Info-IBMPC@C.ISI.EDU (Info-IBMPC Digest) (06/01/87)
Info-IBMPC Digest Sunday, 31 May 1987 Volume 6 : Issue 41
This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge
Today's Topics:
Getting Files via FTP and Mail
Access to SIMTEL20 Files
SIMTEL20 UUDECODE
SIMTEL20 UUDECODE BITNET
INFO-IBMPC BBS Phone Numbers: (213)827-2635 (213)827-2515
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 31 May 1987 12:56:08 PDT
Subject: Getting Files via FTP and Mail
From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@C.ISI.EDU>
There seems to ba a lot of confusion about how people on various
networks can access PC related files. I know from much experience
this issue of the digest will just cause more confusion, but here
goes anyway:
There are several sources of PC related files on the net. C.ISI.EDU
holds the info-ibmpc archives and lending library. SIMTEL20.ARPA
archives many public domain and shareware programs in both source and
binary form. CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU distributes Kermit files. Once you
have explored these hosts you can find others offering public
services in many specialized areas.
We call our collection of source language programs the "info-ibmpc
lending library" because we encourage just that. We hope people will
borrow these programs, modify or extend them, and then give them back
for others to use. We don't see ourselves in the business of
providing public domain or shareware software. The purpose of the
library is to help promote discussion and keep it on as high a
technical level as is practical.
We also get a lot of criticism that we don't have a mail server that
distributes our archives via RFC822 mail. This is a political
statement on my part. I encourage those on networks that don't have
the ability to share files to lobby with the political administrators
of their networks to get such access. Claims that this is impossible
on such nets as bitnet, csnet, and usenet are bogus. Files gateways
can be built as easily as mail gateways. Problems here are political
not technical.
Most of this digest consists of our standard help files for those
wishing to access info-ibmpc or simtel20 files. Please keep this
digest around for reference and refer to it if you ever want to fetch
some files:
INFO-IBMPC ARCHIVES
-------------------
The current month's digests are archived on the Arpanet host C.ISI.EDU
in file <INFO-IBMPC>DIGESTS-87. Older digests are archived by month
in the following files:
August.82 V1 #1 #10
September.82 V1 #11 #16
October.82 V1 #17 #23
November.82 V1 #24 #30
December.82 V1 #31 #34
February.83 V2 #6 #11
March.83 V2 #12 #19
April.83 V2 #20 #26
May.83 V2 #27 #33
June.83 V2 #34 #39
July.83 V2 #40 #46
August.83 V2 #47 #60
September.83 V2 #61 #70
October.83 V2 #71 #80
November.83 V2 #81 #93
December.83 V2 #94 #104
January.84 V3 #1 #14
February.84 V3 #15 #24
March.84 V3 #25 #35
April.84 V3 #36 #48
May.84 V3 #49 #60
June.84 V3 #61 #69
July.84 V3 #70 #79
August.84 V3 #80 #89
September.84 V3 #90 #99
October.84 V3 #100 #107
November.84 V3 #108 #112
December.84 V3 #113 #119
January.85 V4 #1 #9
February.85 V4 #10 #18
March.85 V4 #19 #40
April.85 V4 #41 #52
May.85 V4 #53 #65
June.85 V4 #66 #76
July.85 V4 #77 #87
August.85 V4 #88 #99
September.85 V4 #100 #111
October.85 V4 #112 #127
November.85 V4 #128 #134
December.85 V4 #135 #143
January.86 V5 #1 #16
February.86 V5 #17 #29
March.86 V5 #30 #40
April.86 V5 #41 #48
May.86 V5 #49 #56
June.86 V5 #57 #65
July.86 V5 #66 #73
August.86 V5 #74 #80
September.86 V5 #81 #88
October.86 V5 #89 #96
November.86 V5 #97 #103
December.86 V5 #104 #109
January.87 V6 #1 #6
February.87 V6 #7 #12
March.87 V6 #13 #20
April.87 V6 #21 #34
May.87 V6 #35 #41
KWIC-INDEX.TXT contains a key-word-in-context index to digest
articles.
A library of free software is maintained in <INFO-IBMPC>. The
list of available programs is in <INFO-IBMPC>PROGRAM-LIBRARY.LIST.
Donations of source code are eagerly welcomed. Donated programs must
be truly free, with no fee or contribution required or requested.
