Columbia University Center for Computing Activities INFO-KERMIT DIGEST VOLUME 16 Christine M. Gianone, Editor July - December 1992 Table of Contents Volume 16, Number 1 1 Announcing IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 Versions 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 2 Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 4 Announcing IBM Mainframe MUSIC Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 5 Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 5 Announcing IBM Mainframe CICS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 6 The new FULLSCREEN transfer mode 7 A Few More Release Files for Kermit-12 9 Volume 16, Number 2 10 MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Available for Beta Testing 10 Volume 16, Number 3 14 MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Released 14 IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 4.2.3 / 4.2.4 Released 16 New Kermit Program for IBM CS9000 16 Announcing Commodore 64/128 Kermit Version 2.2 for the SwiftLink-232 16 Volume 16, Number 4 19 New CMS Kermit Installation Procedure and Other Matters 19 Announcing Kermit for TurboDos 20 Volume 16, Number 5 26 Announcing C-Kermit 5A(186), The Final Beta Test 26 Volume 16, Number 6 30 Announcing C-Kermit 5A 30 Volume 16, Number 7 35 Announcing Release 4.2.5 of Kermit-370 for VM/CMS 35 New Patches for MS-DOS Kermit 3.11 and 3.12 36 New MS-DOS Kermit Dialing Scripts 37 New BOO-File Encoder and Decoder Programs 38 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 Page 1 Info-Kermit Digest Thu, 6 Aug 1992 Volume 16 : Number 1 Today's Topics: News Announcing IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 Versions 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 Announcing IBM Mainframe MUSIC Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 Announcing IBM Mainframe CICS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 The new FULLSCREEN transfer mode A Few More Release Files for Kermit-12 Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280 running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. You can also get Kermit files over the BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, May 26, 1992 11:14 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: News Keywords: LISTSERV, I-KERMIT Our IBM mainframe host computer, CUVMB, was recently upgraded from VM/HPO to VM/ESA. It seems that VM/ESA has a new feature: it does not allow dashes (hyphens) in user names. So the I-KERMIT and IBM-KERMIT names have been changed to I$KERMIT and IBM$KERMIT, respectively. Please use the new names when sending mail to CUVMA. This change does not affect KERMSRV, only LISTSERV. Let's hope that the next big VM release continues to allow dollar signs... To those who have been asking when the next issue of Kermit News, our printed journal, will appear: Sorry, publication has been delayed due to Page 2 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 circumstances beyond our control. We expect it to be ready in the Fall. But this also gives us more time to collect articles. If you would like to submit an article for publication, let me know. Sorry for the long delay since the last Info-Kermit issue. The following announcements of the new release of IBM mainframe Kermit were delayed pending release of accompanying test versions of MS-DOS Kermit and C-Kermit, but rather than hold them up any longer, here they are. The new version is in the test area (kermit/test/ik*.* on watsun, and the T: area of KERMSRV at CUVMA on BITNET). They will be moved the regular B area if no serious problems are reported. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1992 May 13 11:14 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 Versions 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit Kermit-370 version 4.2.3 has now finished the testing stage and is available in the usual places (KERMSRV, watsun, LISTSERV@HEARN, etc.). The new release appears in the form of expanded update files for all the variants of Kermit-370 (CICS, CMS, MUSIC, TSO, and even ROSCOE) and, in addition, a new source component. Because of the latter (and only because of the latter), all the installation guides have been updated, but the new source component is, in fact, optional (see below). Numerous fixes, extensions, and improvements have been included in the new release, mostly generic, but some system-specific as well. See the accompanying system-specific announcements for further details: IKCKER.ANN (CMS), IKMKER.ANN (MUSIC), IKTKER.ANN (TSO), and IKXKER.ANN (CICS). Anyone interested in helping to port Kermit-370 to still other operating systems should contact John Chandler or . Many thanks to the beta testers who have helped work out the bugs in the new release; also to Joe Doupnik and Frank da Cruz, who have created the corresponding facilities in MS-DOS Kermit and C-kermit; finally, to Hirofumi Fujii, who supplied most of the information for translation of Kanji characters. Below is a list of the generic changes in version 4.2.3. Kermit-370 ... - Has a new FULLSCREEN controller type. The new mode allows Kermit file transfers in a generic way on nearly all protocol converters, but it carries some special limitations -- packets cannot be longer than 77 bytes, and the other end must be MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 or higher or C-Kermit 5A(180) or higher. Part of the implementation is a special checksum type called BLANK-FREE-2 intended to avoid the possibility of repeated blanks in Kermit packets. - Supports the new locking shift protocol (helps to compress certain files with many 8-bit bytes). This protocol is used only in talking to another Kermit that supports it, e.g., MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 or C-Kermit INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 Page 3 5A(180). - Now supports file transfers using Japanese Kanji with translation between IBM, Hitachi, or Fujitsu codes and the newly added transfer character set JAPAN-EUC. This support requires the new source component ik0kan.asm, which contains the necessary translation tables. Translation works automatically when Kermit-370 is talking to another Kermit that requests or supports the JAPAN-EUC character set. - Now recognizes CP1047 as a synonym for EBCDIC. (1047 is IBM's new code page that follows the de facto standard.) - Has a new-and-improved means of detecting the termanal controller type with less need for the old optional update SC89058 (now replaced by the more flexible SC9131X). - Now suggests parameter changes only upon the new HINTS subcommand, not at startup time. More parameter settings are now scrutinized. - Now avoids looping when a solid terminal I/O error sets in or upon any error at the very end of a transfer (no reply expected). - Has changed the calling sequence of the KERMAIL, KERMPRT, and KERMSUB commands used in support of local mail, print, and job submission. Instead of passing no filespec at all on the first invocation, Kermit passes a dummy filespec consisting of a single period. Implementers of such commands, take note! For best results, the revised commands should be able to handle both the old and the new syntax. - No longer requires hitting ENTER an extra time to get out of server mode after typing STOP. - Now uses the built-in default A-to-E translation table for reading Kermit commands in server mode when the transfer character set is TRANSPARENT. - No longer halts a transfer upon seeing a data packet with no data. - No longer gives a spurious reason for a cancellation issued by user intervention on the micro or the STOP command. - Now avoids certain lock-ups on the Hydra II at the start of protocol mode and others on the the IBM 3174 AEA at the end of a download. - Now allows the STOP command on PCI and certain other protocol converters that did not previously support it. - Now tolerates (at the source code level) alternate EBCDIC versions which do not have all the Roman letters at the standard code points. Also, the use of one-letter abbreviations of SET options for program logic flow has been generalized. This simplifies the task of translating the user interface into languages other than English. - Now has a SIMULATE subcommand, which plays back a file giving one or both sides of a file transfer to supply the packets (instead of the communication line). This is mainly for debugging. Page 4 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1992 May 13 11:14 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 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 4.2.3 for CMS. As usual, the new version comes in VM/SP, VM/XA, and VM/ESA flavors. The CMS-related Kermit files that have been changed or added are as follows. IKCAUX CMD sample EXEC's (new) IKCKER ANN this message IKCKER BWR bugs, warnings, and restrictions IKCKER INS installation instructions IKCKER UPD post-4.2.0 updates IKCXA UPD updates for VM/XA and VM/ESA IK0AAA HLP Kermit-370 release notes IK0KAN ASM optional Kanji tables IK0KER ANN the accompanying message on Kermit-370 IK0KER UPD the cumulative list of updates in all variants IK0423 HLP notes on the new features in 4.2.3 Many thanks to the beta testers who have helped work out the bugs in the new release. There are several changes specific to CMS: - Now comes with a file of sample auxilliary EXEC's for use with Kermit (IKCAUX CMD). These include KERMAIL, KERMPRT, and PC. The latter is designed for "one-touch" mainframe-initiated file transfers to or from an appropriately configured micro Kermit. The syntax is PC PRINT name or PC + any valid Kermit command, such as GET, SEND, or REMOTE. Any reply is written to KER REPLY. The sample KERMAIL and KERMPRT are compatible both with version 4.2.3 and with earlier versions. - No longer considers it a file name collision if the new file being received is to have the same name as a file on a read-only extension of the destination disk. - Once more transparently supports the old form of non-library help file in addition to the new PDS form (version 4.2.3 did not). - Can now reject a file that is too large to fit in the destination SFS directory. Enabling SFS support in general is now done by selecting the appropriate CNTRL file when applying the updates. Available: KERMIT (CMS 1-5), KERMCMS6 (CMS 6), KERMXA (CMS 5.5), KERMXA21 (CMS 5.6), and KERMESA (CMS 7-8). - Now explicitly releases its SCBLOCK when it exits. (Before CMS 5, that is necessary.