NOVATERM 9.6 Documentation pages Contents | Introduction | Getting Started | Getting Familiar | On-line Activities | Configuration | Disk Utilities | Scripts | Utility Modules | Appendices ___________________________________________________________ 4. CONFIGURATION The Configuration menu allows you to modify various settings for Novaterm. The options cover the whole range of Novaterm's operations. Many of the options may also be set elsewhere in the program. The Configuration menu, however, is where you'll find all configuration options in one place. Most of these options may be saved in a configuration file that is loaded each time you start Novaterm (see 4.5.2, Save configuration). Using a configuration file is highly recommended. In fact, if you followed Novaterm's initial configuration procedure (see 1.2, Starting up the program), a configuration file was created for you. The Configuration menu is split into two halves, because there are more options than will fit on the screen at one time. To switch between the two parts of the Configuration menu, use the cursor-right key. Options on the configuration menu are physically grouped according to the category of the option. This section describes each category and option in detail. 4.1 Communication options 4.1.1 Terminal emulation This option allows you to change the terminal emulation (see 3.1.1, Terminal emulations for a description of terminal emuations). It has the same effect as pressing C= T in terminal mode (see 3.1.3, Commodore key commands). 4.1.2 Baud rate The baud rate is the speed at which data is sent and received from the modem. (Actually, the more accurate term for this option is the "BPS rate", where BPS stands for "bits per second". "Baud rate" is not the same thing. However, for purposes of clarity among users of the software, the terms "baud rate" and "BPS rate" are used interchangeably in Novaterm.) Novaterm can operate at 2400 baud through the user port, and higher using an enhanced serial device, such as the SwiftLink cartridge. The highest speed you can select here will be limited by the serial driver and modem driver you have installed. (Each serial driver and modem driver stores the maximum possible baud rate that may be used with it.) If you have a 14.4k or 28.8kbps modem, you will notice that there are no settings for those speeds. This is because high speed modems support data compression and error correction. 14.4kbps or 28.8kbps indicates the rate of compressed, error-corrected data transfer. The actual rate of "real" data (before and after compression) will be at least 14.4k/28.8k, but usually higher. That's what your modem box meant when it advertised something like "speeds up to 57.6k possible!" Therefore, these modems allow you to set your terminal program (Novaterm) to a speed higher than the modem's rated speed, in order to take advantage of compression and error correction. The standard way to do this is to always set Novaterm to the highest possible baud rate, and turn on hardware flow control. Hardware flow control allows Novaterm and the modem to dynamically manage the flow of data depending on how well the compression is performing (which depends on the type of data being transferred). (see 4.6.2, Flow control) 4.1.3 Word/parity Most on-line services operate at 8 bit word length and no parity. Therefore, you should set this option to read 8N1. Some on-line services may require you to use "even" or "odd" parity instead, in which case this setting should be 7E1 or 7O1. However, you should specify the Word/parity setting in the dial entry for each on-line service in your dialing directory, since the setting can be different from one service to the next. It's best to leave the setting on the Configuration menu set to 8N1, and just let it change depending on the service you dial. 4.2 40/80-column settings 4.2.1 80-column driver This option specifies the driver to use for 80-column mode. In other words, this option determines which set of programming code to use to display the 80-column screen. The drivers currently available are: default: The standard, unassisted 80-column driver that uses the C64's high-resolution bitmapped screen. fast-REU: Uses a RAM Expansion Unit (1700/1750/1764) to implement a fast scroll on the C64's hi-res screen. You must use the REU memory driver in conjunction with this driver (see 1.1.7, Specifying the memory device). VDC (25): Uses the C128's 80-column screen in 25-line mode. Use this driver only if you are running Novaterm on a C128 in 64 mode, and you have an RGB 80-column monitor. This driver also uses the C128's 2 MHz fast mode while you are in terminal mode. VDC (28): Uses the C128's 80-column screen in 28-line mode. Use this driver only if you are running Novaterm on a C128 in 64 mode, and you have an RGB 80-column monitor. You may need to adjust your monitor to make all 28 lines visible. . This driver also uses the C128's 2 MHz fast mode while you are in terminal mode. 4.2.2 40-column font This option specifies the font to use in 40-column mode. 4.2.3 40-column color This option lets you change the color scheme used in 40-column mode. You may change the text, background, and border colors, as well as the color of the status line used in 40-column terminal mode. 4.2.4 80-column color This option lets you change the color scheme used in 80-column mode. Since 80-column mode can be hard to read, you should experiment with different text and background colors to find a combination that is easiest for your eyes, if you are not happy with the defaults (see 3.1.6.1, Improving readability). 