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Text File | 1994-10-25 | 24.0 KB | 650 lines

Softerm Modular Communications and Terminal Emulation READ.ME - Documentation Supplement April 25, 1994 This Windows Notepad file contains changes and additions to the printed manual. To obtain a hardcopy of this information, print the READ.ME file using a command similar to: COPY READ.ME LPT1 Everything in this text file may not be applicable to your Communication/Terminal Emulation needs. However, we recommend that you at least scan through the "Changes to Softerm Plus" topics (Section 2). Contents: 1. Install Procedure 2. Changes to Softerm Plus - Toolbars and Button Bars - RipTerm 1.54 Supprt - Importing Softerm 2.x Databases - Multimedia Support - Mark/Copy -> Transmit to host feature - Drag & Drop file uploading - Hot Spots on the monitor - New Paste option 3. Nationality Object Character Representations 4. New Modems Added 5. Asynchronous TCP/IP Support Page 1 1. Installing Softerm Plus (Un-registered Shareware) ----------------------- Run the SETUP.EXE program to install Softerm Plus. You will also have the option to install the Softerm TCP/IP SLIP Kernel. The Setup Program will create Softerm Plus Group and Program Entries. NOTE: If you choose to install the SLIP Kernel, the following lines will be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET TCPOPEN=C:\SOFTERM SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\SOFTERM CALL LOADTCP Step-by-Step Installation Instructions 1. Create a subdirectory on your hard drive using a command similar to the following: MD SOFTERM 2. Unzip the Softerm Plus Zip file(s) into this subdirectory. 3. Load Windows (Version 3.1 or higher) 4. From the Windows Program Manager "File" pulldown menu, select RUN. 5. Type C:\SOFTERM\SETUP and click OK 6. Click OK on the initial dialog box to begin the installation. 7. You wil be asked if you wish to install the Softerm SLIP Kernel. Select Yes or No. 8. When installation is complete, reboot your machine if you installed the Softerm SLIP Kernel. (Otherwise, proceed to step 9) 9. Installation is now complete! Double-click on the Softerm Plus icon to start Softerm. Additional Notes: If you would like to create a Softerm Icon that Starts a specified Session, for example an Icon that will start Softerm Plus and connects to Compuserve; Create a new program with in the Softerm Plus Group giving the full path and program name followed by the Session Name and "/p"; C:\SOFTERM\SOFTERM.EXE "CompuServe"/p If the Session is in a deferent Database file than the default, (Last Database file opened), then add the database file name to the command line arguments; C:\SOFTERM\SOFTERM.EXE MYDATABS.MDB "CompuServe"/p Page 2 2. Changes to Softerm Plus ----------------------- 1. Toolbars and Button Bars The following Toolbars/Button Bars have been added to Softerm: o Button Toolbar o Connection Toolbar o User-Defined Toolbar o Softerm Status Toolbar o Terminal Emulation Status Bar Any combination of toolbars may be active simultaneously. A. Button Toolbar The Button Toolbar is an extension of the Softerm Plus menu for quick access to the most commonly used menu options. The Toolbar Icons represent the following menu options: (From left to right) Connect(Dial), Disconnect (Hangup), Copy to Host, Copy to Clipboard, Paste to screen, Upload, Download, Screen Snapshot, Scrollback, Start Script, Keyboard Remap, Perform Keyboard Function, Record Keyboard Function, Reset Terminal (Clear Screen), and Help Also on the Button Toolbar is the Transmit/Receive Status Indicator. This was designed to emulate the Transmit and Receive Data LED's on most external modems. This may assist you if you have an internal modem, or if you are troubleshooting a comm port or modem related problem. Choose the "Toolbars..." menu option from the Options menu to turn this Toolbar on or off. B. Connection Toolbar The Connection Toolbar allows you to easily change Connection Path Object options. The following settings can be modified from the Connection Toolbar: Com Port, Baud Rate, Data Bits/Stop Bits/Parity, Transmit Pacing, and Receive Pacing. Use the "Save" button on this toolbar to save any modified settings. Choose the "Toolbars..." menu option from the Options menu to turn this Toolbar on or off. Page 3 C. User-Defined Button Toolbar The User-Defined tool bar allows you to define a function and label the functions on the buttons. This tool bar has Up and Down "spin" buttons on the right hand side to allow you to scroll through/define up to 24 different buttons. Defining a button is simple. Simply click on the button you wish to define, and the Define Button Function dialog will appear. Click on the Help button for detailed help on defining button functions. Choose the "Toolbars..." menu option from the Options menu to turn this Toolbar on or off. NOTE: Be sure to choose "Save window" from the options menu to save your button definitions. D. Softerm Status Toolbar The Softerm Status Bar serves as both a status indicator and Button Toolbar. The