ACOM DOCUMENTATION Version 1.10 Changes in 1.10 Released January 14, 1991 Pressing the ESCAPE key during file transfers or waiting for handshake will gracefully terminate the program. Better error checking and recovery. Capability to send files larger than 64k. Cosmetic changes. Output disk file buffer increased for more efficient file transfers. High speed file transfer increased to 38,400 baud even on the Portfolio F5 in terminal mode will allow line wrap ACOM will switch back to old parity even after xmodem abort in Terminal mode Introduction ACOM is a communications program written for the Atari Portfolio. However, it will run on IBM PC compatibles as well. Its purpose is to provide enhanced terminal emulation and file transferring capabilities for the Portfolio. It can copy the conents of a 128k ramcard from the Portfolio to a PC in a minute and a half. This program is owned and copyrighted by Roudley Associates, Inc. Due to the nature of the Portfolio, the program is somewhat idiosyncratic--that is, it attempts to provide a goodly number of functions but has to do so within the confines of the Portfolio environment. It does not use mice, icons, or the other beloved features of the postliterate user interfaces. It does use the function keys and command line options. Should your computer hang up, as is possible with interrupt driven programs, try to exit ACOM by pressing ESCAPE once. If that does not work, try to reboot by pressing CTL-ALT-DEL. If that does not work, cold boot. Roudley Associates, Inc, cannot be responsible for loss of data or other mishaps caused by running ACOM. ACOM has been in satisfactory daily use on a number of computers. Roudley Associates is committed to providing and supporting quality software, and endeavors to find and correct program flaws. ACOM requires approximately 32k of memory for all code and buffers. Features ACOM can be used as a terminal emulation program, as a file transfer program, and as a host control program. It is able to determine whether it is running on a Portfolio or a PC, and setup its interrupt handling accordingly. As a terminal emulation program, ACOM provides logging, XMODEM CRC upload and download, 100 line scroll back with blank line deletion, and movable screen window to view 80 column lines. Running on two MSDOS computers, or a Portfolio and an MSDOS computer, ACOM provides file transfer at speeds up to 19,200 baud and shelling to DOS. That is, you can remotely execute simple DOS commands and programs that do not write directly to the screen or capture interrupts. The Portfolio can control a PC by shelling to COMMAND.COM. You can transfer files either way. As a simple file transfer program, you can exchange files from computer to computer at speeds as fast as 38,400 baud. Quite often I must transfer one file from one computer to another with incompatible disks, or to a network library. ACOM will start up and transfer the file before some large commercial programs have even managed to initialize. For transferring many large files, you might consider using a program that can run at 115,200 baud. Setup To use ACOM on the Portfolio you must connect the serial interface. Be sure you turn the Portfolio off before you physically attach it. You may then connect the interface to a modem or a null modem cable. The null modem cable is used to connect two computers together directly. The modem can be used to communicate over a phone line to a remote computer. If you are going to use ACOM as a terminal emulator, initialize your com port by using the Setup function on the Portfolio, or the Mode command on the PC. Running ACOM as a terminal emulator ACOM -- Run as a terminal emulation program. ACOM T -- Run as a terminal emulation program. ACOM T2 -- Run terminal emulation on com port 2, PC only Running ACOM for file transfers ACOM R filename.ext is entered on computer receiving file ACOM S filename.ext is entered on computer sending file Running ACOM as slave importing files ACOM I is entered on computer importing files ACOM E filemask.ext is entered on computer exporting files Running ACOM in master/slave configuration ACOM is entered on both computers Each will display whatever is typed on the other Use the function keys to control both computers, e.g., pressing F9 will cause the other computer to invoke command.com and reroute the standard input and output to the remote (active) computer. Running ACOM in high speed mode, direct connect only ACOM H I Preceed the function command with an H ACOM H E for importing and exporting files ACOM H T To set ACOM up as a highspeed direct connect ACOM H T2 terminal--useful to transfer files and control the F9-Shell to DOS function Using ACOM as a terminal emulator Starting ACOM by entering ACOM at the DOS prompt will cause ACOM to default and run as a terminal emulator. It will use the current speed, parity, data bit and stop bit setup in the com port. To talk to Compuserve, for instance, you would set your com port to 2400,e,7,1 or 1200,e,7,1 depending on the speed of your modem. On the Portfolio, use the setup function set and initialize the ports. On a PC, use the mode command, as in MODE COM1:2400,e,7,1. ACOM will display a warning that the com port must be set up. You may exit the program at this time by pressing ESCAPE, or continue by pressing any other key. If you are using a modem, you can now dial another computer, or online service such as Compuserve. You can verify that the modem is working by entering ATZ. The modem should respond "OK". Enter the appropriate modem dialing commands. For most modems this would be something like ATDT832-0160. If you have call waiting, you can disable call waiting for the duration of this telephone call by preceeding the telephone number with *70. For instance, ATDT*70,,832-0160 will disable call waiting, wait two seconds, and dial 832-0160. After this point, the commands used to communicate are dependent on the host computer. You may obtain help for using ACOM by pressing F1. You may scroll back messages by using the UP, DOWN, PAGEUP, PAGEDOWN, HOME and END keys. Pressing a Key will exit the scroll