To donate a program to the library, send a description of the program
along with a copy of the source code to INFO-IBMPC-REQUEST@C.ISI.EDU
ACCESSING THE ARCHIVES FROM ARPANET OR MILNET HOSTS
---------------------------------------------------
The archives can be accessed from any Arpanet or Milnet host by using
FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Use FTP to connect to C.ISI.EDU and
login with username ANONYMOUS, password GUEST.
On TOPS20, the following commands will invoke FTP:
FTP
C.ISI.EDU
LOGIN ANONYMOUS GUEST
DIR <INFO-IBMPC> ; to get a directory listing
GET <INFO-IBMPC>PROGRAM-LIBRARY.LIST ; to transfer a file (example)
BYE
QUIT
On Unix do:
ftp c.isi.edu
anonymous
guest
dir <info-ibmpc> ; to get a directory listing
get <info-ibmpc>program-library.list mylist ; to transfer a file (example)
bye
ACCESSING THE ARCHIVES FROM BITNET HOSTS
----------------------------------------
On BITNET, Info-IBMPC Digest is now loaded into a Spires database and
are therefore searchable from anywhere as long as you can send RFC822
mail.
If you are interested in using this service, send a piece of mail to:
DATABASE%BITNIC.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
and have as the first 3 lines of your file (case does not matter):
help
help arpanet
help design
The server will send back to you 3 help files describing how to use the
internet server, how to search Arpanet digests and how the whole thing
was designed. Read over the section on "Signup" carefully before making
further use of the Database server.
Example of search command:
FIND TEXT UNIX (IN INFO-IBMPC TABLE
would find all entries in Info-Ibmpc that contain the word UNIX.
An entry is just the section within a "digested" digest that makes
reference to the word UNIX. For further details read over the
help files.
ACCESSING THE INFO-IBMPC PROGRAM LIBRARY VIA BITNET
---------------------------------------------------
A separate copy of the program library is being maintained on
CCUC@UMCVMB.BITNET. This is a mail-based server machine; no
interactive messages are accepted. CCUC comes up once a day, at 6am
local time, to process library requests. Any requested files will be
sent to you at that time. Please don't re-send requests! This will
only tie up the net.
To request a program or a set of programs, send CCUC a file named
PCLIB REQ containing the filespecs of each file you want, one per
line. No wildchars are allowed. Both IBM-CMS and IBM-PC type
filespecs are allowed. (i.e. both 'COM_PKG1.ASM' and 'COM_PKG1 ASM'
are recognized) Each line is assumed to contain a filespec, so please
don't send mail or NOTE type files!
A CMS example:
To request ABOMB.BAS and COM_PKG1.ASM, do the following:
In CMS ready mode, type:
XEDIT PCLIB REQ
Input the following two lines:
ABOMB.BAS
COM_PKG1.ASM
Save the file, and in CMS ready mode, type:
SENDFILE PCLIB REQ TO CCUC AT UMCVMB
An up to date, commented list of the Info-IBMPC library files is contained in
the file PROGRAM- LIS. A CMS style file list, which includes other available
files and time/date stamps, is in CCUC FILELIST.
Like other functions of the Info-IBMPC interest group, this is a volunteer
effort. Please don't abuse it!
Questions, complaints and suggestions regarding CCUC can be sent to CCUC
(use a filename other than PCLIB REQ), which will forward them to the CCUC
operator.
ACCESSING THE ARCHIVES FROM CSNET, MAILNET OR USENET HOSTS
----------------------------------------------------------
These networks provide e-mail only and, as a matter of network policy,
do not support file transfer. There is currently no way to access the
Info-IBMPC archives from these networks. On Usenet, some of the
library programs may be found on net.sources or net.micro.pc. Your
best bet is to find someone on the Arpanet to mail the files to you
(anyone with Arpanet access can do this). We do not provide this
service; please remember that Info-IBMPC is a volunteer effort.
ACCESSING THE ARCHIVES FROM PHONE LINES
---------------------------------------
If you have no net access, All INFO-IBMPC files are available via our BBS.
We are running DLX a multi line BBS from Inner Loop Software. All phone
lines work at 2400, 1200, and 300 baud. You should have an XMODEM program
to download files. This version of DLX features a key word search feature.
