A communication application lets you transfer data between computers, usually
via the modem port or printer port. A modem is required at each end for
long-distance communication over a telephone line.
Most applications have a Settings menu that lead you into dialogs at three levels:-
Dialog Function
Connection Data Link Layer — ensures hardware can convey data bits
Terminal Terminal emulation — makes Mac act as another device
File Transfer Transport Layer — conveys files reliably over the link
The content of these dialogs is often provided by the Communications Toolbox (CTB), part of the system software. The CTB uses the Communications Tools, also known as basic connectivity tools, that reside as files in the Extensions folder (in the System Folder). These tools will work with any suitable hardware, including an expansion card that you’ve installed to provide extra serial ports.
The following sections describe how to use an application based on the CTB windows — other applications provide similar features. The screen shots are from ClarisWorks — an application that uses the CTB throughout.
Connection Settings
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  This setting matches the software to the actual hardware connection you’ve
made — the computer has to know which port you’ve connected into and what
you’ve connected to it!
There are restrictions on how you can use the printer port or modem port for other purposes whilst AppleTalk is active. For example, with Classic AppleTalk, the printer port can’t be used for anything but LocalTalk.
With the Open Transport version of AppleTalk you can use whichever port isn’t assigned to AppleTalk. If, with Open Transport, you need both the printer and modem ports for serial devices (for example, a printer on the printer port and a modem on the modem port!) you must install the Remote Only extension.
Apple Modem Tool
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  This tool is for almost any kind of modem over a telephone link. Different settings
may be required for each phone number in order to match the settings used in
the modem at the matching destination.
If you select the correct modem under Modem options most of the other defaults will work perfectly well. The Port Settings are particularly crucial!
The window’s settings are as follows:-
When
Dial Phone Number: number for which the settings apply. You can scroll to any number in your list.
Dialling Method: Touch-Tone, Pulse or Mixed.
Redial: how many attempts the modem makes to get through.
When Answering
Answer phone after: how many times the phone rings before the modem responds. Set this to a high number if the line’s used for voice calls as well!
 
Modem options
Modem: select the modem you’re using from the list. Select Hayes-Compatible if your model isn’t shown.
Error Correction: Required, Optional or None (greyed-out if not available).
Correction Type: Software MNP or Hardware (greyed-out if not available).
Display Modem Monitor Window: select if required.
Port Settings
Baud Rate: only rates for your modem are shown. Data compression requires a fourfold increase in rate.
Parity: None, Even or Odd (usually none)
Data Bits: 5,6,7 or 8 (usually 8)
Stop Bits: 1, 1.5 or 2 (usually 1)
Handshake: None, XON/XOFF, DTR & CTS, DTR Only, CTS Only (usually None for 9600 bit/s or lower).
Cabling: click on this button to see a picture of the connection cable wiring.
Port: Modem, Printer or expansion card port, shown by icons (modem is the best choice).
If you have an unusual telephone circuit or non-standard modem you should select Custom Modem… in the Modem options area. This window will appear:-
 
Modem Command Strings
Initialisation: sets up modem options at beginning of session. See your modem manual for details.
Ring Response: see your modem manual for details.
Disable modem MNP: allows communication application to disable MNP hardware in the modem.
MNP Confirmation: a message from the communication application that confirms the use of MNP.
Modem auto-buffers connect speeds: check this if modem has buffers for different speeds.
Modem supports software error correction: check if modem allows MNP or V.42 error correction.
Modem supports hardware error correction: check if modem contains MNP or V.42 error correction.
If you check the error correction boxes in the above, these menus in Modem options… become active:-
 
Serial Tool
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This tool should be used if you want to sent data directly to another computer, terminal or personal organiser. It’s ideal for transferring data between a Mac and a PC.
It provides a simple window containing the following options:-
Handshake: None, XON/XOFF, DTR & CTS, DTR Only, CTS Only (usually None for 9600 bit/s or lower).
 
Current Port: Modem, Printer or expansion card port, shown by icons (modem is the best choice).
When Closing Document: Hold Connection or Remind to Disconnect.
Terminal Settings
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  Traditionally, mainframe computers were reached via a dumb terminal, consisting
of a screen, keyboard and serial port. With the correct terminal settings your Mac
can emulate such a terminal. See above for port limitations with AppleTalk.
Most terminal emulation software uses standard control codes — such as Control-S for Stop and Control-Q for Continue. In some instances the † key is used in place of Control for these functions — unfortunately this often isn’t always very convenient!
TTY Tool
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  Emulates a simple teletype (TTY) or Telex link, as used for conveying 7-bit data
to a teleprinter. Telex normally operates on its own network, segregated from the
telephone system, and usually only employs uppercase letters.
On Line: when selected any data you type is sent down the link.
Local Echo: what you type appears on the screen. If selected at both ends the data appears twice!
Width: size of the text in connection window, either 80 or 132 columns.
Size: font size for text in window, usually 9 or 12 point.
Characters
Show Control Characters: lets you see normally invisible characters.
Auto Wrap to Next Line: saves pressing return at the end of each line.
 
