfer rate. 7.7.4 XMODEM RECEIVE IT will prompt: "file name:" Type the name (drive and path are optional) you want the received file to have. If the file exists, IT will prompt: "file exists, overwrite it ?" Type "y <CR>" to overwrite the existing file, type any other character and IT will again prompt: "file to receive:" 7.7.5 KERMIT RECEIVE IT will prompt: "receive path (<CR> for default):" Hit <CR> to accept the default drive and path. Otherwise, type the USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 22 drive and/or path where you want the received file(s) to go. Do not type the file name. File name will be receive along with each file, and IT will create the file with that name, DOS limitations permitting. Under DOS, file names are limited to 8 characters, with a 3 character extension. If a file name from the host exceeds these limits, the additional characters are dropped. If a file of the same name already exists, IT will prompt: "xxxxxxxx.xxx exists, overwrite ? (a=yes,all)" Respond with "y" to overwrite the existing file. Respond with "a" to overwrite this and any other existing files in a multi-file transfer. Type any other character and IT will prompt: "file to receive:" 7.8 SEND: SEND FILE(S) 7.8.1 ASCII SEND IT will prompt: "file to send:" Type the name (drive and path are optional) of the file you want to send. IT does not search the DOS paths for the file. While sending the file in this mode, IT checks received characters for XOFF. IT will suspend sending when it receives an XOFF, and resume when it receives an XON. 7.8.2 SCRIPT SEND This mode is similar to ASCII send, except that the file being sent can contain groups of characters starting with \ (backslash) to cause certain actions (such as delays) by IT. See section 4.0 under "Macro Keys" for the list of \ groups and their actions. 7.8.3 XMODEM SEND IT will prompt: "file to send:" Type the name (drive and path are optional) of the file you want to send. IT does not search the DOS paths for the file. USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 23 7.8.4 KERMIT SEND IT will prompt: "file(s) to send:" Type the filespec (drive and path are optional) of the file(s) you want to send. DOS wildcard characters may be used in the filespec. IT does not search the DOS paths for the files. IT will send all files that match the given filespec. 7.9 HIST: VIEW SCROLL HISTORY Whenever the screen scrolls up, the line that scrolls off the top is saved in a 400-line buffer that you can review using the HIST command. Also, when the host clears the screen, all lines being cleared are first copied into the buffer as if they had scrolled off the top. When you issue the HIST command, IT displays a window at the top of the screen, and puts the last 12 lines from the buffer there to view. The cursor will be within the window. Now you can review all 400 lines in the buffer by using the Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys. The Home and End keys have dual effects: if the cursor is not at the beginning or end of the line, IT moves it there. If already at the beginning or end of line, IT displays the beginning or end of the history buffer. You can also move the cursor within the window and scroll the window using the arrow keys and the tab key (unshifted moves right, and shifted moves left). While you are reviewing the history buffer, terminal emulation is suspended, but you will be notified by a beep if characters are received from the host. When you are finished viewing, type <ESC> and the screen will be restored to the way it was before you began the review, and terminal emulation resumed. If you want to return to emulation but leave the window in view, type the Q key rather than <ESC>. If you have typed a long command to the host, but made a small mistake in it, you can edit and reissue that command using the HIST feature. You command HIST, point to the mistyped command with the cursor, and hit <CR>. The text from the cursor to the end of the line is displayed in the status line after the prompt "Command:". Now you can edit the command just as with any IT prompt (see 6.2). When you have finished editing the command, type <CR> to send it to the USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 24 host, restore the screen, and resume terminal emulation. You can also search for a string within the buffer. Type the keypad + key and you will see the prompt "Fwd Find:" or "Rev Find:". Type the string you want to search for, and then keypad + again. The buffer is searched from the line where the cursor is now, in the direction indicated by the prompt. Upper and lower case differences are ignored. You will be notified via a message in the bottom line whether or not the search was successful. If no match is found, the cursor remains where it was. If a match is found, the window is scrolled so that the match is in view, and the cursor is put on the beginning of the matched string. When you type keypad + again (after no match) the search direction is automatically reversed for the next search. You can manually change search direction by typing the keypad 5 key. The prior search string is remembered, so if you want to search for the same string again, just hit keypad + twice. If you do not want to search on the prior string, use the backspace key or <ESC> to clear it. If you want to write the contents of the buffer into a file, type the F key. IT will prompt for a file name, and copy all lines in the buffer to that file. 7.10 TERM: CHANGE TERMINAL EMULATION MODE The TERM command changes the terminal emulation mode to vt52, vt100, or tty (next in this sequence). Operation in vt52 and vt100 modes was described in sections 5.1 and 5.2. Operation in tty mode is simple. All printable ascii characters are displayed. The only control characters handled are: BEL, BS, HT, VT, FF, LF, CR, XON, XOFF, and DEL. All other characters are ignored, especially ESC. This means that all escape sequences from the host are ignored, except to display the printable ascii characters in them. A special binary capture capability has been combined with this mode of operation. If in the TTY mode, logging to disk will capture ALL characters received from the host (including NULs and DELs). You can use this feature to capture a binary file from the host onto the PC. Select TTY mode, enable disk logging, and then type the host command that copies a binary file to the console output device. All bytes received at the PC will be written into the log file. The only characters sent to the host will be XOFF/XON for flow control. The USER'S GUIDE for IT Page 25 display will be meaningless. After the file has been copied, disable disk logging. The log file will contain the binary file with some additional characters at the beginning (the echo of the copy command) and probably at the end (the host prompt for the next command). 7.11 QUIT: EXIT FROM IT Type ALT-X to exit from IT. You cannot QUIT via <CONTROL>-C or <CONTROL>-break. <CONTROL>-C sends ASCII code 3 to your host. <CONTROL>-break generates a line break. Upon exit, IT automatically closes the log file, if open. Exiting from IT does not hang up the modem. Do not QUIT IT while in the ALTERNATE keypad mode. If you do, the host will be left thinking that the terminal is in that state. When you next run IT, emulation will begin in the NORMAL keypad mode, and keypad strokes will be misinterpreted. So before commanding QUIT, make sure to end the host operation that commanded the ALTERNATE keypad mode. 7.12 FRAM: SELECT CHARACTER FRAME The FRAM command changes the currently selected character frame. There are 4 choices, 7 or 8 data bits and 1 or 2 stop bits. 7.13 PAR: SELECT CHARACTER PARITY The PAR command changes the currently selected character parity. There are 3 choices: odd, even, and none. THE END