BUXTERM
Version 2:7
Version 1 (c) 1988 - Revised 2.7 (c) 1998  by 
Bob Slomka WD4MNT and  Buck Rogers, K4ABT

INTRODUCTION TO BUXTERM:
BUXTERM  2.7  now supports the automatic transfer of binary and ASCII files between connected stations.  It also enables the user to send, receive, and edit text and ASCII files with a very easy, and user friendly approach.   The commands of BUXTERM are logical, and easy to remember. This software implements hardware handshaking and must have the RTS and CTS lines connected.  PINS for Txd,  Rxd,  RTS,  CTS, and  Signal Ground must be wired end to end and pin to pin.  No lines are rolled or inverted.
USING BUXTERM WITH A FLOPPY DISK SYSTEM:
If  you  are  familiar with  the FORMAT /S command, you may wish to make this a "bootable" disk.  Insert the new formatted disk into drive B:   Copy the BUXTERM Master disk files by using Copy . command onto your new formatted work copy disk.  With master disk in Drive A: and formatted disk in drive B: e.g.;  at the prompt; A:>  type:   copy  .  b:   <Enter>
INSTALLING & RUNNING (BOOTING) BUXTERM FROM A HARD DRIVE: 
First make a sub-directory called BUXTERM on your hard-drive (usually the C: drive).  Place the BUXTERM floppy disk into the A: (or B:) drive of your computer and copy the three files;   BUXTERM.EXE, BUXTERM.DOC & BUXTERM.CFG to the C: (or the hard drive letter, if not C:).  If the BUXTERM.CFG file is not on the disk, the first time you run BUXTERM enter the F3 setup screen and press Escape and a new BUXTERM.CFG will be created.

To run BUXTERM, move to the BUXTERM directory and type BUXTERM   then press  [Enter].

BUXTERM defaults to: 
COMPORT       	1
BAUDRATE       9600
DATABITS       	8    (WORD LENGTH)
PARITY         	NONE (0)

If you are using a comport other than COM 1, it is  imperative that you press F3  and  set the software for that comport before pressing any other key!  TO PRESS A KEY BEFORE SETTING  THE (F3) COMPORT COULD LOCK THE COMPUTER, AND REQUIRE A "SOFT BOOT" (Ctrl, Alt, Del).
Under normal usage, the TNC parameters may be set as follows:
AX25      ON,           XFLOW    OFF,           FLOW  OFF,         ECHO  OFF,  	AUTOLF  OFF,      MCOM  ON,     MCON  OFF,    8BITCONV  ON,         SCREENL   0,        CMDTIME  1,     	CHECK    60.

USING BUXTERM  IN TERMINAL MODE  Features and Commands;  A Guide to KEY functions and definitions.  

CHANGING DRIVES & DIRECTORIES:

Selecting the drive/path/filename for use with the text editor (Alt L), file transfer (PgUp) or the upload (Alt R):

This section addresses the manner in which the user changes drives and paths to access files.  You will use this feature in the file transfer "CHOICE", the text editor "Alt L" (load), and the upload (Alt R) screens.  When "CHOICE:" appears in the PgUp file transfer screen, the Alt L is used in the text editor, or the list of files appear in the Alt R screen;  The operator may then use the "space-bar" to step through the disk drives of the station's terminal.   When the status box on the screen displays the drive of choice, the user presses [Enter].  At this point the filename to be loaded may be selected by using the arrow keys to move the highlight over the filename and pressing [Enter].  The root directory is displayed as two dots (..) while the sub-directories are displayed in bold text.  Files are displayed in the colors that were selected at F4 when you first setup BUXTERM.
Another special feature of BUXTERM, is the "automatic" selection of files.  The directories are arranged in alphabetical order.  When it becomes necessary to select a filename buried deep in the directory, simply press the letter representing the first letter of the needed file, and the highlight cursor will move to that section of the directory.