buttons on this toolbar toggle the "on and off" states of the appropriate buttons. Of special note is the "Mark on/off" button. It serves as both a "toggle switch" to turn the Mark capability off and on. In the down position, mark mode is off. Mouse clicks on the screen will not mark text or transmit data to the host or clipboard. In the up (default) position, the Mark button's "LED" indicator will be "lit" when text is marked. If you experience a signifigant pause in your terminal emulation, check this indicator to see if you accidentally clicked on the terminal emulation window and initiated mark mode. To turn this toolbar option on or off, choose the "Terminal Emulation Object..." menu option from the Settings menu. Double-click on the "Status Line Definition" in the list box. E. Terminal Emulation Status Bar This Button Bar will change based on your current terminal emulation. It will allow you to toggle/change options that are available on the actual terminal that you are emulating. To turn this toolbar option on or off, choose the "Terminal Emulation Object..." menu option from the Settings menu. Double-click on the "Status Line Definition" in the list box. Page 4 2. RipTerm 1.54 Supprt The RIP emulation window can be resized at any time, up to a maximum of 640x350 pixels. The emulation performs best at this (maximized) size. If you are running Softerm on a slower 386 machine, you may want to use a 16 color video driver for optimum performance. If you experience problems with the RipTerm emulation (flood fills don't appear to work correctly, or the emulation locks up) try using a different Windows video driver. The Rip Emulation functions best using an 800x600 resolution, 256 color mode. "Color Cycling" is ignored unless you are in a 256 color mode. 3. Importing Softerm 2.x Object Databases Importing an older Softerm Database is simple. Just copy the .MDB file into the Softerm Plus directory. Follow any on-screen prompts the next time Softerm Plus is run. 4. Multimedia Support Softerm Plus supports all multimedia formats and devices available to you in Windows. To attach sound, video, or animation to functions or operations in Softerm, select "Sound..." from the Options menu from either the Session Manager or Terminal Emulation windows. The options available on the Multimedia configuration dialog allow you to change existing configurations, remove existing multimedia events, and test multimedia events. Simply click on the appropriate dialog button. You may also globally enable or disable all multimedia events from this dialog. NOTE: Be sure to select "Save Window" from the option menu to save any changes you make to the multimedia configuration. 5. Mark/Copy -> Transmit to host feature Now you can mark a section of text using your mouse and transmit it to the host. If it is a single character, like 'x', double click on it. That will send it. If it is a block of text, mark it off with the mouse, click on the EDIT menu, and select transmit to host. The block will be received at the other end of the connection. This is defined under Settings, System Environment, and then select Edit Action Options. From there you can set up how you want the transmission to be formatted, and where you want it to go. 6. Drag & Drop file uploading This allows you to drag a file out of the File Manager in Windows, and drop it into the window in which you are connected, and it will upload the file to your host. Note, you must be at the place on your host where you can do that! Uses default session protocol, if none, it uses the character protocol. Page 5 7. Hot Spots on the monitor If you are on a service that asks you to press (Enter) to continue, all you have to do is double click on a blank area of the screen. That will send a carriage return to the other end. It will also send entire words, finding the beginning and the end of the word. By double clicking on that word, it will transmit it to the host or to clipboard, dependant upon how it is configured. It can also transmit an entire page of text, by highlighting it with the mouse, then clicking somewhere inside of that block, and it will be transmitted. Refer to item #5 for defining the settings for this option. 8. Paste option You can now cut & paste from outside files, using Shift- Delete, Ctrl-Insert, and Shift-Insert keys. As well as the Edit menu. This item is defined with the EDIT menu. This will work *only* for TEXT. 3. Nationality Object Character Representations --------------------------------------------- If you use the Nationality object to remap incoming or outgoing characters, you may see character descriptions which appear similar to: Character Description Hexadecimal [VT] NOTE:See READ.ME 0BH These characters cannot be displayed within the menu system. Locate the Hexadecimal value in the following list for a description of how the character is translated or print the READ.ME file which also displays the actual character: Hex Character Description 001H ─ Single Line Horizontal 002H │ Single Line Vertical 003H ┌ Single Line