DOCS: DeTerm
From: Michael Current (aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 01/28/92-10:47:27 PM Z
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From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current) Subject: DOCS: DeTerm Date: Tue Jan 28 22:47:27 1992 Reprinted from the A.C.E.C. BBS (614)-471-8559 All versions of DeTerm are copyright (c)1988 By James Dillow. All rights reserved. DeTerm is a Share-Ware program, if you have something you would like to share send to: Jim Dillow P.O. Box 2552 Sarasota,FL 33578 If you write me a letter please do not expect me to reply, it does warm my heart but at this point in my life I dislike writing letters, I am into using the phone. Also at any time in past or future you sent or send Email via either Compuserve or Genie and I did or do not reply it is probably because I filed your address and then lost it, try yelling at me one more time. DeTerm is a telecommunication program written entirely in assembly language for the the Atari XL, XE, 800 computers with 48k and at least one disk drive. Please make a back up copy of DeTerm and all support files, just to be safe. And now for the beginners, if someone or some media tells you that DeTerm is not for beginners ignore them. I am sure when you were learning to tie your shoes no one came up and said "Oh do not do that you are a beginner", right, instead you were probably applauded when you were able to tie them yourself (in my case it was more like "about time" <grin>). First follow the directions on how to boot Determ then relax and for gosh sakes do not be shy, just jump in and play, if you do nothing you learn nothing. If and when you have a question, ask, first yourself then someone else. Trust your feelings and experiment, it's fun and part of your natural growth.. DeTerm SX212:for the SX212 modem connected to SIO port, last in chain. Has a built in handler which relocates to lomem on boot, please do not append one. DeTerm XM301:for the XM301 and 1030 modems connected to SIO port, last in chain. Has a built in handler which relocates to lomem on boot, please do not append one. DeTerm 850:for Hayes or compatible modems connected to a 850, P:R: or MIO. DT850 is appended to a 850 booter. DeTerm Mpp:for the Mpp modems pluged into joy stick port #2. Has a built in handler which relocates to lomem on boot, please do not append one. DeTerm:for Hayes or compatible modems but has no booter or handler, you will have to supply your own. Works fine on an MIO. BOOTING UP! As you might have noticed by now, 90% of all docs for DeTerm are in help files. I suggest that you place them on a separate disk. Note:Please do not change help file names if you wish to use them. DeTerm uses file name "HELP.xxx" where xxx=is an alpha numeric extender. If using DTXM, DTMPP, DTSX212 and you have a P:R: or 850 interface please do not boot them, because the handlers are built in. If you do boot them it will raise lomem and you might not have enough memory to run DeTerm. Booting with DOS 2.0 or 2.5: 1> construct a boot disk containing DOS files (including RAMDISK.COM, if appropriate), and DeTerm. Rename the DeTerm file AUTORUN.SYS 2> Boot your computer (modem on) with the disk in D1: IMPORTANT-> HOLD DOWN THE OPTION KEY to disable Basic (XL/XE ... 800 users, remove the Basic cartridge.) Booting with SpartaDOS: 1> rename DeTerm to DETERM.COM. 2> boot the computer (modem on), put your DeTerm disk in D1: and go to DOS. You can run DeTerm from the command line or from a batch file. Disable basic before running. NOTE:DeTerm works with TDLINE ON and KEY ON. AUX FILES DeTerm attempts to load some auxiliary files off the drive you are booting from (no harm if they're not there). These are: LIST.BAT - simply contains the name of your default 'phone list', followed by a RETURN. (Phone lists are created within DeTerm ... see below.) The name in LIST.BAT MUST BE A FULL FILESPEC, including the drive number. You can create LIST.BAT file by typing in the following basic program and running it: 100 DIM A$(30):A$="D1:PHONE.LST":REM or whatever name you like. 110 OPEN #1,8,0,"D1:LIST.BAT":REM open file 120 PRINT #1;A$:REM print the name 130 CLOSE #1:REM done! 140 END Another way to create the LIST.BAT file using your Dos's copy routine, copy from E: to D:LIST.BAT, type D:PHONE.LST (press RETURN) hold down on the control key and press '3'. In the above examples, after DeTerm boots it will read LIST.BAT to find the name of your list file, then load that file into the appropriate buffer. MODEM.BAT - is a 'setup' file that allows you to send commands directly to your modem before running DeTerm (consult your modem documentation to see what commands you can send.) Again, each command or string of commands must end with an Atari RETURN character. To create a MODEM.BAT file type in the following basic program and run it: 100 DIM A$(30) 110 OPEN #1,8,0,"D1:MODEM.BAT" 120 A$="ATX2":REM select extended result codes 130 PRINT #1;A$:REM Send to file 140 A$="ATS11=60":REM Speed tone dial up a bit 150 PRINT #1;A$:REM Send to file 160 CLOSE #1:REM done! 170 END Or again using your Dos's copy routine, copy from E: to D:MODEM.BAT and type: ATX2 (press RETURN) ATS11=60 (press RETURN) hold down on the control key and press '3'. In the above examples, after DeTerm boots it reads MODEM.BAT and sends the commands: ATX2 (return) ATS11=60 (return) to your modem, just as if you'd typed them in yourself. DEFAULTS - Loads user defaults, set previously (see ETC.) MENU NAVIGATION DeTerm uses an ST-like interface which includes extensive use of Windows and Drop Down Menus. The first thing you'll notice is the menu line at the top of the screen, which contains the following: Online R:Dev Modem Disk Etc Quit RUNNING A MENU Whenever the Menu Line is displayed, you can Run a menu (display the commands in the menu) in a couple of ways: Cycle the bar cursor through the choices by pressing the OPTION or SELECT keys, as well as any of the 'arrow' keys (without pressing the control key.) When you get to the menu you wish to access, press either START or RETURN. OR press the FIRST LETTER of the Menu you wish to run (no RETURN necessary.) In both cases, the menu window under the header will open, and you'll see the supported commands. Note:To display commands a section has (also a brief summary of the commands) position the cursor bar over menu header and then press the '?' key. SELECTING A MENU OPTION Once the commands are displayed, you again have a couple of options to run a specific command: Use an 'arrow' key to cycle the cursor through the commands. When you reach the command you want, press RETURN or the START key. Type the FIRST LETTER of the command (no RETURN is necessary.) The command will be executed, and, in most cases, you'll be returned to the drop down menu. MENU GLOBAL In all menus, a few 'global' commands will prove useful: 1-9 pressing a number will display the directory of the drive specified. You can stop a directory display by pressing SELECT. ?- This is your help key. Make sure all help files are in source drive, position the cursor bar over the command or menu header you need help with and press the '?' key. Q - Quit .. this will close the menu, and return you to the menu line. ESC - Pressing the ESCAPE key causes an immediate jump to terminal mode. INPUT CONVENTIONS When inputting text into a DeTerm window (eg. phone number, file name, etc.) the regular Atari edit keys (Backspace, Insert, Delete, etc.) are supported. For most input operations, use the SELECT key to cancel the operation and return to the menu currently running. When any Y/N (Yes/No) prompt appears pressing SELECT is treated by DeTerm as a NO. THAT'S IT! Once again, be sure to get all the help files from DTHELP.ARC in this Library. They will give you specific details on any of the DETERM commands. When you boot DETERM for the first time, try the '?' key on anything you're unsure about before you start dialing. And if you need more help, please leave a message! -- Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp -->> go atari8 <<-- The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the Central Atari Information Network Internet: currentm@carleton.edu / UUCP: ...!umn-cs!ccnfld!currentm BITNET: currentm%carleton.edu@interbit / Cleveland Free-Net: aa700
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