Columbia University Center for Computing Activities INFO-KERMIT DIGEST VOLUME 12 Christine M. Gianone, Editor July - December 1990 Table of Contents Volume 12, Number 1 1 Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available 1 New Release of Kermit for HP-3000 2 Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit 3 New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series 4 New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2 4 New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370 5 Volume 12, Number 2 10 Another Update of the MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Test Release 10 Version 8.12 of PRIME Kermit Now Available 13 New Documentation Available for VAX/VMS Kermit-32 3.3.126 13 New Test Release of DEC Rainbow Kermit 13 Volume 12, Number 3 18 Proposed Kermit Extension for SET FILE TYPE 18 And ANOTHER New Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 22 A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager 26 New Release UCPECAN Kermit V1.1 27 Volume 12, Number 4 30 Next Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 30 Volume 12, Number 5 41 Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 41 Announcing KERMIT-12 Version 10g 43 Kermit Proposal SET FILE TYPE 45 Re: A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager 47 Volume 12, Number 6 51 New Honeywell DPS-6 Superkermit 51 Announcing Kermit for the Tandy 100 53 Volume 12, Number 7 62 Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 62 Announcing CP/M Kermit Version 4.10 for Testing 64 New Test Release of Microsoft Windows Kermit 65 Another New Prerelease of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 66 New Kermit for Gould/SEL 32/77 MPX 70 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Page 1 Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 18 Jul 1990 Volume 12 : Number 1 Departments: ANNOUNCEMENTS - Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available New Release of Kermit for HP-3000 Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2 IBM MAINFRAME KERMIT - New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370 Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA VAX/VMS KERMIT - VMS Kermit-32 Hints How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS? MISCELLANY - Kermit for Microsoft Windows External Kermit Driver Kermit for Atari Portfolio? Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri Jul 13 18:16:23 1990 >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Additions to Joe Doupnik's MSR302.UPD file since the previous announcement in Info-Kermit V11 #8: 22. Add more character set corrections from Matthias Reichling. 23. Correct problem of placement of CR/LF in text screen dump (broken in recent v3.02 changes), from Brian Holley. Page 2 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 24. Make small change to Self Test code, DECTST, CSI 2 ; Ps y (VT100) and CSI 4 ; Ps...; Ps y (VT320). Do a terminal reset only if a Ps is 0 or 1. This is in the VT terminal emulator. Ps values greater than 1 are for testing the terminal serial port, printer, and repeating the tests; they are ignored here. All cases move the cursor back to the main display. 25. Minor change to ensure modem status is correct even if the port has not yet been used. File msxibm.asm. 26. Modify the way characters are placed on Tektronix graphics screens from starting them at intervals of 8 PC screen dots across the screen to placing the lower left at the current drawing position (1 dot resolution). Characters are 8x8 dots. The effect is better positioning accuracy along the x-axis; the y-axis already behaved the better way. File msgibm.asm. 27. Tiny tweak to Tek graphics code to overcome a deficiency in some Bios' on storing video mode values if the high bit is set (means do not clear the display buffer). Brian Holley found such a case and GRAPHICS.COM in DOS 4 became confused. The Bios on most machines clears that bit. msgibm. 28. Follow the lead of C-Kermit 5A and attempt simple correction of Parity on the communications line during packet transfers. Parity will be shifted to EVEN, ODD, or MARK by the detector, in addition to the older warning about removing the high bit on characters. The first two packet characters determine the parity, though the first four are examined for unexpected setting of the high bit. msscom, mssset, mssrcv, msssen. 29. Adjust Tektronix emulator slightly so that SET TERM CLEAR-SCREEN does a screen clear using the existing character coloring to write all spaces, rather than doing a full reinitialization of the emulator. The text emulator is not affected. Since ESC [ 30's; 40's m screen coloring command sets the fore- and background color palette registers (7 and 0, resp) a screen clear manually or by receipt of ESC [ 2 J will use this palette. A terminal reset restores the built-in default palette. More changes are expected. The files are in the Kermit test area, kermit/test/mstibm.boo and kermit/bin/mstibm.exe on watsun, and T:MSTIBM.BOO on CUVMA. ------------------------------ Date: 15 June 1990 >From: Tony Appelget, General Mills Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA Subject: New Release of Kermit for HP-3000 Keywords: HP-3000 Kermit The HP3000 SPL Kermit seems to be badly neglected. The listing in "Kermit News number 4" shows your most recent version to be v1.1 dated 85/06/24. I am enclosing what I am assuming to be a much more modern version. It is the product of a lot of hours put into the v1.0 version over the past five or six years and works very well here. All my changes are listed in comments at the beginning of the program. A few of the big changes are: INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Page 3 - Added a HELP function. - Implementated a very versatile command name abbreviation scheme. - Implemented 3-byte checksums in addition to the old standard one-byte checksums. - Implemented long packets with a maximum of 2000 bytes. Decreasing packet size in response to packet errors is not implemented. - This Kermit sets a JCW (program completion code). - Cleaned up a plethora of small bugs. - At the insistance of our security types, a file validation scheme was built into the program. No one uses it. Leaving it in place will cause no harm. It should be removable without too much trouble. The version number, 2.7, that I have stuck on the program is totally arbitrary as far as I am concerned. If my enclosed Kermit meets your standards for distibution, it would be a feather in my cap for you to do so. (signed) Tony Appelget K0DCF/AFA3AO/AFF3MN [Ed. - Thanks, Tony, it does, apply feather to cap! It looks like Kermit News #4 is shaking a lot of Kermit updates out of the woodwork. This one replaces the old 1.1 version from 1985 in the Kermit "D" area as hp3000.*.] ------------------------------ Date: Fri Jul 13 13:53:17 1990 >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit Keywords: NCR 9800 Kermit This is to announce a Kermit program for the NCR 9800-4 computer, contributed by Paul E. Gladden of NCR Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA, for the NCR VE4.0 operating system. There are separate variations for the IVS and MCS environments. Both products are written in the C language, based on C-Kermit 4E with features added or deleted depending on VRX system capabilities, and NCR selected product content. Module names reflect the same usage as in C-Kermit 4E. New modules have a short explanation. IVS-Kermit and MCS-Kermit share common source code. MCS-Kermit has two additional files to interface to the MCS telecommunications facility. MCS modules are labeled MCS ONLY. A large number of files are included. These have been installed in the "D" area of Kermit Distribution as ncrker.*. The file ncrker.doc contains user documentation and installation instructions. The file ncrker.jar is a "join" text archive of the numerous source files, which contains instructions at the top on how to break it apart. Many thanks to Paul for submitting this new Kermit implementation. ------------------------------ Page 4 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Date: 22 June 1990 >From: Dave Squire, University of California at Davis Subject: New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series Keywords: UNISYS A-Series, Burroughs A-Series Enclosed is the 1.040 release of our version of Kermit for Unisys A-Series systems. This is an upgrade of "B78" Kermit 1.019 from 1986. The important new features of this release are: long packets, alternate block-checks, and a "take" command. The program has also been modified to use the A-Series hardware more efficiently. This release contains the Kermit symbol (written in Algol) and a documentation file. We will continue to distribute Kermit directly to A-Series sites who contact us. We will also consult with new Kermit users to help them get started. There is no fee for either service. You may refer any Unisys A-Series users to us. Also, please feel free to contact me if I can help with any A-Series questions. Dave Squire Computing Services University of California Davis, CA 95616-8563 USA Phone 916-752-1927 [Ed. - Thanks to Dave and to Larry Johnson and Katie Stevens at UC Davis for their work on this program and for sending in this new version! It's in the Kermit Distribution "D" area as uasker.*. The previous release has been kept as b78ker.*, in case the new release does not run on the B7800 or on older Burroughs A-Series machines or operating system releases. If it is not necessary to keep the old version, please let us know: does this new version run on the B7800? Also, does anybody know the name of the operating system for these machines?] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Jul 90 0:30:08 MET Subject: New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2 >From: Bo Kullmar Keywords: Luxor, ABC-80/800 I am sending you updates for the ABC80 and the ABC800 Kermit. Two members of the ABC-Klubben have done the work. Joergen Westman has fixed the repeat prefix handling in the ABC80 Kermit. It did not work against Kermit programs that could not do run-length encoding. (Jorgen with dots over the o.) Mikael Johansson has updated the ABC800/ABC802/ABC806 Kermit to version 4.11 and included support for FACIT DTC and FACIT DTC2. FACIT DTC/DTC2 is a ABC800 clone. --Bo Kullmar [Ed. - Thanks, Bo! The lux*.* files in the Kermit "C" area have been updated to the new versions.] INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Page 5 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26 16:58 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, REMOTE PRINT Command, IBM 370 Kermit I noticed from reading Info-Kermit V11 #8 that MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 has a REMOTE PRINT command. For those not familiar with the guts of Kermit protocol, I'd like to remark that this command is essentially a slight modification of the MAIL command (you can see traces of that history on the screen when you issue the command), and support exists for the mainframe ends of both in release 4.2.0 of Kermit-370. A slight modification of the KERMAIL command, renamed KERMPRT, will do the job (see IKxKER.DOC or IKxKER.PS for descriptions), as I have already demonstrated on my CMS system. If there is sufficient interest, I could add samples of these mainframe commands to the Kermit-370 area, but the implementations will likely vary widely from site to site. One of these days, I'll see about implementing a REMOTE PRINT subcommand in Kermit-370 so a mainframe user connected with a PC as a terminal can make hard copies on an attached desktop laser printer. Right now, though, I'm concentrating on implementing Kermit support for the transparency mode in the new B2 microcode for the IBM 3174 (about which, more later). John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26 17:34 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, IBM 3174 AEA I now have word from IBM that the new release of 3174 microcode is out. It is called B2 (that is, Level 2 of Configuration B) and is supposedly available to all customers with the "B" configuration of the 3174. As I understand it, "B" costs extra and requires a bit more hardware (minimum requirement is model 11L or equivalent), while "A" comes with the box. Apparently, there are no plans for upgrading "A". If you have "B" configuration installed, though, this upgrade should finally make it possible to run Kermit through the 3174. I have some documentation about the new "ASCII Graphics Mode", and I think the necessary Kermit code is pretty simple. Indeed, I have already made a stab at it (pending the answers to a few questions). I'm looking for volunteers to try out the new feature and troubleshoot the code. If you think you want to try it, the first thing to do is make sure that you (1) have the "B" configuration and (2) have received and installed the "B2" update from IBM. I have no idea what the shipping schedule is like for things like that. I can send you the Kermit update as soon as I check on a few details or even sooner if you're really eager. Meanwhile, let me know if you're interested. John ------------------------------ Date: Fri Jul 13 19:13:27 1990 >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: VMS Kermit-32 Hints Page 6 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit Several people have complained that Kermit-32 has been sending files incorrectly when the file type is set to binary. This can happen when the VMS file has a carriage control attribute; for example, VMS Lotus files are created this way. The recent release of Kermit-32 has a new command SET FILE TYPE BLOCK which seems to get around this difficulty. Also, judging from many messages received in the past month, many people who have complained that Kermit-32 did not pick up their terminal name correctly ("No default terminal line for transfers") have not obtained version 3.3.126, announced in Info-Kermit V11 #8, which fixes that problem, as well as problems related to spawning and batch operation. ------------------------------ Date: 22 Jun 90 13:33:16 GMT >From: RE_Sonneveld@pttrnl.nl (R.E. Sonneveld, +31 70 332 5362, PTT Research) Subject: How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS? Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit, X.25 Network Wanted: Kermit communication over X.25 (with for example EuroKom) with my 'own' VMS system as my home base. In other words: is it possible to start Kermit on the VAX, then SET HOST/X29 to e.g. EuroKom, then start Kermit at the remote side and establish the connection? We have tried the following: 1) loopback one DECserver port-X to port-Y 2) define the DECserver ports to be 'transparent' 3) define DECserver port-Y to autoconnect 4) with LCP, create LTA port pointing to the DECserver port-X 5) define default port for Kermit (KER$COMM), pointing to the LTA device Starting Kermit and using the default port will result in a connect via the DECserver loopback to the original VMS-system, thus creating the possibility of establishing a X.25 connection. This works great! The major problem and the reason why we won't release this 'facility' is SECURITY: whenever a connection is established by one person and this connection aborts unexpectedly, than the next user who tries to make a connection using this default port gets the session of the first user! Any help greatly appreciated! Rolf Sonneveld E-mail: RE_Sonneveld@pttrnl.nl PTT Research * Tele phone : +31 70 332 5362 Neher Laboratories, * Tele fax : +31 70 332 6477 The Netherlands * Tele x : 31236 prnl nl [Ed. - This is a common question from Europe. As yet, neither C-Kermit/VMS nor VMS Kermit-32 contain any explicit support for VAX/PSI or X.25 in any of its forms. We are hoping that someone with an X.25-connected VAX/VMS system will add this support. Volunteers?] ------------------------------ INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Page 7 Date: Fri, 29 Jun 90 05:27:31 EDT >From: Erez Zadok Subject: Kermit for Microsoft Windows Keywords: Microsoft Windows Kermit I'm running now WIN100 V2.0 and it's a definite advantage over older versions. I have a few comments and questions. COMMENTS: (1) Good job! I like it in the GUI environment. I actually downloaded files while playing Solitaire. Multitasking on my desk. I liked the fact that there was a running number of packets on the minimized kermit icon so I can always keep a watch over the file transfer. I liked the beep at the end of the transfer and the Alert that popped up for me at the end. (2) This is definitely the wave of the future. I think windows kermit *will* be a major communication package to use on ms-dos platforms and will bite a large chunk of the regular ms-kermit. But there's a lot to be done. With Windows 3.0 out now, you have all the reasons in the world to make this package at the same level of MS-Kermit 3.02. (3) The first things that struck me as in need of improvement were (and bear in mind that I know MS-Kermit 3.02 *very* well): - Not enough variety of fonts to choose. My VGA does not fit 80 columns with this font (courier) and the other font (preview) is way too small. Maybe the fonts are windows dependent and not depend on kermit? - No apparent way to map the keyboard, Esp. swapping ` and ESC, and mapping CAPSLOCK to CTRL. - No dialup scripts to use. - Not enough colors to choose from (esp. the high intensity ones.) - Win100 does not use the new builtin help feature in Windows 3.0. (4) Then, upon closer look, I found that the next few items should be improved (lower priority in my opinion): - Support for long packets. - When changing a font or its size, I would like not to have to restart kermit. - I would like to see a way to set the number of lines as an input from the keyboard and not only by resizing the window. - I would like to cut from the kermit screen by using the mouse only and marking and cutting. The current way is not as clean. - Screen refreshes are not as fast (maybe that's due to my hardware configuration and lack of memory.) (5) The vt100 emulator works well with all kind of applications including EMACS and curses-based applications. (6) Possible serious bug: At one point I got an alert "out of token memory" error or something, and kermit aborted. My line was not disconnected. I am running Windows 3.0 in real mode (no extended or expanded memory yet on my 286) and it seems that kermit ran out of memory of some sort. In either Page 8 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 case it should not have aborted but only gave an alert. Maybe this error is unrecoverable... [Ed. - This is one of several messages about Bill Hall's new VT100-emulating Kermit for Microsoft Windows. All of them contained similar questions and favorable comments. Bill replies as follows: Most of the suggestions are on my worklist to do - someday!. Life if pretty busy since I work a regular job and also write the Windows column for PC Magazine. But, I do want to improve the version I have put up as a beta. Please be patient. There is no help because it is a 2.0 application. The font is terrible, but don't blame me for this. I would have to design a complete series of fonts for a range of displays if I could not use the ones supplied by Windows. Maybe some kind soul will eventually help me with this really non-trivial effort. The screen update is slow. As you know, everything in Windows is done in software so this is a problem. However, I'm sure I can do something to improve it a bit, and I'll give it a try. The implementation of the Kermit part is confined at the present to the standard stuff. It may be archaic, but it takes a lot of time to get all the new features working. Also, making Kermit work smoothly in Windows is quite a chore. It is so hard that I'm doing an article on it using the level I have developed up to now as the example. When the article is done, I will then take up the task of upgrading the program.] [Ed. again - By the way, Bill has sent in a slightly updated version of the program, and some preliminary documentation: win100.msp (to be viewed in Microsoft Paint) and win100.wri (for Microsoft Write). They document just the emulator part of the program, not the file transfer part.] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Jun 90 23:43:20 CST >From: BOB SHERMAN Subject: External Kermit Driver Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 Greetings: I am running a BBS on an IBM PC. Do you have any suggestions for a external kermit driver? Thanks for any help. Bob Sherman ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Jun 90 11:33:39 CDT >From: phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller) Subject: Kermit for Atari Portfolio? Keywords: Atari Portfolio Kermit In a review of the Atari Portfolio - a pocket size, almost DOS PC - there was mention of a modified version of Kermit that would work on the Portfolio. Could some point me to where it is available? INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #1 Page 9 This machine runs the DIP Operating System, which is very close to DOS 2.11. I understand it is a small patch to the regular PC version. -phil J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067 Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110 phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet (314) 362-3617 uunet!wuarchive!wubios!phil - UUCP (314)362-2693(FAX) C90562JM@WUVMD - bitnet [Ed. - Yes, and please point us at it too!] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 10 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 Info-Kermit Digest Fri, 3 Aug 1990 Volume 12 : Number 2 Departments: ANNOUNCEMENTS - Another Update of the MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Test Release Version 8.12 of PRIME Kermit Now Available New Documentation Available for VAX/VMS Kermit-32 3.3.126 New Test Release of DEC Rainbow Kermit MS-DOS KERMIT - MS-DOS Kermit 3.0x and Microsoft Windows 3.0 MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 Hints MS-Kermit Server and Hayes 2400bps Modems? KERMIT-370 - IBM Mainframe Kermit and Trailing Blanks IBM Kermit 4.2 and tn3270 Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed Aug 1 19:56:09 1990 >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: Another Update of the MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Test Release Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 >From Joe Doupnik. Changes since the version announced in Info-Kermit V12 #1 are listed below. Items 38 and 39 will be of interest to Honeywell users for supporting connections to the Honeywell DPS-6 (see article by Frank Dreano in Kermit News #4) -- they remove the need for a custom version of MS-DOS Kermit to communicate with the the Honeywell systems. Please report any problems to Joe at JRD@USU.BITNET or JRD@CC.USU.EDU. 30. Add correction to ensure NUL and DEL are passed through when printing transparently. msxibm 31. Revise REPLAY filespec a little. Previously at the end of the file any key would exit Connect mode. Now all keys remain active so that screen INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 Page 11 dumping and screen rollback function; ALT-X and Control-C (emergency bailout) exit Connect mode. msxibm 32. Internal revisions to details of handling 75/1200 baud split speeds. Previously, filling the receiver buffer would cause an XOFF to be sent at 1200 baud rather than at the correct 75 baud. Now the XOFF character is sent at 75. A pseudo-queue is present to prevent conflicts of using the timer chip for beep or regular 75 baud output when the receiver interrupt occurs (and resulted in the XOFF being sent at interrupt level rather than at task level). The queue makes the XOFF be sent at task level and at the proper 75 baud rate. Dan Norstedt had the idea, this queueing stuff is my solution. 75 baud output is done as a software UART. msxibm 33. Details here and there to save code segment space, from Dan Norstedt. 34. Add terminal type of VT100. This performs identically to a VT102 except the response to the type inquiry from a host is ESC [ ? 1 c (a VT100). 35. Found and fixed a protocol problem present in MSK 3.0 to date. If an I packet is sent to a server Kermit which does not understand I packets the resulting Error packet from the server is to be taken as a forgivable error, rather than otherwise being a fatal one. The version 3.0 and 3.01 code forgot to forgive. I packets are sent by GET and REMOTE commands. Fixed on 19 July. mssser. 36. Remove VTxxx response to CSI [ .. R. That should not have been present. Thanks to Ted Medin for discovering its presence. 37. Add 80/132 column support for Paradise Autoswitch EGA Mono board, thanks to David Zielke of Duke Univ. msyibm 38. Add two new commands SET SEND DOUBLE-CHAR which sends this character twice in a row in outgoing packets. The doubling occurs as packet bytes are being sent to the communications channel and hence does not occur during packet construction. This accomodates communications devices which need doubling to let through a single copy. The doubling will not appear in the packet log. Padding characters are not affected by this command since padding is to be discarded at the other end anyway. SET RECEIVE IGNORE-CHAR which ignores this character in received packets. This accomodates communications devices which may insert a character into a stream, such as a Line Feed inserted before a Carriage Return. The ignored character will not appear in the packet log. Note that NUL (0) and DEL (127) are normally ignored even without this command. 39. Add terminal type of HONEYWELL to the emulator. This is a VT100 with two special responses. A received ENQ character, decimal 5, causes the emulator to send the 14 characters '7813 P GC A' 03h Page 12 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 and receipt of ESC y causes the emulator to send the 27 characters ESC '[8p OT' 03h ESC '[y7813 P GC A ' 03h where the quote marks (') above are not sent but are present so we can see the spaces which are sent; other spaces are for reading convenience. 03h is Control-C, a binary value 3. The terminal ident response is VT100. These Honeywell VIP7809 emulation features are from Frank Dreano, dreano@trout.nosc.mil. 40. Modify the internals for SET KEY LK250 to result in checking for an active external LK250 driver and if found activate the LK250 usage in Kermit. If the driver is not found the message "?LK250 keyboard external driver is not active." is displayed. Note that to obtain the default LK250 key mappings the user must say SET KEY CLEAR after the above command, and then add any local definitions. Tnx to Terry Kennedy. msuibm 41. In command WAIT \CD \CTS \DSR let the backslash character be optional, to merge syntax with C Kermit 5A. mssscp 42. Add further Honeywell terminal type modifications from Frank Dreano: - change invocation ESC y to be ESC [ y (see item 39 above) This will cause loops if the host echoes the response. - add ESC ` (accent grave) clears screen and homes the cursor. 43. Revise slightly the query for the active Code Page, and the table of character sets for use by SET FILE CHARACTER-SET, to be system dependent so that MS-DOS in Japan can be used more effectively. That MS-DOS lacks the concept of Code Pages. Thanks to Hirofumi Fujii for the suggestions. 44. Add another host invocation control sequence to the text terminal emulator. Reception of CSI Pn;...Pn ~ invokes a macro named PRODUCT, if it exits, and sets variables \%1, \%2, and so forth up to \%9 to be the ascii version of the numeric parameters Pn above. Omitted parameters are taken to be zeros. Only as many variables are set as numeric parameters, and script item ARGC is one larger than this quantity. If macro PRODUCT does not exist only the \%x items are changed. Connect mode is not reentered automatically if the macro exists. This is very similar to TERMINALR and TERMINALS, except for the variable setting part. The invocation sequence may change so don't write it into applications until Kermit is released again. It is not invocable from the keyboard, because of the needed parameters. mssset.asm, msyibm.asm, mszibm.asm. 45. Correct a keyboard translation problem. Control codes could be translated to printable characters for a few National Replacment Character sets, because that was where the special graphical symbols are located on the IBM PC display adapter. This has been corrected to never translate control codes. 46. Slightly revise script INPUT and REINPUT command sensing of timeouts to do the time reading after each serial port character reading operation. This might cure complaints of REINPUT 0 reporting premature FAIL status. 47. If disk reading fails while sending a file tell the receiver to dispose of the file with a Delete status, rather than the previous status of INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 Page 13 just end-of-file. There is no other simple way of informing the receiver of such a local problem. Other files in a group will be processed normally. More changes are expected. ------------------------------ Date: Fri Aug 3 10:46:17 1990 >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: Version 8.12 of PRIME Kermit Now Available Keywords: PRIME Kermit >From Matthew Sutter of Lincoln National Corporation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, comes version 8.12 of PRIME Kermit, an upgrade of version 8.00 that was prepared by John Horne of Polytechnic South West in Plymouth, England. The major feature of version 8.12 is support for local-mode (dialout) operation using the AMLC lines. CONNECT, GET, FINISH, and BYE commands have been added, as well as the script commands INPUT, OUTPUT, CLEAR, and PAUSE. This version also contains fixes to repeat character processing and sliding windows, but the sliding window feature still needs more work in order to interoperate with MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 or C-Kermit 5A. This work is underway, watch Info-Kermit for further announcements. The new files are in kermit/d/prime8.* on watsun, and PRIME8.* on CUVMA. There is, as yet, no new documentation. Thanks to Matt for his work and for contributing it to the Kermit collection! ------------------------------ Date: Wed Aug 1 18:29:49 1990-EDT >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: New Documentation Available for VAX/VMS Kermit-32 3.3.126 Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit The VAX/VMS Kermit-32 chapter of the Kermit User Guide has been updated to include all the information about the new release, and the help text has also been updated. Thanks to Jonathan Welch of the University of Massachusetts for his help in clarifying the actions and interaction of the SET FILE BLOCKSIZE and SET FILE TYPE commands, and for proofreading the manual. The files for the new manual are VMSHDR.MSS and VMSMIT.MSS (Scribe source), VMSMIT.DOC (plain ASCII text) and VMSMIT.PS (Postscript). The help text is in VMSMIT.RNH (Runoff source). Tape B (kermit/b, etc etc). ------------------------------ Date: Thu Aug 2 13:01:34 1990-EDT >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: New Test Release of DEC Rainbow Kermit Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Rainbow Kermit, DEC Rainbow >From Robert Weiner, a new version of Kermit for the DEC Rainbow, based on the system-independent parts of the July 22nd MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 test release. The Rainbow version lacks many of the IBM-specific enhancements that appeared Page 14 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 in MS-DOS Kermit 3.0, like international character sets, instantaneous screen rollback, etc, but these MAY be added before the final release of this program. The system-independent features -- script programming enhancements, sliding windows, long packets, VT200/300 emulation (it's still at the VT102 level), etc. Thanks to Rob for keeping the Rainbow up to date! The files are in kermit/a/mstrb1.boo ("BOO" file to be un-boo'd into an .EXE file using any of the MSBPCT files) on the Internet or MSTRB1 BOO on BITNET KERMSRV at CUVMA. For internet binary-mode FTP access only, also kermit/bin/mstrb1.exe. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Aug 90 11:18:30 PDT >From: william@xlnvax.novell.com (William Hall) Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0x and Microsoft Windows 3.0 Just tried MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 in enhanced mode Windows. I began by running a DOS shell then running Kermit. Did not bother with a PIF file. I changed the settings to run from exclusive to background. You can get to these setting with ALT-SPACE, then moved it to a Window. For fun, I ran vttest on UNIX and checked the character set, especially the one for DEC special graphics. They looked as expected. Then I tried a long file transfer. I made the window iconic, and the file transfer ran in the background to completion with no errors. At the end, the bell beeped to let me know it was done. So it works and quite well to the extent that I tested it. --Bill ------------------------------ Date: 1-AUG-1990 20:33:04.67 >From: Joe Doupnik Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 Hints Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 Troubleshooting [Ed. - This is extracted from a reply by Joe to a user who reported a nonfunctioning Kermit on a Compaq computer.] One common item is an internal modem which fails to follow the normal rules of how to behave like a regular serial port. Another is two devices are having a small battle for an IRQ line or a memory (port) address. MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 (not 3.2) is strictly development software, as indicated in the note file MSR302.UPD and on the startup banner. The REMOTE command problems you report fall into the category of fixed, broken, and then fixed again (sigh). In all of the broken cases Kermit would retry many times and that takes up to a minute or so to finish. While that is happening one side can send an XOFF to the other and forget to send a matching XON later; Kermit waits 10 seconds to figure out this situation when it needs to send and breaks through regardless. So, this "flow control deadlock" can add to the waiting interval, but it's better than being told to never speak ever again. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 Page 15 Another situation, which happened to me a couple of years ago, was the poor hard disk controller had a conflict with another board and every once in a while the machine would hang waiting on the hard disk for 10 minutes or more. Usually I had to push the big Red switch. When Kermit has to go to the hard disk then these kinds of things can happen. Generally, I try to sort out the problem by trying Connect mode between machines right away. If that works then I know the communications line part is basically ok. If packets fail then I say SET DEBUG ON and SET DISPLAY SERIAL to watch what's happening during a file transfer or REMOTE command (REMOTE WHO is my favorite "protocol" quicky, no disk access). Let's suppose the Compaq is in sad shape. My suggestion is to backup the hard disk contents and ensure they are correct (say to DOS VERIFY ON to help). Then do a low level format of the drive (yow!) and a DOS FORMAT with the correct version of DOS. Put things back on the hard disk and keep your fingers crossed. Double check the settings of the boards too. Unload the likely mountain of favorite TSR's and see if things work. If they do then start adding them back one at a time and retesting. Make sure that CONFIG.SYS has BUFFERS=20 or so and FILES=20 or so. Watch out for Desqview because it has troubles remembering that a communications program needs to service interrupts from the serial port. Don't mix DOS files from different releases/manufacturers. Ensure that parity is the same on both machines, NONE being better than any other flavor (Kermit does it's own checking in a much more secure way). Don't use MODE COM1:....,P with that ",P" (for Printer waiting) on the same port as the communications channel because DOS will grab the port and won't release it. Watch for mice drivers nibbling on the same serial port. In short, take the machine down to bare metal and rebuild it slowly from a consistent set of original DOS floppies (put write-protect tabs on them). Did I forget to mention virii? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 May 89 16:54:34 CDT >From: Barry Pederson Subject: MS-Kermit Server and Hayes 2400bps Modems? Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit Server Mode Hi, we've been using MS-Kermit for a while now, and it's been incredibly useful, but we're having a slight problem. We have some IBM model 30-286 machines connected to Hayes 2400bps external modems. They work fine except when we try to have the modems answer the phone while Kermit is in server mode. We have a script set up to set the speed to 2400, parity to none, then we output ATS0=1\13 to the modem, and go into server mode. Sometimes it works, but a lot of the time, when the phone rings the modem will drop down to 1200bps. In a previous Kermit Digest, I thought I saw something about C-Kermit having problems with Hayes modems, does MS-Kermit have a known incompatibility between it's server mode and a Hayes modem? Page 16 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 I suspect that Kermit is working fine, but the Hayes is doing something screwy (we've tried MS-Kermit 2.31 and 2.32/a). I'd really appreciate any suggestions on how to keep the Hayes from slowing down. Thanks. Barry Pederson University of North Dakota School of Medicine ud092096@ndsuvm1.bitnet or ud092096@vm1.nodak.edu [Ed. - When MS-Kermit is in server mode, it times out every 30 seconds or so and transmits a negative acknowledgement packet (the familiar "^A# N3"). It is likely that the NAK packet is confusing the modem. The workaround is to give MS-DOS Kermit the SET TIMER OFF command before putting it in server mode, which is safe as long as the other Kermit will do timeouts (some, like IBM mainframe CMS Kermit, cannot). In MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A or later, you can disable server command wait timeouts without turning the timer off, by using the command SET SERVER TIMEOUT 0.] ------------------------------ Date: 6-Jul-90 22:03:17-GMT >From: Randy Schirmer@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu Subject: IBM Mainframe Kermit and Trailing Blanks Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, VM/CMS Kermit, Blanks We're running Kermit CMS and MS Kermit to transfer files with a record length of 1500 bytes. What's happening is that the records have trailing blanks. Kermit strips these blanks off. We need them to remain intact for input into a commercial package we are running under DOS. Is there any way to keep the blanks from being stripped? I know that you can specify LRECL and RECFM at the CMS level but that is for files being received in CMS. We need the same capability for MS-DOS Kermit. Randy Schirmer West Chester University, West Chester, PA 215-436-1094, RSCHIRME@WCU [From John Chandler - When the file type is TEXT and the recfm is F, Kermit-370 strips off trailing blanks from each record before sending a file. In order to keep trailing blanks in a downloaded file, you can convert it to RECFM V in CMS before sending it, e.g., by using COPYFILE with the RECFM V option. This is true of versions from 4.1 onward.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Jun 90 08:33:25 -0500 >From: C Lance Moxley Subject: IBM Kermit 4.2 and tn3270 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, tn3270 I just assembled Kermit/370 on an IBM 3081 running VM/SP 5. The program assembled just fine. But, I have no idea how to set things to work through tn3270. I've used MS-DOS Kermit for quite a while now and also am very comfortable with C-Kermit, but this seems to be alot different. I would appreciate any help you can give on this. I also have the ability to use 3708 protocol converters, but I don't think there is any way I can put them in INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #2 Page 17 line-by-line mode. I would really prefer to use tn3270. If you are the wrong person to ask this to, please direct me to the right person. Also if there are any examples anywhere, let me know. I couldn't find anything on watsun. Thanks for a very fine product. The other versions that I use are the best of their kind. Especially the new C version. Thanks, Lance [From John Chandler - Actually, no, I haven't used tn3270 myself, but Bob Babcock has -- and from a Unix system only. It should have been essentially the same as your attempt, but it worked. The special considerations are only two: you must SET CONTROLLER SERIES1 by hand, and you cannot (apparently) upload using long packets. The system in question was a CONVEX, as opposed to a SUN, but I think the tn3270 would have been the same.] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 18 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Info-Kermit Digest Tue, 28 Aug 1990 Volume 12 : Number 3 Today's Topics: Duplicate Copies of Info-Kermit Digest V12 #1 and #2 Proposed Kermit Extension for SET FILE TYPE And ANOTHER New Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager New Release UCPECAN Kermit V1.1 MS-Kermit 3.0x and German telephones Looking for Stories Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue Aug 28 17:44:54 1990-EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Duplicate Copies of Info-Kermit Digest V12 #1 and #2 Please disregard any duplicate copies of recent Info-Kermit Digests. ------------------------------ Date: Thu Aug 16 17:44:54 1990-EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Proposed Kermit Extension for SET FILE TYPE Keywords: Kermit Protocol, Labeled File Type Kermit programs presently differentiate between text and binary files via the SET FILE TYPE command. When the file type is TEXT, the Kermit program that is sending the file converts the file's record format and character set from its local form to a standard form, and the receiving Kermit program converts from the standard form into its own local record format and character set. When the file type is BINARY, the file is sent as-is, byte for byte. These two ways of handling files are sufficient in many cases, but fall short when one or both computers has a complex file system, such as the Macintosh or INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 19 DEC operating systems like VAX/VMS. The Kermit protocol includes a mechanism for transmitting a file's attributes in a generic way, but these attributes are of little use when the file is being received by a computer with a simple file system, such as UNIX or MS-DOS, that can't do anything with them. And they are not sufficient to convey every conceivable bit of information about about every kind of file on every kind of computer. To allow a complicated file to be transferred, a new file type is proposed: SET FILE TYPE LABELED Notice the spelling of "LABELED" (only one L between the E's). When this setting is in effect, the sending Kermit sends not only the file's data, but also system-dependent structural information about the file. Since this information can be quite lengthy, it is sent as if it were file data, in data packets preceding the actual file data, rather than in attribute packets. All of this information is sent in binary mode (no conversions). The receiver of the file can elect whether to act upon the label information, or simply store it. Kermit programs for simple file systems need no changes, and can still act as repositories for labeled files, to be sent back later to the system of origin. On the other hand, labeled file transfers between like systems (e.g. two VAX/VMS computers) will result in the reception of a file with all the correct characteristics. There are two possible modes of operation. The first (and safer) mode requires human intervention on a per-file basis, but an automatic mode is also possible. DEFINITIONS A "bare" file is a file stored on disk that does NOT contain, as part of its contents, Kermit-constructed label information. A "labeled" file is a file stored on disk whose contents include Kermit-constructed label information. FORMAT OF A LABELED FILE This description applies to a labeled file as stored on disk and to a bare file that has label information added to it by a sending Kermit. BANNER The literal text string "KERMIT LABELED FILE:", just the twenty characters within the quotes including the trailing colon, in 7-bit ASCII. ASCII is used even on non-ASCII systems (like IBM mainframes with EBCDIC). IDLEN A 2-byte ASCII decimal numeric length field, with leading zeros if necessary, for example "02". SYSID The system ID, one of the codes listed on pp.275-278 of the Kermit book. This is a string of 1 to 99 ASCII characters (but typically 1-3 characters), for example "D7" for VAX/VMS. The length of the SYSID field is given by the preceding field (IDLEN). LBLEN A 2-byte ASCII numeric length field, with leading zeros if Page 20 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 necessary, for example "00", "02", "09", "99". LABEL A label field, 1 to 99 ASCII characters. The length is given by the preceding length field (LBLEN). The LABEL field contains the name of the file descriptor data that follows. VALEN An 8-byte ASCII numeric length field, with leading zeros if necessary, for example "00000512". Zero ("00000000") is a permissible length for a value. VALUE The value associated with the label, 0 to 99999999 bytes of information about the file in system-dependent format. The labels and the format and layout of the associated values for each system type should be clearly defined and documented. The sequence (LBLEN, LABEL, VALEN, VALUE) may be repeated for as many labeled values are needed (if VALEN is zero, then VALUE is omitted). CONTENT The file's contents, encoded in whatever form that, in combination with the labeled values, allows for its eventual reconstruction in its original form. All fields in a labeled file are subject to whatever encoding, prefixing, or compression options have been negotiated by the two Kermit programs. REQUIRED LABELS The following labels (composed of ASCII uppercase letters) are reserved, and are required in every labeled file: VERS The operating system version, e.g. "5.3-1". If there is no version to be specified, this label must still be present, but with a zero-length value. DATA This is the final label. It always has a zero-length value, which is followed immediately by the file's contents, as defined above. EXAMPLE A hypothetical example for VMS (ignore the indentation and line breaks; the length fields are marked with L's): LL LL LLLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLL KERMIT LABELED FILE:02D704VERS000000055.3-103FAB00000512<512 bytes here> 03ACL00000723<723 bytes here>02DATA00000000 LL LLLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLL Note: FAB and ACL are not necessarily real labels. EFFECTS ON THE KERMIT PROTOCOL When SET FILE TYPE LABELED is in effect, the sending Kermit should include the file type (") attribute, specifying a type of binary (B), if attribute packets have been negotiated. Otherwise, there is no effect on the protocol at all. In particular, a label-wise Kermit program can interoperate perfectly well with another Kermit program that is completely ignorant of labeling, in INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 21 which case the latter program simply "archives" or "unarchives" the file, labels and all (provided the user remembered to place it in binary mode). This proposal does not rule out the system-independent type of file archiving, based on file attribute packets, that is described in the Kermit book. However, if the "system-dependent" attributes suggested by this proposal can be worked out in a sufficiently generic fashion, this may lead to a more effective type of transmission of complex files between unlike systems that share similar types of file characteristics (block size, record format, character set, carriage control, etc). On the other hand, for the first pass at an implementation (for VMS), it might make more sense to simply have a single system-dependent label, like "FAB", whose value is simply the File Access Block, and perhaps another one like "ACL" for its Access Control List. The two approaches do not rule each other out. USER INTERFACE When SENDING a file, the user should first determine whether it is a bare file or a labeled file. This can be done by visual inspection (looking at the first 20 bytes), or from memory (e.g. because all labeled files have a particular filetype, or are kept together in a certain directory). Then: (a) If it is a bare file, use SET FILE TYPE LABELED if you want to send label information too. (b) If it is a labeled file, use SET FILE TYPE BINARY. When receiving a file, use SET FILE TYPE LABELED if you want labels in the incoming file to be interpreted and applied, and: (a) The other Kermit is sending a bare file from a like system using SET FILE TYPE LABELED, or: (b) The other Kermit is sending a labeled file, of the receiving system's system type, from any kind of system, without SET FILE TYPE LABELED. The receiving Kermit program that has been given a SET FILE TYPE LABELED command must inspect the incoming data. The first 30-36 bytes of the first packet contain the BANNER, IDLEN, SYSID, and the first LBLEN, and LABEL (which should be "04VERS"). If these five items are in correct format, and the SYSID matches the program's own, then the program will accept the file in labeled mode. Otherwise, it will treat it as a binary file and store all the data, including BANNER, SYSID, LABELs, VALUEs, and all length fields. If a receiving Kermit program has accepted the file in labeled mode, but then encounters an unknown label or other inconsistency in the labeled file format, it must interrupt the file transfer (by putting an X in the data field of the first available ACK) and discard the file. This is because it cannot be expected to back up and undo whatever label interpretation it has already done. It is also conceivable that "similar" systems -- such as the DEC operating systems VMS and RSX-11 -- might be able to honor each other's labels. This eventuality should be allowed for, possibly with SET commands. Page 22 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 At the discretion of the programmer, a command such as SET FILE LABEL-DETECTION { AUTOMATIC, MANUAL } could be installed. If so, the default must be MANUAL, that is, processing of labeled files occurs only if the user asks for it explicitly. For an arriving file, AUTOMATIC mode would detect the BANNER, SYSID, and first LABEL and go into action as if the user had SET FILE TYPE LABELED. When sending a file, the program would avoid adding surrounding label information if the user had already SET FILE TYPE LABELED. This sort of thing is obviously dangerous, and users should be cautioned about it. POSTPROCESSING Separate programs should be provided to translate a labeled file into a real file, to be used in case the user forgot to SET FILE TYPE LABELED, or the file was deposited by means other than Kermit. Such a program might have two options (or come in two forms): interpret the labels, and simply strip the labels. ACKS Thanks to Terry Kennedy and Frank da Cruz for suggesting this idea, and to Joe Doupnik, John Chandler, and Paul Placeway for many valuable suggestions. Comments welcome! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 90 10:13:45 EDT >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: And ANOTHER New Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 >From JRD's update notes since V12 #2: 48. Add recognition of IBM PC video boards STB VGA/EM Plus (Tseng 4000) and Everex Viewpoint EV-678, from Terry Kennedy. The list of boards known to Kermit for switching between 80 and 132 columns is now: ATI EGA Wonder AT&T Everex Viewpoint EV-659, FVGA-673, EV-678, Micro Enhancer Deluxe Paradise AutoSwitch EGA Mono STB VGA/EM (Tseng TVGA) STB VGA/EM Plus (Tseng 4000), VGA/EM-16, VGA/EM-16 Plus Tseng Labs EVA board w/132-col kit installed Tseng Labs UltraPAK mono/Hercules w/132 column modes Video 7 Vega Deluxe w/ 132X25.COM driver installed and Video 7 VGA 49. Add a facility to the keyboard translator. Let key definition strings of the form {\Kverb other material} activate an existing Macro if and only if the verb is not in the list of those predefined for the keyboard translator. If "verb" matches the name of a regular Kermit Macro execute the Macro and stay on the Kermit command line; thus a CONNECT command is needed to return to Connect mode. If verb does not match a Macro then do nothing and stay in Connect mode. Be aware that searching tables for the name of the verb uses many cpu cycles and will reduce performance. Examples: DEFINE Accumlate Receive, Connect INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 23 SET KEY \315 {\Kaccumulate} Pressing the IBM PC "F1" key (code \315 above) makes the keyboard translator see string {\Kaccumlate}, verb "accumlate" is not in the predefined tables, and hence Kermit invokes the Macro named ACCMULATE. That Macro puts Kermit into file receive mode and when the file, or file group, transfer has been completed it returns to Connect mode. DEFINE WP Take wp30.ini, Connect SET KEY \316 {\Kwp} This makes IBM PC key "F2" invoke macro WP which in turn reads in and executes the contents of file WP30.INI. Kermit then returns to Connect mode. Nothing happens if the user has not defined Macro WP. Braces around the whole key definition are required so that the search for the verb name is done while executing Connect mode rather than when defining the key. If the braces are omitted then only the predefined keyboard verbs are available; an error will be reported if the verb is not one of these. Text sent to the host may preceed and follow the \Kverb part. To avoid confusion "Kverb" itself, but not the "\", may be placed in braces too, such as: DEFINE Accumulate cd c:\junkmail,Receive,Connect SET KEY \315 {kermit\13\send foo.bar\13\{KAccumulate}exit\13} the pieces: |_______________________||............||_____| string to host do Macro string to host This sends the string "KermitSend foo.bar" to the host to invoke its Kermit and asks it to send file foo.bar. It then invokes local Macro Accumulate to receive the file, and finally it sends the string "exit" to the host. Braces around KAccumlate deliniate it from the final string text. There is no host command which can invoke these Macros; this protects the PC against stray garbage text and unauthorized commands from the host. Files changed are MSUIBM.asm (procedure keysv) and MSYIBM.asm. 50. Reinstate Dump screen: filename on Status display. msssho, msyibm 51. Correct a misprint in the National Replacment Character sets for Spanish. Apparently a DEC typist inserted one accent mark too many in the table. char value was is now 60h \96 accent accent just for reference 7bh \123 accent degree 7ch \124 degree n tilde 7dh \125 n tilde c cedilla 7eh \126 c cedilla tilde Corrections are in file mszibm.asm 52. Embellish the VT300 character set abilities by permitting National Replacement Character (NRC) sets to be "designated" by the host to a particular Gn set table, viz: Page 24 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Designator Mnemonic Description of Action ESC ( SCS Designates 94 byte character set to G0 ESC ) SCS Designates 94 byte character set to G1 ESC * SCS Designates 94 byte character set to G2 ESC + SCS Designates 94 byte character set to G3 where is: NRC country NRC country British A Italian Y Dutch 4 Norwegian/Danish ' (hex 60) or E or 6 Finnish 5 or C Portuguese %6 French R Spanish Z French Canadian 9 or Q Swedish 7 or H German K Swiss = Example: ESC ) A loads the British NRC set (A) into G1 (the ")" part). To load Latin1 into G1 use ESC - A because Latin1 is a 96 character set. NRCs are all 94 character sets. This embellishment does NOT turn on NRC operation in the Digital Equipment Corporation sense. To follow DEC usage employ SET TERM CHARACTER-SET to choose the country and have the host enable or disable NRCs by sending CSI ? 42 h or CSI ? 42 l, respectively. Changes are in file mszibm.asm. 53. Minor code corrections to parsing eight bit controls introduced by item 52. File mszibm. 54. Incorporate support for Novell's TELAPI TCP/IP Telnet program. This is selected by command SET PORT TELAPI nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn where nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn is the Internet address of the remote host, in decimal. Example: SET PORT TELAPI 129.123.1.11 (machine netlab.usu.edu) TELAPI is a component of the Novell package LAN WorkPlace for DOS. At Utah State University it was run with the Novell (ex-Excelan) EXOS 205T Ethernet board (a smart mutiprotocol board supporting TCP with NetWare IPX 802.3 style packets). Novell Utility TSU.EXE is not required. SET PORT TELAPI must not be confused with SET PORT NOVELL(NASI); they use very different communications methods. Notes on this new faciity: a) Hosts not on the local network will likely require their Internet address and the local gateway to be specified with utility ROUTE, such as ROUTE ADD 128.59.39.2 129.123.1.254 The first address is watsun.cc.columbia.edu, in New York City, and the second is that of a local gateway box (a cisco, Inc router at Utah State University in Logan, Utah). INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 25 b) The communications channel is opened as an 8-bit wide BINARY character at a time mode, thus Unix hosts may require Line Feed (Control J) as a line terminator. See also item g) below regarding character \255. c) Included in this work is sending a BREAK signal as a Telnet "Interrupt Process" command. d) A status message is shown for 3 seconds if the connection cannot be established. e) Once an Internet number has been specified with SET PORT TELAPI it will be retained for subsequent SET PORT TELAPI commands. Thus it need be stated only once. SHOW COMMUNICATIONS will display the number. f) The presence of the host can be checked by sending the two bytes \255\246 which is Telnet signal "Are You There", and to which the host is supposed to send back a bell or visible message. This can be arranged easily by command SET KEY \255\246 if SET TERMINAL CHARACTER-SET TRANSPARENT is selected. See TCP/IP documents RFC-854 and RFC-855 for Telnet specifications. g) Character \255 is special in Telnet; it introduces Options negotiation. To send \255 as data it must be sent twice, as \255\255 or use the new command SET SEND DOUBLE \255 to do this for Kermit packets. Please be aware of this character when sending Binary files. h) TELAPI version 3.5 sometimes has trouble hanging up a connection. It will attempt creating a new one for each new session and can exhaust its space (defaults to two of them) when an old one persists. The only cure I know is to unload the TELAPI TSR (DOS command TELAPI -u) or reboot the machine. i) TELAPI version 3.5 is also notably slow in delivering characters to terminal emulators. Expect an effective 2400 baud rate. j) TELAPI uses Interrupt 14h with high numbered function calls. Beware of using other Int 14h trapping programs simultaneously. k) Kermit uses only the Internet number form of addressing for TELAPI because the TCP "name resolver" (conversion of a name to a number) is not available directly with TELAPI. Thus, full compliance with TCP/IP specs is not available to Kermit or other external terminal emulators using the TELAPI interface. The full specs recommend using names and letting a separate group of machines, called Name Servers, provide the Internet number via TCP/IP methods. All the changes are confined to file msxibm.asm 55. Correct a real bug: if SET LOCAL ON and while in Connect mode Control- PrintScreen (copy screen to printer) are active then Kermit crashes the system. The reason is a stack overflow when the same function ends up calling itself again by roundabout means. Adequate correction required small revisions about what is or is not echoed locally. Now almost every thing except DEC status reports is echoed (my real VT320 seems to do the same). Affected files are msyibm.asm and mszibm.asm, done on 14 August. Page 26 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 56. Add Enviroment and command line SET COM1 and COM2 to the list as per item 4 above. 57. Significant change to \%n variables defined as macro arguments. For each Macro invocation first save variables \%0 through \%9, clear \%0..\%9, define \%0 to be the name of the macro being invoked and \%1..\%9 as the arguments to the macro. When the macro exits restore the previous \%0..\%9 variables. This process nests naturally, and ARGC still represents the one plus the number of macro arguments. C Kermit 5A and MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 are now in agreement on these items. Previously \%0 was not affected by macro invokation and \%1..\%9 were not saved and restored around the macro. The new behavior may affect scripts written in the past. File mssset.asm 58. Add alternative command syntax: SET FILE COLLISION means the same as older SET FILE WARNING and SET FILE COLLISION DISCARD is the same as SET FILE COLL NO-SUPERSEDE. Changes are in mssset.asm and msssho.asm 59. Correct problems with REM LOGIN. Is the last of problems in this area? 60. Correct problems with CTS/RTS handshake timing and half duplex. Tnx to Brian Holley for spotting them. msxibm.asm 61. Add DESQview support call to release the cpu timeslice when in Connect mode and no character is available from the serial port. msyibm.asm 62. Modify the retry procedure to send a packet character to wait 60ms rather than 10ms between each of five attempts. This may help situations where a network device may be unresponsive for about 200ms between characters. msscom.asm More changes are expected. The mstibm.boo file and the source files are in kermit/test on watsun and in the T: area of KERMSRV. The binary .EXE file is available on watsun only in kermit/bin/mstibm.exe. There is also a test 3.02 version for the DEC Rainbow, contributed by Robert Weiner of Cooper Union. It is in kermit/test/mstrb1.boo and kermit/bin/mstrb1.exe. The latest Rainbow test version tracks the non-IBM specific portions of MS-DOS Kermit, and adds some new character translations for screen dump and print screen. Thanks to Joe and Robert for their continuing work on MS-DOS Kermit! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 90 14:13:12 EDT >From: Christine M. Gianone Subject: A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager Keywords: OS/2 Presentation Manager Kermit Contributed by Brian R. Anderson of Burnaby, BC, Canada. Here is the note that accompanied Brian's submission: "The version of Kermit contained herein is for OS/2-PM. It was written from scratch by the author (Brian R. Anderson) in Stony Brook Professional INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 27 Modula-2. A two part article in the September/October 1990 issues of Dr. Dobb's Journal describe this implementation (which is a port of an earlier program that I wrote for DOS in Logitech Modula-2). This program is public domain, and may be copied freely, modified/enhanced, and distributed freely (in original or enhanced form). Included on the disk are an executable version of the program (PCKERMIT.EXE); 17 Modula-2 source code files (8 .DEF and 9 .MOD); icon and resource files; make and linker response files, and the EXE definition file. To recompile the program: M2MAKE PCKERMIT . The program includes: Kermit single and multiple file transfer TVI950 Terminal Emulation (optimized for IBM7171/PROFS) Automatic renaming of files in case of name clash Continuous display of communications settings" Brian indicates that this program is the starting point for a program that will be sold commercially. Further details are in the file O2AAAA.HLP. The files are in the Kermit test area for now, pending reactions from the Kermit user community: watsun.cc.columbia.edu BITNET KERMSRV@CUVMA Comments kermit/test/o2aaaa.hlp T:O2AAAA.HLP "boo" encoding of program kermit/bin/o2aker.exe Executable program kermit/test/o2aker.boo T:O2AKER.BOO "boo" encoding of program kermit/bin/o2aker.ico Program icon kermit/test/o2aico.boo T:O2AICO.BOO "boo" encoding of icon kermit/test/o2asrc.jar T:O2ASRC.JAR Source code The boo files can be decoded into the original binary files using any of the msbpct programs available in kermit/a. The "jar" file is a text archive of the source files that can be picked apart with a text editor or a simple program. Brian's submission did not include a user manual. Many thanks to Brian for contributing this program. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Jul 90 12:10:27 PDT >From: rochester!ames!claris!portal!cup.portal.com!R_Tim_Coslet@columbia.edu Subject: New Release UCPECAN Kermit V1.1 Keywords: Pecan, USCD Pascal Pecan Kermit I am submiting a minor upgrade to UCPECAN my Kermit-UCSD (Version 1.1). You should recieve 2 files: 1) a large (about 1400 lines) one containing the source (UCPUPD.PAS) and a very short one containing "installation instructions" and a brief list of changes made to V1.1 by this upgrade (UCPUPD.UPD). The changes are 1) Added a new Unit (DIR.FIXES) to work around problems encountered with SFS. This update removes Limitation #4, making BINARY file transfers exact in both SFS and AFS implementations. Page 28 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 2) Fixed a bug that caused an incorrect time to be sent in the attribute packet if no time was specified with the creation date (this bug affected both AFS and SFS). R. Tim Coslet Usenet: R_Tim_Coslet@cup.portal.com BIX: r.tim_coslet [Ed. - Many thanks, R. Tim! The new files have been installed in the Kermit Distribution C area. Keep up the good work!] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Aug 90 02:00:41 MEZ >From: "Gisbert W.Selke" Subject: MS-Kermit 3.0x and German telephones Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0, German Here's a (partial) solution to a problem no-one besides me seems to have had: I'm running MS-DOS Kermit over a 1200 bps line in what is yet West Germany. For some obscure reason, the German PTT transmits the signal to my phone that can be used to record the fee due. (No, I never had such a gadget. Maybe some former owner of this flat had.) Unfortunately, the tone used for this is right within the range used for 1200 bps transmissions. So, if I'm lucky, I get a corrupted packet every 8 to 12 minutes (for local calls - much more often for trunk calls); if I'm in terminal mode, however, I get some 10 scrambled characters on the screen. So far, so annoying. But you ain't seen nothing yet: some of the garbage obviously contained shift-in/-out sequences, so that I was left with funny graphics characters all over the screen henceforward, where ordinary 7-bit ASCII should have been. The solution came with one of the 3.02 revisions of MS-Kermit: 'set term char ascii g1' takes care of the odd shift! Still, some of the garbage even throws me out of that; apparently, it loads a different character set into gx, where x = 1..3. So, if anyone has a way of doing away with the disturbances altogether, any help/hints/pointers will be appreciated, with software solutions muchly preferred. \Gisbert c/o ------------------------------ Date: Mon Aug 27 10:19:29 1990 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Looking for Stories ... of how Kermit has been used in imaging and visualization applications, including modelling, CAD, medical imaging, and so forth, for possible publication. MS-DOS Kermit graphics, Kermit protocol imbedded in imaging or CAD systems, whatever you know about ... ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #3 Page 29 Page 30 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Info-Kermit Digest Tue, 11 Sep 1990 Volume 12 : Number 4 MS-DOS KERMIT: Next Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Kermit on Novell Networks Feedback on MS KERMIT 3.02 of July 20 Kermit Problems - V3.01 MS-Kermit and VAX ALLin1 Question about Kermit 3.01 and the 128-byte history buffer Kermit & WordPerfect under PCSA Re: MSKERMIT <-- TCP/IP --> Unix-Host Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Sep 90 16:03:23 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Next Test Release of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 63. Correct a small problem leading to confusion in terminal emulation if an arriving control sequence is terminated prematurely by another. msscmd.asm 64. Add command REMOTE SET FILE COLLISION UPDATE, meaning the file receiver on the other side should process files with the same name as "updates" (whose meaning is system dependent) to existing files. A MS-DOS Kermit server does not recognize the command. mssser.asm 65. Another small adjustment to item 62. Move the long interval retrying of sending characters to be at the final launching point for BIOS comms channels. The intent is to compensate for a particular X.25 channel which rejects new characters with a failure indication; that channel is known to be very sluggish. This change permits character retries for Connect mode and scripts as well as packets. msscom.asm, msxibm.asm 66. Ensure that the graphics terminal emulation writes characters as opaque, when so selected, for black and white displays. msgibm.asm INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Page 31 67. Accomodate LATIN5/Cryillic character set of Code Page 866 as much as possible. The command SET TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET has the new option LATIN5, and if selected will force FILE CHARACTER-SET to be CP866. Similarly, if the FILE CHARACTER-SET is selected to be the new option CP866 then it will force TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET to be LATIN5. Warnings are issued for both cases. When sending a text file with TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET LATIN5 the file attributes packet will send "I6/144" for the file character-set identification (the "C" attribute) and no translations will be done. When receiving such a file no translation will be done, regardless of the currently active FILE CHARACTER-SET. Actually the file should be rejected unless the user has stated SET UNKNOWN-CHARACTER-SET to KEEP, but the code gets very messy if the rule is enforced at this time. The reason is for the coupling of commands is CP866 has many Cryillic characters in the right, high bit set, section which have no equivalents in other Kermit character sets and regular Code Pages. Hence, when LATIN5 or CP866 is selected there can be no translation of characters between CP866 and either the other (Western European) Code Pages or the LATIN1 character set. Thus LATIN5 or CP866 selects a Transparent file transfer but with a LATIN5 "I6/144" character set identification. For terminal emulation SET TERMINAL CHARACTER-SET TRANSPARENT will prevent unwanted translations and also convert the C1 controls area into printable characters found in CP866. Files affected are mssfil.asm, mssset.asm, msyibm.asm. 68. Add communications enhancement to using the Int 14h serial port interceptor TES from Interconnections Inc (distributed with Novell NetWare for VMS). The new command SET PORT TES invokes TES and make a connection to the indicated host. This competes with SET PORT BIOSn because they use some common operations. Action host-name Connect to that host, and disconnect from a previous TES host if such a connection were active. * Show all available TES hosts but do not connect. nothing Use the current TES host name to reestablish an existing connection. Most useful when switching between TES and a real serial port. If no host name exists then a list of available hosts is shown. Keyboard verb \Knethold is used to invoke the TES command interpreter while in Connect mode (to revise connections usually), and HANGUP breaks an existing connection. Sending a BREAK (ALT-B or \Kbreak) performs the same function for TES as \Knethold. Use this function when manual control of sessions is desired, such as creating multiple sessions managed by TES rather than by Kermit. These new TES operations couple closely with version 2.x of TES and will not work with earlier ones. Instead use SET PORT BIOS1 and the TES hot Page 32 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 key with older TES's. If the TES hot key is used then \Knethold may not be recognized; use the hot key again to control TES. If the hot key has not been used then TES material is shown on the Connect mode screen. SHOW COMMUNICATIONS will show the current host name, as read back from TES itself. The apparent serial port identifier on the Connect status line is the letter "I". Note that placing a connection on hold and later returning to it may require pressing the \knethold or \kbreak keys and typing RESUME to make the TES command interpreter return control to the data stream. It's apparently a problem in the interpreter. If Kermit is exited completly then the active session is terminated, but held sessions are retained. Thus, to preserve sessions after Kermit has exited use \knethold or \kbreak to get the TES command interpreter and place the connection on hold manually. The session may be resumed as above. I am testing with TES version 2.1 beta so both sides have growing pains. Modifications are all in file msxibm.asm 69. Make an attempt to pass macro arguments \%0..\%9 through (around) a TAKE command to keep some consistency with MS-DOS Kermit 3.00 and 3.01. For example, DEFINE DIAL Take Hayes.tak which has dialing commands DIAL 555-1212 we want the number passed down to the interior of Hayes.tak as \%1. where file Hayes.tak (from the diskette with Chris' book) starts off as COMMENT - Initial setup def errstop echo Error: \%1\13,def \%1,hang,stop set speed 2400 ; *** Change to 1200 ... echo \13Dialing \%1. Wait...\13\10 ; Dialing for the first time, goto dial ; so skip the "Redialing" message COMMENT - Dialing loop :REDIAL echo \13Redialing...\13\10 ; Give this message when redialing :DIAL output ATDT\%1\13 ; Dial the number Another example: DEFINE xxx Set term VT302,take x.tak,connect xxx A B C where file x.tak holds echo \%0 \%1 \%2 \%3 This displays XXX A B C and then enters Connect mode as a VT320 terminal. 70. Add a new element to command line variables, taken from C Kermit 5A. Numerical variables ARGC, COUNT, ERRORLEVEL, and VERSION can be used as the ascii representation of their values by the new text substitution operator \v(numerical variable) INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Page 33 Soon this will be expanded to include other "named variables" such as TIME, DATE and so on which are also internal quantities in Kermit. Examples: ECHO The version number of this program is \v(version) today. which displays The version number of this program is 302 today. And DEFINE See ECHO \%0 - the num var is \v(\%1) here. See argc which displays SEE - the num var is 2 here. See version which displays SEE - the num var is 302 here. The expression \v(numerical variable) is replaced by it's ascii value. This may be used in any command. The current syntax of IF = ARGC 2 ... is retained for compatibility purposes but in new scripts it should be replaced by IF = \v(argc) 2 etc. If the item within the parentheses is not one of the above numerical variables, or if a right parenthesis does not end the variable name then the entire expression from \v( to the current point is discarded. Examples of bad syntax: ECHO testing \v(versions) stuff or ECHO testing \v(version stuff both of which display testing stuff All the changes for this item are in file msscmd.asm More changes are expected. [Ed. - The Cyrillic and \v() items are not final. An actual translation between CP866 (Alternative Cyrillic) and ISO 8859-5 will probably be installed before 3.02 is released. \v(name) will probably be changed to require the name of a builtin variable (which need not necessarily be numeric) within the parentheses.] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Aug 90 10:22:53 EDT >From: Doug Salane Subject: Kermit on Novell Networks Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Novell Network I am trying to use Kermit for station to station communication on my Novell Network. This is an ELS Level II Network which uses Arcnet cards in a bus topology. I would like to use Kermit to transfer files between machines without relying on the server. Is this possible? I have tried using the SET PORT NETBIOS and SET PORT NOVELL after loading the Novell IPX workstation shell. I get an error message that says the Network is not available. Page 34 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 I'd appreciate your help. Thanks. [From jrd - Doug, what's needed is NetBios running on top of IPX and NET3/4. It's in the Novell NetWare collection. After that just follow the instructions in the Kermit documentation about SET PORT NET . I use Kermit that way here, and it is also the official AT&T method of talking to an AT&T Unix machine from a DOS PC. SET PORT NOVELL(NASI) uses the NASI/NACS async server, not what you want at all. The short form of the documentation says start the Server Kermit first (SET PORT NET, Server). No destination address is needed by the server. Then start a client Kermit with SET PORT NET and issue file transfer or REMOTE commands.] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jul 90 14:23:19 PDT >From: leland@scdt.intel.com (Leland Bruns ) Subject: Feedback on MS KERMIT 3.02 of July 20 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 I am forwarding some feed back on the test version of MS KERMIT version 3.02 and some comments on version 3 in general. Please forward to the appropriate persons. Thank you. ENVIRONMENT First, my environment is a Wedge Technology 386-based PC-AT clone, with a Video-7 VGA board. I am compiling using MicroSoft's MASM version 5.01. My hosts are VAX VMS and Ultrix machines. The PC's operating system in PC-DOS version 3.30. [From jrd - similar to my own environment: DELL 310, Video-7 VGA, VMS host, PC-DOS 3.30] I have recently copied MS KERMIT version 3.02 from the /kermit/test directory at watsun.cc.columbia.edu. My comments below are based on the versions dated July 15 and July 20. (I see there is a new version this morning, July 21, but have not had the chance to port or test this version.) I am comparing the test version 3.02 to the original 3.00 distribution version. TEKTRONIX EMULATION PROBLEMS I see that there are significant changes to the MSGIBM.ASM module for Tektronix emulation, and have concentrated on looking for differences there. The one difference I would like to report is in the way GIN input apparently works in the new version. In the original 3.00 version, when a key was entered at the PC, the host would receive the ASCII code for the character entered, the 4 character xy coordinate, and one final character (I can't tell easily from the host software I have to work with what that final character is, as the software discards it). The new version 3.02 test version apparently does not send the GIN report to the host until the user has entered the desired key (at which time the cross-hair cursors disappear) AND an additional carriage return. Not too surprising, the host receives an additional character which must be ignored to INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Page 35 continue properly. I believe that the behavior of the original version 3.00 of MS KERMIT is correct, while that the new test 3.02 version is incorrect. The user should not have to enter both the desired key plus a carriage return for each GIN input point. I would very much like to see the original behavior restored. [From jrd - advice is most welcomed because my Tek docs seem to differ about what should happen (they are not consistent either).] FEEDBACK & ENHANCEMENT REQUEST Since I'm taking the time to report the problem above, I'd like at the same time to pass on some positive feedback on MS KERMIT version 3 and an enhancement request. I very much like the work that has gone into MS KERMIT between versions 2 and 3. KERMIT is unique in its universal availability, its faithful terminal and graphics emulation, and public availability of source code. The latter feature, availability of source code, is important to me as I have one minor hardware incompatibility for which I must modify each KERMIT release as it becomes available. Specifically, I have dedicated hardware on all four COM ports, and on IRQ2 thru 5 (see the comments below). In order to make use of my 9600 Baud Telebit Trailblazer modem on COM3, IRQ5, I must create a copy of MS KERMIT modified to use IRQ5 rather than IRQ4. I don't think my situation is too uncommon these days, as more and more powerful PC's become available and are equipped with more and more hardware, requiring use of COM ports 3 and 4. I frequently see queries posted asking how to get around the restrictions imposed by the current MS KERMIT. I think many users would benefit the ability to specify the interrupt number and address on a per port basis...just as the newer MS KERMIT versions now allow specification of the COM port address. Failing that, the next best thing would be to allow the user to define the interrupt numbers and addresses in a straightforward manner in the MSXIBM.ASM source (vs. the convoluted encoding required at present...see my difference file below). [From jrd - But.... If one is not using all the COM ports simultaneously then one can use two at once if they are on different IRQ lines. Just ask Kermit to touch the competing ports so their interrupt driver chips are taken off the bus (as decent software should have done anyway). I am reluctant to move far from IRQ 3 and 4 because of the interference with other peripherals (IRQ 5 is the hard disk controller on XTs). I can't easily change things in v3.02 anwyway because of the necessary revisions to the data structures. Btw, I too have a Trailblazer (T2500), and I avoid most serial port conflicts via a $30 RS232 A-B-C-D box; COM1 is comms, COM2 is the mouse.] Once again, let me say how much I appreciate the work going into MS KERMIT version 3. Thanx in advance for your consideration of the suggestions above. [From jrd - Thank you for the suggestions and the compliment.] Leland M. Bruns Intel Corporation (408) 765-4219 leland@scdt.intel.com Page 36 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 ------------------------------ Date: Wednesday, 25 Jul 1990 13:06:12 EDT >From: "Larry F Armbruster" Subject: Kermit Problems - V3.01 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.01 I have experienced several problems using Kermit. The configuration of my system is: PS/2 Model 50Z with an AT&T Voice Data Multiplexer dialing into a DECserver 200 V3.0 (BL33) - LAT V5.1 and accessing VM/CMS through a DECnet/SNA Gateway into a SIM3278 session manager. Also at times I access a VAX cluster. I have redefined the PS/2 function keys to emulate the VT100/200/300 series of terminals. When I emulate a VT320 - the session messages (ie SYS AVL, etc) writes to the top line of the screen thus wiping out the top line of the screen. When I emulate a VT102 - the session messages are at the bottom of the screen. This is only an annoyance and I can live with emulating the VT102. The serious problem is the inability to use Kermit file transfers on either CMS or VAX. My computer center is aware of the CMS problem and attribute it to the session manager. However we cannot explain the VAX problem. The VAX Kermit Host (or maybe Mskermit) issues a parity error. This is the case no matter what parity, duplex, or flow control is used. Any suggestionor help is greatly apperciated. [From jrd - since the pathway between the PC and either IBM/CMS or the VAX goes through two external communications boxes one supposes that one or the other box is adding its own parity, or more likely, is unable to handle a stream of characters as long as a packet. Otherwise MS-DOS Kermit does run fine to VAXen through common LAT boxes. Logging packets on both ends and viewing the log files will show which machine is experiencing the troubles.