Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!tektronix!reed!kamath From: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: ASCII Express Pro Message-ID: <8465@reed.UUCP> Date: 13 Mar 88 00:37:54 GMT References: <331@jc3b21.UUCP> <17672@think.UUCP> <4728@sigi.Colorado.EDU> <17844@think.UUCP> Reply-To: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Organization: Reed College, Portland OR Lines: 64 Keywords: Z-Link, VT100 >As for vt100, my original statement is not properly stated. I should have >said: I personally don't like vtxxx (ANSI) type terminals because of the amount >of overhead in doing the emulation. ANSI terminals use [(row in decimal); >(column in decimal)H to address the cursor while vt52/h19 use (row+32 in >binary)(col+32 in binary)Y. h19 always needs just 4 characters to address, >ANSI needs a varying amount from 3 to 8 characters (avg 5 or 6). See my point? Strictly speaking, you don't need to send as many as you say. As it is, the ANSI standard makes for compatability with 7 bit systems by allowing the substitution of CSI with ESC [. CSI is nothing more than ESC with it's high bit set. This is also done with two other codes, I believe (unfortunately, I cannot scroung up my photocopy of the vt220 mini reference card, which is all I have to go on programming for them. . .), SB1 or somesuch. The thing is, they use either two 7 bit chars, or one 8 bit char. As far as parsing the vtxxx codes, if you'd like, I think I could show you how to do it (don't worry, Jim, I won't give the competition the secrets!), without a ton of overhead. Jim Hayes wrote a short note about how he does it in DCOM, and it does work rather well. As far as DCOM emulating a vt100, up to but not including the special chars of the DEC models, it might be interesting to note that a *lot* of so called vt100 emulators don't have them either. The ones that do either have nice graphics screens and fast processors to use them, or they have the characters in ROM. Now, the Apple II, which has been around for a *long time*, does not have blazing graphics. Neither does the GS, for that matter. Not that that's reall a problem, as I for one never use graphics (oh, every now and then I use Applesoft to see what a simple function looks like, but that's about it). However, you can do this: (in the spirit the Apple II was designed in!) burn your own PROM! All you have to do is get a bitmap of the vtxxx special chars, and put it in the character generator ROM. It isn't as hard as it looks or sounds. In fact, if you want very special purpose PROMs, you have have two banks of characters (as every //e does. How many of you knew that? one set is in case you want a Dvorak keyboard. . . Write me, I'll tell you how.) and a toggle switch to use Apple or VTxxx chars. But what's the point. I'll tell you what. Tell me what char you want to be displayed for what special char (this includes mousetext) and I'll put it in the DOS 3.3 version of DCOM (maybe. I'm a student as well, and to date I have gotten $5, which I did not ask for, but I liked, for my efforts.). Did you ever think of getting a vt100 terminal? I get a little tired of people saying "Well, before I trash the II, I wonder if. . ." or "I'm trying to find *some* use for the II, before I . . .". People keep saying "if you want (you name it), buy a(n) (you name the computer)". This group is about Apple II's, and how to use them. Sorry for my long windedness. I just finished getting through 197 messages on comp.sys.apple, as I have been "away" for a while. I hope I will be contributing more usefull information soon. Sean Kamath -- UUCP: {decvax allegra ucbcad ucbvax hplabs ihnp4}!tektronix!reed!kamath CSNET: reed!kamath@Tektronix.CSNET || BITNET: reed!kamath@PSUVAX1.BITNET ARPA: reed!kamath@psuvax1.arpa US Snail: 3934 SE Boise, Portland, OR 97202 (I hate 4 line .sigs!)