B U X T E R M by Buck Rogers, K4ABT AN "EASY TO USE" TERMINAL PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE ROSE SYSOP AND USER BUXTERM began as a terminal program to upload configuration files from disk to the new ROSE Switches that are so popular around the world. For my application I needed a complete terminal package which would allow me to Create, Edit, Cut, Copy, Move, Paste, Print, Append, Send, and Receive files for the ROSE switches. As Network Manager to many of these ROSE Switches, the task of adding a new switch to the network meant booting the word-processor, editing an old file or building a completely new ".CNF" file from scratch. Having completed the building task, I would next run the CONFIGUR.EXE file to convert the ASCII configuration (.CNF) file to HEX so the CPU in the ROSE switch could understand and accept the new code. Finally, I would need to boot the appropriate terminal software (most terminal software will not upload the configuration files to the ROSE switch in the correct order) to upload the new configuration file to the switch. CONFIGURATION CONTROL: Tom Moulton (W2VY) and Gordon Beattie (N2DSY) along with other members of the Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society (RATS) has done their networking homework well. Tom gave us the mechanism to configure the EPROM for the ROSE through the use of the MAKEPROM.EXE and the (C.EXE) CONFIGUR.EXE programs. The remainder of the setup and configuration control becomes the responsibility of the SYSOP and/or Network Manager. This is where BUXTERM.EXE comes into play. I am a sincere believer in the axiom that states: "From necessity, comes invention". NOTICE * NOTICE * NOTICE * NOTICE If you are reading this documentation using an editor, or the "TYPE" command; you may print this document to a connected printer by issuing the following command: COPY BUXTERM.DOC PRN Because I have "PRINTED" BUXTERM.DOC to the disk with all margins, and headers preserved, the printout will be spaced accordingly. The page length is also set to sixty-six lines. Be sure the top of the paper is set to the correct starting point, and then issue the above command. USING BUXTERM.EXE: BUXTERM.EXE enables the user to send and receive text and ASCII files in a very easy, and user friendly approach. In short, this software was written to provide an effortless and versatile method of operating and controlling your ROSE switch, or even your TNC. I've exercised considerable effort to make your ROSE Switch configuration easy. We've extended that same effort to ensure the operating procedures and commands of BUXTERM.EXE are logical, and comfortable to remember. Hard disk users should copy the master disk that contains the ROSE files to a sub-directory called "ROSECNF" or a title that lets you know what files are in the directory. I've copied the files from my ROSE master disk into my ROSECNF sub-directory: BUXTERM.EXE CONFIG.LOD CONFIGUR.EXE (REName to "C.EXE") INFO.LOD TNC2.OVR HEARD.LOD DR200.OVR USERS.LOD PK88.OVR MEMSIZ.LOD MAKEPROM.EXE RZ.BIN Etc..... I M P O R T A N T !!! "CONFIGUR.EXE" MUST BE RENAMED to "C.EXE" ! After copying all the related files to the new sub-directory, RENAME the CONFIGUR.EXE to this exact title: C.EXE . Make sure that you have C.EXE in the same (new) sub-directory as BUXTERM.EXE, then use this method to RENAME the file: REN CONFIGUR.EXE C.EXE USING A FLOPPY DISK SYSTEM: If you are familiar with the FORMAT /S command, you may wish to make this a "bootable" disk. Insert the new formatted disk into drive B: Copy the ROSE and BUXTERM.EXE Master disk files by using Copy *.* command onto your new formatted work copy disk. With master disk in Drive A: and formatted disk in drive B: eg; A>copy *.* b: INSTALLING (Booting) BUXTERM.EXE for the first time. BUXTERM.EXE defaults to: COMPORT 1 BAUDRATE 9600 DATABITS 8 (WORD LENGTH) PARITY NONE (0) If you are using a comport other than COM 1, it is imperative that you press F3 and set the software for that comport before pressing any other key! TO PRESS A KEY BEFORE SETTING THE (F3) COMPORT COULD LOCK THE PC, AND REQUIRE A "SOFT BOOT" (Ctrl, Alt, Del). Under normal usage, the TNC parameters should be set as follows: AX25 ON XFLOW OFF FLOW OFF ECHO OFF BK OFF AUTOLF OFF MCOM ON MCON OFF 8BITCONV ON SCREENL 0 CMDTIME 1 HE OFF TERMINAL MODE Features and Commands; A Guide to KEY functions and definitions. The manner in which the Alt and Ctrl Keys are used is simple. To enable a feature that requires the use of either the Alt or the Ctrl key, simply press and hold the Alt (or Ctrl) key and momentarily press the command key that is associated with the desired feature. F1 Sends control C (03 HEX) to TNC. Returns CMD: prompt from