8L2C)pJJJJ IH(ȱH:=IH[H`@HcH  $ +   I/H`JLNGȄBȄF aK  haaFF  mJm# KKJ UJ )J ۈ) ;J3ȱJFȱJGJKaȄM  aaNNJFLGJL L Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 User Guide Janurary 1, 1988 By Donald R. Elton Carolina System Sof0+R pTIC.DOCSmTm3pTYPESQ%N+`p9ALUD4N( p9PRINTp9FREEWRITER*N-VTIC16' (TIC.DOCS" "#BLU-VLL'DEFTERM ;% MMM. 8pMMM.CF0! 8pMMM.DOCSB >dLԡm#i㰼m#iЕOLԡȱfg hi !dLԡ憦  Ljmkm l y`2 Lԡ8(Je稽)ʈ@LLnSOS BOOT 1.1 SOS.KERNEL SOS KRNLI/O ERRORFILE 'SOS.KERNEL' NOT FOUND%INVALID KERNEL FILE: xةw,@  ȱlmi8#)!)? &PRODOS `DaElH$?EGvѶK+`L HHLy XP LM ŠϠĠӠS)*+,+`F)) (*=GJFjJJA QE'+ '== `@ STSP8QSS8 m P o R(8Rtware [0.10] Table of Contents: Topic: Section: Table of contents.................................. 0.10 Program bugs....................................... 0.20   !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ancy between the actual program action and this documentation or if you have suggestions for new features or improvement of old features then we would greatly appreciate your sending us a note describing you suggestions/findings 9.00 (c) 1987,1988 -1- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [0.20] Program Bugs: If, during your use of this program, you note any discrepnary Library Utility............................. 7.10 Apple Squeeze/Unsqueeze Utilities.................. 7.20 Command files and Macros........................... 8.00 Example Command file............................................................ 6.40 Protocol file reception............................ 6.50 Protocol file transmission......................... 6.60 Quick reference sheet.............................. 7.00 Bi......... 6.00 Choosing a transfer protocol....................... 6.10 Transmitting Apple files........................... 6.20 Text file reception................................ 6.30 Text file transmission Delete a file...................................... 5.25 Display Volumes online............................. 5.30 Display a file..................................... 5.40 File transfer operations..................e phone............................... 4.90 Filing commands.................................... 5.00 Setting a new prefix............................... 5.10 Display a disk directory........................... 5.20 .................. 4.60 Print the screen................................... 4.70 Online printing.................................... 4.75 Zoom and show control characters................... 4.80 Hanging up th 4.20 The status line display............................ 4.30 Setting the baud rate.............................. 4.40 Setting duplex status.............................. 4.50 Exiting the program..............c program operation............................ 4.00 Standard communications............................ 4.10 Emulation.......................................... 4.15 Online documentation............................... Apple IIgs................. 2.30 How to start the program........................... 3.00 How to run TIC from a program selector............. 3.10 How to set up an autostart disk.................... 3.20 Basi....... 1.10 Hardware requirements.............................. 2.00 Hardware set-up for the Apple //c.................. 2.10 Hardware set-up for the Apple //e.................. 2.20 Hardware set-up for the Notices............................................ 0.30 About Shareware distribution....................... 0.40 Introduction....................................... 1.00 Definitions.................................. You may write to the author at the following address: Donald R. Elton 3207 Berkeley Forest Drive Columbia, SC 29209-4111 You may also contact me by leaving an electronic mail message to "delton" on the ProLine [Pro-Carolina] message system at (803) 776-3936 (login: register), or on Compuserve at 72010,37. [0.30] Notices: APPLE COMPUTER, INC. AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,h the author starting with the latest program documentation and update notices when the software is enhanced. Shareware programs are typically enhanced several times as a result of suggestions from current users and only registered ownn. The only way that software will continue to be distributed with the typical shareware high performance / price ratio will be if users actually send in the money. The buyer of the software also opens up a support channel witkage. Why should a user pay the money when he/she already has the program? For one thing because it's the honest and honorable thing to do. Authors of Shareware programs spend long hours writing good software with little compensatiof he or she wishes to continue to use the program after an initial evaluation period of 10 days. The only way that Shareware will work as a software distribution scheme is if end-users actually register and pay for the pac software is not sold or included as part of a package that is sold. The person distributing the software must also make the receiver of the software aware of the fact that he or she should register the program (i.e. pay for it) isual (to prevent others from selling the original work) but is distributed with the understanding and trust that the customer is free to give copies of the software (but not the documentation) to anyone and everyone provided that the Shareware distribution attempts to bypass all the middle men in software distribution so a product can be sold for closer to its true market value. The way Shareware works is that a program is copyrighted by the author as uto make any money going through these channels without charging big bucks for his or her product. (c) 1987,1988 -2- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 eason, with few exceptions, dealers aren't even interested in carrying software titles that cost less than $100 to the end user when they can find comparable packages costing well over $100. It's difficult for a small software author . Most would agree that the high cost of software distribution is to blame for this. Everyone along the line from the author to the wholesaler to the dealer expects to make a good profit from every sale of software. For this r Talk is Cheap (tm). When Talk is Cheap (tm) has completed execution Apple Software shall not be used by any other program. [0.40] About Shareware Distribution: Everybody agrees that most useful software is overpricedo Carolina System Software to distribute for use only in combination with Talk is Cheap (tm). Apple Software shall not be copied onto another diskette (except for archive purposes) or into memory unless as part of the execution of WARRANTY PROVIDES YOU WITH SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. THERE MAY BE OTHER RIGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. ProDOS 8, FILER, CONVERT, and BASIC.SYSTEM are copyrighted programs of Apple Computer, Inc. licensed t REGARDING THE ENCLOSED COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE, ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS NOT PERMITTED BY SOME STATES. THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS ers of the software will know about and have the opportunity to buy these updates (at cost, typically $5). You'll notice that your copy of TIC includes a serial number on the title screen. This serial number allows me to identify where users got their copies of TIC from when they mail in their registration fee. For each person who registers TIC that gives me your serial number, I'll mail you a check for $5 as a commission or finder's fee. Thisaracter) so 300 bits per second (i.e. 300 Baud) is a data transfer rate of roughly 30 characters per second accounting for punctuation overhead. Both ends of any computer connection must ou boot the disk or turn on the power switch with the autostart disk in the boot disk drive. Baud - This is an acronym for Bits per second. There are 8 bits to a byte (or ch may see this signal referred to as the PA-1 or Program Attention - 1 signal. Autostart - An autostart disk is one that will automatically load a program (TIC in this case) when y this signal does varies from doing nothing to logging you off. You should not use the command (OA-A) that sends this signal unless your host's documentationsays it is required. You Definitions: Attention - Also known as Break. This is a special signal that is required by some mainframes and mini-computers as a sort of RESET command for remote operation. What an 20% of the price fits the bill nicely. Users who spend a lot of time doing file transfers will also like TIC as it's the only Apple ProDOS communications package to support so many file transfer protocols as TIC. [1.10] ve to pay $150 for a full featured communications package. Most users have no use for many of the features of the fancy packages so a terminal program like TIC that sports 80% of the functionality of the big packages at less thlatest in file transfer capabilities. Even the commercial products are limited in their file transfer capabilities. TIC "Talk is Cheap (tm)" is an attempt to remedy the above situation. The philosophy of TIC is that you shouldn't hae only a few commercial full featured communications products and all of them cost over $100. The few shareware or public domain programs on the market are based on an obsolete operating system (DOS 3.3) and do not support the shareware terminal programs that are well supported and that cost much less than any commercial package. It's difficult for a commercial terminal program in the IBM world to be successful because of this. In the Apple world there ar (c) 1987,1988 -3- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [1.00] Introduction: Why TIC? The MS-DOS (IBM) world has several full featured t this package sells at and I still won't make much money in the deal. Please support me and other shareware authors by registering all shareware packages you are using so you can help us keep the shareware experiment alive. re distribution is an experiment. If this program is successful through the shareware distribution method then I'll do other shareware programs. If not, I'll be forced to market programs like this for four to five times the price tha is added incentive to you to distribute the program widely and to encourage all users to pay the registration fee. If 100 people register copies of your program then I'll mail you $500. You get the idea. For me, Sharewa be sending and receiving at the same baud rate. Telephone lines can typically support 300, 1200, or 2400 baud depending on the capabilities of the modem in use. A serial port can typically support 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, or 19,200 baud via a short direct connection to another nearby device. Most people can read fast enough to keep up with 300 baud. for more information about the control panel. DIP switches - These are the tiny configuration switches on many modems and serial port cards. Download - This is the process of transferring a f will be interrupted while you are in the control panel but you may return to the original application unchanged once you have finished with the control panel. See the Apple IIgs manualbered even after the power switch is cut off. You access the control panel by pressing the CONTROL, OPEN APPLE, and ESC keys simultaneously. The currently running program and how to use them with TIC. Control Panel - This is a special menu available on the Apple IIgs to allow you to set certain default conditions about the computer that will be remem- A command file is a text file on a disk device that contains a list of TIC program commands to be executed automatically. See section 8.00 for a description of valid command file commandsions. When you dial another computer you (and many modems) can listen to the line for a whistle (the carrier signal) to recognize that another computer is on the line. Command file with the original computer. See also port. Carrier - This is a constant tone broadcast over the telephone line by modems in order to act as a reference tone for data communicatously. BREAK - See ATTENTION. Card - A card is a printed circuit card that is plugged into the inside of a computer to provide a feature, such as a serial port, that was not included cannot be automatically started up. On the Apple //e, //c, and IIgs you can cause a disk to be booted (started up) by holding down the CONTROL, OPEN APPLE, and RESET keys simultaneot 6. If you wish to startup a hard disk then consult the documentation for your particular hard disk for directions on how to startup from that drive. Some hard disk drives the command PR # where is the number of the slot that contains the disk controller card of the device you wish to start up. On the Apple this will usually be sl-5- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 Boot - This is the process of starting up a disk device. From basic you can initiate this process by entering lk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 service to which you are attached does not charge a high price for the higher baud rates. (c) 1987,1988 Higher baud rates are more efficient for long distance file transfers provided that the information (c) 1987,1988 -4- Carolina System Taile from a host computer to your computer. You download a file from another computer to your disk. See also upload. DTR - This stands for DATA TERMINAL READY. It is the name of one of the control signals that the computer can send to many modems to cause the modem to hang up the (c) 1987,1988 -6- Carolina System Talk is Cheap digital data signals from a computer into tones that can be sent over telephone lines and back again. Operating System Shell - An operating system shell program is a computer program that acts as by allowing a single keypress to start a command file that can then automate several functions chosen by the user. Modem - A Modem is a computer accessory for converting acter that will execute several functions automatically. An example macro might type a users name or password when he or she presses a single keyboard key. TIC implements Macros en sent to the standard Apple screen drivers. Macro - A Macro is a function to save a user keypresses. Typically one talks about Macro keys meaning a keyboard sequence or char2.. that is, pretend to be a VT-52. TIC now has this capability. Emulation is done with a combination of translating some incoming characters into functions or other characters that are thting features of the DEC VT-52 stand-alone terminal. To take advantage of these features you would need terminal software for your Apple // that could EMULATE the VT-5retends to be a particular dedicated terminal that the host computer thinks it is sending data to. For example, a given host may use software that takes advantage of particular screen format is typically used when you are typing to a friend who is using another personal computer at another location. Emulation - This is a process by which software (TIC in this case) p displayed when you type or you get double characters when you type then change the duplex setting of TIC. "Chat duplex" is a specialized form of half duplex communication thatre not only transmitted to the host but are also displayed locally to the screen as opposed to the characters being sent from the host. If you find that you either get no characters every character you type. This is where the display of your typed characters comes from. This mode of operation is known as full duplex. Half duplex means that characters you type a (c) 1987,1988 -7- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 Duplex - Normally a host computer will transmit back to you DTR and if applicable should be configured via a switch setting to act upon the advice of the DTR signal. See your modem owners manual for more information on this. (tm) v2.03 phone under program control. TIC uses the DTR signal to cause modems to hang up the phone via the HANG UP command described elsewhere. Your modem must support an intermediary between the user and the regular operating system of the computer. The Extended Command Processor also from Carolina System Software is a shell that takes commands from you the user and passes them to ProDOS. A shell frequently adds functions not previously available directly from the operating system and makes it easier for the user to ache subdirectory called "GAMES" found in the "/MY.DISK" volume directory. Program Selector - A ProDOS program selector is a program that is used to switch from one ProDOS 8 system program to . Prefix directory - The PREFIX DIRECTORY is the directory specified by the current ProDOS prefix. i.e. if the prefix is set as "/MY.DISK/GAMES" then the PREFIX DIRECTORY would be tfix to "/MY.DISK/GAMES" and then you would only have to specify "WAR" as your pathname as "/MY.DISK/GAMES" would be automatically attached to the pathname you specified a program file called "WAR" that is in the "GAMES" subdirectory. Without a prefix, you would have to use "/MY.DISK/GAMES/WAR" as the pathname to your file. You could, however, set the pre you must do to specify a pathname to a file. As an example. Suppose you have a volume called "/MY.DISK" and that volume has a subdirectory called "GAMES" and you have ualified pathname is one that starts with the volume name followed by any subdirectories that must be accessed to find the file in question. A prefix is used to shorten the amount of typingard if desired. Prefix - The ProDOS prefix is a standard default partial pathname that is added to any file name you specify if your pathname is not fully qualified. A fully qpresent a connector included on the back of a computer where you would plug in an RS-232 cable to attach the computer to a mode or printer. A port may be added to a computer via a plug-in ce "WAR" would be: "/GAMES/ADVENTURE/WAR". See PREFIX and VOLUME. Port - A port, ala portal, is a pathway for transmission or reception of data. In our usage, a port will reur full pathname. Say you have a volume called "/GAMES" and have a subdirectory called "ADVENTURE" and have a file called "WAR" the complete pathname to access the fil other than the main volume directory are called subdirectories. If you want to refer to a file contained in a subdirectory then you must include those intermediate subdirectory names in yoh" to the file: "/MY.DISK/MYDATA". Some files may be additional directories and those directories may contain references to more files or more directories. Directories Pathname - A pathname is a path of directories required to access a specific file on a disk device. To reference a file named "MYDATA" on volume "/MY.DISK" you would use a "patcess operating system features that were not previously readily available. (c) 1987,1988 -8- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 another. When you leave a ProDOS 8 system program via the QUIT or BYE option, a selector program, if available, is automatically loaded into memory. The Extended Command Processor from Carolina System Software is a combination operating system shell and program selector. (c) 1987,1988 -9- Carolina System Talk is Che -10- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [2.00] Hardware