Copyright: Copyright© 1999 Symantec Corporation.  All rights reserved.
Citation: Copyright© 1999 Symantec Corporation.  All rights reserved.


ANSI BBS and IBM PC Advanced Settings

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With the Current Terminal set to ANSI BBS or IBM PC, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

Treat Music sequence as Delete Line

By default, the ANSI BBS and IBM PC emulations "eat" or ignore ANSI music sequences. However, some host systems use these sequences as Delete Line commands. Enable this setting if you want the emulation to respond to the ANSI Music sequence as a Delete Line command.

Use DEC line wrap mode

This setting determines the emulation’s behavior when the cursor is positioned in the last column and data is received from the host. This setting should only be enabled if you’re using the ANSI BBS or IBM PC emulation with a host configured for a VT-100 emulation.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


ASCII Protocol Options

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You can specify how carriage returns and line feeds will be interpreted by the ASCII protocol for both uploaded and downloaded files, as well as a variety of other options. These settings apply only to ASCII file transfers. To specify how carriage returns and line feeds should be handled by the current terminal emulation, see Terminal Options.

For a brief discussion of the protocol, see File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select ASCII in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the ASCII protocol settings:

CR options - upload

Some host systems expect a carriage return to be a special sequence. This field allows you to specify how a carriage return within a transmitted file is handled by the protocol. Click on the list box to select an option:

Don’t translate CR

Select this setting if you want Procomm Plus to send carriage returns without translation or modification during an ASCII upload. This is the default setting.

Strip CR

Select this setting if you want carriage returns to be removed from data uploaded with the ASCII protocol.

Add LF to CR

Select this setting if you want a line feed to be added to every carriage return in data transmitted with the ASCII protocol. This is necessary when a line of data received by the host is overwritten by the next line of incoming data.

CR options - download

Some host systems send multiple carriage returns; others send none at all. This field allows you to specify how a carriage return within a received file is handled by the protocol. Click on the list box to select an option:

Don’t translate CR

Select this setting if you don’t want Procomm Plus to translate or modify the carriage returns in files received from a host system. This is the default setting.

Strip CR

Select this setting if you want carriage returns to be removed from data you receive from a host system with the ASCII protocol.

Add LF to CR

Select this setting if you want a line feed to be appended to every carriage return in files received with the ASCII protocol. This is necessary when a line of data received by your computer is overwritten in the Terminal display by the next line of incoming data.

LF options - upload

This field allows you to specify how Procomm Plus handles line feed characters within files uploaded using the ASCII protocol. Click on the list box to select an option:

Don’t translate LF

Select this setting if you want line feeds to be sent to the host system without translation or modification during an ASCII upload. This is the default setting.

Strip LF

Select this setting if you want line feeds to be removed from data transmitted during an ASCII upload. This setting is useful if the host system automatically adds a line feed when it receives a carriage return, causing your data to appear double-spaced when received by the host.

Add CR to LF

Select this setting if you want line feeds to be preceded by a carriage return in data transmitted during an ASCII upload. If the new lines sent in your uploaded data seem to start one line down and one space over from the last line sent, this setting may correct the problem.

LF options - download

This field allows you to specify how Procomm Plus handles line feed characters within files downloaded using the ASCII protocol. Click on the list box to select an option:

Strip LF

Select this setting if you want line feeds to be removed from data you receive from a host system with the ASCII protocol. This is useful if the host sends you multiple line feeds during a download, causing the data you receive to appear double-spaced. This is the default setting.

If you use this setting, you may also need to set the CR options - download to Add LF to CR for your data to appear correctly in the Terminal display.

Add CR to LF

Select this setting if you want a carriage return added before every line feed received within an ASCII download. If the lines of text in your received file seem to start one line down and one space over from previous lines, this setting may resolve the problem.

Don’t translate LF

Select this setting if you want line feeds received from the host system within an ASCII download saved to disk without translation or modification.

Other Upload Options

The fields in this group allow you to specify a variety of settings for ASCII uploads. They include:

Millisecond delay between characters

This setting specifies the number of milliseconds Procomm Plus will wait between characters sent within an ASCII upload. The default character pacing is 0 milliseconds, or no pause.

If your host system seems to lose characters sent during an ASCII upload, try a setting of 5 or 10 milliseconds. This should satisfy all but the slowest host systems.

Delay between lines

This field specifies the delay in tenths of a second Procomm Plus will wait between lines sent within an ASCII upload. The default line delay is 0 tenths of a second, or no pause.

If the host system appears to handle a complete line at a time but loses some or all of a subsequent line, try a setting of 10 or 20 milliseconds. If the host is especially slow, you may need an even longer delay.

Use [ ] for Line pace character

If you enable this check box, Procomm Plus will wait to receive the character you specify before sending the next line of an ASCII upload.

For example, you can force Procomm Plus to wait for a greater-than character ">" before it sends a new line by entering the decimal value 62 in the edit field. For a table of ASCII character values, see ASCII Table.

Expand Tabs

If you enable this setting, each tab character in a file uploaded with the ASCII protocol will be replaced by the number of spaces specified in the associated edit field, which is eight spaces by default.

This setting is enabled by default. If it isn't enabled, tab characters are transmitted without modification.

Expand Blank Lines

If you enable this setting, blank lines within a file uploaded with the ASCII protocol will be expanded with a single space. A "blank" line is one that contains a carriage return or carriage return/line feed pair and no other characters. The expanded line will contain a space followed by the same carriage return or carriage return/line feed pair.

This is useful if you upload messages to host systems that interpret a blank line as the end of a message. Sending an expanded blank line allows you to use a blank line as a separator within the message. By default, blank lines are not expanded.

Display text

If this option is enabled, text transmitted in an ASCII upload will be echoed to the Terminal display. This option is disabled by default.

If you’ve enabled this setting, and the host is echoing also, the data may appear doubled, "lliikkee tthhiiss," because both systems are echoing the data. To remedy this problem, disable this option.

Other Download Options

The fields in this group allow you to specify a variety of settings for ASCII downloads. They include:

Seconds until download time-out

This setting specifies the number of seconds Procomm Plus will wait for received characters during an ASCII download. If Procomm Plus doesn’t receive any characters for the number of seconds specified, the ASCII download will terminate and the file will be saved to disk.

This setting is helpful if you’re performing unattended ASCII downloads. Since most host systems pause at a command prompt after transferring a file, Procomm Plus will end the download automatically.

The default time-out is 10 seconds, with a maximum time-out setting of 9999 seconds.

Overwrite existing file

If this setting is enabled, a downloaded file will replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename. Otherwise, an incoming file name will be modified to protect a preexisting file.

For example, if you downloaded a file named readme.txt, but a readme.txt file already existed in the download directory, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx1. If readme.tx1 already existed, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx2, and so on. By default, preexisting files are protected.

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase ASCII downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete ASCII downloads are not deleted.

Strip 8th bit

This setting specifies whether Procomm Plus strips the 8th bit from characters received during an ASCII download. It is disabled by default.

If this box has been checked and you transfer a WordStar file using the ASCII protocol, the received file will be in ASCII format rather than WordStar format.

Display text

If you enable this setting, data received during an ASCII download will also be displayed in the Terminal window. It is disabled by default.


Adaptive Answer Options

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Adaptive Answer is a technology which allows a modem to determine whether an incoming call is a from another modem in data mode or a fax call. If your modem supports Adaptive Answer, the settings in this group allow you to specify the commands used to enable it, as well as the result messages your modem returns for fax connections. From within Setup, click on the System, Modem Connection, Fax Settings, Adaptive Answer panel to display the settings:

Class 1 Adaptive Answer

These settings are used to enable and detect Adaptive Answer if you’re using a Class 1 fax modem.

Many Class 1 modems do not support Adaptive Answer. You may need to check your modem manual.

Enable command

This field specifies the command that will be used to turn on your modem’s support for Adaptive Answer.

Fax connect message

The Fax connect message field specifies the message returned by your modem when Adaptive Answer reports a fax call. Typically, the Fax connect message for Class 1 is FAX.

Class 2 Adaptive Answer

These settings are used to enable and detect Adaptive Answer if you’re using a Class 2 fax modem.

Adaptive Answer is supported by the Class 2 specification, but modems manufactured before the Class 2 specification was officially ratified might not support the feature. You may need to check your modem manual.

Enable command

The Enable command field specifies the command that will be used to turn on your modem’s support for Adaptive Answer.

Fax connect message

The Fax connect message field specifies the message returned by your modem when Adaptive Answer reports a fax call. Typically, the Fax connect message for Class 2 is +FCON.

Automatically switch baud rate to 19,200...

Some modems automatically raises their baud rate to 19200 during Adaptive Answer. If you enable this setting, Procomm Plus will automatically change its baud rate to 19200 in response to an Adaptive Answer connect message.


Advanced Data Options

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Settings in the Advanced options panel allow you to control a variety of Terminal window functions. From within Setup, select the Data, Data Options, Advanced buttons to display the Advanced panel.

Prompt for Download protocol

By default, Procomm Plus initiates the Current Transfer Protocol immediately when you click on the Action Bar’s Receive File button or select the Data | Receive File... menu item. If you enable this option, Procomm Plus will prompt you for the transfer protocol you wish to use.

Enable automatic download start...

By default, Procomm Plus begins downloading files automatically when it receives the initial sequences for the Zmodem and Kermit protocols. If you prefer to initiate downloads for these protocols just as you do for other transfers, disable this option.

Procomm Plus also supports autodownloading for the CIS-B+ protocol. See Enquiry Type in Common Terminal Options for more information.

View .GIF files during download

By default, Procomm Plus displays CompuServe Graphic Interchange Files in a separate window as they are being downloaded. These picture files usually have a filename extension of .gif. If you prefer not to view .gif graphics as they are downloaded to your machine, disable this option.

Flash icon when transfer complete

By default, if Procomm Plus has been minimized, it does not signal when a file transfer completes. Enable this option if you want the Procomm Plus icon to flash to signal a completed transfer. Note that this may cause Procomm Plus to "steal" the focus from another application.

Abort transfer if Carrier Detect signal lost

If this option is enabled, Procomm Plus will react to a loss of the Carrier Detect signal by aborting an ongoing file transfer. By default, Carrier Detect is ignored during a file transfer.

If you’re transferring files between two computers connected by a null modem cable, be sure that this field is disabled. Most null modem cables do not support the Carrier Detect signal.

Duplex

This setting determines whether the characters you enter in the Terminal window will be echoed to the Terminal display. The default setting of Full does not echo data, while Half duplex echoes each character as it’s sent to the host system.

Break Length

A break signal is recognized by some host systems as an attention code. You can specify a break length of 0 to 999, measuring tenths of a second. The default break length used in the Terminal window is 5, or a half-second.

Yield During File Transfer

This slider bar lets you control how generously Procomm Plus shares processor time during file transfers. To increase the time given to other applications, slide the "thumb" towards the right. To decrease the time given to other applications, slide it towards the left.

By default, Procomm Plus yields moderately during file transfers with the "thumb" set to the far left position. This is usually an optimal setting for most multi-tasking situations. However, there may be instances when you want to give other applications a higher priority.

On very fast systems, with 486 or higher processors, you may not need to make any adjustments at all to get both fast file transfers and optimal use of other applications that are running beside Procomm Plus!


Advanced Fax Connection Options

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The Advanced settings allow you to specify the commands used to enable Class 1 error-correction methods, as well as some advanced control features. From within Setup, click on the System, Modem Connection, Fax Settings, Advanced panel to display these settings:

Fax ECM during send

This setting determines whether Error Correction Mode (ECM) will be used during a Class 1 fax send operation. Fax ECM during send can be set to None, Hardware or Software. The default setting depends on the modem you installed.

If set to None, ECM will not be used during a fax transmission. If set to Software, Procomm Plus’s internal routines will handle ECM. If set to Hardware, your modem’s hardware will handle ECM.

Fax ECM during receive

This setting determines whether ECM will be used during a Class 1 fax receive operation. Fax ECM during receive can be set to None, Hardware or Software. The default setting depends on the modem you installed.

If set to None, ECM will not be used when receiving a fax. If set to Software, Procomm Plus’s internal routines will handle ECM. If set to Hardware, your modem’s hardware will handle ECM.

In addition to checked for on and unchecked for off, each of the check boxes discussed below offer a third setting. The third setting is indicated by filling the check box with a graphical block; it means that the associated feature is neither on nor off, and the modem's current configuration for the feature will be used.

Reverse serial port bit order rate...

Some modems receive data from bit 0 to bit 7, while others reverse the order, and arrange data from bit 7 to bit 0. The symptom of a bit-order reversal is typically a fax image that appears as a group of small dots, perhaps with horizontal lines. These settings allow you to control how fax data is interpreted by the modem’s hardware:

... during send

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will send special commands which force the fax modem hardware to reverse the bit order on transmitted fax data.

... during receive

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will send special commands which force the fax modem hardware to reverse the bit order on received fax data.

Reverse fax bit order rate...

These settings correct the same kinds of mismatches described in "Reverse serial port bit order rate...", above. However, they allow you to control how fax data is interpreted by the fax software, rather than the modem hardware:

... during send

If this setting is enabled, the fax software will reverse the bit order on transmitted fax data.

... during receive

If this setting is enabled, the fax software will reverse the bit order on received fax data.


Capture File Options Dialog

From within Setup, select Data, Setup Files, Setup... to open the Capture File Options dialog. This dialog allows you to specify how Capture files will be handled by a Connection Directory entry, and how the Capture files will be recorded.

Recording Options

This setting determines how the Terminal window will record Capture file data:

Write text as it appears on screen

If this setting is selected, text is captured as it scrolls off the top of the screen into the Scrollback Buffer. When written to the Capture file, the text is formatted just as it appeared in the display.

This is the default setting. It works well with most host systems. However, if you find that most of the data screens are "missing" from the Capture file when you use this setting, try one of the other two settings.

Write filtered text with no emulation escapes

If this setting is selected, all data is captured except for emulation control sequences. Filtering captured data is especially useful if the host is sending commands that are causing text to be lost from the Capture file.

With this setting, all positioning and attribute sequences recognized by the terminal emulation are removed from the Capture file.

Write raw text including all escapes

If this setting is selected, all data sent by the host system is captured. The Capture file will include all text, graphics characters and emulation control sequences. A "raw" Capture file can be replayed in the Terminal window with the playback function, allowing you to review an entire on-line session without having to reconnect to the host!

If you need to send an entire Terminal display screen to a Capture file, press <Alt><K> . This copies the current display into the Scrollback Buffer and to a Capture file, if one is open, and allows you to save specific screens regardless of how the host is sending the data.

Control Options

These settings determine how the Terminal window opens the Capture file to write recorded data:

Overwrite existing capture file

If this setting is enabled, and you’ve chosen an existing Capture file to receive recorded data, the existing file will be replaced with the new information. This setting is disabled by default, meaning that data is appended to the end of an existing file.