Holding Down Keys Will
Auto Repeat Keys: when a key is held down a string of characters is produced.
Repeat Control Keys: as above for control commands.
Text Cursor: block or underline.
Scroll Text: jump or smooth.
Swap ‘Backspace’ & ‘Delete’: swaps the keys for anyone not used to a Mac keyboard!
New Line on a Return: moves cursor to new line when you press Return or when Mac receives a line feed (LF) character.
VT102 Tool
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  Emulates simple mainframe computer terminals, such as VT52, VT100 and
VT102, conveying 7-bit data. VT100 and VT102 are compatible — the ANSI
variant uses separate alphanumeric and cursor keys whilst DEC employs escape
sequences for the alphanumerics plus an alternative set of cursor codes.
The tool uses four windows, selected by the scrolling icon list on the left-hand side:-
General Window
Terminal: ANSI/VT102 or VT52.
On Line: when selected any data you type is sent down the link.
Local Echo: what you type appears on the screen. If selected at both ends the data appears twice!
Text Cursor: block or underline.
 
Show Status Bar: provides bar at top of the VT102 window to simulate indicators on a VT102 keyboard.
Show Tab Ruler: provides ruler at top of the VT102 window.
Answerback Message: for identifying your Mac with a remote computer.
Screen Window
Width: size of the text in connection window, either 80 or 132 columns.
Size: font size for text in window, usually 9 or 12 point.
Characters
Show Control Characters: lets you see characters that are normally invisible.
Auto Wrap to Next Line: saves pressing return at the end of each line.
Insert Characters: for typing over existing characters.
 
Origin at Scrolling Margin: for moving cursor outside the scrolling region.
Scroll Text: jump or smooth.
Inverse Video: for anyone who like those old MS-DOS machines!
Keyboard Window
Numeric Keypad Generates: Numeric Sequences use number keys. Application Sequences are for DEC.
Cursor Keys Generate: ANSI Cursor Sequences use arrow keys. Application Sequences are for DEC.
 
Swap ‘Backspace’ & ‘Delete’: swaps the keys for anyone not used to a Mac keyboard!
Holding Down Keys Will
Auto Repeat Keys: when a key is held down a string of characters is produced.
Repeat Control Keys: as above for control commands.
Keyclick Sound: produces click when you press a key.
New Line on a Return: moves cursor to new line when you press Return or when Mac receives a line feed (LF) character.
Character Set Window
National Replacement: this is the main character set in use.
The necessary files for character sets must reside in the System file. You can switch between the Active GO or G1 and Temp G2 and G3 sets using Control-O and Control-N. Each set can contain the National Replacement Set, a Graphics Set or the International Character Set.
File Transfer Settings
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  File transfer software transports a file efficiently over a link with the minimum
amount of damage and at the highest possible speed. It’s vitally important that
the same settings are used at both ends of the link!
Text Tool
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  A very simple process for transferring a pure text file over any serial link. Any
resources in a text file, such as the style resources in a SimpleText document, are
lost during the transfer. This tool isn’t suitable for transferring other types of file.
The settings in its single window are:-
Timing
Delay per Character: a delay that accommodates slow systems, any value between 0 and 32,767.
Delay per Line: as above but only introduced at the end of lines.
End Lines With: for non-Mac systems. Macs use a CR but a PC uses CR & LF.
Wrap Lines at Column: a number that sets the display width.
 
XMODEM Tool
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  A standard protocol for transferring files over telephone lines using 8 data bits
and no software handshaking. Transfer Options accommodates various error
correction systems to match the computer at the other end.
If you’re not sending a pure text file it’s best to select MacBinary as the Method. For a faster Transfer Option try 1K Blocks. For an even faster transfer try ZMODEM protocol instead.
The tool‘s single window has settings for:-
Method
MacBinary: for sending any Mac file, including its resource fork.
MacTerminal 1.1: for sending any Mac file assuming automatic file reception.
Straight XMODEM: for sending a text file data fork, without converting line endings.
XMODEM Text: for sending a text file data fork, with line ending conversion.
Transfer Options
Standard: 128-byte blocks with checksums.
CRC-16: 128-byte data blocks with CRC-16 error correction.
1K Blocks: 1024-byte data blocks with CRC-16 error checking.
CleanLink: 1024-byte data blocks with CRC-16 error checking but with no acknowledgement between devices. For high-quality links only.
 
