 
 
 
 
 
 DCOM 3.3
 
 Instructions
 
 
 Copyright (c) 1986 James A. Hayes
 Cardiff, California
 
 P.O. Box 221044
 University City, California
 92122-1044
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Use this program at your own risk.  Feel free to distribute SIDE ONE of
 the distribution diskette, as everything needed to run DCOM is
 contained on SIDE ONE.  SIDE TWO contains the complete unassembled
 program.  Side two is provided as a service to programmers who wish to
 add customized functions or modify DCOM for special hardware.  Please
 feel free to distribute the distribution diskette to your friends and
 clubs, as it is shareware, and encourages me to make DCOM better and
 better...
 
 
 New Features/Fixes in Version 3.3:
 
 1) Echo to printer option now operational.
 
 2) Screen print routine operation.
 
 3) VT52 Identify command is now fixed.  (Word-11 users unite!)
 
 4) Minor bugs have been fixed.
 
 
 Official Announcement:
 
 (Yes, it's a sneaky way to get your attention!)
 
 DCOM 3.3 now responds to lots of VT200 commands.  It responds to LOCAL
 LINE EDITING commands as well as INSERT/DELETE line commands.
 
 What does this mean for you?
 
 Under UNIX, you can set your terminal to a VT200 or VT220 and get much
 better performance while using TviU and other editors.  This means that
 you don't have to wait for lines to be resent, or characters to slide
 over in the insert mode.  It is all automatic.
 
 Under VMS some applications can use these sequences to make screen
 updating more efficient.
 
 
 If you have problems
 or want to send a donation:
 
 Jim Hayes
 P.O. Box 221044
 University City CA
 92122-1044
 
 (619) 587-1431  (Until June of '87)
 
 
 
 Or send ARPA or UUCP mail to:
 
 
 ARPA: hayes@ucsd.edu
 UUCP: {ucbvax|ihnp4|scgvaxd|decvax}!sdcsvax!hayes
 Background
 
     The DCOM VT100 emulator was developed from utter frustration at
 the lack of a suitable terminal emulator on the market.  While some
 programs promise bullet proof VT100 with enough features to choke a
 horse, they often cost over $150 dollars.  DCOM does one thing, it
 emulates a VT100 terminal. Period.
 
     When I started college, I purchased a modem with the intention
 of dialing in to the school's mainframe systems.  At the time, I
 thought my little Apple ][ would work just fineI until I tried to use
 an editor or play a game.  Enter DCOM.  It does just what a VT100
 does... without the additional fluff of file transfer or 65536
 different keyboard macros.
 
     Like I said,  in the mainframe computer world, connecting an
 Apple Personal Computer can be (and most usually is) FRUSTRATING!  So
 many problems that didn't used to be problems start showing up.  For
 instance:  Can the computer talk to the modem?  Is the modem wired
 properly to talk to the computer?  Will my screen respond in the way
 the mainframe wants it to?  DCOM aids/eliminates these problems.
 
     DCOM is written entirely in 6502 assembly language and is started from a
  small BASIC program at boot time.  It does not use interrupts and can operate
  at speeds as fast as 7200 baud when using RdumbS interface cards.  (See Driver
  Notes at the end of this manual.
 
 Instructions
 
     Before you can successfully run DCOM, you must know a few
 things about the hardware connected to your computer.  These are the
 major questions:
 
 1.      Can my modem dial the phone using the standard Hayes dialing
 commands?   (Like ATDT 5551234)  If it cannot, you will have to dial
 the phone manually.
 
 2.      What communications parameters do I need to know, so I can let
 DCOM know how to talk to the remote computer?   (Find out things like
 how many stop and data bits you need.  Find out if the computer you are
 calling requires some form of parity.  If you cannot find out,
 experiment!  You can't hurt DCOM by typing at the keyboard.
 
