jrp@mirror.tmc.com (John R. Petersen) (11/10/88)
Posting-number: Volume 01 Issue 005
Originally-from: DATASTORM RT on GEnie <no email address>
Submitted-by: jrp@mirror.tmc.com (John R. Petersen)
Archive-name: pcplustd/part00
[ This is part 0 and its only purpose is to tell you what follows in
the next eight articles and let you decide if you want it. -- R.D. ]
This is the September 1988 release of Procomm Plus Test Drive.
This file was obtained directly from the DATASTORM RT on GEnie.
[
Since it started out with version 1.0 as mostly bells, whistles, and
bugs, Procomm has come a long way. It is now well-recognized as a good
communications package at a reasonable price. It offers several
terminal emulations including the popular vt100.
The package posted here is meant to be a demo but it has the full power
of the commercial package. For registering this copy with $75 you will
get a longer manual. Most script commands are not documented in the
abbreviated manual included here. It's not clear what the legal status
is of those who use this package without paying. The obligation
imposed on you by the authors is mostly a moral one, though large-
scale commercial users may risk a lawsuit if they don't register or get
a site license. This package is on the borderline between OK-for-
Usenet and too-commercial-for-Usenet. I decided to give it the benefit
of the doubt and post it anyway.
I'm not entirely happy with the fact that this program requires you to
dedicate one printable key to enter menu mode. UNIX users can't afford
to lose any printable keys. There seems to be no documented way of
either disabling this feature or sending this printable character on to
the host.
Earlier versions of Procomm did not have a throughput of much above
2400 bps or so on a standard IBM PC, making them useless for those who
use a higher-speed dedicated line to access a mainframe from a PC. I
didn't test the speed of this version, since I'm using a fast PS/2-70
and the test would be meaningless, but somebody ought to take the
common communication programs and see how they fare. Two years ago the
only package I found that went to 9600 bps was ProYAM (and later its
cousin Zcomm). (SmartComm II, Procomm, Qmodem, and CrossTalk all
failed to go much above 3000 bps, and MS-Kermit just barely managed
4800 bps.) I wonder if things have changed -- certainly, the
documentation for this program doesn't mention any increase in speed.
Since this is a huge package (in eight parts), a long list of bug fixes
and improvements is given below to help you decide if you want to
combine/collect/extract the whole thing.
To extract, combine and uudecode parts 1 through 8 (following this
article), or feed them in order without editing to the
comp.binaries.ibm.pc "combine" script, which is the following two-line
script:
#! /bin/sh
cat $* | sed '/^END/,/^BEGIN/d'| uudecode
Checksums are obtained with the System V "sum -r" or the 4.3BSD "sum"
command. For a uuencoded posting the checksum is for all lines
between, but not including, the "BEGIN--cut" and "END--cut" lines.
checksum size (bytes) file (between BEGIN--cut and END--cut lines)
28133 40819 uuencoded part1
23850 40982 uuencoded part2
27213 40920 uuencoded part3
40367 40920 uuencoded part4
57054 40920 uuencoded part5
30493 40920 uuencoded part6
51095 40982 uuencoded part7
57480 41484 uuencoded part8
checksum size (bytes) file
41725 238004 pcplustd.arc
-- R.D.
]
**** Additions and corrections in version September 1988 ****************
PCPLUSTD.EXE
- SENDFILE SEALINK fixed to send multiple files with a wildcard.
- SEALINK changed to use "$" file renaming conventions.
- Telink time/date stamp problem fixed.
- ASCII download Ctrl-Z/append bug fixed.
- Better file error checking on ASCII downloads.
- Seldom encountered problem with YMODEM-G fixed.
- Fixed send init ctrl quote request in Kermit.
- Fixed bug with software flow control flag at startup.
- Changed auto file lookup to handle all valid filename characters.
- Fixed problem with default protocol after ESCing from transfer window.
- Dialer no longer requires minimum 1 second pause between dial.
- Host mode welcome message is now translated.
- Fixed a bug with the GET command wrapping into the status line.
- Fixed problem updating DOS clock when host mode rolls over midnight.
- MENUMODE ON will not allow an ESC from a script file.
- Repaired and enhanced various terminal emulation features involving
protected fields with Wyse and TeleVideo terminals.
