Loadstar 128 #27

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Text File | 1991-01-01 | 15.8 KB | 421 lines

Modules ------- DT128 has specialized functions that are not part of the main program. The features are called modules. Modules are loaded from the DT128 system disk. If you select a module that is not in memory you will be asked to insert your system disk and press RETURN. If you decide not to load the module you can abort by pressing ESCape. ** System modules are version specific. Each module name ends with the version they work with. Do not try to rename modules to get them to work with future versions of DT128 - they won't work. Block Availability Map (BAM) Editor ----------------------------------- Disk Directory: Shows the directory of the default device and drive. Device/Drive: Selects the device and drive to be used. This setting uses the system device and drive (changing this is the same as changing the device and drive in the disk functions menu). Edit BAM: This function allows you to edit the BAM (block availability map) of a disk. Used sectors will be represented by "+" plus symbols. Follow the prompts given. To allocate a sector use the cursor keys to position the cursor on the desired sector and type a plus. To free a sector do the same except type a space. When you are sure you've made the proper changes you must re-write the BAM in order for the changes to be recorded on disk. Press a capital "W" to write the new BAM to disk. To exit without updating the BAM press the escape key. Notes: You can edit the BAM of a subdirectory. You must first select the subdirectory and then select the "Edit BAM" option. You can select a subdirectory by selecting the directory option. When the directory prompt appears type an "*" on the line and press return. This gives you the DOS command line. Here you can select the subdirectory you want, i.e. "/subdirectory". This applies to only the 1581. Note, however, that if you re-write the BAM of a subdirectory you will be taken back to the root directory. Calculator ---------- This module has 2 functions. The main function is as a calculator which can be accessed in 3 different ways. The first is through the main menu. The second is in the buffer editor with the "F1-6" command (see BUFFER). The third way to access the calculator is from within terminal mode with the long ALT-C command in 80 column screens (see TERM MODE). The second function this module provides is for calculating upload transfer times. The Calculator: The calculator works very similar to the way BASIC direct mode works. If you wanted to multiply 41 by 16, you would enter the following: print41*6 <return> The calculator works with the same syntax except that you do not need to enter "print" each time as it is implied. All of the BASIC math operators are supported including, "+-*/^<=>()" as well as the following basic functions: INT ABS SQR LOG EXP COS SIN TAN ATN AND OR (Although calculation results may be in scientific notation you may not enter numbers in this format) Any errors that occur in a calculation are displayed. No variables are allowed at any time. The following commands are available for input: ESCape - aborts calculator RETURN - evaluates current expression DELete - deletes 1 character to the left CRSR or ARROW right/left move the solid block cursor left or right HOME - moves cursor back to the beginning of the input line CLR - clears the input line " - recalls the previous input line # - recalls the previous result You can perform calculations while online. Try this. Load the calculator from the main menu, then call a computer system. While receiving a stream of characters (perhaps a message thread) enter the calculator in terminal mode with the long ALT-C command (you must be in 80 columns). While typing in a calculation you will discover that the terminal screen doesn't "freeze!" Amazing... Transfer Delays --------------- This function allows you to customize the calculation for upload transfer times. When this module or the remote module is in memory a "delay time per transfer block" is automatically added to the upload transfer time calculation. When you enter the calculator from the main menu you will see a table of values that represent the amount of time, in hundredths of a second, to be added for each transfer block. Each protocol has its own delay factor for both disk and buffer transfers. When Ymodem Batch or Multi-Punter is used this module will total the transfer blocks, disk blocks (only if the terminal type is C/G), and the transfer time. The totals are displayed only if the send prompt option in the upload menu is "Yes" or you are in remote mode and a caller is downloading from you. Configuration ------------- This module is entered from the "Display Parameters" menu. Main Character: Selects the character color for menu screens. Background: Selects the background color for menu screens. Reverse: This option reverses the character and background colors for each character on menu screens. By setting this option to "Yes" you can create a border. Clock: Selects the clock color. Highlight: Selects the color for the highlight bar and menu header lines. Cursor Form: Selects the cursor type that you prefer, block or underline, flash or steady, fast flash or slow flash. Semi-Graphic Mode: For normal text display this option should be set to "No." If "Yes" screens will be displayed in "Semi-Graphic" mode, creating a digital 3-D character effect. The display will only enter this mode if the terminal screen width is 80 columns. 