Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!cit-vax!ucla-cs!zen!ucbvax!UNO.BITNET!SJDMK
From: SJDMK@UNO.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: DOWNLOAD: Talk Is Cheap (file 1 of 3)...
Message-ID: <8707270234.aa19102@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 27-Jul-87 01:44:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: SMOKE.8707270234.aa19102
Posted: Mon Jul 27 01:44:00 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 28-Jul-87 01:05:38 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 473
This is a telecommunications program called Talk Is Cheap. It is
a very good program. It supports XMODEM file transfers and BINARY II
automatic unpacking.
Other features are outlined in the documentation below. This is the
most recent version of Talk Is Cheap (v1.18).
There are 3 files, TIC.DOC (documentation), TIC.UPD (notes on what
is defferent between this and other versions, and TIC.TXT (the actual
program which should be EXECed. It was textualized using The Executioner.)
---------------------------------CUT HERE--------------------------------
TIC - Talk is Cheap
Copyright 1987
By Donald Elton
Carolina System Software
BBS Support Line: 803-776-3936 (300/1200 baud)
[ This file last updated to reflect changes current ]
[ through version 1.18 of Talk is Cheap. ]
[ Note that Versions 1.17 and above of Talk is Cheap now use the "^" ]
[ character to desginate control characters. Previous verions had used ]
[ the "'" character. ]
TIC is a ProDOS based terminal program for the Apple //e and Apple //c
personal computers with an Apple Super Serial card or equivalent in
slot 2 and an optional printer attached to slot 1.
TIC also supports the new Apple IIgs with either an Apple Super Serial
card plugged into slot 2 or using the built-in IIgs serial port.
This program supports a standard TTY terminal mode along with several
file transfer protocols: xmodem, xmodem crc, ymodem, ymodem crc, and
Ascii Express (tm USII) protocol for ProDOS file transfers. Ascii
text uploads are also supported using x-on/x-off protocol with user
selectable prompt, character, and line delays.
A copy buffer can be used to record an online session or to download
a file where protocol modes are not available. The copy buffer may
be saved to disk either automatically when the buffer fills or manually.
Note that in order to use this program with the Apple Super Serial card
you must have switch 6, block 2 turned to the ON position thus enabling
interrupts.
This is a Shareware program. This means that it is distributed primarily
electronically via bulletin board programs and information systems. You
may distribute this program freely with the stipulation that users of the
program are advised of the shareware nature of this product. I ask that
if you use this program that you send me $30 to help support me in writing
programs like this. Given that competitive products for the Apple
generally sell for twice this amount I think this is a fair thing to ask.
In return for the $30 you get a nice manual, technical support, update
notices, and a good feeling inside for helping to keep down the high
cost of quality apple software. If this product gets good user support
via the shareware agreement then it will continue to be updated with
new features, largely at the suggestions of users. Shareware distribution
has the potential of being a great way to distribute great apple software
at minimal prices because of the minimal distribution costs. Help keep
a good thing going and send your check today to:
Don Elton
3207 Berkeley Forest Drive
Columbia, SC 29209-4111
If you'd like to make any comments or suggestions concerning TIC please
feel free to send them to me at the above address.
Oh yeah, new idea. The copy of TIC that you are using has a Serial number
affixed to the title screen. This is the serial number of the user who
registered the copy you are using. If this serial number is 0 then you
got this copy directly from me. When you register TIC you should list
the serial number of the copy of TIC you were using so I can send a $5
finder's fee to the person who actually registered the copy you first tried
out. This will work the same for you too... This means that if you give
10 copies of TIC away to friends and all 10 of them register the program
by paying the $30 shareware fee then I'll mail you a check for $50.
If you upload the program to a bulletin board and 100 people register
and give your serial number with their order then I mail you $500. Just
another incentive for you to register the program yourself and to encourage
others to do the same. Thanks for your support.
Command File Documentation
Copyright 1987
Donald R. Elton
Carolina System Software
Talk is Cheap (TIC) versions 0.27 and above support a powerful Command
file feature that allows a user to automate most functions internal to TIC.
This document is a supplemental user's guide to describe how the Command file
feature works and to specify the language of statements used within Command
files. There are also several new features, not related to Command files that
have been added to TIC as a result of user suggestions.
Note: OA-X refers to the Open Apple plus "X" key combination. CA-X refers to
the Closed Apple plus "X" key combination. Note that the newer Apple
IIgs and //e keyboards substitute "OPTION" for the Closed Apple key.
TIC now supports powerful Command files. These Command files, if properly
named, are automatically executed when you press the Closed Apple key together
with a letter key or they may be specified manually using the OA-X command
described above. If the user presses the CA-A combination then TIC will look
for a file named "TIC.KEY.A" to execute as a command file. Command files that
are executed as keyboard Macros are called Macro Command Files. In order for
TIC to find its Command files, TIC keeps up with the concept of a Root
directory. The Root directory is the directory that TIC resides in when it is
run. All Macro Command Files must reside in the Root directory.
At startup time, if a file named "TIC.STARTUP" is found in the Root
directory then TIC will execute it as a Command file automatically. If you are
using a program selector such as the Extended Command Processor (ECP) then you
may specify an alternate startup Command file at run-time by specifying the
alternate file name after the TIC file name:
:tic
The above would start TIC and force TIC to execute as the startup
Command file.
In order to invoke Macro Command files, you must have a text file named
TIC.MACROS in TIC's Root directory. Each line of this file should begin
with the letter of a valid Macro key. i.e. if you start a line in
TIC.MACROS with "A" then you should have a file named "TIC.KEY.A" in the
same Root directory with TIC. The remainder of the line should start
immediately after the letter identifier and should be the name of the
service associated with the particular Macro key. An example TIC.MACROS file
might contain:
aApple BBS
bRadio Shack BBS
cMy BBS
fYour BBS
Most Command file operations can be aborted by pressing the ESC key. There may
be a short delay in aborting certain Command file functions.
TIC Command file Syntax:
TIC Command files are text files created by any text editor. They consist
of lines of text with a single command per line. Blank lines are ignored as
are leading and trailing spaces which may be included in the file to improve
readability. Upper and lower case characters are allowed and will not affect
parsing. TIC does not check the file type of Command files.
Command List:
#
This is the comment character. It is a command that is ignored. One or
more blank characters must follow the # symbol. Labels are defined
as the first word following the # symbol. Thus to encode the label
'start' in a Command file you would use the following:
# start <-- this is a label.. "Start"
BUFFER ON
Turns on the recording buffer.
BUFFER OFF
Turns off the recording buffer.
BUFFER CLEAR
Erases the recording buffer.
BUFFER SAVE
Saves the recording buffer to the autosave file.
BUFFER WRITE
Saves the recording buffer to .
DELETE
The file indicated by the ProDOS pathname is removed from the
volume it resides on.
DISPLAY
The is displayed to the CRT. may contain imbedded
control characters or you may encode them by prefixing a letter key
with the "^" symbol. Thus, "^C" is Control-C. Use "^^" to encode a
single "^" character literally. Note that the characters displayed
are sent to the CRT using the communications console driver so
carriage returns and line feeds must be encoded separately as "^M^J".
Either single or double quotes are required if contains
imbedded blanks.
DO