AUTOMATIC FILE TRANSFER:

A new and powerful feature has been added to BUXTERM  version 2.7.  In addition to its many other features, BUXTERM now transfers files of any type from one stations disk to another stations disk.  The feature gives BUXTERM the capability to handle any and all kinds of files;  ASCII, TEXT, and BINARY, to and from other Packet stations.  The Page Up (PgUp) and Page Down (PgDn) keys are used to place the automatic file transfer feature into service.

BINARY FILE TRANSFER, USING BUXTERM:   ***  NOTE !  BOTH STATIONS must be CONNECTED and both stations must be using BUXTERM  2.0.

For the purpose of our explanation (how to transfer binary files with BUXTERM), we will refer to the sending station as station "A" and the receiving station as station "B."
Station A, wishes to send a file to station B;  A connect is established and station A informs station B that a file is ready to be
sent to station B.  Station A informs Station B of the filename for the file that is about to be sent.  Station A also asks station B to press the PgDn key.  Station B acknowledges the title of the file and then presses the PgDn key.
At station B, BUXTERM will prompt the operator for a filename/ext.  The name that was sent by the station A operator is normally used.  The operator at station B quickly types the filename/ext and presses [Enter].
Meanwhile; at station A the operator presses the PgUp key and is prompted for CHOICE:  The station A operator presses [Enter] and moves the cursor to the drive and highlights the filename that is to be sent.  When station A operator presses the [Enter] key the file transfer begins.  The screen will display a block counter at both stations, and as the file is being received at station (B), the file will be automatically written to disk.  When the file transfer is complete, both stations will automatically return to the terminal mode for further keyboard Packet communications.
TERMINAL MODE COMMAND KEYS:
The manner in which the Alt and Ctrl Keys are used is simple.  To enable a feature that requires the use of either the Alt or the Ctrl key, simply press and hold the Alt (or Ctrl) key and momentarily press the command key that is associated with the desired feature.
F1   	Sends control  C  (03 HEX) to TNC.  Returns CMD:  prompt  from TNC.  (Press F1 three times in succession to 	escape 	from the transparent mode).

F2   	Puts the TNC into CONVerse mode by sending the <CONV> command.

F3   	Displays setup MENU and allows the user to set baud rate, parity, stop bit, wordlength, and com port.  This is for the 	"Abaud or Tbaud". ABAUD is often used to define the baud  rate between computer and TNC.   Each time the umber 	is pressed the baudrate changes.

F4   	Opens the SCREEN COLOR SET menu so foreground and background screen colors may be adjusted to accommodate the 	user.  This feature can be enabled with CGA, EGA, or VGA Color Monitors.

F7   	Opens the ALARM MONITOR menu so a "CASE Sensitive" text string of up to 20 letters or characters may be entered.
If the TNC/Radio sees this text string (in the proper case) on the air in a packet of information, an ALARM sequence will begin, sending five (5) sets of alarm bells/chimes to the PC (terminal) speaker.  The string can be used to let the operator know that another station is on the air, or can be predetermined text string established by the emergency operators of that frequency, or sky-warn group.  In the SEDAN, the default setup by all SEDAN SNO's is:
		SEDAN BADWx
The case of the text string is important as the trap string will not function if the text is not seen in the correct case.  
NOTE: 	The text of the SEDAN trap/ALARM string is all upper case with the exception of the small (lower-case) "x" following the upper case "W."  Notice also the space between SEDAN and Wx.

The ALARM string may be changed at any time to suit the operator's requirements.

ALT C	Clears the terminal mode screen.

ALT P 	This feature will become your favorite command because it enables the printer while incoming data is being displayed
	on the screen.  Execution of the ALT P command is a "TOGGLE" feature.  This means the first time you 	perform an ALT P the printer will be activated (ON), and any incoming text will be sent to the printer while being  	displayed on the screen.  If the ALT P is executed a second time, the printer will stop printing.  The screen display  will continue without interruption.

ALT R	Activates  the  SEND-FROM-DISK  feature.  This feature has a wide variety of uses, and may be used to send ASCII 	and HEX files directly from the disk.  The primary use of the ALT R feature is to up-load long files directly from the 	disk to other connected stations.

