[comp.protocols.kermit] Info-Kermit Digest V13 #1

fdc@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Frank da Cruz) (01/05/91)

Info-Kermit Digest          Fri, 4 Jan 1991        Volume 13 : Number 1

Today's Topics:
        New Release of Apple II Kermit
        New Release of VAX/VMS Kermit-32
        Another Prerelease of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Ready for Testing
        New Update of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 for the Victor 9000
        New Update of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 for the DEC Rainbow
        Updated Auxilliary Files for Kermit-370
        CP/M Kermit version 4.10 Enhancements
        TOPS-10 Kermit Files Repaired

Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU,
requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to
Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET.

Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order.  On the
Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280
running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2.  Login as user anonymous
(note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired
files.  The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c,
kermit/d, and kermit/e.  Test versions are in kermit/test.  Binaries are in
kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode).  You can also get Kermit files over the
BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV,
the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA.  For detailed instructions, read the
file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV).  To order by mail, request a
complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution,
Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street,
New York, NY 10025 USA.

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Date: Wed Dec  5 09:16:51 1990
From: Christine M Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: New Release of Apple II Kermit
Keywords: Apple II Kermit 3.87

From Ted Medin, <medin-t@shark.nosc.mil>.  Here is his description of the
new release:

  1. Decimal numbers allowed in lots of places.
  2. Screen restore on "connect" for //e or better.
  3. Kermit file attributes are handled.
  4. Percent of file transferred where possible (file attributes required).
  5. Lots of bug fixes (will we ever get the vt100 right :-)
  6. Kermit protocol bug fixes.
  7. Escape character "\" can be used in file names for file xfers.
  8. Show volumes - (ProDos only) shows the prefixes of the online volumes.
  9. Escape V - When connected will toggle cursor-keys-vt100.
 10. Some vt102 printer codes are handled - don't expect much.
 11. New driver for the Ace dual card.  Thanks to Andy Tefft.

Now for a list of credits for those who helped.  I'm sure I missed someone
so please accept my appoligies: Doug Ashbrook, Todd Bakal, Ralph Carpenter,
Grant Delaney, Les Ferch, Paul Hirose, Steve Kunz, Ted Lee, Murphy Sewell,
Andy Tefft, Dick Wotiz.  (End Quote)

The new files are in kermit/a/app*.* on watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Internet)
and they are available from KERMSRV at CUVMA (BITNET/EARN).

------------------------------

Date: Wed Dec  5 09:16:51 1990
From: Christine M Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: New Release of VAX/VMS Kermit-32
Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit

From Jonathan Welch, a minor new release of Kermit-32 for VAX/VMS, version
3.3.128.  The new release replaces version 3.3.126, and contains two
corrections: a bug when transferring files containing print carriage control,
and problems operating in non-interactive (e.g. batch) mode.  The files are
in the B area, kermit/b/vms*.* on watsun, VMS*.* on CUVMA KERMSRV.  The file
vmsmit.hex is KERMIT.EXE encoded in hex format, which you can convert back to
EXE format using the VMSDEH program, also supplied in the same area.  See the
file VMSAAA.HLP for instructions.  Thanks to Jonathan for keeping Kermit-32
alive!

------------------------------

Date: Tue Jan  1 20:37:42 1991
From: Christine M Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: Another Prerelease of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 Ready for Testing
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02, IBM PC

Here are the changes since the last announcement, from Joe Doupnik's
MSR302.UPD file.  The new version is ready for testing in
kermit/test/mstibm.boo in BOO file format, convertible to executable .EXE file
using any of the kermit/b/msbpct.* programs, or as a directly executable
binary file in kermit/bin/mstibm.exe.  As usual, many thanks to Joe for his
constant and devoted attention to this program.

94. Make several internal changes to the code for SET PORT TES, with no
    changes to user level commands. File msxibm.asm.

95. 26 Nov. Fix two problems introduced this past week: unwanted ghost cursor
    boxes in graphics emulation mode if character writing is opaque and the
    display is CGA or Hercules, and loss of \Knethold for TES. Files changed
    are msgibm.asm and msxibm.asm.

96. Another graphics terminal emulation fix for the case of using opaque
    character writing with monochrome displays when the characters do not
    start on a multiple of 8 horizontal PC dots. File msgibm.asm

97. Add a problem solver from Frank da Cruz: if Kermit times out waiting for
    a packet character to arrive then send an XON to the host, if such flow
    control is active, to free a host which might have received an XOFF as
    a stray line noise character. File msscom.asm

98. Add more flexibility to the REMOTE LOGIN <username password account>
    command so that it can be stated on one line, particularly for Take files,
    and yet retain the ability to use embedded spaces in all three fields. To
    use embedded spaces surround the quantity with curly braces, {..}. An
    example is a username of "my name" and a password of "no show":
        REM LOGIN {my name}{no show}
    or equivalently
        REM LOGIN {my name}   {no show}
    The account name is omitted in this example. Kermit will prompt for the
    items only if nothing is specified after the word LOGIN. File mssser.asm,
    done on 6 Dec.

