DOCS: DeTerm

From: Michael Current (aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 01/28/92-10:47:27 PM Z


From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: DOCS: DeTerm
Date: Tue Jan 28 22:47:27 1992


Reprinted from the A.C.E.C. BBS (614)-471-8559

      All versions of DeTerm are
 copyright (c)1988 By James Dillow. All
 rights reserved.

      DeTerm is a Share-Ware program,
 if you have something you would like
 to share send to:

             Jim Dillow
             P.O. Box 2552
             Sarasota,FL 33578

      If you write me a letter please
 do not expect me to reply, it does
 warm my heart but at this point in my
 life I dislike writing letters, I am
 into using the phone. Also at any time
 in past or future you sent or send
 Email via either Compuserve or Genie
 and I did or do not reply it is
 probably because I filed your address
 and then lost it, try yelling at me
 one more time.

      DeTerm is a telecommunication
 program written entirely in assembly
 language for the the Atari XL, XE, 800
 computers with 48k and at least one
 disk drive. Please make a back up copy
 of DeTerm and all support files, just
 to be safe.

      And now for the beginners, if
 someone or some media tells you that
 DeTerm is not for beginners ignore
 them. I am sure when you were learning
 to tie your shoes no one came up and
 said "Oh do not do that you are a
 beginner", right, instead you were
 probably applauded when you were able
 to tie them yourself (in my case it
 was more like "about time" <grin>).

      First follow the directions on
 how to boot Determ then relax and for
 gosh sakes do not be shy, just jump in
 and play, if you do nothing you learn
 nothing. If and when you have a
 question, ask, first yourself then
 someone else. Trust your feelings and
 experiment, it's fun and part of your
 natural growth..

      DeTerm SX212:for the SX212 modem
 connected to SIO port, last in chain.
 Has a built in handler which relocates
 to lomem on boot, please do not append
 one.

 DeTerm XM301:for the XM301 and 1030
 modems connected to SIO port, last in
 chain. Has a built in handler which
 relocates to lomem on boot, please do
 not append one.

 DeTerm 850:for Hayes or compatible
 modems connected to a 850, P:R: or
 MIO. DT850 is appended to a 850
 booter.

 DeTerm Mpp:for the Mpp modems pluged
 into joy stick port #2. Has a built in
 handler which relocates to lomem on
 boot, please do not append one.

 DeTerm:for Hayes or compatible modems
 but has no booter or handler, you will
 have to supply your own. Works fine on
 an MIO.


               BOOTING UP!


      As you might have noticed by now,
 90% of all docs for DeTerm are in help
 files. I suggest that you place them
 on a separate disk.

 Note:Please do not change help file
 names if you wish to use them. DeTerm
 uses file name "HELP.xxx" where xxx=is
 an alpha numeric extender.

      If using DTXM, DTMPP, DTSX212 and
 you have a P:R: or 850 interface
 please do not boot them, because the
 handlers are built in. If you do boot
 them it will raise lomem and you might
 not have enough memory to run DeTerm.

  Booting with DOS 2.0 or 2.5:

  1> construct a boot disk containing
 DOS files (including RAMDISK.COM, if
 appropriate), and DeTerm. Rename the
 DeTerm file AUTORUN.SYS

  2> Boot your computer (modem on) with
 the disk in D1: IMPORTANT-> HOLD DOWN
 THE OPTION KEY to disable Basic (XL/XE
 ... 800 users, remove the Basic
 cartridge.)


  Booting with SpartaDOS:

  1> rename DeTerm to DETERM.COM.

  2> boot the computer (modem on), put
 your DeTerm disk in D1: and go to DOS.
 You can run DeTerm from the command
 line or from a batch file. 
 Disable basic before running.
 NOTE:DeTerm works with TDLINE ON and
 KEY ON.


                AUX FILES


      DeTerm attempts to load some
 auxiliary files off the drive you are
 booting from (no harm if they're not
 there). These are:

  LIST.BAT - simply contains the name
 of your default 'phone list', followed
 by a RETURN. (Phone lists are created
 within DeTerm ... see below.) The name
 in LIST.BAT MUST BE A FULL FILESPEC,
 including the drive number. You can
 create LIST.BAT file by typing in the
 following basic program and running
 it:

  100 DIM A$(30):A$="D1:PHONE.LST":REM
 or whatever name you like.
  110 OPEN #1,8,0,"D1:LIST.BAT":REM
 open file
  120 PRINT #1;A$:REM print the name
  130 CLOSE #1:REM done!
  140 END

 Another way to create the LIST.BAT
 file using your Dos's copy routine,
 copy from E: to D:LIST.BAT, type

 D:PHONE.LST    (press RETURN)

 hold down on the control key and press
 '3'.