40 Horiz: Use this setting to align the terminal screen horizontally for 40 column mode. A value of 55 usually works well with RGB monitors such as the 1084, while 53 works well with the 1802 in monochrome mode. Monochrome Mode If you have a color monitor this should be set to "No". When this option is set to "Yes" color changes in terminal mode are ignored. This is useful if you have a monochrome monitor. Ansi Background: "No" means that Ansi escape sequences which change the background color of characters will be ignored. "Yes" means that Ansi escape sequences which change the background color of characters will be interpreted. Since the VDC does not support independent background colors for each character position Ansi background color changes cannot be interpreted correctly. Instead of changing the background color for individual characters the background color of the entire terminal screen will be changed. This can cause the background color to flicker annoyingly if many background color changes are made in succession. Because of this you will usually want to set this option to "No". Occasionally an Ansi system may change the character color to the same color as the background color that you are using (usually black) while changing the background color. For example, a system may change the color to black characters on a blue background. Because you are ignoring the background color change, the text will be "invisible" (black text on a black background). If this happens you can press ALT-N to change the character color, or you can set this to "Yes" to avoid this problem (it's a tradeoff between this and flickering). For an Ansi Terminal that can handle color correctly see VANSI (on LS 128 #28). Absorb Escape Strings: When "No" unrecognized escape strings (VT-52, VT-100, DataMedia 1500, Proterm, and Ansi) are printed on the screen. When "Yes" unrecognized escape strings are not displayed. Logon Delay This is the speed at which characters are sent to the modem from logon macros. A zero value is full speed, while a value of 255 is the slowest. A value of around 128 gives good results. Disable Call Waiting String: Type in the string you need to defeat call waiting. This number will automatically be dialed whenever you dial a number from the phone directory with the cancel call waiting option on (see PHONE DIRECTORY on LS 128 #26). Character Height: Can be "Tall" or "Short". Attribute Flash Rate: This determines the flashing rate of flashing characters. It can be fast or slow. Create Configuration File: This option will create a configuration file named 'usr2.0' This file, if it exists, will automatically load when you boot the main program. Many system settings and strings are saved. If the default settings are not to your liking, or if the system must have some settings changed in order to work with your system, change the settings and select this option. Next Page: Select this to see the default remote settings. Command/Access: Shows the minimum access level required to use each remote command from a remote (the sysop can access all commands regardless of these settings). VDC Memory: Selects 16k or 64k. Do not select 64k unless you have the 64k version. Modules in Subdirectory: If this option is set to Yes, DT128 will expect to find system modules in the subdirectory "modules". Fast Disk I/O ------------- This module is for 1541 users and is accessed from the buffer menu. It allows you to load, append to, and save the capture buffer using high speed DOS routines which are must faster than the normal DOS speed. If you attempt to access a device other than a 1541 you will get a "Device not present" error. Disk Directory: Shows the directory of the device used by this utility. Load Buffer: You are prompted to enter a file name. If the file exists the buffer is cleared and then the file is loaded at high speed. Append to Buffer: You are prompted to enter a file name. If the file exists the file is added to the contents of the buffer. Save Buffer: You are prompted for a file name. Be sure to enter valid file names only (no asterisks, commas, or question marks). Before the buffer is saved this option checks to make sure that there is enough room on the disk. If not, you will get an error message and you must place another disk in the drive to continue, or press escape to abort. Device: This is the device accessed by this module. Save Skew: The save skew is directly related to the speed at which data is transfer between the computer and device. The normal skew rate for a 1541 is 10. This results in the shortest load time. Because the data transfer rate of the high speed DOS routines in this module are much faster than the normal DOS, the skew can be lowered to maximize efficiency to produce