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- SuperHost
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- Version 1.0
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- (C)Copyright 1988
-
- By
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- Tom Bensky
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-
- Any questions, comments, or suggestions can be left
- (data) on the home of SuperHost (818) 701-1021 or by
- writing the author at the below address. Address
- messages to Tom Bensky. I will respond ASAP.
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- Table of Contents
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- What is SuperHost..................................1
-
- Conditions of Distribution.........................2
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- Using SuperHost....................................3
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- The remote user and SuperHost......................7
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- Registration form..................................8
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- What is SuperHost?
-
- SuperHost is a program that allows you to set up any
- program THAT USES BIOS FOR SCREEN OUTPUT for use over the
- modem for another user (like a door for a bbs system) or for
- your own use (to work from home for example). Once a program
- is running under SuperHost, many things are being performed
- by SuperHost to insure security as well as making sure the
- program looks the same for the remote user as it would in
- local mode. Here is a list of things SuperHost does while a
- program is running under it:
-
-
- 1. All screen output by BIOS or DOS is redirected over
- the modem.
-
- 2. Carrier detection is constantly monitored.
- If the carrier is suddenly lost, the SuperHost will
- warm-boot the system.
-
- 3. A time limit is enforced.
- You can specify a maximum time that a program can be
- used under SuperHost. This prevents people from
- spending hours using a program. If the time limit
- is exceeded, SuperHost warm-boots the system.
-
- 4. Cursor locations are recognized.
- If a BIOS call is made to reposition the cursor (as
- many programs do), SuperHost will intercept this
- call, translate it the corresponding ANSI cursor
- positioning codes, and send it over the modem so the
- remote user will get the cursor positioned as well.
-
- 5. BIOS colors are recognized.
- If the program running utilizes color via BIOS, the
- color codes will be intercepted and translated into
- their corresponding ANSI color codes and sent over
- the modem so the remote user can see the color as
- well.
-
- 6. Disk writes can be prohibited or allowed.
- If, while running a program, the user tries to write
- to a disk, SuperHost can prohibit the write if you
- so request initially.
-
- SuperHost basically allows you to use non-modem programs
- over the modem. It works with any program as long as BIOS or
- DOS screen writes are used. Other methods of screen writing
- are direct screen writes which SuperHost does not recognize.
-
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- -2-
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- Using SuperHost
-
- SuperHost is basically very easy to use. No set up is
- required. All and any information is supplied at run time on
- the command line. The SuperHost runtime syntax is as
- follows:
-
- SH (path-of-file-to-run) (Tx) [Wx] [Px] [L] [CxZZx] [dZZ]
- Note: The parameters in ()'s ARE MANDATORY and the
- parameters in []'s are optional.
-
-
- (path-of-file-to-run):
-
- * Mandatory parameter *
- This is the exact path of the file to execute when SuperHost
- is invoked. NO DEFAULTS ARE ASSUMED. Be sure to include any
- drive letter, subdirectory, and extension (.EXE or .COM
- only).
-
-
- [Tx]:
-
- * Mandatory parameter *
- This is the maximum time limit (x) in minutes that the
- program can be used per run. x can be from 1 to 99.
-
-
- [Wx]:
-
- * Optional parameter *
- This is the disk write prohibit/allow flag (x). If x is a
- plus sign (+), disk writes are allowed. It x is a minus sign
- (-) disk writes are not allowed. This flag defaults to a
- minus sign (-) and does not allow disk writes if Wx is not
- found on the command line.
-
-
- [Px]:
-
- * Optional parameter *
- This tells SuperHost which communications port to use (x). x
- is 1 for COM1: or 2 for COM2:. If not specified on the
- command line, Px defaults to 1 and communications port 1
- (COM1:) will be used when SuperHost is run.
-
-
- [L]:
-
- * Optional parameter *
- This tells SuperHost to expect screen output from DOS. This
- may take some experimenting to determine if it is needed or
- not. If the program works with CTTY, include this parameter.
- No defaults are assumed. Most INFOCOM games (like Zork,
- Infidel) require this parameter in order to run.
-
- [CxZZx]:
-
- * Optional parameter *
- This tells SuperHost to pass command line parameters to the
- program supplied earlier. These parameters will be passed as
- if typed on the command line when the program is run without
- SuperHost. ZZ are the actual parameters as you would type
- them as if running the program in local mode. The two x's
- should be indentical characters NOT FOUND in ZZ. These two
- characters delimit ZZ. They must be supplied so SuperHost
- knows where the parameters to pass start and end. See below
- for examples.
-
- [Dfilename]:
-
- * Optional parameter *
- This tells SuperHost to dump ASCII file filename at run time.
- This is helpful for informing the user of time limits,
- instructions, etc. before the actual program is run. At the
- end of dumping each 24 lines, SuperHost will pause and give a
- 'More - ( Y )es or ( N )o prompt.
-
-
- Examples:
-
- SH c:\games\invade.exe T30
- - runs c:\games\invade.exe over communications port 1
- (default), does not allow disk writes (default), and
- allows 30 minutes in which to use the program.
-
- SH b:\util\door\sample.com t15 P2 w+ C"/w /u"
- - runs b:\util\door\sample.com over communications port
- 2, allows disk writes, allows 15 minutes in which to
- use the program, and passes /w /u as command line
- parameters. Note the delimiters " and ".
-
- SH c:\edlin.com L t10 w+ Dedlin.doc
- - runs c:\edlin.com, allows 10 minutes to use the door
- allows disk writes, and dumps file edlin.doc before
- running c:\edlin.com. The L option is included
- because we all know this program uses DOS screen
- writes.
-
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-
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- SH a:game.exe t15 w- dgame.doc c\hello, hi\
- - runs a:game.exe, allows 15 minutes to use the door,
- does not allow disk writes, dumps game.doc before
- running it, and passes parameter: hello, hi
- to a:game.exe. Not the delimiters \ and \ .
-
-
- That's all there is to it! You will probably want to
- put this one SH xxxxxxxxxxx line in a .BAT file (since most
- bbs systems require a .BAT file for doors) and simply set the
- bbs up to call this .BAT file when this door is requested.
- You don't have to worry about carrier loss, time limits, or
- unauthorized disk writes...SuperHost handles it all!
-
-
- * Note: The order of parameters on the SuperHost command
- line does not matter. However, SuperHost MUST
- find the path of the program to run as the FIRST
- parameter.
-
-
- * Note: Do not try to run SuperHost without a user logged
- on. Without a carrier detected, SuperHost will reset
- the system before anything happens.
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- The user and SuperHost
-
- When an online user is using a program running under
- SuperHost, s/he would basically do whatever s/he would do if
- s/he was using the program in local mode. However, the
- occasion may arise when a function key or arrow key is
- requested or required to use the program. If a function or
- arrow key is pressed, it will undoubtedly invoke a terminal
- program function depending on the terminal program a person
- is using. (if in ProComm, and F10 is pressed, the help window
- is brought up). For this reason, SuperHost allows emulations
- of these keys. They are:
-
- For function keys F1 to F10, the user should press:
-
- [CTRL]-[F] + 1..9 or 0
-
- [CTRL]-[F] + 1 means function key F1
- [CTRL]-[F] + 2 means function key F2
- .
- .
- [CTRL]-[F] + 9 means function key F9
- [CTRL]-[F] + 0 means function key F10
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- For arrow keys:
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- [CTRL]-[W] for up arrow
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- [CTRL]-[A] for left arrow [CTRL]-[S] for right arrow
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- [CTRL]-[Z] for down arrow
-
- (notice the "arrow key arrangement" these keys form on the
- keyboard)
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