  In the above examples, after DeTerm
 boots it will read LIST.BAT to find
 the name of your list file, then load
 that file into the appropriate buffer.

  MODEM.BAT - is a 'setup' file that
 allows you to send commands directly
 to your modem before running DeTerm
 (consult your modem documentation to
 see what commands you can send.)
 Again, each command or string of
 commands must end with an Atari RETURN
 character.

 To create a MODEM.BAT file type in the
 following basic program and run it: 

  100 DIM A$(30)
  110 OPEN #1,8,0,"D1:MODEM.BAT"
  120 A$="ATX2":REM select extended
 result codes
  130 PRINT #1;A$:REM Send to file
  140 A$="ATS11=60":REM Speed tone dial
 up a bit
  150 PRINT #1;A$:REM Send to file
  160 CLOSE #1:REM done!
  170 END

 Or again using your Dos's copy
 routine, copy from E: to D:MODEM.BAT
 and type:
 ATX2      (press RETURN)
 ATS11=60  (press RETURN)

 hold down on the control key and press
 '3'.

  In the above examples, after DeTerm
 boots it reads MODEM.BAT and sends the
 commands:

  ATX2 (return)
  ATS11=60 (return)

 to your modem, just as if you'd typed
 them in yourself.

  DEFAULTS - Loads user defaults, set
 previously (see ETC.)


               MENU NAVIGATION


      DeTerm uses an ST-like interface
 which includes extensive use of
 Windows and Drop Down Menus. The first
 thing you'll notice is the menu line
 at the top of the screen, which
 contains the following:

  Online  R:Dev  Modem  Disk  Etc  Quit

             RUNNING A MENU

      Whenever the Menu Line is
 displayed, you can Run a menu (display
 the commands in the menu) in a couple
 of ways:

  Cycle the bar cursor through the
 choices by pressing the OPTION or
 SELECT keys, as well as any of the
 'arrow' keys (without pressing the
 control key.) When you get to the menu
 you wish to access, press either START
 or RETURN.

  OR press the FIRST LETTER of the Menu
 you wish to run (no RETURN necessary.)

  In both cases, the menu window under
 the header will open, and you'll see
 the supported commands.

 Note:To display commands a section has
 (also a brief summary of the commands)
 position the cursor bar over menu
 header and then press the '?' key.


           SELECTING A MENU OPTION


  Once the commands are displayed, you
 again have a couple of options to run
 a specific command:

  Use an 'arrow' key to cycle the
 cursor through the commands. When you
 reach the command you want, press
 RETURN or the START key.

  Type the FIRST LETTER of the command
 (no RETURN is necessary.)

  The command will be executed, and, in
 most cases, you'll be returned to the
 drop down menu.


                 MENU GLOBAL


  In all menus, a few 'global' commands
 will prove useful:

  1-9  pressing a number will display
 the directory of the drive specified.
 You can stop a directory display by
 pressing SELECT.

  ?- This is your help key. Make sure
 all help files are in source drive,
 position the cursor bar over the
 command or menu header you need help
 with and press the '?' key.

  Q - Quit .. this will close the menu,
 and return you to the menu line.

  ESC - Pressing the ESCAPE key causes
 an immediate jump to terminal mode.


              INPUT CONVENTIONS


      When inputting text into a DeTerm
 window (eg. phone number, file name,
 etc.) the regular Atari edit keys
 (Backspace, Insert, Delete, etc.) are
 supported.

      For most input operations, use
 the SELECT key to cancel the operation
 and return to the menu currently
 running. When any Y/N (Yes/No) prompt
 appears pressing SELECT is treated by
 DeTerm as a NO.


                 THAT'S IT!


      Once again, be sure to get all the
 help files from DTHELP.ARC in this Library.
 They will give you specific details on
 any of the DETERM commands. When you boot
 DETERM for the first time, try the '?' key
 on anything you're unsure about before you
 start dialing. And if you need more help,
 please leave a message!
-- 
 Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp   -->>  go atari8  <<--
   The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the Central Atari Information Network
      Internet: currentm@carleton.edu / UUCP: ...!umn-cs!ccnfld!currentm
      BITNET: currentm%carleton.edu@interbit / Cleveland Free-Net: aa700


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