requirements: You need to have one of the following computer set-ups to use TIC. o Apers, numbers or periods long and must begin with a letter. Volume names are always preceded by a slash "/". An example volume name might be "/MY.DISK". (c) 1987,1988 contain more than one volume online at any given time. Under ProDOS, volumes are referred to by name rather than physical location. Volume names may be up to 15 lettlogical disk storage unit. Usually a volume will be the same as a floppy disk. i.e. you may place any of several ProDOS volumes into a disk drive. Some disk devices such as hard disks may Upload - This is the process of transferring a file from your computer to a host computer. You upload a file from your disk to another computer. See also download. Volume - Refers to a that you add a serial port on a card for this purpose. The Apple IIgs can optionally use a serial port card (such as the Apple Super Serial card) for this purpose. port is an interface between a computer and a modem or the serial port of another device such as a computer. The Apple //c and IIgs have built-in serial ports while the Apple //e requires attaching serial ports to other serial ports or modems or printers. RS-422 - This is similar to RS-232 but also supports AppleTalk networking on the Apple IIgs. Serial port - A serial CONTROL-RESET will reset most fatal errors. Note that pressing CONTROL-RESET will cause many modems to hang up the phone. RS-232 - This is the name of a cable standard for use in ure, a FATAL ERROR message will be displayed. You should record any screen message and if the reason for the error is not apparent contact the program author. Pressing ready and it never will, thus using CONTROL-RESET is the only way out of the situation short of buying a printer or turning off your computer. In the event of a serious software fail the data on your disk. A common reason you might have to use this option would be routine output to a printer that does not exists. TIC will wait for the printer to become ture by holding down the CONTROL and RESET keys simultaneously, followed by releasing the RESET key. Note that if you use this option while TIC is trying to write to disk that you may damageap (tm) v2.03 RESET - If you get yourself into a part of the program and can't leave, then as a last resort you can usually use a CONTROL-RESET command. You execute this feaple //c. o Apple //e with 64K or more RAM, 80 column display, and Super serial card (or equivalent). o Apple IIgs with Super serial card (or equivalent). o Apple IIgs using built-in serial port. o TIC optionally supports a Pascal 1.1 protocol compatible printer interface card in slot 1 (or the built-in printer port for the //c or IIgs). o TIC optionally supports a ProDOS compatible clock. o TIC optionally sd many dealers have sold incorrect cables to unsuspecting customers. You may also connect a serial or parallel printer to slot 1. (c) 1987,1988 -12- Carolina System hake setting or the DSR/DTR handshake setting. If this doesn't fix you up then you may need to verify that you have the proper cable for the IIgs port. There has been a lot of confusion over what cable should be used with the IIgs anelect SLOTS. From there select "MODEM PORT" for slot 2. TIC will configure the other options automatically. If you have trouble getting TIC to use the IIgs built-in modem port then you should try changing either the DCD handsl panel and select SLOTS. From there select "YOUR CARD" for slot 2 and proceed with the set-up instructions for the Apple //e. If you will be using the IIgs with the built-in serial port then enter the Control panel and s, try reversing the setting of these two switches. [2.30] Hardware set-up for Apple IIgs: If you will be using the IIgs with an Apple Super Serial card or compatible internal modem then you should enter the Controd. The two switches are the ones that control NMI and IRQ interrupts. TIC requires that the real NMI switch be in the OFF position and the real IRQ switch be in the ON position. If you have trouble getting TIC to work with this card | UP UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN | --------------------------------------- Note that if you are using an Applied Engineering Serial Pro card that some versions of this card were shipped with two of the switches mislabele UP UP UP | --------------------------------------- Block 2 (farthest from keyboard) --------------------------------------- | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | --------------------------------------- .03 Super Serial Card switch settings: Block 1 (closest to keyboard) --------------------------------------- | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | --------------------------------------- | DOWN UP UP UP You may connect either a parallel or serial printer to slot 1 with an appropriate interface card. (c) 1987,1988 -11- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2n or up position. You'll also need to set the large switch near the back of the card to the UP position. Note that some internal modems emulate an external modem attached via a Super Serial card. These modems will work fine with TIC.(you can use the TIC.STARTUP file to specify another slot). Your card will have to be set up to support interrupts to be usable with TIC. On the Apple Super Serial card this involves setting switch 6 of switch block 2 to the otional printer to slot 1 (the printer port) on the back of the computer. [2.20] Hardware set-up for Apple //e: You will need atn Apple Super Serial card or compatible card plugged into slot 2 inside your computer upports ProDOS compatible hard disks or ram disks. [2.10] Hardware set-up for Apple //c: The Apple //c is ready for TIC when you buy it. All you need do is attach a modem to slot 2 (the modem port) and an op Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [3.00] How to start the program: TIC is now distributed with a program selector, The Extended Command Processor (from Carolina System Software). ECP will startup with a menu batch file that will allow you to run TIC or any of several utilities. TIC can run without the program selector (ECP8.SYSTEM) and can be made the boot system program by deleting ECP8.SYSTEM and renaming TIC as TIC.SYSTEM. If you would l new Apple //e and //c computers. If you don't yet have at least 128K you should probably look into updating (average cost $50) as this space will be needed to support future enhancements to the software. [3.20] How tn and closed apple keys while TIC loads. This will give you an 11K recording buffer but will leave the /ram volume intact. Note that it is likely that a future version of TIC will require the full 128K now being supplied on all r /ram disk will not normally be available for use while TIC is in memory. If for some reason you would rather TIC behave as if it were on a 64K machine and ignore the presence of a /ram disk then you can hold down both the ope [3.15] TIC memory usage: When TIC loads on a 128K Apple //e, //c, or IIgs it will normally disconnect the slot 3, drive 2 /ram disk volume so it can use this space for a 47K recording buffer. This means that you. TIC does not depend on this prefix to find its own files. (c) 1987,1988 -14- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 program you want to launch. You may set this prefix to whatever (c) 1987,1988 -13- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 directory you want TIC to use at launch time (tm) or MouseDesk (tm) you would double-click the icon representing TIC. See the documentation for the appropriate program selector if you have trouble. Some program selectors ask you to specify a startup prefix for the e file TIC.STARTUP but you may specify any TIC command file. For example: :TIC COMPUSERVE would execute TIC and make it execute the command file named "COMPUSERVE". From a mouse-based program selector such as Catalyst With program selectors that allow it, you can specify a startup file with TIC. This would be the name of the command file you want TIC to execute when it is loaded. The default is that TIC will attempt to load and execute thlector: Program selectors vary in the way they allow you to start programs. From the Extended Command Processor (tm) From Carolina System Software you would just type the name of the program at the ":" prompt: :TICution disk. If you boot the distribution disk, TIC will be run automatically. If you are at the Applesoft Basic prompt "]" you can run TIC with the following command: ]-TIC [3.10] Running TIC from a program selso runs directly under ProDOS and is a "system program". This means that you can run TIC from Basic, from autostart (booting), from another system program, or from a program selector. TIC is in a file named "TIC.SYSTEM" on the distrib Carolina System Software. If you register the ECP8 program with Carolina System Software you will also receive the rest of the software package along with the user's and technical reference guides to that software. TIC aike to include ECP8.SYSTEM with your own programs you will need to become a registered ECP8 owner and pay a small licensing fee. The registration cost for ECP8 is $30 and the licensing fee is $60 per product per year payable too set-up an autostart disk: TIC comes distributed on an autostart disk. The only files required to create an autostart disk with TIC are PRODOS and TIC.SYSTEM. Note that if there are other files ending with ".SYSTEM" that TIC.SYSTEM must be the first such file listed in the disk directory. [4.00] Basic program operation: TIC is a modeless program. This