XT4 BETA Version 1.6.8 User's Guide
By Bill Andrus 06/13/86

   The following guide should be employed while using XT4
until you are familiar enough with its features to rely on the
on-line Quick Reference HELP facility (if the third file is
available as XT4HELP/DAT, pressing ? at the Command menu will
enter the HELP facility).



SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS, HARDWARE
-----------------------------

   XT4 is designed to operate on the Radio Shack Model 4 and
Tandy Model 4P.  If the optional 128K RAM is installed, it
will be used as part of the RAM buffer, unless already in use
by MEMLINK or another application.  A MODEM is required to
make telephone transmissions.  Telephone auto-dialling
requires one of the following:  A Radio Shack MODEM II, a
HAYES or HAYES-Compatible SmartMODEM (300, 1200 or 2400), a
J-CAT MODEM with the blue wire at pin 4 (RTS), or the Model 4P
Internal Modem.  If you have a soundmaker connected to the
cassette port output line, XT4 will summon you when redialling
finally gets a number and a DFT is completed.  The Model 4
built-in sound facility is also used.  And you must have a
printer to use the spooled printer buffer features.



SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS, OPERATING SYSTEM
-------------------------------------

   XT4 is tested on, and at present only supports, TRSDOS
6.2.1 on the Model 4/4P.  It is NOT compatible with DOSPLUS
4A, since SVC 105 and 106 are not (yet) supported by it.
Support on the MAX-80 is reported not to be working, but
I have not received any specific information from which
to try and improve the situation.

   XT4 uses the current *KI/*DO devices, as well as the
current *PR device.  Although it may be installed, COM/DVR
is NOT used, and may actually interfer with XT4 right now.
I plan to implement support for its use in the near future.
If you want Typeahead or better screen support, the desired
features should be enabled with DOS.



NOTATION
--------

   When you see a labelled key name within "<" and ">", that
means you are to press that key.  For example, <BREAK> means
to press the BREAK key.  When two or more keys are shown
together with a "+" connecting them, press them all together
in the sequence shown.  For example, <SHIFT>+<CLEAR> means
press down the SHIFT key and, holding it down, press the CLEAR
key, then release them together.  When the guide says to enter
a value or string of characters, that means you should press
the <ENTER> key when finished, even if you completely filled
the input field.



GETTING STARTED
---------------

   If you want to "fire it up" right away, here we go.  These
steps will introduce you to some of the features and logic
behind what is possibly the most powerful TRS-80 Mudel 4/4P
Terminal Facility.

1.  Invoke XT4 by typing "XT4" (without the quotes) and
    pressing <ENTER>.

2.  Press <BREAK> to get to the Command Menu.  Do this after
    every command option to get back to the Command Menu.  At
    the Command Menu itself, pressing <BREAK> will output a
    01H character and take you back to the Terminal Mode.  You
    may also press <ENTER> to return to Terminal Mode with the
    saved screen restored, or <SHIFT>+<CLEAR> to clear the
    screen first.

3.  From the Command Menu, Press <I> for RS-232-C Initial-
    ization and press the indicated keys to select the
    desired selections.

4.  Press <C> for the Configuration option.  Press the
    necessary keys to set up your RS-232-C Interface (stock
    Radio Shack or MAX-80), MODEM (ycoustic, Modem II, Hayes,
    J-CAT or 4P Internal), Dialling [Manual, RTS line for
    the J-CAT, Rotary or Tone (for Modem II, 4P Internal,
    or Hayes)], Dialling Speed (Fast or Slow for RTS or
    Rotary Modem II and 4P Internal), which Port if MAX-80,
    and your desired printer parameters.

5.  If you have a supported dialling facility, you can go to
    the Dialling option from the Command Menu and try it out.
    Press <M> for manual dialling, and type in the desired
    number.  Use "," for a 2-second Pause or Hayes pause.
    If you have everything configured correctly and the call
    dials okay, you can now press <U> to update an entry to
    that number and configuration.

6.  If you are satisfied that this set up is worth saving,
    its back to the Configuration option from the Command
    Menu and use the Save option.  The default file extension
    is /DAT (if you type XT:2<ENTER>, it will save the current
    Configuration Data in a file called XT/DAT on drive 2).
    (NOTE:  The default configuration file name, loaded at
            startup unless another file name appears on the
            invoking command line, is XT4.  The default file
            extension is always /DAT.)

7.  You can save the Configuration Data file at any time, with
    any legal DOS file name you desire.  XT4 saves and loads a
    LOT of handy stuff for you in that file, like the Phone
    Directory, 10 MacroKeys, 10 Logon strings, BAUD rate,
    Graphics mode, and RS-232-C settings.

8.  Well, that's it for getting started.  You will discover
    that XT4 has possibly the easiest user interface of any
    TRS-80 Terminal Program.  XT4 has 2048 (2K) buffers for
    printer spooling, RS-232 input, background buffering,
    and the saved Terminal Mode screen.



