[comp.dcom.modems] Which COMM packages have this script language feature?

HDK@psuvm.psu.edu (H. D. Knoble) (09/05/90)

It would be quite useful for a study we're doing to know some COMM package(s)
script(s) that allow the COM port buffer to be captured in a script VARIABLE
rather than simply provide the typical   WAITFOR "text" waittime   facility.
The specification we're looking for is a COMM script syntax equivalent to:

      Syntax: INPUT n m &V
      Results: &V set and SUCCESS or FAILURE returned.
      Algorithm:
      Read the COM port for n seconds; make any characters arriving with
      no delay longer than say m seconds (or let m some built-in constant
      like m=1) accessible via the script variable &V. If anything arrived
      return SUCCESS, else return FAILURE.

Example of Use:   INPUT 60 2 &V1
                  IF success then DO
                    if &V1='>' then ...
                    else if &V1="Request: " then ...
                  ...
                  end
                  else ...
                  ...
                  poll the active COM port for 60 seconds; whatever characters
                  arrive (and stop arriving after a 2 second delay) make
                  accessible in the script variable &V1 and return SUCCESS.
                  If no characters arrive set &V1='' and return FAILURE.

Many thanks.   Skip Knoble, Penn State Center for Academic Computing.

caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX) (09/06/90)

Assuming the incoming bytes are printing characters, as the example
suggests, ZCOMM and Professional-YAM can be used in this application.
Their script language maps the last 128 lines received to string variables.

Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
TeleGodzilla:621-3746 FAX:621-3735 CIS:70007,2304 Genie:CAF

bob@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Bob F. Breedlove) (09/07/90)

requirement, but there isn't much it can't do.  It has a capture
buffer which can be searched and parsed.  Perhaps this could be
used to do something similar to your requirements.  It does set
a variable when no matches have been satisfied and can wait for
a specific time limit.
-- 
Bob Breedlove  SYSOP: BOBsBBS (916/929-7511)
Author: CONFIG.EXE, RUN.EXE, CleanUp.EXE
        pacbell!sactoh0!bob