99. Improve performance of the Novell TELAPI communications path. Command
    TELAPI between single Character and Line Mode depending on what Kermit
    sends, because otherwise TELAPI will send Kermit packets as a long burst
    of TCP/IP Telnet packets each holding one data character. This boosted the
    Kermit to Kermit file sending speed from 240 to 1990 file characters per
    second in one test situation (an 8MHz AT to a MicroVAX II using Kermit-32
    version 3.3.126 and 1000 byte packets).

    However, because of the way TELAPI Line Mode works this gain is obtained
    only if the end-of-packet character on packets sent by MS-DOS Kermit is
    the default 13 (Carriage Return); other values will result in TELAPI using
    its method of a single character per Telnet packet. That is, when TELAPI
    is in Line Mode a Carriage Return is required to send its buffer.

    Second, side step a particularly slow TELAPI operation when receiving
    characters. This boosted reception from 240 to 1720 file characters/sec
    in a similar test. All changes are in file msxibm.asm. Done on 8 Dec 1990.

100. Add a finishing touch to SET PORT TELAPI to handle the case of starting
     a NEW or RESUMING an existing connection when the command is given.

101. By request, add additional Tek submode entry and exit commands of
        ESC 1   enter Tek submode from text emulator and clear Tek screen;
                ignored if Tek mode is disabled.
        ESC 2   exit Tek submode from text emulator;
                ignored if acting as a full Tek terminal (SET TERM TEK).
     Files changed are msgibm.asm and mszibm.asm

102. Make a couple small changes to files msxibm.asm and mssset.asm to ensure
     that changes to flow control take effect immediately rather than waiting
     for the serial port to be closed and reopened manually (by changing ports
     and changing back again).

103. Two small changes. Ensure received packet retry counter does not increase
     when any legally framed packet arrives, rather than considering only those
     in the current window. File mssrcv.asm.
     Add tiny time windows when the serial port interrupt routine can permit
     other interrupts to be serviced while it reads bytes from the FIFO of a
     16550A UART chip. Previously interrupts were turned off during the entire
     read process. Improvments will be noticed only on machines already
     running in a nearly overloaded situation. This feature may be removed if
     any bad reports arrive. File msxibm.asm.

104. Add screen-clear command CLS to clear the screen at Kermit command
     level, especially for Take files and Macros (Control-L does it by hand).
     File mssker.asm, done 17 Dec 1990.

105. Add correction to file msxibm.asm to prevent sending an XOFF if the
     communications port is inactive. Affects situations such as starting
     Kermit and saying DIR before doing anything else.

106. Remove item 97. At least one IBM mainframe Kermit objects to an XON when
     reading packets (however slowly it may respond). File msscom.asm, 23 Dec.

107. Add support for 132x25 screens with the new IBM XGA display adapter. Tnx
     to Bert Tyler at NIH. File msyibm.asm

108. Small correction in file msuibm.asm, IBM PC keyboard reader, to work
     around a PS/2 keyboard Bios problem with the keypad "5" key.

109. Ensure that during terminal emulation out going bytes of values greater
     than 9fh are not converted into 7-bit control form (ESC letter) under any
     circumstance. Only bytes in the C1 control code area may be converted.
     File msyibm.asm

110. Correct small error in identifying the transfer character set given in
     received attributes packets. Also, if an arriving file indicates a
     Transfer Character Set of CYRILLIC then force use of CP866 for that
     particular file and revert back to normal afterward. File mssrcv.asm
     And if the user manually selects CP866 then retain that setting around
     pushing to DOS. File msxibm.asm

111. During file transfers pressing either Control-Q or just Q sends an XON
     code to the other side, regardless of our flow control setting. This
     is to manually free a host blocked by a stray XOFF. File msscom.asm

Joe has also written a capsule summary of the changes from version 3.01 to
3.02.  It is available in the file kermit/test/msr302.doc, about 36K in
length.  Thanks again, Joe!

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 90 23:53:57 EST
From: "Joe R. Doupnik" <jrd@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: New Update of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 for the Victor 9000
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02, Victor 9000 Kermit

I completed a quick upgrade of the Victor 9000 (Sirius 1) Kermit material
from version 2.29 to 3.02 and placed the files on ~kermit/test.  I lack a
Victor upon which to test these changes so we need to hear from volunteers.
File mstv90.boo is accompanied by the three main source files msuv90.asm,
msxv90.asm and msyv90.asm.  The startup banner carries the date of 17 Dec
1990.

