History and Notes for Dterm 11/18/90 After going thru the doc file, have decided to include this file for version 1.0, as there maybe somethings that were omitted from the docs. For you beta testers out there, all I can say is thanx alot. Alot of your ideas were good ones and alot of your complaints were hard to swallow at times. Oh well, all part of the fun. For anyone reading this file, please start at the top and work towards the end. Many of the commands at the end have been changed or been removed all together. This file is not meant to be documention, but more of the trails and tribulations that have gone into Dterm. I am not even going to bother going back and correcting typos or mistakes in this file as I have seen enough of it. {haha} Cheetah 3.0 Has been released. Supports full BGM partitions, has optimizing options. New file selector boxes and other goodies. 11/7/90 Traced down two things that gave Tos 1.0 and possibly Tos 1.2 problems. All seems fine for all Tos versions at the moment. Changed the alt-r so that it resets the CURRENT macro to the begining. Alt-r will still reset the dialer macro if it is the current one. Explanation of macros: When you hit F1-F6, that macro is moved to a register and stays there until another macro key is hit. In the case of the auto dialer macro, it is created from the username and password contained in the dialer dat file and is moved to a register when there is a connect to a bbs. So the dialer macro is the current macro when you return to term mode from the auto dialer. 11/6/90 If you have connected to a bbs or service via the dialer, you can now restart the 'dialer macro' with an alt-r. (The dialer marco is F10) Note: The alt-r starts the macro over from the very begining. 11/4/90 Finally got the color monitor back, so have changed a couple screens that looked really bad. Also fixed a bastard loop that was created on 10/30. I hear that the docs are about done, so maybe this thing will finally get out the door (hope so as I am working on something new at the moment). For folks with HST's with the new v.42 upgrade, not sure what to tell you. I know that if the modem settings are correct, then Dterm has no problems. I will not modify the program for a small few (though I will consider doing it for anyone that resisters). Removed all info for Turbo BBS upload cps rates as it didn't make alot of sense. Since the bbs only monitors the last file transfered there is little to compare with. 11/1/90 Changed most of the things that were done on the 30th. 10/30/90 Most work/changes for HST 14.4 modems and Duals. Changed the way that the main modem/key board routines work. The kb and modem are now on a one to one priority. This means that ctrl-s, ctrl-q, ect should work better. Modem use to have top priority. Changed the auto macro, should work alot better. The HST seems to have problems when atz is combined with other commands in the auto macro. So if your modem is not set the way you want it when using atz, leave it OUT of the auto string if using alot of other commands. The main reason seems to be that the HST takes alot of time to do a ATZ. Changed the dialer just a bit for dialing a number the first time. 10/27/90 Jay fixed the protocol routines so that all error codes should be diplayed inside the box. Hmmmm, just checked Dterm with Tos 1.0 and see that it is working again (got lucky for a change). 10/26/90 Ok, one more time for Kong! Changed a few more things in saving of the capture files (and checked it with the prgs he likes to run) and all works fine for me. The only thing I can think of is, not changing your old config files over. See note for 10/20... 10/25/90 Finally fixed the saving of capture files. You can now 'reverse' screen colors. Alt 'c' from the main menu you will toggle colors back and forth. 10/23/90 Still fighting capture file saves. So have added a form_alert that gives you the option of clearing or leaving the buffer if there is an error. If you do not clear the buffer, it should allow you to save the capture to an other drive or change disks. 10/20/90 More work on loading and saving of files. Sorry to say that I had to change some things in the config file, so you have to create NEW ones. At least it saves the buffer size again. Dterm behaves a bit wierd without a config file, so create atleast one DEFAULT file (DT_CONF0.CNF). Lost support of Tos 1.0 again. But if you use an alternate file selector (UIS, Little Green, or whatever) it will work fine. 10/14/90 Fixed the routines that load/save varies Dterm files if useing the file selector. Seems it use to get lost if going a few folders deep on a different drive. 10/12/90 After seeing a HST 14.4k with (v.42) have trouble with the auto dialer figured it was time to change things around. So lots of work in the dialer routines. You can now abort 'nram' phone numbers. Changed the macros abit, so there should be no more dropped characters. A little more work in the support files (saving of). 