Post #143,801
2/28/04 6:04:54 AM
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Need advice on async swre (that does xyzmodem)
We have a bunch of OS/2 PCs running 2.1 that are used for dial-in, & run a great async program called TE/2 (term emu /2).
This program supports very powerful scripting and allows its scripts to call REXX scripts from within the TE/2 scripts.
We have to move off these OS/2 boxes and this has to be onto Windows2000 (for now). We had found what we thought was the perfect replacement 'FileLink3000'.
We began converting our main TE/2 script to a FL3000 script but hit a stupid show-stopper. FL3000 unlike other async programs that also supportXYZModem, will *not* allow looking for control chars on the input line (it allows you to send ctl chars as output).
We have a protocol that *must* be followed that has the dial-in user send an esc char after they dial-in. The TE/2 script allows us to watch for it. FL3000 converts *all* non printable chras to a preset fill char (default space).
I can't find any way around this & thus we have decide to junk FL3000.
Does anyone know if Kermit95 scripting allows for searchingincoming data for patterns & or ctl chars ?
Kermit95 supports XYZModem (plus CKermit etc:). It claims it has a scripting language but it is hard to find details of it from the Kermit website.
Perhaps there is another program that does what we want ?.
Tks
Doug Marker
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Post #143,811
2/28/04 8:04:03 AM
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Kermit95 must be able to do what you want. Also Zoc.
I don't have a copy of the manual here, unfortunately. :-( Have you checked [link|http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ckscripts.html|here]? C-Kermit/Kermit95 can do just about anything involving PC-PC communications.
Another program to consider is Zoc. It has OS/2 and Windows versions and uses REXX for scripting. It sounds like another good fit.
[link|http://www.emtec.com/zoc/features.html|Zoc Features]. Marcus is very good about updating it. It's shareware, $69. It's not cheap but is very good software.
HTH.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #143,885
2/29/04 2:48:23 AM
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Re: Kermit95 must be able to do what you want. Also Zoc.
Have downloaded ZOC & will look at it now. The fact that it supports REXX is a big plus.
Many thanks - will let you know what transpires.
Doug
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Post #143,886
2/29/04 4:16:52 AM
2/29/04 4:49:44 AM
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Re: ZOC is looking very good - has many similar functs to
TE/2
One very unique funct in TE/2 was the ability to initiate concurrent listener tasks on a modem in line, max 32, where a task can wait and will signal if a particular pattern comes in (i.e. LineWaitMulti, 120, "ZMODEM INPUT" then also an extra LineWaitMulti, 120, "XMODEM". When the reply pattern arrives (say XMODEM) that signal is triggered & baranced to and all the other concurrent waits are terminated.
ZOC has this function. - It looks like ZOC has taken over rom TE/2 as TE/2 was designed to run on OS/2 & the author basicallypulled out in 1999 & 1999 is the year this ZOC program seems to have been born.
This looks like a big win for us. I will know better at work tomorrow when I try the commands for reading input lines. At first glance it seems it supports input data that can consist of ctl chars. ZOC has ^[ for ESC which FileLInk3000 didn't. ZOC has many other codes that get translated to ctl-chars (just like TE/2).
Once again many thanks. This project is a big issue at work as many millions of $ of orders reach us via several old OS/2 boxes. These have been failing at a rate that has cause us great grief esp between the Business pillar and IT.
I have plans to migrate the whole thing to interface to web services (have developed the prototyped & demoed it to IT 2 weeks back). We have 2 each of these OS/2 servers in each state.
Cheers & thanks
Doug Marker
#2 - Just looked at the MINIHOST example in ZOC & right there was a very similar protocol to the one we are using. ZOC explicitly allows waiting for ctl chars to be input. In the Minihost script it waits for a ^H from the login user while our protocol is a wait for a ^[ (esc).
It seems that our TE/2 driver script will not require anywhere near as much effort to convert to ZOC as it was going to be for FileLink3000.
#2 Also checked Kermit95 - its scripting language is Unix like & it would not readily marry with our many REXX processing scripts called by TE/2. But ZOC uses Enterprise Alternatives version of REXX & this is what I have been using for some years. ZOC looks so much like TE/2 that it can't be a coincidence. This is certainly out lucky day.
Edited by dmarker
Feb. 29, 2004, 04:46:20 AM EST
Edited by dmarker
Feb. 29, 2004, 04:49:44 AM EST
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Post #143,918
2/29/04 11:45:05 AM
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Zoc goes back to at least 1993.
There's mention on Usenet of v1.00 being used on 12/25/1993. I bought my registration in 1996. :-)
If I remember correctly, Zoc - Zap-O-Comm, started out on the Amiga and then was ported to OS/2. The Windows version came out in 1995-ish.
I'm glad it looks like it'll do the job for you. :-)
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #143,919
2/29/04 12:07:15 PM
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I used to love zoc on OS/2... *smile*
Imric's Tips for Living
- Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
- Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
- Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
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Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.
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Post #143,890
2/29/04 5:06:51 AM
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Re: Need advice on async swre (that does xyzmodem)
Zoc's your package. Got OS/2 and Windows versions. I've used it for a long time - but not for two years or so - but never bothered with serious scripting.
qts
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Post #143,927
2/29/04 3:21:41 PM
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Re: Need advice on async swre (that does xyzmodem)
What surprised me a little is that I spent half a day googling 'async xyzmodem' but didn't turn up many useful entries. It was only here that I learned of ZOC from Scott.
I was sure there had to be something as good as TE/2 out there. After reading the command manual & example scripts last night I suspect ZOC may be even more comprehensive than TE/2.
Doug
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