 3.      What type of display is installed in my computer? (//e, //c,
 DoubleVision, Videx, etc.)
 
 4.      What type of connection will I be using? (The Apple //c serial
 port, the Super Serial Card in the //e or ][ series, an ALS dispatcher,
 etc.)
 
 5.      What RslotS in my Apple is the serial device located? (Slot 2
 on most machines, always slot 2 on the //c)
 
 6.      Does my keyboard really send TRUE uppercase characters, or has
 it been modified for use with my 80 column card or a favorite word
 processor?  (The //e and //c have true upper/lower case keyboards, most
 other systems do not.  If you don't have a true keyboard, you will have
 to type a special key to get special characters like: { } [ ] \ | ~ ` _
 and NULL.)
 
     Don't worry if you can't answer all the questions, because DCOM
 doesn't really care too much.  You will just need to experiment a
 little bit... this can be educational and fun.
 
 Starting the program
 
     Insert the DCOM disk into your computer and turn your modem and
 computer's power on.  Since it is your first time, follow directions on
 the screen to get to the configuration section so you can tell DCOM
 what hardware is installed inside your Apple.  You will be asked a few
 questions about your computer.
 
 1.      What keyboard do you have?  Select the correct keyboard from
 the two presented.  Remember, true upper/lower case keyboards usually
 have a RCAPS LOCKS key.  (If you don't have a true upper/lower case
 keyboard, use the other option.  Please note, however, you MUST have
 the shift key of the keyboard wired to paddle button number two in
 order to get uppercase letters.)
 
 2.      What 80-column display do you have?  Select your card (or what
 your card emulates) from the list presented.  If your card does not
 emulate one of the devices on the list, then you cannot use DCOM.
 Please see the section about writing your own driver at the end of this
 manual.
 
 3.      What serial communication card do you have?  This is just
 asking how your computer talks to your modem.  Choose your card (or
 what your card emulates) from the list.  If your card does not appear
 on the list, experiment with the RGeneric Pascal CompatibleS driver or
 the ALS dispatcher driver.  They usually work with most anything.  If
 you aren't running on a //c you will be asked what slot your serial
 card is located in.
 
 4.      What dialing personality do you have?  This question is not to
 be taken personally!  DCOM needs to know what to use to dial your
 modem.  If you are connected directly to a network or host, those
 options are available.  If you're not sure, choose the RDUMBS option
 from the menu and dial the phone manually.
 
 5.      You will finally be asked whether you want to save the settings
 or start over.  When you type TSU your settings will be saved to the
 disk and loaded everytime the computer is powered up.
 
 When asked, type [RETURN] to start the terminal.
 
 Using the Terminal Emulator
 
     When you type [RETURN] to get things rolling, the screen will
 clear and inform you that is is loading.  Soon, the words RDcom
 3.3 (9/86) Ready, set, Go!...S will appear.  Now it's your
 turn.
 
     READ THIS:  In the following sections, you will be asked to
 hold down the Open-Apple or Closed-Apple key.  Hold down either key
 and strike the other key mentioned.  IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE KEYS:  Use
 a button on your joystick or other gaming device.  If your are using
 the non-true upper/lower case driver, strike [CTRL-A] as if it were one
 of the Apple keys.  To send a [CTRL-A] just type it twice.
 
 Setting the Communications Parameters
 
     It's all down hill from here!  You are ready to play.  Hold
 your finger on the OA or CA key and type an M or m.  You are now in the
 modem parameter menu.  If your computer hardware is not capable of
 being controlled by the computer, this menu will not appear, and you
 will be asked to hit return after a polite message telling you so.  If
 you found all the answers to the introductory session, type the
 corresponding choice letters on the screen.  If you didn't get all the
 answers, try 8 data bits, one stop bit and no parity.  Choose the baud
 rate depending on the speed of your modem.
 
     When you finish, type [ESC] to return to the terminal.
 