10/10/90 Added the correct extender to the path line for dialer, config and capture files. Seems some folks were over writting/saving to the wrong file. (hmmm - ever notice how the program becomes harder for the programmer when you give the user more options?) 10/7/90 Fixed a couple errors that were introduced on the 5th. 10/5/90 Started changing the internal structure of Dterm and the code is getting a bit tighter. Found a couple small bugs and fixed (do not even remember what they are now. Probably introduced new bugs as I have not had time to test all the changes to the code. The dude that was working on the docs is gone for 2 weeks, so official release date is a few weeks away. Anyone care to write docs? {haha} 10/4/90 Removed the 'save to itself' (main menu title line) since it no longer worked and the config file made it obsolete anyway. Since no one said boo about it, figured the config files were good enough. 10/2/90 Fixed the viewer so that lines that are 80 characters long, display correctly (graphic screens and the likes). Regained control of stored 'nram' phone numbers, but still working on making it abort. Changed the way that the modem dials and waits for modem responce from the dialer. Should eliminate all timing problems. 10/1/90 Turned the connect timer on while in viewer mode. Made the system path the default for saving dialer files (was set to the boot path). Trucated the message line in the dialer so it will not overflow into the title box. 9/30/90 Some more work in the auto dialer routines. If in scan dialing and a connection is made, that bbs will now be removed from the scan list. Added page scroll to the view capture. A left shifted up arrow will scroll 1 page up and a left shifted down arrow will scroll 1 page down. Added some more delays to the auto dialer, seems some folks are having problems with the prefix and number strings. There is a fine balance here and will have to play with the timing, so it works over a broad range of modem types and brans. 9/28/90 (all version numbers for now will have the same name as the date) Had to make some changes to the capture buffer. If the buffer is on and fills up, it either has to be saved or cleared, to make room for more data. If using auto saves, the file will be saved for you, the buffer will be cleared and you do not have to worry about anything. BUT if you are using the file selector, 1 of 3 things has to happen... clear, save or turn off the buffer so no more data will come in. I have set Dterm to save and clear the buffer if you enter a filename and hit OK. If you hit cancel, then the buffer is cleared, no file is saved and the buffer is ready for more data. Something to think about when the capture buffer fills up. Reversed the order of printer and capture. (Nothing important to the user, just a note for me) 9/27/90 (version 9/27) The capture buffer will no longer be cleared when you go to save it and hit the cancel button or fail to enter a filename. Changed 'alt e' to 'alt v', seemed to make alittle more sense. Auto zmodem has been tested on Genie and now works. 9/24/90 (version 9/24) 'Alt e' from term mode, will now allow you to view the capture buffer. The left mouse button will scroll down (towards the bottom of the screen and the right mouse button scrolls up (towards the top of the screen). Both mouse buttons at the same time will exit the viewer and return you to term mode, as will the undo key. While in the viewer, 't' will take you immediately to the top of the capture buffer and 'b' to the bottom. The up and down arrow keys will move you one line. When exiting the viewer, the term mode screen is cleared and the viewer will remember where it was at, meaning - the next time you use the viewer, you will be at the same location. 9/21/90 (version 9/21) A little more work on the auto dialer... Removed set buffer and ok from the capture dialog box as they were not needed. Exit the dialog box via the right mouse button. Added 3 boxes to the set path dialog box. These boxes give you the option to use the file selector or 'auto files' for saving capture, config and dialer files. If there is a check in the box, the files will be auto saved and incremented as before. No check in the box and the file selector appears and gives you the option of choosing path and filename. The auto files will still load at bootup if they have the correct filename: DT_CONF0.CNF, DT_DIAL0.DAT. If you choose to save your own files, they still have to have the correct extender but the rest of the name can be anything you like. Your old config files will still work but they should be saved once to add the extra bytes that are needed for the boxes in the set path screen. 