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 Page 5 Date: Wed, 1992 May 13 11:14 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe MUSIC Kermit-370 Version 4.2.3 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, MUSIC Kermit This is to announce the release of Kermit-370 version 4.2.3 for MUSIC. The MUSIC-related Kermit files that have been changed or added are as follows. IKMKER.ANN this message IKMKER.BWR bugs, warnings, and restrictions IKMKER.INS installation instructions IKMKER.UPD post-4.2.0 updates IK0AAA.HLP Kermit-370 release notes IK0KAN.ASM optional Kanji tables IK0KER.ANN the accompanying message on Kermit-370 IK0KER.UPD the cumulative list of updates in all variants IK0423.HLP notes on the new features in 4.2.3 Many thanks to the beta testers who have helped work out the bugs in the new release. Note: versions 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 were never released, except for testing. Version 4.2.3 represents an accumulation of two years of improvements. Most of the advances in the new release are simply duplications of the simultaneous generic changes in the other variants of Kermit-370, but some of the changes included system-specific code that required porting to MUSIC. Two notable changes, however, involved porting of features that had already been available in other variants. - Kermit-MUSIC now tries to automatically detect the terminal controller type. Previously, it could not because MUSIC did not allow the needed I/O operations. - Kermit-MUSIC now gives the date and time of each file in response to the Kermit DIR subcommand, and the attribute packet for a download now carries the correct time stamp. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1992 June 10 15:09 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, MVS/TSO Kermit Xref: TSO Kermit. See MVS/TSO Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit This is to announce the release of Kermit-370 version 4.2.4 for TSO. The TSO-related Kermit files that have been changed or added are as follows. IKTAUX.CMD sample CLIST's (new) IKTGUP.ASM TSO-specific portion of GUPI IKTKER.ANN this message IKTKER.BWR bugs, warnings, and restrictions IKTKER.INS installation instructions IKTKER.UPD post-4.2.0 updates IK0AAA.HLP Kermit-370 release notes Page 6 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 IK0KAN.ASM optional Kanji tables IK0KER.ANN the accompanying message on Kermit-370 IK0KER.UPD the cumulative list of updates in all variants IK0423.HLP notes on the new features in 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 Many thanks to the beta testers who have helped work out the bugs in the new release. Note that version 4.2.3 has been available in the Kermit test area for several weeks. 4.2.4 differs in only two respects: the inclusion of a new update supporting relative GDG numbers, and an extra message has been added to the usual protocol-mode greetings. The added message is "KERMIT READY TO SEND..." (or RECEIVE or SERVE). These are the changes specific to TSO: - Now comes with a file of sample auxilliary CLIST's for use with Kermit (IKTAUX.CMD). These include KERMAIL, KERMPRT, and PC. The latter is designed for "one-touch" mainframe-initiated file transfers to or from an appropriately configured micro Kermit. The syntax is PC CMD('PRINT name') or PC CMD('any Kermit subcommand') where the Kermit subcommand would typically be GET, SEND, or REMOTE. Any reply is written to KER REPLY. The sample KERMAIL and KERMPRT have not been completely filled out, but are included for pedagogy. - No longer generates a KER.LOG entry marked "e" for normal full-screen I/O operations. - Now recovers cleanly if the user specifies an erroneous CWD string. - The TSO GUPI source has been changed, but only in two trivial ways: (a) missing sequence numbers have been supplied on 4 lines, and (b) comments have been added to show the list of TSO macros invoked. - Now supports relative generation numbers for GDG's for both sending and receiving files. The number for a received file can be supplied either in the RECEIVE subcommand or in the file header packet. When this notation is used for sending, neither the relative nor the absolute number is included in the outgoing file header. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1992 June 10 15:09 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing IBM Mainframe CICS Kermit-370 Version 4.2.4 Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, CICS Kermit This is to announce the release of Kermit-370 version 4.2.4 for CICS. The CICS-related Kermit files that have been changed or added are as follows. IKXKER.ANN this message IKXKER.BWR bugs, warnings, and restrictions IKXKER.HLP Help files IKXKER.INS installation instructions IKXKER.UPD post-4.2.0 updates INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 Page 7 IKXTRN.ASM VSE installation utility IK0AAA.HLP Kermit-370 release notes IK0KAN.ASM optional Kanji tables IK0KER.ANN the accompanying message on Kermit-370 IK0KER.UPD the cumulative list of updates in all variants IK0423.HLP notes on the new features in 4.2.3 and 4.2.4 Many thanks to the beta testers who have helped work out the bugs in the new release. Note that version 4.2.3 has been available in the Kermit test area for several weeks. 4.2.4 differs in only two respects: (1) the KSDS used for storing the Help and TAKE files has a new, longer key size and will require re-installation for sites that have the old Help files installed. See IKXKER.INS for the details. The reason for the change is the expansion of the "userid" field in Kermit from four to eight bytes. (2) an extra message has been added to the usual protocol-mode greetings. The added message is "KERMIT READY TO SEND..." (or RECEIVE or SERVE). There are several other changes specific to CICS: - Now prevents clashing simultaneous access to a TDQ by two Kermit sessions. - Now distinguishes between readable and writable data objects when determining file name collision and searching for files to download. - Now has the correct code for CICS 1.6 access to extra-partition TDQs under MVS. - Now pads the interactive mode prompt with XON (or whatever is the current HANDSHAKE character). - Now drives the 3174 AEA properly in transparent mode through VTAM. - No longer produces unpredictable results when copying to or from Kermit directory members. - No longer mistakes the date in March-December of even-numbered years. - No longer produces spurious error messages at installation time under VSE/ESA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1992 May 13 11:14 EDT >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: The new FULLSCREEN transfer mode Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit In the past, Kermit was not usable with certain communications front ends, such as SIM3278/VTAM, the IBM 3708 in full-screen mode, and the MICOM 7400, all of which lack a working transparent mode suitable for Kermit protocol. However, the new FULLSCREEN mode for Kermit-370 allows Page 8 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 file transfers without control characters and, therefore, without a transparent mode. The new mode entails one protocol change to allow printable characters to synchronize packets and another to avoid strings of repeated blanks; thus, only a suitably upgraded micro Kermit can be used (currently, only MS-DOS Kermit 3.12). C-Kermit has the necessary changes, but they are not yet complete, nor have they been ported to the C-based micro Kermits. In principle, FULLSCREEN mode could be used with almost any protocol converter, but the printable packet characters and other restrictions on this mode make it less robust and slower than a transparent mode would be, so FULLSCREEN mode is recommended primarily as a last resort. The basic setup consists of the following Kermit subcommands: -----Mainframe----- ----------PC-------- SET CONTROLLER FULL SET SEND START 62 SET RECEIVE START 62 SET RECEIVE START 62 SET SEND START 62 SET BLOCK B SET BLOCK B SET HANDSHAKE NONE SET HANDSHAKE 0 Possible variations: - The choice of 62 (Greater-than sign) for the start-of-packet character is arbitrary, and it can be changed, as long as you change all four of them. For best results, choose a character that seldom appears in the files you will be transferring. - Packet sizes are automatically restricted by Kermit-370 in this mode, so they need not be set explicitly unless conditions require packets shorter than the default (77). - Flow control is probably immaterial for locally connected terminals, but some protocol converters may require it to keep up with the data rate on uploads. - The parity settings in the mainframe Kermit are ignored in this mode, and those in MS-DOS Kermit should be the usual. - Setting the block check to "B" (yes, "B") is important on certain protocol converters because it avoids problems with "optimization" of outbound strings of repeated blanks. However, it is not generally necessary, and a setting of "1" will normally suffice and will avoid certain other problems that can occur when an inbound initialization packet has a blank checksum. Warnings: - If the protocol converter has a buffer significantly shorter than 80 bytes, it will be necessary to shorten inbound packets accordingly (by issuing a SET REC PACK to K-370). The symptoms of a short buffer are fairly obvious -- the log of packets on the mainframe side will show an inbound packet that has been truncated and concatenated with a second copy of the same packet; the micro log will show a truncated echo of the inbound packet and then a timeout. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #1 Page 9 - It may be possible to avoid shortening the packets if the protocol converter can do flow control. Just turn on flow control in the micro Kermit as well as the controller. - If the mainframe packet log shows inbound packets losing the leading, rather than trailing, characters, and the micro shows the same problem with echoed packets, the trouble may be a "dead" time in the protocol converter between send and receive states -- the solution may be to set a pause in the micro Kermit before sending each packet. - See the Kermit distribution file ik0aaa.hlp for details about specific protocol converters. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jul 92 15:00:00 EDT >From: Charles Lasner Subject: A Few More Release Files for Kermit-12 Now available are two new versions of K12DEC and K12ENC, which have a new feature for image transfer of an entire device optionally split into two parts. This comes at the request of a user, and was quite easy to add. As before, the sources document how to use the programs, etc. The new files have been installed in the regular places: BITNET/EARN Internet KERMSRV@CUVMA watsun.cc.columbia.edu Description K12MIT ANN kermit/d/k12mit.ann Announcement of KERMIT-12 K12MIT UPD kermit/d/k12mit.upd Release update (this) file K12ENB PAL kermit/d/k12enb.pal .BOO-format encoding program K12DEB PAL kermit/d/k12deb.pal .BOO-format decoding program K12MIT NOT kermit/d/k12mit.not Release notes file K12MIT DSK kermit/d/k12mit.dsk Description of RX02 diskettes ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 10 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #2 Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 26 Aug 1992 Volume 16 : Number 2 Today's Topics: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Available for Beta Testing ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 24 Aug 1992 14:00:00 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Available for Beta Testing Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, Kanji, ODI, SLIP, TELNET, TCP/IP, WINPKT This is to announce a maintenance release of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC, PS/2, and compatibles, for beta testing from Professor Joe R. Doupnik of Utah State University. The version number is 3.12. The major new features of version 3.12 are: . Networking and communications improvements. . Japanese Kanji text file transfer translation. . Locking shift protocol for file transfer. . IBM mainframe file transfer extension. . New script programming and other features. . Bug fixes. Here is a more detailed list: . All 3.11 patches and corrections incorporated. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #2 Page 11 . Improved TCP/IP networking: - ODI drivers now supported directly - SLIP and ETHERSLIP packet drivers now supported - TCP/IP networking in Microsoft Windows (see below) - Specific TCP service ports can be selected in the SET PORT TCP/IP command - Incoming TCP/IP connections are now accepted - Packet driver interrupt now can now be given explicitly - Improved TELNET operation: . Option negotiation bugs fixed . Screen size is sent to the host if the TELNET server requests it . A terminal-type negotiation override is now available . Improved handling of Enter key (CR) - BIOS Interrupt 14H no longer used internally for TCP/IP, freeing Int 14H for use by external drivers, e.g. for speaking devices. - Improved interactions with Domain Name Servers. - Kermit now responds to traceroute requests and supports ICMP redirects. - Workarounds for Western Digital 8003PKDR.EXE problems. . Improvements in other networking methods: - Now works with PATHWORKS LAT when LAT is loaded in expanded memory. - Now works with PATHWORKS version 3 as well as with 2 and 4. - Now works with Novell LWP 3.5 as well as 4. - Now works with Interconnections TES 2.2 R8. . User is warned upon attempt to EXIT Kermit while network connection active. . Serial communications: - HANGUP now leaves DTR signal down until port is used again. - IRQ 4 is no longer tested first if COM1 is not the desired port. - Improved serial port hardware handling on fast 486 machines. . Terminal emulation: - PRIME PT200 type added (= VT320 with minor differences). - New SET TERMINAL OUTPUT-SHIFT {NONE, AUTOMATIC, SI/SO, SS2, SS3} command for controlling output of 8-bit characters on 7-bit connections. Input shifting is handled automatically, as always. - Correctly recognize extended (bold) line drawing patterns for Tek drawing. - Use of ESC 1 and ESC 2 to enter and leave Tek mode now disabled. . File transfer: - New support for Japanese Kanji file translation during file transfer, via SET TRANSFER CHARACTER-SET JAPANESE-EUC. Works with Kermit-370 4.3 and C-Kermit 5A. - Locking shifts for transferring 8-bit files on a 7-bit connection, via SET TRANSFER LOCKING-SHIFT {OFF, ON, FORCED}. Works with Kermit-370 4.3 and C-Kermit 5A. - New SET TRANSLATION CHARACTER-SET {READABLE, INVERTIBLE} command to select different styles of text translation during file transfer. - Create zero length files if the host sends them. - Support for transferring files through non-transparent IBM mainframe front ends (like the 3708). Works with Kermit-370 4.3. Includes: . Support for printable start-of-packet . Support for BLANK-FREE-2 block check . Packet echo suppression, etc etc - Improved negotiation of 8th-bit prefixing. Page 12 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #2 . Other new commands and features: - OUTPUT \L sends a Long BREAK. - IF [NOT] INPATH - Optional added to PATCH command, e.g. PATCH C:\KERMIT - Keyword "O" is (once again) a snyonym for OUTPUT. - Variable \v(terminal) reports the current terminal type. - INCREMENT - DECREMENT . Fixes: - TRANSMIT fixed to wait for handshake from host, if requested. - SET PROMPT no longer lets long strings overwrite memory. - WAIT now sets SUCCESS or FAILURE correctly. - Close log files when asked to do so, not just when EXITing from Kermit. - Lexical comparisons IF LLT, IF LGT fixed. - STOP and END now accept an optional numerical argument, to be used as a return code or failure/success code, plus optional trailing message text to be printed. - Better handling of Ctrl-C interruption during script execution. - \v(directory) value now always ends in backslash (the directory separator) - DESQview corrections and enhancements. With MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, Joe is also releasing an improved version of the WINPKT "shim" - a program that sits between the packet driver and a Windows application (such as MS-DOS Kermit) that uses the packet driver. Since Windows can move applications around in memory, deactivate them, or possibly swap them out, the packet driver (which stores packets at specific, registered addresses in the application) will fail. WINPKT solves this problem by recognizing the Windows Enhanced mode virtual machine in which the program is running and invoking that machine before delivering a packet to the program. This eliminates the need to "lock application memory" in its .PIF file and eliminates the Crynwr (nee Clarkson) PD command argument "-w", which simply rejects a packet if the program is not immediately active. WINPKT was originally written by Roger F. James. These mechanisms will also appear in Joe's next edition of the shim, DIS_PKT, Packet Driver interface for NDIS. Joe expresses his special thanks for assistance, contributions, and suggestions to Frank da Cruz, Hirofumi Fujii, John Chandler, James Sturdevant Andre Asselin, Jim Fregin, Jim Reisert, Rick Sladkey, Richard Stanton, Bertil Stenstrom, Konstantin Vinogradov, Robert Weiner, and to Digital Equipment Corporation, Quarterdeck Online Systems, Novell, AT&T, and Interconnections Inc. NEW FILES MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Beta is being released only in binary form. Sources will be made available after the testing period is over. Internet anonymous ftp EARN/BITNET watsun.cc.columbia.edu KERMSRV@CUVMA Description kermit/test/mstibm.boo MSTIBM BOO BOO-encoded KERMIT.EXE for IBM PC kermit/bin/mstibm.exe (none) Binary executable for IBM PC kermit/text/msr312.upd MSR312.UPD List of changes since version 3.11 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #2 Page 13 The ".boo" file is the .EXE file encoded in a printable ASCII format, suitable for BITNET, e-mail, and other nontransparent modes of transmission. You can decode the boo-files back into .EXE files using any of the MSBPCT.* programs available in kermit/a/msbpct.* or MSBPCT * from KERMSRV. See msbaaa.hlp (MSBAAA HLP) for details. WINPKT is available only on watsun, in the packet-driver collection: packet-drivers/bin/winpkpt.com WINPKT executable packet-drivers/doc/winpkpt.hlp WINPKT help file packet-drivers/src/winpkpt.asm WINPKT help source code My usual thanks to Joe, on behalf all MS-DOS Kermit users everywhere, for all the work and skill he put into this new release, and to Dr. Hirofumi Fujii for extensive contributions to the Kanji support. Please send questions, bug reports, and comments to me at the Internet e-mail address above, or to KERMIT@CUVMA on BITNET/EARN. ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 14 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #3 Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 30 Sep 1992 Volume 16 : Number 3 Today's Topics: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Released IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 4.2.3 / 4.2.4 Released New Kermit Program for IBM CS9000 Announcing Commodore 64/128 Kermit Version 2.2 for the SwiftLink-232 Reorganization and Updating of Commodore Kermit Files Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 30 Sep 1992 13:00:00 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 Released Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, Kanji, ODI, SLIP, TELNET, TCP/IP, WINPKT This is to announce a maintenance release of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC, PS/2, and compatibles, from Professor Joe R. Doupnik of Utah State University. The version number is 3.12, first announced for beta testing on August 26th. The major new features of version 3.12 are: . Networking and communications improvements, including support for ODI. . Japanese Kanji text file transfer translation. . Locking shift protocol for file transfer. . IBM mainframe file transfer extension. . New script programming and other features. . Bug fixes. . WINPKT "shim" for TCP/IP connections under Microsoft Windows. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #3 Page 15 The Kanji and locking shift protocol extensions can be used with C-Kermit 5A and IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 4.2.3 and 4.2.4. The IBM mainframe file transfer extension (which allows files to be transferred through non-transparent 3270 protocol converters) works with the new IBM mainframe Kermit. See Info-Kermit V16 #2, 26 August 1992, for a more detailed announcement of MS-DOS Kermit 3.12. See V16 #1, 6 August 1992, for detailed announcements concerning the new IBM mainframe Kermit, as well as the announcement below. (Note: Info-Kermit Digest volumes are archived in kermit/e/imail.yyx on watsun and IMAIL.yyx on CUVMA, where yy is the year, and x = "a" for first half of year or "b" for second half of year, for example imail.92b (IMAIL.92B) for the current volume.) NEW FILES Internet anonymous ftp EARN/BITNET watsun.cc.columbia.edu KERMSRV@CUVMA Description kermit/bin/msvibm.exe (none) Binary executable for IBM PC kermit/a/msvibm.boo MSVIBM BOO BOO-encoded KERMIT.EXE for IBM PC kermit/a/msr312.upd MSR312 UPD List of changes since version 3.11 kermit/a/mskerm.hlp MSKERM HLP Updated help file kermit/a/mskerm.bwr MSKERM BWR Updated beware file kermit/a/mskermit.ini MSKERMIT INI Updated initialization file kermit/a/mscustom.ini MSCUSTOM INI New customization file Use MSR312.UPD, MSKERM.HLP, and MSKERM.BWR as your supplement to the MS-DOS Kermit 3.11 documentation. The source files are available on both watsun and CUVMA in the same directory as the .BOO and .UPD files. The source files are all ASCII text files. Their names begin with the letters MS (lowercase on watsun), and they have file types of .C, .H, and .ASM (lowercase on watsun). Microsoft MASM and C 6.0 are required for building version 3.12 from the source files. The MSVIBM.BOO file is the .EXE file encoded in a printable ASCII format, suitable for BITNET, e-mail, and other nontransparent modes of transmission. You can decode the BOO-file back into an .EXE file using any of the MSBPCT.* programs available in kermit/a/msbpct.* or MSBPCT * from KERMSRV. See msbaaa.hlp (MSBAAA HLP) for details. WINPKT is available only on watsun, in the packet-driver collection: File name Description packet-drivers/bin/winpkt.com WINPKT executable (binary) packet-drivers/doc/winpkt.hlp WINPKT help file (ascii) packet-drivers/src/winpkt.asm WINPKT source code (ascii) My special thanks to Joe, on behalf all MS-DOS Kermit users everywhere, for the work and skill he put into this new release, and to Dr. Hirofumi Fujii of the Japan National Laboratory of High Energy Physics, Tokyo, for extensive contributions to the Kanji support. And thanks to all of you who sent in helpful comments on the Beta version. Page 16 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #3 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 13:00:00 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 4.2.3 / 4.2.4 Released Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, VM/CMS Kermit, MUSIC Kermit, MVS/TSO Kermit Keywords: CICS Kermit, Kanji This is to announce the final release of IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 4.2.3 for VM/CMS and MUSIC and Kermit-370 4.2.4 for MVS/TSO and CICS from John Chandler at the Harvard / Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. This version was announced in the Info-Kermit Digest, V16 #1, 6 August 1992. The new files have been moved from the test area (kermit/test/ik*.