DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu (Doug Sewell) (04/21/91)
Some problems we've found with PCPLUS 2.0: - 'Drop dtr to hang up' doesn't drop dtr long enough any more. In release 1.1b, it dropped it for at least 5/100 second (since that's what was in S25 by default). I tried setting S25 to 3 in the init string, but it still didn't consistently hang up. Workaround: use the ATH0 string. I suspect that if I set S25 any lower, I'd get more line-drops on bad lines. - The man-page for 'sz' (send zmodem) on unix systems says that if you use the -a option NLs are to be converted to CR/NL, and that for Zmodem, the receiving side is responsible for it. PCPLUS doesn't do this line-end translation. Workarounds: use DSZ like I did on PCPLUS 1.x. Usually I'm downloading binary files, so it matters less. - If you have non-standard modem settings, the install program will 'lose' them, even if you select generic Hayes-compatible modem. I suspected this might happen, so I wrote the modem strings before I installed. Are there any other problems ? Am I the only one with these problems ? Doug -- Doug Sewell, Tech Support, Computer Center, doug@ysub.bitnet Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555 doug@ysub.ysu.edu I am not a God. It is permissible to spell out my name. - T*d K*ld*s
nolan@helios.unl.edu (Michael Nolan) (04/21/91)
DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu (Doug Sewell) writes: >Some problems we've found with PCPLUS 2.0: >- The man-page for 'sz' (send zmodem) on unix systems says that if > you use the -a option NLs are to be converted to CR/NL, and that > for Zmodem, the receiving side is responsible for it. PCPLUS doesn't > do this line-end translation. Workarounds: use DSZ like I did on > PCPLUS 1.x. Usually I'm downloading binary files, so it matters > less. I reported this to Datastorm about two months ago. Their response was non-committal at best. (Actually I think the tech support rep I spoke to didn't know diddly about Zmodem.) Another workaround is the unix2dos program which converts text files from unix format to MS-DOS format. I can't find a way to select the -e (escape non-Ascii characters) mode when sending from Procomm 2.0, either. >Are there any other problems ? Am I the only one with these problems ? Well, the Adds 60 and Adds 90 terminal emulations aren't quite replacements for the Adds Viewpoint emulation in earlier versions. On our NCR system, which supports ONLY Adds Viewpoint, the first line of every screen doesn't get displayed. This too was reported to Datastorm without much effect. I've had some other Zmodem problems (most serious: breaking the connection when a transfer aborts or is cancelled), but I'm not sure if these are being caused by Procomm or by the Zmodem on the other side. ------- Michael Nolan This is my .sig Internet: nolan@helios.unl.edu T*His_iS#MY%.SIg oN DrUGs!@%#@% UUCP: tssi!nolan Any questions?
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (04/21/91)
In article <91110.135957DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu> DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu (Doug Sewell) writes: >Some problems we've found with PCPLUS 2.0: : >Are there any other problems ? Am I the only one with these problems ? : I don't have a similar accurate list of problems, but if users are interested, I've written a subjective comparison of some telecomm programs in /pc/ts/tsfaq19b.arc (available from our site by anonymous ftp). My views on Procomm Plus 2.0 are far from enthusiastic. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun
TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu (Lou Anschuetz) (04/21/91)
In article <91110.135957DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu>, Doug Sewell <DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu> says: > >Some problems we've found with PCPLUS 2.0: > (lots of important stuff deleted). > >Are there any other problems ? Am I the only one with these problems ? (This may not be fair since I work with the original poster - but here's some more I have since found). The Wyse 50 emulator won't allow you to dial and/or will freeze up the entire program if it sees ANY line noise. The fact that ctrl-] toggles the scoreboard is really irritating. This keystroke is a common telnet escape sequence and is often not changeable from telnet. Since it is not changeable in PCPLUS, I have to use a different program when telneting to certain sites.... BOO, HISS. I would love to report all the noted complaints, but after 50 attempts our university secretary refuses to keep trying to get through to technical support. How did anyone else get through? Lou Anschuetz temngt23@ysub.ysu.edu (virtual witty saying here)
mamos@uafhp.uark.edu (Mark _E_ Amos) (04/22/91)
TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu (Lou Anschuetz) writes: >In article <91110.135957DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu>, Doug Sewell <DOUG@ysub.ysu.edu> >says: > >The fact that ctrl-] toggles the scoreboard is really irritating. This >keystroke is a common telnet escape sequence and is often not changeable I got ahold of DataStorm about this and the other Ctrl sequence they use for local control: <ctrl>\ Their answer was, as a previous reply said, non- committal at best. They said to use a macro or defined F-key if I REALLY needed to use those key sequences... This tact doesn't seem to work for me, however, but then it may be me... Although PCPLUS 2.0 is a nice package, the faults listed in this thread pale in comparison to their lack of proper suppport. To me, when I pay money for a software package and get lousy support, that relates to buying a car with no service mechanic available. Granted, the investment is not the same, but I would not tolerate such things with non-software products, why should I tolerate it in software. Enough of the soapbox, eh? -- ============================================================================== Mark _E_ Amos | University of Arkansas Computer Science Engineering mamos@uafhp.uark.edu | mea1@engr.uark.edu | (emphasise the Computer Engineering please) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Man's mind, when stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension." -Oliver Wendell Holmes ==============================================================================