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Aug 90 08:08 CDT >From: DEC-WOLF Subject: MS-Kermit and VAX ALLin1 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.01, VAX/VMS, ALLin1 Hello all, I was wondering if there were other Ms-Kermit (3.01) users who are using PCs to communicate with a VAX and who use ALLin1, who are also experiencing problems with printing over the printer port. We have determined that everything works fine when the Vax thinks the terminal type is a VT200. If the terminal type is NOT VT200 series than the printing is erratic or non-existent. After researching the problem I dicovered that Allin1 is sending the following escape sequences for the two terminal types: VT20O Esc [ 5 i INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Page 37 VT100 Esc [ 5 i Esc [ 6 i VT300 The Esc [ 5 i is the proper sequence to open the printer port for a VT100, VT200, or VT300 terminal. After calling Digital, I was told that (Esc [ 6 i) was the escape sequence to open the printer port for the VT125 terminal. Evidently the sloppy programmers at DEC check for VT200 ONLY and send the VT100 and VT125 sequences for other terminals. It seems that either Kermit or the printers are confused by the (Esc [ 6 i) sequence. I know that Dec should just straighten their act out but I was wondering if anyone knew how to work around this problem from the Kermit end. Could the (Esc [ 6 i) sequence be ignored or stripped out by Kermit? We plan on just changing the terminal type to VT200 on the Vax end but it seems a bit kluging to me (normally the Vax and terminal communicate the terminal type between each other at login). Bill Bryson User Services Analyst CC_BRYSON@SWTEXAS P.S. Our systems personel could also patch allin1 to change the printer scripts (i.e. not send ESC [ 6 i) but feel it is unlikely that they will (it is considered a no-no to "mess" with Digital software). [From jrd - MS-DOS Kermit v3.02 consumes the ESC [ 6 i and does not send it to the printer. Yes, it's a carry over and should not be there. Here is the entry in the file msr302.upd describing changes to version 3.02 - 15. Correct bug in transparent printing within text emulator which corrupted back to back escape sequences sent to the printer.] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Jul 90 17:47 EDT >From: John W Manly Subject: Question about Kermit 3.01 and the 128-byte history buffer Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.01, CLEAR Command Hi there. Another question about MS-Kermit and the use of the history buffer in Take or Script files. Could anyone fill me in on the relationship between the INPUT statment, the REINPUT statement, the CLEAR command, and the 128-byte history buffer? In particular, the manual states that REINPUT only accepts additional input from the serial port until the history buffer is full. How does one then clear it out? A CLEAR command presumably does so. Does an INPUT operation clear it as well, or clear it only if it's full, or anything like that? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. - John W. Manly BITNET: JWMANLY@AMHERST Systems Manager PHONE: (413)-542-2526 Amherst College [From jrd - The CLEAR command does indeed clear things: the history buffer and the serial port receive circular buffer (preceeds the history buffer). Page 38 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 I agree that a separate script history buffer clearing command would be beneficial. In the meanwhile, the history buffer can be made either larger or smaller via the DOS command SET KERMIT=INPUT-BUFFER-LENGTH value value is number of bytes (default 128)] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Jul 90 14:44 EDT >From: Pete Kanaitis Subject: Kermit & WordPerfect under PCSA Recently, we have been looking at WordPerfect 5.0 under VMS and have tried the MS-Kermit macros and DCL command procedure (ftped from watsun) to set the IBM PC keyboard to do WP bindings. This seems to work fine under any asynch connection, but does not seem to work with MS-Kermit running under PCSA. Under PCSA, when the terminalS and terminalR macros are envoked, the key bindings are set, the connect command gets issued, but the original terminal session gets disconnected! (Since we use virtual terminals, we can re-connect back to the WordPerfect session, and resume, but only after we re-login in) Here's an example of what is happening: MSKERMIT.INI has the following: set port decnet singer set terminal wrap on define terminalS take C:\wp30.ini, connect set key \2344 \KTerminalS Then from the PC: C>kermit IBM-PC Kermit ... MS-Kermit>connect Welcome to Singer... Username: FOOBAR Password: $ @PUBLIC:PCWP What type of Graphics adapter are you using (ega, cga, vga)? vga $ WP FILE.EXT Defining Function Keys for WordPerfect Products.... (After a few seconds Kermit reconnects..) (Nothing happens. When I hit any key...) Welcome to Singer... Username: FOOBAR Password: You have the following disconnected process: INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 Page 39 ... Connect to above listed process [YES]: (Now you are back in WordPerfect) (When you exit..) Save Document? (Y/N) Yes Exit WP? (Y/N) Yes WP key definitions cleared... (screen clears, back to normal) Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you... Pete Kanaitis Manager, Computational Resources Allegheny-Singer Research Institute X979PK0P@VB.CC.CMU.EDU (Internet) X979PK0P@CMCCVB (Bitnet) [From jrd - When WordPerfect starts up it requests a long Color Palette report from the VT300 terminal. Kermit sends the report fine, but some communications channels can't handle 200 some odd byte bursts. Also, the VAX must have SET TERM/HOSTSYNC so that the VAX can XON/XOFF the terminal. There is really nothing I can do, because on my VAX some paths just can't cope, even when I insert massive pauses between characters. Sometimes it's the length of the DEC Color Palette report which is the root problem. My test copy of WordPerfect/VMS has exceeded it's 6 month lifetime, but I recall that I could use PCSA/DECnet-DOS fine this way. The only "but" is the VMS command SET TERM/HOSTSYNC must be stated.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Jul 90 14:34:55 -0400 >From: mregeste@amo.Wichita.NCR.COM Subject: Re: MSKERMIT <-- TCP/IP --> Unix-Host Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, TCP/IP, Unix In article <1318@kullmar.se> you write: >In <1990Jul10.134437.18854@duc220.uni-duisburg.de> hz231gr@duc220.uni-duisburg.de (Gressel) writes: > >>Hello, > >>we tried it with an Interlan-NI5210-Card, no success! > >In Kermit News number 4, June 1990 Joe R. Doupnik and Christine M. Gianone >writes: > >TCP/IP is a very widespread networking method linking machines locally and >around the world. ... I would like to add that Wollongong's Pathway Client Plus also supports the INT 14 service. We use both Kermit and Procomm Plus Network Version Page 40 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #4 and they work great! Mark Regester Information Systems & Services, NCR Peripheral Products Division NCR:654-8340 (316)636-8340 FAX:636-8889 [From jrd - Yeah! A WINning way.] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Page 41 Info-Kermit Digest Mon, 17 Sep 1990 Volume 12 : Number 5 Today's Topics: Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 Selecting CONTROLLER type in Kermit-370 Announcing KERMIT-12 Version 10g Kermit Proposal SET FILE TYPE Prime8 Help for Dividing Source Re: A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager Re: Info-Kermit Digest V12 #2 Kermit incapatability with LSE Kermit 3.01 Arrow Key Problem 132 column mode in MS-Kermit? Kermit & Telebits Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1990 Sep 12 18:30 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, VM/CMS Kermit Xref: CMS Kermit, See VM/CMS Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit This is to announce the release of Kermit-370 version 4.2.1 for CMS. As usual, the new version comes in VM/SP and VM/XA/SP flavors, but the changes are the same for both. Version 4.2.1 has several improvements over 4.2.0, the most important being: 1. Spurious flow-control "packets" from MS-DOS Kermit are now ignored. 2. Overflow of the fullscreen buffer is now avoided when the receiving Kermit asks for 2K packets. 3. Kermit-370 now supports transfers in LATIN2 and LATIN3 and file storage in CP870, CP880, and CP905. In addition, L1, L2, and L3 are Page 42 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 recognized as aliases for the three LATIN sets, and two-character abbreviations are accepted for the other transfer sets as well. The new sets add support for Afrikaans, Albanian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Esperanto, Galician, Hungarian, Maltese, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, and Turkish. 4. Kermit-370 supports file transfers through the IBM 3174 AEA with B2 microcode. The support is restricted to terminals with the ASCII Graphics capability in three ways: a) The terminal type must be defined in the 3174 to support graphics (only the built-in VT241 and Tektronix 4205 types plus suitable user-defined terminal types). b) The line must be defined without an associated Host Addressable Printer. c) If the 3174 is owned by VTAM, the connection must be made with a logmode that allows the Read Partition Query (such as M2SDLCNQ). Kermit-370 automatically detects the B2 AEA and sets CONTROLLER accordingly (to AEA if graphics is allowed, to NONE if not, or to GRAPHICS if Query is denied). Since the 3174 supports full 8-bit communication, it may be useful to configure the ports for 8-bit data and to set both SEND and RECEIVE PARITY to NONE in Kermit-370. 5. Kermit-370 now uses the FILE COLLISION settings for all files in a group rather than just the first. 6. Kermit-370 has three new subcommands: REMOTE MAIL, REMOTE PRINT, and REMOTE SUBMIT. They transmit a file (or group of files via wild cards) tagged for mailing, printing, and submitting as job, respectively. The new release is in the form of updates to be applied to the 4.2.0 source. The new files are IKCKER.UPD, IKCKER.BWR, IK0AAA.HLP, and IK0KER.UPD (the latter is only a catalog of all the updates, not the updates themselves). The new code has been tested on most known types of protocol converter (many thanks to the beta testers!) to make sure the 3174 support does not harm the existing support for Kermit file transfer, but problems may still turn up. Bug reports are welcome, as usual. A similar release 4.2.1 will soon be available for TSO and MUSIC. John [Ed. - Thanks, John! The new files are installed in kermit/b on watsun and are also available from KERMSRV@CUVMA on BITNET. This program is truly amazing in its adaptability to the infinitely varied 3270 emulation communications environment, and it is a groundbreaker in character set conversion. Let's hope that the other Kermit programs catch up in the latter department soon. For that to happen, we need examples and listings of the PC, UNIX, Macintosh, etc, character sets used for all the language supported by Latin Alphabets 1 through 5, Latin/Cyrillic, and others. If you have them, please send them in and we'll do our best to support them.] INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Page 43 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1990 Sep 13 11:50 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Selecting CONTROLLER type in Kermit-370 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit One of the improvements in release 4.2.1 is a more thorough DEBUG output that proved very useful in bringing the support for the IBM 3174 to completion. This enhancement makes no difference to routine file transfer, but it raises the possibility of determining easily the exact response of any kind of protocol converter to the efforts of Kermit to decide which CONTROLLER type to use. To this end, I ask all installers of release 4.2.1 to take a few minutes and create a debug log for each (fullscreen) environment where Kermit-370 might be used, provided, that is, that you do not apply the optional update SC89058. Even if you have applied SC89058 in the past, it might be worthwhile to omit it as an experiment. The desired debug log is created by starting Kermit-370 and entering the subcommands SET DEBUG I/O LONG, SET LINE, and QUIT. I would be grateful if you would send the resulting KER LOG along with the following information: level of VTAM (if any) driving the session, model of front-end processor (if any) and software, model of protocol converter (if any) and software. These results would be interesting even for real IBM 3270-type terminals or protocol converters unable to support Kermit file transfers. It is possible that the information collected will enable Kermit to distinguish certain environments that currently fail to trigger the correct default CONTROLLER type. John P.S. My e-mail address is: Internet: PEPMNT@CFAAMP.HARVARD.EDU BITNET: PEPMNT@CFAAMP ------------------------------ Date: Thu Sep 6 1990 11:00:00 EDT >From: Charles Lasner Subject: Announcing KERMIT-12 Version 10g Keywords: PDP-8, PDP-12, VT-78, DECmate, OS/8 Xref: DEC PDP, See PDP This is a maintenance release of KERMIT-12. A minor problem relating to incorrect CPU identification messages has been fixed. The problem only appeared when the CPU was a KK-8A single-board CPU; this configuration was previously untested. Thanks to Johnny Billquist of Sweden for his assistance in pinning down the problem. KERMIT-12 operation was not affected in any other way, as only the DECmate-specific identification is crucial; earlier PDP-8 family members are treated in a generic fashion except for the "frill" of model identification (all PDP-8, PDP-12, VT-78 models use software-compatible port hardware; all DECmates are incompatible and must be handled individually). We are still looking for volunteers to test the various DECmate III and DECmate III+ configurations. Page 44 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 The rest of the release concerns the encoding of files into the "ASCII-fied" format. The format has been modified to be more robust, since the original method has proven itself to be problematic in certain practical circumstances (as reported in K12MIT.BWR). The new ENCODing format is based on five-bit encoding with repeat compression. As much as 256 repeated 12-bit words will be expressed in a five character field. Any repeated 12-bit value can be compressed, as opposed to simple zero compression, as in other common encoding schemes. (PDP-8 files often have repeated strings of the value 7402 octal, which is the HLT instruction.) The only printing characters required to pass through any distribution "path" are 0-9, A-V, X, and Z. The alphabetic characters can also be lower-case. All command lines are framed by ( and ); all data lines are framed by < and >. These characters can be changed if required, as they are not part of the data; they could be replaced by W (w) and Y (y) if necessary. (Changing the framing characters requires slight modification of the ENCODing and DECODing programs.) The new format supports a 60-bit file checksum to ensure proper decoding at the other end. The former 12-bit checksum could be compromised on long files. The new ENCODing programs creates internal (REMARK commands stating the ENCODed file's creation date, and the original file's creation date. This will aid in distribution of PDP-8 files where the user wishes to maintain proper file dates. The date algoritm used is the one proscribed by the OS/8 DIRECT program. (OS/8 systems only OPTIONALLY support file dates, and there is an eight-year "anomaly" associated with identifying the year; the user must determine the credibility of the year portion of the date. The value provided by the ENCODE program for the original file creation date is always today's year or the previous seven years as necessary; this field will not be provided if the system doesn't support the required AIW feature.) Overall file size is theoretically as much as 6/5 of the original encoding format (as the earlier format was based on six-bit encoding), but actual size varies downward due to slightly less file overhead (wider lines mean less CR LF; there is now less automatically generated verbiage), and the random improvement afforded by simple repeat compression. Virtually all K12MIT-related files are re-released at this time. There are several new files. Due to the "fragile" nature of TECO macro files, the file K12GLB.TEC is no longer being distributed directly; the file K12GLB.ENC is the same file in the new ENCODE format. The new files have been installed in the regular places: BITNET/EARN Internet KERMSRV@CUVMA watsun.cc.columbia.edu Description K12MIT ENC kermit/d/k12mit.enc Encoded binary of KERMIT-12 K12MIT DOC kermit/d/k12mit.doc Documentation file K12MIT BWR kermit/d/k12mit.bwr Updated "beware" file INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Page 45 K12MIT DSK kermit/d/k12mit.dsk Description of RX02 diskettes K12MIT ANN kermit/d/k12mit.ann Announcement of KERMIT-12 K12MIT UPD kermit/d/k12mit.upd Release update file K12DEC PAL kermit/d/k12dec.pal Decoding program K12ENC PAL kermit/d/k12enc.pal Encoding program K12PL8 ENC kermit/d/k12pl8.enc Encoded binary of PAL8 Ver B0 K12CRF ENC kermit/d/k12crf.enc Encoded binary of CREF Ver B0 K12MIT PAL kermit/d/k12mit.pal Main source file of KERMIT-12 K12PCH PAL kermit/d/k12pch.pal KERMIT-12 source patch file K12CLR PAL kermit/d/k12clr.pal Memory clearing file K12MIT LST kermit/d/k12mit.lst Symbols-only listing file K12PRM PAL kermit/d/k12prm.pal Sample VT-78 config file K12GLB ENC kermit/d/k12glb.enc Encoded TECO file macro K12ENC DOC kermit/d/k12enc.doc Encoding format description [Ed. - Many thanks, Charles. Believe it or not, there are still quite a few PDP-8 based systems out there, and even some PDP-12s. You won't find very many other new software packages that support them!] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Sep 90 08:47 CST >From: Subject: Kermit Proposal SET FILE TYPE Keywords: Kermit Protocol Please accept these remarks regarding the proposed SET FILE TYPE extension to Kermit. 1. The labels are transmitted in normal Data packets. Therefore an ignorant Kermit receiver will write them into the file as data. This is a MAJOR change to the protocol, which has always provided transparent file exchange. When reading such a file, how is a program to know that labels have already been included? Will these files cause problems for other file-transfer protocols such as Xmodem? [Ed. - No, it won't cause problems with Xmodem. Xmodem or any other file transfer protocol, including a Kermit program that does not know about labeled files, will store or send a labeled file just like any other file, without interpreting the label information.] 2. Stored-in-File labels are incompatible with the MacBinary protocol in standard use on Macintosh computers. [Ed. - That's true. But MacBinary format cannot be adapted to other kinds of file systems such as VAX/VMS. Kermit can still be used to transfer MacBinary files, and a MacBinary option will be added to Macintosh Kermit before its next release.] 3. The sending operator must now decide whether to send with labels or not. Previously, the sender had no choices to make. We should not be adding complexity to the process if we can help it. [Ed. - This is true. However, without labels it is impossible to transfer a complex file and retain all of its features. Therefore this proposal addresses only computers with complex file systems, like VAX/VMS, IBM Page 46 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 mainframes, etc, and does not affect other computers. Users can continue to use Kermit on these systems in the normal way, but now they will also have an additional tool to let them successfully transfer files that they could not transfer before.] 