* on watsun, T:IK*.* via KERMSRV) to the "production" B area (kermit/b on watsun, IK*.* via KERMSRV). Version 4.2.2 has been archived in kermit/old on watsun. The major new features since 4.2.2 are: . File transfer through non-transparent 3270 protocol converters . Locking shift protocol for more efficient transfer of 8-bit text . Kanji character-set translation during text file transfer Plus numerous fixes and minor improvements, listed in the previous announcement. Thanks to John Chandler for a great job, and his continuing efforts to enhance this important Kermit program. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 12:00:00 EDT >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: New Kermit Program for IBM CS9000 Keywords: IBM CS9000 >From Glenn Howes, University of Wisconsin , a send-only Kermit program for the IBM CS9000 workstation (circa 1980?), written in IBM 9000 Pascal (a derivative of UCSD Pascal), ideal for those of you who are retiring your CS9000's and need to move their files to another computer. There is no code for receiving files. There is also no code for sending multiple files; you must run the program once for each file to be sent. The files (source and documentation) are in kermit/c/cs9000.* (Internet ftp in text mode), and also available on BITNET from KERMSRV@CUVMA as CS9000 *. Thanks to Glenn for writing and submitting this program! ------------------------------ >From: Kent Sullivan Date: Tue, 29 Sep 729 15:09:44 PDT Subject: Announcing Commodore 64/128 Kermit Version 2.2 for the SwiftLink-232 Keywords: Commodore 64/128 Kermit, SwiftLink-232 Commodore 64/128 Kermit version 2.2 for the SwiftLink-232 serial interface is now available. This special adaptation of Commodore Kermit supports modems interfaced via the SwiftLink-232 serial port interface only. As such, this version is not considered to be a INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #3 Page 17 general upgrade from the existing Kermit v2.2. The SwiftLink-232 is a third-party, high-speed serial interface for the Commodore 64/128. With this interface, higher serial communication speeds are possible. Kermit for the SwiftLink-232 supports communication speeds of 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, and 9600 bps. Information on ordering a SwiftLink-232 from its manufacturer (Creative Micro Designs) is provided in the file C64SLK.TXT in the Kermit archives (kermit/c directory). Commodore Kermit, both for the standard C-64/128 and the SwiftLink-232, may be downloaded from the Kermit archives or obtained on a CBM floppy disk. For instructions on downloading Kermit from the archives, see either C64KER.AAA (standard) or C64SLK.AAA (SwiftLink-232) in the kermit/c directory. For instructions on obtaining Kermit on a floppy disk, see the same files or send electronic mail to Kent Sullivan (kentsu@microsoft.com). Many thanks to Matthew Sorrels and Ray Moody for making this program a reality. [Ed. - And thanks to Kent for putting everything together and sending it in! See next message for details about the files.] ------------------------------ >From: Kent Sullivan Date: Tue, 29 Sep 729 19:17:48 PDT Subject: Reorganization and Updating of Commodore Kermit Files Keywords: Commodore 64/128 Kermit Following the release of C-64/128 Kermit for the SwiftLink-232 interface (see previous announcement), all of the C-64/128 Kermit v2.2 files have been re-organized and updated. Some files have changed, some have been deleted, and some new files have been created. However, the actual Kermit v2.2 program has not changed. Below is a summary of the major changes: 1) New Kermit v2.2 for the SwiftLink-232-interface-only released. 2) Documentation (C64KER.DOC) updated to reflect new native-media distribution arrangements and terms. 3) New "read me first" help file (C64KER.AAA for standard Kermit, C64SLK.AAA for SwiftLink-232 Kermit) created. 4) New instructions file (C64KER.PAL) created for modifying standard Kermit to run on European (PAL) C-64s and C-128s. 5) New utility to create an autoboot sector (C-128s only) for standard Kermit (C64KER.SEC) and SwiftLink-232 Kermit (C64SLK.SEC) added. 6) Bootstrapping utility (C64BOOT.BAS and C64BOOT.C) completely re-written to be more user-friendly and robust. Many thanks to Matt Sorrels and Ray Moody for overhauling this utility. 7) Binary versions of the Kermit files placed in the kermit/bin directory of Page 18 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #3 the Kermit archives, as a convenience for those who can make use of them. 8) Outdated information in other files removed and/or updated. Below is a summary of the Commodore Kermit file groups in kermit/c (Tape C): C64BOOT.* Bootstrapping utility for standard or SwiftLink-232 Kermit C64KER.* Standard Commodore 64/128 Kermit v2.2 C64SLK.* Commodore 64/128 Kermit v2.2 for the SwiftLink-232 interface Note that the C64DXL.* files have been deleted; they are no longer needed. Below is a summary of the Commodore Kermit file groups in kermit/bin: C64HELP.TXT Short read-me file describing the binary files below C64KER.* Binary collection of standard Commodore 64/128 Kermit v2.2 files C64SLK.SDA Binary collection of Commodore 64/128 Kermit v2.2 files for the SwiftLink-232 interface [Ed. - Note: these files have lowercase names on watsun.cc.columbia.edu and uppercase names on BITNET KERMSRV@CUVMA. The binary files are available on watsun only; use FTP in binary mode to retrieve them (except note that c64help.txt is actually a text file.] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 Page 19 Info-Kermit Digest Thu, 29 Oct 1992 Volume 16 : Number 4 Today's Topics: New CMS Kermit Installation Procedure and Other Matters Announcing Kermit for TurboDos Macintosh Kermit Status and Q & A Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 1992 Oct 28 22:51 EST >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: New CMS Kermit Installation Procedure and Other Matters Keywords: VM/CMS Kermit After receiving suggestions over the years of devising an install EXEC for CMS Kermit, I have finally done so. I resisted as long as I did because CMS offers seven different ways of doing anything, and I didn't want to impose a single way of installing Kermit in conflict with the ingrained habits of others. However, I have come to realize that most people will be glad to do things a particular way if it's made easy, and I have tried to do that. The EXEC is now part of the new version of IKCKER INS. There are still instructions for do-it-yourselfers, but they are briefer than before and always refer to the EXEC as the way to do things. The snippets of CMS command sequences have been moved into the EXEC, which, in turn, has comments referring to the various steps described in IKCKER INS and IKCKER BWR. Basically, the new EXEC does everything other than (a) fetching the Kermit Page 20 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 distribution files, (b) collecting optional updates to supplement the standard set, and (c) setting aside disk space to hold all the files. Because there are quite a few options even now, it asks a series of questions, but each one has a default answer, so that most installers can simply bang on the RETURN key to get the job done. Incidentally, there is a new item in IKCKER BWR referring to an IBM APAR for fixing a bug in CMS 7 and 8, one which impacts the issuing of the CMS ERASE command from within Kermit. There are also new copies of IKMKER.BWR and IKXKER.UPD with minor cosmetic fixes. John [Ed. - Thanks, John! The new files have been installed with the other IBM mainframe Kermit files, and they will definitely make CMS Kermit installation much easier for most people.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 12:46:38 -0400 >From: eichin@ATHENA.MIT.EDU ("Mark W. Eichin") Subject: Announcing Kermit for TurboDos Keywords: TurboDos Kermit I've uploaded the TurboDos Kermit executable in binary form (TurboDos doesn't have an equivalent of CP/M's SAVE, and I don't have a reverse MLOAD among my VAX CP/M tools.) I'm sure I've got the source code somewhere, though I suspect I haven't looked at it in a long time. I recall it was a port of a CP/M version in assembler (remember the TACTRAP code? it's in here... I've even used it over a MILNET TAC. You should probably remind people to turn it off when trying to talk to a "modern" kermit, but it fails pretty completely if you forget.) Storing it in straight HEX is probably fine, since you can tell people to use a little MBASIC program to convert it (ahh the memories :-) Even without MBASIC, it shouldn't be hard to do something with the MONITOR program to put it back together. _Mark_ MIT Student Information Processing Board Cygnus Support [Ed. - Thanks, Mark. We'll leave the bootstrapping to whoever needs to do it. Your uuencoded executable has been installed in kermit/c/tdkerm.uue, and a straight hex version (not Intel hex!) is in kermit/c/tdkerm.hex. Also on CUVMA: TDKERM UUE and TDKERM HEX. Hope you can find and send in the source code too.] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1992 15:47:00 EST >From: Frank da Cruz Subject: Macintosh Kermit Status and Q & A Keywords: Macintosh Kermit INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 Page 21 Hundreds of messages arrive here every day asking or complaining about Mac Kermit. Here is a brief status report, followed by some typical questions and their answers. Mac Kermit is part of the C-Kermit family of programs. C-Kermit 5A for UNIX, VMS, OS/2, AOS/VS, and several other operating systems is in its last stages of its 3-year-plus development. The final beta test version will be announced soon. Each new edit of C-Kermit is built on the Macintosh too, and so a new Mac Kermit test edit is issued with every test edit of C-Kermit. Each new Mac Kermit edit has improvements in system-independent areas, such as file transfer performance and features, modem dialing, script language programming, etc. However, there has been very little work on the Macintosh-specific parts of Mac Kermit in the past year, except that recently Paul Placeway made some impressive improvements in the speed of the terminal emulator. We have big plans for "Macintosh Kermit 1.0", and have had them for a long time. You can read about them, and also about the many bugs and problems we know about, in the file kermit/sw/ckmker.bwr on watsun.cc.columbia.edu. You can also read, in great detail, about the problems with Mac Kermit's VT100 font, and the proposed solution, in kermit/sw/ckmker.fon. You can pick up the latest test version of Mac Kermit from kermit/sw/ckmker.hqx. FTP all of these files in text mode. So when will Mac Kermit 1.0 be available? It depends on the schedules of the volunteer programmers. As you know, nobody is being paid to work on Mac Kermit, so volunteers must find time outside of their real jobs or schoolwork to take on these tasks that we all want accomplished, and decide to do this instead of, say, making buckets of money writing commercial Macintosh applications. It is much harder to find a public-spirited Macintosh programmer with spare time than practically any other kind of programmer. So please be patient. When we have a Macintosh Kermit version that we feel is comparable in quality to the other popular Kermit programs, we will announce it far and wide. In the meanwhile, if you are a skilled Macintosh programmer capable of working in the MPW C 3.2 programming environment, and you want to pitch in, let me know. If you are not, feel free to use the test versions, with their current limitations. Here is where to find the latest files, all on watsun.cc.columbia.edu, via anonymous ftp, text mode: kermit/sw/ckmker.hqx -- Latest Mac Kermit kermit/sw/ckmker.bwr -- "Beware file" for latest Mac Kermit kermit/sw/ckmker.fon -- Writeup of font situation kermit/b/ckmker.doc -- User manual for last real release, 0.9(40), ASCII kermit/b/ckmker.ps -- User manual for last real release, PostScript kermit/charsets/mac* -- The new Macintosh Kermit font, tables, docs, etc ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1992 23:19:55 -0700 (PDT) >From: Les Ferch Page 22 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 Subject: MacKermit on Mac Plus I noticed a couple of minor problems with MacKermit on a Mac Plus. 1. Using "Set modifiers..." I set Option to act as Ctrl. However, it does not work. To get a Ctrl key, I have to set Command to act as Ctrl and turn off Menu Keys. It would be nice to be able to keep Menu Keys and use Option as Ctrl. [Ed. - To use the Option key as a Ctrl key, you have to check the Opt box on the left side of the Set Modifiers dialog, and you also have to check both Unmodify and Ctrl on the right side, in the same row. See ckmker.bwr.] 2. The File menu is longer than the 9" screen. This confuses beginners looking for Quit. If Load Settings and Save Settings were moved to the Settings menu, the problem would be solved. [Ed. - A well-known problem. The menus need a lot of work.] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Oct 92 10:29:40 EST >From: Howie Richburg Organization: State University of New York - Central Administration Subject: Re: MacKermit? Maybe I am doing something wrong. Under settings I choose key settings. The scan codes I define such as {27}3, when executed are passed through to the terminal screen as #27'3 for example and not transmitted. Any ideas? [Ed. - Presently, the backslash notation in Mac Kermit's key definitions only accepts octal (base 8) numbers, and no provision is made for grouping. Suppose you want to define a key to send ESC followed by the letter A. In MS-DOS Kermit or C-Kermit, you would express this as \27A, \o33A, or \x1BA. In Mac Kermit, it must be \33A. Now suppose you want to send ESC followed by the digit 3. You can't write \273, because there would be no way to tell where the backslash code ended and the literal text began. In MS-DOS or C-Kermit, you can write \{27}3, to separate the 27 from the 3. Mac Kermit doesn't support this type of notation, so you have to write \33\63 (where 63 is the octal value of the ASCII code for the character "3"), and so on until you reach the first non-numeric character or the end of the definition. Hopefully, a future release of Mac Kermit will support the same types of notation as MS-DOS Kermit and C-Kermit.] Do you think MacKermit is stable enough to use for a Mac Powerbook running System 7? [Ed. - We have received mixed reviews. The main difficulty with Mac Kermit under System 7 actually has nothing to do with System 7 per se, but rather with the fact that Macs that have System 7 also tend to be loaded with lots of INITs. Macs with all their INITs are becoming even more dangerous for communication software than PCs loaded with TSRs! We have discovered that most INITs that have anything to do with font management -- Adobe Type Manager, SuitCase, TrueType, etc -- can interfere with Mac Kermit to various degrees, ranging from fractured screens to Mac Kermit or even system bombs. This probably happens because Mac Kermit uses its own internal font for INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 Page 23 terminal emulation. We know the solution to this problem -- remove the internal font and make an external font suitable for VT320 emulation -- but it is taking a long time to accomplish it.] [Ed again - About the Powerbook. Mac Kermit works as well on the Powerbook as it works on any other Mac, except for one obvious limitation (bug). The Powerbook does not normally come with a modem port, only a printer port. Thus you have to choose the printer port in the Communications Settings menu, which works. So far so good. But the port selection is not saved when you Save Settings. So you always have to open the communications menu and select the printer port every time you run Kermit on the Powerbook. This should be fixed soon.] In addition the Powerbook will be used to dial into a 3270 protocol converter to access our IBM host. It will therefore require that certain key combinations submit specific codes to emulate PF keys. The reason I ask is because I have no luck transmitting codes to emulate the PF keys. [Ed. - This is an extremely common question, but it does not have a general answer. Here's the story: an IBM mainframe 3270 terminal has row upon row of "PF" keys that ordinary terminals don't have. The operation of these keys is internal to the IBM 3270 protocol -- they don't send characters, they send signals or messages, or perform certain local functions, etc. A 3270 protocol converter -- such as an IBM 7171 -- lets ordinary ASCII terminals (or programs, like Kermit, that emulate them) interact with mainframe 3270 applications. Data sent from the mainframe to the terminal is converted into (for example) ASCII text intermixed with VT100 escape sequences, so your screen looks right. So far so good. In the other direction, certain control characters or escape sequences coming from your keyboard are interpreted as PF keys. The problem is, no two protocol converters, no two protocol-converter terminal-type configurations, no two sites, have the same idea of exactly which control characters or escape sequences should correspond to which PF keys. WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION. You have to go to your IBM mainframe or IBM networking administrator and find out: for a particular terminal type (say VT100), what characters or sequences must the terminal or emulator send to simulate EACH of: the PF1 through PF24 keys; the PA1 through PA3 keys; the newline key, the cursor keys, backtab, the editing keys, the Attention key, etc etc. Once you have the table of 30 keys and their values, you can decide which keys on your Mac should correspond to which 3270 terminal keys, and then assign the corresponding character or escape sequence to each one in a Set Key Macros dialog -- a long and tedious exercise, which is best done once at each site centrally. A Mac Kermit 3270 settings file is created, put on a file server, or copied onto diskette or and passed around. In a future release, we hope to support plain-text key settings files like MS-DOS Kermit or C-Kermit.] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Oct 92 16:57:53 +0100 >From: johnen@GEI-Aachen.de (Uwe Johnen) Subject: Kermit on Mac I was very amused that I can use my Apple Powerbook as a terminal (vt100) over the V24 modem port. Page 24 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 But using Word Perfect on our VAX I was searching for the function keys, which I have to use while working with WP. If you have any idea where they are please let me know. I thing I tried everything. Which one tried I not ? [Ed. - Here is another case where you must go through the long and laborious process of making many, many key assignments. VAX WordPerfect assignments have already been done for MS-DOS Kermit in the file kermit/a/msiwp3.ini, which contains 126 SET KEY commands! Unfortunately: (a) the keyboard scan codes of the Macintosh are different from those of the PC, and (b) there is not yet a way to import textual SET KEY commands into Mac Kermit. As noted above, hopefully there will be a textual SET KEY command in a forthcoming release.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1992 12:58:24 -0700 (PDT) >From: VFOAO07H@VAX.CSUN.EDU (George Mansoor) Subject: Printing from Kermit for Mac I have a question concerning Kermit for the Mac. Is there a way to send output to a printer much the way that the PC version can send the emulation output to a printer? Not screen dumps, but print sessions. Does this make any sense? If it can, what version of Kermit for the MAC. [Ed. - Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Here is how printing currently works in Mac Kermit. Everybody knows there is a Print item in the File menu, but it is dimmed so you can't use it. These items become active when Mac Kermit's terminal emulator receives certain escape sequences: ESC [ 5 i (or) ESC [ ? 5 i -- Start capturing text for printer ESC [ 4 i (or) ESC [ ? 4 i -- Stop capturing text for printer After receiving the "printer off" sequence, the print items can be used. Future releases of Mac Kermit will have additional printing capabilities: print screen, print selection, log session to printer, etc.] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 08:47:23 PST >From: John Holland Subject: Re: 0.99(97) Bug Report I reported some problems with Mac Kermit 0.99(97). Since then I have obtained 183, and later 184, from watsun.cc.columbia.edu. I now use Mac Kermit as my terminal emulator of choice in my daily work, connected to a mainframe at 9600 baud, using a Mac Plus. Commercial products, like Microphone and White Knight, seem to be assuming a slower connection and do not refresh the screen as quickly as I would like. Kermit refreshes the screen quickly, and allows me to copy and paste and to move the cursor around with the mouse (and type without having to wait for the cursor to arrive at its destination). One of the problems I noted before is no longer a problem. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #4 Page 25 I couldn't save settings without a system bomb. No problem now. However, if I set Mouse -> Arrow Keys in Terminal... under Settings, I still can't turn it off. [Ed. - Sure enough, it's a bug. The X disappears from the check box, but the feature is not turned off. If you bring back the Terminal Settings screen, the box is checked again.] A new problem is related to fonts. I use Courier 10 point. When the text I am working on is bolded and I delete characters from the middle of the line, pulling the rest of the line in, a trail of dots is sometimes left. I demonstrated this to myself by typing a row of bold WWWWWWs, then deleting the leftmost one a few times. The rightmost pixel in the righmost character remains on the screen. This is a cosmetic bug which I am happily living with, given the other benefits of Kermit. [Ed. - Coexistence with fonts and font managers, and other font related problems (of which the one you list is a very minor example), are perhaps Mac Kermit's biggest problem at present. It is described -- and a solution proposed -- in the files kermit/sw/ckmker.bwr and kermit/sw/ckmker.fon.] ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 26 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #5 Info-Kermit Digest Fri, 13 Nov 1992 Volume 16 : Number 5 Today's Topics: Announcing C-Kermit 5A(186), The Final Beta Test Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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 file kermit/read.me is a general guide to where things are. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 10 Nov 44, 13:30:00 EST >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Announcing C-Kermit 5A(186), The Final Beta Test Keywords: C-Kermit 5A, UNIX Kermit, VMS Kermit, Amiga Kermit Keywords: Atari ST Kermit, OS/2 Kermit, OS-9 Kermit, AOS/VS Kermit Keywords: Sliding Windows, Script Programming, International Character Sets Keywords: TCP/IP and C-Kermit Xref: Commodore Amiga. See Amiga Xref: OpenVMS. See VMS The final Beta release of C-Kermit 5A, Version 5A(186) BETA-8, is ready for public testing. This will be a relatively short testing period. The final release of version 5A should occur in a few weeks. C-Kermit 5A is available for: . UNIX, practically all versions: AIX, ULTRIX, SunOS, BSD, System V, etc . VAX and AXP VMS and OpenVMS . Data General MV systems with AOS/VS . PCs and PS/2s with OS/2 1.0 and 2.0 . Microware OS-9 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #5 Page 27 . The Commodore Amiga . The Atari ST The changes since the first Beta release, 5A(179), on February 8th, 1992, which was announced in Info-Kermit V15 #2, are: SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS SUPPORTED . New support for Data General AOS/VS, including TCP/IP . Many new UNIX versions supported . OpenVMS AXP support . DEC TCP/IP, Wollongong TCP/IP, and TGV MultiNet TCP/IP support in (Open)VMS . Improved performance and functionality on VMS and OpenVMS . DECnet LAT supported in OS/2 version, and many OS/2-specific improvements COMMUNICATIONS AND DIALING . Dialing directory feature added . Many new controls over the dialing process . Improved support for Telebit, Hayes, and Hayes-compatible modems . New support for CCITT and Digitel modems . New commands for managing TCP/IP connections and TELNET protocol . Improved support for hardware flow control . Improved SunLink X.25 support KERMIT FILE TRANSFER . New support for IBM fullscreen file transfers (See Info-Kermit V16 #1) . New fullscreen and crt file transfer displays for local-mode file transfer . Standard "KERMIT READY TO xxx ..." messages at beginning of file transfer PLUS: . New support for East European (Latin-2) character sets. . Improved script programming controls . Many, many bugs fixed and (hopefully) not too many new ones introduced Before reporting bugs in this version of C-Kermit, please read the file ckcker.bwr, the general C-Kermit "beware" file, plus the system-specific beware file for your system, e.g. ckuker.bwr for UNIX, ckvker.bwr for VMS. HOW TO GET IT C-Kermit 5A(186) BETA is available on the Internet via anonymous ftp from host watsun.cc.columbia.edu [128.59.39.2], using text (ASCII) mode, in the directory kermit/test/, and on BITNET/EARN from host CUVMA through the KERMSRV file server, in the T: area. Warning: some files might have records longer than 80, making it impossible for KERMSRV to MAIL them to you. You can also order C-Kermit 5A on magnetic media (9-track tape, TK50 cartridge, or quarter-inch tape cartridge) from Columbia University by mail order as "Tape T" (see the order form, kermit/a/aaxfly.doc or aaxfly.ps). The C-Kermit filenames all start with the letters "ck" (for C-Kermit). The third letter in the filename is used for grouping: c = Portable C, u = UNIX-specific, v = VAX/VMS-specific, etc. The following sections give brief Page 28 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #5 synopses of the files needed for each version. A detailed description of the file naming conventions and organization is given in the file ckaaaa.hlp. Notation: * = matches any string of characters [abc] = matches the single character a, b, or c GENERAL TEXT FILES ckaaaa.hlp Explanation of file naming conventions ckcplm.doc C-Kermit "program logic manual" ckccfg.doc C-Kermit configuration info ckcker.bwr General C-Kermit beware file ckuker.doc plain-text user manual (still for edit 179) ckuker.ps Postscript user manual (ditto) ckcker.upd Detailed description of changes since edit 179 THE UNIX VERSION UNIX sources: ck[cuw]*.[cwh] (+ ckustr.sed for 2.1x BSD) UNIX build: ckuker.mak (for 2.1xBSD, use ckubs2.mak) UNIX docs: ckuins.doc, ckuker.bwr, ckuker.nr UNIX binaries: There are some UNIX binaries in kermit/bin/wermit.*, use ftp in binary mode: wermit.aviion.5.4 - DG Aviion, DG/UX 5.4 wermit.du42 - DECstation 5800 Ultrix 4.2 wermit.next - NeXT OS 2.0 or 3.0 wermit.rs6000 - RS/6000 AIX 3.1 wermit.sun4 - SunOS 4.1.1, sparc wermit.sv386r4 - i368 with Dell System V R4 The last one *might* run on other i366/486 PCs with other USL-based System V R4 implementations. There is also a compressed tar archive of the UNIX sources and makefile in kermit/bin/cku186.tar.Z, which you can ftp in BINARY mode. To build the UNIX version, rename ckuker.mak (or ckubs2.mak) to makefile, read the comments at the top of the makefile to select the make-option appropriate for your computer, and then give the appropriate "make" command, for example "make bsd", "make sunos41", "make sys5r4", etc. Read the makefile and the file ckuins.doc for further installation instructions. THE (Open)VMS VERSION VMS sources: ck[cuwv]*.[cwh], plus ckvcvt.c (labeled-file decoder) VMS build: ckvker.com (DCL), ckvker.mak (VMS MAKE), or ckvker.mms (MMS). Instructions: ckvins.doc. VMS executable: ckvker.hex, use ckvdeh.mar to decode it into .EXE format. NOTE: this executable does not include TCP/IP support. VMS docs: ckvker.hlp, ckvins.doc, ckvker.bwr To get a version of VMS C-Kermit that includes TCP/IP networking support, you must build from source code on a VMS system that has a C compiler and libraries plus the TCP/IP libraries for DEC, TGV, or Wollongong TCP/IP. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #5 Page 29 THE OS/2 VERSION OS/2 sources: ck[cuwo]*.[cwh], ckwart.def, ckoker.def OS/2 build: ckoker.mak OS/2 executable: ckoker16.boo (unboo with ckbunb.c) (16-bit) ckoker32.boo (ditto) (32-bit) or kermit/bin/ckoker16.exe (ftp in binary mode) (16-bit) or kermit/bin/ckoker32.exe (ditto) (32-bit) OS/2 doc: ckoker.bwr OS/2 C-Kermit comes in a 16-bit version (required for OS/2 1.x) and a 32-bit version (only works on OS/2 2.x). See ckoker.bwr for details. THE DATA GENERAL AOS/VS VERSION AOS/VS sources: ck[cuwd]*.[cwh] AOS/VS build: ckd*.cli AOS/VS executable: kermit/bin/ckdker.df (binary, dumpfile format) ckdker.uue (uuencoded, decode with ckdeco.c) AOS/VS doc: ckdins.doc, ckdker.bwr THE OS-9 VERSION OS-9 sources: ck[cuw9]*.[cawh] OS-9 build: ck9ker.mak or ck9ker.gcc OS-9 executable: ck9ker.boo (unboo with ckbunb.c) (for OS-9 2.2 - 2.4) ck9ker.bin (ftp in binary mode) OS-9 doc: ck9ker.bwr, ck9ker.doc THE AMIGA VERSION Amiga sources: ck[cuwi]*.[cwh] Amiga build: ckiker.mak (use Aztec C V5.0b) Amiga executable: ckiker.boo (for edit 178 -- unboo with ckbunb.c) kermit/bin/ckiker.exe (ftp in binary mode) Amiga doc: ckiker.bwr, ckiker.doc (old) THE ATARI ST VERSION Atari ST sources: ck[cuws]*.[cwh] Atari build: cksker.mak Atari executable: cksker.boo (full version, unboo with ckbunb.c). kermit/bin/cksker.ttp (full version, ftp in binary mode) kermit/bin/cksncp.ttp (no cmd parser,ftp in binary mode) Atari doc: (none yet) Please report successes or failures to Frank da Cruz, FDCCU@CUVMA.BITNET or fdc@watsun.cc.columbia.edu. Thanks again to the hundreds of people who helped with the development and testing of C-Kermit 5A. ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Page 30 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #6 Info-Kermit Digest Mon, 23 Nov 1992 Volume 16 : Number 6 Today's Topics: Announcing C-Kermit 5A Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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 file kermit/read.me is a general guide to where things are. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 23 Nov 92 16:59:59 EST >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: Announcing C-Kermit 5A Keywords: C-Kermit 5A, UNIX Kermit, VMS Kermit, Amiga Kermit Keywords: Atari ST Kermit, OS/2 Kermit, OS-9 Kermit, AOS/VS Kermit Keywords: Sliding Windows, Script Programming, International Character Sets Keywords: TCP/IP and C-Kermit I am delighted to FINALLY announce the FINAL release of C-Kermit version 5A, for UNIX, VMS, OpenVMS, OS/2, AOS/VS, OS-9, the Commodore Amiga, and the Atari ST. The edit number is 188. C-Kermit was written by Frank da Cruz of Columbia University with contributions from hundreds of other programmers all over the world. Version 5A is the product of three and a half years of development; the previous release of C-Kermit was 4E(072), released in January 1989. Version 5A was first announced for public Beta testing in Info-Kermit V15 #2, 18 February, 1992. The second and final Beta test was announced in V16 #5, 13 Nov 1992. The second beta test, though short, proved quite successful, and therefore the software is being released. C-Kermit 5A(188) is available for the following operating systems: INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #6 Page 31 . UNIX, practically all versions: AIX, ULTRIX, SunOS, BSD, System V, etc . VAX and AXP VMS and OpenVMS . Data General MV systems with AOS/VS . PCs and PS/2s with OS/2 1.0 and 2.0 . Microware OS-9 . The Commodore Amiga . The Atari ST The major improvements in version 5A since version 4E are: . Improved file transfer efficiency: sliding windows, longer packets, locking shifts, dynamic packet length, automatic parity detection. . Character-set translation for both file transfer and CONNECT mode, including West European, East European, Cyrillic, and Japanese. . Improved CONNECT-mode performance. . Dialing improvements, support for more modems, a new dialing directory. . The ability to make TCP/IP and other network connections. . A powerful, easy-to-use script programming language similar to MS-DOS Kermit's. . File attribute packet support to convey file size, type, date, and character-set. . New file collision options. . New server features, including security. . FULLSCREEN file transfer display available in VMS, OS/2, OS-9, and most UNIX implementations. . Ability to transfer files with IBM mainframes through non-transparent 