marv@netcom.COM (Marvin Raab) (04/22/91)
In article <91111.110317TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu> TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu (Lou Anschuetz) writes: >I would love to report all the noted complaints, but after 50 attempts >our university secretary refuses to keep trying to get through to >technical support. How did anyone else get through? I just received (on Sat.) a "How are we doing" type survey from Datastorm in which they ask a few questions on the quality of their tech support. I indicated the length of 'busy signals" -marvin -- Marvin Raab marv@limbo.intuitive.com Mountain View, CA 94040 apple!netcom!marv 415-961-6501 (h)
RFM@psuvm.psu.edu (04/27/91)
I, too, purchased PCPlus 2.0 upgrade. 1.1b is great, 2.0 would be better, right? WRONG! My major gripe is with the Kermit implementation in 2.0. On our system, I need to do a lot of file up/download via Kermit (IBM VM/CMS) Kermit from PCPlus 1.1b works fine; Kermit in PCPlus 2.0 locks up my system. I've gone back to 1.1b. BobM, PSU-Hbg
nolan@helios.unl.edu (Michael Nolan) (04/27/91)
RFM@psuvm.psu.edu writes: >I, too, purchased PCPlus 2.0 upgrade. 1.1b is great, 2.0 would be better, >right? WRONG! My major gripe is with the Kermit implementation in 2.0. >On our system, I need to do a lot of file up/download via Kermit (IBM VM/CMS) >Kermit from PCPlus 1.1b works fine; Kermit in PCPlus 2.0 locks up my >system. I've gone back to 1.1b. I had the exact opposite experience with PCPLUS 2.0 and Kermit. It works a lot better for me than the previous release. Try fiddling around with the timeout and retry parameters at the IBM VM/CMS end and see if that helps any. If I had any complaint, it would be that the program does not permit the user to modify the 'interesting' kermit parameters. PC-Kermit (free from Columbia Univ.) is a very good kermit implementation that permits fiddling around with virtually every parameter (what else would you expect?) but unfortunately it doesn't have nearly the bells and whistles in terms of terminal emulation support, dialing support, etc. Incidentally, in an earlier post I indicated that PCPLUS 2.0 has a problem with ADDS emulation modes. Phil James, customer support mgr for Datastorm, informed me earlier today that this problem has been fixed and will be in a maintenance release. He also acknowledged the non-conversion of text files in Zmodem, but said this is not _required_ in the protocol. (Anybody know of another Zmodem implementation that doesn't do it?) ------- Michael Nolan This is my .sig Internet: nolan@helios.unl.edu T*His_iS#MY%.SIg oN DrUGs!@%#@% UUCP: tssi!nolan Any questions?
TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu (Lou Anschuetz) (04/27/91)
In article <nolan.672735285@helios>, nolan@helios.unl.edu (Michael Nolan) says: > >RFM@psuvm.psu.edu writes: > >>I, too, purchased PCPlus 2.0 upgrade. 1.1b is great, 2.0 would be better, >>right? WRONG! My major gripe is with the Kermit implementation in 2.0. >>On our system, I need to do a lot of file up/download via Kermit (IBM VM/CMS) >>Kermit from PCPlus 1.1b works fine; Kermit in PCPlus 2.0 locks up my >>system. I've gone back to 1.1b. > >I had the exact opposite experience with PCPLUS 2.0 and Kermit. It works a >lot >better for me than the previous release. Try fiddling around with the >terminal emulation support, dialing support, etc. > (lots o' stuff deleted) From a simpler perspective, make sure that the kermit.rte file is on your working copy and directly accessible for PCPLUS. The manual does not indicate that this file is needed, but it sure is! I too found out the hard way. >Incidentally, in an earlier post I indicated that PCPLUS 2.0 has a problem >with ADDS emulation modes. Phil James, customer support mgr for Datastorm, >informed me earlier today that this problem has been fixed and will be in >a maintenance release. Any word on the flaws in the Wyse 50 emulation (it freezes PCPLUS if it encounters any line noise)? >He also acknowledged the non-conversion of text >files in Zmodem, but said this is not _required_ in the protocol. (Anybody >know of another Zmodem implementation that doesn't do it?) >------- ALL other releases os Zmodem do the text conversion and it is part of the mandated implementation on UNIX. It is also in the original documentation from the writer of Zmodem (sorry I can never remember your name). Sounds like you got a "we don't know how to do it answer." And the short answer is No, I have never seen nor heard of any implementation that doesn't do the ascii conversion. On a positive note, I did get a note from a PCPLUS developer via mail from CompuServe, so someone has been passing this stuff along to that forum. He told me to call him and he would have a technical person call me back. The downside here is that I am not in my office all 10 hours per day at work, and if he calls when I'm not in - I have gained nothing. I can write him back at CompuServe, but he seems to NOT want that. I found this VERY confusing - we all know these are legitimate bugs in the product, why not just let us tell him instead of getting a call from another support person who is going to give us "we aren't going to do that" answers. I don't mean to rant and rave here, but there are expeditious ways of handling these things, why not use them DataStorm? You guys were never like this before..... Lou Anschuetz temngt23@ysub.ysu.edu