- VT102 now identifies itself as VT102, not VT100 with AVO.
- Dedicated print now requires 2 ESC's locally to exit to allow users to
send ESC's to the remote.
- Dedicated print now supports Alt-B to send a break.
- Added separate attributes in terminal mode for normal, bold,
low, reverse and underline.
- Added Setup option for ANSI.SYS compatibility (see addendum).
- Expanded length of dialing buffer from 40 to 60, even though most
modems will handle only 40.
- Added SET MENUMODE ON/OFF ASPECT command (see addendum).
- The EMULATE command will now accept both TVI9xx and TV9xx.
- AUTOBAUD DETECT now defaults to OFF.
- Fixed cursor positioning error under Desqview and Windows.
- Fixed various problems displaying the status line in command files.
- Fixed 3270 and TV9xx display attribute problems.
- Fixed Backspace error with masked fields.
- Fixed return values of KEYGET for control characters.
- Fixed error with ASCII upload blank line expansion and Wordstar files.
- Fixed Backspace error in command files.
- Fixed Elapsed Time (Alt-T) and PCPLUS.FON time calculations.
- Fixed enhanced keyboard problems with help menu.
- Fixed problem of some file transfers eating ^Z at end of file.
- ^Z no longer clears the screen in TTY emulation.
- Fixed format problem displaying directories in Alt-F.
- Removed screen dump (Alt-G) from redisplay--use write to file.
- Changed default color of status line highlight.
- Fixed ASPECT file handling of blank lines to avoid error 9s.
- Fixed display handling under multitaskers.
- Fixed Kermit checksum problems with type 2.
- Changed SET DISPLAY OFF to stop all display from remote.
- Host now sends init string after A)bort command.
- Host mode chat mode sends each character as typed, not a line at a time.
- Fixed various redisplay problems.
- Redisplay uses WRAP option in its display.
- Changed time formatting so that midnight is 12:00AM, not 00:00AM
with 12 hour clock.
- Fixed error in autobaud routine that caused CONNECT 19200 to
signal CONNECT 1200.
- Fixed ANSI processing of .NWS file.
**** Additions and corrections in version 1.1 ***************************
PCPLUSTD.EXE
- EGA washout problem removed.
- Fixed internal memory problem causing errors with external programs
and redisplay.
- Extra CR/LF in half duplex fixed.
- CIS Quick B protocol supported.
- Fixed error using keypad digits in some menus.
- "CANNOT OPEN FILE" error in Kermit uploads fixed.
- DIAL ASPECT command correctly sets default terminal and protocol.
- Alarm rings when connected after dialing.
- Response improved when cycling or aborting during dialing.
- Quicker hangups between calls when dialing.
- Added SORTDIR program to sort directories.
- ASPECT file selection window restored.
- Added DLOAD "filename" ASPECT command for loading dialing directories.
- Added SET DISPLAY ON|OFF command to control display of incoming
characters during WAITFOR and RGET commands.
- Made the pause character (default=~) user settable.
- Added option to strip high bit during ASCII transfers.
- Added up- and download directories for host mode.
- Added option to send init string when CD is found (default = YES).
- Moved the ABORTED DOWNLOADs option to Protocol Options in Setup.
- Altered comm port addresses to accept 4 hex digits for PS/2.
- Added support for the enhanced keyboard.
- "ERROR 10" when using SENDFILE and some protocols fixed.
- XMODEM last block padded with ^Z, not nulls.
- SEALINK download name error repaired.
- ANSI dedicated print functions repaired.
- Added ANSI sequence support to TV 955.
- Added dedicated print functions to TV terminals.
- Miscellaneous repairs/additions to TV and Wyse terminal emulations.
- Fixed format in .FON problem.
- Updated .HLP file for new functions.
- Ctrl-S sends XOFF without no scroll function (Alt-N).
- Removed pause displaying "**BREAK**" message so you can send
multiple breaks close together.
- Added PCPLUS.HHP file to supplemental disk as specified in manual.
- Fixed character insert with text in column 80 error.
----
John R. Petersen -- jrp@mirror.TMC.COM [Systems Programmer]
UUCP : {mit-eddie, pyramid, wjh12, xait, datacube}!mirror!jrp
Mirror Systems 2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA, 02140
Telephone: 617-661-0777 extension 122
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