3270 protocol converters. . Non-error-checked file transfer via TRANSMIT and LOG SESSION. . Commands can be interrupted and C-Kermit returned to its prompt. . In UNIX, C-Kermit can be suspended and continued in the fore- or background. . More systems supported, including many more varieties of UNIX. . Support for hardware flow control on selected systems. . Improvements in every area too numerous to list. Special highlights: C-Kermit 5A includes extensive support for VMS and OpenVMS on VAX and Alpha AXP platforms, including detailed knowledge of the VMS file system and a special method for encoding complex VMS files for transmission and archival, thanks to Terry Kennedy of Saint Peters College. It also supports three different TCP/IP networking products for VMS: DEC, TGV, and Wollongong; thanks in particular to folks at TGV, DEC, and Wollongong for their help. The OS/2 version includes built-in VT102 and VT52 terminal emulators with key mapping, screen rollback, printer control, color selection, and communications features including both software and hardware flow control and, if you have PATHWORKS installed on your PC, support for DECnet LAT connections. Thanks to Kai Uwe Rommel of the Technical University of Munich for a great deal of work on the OS/2 specifics. The Data General AOS/VS version is brand-new and fully up to date, the first upgrade to this program since version 4D in May 1987, thanks to Eugenia Harris at DG. It includes all the major features of version 5A, including built-in TCP/IP support. Page 32 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #6 The OS-9 specifics were done by Christian Hemsing, RWTH, Aachen. Thanks. The Commodore Amiga specifics are from Steve Walton. Thanks. The Atari ST support is from Bruce J. Moore. Thanks. DOCUMENTATION Like MS-DOS Kermit 3.x, C-Kermit 5A comes with a book, "Using C-Kermit" by Frank da Cruz and Christine M. Gianone, published by Digital Press, Burlington, MA, USA, Digital Press ISBN: 1-55558-108-0, Prentice Hall ISBN: 0-13-037490-3. US single-copy price: $34.95; quantity discounts available. Publication is still in progress, and should be complete in mid-January 1993. In the USA, call DECdirect toll-free 1-800-344-4825 to order; use order number EY-J896E-DP. Major credit cards accepted. HOW TO GET IT C-Kermit 5A(188) is available on the Internet via anonymous ftp from host watsun.cc.columbia.edu [128.59.39.2], using text (ASCII) mode, in the directory kermit/b/, and on BITNET/EARN from host CUVMA through the KERMSRV file server, in the main area. Warning: some files might have records longer than 80, making it impossible for KERMSRV to MAIL them to you. You can also order C-Kermit 5A on magnetic media (diskette, 9-track tape, TK50 cartridge, or quarter-inch tape cartridge) from Columbia University by mail order as "Tape B" (see the order form, kermit/a/aaxfly.doc or aaxfly.ps). The C-Kermit filenames all start with the letters "ck" (for C-Kermit). The third letter in the filename is used for grouping: c = Portable C, u = UNIX-specific, v = VMS-specific, etc. The following sections give brief synopses of the files needed for each version. A detailed description of the file naming conventions and organization is given in the file ckaaaa.hlp. Notation: * = matches any string of characters [abc] = matches the single character a, b, or c GENERAL TEXT FILES ckaaaa.hlp Explanation of file naming conventions ckcplm.doc C-Kermit "program logic manual" ckccfg.doc C-Kermit configuration info ckcker.bwr General C-Kermit beware file ckuker.doc plain-text user manual (still for edit 179) ckuker.ps Postscript user manual (ditto) ckcker.upd Detailed description of changes since edit 179 INITIALIZATION AND COMMAND FILES ckermit.ini Standard initialization file for all versions ckermod.ini Sample user-modification (customization) file for all versions ckermit.kdd Sample Kermit Dialing Directory ckermit.ksd Sample Kermit Services Directory NOTE: Some of the binaries listed below are not yet at edit 188 level. They will be installed as soon as they arrive. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #6 Page 33 THE UNIX VERSION UNIX sources: ck[cuw]*.[cwh] (+ ckustr.sed for 2.1x BSD) UNIX build: ckuker.mak (for 2.1xBSD, use ckubs2.mak) UNIX docs: ckuins.doc, ckuker.bwr, ckuker.nr UNIX binaries: There are some UNIX binaries in kermit/bin/wermit.*, use ftp in binary mode: wermit.next - NeXT OS 2.0 or 3.0 wermit.sun4 - SunOS 4.1.1, sparc wermit.sv386r4 - i368 with Dell System V R4 There is also a compressed tar archive of the UNIX sources and makefile in kermit/bin/cku188.tar.Z, which you can ftp in BINARY mode. To build the UNIX version, rename ckuker.mak (or ckubs2.mak) to makefile, read the comments at the top of the makefile to select the make-option appropriate for your computer, and then give the appropriate "make" command, for example "make bsd", "make sunos41", "make sys5r4", etc (there are about 150 possibilities). Read the makefile and the file ckuins.doc for further installation instructions. THE (Open)VMS VERSION VMS sources: ck[cuwv]*.[cwh], plus ckvcvt.c (labeled-file decoder) VMS build: ckvker.com (DCL), ckvker.mak (VMS MAKE), or ckvker.mms (MMS). Instructions: ckvins.doc. VMS executable: ckvker.hex, use ckvdeh.mar to decode it into .EXE format. NOTE: this executable does not include TCP/IP support. VMS docs: ckvker.hlp, ckvins.doc, ckvker.bwr To get a version of VMS C-Kermit that includes TCP/IP networking support, you must build from source code on a VMS system that has a C compiler and libraries plus the TCP/IP libraries for DEC, TGV, or Wollongong TCP/IP. THE OS/2 VERSION OS/2 sources: ck[cuwo]*.[cwh], ckwart.def, ckoker.def OS/2 build: ckoker.mak OS/2 executable: ckoker16.boo (unboo with ckbunb.c) (16-bit) ckoker32.boo (ditto) (32-bit) or kermit/bin/ckoker16.exe (ftp in binary mode) (16-bit) or kermit/bin/ckoker32.exe (ditto) (32-bit) OS/2 doc: ckoker.bwr OS/2 C-Kermit comes in a 16-bit version (required for OS/2 1.x) and a 32-bit version (only works on OS/2 2.x). See ckoker.bwr for details. THE DATA GENERAL AOS/VS VERSION AOS/VS sources: ck[cuwd]*.[cwh] AOS/VS build: ckd*.cli AOS/VS executable: kermit/bin/ckdker.df (binary, dumpfile format) ckdker.uue (uuencoded, decode with ckdeco.c) AOS/VS doc: ckdins.doc, ckdker.bwr Page 34 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #6 THE OS-9 VERSION OS-9 sources: ck[cuw9]*.[cawh] OS-9 build: ck9ker.mak or ck9ker.gcc OS-9 executable: ck9ker.boo (unboo with ckbunb.c) (for OS-9 2.2 - 2.4) ck9ker.bin (ftp in binary mode) OS-9 doc: ck9ker.bwr, ck9ker.doc THE AMIGA VERSION Amiga sources: ck[cuwi]*.[cwh] Amiga build: ckiker.mak (use Aztec C V5.0b) Amiga executable: ckiker.boo (for edit 178 -- unboo with ckbunb.c) kermit/bin/ckiker.exe (ftp in binary mode) Amiga doc: ckiker.bwr, ckiker.doc (old) THE ATARI ST VERSION Atari ST sources: ck[cuws]*.[cwh] Atari build: cksker.mak Atari executable: cksker.boo (full version, unboo with ckbunb.c). kermit/bin/cksker.ttp (full version, ftp in binary mode) kermit/bin/cksncp.ttp (no cmd parser,ftp in binary mode) Atari doc: (none yet) Please report successes or failures to Frank da Cruz, FDCCU@CUVMA.BITNET or fdc@watsun.cc.columbia.edu. Thanks again to the hundreds of people who helped with the development and testing of C-Kermit 5A. ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 Page 35 Info-Kermit Digest Mon, 28 Dec 1992 Volume 16 : Number 7 Today's Topics: Announcing Release 4.2.5 of Kermit-370 for VM/CMS New Patches for MS-DOS Kermit 3.11 and 3.12 Gateway Telepath Intenal Modem Problems Solved New MS-DOS Kermit Dialing Scripts New BOO-File Encoder and Decoder Programs OS/2 C-Kermit 5A(188) Extended Keyboard Definitions C-Kermit 5A News Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form: SUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To start a subscription) UNSUBSCRIBE I$KERMIT (To cancel a subscription) REGISTER I$KERMIT (To correct your name) 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 file kermit/read.me is a general guide to where things are. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. All files in these directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. Binaries are in kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). All files on watsun have lowercase names, and case is significant. 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, 1992 Dec 2 12:18 EST >From: "John F. Chandler" Subject: Announcing Release 4.2.5 of Kermit-370 for VM/CMS Keywords: VM/CMS Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit A new release of Kermit-370 for CMS is now available: 4.2.5. It includes a new CNTRL file for installing Kermit under VM/ESA (370 Feature) when HASM is not available. This CNTRL file is automatically used, as needed, by the (now revised) IKCINS EXEC included in IKCKER.INS. The other new features are mainly diagnostics. They include: 1) An extra line of greetings for send/receive/server, as introduced in release 4.2.4 of the TSO, ROSCOE, and CICS variants of Kermit-370, as well as the latest releases of MS-DOS Kermit and C-Kermit. Page 36 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 2) A new option to dump Kermit's internal trace table to KER LOG. 3) Extra debug log info for TTY and FULLSCREEN modes, similar to that for SERIES1, GRAPHICS, and AEA modes. 4) The status code from a SEND or RECEIVE is now available to the accounting exit, if any. See the IKCKER.BWR file for further details. COMING SOON: Kermit-370 customized for languages other than English. The Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish versions are in progress. Volunteers are needed to translate the (200-line) Kermit-370 message file into other languages. The help files and user guide chapters could also be translated, but that's a much bigger undertaking. John [Ed. - Thanks, John! The new files are in kermit/b/ on watsun.cc.columbia.edu for anonymous FTP access on the Internet, and available from KERMSRV at CUVMA on BITNET/EARN/CREN.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Dec 92 11:59:59 EST >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: New Patches for MS-DOS Kermit 3.11 and 3.12 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.11, MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, Patches for MS-DOS Kermit Cross-Reference: IBM PC. See MS-DOS Kermit >From Professor Joe R. Doupnik: patches for MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 to correct the following problems: 1. Optional patch needed to enable 132 column mode on certain VGA board models from Orchid Designer. 2. Make VT terminal emulator ignore ESC C. 3. Don't exit from macros when Ctrl-C'd out of server mode. 4. Some IBM mainframe fullscreen file transfer corrections. 5. Fix \v(ndate) to omit unwanted extra zero in Oct, Nov, and Dec. 6. Fix for serial device initialization. 7. Fix for using MS-DOS Kermit under OS/2. 8. Don't do repeat-count compression if other Kermit says it won't. 9. Speedup for Interconnections TES connections. 