9/18/90 (version 9/18) The Auto Dialer is up and running... Added a simple printer dump while in term mode. ALT-P toggles it ON/OFF and it is error trapped for printer off line, ect. An asterisk appears after 'Cap - (On/Off)' in the info_line when the printer is on. The printer dumps no matter what the state of capture is. In other words, you can have capture and printer dump on at the same time and both do their job. Output to the printer is after a CR, so once a line. Control characters have NOT been filtered out, so do not dump vt-52 graphic screens. I might change this latter... Changed auto zmodem (both d/l and u/l) to what I think Genie, CS, ect send in their packets. This might also open auto zmodem to Ibm, Amiga and other types of bbs programs. If it does not work, I will fix it, if someone can supply me with the header packet. I would prefer a capture of the header so there is no mistake. New for 8/26/90 (0.9f) Added auto zmodem uploading. If you have auto zmodem turned on and get a zmodem upload packet, you will automatically get the file selector for the file you wish to send. As soon as you pick the file and hit ok or return, the file will be sent via zmodem. If you have any problems with auto zmodem uploads, try refreshing the drive paths/config file. (I had to do this when using tos 1.0 and an old config file, with the standard tos file selector.) If you are going one on one with someone, you can use wildcards for a 'batch' upload. New for 8/25/90 (0.9e) Increased the rs-232 buffer up to 1k and left the file buffer at 32k. Added a clear screen for 'fast bit' setters. Tested half duplex and all is fine. Added another 'clock' for uploading, it is called a Turbo clock. It will display under the 'transfer totals' and be within 20 cps of what Turbo BBS reports back to you (depending on how long you dally to locate and start your upload... Just for the record, take a look at the cps rate that turbo gives you for a ymodem -g download - it gives back un-attainable results. That is it for computing of cps rates, subject closed. Sorry if it sounds like I am biffed with Turbo BBS, because I am not. It is because I have gotten alot of flake from my beta testers and the subject is getting old. Turbo BBS is a very nice BBS program and the fact that FoReM does not give a cps rate for uploads, makes Turbo the only program that we can compare cps rates with. Dterm looks pretty solid at the moment and is as far as I cares to take it for a public domain file. I plan on testing this version for a week or so and finish the docs. I will make any last minute adjustments that might pop up and then release it as shareware for about 10 dollars. If there is any interest in the program as shareware I will write a full featured auto dailer and release it with version 1.1. Other features that I would like to add are: Improve the capture so you can load and edit, mark/block text segments and be able to send those blocks. Make the macros alot more powerful. Add recording - for auto logons. Add more options to configure the modem. Allow the user to define alot of varibles and configure the program to their liking. In other words, a full featured terminal program. Jay and I are going to link our boards together to add user support for Cheetah, Dterm and other little projects that are brewing. I guess it all comes down to time and money, what else is new... Don Oh, so there is no confussion, these are not docs. This is just alittle history file (notes to myself) so I remember key points and dates. New for 8/24/90 (0.9d) All the little bugs mentioned on the 23rd have been fix. Color screens now capture fine (unless there is line noise). Dropped down to tos 1.0 and fixed the white spots in the info line. Optimized the code. New for 8/23/90 (0.9d) - never released first 9d Whew! I never knew there was such a hassle with vt-52 and info lines that change the information in the line all the time (clock, word count, ect). Anyway that is pretty much fixed. Changed the word count back to updating every second. It looks like I might have a slight problem when updating my info line, one extra character or something, when in my info line routines, will fix later. Removed the clock from the transfer dialog box in hopes that it will keep a couple of the error messages inside Jay's box (I doubt this is the problem). Will talk to Jay and fix later. For non vt-52 captures - all is fine. With color - only 1 slight bug... Have had to change half duplex - untested as I write this, should be fine. (the above 1 character bug that I mention is for capture ony (I think)) and is not as bad as it sounds. Try it and see... Finally FIXED Dterm so it does not need a screen accelerator, but one is recommended. New for 8/20/90 (0.9d) Changed the capture counter so it counts each byte as it comes in instead of updating every second. Changed screen redraws, so Dterm will