12/8/84 This is an update of MEX-SET.DOC. I've learned some new
things since first writing MEX-SET and have changed the listings
and explanations of the .MEX files included in this document to
reflect my current usage.
SOME NOTES ON USING INI.MEX AND OTHER "READ" FILES TO SIMPLIFY THE
OPERATION OF MEX.COM
After a long evening of working on setting up an INI.MEX
file and a number of READ files as suggested by Irv Block I think
I have come up with some files that work nicely and I even under-
stand what's happening. Sooo-o-o herewith are copies of the files
I worked out with an explanation. Hope they help.
====== general set-up ===========================================
When setting up your version of MEX you have the option of
a). just using the regular MEX file with your "Computer Overlay"
b). also changing some of the variables with MEXPAT11.ASM
Since I had difficulty with my printer losing characters on long
printings I chose to make two changes.
PSIZE: DB 24 ;instead of 2K which gives me
a larger buffer size for the PRINTER.
PQSIZE: DW 300 ;instead of 150 characters which gives
me a larger character buffer for the
modem since I run mostly at 1200 baud.
After changing those two buffers I have not experienced any difficulty
with the printing.
also be sure
INIMEX: DB 1 ;runs INI.MEX automatically on startup
by setting INITFILE ON
INI.MEX is the .MEX file that MEX automatically looks for on starting
up, whether you tell it to or not (assuming the INITFILE ON). You can
disable this feature with "STAT INITFILE OFF" but there are some
advantages to using it. Write the INI.MEX file (and all the other
READ files) with any text editor.
Since I have chosen not to hardwire most of my changes I use the
INI.MEX to allow quick and simple setup of the paramaters I want to
start with. Using the INI.MEX system allows me to make quick changes
to the way MEX works by simply changing INI.MEX without having to
assemble and overlay the changes or CLONE a new MEX. The INI.MEX I
use is as follows:
STAT WTECHO ON
STAT SEARCH 3
STAT SPLIT ON
STAT BAKFILE ON
STAT EXCLUDE OFF
STAT FILTER ON
STAT EXTEND ON
ALT A0:
ID "[MEXCD]"
LOAD PHONE.PHN
LOAD KEYS.KEY
B:
TERM SESSION.LOG
DIR
GLOBAL T
1. STAT WTECHO ON - according to APPENDIX 3: of the MEX User's Guide
this will help you not overrun an RCP/M or RBBS when sending out
strings of information. Unless you send out a great deal of infor-
mation this protection should not slow you down very much.
2. STAT SEARCH 3 - I have two drives and always load the MEX program
disk on A and the DATA disk on B. This command tells MEX to look
for READ files, phone libraries, keystring files, and other command
files first on the ALTERNATE drive (rather than the logged drive)
then on the LOGGED drive second. The ALTERNATE and LOGGED drive or
set below.
3. STAT SPLIT ON - displays the phone directory in one column with any
baud rate set figures displayed.
4. STAT BAKFILE ON - will prevent any pre-existing files from being over-
written by any new files that are created of the same name.
5. STAT EXCLUDE OFF - allows any system files to be shown on DIR command
6. STAT FILTER ON - useful when working on a noisy connection. Filters out
control characters, nulls, and characters with the high bit set.
7. STAT EXTEND ON - allows you to call a READ file without typing READ.
You only need to type the file name. I.E. "GET" will execute the
"GET.MEX" file.
*** NOTE: One play off with this variable set "ON"
is that giving a built in command (such as T or STAT)
will cause MEX to first look for a "file" of that name
and cause a momentary delay. You can keep MEX from
looking for a file when you are giving a built in
command by preceding it with a "*". (I.E. *T to go
to the terminal mode)
8. ALT A0: - sets the ALTERNATE drive to A user 0.
9. ID "[MEX-MINE]" - changes the string which diplays on the command line
while MEX is running. If talking to another computer running MEX
instead of BYE this allows you to know which command line you are on,
yours or the remote's. You can make it anything you want up to 28
characters (in the standard distributed MEX).
10.LOAD PHONE.PHN - reads in the phone list which is created either
inside MEX and then SAVED or with a text editor. Using a separate
PHONE.PHN file allows simple changing and means you don't have to
CLONE new versions of MEX to retain changes to your phone directory.
11.LOAD KEYS.KEY - reads in the keylists. Same reasoning as for PHONE.PHN
12.B: - changes the logged drive to B: so that all files captured or
received are automatically placed on B.
*** NOTE: some of the information and .DOC files that
I have seen show a ^M (carriage return) here and
in other places in the READ files. I kept getting
SYNTAX ERRORS. If the SUFFIX indicator is set to ^M
and your READ files are arranged in separate lines
as I have shown here you should not have any problems.
13.TERM SESSION.LOG - creates a CAPTURE file named SESSION.LOG into
which everything which appears on the screen is captured. This is
a good protection. You won't find yourself wishing you'd captured
or printed something after it had already scrolled by. Particularly
valuable when operating on new boards, the SESSION.LOG file can be
renamed to save it and then be edited and printed to give you a per-
manent record of how that system operates. That should allow you to
save a great deal of time the next time you use the system. If after
the session you decide you don't need the file or if you just fail
to rename it, the next time you run MEX the previous SESSION.LOG
file will be written over (poof...).
14.DIR - will automatically display the directory of B (the LOGGED drive).
15.GLOBAL T - will automatically take you to the terminal mode after
any file transfer.
==> Using the INI.MEX file as shown only takes about 1-2 seconds
on start up but can save you a lot of time in the long run.
And it sure is easier than trying to remember everything.