The ALT R feature is most useful when reading (sending) an ASCII or TEXT file from the disk to a connected station.  After connecting to a station, using BUXTERM, we see the CALLSIGN, of the connected station appear in the status line near the bottom of the screen.  We can now execute the ALT R command feature, and highlight a file then press [Enter] and BUXTERM will begin sending the file directly from the disk.  The file title is displayed at the top of the screen.  This allows the operator to confirm that the correct file is being sent to the target Switch, or station.
ALT X     Immediate, short and graceful EXIT of BUXTERM !
THE "BUXTERM" TEXT EDITOR:
F10 	Opens the Text Editor feature of BUXTERM.  This powerful feature enables  the  user  to  manipulate text  files  in  	the following ways:
APPEND, CAPTURE, CUT, CREATE, COPY, EDIT, PRINT   MOVE,  PASTE,  SAVE,  RECEIVE, and  SEND

The user can EDIT up to 32,000 bytes of data in the editor.  There are no restrictions to the size of an action taken as each feature of the Text Editor can be performed on one character, or the entire text buffer.  More about the Text Editor in the next section of this document.

When you enter the text editor for the first time after loading BUXTERM, the current directory of files will be displayed.  If you are entering the Text Editor for the purpose of editing a file that is in the current drive you need only to high-light the name of the file and press [Enter] and the file will be loaded into the Text Editor.
If you have entered the text editor for the purpose of creating a new text file you may press the Escape key and by-pass the displayed directory.  Files may be edited and saved to the same drive, and with the same title.  This is an easy step also (SEE CHANGING DRIVES & DIRECTORIES).  While holding the Alt key, press the S key,  and  a  "Title line" will appear near the top  of  the screen.   The  original title that was highlighted to load the file will be visible in the "TITLE LINE".  Press the [Enter] key,  and the file will be saved to the same drive/directory that it was taken from.  If you prefer to save the file with  another  title or to another drive/directory, the new title and drive/path can be typed in  when the Alt S command is activated, and the "Title line" appears at the top of the screen.
A special feature of BUXTERM, is the "automatic" selection of files.  The directories are arranged in alphabetical order.  When it becomes necessary to select a filename buried deep in the directory, simply press the letter representing the first letter of the needed file, and the highlight cursor will move to that section of the directory.
TEXT EDITOR COMMANDS and FEATURES:
F1   	MARKS the beginning of text to be DELETED, COPIED, EDITED, PRINTED, MOVED, PASTED,  SAVE, or SENT.

F2   	MARKS the end of text to be DELETED, COPIED, EDITED, PRINTED, MOVED, PASTED, SAVE, or SENT.

Ctrl   F1	DELETES/CUTS removes marked text.

Ctrl   F2 	PRINTS selected or marked text to printer.

F8   	APPENDS another text file to any file(s) already in the EDITOR.  Pressing F8 while in the TEXT EDITOR will display the 	current selected directory.  By high-lighting a "text" file in the directory listing and pressing <Enter>, the 	file will be added 	at the end of any file(s) already loaded in the text EDITOR.
F9  	SENDS marked text to the TNC or TRANSMITS if in the Connected, CONVers or Transparent mode;  The user may 	configure the TNC with a CONFIG.TNC file if performed while the TNC is in the Command "cmd:" mode.

F10	OPENS THE EDIT BUFFER.  The two commands that follow are also associated with the EDIT BUFFER.

Alt B 	DUMPS text from the TERMINAL Buffer into the TEXT EDITOR (buffer).

Alt L 	LOADS file from the current selected DIRECTORY, for the user selection of file to be loaded, for editing,  sending,  	or printing.

NOTE:	WHILE A DIRECTORY IS DISPLAYED, YOU MAY HIGHLIGHT A FILE AND PRESS F1 TO COPY IT TO ANOTHER DIRECTORY.  FOLLOW THE ON-SCREEN INSTRUCTIONS AFTER YOU PRESS F1.

