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TELECOHPUTIflQ continued, , . Each host system uses its own - and only its own - protocol. A single terminal program for the '64 can (and should) offer more than one of them. It's up to you to get and use the right one with the right host. If everything isn't exactly right, you'll miss out an one of the primary reasons for telecomputing - downloading programs which belong to no one and everyone (by virtue of being in the public domain) and cover everything from business to games literally every area of interest a program can be written for. Terminal software also controls adjustable communications parameters like duplex, parity, stop bits and word length, and this is where you can start getting overwhelmed. You don't have to know what these things do: just make sure you use the same error checking protocol as the host you want to access and the default values will (almost always) work for all this other stuff. If one of the settings is off, you'll know it. For instance, if duplex is wrong, either you won't be able to see what you type or yyoouurr tteexxtt uiwiill llookk lliikkee tthhiiss TERMINAL SOFTWARE Many things besides protocols make for a good terminal program. Comments on several of them follow but they have some common features. Using your disk drive when you're on-line is important: you might need to format a disk. All programs mentioned here offer full disk access from terminal mode. They all let you change text, border and screen colors and all have programmable function keys. All will let you save to disk OR printer. All except HoraeTerm offer full control of communication parameters. fill automatically translate CBTI-ASCII to true ASCII and will operate with manual or autodial modems. Word-wrap is available in all except the special CQTh/aice version of Smart 64. VIDTEX is the only one without an on-screen clock to help you keep track of time on-line. The size of the program's memory buffer is important, unless it offers virtual memory. When you're on-line, information on the screen is gone unless you took steps to save it before it arrived. You save it in a buffer which can hold only so much. When it's full, you "dump" it to disk or printer. A big buffer means you have to do this less frequently and seldom need to merge a program you saved in two parts. With virtual memory, you can save information directly to disk or printer as it comes to you. VIP and Smart 64 have virtual memory. All of these programs will let you download from commercial networks. UIPf SuperTern, Smart 64 and Firstterm will download all types of program files - but that's just the first step. Before a program can be transmitted it must be converted to a text file. In that form it's like a listing on paper even though it may appear on the screen. No, you don't have to type it in but you do have to convert it with an off line utility program which tokenizes it and makes it "runnable." These programs provide the utilities to do this but it's a hassle because you can't convert a program while you're on-line. You have to save it, sign off the network and load in the utility. fVr^^-w--^-. The two exceptions for downloading from commercial networks are HomeTerm and UIDTEX, and they function at opposite extremes. Some files on ConpuServe have .IWG extensions on their names which indicate they are programs for a specific kind of computer (like Quit game instructions the '64). HomeTexm won't touch .OTG files - you can't download them with it no matter what. VIDTEX will download not only . IPE files but all CompuServe files and convert program text files to takenized programs transparently. No off line conversions are needed - VIDTEX does it automatically. Three of these programs will access both networks (non-Can hosts) and BBS'S (CBfl-hosts): VIP Terminal, Super-Term and Firstterm. Program conversion is done by the terminal program on a CBW-Punter B8S. You never have to fool with it. TELLH UIM TDDftV 5 HOROBCOFF CRPRORH AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS CEUJHI CANCER LEO UIRCO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS IS TOOAV VOUR BIBTHDAV? DETERMHE VOUR 5ICH WfTEB FUTURES SYNDICATE IK I
<strong>TELECOMPUTING</strong> continued.. THE LINE UP VIP TERMINAL ($59.95 from Softlaw) includes CBTC-Punter and non-CBM protocols and may be the only terminal program you'll ever need. It's easy to master and characters per screen line can be set to 40, 64, BD or 106 without extra hardware. It has an adequate built-in text editor and virtual memory. You can toggle on-screen help in terminal mode and it has a separate collection of utility programs. Excellent documentation with even more instructions on the disk itself which you can read on the screen or print out. ■■ - - _ ■ B a o
Page 1 and 2: REPORT TELECOMPUTING-^? REVIEWS THE
Page 3 and 4: mmoaore 64 wners, Relax... with Mir
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS/ISSUEttb DEPARTMENTS Galle
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Page 11 and 12: HHTHWOHO5 CBS SOFTUHRE $_ GREEHHJCf
Page 13 and 14: INFO=BA; I READ WITH GREAT DESPAIR
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Page 17 and 18: COMMODORE 1571 GENERAL FEATURES SYS
Page 19 and 20: ■ NEWS & VIEWS SPECIAL CES EDITIO
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Page 23 and 24: Comparative Loading Tiroes for a 25
Page 25 and 26: FI's itf-Metf Hard drive is all out
Page 27 and 28: [ AVAILABLE NOW! CALL TODAY! Commod
Page 29 and 30: ft Guide to Telecomputing 1985 IF,e
Page 31: TELECOMPUTING continued... The real
Page 35 and 36: JORDAN i.24 NAPLPS FirHware L-b4 ca
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Page 45 and 46: cont'd If you have an interest in '
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