WRT
GLOBAL
STAT REPLY 16
SENDOUT "XMODEM S {1} {2:}"
R{2:} {1}
STAT REPLY 8
GLOBAL T
TA SESSION.LOG
I really like this file!
This is a READ file which greatly speeds up the process of downloading
a file with XMODEM. All you need to do is type "GET XXXXXXX.XXX" on the
command prompt (not in the terminal mode.)
*** NOTE: in the sample here the {1} would be automatically
be replaced by the filename (XXXXXXXX.XXX) that you
are requesting before being sent out to the remote
computer. If you are wanting to issue any extensions
to the "S" and "R" commands (such as "B" for BATCH
or "V" for VIEW) then type that extension after the
filename and it will automatically be executed.
* WARNING if you add a "T" extension the final line of
this GET.MEX will not execute since READ files cannot
work from the Terminal mode.
SAMPLE:
GET NEWFILE.DOC will transfer NEWFILE.DOC
to your system
GET *.NEW B will transfer all .NEW
files in batch mode
GET USQ.DOC VX will transfer USQ.DOC,
viewed then disconnect
1. WRT - writes the capture file to disk and closes it. If this is not
done prior to receiving a file all of the captured information
still in memory will be destroyed.
2. GLOBAL - turns off the T so that this file has a chance to re-create
the session log before returning to the terminal mode.
3. STAT REPLY 16 - gives the computer extra time to respond to a reply
from the remote computer. Minimizes the chance of overrunning the
remote computer.
4. SENDOUT "XMODEM S{1} {2:}" - sends the string in quotations to the
remote computer after filling in the parameters as specified on
the command line.
*** NOTE: It is important when creating any READ
file that strings to be sent are enclosed
in quotation marks.
5. R{2:} {1} - commands your MEX to receive the file specified automatically.
6. STAT REPLY 8 - sets the reply time back to normal
7. GLOBAL T - turns the GLOBAL T back on
8. TA SESSION.LOG - will return to the terminal mode automatically after
finishing the transfer. The important thing is that it automatically
restarts the CAPTURE and APPENDS the new stuff to the SESSION.LOG
file that was closed at the start of GET.MEX.
======= GETC.MEX (stands for GET & CHANGE NAME) ==========================
WRT
STAT REPLY 16
SENDOUT "XMODEM S {1} {2} {3:}"
R{3:} {2}
STAT REPLY 8
TA SESSION.LOG
This file works exactly the same as GET.MEX except that it allows
you to specify a name change in the process of transferring the file.
SAMPLE:
GET FOO.OBJ FOO.COM will transfer FOO.OBJ to
your system and rename it
to FOO.COM on your logged disk.
GET NEXT.DOC NEXT2.DOC V will transfer NEXT.DOC and
rename it to NEXT2.DOC while
viewing the file during the
transfer.
WRT
STAT REPLY 16
SENDOUT "XMODEM L {1} {2} {3:}"
R{3:} {2}
STAT REPLY 8
TA SESSION.LOG
This file will enable you to automatically copy a file out of a
LBR file if the remote computer's XMODEM program will allow it. Works
exactly the same as files above except that the command string would be:
SAMPLE:
GETLIB ANYFILE THISFILE.DOC
Will download the member file THISFILE.DOC
from ANYFILE.LBR. Extensions may be added
as the third parameter the same as above.
WRT
STAT REPLY 16
SENDOUT "XMODEM S {1} {2:}"
R{2:} {1}
SENDOUT "BYE"
STAT REPLY 8
DSC
Works exactly like GET.MEX except that it automatically signs off
the remote computer and disconnects the modem from the phone line when the
file transfer is completed. Does not exit from MEX.
WRT
STAT REPLY 16
SENDOUT "XMODEM R {1} {2:}"
S{2:} {1}
STAT REPLY 8
TA SESSION.LOG
Works exactly like GET.MEX except that the R and S are transposed
so that the file is sent instead of received. Turns off the checking for
echos of each character sent to the remote since the XMODEM checking takes
care of that during transfer (I think). TRIGGER set to nothing during the
transfer while WTECHO OFF according to information in MEX User's Guide
page 20.
STAT WTECHO OFF
STAT TRIGGER ""
STAT REPLY 0
SENDOUT "ATM0"
STAT REPLY 8
STAT TRIGGER ">"
STAT WTECHO ON
For the HAYES SMARTMODEM. This file turns off the speaker for those
times where you're doing continuous dialing and don't want to keep listening
to the modem dialing tones. Just type Q on the command line and magic takes
place.
1. STAT WTECHO OFF - turns off the checking of each character sent for an
echo from a remote computer. Necessary because the modem can't
echo the characters it receives.
2. STAT TRIGGER "" - turns off the TRIGGER so that MEX doesn't wait for
anything before sending the SENDOUT string out.
3. STAT REPLY 0 - turns off the wait time for a reply. Makes this command
to the modem almost instantaneous.
4. SENDOUT "ATM0" - *** the critical line *** This sends the command to the
modem which actually instructs it to turn off the speaker. The
command is in quotations and the one shown (ATM0) is for the HAYES
SMARTMODEM.
5. STAT REPLY 8 - turns back on the normal wait for reply time.
6. STAT TRIGGER ">" - turns back on the normal TRIGGER.
7. STAT WTECHO ON - turns back on the character echo checking.
Thanks are due to Irv Block whose MEXFILES.INF prompted me to
undertake this task.
*** NOTE *** This file has been written to allow you to easily
create all of the .MEX files shown here by using a text
editor program and defining each file listing individually
as a block and then saving it to your disk under the name
shown or one of your own choosing. Good luck!