not redraw the screen each time, unless necessary. New for 8/16/90 (0.9c) Fixed the line feed toggle for full duplex. Fixed the capture so it will not turn off if you go to menu mode. Removed all form_dials, the clipped screens 'pop' pretty good now. (still have to use a screen accelerator hope to fix that soon) New for 8/14/90 (0.9a) IMPORTART!!! You must use a screen accelerator... Added the info line for term mode. The timer is an automatic 'connect' timer. It will start when a carrier is detected and stop when carrier is dropped. It will zero and restart when there is another connection. Changed the load a config, so that it changes the baud, duplex, ect. Added Jay's new rz/sz that has all the info going to screen and also uses a 128 byte rs-232 buffer. (The file buffer is still set at 32k). New for 8/8/90 (version 0.99) Fixed the protocol menu so multi buttons are not on after loading a new config file. Tighten up the saved config file so only the info needed is saved. IMPORTANT - you have to create new config files again. Sorry about that, but this will be the last time. Removed all the title line and save buttons that would write to the file itself, except from the main menu. Fixed the capture so it will not save cursor position info. Added a routine to auto-load a config file if it has the name DT_CONF0.CNF. Added a routine to force the mouse on from the MAIN menu, hit 'alt m'. Not sure if this will work or not but it should. (Started to write the official docs, they should be done in the next couple days). New for 8/6/90 (version 0.98) Added alot of error trapping. Should now catch most disk and memory errors. The errors are displayed as normal gemdos error numbers, nothing fancy at the moment. But should give you a chance to correct the problem without crashing Dterm. New for 8/5/90 (version 0.97) Dterm now displays 'total transfer figures'. This will give you a true cps rate for a single file or ALL of a batch transfer. I see that Dterm still figures it has uploaded a file about 200 cps faster than what Turbo BBS reports back (this is at 9600 baud and above with flow). We are using the system timer (200 Hz), which is very accurate and I feel that Dterm's cps rate is pretty darn close. You have to remember that a bbs has to create/open the file and then close it at the end. Then the bbs goes out and does somethings to the dir file, password file, log, ect... I have no idea when a bbs starts and ends it's timing marks, but sure do for Dterm. We start the clock before the file is opened and stop it after the file is close and get a EOT back from the bbs. If it is a batch, then the clock is started from the first file and not stopped until the last file has come over. Since Dterm has no support files to open, update and close, I feel this is the biggest reason for the different cps rates. One last thought, a bbs never gives you a 'total' figure for a batch. It only reports on the last file. If this file was big, then you will get back a higher cps rate compared to a small file being the last in a batch. New for 8/4/90 (beta) Changed some baud detection code in sz, to see if it will help 14.4 modems while z-uploading. Added a loop and wait for video while changing buffer sizes. Seems to help alot but still not perfect. New for 8/3/90 (version 0.96) Changed the protocol menu and removed 'resume zmodem'. Fixed mrscload so there are no pixel changes at bootup. Removed some code that was no longer needed. IMPORTANT - can not use your old config files, have to generate new ones. New for 7/31/90 (version 0.95) Jay changed the size of the transfer buffer to 32k instead of using all free memory. This will help out floppy users and not time out on big files. I see no difference in times for 9600 baud and hard drive use. New for 7/30/90 (version 0.94) Removed all code and screen stuff for word wrap. Decided to drop it, as it is not needed while calling boards. Found a couple more little bugs and fixed. New for 7/29/90 (version 0.93) Accelerating buffer sizes and better capture buffer files (all work by Jay (not bad for a 'C' programmer in assembler!)). Lots of talk about the protocols and stuff. Will be updated in the next day or so. Other things discussed and worked out. A little more work in half duplex - considered done at this point. New for 7/28/90 (version 0.91) You can now load and save config files. The filename DT_CONF0.CNF is automactically created and incremented for each new config file. You can rename the files if you like but they have to have an extender of .CNF. You can still save to the main program by using the title line on most of the screens. Turned on resume zmodem transfer. Have no idea if this will work. The resume is a simple toggle for one file. After the transfer the flag is reset to normal and the regular protocols take over. New for 7/27/90 (version 