TNC. (Press F1 three times in succession if returning to cmd: from the transparent mode). F2 Puts TNC into converse mode by sending the command. F3 Displays setup MENU and allows the user to set baud rate, parity, stop bit, wordlength, and com port. This is for the "Abaud". ABAUD is often used to define the baud rate between computer and TNC. Each time the number is pressed the baudrate changes. F4 Opens the SCREEN COLOR SET menu so foreground and background screen colors may be adjusted to accommodate the user. This feature can be enabled with CGA, EGA, or VGA Color Monitors. F9 Use with the ROSE "CONFIGUR.EXE". This function automatically executes the C.EXE program to convert any selected ".CNF" file into a .TBL file. "CONFIGUR.EXE" MUST BE RENAMED, "C.EXE", and must be on the same disk, in the same sub-directory as the .CNF files that are to be converted to .TBL. ALT C Clears the terminal mode screen so the number of "OK's" returned from the ROSE upload may be correctly counted. ALT P This feature will become your favorite command because it enables the printer while incoming data is being displayed on the screen. Execution of the ALT P command is a "TOGGLE" feature. This means the first time you perform an ALT P the printer will be activated (ON), and any incoming text will be sent to the printer while being displayed on the screen. If the ALT P is executed a second time, the printer will stop printing. The screen display will continue without interruption. ALT R Activates the SEND-FROM-DISK feature. This feature has a wide variety of uses, and may be used to send ASCII and HEX files directly from the disk. The primary use of the ALT R feature is to up-load the "TBL" files that are used to setup and configure the ROSE switch. You will find the ALT R feature valuable when sending long files directly from the disk to other connected stations. The ALT R feature is most useful when making the final setup of a ROSE Switch. When connecting to a station, using BUXTERM, we immediately notice the CALLSIGN, of the connected station appear in the status line near the bottom of the screen. To the right of the callsign, we will also see the ADDRESS of the ROSE Switch which we are using at the connected station. This is a very important point to remember! When connecting to one of the ROSE features such as "LOADER", "USERS", HEARD or "CONFIG;" we notice they too are displayed in the same status- line location as the callsign had appeared. This is the key to the next, very attractive feature that we will discuss. As Sysop, or Network Manager, we may have more than one ROSE Switch. This means we will be sending configuration files to more than one switch. There is always that remote chance that a configuration file belonging to another switch could be uploaded to a different switch. This can be a problem, since the routing is included in the configuration TABLES. We have designed into BUXTERM.EXE, a safe-guard to prevent this kind of mistake. Let's imagine we are going to configure the distant ROSE switch; N4XZV-5,404922. We connect to it from the local K4ABT-5,404804 switch. As soon as we connect to CONFIG, the "Status-Line" will present the following display: CONFIG --- 404922 ------- BUXTERM --Version-#.#----------OK=0-------- As soon as we connect to CONFIG, an internal trap string was triggered that set a blockade a protective cloak to prevent our sending the incorrect "TBL" file to the ROSE Switch. When we executed the ALT R in preparation for the upload of the "######.TBL" file, the string sent a prompt to our screen. The prompt appears something like this: SEND 404922.TBL TO SWITCH Y / N As quick as we press the "Y", BUXTERM begins an automatic search of the disk or sub-directory to locate and send a file named "404922.TBL". NOTE: When building the "CNF" files, be sure to end the CNF file with the WRITE command that will name the "TBL" file to that matching the ADDRESS of the target ROSE Switch. This is covered in greater detail in the ROSE SYSOPS manual that is included on the ROSE disk. The instant we execute the ALT R, and highlite a file, BUXTERM.EXE begins sending a file from the disk. The file title is displayed at the top of the screen. This allows the operator to confirm that the correct file is being sent to the target Switch, or station. ALT X Immediate, short and graceful EXIT of BUXTERM.EXE ! F10 Opens the Text Editor feature of BUXTERM.EXE. This powerful feature enables the user to manipulate text files in the following ways: APPEND CAPTURE CUT CREATE COPY EDIT PRINT MOVE PASTE SAVE RECEIVE SEND The user can EDIT in excess of 25,000 bytes of data in the editor. There are no restrictions to the size of an action taken as each feature of the Text