means that there is no special mode to get lost in while operating the prograour screen then you may need to try another setting. These settings can be selected from the menu that appears when you type Open Apple-M (OA-M). Select the Data Format item and the data bits, stop bits, and parity will step through sa bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity checking. This combination will work with the vast majority of systems regardless of what they tell you they use. If you have problems with this setting such as seeing nothing but garbage on yespond to typed commands. Other modems may work with TIC provided that you can take manual control of them. Once connected there are a few other items you should know about. TIC assumes that the data format will always be 8 datT" is for tone dialing, and "555-1212" is the number to be dialed. Again, refer to your modem's documentation for more details on the features it supports. TIC is intended for use with Smart modems such as the Hayes that can r See your modem's manual for details but basically, to dial 555-1212 you would type the following at your keyboard from inside TIC: ATDT 555-1212 "AT" gets the modem's attention, "D" is the Dial command, "pt for a few screen disrupting characters that are filtered out of the display stream. If you are using a Hayes compatible modem then you could enter a string at the keyboard to dial the phone and establish the connection.omputer. You will need to dial a remote computer with your modem in originate mode and once the connection is established everything you type will be transmitted and everything received will be displayed to the screen exce in TIC to the proper speed for use with your modem. This will usually be 300, 1200, or 2400 baud or higher if you are using a direct connection. Once you have done this you will be ready to initiate a connection with another c (c) 1987,1988 -15- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4.10] Standard communications: Before you can communicate using TIC you must set the baud rate OA keys are commands while the CA keys execute command files. The notation OA-? means to press the Open Apple key and the "?" key simultaneously. This particular function will display the help screen of available commands. has the same effect as the CA key). Pressing either the OA or the CA (OPTION) key with another character designates that character as a command key for TIC to invoke a particular defined program function. In general the an Apple on it to the left of the space bar) or the closed apple key (CA key -the key with the solid Apple on it to the right of the space bar. Note that the Apple IIgs substitutes the OPTION key for the CA key. The OPTION keyut the serial port and every character received via the serial port is displayed except for a few display disrupting characters. To enter a command to TIC you must press either the open apple key (OA key - the key with the outline of m because there are no modes. All commands are typed with Apple keys. These are modifier keys like the shift or control key but they don't represent any character. With TIC, every key you type on the keyboard is transmitted oeveral different combinations. When you get the proper setting you'll be able to read data from the host computer. Make a note of the setting you had to use so you can specify this setting in a command file for use when you're calling this host in the future. Note that protocol (xmodem or ymodem) file transfers require by convention that the data format be 8/N/1 and that TIC will automatically select this format during file transfers using these protocols. display all available commands for using TIC. CA-? This command will display a list of defined command file macro keys. See section 8.00 for details of how to set up command file macro keys. CA-H Te EMULATE command then no file will be loaded. The TTY emulation definition file is always available in memory. [4.20] Online documentation: OA-? Use this command to display a one page help screen that will PS subdirectory but these files can be kept in any directory so long as you specify the pathname to the specific emulation definition file you wish to use. Should you select TTY at the TERMINAL entry in the OA-M menu or using though the terminal emulator. There is a utility program supplied named DEFTERM that will allow knowledgeble users to create their own emulation definition files. There are several emulation definition files supplied in the /TIC/TERMCA the EMULATE statement in a command file (see command file docs for details). While emulation is in effect, all screen output from the host, displayed from the recording buffer, or displayed from a text file, will be routed thrluding a standard TTY (teletype) mode for cases when terminal emulation is not needed or desired. You select a terminal to emulate by specifying the pathname to an emulation definition file in the OA-M manual settings menu or by using waste some time after each carriage return it sends so as to give your screen time to move the cursor down and scroll the screen. [4.15] Emulation: TIC now supports screen emulation for several terminals inctes they should still never be necessary even on the older //e but if you find that you're missing the first few characters on each line then you might try adding a null for each character that you're missing. This way the host will for people using slow printing terminals or slow scrolling display screens. If you are using an Apple //c, Enhanced Apple //e (post March 1985 or upgraded), or Apple IIgs then nulls should never be necessary. At slower baud ra -17- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 Some systems will ask you if you need any nulls. A null is a zero byte transmitted to waste time. They are typically needed If they should ask you this, you need to tell them that you do. If they don't send you line feeds then lines will all write over themselves on your screen. (c) 1987,1988 r asking for it but some systems, such as TBBS for (c) 1987,1988 -16- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 NEWDOS-80 and MS-DOS will ask you if you need line feeds. e return character and the line feed character represent separate functions. This means that the host should transmit a carriage return and a line feed as the new line sequence. Again, this is almost always the case without you When the file transfer terminates, TIC will automatically return you to the settings you've selected if necessary. The other thing you will need to know is that TIC, like a standard TTY terminal, expects that the carriaghis command will execute an interactive command file that will display additional information about the various commands you can use in TIC. This command file, like all command files, can be altered by the user or removed from the disk. The file is named TIC.KEY.H. (c) 1987,1988 -18- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4.30] The status line display: OA-ESC Whe This is the file name that TIC will save its recording buffer to when you use the OA-S command or when the buffer becomes filled during a normal session. The default is to store the buffer to a file name in above mentioned files. Note that this must be a full pathname starting with a volume name so that TIC can find its root directory regardless of the current prefix setting. [2] Autosave File: /A/TIC/TICTEMP.1 the TIC.CONFIG file, the TIC.STARTUP file and any TIC.KEY.x command key files. You may change this directory to any directory on any volume you wish in case you want TIC to look to another directory for theth OA-M and that TIC was launched from the directory "/A/TIC/". [1] Root Directory: /A/TIC/ The root directory is normally the directory that TIC is executed from. This is the directory where TIC will look forture releases but future versions of TIC will be able to detect these changes and act accordingly. The following options are available at the OA-M menu: The examples below assume that you have not made any changes withis file for anything else). When TIC is run it will look for a TIC.CONFIG file and if it doesn't find one it will create one. You should never try to create this file on your own as its structure will probably change with fu This command brings up a menu of 9 items that can be set manually. Settings altered by this command will be remembered between runs of TIC as TIC will write a copy of these items into a disk file named TIC.CONFIG (so don't use ay - the current ProDOS time is displayed. (c) 1987,1988 -19- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4.35] Manual Settings: OA-M buffer is filled so far - range 0 - 99%. The recording buffer currently has a capacity of 15,360 bytes of data. Dir: - the current ProDOS prefix directory is displayed. Time Displ-O command. R - if a [R] is displayed then the recording buffer is actively recording modem input. Buf: - a percentage display of how much of the recording uplex. Zoom mode - [Z] for Zoom (control show) or blank for non-Zoom operation. P - if a [P] is displayed just before the Prefix then online printing has been enabled with the OAinate a command file's execution so that TIC will again responsd to commands from the keyboard. Baud Rate - 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, or 19,200 baud. Duplex status - Full duplex or Half dne displays the following information: * - an asterisk in the left-most position of the status line indicates that a command file is being exeucuted. You may press the ESC key to termn you run TIC the first line of the display is the status line