Titles of all articles ever published in INFO-IBMPC can be searched for
key words. DLX is self documenting so log on and give it a try. If you
have any questions send a note to the BBS Sysop.
We strongly recommend use of a 2400 baud modem. INFO-IBMPC files are
large and you can spend much time downloading at slow baud rates. We
have also broken digests into individual files as monthly files are
too large for modem downloading.
INFO-IBMPC DLX Phone Numbers:
(213)827-2515
(213)827-2635
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 May 1987 06:40 MDT
From: Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA>
Subject: Access to SIMTEL20 files
THE SIMTEL20 ARCHIVES
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
Archive Mail Server: Thanks to the efforts of Frank Wancho,
SIMTEL20 Host Administrator, people on networks other than the Defense
Data Network (DDN) having mail-only connections to the DDN can now
obtain files from the SIMTEL20 archives. For information on how to do
this, send a netmail message saying:
send info
to:
archive-request@simtel20.arpa
BUT NOTE THIS: Host SEISMO (a key UUCP network host) will NOT DELIVER
mail from the archive server because it puts too much load on the
machine. Therefore, BE SURE your return mail path DOES NOT include
SEISMO or you will never receive anything from the server.
OVERVIEW
There is a colossal amount of free public domain software for
the CP/M, PCDOS/MSDOS and UNIX operating systems, and for the DoD
standard programming language, Ada, in several archives on
SIMTEL20.ARPA, a DECsystem-20 running the TOPS-20 operating system at
White Sands Missile Range. Archives of correspondence for several
newsgroups, including INFO-CPM, are also available.
You can obtain these files using the InterNet file transfer
protocol, FTP (described in a following paragraph), with user-name
"anonymous". For a login password, use your host-name or any other
string of printing characters. Throughout this message, FTP examples
are given in a GENERIC syntax. You will have to consult either local
documentation or your friendly system wizard to learn the actual
syntax used with your local mainframe operating system. For the sake
of brevity, the domain suffix ".ARPA" will be dropped from further
references to SIMTEL20 in this discussion.
To obtain directory listings, connect to SIMTEL20 via FTP and do this:
get pd:<cpm>cpm.crclst
get pd:<cpmug>cpmug.crclst
get pd:<sigm>sigm.crclst
get pd:<pc-blue>pc-blue.crclst
get pd:<msdos>msdos.crclst
get pd:<misc>misc.crclst
get pd:<unix>unix.crclst
get pd:<ada>ada.crclst
The <CPM> archive is the one to watch for the very latest CP/M
offerings, as it is updated frequently. The <CPMUG>, <SIGM> and
<PC-BLUE> archives contain software distributed by the CP/M Users
Group, the SIG/M Users Group and the PC-Blue Users Group respectively.
This software is available on diskettes from the associated users
groups, and the archives are updated as new volumes are issued. The
<PC-BLUE> archive contains software for the IBM-PC and similar
machines. Some runs under CP/M, and some under PCDOS/MSDOS. The
<MSDOS> archive also contains software for the MSDOS and PCDOS
operating systems; but this archive is locally managed, and therefore
is updated more frequently than the <PC-BLUE> archive. The <UNIX>
archive contains a variety of UNIX tools. Those which apply
specifically to CP/M are in the directory <UNIX.CPM>. The <ADA>
archive is growing rapidly. Information about this archive is in
directory PD:<ADA.GENERAL>. In general, the archived software is very
good, having been worked-over and refined by many users. The
documentation and comments tend to be complete and informative. Files
in all of these archives can be obtained using the FTP procedures
described in this message.
But please note that due to the large number of files available,
the archive maintainers cannot possibly attempt to validate the proper
operation of the various programs. When a program bug is reported,
immediate action is taken to either correct the error or remove the
offending program from the archives. Still, users must understand
that all archive programs are offered AS IS, and the archive
maintainers specifically disclaim any liability should these programs
malfunction or cause damage, incidental or otherwise. When testing
ANY new software, be certain that all information stored on disk is
backed-up before you start, so that you can recover if files are
damaged or erased. This is particularly true if you have a hard disk,
in which case malfunctions can be spectacularly disastrous.
