jed@mb2c.UUCP (John E. Duncan III) (12/16/83)
The new SOFTERM-1 and SOFTERM-2 terminal emulater packages are now being shipped by SOFTRONICS. These are upgraded versions of the SOFTERM package first offered by SOFTRONICS in August 1982 and of which I was a devoted supporter. Since there are still people out there using Apples out there on UNIX without a good terminal emulator, I thought would like would share some information about this package. SOFTERM-1 and SOFTERM-2 are similar packages with one major exception, SOFTERM-2 provides terminal EMULATION while SOFTERM-1 is a smart telecommunications package but lacking the emulation capabilities of SOFTERM-2. SOFTERM-1 sells for $135, SOFTERM-2 for $195. Any comments below, with the exception of terminal emulation apply to both packages. This package allows the APPLE-II, II+ or IIe, Franklin, BASIS-108 or other APPLE clone to function as an intelligent terminal, at speeds of up to 9600 bps. It supports character/line insert/delete, memory lock, inverse video, and most other video functions, within the limitations of the APPLE video display being used. SOFTERM-1 does not support character/line insert/delete, however the character sequences to activate functions such as cursor movement, inverse on/off, clear screen, home, etc. can be specified to SOFTERM-1 to provide a crude emulation of some "dumb" terminals. SOFTERM-2 comes with a card that plugs into any slot and which is attached to a 3 button (2 button for SOFTERM-1) auxiliary stick-on keypad. The keypad is almost color coordinated with the APPLE, depending on which revision you have. The cable is a 4-wire multi-colored job, ugly as sin, but if you hide it right, nobody will ever notice. The keys work similarly to shift or control keys and when depressed at the same time as a key on the main keyboard, it changes the meaning of that key. A handy (and needed) reference card is supplied to assist in sorting out the many possible functions. The system is supplied on two double-sided diskettes, unprotected. The system documentation is a 387 page phototypeset document which includes a tutorial, reference sections, several appendices including a glossary and a 10 page index. SOFTERM-2 supports most serial/parallel/modem/clock cards offered for the APPLE. I have a lists of the supported devices, if anyone is interested, send me mail and I'll send them to you. For each of the different types of boards. Configuration is accomplished by a short menu-driven procedure to build a module taylored to the APPLE on which it is to run. A keyboard enhancer or shift modification is not required to use SOFTERM. By using the auxiliary keypad, all 128 ASCII codes can be emitted. However SOFTERM supports keyboard enhancers, the "1 wire shift key mod" and the "shift key attached to the video card" modifications for generating upper/lower case characters. Of course the Apple //e keyboard is supported too. In addition to providing a complete emulation for a number of popular terminals, it also provides several other advanced features. Any key on the APPLE keyboard can be mapped to emit any character code using the keyboard translate function. This includes control keys, as well as upper/lower case and specials. In addition, up to 36 keyboard macros (accessed by depressing two keys on the auxiliary keypad while depressing the desired macro key) can be defined. These macros can be used like programmable function keys to emit a stream of characters to the host, and they can also be used to control local SOFTERM functions, or a combination of both. It is possible to define a macro that with one keystroke (well, okay holding 3 keys down at once) will set up a terminal emulation, dial a host, logon waiting at all the appropriate spots, perform some functions and then go into terminal mode. These keyboard macros are in addition to any function keys associated with the particular terminal emulation. Macro files are another feature of SOFTERM. These files allow a series of commands to be executed, either immediately or in "deferred" execution mode which allow the APPLE to communicate and exchange files with another APPLE or with any one of a number of hosts using either the "character mode", XMODEM or SOFTRANS protocols. All three of these protocols are available in a UNIX environment. The character mode is available with any host and allows specification of End-of-Block and Acknowledge characters and control of character/turnaround timing. The XMODEM protocol is an implementation of the CPM Christenson protocol, and functions in 128 character blocks. The SOFTRANS protocol uses an encoding technique to do data compression, parity checking and CRC checking with block retransmission on failure. Additional features of all three modes include the ability to translate CR->LF, LF->CR, turn the eighth bit on or off, expand tabs as well as other editing features. Since the SOFTRANS protocol runs without transmitting any "nasty" characters it can be easily implemented on a wide variety of mainframes. Currently supported systems include the VAX VMS and UNIX System-V on either 16 bit or 32 bit hardware, and Data General Eclipse AOS. SOFTERM functions with standard DOS 3.3 disk formats as well as PASCAL and CPM formats. A Z80 card is not required to read CPM formatted disks. Incoming data can be directed to the printer or a disk file while it is being displayed on the screen. If output is going to the printer, it acts like a spooler if the printer is turned off or slower than line speed. About 16-20K of buffer is used for the printer or disk on a 64K machine. In addition, it is possible to copy the contents of the screen to print or to a disk file at any time. A handy function is the ability to display a status line at the bottom of the screen which tells if capture mode is activated, the status of the terminal and the current time or elapsed connect time. Some other bells and whistles include an automatic phone directory which saves not only the names and phone numbers of the systems you call but things like what speed they run at, parity, stop bits etc. You can select an entry from this little database and have it automatically dialed for you by the program. One of the best features of this package is that all updates are done directly from SOFTRONICS via a 24 hour 7 day on-line update service. The one exception to this is updating from the original SOFTERM to the new SOFTERM-2 which requires $50, the title page from the old manual and the label from the old diskette. Either the upgrade or the new version are available from: SOFTRONICS, Inc. 3639 New Getwell Rd. Suite #10 Memphis, TN 38118 John Duncan (mb2c!jed) Michigan Bell (313) 424-0178