Query for file name when capture is started

If this setting is enabled, the Terminal window prompts for a file name when you open a Capture file.

The prompt dialog also allows you to modify the Capture file options before data is written to the file!

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data, Setup Files panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


Common Terminal Options

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To view or modify the settings for an emulation, click on the Data, Terminal Options buttons, then select the emulation from the Current Terminal list to display the settings panel.

Terminal update

This setting determines how the incoming data is written to the Terminal display. By default, Terminal update is set to Fast, meaning that incoming data is buffered or held until a sizable block of data can be written in a single burst. This setting minimizes scrolling. If Fast is used in conjunction with the Keep cursor in view option, the Terminal display refreshes and scrolls in a single jump, after only a quarter-second delay in the flow of data.

The Incremental setting causes each incoming character to be displayed as it’s received. This setting guarantees that you’ll see each character immediately. If the Keep cursor in view option is enabled, the window scrolls one character at a time, as necessary, to "follow" the current character.

The Block setting causes groups of characters received together to be written together in short bursts. If the Keep cursor in view option is enabled, the Terminal display continuously scrolls vertically as needed, and scrolls horizontally after every quarter-second delay in the received data flow to track the cursor.

Terminal scroll method

This setting determines how the Terminal display is updated with new information.

If you’re using a 486 or higher processor, use the Repaint window setting. This causes the display to be refreshed by repainting instead of scrolling, which is much faster. This is the default setting.

If you’re using a slower processor, or if your machine is equipped with a "fast" co-processor graphics adapter, use the Normal Scroll method.

Terminal keyboard file

Procomm Plus includes keyboard mapping files for each of the emulations it supports. By default, the name of the keyboard mapping selected in the Terminal keyboard file list box should closely match the Current Terminal name.

For example, if you’ve selected the ANSI BBS emulation in the Current Terminal list box, the default selected keyboard file is ANSIBBS. You can select a different keyboard file by clicking on the Terminal keyboard file list box.

A Terminal keyboard file that appears in Setup in all uppercase, like ANSIBBS, is a default keyboard mapping for the emulation it describes. Procomm Plus’s default keyboard mappings cannot be modified or removed, but you can use them to create your own custom mappings.

You can modify the current keyboard mapping by clicking on Edit Keyboard File... to open the Keyboard Editor. For a discussion of the editor see The Keyboard Editor. For a step-by-step example of mapping a single key see Step-by-Step: Mapping a Key.

Tables describing the various keyboard mappings, including the sequences they generate and the keys they represent are available within Keyboard Mappings. You can also find an emulation's keyboard mapping by searching for the terminal emulation name!

Enquiry type

This setting determines how the emulation responds to a <Ctrl><E> or ENQ(uiry) character sent by the host system. If set to Off, the ENQ character is treated as any other character. If On, the program responds by sending the text you specify in the Enquiry response field. This is often called an "answer back" message, and it can contain any ASCII characters including control characters.

If Enquiry type is set to CIS B+, the Terminal window will respond to an ENQ character by initiating the handshake procedure for a CIS-B+ protocol file transfer. The CIS B+ setting should only be used for on-line sessions with CompuServe.

The Vidtex emulation is highly recommended for use with CompuServe. It was designed specifically for CompuServe, and defaults to an Enquiry type of CIS B+. A setting of CIS B+, allows the CompuServe system to automatically initiate CIS-B+ file transfers.

The default Enquiry type for most emulations is Off.

Scrollback pages

This field specifies the number of screens the emulation will retain in the Scrollback Buffer. The default number is 100. You can set this value as high as 1300, but depending on the emulation, the terminal size and the memory available on your system, the actual number of pages allocated for the Scrollback Buffer may be different.

Terminal size

These two drop down list boxes specify the size of the Terminal display area in Rows and Columns. The Rows field defaults to 24 for most emulations. You can either click on the list to select a standard value, or enter a value from the keyboard. The Columns field defaults to 80, but can also be set to 132 in some emulations.

Keep cursor in view

If the Terminal workspace is smaller than the logical Terminal display, this setting determines how incoming data is displayed.

By default, Keep cursor in view is enabled, meaning that the Terminal window will scroll automatically to ensure that the cursor is kept in view at all times. Depending on the size of your Terminal window and the distance the cursor moves, this can slow down the display of data considerably. Repositioning also occurs when you leave Scrollback mode or resize the Terminal window, the "view port" will shift to keep the cursor in view.

If you like to keep a small Terminal window visible as you work in other applications, enable Keep cursor in view. You’ll always see new characters as they’re received by the Terminal.

Enabling Keep cursor in view also affects the behavior of the Terminal update setting. See Terminal update for more information.

If Keep cursor in view is disabled, you’ll have to scroll the Terminal display manually with the scroll bars. This takes an extra step on your part, but it can be much faster. Manual scrolling is often preferable if your Terminal workspace is only slightly smaller than the logical Terminal display, or if the cursor’s movement is limited by the host system to a certain screen area.

Screen scroll

This setting determines the emulation’s response to new data when the cursor is in the last line of the Terminal display. If Screen scroll is enabled, the display is shifted up one line and the new line appears at the bottom of the display. If disabled, the cursor is moved to the beginning of the last line and the new line overwrites existing information. The default Screen scroll setting varies with the emulation selected.

Strip bit 8

This setting determines whether the emulation will remove the 8th or high bit from all received characters. The default setting varies with the emulation selected.

Destructive backspace

This setting determines the emulation’s response to a backspace character, ASCII decimal 8. If Destructive backspace is enabled, a received backspace character moves the cursor to the left and deletes the character displayed there. If disabled, a received backspace character moves the cursor to the left, but does not delete the character. The default setting varies with the selected emulation.

Tab stops every [ ] positions

This setting determines the number of spaces the cursor will move in response to a tab character. By default, the emulation’s tab stops are eight spaces apart. However, some emulations allow a host system to reset tab stop settings while on-line.

Line wrap

This setting determines the emulation’s response if the host system sends a line that’s longer than the column width of the logical Terminal display. If Line wrap is enabled, the excess characters will be displayed on the next line. Otherwise, the emulation will not wrap the excess characters to the next line. Instead, the additional characters simply overwrite the last character in the current line.

The default Line wrap setting varies, depending on the selected emulation.

Incoming CR to CR/LF

If this setting is enabled, a carriage return received by the emulation will be interpreted as a carriage return/line feed pair. If Incoming CR to CR/LF is disabled, carriage returns will not be modified.

This setting only affects carriage returns received by the emulation. Carriage returns received during an ASCII file transfer are translated according to the protocol settings. See ASCII Protocol Options for more information.

Some host systems require the emulation to interpret a carriage return as a carriage return/line feed pair to properly format the screen. If the cursor doesn’t move to the next line when a line is full, incorrectly causing previous data to be overwritten, enable this setting.

If the text in the Terminal display seems double-spaced, disable the option.

Block cursor

This setting determines the character used as a cursor in the Terminal display. If enabled, the cursor is a square block. Otherwise, the cursor is displayed as an underline character.

Disable host printing

This setting determines the emulation’s response to a printer command sequence received from the host system. If enabled, printer commands are ignored by the emulation. Otherwise, the emulation responds to printer commands received from the host. By default, the emulation responds to host printer commands.

Raw print mode

If this setting is enabled, print jobs initiated by the host system are directed to the selected printer in a "raw" format, without any emulation handling. This setting is disabled by default.


CompuServe CIS-B+ Protocol Options

  Related Topics

The CIS-B+ protocol is used exclusively with the CompuServe Information Service. For a brief discussion of the protocol, see File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select CIS-B+ in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the CIS-B+ protocol options.

Download Options

The following options allow you to control the behavior of a CIS-B+ download:

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase CIS-B+ downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete CIS-B+ downloads are not deleted.

Existing File Action

Settings in this field allow you to specify how Procomm Plus will handle filename "collisions," which occur when an incoming file has the same name as an existing file in the download target directory.

Use CIS-B file resume

Select this setting if you want an incoming file that has the same name as an existing file to be treated as a resumed transfer. As the default setting, it is quite useful if you’re restarting a file download that had previously failed for some reason.

Overwrite existing file

Select this setting if you want a downloaded file to replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename.

Rename incoming file

Select this setting if you want an incoming file name to be modified to protect a preexisting file.

For example, if you downloaded a file named readme.txt, but a readme.txt file already existed in the download directory, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx1. If readme.tx1 already existed, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx2, and so on.


Data Options

  Related Topics

The Data Options group includes settings that primarily control the basic behavior of the Terminal window. The Data Options group includes five settings panel:

General

Advanced

Left Mouse

Right Mouse

Paths

You can save and reference the settings in the Data Options group as an option set. This allows you to create multiple operating "profiles" that you can link to Connection Directory entries or select from ASPECT scripts as you need them.

For help in creating or using option sets, see Option Sets.


Data Tab

Click on this tab to access settings and option groups that primarily affect the Terminal window.


Dialing Options

  Related Topics

The Dialing Options settings allow you to specify the dialing properties used within Procomm Plus. From within Setup, select the System, Dialing Options buttons.

Make [ ] attempts...

This setting determines how many times Procomm Plus will dial when attempting to connect to an entry. If a connection is not made in this number of tries, the dial attempt is abandoned.

This setting defaults to 99, but you can set any value from 0 to 999. If you set Make [ ] attempts to zero, Procomm Plus will dial indefinitely, until the connection is successful or you terminate the dial attempt manually.

Pause [ ] seconds between attempts

This setting determines the number of seconds Procomm Plus will pause before dialing the next number in the dialing queue. This setting defaults to 1 second, but you can set any value from 0 to 999.

Current Location

This display field indicates the current location that Procomm Plus uses to dial other systems. Typically, this will be set to Default Location.  Procomm Plus references the settings associated with this value as it "builds" the dialing command string to be sent to your modem.  For example, a call specified as long distance from your default location may include additional numbers to access an outside line and place a long-distance call.  Procomm Plus also uses this default location when you use its Roadtrip feature to modify your Connection Directory. For more information, see Roadtrip.

Dialing Properties...

Click on this button to display the Dialing Properties dialog.  Typically, you won't have to change these fields often unless you're using a laptop computer.

I am dialing from:

This list box operates much like an option set, allowing you to create different locations that can each contain different dial settings.  To create a new location name, click on New....

The area code is:

Enter the area code for this location.

I am in:

Enter the country code for this location. If you travel to a country with a different country code, select the country here.

Outside line, local

If you need to dial a special prefix to access an outside line for local calls, enter that prefix in this field. Procomm Plus will use this sequence when dialing local entries.  Unless you specified a value for this field when you installed Procomm Plus, it will be empty by default.

Outside line, long distance

If you need to dial a prefix to access an outside line for long distance, enter that prefix in this field. Procomm Plus will use this sequence when dialing entries you’ve marked as long distance. Unless you specified a value for this field when you installed Procomm Plus, it will be empty by default.

Dial using Calling Card

This check box controls Procomm Plus’s use of a phone card. If the setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will use the phone card you’ve specified. To select a different card or enter the information for a new card, click on Change...

Call Waiting

Enable this check box if Procomm Plus should include a disable code for call waiting. Call waiting tones can disconnect a data or fax connection, and many phone companies provide a disable code that is dialed as part of the number.  Select the disable string provided by your phone company in the list box.

Tone or Pulse dialing

Select the correct option button to indicate whether the telephone system at the current location uses tone or rotary/pulse dialing..

Roadtrip

If you travel or move to a different area code or country, Setup can adjust your Connection Directory automatically.

Adjust...

Click on Adjust... to display the Select Long Distance dialog. The Data, Fax and Voice entries in your current Connection Directory are displayed in the dialog’s list box. Just highlight the entries that should be marked as Long Distance, and click on OK. You can highlight multiple entries by holding down the <Ctrl> key as you click on them.


Editing Kill Files

The Edit Kill Files dialog allows you to add, delete and edit your News Reader kill files, which can filter out articles from specific individuals or articles with specific subjects. To open this dialog, activate the Setup, Internet, News, Properties panel and press the Edit Kill Files... button.

Adding a New Kill File

To add a new kill file to the list, click New. Procomm Plus prompts you for the name of the newsgroup that will use the new file.  Once you've entered the name, click OK to launch the ASPECT Editor.

Each line of the file should contain one entry in the form:

name :F

or

subject :S

where F stands for From and S stands for Subject.  These lines should contain the exact strings for author and subject that you wish to filter, just as they appear within the News Reader. Your entries are case sensitive.

For example, to kill all messages from the author John Schultz, you would enter:

John Schultz :F

Due to case sensitivity, the example shown above would not kill articles from john Schultz.

Also note that you do not have to match the entire name of the author or subject. For example, to kill all articles with the word "test" anywhere in the subject, you would enter:

test :S

Once you have completed editing your kill file, select Save from the ASPECT Editor File menu to save the file and then select Exit to close the editor.

Editing a Kill File

To edit the contents of an existing kill file, select the file in the Kill Files list and click Edit to open the ASPECT Editor. Once you have completed editing your kill file, select Save from the ASPECT Editor File menu to save the file and then select Exit to close the editor.

Deleting a Kill File

To delete an existing kill file, select the file in the Kill Files list and click Delete... Procomm Plus will not prompt you before deleting the file.

Refreshing the Kill File List

To refresh your Kill Files list after adding or deleting a kill file, click Refresh.


FTP Options

  Related Topics

The Internet, FTP Options settings group allows you to specify how the Procomm Plus FTP window interacts with a host system, as well as some of the client's basic behavior.

You can save and reference the settings in the group as an option set, which allows you to create multiple "profiles" and select them quickly from within a Connection Directory entry or from an ASPECT script.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

General Options

Transfer Options

Folder Options


Fax Header Options

  Related Topics

The Fax Header options allow you to specify the information to be included in the page headers of faxes you send.

Before you modify the Fax Header settings, please see "The Telephone Consumer Protection Act", which details an important legal requirement for fax transmissions!

From within Setup, select the Fax, User Info, Fax Header buttons.

Include in Fax Header

The nine check boxes in this group allow you to specify the information you want to include in the page headers of your fax documents. To include a field, enable the appropriate check box. By default, the Sender’s name, Sender’s fax number, Page numbers and the Date and time fields are enabled.

If none of the fields are enabled, the fax pages will not have headers. If the fields you enable cause the header to extend past the edge of the page, the header will be truncated.


Fax Options

  Related Topics

The Fax Options group includes settings that control the basic functionality of fax operations. From within Setup, select the Fax, Fax Options buttons to display the panel.

Bring Fax Status to Top When

By enabling or disabling the appropriate check boxes in this group, you can specify whether the Fax Status window should be brought into view when a fax send or receive operation begins or completes. By default, Fax Status will be brought to the foreground when you begin sending or receiving a fax.

When a New Fax is Received

By enabling or disabling the appropriate check boxes in this group, you can specify the actions taken when a new fax document is received.