Alt N 	Enables the user to NAME or RENAME any file while the Alt L directory is displayed

Alt S 	SAVE all, or only marked text from the EDITOR to the selected path/drive.  

Alt C 	CHANGES the DIRECTORY format, and displays the file sizes.

Alt H  	HELP  A separate "HELP" screen is available in the TEXT EDITOR mode defining the additional features of the editor.  	More HELP appears in the bottom portion of the Text Editor screen.   In the case of the Text Editor "HELP" menu, when 	you're done with it, press the "Esc" key to return to the Text Editor.

Ctrl G 	RINGS Bell or sends Ctrl G character to the text being edited and/or sent/transmitted.
Ctrl M 	MOVES any selected (F1/F2) portion of the text in the EDITOR to the present location of the cursor.  
Ctrl C    COPIES any selected (F1/F2) portion of the text in the EDITOR to the present location of the cursor.

THE EASY WAY TO CONFIGURE YOUR  TNC:
A quick way to make a "CONFIG.TNC" file is to set your TNC parameters to the settings which are used in normal day to day usage.  Once you have these parameters set into the TNC, type DISP <Enter>.  The configuration that you have set into your TNC will dump to the screen buffer.
Move to the Text Editor from the Terminal mode by pressing F10.   Dump the Screen buffer to the editor buffer by executing an Alt B.  With the DISPlay from the TNC now loaded into the Text  Editor,  you  may edit any commands to the current TNC setup.   Use the F1 key to mark the beginning of the text to be saved.  Use the PgUp, PgDn, up arrow, & down arrow keys to move the cursor to the end of the text to  be  saved  and  press  F2.  The  marked  text becomes highlighted.  You may now CUT, COPY, MOVE, PASTE, PRINT, SEND, or SAVE the marked text.
Since we are building a CONFIG.TNC file, we elect to SAVE the highlighted text.  SAVE the text by pressing Alt S, and entering a name for the file.  The TITLE Prompt appears at the top of the screen.  To name the file we type CONFIG.TNC, and press [Enter].
Visit the PACKET RADIO SEDAN Home pages at:      	http://www.packetradio.com
N O T I C E  ! THIS TERMINAL PROGRAM IS FREE TO ALL PACKET RADIO USERS!  It is not to be sold, or bartered.  It is not to be used in conjunction with any commercial advertisement, and it is NOT to be distributed as a commercial enticement or attraction to, or with, any device, equipment, or SOFTWARE. 
We also have facilities to make EPROMs for the system node operator.  If you would like an EPROM for the X-1J4 node firmware, send your return address and $15.00 (US ONLY):   You must provide the following information:
NODE CALLSIGN____________ ;  SSID (dash one, -1 etc..) ___________;  NODE ALIAS (up to six (6) letters) _____________;
PASSWORD (It is best to use upper case, and keep the password under 25 letters.  DO NOT USE SPACES) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________;
Example: 	CALLSIGN;    K4ABT                SSID;   -7          ALIAS;     BUX     PASSWORD;    PACKETRADIOISFUN
INDICATE  THE  MAKE/MODEL  TNC  THE EPROM  IS  TO  BE  INSTALLED INTO;  	e.g.  MFJ-1270C, or  PacComm  Tiny-2.etc.. SEND TO:
		 Buck Rogers  K4ABT; 	 211 LUENBURG  DRIVE; 	 EVINGTON, VA    24550.   
															
A FREE Packet Radio handbook, a 1.4 megabyte disk with the latest version of BUXTERM Packet terminal program, and the latest version of the X-1J4 TheNET node code is also available.  In addition to providing help for new Packet operators, these books include details and drawings that describe "HOW TO BUILD & CONFIGURE NETWORK NODES."  Send your return address  and $5.00 to cover the cost of shipping (Priority postage USA ONLY!) , handling and the disk to:   
Buck Rogers  K4ABT		  211 LUENBURG  DRIVE		 EVINGTON, VA 24550.   