ENTRY SYNTAX

   The first time you enter XT4 you can simply type in:

        XT4<ENTER>

from the DOS ready prompt.  This executes XT4 and gives you
the sign-on Logo and prompt.  If you are doing this on a
MAX-80, it is automatically configured for you.  (Note:  my
version numbering convention will also tell you when you must
bring up a new version of XT4 without previous Configuration
Data files).  Press the <BREAK> key to go to the Command Menu.
Here you can set up all of the parameters you wish to use with
a particular bulletin board.  Change the default Auto-Logon
string to whatever is required for the BBS.  You can use a
slash (/) to indicate a Carriage Return whenever you need one
in the string.  You may chain strings together by ending one
with a [x] sequence, where x is the next one.  You may define
new RS-232-C parameters, enter phone numbers, and set
MacroKeys.  Once you have changed everything, you can save the
data to the disk by selecting option C from the Command Menu,
S to save configuration, and entering a filespec.  By the way,
XT4 uses /DAT as the default file extension for ALL
configuration and buffer files.  Now that you have configured,
whenever you enter XT4 you can immediately load the
configuration data by specifying the filespec after XT4.  For
example, suppose I save a TBBS configuration data file with
the filespec TBBS/DAT.  My syntax could then be (from the
DOS ready prompt):

        XT4 TBBS/DAT<ENTER>
                or
        XT4 TBBS<ENTER>

Either of these will load in the configuration data file
TBBS/DAT.  If you exit XT4 prematurely and wish to re-enter it
as it was, say, to recover the contents of the RAM Buffer,
invoke XT4 (from the DOS ready prompt) with an asterisk (*):

        XT4 *<ENTER>



VERSION NUMBERING CONVENTION

   I am employing the following convention in numbering each
new version of XT4.  The number X.Y.Z represents the set of
features X, reassembly Y (either will require building a new
Configuration Data file), and minor reassembly Z (which will
use existing X.Y.n Configuration Data files).



KEYBOARD AND VIDEO DISPLAY

   XT4 uses the built-in keyboard and display drivers of
TRSDOS 6.2, so to have type-ahead, it must be active within
TRSDOS.  This provides for the complete set of keyboard and
display facilities native to TRSDOS, with any properly
operating extented filters also available.



BREAK KEY

   The BREAK key will return you to the Command Menu from
anywhere else in XT4, eventually.  If you are at the Command
Menu, the BREAK key will output a translated X'01' or SOH and
return to the Terminal mode.


FUNCTION KEYS

   The three function keys (F1-F3) are defined for use as
follows:

 F1 - Shortcut to sending a 3 second MODEM SPACE, same as
      option A from the Command Menu.

 F2 - Shortcut to enter Send File from disk, or uploading.

 F3 - Shortcut to enter Receive File to disk, or download.



TERMINAL MODE

   When you first enter XT4, you are in the Terminal Mode.
Everything you type, with a couple of exceptions, will be sent
out the RS-232-C line.  See the TRSDOS 6.2 Reference Manual
for the full keyboard description.

Note:  Use <CLEAR> plus <A> through <J> to invoke the XT4
MacroKeys.



COMMAND MODE

   When you press <BREAK> while in the Terminal Mode you enter
the Command Mode and are presented with a large menu of
options to select from.  Merely press the corresponding key to
select the desired option.  Pressing <BREAK> again will
transmit an SOH or 01H character and return you to Terminal
Mode.  Pressing the <ENTER> key will return you to Terminal
Mode with the last screen restored AND any received characters
updated onto it.  Pressing the <SHIFT>+<CLEAR> keys will
return you to Terminal Mode with the screen cleared.  Common
to most options within the Command Mode is the Input Field.
This displays as a string of periods, denoting the length of
the maximum input you can make before pressing <ENTER> to
complete the input.  This field can be editted with the Left
Arrow key functioning as a Rubout key and the <SHIFT>+Left
Arrow keys as a Cancel (erase input field) key.


COMMAND MENU OPTIONS

SEND A MODEM SPACE (Option A) - You may send a 3-second MODEM
SPACE (if your MODEM supports it, which the Signalman XII
doesn't) with this option.  Some Timesharing Systems use this
indication as an interrupt request.  This will cause some
MODEMs to hang up, too.  The 3-second length was chosen
because it WILL hang up some MODEMs, so the D, H sequence can
be skipped.  This function is also available in Terminal mode
by pressing the F1 key.