Run Fax Manager

If this option is enabled, Procomm Plus will open the Fax Manager when a new fax is received. By default, it’s disabled.

Print fax

If this option is enabled, the Fax Viewer will automatically print faxes after they’re received. By default, Print fax is disabled.

View fax

If this setting is enabled, the Fax Viewer will automatically load and display faxes after they’re received. By default, it’s disabled.

Fax Send Options

The settings in this group allow you to specify the actions taken when a fax document is sent.

Delete fax pages after successful send

By default, Procomm Plus does not delete faxes after they are sent successfully. Instead, the .fax files are moved to the directory specified in the Sent Faxes directory in the Fax, Fax Paths panel.

If you enable this setting, the .fax pages included in a transmitted fax attempt will be deleted automatically once the fax has been sent.

Deleting .fax pages has no affect on the source documents used to generate them.

Make up to [ ] attempts

This setting determines the number of times Procomm Plus will attempt to send a successful fax transmission. By default, it’s set to 10 attempts, but you can specify any value up to 99. If you set Make up to [ ] attempts to 0, Procomm Plus will attempt to send the fax indefinitely, until it is either successful or you remove or hold the scheduled fax. Click in the edit field to specify a new value.

Retry every [ ] minutes

This setting determines the number of minutes Procomm Plus will wait before attempting to re-send a failed fax. By default, it is set to 10 minutes but you can set it to any value up to 99 minutes. Click in the edit field to specify a new value.

Play .WAV Files for these Fax Events

These fields allow you to specify .wav sound files to be played when the described events occur. Click on the field’s associated Browse... button to select a .wav file in a standard file selection dialog.

Fax send complete

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a fax transmission completes successfully.

Fax receive complete

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a fax is received successfully.

Fax send/receive failure

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a fax receive or send operation is unsuccessful.


Fax Paths

  Related Topics

The Fax, Fax Paths settings allow you to specify the directories used to store faxes you send and receive, as well as your cover sheet files and graphics. If you specify a directory path that doesn’t exist, Setup will prompt you before creating the directory automatically. From within Setup, click on the Fax and Fax Paths buttons to display the settings panel:

Inbox directory

This field specifies the storage location for faxes that you’ve received.

Sent Faxes directory

This field specifies the storage location for faxes that you’ve sent. If the Delete pages after send check box in the Fax, Fax Options panel is disabled, faxes you send will be moved to this directory after they’re successfully transmitted.

Cover Sheet directory

This field specifies the storage location for the optional fax cover sheets installed with Procomm Plus. Fax cover sheets you create will also be saved to this path.

Outbox directory

This field specifies the storage location for faxes you’ve scheduled for transmission.


Fax Settings

  Related Topics

The System, Modem Connection, Fax Settings group allows you to specify how a fax connection is handled. It includes three minor groups:

General

Adaptive Answer

Advanced


Fax Tab

Click on this tab to access settings and option groups that affect fax operations.


Folder Options

  Related Topics

Settings in the FTP, Folder Options panel allow you to specify how the FTP window will handle duplicate filenames and a variety of other file-handling options. From within Setup, click on the Internet, FTP Options, Folder Options buttons to display the panel:

Retain viewed files

In order for you to view a file from a host system, it must first be downloaded or copied to your local machine. If you want to keep files you've viewed, enable the Retain viewed files check box. By default, this check box is disabled, causing viewed files to be deleted.

Confirm overwriting existing files

If you want the FTP window to prompt you before overwriting an existing file on your local machine, enable the Confirm file overwrite check box. It is enabled by default.

Prompt for long file name conversion

When you transfer a file from an FTP host, the FTP window generally saves it using the original filename on your local machine. Some FTP systems can use long filenames. By enabling this option, you can convert the filenames to 8.3 DOS format. If you want the FTP window to truncate a long filename and prompt you to confirm the filename, enable this check box. Use this option if long filename support has been disabled on your system, or if you are transferring a file to a network drive that does not support long filenames. This option is disabled by default.

Default File Filters

In these fields, you can specify the file filters that FTP window will use to list files. By default, the Local files and Remote files fields are set to "*", but you can enter any valid filename pattern. With some UNIX servers, it may be necessary to remove the contents of the Remote files field to see directories on the servers.

Initial local directory

If you'd like the FTP window to make a specific directory the current path on your local machine each time you open the FTP window, enter the complete drive and directory path in this field. By default, this field is set to the download directory created under the Procomm Plus home directory, usually program files\procomm plus\download.


General Data Options

  Related Topics

Settings in the General options panel allow you to control a variety of Terminal window functions. From within Setup, select the Data, Data Options, General buttons to display the panel:

File Playback Speed

This slider bar controls the speed of File Playbacks. Move the scroll "thumb" towards the right to play Capture files faster, or to the left to play them slower. By default, File Playback Speed is set to the fastest possible speed.

File Clipboard separator

This option specifies the character used to separate filenames when you paste them from the File Clipboard. Click on the list box to select one of the common separators.

For host systems like TBBS and RBBS bulletin boards that expect multiple filenames to be entered on a single line, use a space, which is ASCII decimal 32, as your separator character.

Chat Mode transmit method

This setting determines how Procomm Plus sends characters that you enter in Chat mode. If you choose Send character, each character you type is sent immediately. If you select Send block, Procomm Plus waits for a carriage return before sending text to the host system. The maximum number of characters sent in a block is 127.

If you want Procomm Plus to send a Carriage Return and Line Feed pair after your data, select either Send character with CRLF or Send block with CRLF. The Carriage Return/Line Feed pair are needed on some systems to properly scroll text on the receiving machine.

Play .WAV Files for these Data Events

These fields allow you to specify .wav sound files to be played when the described events occur. Click on the field’s associated Browse... button to select a .wav file in a standard file selection dialog.

Connect

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when Procomm Plus has successfully connected to another computer or system.

Disconnect

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a connection to another computer or system is terminated.

File transfer complete

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a file transfer has completed.

File transfer abort

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when a file transfer has terminated abnormally.


General Options

  Related Topics

Settings in the FTP, General Options panel allow you to specify how the FTP window responds to a double clicked filename, and how it negotiates the connection to the FTP host. From within Setup, click on the Internet, FTP Options, General Options buttons to display the panel:

Double Click on File Name.

If you want the FTP window to display the contents of a file when you double click on it, select the To View file option button. If you want the FTP window to initiate a file transfer when you double click on a file, select the To Transfer file option button.

Anonymous logon password

Click in this edit field to enter or modify the password the FTP window will use when logging on anonymously to a server. In general, FTP servers that accept anonymous logons require that you use your Internet address as an anonymous password. For example, "jfredg@garvinsoft.com."

Use passive mode

If your Internet connection passes through a security "firewall," you'll need to use FTP's passive mode to communicate with external servers. Enable this check box to use passive mode.

Passive mode is not supported by all FTP servers, especially those that run on older Unix systems! This setting is enabled by default. If you are experiencing difficulty accessing an FTP host, disable this setting and try to access the host again.


General Settings

  Related Topics

The General settings allow you to specify the commands used to initialize the fax modem, as well as some basic modem features. From within Setup, click on the System, Modem Connection, Fax Settings, General buttons to display the General panel:

Telephone line type

Due to limitations in current cellular technology, most cellular telephone connections cannot reliably support fax communication rates higher than 4800 or 7200. If you’re faxing over a cellular connection, click on this list box and select Cellular.

Procomm Plus makes four adjustments for more reliable communication over a cellular connection:

•	The Fax initialization string is modified.

•	Flow control is set to Software, if software flow control is supported by your modem.

•	Maximum transmit rate is set to 4800.

•	Maximum receive rate is set to 4800.

Procomm Plus defaults to Conventional Line support. The Cellular setting should be used only if you’re faxing over a cellular connection.

Fax initialization string

This field specifies the command string transmitted to prepare your fax modem to send and receive faxes. This string should contain the command to enable the flow control specified in the Flow control list box, unless your modem automatically enables flow control when it’s set to fax mode.

Fax Class

This setting determines the default fax class for fax operations. Procomm Plus supports Class 1, Class 2 and Sierra SendFax.

Flow control

This setting specifies the type of flow control used during fax operations. By default, Procomm Plus will attempt to use Hardware flow control unless your modem is found to work better with Software flow control.

If you choose to modify Procomm Plus’s Flow control setting, be sure to modify the Fax initialization string to enable the same type of flow control in the modem!

Fax baud rate (DTE)

This setting specifies the baud rate to be used by the fax modem when it’s idle.

Maximum transmit rate

This setting specifies the fastest fax send rate allowed for the connection. By default, the auto-detect modem installation process sets the Maximum transmit rate to the highest send rate supported by your modem. However, Maximum transmit rate is automatically set to 4800 if you’ve specified a Telephone line type of Cellular.

If phone lines are noisy, or you experience difficulties in transmitting faxes, you can lower the transmit rate for the connection by clicking on this field and selecting a new value. This may improve the efficiency of the transmission.

Maximum receive rate

This setting specifies the fastest fax receive rate allowed for the connection. By default, the auto-detect modem installation process sets Maximum receive rate to the highest receive rate supported by your modem. However, Maximum transmit rate is set to 4800 if you’ve specified a Telephone line type of Cellular.

If you experience problems in receiving faxes, you can lower the receive rate for the connection by clicking on this field to select a new value.


IBM 3101 and 3161 Advanced Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to IBM 3101 or IBM 3161, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

Turn around character

Click on this list box to select the value the emulation will use as the turn around character for block mode. A list of standard values is provided; for the actual setting used by your host system, check with your system operator or technical help desk.

Block mode

This setting controls the emulation’s block mode support. By default, the IBM 3101 and IBM 3161 block mode support is disabled.

Null suppression

Some host systems use the ASCII null character, decimal 0, to pace transmitted data, which can cause formatting problems in captured data. If this setting is enabled, the emulation will suppress null characters received from the host. By default, this setting is disabled.

Enter key sends CR/LF

This setting determines how the emulation responds when you press the <Enter> key. By default, the emulation transmits the character(s) mapped for the key in the current keyboard file. If you enable this setting, the emulation will send a carriage return/line feed pair, regardless of the keyboard mapping value.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


IBM 3270, TVI 950, TVI 955 and Wyse 100 Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to IBM 3270, TVI 950, TVI 955 or Wyse 100, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

Terminal Status Line

These settings control the emulation’s display status line. By default, the emulation’s status line is turned on. If you enable the Display check box, you can specify the attribute used to display the status line: Normal, Reverse or Underline.

Protected Attribute

These settings determine the attribute used by the emulation to display "protected" text. Protected text can be assigned one or more of three attributes: Dim, Reverse and Underline.

The Dim, Reverse, Underline and Normal attributes are defined in the Data, Terminal Colors settings group. See Terminal Colors for more information.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data, Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


IND$FILE Filenames

This dialog contains two fields that help create the command string Procomm Plus sends to the mainframe to begin your IND$FILE transfer.

In the first field, Mainframe filename, you should enter the filename for the target file on the mainframe.  This name must be a valid filename under your mainframe operating system.

Procomm Plus automatically builds the mainframe command string that appears in the second field, Formatted mainframe command, using the current IND$FILE parameters in Setup.  This is the command that Procomm Plus actually sends to the mainframe to initiate the transfer.  If necessary, you can edit this field before you click OK to begin the transfer.

If you need to change the current IND$FILE parameters for this transfer, click on the Setup this transfer... button. Any changes you make to the IND$FILE settings are not saved and will not be reflected within Setup.


Incoming Mail Options

  Related Topics

Options in the Incoming settings group allow you to specify whether the Internet Mail Client will automatically check for new mail. You can also select the path where new messages will be stored once they're retrieved. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, Incoming buttons to display the panel:

Automatically Check for New Mail

If you want the Internet Mail Client to check for new messages automatically each time you launch it, select the Whenever the Internet Mail Client... option button. Never is selected by default.

Check for new mail...

If you enable this check box, the Internet Mail Client will automatically check your mail server for new messages at the interval specified in the associated edit field. The option is turned off by default.

Database path

This field specifies the path where your mail database will be stored.  By default, the Internet Mail Client uses the inetmail directory under your Procomm Plus home directory.  This is usually \procomm plus\inetmail.


Ind$file Protocol Options

  Related Topics

Ind$file is an older, specialized protocol, used exclusively for file transfers to and from IBM mainframe and minicomputers.

Ind$file setting requirements can vary greatly from mainframe to mainframe! If you’re not familiar with mainframe communications or you need additional help in determining the values in the Protocol Converter Setup dialog, consult the system administrator or technical help desk for the mainframe system.

For a brief discussion of the protocol, see File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select Ind$file in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the Ind$file panel:

Host OS

This setting specifies the host’s operating system. Because Ind$file requires different parameters for each host operating system, changing Host OS may also change the values of the Use LRECL, Use RECFM, ASCII Translate and CR-LF Translate fields.

Selectable values for Host OS include VM-CMS, MVS-TSO and Other. Note that if Other is selected, the Use LRECL, Use RECFM, ASCII Translate and CR-LF Translate fields are disabled.

Environment

This setting specifies the combination of protocol converter and terminal emulation you’ll use while connected to the host system. The Environment setting automatically adjusts the default protocol converter values and emulation settings when you select an option, making it a convenient way to configure Ind$file for different hardware.

The Current Terminal selections will automatically switch the Ind$file session to your current emulation type at the beginning of the transfer. If the emulation is not recognized by Ind$file, Procomm Plus will switch to the closest supported emulation whenever possible.

Changing the Environment setting will reset the sequences specified in the Protocol Converter Setup dialog. To retain those values, use the Modify... button to save them in a named option set before selecting a new Environment setting. The Pace Uploads field may also be affected by an Environment change.

Send command

The command you enter in this field will be used to invoke the Ind$file Send function. Other information you supply will affect the switches and data to be appended to the end of this command line, creating the "formatted" Ind$file command string. You can enter up to 29 characters in this field, but the command must end with a space.

Receive command

The command you enter in this field will be used to invoke the Ind$file Receive function. Other information you supply will affect the switches and data to be appended to the end of this command line, creating the "formatted" Ind$file command string. You can enter up to 29 characters in this field, but the command must end with a space.

Timing

This setting specifies the amount of time Procomm Plus will wait for acknowledgment from the host system during an Ind$file session.

The default setting of Normal is appropriate for most host systems. However, if the Normal setting causes an unacceptable number of time-outs or errors, try switching to the Relaxed setting. This will slow the transfer slightly, but should improve the overall efficiency.

The Tight timing value will improve transfer speed, but can cause time-outs and errors over some connections.

To determine the best setting for your host, experiment by transferring the same file with each of the settings.

Receive Options

These settings allow you to specify how Procomm Plus will handle aborted downloads and filename "collisions."

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase Ind$file downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete Ind$file downloads are not deleted.

Overwrite existing file

Select this setting if you want a file downloaded to your computer to replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename.