Upper Left Corner 004H ┐ Single Line Upper Right Corner 005H └ Single Line Lower Left Corner 006H ┘ Single Line Lower Right Corner 007H ┼ Single Line Cross 008H ├ Single Line Junction Left 009H ┤ Single Line Junction Right 00AH ┬ Single Line Junction Top 00BH ┴ Single Line Junction Bottom 00CH ═ Double Line Horizontal 00DH ║ Double Line Vertical 00EH ╔ Double Line Upper Left Corner 00FH ╦ Double Line Upper Right Corner 010H ╚ Double Line Lower Left Corner 011H ╝ Double Line Lower Right Corner 012H ╬ Double Line Cross 013H ╠ Double Line Junction Left Page 6 014H ╣ Double Line Junction Right 015H ╦ Double Line Junction Top 016H ╩ Double Line Junction Bottom 017H ▒ Communications Error Character 018H Up Arrow 019H Down Arrow 01AH Right Arrow 01BH Left Arrow 01CH █ Solid Block 01DH ▄ Solid Block, Lower Half 01EH ▀ Solid Block, Upper Half 01FH ■ Solid Middle Block 087H ╒ Single To Double Upper Left Corner 088H ╕ Single To Double Upper Right Corner 089H ╙ Single To Double Lower Left Corner 08AH ╜ Single To Double Lower Right Corner 08BH ╪ Single To Double Cross 08CH ╞ Single To Double Junction Left 08DH ╡ Single To Double Junction Right 08EH ╤ Single To Double Junction Top 08FH ╧ Single To Double Junction Bottom 093H ▌ Solid Block, Left Half 094H ▐ Solid Block, Right Half 095H ≥ Greater Than Or Equal To 096H ≤ Less Than Or Equal To 097H ╓ Double To Single Upper Left Corner 098H ╖ Double To Single Upper Right Corner 099H ╙ Double To Single Lower Left Corner 09AH ╜ Double To Single Lower Right Corner 09BH ╫ Double To Single Cross 09CH ╟ Double To Single Junction Left 09DH ╢ Double To Single Junction Right 09EH ╥ Double To Single Junction Top 09FH ╨ Double To Single Junction Bottom 4. New modems added ---------------- The following modem options have been added: AT&T DataPort 14.4 Bocamodem M1440 series INTEL SatisFAXtion Modem/Fax Practical Peripherals 14400FXSA V.32bis USRobotics Sportster 14,400 Zoom Modem VX-V.32bis Zyxel U-1496 Fax/Modem These modems, like any other high speed modem running at baud rates greater than 9600 require RTS/CTS pacing. To select pacing, go into your Connection Path object settings Dialog and select the Pacing option. In the Pacing dialog, set Transmit pacing to CTS and receive pacing to RTS and re-save your Connection Path Object. Page 7 NOTE: When doing communications at baud rates greater than 9600, you will need communications cards or internal modems that use 16550 UART. To enable 16650 UART under Windows, Read your Windows user manual and add the following to your SYSTEM.INI file under [386ENH] COM1FIFO=1 COM2FIFO=1 COM3FIFO=1 COM4FIFO=1 5. Asynchronous Tcp/Ip Support --------------------------- Throughout this section "{INSTALLDIR}" refers to the base directory that this product was installed in. Asynchronous Tcp/Ip support (commonly referred to as SLIP, serial line interface protocol) is achieved by installing the SLIP Tcp/Ip kernel (TCPIP_SL.EXE) before the execution of WINDOWS and configuring a Softerm Plus session with a Softerm SLIP connection path. This SLIP support provides Softerm Plus with the capability to dial into a remote system or network that supports the Tcp/Ip protocol and establish a TELNET terminal session. The INTERNET is one such network that is becoming increasingly popular and it is usually necessary to sign up for a network service prior to being able to use that network. Softerm SLIP session can be configured to seamlessly integrate the following tasks that need to be performed before the Tcp/Ip protocol can be utilised to establish a TELNET session:- o initialize the local modem o dial a remote system or network o execute a series of batch commands to:- o automate a login process o request the remote to enter SLIP (Tcp/Ip) mode o scan the received asynchronous data stream for various Ip addresses that the local PC is to use during the current connection o automatically disconnect the modem when the Tcp/Ip connection is terminated Since the local asynchronous communications port will be accessed and controlled by the Tcp/Ip kernel, WINDOWS and WINDOWS based applications must be prevented from also attempting to access this port. To accomplish this, one of the following sets of two lines must be added to the [386Enh] section of the WINDOWS SYSTEM.INI file:- COM1IRQ=-1 COM1BASE=0 or COM2IRQ=-1 COM2BASE=0 Page 8 The SLIP Tcp/Ip kernel configuration is defined in the file "{INSTALLDIR}\SETUP\NETINFO" and is setup assuming that the remote system or network will dynamically provide the information that is to be used for the duration of the connection. If this inforamtin has been permanently assigned, it will be necessary to edit the follwing lines in the NETINFO file:- IPADDRESS=0.0.0.0 IPGATEWAY=0.0.0.0 SUBNETBITS=0 where:- IPADDRESS specifies the local PC's IP address IPGATEWAY specifies the IP address of the default IP gateway or router to which the Tcp/Ip kernel will send all packets for delivery to their ultimate destination SUBNETBITS specifies the number of bits used as the subnet ID for example:- IPADDRESS=192.148.174.50 