display while the next 23 lines of the display make up the communications window. The status line display can be turned off or turned on using this command. The status lithe root directory that begins with TICTEMP. and ends with a number, (0 thru 9). You may change this destination to any full pathname you desire. Many users find it convenient to have the recording buffer saved to a ram disk device as this is faster than storing to a physical disk drive. You must specify a full ProDOS pathname at this entry. [3] Buffer: Auto The two choices here are AUTO and MANUAL. The default is AUTO keys the baud rate will be rotated in order from 300 --> 1200 --> 2400 --> 4800 --> 9600 --> 19,200 --> 300 etc. The status line is updated immediately to reflect the new baud rate. [4.50] Change duplex setting: Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4.40] Set the baud rate: OA-B This command will flip TIC through all of its supported baud rates. Each time you press the OA-B with ESC or RETURN. If you made any changes then the changes will be written to a TIC.CONFIG file in the root directory so that they will remain in effect the next time you run TIC. (c) 1987,1988 -21- be loaded by TIC. The pathname can be a complete pathname or the path needed to load the file from the root directory of TIC. Use TTY for no emulation. Once you've made changes using OA-M you can exit this screen ve this set to 8N1 (for 8 data bits, No parity, and 1 stop bit) but a few systems will require a different setting. [9] Terminal: This is where you'll be able to select a terminal emulation table toy execute. [8] Data Format: 8N1 This is where you can set the number of data bits (7 or 8), the parity (None, Even, or Odd), and the number of stop bits (1 or 2). 99% of the time you'll want to leas used to help you find mistakes in TIC command files. If Echo mode is set to True then command file statements will be displayed in inverse video as they are executed. If set to false they will not be displayed as the. [6] Modem Slot: 2 This is the slot where TIC will expect to find your modem. This will usually be slot 2 but it can be changed to any slot except slot 3. [7] Echo mode: False Echo mode ii.e. Control-I is represented as "^I" as shown above. See your printer manual if you need to change this setting. If you get double spacing or no spacing between lines then this is the item that probably needs changing] Printer Init: ^I80N This is where you encode the string of characters that must be sent to your printer interface or printer to initialize it. You can specify control characters by using the ^ character. ose False here then each recording buffer will be saved to a different file whose name ends with a higher number than the previously saved file. You can have up to 9 recording files if Append is set to False. [5 The two choices here are True and False. If True, then multiple saves of the recording buffer will go to a single large file with each buffer save appended to the end of the previously saved file. If you cho then you will have to manually turn on and turn off the recording buffer. (c) 1987,1988 -20- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4] Append: True which means that the recording buffer will be turned on automatically whenever a Control-R is received from the host computer. The buffer will be turned off if a Control-T is received. If the setting is MANUAL OA-E This command toggles TIC from full to half duplex, chat duplex and back again. The status line is updated immediately to reflect the new duplex status. Chat duplex means that half duplex will be used and that incoming carriage returns will have a line feed automatically added so you can see what you're typing if you're calling another personal computer user. [4.60] Quit program command: OA-Q This command returns co info on these areas then try the ProDOS users guides before proceeding. [5.10] Set a New Prefix: OA-N This command allows you to change the current prefix as displayed in the status line display at the manipulate ProDOS in basic operations while your are using TIC. The descriptions that follow assume that you have at least a casual understanding of how ProDOS works with directories, files, and subdirectories. If you need more This command will prompt you to confirm that you wish to disconnect the telephone connection and will hang up the phone if you press the Y key to confirm. [5.00] Filing commands: These commands are used tobeing sent by a host computer during debugging operations with command files. Zoom mode is not available if you are using terminal emulations other than TTY (no emulation). [4.90] Hang up the phone: OA-H as inverse video letters representing the particular control character received. i.e. the Bell character, ascii $07 will be displayed as an inverse video "G" for CONTROL-G. This feature is useful for determining exactly what data is has been enabled. [4.80] Zoom mode toggle: OA-Z This command toggles between Zoom and non-Zoom mode. Zoom mode means that control characters (other than carriage returns and line feeds) will be displayedhis mode, any text displayed to the screen either in terminal mode or as a result of viewing a text file will also be sent to the printer as it is displayed to the screen. A "P" on the status line indicates that online printing987,1988 -22- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [4.75] Toggle online printing: OA-O This command will turn on or turn off online printing. In ttents of the current screen to the device in slot 1, usually a printer. Data that arrives over the serial port during the printing operation (up to 256 bytes) will be displayed on the screen after printing is completed. (c) 1uld result in a system crash if it were allowed to occur). If you are online when you exit TIC then TIC will not disable the DataLink. [4.70] Print the current screen: OA-P This command will print the conyou are using the Applied Engineering DataLink (tm) modem then TIC will disable this modem if you exit TIC when you are not online. This keeps the DataLink from answering incoming calls while you're in another program (which cou can use OA-Q to leave TIC for another utility and then return to TIC to continue communications. TIC will automatically save the contents of the recording buffer to the current autosave file if you quit with a non-empty buffer. If prompt for a new prefix directory and the name of a system program to run. Note that TIC will not prompt for you to save anything in the recording buffer and will not drop the modem connection when you exit via this command. Yontrol back to ProDOS or to a calling program selector such as the Extended Command Processor if it is installed. If you have a program selector then follow the normal procedure. If no program selector is installed then ProDOS will top of the screen. A window will display on the screen showing you the current prefix. If you wish to change the current prefix then type in the name of (c) 1987,1988 -23- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 the directory you wish to set it to and hit return. Just hitting return by itself will accept the current prefix as is. (c) 1987,e transfer protocols. They are ascii text, xmodem, xmodem crc, ymodem, ymodem crc, and Ascii Express (tm USII) protocols. In addition, TIC supports automatic downloading of Binary II formatted files. A special limited utility protoco choose one best suited to the individual transfer you need to accomplish and with a variety of host systems that may not support but one or two protocols. [6.10] Choosing a transfer protocol: TIC supports 6 fily can direct the sending computer to re-send segments of the file that contained errors during the first transmission. One of the powerful features of TIC is that it supports several such file transfer protocols such that you can a single byte error will cause the file to be worthless. To avoid problems like these, communications protocols were developed so communications programs like TIC would be able to detect transmission errors as they occur so thes, so can computer communications be faulty. When transferring text data, a data error caused by line noise may be easily recognized and cause no trouble but this is almost never the case when the file contains programs or data where tions: One of the nice things about modem communication is the ability it gives you to transfer files of data or programs across telephone lines. Unfortunately, just as human speech may be misunderstood by conversing humanng any key will restore the original communications window. (c) 1987,1988 -25- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [6.00] File transfer operaould like displayed to the screen. While the file is being displayed you may press any key to stop the display momentarily. Pressing any other key causes the display to resume. The display will pause at the end of the file and pressiince other commands require that pathnames be used instead of the slot and drive assignments. [5.40] Display a file: OA-J This command will prompt for a partial or full pathname to a text file you w This command will display a listing of the slot and drive assignments for all mounted ProDOS disk volumes including any installed ram disks or hard disks. This command is useful if you forget the volume names of mounted volumes s [5.25] Delete a file: OA-K This command prompts for the name of a file to delete. It will not delete a locked file (that's what lock is for!). [5.30] Volumes Online display: OA-V e entire directory has been displayed you may press any key