ASCII Translate

If this setting is enabled, EBCDIC characters in a downloaded file will be converted to their equivalent ASCII values, and ASCII characters in an uploaded file will be converted to their equivalent EBCDIC values. The EBCDIC character set is used exclusively by IBM mainframes, and a "text" file you receive from the mainframe will contain these characters by default.

Do not enable this setting if you’ll be transferring binary files! The translation will modify the data, making it unusable.

CR-LF Translate

If this setting is enabled, conversion between mainframe and personal computer carriage return/line feed sequences will be performed during an Ind$file transfer. It is disabled by default.

Do not enable this setting if you’ll be transferring binary files! The translation will modify the data, making it unusable.

Display Data During Transfer

If this option is enabled, data being transferred with Ind$file will be echoed to the Terminal display. If you’re uploading the file, data is echoed from the protocol converter. Enabling this option may impair the overall transfer speed on some connections. It is disabled by default.

Pace Uploads

This option is not available when using one of the 3174... environments. When this option is enabled, Procomm Plus regulates IND$FILE uploads by pausing between transmissions. Some protocol converters cannot handle an IND$FILE upload if data is being sent too fast. Typically, the converter may disconnect, time-out, or send ASCII "bell" characters, decimal value 7, until you reset it. Enabling this option slows the overall transfer, but it will prevent the uploaded data from overwhelming the converter and causing a failure.

Systems that require specific File transfer on settings will use those settings rather than the Pace Uploads checkbox. If you have not provided a string in File Transfer on field, the Pace Uploads settings will be used.

If you've defined a protocol converter sequence that turns echo off for speed, Pace Uploads is automatically disabled; Procomm Plus cannot monitor the transfer to pace it properly if echo is not on.

The Lines field allows you to specify the number of 80-character lines to be sent between the pacing delays. Acceptable values are from 0 to 9. The larger the Lines value, the faster the transfer progresses. If the value is too high, however, you'll experience a failure as if you hadn't enabled pacing!

Experiment with the Lines value to determine the value that works best for your host system; the default depends on your environment.

Use LRECL

If this setting is enabled, its associated edit field specifies a logical record length or LRECL for the host file during an upload from your computer. If the setting is disabled, the host will usually default to a LRECL of 80. This setting is enabled, with a LRECL value of 80 by default.

If your host system is running TSO, and you’re uploading a file that already exists on the host, do not specify a LRECL value.

Use RECFM

If this setting is enabled, its associated list box specifies a record format or RECFM for the host file during an upload from your computer. You can select either a Fixed or Variable record format. If this setting is disabled, the host system typically defaults to a Fixed record format. It is enabled by default, with a Variable RECFM value.

If your host system is running TSO, and you’re uploading a file that already exists on the host, do not specify a RECFM value.

Protocol Converter...

If you’ve set your Environment field to use a specific terminal, rather than a Current terminal value, you can customize your protocol converter settings. Click on this button to open the Protocol Converter Setup dialog. If the assorted values in this dialog are wrong, you may not be able to communicate properly with the protocol converter. You should change the values in this dialog only if the system administrator of your host system has supplied you with different settings!

Click on OK to save any changes you may have made and return to the main Ind$file settings panel. To close the dialog without saving your changes, click on Cancel.


Internet Connection Options

  Related Topics

Manually installing or configuring a connection to the Internet can be a daunting task. However, Procomm Plus's Setup makes the process much easier!

Internet Setup

Within Setup's Internet Connection group, click Internet Setup Wizard... to launch the Internet Setup Wizard and configure Procomm Plus for Internet access.

Internet Connection Options

 For more help in working with option sets, see Option Sets.

Current Internet Connection

This field specifies the Current Internet Connection used by Procomm Plus to access the Internet.  The connection is typically built by the Internet Setup Wizard, but you can modify your connection settings by clicking on the Connection Properties button.

Mail Option Set

This field specifies the Internet, Mail option set that will be used by the Internet Mail Client when you access your mail server with the Current Internet Connection. The Internet, Mail option set discussion begins in Internet Mail Options.

News Option Set

This field specifies the Internet, News option set that will be used by the News Reader when you access your news server with the Current Internet Connection. See The Internet, News option set discussion begins in Internet News Options.


Internet Mail Options

  Related Topics

The Internet Mail settings group includes settings that determine how the Internet Mail Client will interact with your mail server, as well as how it will handle the messages you send and receive. The Internet Mail settings group contains six minor groups:

Mail User Info Options

Mail Server Options

Incoming Mail Options

Outgoing Mail Options

Mail Reply Options

Other Mail Options

You can save and reference the settings in the Internet Mail group as an option set. This allows you to create multiple operating "profiles" that you can select from the Quick Select Line in the Internet Mail Client window or from ASPECT scripts as you need them.

For help in creating or using option sets, see Option Sets.


Internet News Options

  Related Topics

The News settings group includes settings that control the basic behavior of the Newsgroup Reader. The News group contains five minor groups:

News User Info Options

News Server Options

News Properties

News Reply Options

Other News Options

News Database Options

You can save and reference the settings in the Internet Mail group as an option set. This allows you to create multiple operating "profiles" that you can select from the News Reader window's Quick Select Line in the Internet Mail Client window or from ASPECT scripts as you need them.

For help in creating or using option sets, see Option Sets.


Internet Tab

Click on this tab to access settings and option groups that affect Procomm Plus’s Internet modes.


Kermit Protocol Options

  Related Topics

Kermit is typically used for transferring files to and from mini- and mainframe host systems, and there are several different Kermit revisions for many of these systems. To determine the proper values to use when transferring files to and from your particular host system, consult the system administrator or technical help desk.

If you’re using Kermit to transfer files to and from another personal computer, such as a BBS or a Procomm Plus Host, the default Kermit settings should provide the fastest and most efficient transfers. In any case, we recommend that you not alter the default Kermit settings unless you have a specific reason to do so.

For a brief discussion of the protocol, see  File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select Kermit in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the Kermit protocol settings.

Default Characters

These fields allow you to specify the characters used to control and interpret transmitted data.

Control Quote

This setting specifies the character used to indicate that the next byte has been encoded to prevent possible interference from communications equipment.

Pad

This setting specifies the character used to pad a packet.

End of Line

This setting specifies the unique character used to signal the end of a packet.

8th Bit Quote

This setting specifies the unique character that signals that the next byte has been "8-bit quoted." 8-bit quoting allows transfers of 8-bit values over a 7-bit link by "converting" 8-bit values to 7-bit encoded values.

Block Start

This setting specifies the unique character used to signal the start of a new packet.

Other Options

These fields allow you to specify the Kermit packet and pad sizes and several file-handling options.

Maximum Packet Size

This setting specifies the maximum number of characters allowed in a single data packet. In general, larger data packets reduce the overhead of sending multiple smaller packets. However, smaller packets allow for quicker error recovery at lower speeds. You can specify a packet size from 20 to 1024 bytes; the default is 1024.

Number of pad chars.

The number of extra characters that are sent before each packet to allow for communications with some half-duplex systems.

File type

If you’re transferring text files, you can set this option to Text to have carriage return and line feed characters in the file converted appropriately by the receiving machine.

If Binary is selected, the file is transferred without conversion. If you’re transferring executable files, images or other binary files, you must specify a File Type of Binary to properly reproduce the file on the receiving machine.

Overwrite existing file

Enable this option if you want a file downloaded to your computer to replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename. By default, the incoming file will be renamed and the existing file will remain untouched.

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase Kermit downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete Kermit downloads are not deleted.

Block Check Type

This setting determines the method Kermit will use to verify a transferred block of data. The various methods are listed in the order of increasing robustness. However, not all revisions of Kermit support all of these methods.


Left Mouse Options

  Related Topics

The Left Mouse options allow you to specify the Terminal window’s response to a double click on the left mouse button, as well as the characters used to prefix text pasted to the port. From within Setup, select the Data, Data Options, Left Mouse buttons to display the Left Mouse panel.

Left Mouse Selection

These settings allow you to specify what characters are sent as end of line characters when you select text in the Terminal window and what characters prefix text that you paste.

End of line character(s)

By default, Procomm Plus transmits the sequence mapped to the current emulation’s <Enter> key as an end of line marker for text selected in the Terminal window. For most emulations, this sequence is a carriage return. However, you can specify one or more characters to be sent instead by selecting the right-most option button and entering the character(s) you want in the associated edit field.

The end of line characters are appended to the end of complete lines whenever you select text from the Terminal display or Scrollback Buffer and then choose Copy to Windows Clipboard, Copy to Port or Copy to Port with Enter. If you select text from the Terminal display or Scrollback Buffer and then choose any other option, Procomm Plus sends the end of line characters specific to the destination instead of this value:

File Clipboard

Text sent to the File Clipboard is concatenated without any end of line characters, since it is presumed to be a filename.

Disk file

Text lines sent to a disk file end with a CR/LF combination.

Printer

Text lines sent to the system printer end with a true printer end of line sequence, which advances the line and returns the printer carriage, instead of a CR/LF combination.

Procomm Plus also adds the end of line character(s) you specify in this field to the end of each line pasted from the Windows Clipboard. The clipboard data is scanned for CR, LF and CR/LF end of line characters. Wherever these characters appear, they are removed and replaced with your end of line character(s).

Selection paste prefix

When you paste selected text, Procomm Plus will prefix the text with the characters you enter here. By default, the field is empty.

Paste Prefix is useful when you’re quoting text from a previous on-line session. In that case, you might set your Selection Paste Prefix character to ">."

Left Mouse Button Action

Double click transmits

By default, Procomm Plus’s Terminal window transmits the word you double clicked with the left mouse button. You can choose to send either a word or character, with or without a carriage return, by clicking on the Double click transmits list box.


Mail Reply Options

  Related Topics

The mail Reply settings group allows you to specify whether the Internet Mail Client will include the original text when you reply to a message. You can also specify a variety of "quoting" options for the included text, such as indentation and the prefix or "quote" characters. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, Reply buttons to display the panel:

After Reading Message

This setting determines the Internet Mail Client's response when you've finished reading a message and you either delete it or move it to another folder. You can choose to read the next message up or down, or return the client's main window. Read next message down is selected by default.

Text Quoting

The settings in this group determine whether the Internet Mail Client will quote the original message's text when it's included in your reply. When text is quoted, each line in the included text is prefixed by the Quote prefix you specify. You can enable or disable text quoting by selecting the appropriate option button. Quoting is on by default.

Include original text in message replies

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will include the original message's text in your reply message. The option is enabled by default.

Indent original text

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will indent the original message's text when it includes it in your reply. The option is disabled by default.

Include headers in quoted message

If this option is enabled, the mail client will include the original message's headers as quoted text. By default, it is enabled.

Quote original text

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will prefix each line of quoted text with the prefix character you specify in the Quote prefix field.  This field is enabled by default.

Maximum number of quoted lines

Click in this edit field to specify the maximum number of lines from the original message's text to be quoted in your reply. The default value is 300 lines.

Quote prefix

Click in this field to specify the character(s) the mail client will use to prefix quoted text. The default Quote prefix is ">".

Word wrap after [ ] characters

By default, the Internet Mail Client will wrap to the next line when your text exceeds 70 characters. To set a different line width, click in the edit field and enter the value you want.


Mail Server Options

  Related Topics

The Mail Server settings group lets you specify your mail server's address and determine how the Internet Mail Client will retrieve your mail. You can also specify your logon name and password if they are required by the mail server. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, Mail Server buttons to display the panel:

Incoming mail server address

Click in this field to edit the address of your mail server.

Delete retrieved mail on server

By default, the Internet Mail Client deletes messages from the server as it retrieves them. If you don't want the client to delete messages it retrieves, disable this check box.

Forward outgoing mail to this mail server

If the mail server you use to send mail is different from the server specified in Incoming mail server address, above, enable the check box and enter the server's address in the associated edit field. By default, the ckeckbox is off and its edit field is left blank

Mail Server Account

If your mail server requires you to logon for access, click in the Logon name and Password edit fields to enter your logon information.


Mail User Info Options

  Related Topics

The User Info options allow you to specify your name and mail addresses. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, User Info buttons to display the panel:

Full name

The name you entered when you installed Procomm Plus will appear in this field. Click in the field if you want to edit it.

Email Address

Click in this field to enter or edit your mail address.

Reply Address

If the address other users will need to send you mail is different from the Email Address above, enter it in this field. By default, the field is blank.

Signature file

If you've created a signature file that you want to include in every message you send with the Internet Mail Client, enter its name and path in this field or click on the Browse... button to select it.


Modem Connection Options

  Related Topics

From within Setup, select the System, Modem Connection buttons to display the Modem Connection options panel:

Current Modem/Connection

This scrolling list box indicates the current connection. Modems and direct wired connections will indicate the COM port they're using as part of the connection name. You can select another existing connection by clicking on the connection name in the list box.

Modem/Connection Properties

Click on this button to modify the properties for the current modem or connection.  Modem properties include the COM port and speaker volume.  Connection properties include port settings, hardware and software flow control and error control.

Add New Modem/Connection

Click on this button to install a new modem or connection type. Procomm Plus displays the Windows Configure Modem wizard. For more information, see Step-by-Step: Installing a New Modem.

Fax Settings...

Click here to modify the fax settings for the current connection.  For more information, see the Fax Settings discussion.

Make this connection available to Procomm Plus

If you disable this check box, the current connection will not be available anywhere within Procomm Plus.  This includes the connection list displayed from the Quick Select Line. By default, it is enabled.

Use this modem/connection to send faxes

If you enable this check box, Procomm Plus will mark the current modem/connection as available whenever you send a fax document.

Incoming call handling for current modem/connection

This option button group determines how Procomm Plus will handle incoming calls while using the current connection.

To disable autoanswer, select Do not accept or answer any incoming calls.

To answer calls, select Procomm Plus should answer incoming calls after and specify how many rings will trigger answer mode.  In this mode, you should also specify whether Procomm Plus should accept fax calls (if you're using a fax modem), data calls or both.

To allow another Windows application to answer calls, select Another program will answer incoming calls....  In this mode, you should also specify whether Procomm Plus should accept fax calls (if you're using a fax modem), data calls or both.  The answering application must be properly configured to hand control of the session to Procomm Plus once the connection is made.

Although the selection you make here for Incoming call handling determines the default answer action taken by Procomm Plus, you can change these answer action settings from the Terminal window menu as well.  For more information, see Auto Answer Modes.


Modifying an Option Set

  Related Topics

Once you’ve created an option set, you can change its settings simply by making it the active or current set, then applying the changes you want. You can also use two other Setup functions from the Modify Option Set dialog:

Save As...

For an explanation of using the Save As... button, see Step 3 in Step-by-Step: Creating and Using an Option Set.

Use Defaults

If you want to restore an option set to its default values, click on Use Defaults.