IPGATEWAY=192.148.174.49 SUBNETBITS=4 These items are usually assigned when a service is subscribed to. When a Softerm SLIP session object is created the TELNET destination address can be specified as either an Ip address or a name. When a name is used the Tcp/Ip kernel must itself resolve this name to an Ip address. This name resolution is accomplished by first accessing a Domain Name Server on the network that has been dialed into and if that fails by accessing the "{INSTALLDIR}\ETC\HOSTS" file and perfoming a lookup translation. A sample HOSTS file is included with this product. To use a Domain Name Server for host name resolution the following two lines should be added to the NETINFO file:- DOMAIN=name NSIPADDRESS=ipaddress where:- DOMAIN specifies the name of the domain for the remote system or network that will be dialed NSIPADDRESS specifies the IP address of the Domain Name Server for example:- DOMAIN=csn NSIPADDRESS=128.138.213.21 If it is required that name resolution be performed using the local HOST lookup file, these two lines shoud be removed from the NETINFO file. Page 9 Definitions for use of the locally attached modem are maintained in the file "{INSTALLDIR}\ETC\MODEMS". This MODEMS file may contain multiple entries (typically for different connection baud rates) and an example file is included with this product. When a Softerm SLIP connection path object is created, an entry from this file can be selected within the communications parameters dialog. Definitions for the phone numbers of remote systems and networks and their associated batch commands are maintained in the file "{INSTALLDIR}\SETUP\PHONES". This PHONES file will typically contain multiple entries and an example file is included with this product. When a Softerm SLIP connection path object is created, an entry from this file can be selected within the dial parameters dialog. Each PHONES file entry may have one or more of the following batch commands associated with it in order for the previously mentioned functions to be performed:- SEND string[CR] WAITFOR string SEND reply[CR] WAITFOR_IP string WAITFOR_NETMASK string WAITFOR_GATEWAY string SLIPMODE where: [CR] represents a carriage return character in a transmit string. [LF] may be used to represent a linefeed character in a transmit string. The SEND keyword defines a string that is to be transmitted as soon as a carrer signal is detected from the remote system or network during connection establishment. The WAITFOR keyword defines a string that when detected in the receive data stream causes the associated SEND string to be transmitted to the remote system or network. The WAITFOR_IP, WAITFOR_NETMASK, WAITFOR_GATEWAY keywords define lead-in strings for the local Ip address, local Ip address mask or remote gateway Ip address respectively. When one of these lead-in stings has been detected in the receive data stream the receive data is further scanned for the first Ip address, in dotted notation. When a valid Ip address has been received, that address will be used by the kernel for all subsequent Tcp/Ip operations. These lead-in strings only need to define a unique string that precedes an Ip address somewhere in the receive data stream, they do not have to define the string immediately preceding the Ip address. for example, the batch command 'WAITFOR_IP your' will set the local Ip address to '192.94.51.28' when the following string is received:- Annex address is 198.243.36.253. Your address is 192.94.51.28. Page 10 The SLIPMODE keyword causes the Tcp/Ip kernel to be put into SLIP mode and execution of batch commands to be terminated. This command is executed when the immediately preceding batch command has been executed. If there is no preceding batch command, the SLIPMODE command is executed as soon as the carrier signal is detected from the remote system or network. A single SLIP connection will support multiple Softerm SLIP sessions, but the phone number configured within those sessions must be the same for each. Once a SLIP connection has been made, each Softerm SLIP session will proceed to the TELNET establishment phase. The SLIP connection will be terminated when the last Softerm SLIP session is terminated. WSCM.EXE -------- WSCM.EXE (Slip Connection Manager) is a stand alone utility for execution under WINDOWS that can be used to dial and/or hangup a connection to a remote Tcp/Ip system or network. It performs exactly the same functionality as a Softerm SLIP session up to the point of establishing a TELNET session. In addition it will display all received data and thus is a convenient utility for the development and testing of those batch commands necessary to automate SLIP connection establishment. WPING.EXE --------- WPING.EXE (Host Availability Query Program) is a stand alone utility for execution under WINDOWS that can be used to test the availablility of a host (by name or Ip address) on the network. WSCM should be used to establish a connection into a network and WPING can then be used to test if a particular host is available. Page 11