0.9) The down load protocols were working fine on the morning of the 24th but by mid afternoon I had blown them up again. Now fixed (again). Changed the protocol menu and made auto zmodem downloading an option. Setup the dialog box for multi-config files (save and load). Worked on half duplex abit as it was in serious hurt. Made a couple more boxes use 'clipping'. Setup for zmodem resume (untested as I write this). Worked abit more on the info-line, still looks out of place for a gem based term program. New for 7/26/90 (version 0.726) Setup a 'info line' for term mode, but not sure if I will use it. Changed the way that Dterm saves to itself, it is now ready for multi- config files. There is now NO math to consider while saving configs, so it will be very easy to save anything that is needed in the future. 7/24/90 version looking very good. Save source, write some real docs and prepare for official 1.0 release. Fully compatible with Tos 1.0 and all programs that I have tested with. Half duplex needs testing and gem protos to make sure info stays 'inside boxes'. New for 7/24/90 (version 0.724) Added Jay's new rz_gem code. Capture buffer size is now saved. Added remove-buffer command that will completely remove the capture and return that memory to the program. Regained Tos 1.0 support, should be compatible with most programs and Tos's. Added right mouse button exit from the buffer screen. New for 7/23/90 (version 0.723) Turned on all the capture functions in the main menu. Removed alt-s from term mode. Added auto save of the capture buffer when it is full and auto save when you quit. Made Dterm set all paths to the boot path if you do not have alternate paths set and saved. (Will expand the docs once Dterm is fully tested)... New for 7/22/90 (version 0.722) Installed Jay's new gem download screen. Weekend... Lost all track of time and purpose! Jay and I wrote a custom 'clip' routine, works great. Lost support of normal Tos 1.0 file selector and other aspects of Tos 1.0... (might fix later) New for 7/19/90 (version 0.720) beta Started adding the new main menu. Line feeds are now controlled from the main menu and alt-F3 was disabled. Actually all the function keys have been disabled except for sending macros. Alt-c now toggles the capture on/off. Atl-s now saves or clears the capture buffer. Alt-u is for uploading and alt-d is for downloading. You can also transfer files by hitting the right mouse button and hitting the appropriate box. You can also save or clear the capture buffer from the main menu. (Still have some work to do on 'capture' from the main menu)... New for 7/17/90 (version 0.717) Had to remove the 'gem' downloading for a day or so, while a couple bugs get worked out. Finally found a stack bug when transfering files, which caused the stack to grow. After about 16 transfers/aborts it would overflow the stack. Got the mouse working right while in Jay's dialog box. New for 7/16/90 (version 0.716) Added Jay's new routines for 'gem' downloading. New for 7/15/90 (version 0.715) Added Jay's dialog box for uploading files, now there is something to look at! Lots more internal work and stack checking. New for 7/14/90 (version 0.714) Did some debugging and correct a few bugs and errors. New for 7/12/90 (version 0.712) Clicking the right mouse button while in the protocol menu will return you to the main menu. Started replacing 'form_do' with my own routines. Non Tos 1.4 users will see a real difference in speed when clicking buttons. Added a bell to the tranfer routines. It will ring once when the transfer is over or there was a problem. The bell really gives you an idea how long it takes Forem and Turbo BBS, to save and reset itself on uploads. The bell rings when Dterm is 100% done with the transfer. This means all files have been closed and all strings have been put back to normal. New for 7/10/90 (version 0.710) Clicking the right mouse button while in term mode will take you to the main menu mode. New for 7/9/90 (version 0.79) The CAP_A.TXT filename (for capture files) now automatically increments it's name on each save. ie: save 2 would be CAP_B.TXT ect. When you re-boot Dterm the capture files will start with CAP_A.TXT again, so save them somewhere else or change their names if you want to keep them. (Reserved screen mem so other programs would not step on Dterm). New for 7/8/90 (version 0.78) Zmodem has been fixed - it now changes packet size. This should correct the problems while uploading (Good work Jay). Moved the Macro Editor to the main menu screen and disabled Alt-F8 from term mode. Compiled with a new version of GenSt - Code is a bit more optimized. New for 7/7/90 (version 0.77) Yomdem -G batch downloads added. Fixed a memory problem that was introduced on th 6th (caused alot of bus errors). New for 7/6/90 (version 0.76) Added a new option on the main menu - Set