the shortest possible access time. The save skew can be any value from 1 to 16. The lowest recommended skew value is 6 or 7, the highest value 10 for these routines. You should use a value of 10 for any file that you may need to load at normal speed later or the load time may increase significantly. Notes: Do not use any device/drive overrides in file names. Do not use wild cards or commas in save file names. ML File Editor -------------- This utility is a machine language file editor. It allows you to modify a file on disk, similar to a disk editor, but with extra features. To use the editor select the "Edit File" option in the "Special Disk Functions" menu. Enter a file name, or press ESCape to abort. The disk directory is then searched. If the file is found the screen will change to show a sector map that shows all of the sectors used by the file. Once the map has been plotted the following commands are available: Arrow/Crsr Down - Move towards beginning of file Arrow/Crsr Up - Move towards end of file SPACE/RETURN - Selects current sector for edit mode ESCape - Exits When you select a sector you enter edit mode. The sector is read from disk and a disassembled listing appears. All numbers are hexadecimal values. Commands available in edit mode are: Arrow/Crsr Down - move cursor down 1 line Arrow/Crsr Up - move cursor up 1 line Arrow/Crsr Right - move cursor down 8 lines Arrow/Crsr Left - move cursor up 8 lines SPACE - allows you to change the byte value(s) on the current line. Enter hexadecimal values only (do not enter $ as hex values are assumed). RETURN - enters assembly mode which operates the same as the monitor. Press ESCape or press RETURN on a blank input line to exit assemble mode (exits automatically on last line). W - Shift-W can be used to re-write the current sector(s) (See below) ESCape - exits The disassembled code represents the current sector only. The only bytes displayed are "data" bytes. Track links are not displayed and are not editable. Also, the first 2 data bytes of the first sector are used as a load address by the DOS. These bytes too are not editable. At the upper right of the screen you will see a constant readout that indicates the address of the first data byte for the current sector. For the last sector of a file you will see a flashing address. This is the address of the last byte of the file. Bytes following this address can be ignored. This editor does handle machine language codes which span from the current sector to the next. For example, if the last byte of the current sector is the opcode for a "jump" command, the 2 address bytes for the jump are the first 2 data bytes of the next sector. You can freely edit the last command in the window. If you modify either of the 2 bytes that are actually in the next sector that sector will also be rewritten with the modifications. This generally operates in the background so you don't have to think about it. It works. If any disk errors should occur you should abort the edit and re-read the current sector. Notes: This module supports the 1541, 1571, and 1581 disk drives. Partitions and sub-directories are not presently supported. Joystick Module --------------- This module allows you to use a joystick throughout the program. The four main directions of the joystick are translated to the four cursor movements while the fire button is a RETURN. This module also can be used when playing online games. When you call someone who is using DT128 you can use your joystick instead of the key commands for the game. Be sure you set the joystick type to the game you are going to play. Scroll Back ----------- This module extends the 25 row terminal screen into a 425 row screen. To use this module select "Scroll Back" from the Miscellaneous Menu. To use the module press Alt-V from terminal mode. The module will become active under the following conditions: 1). you are NOT in C/G mode 2). the buffer is closed 3). the buffer is empty If the above conditions are satisfied the module becomes active. While the module is active you will see a "B" indicator immediately to the right of the bytes free display. While the module is active there are 2 keys that become active. The CRSR Down key scrolls the screen "backward" 1 line each time it is pressed allowing you to review the previous screen contents. The CRSR Right key scrolls the screen forward. After you have pressed CRSR Down to go back the terminal "freezes" until you have pressed CRSR Right until you have returned to the current screen. This means you should not scroll back unless you are certain that the remote will not be transmitting data to you or you risk a receive buffer overrun. The module is disabled in several ways: 1). You press Alt-V 2). You open the buffer 3). You load a file into the buffer 4). You enter a character in the buffer editor 5). You switch to C/G term emulation 6). You select another module This module has a second function. After you have used this module you may wish to save the text that was contained in the screens that have been saved. Select "Convert Buffer" from the module's menu. Notes: This module uses the entire capture buffer.