 The Setup Menu
 
     To Invoke the setup menu, type p or p [ESC].  The setup menu
 will appear.  It is the terminal Rcontrol panelS of DCOM.  With it you
 may:
 
 1.    Adjust tab stop settings
 2.      Reset the terminal to a recognizable state.  (This is useful
 when your host puts DCOM into strange modes and then forgets to reset
 them; or when phone line noise puts you into the inverse or graphics
 modes.)
 3.      Save the terminals settings.
 4.      Make a click evertime you touch a key
 5.      Truncate characters (or wrap them around) when they bang into
 the right side of the screen.  6.  Invert the screen
 
     Just strike the key corresponding to the mode you want to enter.
 
 Dialing the Phone
     (or connecting to a system if on a direct wired network...)
 
     Use OA or CA D, enter the phone number (or system name) and hit return.
 
 Redialing
 
     Use OA or CA A.
 
 Hanging up
 
     Use OA or CA X.  In some cases this may take a few seconds.
 
 Printing
 
     To echo everything received from the host to the printer, use OA
 or CA P. The output will be sent to the printer as fast as DCOM can ship
 it.  To print the entire contents of the screen, use OA or CA S.  NOTE:
 There may be some delay when the printer is printing, do not worry,
 this should not interfere too much with your session.
 
 Sending a RBreakS Signal
 
     If your hardware is capable of sending break pulse, typing OA or
 CA B will send one.  (Break signals are useful when using data switches
 or systems that rely on the user sending a break so the system can
 recognize your baud rate.
 
 Using VT100 Keys That Do Not Appear on Your Keyboard.
 
     The VT100 terminal has some very special keys that don't appear
 on your Apple's keyboard.  To type these nonexistent keys, use the OA or
 CA and use the chart at the end of this manual.
 
 Exiting the Terminal
 
     A.    Type @ from the setup menu.
     B.    Turn the power off.
     C.    Type [CTRL-RESET]
 
     (B and C will not save the terminal defaults.)
 
 Writing Your own Hardware Drivers
 
     If DCOM does not support your current hardware configuration,
 you can write your own driver to support it.  On side one of
 the diskette (executable code), there are three text files
 called RDRIVER SPECIFICATIONS.xS where x is part 1, 2 or 3.
 They contain about 20 pages of applications notes formatted for
 80 columns and 66 lines/page.  You will need to print these out
 to do any serious work.
 
 Notes About Hardware Implementations
 
     Here are some notes about the DCOM hardware implementations:
 
 Communications Drivers:
 
 1.      The Super Serial Card and //c driver do the most so far in
 terms of setting options and sending break signals.
 
 2.      The ALS Dispatcher does not allow certain combinations of
 settings due to its own hardware limitations.  The baud rate can only
 be set by dip switches on the card.
 
 3.      The Mountain Computer CPS Multifunction Card cannot yet send a
 break signal.  It also cannot send a CTRL-A.  To work properly, Paging
 on the serial port must be turned off, and the serial card must be the
 default communication device.  These options are choosen from the SETUP
 program on the CPS distribution disk.
 
 4.      The Generic Pascal compatible driver works with almost
 anything, but does not support hardware break signals nor the changing
 of any settings.
 
 Screen Drivers:
 
 1.      The Double Vision and OmniVision drivers flicker when the
 screen scrolls.  This cannot be fixed without reducing screen update
 speed and losing characters.
 
 2.      The VIDEX 80 column driver is a little sluggish.  I'm trying to
 get it in better shape now.
 
 Dialing Drivers:
 
 1.      The Hayes dialing drivers are slow to allow for Roff-brandS
 modems to work also.
 
 2.      The Ungermann/Bass Net-One driver can only disconnect at the
 R>>S prompt.
 
 
 {Graphic intensive charts omitted...}
 
 Summary of charts:
 
 OA or CA:
 Q = Pf1        1 = Keypad one, ... , 9 = Keypad 9.
 W = Pf2
 E = Pf3
 R = Pf4
 
