SY.CHRISTINE@CU20B.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Christine M Gianone) (07/09/88)
Info-Kermit Digest Fri, 8 Jul 1988 Volume 8 : Number 1
SPECIAL ISSUE:
Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.31
Send digest submissions to Info-Kermit@CU20B, requests for addition to or
deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@CU20B.
Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the
Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host CU20B, CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU, or
CU20B.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (a DECSYSTEM-20), as user ANONYMOUS, using any password,
and GET the desired files from logical device KER:. You can also get Kermit
files over BITNET/EARN; to get started send a message with text HELP to
KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions,
read the file KER: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: Fri 8 Jul 88 13:39:29-EDT
From: Christine Gianone <SY.CHRISTINE@CU20B.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Subject: Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.31
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 2.31
This is to announce version 2.31 of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC and PS/2
families and compatibles, the DEC Rainbow, the HP-150 and 110, the Grid
Compass II, and for "generic DOS". This release replaces version 2.30 of
January 1988. The majority of the work was done by Professor Joe R. Doupnik
of Utah State University, who also prepared the 2.29 and 2.30 releases.
The program requires DOS 2.0 or later, and 100K+ of memory. The major new
features include an expanded script language, new communication options, Kermit
File Attribute support, improved user and system interfaces, additional
terminal emulation features, and many internal fixes and enhancements, plus
a new manual and other documentation. The new features are described more
fully at the end of this message.
The executable files are stored in a special printable format, called "BOO
files", suitable for BITNET file transfer, electronic mail, etc. These are
decoded into .EXE files using a "BOO-file decoder" program. The documentation
is available online in plain ASCII text format, and in Scribe text formatter
source format. Following is a synopsis of the files. The KERMSRV name is the
same as the CU20B name, except the "KER:" should be omitted, and the period
between the filename and filetype should be a space, e.g. KER:MSAAAA.HLP on
CU20B is MSAAAA HLP on CUVMA.
CU20B Name Size Description
KER:MSAAAA.HLP 7K Explanation of file naming conventions
KER:MSB*.* 185K total BOO-file encoding/decoding programs (many)
KER:MSVIBM.BOO 113K IBM PC Kermit, BOO-encoded executable
KER:MSVRB1.BOO 82K DEC Rainbow Kermit BOO file
KER:MSVGEN.BOO 77K Generic MS-DOS Kermit BOO file
KER:MSVHP1.BOO 77K HP-150 (untested)
KER:MSVHPX.BOO 77K HP-110 and Portable PC (untested)
KER:MSVGRI.BOO 77K Grid Compass II (untested)
KER:MSKERM.DOC 312K MS-DOS Kermit manual, plain ASCII text
KER:MSKERM.MSS 302K Scribe text formatter source for manual
KER:MSKERM.HLP 16K A summary of MS-Kermit commands
KER:MSKERM.BWR 16K List of known restrictions, bugs, etc.
KER:MSS*.* 760K total System-independent MASM Source files (12 files)
KER:MSG*.* 120K each System-dependent source (graphics, IBM only)
KER:MSU*.* 72-87K each Sys-depn source (keyboard support, all systems)
KER:MSX*.* 40-168K each Sys-depn source (port i/o, etc, all systems)
KER:MSY*.* 106K each Sys-depn source (terminal emulation, IBM only)
KER:MSZ*.* 181K each Sys-depn source (term emul, cont'd, IBM only)
KER:MSV*.MAK 2K each Microsoft MAKE files for each version
KER:MSV*.BAT 2K each Batch files to build each version
KER:MSV*.LNK 1K each LINK command files for each version
The utility program MSUCHK.C (and .BOO), contributed by Phil Benchoff, allows
convenient determination of MS-Kermit's keyboard codes on the IBM PC
family. And the files MSIXSE.* are the XSEND program, contributed by Mark
Zinzow, for constructing MS-Kermit command files that send entire directory
trees from one DOS system to another.
Be sure to read the MSKERM.BWR file before trying to use the new version, or
reporting any problems with it.
Here are the minimum files needed for the new release ("xxx" stands for the
specific version, IBM, RB1, HP1, HPX, or GEN):
1. For everybody: The documentation -- MSKERM.DOC, MSKERM.HLP, MSKERM.BWR.
2. For those who already have Kermit on their PC: MSVxxx.BOO.
3. If you don't have an MSBPCT "BOO-file decoder", also get at least MSBPCT.BAS
(the slow BASIC version) and MSBPCT.BOO (an .EXE version from C, which
you can decode with MSBPCT.BAS).
4. For those who want to make modifications to the sources:
MSS*.*, MSGxxx.* (if any), MSXxxx.*, MSYxxx.* (if any), MSZxxx.* (if any),
MSVxxx.MAK (or .BAT if you don't have MAKE), and MSVxxx.LNK.
The systems for which we don't yet have the new version ready are still in
the Kermit distribution as before, under the MSV, MSX, and MSY prefixes. These
will be replaced as the new ones appear.
