Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!public!thad
From: thad@public.BTR.COM (Thaddeus P. Floryan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm
Subject: Re: Handshake 2.20c questions
Message-ID: <3054@public.BTR.COM>
Date: 13 Jun 91 09:43:21 GMT
References: <23307@shlump.lkg.dec.com> <13536@lmrc.uucp>
Organization: BTR Public Access UNIX, Mountain View CA
Lines: 54

In article <13536@lmrc.uucp> hassinger@lmrc.uucp (Bob Hassinger) writes:
>This issue of the terminal switching to 200 mode when it gets an inquire
>sequence sounds familiar.  It has been long enough that I may be recalling
>incorrectly but I think my early VT240 did this.  But as I recall I later got a
>ROM upgrade installed that fixed that and several other type ID and emulation
>related problems.  The 240 is gone now so I can't check it but I don't think I
>have seen it happen with my 340.
>
>I am note sure the answer is the same for the 220 as it is for the 240, but I
>think it may be.  Basically, Handshake may be faithfully emulating out of
>date firmware.
>
>In other words, in discussing what you observe VTxxx's doing, it may be a good
>idea to include the version number of your firmware (generally shown on the
>setup screen).

As I promised to do, I *did* check the setup screens to see if there was
something like "SET ID".

Problems with one of our VAXen didn't leave me much free time today, but
while rebooting the system I glanced through a DEC VT340 manual that was in
the computer room.

The index of the manual listed a page reference for "device attributes" to
which I quickly turned, and found only an obscure reference embedded in one
sentence, and NO clue(s) how to effect it.

Finally had to flip the manual page-by-page until I stumbled upon the "General"
setup screen when the sequence {340,320,240,220,102,101,100, etc) caught my
eye and, yes, there is a way to cause the terminal to return different ID
codes (at least per the docs).

For fun, I told 5 people that they COULD change the ID string from the SETUP,
and to please try it on their own.  Not ONE was able to intuitively find that
menu selection on any SETUP menu after several minutes' trying.

I was called away on other business and didn't try this myself (in particular,
to see if it actually works! :-), but will do so tomorrow.

For reference, I recall the operative phrase to be "DEVICE ATTRIBUTES STRING"
on the VT340; will have to check it on the VT2?? also.

If it does operate as documented, then problem solved (at least for a real
DEC VT2??/3??).  But the menu setup option is sure not "easy" to locate, and
the lack of adequate cross-referencing in DEC's manuals is frustrating (much
like the lack of any "SEE ALSO" (per UNIX' docs) in any VMS manuals).

A completely configurable terminal (or emulator thereof, like Handshake)
"should" be able to alter all terminal responses as needed; if it does, then
I'll stand corrected.  Will test this using VMS 4.7, 5.1, and 5.3

Thanks to everyone for their responses in this regards.

Thad Floryan [ thad@btr.com (OR) {decwrl, mips, fernwood}!btr!thad ]