FILE TYPES
Files are stored in two formats: Text files such as those with
names that end with DOC, HEX, INF and ASM are sometimes stored as
ASCII files, but usually these files are stored in binary squeezed
form. Binary storage is also used for executable (COM) and library
files. Squeezed and library files are described below. All binary
data are stored as four 8-bit bytes per 36-bit SIMTEL20 word, with the
low-order four bits of each word filled with zeros. If such a file is
interpreted as a contiguous string, as will happen if a straight
binary transfer is made to a 16 or 32-bit UNIX machine, the four zero
filler-bits per 36-bit group will cause rather bizarre and frustrating
results. The methods for dealing with this situation, which differ
from machine to machine, are explained in a following paragraph.
Squeezed files have been compressed using programs available in
directory <CPM.SQUSQ> to obtain an approximate 35-percent size
reduction. These files can be identified by the letter Q in the
extension field. For example, the file PD:<CPM.ASMUTL>RMACPAT.AQM is
a squeezed file. It must be transferred as a binary file, and then
unsqueezed. The unsqueezing can be done on a CP/M system using
USQ-xx.COM (where "xx" is the current version) from directory
<CPM.SQUSQ>, or there are several host-based unsqueezers in the <CPM>
and <UNIX> archives (see for example, directories <MISC.TOPS-20> and
<UNIX.SQ-USQ>).
CP/M library files (those with names ending in LBR) combine
several regular CP/M files into a single BINARY file which contains an
internal directory of its contents. They are created using the CP/M
library utility LUxxx.COM (where "xxx" is the current version) or some
other compatible utility. The complete packages for LUxxx and a newer
compatible program called NULUxx (where "xx" is the version) can be
found in directory PD:<CPM.CPMLIB>. C-language source code for a
compatible UNIX utility called LAR (library archiver) is in directory
PD:<UNIX.CPM>.
Although the type of storage used for a particular file can
usually be inferred from the file-name, this is not always true. It
is a good idea to check the appropriate "crclst" file to ascertain the
storage format used for each file of interest. Now, and for the
foreseeable future, storage formats for files in the <SIGM>, <CPMUG>
and <PC-BLUE> archives can be determined from their "generation
numbers", as shown by the FTP directory command. For example, the FTP
command:
dir pd:<pc-blue.vol001>
will yield results of the form:
-CATALOG.001.2
ABSTRACT.001.2
BW.ASM.2
BW.BAS.1
BW.EXE.1
COLOR.ASM.2
COLOR.BAS.1
COLOR.EXE.1
...and so on
All files with names ending in ".1" are stored in binary format, and
those with names ending in ".2" are stored in ASCII. This
relationship will continue to apply for files in the <SIGM>, <CPMUG>
and <PC-BLUE> archives until further notice.
WARNING: Because the public domain archives on SIMTEL20 consume a
huge amount of disk-space, storage capacity will be conserved by the
greatest practical use of libraries and squeezed files, both of which
are stored in binary format. If you cannot properly transfer binary
files, you are going to be VERY FRUSTRATED! If you need help, please
contact your local system wizard and provide him/her with a copy of
this message. Having done that, if you are still unable to make
things work correctly, send a message to INFO-CPM-REQUEST at
SIMTEL20.ARPA and I will try to help you. Please provide the
following information:
1. Machine and operating system (e.g., VAX-11/780, 4.2 BSD UNIX)
2. Network software in use (e.g., 3-Com UNET)
3. Complete list of available FTP commands (e.g., GET, PUT, etc.)
Important files in the <CPMUG> and <PC-BLUE> archives are the
CATALOG files. These files, which are stored in ASCII, contain the
"-CATALOG.nnn" files from all the volumes of their respective
archives. To obtain these composite catalog files, connect to
SIMTEL20 via FTP and do this:
get pd:<cpmug>cpmug.cat
get pd:<pc-blue.vol000>pcblue.cat
A similar file exists for the <SIGM> archive, but it is stored in
squeezed form. This file, when unsqueezed, yields SIG.CAT (the
catalog). It can be obtained using the FTP command:
get pd:<sigm.vol000>sig.cqt
(NOTE: That's "L-and-three-zeros" in "vol000")
FILE TRANSFER VIA FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, a formalized procedure for
moving files among machines on the Defense Data Network (DDN) and
other networks that connect with the DDN. The protocol is implemented
by a program often called FTP. The different mainframe operating
systems implement FTP with variations in command syntax. Some systems
have the remote-file-name precede the local-file-name in the command.