4. Perhaps a better approach would be to use: SET FILE TYPE system type Where 'system' identifies the receiving file management system, (RMS, VSAM, etc.) and 'type' identifies the appropriate attributes. Example: SET FILE TYPE RMS INDEXED where RMS represents Vax RMS file management, and INDEXED identifies the incoming file as an indexed file. This approach requires that the sending and receiving routines be similarly intelligent about the information required to successfully transmit and write the file, but allows unintelligent intermediary programs (repositories, bulletin boards, etc.) to receive and send the files without any special settings (other than SET FILE TYPE BINARY). [Ed. - It is a cardinal principle of Kermit or any other well-designed file transfer protocol that any particular computer must not be required to have knowledge about the formats and conventions of any other kind of computer. Rather, each Kermit implementation knows only the data formats of its own computer and those defined for the "standard intermediate representation" on the wire. Otherwise, hundreds of different programs would require modifications to know about hundreds of different computers. Not only is this a waste of computing and human resources, but it's a moving target.] It also allows the following sequence to take place: machine 1 Kermit send -> machine 2 Kermit receive (FILE TYPE BINARY) machine 2 BrandX send -> machine 3 BrandX receive machine 3 Kermit send -> machine 4 Kermit receive (FILE TYPE xxx ttt) Machine 1 sends the file BELIEVING that the receiver knows how to handle it, but only the machine 4 program needs to know. However, machine 3 can also use the file, if it recognizes, or is told to recognize, the file type. [Ed. - The Labeled File proposal works the same way.] A simplification of this approach would be to use SET FILE TYPE AUTO which would cause the receiver to perform some recognition process before writing the file. [Ed. - The labeled file proposal includes this possibility too.] We have recently developed a Macintosh VT100 terminal emulator which incorporates Kermit file exchange, and automatically distinguishes TEXT documents from applications and formatted documents. The users need only tell the Vax to SET FILE TYPE ASCII/BINARY depending on whether they intend INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Page 47 to edit it on the Vax, or transfer it to another Mac. The program pre-pends the Macbinary header for non-text documents when sending, and recognizes it when receiving. I think you'll agree that the LABELED proposal only adds complexity to our situation, and requires users to make unnecessary decisions about the process. [Ed. - Your application seems to be Macintosh-centered, in the sense that you regard the VAX as a repository for Macintosh applications, which you encode in MacBinary, but you make no provision for storing VAX applications or complex binary VAX files on the Mac. For your purposes, MacBinary will do just fine.] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Aug 90 17:27:31 EDT >From: John M. Crawford Subject: Prime8 Help for Dividing Source Keywords: Prime Kermit Enclosed is a short file which provides the necessary Primos editor (ED) tricks to divide (and then build) Kermit 8.12 for Primos. You might consider appending it to the PRIME8.ANN file (or another) for general distribution to Prime kermit users. John M. Crawford (614) 292-1741 Computing Services Center College of Business craw4d+@osu.edu 1775 College Road craw4d@prime.cob.ohio-state.edu The Ohio State University crawford-j@osu-20.ircc.ohio-state.edu Columbus, Ohio 43210 [Ed. - Many thanks! Your ED file is now enshrined in PRIME8.ANN.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Aug 90 10:23:11 PLT >From: Wim Bonner <27313853%WSUVM1@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu> Subject: Re: A New Version of Kermit for OS/2 Presentation Manager Keywords: OS/2 Kermit The message said that the Kermit files were in the OS/2 test area pending comments from the user community. Is this where I make comments? I tried the Kermit program just now. It has an annoying habit of going full screen. I have a 1024x768 screen, so an 80,25 screen will fit in less than a quarter of the screen, and leave room for much more on the screen. I am running OS/2 1.2, and was not able to get the lights on my modem to blink when I typed characters after Connecting. That is normally a good indication something is wrong. All of the other communication programs that I've tried work fine. Wim Bonner - 27313853@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU - V(509)335-4436 [Ed. - Thanks. We'll collect all such comments and put them in an envelope and send them back to the contributor. Meanwhile, has anyone else gotten the program to work?] Page 48 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 ------------------------------ Date: Sat 25 Aug 90 11:51:37-CDT >From: Rob Pettengill Subject: Re: Info-Kermit Digest V12 #2 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02, Macros, Variables, Scripts The behavior of the macro positional parameters has changed in the new test release of MSKermit 3.02. Previously when a take script was taken in a macro the \%n positional arguments were defined in the take script - with this version they are undefined. The previous behavior was reasonable for a script. Are you tring to make take files behave more like macros? If so then it should be possible to pass positional arguments to the take files explicitly. In any case the behavior in the current 3.02 does not seem desirable. ;rob [Ed. - That was a mistake, which has been corrected in the latest 3.02 release. Macro parameters are now on a call stack so if macro A calls macro B, A's parameters are still intact when B returns. The mistake was indeed that a TAKE file was being treated like a macro. In the latest edit, it is not: if macro A TAKEs a command file, A's parameters are available to the TAKE file, as before.] ------------------------------ Date: 29 Jul 90 23:18:00 CDT >From: "COLLINS, STERRETT" Subject: Kermit incapatability with LSE Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0, LSE, VAX/VMS, Terminal Emulation I am using MS-Kermit v3.0 on a Kaypro 286 operating MS-DOS v3.21, connecting to a VaxCluster operating VMS v5.3 . I have tried using the language sensitive editor (LSE v3.0), but Kermit fails to emulate the terminal that LSE expects. I have tried setting terminal/nodec_crt3, which partially corrects the problem, but still not satisfactorily. I am not sure that LSE does not think that every member of the VT300_Family of terminals is a Regis terminal. I have access to a Regis_Emulating communications software package, which I do not normally use for licensing considerations, but which, if I switch to that after having entered LSE using Kermit, is able to emulate the terminal properly. The possible answers would seem to be: "The operating system does not successfully detect the correct terminal characteristics." "The Operating system does successfully detect the correct terminal characteristics, but this information is not propperly transferred to LSE." I only know that SHOW TERMINAL reveals that it does not have the REGIS characteristic, but does have the SIXEL charactersitic, and the DECCRT_3 characteristic. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Page 49 sterrett collins physics department texas tech university [From jrd - Another case where Kermit command SET DISPLAY 8 needs be done to avoid clobbering the 8-bit control sequences sent by the host.] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Jul 90 19:44:42 GMT >From: seminara@penelope.oswego.edu (Greg Seminara) Subject: Kermit 3.01 Arrow Key Problem Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Arrow Keys Arrow keys work only sporadically when connected to a UNIX host from a DOS PC running Kermit 3.01 if you are using a full-screen "curses" application. Seems to be sending either the wrong ansi sequence or is sending the sequence too fast. If you press arrow keys with a significant pause between each press, keys usually work OK. Emulation is vt102 for kermit and TERM is set to "kermit" or "vt100". Kermit 2.32a and before work fine under identical conditions. - HELP! [From jrd - your Unix host has a problem with communications. If characters in a control sequence are NOT sent in rapid succession then EMACS reacts differently than expected. In addition, some host machines apparently have intrinsic difficulties running in true full duplex. Unix loves to echo arriving characters willy nilly. So when Unix is sending a control sequence while one is arriving from Kermit and Unix is also echoing it then Kermit receives both sets of information with characters intermingled. If the sequences arrived separately then Kermit could cope. This is pretty silly behavior by Unix; the application should attempt supressing echos. There is nothing that Kermit (nor a real terminal) can do about it.] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Aug 90 14:28:57 CDT >From: moore@ncsc.navy.mil (Moore) Subject: 132 column mode in MS-Kermit? Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, 132 Columns, Screen Settings Greetings. I have a very persistent user here who wants the word directly from the horse's mouth regarding a feature of MS-Kermit: I've always thought that EGAs cannot do 132-column mode (except by simulating it in graphics mode). MS-Kermit doesn't change that, right? Isn't it the "responsibility" of the hardware to switch modes, and then Kermit just detects and uses that mode? [Ed. - True. Except that in version 3.0 and later it also supports automatic switching between 80 and 132 column mode via the COLS80.BAT and COLS132.BAT mechanism. That is, if Kermit gets the escape sequence telling it to switch modes, it will try to run the appropriate BAT file that does the PC- or adapter-specific things required to switch modes.] Page 50 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #5 Can Kermit simulate 132-column mode by letting the user pan an 80-column window left and right? [Ed. - No.] Thanks for any help. Jim moore@NCSC.navy.mil ------------------------------ Date: 27 Aug 90 11:42:05 GMT >From: mrsvr!saturn.shaw@uwm.edu (Tom Shaw ct58 Ex 5084) Subject: Kermit & Telebits Keywords: Modems I'm looking for anyone who has/is doing something similar to this: I am transferring binary and ASCII files across dial-up phone lines using Telebit Trailblazer Plus modems and kermit. The transfers are between 2 Suns, one running Sun OS 3.5 and the other running Sun OS 4.01. The size of the files range from 2500 bytes to 800kbytes. Does anyone have any tips, traps to avoid, benchmarks of what kind of rate I should be expecting for ASCII and binary files or any hands on advice. I am using kermit version 4E(72). In the past few weeks, I've heard stories about using Telebits in Germany, what kind of problem is there and are there any other countries I might have a problem connecting and transfering to? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Tom [Ed. - As you may know, Telebits have Kermit built inside them. If you activate this feature, Computer A actually talks Kermit protocol to Modem A, Modem A talks high-speed error-correcting PEP protocol to Modem B and Modem B talks Kermit protocol to Computer B. This is all done transparently to the Kermit programs, but you have to put the originating Telebit into "Kermit spoof" mode. See your Telebit manual.] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 51 Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 10 Oct 1990 Volume 12 : Number 6 Today's Topics: New Honeywell DPS-6 Superkermit Announcing Kermit for the Tandy 100 CMS Kermit 4.2.1 erratum OS/2 PM Kermit Feedback OS/2 PM Kermit Feedback Easy Exit from Terminal Emulation Running MS-DOS Kermit 3.0x under DESQview USING MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 with MNP Modems MS-Kermit 4010 GIN mode by Mouse? Suppresing Kermit's Error Checking MacKermit Settings Trouble Larger Font for Mac Kermit 0.98(63)? Prime Kermit Version 8.12 Kermit REMOTE SET Command Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Oct 90 11:42:02 PDT >From: dreano@trout.nosc.mil (Frank Dreano) Subject: New Honeywell DPS-6 Superkermit Keywords: DPS-6 Kermit, Honeywell Kermit I am sending you a new version of the Honeywell DPS-6 Superkermit. This version basically 'blows out' the server mode to provide much more functionality, (After Joe R. Doupnik's excellent effort to support the Honeywell DPS-6 in MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 dev. 28, I felt like I had to respond in kind): 1) Superkermit server 'gets' and 'sends' now support wildcard filespecs. 2) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote cwd' commands are now supported. 3) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote set file type { text, binary }' commands are now supported. Page 52 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 4) A new Superkermit file type, called 'foreign', supports MSDOS *.EXE, *.COM, *.WKS, *.ZIP, etc. file transfers WITHOUT converting to ASCII. MS-DOS Kermit 'remote kermit foreign' sets Superkermit for these transfers. UNIX executables, etc, are likewise supported by this new file type. The 'foreign' type also works with the VIP-3 terminal emulator. 5) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote type [filename]' commands are now supported. 6) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote host [host command]' commands are now supported. 7) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote dir [filespec]' commands are now supported. 8) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote delete [filespec]' commands are now supported. 9) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote mesage [text]' commands are now supported. 10) MS-DOS Kermit 'remote who' commands are now supported. NOTE: There ARE some warnings about using these commands... See the HD6KER.BWR 'beware' file for details. I received a request to allow the Superkermit server to select either 8th-bit or image mode binary transfers. If I didn't implement this ability the default would always be 8th-bit (not satisfactory in all cases). So I have implemented two additional commands: 'remote kermit image' 'remote kermit prefix' Performed a much-needed clean up of code placing all compiler pre- processor code along with global/external variables and function prototypes in a separate file. In addition, I have adopted your naming conventions for the source files: HD6KER.DOC - Version 2.00 documentation. HD6KER.H - New include file described above. HD6KER.C - Kermit state switchers and heuristics. HD6PRI.C - Kermit protocol primitives. HD6COMP.EC - New Kermit batch compilation JCL. I believe the above improvements have resulted in a much more useful Superkermit 'server' mode as well as more manageable source code. My thanks to Tim Ewing of Honeywell Federal Systems Incorporated (HFSI) in McLean, Virginia for suggesting and testing some of the above changes. I feel that the code reorganization and additional server functionality have made this a major release and I am calling it Version 2.00. Frank Dreano Jr. [Ed. - Many thanks, Frank! The new files have been installed in the "D" area of Kermit distribution under the names you sent them with (kermit/d/hd6*.* on watsun). Special thanks for adjusting the filenames.] ------------------------------ INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 53 Date: Tue Oct 9 21:29:27 1990 >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Announcing Kermit for the Tandy 100 Keywords: Tandy 100 Apparently floating around since 1984, discovered recently and sent in by Jay Rouman: a Kermit program, written in BASIC by Dave Straayer, for the Tandy 100. No documentation. In kermit/c/ta100.bas on watsun, TA100 BAS on CUVMA. Thanks, Jay! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1990 Sep 17 20:04 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: CMS Kermit 4.2.1 erratum Keywords: Kermit-370, CMS Kermit, IBM Mainframe The announcement mentioned restrictions on VTAM logmodes for successful file transfer through the IBM 3174, but the example cited was one that does *not* work. The logmode that is known to work is M2SDLCQ. [Ed. - A corrected copy of IKCKER.ANN (the announcement text for CMS Kermit 4.2.1) has been installed.] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Sep 90 11:20:12 -0700 >From: agb@cs.washington.edu (Alan Bishop) Subject: OS/2 PM Kermit Feedback Keywords: OS/2 Kermit, Modems In article Wim Bonner writes: > > I am running OS/2 1.2, and was not able to get the lights on my modem to > blink when I typed characters after Connecting. That is normally a good > indication something is wrong. All of the other communication programs > that I've tried work fine. > You need to play with the octs & so forth settings. Look under the communcations setup bit & toggle all the settings on the line that has OCTS listed. It works fine for me. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Sep 90 14:23:25 EDT >From: "Robert E. Zaret" Subject: OS/2 PM Kermit Feedback Keywords: OS/2 Kermit I did get the Presentation Manager version of Kermit working, but haven't spent much time with it. I already have the full screen OS/2 Kermit and my monitor is strict VGA, so I have no urge for a PM version. Thus, I wasn't going to comment. However, the digest I received today asked for comments, so: Page 54 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 My major dissappointment is lack of VT100 support. I assume its absence is temporary. I've seen enough mangled emulators to believe VT100 emulation is not trivial, so I'ld support a decision to leave it out until other parts are settled. However, I have little use for a program without it. I was able to communicate with my internal modem; the modem responded to a query (ATS1?) and to dial commands. I found no way to save settings. The speed setting is labelled baud, rather than bps. I would prefer one pull down menu for all communications settings (com port, bps, parity, etc.) I didn't find a documentation file, and the program itself mentioned no way to get out of communication mode except by exiting the program completely. I tried ctl-[, and it worked. This sequence seems inconsistent with the DOS version, but I'm not sure consistency matters, or is even possible. I, too, found the program insisting on using a full screen. The behavior of the maximimize box (upper right corner) seems odd, but I'm not sure what it should do given the other problem. I believe PM programs can find and use the user's preferences for colors, as set in the control box. Definitely not a high priority. Technical note: I'm using IBM OS/2 EE 1.2 on an IBM Model 80/311 with an IBM 8513 monitor and an internal BusinessLand modem (not quite all blue :-). ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Apr 90 11:49:40 -0700 >From: Tshapin@orion.oac.uci.edu Subject: Easy Exit from Terminal Emulation Keywords: Terminal Emulation, MS-DOS Kermit, Macros Here is an easy way to leave terminal emulation, hangup the phone, and drop to DOS (I put it on alt-Z): def terminalr hangup,exit set key \2348 \kterminalr (Thanks to Joe D. for pointing this out.) Here is why I couldn't display IBM graphic characters even though I had my display set for 8-bit and terminal character set transparent. Ted. [From jrd - Alas, VT100's are really 7-bit devices and this time I have enforced the rule, to make character set stuff behave as DEC intended. Try SET TERMINAL VT320.] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Sep 90 16:19 MDT >From: Joe Doupnik Subject: Running MS-DOS Kermit 3.0x under DESQview INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 55 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, DESQview Assistance in creating a DESQview .DVP configuration file (DVSETUP.TXT) for MS-DOS Kermit. My copy of DESQview is version 2.26 running on a 386 machine with 2MB, with no expanded memory, but with QEMM/386. The display adapter is a Video-7 "VGA". The tables below are similar to the DESQview screens. Please, when configuring QEMM to load-high drivers etc always exclude video memory. I have been able to run two copies of MS-DOS Kermit v3.02 together, to different destinations with different communications ports. In addition, full graphics capability was retained. Joe D. ============================================================================ Change a Program Program Name............: MS-DOS Kermit v3.02 Keys to Use on Open Menu: KE Memory Size (in K): 200 (say 150 minimum) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program...: Kermit.exe Parameters: (Kermit command line items, if any, go here.) Directory.: C:\yourdir ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options: Writes text directly to screen.......: [N] * Displays graphics information........: [N] ** Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [T] *** Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [Y] Requires floppy diskette.............: [N] * Not true, but MS-DOS Kermit is DESQview-aware and covers up nicely. ** Not true, naturally, but causes DESQview to put Kermit into full screen mode while graphics are executed and then to return to windowed mode after switching to text terminal emulation. *** Can be [Y] with the same effect as above. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change a Program Advanced Options System Memory (in K).....: 0 Maximum Program Memory Size (in K)..: Script Buffer Size.......: 0 Maximum Expanded Memory Size (in K) : Text Pages: 1 Graphics pages: 0 Initial Mode: 3 Interrupts: 00 to FF Window Position: Maximum Height: 25 Starting Height: 20 Starting Row...: 5 Maximum Width.: 80 Starting Width.: 40 Starting Column: 5 (Choose your own window sizes, naturally. 132 column mode causes DESQview to switch to full screen.