Timing Options
Timeout: time in seconds, that your Mac waits for block of data before giving up the transfer.
Retry: number of times you Mac repeats trying to send a block of data.
Received Files Options
Creator ID: lets you enter a creator code for received files.
Select: lets you obtain a creator code by selecting the application in a file dialog.
Use Filename sent by Remote Computer: received files keep their names.
Enable Auto Receive: for automatically receiving files from a computer that supports this feature.
Claris Kermit Tool
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  An alternative to XMODEM that uses its own transfer process. It’s supplied with
ClarisWorks and also requires 8 data bits and no software handshaking.
The settings are:-
Transfer Options
Standard Packet: 10-94 bytes long, usually 80.
Long Packet: 10-9024 bytes long, usually 1024.
Sliding Windows: for sliding windows protocol, using 2-31 bytes, usually 8.
Extra Long Packets: 10-857374 bytes long, usually 18050.
Packet Size: see above.
Kermit Options
Auto Receive: when a mark character is received the file transfer will start.
Overwrite Existing Files: incoming file can overwrite a file with the same name.
Use Timeout: time in seconds, that your Mac waits for block of data before giving up the transfer and the number of times the Mac attempts to send a block.
 
Method
MacBinary: for any Mac file, including its resource fork.
Binary: for sending a text file’s data fork only, without converting line endings.
Text: for sending a text file’s data fork only, with line ending conversion.
Received Files Options
Creator ID: lets you enter a creator code for received files.
Select: lets you obtain a creator code by selecting the application in a file dialog.
Communicating via Modem
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Testing a Modem
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  Having set up your communications application you’re now ready to make a
connection. Whatever you type or receive, appears in the connection window of
the application — you can usually adjust the size of font and font style to taste!
The link between modem and computer can be tested in this window by typing AT followed by Return — as you type each character the modem’s status lights should flash. When you press Return an OK should appear in the application’s window.
You can test the dialling in this manual mode by typing ATDT followed by the phone number and Return. You should hear any conversation on the modem’s speaker (if it has one). When you’ve finished enter a semi-colon (;) to take the modem off-line.
Establishing Communication
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  Assuming you have the correct Connection Setting you can now try to
communicate with another modem. Before doing so you may need to make
entries in the Phone Book that appears under the Session menu.
To establish a link you must select Open Connection, also in the Session menu. As the application dials the number something similar to this should appear on the screen:-
ATDT 888-3456
where 888-3456 is the number you’re dialling. After a while you should hear the modems happily screaming at each other — just press Return and hopefully it will stop!
Once you’ve made a connection you may find you can’t see what you’re typing — if so, try turning on local echo in the Connection Settings window. Conversely, if everything you type appears twice you should turn it off! You should usually turn echo off when contacting a fellow user and turn it on for a bulletin board service (see below).
If you have any problems you can try Reset Connection (or Reset Terminal) in the Session menu — this just might calm things down!
Differences in hardware within the various telephone networks can cause problems. For example, the US telephone system uses 2225 Hz answer tone whilst Europe uses 2100 Hz — this means you may have difficulties calling from Europe to the USA.
Transferring Files via Modem
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  Having established keyboard communication you may wish to send or receive
an entire file. Many protocols and terminals can handle a binary file, containing
all possible digital values, whilst other services, such as e-mail, demand an ASCII
file, only containing values between 0 and 127.
These variations in transmittable file types can cause confusion, especially if you’re unaware that an ASCII document can’t use all the key combinations on your keyboard!
To send a file simply select Send File in the Session menu — if you want to send a number of files you should select Send Batch instead. To receive a file you must select Receive File — and then you must wait!
Bulletin Board Services
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A bulletin board service (BBS) is set up by an individual or organisation to provide information to anyone who calls its number. To a large extent these BBSs have been superseded by news groups on the Internet.
To simplify working with BBSs you may prefer to use a specialised communications application such as FirstClass BBS. This is a freeware offering that presents the contents of a bulletin board in a more familiar folder and file form.
Servers
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  Several organisations run servers that can be reached directly or via the Internet,
such as America OnLine and CompuServe. Users can upload information files onto
the server and you can download them onto your machine.
To take full advantage of CompuServe (without resorting to the Internet) you can use MacCIM, the Mac version of the CompuServe Information Manager (CIM). This front-end program presents CompuServe in a friendlier form than what actually appears online! Various CompuServe areas of interest are reached using keywords, such as MACNEW, MACAPP and MACFUN. CompuServe and America OnLine include their own e-mail facilities.
Fax-modems
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  A fax-modem can be used in the same way as a standard modem but also acts as a
Group 3 fax machine. Some models only send faxes, whilst others can send and
receive. To send a fax simply select the fax-modem in the Chooser and choose
Print in your current application.
Devices that receive faxes often store the documents on hard disk for later viewing. These Group 3 fax documents have a resolution of 203 dots per inch (dpi) horizontally and 98 dpi vertically — rising to 198 dpi vertically in Fine mode.
< To send faxes the fax-modem’s Chooser extension file must be in the Extensions folder.