Paths. You can now set and save different drive paths for downloading, uploading and where the capture buffer will be saved. If you click on the far left side of any of the strings, the file selector box will pop up. Once you click OK in the file selector the path will be set. You can also use the edit keys and type in the path if you so desire. Added a CR after a L/F for brain dead systems. New for 7/5/90 (version 0.75a) Added another macro but this one is special. It is an 'Auto' macro and executes when you boot Dterm up. I use it to 'configure' the modem. You can make it a multi-line macro, but only the first part will execute automactically. You can then hit F6 in term mode to send the rest of the line(s). You can also send the auto macro at anytime in term mode, by hitting F6. New for 7/5/90 (version 0.75) Changed 'forced line feeds' to OFF as default. This is the normal setting needed by FoRem and Turbo BBS. Added a small routine to restore TR/RS. FoReM and Turbo both have a nasty habit of disabling DTR when you quit from the program. Have added Auto Zmodem Downloads... No matter what your setting for the download protocol is set at, zmodem will 'kick in' if it gets a 'zmodem packet'. Tell the bbs to send your files 'Z' and sit back and enjoy. Be sure that you have set the drive PATH before you do this, as the files will go to the current active drive. New for 6/30/90 Alot of work on the known problems. The destructive back space is now alot smoother. Half duplex has gotten some work, knew it was messed up awhile back. Reversed the order of the baud rates (seems more 'normal' now). New for 6/27/90 Added 'changing' baud rates. Just click on the set baud box and it will cycle through the more popular ones. Of course it can be saved as before. (Not sure why, but there is a problem when sending macros at 300) Changed the macros so that you have to hit the same function key, to send a multi-macro line. This means that if you have more than 1 macro on a line and hit a different function key, the new marco is sent and and the old one is aborted. New for 6/22/90 Alot of debugging and testing for compatibility with ALL Tos's, ect. Tighter code in modem/key board routines, so there are alot less dropped characters. Also disabled the right mouse button from term mode, you have to use the 'HELP' key to get to the menu screen. This was the main reason for dropped characters. Changed more gemdos calls to bios in hopes that ^C does not fall back to desktop. New for 6/20/90 Nothing new really, just alot of general house cleaning and tighting of code. Removed over 4k from program, with almost 3k from the protocols. Tested on monochrome and all seems to work fine. New for 6/19/90 Alot of code has been changed so that it should be compatible with all roms, item selectors and screen accelerators. New for 6/18/90 The macro lines have been extended from 50 to 65 characters. Zmodem protocols have been worked on. They now detect an error on the back channel and resend. At the moment, zmodem will not fall below a 1k block on a repeated block (as far as I am concerned - this is great!). New for 6/15/90 You can now use a | (shift back slash) to seperate macros on the same line. The first part of the macro will be sent with the function key and then return to term mode. You can then send the next part of the macro any time by hitting the same macro key again. Check the macro editor for an example. Once inside a 'nested' macro, no other macros can be sent, until the nested one has finished. New 6/14/90 From 'term mode' Alt-F3 Will toggle line feeds on/off. New 6/13/90 From 'term mode' Alt-F1 Will toggle the capture buffer on/off. Alt-F2 Will bring up an alert box that will allow you to save or clear the buffer. Or just return to term mode. The capture buffer is a bit buggy at the moment but does work ok. The trick is to capture what you want and save it, before using the protocols or trying to execute another program. As soon as you save or clear the buffer, all ram is released from the buffer and restored to the system. For now, the capture buffer will be auto saved to a file called CAP.TXT. in what ever 'path' that was last used. If you do not save or clear the buffer before exited the program or using the protocols, you will be prompted to save/clear or just return to term mode. The buffer uses all available ram for now. From 'term mode' Alt-F8: Call up a 5 line macro editor. Good for phone numbers, ect. Alt-F9: Go into RZ, receive a file. Alt-F10: Go into SZ, send a file. F1-F5: Send the macro. Help key: Goto menu mode. Undo key: Quit. Right mouse button: Toggle from term amd menu mode. All 'settings' (protocols used, baud, duplex, macros, ect) can be saved from the dialog box title line or save buttons. That is about it for the commands and the docs. The program is in beta stage and changes daily...