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shared Program Pathname..: Data......: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......: [ ] Uses its own colors..............: [N] Page 56 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Allow Close Window command.....: [Y] Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...: [Y] Uses math coprocessor..........: [N] Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........: [0] Share CPU when foreground......: [Y] Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.: [Y] Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).: [ ] Protection level (0-3)...........: [3] ============================================================================ ------------------------------ Date: 9 Sep 90 06:27:49 GMT >From: ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi LASK) Subject: Using MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 with MNP Modems Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Scripts, MNP Modems In article <1990Sep09.012634.22430@ddsw1.MCS.COM> andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Andrew Rossmann) writes: > I just bought a 2400 baud MNP5 modem (ATI 2400etc/e.) I have quickly > found out that some modems do not like the attempt to set up an MNP > protocol. I am currently using Procomm Plus. The problem is that there is > no way for me to have a particular entry in the dialer set the modem's MNP > on or off (a linked script file is only called AFTER connection.) Are there > any other communications programs out there that let you send special > initializations to the modem BEFORE dialing? Is there a sneaky way to do > this in Procomm Plus?? > Yes, I've thought about the same problem, and MS-DOS Kermit has this feature. With proper script programming you can have MS-DOS Kermit do whatever initializations do wish before dialing, and then on top of that doing the dialing from a multi-entry dialing directory. This MS-DOS Kermit dialing directory facility is available in the /pc/ts/tskerm24.arc MS-DOS Kermit utilities collection downloadable by anonymous ftp from chyde.uwasa.fi, Vaasa, Finland. The flexibility and potential of MS-DOS Kermit as a fully fledged communication program rather than just an excellent terminal emulator are often underrated and little known. .................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi (Moderating at anon. ftp site 128.214.12.3) School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Sep 90 17:41 MDT >From: Pete Klammer 303/556-3915 Subject: MS-Kermit 4010 GIN mode by Mouse? Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Terminal Emulation, GIN mode, Graphics, Mouse We find that the 4010 emulation in MS-KERMIT supports GIN mode, that is, graphical cursor position input, which is great! For instance, the ZOOM command in ANSYS puts up a crosshair target on our screen, which we can position with the cursor keys. Pretty neat. Is it possible to get our PC mouse connected to this cursor? The GIN mode steps with the cursor keys are pretty small, hence slow. It would be even neater than the already neat that it is, if MS-KERMIT Tektronix emulation would support a PC mouse for GIN mode. Thanks! INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 57 /** --poko ________________________________* "cut on dashes for mailing label" Pete Klammer (303)556-3915 FAX(303)556-4822|pklammer@cudnvr.Denver.Colorado.EDU CU-Denver Computing Services Campus Box 169|bitnet: PKLAMMER@CUDENVER 1200 Larimer St NC2506 Denver CO 80217-3364|uucp:...!boulder!pikes!pklammer **/ [Ed. - MS-DOS Kermit does indeed support mouse movement of the graphics cursor. Make sure you have given the necessary DOS commands to turn the mouse on, such as MOUSE ON and/or DEFAULT.] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Sep 90 12:01:37 CDT >From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp) Subject: Suppresing Kermit's Error Checking Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, Error Checking, Kermit Protocol, Performance Keywords: MNP Modems I just read the December inquiry about suppressing Kermit's error checking to save time when using an MNP reliable connection. You could do a raw download. For instance, if you are on a host that will let you simply 'type', 'cat', or 'fstype' a file, you can tell Ms-Kermit to capture the screen and let it flow. The MS-Kermit command is 'log session filename'. Make sure that you have 'set flow on' and that the host will recognize the flow control to gate the transfer. This will not work for binary files. I do not recommend this. The reliability of the link goes beyond the mode-to-modem portion of the communication. There are several things you can do to improve the speed of Kermit transfers. The first is to increase your packet size. Recent versions of Kermit allow packets near 1000 bytes in length. [Ed. - Kermit's theoretical maximum packet size is 9024. MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 supports packets up to 2000 bytes. IBM mainframe Kermit supports packets up to about 1700. The forthcoming release of C-Kermit 5A (watch Info-Kermit for an announcement) can be configured to support the full 9K.] I usually limit myself to 500, because MNP modems doing baud rate translation fail with larger packets in non-MNP mode. The speed of transfer with 500-byte packets is very nearly that with 1000-byte packets. I did some benchmarks to compare the speed in MNP stream mode vs. MNP block mode. My conclusion is that the difference is small, and you are better off using stream mode to make interaction less jumpy. A much bigger payoff is gained by using long packets. Next, use sliding windows if they are available. I have done some benchmarks to determine the optimum number of windows, and it is 2. [Ed. - Actually, the optimum window size varies according to the round-trip delay of the connection and its noise characteristics. See Kermit News #4. For a clean and relatively direct connection with MNP modems, 2 appears to be a good size. Also bear in mind that, in general, the large the window size, the smaller the maximum packet size, because most Kermit programs have a finite total packet buffer size.] Page 58 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 The last thing I can recommend is to use 8-bit communications if possible. It may be necessary to do more than just 'set parity none', but I am not sure of this. If you are downloading from an IBM mainframe, this will probably not work. -David- [Ed. - SET PARITY NONE is usually the default, but only works if the connection is truly 8 bits wide. Most IBM mainframes do not give you an 8-bit path. Neither to telnet connections, nor most public data network connections.] david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584 ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "Be kind to sinners." "Concentration impedes Inspiration." --- "Depend on God, who has dominion." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Jul 90 10:34:05 MST >From: Tom Aurand Subject: MacKermit Settings Trouble Keywords: MacKermit 0.98 I'm having trouble getting XON/XOFF flow control to stick in the settings file when using MacKermit 0.98 on different SE's. Can I patch it? Thanks for your help. [From Paul Placeway - Get a copy of 0.98(63) -- the difference between edit 62 and 63 was a fix for that and saving of parity. BTW: DON'T USE MACBINARY MODE -- sending a file in MacBinary mode will delete the file on the Mac (yes, that's a bug). I suggest you disable the MacBinary button with ResEdit.] [Ed. - 0.98(63) is available in kermit/test/ckmker.hqx.] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Jul 90 10:36:59 -0500 >From: harms@emx.utexas.edu (Robert T. Harms) Subject: Larger Font for Mac Kermit 0.98(63)? Keywords: MacKermit 0.98(63), Fonts I would like to use a larger font with my Mac Kermit on a Mac IIci - related to general eye problems of mine. I have used ResEdit to replace the VT100 built in font with a Courier 12 font. BUT this obviously isn't enough. (1) The WIND resource seems to permit increasing the width of the window, but somewhere the dimensions of the window need to be coded as well, and (2) the cursor position is erratic with respect to character width. Is there some way I can customize the font size using ResEdit? Or would you advise me to leave well enough alone? Bob Harms harms@emx.utexas.edu [From Paul Placeway - Unfortnatly, MacKermit 0.98 has the font size parameters hard coded into it, so you can't change the font even if you find all the right places to patch. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 59 This will be fixed in the next release (I have that part of the code now working, but other parts don't yet). (I'm getting older and blinder too... I like to run with a 10pt font (usually Courier 10)).] ------------------------------ Date: 04 Sep 90 18:02:39 O >From: WAGNER@atlas.smc.univie.ac.at Subject: Prime Kermit Version 8.12 Yesterday I transferred a copy of PRIME Kermit Version 8.12, and new fresh copies of Kermit Version 3.0.1 for IBM PCs. Both sources compiled and run flawless except: 1. Generic commands issued from PC to PRIME Kermit in server mode usually respond with unimplemented command (e.g. remote who, remote dir, remote delete, etc.) But they are implemented in Prime KERMIT! There seems to be a definition problem of generic commands either on the sender (PC) or upon reception (PRIME Kermit). [Ed. - This is because vanilla 3.01 sends improperly formed generic commands. The patch file MSR301.PCH fixes this problem and, of course, it will be fixed in 3.02.] 2. The only generic command which led to an action was remote type file (file being a text file). However, PRIME Kermit sends garbage between every character from the text file ! [Ed. - Hmmm... Could this be because PRIME uses "negative ascii"?] 3. We run PRIMOS 22.1.2 on a PRIME CPU. At Rev 22 major changes affected AMLC I/O (more assignable lines then ever, especially lines over Ethernet cables, with line numbers larger than 128! Same applies to user numbers, we have numbers up to 996 users! That means that several old interfaces to PRIMOS, e.g. calls to DUPLX$, ASNLN$ etc have new replacements, which MUST be used to change communication properties when either a user number or a line number is larger than 256! This seems to be a serious problem to all users of PRIME Kermit 8.12 using Rev 22 and up, on larger machines, since some of the new interfaces did not officially exist on older Prime Revisions, and I expect that they are users which are forced to use either a newer revision (e.g. all TCP/IP users) or an older revision (for example older hardware, running into performance problems when changing to rev 22). Coding of those routines must be revision dependent, to give all Prime users a perfect program. Marcus C. Wagner Department of Statistics and Computer Science Universitaetsstrasse 5/9 A-1010 Vienna, Austria, Europe University of Vienna Email: since our TCP/IP connection is in experimental operation (since two months, with some severe TCP/IP implementation errors of PRIME), it will happen that my email address via Internet fails (host seems to be down for the outer world) Alternatively, I am reachable via EARN/BITNET. wagner@atlas.smc.univie.ac.at (IP) Page 60 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 A4421DAC@AWIUNI11 (EARN/BITNET) Thanks to all programmers, who invested so much time to redesign the old version of Prime Kermit, which we implemented five years ago, several known bugs of that old version during normal file transfers vanished in the new program, not to mention the performance gain. [Ed. - Thanks for the comments. They have been sent to the PRIME Kermit developers.] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Sep 90 20:00:00 PDT >From: Bruce_A._Cowan@cc.sfu.ca Subject: Kermit REMOTE SET Command Keywords: Kermit Protocol, Remote Set, Character Sets I'd like to suggest a small extension to the Kermit remote set command. As you have it defined, the REMOTE SET TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET allows setting any transfer alphabet that has a designator. However, there is also the option called TRANSPARENT or NONE, i.e. suppress translation completely. Since that option does not have a designator, one cannot set it. I would like to have some kind of extension to allow setting TRANSPARENT. Perhaps we could invent a designator, say, 0 (zero), or perhaps some other method to guarantee that the TRANSPARENT setting does not conflict with any possible future designator. We could perhaps invent a new registration, kermit (K), and have TRANSPARENT be K0. I came up with this problem while implementing translation in my kermit, but for time reasons the remote set isn't going to make it into my next release, so I'm not in a gigantic rush for this, but I'd like to resolve it. [Ed. - This is actually a tricky situation. The idea was that TRANSPARENT should be the default, for compatibility with the hundreds of Kermit programs that do not support the character-set extension. Adding a new designator to denote TRANSPARENT might confuse Kermits that don't understand it, including Kermits that do support the character-set extension, if that designator were to arrive in an Attribute packet. Incoming files bearing the new designator might be rejected because of "unknown character set" -- clearly undesirable behavior, avoidable perhaps by having the user SET UNKNOWN CHARACTER-SET KEEP, but how to explain this to mere mortals? So far, it has been an implementation decision about whether character-set changes based on incoming attribute packets are "sticky". If they are, this presents the problem that there is no way for a client to tell a server to switch from translation to transparent. So it would appear that a decent compromise would be to invent a new designator, say K0, for TRANSPARENT, and to support it in REMOTE SET TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET commands, but, at least for a time, not use it in Attribute packets. Opinions?] By the way, the last info I have on remote set is dated 11 Dec 89. Was there anything later? [Ed. - Three additional parameters were added in Vol 11 #4: REMOTE SET FILE { BLOCKSIZE, RECORD-LENGTH, RECORD-FORMAT }. The details for RECORD-FORMAT have not yet been worked out.] INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #6 Page 61 The 11 Dec info has a minor problem in that file collision discard and ask are both 4; I presume ask should be 5, to fit the pattern. [Ed. - Right, ASK should be 5. Thanks.] Bruce Cowan KEA Systems Ltd. ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 62 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Info-Kermit Digest Tue, 20 Nov 1990 Volume 12 : Number 7 Today's Topics: Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 Announcing CP/M Kermit Version 4.10 for Testing New Test Release of Microsoft Windows Kermit Another New Prerelease of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Rainbow Kermit Updated Too (for testing) New Kermit for Gould/SEL 32/77 MPX MS-Kermit 3.02 Argument Handling, Keyboard Mapping Re: Kermit REMOTE SET Command Kermit for STRATUS/VOS? Kermit vs Hypercard? Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu Nov 15 11:45:38 1990 >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.1 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, MVS/TSO Kermit Xref: TSO Kermit, See MVS/TSO Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit Kermit-370 version 4.2.1 for TSO has now been released. For the most part, this release matches the version 4.2.1 for CMS announced in September, but there are some system-specific differences. Version 4.2.1 has several improvements over 4.2.0, the most important being: 1. Kermit-370 supports file transfers through the IBM 3174 AEA with B2 microcode (or higher). The support is restricted to terminals with the ASCII Graphics capability in three ways: a) The terminal type must be defined in the 3174 to support graphics (only the built-in VT241 and Tektronix 4205 types plus suitable user-defined terminal types). INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 63 b) The line must be defined without an associated Host Addressable Printer. c) If the 3174 is owned by VTAM, the connection must be made with a logmode that allows the Read Partition Query (such as M2SDLCQ). Kermit-370 automatically detects the B2 AEA and sets CONTROLLER accordingly (to AEA if graphics is allowed, to NONE if not, or to GRAPHICS if Query is denied). Since the 3174 supports full 8-bit communication, it may be useful to configure the ports for 8-bit data and to set both SEND and RECEIVE PARITY to NONE in Kermit-370. 2. Overflow of the fullscreen buffer is now avoided when the receiving Kermit asks for 2K packets. 3. Kermit-370 now supports transfers in LATIN2 and LATIN3 and file storage in CP870, CP880, and CP905. In addition, L1, L2, and L3 are recognized as aliases for the three LATIN sets, and two-character abbreviations are accepted for the other transfer sets as well. The new sets add support for Afrikaans, Albanian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Esperanto, Galician, Hungarian, Maltese, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, and Turkish. 4. Kermit-370 has three new subcommands: REMOTE MAIL, REMOTE PRINT, and REMOTE SUBMIT. They transmit a file (or group of files via wild cards) tagged for mailing, printing, and submitting as job, respectively. 5. Spurious flow-control "packets" from MS-Kermit are now ignored. 6. When downloading ISPF PDS members, Kermit-TSO now uses the ISPF modification date as the time stamp (if attributes are enabled). 7. Kermit-370 now uses the FILE COLLISION settings for all files in a group rather than just the first. 8. The format of KER.LOG for SET DEBUG I/O has been extended to give hexadecimal buffer dumps like those of CMS Kermit. The new release is in the form of updates to be applied to the 4.2.0 source. The new files are IKTKER.UPD and IKTKER.BWR. The new code has been tested on both IBM 7171's (demonstrating downward compatibility) and IBM 3174's (many thanks to the beta testers!), and the CMS version had already been tested on other types of protocol converters, but problems may still turn up. Bug reports are welcome, as usual. A similar release 4.2.1 will soon be available for MUSIC. Also, watch for release 4.2.1 for CICS. [Ed. - Thanks, John! The new files are in in the B area of Kermit distribution: iktker.ann (this message), iktker.bwr (the beware file), and iktker.upd (the updates to be applied to the program to produce the new version; see iktker.ins for instructions.] ------------------------------ Page 64 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Date: Thu, 1 Nov 90 14:18:55 EST >From: Mike Freeman Subject: Announcing CP/M Kermit Version 4.10 for Testing Keywords: CP/M-80 Kermit Just to prove that the CP/M world still exists, here is CP/M Kermit-80 Version 4.10. New features include: o SET COLLISION {BACKUP/DISCARD/RENAME/REPLACE} o SET INCOMPLETE-FILES {DISCARD/KEEP} o Many REMOTE commands, including some REMOTE SET commands o RENAME command to rename CP/M files from within Kermit-80 o SET RECEIVE/SEND PACKET-LENGTH nn (nn <= 94) o Many bug fixes o Kermit-80 Version 4.10 now supports the Microbee family of computers (56K, 64K, 128K and 256K) manufactured by Microbee Systems, Ltd, of Australia. Technical changes: o An "I" packet is now tried before the request for files is sent in a GET command o The overlay address is now 7000H o The overlay (CPXLNK.ASM) has an added INCFLG variable to handle INCOMPLETE-FILES status Syntax hints: In REMOTE commands such as REMOTE COPY, REMOTE MESSAGE, REMOTE RENAME, REMOTE WHO etc., where two arguments are required, the syntax is as for Vax VMS Kermit, i.e., REMOTE Prompt: For example: REMOTE COPY New file: The REMOTE LOGIN command has three arguments, of which the last two are prompted for an entered on new lines. Arguments are optional. In commands such as REMOTE SET FILE BLOCK-SIZE which take a numeric argument, Kermit-80 does not check the argument for validity. Whatever is typed is what the host sees. The FCOPY command has been renamed COPY. The syntax for the RENAME command is as for the COPY command, that is: RENAME More rigorous checking for wildcards is now done by both of these commands. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 65 SET BAUD-RATE is now SET SPEED. The CONNECT command no longer can be abbreviated to "C"; the minimum acceptable abbreviation is now "CON". The option SET FILE DEFAULT has ben re-enabled. Use a TAKE-file to set the initial file-mode to ASCII or BINARY. Building Kermit-80 ver. 4.10: Kermit-80 ver. 4.10 is built using the same procedure as for version 4.09. Many thanks to those who have contributed bug fixes, and, in particular, to Mr. Russell Lang of Monash University, Australia, for contributing a bug-fix and the family file for the Microbee systems. [Ed. - Many thanks, Mike! We hauled out our original Kermit Superbrain from nine years ago, downloaded the system-independent hex file and the "Brain"-dependent hex file, combined them with MLOAD, and the new version worked perfectly. But because CP/M Kermit runs on so many different computers, we are installing it in the Kermit test area for now. If you encounter any problems with it, send e-mail to Mike at the address above. After a decent testing interval, it will replace version 4.09 in the main distribution area. The Kermit test area is kermit/test on watsun, and T: on CUVMA. All CP/M-80 Kermit filenames start with the letters CP. There are more than a hundred files, so first get the file CPAAAA.HLP, which lists and describes the files, read it, and then request the files you need. An updated version of MLOAD is also included as MLOAD.