Remove

If you want to delete an option set you’ve created, click on Remove. Note that you can never remove the default option set. The Remove button is disabled unless the currently selected option set is one you’ve created.

Cancel

To close the dialog without making any changes, click on Cancel.


Monitor Receive Settings

  Related Topics

The Monitor Receive settings allow you to select the color used in Monitor window to display data received from the host system. From within Setup, select the Data, Window Colors, Monitor Receive buttons to display the Monitor Receive settings panel:

Colors

To select a new color for received data, simply click on the one you want. The Example window updates to reflect your choice. The Monitor Receive color is also used in the Chat Mode window to display characters sent by the other system.


Monitor Send Settings

  Related Topics

The Monitor Send settings allow you to select the color used in Monitor window to display data sent to the host system. From within Setup, select the Data, Window Colors, Monitor Send buttons to display the Monitor Send settings panel:

Colors

To select a new color for transmitted data, simply click on the one you want. The Example window updates to reflect your choice. The Monitor Send color is also used in the Chat Mode window to display the characters you type.


News Database Options

  Related Topics

These options determine the location of the News Reader database and the criteria controlling when the database information is purged.  These fields are available from the Internet, News, Database panel within Setup.

Purge messages older than [ ] days

This field places a date limit on all message text within the News Reader database.  Once the specified number of days have passed since the date the message was written to the database, the message will be marked as deleted during the next purge.  If you have enabled the Compact database after purging check box, this deleted data will be removed and the space it occupied will be freed.

Compact database after purging

If enabled, the News Reader will "pack" the database after a purge to eliminate deleted messages and data.  Compacting the database will save a significant amount of disk space, especially for larger database files.

When should the database be purged?

These two check boxes determine when the database purge process should take place.  By default, purging takes place as the News Reader is shut down, but you can specify a purge at startup as well. The purge process may take several seconds, depending on the size of your News Reader database.

Purge Database Now...

Click on this button to begin the database purge process immediately. The purge process may take several seconds, depending on the size of your News Reader database.

Database path

This field contains the path to the directory containing the database file.  By default, the directory is program files\procomm plus\inetnews.


News Properties

  Related Topics

Settings in the Properties group allow you to specify the actions the News Reader will perform when you access a newsgroup, as well as the storage path for articles you've retrieved and decoded. From within Setup, select the Internet, News, Properties buttons to display the panel:

Prompt if number of available headers...

If this option button is selected, the News Reader will prompt to warn you when the number of available messages in a newsgroup exceeds the value specified in its associated edit field. It is selected by default, with a warning level of 200 articles.

Only display unread headers

If this option button is selected, any headers which are marked as read will not be shown in the list of headers for a newsgroup.

If you're using threaded mode, parent articles with unread replies will still be visible regardless of this setting.

Check for new newsgroups at startup

If this option is enabled, the News Reader will retrieve and display any new newsgroups that have been added to the server.

Use Kill files to filter unwanted articles

If this check box is enabled, the News Reader will check for author names and header subjects that you have previously added to your kill files.  Any article with a name or subject specified in a kill file is not displayed in the header list.  To edit the contents of your kill files, click on Edit Kill Files...

Directory for saved and decoded articles

Click in this edit field to specify the path and directory where the News Reader will place articles you've retrieved and decoded. By default, saved and decoded articles are written to the \download directory under the Procomm Plus home directory.

In general, it's a good idea to specify a decoding destination that offers plenty of available drive space. Encoded articles can be quite large, and the News Reader uses temporary data files to process them.


News Reply Options

  Related Topics

Settings in the Reply group allow you to determine the actions taken by the News Reader when you post articles.  From within Setup, select the Internet, News, Reply buttons to display the panel:

Maximum characters per line...

By default, the News Reader will wrap to the next line when your text exceeds 70 characters. To set a different line width, click in the edit field and enter the value you want.

Maximum lines per article

By default, the News Reader limits the length of articles you post to 900 lines. If you want to set a different limit, click in the edit field and enter the value you want. Setting this value to zero forces the News Reader to post articles without splitting them into smaller segments.

Reply Options

These settings allow you to specify what information from the original article, if any, is included in your reply to it. You can select the following:

Include original article text...

If this option is enabled, the News Reader will include the original message's text in your reply message. The option is enabled by default.

Include original article header...

If this option is enabled, the News Reader will include the original message's headers as quoted text. By default, it is disabled.

Quote original article information

If this option is enabled, the News Reader will prefix information from the original article when it's included in your reply. It's enabled by default.

Maximum number of quoted lines

If you want to limit the number of lines from the original article that are quoted in your reply, enable this option. You can then click in the associated edit field to specify the number of lines you want. The option is enabled by default, with a limit of 300 lines.

Quote prefix character(s)

Click in this field to specify the character(s) the News Reader will use to prefix quoted text. The default Quote prefix character is ">."


News Server Options

  Related Topics

The News Server settings group lets you specify your news server's address and determine whether the News Reader will automatically attach to your news server when it loads. You can also specify your logon name and password if they are required by the news server. From within Setup, select the Internet, News, News Server buttons to display the panel:

News server address

Click in this field to edit the address of your news server.

This news server requires News Server Authentication

Enable this checkbox if your news server requires you to logon for access.

News Server Authentication

If you've enabled the This news server requires News Server Authentication checkbox, click in the Logon name and Password fields to enter your logon values.


News User Info Options

  Related Topics

The User Info options allow you to specify your name and mail addresses. From within Setup, select the Internet, News, User Info buttons to display the panel:

Full name

The name you entered when you installed Procomm Plus will appear in this field. Click in the field if you want to edit it.

Organization

The company name you entered when you installed Procomm Plus will appear in this field. Click in the field if you want to change it.

Email Address

Click in this field to enter or edit your mail address.

Signature file

If you've created a signature file that you want to include in every article you post with the News Reader, enter its name and path in this field or click on the Browse... button to select it.


Option Set Controls

  Related Topics

As an example, let's look at the option set in the Data, Data Options Setup panel. The Data, Data Options group is referenced as the Data Options option set. Note the Current Data Options option set field at the top of the Setup dialog. This set contains all of the settings from the group’s panels: General, Advanced, Left Mouse, Right Mouse and Paths.

The Current Data Options list box, located just above the Data, Data Options group selection tabs, always displays the name of the active option set. The Data Options set named normal options is selected by default. Once you’ve created your own Data Options set, you can make it the active set by selecting it from the Current Data Options list box.

If you change any of the settings within the Data, Data Options panels and close Setup by clicking on its OK button, your changes will be saved and applied to the active option set. Other option sets will be unaffected.

To save the current settings as a new option set, click on the Modify... button. For more information, please see Step-by-Step: Creating and Using an Option Set for a step-by-step example of creating an option set.


Option Sets

  Related Topics

An option set is a group of related settings that are saved and referenced as a single "profile." You can change any of the values in an option set and save them into the default set, or use them to create a custom set to suit your needs.

Once you’ve created an option set, you can select it for use from within Setup, from within the Connection Directory, from an ASPECT script, or from a Quick Select Line. Once an option set is selected, the option set’s values automatically become the current settings.

Option sets are powerful and convenient. For example, suppose that you download a variety of graphics files and that you prefer to save them in different directories depending on the system from which you retrieved them. You can easily change the default download path manually while on-line by modifying the Download path setting in the Data, Data Options, Paths panel in Setup. However, by creating special Data, Data Options option sets, and linking the sets to the appropriate Connection Directory entries, you can let Procomm Plus select the download path you want automatically each time you connect with the entries! See Step-by-Step: Creating and Using an Option Set for an example.

Option Set Controls

Step-by-Step: Creating and Using an Option Set

Modifying an Option Set


Other Mail Options

  Related Topics

The Other settings allow you to control many of the Internet Mail Client's basic features, including the font used to display messages and how the client notifies you of new mail. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, Other buttons to display the panel:

Empty Deleted folder upon exit

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will automatically clear its Deleted Items folder when you close the client. The option is turned off by default.

New Mail Notification

If you want the Internet Mail Client to notify you of new mail by playing a .wav sound file, click on the associated Browse... button to select the file.

By default, the client displays a status line message when you have new mail available. To disable this feature, uncheck the Flash message... check box.

Default Attachment Encoding

By default, the Internet Mail Client UUencodes files you attach to mail messages. You can specify UUEncoding, XXEncoding or Base 64 by clicking on the Encoding method list box. If you enable the Use MIME check box, the Mail Client will use additional features available with MIME extensions.

Screen Font...

Click on this button to open a dialog where you can choose the font and font size used by the Internet Mail Client to display messages.


Other News Options

  Related Topics

The Other news settings allow you to control many of the News Reader's basic features, including how articles are sorted and displayed. From within Setup, select the Internet, News, Other buttons to display the panel.

Sort articles by

This setting determines how the News Reader will sort articles for display. By default, Subject with replies... is selected, which can make it easier for you to read related articles. However, you can sort articles by Subject, From, Date, Size or Article Number by selecting the appropriate option button.

Article Display Order

The News Reader can sort articles in either Ascending or Descending order. Ascending is the default settings.

If the Threaded View check box is enabled, the News Reader arranges replies under the original article. Threading is on by default.

Binary File Encoding

By default, the News Reader UUEncodes files you attach to articles you post. You can specify UUEncoding, XXEncoding or Base 64 by clicking on the Encoding method list box. If you enable the Use MIME check box, the News Reader will use additional features available with MIME extensions.

Screen Font

Displays a standard Windows font selection dialog, allowing you to select the font type and size used to display headers and article text within the News Reader.


Outgoing Mail Options

  Related Topics

Options in the Outgoing settings group allow you to determine the actions taken by the Internet Mail Client when you send mail. From within Setup, select the Internet, Internet Mail, Outgoing buttons to display the panel:

Send outgoing mail immediately

If you're connected to the Internet, the Internet Mail Client will attempt to send a mail message immediately by default. If you're not connected to the Internet, Procomm Plus will attempt to start your Internet connection. If you disable this option, the client won't send mail until you tell it to, regardless of your connection state.

Add new outgoing mail addresses...

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will automatically create Connection Directory entries for addresses you enter manually in the New Message dialog. The option is enabled by default.

Add new incoming mail addresses...

If this option is enabled, the Internet Mail Client will automatically create Connection Directory entries for addresses taken from incoming mail. The option is enabled by default.

Request a return receipt...

By default, the Internet Mail Client does not request receipts for messages you send. You can request receipts to confirm that your messages have been read by enabling this option.


Paths Options

  Related Topics

The Data, Data Options, Paths fields allow you to specify a variety of paths accessed by the Terminal window. If you specify a DOS directory that doesn’t exist, Setup will prompt you before creating the directory automatically. From within Setup, select the Data, Data Options, Paths buttons to display the Paths panel:

Download Path

This field specifies the drive and path where the Terminal window will store files you receive from a host system.

Because the CIS-B protocol can include a DOS drive and path as part of the file transfer, files you download from CompuServe may be placed in locations other than specified by the Download path.

Upload Path

This field specifies the drive and path whose contents will be displayed in the Send File dialog when you initiate a file upload. Regardless of the drive and path you specify in this field, you can always upload from another location simply by browsing within the Send File dialog.

Script Path

This field specifies the DOS directory where Procomm Plus will look for ASPECT scripts.

Capture Path

This field specifies the DOS directory where the Terminal window will store the Capture files you create on-line.

Notes path

This field specifies where Procomm Plus will look for your Notes files.


RIPscrip Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to RIPscrip version 1.54, or to a named option set you’ve derived from it, click on the Advanced... button to display its settings dialog:

RIP Icons path

By default, the RIPscrip emulation looks in the ripicons directory under the Procomm Plus home directory for RIP graphics and icons. Click in this edit field to specify a different drive and path.

If you choose to modify this path, you may also need to move the RIP graphics to the new path!

Initial Text Windows Font

You can specify the font used by the RIPscrip emulation when it’s first loaded or re-initialized by clicking on the appropriate option button in this group. By default, the Normal Font, 80x43 is used.

Screen to Printer printing options

You can specify how the RIPscrip emulation will print the Terminal display by selecting the appropriate setting for this option. Select Print as bitmap to have the screen printed as a bitmap, or Print as text to have the screen contents printed as text. By default, the screen is printed as a bitmap.

Screen to File/Clipboard options

You can specify how the -RIPscrip emulation will save the contents of the Terminal display or copy the contents to the Windows Clipboard by selecting one of these options. If you want the display handled as a Windows bitmap or .bmp file, select Save/copy as bitmap. If you want the contents of the display handled as a text file, select Save/copy as text. By default, the display is saved as a bitmap.

Enable Data Security

RIPscrip hosts can initiate file uploads from the RIPscrip terminal without requesting your permission. If this check box is enabled, the RIPscrip terminal will prompt you for verification before transferring files at the request of the host. Data Security is enabled by default.

Enable button Hotkeys

If this option is enabled, the RIPscrip emulation will process the accelerators for any RIP button controls in the Terminal window. Note that this setting only determines the emulation's initial support for button Hotkeys; the RIP host can enable or disable the feature for its own purposes. By default, this option is enabled.

Tab key controls button focus

If this option is enabled, you can use the <Tab> key to move the input focus among any RIP button controls the host has displayed in the Terminal window. Otherwise, the <Tab> characters are sent to the RIP host as data. This feature can also be enabled or disabled by the RIP host for its own purposes. By default, the option is enabled.

Text Variable Database

RIPscrip hosts can create text variables on the RIPscrip terminal and assign values to them. Once a variable is defined, the host can query for its value at any time.

For example, a RIPscrip host might create "MYPASSWORD" and "MYUSERNAME" text variables using information from your first logon. It could then query the terminal on subsequent calls for the values of those variables to complete the logon process.

RIPscrip text variables are used internally by the emulation, and usually don’t require any modifications. However, you can edit the list of text variables defined on your system by clicking on the Text Variable Database... button.

The text variables already defined on your system, if any, are displayed in the Name/Contents list box. You can edit the list using these buttons:

Add

Click on this button to define a new text variable. You’re prompted for the variable name and value. Only the characters ‘A’ through ‘Z’, ' 0' through ' 9', or underscores ' _ ' are valid for text variable names. The editor will automatically uppercase text variable names you enter.

Text variables can contain any valid ASCII character.

Modify

Click on this button to edit a text variable you’ve selected in the list box. You’re prompted with the current value of the text variable. To modify the value, make any changes that you want and click on OK.

Delete

Click on this button to remove a text variable you’ve selected in the list box.

When you’re satisfied with the list of RIPscrip text variables, click on OK to save your changes and return to the RIPscrip Advanced Setup dialog. To return without saving any changes, click on Cancel.

From the RIPscrip Advanced Setup dialog, click on OK to accept any changes you may have made and return to the Data, Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes, click on Cancel.


Raw ASCII Options

  Related Topics

You can specify a variety of Raw ASCII protocol options for both uploaded and downloaded files. These settings apply only to Raw ASCII file transfers.

