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-
- FORCE384.ZIP
- ============
-
- This group of programs was designed to let sysops use doors that
- were written in Quick Basic on their systems when they have
- their modems set at 38,400 baud.
-
- As many of you know, Quick Basic does not support baud rates that
- are higher than 19,200 baud. This does not present a problem until
- the sysop uses a US Robotics HST or Hayes V-Series Modem. To
- achieve maximum throughput (especially in those modems with V.42bis
- data compression). This group of programs will "force" your
- door or similar software to remain at 38400 baud no matter what the
- software sets it to.
-
- HOW IT WORKS
- ============
-
- When PCBOARD opens a door it creates a file called PCBOARD.SYS
- with quite a bit of information about the current caller on-line.
- This file also contains the baud rate at which the caller connected
- and at what rate the port was opened. Most doors will read this
- file and in turn open the port at the appropriate speed. However,
- since QuickBASIC does not allow the port to be opened at rates
- higher that 19200 baud, sysops cannot take full advantage of their
- modems if they wish to offer these doors.
-
- The PCBSYSMD program will first modify PCBOARD.SYS so that the door
- "believes" it should be opened at 19200. Then the FORCE38x program
- sets an ISR on the timer interrupt to constantly monitor and change
- the baud rate to 38400. The door thinks that it's at 19200 and the
- computer is sending/recieving at 38400. The PCBSYSFX program
- restores 38400 in the appropriate fields so PCBOARD opens the
- communications port at 38400.
-
-
-
-
-
- FILES INCLUDED
- ==============
-
- FORCE381.EXE - Forces COM1 to 38,400 baud
- FORCE382.EXE - Forces COM2 to 38,400 baud
- CHKBAUD1.EXE - Reports on COM1 baud rate
- CHKBAUD2.EXE - Reports on COM2 baud rate
- PCBSYSMD.EXE - Modifies PCBOARD.SYS
- PCBSYSFX.EXE - Repairs PCBOARD.SYS
- README.NOW - This file
-
-
- FORCE381 and FORCE382
- =====================
-
- The format of these two programs is very simple:
-
- FORCE381 <exename>
-
- Where <exename> is the name of the program you wish to run.
-
- For example, to run Trade Wars II, you might specify:
-
- FORCE381 TW2
-
- If you needed to place an option or flag after the TW2, for
- example, the /F flag, you could speicify:
-
- FORCE381 "TW2 /F"
-
- VERY IMPORTANT ---> INCLUDE THE QUOTES!!!
-
- CHKBAUD1 and CHKBAUD2
- =====================
-
- These programs will give you an accurate report of what your
- communications ports are set at provided that they are set
- between 1200 and 115200 baud. An overflow condition causes
- 300 baud to be reported as 899 baud. This program also reports
- the baud rate divisor and high and low bytes that can be used
- to reprogram the serial communications port.
-
- PCBSYSMD.EXE
- ============
- This program will modify the file PCBOARD.SYS so that 38400 is
- replaced with 19200. This will prevent any doors from getting
- an Error 64.
-
- PCBSYSFX
- ============
- This program will modify the file PCBOARD.SYS so that the 19200
- that was inserted by PCBSYSMD is changed back to 38400. Otherwise
- PCBOARD will reopen it's port to 19200!
-
-
-
- EXAMPLE BATCH FILE FOR TRADEWARS (do not insert semi colons or
- ================================ what is after them!)
- CD \DOORS\TW ; Change to Trade Wars Directory
- PCBSYSMD C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS ; Modify PCBOARD.SYS
- FORCE382 "TW2 /P:C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS" ; Force 38,400 on COM2 and run TW2
- PCBSYSFX C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS ; Repair PCBOARD.SYS
- CD \PCB ; Return to PCBoard directory
- BOARD ; run the PCBOARD batch file
-
-
-
-
-
- SOFTWARE INFORMATION
- ====================
-
- These programs are to be distributed under the shareware principle.
- They are original programs and have not been copied from any
- book, magazine or other article. If you find these programs of
- use for your bbs or other communications application, you are
- expected to register the software as indicated below.
-
- SOFTWARE REGISTRATION
- =====================
-
- The registration fee for this software is $20 per computer (5.25")
- or $22 (3.5").
- Your fee will be applied to the support of the Midwest Micro and
- Midi Music Mania BBS. Registration will include the latest version
- of this software, customized for your bbs, full access to the bbs,
- and batch file utilities for communications ports.
-
- Please make your check payable to:
-
- Jim Polous
- P.O. Box 427
- Oak Lawn, IL 60454-0427
-
-
-
- CREDITS
- =======
- PCBoard and the PCBoard name are property of Clark Development Corp.
- Trade Wars ][ is property of John Morris andf Chris Sherrick
-
- I would also like to thank Steve Cook for helping me with the formulas.