mode. Use the LEFT and RIGHT arrows to view lines longer than 40 characters. To receive a file using XMODEM CRC issue the commands to the host computer do start the transfer, then press F2. To send a file using XMODEM CRC issue a command to the host computer to receive a file, then press F3. Some have pointed out that it appears as though ACOM switches the Portfolio display mode to 80 column non-tracked. In fact, this is not exactly the case. While ACOM is reading characters from the com port, and writing them to stdout (the display screen), it is also building logical "lines" and storing them in a lifo buffer. Blank lines are discarded. When you enter scroll mode by pressing UP, DOWN, PAGEUP, or PAGEDOWN, ACOM is moving a 40x8 window around the stored "lines". The entire window can be moved from left to right and back by using the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys. If you move the screen to the right, it will stay at that offset until you move it back even though you might move up and down through the buffer. If you wish to wrap the lines, press F5 to toggle wrap mode. You can send any text file, such as a logon sequence, by pressing F4 and entering the file name. You can log all messages from the host computer by pressing F6. F7, F8, and F9 only work with another computer using ACOM. You can exit ACOM without disturbing the online condition of the modem. For instance, you could be logged on to Compuserve, then press the F10 to exit ACOM, rename a file, and start up ACOM again in terminal mode. You will still be logged on to Compuserve. I found this handy when I forgot to issue mode for e,7,1. Using ACOM to send and receive a file You can initiate a receive of a file using XModem CRC by entering ACOM R filename.ext on the receiving computer and then entering ACOM S filename.exe on the sending computer. The speed will default to 9600 baud. This feature is useful for transfering a file with a minimu of fuss. Both programs will terminate when the transfer is complete. Using ACOM to send and receive one or many files To establish one computer as the receiver, or importer, of files enter ACOM I. To set the import speed to 38400 baud instead of the default 9600 baud, enter ACOM H I. The program will run in the import mode waiting for more files to be exported from the other computer until you press a key. Note that this feature is for local connect only. To export a file from the second computer, enter ACOM E filemask.ext or ACOM H E filemask.ext where filemask.ext represents a valid MSDOS file specification optionally including wildcards. To send the contents of the default directory, enter ACOM E *.* or ACOM H E *.*. This is particularly useful in backing up an Atari Portfolio memory card to the host, since it can do so at 19200 baud. Using ACOM in Master/Slave mode Running ACOM in a terminal mode on two directly connected computers, or two computers connected by modem with one modem set to answer a call, permits file transfers and basic remote control. Pressing F9 on one computer will cause the other to shell to DOS with the standard input and output redirected to the remote computer. The remote operator can perform all the DOS commands, and run programs that perform all console io to stdin and stdout. Programs that use graphics or write directly to the screen WILL NOT SEND INFORMATION TO THE REMOTE. Nevertheless, the ability to display a directory, rename, delete or copy files, change directories, and so on is a powerful function. You terminate the remote DOS execution in the normal way by entering EXIT. When in simple terminal mode, you may send a file or files to the remote computer by pressing F7, or receive a file or files by pressing F8. Enter the file name or file specification with wildcards. Files will be sent, and the program will return to terminal mode. You may press F1 for help. This feature enables the Portfolio to control a PC. It is convenient for moving files from computer to computer and generally handling maintenance from one keyboard. For those of us with tendencies toward whimsy, it does provide some simple amusement to control a 386 with the little Portfolio. About the Program The program was written using Borland's Turbo Pascal, and compressed with LZEXE to bring its size down from about 15k to less than 10k. Curiously, the Turbo Pascal Code was smaller than the Turbo C++ code for some equivalent functions, so I used Pascal. All functions to control the Portfolio and the PC including interrupt handling were written in Pascal and are integral to the program. No other libraries were used . If you are interested in the Portfolio functions to use with Pascal, I recommend B. J. Gleason's excellent Portfolio TPU available in the programming section of the Atari Portfolio Forum on Compuserve. Information on XMODEM CRC was gathered from a number of places. If anyone knows of the location or source for the formal specification for XMODEM CRC I would be pleased have it. The program has been used to download files from Compuserve successfully, as well as interact with ProComm and other communications packages. Information on the Portfolio's communications handling was gleaned by disassembling various utilities and testing hypotheses developed from this dissection. Regarding the speed of the Portfolio com port, it seems that 38400 baud may be the highest feasible transfer speed. This is about the point that other factors influence the transfer rate more than the raw communications port speed. This speed also works satisfactorily on most other PC's I have tested. A fair amount of time and money has been spent developing this program. If ACOM proves useful, your comments and bug reports will be appreciated. Should you wish to compensate the author, get on our mailing list, and receive the latest copy of ACOM, please specify your disk size and send $25 to Roudley Associates, Inc. PO Box 608 Owings Mills, MD 21117 If you use the program, and do not wish to compensate the author, please be generous to those in need and increase your donation to your favorite charity or church. Charles Cook 71370,1025