The IBM PC, DEC Rainbow, and HP-150 versions may also be ordered on diskette
from Columbia, along with typeset, printed copies of the manual. The IBM
version is available on 5.25-inch 360K DS DD diskettes, and on 3.5-inch 720K DS
diskettes for the PS/2 family. The Rainbow version is on RX50. The HP-150
version is on 3.5" diskette.
New features for release 2.31 include...
SCRIPT LANGUAGE:
Kermit's script language has been significantly expanded. It has become a
regular little programming language, similar to what's found in the commercial
packages:
- Substitutable parameters in macro invocations, similar to DOS Batch.
- Variables can be defined, referenced, and undefined.
- GOTO and labels for transfer of control within a TAKE file or macro
- An IF statement for testing conditions including SUCCESS or FAILURE of the
preceding command (like SEND, GET, RECEIVE, INPUT, etc), or the time of
day, or whether a file exists, or whether a variable is defined, etc.
- A loop counting mechanism.
- A way to reexamine text that has already been INPUT.
- A way to test for the modem signals CD, CTS, and DSR.
- Limited interaction with user ("Type any key when ready...")
A WIDER RANGE OF COMMUNICATION OPTIONS:
- SET PORT COMn (n = 1 to 4). Support for COM1 through COM4 on the IBM PC/AT
and PS/2 series.
- SET PORT BIOSn (n = 1 to 4). Support for communication ports 1 to 4, using
Bios-level drivers, like those supplied with certain local area networks.
- SET PORT NET [<nodename>] as in 2.30, for NetBios-based local area networks.
- SET PORT UB-NET1 for Ungermann-Bass Net/One.
Ungermann-Bass code contributed by Henrick Levkowetz (Philips Kista AG,
Stockholm) and Renne Rehmann (Switzerland)
FILE ATTRIBUTES:
Kermit File Attributes packets are now exchanged with other Kermit programs
that know about them. This lets MS-DOS Kermit know the size of incoming files
in advance, lets it reject them if there's not enough disk space, and lets
MS-Kermit display the percent done for incoming as well as outbound files.
Attribute packets also allow arriving files be stored with their original
creation dates and times. This mechanism has been tested successfully with
Kermit-370 on IBM mainframes, PDP-11 Kermit, and with MS-DOS Kermit itself.
A new MAIL command, that lets MS-Kermit send a file to a Kermit server with
instructions (in an Attribute packet) to deliver it as mail to a specified user
(as yet, no Kermit servers can do this).
USER AND SYSTEM INTERFACE:
- A new HELP command was added (a concise screenful of text, nothing fancy).
- A new transaction logging feature was added.
- CD is now a synomym for CWD.
- Macros can be invoked by name, without DO.
- Improved operation under MS-Windows (PgUp/PgDn now work).
- Error messages redesigned to be more helpful.
- Long Kermit commands in TAKE files can be continued onto subsequent lines.
- Many new SHOW commands, for different groupings of paramaters.
- Macro definitions can be shown individually.
- The Kermit command line interface now permits full 8-bit character inputs.
- "kermit < todo.lst > todo.log" works.
- "sort < todo.lst | kermit" works.
- Kermit's return status code is now user-settable, via SET ERRORLEVEL.
- ERRORLEVEL now set correctly after SEND.
TERMINAL EMULATION:
- Tektronix emulation improvements.
- User can identify graphics adapter explicitly.
- VGA 640x480 graphics now supported.
- VT102 scrolling within region speeded up.
- A new \Kholdscrn verb has been added (VT100 "hold screen").
- The VT102 emulator now supports escape sequences to control local echoing.
- Reply to ESC Z "what are you?" query changed from "ESC[?6;2c" to "ESC[?6c".
- VT52 printer-control escape sequences ESC W and ESC X now work.
- Ctrl-@ now sends ASCII NUL (0) by default.
OTHER CHANGES:
The SERVER command now accepts an optional time limit, to make the server
shut down after a certain amount of elapsed time or at a given time of day.
The SPACE command no longer requires presence of CHKDSK.COM, and therefore
no longer hangs the MS-Kermit server if it finds something wrong with the disk.
Some internal forward references were juggled so that MS-Kermit 2.31 can
be assembled with Microsoft MASM 5.1 (2.30 could not be...)
Echoed XOFFs are now detected and no longer cause a deadlock.
Under network operation, files opened read-only now have the DOS DENY-NONE bit
set so that competing tasks may access them simultaneously, such as when they
are run by Pushing or RUN within Kermit.
The inevitable bug fixes.
FINAL WORDS:
Like any Kermit program, MS-DOS Kermit is for everyone to use and share.
Please take or order the files you need. If you're getting files over a
network, please be judicious -- don't ask for KER:MS*.*, or the networks will
be choked for months! Once you get a working copy at your site, share it with
others, rather than having them make further network requests.
Send complaints, bug reports, suggestions, comments, or even praise and
testimonials (where they're deserved) to Info-Kermit@CU20B (.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU).
And thanks once again on behalf of the world's thousands or millions of MS-DOS
Kermit users to Joe Doupnik for his skill, generosity, and patience. And
thanks also to the beta testers.
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End of Info-Kermit Digest
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