MLADAIR@MTUS5.BITNET (PHANTOM) (09/13/90)
I've been reading some stuff about term caps for mainframes.
I understand a little about terminal emulation but I would like to
know more. Just how do you implement a term cap and does it take a
special system to run them on. Most things I have seen are for Unix-
based systems. Is there anyway I could write my own for a VM/CMS
system. I would like to try something besides the standard VT-100
terminal emulator(s). How would I go about doing this?
Thankyou,
Matt Adairgeoffw@xenitec.on.ca (Geoffrey Welsh) (09/15/90)
In article <90255.231731MLADAIR@MTUS5.BITNET> MLADAIR@MTUS5.BITNET (PHANTOM) writes: >I've been reading some stuff about term caps for mainframes. >I understand a little about terminal emulation but I would like to >know more. Just how do you implement a term cap and does it take a >special system to run them on. Most things I have seen are for Unix- >based systems. Is there anyway I could write my own for a VM/CMS >system. I would like to try something besides the standard VT-100 >terminal emulator(s). How would I go about doing this? "Termcap" is a Unix term, as far as I know, but there are equivalent functions on most operating systems. I don't know if CMS offers such a facility, though, as most CMS stuff I've used is locked into EBCDIC and extensive 3270 functions. Anyway, the idea of a termcap or termio library is that the host can be told what the appropriate control code is for any particular function - or even if that function exists. It should, for instance, be possible to define a Unix termcap that will give the proper cursor movement sequences for a C64 in native mode. It would also give the codes for clear screen, etc., and would reflect the fact that the C64 has no cursor position command, no delete-to-end-of-line, no scrolling regions, etc. If you're really interested in this, type "man termcap" next time you're on a Unix system. However, I see very little use for this, as Commodore native modes are much less powerful for terminal operation than VT-102 or even VT-52 emulators. Geoff UUCP: watmath!xenitec!zswamp!root | 602-66 Mooregate Crescent Internet: root@zswamp.fidonet.org | Kitchener, Ontario FidoNet: SYSOP, 1:221/171 | N2M 5E6 CANADA Data: (519) 742-8939 | (519) 741-9553 My comments do not represent and should not obligate anyone but myself.