4.3 Modem setting options 4.3.1 Modem type This option changes the modem driver currently installed. Choose the driver that corresponds to your modem: 1650: Commodore 1650 modem (300 baud). 1660: Commodore 1660 modem (300 baud). Hayes 1200: Hayes-compatible 1200 baud (and Commodore 1670). Hayes 2400: Hayes-compatible 2400 baud modem. Hayes 9600: Hayes-compatible 9600 baud modem. Hayes fast: Hayes-compatible 14.4k or 28.8k modem. 4.3.2 Modem init The modem initialization string is used only when you have installed one of the Hayes-compatible modem drivers. It is a sequence of Hayes AT commands that is sent to your modem when Novaterm starts up. In other words, Novaterm configures your Hayes-compatible modem at start-up using this series of commands. The initialization string may also be sent manually by pressing C= I in terminal mode (see 3.1.3, Commodore key commands, C= I). In the Configuration menu, Novaterm does not display the entire initialization string; it cuts off the string so that it does not wrap around the screen. However, the entire string is still there, even though you can't see it all. The string may be up to 50 characters in length. Sending Hayes commands to a modem is like flipping switches inside the modem to make it behave in a desired way. The initialization string consists of a series of these commands bunched together so that they all take effect at once. Because of this, it can be difficult for the untrained eye to discern individual commands in the string. A command begins with either a single letter, an ampersand ("&") followed by a single letter, or a percent ("%") followed by a single letter. Most commands have a one- or two-digit number following the letter, and a special class of commands known as the "S" registers also have an equal ("=") sign followed by a second number. Some of the more common commands are listed below. Your modem's manual contains more complete descriptions of these commands. Some of these commands may not be supported by your modem if it is an older or slower model. E1 - Turn on modem's echo in command mode. M1 - Turn modem speaker on until connected. V1 - Turn on "verbose" reporting from the modem. X4 - Report all status codes. &C1 - Make carrier detect work properly. (This is very important) &D2 - Hangup when DTR is dropped. (Novaterm likes this also) &K3 - Hardware flow control. (required with high-speed modems) S0=0 - Turn off auto-answer. 4.3.3 Dial method The dialing method may be either tone dial or pulse dial. Pulse dialing is like the old rotary phone method of dialing. It may be necessary if you live in an area where tone dialing is not supported (in the United States, tone dialing should be available everywhere). 4.3.4 Redial time When redialing a number from the dial menu, this option specifies the number of seconds to wait before giving up and dialing the number again. 4.3.5 Dial pacing A larger number here slows down the rate at which digits are dialed on a Hayes-compatible modem. If your modem has trouble dialing, it may be because the digits are being sent too fast; try increasing this number. 4.3.6 Carrier type This option applies only when using the User port serial driver. It specifies whether the carrier detect line from the modem indicates a carrier when high (Normal) or when low (Inverted). (The "carrier detect" indicates whether there is currently a connection established with another modem.) This must be set properly, or Novaterm features that depend on a proper carrier detect will not function, such as redialing and the on-line timer. To set this, make sure your modem is hooked up and turned on, but is not on-line. Go to terminal mode and check the state of the indicator letter C in the status line. If the C is reversed (highlighted) even though there is no connection, change the carrier type to the opposite of its current setting. 4.4 File transfer options 4.4.1 Protocol This option lets you change the installed protocol. It has the same effect as pressing C= P in terminal mode. (See 3.4.3, Selecting a protocol for more information.) 4.4.2 Block size This option allows you to change the block size for the currently installed protocol (see 3.4.4, Selecting a block size). 4.4.3 Chop X/Ymodem padding With this option turned on, Novaterm automatically removes any "padding" added by the Xmodem and Ymodem family of file transfer protocols. (See 3.4.3.2, Ymodem batch for a discussion on file padding.) 4.4.4 Zmodem auto-download This option controls whether the Zmodem auto-download feature is to be used. If you do not have the Zmodem protocol installed, this option has no effect (see 3.4.3.1, Zmodem). 