Editor can be performed on one character, or the entire text buffer. More about the Text Editor in the next section of this document. THE "BUXTERM.EXE" TEXT EDITOR F10 Enters the Text Editor mode: To enter the TEXT EDITOR mode press F10. If you are entering the Text Editor for the purpose of editing a file that is in the current drive you need only to high-light the name of the file, press and the file will be loaded into the Text Editor. Files may be edited and saved to the same drive, and with the same title. This is an easy step also. While holding the Alt key, press the S key, and a "Title line" will appear near the top of the screen. The original title that was highlighted to load the file will be visible in the "TITLE LINE". Press the key, and the file will be saved to the same drive/directory that it was taken from. If you prefer to save the file with another title or to another drive/directory, the new title and drive/path can be typed in when the Alt/S command is activated, and the "Title line" appears at the top of the screen. A special feature of BUXTERM, is the "automatic" selection of files. The directories are arranged in alphabetical order. When it becomes necessary to select a filename buried deep in the directory, simply press the letter representing the first letter of the needed file, and the highlight cursor will move to that section of the directory. TEXT EDITOR COMMANDS and FEATURES F1 MARKS THE BEGINNING of text to be DELETED, COPIED, EDITED, PRINTED, MOVED, PASTED, SAVE, or SENT. F2 MARKS THE END of text to be DELETED, COPIED, EDITED, PRINTED, MOVED, PASTED, SAVE, or SENT. Ctrl F1 DELETES/CUTS removes marked text. Ctrl F2 PRINTS selected or marked text to printer. F8 APPENDS another text file to any file(s) already in the EDITOR. Pressing F8 while in the TEXT EDITOR will display the current selected directory. By high-lighting a "text" file in the directory listing and pressing , the file will be added at the end of any file(s) already loaded in the text EDITOR. F9 SENDS marked text to the TNC or TRANSMITS if in the Connected or Convers state; CONFIGURE TNC if the TNC is in the Command state Ctrl G RINGS Bell or Ctrl G character to the text being edited. ALT B DUMPS text from the TERMINAL Buffer into the TEXT EDITOR. Alt L LOADS file from the current selected DIRECTORY, for the user selection of file to be loaded, for editing, sending, or printing. Alt N NAMES Allows renaming any file while the Alt L directory is displayed. The Alt N command may be used to rename file(s). Alt S SAVE all, or only marked text from the EDITOR to the selected path/drive. Alt C CHANGES the DIRECTORY format, and displays the file sizes. Alt H HELP A separate "HELP" screen is available in the TEXT EDITOR mode defining the additional features of the editor. More HELP appears in the bottom portion of the Text Editor screen. In the case of the Text Editor "HELP" menu, when you finished with it, press the "Esc" key to return to the Text Editor. Ctrl M MOVES any selected (F1/F2) portion of the text in the EDITOR to the present location of the cursor. Ctrl C COPIES any selected (F1/F2) portion of the text in the EDITOR to the present location of the cursor. A quick way to make a "CONFIG.TNC" file is to set your TNC parameters to the settings which are used in normal day to day usage. Once you have these parameters set into the TNC, type DISP . This dumps the current parameters of the TNC to the screen buffer. Move to the Text Editor from the Terminal mode by pressing F10. Dump the Screen buffer to the editor buffer by executing an Alt B. With the DISPlay from the TNC now loaded into the Text Editor, you may edit any commands to the current TNC setup. Use the F1 key to mark the beginning of the text to be saved. Use the PgUp, PgDn, Up, & Dn arrow keys to move the cursor to the end of the text to be saved, and press F2. The marked text will become highlighted. At this point we can CUT, COPY, MOVE, PASTE, PRINT, SEND, or SAVE the marked text. Since we are building a CONFIG.TNC file, we elect to SAVE the highlighted text. We SAVE the text by pressing Alt S, and entering a name for the file. The TITLE Prompt appears at the top of the screen. To name the file we type CONFIG.TNC, and press . N O T I C E ! THIS TERMINAL PROGRAM IS FREE ! It is not to be sold, or bartered. It is not to be used in conjunction with any commercial advertisement, and it is NOT to be distributed as a commercial enticement or attraction to, or with, any device, equipment, or software. This terminal program may be distributed with the current version of the ROSE data disk. ********************************************************************** This software uses hardware handshaking and