Forum2News_Exporter@mts.rpi.edu (Barry Bailey) (02/02/91)
I began using WinQVT recently. My initial reaction is favorable, though not COMPLETELY satisfied. I spent many hours setting up a key-map file such that our IBM mainframe would respond appropriately to non-alpha/numeric keys (e.g. Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, etc.) I still haven't gotten the destructive backspace key set correctly (\008\177 should work - backspace then delete). This whole process would have been made a lot easier if (SUGGESTION follows...) a documented DEFAULT.KM was included in the WNQVT451.ZIP file (on cica.cica.indiana.edu) AND if (SUGGESTION follows...) *.KM comment lines were preserved after each File - Save As operation. The reason for the former suggestion: WinQVT stores *.KM data in Octal format and uses key scan codes not similar to MS-KERMIT.INI scan codes, thus I spent some time pressing each key and typing in a fake sequence. I used the sequence as an identifier and documented (included comments in) the *.KM file. The reason for the latter suggestion: I stepwise documented keys, saving additional fake sequences after testing key maps. The second or third save resulting in a loss of documentation (i.e. no comment lines) prompted me to create a *.DOC file containing key maps and comments (exasperating). I still don't know what to do about the destructive back-space key, maybe ARROW-LEFT and DELETE? QPC software deserves a vote of confidence for adding the key map files none-the-less. MAJOR problem: I can't get file transfers to work. I have worked almost exclusively with MS-KERMIT to connect to our IBM mainframe over our IBX/PBX data line (not Hayes compatible, requires hardware/DTR hangup, etc.). MS-KERMIT requires you to press the ENTER key once or twice before a file transfer will commence (after running KERMIT - SEND and KERMIT - RECEIVE at the appropriate ends of the line). It seems that this acts as a "ping" or "we are ready now" character. Unfortunately, I have not discovered a way to do anything with the data line once WinQVT gets control for file transfers (keyboard input is ignored). Any suggestions, thoughts? In addition to MODEMDIAL_PREFIX and _SUFFIX (which I set to ^M^M) this file transfer problem may be solved with a FILETRANSFER_PREFIX and _SUFFIX (which I might set to ^M^M and FINISH respectively). All in All it is the best version yet and fairly intuitive to use. I look forward to trying WinQVTNet once we get our LAN connected to the rest of campus (TCP/IP EtherNet). comments and suggestions should be posted to usere9w9@rpitsmts - OR - Barry_Floyd@rpi.mts.edu. Thanks in advance. ps Last but surely not least - the Setup - KeyMaps dialog window does NOT include Alt and Ctrl keys, aren't these ubiquitous? It, oddly enough, does NOT include a - (minus) key in the KeyPad dialog window, but does include a + (plus) key - Why? Finally, the Num-Lock key can NOT be toggled, Why not? This prohibits one from using the Numeric keypad for Numeric data entry then toggling to functions. Am I missing something here?