4.4.5 Allow Zmodem streaming With this option turned on, Zmodem will operate in "streaming" mode if the following conditions are met: * The download device is set to the buffer. * The baud rate is 2400 bps or less, or: * The baud rate is 4800 bps or higher and hardware flow control is turned on. Turning off this option disables streaming mode in all cases. You should do this if you have trouble downloading from a particular service in streaming mode. (See section 3.4.3.1, Zmodem for more information about Zmodem's streaming mode.) 4.4.6 Existing files policy This setting determines what happens during a batch download when a file to be downloaded already exists on disk. * Replace: Deletes the file on disk and creates a new one with the same name. * Rename: Renames the incoming file by incrementing the last character of the file name. * Resume: If the Zmodem protocol is selected, Zmodem attempts to resume transfer of the file. (See 3.4.3.1, Zmodem) If a different protocol is selected, the incoming file name is renamed. 4.5 Configuration file options 4.5.1 Load configuration This option re-loads the configuration file you previously saved, reverting all options to their original startup settings. 4.5.2 Save configuration This option saves all of your current settings to a file. This file is read by Novaterm when you start the program, and the options are all set for you at that time. 4.6 Serial device settings 4.6.1 Serial driver Select the driver corresponding to your serial communications hardware. See section 1.1.3, Specifying the serial device for a description of each driver. 4.6.2 Flow control Flow control allows Novaterm to keep up with incoming data. When Novaterm falls behind in processing incoming data, Novaterm tells the remote computer to pause until Novaterm catches up. When Novaterm is nearly caught up, it tells the remote computer to resume transmission. This prevents characters from being lost. Flow control is done automatically, but it may be turned off by toggling this option. Novaterm supports two types of flow control: Software (XOFF/XON): In software flow control, Novaterm sends an XOFF character (usually CTRL-S) to pause and an XON character (usually CTRL-Q) to resume. Hardware (RTS/CTS): In hardware flow control, Novaterm tells your modem to stop delivering data to the computer by lowering the RTS line (one of the RS232 port pins). In this state, the modem stores incoming data in a buffer until Novaterm raises the RTS line again. In addition, the modem can tell Novaterm to stop giving it data by lowering the CTS line (which can happen if the remote computer has lowered its RTS line). Hardware flow control is much more precise and reliable than the software method, since modems respond immediately to changes in RS232 lines. However, to use hardware flow control, you must have at least a 9600 bps modem. Most slower modems (2400 bps and below) do not respond to the RTS and CTS lines, so hardware flow control is not possible with them. If you are using a high speed modem (9600, 14.4k, or 28.8k) you must use hardware flow control to take advantage of data compression and error correction, and to enable Novaterm to keep up with incoming data (see 4.1.2,Baud rate). At speeds of 2400 bps and below, flow control is not necessary, and it can be set to None. 4.6.3 Flow tolerance The "flow tolerance" specifies the number of characters that may build up in the receive buffer before Novaterm stops the flow (using either hardware or software flow control). Since the receive buffer holds a maximum of 256 characters, the tolerance may be any number between 6 and 256. The default setting is 220, which is effective for speeds up to 38,400 bps using hardware flow control. (If you are using a HART cartridge at 57,600 bps, you may need to reduce this setting to avoid losing data.) If you are using software flow control, this value should be much lower, since there is often a significant delay between when Novaterm sends the XOFF signal and when the remote computer actually stops sending data. 4.6.4 XOFF character With software flow control, this is the ASCII value of the character used to stop the flow of incoming data. The default is 19, or CTRL-S, which is the standard key used for pausing the flow of data. Some bulletin boards use a different key for pausing, so you would need to change this in that situation, if you were using software flow control. 4.6.5 XON character With software flow control, this is the ASCII value of the character used to resume the flow of data. The default is 17, or CTRL-Q, which is the standard key used for this purpose. Some bulletin boards use a different key for this, so you would need to change this option in that situation, if you were using software flow control. 4.6.6 Line pacing This option specifies the number of seconds to wait between lines when transmitting a text file with the Textfile to modem or Buffer file to modem options. 