Others reverse this order. Some versions have the whole command on a
single input line, while others use multiple lines. Read the
documentation for your local system, or consult a friendly system
wizard for the details of your local FTP command syntax.
UNIX users can do something like "man ftp" for on-line
instructions. However, not all UNIX FTP programs are called "ftp", so
you may have to snoop around in the system directories or ask a system
wizard for the correct local name to use with the "man" command. ITS
users can do ":INFO FTP", and "HELP FTP" works on TOPS-20 and some
other operating systems. I will be happy to update this message with
pointers to other sources of on-line documentation if they are sent to
INFO-CPM-REQUEST@SIMTEL20.ARPA.
FTP transfers from SIMTEL20 can be made with user-name
"anonymous". Use your host-name or any other string of printing
characters for a password. For anonymous logins, SIMTEL20 supports
the FTP "change working directory" command. (Your local syntax may be
something like CD, or CWD.) Ignore the message that prompts you to
enter a password. This command allows you to specify a default
SIMTEL20 directory to be used for all file retrievals, and thereby
relieves you from having to repeatedly type "pd:<whatever>" as part of
each filename. For example, you can do something like this:
cd pd:<cpm.goodstuff>
get filename-1
get filename-2
...and so on
instead of using the longer filename forms shown in previous examples.
Users of TOPS-10, TENEX, TOPS-20 or ITS systems can use "image"
or "paged" mode for ALL transfers. UNIX users must use "ascii" mode
for ASCII files, and "tenex" or "type L 8" mode for binary files.
MULTICS users can use "ascii" mode for ASCII files, but binary files
require special treatment that is best described by the following
example provided by Paul Schauble <Schauble@mit-multics.arpa>:
!ftp simtel20
220 SIMTEL20.ARPA FTP Server Process 5Z(14)-7 at Mon 10-Sep-84 00:27-MDT
user_ftp: !login anonymous
331 ANONYMOUS user ok, send real ident as password.
Password: !guest
user_ftp: !quote "type l 8" <--(NOTE: That's lowercase "L" 8.)
200 Type L bytesize 8 ok.
user_ftp: !get micro:<cpm.zcpr3>alias.hlp alias.hlp
150 Retrieve of MICRO:<CPM.ZCPR3>ALIAS.HLP.1 started.
226 Transfer completed.
Total elapsed time: 35.7 seconds.
4348 bytes transferred in 18.5 seconds (1850 bits/sec).
user_ftp: !quit
221 QUIT command received. Goodbye.
Lines beginning with "!" are typed by the terminal user. The received
files are stored on MULTICS with one 8-bit byte per 9-bit word, and
can be trans- ferred to a microcomputer with Kermit (described in a
following paragraph).
All aspects of the FTP process for UNIX machines have been
automated to a high degree by a program in directory PD:<UNIX.CPM>.
With this program, a simple command like "mb modm700.com" can connect
to SIMTEL20 and transfer the binary file "modm700.com" from directory
PD:<CPM.MODEM7> to a local file also named "modm700.com", all with no
user intervention. Batch command files containing multiple lines of
the form in the above example can be run in no-hangup background mode
to transfer whole directories without the user even remaining
logged-in on his local system. For more information, get the file
PD:<UNIX.CPM>AUTOFTP.DOC.
PROGRAMS FOR TRANSFERRING FILES AMONG MAINFRAMES AND MICROS
Christensen Protocol Mainframe Programs:
For a micro to reliably exchange files with a mainframe,
cooperating file transfer programs with automatic error detection and
retransmission of faulty blocks must be running on both computers.
One such family of programs uses a popular protocol created by Ward
Christensen and enhanced by others. Directory PD:<UNIX.XMODEM>
contains several programs, XMODEM, UC and the older UMODEM (all
written in C), which implement this protocol on UNIX machines. See
the file PD:<UNIX>UNIX.CRCLST for a list of other useful UNIX
utilities.
On ITS machines, file transfer using the Christensen protocol can
be done using MMODEM (type :MMODEM for instructions), or LMODEM.
Documentation for LMODEM is in file .INFO.;LMODEM HELP. Other useful
ITS utilities include:
TYPE8 - types an ASCII file stored in ITS binary format.
TYPESQ - types an ITS binary format "squeezed" file (see the first
paragraph under FILE TYPES).