BUFFER ON/OFF AND CLEAR BUFFER (Options B and Z) - There are
two ways in which XT4 will begin to add characters from the
RS-232-C input to your RAM Buffer:  Upon the receipt of a DC2
(or CTRL-R character) or if you use the <B> option to toggle
the Buffer Open.  Correspondingly, there are two ways to close
the buffer:  Upon receipt of a DC4 (or CTRL-T character) or
another <B> option to toggle it closed.  The status of the RAM
Buffer is displayed in the lower half of the Command Menu
screen, including the remaining bytes and current checksum.
Option <Z> will reset the RAM Buffer pointers, effectively
clearing it, even while Open.


CONFIGURE XT4 (Option C) - This is where you can set up XT4's
configuration, Load an old configuration data file, or Save a
new one.  You will not be able to use the autodial and/or most
non-standard interface/modem capabilities of XT4 until you
have configured XT4 to use them.  The MAX-80 interface should
have already been set if you are using one.  If using a
MAX-80, you will have the option to specify which serial Port
is to be used.  You can also set different printer values
here.  Remember, the default configuration data file extension
in XT4 is /DAT.


DIALLING DIRECTORY (Option D) - This option permits you to use
the TRS-80 very intelligently.  When you update the telephone
numbers and parameters, you are able to specify the RS-232-C
configuration (BAUD, Word Length, Parity, Stop Bits, Graphics
Mode, XON/XOFF support, Logon string, and Redial delay) along
with the number.  Later, when you dial the number, the saved
parameters are set for you, including an optional Logon string
activation.  Specifying a directory entry is quite simple.
You specify U, press <ENTER>, specify the entry number, press
<ENTER>, and follow the prompts.  You can enter up to 20
characters of identification (Name) and 25 characters of phone
number (use a MacroKey to prep MCI first if you need more
characters).  Pressing <ENTER> to any prompt leaves the
existing data intact.  Phone numbers may contain the following
characters, which will be filtered out:  "(", ")", "-", and
spaces.  The MODEM 4P will also accept "R" and "T" to switch
modes.  If you desire a Pause (a "," in Hayes, a "P" in Modem
II), always use a ",".  (It will be translated to a "P" for
the Modem II and 4P Internal).  From the Dialling option, you
may also specify Manual dialling of a prompted number (using
the current RS-232 configuration and default Redial delay),
put the modem On-line after conversing vocally, Redial the
last dialled number (whether manually entered or selected from
the directory), and Hangup the phone.  In addition, if you
first specify Continous Redialling before the next dialling
selection number, <M>, or <R>, then XT4 will redial the
selection until it sees a carrier, recycling as specified in
the Redialling delay.  The default of 20 seconds (except for
the MODEM II and 4P MODEMs, 40 seconds) has been augmented by
the <R> key, so that if you KNOW the number is busy, merely
press <R> to perform a nearly immediate redial.  During this
mode, the <BREAK> key will break you out of the loop within a
second and take you back to the Command Menu.  These dialling
features are one of the reasons so much time was put into the
development of XT4 in the first place.


ECHO ON/OFF AND FEEDBACK ON/OFF (Options E and F) - These two
toggle switches allow you to set up XT4 for various non-BBS
applications.  If the system you are connected to doesn't
operate in Echo-Plex (echo back to you what you have typed),
set your Echo switch ON to see what you are sending to it.  If
you desire to act like a proper Host to someone connected to
you, by echoing what they are sending you back to them, set
your Feedback switch ON.  The status of both switches is
displayed in the lower half of the Command Menu screen.


GRAPHICS ON/OFF (Option G) - Some BBS have the facility to
provide full 256-character output, which allows messages to
contain graphics, even some animation!  Toggle this switch off
if you are getting garbage on the screen in 8-bit word length
mode.  It is ignored internally when in shorter word lengths.
The status of this switch will be displayed as a G or blank to
the right of the Word Length number in the lower half of the
Command Menu screen.


PRINTER OPTIONS (Options H and P) - You can toggle the On-line
spooled printer switch (option P) or print the contents of the
RAM Buffer (option H).  Since the On-line printing is spooled
through a 2K (2048 character) buffer, the printer need not be
able to keep up with the incoming data.  Printing the buffer
will use the parameters specified in the Configuration section
for lines per page and the number of characters per line.  The
printer spool buffer must be empty before the RAM Buffer
begins to print.


INITIALIZE RS-232 (Option I) - This option permits you to
specify any changes to the current configuration.  Press
<ENTER> to skip to the next parameter without change.  The
current settings are always reflected in the lower half of the
Command Menu screen.


LOAD AND SAVE BUFFER (Options J and K) - These options allow
you to load a disk file into the RAM Buffer, or save the RAM
Buffer to a disk file.  The file extension default is /DAT.


OUTPUT LOGON (Option L) - This option return you to the
Terminal Mode screen and cause the current active Logon string
to be sent out the RS-232 line.  The currently active Logon
string number is displayed at the top of the Option M, <L>
option screen.  As with the MacroKey output, what you actually
get on the screen is the echo back from the host system, NOT
necessarily what was sent!