4.7 Miscellaneous options 4.7.1 Define F-keys This option brings up the function key definition menu. (See 3.1.4, Function keys for information on how these keys work.) At the function key menu, either press a function key or select it on the menu to edit the key's definition. Control keys may be imbedded within a function key string by including a caret symbol ^ followed by the control key letter. For example, to include the control-B in the string HELLO [CTRL-B]THERE, you would type HELLO ^BTHERE. A carriage return (which is CTRL-M) could be placed at the end of a string by entering HI THERE^M. A 1/2 second pause in a string is represented by a CTRL-P. For example, to define a function key to send two strings delimited by carriage returns with a full second pause in between, the string might look like: SEND ME^M^P^PTO THE MOON^M. Pressing the function key containing this string will display SEND ME with a return, wait one second, and display TO THE MOON followed by another return. Function key definitions may be saved in individual files by selecting Save function keys on the same menu. In order to tell Novaterm to reload the same function key definition file each time you boot the program, you must also save the configuration file (see 4.5.2, Save configuration), which will record the current function key file name. 4.7.2 Device settings Novaterm allows you to specify which device number to use for various operations. This option brings up the menu that lets you define these devices. (This menu can also be brought up from the disk functions menu and the main menu, for the sake of convenience.) 4.7.2.1 Device setting categories Novaterm has four categories of operations where disk access is involved. You may specify a disk device for each of these operations: Program device: Novaterm uses this device to load modules, the configuration file, phone books, function key files, and script files. This should be the disk from which you originally loaded Novaterm. Upload device: When you upload a file, Novaterm reads it from this drive. Download device: Novaterm saves downloaded files on this drive. Buffer device: Novaterm uses this device to load or save files to disk from the buffer. The automatic buffer save uses this device (see 4.7.8, Save buffer when full). To set the disk device number for any of these options, enter the device number, followed by a comma, followed by the drive/partition number. The drive/partition number (distinct from the device number) is used when you have a single disk device containing two or more drives, or a partitioned hard drive or RAMLink/RAMDrive. If you are using only single disk drives, the drive number should always be 0. Novaterm accepts values between 8 and 30 for disk device numbers. (Novaterm also accepts a disk device of 1, which is used by some enhancement hardware as a special device.) When you enter a device number for any of the above options, Novaterm checks to see if that device is actually connected. If it is not, the device number is not changed. For the Program device, Upload device, and Download device, typing a letter B in place of the device number directs these functions to Novaterm's buffer. In this case, the drive/partition value specifies the buffer subdirectory number to use. 4.7.2.2 Associated disk commands Each option may also have a disk command associated with it. These commands are listed to the right of the device numbers. Novaterm always executes the corresponding disk command before switching to the device. For instance, if you had the disk command for the Download device set to i0, Novaterm would send the i0 command to that device (which would initialize the drive) before downloading a file. The most practical use for these associated disk commands is to allow operations to use different subdirectories or partitions on a single drive that allowed it, such as a 1581, a RAMLink/RAMDrive, or a CMD, Inc. hard drive. For instance, suppose you have a RAMLink/RAMDrive which occupies device 16, and you have four subdirectories set aside for Novaterm on partition #2: //novaterm //novaterm/uploads //novaterm/downloads //novaterm/buffer You would like to have uploads come from the uploads directory, downloads go to the downloads directory, and buffer files saved to the directory called buffer. To set this up, you would specify change-directory commands for the associated disk commands. The device settings would appear as follows: Program drv : 16,2 >cd//novaterm Upload drv : 16,2 >cd//novaterm/uploads Download drv : 16,2 >cd//novaterm/downloads Buffer drv : 16,2 >cd//novaterm/buffer Printer dev : 4,7 4.7.2.3 Printer device For the Printer device, the second number is the secondary address of the printer. Most serial printers require a secondary address of 7 for lowercase text. If you have problems getting your printouts to look right, check your printer manual to see what secondary address is recommended. Novaterm accepts values between 4 and 30 for the printer. Novaterm does not change the printer device if the device number you specify is not connected. 4.7.3 Phone book This specifies the file name of the phone book currently in use. Changing this option on the configuration menu does not load a new phone book; it merely changes the name of the current one. 4.7.4 F-key file This specifies the file name of the function key definition file currently in use. Changing this option on the configuration menu does not load a new definition file; it merely changes the name of the current one. 4.7.5 Startup script This option specifies the file name of a script file that is executed automatically when you start up Novaterm (see section 6, Scripts). 