USQ - creates an unsqueezed version of a squeezed file.
HEXIFY - creates an Intel hex format file from an ITS binary format
COM file.
COMIFY - creates a COM file from an Intel hex file.
CRC - computes the Cyclic Redundancy Check value for a file, using
the same algorithm that is used by the CP/M program CRCK.
Brief instructions for any of these utilities except LMODEM can be
obtained by typing ":utility_name" (for example, :CRC).
The ITS utilities listed above are also available for use with
TOPS-20, but since ITS binary format is no longer being used for the
SIMTEL20 archives, these utilities have been converted to work with
TOPS-20 binary formats. A collection of TOPS-20 utilities for
transferring and manipulating files can be found in directory
PD:<MISC.TOPS-20>. See PD:<MISC>MISC.CRCLST for a list of available
programs.
File transfer and conversion utilities for use with VAX/VMS
machines are contained in directory PD:<MISC.VAXVMS>. See MISC.CRCLST
for details.
Christensen Protocol Microcomputer Programs:
An excellent program for transferring files between micros, or
between micros and mainframes is called MODM7xx, where the "xx" is
replaced with two digits to give the current version number. This
program, often referred to as MODEM7 (the name of its easier to
pronounce ancestor), uses the popular Christensen protocol to transfer
files with automatic error detection and retransmission of erroneous
blocks.
To get started with MODM7xx, you should first FTP and examine the
"DOC" and "MSG" files from the binary library file
PD:<CPM.MODEM7>MODM7xx.LBR. The "DOC" and "MSG" files are actually
stored in the library in squeezed form, so you will have to perform
three steps to get them:
1. FTP the binary library file.
2. Extract the elements having filename extensions of "DQC" and "MQG".
If you have no facilities for doing this on your mainframe host
(see the earlier comments on mainframe-based library utilities),
then you will have to transfer the library to a microcomputer and
extract the necessary elements there. If this requirement seems to
put you in a "Catch-22" situation because you have no facilities
for mainframe-to-microcomputer transfers, there is a way out; read
the "Getting Started" section which follows|.
3. Use an "unsqueezer" (described above) to convert the "DQC" and
"MQG" files extracted from the library into "DOC" and "MSG" files.
As in the case of the library extractions, unsqueezing can be done
on either a mainframe host or a microcomputer, depending on your
circumstances.
Together, these files will tell you just about all there is to know
about getting MODM7xx to run on your machine. Take the time to read
them; they're quite informative. You will also get some helpful
insights from reading some of the overlay files. These overlays,
described in file PD:<CPM.MODEM7> M7OVL-yy.LST, are used to customize
MODM7xx for particular machines without having to edit and assemble
the huge MODM7xx source file. Complete instructions for performing
this procedure are contained in each overlay file. The letters "yy"
in the above filename should be replaced with two digits giving the
current version number as determined from CPM.CRCLST.
And then, there is MEX. MEX stands for "modem executive", and it
is just what the name implies, a communications and file-transfer
program with a built-in mini operating system that runs under CP/M.
This program can do file transfers using either the Christensen or
Compuserve protocol, and it has an enormous potential for highly
automated operations because it can read and execute command-scripts
pre-stored in disk files. These scripts can include sending commands
to a remote computer, as if they had been sent manually from the
microcomputer in terminal-mode. Users of this relatively new program
are still exploring its possibilities. For more information, look in
CPM.CRCLST under the heading "PD:<CPM.MEX>", and then get the various
files that have "DQC" and "IQF" in their names. These DOCumentation
and INFormation files are stored in squeezed form (note the "Q" in the
filename extensions), so you will have to unsqueeze them. Overlays
for MODM7xx will also work with MEX, but they will not provide all of
the extended MEX features.
Kermit:
Another excellent program for transferring files is called
KERMIT. This program has the advantage of being available for an
impressively large number of mainframes and micros. It is, for
example, available for the IBM-PC, and it DOES NOT require CP/M.
To get started with KERMIT, connect to CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU using
FTP, and do this:
get ker:aaaread.me
Note that this file is NOT on SIMTEL20, and the name is subject to
change. If you cannot find a file with this name, snoop around in the
first half-dozen or so files in the alphabetical listing obtainable
using the FTP directory command:
dir ker:
You should find something useful.
