************ Topic 24 Sun Apr 19, 1987 J.COCHRAN Sub: Interface C64 with Dec Vax I need software to tie into the Dec Vax 11/750 at my office with my c-64. Understand its 's available??? Anyone help?? ------------ LEROSENMAN [Larry R.] Have you tried the C-64 Kermit?? If you don't hve it, I'm sure somebody can U/L it for you. It (C-64 Kermit) has file transfer (Kermit Protocol, natch) & VT52 (at least) emulation. ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] There is also a program called TERM80, by Frank Prindle, which will give you VT52 emulation on your C-64 and 80 columns . Its in the Software Library. ------------ Tue Jun 28, 1988 E.G.BELL There is a program in the telecom library called vt100 terminal, I believe, which is 96 blocks long. [that is cbm blocks, so xmodem is probably about 191 blocks. It is a barebones communication terminal with no buffer, transfers, etc. but it emultates vt100 well. I use it to do my work at school & it is an 80 column terminal. ------------ Sat Apr 08, 1989 WILKERSON.S [CASE] If you are still looking for your VAX program, there is one in the listing here somewhere called kermit64128.arc (or something like it anyway). I have it, works great on our VAX. It's great for getting files from VMS systems & it has complete VT100 emulation, as far as I know the BEST for the 64. I even use it on 128 most of the time!! Scott ************ Topic 68 Sat Apr 09, 1988 R.PUCCIO1 Sub: HELP W/C64 & IBM COMMUNICATION NEED HELP COMMUNICATING WITH AN IBM PC VIA A MODEM... ************ ------------ R.PUCCIO1 Does anyone know if there is a way to communicate with an IBM PC usin a C64 via a modem? I would like to work with my IBM at the office & access files at home using my Commodore 64. If anyone can help please leave a message here. ........R Puccio1 ------------ Message 2 Sat Apr 09, 1988 D.RAY1 In the March issue of Commodore Magazine, Lou Sanders describes a method to connect two modems together directly to transfer info from 1 computer to another. It involves making a cable with a 9 volt batter in-line to connect the 2 modems. The article is detailed & probably offers a solution to your problem. ------------ GRAFIX.M [GFX *SysOp*] If at work and you need to access your 64, you could run a "power" term like Bob's Term Pro in the Remote mode. Your 64 then acts like a mini-bbs. It will answer your phone line & (with the proper password) allow you toa access any of the files on your disk. Or try one of the smaller BBS systems to run on your 64 while you are at work. If you have a phone line available that you can use at the office, you can do the same thing there. When you leave work for the day, fire up a BBS or power term program (Qmodem/Procomm/etc.) & call your PC from home with a term program running on your 64. Both ways, be SURE to password protect your system! ------------ ************ A.CARUSO Sub: Transfering IBM Downloads to Commodore Have IBM XT and my brother has a Commodaore 64 without modem would like to download from genie on IBM & give programs to him. Is there any way this is possible??? ------------ KEVIN.S A.C. - Your brother will not necessarily need a modem, but he will need an interface which converts the 64/128 user port to an actual RS-2232 standard. These are commonly known as "Commodore RS-232 interfaces", they are are available from a variety of manufacturers at prices ranging from $20-$45. Assuming that your IBM already has a serial port, you are ready to hook the two computers together with a "null modem" cable (an industry standard part, $6-$20), & transfer files from 1 machine to the other using any PD or commercial telecommunications software on both machines which supports up- & downloading with the same protocol (Xmodem, usually). As an alternative to buying an RS-232 interface for his 64, your brother might choose to buy an inexpensive Commodore-specific modem. Sort of like the internal card modems available for the PC, these will not work with other machines, but combine the necessary hardware so that an RS-232 interface is not necessary. They can be found for as little as $19-$25 for 300 baud. Look for the 1650 or compatible modems. An advantage of this route is that you will not need a null modem cable, just hook the computers together modem-to-modem with telephone cord. The disadvantage is that you are limited to 300 baud, in place of the 1200 or 2400 baud transfers you will be able to do withe the direct connection. You will still need a telecommunications program running on each machine, of course. To summarize this whole thing, a telecommunications program on each machine controls the transfer of information from computer to computer. The programs must both use the same protocol. The 2 options for connecting the 2 computers are modem-to-modem, in which case your brother will need a modem &/or RS232 interface, or directly port-to-port, in which case he will need the RS-232 interface and a null modem cable. Hope I managed to present that in an intelligible form! ------------ JDCLARK If you have a 1571 disk drive, you can read IBM formatted disks wih S/W like Big Blue Reader. ------------ C.WOODWORTH [VideoWiz] ...before you spend the bucks, tho, you oughta be told the C64 PROGRAMS will NOT run on a PC, & vice-versa! However, you can freely exchaange ASCII TEXT files back & forth, etc. ------------ S.PROCTOR1 You can't run IBM programs as they are, but untokenized BASIC can be converted with some work. To transfer files from GEnie to an IBM is possible, you must not change the data, which XModem doesn't, unless you use ASCII translation, leave it off. The C-64 can only act as storage, but can't execute without you manually converting the files. ------------ RICHARD What if your brother has a modem but does not have a comm program. This is the situation that I have. Can I download a commodore program & give it to him using a IBM system? ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] Richard: MSDOS disk formats and Commodore disk programs are NOT at all compatible. Look up my address in the Survival Kit at the Pate 625 menu, should be under "Downloading", & send me a disk, I'll place a PD program on it for the Commodore. ----------- DO-RAE-MI [sysop] The Big Blue Reader is available for the C64 and the C128. It will work with 1581 or 1571 drives in it's current incarnation. ************ Topic 4 Sun Oct 04, 1987 TELESHRINK at 16:29 Sub: TRANSFERING FILES CBM <--> IBM DISKS I need to transfer large files (100K+) between IBM formated disks & CBM ones. I am aware of XLINK and Big Blue Reader, but both of these excellent programs work with only much smaller files. Can you help? ------------ TELESHRINK I need to transfer back & forth large files between IBM formated disks & CBM ones. I have a C128 with two 1571 drives. I am aware of & use Xlink 2.1a & Big Blue Reader but these excellent transfer programs with only much smaller files. ------------ CHARRINGTON [Courtney] I too had the same problem. The only answer is a null modem with a terminal program running on each computer. You can upload/download to your heart's content. courtney ------------ KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] If you go the null modem method, there is also a SET of terminal programs in the libraries called "Transit", or some such. It is sort of a dedicated terminal program setup, with 1 of the programs running on the IBM & 1 on the 64 Files #1987-89. ------------ JDCLARK I had a similar need for a portion of my wife's dissertation--the way that worked best for me involved loading the fil into a wordprocessor in an IBM (MicroSoft Word) and "cutting" the fil into smaller portions. I know this was a tedious task (of sorts) but once I transfered the files to a CBM disk with Crosslink, I could append the files again. ------------ KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] If you are using BBR, & going from IBM --> CBM, you can move files larger than the 50k buffer, BBR keeps track & appends the files correctly. At least in version 1.0, this feature does NOT work the other way, CBM --> IBM, you are limited to the 50k size. On the other hand, there are several CBM utilities which will divide up a file into smalaler hunks as JD recommends, & that process should work, though it is tedious. They can then be recombind with the MS-DOS COPY command with a /B option, or with a word processor, depending on the type of data involved. ------------ GARYW You need Big Blue Reader CP/M. It handles the BIG files. ------------ KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] Will BBR CP/M do the segmented transfers both ways? & in which modes, do you know? ------------ GARYW It goes both ways for me. I have no problems with it at all. ------------ A.MOWBRAY I need help to transferring files from Commodore 64 wordprocessor (EZ Script?) that a friend has into text files for the Macintosh. Are any programs available to do this &, if so, what do I need to accomplish the task? I can also transfer the files to an IBM computer then download them to the Macintosh. If I need to go that route, what is the XLINK &/or Big Blue Reader & what do I need to make that operational? ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] A.Mowbray: You can use a modem & telephone line with both your 64 & your friend's MAC to transfer the text. (Or a Null modem if both computers are side by side) Essentially, all YOU have to do is be able to have your terminal program upload the file in ASCII. I haven't the slightest idea of what or how a MAC handles files without incoming INFO forks (thats what they call the icon, file & other misc. operating system data). You may need to do a buffer/straight upload to him, and have him capture it, or he may be able to accept an XMODEM upload of ASCII text without icon info in it. The MAC follows the same end of line/paragraph procedures that our Commodores do, they need only a RETURN. So, really, all you'd have to do is use a terminal program which allowed the transfer of a file off the disk in ASCII. Most full-featured terminal programs allow the transaltion of SEQ files in either buffer/straight transfers & Xmodem transfers into ASCII. The other thing you should do prior to sending the file, is ascertain if your friend wants the file data in paragraph/word processing format or formatted. he wants it in paragraph format, then you should remove th EasyScript formatting commands (rev *)rm 76:lm etc. If he requires sit in formatted output,that is, specific margins & RETURNS at the end of each line, then please see the file in library #1 from waaaay back when wheich explains how to get Easy Script to output a formatted document. (It's not in your manual.) There are *NO* disk format programs which read files in from a 64 disk & write it back out in MAC format. The disk drives & formats are completely incompatible. (I might even mention MAC formats are nearly indecipherable! ;-) This means you are stuck with null modem or direct computer to computer hookup with terminal programs. I am confident that your MAC friend can get his terminal program to handle 1 (or both of the kinds of uploads. You'll just need to be sure whether you are sending him an ASCII file. That should be your terminal program's job! ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop] EasyScript will format a document to a SEQ file: ff1/O/C/D and enter the filename when prompted. If you select a non-commodore printer when you first boot the program then the file will be output in true ASSCII. -WC ------------ A.MOWBRAY I have tried the transfer from C64 to Mac via a modem & a local BBS. The file transfers fine (Easy Script file), but all capital letters are unusual characters on the Mac and all lower case letters are capitals. Suggestions? I did not try to reformat the EasyScript file in any special format - could you elaborate on how to format the Easy Script file to SEQ file? If I do this & send the file via modem will it come across in true ASCII (Capitals & lower case correct?). ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop] First when you boot EasyScript select a non-Commodore printer. This will make the output ASCII (the problem is that the output is PETSCII when you select a Commodore printer). Next load your document & send formatted output to a disk file (F1/O/C/D). You will be prompted for a filename. This should take care of the problem. -WC ************ Topic 58 Wed Jan 06, 1988 GFLENSKI Sub: INTERFACING 64 TO ??? I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A COMMODORE 64 & AND I HAVE A`MACINTOSH. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONNECT THEM TOGETHER BUT I AM UNFAMILLIAR WITH THE PORTS ON`THE 64. ------------ GFLENSKI I am trying to connect a friend's 64 to my Macintosh. I need to know more about the ports so I can try to accomplish this. Is there an RS232 port built in? If not, are there signals available that would be suitable for direct connection? I have a spare modem that I would also like to use & I would like to know how this fits into the picture. Thanks ------------ CHARRINGTON [Courtney] The 64 "modem" port is not a true modem port. The signals & voltages are are non-standard. You need an interface. This is a 3rd party gizzmot you plug into the port...then plug the modem into that. ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] I'd think its lots easier to just buy the RS232 interface than mess with connecting the two computers from scratch, too...! ------------ KEVIN.S [-128 Sysop-] Definitely! Especially since the Mac port isn't standard, either. But once you get the geared up to a DB-25 connector with RS-232 signals on each machine, you are pretty much set for either modem transfer or direct connect. It looks nice in print, at least! (still trying to deal with the concept of SPACE parity on a system at work) ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop] Space parity simply means that a parity bit is sent after every byte & that it will always be a zero (mark parity means it will always be a one). Some systems verify the parity is always zero & some just ignore it. ************ Sub: Computer to Computer Transfers ------------ B.HAYFORD How about file transfers from a C64/128 to Kaypro 4/84? I would like to try this hard wired to see if it would work. I use MITE on the Kaypro (CPM) & BobsTerm Pro 64 on the c64. ------------ MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-] Bert - Do you have a C-128? If so, there are a number of ways to transfer files from *it* to the Kaypro without actually hardwiring anything. ------------ KEVIN-S. [KeS] The easiest being to use either BTP-128 or the public domain program XLINK to put your files onto a C-128 CP/M disk, then formatting a Kaypro disk with the NUFORMAT utility, & copying the files over to that disk. ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] And past the tricks with XLINK....a null modem should sure beat any hardwiring, no?! I believe you can push BTPro 64 to 2400 if you hold your mouth *just* so...! <> ------------ B.HAYFORD Michael.M - Yes, I do have a 128 but am using it just in the 64 mode until I get my 80 col monitor. They goofed up & sent me the wrong one & now I have to wait for a few weeks KevinS - That sounds like a pretty good method to me. Probably will start out with xlink - not sure I want to spend the $$$ for BTP 128 - anyone want to purchase my 64 version?? Heh-Heh-Heh. Deb - I had thought of a null modem but didn't know you could push BTP to over 1200 bps - How did you say to hold your mouth??? ((grin back)). ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] Well, I *KNOW* you can push BTPro 128 to 2400 baud, because sometimes I need to transfer stuff from the Amiga to the 128 or vice versa. ... as for BTPro 128, it is worth the $$$, it truly is, Bert. ------------ L.HOLGATE Does anyone know what hardware is needed to do computer to computer transfers. From one computer next to the other on a desk? ------------ D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp] The easiest way to do transfers between side-by-side computers is with a null modem cable. It's a cable that connects the modem ports on both machines. Load up a terminal program on each machine & you can do a standard Xmodem or Punter transfers at 1200 or 2400 baud, depending on what your computers can handle. I don't have the pinouts for the null modem cable. Each end is similar to the standard RS-232 modem cable pinouts, except you have to switch 2 pins (I think). Maybe someone else can give you the actual pinouts needed. ------------ GRAFIX.M [GFX *SysOp*] There are schematics and a text description of how to build a null modem cable in the Software Library! Just search for the keyword NULL. They are VERY simple to build. If you're not into construction projects, drop by your local Radio Shack. They have Null Modem adapters. It's simply 2, 25 pin D connectors, 1 male & 1 female, back to back with the proper pins connected/ cross connected. I got 1 a short time ago for work & it was $9.95. ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop If you don't want to build a null modem cable you can simply hook a modem up to each computer and connect a straight piece of phone cord between them. Of course if you do this then you will be limited to the maximum speed of the slowest of the 2 modems. On the plus side, line noise is minimal. --WC ------------ Message 21 Sun Jan 10, 1988 D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp] I got the new Compute! in the mail today & they also had a short article & diagram on building a null modem cable. ------------ DEB [*SysOp*] Bill: I've found that there is *zilch* noise on my null modem cable for transfers between the BBS MSDOS machine & my C128! AND, it gave me 4800 baud transfers without having to replace my 1200 baud modems! I've always thought null modems were truly some of the best buys for the convenience they offerred! They will require an RS-232 interface on your Commodore side, tho... ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop] I was merely pointing out an alternative if you already have the modems. As far as the line noise on a null modem cable, I was trying to be sarcastic & witty. I guess I should stick to programming, huh? :grin: ------------ KEVIN.S [-128 Sysop-] I was browsing through the corners of my mind while driving home today, & came up with a notion that had mused about a couple of years ago: how nice it would be to be able to transfer files from machin to machine within my house over the phone line. At the time, I had no idea of how to do it, but tonight I broke out the Hayes manual, and I think I have come up with something. PROBLEM: Assume one has two computers (C128 & Amiga here), equipped with Hayes-compatible modems, located at different points on 1 phone line, as is typical in a home. How do you connect the 2? Null modem cables are fine for immediate proximity and fast transfer rates. Running a phone cord between the modems will work for immediate proximity at modem speed, until you trip over the cord. I wanted to use the phone system the computers were already hooked to. MORE PROBLEMS: If anyone else has thought of this, & fooled with it a little, they will have run into snafus. It would seem easy enought to just set one modem to autoanswer,and dial your own number from the other computer. Problem is,you CAN'T call your own number, it automatically busies out when you try. Ok, then, you try just setting 1 modem to immediate answer mode (ATA), & sending the other modem to immediate connect with ATO. That doesn't work either, the modems connect but you get the "phone off hook" message & beeping from the phone company, and it screws up the reception. SOLUTION: Set one system, which I arbitrarily call the host, to immediate answer with ATA. (If you wish to listen in on the proceedings, first use ATM2 to set your modem speaker on.) Now, from the other system, dial your number normally with ATDTxxxxxxx. The phone will busy out immediately, BUT THE MODEMS WILL CONNECT! You are in business. The phone will give off the normal "Busy" beep, but that doesn't seem to affect thins in the last. Note that you do not have all day to place the call. My phone gives me 30 seconds of dial tone before the offhook message arrives & the "ATA" timeout defaults to about 30 seconds as well. (If you put your modem into permanent speaker mode as I mentiond above, you are probably ready to turn it of by now! Type "+++", & after you get the "OK", type "ATM0" to turn off the speaker, & then "ATA" to return online.) I have successfully transferred several files up to 100k in size, using XMODEM CRC error checking, and gotten nary a glitch or resend. Since the phone is busied out, people can't call in, but that is the only drawback. I don't imagine the phone company would approve, but I can't imagine why other than general principles; & we all know they HAVEN'T any, so.... I hope some of y'all can use this tip. It has made life much simpler for me, since I can now write on whichever machine comes to hand. ------------ WC.COLEMAN [Geos*Sysop] If you take the phone of the hook for a while you will get that loud wailing telling you to hang it up. After a bit even that will stop. Then simply use ATD and ATA and you are in business (reason it's good to do it that way is the some phone companies will disconnect after so long if the phone is busy...then you will run into problems). By the way do not hang up the phone until the modems are connected.