MACROKEY/LOGON STRINGS (Option M) - XT4 allows you to have 10
MacroKey strings which can be sent out by pressing <CLEAR>
plus a letter from A to J at the same time.  You may specify
any one of ten Logon strings to be active at any time by the
default configuration, as well as within each Dialling
Directory entry.  Use this option to specify the contents of
each string, display, and set the Active Logon string number.

The Currently Active Logon string will be output when an ENQ
(05H) character is received in Terminal Mode.

MacroKeys and Logon strings can activate specific Logon strings,
chain to them, or chain to MacroKeys, if desired.  In fact,
Logon strings and MacroKey strings can invoke each other.  Just
be careful not to create a loop!  Keep in mind that reference
to a Logon string will make it the Currently Active one.

You weave this magic like this.  If a Logon or MacroKey string
has a character sequence of [x], where x is <A>-<J>, <a>-<j>,
or <0>-<9>, then it will be immediately started for output.

You may also include comments in a string by preceding them
with an apostrophe (').  XT4 will ignore the rest of the
string and stop output.  The contents of all 10 MacroKey
strings and all 10 Logon strings are saved as part of the
configuration.

Each string can be up to 50 characters in length.

While all the above is true, there are several special
characters in these strings.  The Escape character is <[>,
which will cause XT4 to ignore any special function of the
next character.  To actually include a <[> for output, just
enter two in a row!  The Carriage Return character is </>,
unless Escaped.  The Comment character is <'>, which will
cause a pause and return to Terminal Mode, permitting a
comment to follow it, unless Escaped.  The <[> character,
unless Escaped, followed by an <A>-<J>, <a>-<j>, or <0>-<9>,
then a <]>, will cause the specified MacroKey/Logon
string to become active (and if a Logon string, Active), and
begin output.  The Wait character is <|>, which unless Escaped
signals that XT4 is to wait for the character that follows it.
XT4 will wait without input for 5 seconds before continuing
the output of the string.  If the character which follows the
<|> is the Escape character <[>, it is skipped and the one
following it is used.  The Hex values of these characters are
as follow:  <[> is 5EH, </> is 2FH, <'> is 27H, <|> is 7CH
but when stored for Wait is 0FCH, <[> is 5BH.



OUTPUT BUFFER (Option O) - This option allows you to transmit
the contents of your RAM Buffer in either Prompted mode or
XON/XOFF mode.  If you specify XON/XOFF, answer the Wait for
Prompt (Y/N)? question with No and XT4 will check for the
appropriate XON/XOFF codes.


QUIT TO DOS (Option Q) - This quietly slips you back to DOS.


RECEIVE AND SEND DISK FILE (Options R and S) - This is the
feature that sets XT4 apart from all other TRS-80 terminal
programs.  XT4 supports the XMODEM/MODEM7 checksum file
transfer protocol and the better (by a magnitude of error
detection) CRC-16 protocol found on many newer RCP/M BBS and
TBBS 1.3.  Should an error occur during the transfer of a
block the number will remain on the screen, followed by an
asterisk (*).  The checksum protocol is fully compatible with
Towne Crier, TBBS 1.2/1.3, Forum-80, Bullet-80, XMODEM,
MODEM-80, SMODEM39, MODEM4, and MODEM7.


TYPE INTO BUFFER (Option T) - This option permits short
textual entries between loaded text files to be built up in
the RAM buffer.  It does not permit any editting, not even
backspacing.  It does permit the entry of all 256 possible
keyboard characters, however.


UPDATE CONVERSION TABLES (Option U) - You have three tables,
Incoming data, Outgoing data, and Printer data.  One byte you
might consider changing is byte 0AH (10).  This is the
linefeed byte and will cause a Carriage Return to occur on the
TRS-80.  If you null out the byte (change it to a 00) you will
not get a Carriage Return when a linefeed is sent.  (Some
computers require a 13 and the 10 sent to have a Carriage
Return.)


VIEW BUFFER (Option V) - This will page you through the
contents of the RAM Buffer, one screen-full at a time, with
non-displayable characters replaced by periods.  Pressing
<BREAK> at any time will return you to the Command Menu.


WAIT FOR VERSION 2.0.0 (Option W) - This option does nothing
yet, but it will, later.


EXECUTE DOS COMMAND (Option X) - This option allows you to
invoke and execute TRSDOS library commands without leaving
XT4.  Care should be used with any external /CMD-type
commands.


CONCLUSION - XT4 is still growing and is slowly becoming a
more universal program for telecommunications.  If you have
any comments or suggestions concerning XT4 please drop me a
line at:
Bill Andrus
10021 Commonwealth Blvd
Fairfax, VA 22032

XT4 is a SHAREWARE program. Please donate to the author's
efforts!
  nt out the RS-232 line.  The currently active Logon
string number is displayed at the top of the Option M, <L>
opt