Plusterm

Tools - The PlusTerm Program

The Plusterm program was written by Color 64 enthusiast Sam Lewit, who also created the Color 64 Network system and many other utilities. It was originally developed as an optional replacement for the built-in terminal program included with Color 64 v7.37, but beginning with Color 64 v8 it became the standard terminal program.

The program file is named "√bbs.term". It is automatically loaded from the Program Files area when the SYSOP selects F2 from the SYSOP Menu.

Having Plusterm resident is optional. If disk space permits, add the files associated with the program:

• √bbs.term
• √sys.mltmno or √sys.mltmsw

If the terminal program is not present in the Program Files area, the system will simply return to the wait-for-call screen when F2 is selected.

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Some features of Plusterm include:

• Uploads and downloads supporting Xmodem and Punter protocols
• Multi-Punter upload and download transfers
• A phonebook with auto-dial capability, storing up to 20 numbers
• 2400 BPS adjustment controls for certain modems
• A built-in communications buffer capable of handling thousands of bytes
• Adjustable re-dial rate for the auto-dialer
• Programmable function keys, individually defined for each phonebook entry

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Notes on Using Plusterm

The 2400 BPS adjustment feature applies only to systems that do not use SwiftLink. Editing these values will not affect SwiftLink communications. The adjustment should only be used if garbled communications appear to be caused by timing differences between the computer and the modem. This condition can occur when a modem runs slightly “fast” or “slow.” In most situations these settings will not need to be changed, but experienced users can adjust them if necessary.

The buffer in Plusterm is dynamic. The memory used by the buffer occupies the space between the end of the terminal program and the memory location marking the end of √bbs.init. On many systems this allows more than 10,000 bytes of buffer space.

The amount of available buffer memory depends on program sizes:

• The smaller the terminal program, the more buffer space is available.
• The larger the √bbs.init program, the more buffer space is available.

For this reason, it is important not to add modifications unrelated to the terminal program into the terminal program itself.

When leaving the terminal to return to the BBS system, the buffer will be overwritten and its contents lost. If data remains in the buffer, Plusterm will display a warning before exiting in case the contents need to be saved.

If it becomes necessary to load the buffer with a sequential file, perform the following steps:

1. OPEN the buffer
2. Enter the DOS menu (F4)
3. Use the command f:filename
4. CLOSE the buffer

The buffer can be sent to one of three destinations:

• SCREEN
• DISK
• MODEM

This is done by selecting (P)rint from the BUFFER menu.

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Function Keys and the Phonebook

There are 7 programmable function keys available for each phonebook entry. These definitions are created by editing the phonebook.

There are also 7 default definitions that are loaded when the terminal program starts. However, once any phonebook entry is used, these default definitions are replaced by the definitions associated with that entry and remain changed until the terminal program is exited and re-entered.

To edit the default function-key definitions, select 0 from the phonebook editor menu.

To include a carriage return as part of a stored command sequence (for example, sending a password followed by RETURN), insert a CTRL-Y in the command string:

1. Type the password (do not press RETURN)
2. Hold the CONTROL key and press Y
3. Observe the cursor move down one line
4. Press the RETURN key

The CTRL-Y character will automatically be converted to a carriage return when the data is transmitted to the modem.

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Tools