to restore the original communications window. You may type in the full or partial pathname of the directory you wish to display if it is different from the prefix directory. directory and will prompt for the name of the directory you wish to display. Pressing return will cause the prefix directory contents to be displayed on the screen, pausing after each page full waiting for a keypress. After th1988 -24- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [5.20] Display a Disk directory: OA-D This command will display a window showing the current prefix l called Turbo Xmodem is also available for downloads. When to use Ascii text transfers: Ascii text transfers can only be done when the file you want to send is made up of readable characters also known as 7 bit files. There is no error correction facility built into ascii transfers but some systems can support no other protocol. If you want to upload a pre-prepared mail message to a bulletin board service then you would use a text editor or wd effect is that there is a waiting period between every 128 bytes of the file for the handshake to occur between the sender and the receiver, a waiting period that prolongs the transfer process somewhat. Ymodem: at small data blocks are used so transfers can be successful even with relatively noisy lines since the odds are good that you can get 128 bytes to transfer error-free more times than not without too many repeated blocks. The bathe entire file is transmitted or the transfer aborts after 10 consecutive errors or a user abort from pressing CONTROL-X a few times at the other end of the transfer or the local user pressing the ESC key. The benefit of xmodem is thassumed that the 128 byte data blocks were valid so the receiver tells the sender to send the next data block. If the checksums don't match then the receiver directs the sender to re-send the block. This continues until either alculated based on the values of the 128 data bytes. The receiving computer calculates its own checksum and compares what it calculates to the checksum sent by the other computer. If the two values match than it can be reasonably be Text. Text refers to ascii text transfers and is described elsewhere. Xmodem: Xmodem is a protocol where 128 byte blocks of data are transmitted from one computer to another with a single byte checksum that is cactually supports combinations of the starting 4. The basic considerations left to you are whether xmodem or ymodem should be used. When you tell TIC that you want to transmit a file your choices are Xmodem, Ymodem, ProDOS, orrs are the only way that you can transfer binary or program files as ascii text transfers can only be used for readable ascii text files. Which Protocol should I use? TIC supports 4 non-ascii file transfer protocols and Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 When to use Protocol transfers: Use protocol transfers any time they are available as they are the best way of getting an error free transmission. Protocol transfeer review. You might also use this to download all of your mail at the start of a session at a high baud rate, then log off and read the mail on your own time. (c) 1987,1988 -26- Carolina System rotocol transfers when you have that option as they can transmit or receive the file error-free. You can use the text downloading feature of TIC (also known as the recording buffer) to log or archive your online session for latii transfers work best where there is a fairly noise free telephone connection as there is no mechanism to detect or correct errors. When uploading a program source file or other long or important document, you should use one of the p advantage of letting you prepare the text on your own time using whatever special formatting and spelling checking your text editor supports without tying up the phone line while creating the content of your message. Note that ascord processor to prepare your text, log onto the information service or bulletin board, and use TIC's ascii transfer capability to upload the file into the editor of the information service just as if you had typed it. This has the Ymodem is identical to Xmodem except that 1,024 byte blocks are used instead of 128 byte blocks. This works better on cleaner data lines since there are fewer handshaking pauses during the transfer. At 1200 baud, Ymodem is as much as 10% faster than Xmodem for this reason. Of course, if errors do occur, then an entire 1,024 bytes must be re-transmitted even if the error only involved one byte of data. (c) 1987,1988 -27- e is transferred. On the down side, however, if any errors existed in the block that was already acknowledged as good then the entire transfer fails and must be repeated. For this reason, Turbo Xmodem should only be used when you havas long as a second or more between each block transferred. Turbo Xmodem pre-acknoledges blocks during downloads so the host will go ahead and start sending the next block. This can as much as double the speed with which a filding. When you download a file from a network such as Compuserve or The Source, the majority of protocol download time is spent between blocks waiting for verification that the previously transferred block is valid. This delay can be (c) 1987,1988 -28- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 Turbo Xmodem: Turbo Xmodem is a special limited use form of Xmodem for use with downloaed to disk in their Binary II form just as they were on the host system. These Binary II files would then have to be unpacked by a separate program such as the Apple Library Utility (included on the TIC distribution disk). adheres to this file format. If you choose yes then TIC will automatically extract any ProDOS files from the Binary II file as it is downloading to your disk. If you choose no then any incoming Binary II files will just be savre stored with a 128 byte header of their ProDOS directory information. When you tell TIC you want to receive a file it will ask if you want it to automatically unpack these Binary II format files if it detects that the incoming file While ProDOS protocol works well with Apple systems, it is not supported by any non-Apple information services or bulletin boards. On these systems many files will be found in what is known as Binary II format. In this format, files aenough to determine whether the other end of the transmission can support the full protocol. If not, then TIC will drop into either Xmodem or Ymodem depending on the capabilities of the host. Binary II Downloads: any non-Apple system but the protocol allows for automatic detection of support for this protocol at the other end of a transfer. This means that you can select ProDOS transfers on a non-ProDOS host and the protocol in TIC is smart USII), Ascii Express MouseTalk (tm USII), ProLine Message System (tm Living Legends Software), ModemWorks (tm Living Legends Software), and several other ProDOS based bulletin boards and message systems. It is not supported by om one Apple to another as it avoids the problem of how this important file information should be transferred to the other system. This particular ProDOS protocol extension is compatible with Ascii Express: The Professional (tmsuch as the exact length of a file, the ProDOS file type, the create date, the modification date, and the program load address are automatically transmitted along with the file. This is important any time you're transferring a file fr Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 ProDOS: This refers to Ascii Express (tm USII) protocol transfers. This is basically an extension to Xmodem where ProDOS directory information e a very clean data connection (no line noise). Additionally, because data is arriving almost continuously during a Turbo Xmodem download, the protocol can only be used when you are downloading to a ram disk. As long as you understand these very significant limitations then Turbo Xmodem can be quite useful in selected circumstances. Most of the time you will want to answer NO when asked to enable Turbo Xmodem mode. CRC Checking: In the descr'd from ProDOS BASIC. A utility to do this is available as freeware on Compuserve. It was written by Glen Bredon and is called "The Executioner". 