4.7.6 Memory device This option lets you change the memory device driver currently installed. The memory device driver is used by the buffer to store data. This can also be changed from the Buffer Menu (see 1.1.7, Specifying the memory device). 4.7.7 Set the time This option lets you select a real-time clock device, and sets the system clock from it. See section 1.1.10, Selecting a real-time clock device for more information. 4.7.8 Print in ASCII If this option is turned on, Novaterm converts all text sent to the printer to standard ASCII. Turn on this option if you have an ASCII printer. This option alone will not print linefeeds at the end of each line; use the following option for that. 4.7.9 Print with linefeeds If this option is turned on, Novaterm adds a linefeed to every carriage return sent to the printer. If your printer is printing each line on top of the last without advancing the paper, turn on this option. 4.7.10 Save buffer when full If you do not have a memory expansion device, you are limited in the amount of buffer space available. With a stock Commodore 64, you have only 5.5K of memory for the buffer. To aid in capturing a large amount of text with a limited buffer space, Novaterm has the ability to periodically save the buffer to disk and clear it out when it fills up. This option turns the feature on or off. When the buffer becomes full during a text capture, Novaterm immediately tries to pause the flow of data. How it does this depends on the type of flow control being used (see 4.6.2, Flow control). Once the host computer stops sending data, Novaterm saves the capture file to disk, appending it to the disk file if it already exists. The capture file in the buffer is erased and re-opened, making all the memory available again. Then, Novaterm requests to resume the flow of data (again, depending on the type of flow control) sends a character to tell the host to resume transmission (the XON character). The buffer capture continues after this, and the process repeats when the buffer fills up again. When the text you want to capture has all been received, you must manually save the remaining text. Novaterm allows you to append this text to the existing disk file. The result is the equivalent of one large capture file saved to disk. If a disk error occurs while trying to save the capture file, Novaterm does not resume transmission. This leaves the remote system paused so that you may correct the problem, save the capture file manually, and resume the text capture where it left off. If you are using a memory expansion device, and thus any memory device driver other than internal, you should turn off this option, since you have a great deal of space available for capturing text. 4.8 Notes on changing hardware and drivers If you have more than one serial device and/or memory expansion device, you may need to take some extra steps when physically changing hardware and changing Novaterm's drivers. If you attempt to load a driver for one device that uses the same registers as another device, Novaterm may lock up. For instance, the HART cartridge and the BBGRam cannot coexist because they share some common I/O registers. Suppose you had HART cartridge plugged in but not the BBGRam, and you had the HART serial driver and internal memory driver installed. Then, you decide to unplug the HART and put the BBGRam in. You do so, then load up Novaterm again. It locks up! This is because Novaterm is still loading the HART driver as specified in the configuration file. When it loads the HART driver, the function that tests for the presence of the cartridge interferes with the BBGRam, and the system locks up (or does something else unpredictable). To avoid these conflicts, you should: 1. Unplug everything. 2. Load up Novaterm. 3. Change drivers and save the configuration. (Novaterm will not lock up if a device it is looking for simply isn't present.) 4. Plug in the new hardware. 5. Start Novaterm again. As you get used to switching things around, you'll eventually determine which erroneous drivers won't lock up with conflicting hardware installed, so you won't have to load up with nothing installed every time you want to change hardware around. For your reference, the I/O registers used by common serial and memory devices are summarized below. Note that a device doesn't necessarily use all registers it reserves, but it occupies more address space due to "mirroring" of registers. Memory drivers: internal: No I/O registers used. VDC+internal: Uses $D600-$D601. REU: Uses $DF00-$DF0A, mirrored every 32 bytes. BBG/GEORam: Uses $DE00-$DEFF and $DF80-$DFFF. RAMLink: Uses $DE00-$DEFF and $DF10-$DFFF. RAMDrive: Uses $DE00-$DEFF and $DF10-$DFFF. Serial drivers: User port: CIA #2 registers used. UP9600: CIA #1 and #2 registers used. SwiftLink: Uses $DE00-$DEFF ($DE00-$DE0F with AddressFixer). CommPort: Uses $DF00-$DFFF ($DF00-$DF0F with AddressFixer). SL-DE20: Uses $DE20-$DE2F (with AddressFixer). SL-DF20: Uses $DF20-$DF2F (with AddressFixer). SL-D700: Uses $D700-$D7FF ($D700-$D70F with AddressFixer). HART: Uses $DE18-$DE1F and $DF18-$DF1F. ___________________________________________________________ Contents | Introduction | Getting Started | Getting Familiar | On-line Activities | Configuration | Disk Utilities | Scripts | Utility Modules | Appendices