SYSOPS: SEE SPECIAL NOTE AT END WHICH YOU MIGHT PREFER TO DELETE
USING KMD TO TRANSFER FILES
---------------------------
by Irv Hoff
03 March 1986
There are three basic file transfer methods with KMD:
1) requesting the RCPM system to send you a file
2) telling the RCPM system you want to send it a file
3) receiving an individual library member file
KMD <ret> shows a summary of the commands below
1) TELLING THE RCPM TO SEND YOU A FILE:
===================================
a) KMD S HELLO.DOC
b) KMD SK HELLO.DOC
c) KMD SB HEL*.*
d) KMD SB HE*.* SD*.* FILT7.LBR FOR*.LBR
e) KMD SP SYSOP.FIL
a) Method normally used for asking the RCPM to send you a file. It will
find the file, tell you how long it is (so you can tell if you have
that much room) and tell you how long it will take.
b) KMD is capable of sending (or receiving) files with 1k protocol. It
can do this from an automatic request made by the IMP modem program
(only one currently offering this feature) or if you manually type
'SK'. Programs such as MEX, Pro-YAM, etc. require this manual com-
mand if the user wants 1k protocol. (If unfamiliar with this term,
it essentially sends blocks of 1024 bytes, rather than 128 bytes,
stopping 1/8 as often for an acknowledgement it was received ok.
This speeds up the file tranfer about 8-9% at 1200 bps and 14-15%
at 2400 bps. Some of the newer modem programs have 1k protocol.)
c) KMD has 'batch file transfer' capability. This permits sending one
file or a number of files sequentially. The illustration shows how
several files starting with the characters 'HEL' can be sent, using
wildcards which CP/M accepts. Adding a 'K' to force 1k protocol
is of no benefit as the KMD-batch mode assumes you have 1k ability.
d) Another example of sending a group of files via batch mode. Each is
separated by a space, and shows how wild cards may be used for any
of them. The time needed to transfer the requested files is added
together and you are informed to make another selection if you do
not have that much time left on the system.
NOTE: Sending even a single file via
batch mode is beneficial, as you
only need type the file name at
the sending end. Even then, you
can use wildcards, additionally
simpifying the typing needed.
e) The SYSOP has a private area where he can hide a file which you may
receive using the 'SP' command. He would then leave you a private
message telling the name of the file. Nobody else would be able to
get it since they would not know its name. This offers ample se-
curity for the short period of time he would keep it available.
2) TELLING THE RCPM SYSTEM TO RECEIVE A FILE FROM YOU:
==================================================
a) KMD R
b) KMD RB
c) KMD R HELLO.DOC
d) KMD RC HELLO.DOC
e) KMD RM MESSAGE.TXT * not available on all systems
f) KMD RP HELLO.DOC
g) KMD RPC HELLO.DOC
h) KMD RX HELLO.DOC
NOTE: All of these requests will cause the
RCPM to tell you how much room is left
on the disk where the file will be re-
ceived. Check this before you start
the transfer to insure you don't get
cut off when partially finished.
a) Will receive a file or a number of files from you, using the KMD-type
batch mode. Currently IMP is the only modem program which supports
this type of batch mode fully. It is compatible with programs that
use the YMODEM protocol such as Pro-YAM and MEX-PC.
b) Same as a) - either 'B' or 'RB' may be used for the KMD-batch mode.
(This is not compatible with the MODEM7 batch mode which has no
header block for sending the file name, doing this via checksum
with no file length information.)
c) Normal method of telling the RCPM to receive a file you will send,
named HELLO.DOC
d) Tells the RCPM you plan to send a file using checksum. This saves
time - otherwise KMD waits up to 40 seconds assuming you will use
CRC before it switches and attempts to use checksum, instead. Some
modem programs do not offer CRC for error-checking even though they
use XMODEM protocol. These are invariably commercial programs.
e) This is a new feature which allows you to send a file with pre-typed
messages to a RCPM. It automatically goes to the private upload
area, so does not ask for a file description and does not appear in
the "FOR" file. Any FILENAME.EXT is suitable since using the 'RM'
command tells KMD that this file is to be appended to the bulletin
board message file. If the RCPM system does not use a BBS that has
this feature, you will get an error message if requesting 'RM'.
