Msg: 6830 *Conference*

10-16-96 18:24:33

From: RON WIESEN

To : BILL ADAMS

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6828 (LAPTAP)

You asked, what should the COPY command be.  The minimum form is "COPY COM1:
filename" but better alternatives exist.  The alternatives and the minimum are
shown below in decreasing order of preference.  I highly recommend the first
form.
.  COPY COM1:+NUL filename >nul
.  COPY COM1:+NUL filename
.  COPY COM1: filename >nul
.  COPY COM1: filename
 
See the U.BAT batch file I sent you.  It uses the following form to pass batch
command argument %1 as a destination filename or destination device name.
.  COPY COM1:+NUL %1 >nul
 
 
You asked, how to break on the PC side so that the file is saved.  Don't think
it can be done.  It's far better to let the COPY command terminate upon
detection of an End-Of-File (EOF) character.  Had you asked how to send an EOF
from the Model T, then there are answers.
 
Under BASIC, the following sends an entire program (ASCII equivalent) and
appends an EOF - in other words BASIC does it for you.
.  SAVE"COM:88N1E
 
Under TELCOM and in Terminal mode, you press and hold the CTRL key then tap the
C key.  CTRL+C is synonymous with EOF.  
 
Blow by blow, here's the sequence to use TELCOM and upload a file from the
Model T to the PC.
 
1.  (Model T) invoke TELCOM 2.  (Model T) [F3](Stat) 88N1E [ENTER] 3.  (Model
T) [F4](Term) 4.  (Model T)  5.  (Model T) [F3](Up) file [ENTER] 6.  (Model T)
Width prompt: DO NOTHING YET - GO TO THE PC. 7.  (PC) MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1
[ENTER] 8.  (PC) COPY COM1:+NUL filename >nul [ENTER] 9.  (Model T) [ENTER] 10.
(Model T) See the Up label go inverse video - transfer in progress. 11. (Model
T) Wait for it to go back to normal - transfer done. 12. (Model T) [CTRL]and[C]
13. (PC) DOS prompt reappears - The EOF terminated the COPY command.
 
 
In everything above, I used COM1 as the PC serial port.  You say you're not
sure what's what in several PCs you have.  Use the Model T to test each PC.
Put the null modem cable on one connector at the PC.  Use the test below
several times - first use COM1 then COM2 then COM3 then COM4.  If no dice, move
the null modem cable to another connector at the PC and do the series again -
first use COM1 then COM2 then COM3 then COM4.  If still no dice and no more
connectors, then the PC is kaput - repeat the tests with another PC.
 
Here's the test.  The idea is to transfer stuff from the PC and watch it arrive
at the screen of the Model T.  So find or make a small (about 150-character)
ASCII file which is located ON THE PC!  Attach one end of the null modem cable
to the Model T com port - leave this end attached for the entire test series.
Invoke TELCOM. Do [F3](Stat) and type 38N1E [ENTER] - this sets 300 baud.  Now
do [F4](Term) - this puts the Model T into terminal mode.  Leave it this way!
 
Go to the PC.  Set the current drive letter and path to where the ASCII file is
located.  To be sure, type the following and watch the ASCII text appear at the
screen of the PC.  This confirms that the file exists and where it's located.
.   TYPE filename [ENTER]
 
Type the following commands and note the PC's response to each.
.   MODE COM1:300,N,8,1
.   MODE COM2:300,N,8,1
.   MODE COM3:300,N,8,1
.   MODE COM4:300,N,8,1
 
Hopefully at least one response is echo back of the command which indicates an
equipped COM port.  Note the equipped port number(s); usually two of them -
COM1 and COM2.
 
Attach the null modem cable to any connectors of the PC that you think may be a
serial COM port which corresponds to one of the equipped port number.  For each
equipped port number, type the following but substitute the port number where
I've shown a question mark.
.   COPY filename COM?: >nul
 
It takes a while before the DOS prompt reappears - about one second for every
30 characters of the ASCII file.  During this time, look at the Model T screen
- if characters appear then you got a COM port working, and you know what its
port number and its corresponding.
 
If no dice, repeat the command using the next equipped port number. Eventually
you see stuff on the Model T screen or you have no more equipped port numbers
to try.  Where all port numbers are exhausted, then move the null modem cable
to another connector and repeat the series of commands.  If you run out out of
connectors, then that PC is kaput - start over with another PC.