must have the RTS and CTS lines connected. PINS 2 Txd, 3 Rxd, 4 RTS, 5 CTS, and 7 SigGnd must be wired end to end and pin to pin. No lines are rolled or inverted. ********************************************************************** ROSE SWITCH CONFIGURATION GUIDELINES By Buck Rogers K4ABT After the new switch is installed at the site where it is to remain, turn the TNC ON, and observe that both the STA, and CON LEDs are cycling at one second interval(s). FOLLOW THIS FINAL CONFIGURATION SETUP TO THE LETTER ! Return to the QTH and perform the final setup using the following procedure. It will be necessary to upload all the .LOD files since the battery backed RAM maintains only the routing tables that are in the .TBL file. The .LOD files are NOT supported by the nonvolatile, battery backed RAM. I recommend sending the BOOTER.LOD to reset all internal pointers before proceeding with the overall configuration of the switch(s). Thereafter, use BOOTER.LOD only when there is reason to believe the switch is locked up, or if changes are being made to the callsign, or routing tables. Connect to "LOADER" and send BOOTER.LOD to the switch. Shortly after sending BOOTER.LOD to the switch, you should receive an automatic disconnect. Again, connect to LOADER. cmd: C LOADER V KC4NEH-3,615666 and once more we receive the connect sequence as before; cmd:*** CONNECTED to LOADER VIA KC4NEH-3,615666 Call being Setup Call Complete to LOADER-0 @ 3100615666 ROSE X.25 ROSE Switch Version 9##### by Thomas A. Moulton W2VY OK Initially we will install only the of the CONFIG.LOD files into the switch. Later as we become familiar with the ROSE SYSOPS manual, you may upload the INFO.LOD and HEARD.LOD features in the switch. For now, we will use only the CONFIG.LOD file in the switch. Press, and hold the ALT key, then press the R key. Releasing the keys, use the arrow keys to highlight the file neme; CONFIG.LOD. Press and CONFIG.LOD will be sent to the switch LOADER. Don't touch any keys on the PC keyboard while the upload is taking place. The STAtus led on your TNC will indicate the upload to the switch as long as the data is flowing. When the upload is complete, the STAtus LED will go out. On the BUXTERM screen, in the right portion of the STATUS line, there should be an "OK=3" displayed. In either case, this is our assurance that the CONFIG.LOD upload was successful. ÄÄ LOADER ÄÄÄ 615666 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BUXTERM Ä Version - 2.0 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ OK=3 - Disconnect from "LOADER" now! Now that we have uploaded the CONFIG module to the switch, we can connect to it and upload the .TBL configuration table. cmd: C CONFIG V KC4NEH-3,615666 As soon as we connect, the following text is received from the switch; cmd:*** CONNECTED to CONFIG VIA KC4NEH-3,615666 Call being Setup Call Complete to CONFIG-0 @ 3100615666 ROSE X.25 ROSE Switch Version 9##### by Thomas A. Moulton W2VY OK Notice that both the module title "CONFIG", and the ADDRESS "615666" are displayed in the STATUS line as shown in this example: ÄÄ CONFIG ÄÄÄ 615666 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BUXTERM Ä Version-#.# ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ OK=3 - The word "CONFIG" that follows "CONNECTED to" triggers a software trap string to set up an additional safeguard that helps prevent a SYSOP from uploading the incorrect "TBL" file into the switch. As before; when we were connected to the LOADER module, use the ALT R to send the file(s) to the CONFIG module, however..... this time there will be a noticeable difference! BUXTERM prompts the SYSOP for a YES or NO answer. As quickly as we execute the ALT R, a window appears near the center of the screen similar to the one shown here: ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Send 615666.TBL to the Switch? ³ ³ Y / N ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ If we press "Y" the file "615666.TBL", (file for the example switch) is automatically selected, and sent to the switch. If we press an "N" we are switched to the directory to make another selection to send to the switch's CONFIG module. We press the "Y" option. USE EXTREME CAUTION to prevent uploading the incorrect TBL file, or the wrong version; ie: 90713 vs 901111. It is best to keep different ROSE switch versions of the code on separate sub-directories, and/or disks (especially the USERS.LOD). Use only the support files that are supplied with the original disk/version. When the 615666.TBL upload is complete, the window will display until the complete file is sent. To let us know the upload is a success, the Switch will send us eleven (11) "OK"'s. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ cmd: *** CONNECTED to CONFIG VIA KC4NEH-3,615666 ³ ³ Call being Setup ³ ³ Call Complete to CONFIG-0 @ 3100615666 ³ ³ ROSE X.25 ROSE Switch Version 9##### by Thomas A. Moulton W2VY³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ *OK ³ ³ ³ ³ --- CONFIG --- 615666 ------- BUXTERM -- Version #.# --- OK=11 --- ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ *OK NOTE; When using ROSE Version 901111 or above with the PASSWORD installed, an additional "OK" will be displayed, for a total of twelve (12) OK's at the completion of the ######.TBL file upload. DISCONNECT NOW! REMOVE THE "CONFIG" MODULE ! After the configuration is complete, reconnect to the LOADER module and use the interrogate command; :0000000000 to check the switch. This also permits us to identify which position the CONFIG.LOD module is in. To confirm the position or number of the CONFIG.LOD file, we send the colon and ten zeros ":0000000000" to the switch whereupon it gives us a display that indicates the position of the CONFIG.LOD module/file in the LOADER. Our display appears similar to the following: ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Entry #0 LOADER-Application Boot Interface Version 1.1 ³ ³ Entry #1 CONFIG-ROSE X.25 Switch Configuration Interface Version 2.2³ ³ OK ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ We see that CONFIG.LOD is in position #1. To remove the CONFIG module we send the following command to LOADER: :0201000000 The colon, zero two is the delete command, the third and fourth digits are the position of the module or "file to be deleted". The balance of the ten positions should be zeros. Thus the; zero one (01) will delete the CONFIG module. If the wrong number is used, the incorrect module or feature file might be deleted. The only way to restore a file that has been deleted, is to upload it into the switch "LOADER" again. A feature file (.LOD) can be uploaded to the LOADER of the switch without going through the complete configuration of the switch, and at any time. Now that the CONFIG.LOD module is removed, continue with the upload of the other two files (HEARD.LOD, and INFO.LOD) using the same method that we used to send CONFIG.LOD to the switch. Each time we perform the ALT R to send a file, the "OK=#" counter will reset to zero (0). This provides an accurate count as the OK's returned from the switch. Three OK's are received to indicate that each .LOD file upload was good. After the .LOD upload is complete, the screen display should look similar to the following: ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ OK ³ ³ ³ ³ LOADER ÄÄÄ 615666 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BUXTERM Ä Version-#.# ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ OK=3 - ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ To confirm that all three .LOD feature files are in the switch, we can send a colon and ten zeros :0000000000 to interrogate the switch for an inventory as to which .LOD have been loaded into the LOADER. If we were successful, we should receive a record of the files, from the switch, similar to the following: ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Entry #0 LOADER-Application Boot Interface Version 1.1 ³ ³ Entry #1 INFO-ROSE X.25 Switch Information Interface Version 2.1 ³ ³ Entry #2 HEARD-ROSE X.25 Switch HEARD Interface Version 1.2 ³ ³ OK ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ We have completed the uploads to the LOADER module of the switch. DISCONNECT from LOADER ! Our ROSE Switch; building, installation, and configuration is complete. NOTE!!!: BE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT YOU ARE SENDING THE CORRECT FILE TO THE CORRESPONDING ROSE SWITCH. Observe the title line at the top of the ALT R window in BUXTERM.EXE to confirm filename! NOTE: Only the configuration table is to be loaded into the CONFIG feature of the Switch. ALL OTHER FEATURE(S) are to be loaded into the "LOADER". LOADER is always resident in the switch. To insure this happens, use the program that is designed especially for the ROSE Sysop. It is called "BUXTERM.EXE" version 1.5 or later. CAUTION: It is absolutely necessary that only the CONFIG.LOD, INFO.LOD, USERS.LOD, and associated "LOD" files written for the version of the ROSE that you are using, be uploaded to the switch you have in use. A means to control this is to place only those files from the original ROSE disk you receive into the same directory or disk. DO NOT INTERMIX .LOD FILES OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE ROSE. ie: Version 90713 USERS.LOD should only be used with the 90713 ROSE SWITCH. Only Version 901111 USERS.LOD can be used with the ROSE Switch made from 901111 ! Happy Packeting de BucK4ABT