For a brief discussion of the protocol, see  File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select RAW ASCII in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the Raw ASCII protocol settings.

Upload Options

The following settings affect Raw ASCII file uploads:

Display text

If this option is enabled, text transmitted in a Raw ASCII upload will be echoed to the Terminal display. This option is disabled by default.

If you’ve enabled this setting, and the host is also echoing data, the data may appear doubled on your display, "lliikkee tthhiiss," because both systems are echoing the data. To correct the display, disable this option.

Use [ ] for Line pace character

If you enable this check box, Procomm Plus will wait to receive the character you specify in the associated edit box before sending the next line of a Raw ASCII upload.

For example, you can force Procomm Plus to wait for a colon character ":" before it sends a new line by entering the decimal value 58 in the edit field. For a table of ASCII character values, see ASCII Table.

Millisecond delay between characters

This setting specifies the number of milliseconds Procomm Plus will wait between characters sent within a Raw ASCII upload. The default character pacing is 0 milliseconds, or no pause.

If your host system seems to lose characters sent during a Raw ASCII upload, try a setting of 5 or 10 milliseconds. This should satisfy all but the slowest host systems.

Millisecond delay between lines

This field specifies the delay in milliseconds Procomm Plus will wait between lines sent within a Raw ASCII upload. The default line delay is 0 milliseconds, or no pause.

If the host system appears to handle a complete line at a time but loses some or all of a subsequent line, try a setting of 10 or 20 millisecond. If the host is especially slow, you may need an even longer delay.

Download Options

The following settings affect Raw ASCII file downloads:

Display text

If you enable this setting, data received during a Raw ASCII download will also be displayed in the Terminal window. It is disabled by default.

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase Raw ASCII downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete Raw ASCII downloads are not deleted.

Overwrite existing file

If this setting is enabled, a downloaded file will replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename. Otherwise, an incoming file name will be modified to protect a preexisting file.

For example, if you downloaded a file named readme.txt, but a readme.txt file already existed in the download directory, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx1. If readme.tx1 already existed, the incoming file would be saved as readme.tx2, and so on. By default, preexisting files are protected.

Seconds until download time-out

This setting specifies the number of seconds Procomm Plus will wait for received characters during a Raw ASCII download. If Procomm Plus doesn’t receive any characters for the number of seconds specified, the Raw ASCII download will terminate and the file will be saved to disk.

This setting is helpful if you’re performing unattended Raw ASCII downloads. Since most host systems pause at a command prompt after transferring a file, Procomm Plus will end the download automatically.

The default time-out is 10 seconds with a maximum time-out of 9999 seconds.


Right Mouse Options

  Related Topics

The Right Mouse options allow you to specify the Terminal window’s response to the right mouse button, and to select the options available on the right mouse pop-up menu. From within Setup, select the Data, Data Options, Right Mouse buttons to display the Right Mouse panel:

Right mouse button action

By default, the Terminal window responds to a right mouse button click within the Terminal display by opening a pop-up menu. You can specify a different response by clicking on this list box and selecting it. If you select No action, a click on the right mouse button will be ignored within the Terminal display.

If you select Dbl Click positions cursor, the Terminal window will transmit the appropriate emulation cursor sequences to place the terminal cursor at the location you clicked. Normally, you must be connected to a host system for this function to be useful.

List Boxes 1 - 10

These ten fields determine the options that will be available on the right mouse pop-up menu. You can specify up to 10 items by clicking on the appropriate list box, then clicking on the option you want. The options available in the list boxes are commands available from the Terminal window menus.

If you want to remove an option from the pop-up menu without replacing it with a different command, click on the appropriate list box, then scroll to the top of the list to select [None].


Scrollbar Settings

  Related Topics

The Scrollbar settings allow you to select the color of the Terminal Scrollback Buffer scroll bar. From within Setup, select the Data, Window Colors, Scrollbar buttons to display the workspace settings panel:

Colors

To select a new color for the scrollbar, simply click on the one you want. The Example window updates to reflect your choice. Note that this color is used only when the Terminal is in Scrollback mode. Otherwise, the Terminal’s scrollbar uses the standard Windows scrollbar color defined in Windows Control Panel.


Setup Basics

You can open the Setup utility from within each of Procomm Plus's communication modes by clicking on the Setup Action Bar button, or by selecting an Options menu item linked to Setup. When you click on the Setup Action Bar button, Setup opens to the last settings panel you accessed. If you select an Options menu item, Setup opens to the specific panel you selected.

The Setup Interface

Option Sets


Setup Files

  Related Topics

The Setup Files group allows you to select, edit or create files for Meta Key files and Translate table files. You can also select or create Capture files, and specify how Capture files are handled by a Connection Directory entry.

From within Setup, select the Data, Setup Files buttons to display the settings panel:

Meta Keys

Click on this drop-down list box to view a list of the available Meta Key files. To select a file, click on its name in the list. Meta Key files must have an extension of .key and be located in the Procomm Plus home directory to be recognized and loaded.

If you don’t want to use any Meta Key file, click on the list box and select [None]. If you want to create a new Meta Key file, click on the list box and select [Create] to specify a name for the new file.

To edit the currently selected .key file, click on the list box’s associated Edit... button.

For a complete discussion of the Meta Key Editor, see The Meta Key Editor.

Translate Table

Click on this drop-down list box to view a list of the available Translate Table files. To select a file, click on its name in the list. Translate Table files must have an extension of .xlt and be located in the Procomm Plus home directory to be recognized and loaded.

If you don’t want to use any Translate Table file, click on the list box and select [None]. If you want to create a new Translate Table file, click on the list box and select [Create] to specify a name for the new file.

To edit the currently selected .xlt file, click on the list box’s associated Edit... button.

For a complete discussion of the Translate Table Editor, see The Translate Table Editor.

Capture

Click on this drop-down list box to view a list of the available Capture files. To select a file, click on its name in the list. Capture files must have an extension of .cap and be located in the Capture file directory to be recognized and loaded.

If you don’t want to use any Capture file, click on the list box and select [None]. If you want to create a new Capture file, click on the list box and select [Create] to specify a name for the new file.

To specify how Capture files will be handled by a Connection Directory entry, and how the Capture files will be written, click on the list box’s associated Setup... button to open the Capture File Options dialog. See Capture File Options Dialog for more information.


Speaker Settings

  Related Topics

Procomm Plus provides a volume control that determines the volume of your modem's speaker while dialing. From within Setup, you can display this control by selecting System, Modem Connection, Modem/Connection Properties, General.


Step-by-Step: Configuring a Calling Card

Calling card support is provided by Windows 95/NT's call management. The following example details how to configure Windows 95/NT to use your calling card with your modem.

1.	Start the Add Modem wizard.

From within a Procomm Plus communication window, select the Help | Wizard menu item to display the available wizards. Double-click Add a Modem in the wizards list to start it. You can also use the <Tab> and cursor keys to select the wizard, and then press <Enter> to start it. The Configure Modems dialog appears.

The Configure Modems dialog lists the modems that are currently identified by Windows 95/NT. Otherwise, the list is empty.

2.	Select your modem in the Configure Modems dialog, and click Dialing Properties.

If you do not see your modem in the list, install your new modem as described in Step-by-Step: Installing a New Modem; you've already started the installation and reached Step 2.

If your modem is shown in the list, select it, and then click Dialing Properties to open the Dialing Properties dialog.

3.	Enable the Dial Using Calling Card check box.

The Dialing Properties dialog displays the Windows 95/NT call management settings for your modem. Enable the Dial Using Calling Card check box, and Windows 95/NT automatically displays the Change Calling Card dialog.

The Change Calling Card dialog allows you to select a calling card configuration that was installed by Windows 95/NT, or to create your own.

4.	Select a calling card from the Calling Card to use list box, and then type your calling card account number in the Calling Card number field.

If you do not see your calling card in the list, click New... to begin adding your own card; the Create New Calling Card dialog appears and you can type the name of your new card. After you type the name and click OK, the card is automatically selected in the Calling Card to use list box.

5.	Modify the dialing rules for your phone card, if necessary.

Dialing rules define how Windows 95/NT dials the various numbers associated with your phone card for local, long distance, and international calls. If the dialing rules are not properly configured, your call will not be processed properly and you may not connect.

To view the dialing rules for the calling card you selected, click Advanced...:

If you selected a pre-installed calling card in Step 4, you cannot edit the dialing rules; the dialing rules are preconfigured to work with the selected calling card.

If you added your own calling card, configure the dialing rules for your card; a new calling card contains empty dialing rules fields. Enter the appropriate dialing rules into each of the fields in the Dialing Rules dialog. The following codes are valid:

Code	Description
, (comma)	Two-second pause. Use multiple commas to increase the time by two-second intervals.
E	Country Code.
F	Area Code.
G	Local number.
H	Calling card number.
W	Wait for a second dial tone.
@	Wait for a ringing tone followed by a five-second silence.
$	Wait for a calling card prompt tone. Note that some modems do not support this function.
?	Display an on-screen prompt to continue dialing.
For example, the F,,G dialing rule configures the card to dial the area code, pause for four seconds, and then dial the local number.

When you're satisfied with your dialing rules, click Close to return to the Change Calling Card dialog.

6.	Save your changes, and test your calling card settings.

Click OK to close the Change Calling Card dialog and return to the Dialing Properties dialog. Click OK to save your settings, or click Cancel to disregard your changes. When you dial an entry within the Procomm Plus Connection Directory with your modem, your calling card will be used automatically!


Step-by-Step: Creating and Using an Option Set

  Related Topics

In Option Sets, we described how you might use customized Data, Data Options option sets to change your default download path. In this example, we’ll create an option set, then link it to a Connection Directory entry. The next time you use the entry, your new download path will be selected for you automatically.

1.	Open Setup to the Data, Data Options, Paths panel.

If Setup is already open, you can display the panel by clicking on the Data, Data Options, Paths buttons. Otherwise, you can select the Options | Data Options | Paths... menu item in the Terminal or Telnet windows to display the panel.

You can choose to save the new option set either before or after you’ve made the changes you want. Generally, it’s a good idea to create the new set before you make changes to make certain that your existing option set is preserved.

2.	Click on the Modify... button to open the Modify Option Set dialog.

The Modify Option Set dialog allows you to perform several actions on the current option set. These options are discussed in Modifying an Option Set. For now, we’ll just use the dialog’s Save As... button to create a new option set.

3.	Click on Save As....

Setup prompts with a simple dialog, titled with a reminder of the option set you’re editing. Enter a name for the new option set in the New Name field, then click on OK to save it.

You can use upper and lower case letters, numbers and spaces in the option set name. If you enter the name of an existing option set, Setup will prompt you before overwriting it.

For our example, we’ll name the new option set Fine Arts.

4.	Make the changes in the new option set.

After you’ve entered the new option set name in the Save As... dialog and clicked OK, it’s automatically selected as the active set in Setup. All you have to do is make the changes you want!

For our example, we’ll modify the Download path in the Data, Data Options, Paths panel. We’ll specify a new directory under the existing download path. Click in the Download path edit field, and add "\finearts" to the end of the current Download path value.

Although we modified only a single field within the Fine Arts option set we created, we could have changed settings within any of the five panels of the Data, Data Options group!

Now that we’ve made the change we wanted, we can close Setup and use our new option set. Keep in mind, however, that the option set selected in the Current Data Options list box will be used as Procomm Plus’s active settings. If you don’t want the Fine Arts option set to be the active set right now, select a different set from the list box before you close Setup.

5.	Click on Setup’s OK button to save your changes and close the dialog.

Since we modified a drive and path field, Setup verifies that the values we specified in the Data, Data Options, Paths group are valid. In our example, we specified a nonexistent directory and Setup offers to create it for us. Click Yes to have Setup create the new directory and return to Procomm Plus’s main window. Once it’s validated our new settings, Setup immediately writes our changes to disk.

Now that we’ve created the Fine Arts Data Options set, we can use it within the Connection Directory.

6.	Open the Connection Directory, and select a Connection Directory entry to use your option set.

In Procomm Plus’s main window, click on the Action Bar’s Connection Directory button, or select the File | Connection Directory... menu item to open the directory. If Data-class entries aren’t already displayed, click on the Data tab to display them, and select one or more entries to use the options set.

7.	Assign the option set to the entry or entries you selected.

The Data Options set is referenced in the Basic Options group. Click on the Basic Options button to display the panel.

The Data Options list box shows the option set for your selection(s). If this filed is blank, you've selected multiple entries, and one or more of them is using a different option set. To assign the new option set to your selection(s), select the new option set in the Data Options list box, and then click OK to save the changes you’ve made and close the Connection Directory.

That's it! The next time you connect to your selection(s), your download path will be selected for you automatically.


Step-by-Step: Installing a New Modem

When you install Procomm Plus, it automatically searches and configures itself for your modem. If you add a new modem to your system, you'll need to configure Procomm Plus to use it.

Procomm Plus uses the modems defined in the Windows 95/NT Control Panel's Modems utility. When you install a new modem on your system, Windows 95/NT may not detect it, so follow these steps to configure Windows 95/NT and Procomm Plus for your new modem:

1.	Start the Configure Modem wizard.

From within a Procomm Plus communication window, select the Help | Wizard menu item to display the available wizards. Double-click the Configure Modem wizard from the wizards list to start the wizard. You can also use the <Tab> and cursor keys to select the wizard, and then press <Enter> to start it. The Configure Modems and Call Dialing dialog appears.

The Configure Modems and Call Dialing dialog displays the modems that are currently identified by Windows 95/NT. Currently installed modems appear in the list. Otherwise, the list is empty.

2.	Click Add in the Configure Modems and Call Dialing dialog.

Click Add to begin adding your new modem with the Install New Modem dialog.

3.	Select your installation method: detect your modem, or select it from a list.

The Install New Modem dialog allows you to select your installation method. If you have an external modem, be sure that it's connected and turned on before you proceed to the next step. If you want to manually select your modem from a list, enable the Don't detect my modem... check box. After you click Next in Step 4, a dialog appears with manufacturer and model names that you can select. If you're not sure of the COM port that your external modem is attached to, or the COM port that your internal modem is configured as, we suggest that you allow do not enable this check box.

4.	Click on Next.

Click on Next to install your modem automatically! If you enabled the Don't detect my modem... check box in Step 3, a dialog appears with manufacturer and model names that you can select. Otherwise, Windows 95/NT searches for your modem and displays a message dialog indicating its activities.

When the wizard is finished searching for your modem, it presents its results in the Verify Modem dialog.

5.	Verify your modem.

The Verify Modem dialog displays the modem detected by the wizard. If the wizard improperly identified your modem, or if the wizard did not detect your modem, click the Change... button to identify your modem. If the wizard properly identified your modem, click Next to finish the installation.

6.	Finish the wizard.

The wizard informs you that your modem has been set up successfully. Click Finish to complete the wizard. The Install New Modem dialog closes and the Configure Modems and Call Dialing dialog is displayed. Note that your new modem's name appears in the list of modems, and it is selected.