f) Receives a file in the private area for the SYSOP's own use. It will
not ask for a file description when finished and does not display
the name of the file in the "NEW" file most users check to see what
files have been recently obtained.
g) Receives a file in the private area using checksum mode.
h) When receiving a file, KMD normally tells the sender it has automatic
1k protocol. IMP is currently the only modem program that can use
this information. There may be times (even if using IMP) that you
might want to intentionally transfer with the smaller 128 character
blocks. Some programs capable of sending 1k protocol assume the
other end already has this capability without being told. One such
program (newest versions of MITE) even gets confused when KMD fur-
nishes this information, which can be inhibited by using 'RX'.
3) TELLING THE RCPM SYSTEM TO SEND YOU A FILE FROM A LIBRARY:
=========================================================
a) KMD L HELLO.LBR HELLO.DOC
b) KMD L HELLO HELLO.DOC
c) KMD LK HELLO HELLO.DOC
a) Using the 'L' option will send a member file from a library. First
comes the library name followed by the name of the file contained
in that library, that you want.
b) Another example, showing the customary method - the 'L' command does
not require you include the '.LBR' extent since it assumes that is
the name of a .LBR file...
c) Shows how people using programs with manual 1k protocol (such as MEX,
Pro-YAM, etc.) can request the file be sent using 1k protocol. IMP
users do not need to add the 'K' as IMP automatically makes this
request.
AFTER THIS, WHAT?
=================
After telling KMD what it should do (send you a file or receive one from
you), it winds up its part of the operation with a line telling you to
use several CTL-X characters to abort.
That is your clue to do what is needed to tell your own system to re-
ceive the file (or send the one you told the RCPM to expect from you).
This guide assumes you have an instruction book for your modem program,
or some prior experience in using it. If it is a MODEM7, COMM7, MDM7,
SMODEM, IMP or MEX program (just to name a few that are available free)
you would return to the command mode (with a CTL-E or ESC-E, typically)
and then use commands almost identical to those mentioned above for KMD.
Other programs, particularly those for 16-bit computers running MS-DOS
often have menus from which the user makes the appropriate selection.
This triggers the start of the file transfer.
SUMMARY:
=======
You can abort a file transfer with several CTL-X characters. This nor-
mally works quite well in terminating both at your end and at the RCPM
end. If you return to the terminal mode after an intentional abort, the
RCPM system may not have received your request. Usually a few manually
sent CTL-X will then abort. In any case, the fact you are not sending
automatic acknowledgements should cause the RCPM system to time out in
roughly 1-1/2 minutes and return to the prompt. Don't despair too soon
and disconnect, planning to phone right back. That normally is not very
helpful.
When the RCPM system sends you a file you have requested, it then waits
for your modem program to tell it whether you have CRC or checksum and
also accepts information regarding automatic 1k protocol capability. It
is only when you send a file to the RCPM that you may need to mention
things like checksum or to suspend its automatic 1k output information.
If this modest help guide is still insufficient, or even has whetted the
appetite for more information, look at some of the files in the KMD-SUPP
file. They go into far more depth on some of these topics, in what we
hope is a very interesting and readable manner, telling how and why some
of these protocols were developed.
(Thanks to Wayne Masters, SYSOP of Potpourri RCPM in San Jose, CA for
suggesting a summary such as this might be helpful to some of his users
who have not previously attempted file CP/M file transfers.)
- Irv Hoff W6FFC
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
(415) 948-2166 (voice)
NOTE TO SYSOPS: THIS SIMPLE HELP GUIDE ON HOW TO TRANSFER FILES WITH
KMD MIGHT BE PLACED ON SOME EASILY ACCESSIBLE DISK
LOCATION SO YOU CAN REFER NEW USERS TO ITS CONTENTS,
HOPEFULLY SAVING YOU A LOT OF TIME IN ANSWERING SUCH
QUESTIONS. YOU MAY ALSO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PRIVATE
'SP' COMMAND WHICH FOR SECURITY DOES NOT WORK WITH
WILDCARDS OR BATCH MODE.