Questions can be addressed to INFO-KERMIT-REQUEST at CU20B.ARPA.
Getting Started:
In order to get MODM7xx, MEX or KERMIT running on your micro, you
must first transfer the necessary files from mainframe to micro. If
you already have a receive-to-disk communications program of some
sort, you can use it to move the needed files. In the long-run it is
essential to be able to transfer 8-bit binary files, but initially it
is not absolutely necessary. Some of the files are quite large. For
example, MODM7xx.COM is over 18K bytes, and the HEX file (which you
will need if you can't transfer 8-bit files) is over 45K. Moving
large files to your micro without using an error detecting protocol
can result in frustrating errors, but it can be done by receiving
multiple copies and using manual or machine-assisted comparisons to
locate and repair bad parts of the code. However, there IS a better
way.
Directory PD:<CPM.STARTER-KIT> contains a short starter-program
called PIPMODEM.ASM that can be FTPed to your mainframe, printed, and
then entered into your microcomputer by hand and assembled. This can
then be used to down-load either MBOOT3.ASM or BMODEM.BAS (depending
on whether you prefer assembly language or BASIC), both of which can
receive files using the error detecting Christensen protocol. Once
you have this capability, you can download the full-function file
transfer program of your choice. To examine this option, connect to
SIMTEL20 via FTP and do this:
get pd:<cpm.starter-kit>pipmodem.asm
get pd:<cpm.starter-kit>pipmodem.doc
get pd:<cpm.starter-kit>mboot3.asm
get pd:<cpm.starter-kit>bmodem.bas
get pd:<cpm.starter-kit>bmodem.doc
All are ASCII files. Read PIPMODEM.DOC first, then look at MBOOT3.ASM
and BMODEM.DOC. PIPMODEM.DOC explains the situation very nicely.
Questions concerning these programs should be sent to
INFO-CPM@SIMTEL20.ARPA (NOT to INFO-CPM-REQUEST).
NEWSGROUP CORRESPONDENCE ARCHIVES
Copies of correspondence for several newsgroups are kept on
SIMTEL20 in directories with names of the form PS:<ARCHIVES.KEYWORD>,
where "KEYWORD" has been chosen to indicate the associated newsgroup.
At present, the following correspondence archives are available:
newsgroup mail archive filename
--------------- ---------------------
ADA-SW PS:<ARCHIVES.ADA-SW>
AMETHYST-USERS PS:<ARCHIVES.AMETHYST>
INFO-68K PS:<ARCHIVES.68K>
INFO-APPLE PS:<ARCHIVES.APPLE>
INFO-CPM PS:<ARCHIVES.CPM>
INFO-FORTH PS:<ARCHIVES.FORTH>
INFO-HAMS PS:<ARCHIVES.HAMS>
INFO-MICRO PS:<ARCHIVES.MICRO>
INFO-XMODEM PS:<ARCHIVES.XMODEM>
INFO-MODEMXX PS:<ARCHIVES.MODEMXX>
INFO-MODULA-2 PS:<ARCHIVES.MODULA-2>
NORTHSTAR-USERS PS:<ARCHIVES.NORTHSTAR>
INFO-PASCAL PS:<ARCHIVES.PASCAL>
UNIX-SW PS:<ARCHIVES.UNIX-SW>
INFO-XENIX310 PS:<ARCHIVES.XENIX310>
Descriptions of these and other newsgroups can be obtained via FTP
with anonymous login (as for SIMTEL20) from the Network Information
Center's host SRI-NIC.ARPA. Ask for the file
PS:<NETINFO>INTEREST-GROUPS.TXT (an ASCII file). And please note,
this is NOT on SIMTEL20.
File names for SIMTEL20 newsgroup correspondence archives have
two forms. For example, PS:<ARCHIVES.CPM>CPM.ARCHIV.ymmdd is a group
of files containing INFO-CPM correspondence going back several years.
The characters "ymmdd" in the file names are actually digits giving
the year, month and day of the last message in each particular file.
Current correspondence is kept in the file
PS:<ARCHIVES.CPM>CPM-ARCHIV.TXT, which is constantly changing.