To adjust the properties of your new modem, click Properties; the modem's associated fields in the Windows 95/NT Control Panel's Modems utility are displayed.

At this point, your new modem is installed and configured. If you have additional modems to install, click on Add and repeat the process. Otherwise, click on Finish to close the Configure Modems and Call Dialing dialog.


System Options

  Related Topics

This group includes control settings for a variety of functions, such as connection logging and remote ASPECT script commands. From within Setup, select the System, System Options buttons to display the System Options group:

Use Caller ID

If this option is enabled, Procomm Plus will use your modem’s Caller ID feature. Note that your modem must support this feature, and you must have Caller ID service on your modem’s telephone line to use Caller ID.

Caller ID can be used to control access to your system. See The Caller ID Directory Editor.

Caller ID only works if you have caller ID service from your telephone company, a modem capable of caller ID, and a TAPI service provider, such as Unimodem/V, that supports both caller ID and your modem.

Sound alarm for [ ] seconds

This option specifies the length of time the default alarm will sound when a file transfer has completed.

If you’ve set a .wav sound file to be played when a file transfer completes in the Data, Data Options, General panel, it will be played in its entirety. The Sound alarm for [ ] seconds setting only determines the length of time the default beep will sound if you have not specified a .wav file.

Notes file

A Notes file is an ASCII text file named with an extension of .txt, which you can use to store a variety of information. Notes files are stored in the Notes directory, which can be specified in the Data, Data Options, Paths panel. Since Procomm Plus identifies these files by their .txt extension, any ASCII text file you place in the Notes directory can be selected as a Notes file.

To select a Notes file, click on the Notes file drop down arrow. Setup displays a list of available files, along with the [Create] and [None] selections. Click on the filename you want, or highlight it with the cursor keys and press the spacebar to select it.

If you don’t want to specify a default Notes file, select [None].

To modify the currently selected Notes file, click on Edit... to load it into your text editor. To open a new file, select [Create] in the Notes file list box, and specify a name for the new Notes file. When you press <Enter>, the new filename will appear in the list, where you can select it for use.

Typically, a Notes file is attached to a Connection Directory entry. For your convenience, the Notes file controls are duplicated in the Connection Directory.

Connection logging

If this option is enabled, Procomm Plus will maintain a record of all successful data and fax connections with other systems. The connection log includes various entry fields, as well as the date, time and duration of the connection.

Write Status Line messages to Connection Log

If you enable this option, Procomm Plus will include data and fax Status Line messages in its Connection Log.

Remote script commands

If this option is enabled, the Procomm Plus Terminal window will accept ASPECT script commands sent by a connected computer. If you choose to allow remote script commands, you can specify a remote command password in the Password edit field to prevent unwanted access. Remote script commands are discussed in more detail in Remote ASPECT Command Format.

Add incoming calls to Caller Information Directory

If you’re using Caller ID, enable this option if you want Procomm Plus to add new caller information to your current Caller Information Directory. You can also select the active Caller Information Directory file by clicking on the list box associated with the Add incoming calls... setting. By default, the Add incoming calls... option is enabled.

Editor name & path

This field specifies the name and path of the text editor you want to use to view and edit text files and to create and edit ASPECT scripts. Procomm Plus includes a stand-alone text editor and uses it as the default, but you can specify your favorite word processor or ASCII text editor by supplying a file name and path in this field.

Transmit pacing

This setting specifies the number of milliseconds that Procomm Plus will pause between transmitted characters. This setting applies to Meta Key send text values and terminal sequences like cursor controls or function keys. The default pacing is 0 milliseconds, or no delay. This setting has no effect on file transfer protocols.

Some remote systems and some modems may require you to specify a delay if they can’t process incoming characters as fast as your computer can send them.

Pause character

This field specifies the character that Procomm Plus will use to indicate a half-second pause when processing a transmitted character string. The default character is a tilde "~" decimal 126 ASCII. The pause character is recognized in all transmitted modem strings, Meta Key send text strings and any strings sent with the ASPECT transmit command.

Do not change the Pause character setting unless you have a specific reason to do so.

Play .WAV files for these System Events

These fields allow you to specify .wav sound files to be played when the described events occur. Click on the associated Browse... buttons to select a .wav file in a standard file selection dialog.

Calling queue complete

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when the Calling Queue has finished processing a list of call entries.

Miscellaneous errors.

This field specifies the .wav sound file to be played when miscellaneous errors occur.


System Tab

Click on this tab to access settings and option groups that affect all of Procomm Plus’s communication modes. For example, Connection Directory-related options appear in the System settings group because each communication module uses the directory.


TVI 910, 912, 920, 925 and Esprit 3 Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to TVI 910, TVI 912, TVI 920, TVI 925 or Esprit 3, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

Protected Attribute

These settings determine the attribute used by the emulation to display "protected" text. Protected text can be assigned one or more of three attributes: Dim, Reverse and Underline.

The Dim, Reverse and Underline attributes are defined in the Data, Terminal Colors settings group. See Terminal Colors.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data, Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


Telnet Settings

  Related Topics

The Internet, Telnet settings group allows you to determine how or if Procomm Plus will negotiate with a host when establishing a telnet session. You can save and reference the settings in the group as an option set, which allows you to create multiple "profiles" and select them quickly from within a Connection Directory entry or from an ASPECT script.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

From within Setup, select the Internet, Telnet buttons to display the panel:

Disable all telnet negotiations

If this check box is enabled, Procomm Plus will refuse to negotiate with the host when establishing the settings for a telnet session. By default, the option is disabled.

This setting is useful if you connect to a telnet that doesn't support negotiated session settings. However, you should only enable it on the advice of the telnet host's administrator.

Negotiate terminal size

If this check box is enabled, Procomm Plus will negotiate with the host when establishing a telnet session to determine the terminal size. It is enabled by default.

Negotiate terminal type

If this check box is enabled, Procomm Plus will negotiate with the host when establishing a telnet session to determine the terminal type. It is enabled by default.

Set session to binary mode

If this check box is enabled, Procomm Plus will specify a binary mode when negotiating with a telnet host. It is enabled by default.

Allow automatic telnet logon

Telnet hosts can query for logon information within the connection negotiations process. When queried, Procomm Plus will respond by sending the Logon Info data from the Connection Directory entry that you used to connect to the telnet host if this check box is enabled. This option is enabled by default.

For help in configuring an entry's Logon Info settings, see "Logon Info..." in Telnet-class: Entry Info.

Force speed to...

If you need to use a particular baud rate for a telnet session, you can click on this list box to select it. By default, it's set to Disabled, which allows Procomm Plus to negotiate with the host to establish a connection speed.

Set Xwindow value to...

Specifies the display value Procomm Plus should use in negotiating a telnet session with an X-Windows host. This field is empty by default. The host administrator can advise you on the value you should enter in this field, if any is necessary.


Terminal Colors

  Related Topics

The Data Terminal Colors group allows you to specify the colors used to display data in the Terminal display. The group can be saved as an option set, then linked to a Connection Directory entry, activated from an ASPECT script or selected for re-use from within Setup.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Terminal Colors buttons to display the settings panel:

Attribute Display

This group allows you to view and select the currently-configured attributes for data in the Terminal display.

To modify a setting, click on the color box you want to change; a heavy black outline indicates that a color box is selected. You can also select multiple color boxes, either by holding down the <Ctrl> key as you click on them, or by clicking and dragging over them.

After you’ve selected one or more color boxes, you can easily modify its foreground and background colors, or enable or disable such features as blinking, bold or underline display.

Foreground Coler / Background Color

These controls reflect the current foreground and background colors of the selected color box. To change a color, simply click on it in the control!

Bold font

Enables or disables the use of a bold font in the selected attribute color box.

Underline font

Enables or disables the use of an underline font in the selected attribute color box.

Blinks

Enables or disables the use of a blinking font in the selected attribute color box.

The Bold font, Underline font and Blinks settings do not affect the Normal terminal display attribute in emulations that by definition have no display attributes, or in emulations whose attributes can be configured by the host. The first group includes TTY and VIDTEX; the second includes IBM PC and ANSI-BBS.

The Bold font, Underline font and Blinks check boxes can appear checked, unchecked or darkened depending on the current attributes of the color boxes you’ve selected. For example, if you highlight two different display attributes, one bold and one underlined, both the bold and underline check boxes will appear darkened. In this case, the darkening means that both the bold and the underline attributes are enabled in at least one of the selected color boxes.

Blink rate

If you’ve selected a blinking font, you can increase or decrease the blink rate by sliding this control to the right or left, respectively.


Terminal Fonts

  Related Topics

Settings in the Data, Terminal Fonts group allow you to specify the font used to display data in the Terminal display, to enlarge or shrink the Terminal window, and to determine how the Terminal window should respond when you enlarge or shrink it.

The Data, Terminal Fonts group can be saved and referenced as a named option set. This allows you to create different "profiles" that you can link to Connection Directory entries, call from an ASPECT script or quickly select for use within Setup.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Terminal Fonts buttons to display the settings panel:

Terminal autosize

The Procomm Plus Terminal window can automatically change the size of the system font or the Terminal window itself to accommodate your preferences! This allows you to resize the Terminal window or select a different font while retaining the same number of rows and columns in the Terminal display. Click on the Terminal autosize list box to select the behavior you want:

Window based on font

Select this setting if you want the Terminal window size automatically changed to match the font size you specify. This gives you more control over the font used to display your data.

Font based on window

Select this setting if you want the font size automatically changed to match the current Terminal display dimensions. This is the default behavior, which allows you to resize the Terminal window without worrying about the current font or its size.

If you select Font based on window, the Size list box is grayed, as the font size is then based on the size of the Terminal window itself.

No autosize

Select this setting if you want to be able to resize the Terminal smaller than the logical Terminal display. Note that you may not be able to view all of the data in the Terminal display without scrolling if you use this setting.

Font

To select the Terminal font, click on the font name or enter the name in the text entry box. Click on a point value in the Size list to specify a font size. An example of the font and size you’ve selected appears in the Sample text box.

If you select a larger font and the Terminal autosize option is set to Window based on font, the resulting Terminal display will take a proportionally larger amount of the Terminal workspace.

Only monospaced fonts, such as the default PCPlus 437 are used for the Terminal font. Most TrueType fonts do not contain the correct graphics characters needed for proper terminal emulation. This will result in incorrect screen displays in many cases. If you switch fonts and encounter problems, try switching back to the PCPlus 437 font.


Terminal Options

  Related Topics

The Data, Terminal Options group includes settings for all of the terminal emulations available in the Terminal window. This section documents the settings for the thirty-six standard emulations provided with Procomm Plus.

Most of the emulations supported by Procomm Plus have identical Setup options which determine how the Terminal display is updated and scrolled, and the number of scrollback pages the Terminal provides. Rather than list and discuss the common settings panels for each of the emulations, we’ll discuss them using the ANSI BBS panel, then document any special settings or considerations for the remaining emulations.

See Common Terminal Options for the discussion of the terminal options common to all of the terminal emulations. See the following topics for advanced,emulation-specific options:

ANSI-BBS and IBM PC Advanced Settings

IBM 3101 and IBM 3161 Advanced Settings

IBM 3270, TVI 950, TVI955 and Wyse 100 Advanced Settings

RIPscrip Advanced Settings

TVI 910, 912, 925 and Esprit 3 Advanced Settings

VT-220, VT-320 and TVI 922 Advanced Settings

Wyse 50, Wyse 60 and ADM 31 Advanced Settings

Each terminal emulation can be saved and referenced as an option set. This allows you to create different terminal settings and access them quickly from the Terminal window’s Quick Select Line or an ASPECT script. You can also link them to Connection Directory entries.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

If you’ve installed Dynamic Link Terminal, or .dlt modules in Procomm Plus’s executable directory, the emulations they support will appear as selections in the Current Terminal list box.


The Data Settings

  Related Topics

Settings in the Data group affect all sessions that use the Procomm Plus Terminal window. It contains seven minor settings groups:


The Fax Settings

  Related Topics

Settings in the Fax group affect all of Procomm Plus’s fax operations. It contains three minor settings groups:


The Internet Settings

  Related Topics

Settings in the Internet group affect all Internet operations within Procomm Plus. It contains six minor settings groups:


The Setup Interface

Procomm Plus is a powerful, integrated product with many options, and at first glance Setup may seem complex. However, Setup’s controls are simple, predictable, and arranged for quick access. For example, consider the Data, Data Options, Paths settings shown below:

The figure above shows the Data, Data Options, Paths settings panel, which you can view by selecting the Options | Data Options | Paths menu item in Procomm Plus’s main communication window.

Group Tabs

At the top of the Setup dialog are four tabs, shaped like file folder tabs. These are the major Setup group tabs. They include:

System

Data

Fax

Internet

As you click on each group tab, the Setup dialog refreshes to display that group’s minor group buttons and settings.

Minor Group Buttons

On the left side of the Setup dialog, beneath the major group tabs, are the minor group buttons. These buttons vary in number according to the currently selected major group tab. As you select each minor group button, the settings panel refreshes to display the minor group’s settings and fields.

The Settings Panel

The settings panel displays the settings which correspond to the currently selected major group tab and minor group button. Some minor groups contain multiple settings panels. These are indicated by panel selection tabs shaped like file folder tabs within the settings panel. For example, the Data, Data Options minor group shown above has five panels: General, Advanced, Left Mouse, Right Mouse and Paths. The Paths tab is graphically "raised" to indicate that it’s currently selected.

Throughout the help system, we'll generalize our references to Setup's tabs and buttons. The directions to reach a settings panel describe the path for reaching the panel, including the major and minor group buttons. These directions are usually written as if you've already opened Setup.

We'll also discuss another powerful feature of Setup: the named option set. See Option Sets for more information.

The Command Buttons

Setup’s command buttons appear in the lower left corner of the dialog. They include:

OK

Click on OK to close the Setup dialog and save any changes you have made.

Cancel

Click on this button to close Setup and discard any changes you have made.

Help

Click on this button to open Setup’s help topics.


The Setup Utility

Procomm Plus’s default settings are carefully chosen to be intuitive and useful. You may never need to change any of the program’s settings. If you do, however, you’ll find that you can completely alter the "look and feel" of each type of communication session with the Setup utility.

The following topics describe the Setup utility and its options:

Setup Basics


The System Settings

  Related Topics

Settings in the System group affect all of Procomm Plus’s communications modes. It contains three minor settings groups:


Transfer Options

  Related Topics

Settings in the FTP, Transfer Options panel allow you to specify the default transfer mode used by the FTP window and how incoming files will be handled. From within Setup, click on the Internet, FTP Options, Transfer Options buttons to display the panel:

File transfer mode

FTP supports three different file transfer modes. Typically, you'll want to use the default transfer mode of Binary, which is suitable for all types of files. However, if you're transferring text files, you can also select ASCII. The third setting, L8, is also referred to as Tenex. L8 is only useful if you're transferring non-text files with a VMS system.

