heather@MATH.UCLA.EDU (05/17/88)
About a week ago I posted the following: }Can any of you recommend a good terminal emulation program }that runs on a PC compatible or a MAC and fully emulates }a DEC VT series terminal? Specifically, the person wants to be able to }dial-up to her VMS system and use the entire functionality }of the EVE editor, including the keypad editing keys and the }"do" key. She has been using SmartCom, and has found that it }emulates many functions of the DEC keyboard, but hasn't been }able to find the key sequence that emulates the "do" key. I received many, many responses--thank you all--which I am now summarizing for everyone. This message is long, around 390 lines! All the information after line 220 (not including header) is in favor of kermit--I included people's replies because they included some good info about dealing with bugs in different versions of kermit. Other packages mentioned include PCSA, vterm, Smarterm, EM220, Procomm, DECnet/DOS and LC-TERM for the IBM PC and WhitePine, Versaterm, MacTerminal, PacerLink and RedRyder for the MAC. I've sorted the responses in PC and MAC categories, with PC package recommendations starting around line 40 (not including header), and MAC starting at around line 128. Thanks again, Heather Burris, UCLA ======================================================================== ======================================================================== The following method should work no matter what terminal emulator you use. ======================================================================== ======================================================================== From: Justin Bur <justin%iros1.iro.umontreal.ca@RELAY.CS.NET> she could always type <ESC>[29~~ (Do) by hand... or perhaps program it into a function key, if that's possible. (Note that "<ESC>" above represents the escape character, octal 033.) You can get the escape sequences sent by the other VT2xx/3xx function keys from a manual. ======================================================================== ======================================================================== The following messages recommend terminal emulators for DOS machines ======================================================================== ======================================================================== ======================================================================== From: bobcoe@CCA.CCA.COM(Robert K. Coe) Tell your friend to look into the DEC product PCSA. It comes with a keyboard and mouse and turns an IBM PC or clone into the equivalent of a DEC VAXMATE PC. Its keyboard is identical to that of a VT-220 terminal (not just superficially similar, like the IBM extended keyboard). PCSA's VT-220 emulator was hopelessly slow the last time I tried it, but its VT-100 emulator (accessed via SET HOST) will transmit all the VT-220 codes, and VMS will accept them, even from a terminal that it thinks is only a VT-100. When I was working at Raytheon, I used EVE with PCSA for a year, and it worked fine. ======================================================================== From: botticello david j <botticel%vdsvax.tcpip@csbvax> We (and actually, I at this moment) at GE use VTERM. It will fully replicate VT series funtions using an XT or AT style keyboard. I have not found a problem with any program to date (almost three years) that originates on either a DEC VAX780, VAX782, or Microvax II. I even exclusively use the eve editor while logged in from home. I'm not sure of the manufacturer, Corporate Communications ..... or something like that. Your local IBM type store should know of it. We have been getting ours from NYNEX Business systems. Good luck ======================================================================== From: "LIVINGSTONE%ELMO.DecNet" <LIVINGSTONE%ELMO.DecNet@BERT.DECNET> I would highly recommend the terminal emulation software put out by Persoft, Inc. They have several software packages which fully emu- late VT100, VT200, VT240, Tektronix 4014, and IBM 3270 terminals... all for very reasonable costs. I am currently running the VT240 version of "SmarTerm" <--- the name of the software, and have had no problems. For more information write to: Persoft, Inc. 465 Science Drive Madison, WI 53711 Phone: (608) 273-6000 (800) 368-5283 toll free ======================================================================== From: grandi@NOAO.ARIZONA.EDU(Steve Grandi) According to the manual for EM220 (from Diversified Computer Systems in Boulder CO, 303 447-9251) the VT220 DO key is ALT-NUM lock or ALT-Scroll Lock depending on the keyboard in use. I use EM4010 (EM220 plus a Tek 4010 emulator) and recommend it as a very nice terminal emulator (but the file transfer part is lousy). ======================================================================== From: "Matthew J. Miner" <MINER@POLYGRAF.BITNET> We use (and are