10. Workaround for problems with Gateway 2000 Telepath internal modems. The new patch file is available in ~kermit/a/mskermit.pch, and is usable only with the IBM PC binary MS-DOS Kermit 3.12 program distributed by Columbia University (kermit/a/msvibm.boo or kermit/bin/msvibm.exe). Patches 7 and 10 above have also been added to the version 3.11 patch file as patches number 10 and 11. The new updated 3.11 patch file is available in kermit/a/msr311.pch (MSR311 PCH on KERMSRV), To install the patches, get the appropriate patch file (which is a text file and should be transferred in text mode) onto your PC, rename it MSKERMIT.PCH if necessary, and put it in the same directory as your MSKERMIT.INI file. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 Page 37 Make sure your MSKERMIT.INI file contains the PATCH command near the top (as the standard MSKERMIT.INI file does). The patches are applied automatically each time you start MS-DOS Kermit. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1992 11:10:53 -0800 (PST) >From: Fred Forster Subject: Gateway Telepath Intenal Modem Problems Solved Keywords: Gateway Telepath Modem I implemented the new MSKERMIT.PCH that you sent to me yesterday in response to my inquiry about problems I was having with a Gateway 2000 computer with a Telepath internal modem. It was surprising to find how few patches have been incorporated into v3.11 and to see a patch particular to that computer! I never expected such as specific response! I was just groping since I did everything that I could think of. Also thanks for your prompt response! You guys are great! Most importantly, Kermit now appears to work. As usual, I will be more certain after I exercise it more, but it is much improved now! It may be of interest to note that I am able to connect at 38400 to my campus' fast modem line. I wasn't sure that would be the case after reading the comment associated with the patch that referred to slowing things way down. But let me tell you this Gateway seems to be an O.K. computer, 66MHz is great, and having only used a 2400 baud modem before this computer makes it just short of amazing. Using e-mail from home through Kermit with this hardware is really being in touch. End of message. [Ed. - The comment in the patch file says "vastly slow down serial port setup". The slowdown only occurs at the time the port is initialized, not during communication.] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 11:59:59 EST >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: New MS-DOS Kermit Dialing Scripts Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, Penril modems, Vadic modems, SupraFAXmodem Keywords: Telebit modems >From John Klensin at MIT, new MS-DOS Kermit dialing scripts for the Penril Alliance V.32 modem, the Vadic VA2400PA modem, and the SupraFAXmodem V.32bis modem. And, written locally, a new dialing script for the Telebit T3000 (which should also work with the T1600, QBlazer, and possibly WorldBlazer). These new scripts are designed to be used with the DIAL macro that is defined in the standard MSKERMIT.INI file, just like the current Hayes and Rolm dialing scripts. Here is a list of the available dialing scripts: Modem Type DOS Filename Internet KERMSRV Hayes 2400 HAYES.SCR kermit/a/msmhayes.scr MSMHAYES SCR Penril Alliance V.32 PENRIL.SCR kermit/a/msmpenril.scr MSMPENRIL SCR Rolm CBX DCM ROLM.SCR kermit/a/msmrolm.scr MSMROLM SCR SupraFAXmodem V.32bis SUPRA.SCR kermit/a/msmsupra.scr MSMSUPRA SCR Telebit T3000 T3000.SCR kermit/a/msmt3000.scr MSMT3000 SCR Vadic VA2400PA VA2400PA.SCR kermit/a/msmva2400.scr MSMVA2400 SCR Page 38 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 Note that a new category of MS-DOS Kermit files, MSM, has been created for modem-dialing scripts. Previously, HAYES.SCR and ROLM.SCR were stored as MSIHAY.SCR and MSIROLM.SCR (copies of these two only have been kept under their old names to reduce confusion). See the instructions in the modem script files themselves, and/or in the MSKERM.BWR file. For Telebits, also see MSMT3000.DOC, and for further information about Telebits, see kermit/b/ckcker.bwr on watsun or CKCKER BWR on KERMSRV. Many thanks to John for contributing the Penril, Supra, and Vadic dialing scripts! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 11:59:59 EST >From: Christine M Gianone Subject: New BOO-File Encoder and Decoder Programs Keywords: BOO-File Encoders and Decoders A long delayed announcement: a new release of the BOO-File maker and decoder programs, msbmkb.c and msbpct.c. These are from Robert Weiner of Programming Plus in New York, based on the Christian Hemsing versions that were announced in Info-Kermit V15 #3 last April. Robert has totally rewritten the code to make it portable to multiple operating systems including UNIX, VMS and OpenVMS, MS-DOS, OS-9, the Commodore Amiga, and the Atari ST, and to fix a few bugs. This version, like Christian's, incorporates the new mechanism, first proposed by Charles Lasner, for encoding the exact filesize, rather than (often) adding several null bytes to the end of an un-boo'd BOO file. This turns out to be essential in operating systems (like OS-8 and OS-9) where executable programs contain internal length and/or error-checking information. The new versions replace the old ones as msbmkb.c (the BOO-file maker) and msbpct.c (the decoder) in kermit/a and ckbmkb.c and ckbunb.c on kermit/b on watsun.cc.columbia.edu, and as MSBMKB C, MSBPCT C, CKBMKB C, and CKBUNB C on CUVMA. Thanks to Robert for the all the work he put in on this, and to Christian and Charles for all of their earlier work. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 09:51:41 -0600 >From: lowey@jester.usask.ca (Kevin Lowey) Subject: OS/2 C-Kermit 5A(188) Extended Keyboard Definitions Keywords: OS/2 Kermit Below please find enclosed a file called UOFS_KBD.INI. This is a keyboard definition file for the OS/2 version of C-Kermit 5A(188) which lets extended keyboard numeric keypads act like the VT102 numeric keypad. See the comments in the file for more information on what was re-defined. - Kevin Lowey [Ed. - Many thanks, Kevin! Your contribution has been placed in kermit/b/ckovtk.ini on watsun and CKOVTK INI on CUVMA.] INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 Page 39 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 11:59:59 EST >From: Frank da Cruz Subject: C-Kermit 5A News Keywords: C-Kermit 5A, External Protocols, Alpha AXP, VMS Kermit, UNIX Kermit Cross-Reference: AXP. See Alpha, VMS, UNIX Well, folks, we've been averaging about 500 FTP requests at watsun every day since the C-Kermit 5A announcement, with thousands of additional requests to CUVMA KERMSRV on BITNET/EARN/CREN. Looks like a hit! Most reports have been positive. Successful testing has been reported for about 250 different machine/operating-system/version combinations, including over 210 different UNIX configurations. The few systems (mostly early AIX releases on IBM 370 and PS/2 machines) where compilation failures were reported have been fixed. Several new makefile entries have also been added: altos3 Altos ACX68000 with AT&T UNIX System III R2 clix Intergraph Clipper cray8 Cray supercomputers with UNICOS 8.0-Alpha dnixnetc DIAB DNIX 5.2 with TCP/IP and fullscreen transfer display iclsys5r4_486 ICL DRS3000 (i486 platform) with DRS/NX System V R4 isi Integrated Solutions VS8 VME 680x0 t31tos40x Nixdorf Targon/31 M15 with TOS 4.0.x And several have been updated or corrected: cray Cray supercomputers with UNICOS 6.1, 7.0 cx_ux Harris Night Hawk ft21 Fortune For:Pro 2.1 sys3upcx AT&T 7300 UNIX PC sco286 SCO Xenix/286 2.3.3 sco32v4 SCO UNIX/386 3.2 V4.0 sco32v4gcc ditto, with GNU CC sco32v4net SCO UNIX/386 3.2 V4.0 with TCP/IP = ODT 2.0 sco32v4netgcc ditto, with GNU CC The new UNIX makefile is available in kermit/b/ckuker.mak (CKUKER MAK on KERMSRV), and is also incorporated in the UNIX C-Kermit tar archive, kermit/bin/cku188.tar.Z (ftp in binary mode). You can find a current list of successfully tested systems in the file kermit/b/ckcker.upd on watsun.cc.columbia.edu and CKCKER UPD on CUVMA KERMSRV. If you have successfully installed C-Kermit 5A(188) on a system that is not listed in that file, please send a report to me giving the needed information: machine make and model, operating system name and release, makefile entry used, executable program size. The minor (and mostly highly system-specific) corrections that were made since the release are also listed in ckcker.upd. C-Kermit 5A users should get a copy of this file and read it to see if there are any new developments that pertain to them. There have definitely been some changes that will interest OS/2 and OS-9 C-Kermit users. Also, the set of SCO-related makefile entries has been updated thanks to Warren Tucker in Georgia (USA), Page 40 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V16 #7 Eduard Vopica in Prague (Czechoslovakia), and Piet Plomp in Groningen (Netherlands). Some statistics about the new release: Smallest executable (minimum configuration): 90372, 386 PC clone, SVR4 Smallest fully configured executable: 310636, 386 PC clone, SVR4 Biggest executable: 1607480, Cray-2 Meanwhile, a new section has been added to the UNIX C-Kermit "beware file", kermit/b/ckuker.bwr (CKUKER BWR on KERMSRV) about using C-Kermit as an external protocol from other programs, and vice versa. Finally, those of you with new DEC Alpha AXP machines running OpenVMS AXP 1.0 but without a C compiler can find a binary version of C-Kermit for the Alpha in kermit/b/ckvaxp.hex (it is, needless to say, quite huge: 1.7MB), CKVAXP HEX on KERMSRV (no network support). It's a "CKBHEX" file to be transferred in text mode. You have to decode this file on a VAX (not an AXP) using CKBDEH.MAR (or VMSDEH.MAR, same program) because we do not yet have hexifying and dehexifying programs written for the AXP (any volunteers to convert VMSHEX/CKBHEX.MAR and VMSDEH/CKBDEH.MAR for the Alpha AXP? -- they are written in VAX assembly language, and do not not seem to work correctly when compiled with the AXP's Macro-32 comiler). ------------------------------ End of Info-Kermit Digest Index Page 41 Alpha AXP, 39 Amiga Kermit, 26, 30 AOS/VS Kermit, 26, 30 Atari ST Kermit, 26, 30 AXP. See Alpha, VMS, UNIX BOO-File Encoders and Decoders, 38 C-Kermit 5A, 26, 30, 39 CICS Kermit, 6, 16 CMS Kermit. See VM/CMS Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit Commodore 64/128 Kermit, 16-17 Commodore Amiga. See Amiga External Protocols, 39 Gateway Telepath Modem, 37 I-KERMIT, 1 IBM 370 Kermit, 2, 4-7, 16, 35 IBM CS9000, 16 IBM PC. See MS-DOS Kermit International Character Sets, 26, 30 Kanji, 10, 14, 16 LISTSERV, 1 Macintosh Kermit, 20 MS-DOS Kermit 3.11, 36 MS-DOS Kermit 3.12, 10, 14, 36-37 MUSIC Kermit, 5, 16 MVS/TSO Kermit, 5, 16 ODI, 10, 14 OS-9 Kermit, 26, 30 OS/2 Kermit, 26, 30, 38 OpenVMS. See VMS Patches for MS-DOS Kermit, 36 Penril modems, 37 Script Programming, 26, 30 Sliding Windows, 26, 30 SLIP, 10, 14 SupraFAXmodem, 37 SwiftLink-232, 16 TCP/IP, 10, 14 TCP/IP and C-Kermit, 26, 30 Telebit modems, 37 TELNET, 10, 14 TSO Kermit. See MVS/TSO Kermit, IBM 370 Kermit TurboDos Kermit, 20 UNIX Kermit, 26, 30, 39 Vadic modems, 37 VM/CMS Kermit, 4, 16, 19, 35 VMS Kermit, 26, 30, 39 WINPKT, 10, 14