*. An updated manual will be available shortly. Thanks again to Mike for all the work that went into this release.] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Oct 90 18:10:57 PDT >From: william@xlnvax.novell.com (William Hall) Subject: New Test Release of Microsoft Windows Kermit Keywords: Microsoft Windows Kermit WIN100.EXE, a version of Kermit with VT100 and VT52 terminal emulation for Microsoft Windows, is available on an experimental basis from the Kermit distribution center. Programs are available for both Windows 2.x and Windows 3.0 and replace the previously released WN100K.EXE. Except for bug fixes, the 2.x version will not receive further enhancements. The 3.0 version will undergo several improvements over the next several months as time permits including the release of all sources when legally possible. Plans include basic server support as well as extensions of the emulation to include VT220 and H19 as well as 8 bit character sets. 4010/4014 support and Telapi support are also planned for the future. Accompanying the programs is a font file suitable for use on VGA displays which allow for proper display of bold characters and DEC special graphics. [Ed. - Many, thanks, Bill! The new files are in ~kermit/test/win*.* on watsun for Internet anonymous ftp access, and T:WIN*.* on CUVMA for BITNET KERMSRV access.] Page 66 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 ------------------------------ Date: Thu Nov 15 11:47:07 1990 >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Another New Prerelease of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 >From Joe Doupnik's change log: 71. Expand the command line internal variable value substitution syntax \v(variable) to encompass internal variables: ARGC PATH COUNT TIME DATE VERSION ERRORLEVEL Allow "?" help and word completion on these items as well. Now scripts can include additional controls such as IF equal \v(date) 09-16-1990 echo it's \v(time) on Sunday Notice that \v(variable) yields a text string and cannot be combined with the strictly numerical IF test conditions of <, =, and >. For numerical tests employ the form IF > time 12:00 echo the time is past noon Some basic concepts are as follows. - Intrinsic (built-in) commands do not affect the \%0..\%9 variables, but user created commands (Macros) do create a private version of \%0..\%9. - To be a command the keyword, intrinsic or macro, must be the first word at the Kermit prompt. Commas in Macros start a fresh command line even though the Kermit prompt is usually not displayed on the screen while within a macro. Thus in the definition below of macro test DEFINE test echo \%0 \%1,mywords,echo test mywords \%1 there are three commands (they start at the effective Kermit prompt): echo TEST mywords becomes whatever macro mywords is defined as echo test mywords The argument to this last echo cmd is the simple text "test mywords" plus the first argument to test. In the text neither test nor mywords is replaced by its definition, and echo is an intrinsic command. - String substitution variables, \% and \v(variable), are always immediately replaced by their definition string no matter where they are used outside of a DEFINE command. - ASSIGN is similar to DEFINE except that whereas DEFINE uses the definition text as a literal string ASSIGN first evaluates the text, i.e. it replaces \% and \v(variable) items with their string, at the time the ASSIGN statement is executed. 72. More work on Tektronix BYPASS mode. By popular demand, ensure that BYPASS mode stays on (discards incoming characters) until a control character INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 67 arrives from the host, or the screen is cleared, or the emulator is reset. Previous test editions of version 3.02 waited for a local control code to be generated. Files affected are msgibm.asm and msyibm.asm. 73. Correct tiny bug introduced by item 70. File mssker.asm And plug a security hole of two Control-C's in a row from a remote client causing server mode to exit if FIN/BYE is disabled. Files msscom.asm and mssser.asm. 74. Modify the action of the BYE/FINISH/LOGOUT command from an MS-DOS Kermit client. Previously these would complete successfully whether or not the server host sent an Error packet. It has been discovered that C Kermit version 5A sends an Error packet response if BYE has been Disabled. To keep things rational MS-DOS Kermit now stays active if an Error packet is received for these commands. Script writers may want to issue an extra command to EXIT Kermit regardless. An MS-DOS Kermit server returns an ACK with a message that the command is disabled, it logs out the user, it hangs up the connection, and it returns to being a server waiting for another customer, all if BYE is disabled. 75. Adjust the FILE TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET tables for LATIN5/Cyrillic to use ISO 8859-5 (Latin/Cyrillic) on the wire and presume Code Page 866 (Alternate Cyrillic) in the machine. Modify the character set name from LATIN5 to CYRILLIC. Cyrillic uses an ISO 2022 announcer of ESC L. File mssfil.asm is changed. 76. Add to list of \v(variable) items the variables PLATFORM and SYSTEM. Platform returns the machine name, such as IBM-PC, and System returns the operating system name, MS-DOS, for MS-DOS Kermit. This is to match C Kermit 5A. In addition, add the objects PLATFORM and SYSTEM to the WRITE command; they may be followed by optional text: WRITE SESSION Platform and this is a good machine. FIles changed are msscmd.asm and msster.asm 77. Correct a sneaky bug regarding testing for DESQview which led to over writing of a few Help messages in the main body of MS-DOS Kermit/IBM-PC. File msyibm.asm. 78. Add numerical variable KEYBOARD to IF statements, \v(variable), and WRITE statements so that Take files can be tailored to fit either 88 (so-called Old AT) or 101 (so-called Enhanced) keyboards. The value is either 88 (default) or 101 or 250. The determination of 88 or 101 is made at Kermit startup. The IBM PC version also permits the value 250 if the LK250 keyboard is selected (SET KEY LK250) and external driver is present for the Digital keyboard. Files affected are msuibm, msscmd, mssscp, and msster. 79. Enhancements to SET PORT EBIOS for IBM LANACS. - Let the baud rate be set for BIOSn and EBIOS ports for IBM-PC version. Initially they will show as "unknown" until set by the user. In addition to the speed 8 data bits and no parity are set. For EBIOS, the port being adjusted is really that on the asynchronous server; the local PC uses NetBios and EBIOS to simulate that remote port across the network. - Add new optional final command argument of the EBIOS server port name Page 68 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 SET PORT EBIOS such as SET PORT EBIOS 1 modem-2400 If the server port name is omitted then the port name is taken from the EBIOS table on the client machine, such as resuming an old connection. This option removes the necessity of using the REDIRECT.EXE program, part of the LANACS package, because Kermit does a simple redirection of the selected local port to the named host port (and the name is persumed to be a unique one rather than a group name). If another type of connection is desired then (a) omit the sever port name in the SET PORT EBIOS cmd and (b) perform the redirection with REDIRECT.EXE. Each instance of SET PORT EBIOS uses its own port information of speed, parity, flow control, handshake, and local-echo. msxibm.asm, msster.asm 80. On the formatted file transfer screen add " of n" to the Window slots line, where n is the maximum number negotiated between Kermits. msssho.asm 81. Correct bug in processing CSI ? 256 n leading to crashes. Thanks to Risto Laitinen. File msgibm.asm 82. Modify the strategy for DEC Autoprint, CSI ? 5 (and 4) i from printing each character as it arrives to printing display lines only as the cursor is moved off it by an autowrap or LF, FF, or VT (otherwise do not print the line). Thanks to Michael Wolter for pointing out the problem. mszibm 83. Also, preserve the state of VTxxx terminal emulator printing around processing of DEC Set Conformance Level commands, e.g. CSI 63; 1 " p. Plus, correct a small bug resetting the cursor column to zero when writing to a host owned status line. Tnx to Michael Wolter and John E. Davis. 84. 12 Oct, two small fixes - ensure REM FILE TYPE remembers the command while being an MS-DOS Kermit server (mssser.asm), and cure a small \v(variable) bug in file msscmd.asm. 85. Correct a problem of not sending an XON following a failed RUN or PUSH command. An XOFF sent automatically as Kermit shells to DOS. The XOFF/XON pair is used to suspend host output while DOS is in charge. mssker.asm 86. 25 Oct. Fix some parser problems (Control-C handling, ASK command line editing) introduced with internal changes made over the past three weeks. Files changed are msscmd.asm and mssset.asm. 87. Modify the action of pressing the Enter key while a script INPUT command is in progress. Previously it meant "assume a match has occurred" so the script could progress. Now it means "assume a timeout has occurred" and report a failure status. People seem to prefer the latter approach. mssscp 88. 2 Nov. Add internal support of Microsoft compatible mouse for Tektronix GIN crosshairs. Both the regular cursor keys and the mouse can function together. Pressing either mouse button is the same as pressing the Enter key. The mouse driver must be active for Kermit to use it (include line DEVICE=path\MOUSE.SYS in file CONFIG.SYS for permanent residency, or give the DOS command MOUSE ON for temporary residency of the MS mouse driver). This addition bypasses any active mouse menu programs such as DEFAULT.COM during Tektronix emulation but they continue to run otherwise. MS-DOS Kermit uses standard Microsoft Interrupt 33h mouse calls. msgibm.asm INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 69 89. Extend automatic detection of unexpected parity in packets to include the first four protocol characters rather than the first two. In addition, perform the test only on the first good received packet of a file transfer group. The test is effective only if the local parity setting is NONE, and if another setting is detected from the host then the local setting is changed permanently. Files msscom, mssrcv, msssen, msssser.asm. 90. Correct some subtlities in command line parsing when a local prompt is offered, such as in GETting files with an overriding local name. Files msscmd.asm and mssker.asm. 91. Add a text cursor symbol, an 8x8 dot hollow box, in Tektronix graphics terminal emulation mode so we can see where we are. The box is removed before generating a TIFF format screen dump (default keys Control-End) and it is restored afterward. The box is XOR'd with the picture so that no information is lost. File msgibm.asm. 92. Add command SET TERMINAL GRAPHICS CURSOR {ON, OFF}, default is ON. This permits one to turn off the text cursor while in graphics (Tek) mode. The cursor is suppressed around almost all drawing and Sixel commands. Add command SET TERMINAL GRAPHICS COLOR which is analogous to the text mode command SET TERM COLOR and uses the same color values. Two technical notes: the background color cannot be given bold attributes, and the colors are stored in DEC VT340 color palette slots 0 (background) and 7 (foreground). Be wary of two side effects of colored graphics screens: most Print Screen programs will put a black dot on the printer paper if a dot is illuminated at all, and Sixel graphics normally add (OR) to the exiting dot coloring and hence the coloring may not be what was intended. Resetting the emulator restores the colors specified by these SET TERMINAL commands. Files msyibm.asm and msgibm.asm 93. To the mouse support add setting of the span of cursor motions to be the current screen dimensions, for mouse drivers which may not do this automatically. An internal item, no user commands. Thanks to Leland Bruns of Intel. More changes are expected. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Nov 90 22:55:21 EST >From: Robert Weiner Subject: Rainbow Kermit Updated Too (for testing) Keywords: Rainbow Kermit, DEC Rainbow, MS-DOS The current version of DEC Rainbow 100 MS-DOS Kermit is ready for testing and is available on watsun.cc.columbia.edu in the following files: ~kermit/test/mstrb1.boo BOO Encoded MS-DOS Executable ~kermit/bin/mstrb1.exe MS-DOS Executable This version was built using the current generic MS-DOS Kermit modules which Page 70 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 exist on watsun.cc.columbia.edu in the ~kermit/test directory, and therefore contains many of the bugfixes and enhancements which have been mentioned for the IBM-PC version. [Ed. - A version of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 for the Heath/Zenith 100 is expected soon too. Watch Info-Kermit for an announcement.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed Nov 7 17:01:54 1990 >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: New Kermit for Gould/SEL 32/77 MPX Keywords: Gould/SEL Kermit, MPX Kermit This is to announce a Kermit server program for the Gould/SEL 32/77 computer with the MPX 1.5E operating system, from Barry M. Wilson, Queensland Electricity Commision, Belmont State Control Centre, 311 Wecker Road, Mansfield, Queensland 4122, Australia, phone (07) 343 0211. There is no user interface, it is a server only. It supports long packets, up to 768 bytes in and 1000 bytes out. It handles run-length compression encoding in incoming packets, but does not compress when sending. There is no further documentation. The source files and build procedure are collected together into a single file, kermit/d/gm3ker.jar (a "join archive") on watsun for anonymous FTP (Internet) and GM3KER.JAR from KERMSRV at CUVMA (BITNET). Thanks to Barry for doing the work and sending it in! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Oct 90 17:20:36 -0700 >From: mcc@WLV.IMSD.CONTEL.COM (Merton Campbell Crockett) Subject: MS-Kermit 3.02 Argument Handling, Keyboard Mapping Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 When using version 3.02 of MS-Kermit, I get an error, "?word xxxxx not usable here.", when entering the command dial xxxxx however, although an error is reported, the HAYES.TAK command file is invoked and attempts to dial "ATDTxxxxx"--not exactly the intended operation. The DIAL macro is the one defined in Christine Gianone's MSKERMIT.INI file. The LOOKUP macro was modified as shown below. The macros worked under version 3.00 and 3.01. [Ed. - Right you are. There were many complaints about the way Kermit's macro arguments were handled -- they were not saved and restored across calls like real function arguments. Now they are. Unfortunately this breaks the nice LOOKUP and DIAL macros. They must be slightly recoded to use a global variable. Hopefully the benefits are worth it. Something like this, maybe: INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 71 def lookup - if eq \%1 compuserve def \%9 7654321,- if eq \%1 telenet def \%9 8765432,- if eq \%1 fishnet def \%9 9876543,- if eq \%1 hairnet def \%9 5551234,- if def \%9 assign \%n \%9 ; DIAL macro to dial a number. The argument can be either a telephone ; number or a string defined in a lookup(x) macro. The macro requires ; HAYES.TAK to be in the current directory or in a defined DOS PATH. def dial if = argc 2 assign \%n \%1,- if < argc 2 if not def \%n fatal {Dial what?},- if > argc 2 fatal {No spaces please.},- lookup \%n,- assign \%1 \%n,- take hayes.tak I connect to several different office automation systems based on Unix platforms which presume that the "terminal" is a DEC VT100 class terminal and make heavy use of the VT100 keypad for functions and subfunctions. I also use EDT on IAS and VMS platforms. The following excerpt from my MSKERMIT.INI command file may be of interest to others with 101 key keyboards who find MS-DOS Kermit standard mappings hard to remember or would just prefer to have the keypad in a manner more similar to a VT100, VT200, or VT300 class terminal. [Ed. - Many thanks, your contribution has been added to MSIVT3.INI, our collection VT300 keyboard mappings...] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1990 Oct 10 22:35 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Re: Kermit REMOTE SET Command Keywords: REMOTE SET, Kermit Commands, Remote Commands > This is actually a tricky situation. The idea was that TRANSPARENT should > be the default, for compatibility with the hundreds of Kermit programs that > do not support the character-set extension. > Let's not forget that it would be the default only for systems whose native character set is ASCII. Its meaning, in fact, is rather nebulous, since it is very similar to FILE TYPE BINARY for ASCII systems. What it means, in short, is "use the FILE CHARACTER-SET for the TRANSFER (or vice versa)." However, a TRANSPARENT sender cannot presume to tell the receiver what character set to use, so the situation is, indeed, tricky. The natural Encoding attribute for TRANSPARENT transfers is "*!A" on all ASCII systems (or perhaps no attribute at all), but there is *no* natural value on non-ASCII (e.g., EBCDIC) systems. > Adding a new designator to denote TRANSPARENT might confuse Kermits that > don't understand it, including Kermits that support the character-set > extension, if that designator were to arrive in an Attribute packet. > You bet. Page 72 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 > So far, it has been an implementation decision about whether character-set > changes based on incoming attribute packets are "sticky". If they are, this > presents the problem that there is no way for a client to tell a server to > switch from translation to transparent. > .. except, of course, REMOTE KERMIT SET TRANSF CHAR TRANSP. > So it would appear that a decent compromise would be to invent a new > designator, say K0, for TRANSPARENT, and to support it in REMOTE SET > TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET commands, but, at least for a time, not use it in > Attribute packets. Opinions?] > Yes. I would say, though, that K0 should never be allowed in A-packets. John ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 90 20:17:40 GMT >From: dje@uswat.uswest.com Subject: Kermit for STRATUS/VOS? Keywords: Stratus, VOS Looking for a version of KERMIT that runs on STRATUS and supports full set of KERMIT commands. Currently have a version of KERMIT that only knows how to receive ASCII files. Would like to have a version that supports both sending and the receiving and can act as both the initiating and terminating end of a KERMIT session. Also, would like a version that supports the transportation of binary files. A portable version would be acceptable. [Ed. - Good luck! In fact, you seem to have more than we do -- our listings don't show any entries for Stratus at all. Anybody out there know anything or working on anything for the Stratus? We have a similar request from Bill Oliver, MD, Department of Hospital Labs, UNC Hospitals, oliver@durham.med.unc.edu.] ------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 90 18:15:13 GMT >From: gf07+@andrew.cmu.edu (Gordon Maskew Fair, III) Subject: Kermit vs Hypercard? Keywords: Hypercard Kermit Has there been a stack created that will allow one to use all the kermit, and/or xmodem, and/or ymodem commands? If there is anything somewhat like this I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance, Gordon ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Page 73 Page 74 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V12 #7 Index Page 75 132 Columns, 49 ABC-80/800, 4 ALLin1, 36 Arrow Keys, 49 Atari Portfolio Kermit, 8 Blanks, 16 Burroughs A-Series, 4 Character Sets, 60 CLEAR Command, 37 CMS Kermit, 53 CP/M-80 Kermit, 64 DEC Rainbow, 13, 69 DECmate, 43 DESQview, 55 DPS-6 Kermit, 51 Error Checking, 57 Fonts, 58 German, 28 GIN mode, 56 Gould/SEL Kermit, 70 Graphics, 56 Honeywell Kermit, 51 HP-3000 Kermit, 2 Hypercard Kermit, 72 IBM 3174 AEA, 5 IBM 370 Kermit, 5, 16, 41, 43, 62 IBM Mainframe, 53 Kermit Commands, 71 Kermit Protocol, 18, 45, 57, 60 Kermit-370, 53 Labeled File Type, 18 LSE, 48 Luxor, 4 MacKermit 0.98, 58 MacKermit 0.98(63), 58 Macros, 48, 54 Microsoft Windows Kermit, 7, 65 MNP Modems, 56-57 Modems, 50, 53 Mouse, 56 MPX Kermit, 70 MS-DOS, 69 MS-DOS Kermit, 5, 13, 33, 39, 49, 54-57 MS-DOS Kermit 3.0, 8, 28, 48 MS-DOS Kermit 3.0 Troubleshooting, 14 MS-DOS Kermit 3.01, 36-37 MS-DOS Kermit 3.02, 1, 10, 22, 30, 34, 48, 66, 70 MS-DOS Kermit Server Mode, 15 MVS/TSO Kermit, 62 NCR 9800 Kermit, 3 Novell Network, 33 OS/2 Kermit, 47, 53 OS/2 Presentation Manager Kermit, 26 OS/8, 43 PDP-12, 43 PDP-8, 43 Page 76 Index Pecan, 27 Performance, 57 PRIME Kermit, 13, 47 Rainbow Kermit, 13, 69 Remote Commands, 71 REMOTE PRINT Command, 5 Remote Set, 60, 71 Screen Settings, 49 Scripts, 48, 56 Stratus, 72 Tandy 100, 53 TCP/IP, 39 Terminal Emulation, 48, 54, 56 tn3270, 16 UNISYS A-Series, 4 Unix, 39 USCD Pascal Pecan Kermit, 27 Variables, 48 VAX/VMS, 36, 48 VAX/VMS Kermit, 6, 13 VM/CMS Kermit, 16, 41 VOS, 72 VT-78, 43 X.25 Network, 6