Although INFO-CPM has been used as an example here, the same naming
scheme is used for the other newsgroup files as well. For a complete
list of available files, connect to SIMTEL20 via FTP and do this:
dir ps:<archives>
You will receive a list of names of the form:
KEYWORD.DIRECTORY.n
where "n" is one or more digits. For example, the INFO-CPM listing
currently appears as "CPM.DIRECTORY.1" To then get a list of files in
a particular archive, do this:
dir ps:<archives.keyword>
where "keyword" (for example, "cpm") is chosen from the preceding
list, and the word "directory" and the number "n" are not used. At
present, all of these files are stored in ASCII.
ADDITIONS, IMPROVEMENTS AND CORRECTIONS
Suggestions for additions, improvements and corrections to this
message are always welcome. Please send them to
INFO-CPM-REQUEST@SIMTEL20.ARPA.
Contributions of public domain software are actively solicited.
If you have something that seems appropriate for inclusion in the
<CPM>, <MSDOS> or <MISC> archives, please contact Keith Petersen
<W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA>. Likewise, contact Richard Conn
<ADA-SW-REQUEST@SIMTEL0.ARPA> if you wish to contribute to the <ADA>
archive, and UNIX-SW-REQUEST@SIMTEL20.ARPA if you have something
for the <UNIX> archive.
Happy computing!
Keith Petersen
W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 May 87 22:53:20 EST
From: Paul Ribeiro <ACAD8012%RYERSON.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: SIMTEL20 UUDECODE
Yes ..I have downloaded files from Simtel20 via Kermit
and used CMS/XEDIT etc. on the files before download. (IBM 4381-Q03)
I replied direct to Carl but got no response so I had assumed
he got it working.
1) when you get the files from Simtel - yes they have blanks
inserted by either the mailer or whatever prog is used to break
and package the stuff - XEDIT the file and delete everything
upto ---cut here- ..including the blank line that can appear
before/after the --cut here-
2) you can't use Yterm/Pctrans because as you pointed out PcTrans
converts X'E0' into useless stuff - UUDECODE reports "invalid char"
3) I use Procomm/Kermit download for all my simtel files
- no problems to date ..use TEXT mode ..*NOT* BINARY!
4) as for the LRECL of the file ..well you can LRECL 62 ,RECFM F
then file it. Or ..do as i sometimes do ..just download it with
the file set RECFM V.
If you have any queries/complaints please feel free to abuse my RDR
/Paul
Academic Computing Information Centre,
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute,
Toronto, Canada.
ACAD8012%RYERSON.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 May 1987 11:37 CET
From: Karl-L. Noell <NOELL%DWIFH1.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: SIMTEL20 UUDECODE BITNET
In reply to various problem reports, posted in several back issues,
I'd like to assure, that (although at a BITNET site far away), I have
been able to process successfully about 20 *.ARC and *.COM files,
received UUENCODE'd from SIMTEL20 via WISCVM-Gateway. So I'm convinced
that there is really no problem caused by BITNET peculiarities.
Most Problems (if not even all) might be blamed on EBCDIC -to-> ASCII
conversion inconsistencies during downloading from receiving BITNET-
node host to target PC. In our case, two conversion tables are involved:
ETOA in CMS-Kermit 3.1 and another table in an attached protocol converter
(we have no 7171 but Series /1 with YALE's HYAC). Inspecting any
uuencoded received file in host environment (by BROWSE or XEDIT) tells
us, that some characters are different in comparison with the contents of
downloaded file in the PC. At our site we encounter some additional
disfiguring due to national (German) character set with vowel mutations.
Nevertheless the uudecoding works as it should.
For testing purpose, I'll now enclose a few lines each containing the
set of *all* characters issued by uuencoding. Downloading to PC should
result there to 64 characters per line (starting with blank), repre-
senting the ASCII codes 32...95 (decimal) resp. 20...5F (hexadecimal)
*ORDERED IN CORRECT SEQUENCE* . You may check this against the
appropriate columns in an ASCII table or rather by viewing the hexa-
codes belonging to. But beware: I'm not sure about the correct
coding in my outgoing mail.
----------------------------CUT-HERE----------------------------
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
----------------------------CUT-HERE----------------------------
Perhaps a kind person at SIMTEL could take up my suggestion to add such
a "test line" say before the first ----CUT-HERE---- to all files
sent out uuencoded by SIMTEL20 server.
Karl-L Noell
fhw (Wiesbaden, W.Germany)
------------------------------
End of Info-IBMPC Digest
************************
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