2) Send a separate mail message describing the ProDOS file inf the information may not be important and you can just transmit the file. If the file is a binary or program file then your options are to: 1) Convert the file to a text file that will create the original file when Execelds. If the file must be transmitted to a system that doesn't support ProDOS protocol transfers then you must choose a method of including that directory information. If the file you are transmitting or receiving is a text file then use the ProDOS protocol to transfer a file then everything is taken care of. Displaying the directory where you put a downloaded file will look the same on your computer as it did on the host computer right down the the date fio in the description of ProDOS protocol file transfers above, there is more important information about ProDOS files than just what's included in the file. ProDOS maintains this important information in the file directory. If you can (c) 1987,1988 -30- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [6.20] Transmitting Apple Files: As was alluded t7,1988 -29- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 problem with line noise on your phone line then you might try Xmodem mode to force the smaller data blocks. unds complicated, the complication was in writing TIC, not in using it. All other things being equal, use ProDOS transfers when talking to an Apple based message system, otherwise use Ymodem transfers. If there is a (c) 198via the ProDOS option it sends a code that translates to "I can support AE protocol, can you?". If so then TIC will use ProDOS protocol, if not it reverts to Xmodem or Ymodem or CRC checking if the receiver requests it. While this soCRC checking.. use it at your end if you can and I will reciprocate". TIC also will look out for this special code when it is sending a file to a host so it can respond accordingly. At the same time, when TIC transmits a file rotocol and will adjust itself automatically to support Ymodem, ProDOS, or CRC checking protocols. When TIC is used to receive a file from a host, TIC sends a special code to the host that essentially says: "I can support Ymodem with ng and TIC will act accordingly with more accuracy. Automatic Protocol selection: TIC has several proprietary enhancements that allow it to automatically detect when another system supports a particular transfer pIC will use the CRC brand of error checking any time it can determine that the other end of the transfer supports it. You may, when given the choice, tell the host that you would prefer CRC checking as opposed to checksum checkiiption of Xmodem, mention was made of checksum checking. Another error checking protocol is known as CRC for Clyclic Redundancy Check. This is a two byte value that is a more accurate means to detecting errors in transmitted blocks. Tormation to potential recipients of the file. 3) Place the file into a Library file using the utility ALU "Apple Library Utility" enclosed on the TIC program disk. See appendix for ALU documentation. The library directory holds the ProDOS file information inside the file so that regular file transfer protocols may be used to transmit the file to other systems. [6.30] Text file reception: Text file reception y were TXT and TIC will automatically do the conversion during the upload without altering the contents of the AWP file. This allows you to use the AppleWorks word processor to directly prepare files or messages for later uploading wi(for APW/ORCA source code files). TIC can also convert a single non-text file into text during an upload as a convenience. This file type is AWP and is used by the AppleWorks word processor. You can upload AWP files as if theen OA-S to save the current buffer to disk. [6.40] Text file transmission: OA-T A text file is a file that contains words you can read. Text files are usually stored with the ProDOS file types TXT or SRC d then use the OA-C to clear the buffer, then OA-R to turn on the recording buffer. You then press RETURN to tell the host to send the file. Once the file has been received you would press OA-R to turn off the recording buffer and thdisplay. During a typical session you would tell a host which file you wanted it to send you. You would tell the host that you desired an ascii transfer. The host would tell you to press RETURN to start the transfer. You woul buffer. OA-L This will display the contents of the recording buffer to the screen. Note that the percentage of the recording buffer currently filled is displayed near the right of the status line Unlike OA-S, however, OA-W allows you to specify the pathname of the file that will be used when the file is written to disk. OA-C This command will erase the contents of the recording -32- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 OA-W This command is like the OA-S command in that it allows you to write the contents of the recording buffer to disk. a System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 function occurs automatically should the recording buffer fill up. (c) 1987,1988 appropriate TICTEMP.X file on your disk. The OA-S command also clears the recording buffer after the buffer image has been saved to disk. Note that this (c) 1987,1988 -31- Carolinthe status line display. You should use this command to start TIC's recording of data received by your computer. OA-S This command saves the current contents of the recording buffer into the for details. The following commands control the recording buffer: OA-R This command toggles the recording buffer on and off. When the buffer is turned on the letter "R" is displayed near the right of y in a file named TICTEMP.0. Subsequent buffer images are saved in TICTEMP.1, TICTEMP.2 and so on. You can specify another file name to use for autosave operations via a command file statement (SET AUTOSAVE). See section 8.00is accomplished via the TIC recording buffer. The recording buffer is a 46,000 byte area of memory where incoming data is stored. When this buffer is filled, the contents are automatically saved to disk in the current prefix directorthout having to first convert them into text files. To transmit a text file to a host computer follow the steps below: 1) Select the File transfer dialogue box by pressing OA-T. 2) When prompted to Send or Receive a file select "S" for Send. 3) Enter the full or partial pathname of the text file you wish to send when prompted with "Sending File:". 4) Select "Text transfer" by pressing thetocol you should select the file transfer dialogue box with the OA-T command and specify "R" to receive a file. You then enter the name of the file you want to save the incoming data to and press RETURN. You then select whetheuser presses the ESC key to abort the transfer. The bytes transferred and line count is displayed as the file is transmitted. [6.50] Protocol file reception: OA-T To receive a file via a file transfer proault value using the SET PADCR ON/OFF command (described in the command file language documentation). The file specified will then be sent to the host until either the end of the file is reached or the ransfer could be prematurely aborted. To avoid this, TIC adds a space character to lines that are otherwise blank. You can disable this feature by answering NO to this prompt. You can also change the defdefault is YES. Some systems' message editors take a blank line to mean that you have finished uploading a message or file. If the file you are uploading contains blank lines then your te often needed when uploading text to a system that cannot send the sender a prompt character. 8) You are then asked if you want a space character added to blank lines that you upload. The he "Line delay" is an arbitrary time delay added between the sending of lines. This allows a host time to save each line of text uploaded prior to accepting the next line of text from TIC. Line delays ar characters will help TIC slow down to near human speeds. Pressing RETURN or entering a "0" will mean no character delay while entering "9" would be the maximum inter-character delay. 7) Tan arbitrary time delay added between the sending of each character. Some host computers can only keep up with human typing and not with a fast program such as TIC so adding a delay between eo characters. (c) 1987,1988 -34- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 6) The "Character delay" is he Down Arrow (line feed key) as the prompt since the host will transmit a line feed prior to accepting each new line of text. Control characters such as the line feed key will be displayed as inverse vid the host to accept. A typical prompt might be the ":", or the ">" character. If you're uploading to a text editor on the host that does not display any prompt then you might try using t Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 character is the character that TIC will wait for as a signal that the host is ready to accept the next line of data. This keeps TIC from sending the file too fast for "T" key. 5) Press the key that represents the "Prompt" character or press RETURN if no prompt is to be used. The prompt (c) 1987,1988 -33- Carolina System r you want TIC to automatically enable Binary II file downloading. You will usually want to say Yes to this prompt. The rest of the process is automated as TIC determines which file transfer protocol is being used by the host computer and acts accordingly. You must tell the host computer which protocol to use in sending you the file prior to initiating the transfer with TIC. If given a choice choose the protocol based on the considerations in section 6.10 y Floyd Zink (a frequent Compuserve user) and is used to manipulate Binary II files. You can create Binary II files from a group of separate files or you can extract files from an existing Binary II file. BLU can also be used o Utilities to manipulate Binary II files have limited features. o The file structure does not lend itself to easy updating or deletion of file entries. The Binary Library Utility (BLU) is a public domain program bary II format during downloads. Disadvantages of Binary II file format: o The format is unknown except under Apple ProDOS and cannot be used as a means of transferring data between unlike operating systems. epresent subdirectory structures when uploading or downloading files. o Is compatible with the Talk is Cheap communications program as a built-in feature in that TIC can automatically remove files from the Binserve (tm) and allows for the storage of multiple files within a single file for easier uploading and downloading to information systems. Advantages of Binary II file format: o Allows for the storage of full pathnames to rry Utility: Binary II files: The Binary II file format is used for purposes similar to that of Library files (LBR) under the CP/M operating system. The Binary II file format was defined by Gary Little and others on Compumand file OA-Z Zoom - show control