Joe D.

[Ed. - Thanks, Joe.  Reports from Victor 9000 users would be much
appreciated.]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 03:05:16 EST
From: Robert Weiner <rweiner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: New Update of MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 for the DEC Rainbow
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02, Rainbow

Here is the latest version of DEC Rainbow Test Kermit built from current
MS-DOS Kermit sources in ~kermit/test.  Nothing Rainbow specific new here.
-Rob

[Ed. - Thanks, Rob!  Readers can find this contribution in
kermit/test/mstrb1.boo (boo file) and kermit/bin/mstrb1.exe (binary).]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1990 Dec 17   14:56 EST
From: "John F. Chandler" <PEPMNT@CFAAMP.HARVARD.EDU>
Subject: Updated Auxilliary Files for Kermit-370
Keywords: Kermit-370, IBM Mainframe, CMS Kermit

Two files have recently been updated.  One is IK0VER.FOR, a comparison
program which generates a difference file in the form of CMS-style updates:
there was a sequencing problem in the output difference file whenever a
matching stretch of exactly one card appeared in the midst of differences.
IK0VER is of interest primarily to programmers on non-CMS systems who wish
to send code improvements in a compressed and uniform fashion.  The other
file is IKCACT.ASM, the sample accounting exit routine for Kermit-CMS.
Nothing has been changed in the way it works, but some new options have been
added for recording the accounting information.  Also, a note of caution:
the punch option, as a quick examination of the code would indicate, does
NOT work in an XA-mode virtual machine.  Andre Pirard has signaled an
intention to make an XA-mode version some day, but not right away.

John

[Ed. - Thanks, John!  John has also sent in a set of Kermit-370 documentation
files that contain "Fortran" carriage control in column 1, and that are fully
paginated, with an index and a table of contents that make sense.  These are
available in the "B" area as IK*.LPT.]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 18:28:30 EST
From: Mike Freeman <freeman@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: CP/M Kermit version 4.10 Enhancements
Keywords: CP/M Kermit

As a result of an E-Mail discussion with Dr. Russell Lang at Monash
University in Australia, I have made the following enhancement to Kermit-80
Version 4.10: when receiving or getting files, if a "disk full" condition is
found, rather than aborting with no other action, the enhanced Kermit now
deletes the file causing the "disk full" condition, complains to the user
(which it always did) and sends an "E" packet to the other side to tell it
to stop sending.  These changes are in cpsker.asm, cpspk1.asm, cpsker.hex in
my area, /uw/guests/freeman/.  Except for bug fixes as a result of the test
release, I believe this will be the last work on Kermit-80 ver. 4.10.
Future enhancements will go into Kermit-80 ver. 4.11.

After checking with Joe Doupnik, I've modified CP/M Kermit to take account
of the SET INCOMPLETE-FILES setting when receiving files and a disk-full
error occurs. If SET INCOMPLETE KEEP is in effect, the incomplete file will
be closed and kept, else it will be deleted.  The user will still know that
the transmission was unsuccessful as the "Failed" message will appear even
with SET TERMINAL QUIET.  The "E" packet will still be sent to the remote
Kermit. This is the behavior before my last change except that under all
circumstances, an incomplete file is closed (errors ignored), so that, if
SET INCOMPLETE-FILES KEEP is in effect, an attempt wil be made to output the
last buffer.

-- Mike Freeman K7UIJ --

[Ed. - Thanks, Mike!  CP/M Kermit users should continue to check the new
files in kermit/test/cp*.* for updates.  Reports and contributions continue
to arrive from far and wide, showing that CP/M is still alive.  When they
have settled down, version 4.10 will replace 4.09 in the standard Kermit
distribution.]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 90 17:00:55 EST
From: Mike Freeman <freeman@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: TOPS-10 Kermit Files Repaired
Keywords: TOPS-10 Kermit, DECsystem-10 Kermit

In Kermit Digest V10#4, I noticed that Chuck Bacon noticed that <CR><LF>s
had been inserted in the Macro-10 sources for DECsystem-10 Kermit in such a
way that the Macro compilation was broken.  Did Mr. Bacon ever get a
corrected set of files to you?  It would appear not as a cursory perusal of
the ~kermit/b/ area shows you still have the chopped files (as I presume
they came from Mr. Norstedt).  In any case, I have sent you reformatted
files to compile/load/execute properly on the DECsystem-10.  The Bliss
modules are unaffected.  These sources also include my bug fixes also.
Everything works correctly as far as I can tell.  Ciao.
-- Mike K7UIJ --

[Ed. - Many thanks, Mike!  TOPS-10 lives too, eh?]

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End of Info-Kermit Digest
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