sda@packard.UUCP (DA Schrader) (09/21/84)
Subject: TRSDOS/LDOS COMM errors Newsgroups: net.micro.trs-80 I read in a recent reply about the availability of TRSDOS 6.2. It speaks of corrections to the COMM program that "should have been fixed free". Could someone please tell me what the errors were? I have used COMM and found it quite good. Tks in advance Dave Schrader CDC @ BCR Piscataway. ../packard/sda .
uhclem@trsvax.UUCP (09/24/84)
<And now a line will be eaten by our network...> The problem that was reported (by AT&T) in COMM was that every so often a character would be dropped or repeated. This was caused by a mistake in the management of the 2K buffers that are dynamically allocated/deallocated when they are required. If you haven't seen it, you aren't alone. You had to be running at high baud rates and receiving for long periods just to start allocating buffers at all. Below 2400 baud, the screen driver can keep up pretty well. The operating system vendor found that the rate was about 1 goof per million characters at 9600 baud and 1 goof per 3 million characters at 4800. TRSDOS 6.2 (at last) fixes this problem. In case you missed the earlier mail on this, here is a copy of a termcap that works fairly well with COMM: t6|comm6|TRSDOS COMM Model 4/4P:\ :am:co#80:li#24:\ :cr=^]:bc=^X:ho=^\^P^Q:nl=^Z:\ :cl=^\^_:cd=^_:ce=^^:\ :up=^[:do=^Z:nd=^Y:\ :so=^P:se=^Q:xt: This works great as long as you don't want to use ^Q/^S. Seems COMM justs passes the codes straight to the video driver which uses ^Q to start reverse video. This causes lots of laughs when the host tells your system to resume transmission and the screen switches to reverse video too. If you really have to use ^Q/^S, you can do so by losing reverse video capability. Or you can switch the reverse video codes to something else at the host and write a filter to insert in front of the video driver which translates the new codes back to the old reverse video control characters and hands them to the video driver. (There are several "do nothing" control codes available.) <This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be construed as being provided by Radio Shack or Tandy Corp. Radio Shack/Tandy Corp has no obligation to support the information provided in any way. Since color dyes may, in time change, this film will not be replaced for, or otherwise warranted against, any change in color. (Oops, wrong disclaimer.)> "Thank you, Uh Clem." Frank Durda IV @ <trsvax!uhclem>
spl@mgweed.UUCP (Steve Lorenz) (09/28/84)
I am not sure exactly what caused the problem with COMM, something about when the buffer got full if over writed part of the program, or something along those lines. Anyway the problem usually showed up during long sessions and the results were the screen would flash, scroll rapidly, display previously dislpayed data, and in general just go wacky !!!!! I am using the 6.2 version now and everything seems to be corrected!!! Steve Lorenz AT&T Technologies Montgomery Works
johnw@reed.UUCP (John Windberg) (08/22/86)
Does anyone know how to add a cursor motion (cm) entry to the termcap from comm from trsdos 6.x, or if it can be added? Many of the stuff on the reed system needs a cm. Do I simply need another terminal program with cm capabilities?
uhclem@trsvax.UUCP (08/28/86)
[The Knights of Letni want..... A Segment Register!] This termcap works fairly well. t4|model4|Tandy TRS-80 Model 4/4P:\ :am:co#80:li#24:\ :cr=^]:bc=^X:ho=^\^P^Q:nl=^Z:\ :cl=^\^_:cd=^_:ce=^^:\ :up=^[:do=^Z:nd=^Y:\ :so=^P:se=^Q:xt: There is one other bit of translation that makes it work better but I have misplaced my notes. I think you use this command line: comm *cl (xlater=x'0d1d') This translates any incoming carriage returns (which comm treats as CR/LF) into a "return to start of line and start over". Pay no attention to the description in some of the Model 4 manuals that says it erases the line. This is an excellent example of docu-fiction. <This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be construed as being provided by Radio Shack or Tandy Corp. Radio Shack/Tandy Corp has no obligation to support the information provided in any way. This product is sold on an "as is" basis, which means it is only warranted to contain matter, occupy space, and have mass.>> "Thank you, Uh Clem." Frank Durda IV @ <trsvax!uhclem> ... "A What?" "Letni! Letni! Letni!" "Please, no more! We will find you a segment register." "One that looks nice." "Of course." "And hold 16 bits but only uses 8." "Yes... certainly." ...