FUTIL FOSSIL Companion Version 1.10 FUTIL A FOSSIL Companion Utility Copyright (C) 1992 Unique Computing Pty Ltd & David Nugent FidoNet 3:632/348.0 AlterNet 7:833/387.0 FreeNet 23:2/3.0 June, 1992 FUTIL.COM, FUTIL.ASM and accompanying documentation are released free of charge in the interests of encouraging others to contribute to the Fidonet community and to provide information and assistance to those "learning the ropes" in communications and programming in general. This utility will be of particular interest to those wanting to test their systems locally, simulating a full connect, logon and logoff using no or a direct wire external connection. It will also assist (a little) those wanting to delve further into the workings of FOSSIL. - 1 - FUTIL FOSSIL Companion Version 1.10 Usage: FUTIL has only two possible command line parameters. FUTIL [/Pn] [/U] /Pn Install for port 'n' (0-16), default is port 0 (COM1) /U Uninstall from memory, if already resident FUTIL - What is it? FUTIL is a small TSR (terminate and stay resident) utility which acts as a wedge between FOSSIL and a FOSSIL aware application (such as a mailer or BBS). Using keyboard commands, you can simulate modem return codes and FOSSIL status information to 'fool' the application into thinking that it has connected, received carrier and has a remote user logged on. This is very useful while setting up a new BBS, or to simulate a modem to modem connection with two locally hard-wire connected machines. FUTIL fools the application by providing the means of intercepting FOSSIL calls, optionally 'eating' transmitted characters, returning modem result and connect codes and manipulating various modem status information returned by a FOSSIL. All result codes and status changes can be entered and manipulated from the keyboard. FUTIL is known to work with BNU and Opus!Com. It will normally work with X00, excepting where an application uses the "x00" high level language interface to bypass INT 14H and call the driver directly. Therefore use with X00 is not recommended (but will usually work). In thory, FUTIL should work with just about any other FOSSIL in a 100% PC, PC/AT or PS/2 compatible under MS-DOS. Why release source? FUTIL's source is provided to enable its customisation to your particular purpose. This will extend its usefulness. For example, with slight modification, it can be used to intercept standard BIOS calls in a similar way. Keyboard 'hotkeys' can also be changed and added to, additional codes added, other communications status bits status by altering the keyboard tables and re-assembling. FUTIL *works*. But it should not be left resident unless during testing or unless it has been completely deactivated. BE WARNED! Since FUTIL provides the ability to set and override real communications status information (such as carrier detect), this can cause failed connects or complete confusion so far as your FOSSIL application is concerned. Use only under direct supervision! - 2 - FUTIL FOSSIL Companion Version 1.10 This source can be easily used as a learning tool both in the 'art' of FOSSILs and the 'hotkey' aspects of TSR's. To investigate what FUTIL does, it is advisable to have a copy of the FOSSIL specification handy. The source is heavily commented. Supplied configuration FUTIL is pre-configured for COM1 (FOSSIL port 0) - may be overridden with the command line switch /Pn - and will by default not be active. In this state, it will pass all calls through to the resident FOSSIL driver unmodified and returns all information unaltered. However, the keyboard provides a way of changing this as follows: NOTE: All keys mus be pressed while holding down the Ctrl- Leftshift key combination (this too can be modified). Key Result ` Turns all (FUTIL) processing off (default state) 0 Forces (and keeps on forcing) no carrier O Simulates an 'OK' and forces carrier low E Simulates an 'ERROR', forcing carrier low N Simulates a 'NO CARRIER', forcing carrier low B Simulates 'BUSY' forces carrier low F 'CONNECT FAST', carrier high 9 'CONNECT 9600', carrier high 3 'CONNECT 2400/REL', carrier high 2 'CONNECT 2400', carrier high 1 'CONNECT 1200', carrier high R 'RING', carrier low V 'VOICE', carrier low I 'RRING', carrier low These can be easily re-configured to suit if you have an assembler handy (MASM 5.10 or TASM 1.0 required). Each hotkey and its effect are configured by changing data in the "notkey" structures; refer to the source for further details. FOSSIL calls intercepted by FUTIL are all data transmit/receive ones, including 'block' transmit/receive supported by FOSSIL rev 5. - 3 - FUTIL FOSSIL Companion Version 1.10 LICENSE INFORMATION Programs and documentation are supplied free of charge on an as is basis to the Fidonet (and othernet) community. You are free to use them in any non-profit venture with no obligation on either myself or my company to support or be responsible for any such use (or misuse). This program and documentation is the exclusive property of Unique Computing Pty Ltd, and is protected by international copyright laws. By obtaining a copy of the package, you do not "own" a copy - simply a license to use it. All property rights are retained by the owner. You may use the package and/or give copies of the package to others including posting for download on a bulletin board, but only in a form that permits inclusion of all files as found in the original, archived form in which it is distributed. You are not permitted to modify any portion of the package in any way which is to be passed on to others, including, but not limited to adding files to or removing files from the distribution package, changing or editing the documentation, and/or changing or modifying the executable program. Permission is granted to repack the distribution archive using a different packing method, provided that the uncompressed contents EXACTLY match the uncompressed contents of the distribution archive (I have no particular affiliation with or preference for any particular archiving method). This program is not provided with any warranty of any kind, including, but not limited to fitness for any particular purpose or consequential loss. This package may be posted for download or file request by any FidoNet or compatible network system in archived form, and in adherence to the terms of the License above. No profit may be realised directly from such distribution, although the package may be provided for download on "pay systems." Distribution on diskette form is strictly prohibited unless done for free for for a charge not exceeding the cost of the diskettes. For commercial application, contact details are: David Nugent c/o Unique Computing Pty Ltd Central Source ICBS BBS, +61-3-874-8927 3:632/348.0@fidonet 7:833/387.0@alternet 23:2/3.0@freenet - 4 -