characters (c) 1987,1988 -36- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [7.10] BLU - Binary Libraording buffer on/off OA-S Save recording buffer to disk OA-T Transfer a file OA-V Volumes online display OA-W Write recording buffer to named file OA-X Execute a named Com OA-M Change Settings Manually OA-N Change to new directory OA-O Toggle Online printing OA-P Print screen to printer OA-Q Quit - leave program OA-R Turn recffer OA-D Show disk directory OA-E Change duplex status OA-H Hang up phone OA-J Display file to screen OA-K Delete a file OA-L List the recording buffer reen display CA-? Display command file macro key definitions OA-ESC Hide/Reveal status line display OA-A Attention/BREAK signal OA-B Change baud rate OA-C Clear recording bus in section 6.10 above. Note that you must first tell the host computer that you want to make a protocol transfer prior to initiating the transfer with TIC. [7.00] Quick reference Guide: OA-? Help scfer protocol you should select the file transfer dialogue box with the OA-T command and specify "S" to send a file. You should then enter the name of the file you want to transmit and select a protocol by letter based on considerationabove. (c) 1987,1988 -35- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [6.60] Protocol file transmission: OA-T To send a file via a file transto squeeze or unsqueeze files (see section 7.20 below for information about separate squeeze and unsqueeze utilities) and can automatically squeeze or unsqueeze files as they are added to or removed from a Binary II file. To use BLU, you select the desired option off the title screen. A list of files from the source directory will be displayed to the screen. From here you select files by positioning the inverse video bar over the file(s) of your choicehe file to be squeezed or unsqueezed, a comma ",", and the name of the new file to be created. Note that these two names have to be different. When you squeeze a file, the original file's name is stored with the that can be run directly or from basic and USQ is a BIN file that is run from basic. Each comes up with a title screen and a prompt asking for a source and destination file. At this prompt you should type the name of t and output files. (c) 1987,1988 -38- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 4. SQ and USQ are stand-alone ProDOS programs. SQ is a SYS file ause a lot of disk starts and stops but not much head movement. Worst case is to use one floppy drive for both input and output. This will cause a lot of head movement as the programs alternate between the input Q reads the input file twice. If you can, use RAM disk at least for the input file and for both files if you have the room. The next best case is to use two floppy drives, one for input and one for output. This will c. Remember that bytes with the same frequency of occurrence are at the same depth (usually) in the tree. So if all of the bytes have the same depth, the output strings are all the same length. 3. SSQ to make sure our file didn't grow. 2. Some files will not compress well if they have a uniform distribution of byte values, for example, binary or system files. This is because of the way SQ builds the tree don't know the exact size of the threshold because the encoding binary tree information depends on the distribution of the characters in a file. At least we know to check the size of the encoded file after we run with. General Hints: 1. Files must be above a threshold size, or else the output file will be longer than the input file because of the decoding information put at the beginning of the compressed data. We riginal file. The USQ program reads in the encoding information and then reads in the encoded file. It is a simple matter to scan the encoded file and produce an output file which is identical to the file that SQ startedch character to a bit string. All of these bit strings are placed end to end and written onto a disk file. The encoding information is also put on the file since the USQ program needs to know the character distribution of the of data files by using the Huffman Data Compression Algorithm. The SQ program uses the Huffman coding technique to search for the frequency of use of each of the 256 possible byte patterns, and it then assigns a translation for ea Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 [7.20] Squeeze and Unsqueeze Utilities: In any computer system, efficient management of the file storage space is important. The two programs SQ and USQ reduce the size o using the arrow keys and then select or de-select file(s) by using the space bar. To squeeze files you use the "S" key to select file(s). (c) 1987,1988 -37- Carolina System squeezed file. If you want that name used when you unsqueeze the file then don't enter a destination file. This will work fine if the file was squeezed with SQ and will probably work well with files squeezed under other operating systems. Note, however, that some operating systems such as CP/M and MS-DOS have different file naming conventions from ProDOS. If you get an error attempting to write the new file it may be because ty pressing the ESC key. There may be a short delay in aborting certain Command file functions. (c) 1987,1988 -40- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03d should be the name of the service associated with the particular Macro key. An example TIC.MACROS file might contain: aApple BBS bRadio Shack BBS cMy BBS fYour BBS Most Command file operations can be aborted bid Macro key. i.e. if you start a line in TIC.MACROS with "A" then you should have a file named "TIC.KEY.A" in the same Root directory with TIC. The remainder of the line should start immediately after the letter identifier an force TIC to execute as the startup Command file. In order to invoke Macro Command files, you must have a text file named TIC.MACROS in TIC's Root directory. Each line of this file should begin with the letter of a valor such as the Extended Command Processor (ECP) then you may specify an alternate startup Command file at run-time by specifying the alternate file name after the TIC file name: :tic The above would start TIC andro Command Files must reside in the Root directory. At startup time, if a file named "TIC.STARTUP" is found in the Root directory then TIC will execute it as a Command file automatically. If you are using a program selectecuted as keyboard Macros are called Macro Command Files. In order for TIC to find its Command files, TIC keeps up with the concept of a Root directory. The Root directory is the directory that TIC resides in when it is run. All Macter key or they may be specified manually using the OA-X command described above. If the user presses the CA-A combination then TIC will look for a file named "TIC.KEY.A" to execute as a command file. Command files that are exap (tm) v2.03 [8.00] Command File Documentation: TIC now supports powerful Command files. These Command files, if properly named, are automatically executed when you press the Closed Apple key together with a let operating systems and hopefully under ProDOS as well as SQ and USQ become more widespread in use. (c) 1987,1988 -39- Carolina System Talk is Che Some systems designate squeezed files by appending ".SQ" to the end of the file name. You get the idea. These naming conventions are by no means mandatory but will be almost universally understood under other f the file. By convention, try to use the following: FOO.LBR ----> FOO.LQR FOO.DOC ----> FOO.DQC FOO.PAS ----> FOO.PQS FOO.TXT ----> FOO.TQT MYFILEFOO ----> MYFILEFOO.Q you should name the destination file in such a way that other users will have a hint that this is a squeezed file that requires AUSQ to unsqueeze. The most common way of doing this is to add the letter "Q" to the end ohe original file had a name that is invalid under ProDOS. If this occurs then you must specify the destination file name rather than using the default stored with the squeezed file. When you squeeze a file, [8.10] TIC Command file Syntax: TIC Command files are text files created by any text editor. They consist of lines of text with a single command per line. Blank lines are ignored as are leading and trailing spaces which may be included in the file to improve readability. Upper and lower case characters are allowed and will not affect parsing. TIC does not check the file type of Command files. # This is the comment character.tatement matches then execution continues with . Otherwise, execution continues with the next line and is ignored. Note that this command can also test control characters desginated by preceeding a then execution continues with . Otherwise, control passes the the next line and is ignored. IF KEYBOARD If the key pressed in response to the most recent WAITFOR KEYBOARD sed. (c) 1987,1988 -42- Carolina System Talk is Cheap (tm) v2.03 IF FOUND If the previous WAITFOR statement found what it was waiting for IF FAILED If the previous WAITFOR statement failed (i.e. didn't find its target before the time limit expired) then is executed. Otherwise, control passes to the next line and is ignorause is typically used so a command file can decide if there is a message reply file to be uploaded or not so it can branch accordingly or to check to make sure a file exists before the command file attempts to delete the file. if the file specified by exists on an online disk device then will be executed. Otherwise, control continues with the statement that follows on the next line. This command cl Specify "TTY" if you do not want to use any disk based emulation file. GOTO