satisfied with) Procomm. However, since I have no idea what a "do" key is, I can't tell you whether it is properly emulated under Procomm... ======================================================================== From: "Duke in '88 (bow-wow" <sdcrdcf!hplabs!decwrl!nac.dec.com!robins@SEAS.UCLA.EDU> SETHOST V2.0, which comes with DECnet/DOS V2.0, from Digital, does VT220 emulation on IBMPCs and some compatibles. It offers a modifiable keymap, so that users can define their own keymaps (the default one is very good). The whole DECnet/DOS package costs around $500, which may be a drawback, as SETHOST is not available separately. ======================================================================== From: campbell@maynard.bsw.com My company (The Boston Software Works) sells a package called LC-Term that does what you need. It provides the best VT220 emulation I've seen. Although out of the box there is no DO key defined (which IBM PC keyboard key should it be connected to?), you can easily define one by adding a single line to a keymap file. LC-Term also has file transfers (KERMIT and XMODEM), scripts, hot-key to MS-DOS, and the usual assortment of goodies. It sells for $99.95, quantity one. For more information, give me a call at the number below. -- Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc. Internet: campbell@maynard.bsw.com 120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109 uucp: {husc6,mirror,think}!maynard!campbell +1 617 367 6846 ======================================================================== ======================================================================== ======================================================================== The following messages recommend macintosh terminal emulators ======================================================================== ======================================================================== From: Alan Sutter <ALAN@FANDM.BITNET> There are alot of good terminal emulation out for PC and the MAC. On the MAC side there is MacTerminal, Red Ryder, PacerLink, and White Pine. They will all emulate at vt100 or vt200 or both. I normally work on a vt200 type terminal which has the DO key labeled. When you run EVE with a vt100 terminal or emulation program, the DO key is actually the PF4 key. ======================================================================== From: cca@NEWTON.PHYSICS.PURDUE.EDU(Charles C. Allen) It is generally acknowledged that one of the best VT100 emulators for the Mac is VersaTerm. I use it almost every day talking to a VMS system. It uses the standard VT100 keypad setup for editing in EVE when using the standard Mac keyboards. The people who sell it are Peripherals, Computers & Supplies 2457 Perkiomen Ave. Mt. Penn, PA 19606 VersaTerm VT100 & Tektronix 4014 $ 99 VersaTerm-PRO VT100, Tektronix 4014 & 4105 $295 They have an excellent upgrade policy: At any time, you can send in the original disk and $10 and they'll send back the latest version. Another possibility is the series of VT2xx series emulators from White Pine Software. I have never used them, but they have gotten good reviews, and White Pine has a close relationship with DEC. White Pine Software 94 Route 101A Amherst, NH 03031 Mac220 VT220 $129 Mac240 VT240 $199 Mac241 VT241 $299 ======================================================================== From: <samalone@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> I highly recommend White Pine's series of Macintosh terminal emulators. All do flawless VT2xx terminal emulation, including foreign language and double-high/double-wide characters. (I've tried it with Eve, Allin1, etc.) Menus emulate ALL of the VT2xx keys, and as many of them as possible are also mapped to the keys on your particular Macintosh keyboard. It also handles Kermit and Xmodem file transfers, and will transfer files in the background under Multifinder. The only real weak point that I've noted is a lack of scripting. The program can remember phone numbers and modem settings and recall them automatically, but doesn't have any more sophisticated scripting. The products are: Mac220 VT220 emulation $129 Mac240 VT240 emulation + REGIS graphics $199 Mac241 VT241 emulation + color graphics $299 White Pine Software 94 Route 101A P.O. Box 1108 Amherst, NH 03031 (603) 886-9050 Upgrades are $25 + master disk, and include a new manual. I received mine one week after ordering it. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about these products. ======================================================================== From: Bob Paver <paver%milano.SW.MCC.COM@MCC.COM> I highly recommend Versaterm for the Macintosh. Use it almost every night and I've almost no problems. I know it supports the various MAC keypads for EVE like editing. Don't know about the DO key, however, which is particular to DEC keyboards. Versaterm does allow one to put any character sequence on any OPTION-<key> so one could "build" their own DO key that way. Versaterm is distributed by: Peripherals Computers & Supplies, Inc. 2457 Perkiomen Ave Mt. Penn, PA 19606 (215) 779-0522 It's also available via mail order. Check any Mac magazine. ======================================================================== ======================================================================== ======================================================================== The rest of the folks are in favor of kermit. Various information is given below about obtaining kermit, defining keys and dealing with problems like parity checking: ======================================================================== ======================================================================== ======================================================================== From: rjchen@PHOENIX.PRINCETON.EDU(Raymond Juimong Chen) For the IBM-PC, use MSKERMIT; for the Mac, MacKermit. [1] It's free. [2] It does VT100 emulation. [3] If there's a VT100 function key that's missing, you can teach the program how to do it. (For the PC, you create a MSKERM.INI file which says set key \<scancode> <characters to send>. For the Mac, you use a special SetupKerm program.) Functionality missing: [1] Double-height and double-width character. [2] 132-column mode. ======================================================================== From: "Frank Rens (Associate Director)" <RENS@UBVMS.BITNET> I've been using my PC as a VT200 for some time now using KERMIT 2.30 and redefining the keys to send the VT200 escape sequences. For example, I use ALT-= to send an <esc>[29?, which is the sequence for DO. The escape sequences are summarized in Appendix ESC of the VAX/VMS User's Manual. ======================================================================== From: Robert L Sillett <spectre@UNIX.CIS.PITTSBURGH.EDU> An excellent communications program for the PC is MS-Kermit. It fully emulates VT52 & VT102. You gan get it from Columbia University's ftp link. The cost is free. If you need to emulate the VT200 series, the SmarTerm is that way to go. This is a commercial program, and I don't know how much it costs, but I know for a fact that its VT220 emulation does have a "do" key, since I've used it. ============================================================================== From: "Wm. L. Ranck" <RANCK@VTVM1.BITNET> It may take a little work to emulate a 'DO' key on the VT100. My best advice is to use KERMIT. The more recent versions for a PC will let you define what character sequence is transmitted for each key on the keyboard. You may need to set a 'take' file to define these keys. ======================================================================== From: Jim Blake <AS0JEB@BINGVMA.BITNET> I am currently using a version of Kermit on my Macintosh SE that does excellent VT220 emulation, and better still -- it's free. With an extended keyboard on the Mac you get virtually key-for-key emulation. It's Kermit version 0.9(36)B4.OSU 12/21/87, from Columbia University. If you need more information, I can ask my local Macintosh guru how he got it. ======================================================================== From: "Donald V. Torr" <DVTORR@GALLUA.BITNET> I have successfully used MSKERMIT with EVE. Version 2.30 seems to provide good vt102 emulation. The software is available free from Columbia U. To get more information via BITNET. $ SEND KERMSRV@CUVMA (CUVMA)KERMSRV: HELP !will get you KERMSRV.INFO (CUVMA)KERMSRV: SEND <filename> !will get you any file you want based upon KERMSRV.INFO and other files you retrieve. For the PC I believe you will want MSBPCT.BAS and MSVIBM.BOO. You run the BASIC program on the PC to convert the .BOO file into an executable file. From: magill@ENIAC.SEAS.UPENN.EDU > I am currently using a version of Kermit on my Macintosh SE that does > excellent VT220 emulation, and better still -- it's free. With an extended > keyboard on the Mac you get virtually key-for-key emulation. > > It's Kermit version 0.9(36)B4.OSU 12/21/87, from Columbia University. > If you need more information, I can ask my local Macintosh guru how > he got it. > I heartly agree with one exception. Version 0.9(36)B4 has MAJOR problems with anything except 8bits noparity. It does not work in an environment which enforces evenparity - which we do here. The only working version of Kermit for the MAC which properly supports partity is 0.8(34). It wasn't broken before they fixed it. Kermit comes with a keyboard configurator which allows you to reassign keys. The major problem that .8(34) has is that it predates the "big" keyboard, and so does not recognize the control key. You get to use some other combination - usually capslock. Kermit is available from the kermit listserver at columbia. (I forget all the details on accessing it.) ======================================================================== From: Jim Blake <AS0JEB@BINGVMA.BITNET> Regarding problems of Mac Kermit with even parity: My local Kermit guru suggests that you are not working with the latest version. In the notes on the latest version 12/21/87 the authors recognize this problem and say they have solved it. I only work with 8-bits no-parity, so I don't really know. ======================================================================== From: <J_CERNY@UNHH.BITNET> We have VAXs (VMS and Ultrix), PC-DOS and MS-DOS (various vendors), CP/M, Macintosh, and PRIMOS operating systems in use on campus. We standardized on Kermit several years ago. Our approach is to have Kermit available for every machine on campus. It is free. Up to date copies can be downloaded from the Kermit Server at Columbia (KERMSERV@CUNYVM, I think). Then, *IF* that does not meet all the needs (e.g. Kermit does not include Tektronix emulation), we look for some commercial terminal emulator to supplement it. Since I've upgraded (!) from the PC-DOS world to the Macintosh world, I'll add a few Macintosh specifics. I've been using the Kermit version Jim Blake refers to. I downloaded it from MACSERVE@PUCC -- it was BINHEX'd and either SUTFFIT'd or PACKIT'd. It works fine for routine transfer between the Mac (and SE) and a VAX/VMS system running a comparable version of Kermit. I have not given it a heavy-duty workout. The VT200 keypad keys are accessed via pull-down menus (at least they are if you don't have the extended keyboard), so I think someone would be foolish to plan to do a lot of EVE editor work on the Mac, but it can be done. Another reason I would not encourage that is the character size when running an emulator that displays 24 lines of 80 characters. The characters are clear and readable, but ratherrrrrrr small! More important, I've seen bugs reported for this version of Macintosh Kermit. Not necessarily a reason not to use it, but something to aware of. These were reported on INFO-MAC (if someone at your site keeps back issues of the digest on a VAX/VMS system, as we do, it would be each to a retroactive search with the VMS SEARCH facility) and seem to involve 7-bit transfers. Finally, we here in University Computing also recommend either Red Ryder or Mac240 (from White Pine Software). This is where it starts to get religious! Red Ryder fans seem to really love it. It is shareware and only about $45. Personally I don't think the user-interface is as good as either Kermit or Mac240. I like Mac240 a lot. The biggest drawback is cost -- I think we pay about $170 with University discount. (Of course, we've not found it as worthwhile to get involved with site licensing as you-folks seem to.) The thing that really distinguishes Mac240 from a whole bunch of other Mac terminal emulators is that it includes Tektronix 4010/4014 emulation which is nice for the SAS, SPSSX, etc. users. I've also called White Pine for technical help and found that their phone consulting and service was very good -- Kermit and Red Ryder are obviously not commercial products and lack that kind of support. ======================================================================== From: Tim Lowe <rutgers!oddjob.uchicago.edu!gargoyle!acich!tim@SEAS.UCLA.EDU> Have your friend try the latest 'kermit'. All funtion keys can be defined in the startup/configuration file. It does good VT100 but not VT220. Of course you have to give up double-high, double-wide etc. ======================================================================== From: David Quarterman <DLQ@UGA.UGA.EDU> You might look at the latest version of Kermit 2.30, it does a good vt100 emulation and allows you to set keys to any string you like so defing a do key should be simple. ======================================================================== From: magill@ENIAC.SEAS.UPENN.EDU > My local Kermit guru suggests that you are not working with the latest > version. In the notes on the latest version 12/21/87 the authors > recognize this problem and say they have solved it. > > I only work with 8-bits no-parity, so I don't really know. > The kermit version with bad parity is 0.9(36)b4.osu 12/27/87 It is "documented" as not working correctly. (If you read between the lines.) They switched from generating their own parity to using the apple UART parity provisions - which don't work. They drop any character with wrong parity - You get zero notification of any problem - you just don't get any output. It also can't deal with a split personality situation - Even parity required on input; output may or may not have partity depending upon its source. The authors indicate that they have switched parity techniques and have no idea what will happen since they don't have the means to test it. That's also why 8(34) is still maintained by the sumex-aim.stanford mac archives. ========================================================================