View GIF file while receiving

If you want the FTP window to display .gif graphic files as they're being transferred to your machine from a host system, enable this check box.

Allow file transfer crash recovery

By default, the FTP window will automatically attempt to recover failed file transfers. This means that if you restart a failed transfer, the FTP window will resume the transfer at the point that it "crashed," which can save transfer time. To prevent file transfer recoveries, disable this option.

Note that this option only affects file downloads. The FTP window will not recover file transfers which fail when you send files to a host.

Sound alarm at end of transfer

Enable this check box if you'd like the FTP window to signal file transfer events with an audible alarm.


Transfer Protocol Options

  Related Topics

The Data, Transfer Protocol options group includes settings for all of the file transfer protocols available in the Terminal window. The following topics describes the settings for the eleven standard protocols supported by Procomm Plus:

Zmodem

Kermit

Xmodem

1K-Xmodem

1K-Xmodem-g

Ymodem

Ymodem-g

CIS-B+

ASCII

Raw ASCII

Ind$file

Each transfer protocol can be saved and referenced as an option set. This allows you to create different protocol settings and access them quickly from the Terminal window’s Quick Select Line or an ASPECT script. You can also link them to Connection Directory entries.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.

To view or modify the settings for the available protocols, click on the Current Transfer Protocol list box, and select the protocol you want. The settings panel updates to reflect the options available for the protocol.

For a brief description of each of the protocols, see File Transfer Protocols.

If you’ve installed Dynamic Link Protocol, or .dlp modules in the Procomm Plus home executable directory, the protocols they support will also appear as selections in the Current Transfer Protocol list box. For more information on .dlp modules, see Dynamic Link Protocols.

You can save settings for individual protocols as named option sets. Once you’ve created an option set, you can select it for use in the Connection Directory and the Send and Receive File dialogs, as well as the Terminal window’s Quick Select Line. See Option Sets for more information.


User Info Options

  Related Topics

The User Info options allow you to specify your name, company and telephone numbers, and a default cover sheet for faxes you send. These values can then be referenced in cover sheet fields and fax headings. From within Setup, select the Fax, User Info, User Info buttons to display the panel:

Cover sheet file

This list box allows you to select the default cover sheet for faxes you send. Click on it to select an existing cover sheet from the list.

To create a new cover sheet, select the [Create] item from the Cover sheet file list box. This will open the Cover Sheet Editor with a new, untitled file. The editor is discussed in detail under The Cover Sheet Editor.

If you don’t want to specify a default cover sheet, select [None]. This setting does not affect the Send a Fax wizard.

Regardless of the setting of the Cover sheet file field, you can always select a different cover sheet for your fax within the Send Fax dialog.

Name

The name you entered in the New Parameter File dialog after installing Procomm Plus will appear in this field. Click in the edit field to modify its contents.

Company

If you entered a company name in the New Parameter File dialog after installing Procomm Plus, it will appear in this field. Click in the edit field to modify its contents.

Fax number

If you entered your fax number in the New Parameter File dialog after installing Procomm Plus, it will appear in this field. Click in the edit field to modify its contents.

Voice number

If you entered your voice number in the New Parameter File dialog after installing Procomm Plus, it will appear in this field. Click in the edit field to modify its contents.

Fax send station ID

Fax machines use a "Station ID" string to identify each other. The Fax send station ID is typically displayed by the receiving fax machine as a transmission is processing.

If you entered a Station ID in the New Parameter File dialog after installing Procomm Plus, it will appear in this field. Click in the edit field to modify its contents.


User Info Options Group

  Related Topics

Options in the Fax, User Info group allow you to specify the personal information used in cover sheets and fax headers. You can also specify a default cover sheet and select the information included in your fax document’s page headers. The Fax, User Info group contains two minor groups:

User Info

Fax Header

You can save and reference the settings in the User Info group as an option set. This allows you to create multiple "profiles" and select them quickly from within a Connection Directory entry, from an ASPECT script or from the Send Fax dialog.

For example, if you use Procomm Plus for both business and personal fax documents, you might create separate option sets reflecting the two different User Info settings, then attach those sets to Connection Directory entries as needed.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.


VT-220, VT-320 and TVI 922 Advanced Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to VT-220, VT-320 or TVI 922, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

8 bit mode

This setting determines the emulation’s support of the DEC "8 bit" control sequences. By default, 8 bit sequences are supported. Note that this setting can be changed by a command from the host system.

If the host is not responding properly when you press an emulation function key, you may need to toggle this setting. The switch will not be reflected in the Keyboard Editor until you close this dialog by clicking OK, then click OK in the main Setup dialog to save the change.

Keypad Application Mode

If this option is enabled, the keypad keys on the right end of the keyboard will send their application key sequences, rather than their numeric or character values. This mode can be enabled or disabled by a host system; typically, you do not need to change this setting.

Cursor Key Application Mode

If this option is enabled, the cursor keys will send their application key sequences, rather than their cursor positioning sequences. This mode can be enabled or disabled by a host system; typically, you do not need to change this setting.

Extended Character Set

By default, the VT-220, VT-320 and TVI-922 emulations use the DEC multinational character set. You can choose the ISO-Latin 1 set by clicking on the appropriate radio button.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data, Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


Window Colors

  Related Topics

The Data, Window Colors group allows you to specify the colors used to display many of the Terminal window features, including the workspace scrollbar and the Monitor window send and receive colors. It includes four minor groups:

Workspace

Scrollbar

Monitor Send

Monitor Receive

The Data, Window Colors group can be saved as an option set, then referenced from a Connection Directory entry, from an ASPECT script or from within Setup.

For help in creating and using option sets, see Option Sets.


Workspace Settings

  Related Topics

Settings in the Workspace panel allow you to control the color and pattern used to "frame" the Terminal display. You can even enable or disable an attractive graphical frame! From within Setup, select the Data, Window Colors, Workspace buttons to display the Workspace settings panel:

Colors

The color boxes in this group allow you to select the workspace color. Simply click on the color you want. Your selection is reflected in the Example window at the bottom of the panel.

Patterns

Click on the drop down list to select the workspace pattern you want to use. Your selection is reflected in the Example window at the bottom of the panel.

Display terminal frame

If you enable this setting, an attractive graphical frame will be drawn around the Terminal display.


Wyse 50, Wyse 60 and ADM 31 Advanced Settings

  Related Topics

With the Current Terminal set to Wyse 50, Wyse 60 or ADM 31, or to a named option set you’ve derived from one of these, click on the Advanced... button to display the advanced settings dialog:

Terminal Status Line

These settings control the emulation’s display status line. By default, the emulation’s status line is turned on. If you enable the Display check box, you can specify the attribute used to display the status line: Normal, Reverse or Underline.

Protected Attribute

These settings determine the attribute used by the emulation to display "protected" text. Protected text can be assigned one or more of three attributes: Dim, Reverse and Underline.

The Dim, Reverse, Underline and Normal attributes are defined in the Data, Terminal Colors settings group. See Terminal Colors for more information.

Block mode

This setting controls the emulation’s block mode support. By default, the Wyse 50, Wyse 60 and ADM 31 block mode support is disabled.

End of line/block sequence

Click on this list box to select the value the emulation will use as the end of line or block sequence in block mode. A list of standard values is provided; for the actual value used by your host system, check with your system operator or technical help desk.

Click on OK to accept the settings and return to the Data, Terminal Options panel. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


Xmodem Protocol Options
Xmodem, 1K-Xmodem, 1K-Xmodem-G, Ymodem, and Ymodem-G, Protocol Options

  Related Topics

The settings available for each of the Xmodem and Ymodem protocols and their derivatives are identical. Keep in mind that these same options are available for the following protocols:

•	Xmodem, 1K-Xmodem, and 1K-Xmodem-G

•	Ymodem and Ymodem-G

For a brief discussion of the Xmodem and Ymodem protocols, and their derivatives, see File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select one of the Xmodem or Ymodem protocols from the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display its panel.

Download Options

The following options allow you to control the behavior of a download:

Overwrite existing file

Enable this option if you want a file downloaded to your computer to replace a preexisting file if they both use the same filename. By default, the incoming file will be renamed and the existing file will remain untouched.

Delete aborted downloads

If this setting is enabled, Procomm Plus will erase downloads that were canceled or aborted. By default, incomplete downloads are not deleted.

Use relaxed protocol timing

By default, Procomm Plus uses a standard timing value when waiting for information from the sending system. This is appropriate for most systems. With some connections, however, this standard value may cause an unacceptable number of time-outs or errors. Enabling this setting will slow the transfer slightly, but should improve the overall efficiency in those cases.


Zmodem Protocol Options

  Related Topics

Settings for the Zmodem protocol allow you to specify how aborted files will be handled, as well as a variety of other options. For a discussion of the protocol, see File Transfer Protocols.

From within Setup, click on the Data, Transfer Protocol buttons to display the protocols panel, then select Zmodem in the Current Transfer Protocol list box to display the Zmodem setting panel.

Zmodem Crash Recovery

In addition to being fast and reliable, the Zmodem protocol supports a useful feature called Crash Recovery. If you’re downloading a file and the transfer aborts for any reason, Crash Recovery allows you to resume the transfer from where it aborted, rather than restarting it!

Both the sending and receiving sides of the Zmodem transfer have Crash Recovery settings, and the decision to resume or restart an aborted transfer is negotiated by the two sides. For more information, see Zmodem Receiver Recovery Settings or Zmodem Sender Crash Recovery Settings.

Other Options

Transmit method

This setting specifies the method used by Zmodem to send data during an upload. By default, data is "streamed," meaning that the sending computer continues to transmit data until either the end of the file is reached or the receiver requests the retransmission of data. This is the most efficient method.

If you’re transferring files over exceptionally noisy lines or across a packet-switched network, you can also specify a "windowed" method. Both 2K- and 4K-windows, 2048 and 4096 bytes respectively, are supported. If the phone line quality is very poor, use the smaller 2K window size.

This setting only affects files you upload to another machine.

Error detection

This setting specifies the type of error detection that will be used for a Zmodem file transfer. Both 16-bit and 32-bit CRC error detection are supported.

32-bit CRC is the default setting, as it is better for users requiring absolute data integrity. However, 32-bit CRC requires additional processing time to verify data integrity, but this should not be a problem for processors higher than an 80386-SX.

Use local EOL convention

If this setting is enabled, Zmodem will add a carriage return before each line feed within a received file. You may find this feature useful if you’re receiving text files created by another type of computer, such as an Apple or UNIX machine.

It is very important that you enable this setting only when you’re receiving ASCII text files! Zmodem will also add carriage returns to binary files, which will likely corrupt any binary file you receive.

Original file time stamp

This setting determines whether Zmodem will retain the time and date stamp on received files. By default, it is enabled, meaning that received files will bear the original system time and date sent by the host system.

If you disable the setting, the file will be stamped with your system’s current time and date as they are received. Disabling this setting essentially invalidates the settings in Crash Recovery If date/time match and Overwrite if incoming newer, since the incoming file’s date and time stamp will be altered by Zmodem.


Zmodem Receive Options
Zmodem Receiver Crash Recovery Options

  Related Topics

To change the Crash Recovery settings and other options for files you download to your machine, click on the Change Settings... button in the Receiver Crash Recovery Settings box.

Crash Recovery Options

Selections within this group allow you to specify how Crash Recovery will be handled when you’re downloading:

Always crash recover

If this setting is selected, and the incoming file already exists, Crash Recovery will be used. If the file doesn’t exist, it will be created. The Overwrite Options are grayed if you choose this setting to indicate that they have no effect in this mode.

Follow sender

If this setting is selected, the sender’s Crash Recovery settings are used, overriding your settings. The Overwrite Options are grayed if you choose this setting to indicate that they have no effect in this mode.

If date/time match

If this setting is selected, Crash Recovery is used if the file date and time stamps match. If the file date and time stamps do not match, the Overwrite Options are referenced to determine how to handle the new file. This is the default setting.

If CRCs match

If this setting is selected, Crash Recovery is used if the CRCs of the incoming and existing files match. If they do not match, the Overwrite Options are referenced to determine how to handle the new file.

Crash recovery off

If this setting is selected, Crash Recovery is disabled. The Overwrite Options are referenced to determine how to handle the new file.

Overwrite Options

Selections within this group allow you to specify how filename collisions will be handled under Zmodem if Crash Recovery isn’t used:

Overwrite if incoming newer

If this setting is selected and the incoming file is newer, the local file is overwritten. Otherwise, the incoming file is skipped. This is the default setting.

Always overwrite

If this setting is selected, the incoming file will always replace the existing file.

Skip, don’t overwrite

If this setting is selected, the incoming file is always skipped.

Rename, don’t overwrite

If this setting is selected, the incoming file is always renamed to protect the existing file.

Summary of Options Selected

This text briefly summarizes the results of the options you've selected in the other two settings groups.

To accept the settings and return to the main Zmodem settings panel, click on OK. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.


Zmodem Send Options
Zmodem Sender Crash Recovery Options

  Related Topics

To change the Crash Recovery and other settings for files you upload or send to another machine, click on the Change Settings... button in the Sender Crash Recovery Settings box.

Crash Recovery Options

Selections within this group allow you to specify how Crash Recovery will be handled when you’re uploading:

Crash recovery off

If this setting is selected, Zmodem will direct the receiver not to perform Crash Recovery. If the uploaded file already exists on the receiver’s machine, Zmodem will handle the filename collision based on the Overwrite Options setting.

Always crash recover

If this setting is selected, and the uploaded file already exists on the receiver’s machine, Crash Recovery will be used automatically. Otherwise, the new file is created. Selecting this option causes the Overwrite Options to be grayed, as they are irrelevant for Crash Recovery.

Crash recover if CRCs match...

If this setting is selected, and the file CRCs match on the sender and receiver sides, recovery is used automatically. Otherwise, the file is overwritten. Selecting this option causes the Overwrite Options to be grayed, as they are irrelevant for Crash Recovery. By default, Crash recover if CRCs match... is selected.

Overwrite Options

This field specifies how Zmodem handles a filename collision if Crash Recovery has been disabled.

Overwrite if incoming newer

If this setting is selected, Zmodem directs the receiver not to Crash Recover, and to replace the existing file with the uploaded file. If the uploaded file is not newer, the receiver is told to skip the file.

Always overwrite

If this setting is selected, no Crash Recovery is used and a preexisting file will be replaced with the uploaded file.

Skip, don’t overwrite

If this setting is selected, no Crash Recovery is used and the receiver is directed to skip the upload file. The existing file is protected.

Summary of Options

This text briefly summarizes the results of the options you’ve selected in the other two settings groups.

To accept the settings and return to the main Zmodem settings panel, click on OK. To close the dialog without saving any changes you may have made, click on Cancel.